The Vista Sept. 13, 2011

Page 1

Riding the Bus

Soccer

The Edmond Citylink bus service hit an all-time high for ridership with 19,226 riders Page 3

Coach Mike Cook earns 200th career win as the Women’s Soccer team downs Southwest Baptist 4-0 Page 7

SEP. 13, 2011 uco360.com twitter.com/uco360

THE VISTA

UNIVERSITY OF CENTRAL OKLAHOMA’S student voice since 1903.

Parking

NEIGHBORHOOD RESIDENTS UPSET BY STUDENT PARKING By Bryan Trude / Staff Writer A handful of handwritten notes left on cars parked on North Baumann Avenue has accentuated a problem that residents of the neighborhoods surrounding UCO say has been going on for decades. On Sept. 7, a student filed a complaint with UCO Police. A resident on Baumann had been handing out handwritten notes threatening to tow vehicles parked on the street, signing them “UCO Police Department.” For resident Shelly Kueteman, a neighbor of UCO for 20 years, the allegation comes as no surprise. “It would not surprise me if someone was out putting fake tickets on cars,” Kueteman said. “The students parking here is very frustrating for us.” A drive down any of the residential streets surrounding UCO during regular school hours reveals roads cluttered with cars, some bearing expired or current UCO parking permits. On these side streets, clusters of commuter student cars can narrow the street down enough that larger vehicles have difficulty passing. When a reporter from the Vista visited the area on North Baumann where the notes were handed out, over 15 vehicles were parked on both sides of the road near the Ayers intersection. The vehicles clogged the approach to nearby Northern Hills Elementary School. “Part of the problem is that [commuters]

A car drives on to Baumann Avenue, where students who park on the residential streets have been receiving notes threatening to tow the students’ cars. Photo by Garett Fisbeck, The Vista

don’t leave room for the people who live here, for people to leave their driveways,” Kueteman said. “It is really frustrating to see cars with parking permits blocking the roads and driveways. There is no place for the people

who live here to park.” According to Kueteman and other residents, supported by records obtained from UCO PD, UCO and Edmond police visited the area after the complaint on the fake notes was filed. After talking to area residents, locals said Edmond PD issued parking tickets to several vehicles. Records officials with both departments said no reports were filed regarding the faked notices. “[The police] told us that if we had problems with people parking, to just call Edmond police,” Britney Morgan, biology major and North Baumann resident, said. “But we understand, they’re students too. We don’t mind sharing the street.” Residents like Kueteman, however, have less sympathy. In 1995 Kueteman’s daughter, now a junior at the University of Oklahoma who Kueteman declined to name, was struck by a UCO student driving down the road in front of her house. According to Kueteman her daughter, who was five years old, was playing with neighbor-

hood children when she ran into the street. She said the UCO commuter did not see the child because of vehicles parked on the side of the road. Kueteman sees the parking problem as an issue with students’ “sense of entitlement.” “UCO has added so much parking since I moved here, there is plenty of parking,” Kueteman said. “I don’t understand why they have to park here. I don’t understand why they have to do this to my neighborhood.” City of Edmond municipal ordinance 10.64.010 states that as long as vehicles are parked on the right side of the road within 18 inches of the curb, parallel with the road’s edge and facing the direction of traffic, anyone can park on a public street. This would include the residential roads surrounding the campus. Alexandra Cifuentes, a clerk with UCO Transportation and Parking Services, said anyone who has a complaint about UCO students parking off-campus should call Edmond police.

SERVICE PROJECT REMEMBERS 9/11 Ray Westbrook, a freshman journalism major, walks to his car on Baumann St. Westbrook says he received one of the hand-written notes that threatened to tow his car. Photo by Garett Fisbeck, The Vista

American Democracy Project

ANNUAL VOTER REGISTRATION COMPETITION KICKS OFF UCO is competing with the University of Oklahoma and with Oklahoma State University to see which college can register the most students to vote in the 2012 elections. Students, faculty and staff can register to vote, change voting precincts and change party affiliation. The event takes place from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Sept. 12-16 at booths in front of the food court in the Nigh Center, in Thatcher Hall room 121, at the clock tower and in the library. Registration closes Friday, Sept. 16 at 5 p.m. UCO will compete against two-year and four-year colleges across Oklahoma. If UCO registers enough students, they will win the state competition for the second year in a row. “The contest pits large schools against large schools, as well as medium-sized [schools] against each other and small against each other,” Dr. Mary Carver, Civic Engagement and Service Learning professor, said. “So, we are really competing against OU and OSU.”

The event is a joint effort coordinated by the UCO Student Association (UCOSA), Pi Sigma Alpha and the local American Democracy Project (ADP) chapter at UCO. Carver said the contest is important because many students don’t vote and there is a need for awareness. “We live in a society where many people do not feel they can affect what happens in the government and believe voting won’t make a difference,” she said. A student leader, registration volunteer and student in Carver’s leadership class said students shouldn’t feel that way. “There are over 16,000 students at UCO. That’s not including staff and faculty,” Jennifer Pearsall, public relations major, said. “We have a voice, and we need to register in order for government to hear us.” Students also have a responsibility to the community, Carver said. “I also believe that voting is not just a right but a responsibility of citizenship,” she said. “Your future is being shaped right now by elected officials.”

