The Vista, Oct. 5, 2021

the

Volume 119, Issue 06

VISTA “Our Words, Your Voice.”

vistanews1903 @thevista1903 @thevista1903 The Vista ucentralmedia.com Tuesday, Oct. 5, 2021

Voters to decide park’s future

INSIDE

‘RENT’

REVIEW: It’s the “season of love!”

UCO Musical Theater presents this award-winning musical.

See Pg. 8

The sun sets at Hafer Park in Edmond near the duck pond and looks toward the area that might be developed by its owner if the one-year .25% sales tax increase doesn’t pass, letting the city purchase the land. The election is on Oct. 12. (The Vista/Lyric Peterson)

Sales tax would allow city to buy land to avoid development

Media Ethics

Lyric Peterson

Sneak peak into yesterday’s conference with experts speaking on “Reporting Truth Through Chaos.”

See Pg. 4

Football UCO breaks three-game losing streak by annihilating Lincoln on Saturday.

See Pg. 7

Around Campus Hispanic Heritage Month continues as UCO welcomes Indigenous Peoples’ Day. See Pg. 2

Copy Editor

On Oct. 12, Edmond residents will vote on a temporary sales tax to purchase 22 acres of land south of Hafer Park to avoid luxury homes being built. Voting registration closed Friday for the election.

The land is adjacent to a main walking path, a large playground and a smaller play area and duck pond in Hafer Park.

Earlier this year, a petition was filed to “SAVE Edmond’s Hafer Park,” conducted by Ashley Bradley with 9,094 signatures.

The petition came after Edmond

approved development for restricted retail and retail gain commercial in 2017 that allows for the “Mansion Block Luxury Homes” to be built.

Because of residents’ concerns for development on the site, the property owners’ representatives, city officials Continued on Page 3

Fall Break in limbo as administration ‘verifies’ results Christopher Lomelin and Kaleb Simmons Contributing Writer

The University of Central Oklahoma’s “Move the Needle” campaign is still counting self-reported vaccinations submitted over the weekend. The administration is verifying if the campaign reached its first goal: 50% of students reporting their COVID-19 vaccinations.

“Right now, I would prefer to say that we are working on verifying the final entries over the weekend, and leave it at that,” Vice President of Communications Adrienne Nobles said Monday afternoon.

UCO Bronchos Twitter account announced that results will be announced today. Fall Break is scheduled for October 14-15 — if no extra days are given. Students were asked to upload their vaccination cards as proof of two doses of vaccination or one if it was the Johnson & Johnson vaccine. According to the CDC, 64.9% of people have

Will UCO students receive a longer Fall Break? We will not know until the final weekend results are verified by the administration.

(The Vista/photo Illustration by Madalyn Nix)

Get latest update online This is a continuing story that The Vista will update on UCentralMedia.com and @thevista1903.

Once the results have been verified by UCO, we will report if there will be a Fall Break extension. completed one dose of the vaccine. In Oklahoma County where UCO is located, 64.8% have received one dose. In Continued on Page 3

2 | The Vista

Tuesday, Oct. 5, 2021 You Can Help A Friend: From 11 a.m. to noon in Thatcher Hall, Room 343, learn when and how to reach out to someone in distress.

Healthy Hooves Hut: From 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Clock Tower, get your questions answered about COVID-19, vaccination and speak with a case manager about needs like housing, food, health insurance, etc.

Latinx Leadership Panel: From 1 - 2 p.m. in the Nigh University Center, Room 326, celebrate Latino excellence by listening to guest speakers discuss their paths in education, their roles as leaders and what it means to give back to their community.

Jazz Combos Concert: This performance begins at 7 p.m. at the Jazz Lab, located at 100 E. Fifth St. in Edmond. Tickets are free for students with a valid ID and $18 for all others.

Tickets can be purchased online or by calling (405) 974-2100.

Wednesday, Oct. 6, 2021 UCO Dance Shadow Day: From

Oct. 5, 2021

8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. in the Health and Physical Education building, participate in university dance classes, tour campus, meet UCO dance students, faculty and more. Registration is free, but limited.

COVID-19 Vaccine Clinic: From 9 a.m. to 2 p.m., UCO students, faculty, staff and community members 12 years of age and older can receive a COVID-19 vaccine at the building marked as the future home of the UCO School of Design.

Around Campus

Thursday, Oct. 7, 2021 “RENT: The Musical”: The UCO Musical Theatre is performing this musical at 7:30 p.m. in Mitchell Hall Theatre.

Free Lunch!: The Wesley Foundation at UCO is hosting free lunch from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. for UCO students at Wesley House, located at 310 E. Hurd St. in Edmond.

