Volume 119, Issue 22
the
VISTA “Our Words, Your Voice.”
vistanews1903 @thevista1903 @thevista1903 The Vista ucentralmedia.com Tuesday, March 29, 2022
Expect less, pay more
UCO proposes increase to academic service fees to avoid larger faculty layoff numbers
UCO President Patti Neuhold-Ravikumar said the ratio between faculty and students is no longer financially efficient with current low enrollment. (The Vista/ Archives)
Ainsley Martinez Managing Editor
UCO President Patti Neuhold-Ravikumar made staff and students aware of future faculty layoffs and increases in academic service fees in a Thursday budget forum meeting. These decisions come after months
of conversations about the university’s $20 million budget deficit. However, Neuhold-Ravikumar said the primary reason for faculty lines being cut is because of an inefficient ratio between students and faculty. For example, the president noted there was an increase in full-time faculty by 1.6%, but a de-
crease in full-time students by 17.7%. “Having listened to our reserve regions throughout the year, it has become evident that our student-to-faculty ratio is a relevant measure of concern and it needs to be increased,” Neuhold-Ravikumar said. “A 20% decrease is simply not sustainable today.”
Alongside faculty cuts, academic service fees will increase about $6.02. According to the administration, this would produce up to $2 million in revenue. “We don’t take this lightly, much like Continued on Pg. 3
Guy Hardaker announces retirement Brandon Dale Sports Editor
Guy Hardaker announced his retirement on Wednesday after spending 16 years at UCO as the head coach for the women’s basketball team. After 298 victories with the Bronchos, Hardaker said he felt like he needed a change in life. “I am not saying I won’t ever get back into coaching, but the timing is right for me to take a step back,” said Hardaker. Hardaker hopes to help the Bronchos in the new hiring process for his successor. “Some renewed youth is probably needed,” he said. After starting as an assistant coach for Edmond Memorial back in the 90s, Hardaker became the head coach for the Edmond Santa Fe men’s team
during the early 2000s. He spent 11 years coaching and won a Coach of the Year award for his success with the Wolves and won a state title in 2005. In 2006 Hardaker was hired at UCO, where he took his team to nine consecutive MIAA Basketball Championships. He took the Bronchos to the NCAA Division II national tournament five times during his tenure at UCO. Hardaker coached three of the top three leading scorers in school history. All-American standout Kelsey Johnson is on this list as she posted the highest single-season average in school history this past season. “When I heard Kelsey made the All-American Guy Hardaker took the Bronchos to the NCAA Division II Continued on Pg. 3
national tournament five times during his tenure at UCO. (Provided/ UCO Athletics)
2 | The Vista
Tuesday, March 29, 2022 COVID-19 Testing: IMMY Labs is offering free, drive-thru COVID-19 testing at 312 E. Main St. in Edmond from 7 a.m. to 1 p.m. and 3 to 7 p.m. FACS: Lamb, Sharp, Rohr: Tribute to Jim Klages: This performance begins at 7:30 p.m. at the Jazz Lab, located at 100 E. Fifth St. in Edmond. Doors open at 7 p.m. and tickets are $10. Health Professions Fair: From 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. in the Nigh University Center Ballrooms, students, alumni, faculty, staff, and community members are invited to network and learn about healthrelated graduate programs and employment. Business professional attire is recommended. I Heart Central Week Crafting: From 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Blue Tent at Broncho Lake, come make horseshoe-themed string art. MLA style workshop: From 10 to 11 a.m. and 6 to 7 p.m. in the Max Chambers Library 226, learn about identifying sources and cre-
March 29, 2022
Around Campus
UCO Symposium 2022: Modern Mosaic: From 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. in the College of Liberal Arts, students enrolled in the college will present their research and other Wednesday, March 30, 2022 academic activities. The schedule can be found on the UCO Liberal COVID-19 Testing: IMMY Arts website. Labs is offering free, drive-thru COVID-19 testing at 312 E. Main Thursday, March 31, 2022 St. in Edmond from 7 a.m. to 1 p.m. and 3 to 7 p.m. COVID-19 Testing: IMMY Labs is offering free, drive-thru Exceptional Women’s Brunch COVID-19 testing at 312 E. Main and Awards: Beginning at 11 St. in Edmond from 7 a.m. to 1 a.m. in the Nigh University Cen- p.m. and 3 to 7 p.m. ter Room 326, enjoy brunch with friends and celebrate exceptional Glamazon: This drag show perwomen with the Office of Diver- formance is from 6:30 to 9:30 p.m. sity and Inclusion, the American in the Nigh University Center Association of University Women, Grand Ballroom. and the Women’s Outreach Center. Quiet Kismet: Songs and Stories of Surviving Homelessness: This Finance Central: From 9 a.m. performance, happening from 7 to to 1 p.m. in the Nigh Universi- 8:30 p.m. at the Jazz Lab, located ty Center, Constitution Hall 200, at 100 E. Fifth St. in Edmond, is students can learn how to budget being presented by the School of their finances. Music and the Office of Research and Sponsored Programs. Quiet Kismet: Songs and Stories of Surviving Homelessness: This Friday, April 1, 2022 performance, happening from 7:30 to 9 p.m. at the Jazz Lab, locat- COVID-19 Testing: IMMY ed at 100 E. Fifth St. in Edmond, is Labs is offering free, drive-thru being presented by the School of COVID-19 testing at 312 E. Main Music and the Office of Research St. in Edmond from 7 to 11 a.m. and Sponsored Programs. and 2 to 6 p.m. ating properly formatted research papers using the Modern Language Association (MLA) style manual.
