The Vista Feb. 11, 2020

Volume 117, Issue 17

the

VISTA “Our Words, Your Voice.”

vistanews1903 @thevista1903 @thevista1903 The Vista ucentralmedia.com Tuesday, February 11, 2020

U.S. Student Loan Debt Soars to $1.6 Trillion Jeff Elkins @JeffElkins12

EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

The total student loan debt in the United States has now reached $1.6 trillion, according to a quarterly report recently released by the Federal Reserve.

As of January, national debt from student loans exceeded auto loan debt by over $300 billion.

The average student loan debt per borrower in the U.S. is just over $29,000, according to the Institute for College Access & Success.

Steve Black, chair of the finance department at the University of Central Oklahoma, said students and their families should focus on financial planning, first asking themselves how much they might earn upon graduation.

“If you go in for a car loan, you have Continued on Pg. 7

$1 TRILLION

$1.5 TRILLION

The above graph shows the increase in U.S. student loan debt from 2007 to present. In 2013, the total debt hit $1 trillion. The total is now $1.6 trillion. (Data: Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System)

The Mixed Origins of Valentine’s Day Celebrations Haley Humphrey @HaleyBHumphrey MANAGING EDITOR

Sacrifice, blood and death. You’ll most likely never look at Valentine’s Day the same again. The popular holiday for sweethearts has an origin story you probably never saw coming with roots that could be considered as “strange behavior” today intertwined in its history.

The origins of Valentine’s Day appear to have begun in Rome.

Katrina Lacher, University of Central Oklahoma history and geography department chair and associate professor, said there is some consensus that the origins of Valentine’s Day can

CAMPUS CHAT

Sunset heart hands are pictured. The history of Valentine’s Day has been celebrated in a variety of ways through the years. From medieval times to present day, it has shifted to a day of love from Roman rituals. (Provided/Pixabay)

be traced to Etruscan and Sabine traditions from early Rome.

The Romans were influenced by a number of early civilizations. Etruscans and Sabines brought the Romans their culture from northern and central Italy.

These groups celebrated the coming of spring in a celebration, known as Lupercalia, according to Lacher. The celebration was a bloody festival full of animal sacrifices to ward off evil spirits and infertility.

“According to some legends, men would dress up in animal skins and slap women with goat hides,” Lacher said. “This ritual was meant to ensure Continued on Pg. 6

SPORTS

AROUND CAMPUS

STATEWIDE

Do You Love or Hate Esports: Overwatch UCO Inclement Weather Mike Bloomberg Speaks See Pg. 14 See Pg. 3 See Pg. 8 Valentine’s Day? See Pg. 5 League Recap Notifications in Oklahoma

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the

February 11, 2020

Contents

VISTA

Content

UCOSA/Inclement Weather.........................................................3 Around Campus...........................................................................4 Campus Chat...............................................................................5 Bouldering/Valentine’s.................................................................6 Student Loan Debt ......................................................................7 Bloomberg/LAR Pothole..............................................................8 Buried Dead or Alive..................................................................10 Games....................................................................................11 Track Records.............................................................................12 Basketball Recaps......................................................................13 Esports...............................................................................14 Bucking Broncho........................................................................15

Staff Jeff Elkins Haley Humphrey CiCi Simon Megan Thele JaNae Williams Kevin Blair Lauren Morris Chelsye Bacon Teddy Burch

THE VISTA

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

Editor-in-Chief Managing Editor Photo Editor Copy Editor Reporter Reporter Reporter Photographer Adviser

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.

LETTERS

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.

ADDRESS LETTERS TO:

Editor, The Vista, 100 N. University Dr. Edmond, OK 73034-5209, or deliver in person to the editor in the Communications Building, Room 131.

Letters can be emailed to thevista.ads@gmail.com.

Corrections: In the Feb. 4 issue of The Vista, on page 13, Jeff Farmer was given photo credit for men’s basketball. Anthony Mellendorf should have been given credit for that photo.

In the Feb. 4 issue of The Vista, on page 14, Garrett Johnson was given the by-line for the women’s basketball game. Tanner Johnson should have been given the byline for that story.

On the Cover: Left: Zane Henderson smiles for a Campus Chat photo. (Bailey Bussell/The Vista) Left Middle: The Overwatch logo is pictured. The Overwatch League opened their season over the weekend. (Provided/Wikimedia Commons) Right Middle: A snowman constructed by UCO students is picture outside the Nigh University Center on campus. Edmond received 4.5 inches of snow last week. (CiCi Simon/The Vista) Right: Mike Bloomberg stands on a podium as he speaks to a crowd in Oklahoma City on Feb. 8. Bloomberg has a campaign focus on Super Tuesday states.

(Sarah Hite/The Vista)

UCOSA/Inclement Weather

February 11, 2020

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UCOSA to Make International Student Bill Lauren Morris @TheVista1903 REPORTER

The University of Central Oklahoma Student Association used its Feb. 3 meeting to discuss several items in various stages of the legislative process, including the passing of one bill.

UCOSA officers also announced that applications to run for student body president and vice president, along with other executive positions, are now open.

Sen. Alayna Johnson said the faculty and staff senates are planning to create a joint proposal of having UCO adopt a chosen-name policy, which will give employees and students the ability to have their chosen name reflected on the campus directory, IDs and class rosters.

Johnson said the actual legislation will probably not be drafted and approved until around April. “[This] is something that has been in the works for almost a year,” said student body president Emily Grim. “[It’s] something that

helps a lot of our LGBT students, especially students who have faced domestic violence and things like that. Also, some people just want to change their names.”

Sen. Victory Ogunbanwo spoke to the rest of congress about international students and employment on campus. Legally, they can only work on campus, and campus lets its student employees work up to 20 hours a week.

Ogunbanwo said she and other senators are working on a bill to educate the campus about these rules and asked for UCOSA to advocate for the bill when it comes to the floor.

“We don’t want to take [domestic students’] jobs,” Ogunbanwo said.

“We just want you to be considerate of us and realize this is our only option.”

CFR20-201 was passed unanimously. Created by senators Marcus Ting and Deveron Shannon, the bill gave a total of $24,652 to five different campus organizations.

The Chemistry Club was given $6,000 to pay for eight people to travel for the American Chemical

Society conference, where they will be presenting research and receiving an award. The Student Nurses Association received $5,950 to pay for five people to travel to Orlando for the World Nursing and Healthcare Conference.

The National Society of Black Engineers was given $2,700 for five people to travel to San Antonio for the NSBE Conference. The Budo

Society received $7,152 to travel to Dallas, Harvard and Tulsa. Chi Alpha was given $2,850 for the weekly dinner the group provides, as well as a leadership retreat.

