The Vista Aug. 20, 2018

Volume 116, Issue 20

the VISTA “Our Words, Your Voice.”

ucentralmedia.com vistanews1903 @thevista1903 @thevista1903 The Vista

Monday, August 20, 2018

Welcome Back Bronchos

A red Crepe Myrtle blooms in front of Old North, the first building built at what would eventually become the University of Central Oklahoma, frames the famous clocktower.

Old North is not only a part of the university’s history, but a recognizable symbol of UCO. (Regan Rosson/The Vista)

Decline in Teacher Program Hits Central Katie Standlee

@katiestandlee Managing Editor

The Educator Preparation Program has declined by about 20 percent over the last five years at the University of Central Oklahoma, which may be an effect of the overall education struggles faced by some institutions throughout the state.

James Machell, dean of UCO's College of Education and Professional Studies, said this decline is caused by a mix of things: lack of

funding, depressed salaries, small classrooms and overall lack of funding for supplies. He said it may also be caused by teachers feeling like they are not respected.

“Teachers feel like they are not treated with the respect they deserve in the important role they play in preparing their students for life in careers, and again that may or may not be accurate, but we equate how we are valued based off of how we are treated and how we are paid,” Machell said. “It’s really the funding shortage combined with the perceived lack of respect.”

From 2012 to 2016, the education program declined about 20 percent from 1,580 majors to 1,321 majors, according to the 2016-17 UCO Factbook. The most recent Factbook has not yet been released, but should be released by the end of the month, according to Machell. “[The decline is] going to cause the state to have to find more alternatively and emergency certified teachers, because there aren’t going to be enough graduates from our traditional programs to fill the needs of all the new teachers that are needed,” Machell said.

There currently isn’t data released to show how the teacher preparation program has affected emergency and alternative certification, but Machell said the Oklahoma State Department of Education is working on a study to see the effects of this.

Last April the legislature appropriated additional funds to teachers, resulting in about a $6,000 salary increase. This is what Machell said is going to have a positive impact on the teacher preparation decline.

Continued on pg. 5

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Aug. 20, 2018

the

Contents

VISTA

CONTENTS

Section A: Campus News Betz/Dean.................3

Housing/New Dean.....10

Around Campus.........4

Ayers Update..............11

Teacher Program........5

Tuition.........................12

One Stop...................6

LAR Construction.........13

STEM.........................7

Honor Roll..................14

Meal Options.............9

DAPi...........................15

Section B: Edmond News Education/Integris..........2

OKC Districts..............8-9

Oklahoma Pageants.......3

City Survey.................11

Around Edmond.............4

Bryant Square............12

Streetcars......................5

Edmond Trains............13

Int. House/Tennis...........6

North’s New Field......14

Pet Shelter.....................7

Move in Day..............15

Section C: Sports Sports Facility................2

Football.....................8

Soccer...........................3

Volleyball..................10-11

Hamilton Field House.....4

Rowing......................12

Kong IQ........................5

Bucking Broncho........13

QB Battle......................6

Golf/Bevis.................14

Football Lineup..............7

Men’s Golf................15

Section C: Arts and Entertainment Heller Music Group......2 UCO Production...........3 Don’t Tell Dena............4-5 Pool Hall......................6 Panic! Review...............7

The pom team for the University of Central Oklahoma welcomes freshmen to the Aug. 17 Freshman Convocation. (Regan Rosson/The Vista)

STAFF Christian Tabak Katie Standlee Jonathan Goudeau Regan Rosson Megan Thele Austin Moseley Michelle Pennza Alejandro Gonzalez Evelyn Stewart Elisabeth Slay Lauren Morris Austein Brown James Jackson Derek Parker Teddy Burch Alex Brown

Editor-in-Chief Managing Editor Sports Editor Photo Editor Copy Editor Online Editor Design Editor Reporter Reporter Reporter Reporter Reporter Sports Reporter Sports Reporter Adviser Advertising Specialist

THE VISTA

LETTERS

is published as a newspaper and public forum by UCO students, weekly during the academic year, at the University of Central Oklahoma. The issue price is free for the first copy and $1 for each additional copy obtained.

EDITORIALS

Opinion columns, editorial cartoons, reviews and commentaries represent the views of the writer or artist and not necessarily the views of The Vista Editorial Board, the Department of Mass Communication, UCO or the Board of Regents of Oklahoma Colleges. The Vista is not an official medium of expression for the Regents or UCO.

The Vista encourages letters to the editor. Letters should address issues and ideas, not personalities. Letters must be typed, double-spaced and must include the author’s printed name, major, classification and phone number. Phone numbers are included for contacting purposes only.

Letters are subject to editing for libel, clarity and space, or to eliminate statements of questionable taste. The Vista reserves the right not to publish submitted letters.

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The Nigh University Center’s outdoor seating in front of Broncho Lake. (Megan Thele/The Vista)

The Vista is published weekly during the spring, summer and fall semesters.

In all issues, The Vista has opportunities for both digital, online and print ads.

For information or questions contact: 405-974-5549 or thevista.ads@gmail.com

Betz/Dean

Aug. 20, 2018

A Welcome Letter from UCO President Don Betz August 20, 2018 Hello UCO students!

Welcome to Fall 2018!

Whether you are a first time student or returning to continue your path toward graduation and your future, we are delighted you are here. Your vitality, creativity and collaborative skills are an integral part of the UCO experience.

You will find an exceptional faculty and resourceful staff focused on creating a transformative learning opportunities for you.

Our mission is clear. We are here to help you learn, persist, achieve and graduate. We will match your determination and diligent efforts to fulfill your aspirations with our passion and expertise for teaching and learning.

We believe in you.

There are no shortcuts to lasting, meaningful success. You are pursuing a degree and acquiring the skills, motivation, values and attitudes that will serve you well from this time forward. In this way, you are preparing for a life of learning which will be essential as you adapt many times to the world of challenge, opportunity and change in which you will live, work and create possibilities for yourselves and those whom you will care for.

Becoming familiar with Central’s mission and vision, Transformative Learning, and the Central Six will help you achieve long-term success. Every major Central building has them on wall mounted posters for easy viewing.

One of the consistent ingredients for success in college is to get involved.

Central is an exceptional place and I urge you to discover the abundance of organizations, activities, civic initiatives, sports and other ways that Central students gather together and create unique learning activities for themselves and each other.

UCO is an historic institution, 128 years young, with a proud tradition of excellence in many fields. We are also known as a university that cares for its students. Our class sizes are designed to connect you with faculty. Our costs are competitive in the region and the nation for a comparable university. Our focus is on you striving to achieve the fullest dimension of your potential. In your success we find great joy.

We believe you are the change.

The challenges we all face in Oklahoma, the nation and beyond require that we master learning, adapting, collaborating, and creating. We are here with you to offer you the best we have from our experience, expertise and insight.

We believe in the power of learning as the most effective instrument when confronting current issues and those unforeseen.

Your ability to learn, create, communicate, and collaborate will serve you well in work and in life in the years and decades to come. You can become a college of one, and enrich your family, community, state, tribe, country and world. You can be the change. Your talent, passion and persistence make you society’s most sustainable resource.

Our culture of learning, leading and serving was enkindled in the minds, hearts and intentional efforts of those who came before us and founded this institution. Now, and in the years to come, we will be guided by the spirit and values of men and women that were moved to erect Old North as an unmistakable educational beacon.

Today is the first day of the rest of your life. We at Central are here to educate, encourage, challenge, motivate, and occasionally, inspire you.

But you will make the choices. Choose persistence and success. Choose to graduate. Choose learning as a life-long passion.

We are here to help you succeed.

Welcome to Central!

Don Betz, Ph.D. President

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A Welcome Letter from UCOSA President Remington Dean Hello, My name is Remington Dean and I am the 2018-2019 Student Body President. I know it is very cliché to say, but two years ago, I was exactly where you are now. I was excited to start college, dreaming about who I would become, and honestly a little frightened, but don’t worry everything will be just fine! Before I begin, I would like to congratulate you all for taking on the complex and arduous task of attending college. I wish you all the best of luck in your years to come in the Central community.

In my time here at UCO, I have grown in ways that I never would have thought possible. Never in my wildest dreams would my college experience go as it has. I never thought I would have over 200 hours of community service work in two years. I never thought I would join a fraternity.

I never thought I would meet the president of my university. I never thought I would spend time aboard learning the importance of culture and what is means to be global citizen. And I never thought I would be the student body president. However, I would have never had experienced any of this if I did not go out of my comfort zone and try something new and at times uncomfortable.

I encourage that you all take advantage of all the unique opportunities UCO has to offer and create your own distinct college experiences. These opportunities will give you the ability to positively impact UCO’s campus, the community, and yourself.

Over the course of your time at Central you will have the opportunity to get involved in over 200 student organizations, do it. If you have the opportunity to become a resident assistant, do it. If you have the opportunity to become an orientation leader, do it. If you have the opportunity to become an executive member in an organization, do it. If you haven’t caught onto the theme yet, get involved in anything you can and leave the organization better than you found it.

Additionally, you will have the chance to impact the community.

Whether you are volunteering your time at the animal shelter, delivering food with Mobile Meals, coaching a little league baseball team, or even participating in Little Event on campus, remember that we are often times more fortunate than we know and others need our help. I urge you to go out into the local metro area and find some place you like to volunteer at and challenge yourself to spend time making a positive impact in the community.

Lastly, in your time here at Central, you will be able to redefine who you are. You will be able to become who you’ve always wanted to be.

You will be able to chase your wildest dreams. In the years to come, don’t worry about what others think about you. You will find out who you are and what you truly like to do. Challenge yourself, create yourself, and most importantly, be yourself.

For those of you coming onto campus for the first time this year whether you are just out of high school or just now continuing your education you are in a special place. You are surrounded by faculty, staff, administrators, and fellow students that want you to succeed. If you ever need help finding the right resources, feel free to come to the UCOSA office located in the Nigh University Center. I can’t wait to see what this year holds for UCO and your future.

Welcome to the Central community.

Remington Dean Student Body President

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Monday, Aug. 20, 2018

Aug. 20, 2018

Wednesday, Aug. 22, 2018

Central Locate: From 7:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. in the Human Environmental Science, Library and Business buildings, UCO faculty and staff will help students find their classes.

HAB Poster Sale: From 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. at Broncho Lake’s Blue Tent, members from the Homecoming Activities Board will offer posters for sale to decorate apartments, dorms and homes.

HAB Poster Sale: From 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. at Broncho Lake’s Blue Tent, members from the Homecoming Activities Board will offer posters for sale to decorate apartments, dorms and homes.

OBI Blood Drive: From 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. in the Nigh University Center’s Heritage Room on the third floor, members from the Oklahoma Blood Institute are scheduled to have a blood drive.

Fraternity and Sorority Life Fair: From 9:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. the Fraternity and Sorority Life Fair is scheduled to be at Broncho Lake next to the Nigh University Center. UCO has 22 active chapters on campus that will be there to give information about their organization and will be prepared to answer any questions about Greek Life. If weather prevents the event from being held outside, the event will be on the NUC’s second floor.

More information about Greek life can be found on www.uco.edu/fsl.

Student Involvement Fair: From 9:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. the Student Involvement Fair is scheduled to be around Broncho Lake. Organizations will have tents and tables set up with student representatives ready to answer questions for students. The Student Organizations Office will also be there to help students get involved on campus. In the event of bad weather, the event will be relocated to the Nigh University Center’s Ballrooms.

Stampede Week: Movie Night: Beginning at 8 p.m. in Plunkett Park, Stampede Week will host their annual movie night. The event is free for UCO students, faculty and staff.

Tuesday, Aug. 21, 2018 Central Locate: From 7:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. in the Human Environmental Science and Business buildings, UCO faculty and staff will help students find their classes.

HAB Poster Sale: From 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. at Broncho Lake’s Blue Tent, members from the Homecoming Activities Board will offer posters for sale to decorate apartments, dorms and homes.

Volunteer & Part Time Job Fair: From 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. the Volunteer and Part-Time Job Fair is scheduled to be at Broncho lake under the blue tent. This fair will have local employers from around Edmond and Oklahoma City who are offering part-time jobs and organizations who are looking for volunteers.

Stampede Week Concert: Ying Yang Twins and Travis Porter: The Student Programming Board and Stampede Week will kick off a concert featuring hip-hop group, the Ying Yang Twins, and rap group, Travis Porter. Doors open at 7p.m. and the show begins at 8 p.m. in Wantland Stadium parking lot (Lot 53). Admission is exclusively open to UCO students, faculty and staff with a valid UCO ID. OBI Blood Drive: From 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. in the Nigh University Center’s Heritage Room on the third floor, members from the Oklahoma Blood Institute are scheduled to have a blood drive.

Stampede Week: Broncho Pride T-Shirt Distribution: Begining at 10 a.m. in the Nigh University Center on the fourth floor in room 424 Broncho Pride shirts will be distributed. Students must bring their student ID and there is a limit of one shirt per ID. Stampede Week: Freak Out with Will Rotten: Begining at 8 p.m. in the Nigh University Center Ballrooms Stampede week presents Will Rotten: Freak Out Circus. The event is free for UCO students, faculty and staff.

Technology Resource Center: Student Technology Orientation: From 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. in the Will Rogers Room (NUC 421), 45 minute sessions will give students an overview of technology offerings on campus including how to access UCONNECT, location of computer labs, how to connect and troubleshoot UCO Wi-Fi and an overview of Learn@UCO (D2L).

Around the Campus

Technology Resource Center: Student Technology Orientation: From 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. in the Will Rogers Room (NUC 421), 45 minute sessions will give students an overview of technology offerings on campus including how to access UCONNECT, location of computer labs, how to connect and troubleshoot UCO Wi-Fi and an overview of Learn@UCO (D2L).

Panhellenic Orientation: Beginning at 6 p.m. in the Nigh University Center’s Constitution Hall, located on the south end of the building, members from the Panhellenic Council will host an orientation for women who are registered to go through the recruitment process.

Friday, Aug. 24, 2017 Pi Kappa Alpha: Rae Sremmurd Concert: From noon to 11:45 p.m. at the Lost Lakes Ampitheatre, members from Pi Kappa Alpha are hosting a Rae Sremmurd concert in partnership with their OU chapter.

Student Transformative Learning Record: UCO Global Student Conference: From 1-7 p.m. in the Nigh University Center’s Ballrooms, President Dr. Don Betz will be the keynote speaker talking about his travels and providing insights to be a better learner and global citizen. Additionally, there are more than 20 sessions ranging from applying from green card & H-1B visas, to dating tips, to meet Edmond’s mayor and how to better prepare yourself for a job. Whether you are new or have lived here in the United States for 5 years, this conference is to help you succeed as a student and future professional.

Stampede Week: Comedic Jesus Trejo: From 8-9 p.m. in the Nigh University Center’s Ballrooms on the third floor, Stampede Week will present comedian Jesus Trejo. The event is free for UCO students, faculty and staff.

Thursday, Aug. 24, 2017 Interfaith Fair: From 10 a.m. to 1 p.m., the Interfaith Fair is scheduled to be around Broncho Lake. The fair is designed to provide students with information about the various religious and spiritual groups on campus. Students can learn when upcoming events for these groups are, such as worship services, meetings and other programs.

The water fountain beside Broncho Lake. (Megan Thele/The Vista)

Teacher Program/Barthell

Aug. 20, 2018

A5

Decline in Teacher Program Hits Central Continued from pg. 1

“My sense is we may be about to see better things coming with the legislator appropriating salaries for last year; that was a good beginning,” Machell said. “We think that will have an impact, but the way we look at enrollment it is too early to tell.

We can’t detect yet that it has had the effect of improving enrollment.”

With numbers like these, it is not clear what the exact reason for the decline is, among students, without a survey or something similar.

Bryan Duke, assistant dean for CEPS at UCO said there used to be a survey that was sent out to students who had switched their major from the teacher education program, but that hasn’t been done in about two years.

“We didn’t find that our survey was giving us too much additional information, it kind of was just saturated with the same information over and over again, but about two years back we sent a survey out to people who were changing their major from Education to another one here at UCO,” Duke said.

When the surveys were given out, Duke said the three main reasons that students began changing majors were: students did not realize what is

involved in teaching, some of them realized that they did not necessarily want to work with children and for some, teacher pay was an issue.

“I think it is several things, I think we are seeing this trend not only at UCO, but in the state and actually across the country, and part of this is that the narrative about teachers has really been pretty negative,” Duke said. “I think many teachers report feeling undervalued and disrespected, I think state laws or federal policies have contributed to that.”

Statewide there are 23 teacher preparation programs, and the decline in program enrollment has been 29 percent from 2013 to 2018, according to numbers from the most recent report from the National Teacher Preparation Data from Title II Reports. These numbers reflect data from 18 of the 23 teacher programs.

UCO specifically has several organizations and programs that promote the teacher preparation program and recruit those aspiring to become teachers to the program, such as Generation Citizen and Urban Teacher Academy.

Susan Scott, CEPS professor at UCO, is the main director of one of these programs called Prospective Teachers Academy. Through this

The College of Education building sets on the west side of the University of Cental Oklahoma’s campus. (Samantha Karbelk/The Vista)

program, she has been writing grants through the Oklahoma State Regents of Education, Office of Oklahoma Teacher Connect to sponsor the program. Ultimately, the program recruits high school students to become teachers.

“These students come to the UCO campus for a one day event. During this event they learn about the teacher education program, meet faculty and staff, and network with each other to begin building friendships,” Scott said. “We also invite a family member so that they can understand the teacher education program as well.”

Along with programs like these, there are also Learning Living Communities in the Quad residence hall at UCO. Specifically, there is one for Education and Psychology that assists students in the teacher preparation program.

“It’s easy to get discouraged and I think we are guilty of that sometimes, I think we are guilty of being discouraged and seeing so much negativity and letting that affect us,” Machell said. “I think we have to remind ourselves that it is important to let our students know how great it is to be a teacher.”

A Welcome Letter from Provost John Barthell Dear UCO Students:

Welcome to the University of Central Oklahoma for the fall 2018 semester!

Located within the culturally diverse and exciting Oklahoma City Metropolitan Area, in Edmond, the UCO campus provides you with academic and co-curricular opportunities that span the imagination. With 19 degrees, 121 programs, 204 majors, and 87 minors available to you, there are a multitude of areas for you to investigate as career opportunities.

To support your learning, we have over 500 full-time faculty members in six colleges: Business, Education & Professional Studies, Fine Arts & Design, Liberal Arts, Mathematics & Science, and the Jackson College of Graduate Studies.

No matter what your background, we work to support you during your time at Central with numerous student organizations and opportunities to participate in research, creative and scholarly activities with faculty members and fellow students.

Our faculty and staff members are

committed to making your educational journey a successful one and those experiences you have along the way can now be documented with the Student Transformative Learning Record, or STLR. STLR will supplement your regular academic record and help you describe skill sets to future employers and post-graduate schools.

You will see many new additions as you walk across our campus this fall, including a new STEM Building that will open in November as well as an expansion of the Liberal Arts Building that is not far behind it. Our campus has numerous green spaces and has become a fun place to spend time while between or after classes.

Our UCO Downtown teaching facility at the Oklahoma City Carnegie Centre houses courses and programs that fit your needs. The Academy of Contemporary Music in Oklahoma City’s Bricktown area is also an area of interest for many of our students.

The CHK/Central Boathouse is home to our Division II National Champion women’s rowing team as well as providing a place for perfor-

mances and events that create even more vitality for your life at Central.

UCO was just named, for the tenth time, a “Great College to Work For” by the Chronicle of Higher Education. I believe that much of what brings us together to celebrate our campus is our common interest in students, a quality we have maintained since our establishment as one of the first universities in Oklahoma, as founded in 1890.

This long academic tradition has accentuated our role as a modern university with all the benefits you might expect here: a state of the art wellness center, university center, and new athletic facility enhancements that give you the entire range of experiences of being at a leading edge university.

Your academic experience at UCO is grounded in a solid liberal arts education with degree options that will give you the opportunities to support your career goals. Whether on our Edmond campus, or in a classroom in Oklahoma City, we want to help you learn for a lifetime.

We want to live our mission of

helping students learn, and we welcome you to join us in achieving that goal.

