UCO's The Vista, Nov. 15, 2022

VISTA

Stitt retains governor seat

Midterm election sees entry of new representatives and city proposals

Quinn Daugherty Reporter

Incumbent Governor Kevin Stitt defeated democrat ic challenger Joy Hofmeister in last Tuesday’s midterm election.

Stitt tallied 639,484 votes compared to former Superintendent for Public Education Joy Hofmeister’s 481,904, according to the Oklahoma State Elec tion Board’s most recent unofficial results. In total 1,153,284 Oklahomans voted in the gubernatorial election. Additionally, statewide turnout decreased 5.8% from 56.15% in the 2018 midterm election to 50.35% in 2022.

“Folks, the American dream is alive and well in the great state of Oklahoma,” Stitt remarked in his victory speech. “Oklahomans stated loud and clear today they are proud with how far we’ve come.”

Hofmeister asked Oklahomans to remember to make their voice heard in her concession speech last Tuesday night.

“Even if the results were not in our favor tonight, never forget that your voice is necessary and import

ant,” she said in her speech. “This hard-fought election has proven that Oklahomans with different political persuasions can carve a path for one another and work hand in hand to get things done.”

Democratic candidates for United States Senator Kendra and Madison Horn faced dismal results, tallying only 35.24% and 32.10% against republicans Markwayne Mullin and James Lankford, respectively.

Republican Gentner F. Drummond won his bid for Attorney General in a landslide victory against libertarian Lynda Steele. Fellow Republicans Stephanie Bice, Tom Cole, Frank D. Lucas, Josh Brecheen, and Kevin Hern each won their district’s congressional seats.

Notably, Democrat Vicki Behenna won her bid for District Attorney of District 7 against Oklaho ma County Commissioner Kevin Calvey. District 7 presides over Oklahoma County and most of Oklaho ma City. The former Federal Prosecutor is Oklahoma County’s first female district attorney.

Republican Matt Pinnell won re-election for Okla homa lieutenant governor and Republican Ryan Wal ters won re-election for Oklahoma’s superintendent of

Bronchos react to election results

Jocelyn Schifferdecker Contributing Writer

Some students at UCO are upset about the Oklahoma general election results. They are worried for their safety fol lowing the re-election of Gov. Kevin Stitt.

“I am deeply disturbed and disgusted with our state and the fact that they have put someone who clearly does not have our best interests in mind back into a position to lead us,” said Maya Williams, a junior women’s sexuality and gender studies major. “I’m scared for myself. I’m scared for my friends. I’m scared for my family. As a woman and a black person in Oklahoma, I just fear for my life and safety.”

Stitt has signed into law legislation that makes it harder for women in Oklahoma to receive safe abortions, with Oklahoma having some of the strictest abortion laws in the country. Many students dis cussed these actions when they were explaining their concerns over the election.

“I’m really mad about the election and how it came out. I

think Stitt is very against wom en,” said freshman business management major Raleigh O’Neal.

According to statistics from the Oklahoma State Election Board surrounding the 2018 midterm election, registered voters ages 18-29 ex hibit considerably lower voter turnout with 387,182 voters compared to the 613,000 voters who are ages 65 and older.

Nom Martinez, a soph omore theater performance major, is among the voters ages 18-29 and they said they are also concerned about their safety with the election results.

“As a minority in every sense of the word — being a person of color, LGBTQ — I just fear for my safety and com fortability in this state and in this country,” said Martinez.

In her concession speech, Democratic gubernatorial candidate Joy Hofmeister said the disappointment would eventually go away, and hope will return.

“Tonight, I hope you hear me loud and clear. Oklahoma still belongs to you,” said Hof meister.

public instruction.

Voters passed a nearly $1 billion bond proposal for Oklahoma City Public Schools as well. The bond re ceived 64% of the vote in Oklahoma’s district 7, which presides over Oklahoma county.

“This bond provides basic infrastructure to OKC’s kids—buildings, technology, buses,” Oklahoma City Mayor David Holt said in an email to The Vista. “Un fortunately, OKCPS has uniquely old buildings—over 70 years old on average—and has not been investing in them like other districts. So, this bond was critically important to ensuring that our kids have the same facilities as kids in the suburbs or in Tulsa.”

Mayor Holt said the city has learned that investing in itself pays dividends and that they want to keep doing so.

“When you see what we’ve passed in the last five years—public safety, streets, schools—you see where our priorities are. But there are other things that mat ter that I expect we’ll see come forward in the next few years, including opportunities to invest in our eco nomic growth and transit.”

Student organization hosts march to illuminate Indigenous women

Andrea Zuniga Contributing Writer

There will be a silent march for Missing and Murdered Indigenous Peoples (MMIP) on Nov. 17 organized by the University of Central Oklahoma’s branch of the American Association for University Women (AAUW).

This event will be held to bring ac knowledgement and awareness on behalf of missing indigenous people, many of whom are women and young girls. It will also be done to advocate for the ending of violence towards indigenous people.

