The Vista March 27, 2018

the VISTA

Volume 116, Issue 9

“Our Words, Your Voice.”

ucentralmedia.com vistanews1903 @thevista1903 @thevista1903 The Vista

Tuesday, March 27, 2018

UCOSA Makes Changes, Violations Continue Katie Standlee @katiestandlee Reporter

Bottom Middle: Vice Chair Kalina Popova, left, Chair Remington Dean, center, and Secretary Mario Figueroa address the student body during the UCOSA Congress meeting on Feb. 12 in the Nigh University Center Will Rogers Room. (Evelyn Stewart/The Vista)

The University of Central Oklahoma’s Student Congress recently made changes to ensure compliance with the Oklahoma Open Meetings and Oklahoma Open Records Acts, the UCO Code of Student Conduct as well as the UCOSA Bylaws.

However, some violations remain overlooked.

In the past several months, the Student Congress has not correctly recorded minutes in accordance with OMA, held a meeting without an advisor present on Feb. 26 against Code of Student Conduct regulations and cancelled a meeting without proper advance notice, violating OMA law.

“In years past, Congressional leadership made a conscious decision to violate the OMA, even after being confronted with their transgressions,” said UCOSA Senator Colten Kidd. “I on pg. 3

UCO Student Murdered in Northwest Oklahoma City

Christian Tabak @CaffeineWallace Reporter

The Oklahoma City Police Department has reported no new leads in the ongoing investigation into the shooting death of UCO student Collis Walker, 22, in northwest Oklahoma City on March 14.

“Right now, we don’t have any new information,” said Capt. Robert Matthews, public information office

NEW Letters to the Editor Inside

on pg. 9-10

for OKCPD. “A lot of times in these kind of investigations, the detectives are going to play close to the chest until they can release the latest details so no one can take off and run, but we’ve heard nothing new on where they’re at on the case.”

Police responded to a 911 call indicating shots had been fired at about 8 p.m. on March 14 when they found Walker, of Dallas, Texas, inside an SUV in a parking lot at 12241 N.

Pennsylvania Ave. near Northwest 122nd and North Pennsylvania Avenue.

“When officers arrived, they discovered the shooting victim deceased inside of a vehicle,” said Master Sgt. Gary Knight, OKCPD assistant public information officer. “Investigators are still in the process of piecing together the chain of events that led to the victim being killed.”

UCOSA Watch

BRONCHO SPORTS

on pg. 7

The Perfect Season on pg. 5

on pg. 12

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March 27, 2018

the

VISTA

Contents

CONTENTS

UCOSA Jump......................................................................3 Around Campus...................................................................4 UCOSA Watch....................................................................5 Symposium/Shuttle........................................................6 Student Homicide Jump........................................................7 Free Speech.........................................................................8 Letter to the Editor.................................................................9 Letter to the Editor...............................................................11 Humor Column...................................................................11 Eli Hale/Allie Eicher.......................................................12-13 Hammon/Byford................................................................14 Bucking Broncho.................................................................15

STAFF

Cara Johnson Elizabeth Spence Austin Moseley Regan Rosson Megan Thele Peter Agnitsch Michelle Pennza Christian Tabak Vy Luong Alejandro Gonzalez Katie Standlee Jonathan Goudeau Dylan Brown Janessa Egler Gerald Leong Ryan Naeve Teddy Burch

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.

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On the Cover: Top Right: Collis Walker poses for his football headshot during the fall 2015 season.

Walker was shot and killed in northwest Oklahoma City on March 14. (Dan Smith/ UCO Photo Services) Bottom Left: Letters to the Editor are accepted and encouraged from readers. Letters are printed the week they are received, as long as they are received before the paper goes to print. (Provided/Pixabay) Bottom Middle: UCOSA President Stockton Duvall sits in the back and listens to

others at the March 26 UCOSA Congress meeting in the Will Rogers Room of the Nigh University Center. Duvall recently made a public apology to the UCO Student Alliance for Equality after the group received negative messages during the Ken Ham controversy earlier this semester. (Janessa Egler/The Vista)

UCOSA

March 27, 2018

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UCOSA Makes Changes, Violations Continue Continued From Page 1 believe the leadership this year has done a much better job with following the OMA, but has still fallen short on occasion.”

The congressional minutes in the past did not reflect everything discussed in meetings.

As of March 12, UCOSA tried to make it clearer by adding minutes to the side of each item that is discussed to show how long each topic is discussed. There is also more detail being recorded on discussions.

However, votes are still not being recorded correctly in the congressional minutes. Section 305 0f the OMA calls for the votes of each member to be cast publicly and recorded thereafter. As of now, UCOSA puts the bill in question and then under it will read either PASS or FAIL. “The minutes must explain to the public what happened during the entire meeting and it must include the votes on each motion that’s made, whether it’s passed or defeated. It must include how each member voted,” said Joey Senat, associate professor at Oklahoma State University School of Media and Strategic Communications and author of “Mass Communication Law in Oklahoma”.

Senat said the public [students] should be able to go to the minutes of the meeting and see how a senator voted on a particular motion or bill. Recording only a result of “PASSED”, “TABLED” or “FAILED” in the minutes does not comply with OMA. “The recording of votes is the responsibility of the secretary. Most often, the vote is unanimous. But many times, Senators choose to abstain from voting and other Senators choose to vote in opposition of a bill,” Kidd said. “The current way UCOSA handles voting is incapable of recording each Senator’s [vote].”

Furthermore, on Feb. 26, current UCOSA advisor Cole Stanley, Associate Vice President of Affairs, was not present at the meeting. A graduate assistant occasionally fills in for Stanley, but was also not present.

According to the UCO Code of Student Conduct, under section V. Student Organization Expectations and Responsibilities; L. Advisor Responsibilities; 2. h), advisors are required to attend all meetings and activities of the organization, or find a qualified replacement if they cannot be in attendance.

“If it’s an unexpected thing and we try to cancel the meeting, then we’re not giving an advanced notice to can-

cel a meeting. Then, we would get dinged for trying to cancel a meeting without notice,” Stanley said. “So, I think we have to figure out how to best go through without having stumbling blocks.”

Stanley said he does not know where he was on Feb. 26. Since being UCOSA’s advisor is not the only part of his job, conflicts arise or he could have a sick kid at home. Stanley did not know where the graduate assistant fill in was that day either.