UCOSA meetings are held every Monday at 4 p.m. in the Nigh University Center’s Will Rogers Room 421.

From Left to Right: Emma Sawyer (Vice Chair), James Limbaugh (Chairman) and Dillon Rasberry (Secretary) introduce student commitees to help better various areas of campus. This includes student involvement, international student retention and student/faculty relations. (Nicholas Beiser/The Vista)

Update Your Central Alert to Receive UCO Closing Info Maury “Kevin” Blair @mauryb007 REPORTER

The University of Central Oklahoma was closed Wednesday due to inclement weather, leaving some students wondering who makes the decision to close, and how.

According to the UCO website, the president’s office works with UCO safety and transportation services in deciding whether inclement weather warrants closing the university, and tries to announce the decision before 6 a.m. on the day of closing.

“UCO evaluates a number of factors when deciding to close campus due to winter weather,” said UCO Police Chief Jeff Harp.

Harp said the factors include: current conditions, forecasted conditions, timing of weather event, other school closures, the ability of staff to be present to remove snow, metro area road conditions and the nature of the winter weather event – ice vs. snow.

“We have a team of departments on campus that partner to help evaluate and ultimately provide information to the president,” Harp said.

The team, according to Harp,consists of representatives from various university functions: police, emergency management, the physical

plant, housing, transportation and parking and other staff from enterprise services, and university communications.

“Ultimately, the decision is based on whether or not it is safe to travel to campus and walk on campus based on all available information,” Harp said. “We do recognize that what may be safe in Edmond may not be safe elsewhere in the metro where our students, faculty and staff may be traveling from.”

The UCO closing information FAQ page cites Oklahoma’s unpredictable

weather, and emphasizes decisions to close or to delay opening are not taken lightly.

“We will not normally make decisions based on a forecast alone,” Harp said. “While most public schools and higher education institutions announced the night before the storm, we waited until that morning.”

Wednesday’s text was received just before 5 a.m., as was the Twitter post below: “We have seen too many times when a forecast is inaccurate and we or others have been closed when we

Campus experienced its first snow storm of the season on Feb. 5. The state received 4.6 inches of snow and left campus closed for the day. (Cici Simon/The Vista)

should have been open for normal operations,” Harp said.

According to UCO’s website, cancellations are announced on the university’s website, Facebook, UConnect, local media and on the closing information page, or by calling 405974-2002.

Students may opt in to receive alerts by text, but Harp said that the message is sent to everyone even if they have not signed up for alerts.

“This change allows us to reach the vast majority of the campus community in a timely manner to inform on closures,” Harp said. “That said, students, faculty and staff do need to be sure their contact information is verified and updated as needed. If they do not receive a text message, they should first check to see that their information is correct and they have opted in to text messages, then contact the Service Desk if further action is needed.”

Harp emphasized that timely notifications from Central Alert depend upon the university having the correct contact information for everyone concerned.

“All of this happens without delay once the president decides on closure,” Harp said.

For more information, visit the UCO Closing Information Page.

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February 11, 2020

Around Campus

Winter weather is welcomed at the University of Central Oklahoma with a Broncho snowman. Campus was closed Wednesday, Feb. 5 due to the inclement weather. (Cici Simon/The Vista)

Tuesday, February 11, 2020 UCOSA Freshman Council Meeting: From 4-5 p.m. in the Nigh University Center Room 201, the UCO Student Association will host their bi-monthly meeting for students to learn the ins and outs of UCOSA and how to make a difference in their campus community.

Boeing Panel and Resume Review: From 5:30-6:30 p.m. in the Howell Hall Atrium, the Society of Women Engineers is hosting a panel and resume review with the multinational aircraft company, Boeing. The panel will address some of Boeing’s employees’ experiences in the STEM field with a short break for resume reviews. Students are encouraged to bring their resume for review by one of Oklahoma’s top hiring companies and improve their chances of getting employed in the STEM industry.

NAACP WEEK: NAACP 101: From 6-8 p.m. in the Nigh University Center Henry Bellmon Room 314, UCO NAACP will help educate students about the oldest civil rights organization, how and why they got started, who started them and what they are doing today to make sure we have an

equitable society. The event is STLR tagged for Global and Cultural Competencies and Service Learning and Civic Engagement.

Wednesday, February 12, 2020 UCO Human Resource Society Meeting: From 6-7 p.m. inside the Business Building Room 121, UCO’s Human Resource Society will have its first meeting of this semester for society members, HR major/minor students and all other students who are interested in attending.

Baseball vs East Central: The UCO baseball team will take on East Central University at Wendell Simmons Field at 6 p.m.

NAACP Week - Founders’ Feud: From 6-8 p.m. inside the Nigh University Center Henry Bellmon Room 314, UCO NAACP will host “Founders’ Feud.” Just like the game show Family Feud, they will have a game show that groups students together to test their knowledge of the NAACP and its founders. The event is STLR tagged for Global and Cultural Competencies and Service Learning and Civic Engagement.

Thursday, February 13, 2020 Meet and Greet Pizza Party: From 3:30-4:30 p.m. in the Liberal Arts Building Room 222, the philosophy department will host a come-and-go event for philosophy majors to meet and connect with each other. Pizza will be served.

NAACP Week: Statewide NAACP Town Hall: We Got Your Back: From 6-8 p.m. inside the Nigh University Center Henry Bellmon Room 314, UCO NAACP invites its sister chapters from Langston University, Oklahoma State University and the University of Oklahoma to meet, network and brainstorm. All state university chapters will discuss and share new ways they can continue the NAACP’s mission on campus.

Friday, February 14, 2020 UCO-OC Classic Softball Tournament: The tournament begins at 2 p.m. at the Broncho Softball Field.

Annual Intercollegiate Handgame: From 6-9 p.m. in the Nigh University Center Ballroom C, the Native American Student Association asks that students join them as they play a tra-

ditional handgame. Try and trick other teams into choosing the wrong or find which hand they have their beads and win for your team.

Saturday, February 15, 2020 UCO-OC Classic Softball Tournament: The tournament begins at 2 p.m. at the Broncho Softball Field.

Miss Black UCO Scholarship Pageant: Doors open at 7 p.m. in the Nigh University Center’s Constitution Hall.

The Office of Diversity and Inclusion will be hosting the annual Miss Black UCO Scholarship pageant. The event is open to the public, it is free with a valid UCO ID and $7 without.

