Volume 116, Issue 24
the
VISTA “Our Words, Your Voice.”
Neuhold-Ravikumar’s First Week of Presidency
President Patti Neuhold-Ravikumar takes over UCO’s Presidency from Former President Don Betz. Betz is assisting in Neuhold-Ravikumar’s transition. (Provided/UCO Photo Services)
Lauren Morris @TheVista1903 ONLINE EDITOR
University of Central Oklahoma President Patti Neuhold-Ravikumar has held office for a little over a week, having started July 1. Former President Don Betz had decided to stay for a portion of the summer semester to help Neuhold-Ravikumar through the transition.
Neuhold-Ravikumar said the transition and working with Betz was a smooth process. “It was very encouraging for Dr. Betz to be here to help me lead into this next step,” she said. “He’s been a great model of leadership on our campus and he continued to be that way throughout the transition… We worked closely together to make sure that all the important issues that were ongoing would be cared for and
shepherded forward as we handed the torch off.” Neuhold-Ravikumar said that one of her priorities as president is allowing for diversity of thought. “I am surrounded by competent and caring, invested leaders… I make sure to tap into that expertise and that investment on a regular basis,” she said. “I always want to make sure that I invite a diverse group of voices to help inform any decision that I might make.” Neuhold-Ravikumar recently changed her name to include her wife’s surname after the paperwork took months to be completed and approved. They had gotten married last September. Coincidentally, it lined up with her starting her job as the university president. “It’s a long process… You realize one more thing every day when something comes in the mail,” she said. “You think, ‘Oh my goodness, I haven’t changed it there.’” This makes her not just UCO’s first female president, but also Oklahoma’s first openly LGBTQ+ president. “I am the sum of all of my experiences, and through the experience that I have had, forms who I am and how I think and how I interact with
vistanews1903 @thevista1903 @thevista1903 The Vista ucentralmedia.com Tuesday, July 9, 2019
SPORTS
UCO Names 18 All-Americans
See Pg. 12
AROUND EDMOND
Libertyfest Photo Story See Pg. 9 PHOTO STORY
Continued on Pg. 5
Oklahoma Toll Prices to Increase by 2.5 Percent Kyle Tangco @kyle_tangco
CONTRIBUTING WRITER
The Oklahoma Turnpike Authority is set to increase toll prices by 2.5 percent on July 15 for cash customers as part of Oklahoma’s Driving Forward initiative. Jack Damrill, director of Communications for OTA, said that the toll money is used to support several projects to build and improve traffic flow within Oklahoma’s interstate roads, including the addition of two more lanes on the Turner turnpike that connects Oklahoma City to Tulsa. “We elected not to do just one big toll increase. We elected to stage them in threes,” Damrill said. “That way we weren’t hitting the traveling public with a 17 percent increase all at once.” Damrill said the first toll increase
The Betz Years EDITORIAL
See Pg. 7
Two vehicles pay tolls to continue travelling on the John Kilpatrick Turnpike on July 7. (Gerald Leong/The Vista)
was raised to 12 percent in March 2017, followed by a 2.5 percent increase in January 2018. According to an OTA document, all of the organization’s revenue will help maintain all the turnpikes’ road and operating conditions, as well as pay back bonds that financed their construction.
“When you do a toll increase, you look at how much revenue you get out of that, and that’s where the 2.5 percent came in,” Damrill said. Pikepass customers will not be affected by the toll increase. Damrill said he hopes that the rise in prices Continued on Pg. 5
We All Scream At Ice Cream Licker... Or Not See Pg. 10
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July 9, 2019
Contents
VISTA
Content
Census/Meth Lab Photos .............................................................3 Around Campus .........................................................................4 President/Turnpike ......................................................................5 Betz Award .................................................................................6 Betz Archive ................................................................................7 Tech .............................................................................................8 Editorial .......................................................................................9 Libertyfest .................................................................................10 Thesis ........................................................................................11 All-Americans ............................................................................12 Dodgers .....................................................................................13 Free Agency ..............................................................................14 Bucking Broncho ......................................................................15
THE VISTA
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James D. Jackson Jeff Elkins Derek Parker Tanner Laws Megan Thele Lauren Morris Michelle Pennza Christian Tabak Madison Bolton Gerald Wing Yi Leong Samantha Karbelk Teddy Burch Alex Brown
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.
Editor-in-Chief Managing Editor Sports Editor Photo Editor Copy Editor Online Editor Design Editor Senior Reporter Reporter Photography Photography Adviser Advertising
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.
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SCORE STRIKER TOURNAMENT CUP FINAL TROPHY GOAL GOALKEEPER FORWARD CENTRE HALF TIME COACH MANAGER STADIUM REFEREE CAPTAIN
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.
