UCO's The Vista, Oct. 25, 2022

“OUR WORDS, YOUR VOICE.”

Gubernational canidates talk abortion, marijuana and education

by the Sustainable Journalism Foundation, a nonprofit entity. NonDoc’s Editor-in-Chief Tres Savage and News9’s Storme Jones moderated the debate.

Incumbent Republican Governor Kevin Stitt clashed with Democratic challenger and State Super intendent for Public Instruction Joy Hofmeister on issues like corruption, tribal concerns, medical mari juana and abortion during last Wednesday’s guberna torial debate.

The 90-minute debate at the Will Rogers Theater was hosted by News9 and NonDoc, an inde pendent Oklahoma journalism publication operated

“You know, we’ve gone from budget deficits to a record savings account. From four-day school weeks and teacher walkouts to now the largest invest ment of education and teachers in the history of our state,” Governor Stitt said in his opening statement.

“Folks, Oklahoma’s turnaround is working. We cannot go backwards.”

Hofmeister said in her opening statement that for Oklahoma to flourish, Oklahomans need to respect

Open to debate Central offense

one another and work together. The first question was addressed toward Governor Stitt.

“You campaigned for office in 2018 on mak ing Oklahoma a top 10 state. I think everybody’s heard that. But four years later, we remain ranked around the bottom 10 states on key education and health care issues,” moderator Savage said. “As you make your case for reelection. Tell us specifically where have you moved the needle the most on making Oklahoma top

Continued on Pg. 4

Former track and cross-country coach alleges firing for speaking out on UCO facilities

Jocelyn Schifferdecker Contributing Writer

The University of Central Oklahoma is facing allegations of retaliation in a Ti tle IX lawsuit for firing the head coach of the women’s varsity track and cross-country team after student athletes took legal action, and for not filing papers on time to allow the team to start practicing at the begin ning of the school year.

Former Head Coach Martha Brennan had been at UCO as the head coach for the varsity track and cross-country team for 13 seasons when she was fired in June 2022.

She noticed her team received fewer opportunities and support than other athletic teams. Brennan said in the 13 seasons she was at UCO, she couldn’t remember one time an athletic director or adminis tration official was at a track or cross-country event.

Whenever Brennan started at UCO, she knew there were no on campus facilities, but she thought they were go ing to build the team together. She said the athletic depart ment had a different project every year, but they never got to track or cross country.

“Over time, there was just this erosion process. It wasn’t overnight but I could feel it and I knew. Especially this last year, I thought, ‘I don’t think this is gonna change,’” said Brennan.

She decided to take action to try to improve the situation. In Spring 2022, Bren nan was working on creating an outdoor park area behind the sports performance center that she hoped would fix some of these problems and provide her team, as well as others, with more space.

This outdoor park would include an area for jumps and throws and would

include an obstacle course, pickleball courts, and a big turf area for intramurals and overall campus use.This project was never approved, but the univer sity knew she was working on it. Brennan met with multiple people about the park, includ ing the university’s architect. She also had donors and in vestors who were interested in helping carry out the plans. She told everyone she met with it wasn’t an approved plan, just an idea she was working on in her own time.

“My job is to advocate for my women based on Title IX. It is my job to advocate for them if I do not feel like we are being treated equally like other teams,” said Brennan.

At the same time, female student athletes of the track and cross-country team began to communicate with the university about the unfair treatment they were receiving.

In February 2022, some mem bers of the team met with UCO Athletic Director Stan Wag non and compliance director Sheridan Leakes to raise their concerns about the unequal support and opportunities their team was offered. Wagnon told them the only reason their team was reinstated in 2009 was to comply with Title IX regula tions and they “weren’t really wanted.”

He said he would hire someone to evaluate the program and come up with a solution. He told the women to give him until mid-May to do this. When the athletes heard nothing back, they decided to take legal action.

The plaintiff’s head counsel emailed UCO Presi dent Patti Neuhold-Ravikumar detailing the Title IX violations on May 16, 2022. UCO sent an email back May 19, 2022, saying an investigation began and on June 14, 2022 UCO sent

Town hall meeting reveals desire to issue ‘no confidence’ vote against UCO president

Sam Royka Managing Editor

In a Faculty Town Hall held Oct. 5 in the College of Liberal Arts Lecture Hall, faculty members were invited to ask ques tions about proposed faculty reductions and recent enrollment shortfalls. Before the meet ing ended, the proposal of a no-confidence vote for President Patti Neuhold-Ravikumar received a round of applause.

Many questions centered on faculty responsibility for solving budget imbalances and other campus issues.

“Why is recruitment being put on the shoulders of faculty?” one town hall member asked.

The question was greeted with en thusiastic applause.

Enrollment is dipping this semes ter, said Alyssa Provencio, moderator of the town hall. This lowers income for the school. Recruitment is one initiative to bring enroll ment back up.

Freshman enrollment is down ap proximately 6.3 percent as compared to last year, Provencio said.

Meanwhile, the current number of total students is 12,311, down 7.7 percent from last year, she said.

Of all current students, 9,389 are attend ing at a rate equivalent to full time. This means 12 credit hours or more in a typical semester. This number is down a similar 7 percent from last year.

So not only are there fewer students, they are also taking fewer credit hours this semester. This brings revenue down for UCO as well.

Credit hours produced this semester have seen a decline of approximately 8 percent since last year, meaning fewer classes are being produced overall.

With these updated statistics in mind, town hall held a discussion of strategies to plan ahead. In other words, the plans for the plans. According to the faculty senators, limited groundwork for a strategic plan to increase enrollment exists from years past. Though some framework exists, there is no comprehensive plan at this time.

Apart from strategic plans for enroll ment, a strategic plan for the institution as a whole was also discussed.

In particular, there was a benefit group tasked with creating an institutional plan. They met for two years and worked with a hired con sultant to no avail.

Work began on the inclusive communi ty strategic plan about 18 months ago. The work

ing plan included broad representation across the university and was intended to develop a framework for the path ahead.

While this inclusive plan was being developed, President Patti Neuhold-Ravikumar hired another group to create another method. Now leads from both plans are being worked on, Provencio said.

Members of the faculty senate are part time senators, also working their other jobs at UCO.

