The Vista Sept. 04, 2018

Page 1

Volume 116, Issue 22

the VISTA

ucentralmedia.com vistanews1903 @thevista1903 @thevista1903 The Vista

Tuesday, September 4, 2018

“Our Words, Your Voice.”

Local Church Under Investigation Elisabeth Slay @ESlaySlay Reporter

Bishop David Zubik, current Bishop of the Catholic Diocese of Pittsburgh, takes questions from reporters after vocation Mass at Saints John and Paul Parish, Saturday, Aug. 18, 2018, in Franklin Park, Pa. Zubik gave brief remarks about the recent release of the long-anticipated grand jury report documenting seven decades of child sexual abuse by hundreds of Roman Catholic priests in Pennsylvania. (Michael M. Santiago/Pittsburgh Post-Gazette via AP)

As news of systematic cover up and sexual abuse of over a thousand children by Pennsylvania priests continues to spread, Oklahoma is beginning its own investigation into the local Catholic Church about an abuse case from the 1980s. Pennsylvania Attorney General Josh Shapiro discovered the abuse cases, which span over 70 years and cover-up efforts went all the way up to the Vatican. The report states that there are probably thousands more victims, but some victims are scared to speak out and also some records have been lost. The grand jury said that not only are some of the church officials who protected the abusive priests still in office, but some have received promotions. See pg. 8

TPS Addresses Parking Problems with New Programs Christian Tabak @CaffeineWallace Editor-In-Chief

As students navigate less available campus parking due to ongoing construction projects, the University of Central Oklahoma Transportation and Parking Services has begun to introduce several measures to relieve the parking congestion. Construction on the new STEM Teaching and Research Center, the Hamilton Field House annex, the

new south wing of the College of Liberal Arts and the new dining center has placed parking on campus at a ratio of approximately 2.7 students per parking space, according to Josh Stone, director of Parking and Transportation Services. “The elimination of parking spaces due to buildings going up has certainly impacted the department in recent years,” Stone said. “We pride ourselves on providing as low cost parking as we can with the best service, and I’m proud to say I believe

we have accomplished that to date.” For faculty, staff and students living on campus, TPS will be starting a new pilot program for short-term parking spaces later this semester. The program will provide these drivers with parking spaces that will be available for short periods of time, such as for delivering groceries to student dorms. These spaces would also provide adjunct professors and other parttime staff the opportunity for quick parking, as these employees do not See pg. 6

UCOSA WATCH

BRONCHO SPORTS

UCO Student Association Opens Fall Legislative Session

Bronchos Stumble in the Pitts

on pg. 6

on pg. 12


2

the

Sept. 4, 2018

VISTA

The view of the back side of Old North. (Katie Standlee/The Vista)

CONTENTS

Coffee Creek .......................................................................3 Around Campus ..................................................................4 Harlee Lane.........................................................................5 Parking.............................................................................6 UCOSA Watch....................................................................7 Catholic Investigation............................................................8 Grant Awarded....................................................................9 International/CRISP.................................................11 Football................................................................12 Soccer.............................................................13 Bucking Broncho .................................................................14 Killion........................................................................15

Contents

STAFF Christian Tabak Katie Standlee Jonathan Goudeau Regan Rosson Megan Thele Austin Moseley Michelle Pennza Skyler Baldwin Vy Luong Evelyn Stewart Elisabeth Slay Lauren Morris Austein Brown James Jackson Derek Parker Teddy Burch Alex Brown

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.

Editor-in-Chief Managing Editor Sports Editor Photo Editor Copy Editor Online Editor Design Editor Editorial Cartoonist Reporter Reporter Reporter Reporter Reporter Sports Reporter Sports Reporter Adviser Advertising Specialist

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.ads@gmail.com.

Advertise with us!

The Vista Weekly Editorial

The Vista is published weekly during the spring, summer and fall semesters. In all issues, The Vista has opportunities for both digital, online and print ads. For information or questions contact: 405-974-5549 or thevista.ads@ gmail.com

On the Cover: Left: Students at the University of Central Oklahoma can participate in its Student Transformative Learning Record (STLR) through STLR-approved classes, projects and events, like Big Pink Volleyball, pictured, an event STLR-tagged for the tenet of Health and Wellness. (Provided/ UCO Photo Services)

by Skyler Baldwin

Right: Jake Standlee, 20, runs during a game against Missouri Southern University. The Bronchos look to run to victory against Pittsburgh State Thursday night. (Provided/ Vista Archives)


Coffee Creek

Sept. 4, 2018

3

Homeowners Association Sue Coffee Creek Lauren Morris @TheVista1903 Reporter

A lawsuit was filed against the developing of the former Coffee Creek Golf Course by the Coffee Creek Homeowners Association on Aug. 14, as the homeowners believe they have property interests they wish to protect. Kyle Copeland, the developer who bought the land, plans to develop the golf course into an area with multi-family residential buildings and commercial businesses. The University of Central Oklahoma’s men’s golf coach Josh Fosdick admitted that while the men’s team was never able to use the course while he was coach, he said the women’s team would use the facility. “It was useful for what it was built to be and that was a relaxing facility for the community to use,” Fosdick said. Fosdick also said that while he thinks it would be awesome to at least keep nine holes for the com-

