“UCO Football” on 7 Volume 114, Issue 16
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Monday, June 26, 2017
UCO MBA’s New Major Updates Megan Thele
@1bigtimenicole Reporter
The University of Central Oklahoma’s College of Business announced that it will be offering two new majors in healthcare and energy systems, under the Masters of Business Administration (MBA) program, starting this fall. “We are thrilled to offer two new and innovative majors as part of our MBA program,” said Megan Tyler, director of MBA enrollment. The majors will be offered at UCO MBA, a campus in the heart of downtown Oklahoma City. All MBA programs offered are accredited by The Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB). “Being located in the heart of Oklahoma City’s Central Business
District, the UCO MBA, including the new majors, is just steps away from the leading energy and health care stakeholders in OKC,” said Tyler. The healthcare major will offer courses specifically focusing on topics in the healthcare industry, while maintaining the core MBA curriculum. Students will be able to learn and gain experience through integrated and application-based learning specific to the industry. Specific courses will cover healthcare management, finance, and informatics, as well as legal issues in the healthcare setting. While focusing on core business aspects, the energy systems major will also focus on the legal environment and forecasting supply and demand in energy production and disposition. Courses in energy law, antitrust and regulation will offer a holistic ap-
proach and provide skill in foreSee “MBA” on 3
Megan Tyler, director of MBA enrollment; Travis Roach, Ph.D., assistant professor of economics; Ethan Waples, Ph.D., director of the MBA program; and Stuart MacDonald, Ph.D., professor of finance stand together in downtown Oklahoma City.(Provided/ UCO University Communications).
Students Personal Secret Service
else,” said Turner. “We really don’t try to limit who we recommend using this device. All ages can use it. It’s popular with outdoor people and college students.” Turner said the noise is projected from a small speaker, unlike an ambulance siren. It still creates the same amount of noise, just in a smaller distance. She said it can be heard 300 feet away, and further in some environments. A person who went by the initials V.M., wrote on BASU’s website. “My girlfriend is a nurse and works night shifts very often, frequently walking alone at night on dark street towards her car. She noticed some suspicious person following her one night while she was walking towards her car in the parking lot. The sound startled the suspicious-looking person and he ran away.” BASU's website described the eAlarm's common uses as a crime deterrent, animal repellent, rescue signal, and intrusion alert. The website said the eAlarm will sustain sound until up to 30 minutes of
Faith Kelly @vista1903 Reporter
BASU’s eAlarm may give safety confidence to college students by providing a piercing sound decibel equivalent to an ambulance siren. The product was developed by a California company, BASU. The eAlarm is a keychain that is about two inches long and one inch wide. When the pin is pulled, it emits a 120-decibel alarm, which could be compared to a loud rock concert or an ambulance siren. It is portable and is Transportation Security Administration approved. It is durable and waterproof, and is difficult to be silenced. The owner can silence it by putting the pin back into the socket, or it will stop automatically after 30 minutes. Jill Turner, the public relations director of BASU, said the device can be used by anyone. “It is a family version of pepper spray.” She said the point of the eAlarm is to prevent an attack. “People are not always trained to use weapons or pepper spray, so they may end up hurting themselves or someone
The BASU eAlarm can be attached by keychain to keys, purses, backpacks, etc. The device is intnded to be small and easily accessible in case of emergency. (Provided/ BASU).