“Last year, the senate passed a proposal suggesting that there should be a full-time faculty member on the cabinet that would be integrally involved as a full time faculty member because at the moment the provost is the only VP on the cabinet,” another senator said.

This was rejected by the President on the grounds that a yearly reappointment would be disruptive.

Applause surfaced after support for a no confidence vote on Neuhold-Ravikumar was voiced at the town hall.

The discussion also reviewed back ground information that may point toward the faculty’s emotional climate.

“Last year, the Kansas Board of Re gents voted to implement a policy that would allow state universities to fire tenured faculty in responding to financial constraints caused by the COVID-19 pandemic,” Provencio said.

Oklahoma Gov. Kevin Stitt (R) listens as Joy Hofmeister (D) speaks during a debate in Oklahoma City on Wednesday. (Sarah Phipps/Oklahoman/AP) Quinn Daugherty Reporter

(The Vista/ Logan Gassett)

AQUARIUS

This Eclipse puts you in the spotlight. Changes occurring invite attention. Promotions or changes in the way you are perceived happen now. Jupiter steps it back into Pi sces on Thursday, which may settle more sentimentality over your luck. Use this week wisely to get anything im portant done before Mars retrogrades on Sunday.

PISCES

The Eclipse transits your ninth house: big ideas. Seize opportunities to travel. Dis cussions can lead to new life philosophies during this time. Jupiter reenters your sign Thursday, bringing up issues you thought were re solved in May. You may find Wednesday’s sharp eye offers a new perspective on a cre ative project.

This Eclipse transits the eighth house: intensity. Those things that feel most intense in your life right now burn bright and draw you to wards new paths. Your ruling planet Mars will soon retro grade, so using this week to get important work done is in your best interest. Resist the urge to argue Thursday – it’s just a Mercury-Pluto square. Energy that day is better spent elsewhere.

This Eclipse transits your house of close relationships. Look for ways to create pos itive change in the ways you approach relationships. Re search attachment styles for greater clarity. Mars will ret rograde in Gemini on Sun day, which may seem to make time go by a little slower over the next couple of months.

Communication may slow, but as you know, slow and diligent work does usually guarantee good results.

Sam Royka Managing Editor

CANCER

The Eclipse looks at your fifth house: recreation in your life. Any roadblocks to having fun? Don’t carry around guilt - learn from it or move on. Wednesday’s continued Scorpio moon will flow naturally with you, water sign. Thursday could turn up the heat for better or worse – how this energy plays out is up to you. Dial down arguments by upping the empathy.

Home and family may have undergone some shifts during the Eclipse. Structur al changes help us grow for the better. Thursday’s Sagit tarius moon brings a boost of energy that can bring out your best side. Also on this day, Mercury squares Pluto, creating bad weather for ar guments. Reflection and self care are advisable during this time.

VIR GO

August 23- September 22

Breakthroughs after mid terms are possible when the Eclipse transits your third house. What changed in the way you think? Wednesday will be good for productiv ity. Thursday could bring up some issues you thought were resolved as Jupiter re enters your sister sign Pisces. There is also some argumen tative energy in the forecast, so keeping it chill will be your best option.

LIBR A

23-October 2

The Eclipse transits your house of value. Financials and material comfort can shift at this time, but more likely is an opportunity to find what brings the most intrinsic value in your life. A steady day of creativi ty and new ideas comes on Wednesday when Mercury in your sign trines with Mars in Gemini. Thursday’s Sagit tarius moon could have you planning the party for Friday night! You may also be play ing mediator at some point that day.

Matters of daily routine go under the scope this week with the Eclipse in your sixth house. Changing one hab it can change your life. On Wednesday, traditionally the day of Mercury and commu nication, Mercury in Libra trines Mars in your sign. This is one of the last clear days for steady productivity before Mars begins its retro grade.

SCORPIO

The Eclipse is big for you especially. What shifts have occurred in the way you view and enact your sense of self? On Wednesday when the moon is still in your sign, you may find that productiv ity comes easier than normal with a Mercury-Libra trine clearing the skies. Use this time wisely before Mars be gins its retrograde!

This Eclipse means shifts in your subconscious. Noth ing may appear function ally different yet but shifts below your surface reveal themselves in dreams and intuition and having lasting effects over time. Thursday the moon enters your sign, bringing a boost of posi tive energy to the end of the week.

The Eclipse transits your eleventh house: friendships. Friendships may shift at this time. On Thursday, Mercu ry in Libra squares Pluto in your sign, creating an argu mentative aspect. Resist the temptation to prove your point during this time. It will be easy to fight but difficult to actually make any prog ress – energy is better spent elsewhere.

Correction to last week: the New Moon/Solar Eclipse transit in Scorpio occurs this Tuesday and not last Sunday as stated. However, due to the way energy heightens around large events, you may feel effects throughout the week.

This Week in History: Oct. 25- Oct. 31

John Drake Contributing Writer

October 25

1415 – King Henry V’s English army won a resounding victory over the Kingdom of France at the Battle of Agincourt. Part of the Hun dred Years’ War, a series of conflicts between the English and French from 1337 to 1453, the battle is notable for the wide use of long bows by the English Army and as a victory against a substantially larger force. The French were unable to use their heavy cavalry ef fectively due to the rough, muddy terrain and proved easy targets for English archers. The battle resulted in the death or capture of many prominent French nobles, including five dukes and 12 counts.

October 26

1520 – Charles V von Habsburg was crowned as Holy Roman Em peror. His reign represented the peak of Habsburg power, ruling over Austria, the Netherlands, Spain and the Spanish Americas. During his reign, he clashed frequently with the Ottoman Empire and the Kingdom of France and played a key role in Catholic resis tance to the Protestant Reformation. Charles V eventually abdi cated each of his thrones, leaving the Kingdom of Spain to his son, Philip II, and the Archduchy of Austria to his brother, Ferdinand I.

October 27

1682 – The city of Philadelphia was founded by William Penn. It is the largest city in Pennsylvania and the sixth-largest in the United States. It was home to the First and Second Continental Congresses, the latter of which signed the American Declaration of Independence. It was also the site at which the U.S. Constitution was ratified in 1787, and briefly served as the U.S. Capitol before the construction of Washington, D.C.

Phoenix is a vegan and a prolific animal rights activist. He is cur rently engaged to actress Rooney Mara and is expected to star as Napoleon Bonaparte in an upcoming Apple original film.

