Volume 115, Issue 4
the VISTA “Our Words, Your Voice.”
ucentralmedia.com vistanews1903 @thevista1903 @thevista1903 The Vista
Tuesday, September 12, 2017
UCO DREAMers’ Future Faith Kelly
@TheVista1903 Reporter
President Donald Trump's decision to end the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) caused a reaction from the University of Central Oklahoma's leaders; President Don Betz, Student Body President Stockton Duvall, and the Office of Diversity and Inclusion all released statements about the action. According to the University of California at Berkeley “The purpose of DACA is to protect eligible immigrant youth who came to the United States when they were children from See “DREAMers” continued on page 8.
Supporters of the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals, or DACA chant slogans and hold signs while joining a Labor Day rally in downtown Los Angeles on Monday, Sept. 4, 2017. (AP Photo/Richard Vogel)
Cigarette Tax Burns College Budgets Christian Tabak @TheVista1903 Reporter
State funding for higher education could be in for an additional three percent slash if state legislators decide to implement further budget cuts to state agencies in an attempt offset the loss of projected funds from the state’s failed cigarette fee. Last month the Oklahoma Supreme Court struck down the legislature’s $1.50 cigarette cessation fee as unconstitutional, dropping a projected $215 million from the Fiscal Year 2018 budget. In response to the loss in revenue, lawmakers began inquiries into the hypothetical impact of an additional 3.17 percent acrossthe-board cut to agency budgets to compensate for the loss in revenue. For the Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education, this would translate into the loss of $24.5 million in addition to the $36 million already cut as part of the FY 2018 budget allocations, according to Angela Caddell, the Regents’ Vice Chancellor for Communications. “Following the higher education budget reduction for FY 2018, a potential additional cut would result
in additional negative impacts to the state system of higher education, including the threatened continuation of tuition waiver programs such as concurrent enrollment, the Academic
Scholars program and the Regional Baccalaureate Scholarship,” said Caddell. The possibility for an additional reduction in funding comes as both
Oklahoma State Capitol in Oklahoma City, Okla. State Legislatures are considering taking higher education funds to offset the loss from the state’s failed cigarette tax. (Provided/ Wikimedia Commons).
the State Regents and the state’s institutions for higher education have been scrambling to adjust budgets to an overall decrease of 17.8 percent since FY 2012. “Our state system of higher education continues to implement significant cost cutting measures already, including sharing faculty and administrators between institutions, consolidation of back-office administrative functions, joint academic degree programs between institutions, travel reductions, early retirement options and consolidation of campus sites,” said Caddell. Other areas impacted by the cuts could include course offerings for the Spring 2018 semester, degree completion initiatives, institutional accreditations and the ability for institutions to match research and grant funding opportunities from federal programs such as National Science Foundation or NASA, according to Caddell.
See “Budget Cuts ” continued on page 9.
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September 12, 2017
the
VISTA
CONTENTS
Contents
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Student Congress Discusses Issue...........................................3 Around Campus / Edmond Stories......................................4-5 Edmond Crime / Daca / Hurricane Irma................................6 Continued From Page 1.....................................................8-9 Humor Column..................................................................11
The Vista is published weekly during the spring, summer, and fall semesters. In all issues, The Vista has opportunities for both classified, online and print ads. Email your questions to: ucovista.advertising@gmail.com
Bronchos Fall / First Line of Defense....................................12-13 Volleyball / Tennis..........................................................14-15
STAFF
Peter Agnitsch Elizabeth Spence Austin Moseley Cara Johnson Megan Thele Nate Baldwin Kateleigh Mills Dylan Brown Michelle Pennza Ryan Naeve Hayden Barzditis Teddy Burch
The Vista is published as a newspaper and public forum by UCO students, weekly during the academic year, at the University of Central Oklahoma. The issue price is free for the first copy and $1 for each additional copy obtained.
Editor-in-Chief Managing Editor Sports Editor Photo Editor Reporter Reporter Online Editor Humor Columnist Graphic Design Photographer Photographer Advisor
EDITORIALS Opinion columns, editorial cartoons, reviews and commentaries represent the views of the writer or artist and not necessarily the views of The Vista Editorial Board, the Department of Mass Communication, UCO or the Board of Regents of Oklahoma Colleges. The Vista is not an official medium of expression for the Regents or UCO. LETTERS The Vista encourages letters to the editor. Letters should address issues and ideas, not personalities. Letters must be typed, double-spaced, and must include the author’s printed name, major, classification and phone number. Phone numbers are included for contacting purposes only. Letters are subject to editing for libel, clarity and space, or to eliminate statements of questionable taste. The Vista reserves the right not to publish submitted letters. ADDRESS LETTERS TO: Editor, The Vista, 100 N. University Dr., Edmond, OK 73034-5209, or deliver in person to the editor in the Communications Building, Room 131. Letters can be emailed to thevista1903@gmail.com.