used alarm, and then will gradually weaken. See “eAlarm” on 3
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The Vista
June 26, 2017
VISTA
CONTENTS
Stem Building/ Front page Continued ........3 Humor Column .....................................................4 UCO Enrollment Rates ........................................5 Shelby Carel Feature ...........................................6 UCO Football's ......................................................7
STAFF
Peter Agnitsch Elizabeth Spence Austin Moseley Cara Johnson Megan Thele Jordan Belew Nate Baldwin Michelle Pennza Ryan Naeve Teddy Burch
Editor-in-Chief Managing Editor Sports Editor Photo Editor Reporter Sports Reporter Sports Reporter Graphic Design Photographer Advisor
CONTRIBUTING WRITERS
Contents
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The Vista is published weekly during the spring, summer, and fall semesters. In all issues, The Vista has opportunities for both classified, online and print ads. Email your questions to: ucovista.advertising@gmail.com The Vista is published as a newspaper and public forum by UCO students, weekly during the academic year, at the University of Central Oklahoma. The issue price is free for the first copy and $1 for each additional copy obtained. EDITORIALS Opinion columns, editorial cartoons, reviews and commentaries represent the views of the writer or artist and not necessarily the views of The Vista Editorial Board, the Department of Mass Communication, UCO or the Board of Regents of Oklahoma Colleges. The Vista is not an official medium of expression for the Regents or UCO. LETTERS 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 thevista1903@gmail.com.
Carolyn Pickle Dylan Brown Christian Tabak Faith Kelly Wesley Davis
Columnist Humor Columnist News News News
UCO News
June 26, 2017
The Vista
The Vista
33
STEM Building Becoming New Gem on Campus Wesley Davis @WesleyRyanD
Contributing Writer
The University of Central Oklahoma is in the early stages of construction for the Interdisciplinary STEM Teaching and Research Center, a new building for the College of Mathematics and Science that is scheduled to be completed sometime in the Fall of 2018. The new 57,000 square ft. building cost $24 million to complete but was funded by a bond issued through facility fees paid by students and it did not have any impact on the budget for the math and science department. The theme of the new building is interdisciplinary research. Dr. Wei Chen, the Dean of the College of Mathematics and Science, said that the new building will promote collaboration across all STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) disciplines by placing faculty and students in different fields together in connected teaching and research labs. Dr. Chen said that today in research, its normal for researchers in all STEM fields to work together and the new Interdisciplinary STEM building will be a great way to foster such collaborations. Currently, students in math and science majors are
The new STEM building sits at the southeast end of UCO. (Cara Johnson/ The Vista).
spread across several buildings on campus, limiting any possible collaboration that could occur. “Students will be able to work in research labs with their professors who are also collaborating with others across different areas of study” said Dr. Chen. The new building will have two floors and will be used for new classrooms and offices as well as new teaching and research labs. While the new building will be adding these new rooms, it’s not viewed as only an expansion project, but also a means to promote the collaboration between disciplines in an interactive space.
UCO MBA's New Major Updates, Continued casting, advanced optimization methods and simulation techniques, according to a recent press release from UCO MBA. “Graduating with an AACSB-accredited MBA in Energy Systems or Healthcare respectively, will prepare students for management and leadership roles in either sector,” said Tyler. “We are excited about preparing and
Students Personal Secret Service, Continued The eAlarm is available on BASU’s website for $15.99, and other websites such as Amazon for $7.99. BASU offers free eAlarms for college students, not including shipping. Jeff Harp, the Chief of Police at the University of Central Oklahoma, said this type of product was available about 25 years ago, but it was not as small as the eAlarm. Earlier in his career, Harp said he knew of a case where a young girl felt startled and activated her personal alarm, in which police responded. “It’s like a car alarm for the body. It’s very noisy, and if stuck in a confined space with someone, can cause hearing damage,” said Harp. “If you need assistance or need to call attention, this is a wonderful tool to do this,” said Harp. “If you feel threatened, just pull the pin.” He said any logical person would not hang around if the eAlarm was going off. Harp mentioned a drawback to this device. “If you’re confronted by someone who can cause harm, the
hope is they’ll run away when the alarm is activated. What if it angers them though?” He said it is a noise device that should be paired with other senses. Harp said the eAlarm should be used sparingly, and advised people stay alert. He said if you’re alone and if possible, “Don’t put yourself in positions that you need to use it.” Harp said UCO is an incredibly safe campus, and the downside is that students can feel too safe. “We want people to always have a little bit of nervousness. Not panic, but enough to pay attention with personal care.” Harp said for the money, the eAlarm is a good product to carry. He said it should be held in hand and easily accessible. Harp described an app called Rave Guardian, which he said is another useful safety tool. This app can store personal information and pictures for police use. The app has different options available. “One is a button to push to call po-
lice. It also pops up on police computer screens to show your location, if you’re not able to communicate where you are. You don’t have to be nearby campus.” “There was a situation of a student visiting New York City that activated the app. The police were able to get personal information and a picture, with the location. They were able to contact police in NYC from UCO.” He said if students download the app, to still be aware of their surroundings instead of staring at their phones when walking. Harp said students should feel safe at school, in which they can focus more on learning. BASU is a company that specializes in electronics that focus on safety and life improvements. There are other eAlarms. One is the eAlarm+ which emits a 130-decibels alarm. The other is the eAlarm911 which emits a 130-decible alarm and contacts 911 when the pin is pulled.
