Volume 117, Issue 2
the VISTA “Our Words, Your Voice.”
ucentralmedia.com vistanews1903 @thevista1903 @thevista1903 The Vista
Tuesday, January 29, 2019
Proposed Bills to Make Walkouts Illegal Katie Standlee
@katiestandlee Managing Editor
K-12 students attend the April 2018 teacher walkout alongside teachers and others in support of improved pay and conditions. The Oklahoma state legislature is looking to pass legislation that would place limitations on the ability of teachers to protest in a similar way, as well as limiting organizations as the Oklahoma Education Association from representing teachers. (Vista Archives)
After several educators and individuals in Oklahoma took to the Capitol for the teacher walkout last April, current state legislators have filed several bills that would make it illegal for a similar protest to occur again. According to one of the pieces of legislation, House Bill 2214, which was authored by, Rep. Todd Russ, R-Cordell, it will be illegal for the board or school district employees to strike or threaten to strike or otherwise close schools or interfere with school operations as a means of resolving differences with the board of education, the State Department of Education, the State Board of Education, the Legislature or any other public official or public body. Continued on Pg. 7
Ogunbanwo Named New Miss Black & Gold UCOSA Cuts Uber Program for Spring Vy Luong
Madison Bolton
Victory Ogunbanwo, a junior student from Nigeria majoring in forensic science and accounting, was crowned Miss Black and Gold 2019-20 at the Miss Black and Gold Scholarship Pageant on Sunday at the University of Central Oklahoma’s Constitutional Hall. The pageant is hosted by the Zeta Sigma Chapter of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity Inc. to designate outstanding young ladies to serve as Chapter
The Uber program sponsored by the University of Central Oklahoma’s Student Association has been cut this semester, after using up the $50,000 budget in fall semester of 2018. “Due to its growing popularity, the students used the year’s budget in one semester.” said Remington Dean, former UCOSA president. The ending of the partnership has impacted international students who do not own a vehicle and used this
@vy169 Online Editor
@TheVista1903 Reporter
Continued on Pg. 3
Victory Ogunbanwo performs her talent, a monologue on being an African-American immigrant at the 2019 Miss Black and Gold Pageant held on Jan. 27 in the Nigh University Center’s Constiution Hall. (Vy Luong/The Vista)
OKLAHOMA NEWS
Justin Timberlake is a Man of the Woods in Latest Concert Tour
See “TIMBERLAKE” on Pg. 8
UCOSA President Remington Dean addresses a meeting last fall. Dean said the Uber program is unable to continue funding for the spring due to a budget shortfall. (Gerald Leong/The Vista)
Continued on Pg. 11
BRONCHO SPORTS
UCO Baseball Swings into Season Opener See “DEFENDS” on Pg. 15
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the
Jan. 29, 2019
VISTA
CONTENTS Shutdown/Ogunbanwo.......................................................3 Around Campus ...................................................................4 Certified/Opioid...............................................................5 Oklahoma Roads.................................................................6 Walkouts/Hair.................................................................7 Timberlake.................................................................8 Woods.........................................................................9 Letter to the Editor/Uber......................................................11 Trot.................................................................12 Leap..............................................................13 Slides.....................................................................14 Defends.....................................................................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: Justin Timberlake and his backup dancers walk down a catwalk through the crowd during the Man of the Woods tour on Jan. 26. (Tanner Laws/The Vista)
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 baseball players celebrate during a homegame last season. They opened the season Friday against Southeasten Oklahoma State at Wendell Simmons Field. (Vista Archives)
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
Shutdown/Ogunbanwo
Jan. 29, 2019
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Historical Shutdown Finally Concludes Dustin Pierce @TheVista1903
Contributing Writer
After five weeks of the longest government shutdown in history, President Donald Trump signed a short-term spending bill on Friday night to reopen the government for three weeks. For the last five weeks, Trump shut down the government in an effort to try to reach an agreement with Democrats to pass a spending bill to fund a wall across the southern border between the United States and Mexico, a promise that the president made during his 2016 campaign. During the shutdown, over 800,000 government employees in the country went without pay and almost 39,000 Oklahomans were affected. The major non-essential government agencies affected in Oklahoma were the Department of the Air Force, Department of Veteran Affairs and Department of the Army. Government employees that went without pay will be paid back for the money they missed over the last five weeks, but the government may be shut down again in three weeks with no limit on how long it could last. Greg Butler, IRS International Appeals team manager in Oklahoma City, said normally a government job is a good job since you’re always
guaranteed a paycheck. However, Butler said he is worried about new employees at the IRS and what they might do if the shutdown drags on for over a month. “You’ve got new people that don’t have any longevity here at the IRS and they may just say, ‘screw it, I’m not putting up with this,’” Butler said. “They’ve got payments to make at the beginning of their careers and maybe they’re going to think ‘This isn’t the kind of job that I want.’” Butler said the spending budget has not been done by Oct. 1 for the last few years. “The longer the shutdown lasted, the less it seemed to have to do with the simple idea of spending a few billion dollars on the wall,” said Loren Gatch, political science professor at the University of Central Oklahoma. “It became a matter of each side standing up against the other. Neither side wanted to be the one that gave in.” Gatch said he is tired of seeing this political sibling battle between the president and the Speaker of the House, Nancy Pelosi. “Of course they will always have disagreements about politics and policy, they’re from different political parties,” Gatch said. “But I wish they would get beyond this standoff and go back to dealing with some other important things.” If the president and Democrats
President Donald Trump announces a deal to temporarily reopen the government, in the Rose Garden of the White House Jan. 25 in Washington. More than 800,000 federal workers went without pay during the longest shutdown in American history, lasting for five weeks. (AP Photo/ Evan Vucci)
cannot come to an agreement on the spending bill for the wall in three weeks, Trump will shut down the government again or take other measures to “address this emergency.” “We really have no choice but to build a powerful wall or steel barri-
er,” Trump said. “If we don’t get a fair deal from Congress, the government will either shut down on Feb. 15, or I will use the powers afforded to me under the laws and Constitution of the United States to address this emergency.”
