The Vista - April 29

Campus Quotes

Globalization

Charity

Broncho Spring Game

What are your plans for the summer?

Page 2.

Jack Chancey looks into the effects of fair trade coffee.

Page 3.

Student works to build Habitat for Humanity chapter.

Page 7.

The UCO football team finishes up spring practice.

Page 12.

APR 29,2010

uco360.com twitter.com/uco360

THE VISTA

UNIVERSITY OF CENTRAL OKLAHOMA’S students voice since 1903.

Graduation

PHOTO BY GARETT FISBECK

THE PATH REMAINS THE SAME Construction on Old North has not interfered with university traditions.

UCO has no plans to change the graduates touching the Barnett Bell.

According to Pamela Lumen, coordinator of Graduation Support Services, the construction company has agreed to remove the construction barriers for the graduation ceremonies, which will be on May 7 and May 8. Graduates will walk the traditional route.

The Bell is from the original structure of the first Methodist Church located on 19 North Broadway in Edmond. The Bell was collected for the Historical Society. It was placed in the Historical Museum on September 1915. On November 9, 1951 the Bell was taken from the museum and rung in observance of its 60th Anniversary.

The Vista congratulates all UCO graduates.

The path for graduates will remain the same on the way to the graduation ceremony. They will uphold the tradition of walking passed the Gerard “Cowboy” Barnett Bell Plaza.

Health

WEATHER H 83° L 65°

CASUAL INTEREST IN SEX AWARENESS

By Ethan Larsh / Contributing Writer

TOMORROW H 78° L62°

More weather at www.uco360.com

WORDS OF WISDOM FOR THE GRADUATE No grade is worth more than your physical or mental health, and no acceptance is worth more than your integrity. Disappointment and loss are inevitable, but they must be accepted with grace because to let yourself be overcome by them, is to lose yourself to paralyzing inhibition.

College students are facing a growing epidemic nationwide. Every year, one in four teens contracts a sexually transmitted disease or infection, according to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention’s website. Many students at the University of Central Oklahoma are concerned and becoming fearful of this problem.

“There are so many teens that are sexually active, and they’re not informed by their parents or school systems that they need to get checked regularly,” Chantay Eidson, a sophomore majoring in music education, said.

“It’s really important, and ignoring it could lead to a lot of problems later in life.”

UCO hosts programs that inform students about sex, STDs, and different methods of contraception. Tim Woods, coordinator of Health Education, is the speaker for SEXposure, a presentation about the impact of sexual behavior on students.

“I go in and talk about STDs and STIs,” Woods said, talking about one of the main points in SEXposure. “70 million Americans have an STD. 19 million Americans this year said they had one, and half of those are under 21. For college students, this is a major issue.”

With all these programs, it seems the statistics should be better.

“UCO should have a big safe sex event,” Jessica Mascote, a freshman majoring in nursing, said.

Schools like North Idaho College, Yale, and

PHOTO BY GARETT FISBECK

TODAY

intimacy to toys.

Students at UCO are intrigued by a sexual awareness week, and some think UCO could benefit from it.

“Many people think the only way you can get an STD is from intercourse, but you can get it from kissing too,” Mascote said.

“I didn’t know that until my Healthy Life Skills class. For people that haven’t had Healthy Life Skills, a sex week could answer questions like this.”

Eidson also believes that students could benefit from participating in a sexual awareness week.

“Programs like this are going to a help a lot of people that are in the dark about sex,” Eidson said.

Cody McAskill, a junior majoring in music performance, believes that having a sexual awareness week is a good idea, but that it is ultimately the student’s responsibility whether he or she wants to have protected or unprotected sex.

“I think that UCO could benefit from a sexual awareness week. Knowledge is power,” One out of four teens has an STD or infecMcAskill said. “All they can do is offer though. tion, according to the CDC. It comes down to the students whether or not Temple University all have sexual awareness to utilize that knowledge.” weeks that promote contraceptives, STD preWoods thinks having a sexual awareness vention, and good old raunchy fun. Students at week on campus would be a great way to inNorth Idaho College passed out bags filled with form students about STDs and contraception. condoms, lubricant, and candies, while stu“I’m all for that. I think it’s a great idea,” dents at Yale are not only taught about safe sex Woods said. “It’s just getting people on board at their sexual awareness week, but have guest and doing it. I’d be the first person to help.” lectures whose presentations range from love to

OPINION

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APRIL 29, 2010 Opinion

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

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.

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.

STAFF

Management

Editorial

Kory Oswald, Editor-In-Chief Elina Golshani, Copy Editor Chris Wescott, Sports Editor Bill Southard Web Editor

Tiffany Brown, Senior Staff Writer Jenefar De Leon, Staff Writer Ryan Costello, Staff Writer Jack Chancey, Staff Writer Rahul Preeth, Staff Writer Prashanti Ganesh, Staff Writer Harish Murali, Staff Writer Anuj Srivas, Staff Writer

Design Steven Hyde

Advertising Brittany Koster

Photography Garett Fisbeck

Circulation

Kathleen Wells

Stephen Hughes

Editorial Comic

Adviser Mr. Teddy Burch

Prakriti Adhikari

LETTER TO UCO’S COMMUNITY I would like to begin by thanking Teddy Burch, our adviser, for his guidance. He has pushed us to be better reporters, and he has been there when we needed advice.

Also, I want to express my appreciation for Mr. Kory Oswald. He recently won the Outstanding Service to The Vista Award, among several others. It was rightfully deserved.

He stepped up to the plate when it was needed the most and has been ready to bat since.Oswald has said without me there would not be a paper. The same could be said for him.

I have seen him time and time again sacrifice so much, especially this semester, to make sure The Vista was on stands just about every Tuesday and Thursday.

It may not mean much coming from me, but it certainly means a lot for me to have the privilege to say thank you.

Also, everyone on The Vista staff who has been here this semester including Chris Wescott, Jenefar de Leon, Ryan Costello, Steven Hyde, Elina Golshani, Garrett Fisbeck and Prakriti Adhikari.

Newer staff members include: Jack Chancey, Rahul Preeth, Prashanti Ganesh, Harish Murali, Anuj Srivas, Brittany Koster, Kathleen Wells and Bill Southard. Also, I thank our office mom Ms. Tresa Berlemann and “that circulation guy” Stephen Hughes, who, by the way, is not a fan of Lady Gaga.

We have all gone through ups and downs, we have laughed together and dealth with disappointments. But above all, we came together to overcome obstacles. It took every single one of us coming together to make The Vista what it is.

Special thanks to Newspaper Participation and News Reporting students. Keep working hard, and everything will work itself out in due time.

I want to recognize broadcasting students. I know how hard you all work for NewsCentral and the radio stations. I wish we would have had more time to work together, but unfortunately it has been hard to do that this semester. I have had the opportunity to get to know most of you all, and I am grateful for that.

I want to express appreciation to our readers. Being able to have a captive audience is the reason why we are able to do what we do. Secondly, I would like to thank mass com. professors who have taught us and given us advice when needed.

At times we have been met with harsh criticism. In spite of this, we have always tried to do our best. I ask students, faculty

‘‘

and staff to contemplate the following. What good does it do to criticize instead of teach?

How are communities ever built, if they are consistently being torn down? This is the field we have chosen. So, we accept every criticism and try to move forward. We have always tried to stand on an ethical foundation without compromising the integrity of the paper.

In the past year, many reporters have sacrificed to work at The Vista. We have sacrificed time with our families. We have sacrificed time with friends. For some, grades have suffered.