John F. Barthell, PhD Provost & VP for Academic Affairs

A6

Aug. 20, 2018

One Stop

UCO Plans One Stop to Combine Them All Christian Tabak @CaffeineWallace Editor-in-Chief

After years of existing as a department without an official office, the Broncho One Stop will finally a find a home this fall in the University of Central Oklahoma’s Nigh University Center.

Renovations to the south end of the NUC’s first floor will combine the Undergraduate Academic Advisement office and the Undergraduate Admissions and Enrollment office into one unified office space, according to Dallas Caldwell, senior director of Enrollment and Financial Services at UCO. “We are in the middle of the process now, in terms of shifting our mindset and our approach to improving customer and student service,” Caldwell said. “The exact layout and composition is still being discussed as we try things out and gauge student reactions over the summer.”

One Stop will combine the offices of Financial Aid, Enrollment Services, Student Records, Academic Advisement and Graduation Support Services.

It will also create a new Self-Help”area for students to receive guided help at workstations for issues such as online course registration or digital transcript requests.

Elimination of students having to go from office to office waiting in line to solve issues with enrollment or financial aid during the university’s peak periods of activity in January and August is the project’s primary goal, according to Dallas “For some of the more difficult issues, we love the idea of a student who is sitting with her or his advisor being able to pull in a financial aid counselor for a few additional questions, rather than having to set up a separate appointment or go down the hall and wait to be seen,” Dallas said.

To aid in this goal, One Stop will also include a new queue management system. The system will allow students to virtually join the line for One Stop’s services from anywhere while informing them of their wait time at regular intervals.

The queue management system will also provide One Stop with usage reports and other user analytics, as well as a phone-based survey on the student’s experience with One Stop.

“If we notice a trend that students are coming in greater volume during June to ask specific enrollment questions, we can shore up our staffing and refresh training ahead of that

time to make sure that our services are operating at peak efficiency,” Dallas said.

The new One Stop will also provide offices such as Financial Aid an opportunity to focus on processing student applications while still addressing student needs, according to Financial Services Director Susan Prater.

“The One Stop staff’s main purpose is handling student’s questions about their financial aid eligibility and providing a high level of customer service in providing answers and resolutions,” Prater said. “This allows our financial aid processing staff to focus on the processing of student financial aid applications more efficiently and effectively.”

Renovations for the new office space will begin in September and construction is expected to last approximately six to eight weeks.

The final cost for the project is still unknown, although Caldwell said the expenses will be allocated from a mix of one-time sources and existing operational budgets.

While the idea for a single office where students can address all their needs has been a popular topic in higher education for several years, Caldwell said he was first exposed to it during a strategic enrollment management conference seven years ago.

“Our current One Stop is more an ethereal representation of what has

Students check-in at the UndergraduateAdmissions and Enrollment Services office in the first floor of the Nigh University Center. The new One Stop will combine the Admissions Office with the Undergraduate Advisement Office. (Regan Rosson/The Vista)

been our goal for a long time now,” said Caldwell. “It is, effectively, a call center that operates for most areas of Student Affairs and is currently housed in the back of what was the Financial Aid office.”

Specific inspiration for UCO’s One Stop came from Johnson County Community College in Kansas, along with consideration of the models of other schools that have transitioned to a similar model over the last five years.

While some campuses have been able to dedicate entire buildings to a One Stop service, Caldwell said

that UCO’s primary limitation at this point is a lack of space to contain every service a student might need for enrollment.

Other offices that could be integrated into the One Stop model in the future include Veteran Student Support Services and the Career Development Center.

“As we move forward, we want to make sure that what we are doing works and is what our students want,” Caldwell said. “The possibilities are only limited by our imaginations and our willingness to adapt.”

On the first floor of the Nigh University Center at the Center for Undergraduate Academic Advisement, a worker helps a student with setting up an advisement appointment at the university’s current One Stop. (Regan Rosson/The Vista)

STEM

Aug. 20, 2018

A7

STEM Center Nears Completion Alejandro Gonzalez @A_Gonzalez_17 Reporter

The University of Central Oklahoma is close to finishing the new Interdisciplinary STEM and Research Center, which will provide more space and opportunities for students majoring within the fields of science, technology, engineering and mathematics.

Wei Chen, dean of the College of Mathematics and Science, said the new STEM Center will resolve the limitations that the department has been operating within the Math and Computer Science building, Howell Hall and Coyner Health Sciences.

The new STEM building is 57,000 square feet, costs $24 million, and includes state-of-the-art research labs, new classrooms and faculty office space. It will also provide space for digital forensic science research, nanotechnology research for biomedical applications and cancer research.

The center will also be the home of the Center for Interdisciplinary Biomedical Education and Research, as well as to the Center for Research and Education in Interdisciplinary

Computation.

“To train our graduates to succeed in today's society, interdisciplinary research and education are the key,” Chen said. "Moving these two centers to the new building will organically grow more interdisciplinary collaborations among the faculty and students.”

The money used for the construction of the building is funded from a master lease bond to be paid through College of Mathematics and Science student fees. The interior costs for the building will be supported through the Ignite Central Future of STEM campaign, which focuses on providing the tools to ensure the facility's success, Chen said.

According to Chen, the Bureau of Labor Statistics predicts STEM fields to outpace all other careers in growth and earnings, and they estimate that over the next two years, almost 3 million job vacancies in STEM fields will be created.

“We are experiencing a shortage in the STEM workforce in the state and the country,” Chen said.

Due to the demands of STEM graduates, and because of the efforts of the CMS, Chen said the college

A teaching lab in the University of Central Oklahoma’s new Interdisciplinary STEM and Research Center. (Megan Thele/The Vista)

outgrew the programs and buildings designed decades ago.

“The need of STEM education is urgent,” said Gloria Caddell, associate dean of the College of Mathematics and Science.

Several math and science classes are taught in different classrooms and buildings across campus, and many instructors have offices in the Chambers Library. Caddell and Chen

credited John Barthell, UCO's provost, and Charlotte Simmons, vice president of Academic Affairs, for the new building.

The groundbreaking for the new STEM building took place last February.

“We expect to move into this building in October or November of this year,” Chen said.

New Meal Options

Aug. 20, 2018

A9

Housing and Dining Serve New Meal Options Megan Thele

@1bigtimenicole Copy Editor

New dining options are coming to the University of Central Oklahoma this fall as the Office of Housing and Dining partners with Chartwells to provide an expanded dining experience for students.

Most of the changes occurred in the Nigh University Center in the food court and in the space formerly occupied by the buffet-style restaurant Legends.

In the food court, Quiznos and 2Mato have been replaced by 2nd Street Subs and Tu Taco, respectively.

Sub sandwiches are still the focus at 2nd Street Subs, but the main difference is the type and quality of ingredients. The bread is baked fresh every morning, the meat is roasted on site and sliced to order, the cheese is sliced fresh and toppings are prepared every day, according to Gianna Deutsch, director of Residential Dining.

Tu Taco is a new concept for UCO dining and features street tacos, nachos, rice, beans and horchata. The ingredients here are also fresh and prepared each morning, with fresh topping and salsa options to accompany carne asada (beef), al pastor (pork with pineapples), carnitas (pork), pollo asada (chicken), nopales (cactus) and vegetable tacos and nachos.

“The main change students will see there is the ability to use their meal cards there,” said Scott Monetti, director of Housing and Dining.

Down the hall, Legends has been renovated to become 1890 Metropolitan Café. The restaurant will feature five salads, six paninis, five loaded fry options, four sides and four desserts.

“When you walk into [1890,] the departure from the buffet concept is the biggest change,” Monetti said.

The space was renovated over the summer to remove the buffet and booths. 1890 will be a concept similar to McAlister’s, according to Monetti, where students order, receive a number and their food is brought to them.

All three new concepts were renovated over the summer with updated fixtures, decorations, paint and digital menu displays that fit each restaurant individually.

Monetti said that meal swipe options have been added to the new options to increase the val-

ue of what students can get with a meal plan. Combo deals been added to Tu Taco and 2nd Street Subs for added convenience and value. Tu Taco’s includes two tacos or nachos, rice, beans and a 20-ounce fountain drink and 2nd Street Subs’ has a sub, chips and 20-ounce drink for $7.99.

The to-go area next to Tu Taco, which previously had meal trade sandwiches and sides, will now feature Tex-Mex to-go options.

Tu Taco and 2nd Street Subs will be open from 10:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. and 8 p.m., respectively, during the school year. 1890 is expected to open Aug. 27 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.

The Quad Market underwent changes over the summer as well and reopened as the Quad International Market. Packaged food and snacks from around the world will be featured along with hot lunch and dinner options. Meal swipe options for the hot food and to-go items will be available.

“We wanted something that students are going to use,” Monetti said. “We also came to the realization that it needed to be a destination place. It’s not just for our international students, it’s for anyone who wants a flavor or product from the rest of the world.”

The international products largely come from Asia, India and the Middle East, as a large portion of international students come from countries in those regions. Hot meals will rotate countries every day.

“For the international students, it’ll be a place to get international spices that the grocery stores don’t carry,” Monetti said. “If you’re an American student wanting something different, you can get a meal there.”

However, Monetti said that recommendations for food or countries are welcome and they want to tailor it to what students actually want to buy.

“It’s kind of a bold experiment,” Monetti said. “We don’t know if it will work, but the other wasn’t working.”

The Broncho Sports Grill, located in the University Suites, is also going to have some new menu items this fall, but won’t be open until Aug. 22. Monetti said that physical changes to the grill are planned further down the road, but those may not start until next year.

“It’s adding value to the meal plan,” Monetti said. “For students, value equals choices, different

2nd Street Subs opened earlier this month, replacing Quiznos in the Nigh University Center food court. (Megan Thele/The Vista)

options. What we really went after here was if I have 10 meal swipes a week, what are my choices?”

According to Monetti, renovation costs for 1890 are covered by the NUC, the food court renovations are covered by campus partner Chartwells and the Quad International Market is funded by Housing and Dining.

Housing and Dining has incorporated a feedback system to gauge student opinion of the changes and quality of dining at any location on campus. Students can text (405) 974-FOOD with the dining location and their feedback or suggestions.

Tu Taco will serve UCO students a variety of Tex-Mex food options, including carne asada tacos. Tu Taco opened earlier this month, replacing 2Mato in the Nigh University Center food court. (Megan Thele/The Vista)

A10

Aug. 20, 2018

Housing/Dean

UCO Economizes Student Housing Megan Thele

@1bigtimenicole Copy Editor

University of Central Oklahoma Housing and Dining is offering new economy housing options to students looking for less expensive options on campus.

“In an effort to offer a lower price point to our budget conscious students, we are piloting an economy option in three of our residence halls,” said Kelly Vaughn, assistant director of planning and operations for Housing and Dining. “These rooms are set up so that an additional student can share the space.”

The Murdaugh Hall and University Suites economy rooms are triple occupancy, which adds an extra bunk to one bed in the room. In the Suites, the room includes a private bathroom.

Two options are available in the University Commons: double rooms in a two-bedroom apartment or a four-bedroom apartment with one double room. Only the students in the double room would pay a reduced rate in the four-bedroom apartment.

“The economy rooms are a response to some requests from students who maybe wanted to live on campus and would be willing to live in a smaller room, but do so at a smaller rate,” said Scott Monetti, director of Housing and Dining. “It

opens up a price point for a student who is okay with a little less space.”

The rooms will have an extra bunk on the bed to accommodate another person, but the rest of the furniture won’t change. When the economy option was originally considered, Monetti said it was determined that students would rather share a desk or closet and have more room than be extra cramped in an already small space.

A limited number of rooms were made available for economy rates, but Monetti said many of the rooms had been reserved. The option wasn’t available until April, however, so most returning housing students did not see the option when housing registration opened in February.

The Commons economy rates are half of the normal yearly rate for the 2- or 4-bedroom apartments. Murdaugh’s economy rates are $1,300 less than the regular double rate, and the Suites is $2,150 less than a regular double room with a private bath.

A few other changes happened in housing this summer, including refinished bathrooms in West Hall and a new maintenance request system, where students can text requests to (833) 200-0427.

Housing students were also offered a free parking pass, which Monetti said was a promotion to try and get students to stay a second year.

“We’re perceived as something

A glimpse at the University Commons’ economy housing. (Provided/UCO Housing and Dining)

you only do for one year, and we’re trying to change that,” Monetti said.

The idea initially came from a conversation with the International Office, as they look for ways to make UCO less expensive for international students, according to Monetti.

However, the economy rooms are open to any students looking for

more budget-friendly ways to live on campus.

“Living on campus offers students a safe, comfortable living space close to classes and we hope by offering this lower price point, more students will be able to take advantage of these benefits,” Vaughn said.

New Dean to Lead Business Evelyn Stewart @evehynn Reporter

University of Central Oklahoma’s College of Business will begin the upcoming fall semester with new leadership in the department.

Monica Lam was selected for the position, effective July 1. Lam has over a decade of experience in administrative roles, including a position as associate dean at Sacramento State University and as dean at Philadelphia University.

As the new dean for the College of Business, there are some goals Lam has planned for advancing the college and continuing to help students. Some of these goals include working to secure Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business, (AACSB) accreditation and developing new and innovative programs that encourage enrollment while creating high quality learning environments for students.

“I am consulting the faculty and the top admin regarding establishing an online MBA program, a business honors program and high-impact research, teaching and service awards,” Lam said.

She also said she plans on learning more about the college before making any significant changes in the future, and that stakeholder satisfaction is her overall goal.

“I am thinking about how to develop the faculty, enhance the student satisfaction and engage the alumni and business community,” Lam said.

She said student satisfaction is also a very dear purpose to her and she hopes to maximize the potential of UCO students.

Provost John Barthell said that Lam stood out from the other applicants because of the length and depth of her administrative experience.

“She understands the value of collaboration at both the college

and university levels and was highly recommended by those who know her at her previous institutions,” Barthell said. “She has a great deal of enthusiasm about UCO and what she can offer us as our newest dean. I am pleased to have her join us.”

Barthell said that Lam has a talent for being an administrator with excellent instincts for both the importance of a quality curriculum and the relevance of curriculum to the careers of students.

“She also continues to publish in her field on a regular basis and is what I would term a teacher-scholar-administrator,” Barthell said. “She [was] a featured speaker at her own graduation ceremony when she receives a divinity degree from Western Seminary in Sacramento.”

Lam has a bachelor’s in sociology from Chinese University of Hong Kong, a master’s in business computing science from Texas

The University of Central Oklahoma College of Business named Monica Lam, Ph.D., as its new dean, effective July 1, 2018. Lam brings more than a decade of experience in administration to the role.

(Provided/UCO Photo Services)

A&M University, a doctorate in management information systems from the University of Wisconsin-Madison and a Master of Divinity from Western Seminary.

Ayers

Aug. 20, 2018

A11

Goodbye Ayers, Hello Dining

Katie Standlee @katiestandlee

Managing Editor

East Ayers Street is closed as a through street for construction to turn this section of Ayers into a pedestrian walkway with a two-story dining facility that will replace Buddy’s and open in Jan. 2020.

“The only section closing [of Ayers] is the portion between Buddy’s and Hamilton Field House,” said David Stapleton, director for Architectural and Engineering Services at the University of Central Oklahoma.

“There is a stop sign at the east side of West Hall that is the west end of the closure and the wide sidewalk at the east side of Buddies is the east end of the closure.”

The department of Architectural and Engineering Services oversees the Ayers construction project that in total will cost $19 million. Ayers Street officially closed July 1, when a barricade was put up so construction could begin.

“The center section currently closed will not re-open to vehicle traffic,” Stapleton said. “Service access to the Dining Center will enter and exit at the east side of Ayers from Chowning and the west section of Ayers will remain for access to parking for the Library, Commons and access to Hamilton Field House.”

According to Stapleton, part of the project includes converting the closed section of Ayers into a pedestrian plaza, which will cost approximately $140,000.

The demolition work for the new dining facility began in August, and Stapleton said the contractor, Lingo Construction, will begin to install underground utilities (gas, water, stormwater, sewer and electrical) to support the building. The contractors have already begun to place and ready the dirt meaning the installation for the footings and foundation will begin soon.

“From a Housing perspective, we hope that the closure of Ayers will make all students safer as they traverse the campus, as well as bring some quiet to the north side of campus for the residents in these buildings,” said Benjamin Hastings, assistant vice president of Operations in Campus Enterprises.

Closing Ayers to create a seamless passthrough that connects campus facilities has been a goal of several administrations, Stapleton said.

According to Stapleton, there were several goals with the decision to

A view into the construction area of where the new dinning center will be built. The construction is currently in the early stages.

(Katie Standlee/The Vista)

close Ayers, one of them being to create a safe and easy crossing of Ayers.

“The opportunity to close this section to allow for a more complete integration of the Dining Center into campus was [a] very desirable idea in order to both physically and mentally connect the housing north of Ayers and south of Ayers plus connections to [the] Wellness Center and Athletic venues to the academic core of campus.”

Some parking will be lost to the construction of Ayers, but Stapleton said those parking spots will be replaced elsewhere on campus.

Josh Stone, director of Transportation and Parking Services said lots 34 north, 34 south and 41 are the lots that have been lost by the construction of the dining facility.

“Lot 44 is not being replaced this year, it was classified as faculty/staff and was primarily used by Athletics staff this past year. With the opening of the new Sports Performance Center, they will move over to parking lot one to park, where there is more than enough parking available,” Stone said. “We have added an additional 58 housing spaces in parking lot 46 to replace those lost due to the Dining Center construction.

These spaces are in a good place for housing students as it’ll serve the University Commons and University Suites.”

The groundbreaking for the dining facility was July 11 in front of Ham-

ilton Field House where the facility will be located.

The new dining facility will be 50,000 square feet and will be able to seat approximately 570 on the first floor, and the second floor will have offices for UCO’s Campus Enterprises and Human Resources.

This floor will be where several different food venues are, Stapleton said these will include a pizza oven, tex-mex, pasta, BBQ, grille, wok/ sauté, home-style, desserts, salad bar and breakfast bar areas.

“Of that [50,000 square feet] approximately 35,000 square feet is Dining related and the remaining 15,000 square feet is second floor offices,” Stapleton said. “Another aspect of the facility is that it will include about 2,800 square feet of refuge area for use during severe storms.”

The second floor will have offices for UCO’s Campus Enterprises and Human Resources.

“The new homes for Human Resources and Campus Enterprises will really help with providing them with quality offices and provide them with, not only better working environments, but gather them all together,” Stapleton said.

Many departments fall under campus enterprises, such as Dining Services, Campus Housing and others.

“Currently both Human Resources and Campus Enterprises have staff that are spread out across campus,” Hastings said. “By transitions these

offices to the new building, those staff will be brought together, to allow synergies and efficiencies that have been missing in the current structures to develop.”

Hastings said the decision of who specifically will or will not be moving has not been made yet, but departments like Campus Card Services will probably be staying in the Nigh University Center for customer service and convenience purposes.

Once Human Resources moves over into the new dining facility Stapleton said that he believes there will be renovations happening so that other offices can move into the Lillard Administration building.

“The new Dining Center, as noted

by President Betz, will provide the bridge between the north and south, housing and athletics and academic elements of campus that will gain continuity in our campus in both appearance and function,” Stapleton said.

Buddy’s will remain open until construction is finished and the new dining facility is open.

“My hope is that students will have a wonderful new dining venue that will be inviting, up to date and act as a great meeting spot for campus. The new homes for Human Resources and Campus Enterprises will really help with providing them with quality offices and provide them with not only better working environments but gather them all together,” Stapleton said.

A12

Aug. 20, 2018

Tuition

Bronchos Face Tuition Increase Christian Tabak @CaffeineWallace Editor-in-Chief

For the third year in a row, the University of Central Oklahoma has increased tuition rates for the new academic year in response to the ongoing decline in state funding to higher education across Oklahoma.

Both resident and non-resident students will pay 5.5 percent more tuition for the 2018-19 academic year, an increase of $12.90 per credit hour.

While tuition has increased at 21 of Oklahoma’s 25 higher education institutions, the 5.5 percent increase represents the highest increase within the Regional University System of Oklahoma.

“We do not take tuition and fee increases lightly,” UCO President Don Betz said. “Be assured, we are actively pursuing every avenue of efficiency in our operations as we prioritize our institutional endeavors and investments.”