Ogunbanwo Named New Miss Black & Gold Continued From Pg. 1 Sweethearts. According to Christian Coleman, chapter secretary, the pageant has been hosted annually for more than 40 years. “The pageant is a good opportunity for students to get a diversified view and overall contribute to an inclusive Greek society here at the University of Central Oklahoma,” Coleman said. As the Miss Black and Gold, Ogunbanwo will represent the chapter in the community, host events, as well as mentor and help the pageant next year. She will also represent UCO at the district competition for the title of Miss Black and Gold Oklahoma. “I decided to join the Miss Black and Gold system because of how warm and welcoming the people in charge of the pageant were,” Ogunbanwo said. “The men of Alpha Phi Alpha are known for their involvement in the community and I wanted to be a part of that.” Ogunbanwo won a $1,000 scholarship along with an official trophy, sash and crown. She also won the
Miss Black and Gold 2019-20 Victory Ogunbanwo, center, is recognized by the Zeta Sigma Fraternity Chapter of the University of Central Oklahoma at the 2019 Miss Black and Gold Pageant on Jan. 27 in Constiution Hall. (Vy Luong/The Vista)
Miss Congenitally Award and the Director’s Choice Award. “I felt very shocked. It didn’t seem real,” Ogunbanwo said. “But I am very happy to have receive all the awards.” During her reign, she will promote her platform called Be“YOU”Tiful to help people love and appreciate themselves. She will be working with
various offices and organizations on campus to execute Be“YOU”Tiful in the UCO community. Ogunbanwo, along with four other ladies, had prepared for the pageant for over three months. Judges evaluated the winners through a pre-show interview, swimwear, talent, evening wear and on-stage question. “I chose to perform my talent ‘les-
sons on being an African immigrant in America’ because it tells my story in relation to some of the experiences I have had as an immigrant,” Ogunbanwo said. Ogunbanwo also made the dress she wore for the talent competition. She said she started learning how to sew in high school in Nigeria. She enjoys sewing and being creative with the clothes she makes and wears. She also has a business called Garmentory. “I am so grateful for all the support I received from in the weeks leading up to the pageant,” Ogunbanwo said. “I am so blessed to be surrounded and supported by so many amazing people.” Kristi Rose, a junior majoring in finance and psychology, won the crown of Miss Zeta Sigma, a chapter title for the first runner up. She received an official trophy, sash and crown. Tynana Harris won the People’s Choice award and Domonique Brunner won the Business Woman of Tomorrow award.
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Jan. 29, 2019
Around Campus
Miss Black and Gold 2019-20 Victory Ogunbanwo, center, poses alongside members of the University of Central Oklahoma Zeta Sigma Chapter at the Miss Black and Gold Pageant on Jan. 27 in Constitution Hall. (Vy Luong/The Vista)
Tuesday, Jan. 29, 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, Jan. 30, 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 STLRtagged in Leadership.
Thursday, Jan. 31, 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.
Friday, Feb. 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. Spring 2019 Kick-Off: Broncho Buddies is hosting their kick-off event for the Spring 2019 semester from 5-8 p.m. in the Nigh University Center Ballrooms. Students can still sign up to become a Broncho Buddy on OrgSync.
Certified/Opioid
Jan. 29, 2019
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UCO Certified Again as Healthy Campus Jeff Elkins
@TheVista1903 Contributing Writer
The University of Central Oklahoma has maintained its standing as a Certified Healthy Campus for the seventh consecutive year, a distinction given by the Oklahoma State Department of Health for the efforts placed on overall health within the campus and community. The “Shape Your Future” program, implemented by the OSDH, promotes campuses that set the standard for health and wellness in their communities. UCO received the highest designation, being regarded as an excellent campus for wellness standards. Campuses in the state are evaluated based on policies and activities in areas like nutrition, physical activity, substance abuse and tobacco use, all of which UCO has scored exceptionally well in. Alex Russell, assistant director of Health Promotion and Outreach at UCO, attributes the accolade to innovative guidance. “Our university is set apart because our leadership is constantly thinking about the overall well-being of our students, staff and faculty, as well-being is a major factor in retention and
A Student using workout equipment in the Wellness Center on the University of Central Oklahoma’s campus. The campus has been certified as a healthy campus for the seventh year in a row. (Evelyn Stewart/The Vista)
success,” Russell said. Since the UCO Wellness Center was built in 2003, the mission to “empower each other to live, learn and play well” has become a high priority. The Wellness Center offers personal training, instructional programs and other health resources. It is also home to the OU Physicians Health and Wellness Clinic for students, faculty and staff. The Peer Health Leaders program
consists of multiple campus departments that collaborate to bring programs like Stress Paws and Calming Central to the campus. “Access to health education and resources are available from the Wellness Center, Health Promotion office and the Center for Counseling and Well-Being,” Russell said. Health education is exactly what brought senior nutrition major Kai-
von Atkinson to UCO. “UCO’s nutrition program has helped me understand what is necessary to get in the dietetic internship, and the program provides useful projects that have real world application,” Atkinson said. UCO holds an annual Health and Nutrition Fair in which students and faculty can learn about healthy lifestyle choices from campus experts like Peer Health Leaders and the Food and Nutrition Club. The UCO Healthy Campus program is currently working with stakeholders in the campus community to maintain the excellent distinction. “UCO Healthy Campus is currently in the process of launching the National College Health Assessment, which will help the health and wellness programs on campus have a better understanding of the health status of our students to determine what programs need to be on campus,” Russell said.