A golfer stands on the putting green as he prepares to putt the ball into the hole. (Provided/Pixabay)

munity, at the end of the day, that decision came down to money. “[Copeland] had the money to purchase the land and nobody was able to compete with his bid,” Fosdick said. “I see the city’s point of view for rezoning as there would be taxes to be made off all those residential units and businesses. [It] just stinks to lose another golf course in the area.” David Jacobson, Edmond attorney

and Coffee Creek resident, said that the current single-family residential areas and golf course were built in the 1990s by the same people, making Coffee Creek a golf course community. “You can’t have a golf course community without a golf course,” Jacobson said. As both the homes and course were built at the same time, Jacobson said it would create an implied easement, which mandates that the golf course is part of the residential community and it must stay a golf course. The lawsuit filed was presented to the court for them to determine if there is an actual implied easement. The lawsuit also pointed out what it claims are several deficiencies in the proposal the developer gave the city planning commission when asking to rezone the area from single-family homes to multi-family homes and commercial businesses. One deficiency that Jacobson pointed out is that the golf course is a

floodplain, meaning it is low ground and subject to flooding. He said that golf courses can be built on floodplains because the grass absorbs all the excess rainwater, but residential and commercial areas need extra additions to be built to make sure the area doesn’t flood. Currently, Jacobson said the developer’s proposal, a Planned Unit Development, does not address how it will handle flooding. “Right now, when it rains really hard, there are flooding issues and we’re afraid those are going to be made worse if we have lots of streets and rooftops,” Jacobson said. The planning commission continued the review and consideration of the zoning request, and has given the developer 30 days to go in and correct any deficiencies the request may have. Planning commission voting will resume Sept. 18.

Nick Pierce, a junior UCO golfer, swings his club to hit the ball closer to the hole in April 2018. (Provided/Broncho Sports)


4

Sept. 4, 2018

Around Campus

The UCO Peer Health Leaders table for National Drug Overdose awareness day on Aug. 31. Two students hold up a pledge they signed to help their friends, themselves or any loved ones struggling with drug abuse. (Regan Rosson/The Vista)

All Week: Tuesday, Sept. 4, 2018 Iraqi Cultural Night: The Fulbright visiting scholars from Iraq will host the fifth annual Iraqi Culture Night at 6 p.m. in the Nigh University Center Ballrooms. The scholars will showcase the history, culture, arts and many other aspects of Iraq. Free authentic Middle Eastern food will be served, and the UCO and local community are welcome. SPB New Member Open Meeting: The University of Central Oklahoma Student Programming Board will hold an open meeting from 7-8:30 p.m. in the Will Rogers Room (421) of the Nigh University Center. The meeting is open to all students who are interested in joining SPB. These meetings are used to introduce prospective members to what SPB is, as well as the organization’s events and committees It is a chance for new members to learn what SPB is all about.

Wednesday, Sept. 5, 2018 Dr. Brandon Katzir “Land and Language: The Hebrew Revival and Modern Israeli Literature”: Oklahoma City University’s Dr. Brandon Katzir will provide a discussion on Israeli culture and literature from noon-1:15 in the Center for Tranformative Learning’s Radke Fine Arts Theater.

Passport UCO Online Film Festival: Students can take part in an online film festival for STLR credit by watching a featured film from Israel and writing a short response to the film. For each five films a student watches, they are entered for a chance to win a free iPad. Email jdaro@uco.edu for details on signing up. The festival is STLR tagged in Global and Cultural Competencies. African Students Association General Meeting: The University of Central Oklahoma’s African Student Association will host a general meeting from 4-6 p.m. in Room 314 of the Nigh University Center. Attendees will plan details concerning the semester’s events and how to improve the association in order to have a positive impact on cultural diversity at UCO. Kappa Delta Chi Informationals 101: The University of Central Oklahoma’s Kappa Delta Chi sorority will host an Informationals 101 presentation from 5-6:30 p.m. in Room 201 of the Nigh University Center. At this event, potential new members can learn about the recruitment process and other details about the sorority. A Different World - Debate Night: The Black Student Association will host a Debate Night from 6-8:30 p.m. in the Will Rogers Room (421) of the Nigh University Center. The debate will focus on political, ethical, racial, emotional and social issues college students are dealing with everyday. Organization Registration Training (Final Training before SAF Funding Deadline): The Office of Student Engagement will host organizational renewal training from 6-8 p.m. in Room 202 of the Nigh University Center. Presidents, vice presidents and treasurers of student organizations are required to attend as part of the organization renewal process.

Thursday, Aug. 30, 2018 UCO Labyrinth Fifth Anniversary Celebration: The University of Central Oklahoma will celebrate the fifth anniversary of the UCO Labyrinth at 10 a.m. in Heartland Plaza near the Y Chapel. A short celebration ceremony is planned and will be followed by a group labyrinth walk. Campus Prayer: From 10:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. in the Nigh University Center, members of Anchor are offering a worship and prayer event to pray for UCO’s campus. Outdoor Adventure Club General Meeting: The University of Central Oklahoma’s Outdoor Adventure Club will host their first meeting of the semester from 3:30-6:30 p.m. at the UCO Boathouse on Lake Arcadia. From 3:30-5:30 p.m. there will be water sports available and the meeting will begin shortly after. Student IDs are required to attend. All That - The Official BSA Mixer: The Black Student Association will host a social mixer from 6-8 p.m. in the Robert S. Kerr Room (301)of the Nigh University Center. Homecoming Organization Representatives Meeting: From 6:30-7:30 p.m. in the Cherokee Room (213) of the Nigh University Center, the University of Central Oklahoma Homecoming Activities Board will provide more information about homecom-

ing for organization representatives. Each organization’s representative is required to attend. Homecoming Activities Board Meeting: The Homecoming Activities Board will hold a meeting from 7:30-10 p.m. to discuss plans for the University of Central Oklahoma’s 2018 homecoming activities.