UCO
September 12, 2017
3
Student Congress Discusses Issues Kateleigh Mills @kateleighsuz Online Editor
Congressional members from the UCO Student Association held a weekly congressional meeting, welcoming students and faculty from organizations like the Hispanic American Student Association and Veteran Student Support to discuss issues on campus. HASA member Thalia Rodriguez addressed student congress during the special orders section of the meeting. Rodriguez asked UCOSA members what their plans were to help the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrival students on campus, praising UCOSA President Stockton Duvall for his statement on DACA rescission. In the statement, released on the UCOSA twitter page on Sept. 5, Duvall said people need to remember the children who came here had no choice but to follow their parent or guardian into a new place. The statement appealed to support the students, families and community members who could be affected by the DACA decision. "There is no easy way of leaving your home country," Rodriguez said. "These people are doing it because they feel like they do not have any other choice." Rodriguez called out to UCOSA congress members to not forget the people affected by the DACA rescission. HASA will be hosting a rally on Sept. 13 at 10 a.m. at Broncho Lake under the blue tent. The rally is expected to have several speakers such as Mark Kinders, UCO vice president of Public Affairs, HASA President Salvador Arcivar, DACA student Luis Frias and Angelica Villalobos, director of Advocacy and Outreach for Dream Act of Oklahoma. Other events HASA is planning to host includes an immigration forum to understand what DACA is on Sept. 19 at 1 p.m. and a DACA open-mic night to hear firsthand stories about how the DACA rescission affects them on Oct. 2. at 1 p.m. The locations for both of these events are still to be
UCOSA Congress member and Chair Remington Dean responds to questions and concerns from students during the Monday, Sept. 11, 2017 Congressional meeting in the Heritage Room of the Nigh University Center on campus. (Cara Johnson/ the Vista).
determined. "Please keep it on your mind," Rodriguez said. Brad Ward, VetHERO coordinator for the Veteran Student Support staff, spoke at the meeting to address some of the projects for veterans. Ward said the staff is wanting to have priority enrollment for veterans and a room dedication in Old North for UCO alumni Lt. Col. Oren Lee Peters. UCO is one of the only campuses that does not have a memorial on campus to pay tribute to service members. Veteran enrollment saw an increase from last year to a total of 1,056 student who use the GI bill. "By making these initiatives happen, we can set ourselves apart from other high education, not only in the state, but nationally," Ward said. Towards the end of the meeting during the student concerns portion, Student for Alliance and Equality President Rachel Watson and Gabi Glidewell, representing the Women's Outreach Center and LGBTQ+ on Campus, expressed their concerns about DACA students on campus and how UCOSA was going to help them.
UCOSA advisor Cole Stanley addressed their concerns saying student congress could bring in individuals from different departments and organizations on cam-
pus, like Legal Services and the Office of Diversity and Inclusion, into meetings to help address any concerns DACA students may have.
Rachel Watson, President of UCO’s Student Alliance for Equality, stands and speaks to UCOSA’s Congress during the Monday, Sept. 11, 2017 Congress meeting. Watson expressed concerns and questions regarding President Trump’s recent DACA decision and how it effects UCO students. (Cara Johnson/ The Vista).
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September 12, 2017
Tuesday, Sept. 12, 2017
Around the Campus
Wednesday, Sept. 13, 2017
Thursday, Sept. 14, 2017
Lessons in Leadership-Raul Font: Latino Community Development Agency: This
HASA Rally on DACA: Members from the Hispanic American Student Association will host a rally at 10 a.m. at Broncho Lake for the UCO community to discuss the recent DACA rescission. The rally will include speakers such as Dr. Mark Kinders from Public Affairs, a DACA student and HASA President Salvador Arcivar.
Life Skills Around Eating: At 10:30 p.m.
in Nigh University Center Room 402, the Center for Counseling and Well-Being will be holding a free and confidential support group for those who suffer from eating disorders and symptoms that suggest eating disorders.
Brandi Downham: Restructuring Vulnerability: Downham opens her solo exhibit at the
LeaderShape Day 7: Life After College:
Gender and Sexuality in the Latinx Community: A discussion over gender and sexuality
speaker series features outstanding metro, state, national and global leaders from a different backgrounds once a week. The presentation is open to the entire UCO community on Tuesday, Sep. 12, 2017 from 9:30 a.m. -10:30 a.m.
Melton Gallery on UCO’s campus Tuesday, Sep. 12, 2017 from 10:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.