In 2016, the National Crime Informa tion Center reported over 5,712 missing girls and women of American Indian and Alaskan Native

descent. Indigenous women are also 1.7-times more likely to experience violence and are threetime more likely to be murdered, according to nativewomenwilderness.org.

Facilitating the walk is the AAUW, a national student organization with a chapter at UCO. The AAUW seeks to help women across all campuses by providing aid toward women’s protection and education.

For more information on the silent march, contact Cristi Moore, an inclusion strat egist in the Office of Inclusive Community, at cmoore60@uco.edu. See the UCO event calendar for route details.

Reporters from Channel 2 and 4 cover Joy Hofmeister’s watchparty on Nov. 8, 2022. (The VisTa/ eThan Brown)

Miranda Muehl, of Mustang, Okla., marches during a march to call for justice for missing and murdered indigenous women Friday, June 14, 2019, at the Cheyenne and Arapaho Tribes of Oklahoma in Concho. (Provided/ AP Photos)

Weekly Horoscope

AQUARIUS

After last week’s eclipse, your home and family were likely lit up in unexpected ways. How are you feeling about the changes? Get ready for an adventure with both Ve nus and Mercury in Sagit tarius this week: the planets of love and communication station in this freedom lov ing sign, promising a wild ride. Generous and benefi cial aspects this week make for smoother sailing.

Since the eclipse met up with your third house of intellect, there may have been events that led to a change in the way you think. You may re ceive a creative boost as a re sult of Venus’ transition into Sagittarius. Midweek would be a great time to brainstorm inspiration before Mercury follows the planet into Sag on Thursday. Positive aspects, specifically those with Jupiter in your sign, make it easier to compromise and come to agreements this week.

What you manifested at the Full Moon is coming to fru ition. A sweet Venus-Jupiter brings you the dash of luck you need on Tuesday before Venus moves into Sagittari us. This fiery energy enhanc es the romance within every day life. You could dive into some adventurous trysts over the next few weeks. Mercury follows Venus into Sagittar ius Thursday, placing com munication and honesty at the top of the board. Friday, a Sun-Pluto aspect causes you to chase towards success: play strategically, don’t stress it. Monday’s Mercury-Venus conjunction brings sociable, fun energy.

Last week the eclipse tran sited your first house of self, spelling big changes in how you conduct yourself. How are you feeling after the events set in motion by the eclipse? With Venus and Mercury moving into adven turous Sagittarius, this is a great time to check in with yourself and those around you. What adventures are you ready for? Where might it be a good idea to slow down? You may find yourself focusing hard on your ambi tions on Friday. Next Mon day makes an excellent time for dates or socializing.

You may have had some big subconscious change rolling in based on events set in mo tion by the eclipse. Medita tion and journaling remain powerful tools to better un derstand yourself. When Mercury follows Venus into Sagittarius, some exciting energy may lift you off your feet! As always, don’t be afraid to protect your energy if it becomes overwhelming. A harsh aspect with Mars in your sign on Saturday highlights the importance of trusting yourself.

CANCER June 21-July 22

How are your relationships to the collective changing?

You can look close to find answers in the events set in motion by the eclipse. Since it transited your eleventh house of friendships and networks, you may have gained new perspective on what it means to be part of the whole. Additionally, your role in group dynamics may be shifting. Positive aspects with Jupiter in Pisces make this week feel just a little more magical than normal. Saturday is a good day to get away from outside pressure. The best validation will come from yourself.

The last quarter Moon in Leo encourages us to tune in to our needs. Drop anything that doesn’t fit. On Tuesday, a Venus-Jupiter trine boosts general pleasure and luck in the simple things. Later that day, Venus moves to Sag ittarius. Get ready for four weeks of fiery, adventurous, universal love. This energy is an underlying current but might be felt most strong ly by fire placements. Your generosity is appreciated this week, but be mindful of your limits. When Mercury moves into Sagittarius on Thursday, conversations move towards brighter skies and bigger topics. Are you ready to take a leap of faith?

Dear Sagittarius, this week you might find yourself in the spotlight. The waning Leo moon encourages you to clip excess worry and focus your fire. Themes of the next few weeks for you include love and communication as Ve nus and Mercury both enter your sign. This is a continua tion of changes that occurred as a result of the Taurus eclipse last week. Generous aspects make it easier to ac cess your abundance mind set this week. Next Monday holds a Venus-Mercury con junction, placing the ducks in a row for a sensual, socia ble atmosphere.

Last week’s eclipse trans formed the ways you expe rience pleasure. This likely brought something new and exciting into your life. Now as Venus enters Sagttarius and Mercury follows, the spirit of adventure continues. Abundance and open com munication come easier now. A Plutonian aspect this past Monday encouraged open and sensitive conversation, which flows perfectly into a Venus-Jupiter trine that en courages generosity and sat isfaction on Tuesday. Positive aspects throughout the week make transitions even easier.

GO

The eclipse last week transit ed your ninth house, calling you to more deeply examine your philosophy, spirituality, or morality. Now, a sense of ease comes with any changes to do with your view of the world. A global pattern of abundance settles into this week, just in time for the sea son of giving. Sagittarius en ergy for Venus and Mercury may inspire you to rethink some self-limiting beliefs. Something could come true you may have not thought previously possible.