Friday, Sept. 1, 2018 Pi Alpha Alpha Back to School Mixer: The Pi Alpha Alpha political science honor society will host a Back to School Mixer from 6-8 p.m. at the Bleu Garten in Oklahoma City. The event is for the Political Science Department students, faculty and family members. Black Student Association Intros: The Black Student Association will host their annual Intros from 6:3010 p.m. The event will provide campus organizations the opportunity to showcase what their organizations represent through singing, dancing, saying a few words or in some other way. The event will also feature local performers. SPB First Friday Flicks: The University of Central Oklahoma Student Programming Board will host their First Friday Flicks movie event from 7-9 p.m. at Kickingbird Cinema. The first 50 students to attend will recieve free tickets. The movie will be announced the week of the event.


Harlee Lane

Sept. 4, 2018

5

ACM Student Tops Local Pop Charts Megan Thele

@1bigtimenicole Copy Editor

An Academy of Contemporary Music at the University of Central Oklahoma student has reached the No. 1 spot on the local Reverb Nation pop charts. Harlee Lane's song “Come Down” reached the No.1 spot on Reverb Nation's Oklahoma City pop charts last week. “Come Down” is more punchy and sexually frustrated, according to Lane, than his other music. “I actually I was No. 1 trending until someone came up to me and congratulated me,” Lane said. “I'm excited. I love that people love my music.” While this is Lane's most recent No. 1 on local charts, he said it is not his first, as a few of his past singles have reached the top spot. Lane is a senior at ACM working on vocal performance and applied technology paired with production to become a full-time pop artist. He said that ACM has been instrumental in getting him where he is as an artist, and specifically classes, such as ACM professor Adam Ledbetter’s Hip Hop Production, have contributed to his musical growth. However, Lane said he’s taking his time and taking everything in, so his time at ACM will extend beyond a fourth year. “[ACM] has completely pushed me to new levels,” Lane said. As a singer, songwriter and producer, Lane makes all of his own music. He said he began singing at 6-years-old and knew he wanted to be an artist from there. Lane said his journey has faced many strug-

gles, but he believes those struggles are what made him the person he is now. “The road to this point has 110 percent had struggles, but without any struggle, no real character can be built,” Lane said. “I've never really doubted [my career choice] seriously, and if I ever had doubts they went away really quickly. I was born for this.” Among his personal struggles was the loss of his cat, which inspired the name Harlee. “I didn’t know how to cope, so I had to change my name and identity to be able to mourn,” Lane said. Pop music is Lane's biggest inspiration, with him citing Mac DeMarco and Bebe Rexha as influences. His personal experiences and struggles have served as additional material for his singles, such as “Come Down,” and for his EP, “Lost Soul.” “It was only a matter of time before Harlee Lane reached number one on a pop chart,” said ACM@UCO CEO and Executive Director Scott Booker. “We are incredibly proud of his success and expect to see his career continue to go sky high.” More music is in the works, according to Lane, and his newest single “Say It Again” (feat. Reis Deville) is now out on iTunes and Spotify. All of Harlee Lane's music is available to stream on Spotify, Apple Music, YouTube and Reverb Nation. “My plans for my career are to become a massive selling recording artist and influence people with love,” Lane said. The Academy of Contemporary Music is one of UCO's downtown campuses, located in Bricktown, and features three programs that prepare

ACM student Harlee Lane’s single “Come Down” reached the No. 1 spot on Oklahoma City’s Reverb Nation pop charts. Lane is a senior studying vocal performance and applied technology, with emphasis in contemporary music production. (Provided/Jennifer Chancellor)

students for contemporary music industry careers. Students are mentored by faculty who have worked in the industry and recorded, toured and performed with artists such as Reba McIntire, Miley Cyrus and The Flaming Lips, according to the ACM website. The academy’s 350 fulltime students have access to four state-of-the-art recording studios, two fully-equipped technology labs, five rehearsal spaces and the 500 capacity ACM@UCO Performance Lab. ACM offers associate's degree programs in contemporary music business, performance and production, with the option to combine a program with Applied Technology for a bachelor's degree.


6

Sept. 4, 2018

Parking

TPS Addresses Parking Problems with New Programs Continued from pg. 1 work typical 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. positions, according to Stone. “Housing & Dining has given us feedback in recent years that housing students want the ability to carry groceries and other heavy items to their rooms more conveniently,” Stone said. “Faculty leadership has expressed a desire for us to provide adjunct faculty more options when it comes to parking.” While TPS is still in the process of working out the details for when the project is rolled out later this semester, Stone said that the new lots that were designated for the pilot program would not detract for currently available multi-permit and commuter spaces. To create additional parking, TPS also announced that they would add additional parallel parking spaces to Main Street, reducing the road from four lanes to two and increasing commuter parking by approximately 33 spaces. An additional parking area, designated as an emergency lot, was also opened last Monday by Lot 14 near the Nigh University Center as an overflow parking lot. The additional space will only open when all current lots are at capacity, according to Stone. “Transportation & Parking Services believes these solutions will provide relief to the campus parking congestion,” Stone said. “We will continue to keep a close eye on parking occupancy in the coming weeks and will make additional adjustments as needed.” Over the first two weeks of the semester, students took to the department’s social media pages on Twitter and Facebook to express concern and frustration with the parking on campus. Student comments have ranged from concerns over the university’s policy of selling more parking permits than available parking spaces, to concerns on why the university has yet to construct a parking garage, according to Stone. “People want to vent and Twitter is a great platform to do that on,” Stone said. “I think we try to use that constructively to see what people’s biggest gripe is, and then we try to solve it as best we can.” As UCO utilizes the hunting license parking model of parking, Stone said that the model means that students are purchasing the right to hunt for a parking space rather than