Homecoming Announcement Table: At
11 a.m. in the Nigh University Center, homecoming members from Campus Activities will set up tables to pass out information about Homecoming dates and events.
Flash Mob Meditation: At 1:15 in the Wellness Center’s Quad Fitness Room, representatives from the Center for Counseling and Well-Being will offer meditation, tai chi, yoga and relaxation. UCO counselor Jeff Jones will lead the group every Tuesday. BSA General Body Meeting: At 5 p.m. in
the Nigh University Center’s Room 421 (Will Rogers Room) the Black Student Association will hold a general body meeting.
In it to Win it: Financial Literacy Mixer:
At 5:30 in the Radke Theatre, members from the Black Student Association will team up with True Sky Credit Union to educate students about financial literacy. This event is STLR-tagged by the Health and Wellness tenet. For more information contact event host, Kellie Robertson at krobertson9@uco.edu.
“Queer Careers” Panel: There will be panel presentation and discussion for “Queer Careers” at 7 p.m. in the Nigh University Center’s Room 326 (Heritage Room). Email Student Alliance for Equality (SAFE) faculty adviser J. David Macey, Ph.D., or call 405-974-5922 for more information. Advocates for Children and Families at UCO Meeting: At 7 p.m. in the Human Envi-
ronmental Science Building’s Living Room, the Advocates for Children and Families at UCO will have their first meeting of the semester. The Oklahoma Association for the Education of Young Children will be at the event and hosting an ice cream social.
Members from Campus Activities will meet in the Nigh University Center’s Room 304 (Mary Fallin Room) at 11 a.m. to discuss and invite speakers to address the topic of life after college. The event is only for people who have attended LeaderShape.
Hispanic Heritage Month Kickoff: The Office of Diversity and Inclusion will host a kickoff for Hispanic Heritage Month in the Nigh University Center’s Ballroom C at noon. The event will have keynote speaker Guillermo Morales, a structural analysis engineer for Boeing and a first generation college student. The event is STLRtagged with the Global and Cultural Competency tenet. Sex in the Dark: At 1 p.m. or 6 p.m. in the Nigh University Center’s Constitution Hall, members from Student Alliance for Equality and The Center for Women’s Research Center and BGLTQ+ Student Center will host Sex in the Dark. The UCO community is invited to submit anonymous sex questions to have them answered by a panel of professionals. Dear (insert race here) People: BSA x Debate OKC: At 6:30 p.m. in the Nigh Uni-
versity Center, members from the Black Student Association us partnering with Debate OKC to host an event to discuss cultural, political and social issues.
in the Latinx community on Thursday, Sep. 14, 2017 at 12:30 p.m.-1:30 p.m. in the Heritage Room, NUC 326.
SPB Game Day on Game Day: A student event to make posters for the upcoming athletic events. Game Day on Game Day will be Thursday, Sep. 14, 2017 at 11:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m. at the Southside Business Lawn UCO Volleyball: The Bronchos play South-
eastern Oklahoma State at 1:00 p.m. and also play Southwestern Oklahoma State at 6:00 p.m. at Hamilton Field House.
Friday, Sept. 15, 2017 UCO Soccer: The Bronchos face Northeastern State at 4 p.m. Friday, Sep. 15, 2017 at Tom Thompson Field.
Saturday, Sept. 16, 2017 UCO Football: The Bronchos face #21 Fort Hays State football team Saturday, Sep. 16, 2017 at 7 p.m. in Wantland Stadium.
Edmond
September 12, 2017
5
Citizens Bank of Edmond Hosts: Heard on Hurd Vy Luong
@vy169 Participation Reporter
Citizens Bank of Edmond will host Heard on Hurd every third Saturday from March through October from 6 p.m. to 10 p.m. in downtown Edmond, on the corner of Hurd and Broadway. Heard on Hurd is a family-friendly street festival with live music, various shopping options, and local foods. The remaining dates for Heard on Hurd in 2017 are Sept. 16 and Oct. 21. This monthly activity is welcoming of families, friends, and animals. “This is a great way to get away from the stresses of school without going too far and I really love seeing all the cute little dogs walking around,” said University of Central Oklahoma student, Sydney Nixon. Festival goers can expect a bountiful amount of food trucks lined up and ready to serve the
community with what they have on their menu. There are about 30 food trucks and 30 vendors expected to make an appearance. For those wishing to be a vendor at Heard on Hurd or interested in having their band play during the festivities, application information can be found on the Citizens Bank
of Edmond website. Applications are due the last day of the month before the desired date of being a vendor. Organizations at UCO may also send in applications on the website to be a vendor to inform attendees about their events and endeavors.
Attendees of Heard on Hurd stand in line at Snow X Smore on Sept. 19, 2015 in downtown Edmond. (Provided/ Vista Archives).
