Diamond on the Rocks: A Jazz Lab Tribute to Neil Diamond

Taylor Mckittrick

Contributing Writer

A Diamond is forever in UCO Jazz Lab tribute.

Glenn Sulley is making his way back to the UCO Jazz Lab at 7 p.m. March 4 as he pays tribute to one of his favorite artists, Neil Diamond.

Sulley began performing in his high school years, and he has performed in rock, pop and bands Celtic bands throughout his life. He also performs radio and TV jingles, and has written many songs over the years with several co-writers.

This isn’t Sulley’s first go around in the jazz lab, and he said he is excited to be back.

“I’ve performed at the jazz lab about five or six times in the past,” Sulley said. “I’m most excited about the opportunity to perform in such a wonderful venue, such as the jazz lab. It’s such a neat and unique setting — especially for a fairly small concert event like ours.” Sulley said. Except this time, Sulley will be playing some of Neil Diamond’s best songs that you won’t want to miss!

Sulley has a lot of Diamond gems that he loves to perform, but when it comes to his favorite, good times never felt so good.

“That’s a tough question, because I love them all, but if I was to choose a favorite it would be ‘Sweet Caroline,’” he said. “This song is really a crowd favorite and people usually stand and sing loudly and are really engaged more than any other song we play.”

Sulley promises “a high-energy musical offering as we pay a special tribute and celebrate the legendary singer-songwriter, Mr. Neil Diamond. The audience will be treated to an incredible band performance featuring some of the best musicians in the state of Oklahoma including Mr. David Sisson, who is a Central State alum and received his bachelor of music summa cum laude in 1973.”

The performance will feature and highlight over 20 of Diamond’s greatest hits. The main purpose of this show is to celebrate and pay tribute to his favorite singer/songwriter.

“Expect one of the best performances they will ever see from one of the best Neil Diamond tribute bands around,” he said. “They are in for a treat!”

The show is expected to last around three hours. The doors will open at 6 p.m. Buy tickets by calling the Jazz Lab at 405-974-2100. Ticket prices start at $25.

Students unable to take shelter off-campus as tornadoes roll through

Sam Royka

Managing Editor

Seven tornados swept over Oklahoma Sunday night, leaving debris and damage in their path. Cars were flipped and roofs ripped off in Norman

UCO’s Central Alert system sent out a warning a few minutes after the tornado warning message hit cell phones.

The UCO campus has several severe weather areas and safe places to hide during a severe storm like the tornadoes from last night. The Max Chambers Library has some direction available online for what to do during a severe storm.

It details the difference between a tornado watch and warning. A simple way to remember the difference between them is that a tornado watch means ‘Watch out! There might be a tornado,’ while a tornado warning is a direct warning to take shelter.

Many students may not have places to shelter at their homes or places of residence.

The Vista conducted a survey to see how students approached last Sunday’s tornado warning.

Zoe Taylor and Angie Castro, both freshmen, live in the Quad on campus and were told to go to the library basement. However, they did not go.

Abby Schmitdlkofer and Andrea Sandoval, who are also both freshmen, live in West Hall. They watched the news and heeded the direction to the library basement.

Mason Mitchell, another student who lives in the Suites, was also told to go to the library basement but did not go.

Olivia Saunders, a freshmanwho lives off-campus, did not take any precautions because she did not have a shelter.

Ed Allen, another freshman who lives off-campus, took a different approach. He read a book while waiting for the storm to pass. He did not take precautions as well because he did not have access to a storm shelter.

Laura Liepins is also a commuter freshman who does not have a severe weather shelter either. The only access to shelter for this student is small spaces like closets and bathrooms.

Hayden Ha is a junior who commutes to UCO. This student’s apartment does not have storm shelters either.

Overall, the provision of storm shelters by UCO was the only way any of the students surveyed could take shelter. Even then, some did not.

Resources are available online for anyone who needs to create a safety plan during severe weather. The price of adding a storm shelter to your own home can cost between $3000 and $30,000 on top of the price of owning your house.

Many apartments in the Oklahoma City area do not provide access to severe weather shelters despite tornado season being part of Oklahoma living every Spring and now every Fall as well.

Tornado preparedness workshops are hosted at various locations around the state every year.

“The tornado is the most violent storm on Earth,” stated the Oklahoma department of emergency management and homeland security.

They also provided these steps to protect yourself, your family, and your pets even if you do not have access to a shelter:

GET IN - get as far inside a strong building as you can, away from doors and windows.” “GET DOWN - get to the lowest floor.”

“COVER UP - use whatever you can to protect yourself from flying or falling debris.”