October 29

1923 – The Republic of Turkey was founded as the succes sor state to the Ottoman Empire, which had dissolved follow ing a century of decline, capped by their disastrous defeat in World War I. Former Field Marshal Mustafa Kemal Atatürk was elect ed its first president, a role he would hold until 1938. This day is marked by an annual celebration in Turkey called Republic Day.

October 30

1938 – A radio adaptation of “War of the Worlds” by H.G. Wells was broadcast by Orson Welles. The news-bulletin style of the broad cast, detailing a fictional Martian invasion, caused panic among members of the audience, though the extent of this has been ex aggerated. The broadcast was selected as one of 50 recordings to be added to the Library of Congress’s inaugural class for the Na tional Recording Registry. The broadcast also resulted in numer ous changes to regulations on radio communications by the FCC.

October 28

1974 – Actor Joaquin Phoenix was born in San Juan, Puerto Rico. He is best known for his role as the mad emperor Commodus in the 2000 drama “Gladiator” and as the titular character in the 2019 film “Jok er,” for which he won an Academy Award for Best Actor. Off screen,

October 31

1517 – Martin Luther nailed his 95 Theses to the door of a church in Wittenberg, Germany. This is widely considered the start of the Protestant Reformation, in which dissatisfaction with the Catho lic Church hierarchy resulted in a schism in Christianity. The Ref ormation spread across Europe, finding its greatest growth in Ger many, Scandinavia and Great Britain, and it was a leading cause of many conflicts between Catholic, Lutheran, and later Calvinist states. These conflicts culminated in the Thirty Years’ War of 16181648, a devastating religious conflict which saw an estimated 25-40% of Germany’s population die due to violence, famine and disease. Historians also trace the outbreak of the war to the deposition of Emperor Ferdinand II. In 1619, Ferdinand II was re placed by Frederick V of the Palatinate, a Protestant.

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layout design by Kevin Davis

The Liberty Bell arrived in Philidelphia in August 1752. (PROVIDED)

Joaquin Phoenix as Emperor Commodus in “Gladiator” (2000). (PROVIDED)

Martin Luther nailed his 95 theses to the church door in October 1517. (PROVIDED)

H.G. Wells originally published this scientific romance in 1898. (PROVIDED)

Debate highlights state’s problem areas

Continued from Pg.

10 and where have you been unable to?” Stitt said as a leader and governor, you have to set a vision for all your employees in all the states and that being Top 10 is an aspirational goal.

“So being Top 10 is an aspirational goal. It’s some thing that we’re never going to hit but it directs us in that we live in the greatest state in the country,” Stitt said.

When asked if she would support State Ques tion 820, which would legalize and tax recreation al marijuana, on the March special election ballot, Hofmeister said that she thinks it should be on the ballot.

Stitt signed an executive proclamation Oct. 18 declaring that SQ 820 be submitted to qualified electors of the State of Oklahoma for their ap proval or rejection at a special election to be held statewide on March 7, 2023. Governor Sitt said he was not supporting the measure and that it is still illegal at the federal level.

“Federally, we should not have a checkerboard of jurisdictions across the states so I’m not sup porting recreational marijuana,” he said.

Hofmeister said she will uphold the death penalty if elected governor. She said Stitt’s commutation of Lawrence Anderson and parole grant for the crossbow killer of Tulsa are evidence that Stitt doesn’t do his homework.

Additionally, he claimed the work his office has done in the realm of criminal justice reform has put Oklahoma in the lowest state for recidivism, or the rate at which people return to prison.

Hofmeister said under Stitt’s watch, violent crime rates are higher in Oklahoma than they are in New York or California. Stitt responded, saying, “That’s not true.”

Hofmeister’s claim is true. Violent crime rates are higher in Oklahoma than they are in New York or California, but that’s been the case for much of the last 20 years, according to The Fron tier’s analysis of the FBI’s uniform crime data. When asked if he would sign into law exceptions for abortion pertaining to rape, incest, or addic tion, Stitt said he would sign the law.

Hofmeister said she is pro-life, but that the governor has criminalized healthcare by signing

“the most extreme ban on abortion in this coun try.”

Additionally, Hofmeister said when it comes to the Oklahoma Democratic Party Platform’s support for action to reduce carbon emissions, she disagrees.

“We need more energy, not less. And frankly, there is no such thing as good energy or bad ener gy and clean energy or not,” she said.

Hofmeister was critical of President Biden and said that the federal government hasn’t done enough to meet the needs of Oklahoma and the energy industry.

Leaders of the five largest tribes in Oklahoma announced Oct 11 their official endorsement of Hofmeister for governor. When asked if she believed that the McGirt decision applied to civil matters, environmental regulations, and taxation, Hofmeister said, “That’s not a yes or no answer.”

“Because those are different tribes that all have a different view on this,” she said. “You collectively lump those people together–that is not the kind of leader that understands that we have 39 unique sovereign tribal nations in the state and they don’t speak with one voice.”

Savage asked Stitt if he believed in tribal sover eignty for the 39 tribes.

“I’m actually a member of the Cherokee Nation – I’m proud of our heritage,” Stitt said. “So again, yes, we all want to work together, but does that mean that I don’t believe in Oklahoma’s rule of law and the district attorneys in Tulsa being able to prosecute all crimes the same – that actually pro tects tribal members…We have one set of rules.”

Stitt was asked to give a yes or no answer, to which he responded, “absolutely, yes, they have sovereignty over what they have sovereignty over.” Stitt said the notion that he and his administra tion are unwilling to speak with tribal leaders is untrue.

“When are you going to sit down with them and have actual meaningful conversations to find common ground and rebuild your administra tion’s strained relationship with tribes and tribal citizens?” Savage asked. “When’s that going to happen?”

Governor Stitt answered, “Tomorrow at 10 o’clock.”

Chief of the Cherokee Nation Chuck Hoskin, Jr. said in a statement to Fox 25 that there was no invitation and no meeting scheduled.

“That Governor Stitt thinks he can command tribal leaders to his office by simply declaring on live television, speaks volumes as to why he has been a failure at state, tribal relations,” he said in the statement.

According to the Frontier, Oklahoma spent over $16.7 million to build, maintain, and operate the Swadley’s Foggy Bottom Kitchen restaurants in state parks. A review from the Frontier found the state overpaid for equipment by more than $540,000 in extra fees from Swadley’s.