Saturday, April 2, 2022 Big Event 2022: From 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. in the Nigh University Center, Cherokee Room 213, volunteers will be sent to several sites around the Oklahoma City/ Edmond metro area, committing their day to helping those who need help. Rowing: The UCO women’s rowing will compete against Wichita State University and Oklahoma State University at the Oklahoma River in Oklahoma City. Softball: The Bronchos compete against Newman at 1 and 3 p.m. at Gerry Pinkston Stadium in Edmond. Tennis: The Bronchos compete against Emporia State at 10 a.m. in Edmond. Sunday, April 3, 2022 Tennis: The Bronchos compete against Newman at 11 a.m. in Edmond.
To submit events for next week’s Around Campus, please email thevista@ucentralmedia.com. Include the title of your event, time and place, and a brief description. Descriptions are subject to editing.
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UCO’s Student Voice Since 1903 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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The Vista | 3
March 29, 2022
Budget/Hardaker/OBEA
UCentral wins over 25 awards
Several members of UCO’s mass communications department traveled to Tulsa for the annual ceremony. (Provided/ UCentral Media)
Patrick Talbot
Contributing Writer
UCO walked away from March 25’s Oklahoma Broadcast Education Association awards ceremony in Tulsa having received a total of 26 awards, plus one student received a scholarship. Several members of UCO’s mass communications department traveled to Tulsa for the annual ceremony. UCO’s Eden Jones was the recipient of OBEA Foundation Sadie Adwon Memorial Scholarship. “Receiving this scholarship means a lot,” Jones said. “It shows me that people are really paying attention to what I do, and seeing and appreciating the
work I put in. It gives me hope for my career in the future and I couldn’t be more excited.” Dylan Stieber won an award for the Hard News Category with the submission of “Sexual Harrasment Allegations.” a story about a Title IX case involving seven plaintiffs who alleged sexual harassment in the UCO Theatre Department. Six of the women were former UCO theater students, who allege that associate professor Kato Buss sexually harrased them. A UCO professor also claims her job was threatened by the university. “It was a pretty big investigative piece where I looked through hundreds of pages of court documents,”
Stieber said. “The civil case is still ongoing in federal court. “The awards I received meant a lot to me,” Steiber said. “The awards highlight all of our hard work, whether that be for the student newscasts or class work. To have our work be critiqued and awarded by professionals is a very special experience.” Tyler Whitehead was the recipient of multiple awards at the banquet, one of them being a second place finish for his podcast, “The Other Side of the Closet.” “The award means very much to me,” Whitehead said. “I never would have thought my podcast would ever be recognized in the state of Oklaho-
ma. It definitely gave me motivation to keep working on the podcast and speak about topics and issues related to the queer community.” The event gave students from around the state the opportunity to network with several different broadcast stations. “It was awesome to network with other stations and companies who are looking for the next generation of journalists,” Whitehead said. “The whole convention was a very good networking platform,” Jones said. “I got to speak with real professionals and ask them really anything I wanted, and I haven’t had the opportunity to do that before.”
