the VISTA
Volume 116, Issue 4
“Our Words, Your Voice.”
ucentralmedia.com vistanews1903 @thevista1903 @thevista1903 The Vista
Tuesday, February 6, 2018
Oklahoma Protects Free Speech on Campus Vy Luong @vy169
Reporter
A University of Central Oklahoma student gives a speech during the 2017 ‘No Ban No Wall’ protest under the blue tent on campus. A new bill in the Oklahoma House of Representatives could protect the right to free speech at UCO for students, faculty, staff and others. (Vista Archives)
A new bill that could affect freedom of speech on Oklahoma campuses was read for the first time at the second General Session of the 56th Legislature of Oklahoma on Monday. House Bill 3586, written by Republican Speaker Charles McCall, would initiate the Forming Open and Robust University Minds Act (FORUM Act) on campuses. The bill intends to protect students from discrimination, specifically from religion or belief-based groups. “We believe Speaker McCall wants to ensure that they will have the atmosphere of civility when speakers are on campus,” said University of Central Oklahoma President Don Betz. The FORUM Act was initially introduced by the American Legiscontinued on pg. 3
Mural Review Committee Runs with New Idea
Christian Tabak @CaffeineWallace Reporter
A review committee for the University of Central Oklahoma’s controversial Land Run mural unveiled the concept art for the replacement mural at a community forum held last Tuesday in the Nigh University Center Ballrooms. Deriving inspiration from the 2017 Starbucks holiday cup design, the initial concept for the new mural will feature a group of diverse individuals
holding hands. The mural itself will focus on the arms and hands of the individuals, showing only from the elbow down. “We came up with a design that really needs to be refined, but we’ve kind of taken that first step for you that would get you into the ballpark of what that image would look like,” said Bob Palmer, co-chair for the Mural Review Committee and painter of the original mural. Palmer said each of the arms continued on pg. 3
Robert Palmer addresses the audience during the Land Run mural forum on Tuesday, Jan. 30 in the Nigh University Center Ballrooms. Palmer is taking on the mural replacement project and plans to use the help of current UCO students. (Ryan Naeve/ The Vista)
UCOSA WATCH
BRONCHO SPORTS
Gun Debate Breaks Out at UCOSA Meeting
Evans Inducted Into Hall of Fame
on pg. 5
on pg. 13
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Feb. 6, 2018
the
VISTA
CONTENTS
Contents
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Oklahoma Jump/Mural Jump...............................................3 Around Campus...................................................................4
The Vista is published weekly during the spring, summer and fall semesters.
Around Campus/UCOSA Watch..........................................5 Opioid............................................................6
In all issues, The Vista has opportunities for both digital, online and print ads.
Coffee Jerks........................................................................7 Olym pics..........................................................9
For information or questions contact: 405-974-5549 or thevista.ads@gmail.com
Humor Column...................................................................11 Kyle Evans/ Jesheon Cooper..........................................12-13 Men’s Recap/Women’s Recap............................................14 Bucking Broncho................................................................15
On the Cover: Left: Senator Colten Kidd, sophomore, speaks to those at the Jan. 29 UCOSA Congress meeting about guns on campus. (Janessa Egler/The Vista) Right: Kyle Evans of the University of Central Oklahoma celebrates after defeating Shippensburg’s Steven Fittery for the 141lb title at the Division II Wrestling Championships held at the Health and Sports Center on the campus of the University of Nebraska at Kearney in Kearney, Nebraska on March 3, 2007. Evans defeated Fittery by a score of 7-0 and helped Central Oklahoma take home the team title with 124.5 points. (Trevor Brown, Jr./NCAA Photos)
STAFF Cara Johnson
Editor-in-Chief
Elizabeth Spence
Managing Editor
Austin Moseley
Sports Editor
Regan Rosson
Photo Editor
Megan Thele
Copy Editor
Peter Agnitsch
Online Editor
Christian Tabak
Reporter
Vy Luong
Reporter
Alejandro Gonzalez
Reporter
Evelyn Stewart
Reporter
Katie Standlee
Reporter
Jonathan Goudeau
Sports Reporter
Dylan Brown
Humor Columnist
Michelle Pennza
Graphic Designer
Gerald Leong
Photographer
Ryan Naeve
Photographer
Teddy Burch
Adviser
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.
LETTERS
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Oklahoma/ Mural
Feb. 6, 2018
3
Oklahoma Protects Free Speech on Campus
Continued From Page 1
lative Exchange Council (ALEC) in June 2017. Several states, such as South Carolina and West Virginia, have already initiated similar bills. The act was formed to eliminate “free speech zones”, which designate specific zones on campus for free speech. Eliminating these zones would allow students to use all outdoor areas of campuses as public forums. Betz said that the university may have a place where people can gather to have a presentation like a speaker’s corner, but should not restrict the freedom of speech to any particular zone. “For me, every part of the campus is a free zone of speech,” Betz said. “We should be able to talk to each other about any issue anywhere.” ALEC released a statement say-
ing that the FORUM Act would not punish students for expressing their freedom of speech on campus. It would, however, give the power to sue a university if an individual felt as if their freedom of speech was being interrupted or prevented. The bill also requires students to be educated about freedom of speech and requires that administrators and police understand their duty in those cases. Universities will also be required to develop handbooks or other materials with information on free expression on campus. “Most of [the bill] is not a problem for us because we have guaranteed opportunity for voices to be heard here, and that’s what they are asking for,” Betz said. Betz said UCO has had several speakers that students have disagreed with. However, he has never seen
any of those speakers interrupted to the point where they could no longer continue. “There is nothing in that bill that doesn’t really already exist, with the exception of they are trying to get the university to report to the legislature,” said Mark Hanebutt, UCO mass communication professor. Betz also said the requirement of filing reports and preparing publications on free speech issues may be a problem for the university. It costs money and takes time for personnel to prepare. Hanebutt said freedom of speech on campuses should be protected the most, because it is a place where students learn about what freedom of speech is in democracy. “I think students should be protected from physical harm, but I don’t believe they should be pro-
tected from idea, belief or opinion,” Hanebutt said. “That’s a part of being a college student, that we should expose [them] to other ideas and learn from them.” Kay Bickham, executive director of Freedom of Information Oklahoma, said that though she did not have access to the bill, she does not believe it will grant students any additional rights. The Bill of Rights already protects freedoms of speech, press, religion, peaceful assembly and petition. In the past two years, UCO has been the site of multiple protests that went uninterrupted by faculty, staff or the UCO Police Department.