Resident students will see the cost for a three credit class increase from $709.95 to $748.80 and a full-time semester of four three credit classes would be an increase from $2,129.85 to $2,246.40 per semester. For non-residents, this increase will be from $6,978.60 to $7,350 for a fulltime semester of four three credit classes.

While Fiscal Year 2019 has marked the first time in two years that the university did not receive a reduction in allocated funds, the increases were made to offset a continued decline in

enrollment numbers and an increase in mandatory costs.

This increase is projected to bring in a total of $4 million for the university, with the majority being allocated to help offset increased mandatory costs across the university, according to Patti Neuhold, UCO’s vice president for finance.

While there may be no budget reductions, UCO still continues to be the lowest state-funded university, with 21 percent of the institution’s budget being covered by state appropriations. To compensate, the university has been in the process of eliminating vacant employment positions and utilizing one-time fees, according to Neuhold.

“Coupled with our budget reductions and reallocations of $5.9 million, we have created a balanced budget,” Neuhold said To compensate for the tuition increase, the university has also allocated approximately $1.3 million of the projected $4 million to fund additional tuition waivers and scholarship opportunities.

While this increase will not have an immediate impact, the hope is to increase funding for waivers across all colleges, including additional freshman and returning student scholarships, according to Myron Pope, UCO’s vice president for Student Affairs.

“We have over the last couple of years, because of state budget cuts, not been able to increase the amount of money for tuition waivers,” Pope said. “The increase this year helps

The University of Central Oklahoma will see a 5.5 tuition increase, the highest within the Regional University System of Oklahoma. (Regan Rosson/The Vista)

us significantly in providing more resources to not only incoming students, but returning students as well.”

Pope said that the long-term plan of the university is to continue to build on this increased investment in tuition waivers and student financial support to offset the increased cost of attendance.

“It’s very much like your household; if you have $10 and the cost of going to buy groceries goes up by 5.5 percent, you need 5.5 percent more money to cover the food that you are going to buy when you go to the grocery store,” Pope said. “That’s essentially what we have tried to

consider through the years.”

Yet while tuition may be on the rise throughout Oklahoma, higher education within the state has continued to remain relatively affordable in consideration of other states, according to Angela Caddell, associate vice chancellor for Communications with the Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education.

The U.S. Chamber of Commerce ranks Oklahoma’s system of higher education fifth in the nation in affordability, and the National Center for Education Statistics reports that the average student cost at a fouryear public university in Oklahoma is fifth-lowest in the nation.

This year also marks the first time in more than five years that the state budget for higher education has not seen a decline. Between 2012 and 2017, Oklahoma state appropriations for higher education had declined by more than 17 percent. This year, higher education saw a 1 percent increase in funding.

“Data clearly show that states with a high percentage of college degree-holders, we have higher per capita incomes and stronger economies,” Caddell said. “We will continue to make the case that there is no better investment to ensure a brighter future for Oklahoma than the investment our policy leaders can make in higher education.”

Incoming students consult with the Office of Undergraduate Admissions and Enrollment Services. Students will face a 5.5 percent increase in tuition for the fall 2918-19 academic year. (Reagon Rosson/The Vista)

a

LAR Construction

Aug. 20, 2018

A13

LAR Construction Right on Track Megan Thele

@1bigtimenicole Copy Editor

Construction on the University of Central Oklahoma’s College of Liberal Arts $18.35 million expansion is well underway and on schedule to be open for the fall 2019 semester.

“It seems to be moving along at a good chip,” said Catherine Webster, dean of the College of Liberal Arts.

“We’re at about the midpoint of when it will be opening.”

Since the groundbreaking last November, Pegasus Theatre has been removed, preparatory work was done and the new structure’s skeleton has gone up. Webster said the process began with a large amount of behind the scene work, including pipe laying, before the main structure could be pieced together.

“There was quite a bit of quiet time preparing the site,” Webster said.

“The concrete came next in what will be the lecture hall/storm shelter.”

The 52,414-square-foot expansion will house 15 classrooms, 30 faculty and staff offices, meeting and study spaces, a coffee bar, a gender-neutral bathroom, museum exhibition cases and a 200-capacity theater that doubles as a storm shelter.

After the concrete floors, steps and lecture hall walls were poured, framing for classrooms on the first floor began. Along with the progress on the new structure, some renovations started for the almost 50-year-old current Liberal Arts building.

“The main project this summer was the fire suppression [system],” Webster said. “[We] also removed some electrical and mechanical equipment out of the basement.”

An old generator has yet to be

A view of the new Liberal Arts building’s south wing atrium. The expansion is expected to be completed and ready for classes by fall 2019. (Megan Thele/The Vista)

removed from the basement to make way for a new, offline generator in a different location.

While the construction and renovations were not as loud as had been expected, classes were not held in the building over summer as a precaution, according to Webster. Updates to the fire suppression system also didn’t take as long as expected either, with staff only having to be out of the office for a few days rather than at least a week, as originally expected.

“Much of the demolition and below grade work took place during the spring semester, while the structural steel and concrete has gone up this summer,” said Kevin Tero, assistant

director of UCO Architectural and Engineering Services.

Webster said the goal is to have classes and offices in the new space by next fall and have it ready to tour

by June.

“My goal is to make every department have some enhancement,” Webster said.

Although an ideal goal would be for every faculty member to have their own office, Webster said that may not be feasible yet. As part of the changes, the Modern Languages Department will move their offices over from Thatcher Hall and other departments will gain space from vacated offices in the current building.

Webster said there are long term

The Liberal Arts building’s south wing will connect to the second floor of the current building via a walkway. The first floor of the building will connect where Pegasus Theatre previously stood. (Megan Thele/The Vista)

plans to continue renovations in the main building and they are looking at doing some fundraising for that in the future. They are not intending, however, to raise course fees for students to fundraise.

The $18.35 million expansion was funded by student course fees, which raised $3 million over the last few years and $14.5 million from bonds. The remaining funds came from UCO’s provost, John Barthell, to make improvements in the current building.

“We have a 30-year bond and our payment on the bond is about $800,000 per year,” Webster said.

As the structure continues to progress and construction becomes less weather dependent, interior design plans are becoming more prevalent.

However, the fine details are not the current focus, but desk dimensions and office layouts and locations are, according to Webster. Some of the details that have been decided on are terrazzo floors in the main parts of the building and carpeting in classrooms.

“The building is on schedule to be complete next summer and open for 2019 fall classes,” Tero said.

With construction on schedule, Webster hopes to have everything ready to see and use by August 2019 so that students can immediately use the new spaces.

“We want it to be a time when people will be here to celebrate and see it,” Webster said.

A14

Aug. 20, 2018

Honor Roll

UCO Makes Chronicle Honor Roll Christian Tabak @CaffeineWallace Editor-in-Chief

For the tenth time, the University of Central Oklahoma was named as one of the Chronicle for Higher Education’s Great Colleges to Work For as well as was named for the first time to the Chronicle’s Honor Roll for being cited most often across all recognition categories.

This year, UCO ranked among the best nationally in seven of the survey’s 12 categories to be the only four-year institution in the state of Oklahoma to make the Great Colleges to Work For. This distinction, which UCO has earned 10 times in the survey’s 11-year history, reflects the university’s commitment to facilitating student success, according to UCO President Don Betz.

“Central’s decade-long recognition as a Great College to Work For serves as a beacon of the ongoing commitment that our faculty and staff display in guiding our students to become productive, creative, ethical and engaged citizens and leaders; a commitment that the university will continue to uphold for many years to come,” said UCO President Don Betz.

Administered by the Chronicle to faculty and staff at universities and colleges across the nation, the Great Colleges to Work for surveys higher education employees over 12 workplace-specific categories to determine a ranking between “Poor” and “Very Good to Excellent.”

Out of the 12, UCO ranked highest in the categories of Collaborative Governance; Confidence in Senior Leadership; Facilities, Workspace and Security; Professional/Career Development Programs; Teaching Environment; Tenure Clarity and Process; and Work/Life Balance.

The survey is conducted among more than 53,000 individuals at 283 institutions across the nation, including 165 four-year universities and 88 two-year colleges.

Out of those 283, 84 institutions made the final list in at least one category and the institutions recognized across the most are then named to the Honor Roll. Institutions are then divided among three enrollment categories: 500-2,999; 3,000-9,999; and 10,000+.

Within the 10,000+ category, UCO was the only institution to rank Collaborative Governance, Professional/ Career Development, Teaching

Environment, Facilities, Workplace and Security, Confidence in Senior Leadership and Tenure Clarity and Process.

Additionally, UCO was the only institution in any category to rank in Work/Life Balance, according to Adrienne Nobles, UCO’s the assistant vice president for University Communications.

“Overwhelmingly, the responses in each category are in the “Very Good to Excellent” or “Good” area, even the ones where we didn’t rank for formal recognition,” Nobles said. “Again, we are one of only 10 institutions in the 10,000+ student category recognized as an Honor Roll institution.”

While no specific program was cited as a reason for UCO’s recognition, Nobles said that employee satisfaction is likely derived from a wide range of support services the university offers employees.

These include the ability to be involved in collaborative government through faculty and staff senates, professional development and continued education opportunities and the flexible sick, vacation and paid holiday leave provided.

“Recognition on the Great Colleges to Work For list is a reflection of what makes Central a great place to work, according to UCO’s own faculty and staff, employees who have firsthand experiences about what it’s like to work for the university,” Nobles said.

While UCO has ranked 10 times on the list in its 11 year history, this year marks the first time it has ever achieved Honor Roll status.

The Honor Roll is comprised of the institutions that are being recognized the most number of times across the recognition categories, including universities such as Baylor and Notre Dame.

The difficulty can vary from year to year based on the size category and applicant pool for a particular year, according to Liz Floods, project manager at ModernThink, the organization that conducts the survey on behalf of the Chronicle.

Yet while UCO’s employees may have ranked the university highest in the majority of the categories, there are still areas that the survey revealed can be strengthened.

The university failed to achieve recognition in the categories of Compensation and Benefits, Job Satisfaction, Supervisor/Department Chair Relationship, Respect and Appreciation, and Diversity.

Satisfaction in these areas were

The University of Central Oklahoma has maintained its ranking as one of the top colleges in the nation to work for according to The Chronicle of Higher Education’s “2018 Great Colleges to Work For” list. Central also was named to the list’s honor roll, joining institutions like Baylor University, Texas Christian University and University of Notre Dame. (Provided/UCO Photo Services)

listed from between “Fair to Mediocre” to “Good” among the university’s employees.

With an ongoing reduction in state funding, Nobles said that this has presented obvious challenges to employee benefits as well as salaries and compensation. As for concerns over diversity, she also added that the university is already working to im-

prove these with increased initiatives on campus as well.

“The university would do all of these things whether there was a Great Colleges to Work For survey or not, meaning these efforts are not in direct response to the survey results; rather they are examples of ways the university strives to meet the needs of its employees,” Nobles said.

Some administration heads have offices in Old North at the University of Central Oklahoma, which was named the Best Place to Work by the Chronicle. (Megan Thele/ The Vista)

DAPi

Aug. 20, 2018

A15

DAPi Coming To Campus Katie Standlee

@katiestandlee Managing Editor

A new honor society, Delta Alpha Pi, is coming to campus this fall for students with, or who identify with, a disability at the University of Central Oklahoma.

An nternational honor society that was founded in 2004, DAPi has now grown to over 120 chapters at higher educational institutes across the nation.

Stephanie Holt, an advisor for the honor society and a coordinator for Disability Support Services at UCO, said there is not a specific date set in place, but the current goal is to have an initiation with the first group of members some time in November.

“Most of the students are going to find out about us by being registered with our office because we will reach out to them if they meet the requirements,” Holt said. “But if they’re not registered with us and they have a disability and they meet the requirements they will not be excluded from membership.”

To join, undergraduates are required to have completed 24 hours and have a 3.1 grade point average and graduate students are required to have completed 18 hours and have a 3.3 GPA. Holt said that if those requirements are met, the student then has to be registered with DSS, present a documented disability or self-identify as a person with a disability.

“We expect that they are going to get leadership experience,” Holt said. “We view advocacy as a very important skill, that really I think all students should learn, but these students have shown a vested interest in advocating for people with disabilities. We would really like for that to be a priority with them.”

Membership fees and joining costs have not been decided on yet, but those are in discussion among the organization’s advisors.

“Obviously there is going to be a little bit of cost involved and so we want to make sure that’s covered but we don’t want to put a burden on the students either because we do know that that is a consideration,” Holt

A view of the outside of Disability Support Services in the Nigh University Center on the fourth floor. (Evelyn Stewart/The Vista)

said.

A president and officers for Delta Alpha Pi have been selected, but Holt said there are still some of the logistics that have yet to be completed with the national chapter and with campus, such as establishing an OrgSync page and similar requirements set forth by UCO’s Office of Student Engagement.

“Students with disabilities, when you talk about the goal of making it into the honor society, they typically have to study longer, they have to study harder,” Jody Wilham, advisor of DAPi and coordinator for DSS at UCO, said. “So, the outcome of

all that hard work and watching the dedication and all of that hard work pay off, is to be able to say my hard work lead me to be able to join this.”

To bring the honor society to campus there was a $300 national fee to the DAPi national headquarters, which DSS paid with their own departmental funds.

“There’s still, unfortunately, a lot of students who don’t want to be identified as a student with a disability, so in doing this honor society, it’s kind of the reason it was started, we really we want to recognize these students for their achievement,” Holt said.

SECTION B

Edmond “Our Words, Your Voice.”

ucentralmedia.com vistanews1903 @thevista1903 @thevista1903 The Vista

Monday, August 20, 2018

Bronchos Make Central Home

continued on pg. 15 Students, family members and volunteers help to move incoming students onto the University of Central Oklahoma campus during Move-In Day on Aug. 11. Fraternities, sororities, faculty, staff and student organizations volunteered to help carry furniture and supplies as students move into UCO’s campus housing. Move-In Day was the kickoff for the pre-semester leg of UCO’s Stampede Week that lasts from Aug. 11 through Aug. 24. (Christian Tabak/ The Vista)

Edmond’s International House to Go Global Katie Standlee

@katiestandlee Managing Editor

Edmond’s International House at Central Plaza could be recognized as the 18th international house in the world by International Houses Worldwide after seeking recognition through an intensive application and review process.

“We have an opportunity, and we have an organic opportunity, in which our location is properly placed across the street from a great university who has a great vision of bringing international visitors to get a college education,” said Will Rhoads, director of the International House at Central Plaza.

The process to become recognized

started last spring according to Jared Scism, assistant director of International Programming, which started with an application process. If the application is approved, the international house will be reviewed by a committee.

Depending on the reviewing committees’ results, the international house will have to send officials to go to a conference to give a presentation. If their presentation is approved, the committee will come review the international house in person.

Scism said that the entire process could take about a year or two, but it depends on how in-depth the worldwide program will go.

“At the end of the day, we seek it out (recognition from International

Houses Worldwide) because it’s a great organization with likeminded people who have training programs, who have a wonderful history and we want to be a part of it,” Rhoads said.

Several big-name universities are recognized by this worldwide program, one of those being the University of California, Berkeley.

“It’s a lot of the big-name schools that are popular in the United States that have international houses [that are recognized by the program] and so it would look very good for UCO to be recognized with top schools like those,” Scism said.

According to Scism, UCO would

continued on pg. 6

UCO’s International House Offices are located within the International House at Central Plaza. The office provides support for UCO’s international student population. (Regan Rosson/The Vista)

B2

Aug. 20, 2018

Most Educated/Integris

Edmond Named Most Educated

Lauren Morris @TheVista1903 Reporter

The City of Edmond was named Oklahoma's Most Educated City in a recent survey conducted by national auto insurance company Insurify over the level of education among the state's car insurance applicants.

More than 1.4 million completed auto insurance applications were considered in the process, with Insurify using an algorithm to calculate scores based on educational achievement for adults and GPA for high school students.

“From the city standpoint, the biggest thing that we can do is to be positive supporters of education,” said Casey Moore, Edmond's public information officer. “Make sure we spend money on quality of life, safety and infrastructure, and also working hand in hand with the schools, with UCO, to make sure we’re all moving in the same direction.”

The United States Census Bureau's website estimates Edmond’s population to have been about 92,000 on July 1, 2017, with the amount of

citizens between the ages of 18 and 64 estimated to be around 54 percent.

The Census Bureau also recorded the number of citizens 25 years of age or older with a bachelor’s degree at about 53 percent, while those with a high school degree is around 96 percent. The national average for a bachelor's degree was around 23 percent.

In terms of K-12, Edmond Public Schools’ Public Information Officer Susan Parks-Schlepp said that as of May 2018, Edmond is the third largest and fastest growing district in the state, with close to 25,000 students enrolled.

Over one-fifth of these students enrolled are in the “Gifted and Talented” program. She said the average ACT score is a 23.6, and they offer 36 advanced placement classes.

Parks-Schlepp also said the goal of Edmond schools is to teach students the skills of critical thinking and problem solving to be competitive in a global marketplace.

“We believe we have very effective teachers, significant parental involvement and we also have a community that’s highly engaged and supportive

Edmond was named the Most Educated City in Oklahoma by Insurify. Casey Moore, City of Edmond public information officer, said that this was due to Edmond’s public support of education. (Lauren Morris/ The Vista)

of our endeavors,” Parks-Schlepp said. “So, all of those key attributes contribute to the overall success of our district.”

In terms of higher education, Edmond has two colleges: the University of Central Oklahoma and Oklahoma Christian University. In the spring of 2018, UCO recorded 12,817 undergraduate students and 1,503 graduate students enrolled, while in the fall of 2017 OC recorded 1,986 undergraduate students and 485 graduate students.

Public support has been cited as a major factor into the success of the

public education system in Edmond, with the city having approved 58 bond-funded projects since 1958, according to Moore.

“There’s always been a lot of public support for education system,” Moore said. “I think it’s kind of something that’s been in place for a very very long time. One of the things I think that is really indicative of that is the public schools, every two years, typically do a bond issue.

There’s never been one that has not passed, and so, that’s the biggest key, is the community support.”

Integris Health Expands with Edmond Alejandro Gonzalez @A_Gonzalez_17 Reporter

Integris Health Edmond is planning to expand its Interstate 35 facility this fall to accommodate new beds and equipment for patients, with the project expected to be completed by 2020.

“The expansion will be one of the largest private investments in the Edmond community at a total cost of $94 million,” said Janet Yowell, executive director of the Edmond Development Economic Authority.

According to Yowell, Integris Health is funding the construction, which almost double the size of the facility.

“This expansion will benefit the Edmond community and surrounding areas by providing faster and more comprehensive healthcare,” said Yowell. “Edmond is lucky to have choices of heath care services from several providers.”

On Oct. 3, 2011 the facility was built with a total of 40 beds. Integris’ expansion will include a new five-story building that fits 64 new inpatient beds, as well as labor and delivery, intensive care unit and medical surgery beds.

Integris Health Edmond is expanding its facility off of Interstate 35 which will almost double it in size to include new beds and medical equipment. (Lauren Morris/The Vista)

The existing facility will also extend east to accommodate new operating rooms and clinical outpatient space.

“Progressive growth since 2013 dramatically affected average daily census with an unprecedented impact on total hospital capacity,” said Tracy

Cain, senior marketing representative.

Cain said that the hospital’s capacity has been an issue over the past 4 years, but the facility has had every intention of growing as the Edmond community expands.

According to Cain, a bed study was conducted in 2015, and Integris Health Edmond has been working with the architecture firm, HKS, since 2017 on the current planned expansion.

“The healthcare services available to Edmond citizens are top notch,” said Yowell.

“After this expansion, Integris Health Edmond still has the capability to expand even further,” Cain said.

In addition to the expansion, Arcadia Trails Center for Addiction Recovery is currently under construction and it will be done in the spring of 2019.

The addiction program offers comprehensive treatment for people suffering from chemical dependency. “The clinicians at Arcadia Trails plan to not only treat the patient for addiction, but also underlying mental illness and trauma,” said Cain.

Pageant

Aug. 20, 2018

B3

Oklahoma Takes it All in Pageants Katie Standlee @katiestandlee

Managing Editor

A recent University of Central Oklahoma graduate and an Edmond high school student were named Miss Black U.S. Ambassador and Miss Black Teen U.S. Ambassador, marking the first time that the same state has acquired both titles in the pageant's history.