LIBR A September 23-October 2 2

An exciting adventure re garding your deepest con nections may be in store! This week watches the unfolding of events that began with the eclipse transiting your eighth house last week. When Ve nus then Mercury travel into Sagittarius, communications and new ideas take a more direct, adventurous role. As you are one sign away from the archer, positive effects are likely with two planets in this sign. On Saturday, it may be best to work independently and let go of the desire for outside validation.

LEO July 23-August 22 SCORPIO October 23-November 21 SAGITTARIUS November 22-December 21 CAPRICORN December 21-January 20

Dear Scorpio, Tuesday lays out a sweet, generous aspect enhancing abundance in your relationships. This is a welcome continuation that may relate to conversations had on Monday. These con versations likely tie back to the transformation in your relationships linked to last week’s eclipse. Venus enters Sagittarius the same day, bringing an honest, expan sive, and exciting energy to your close relationships: abundance is a mindset. Thursday, Mercury enters Sagittarius, enhancing open communication. Notice you already have everything you need within yourself.

Preston Drake Contributing Writer

Nov. 15

1777 – The Continental Con gress approved the Articles of Confederation. The document served as the first constitution for the fledgling United States and was formally adopted in 1781 following approval by the states. The original central government did not have extensive powers, lacking the ability to compel the constituent states to do much of anything. For example, while it had the authority to create the Continental Army, it had no authority to force the states to contribute manpower or money to its upkeep. The ineffective ness of the central government eventually led to the Articles of Confederation being replaced by the Constitution in 1789.

Nov. 16

1907 – Oklahoma was admitted as the 46th state in the Union, confirmed by President Theodore Roosevelt’s Presidential Procla mation 780. This was done by combining the Oklahoma Terri tory and Indian Territory, which had merged and formed a state constitution and government after being authorized to do so by Congress in 1906. The state has grown to a population of almost four million, of which around 1.4 million live in the Oklahoma City metro.

Nov. 17

9 AD – The Roman Emperor Vespasian was born in Falacri num, Italy. He started his career as a military magistrate in Thra ce, near modern-day Istanbul, Turkey, and rose to prominence during the Year of the Four Emperors in 69 AD. Following the death of Nero the year before, the Roman Empire endured a year of civil strife. The governor of Hispania, Galba, was named emperor first in June, 68 AD, and was assassinated by the Praetori an Guard the following January. He was replaced by Otho, who took his own life three months later after his defeat in battle at the hands of the third of the four emperors, Vitellius. Vespasian took the throne as the fourth and final emperor of that year, with his troops executing his predeces sor in December. Vespasian went on to rule for nearly 10 years, overseeing the invasion of Britain and beginning construction of

Ainsley Martinez

the famous Colosseum.

Nov. 18

2017 – Malcolm Young, co-founder of the world-famous rock band AC/DC, passed away in Elizabeth Bay, Australia. He and his younger brother Angus founded the group in 1973, and it is considered by many today as one of the greatest bands to ever perform. Their 1980 album “Back in Black” is the second-highest selling album of all time with 50 million copies sold, behind only Michael Jackson’s 1982 album “Thriller.” Malcolm Young was admitted to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame as part of AC/DC in 2003, and the band continues to perform to this day, led by Angus.

Nov. 19

1863 – President Abraham Lin coln delivered the Gettysburg Address around four months after the Union Army defeated an invasion of Pennsylvania by Confederate General Robert E. Lee and his Army of Northern Virginia. A mere 271 words in length, the short speech is one of the most influential in American history. In it, Lincoln exhorted the American people to preserve the Union, so that “these dead shall not have died in vain – that this nation, under God, shall have a new birth of freedom, and that government of the people, by the people, for the people, shall not perish from the earth.”

Nov. 20 1945 – The Nuremberg trials began in Germany, with the Allied Powers trying numerous Nazi leaders for their part in numerous invasions and crimes

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over the course of World War II. In total, 24 Nazi officials were tried under a variety of charges, most prominently Luftwaffe commander Hermann Göring. Of the 24, 19 were given death or prison sentences. Göring him self was sentenced to death, but committed suicide by cyanide pill the day before his execution. The trials marked a change from the practice of holding nations as a whole responsible for breaking international law, instead laying the blame at the feet of individual figures within the government. These trials focused mainly on that aspect, with later Nuremberg trials focusing on individuals’ role in the Holocaust.

Nov. 21

1916 – Austro-Hungarian Emper or Franz Joseph I von Habsburg died in Vienna, Austria, marking an end to a 68-year reign stretch ing back to 1848. It was the death of his nephew and presumptive heir, Archduke Franz Ferdinand, which sparked the beginning of World War I. His reign had seen Austria, which had long dom inated the German-speaking world, lose the battle for German supremacy to the Kingdom of Prussia, causing a shift of nation al attention toward the Balkans. Franz Joseph was succeeded by his grandnephew, Karl I, who would be the last emperor of the nation before it collapsed in the waning months of World War I.