To check out the health and wellness resources that are available, visit www.ucowellnesscenter.com or stop by the Center for Counseling and Well-Being on the fourth floor of the Nigh University Center.
Edmond Sues Opioid Manufacturers Jorge Gil
@TheVista1903 Contributing Writer
On Jan. 10 the City of Edmond filed a lawsuit against opioid manufacturers and distributors for their involvement in a “civil conspiracy” in the Oklahoma County District Court. The lawsuit was in response to opioid manufacturers and distributors delivering misleading information in painkiller marketing, allowing them to pocket thousands of dollars. The 38 defendants in the lawsuit include 22 opioid manufacturers, 11 opioid distributors and five doctors; the single plaintiff is the City of Edmond. “The opioid epidemic ravaging communities across the United States, but particularly in Oklahoma, including the City of Edmond, is a result of corporate greed,” the lawsuit states. In the lawsuit, the City of Edmond accuses opioid manufactures of making large amounts of money from their marketing. It was stated
A device which delivers naloxone, an anti-overdose medication, lies on a counter as a health educator gives instructions on how to administer it in Brooklyn, New York. The City of Edmond is currently suing opioid manufactures for providing misleading information in opioid sales.(AP Photo/Mary Altaffer)
that the marketing was deceptive, misrepresented the risks of addiction and embellished unverified benefits of opioids. The five doctors in the lawsuit are either accused of giving excessive opioid prescriptions, prescribing lethal dosages without properly keeping adequate records or promoting the
use of opioids for long-term chronic pain while also downplaying the risk of addiction to opioids. There has been a steady increase over the years in the number of opioids being prescribed to patients, according to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention. “In 2017, the number of overdose
deaths involving opioids (including prescription opioids like heroin and illicitly manufactured fentanyl) was six times higher than in 1999,” stated a CDC study. The increase of opioids distributed in Edmond requires more attention from law enforcement and medical services to battle the epidemic. “Edmond spends substantial amounts annually to provide and pay for a wide range of services to its residents, including law enforcement and emergency medical services. In recent years, more of those resources have gone to battling the opioid epidemic as a direct result of the actions of Defendants,” the lawsuit stated. Along with the lawsuit, the City of Edmond would like for the defendants to pay for damages caused to the city and to compensate for any future bother caused by the opioid epidemic. Recently, one of the doctors involved in the lawsuit denied all of the allegations of which he has been accused of by the City of Edmond. As of now, there is no court date set for the second hearing of this lawsuit.
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Jan. 29, 2019
Oklahoma Roads
Oklahoma, Where the Roads are OK Katie Standlee @katiestandlee
Managing Editor
Oklahoma has received an overall medium grade for highway and auto safety, according to the 16th annual Roadmap of State Highway Safety Laws report that was released last week by the Advocates for Highway and Auto Safety. “Oklahoma’s rating did not change from the 2018 report to the 2019 report, so [the state] continues to receive a yellow rating and it is because they are missing a number of laws that we recommend that they should have,” said Allison Kennedy, director of Government Relations for Advocates for Highway and Auto Safety. The report measures how well a state is doing in highway and auto safety by assigning a state one of three colors: green (best), yellow (medium) and red (worst) in various categories. According to the report, Oklahoma is one of 33 states to receive a medium grade, while six states and the District of Columbia received an overall best grade and 11 states received an overall worst grade. Since Oklahoma received a medium grade, it does have mixed ratings throughout the report. Oklahoma has a high rating in the impaired driving section, because the state actually has all three of the laws that the Advocacy for Highway Auto Safety recommends in the report. “I would say in terms of impaired driving [the state is] definitely on the right track with having those laws on the book and making sure they are properly enforced is going to be really key, and that the public knows about them through education,” Kennedy said. However, the state does have low
ratings in seat belt laws, because the current law only applies to the front seat passengers. “One of the things that we placed a lot of importance on in the report is having primary enforcement seat belt laws that cover all occupants in the vehicle,” Kennedy said. “A number of the states that have primary enforcement seat belt laws actually only apply to the front seat passengers [while] they don’t extend to the back seat passengers.” Kennedy said out of 34 states that have a primary enforcement seat belt law for front seat passengers, only 19 of those apply to back seat passengers and often times in the back seat are children, teens and older adults so it is critical that everybody is buckling up. “So because of the importance of the seat belt laws, actually no state can achieve a green rating if they don’t have both of those,” Kennedy said. “Oklahoma, along with a number of other states that are yellow, could move to the green column if they simply passed that one law.” Edmond Police Department Lt. Todd Stradder said that the biggest problem police see in Edmond is failure to devote full time and attention to driving, which is mostly anything to do with a phone while driving. “We work crashes every day where people are distracted by their phones while driving, whether it is texting, dialing a phone number or looking to change a song,” Stradder said. “If people would focus 100 percent of their attention to their driving, I believe we would see a significant reduction in the number of collisions.” Stradder suggests locking the driver's phone in the glove box so the driver is not tempted to use the phone. “Unfortunately, many people are injured or killed each year in vehicle collisions which are almost all pre-
Cars driving southbound on Interstate 35. The 16th annual Roadmap of State Highway Safety Laws report was released Jan. 22, and Oklahoma recieved an overall medium grade. (Samantha Karbelk/The Vista)
ventable,” Stradder said. “My simple advice is to buckle up, drive the speed limit, follow at a safe distance, use turn signals, be courteous and never drink and drive.” Edmond Police Department works to enforce traffic law violations at all times, but Stradder said they also have a designated traffic division consisting of four unmarked police cars and six motorcycles. The traffic division focuses on reducing collisions by targeting problem areas where we see a large number of traffic law violations. “Another big gap that Oklahoma has is they lack all motorcycle helmet laws,” Kennedy said. “This is
really critical, because 39 percent of all motorcyclists who were killed in 2017 were not wearing a helmet and helmets have shown to be incredibly effective at reducing injuries, as well as deaths, when motorcycle crashes do occur.” Some other areas that Oklahoma received a low rating was in child passenger safety, teen driving laws and distracted driving laws. The theme of the report this year focused on highway and auto safety laws in the time of driverless cars, and is outlined on the front cover of the report: “until the day comes that driverless cars are proven to be safe, we can save countless lives by taking action now on verified technology and comprehensive laws.” Kennedy said in addition to enacting the 16 laws in all 50 states and D.C. that are recommended in the report, safety advocates also think there is a role for proven technology to play in things that are available now, such as automatic emergency braking, lane departure warning and lane detection. “Those types of technologies have already shown to be effective at saving lives so we should be fully deploying those into all new vehicles while we are on the path to fully autonomous ones,” Kennedy said. More information on this report can be found at saferoads.org under roadmap reports.