Alcoholic beverages are sold at the festival from establishments that specialize in locally brewed low pint beer. There are designated drinking spots located around the festival grounds. It is suggested that festival goers support the local brewery vendors rather than bringing a cooler to the festival. Each month at Heard on Hurd, Citizens Bank of Edmond is featuring one nonprofit organization. Application information can be found on their website. Parking in any unused lots near the festival is acceptable, but it is requested that citizens please be mindful of the space of those living near the festival grounds and respect them by not parking on their lawns. The official hashtag for Heard on Hurd is #JoinTheHurd. Be sure to use this hashtag when posting any pictures or other posts on social media sites. Heard on Hurd can be followed on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook.
Edmond Ready For Harvest Mackensie Ferguson @TheVista1903 Reporter
The Edmond Farmer’s Market offers people the opportunity to purchase locally grown and manufactured products at prices comparable to grocery stores. Each Wednesday and Saturday, vendors come to have a more personal experience with customers. “It’s a social environment,” said Diane Self, the Edmond parks and recreation manager. “You get to go out and see the same faces. You get to meet people; you build relationships with these people and you want to see them every week. It’s just a great place to go out and be seen and meet people.” The Farmer’s Market runs from mid-April through the end of October, every Wednesday and Saturday from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. The Wednesday markets are at Mitch Park and the Saturday markets are held in downtown Edmond at 26 W 1st St. “We are Oklahoma grown and Oklahoma manufactured now. It’s been our first year to be all OK,” remarked Self.
A patron of the Edmond Farmer’s Market hosted at Mitch Park on Sept. 6, 2017 purchases fresh produce from one of the vendors. Several farmer’s markets take place around Edmond, providing the city with fresh and local food. (Mackensie Ferguson/ The
She explained that the Edmond Farmer’s Market recently transitioned from selling some resale produce from Texas to selling all Oklahoma grown and produced food. Attendees can find kitchen staples, such as seasonal produce, eggs, milk and meat, but they can also find specialty products, such as barbeque sauce, salsa, pasta, pizza dough, jams, cheese and wine. “We went from some of the bigger displays, where they weren’t necessarily growing, to some smaller vendors and smaller farms,” explained Self. “Those are the ones where they’re growing
themselves and it’s really nice to meet the growers and learn their stories.” One of these smaller vendors is Wayne Whitmore, owner of Whitmore Farms in Coyle, Oklahoma. Whitmore Farms has been selling at the Edmond Farmer’s Market for ten years, one of the longest running vendors at this market. “Interacting with the consumer, that’s what I like best about it,” Whitmore revealed. “I have customers that have been customers for ten years.”
Selling at the farmer’s market allows vendors like Whitmore to develop personal relationships with their consumers. Through this interaction, customers can see where their food is coming from and find healthy, good quality products at prices that are comparable to prices at the grocery store. For more information, visit the Edmond Farmer’s Market Facebook page or the City of Edmond’s website.
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September 12, 2017
UCO/Feature
Larceny: Most Common Crime in the Nation Alejandro Gonzalez @A_Gonzalez_17 Participation Reporter
The University of Central Oklahoma is ranked the ninth safest campus in America according to data by the FBI’s Uniform Crime Report (UCR) and the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) published by Alarms.org. The University of Central Oklahoma and the City of Edmond's crime rate when compared to their population is low. UCO Chief of Police, Jeff Harp said, "Edmond is a safe community for its population and UCO is safe community for its population." Crime at UCO will increase when students return for classes in the Spring and the Fall. The Daily Crime Log for UCO shows data in 2016 that suggests June, July, and December are the times of year with the lowest crime rate on campus. According to the Daily Crime Log, a total of four larcenies have been reported to the UCO Police Department during the month of August 2017. Larceny is the most common crime
parking as close as you can to buildings, locking your vehicles and being responsible of all personal items. They have never been a victim of larceny. "I feel secure here, I have never had anything stolen from me," said Hewes.
nation-wide and is defined as the unlawful taking of property from another person with the intent to deprive them of it permanently. Robbery, different than larceny, is the unlawful taking of property using force or fear. Larceny usually takes place when something is stolen while the owner is not present. “Larceny is a crime of opportunity,” said UCO Chief of Police, Jeff Harp. “In many cases, larcenies are preventable by simply eliminating the opportunity.” Harp suggests that students avoid leaving their items unattended in the library or in any classroom. Putting things of value in the trunk, rolling vehicle windows up, keep dorms and apartments locked and overall being aware of their surroundings. Items that are commonly targeted include electronics and textbooks, valuing several hundred dollars. "I feel like people are going to steal property with no supervision." said UCO Senior, Kent Schmieder. "People don't plan it, it is a crime of opportunity." Mathew Hewes, another UCO Senior and Schmieder recommend
As a final tip, Harp said, “Take care of yourself and look out for your friends and others we can continue to keep our campus as one of the safest in the country.”