Friday, Oct. 8, 2021

ISC Mid-Autumn Festival: The International Student Council is hosting this event from 5:30 - 8:30 p.m. in the Nigh University Center Grand Ballroom. Come enjoy some free food, mooncakes, and performances.

Broncho Buddies Fall Festival: The International Student Council is hosting this event from 5 - 7 p.m.

They will be meeting at International House then carpooling to the UCO Lake Arcadia Boathouse for fun and games.

LGBTQ+ History Month Kick-Off!: From 6 - 8 p.m. in the Nigh University Center, Will Rogers Room 421, join SAFE for the kick-off of LGBTQ+ History Month.

“RENT: The Musical”: The UCO Musical Theatre is performing this musical at 7:30 p.m. in Mitchell Hall Theatre.

F/64 Photo Club Meeting: The UCO Photo Club is hosting a meeting at 1 p.m. in the Woody Gaddis Gallery in the Mass Communications Building.

Any student of any major is invited to join.

Shortt Dogg: This performance begins at 8 p.m. at the Jazz Lab, located at 100 E. Fifth St. in Edmond. Doors open at 7 p.m. and tickets are $15.

Saturday, Oct. 9, 2021 “RENT: The Musical”: The UCO

To submit events for next week’s Around Campus, please email thevista@ucentralmedia.com. Include the title of your event, time and place, and a brief description. Descriptions are subject to editing.

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VISTA

Madalyn Nix Ainsley Martinez Lyric Peterson Manuela Soldi Sam Royka Hollye Carroll Jaden Ford Leelandd Gates Kourtney Hall Christopher Lomelin Keely Sanchez Kaleb Simmons Cynthia Faulkner

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For information or questions contact: 405-974-5549 or thevista.ads@gmail.com

Musical Theatre is performing this musical at 7:30 p.m. in Mitchell Hall Theatre.

Brian Gorrell & Jazz Company: This performance begins at 8 p.m. at the Jazz Lab, located at 100 E. Fifth St. in Edmond. Doors open at 7 p.m. Tickets are $15 and can be purchased online or by calling (405) 974-2100.

Sunday, Oct. 10, 2021 “RENT: The Musical”: The UCO Musical Theatre is performing this musical at 2 p.m. in Mitchell Hall Theatre.

Monday, Oct. 11, 2021 “Indigenous Peoples’ Day Celebration”: The UCO community is invited to celebrate from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Chickasaw Plaza.

Front Pg. Teaser Photos, from top: Provided/UCO Promotions The Vista/Madalyn Nix The Vista/Manuela Soldi Provided/Vista Archives

UCO’s Student Voice Since 1903 The Vista is published as a newspaper and public forum by UCO students, weekly during the academic year, at the University of Central Oklahoma.

The issue price is free for the first copy and $1 for each additional copy obtained.

EDITORIALS

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

LETTERS

The Vista encourages letters to the

editor. Letters should address issues and ideas, not personalities. Letters must 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 questionable 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 Communications Building, Room 131.

Letters can be emailed to thevista@ucentralmedia.com.

Park/Fall Break

The Vista | 3

Oct. 5, 2021

.25% sales tax could help Hafer Park grow Continued from Pg. 1

and residents met earlier this year and proposed allowing Edmond residents to vote on a temporary tax to purchase the land.

This is not the first time the public has tried to save the privately owned land.

A previous project in 2006 and another one in 2017 both were overturned by public vote.

According to The City of Edmond, the sales tax would increase 0.25%. It would increase Edmond’s overall sales tax rate next year from 8.25% to 8.50% from Jan. 1 to Dec. 31 with a return to a 8.25% rate on Jan. 1, 2023.

The total cost of the land is $3,998,000 plus closing costs, according to the purchasing contract.

Small business owner and Edmond resident Megan Nye opened “Life’s A Picnic” in June 2021. She’s concerned how construction might affect her new enterprise.

Nye’s business focuses on relaxing and elegant picnics in the Edmond and OKC metro area.

“75% of my picnics have been in Hafer Park,” Nye stated in an email.

Nye stated Hafer park is her first choice when a client books a picnic.

“The main location I set up is along a trail on a hill overlooking the pond at Hafer. It’s a beautiful view and is the main request when I book date-night picnics. Hafer is quiet and peaceful, while still having all the ducks walking around, which is really fun to see. There are spots that are perfect for adults, separate from all the playground areas,” Nye stated.

According to the subject property outline, there is a possibility that clients of “Life’s A Picnic” will see and hear the construction.

“If I have to find a new location, it will really hurt my business. Mitch Park is an option that I could set up, but it’s farther from where I live and I don’t feel it’s as cozy as Hafer. Mitch is much more open and less trees,” Nye stated, “There are other parks I could use, but not many with a beautiful pond.”