Luis Claudio, a TPS Student worker and UCO senior, help out a student with a parking pass issue on the 3rd floor of the Nigh University Center. With parking decreased from ongoing construction projects, students are facing a ratio of approximately 2.7 users per parking space(Regan Rosson/The Vista)

directly purchasing designated parking spaces. “The reason this model is popular is that at the time, student enrollment

was lower and there was an abundance of space,” Stone said. “In the past 10 to 15 years, this trend has reversed as universities try to keep up

The library parking lot at the University of Central Oklahoma is packed with cars. Parking for students, faculty and staff has been an issue for UCO since the shool has grown over the years. (Sam Karbelk/The Vista)

with the latest and greatest and keep up with the needs of their state.” While this is the model that the university currently uses, Stone said the department has been considering a change from hunting license to zonal. Under a zonal model, the parking system would sell a select number to ensure that students would have available slots, while also focusing on available parking alternatives such as bus routes and the Bum-aBike program. “We’re slowly moving in that direction,” Stone said. “A model change like that is very complicated; it takes a lot of behind the scenes work and seeing exactly how this could stand to benefit the university.” Transportation and Parking Services has been considering transitioning to this model over the last two years, but Stone said he would not expect to even begin such a process for another year. As this process continues, TPS is also considering expanding the Bum-a-Bike program to respond to the program’s high demand. Stone said that the program currently has students on the waitlist. Yet with the second week of the semester completed, Stone said he expects parking concerns to ease up in the coming weeks. “We want people to keep talking to us,” Stone said. “We started a remote and evening parking permit because of feedback; we expanded Bum-aBike because of feedback. We really want that feedback to make sure we are meeting needs and how to meet that need if we’re not.”


UCOSA Watch

Sept. 4, 2018

7

UCOSA Returns to Legislative Session Lauren Morris @TheVista1903 Reporter

The University of Central Oklahoma Student Association kicked off their Opening Session of the 20182019 legislative year last Monday with the appointment of new senators and opening remarks from UCO’s President Don Betz and Vice President for Student Affairs Myron Pope. Pope opened the session by complimenting UCOSA on the work they had done over the summer, as well as for the events during Stampede Week. He also praised several ideas that UCOSA had developed or implemented, including “blue box” emergency phones, the Bronchos Helping Bronchos scholarship fund and increasing the number of Edmond businesses that would give UCO students discounts. UCOSA’s partnership with Uber, which had been expanded over the last legislative year, was deemed “a great success” by Pope. Through the partnership, UCO students can get six free rides up to $15 per semester.

Remington Dean, the president of UCOSA, gives a speech at the first UCOSA meeting of the fall 2018 semester in the Robert S. Kerr Room in the Nigh University Center. (Lauren Morris/The Vista)

Students can access the discount through the app by using promo code UCOFALL18.

On Aug. 27 the new UCOSA executives are sworn in during the 2018 opening session in the Robert S. Kerr Room in the Night University Center. (Lauren Morris/The Vista)

“I think a significant part of your growth and development you will do here, together; not separately, but together,” Betz said. During his speech, Betz mentioned the new Sports Performance Center, all of the playing fields being lit for the first time in about a month, opening the STEM Center for Teaching and Learning in November and the ongoing construction of the College of Liberal Arts’ south wing. “They tell us it’s a time of division, a time of tribalism,” Betz said. “We’re not supposed to connect; we don’t believe that at this university. Look across the faces of the people at this university. They don’t look the same, because they’re not the same. Why are we here? We’re here to create the opportunity for all.” UCOSA President Remington

Dean listed items he considered helpful on the UCO campus. One such item is UCO’s Bum-A-Bike program, which Dean said he hopes to improve. His plans for the program include placing GPS trackers on the bikes in an effort to lessen stolen or damaged bikes. “There’s no way to track where the bikes are, the condition the bikes are in… if a bike is stolen or missing,” Dean said. Dean also mentioned trying to renovate the bus transportation system, CityLink, and create a system where someone would be able to track where a bus is at any given time. One bill was passed at the end of the meeting. CR18-100 was passed to confirm new senator positions. The next session for UCOSA will be September 10 at 4 p.m..


8

Sept. 4, 2018

Catholic Investigation

Local Church Under Investigation Continued from pg. 1

Pope Francis released a letter on Aug. 20 discussing the recent sexual abuse cases. "The pain of the victims and their families is also our pain, and so it is urgent that we once more reaffirm our commitment to ensure the protection of minors and of vulnerable adults," Francis wrote. In light of this scandal, Oklahoma religious leaders began their investigation of an abuse case from the 1980s after a former resident came forward. The archdiocese revealed its plan on Aug. 22 to review and report all past cases of child sex abuse from 1960-2018. “This is a very dark moment in the history of our beautiful, but wounded, Catholic Church,” Coakley said. “We are called to prayer and penance for the purification of the church and our bishops and priests must set the example.” The goal of the review is to investigate all credible allegations of abuse which were reported, admitted or in anyway communicated to priests in the Archdiocese of Oklahoma City. “An internal and independent review of previous allegations is a good place to start,” Coakley said. “No matter how painful this process may become, I am committed to reviewing and sharing the specifics of these cases.” In about three months the first report will be released and a second one reviewing files prior to 1960 will follow. The plan for the review was presented to the Archdiocesan Review