Glow Ball: From 6-10 p.m. in the Nigh University Center Ballrooms, the UCO International Student Council invites students to celebrate different colorful global cultures for a good cause. Proceeds will go to starter kits for incoming international students. In return, students get to dance to music from all around the world.

ISC encourages ALL to come dressed in the best attire that represents their own colorful culture, but dresses and suits are also welcomed.

Campus Chat

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February 11, 2020

Do you love or hate Valentine's Day, why?

Hannah Blackwood, Strategic Communications, senior: “Right now, I hate it. I hate it because I feel like it’s something that we center around relationships when we should love ourselves more.”

Hangyeol Jeong, Interior Design, senior: “I don’t care about Valentine’s Day, actually.”

Yasmin Gramajo, Kinesiology, freshman: “I guess I love it. I feel like it should just be celebrated more. I think it’s just a day where people actually recognize that you can love a person. I think it’s just a cool day where you can recognize that for another person, not only for yourself.”

Regan Mccarthick, Organizational and Strategic Communications, junior: “I love it just because it’s a day that you get to spoil the people you love and show them how much you love them.”

Dorothy Truong, Biomedical Science, sophomore: “I love it for the candy, but I’m neutral, honestly.”

Śigma Kar, Mechanical Engineering, senior: “I absolutely love it. I mean you don’t have to have a better half. It’s just to celebrate love I think and that is the part about it that excites me more. I love it. I’m a big, big fan of Valentine’s Day.”

Casey Garza, Professional Media, sophomore: “Hate, not a big fan.”

Josh Friscic, Professional Media, sophomore: “I’m kind of indifferent on it. I’d probably say I lean more hate, to be honest. It’s hard being single on Valentine’s Day. I’m just going to say that, but as a server, I love it because people are going to be going to my restaurant on Friday and I’m going to make a lot of money that night.”

Zane Coker, English Education, junior: “I like Valentine’s Day because I have been in a relationship for two years, so it means a lot to me now.”

Zane Henderson, Biology, junior: “Take it or leave it. I guess it’s nice if you have someone to celebrate with, not so much if you don’t.”

Alex Viloria, Organizational Communications, junior: “I like Valentine’s Day. I love it. I know you’re supposed to love your girlfriend at all times, but, I don’t know, it’s just a time where I can take her out somewhere nice.”

Mandisa Sobers, Food Science and Nutrition, first year graduate student: “It’s a day when you can spend money. I don’t feel anything really toward it.”

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February 11, 2020

Bouldering/Valentine’s

BlocWorks Brings Bouldering to Downtown Edmond JaNae Williams @janaebwilliams REPORTER

The revitalization of downtown Edmond is set to reach new heights with the opening of BlocWorks Climbing Company, a climbing gym, planned for later this month.

BlocWorks is in the process of finalizing everything needed to pass its inspections and plans to be open within the next few weeks.

Evan Small, BlocWorks owner, said he met his wife Mariah in a climbing gym in 2009 and much of their relationship developed alongside their love for climbing.

“Eventually we felt that, if you get so much joy from something, the next step is to find a way to be able to provide that for other people,” Small said. “This is that opportunity to do that.”

BlocWorks will allow visitors to participate in a specific type of climbing, known as bouldering.

Bouldering has grown increasingly popular in recent years, according to Small, because it is easy to get started. Unlike traditional rope climbing, bouldering requires only climbing shoes and chalk.

Without the need for ropes and harnesses, BlocWorks is able to bring a big sport down in scale to make it accessible to a large number of people.

“It can be physical on all levels, physical for the beginner and physical for the professional,” Small said.

The physical challenge shouldn’t discourage people from trying bouldering, Small said. The gym has a color coded system modeled on the V-scale, or Vermin scale, used in much of outdoor climbing.

The V-scale ranges from V0 to V17 and the blue level at BlocWorks starts climbers off at a V0. With 14 blue climbs available at BlocWorks, Small said newcomers can spend time getting acquainted with climbing before progressing to the next level.

Small added that climbing is also a great way to switch up a normal workout routine. The gym even has some additional fitness equipment for customers to use.

“You know in our day and age, CrossFit has kind of seen a big surge and other forms of kind of unconventional fitness, and climbing is definitely another one of those,” Small said. “It’s not just doing a pull-up, it’s more like ballet on a wall, while you’re trying to solve a puzzle.”

Small said another difference between bouldering and traditional rope climbing is the amount of time spent on the wall. In bouldering, a great deal more time is spent in conversation, learning and growing with others as people take turns trying things on the walls. “[In] bouldering, by and large, you see much more of the community aspect,” Small said.

Small said that community is key in everything BlocWorks hopes to be part of in Edmond.

Construction is ongoing at BlocWorks as the business waits to pass final inspections before opening. Climbing paths will be changed every Tuesday and Thursday to allow variety for common customers. (Nicholas Beiser/The Vista)

The gym will be the first in Edmond, but according to Small, the city’s recent growth and the impact climbing has had on his own life made it a natural fit.

“There’s a district [specifically in downtown Edmond] that is up and coming with business and different restaurants,” Small said. “We felt that it was important to be surrounded by other businesses that were going to push this area forward.”

BlocWorks is located on South Broadway Street, a two minute walk from Edmond Railyard, according to Google Maps, putting it at the heart of the city’s revitalized commerce and entertainment district.

With day passes, monthly and annual memberships to the gym available, Small said popular Edmond staples like Cafe Evoke and the

Railyard being in such close proximity allows people the flexibility to choose to spend an entire day at BlocWorks.

Small added that being near the University of Central Oklahoma will allow students to use BlocWorks as stress relief and even a change of scenery for studying. “[Students] can hang out and study on the back patio, meet friends and then climb for a little bit,” Small said. “Definitely a nice way to unplug from work or school stresses for a few hours, hang out with friends, burn some energy and then get back and hit the books.”

While BlocWorks does not have a date set for opening, Small said there is a plan to host an official grand opening celebration sometime in March.

The Mixed Origins of Valentine’s Day Celebrations Continued from pg. 1

fertility of those women who were hit.”

Lacher said many early civilizations celebrated seasonal change with festivals, like the winter solstice, which later became known as Christmas with the spread of Christianity.

Lacher, like many other researchers, said since there have been a swirl of myths and origin stories around who or what group started Valentine’s Day, many civilizations have contributed to the holiday we know today.

For example, another origin story includes the death of a third century martyr by the name of St. Valentine by orders from Roman Emperor Claudius II on Feb. 14.