Mural Review Committee Runs with New Idea
Continued From Page 1
would be painted in a skin tone that would represent different racial or ethnic backgrounds to showcase the diversity and inclusivity that is the foundation of UCO’s campus. Additional concepts could incorporate tattoos, wristbands and other designs with symbols that would expand representation to include diverse religious affiliations, the LGBTQ community or even create connections with UCO. “I kind of like, as an artist, to look at what people wear on the wrist, or even removing the sleeves, any kind of tattoos on the arm,” Palmer said. “Or even what other things such as jewelry, rings, all kinds of things that symbolize what you stand for or who you are.” Another difference from the initial Starbucks concept the committee discussed was to replace the hearts that filled the negative space between each pair of hands. While a strong symbol of inclusivity, Palmer said that hearts might be too general of a symbol for what the university was looking for in the new mural. The committee suggested that the hearts could be replaced with symbols that had a greater connection with campus. However, not all members agreed that the hearts would be out of place in the new design. “I really love the way this design feels, the rhythm and humanity of it all,” said Linda Skinner, a member of the review committee. “I’m going to tell you, I would keep the hearts. The point of everything we have talked
about is love, honoring the gift of life, living in peace and honoring the biodiversity of the cosmos.” The committee also solicited suggestions from the audience. The most popular recommendations centered on keeping the new mural historically significant by either incorporating visible transitions through UCO’s history or famous Oklahomans related to academic fields. “One thing that happens when you tear something down is that people have a pride involved in it that can be hurt. Oklahomans, in some way, are proud of having established this state,” said Janelle Austin, a modern languages major. “On the other side, there was a lot of loss and hurt, and we don’t want to take away history and not replace it with something to be proud of.” To help preserve the mural’s historical significance, the committee said that the Land Run Mural would be photographed and archived with the history of its creation and subsequent controversy. However, the committee said that the goal of the new mural was to step away from historical depictions and to that end they would probably not be incorporating historical elements into the design in order to keep it more representative. “We want something that is just very representational of just everything and that will give us the opportunity to represent so many different diverse people on this campus in just one mural, and I really think that Dr. Palmer can do that,” said Gypsy
Hogan, UCO’s publications editor. The plan to replace the Land Run Mural was announced during a Native American Student Association meeting last month. Located on the southern wall of UCO’s Communication Building, the mural was painted by Palmer in 1994 at the request of former UCO President George Nigh. Depicting cowboys, wagons and a photographer at the outset of the Oklahoma Land Run of 1889, the mural has been a subject of controversy within the Native American community. Native Americans have criticized the mural for creating a romanticized image of a moment in history where their ancestors were forced from their lands to make room for incoming settlers. This was one of the factors that the committee considered while selecting a replacement concept for the mural, according to assistant professor John Maisch.
“What I see in this work is how UCO at least strives to be inclusive and to create an environment that is inclusive and strives to welcome all,” Maisch said. “The only thing that I would add is that in addition to skin color and race, I would like to see a mural that represents the differences we have in religion, sexual orientation, age, and both physical and mental disabilities.” While the committee said there is currently no final starting date for the new project, they did confirm that their goal is to have the project begun before the National Conference for Undergraduate Research in April. The cost for the new mural has not been determined, although much of the work will be performed by Palmer and UCO student, faculty and staff volunteers, according to Lindsey Churchill, director of UCO’s Women’s Research Center and BGLTQ+ Student Center.
Former Miss Native American UCO Savannah Waters speaks to the audience during the Land Run mural replacement forum on Jan. 30 in the Nigh University Center Ballrooms. The forum was hosted to develop ideas and include the community in the decision for the mural’s replacement artwork. (Ryan Naeve/The Vista)
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Tuesday, Feb. 6, 2018 SPB Central Perk with Angie Keilhauer: SPB is hosting a performance by Angie Keilhauer from The Voice in the Nigh University Center Food Court for Central Perk. Coffee and snacks will be offered and the event begins at 11:30 a.m. SMART Recovery: In Nigh University Center Room 402, the Center for Counseling and Well-Being hosts a meeting for those in recovery to learn tools for coping with urges and managing thoughts, feelings and behaviors. The meeting takes place at noon. Tip Tuesday: At 1 p.m. in the Nigh University Center Room 338, students will have the opportunity to meet with potential employers for resume critiques and to ask questions in preparation for the Career Fair. Flash Mob Meditation: At 1:15 p.m. in the Quad Fitness Room, representatives from the Center for Counseling and Well-Being will offer meditation, tai chi, yoga and relaxation. UCO counselor Jeff Jones will lead the group every Tuesday. Connections Group: The Center for Counseling and Well-Being will hold a Connections Group from 2-3 p.m. in Nigh University Center’s Room 402 to help students increase communication and social skills in order to connect more easily on campus. UCO Baseball vs. Oklahoma Baptist: The UCO Baseball team will take on Oklahoma Baptist at Wendell Simmons Field at 2 p.m. Be Your Best Self: The Center for Counseling and Well-Being is hosting a group for those looking for a positive change in life. The group focuses on self-improvement, relationship building and other skills to improve mental health and wellness. This group meets at 4 p.m. in Nigh University Center Room 402. Bassidji during the Iran-Iraq War Lecture and Film Screening: Assistant professor of History Andrew Magnusson is hosting a lecture titled “Voluntary Martyrdom: Paramilitary Bassidji during the Iran-Iraq War” by Pedram Khosronejad, Associate Director for Iranian and Persian Gulf Studies at Oklahoma State University. Following the lecture will be a screening of the film “Bassiddji” by Mehran Tamadon. The lecture and screening will take place in the Radke Theatre in the Center for Transformative Learning at 6 p.m.
