Tuesday, Nov. 28, 2023
Volume 121, Issue 11
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Tuesday, Feb. 22, 2022
“OUR WORDS, YOUR VOICE.”
Volume 119, Issue 19
One year out from presidential election Biden faces challenges, Trump may serve time in Georgia
President Joe Biden speaks to members of the media before he boards Marine One on the South Lawn of the White House in Washington, Nov. 9, 2023. Biden has a lot of unfinished business from his first term that he intends to continue if reelected. (ASSOCIATED PRESS/ANDREW HARNIK)
Republican presidential candidate and former President Donald Trump greets supporters after speaking at the South Texas International Airport Sunday, Nov. 19, 2023, in Edinburg, Texas. (ASSOCIATED PRESS/ERIC GAY)
Jake Ramsey Managing Editor
conducted on the Democratic sideof-the-aisle with President Biden leading at 67.4% amongst Democratic voters. According to Gatch, the 2024 race is presumed to be between Trump and Biden, with the possibility of Trump choosing another one of the Republican primary candidates as his vice president. As it stands, Biden is behind Trump in polling in five of the six major swing-states. Trump currently leads Biden in: Nevada - 52% to 41% Georgia - 49% to 43% Arizona - 49% to 44% Michigan - 48% to 43% Pennsylvania - 48% to 44% With Biden leading in: Wisconsin - 47% to 45% According to a study conducted by the New York Times. While Biden has a disapproval rate of 56%, Trump is also facing a similar rating with a 53% disapproval rate from Americans. With both candidates having such high disapproval ratings, many are left wondering why both
The United States is one year out from a presidential election, and with changes being made at both the state and national levels, as well as international issues causing a dip in polling numbers for President Joe Biden, the race for president is fierce. A recent poll conducted by Reuters found that 56% of Americans disapproved of President Biden for reasons including: Economy - 20% of Americans questioned. Immigration - 11% of Americans questioned. War/Conflict - 8% of Americans questioned. The poll, which was updated Nov. 7, showed that for 113 weeks running, the economy was a top concern for Americans. The economy has also been a hot topic in the recent Republican primary debates, however another topic that the candidates have been discussing is that of former-Pres-
ident Donald Trump, who is currently leading the Republican primary polls, while having not gone to any of the debates. According to Project538, an analytics website that conducts various polls, as of Nov. 22 Trump was in the lead with 60.3% approval from the Republican voter base, following behind was Florida Governor Ron DeSantis at 12.6% and former Governor of South Carolina Nikki Haley at 10%. “No one is going to be overtly critical of Trump if they want to have any chance of connecting with his base,” said UCO professor of political science Loren Gatch when discussing the possibility of the Republican primaries seeking a position as vice president. Gatch also discusses how the large amount of support for Donald Trump from Republican voters is harming the chances of other primary candidates, because, regardless of their positions, the voter-base at large is in support of a second Trump administration. This is countered with polling
candidates have so much support. The simple answer is that the bases are seemingly not voting for one candidate, but against another. According to a poll conducted by Reuters, the possible 2024 candidates were locked in a tight race showing 51% of Americans support Biden, and 49% of Americans support Trump, but when asked for their reasoning why, 50% of Biden supporters were voting against Donald Trump, whereas 38% were voting for Joe Biden, leaving another 12% undecided for why the chose Biden. Countered with Trump’s base of support being 40% were against Joe Biden, and 42% were voting in favor of Donald Trump’s policies, leaving 18% undecided on which reason applied. Both Trump and Biden are the frontrunners for their respective parties, however neither have been formally nominated. The presidential primary election days vary by state, but the Oklahoma presidential primary takes place on March 5, 2024.
Journalism professor Mark Hanebutt wins SPJ Teacher of the Year Sam Kozlowski Reporter
The University of Central Oklahoma has hundreds of educators, academics and mentors, but one professor stands out for his efforts to help students succeed for over 36 years. He’s best known for guiding students with writing, life and legal advice, strong opinions, hard finals and sarcasm. Recently dubbed ‘Snarky Marky’ by his students, Mark Hanebutt was recognized in October as the Teacher of the Year by the Society of Professional Journalists, Oklahoma chapter. The Society of Professional Journalists is an organization dedicated to encouraging the free practice of journalism and stimulating high standards of ethical behavior. The reporter and former president of the Society of Professional Journalists teaches students how to write, practice good use of media law and the importance of Greek philosophy and the Enlightenment. Hanebutt worked decades
as a reporter for newspapers in Florida, Indiana and Oklahoma. After covering Christmas carols for the blind, nearly getting shot in the midst of a shootout and having a machine gun pointed at him by Soviet soldiers in a train, Hanebutt has experienced the many highs and lows of being a professional reporter. With years of writing many editions of “Media Law: A Guide to Understanding Mass Communication Law” and “The Journalist’s Primer: A No-Nonsense Guide to Getting and Reporting the News,” Hanebutt has laid a foundation for mass communication students at UCO. He has worked with organizations, such as SPJ and the Oklahoma Bar Association, pushing for better government transparency for all citizens in the state. When asked how he will continue this success in teaching, Hanebutt answered saying he will not change a thing. “I am always looking for new ways to teach, but over a period of 36 years, you get it down,” he said.
Mark Hanebutt has been a “crucial part of UCO mass communication students’ education for more than three decades,” said Mary Carver, department chair of mass communication. (UCO/OFFICIAL).
Outside of teaching, Hanebutt practices media law as an attorney as well. Since 1987, Hanebutt has
served many students at UCO and plans on continuing his excellence in both academics and law for the future.