The Miss Black USAM and Miss Black TUSAM Scholarship Pageant is a program that is run by Ambassadors of Change Incorporated, a national nonprofit organization that seeks to empower young women of color to be agents of change within their communities, according to Patrice Harrison, founder and CEO for Ambassadors of Change, Inc. “So, we take a problem in the community that these girls are facing, they are typical wherever they are from, and we take their passion and their drive to help them create their own grassroots movement in order to create change," Harrison said.

A national pageant, contests from around the country compete against each in a preliminary community service presentation and private interview, a fitness demonstration, evening wear and an on-state interview, according to Harrison.

Oluwakemi Olurotimi, former Miss Black UCO 2017 an interna-

tional student from Nigeria, graduated from UCO in May 2018 and is currently pursuing a doctoral program, and Brooklyn Douglas, a senior at Booker T. Washington High School in Tulsa, were awarded the titles July 28 at the Impact Event Center in Atlanta, Georgia.

“My platform is STEM GEMS and it is basically empowering young girls to or help young women of color to aspire to STEM fields,” Olurotimi said. “Not necessarily STEM fields that we know about, like being a doctor or the engineering part, but STEM fields that are not necessarily what you would call traditional STEM fields.”

Olurotimi said she partners with organizations that have women representative in these fields to show young women what it is like to aspire to be a professional in fields within the areas of science, technology, engineering and math, and that this is something she wants to continue in her year as Miss Black USAM. In addition to focusing on her STEM GEMs platform, Olurotimi said she wants to connect with and learn more about the African American community and be involved within her community as an agent of change.

"I just want to be able to pour myself out into the community and be very involved, because that is what the pageant is all about, it’s about

Brooklyn Douglas (left) was named Miss Black Teen U.S. Ambassador and Oluwakemi Olurotimi was named Miss Black U.S. Ambassador July 28. (Provided/Ambassasdor of Change Inc.)

Brooklynn Douglas, Miss Black Teen Oklahoma USAM and Miss Black Teen North Carolina USAM, Imani Johnson stood hand in hand. Brookylnn’s name was called as the 2018 Miss Black Teen US Ambassador. (Provided/Ambassadors of Change Inc.)

being an agent of change," Olurotimi said.

Olurotimi has been and is currently working with Cross International, an international nonprofit Christian relief and development organization that assists impoverished communities around the world by providing them with food and water, shelter, medical care, self-help programs, education, care for orphans and emergency relief.

She said that in her year as Miss Black USAM this is the charity she will be working with alongside her platform.

"One of the things we have been able to do with that charity is provide school supplies to children in my home country," Olurotimi said. "I just want to be able to do a lot more with my charity and my platform."

Within the Miss Black TUSAM competition, Douglas competed with a platform of is “Not For Sale” Teen Sex Trafficking Education and Awareness.

According to Harrison, judges look for someone that is well rounded, has a heart for their community and creating change in their community, but also that is already actively complet-

ing work within their community.

“There are some similarities to other pageants, but what makes us a little different is, going into the competition, the interview portion is worth 40 percent of their score,” Harrison said. “They are required to do a five minute presentation of how they have created change in their communities and then the judges are able to ask them questions.”

Both Olurotimi and Douglas will be traveling the US and other countries overseas to share their platforms, hosting conferences and empowering the masses, according to Ambassadors of Change.

“I think this will be more of an inspiration for an international student at UCO, just letting them know that they can aspire to be more and their journey doesn’t always have to end on campus,” Olurotimi said. “Make it a priority to pursue knowledge and make a difference in the community you are in, because whether you like it or not, for as long you are here, this is your home in a way and it is your responsibility to take care of your home whether or not you may feel welcomed.”

Aug. 20, 2018

B4

Around Edmond

Monday, Aug. 20, 2018 The Edmond Jazz Orchestra Performance: Edmond’s Jazz Orchestra will perform at 7:30 p.m. at the University of Central Oklahoma’s Jazz Lab. Tickets are $20 for adults and $5 for students.

Tuesday, Aug. 21, 2018 Mongo Allen Book Signing at Best of Books: Local author, film producer and UCO graduate Mongo Allen will hold a signing for his book “Petra: The Addiction Chronicles” from 6-7:30 p.m. at Best of Books.

Friday, Aug. 24, 2018 Miss Brown To You Performance: Local Oklahoma jazz duo Miss Brown To You will perform at 8 p.m. at the University of Central Oklahoma’s Jazz Lab. Tickets are $10.

34th Annual Oklahoma Cattlemen’s Association Ranch Rodeo: The 34th annual Oklahoma Cattlemen’s Association Ranch Rodeo will be hosted at 7 p.m. at Guthrie’s Lazy E Arena. The event benefits the Children’s Hospital Foundation.

Edmond Jr. Rodeo: The Edmond Round Up Club will host the 2018 Edmond Junior Rodeo at 7 p.m. at the Carl Benne Arena. Tickets are $5 and $1 for attendees 18 and under.

Saturday, Aug. 25, 2018 Ashley Windham at the Patriarch: Local musician Ashley Windham will perform alongside local guitarist John Cross at 7 p.m. at the Patriarch Craft Beer House in Edmond.

Edmond Farmer’s Market: The annual Edmond Farmer’s Market runs every Saturday mid-April - October from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. The market is located on 1st Street, one block west of Broadway in Edmond. It is a family friendly environment where you can purchase regionally grown produce and Made in Oklahoma food items.

Sam Anderson Book Signing: Award-winning journalist Sam Anderson will have a book signing from noon-1:30 at Edmond’s Best of Books.

Anderson’s book, “Boom Town,” is a historical narrative of Oklahoma City from the Land Run to the present.

Slide Outta Summer: Edmond’s Parks and Recreation Department will host the department’s annual Slide Outta Summer community event from noon-4 p.m. at Edmond’s Mitch Park. The event will feature nine inflatable water slides, music by DJ Shorty B and food trucks including PLP Food Truck and Kona Ice OKC. The event is $5 per person and food cost will be determined by food truck prices. Children must be at least 4 years old to use the water slides and no outside food is permitted at the event.

A bronze structure in Downtown Edmond titled “Pastoral Dreamer” by David Phelps. (Regan Rosson/The Vista)

Sunday, Aug. 26, 2018

Saturday, Aug. 31, 2018

Brisch Center for Historical Performance Chamber Music Fundraiser: The Brisch Center for Historical Chamber Music within the University of Central Oklahoma’s School of Music will host a fundraiser at 3 p.m. in the Radke Fine Arts Theatre inside UCO’s Center for Tranformative Learning. The event will celebrate the birthday of Margaret Brisch, wife of the late Hans Brisch, chancellor emeritus of the Oklahoma State System for Higher Education. The event is free, but donations are encouraged.

Edmond Farmer’s Market: The annual Edmond Farmer’s Market runs every Saturday mid-April - October from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. The market is located on 1st Street, one block west of Broadway in Edmond. It is a family friendly environment where you can purchase regionally grown produce and Made in Oklahoma food items.

Tuesday, Aug. 28, 2018 FACS: Empyrean Skies and Horn Melodies: Peggy Moran, associate professor with the University of Central Oklahoma’s School of Music, will perform at 7:30 p.m. at UCO’s Jazz Lab. Moran will be accompanied by the Zephyr Winds UCO faculty woodwind quintet and the Redbud Brass UCO faculty quintet. The event is the first performance in UCO’s annual Faculty Artist Concert Series. Tickets are $10.

Thursday, Aug. 30, 2018 Tea 101 Class: Attendees can learn about the history of tea, the health benefits, the proper way to steep and more from 3-4 p.m, at the Inspirations Tea Room. The event costs $10 and requires a reservation to be made at 405-715-2525.

Friday, Aug. 30, 2018 Brian Gorrell & Jazz Company: Brian Gorrell, director of the jazz program at University of Central Oklahoma and a former member of the Lawrence Welk Orchestra, will perform at 7 p.m. at UCO’s Jazz Lab. Gorrell also serves as advisor to UCO’s graduate jazz program, teaches several classes including Applied Saxophone I and directs the award wining UCO Jazz Ensemble I. He will be performing with the UCO Jazz Company. Tickets cost $10.

Tuesday Sept. 4, 2018 Epic Reads Meet-Up!: Epic Reads, a section of the HarperCollins Publishing agency that promotes young adult literature, will host an Epic Reads Meet-Up from 6-7:30 p.m. at Edmond’s Best Books. The event will feature young adult authors Kendare Blake (“Two Dark Reigns”), Katherine McGee (“The Towering Sky”) and Sara Raasch (“These Rebel Waves”). Purchase of one of the author’s books is necessary to participate.

UCO Broadway Tonight: David Sandborn: Nationally acclaimed saxophonist David Sandborn will perform at 7:30 p.m. at the University of Central Oklahoma’s Mitchell Hall Performing Arts Theater. One of the most commercially successful American saxophonists for six decades and counting, Sandborn will be performing as part of UCO’s College of Fine Arts and Design’s Broadway Tonight concert series. Tickets cost $25-30 based on seating.

Red Dirt Rug Installation: Local artist Rena Detrixhe will have a live demonstration of her red dirt rug artwork from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the University of Central Oklahoma’s Melton Gallery. Detrixhe installs her piece as a meditative performance, delicately laying down red dirt found in Oklahoma and embellishing the surface to resemble a decorative rug. The event is one of two large scale showcases that will be hosted this year as part of the gallery’s Poetic Embroidery exhibition.

Street Cars

Aug. 20, 2018

B5

Streetcars to Loop Downtown Evelyn Stewart @Evehynn Reporter

Construction on the Oklahoma City Streetcars project as part of the Oklahoma City MAPS 3 Project is nearing completion, with the streetcar system planned to be open to the public by mid-December.

The streetcar is the third installment of the MAPS 3 project, with the Oklahoma River improvement projects and state fairgrounds improvements having been completed last year. EMBARK, Oklahoma City’s public transportation authority, will operate the streetcars.

“The construction of the rails and streetcars have been paid for through the MAPS 3 penny sales tax budgeted at $131 million,” Kristy Yager, Oklahoma City public information officer, said.

The streetcars will run through the Midtown and Bricktown areas of downtown with two route options: the 2-mile Bricktown Loop and 4.8mile Downtown Loop. These loops will serve 22 stops every 12 to 15

minutes.

The Downtown Loop service runs from 6 a.m. to 2 a.m., Monday through Friday and from 7 a.m. to 2 a.m. on Saturday, while the Bricktown Loop service runs from 7 a.m. to 2 a.m. on Friday and Saturday.

The streetcars are expected to be activated on Sundays when there are large events along the route.

Streetcar service will cost $1 per ride and can be purchased at electronic kiosks that will be located at each stop. Day passes are $3 and monthly passes are $32.

The OKC Streetcar fares will be collected by the EMBARK team, according to Michael Kimball with the Oklahoma City Public Information and Marketing Office.

Once the Convention Center and the Scissortail Park, two other current projects, are finished, Kimball said Oklahoma City residents will have a full picture of the transformative investments that have always been a part of the MAPS program. “[Improvements to the economy] can also come from indirect effects, like the cumulative effect these

The new Oklahoma City Streetcar making a test run through the streets of downtown OKC along the new tracks that have been put in. (Provided/EMBARK)

projects have on our quality of life, which makes Oklahoma City a better place to live and for employers to do business,” Kimball said.

The streetcars will share the same lanes as vehicles. The city’s cyclists are warned to stay aware of the new track as slim tires can get stuck in the streetcar’s tracks, to cross the tracks at a ninety-degree angle and stay in the marked biking lanes while also looking out for oncoming vehi-

cles, according to EMBARK. For pedestrian safety, city residents are encouraged to look for markings that indicate a streetcar passage and to use designated crosswalks while also giving the streetcars ten feet of space so the driver can see them, according to EMBARK. The OKC Streetcar system was designed to easily allow future expansion, however, there are no formal plans in progress at this time.

B6

Aug. 20, 2018

International House

Edmond’s International House to Go Global

Continued From Page 1

be one of the first schools to be recognized in the midwest. The closest recognized international house to UCO is in Northern Arizona.

The International House at Central Plaza is a housing option for both international students and domestic students. However, this building is not affiliated with UCO’s Office of Housing and Dining.

Scism said that the international house is currently 80 percent international students and 20 percent domestic students, and only students can live there.

UCO’s International House used to have a location on Chowning Street in an old fraternity house, but in May 2017, it moved their offices into the International House at Central Plaza as it was being remodeled.

“The event space is huge,” Scism said. “We can host events that can hold up to 300 people and the fact that a lot of international students live here increases the international student participation in activities, which helps retention.”

Rhoads said that the way they place residents is by getting to know

Edmond’s International House at Central Plaza recently rebranded itself as The International House ahead of applying to be recognized as the 18th official international house in the world. The process is expected to take one to two years. (Regan Rosson/ The Vista)

them on a personal level; it is about making sure they are comfortable while pursuing their education.

“Very few, when they move in here, ever leave until they graduate,” Rhoads said. “Our retention rate is close to 90 percent.”

According to Rhoads, the remodel of the building started two and a half years ago on the top floor. He said every piece of sheet rock and carpet was changed and the walls were

repainted.

“Basically we have taken this building and revamped the whole thing,” Rhoads said.

Scism and Rhoads said the event areas in the International House at Central Plaza are open to all student organizations and groups on campus that would like to come rent them out for free. Those reservations can be made through on the International House page on UCO’s website.

Currently International Houses Worldwide recognize 17 other international houses and the complete list of those, as well as more information about the program, can be found on their website.

“I think the ultimate goal is to provide safe living for students seeking higher education, and promote global competency while they’re here,” Rhoads said.

Edmond Not Ready to Serve Up Tennis Facility Lauren Morris @TheVista1903 Reporter

The project of building a new community tennis facility for the Edmond Public School system on Kelly Avenue and 15th Street has been delayed by the City of Edmond due to construction bids being higher than planned.

The original plan for the tennis facility featured 18 outdoor courts and 10 indoor courts, and planned to be open by summer of 2019, according to Casey Moore, City of Edmond public information officer.

After difficulty settling on a construction bid, Edmond plans to rebid in September with modifications to reduce the size. The city plans to approve a bid by October.

“It will take 12 months to construct the facility,” Moore said.

“Hopefully, we can be open prior to the end of the year in 2019.”

While the original price was estimated somewhere above $14 million, Moore said with the delays, they hope to reduce the final

price by at least $3 million.

Current plans for the facility include 18 outdoor courts, a minimum of 6 indoor courts, a shopping space, an area for concessions and enough locker rooms

for the current three Edmond high schools: Edmond North, Edmond Memorial and Edmond Santa Fe, as well as a future fourth high school.

Stadium construction at each

A rendering of the tennis facility planned by the City of Edmond and Edmond Public Schools show the original scale of the center. The new center will be reduced to reflect a more affordable project. (Provided/ City of Edmond)

high school created a need to move the district's current tennis courts to a new location, according to Moore.

With the Kickingbird Tennis Center on Danforth Road and Bryant Avenue landlocked unable to expand, Edmond Public Schools proposed a new facility.

“By pooling our resources, we can each get a much larger and nicer facility for the citizens of our community,” Moore said.

Although Edmond Public Schools initiated the project and its purpose will be for the high schools' competitive games, the facility will be open for anyone in the Edmond community to use.

Edmond Public Schools have said that their athletes set high standards for themselves and work collaboratively with their teammates to meet the needs of all stakeholders.

Chief Operating Officer Justin Coffelt said the school district hopes the best bid available can be agreed on soon and the tennis facility can open as soon and as safely as possible.

Maps 3 Shelter Animal

Aug. 20, 2018

B7

Edmond Shelter Packed Full

Lauren Morris @TheVista1903 Reporter

While back to school season means busier lives for a lot of working adults and students, animal control centers such as the Edmond Animal Shelter becomes busier as fewer residents come for adoptions.

Debra O’Day, a regular volunteer at the Edmond Animal Shelter, said that busier schedules in the fall season lead to less adoptions. While the shelter is not currently at overcapacity, that status could change quickly.

Part of the problem, according to O’Day, is that it is impossible to predict which animals and how many of them could get adopted in one week, as well as predict how many animals could come in. One week dogs could be overcapacity, and the next week could be cats.

The shelter has hit overcapacity a few times over the summer season, at one point reaching over 300 percent capacity. That specific time ended with over 36 dog adoptions and 20 rescues in the span of a week. Adoption fees, during overcapacity or not, are always $25.

Adopting is not the only option available for those who want to help, though. Administration Specialist Cara Drake said anyone can help by donating supplies, fostering or volunteering. Staple items for donating include canned cat food, Purina dog and puppy chow, small pet beds and food and drinking bowls.

Another option the Edmond Animal Shelter provides is the option for residents to foster pets for a certain period of time.

“Fostering is a good idea for those who love animals and love the company they bring, but aren’t able to make the 15 year commitment of fully adopting,” Drake said.

To foster, an applicant would need to fill out a form agreeing that the applicant has what would be considered a prime living situation for a shelter animal and give the Edmond Animal Shelter permission to do a home inspection to make sure expectations are met before any animals are allowed to stay at the residence.

Shirley Foster, who has been volunteering at the shelter for 12 years, said she fostered around 50 kittens in the span of one year one time. She enjoys walking the dogs, though, because it helps keep them social. She specified that kittens are especially more loving and social when they’ve been fostered and are used to human interaction.

Ren is a 4-year-old labrador mix that is available for adoption at the Edmond Animal Shelter. (Lauren Morris/The Vista)

“It gives them a better existence,” Foster said.

Volunteering is also something a person can do if adoption is not an option. Walking with dogs, playing with kittens and puppies or helping clean cages are ways people can volunteer. Clean cages are especially important, as the shelter has Surgery Day once a week, usually on Tuesday or Friday, to spay and neuter

animals, and it is important that healing animals are in clean conditions, according to Drake.

Kelly Ryan, who has been volunteering at the shelter for three and a half years, said that about 20 volunteers come over the course of a week and that, while the animal shelter asks for about 1 hour a week per volunteer, they are more than welcome to do more if they have the time.

“The dogs love it,” said Kelly Ryan, who has been volunteering at the shelter for 3 and a half years.

“That’s what I’m here for. Otherwise, they’d sit in a cage 24 hours a day.”

For more information regarding contact information and pets that are available for adoption, visit the City of Edmond’s website and, under the Civil Services tab, click Animal Services.

Balthazar is a domestic shorthair that is about 6 years old at the Edmond Animal Shelter. (Lauren Morris/The Vista)

B8

Aug. 20, 2018

Boat House/Automobile Alley

Downtown’s Boat House District

The Boathouse District is one of Oklahoma’s most developed areas as it has received many new structures and updates. On OKC’s river, the Boathouse District is the most sporting area. Many residents visit the Riversport Adventure to zipline, raft, climb and other such activity.

Above: At the Riversport rapids a group of attendees float along through the rapids course. (Elizabeth Slay/The Vista) Left: Kids jump on the giant bubble trampoline at the Riversport Adventure kids area.

(Elizabeth Slay/The Vista)

Automobile Alley

The Automobile Alley district is one of the most well-known and historic districts in Oklahoma City.

The area is filled with older buildings and acts as the gateway to Downtown.

Above: A street view of automobile alley shows off the many shops it has to offer.

(Elizabeth Slay/The Vista) Lef top: A sign for the Historic Automobile Alley is suspended from a light post to signify this historic district of Oklahoma City. (Elizabeth Slay/The Vista) Left bottom: Once an outdated spiral staircase from the Marion building this new art installation has found a home hanging between building just west of 10th and Broadway.

(Elizabeth Slay/The Vista) This re-use of old materials has brought a new attraction to automobile alley.

Film Row/Uptown

Aug. 20, 2018

Historic Film Row

B9 In 1907 Film Row once housed the offices of major Hollywood film studios like Paramount Pictures, Warner Bros, and MGM. Film Row now celebrates its past with its streets decorated with all things film. As Film Row grows in popularity new construction has begun to keep up with more visitor. At the heart of Film Row is a base of creativity and you can see this in all of the businesses that call this place home.