We have been committed to putting together a paper we could be proud of. We have tried to remain unbiased, reporting what we believed to be accurate and truthful information.

A few reporters have not always done the same, and The Vista has suffered for it. Mistakes have been made, but we have almost always done what we can do to rectify the situation at hand.

Mahatma Gandhi said, “Freedom is not worth having if it does not include the freedom to make mistakes.”

As journalists, we try to avoid mistakes. We know how dangerous mistakes can be. But, I believe the mistakes we have made, if any, have allowed us to become better reporters and better people. It is my hope that future reporters will be greeted with compassion and understanding by UCO students, faculty and staff.

For future reporters, I leave this advice. Be accurate. Be truthful. Be vigilant. Be steadfast. Don’t count the work you do as trivial.The job is not going to come without critics, but if you adhere to the code of ethics in journalism, you can walk away knowing that you have done your job correctly.

As humans we will always make mistakes, but do everything in your power to avoid them in articles. I can’t stress this enough.One word has the potential to negatively impact someone’s life. So it is up to us as reporters to approach every article from that standpoint.

In my short time at The Vista, I hope I have at least helped one person along the way. If I have done this, I have done my job.In spite of what is said about the journalism industry being unstable, the world is in need of great journalists now more than ever.

Although it is bittersweet, I would rather say see you later than goodbye.

CAMPUS QUOTES

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THE VISTA

What are your plans for the summer?

KATHRYN SCHRANTZ

BETH MARCOTTE

JOE CASEY

Forensic Science/Psychology -Sophomore

Marketing-Junior

Graphic Design-Senior

“I plan on going to Disney World for ten days, and then Montana for two weeks.”

“To stay in Edmond and work.”

“I’m going on a vacation and possibly an internship. Travel around for a minute.”

By Prakriti Adhikari / Cartoonist JAMIE SCHNETZLER

BEAU SPARKS

DANA GISSANDANER

Graphic Design -Senior

Graphic Design-Senior

Nursing-Senior

What are your plans for the summer?

Let us know at twitter.com/uco360.

“Tour in May, and then summer school so I can graduate next semester. “

“Desperately seeking a job in my field.”

“I plan on getting a second job and save money.”

NEWS

APRIL 29, 2010

3

Opinion

Globalization

FARMERS TOIL FOR FAIR TRADE THE

RAMBLE

PHOTO BY GARETT FISBECK

WITH

RYAN CROFT “From blocks away I heard somebody screaming that small child inside of you that you left bleeding. You stabbed him up not once but twice. Cubicles will now suffice. Some say it’s a roll of the dice. I think they’re wrong and I know I’m right.”

- Matt Skiba

Small-scale family coffee famers in developing countries receive $1.26 for a pound of coffee. Farners that do not participate in fair trade often recieve 50-60 cents a pound. Farmers must adhere to strict regulatory standards to earn the Fair Trade certification.

By Jack Chancey / Staff Writer With finals week approaching, coffee consumption typically increases greatly for the average student who’s a coffee drinker.

Whether students believe they’re paying a fair price for coffee does not generally affect their consumption habits.

“Honestly, I think a cup of coffee is too expensive, especially if you have a liking for sweetened drinks like lattes,” Lindley Weaver, a UCO student, said.

But for millions of small family coffee farmers, mostly in third world countries, decades of low wholesale prices for beans have made even subsistence living a hardship. Governments in coffee-producing countries have seen dropping foreign exchange earnings for coffee which results in worsening livelihoods for farmers who rely on coffee as a main cash crop.

What many see as a solution to decades-long low prices in the coffee industry is the fair-trade movement.

According to NPR, Nicole Chettero, a spokeswoman for TransFair USA, an American fair-trade auditor, said fair trade

benefits small-scale family farmers.

“What fair trade does is break down that cycle of poverty by guaranteeing small-scale family farmers around the developing world a fair price for their crops.”

Right now that fair price is $1.26/pound. Farmers not participating in fair trade often receive as little as 50-60 cents pound. At that rate, the price paid for the coffee bean is often below production costs. This causes farmers to run a debt to continue operations, a cycle that worsens each year as they go further into debt. Acquiring the Fair Trade certification is still an exclusive privilege regardless. Farmers have to stick to strict standards pertaining to pesticide use and environmental farming practices, but those that do agree the extra price is worth it. Fair trade coffee only accounts for 3.3 percent of coffee sold in the United States, but with corporations such as Wal-Mart, Starbucks and McDonald’s offering fair trade coffees, volume will continue to increase.

You may wonder how to tell if are buying fair trade and if it is worth the extra price.

“Well, when you see the Fair Trade Certified label, you can be guaranteed that any product that carries that label has gone through incredibly stringent auditing for, like I said, those socio-economic and environmental standards,” Chettero said.

When considering the extra price of fair trade coffee, Chettero suggested, “Ask yourself what you need in your life to take care of your family, to take care of yourself, and to take care of your community.”

When the farming communities of the third world suffer, countries like the United States are often burdened by the hidden costs such as forced immigration, inferior quality products, and farming practices that damage the environment.

“What fair trade has done is connect the consumer with the origin of their food,” Chettero said.

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I miss being young enough to think prank phone calls were funny.

I started at an early age – I think I was four or five years old – sneaking up to my parents’ bedroom, punching in the three digits, hearing the voice on the other end of the line ask me about my emergency while I stifled a giggle and slammed the receiver back onto the hook. I remember my surprise the first time I heard the silky, feminine voice on the other end. After all, I had never dialed a number on my own before, especially not one so mysteriously important as 911.

The first time I heard the voice, I naturally assumed the lady on the other end must be someone else’s mommy. I wondered if her son was there with her or in some other room, anxiously working up the courage to grab the phone in front of him and dial his own set of mystery numbers.

I waited just long enough to finish that thought before swiping the phone back off the hook and smashing my index finger back into the same three digits.

I got away with this little shenanigan five or six times before, just as I reached back out to give it just one more go-round, the ringer abruptly screamed back at me with the distinctly high-pitched rattle of an early-era touchtone phone. This time it was Ms. Silky Voice on the other end, calling to inform my mother someone at her house was repeatedly calling, giggling and hanging up.

You might think the tongue-lashing my mother gave me a few minutes later would have been enough to deter me from ever prank dialing a number again.

This was not the case.

In fact, from third grade through somewhere around my freshman year of high school, I crank yanked homes and businesses of all different distinctions and area codes like it was my job.

Finally, much to the appreciation of my more mature friends who had long ago decided prank calling was no longer cool, I gave up the phone capers for good. Yes, it was time to move on to more worthwhile things like skateboarding, underage drinking and the pursuit of the ever-elusive second base.

As we grow older and begin this so-called maturation process, we tend to shed a lot of old skin, literally and metaphorically speaking. Much of that shedding is for the better.

I consider it a good thing that I don’t handle my day-to-day problems with the same demeanor and understanding I had as a 4-year-old, a ninth-grader or even a college sophomore.

Yet, I recently realized that in all that growing and knowledge gaining I did, I began losing something unfathomably important and, as far as I can tell, irreplaceable.

Remember, I said I miss thinking prank calls were funny, not the actual act of harassing a stranger over the phone.

There was an innocence and sense of adventure that kept me from realizing or caring about the consequences of my actions.

I’m 23 years old now, and the adult me thinks almost entirely in terms of actions and consequences. I last wrote about the oppressive burden of living solely for success. You can consider this somewhat of a prequel to that bit of rambling. As we grow, we learn to take responsibility for our lives. We trade our bicycles for drivers’ safety courses, our Saturday morning cartoons for textbooks and our playtime for class time.