Students walk through flags by Broncho Lake, Friday, Sept. 9, in memory of the 9/11 attacks. The flags are part of the 9/11 Service Project put on by the Volunteer Student Learning Center. Photo by Garett Fisbeck, The Vista

WEATHER

By M. A. Smith / Contributing Writer

TODAY H 97° L 69°

TOMORROW H 97°

L 68°

DID YOU KNOW? New York City has more trees than any other city in the US has people

More weather at www.uco360.com


OPINION

2

SEP. 13, 2011

THE VISTA 100 North University Drive Edmond, OK 73034 (405)974-5549 editorial@uco360.com

What is the next world record that UCO should attempt to break? The Vista is published as a newspaper and public forum by UCO students, semi-weekly during the academic year except exam and holiday periods, and only on Wednesdays during the summer, at the University of Central Oklahoma. The issue price is free for the first copy and $1 for each additional copy obtained.

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EDITORIALS Opinion columns, editorial cartoons, reviews and commentaries represent the views of the writer or artist and not necessarily the views of The Vista 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, with a maximum of 150 words, and must include the author’s printed name, title, major, classification and phone number. 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 730345209, or deliver in person to the editor in the Communications Building, Room 131. Letters can be e-mailed to vistauco@gmail.com.

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Cody Bromley, Editor-In-Chief Christie Southern, Managing Editor Brittany Dalton, Copy Editor Trey Hunter, Sports Editor Garett Fisbeck, Photo Editor

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“I feel like if I have an African American teacher, it’s better for him to relate to me, rather than a person of the Caucasion race.”

“Me personally, I don’t know. But no, I guess not, because most of my teachers have been Caucasian or Hispanic.”

“Basically, I don’t think it affects my learning habits at all what ethnicity a teacher is.”

MAURA EDWARDS

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Editorial

AN EXISITENTIAL CRISIS OF FAITH Sunday was one of the ugliest days in recent American history. Ten years after the worst terrorist attack on American soil, people gathered in churches all over the country to convince each other that somehow America miraculously survived, that America responded appropriately and that God was on America’s side. It’s a lie because we didn’t survive. We couldn’t survive. The American dream died on 9/11 with the idea that safety is something easily obtainable. A decade of prosperity was tossed out the window, not because of the attacks but because of the failure in government to prevent a known threat. The panic, fear and desolation that followed 9/11 was the biggest existential crisis most Americans had ever faced and to say we survived would be a massive lie because some of us haven’t survived, including over 6,000 of our brothers and sisters that died in wars built on lies. To say we responded appropriately would be another great lie, but somehow speaking the opposite is the equivelent of treason to a “Tea Party Patriot.” Of course, to them mandating special identification for Muslims and persons of Arab descent sounds more like a dream than a damnation. America responded to 9/11 with three things: commercialism, bigotry and murder. While it was bad enough on the first two fronts, the final straw comes when it’s said that God is on the side of the American people. Now I’m not one to put words in the mouth of God, but when over 100,000 civilians die in the country you invade, I’m not sure he’s going to thank you for making “His will be done.” The politicization of the Christian faith has only led it to darker and darker places. Drudging up 9/11 on its anniversary is a new low, even for the Evangelical right. So God, if you’re up there and listening, go bless someone else for a while. The vast number of American people who wish so hard to call this place a “Christian Nation” don’t know the first thing about living in peace, showing mercy and forgiveness, prioritizing the needs of the downtrodden, loving the loveless, or really anything about abandoning lives of comfort in favor of a path of true spiritual growth.

“Yes, I understand better. What they say hits me on a different level than if I were takin it from a professor of a different ethnicity.”

“I don’t know, because I’ve generally had a lot more white teachers like myself.”

“No, because just because he’s asian doesn’t mean I’ll automatically have a better relationship with him.”

The Vista invites and encourages letters to the editor. Submitted letters are subject to editing for clarity, space and libel. Address your letters to : Editor, The Vista, 100 N. University Dr., Edmond, OK 73034-5209 Letters may also be e-mailed to vistauco@gmail.com or delivered to the Editor in person in Communications Building Room 131.

By Evan Oldham / Cartoonist


NEWS

SEP. 13, 2011 Community

3

Opinion

RIDERSHIP HITS ALL-TIME HIGH FOR EDMOND CITYLINK SERVICE

By Josh Hutton Take ‘Em Bowling

Citylink bus at bus stop on University and Ayers in Edmond, Friday Sep. 9, 2011. Photo by Sacha Swift, The Vista

By Ben Luschen / Staff Writer In the month of August, Edmond’s Citylink bus service saw the most business it has received since it began in July 2009: an unprecedented 19,226 riders. Before this, the record for ridership in a single month was the 16,854 rides the service provided this March. Though riding the bus is beneficial for many reasons, the news of Citylink’s newfound popularity will probably come as a surprise to the people of Edmond and Oklahoma City who are not used to the idea of public transportation. According to Chip Nolen, manager of Field Parking Services in Transportation and Parking Services, the transition to the public transit mindset is still a struggle for many locals. “Public transportation in Oklahoma is relatively new and still in its infancy,” Nolen said. “Making that shift away from one person driving their own vehicle all the time is a difficult one, but it’s happening.” Among those responsible for Citylink’s record ridership are ACM@UCO students, as one of the routes includes

stops in downtown Oklahoma City. “One of the most popular features of the Citylink is the Express Link [that goes to downtown Oklahoma City],” Nolen said. “It utilizes a larger bus than the other routes in order to accommodate the greater number of passengers.” This comes as a wonderful benefit to ACM students, according to Nolen. “Some of them attend classes both downtown and on the main campus. There are even some ACM students who live in housing on the main campus. The Express Link is especially useful for this group as they can save a significant amount of money on gas since they don’t have to drive downtown.” Nolen also points out that riding a bus gives students, who are stressed and busy enough as it is, a break from the stresses driving in busy traffic can cause. While on a bus, students are free to do their homework, call or text their friends, or just relax- things that can be dangerous while driving. Citylink has several other routes that can be very useful to students. Route 3 makes stops on the UCO campus and Central Plaza every 30 minutes. Route