UCO’s Student Voice Since 1903

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EDITORIALS

Opinion columns, editorial cartoons, reviews and commentaries represent the views of the writer or artist and not necessarily the views of The Vista Ed itorial Board, the Department of Mass Communications, UCO or the Board of Regents of Oklahoma Colleges. The Vista is not an official medium of ex pression for the Regents or UCO.

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be typed, double-spaced and must include the author’s printed name, major, classification and phone number. Phone numbers are included for contacting purposes only.

Letters are subject to editing for libel, clarity and space, or to eliminate statements of ques tionable taste. The Vista reserves the right not to publish submitted letters.

ADDRESS LETTERS TO: Editor, The Vista 100 N. University Dr. Edmond, OK 73034-5209

Or, deliver in person to the editor in the Mass Communications Building, Room 131. Letters can be emailed to thevista@ucentralmedia.com.

Abraham Lincoln, 16th president of the United States. (WIKIPEDIA COMMONS/PROVIDED)

Most significant figures of the American Revolution were part of the Continental Congress. Just ask Hamilton. (PROVIDED)

While Gen Z voted, many never made it to the polls

As of the beginning of November, 2,295,906 Okla homans were registered to vote, according to the OK Election Board website. 386,808 of those registered to vote are in the age range of 18-29, a demographic that made an impact nationally in the Nov. 8 midterm elections.

Angelique Bruner, a theater major, has voted in every election since turning 18. Bruner said that her family has voted in every election since the 1960s..

“I physically went to the polls. I made a polling plan,

and I made sure that my grandmother got to the polls as well,” Bruner said. “I go on Ballotpedia and I do my best to make an informed choice.”

Bruner cited her family’s history as a reason that she votes. She spoke of her grandparents, saying, “they fought very hard for us to get the right to vote.”

“I have done everything I can in my civic duty,” she said.

Accounting senior Kayla Vo, however, did not vote. Vo, who is registered, said that she did vote in 2020, but didn’t feel informed enough to cast a vote this year.

“I didn’t want to go alone. If my friend would have

gone with me, I probably would have voted,” Vo said. “I had classes that day and I couldn’t miss.”

Vo said that she did know about early voting, but did not know about absentee voting. She also said that she probably would not have voted absentee anyway, because she did not know anything about the candi dates.

“I’m a bit of a hypocrite. I do think people should vote because it’s a right we have,” she said.

Oklahoma residents can check the status of their voter registration or request to register by visiting the Oklahoma Election Board website.

Celebrating Native American Heritage Month

Moments in U.S. Native American History

Group attends Native American Student Association’s event. (The Vista/ Ethan Brown)

Poet Laureate of the United States Joy Harjo, June 6, 2019. Harjo is the first Native American to serve as poet laureate and is a member of the Muscogee Creek Nation.

Members of the 3rd and 4th Division Navajo code talker platoons of World War II, dressed in their unit’s uniform, during a commemoration of the landing on Iwo Jima National Archives.

Student volunteers help out at a booth to encourage on-campus voting at the University of Central Florida in Orlando, Florida [John Raoux/AP Photo]

Matilda Harvey Reporter

Olivia Miller Contributing Writer

Flu season is upon us and it is time to get the yearly flu shot. The UCO Wellness Center will host a flu shot and COVID-19 vaccine clinic in the Wellness Center 8:30 a.m.-2:30 p.m. Nov. 18, and both insured and uninsured UCO stu dents are eligible for free shots.

Pre-registration for this clinic is highly recommended but not required, and walk-ins will be tak en. Registrations are open at oem. passporthealthglobal.com.

Flu shots can not only help the person receiving the shot, but others around them. The flu shot increases the body’s ability to fight off the infection. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), “The best way to protect yourself and your loved ones against influenza (flu) is to get a flu vaccine every flu season.”

Pregnant women should also be vaccinated, according to the CDC,

since it helps the mom fight off the infection and can help the baby for “several months” after the baby is born until it can reach vaccination age. While some can still get sick with the vaccination, studies show that it can help reduce the severity of the illness, the CDC reports.

“One reason we vaccinate people is to reach herd immunity,” said Kameryn Kinsey, a nursing student.

Herd immunity is when 80% or more of the population is immu nized to certain illnesses that have a vaccine. Kinsey said it is one reason people rarely hear about polio anymore, because we reached herd immunity with it.

“Well, it still exists,” Kinsey said. “The cases have just immense ly decreased after a polio vaccine came out.”

If people do not get vaccinat ed then “that herd immunity will dwindle and that’s not what we want,” Kinsey said

The same can be applied to the COVID-19 vaccine, which will

also be offered at the clinic on Nov. 18. There are boosters available for those who have already had the first two doses. The boosters help pro

tect from some of the newer varia tions of the infection, according to the CDC.

UCO Students Launch National EMPWR Campaign

Sam Royka Managing Editor

Strategic communications students at UCO have created a campaign that “targets the marginalization and stereotyping of Indigenous people in the United States,” according to a press release published Nov 11. The campaign is part of their capstone class project.