Responsibility is not in and of itself a bad thing. But, like success, when we become obsessed with it, it can be dangerous.

Years from now, you will be sitting at your dining room table in the two-story house you bought with the loan you got thanks to your decent credit score and paid 10 percent down on with the money from your 9-to-5, desperately trying to finish your taxes before the looming April 15 deadline, while one kid reminds you it’s almost time to take her to soccer practice, the other yells at the dog to let go of his shoe and your spouse texts you not to wait on dinner because traffic is at a standstill.

Suddenly, you will find yourself unable to eek out one last miserable 1-or-0 on your tax form. You will sit straight up in your chair, rigid as a stone statue, and feel the sharp, thirsty blade of responsibility jabbing into your back as it robs you of your last visages of vigor and joy.

By all means, be responsible. Have a career, spouse, kids, house and all the terrors and delights that accompany them.

But please, please, puh-leeeease, whatever you do, do not steep yourself so deeply in being an adult that you beat that kid inside you to a bloody pulp and leave the poor bastard mangled beyond repair in some street gutter of a grave. It’s easier to do than you might think.

From now on, I’m keeping mine on one of those little-kid leashes – the gentle kind that wrap around his pants like a belt and keep him within 10 feet of me at all times. We won’t be pestering strangers on the phone any time soon. We have matured at least a little. But if you call me, don’t be surprised if he answers and tries to convince you that you’ve reached a gay escort service in Pakistan or the voicemail of Austrian gangster rapper Hans “Big Musculars” Shticktenstein.

I’m just keeping my inner kid happy. He might have matured a little, but he still loves screwing around on the phones.

4

NEWS

APRIL 29, 2010

Government

By Tiffany Brown / Staff Writer & Kristie Brown / Contributing Writer Concern over the growing deficit has consumed citizens of the United States. The government’s spending has caused debates across the nation.

The federal budget deficit has been linked to an increase in national debt in the U.S. When an entity spends more than it makes, a deficit occurs.

When the U.S. government runs a deficit, it borrows money by selling securities. Securities are sold in the form of treasury bonds, treasury bills and treasury notes. This adds to the nation’s debt.

At nearly $13 trillion and counting, the nation’s debt has reached an all-time high. Economic conditions have added to financial strains.

“The recent recession has pushed up the demand for federal spending, so you could say that the recession is the primary cause for the current deficit,” Dr. Randall Ice, chair of UCO’s finance department, said.

“If it is not reduced, eventually it will lead to problems.”

“The situation in Greece today is an example of what could happen if the problem went on for too long. You could also end up with inflation, and/or additional economic problems,” Ice said.

Currently, each U.S. citizen will have to pay approximately $42,000 for the U.S. debt. This is the amount almost every UCO student, faculty and staff owes due to government spending.

“The government borrows the money, and taxpayers are responsible for the debt plus interest,” Ice said.

According to the Congressional Budget Office, the U.S. can expect the national debt to rise to 90 percent of the nation’s gross domestic product over the next ten years.

GDP is a measurement of a country’s production of goods and services. The measurements are then used to determine a nation’s wealth.

If the national debt were to reach 90 percent of its GDP, the U.S. will owe 90 percent of what it produces in goods and services.

If this trend were to continue and the economy remained

P H OTO BY M A RI TA PA P PA

DEFICITS LEAVE TAXPAYERS SHORT

A protester holds handcuffs during an anti-government demonstration staged by civil servants outside the Greek Parliament in Athens, Tuesday, April 27, 2010. Greece’s debt crisis intensified Tuesday as its credit rating cut to junk status.

relatively the same as it is today, the Obama administration predicted $8.5 trillion would be added to the national debt.

According to the CBO, the figure could reach $9.8 trillion.

In 2020, the debt is expected to be as much as $20.3 trillion. This would triple the interest payments from $207 billion per year to $723 billion per year.

Perspectives on the national deficit and debt often differ.

“The concern over the federal deficits … has been blown

out of proportion,” Dr. Barry Ellis, a UCO finance professor, said.

“The concern should be focused on what the federal government spends its money [on] and how much it spends, not the method of financing,” Ellis said.

“Using the vernacular of 19th-century economic philosopher Frederic Bastiat, the reason deficits are attention grabbing is that interest is ‘seen’ and opportunity costs are ‘unseen.’

“It is easier for me to point to the ‘seen’ of interest than to say, ‘See that hill, that is where the factory would have been built if marginal tax rates had not have been so high,’” he said.

“Obscure costs are just as real as more explicit costs; and unseen opportunity costs compound overtime, resulting in our grandchildren inheriting a far less robust economy. Thus, running deficits with lower levels of spending is preferable,” Ellis said.

Some argue that a balanced budget would eliminate the federal deficit each year. To balance the budget, the government must equate the equivalence of what it earns with its expenditures.

“The argument that the federal budget should be balanced is mathematically equivalent to arguing that spending should equal fees and taxes. [It also] implies that there is something better about financing through taxes rather than borrowing,” he said.

“What could be better about taxes than borrowing?” Ellis asked.

“An initial response might be that interest must be paid on debt. However, raising funds through taxes is not costless and can be greater than the cost of borrowing,” Ellis said.

“A dollar of lending through the purchase of a T-bill may have come from somebody who is risk averse and not entrepreneurial. The dollar of taxes may have come from a risk taker who would have started a factory,” he said.

China is the leading foreign lender to the U.S. As of April, China held $877.5 billion in treasury securities. The amount was once greater, but the Chinese government sold a record number of its shares to Japan in December 2009.

Japan has been the second major foreign lender with its

Continued on page 7

5

NEWS

APRIL 29, 2010

Intervention & Counseling

SUICIDE PREVENTION AND COUNSELING PROGRAMS OFFERED

Suicide. Over the past few years, it has continually ranked among the top leading causes of death among college students. At the University of Central Oklahoma, intervention programs and counseling services are available.

“Over the past 60 years, the overall rate of suicide among adolescents has tripled, making it the third leading cause of death among 15-to-24-year-olds and the second leading cause of death among college-age students,” the American College Health Association said in its report.

While suicide has not necessarily been an issue on UCO’s campus, the university has taken measures to offer help to students in need of counseling.

UCO’s Student Counseling Center has several programs accessible to students who may be stressed, overwhelmed or depressed.

High stress levels and untreated depression are two major reasons why some students consider killing themselves. They are also reasons why students have committed suicide before.

“Students often feel depressed and overwhelmed,” Janis Chapel, coordinator of counseling services, said.

“Talking to a counselor helps relieve some pressure and can help them feel better.”

According to a 2008-2010 health initiative report released by the university, nearly 10 percent of UCO students have seriously considered suicide.

“We encourage any student who is thinking about suicide to get help,” Chapel said.

Typically, students who consider committing suicide often exhibit warning signs.

Warning signs include talking or writing about death or suicide, withdrawing from family and friends, exhibiting a constant state

PHOTO BY ERIC RISBERG

Suicide is the second leading cause of death among college students, nearly 10 percent of UCO students have contemplated suicide. High stress levels and untreated depression are the main reasons people contemplate suicide.

The Golden Gate Bridge is the world’s No. 1 suicide magnet, in part because it makes suicide so easy. In 2005 there was an average of 19 jumpers a year. There were 40 suicides at the bridge in 1977. A body can plummet up to 240 to 250 feet in four seconds, traveling “about 75 mph, and hits the water with the force of a speeding truck meeting a concrete building,” according to SFGate.com.