The sun sets at Hafer Park near the duck pond and looking toward the area that might be developed if the .25% sales tax increase doesn’t pass. (Provided/City of Edmond)

“I’ve received a few bookings from random people who were just walking the trails at the park on a day that I had a picnic set up. They loved the set up, snapped a picture of my sign and called for a booking. I’m not sure if that will continue in a different location,” Nye stated.

Customers of “Life’s A Picnic” request copies of past picnics.

“People see my pictures online and will say, “Set mine up exactly like this one, same place, same colors.”

“I feel there will be numerous small businesses affected if the construction happens. Many local photographers use Hafer Park for family photo shoots,” Nye stated.

In a previous interview conducted in April, UCO student Hannah Morrison said laying in her hammock at Hafer Park after a long day studying is her favorite activity.

“I go there to find peace and quiet and to watch as much of the sunset as I can,” Morrison said. “If homes were to be built so close to the park, I think the peace and quiet would be lost and views obstructed.”

If the vote does not pass, the landowner can continue developing on the land.

According to The City of Edmond, sales tax dollars received that are more than the cost of the land will be used to improve the land or provide other capital improvements for the city.

Fall Break in limbo as administration ‘verifies’ results Continued from Pg. 1

the United States, the number of fully vaccinated people is 56%, similar to 54.4% for Oklahoma County.

Students seemed to like the idea of having an extra day off. When asked about the days off, Finnegan Neu, a junior majoring in general business, said: “They were good incentives. It’s just a lot of students either don’t care or don’t want them.”

UCO assistant vice president for university communication, Deirdre Steiner, expressed pride in the number of students who came forth to register their vaccinations online regardless of the campaign results.

“Every student that gets vaccinated helps protect themselves and the people around them from the more serious complications of contracting COVID-19. We still encourage all students to consider getting vaccinated

as it’s our best shot at getting past the pandemic,” Steiner said.

Last week, the United States surpassed 700,000 deaths from COVID-19. In Oklahoma, 8,949 deaths have been verified, and 1,539 were in Oklahoma County. The age group with the highest percentage of COVID-19 cases in Oklahoma County is 34.4% among ages 18 to 35, who were among the last adults to be approved to receive the vaccine. Ages 36 to 49 have the second highest number of cases at 21.5%.

It is possible that students have been vaccinated and simply did not report it to the university.

Naomi Wharry, a sophomore majoring in music education, said: “A lot of people I know just seemed to forget about reporting their vaccine. They didn’t have their card with them and just kept forgetting to do it.”

Grace Wilhite, a junior at UCO, also said that she thought the extra fall break days were a good incentive.

Neu had another idea for a way to encourage students to get the vaccine, he said, “I don’t think there would be anything better — other than a scholarship to help pay for school.”

With the CDC recommendation of potentially getting a third COVID-19 vaccine to act as a booster shot, Neu, Wharry and Wilhite all said that they would be willing to get the third injection. To go even further, each of the students said that they would be willing to report their shots again if the university were to offer another incentive.

Steiner said that while there are currently no plans for an incentive program for the future, she reiterated the importance of continuing to mask up.

“Our administration and the

COVID-19 On-Call Task Force are continuing to monitor the situation and encourage continued vaccination and protocols like wearing a mask, hand washing and reporting any cases for contact tracing. These efforts will continue for the foreseeable future.

No future incentives are in the works currently. If we do decide to do one again, we will evaluate ‘Move the Needle’ and seek feedback from students, faculty, and staff to make improvements,” Steiner said.

No matter what the campaign results turn out to be, Steiner was confident that the “Move the Needle” campaign was for the greater good overall.

“This was something we’ve never done before, so we didn’t know what to expect. But thousands of Central students helped move the needle and that’s something that’s good for everyone,” Steiner said.

4 | The Vista

Oct. 5, 2021

Conference/Consent

Media Ethics Conference ‘reporting truth through the chaos’

Hannah Allam, a Washington Post reporter, spoke to students and conference attend- Mary Bixler and John Sutter discuss climate change during the conference on Monday. ees about reporting terrorism. (The Vista/Madalyn Nix) (The Vista/Madalyn Nix)

Speaking about consent can help stop sexual assault Hollye Carroll

Contributing Writer

Substances impair the ability to consent and there are ways to identify and intervene if you witness sexual assault happening, speakers with UCO’s Project SPEAK told students at Plunkett Park on Wednesday.

“I just wanted to make sure with this program that I was going to hit on relevant topics for students, as well as making sure that I bring awareness and start to break the stigma and taboo topic that is sexual assault, let alone drug and alcohol facilitated sexual assault,” Octavia Walenciak, the UCO senior psychology major and health promotion peer leader who created the program, said.