“There are dozens of myths and legends surrounding the figure of “St. Valentine,” and it is quite difficult to discern exactly his role in all of this, but by the fifth century, his feast day

While today Valentine’s Day is seen as a celebration of love, history shows a more violent streak, from the death of St. Valentine to the St. Valentine’s Day Massacre in 1929.

(Provided/Pixabay)

(St. Valentine’s Day on Feb. 14) was part of the church calendar,” Lacher said. “So, we basically have a saint’s feast day coinciding with traditional early spring celebrations of fertility and rebirth.”

Since the fifth century, Valentine’s Day has evolved. According to Lacher,

historical records indicate that by the 14th century, Europeans were sending love notes to one another in the spring. It is unclear if these notes were the first recorded Valentine’s Day cards or not.

“There are references in [Geoffrey] Chaucer’s poems as well as

Shakespeare’s works (“A Midsummer Night’s Dream” and “Hamlet”) to “Valentines,” so this also helps us piece together the spread of the idea of the holiday as a day for lovers, sweethearts, etc.,” Lacher said.

The 19th century proved to be more indicative of Valentines’ influence in England, where notes and cards were mass produced in the hundreds of thousands. Lacher said the Museum of London has many Victorian-era love artifacts.

Although the Romans’ traditions produced violence for Valentine’s Day, upper class and middle class Europeans shaped the holiday with more romance. Since cards skyrocketed in the 1800s, the “romance industrial complex,” according to Lacher, was motivated to make a capitalist celebration for everyone.

“It is much harder to sell diamond necklaces, chocolates and lingerie with a goat sacrifice and third century martyr backstory,” Lacher said.

Student Loan Debt

February 11, 2020

7

U.S. Student Loan Debt Soars to $1.6 Trillion Continued from pg. 1

to know what your budget is,” Black said. “Students are borrowing without a clear expectation of potential earnings.”

Sally Mae reports that eight out of 10 families use scholarships and grants. Over half of the families paying for college take out loans to cover the cost of school. These findings show that savings and income alone are not enough for most families.

UCO alumna Kristina Jones took out loans to pay for her Bachelor of Fine Arts in Education, as well as her first master’s in guidance and counseling.

To Jones, taking out loans was the only option.

“Without them I never would have been able to go to college. Growing up, between all my siblings and life in the lower middle class, my parents couldn’t and didn’t set aside some nice nest egg,” Jones said. “In fact, I didn’t even go to college my first semester out of high school, because I had no idea about student loans, no guidance on how to pay for college or fill out a FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid) application.”

Jones said she eventually went to the financial aid office at UCO, asked what forms she needed for student loans and began the process.

She is just one of more than 43 million Americans that have student loan debt, which translates to one in six adults in the U.S. “Every semester, every year I had

to take out student loans if I wanted to go to school,” Jones said. “I worked throughout school the entire time and all of my earnings went to bills and daily learning, so you can imagine the debt I am facing now and forever.”

When Jones completes her master’s in professional counseling with an LPC, she expects her debt to easily exceed $100,000. She said companies are already trying to scam her by buying her debt and charging high interest.

“They say ‘we can lower your rates’ or ‘we have your current loans’ or whatever, but it is never true. It gets very tricky to navigate, and because I started another degree, they are put in a state of forbearance,” Jones said. “I pay nothing now, but interest continues to grow, or that is what has been explained to me, at least.”

When a borrower can’t make payments, they can delay the repayment process through forbearance or deferment. As of the fourth quarter of 2019, Jones is part of the 6.4 million loan borrowers currently in forbearance or deferment.

The difference between deferment and forbearance is the former does not accrue interest on Federal Grad PLUS, Federal Stafford and Federal Consolidation Loans. In forbearance, the government will not pay the interest, which is generally used when the borrower is unable to qualify for deferment.

According to the Federal Student Aid Data Center, students took out over $106 billion in loans for the 2018-2019 school year.

The above graph breaks down the different types of loans that students took out in the 2018-2019 school year. (Data: CollegeBoard/Federal Student Aid Data Center)

Federal unsubsidized loans make up the largest percentage of loans taken out. (See above pie chart).

Private/nonfederal loans, which accounted for 12 percent of student loans for the 2018-2019 year, make up nearly 8 percent of all outstanding student loan debt. History shows these loans generally carry a higher interest rate.

“Interest rates on private loans can reach as high as 17 percent,” said Congresswoman Kendra Horn at a town hall at UCO on Jan. 23.

On July 17, 2019, Horn introduced HR 3793, the SLASH (Student Loan Accrual Support and Help) Act to address interest rate accrual. Under this legislation, loan providers would be capped at 5 percent interest.

Horn said this is a reasonable interest rate that would cover the cost

of servicing the loans, as well as the debt, while ensuring that a borrower doesn’t end up paying two or three times what the 10 year treasury rate is.

A report on the Economic Well-Being of U.S. Households in 2018 - May 2019 by the Federal Reserve revealed that 54 percent of people who went to college took on debt.

UCO students average $27,456 in loan debt, less than the national average according to CollegeFactual.

Horn said in the past six years, 2 million people have defaulted on student loans.

Defaulting on a loan means there was a failure to repay according to the terms laid out in the promissory note.

Students are default on a loan when they have failed to make a payment for over 270 days.

Horn introduced HR 4869, the Student Loan Default Reduction Program Act in October 2019 for people who have gone into default, but have been active in loan counseling and are trying to get back on track.

“Under current law, what happens is they go through that rehabilitation, but their credit is still damaged according to their report,” Horn said. “This bill would require all student loan service providers to erase all adverse credit history after those borrowers have taken the steps to get back on track with their payments.”

Horn said these bills are forward thinking, but there is still much work to be done.

UCO graduates have the third highest default rate at 9.4 percent among the top five public universities in the state of Oklahoma and exceed the national average of seven percent.

The graph to the left shows the default rate among Oklahoma’s top public universities. UCO exceeds the national average by 2.4 percent. (Data: CollegeFactual)

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Febuary 11, 2020

Mike Bloomberg/LAR

Bloomberg Visits Oklahoma City Ahead of Super Tuesday

Presidential Candidate Mike Bloomberg speaks to a crowd inside the Oklahoma History Center on Feb. 8. Bloomberg made a stop on the campaign trail in Oklahoma City on Saturday as an attempt to focus on Super Tuesday states. (Sarah Hite/The Vista)

Sarah Hite @thevista1903

CONTRIBUTING WRITER

Days before the first presidential primary, while other leading Democratic presidential candidates concentrate on New Hampshire, Democratic presidential candidate Michael Bloomberg held a rally Saturday in Oklahoma City.