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
On the Cover: Top: University of Central Oklahoma football teammates rest on a bench. UCO finished with 18 All-Americans in the 2018-2019 school year. (Vista Archive) Top Middle: A man sits in a decorated truck for the Liberty Parade Celebrating the 4th of July. Libertyfest is a weeklong festival held in establishments around Edmond. (John Redfearn/The Vista) Bottom Middle: Former President Don Betz sits in a chair. He recently received an award from the Oklahoma Department of Veteran Affairs. (Vista Archive) Bottom: A Blue Bell ice cream truck is parked in the road. Blue Bell has been facing the problem of customers licking their ice cream containers before putting them back to be sold to unknowing customers. (Provided/Phillip Pessar)
Census/Meth
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Trump Administration Quarrels with High Court Over Census JaNae Williams @janaebwilliams
CONTRIBUTING WRITER
Despite the Supreme Court ruling that the 2020 census should not include a question asking respondents to identify their citizenship, the Trump administration has said it will continue the push forward to include the question on the documents. On June 27, the Supreme Court returned a decision regarding attempts to reinstate a census question on citizenship. The court found that the reasoning Wilbur Ross, secretary of Commerce, gave for pursuing the question was not justified. Following the Supreme Court decision, reports emerged that the Department of Commerce had begun printing 2020 census forms without the question. President Donald Trump denied these reports, as he and the Justice Department pushed back, attempting to find a path around the
Demonstrators gather at the Supreme Court on Capitol Hill in Washington. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite, File)
court decision. The census is used to count the country’s residents rather than citizens. However, the Trump administration has stated the citizenship question is necessary for protection of the Voting Rights Act. The administration argues that having both residency and citizenship data will decrease the number of illegal voters in U.S. elections. The census is constitutionally mandated and acts as the measure for dividing up seats in the House of Rep-
resentatives. Due to the way the data collected is used, both sides argue an accurate count of the country’s population is important. Federal law mandates that personal information given on the census cannot be used against respondents. However, many on the opposing side wonder if the motives are more nefarious as the court moves forward with new investigations. Opponents also argue that a requirement for identifying citizenship will discourage participation in the
munications Building. Rashi Shukla, UCO professor of criminal justice, has been focusing on the meth epidemic in the state for 15 years. “Today, meth is cheaper, more pure, widely available and it’s flooding communities,” Shukla said. “The cartels are trafficking it with the prison gangs and we don’t have an answer.” Shukla said they are doing this project so that people can come see the real details of how serious the epidemic is. “We invite law enforcement, the
general public and people who have been affected by meth to come see the real details of this problem,” Shukla said. According to a 2018 drug threat assessment released by the Oklahoma Bureau of Narcotics, methamphetamine remains the greatest illicit drug threat to Oklahoma. The use, trafficking and distribution of methamphetamine poses a significant threat to law enforcement and the citizens of Oklahoma. Use of methamphetamine remains high as evidenced by the number of treatment admissions, fatal overdoses and drug lab submittals in Oklahoma. Shukla said her ultimate goal is to get funding to take this exhibit to rural communities, but the problem needs to be highlighted in the city as well. “UCO is in the heart of central Oklahoma and we have a big problem here also,” Shukla said. “Raising awareness about this everywhere gets people thinking about how they can help.” Shukla warned that babies are being born in drug endangered homes, and they are not going to grow up to be well socialized people without intervention. “We have a whole generation of kids at risk and the long term consequences are bad if we don’t do something,” Shukla said. A research study conducted by the
census. Michelle Rojano, an Oklahoma City resident living in the U.S. on a work visa, agrees. “It sounds like they plan to hound down people in order to get the answers they want,” Rojano said. “Personally, it makes me want to not respond to the census.” Like Rojano, those living in the United States without citizenship, do not have the right to vote. However, many of them stay engaged in what is happening because of how decisions affect them. “In my daily life, political issues come up constantly,” Rojano said. “I’m happy to say I get a lot of people who will voice to me their support for a reform to the system.” Rojano’s parents recently gained residency. Both of her sisters, one older and one younger, are citizens born in the U.S., but Rojano was born in Mexico when her parents traveled Continued on Pg. 6
Meth Photography Exhibit Comes to Campus Jeff Elkins @JeffElkins12
MANAGING EDITOR
The University of Central Oklahoma’s Photographic Arts program and School of Criminal Justice are collaborating on a photo exhibit of clandestine methamphetamine labs that span over three decades to highlight the meth problem in Oklahoma. The exhibit, which follows the journey of first responders that respond to these labs, is running from July 11 through August 9 in the UCO Com-
Dub Turner retired from the Oklahoma Bureau of Narcotics and Dangerous Drugs in 2017 after more than four decades in law enforcement. Agent Turner was part of a specialized team assigned with responding to hundreds of meth labs over decades. (Provided/Angela Mackey)
Los Angeles Biomedical Research Institute found that children with prenatal exposure to methamphetamine were 2.8 times more likely to have cognitive problems. One of the sections in the gallery is themed ‘Where are we now?’ and Shukla said as of now, there is no ending for this story and the 15 year mark is not looking good. “I have been working with a drug agent since 2004. He taught the first class that I ever went to about meth labs,” Shukla said. “This project we are doing now is his story. He has seen approximately 600 labs over the course of his career.” This agent is Dub Turner, who raided his first meth lab in 1981. Turner, who is now retired from the OBN said that the public needs to be educated on the fact that this is still a prevalent problem. “Four or five years after that first bust in Enid, we started to see more and more labs in the state and there is no sign of it stopping anytime soon,” Turner said. Turner said he wants those who see this exhibit to walk away with a better understanding of the impact this puts on children. “When someone does it, it doesn’t just affect them, it affects their family,” Turner said. “When mom and dad do it, a kid definitely thinks it’s okay. The children don’t have a choice.”
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July 9, 2019
Around Campus
International students from the University of Central Oklahoma march during the LibertyFest parade on July 4 in downtown Edmond. (John Redfearn/The Vista)
Thursday, July 11, 2019
Friday, July 12, 2019
FAI Gallery Opening: The Edmond Fine Arts Institute will be hosting a 5x5 Art Show and Sale at 5 p.m. Provided by artists, statewide, all canvases are available for $55, on a first come, first serve basis. All proceeds benefit the FAI student scholarship fund. The Fine Arts Institute is Edmond’s nonprofit community organization providing visual and performing art opportunity to the community.
On A Whim: The Jazz Lab is featuring live entertainment with On A Whim from 8-10:30 p.m. Admission is $15. Food and beverage will be provided by Hideaway, sold separately.
Concerts in the Park-Classic Rock: Hafer Park Stage continues their free concert series from 6:15 – 8:45 p.m. featuring The Old Bulldog Band. Attendees are encouraged to bring their lawn chairs and blankets. Snow cones will be sold during the event. J. L. Jones “Ferris Wheel Sessions” EP release: Genre Media Group recording artist J. L. Jones presents the official release concert for the “Ferris Wheel Sessions” at The Patriarch Craft Beer House in Edmond at 7:30 p.m. Movie Night at Pelican Bay: Dive-In Movie Nights are back this season, showing Beauty and the Beast. Gates open at 7:30 p.m. and the movie starts at dusk.