4 encircles the UCO campus drives by many area apartments, including the Oxford Oaks and Kickingbird apartment buildings. The Citylink Transfer Center is usually located in the Festival Market Place, but is being moved temporarily due to construction, which is expected to last until mid-October. The center’s home in the meantime can be found in the public parking lot one block north on Main Street. While the growth of a city is exciting, it also creates a number of its own problems, which is why Nolen says the development of a good public transit system will be key to the city’s future. “In an effort to enhance the student experience, UCO has worked closely with the City of Edmond to develop the current bus system and is committed to continue to improve these services for the future,” he said. “The bus keeps more cars off the road and saves its passengers money,” Nolen said. “It’s just one of the many ways UCO tries to help students, faculty, and staff get to and from campus as quickly, safely, and cost efficiently as possible.”

Civil Liberties

STUDENT CIVIL LIBERTIES COMING UNDER FIRE AT COLLEGES By Josh Hutton / Staff Writer With the fall semester under way, college students across the United States could be facing novel barriers on personal liberty. According to the Foundation for Individual Rights in Education (FIRE), students in 2011 will be experiencing “fewer unconstitutional and illiberal speech codes” than in the last five years. However, FIRE contends students “face new threats to their fundamental freedoms through coercive freshman orientation programs, limits on religious liberty, and new federal regulations that compromise the rights of those accused of some campus crimes.” The Office of First Year Experience, located in the Nigh University Center, established a three-step process for students. Incoming freshmen are first given a general understanding of the academic procedure during Enrollment Central. “We use Enrollment Central as a way of introducing students to the campus, but more importantly to allow them to meet with their advisors,” Tori Christiansen, the assistant director of First Year Experience, said. Unlike many universities FIRE has criticized, UCO does not require students to undergo orientation. “We want students to do New Broncho Orientation, since it is the social step in the process. It allows freshmen to become friends with upperclassmen, but it’s certainly not required,” Christiansen said. Enrollment in Success Central, a course designed to connect the social and academic element of college life, is the final step. “The process gives students a well-rounded view of college life. Study, time management, and the importance of connecting with the university are all taught in Success Central,” Christiansen said. “The class teaches on everything. Globalism and diversity are key components. Our instructors are encouraged to discuss current issues, and we focus on open discussion.” FIRE targets these campus-specific courses for their potential to indoctrinate students. The organization has issued a “Spotlight on Speech Codes 2011” overview of U.S. universities, which contends that 67 percent of the nation’s largest colleges presently hold speech codes that violate the First Amendment. The report ranks colleges using the red, yellow, and green scheme of stoplights. Red indicates a university that clearly infringes upon First Amendment rights; yellow represents one

or more items in a university’s speech code that easily encourages administrative abuse and arbitrary application; and green is for universities that have clearly matched the rights guaranteed by the First Amendment. Examples of campuses FIRE deemed “the worst schools for liberty” include Bucknell University, Colorado College and Johns Hopkins. Bucknell University censored a conservative group’s satire of President Obama’s stimulus plan. Colorado College claimed two students committed acts of “violence” for posting a flyer that satirized a flyer circulated by another student group. Johns Hopkins suspended a student based on an “offensive” Halloween party invitation sent via Facebook. Two colleges in Oklahoma have been issued yellow warnings. The University of Oklahoma and Oklahoma State University garnered multiple accusations of First Amendment encroachment in the last ten years. Currently, UCO has yet to be ranked by FIRE. UCO does not explicitly mention a speech code in the university’s code of conduct, but does present unaccepted forms of student speech. UCO’s Code of Conduct lists actions prohibited on campus clarifies responsibilities, but for some students on campus it does not provide clear rights or protection of the student. “I’ve had too many issues with Transportation Services to count, and I’ve had a couple run-ins with campus police. I haven’t gotten in much trouble, but I feel like some of the attention was unnecessary,” freshman Jake Rector said. “I believe UCO needs a student bill of rights or something similar to give people on this campus a chance to defend themselves.” Another student on campus has a different view of UCO’s code of conduct. “After reading through the code of conduct, I think it’s completely in accordance with the First Amendment,” Jennifer Smitz, a junior majoring in biology, said. “All the guidelines regarding speech are to prevent victimization. The code of conduct stresses tolerance and harmony,” she said. “Sometimes you cannot say how you feel, especially if it hurts another person.” FIRE encourages students and faculty of college campuses to join their cause online at www.thefire.org. Joining the organization is free, and the site gives tips on defending free speech along with the ability to submit cases.