While UCO is ranked the ninth safest campus in the nation, UCOPD still suggests students be aware of the dangers of larceny, among other crimes. (Provided/ Pixabay.com).
rush to my first job at Mercy, work through the afternoon, and when I get off work there, I go to my second job," said Frias. "Whenever I have a bit of extra time, I work outside scrubbing concrete as job number three.” “I started at UCO in 2013 and I knew from the beginning that I would have to work my way through college,” said Frias. “Although it has been incredibly difficult having to juggle school and work, I have
been lucky enough to receive Dean’s Honor Roll and am a part of multiple honor societies.” At one point, he decided to take a break from school so that he could earn more to pay for the following semester. “Things just started getting a little tighter,” said Frias. “I wasn’t able to focus on school as much because I was having to work so much. Of course, after that I had to take more
DACA Ends Hope Begins Dylan Brown @vista1903 Reporter
University of Central Oklahoma senior Louis Frias was a member of the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program as a child and wants others to know what DACA has allowed him to achieve. “It’s been a really long road and a demanding road,” said Frias. “And this negative stigma that has been tagged to immigrants in general; we are people that can contribute to this society and we deserve a shot at the American dream.” The ending of DACA is expected to affect 800,000 members, UCO is home to many students who were signed up at a very young age. “The purpose of my story is so that it will make the situation a bit more personal for people,” said Frias. “And that people will see that we are not just statistics, that there are many more like me.” Frias currently works three different jobs while enrolled at UCO as a bio-medical sciences student, a field he believes to be something that he can do to help others. “I go to school in the morning,
Louis Frias kneels with his dog. The UCO senior was a member of DACA in the United States, which he attributes partly to his success(Provided/ Louis Frias).
jobs, so I started to work at a homecare business and do a lot of house cleaning work for them." Frias was born in Chihuahua, Mexico, when he was four-years-old, his family moved to Texas for a better life. “It’s just me, my brother, and my two parents,” said Frias. “It’s pretty hard to think that my parents gave up so much for my brother and I. We decided to move to Oklahoma because we weren’t really comfortable in Texas, the area we were living was a really rough area.” DACA was passed just before Frias graduated from Deer Creek High School. This gave him the opportunity to apply to UCO, but was ineligible for federal financial aid. “I had no hope of attending college before DACA because of the outof-state tuition,” said Frias. “I am graduating in December and I love the career that I’m getting into.” Frias wants others to know that there are a lot of people who care about those who are affected. “There are a lot of great people out there who are behind us and support us, said Frias. “I think people should be at ease as far as the situation.”
Photo Story
September 12, 2017
7
Hurricane Irma Hits Florida
Left: In this geocolor image GOES-16 satellite image taken Friday, Sep. 8, 2017, at 10:45 UTC, Hurricane Irma, center, approaches Cuba and Florida, with Hurricane Katia, left, in the Gulf of Mexico, and Hurricane Jose, right, in the Atlantic Ocean. Cuba evacuated tourists from beachside resorts and Floridians emptied stores of plywood and bottled water after Hurricane Irma left at least 20 people dead and thousands homeless on a devastated string of Caribbean islands and spun toward Florida for what could be a catastrophic blow this weekend. (NOAA via AP)
Above: Energy Secretary Rick Perry, right, Homeland Security Acting Secretary Elaine Duke, second from right, and Federal Emergency Management Agency Administrator Brock Long, third from left, listen during a briefing on the response to Hurricane Irma, at FEMA headquarters in Washington, Sunday, Sept. 10, 2017. (AP Photo/Susan Walsh)
Above: A sinking boat is surrounded by debris in the aftermath of Hurricane Irma at Sundance Marine in Palm Shores, Fla., Monday, Sept. 11, 2017 (Red Huber/Orlando Sentinel via AP) Left: Boats are partially submerged in the wake of Hurricane Irma, Monday, Sept. 11, 2017, in Key Largo, Fla. (AP Photo/Wilfredo Lee)
A Chevrolet Bel Air classic car sits under a fallen palm tree from Hurricane Irma in Marco Island, Fla., Monday, Sept. 11, 2017. (AP Photo/David Goldman)
Firefighters check on Kelly McClenthen, who returned to check on the damage to her flooded home, in the aftermath of Hurricane Irma in Bonita Springs, Fla., Monday, Sept. 11, 2017. (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert)
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September 12, 2017
DACA
UCO DREAMers’ Future
Continued From Page 1,