Don’t Tell Dena Concert: Don’t Tell Dena will perform at the Patriarch Craft Beer House. The show will run from 8-11:00 p.m. Movie in the Park: MAC in Mitch Park will be showing Incredibles 2 from 8:30-11 p.m. Movie goers are encouraged to dress up as their favorite Incredibles superhero. Admission is free and concessions will be available for $1 each. Edmond Junior Rodeo: The Junior Rodeo will take place at the Edmond Round Up Club Carl Benne Arena at 7 p.m. Gate admission is $5 for adults and $1 for those 18 or younger.
Saturday, July 13, 2019 Edmond Junior Rodeo: The Junior Rodeo will take place at the Edmond Round Up Club Carl
Benne Arena at 6 p.m. Gate admission is $5 for adults and $1 for those 18 or younger. 18th Annual KickingBird Classic: Edmond Electric presents the 36Hole Individual Stroke Play Championship, starting at 10 a.m. Garrett “Big G” Jacobson: The Jazz Lab is featuring live entertainment with Garrett “Big G” Jacobson, starting at 8 p.m. Admission is $10. Food and beverage will be provided by Hideaway, sold separately.
Sunday, July 14, 2019 American Creed Film Screening: The Edmond Library is hosting a screening and conversation with community leaders of the PBS documentary American Creed. Light refreshments will be served at 2 p.m., the film will begin at 2:30 p.m. and the panel discussions begin at 4 p.m.
Monday, July 15, 2019 UCO Summer Drama Workshop: The workshop will run every day from July 15–19 from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Students will be immersed in the world of theatre each day. A fi-
nal performance, showcasing each performer will take place at the end of the week. Open to students ages 7–18. Dance & Down Syndrome Music Theatre Camp: Camp will run every day from July 15–19 from 9:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. The 12th annual Dance & Down Syndrome Music Theatre Camp will feature a Broadway song mash-up with training all week and a Friday morning performance for family and friends. Open to students 13 and up. Rock Camp-Session 2: ACM@UCO hosts Session 2 of Rock Camp from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. from July 15-19. Students will be broken up into different rock bands and coached by ACM@UCO faculty members. Camp will take place at the ACM@UCO Bricktown location in OKC. Open to students ages 12–18 with at least one year experience. Art in Public Places Tour: A guided tour to discover the story behind the public art statues around Edmond will begin at MAC in Mitch Park from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. This tour is both driving and walking. Transportation will be provided by Edmond Parks and Recreation using a 15 passenger van.
President/OK Turnpike
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Neuhold-Ravikumar’s First Week of Presidency Continued from pg. 1
This makes her not just UCO’s first female president, but also Oklahoma’s first openly LGBTQ+ president. “I am the sum of all of my experiences, and through the experience that I have had, forms who I am and how I think and how I interact with other people,” she said. “This gives people a chance to be seen, to be recognized for their capacity for leadership rather than the labels that they’re assigned.” Enrollment is also another priority. There has been a steady decline in UCO’s enrollment in the past couple of years; in the past five years, there has been a 10.5 percent drop in credit hours enrolled. Neuhold-Ravikumar said that enrollment is an issue that every area on campus has been actively working toward trying to help. “We have to make sure that UCO is meeting the needs of students today,” she said. “Are we making sure that we’re offering relevant classes
and majors? Are we working with businesses to connect what we offer with what they need? Are we delivering education in a way that meets the needs of students today? We have to be thinking of how we can reshape what we do to meet the future.” Neuhold-Ravikumar has been with the university since 2007. She started out as the Process Improvement Coordinator in May 2007, and before she became president, she had been the Vice President for Finance and Chief Financial Officer since 2016. She said her understanding of the university has grown and become deeper with every year she has worked at UCO. “I think an appreciation of who we are and what our purpose is in the state and in the world, educating people and creating a path for a brighter future that can change the trajectory for the generations that follow is a powerful and meaningful mission for anyone,” she said, “I feel honored to get to be part of that.”
The Regional University System of Oklahoma Board of Regents has named Patti Neuhold-Ravikumar as the University of Central Oklahoma’s 21st president. (Provided/UCO Photo Services)
Oklahoma Toll Prices to Increase by 2.5 Percent Continued from pg. 1
will encourage cash customers to buy a Pikepass due to its efficient use for travel. According to the Pikepass website, the benefits of owning the pass eliminates the need for drivers to stop and pay at toll stations. Customers also receive a 5 percent discount compared to those who pay cash, with an additional 5 percent for active drivers who pass through tolls 20 or more times per month. Currently, over 78 percent of Oklahomans own a Pikepass. “We want people on a Pikepass instead of paying cash,” Damrill said. “It’s the cheapest way to travel on the turnpike system.” Though many in the state own a Pikepass, some are still reliant on a cash medium to pay at the tolls. Patrick Kays, an Oklahoman who currently lives in Branson, Missouri, heavily commutes between his home and Oklahoma City. “I feel like there’s a ton of money going to the state through the turnpike because some of them are so expensive,” Kays said. “The one I go to is $1.75 and just in the 10 seconds that I’m there,
The John Kilpatrick Turnpike awaits vehicles to pay a toll on July 7. The toll is set to increase on July 15 for turnpike commuters using cash. (Gerald Leong/The Vista)
I see 20 cars pull up and that’s in a span of a 30 second stop.” Kays said he recommends that the state provide alternate ways to pay at the tolls. Kansas and Texas are currently the only other states that accept Pikepass on their toll roads. “I mean, a lot of people are spending money nowadays on
cards or phone, and they should present more options to where we can pay those tolls without any extra fees so they get the money,” Kays said. Kays said that he finds it hard to get a Pikepass, but he does plan to get one in the future. OTA’s document said the Driving Forward initiative seeks to
improve road safety in the state. Between 2005 to 2015, about 8,000 accidents have occurred on Oklahoma’s interstate highways. The initiative was announced by former Governor Mary Fallin on Oct. 29, 2015. As found on the Driving Forward website, all projects are predicted to be completed by 2021.
