The Vista Feb. 26, 2019

Volume 117, Issue 6

the VISTA “Our Words, Your Voice.”

ucentralmedia.com vistanews1903 @thevista1903 @thevista1903 The Vista

Tuesday, February 26, 2019

UCO Policies Aid International Students

Vy Luong

@vy169 Online Editor

While some international students at the University of Oklahoma have found themselves unable to enroll and risking deporting due to OU’s new bursar policy, the University of Central Oklahoma is continuing to evaluate international student’s debt on a case-by-case basis.

“Our goal is to get [international students] through graduation. We don’t want them to come here and not be able to continue,” said Timothy Kok, UCO’s Office of Global Affairs’ director of International Affairs.

“Cost and tuition has increased over last three years obviously we have seen more and more students can’t reContinued on Pg. 3

International students Ali Alqanbar (left), Ali Alnakhli (middle) and Yousef Alomery (right) meet in the Office of Global Affairs.

International students at the University of Oklahoma have been encountering problems with enrollment and deportation after the university changed its bursar policies. Timothy Kok, director of International Affairs at the University of Central Oklahoma, said that UCO has a continued policy of going case-by-case with student needs. (Sarah Laufenburger/The Vista)

State to Utilize Social Media in Cancer Studies Bryce Girdner

@TheVista1903 Contributing Writer

In this May 19, 2015 file photo, a nuclear medicine technologist makes a PET scan of a cancer patient at Georgetown University Hospital in Washington. Oklahoma is looking to use social media to increase participation in cancer studies. (Provided/AP)

CAMPUS NEWS

.WAV Festival Celebrates Female Artists from Around the State See Pg. 7

Medical researchers in Oklahoma have been developing a method to allow rural residents of Oklahoma and neighboring states to participate in cutting-edge medical research through the use of social media.

According to the American Cancer Society, 19,000 Oklahomans are projected to be diagnosed with cancer this year, and more than 8,000 of them will die. Oklahomans aren’t more likely to get cancer than residents of any other state, but when they’re diagnosed, they’re more likely to die. Luckily, throughout the United States, cancer

rates have steadily decreased since 1991.

Oklahoma has five cancer centers within the state, all holding clinical trials annually. Three centers in Tulsa, two in Oklahoma City and one in southwest Oklahoma, but a man or woman in rural Oklahoma or Arkansas or Texas will have a tough time partaking in the trial because of the distance.

One reason cancer patients aren’t willing to join trials is their location. Traveling from rural Kansas to New Jersey isn’t feasible. That’s where social media comes in. With social media, doctors conducting clinical trials to help find new treatContinued on Pg. ??

BRONCHO SPORTS

Womens’ Hoops Ends Three Game Skid with Thrilling Win See Pg. 12

2

the

Feb. 26, 2019

VISTA

CONTENTS International Studies.............................................................3 Around Campus ..................................................................4 UCOSA/Infrastructure..........................................................5 Disney/Meacham....................................................6 Cancer Studies/Festival.........................................................7 National Emergency/Trump................................................10 DaVinci Fellow....................................................................11 Thriller.................................................................12 Powers...................................................................13 Leap/Championships..................................................14 Bucking Broncho.................................................................15

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

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.

On the Cover:

Left: Chicago artist Noname is performing March 3 at the ACM Performance Lab as part of the Metro Music Series.

Noname, real name Fatimah Warner, blurs the lines of hip-hop and poetry.

(Provided/ACM@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.

Right: University of Central Oklahoma basketball faced off against Nebraska-Kearney in a match at UCO on Saturday in Hamilton Field House.

(Gerald Leong/The Vista)

Contents

STAFF Christian Tabak Katie Standlee Jonathan Goudeau Tanner Laws Megan Thele Skyler Baldwin Vy Luong Michelle Pennza Yi Wen Wong Lauren Morris Madison Bolton James Jackson Derek Parker Samantha Karbelk Gerald Leong Teddy Burch Alex Brown

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

Advertise with us!

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

International Students

Feb. 26, 2019

3

UCO Policies Aid International Students Continued from Pg. 1

really afford to continue and we try to prevent that from happening.”

International students need to enroll full time with at least 12 credit hours during regular semester and nine credit hours in the summer. When students are listed as not able to enroll it means that their Student and Exchange Visitor Information System (SEVIS) will be terminated and need to leave the country.

Kok said that each semester UCO OGA terminates about 30-35 cases due to various reasons such as students not enroll, students deciding to withdrawal for a semester or if the student has some medical issues and needs to leave.

“Termination is the very last recourse. We want to be very careful because termination does raise a flag with the Department of State, the SEVIS and may put students into difficult times with law enforcement,” Kok said. “We want to make sure until we exhaust all options, we won’t terminate that student.”

Kok said before the enrollment deadline, the OGA will work with the Student Success office generate the list of students who have not enrolled yet. They will reach out to those students to remind them, as well as offer help.

“We just do understand that international tuition is more expensive, so a lot of times when we meet with an international student, we try to be very realistic,” said Melissa Hayt, director of Student Success Office.

UCO policy requires students to have less than $1,000 in their bursar balance in order to enroll. Students will receive a systematic hold if their balance exceeds that amount, but students can come to the Student Success office to seek help.

OU used to work with each student to evaluate their situation. However, they changed the policy last fall, which requires all students to pay off past semesters’ balance before they can allow to enroll.

“It’s a difficult conversation with either domestic students and international students,” Hayt said. “We’re looking at things like academic performance, payment history, how close they are to finishing their degree to see if it’s possible to provide some flexibility and allow enrollment for that student.”

Hayt said Student Success staff looks at each case to see if students have any long-term plan, such as

Students Yousef Alomery (middle) and Ali Alnakhli (right) receive assistance from OGA Office Manager Anwar Zulkisli in the Office of Global Affairs. OGA works with students on a case-by-case basis to address concerns over student debt and funding for each semester. (Sarah Laufenburger/TheVista)

when they will make the payment, whether they have any resources like scholarships or employment that can help them pay.

“We want to be very careful because termination does raise a flag with the Department of State, the SEVIS and may put students into difficult times with law enforcement.”

Timothy Kok “Our job and our institutional policies are in place to protect students,” Hayt said. “We don’t want to put students a financial burden on students that they can’t ever recover from.”

Kok said when he first came to UCO in 2007, there was no payment plan and students needed to pay interest for the full amount. The new payment plan UCO offers now allows students to have more time to pay and he said it helps students focus more on making payments.