Left: Off the corner of Lee and Sheridan is The Paramount OKC, an entertainment destination, that is home to Noir Bistro, The Paramount Theatre, and The Paramount Cinema. (Regan Rosson/The Vista)

Right: The Plant Shoppe is a local business that offers a plant and floral design studio, retail shop, and gathering space. They will soon be getting a new home on film row in the West Village next to the Jones Assembly. (Regan Rosson/ The Vista) Center: Dunlap Codding is a patent, trademark, and copyright law firm on Film Row that rents out their event space to everyone in the community. The goal of this space is to celebrate the diversity of creativity, innovation, and passion within Oklahoma City and to provide a venue to those groups and individuals working to make OKC a better place.

They have held events such as the deadCenter Film Festival, which is an event for all in Film Row. (Regan Rosson/The Vista)

Historic Uptown 23rd Perhaps most known for its nightlife the Uptown 23 district is a bustling area within Oklahoma City many people pass through on a daily basis. From the relaxing and chill environment of Cuppies and Joe to the fun and exciting atmosphere of shows at Tower Theater, this area is home to several local favorite hang outs. Uptown 23 is one of the most visited districts and continues to be a popular area.

Right: Originally opened in 1937 the Tower Theatre is one of Oklahoma City’s last original movie houses with an intact auditorium and neon marquee. Tower Theatre now brings live music and movies to the heart of Oklahoma City after being renovated and opened in 2016. (Regan Rosson/The Vista) Bottom: An older couple sits outside of Cuppies and Joe, a local coffee shop an bakery, and enjoy cupcakes and coffee prepared at the store. (Elizabeth Slay/The Vista)

B11

Monday, Aug. 20

Survey

City of Edmond Issues Survey Lauren Morris @TheVista1903 Reporter

The City of Edmond issued its biannual survey earlier this month, sending out 3,500 surveys randomly across the city’s four wards to determine residents’ overall satisfaction with the city The survey has 22 questions with one short answer, focusing on satisfaction with the city and its services.

Edmond’s director of Management Services, Andrew Conyer, said it should not take more than about 10 minutes to complete.

“I think people get surveyed to death and we’re cognizant of that,” Conyer said. “If you sit down for 10 minutes and just really give it your focus, then that’s all it will take.”

He said he also encourages UCO students who have received the survey to fill it out, as he said student satisfaction is more difficult to determine.

“I would encourage students to please fill it out,” Conyer said. “We want to hear your opinion, this is your community as well.”

The survey costs $36,550 and is conducted by the National Research Center, who Edmond has worked with since 2008.In 2016, the last time the survey was sent out, there

was about a 32% rate of people who answered.

Conyer said that while 32 percent might seem like a small number, in the survey world that number represents a higher than typical response rate.

“In fact, National Research Center asked us, ‘Wow, how’d you get such a high response rate?’ because we have other communities that don’t get nearly that response rate,” Conyer said.

Mogan Adams, Edmond’s project manager at the National Research Center, has called Edmond a dream client in terms of working with them due to the city’s high level of engagement with residents.

“The city works hard to welcome residents into the decision-making process and have a voice within their own government,” Adams said. “We are proud to partner with a community that strives to improve the quality of life and services for all of its members.”

Conyer said he cites the Edmond community itself as to why the rate is high.

“I think that’s what’s wonderful about our community, it’s a very engaged community,” Conyer said.

“I think there’s a lot of trust between the community.”

After the survey is completed,

Conyer said it takes until around October for the National Research Center to give them the results in the form of a workshop. About one week later, the city will use one of their semi-annual strategic planning sessions to read through the results and plan by using responses they heard from the surveys.

As an example, Coyner cited responses to the short essay question that was included in the 2014 survey, where many residents said there was a traffic issue within the city. In response, the city created an online map that allowed residents to log-in and choose three hotspots where traffic was the worst. In this project, over 3,000 people responded over the course of 2 weeks.

“They do include a separate, open participation online survey that will be open to the entire community,” said Adams. “They chose to provide this option to the community and received a lot of valuable feedback from residents.”

When they identified the hotspots from the

Downtown Edmond features 200 pieces of dedicated artworks that can be found around the area. (Lauren Morris/ The Vista)

map, Conyer said they moved up a few plans, such as adding turn lanes in intersections at Covell and Bryant and Covell and Santa Fe. Coyner also said that in 2016, a lot of people expressed dissatisfaction with the traffic along 2nd Street. He said that, in response, the city will try and incorporate turn lanes onto 2nd and Boulevard and also work on 2nd and Bryant.

B12

Aug. 20, 2018

Bryant Square

Bryant Square Updates Look Katie Standlee @katiestandlee

Managing Editor

Edmond’s Bryant Square shopping center has added several new commercial outlets and is in the process of renovating several shops to provide the shopping center with an updated look.

The Bed Bath & Beyond, Catherine’s Plus Sizes and Famous Footwear stores in the shopping center are all currently undergoing renovations. Although there is no firm timeline on when the project will finish, it is expected to conclude within the coming months, according to Janet Yowell, director of the Edmond Economic Development Authority.

“This has been a lengthy process for the former owner of the property, InvenTrust, a large real estate company in Chicago,” Yowell said.

“Written in the lease agreements with each of the stores in the center are provisions for when work on the center can take place.”

For instance, stores like Old Navy and Stein Mart do not want renovations done during the time school supplies would be bought, so those renovations will begin later in the year, according to Yowell.

During the renovations, the shops are remaining open for business, with wooden pathways that were built to allow safe access to each shop.

Yowell said the investment in these renovations has totaled $15 million and the additional renovations that happening later on the south end of the center’s property, where Old Navy is located, are estimated to cost between $750,000 and $1.5 million.

The shopping center is currently owned by TPP Bryant, LLC, out of Dallas and JAH Realty.

“All of the renovation work has been done and paid for by InvenTrust and TPP Bryant,” Yowell said.

“Additional renovations will be for the facade of the south section of the property, with [the] interior built out based on who might locate in the vacant space. No city funds have been used on this project.”

Bath and Body Works is the most recent expansion to the shopping center, but Torchy’s Tacos, Five Guys Burgers and Fries, Ulta Beauty and Five Below are also recent expansions to the center.

What will be done at the southeast end of the shopping center where Daylight Donuts used to be has not been decided on yet, but Yowell said the possibility of additional parking has been discussed.

Famous Footwear, along with other shops in Bryant Square, remain open during renovations that are expected to be completed in a couple of months. (Katie Standlee/The Vista)

“The owners have purposely saved this back interior of the property to the last,” said Yowell. “They have been trying to decide what to do with it, including taking it down.”

Bryant Square is currently 310,000 square feet, which makes it the largest shopping center in Edmond.

Yowell said due to the popularity of Bryant Square and the selection of stores there, the intersection of 2nd and Bryant Road has the sixth highest traffic count in Edmond.

“The shopping center has been a key piece of the community since it was built in 1980,” said Casey Moore, City of Edmond public information officer. “It was in need of updating, and the feedback regarding the upgrades and new stores has been very positive.”

Yowell also said these renovations were needed, because the shopping center has received some investment over the years, but never to this extent.

“Since city operations are fully dependent upon sales tax in Oklahoma, Edmond and all other cities, are constantly looking to grow our tax base to provide services to our citizens,” Moore said. “The upgrades at Bryant Square are certainly helpful to our economy.”

There is also construction being done on the shop that used to be Hancocks, but Yowell said the owners of the center are negotiating what the store will be with tenants.

However, there is no timeframe for those discussions right now.

“The ultimate goal of the center is

to make it a place people can easily shop and want to spend time there,” Yowell said. “The owners of the center want the stores to be successful and want a place that competes well in Edmond’s retail market.”

Bath and Body Works opened Aug. 1 and is the most recent addition to the Bryant Square Shopping Center. (Katie Standlee/The Vista)

Quiet Zones

Aug. 20, 2018

B13

Edmond Trains on Track for Silence Elisabeth Slay @TheVista1903 Reporter

The plan to enact quiet zones at Edmond’s railroad crossings prepares to enter into the next phase as the Edmond City Council waits for the conclusion of an ongoing cost assessment from national railways.

Tom Minnick, traffic planner in the City of Edmond Engineering Department, said Edmond is in the process of adopting 49 CFR parts 222 and 229 of the Final Rule, which the Federal Railroad Administration issued on Aug. 17, 2006.

“The purpose of the rule is to mandate a federal requirement for the sounding of locomotive horns at all public highway-rail grade crossings,” Minnick said. “The rule also establishes both minimum and maximum decibel levels for the locomotive horns themselves.”

Minnick said that while the application of the quiet zone is in place, there’s still time before the quiet zone is active. T “Edmond continues to wait on the Burlington Northern Santa Fe Railroad to provide cost estimates for the 11 crossings in the quiet zone,” Minnick said. “The quiet zone could be active within 24 months, after all cost estimates, agreements and improvements are approved and constructed.”

The city has worked on implementing the quiet zone for the last two years, but hope to soon be approved by the BNSF survey, according to Casey Moore, City of Edmond public information officer. The city originally had allocated $200,000 for the survey project, but the project only ended up costing the city $57,000.

Once completed, the city would then work with the consultation

Quiet zones would be implemented at all 11 of Edmond’s railroad crossings. Trains currently use their horns at crossings to alert traffics and pedestrians, but this would be unnecessary if quiet zone security measures are unnecessary. (Katy Kortmeier/The Vista)

agency to determine what measures will need to be implemented and if there will be any long-term maintenance costs for whatever measures are installed.

If and when the production of the quiet zone begins, Moore said safety upgrades will be applied to the 11 railroad crossings throughout Edmond. As each crossing presents distinct differences, the study will need to evaluate each crossing for possible safety and infrastructure considerations. “[The quiet zone] benefits in a few ways,” Moore said. “We have people and businesses who think a quiet

zone would help them and it gives more opportunities for development near the tracks.”

The quiet zone will be active all day, every day unless there is an emergency, and Minnick said the reason for the safety upgrades is to provide an extra layer of precaution.

“In accordance with the final rule, a locomotive horn sounding is not required if each public highway-rail grade crossing is equipped with Supplemental Safety Measures (SSMs) within the proposed quiet zone,” Minnick said. “SSMs are safety measures that have been determined by the FFR to adequately compensate

The City of Edmond has been working on a plan to implement quiet zones for the last two years, but is now entering the next phase. (Katy Kortmeier/The Vista)

for the lack of a locomotive horn.”

Quiet zones are one or more consecutive railroad crossing where the use of locomotive horns are prohibited during routine conditions.

Horns are still to be sounded in emergencies, so as to comply with federal and railroad regulations, or at the discretion of the trains’ operating crews.

Both the Federal Railroad Authority and the BNSF have regulations that need to be met to ensure that planned quiet zones are safe and that constant order is maintained between railroad tracks. Compliance with these regulations is estimated to cost $3.5 million to $5 million, according to Minnick.

Moore said members of the community are welcoming of the development and wish for its approval.

“The response has been very positive and we’ve had a lot of people who support the quiet zone,” Moore said.

As the city awaits the quiet zone’s approval, Minnick feels the new development will benefit the community and its members.

“The absence of routine sounding of the horn could lead to a better quality of life for residents from the ability to sleep better at night,” Minnick said. “Economic development could also take place at vacant lots close to the railroad tracks.”

B14

Aug. 20, 2018

Edmond North

Edmond North Scores New Field Evelyn Stewart @evehynn

Reporter

After 94 years of using the University of Central Oklahoma's football field, Edmond North High School is opening a new stadium this August.

All of Edmond Public Schools varsity football teams have played on UCO's football field since 1924, according to Mike Nunley, EPS athletic director.

However, all three public schools have built or are in the process of building new stadiums.

Edmond Santa Fe opened their stadium last year and Edmond Memorial plans to open theirs next August.

The cost of each stadium was near $10 million and paid for through patrons in the 2017 Bond Project.

The election to build the site-based stadiums was first introduced in 2015, with EPS using bond issues to fund the stadiums to their patrons, according to Nunley. Santa Fe was chosen first due to parking lots already in place where they were needed.

According to Chris Brannick, UCO director of sports media relations, there were not many problems in terms of making sure the facility was open and available. For these games UCO staff members would make themselves available to help the high school games.

“There’s a lot of work that goes off the field and some of the university staff would have to make

Edmond North High School built a new football stadium set to open this August. (Lauren Morris/The Vista)

themselves available for that,” Brannick said. "You could see that as a problem where there is more work to be done."

With Edmond schools playing at UCO’s field, the athletic's staff had to set up the football facility for games on Thursday, Friday and Saturday, according to Brannick, while also still prioritizing UCO games.

The football games were planned out where the schools would rotate throughout the season. One school would play on Thursday, another played Friday and the third was on the road.

Brannick said Thursday nights were the most challenging because UCO students had trouble finding parking spots taken by EPS students and parents.

"On Friday, it's a lot of the same, but it gets a little bit better since some students go home for the weekend," Brannick said.

Brannick said that Edmond North students and faculty are also going to see issues with parking as Thomas Dr. is closed while a water tower is being built.

Edmond North lost space at the back of their campus for the football stadium construction, as

All of the Edmond High Schools are getting their own football fields after decades of playing at the University of Central Oklahoma’s football field. (Regan Rosson/The Vista)

well as a west parking lot due to Thomas Drive construction. Brannick said the west lot is likely the main lot to get to football games, which could cause issues during the season.

Thomas Drive is planned to curve around the parking lot to decrease the number of people crossing the street, according to Brannick. However, the changes will put the road closer to train tracks.

Parking will remain a challenge for UCO athletes and students, as construction on Ayers St. took away three rows of parking and construction on Hamilton Field House is currently taking away 100 parking spots, according to Brannick.

"It could be beneficial that there isn't a large part of Edmond here every Thursday and Friday...we are [still] temporary losing parking spots," Brannick said.

EPS paid UCO $7,500 per game for stadium rental and $1,000 per game for the use of the video board, according to Nunley.

“The student impact is that the school now how has a game day atmosphere, a place to call their home field, a site to build tradition around, a gathering place for many events: football, band, soccer [and] track,” Nunley said.

Bronchos

Aug. 20, 2018

B15

Bronchos Make Central Home continued

Students and parents unload a pickup truck full of college dorm room items outside of Murdaugh Hall on Saturday, Aug. 11 on the University of Central Oklahoma’s campus. (Lauren Morris/The Vista)

Student volunteers walk toward the Commons on Aug. 11 to help new and returning Bronchos move in. The volunteers wore shirts that said “Volunteer” on the back so that they could be easily recognized. (Lauren Morris/The Vista)

A family takes a photo in front of the Transformative Learning Quadrangle Building’s sign on Aug. 11 during move in day at the University of Central Oklahoma. (Christian Tabek/The Vista)

During move in day on Aug. 11 at the University of Central Oklahoma, a group of volunteers push carts and carry in items for the students who are moving into their dorm rooms. (Christian Tabek/The Vista)

Students carry a storage organizer toward West Hall as they move into their dorm on Aug. 11 during move in day at the University of Central Oklahoma. Every year the school dedicates a specific day to help students move into their dorms. (Lauren Morris/The Vista)

SECTION C

SPORTS “Our Words, Your Voice.”

ucentralmedia.com vistanews1903 @thevista1903 @thevista1903 The Vista

August 20 , 2018

Bronchos Stampede Into 2018 Season

Wide reciever Mekail Hall, 14, catches a pass against defensive back Kolby Underwood, 2, during an Aug. 11 scrimmage at UCO’s Wantland Stadium. The Bronchos open the season Aug. 30 at Pittsburgh State (Evelyn Stewart/ The Vista).

Jonathan Goudeau @Goudeau_jdg Sports Editor

As they enter the 2018-19 season, the University of Central Oklahoma football team is looking to find new leaders and answer key questions to build off last season’s 8-4 record.

Priority number one is deciding who will take over as quarterback after graduated Chas Stallard, the program’s all-time leading passer, according to head coach Nick Bobeck.

“I think we’re more talented at the quarterback position, but the question is are we better,” Bobeck said.

The three leading candidates are sophomores Chandler Garrett, Keats Calhoon and Will Collins.

Both Garrett and Calhoon saw action last year, with Garrett being used in a short yardage package, running for 266 yards and seven touchdowns.

Calhoon appeared in three games last season, tossing one touchdown, while Collins possess the arm strength and mobility that the coaches are looking for, according to Bobeck.

“I like the group we have and I know that someone is going to come out of here and put us in a great position to win some football games,” Bobeck said.

The other notable position battle is on offense, at guard, where the Bronchos must replace graduated starter Aaron Williams.

“We’ve got some options that we feel good about,” Bobeck said.

Bobeck said the top three candidates are junior Ben Raulston and redshirt freshmen J.W. Morrow and Chase Slack. He said that he is also not opposed to moving starting tackle Noah Hammonds to guard if he is the best option.

“He’s played a bunch of football in his time here at UCO,” Bobeck said.

“He’s probably the smartest offensive linemen I’ve ever coached.”

If Hammonds does move to guard, Bobeck said to look for Raulston or seniors David Seagle and Jacob Blair to take his place at tackle.

“We feel good about this group as a whole and we feel like this is going to be a strength of our offense,” Bobeck said.

Last year’s injuries and graduations also provided opportunities to freshmen Jake Standlee and Bruce White.

Standlee is a versatile back who finished third in rushing with 345 yards and three touchdowns, while also finishing fourth in receptions and yards with 20 for 152.

White, a former walk-on, was pressed into the starting job against University of Central Missouri and

responded with a 134 yard and two touchdown day. He finished second on the team in rushing with 527 yards and four touchdowns, including 200 in the Bronchos’ Corsicana Bowl win last season.

Sixth-year senior Clay McKenzie is back after missing the last 10 games of the previous season because of a knee injury. He ran for 117 yards and making two touchdowns before the injury.

Rounding out the group are Tyriq French, a junior college transfer and converted receiver, and Justin Curry, a Samford University transfer.

Similar to the quarterback, Bobeck said there may not be a permanent starter and that the Bronchos will have to see what happens for the group.

continued on pg. 7

C2

Aug. 20, 2018

Performance Center

UCO to Sport a New Performance Center James Jackson

@JamesDJackson15 Sports Reporter

The University of Central Oklahoma’s $15 million Sports Performance Center is scheduled to be finished by Sept. 21, the day before the second home game of the season.

UCO broke ground for the 40,000-square-foot center in April 2017 after the annual spring football game, with fans and players in attendance.

The three-story facility will feature a new weight room, strength and conditioning area, athletic training area, football locker rooms and other small locker rooms. There will also be a nutrition center, academic center, office space, players lounge, hydrotherapy pool and theater room.

“A lot of kids come from a high school with a better facility and a better weight room than what they come to here,” said Chris Brannick, UCO director of sports media relations.

“They’re kind of downgrading when they come to college, and you don’t want to be that school. So, it’s hopes of making things better for everybody when we build that building down there.”

The first floor of the building will be divided into three sections, which will have the athletic training and nutrition center together on one wing and the football locker room on the other.

In the middle of both wings will be the 6,000-square-foot weight room, which will feature the Kong IQ system, a strength and conditioning software that tracks velocity, force, distance and effort using a robotic tilt-camera.

UCO will be the only school in the state of Oklahoma to have the system and the first Division II school to have the system installed throughout their entire weight room. According to Brannick, Missouri Western State University installed a partial setup earlier this year in the Griffon Indoor Sports Complex.

The current weight room in Hamilton Field House is being torn down as part of the north Hamilton annex upgrades. It has been moved to the former Thompson Bookstore, across the street from the UCO campus, until the completion of the performance center.

Strength and conditioning coach Jacob Black said he is more satisfied with the weight room in the Thompson Bookstore than the previous one in Hamilton.

“[Thompson Bookstore] is almost two and a half times bigger than what we had,” Black said. “The only bad part about being in here is the ceiling is a little low so you have to watch your head when you do chin-ups.

[But] other than that, we’ve had a ton more space.”

The weight room in Hamilton was around 2,000 square feet. Black said along with its space issues, the weight room had ventilation problems, such as central air conditioning.

“I remember at one point in early 2012 maybe, one of the first summers I was here, it was over 110 degrees for like a whole month,” Black said.

“Literally at one point there was condensation on the ceiling in the room because the humidity was so high, the air just wasn’t moving around.”

The second floor of the center will be office spaces and meeting rooms.

On the third floor, the left side of the building will have an academic center, which includes a classroom, computer lab and three smaller rooms for study hall. The right side of the floor will have a student-athlete lounge and theatre room that will seat up to 130 people.