Swamp green and off-white colored shoes tucked haphazardly into their cubbies. Tribes of cross-eyed youngsters running amok at my feet. The music, roaring pop cuts circa 1999, settles into a dense fog of white noise as high school girls ignore the obnoxious seduction of high school boys. Regular patrons stroll in with a bulgy bag, heads as high as skyscrapers. They polish their bowling balls until they can see past their own reflection and into their souls. Beer comes in buckets. A cloudy smoking room contains exiled watchers ostracized for their coping mechanism. The lanes gleam with bright blue lights, I step up to the ball return, my shoes slide as I approach the foul line. I pull my arm back, muscles tightening, then release. Gutterball. Bowlers are not defined by strikes, spares, 7-10 splits, or that ancient enemy: the gutterball. Instead, the clearest window into a bowler’s character can be seen when they turn around to face their family and friends after the delivery. My heart sank as my blitzkrieg release went immediately wide right. I watched the ball ride the length of the lane in trench. I sighed. I blinked a few times and turned around to look at my mother, brother, and my brother’s girlfriend. I made little eye contact. I silently nodded as my mom said something positive and reassuring like, “You’ll get ‘em next time.” I looked over my brother’s shoulder and noticed a white-haired man in his late 50s. He stood with a professional posture. He approached the foul line quickly, fluidly. The ball veered sharply to the left knocking down three measly pins. “The lanes are too slick!” He wiped the spittle off his chin. “They put way too much wax on the lanes! I’ve got no control!” If you want a glimpse of how people will handle themselves at rock bottom, take them bowling. Humankind is at its most fragile when humankind turns its back on disaster to face the audience. Many of us deny our inabilities. Many hang our heads in shame, but the strongest amongst us, let the failure drown somewhere between the gutter and the ball return. With a shrug and a smile we leave the failures behind, hoping the next frame brings fallen pins. As I put up the secondhand swamp green and offwhite colored shoes, dodged a nacho massacre on the striped carpet, and cut through a war party of children, I realized I had become a better person. After the most atrocious game of bowling, I did not lose my cool. New relationship? Take your partner bowling. Need temper control? Take yourself bowling. Bowling: the clearest window into the heart of mankind.


4

NEWS

SEP. 13, 2011

Education

Community Awards

STUDENT LOAN DEFAULT EDMOND RATED AS TOP RATES ON THE RISE SUBURB IN CNBC LIST By Justin Pope / Associated Press The number of borrowers defaulting on federal student loans has jumped sharply, the latest indication that rising college tuition costs, low graduation rates and poor job prospects are getting more and more students over their heads in debt. The national two-year cohort default rate rose to 8.8 percent last year, from 7 percent in fiscal 2008, according to figures released Monday by the Department of Education. Driving the overall increase was an especially sharp increase among students who borrow from the government to attend for-profit colleges. Of the approximately 1 million student borrowers at for-profit schools whose first payments came due in the year starting Oct. 1, 2008 — at the peak of the financial crisis — 15 percent were already at least 270 days behind in their payments two years later. That was an increase from 11.6 percent last year. At public institutions, the default rate increased from 6 percent to 7.2 percent and from 4 percent to 4.6 percent among students at private not-for-profit colleges. “I think the jump over the last year has been pretty astonishing,” said Debbi Cochrane, program director for the California-based Institute for College Access & Success. Overall, 3.6 million borrowers entered repayment in fiscal 2009; more than 320,000 had already defaulted last fall, an increase of 80,000 over the previous year. The federal default rate remains substantially below its peak of more than 20 percent in the early 1990s, before a series of reforms in government lending. But after years of steady declines it has now risen four straight years to its highest rate since 1997, and is nearly double its trough of 4.6 percent in 2005.

“We believe that the default rates will go down when the economy improves and the unemployment rate drops” — Brian Moran, interim president and CEO of the Association of Private Sector Colleges and Universities

Troubling as the new figures are, they understate how many students will eventually default. Last year’s two-year default rate increased to more than 12 percent when the government made preliminary calculations of how many defaulted within three years. Beginning next year, the department will begin using the figure for how many default within three years to determine which institutions

will lose eligibility to enroll students receiving government financial aid. The figures come as a stalled economy is hitting student borrowers from two sides — forcing cash-strapped state institutions to raise tuition, and making it harder for graduates to find jobs. The unemployment rate of 4.3 percent for college graduates remains substantially lower than for those without a degree. But many student borrowers don’t finish the degree they borrow to pay for. The Department of Education has begun an income-based repayment plan that caps federal loan payments at 15 percent of discretionary income. And new regulations the Obama administration has imposed on the for-profit sector have prompted those so-called proprietary colleges to close failing programs and tighten enrollment. Both developments could help lower default rates in the future. Administration officials took pains to praise the for-profit sector for recent reforms, but also said flatly that those schools — along with the weak economy — are largely to blame for the current increases. Among some of the largest and better-known operators, the default rate at the University of Phoenix chain rose from 12.8 to 18.8 percent and at ITT Technical Institute it jumped from 10.9 percent to 22.6 percent. “We are disappointed to see increases in the cohort default rates for our students, as well as students in other sectors of higher education,” said Brian Moran, interim president and CEO of APSCU, the Association of Private Sector Colleges and Universities, which represents the for-profit sector. He said for-profit schools were taking remedial steps, including debt counseling for students, to bring down the rates. “We believe that the default rates will go down when the economy improves and the unemployment rate drops,” he said. Officials for Phoenix, owned by Apollo Group, Inc., and ITT, owned by ITT Educational Services, did not immediately respond to requests for comment. The department emphasized that it eventually manages to collect most of the money it’s owed, even from defaulters. But that’s part of the reason federal student loan defaults are so hard on borrowers — they can’t be discharged in bankruptcy. Defaulting can also wreck students’ credit and keep them from being able to return to school later with federal aid. “There are very few avenues for escaping that,” Cochrane said. Also, “many employers these days are starting to check credit so it can hurt your job prospects.” According to calculations by TICAS and using the latest available figures, in 2008 average debt for graduating seniors with student loans was $20,200 at public universities, $27,650 at private non-profits and $33,050 at private for-profits.