deportation. DACA gives young undocumented immigrants protection from deportation, and a work permit. The program expires after two years, subject to renewal,” as described DACA on their website. This program began in 2012 by the Obama Administration. In a press conference held by the Department of Justice Sept. 5, Attorney General Jeff Sessions announced the end of DACA. “Societies where the rule of law is subject to political whims and personal biases tend to become societies afflicted by corruption, poverty, and human suffering," said Sessions. "To have a lawful system of immigration that serves the national interest, we cannot admit everyone who would like to come here." According to Sessions, “The compassionate thing is to end the lawlessness, enforce our laws, and, if Congress chooses to make changes to those laws, to do so through the process set forth by our Founders in a way that advances the interest of the nation.” According to the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, about 1.4 million requests for DACA have been accepted since its beginning. Nora Contreras is the Project Director of Latino Americans Motivating, Educating, and Transforming America. This is a Student Support Services project at UCO that assists students who come from predominately non-English speaking households. “I think that there is a misconception in the general population regarding what rights a DACA student has. DACA students are people who can come to school, however they don’t receive any federal aid. They’re paying their tuition out of pocket, and many times are paying out of state tuition,” Contreras said. Another term for DACA students are “DREAMers,” which stems from the Dream Act. It stands for Development, Relief, and Education for Alien Minors. According to the American Immigration Council, the Dream Act is a pathway to legal status for undocumented youth who came to this country as children. “Their dream is to be like everyone else; to work, go to school and do things we take for granted,” Contreras said. Contreras also works with other organizations on campus. “There are so many groups and organizations at UCO that support our
Supporters of Deferred Action for Childhood Arrival program (DACA) demonstrate on Pennsylvania Avenue in front of the White House in Washington, Saturday, Sept. 9, 2017. President Donald Trump ordered and end of protections for young immigrants who were brought into the country illegally as children, but gave Congress six months to act on it. (AP Photo/Pablo Martinez Monsivais) students, especially in this situation. We are here for support, and to offer them a person to talk to and a place to feel safe," Contreras said. "We want to help them reach their goals to graduate so they can be individuals who serve and give back to the community.” Salvador Arcivar is the president of the Hispanic American Student Association at UCO. The HASA organization has been arranging events around campus specifically centered around DACA. The first event was a vigil held Sunday by El Camino OKC, at the state capitol. This organization focusses on supporting immigrants throughout the city. The vigil will be a time to reflect about the changes happening. The second event is the DACA Solidarity Rally under the Blue Tent in front of Broncho Lake at 10:30 am Wednesday, Sept. 13. Students can join here to support DACA. Following the Rally Wednesday is the Hispanic heritage month kickoff, 12-1:30 pm, in Ballroom C of the Nigh University Center. “We’re basically kicking off the month through a series of events. Keynote speaker Guillermo Morales is an engineer at BOING, first generation Mexican-American, and comes from an immigrant family. He’ll be talking about the challenges he faces and has faced,” said Arcivar.
The fourth event is the Immigration Education Forum. This event will explain and educate people about what DACA is. It will be September 19, 12:30-1:30 pm, and the location is to be announced. Lastly, there will be the Dreamers Open Mic. The tentative date is October 2, 1:30-2:30 in The Will Rogers Room of the Nigh University Center. This will be like an open mic, poetry reading where people can come and have an open discussion about DACA. “The idea behind these events is to keep the discussion going about what DACA is," said Arcivar. "We hope to educate people about DACA, and we hope they will see how important this issue is." UCO President Don Betz released a statement Wednesday about the ending of DACA. “We find this decision to be illthought and contrary to our nation’s revered values that provides unlimited opportunities to achieve the American Dream. It is a decision that we will vigorously address through the legislative process,” said Betz. “The focus of our energies now shifts to the Congress and our elected representatives. We will work to influence a bipartisan solution. This is a moment for us to be fully engaged citizens in connecting with our elected officials both in Oklahoma and the Congress to seek a fair,
compassionate outcome.” Betz said whether through a call or email, direct contact is important. “Representatives need to hear from people. It’s something the people will have to repeat. Students and staff must become very active citizens, understanding the importance of making direct contact through their representatives. Congress is empowered by the public. In many ways, their direction needs to come from what their constituents are doing and thinking,” said Betz. “I believe this is a unique opportunity for all students concerned to use their civic power and rights to engage themselves.” Oklahoma Congressman Steve Russel released a statement Thursday regarding his position toward DACA. “The President is correct in stating that the solution to DACA lies with Congress. Now we have a deadline. I personally cannot see a construct where we would or should want to deport these individuals. I think we must address a way to provide a permanent residency status which would then place the prospects of earning citizenship upon the individual. They had no choice on being here when they came here as children through the actions of others. A residency would give them a way to abide by our laws and then whether or not they would eventually become citizens would be on their own merits.”