In a hearing in May, the head of the Legislative Office of Fiscal Transparency told state lawmakers the Oklahoma Tourism and Recreation Depart ment lost $12.4 million in taxpayer money from improper spending on the Swadley’s deal.

Stitt said the claim that his administration lost $17 million is untrue.

“The state auditor in 2021 shows $41 million in questioned costs among agencies that he has con trol over — $20 million dollars in missing PPE in ventory, paid for, never received,” Hofmeister said in her response. “$12 million lost in Swadleys’s scandal — can’t even trust you with barbecue.”

In is closing statement, Stitt said his record of turning budget deficits to record savings and surplus has led to a bright economy attracting companies and people from all over the world.

“Folks, I want to keep the momentum going. We’ve balanced our budget, we gave our teachers a pay raise, law enforcement a pay raise, all while cutting taxes for Oklahomans,” he said.

Hofmeister said in her closing statement that Oklahoma is at a tipping point.

“We have a governor who has run our state into the ground through his self dealing — through his cronyism and corruption. And I’ve had a frontrow seat,” she said. “All of this is about common sense, respect for one another, working together, and I say I’m aggressively moderate. Meet me in the middle, let’s get something done for the people of Oklahoma. I’m asking for your vote on Novem ber the eighth, Oklahoma belongs to you. Thank you.”

Budget conversations at UCO return

Continued from Pg. 1

Decisions like this have the possibility of influencing RUSO, which could affect UCO. For context, RUSO is the Regional University System of Oklahoma, an accreditation board which holds power over some UCO policy.

Adding to the emotional climate as well, Florida State University fired 70 percent of its faculty after the regents’ decision became public. Faculty are still experiencing uncertainty about their jobs at UCO, although Neuhold-Ravikumar has stated that the university is doing its best to cut only unfilled positions. After the original decision, “provisions were added to the region’s policy of Kansas reasons, including that faculty should be allowed to weigh in on plans prior to their implementation and that a university should demonstrate an effort to exhaust all other options,” Provencio said.

The reason faculty lines are being eliminated at UCO is to save mon ey for the university, an attempt to mitigate the imbalance in spending and revenue.

There are additional factors affecting the development of a way out of the budget crisis. About 26 percent of the University’s funding comes from the state. This means that UCO receives the least funding proportional to population compared to other schools in the state.

Last year, Neuhold-Ravikumar encouraged faculty to write to state legislators about rewriting the funding formula. While being Oklahoma’s third-largest college, UCO is the second least funded by the state, according to UCO’s state funding page. As of Fall 2021, faculty and staff were compensated more than 80 percent below market rate.

Another factor in the equation is marketing, which can be an im portant part of strategic plans to increase enrollment, one strategy to balance the budget. However, contracting with marketing firms also

costs the university.

Current spending figures for rebranding put the cost around $600,000. UCO is spending about $200,000 with one marketing con sulting firm.

A faculty member questioned the way this money is being spent, suggesting some “in-house work” for the university. $600,000 “might save a couple of jobs,” they said.

It is typical for colleges to go through a rebranding process every three to six years.

Faculty members also sought clarification on the reasoning behind the goal to bring the student to faculty ratio to 17:1.

The current ratio is currently higher in some departments and low er in others.

The 17:1 ratio would be put in place with a goal of balancing in come from enrollment and spending on professors. It is also one factor in the decision to cut faculty lines at UCO.

To complicate the matter further, Academic Affairs and Finance and Operations both use different numbers when accounting.

Finance and Operations uses a 15:1 ratio while Academic Affairs uses 15.9:1, much closer to 16. With different and lower numbers, their equations look different than those calculated using the 17:1 ratio.

Even after assurances from the university, Faculty are distressed at the possibility of losing their jobs while UCO works to balance the budget.

This semester, statistics for sources of university income are all down around 7 percent from last year. UCO looks closer at what to reduce and where to spend in hopes of bringing in more students and therefore more money.

Balancing the budget continues to pull tensions across UCO as em ployees work towards the creation of functional strategic plans.

Former coach speaks out during ongoing investigation

Continued from Pg. 1

She was fired for “a willful and wanton disregard for your job responsibilities,” states the termination letter Brennan received.

According to the U.S Department of Justice, “[n]o recipient or other person shall intimidate, threaten, coerce, or discriminate against any individual for the purpose of interfering with any right or privilege secured by [Title XI], or because he has made a complaint, testified, assisted, or participated in any manner in an investigation, proceeding or hearing under this subpart.”

UCO allegedly retaliated against the team again when it did not file the paperwork to allow the varsity track and cross-country team to begin practices on time, according to the legal complaint filed by the plaintiffs.

The University continues to say they do not comment on active or pending litigations.

Martha Brennan (Provided)

Climbing utility costs this winter in Edmond

Zachary Carter Contributing Writer

Edmond utility customers can expect an increase in utility prices in the coming months. This is due to an increase in the fuel adjust ment costs being imple mented, which will hike the kilowatt-per-hour rate from two cents to 2.5 cents per kilowatt-hour. This will add up to about $5.80 per month for the average consumer.

This increase in pricing is the result of an increase in wholesale electricity costs, which allows the Fuel Cost Adjustment (FCA) to kick in. The FCA is a tariff provision that allows an increase in pricing when the raw cost of energy rises.

“The FCA is how we col lect the revenue needed to cover the cost of purchasing the energy from the whole sale market,” said Glenn Fisher, director of Edmond Electric. “This is the energy we distribute to our retail customers.

Officials have passed on several ways that consumers

can save on electricity in the coming months.

Cooling costs are typical ly 60% of a total household utility bill. For every degree a customer sets the thermo stat below 78 degrees, they use 2 to 5% more electric ity.

Turn off lights in any room not being used or consider installing timers or sensors to reduce the

amount of time lights are on.

Remember to clean the coils on refrigerators.

Clear outdoor air con ditioning units and heat pumps of debris and shrub bery so they can work more efficiently.

Conserve energy by turn ing off or using sleep mode for any computer not in use for two hours or more.

Lower the temperature on

water heaters. A setting of 120 degrees provides com fortable, hot water for most uses. And installing an insu lating blanket on an electric water heater should pay for itself in less than a year.