Edmond, Okla. was ranked as a top suburb for many reasons, including its education offerings and low unemployment rate. Photo by Garett Fisbeck, The Vista

By Trevor Hultner / Staff Writer Edmond, Oklahoma came out on top on CNBC’s list of top 10 perfect suburbs last week, with an unemployment rate of 4.9 percent and schools that rank higher than 59 percent of all other U.S. communities. Edmond beat out the suburbs of Boston, Mass. and Washington, D.C. The list, which was presented as a slideshow on CNBC’s website, was compiled using three data points from the analytics website NeighborhoodScout.com: unemployment rate, median house value and safety relative to other suburbs in the U.S. NeighborhoodScout is a product of Location, Inc., a data and analysis company based out of Massachusetts. “Americans have been leaving the central cities for the suburbs for years in search of more elbow room, better schools, less crime, more affordable home prices, and other amenities,” Andrew Schiller, CEO of Location, Inc., said to CNBC. “But as many suburbs matured, crime followed, schools declined, and housing prices crept up. So people moved further out.” Edmond City Councilmember David Miller was ecstatic about where Edmond stood on the list. “Well, I’ve lived in Edmond for 15 years, so, it’s always been on top of my list,” he said. “I would say that it’s probably a combination of what we’ve done over the past 15-20 years, especially since we have close cooperation with UCO to make Edmond a really great place to

live and to keep the cost of living in Edmond down, and keep the amenities something that attracts new residents and hopefully keep some of those UCO students who go to school there to stay in Edmond.” Councilmember Elizabeth Waner lauded the city’s low unemployment rate as part of the reason the suburb ranked first. “The kinds of statistics that they asked for that were supplied by the director of the Economic Development Authority here in town really reflect the many advantages that Edmond has in terms of variety of affordable housing, a very highly educated population and a very low crime rate,” she said. Other suburbs included Columbia, Md., Round Rock, Tex., and Poquoson, Va. Edmond had the lowest unemployment rate of all the listed suburbs in the country. The city’s median house value was also lower than the other communities, at $201,770.

Scan this to see the CNBC article.

goo.gl/rl7uV


NEWS

SEP. 13, 2011

5

Academics

NO PASS FOR PLAGIARISTS

According to a new survey conducted by the Pew Research Center, nationwide plagiarism rates have been on the rise. Some UCO professors utilize TurnItIn.com, a for-profit paper analyzing website, to detect plagiarism and deter students from plagiarizing in the first place. Graphic by Cody Bromley, The Vista

By Chris Howell / Staff Writer Plagiarism has been on the rise in the past decade, thanks to computers and the Internet. At least, that’s what most college presidents believe. This was one of the findings in “The Digital Revolution and Higher Education,” a survey recently conducted by the Pew Research Center. In association with the Chronicle of Higher Education, the center surveyed 1,055 presidents of colleges and universities, and a nationally representative sample of 2,142 adults. The survey collected data about the attitudes towards online learning, digital textbooks, laptops in the classroom and plagiarism. It also examined how college presidents think online courses and textbooks will have changed higher education in ten years. The survey found that 55 percent of the presidents surveyed thought that plagiarism had increased in the previous ten years. Of those who believed it had increased, 89 percent attributed a major role to computers and the Internet. “It’s not so much plagiarism has increased as we’re learning to define plagiarism differ-

ently,” Matt Hollrah, director of First-Year Composition, said. “In the past, we’ve defined it as one thing, and now we’re defining it as something else, and because of that, it looks like plagiarism is on the rise.” The UCO Code of Student Conduct defines plagiarism as “including but not limited to the use, by paraphrase or direct quotation, of the

“I’m not sure if there is an actual increase in plagiarism, but I have ‘caught’ more students cheating in the last few years because I use Turnitin.com” — Dr. Rozilyn Miller

published or unpublished work of another person without full and clear acknowledgment.” The code also prohibits using material bought from another person or agency without citation. “So I think what’s happened is there’s a national conversation, at least within the field of composition, about whether or not an attempt to cite, where you make an error, is pla-

giarism, or whether that’s just source misuse or an error in documentation,” Hollrah said. For instance, plagiarism.org states without qualification that plagiarism is an act of fraud, but includes “giving incorrect information about the source of a quotation” as plagiarism. “I’m not sure if there is an actual increase in plagiarism, but I have ‘caught’ more students cheating in the last few years because I use Turnitin.com,” Dr. Rozilyn Miller, chair of the department of Mass Communications, said. Miller and Hollrah agreed that the Internet made it easier to plagiarize. They both said that the service was a helpful teaching tool, but Hollrah raised “economic” concerns about it. “Turnitin is a for-profit company,” he said. “It cannot make its money without the student papers that are being put into its database. Yet none of those students are ever compensated in any way.” The Turnitin.com website lists over a million active instructors using it, with over 150 million papers archived. “If you want to think of plagiarism being on the rise, what you should look at is the way the use of sources is being taught, all the way from the very first time a student is asked to