The topic is relevant as one-half of all college students experience drug and alcohol facilitated sexual assault involving violent crimes and 13% of all students on campus will experience some type of sexual assault, according to the Association of American Universities 2019 Campus Climate Survey. Based on UCO’s estimated 13,000 to 16,000 students per semester, 13% is 1,650 to 2,080 students.

Drug and alcohol facilitated sexual assault occurs when substances are used to compromise a person’s ability to consent to sexual activity. RAINN’s website states the two main ways this assault occurs is when the perpetrator takes advantage of someone’s voluntary use of drugs or alcohol and when the perpetrator intentionally forces a victim to consume drugs or alcohol with or without their knowledge.

While many survivors have experienced the latter, this type of assault can take a variety of forms, espe-

For help If any students are having trouble, help is available on the third floor in Health Promotion, NUC, Room 402, as well as the Center for Counseling and Well-Being offices.

Students also may message a peer health leader on Instagram @UCOPHL or @UCOProjectSPEAK For more information about Project SPEAK, you can find it on UCO’s website under the student resources section.

cially among college students. These forms include: Coercion or pressuring someone beyond their comfort zone to ingest more drugs or alcohol or different substances than they are comfortable with; ignoring or refusing to help someone who says they’ve had too much to drink or is having a negative drug experience and needs help; initiating sexual contact with someone because they are intoxicated, and less likely to resist; refusing to tell someone what is in their drink or the type of dosage of drug they are ingesting.

Walenciak emphasized the change of wording in Wednesday’s presentation from preventative to proactive since preventative comes off in a way that resources and tools have been provided when that’s usually not the case.

“You can’t really prevent horrible acts by other people, but we can try

Jonathan Gandarilla, Octavia Walenciak and Aschley Melson show the results after attendees test their newly gained knowledge. (The Vista/Hollye Carroll)

to be more proactive about what we’re doing when out with our friends, such as being an active bystander, or being more aware of our surroundings given the tools to know what to look for, Walenciak said. “I firmly believe that when you give somebody the tools to be educated, you are giving them the power to take action and do something about what’s going on in their community.”

The most proactive thing a person can do is be informed on consent.

Walenciak said you want to respect people’s bodies, boundaries and their right to give or take away consent at their discretion.

“Consent cannot be given when they’re incapacitated and consent can always be taken away at any point, and, as the two people involved, it is always your responsibility to respect that they can take it away. If they can’t give you verbal consent, or even understand nonverbal cues, then there’s no consent.”

Consent is defined by Merriam-Webster as compliance in or approval of what is done or proposed by another. Colloquially, consent can be explained by a cup of tea, which Walenciak referenced during her pre-

sentation. The explanation originates from a 2015 video made by British police called “Tea Consent” and uses inviting someone over for tea as an analogy for sexual consent.

Other examples of this proactive behavior range from making sure the friends you go out with make it home safely or calling someone an Uber to the way you talk about and engage with sexual assault survivors.

“This is an issue that affects us all in many different ways,” said Maya Williams, guest speaker and UCO’s American Association of University Women vice president.

“It’s very likely that someone you know has experienced sexual assault and being aware of how we speak about it, how we speak to survivors about what’s happened to them is really important,” Williams, who is a sophomore special education- severe-profound/multiple disabilities major, said. “We never want survivors to feel guilty or ashamed of something they couldn’t control. I just want people to be aware of how we address it and who we seem to think is affected by sexual assault because this is not an issue that only affects women.”

Jazz/Culture

Oct. 5, 2021

The Vista | 5

Ensemble concerts revive Jazz Lab Ainsley Martinez Managing Editor

Jazz Band Ensembles returned to the Jazz Lab last week with the regular, bustling crowd of people — a first since the pandemic. Walking into the venue, the notable dimness felt familiar: the backlights a dark-blue, purple that created a similar ambiance of the past. As people laughed and talked, bought their beers and ate their Hideaway Pizza, the joy of live performances was never so tangible.

Fourth Band began the concert with “All of Me,” a straightforward jazz standard composed by Seymour Simons and Gerald Marks. Award-winning jazz critic Ted Gioia wrote about the piece in his guide “The Jazz Standards” for Oxford University Press.

His remarks of the changing tones in the song are reminiscent of the year lost to the pandemic.

“The downward thrusts of the opening phrases hint at emotional despair while the closing line, with its repeated high notes, seems almost jubilant,” Gioia wrote.