Feature
September 12, 2017
9
Cigarette Tax Burns College Budgets Continued from Page 1,
Along with impacting the budget for statewide programs and initiatives, the 3.17 cut would also be reflected in the budget of each of the state’s public colleges and universities. For the University of Central Oklahoma, which already has the lowest taxpayer contribution rate per student out of Oklahoma’s 13 public universities, the full extent of a potential additional cut will remain unclear until after legislators meet to discuss the issue, according to UCO President, Don Betz. “We’ve studied our scenarios in advance and we know where we would make changes, but we still don’t know the extent of those changes should they come. It’s really up to the legislature whether or not they will increase revenue or cut agencies across-the-board,” said Betz. In response to the failure of the cigarette tax, Gov. Mary Fallin announced that the legislature would convene for a special session on Sep. 25, to address the resulting shortfall for the Department of Human
Old North at the University of Central Oklahoma. (Provided/ Vista Archives).
Services, the Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services and the Oklahoma Health Care Authority, “A special session is the best option,” said Fallin. “Failure to meet in special session would mean $215 mil-
lion would be cut mostly from these three state agencies. These agencies and the people they serve cannot sustain the kind of cuts that will occur if we do not find a solution.” Without legislative intervention, Fallin said that DMHSAS would run out
of state appropriations in November, OHCA would run out of state funds in January and DHS would run out of state funds in May.
Humor Column
September 12, 2017
Big Truck Equals Big Personality
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Warning: This is a Fictional Column Intended for Satire Psychologists at the Edmond Ivy League College University (EILCU) have been conducting a test in morality by studying whether a person with a bigger truck actually has a bigger personality. Carl Stevenson has been an owner of a lifted Ford F-150, a truck that he considers to be his “big ol’ honkin angel from heaven” EILCU psychologists chose Carl for the study. “For many years we have heard that those who own bigger trucks actually sustain a bigger personality, we wanted to use science to prove this theory,” said Austin Farraday, scientist and psychologist at EILCU. “Carl’s ‘big ol’ honkin’ angel from heaven’ was the perfect vehicle to test this theory; Carl might not have been.” Carl wakes up every day at 4 a.m. and revs up his engine, waking up the entire neighborhood in the process. “I don’t think I wake up the whole neighborhood,” said Carl. “My nextdoor neighbor loves my truck and that’s a fact that I know for sure.” “I hate his stupid truck,” said Carl’s next-door neighbor. “I have triplets who are three-weeks old, his truck wakes them up. I hate him and I hate his truck.” Farraday began the study by measuring how many people smiled
Some truck enthusiasts put lifts and other “rigs” on their trucks to make them bigger and badder. (Provided/ Pixabay.com).
when they drove past them in Carl’s truck. “We drove by a golf course, a church after Sunday worship, and one funeral,” said Farraday. “Surprisingly, nobody was smiling. We even shouted ‘hey, what do you think about this truck? Pretty nice, right? What about the driver?’ People became more frustrated after that for some reason, especially at the funeral.” The scientists at EICLU made
sure to record every moment of the experiment, one scientist; George Spitzman was skeptical of the film. “Farraday seemed to have put the Go-Pro helmet on backwards,” said Spitzman. “So, we see nobody’s face in any of the film. It is basically the headrest of the seat in the truck the entire time and the truck was so loud, there’s no sound at all; kind of useless.” Without proper evidence, the experiment to see if ‘having a bigger
A popular addition to diesel trucks are exhaust pipes located in the bed of the truck. This spews the exhaust directly into the air, rather than horizontally into the atmosphere. (Provided/ Pixabay.com).
truck means having a bigger personality’ is all based on Carl and Farraday’s opinions. Science. “Ever since I got my ‘big ol’ honkin’ angel from heaven,’ people have been treating me with respect,” said Carl. “On the road, I seem to just glide along, I don’t have any problems with traffic.” Looking deeper into police reports, it seems that Carl has driven multiple cars off the road and never seems to notice. “He ran over my mini-van last week,” said Carl’s next-door neighbor. “He just hung out the window and asked me where my van was. I hate him and I hate his stupid truck.” “Based on our experiment, it seems that if you have a bigger truck then you really do have a bigger personality,” said Farraday. “But bigger isn’t always better. While riding in the truck was a fantastic experience, it seemed that everyone outside of the truck was having a horrible experience.” Carl continues to brag to all of his neighbors about how big and beautiful his truck is, yet nobody seems to agree with him. “He has a bumper sticker on the back of his truck that says, ‘thought my truck was dirty till I met your girlfriend’,” said Carl’s next-door neighbor. “His personality is dumb, we are moving tomorrow.”