Education

DAILY DEALS SITE GOES TO COLLEGE By Chantal Robatteux / Senior Staff Writer

A university in Chicago offered a special deal to prospective students to save 57 percent on tuition for a three-credit course by using Groupon. The offer ended Sept. 10. According to the National Louis University’s website, the regular tuition for the class is $2,232. With this Groupon offer, it would be only $950. According to an article by the Chicago Tribune, this is the first time an academic university has used Groupon to raise student interest. The article explained this course deal is for those who do not have experience in the field, and is open to anybody with an undergraduate degree. The course will only be offered at the Chicago campus and will count towards a graduate degree, but prospective students will need to go through the school’s regular admissions process to take further courses. One UCO student, senior nutrition major Rajiv Arumai Thurai, said he started using Groupon last year after a vacation. “I managed to find some really good

hotel resorts and such for a really good price using Groupon,” he said. “I usually use Groupon for events or road trips so that I get good deals in certain states. Sometimes good fancy restaurants provide good deals also using Groupon.” Arumai Thurai said he would use Groupon if UCO would offer this kind of tuition deal. “Actually, UCO might do something like this if they had the motive, there is just no motive for UCO to authorize such deals when there are scholarships involved,” he said. “Besides, UCO is one of the cheapest schools to go to, so I doubt they will have this Groupon offer.” Arumai Thurai said he wouldn’t consider OU or OSU if there were such a deal in place. “I wouldn’t really consider going there because for one, OU is too far. It’s a waste of gas to even go there,” Arumai Thurai said. “Another thing is, OU is really expensive as it is. About $10,000 for international students and about $6,000 for Oklahoma residents. I don’t think OU would consider doing a Groupon [deal] that will reduce the tuition fees. UCO would still be cheaper in my opinion.” Arumai Thurai believes this would af-

fect a person’s university choice. “If the person is fresh out of high school, and hasn’t been to any university tours yet, and Groupon came with a deal that reduces tuition fees to OU, for example, that person would take it without a doubt,” he said. Another student, senior advertising major Quintrell Coburn, said he doesn’t use Groupon. Coburn explained he would probably not use it if there were a tuition deal for UCO. “A lot of people have financial aid, and if you have any type of tuition waiver or grants, you have to pay,” he said. “Financial aid may not pay for the Groupon deal.” Coburn doubts UCO would consider doing something similar. “They have enough on their plate, they wouldn’t worry about something like Groupon,” he said. However, he does believe a deal like this could affect a person’s university choice. “Everyone is about saving money,” he said. “People try to save every penny.”

use a source in secondary education, through their comp classes, through more specific work in their discipline,” Hollrah said.

To see the full results of the survey, use a capable device to scan this QR barcode.

goo.gl/D3RG2


6

CLASSIFIED

EMPLOYMENT

EMPLOYMENT

Help Wanted

Help Wanted

Full and Part-time positions. Apply in person at Comet Cleaners. Flexible Schedules. 1401 S. Kelly Ave. Call 3595958.

SEP. 13, 2011 CROSSWORDS

Best Feet Forward in North OKC and in Yukon now accepting applications for part-time employment. 15-20 hrs/ wk, evenings and Sat. No retial experience necessary. Call 608-0404.

Help Wanted Tuxedo Junction is hiring self-motivated sales people for a part-time sales position at our Quail Springs Mall location. No experience required. We will train! Base pay plus commission. Call Tim at 7511745 for more details or come in and fill out an application.

Sales

Private Golf Club Looking for friendly, energetic people. Bartenders, banquet staff and wait staff in the Golfers Grill at River Oaks Golf Club. We have fulltime and part-time positions so come join our team! Will train!! Located just a few minutes from UCO, apply in person at 10909 Clubhouse Road, Edmond OK or email david@riveroaksgolf.com

Edmond Answer Servshed service-oriented company. Excellent Part-TimeTeller part-time for a person with internet dexterity Position. RCB that enjoys talking with people. Flexible hours. Bank of Edmond. Must have own transportation. Paid hourly, mile- Opening at our Edage, plus. 348-4697. mond branch located at 610 S Kelly – 26-29 hrs per wk 7:45 AM to 1:00 PM – Mon-Fri/occasional Sat as needed 7:45 AM to Help Wanted 12:15 PM Min 1 yr previous teller &/or cash Now Hiring part and handling exper required full time cashiers and – good math & Comcooks for convenience munication skills; abilstore, I35 and Covell. ity to operate standard Please email Brandi at office equip; strong cusdavisbrandi82@gmail. tomer service skills Send com. resume to: fpalmer@ bankrcb.net or call (405) 463-5951 EOE

Research Volunteers Needed Help Wanted Researchers at OU Health Sciences Center need healthy volunteers ages 18 to 30 who have a parentwith or without a history of an alcohol or drug problem. Qualified participants will be compensated for their time. Call (405) 456-4303 to learn more about the study and to see if you qualify. The University of Oklahoma is an equal opportunity institution.