“If we have a guest speaker or some famous football player wants to come talk to the team, we can fit the whole football team in there,” Brannick said. “Or if you wanted to come talk to multiple sports, you could get multiple sports in there.”

The middle of the third floor will be an open deck area that UCO plans

UCO President Betz and campus officials pose for the groundbreaking of the Sports Performance Center that took place April 2017(Provided/ BronchoSports).

to open up for special groups to sit in and watch the football games from the balcony area of the facility, according to Brannick.

UCO plans to take the Broncho statue that sat in front of Hamilton Field House and move it in front of the performance center, 20 yards behind the north field goal post.

According to Brannick, the plan is to have the football team run past the statue as they are introduced before games.

Brannick said even with the statue and building sitting directly behind the north end zone, UCO will not have catching nets behind the field goal post.

“Some of us think we should, but we’re not going to,” Brannick said.

“We’re kind of thinking [the statue] is going to take a pounding with

field goals, like before the game and at half time when they kick 20 field goals in five minutes.”

Brannick said the statue shouldn’t be too affected because an extra point is already a 20-yard field goal and the statue is an additional 20 yards behind the post.

The university is paying for the project through donations from alumni, supporters and boosters, allowing the expenses of construction for the project to be tax free.

“The sports performance center down there [comes from] a lot of different donations, and also there’s student activity fees that gives us a little money that we’ve kind of used to supplement a lot of things and general budget wherever money allows,” Brannick said.

Construction nears completion for UCO’s new Sports Performance Center. The new athletics facility will provide a new stateof-the-art experience for fans and players alike. The project is expected to be completed later this semester (Evelyn Stewart/ The Vista).

Aug. 20, 2018

Soccer

C3

UCO Soccer

Kicks Season Into High Gear

Amy Salls Kelsey Gordon

Madison Motil

Kelsie Eason

Callie McLaughlin James Jackson

@JamesDJackson15 Sports Reporter

Soccer season kicks off for the University of Central Oklahoma on Aug. 30 with their first match being an away game against Oklahoma Christian University in Oklahoma City.

Over the last 20 seasons as the head soccer coach at UCO, Mike Cook has led the Bronchos to a 287-112-30 record and 11 national tournament appearances.

Cook has only had a win percentage below .500 twice, with last season being one of those, as the Bronchos earned a record of 7-10-2 in regular play and 4-5-2 in conference play.

UCO’s season ended with a 2-1 loss to Missouri Western State University in the quarterfinals of the Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association tournament.

“We’re excited about this new season,” Cook said.

Returning players for the Bronchos include five of the six 2017 MIAA All-league honor recipients. First team All-MIAA sophomore midfield-

Casey Herndon

Camrie Hurst

Cherry Morgan er Kelsie Eason, second team AllMIAA junior forward Asha Haile, third team All-MIAA junior defender Madison Motil and senior forward Katie Killion and freshman defender Camille Greer, the only Broncho to earn honorable mention honors. not sure about this Haile led the Bronchos with nine goals on the season, placing her in the top seven of scorers in the MIAA. Just behind her, placing in

Meredith Wilson

Camille Greer

Asha Haile the top ten scorers, was Eason with eight goals.

The Bronchos signed eight recruits in the offseason. Midfielders Kaylee Collins, Katie Gasaway and Katy Tullis, defenders Brooke Shugart, Josie Hawley, Taryn Kedzior and Karsen Killion and goalkeeper Kelsi Gibson will join the Bronchos as freshman.

“We are extremely excited about this group of recruits for 2018,”

Broncho forward Katie Killion, 9, dribbles the ball in an Oct. 20 game against Nebreska-Kearny (Provided/ Vista Archives).

Katie Killion Cook said. “Every one of them is a solid athlete who comes from very competitive club and high school teams. We feel all of them have the potential to contribute right away.”

Gibson was named Goalkeeper of the Year while playing at Tomball Memorial High School in Tomball, Texas. “[Gibson is] a very athletic goalkeeper who will push for playing time right away,” Cook said. “She’s very good at organizing the back line and shot blocking.”

The Bronchos will play 10 home games and eight away games this season. After the approval by the Oklahoma Board of Regents to install field lights at Thompson Field, the Bronchos will now play their Friday home games at 7 p.m. The home opener will be against Rogers State University on Sept. 2.

“We are very confident that each of these players will bring a great blend of soccer skills, the right mentality, enthusiasm and hard work, which should fit right in with a solid core of returning players,” Cook said. “We look for 2018 to be an exciting and successful season.”

Hamilton Annex

C4

Hamilton Annex to Upgrade the Field House James Jackson

@JamesDJackson15 Sports Reporter

The University of Central Oklahoma is in the process of removing the wrestling room, weight room and former swimming pool area from Hamilton Field House to create additional gym space and to upgrade its current facilities.

The university will add an auxiliary practice gymnasium, new wrestling room, new locker rooms and coaching offices as part of the 21,205 square foot North Hamilton Annex project. Along with those additions, UCO plans to renovate the basketball, soccer, tennis and volleyball locker rooms, which already span 3,427 square feet of the building.

The project, which began in May, is expected to be finished by late 2019 or early 2020, according Chris Brannick, the director of sports media relations at UCO. “Midway through volleyball season, basketball is allowed to start practicing,” Brannick said. “So you get an overlap of three teams, women’s volleyball and men’s and women’s basketball, trying to use the same court. All of these kids have class schedules that I have to work with. You just don’t want to be keeping them here all night, waiting their turn to practice.”

With the addition of the practice gym, Hamilton will feature two full size courts for the three teams to work their schedules around to practice on.

“Now it’s still not a court for everybody,” said Brannick. “But if you had volleyball practice at 1 p.m. and men’s basketball practice at 3p.m., women’s basketball doesn’t have to wait until 5 p.m., they can go in the other gym and practice.”

Other changes include a west entry that will be created with a screened patio and east entry that will feature a raised walkway with double doors

“It’ll be a national standard for Division II programs and it’ll be better than a high percentage of Division I programs.” leading directly into the new wrestling room.

The new room will have four 50 by 50 foot mats, a cardio area and the coaches’ offices. The previous wrestling room had just two mats and provided little room for cardio work, according to Brannick.

“If you’ve got a limited amount of space, I would compare it to trying to play two basketball games at the same time on one court,” said Eli Hale, assistant wrestling coach. “You got people running into each other

Constructuion workers have taken down a portion of the notheast side of Hamilton Field House to build the North Hamilton Annex. This area is where the weight room, wrestling room and pool area used to be (Evelyn Stewart/The Vista).

all over the place. It’s just plain and simple not enough room to do a lot of the things that you want to do.”

With the added room, it would open up the ability to host national team camps and international style wrestling events and practices, according to Hale. “[In comparison to the other Division II schools] our room was about middle of the pack and it just makes a big difference when you can go from there to the very top of the pack,” Hale said. “That’s what our new facility is. It’ll be a national standard for Division II programs

and it’ll be better than a high percentage of Division I programs.”

On the north end of the campus, UCO has already built a temporary wrestling facility that the wrestlers will train in until the North Hamilton Annex is completed.

When the wrestlers move into their new room in the annex, that building will become an alternate dressing room for visiting football teams and an indoor hitting facility for UCO’s baseball, softball and golf teams.

When the Sports Performance Center is completed later this fall, UCO’s football team will move out of their current locker rooms in Hamilton Field House and UCO will tear down that room and build five new locker rooms to provide dedicated locker rooms to for UCO’s female athletic teams.

At the moment, volleyball, women’s basketball and soccer all share a 25-30 person locker room.

The university as a whole is overseeing the project in works with JeDUNN Construction. The university is paying for the project through donations from alumni, supporters and boosters, allowing the expenses of the construction of the project to be tax free.

The interior of the northeast side is undergoing demolition to prepare for construction of the North Hamilton Annex. The expected project completion date is set to be in late 2019 or early 2020 (Evelyn Stewart/The Vista).

KONG IQ

C5

UCO, the State’s King of KONG IQ James Jackson

@JamesDJackson15 Sports Reporter

The University of Central Oklahoma will be the only school in the state to have the KONG IQ system and the first Division II school to have the system installed throughout their entire weight room.

KONG IQ is a strength and conditioning software that tracks velocity, force, distance and effort using a robotic tilt camera. The system will be installed during the first week of the fall semester, according to UCO strength and conditioning coach Jacob Black.

“It’s going to be pretty beneficial,” Black said. “You know, you tell a kid to be explosive, you tell a kid to be fast or move the bar fast and now I’ll be able to give them a physical number.”

The system will give players a specific number to work toward, for example, Black said he can now tell a player to move a bar at 1.2 meters per second and the system will put the real time stats on the screen as they lift.

“Throwing out arbitrary numbers to kids doesn’t always work, but physically with the Kong IQ system, I’m going to be able to pinpoint and tell kids, you need to put this amount of weight on the bar and move it this fast,” Black said.

The KONG IQ system will be installed on all 16 of the racks in the new Sports Performance Cen-

Construction for the Sports Performance Center is underway and should be completed by Fall of 2019 or Spring of 2020. The new center will house a new athletic training system (Evelyn Stewart/The Vista).

ter. According to Chris Brannick, UCO director of sports media relations, Missouri Western State University installed a partial setup earlier this year in the Griffon Indoor Sports Complex.

“It’s just a very data heavy service that is going to dramatically improve how we do our athletic training and strength and conditioning,” Brannick said.

The monitoring technology will be wired into the campus WiFi, allowing for the coach or the

Student using workout equipment in the Wellness Center on the University of Central Oklahoma’s campus. The new Sports Performance Center will have KONG IQ strength and conditioning software that will be able to track atheletic performance (Regan Rosson/The Vista).

athlete to look up workout stats or plans via a phone, computer or tablet. “[Players] can video tape themselves with their cell phone and it’ll upload to our system,” Black said. “We’ve got a kid from Texas that can go home and send me reps. I can monitor him even though I’m not in the room.”

The athletes will use biometric scanners to sign in to the workout equipment using just their fingerprint. The 3-D skeletal robotic camera will then adjust to the athlete’s height and exercise, and will record the reps and sets based on force, power and effort. The camera will lock onto 25 of the athlete’s joints to monitor proper technique on their given exercise.

Black said the system itself will count reps on the main lift. If a player is not doing their workout, Black will get an alert on his iPad. He said being the only strength and conditioning coach for most of the sports programs, he has had to watch about 30-40 athletes, but this new system will help him monitor them.

Before each session, the coach will be able to pre-program sets for athletes, as well as put timers

on each station. The KONG IQ system allows coaches or athletic trainers to either use workout templates from the system or build their own workout program through the system.

When an athlete finishes their workout, the feedback of how they performed will be instantly displayed on the equipment tablets.

The video with results will then be added to a database for the athlete.

“One of the other features that they’re trying to do also, is a leaderboard,” Black said. “They mentioned to me that Texas has TV screens up in their weight room and they have a leaderboard for the day.”

Black said the system will help judge weight and speed. For example, when an athlete is working on a back squat and they want to see who is the most powerful at 80 percent, the results will rank athletes by how fast they moved the bar.

The databases that KONG IQ keeps of the athletes will improve recruiting, once it is integrated into high schools, because coaches won’t be able to lie anymore about players workouts, Black said.

C6

Aug. 20, 2018

Quarterbacks

Quarterbacks Vie for the Reins

Bronchos Look to Maintain Offensive Production Jonathan Goudeau @Goudeau_jdg Sports Editor

The University of Central Oklahoma football team will enter the Fall 2018 season with a battle at one of the most important positions on the football field: quarterback.

There is a three-man race to replace all-time leading passer Chas Stallard and all three contenders bring a unique skillset to the offense.

“We’re replacing one of the best quarterbacks in school history and we need a leader at this spot,” said head coach Nick Bobeck. “But, I like the group we have and I know that someone is going to come out of here and put us in a great position to win some football games.”

Sophomore Chandler Garrett has the most on-field experience of the group, having appeared in 10 games after transferring in from the University of Wyoming.

He was mainly used in running situations, using his 6-foot-4-inch frame to gain 264 yards and seven touchdowns. He also added 24 yards and one touchdown through the air.

Regardless of whether he wins the job or not, he is still expected to be in running situations on the field, according to Bobeck.

“Chandler had a package last year and will likely have one again,” Bobeck said.

“I like the group we have and I know that someone is going to come out of here and put us in a great position to win some football games,” Bobeck said.

Sophomore Will Collins, a University of Louisiana at Monroe transfer, arrived in the spring and quickly impressed. The Lawton native was a two-star recruit out of Lawton MacArthur High School, where he won a state championship in 2014 en route to being named Oklahoma Gatorade Player of the Year. He is

Quarterback Chandler Garrett, 16, takes a snap during a game in Wantland Stadium. Garrett ran for 264 yards and seven touchdowns in a situation role. He looks to earn the starting job this season (Provided/ Vista Archives).

the most balanced of the three and possesses a high football IQ, according to Bobeck.

“Will did a good job in the spring,” Bobeck said. “He was a little bit of a fish out of water in the spring, but started to get it toward the end of spring.”

Sophomore Keats Calhoon, the third candidate, has been in the system the longest. During his prep career at Victory Christian High School in Tulsa, Calhoon finished as the second leading passer in Oklahoma high school history.

Calhoon has spent the past three years backing up record setting quarterbacks Stallard and T.J. Eckert.

Like Collins, Bobeck said he also has a high football IQ and a strong arm to go with it.

“We have the second leading passer in Oklahoma high school history in Keats,” Bobeck said. “He has a leg up being in the system for three years.”

Redshirt freshman Johnny Bizzell was moved to receiver despite taking first team reps in the spring. Bobeck said he liked Bizzell’s potential at

receiver, but that he was not the best fit for the offense at quarterback.

“We feel arm strength led to that more than anything,” Bobeck said.

“So much of our offense goes lateral and vertical, not intermediate where he’s best at.”

Bobeck said he feels good about what all three bring to the table and is confident whoever wins the job will be able to win games.

“We’re in good shape,” Bobeck said. “Finding a guy that has great leadership and grit is going to be really important for us.”

Quarterback Keats Calhoon, 8, evades defends during an Aug. 11 scrimmage at Wantland Stadium. Calhoon is in the mix to possibly start opening day. He appeared in two games last season, throwing for 26 yards and a touchdown (Evelyn Stewart/ The Vista).

Football

Projected 2018

Aug. 20, 2018

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Starting Lineup

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Aug. 20, 2018

Football Preview

Bronchos Stampede Into Season Continued From Page 1

Out wide, the Bronchos have to replace two of the most decorated receivers in program history, J.T. Luper and Josh Crockett. Their departure left a talented but inexperienced group behind, according to Bobeck.

“We’ve probably got the most talented group of kids in the conference since we’ve been here,” Bobeck said.

“It’s just a matter of who is going to come in and do it.”

Junior L’liott Curry is the veteran of the group, having appeared in all 12 games last season and having finished with 32 receptions for 600 yards and six touchdowns.

The Bronchos’ coaches said they are also excited about junior Dustin Basks, who only appeared in five games last season due to injury. He scored two touchdowns in his first game back against Missouri Southern.

Redshirt freshman Mekail Hall is a rangy target who has earned praise from Bobeck since he stepped on campus. Hall is counted on to make an impact, along with 6-foot-4-inch University of Alabama-Birmingham transfer Ronald Turner Jr., according to Bobeck.

Turner made nine starts for UAB last season, finishing with 28 receptions for 262 yards and one touchdown.

“We’re trying to figure out what their roles are and making sure they’re in a good position to be successful,” Bobeck said.

With all three starters back, the linebacker unit is the strength of the defense, according to Bobeck. The unit is led by senior middle linebacker Colton Lindsey, who led in tackles last season with 100.

He is joined by outside linebackers Chris Pogi and Alex Figueroa.

Figueroa led in tackles for loss

The UCO defensive line gathers to hear instructions from Coach Pickett during an Aug. 11 scrimmage at Wantland Stadium (Evelyn Stewart/ The Vista).

with 11.5 and sacks with five.

Both Figueroa and Lindsey earned All-Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association honors last season.

“We get all three starters back and we brought in two good transfers at mid-year in Bryan Burns and Dillion Hall,” Bobeck said. “We feel like we have eight linebackers who can play. It’s probably the strength of the team.”

Bobeck said he expects redshirt freshman Brock Berus to see time, as well as senior Langston Underwood, a former walk-on who earned a scholarship after spring practices.

“We feel like he’s going to be a really good football player for us,” Bobeck said about Underwood.

The defensive line is led by senior Carson Smith at nose tackle. He

earned Third-Team All-MIAA last season.

“Carson Smith is one of the best defensive linemen in all of Division II,” Bobeck said.

The spot opposite next to Smith is still undecided, but Bobeck likes the two transfers he brought in Mike Rios from the University of Tulsa, and Kahewai Kaaiawaawa, a 300-pounder from Garden City Community College.

Whoever wins the job will be flanked by a group of ends in seniors Eli Hooks, Trey Wormington, Justin Stewart and Noble Lybrand, who moved in from tackle.

“We’re probably more talented on the defensive line then we’ve been since 2015,” Bobeck said. “I don’t know if we’re as game ready as that group yet.”

UCO defense swarms to make a tackle during an Aug. 11 scrimmage at Wantland Stadium (Evelyn Stewart/ The Vista).

The secondary received a huge boost when sixth-year senior Addison Staggs was granted another year. He will lead a veteran group with returning starters Malik Walker, O’Shay Harris and Barry Higdon.

“We had a really good spring with the secondary,” Bobeck said. “We’re not only good in coverage, but do a good job in run support. It’s the most improved group.”

He also said to look for redshirt freshmen Daniel Baughman and Kolby Underwood to see time in play after an impressive spring.

The kicking game returns intact with sophomore kicker Alex Quevedo. As a true freshman, he hit 9-12 field goals and all 40 of his extra points. Junior punter Jay Tedesco returns after averaging 40 yards per punt, landing 16 inside the 20-yard line.

“Alex did a great job for us as a true freshman,” Bobeck said. “Jay Tedesco also did very well. He has great ability and we’re looking forward to him progressing.”

While the Bronchos might have questions yet to be answered, Bobeck said the team’s goal remains the same.

“The only football goal we have is to win a national championship,” Bobeck said. “To do that we need to start fast and build confidence.”

The Bronchos open the season Aug. 30 at Pittsburgh State University in Pittsburgh, Kansas.

C10 C10

Sports Volleyball

Preliminary Volleyball lineup

Karyn Chrisman

Taylor Bevis

Jordan Spence

Malia Kaaiohelo

Callie Bangasser

McKenzie Fyfe

Dominique Lipari

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Volleyball

Volleyball Ready to Serve Up This Season Derek Parker @D_Park2

Sports Reporter

The University of Central Oklahoma volleyball team looks to build off last season’s 29-6 record as they prepare for the 2018 season.

The team reported to camp on Aug. 12 to prepare for their season opener Aug. 24 against Southwest Baptist University in Stephenville, Texas.

They went 3-2 against top-25 opponents and 15-3 in conference play in the 2017 season. However, they lost to defending national champions Concordia-St. Paul in three straight

“I think every season [is a] new season,” Miraku said.

sets in the first round of the NCAA Division II Central Regionals.

The Bronchos return 12 of the 16 players from the 2017 roster for the 2018 season. Among those returning is two-time All-American Taylor Bevis, who was named Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association Player of the Year in volleyball and earned first team all-conference honors for the third time. She also led the MIAA in kills last season with 529.

“I think every season [is a] new

The UCO volleyball team huddles during an Oct. 20 match against Nebraska-Kearny. The Bronchos are looking to improve on their 29-6 record from a season ago (Provided/ Vista Archives).

season,” said Edgar Miraku, UCO’s head volleyball coach. “In sports we’ve learned this, all of us getting exposed to it daily: just because a previous season was great and everybody returns, sometimes you add even more talent, it does not guarantee next year will be great. [But] I’m always conscious and optimistic.”

UCO was number one in hitting percentage and assists, and third in average kills scored per attempt in the MIAA. Miraku said that on paper the Bronchos look good, but that team chemistry can alter good teams.

The Bronchos will be bringing in four freshman who are looking to make an impact this year.

Lauren Jenkins, Chloe Hancock, Alycia Bradley-Adriano and Amanda Desch will join the Bronchos this fall to fill the roster.