When applying to any U.S. college, international students need to prove that they can afford the cost of their first year, including tuition, fees, insurance and living expenses. According to Kok, a majority of international students at UCO receive funding from

family members while a few can still use their own saving money as their funding.

“Finance is always one of our top barriers for them to continue,” Kok said. “[International students’] primary provider for tuition may get into some illnesses, or they pass away or they no longer support that one student.”

Hayt said that she noticed students also have problems because some countries only allow them to transfer a specific amount of money at a time.

Some students do have the funding back home but are not able to transfer it to the U.S. Kok said after the adviser reaches out to students about any problem regarding to their student status, students have 30 days to contact the office and provide alternative plans.

In the case they do not have any plan, the advisers may also advise students to take a semester break before coming back, or transfer to a community college, which has lower cost. The office will take action between 30-60 days if they do not hear anything back from the student.

“Our goal here is not to provide them with a short-term fix, but with a long-term fix,” Kok said. “If they don’t have a good plan in place, it’s going to happen again and again.”

International students are only allowed to work on campus and employment is limited to 20 hours per week during regular semesters. The Vista previously reported that some international students choose to work off campus illegally in order to earn some more money, facing with the

risk of losing their student visa.

“If you work off campus, it’s violation and there’s no question about that,” Kok said.

If students have some hardship that prevent them from paying their tuition, Kok said they can find a guarantor for a loan. While international students are not eligible for any government or federal loans, he said most of the loans he has heard students obtained are through the assistance of local and sometimes national banks.

“The students would have to work with individuals who are able to serve as their guarantor, and again, it would vary from one individual to the other who the guarantor can be,” Kok said.

“As far my knowledge serves me, the guarantor would have to be someone who has a credible credit history established in order to obtain any type of financial loans.”

Students can also apply for the Severe Economic Hardship working permission with the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services after they have been in the U.S. for at least 9 months. OGA advisers will look at each case and advise students on the very next step to assist students they believe will be successful with the application to obtain the off-campus work permit.

“There’s an application fee that comes with it, so before you even have the ability to earn money, you need to spend some money first,” Kok said. “Our advisers will diagnose the situation to make sure they don’t waste that $300 - $400.”

4

Feb. 26, 2019

Around Campus

Tulsa rock band The Golden Ones perform at ACM@UCO on Feb. 14. They derive inspiriation from 1970s rock bands such as Alice Cooper, David Bowie, The Runaways and others. (Tanner Laws/The Vista)

Tuesday, Feb. 26, 2019 Bing Pink - Wheel of Fortune: Stop by the Big Pink table from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. in the Nigh University Center to learn more about Big Pink and how to register. Attendees can spin the wheel for a surprise while bringing more attention for breast cancer awareness.

Suicide Prevention Training: The Peer Health Leaders and the Center for Counseling and Well-Being will host a Suicide Prevention Training from noon to 1 p.m. in Thatcher Hall Room 343. Attendees will learn how to recognize warning signs for potential suicidal behavior in their peers.

Tunes at Noon: The Culdesac Kids will be performing from 12-1 p.m. in the Nigh University Center Food Court as part of the Student Programming Board’s Tunes at Noon series.

Self-Defense Seminar: As part of the University of Central Oklahoma’s annual Integrity Week, the Office of Student Conduct is hosting a self-defense seminar from 2-4 p.m. in the Wellness Center. No prior martial arts experience is required and free snacks will be provided.

Pre-registration is encouraged, but not required.

Life Skills Around Eating: This free and confidential group meets from 3:30-4:30 p.m. in Thatcher Hall Room 328. The group will discuss and focus on the affect regulation approach to eating disorders and will

teach how to handle stress triggered by food.

Anchor Weekly Meeting: Christian student organization Anchor will host their weekly meeting from 7:30-9:30 p.m. in the Nigh University Center’s Cherokee Room 213. The event will feature food and activities.

Wednesday, Feb. 27, 2019 It’s On Us Campaign: It’s On Us is a campaign opportunity for students, staff and faculty to show their stance against sexual assault on campus.

UCO’s Title IX Coordinator will be there to discuss Title IX and participatns can sign a pledge, take photos and receive a free T-shirt.

Non Traditional Student Support Group: This group is designed to help non-traditional students find support at UCO with others students who can relate to your life experience and share resources to help meet personal needs and ensure success at UCO. The meeting is from 2-3 p.m. in Nigh University Center Room 322.

Getting Unstuck: This educational based group is designed to help students learn and adopt abilities to tackle the problems in living that get them stuck while navigating life. The group meets from 3-4 p.m. in Nigh University Center Room 322.

African Student Association General Meeting: The African Student Association will host a general meeting from 4-6 p.m. in Nigh University

Center Room 314.

Food and Film - Final Chance: Final Chance is a short fictional film that follows various college students and their plans that seem brilliant but crash and burn. There will be free food for students viewing the film. The event is from 6:30-8:30 p.m. in the Center for Transformative Learning’s Radke Theatre and is STLR-tagged in Leadership.

Thursday, Feb. 28, 2019 Stress Paws: Come take a stress “paws” with therapy dogs from 3-5 p.m. on the Nigh University Center fourth floor.

The Mindful 8 - Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction: The Mindful 8 is an eight week stress reduction program based on mindfulness that helps participants better concentration, sleep and stress management. The group will meet from 3:30-4 p.m. in Thatcher Hall Room 328.

What’s The Big Deal with Integrity? A Faculty Led Panel Discussion: As part of Integrity Week, the Office of Student Conduct will host a faculty-led panel discussion on the significance of integrity in all elements of academic life from 6-8 p.m. in Education Building Room 115. Panelists include members from the following departments: Kinesiology and Health Studies, Psychology, Design, Teacher Education Services, Criminal Justice, and English. Free Food will be provided.

Solid Ground: Join the group for Bible study, singing and fellowship with

other Christian students from 6-7:30 p.m. in Nigh University Center Room 202.

Getting Unstuck: This educational group is designed to help students learn and adopt abilities to tackle the problems in living that get them stuck. The group meets from 3-4 p.m. in Nigh University Center Room 322.

Friday, March 1, 2019 Chill Skills: This group works to reduce conflict in your life; identify triggers, patterns and purpose of anger; gather more tools for enhancing communication, boundaries and healthy relationships. The group meets from 9:30-10:30 a.m. in Nigh University Center Room 322.