educating a talented workforce for our energy and health care industry partners.” The new majors will be offered alongside Central’s current general MBA program. All programs are 35-hours and can be completed in just 16 months. The programs are designed to provide networking and teambuilding, along with career-building oppor-
(Provided/ BASU).
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The Vista
June 26, 2017
Columns
Recent Poll Suggests Teachers Like Money Warning: This is a Humor Column that is a fictional story intended for satire. In a recent poll conducted by Edmond Ivy League University (EILU), it found that many teachers in Oklahoma lean towards a general enjoyment of money because it pays them for the work that they do.“We are astounded at the findings,” said Austin Farraday; leading scientist of the poll. “So far, five out of every five teachers that was polled likes earning money after they do their job; it’s bewildering.” With the recent budget cuts to education in Oklahoma, the general understanding is that teachers truly hate money and only love working. Craig Dumbman believes that teachers don’t enjoy being paid. “I talked to one teacher who said that molding minds is the one thing that matters to her. She never mentioned anything about money.” Debbie Stevens is a teacher at Southside Central Northern Elementary who picked up another job during the summer. “I am a sandwich artist at Subway,” said Stevens. “I actually train people on the artistry of a good sandwich, so you could say I’m still teaching.” Stevens was recently promoted to head cashier at Subway, a job she is truly proud of. “There is a lot more to a Chicken Terryaki sandwich than you realize,” said Stevens. “Also, I make more in tips at Subway than at school. And yes, there is a tip jar.” During the school year, Stevens learned how to get around the low pay that she got as an Oklahoma school teacher.
(Provided/ Pixabay.com)
“Oh I had lots of tricks,” said Stevens. “I couldn’t afford to buy paper, so I made the kids gather leaves during recess and we used that as paper. My house looks like a bird’s nest when I have to grade.” Stevens had put all sixty-two of her students down as dependents on her tax form. “Is that illegal or something, because I’ll stop,” said Stevens. The scientists at EILCU polled nearly four-hundred teachers in Oklahoma to get the most definitive opinion on whether or not they enjoyed money. “We asked the teachers if money
was important to them,” said Farraday. “Three-hundred-and-forty-six of the teachers quickly replied ‘very important.’ We found that the other fifty-four teachers would just laugh and walk away; we took that as a ‘very important.’ Many parents are also shocked to believe that teachers generally enjoy money, including Rhonda Harrison; whose son is currently in school. “I don’t think they need money,” said Harrison. “Every year they get boxes of tissues from the students. That means each teacher gets at least thirty boxes of tissues, those are almost two dollars a box.”
Farraday continued further research in the poll by giving one-thousand dollars to the teachers that answered ‘very important,’ to see if they would enjoy it. “Each one of the teachers accepted the money we gave them,” said Farraday. “We did not expect that at all. In fact, we only brought two-thousand dollars, thinking that no teachers would want it.” “I really love teaching those children, their eyes light up when they learn something new is irreplaceable,” said Stevens. “But at Subway, that tip jar will light up when I make a really good sandwich.”