The EMPWR campaign stands for “Ending Marginalized Practices Within Races.” The students working on the project have launched it as part of a national competition.

“These students have partnered with the Invent2Prevent program, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, and the McCain Institute,” the press release stated.

According to the McCain Institute, “Invent2Prevent is an innovative, experiential learning program that challenges high school and college students to create and implement their own dynamic products, tools, or initiatives to address acts of targeted violence, hate or terrorism in their specific communities.”

The EMPWR project employs the use of an online game, website, and videos posted on TikTok to reach its goals.

“Students will host several interactive classroom seminars in order to test their prototype and initiate their launch,” the press release stated.

Paige Threadgill, a member of the strategy team, said “as a minority my self, I’m glad I get to be a part of something that brings awareness to how diverse we really are. It is important to bring more representation to Native Americans.”

The project team leader Marlea Stafford also weighed in.

“I’ve enjoyed the opportunity to learn more about a group of people out side of what I was taught in school. There is no denying that our Indige nous peoples have experienced repeated hardships through no fault of their own. If we’re able to change at least one person’s mind or attitude, then it will have been worth it,” Stafford said.

The EMPWR team will have a few events in the coming weeks. The Reaffirmation Fair is scheduled for Nov. 29. Finalists submit their final campaign on Dec. 7.

“Schools chosen as finalists will compete in January, 2023, in Wash ington D.C.,” the press release stated.

More information about the project and team is available at www.emp wruco.com.

UCO students focus on ‘Modern Self Portraits’

Madelyn Fisher Contributing Writer

The UCO Department of Mass Communications’ Photographic Arts Program has once again partnered with the Woody Gaddis Gallery to host its seventh annual exhibition titled, “Pointing At Ourselves: Modern Self Portraits.” This year’s free international contest will challenge contestants to create photographic pieces that reflect themselves and their personas.

Manager of Photographic Arts Fa cilities and curator of the yearly exhibit, Angela Mackey, said the contest invites artists to submit their own personal takes on the self-portrait photograph.

“Artists are often their own worst crit ics,” Mackey said, “To be the subject of your own work requires introspection and vulnerability.”

Mackey is one of three jurors of the contest alongside photographic arts instructors Mark Zimmerman and Jesse Miller.

The contest closed entries on Oct. 31, and the jurors will now begin the selection process. The exhibit will be on display Nov. 22-Jan. 3 in the Mass Communications Building. Artists who participate will have a chance for media exposure on the program’s social media accounts as well as inclusion in a juried contest to their future resumes.

You don’t need insurance to get a flu shot from UCO. (LM Otero/AP/PROVIDED)

EMPWR has goals of increasing communication and decreasing marginalization. (PROVIDED)

Angela Mackey, exhibit curator of “Modern Self Portraits” (PROVIDED)

New ‘God of War’ leads holiday gaming releases

Ben Anderson Contributing Writer

With the holiday season fast approaching, there are many gift options for all types of gamers that will keep any video game enthu siast happy until 2023 rolls around.

One of the biggest releases of the year is “God of War: Ragnarok.” The highly an ticipated sequel to publisher Santa Monica Studios’ “God of War” from 2018 released on Nov. 9, and has players continuing the journey of Kratos the god killer with his son Atreus as they try to stop the Nordic apocalypse from occurring.

Metacritic gave the game a score of 94% and IGN gave it a 10/10, with writer Simon Cardy saying “‘God of War: Ragnarok’ is an almighty achievement and creates a new high that makes many of its peers look mortal by compari son.” The game is a sin gle-player experience and is available for both the Sony

PlayStation 4 and PS5 for $70.

For gamers looking for something a bit more light-hearted and want to play with friends, several members of the Central Gaming Community have put Nintendo’s “Pokémon Scarlet” and “Violet,” releasing Nov. 18, at the top of their lists. The two games are the latest paired release in Nintendo’s “Pokémon” franchise, with the familiar gameplay of catching, train ing, and sparring with other trainers. They will feature all new Pokémon types and an open world to explore.

The game is rated “E” for everyone ages 10 and up, a great gift for both young and old Pokémon trainers.

“I am excited to get it for both me and my kids to play it together,” said Dr. Matt Knutson, the esports minor professor here at UCO. The game releases on the Nintendo Switch later this week for $60.

While there are several other games that would

make great gifts, like Ac tivision’s “Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2’’ or sev eral sports games like “NBA 2K 23,” there are also a few popular downloadable content (DLC) games due to come out soon.

“I don’t really have any games I’m looking forward to, mostly just ‘Destiny Lightfall’ early next year,” said Ty Wallace, one of the esports coaches. “Lightfall” is the latest in many highly

regarded DLCs for pub lisher Bungie’s “Destiny,” the first-person shooter/ massively multiplayer online role-playing game (MMORPG).

The DLC will expand the story started by “The Witch Queen’’ DLC, released in 2021. There will be new armor sets and raids for players to enjoy. Initially set to release later this month, the release has been pushed back to February 2023.