“We’re trying very hard to follow all of the rules without it being a stumbling block to the students,” Stanley said.

On Feb. 27, a congressional meeting that was to be held March 5 was cancelled without proper notice. An email was sent seven days before the meeting was to be held, but OMA requires a 10 days notice of such change.

“Hello Senators, It has been brought to my attention that some senators would like to miss congress next Monday in order to see the guest speaker [Ken Ham] that is coming to campus. We will not have a congressional meeting next Monday. Our next meeting will be March 12th at 4:00pm in the Will Rogers Room,” Remington Dean, UCOSA Chair, said in an email to senators.

According to OMA Section 311 under A, 8 if any change is to occur with the date, time, or place of regularly scheduled meetings of public bodies, such as UCOSA, then there needs to be notice in writing 10 days before.

In the UCOSA Bylaws, Chapter 3 Section 5 shows that if a senator or senators are unable to make it to a meeting, there are people who can attend for them and lists exactly who those people are.

“I don’t know if we are 100 percent of every snippet of the Open Meetings Act, but I know from where we were last year at this time to today, we are [in a] way better off situation than we were last time,” Stanley said.

However, UCOSA’s Bylaws state that UCOSA shall fully abide by both OMA and ORA. Since it is in their own bylaws it would have to be followed regardless of if UCOSA technically meets OMAs requirements of a public body or not.

“The UCO Student Congress [is] a component of the Oklahoma State System of Higher Education, and as such it and its members shall abide by all Oklahoma State Laws. Specifically, the UCO Student Congress shall fully abide by both the Oklahoma Open Meeting Act and Oklahoma

Open Records Act,” bylaws Chapter 1 Section 6.

Specifically, the bylaws also mention that the Chair (currently Dean) should make sure Congress is abiding by OMA and ORA. “I’m trying to make sure that we are doing all that we are supposed to be doing, being as transparent as possible, without causing stumbling blocks and those are conversations we’ve had in exec [executive branch] is like do we need to change the bylaws?” Stanley said. “Do we need to update the bylaws to make them more reflective of how to operate more smoothly without the stumbling blocks in place, and again not trying to skirt any rules or regulations, we want to be as transparent as possible.”

In an Attorney General opinion from Attorney General Mike Hunter and Assistant Attorney General Lauren Hammonds, a similar situation regarding OMA was decided upon for the Oklahoma Sheriffs’ Association.

Hunter said that OSA is required to comply with OMA because that association is a public body receiving public funding one way or another.

Similarly, UCOSA receives public funding through student fees at an institution funded by the government and is therefore considered a public body. If UCOSA were to remove or change the Chapter 3 Section 2, H. bylaw, the organization would still, in fact and by definition, be required to comply with OMA. “In the case that a member has violated some Oklahoma State Law, some UCOSA Constitutional Law, some UCOSA Statute, or some UCO Student Congress Bylaw, the following action shall be taken. A. The member shall be contacted immediately by UCO email and asked to resign…,” bylaws Chapter 2 Section 7.

This section of the bylaw goes on into more detail about what should happen in this instance.

Kidd said this process that needs to be taken in the case of a violation has never happened because UCOs Student Congress has a strong sense of self-preservation and accountability.

“This rule [bylaws Chapter 2, Section 7] first asks that members of UCOSA have a working knowledge of, and abide by, all UCOSA, Local, State, and National laws. This is unreasonable,” Tate Atkinson, Accountability, Reform and Transparency Chair, said.

Atkinson said that in the bylaws [Chapter 2, Section 7] it does not say who specifically needs to contact a

member to resign due to any violation, and it is not his responsibility to email anyone in UCOSA to resign.

“UCOSA is [here] to serve the student body. It is against these interests to create a big deal over a members infraction of an obscure state law,” Atkinson said. “Yes, it is within my duties to keep the executive members accountable, but I am not a watch dog or whistleblower.”

The ART committee is also, At-

“UCOSA is [here] to serve the student body.

It is against these interests to create a big deal over a member’s infraction of an obscure state law,” Atkinson said. kinson said, supposed to address all issues concerning student organizations, their constitutions, university policies that affect UCOSA and congressional membership policies overall.

It is the public’s right to know how its government is running. Part of the reason for following OMA is to ensure that people are getting the proper help they need in the proper way. The point is not to punish or stop the government from helping people.

“The Legislature’s goal in enacting the Open Meeting Act, ‘was not simply to prevent or punish deliberate violations, but to restore sadly sagging public confidence in government, a goal which is hurt by every noncomplying meeting regardless of whether or not the noncompliance resulted from evil motives,’ then-Attorney General Jan Eric Cartwright said in 1982,” OMA excerpt, 1982 OK AG 212, paragraph 11.

The constitution, the bylaws, the congressional minutes and the rest of the UCOSA documentation can be found on UCOSA’s page on OrgSync.

For students wanting to get involved in UCOSA and or wanting to voice their concerns, the meeting place and times are also posted on OrgSync under the Files tab.

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Tuesday, March 27, 2018 CONTINUUM: The Melton Gallery is hosting a group exhibit through March 29 to showcase past and present UCO ceramics faculty.

Artists include Gayle Curry, Barb Weidell, Eric Hoefer and new CFAD Dean Steve Hansen.

The exhibit will be available during regular gallery hours.

Let’s Taco ‘Bout Bronchothon: From 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Broncho Lake Clock Tower, Alpha Delta Pi will be selling walking tacos and homemade flautas to raise money for Bronchothon.

SPB DIY Poetry Slam: SPB is helping students create their own slam poetry from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. in the Nigh University Center Robert S. Kerr Room.

SMART Recovery: In Nigh University Center Room 402, the Center for Counseling and Well-Being is hosting a meeting for those in recovery to learn tools for coping with urges and managing thoughts, feelings and behaviors.

The meeting takes place at noon.

Flash Mob Meditation: At 1:15 p.m. in the Quad Fitness Room, representatives from the Center for Counseling and Well-Being will offer meditation, tai chi, yoga and relaxation.

UCO counselor Jeff Jones will lead the group every Tuesday.

Connections Group: The Center for Counseling and Well-Being will hold a Connections Group from 2-3 p.m. in Nigh University Center Room 402 to help students increase communication and social skills in order to connect more easily on campus.

REAL Talk – The Bias Series: From 2-3:30 p.m. in the Nigh University Center Wil Rogers Room, the Office of Diversity and Inclusion is hosting a discussion on gender bias and how to recognize it in daily life.