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Census/Betz
Trump Administration Quarrels with High Court Over Census Continued from pg. 1
back while her mother was pregnant. Rojano was covered under DACA protections prior to receiving her work visa. She is currently trying to obtain her own residency. Being an immigrant who has been able to get an education gives her a voice, Rojando said. She has a responsibility to represent others who don't have the ability to speak for themselves. “I try my best to educate [those working to get rid of immigrants] on the difficulties of attaining residency or citizenship, or any visa to have legal status,” Rojano said. “I
especially like to tell them the cost and the length of time people wait because of the ineffectiveness of the process.” Rojano said that most people she meets who have a negative perception of immigrants are simply misinformed. She said she has seen that increasing education and encouraging people to broaden their understanding of other cultures makes a big difference. With the Trump administration refusing to back down and opponents standing firm, respondents will have to wait to see if they are required to mark their citizenship on the 2020 census questionnaire.
House Speaker Nancy Pelosi speaks during a news conference at the Federal Building in San Francisco on Monday, July 8, 2019. House Speaker Pelosi said President Donald Trump wants to add a citizenship question to next year’s Census because he wants to “make America white again.” (AP Photo/Samantha Maldonado)
Don Betz Receives Champion for Veterans Award Lauren Morris @TheVista1903 ONLINE EDITOR
On June 24, then-University of Central Oklahoma President Don Betz was awarded the Don Betz Champion for Veterans Award by the Oklahoma Department of Veterans Affairs. Betz served as the president of UCO from August 2011 until June 30, 2019. Director of Veteran Education Bradley Ward said he wanted to establish an award for Betz before his official retirement as he was a longtime advocate and strong supporter of student veterans. “I can personally attest to the impact President Betz has made for veterans at the University of Central Oklahoma and throughout Oklahoma higher education during his tenure,” Ward said. “As a UCO alumnus and former staff member, I’ve witnessed firsthand the transformation of student veteran services and academic success under his leadership.” Ward received a bachelor’s in criminal justice and law enforcement administration, as well as a master’s in public administration from UCO. He was then the VetHERO Coordinator for two years before he began working for the ODVA in February 2018. VetHERO is a veteran student support system whose goal is to help student veterans with an easy transition into academia. Ward said he was asked to work for ODVA to replicate UCO’s methods of serving student veterans.
The Oklahoma Department for Veterans Affairs (ODVA) awarded University of Central Oklahoma President Don Betz, Ph.D., the Don Betz Champion for Veterans Award. Pictured from left, Gen. Ben Robinson, Oklahoma secretary of Veterans Affairs and Military, and Betz. (Provided/UCO Photo Sevices)
“ODVA and UCO have a collaborative partnership in serving our state’s student veterans and work on numerous projects and initiatives to better serve and advance the interests of Oklahoma's military and veteran community,” Ward said. Ward also listed Betz as someone who was a pioneer in bringing veter-
an-related issues to the table at UCO and made UCO’s Veteran Affairs what it is. “[He]... has been setting the standard for universities, not just in Oklahoma, but across the United States to increase their commitment and efforts in serving our nation’s veterans,” Ward said.
UCO was ranked 9th place out of 137 four-year universities in Military Times as “Best for Vets” for 2019. The university was ranked four stars and considered UCO to have principles of excellence, keys to veterans’ success, and a memorandum of understanding for the Department of Defense.
Betz
July 9, 2019
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July 9, 2019
Tech Shorts
Samsung Announces Unpacked Event Samsung announced its next Samsung Unpacked event, which will take place on August 7 in New York City. Samsung is expected to reveal details of the new Galaxy Note as they do nearly every summer. Last year the company introduced the Note 9, which included a 4,000 mAh battery and up to 512 gigabytes of storage. According to Samsung, live streaming of the event will be available on the company’s website.
President Donald Trump with first lady Melania Trump gestures upon arrival at Andrews Air Force Base, Md., Sunday, July 7, 2019. (AP Photo/Manuel Balce Ceneta)
Trump's Teleprompter Troubles and Tribulations Visitors are silhouetted at Samsung Electronics shop in Seoul, South Korea, Friday, July 5, 2019. (AP Photo/ Ahn Young-joon)
Amazon Project Kuiper Asks to Deploy Satellites
President Donald Trump blamed his Fourth of July speech blunder on his teleprompter going out mid-sentence on Thursday as it rained at the Washington Monument. “The Continental Army suffered a bitter winter at Valley Forge, found glory across the waters of the Delaware and seized victory from Cornwallis of Yorktown. Our Army manned the air, it ran the ramparts, it took over the airports, it did everything it
had to do,” Trump said during his speech. However, there were no airports during the Revolutionary War. The first successful flight by the Wright Brothers was achieved on December 17, 1903. Trump said it was not a good feeling, continuing the speech without a teleprompter as millions of people looked on, but said he knew the speech very well so he was able to finish without it.
Superhuman To Remove Location Tracking In this Feb. 14, 2019 file photo, people stand in the lobby for Amazon offices in New York. (AP Photo/Mark Lennihan, File)
Amazon has asked the Federal Communications Commission permission to deploy 3,236 internet satellites into space, as part of Amazon’s Project Kuiper. The satellites will offer internet connection across the planet to where over 95 percent of the global population lives. “This is a long-term project that envisions serving tens of millions of people who lack basic access to broadband internet,” Amazon said in a statement
in April. According to Amazon, the project is “a long-term initiative to launch a constellation of Low Earth Orbit satellites that will provide low-latency, high-speed broadband connectivity to unserved and underserved communities around the world.” The project will rival Elon Musk’s Space Exploration Technologies Corp., which launched 60 spacecraft in May.