This opening song felt like a perfect “welcome back” to the Jazz Lab: 2020, the year of obstacles, as the first half of

Jazz Ensemble performs at the Jazz Lab on Sept. 27. Performances returned last week with a regular, bustling crowd since the pandemic began. (The Vista/Ainsley Martinez)

the song, and 2021, the year of revival, as the finish. However, the melodies “combine the contradictory possibilities of song,” as Gioia wrote, and let us know that there is greatness in every struggle.

Director Zac Lee chatted with the audience for the first time in a year, and ended up breaking conventions by playing “Dirge Blues,” a ballad, as a near closer. Despite the ballads’ status, Lee called it “a banger.” The Fourth Band played two more songs: “El Camino Real” and “Tin Tin Deo.”

Leadership program applications open Keely Sanchez Contributing Writer

The University of Central Oklahoma’s Office of Diversity and Inclusion announced a Nov. 1 application deadline for the diversity leadership institute program for Spring 2022.

UCO students who are accepted into the program will have the chance to travel to Tulsa, St. Louis and Chicago on March 16 and May 17-22.

The program will allow students to explore the communities that the Office of Diversity and Inclusion serves as well as different cities around the United States.

This will be the first year that the participants will travel to three different cities, instead of just visiting one.

UCO students accepted will be the first students in over a year who will get to attend the program in-person.

Due to COVID-19, the Office of Diversity and Inclusion was forced to take precautions and hold the program online. The accepted students were still able to participate in work-

shops and other activities.

If selected, the cost to attend will be $350, which should cover travel, hotel and some meals. Payment plans will be available to selected students.

“The UCO students will be visiting culturally significant locations in the three cities, such as museums, restaurants, and other areas of interest. The full itinerary will be revealed when all location spots have been decided on,” Angie Austin, administrative assistant to the Office of Diversity and Inclusion, said.

If you are interested in applying for the program, the Office of Diversity and Inclusion will hold an informational meeting at 3 p.m. Oct. 12 in the Nigh University Center.

The program also includes various workshops. The dates for these workshops will be announced later in the semester.

According to the UCO website, “Prior to leaving for the Institute, each participant will be required to attend a set number of orientation meetings.”

As the Fourth Band closed their performance, some people trickled out, while others filled in. The First Band was about to play.

Director Brian Gorrell, greeted guests with a charming sarcasm. His stature, with everyone in the room knowing him, allowed him to connect with the audience in a casual, yet professional manner.

As Gorrell introduced the First Band it did not feel like a school function — families watching out of support — but like a desired experience.

The crowd grew, and the only room left was upstairs, with standing people hanging their arms off the balcony, over the stage.

The band played seven songs, more than their usual set list, in preparation for a festival later this year. The Midwest Clinic International Band and Orchestra invited the band to perform in Chicago in December.

The songs included “I Thought About You” and “Long Yellow Road.”

The most notable song of the night was the closer, “Battle of the Bop Brothers,” arranged by Matt Catingub. A humorous duet between tenor saxophones I and II, the notes are arranged in a delightfully odd way which set a light tone for the finishing performance. At the climax, the crowd audibly laughed; the humorous tone is contagious. The song finished to a roaring audience.

“Nick Cockerill and Samuel Vaughn,” Gorrell said, pointing to the saxophonists.

The cheers continued. The lights brightened.

The first Jazz Ensemble concert was fresh and new, but carried with it all the things audiences loved about it before.

Passport kicks off semester with new themed events Leelandd Gates Contributing Writer

For the first time in 18 years, UCO Passport is taking students to Columbia and South America to focus on inclusivity for the increase of students from the region, Organizer Xiaobing Li, said.

This year, the program began with an open exhibit on the first floor of the Max Chambers Library. Visitors will find books specifically curated about Colombia and other parts of South America. These books focus on the culture, conflicts, politics, and geology of the area as well as autobiographies.

On Thursday, attendees watched the film "Colombia and Venezuela: A South American Journey" via Zoom.

On Oct. 7, faculty, staff and students will virtually watch “Gabriel Garcia Marquez: Magical Realism” from 3:30 - 4:30 p.m. Another film screening of “Colombia: Worlds Together” will happen from 3:30 - 4:30 p.m. on Oct. 29.

Li, the Don Betz Endowed Chair of International Studies, said that there

will be a lecture in mid-October with a guest speaker, who will be named later. The events for October will be held virtually via Zoom. All Passport to Colombia and South America events will be free and open to the public.

Lectures and movies are not the only things on the agenda. Li said that the International Food Festival is set to return on Nov. 6 and Passport will be taking part with a food booth and recipes for people to try. The Passport Fashion Show will also make a return on Nov. 18.

Both events are set to be in person depending on how COVID-19 cases are trending in late October and early November. Li said he hopes that this year they will be able to participate in person.