Budget forum addresses cuts Hardaker leaves UCO Continued from Pg.1
much like we don’t take tuition increases lightly, but we believe an academic service fee can help reduce the number of faculty positions that might be eliminated due to budget constraints,” Neuhold-Ravikumar said. “We want to continue to support the classrooms as best we can, and so we can use these funds for any instructional expenses that we need in order to keep those classrooms going.” The president said the move from a 15-to-1 to 17-to-1 budget will involve “a reduction of 40-plus full-time equivalent faculty lines for next year’s budget.” This reduction will not affect administrative positions, which are the highest salaries at the university. “It truly is a faculty-student
ratio,” said Provost Charlotte Simmons. “So it measures full-time faculty, and it measures full-time students and then there – as the president alluded to earlier – there is a way to incorporate the parttime faculty and part time students so it does include adjuncts, but there’s no administrative. The department chairs count in that but nobody who’s classified as full-time administration, so no staff members are impacted in that particular ratio.” The forum also addressed a change in accounting strategies that will remove carrying over revenue from the previous year into the next. According to Neuhold-Ravikumar, this would address a large portion of the structural deficit. “We are going to structurally remove that and only bring back what is expected to be
spent,” the president said. Administration characterized the increase in fees and faculty layoffs as the result of unprecedented low rates of enrollment. “I can tell you that we, like hundreds of other institutions in the country, are battling a decline in demographics. We are battling a decline in higher education, enrollment interest and certain institutions are being squeezed more than others and those are institutions much like ours,” Neuhold-Ravikumar said. “We’re not a community college, nor are we a research institution. Nor are we an elite Ivy League school. And when schools at the research level in the Ivy League level, have the ability to open and close a spigot of enrollment by lowering or changing their admission standards.”
(Provided/ UCO Athletics) Continued from Pg.1
team, I nearly cried,” says Hardaker while mentioning some of his favorite memories from the past season. Hardaker was a baseball player for UCO from 1982 to 1984. The Phillies drafted him in 1983, and he spent some time in the minor leagues. “I thought I would be coaching baseball, to be honest. I never thought about coaching basketball until the right situation presented it-
self.” “This is the best job I ever had, and I always wanted to leave the university in better shape than the way I found it. I love the people I work with; they made coming to work each day a joy,” said Hardaker. The future is still up in the air for Coach Hardaker, but he will be around to help the Bronchos during this transition period. UCO will miss the Hall of Fame Coach, but he certainly left his imprint on this team and the university in a lasting way.
4 | The Vista
March 29, 2022
Kato Buss/ Title IX
Buss up for promotion during Title IX investigation Ainsley Martinez Managing Editor
An associate professor of theater arts, who is the subject of an ongoing Title IX case against the university, received a recommendation for a promotion from UCO. Seen in the March Regional University System of Oklahoma meeting agenda, UCO recommended Kato Buss to be promoted to a full-time professor position at the university. This decision comes after
“It’s hard to look at the beautiful navy whenever the gold is rotting.”Kate Adams many conversations about UCO’s $20 million budget deficit, and the potential for faculty layoffs. In a budget forum last Thursday, UCO President Patti Neuhold-Ravikumar said the ratio of faculty and students is not financially efficient with current low enrollment. “The impact of this means that we will have a reduction of 40-plus full-time equivalent faculty lines for next year’s budget,” Neuhold-Ravikumar said. It has been almost a year after six students filed a federal lawsuit against the university, seeking financial compensation for emotional distress, humiliation and other alleged damages after reporting that Buss created a sexually charged environment. UCO responded to plaintiffs’ complaints, stating their claims are “long on story-telling devices, conjecture and supposition, but woefully thin on substantive facts.” However, the university admitted in court documents that Buss did maintain a relationship with one plaintiff in 2017, but the individual hid the relationship from the university at the time. State regents will need to determine whether or not they approve of this promotion. According to the RUSO Policy Manual, Chapter 3, faculty members have a responsibility to “not exploit students for private advantage and acknowledge significant assistance from them.” While not specific on sexual relationships between faculty and students, the UCO faculty handbook explicitly prohibits these kind of relationships and behaviors.