Jenkins attended Brewer High School in Fort Worth, Texas, becoming an All-State and an all-district selection and set the school’s kills record last season.

Hancock was a top-five blocker in her district at Prosper High School in Prosper, Texas.

Bradley-Adriano had over 800 kills, 150 blocks and 750 digs in her high school career at Olathe North High School in Olathe, Kansas.

Desch won three state championships at Hayden Catholic High

School in Topeka, Kansas, and was named 4A Division II Player of the Year while also earning All-State honors in the past two seasons.

“We are looking forward to the girls getting on campus and getting settled in so we can get to work,” Miraku said. “This is a very talented group and we’re looking forward to seeing what they can do for us and what they can bring to the team.”

Under Miraku, UCO has won 90 matches over the last three seasons and made the NCAA Tournament twice in that time. The Bronchos have also been nationally ranked for 40 consecutive weeks in 2017.

UCO’s defensive specialist Kelly Crow, 2, sets the ball during an Oct. 20 match against Nebraska-Kearny. Crow will be a key part of the Broncho defense again this season (Provided/ Vista Arcives).

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Aug. 20, 2018

Rowing

Rowing Looks Upstream This Season Derek Parker @D_Park2

Sports Reporter

The University of Central Oklahoma women’s rowing team is looking to repeat their performance in the upcoming 2018-19 season after winning their first ever national title.

The Bronchos rowing squad won their first title in program history in May at the Division II National Championship in Sarasota, Florida.

They finished second in the Varsity 4, earning six team points and putting themselves in position for the Varsity 8 race. Central earned 12 points in the V8 race, and were crowned national champions.

After coming close to winning the two previous years, head coach Montia Rice said he was proud that the team brought a title to UCO. “We worked so hard to progress

“One of the hardest parts about repeating is coming out and having that same drive and wanting it the second time around,” Rice said.

UCO’s rowing team celebrates after winning the university’s first ever national championship last season. With expeience back, they aim to defend their championship in the coming season (Provided/ BronchoSports).

every year,” Rice said. “We had come so close two years in a row and to be able to bring that to this school, this area, this program, after all the support this school gives us, it’s nice to be able to repay everything they do for us.”

The Bronchos lost a few seniors last season, but still have an experienced team overall. Eileen Anderson, Megan Dwarshuis and Erica Mitchell will play large roles as far as leadership and experience, according to Rice.

All three competed in the V8 competition last year, and will continue to compete in V8 races in the upcoming season. Anderson and Mitchell were both captains last season, and will continue their captainship.

Junior Megan Dwarshuis will move into a captain role for the team this year after two years of involvement with the team. With the experience of Dwarshuis alongside Anderson and Mitchell, Rice said he is confident in their ability to

lead the team this year.

“Through those three individuals, especially with them being team leaders, they’re really going to help keep the focus on the whole thing,” Rice said. “One of the hardest parts about repeating is coming out and having that same drive and wanting it that second time around.”

Senior Bailey Roberts is also a key piece in the Bronchos quest to repeat last year’s performance, according to Rice.

“With her experience and her leadership as far as running the boat, she’s almost like a mini assistant coach out there,” Rice said.

“I’m really excited to be able to have her for another year and [see] what she’s gonna bring to the table as far as leading the team to another championship.”

Despite losing key seniors, Rice said the Bronchos are confident they can rely on their experienced athletes and incoming talent to make up for the losses, and that Central should be primed and ready to make another run at the title this year.

UCO’s rowing team race down a river during a meet. They look to have another strong season (Provided/ Vista Archives).

Bucking Broncho

Aug. 20, 2018

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A New King Rises in the East

Cleveland Cavaliers’ LeBron James, right, drives to the basket against Philadelphia 76ers’ Ben Simmons, left, of Australia, during the first half of an NBA basketball game, Friday, April 6, 2018, in Philadelphia (AP Photo/Chris Szagola).

LeBron James, the greatest basketball player in the world, has moved on to greener pastures. In one of the biggest free agency moves in the history of the NBA, the King has officially left the Cleveland Cavaliers and joined the storied Los Angeles Lakers franchise.

With the amount of all-time talent the Lakers have had in the past, James and the Lakers pairing seemed almost inevitable. However, with James gone to the Western Conference for the first time ever, there is only one question remaining: who will be the best player in the east?

With James in the west, there will be several star players gunning for the top spot in the Eastern Conference.

Here are some of the players who should be at the top of the list for the new crown in the east.

Ben Simmons: Few players seem more deserving of the Eastern Conference crown than the player deemed the Fresh Prince. After not seeing the court in his first season due to injury, Simmons burst onto the scene in 2018 and claimed the Rookie of the Year Award. Simmons averaged 15.8 points, 8.1 rebounds and 8.2 assists per game. Along with the help of Joel Embiid, Simmons took the 14th seeded Philadelphia 76ers and brought them to the third seed this

year. The real hit to Simmons’ game is his shooting. If Simmons improves upon his stats in the 2018-19 season, especially his scoring, he could takeover the Eastern Conference for years to come.

Kyrie Irving: A former teammate of James, Irving is a do-it-all type player that has dominated in the Eastern Conference since he entered the league. After an unexpected end to last season due to injury, the Boston Celtics’ point guard is ready to dominate a James-less Eastern Conference. Irving can score and distribute with the best in the NBA, and will be looked at to lead the Celtics back to the Eastern Conference Finals this year. Without question, Irving is a top player in the Eastern Conference and even the entire NBA. Kawhi Leonard: Leonard’s transition to the Eastern Conference has been a weird one, to say the least. In a surprising move, Leonard expressed his displeasure with the San Antonio Spurs, one of the most respected franchises in sports, and requested to be moved earlier this year. In yet another huge offseason move, the Spurs dealt Leonard to the first-seeded Toronto Raptors, who fired Coach of the Year Dwayne Casey and traded franchise player Demar Derozan.

Leonard only played nine games last

season, but it is undeniable he has talent. He averaged 25.5 points, 5.8 rebounds and 3.5 assists per game in the 2016-17 season and won Defensive Player of the Year in the 2014-15 and 2015-16 seasons. If Leonard had that much success in a loaded Western Conference, there is no doubt he’ll be among the top players in the Eastern Conference.

Joel Embiid: Few players are as unstoppable as Joel Embiid. At 7 feet tall, the 76ers starting center is a spectacle. The Cameroonian averaged 22.9 points per game, while grabbing 11.0 boards per game. Embiid finished third in the Defensive Player of the Year voting last year, and has certainly made his case as the best center in the NBA. Like his teammate Ben Simmons, Embiid also struggled with injuries early in his career. If Embiid can have another full year without injury, it may catapult him to the top spot in the East.

Victor Oladipo: The former Oklahoma City Thunder player and my sleeper pick for the best player in the Eastern Conference this year, Victor Oladipo earned the league Most Improved Player honors this year.

Oladipo has improved enormously from his time in Oklahoma City. After deciding to change his eating and workout habits, he has improved in

almost ever aspect of the game on the court. Oladipo almost single-handedly led the Indiana Pacers to the playoffs and, even more impressively, led them to seven games in the first round against LeBron James himself. He improved his 15.9 points per game in 2017 to 23.1 in 2018 and doubled his steals from 1.2 in 2017 to 2.4 in 2018.

If Oladipo can continue his upward trend this year, he’ll land himself among the top players in the league.

Giannis Antetokounmpo: Milwaukee Bucks starting forward Giannis Antetokounpo is the obvious frontrunner for the Eastern Conference crown. At 6 feet 11 inches tall, Antetokounmpo has rightfully been nicknamed the Greek Freak. In oneon-one situations, he simply cannot be stopped. Antetokounmpo was already the East’s second best player last year and, barring a breakout season from anyone else, should have the East secured. Since being drafted by the Bucks in 2013, Antetokounmpo has steadily improved in every category.

If the Greek Freak improves from last year’s line of 26.9 points per game, 10.0 rebounds per game and 4.8 assists per game, forget best in the East: he could be holding the MVP trophy at the end of the season.

The NBA will tip off their 73rd season Oct. 16.

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Aug. 20, 2018

Women’s Golf/Bevis

Women’s Golf Looking to New Leaders Derek Parker @D_Park2

Sports Reporter

With four new players added to an already motivated team, coaches for the University of Central Oklahoma’s women’s golf team say the Bronchos are primed and ready for a strong year.

The team will be using their experience from last year as motivation for the upcoming fall season. UCO’s 2017 spring season was cut short for head coach Michael Bond and his team after a seventh-place finish in the National Collegiate Athletic Association Division II Central Regional Championship. However, with experienced returners and incoming recruits, UCO is looking to have a better season.

The Bronchos have three players returning for the upcoming season in senior Makena Mucciaccio, junior Sydney Roberts and sophomore Yuna Sato. Each are looking to make an impact for the Bronchos this season, starting with Mucciaccio, who will be looked at to assume a leadership role on the team.

Mucciaccio has experience, playing in 12 tournaments as a freshman with an average of 79.7 and 11 tour-

naments in her sophomore season with an average of 78.84. Her fourthplace finish in the Central Regional Preview last year was the best of her career and she earned second team All-MIAA in the 2017-18 season.

With her 23 tournament appearances, Mucciaccio will be the most experienced Broncho going into her senior season.

Junior Sydney Roberts is expected to have a great year with the Bronchos as well. Despite injuries, Roberts had a strong sophomore season, and will be looking to replicate her success as a junior, according to Bond.

Roberts won her first title at the 2017 Diffee Ford-Lincoln Invite at Kickingbird Golf Course with a 68, and earned a second team All-MIAA distinction as a freshman.

Yuna Sato is returning to the Bronchos for the 2018-19 season. Bond spoke highly of Sato’s performance during the spring and how she came alive progressively throughout the season.

The team will also be getting four new players this year, with three of them being Oklahoma products.

Chloe Black, Catherine Lau, Faith Stewart and Madison O’Dell are all looking to make contributions to the

team, according to Bond.

“Bringing in four is exciting; they’re gonna be looking to add some much-needed depth to the program,” Bond said. “I know this team has a lot of talent, it’s just gonna come down to how well they play and it’s gonna come down to the new faces in the program.”

The team’s goal is to win it all this year, starting with the conference, then regionals and finally a national

title, according to Bond. He said UCO could make a run at that very thing this year with experienced returners and incoming freshman.

“I believe with all of my mind that this program can do it all this year,” Bond said.

The Bronchos kick off their 2018 fall season on Sept. 4 with the Central Regional Preview in Olathe, Kansas.

Senior Makena Mucciaccio putts during a tournament. Mucciaccio will be counted on to continue her strong play and will lead as well during the coming season (Provided/ BronchoSpots).

Bevis Aims to Kill During Final Season James Jackson

@JamesDJackson15 Sports Reporter

Two-time All American senior outside hitter Taylor Bevis ranks ninth in career total kills at the University of Central Oklahoma with 1,340 as the 2018 season is set to begin for the No. 16 Bronchos.

“Both [of] my parents always taught me to go for anything I wanted and if I worked hard, I could achieve it,” Bevis said. “So, I continued working at volleyball and now here I am.”

UCO went 29-6 last season and finished the year ranked 18th in the country. Bevis was ranked top 10 in the country in kills per set, points per set, total kills, total attacks and attacks per set, and led UCO in total kills with 529, the sixth best single-season total in school history.

She was named an All-American for the second straight season and was also named Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association Player of the Year in volleyball and earned First Team All-MIAA honors for the third time.

“I have played volleyball for most of my life at different levels and I have my mom to thank for that,” Bevis said. “I started playing in the YMCA league and my mom was my coach. Then as I grew up, I started to play more competitive volleyball and, once again, my mom was there coaching me.”

After being coached by her mother throughout her youth, Bevis attended Bishop Carrol High School in Wichita, Kansas. There she became a two-time All-State and threetime All-City selectee in her senior season, as she recorded 407 kills, 246 digs, 40 service aces and a .362 attack percentage.

With her success in high school, Bevis received offers from Division II schools, particularly in the MIAA conference, such as Central Missouri, Missouri Western, Emporia State, UCO and others.

“When I came to UCO, I just had a feeling that is hard to describe,” Bevis said. “On my visit everyone was so quick to say hi and ask me about myself, and it was just a great environment. I describe UCO as a

family and I truly think that is the best way to describe this school.”

In her freshman season as a Broncho, Bevis earned first-team AllMIAA and was named the league’s Freshman of the Year after finishing eighth in the conference in kills per set at 3.27 and second as a Broncho in kills with 396, behind Barbara Jackson who had 427.

Bevis averaged 11 kills per match, recording double-digit kills in 25 of UCO’s 36 matches, and added 58 total blocks and 110 digs.

In her sophomore season, she became UCO’s fifth All-American, joining 2007’s Lacie Allen, 2014’s Barbara Jackson and 2015’s Katy Davis and Whitney Gifford.

Bevis led the Bronchos in kills with 415, an average of 3.95 per set, while also hitting 13 service aces. On defense she recorded 54 total blocks, a team-high 17 solo blocks and 326 digs, which was second on the team behind Dominique Lipari with 477.

“She’s an all-around player who has gotten better every year she’s been with us,” said volleyball head coach Edgar Miraku. “Taylor has an

incredible work ethic and is a great team leader who does everything that’s asked of her.”

UCO outside hitter Taylor Bevis, 16, spikes the ball during an Oct. 20 match agaist Nebraska-Kearny. Bevins will try to earn All-American honors for a third time. (Provided/ Vista Archives).

Men’s Golf

Aug. 20, 2018

C15

Bronchos Swing Into The Fall Season Derek Parker @D_Park2

Sports Reporter

With a newly reloaded team, the University of Central Oklahoma men’s golf team is ready to make a run in the 2018-19 fall season.

After placing first in the 2016-17 season, the Bronchos finished fifth in the Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association Championships last year. UCO will be mixing experience with new talent this year as they take on the MIAA conference.

After losing four-year starter Eli Armstrong, the Bronchos will be looking for new leadership this year.

Senior Alexander Hughes will be among the players who could step into the leadership role. Head coach Josh Fosdick spoke highly of Hughes and his ability on the course.

“For him, it’s a year where he’s got to validate all his talent that he has by going out and playing consistently all year,” Fosdick said.

Hughes already has an individual MIAA championship under his belt, and has produced solid seasons for the Bronchos. He won last year’s

19th Annual NSU Classic with 8-under 205.

Last year, Hughes posted a pair of 74’s in both the MIAA Championships and Division II Regionals for the Bronchos. Fosdick said he will look for Hughes to be someone the team can rely on for a good score each time he plays.

Another key player this season is junior Nick Pierce, who has had two strong seasons for the Bronchos, according to Fosdick. He made an immediate impact as a freshman in the 2016-17 season, playing in 12 tournaments and earning all-conference honors.

Pierce had a strong sophomore campaign, as well as team bests in the MIAA Championships with 70 and the Division II Regionals with 74.

“He’s somebody who has gotten better each and every year,” Fosdick said. “He’s someone who definitely has the potential to have a big breakout year.”

Pierce joins Hughes as two of the most experienced Bronchos returning to the team for the 2018-19 season.

One of the newest additions to the

Junior Nick Piece completes a swing during a tournament. He’s looking to continue his strong play this season (Provided/ BronchoSports).

Broncho team is Blake Murray. Due to transfer issues, Murray couldn’t immediately join the roster last year.

After Murray had high placings in amateur events this summer, Fosdick said the Bronchos are ready to add his talent this year.

“I see him coming in this year and really having a huge impact on the team this year for sure,” Fosdick said.

Two transfer students, Joseph Lemieux and Kylian Kavdar, will join the Bronchos this year as well.

Lemieux came to UCO from the University of Arkansas at Monticello, while Kavdar joins the team out of

Barton Community College in Great Bend, Kansas.

Both transfers are expected to bring the Bronchos experience and talent, helping the team with their ultimate goal of competing for a national title, according to Fosdick.

“There’s no reason why a team in the middle of the country can’t win a national championship,” Fosdick said. “OU’s done it, Oklahoma City [University] does it, OSU has done it and it’s about time UCO figures out a way to get it done too.”

The Bronchos begin their 2018-19 season on Sept. 10 with The Mule in Warrensburg, Missouri.

SECTION D

Arts & Entertainment “Our Words, Your Voice.”

ucentralmedia.com vistanews1903 @thevista1903 @thevista1903 The Vista

Monday, Aug 20, 2018

Panic! Brings a Wicked Disco

Brendon Urie of Panic! at the Disco performs on stage at the BOK Center in Tulsa, Oklahoma, on Aug. 5 during the Pray For the Wicked Tour. Panic! performed 27 songs during their two hour, high-energy set (Megan Thele/ The Vista).

Megan Thele

@1bigtimenicole Copy Editor

On Aug. 5, Panic! at the Disco rolled into Tulsa’s BOK Center as part of their Pray For the Wicked Tour. The show was sold out and fans at the top of the nosebleeds were just as excited as those on the floor.

Panic!’s only remaining member, lead singer Brendon Urie, belted out the band’s hits and songs from their latest album “Pray For the Wicked.” A far cry from the band’s start as a blink-182 cover band turned rock/ alternative/emo band, “Pray For the Wicked” is a glossy pop rock album with heavy Queen and Frank Sinatra influences, and the tour encapsulates that progression.

Ten minutes before the show started, a countdown clock appeared on the towering screens on stage and was met with so much screaming, you’d think the band had appeared. The energy in the room for those 10 minutes was so infectious that it bubbled over and filled the entire arena.

As the countdown hit zero, a sixpiece band of three strings and three horns rose up out of the stage to a deafening roar of screams, followed by drummer Dan Pawlovich. Moments later bassist Nicole Row and guitarist Kenneth Harris walked onstage to begin the opening for the first song, “(F—k A) Silver Lining.” Just seconds later, Urie popped onto stage from a “toaster,” which literally pops him out from below the stage, onto the top circle of the band’s triangular cult symbol-esque logo stage.

The screams grew louder throughout

the song, but quickly turned to singing along by the second song, “Don’t Threaten Me with a Good Time.”

The energy and electrifying visuals carried on throughout the two-hour set.

The triangular logo stage featured trap doors, risers and the toaster, allowing for surprise entrances and discreet exits for Urie and the backing ensemble/band.

Urie never stopped moving the entire show, keeping everything high energy and essentially proving the accuracy of the band’s song “Dancing’s Not A Crime.” There was no shortage of stunning falsettos, embellishments and powerhouse vocals through the night as Urie was obviously in his element.

The 27-song setlist featured Panic!’s recognizable hits from the past 14 years, including eight songs from this year’s Pray For the Wicked album

and covers of Bonnie Raitt‘s “I Can’t Make You Love Me,” Cyndi Lauper’s “Girls Just Want To Have Fun” and Queen’s “Bohemian Rhapsody.”

Recent hits “Say Amen (Saturday Night)” and “Hey Look Ma, I Made It” were paired with favorites such as “Miss Jackson,” “LA Devotee” and “Victorious.”

To the delight of some and despair of others, old favorites had been pared down to make room for the band’s new material. “I Write Sins Not Tragedies” and “Nine In the Afternoon” were the only remnants in the setlist of the band’s early albums, “A Fever You Can’t Sweat Off” and “Pretty Odd,” respectively. Similarly, “Ready to Go (Get Me Out of My Mind)” and “The Ballad of Mona

continued on pg. 7

D2

Aug. 20, 2018

Record Label

UCO Grad Talks Record Label Evelyn Stewart @evehynn Reporter

Music labels give artists a platform to market their brand and promote artists whether it be music videos, songs, coordinating the production or marketing. The music label works for the artist and the artist works for the music label.

However, some labels control the artists on what they can do, depending on the contract. Heller Music Group is a music label created by Stephanie Heller, a University of Central Oklahoma alumna, who said HMG was a way to give artists a place to have individuality and give power back to the artists so they could expand their musical talents.

HMG opened their doors over a year ago, however, Heller said that she has been working with her team for almost three years . The team consists of a dynamic group that includes Stephanie Heller, the owner and head engineer; Luke Tallon, head engineer; Rozlyn Melton, co-engineer; Campbell Young and Quadray Asberry, engineers; Abigail Thant, management; Madison Keathley, graphic designer; Grace Brumback, photography; Daniel Reinking; Madre Harper, Kadin Catlin and Chris Acoff.