Rahul Vohra, CEO of Superhuman, announced the company will be removing the location tracking of the mailing startup called Superhuman in a blogpost Wednesday. Superhuman is a mailing startup that uses a pixel to tell users when their message was opened by the retriever, when the images were viewed, how many times they viewed them and where they viewed them. Vohra said that the billion dollar emailing company will make many changes, which include: the stopping of logging location information for new email; releasing a new app that will no
longer show location information; deleting all historical location data from the app; turning the read status feature “off ” by default and prioritizing building an option to disable remote image loading. “I now recognize that we must deeply consider the overall ecosystem when designing software as fundamental as email,” Vohra said in his blog post. “The team and I are committed to this now more than ever. We need to consider not only our customers, but also future users, the people they communicate with and the Internet at large.”
LibertyFest
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July 9, 2019
LibertyFest 2019 Celebrates Independence
LibertyFest participants carry a flag in representation of the country’s independence during the parade event on July 4 in Edmond. LibertyFest is an event hosted by individual volunteers every year. The festival brings the community together by hosting patriotic themed activities and events. (John Redfearn/The Vista)
LibertyFest hosts fireworks on July 4 at Hafer Park. (John Redfearn/The Vista)
The University of Central Oklahoma international marching group shows support by holding banners and flags on July 4 in downtown Edmond. (John Redfearn/The Vista)
LibertyFest goers ride in a vehicle on July 4 in Edmond. (John Redfearn/The Vista)
Fireworks explode on July 4 at Hafer Park. (John Redfearn/The Vista)
The Shriners participate with vehicles on July 4 in Edmond. (John Redfearn/The Vista)
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July 9, 2019
Editorial
We All Scream At Ice Cream Licker...or Not
James D. Jackson @JamesDJackson15 EDITOR-IN-CHIEF
The purpose of social media is to create a platform that enables users to create and share content to others anywhere in the world. Through messages, pictures and videos, users are able to express themselves, stay connected with distant family and share information relatively free of censorship. However, a users’ ability to share whatever their heart desires has proven to be problematic for some. Social media has become so widely used that users have been able to create businesses out of the attention they can create on their platforms. Fundamentally, attention seeking content can bring out the worst in people. In Lufkin, Texas, a girl in a social media video took out a tub of Blue Bell Ice Cream at a Walmart, licked it and placed it back in the freezer. The video’s purpose was to attract a wealth of attention, which
Tubs of Blue Bell Ice Cream fill freezer shelves in a grocery store. A viral social media video of a juvenile girl in Lufkin, Texas licking a tub of Blue Bell Ice Cream before returning it to the shelf has sparked outrage and concerns of food safety. (Provided/ Jonny Hunter)
it did and subsequently received millions of views. Because of all of the attention the video received, many more users created similar videos. Others included two men, one who scooped a chunk of the ice cream out with his hand and put
Editorial Cartoon by James D. Jackson
it back and the other who took a swig of mouthwash, then spit it back into the bottle before returning it to the shelf. However, despite the “trend,” food and product tampering is a federal crime that could result in two to 20 years in prison.
The Tylenol murders of 1982 sparked the law as a 12-year-old girl and six others from Chicago died after taking Tylenol pills that were, unbeknownst to them, laced with poisonous potassium cyanide. The result was a new tamper-proof packaging that would let consumers know if the item had been opened prior to purchase. So, as consumers we should not be angry at the girl who took the ice cream from the freezer, licked it and then put it back or the other offenders. The benefit of this act is that it has raised awareness for many people and products. Of all the attention that was harnessed, many were negative as the act enraged social media users on all platforms. The Twitter user who shared the video of the girl licking the ice cream tub said, “@ILoveBlueBell look at this heights of nastiness from this gal. Please start putting a plastic over the ice cream, so we can know if was tampered with.” Any product that is accessible to be opened and put back will be affected because people will be more cautious in using the products, inadvertently dropping the sales of the product. According to PBS, this is what happened to Tylenol, as they controlled more than 35 percent of the pain reliever market before the 1982 murders. This number dropped to less than eight percent afterward. This can only be a good thing because the companies involved will be forced to change the accessibility of their product. Basically, it would not be surprising if there were more tamper proof labels on products. It is scary knowing that users will make videos that could potentially harm others just for attention; it makes us wonder what could happen next. However, every new video we see puts us on alert for new harmful acts and, as we’ve seen before, that can be the difference between life and death.