UCO Baseball vs. Northeastern State: The UCO Baseball team takes on Northeastern State at 3 p.m. at Wendell Simmons Field.

Wednesday, March 28, 2018

Liberal Arts Student Symposium: From 9 a.m. to 6:30 p.m., the College of Liberal Arts is hosting the annual symposium featuring students who will present writing and research and participate in other various academic and creative activities.

Stages of Change: In Nigh University Center Room 402, the Center for Counseling and Well-Being will have a support group designed to help students learn how to make and clarify goals and begin lasting changes in their lives.

The group begins at 12:30 p.m.

March 27, 2018

Non-Traditional Student Support Group: The group is hosted by the Center for Counseling and Well-Being to help non-traditional students find support at UCO. Attendees can talk and relate their life experiences with one another in order to help meet their personal needs. The group meets from 2-3 p.m. in the Nigh University Center Room 402.

NASA Powwow 101: The Native American Student Association will be in the Blue Tent from 4-8 p.m. for an informational session on their annual powwow.

UCO’s Got Talent Audition: From 4-9:30 p.m. in the Nigh University Center Room 314, students are welcome to audition for SPB’s UCO’s Got Talent.

Basketball Shootout with SPB: SPB is hosting a basketball shootout at 6 p.m. in the Wellness Center. Students can win prizes by competing in 5x5 basketball games and a 3 point shootout competition.

Thursday, March 29, 2018 UCO Exceptional Women’s Brunch: From 11 a.m. to 12 p.m. in the Nigh University Center Ballroom A, the Women’s Outreach Center is hosting a brunch and awards ceremony to celebrate the accomplishments of women at UCO. UCO Health Fair: The UCO Food and Nutrition Club is hosting a health fair to highlight several nutrition, exercise and general wellness topics for National Nutrition Month.

Organizations on campus will have booths talking about different health topics. The fair begins at 1 p.m. in the Nigh University Center Cherokee Room.

Trauma Recovery: This workshop addresses topics like self-soothing, the mind and body connection, effects of trauma on relationships and healthy relationships. The event is from 2-3 p.m. in Nigh University Center Room 402.

Stress Paws: UCO offers students a chance to take a pause from daily stress and visit with therapy dogs on campus. Each week, Stress Paws will be held in Nigh University Center Room 402 from 3-5 p.m.

UCO Baseball vs. Lindenwood: The UCO Baseball team plays Lindenwood at 3 p.m. at Wendell Simmons Field.

Study Hall: The National Society of Black Engineers is hosting a study hall at 5:30 p.m. in the Max Chambers Library for members of NSBE to get advice and help from people who have taken their current classes.

Around Campus

Friday, March 30, 2018 Anger Tamers: From 9:30-10:30 a.m. in Nigh University Center Room 402, students can learn to identify their own anger triggers and gain tools to help reduce conflict in their lives.

The free and confidential group is hosted by the UCO Center for Counseling and Well-Being.

Grief Group: From 11 a.m. to noon, the Center for Counseling and Well-Being is holding a grief group for anyone grieving. Group and individual sessions will be in the Nigh University Center Room 402.

Life Skills Around Eating: This is a group that offers an affect regulation approach to eating disorders. The group focuses on skills that increase mindfulness and to teach appropriate emotion regulation. Life Skills Around Eating meets from 10:30-11:30 a.m. in the Nigh University Center Room 402.

UCO Baseball vs. Lindenwood: The UCO Baseball team plays Lindenwood at 1 p.m. at Wendell Simmons Field.

UCO Softball vs. Lindenwood: The UCO Softball team takes on Lindenwood at 1 p.m. at the Broncho Softball Stadium.

UCO Tennis vs. Emporia State: The UCO Tennis team will play Emporia State at 2 p.m. at the Broncho Courts.

Saturday, March 31, 2018 Latin Barbecue: The Association of Latin American Students is hosting a barbecue at noon in the International House to feature traditional Latin dishes.

UCO Softball vs. Lincoln: UCO Softball is up against Lincoln at noon at the Broncho Softball Stadium.

UCO Tennis vs. Washburn: UCO Tennis takes on Washburn at the Broncho Courts at noon.

UCO Baseball vs. Lindenwood: UCO Baseball faces Lindenwood at Wendell Simmons Field at 3 p.m.

Monday, April 2, 2018 Miracle Monday: At 11:30 a.m. near the Broncho Lake Clock Tower, BronchoThon is asking students for donations in exchange for a light snack.

Adulting 101: The Center for Counseling and Well-Being is hosting a support group focusing on handling the difficult life transitions that come with being an adult. The group is held from 1-2 p.m. in Nigh University Center Room 402.

UCOSA Watch

March 27, 2018

5

Monday, April 2, 2018 LGBTQ Support Group: The Center for Counseling and Well-Being holds a support group for those who identify or think they may identify somewhere within the LGBTQ community. The group is held from 2-3 p.m. in Nigh University Center Room 402.

Frisbee Game: The Recreational Ultimate Frisbee Club plays a weekly game of Frisbee in Plunkett Park at 4 p.m.

UCOSA President Apologizes to SAFE Katie Standlee @katiestandlee Reporter

During the coverage of the Ken Ham controversy, the University of Central Oklahoma’s LGBTQ+ and Student Alliance for Equality communities were incorrectly accused of bullying UCO Student Association President Stockton Duvall into

rescinding Ham’s invitation to speak.

As a result, Duvall issued a public apology to the SAFE community at the SAFE Picnic on March 13 at Hafer Park in Edmond.

“The SAFE members who attended have told me that it was a good first step to rectify UCOSA’s alienation of SAFE and LGBT+ students throughout this process,” said SAFE President Rachel Watson. “One member

UCOSA President Stockton Duvall sits in the back and listens to others at the March 26 UCOSA Congress meeting in the Will Rogers Room of the Nigh University Center. Duvall recently made a public apology to the UCO Student Alliance for Equality after the group received negative messages during the Ken Ham controversy earlier this semester. (Janessa Egler/The Vista)

stated that there is still work for Stockton to do to make amends with the others who were hurt in this process, and what further steps he takes will determine how those affected will get through things.”

In the midst of the controversy, a news outlet obtained emails Duvall had sent using the term “LGBT community,” which led some outlets to believe it was UCO’s entire LGBTQ+ community and SAFE that had bullied Duvall.