Heller said she got into the music label industry because she saw issues of booking bigger shows for artists with out backing from labels. She wanted a way for the artist to benefit under a label and to be able to help others.

Members of Heller Music Group performed at Once In A Bleu Moon at Bleu Garten on November 4, 2017. Brooke Capron (bottom left), Daniel Reinking, Ciara Reese, Rozlyn Melton, Grace Brumback, Stephanie Heller, Dakota Green and Grant Adams supported the event with the Stillwater Humane Society (Provided/ Stephanie Heller).

successful you will be and the more you can benefit your client. I think that being a musician myself helps me talk to the artists we bring in as well, and not just be straight business/money all of the time.

Did ACM@UCO help you to achieve your goal and if so, how?

I can honestly say I learned a lot at ACM. Whether that be what to do or what not to do in situations. Several of my professors have helped shape me into the musician I am and have also opened doors for me I never could have opened this early in my career. Jabee took me under his wing and within that year of working together I saw a completely different

side of music. I met people I never thought I would and had the opportunity to expand my mind. Chris Hicks showed me how to perfect improvisation on the saxophone and not to think so black and white where music is concerned. I was a strict music and paper player before, and now I can hear and translate music on my own, which is a much freer way of thinking.

What artists are signed on with the HMG label?

We work with NoiseBleedSound, Shaka, Jeremee Knipp, Rozlyn Zora, Ciara Brooke, Original Flow and Keathley.

What inspired you to create the Heller Music Group?

I was previously working for a few artists as their manager and we were having a lot of issues booking bigger shows such as festivals without the backing from a label. I decided to open HMG to benefit the artists and potentially help others, and I ended up falling in love with that side of the industry. When thinking of labels, a lot of artists do not want to work with them, so I created a hybrid indie label that allows artists to have creative choice, but also reap the benefits of a label.

What has helped you the most to achieve success?

Who you know is everything in this industry, just like in most industries. I spent years getting to know people and working with all genres.

The more diverse you are and the more hats you can wear, the more

What is HGM about?

We are essentially about individuality and giving power back to the artists, whereas other labels like to control them. They would not be artists without their creative minds and without their ability to put themselves and their emotions into words that others relate to. Personally, a lot of the time I cannot put what I am thinking into words, much less my emotions. That is something artists can do and that should be highly respected and not cut short.

What are some goals HMG have for the future?

Right now, we take things day-byday, but I would love to see us taking on a few more acts in the Indy and Alternative direction. We will also eventually have an in-house studio to finish the expansion process.

What are your personal goals for HMG? Personally, I want to finish my law degree and represent artists as well.

The end game is to be a label and a firm, kind of an all-stop-shop for artists in the Oklahoma City community.

How does HMG communicate with their community?

We are pretty much run by social media and we try to make every local show we are invited to. I think that if we don’t have a show we need to be present at, there is one somewhere and we should be there.

Heller Music Group’s logo (Provided/ Stephanie Heller).

HMG runs on social media platforms such as Twitter: @hellermgllc, Instagram: @hellermg and Snapchat: Hellermg.

Production Lineup

Aug. 20, 2018

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Curtain Rises on UCO Production Lineup Elisabeth Slay @TheVista1903 Reporter

As the school year approaches and the University of Central Oklahoma’s students prepare for classes, students majoring with the university’s College of Fine Arts and Design will also be preparing for the campus’ upcoming production year.

Ticket sales for the 2018-19 season began earlier this month for the college’s diverse production lineup, which will feature a variety of music, dance, theatre arts, opera and musical theatre performances, beginning on Aug. 26.

The productions provide opportunities for the majority of the college’s majors to participate in them, according to Latricia Reichman, director of Facilities and Production at UCO’s Mitchell Hall.

“It’s all of them, depending on which show it is,” Reichman said.

“So we do musicals, those are primarily musical theater students.

We do dance productions, those are primarily dance students. The theater shows are primarily theater students, but anybody is welcome to audition.”

While students have the opportunity to perform, they also have the chance to take part in the behind-thescene aspects of theater productions.

“We also have our design tech program, which really works on all of them so those are students who are interested in lighting and sound and costume and scenery so they’re helping with all of the productions,” Rechiman said.

These theater tech students have varying responsibilities and are can be a part of the production process in many ways, according to Rox Allen Kerby, manager of Facilities and Productions at Mitchell Hall.

“If they work in the scene shop their responsibility is building the set,” Kerby said. “If they’re working in sound then they’re loading in the

sound equipment and then running the sound board, and same thing with the lights.

Along with their program, CFAD majors have opportunities to present their work for their specific shows whether it be choreography, a play or set design.

“As far as Michelle Hall goes there are opportunities when students are in their upper level classes and are ready,” Reichman said. “They usually start on smaller stages and work their way up.”

Students are also able to work with faculty and staff members on productions as assistants who have the opportunity to better learn a specific element of theater production.

Like with most majors, the programming and productions offered

by CFAD is designed to provide students with the knowledge necessary for their desired professions, according to Reichman.

“It gives them resume experience, but it also gives them the practical experience in terms of what it’s going to look like once they get out there and they get to do it in a safe place,” Reichman said.

Each production year is different and Reichman is hoping returning and new students will try their hardest to succeed in CFAD’s programs.

“The best thing we can expect from them is that they work hard and they want to do well,” Reichman said. “That they’re eager to learn, eager to grow in their skills and talents and that they show up.”

For the 2018-19 school year, Mitchell Hall Theatre will host several different shows including “The Most Happy Fella” and “Macbeth,” “Hair.”

“I think it’s a really diverse season. I think we’ve got a little bit of something for everyone. We’ve got... dance concerts, music concerts, some Shakespeare, some classic theater.

I think it’s a wide range that we’re offering here,” Reichman said.

Students perform the number “Cellblock Tango” during College of Fine Arts and Design’s last season production of “Chicago” (Provided/ Mitchel Hall).

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Aug. 20, 2018

Don’t Tell Dena

Don’t Tell Dena Tells All Megan Thele

@1bigtimenicole Copy Editor

Unexpected circumstances and fate brought together Oklahoma City’s up and coming psychedelic/indie rock band Don’t Tell Dena. The band consists of Chris Krummrich, Sean Kanaly, Campbell Young and Triston Lightner, three of whom have ties to the Academy of Contemporary Music at the University of Central Oklahoma.

Despite the ACM ties, the band actually began prior to their work with ACM, when Krummrich and Kanaly met while working at Top Golf.

The band’s sound has evolved over time, coinciding with changes in the guitarist and bassist. Each member’s personal music interests influence the band’s overall sound, leaving the original sound slightly altered when Young and Lightner joined the lineup.

Since its founding, Don’t Tell Dena has released singles “That Way” and “Right Now,” followed by their debut EP, “Phases of the Moon”.

Currently, Don’t Tell Dena’s sound is a mix of psychedelic, blues, indie and rock – only a slight variance from their alternative, indie, pop and rock origins.

Krummrich, a senior strategic communication and professional media major with a contemporary music business minor, maintains the lead vocals, rhythm guitar, keys and some drums for the band.

Kanaly, who is currently working on his computer-aided drafting

Triston Lightner (left), Chris Krummrich, Cambell Young, and Sean Kanaly pose for a photo in Bricktown on Nov. 23, 2017 for their band Don’t Tell Dena (Provided/Don’t Tell Dena).

certificate program, commands the drums as well as some keys. Young, formerly a music production major, shares lead vocals, backing vocals and keys, but controls lead guitar.

Lightner, a bass performance major on hiatus, is responsible for bass and backing vocals.

How did the band start? What’s the back story?

Chris: “Me and Sean are the founding members. I met Sean whenever TopGolf was being built because we were hired on at the same time and we started training together and that’s how we kind of got to know each other. I had a drum set at the house

Don’t Tell Dena performing at the Harding Fine Arts Performing Nov. 17, 2017 (Provided/Don’t Tell Dena).

Where did the name Don’t Tell Dena come from?

Chris: “So, our original bass player at the time, we were trying to come up with a name, and he had a notes file in his phone of a whole bunch of different random ideas that he thought would be cool for band names. One of them was Don’t Tell Alice. We were like ‘that sounds kind of cool,’ but Alice doesn’t have a significance to the band at all and Alice is kind of generic. We chose Dena because that was the street on which me, [Sean] and the original members started practicing and wrote our first song. It was on Dena Street, so that’s why it’s Don’t Tell Dena.”

Sean: “What I’ve heard a lot is people always ask if Dena is a girl or someone’s mom. Sometimes we go along with it, but the real name is just the street we lived on.”

the process behind that?

Chris: “The EP came about almost exactly a year after we started the band. We started off with two songs, That Way and Right Now…and a lot of the other stuff that we played was mostly covers. As the year progressed, we started writing more and more songs until we had seven or eight. That’s when we decided it was time to record something so we could give people something to reference whenever we played. We recorded That Way as a first single – that’s where it started. Then we did Right Now maybe a month or two later and then we started working on the full EP. We did that in a total of three or four days.”

Sean: “We would go in and record all the drums on one day, all of the guitars and bass and synth another day and say a day to mix it and give our feedback.”

Chris: “We put it out digitally on Spotify, Apple Music, all that stuff.

Maybe three or four months later, as we raised up some more money, we just recently got CDs, so now people have something physical and we’ve been selling those.”

How would you describe your sound?

Sean: “It’s definitely changed from when we started. When it was me, Chris and the other two guys when we first started, it was influenced [by] a lot of alternative, indie and maybe some pop. Now I feel like it’s gone towards more psychedelic, sometimes bluesy, still with the indie rock vibe to it.”

What led to your EP? What was

What were some of the major influences for the song topics or the sounds you were going for?

Sean: “I think what’s cool is we all have different influences and different bands that we enjoy listening to and that all kind of makes our own style. I know Chris is influenced a lot by Panic! at the Disco and I’m influenced by Pink Floyd.”

Triston: “I like a bunch of different funk bands. It kind of gives a weird

and it sparked conversation off about ‘oh I play the drums too’. After that, we started getting new members. I met Campbell at ACM and Triston… we put up a flier looking for a bass player and his dad saw that at Guitar Center and then he contacted us.”

Don’t Tell Dena

Aug. 20, 2018

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The band talks origins, album and more flavor.”

Sean: “Then Campbell is more like a psychedelic genre.”

Chris: “It’s a weird stirring pot.”

Sean: “That way you hear a lot of psychedelic, but also a lot of blues.

There’s other songs where it’s kind of straight rock.”

Chris: “I think this EP specifically has a lot of different sounding songs, mainly because they were the first songs we wrote as a band and we were trying to figure out what direction we wanted to go. I think the next album will have more similar of songs than there are on the first one because we know what we’re good at and what we want to be.”

How do you think that doing classes at ACM has helped you become a band and get to know the process behind everything that’s involved with it in the industry?

Triston: “Well, I saw the initial recruitment poster at ACM, so that definitely helped. Just doing the bass program paired me with different bands, so it got me used to playing with people and playing different types of music.”

Chris: “I can talk music with someone and go ‘oh I know what that is,’ industry wise. In terms of business, I’ve had classes [about] how to work with people in bands or how to write better songs for you. On the techni-

cal side, I’ve taken guitar and vocal lessons and that’s actually helped me out because I wasn’t actually technically a singer until I got into college.

When I started taking actual courses, that’s helped me out. Band-wise, I met Triston and Campbell through ACM. I think that’s what ACM is about, meeting people and making those connections, because there’s a lot of professors and students there who are really knowledgeable and have industry experience.”

What would you say your short term and long term goals as a band would be?

Sean: “Merch for sure by the end of this year. Definitely another single, if not two. We want to do a fulllength album in the next following year that will have 12 or 15 songs on it, and then probably a short tour somewhere. We definitely want to do something with Arkansas, Texas, Colorado, some places around us.”

Chris: “I think everyone has a different idea long term. I think anyone who starts a band and does something like this, their ultimate ideal long-term goal is to make it, sign to a label, tour and record albums. I think that maybe within the next five years, doing a couple different tours, recording a couple more albums, I think that’s definitely possible. Just getting better and better and maybe

Don’t Tell Dena has released singles and an EP since their founding date, but the band is currently working on a full-length album (Provided/Don’t Tell Dena).

Don’t Tell Dena is an Oklahoma City psychadelic/indie rock band that has three musicians with ACM@UCO ties (Provided/Don’t Tell Dena).

opening for a bigger artist.”

What have some of your favorite venues been so far?

Triston: “I liked the Yeti [in Tulsa], but now it’s gone.”

Campbell: “That was one of my favorites.”

Sean: “Yeah, the Yeti was probably my favorite too. There’s some really cool venues we’ve played at, but the crowd or the interaction isn’t the best or as much as we’ve had other places.”

Chris: “I always go back and forth.

I had a lot of fun at the Yeti too because there was a lot of people there, they were into it, it was loud, it was cool. I also liked [Performance and Exhibition].”

Triston: “It’s a thing they do [at Harding Fine Arts Academy], where they bring in different people to show as an assembly.”

Chris: “There were a lot of kids there. It was cool because they were not just there because they had to be – they really enjoyed it and were into it. We were a cool band; we were packing our stuff into the back of our cars and they were like ‘DTD! DTD!’”

for 22 minutes. Sometimes Chris comes with a basic idea for a song, or I come with an idea for a song; sometimes we’re all actually in the room writing together.”

Chris: “Someone will bring an idea to the table and we’ll build off of that. Normally for us though, the music is what comes first and the lyrics come after. Whereas I know of other bands and other artists who will set the tone first with lyrics and then write music accordingly. It’s just a different process. We all kind of add our own flavor to it.”

If you couple play a show with any three artists, influences dead or alive, who would it be?

Band: Tame Impala and Pink Floyd Chris: Panic! at the Disco, The Strokes, Walk the Moon Campbell: Talking Heads, The Flaming Lips, Kanye West Sean: Tame Impala, mid-1970s Pink Floyd, Jay-Z Triston: Vulfpeck, The Cat Empire, Streetlight Manifesto.

Don’t Tell Dena is currently working on their next full-length album, What would you say that your typ- but look for singles leading up to its release. Their music, including their ical writing process is like? debut EP, Phases of the Moon, is Campbell: “It varies from song to available on Spotify, Apple Music, song. We’ve had songs where they start off as us jamming on two chords YouTube and Amazon Music.

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Aug. 20, 2018

Pool Hall

New Pool Hall Cues Up for UCO Students Lauren Morris @TheVista1903 Reporter

The first non-smoking pool hall in Edmond named The Bridge opened four months ago on the corner of 2nd Street and Santa Fe Avenue and owner Nathan Toland said he wished for more UCO students to consider it an easy place to hang out, as he said he felt like this would have been the perfect place for him as a college student.

Toland sees half of his clientele as professional pool players, but he sees the other half as college students. He said he chose the pool hall’s specific location because it was as close to the University of Central Oklahoma and its college students while still serving alcohol, as there are laws to how close a business can be to schools and churches if they serve it.

Toland als said he spent enough time outside sticking flyers in people’s windshields on the college campus that he got a sunburn.

Opened April 28, Toland said he created his pool hall to be non-smoking because for the last 20 years he’s

been playing pool, all of the pool halls have always been smoking.

“I really like pool, but I really hate smoking,” Toland said. “Why is there not a nice place that prevents smoking?”

He has also heard appreciation about the no smoking even from people who smoke themselves.

“More than half the smokers that I talk to appreciate it,” Toland said.

“Even they don’t like to go home smelling that way. Even they don’t like to be around huge clouds of smoke.”

Toland also said the pool hall has been getting a lot of positive feedback. Their Facebook page has 35 reviews, and only 3 of them aren’t 5 stars, making the average rating 4.9.

The 7,000 square foot building filled up quickly as Toland said pool tables take up a lot of space, but so far the pool hall has 16 Blue Diamond pool tables and one green Snooker table. Toland names Blue Diamond as one of the best quality pool tables there is, and Snooker is a type of game different from in which the table is designed to make it harder to land a shot.

An external view of The Lodge, a smoke-free pool hall that opened in Edmond four months ago (Lauren Morris/ The Vista),

The place also consists of 16 flatscreens, a small lounge area with a booth, several chairs and tables, a bar that includes an espresso machine that gets its beans from a local roaster, and a private room that can hold up to 50 people.

The menu includes items such as spicy fried green beans, broccoli cheddar bites and Santa Fe egg rolls.

Toland considers the menu one of the things that would entice UCO students to enjoy the pool hall.

“It’s not your typical bar food,”

Toland said. “Everything I put on the menu, I want it to be one step above what everyone else does.”

Some of the weekly activities the billiards hall does is free pool on Mondays from open to close, karaoke on Wednesday from 8:30 p.m. to 1 a.m. and live music Fridays from 9 p.m. to midnight, all of which Toland invites college students to partake in.

“I think the other pool halls around here are behind the times, in continuing to allow smoking,” Toland said.

Panic!

Aug. 20, 2018

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Panic! Brings a Wicked Disco Continued From Page 1 Mona Lisa” were the only songs from “Vices and Virtues,” the last full album with two of the four original members.

At one point, Urie appeared on the floor, making his way from the main stage to a smaller platform at the back. The journey, coined the “Death Walk” by Panic!’s crew, saw Urie walking through the crowd, excitedly giving high fives, hugs and saying hello to fans while never missing a beat on “Death of a Bachelor.” It was hard to tell who enjoyed the walk more – Urie or the fans.

Phone flashlights glittered around the bowl as Urie sat on a purple-lit platform, playing a gleaming white piano as he floated over the audience. He talked about how he was a hyper child and his mom would sing “I Can’t Make You Love Me” to calm him down.

This part of the show, as Urie explained, was his chance to calm down in the midst of a high energy performance.

After singing a portion of the song, Urie effortlessly transitioned into “Dying In LA”.

During the backstage tour, Hall had said that if someone didn’t at least tear up during the song, something must be wrong. This proved to be true for a large portion of the crowd and myself, as the performance proved to be both moving and awe-inspiring.

“Girls/Girls/Boys” was met with an array of light and a rainbow of colored dots, as fans held heartshaped papers to their phone flashlights from

the floor to the top of the bowl. Before the show, fan volunteers passed out hearts around the arena, something that has become a tradition for Panic! shows as the song has evolved to be an LGBTQ+ pride anthem.

A similar concept was done during “This Is Gospel,” however, the colorful lights came from pink stars. Urie dedicated the song to Laura Ratley and Rebecca Fulcher, who had been killed in a traffic

accident on their way home to Kansas after Panic!’s 2017 concert in Tulsa.

Describing Urie’s vocal talent is difficult due to its uniqueness and range; imagine a blend between Frank Sinatra, a show stopping lead on Broadway and a punk rock frontrunner. As showcased during the set, Urie drifted between smooth, svelte crooning, belting out classic and new songs and hitting unimaginable high notes.

As someone who saw last year’s Death of a Bachelor Tour, I can say with certainty that Urie’s vocal ability has expanded after his experience on Broadway. His control during runs was tighter, and the endless amounts of high notes went off without a hitch.

Accented with silver streamers, sparks, flames, gold and white confetti and an impressive light show, Panic! showed that the band knows how to grasp attention and not let it go.

For new fans or those

attending their first Panic! show, the night was a breathtaking spectacle that is likely to bring them back for more. For those who have seen the band time and time again, it was a reminder as to why we keep coming back.

Judging the crowd’s response, Urie

and his band were a hit with sticklers for the old and penchants for their new sound. While the gritty rock days may be over, the larger than life show and Urie’s bubbling stage persona are here to stay, sold-out arenas and all.

Brendon Urie points to a fan sign while on a floating platform that carries him over the crowd, from the back of the arena to the main stage. Urie performed “Dying in LA” and a cover of “I Can’t Make You Love Me” while on the platform (Megan Thele/ The Vista).

Panic! at the Disco’s horn section accompanied the band on their Pray For the Wicked Tour at the BOK Center in Tulsa, Oklahoma. Erm Navarro (left, trombone), Jesse Molloy (saxophone) and Chris Bautista (trumpet) have joined Panic! on tour since Death of a Bachelor album (Megan Thele/ The Vista).

Panic! at the Disco guitarist Kenneth Harris plays a chord during “The Ballad of Mona Lisa” during the band’s Aug. 5 show at the BOK Center in Tulsa, Oklahoma.

Harris joined Panic! as a touring member in 2013 (Megan Thele/ The Vista).