“No employee shall engage knowingly or attempt knowingly to engage in consensual or nonconsensual sexual conduct with any student whom the employee supervises, acts as academic advisor for, or over whom the employee has any power to determine the student’s grade; honors; discipline; research opportunity; scholarship opportunity; acceptance in a graduate or other program of study; participation in arts, athletic, academic, or extracurricular competition; workstudy assignment; or similar education-related matter. University employees’ sexual liaisons with students in such situations exploit position, abuse power, and fundamentally harm the academic relationship,” reads Section 1.4 of the UCO Sexual Relationship Policy. The policy goes on to state that disciplinary consequences may include a “range of actions up to and including dismissal and/or expulsion.” At the time, the plaintiff was supervised by Buss during their sexual relationship. Theater student Kate Adams said she is disappointed that the Buss is being rewarded instead of disciplined. Adams is on various social media boards, including the Oklahoma Drama Education Board on Facebook, where she says many high school teachers are no longer recommending their students apply to the theater program at UCO recommended Kato Buss to be promoted to a full-time UCO. She said since last year, at least 10 theater professor position at the university. (Provided/ UCO website) students have left the university because of Buss. “One of the biggest concerns was safety, first and “You do not matter. Your pain, anything that you foremost. If he’s going to groom these women, who’s have encountered that could be considered groomto say that I’m not the next person?” Adams said. ing, or assault, or manipulation— it’s not going to “If he comes back as a dean, or if he comes back to matter. So just sit down, be quiet, wear your blue and teaching, more students will probably leave, and less gold, say ‘Roll chos’ and get on with it,” Adams said. students will come in because they will be warned, “But it’s hard to look at the beautiful navy whenever and it will probably kill the program.” However, she says this is a common dynamic in the gold is rotting.” Dean Charleen Weidell and Associate Dean Jill theater between supervisors and subordinates, but Priest, both in the college of fine arts and design, policies have been created to help curb the issue, such as the Chicago Theater Standards established both said they were not authorized to comment on this matter, and referred this reporter to the UCO in 2015. “Theaters in the Chicago area came together, and communications team. When asked what made Buss a prime candidate they created this list of standards of how to work and for his position, Adrienne Nobles, vice president for create a safe environment. Since those have been published, and other theaters have started adopting communications and public affairs, said the agenda them, things have gotten a little better in terms of item “provides UCO’s recommendations of faculty promotion in academic rank, grants of tenure and nipping things in the bud,” Adams said. However, Adams said the university did not meet faculty reappointments in accordance with RUSO students with this same support, and it signals to policy.” Kato Buss did not reply to a request for an intersome students that the university does not care for their well-being. view as of publication.
UCO creates news procedures for the Title IX office Baylee Schmidlkofer Contributing Writer
UCO started to make major changes for the on-campus Title IX office this week. In early 2021, the UCO Office of General Counsel started the review process for the office to examine the state of its processes, procedures and structure. As a part of this process, the university created several new steps to create a more cohesive approach to Title IX. Those changes include the physical separation from the Office of Student Conduct, reporting to the vice president of people and culture, the creation of a new Title IX position, and full-time administrative assistance.
“The separation of Student Conduct and Title IX will result in positive changes for our students, faculty, and staff at UCO,” said Erin Logan, Title IX coordinator. “This change will allow a greater, more focused approach to training and education for campus on topics directly related to, as well as those adjacent to, Title IX. The Title IX staff will solely be dedicated to the issues surrounding Title IX within our campus community. “Under my leadership, the UCO community can expect a continued push towards equity within the processes, a strengthening of investigative procedures, an emphasis on training and education, and an intentional weight placed on inclusion and representation throughout the Title IX processes.
“Students can expect more visibility and more intentional collaboration with our campus and community partners,” Logan said. “The Title IX offices will be accessible. Our location, which is yet to be determined, will be welcoming, comfortable, and safe for our community members as they navigate these difficult and complex situations. I am excited for this opportunity to serve UCO and focus my energy on this important topic. I look forward to working closely with our students, faculty, and staff to navigate these systems.” To file a report, visit www.uco.edu/student-resources/title-ix-office or call the office at 405-9745380.
Russia/Ukraine/Tik Tok
March 29, 2022
The Vista | 5
Students weigh in on the Russia/Ukraine war Sam Royka Reporter
As the UN reports over 1,000 civilian casualties in Ukraine after the use of mass gravesites in Mariupol, NATO and the U.S. make contingency plans in case of Russian strikes on NATO countries. According to Britain, the Russian ministry of defense has reported use of the TOS-1A thermobaric weapons system in Ukraine. A thermobaric rocket, also called a “vacuum bomb,” is launched from a tank and explodes in two stages, sending out intense waves of heat and pressure. Russia bombed a maternity hospital in Ukraine in the third week of the invasion that left “children under rubble,” Zelensky said, calling it “ultimate evidence of genocide.” U.S. Secretary of State Anthony Blinken said that Putin is leading Russia to a “strategic defeat” in Ukraine. Jayce Camp, a forensics and psychology major at UCO, feels that “it’s just a senseless act of violence and war that shouldn’t be occurring.” Monica Hernandez, a women’s, gender, and sexuality studies major at UCO, said she supports the people of Ukraine, highlighting “empathy to the situation in terms of being forced out of your home or having to live under this terror that you’re not going to have a home or your life, it’s very uprooting.” “Being displaced is traumatic and stressful and I understand that completely,” Hernandez said. Anamarie Lopez, a counseling and psychology major in the graduate program at UCO, said it is hard for people in the region to know if what they are hearing is the truth. “That’s complicated because there's a lot of misinformation in Russia where people are not hearing the truth, they’re not hearing accurate information, I think it’s called propaganda, right?” Lopez said. “They’re hearing