The pews inside the St. Augustine Chapel on Aug. 30, where the daily mass is held. (Sam Karbelk/The Vista)

Board, which was created in 2002 to protect the youth of the Church. According to the Rev. Stephen Hamilton of St. Monica's Church, throughout the ongoing investigations, the most important aspects to focus on when addressing this issue are the victims. “When we’re talking about this very difficult topic, I think the main focus needs to be acknowledging harm done to the victims,” Hamilton said. “We need to seek to assist them and seek to uproot the things that made this possible.” Since the first major coverage of these incidents in 2002, policies and procedures are in place to protect children and young people. These include a number of background checks, mental health evaluations and safe environment trainings,

which Hamilton said has drastically reduced the number of reported cases of abuse. However, both Hamilton and the Rev. Brian Buettner, vocations director for the Archdiocese of Oklahoma City, feel the policies should continue to evolve. “While I am thankful for these policies today, they do not make up for the scandals that have surfaced,” Buettner said. “The sexual abuse of minors and the cases that were covered up by [those] in the hierarchy highlight the importance for our policies to continue to be adjusted to create a safer place.” Since the recent news of Pennsylvania and Oklahoma City circulated, Buettner said people have looked upon him with suspicion. “These events have caused peo-

ple to look at my vocation with skepticism and distrust,” Buettner said. “The only way that I can really respond is to live out my life with an ever greater fidelity to my priestly promises and to not be ashamed of being a priest.” Those who practice Catholicism are also negatively affected by these scandals, according to Hamilton. “I think it has certainly rocked people; it’s made them ask a lot of questions; it’s made them angry; it’s made them hurt,” Hamilton said. “In a certain sense, in a mysterious way of God’s grace, it is also an opportunity for purification.” While there have been worries and fallout because of the situation, Buettner, Hamilton and other priests of the Archdiocese of OKC are taking action to help the victims and putting their faith in God. “My prayer is that those that have been abused have the courage to come forward and receive justice for the evil that was inflicted upon them by wolves in sheep’s clothing,” Buettner said. “Satan has no place in my Church.” To report incidences of abuse in the past or present, contact the Abuse of Minors Pastoral Response Hotline at (405) 720-9878. The Oklahoma Department of Human Services has also established a statewide abuse reporting hotline at (800) 522-3511. The inside of St. Monica’s St. Augustine Chapel where the daily mass is held Tuesday through Thursday at 5:30 PM, Friday at 7:30 AM, and Saturday 7:30 AM. The church is off 192 Street and Western Avenue. (Sam Karbelk/The Vista)


Grant Awarded

Sept. 4, 2018

9

Fostering Student Success on Campus Katie Standlee

@katiestandlee Managing Editor

Eckerd Connects awarded a grant of $145,054 to the University of Central Oklahoma Foundation for the Fostering Student Success initiative, a program designed to increase retention and enrollment for former foster youth. “Right now foster youth have about a two to four percent graduation rate, so if you ask foster youth in the schools how many of them would like to go to college, 80 percent of them say they would like to go,” said Anna Doughty, mental health counselor at UCO and one-stop resource for FSS. “Fifty percent of them nationwide actually enroll and two to four percent actually graduate.” Doughty said she works on what happens between that 50 percent of who enroll and that two to four percent of who graduate. Her goal is to get that two to four percent to 100 percent former foster graduates. “They have so many obstacles to overcome without the support and guidance of a caring adult,” said David Dennis, CEO of Eckerd Connects, in a press release. “This initiative is designed to put them on a college and career pathway.” UCO has 412 students who identified as a ward of the court on the Free Application for Federal Student Aid for the Fall 2018 semester, but after some outreach there are about 362 students remaining. "Some of them didn’t come to UCO and some of them checked the box accidentally,” Doughty said. “So as I am calling, the list is getting smaller. I think I still have 362, but some of those calls haven’t been returned and I can’t tell if everybody is getting the email, so it is unclear” In terms of outreach efforts, Doughty has tried calling, emailing, putting up flyers and attending events like the Student Involvement fair. “I’m trying to think, how do you identify a group that does not want to be identified and how do you contact a group that does not want to be contacted,” said Doughty. Along with this program, there is a student organization for Fostering Student Success. Doughty said that she wants the student organization to be making decisions about outreach, group workshops, community building and other resources that are needed. The first meeting for the FSS student organization was held last Thursday in Thatcher Hall Room 328.

Anna Doughty, title here, mental health counselor, work in her office in Thatcher Hall room 328 on Aug 31. (Regan Rosson/The Vista)

FSS offers levels of service in: general information, student organization, resources, resource planning, group workshops and counseling. “My goal is to be available but not intrusive, and that’s a challenging position, particularly as I try to get initial information out about the services I offer,” Doughty said. Julia Reed, senior director for the Center of Counseling and Wellbeing said this program also includes helping former foster youth with things on campus like filling out FAFSA, applying for Oklahoma’s Promise, ordering books, nutrition, basic finance and anything else students who don’t have someone to contact may need help with. “We just want to empower the former foster youth to reach a space where they want to be and not feel so isolated and alone,” Reed said. The grant was awarded to FSS and the UCO Foundation in July, which is when work began to get the program going. Funding from the grant is going toward Doughty’s salary, a new position for someone who will work within a high school for outreach, office supplies and furniture. “Eckerd is funding it for three years and then UCO is funding it hopefully for an extra two, so theoretically we have a five-year timeframe to build the program to be successful,” Doughty said. The new high school position has not been selected yet, but Doughty has been doing some high school outreach. The program is primarily run by Doughty, meaning she has multiple different responsibilities including: outreach, one-on-one support, therapy services, facilitating group workshops, trauma recovery support and being a full-time case manager.