Part-time jobs. Senior Services of Oklahoma is looking for students to fill part-time positions Monday-Friday. We pay $10/hour for energetic phone work. No experience is needed, we will train. Business is located at 1417 N.W. 150th St. in Edmond. Call 8791888 to set up interview. Ask for Megan Parris. FUN FACTS

Help Wanted Edmond Wine Shop is hiring for multiple PT and FT customer service positions. Cashiers and stock workers are needed. Must be 21. Applicants are expected to lift up to 50lbs. and must be able to stand for long periods of time. Health insurance and vacation time are available to employees who meet company requirements. We offer paid training and flexible schedules that cater to busy college students. Please apply in person: 1520 S. Boulevard

Reggie Jackson’s nickname ‘Mr. October’ was coined sarcastically by Thurman Munson after Reggie hit .125 in the 1977 ALCS. Reggie went on to win the World Series MVP that year and the name stuck. George Brett was the only major league baseball player in the history of the game to win a batting title in 3 different decades. The hole in your shirt that you put your arm through is called an armsaye.

Across

Down

1. Decorated, as a cake 5. “Hamlet” has five 9. Barbie’s beau 12. “Belling the Cat” author 14. Pumps and clogs 16. Clod chopper 17. Magnolia state 19. Biochemistry abbr. 20. Chlorox, e.g. 21. Suspicion 23. Greek earth goddess: Var. 25. Frosts, as a cake 26. Person directed to another for professional services 30. Second-year students, for short 32. Bauxite, e.g. 33. Gumbo vegetables 35. Coffee order 37. Arp’s art 39. Clock standard: Abbr. 40. Become friendlier 41. Commemorative marker 43. Nuclear energy weapon 46. Tokyo, formerly 47. Indic language of Orissa 49. Ocean’s surface used in reckoning land elevation (2 wd) 51. Biblical shepherd 52. Next month (abbrev.) 53. Deceptive maneuver 57. Breath sweetening lozenge 61. “Fantasy Island” prop 62. Sinful 64. “Much ___ About Nothing” 65. Apprehensive 66. Taste, e.g. 67. “My boy” 68. Abstruse 69. Act

1. Foot 2. Cover with plaster 3. “___ quam videri” (North Carolina’s motto) 4. Measured portion of medicine 5. Balaam’s mount 6. Reprimanded 7. Pith helmet 8. Blood poisoning 9. Former Soviet premier 10. A long, long time 11. “Cool!” 13. Rogue 15. Humorous TV drama 18. Dodge 22. Move, as a plant 24. Pirate’s dismay 26. Engine parts 27. A Muse 28. Union of several states 29. Kind of wool 31. Screen from light 34. Veranda 36. Missing from the Marines, say 38. Accused’s need 42. Hottie 44. Third month 45. Swells 48. Set in a straight row 50. Go over 53. “Ah, me!” 54. Change 55. Algonquian Indian 56. Cork’s country 58. Better 59. Yorkshire river 60. Brought into play 63. Cheat

SUDOKU Puzzle 1 (Easy, difficulty rating 0.45)

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SEP 8 CROSSWORD ANSWERS

7


SPORTS

SEP. 13, 2011

7

Continued from page 8

RECAP The Storm marched down the field on a 19play touchdown drive to take a 13-6 lead. The Bronchos blocked the extra point attempt and defensive back Brandon Williams returned it back for a two-point conversion that cut the lead to 13-8. SOSU opened the second half with a kick return to UCO’s 32-yard line that set up a fiveplay scoring drive. The drive was capped off by a 20-yard touchdown rush by fullback Don Brown and gave the Storm a 20-8 lead. Central was forced to punt on their next offensive drive, but were handed the ball back thanks to an interception by defensive back Devoris Dozier. Dozier returned the pick to SOSU’s 39-yard line. Sharp connected on a 39-yard touchdown pass to wide receiver Matt Jackson on the next play, and cut the SOSU lead to 20-15 after the extra point-conversion. The Storm missed a field goal attempt from UCO’s 20-yard line on their next drive and af-

ter the teams exchanged punts, Birmingham broke for his 73-yard touchdown run and gave the lead to UCO for the first time in the game. SOSU dominated the time of possession battle. They ran 92 plays in 43 minutes and 43 seconds compared to UCO’s 54 plays in 16 minutes and 26 seconds. The Storm also outrushed the Bronchos with 257 yards on the ground. UCO had 127 yards rushing, all from Birmingham. Sharp finished the game going 19 for 41 with 207 yards through the air. He had a touchdown and an interception as well. SOSU’s Turner passed for 235 yards and three touchdowns. Central dropped to 0-2 on the season in their second road contest. The team will travel to San Angelo, Tex. this Saturday for their third game against Angelo State University at 2 p.m. The Bronchos first home game is Oct. UCO’s Tucker Carson (22) takes down SOSU’s Anthony Foster (6) during a game between UCO and Southeastern Oklahoma State in Durant, Satureday, Sept. 10, 2011. 1 at 2 p.m. at Wantland Stadium. Photo by Garett FIsbeck, The Vista