that the war was provoked or that they had to be in this situation so I think a lot of the Russian people, they have been protesting in the streets, they’re getting arrested, they don’t have freedom with their internet capabilities, so I’m supporting the Russians that are fighting for Ukraine but it’s more like the leaders of Russia that are the problem.” Support for Ukraine is strong among this sample of students at UCO. “I don’t support Russia anyway, from their stances on a lot of social justice issues and rights issues, I don’t really agree with them,” Camp said. Hernandez said she does not support the Russian government “for many reasons, because it's a fascist, authoritative government that does not provide their people the ability to speak freely, think freely, live freely. Meanwhile, the Russian people obviously are just like us in terms of feeling the aftereffects of what their government is deciding to do.” Hernandez points out how “just like we have a political spectrum, so do they. There are people that are believing Russian propaganda and believing they are doing correctly. And on that same coin, people who don’t wanna be involved in the war whatsoever and they condemn their state government as seen with protests and whatnot. Intervening media-wise I've seen that a lot, essentially being very proactive against that government. It's scary and brave to see people even do that. I see it happen in clips and I don't know where they're going to end up, it’s scary. I have lots of empathy for the Russian people,” she said. When asked about personal involvement, Hernandez said, “I get updates via Twitter and look at what's the main scope for that day essentially, just because there’s not much I can personally change about the narrative.” She also mentioned the importance of “looking out for different narratives, because it’s all kind of focused on dif-
The Vista/Logan Gassett
ferent little angles and perspectives. Whose story are we telling, who are we focusing on in terms of economic change and then like state change with the ones surrounding it like geopolitical changes?” Hernandez said. Camp said he would be interested in getting involved, “but I don’t know how I could do that while staying in Oklahoma.” Options for getting involved are limited at the individual level for many Americans. “As an American in Oklahoma, the only involvement you can do on an individual scale would be the disbursement of unbiased information, so not spreading misinformation,” Hernandez said. “If you can, if you have the income to spare, a little bit to those funds that are providing resources to the Ukrainian people, that’s a way to do it, but I feel like there's already so much misinformation on social media and really any source of media that it kind of becomes a little bit redundant.” She continued. “Especially on social media, in terms of where people feel like they have to
say something in order to show what side they’re on and you don’t always have to do that as long as you yourself know that you are informed, that’s just enough. I feel like it's performative in some aspects and it’s not very truthful, I suppose,” Hernandez said. Machela Leathers, another student at UCO, said that it can be mentally draining to stay informed about war. “It just gets depressing after a while and I didn’t want to read about it anymore,” Leathers said. Students are balancing staying informed with their mental health. “I‘ve taken a small break from the TV and everything but I’m still trying to stay informed. I think it’s important to find a balance of being up to date and taking care of your mental health. We’re trying to learn that balance – like you have to be informed but you have to take breaks too,” Lopez said. “It’s a privilege to not be informed, it’s a privilege to take breaks as well, so it's a little tricky. We’re trying to do what we can but also not go into World War III and I’m like, yeah, that’s a fine line.”
Tik Tok creates connection and conflict during wartime Lauren Couch
Contributing Writer
TikTok is redefining how younger generations understand and view war. During Russia’s lead up to its war against Ukraine, TikTok users were ahead of mainstream news outlets as videos out of Ukraine swept the app. From just a few swipes on the “For You” page, users were given a glimpse into Russia’s invasion in a way textbooks in classrooms have never been able to with past wars. “It’s so fast-paced, so seeing such a
wide variety of videos and then the videos of Ukraine flooded my brain with every emotion possible right after,” said senior Erica Williams, a TikTok user. “It felt very damaging.” While there are many complaints against the app, it has offered a chance to humanize the war victims that are commonly pushed behind a curtain of statistics. Ukranian teen @valerissh on TikTok has documented her time in a bomb shelter and her long journey to safety in Italy. Her comment section is filled
with support for her humor and honesty during a dark time for Ukranians. “It adds a new perspective while also encouraging more of the minority to be able to have a voice,” Williams said. TikTok user Brinna Miller said she finds that there is a form of privilege to battle in viewing these videos. We are able to turn the war off; Ukranians do not have that option. “It messes with my head knowing what’s happening in other places and knowing that I’m in the position where I can casually check my phone
with no danger coming my way,” Miller said. Misinformation on the app is one more thing to consider when viewing. TikTok pushes its content fast, making it difficult to authenticate what is real. The New York Times reported that not only is lack of context an issue, but editing and the ability to repurpose audio on the app can potentially misinform.