LGBTQ Support: From 1-2 p.m. in Nigh University Center Room 322, the Center for Counseling and Well-Being will host a support group for those considering coming out as lesbian, gay, bisexual or transgender, and those who have recently come out. Anyone who identifies as LGBTQ, is questioning or unsure can meet and talk about various topics around sexuality, gender and other life issues.

A Life Worth Living: This group works on skills for improving boundaries and strengthening healthy relationships, enhancing sense of self and ways to manage distress. The group meets from 2-3 p.m. in Thatcher Hall Room 328.

UCOSA/Infrastructure

Feb. 26, 2019

5

UCOSA Presidential Requirements Go Unchanged Lauren Morris @TheVista1903 Reporter

The University of Central Oklahoma Student Association considered changing the requirements to become president of UCOSA, as well as several funding bills at their meeting last Monday.

CB19-202 focused on changing a part of the requirements to become UCOSA president. The other three bills, CFR19-203, CFR19-204 and CFR19-205 were about allocating funds.

CB19-202, which proposed cutting some of the requirements to become UCOSA president, did not pass with 17 nays, 9 yeas, and 5 abstains.

The proposed requirements that would have been cut include: one year experience as a member of the UCOSA Supreme Court, Freshman Council or congress; completion of a 12-hour experience program that included sitting in on meetings from the Congress, committees, Freshman Council, current UCOSA president and faculty advisor; scoring at least a 95 percent over a review of the UCOSA Constitution and statutes.

The proposed amendments were to include a completed three one-hour

From left to right, James Limbaugh, chair of the Ways and Means Committee, Jordan Medaris, congressional vice chair, Tate Atkinson, congressional chair, and Emily Grim, congressional secretary during the UCOSA meeting last Monday. Limbaugh authored bill CFR19-203. (The Vista/Lauren Morris)

meetings with the UCOSA president, congress chair and faculty advisor as well as scoring at least a 70 percent on a review of the constitution and statutes.

Sen. Jarrod Barnett, author for CB19-202, said the reason for the bill was to make the position of UCOSA president available to more students at the university.

CFR19-203, which passed unanimously, proposed giving $500 to the Society of Women Engineers for a camcorder to start a YouTube channel, and $2,500 to the Student Interior Design Association for several stu-

dents to attend the International Contemporary Furniture Fair in New York City, which will be held May 19-22.

CFR19-204, which also passed unanimously, proposed giving $15,000 to the Office of Sustainability so the office can work with programs such as Bum-A-Bike.

Another bill that passed unanimously was CFR19-205, which proposed giving $20,000 to the currently shut-down Uber program.

Last semester, over $50,000 had been given to the program, presumably for the whole academic year.

These funds had been spent before the

first semester ended.

The amount of time it will take for the program to be up and running again is unknown. A contract must be signed with Uber and then a code needs to be created. UCOSA faculty advisor, Cole Stanley said that since there is already a partnership with UCO and Uber the process should not take very long.

Due to fewer funds being allocated towards the program, there will be less rides than last semester.

The next UCOSA meeting will be at at 4:30 next Monday in Room 421, in the Nigh University Center.

New Infrastructure in Discussion for Edmond Jeff Elkins

@TheVista1903 Contributing Writer

Edmond City Council met last week to discuss changes to the city infrastructure, including addressing high traffic areas and park improvements.

Among the changes discussed was the plan to address the bottleneck at Coltrane Road and Covell Road by adding lights and removing the fourway stop.

Intersection construction along the 2nd St. corridor was also a priority topic. Assistant City Manager Steve Commons said it has two of the most congested intersections in all of Edmond.

"2nd Street and Bryant Avenue is identified as one of the worst and has been for a while," Commons said.

"We hope to begin adding turn lanes to help with the comings and goings at that intersection soon."

According to Commons, after completing that project, the next intersection that needs improvements is 2nd St. and Boulevard St.. That will be a

year after the completion of the Bryant Ave. project.

University of Central Oklahoma alum Morgan Shipley said she's been avoiding the 2nd St. corridor for years.

"I usually just take 15th St. if I am headed east or west through town," Shipley said. "I got into a wreck near campus a few years back, and because its still a mess, I will go out of my way to avoid it."

City Council also discussed the plan for the Route 66 Trail that would connect Arcadia Lake to various parks for more than two miles.

"This trail will extend between Edmond Park and Central State Park at the lake," Commons said. "This will be similar to the trail at Spring Creek but there will be physical separation between joggers and bikers."

A separate trail for cyclists will be a welcomed change for Edmond resident Josh Henson.

"My girlfriend and I ride along the Spring Creek trail a few times a week, most weeks," Henson said. "We like to ride side by side, but it frequently feels like we are hogging the trail

Vehicles stopped at the stoplight on 2nd and Bryant. Edmond City Council met last week to discuss changes to the city infrastructure. (Sarah Jekel/The Vista)

when we pass by joggers. We have had some pretty close calls."

Commons said they also assessed the progress that Highland Ridge Apartments has made since city officials ordered the owner to fix the numerous problems. The apartment complex at 1300 E. Ayers has been cited for health and fire code violations since 2014.

"They have continued to address these issues like fixing the sprinkler and sewage systems," Commons said.

"As long as we see continued progress, we will not recommend the city take further action."

The council will meet Monday to approve the contract with Triad Design Group for the Covell Road. construction project. Other plans include continued examination of the Highland Ridge Apartments and acceptance of public improvements and maintenance bonds for the UCO STEM Teaching and Research fire line.

6

Feb. 26, 2019

Disney/Meacham

Disney Institute Sponsored at UCO Madison Bolton @TheVista1903 Reporter

The University of Central Oklahoma is sponsoring the Disney Institute’s professional development course on Disney’s approach to employee engagement on March 28.

“The Disney Institutes are wonderful training opportunities where you can learn a lot on a specific topic in a short amount of time,” said Jay Corwin, associate vice president for Advancement at UCO. The one day event is open to the community and full of information and helpful tips for professionals. It will focus on training strategies that help boost employees’ confidence and drive employee engagement. After attending a Disney Institute event a few years ago, Dallas Caldwell, senior director of Enrollment and Financial Services at UCO, said he has been looking forward to the Disney Institute coming to UCO. “I’ve been to Disney Institute trainings twice now at Rose State [College],” Caldwell said. “I’ve always wanted to bring it here. I really believe in the Disney Institute and what they do; they really know how to run a business.”