Three Minute Thesis
July 9, 2019
11
UCO Announces Three Minute Thesis Winners Haley Humphrey @haleybhumphrey
CONTRIBUTING WRITER
The University of Central Oklahoma’s Jackson College of Graduate Studies announced its fourth annual Three Minute Thesis Contest’s winners in the Nigh University Center’s Will Rogers Room in May. The contest, this year’s held in April, challenges UCO graduate students to give a one-slide presentation of their master’s research in three minutes to a panel of Edmond community members. JCGS Dean Jeanetta Sims said the contest’s rules permit each contestant to use a PowerPoint slide without animation, sound, video or props. Any contestant who exceeds three minutes of speaking is disqualified. Presentations are given from a stage and begin when a contestant starts their presentation through movement or speech, Sims said. The decision of the panel is final. This year there were four judges on the panel: John Hood, president and CEO of Prime Bank; Nancy Meoli, co-owner of Edmond restaurants Othello’s, The Zu and Around the Corner; Saundra Naifeh, former mayor of Edmond; and Mike Rohleder, CEO and chairman of the board for Thunderbird Resources. Stephanie Nutter, a speech-language pathology graduate student, won first place and received a $1,000 prize. Sims said that since the competition is sponsored by the Chair of Judges Bob Weiss, owner of Othello’s, The Zu and Around the Corner, the contestants who win prize money are under no restrictions on how they spend it due to it being privately donated by Weiss. Nutter’s research presentation, “A Study on Voice Disorder Knowledge in High-Risk Majors,” was about voice disorders and voice hygiene practices among individuals in professions like teaching, theater and voice disciplines, where speaking is a necessity, according to Sims. “As a teacher, I have always been aware of the importance of my voice to my job. Ask any teacher what it is like to teach on days they have lost their voice,” said Robert Mather, associate dean of JCGS. “Additionally, my father, a professor, had voice complications from a medical issue and it made it tougher for him to teach for the last 15 years of his career. For me, I thought it was an important issue and she did a great job of effectively communicating her project and its importance when she presented.” Eight contestants competed this
UCO announed its winners for the Three Minute Thesis Contest. First place went to speech and pathology graduate student Stephanie Nutter (center) for her presentation, “A Study on Voice Disorder Knowledge in High-Risk Majors.” Biology student Sarah Vrla got second place (right) and mathematics student Ahmed El Fatmaoui got third place (left). (Provided/UCO Photo Services)
year compared to 14 last year. Biology student Sarah Vrla won second place, which is the People’s Choice Award and received $750 for her presentation, “Genetic Structure and the Potential for Hybridization in Populations of Peromyscus Spp. of Plateau Regions in Western Oklahoma.” Mathematics student Ahmed El Fatmaoui won third place and received $250 for his presentation, “Fibrin and Plasmin Reaction-Diffusion Model.” Sims said the student projects shown at the contest are typically a compilation of their direct work with a faculty member who has mentored them. “A hallmark of the UCO graduate experience is the great level of interaction between faculty and graduate students,” Sims said. “Every student who participates in the [contest] is a manifestation of this level of engagement.”
The Three Minute Thesis Contest was created in 2008 at the University of Queensland in Australia, Sims said. Different variations of the contest have spread to multiple universities throughout the U.S. Sims said former Dean Richard Bernard and former Assistant Dean Kirk Webster created the competition at UCO in 2015. The first competition hosted by JCGS on campus was in the spring of 2016. “The competition provides an excellent experience for graduate students to practice communicating their complex research quickly and efficiently,” Sims said. “The skills required for success in the competition are practical skills that will serve students well both during the time in graduate studies and when they enter the workforce in their specialty areas.” JCGS was established in 1954 to coordinate and promote graduate
education at UCO. The college works with UCO’s five other academic colleges, as well as the Forensic Science Institute. The graduate college offers six masters degrees that cover 40 programs and more than 70 different areas of study, according to UCO’s website. JCGS also hosts a spring symposium for its Swansea at UCO Ph.D. program in partnership with Swansea University in Wales, United Kingdom. The symposium shows the research of current doctoral students, and includes a presentation by Swansea University faculty, who travel from Wales to collaborate with students in the program. “Students who desire being enriched by learning with faculty mentors who are readily available to walk the learning journey alongside them will find graduate education at UCO refreshing and incredibly worthwhile,” Sims said.
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July 9, 2019
12
Bronchos Finish 2018-19 Season with 18 All-Americans Derek Parker @D_Park2 SPORTS EDITOR
The University of Central Oklahoma finished the 2018-2019 year with 18 All-American student athletes. In the fall, O’Shay Harris and Noah Hammons earned the honors in football, and Kelsey Gordon, Katie Killion and Kelsie Eason in soccer. Harris was a starting safety for the Bronchos and finished with the second most tackles on the team at 74. He also had three forced fumbles and two interceptions. Hammons anchored an offensive line at right tackle that helped the Bronchos averaged 30.3 ppg on the season, good for fourth in the Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association conference. UCO soccer finished with a school-best 22-2 record in 2018 and had historic seasons from multiple players. One such player was Katie Killion, who earned UCO’s first ever National Player of the Year award, as well as first team All-American honors. She scored 30 goals in her senior season at
University of Central Oklahoma pitcher Bailey McKittrick throws during a April 12 home game against Southwest Baptist University at the Broncho Softball Field. McKittrick threw the fifth no-hitter by a Broncho in the past 30 years against rival Northeastern State University. (Samantha Karbelk/The Vista)
UCO, the third most in school history. Gordon was instrumental to the defense during the Bronchos 16game win streak, recording 14 shutouts on the season. Eason boasted
University of Central Oklahoma’s Haley Deschenes jumps for a spike during a game at Hamilton Field House early in the season. (Samantha Karbelk/The Vista)
several all-around performances on both offense and defense, including two game winning goals. Central’s winter All-Americans were Heath Gray and Greg Wilson, who both made the NCAA Division II Wrestling Championships. Gray finished 36-2 in his sophomore season, along with a third place finish at the championships. Wilson, a senior who began his career at the University of Oklahoma, finished 13-6 on the year with an eighth place finish in the championships. UCO rounded out the spring campaign with 11 athletes earning All-American honors. Volleyball’s lone All-American was Taylor Bevis, who earned the honor for the third time in her career as a Broncho. Bevis finished her senior year with 412 kills, along with 376 digs and 61 block while helping Central to a 27-7 record. In tennis, Adel-Byanu Abidullina, Isabella Dunlap and Paola Landin were all honored as All-Americans, with Abidullina and Dunlap in singles and Dunlap and Landin in doubles. Abidullina earned MIAA co-Player of the Year, as well as Freshman of the Year. She finished the season ranked the No. 2 singles player in the country with a 22-5 record. Dunlap finished 24-9 individually and 18-11 in doubles. She finished at No. 5 in the country. Landin finished 18-11 in doubles along with
Dunlap, and the team finished 19-5 overall on the season before losing in the NCAA DII Women’s Tennis National Championship Round of 16. With yet another historic season for UCO, softball produced three All-Americans in JoBi Heath, Bailey McKittrick and Hazel Puempel. Heath earned just the fifth firstteam honors in school history, leaving behind a historic career as a Broncho. She finished with the school single-season records for doubles with 24, home runs with 15 and RBIs with 77. Heath is also the all-time RBI and doubles leader at UCO with 70 and 226, respectively. McKittrick finished with a 26-5 record in her freshman year in the circle, and posted a 2.11 ERA to go with it. Puempel finished with a .396 batting average and finished with 54 RBIs. Finally, UCO produced a record four All-Americans in rowing, along with a second straight National Championship. Madisyn Kitchell, Eileen Anderson and Megan Dwarshuis all earned first-team, while Shelby Wackerly earned second-team. For Anderson and Dawrshuis, it was their second time to earn the honor, and the first for Kitchell and Wackerly. The second of back-to-back titles earned UCO their 20th school national championship.