Hundreds of Oklahomans attended the campaign event at the Oklahoma History Center. The campaign stop in OKC is part of Bloomberg’s bigger plan to confirm the Democratic nomination by skipping the first four voting states and focusing on Super Tuesday states such as Oklahoma.

Bloomberg pitched himself as the polar opposite of President Donald Trump. In his 15 minute speech, he

spoke about his mayoral experience in New York City and his efforts to curb gun violence and climate change.

Bloomberg repeatedly criticized Trump and the other Democratic candidates.

“Unlike other candidates, I don’t just talk about doing things,” Bloomberg said. “I have a record of reaching across the aisle and getting them done.”

As mayor from 2002 to 2013, Bloomberg said he reduced the number of uninsured New Yorkers, raised teacher pay and improved graduation rates. He spoke about cutting the city’s carbon footprint by 13 percent and about a gun control group he founded and largely funds.

“I am interested in all the candidates but particularly Mike Bloomberg. I wanted to see him in the flesh because I may actually end up voting for him and, you know what, I think I will,” said attendee Rick Allen Lippert. “At this point in the campaign, I am going to vote for anyone who is a functioning adult with a shred of decency and he seems to fit both of those criteria very well.”

Even though Bloomberg joined the race later than the other candidates, he said he can focus on getting to know more states, including swing states. Bloomberg said he decided to join the race for the presidency because Trump was on track to win.

Judge Judy Sheindlin attended

to endorse Bloomberg. Sheindlin said she knew she had to support Bloomberg when Americans couldn’t get along anymore.

“There’s only one candidate that has demonstrated that he's not an ideologue,” Sheindlin said. “He’s a problem solver. He’s a doer.”

The issues people say they are most concerned about include healthcare, education and criminal justice reform.

“I turned 18 very recently and am registering to vote,” said attendee Ibrahim Mater. “When [Bloomberg] talked about gun control and abortion...that hits here and nationally.”

Bloomberg chastised the time spent by other candidates in the past year camped out at early primary states.

“They seem to have very little time for the rest of America,” Bloomberg said. “I don't think that’s good for our country or our party, for that matter.”

There were about 1,100 attendees at the event. The rally was intended to support his candidacy as Super Tuesday approaches in March.

“It was a pretty diverse crowd, which is great, and I think the campaign has been pretty intentional about getting diverse crowds and reaching out to a lot of people who may have not been reached out to before,” said Oklahoma State Rep. Emily Virgin, House District 44.

Liberal Arts Lot Pothole Creates Danger in Parking Lot Xunhong Zhou @thevista1903

CONTRIBUTING WRITER

Students concerned about the pothole in the University of Central Oklahoma parking lot 4 by the Liberal Arts building may have to wait until the summer to see repairs made.

The size of the pothole has continued to grow and poses a potential hazard for UCO students and faculty when driving.

After last Wednesday’s snow, drivers were unable to determine the depth of the pothole, a concern that also arises when it rains. Students trying to avoid the pothole can cause backups in parking lots.

“I think this pothole is serious. I don’t know how it came about, but it’s so deep that I avoid this pothole every time I pass it,” said senior Siyuan Su. “If a [student] drives here and doesn’t look at the pothole in the ground, there might be an accident.”

There are several other lots on cam-

pus that need repairs, as well. Potholes and large areas of cracking can be found in lots 5 and 6, among others.

Jennifer Redwine, director of Parking and Transportation Services, said TPS has gotten behind on parking lot maintenance due to a lack of funding.

“One issue has been that UCO had not increased parking permit rates in several years and TPS does not receive any state funding,” Redwine said.

According to Redwine, TPS launched a Parking Improvement Plan this academic year, which included raising commuter permit prices to $195.

“This increase is allowing us to start catching up where we have fallen behind,” Redwine said. “TPS had a tough decision to make last summer because we knew we needed to make some major repairs but also needed to add more parking spaces in general.”

TPS used most of its $1.5 million reserve to add more than 300 new parking spaces and make a few major repairs, according to Redwine.

Liberal Arts lot 4 is home to the largest pothole on campus. The hole, located in the south most lane, has caused issues for students attempting to park in the lot. (Cici Simon/The Vista)

“This coming summer, we are going to use the funds from the price increase to start on repairs to the lots that need them most,” Redwine said.

“We have come up with a priority list showing the worst potholes and

cracks. With that, we have made a five-year maintenance plan to get all of our lots back in good condition.”

Redwine said TPS has not had any reports of damage caused to vehicles.

10

February 11, 2020

Burial Preferences

Americans Favor Cremation Above Burial Services

Lauren Morris @TheVista1903 REPORTER

A 2020 study created by Choice Mutual, a national burial agency, found that 44 percent of the people interviewed plan on being cremated when they die, a sharp increase from the 4 percent that planned to do so in 1960.

Cremation costs approximately $6,300 on average, which is only about $1,000 less than a traditional burial. There are other options available, but the least expensive option is donating one’s body to science, which costs nothing.

The University of Central Oklahoma’s funeral services department practitioner in residence, Glenda Stansbury said burial preferences and their popularity depend on the person. “[It’s] a wide variety of issues,” Stansbury said. “Awareness of ecological impact of earth burial, less interested in tradition or family ties, less tied to the church or religious practices, financial affordability, [or they] just don’t like the idea of being put in a box in the ground.”

The majority of study respondents, 47 percent, said their burial choice

Flowers rest on top of Selena Not Afraid’s casket during her funeral at the Fairview Cemetery in Hardin, Mont. on Sunday, Jan. 26, 2020. More than 1,000 people attended the funeral for the 16-year-old Hardin girl who died of hypothermia after reportedly walking away from an Interstate 90 rest stop on New Year’s Day. The circumstances leading to Selena’s death are still being investigated. (Mike Clark/The Billings Gazette via AP)

was because of religious belief, while about a fourth said their decision was made based on family tradition. Half also said they would want pictures of loved ones buried or processed with them.

“Funeral service has historically been tied to the church and to religious traditions,” Stansbury said. “A great deal of the move to cremation is associated with people who do not wish to have a denominational or religious service and so, by cremating, they have the flexibility to have a service wherever and whenever they want to without the assumption that

it has to be religious.”

The article written about the study mentioned new ways to go through the burial process, such as being painted onto a canvas, turned into a coral reef or compressed into a diamond.

“We as a society are very death phobic and truly do not want to face it, talk about it or experience it,” Stansbury said. “So if we can make it different, or cutting edge, or nothing that looks like a casket or an urn, then people are interested.”