6 | The Vista
March 29, 2022
Season Review/Film Review
REVIEW
‘Bridgerton’ shifts the focus in second season other storylines happening simultaneously. Though there are scenes that are painfully slow, the banter, wittiness, and passion that we are blessed with in fewer instances is excitingly satisfying. Through the frustration, the build up between Anthony and Kate is enough to drive us mad, but keep us begging for more. We have an opportunity to take a step back and appreciate other factors that make up a relationship between two people, including accepting the past and building a future that satisfies both.
Madalyn Nix Editor-in-Chief
Dearest readers, after two years, “Bridgerton” returned to Netflix on Friday with a second season. Based on the novel series by Julia Quinn and executive produced by Shonda Rhimes, the anticipation follows a highly successful debut in 2020, breaking records and becoming one of Netflix’s biggest streamed series. As the first season focused on the courtship between Daphne Bridgerton (Phoebe Dynevor) and the Duke of Hastings Simon Bassett (Regé-Jean Page), season two shifts towards the eldest Bridgerton, Anthony (Jonathan Bailey) and Kate Sharma (Simone Ashley). The enormous amounts of passion, sex, lust, and love that Daphne and Simon had together in season one was bound to be a challenge for a second couple to try and beat. This season still has those elements, but at a much slower pace. If you are a fan of a good slow burn, this season does not disappoint. The comedy-romance narrative found in “Pride and Prejudice” by
Jonathan Bailey and Simone Ashley deliver an outstanding performance in “Bridgerton.” (Provided/Netflix)
Jane Austen is on full display between our two protagonists. Fans can rest assured knowing Mr. Darcy walked so that Anthony could run. Fans of the second book in the series, “The Viscount Who Loved Me,” can count on elements of the book
being incorporated into the series, but the script does take on a different path, but leads towards the same outcome. Even though the Duke of Hastings is not present in this season, most of the cast returns along with some new faces that continue adding on to the
“Mr. Darcy walked so that Anthony could run.” Between the stunning wardrobe, beautiful music score, and outstanding performances by the cast, season two can satisfy both new and returning viewers. It’s not perfect, but it does deliver something for everyone.
REVIEW
A24 delivers a typically twisted, explicit rollercoaster with ‘X’ Tyler Whitehead Contributing Writer
A24’s latest horror film, “X,” begins like most of the studio’s films, slowpaced with distinct videography. Director Ti West spends a lot of the opening half of the film paying homage to early slasher films like “The Texas Chain Saw Massacre.” The opening scene takes viewers directly to the aftermath of the entire film, which helps set the uneasy tone. This creates a juxtaposition by putting the aftermath in broad daylight. Then, we are introduced to a group of adult filmmakers on a road trip in 1978. They are trying to make an adult film at a farm in Texas, unbeknownst to the elderly couple who are letting the crew stay in the guest house on their property. The elderly couple who stalk the guests are portrayed as conservative and religious. Most of the daylight hours are spent on the making of this adult film, starring Maxine Minx (Mia Goth), Bobby Lynne (Brittany Snow) and Jackson Hole (Scott Mescudi, a.k.a. Kid Cudi). There is a direct shift once night falls. Lorraine (Jenna Ortega), the
girlfriend of the film’s director, R.J. (Owen Campbell), decides she wants to be featured on camera in the adult film. Once the elderly couple understand what is taking place they take matters in their own hands by going after the filmmakers one by one. The subsequent events fully transition into an elevated slasher and the ending hints at a twist involving Maxine’s backstory. “X” is not a straightforward slasher film, but also one of the most explicit and graphic films I have seen. There are moments in the film that really showcase different themes and elements that aren’t usually touched on in films like this. There’s a surplus of themes about growing older and what that does to a person, especially when dealing with intimacy. Scenes are played to make you feel uncomfortable. Goth puts on a dual role that plays off in an interesting way. The film-within-a-film concept comments on several types of films made during that time period. A prequel, which is set to follow Pearl’s journey before the film’s events, was filmed after production wrapped, but there is no set release date yet. “X” establishes itself as something fresh
Filmakers on a road trip are trying to make a film at a Farm in Texas, unbeknownst to the elderly couple who are letting the crew stay in the guest house on their property. (Provided/A24)
and new for the horror genre, much like Ari Aster’s films “Hereditary” and “Midsommar,” also released by A24. “X” isn’t for everyone: it does feature explicit imagery, including the filming of the adult film in the first half and a
gritty gory ride in the second. However, any fan of horror will see something they have not specifically seen before and it manages to prove itself by its stellar cast and direction.