OKC Dodgers
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July 9, 2019
Oklahoma City Dodgers Can’t Complete the Sweep
Oklahoma City Dodger pitcher Zach Neal throws a pitch during a game against the Omaha Storm Chasers in August 2018. (Provided/Minda Haas Kuhlmann)
Christian Melman @TheVistaSports
CONTRIBUTING WRITER
The Oklahoma City Dodgers extended their winning streak to four games after beating the Round Rock Express 7-3 on Saturday, but couldn’t complete the sweep with a 11-2 loss on Sunday. Despite giving up a run in the second inning, the Dodgers responded
with two of their own in the bottom half of the inning. A huge five-run fourth inning gave the Dodgers the edge over the Express. Three of the five runs scored for the Dodgers in the fourth came off a DJ Peters three-run homerun. It was Peters third homer of the season. After scoring in the second the Express would remain quiet until the ninth inning. They scored two
Pacific Coast League Standings Pacific Coast League American Northern CLUB Iowa Cubs (CHC) Omaha Storm Chasers (KC) Nashville Sounds (TEX) Memphis Redbirds (STL)
W 52 42 38 36
Pacific Coast League American Southern CLUB San Antonio Missions (MIL) Round Rock Express (HOU) New Orleans Baby Cakes (MIA) Oklahoma City Dodgers (LAD)
W 54 52 49 38
Pacific Coast League Pacific Northern CLUB Sacramento River Cats (SF) Fresno Grizzlies (WSH) Tacoma Rainiers (SEA) Reno Aces (ARI)
W 46 46 43 39
Pacific Coast League Pacific Southern CLUB El Paso Chihuahuas (SD) Las Vegas Aviators (OAK) Salt Lake Bees (LAA) Albuquerque Isotopes (COL)
W 55 51 39 37
L 38 48 51 54
PCT .578 .467 .427 .400
L 36 38 41 51
PCT .600 .578 .544 .427
L 43 44 47 50
PCT .517 .511 .478 .438
L 34 39 50 53
PCT .618 .567 .438 .411
more runs in the ninth to close the gap, but the surge was too little, too late. Rob Zastryzny was on the mound for the Dodgers and only allowed five hits and one run over six innings of work. He struck out four and recorded zero walks, making it back-to-back starts for Zastryzny with four strikeouts and zero walks. Zastryzny extended his record to 3-3 on the season. The Dodgers made quick work of the Express’ Framber Valdez. Valdez pitched just three innings. He gave up only two hits and two walks but gave up two runs in the bottom of the second. He struck out seven of the nine batters that he faced and suffered his first loss, moving his record to 1-1. OKC couldn't complete the sweep on Sunday, dropping the contest 11-2 to the Express. Round Rock outhit OKC 13-5, and had an eight run fourth inning in the rout. Brandon Bielak got the win for Round Rock on the mound, moving to 3-3 on the season and OKC’s Dennis Santana recorded the loss. Santana is now 2-7 for the year. Round Rock’s Jamie Ritchie got the Express hot in the fourth innings with a line drive to center field that scored Taylor Jones, Chas McCormick, and Nick Tanielu to make it 5-0, Round Rock. The Express scored three more runs in the fourth following Ritchie’s RBIs to extend their lead. Taylor Jones finished 3-for-4 at the plate on Sunday for the Express,
scoring twice. Joshua Rojas finished two-for-five at the plate and scored three times. Only Conner Joe, Zach Reks, Josh Thole and Brandon Montgomery recorded hits for OKC on Sunday. Both of Oklahoma City’s runs came from home runs from Joe and Montgomery in the fifth and seventh innings. The Dodgers record stands at 3851, putting them 16.5 games back from the San Antonio Missions in the Pacific Coast League American Southern. The Express are now 5138 and only three games out of first in the PCLAS. The OKC Dodgers currently hold the third worst record in Minor League Baseball, which is quite the opposite of their MLB affiliate, the Los Angeles Dodgers. The LA Dodgers currently hold the best record in the National League and hold some of the best odds to win the World Series. Oklahoma City now has a three day break, inclding the International League vs. Pacific Coast League All-Star Game. Following the break, they’ll play 11 games in a row, starting with a series against the Memphis Redbirds that starts on July 11 at 7:05 p.m. After four games in Memphis, they’ll travel to Iowa to to take on the Cubs in another four-game series. They’ll finish up their 11-game streak with a three-game home series against the San Antonio Missions.