Corwin said he agrees that Disney as a business is doing it right and their professional development events are popular.

“I love that they are always done the magical Disney Way: high energy, lots of positivity, customer-focused and entertaining,” Corwin said. “Disney training is legendary worldwide, especially in corporate relations, leadership enhancement and customer engagement.”

Disney Institute facilitator addressing attendees at a Disney Institute professional development course. The University of Central Oklahoma is hosting the Disney Institute’s professional development course on March 28. (Provided/University Communications)

There used to be a professional development program called Road to Greatness for UCO employees, but the program ended a few years ago, according to Caldwell. He said he felt this was a great opportunity to bring a professional development program back to UCO. “Professional development is important, especially for employees who do not get to go to conferences,” Caldwell said. “It’s good to get out of your box, it helps develop the employers attending to be exposed to new ideas.”

Going to conferences and communicating differences led Caldwell to the idea of UCO’s OneStop, where

students can receive help with financial aid, admissions, bursar and enrollment in one place.

The past Disney Institute events Caldwell attended were customer orientated, but he said this event is focused on employee engagement.

“Its focused on leadership and hiring, and maintaining office morale, and hiring the right people for the right job,” Caldwell said. “This event is mainly targeted toward supervisors.”

Seats are limited, but have already been selling to the public, according to Caldwell. Information on this event was sent out about a week ago and Calwell said he believes they’ve sold

a little over 10 percent of the spots available.

“It takes a little bit for companies to make plans to come, with travel and expenses. I’m not too worried though, I think we will fill our seats pretty easily,” Caldwell said. “It’s interesting to see the variety of people already signing up, from major corporations to churches.”

Registration is $445 and includes all course materials, as well as breakfast, lunch and parking. Group discounts will be provided for groups of three and six. For more information, call (405) 974-3670 or to register, visit blogs.uco.edu/disneyprofdev.

UCO to Host Pulitzer Prize Winner Meacham Yi Wen Wong @TheVista1903 Reporter

To commemorate the presidency of UCO President Don Betz, the University of Central Oklahoma will host Jon Meacham, presidential historian, Pulitzer Prize-winner and contributor to TIME and The New York Times Book Review at 2 p.m. Feb. 27 in the Nigh University Center’s Constitution Hall.

The event is hosted by the College of Liberal Art’s Leadership Minor Program, College of Liberal Arts and Office of Academic Affairs.

“I suggested ‘Soul of America’ for

the book club due to its near-perfect fit in response to the myriad, persistent challenges of our times,” Betz said in a press release.

Rozilyn Miller, associate dean of UCO’s College of Liberal Arts, said it seemed appropriate to honor Betz by bringing Meacham to campus as part of the UCO Distinguished Speaker Series since he chose the book for the book club.

Meacham authored the 2018 book “The Soul of America: The Battle for our Better Angels,” which examines the present moment in American politics and life by looking back at critical times in U.S. history when hope overcame division and fear.

“Also, with President Betz’s commitment to transformative learning, Jon Meacham is an excellent choice to bring to campus for students,” Miller said.

The planning for this event started in October 2018 and the budget for it is around $44,000.

Meacham will begin the event by discussing his book. After Meacham’s talk, there will be a 15-minute discussion with Betz. The discussion will be focused on questions generated by students that read and discussed the book in a Contemporary Leadership course taught by Betz and Jarrett Jobe.

Following the discussion there will be a book signing, with books avail-

able for purchase outside Constitution Hall and the NUC Heritage Room.

Meacham is a regular guest on MSNBC’s “Morning Joe” and is known as a skilled commentator with a depth of knowledge about politics, religion and current affairs. He served as Newsweek’s managing editor from 1998 to 2006 and editor from 2006 to 2010. The New York Times called him, “one of the most influential editors in the news magazine business.”

Miller said tickets are already sold out, but books for the signing are still available. For more information or questions about the event, please contact ladean@uco.edu or 405-9745540.

Cancer Studies/Festival

7

Feb. 26, 2019

State to Utilize Social Media in Cancer Studies Continued from Pg. 1

ments will be able to find willing participants much easier, and they may be able to do it remotely.

Christina Kendrick of Tulsa Dermatology, who has helped with clinical trials in Tulsa, thinks there could be a breakthrough with social media presence.

“With all that said, location isn’t the only reason people aren’t willing to participate in clinical trials,” Kendrick said. “Patients are afraid of the side effects that could come along with the trials, but I think detailing a plan online, coordinating with your local doctor and chatting online with the group that’s conducting the trial could lead to a higher participation rate than ever. It all has to be done

correctly.”

The willingness for cancer patients to partake in the trials usually depends on the severity of the cancer, said April McConnell, a patient at the Cancer Treatment Center of Tulsa.

“It all depends on if the cancer is fatal,” McConnell said. “I have a son, I want to see him grow up and I’ll do anything to see that happen, but my cancer is lethal, so for me, I don’t see

a point in participating in the trials unless it got to that extremity.”

McConnell is hopeful for the future of social media and how it could affect cancer.

“Social media may be able to bring deaths by cancer to a minimal level, but only if it’s done right,” McConnell said. “I know a lot of other people with cancer and I’m positive they would echo that sentiment.”

.WAV Festival to Celebrate Female Artists Madison Bolton @TheVista1903 Reporter

The .WAV Festival celebrating women in arts will take place March 2-3 at the University of Central Oklahoma’s Academy of Contemporary Music (ACM@UCO) and its ACM Performance Lab in downtown Oklahoma City.

The free festival is being organized and run by members of ACM’s Womens Audio Vision (.WAV) student organization.

“I really like that we are adding in artists and dancers this year,” said Rozlyn Zora Melton, vice president and co-founder of .WAV. Melton and a friend founded the organization last year as a safe place for women in the music industry to ask any questions, socialize or share any struggles they may be facing. According to Melton, really anyone is welcomed, including female and female-identifying members in the ACM community.

“I really enjoy that it’s a group where girls feel safe and we can just empower them,” Melton said. “It’s just another community inside the ACM community.”

According to Katie Carmichael, president of .WAV, the festival features three indoor stages at two venues, with most performances happening from 4-9 p.m. on March 2 and 2-8 p.m. on March 3.

“We have an acoustic stage that dancers will perform on, and most acoustic acts in that room during other times, a songwriting room with a full stage for larger acts and a gallery in the center showcasing UCO and community artwork done by women,” Carmichael said.