Feb. 6, 2018
Wednesday, Feb. 7, 2018 Spring Career & Internship Fair: Students have an opportunity to meet employers in the metro looking to hire UCO students. It is for all majors and will be in the Nigh University Center Grand Ballrooms from 12 to 3:30 p.m. Stages of Change: In Nigh University Center Room 402, the Center for Counseling and Well-Being will have a support group designed to help students learn how to make and clarify goals and begin lasting changes in their lives. The group begins at 12:30 p.m. Non-Traditional Student Support Group: The group is hosted by the Center for Counseling and Well-Being to help non-traditional students find support at UCO. Attendees can talk and relate their life experiences with one another in order to help meet their personal needs. The group meets from 2-3 p.m. in the Nigh University Center Room 402. Design Movie Night: Genius of Design – Designs for Living: In Radke Theatre of the Center for Transformative Learning, the design department is hosting a design movie night to show a design-themed movie. The event is free and begins at 7 p.m. UCO Wrestling vs. McKendree: The UCO Wrestling team is competing at 7 p.m. in the Hamilton Field House.
Thursday, Feb. 8, 2018 Trauma Recovery: This workshop addresses topics like self-soothing, the mind and body connection, effects of trauma on relationships and healthy relationships. The event is from 2-3 p.m. in Nigh University Center Room 402. Stress Paws: UCO offers students a chance to take a pause from daily stress and visit with therapy dogs on campus. Each week, Stress Paws will be held in Nigh University Center Room 402 from 3-5 p.m. CMS Spring 2018 Seminar Series with Barry O’Keefe, Ph.D.: At 4 p.m. In Howell Hall Room 201, chief of the Natural Products Branch, Developmental Therapeutics Program Division of Cancer Treatment will give a seminar on “Antiviral Proteins from Natural Products Extracts: From Discovery to the Clinic.” Study Hall: The National Society of Black Engineers is hosting a study hall at 5:30 p.m. in the library for members of NSBE to get advice and help from people who have taken their current classes.
Around Campus
UCO Basketball vs. Nebraska-Kearney: The UCO Men’s and Women’s Basketball teams are up against Nebraska-Kearney in the Hamilton Field House. The women’s game is at 5:30 and the men’s is at 7:30. QPR – Suicide Prevention Training: The Center for Counseling and Well-Being is partnering with the UCO Peer Health Leaders for a QPR training in the Nigh University Center Room 406B at 6 p.m. QPR, which stand for question, persuade and refer, aims to train attendees to recognize warning signs of suicide crisis and possibly save a life. SPB Crafts for Your Crib – Calligraphy: At 6 p.m. in the Nigh University Center Room 304, SPB is hosting a calligraphy lesson. Students can come learn how to practice modern calligraphy and decorate a provided canvas.
Friday, Feb. 9, 2018 Ultimate Frisbee Recruiting Table: From 8 a.m. to 12 p.m. on the 2nd floor of the Nigh University Center, the Recreational Ultimate Frisbee Club will have a table to recruit new players for the team. Anger Tamers: From 9:30-10:30 a.m. in Nigh University Center Room 402, students can learn to identify their own anger triggers and gain tools to help reduce conflict in their lives. The free and confidential group is hosted by the UCO Center for Counseling and Well-Being. African Dance Session: Students can come to the Nigh University Center Ballrooms between 11 a.m. and 1 p.m. to learn the key components of African dance. The event counts towards the Global & Cultural Competency and Health & Wellness STLR tenets. Grief Group: From 11 a.m.-12 p.m., the Center for Counseling and Well-Being is holding a grief group for anyone grieving. Group and individual session will be in the Nigh University Center Room 402. UCO Softball vs. Southern Nazarene: The UCO Softball Team takes on Southern Nazarene at 11 a.m. in the Broncho Softball Stadium. UCO Softball vs. Southeastern: The UCO Softball team is up against Southeastern at 3 p.m. in the Broncho Softball Stadium. SPB First Friday Flicks: The first Friday of each month, SPB chooses a movie and gives the first 50 students to arrive at Kickingbird Cinema a free movie ticket. The tickets are for The Greatest Showman at 6:45 p.m.
UCOSA Watch
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Feb. 6, 2018
Saturday, Feb. 10, 2018
Monday, Feb. 12, 2018
UCO Softball vs. East Central: UCO Softball competes against East Central at 11 a.m. at the UCO Softball Stadium. UCO Baseball vs. East Central: UCO Baseball takes on East Central at 12 p.m. at Wendell Simmons Field. UCO Basketball vs. Fort Hays State: The UCO Basketball teams will play Fort Hays State in Hamilton Field House. The women’s game begins at 1:30 and the men’s begins at 3:30.
Sunday, Feb. 11, 2018 UCO Softball vs. Rogers State: UCO Softball plays Rogers State at 11 a.m. at the Broncho Softball Stadium.
Sex in the Dark: In Constitution Hall, Sex in the Dark is an interactive panel discussion on sexual health and well-being. The panel will feature experts on campus as well as those from the wider community. The event is offered at multiple times for one hour sessions at 11 a.m., 1 p.m. and 6 p.m. Adulting 101: The Center for Counseling and Well-Being is hosting a support group focusing on handling the difficult life transitions that come with being an adult. The group is held from1-2 p.m. in Nigh University Center Room 402.
may identify somewhere within the LGBTQ community. The group is held from 2-3 p.m. in Nigh University Center Room 402. Frisbee Game: The Recreational Ultimate Frisbee Club plays a weekly game of Frisbee in Plunkett Park at 4 p.m. EGO and UCO Writers Guild Workshop: Poetry as Activism: From 4:45-6:30 p.m. in the Liberal Arts Building Room 211, Dr. Iliana Rocha is presenting the principles of using poetry as activism. The event counts towards Global and Cultural Competency, Leadership, Research, Creative and Scholarly Activities, Service Learning and Civic Engagement STLR tenets.