Walkouts/Hair
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Jan. 29, 2019
Proposed Bills to Make Walkouts Illegal Continued from Pg. 1 “Especially for Representative Russ’ bill 2214 not allowing for school closures and a walkout and penalizing teachers, we feel that it is an extreme overreach with [penalty] measures tied to it,” said Katherine Bishop, vice president for the Oklahoma Education Association. “It’s on the verge of being unconstitutional is one thing, however, it’s also limiting the people’s voice at the people’s house.” If this bill is passed, it states that any person engaging in a strike, shutdown or related activities shall be denied the full amount of his or her wages during the period of such violation. And if the person holds a certificate issued by the State Board of Education, such certificate shall be permanently revoked. Russ said the language in HB 2214 is amendatory to current state statue, which declares that it is already illegal for teachers to strike. “Students deserve to be in their classrooms learning and preparing for
their next grade and their next phase of life,” Russ said. “I understand the plight of teachers, which is why I voted for the largest teacher pay raise and the largest K-12 education budget in state history.” Russ said he advocates for teachers to reach out to him or any other lawmaker at any time to voice their opinions and concerns, but that his fault is with the unions who knew it was illegal under state law to strike. Oklahoma State Department of Education Superintendent Joy Hofmeister declined to comment on the proposed legislation, because she has not visited with the authors about them yet. Russ also authored HB 2208, which relates to school employee organizations, such as the Oklahoma Education Association. If passed, this bill would prohibit specified existing organizations from continuing to represent teachers by Dec. 2020. This would also require the local boards of education to hold a secret ballot election to determine if the organization
retains support of the majority of its employees. State Sen. Mark Allen, R-Spiro, authored Senator Bill 592, which states that if the bill is passed, any organization or group of 100 or more persons that engages in an organized protest at the Capitol will be required to post a bond of $50,000 with the Oklahoma Capitol Improvement Authority in order to offset the cost of additional security, clean up and repairs. If passed, this act would go into effect Nov. 1, 2019. Allen also authored SB 574, which states that each school district of education will have to establish a code of ethics and professional responsibility for teachers that provides that no teacher, regardless of continuing contract status, is permitted during class time or while otherwise operating within the scope of employment as a teacher from advocating for or against candidates, legislation or political issues. “The bottom line is the general public is on the teacher's side right now
and that makes a big difference with legislators,” said James Machell, dean of UCO’s College of Education and Professional Studies. “The legislators aren’t convinced to change things if they think it is just the teachers that are upset, it’s a bigger problem for them if they see that the general public is upset, because that is going to effect their ability to get re-elected and to stay in office.” The review of the legislation will begin when the house enters legislation on Feb 4. “We (OEA) will be working with the legislature and especially in those committees where it could be heard in to make sure that they never even get a hearing,” Bishop said. “Working with them we feel like there is a great chance that they do not even get a hearing in committee and that’s the first step in the legislative process.” For more information about these bills visit oklegislature.gov and look for Basic Bill Search under the Legislation tab.