If you are still struggling to find something that works, one other option is to gift someone a subscription to Xbox Game Pass by Mic rosoft. Like TV subscription services, Game Pass has access to thousands of titles, old and new releases, in any genre that you could possi bly want, with tiers starting at $9.99 a month. It is also available for PC, Xbox Series X and S, and older Xbox One consoles.

For holiday couples shopping, time together matters

Emma Nickles

Contributing Writer

The holidays can also be a time when peo ple stress out trying to come up with the per fect gift for that special someone in their lives. YThe length of the relationship matters when choosing a gift. If a couple has only been to gether for a few months — or it’s a complicated “situationship,” it is best to stick to something small and relatively inexpensive. This could be something like a do-it-yourself craft, or maybe just a thoughtful card. Going over the top can come across as desperate. For those who insist on purchasing a gift, consider a handheld milk frother from Amazon for $7.99, a $23.99 wear able blanket from Amazon or a Roku Streaming Stick, available for $24.99 at Best Buy. Keep it simple, yet thoughtful.

Couples together for three to six months are now eligible for exchanging gifts that are more personal — and expensive. Consider tickets to “Immersive Van Gogh,” an inter active art installation open Dec. 14-Jan. 15 at the Okla homa City Convention Center.

Tickets range from $29.99 to $109.99 at Ticketmas ter.

The Keurig

Latte Coffee Maker, for $60 on Best Buy’s Black Friday sale, is a great gift for anyone, especially relationships in the three to six months range. It is substantial yet affordable, and it will make their caffeine addictions flourish. A great alternative option for hydration lovers is the Stanley 40oz H2.0

Tumbler for $40.

For the couples together for over a year, con sider getting them something bigger and more expensive. This could be tickets to a show or a weekend away in a quaint Airbnb. Or it could be something that they would never buy for themselves, like a good perfume or cologne. The Valentino Garavani Donna Born In Roma Eau de Parfum, available from Sephora at $80, is the perfect feminine warm floral fragrance for your honey. For a masculine smell, consider Yves Saint Laurent Y Eau de Parfum, also at Sephora at $139; with its sophisticated woody and citrus fragrance.

But let’s be honest: everyone this holiday season wants a pair of UGG Tasman Slippers, UGG, $100.

No matter what you choose, the most import ant thing is to put thought into it. Try to think about what they might like, what they wouldn’t buy for themselves, and what would make them happy.

Chi Omega breaks out the gravy for annual Thanksfest dinner

Antony Morales Garcia Contributing Writer

UCO’s Chi Alpha student organi zation will host its annual Thanks fest 7-9 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 17 at the Nigh University Center’s thirdfloor ballrooms.

Charlie Bunn, director of the Chi Alpha organization at UCO, said the event is a tradition that has tak en place for the past 20 years.

“The meal is the main part of the night,” Bunn said. “We will also have a time where some of the students will be speaking live or by video about things that they have experienced with our organization through the last semester.”

Attendees can expect a free tradi

tional Thanksgiving dinner consist ing of turkey, cornbread dressing, sweet potatoes, mashed potatoes and a variety of desserts.

This is the first time the event will be hosted in person since the pan demic. It started with 15 students in the living room area of the Human Environmental Science Building about two decades ago.

“We are expecting 350 to 400 people,” Bunn said. “We go out and raise the funds. Sometimes we find funds from the organization, but this year we had enough dona tions from individuals, alumni and churches,” Bunn said.

The event is free and open to UCO students, faculty, staff and alumni.

“God of War: Ragnarok” is one of the most popular game releases for the holidays. (SANTA MONICA STUDIOS/PROVIDED)

“Immersive Van Gogh” is an display starting Dec. 4 at the Oklahoma City Convention Center. (IMMERSIVE VAN GOGH/PROVIDED)

Valentino Garavani

Donna Born In Roma Eau de Parfum (SEPHORA/PROVIDED)

UGG Tasman slippers (UGG/PROVIDED)

UCO’s Chi Alpha Thanksfest is an annual tradition for the student organization. (MATTHEW MEAD/ASSOCIATED PRESS)

Bronchos wrestlers stampede Drury Panthers,

Hayden Smith Contributing Writer

UCO’s wrestling team won their dual meet in Springfield, Missouri on Thursday when the Bronchos took down the Drury Panthers 30-9 at Weiser Gym.

The Bronchos wrestlers got off to a fast start this year with a 30-3 win in their Nov. 4 opener against Northern State.. UCO Wrestler Dylan Lucas was named MIAA co-wrestler of the week as a result of his outstanding performances. The Bronchos also had nine placers at The Dan Har ris Open on Sunday, Nov. 6.

This all comes as little surprise after the Bron chos demolished the competition last season. The 2021-22 season ended with UCO finish ing first in the NCAA Division II Regional IV Tournament and second in the NCAA Division II Wrestling Championships. They also went a perfect 13–0 in dual meets last season. The Bronchos are on a tear lately with 21 straight dual wins. Their last loss in a dual was to Mcken dree in February 2020.