Duvall later said that he was bullied into the decision by The Women’s Research Center and BGLTQ+ Student Center on campus. The Center later denied these claims.

However, due to the original misinformation, several people in SAFE received messages from the community regarding Duvall’s decision.

“The first I heard of Stockton apologizing for the way his words impacted our organization came from President Duvall in a meeting between him, myself, Dr. Macey and Mr. Stanley on Tuesday, Feb. 27,” Watson said. “Stockton asked that we meet to discuss the events after he heard that SAFE was getting messages about the controversial speaker from community members.”

At the SAFE picnic, Duvall started the speech by thanking Watson for having him and UCOSA Chair Remington Dean at the picnic to speak.

Duvall brought up the Ken Ham controversy, the releasing of his emails and mentioned that Fox News was one of the first news outlets to release something on the situation.

Referring to Fox News, Duvall said that obviously accuracy was not ideal in that situation.

“One of the first things that I wanted to first off apologize for, so one of the things that is said through the

media and everything is that I used the term LGBT community in one of my emails, and that’s something that I shouldn’t have done,” Duvall said in his speech.

Duvall then said that the way he writes in emails and the way he speaks are two different things. He also said that he did not go to Fox News, but that his emails were released to them.

“That’s just something that I wanted to kind of clarify and I was able to talk with Rachel [Watson] and Dr. Macey a little more in detail about that, but she [Watson] was able to welcome me here and let me be able to kind of address that to you guys,” Duvall said in his speech.

Duvall then took this time to talk about all the things UCOSA is currently doing, such as setting up advisory boards in each college and moving Uber to 24/7 so that it is not just for those who want to use it at night.

Duvall then let Dean speak on some of the other things UCOSA is working on and present his personal presidential vision for UCOSA as the new elected president for the 20182019 academic year.

Duvall finished the speech by encouraging students to get involved in UCOSA next year.

“I do not believe that Mr. Duvall ever intended to harm SAFE or any student of UCO,” Watson said. “As student body president, he serves all students on campus and his actions inadvertently caused a lot of stress for SAFE. After finding this out, he sought a meeting with me to apologize for the damage done to SAFE, which leads me to believe that his apology is sincere.”

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March 27, 2018

Symposium/Shuttle

LAR Symposium Redirects Classes Alejandro Gonzalez @A_Gonzalez_17 Reporter

The University of Central Oklahoma’s College of Liberal Arts is hosting the 30th annual Liberal Arts Symposium from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.

March 28, with presentations on writing and research for students and faculty to attend.

According to Guillermo Martinez, chair of the 2018 LAR Symposium, over 230 students applied to participate in the event.

“The Symposium is being held for students to showcase their interest, but also to be able to practice their presentation and professional skills,” Martinez said.

The Symposium will feature two keynote presentations, Dr. Kate Biberdorf, who will be talking about chemistry and opportunities for young women, and Dr. Raquel

The 30th annual Liberal Arts Symposium will take place on Wednesday, March 28. The Symposium is held for Liberal Arts students to showcase and present their interests and all Liberal Arts classes will be redirected to the event. (Ryan Naeve/The Vista)

Rubio-Goldsmith and Dr. Araceli Masterson-Algar will be reflecting on immigration along the southern border of the United States.

Due to the construction of the Pegasus Theatre in LAR, the keynote

speakers will speak in the Radke Fine Arts Theatre in the Center of Transformative Learning.

All classes in the LAR Building throughout the day are redirected to the event, allowing students to

participate and engage in the wide variety of topics presented by fellow students.

The presentations include discussion panels, poster presentations, debates, essays and a mock crime scene put together by the School of Criminal Justice. In addition, the Medieval Society will have an authentic medieval trebuchet outside of the building for students to observe.

UCO philosophy student Mark Pierce has participated in the last two years of Symposium and plans to present a discussion of a theory of reality.

“This is one of the only ways where students get to express their research and get people to listen and engage with it,” Pierce said.

The 2018 LAR Symposium has a wide range of topics, with all eight departments of the College of Liberal Arts participating in the event.

UCO’s Subtle New Transportation System Vy Luong @vy169

Reporter

The University of Central Oklahoma Development Committee is developing a shuttle program to help transport students around campus, which is estimated to cost around $20,000 to $30,000 for one academic year.

“The estimated cost includes [a] one-time purchasing fee of the carts and wages for the students who run it,” said Colten Kidd, chair of the committee. “But it’s still a rough idea.”

The program will consist of at least two six-seater golf carts running from 7:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. They will shuttle around campus, picking up and dropping off students in

designated spots. Kidd said they also intend to have space for handicapped students.

“The spots may be close to academic buildings, as well as further spots like the parking lots or the Wellness Center,” Kidd said. “We need to stay strictly on campus, not other neighborhoods.”

Kidd said they want to have one trip every 10-20 minutes, depending on how busy it will be. They may also restrict or extend the time depending on how much funding they get.

The funding for this program will be partially taken from student activity fees. However, the Development Committee also intends to receive one-time funding from the reserve fund, which is comprised of all unused activity fees.

Kidd said they are still working with Transportation and Parking Service (TPS) to get advice on how to improve the program. They plan to pass funding this semester and get the program started in fall 2018. The trial will last at least one semester and up to one academic year.

The original idea was to build the partnership between UCOSA and TPS, which indicated UCOSA would provide the funds and TPS employees would run the program. However, UCOSA funding regulations prevent the organization from giving the money to other departments on campus.

“Instead of that, we will run the program by ourselves,” Kidd said.

“We already have some student workers and we are looking to hire one or two more.”

Kidd said the common question that the Development Committee receives is how parking could be improved. However, he believes it’s impossible to solve the parking problem completely.

“The [shuttle] program intends to lessen the pain,” Kidd said. “If you can get a ride on a cart at least once a week, your trip can be a little shorter for that one time.”

The Development Committee members are getting feedback from students in different classes and colleges on campus. Kidd said the feedback he has collected is all positive.

“During the entire process, we will still look for student input,” Kidd said. “If we do start getting negative feedback that students don’t want to use the reserve funding for the program, we will pull out and stop.”

Student Homicide

March 27, 2018

7

UCO Student Murdered in Northwest OKC Continued From Page 1

Ray Walker, owner of Camelot Square Wine & Spirits on 12247 N. Pennsylvania Ave., said someone came into the store and asked a clerk to call 911 on the night of the shooting. The individual, who police say is a friend of the deceased, can be seen on security footage asking for the clerk to call police before hiding in one of the store’s aisles.