“Over the past 60 years, the overall rate of suicide among adolescents has tripled, making it the third leading cause of death among 15-to-24-year-olds and the second leading cause of death among college-age students.” of sadness, and a change in behavior among several others.

Students are being encouraged to seek help immediately.

Experts say suicide is preventable. The Student Counseling Center also offers resources for intervention.

At UCO, techniques such as the Question, Persuade, Refer method are used to train students to assist their peers who may view suicide as the only alternative.

QPR suicide prevention training is a onehour session that allows participants to learn skills and tools used to help intervention

when someone is considering suicide.

UCO’s Student Counseling Center has established outreach programs.

Student Counseling Center staff members attend classes and present educational information about several issues that affect college students, including suicide and the QPR methods.

All counseling services are free to UCO students.

“Students are encouraged to come to the Student Counseling Center if they are having thoughts of suicide,” Chapel said.

“Friends and faculty can walk with them over to the Counseling Center if they are hesitant.”

UCO’s Student Counseling Center is located on the fourth floor of the Nigh University Center in suite 402.

The center is open all year, and staff members are available 8 a.m.-5 p.m. Monday through Friday.

Any information discussed with counselors is typically considered private. Staff members strictly enforce protecting the privacy of information.

If students are not comfortable seeking help in person, help is available over the phone 24 hours a day.

“You can always call 911 to get help,” Chapel said.

Other 24-hour help hotlines include: Oklahoma County Crisis Intervention Center at 1-800-522-9054 HeartLine at 1-800-273-TALK National Suicide Hotline at 1-800-SUICIDE Information about suicide and services provided by UCO’s Student Counseling Services is available at: http://broncho2.uco.edu/student_counseling/.

6

NEWS

Keep an EYE on AMERICA

WASHINGTON (AP) — The CEO of Goldman Sachs is testily defending his company’s ethics and business practices during the nation’s financial crisis, saying that customers buying securities from the investment house came looking for risk and that’s what they got. Lloyd Blankfein told a Senate investigatory panel that clients wanted a security that would give them exposure to the housing market. He said, Unfortunately, the housing market went south very quickly ... so people lost money in it.

Blankfein was the final witness in a daylong hearing on Goldman Sachs’ behavior leading up to a government civil fraud charge earlier this month.

PHOENIX (AP) — Politicians weighed in on Arizona’s tough new immigration law Tuesday, while Mexico cautioned its citizens about an adverse political atmosphere in the state and a Phoenix man said he was aiming to get a referendum to repeal the measure on November’s ballot. In California, Meg Whitman, the Republican front-runner in the California gubernatorial primary, said that Arizona is taking the wrong approach to with its tough new law.

I think there’s just better ways to solve this problem, Whitman said in a telephone interview with The Associated Press.But Sen. John McCain told CBS’s The Early Show that his state needed such a law because the Obama administration has failed to secure our borders. The Arizona Republican called the situation in his state the worst I’ve ever seen, and that ineffective border enforcement has resulted in drugs pouring into the southwestern United States from Mexico.

NEW ORLEANS (AP) — As hope dimmed for the lives of 11 crew members missing since a drilling rig exploded in flames in the Gulf of Mexico, authorities turned their focus to controlling an oil spill that could threaten the fragile ecosystem of the Louisiana and Mississippi coasts. The Deepwater Horizon had burned violently for nearly two days until it sank Thursday morning. The fire’s out, but as much as 336,000 gallons of crude oil a day could be rising from the sea floor 5,000 feet below, officials said.

NEW YORK (AP) — The only man to admit shooting Malcolm X was freed on parole Tuesday, 45 years after he assassinated the civil rights leader. Thomas Hagan, the last man still serving time in the 1965 killing, was freed from a Manhattan prison where he spent two days a week under a work-release program, state Department of Correctional Services spokeswoman Linda Foglia said. The assassins gunned down Malcolm X out of anger at his split with the leadership of the Nation of Islam, the Black Muslim movement for which he had once served as chief spokesman, said Hagan, who was then known as Talmadge X Hayer.

BARNSTEAD, N.H. (AP) — A diminutive horse born in New Hampshire could lay claim to the world record for lightweight foal. The pinto stallion named Einstein weighed just 6 pounds and measured 14 inches tall when he was born Friday in Barnstead, N.H. Those proportions fit a human baby just about right but are downright tiny for horse, even a miniature breed like Einstein.

Dr. Rachel Wagner, Einstein’s co-owner, says the Guinness Book of Records lists the smallest newborn horse as weighing in at 9 pounds. Breeders say that unlike the current record holder, Thumbelina, Einstein shows no signs of dwarfism. He’s just a tiny horse.

BILOXI, Miss. (AP) — This time, it’s not a hurricane that threatens to wreck their livelihoods — it’s a blob of black ooze slowly making its way toward the Gulf Coast.

Hotel owners, fishermen and restaurateurs are keeping anxious watch as an oil slick spreads from a wrecked drilling platform like a giant filthy inkblot. Crews have not been able to stop thousands of barrels of oil from spewing out of the sea floor since an April 20 explosion destroyed the Deepwater Horizon, which was drilling 50 miles off the Louisiana coast. Eleven workers are missing and presumed dead, and the cause of the explosion has not been determined.

NEWS

APRIL 29, 2010

7

Education

ACADEMY PREPARES TEACHERS TO TEACH

By Tiffany Brown / Staff Writer At the University of Central Oklahoma, the College of Education and Professional Studies is finding more ways to better prepare teachers.

UCO’s education program has been known as one of the premier accredited teaching programs in Oklahoma. It has also been recognized for being one of the best programs in the region.

Recently UCO partnered with the Oklahoma City Public School District along with several other partners and developed a program called Urban Teacher Preparation Academy.

“The academy is designed to provide a focused effort at preparing teacher education candidates to be successful educators in urban school settings,” Dr. Bill Pink, associate dean of UCO’s CEPS, said.

The idea for developing an UTPA program at UCO began two years ago shortly after the college received re-accreditation.

“Our teacher preparation unit completed a very successful state and national re-accreditation cycle two years ago,” Pink said.

“After that validation, we sat down and ask[ed] what was next for our unit. We’ve been told by principals and administrators that we provide well-prepared teachers and school personnel, but we felt that we needed to do a better job of preparing our candidates to be successful in urban schools.

“After holding many discussions with stakeholders, as well as researching cities across the country where similar initiatives have been developed (Boston, Atlanta, Denver, and others), we developed the UTPA,” he said.

Schools located in inner cities across the nation have been plagued with high turnover rates amongst their teachers.

This often creates instability within urban schools, making it more difficult for students attending these schools to learn.

Often it is new teachers who leave urban schools within their first few years. This leaves an unmet demand for teachers in inner city secondary schools.

“UTPA is not some effort to ‘rescue Oklahoma City Public Schools.’ The district has great things going on and is not in need of us rescuing them from anything,” Pink said.

“UTPA is a program that will help us do a better job of preparing teachers for urban schools.”

“The program is designed to provide a full year of student teaching, followed by two additional years (the teacher’s first two years of teaching) of close mentorship,” Pink said.

“Many professional development opportunities are included in those three years. “[Professional development] will be available for all the teachers at the partnership schools, not just our candidates,” he said.

The program will also help meet specific needs of urban schools, Pink said.

“This will provide the district with teachers prepared especially for OKCPS, which makes for a win-win collaboration,” he said.