UCO returns their reigning 197-pound na tional champion, Dalton Abney, who is a heavy favorite to win another National Championship. Among the returning wrestlers from last season includes senior wrestler and returning All-Amer

Opendorse app allows UCO students into endorsements

UCO student-athletes have begun to capitalize in the endorsement industry through name, image, and likeness (NIL) deals following the school’s recent partnership with the app Opendorse, the leading athlete marketplace and NIL technology company.

“I know we have 371 stu dent-athletes who have created a profile with Opendorse,” UCO Director of Athletics Stan Wag non said. “And I believe we’ve had about 30 or more deals come

through for approval since Septem ber.”

The UCO Athletic Department first announced its partnership with Opendorse in August, which provides all student-athletes full access to the company’s all-in-one NIL platform that provides the best compliance, content and education tools.

This partnership comes after last year’s new policy approved by the NCAA Board of Directors, which allows NCAA D1, D2 and D3 stu dent-athletes to be compensated for their name, image and likeness. The benefits to college athletes include

the ability to earn and accept mon ey by commercial endorsements, social media posts, appearances, hosting camps, giving lessons, auto graphs and other various commer cial activities – all within NCAA rules.

“We partnered with Opendorse because we believe NIL opportu nities are possible for UCO stu dent-athletes, and Opendorse has the expertise to guide and support our students as they look to capi talize on those opportunities. This partnership provides them with re sources and a platform to maximize their NIL journey,” said Wagnon.

UCO athletes each receive an Opendorse profile, which they can customize and promote to their fans, sponsors, donors, brands or other partners through their own personal social media accounts.

Athletes at UCO can review op portunities, apply and receive deals, accept payments, and automatically disclose details to the athletic de partment to ensure legal eligibility, all from the app.

Opendorse has over 90,000 stu dent-athletes who use the platform to help maximize NIL profit, while maintaining simple and safe trans actions for all parties involved.

ican Brik Flippo, who holds a 71-21 career record as a Broncho wrestler. At heavyweight, UCO returns All-American Shawn Streck, who is a junior this season and will be looking for

a national title as well. It is safe to say that the Bronchos are stacked this year and ready to com pete at a high level.

Dylan Lucas, standing, was named MIAA co-wrestler of the week. (CENTRAL SPORTS/PROVIDED).

Cal Haydon Contributing Writer

Camryn Givens has been named Third Team or Honorable Mention All-MIAA all three years at UCO. He is currently a forward on the team. (CENTRAL SPORTS/PROVIDED).

‘Wakanda Forever’ celebrates Boseman’s legacy

Logan Wood Contributing Writer

“Black Panther: Wakanda For ever” hits you in the feels from its first line of dialogue. The movie takes place one year after the death of King T’Challa as Wakan da comes into contact with a hidden society that threatens all life on the surface world.

Princess Shuri, played by Letitia Wright, is the heart and soul of “Wakanda Forever.” Her charac ter arc shows how she handles her grief after the death of her brother. She went from being just a cool brainy sibling to becoming a much more complex character.

I was shocked by how much my appreciation for the character had grown from already liking the character in the first “Black Panther,” to becoming one of my favorite characters in the Marvel Cinematic Universe.

Of course, Chadwick Boseman’s presence is sadly missed through out. I couldn’t help myself from wondering what it would’ve been like if he were in it.

The movie still does everything it can to honor Boseman and the

character of T’Challa. It’s clear that the actors were drawing upon the emotions that they were feeling in real life over the death of their fellow actor and friend, which led to some really heart breaking scenes.

Riri Williams is a recent ad dition to the Marvel Comics universe and Dominique Thorne gives a great performance in the role. She is a fun ally who delivers some of the comic relief through out the movie. Riri’s part in the story got off to an exciting start, but by the end, it started to feel like she was just there to set up her own Disney+ series, “Iron heart,” which is currently sched uled to start airing in Fall 2023.

One of my biggest hopes for these next two Avengers movies is that we get a scene with Riri and Shuri interacting with Tom Holland’s Peter Parker and the three of them doing science to gether or something. I think they would all have great chemistry and make for a really fun teamup.

We’re also introduced to Namor for the first time ever in live-ac tion. Namor is one of the oldest

Namor was a solid antagonist with compelling motivations and Tenoch Huerta plays him per fectly, but it’s really hard to beat Michael B. Jordan’s Killmonger from the first “Black Panther.” “Wakanda Forever” is long at over 160 minutes, which led to some pacing issues, but it is not boring.

“Wakanda Forever” is anoth

er great addition to

worthy

Boseman. When “Thor: Love and Thunder” came out last July, I found it to be disap pointing. I’m a big fan of director Taika Waititi, but his movie had this unrelenting sense of humor and unwillingness to take itself seriously that I just had a difficult time enjoying. I needed the next Marvel movie to reassure me that the franchise wasn’t slipping. “Wakanda Forever” accomplished that and much more.