Stansbury also named some current changes going through the funeral

services industry, such as more women becoming funeral directors, technology accommodations for funeral services and services for pets.

At UCO, Stansbury said that as a professor, she teaches her students to understand how grief works.

“Grief is the natural occurrence and reaction to loss and everyone is going to experience it,” Stansbury said.

“Unresolved grief can result in massive problems—divorce, substance abuse, hoarding, self-harm. When people are not allowed, or do not allow themselves, the safe space and environment to truly inventory the loss and what it means to them going forward, then those unresolved feelings become triggers.”

She said grief is the most important and vital part of working in the industry.

“I teach my students that the most important thing we do as professionals in deathcare is to understand grief, to get comfortable with grieving people and to offer guidance and wisdom for each person we encounter, to help them understand that this is a normal and necessary path and that they will survive,” Stansbury said.

February 11, 2020

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ADDED ADDENDUM BEDRIDDEN CODDLED DEADHEAD DEADWOOD DECIDED DEEDED DIDDLE DIDGERIDOO DIVIDED DIVIDEND DOODAD SIDESADDLE WADDED

WEEKLY HOROSCOPE ARIES (March 21 to April 19) All that flattery and fawning shouldn’t affect any decision you have to make. Keep your focus on the facts and ignore all the hyperbole, especially if it gets uncomfortably personal.

TAURUS (April 20 to May 20) Your Bovine instincts are on the mark about that “favor” you’re being asked to do. Agree to nothing unless you get a full explanation -which you would check out first, of course.

GEMINI (May 21 to June 20) A somewhat unsettled recent period should give way to a smoother time going through the week. Use this quieter time to catch up on matters you might have had to let slide.

CANCER (June 21 to July 22) Feeling a little confused is understandable with all those mixed messages. Take time to list the questions you have. Then present them and insist on answers that make sense.

LEO (July 23 to August 22) Cupid can be very helpful for Lions seeking a love connection. The chubby cherub also brings warm and fuzzy feelings to paired Leos and Leonas who already share a special love line.

VIRGO (August 23 to September 22) Travel is favored this week, whether you’ll be globe-trotting or taking a trip to a nearby getaway. You might be surprised (or maybe not) by who wants to be your traveling companion.

LIBRA (September 23 to October 22) Getting advice on your next business-related move is a good idea, but only if your advisers are trustworthy. Get references that you can

CROSSWORD Answers

LAST WEEK’S ANSWERS February 4, 2020

MAGIC MAZE Answers

(Week of Feb. 10, 2020)

check out before you make any decisions.

SCORPIO (October 23 to November 21) Getting a boost in your self-esteem is one benefit that comes with a job well done. There are other plusses as well, including being noticed by all the right people. Good luck.

SAGITTARIUS (November 22 to December 21) Make time to deal with family matters, especially where they concern your elderly kinfolk.

Being there for them from the start can help resolve problems sooner rather than later.

CAPRICORN (December 22 to January 19) Getting a project started can often be difficult.

But the good news is that you won’t want for lack of assistance from colleagues who would like to work with you. So, let them!

AQUARIUS (January 20 to February 18) A lot of work-related issues might be raised this week, and you need to be prepared for whatever comes along. Things should be easier when it comes to matters in your private life.

PISCES (February 19 to March 20) What might appear to be a much unwanted change in your life right now could turn out to be a very welcome event after all. Give yourself a chance to see where it might take you.

BORN THIS WEEK: You exercise your strong leadership qualities well, which is why people believe in you and feel reassured by you. (c) 2019 King Features Synd., Inc.

Weekly SUDOKU Answers

12

February 11, 2020

Track

Track Athletes Set Provisional and School Records

Track athletes Harlie Hanson (left) and Madelyn Caldwell set records at the Pittsburg State University Invitational. Caldwell threw 14.14 meters in shot put and Hanson ran 5,000 meters in 18:09.20. (bronchosports.com)

Trey Rodgers @TheVista1903

CONTRIBUTING WRITER

Two University of Central Oklahoma track athletes set new school and provisional records at Wednesday’s Pittsburg State University Invitational.

Madelyn Caldwell threw 14.14 me-

ters in the shot put, hitting an NCAA provisional mark. Harlie Hanson set a school record in the 5,000-meter race with a time of 18:09.20.

Madelyn Caldwell, a senior double majoring in criminal justice and forensic science, grew up in Pauls Valley, Oklahoma, where she first started throwing.

“I started throwing when I was

around 10 years old and at that time it was either track or tennis, so I chose track,” Caldwell said.

Caldwell added that track and field were not her first choice sport. She said she preferred basketball, but when that did not work out, she opted to compete on the track and field team.

“I figured that I would need something to keep me active and involved on campus, which has led me to where I am today,” said Caldwell.

Caldwell also competes in weight throwing, where she finished in fourth place at the PSU Invitational.

“My mindset was to simply throw farther than my previous personal best, that’s all I could really do,” Caldwell said.

Caldwell’s experience at UCO has also aided her success on the field.

“Just as the professors want me to succeed, so do my coaches and teammates,” Caldwell said. “Personally, I benefit greatly from the constant support coming from both sides.”

Caldwell said her focus right now is to keep improving for the Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association Indoor Championships.

Harlie Hanson is a junior from Mu-

tual, Oklahoma and a distance runner. Hanson started running because of family ties to the sport.

“I originally started running because my older sister did and always wanted to be just like her,” Hanson said.

Hanson first attended Cowley County Community College in Arkansas City, Kansas before transferring to UCO. “My experience at UCO has been wonderful and I am very thankful for my coaches and trainers,” Hanson said.

One of those trainers, Miguel Mendez, worked with Hanson to come up with a strategic plan before the PSU Invitational to improve her time.

“The main thing was building my confidence up and going out hard at the beginning of the race to put myself in a good position,” Hanson said.

Hanson’s goal was to break the 18 minute barrier, but she missed the mark by a few seconds.

“I came up a few seconds shy with 18:09, but was still very satisfied with a personal best,” Hanson said.

Central’s next track and field event is the UCO Alumni Classic on Feb. 15 in Norman.

Basketball

February 11, 2020

13

Men’s Basketball Misfortunes Continue

UCO guard Dashon Bell pulls up for a shot against Missouri Western State University. With Saturday's loss to Fort Hays State University, the Bronchos have lost eight games in a row. (Anthony Mellendorf /The Vista)

Garrett Johnson @garrettmj97

CONTRIBUTING WRITER

The University of Central Oklahoma’s men’s basketball team lost to the University of Nebraska-Kearney Lopers 66-49 Thursday evening on the front end of a two game road trip.