LGBTQ Support Group: The Center for Counseling and Well-Being holds a support group for those who identify or think they
Gun Debate Breaks Out at UCOSA Meeting Christian Tabak @CaffeineWallace Reporter
The University of Central Oklahoma Student Association passed a resolution reaffirming their commitment to the university’s stance on campus gun control, despite a challenge from one senator over concerns of how representative the resolution was of the student body. Authored by Senate Chairman Remington Dean and Senator Tate Atkinson, the resolution CR18-202 was the latest in a series of annual statements from UCOSA that supports UCO’s continued compliance with state laws prohibiting guns on university campuses. “The official opinion of the UCO Student Congress remains the same as previous declarations - that the UCO Student Body opposes any modification to state law that would effectively allow guns on campus at the University of Central Oklahoma for any and all individuals outside
of law enforcement personnel,” the resolution said. While UCOSA’s resolutions on gun control are typically passed unanimously and without debate, this year concerns were raised by Senator Colton Kidd over whether or not the student body was polled prior to the resolution being brought to the senate floor. Atkinson admitted that the current resolution was authored and brought to the senate without polling the UCO student body, but said that the polling had been conducted previously. “This is, from what I understand, a statement that we have passed several times over the years, so, I assume that in previous times it has been surveyed,” Atkinson said. Prior to the vote on the resolution, Kidd called for a debate to be held on the senate floor to expand on his concerns. Kidd was provided three minutes, during which he emphasized the senate’s role as a representative
legislative body. “We have a job and duty to represent not just the majority voice on campus, but the whole student body,” Kidd said. “Therefore, I am representing a minority on campus. A minority that, although quiet, is still a minority.” He went on to discuss concerns he had previously heard raised that minors would be allowed to possess firearms on campus were guns permitted, arguing that minors are already prohibited from possessing guns under state law. “Even if the state passed legislation that allowed guns on campus, it would not be open to any and all individuals unless additional state legislation was passed that allowed minors and other non-licensed individuals to carry on campus,” Kidd said. Atkinson argued that with current campus gun policies permitting licensed gun carriers to carry on campus with written permission of
UCO President Don Betz, UCOSA’s statement merely reaffirmed the campus’ compliance with state law in preventing unlicensed individuals from bringing guns on campus. Under current Oklahoma state laws, a licensed gun owner can carry a weapon on campus only with the written consent of the college president. The only exception to this law are currently employed city, state or federal law enforcement officers. “Right now, we are just supporting our previous decisions based on what has happened in the past,” Atkinson said. Despite the debate, the resolution passed with only a single “nay” vote cast by Kidd against the measure. Another resolution, CR18-201, was also passed unanimously during the meeting, approving the appointment of incoming senators Nicole Bergstrasser, Kennedi Breuklander, Jodran Broiles, Lance Cooter and Austin Loard.
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Feb. 6, 2018
Opioid
Oklahoma Battles Opioid Epidemic Dylan Brown
@DylanTaylorBro Reporter
The Center for Disease Control and Prevention has released statistics showing that opioid overdoses have spiked 91 percent in the last year alone, leaving states scrambling to find new ways to battle the epidemic. In an effort to help end the state’s crippling opioid crisis, Walmart Inc. has created a product that destroys unused prescription pills before they reach the trash can. Walmart’s new product, DisposeRx, prevents unused medicine from getting into the wrong hands. It is a powder that, when mixed with warm water in a pill bottle, creates a gel that can be thrown out responsibly with household trash. The product is free of cost and available at most Walmart locations. “We wanted to do our part to help curb one of the issues contributing to this deadly epidemic: unused prescriptions in our medicine cabinets,” said Walmart Market Health and Wellness Director Robyn Janaway. “Providing an easy, free, responsible and convenient way to dispose of un-
This Tuesday, Aug. 15, 2017 file photo shows an arrangement of pills of the opioid oxycodone-acetaminophen, also known as Percocet, in New York. Cities and counties of all sizes have sued companies that make and distribute prescription opioids. Among the plaintiffs so far: Philadelphia; the state of Ohio; Princeton, West Virginia; the Cherokee Nation; and a consortium of counties across Wisconsin. (AP Photo/Patrick Sison)
used medicine will make an impact and help prevent misuse.” In the United States, 64,000 individuals died from a drug overdose in 2016, up from 59,000 deaths in 2015. This is the largest jump in the nation’s history. Ohio has also begun the search for new ideas in order to prevent
OPIOID FACTS
91%
Drug overdose deaths have incresed by 91% in the last 15 years state-wide.
80%
80% of heroin users were abusers of prescription painkillers first.
42,000
Opioids such as prescription opioids, heroin and fentanyl killed more than 42,000 people in 2016.
40%
40% of opioid overdose deaths have involved prescription opioids.
Opioids are safe to use and won’t cause addiction if taken according to the specifications by a medical professional. It is when use is abused that the problem starts.
further deaths from opioids. They began the Ohio Opioid Technology Challenge in response to statistics from the Ohio Department of Health that showed there were 3,050 deaths from unintentional drug overdoses in 2015, which equals to roughly eight Ohio citizens dying each day from overdose. Ohio Governor John R. Kasich put out a call for any ideas on an innovative way to solve the opioid issue in the state. In return, they received hundreds of responses from average citizens, scientists and healthcare professionals across Ohio, the U.S. and nine other countries around the world. “A good idea can come from anywhere,” said David Goodman, director of the Ohio Development Services Agency. “We wanted to give everyone the opportunity to present their solutions so that we can find new ways to address this very difficult issue and hopefully save lives.”