Central Soccer

SOCCER VICTORY EARNS MIKE COOK 200TH WIN 14 years, is now 200-71-16 since taking over the Bronchos program. “It feels real sweet,” Cook said. “We’ve had some good teams, recruited well, it feels really good to reach that 200 win mark.” Merritt agreed. “We’ve been trying to get that win since last season, we’ve been waiting for this for three games now,” she said. “I can’t describe how it feels to get this win for Coach.” Central, now 4-0 all-time against the Bearcats, will face them as conference foes next season when UCO begins play in the MIAA. The Bronchos’ next game is today at 4 p.m., at Tom Thompson Field against Southern Nazarene University. The Crimson Storm, part of the NAIA’s Sooner Athletic Conference, enter the game

a respectable 4-1, with an almost unheard of 32-4 goal differential with opponents on the season. Of those points, 23 came in the first two games, a 10-0 win over Southwestern Christian College of Terrell, Tex.; and a 13-0 victory against Northwood University of Cedar Hill, Tex. This is the Crimson Storm’s final season in the SAC, currently ranked second in the conference behind Oklahoma City University. The program is moving up next year to NCAA Division II as members of the Great American Conference. After that game, the Bronchos hit the road for a two-game road trip against Texas A&M International and St. Edwards University (Tex.) before returning home Sept. 23 to face the Rattlers of St. Mary’s University (Tex.)

UCO’s Stephanie Fleig (15) and Southwest Baptist’s Marin Gelsheimer (24) jump to head the ball during the match, Sept. 10, 2011. Photo by Liz Boyer, The Vista

By Bryan Trude / Sports Writer For Mike Cook to earn his 200th win as head coach of the Central women’s soccer team against Southwest Baptist University, he just needed six minutes and the leg of senior Lizzie Merritt. Everything else in the Bronchos’ (1-3) 4-0 rout of the Bearcats (0-3-1) Sept. 10 at Tom Thompson Field was icing on the cake. Merritt, who scored again in the 18th minute, helped the Bronchos take command early. Freshman Sarah Purcell put the game away for Central before the half, booting in an unassisted goal from midfield as time expired to put UCO up 3-0. Junior Brittni Walker tallied a goal and an

assist. The Bronchos entered the game with only one goal scored the entire season. “It feels really good to finally get a win,” Cook said. “We’ve got a good team. We’ve shown flashes, but we hadn’t been able to put together 90 minutes until tonight.” Merritt explained the work the team had put in. “We’ve been really pushing goal scoring in practice,” she said. “It felt good that all our hard work finally paid off.” The Bearcats managed to slow the scoring pace by substituting goalkeeper Rebekah Dowd for Paige Hemphill at the half. Yet they were unable to generate enough offense to get past freshman Brandi Bartley, making her first start in net for Central. Cook, coach of the UCO women’s team for

UCO’s Miranda Thorne (9) attempts to send the ball down field during the match agianst the Southwest Baptist Bearcats, Sept. 10, 2011. Photo by Liz Boyer, The Vista


8

SPORTS

SEP. 13, 2011

Central Football

DOWNED IN DURANT

UCO’s Dolphin Davis (9) and Andy Mensaw (80) walk off the field defeated after a game between UCO and Southeastern Oklahoma State in Durant, Saturday, Sept. 10, 2011. The Bronchos lost 30-23 after holding the lead with 3:37 left in the third quarter. The Bronchos fell to 0-2 on the season. Photo by Garett FIsbeck, The Vista

By Trey Hunter / Sports Editor The Central football team lost to Southeastern Oklahoma State University 30-23 Saturday night in Durant, after holding a three-point lead with 3:37 left in the third quarter. UCO tailback Josh Birmingham busted through the line for a 73yard touchdown run late in the third quarter and gave the Bronchos their first lead of the game 23-20. However, SOSU answered right back with a 10-yard field goal at the start of the fourth quarter for the tie. The Savage Storm went on to score another touchdown to extend their

lead to seven points and ultimately ice the game. The Bronchos had a chance to score late in the contest after blocking a 42-yard field goal attempt with 3:05 left on the clock. Quarterback Ethan Sharp completed two passes in the following drive, but the offense was pushed back due to a personal foul penalty at their own 49-yard line. Sharp forced a pass into coverage on second-and-25 from the UCO 34-yard line and the Storm picked it off with 2:00 minutes left. The interception ended the Bronchos’ chances of making a comeback and gave SOSU their first victory of the season.

Central opened the game with a drive that started at their 30-yard line. Sharp connected on four of six attempts throughout the drive and landed a 33-yard pass in the hands of wide receiver Steve Caldwell to move UCO into scoring position. Birmingham punched the ball across the goal line from five yards out, but the play was called back due to a holding penalty. The Bronchos were forced into a field goal situation and place kicker Chris Robbs connected on a 23-yard attempt that gave Central the early 3-0 lead. UCO’s defense answered the bell with three straight stops following the offense’s opening drive.

They forced a three-and-out on the Storm’s first offensive drive, forcing SOSU quarterback Logan Turner to throw two incomplete passes on second-and-one and third-and-one. SOSU drove the ball into scoring position on their second drive, but UCO defensive back Brad Harmon forced a fumble on the 21-yard line and defensive lineman Tyler Newton recovered for the turnover. Birmingham and the offense handed the ball right back after the halfback fumbled on UCO’s 43-yard line. However, the defense held strong and forced a turnover on downs at the 19-yard line. SOSU scored their first points of

the game on their following drive off a 27-yard pass attempt from Turner to wide receiver Anthony Foster. The Storm took a 7-3 lead on the play. The Bronchos answered SOSU’s scoring drive with one of their own. Sharp and Birmingham combined to lead UCO down to the Storm’s 19-yard line, but an incomplete pass attempt to Calwell forced the Bronchos to once again settle for a field goal. Robbs connected from 36 yards out and cut SOSU’s lead down to 7-6.

Continued on page 7


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