UCO Lets the Hair [Musical] Shine In
Madison Bolton @TheVista1903 Reporter
The University of Central Oklahoma’s latest musical Hair, performed by UCO’s Musical Theatre Division and co-produced by the Oklahoma City Repertory, will take place Feb. 6-10 at Mitchell Hall Theatre. “With the show set in 1968, we have had to do a lot more dramaturgy work to get the students to understand every little detail of what this show is about,” said director Steven Smeltzer. A product of the hippie counterculture and sexual revolution of the late 1960s, several of the production’s songs have to do with the Vietnam War and the history and hardships behind it. “I’m excited to be a part of this show because it is historically accurate,” said Tristin Hill, a senior in the production. “The show is so relevant still in 2019.” Dealing with racism, drug use and war, Smeltzer said he agrees that the history in the show can still be seen as relevant today. He also said the show is truthful to the original, with nothing being changed or altered. Donald Jordan, Oklahoma City Repertory artistic director, sent out a warning for those attending to have a sense of what they would see. “Warning: the CityRep [and] UCO
Jaleesa Beavers, Cameron Blakely, Erika Burkett, Hagen Wano, Mandy Miller, Caleb Barnett, Hope Chancey and Easton Edwards will star in the University of Central Oklahoma’s production of “Hair: The American Tribal Love-Rock Musical” at 7:30 p.m. Feb. 6-9 and 2 p.m. Feb. 9-10 at Mitchell Hall Theatre. (Provided/Steven Akins)
co-production will include groovy hippies singing, cursing, smoking pot, dancing, getting naked, mocking societal conventions, meditating, taking LSD, flaunting their sexuality, celebrating their race, promoting peace, justice, equality and creating happening,” the warning reads. The Oklahoma City Repertory, better known as CityRep, is a nonprofit local theater founded by Donald Jordan and his colleagues who attended Oklahoma City University to study theater. This co-production of Hair marks the 10th anniversary of the partnership between CityRep and UCO Musical Theatre. “We try to pair up with CityRep every so many years, so our stu-
dents have that particular experience working with a professional company,” said Greg White, UCO Musical Theatre director. This partnership gives UCO students in the Musical Theater department a chance to score points on their equity card. With five weeks of rehearsals and one week of performance, students performing have a chance to receive five equity points on their card. After one has received 25 points, one is able to apply to be apart of the Actors’ Equity Association, an American labor union representing the world of live theater performances. These cards help negotiate wages, improve working conditions and provide a wide range of benefits, in-
cluding health and pension plans. Hill, who is the dance captain of production, said the equity points are the main reason why he decided to be a part of the production. He said this was a great opportunity to get points on his card before graduating in May. Working with CityRep has also brought back UCO alumni JaLeesa Beavers for the production. Beavers said this is her third time to work with CityRep and is happy to be back, describing the faculty at UCO and the team as CityRep as a family. Graduating five years ago, Beavers has been working and living in New York for the last three and a half years. Beavers said graduating from UCO helped prepared her as much as she could have been. “When you’re in college, it’s a bubble, and people tell you all these things and what they say isn’t wrong, but still there is nothing that can prepare you for the real world and New York, a beast of a different color,” Beaver said. Hair will be showing at Mitchell Hall from at 7:30 p.m. Feb. 6-9 and 2 p.m. Feb. 9-10 Tickets can be purchased on CityRep’s website, through the College of Fine Arts and Design Website or at the Mitchell Hall box office.
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Jan. 29, 2019
Timberlake Dances Into RecordBreaking Show Megan Thele
@1bigtimenicole Copy Editor
Justin Timberlake’s Man of the Woods Tour took over the Chesapeake Energy Arena on Jan. 26 and proved why it earned the title as Oklahoma City’s highest grossing show in history. The sold out show was an absolute spectacle from start to finish, showing that he can stay true to his musical roots without getting too lost in the woods. What can I say? Timberlake oozes cool and he makes sure everyone knows it at any given minute. Throughout the show he visually and audibly was the epitome of a top pop artist. This may seem to only be a facade, but as Timberlake said at the start, “haters gonna say it’s fake.” The tour is designed after Timberlake’s latest album, “Man of the Woods,” which debuted on the Billboard 200 charts last February. Through the two hour set, Timberlake never stopped moving or delivering strong vocals. Despite all the action, he never failed to make time for the fans flanking the stage and frequently ran by for high-fives, selfies and walked through the VIP area of the crowd, and even took a moment to raise a glass for a fan’s 21st birthday. When he is alone on stage, Timberlake commands attention from everyone in the room. However, when his six dancers and band, the Tennessee Kids, came into play, he got lost in the group. There were so many in the group that even on the smaller middle stage, it was hard to find him in the mix until he emerged to lead the pack down the catwalks. The 23-song setlist had a mix of classic Timberlake hits like “Cry Me A River,” “Sexyback,” “Suit & Tie” and “My Love” intermingled with newer singles “Say Something,” “Filthy” and “Can’t Stop the Feeling.” Visually, something was always happening on at least one of the three stages spread across the arena floor, connected by catwalks in an almost S
shape, which gave fans on every side of the arena something to look at. The sets added to the outdoor imagery associated with the tour’s namesake album, with trees dotted around the stage, pathways that looked like trails and a fake campfire scene, complete with logs, grass and a fire. Laser lights created stunning effects around Timberlake and the dancers, while video projection screens moved up and down to show country scenes, starry skies or mountains. The staging was gorgeous, but at times it felt like it was trying too hard to be woodsy and country, despite the music not having a country or folksy sound. The variance in performances kept the audience’s attention through the show before anything got boring or blended together. Timberlake switched between high energy dance numbers, sauntering between the three stages and acoustic guitar performances, one of which was by the infamous campfire. You would never guess Timberlake just took a two month hiatus to rest bruised vocal chords, as his performances remained strong, especially his upper register. It was hard to realize OKC was his 88th show on the tour, which began last March and ends this April. Timberlake’s appeal spans from his Mickey Mouse Club and *NSYNC days, to his earliest albums and newer fans who mostly know his radio singles. The mixed crowd bubbled with excitement from the opening DJ to the second Timberlake retreated back into the main stage at the end. For those like myself who were attending their first Timberlake concert, this was an impressive introduction to his performance style. It’s obvious he has great vocal control, smooth dances moves that likely carried over from his *NSYNC days and a knack for drawing attention from the youngest and oldest attendees alike. If the crowd response was any indication, Timberlake is still one of
America’s pop royalty and will continue to sell out arenas for years to come. Whether a fan of his famous singles or whole career, new and old fans alike can enjoy the full two hours of this show or any over-the-top production he puts on in the future. The show has something for everyone and will leave you hanging onto each moment, wondering what Timberlake will pull out of his hat next. It’s well worth an evening to see the man of the woods find his true place in an arena, shining among the trees and winding pathways.