Ahead of all the ideas that came in, one was a neurofeedback program that can examine brain activity in order to help those who are recovering from drug addiction. In Oklahoma, the Oklahoma Sheriffs’ Association is donating NARCAN Nasal Spray, a drug that reverses the effects of an opioid overdose, to sheriffs and deputies at the State Capitol on Feb. 6. NARCAN can be used by both trained and untrained administers and is the only FDA-approved nasal form of naxolone, a medication used to stop the effects of opioids and overdoses. NARCAN Nasal Spray works by holding the nozzle in either nostril of the patient’s nose and pressing the bottom of the spray to release the dose. Oklahoma’s Wellness Now coalition is presenting information about the signs of addiction, along with community resources and information on opioid overdose prevention Feb. 6 at the Midwest City Library.
Coffee Jerks
Feb. 6, 2018
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Coffee Jerks Make Nice in OKC Katie Standlee @katiestandlee Reporter
The pot is on and coffee is brewing at northwest Oklahoma City’s newest shop that serves up hot, iced and frozen drinks daily. Coffee Jerks is located on May and 122 St. in Oklahoma City in the North Park Mall, just south of the Kilpatrick Turnpike. Although it has been open since November 2017, the shop just hosted their grand opening on Jan. 30, selling coffee for only $1. “It [the grand opening] was awesome, we probably saw upwards of 1,300 people to 1,500 people in one day,” said Kenny Wooldridge, owner of Coffee Jerks. The shop offers over a dozen coffee and non-coffee options, ranging anywhere from $3-$6. The menu can be found on Coffee Jerk’s website. “We try to model after what the consumers want and they want a menu style like Starbucks,” said Wooldridge. “So, we just took a higher grade coffee, [which] in my opinion tastes better, and made a menu like that.” Wooldridge said the coffee, from a roaster out of Columbus, Ohio, is a blend of Costa Rican and Peruvian coffee beans. “I really like the way they roast their coffee, it’s really smooth.
A customer sits at the table in front of Coffee Jerk’s counter in Oklahoma City. The shop opened in November 2017 with a grand opening on Jan. 30, 2018. (Ryan Naeve/The Vista)
There’s no bitterness and it’s an organic coffee,” said Wooldridge. “It comes straight from the fields. They roast it and then send it straight to us so it’s a pure coffee.”
According to Wooldridge, part of what makes the shop unique is the coffee blend, because he believes there aren’t any blends like this one in the south. The quality of service is another thing that Wooldridge said makes this shop unique. “I have got some great employees. We want to be able to supply any kind of coffee beverage a person is wanting,” said Wooldridge. Wooldridge said the name Coffee Jerks is to honor his late grandmother, who had a job as a soda jerk. A soda jerk is what people in the 1950s called the person who served soft drinks at the drugstore. The term derived from the jerking motion of swinging the fountain handle back and forth. Next door to Coffee Jerks is an Anytime Fitness, where Wooldridge also works. He said that it was part of the reason for the location. Another reason for the location is the lack of coffee shops in this area of OKC. “I live on this side of town. There’s
New Oklahoma City coffee shop, Coffee Jerks, is located at May and 122 St. The shop serves a number of iced, frozen and hot coffee and non-coffee beverages. (Ryan Naeve/The Vista)
really not that many good coffee shops around here unless you absolutely love Starbucks,” Wooldridge said. “Other than Starbucks there’s really nothing. Especially on this side of May.” The shop has already received feedback, especially following the grand opening. Wooldridge said that about 99.9 percent of the feedback has been good and the bad feedback was not bad necessarily, just something to learn from. “I like to see some of this space being utilized,” said Coffee Jerk customer Kendra Winter. “I also like to see a local business thriving. You don’t see a lot of those anymore.” Winter said one of the reasons she likes Coffee Jerks is because when she uses the drive-through, the baristas give her small cups of whip cream for her dogs when they are with her. The shop is student friendly, with free wifi for customers and a table area that can be used for studying. The hours for Coffee Jerks Monday through Friday 6:30 a.m. – 6 p.m., Saturday 7 a.m. – 4 p.m. and Sunday 10 a.m. – 4 p.m. Wooldridge said that the hours for Saturday and Sunday may change depending on traffic flow.
2018 Olympics
Feb. 6, 2018
9
2018 Olympics Head South Katie Standlee @katiestandlee Reporter
The countdown is on for the PyeongChang 2018 Winter Olympics as athletes prepare and political tensions surrounding the games appear to fade. This year’s games are held in South Korea from Feb. 9-25, but given the proximity to North Korea, political tensions have been high. There had been questions as to whether or not the United States would compete in the games. “We have not had any discussions, either internally or with our government partners, about the possibility of not taking teams to the 2018 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games,” said Mark Jones, U.S. Olympic Committee spokesperson, to USA Today. As of now the U.S. will be attending and competing in this years Olympics. “I don’t think the tensions surrounding this Winters Olympics are particularly unusual,” said Loren Gatch, political science professor. “Yes, there is the problem of North Korea, but I don’t think that will disturb the games.” The games were elected for PyeongChang to be the hosting city of the Olympics back in 2011. “The countries that host the Olympics tend to invest a lot in the sports infrastructure in order to make a good impression on all the international visitors. Beijing
The Gangneung Ice Arena is seen at the Olympic Park prior to the 2018 Winter Olympics in Gangneung, South Korea, Friday, Feb. 2, 2018. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong)
in 2008 was a good example of this,” Gatch said. “Various countries compete to be the site of the Olympic games, and hosting the games gives them an opportunity to put their best foot forward.” The big problem that the International Olympic Committee had to face was the doping scandal with Russia. The Russian athletes who were found to be involved in
The tower for the Alpensia Ski Jumping Center rises beyond a set of Olympic Rings at the 2018 Winter Olympics in PyeongChang, South Korea, Friday, Feb. 2, 2018. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel)
the doping were banned from the Olympics, but the athletes who passed screenings are allowed to compete. Those who are allowed to compete will not be allowed to use the Russian flag and the winnings will not be recorded as Russian winnings. The athletes will have to wear neutral colors and be referred to as Olympic Athletes from Russia [OAR]. “That [the doping scandal] has kind of taken some of the gleam off of the games, but the history of the games is that it reflects the political climate of the time,” said Louis Furmanski, political science professor. “That’s because it is a nationalistic event.” The games held at the Olympics this year will be alpine skiing, biathlon, bobsleigh, cross-country skiing, curling, figure skating, freestyle skiing, ice hockey, luge, Nordic combined, short track, skeleton, ski jumping, snowboard and speed skating. The complete schedule can be found on the IOCs website, including the event’s times and
competing athletes. The page also shows the results of the events. According to Time Magazine’s complete Olympic schedule, NBC is beginning primetime coverage the night before opening ceremonies on Feb. 8 with early events. For students who are looking for a place to watch the games, several restaurants and sports bars around Edmond will be showing the games. Olympic.org also offers the ability to watch the Olympics live from the website. The website provides information about athletes that will be competing this year, as well as an accessible archive of featured and distinguished athletes from the past. There is also a section that shows how many specific medals Olympians have won before. As of right now President Trump has not said whether or not he will be attending the opening ceremonies, but vice president Mike Pence will attend with the father of Otto Warmbier, the American student who was jailed in North Korea and died upon returning to America.