Collis Walker, who played as a defensive lineman for the Bronchos football team from 2013 to 2016, was slated to graduate in May of 2018 with a degree in industrial safety, according to Adrienne Nobles, assistant vice president for UCO Communications.

“We’re saddened to hear of the death of Walker, a senior at UCO and former Broncho football player,” said UCO President Don Betz. “Our thoughts are with his family and friends during this difficult time.”

Collis Walker’s death is being investigated as Oklahoma City’s 17th homicide since January, a number that is up from last year’s 15 homi-

Collis Walker, 94, embraces a UCO Football coach during a game on Sept. 19, 2015 at Wantland Stadium. Walker was murdered in an SUV in Northwest Oklahoma City on March 14, 2018. (KT King/UCO Photo Services)

cides within the same period.

Last year OKCPD investigated 92 homicides, a 10 percent increase from 2016’s 78 investigated homicides. With a rate of 5.5 homicides

per capita, Oklahoma City ranked 31 out of 61 on the annual Major Cities Chiefs Association Violent Crimes Survey.

“It’s down from 2012, but it’s hard

to predict exactly what those numbers are going to do, although they usually fall just under 100,” Knight said.

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March 27, 2018

Free Speech

Oklahoma Shoots Down Free Speech Bills Christian Tabak @CaffeineWallace Reporter

Four bills that would have dramatically changed policies governing free speech at college and university campuses across the state are now dead for the current legislative session after failing to garner enough support to advance within the state legislature.

House Bill 3586 and Senate Bills 1014, 1200 and 1202 were either voted down in committee hearings or failed to move forward by the legislative deadline of March 15.

The controversial bills established requirements for disciplinary action in response to violations for free expression as well as the times and places free expression could be permitted, matters that the Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education say the state’s universities are better equipped to address than the legislature.

“Each institution is better positioned to implement free speech policies at the local institutional level, taking into account the unique culture, population and safety and security concerns on their respective campuses,” said Angela Caddell, associate vice chancellor for Communications with the State Regents.

While institutions such as the University of Central Oklahoma and the University of Oklahoma have been consulted for amendments regarding the establishment of time and place for free expression, some institutions have raised concerns that the legislation would interfere with their ability to adequately respond to such issues.

“As they are written, these bills constitute what I would characterize as a real intrusion into the role and responsibility of the university,” UCO President Don Betz said. “They commented on student discipline, on free speech, on freedom of expression and those are areas of responsibility appropriately housed at the university itself.”

HB 3586, authored by Republican Speaker Charles McCall, would have implemented the Forming Open and Robust University Minds Act on public campuses across the state.

The FORUM Act is designed to protect free speech on college campuses primarily by preventing students from being punished for lawful free expression, requiring campuses to report on free speech issues prior to the legislation’s appropriations process and requiring campuses to educate students, faculty and staff on

their rights and responsibilities.

Introduced in July 2017 by the national nonprofit organization the American Legislative Exchange Council, the FORUM Act has already been implemented through similar legislation in states including Georgia, Florida and West Virginia.

Implementation of the act in Oklahoma has remained controversial among higher education institutions, as many universities have cited concerns that the act would limit free speech more than protect it, according to Caddell.

“We have been advised by several of our college and university presidents that a system policy mandated by the [Regents] would not be beneficial to public campuses across the state,” Caddell said.

Like HB 3586, SB 1200 also sought to provide protection for free expression on college campuses, including expressions that the bill termed as “offensive, unwise, immoral, indecent, disagreeable, conservative, liberal, traditional, radical or wrong-headed.”

The bill also cautioned faculty members against expressing personal views in the classroom, especially in areas where they have no special competence or training. Complaints for either of these actions could be brought by students or the state attorney general, resulting in lawsuits in which the university could be subject to penalties or fines up to $100,000.

While offering protection for free expression, critics of both HB 3586 and SB 1200 have expressed concerns that such legislation would protect hate speech while limiting counter protests.

Freedom Oklahoma, a nonprofit LGBT advocacy organization, has said that even the introduction of such legislation is concerning because of its implication for restricting any kind of response to discriminatory speech expressed on campuses.

“It seems like they’re trying to hide the ability to stop protest under the guise of protecting the First Amendment,” said Troy Stevenson, executive director of Freedom Oklahoma.

“If you’re protecting the right of speech or expression of one group at the expense of another group, you’re not protecting speech at all.”

The remaining two bills, SB 1014 and SB 1202, would have established disciplinary standards and penalties for free speech violations.

Under SB 1202, students found guilty of interfering with another’s freedom of expression could face at least one year’s suspension and the

bill would have superseded any institutional policies on free speech.

SB 1014 outlined the creation of student discipline hearings for free speech violations, including provisions for the court to award compensatory damages, court costs, attorney fees and monetary damages to the alleged victims of these violations.

“Regarding any proposed student disciplinary measures, it is important to note that [the Regents] are the coordinating board for the state system of higher education,” Caddell said.

“Issues related to student disciplinary action are within the exclusive purview of the individual institutions and the respective institutional governing boards.”

While the bills are currently dead for this session, McCall has said that the state legislature views protecting freedom of speech at the state’s university campuses as an important issue and that legislature intends to revisit the matter.

The establishment of protections for the expression of controversial viewpoints on college campuses has become a national debate following

several protests over the invitation of speakers such as Ann Coulter and Milo Yiannopoulos at institutions such as the University of California, Berkeley.

UCO was at the center of a similar controversy last month when the UCO Student Association rescinded an invitation to creationist Ken Ham to speak on creationism. Concerns were raised by members of the campus community on Ham’s previous anti-LGBT comments.

Ham was ultimately invited back to campus and presented his discussion on creationism with no major counter-protests on campus, but Betz said that issues such as these highlight the difficulties inherent in these debates.

“What we have right now across the country is a very strong contention, almost a culture war, on what can be said and not said, and do we tolerate other people’s opinions or not,” Betz said. “We’re beginning to see more and more a rejection of the marketplace of ideas and the rejection of other people’s opinions out of hand.”

Letter to the Editor

March 27, 2018

9

Your Words, Your Voice.