“Right now, we are seeing unusually high wholesale market prices for energy, and so we have made the adjustment to cover that cost,” Fisher said. “But,

when we see the market readjust and lower, that FCA rate will drop, too. It’s important for our customers to understand that the FCA is not a source of revenue for Edmond Electric. It is just a pass-through of the costs of acquiring the wholesale energy.”

‘Rooster’ makes its world premiere at Mitchell Hall

Andrea Zuniga Contributing Writer

The world premiere of “Rooster” will be staged at Mitchell Hall Theatre on Oct. 27 by UCO’s Department of Theater Arts.

Set in 1947, “Rooster,” written by Skyler Q. Andrews, is about a Black private investigator, Vernon Beaumont, from Aiken, South Carolina who is first hired to investigate a woman’s hus band over suspicions of cheating. After finding out he’s been murdered and his Black chauffeur took the blame, Beaumont becomes suspicious.

Michael Page, who is directing the play, describes “Rooster” as “a murder mystery with multiple themes around African American culture, religion and racism, with all the themes coming together in the local juke joint, Roost er.”

Page said he found the play by “going through over 50-60 plays on the website new playexchange.org, and after reading the script

decided it was a story that needed to be told.”

“Casting was the most difficult issue for pro

duction, there aren’t many African American actors in the program” Page said.

Casting for “Rooster” was open to all students, allowing for all the vital roles to be cast with only one character being flipped from being an African American man to an African American women and played by a UCO staff member. The cast for “Rooster” allowed for a good mix of characters played by different races, which was another reason Page picked it up.

With this being a brand new play, Page will be setting the standard of each new iteration of “Rooster” that will come after. Another point of excitement is that the audience genuinely won’t know what will come from this, since “Rooster” has not been put on before.

“Rooster” will be performed at 7:30 p.m. Oct. 27-29 and 2 p.m. Oct. 30.

Tickets are being sold on UCO’s website in Mitchell Hall’s directory and will be sold at the Mitchell Hall box office all four days of the play.

Dads Hug Too wraps its arms around the BGLTQ+ community

Ben Anderson Contributing Writer

Dads Hug Too was created in 2019 that aims to provide emotion al support along with essential life skills to the LGBTQ+ community. The non-profit organization hosted

years old, you could tell they hadn’t had any positive interactions or sup port from a father figure in a long time, and it meant something.”

Shortly after the organization was founded, it would attend Pride and other events to provide “free dad hugs” and other forms of support,

With this goal, the group goes to Pride and other community events throughout the year, while also hosting its own events.

“Out in the Park came about be cause this year,Edmond was unable to host their own pride event, so we decided to put up our own,” said

fittings for those who needed them.

The organization hopes to partner with more groups, local businesses, and other members of the com munity in the future, and wants people to know that anyone can join to show their support, whether they have family members in the

the “Out in the Park” event on Oct. 22 at Fink Park in Edmond, where it provided free food, games, lessons for “everyday life skills,” and an inclusive environment.

“Usually, when someone decides to come out, the father is the first to emotionally check out,” said Aaron Edwards, director and founder of Dads Hug Too. “My wife and I would go to all these pride events to show our support, and when I would offer hugs to these people, no matter if they were 70, 25, or 12

but noticed something else was missing.

“We had this kid come up to us who said, ‘Hugs are great, but what about after that? Where is the continued presence?’” said Dena Edwards, assistant director.

That is when Dads Hug Too decided that it wanted to provide more, to teach tangible, everyday life skills that would traditionally be taught by a father figure, ranging from how to change a tire to setting up a tent.

Shaun Friesen, one of the board members of Dads Hug Too. “We wanted to show the Edmond com munity that we are there for you, too.”

The event was free to everyone who wanted to attend. It provided free food and a variety of activities, including games, workshops on how to change a tire and set up camp ing equipment, pumpkin carvings, and a drag queen show. The OKC Diversity Center was also there and provided free binders and binder

BGLTQ+ community or as an ally.

“We are complete allies, my whole family,” said Friesen. “My upbringing compels me to treat all people equally.”

Feisen brought the company he works for, CSAIG, a AAA service provider, in as a sponsor for the event.

“Our goal is to fill a void in the lives of people in this communi ty, and we welcome anyone who wishes to help us in that goal,” said Aaron Edwards.

A utility worker handles electric cables as increases in the wholesale cost of electricity spur tariff change. (CITY OF EDMOND/PROVIDED)

A brand new murder mystery comes to the stage. (PROVIDED)

Dads Hug Too hosted the event outdoors at FInk Park (THE VISTA/BEN ANDERSON).

Volunteers welcome people into ‘Out in the Park’ (THE VISTA/BEN ANDERSON).

‘She-Hulk’ brings low-stakes fun back to the MCU

Logan Wood Contributing Writer

The first season of “SheHulk: Attorney at Law’’ recently came to an end after nine episodes on Disney+. The series follows Jennifer Walters as she tries to balance her career as an attorney with her social life, while also grappling with new superpowers for which she never asked.

“She-Hulk” is directed by Kat Coiro and Anu Valia, written by Jessica Gao and stars Tatiana Maslany as Jennifer, Ginger Gonzaga as Nikki Ramos, Josh Segarra as Pug, Renée Elise Golds berry as Amelia, Jon Bass as Todd, Jameela Jamil as Titania, Mark Ruffalo as Bruce Banner, Tim Roth as Emil Blonsky, Benedict Wong as Wong and Charlie Cox as Matt Murdock.

Marvel Studios’ first Dis ney+ series, “WandaVision” paid tribute to classic Amer ican sitcoms throughout the decades, but “She-Hulk” is a modern Marvel sitcom.

And as Marvel’s first sit com, it is different from ev erything else they’ve done.

Comedy is favored over action scenes in this series, and She-Hulk frequently breaks the fourth wall by talking to the audience and being aware that she is in

a TV show. The character was famous for doing this in the original comic book source material.

I really enjoy the way this

ery time they did it, it felt clever and well-earned. And Maslany deserves a lot of credit for making it work. As always, Marvel Stu

delivering on the comedy the character is known for in the comics.

“She-Hulk” brings back Roth’s character from

ward Norton as the Hulk instead of Mark Ruffalo, but it certainly is, and it is nice to have characters and plotlines from that movie return after so many years.