Timberlake
Woods
Jan. 29, 2019
9
Man Of The Woods Tour Comes to OKC
Top Middle: American singer-songwriter Justin Timberlake crouches to greet fans during his album tour on Jan. 26 at the Chesapeake Energy Arena in Oklahoma City. Man of the Woods is Timberlake’s fifth studio album, named after his son Silas, whose biblical name means “from the forest.” (Tanner Laws/The Vista)
Top Left: Justin Timberlake dances on stage while singing during his Man of the Woods album tour on Jan. 26 at the Chesapeake Energy Arena in Oklahoma City. (Tanner Laws/The Vista)
Top Right: Justin Timberlake saunters across stage while singing during his Man of the Woods tour on Jan. 26 at the Chesapeake Energy Arena in Oklahoma City. (Tanner Laws/The Vista)
Bottom Left: Justin Timberlake strikes a pose during his Man of the Woods album tour on Jan. 26 at the Chesapeake Energy Arena in Oklahoma City. (Tanner Laws/The Vista)
Bottom Right: Justin Timberlake smirks as he dances non-stop during his Man of the Woods tour on Jan. 26 at the Chesapeake Energy Arena in Oklahoma City. (Tanner Laws/The Vista)
Middle: Francesco Yates and his guitarist perform as Timberlake’s opening act on Jan. 26 at the Chesapeake Energy Arena in Oklahoma City. (Tanner Laws/The Vista)
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Jan. 22, 2019
???
Letter to the Editor/Uber
Jan. 29, 2019
11
Your Words, Your Voice. Letter to the Editor To the Editor, #YoureNotAlone Reflecting on the incident that occurred at the University of Oklahoma, I, as a Black student, truly stand in solidarity and support with the OU Black Student Association and OU Unheard. This incident has caused me to take a look into our cultural climate here at the University of Central Oklahoma. I do not want us to look at the incident at OU as something that is only happening there but is also happening here at UCO. On January 13, 2019, a white student, who no longer attends this university, did a live video on Instagram where she stated the n word and then said “ohh shit, I can’t say that on live” and then proceed to “shrug” and laugh it off. Many UCO students were upset, but still the video didn’t somehow go viral or up the UCO chain of command. Some of us (Black students) were sort of immune to the video because this happen on a consistent basis. We can never truly win in this argument however, factually and historically it has been shown that whites have used this word as a word to oppress Blacks. I do not want to play the “victim” card, but I also do not also want us to negate the experiences that marginalize communities go through here at a predominately white institution. Yes, we may not have experiences that to the magnitude as the ones at the University of Oklahoma however, we have to understand that these institutions are a microscope of the larger society. Therefore, as a student here, I continue to strongly encourage the UCO’s administration, faculty, staff, and students, to truly understand and support the Diversity Round Table (DRT) Goals. These goals include: The Diversity Round Table goals is to actively advocate for a new and renovated Office of Diversity and Inclusion located in the Nigh University Center The Diversity Round Table is to actively work with the University of Central Oklahoma Student Association to create initiatives that focused on increasing representation of underrepresented students within the association. The Diversity Round Table goal is to actively advocate for more critical diversity classes that speak to exploring historical and modern-day cultural issues. I urge everyone to look at the packet provided by DRT which explains each and every goal. This is located under the Diversity Round Table tab on the UCO Office of Diversity and Inclusion website. My hope is to continue to see UCO be more than just a “diverse” institution but also a more inclusive and equitable institution. It is our duty ... Student first, Jordan Broiles, UCO Student The Vista always accepts letters to the editor. If you would like your response displayed in the next issue, please send your letters to The Vista at 100 N. University Drive Edmond, OK 73034 or email your response to The Vista at thevista.ads@gmail.com.
UCOSA Cuts Uber Program for Spring Continued From Pg. 1
program to get from place to place. “I found out the program during my freshman year at International Students Orientation,” said Han Seth Lu, UCO international student from Myanmar. “I usually use it for important matters or to run errands.” Han said he used the Uber rides to go get his State ID, social security number, attend conferences in Okla-
homa City, get to his volunteer sites, and so many other reasons. When the program was first offered in the summer of 2016, by former UCOSA president Austin Sheehy, the rides were only given 9 p.m. to 3 a.m. Thursday through Saturday. “In the beginning the Uber partnership was seen as a safe ride program,” said Dean, “After Austin, President Duvall, saw an unmet need for many
students that did not have the means of transportation.” When the program began offering Uber 24/7 there were also new restrictions applied, with a free ride up to $15 and a max of 6 trips per student per semester. “I know some of my international friends really depend on that and they use the program to go see doctor appointment or to to groceries stores to
buy supplies they can’t buy in their neighborhood markets.” Han said. “There is a possibility we will see a return of the program for the spring semester,” said Dean, “However, we would not be able to give as much money as the fall semester. Therefore, the program would either see a cut in the number of rides available, lower subsidization of the cost of the rides, or both.”