Enrollment
June 26, 2017
The Vista
5
Enrollment Loses A Spring In Its Step
Retention Tops Recruitment As Main Enrollment Issue Christian Tabak @vista1903 Contributing Writer
For the second year in a row, the University of Central Oklahoma has experienced an overall decrease in both graduate and undergraduate retention and enrollment rates for the spring semester, according to data released by UCO’s Office of Institutional Research. The enrollment numbers provided in the Office of Institutional Research's Spring 2017 Demographics Book shows that overall enrollment numbers for the past five years are down by 7.3 percent as compared to last spring’s five year decrease of 2.5 percent. While last year’s first-time enrollment numbers for freshmen were some of the highest in UCO’s history at a headcount of 2,536, this spring saw that number decreasing to 2,383 as a result of increasing competition over the state’s limited number of high school graduates. Data from the Western Interstate Commission for Higher Education’s annual report on national high school graduation estimated that 40,000 Oklahoma high school students graduated in 2017. With only an average of 56 percent of all Oklahoma high school graduates attending college and with 25 institutions of higher education in the state, UCO continues to face stiff competition with freshmen recruitment efforts, according to Myron Pope, UCO’s vice president of Student Affairs. “With that reality, they [Oklahoma institutions of higher education] can expect to receive less than 1000 students each,” said Pope. “The market is just more competitive, and students are really conscious of scholarship offers, cost of attendance and other variables in their decision making.” But rather than freshmen recruitment, it is the trend of decreasing retention rates illustrated in the Demographics Book that is of most concern to UCO officials. “Even after we receive students, they may decide to not return to UCO. Students change their minds for a variety of reasons. Many transfer out, some sit out to work, some join the military,” said Pope. “We have attempted to collect data
A UCO classroom sits empty during the summer intercession. (Cara Johnson/ The Vista).
on this phenomenon, but it has been a challenge because students are not always responsive or transparent about their reasons for leaving.” The spring 2017 semester revealed that enrollment numbers for juniors over the past five years have decreased by 12.8 percent and enrollment numbers for graduate students have decreased by 7.4 percent. The colleges that have been most impacted by these enrollment rates include the College of Business with an overall five-year enrollment decrease of 21.5 percent and the College of Liberal Arts with an overall five-year enrollment decrease of 12.3. “Our challenge in terms of enrollment is retention, not recruitment. We will be discussing strategies to deal with this in the upcoming academic year as a campus,” Pope said. International enrollment rates are another area that have seen a decrease in headcount, with a total of only 1,101 international students enrolling in Spring 2017 compared to the 1,331 that enrolled in Spring 2016. While international enrollment has been down due several countries making their policies for sending students to study abroad more selective, the United States' international image has also contributed to this trend,
according to Pope. “Like many colleges and universities around the country, we are experiencing decreases in international applications at this point because of perceptions of the United States,” said Pope. “This tenor has died down recently, but we are not excluded to these perceptions. We continue to talk about the things that we have to offer here at Central, but it is still a challenge. It is my hope that this will correct itself in the next year.” As the Office of Institutional Research has yet to release a Summer 2017 Demographics Book or official statistics on summer enrollment
numbers, it remains to be seen how these trends will continue into the year. While UCO's Division of Students Affairs has confirmed that the fall semester will see a six percent increase in tuition rates, they have said it is too early yet to comment on potential trends for the summer or fall semester. “There are too many moving targets and variables for where we will be for summer’s final numbers as well as what may impact fall’s enrollment as well,” said Adam Johnson, associate vice president for Enrollment Management.
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The Vista
June 26, 2017
Sports
The Pride of Tuttle’s Subtle Change Austin Moseley @Austin_Moseley Sports Editor
Frayed rotator cuff, Dislocated shoulder, 70 percent tear. Those are the words Shelby Carel heard during a doctor’s visit following an accident during practice. “I could tell something was wrong with it,” Carel said. “I was kind of preparing myself for the worst.” During the team’s practice on April 17th, the team was doing fielding drills. Carel, covering second base, eyed an incoming ground ball as she dove, stretching out her arm to catch her. But, as she dove her momentum pushed her forward, dislocating her shoulder. Carel went to the doctor to have an MRI done, a routine she went through in high school after tearing her labrum her senior year.