Charlie Cox guest stars as Matt Murdock in episode eight as the same character he played for the first time in the 2015 Netflix “Dare devil” series. That series is one of the best superhero shows of all time, so seeing him team up with She-Hulk for an episode was a lot of fun and a major highlight of the series.

One of my favorite things about the show is how lowstakes it is. It seems like the fate of the world or universe is at stake in every Marvel movie and series. That can feel old after a while. It’s nice to have a show like this where we just follow Jenni fer as she deals with a new client from week to week.

The finale was especially enjoyable, and at the end, they break the fourth wall in a way that was fun to watch yet made me question if that was a good way to end the story or not.

series breaks that fourth wall. It’s so easy for such jokes to fall flat or come off as cheesy, but “She-Hulk” never felt that way. Ev

dios kills it when it comes to casting lead heroes, and Maslany is no exception.

She makes She-Hulk and Jennifer likable and fun,

2008’s “The Incredible Hulk.” Many might not know that that movie is in continuity with the MCU since it stars Ed

Overall, every episode had something to love. I hope Marvel continues to try new things in the future like this show and I hope we don’t have to wait too long for Season Two.

Dare to be lured into the realm of the ‘spoopathon’

Britton Summers Contributing Writer

We all have our Halloween tra ditions; things that we like to do during the Halloween season that are specific to us. That might mean watching a bunch of horror movies, carving pumpkins into jack-o’-lan terns, or finding all the candy in the world to give out on Halloween. The last several years have had me read ing a bunch of horror comics and books in a marathon that I like to call the ‘spoopathon.’ It comes from the term ‘spoopy,’ an Internet term which means something that is sup posed to be creepy, but it is done in a cute way. I took a fondness toward the word and decided to have an an nual Halloween spoopathon, where I consume as much horror media as I can for the month, rather it be books, comics, movies, or shows.

I’ve always had a fascination with horror. While I am jumpy in nature, I’ve always had a fascina tion in morbid, darker subject mat ter. I won’t be talking about the comics I’ve read this month since I already did a horror comic sug gestions list in a previous article, so I will be talking about the nov els that I read during this month.

which is a darkly humorous love letter to tabletop role playing games such as Dungeon and Dragons.

Lawson is an up-and-coming tal ent in the horror field, and “Devil’s Night” is a clear representation of

known because of his most recent novel, “The Blacktongue Thief,” but his debut novel, “Those Across The River” is a beautifully written, evocative, and atmospheric read that reimagines the werewolf story

same effect. Victor LaValle already proved to be a talent worth explor ing more after his clever reimagin ing of one of H.P. Lovecraft’s most hateful stories with “The Ballad of Black Tom.” I decided to check out “The Devil in Silver” from him, since I was intrigued by the concept.

As someone who is already con cerned with how the mentally ill are treated in our society, as well as someone who rails against the prison system in the United States, “The Devil in Silver” was a book that was angry, compassionate, and even quite funny at times. While it is a horror novel, it also functions as a compelling charac ter drama with elements of fantasy and political satire. LaValle con tinues to be a talent worth looking into, and I was happy to read one of his books during the spoopathon.

“The Cabin at The End of The World” by Paul Tremblay

I read this since the author is a person I consider a good friend, but besides that I also read it because I was intrigued by the concept of this short story collection, a group of sto ries taking place in Detroit during the titular Devil’s Night, which was a night where chaos reigned on Motor City. Some might know it from the film “The Crow,” in which the main protagonist Eric Draven is resurrected after being brutal ly murdered by a gang of thugs.

Lawson takes the myths and legends of Detroit and reimagines them for a modern audience in in teresting ways. He ends up creating a collection of memorable, unique, and well written stories. My favorite story of the collection was “D20,”

his abilities and talents as an author.

“Those Across The River” by Christopher Buehlman

I love werewolves — they are my favorite monsters. I have been disappointed with the lack of good werewolf stories. I think a lot of that has to do with the fact that “Twilight” really damaged were wolves as a credible threat. Lucki ly, “Those Across The River” is a book that gives werewolves new life Buehlman has become more

with a meticulously crafted and im mersive historical setting. It also ex plores the ramifications as well the lasting trauma that was left by the institution of slavery in a compel ling way. It’s an eerie book, which is perfect for this Halloween season.

“The Devil in Silver” by Victor LaValle

The best advice I got about journalism is that good journalism should make you angry. I should add that good literature should have the

I’m a sucker for concepts, and this one is pretty straightforward. You’re out in the middle of nowhere on vacation and a bunch of strange individuals walk to your cabin and say that they need help to prevent the end of the world. What do you do? Paul Tremblay’s “The Cabin at The End of The World’’ attempts to answer this and gives a taut, tight ly wound, and consistently engag ing thriller that keeps you on your toes from the beginning to end.

It’s no real surprise that M. Night Shyamalan is planning to adapt this book next year; it’s a book that seems tailor-made for his sensibil ities. “The Cabin at The End of The World” is twisty, ambiguous, and constantly toys with your ex pectations. I only hope that Shya malan doesn’t pull his usual schtick and give a hackneyed twist ending when a twist ending doesn’t be long in the story. We shall see, and I very much enjoyed this book.

The spoopathon was very success ful this year, and it makes me hope that next year will be even more fruitful.

“Devil’s Night” by Curtis M. Lawson

Jennifer Walters (Tatiana Maslany) is the She-Hulk in the new series on Disney+. (PROVIDED)

The author sets this psychological horror in Motor City. (PROVIDED)

Homecoming builds up to face-off against Pittsburg State

Eden Jones Sports Reporter

The UCO campus is soon to be illuminated with decorations from various student organiza tions, because Homecoming Week is underway.

Homecoming is an old UCO tradition that has lasted for decades. The first homecoming took place in 1901, starting with a simple reception in Old North, and has now blossomed into the celebration we see today. This year’s Homecom ing will bring a variety of student activities and events and will celebrate the university’s growth over the years.

This year’s theme is Bronchos Untamed, because Bronchos are wild, free and the aim is to embrace the diverse and unique community on campus. All UCO students, faculty and alumni are encouraged to participate. Organizations like the UCO Alumni Association are heavily involved and host multiple events, such as the ninth annual Bronchtober Fest, 5 p.m. Oct. 27 at Frenzy Brewing, 15 N. Broadway in Edmond..

