Volume 116, Issue 21
the
VISTA “Our Words, Your Voice.”
vistanews1903 @thevista1903 @thevista1903 The Vista ucentralmedia.com Tuesday, June 11, 2019
Betz First President Honored with Endowed Chair SPORTS
Christian Tabak @CaffeineWallace SENIOR REPORTER
The University of Central Oklahoma Foundation announced the establishment of the Don Betz Endowed Chair for International Studies to honor retiring UCO President Don Betz. (Provided/University Communications)
The University of Central Oklahoma Foundation announced the establishment of its first-ever endowed chair in recognition of the legacy of a UCO president to honor retiring President Don Betz. The Foundation raised a total of $600,000 through private and corporate donations for the Don Betz Endowed Chair for International Studies. The Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education have agreed to match those funds, making the endowment the university’s largest at $1.2 million. “It’s an opportunity for the institution to focus some real energy in terms of placing an exceptional faculty member in this important area of exploration,” Betz said. “Having an endowed chair will reinforce the university’s focus on the importance of international perspective and global awareness.” The overall objective of the endowment is to enhance the teaching and scholarly activity of the political science programs at UCO in the College of Liberal Arts, according to Jamie Hardin, marketing manager for UCO’s Office for Advancement. A candidate for the position will be selected by the CLA, either from a current faculty member or through recruitment of a professional or distinguished individual in the field of international studies. CLA Dean Catherine Webster said that the chair will not be fully established until next Continued on Pg. 2
Rowing Wins National Title See Pg. 8
AROUND CAMPUS
UCO Hosts Endeavor Games See Pg. 7
A WEEK IN TECH
Clabes Finds Motivation at Endeavor Games James D. Jackson
Derek Parker
EDITOR-IN-CHIEF
SPORTS EDITOR
@JamesDJackson15
Athletes from across the United States, including Gabriella Clabes, converged on Edmond last weekend for the annual Endeavor Games at the University of Central Oklahoma. The games, held at UCO since 2000, aim to “create competitive, fun, safe and high quality sport competitions for physically disabled athletes throughout the United States,” according to their website.
@D_Park2
UCO student Clabes has not only battled and defeated disabled-body athletes but has taken her competitive spirits against able-bodied athletes outside the Endeavor Games and proven successful. Clabes was born with a birth defect, Proximal femoral focal deficiency, PFFD, which compromises her bones’ ability to grow. “I was born without a femur and
a knee,” Clabes said. “I had a perfect ankle and a perfect foot and I had a partial hip. So one of the only options was amputation at that point.” Clabes’ parents decided to amputate her left foot when she was a year-and-a-half old in order to fix her bones. This pushed her into multiple surgeries in order to create a right leg strong enough to support her in her daily routines with the help of a prosthetic on her left. Clabes credits her Continued on Pg. 2
iTunes Store Gone After 18 Years
See Pg. 6