“I’ve been doing a lot of email outreach and a lot of my time has gone into in-depth research, but I hope to devote a lot of my time to one-onone time with students,” Doughty said. Reed said through the work with FSS, Doughty is working on prevention, intervention and connection. FSS is a Center of Counseling

and Well-Being program, so Reed supervises Doughty, but the program is ultimately run by Doughty. “We hope that we can create a campus-based model that other people may want to replicate, more than just having a point person, but having a network for foster students on campus,” Reed said.



International/CRISP

Sept. 04, 2018

11

International Student Enrollment Declines Vy Long @vy169

Reporter

International student enrollment at the University of Central Oklahoma has dropped by 16 percent over the last five years as international enrollment declines across the nation. Around 875 international student enrolled at UCO for the fall 2018 semester, compared to 1045 students last fall. The number of graduate students is increasing, but the number of undergraduate freshmen is decreasing, according to Brandon Lehman, assistant director of the UCO Office of Global Affairs. “[Why students are not coming] is a complicated question because that’s a national trend,” Lehman said. “Last year, there was a 7 percent decrease nationally.” With the Office of Global Affairs estimating an average of $24,850 a year for international undergraduates and $25,050 for international graduates, int According to Lisa Harper, assistant vice president for Financial Operations, international students do have

In the office of Undergraduate Admissions and Enrollment Services, students meet with staff members to discuss any questions they have. (Regan Rosson/The Vista)

an affect on UCO's finances. UCO only gets around 21 percent of its funding from the state, and a majority of the remaining funding comes from student tuition, which has been decreased due to a decline in international enrollment. UCO's website shows that an Oklahoma resident student pays $249.60 per credit hour, whereas non-resident students pay $612.50 per credit hour. “We also lose the connection with other countries [if students don’t come anymore],” Lehman said. “Some students choose UCO because they have connection in some way,

like their family member already went here.” One main factor that affects the enrollment is visa rejection. According to U.S. Department of State data, the U.S. issued less than 40,000 student visas in 2017, a 17 percent drop from 2016 and 40 percent drop from 2015. Lehman said safety is one major concern for international students. Students may hear reports of gun shootings, or they are worried whether their religion will be accepted. “We always tell them that they are safe and welcome here,” Lehman said. “In fact, Edmond is the top

safest city in America.” The recent tuition increase also affects enrollment, with this year's tuition increasing 5.5 percent. “The value of dollars in some countries has increased, so it’s harder for families to pay the cost here,” Lehman said. “Or in India, the policy makes it hard to send money outside of the country.” Lehman said more competition abroad is also a challenge. Students are looking for counties with affordable costs and more work opportunities. In America, international student visas only allow them to work on campus up to 20 hours per week. The Office of Global Affairs has provided more scholarships recently to make UCO become more affordable for international students. They also hosted the “Tell Your Story” video competition, where students could share their experience at UCO. “We are trying to be more strategic on how we recruit overseas,” Lehman said. “We also try to increase our social media and other digital marketing efforts.”

CRISP Looking for More Families Alejandro Gonzalez @A_Gonzalez_17 Reporter

The Centre for Global Competency at the University of Central Oklahoma is seeking families interested in a community program that pairs international students with local families. Community Responding to International Students Program opens every semester and has monthly events for participants to spend time with their paired family or international student, according to Jared Scism, UCO's manager of International Programming. “The goal of CRISP is to give international students a better understanding of American culture and a first-hand experience of an American family, while giving them a home away from home,” Scism said. “It's also a great way for American families to learn about another culture without ever leaving Oklahoma.” Alongside the Broncho Buddies program, CRISP is one of several major initiatives the Centre for Global Competency runs to engage both domestic and international students and community. While the program markets to both

domestic and international communities, the number of international students signing up is always higher than the number of families participating, according to Aleecia Delozier, CRISP coordinator and International Programming assistant. “Our goal is to have 100 families and 100 students participating and I am only halfway through that goal,” Delozier said. After completing the application process, both students and families will be “Some families want one, two or three students and some families want Asian students, or even French,” said Delozier. “I have to attempt to meet the needs of the families.” The families and students will meet for the first time at the CRISP kickoff party on Sept. 8. After the kickoff, families and students then go out and bond by themselves, according to Delozier. CRISP families can spend time together through individually planned activities or through one of the Centre for Global Competency's monthly CRISP events. These events include activities such as pumpkin carving, Thanksgiving dinners and Christmas

parties hosted either at UCO's Nigh University Center or in Edmond's International House. The families are not financially obligated to their student or required to attend every CRISP event, but they are required to attend to the kickoff party and meet their student at least once a month. “CRISP provides a platform with free events to encourage international relations within the community,”

Delozier said. In the past, according to Delozier, members of CRISP are invited to come for free to Oklahoma City Thunder basketball games, the Oklahoma City Zoo and museums. If there is any trouble communicating between the student and the family or if there are any personal issues were the participants can't engage in the program, contacting Delozier is best to resolve any issues.