The current plan for Passport next year is to focus on Japan.

Passport’s main goal is to inspire unity and understanding in the global community, while providing educational and entertaining events for our students and the surrounding community.

6 | The Vista

Oct. 5, 2021

Conference

Panelists speak on healthcare for BGLTQ+ Sam Royka Reporter

The BGLTQ+ community still risks misunderstanding and poor treatment from medical professionals and others, especially in certain regions of the country, panelists said Saturday at the International Gender and Sexuality Studies conference at UCO. UCO student Grace Payne, who prefers to be known as G.P., presented “How Regional and Cultural Aspects Influence Medical Treatment,” speaking on patient autonomy in meeting a medical ethical standard and noted examples of autonomy violations throughout history, such as the eugenics movement.

Earlier this year, UCO student Mackenzie Martin conducted a survey of UCO students regarding their experiences with healthcare in relation to gender and had almost 200 respondents. Responses varied in tone and data. Martin shared some testimonies of bias and negative responses from her survey and said one 20-year-old student responded: “‘My general practitioner and other medical professionals I visit regularly have been very accepting and considerate.

However, in January 2020 I was hospitalized in a mental health facility for 10 days where members of the nursing staff treated me horribly; they refused to use my pronouns, they made fun of me and tried to make me upset, and

Mackenzie Martin presents the topic of how regional aspects affect medical care for gender nonconforming and nonbinary individuals at the 2021 International Gender and Sexuality Studies Conference on Saturday. (The Vista/Madalyn Nix)

one day it was so bad I consensually took a sedative to calm down.’”

Responses also revealed the existence of bias both on campus and elsewhere.

“I don’t even know what nonbinary means. Just go to the doctor and address the issue. Nobody cares how you feel about your gender identity. It’s irrelevant,” another student stated in the survey.

Martin acknowledged the dismissive tone of this response and emphasized the importance of education.

The presentation included a quote stating “Arkansas, Texas, Oklahoma, and Louisiana are four states that demonstrate the highest rates of bias and inequalities concerning healthcare of transgender and gender nonbinary individuals,” according to a study published in 2018 from medical jour-

nal Transgender Health.

Martin said there is a correlation between “Bible Belt” states and states that demonstrated higher rates of healthcare inequalities for transgender and gender-non-conforming people.

Recent UCO graduate Tayler Magby discussed the correlation between sexual assault and queerness.

The queer community faces “increased risk of poverty, stigma, and marginalization which put them at greater risk of sexual violence,” Magby said, including statistics on the rates of sexual violence. Magby also said that though these statistics show high rates of violence, they still do not encompass the many assaults that go unreported every year.

Magby proposed changes to the SANE exam, a physical examination that can be used after an assault. These

proposed key points included providing gender-neutral clothing and toiletries, after-exam referrals to inclusive organizations who have “worked with queer survivors before,” as well as the suggestion that the focus be kept on providing care and not asking questions about gender and sexuality.

Martin’s solutions to bias and inequality in healthcare included the “normalization of pronoun usage for all clinical members,” the creation of an inclusivity curriculum as part of medical training, more awareness and education about gender dysphoria, and establishing a baseline of respect for patient autonomy in keeping with medical ethics.

Magby also discussed medical awareness of intersectionality. Coined

by Kimberlé Crenshaw in 1989, intersectionality is defined as “a lens through which you can see where power comes and collides, where it interlocks and intersects. It’s not simply that there’s a race problem here, a gender problem here, and a class or LBGTQ problem there. Many times that framework erases what happens to people who are subject to all of these things,” Crenshaw said in an interview with Columbia Law in 2017.

G.P. said questioning peers’ sexual health familiarity and gender terminology is a way to further equality.

The Women’s Research and BGLTQ+ Student Center in Thatcher Hall 106 can be reached at 405-974-5671.

UCO hosts International Gender and Sexuality Conference Kourtney Hall Contributing Writer

University of Central Oklahoma’s Women’s Research Center and BGLTQ+ Student Center hosted the sixth annual International Gender and Sexuality Studies Conference in the Nigh University Center Thursday through Saturday.

There were over 200 attendees and 150 presentations covering a range of topics from zine making, AIDS history, social justice in the Black community, and health care for transgender people.

“In the past we’ve had a range of 12 to 20 countries represented,” said Grace Payne, who prefers to be called G.P. The theme of this year’s conference was “Inclusive, Intersectional, Interdisciplinary.”

Conference chair Lindsey Churchill said, “One thing I know is this -- if this last year has shown us anything, it is how important community really is in

so many different ways.”