Bradley Cusak, an English education major, is one of nine students selected to participate in the program, which will begin fall 2010.

According to Cusak, he became aware of the program from reading a flier posted in the library when participants were sought for UTPA.

PHOTO PROVIDED

“UTPA is a program that will help us do a better job of preparing teachers for urban schools.”

The first group of Urban Teacher Preperation Academy participants stand with Oklahoma City Public Schools superintendent, Dr. Karl Springer, in back. From left, Rebecka Graffigna, Natalie Young, Sherri Drwenski, Jessica Martinez, JaRod Richardson, Bradly Cusack, Stacey Garcia. Not pictured are Sharyce Pete and Stephanie Cammack.

After, he attended an UTPA informational meeting.

“The meeting really captured my heart,” Cusak said.

“Just seeing the level of enthusiasm of faculty … and hearing about the level of involvement really astounded me.”

Cusak has had the opportunity to work at Capitol Hill in spring 2008 as a student teacher.

Capitol Hill is one of several schools in the Oklahoma City Public School District.

“It was incredibly jarring experience,” he said.

The teachers were apathetic, and students were apathetic, Cusak said.

It became evident that the students were tired of the educational system, he said. They felt as if the educational system had no bearing on their lives, he said.

In spite of his observation, Cusak said it was a great opportunity to learn. He was thrilled when he heard about his acceptance into UTPA’s program.

Since UCO is a premier educational program, the lack of preparing students to teach in inner city schools was a problem that needed to be addressed, Cusak said.

Other programs don’t have a strong aspect of K-12 training, he said. Most programs are geared toward childhood education.

With the UTPA program, UCO is addressing some needs other programs aren’t, Cusak said.

“There’s such a unique need for inner city educators,” Cusak said.

“The burnout rate is exceptionally high.”

High expectations are set for those who teach in urban schools, Cusak said.

Often new teachers don’t have the experience or the range

Charity

Federal Deficit from page 4

$768.5 billion holdings of Treasury securities.

“Debt is debt, so ownership of our liabilities does not matter,” Ellis said.

“If the fact that the Chinese government owns a lot of our debt is of consequence, it is a positive,” he said.

“China is less likely to take military actions against a country in which it has heavily invested,” Ellis said.

Ice said, “Obviously, when you borrow money you have to pay it back with interest when it is due. However, in the world of sovereign debt (that is what this is called), the lender can sell your debt into the market if they don’t want to keep it.

“This could produce a problem (higher interest rates) as we are also selling debt into the market to finance our deficits. If there was a question in the market about our ability to service the debt, buyers would be very concerned and it could produce a political problem,” Ice said.

Historically, debt has been a part of the nation’s economy. During major wars, the U.S. federal deficits have increase drastically.

“The country has faced several debt problems over history during war. We nearly went broke during both the Revolutionary War and the Civil War, and issued rapidly depreciating paper money during both,” Ice said.

“During the Second World War we faced another crisis, though less severe, which re-

to be successful in urban schools, he said.

Cusak will be teaching at Taft Middle School.

“My original intentions were to learn how to be an effective instructor,” Cusak said.

Now, he hopes to accomplish two objectives while completing the UTPA program.

His first goal is to teach students learning is right, and it is something that can be fun.His second goal is to put effort before ability.

Children should have the opportunity to try before they are assessed, he said.

He attriuted his objectives to Dr. Martin Haberman, author of Star Teachers of Children in Poverty.

Cusak had plans to continue teaching in Urban schools even after he completes the program.

“I try not to think too far ahead, but I have plans to work in inner city schools for the next 5-10 years,” Cusak said.

Other students who will be teaching include: Stephanie Cammack, Sherrie Drwenski, Stacey Garcia, Rebecka Graffigna, Jessica Martinez, Sharyce Pete, JaRod Richardson and Natalie Young.

The students were ecstatic to learn of their acceptance into the program, Pink said.

“The academy will utilize three schools as clinical sites: Capitol Hill High School, Taft Middle School, and Linwood Elementary, all in Oklahoma City, all with high quality principals who are highly committed to this program,” Pink said.

“We need to ensure that we are doing our part in providing well-prepared teachers for Oklahoma City,” he said.

“This initiative makes us better at what we are all about – teacher preparation,” Pink said.

quired the sale of a vast amount of war debt.

The War Bond Campaigns were a part of this effort.”

National security in the U.S. would be a problem only under certain circumstances.

National security would be at risk, “Only in the sense that we may be unable to afford the level of defense spending that we need in a crisis,” Ice said.

If students have a particular stance on the national debt, voting could reinforce their stance on the issue.

“The most important thing anyone can do is vote for people who have similar views to themselves,” Ice said.

“If you want an increase or decrease in the federal debt, inquire about candidates’ positions in the fall election, and support those that match your views.”

Also, Ice provided personal advice on debt.

“The federal deficit is an important topic, but don’t forget your own debt. For most people, that is a more immediate concern and could have a more damaging impact on your life. Unlike Greece, no one is going to bail you out!” Ice said.

Documents about government spending are accessible to the public.

“The details concerning the federal government’s indebtedness can be found in the Financial Report of the United States Government,” Ellis said.

STUDENT WORKS TO BUILD HABITAT CHAPTER

By Cate Jeffries / Contributing Writer A Central student is working to grow the campus Habitat for Humanity chapter.

Taylor Powell, a rising senior speech pathology major who serves as the group’s president, said she restarted the defunct club this semester. Habitat for Humanity is a nonprofit organization that helps build and remodel homes for families who need them.

“It had already been a club on campus, but it kind of fell apart,” Powell said.

Powell said she restarted the defunct club this semester, and it had been inactive for about a semester. About 15 people have been attending the meetings, and there is an official Facebook group that distributes organization news, Powell said. She added that one of the club’s goals for next year is recruiting more volunteers.

“We want to do some educational activities and awareness activities to spread the word around campus about what it is and how to get involved,” she said.

Powell said she became interested in Habitat for Humanity when her scholarship group,

Transfer Leadership Council, completed a project for the organization. She said she was working on a building site last semester when TLC’s adviser, Scott Monetti, asked her to help

“We want to do some educational activities and awareness activities to spread the word around campus about what it is and how to get involved.” him reorganize the Habitat for Humanity, which he also advises.

She said although it is an official Central student organization, it is still trying to be recognized by the national corporation.

“We have to meet with the local chapter, Central Oklahoma, first,” Powell said. “Once we talk to them about our goals and they get to know us, we can call the national organization and we can get recognized.”

8

NEWS

Society

Technology

SIFTING THROUGH THE GOSSIP FOR THE NEWS

IPAD BANNED DUE TO CONSUMPTION

“The American reader is turning away from newspapers because they’re too conscientious. They don’t offer gossip as fact and opinion as truth.” said that there is still a strong supply of publications in smaller communities In the wide world of journalism, it’s that feature a hefty serving of personal sometimes challenging to sift through view in their pages. the gossip to find the news.

Those newspapers, Clark said, are There is a reason for that. simply a representation of the commu Vic Ketchman, a veteran journalist nities they report upon, something that now writing for the National Football Clark said some publications are missLeague’s Jacksonville Jaguars, shared ing out on. his observations on the evolution of “Newspapers devalue themselves modern news in an open forum on April because they cease to be a part of the 21. community when it’s just reacting to, “The American reader is turning ‘Gee, what’s Britney Spears up to?’” away from newspapers because they’re Clark said. too conscientious. They don’t offer gos- So why the shift to ‘soft news’ by sip as fact and opinion as truth. That’s some papers? Simple: It’s easier. what we want because it allows us to “Editorials, for a long time, have do the same. Sloppy reporting allows been the soul of newspapers, and they for sloppy reading, and both are easy to squandered that away,” Clark said. do,” Ketchman said.