Members of the CRISP program attend the program’s Family Game day at one of the program’s events hosted throughout the semester. Attendees participate in a game of limbo and other activities. (Provided/CRISP)


12

Sep. 4, 2018

Football

SPORTS

Gorillas Defense Tramples Bronchos Jonathan Goudeau @Goudeau_jdg Sports Editor

A strong defensive effort was not enough to overcome missed opportunities and offensive struggles as the University of Central Oklahoma fell to Pittsburg State University 21-7 Thursday night in Pittsburg, Kansas. “We just didn’t come out the way we needed to,” UCO head coach Nick Bobeck said. “They came out and scored quick and we didn’t. We put ourselves in a bad spot and in this environment; you just can’t do that.” Pitt State started fast, taking the opening drive 78 yards for a touchdown to take an early 7-0 lead. After a series of stops by both teams, Pitt State quarterback John Roderique found wide receiver Lorenzo West in the corner of the end zone for a 20-yard touchdown to make it 14-0. Later in the quarter, University of Minnesota transfer KiAnte Hardin fielded a punt and made a couple of

Broncho defenders miss on his way to the end zone to give Pitt State a 21-0 halftime lead. After a scoreless third quarter, the Broncho offense got going as quarterback Keats Calhoon connected L’liott Curry for a 51-yard touchdown after a turnover to make it 21-7 with 9:43 left in the fourth quarter. The Bronchos’ defense came up big, forcing a turnover on downs after Roderique fumbled a snap on fourth down and forcing a three and out. With 1:15 left, the offense came up empty when Calhoon’s pass was intercepted by Jalen Myers with 13 seconds left to seal the loss. The offense struggled all game, finishing with 234 yards. In his first start, Calhoon finished 12-of-29 for 127 yards with one touchdown and one interception. He also led in rushing with 82 yards on 15 carries. Curry led in receiving with three catches for 89 yards and a touchdown. “I think Keats did a great job,” Bobeck said. “He had to deal with a lot of pressure all night long and

Addison Staggs, No. 25, runs to make a tackle during a Sep. 2016 game against Pittsburgh State. The Broncho defense forced three turnovers in Thursdays game. (Vista Archives)

that’s hard to do. He stood in there and did really well.”

“We didn’t do a good job of setting the tone up front,”Bobeck said. “We need to get bigger and stronger to get the offense going.” The ground game never got started with the Bronchos gaining 95 yards, most of which came on either quarterback draws by Calhoon or scrambles. Three running backs combined for 23 yards behind the new offensive line who struggled, allowing four sacks. “We didn’t do a good job setting the tone up front,” Bobeck said. “We need to be bigger and stronger there to get the offense going.”

Defensively, the Bronchos held Pitt State to 332 yards, forced three turnovers and notched one sack. Linebacker Colton Lindsey led in tackles with eight and notched the only interception on a diving catch off of a deflection. Linebacker Chris Pogi and defensive tackle Tyrell Cummings each had seven tackles. Defensive end Justin Stewart registered the only sack. “Our defense did really well overall,” Bobeck said. “There were a lot of good plays. But there were some not good plays that cost us.” While kicker Alex Quevedo missed his only field goal attempt, punter Jay Tedesco had a strong game, landing five of his eight punts inside the 20-yard line. He had two punts of 50 or more yards and averaged 42.8 yards per punt. “Our punts were good,” Bobeck said. “If we don’t give up a punt return for a touchdown, this is a different game.” The Bronchos host Nebraska-Kearny Thursday at Wantland Stadium with kickoff scheduled for 7 p.m.

Colton Lindsey, No. 27, makes a tackle during a Nov. 2017 game against Washburn. Lindsey led the Bronchos with eight tackles and one interception in last Thursdays game. (Vista Archives)


a

Soccer

Sep. 4, 2018

13

Bronchos Ground The Eagles

Former University of Central Oklahoma forward Samantha Mickle, No. 23, dribbles the ball during a Oct. 15, 2017 home game against Northwest Missouri State. The Bronchos won their season opener 2-0 against Oklahoma Christian. (Vista Archives)

James Jackson

@JamesDJackson15 Sports Reporter

The University of Central Oklahoma posted a shutout in their 2018 season opener as they defeated Oklahoma Christian University 2-0 Thursday at Eagle Field. “It’s always good to [start the season with a win],” said UCO Head Soccer Coach Mike Cook. “Our goal was to come out tonight and play hard. We wanted a shutout, that way it only takes one goal to win, but we got a couple goals.” Goal one came by UCO’s Kate Killion in the 18th minute, her 24th career goal, as she received the ball from Taryne Kedzior, then made a move past an OCU defender and made a crossing score from the left side of the field to the right goal post. Eight minutes later, UCO’s Piper Cannon scored from inside the box to the right side of the goal after receiving an arching pass from Kaylee Collins. The Bronchos had 12 different players take a shot at goal, record-

ing a 13-1 shot advantage in the first half and a 9-2 advantage in the second half. Defensively, it was a relaxed night for UCO goal keeper Kelsi Gibson as the Eagles, with three shots on the night, were only able to enforce one shot on goal throughout the game. She made her only save of the night in the 50th minute after OCU’s Natalie Thomas fired a shot from the top of the penalty spot. “Again, we feel like we’re going to press teams,” Cook said. “We feel like we got enough depth where we feel like we can keep the pressure on teams and we hope to play in their half, so we hope to keep the shots down to a minimum.” This season the Bronchos return 20 letter-winners from last year and 11 players with starting experience. Last season the Bronchos went 7-10-2, which was only the second time the Bronchos posted a season record below .500 in school history. One of their seven wins came from Oklahoma Christian University, as

they defeated the Eagles 5-1 last September. On Sept. 5, UCO will host their

first night game in school history as they take on Midwestern State University at 7 p.m.