The doctor was shocked. He immediately asked if she had dislocated her shoulder between now and her last surgery to repair her shoulder. After saying no, the doctor responded by saying the damage in her shoulder was equivalent to someone dislocating his or her shoulder 10 times. Following her surgery on May 16th, the surgeon went over the repercussions of possibly hurting her shoulder again. Another injury would result in a having to completely restructure Carel’s shoulder.
Second base player Shelby Carel, 8, throws the ball during a softball game at the University of Central Oklahoma.(Provided/ UCO Photo Services). Carel said she wanted to come back and play, but the news was hard to take. If she decided to come back the recovery time would force her to miss the entire fall to prepare for the upcoming season. “It was just really upsetting to me, knowing and having the
possibility that I'm never probably going to play again,” Carel said. Head Coach Cody White called Carel to see how she was feeling and making sure she was recovering well, while also presenting her with two options. He said she could come back and play for the team, or she could accept the
position of student assistant. Carel wanted more time to think. She prayed, talked with family members and friends and the answer was unanimous. She had played her last softball game ever. Even though she will no longer be playing, Carel said she is excited to still be a part of the team by staying on as a student assistant. “It was really nice and really cool of my coaches and the coaching staff to find a way to keep me on the team even though I wasn’t going to get to play,” Carel said. “If it were any other program or any other situation like this they would probably just cut their scholarship.” Carel will help with team building, and handle the more personal side of things, but she will get a better understanding of her responsibilities when the season approaches. “I really admire them for finding a way to keep me on the team,” Carel said. Shelby Carel, 8, prepares to throw the ball during a softball game at UCO. (Provided/ UCO Photo Services).
Sports
June 26, 2017
The Vista
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Bronchos Lock Down Defense Nate Baldwin @nbaldwin05
Sports Reporter
The University of Central Oklahoma football team opens the new season this fall after a down year in 2016; the Bronchos and Defensive Coordinator Russ Pickett will have their work cut out for them this season as they look for redemption. The 2016 campaign did not go as planned as the Bronchos finished with a 3-8 record allowing almost 450 yards per game and giving up 38 points per game. "I didn’t demand the type of effort it takes to win in the MIAA," Pickett stated. "We took steps towards getting that corrected during spring practice." Coach Pickett, now in his sixth year, has taken those steps by acquiring pieces defensively to, "make an impact on our football team." So far there has been 15 new additions to the defensive side of the ball, and a few more expected to make their debut in camp come August. Thus, giving more depth of talent for the new season. Although the 2016 season wasn't
UCO’s defense lines up for a play during a Fall 2016 football game in Edmond. (Provided/ Vista Archives). what many were hoping for, some silver linings did come out of it. According to Pickett, it was the experience gained by the majority of the defense. "We played a lot of new faces last year," he said. "All of those players are back with an offseason and spring ball under their belt." With the added experience of the defense, the Bronchos want to improve upon impact plays. Pickett wants more negative plays and turnovers from his defense, something that was lacking in previous years.
Opponents last season had a 47% third down conversion rate, a percentage the defense plans to bring down. "I want a defense that gets off the field in third down situations," Pickett said. The Bronchos' defense in the upcoming season is playing for more than just the numbers in the wins and losses columns, it’s something more than just stats in a book. Pickett said he wants his defense to play for each other, for their coaches, and for their university. "I look
forward to coaching a group of kids who are committed to playing with unbelievable effort," Pickett stated. When people watch the Bronchos this season, the defense hopes to give them something to talk about. To Pickett, it's that "the Broncho defense plays the game the right way." As the 2017 football season draws nearer, the Bronchos are gearing up for battle. With another offseason of development, the defense plans to be the "tough, physical and relentless" kind that Pickett is looking for.