Editorials, or ‘The mouthpiece’ of Certain news programs of the mod- the newspaper, are a gathering of views ern era offer a heap of slant in addition that are officially those of the publicato their factual reporting, the likes of tion itself. The edge of the editorial, FOX News and MSNBC appearing to said Clark, has of late been lost in the represent their own sides of the aisle, but politically correct shuffle. one UCO professor says they’re only Of course, the realm of 24-hour teleupholding to a tried and true method used vision news has its own standing on the throughout the history of in journalism. opinion side if the fence. Opinionated “Anyone who has studied the his- journalism abounds in the television tory of American Journalism will have news cycle, and it many cases it goes seen that it’s always been full of gos- beyond simple misinformation, all in sip, innuendo, and opinion,” said Dr. the hopes of increasing viewership.

Terry Clark, Director of the Oklahoma Programs like HBO’s Real Time Newspaper Hall of Fame and a profes- with Bill Maher and FOX News’ talk sor in the university’s mass communi- show with Megyn Kelly, for example, cation department. both feature guest celebrity appearances Clark, former owner of the news- on a regular basis and present them as paper, the Waurika News Democrat, experts on sociopolitical topics.

By Ryan Costello / Staff Writer

Clark reminds us, however, that pandering to your target audience is hardly a new phenomenon.

“FOX News is nothing new,” Clark said. “Now, it’s just more prevalent.”

Bad journalism just so happens to make for good business.

“The problem, as far as I’m concerned, is that TV is not a news medium. It’s an entertainment medium,” Clark Said.

Unfortunately, people are getting their news from an entertainment medium.

“Most TV [news] channels have maybe an hour and a half of news, and the rest is entertainment,” Clark said.

“I think it’s leading to a ‘dumbing down’ of content.”

In the realm of what is and what is not good journalism, it’s a dog eat dog world. The major news networks are equipped with all the necessary tools to protect their opinionated practice, and the prognosis for news gathering is no more reassuring than ‘buyer beware’.

But Clark says that the long tested method of injecting personal view in reporting, while sometimes unprofessional, is not the end of news as we know it.

The founding fathers of the newspaper were well acquainted with opinonbased news.

Sure, the media climate is slanted today, says Clark, “but so was Hearst, and so was Pulitzer.”

Isreal has put a ban to anyone, including touristis, from bringing iPads into the country until officials certify that they comply with local transmitter standards.

JERUSALEM (AP) — Israel has banned imports of Apple Inc.’s hottest new product, the iPad, citing concerns the powerful gadget consumes too much capacity on wireless networks and could disrupt other devices.

Customs officials said Thursday they have already confiscated about 10 of the lightweight tablet computers since Israel announced the new regulations this week. The ban prevents anyone — even tourists — from bringing iPads into Israel until officials certify that they comply with local transmitter standards.

“If you operate equipment in a frequency band which is different from the others that operate on that frequency band, then there will be interference,” said Nati Schubert, a senior deputy director for the Communications Ministry. “We don’t care where people buy their equipment. ... But without regulation, you would have chaos.”

The U.S. Federal Communications Commission allows WiFi broadcasting at higher power levels than are allowed in Europe and Israel — meaning that the iPad’s stronger signal could throw off others’ wireless connections, Schubert said.

The iPad combines the features of a notebook computer with the touch-pad functions of the iPod. It went on sale in the U.S. on April 3. Apple this week delayed its international launch until May 10, citing heavy sales in the U.S.

The Tea Party Rally April 14, 2010

A woman wears a hat adorned with tea bags for the event.

Ginger Phillips, of Chandler, Okla. holds a sign with concern over income tax.

An American flag is deliberately positioned upside down in protest. One of the many acts in opposition to government at the Tea Party rally April 14, 2010 on the north steps of the Oklahoma state capitol.

NEWS

9

Attendee to protest wears ammunition while holding American flag.

Alyssa Smalley, 10 and Nathan Smalley, 6 of Edmond, Okla. hold signs during the Tea Party assembly.

All photos by Shelley Sanders.

10

CLASSIFIEDS

EMPLOYMENT

EMPLOYMENT

APRIL 29, 2010 FOR SALE

CROSSWORD PUZZLE

Server Positions The Athlete’s 2005 Solitaire Available Foot is Hiring Mobile Home for Pearls Lakeside. within. 748-6113

Apply

Athlete’’s Foot in NW OKC and Yukon is accepting applications for part-time employment. 15-25 hours per week , evenings + Saturday. No retail experience needed. Call 848-3323

Teacher Needed Immediately For Edmond Daycare Nanny Position FT/PT experience preferred. Competitive wages.

Apply in person @ 24 NW 146th or call Camelot CDC @ 749-2262

Part Time Job

Senior Services of Oklahoma is looking for students to fill part time positions. Several from 9a.m.-1p.m. shifts and 1:30p.m.-5:30p.m. shifts are available for Monday- Friday.

We pay $10.00 per hour for energetic phone work educating senior citizens on healthcare issues. No experience is needed; We will train. Business is located at 1417 N.W. 150th St. in Edmond. Call 879-1888 to set up interview.

Ask for Megan Parris.

Babysitter Needed

Babysitter needed for summer and 2010-2011 school year for two boys, (7&4) Summer: 4 days per week.

School year: mornings and afternoons.Paid cash daily, $10 p/h.405-249-4533.

Shogun’s Steak House Of Japan

Hiring for waitstaff, busers, dishwashers, host, bar tender.

Apply in person at Northpark Mall (NW 127nd N. May) after 5:30 pm. 749-0120

Positions Available

Full/Part-time positions available at Comet Cleaners.

1401 S. Kelley Avenue 3595958

Handy Student Wanted

Lawn maintenance, carpentry, painting. Near UCO. Mist be self-motivated, trustworthy, able to work unsupervised. 641-0712

Ranch Help Wanted

Edmond ranch seeks part time help for basic grounds upkeep. 8-16 Hours per week, flexible hours. If interested, email mbtownsend@ swbell.net

Part-Time Job

Local eye clinic in Edmond looking to fill a part time position T-F 3:00-6:30 and Sat 9-2:00. More hours available if needed. Must have computer skills, social skills, and a friendly attitude. Job includes merchandise sales and front desk responsibilities.

Please fax or email resume.

405-478-7098 or rpjones1@ yahoo.com

Positions Available

Full/Part-time positions available at Comet Cleaners.

1401 S. Kelley Avenue 3595958

Mature, professional nonsmoking female needed for nanny services.

Summer hours: pickup at camp @ 3:00.

During school year hours: 2:45 to ~5:15 p.m. for 2010-2011 school year (August 13th school start date). Must have a safe vehicle and be a safe driver able to pick up 1 boy (ages 8) from school and drive to Edmond home. Overview of expectations include: preparing a nutritious snack, assisting in homework and participating in age-appropriate activities with the child. Salary, competitive and will be based on qualifications and experience. Please send a resume (listing childcare and other prior jobs) along with three references to mary.hartman@ chk.com.

Sale by Owner

Three bedrooms, two bath with deck. The home is spacious and bright with plenty of closet space and built in storage.