UCO shot 34 percent from the field

and 20 percent from 3-point range.

“I need to put these guys in the best positions for them to do their best, tweak the game plan and keep getting open shots in the lane and paint,” said head coach Bob Hoffman.

Dashawn McDowell started the game with a layup to put UCO up 2-0.

A.J. Jackson answered with six Loper

points on 3-3 shooting in the opening three minutes.

UCO led UNK 9-8 at the first media timeout thanks to effective shooting from Cam Givens who was 2-2 from the field for five points. McDowell scored the other four UCO points.

Redshirt freshman Justin Nimmer’s coast-to-coast layup forced the first team timeout from the Lopers with the Bronchos ahead 17-13 with 10:37 remaining before halftime.

The Broncho's only allowed 13 points in the first half, compared to several recent games which saw them give up 30 and 40 point first halves.

Dashon Bell scored five points to boost the UCO lead to nine with seven minutes left in the opening period. The senior point guard finished the game with seven points.

UCO forward D.J. Basey found himself in early foul trouble, gathering three personal fouls in six minutes of playing time. Guard Jaylin Turner also committed three fouls in the first half.

Two Cam Givens free throws with one second remaining in the half put UCO ahead 31-26. The Bronchos allowed just two of the nine Loper 3-point attempts.

UCO opened the second half out-

scored by UNK 7-5, only scoring seven points in the first 10 minutes of the second half on 1-8 shooting. After a Nimmer 3-pointer with 16:19 remaining, UCO did not score again until Colt Savage hit two free throws.

Nimmer scored a layup with 5:09 left to reduce the UNK lead to eight. Nimmer provided an offensive bright spot in an otherwise lackluster shooting performance and finished the game with 16 points, the lone Broncho in double-digit scoring.

UCO play-by-play announcer Tony Sellars criticized consecutive missed goaltending calls by officials that would have resulted in four Broncho points.

“It is very hard to play offense, and basketball in general, when there’s no consistency within the rules,” Sellars said.

Hoffman received a technical foul for arguing the missed goaltends with 3:17 left in the game. The Bronchos trailed 54-44.

UCO struggled to find offense in the second half, scoring just 18 points to the Lopers’ 40.

UCO finished their road trip with a 73-81 loss at Fort Hays State University Feb. 9. UCO returns home to for the remainder of the regular season.

Women's Basketball Split Two Game Road Trip Tanner Johnson @TheVista1903

CONTRIBUTING WRITER

The University of Central Oklahoma women's basketball team split the last two games on the road for the season.

The Bronchos fell to the University of Nebraska-Kearney Lopers on Thursday.

Shatoya Bryson hit a 3-pointer with about a minute left in the game to tie it up, but the Bronchos had a couple turnovers in the final minute that ultimately cost them the game, losing 75-69.

“I think ball control was our big problem [against UNK],” said head coach Guy Hardaker. “We didn’t take care of the ball down the stretch and really all night.”

After Kelsey Johnson made the first couple buckets of the game, the Lopers went on a run, and Central fought from behind for most of the first quarter. In the final two minutes, the Bronchos went on a 6-0 run, highlighted by a couple baskets from Brooke Rayner, to take a 20-19 lead going into the second quarter.

With a few minutes left in the second quarter, Central took their biggest lead of the first half, 38-32, after a 3-pointer by Jaci Littell.

In the second half, the Bronchos increased their lead to nine, and Central found themselves up 46-37 with five minutes left in the third quarter.

The Bronchos offense went cold for the remainder of the quarter, and the Lopers then went on a run to take the lead with a minute left in the quarter.

UCO found themselves down by four points going into the fourth.

Once the Bronchos tied it 69-69, they didn't score again.

Johnson led the team in scoring with 12 points on the night. Kaci Richardson tacked on 11 points and made three 3-pointers in 18 minutes.

Littell and Clary Donica had 10 points each.

While still on the road, the Bronchos topped the Fort Hays State University Tigers 77-66 on Saturday.

Micayla Haynes, Donica, Johnson and Bryson all scored in double figures.

The Bronchos missed their first 11 shots of the game. It wasn't until after the first media timeout that Bryson made the first shot. Central trailed 1211 at the end of the first quarter.

Once the Bronchos took the lead 24-22 off of a 3-pointer from Bryson, they didn't fall behind again and went into halftime with a 34-29 lead.

The start of the second half was

UCO guard Micayla Haynes attempts a lay-up against Missouri Western State University. The Bronchos split road games against the University of Nebraska-Kearney and Fort Hays State University. (Anthony Mellendorf /The Vista)

much different than the start of the game. Central came out with a more cohesive game, getting stops and making shots from deep.

Donica made three 3-pointers in the third quarter alone, and increased the lead to 14.

The Tigers added in the fourth quarter, but Central’s shooting prevented them from taking over the lead.

“We played well today and we got

a lot of help from different people,” Hardaker said.

Donica led the team with 19 points and made four 3-pointers. Johnson finished with 16 points, Haynes tacked on 14 and Bryson finished with 11.

The Bronchos return to Hamilton Field House for the remainder of the regular season, facing the Newman University Jets on Feb. 15 at 1:30 p.m.

14

February 11, 2020

eSports

Overwatch League Kicks Off A New Season

In this Feb. 2019 photo, Esports athletes on a Swiss competition team prepare for an upcoming match. Overwatch League kicked off their new season this week in New York. (Philipp Keller/Pexels)

Ty Wallace @haltexe

CONTRIBUTING WRITER

On Saturday, the Overwatch League kicked off their new season with the first homestand games in New York.

The first match of the day started with the Paris Eternal against the Toronto Defiant. Out of the four maps played, Paris Eternal won the first on Lijiang Tower, bringing both capture points to 100 percent, and with the Toronto Defiant only capturing 51 percent on the second point.

The second through fourth maps were won by Toronto Defiant, in a sweeping turnaround. On Echienwalde, the Toronto Defiant narrowly won

by capturing the remaining 33 percent of the first capture point in overtime.

On the third map, Horizon Lunar Colony, Toronto won by seizing 33 percent of the capture points with just 49 seconds left.

The final map for Paris and Toronto was Havana, where Toronto fully pushed the cart across the entire map, earning three points, and then denying Paris any points in the second round. Toronto won the entire match 3-1.

New York Excelsior and the London Spitfire faced off next. The first map was won by London, who have replaced their entire roster, except for a single sub-player, since the 2019 season. The map was played on Lijiang

Tower with both capture points taken to 99 percent by New York and 100 percent by London.