Letter to the Editor

Dear Editor, I’m writing this as an appeal to the older generations, the baby boomers, and our grandparents. According to a recent poll, your demographic is the most at odds with legalizing medical marijuana, regardless of party affiliation. I write to you now with a warning and a plea.

In the coming months, leading up to June 26th when Oklahomans will have a chance to vote on medical marijuana via State Question 788. Various people and institutions will try to lie to you – to take advantage of you – in order to co-opt your vote. They think you’re ignorant, and they’re banking on that.

Members of law enforcement and the prison industry, the medical and pharmaceutical fields, the alcohol and tobacco industries, and the politicians they support financially, will all try to fool you with lies and misinformation, because you’re their only hope of stopping this bill. No doubt, these are the industries that will suffer financial losses when medical marijuana is legalized, but the benefits to the state cannot be argued.

Let me assure you, first of all, that no one in recorded history has ever died from marijuana. It simply hasn’t happened. You can look that up. This could also bring in millions in tax revenue, much of which will be directed toward or failing education system. 72% of Okies support this.

Do your research, and then come join us. Don’t let the liars and the con men prey on you.

YES on SQ788.

- Eric Dean, Tulsa

The Vista always accepts letters to the editor to be published in the issue following its receival. 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.

**Personal contact information has been omitted. No other changes to these letters have been made.

10

Letter to the Editor

March 27, 2018

Your Words, Your Voice.

Letter to the Editor

Dear President Betz, We, the undersigned Professors Emeriti of History from UCO’s History and Geography Department, thank you for crafting the right solution to the controversies surrounding Ken Ham’s presentation on campus. We have studied and taught history for decades and understand the historic importance of the freedom of speech and expression. Even when we disagree vehemently with the opinions and conclusions of others, with equal vehemence we endorse their right to express their thoughts and beliefs. A cardinal principle for a university is free and uninhibited inquiry. The Freedom of Expression Forum on March 5 and 6 exemplified that essential concept.

We are heartened to know that the two experts who spoke on discourse and expression during the forum endorsed your efforts. Both of them praised you for organizing the forum and indicated you had chosen the right way to resolve the controversy. University of Oklahoma Law Professor Rick Tepker’s introductory published statements summarized his position well: “We expect university communities to be divided into factions and special interest groups, but a university cannot effectively sponsor debate if one faction can veto the participation of another. University discourse requires a binding mutual covenant of tolerance, respect, civility, and patience.” Likewise, Reverend Robin Meyers, while vigorously disagreeing with Ken Ham, defended emphatically Ham’s right to speak and endorsed the wisdom of free inquiry as a central obligation of universities. He cited the UCO forum as an exemplar for assuring open expression.

President Betz, we have observed how your approach is strongly similar to the University of Chicago’s noted “Guidelines on Freedom of Expression,” which dozens of universities have adopted in recent years. We suggest that UCO embrace those Chicago guidelines or a similar statement of university policy.

You have accomplished much as the leader of UCO. If the university adopts and institutionalizes your position on free expression, it will be, perhaps, your greatest legacy.

Sincerely, Eight Professors Emeriti from the Department of History and Geography

James F. Baker Anne Lynch T. H. Baughman John Osburn Kenny L. Brown Richard Peters Herman E. Fullgraf David D. Webb

The Vista always accepts letters to the editor to be published in the issue following its receival. 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.

**Personal contact information has been omitted. No other changes to these letters have been made.

Humor Column

March 27, 2018

11

My Killer Month with the Ketogenic Diet You're fat. You're overweight. You're unhealthy. You're stupid. These are the thoughts that rush through the minds of 99-percent of Americans (fakestatistics.org). So what do you do? Your feet have hit the treadmill a dozen times and every time is like cement blocks smashing through an endless void. You go to the weight-lifting bench at the gym and there is a bald, sweaty guy who is lifting 500 pounds next to you while you struggle with the feathers on your bar.

I told myself that enough is enough. I will begin the trending diet called Keto. This is my record-long month on the diet and how my life evolved along the way. I will let you know now, these records are not for those with a weak stomach.

WEEK 1 It is March 7th, in the year of our Lord 2018. `Dear man diary: my first week on the Keto diet was a success and I no longer eat carbs or sugar. The first couple days were rough, but I have made it through. I have lost 10 pounds so far and feel amazing. So much energy is coursing through my body.

Something strange thing happened yesterday, though. While I have mainly been eating meats and cheeses (plus, a whole bunch of avocados), yesterday I didn't cook my steak, I just ate it raw. It tasted really good, but I'm worried that the Keto diet is causing me to eat this way. I even licked the packaging the steak came in. Is this normal?

I will be cooking my meat from now on, this was just a weird moment.

WEEK 2 It is March 14th, in the year of our Lord 2018.

Dear testosterone-fueled man diary: I ate a dead possum yesterday. I don't know why I did it, but it was the most delicious thing in the world. I've been craving raw meat more and more lately. Since starting the Keto diet, I have so much energy and feel amazing.

On a positive note, I have lost 18 pounds since I've started! It's really exciting. I think I might try something more alive tomorrow, maybe a squirrel or something, but no carbs or sugars. I've got to remember that.

P.S. (I've also been hearing voices in my head. Nobody warns you about this Keto diet and how much it messes with your head).

WEEK 3 It is March 21st, in the year of our Lord 2018.

Dear super masculine testosterone-fueled man diary: I live in the woods now and talk to the trees. They're my friends. I used to think that the Keto diet was just a trend that would die off,

but my tree friends tell me to keep on doing it.

I eat deer now, too. Road kill became so bland. I'll eat birds, squirrels and deer. I just jump from my tree home and start eating up!

I think back to the days when I ate Cheetos and think "gross."

I was so unhealthy. If Cheetos had a heartbeat, I would think "yum."

P.S. (I saw a townsperson today and my stomach started growling. My tree friend Mike says I need to start thinking about branching out more with what I eat. He's so funny.).

WEEK 4 It is March 27th, in the year of our Lord 2018.

Dear super masculine rock n' roll-listening testosterone-fueled man diary: I'm a woodland creature now.

Whoever gets these records of my Ketogenic journey, just know to not go into the woods at night. I'm a nocturnal animal.

I live at night in the woods and feast on human flesh.

Anyway, the Keto diet is a plus. Everyone should try it when they get a chance.

So, that's it, the Keto diet. I became a woodland creature and a zombie all at once. If you want a face-to-face experience of what the Keto diet can do for you, stop by the woods around 2 in the morning and I'll show you.