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July 9, 2019
Paul George
Leonard Pulls George Away From Oklahoma City
In this April 16, 2019, file photo, Oklahoma City Thunder forward Paul George, left, looks to pass the ball around Portland Trail Blazers forward Al-Farouq Aminu during the first half of Game 2 of an NBA basketball first-round playoff series in Portland, Ore. A person familiar with the negotiations says the Los Angeles Clippers will be landing Kawhi Leonard as a free agent after they acquire Paul George from the Oklahoma City Thunder in a massive trade for players and draft picks. (AP Photo/Craig Mitchelldyer)
Derek Parker @D_Park2 SPORTS EDITOR
In one of the biggest franchise altering moves in NBA history, the Los Angeles Clippers landed coveted free agent and 2019 Finals MVP Kawhi Leonard, and traded for Oklahoma City superstar Paul George on Saturday. ESPN Senior NBA insider Adrian Wojnarowski broke the news at 12:54 a.m. on Saturday, setting the NBA ablaze. After defeating the Golden State Warriors in the Finals, the NBA was anxiously awaiting Kawhi Leonards decision. He had narrowed it down to the Los Angeles Lakers, Los Angeles Clippers, and Toronto Raptors, and it was rumored that the Clippers were completely out of the race. Leonard then shocked everyone, signing a 4-year $142 million max contract with the Clippers, and persuading OKC’s Paul George to request a trade to Los Angeles. “Clippers had long been frontrunners for Leonard, but it is unlikely he would’ve made final leap to sign without PG trade” reported Wojnarowski. Perhaps the most surprised were the Oklahoma City Thunder officials, who hadn’t intended on trading George until his request. George is from Southern California, and was rumored to return to California before signing with the Thunder last offseason. Oklahoma City didn’t walk away empty handed however, taking away an unprecedented amount of first round draft picks from Los Ange-
les, including young point guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and veteran power forward Danilo Gallinari. Oklahoma City received a record-setting four unprotected first round picks, one of which was from the Miami Heat, a protected first round pick, as well as two pick swaps for George. It was reported that Oklahoma City had engaged in trade talks with the Raptors about George, but Toronto didn’t have the assets to get the deal
done, even with 2019’s Most Improved Player Pascal Siakim in the deal. “In the end, Kawhi Leonard didn’t want to construct a Super Team with the Lakers. He wanted a costar across the Staples corridor with the Clippers,” Wojnarowski reported “Get PG, and I’m coming.” After missing out on Leonard, the Lakers spent their remaining cap space on a number of role players,
immediately signing Danny Green to a 2-year $30 million deal. They then resigned Javale McGee for two years, and signed four-time All-Star Demarcus Cousins, veteran Rajon Rondo, and Alex Caruso to minimum deals. Leonard averaged 26.6 ppg and 7.3 rpg en route to a championship, wtih George averaging 28 ppg and 8.2 rpg with a third-place finish in the 2019 MVP race.
In this June 13, 2019, file photo, Toronto Raptors forward Kawhi Leonard (2) drives against Golden State Warriors forward Andre Iguodala (9) during the first half of Game 6 of basketball’s NBA Finals in Oakland, Calif. A person familiar with the negotiations says the Los Angeles Clippers will be landing Kawhi Leonard as a free agent after they acquire Paul George from the Oklahoma City Thunder in a massive trade for players and draft picks. (AP Photo/Ben Margot, File)
Opinion
July 9, 2019
15
What’s Next For The Oklahoma City Thunder? The end of the Russell Westbrook and Paul George era has come to a close. After two full seasons of inconsistency, George requested to be traded and joined 2019 Finals MVP Kawhi Leonard on the Los Angeles Clippers. It’s hard to blame the guy. When the Finals MVP comes knocking, you answer. Still, leaving the Thunder for bluer waters has left Oklahoma City in a bit of a predicament. What’s next for the Thunder faithful? First off, Oklahoma City has options. The Thunder received talented young point guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, fresh off his first year in the league; veteran power forward Danilo Gallinari; and an unprecedented amount of future draft picks in the George trade. While trading a superstar is almost never a good thing, Thunder General Manager Sam Presti has yet again made the best out of a bad situation. With this many assets received, OKC now has room to work. Option No. 1: Recycle. Oklahoma City got an absolute haul for George. If it wasn’t for the fact that Leonard wouldn’t have signed if they didn’t trade for George, the Clippers never would’ve made this deal. It is a franchise crippling number of future picks.
Russell Westbrook speaking at the 2018-19 Oklahoma City Thunder exit interviews. The Thunder were eliminated from the 2019 NBA Playoffs in 5 games by the Portland Trailbalzers. (Derek Parker/The Vista)
With the recycle option, the Thunder could turn around and trade the picks - and possibly players - they received for another star to pair with Westbrook. Teams like the Washington Wizards and Detroit Pistons, who are stuck between competing and rebuilding, could be open to trading their stars for future assets. Pairing Westbrook with another star like Bradley Beal or Blake Griffin could work, but history says otherwise. Option No. 2: Use what you’ve got. The Thunder could just use the San Antonio Spurs method
and just keep at it. After trading Leonard last offseason, it seemed the Spurs were finally headed for their first rebuild in decades. Instead, they continued on with a mix of veteran and young players, and have continued to go after mid-level contracts this offseason. It seems the rebuild just isn’t the way the Spurs operate and that could be OKC’s line of thinking as well. The Thunder could run it back with their current team and hope Westbrook and Gallinari work offensively while developing Gilgeous-Alexander and attempting to make the playoffs in an absolutely loaded Western
Oklahoma City Thunder guard Russell Westbrook (0) shoots as Portland Trail Blazers guard Damian Lillard (0) defends in the first half of Game 4 of an NBA basketball first round playoff series April, 21, 2019, in Oklahoma City. (AP Photo/Alonzo Adams)
Conference. It isn’t ideal, but it’s an option. Option No. 3: Blow. It. Up. The third option, and my personal favorite, is the inevitable rebuild. No, rebuilding isn’t fun. Yes, it takes time. Small market teams like Oklahoma City simply can’t compete in the league without resetting every couple of years. A rebuild is essential to the future of the Oklahoma City Thunder. The NBA is simply too loaded to compete at the moment and if the Thunder couldn’t compete with two superstars, how could they with one? On top of the fact that OKC simply couldn’t and can’t win a championship, they just struck the rebuild jackpot. Gilgeous-Alexander had an extremely impressive rookie campaign, playing all 82 games, starting 73 and averaging 10.8 ppg at just 20 years old. He could be a legitimate player to build around for the future. On top of that, no team in the history of the NBA has received as many picks in a trade as OKC in the George trade. Finally, there’s Westbrook. There could be riots if he’s traded, but in truth, he has just a few more good years left in him and Presti is known for maximizing a player’s trade potential.