“I put together and run all the competitive events for the entire week,” said Brooklyn Pilgreen, this year’s Homecoming competitions director. This consists of tug-of-war, dodgeball, ’Chos trivia, capture the flag, and an amazing race.”

Pilgreen said she felt compelled to join the executive team because of the outpouring of love and the reactions from students.

“The homecoming executive team has been working on homecoming since last semester,” she said. “I love being able to see everyone’s hard work finally put together. On top of this, I love seeing my friends be able to compete and enjoy the week’s events. They always come talk to me after everything and say they enjoy it so much.”

Pilgreen said there are many reasons to be

involved in Homecoming.

“People should get involved because it is an amazing way to meet new friends and people. They also will make connections with staff and faculty that will last their whole college career. You learn different styles of leadership and can grow as a person,” she said.

The week’s events culminate Satur day, Oct. 29 with the Homecoming Festival and Alumni Family Tailgate at 10 a.m., and the Homecoming football game at 2 p.m. against Pittsburg State University. At halftime, the Roy alty Court and its winners are announced.

The Pittsburg State University Gorillas are 7-0 this season and are a force to be reckoned with. They are currently first in the MIAA football standings. The Bronchos, tied for second place, are undefeated at home and are looking to keep

that streak going.

Central Oklahoma quarterback Stephon Brown said this is a game he always anticipates.

“I’m most excited about going to compete with my guys once again and showing what kind of team we are, week in and week out,” Brown said.

He said they’re not changing the way they pre pare, but rather sticking to what they know.

“To prepare, we’re taking things day-by-day, like we talked about in the off-season, and con trol what we can control. Our energy and effort have to be at an all-time high going into this stretch,” said Brown.

Visit the UCO Homecoming’s website at uco.edu/student-life/major-campus-programs/ homecoming.

UCO basketball gets ranked No. 2 in preseason poll

regular season basketball champi onship since joining the conference back in 2012. UCO compiled a to tal conference record of 18-4. UCO last played on March 12 in the first round of the NCAA Division II Central Regional against Upper Iowa in a 91-74 loss.

“We’re excited to get back on the floor and play again,” UCO head men’s basketball coach Bob Hoffman said. “The guys that are back are looking to be better than we were last year and we feel good about some new pieces we brought in. It’s a tough league that demands a lot but we’re excited to get start ed.”

which was good enough to lead the MIAA and finish Top 10 in the country. He had the fourth best season in school history in terms of assists.

A season ago, Given achieved the milestone of 1,000 points and will look to build on that as the season progresses.

Wells led the country in free throw percentage last year while also drilling 89 three-pointers, compiling 145 in his career here at UCO.

UCO also returns Preston Aymond, Danquez Dawson, Austin Fenton and Jalyn Turner.

Devon Bajek Contributing Writer

At the MIAA Media Day, held Oct. 11 in Kansas City, the UCO men’s basketball team was select ed in the conference’s preseason

coaches’ poll at No. 2 behind conference rival Northwest Missou ri State. UCO was also selected as the fifth ranked team in the Central Region preseason coaches’ poll.

UCO had an historic season last year that saw the team go 24-7 while also winning its first MIAA

UCO has three key returning players from last season in seniors Callen Haydon and Camryn Giv ens, and junior Jaden Wells.

Haydon was the unquestioned leader on the court. commanding the floor to a tune of 182 assists.

UCO begins play in November as they will travel up to Bismarck, North Dakota to play University of Mary and Northwestern Oklahoma State. UCO’s first home games are Nov. 15 and 17 against Barclay College and Kansas Christian.

Cardinals’ Kyler Murray puts up a win against New Orleans Saints

Hayden Smith Contributing Writer

The Arizona Cardinals got a win on Thursday night at State Farm Stadium in Glendale, Arizona as they defeated the New Orleans Saints 34-43. The Cardinals im proved to three wins and four losses on the season after the win on their

home field.

Former Oklahoma Sooners Quar terback Kyler Murray threw 20 completions on 29 passing attempts with 204 yards and a touchdown with no interceptions. The defense also contributed with back-to-back pick sixes in the second quarter.

The Cardinals scored 25 points in the second quarter alone and led by

14 points at halftime after previous ly trailing in the second quarter.

“I think there are a lot of things that we could’ve done better out there,” said Murray after the game.

Luckily for Murray, his number one receiver, Deandre Hopkins, was able to return Thursday and contributed to the win by catching 10 balls for 103 yards after returning

from a six-game suspension for vio lating the league’s performance-en hancing drug policy. Hopkins’ debut came at a good time for the Cardinals as other former Oklaho ma star football player and current Arizona Cardinal Marquise Brown suffered a foot injury in the Cardi nals’ previous contest against the Seattle Seahawks.

Quarterback Stephon Brown said the team is taking practice “day-by-day.” (CENTRAL SPORTS/PROVIDED)

Camryn Givens returns to gameplay for the upcoming season. (CENTRAL SPORTS/ PROVIDED)

Taylor Swift’s

Matilda Harvey Contributing Writer

Taylor Swift’s highly anticipated 10th studio album “Midnights” was released Friday at mid night, featuring 13 songs that reflected “13 sleepless nights” throughout her life. The entire record was produced by Swift and longtime collaborator Jack Antonoff.

“Lavender Haze”

Within the first second of “Lavender Haze,” it is clear this album is un like anything Swift has released before. Boasting the most writers of any song on the album at six, Swift collaborates with some unexpected names. Actor-singer Zoë Krav itz, daughter of famed rockstar Lenny, as well as hip-hop artists Sounwave, Jahaan Sweet, and Sam Dew, all contributed to this piece. In an Instagram reel, Swift said the song is about dodging tabloids and rumors to protect her six-year-long relationship.

“Maroon”

Taylor Swift is no stranger to shades of red, made clear by her 2012 album Red (and 2021 re-recording of that same album), but “Maroon” is, in many ways, a more ma ture reflection of a failed relationship. Reflecting on how things fell apart in the usual way, Swift says, “Carnations you had thought were roses, that’s us,” alluding to the fact that her partner believed

‘Midnights’ is a triumph, track by track

parties and starved my body like I’d be saved by a perfect kiss.”

“Midnight Rain”

what they had was more valuable than it turned out to be.