12

March 27, 2018

Sports

SPORTS

The Perfect Season James D. Jackson @JamesDJackson15

Contributing Writer

During his senior season at Oklahoma State University, Eli Hale sat in his living room and turned to Eric Waggoner, an OSU alumni, and said, “[I'm] Thinking about transferring to UCO and winning a title there.”

Hale graduated from OSU in December, which made him eligible to transfer to any school without having to sit the year out, even though it was the middle of the wrestling season.

Hale said The University of Central Oklahoma was an attractive school for him, who was looking for an opportunity to compete and the chance to team up with a group of “Oklahoma kids” he grew up wrestling with.

UCO Head Coach Todd Steidley, was familiar with Hale from his time scouting him in high school. Steidley immediately noticed Hale’s work ethic when he arrived on campus.

“He’s the most focused guy I have ever been around,” Steidley said.

“Every day he had a great practice, he prepared every day like he was preparing to be a national champion.”

During practice Hale would train for adversity, such as situations where he was behind in a match.

Hale said he wanted to know how to react when things were not going his

Senior Eli Hale celebrates after winning the Division II National Championship at the 125-pound weight class on March 10. Hale went undefeated at UCO after transferring from Oklahoma State University mid-season. (Provided UCO Athletics)

way.

However, Hale was rarely ever behind in an actual match at UCO. Hale’s training and work ethic helped him finish the season with an undefeated record of 24-0. He is the fourth wrestler in UCO history to accomplish an undefeated season.

Through the season, Hale won 19 total bonus point wins, 11 matches through major decisions and seven by technical falls.

“Every night he wrestled, he was

Senior Eli Hale grapples with a McKendree University wrestler on Feb. 7. (Dan Smith/UCO Photo Services)

prepared,” Steidley said. “He was focused and relentless. As matches went on, he became stronger and that comes from the way he practiced.”

Hale went on to win the Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association championship after going 2-0 and outscoring his opponents 34-8. He then became the Central Regional Champion after going 4-0 and outscoring opponents there 60-8.

On March 10, the 125-pound Hale accomplished his goal of becoming the 44th National Wrestling Champion at UCO after outscoring opponents in the tournament 49-6 in four matches. Hale won the final match of his career with a 17-2 technical fall.

“I’m [as] pumped up as ever,” Hale said. “It was a great opportunity and I’m happy I got the chance.”

“It’s exciting,” Steidley said. “It’s good for the university, it’s good for our program and since he’s from Oklahoma, it’s good for Oklahoma as well.”

Now that Hale’s wrestling career is over, he is unsure of what he will do now. He said he spent the last year

only focusing on winning the national championship and has not given much thought to what he would do afterward. However, Hale said he knows that he wants to be around the sport of wrestling and said coaching could be an option for him.

“He is confidently learning about the sport,” Steidley said. “He’s a wrestling encyclopedia and it wouldn’t surprise me at all if he decided to go into coaching. If he did, I would love to have him work under me. He would be every bit as good a coach as he was a wrestler.”

Upon his undefeated season, Hale became the third Broncho to be selected as 2018 MIAA Player of the Year. The other two athletes include J.T. Luper (Football) and Taylor Bevis (Volleyball). Hale was named MIAA Wrestler of the Year and came second in voting for the USA Wrestler of the week between Divisions II and III. “I’m just really thankful for the coaches and teammates at UCO,” Hale said. “The guys in that practice room and the coaches did a lot for me to win that title.”

Sports

March 27, 2018

13

A League of Her Own James D. Jackson @JamesDJackson15

Contributing Writer

For athletes the time table for fitting into a new system is unpredictable. Some may never make a difference for their team until their senior year. Some may never make a difference at all. But for Allie Eicher her mentality has her fitting into her new system at UCO in her freshman year. She bats fifth for the Bronchos and has the fourth best batting average on the team.

On March 10 at Broncho Softball Field, Eicher, with two outs and a 3-1 count, hit a double down the left field line to keep the Bronchos second-inning rally going against Fort Hays State University.

Over 100 miles and a year earlier Eicher was making the same type of plays for the Rams at Owasso High School, coached by her father, Shane Eicher.

“Honestly in high school a lot of people doubted me,” Eicher said. “My dad was the head coach so it was just one of those things.

That’s just the mentality I had to bring here. I know people doubt me, I know people don’t believe in me and so I have to believe in myself and I know this team believes in me.”

In high school, Eicher was an All-State selection and named District Player of the Year in her final season after batting .488 with 24 doubles and 47 runs batted in (RBI).

As a Broncho, Eicher is batting .346, has 28 hits, 16 RBIs in 81 at-bats this season. Her batting average is just above the teams' of .329.

“She came in and competed all fall and won a competition and a lot of it’s because of her mentality,” said UCO Head Coach Cody White. “As a freshman, for her to have her mentality the way it was, was outstanding. She’s somebody we have a lot of confidence in and her hitting in the 5-hole as a freshman has been big and she’s been able to collect a lot of RBIs for us and been clutch at a lot of different positions.”

Eicher said her love for sports came from her parents, who were

Freshman Allie Eicher, No. 10, celebrates with assistant coach Jon Hunter during a game on Feb. 8 against Southeastern Oklahoma. (Lauren Bieri/UCO Photo Services)

both college athletes of the same university. Eicher’s father played baseball at Northeastern State while her mother was a cheerleader for the RiverHawks.

“My dad has always pushed me to be the best I can be,” Eicher said. “He played baseball, so he’s always driven me to play softball.

That’s just what we’ve always done.”

The Bronchos are 19-14 on the season and are fifth in the MIAA Conference.

“We have a lot of goals, one is to win this conference, which is very difficult to do," White said. "The MIAA throughout has been very tough, but we also have goals on a regional level and on a national level. Every year we come here we have the goal to win a national championship like we did in 2013.”

The Bronchos fell short of a national title in 2017, even after proving a 48-11 record on the season, marking it as four years since their last national championship.

With the addition of Allie Eicher in the line up, this year could potentially be different for the Bronchos as she carries the Eicher mentality with her onto the field every game.

14

March 27, 2018

Sports

UCO’s Frontcourt Moves Forward Jonathan Goudeau @Goudeau_jdg

Sports Reporter

University of Central Oklahoma forwards Corbin Byford and Jake Hammond are similar in a lot of ways. Both rank top 10 in career blocks at UCO. Both are Division 1 transfers. Both have been a key part of UCO's success over the past two years and both had similar paths to Edmond.