Located at 301 Dennis, Lot 153 OK 73003 Call - (405) 359-9471

OKLAHOMA FUN FACTS Billionaire J. Paul Getty began his oil empire in Tulsa.

The first Boy Scout Troop in the US was formed in Pawhuska in 1909.

All facts provided by www.legendsofamerica. com WORD SEARCH

SERVICES

The Language Company: Edmond

Conveniently located on the UCO campus, offers English as a second language classes for international students/individuals. NOW FEATURING a specially designed program with: With Strong emphasis in listening /speaking, highly interactive classes , and new and improved TOEFL program. Enjoy small classes and the campus facilities. Contact us at (405) 341-2125 or www. thelanguagecompany.com

FOR RENT

House for Rent

1 bedroom $350 + utilities. No Pets No smoking. 31 1/2 West Hurd Edmond. Call Patty 408-8765

1, 2 & 3 Bedroom Apartment Homes ~Spring Creek of Edmond~ Huge Student Discount!

No application fee or Security Deposit w/ Student ID 341-3932

Female Roomate Needed

Female roommate needed to share a 2 year old 4 bed/2 bath house near UCO in a family neighborhood close to Edmond North with 2 female UCO students. Rent includes all utilities, basic cable, high speed wireless internet, onsite washer/dryer, and off-street parking. The house is completely furnished with the exception of the room for rent. Rent is $500 a month plus deposit. No smoking or pets allowed.

If interested in living in a nice, quiet home please contact:Keith(405)633-1250 or email lashleyfamily@hotmail.com

Apartment for

Looking for Rent House Cleaner 1 BD APT.

Gas & Water House cleaner should be Paid. No Pets! Near UCO. friendly, responsible, english 1209 N. Roosevelt. $375.00/ speaking, and references re- Mo. Phone 641-0712 quired. 615-1948

Acre All Any Awe Ax Bans Be Birds Brush By Cage Cats Chip Convenience Cot Dot Ear Essay Films Foil

Forms Free Furs Go Gym Hair Has He His Hum Icicle In Isn’t It Jars Jets Junk Lie Mad Map Mask

Mayor Meet Men Mugs My Nap Nib Nobles Observations Off Oppress Our Pace Pan Path Pea Physics Powers Puppy Quiz

ANSWER FROM APRIL 27

Ram Rats Ray Red Rifle Rim Scary See Send Sir Sounds Ten Tilt Urge Vase Vet Weak Wiped Zips

Across

Down

1. Barbecue entree 5. Basket material 10. Connive 14. Doing nothing 15. Asian bird of the starling family 16. ___ lamp 17. Bar order 18. Promotes male characteristics 20. Mildness 22. Got by 23. Employment 24. Fan 25. Squishy chairs 30. First-aid item 34. Parentheses, e.g.

35. Withdraw gradually 37. She had “the face that launched a thousand ships” 38. 100 qintars 39. Busy 41. Bank offering, for short 42. Lilac, e.g.

44. Part of the Hindu trinity 45. Jersey, e.g.

46. Come by 48. Places to attend to the sick 50. ___ juice (milk) 51. “___ Ng” (They Might Be Giants song)

1. Computer type 2. “American ___”

52. Followers of Mao

49. Amniotic ___

55. Puzzling problem 60. Helicopters

21. “Chicago” lyricist 25. Corkwood 26. At attention 27. Barley bristle 28. Catches on 29. “Master” 31. Road open at one end only 32. Cliffside dwelling 33. No-see-ums 36. “Scream” star Campbell 39. Good-for-nothing 40. “Crikey!”

43. Its capital is Windhoek 45. More twisted 47. ___ public 52. ___ Verde National Park 53. Biology lab supply

66. Length x width, for a rectangle

57. Doctrines

67. Affirmatives

68. Bakery selections

Danielle Fotopoulis

19. South American pampas cowboy

62. Hip bones 63. Hindu woman’s garment 64. Cold 65. Mysterious: Var.

Even if I don’t reach all my goals, I’ve gone higher than I would have if I hadn’t set any.

3. Sailor 4. Religious messages 5. Arab League member 6. Harmony 7. May event, for short 8. Ring bearer, maybe 9. Equilateral parallelograms 10. That promised to 11. Channel 12. “Ars amatoria” poet 13. ___ Bell

54. Shrek, e.g.

55. Attends 56. “How ___!”

58. Cork’s country 59. Beams 61. Not just “a”

SPORTS

APRIL 29, 2010

11

UCO Tennis

By Ryan Costello / Staff Writer In the fall, UCO head tennis coach Natalya Smith looked upon her roster, wondering whether the glaring youth would be an issue.

Over the last several months, Smith has gotten her answer.

The Bronchos now stand at 15-6 on the season, good for a No. 24 ranking in the NCAA Division II ilk, and are awaiting their presumed invitation to the national tournament for the third consecutive year in Smith’s four seasons at the helm.

By the time this is read, Smith and the Bronchos will have gotten that invitation, but in truth, the saga of the women of UCO tennis this season began long before their first dual was under way.

During training camp, as the names on Smith’s roster sheet began to manifest into Broncho tennis players, the inexperience was dotted throughout the team. Five of the eight players on the final roster bore the dubious prefix, “freshman,� two others were sophomores, and Lacy Caldwell, the grizzled veteran of the team, was just a junior.

As far as Smith was concerned, this could be good news (think Michigan University basketball’s “Fab Five�) or very, very bad news (think just about every other sports venture wherein a majority of a team is composed of rookies.) “When I recruited all these girls in the fall, I knew we had a lot of potential. ... It just depended on how the freshmen handled the pressure,� Smith said. “It’s a matter of how the girls come together as a team.�

Smith put her team through all the standard training, all the usual team building, and all the usual motivation, but the truth was, the jury was out until the ball was dropped for real.

With one last heave of empowering speech, Smith channeled her inner Vince Lombardi. “I told my girls, ‘this season will be what you make of it,’� Smith said.

And so, the season started as any head coach of a young, green Division II team would: against an NCAA Division I juggernaut.

On February 6, at the Oklahoma City Golf and Country Club, UCO received a 7-0 drubbing at the hands of the Cowgirls.

But Smith was neither worried nor shaken.

This was simply part of the plan. “It’s always good for the girls to see high quality tennis,� Smith said.

In sports, the ends justify the means, and Smith’s gambit resulted in rousing success.

The Bronchos would go on to rattle off wins in their next 10 duals.

Message received, coach.

One win in particular stuck out to Smith as a propulsion point for the young Bronchos.

On February 27, the Bronchos were 2-1, coming off wins against the less than heralded tennis clubs of Cowley County Community College and Southern Nazarene University.

Their next opponent, though, was no cupcake. Northwest Missouri State ranked eighth in UCO’s region, and the Bronchos were the invading force in the not so friendly confines of St. Joseph, Miss.

It was test time again.

This time, though, the Bronchos were the exhibiters of high quality tennis rather

TURNS OUT,

PIGS ☞ ☞ FLY! CAN

PHOTO SERVICES

YOUNG GUNS

Lacy Caldwell volleys the ball in a match on April 9, 2010.

than the audience. UCO rolled over their Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association rivals, downing NWMSU 7-2. “NWMSU was a definitely a turning point for us,� Smith said. “They were a very solid team.�

The ensuing weeks would show that the Bronchos’ youth was not quite the disadvantage it’s rumored to be. Sophomores Julia Shviadok and Eli Abramovic were named to the Lone Star conference’s first team on April 22, and the freshmen on the club made enormous contributions to UCO’s success in the regular season.