Hockey/Events
March 29, 2022
The Vista | 7
Bronchos fall short in national title game Brinlee Lenochan Contributing Writer
UCO’s hockey team had a heck of a season this year, with the Bronchos finishing the season with 28 wins, four losses, and one overtime win. They finished second overall in the American Collegiate Hockey Association and recently placed second at the national championship. The team went into the national championship eager to bring home the first place trophy. “Our mindset prior was to win it all,” said Cooper Krauss, captain of the team. “We all felt extremely confident in one another and all knew we had a legitimate shot at winning the national championship.” However, after four long and hardfought games, the Bronchos fell short, losing to Lindenwood in the finals. The Bronchos might have been unable to bring home the national hardware, but their first place finish in the WCHL was monumental as it brought the title back to the Broncho barn after losing the streak that stretched from 2016 to 2018. “A large group of us were together
UCO hockey falls short to Lindenwood in national championship game, but still walks away with a successful season. (Provided/ UCO Hockey Twitter)
last year when we were unable to play due to COVID,” Krauss said. “This brought us closer as we still put in all the work.” The Bronchos were unbeatable at home, winning all 19 of their games held at the Broncho Barn, which is a new program record. The team hasn’t lost at home since October 2019, 873 days ago. “There is the famous rule of, ‘You don’t lose at home, not in our barn,” said junior forward Kaeden Meuer.
Central Gaming hosts computer event Jordan Prichard Contributing Writer
On March 25, the Central Gaming Community (CGC) held its annual Bring Your Own Computer event in the Nigh University Center ballrooms after a two-year hiatus due to COVID-19. “It’s essentially this night where we get the Nigh ballrooms and we set up tables and people bring their PlayStations, PCs, laptops, their Switches and it’s like a big LAN event,” said sophomore Paighton Barnes, president of the CGC. “So, everyone is there playing games, we have a mini-Smash tournament, there is going to be a D&D campaign and just a whole bunch of fun.” The BYOC is just the first of large-scale events the student organization is putting on to strengthen bonds between its members. Barnes said that plans are in the works to hold a women and non-binary student lock-in at the UCO Esports Co-op sometime in April. “We’re trying to start a bigger push to show that gaming is a place for women as well,” Barnes said.
“So there’s just a lot of stuff going on, but our big initiative right now is trying to get more women to feel comfortable in our community. Because gaming is one of those communities where women are very marginalized.” Barnes believes that one of the reasons that the CGC is such a great student organization is because the community is much more relaxed compared to other organizations. “I would like for people to know what we are. A lot of people think that clubs at school have to be super formal, like there are meetings every month, there are socials, but our org is much more chill and that’s why we’re one of the bigger orgs.” Barnes said. “It’s a community of people with all different interests surrounded by this common interest of playing video games, whether it be board games or electronic.”
Many may think a winning streak like that would cause the team to feel pressure when on their home ice, but that is not the case with the Bronchos. “I wouldn’t say we feel pressure at home; it’s more motivation,” Krauss said. The Bronchos finished up their season with a sweep of in-state rivals OU. UCO took both games against OU, winning 5-1 and 4-0 in their respective games, the Bronchos ended the season 6-0 against the Sooners and
secured their spot at the top of the WCHL with that championship trophy. UCO hockey is not considered an on-campus sport, but rather an athletic club. However, that does not stop the student body and community from packing the stands and supporting the Bronchos. “Without a doubt, our fans make a difference and create an unbelievable atmosphere for us to play in,” Meuer said.
UCO to host Big Event 2022 Cameron Foral
Contributing Writer
Big Event at UCO will be hosting its 20th annual meeting on April 2. The event is an annual tradition in which members of the UCO family clean up trash, mow lawns, and much more for the Edmond community. Thi Vuong, communication chair for the event, described what Big Event is and the mission that drives the team. “Big Event is a day of service on April 2,” Vuong said. “We volunteer from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Basically, we help our community with organizations on campus, so if you are in Greek life or any cultural organizations.” Though many students have already applied and are ready to assist, the Big Event team hopes to see more stu-
Provided/UCO Big Event Instagram
dents come out to show support for the Edmond community. “We have right at 408 [volunteers]. We are needing around 500 volunteers because we have 50 locations around Edmond and OKC,” Vuong said. Big Event has been an annual tradition for two decades at UCO. With such a milestone, students who attend should expect to see some festivities for this occasion, including refreshments. “We have a performance from prom and cheer, we have President Patty [Neuhold-Ravikumar] come out and speak.” We usually provide breakfast for everyone. Not like a huge breakfast, but kind of just snacks, donuts and coffee,” said Vuong. For more information community, contact Big Event at their page on the UCORE website.