Other on-campus events were incorporated into the conference, as well. There was a private viewing of the “Women’s Rights are Human’s Rights” exhibition in the Melton Gallery Thursday evening. The Theatre Arts program also presented “The Laramie Project” Saturday morning in Constitution Hall.

Keynote speaker James Cooper, city councilperson of Ward 2 in Oklahoma City and adjunct UCO professor, spoke Friday morning in Constitutional Hall.

Students also had the opportunity to present their own research.

“I’ll be presenting on Saturday as a part of a collaborative panel on how cultural and regional aspects influence the medical treatment of LGBTQ+ members,” said G.P., who is a student researcher at the Center. “I’ll be focusing more on issues involving transgender health and accessibility and stigmatization.”

Abigail Griffin, editor-in-chief of the

AnaMarie Lopez speaks about her research on the “Analysis of Cultural Competency Regarding Latinx Theology, Gender Ideologies, and Mental Stability” during the International Gender Sexuality Studies Conference on Saturday. (The Vista/Manuela Soldi)

Central Dissent: A Journal of Gender and Sexuality, presented her research Thursday afternoon titled “Challenging the Vilification and Objectification of Sexually Liberal Queer Women.”

“Rather than a research paper, it’s going to be in the format of poetry,” Griffin said, So I’ve written an entire collection in response to the societal environment that we’re in right now and have been in the course of feminism in history.”

Around 32 employees and volunteers prepared for the event.

“Dr. Churchill has been involved in preparing for this since the beginning of the year. As far as all hands in the Center, we are responsible for preparing the resources available at the conference,” G.P. said.

The Center is located in Thatcher Hall Room 106 and is open Monday through Thursday from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Football

Oct. 5, 2021

The Vista | 7

UCO rewards home crowd with big win

Head football coach Nick Bobeck speaks to the team during a time out in the game against Lincoln on Saturday. (The Vista/Manuela Soldi)

Bronchos topple Blue Tigers to break 3-game losing streak Jaden Ford

Contributing Writer

The University of Central Oklahoma football team broke their three-game losing streak, winning 69-28 after taking on the Lincoln Blue Tigers Saturday in Wantland Stadium.

“Winning is hard, especially after a few tough losses, but I am happy the way these guys stuck with it and came out ready to play today,” said head coach Nick Bobeck.

The Blue Tigers’ first drive resulted in negative yards; the Bronchos took over with great field position on the Lincoln 9-yard line.

Two plays into that Broncho drive, quarterback Stephon Brown scored on a 2-yard touchdown run, making the score 7-0 after only 45 seconds of play.

On the Tigers next drive, they went three and out, setting up the Bronchos for another scoring drive that resulted in a second rushing touchdown for Brown making the lead 14-0. On the following drive for the Tigers, Lincoln quarterback Zamar Brake delivered a 65-yard touchdown pass to Lincoln

wide receiver Winston Ausmer; The extra-point attempt was blocked by UCO defensive lineman Vakameilalo Tuifua.

Before the action-packed first quarter came to an end, UCO running back Tucker Pawley put the Bronchos further ahead, 21-6.

Opening the second quarter, both teams scored. Blue Tigers running back Hosea Franklin broke out with a 55-yard touchdown run. The Blue Tigers then opted to go for two and succeeded to make the score 28-14. The Bronchos following drive resulted in a 26-yard field goal by kicker Alex Quevedo to make the score 31-14.

Central (2-3, 2-3 MIAA) played stout defense only giving up eight points to the Tigers. On the offensive side, the Bronchos kept Lincoln guessing playing both quarterbacks, which led to multiple point-making drives.

With 14:55 left in the third quarter, UCO running back Jayce Gardner scored the Bronchos fourth rushing touchdown of the day to take a commanding 41-14 lead. The following

UCO running back Payton Scott and halfback Daunte McGee celebrate after Scott found the end zone for a TD against Lincoln on Saturday. (The Vista/Manuela Soldi)

drive for the Tigers was short-lived and ended in a punt. The Bronchos then scored another touchdown on a 57-yard touchdown pass from wide receiver Josh Moore to wide receiver Marquise King, which was a trick play, to make the score 48-14.

Three plays into the next drive, Lincoln’s Brake threw a 74-yard touchdown pass to wide receiver Aderias Ealy, making the score 48-20. The Bronchos kept answering back. UCO running back Peyton Scott scored on an 8-yard touchdown run to stretch the score to 55-20. With 7:19 remain-

ing in the third quarter, Lincoln’s next drive resulted in another punt.

The Bronchos scored again after a 12-play drive that resulted in Brown’s third rushing touchdown of the day.

By that time, the Bronchos were leading 62-20. The Tigers did answer back one more time making it 62-28.

On the Bronchos last scoring drive, freshman running back Drake Parker scored the last touchdown of the day making the final score 69-20.