Humor Column
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Feb. 6, 2018
Q&A with Your Favorite Groundhog The winter season has come, but has it gone? Every year, the nation puts it’s full trust in a small rodent that predicts ‘weather’ there will be a longer winter or a longer spring (See what we did there?). However, nobody has ever looked into why our days and nights are thrown into the hands of a fur-covered, brown-nosing animal that belongs to the meticulous marmot group. The Vista had the opportunity to interview this humorously wholesome creature known by the public as Punxsutawney Phil.
Q: How did you become a weatherman? A: I started back at a small station in Buffalo. While interning there, I was given the nickname ‘Fax-Filing Phil.’ I basically would just grab breaking news faxes as they came in; worked long hours and even harder days. But, one day the main meteorologist needed a storm-chaser. That’s where I came in. I instantly fell in love.
Q: Did you go to school to be a meteorologist? A: No, actually. They had another guy on-air that could never pronounce the names of certain towns correctly. I asked them if I could give it a try and they said “Go ahead.”
Q: So, no experience and they just gave you the job? A: Yeah, pretty much. I got the chance to shadow the main meteorologist and I was reading up on forecasting throughout my storm chasing. But meteorology is forever changing. I have to read up on new formats, programs and
In this Feb. 2, 2017, file photo, Groundhog Club handler John Griffiths holds Punxsutawney Phil, the weather prognosticating groundhog, during the 131st celebration of Groundhog Day on Gobbler's Knob in Punxsutawney, Pa. Punxsutawney Phil’s handlers are set to announce at sunrise Friday, Feb. 2, 2018, what kind of weather they say the rodent is predicting for the rest of winter. (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar, File)
graphics every year. I see meteorology like a good book, weather is the main character and there’s a new and exciting book every day.
Q: Do you enjoy it?
A: Of course I do. I keep people safe every day. There are times where the doubt and uncomfortable honesty from my viewers will bring me down, but it doesn’t matter. There is that one moment, that one opportunity where those viewers lives are saved because of something I forecasted.
Q: Do you have advice for people who want to get into the business? A: I was told once not to change who I am because someone wants me to be a person I’m not. My wife tells my kids the same thing every day before they go off to school and I think it applies here as well. The weather game is very hard to understand and it’s only meant for people who truly
want the honest-to-God truth. Not making up stuff to seem like you know everything, but doing hard work that reminds people you are here for them.
Q: Does the fact that you’re a groundhog get in the way of being professional? A: Wait. I’m a what?
Q: Do people treat you differently because you’re famous?
A: I’m such a famous, good looking guy. Just kidding, I really don’t care about any of that fame stuff. But every now and then I will have someone come up to me, telling me about how they watch me whenever severe weather hits. That’s all I care about. My wife says that I need to think about myself every once in a while. I joke that if I did that, I wouldn’t have time for her.
Groundhog Club co-handler Al Dereume holds Punxsutawney Phil, the weather prognosticating groundhog, during the 132nd celebration of Groundhog Day on Gobbler's Knob in Punxsutawney, Pa. Friday, Feb. 2, 2018. Phil's handlers said that the groundhog has forecast six more weeks of winter weather. (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar)
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Feb. 6, 2018
Sports
SPORTS Evans Inducted into Hall of Fame Derek Parker @D_Park2
Contributing Writer
Kyle Evans, a former wrestler at the University of Central Oklahoma, has been selected to be inducted into the NCAA Division II Wrestling Hall of Fame. With 13 other UCO members in the Division II Wrestling Hall of Fame, Evans said he was excited to be in the same class as many other UCO greats. “When you’re competing, you see other UCO wrestlers get inducted and you hope that one day you’re on that level. To find out you are is a really special thing,” Evans said. Evans will be inducted on Thursday, March 8 in Cedar Rapids, Iowa the day before the 2018 NCAA Division II Wrestling Championships. He will become the 14th UCO member to be inducted into the Hall of Fame. Evans' first milestone in his journey to the Hall of Fame came in 2003, when he won a state title at Edmond North. Evans began his recruiting process with three schools in mind, Fort Hayes, Central Missouri, and Central Oklahoma. But, after a recruiting visit to UCO, he canceled his other visits as soon as he got back. Central Oklahoma was coming off back-to-back national championships, and staying home seemed like the obvious decision. Being from Edmond, Evans said he felt that UCO was the school for him. “I always felt like it was in my
blood a little bit," Evans said. “Every coach I’ve ever had wrestled at UCO. From little league, to junior high, to high school and into college. I felt like it’s really where I was meant to be.” Evans redshirted his first year at UCO, due to a four-time national champion wrestling at his weight. Evans went up a weight the next season and wrestled at 141 pounds the rest of his career. In his freshman and sophomore seasons Evans compiled a record of 54-18, while winning back-to-back Midwest Regional titles. During his sophomore year Evans finished as the national runner-up. The following offseason was the turning point in his career. Evans said he decided he was going to focus and take the next step. He started extra workouts, and started competing harder in practice. “One of my coaches had told me the year before you only get four chances at this, it created a sense of urgency in the way I trained and the way I did things to make the most of the time I had," Evans said. As a junior, Evans became the first individual in UCO history to finish a complete season undefeated. He finished 39-0, and capped his perfect season off with a national title. The same year, he led the Bronchos to their 15th team championship. As a senior, Evans repeated as the national champion, going 32-2 and posted a school record 11 technical falls.