8 | The Vista
March 29, 2022
Abortion Bill/Esports
Oklahoma passes Texas-based anti-abortion law Jamie Hammock Contributing Writer
Oklahoma is close to implementing a restrictive anti-abortion law similar to the one passed in Texas. Stricter than Texas’ bill, House Bill 4327 would effectively ban most abortions by allowing private citizens to sue anyone who performs an abortion or “aids or abets” someone who pursues the procedure. Rep. Wendi Stearman, R-Collinsville, said the bill was written by a former Texas solicitor general who closely copied Texas’ anti-abortion bill. HB 4327 will block nearly all abortions because it starts after conception, unlike Texas’ law which prohibits most abortions after a “fetal heartbeat” is detected, which usually occurs after six weeks in a pregnancy. The bill would allow someone to bring a civil lawsuit in any scenario in which a woman seeks out an abortion, unless the procedure is necessary to save the woman’s life. It also has some exceptions that would allow an abortion in the event of a rape, sexual assault or incest as long as the crime has been reported to law enforcement. Texas’ anti-abortion bill has forced
hundreds of women to seek neighboring states for abortion procedures such as Oklahoma which has seen an increase in the number of Texas women getting the procedure done here. In February, an Oklahoma Senate committee passed five anti-abortion laws, one of which would ban abortions 30 days after conception. Stearman, who has said she wants abortion to be outlawed in Oklahoma, said her legislation “would protect the life of the unborn.” Many Oklahomans may soon find themselves crossing state lines like their Texan counterparts. UCO student Keifer Graumann thinks that this is a bad look for Oklahoma. “Honestly, this is not a great look for the state. You saw how people reacted to Texas’ bill. I think the reaction will be about the same here,” he said. “Personally, I don’t think you should be able to tell a woman what she can and can’t do to her body, and as a man, I believe this should only be voted on by women.” Oklahoma is not the only state this month to pass an anti-abortion bill. The Idaho legislature earlier this month also passed a Texas-style bill, which was sent to the governor’s desk. This bill would also ban abortions 6
Oklahoma Representative Wendi Stearman. (Provided/ok.gov)
weeks into the pregnancy and allow the family of the fetus to sue the medical professional who performed the abortion. Rep. Carol Bush, R-Tulsa, was the lone Republican to side with Demo-
crats in opposition to the bill. The Oklahoma Senate also recently passed legislation similar to HB 4327 that closely resembles the Texas law and prohibits abortions performed after a “fetal heartbeat” is detected.
UCO co-op arena named a top 22 esports venue Shelby McAfee
Contributing Writer
The Co-op Esports and Gaming Arena at UCO has been recognized to be in the top 22 esports arenas across the country this semester, according to a ranking done by ggCircuit, a software service for esports venues. Only esports venues that currently support the ggLeap esports venue management software were included in the ranking, according to a press release from UCO. “We are proud of the work we have done to establish the co-op as an important player in the Oklahoma esports community. This has allowed us to be mentioned alongside other leading national esports venues,” said Victor Silvia, director of the esports arena, in a press statement released by UCO. The arena, located on the west side of the UCO campus off of North University Drive and East Hurd Street, features 48 custom-built PC stations, two virtual reality booths and a wide variety of tabletop games. After student interest and engagement in esports had grown over several years, plans to renovate the former Thompson’s Book Store into the gaming arena were announced in 2019. The arena was opened in August 2020. “It gives us a lot of opportunities because everyone can come together here,” said Josh Nelson, an esports player for UCO’s Super Smash Bros. Ultimate team. “Most schools aren’t privileged enough
to have an arena like this.” The co-op building is used to hold esports practices and events for UCO, Edmond Public Schools, and the YMCA. It will also be used to host the first Oklahoma Secondary School Activities Association (OSSAA) Esports State Championship on April 23. The UCO esports community also uses the space to host weekly and monthly tournaments that are open to the public, and free for UCO students with valid student IDs. Additionally, the center is available to rent for private bookings as a way to bring in revenue for the school. The arena has open play hours from 5 p.m. to midnight Monday-Thursday, 5 p.m. to 1 a.m. Friday, and 2 p.m. to midnight Saturday and Sunday. The technology is available to the public for a fee, depending on the duration of time played. There are discounted prices available for the UCO campus community. “That’s what this space is here for, that’s why it was built, for students to enjoy,” said Ben Staudt, coach for several of the UCO esports teams. “You don’t have to drive an hour and pay $15 in gas to go play. You just walk down the road and it’s right there.” For more information about the CO-OP Esports and Gaming Arena, visit the co-op building or go to coopgamingarena.com.
The Vista/Madalyn Nix