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Public Body or Not? Volume 115, Issue 10
“Our Words, Your Voice.”
Tuesday, October 24, 2017
Kateleigh Mills @kateleighsuz Reporter
Remington Dean, center, speaks during a Fall 2017 UCOSA Congress meeting, sitting with Kalina Popova, left, and Mario Figueroa, right. UCOSA is currently under review on whether or not it is considered publically funded. (Austin Moseley/The Vista)
The debate on whether the University of Central Oklahoma Student Association is considered a public body under Oklahoma's Freedom of Information (FOI) Laws is still underway as attorneys question funding. UCO Legal Counsel and FOI attorneys have been disagreeing on whether student activity fees are considered "public funding" for the state. The UCOSA, the college's student government association, is a recommendation body to the Office of Student Affairs. See “UCOSA ” continued on page 8.
UCO Fraternity Goes Viral
Vy Luong
@TheVista1903 Reporter
Sigma Tau Gamma fraternity members at the University of Central Oklahoma are raising support for the Special Olympics after their winning Homecoming Cheer and Dance video went viral. “It is cool to see my face everywhere, see my brothers everywhere and read comments of other people,” said Cameron Golshani, president UCO’s Sigma Tau Gamma chapter. “The best thing about that is bringing a lot of attention to our Special Olympics.” Special Olympics is a sports training and competition program for people with disabilities. It is the traditional philanthropy of UCO Sigma Tau Gamma. Sigma Tau Gamma members set the goal of $5,000 for their fundraising. They got about $4,200 after a week. Golshani said they will use part of it for their Special Olympics promoting events and donate the rest straight to the program.
“We didn't know that we go viral. It’s extremely unexpected,” said Golshani. The video was posted on their Facebook page after the performance Oct. 13. It now has over 6.4 million views. “When we went to bed, it had about 7000 to 8000 views, which is normal,” said Golshani. “But at the middle of the next day, we had about one million views.” Multiple media outlets, including BuzzFeed, USA Today, ESPN and local news stations, have shared the video, written about it and interviewed members of the fraternity. Homecoming Adviser Ellen Engh said she has never seen any video go viral like this before. “I feel excited for them and hope they can raise enough for their philanthropy,” said Engh. “They also show fraternity and sorority life as a positive thing.”
See “Frat Goes Viral ” continued on page 9.
Members of Sigma Tau Gamma perform during Homecoming Cheer and Dance on Friday, Oct. 13, 2017 in Hamilton Field House. The fraternity’s video of the performance has gone viral online, hoping to raise awareness and funds for Special Olympics. (Janessa Egler/The Vista)