The festival showcases multiple genres and music acts performing grunge pop, Americana, blues, folk, singer-songwriter, rap, hip-hop and more. It will also lead into ACM’s Music Metro Series, with a special sold-out performance on the last day

Americana group The Annie Oakley is among the headliners at the ACM@UCO’s .WAV Festival. They will give a free performance at 8 p.m. March 2 at the ACM@UCO campus, 25 S. Oklahoma Ave., in Bricktown. (Provided/ACM@UCO)

by acclaimed Chicago hip-hop and spoken-word rapper Noname.

This year’s lineup features The Annie Oakley, Lauryn Hardiman, Miillie Mesh, Ciara Brooke, Creeping Toms, Ramona & The Phantoms, Me Oh My, Jade Castle and Rozlyn Zora [Melton’s stage name],Miche’la Creel and more.

Those attending the festival will also be encouraged to bring nonperishable food items to donate to Sisu Youth Services, a local nonprofit organization that supports the homeless youth living in the community.

According to Carmichael, she found out about the nonprofit through Elecktra Stanislava, who performed at the festival last year and is involved in Sisu Youth Services.

“I wanted to do something local, I know this person, I trust this organization and I think this is something important.” Carmichael said.

Sarah Tierney, .WAV treasurer, has

been in charge of of budgeting the festival, getting volunteers and going over contracts. Tierney said being a part of this organization has given her firsthand experience in putting events like these together, and also a safe place to speak her mind.

“It is a little like you walk into the room at ACM and you’re the only girl, or there are at least two other girls,” Tierney said. “So, it makes it uncomfortable sometimes to say what you believe and if you have a women’s issue.”

Lindsey Churchill, director of Women’s Research Center and BGLTQ+ Student Center at UCO, said she agrees these types of organizations can really make an impact.

“I think organizations like these can provide a space for people to express themselves and find solidarity with others who may have similar experiences,” Churchill said.

She also said she believes that festivals like .WAV are a positive way to showcase talent that may not get exposure otherwise.

“Music festivals - whether it’s the line up, who is promoting or who works behind the scenes - have traditionally been male-dominated. For a long time, performance, because you have to “command” the stage, was seen as something men are supposed to do,” Churchill said. “Organizations who support or showcase women’s music challenge this idea and put women’s voices at the forefront.”

Churchill also said to this day, most festivals do not give equal exposure to female musicians, and she also believes that festivals need to be trans-inclusive.

“I really hope everyone comes out and supports us, and brings donations for Sisu; it’s really going to be a cool experience,” Tierney said.

10

Feb. 26, 2019

National Emergency/Trump

Congress Makes Efforts to Block National Emergency Dustin Pierce

@TheVista1903 Contributing Writer

On Feb. 18, a coalition of 16 states filed lawsuits challenging President Donald Trump over his plan to use emergency powers to provide the nearly $8 billion required for a wall along the U.S.-Mexico border.

On Friday, Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi began her push to overturn Trump’s emergency declaration, scheduling a House vote for Tuesday.

These lawsuits, along with pushback from the House democrats, are part of a constitutional controversy that started when Trump declared a national emergency at the southern border to get more funding for the border wall.

“We will fight his action in the Congress, in the courts and in the public,” Pelosi, D-California, told ABC reporters on a conference call Friday morning.

The House of Representatives will vote on Tuesday to try and stop this declaration, but it is unlikely that Congress has the votes to override the president’s certain veto.

“Will I veto it? One hundred percent. One hundred percent,” Trump said. “We have too many smart people that want border security, so I can’t imagine it can survive a veto.”

Jan Hardt, University of Central Oklahoma political science professor, said she thinks that the president’s declaration is unconstitutional and that Congress might have enough votes to block his declaration.

A woman walks on the beach next to the border wall topped with razor wire in Tijuana, Mexico. A group of former U.S. national security officials is set to release a statement on Monday, Feb. 25, arguing that there is no justification for President Donald Trump to use a national emergency declaration to fund a wall along the U.S.-Mexico border. (AP Photo/Gregory Bull)

“In the House, the Democrats have a 40 seat advantage and there might be enough moderate Republicans to override that veto,” Hardt said. “Several moderate Republicans are in fairly blue seats for 2020 and facing tough reelection fights.”

Some Republicans have expressed their concerns about the president’s executive action, but none have said that they will join the Democrats in their efforts to terminate the national emergency.

Terrance Fields, a UCO student majoring in political science, said he

sees the president’s executive action as unconstitutional as well, but does not think congress will have the votes to override the veto.

“The chances of Congress having enough votes to override the president’s veto are slim to none as far as the Senate goes,” Fields said. “The Senate obviously has the majority aside from a few swing votes here and there, but even with the few swing votes, there will still not be enough to override the veto.”

While Congress is trying to veto the president’s executive action at the

Capitol, the 16 states suing Trump are trying to block his action in the courts.

The 16 states that have filed lawsuits against President Trump are: California, New York, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Hawaii, Illinois, Maine, Maryland, Michigan, Minnesota, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, Oregon and Virginia.

All have Democratic governors but one — Maryland, whose governor is a Republican but whose attorney general is a Democrat — and most have legislatures controlled by Democrats.

Trump Addresses HIV and AIDS at State of the Union Lauren Morris @TheVista1903 Reporter

In President Donald Trump's State of the Union speech in early February, he listed the eradication of HIV and AIDS as a top priority of his administration in the coming year.

“In recent years we have made remarkable progress in the fight against HIV and AIDS. Scientific breakthroughs have brought a once-distant dream within reach,” Trump said in the speech. “My budget will ask Democrats and Republicans to make the needed commitment to eliminate the HIV epidemic in the United States within 10 years. Together, we will defeat AIDS in America.”

LaNita Wright, associate professor in the University of Central Oklahoma's Department of Kinesiology and Health Studies said while this could

be easier in larger states such as New York or California, Oklahoma’s rural and majority conservative population creates a stigma not just for STIs, but specifically HIV and AIDS. Wright works primarily with faith institutions to spread awareness about sexual health and unplanned pregnancy. Being misinformed about sex education can lead to stigmas, Wright said.

“States with higher rates of church affiliation and more conservative states typically…have less likelihood of discussion of STIs, and more holistically, sexuality education,” Wright said.

Wright said there is less discussion, and because that discussion is limited sometimes there can be stigmas, biases and misunderstandings introduced.