Kyle Evans of the University of Central Oklahoma celebrates after defeating Shippensburg’s Steven Fittery for the 141lb title at the Division II Wrestling Championships held at the Health and Sports Center on the campus of the University of Nebraska at Kearney in Kearney, Nebraska on March 3, 2007. Evans defeated Fittery by a score of 7-0 and helped Central Oklahoma take home the team title with 124.5 points. (Trevor Brown, Jr./NCAA Photos)
Evans ended his career a four-time All-American and two-time national champion, including four straight Midwest Regional titles. Evans won 43 straight matches, spanning from his junior to senior year, and finished with a record of 125-20 for his career. Evans is Central’s all-time leader in technical falls with 25, and ranks fourth in career win percentage
at .862. Evans said his favorite accomplishment by far was the team championship his junior year. “When you’re a part of a team and it all comes together like that, its still one of the top moments of my life," Evans said.
Sports
Feb. 6, 2018
13
Cooper Blocks Her Way to the Top James D. Jackson @JamesDJackson15
Contributing Writer
Jesheon Cooper broke the University of Central Oklahoma’s school record for blocks in a career on Jan. 27 at Hamilton Field House against the Missouri Southern Lions with a block in the first half. Cooper's lone block against Missouri Southern pushed her career total to 154 blocks, passing the record set by Lizzie Brenner at 153. “It’s an honor to break the record,” Cooper said. “It justifies that I am able to do something on defense and help the team as best as I can with my presence.” Cooper stands at 6-feet-5 inches, measuring her as the tallest player on an active roster in the Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association Conference. Cooper credits her height advantage as a big part of how she blocks so many shots. “I learned how to be more consistent with [blocking shots],” Cooper said. “But it was mainly just something I grew into with my height; it’s a huge advantage.” During the 2016-17 media day, UCO Head Coach Guy Hardaker said he was astonished by his new forward’s size. “She may be the tallest woman I have ever seen. She is listed as 6-foot-5, but I think she may be taller than that. She is definitely going to
Jesheon Cooper, No. 42, defends the paint during a game against Northeastern State University on Jan. 20. Cooper holds the UCO women’s basketball record for most blocks in a career. (Gerald Leong/The Vista)
change things defensively for us. And I think she’ll be one of the top players in the league.” Just as Hardaker predicted, with just two seasons the senior forward now ranks first in blocks in the MIAA conference with 2.7 blocks per game. Other school records
Cooper has broken include while, the most blocks in one season (100) and the most blocks in a game with nine blocks against Emporia State. “It’s pretty amazing that she did this in just two years,” Hardaker said. “The previous player that had the shot block record was a four-year player.” Unlike Lizzie Brenner, the player Hardaker was referencing, Cooper’s college career did not start at UCO with the Bronchos. She played her first two seasons at Shawnee Community College in Belleville, Illinois where she started 21 of 22 games her sophomore year. There Cooper averaged 12.1 points per game and 8.6 rebounds. Cooper recorded 108 blocks her sophomore year, which earned her the attention of the UCO coaching staff. Assistant coach Heather Davis said that when she and the coaching staff first saw Cooper they knew she had a lot of ability to alter shots, but did not realize how much of an impact she had until they got her on campus and saw her on a daily basis. In Cooper's first season with the Bronchos, she broke the school
record for blocks in one season with 100 blocks, shattering the old record of 55. This put her over half way to the career record mark and Cooper said once she found out, she wanted to break the record this year. Once she broke the record Saturday Cooper said, "It was an exciting feeling, it’s really cool to come in and break a school record with my last two years of basketball." With six regular season games remaining Cooper said she plans to extend her shot blocking record, setting her goal at 200 blocks. In order to achieve this goal Cooper will need to average around eight blocks in the remaining games. “I haven’t been playing as well as I have at the beginning of the season, but I plan to keep working on defense and hopefully meet that goal within this last month of conference games,” Cooper said.
Next Three Games Next Three Games Feb 8. : vs. Nebraska-Kearney Feb. 10 : vs. Fort Hays State
Senior forward Jesheon Cooper, No. 42, boxes out an opponent from Northeastern State University during the game in Hamilton Field House on Jan. 20. (Regan Rosson/The Vista)
Feb. 15: at Nebraska-Kearney
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Feb. 6, 2018
Sports
Bronchos Can’t Bear the Storm Austin Moseley @Austin_Moseley Sports Editor
The University of Central Oklahoma women’s basketball team lost their second straight game on Saturday, losing to Southwest Baptist University 71-59. “We just were a little out of sync,” head coach Guy Hardaker said. Offense has been a struggle for the Bronchos this year—they shoot 38 percent from the field, 12th in their conference—and Saturday was no different. UCO shot 34 percent from the field and just 13 percent from 3-point territory, making just two the whole game. “They had a really good game plan defensively,” Hardaker said. “We’re kind of struggling. We’re not a great shooting basketball team and when we’re not shooting it well, [we've] got to get to the foul line and we’ve got to score off our defense.” Melinda Murillo and Blake Blessington both scored 16 points and Jo’Nah Johnson scored 13. Those three combined to shoot 18 of 38 from the field, but the rest of the team together shot 5 of 28. On the other side of the court, the
Senior Melinda Murillo, No. 22, takes a free throw shot after being fowled by a player of the opposing team at Hamilton Field House on Thursday, Jan. 25. (Regan Rosson/The Vista)
Bronchos had trouble defending without fouling. Southwest Baptist shot 30 free throws in the game, knocking down 25, while the Bronchos only got to the line 14 times. The Bronchos are now 17-5 on the season and 8-5 in conference play. With only six games left in the reg-
ular season, Hardaker said he hopes UCO’s home-heavy schedule will help the Bronchos get back on track. “If we want to make a run at this thing, and give ourselves a position of getting a bye in the conference tournament, then we need to kinda close out these six games,” Hardaker
said. Hardaker said the Bronchos’ destiny lies in their hands and they need to play like their backs are against the wall. The Bronchos play Nebraska-Kearney at the Hamilton Field House on Thursday.