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Jan. 29, 2019
Trot
SPORTS
Bronchos Trot To Victory
University of Central Oklahoma forward Ireon Smith shoots during a home game this season. Smith led the Bronchos with 18 points to go along with eight rebounds in UCO’s 68-56 road win over Lincoln University. (Provided/BronchoSports)
Derek Parker @D_Park2
Sports Reporter
The University of Central Oklahoma women’s basketball team defeated the Lincoln University Blue Tigers 68-56 at Jason Gym in Jefferson City, Missouri on Saturday. The Bronchos are now 13-7 on the season, and 4-6 in the Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association play. Overall, the Bronchos’ first quarter was rough but began on a Shatoya Bryson steal-and-score to give Central a 2-0 lead. After Bryson assisted Ireon Smith, the Blue Tigers would go on a 10-2 run. A Blue Tiger 3-pointer ended the first quarter, with Lincoln on top, 1410. “We didn’t start the game very well, but we made some adjustments
and got things figured out,” said head coach Guy Hardaker. “We played really well for three quarters and fortunately for us today that was good enough. It’s good to get a win and it’s good to get a road win.” The Bronchos bounced back in the second quarter, putting pressure on Lincoln on the defensive side of the ball. After Lincoln started the quarter off with four straight points, UCO went 10-10 on free throws in the quarter to give themselves the lead. Micayla Haynes made a pair of free throws after a Lincoln technical-foul, and then nailed a 3-pointer. The Bronchos went on a 22-6 run in the second quarter to give themselves a 32-24 halftime lead. Central outscored Lincoln 14-10 in the third quarter to grow their lead to 16 points. The Bronchos largest lead of the game would be 17 points in the fourth quarter. The fourth was the Bronchos’ best
“We played really well for three-waters and fortunately for us today was good enough.” Guy Hardaker
quarter of the day. They scored 22 points on 47 percent shooting from the field. UCO’s ability to get to the free-throw line proved to be the difference in the game, hitting 16 of their 17 attempts on the day. Zoi Thompson, Kaloni Pryear and Bre Coleman all fouled out for Lincoln. Smith led all players with 18 points in the contest, and tacked on seven boards on top of that, wiath UCO’s Megan Hartness trailing just behind with 17. Hartness shot 6-8 from the
floor, 3-4 from the 3-poaint line, and tacked on five boards, one steal and one block to her stats. Blake Blessington finished with 11 points for the Bronchos, and Haynes finished with seven, all coming in the second quarter. Blessington finished with a team-high nine rebounds. Zhanesha Dickerson led the way for the Blue Tigers with 16 points, and Bre Coleman had 14 of her own. The Bronchos finished shooting 37.1 percent from the field on the day, and grabbed 45 rebounds. They scored 30 of their 68 points in the paint, and scored 13 points off turnovers. The Bronchos have a pair of home conference games ahead of them, hosting Southwest Baptist University on Jan. 31 at 5:30 p.m., and defending national champions University of Central Missouri on Feb. 1 at 1:30 p.m.
Leap
Jan. 29, 2019
13
Tigers Leap Past Bronchos
University of Central Oklahoma forward Adarius Avery dunks during a home game at Hamilton Field House earlier this season. Avery led the Bronchos with 23 points and 12 rebounds in their 78-65 loss to Lincoln University on Saturday. (Provided/BronchoSports)
Derek Parker @D_Park2
Sports Reporter
The University of Central Oklahoma men’s basketball team lost to Lincoln University on Saturday afternoon 78-65. The Bronchos dropped their fifth straight, moving to 8-11 overall, and 1-9 in the MIAA conference play. The Bronchos jumped out to a quick 7-2 lead early in the game after Jordan Hemphill answered Lincoln’s first basket of the game with a 3-pointer. Lincoln ran zone defense a majority of the game, forcing the Bronchos to shoot from the perimeter. Lincoln heated up quickly, however, knocking down several three-pointers. The game was hard fought and continued back and forth for several minutes. Lincoln led by as many as 11 points in the first half, but UCO battled back, cutting Lincoln’s lead to just 5 before the half. Adarius Avery, the Bronchos leading scorer on the day, forced a turnover with seconds left in
the half, and went coast-to-coast for dunk to make it 39-34, Lincoln. Avery finished the game with 23 points and 12 rebounds, notching his 11th double-double of the season. He shot 10-17 from the field. The Bronchos shot 43 percent in the first half, and 4-12 from beyond
“That was a tough team to beat. We’ve got some things we need to get corrected so we can start winning some games.” Tom Hankins the arc. They forced seven Lincoln turnovers, which resulted in 11 points for Central. Out of the half, the Bronchos turned the ball over to the Blue Tigers, who scored a layup to make it 41-34.
Avery cut the Lincoln lead to just three with seven minutes left, after nailing a jumper to make it 56-53. UCO, down four with five minutes left in the contest, allowed an offensive board and put back that made it a six-point game. Sophomore Jaylan Williams hit a three near the end of the game to cut the lead back to three for the final time, but Lincoln answered with a three of their own to put the game away for good. “That was a tough team to beat,” said head coach Tom Hankins. “Lincoln is doing a really good job this year and we aren’t. We’ve got some things we need to get corrected so we can start winning some games.” The Bronchos shot 44 percent in the game, and just 5-11 from the free throw line. They scored 28 of their 65 points in the paint, and scored 15 off Lincoln turnovers. UCO bench scored 15 in the contest and the Blue Tigers outscored the Bronchos 12-4 on second-chance points. The Bronchos are averaging 78.4 points per game on the year. UCO had three players with double-digit scores, with 22 from Avery, 10 from Hemphill and 10 from Ashford Golden. UCO takes on Southwest Baptist
University on Jan. 31 at Hamilton Field House.