The Oklahoma State Department of Health shows that in 2016, there were 295 newly-diagnosed HIV and

75 newly-diagnosed AIDS cases in Oklahoma, and an estimated 6,000 people were living with HIV/AIDS. Over half 56 percent of those diagnosed who were living with a form of HIV/AIDS identified as males who had sex with other males. A quarter of those were Black/African American.

Wright said that even if someone does not fit the demographics in which having HIV/AIDS is most common, everyone should be informed on what HIV/AIDS is, how it can be spread and how it can be prevented.

“It’s important to consider that just because there are maybe higher rates with certain demographics in Oklahoma, that doesn’t mean it’s not relevant for all of us. It’s relevant for everyone to understand, because sexual health is health, and understanding your body and knowing what can hopefully reduce risks,” Wright said.

According to the State Department

of Health, by the end of 2016, 42.9 percent (4,469 cases) of the cumulative 10,423 HIV/AIDS cases diagnosed from 1982-2016 in Oklahoma were known to have died.

“We want to focus on promoting health and helping people to understand their bodies,” Wright said. “It’s a personal thing. You have to understand this for you. Just like you would go to a doctor and get your arm checked out if you felt like it was broken…same for getting tested.”

Wright said HIV and other STIs usually do not have noticeable symptoms. She said she recommends getting tested quarterly or for every new partner.

There are also places such as the OU Physicians Health and Wellness Clinic at UCO, Women’s Research Center and Planned Parenthood that are dedicated to informing students and the public about sexual health.

DaVinci Fellow

Feb. 26, 2019

11

UCO Professor Named a 2019 DaVinci Fellow Katie Standlee @katiestandlee

Managing Editor

A University of Central Oklahoma education professor has been selected as a 2019 DaVinci Fellow by the Oklahoma DaVinci Institute for her work with recruiting students to UCO's educator preparation program and promoting the teaching profession in general.

As a recipient, Susan Scott, professor in the Department of Educational Sciences, Foundations and Research in the College of Education and Professional Studies, has been awarded $1,000 that goes toward any creative project Scott chooses.

The DaVinci Institute Board of Directors selects DaVinci scholars based on creativity, broadly defined, among Oklahoma’s higher education faculty.

Through Scott’s recruitment work, she began the Perspective Teachers Academy at UCO, which has allowed her to work with over 1,000 students.

The academy allows Scott to invite teachers from all over the state to come to campus for a day and learn about the educator preparation program.

“I was looking back on my documented records, and I have figured out that I have probably served over 3,000 students through either the Perspective Teachers Academy or what I call my Teacher Leader Academy where I bring high school kids to campus and they learn about how to read a degree sheet,” Scott said.

Scott invites high school students to campus for the Teacher Leader Academy to learn about what it means to go to college, what it costs and that

it’s not a privilege, but something students need to work toward.

“What I like to do is have them come to this (Teacher Learning Academy) so that they are more prepared for the Perspective Teacher Academy,” Scott said.

For both the Perspective Teachers Academy and Teacher Leader Academy, Scott has created curriculum and materials that she provides attendees with to help them in their career and, in the case of the Teacher Leader Academy, to help them prepare for college. Scott has been working on both of these academies officially since 2004 and unofficially since 1999.

One of the materials that Scott provides attendees at the Perspective Teachers Academy is a booklet of resources for students that are making lesson plans, to help them think critically and creatively. Scott said this is the kind of creative product that she would spend the awarded $1,000 on, but she is currently unsure as to what specifically.

“It will be something in the Perspective Teacher Academy,” Scott said.

“So, it would be something like [the lesson plan booklet] that could pay it forward. That’s what I would do with my $1,000, it will be something that I can put in the hands of future teachers to touch the lives of their students.”

James Machell, CEPS dean nominated Scott to be selected as a DaVinci Fellow.

“I was very pleased to nominate Dr. Susan Scott for a DaVinci Fellow Award this year,” Machell said.

“Dr. Scott has a great passion for teaching and the teaching profession.

Her passion, energy and hard work inspire many of us in the College of

Susan Scott, professor in the Department of Educational Sciences, Foundations and Research in the College of Education and Professional Studies, has been selected as a 2019 DaVinci Fellow by the DaVinci Institute. (Provided/ Meredith Scott-Kaliki)

Education and Professional Studies and across campus and the state and region.”

Along with recruiting and promoting, Scott also mentors students and helps students earn the DaVinci Scholar Award through the Oklahoma DaVinci Institute. Scott has been mentoring and has had students win the award since 2011. This year, Mary Pease, a student at UCO in CEPS, won the scholar award after mentoring with Scott.

The College of Education building sets on the west side of campus. Susan Scott, professor in the Department of Educational Sciences, Foundations and Research in the College of Education and Professional Studies, recruits students to the educator preparation program through the Perspective Teachers Academy and the Teacher Leader Academy. (Samantha Karbelk/The Vista)

“This is what I have done for years, this is one thing I have done, this is not what won me the award, but this is something I do within the DaVinci, which I think is pretty significant because I love mentoring these students,” Scott said.

In emails, assessments and every day life Scott shares her personal philosophy with students and faculty that teachers save lives every day.

“I really believe that we do save lives, so I think this is important because it helps people like me and other professors to realize that we’re doing good,” Scott said.

By sharing this philosophy, Scott said, all of a sudden she starts seeing students realize they can save a life and they start to see their purpose a little more differently.

According to a recent report from the Oklahoma State Regents of Higher Education, over the last six years, UCO has produced the largest amount of new teachers out of all state teacher preparation programs, at 16.1 percent.

“I love the DaVinci Institute and appreciate their support of future teachers through the DaVinci Scholar program and for their support of professors who are making a difference in the lives of students and our future as a society,” Scott said. “Thank you Dr. Jim Machell for my nomination and those who have helped me recruit aspiring teachers. I truly believe teachers save lives every day.”

12

Feb. 26, 2019

Thriller

SPORTS

Women’s Basketball Wins Overtime Thriller

University of Central Oklahoma guard Brooke Rayner shoots during a Feb. 21 home game against Fort Hays State University at Hamilton Field House. Rayner finished with four points and two rebounds in UCO’s 93-92 overtime win over The University of Nebraska-Kearney. (Sarah Jekel/The Vista)

Derek Parker @D_Park2

Sports Reporter

The University of Central Oklahoma women’s basketball team won in overtime against University of Nebraska-Kearney 93-92 on Saturday at Hamilton Field House.

The Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association conference win snapped a three-game losing streak and helped the Bronchos improve to 16-11 on the year, and 7-10 in conference play. UCO clinched their spot in the MIAA Postseason Tournament with the win.

Guard Shatoya Bryson scored career-high points with 25, nailing four 3-pointers and shooting 50 percent from the floor in the overtime win.

“That was a really exciting game and you always love to be a part of those,” said head coach Guy Hardaker. “And it’s always good to be on the right side of those games. We fought hard today.

We shot the ball well and hustled. I’m proud of the team for getting the win today.”

Micayla Haynes tacked on 22 points of her own in the contest, also shooting 50 percent. Ireon Smith scored 17

of the 23 bench points and grabbed a team-high 13 rebounds. Blake Blessington finished the game with 15 points, shooting 3-for-6 on 3-pointers.

Shiloh McCool led the way for Nebraska-Kearney with 19 points, and Klaire Kirsch followed closely behind with 18. Maegan Holt finished with 15, and Brooke Carleson finished with 14 points for the Lopers.

UCO built a big lead early, outscoring UNK 21-6, and shooting 50 percent in the first quarter. Not only were the Bronchos meshing on offense, they also held the Lopers to 1-for-13 shooting for the first 10 minutes of the contest.

NKU came back in the second quarter, scoring 13 straight points to cut the Broncho’s lead to two. The rest of the quarter was close, and the Bronchos went into halftime up 35-34. Kearney outscored the Bronchos 28-14 in the second quarter.

Both teams went back and forth in the third quarter, but UCO held the lead going into the fourth after a Blessington jumper at the buzzer put the Bronchos up 61-55.

Nebraska-Kearney outscored UCO 27-21 in the fourth quarter, including

a corner three with 11 seconds left in regulation to force overtime.

The teams traded scoring for the first several minutes of overtime, but UCO found themselves trailing 90-89. With two minutes left to play, Haynes sliced through the lane for a layup that put Central ahead.

With one minute left in the contest, the Bronchos last basket came after Smith missed her own put back twice before getting the third one to go, put-

ting them up 93-90. Kearney scored the last basket of the game, but UCO held on.

The Bronchos are set to finish out their regular season by hosting conference rivals Northeastern State University on Feb. 26 at 5:30 p.m., and Emporia State University on March 2 at 1:30 p.m. UCO heads to Kansas City, Mo. on March 5 for the MIAA Postseason Tournament.

University of Central Oklahoma guard Shatoya Bryson goes up for a layup during a Feb. 21 home game against Fort Hays State University at Hamilton Field House.

Bryson scored 25 points in Saturday’s win. (Sarah Jekel/The Vista)

Powers

Feb. 26, 2019

13

Avery Powers UCO to Home Win

University of Central Oklahoma forward Adarius Avery drives to the goal during a Feb. 21 home against Fort Hays State University. Avery led the Bronchos with 35 points and 10 rebounds in the win. (Sarah Jekel/The Vista)

Ryan Dunn

@TheVista1903 Contributing Writer

The University of Central Oklahoma men’s basketball team defeated Nebraska-Kearney in a Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association game Saturday afternoon at the Hamilton Field House with a final score of 88-83.

Adarius Avery led the Bronchos after he finished with 35 points and 10 rebounds and went 11-15 from the field including 13-18 from the free-throw line. Josh Holliday also contributed with 17 points including 2-3 from behind the 3-point line. Colt Savage came off the bench and added 14 points.

The Bronchos found themselves behind early as the Lopers started the

University of Central Oklahoma guard Colt Savage shoots during a Feb. 21 game against Fort Hays State University at Hamilton Field House. Savage scored five points in UCO’s 88-83 win. (Sarah Jekel/The Vista)

game off on an 11-0 run before Avery found his way into the paint, scoring a layup and getting fouled, knocking in the free-throw.

Holliday helped midway through the first half, making a layup and drawing the foul that gave the Bronchos a free-throw. The next possession Holliday drove the ball down the court and dished it out to Jordan Lon-

“They executed well today and played well as a team. We had good ball movement and crashed the boards well.”

Tom Hankins

don for a 3-point shot, which made the Bronchos down by only four.

UCO found themselves going back and forth with the Lopers throughout the first half and with a last second 3-pointer from Marquis Johnson, the Bronchos went into halftime with the lead, 44-43.

The Bronchos started the second

half with Avery making a layup, followed by a 3-pointer from Savage.

However, the Lopers would answer frequently and often, and the two teams battled it out all the way to the wire.

However, Avery and the Bronchos would be too much to handle for the Lopers as UCO defended home court and took home the win, 88-83.

UCO shot 53.8 percent from the field and an even 50 percent from the 3-point line. They shot 79.3 percent from the free-throw line. The Bronchos defense also played a role in their win Saturday, as they forced the Lopers to 10 turnovers, resulting in 12 points.

“I’m extremely proud of our guys today,” said head coach Tom Hankins. “They executed well today and played as a team. We had good ball movement and crashed the boards well. I’m proud of the guys for stepping up off the bench and doing their part.”

The Bronchos are 11-15 overall in the regular season and 4-13 in conference play. They will wrap up the regular season at home with their next game on Feb. 26 against Northeastern State University at 7:30 p.m., and March 2 at 3:30 p.m. against Emporia State University.

14

Feb. 26, 2019

Leap/Championships

Lions Leap Over Bronchos

University of Central Oklahoma infielder Phillip Scott prepares to swing during Sunday’s home game against Missouri Southern State University at Wendell Simmons Field.

UCO fell in all three games falling to 6-5 on the season. (Provided/BronchoSports)

James Jackson

@JamesDJackson15 Sports Reporter

The University of Central Oklahoma baseball team was swept in their three-game series against Missouri Southern University, a Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association matchup, on Friday, Saturday and Sunday at Wendall Simmons Field.

In the 2018 season, the Bronchos defeated Missouri Southern in three out of the four games against. However,this season, the Bronchos were outscored by the Lions 17-6.

“Missouri Southern is a good team and they deserve the credit,” said head coach John Martin. “They have good pitching and they put the

ball in play. We couldn’t do that today, or all weekend for that matter.

They beat us. We need to move on and get better.”

In game one, the Bronchos fell 7-1 after striking out 16 times and scoring a season-low one run. As a team, UCO recorded five hits, three

by Phillip Scott and two by Kyle Crowl.