For Byford, after averaging 23.3 points and 11.0 rebounds a game as a senior at Velma-Alma High School, while earning All-State and Class A Player of the Year honors, he set his sights on Oral Roberts University in Tulsa. After redshirting his first year, Byford appeared in 18 games, but wasn't making the impact he wanted and decided to transfer.

“I was playing out of position coming out of high school,” Byford said. “I wasn't really a three, I wasn't really a four at the Division 1 level.

I decided that I wanted to go somewhere where I could be a big time impact player on a good team.”

Byford made a list of the things he wanted at his new school. The school had to be Division II so he wouldn't have to sit out another year and he wanted to be in the Oklahoma City area where he was closer to home.

Byford narrowed his choices to two.

“It was between UCO and Southern Nazarene,” Byford said. “I fell in love with UCO and the tradition that they have and their great education program.”

After battling injuries his first two years on campus, Byford returned to the court averaging 12.2 points per game along with 7.2 rebounds and 1.2 blocks per game as a junior. This season he averaged 12.1 points per game and 6.8 rebounds.

“I wanted to be a college basketball player,” Byford said. “I wanted to be a successful one.”

Just like Byford, Hammond started his career at another school. After a strong senior season at Comanche High School, where he averaged 26.2 points, 14.8 rebounds, 5.7 blocks and 3.1 steals earning All-State and Duncan Banner Area Player of the Year honors, Hammond set his sights on the University of Nebraska. After lettering for two years, he decided to transfer.

“I felt like I wasn't getting the most out of myself,” Hammond said. “I couldn't do it anymore.”

Hammond said choosing UCO as

Senior Corbin Byford, No. 23, shoots a jump shot against Pitt State defender Xavier Adams, No. 21 during a game on Jan. 25. (KT King/UCO Photo Services)

his next school was an easy decision.

“Before I left, I knew UCO was a nice school,” Hammond said. “I got to talk to (head coach Tom) Hankins and I liked his style a lot. My teammates, from the first time I met them, they seemed like a really good group of guys that I could build a bond with. Turns out I was right.”

Hammond made an immediate impact for the Bronchos, averaging 10.7 points per game along with 6.2 rebounds and 1.3 blocks. This season Hammond averaged 8.5 points per game along with 5.8 rebounds and two blocks, earning him a spot on the MIAA All-Defense team.

“I was kind of surprised,” Hammond said. “Our manager brought it to my attention three weeks before the season was over that I was tied for first in the conference in blocks.

I had no idea I was that close, so towards the end I thought I had a chance, but once they told me I was happy.”

Hammond plans to continue his basketball career overseas before returning home to put his criminal justice degree to use by being a highway patrolman. Despite receiving offers to play overseas as well, Byford plans to pursue a career in coaching.

“I gave pretty much all of my body I can give,” Byford said. “I have no regrets.”

Both appreciate what each has done for the other.

“Since I've been here he's someone I've tried to emulate,” Hammond

said about Byford. “He's definitely helped me out on and off the court.

He's a great guy.”

Although Byford and Hammond are teammates, they benefited from competing against each other in practice.

“We go up against each other every day in practice and it's been great for

me,” Byford said. “He's an all-MIAA defender so I had to find different ways to score. I attribute a lot of my success to him.”

Byford and Hammond may be taking different paths in their future careers, but both have left their mark on the UCO basketball program.

Senior Jake Hammond, No. 12, shoots a hook shot against a Fort Hays State defender during a game on Feb. 10. (Lauren Bieri/UCO Photo Services)

`

Bucking Broncho

March 27, 2018

15

Harden Euro Steps Towards MVP America has had a secret group of men, who have excelled at their craft, that all had one thing in common: their beards. Every profession has had an iconic bearded man (or men) who cement their legacy. Beards have banded these men together through the testament of time. ZZ Top put their staple on rock music with La Grange, Zach Galifianakis changed comedy forever with The Hangover, Daniel Bryan changed the landscape of the WWE with the 'Yes Movement' and President Abraham Lincoln abolished slavery. These great men accomplished great feats in their profession, but most importantly they did it while having beards.

The secret group will have to add one more member to the club after this season and that is James Harden. Houston Rockets' star shooting guard is the perfect marriage of America's two favorite things: professional sports and beards.

Harden's play this season has propelled his legacy past somebody who is famous for their beard, but

Houston Rockets’ James Harden (13) goes up for a shot as LA Clippers’ Tobias Harris (34) defends during the first half of an NBA basketball game Thursday, March 15, 2018, in Houston. (AP Photo/David J. Phillip)

someone who is great while having a beard.

“He’s the best offensive player I’ve ever seen,” Houston Rockets

Houston Rockets guard James Harden, right, drives past Atlanta Hawks guard Damion Lee (8) during the first half of an NBA basketball game, Sunday, March 25, 2018, in Houston. (AP Photo/Eric Christian Smith)

Head Coach Mike D’Antoni said.

For the past two seasons, Harden's fate has looked like it would be like Shooter McGavin's and never get his green jacket (MVP award).

But this year is different for him, with no Happy Gilmore in sight to take the award from him. The past two seasons, Harden has come in second for the MVP award, behind Stephen Curry and Russell Westbrook, but this year is different with most media members already handing him the award.

"The 2018 NBA MVP conversation is over," ESPN journalist Rachel Nichols said.

If Harden wins the award, he would be the first player ever to win both Sixth Man of the Year and MVP. His play this season has led the Houston Rockets to the best record in the NBA at 60-14, which is the most wins in franchise history. He also leads the league with 30.9 points per game and is the first player this season to score over 2,000 points.

On top of leading the team in

points, Harden gets his teammates involved with his team high 8.6 assists. He has had four games this season where he scored over 50 points, while leading the team in assists. Harden arguably had the best performance in a game this season scoring 60 points along side recording a triple-double.

Harden hasn't just been one of the best players statistically this season, but has also been a human highlight reel. While on the court, Harden has shown how much fun he is having playing basketball and making it look easy at the same time.

He has the perfect resume to win the MVP award. His team has the best record, he leads the league in points and he has the most memorable plays of the season.

Harden may have won the MVP this season and already cemented his name into the beard hall of fame, but if he keeps his play up, he will join a more exclusive hall of fame when his career is all said and done.