Foward Haley Post, No. 13, sets up for a shot during a home game last season. The Bronchos play their first ever night game Sep. 5 at 7 p.m at Tom Thompson Field. (Vista Archives)


14

Sep. 4, 2018

Bucking Broncho

Fair or Foul Contenders?

With Major League Baseball just days away from the postseason, several teams are preparing for their World Series run. Here are some of the top teams that could win it all this year. The Boston Red Sox: The American League’s best chance to win the World Series lies in the Boston Red Sox. They currently hold the leagues’ best record at 93-42. Boston has had a phenomenal season. While they are currently atop the MLB, they’ve been in a bit of a slump as of late. The league leaders are 6-6 in their last 12, and their star right fielder, Mookie Betts, has been in a slump of his own. If Boston can get back to form before the playoffs, they’ll be in good position to grab their ninth World Series championship. The Houston Astros: The defending champs are having another spectacular season. Houston is currently 82-52. The Astros have been without their all-star caliber second baseman Jose Altuve for a while now. Altuve is an integral part of what makes the Astros so good both last year and this year. Injury-riddled is putting it lightly for the Astors, as they’ve played without Jose Altuve, Carlos Correa, Lance McCullers Jr., George Spring-

New York Yankees starter J.A. Happ delivers a pitch to the Detroit Tigers during the first inning of a baseball game Thursday, Aug. 30, 2018, at Yankee Stadium in New York. (AP Photo/Rich Schultz)

er and more for a good chunk of the final stretch of the season. With Altuve and Correa back in the lineup, Houston has a significantly higher chance to make a run this postseason. If the Astros can get healthy before the postseason, they could be looking at back-to-back championships.

New York Yankees: The Bronx Bombers are firmly in position to snag the wild card while sitting at 84-50, behind the Red Sox in the AL East. The experiment of adding Giancarlo Stanton to an already stacked lineup of Aaron Judge, Gary Sanchez and Didi Gregorius seems to

have payed off. Even better than the Yankees offense has been their defense. New York’s pitchers have been on fire lately, thanks to the resurgence of CC Sabathia, who is having one of his best seasons since 2011 with a 3.30 ERA. The Yankees lost Aaron Judge due to injury, but added Pirates star Andrew McCutchen to their star-studded lineup. Despite being a wild card, the Yankees are in solid position to shoot for the World Series. The St. Louis Cardinals: After an extremely rocky start, the St. Louis Cardinals won more games than anyone else in the month of August, and are looking to sneak into a wild card spot. The Cardinals are currently sitting at 75-59, and are a team that many are praying don’t make it in due to their turnaround. Their third baseman, Matt Carpenter, has claimed the National League home run title and has been pivotal in the Cardinals success lately. Be looking for St. Louis to sneak their way into the postseason and potentially win it.

Boston Red Sox’s Mookie Betts hits a two-run home run against the Chicago White Sox during the seventh inning of a baseball game Thursday, Aug. 30, 2018, in Chicago. (AP Photo/Jim Young)


Killion

Sep. 4, 2018

15

Killion Dribbles Into Final Season Derek Parker @D_Park2

Sports Reporter

After missing almost half of last season due to injury, senior Katie Killion is looking to make an impact year for the University of Central Oklahoma women’s soccer team. Killion began her career at UCO in 2015, starting 18 games for the Bronchos as a true freshman. Head coach Mike Cook said he was surprised by Killion’s ability to make an immediate impact for the Bronchos. “From day one she’s always been a hard worker,” Cook said. “Her freshman year she got into it quickly, she adjusted and she started making big contributions.” The forward scored a team-high 10 goals and recorded a teamhigh six assists in her freshman campaign. Killion shot 59 shots her freshman year with 40 coming on target. She scored three game winning goals in 2015 and earned

Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association Freshman of the Year and first team All-MIAA. Killion also earned third team All-Region from the National Soccer Coaches Association of America. In her sophomore season, Killion continued her career at UCO by scoring a team-high 29 points on 12 goals and five assists. She started in all 23 games for the Bronchos and led Central in five offensive categories. Killion notched 71 shots on the year, with 42 of them on target. She scored her first hat-trick against Fort Hays State University in the MIAA tournament. Killion earned first team All-MIAA and first team All-Region, as well as earning second team All-Region from the Conference Commissioners Association in her sophomore year. Due to injury, Killion played 11 games as a junior, while still earning third team All-MIAA. She took 19 shots with 11 on target. Playing in 54 games over the past three seasons, Killion will be one

of the most experienced players on the team. She has four multi-goal games in her time at UCO, three two-goal games and one three-goal game. Cook said the Bronchos are ready for Killion’s return. “[With] her being injured last year, we’re not a one-person-team, but she’s a big part of what we do. We missed her work ethic,” Cook said. “We’re hoping now as a senior and her last chance to play, she’s gonna come back with some renewed passion and want to go out on top.” Killion’s ability on the field directly correlates to her work ethic, according to Cook. “She gives a hundred percent when she plays. Even to the point we have to tell her ‘you don’t have to do it all yourself,’” Cook said. “She brings that kind of passion and hard work every game.” The Bronchos were voted fifth overall in the MIAA Preseason coaches poll. Central kicked off their season

with a 2-0 win against Oklahoma Christian University, where Killion scored her 24th career goal.

UCO forward Katie Killion dribbles during a home game last season. She scored her 24th career goal in the Bronchos 2-0 win over Oklahoma Christian last Thursday. (Vista Archives)



Turn static files into dynamic content formats.

Create a flipbook
Issuu converts static files into: digital portfolios, online yearbooks, online catalogs, digital photo albums and more. Sign up and create your flipbook.