“We just flat out couldn’t hit the ball today,” Martin said. “We gave up one big inning early and you don’t want to do that, but we couldn’t respond. We need to forget about this one and come back tomorrow focused and ready to be more aggressive at the plate.”

In game two, the Bronchos were able to jump-start their offense after scoring just one run in six innings.

They would lead 4-3 after scoring

three runs in the bottom of the seventh, led off by Brice West and anchored by Dru Barrier.

In the top of the eighth with two outs, the Lions were able to score two runs to give them a 5-4 lead after West dove for a ball in right field and missed it.

“We had our chances tonight,” Martin said after the loss. “We didn’t play very well, but we still had our chances to win this game.

Our goal is to win every MIAA series and now we missed our mark in the first series. That’s disappointing.

But we’ll go out and fight tomorrow and do our best to get back in the win column.”

In the final game of the series, the Bronchos again scored just one run with four hits falling 5-1. UCO left eight runners on base.

off to a great start. I’m happy too for the guys that are advancing and we’re excited to get ready for the national championship.”

Keim went 2-1 on the day, earning an 11-1 major decision in the quarterfinals and getting a medical forfeit from Newman University’s Kevin Kissane. He lost 3-2 in the finals to Fort Hays State University’s Brandon Ball.

Crawl also finished 2-1 on Saturday. He was able to get a pin in his opening dual as well as a 4-1 win in the semifinals before getting knocked off 8-0 by McKendree University’s Nick Foster in the finals.

Wilson started with a 56-second first round fall and a 5-2 decision in the quarterfinals. He would go on to

lose 7-5 in the semifinal and then answered back with a 15-6 major in the consolation round and a 3-1 sudden victory period.

Gray picked up a 16-1 technical fall in the quarterfinals and an 18-8 major decision in the semifinals. The sophomore then defeated McKendree’s Michael Pixley 8-5 in the regional title match to improve to 32-1 on the season.

Tanner Cole at 125-pounds and 149-pound Brik Filippo each finished fourth in their respective weight classes.

Keim, Crawl, Wilson and Gray will represent UCO at the NCAA Championships in Cleveland, Ohio on March 8-9.

The Bronchos drop to 6-5 overall on the season. In 2018, the Bronchos started 1-5 before going on a seven-game winning streak then on to finishing the season as MIAA Regular Season Champions.

UCO looks to bounce back Tuesday as they face off against the Oklahoma Christian University Eagles at 5 p.m. in Oklahoma City. Following that will be their second three-game series of the season as they travel to battle against Northwest Missouri State University starting Friday.

In the 2018 campaign, the Bronchos defeated Oklahoma Christian in their one matchup and Northwest Missouri in their latest three game series 2-1.

Wrestling Sends Four to Championships Ethan Hummingbird @TheVista1903 Contributing Writer

The University of Central Oklahoma’s wrestling team traveled to Lindenwood University on Saturday and took fourth in the NCAA Regional Tournament.

The Bronchos have four wrestlers advancing to the NCAA Championships. Nate Keim, Devin Crawl and Greg Wilson each made the cut, and Heath Gray earned the regional title.

“I’m proud of the guys for the way they fought today,” UCO head wrestling coach Todd Steidley said. “We had a really good showing. We wrestled really good this morning and got

University of Central Oklahoma wrestler Heath Gray celebrates during a home match this season. He advanced to the NCAA Championships. (Provided/BronchoSports)

Bucking Broncho

Feb. 26, 2019

15

To Play Or Not Play? The Zion Decision In a game against blue blood rival, the University of North Carolina, Duke University freshman phenom Zion Williamson suffered what was described as a mild knee sprain, but set into motion a massive discussion: Should he play?

Zion Williamson rose to fame long before his time at Duke. He quickly amassed a large following after a series of videos highlighting him dunking went viral. In his time at Spartanburg Day School, he quickly rose to five-star status.

Williamson’s decision to attend Duke was one of the anticipated commitments of all time. The power forward was the second-ranked player in the country and chose to play at Duke over North Carolina, University of Kansas, University of Kentucky, University of South Carolina and Clemson University, which was viewed as the predicted landing spot for Williamson up until his decision.

He joined the number one ranked recruit, R.J. Barrett, and the number three ranked player, Cam Reddish, at Duke.

Williamson wasted no time at Duke, scoring 28 points in his first game as a Blue Devil, and blowing out No. 2 ranked Kentucky 118-84.

Duke’s big three quickly led the team to the top spot in the NCAA. Duke has had an impressive season. They’re currently 24-3 and are currently ranked No. 1, but the Blue Devils have a bit of a problem on their hands. In his first game against rival North Carolina, Williamson blew out his shoe on the first play of the game in one of the strangest injuries the sports world has seen. The PG 2.5 he was wearing, one of the most worn models in both college and the NBA, ripped from the midsole causing him to miss the rest of the game.

The news about the Nike shoe was not well received by fans, and Nike’s stock price dropped one percent.

Paul George’s concern was less with the shoe and more about William-

Duke’s Zion Williamson (1) falls to the floor with an injury while chasing the ball with North Carolina’s Luke Maye (32) during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game in Durham, N.C., Wednesday, Feb. 20, 2019. (AP Photo/Gerry Broome)

son’s health.

“My only concern is for Zion, honestly. People are making a big deal about the shoe when everything should’ve been about Zion.” George said.

Williamson’s injury sparked discussion across the country. Barring serious injury, he is going to be the consensus number one pick in the NBA draft.

Many believed that Williamson should continue to play basketball for Duke, as he has made a commitment to play for them and has a chance to make history in the NCAA tournament. Many think that as the future No. 1 pick, he should make a business decision and sit out to protect himself from future harm. Williamson has already sat against Syra-

cuse University.

Objectively, Zion Williamson is going to be a transcendent player in the NBA. Truthfully, there is no precedent for the type of player that he is. If there had to be a player comparison, LeBron James and Charles Barkley would come to mind.

Realistically, sitting out would be a smart move for Williamson. It has been a while since someone was considered this heavy of a favorite to be taken first in the draft, but nothing will stop competitors and someone who truly loves basketball from playing.

For now, the world waits for Williamson’s decision.

Duke’s Zion Williamson (1) dunks over North Carolina State’s Jericole Hellems (4) during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game in Durham, N.C., Saturday, Feb. 16, 2019. (AP Photo/ Chris Seward)