University of Central Oklahoma guard Jordan Hemphill goes for a layup during a home game earlier this season. He scored 10 points in UCO’s 78-65 loss to Lincoln. (Provided/BronchoSports)
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Jan. 29, 2019
Slides
Softball Slides Into Season
The University of Central Oklahoma softball team celebrates after scoring during a home game last season. Head coach Cody White and his team opens the season Friday against Texas Women’s University in the Arkansas Tech Invitational. (Vista Archives)
James D. Jackson @JamesDJackson15 Sports Reporter
Just one win away from winning the Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association Championship in the 2018 season, the University of Central Oklahoma look to improve with the 2019 season set to begin on Feb. 1. Head coach Cody White has coached the Bronchos to a 204-90 career record in his five years with the Bronchos. Out of his five seasons, the
Bronchos have only missed the post season once, the previous season. “We missed out on the playoffs for the first-time last year you know it hurt, it really cut deep,” White said. “So what that’s done for our returners is it’s really motivated them, it helps them not to take it for granted as well.” With the new season, seven players are no longer with UCO including All-American Morgan Heard and All-Region Carrie Abrams and Jayden Chestnut. “I think it opened up our eyes a
little bit,” White said. “Realized that work has to be put in to make that and it’s an honor to make that, so it’s really motivated them to get back on track and they want to get back to the playoffs for sure and they’re taking the necessary steps to do that.” But the Bronchos have nine returning players in Allie Eicher, Lauren Gibson, Jobi Heath, Tori Huslig, Carli Jones, Tori Ritz, Abbey Rumbaugh and Bailey Thompson. “We’ve talked a lot about our expectations and we’re not really interested in taking what we can’t con-
University of Central Oklahoma infielder/outfielder Jobi Heath prepares to swing during a home game last season. Heath has started all 175 of her career games and ranks top 10 in seven categories heading into her senior season. (Vista Archives)
trol,” White said. “We want to work on things really we can control and focus on the process.” White also said that the Bronchos are fully healthy. “We’re very thankful for that,” White said. “We’ve spent a lot of time working a lot of rehab and a lot of recovery things for our pitchers we’ve seen some things happen to us last year, we dealt with a lot of injuries last year, so as a coaching staff we’ve made a lot of adjustments on preventative care so everybody’s ready to rock right now.” The Bronchos will open the season in the Arkansas Tech Invitational against Texas Woman’s University Pioneers in Conroe, Texas on Friday at 10:30 a.m. They will host their first home game at Broncho Softball Field Feb. 8 when they battle the Cameron University Aggies in the UCO-OC Festival. “We’ve talked about having that grit, top mindset, playing the game the right way, hustling in and out, being fiery, having a lot of energy feeding off of each other, coming together as a team, that’s my expectations is we’re going to come out here and set a whole new culture this year and be able to feed off that,” White said. “What our hope is that’ll equate to some wins.”
Defends
Jan. 29, 2019
15
Baseball Defends Conference Crown James D. Jackson @JamesDJackson15 Sports Reporter
After a (37-28) 2018 campaign, a Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association Regular Season Championship and a NCAA Central Regional appearance, the Bronchos head into the 2019 season looking to do more. Head coach John Martin has coached the Bronchos to a 104-64-1 record in the three years he has taken over, as he has won back-to-back 37-win seasons. Under Martin, the Bronchos also won their first MIAA Regular Season Championship since they joined the league six years ago. After winning the MIAA Regular Season Championship Martin said that it doesn’t add any more motivation for the current season. “I think it might add a little more target on our back to other people, but I think that’s what you want, so it’s just a matter of us going about our business the right way everyday and working hard,” Martin said. “We’ll see what happens.” Martin said his expectations for every new season “don’t change.” “We go into every game trying to win every one and get better everyday,” Martin said. “We’re worried about, just on a daily basis, what we can do to get better. All our guys want to go win a championship every year, they want to go to the Regional and go to the World Series, so I think that’s the same expectation every year.” The Bronchos will play 50 games in the 2019 season with 26 road games and 23 home games at Simmons Field. However, under Martin, the Bronchos have not had a losing record on the road. In the 2018 season the Bronchos went 17-7 home, 15-8 away. In 2017, 16-6 home, 1411-1 away and in 2016 13-8 home, 15-11 away. “I think it’s just about how we go about our business,” Martin said. “I don’t think it changes whether on the road or at home how hard we go.” Martin said that traveling can be good because you start to come together as a team and as a family a little bit. “This years the year we travel more to the Missouri schools so hopefully we can handle that, get
The University of Central Oklahoma baseball team celebrates after a score during a home game last seasons. Head coach John Martin and his team looks to defend their Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association Regular Season Championship this season. (Vista Archives)
there, and play well,” Martin said. In the 2018 season, the Bronchos were second in Home Runs in the
MIAA with 72 behind Nebraska Kearney, who posted 93. The Bronchos also placed second in the MIAA in
stolen bases with 93 just behind Central Missouri, who had 98. The Bronchos will begin their 2019 season at Wendall Simmons Baseball Field in the Edmond First Pitch Classic. They will host the Southeastern Oklahoma State University Storm Feb. 1 at 1.p.m, the Lubbock Christian University Eagles Saturday at 4 p.m. and Oklahoma Christian University Eagles Sunday at 7 p.m. “We have pretty good depth,” Martin said. “I think we’re athletic and I think that’s a strength. We have a lot of new guys, so now it’s a matter of them going out there performing and figuring out who we are. Hopefully those roads trips will help us do so.”
University of Central Oklahoma pitcher Junior Obeso pitches during a home game last season. Obeso appeared in 25 games posting a 3-3 record. (Provided/ BronchoSports)