“Anti-Hero”

The first song to get a mu sic video for “Midnights,” Swift describes “Anti-He ro” as a “guided tour” of all the things she hates about herself. The song is upbeat, with crushing lyrics, a technique Swift has used in the past (see “Death By A Thousand Cuts” from 2019’s Lover).

The chorus is accented by the artist declaring, “It’s me, hi, I’m the problem, it’s me.” Already a con troversial song due to the depiction of Swift’s eating disorder in the music video, the general public seems to have proven Swift’s fears for her.

“Snow On The Beach” (feat. Lana Del Rey)

Another song that received an Instagram reel explanation, “Snow

On The Beach” is about “falling in love with some one at the same time as they’re falling in love with you.” Swift continues her tradition of only allowing Del Rey to sing backing vocals (Phoebe Bridgers was the first female artist to have her own verse on a Swift song on 2021’s Red (Taylor’s Version).)

“You’re On Your Own, Kid”

If “Anti-Hero” is a guided tour of everything Swift hates about herself, “You’re On Your Own, Kid” is a painstakingly detailed map. This song will come as no surprise to fans of Swift who have read her 2017 poem, “If You’re Anything Like Me,” which details a struggle with her body image and her need for validation through friendship. The bridge is shockingly can did, detailing, “I hosted

In the second song on Midnights to deal with the societal expectation of marriage, Swift describes a past relationship with a man who wanted some thing serious, but she wanted to make herself known. The second verse goes a bit deeper, explain ing that her former part ner came from a happy family, and Swift could not relate to that. Swift shared on Spotify that one of the things responsible for her sleepless nights was “wondering what might have been” and that is abundantly clear with this song.

“Question…?”

To the trained Swiftie ear, “Question…?” seems to interpolate a few differ ent aspects of “Out Of The Woods” from “1989”: the lyric “I remember” and the ad-lib Swift did during the 1989 World Tour.

“Vigilante Sh-t”

The only entirely self-written track on “Midnights,” “Vigilante Sh-t” would not have felt out of place on 2017’s “reputation.” Although Swift discusses her own personal revenge, and the end of a rival’s marriage.

“Karma”

There has been a pop ular conspiracy theory among Swifties since 2017 that Swift had a scrapped sixth album named “Karma.” Upon the an

nouncement of this track via Swift’s “Midnights Mayhem With Me,” it was anticipated that this track might be from that mythical scrapped album. Instead, it is a glitter gel pen song about being rewarded by the universe.

“Sweet Nothing”

The penultimate track on the standard edition of “Midnights” was written by Swift and her longterm partner, Joe Alwyn. Similar to “Call It What You Want” from “repu tation” or “Paper Rings,” from “Lover,” “Sweet Nothing” highlights the safety Swift found in do mesticity. The standout is in the second verse, where Swift sings, “On the way home, I wrote a poem, you say ‘what a mind,’ this happens all the time.”

“Mastermind”

The final track on the standard edition of the album was also the first song announced in Swift’s “Midnights, Mayhem With Me.” Although Swift said the point of her TikTok series was to take away the guessing and leave the track list announcement up to fate, this song makes one ques tion if that was the case.

With a stunning, re cord-breaking first week end, Swift maintains her place on the pop music podium. She showcases her ability to adapt and excel. Barbara Walters put it best in 2014: Taylor Swift is the music indus try.

Students respond to BTS military enlistment

Allison Miller Contributing Writer

Big Hit Music announced BTS’s enlistment plans on Oct. 17, only months after the group announced that it would be taking a hiatus. BTS’s eldest member, Kim Seok Jin, better known as Jin, will be the first member to en list after his solo promotions at the end of this month. The group is planning to reconvene in 2025, said Big Hit Music.

Under South Korea’s law, almost every able-bodied man is required to serve in the military for at least 18 months. Exemptions have been made for Olympic athletes and classical musicians, as South Korea has a mer it-based exemption system, tweeted Korean journalist Jae Ha Kim.

“The BTS Law,” which was passed in 2020, allows K-pop stars who have been given government medals for their domestic or international cultural contributions to defer their military service until they are 30. This allowed members Jin and Min Yoon Gi, better known as Suga, to defer their military service. However, BTS never asked for an exemption from serving, tweeted Jae Ha Kim.

BTS’s fans seem mostly supportive of the group’s decision to enlist. Of the participants from an Instagram poll conducted by The Vista, 83% said that BTS enlisting was the right decision.

“I think BTS is taking responsibility for their country and the mandatory service,” said UCO student Michaela Todd. “They are recognizing they are not above the law and are still people of that nation, too.”

However, South Korean citizens’ opinions are mixed.

“I think it’s mostly half and half right now, because a lot of people are like, ‘Oh, they’re just a celebrity they should go to the military’ and then a lot of people are like,’No, they hold

so much power in our economy now.’ BTS is bringing, like, a lot of money for Korea,” said Julie Jeon, President of UCO’s Student Korean Organization.

“I think BTS’s enlistment will cause an eco nomic decline,” said Sue Ko, a South Korean citizen. A few sports athletes have been ex empted from military service. Why not BTS, the current leaders of the music industry who are world class artists?

According to a 2018 study by Hyundai Re search Institution, BTS was estimated to con tribute more than $3.6 billion USD annually to the South Korean economy. That means they would have made the country more than $10.8 billion USD over the 3 years they are now spending in the military. However, the country will likely not lose the whole $10.8 billion, since members will be doing solo activities over the 3-year-period.

Although there will be solo promotions, the

group will not be able to perform or create music together for the next 3 years after Jin leaves to serve. Despite this large gap of time without promotions, 50% of respondents from my poll said that they do not think mil itary enlistment will affect their career, while 25% said it would affect them positively and the remaining 25% said it would affect them negatively.

“I think if new groups come out, and debut stronger than them, and they’re kind of like in their ghosting mode, I feel like it might reduce their fandom but I don’t think it will have that big of negative impact,” said Jeon.

Kim Sei Wan, a professor at Ewha Womans University in Seoul, Korea, said that K-pop makes the South Korean economy around $10 Billion USD annually. This means BTS generates 36% of the money in the K-pop industry and has over a third of the market share.

BTS will be on hiatus until 2025 while members perform required military service. (PROVIDED)

Taylor Swift’s ‘“Midnights” (REPUBLIC/PROVIDED)