Grayson Leads the Charge Jonathan Goudeau @Goudeau_jdg Sports Reporter
University of Central Oklahoma guard Marqueese Grayson's 26 second-half points powered the Bronchos past Southwest Baptist University 79-74 improving to 15-7 on the season. Grayson scored all of his 26 points in the final 20 minutes of the game going 9-of-11 from the field and hitting all six of his 3-point attempts. He added two assists and two steals. "Marqueese really had it going in the second half and we needed every bit of it," head coach Tom Hankins said. "He's been playing great the last couple of weeks. This was a big, big win for us and I'm proud of our guys for the way they battled today." The Bronchos trailed 36-30 at the half but started the second half on a 10-2 run to take a 40-38 lead. After a back and forth battle, forward Corbin Byford capped off a 3-point play to give the Bronchos a 49-47 lead with 13:06 left in the game. A Grayson 3-pointer gave the Bronchos a 72-62 lead with 3:15 left and hit 7-of-8 free
throws down the stretch to secure the win and end a two-game skid. "We had a bad last few minutes before halftime," Hankins said. "We started the second half strong and really showed resilience. I'm proud of how we stayed tough and stayed together." As a team the Bronchos shot 47.6 percent from behind the 3-point line. UCO forced 13 turnovers, which they were able to turn into 20 points. Also on the defensive side of the ball the Bronchos did not allow a single fast break point by Southwest Baptist. Guard Marquis Johnson contributed as well, totaling 17 points to go along with four assists and two steals in 38 minutes. Byford finished with 11 points, seven rebounds, five assists and three steals. Center Jake Hammond added nine points and six rebounds. Hankins said he was impressed by the defensive performance from both his bench and freshman Jordan Hemphill, who started for the injured Anthony Roberson. "We're missing a really good athlete and our best defender in
Marqueese Grayson, No. 10, goes for a layup during UCO’s 85-74 victory at Oklahoma Christian Tuesday, Nov. 14, 2017. (Hayden Barzditis/The Vista)
Roberson," Hankins said. "We had Hemphill in the starting lineup and although he didn't have a great offensive game today he played well defensively. The guards on the bench are going to have to keep improving defensively for us to reach our full
potential." The Bronchos return home Thursday to take on Nebraska-Kearney at 7:30 p.m.
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Sports
Feb. 6, 2018
15
Graham Cracks The Pats With a field that had prior Super Bowl heroes Malcolm Butler, Tom Brady, James White, and James Harrison, Philadelphia Eagles Defensive End Brandon Graham cemented his status as a Super Bowl legend. Graham forced future Hall of Fame quarterback Tom Brady to fumble the ball, which helped seal the first ever Super Bowl victory for the franchise. "We said we needed a play," Graham said in his post game interview. "If we got one more opportunity, we're going to give everything we've got and I just so happened to get there." Graham's play is one of the few in Super Bowl history that has stopped the Patriots from winning a super bowl and, most importantly, a Tom Brady led comeback. Prior to the game, the New York Giants were the only team to ever defeat the Brady era Patriots, but they never forced Brady to turn the ball over to lose the game. The play has more importance in beating New England in a Super Bowl because he stopped Brady from winning the game. In both Giants Super Bowl's Eli Manning and the offense had the ball at the end of the game and pretty much left Brady with no time to do anything. In this Super Bowl, Brady had plenty of time, having two minutes and 21 seconds, a timeout and the
Philadelphia Eagles' Brandon Graham holds up the Vince Lombardi Trophy after the NFL Super Bowl 52 football game against the New England Patriots, Sunday, Feb. 4, 2018, in Minneapolis. The Eagles won 41-33. (AP Photo/Chris O'Meara)
two-minute warning to his advantage. Everything was looking the Patriots way until the sack. Graham did the unheard of and stopped the "comeback kid" from
New England Patriots' Tom Brady (12) runs from Philadelphia Eagles' Brandon Graham during the first half of the NFL Super Bowl 52 football game Sunday, Feb. 4, 2018, in Minneapolis. (AP Photo/Mark Humphrey)
doing what he does best. Brady has made his entire legacy off of game winning Super Bowl drives. In four of his five super bowl wins Tom Brady has had a game winning drive to lead the Patriots to an NFL championship. The stage couldn't have been bigger for Graham to do it either because Brady looked close to unstoppable in the game with 505 passing yards and three touchdowns. No other play in Super Bowl history has featured someone stopping arguably the greatest to ever play their sport in the final minutes from winning the big game. Brady now has two historic fumble rulings, which were both caused by fellow Michigan Wolverines. The other is the infamous "Tuck Rule" back in 2001, where Charles Woodson forced Brady to fumble the ball, but it was overturned due to the tuck rule. The Eagles failed to record a sack in the game before Graham's and
prior to the Super Bowl, only recorded four sacks in the postseason. This season, Graham recorded over 47 tackles, 9.5 of those from sacks. The sack wasn’t the only big play in the game, when Doug Pederson called a trick play on fourth-and-goal that led to Nick Foles catching a touchdown pass. This play has been regarded for changing the momentum of the game, but it did not seal the win for the Eagles. If you took away the touchdown the Eagles still would have won by a one point, but if you took away Graham’s strip sack, the Eagles might not be hoisting the Lombardi trophy. The strip sack should go down as the most historic play in this game, especially over the fourth-and-goal touchdown pass to Nick Foles in the second quarter. Yes, that was a cool play, but when we remember this Super Bowl we won't think of some trick play in the second quarter, we will think about the man who took the ball out of Brady's hands.