It’s fast becoming crunch time, though.

A trip to the LSC championship semifinals was abruptly ended by Division II stalwarts, Abilene Christian University.

ACU defeated the Bronchos twice during the season, and neither decision was close.

UCO fell on March 27 8-1 to ACU, and again last week, 5-0.

In all likelihood, Smith said, when the Bronchos receive their invitation to the National Tournament, the road will be through their nemesis in the Abilene, Texas regional. “Every time we face them, the girls get more excited,� Smith said.

It would seem that Smith’s squad is fast developing a taste for tests.

Vista Staff Writer Ryan Costello can be reached at rcostello@uco360.com.

THUNDER LOSE GAME 5

OKLAHOMA CITY: 87 LOS ANGELES: 111 Top performers: OKC- S. Ibaka 12 Pts, 9 Reb, 1 Ast LA- P. Gasol 25 Pts, 11 Reb, 5 Ast, 1 Stl, 1 Blk

YOU JUST HAVE TO MAKE THEM INTO SANDWICHES FIRST.

((

(( 1900 E. 2ND ST. 405.715.3200

2801 E. MEMORIAL RD. 405.607.2200 FREAKY FAST DELIVERY! 3?2.8F 3.@A 1296C2?F Â&#x2022; % 76::F 7<5;´@ 3?.;056@2 990 .99 ?645A@ ?2@2?C21

The UCO chapter of Order of Omega congratulates the following graduates and thanks them for service to Central, Greek Life and their chapters: Daniel Stockton, Pi Kappa Alpha Deni Napier, Alpha Gamma Delta Laura Parsons, Alpha Xi Delta Levi Harrel, Tau Kappa Epsilon Lindsay Armstrong, Alpha Xi Delta Lindsey Hanna, Alpha Xi Delta Logan Pennington, Pi Kappa Alpha Mikey Shellabarger, Pi Kappa Alpha Monta Johnson, Alpha Xi Delta Tabitha Terrell, Alpha Kappa Alpha Tiffanee Cabrera, Alpha Xi Delta

12

SPORTS

APRIL 29, 2010

UCO Football

LOOKING SHARP The UCO football team finished up its spring practice with its annual Broncho Spring Game on Saturday.

The UCO defense (left) and UCO offense (right) line up on the ball in Saturday’s Spring Game.

Ethan Sharp, however, is looking forward to the opportunity in front of him. “Being behind Noohi [last year] really helped me out,” Sharp said. “I mean he was a senior, you know, definitely experienced. I just watched him, you know, learned from him and his mistakes. I’m definitely not there yet. I still have a long way to go, a lot of work to do. I’m going to do that over the summer.”

Sharp may very well be leading the Bronchos out of the locker room come opening day. If that is the case, Sharp doesn’t feel like he will have the jitters anymore as he played a few snaps last season.

“I definitely got the jitters out,” the sophomore field general said. “I mean the firsthand experience is still going to be big-time. That first game against Pitt State. Those few snaps I did take helped me see what it’s like to play in the college game.

“I’ve still got a long way to go, but I’ve also come a long way again.”

Some of the offensive playmakers from last season are gone. However, one young player set to break out is wide receiver Dolphin Davis. Sharp believes that he and fellow wide receiver, Daniel Morrell, will play well this year. His chemistry with Davis, however, is blooming.

“It’s really good actually,” Sharp said. “We throw after practice just about every week, once or twice a week. We’re pretty good friends. Pretty good team chemistry there.”

All in all, Holland is happy with the team’s performance over the course of the spring practices and at the scrimmage on Saturday.

“I think very highly overall,” Holland said.

“I mean it’s a very young football team, and so what you expect to see with young teams in the spring game is big plays on both sides of the ball. At the beginning, the offense kind of took control and was making plays. At the back half of the scrimmage, the defense got their rhythm a little bit.”

Holland says the team is still in the evaluating process. They are trying to see who the young players are that are going to step up and take leadership roles. After losing a big

senior class, it is imperative that players step up at crucial positions like quarterback, offensive line, defensive line and wide receiver.

However, Holland doesn’t think it will take long to get back into the hunt for the Lone Star Conference North Division title and the

Vista Sports Editor Chris Wescott can be reached at cwescott@uco360.com.

PHOTO BY GARETT FISBECK

The University of Central Oklahoma football team closed out its spring practice schedule with its annual spring game on Saturday.

It is an hourlong scrimmage meant to test and evaluate where players are at this point in the off-season. There are several UCO players who have helped themselves based on Saturday’s performances.

Josh Birmingham is one of them. He ran wild on the Broncho defense, busting off several long runs. The 5-foot-9, 190-pound running back says he sees his running style as a healthy mix. “[I’m a] scatback,” Josh said. “With a little bit of power.”

Josh is the younger brother of one of last year’s Broncho running backs, Ben Birmingham. When asked if he had big shoes to fill with the graduation of some pretty good running backs at the end of last season, Josh agreed it would be tough.

“I know there’s big shoes to fill. There was three good running backs last year. I’ve got to step my game up, work hard in the summer.

I’ve just got to fill these shoes.”

If his showing on Saturday is any indication of his future at Central Oklahoma, that future looks bright. Josh seemed to hit the holes his linemen made for him, with authority. More impressive was his break-away speed on his long runs. However, in an offensive scheme that sees the shot gun formation the majority of the time, Josh’s role may be limited to a short amount of carries, and more receiving than anything else. But Josh seems confident in his abilities there.

“I feel like I’ve got great hands.”

Another Broncho who has turned heads is on the defensive side of the ball. Tucker Cason has emerged as a leader with his play, but also vocally. Head coach Tracy Holland didn’t hesitate at all in mentioning Cason when asked about team leaders.

The Broncho linebacker talked very highly of his fellow defenders. “We are a young defense,” Cason said following Saturday’s scrimmage. “We only returned, I think, two starters the whole year. We came together as a group this spring. We really molded. So we’ve got eleven guys to the ball every snap. We’re the young guns out there.”

Cason believes that the UCO defense will make up for its lack of experience with flying to the ball and hustling. Cason believes there is talent on the squad.

“I always think we’re going to be one of the best [defenses] in the league.”

The one question every UCO Broncho football fan has been asking since last season is “Who is going to replace Brandon Noohi at quarterback?” Well, they’re going to be asking that question for a little while longer.

Holland says although sophomore Ethan Sharp has the upper hand, they will go into the summer and fall with an open mind and open competition. Although players like Cason have come out and said Ethan Sharp has grown leaps and bounds since last year, Landon Greve has put on a good performance as well. So the question of who is the starting quarterback of UCO may take up until the start of the season.

playoffs.

“We’re young, and it’s really going to see how fast these young guys come along. But, you know we’re not going to take a back door to anybody. I think we’ll step up there and make a good challenge of it this season.”

As for the national championship, Holland says they talk about it, and they play for it. He also says that in Division II football, it’s more open for the championship. So any team can step up and take it. Will that be the Bronchos?

Maybe not this year. But, if Holland keeps surrounding himself with the kind of talent he has been, it isn’t out of the picture for sometime in the future.

The Bronchos will report to UCO for the start of pre-season practice in August. The Bronchos will play six home games and five road games. That is a huge turnaround from the seven road games and four home games last year. Their first matchup is against Pittsburg State on Aug. 28.

PHOTO BY GARETT FISBECK

By Chris Wescott / Sports Editor

Broncho wide receiver, Dolphin Davis (9), prepares to run a route against a Broncho defender on Saturday.