‘Tales of the Jedi’ proves to be an inconsistent force

minutes long or shorter. The main Jedi who are followed this season are Count Dooku, also known as Darth Tyranus and fan favorite Ahsoka Tano. The animation style is fantastic as it’s always been, and the atmosphere of the episodes are always well crafted and gives off a sense of wonder, while also being alien to the viewers.

My favorite episodes are the Dooku epi sodes, which chronicles his disillusionment with the Jedi and his eventual turn to the Dark Side as he becomes Darth Tyranus. While Dooku eventually succumbed to evil and was twisted by the dark side, one can completely understand where he’s coming from and even feel sad as he turns his back on the only thing he’s ever had that was close to a family.

Britton Summers Reporter

I like to say that “Star Wars” is the first film that I remember seeing, and as far back as I can remember it was the first movie that I loved. I still have a clear image of when I saw “Star Wars” for the first time: my grandfather was the one who brought it over. I remember being transfixed by the world that “Star Wars” presented, and it left me with a deep, abiding love for the franchise that’s lasted to this day. I find that “Star Wars” has managed to succeed mostly in the animated and live action TV shows that they’ve made in recent years. “Star Wars: The Clone Wars” remains my favorite “Star Wars” show of all time,

Payton Scott Contributing Writer

Drake and 21 Savage have produced a chart-topping collaboration album, “Her Loss.” Released on Nov. 4, the album is the first collaboration from Drake and is pro jected to be No.1 on the Billboard Top 200 Album Chart, knocking Taylor Swift’s album “Midnights” to second place. HitsDailyDou ble reports sales projections for the album to be 400,000 first-week units. If the prediction is correct, the 400,000 units would be the largest number of units sold in the first week for a hip-hop album in 2022.

“Her Loss” is Drake’s 12th No.1 Billboard entry of his career, and the second No. 1 in one calendar year, joining “Honestly, Nev

and “Rebels” proved to be a great show, too, though it was one that took me some time to fully appreciate. Andor has destroyed my expectations and pleasantly surprised me despite the lackluster effort that was “Rogue One.” But Filoni and the crew decided to come back with, yet another animated show called “Tales of The Jedi.”

Much like with the Marvel Cinematic Uni verse, I’ve been trying to take a break from “Star Wars” as of lately. But after being blown away by “Andor,” my enthusiasm for “Star Wars” was reignited and I decided to check out “Tales of The Jedi.”

“Tales of The Jedi” is a short anthology se ries which follows the exploits of some of our favorite Jedi, and the episodes are about 20

The Ahsoka episodes are…on and off. The first episode that involves her as a baby was mediocre: while it had beautiful animation, the story was very cookie cutter. The sec ond one was much better, as we see her and Anakin training with clone troopers, which ends up helping her unwittingly during Order 66, and the last episode with her was solid, but it felt unnecessary. But I do enjoy Ahsoka as a character, and Ashley Eckstein always beautifully brings her to life when she’s in a Star Wars property.

“Tales of The Jedi” is a bit of a mixed bag for me, but the strong episodes are worth talking about. I am looking forward to what Dave Filoni and the crew can do for a second season and I hope that they cover more Jedi in the future.

ermind,” which was released in August. This album is 21 Savage’s second entry in the Bill board 200, with this album joining “I Am > I Was,” released in January 2019, and “Savage Mode II,” released in October 2020.

The album contains samples from multiple artists like T.I., Megan Thee Stallion, and The Diplomats, to name a few. The song “Rich Flex” includes samples from four songs and one movie scene. “Savage” (Megan Thee Stallion, 2020) appearing at 1:21, “24’s” (T.I., 2003) appearing at 2:23, “Nora’s Transforma tion” (“Invasion of the Bee Girls,” 1973) ap pearing at 0:19, “I Want You, Girl” (2:00,2:29, Sugar (Soul Act), 1973) appearing at 06 and 1:47 lastly “Red Opps” (21 Savage. 2015) appearing at 2:17 and continuing through the song. This song is produced by Vinylz, Tay

Keith, FNZ, and BoogzDaBeast.

“Middle of the Ocean” is another song that contains multiple samples. The samples are “Real N—as” (The Diplomats, 2003), ap pearing at 1:53 and continuing throughout the song. “Cry Together” (The O’Jays, 1978) appears at 4:50 and plays until the end of the track. This track is produced by OZ, Noel Cadastre, Sucuki, Nik D, and Loof.

After the death of Migos member TakeOff, the album was reportedly set to have another delay but was released without a second delay.

“It was just so much going on, like so much negative, sad energy,” said 21 Savage on the “Off The Record” podcast hosted by Dj Ak ademiks. “We was just like, ‘Maybe this will give a smile or a lift-up, give the world a liftup, something-to-look-forward- to type sh-t.”

Marvel Comics characters, hav ing been created in 1939. He even predates Captain America by two years.

the Marvel Cinematic Universe and a

tribute to

Letitia Wright stars as Princess Shuri in “Wakanda Forever.” (MARVEL/PROVIDED)

Dooku and Mace Windu confront an enemy in “Tales of the Jedi” (STAR WARS/PROVIDED)

Behind the Hit: ‘Her Loss’ is a win for Drake and 21 Savage