The second map was Kings Row, with New York exhausting London’s time bank after the second checkpoint, then pushing past it and winning in the second round. The third map was Horizon, with New York again exhausting London’s time bank in their first round. New York fully captured the first point and won.

The final map of this match was played on Junkertown, with New York capturing all three points in the first round and denying London from capturing any points in the second round, giving an overall win to New York.

The third match pitted the Vancou-

ver Titans against the Los Angeles Gladiators.

The first map was Nepal and started out with Vancouver getting 100 percent of the first point. Los Angeles then took the next two rounds, winning the map.

The second map was King’s Row, with Vancouver exhausting Los Angeles’ time bank during their defense.

Vancouver then took the map after pushing the payload further than Los Angeles, with just over a minute to spare.

The match then moved on to Hanamura, with Vancouver sweeping the match with a 163-second remaining timebank.

The fourth map was played on Dorado, where Los Angeles won, bringing the match to a tie. Map five, Lijiang Tower, proved to be the tie-breaker.

The map, and the match along with it, was won by Vancouver with total capture of both points.

The final match was played by the Dallas Fuel and the Los Angeles Valiant. The first map was Lijiang Tower, with a very close match over three rounds. The map was won by Dallas after winning the second and third rounds.

The next map was Blizzard World, with Los Angeles winning after depleting Dallas’s time bank during Dallas’s attack round and pushing further with 29 seconds remaining.

After Blizzard World was Horizon again, with the map going into round three with Los Angeles Valiant winning the final capture. The final map of the day was played on Junkertown with Los Angeles again winning in the second round, and thus winning the match.

China Overwatch League to Cancel Games Due to Coronavirus Ty Wallace @haltexe

CONTRIBUTING WRITER

The Overwatch League announced Wednesday that the upcoming games in China will be canceled due to the ongoing coronavirus outbreak.

The canceled games affect homestand games — where a series of games is played in each team’s home city — with the Hangzhou Spark, Shanghai Dragons and Chengdu Hunters.

The only remaining team in Asia, the Soul Dynasty, will still host their homestand games in early March.

Eddy Meng, the COO of the Guangzhou Charge, posted Jan. 30 about his struggles with the sudden outbreak of the coronavirus.

“By Monday morning on Jan. 27, our contingency plan was no longer

a contingency — our staff started to book flights, to check on visa timelines for our Chinese players and staff, and to prepare communication plans around our players moving to South Korea,” Meng said.

The third season of the league, which starts in days, will be the first season where the league travels for homestand games.

Other concerns have also popped up for the Overwatch League. Many big-name casters have announced recently they’re leaving the league for other casting jobs.

The Overwatch League also faced backlash after announcing last month that games will stream on YouTube instead of Twitch. The first two seasons of OWL were streamed on Twitch, the largest gaming live-streaming platform.

A paradegoer holds a sign of support for China, at the center of the coronavirus outbreak, as participants in the Lunar New Year parade pass by in the Chinatown neighborhood of New York, Sunday, Feb. 9, 2020. (AP Photo/ Craig Ruttle)

Sports Column

February 11, 2020

15

The Value in Remaining Competitive

Oklahoma City Thunder guard Chris Paul (3) shoots between Detroit Pistons’ Bruce Brown (6), forward Thon Maker (7) and forward Tony Snell (17) during the second half of an NBA basketball game Friday, Feb. 7, 2020, in Oklahoma City. (AP Photo/Sue Ogrocki)

Jacob Silva @jdhoops29

CONTRIBUTING WRITER

At the beginning of the 2019-2020 NBA season, the Oklahoma City Thunder were projected to win just 36 games, with a mere 20 percent chance of making the playoffs.

During the offseason, Oklahoma City lost its two best players, one of which was franchise star of 11 years in Russell Westbrook.

Now 53 games into the regular season, the Thunder are 32-21, nearly reaching their projected win total with 31 games to spare. The Thunder now have a 99 percent chance of making the playoffs, and are currently the sixth seed in the Western Conference, just one game back of the fifth seed Houston Rockets.

The last few seasons after Kevin Durant left were mostly filled with stress and the fear of mediocrity. Worries of another first round playoff exit hung over every game, yet for three consecutive seasons, that’s exactly what happened.

It became clear to most fans and the Thunder organization that they just weren’t good enough to win the title.

They weren’t fun to watch, and it was clear that the players weren’t having

fun either.

This season, though, has been a marvel. After trading Paul George and Russell Westbrook last offseason, everyone thought that signaled the start of a full teardown and rebuild.

We brought back a player that a lot of Thunder fans disliked in Chris Paul, and we traded away our two best players. Yet, this has been the most enjoyable Thunder season since the time the franchise first made the playoffs in 2010.

It’s clear that these guys love playing with each other. You see it on the court with selfless play, and you see it in the locker room postgame.

Chris Paul and sophomore stud Shai Gilgeous-Alexander have made for an exciting backcourt to watch, and you couldn’t ask for a better mentor for a young point guard.

Head coach Billy Donovan had caught a lot flak over the years because of the performance of the Thunder in the playoffs. Many fans called for his head, but it’s clear to me that he’s an exceptional head coach.

When you have Russell Westbrook on your team, no matter who the coach is, you’re going to run every play through Russell regardless of the intent of the coach. That’s the baggage that comes with such a legendary

player.

This season with more freedom, Donovan has shown the free flowing, pass-first offense that he has always talked about. He deserves a lot of credit for the way this team has

meshed and deserves a look for Coach of the Year.

Here lies the value in remaining good. No one had high expectations for this Thunder roster. Fans started this season assuming we were going to “tank” and trade all of our older players away.

It’s those low expectations that have made this season so fun. The Thunder aren’t great, and they probably won’t win the title, but they are so good. It looks like these guys are just happy to be here, having fun and playing basketball together.

Remaining competitive, although not elite, has value.

Oklahoma City loves Chris Paul, Billy Donovan might be the Coach of the Year and team chemistry is higher than it’s been in a long time. At some point this team will fully commit to a rebuild and bottom out.

The Thunder have the largest stockpile of draft assets in the league, and a promising young player in Shai to build around in the future, but this season they are rolling a group of veterans and enjoying their time playing the sport they love.

Maybe that’s something we can all learn. Even if we don’t win the “championship” in our lives, there is something special about the bonds you develop and the memories you make along that road.

Oklahoma City Thunder forward Nerlens Noel (9) reacts after the Thunder hit a three-pointer in the first half of an NBA basketball game, Sunday, Feb. 9, 2020, in Oklahoma City. (AP Photo/Kyle Phillips)