The Bronchos are back on the road at 7 p.m. Thursday to play Northeastern State University in Tahlequah.

8 | The Vista

Oct. 5, 2021

Musical Theater

REVIEW

‘RENT’ reflects past issues in present terms Pandemic crisis helps performers relate to AIDS epidemic era Ainsley Martinez Managing Editor

UCO Musical Theater presents the Tony Award and Pulitzer Prize-winning musical RENT just months after its 25th year anniversary in March.

The musical follows the lives of eight artists in New York City in the midst of the AIDS epidemic.

The production marks the first time the department has performed without masks, inside Mitchell Hall, in over a year.

D’Shaud Howard, who plays Benjamin ‘Benny’ Coffin, said he “couldn’t ask for a better show” to perform without masks.

“I did three shows with masks, and honestly it’s just so hard to connect with people with masks,” Howard said. “Having no masks brings the audience closer to us, and there’s a better appreciation for the art that we do.”

RENT covers a year of friendship and loss between 1989 and 1990, but director Scott Guthrie says the “anxiety and paranoia” that came with an AIDS diagnosis at that time are the same fears people experienced with the COVID-19 pandemic now.

“This is a very pandemic-adjacent piece of material,” Guthrie said.

Although none of the students who performed witnessed the height of the AIDS epidemic, Guthrie says the relevancy of the show is not lost.

“I had to remind them of the early days of the pandemic, when people like Tom Hanks were diagnosed with COVID-19, and people were paranoid that they were going to die. … It’s very similar to the AIDS epidemic,” Guthrie said. “They both tie into this idea of living for today. These themes are very much true today as they were then.”

Musical theater student Samuel Moran, agrees, and said this past year has been “incredibly isolating” due to the pandemic.

“A lot of people in our industry have been without work, and without an outlet to explore,” Moran said. “In a lot of ways, HIV was considered ‘the plague’ back in the day, so that element of it really ties into the fear and uncertainty with COVID—and the future of our careers.”

The unique style and controversial themes made RENT the 1990s version of other musical phenomena like “Hair or Hamilton,” director Scott Guthrie said. The sexually charged

The production marks the first time the department has performed without masks, inside Mitchell Hall, in over a year. D’Shaud Howard said he “couldn’t ask for a better show” to perform without masks. (Provided/UCO Photo Services)

scenes and drug use might be surprising to some, but it isn’t there for shock value. If anything, the “controversial” material is merely a raw reflection of American society.

“RENT is just so timeless. [Even though] I don’t think we struggle with the mortality [rate] of HIV/AIDS, we still struggle with a lot of social issues that carry over generations,” Moran said. “I think it still carries a lot of weight in our world today.”

Moran plays Angel, a gender-fluid man who fearlessly battles AIDS through the first half of the show, but tragically dies in Act II. Angel’s character at the time was rare: a man embracing femininity and gender fluidity.

“The role of Angel was so groundbreaking because at the time there had never been any kind of expression of gender queerness. Gender fluidity was never really talked about, or we didn’t have a lot of education about it, so at the time there wasn’t a way to say a person is non-binary,” Moran said. “It’s more so Angel is Angel. And sometimes he’s a ‘he,’ and sometimes she’s a ‘she.’”

The seriousness of the production, student Jaylon Crump said, developed his skills and emotional awareness for future shows. Crump plays Tom Collins, who grapples with losing his

partner, Angel, in Act II. While in the past he usually played comedic roles, Crump said the depth of his character in RENT allowed him to improve as an actor.

“There are shows that you do that pay the bills, and there are shows that you do that maybe no one will come to—but it’s for you. I feel like RENT is one of those shows that if there was no one in the audience I would still do it,” Crump said. “It reminds us why we’re artists, and why we choose to tell stories. It truly changed my life.”

Guthrie said watching the students develop was one of the best products of RENT. “Besides being supremely talented, these students brought their hearts and their humanity [to the show],” Guthrie said. “They’re not just actors, they are citizens of the world, and the most fulfilling thing is to watch them grow in both of those areas.”

The idea of “connection in an isolating age,” Guthrie said, makes RENT the perfect debut of the season.

“RENT is one of those stories that needs to be told for ages and ages. It shows people to choose love over fear, and live life without regret no matter what condition or illness that you’re diagnosed with,” Crump said.

The production of RENT continues in Mitchell Hall this week Thurs-

“RENT is one of those shows that if there was no one in the audience I would still do it,” Crump said. “It reminds us why we’re artists, and why we choose to tell stories.”

(Provided/UCO Promotions)

day-Sunday. For more information visit https://www.uco.edu/cfad/academics/music/musical-theatre.