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September 12, 2017
Sports
SPORTS
Bronchos Fall In Pitt State
UCO wide receiver J.T. Luper, 2, runs the ball, avoiding Pitt State safety Creighton Sanders, 20, during the Saturday, Sept. 9, 2017. (Provided/ Carla Wehmeyer, Pitt State Athletic Photographer)
Jonathan Goudeau @Goudeau_jdg Sports Reporter
The University of Central Oklahoma's football team had a late game comeback fall short as the Bronchos lost to Pittsburg State 31-28 on the road. "We fought well, but they made the right adjustments and were better tonight," Head Coach Nick Bobeck said. "I'm proud of the way the guys fought late, they never gave up. We had to overcome some things and they kept fighting." The Bronchos did not get off to a strong start surrendering a touchdown after just three minutes. UCO's first drive was aided by a couple of 15-yard penalties from Pitt State and a 35-yard kick return by wide receiver J.T. Luper. Running back Clay McKenzie finished off the drive on a
1-yard touchdown run. Following a Broncho stop, quarterback Chas Stallard and the offense took over at their own 5-yard line. The offense marched down the field on an 11-play drive that was finished by Stallard's 1-yard touchdown run to take a 14-7 lead. Pitt State went on a 10-0 run and took a 17-14 lead into the half. The Bronchos started the second half with a 6-yard touchdown grab from wide receiver Josh Crockett, as the Bronchos took a 21-17 lead. However, Pitt State responded with a 14-0 scoring run on a 60-yard touchdown run and then a blocked punt return for a touchdown to take a 31-21 lead in the fourth quarter. The Bronchos would not go away as Stallard connected with Luper for an 86-yard touchdown with 2:39 left in the game to cut the Pitt State lead to
31-28. Pitt State recovered the onside kick and was able to run out securing a 31-28 win over the Bronchos. Safety Riley Galyon led the Bronchos with 14-tackles and linebackers Johnny Harris and Colton Lindsey registered 12 and 8-tackles. "The effort was good," Bobeck said. "The defense played really well. I was happy with that. They made a couple of turnovers and had the big play on special teams, but defensively, we did well." On the offensive end, Jake Gandara led UCO in rushing with 45-yards on 5-carries and Luper finished the day with 7-catches for 170 yards and one touchdown "That's part of who he (Luper) is," Bobeck said. "We have to get the ball in his hands because he can do that. We missed on a few of those big plays so I'm glad we got that one."
Stallard continued his pursuit of the school record for all-time total offense as his 282 total yards on the day puts him at 6,243 career total yard of offense, 36 yards away from T.J. Eckert's record. The Bronchos look to get back on track this Saturday as they host Fort Hays State at 7 p.m. at Wantland Stadium.
“We fought well, but they made the right adjustments and were better tonight,� said Head Coach Nick Bobeck
Sports
September 12, 2017
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First Line of Defense Jonathan Goudeau @Goudeau_jdg Sports Reporter
With football season underway, University of Central Oklahoma defensive tackle Carson Smith is ready for the year at hand. "Every freshman needs somebody to be there for them," Smith said. "Most of them are in culture shock right now and I want to be there to support them and let them know that they are alright." Smith said he knows that first hand, having played as a true freshman after an All-State senior season at Blanchard High School. In his senior season for Blanchard, Smith played in all 12 games, where he had 26 tackles, including five for loss and half a sack. "It was truly a blessing," Smith said about playing as a true freshman. "I was fortunate enough to have people in front of me who mentored me and put the work in the weight room. Not many people get to say that they did that." Last year for the Bronchos, Smith played in all 11 games, recorded 37 tackles, two sacks and had a team leading seven tackles for loss en route to earning Honorable Mention All-MIAA. The kinesiology major and two-time state powerlifting champion said he has even bigger
UCO defensive tackle Carson Smith, 51, takes down quarterback Najee Jackson, 12, from the Lindenwood Lions during the game on Aug. 31, 2017 at Wantland Stadium in Edmond, Okla. (Provided/ UCO Photo Services)
goals for himself this season. "Last year I got honorable mention and this year I want to make an all-conference team," Smith said. UCO Head Coach Nick Bobeck had some high praise for the defensive lineman and said he thinks Smith is
one of their best players. "Carson is probably one of the best defensive tackles in our conference, if not in all of division two football," Bobeck said. "He's a really good football player." Smith leads a very young de-
fensive tackle position and said he knows that it is part of his job to help bring them along. "We've got a lot of young guys on the defensive line and I need to help mentor them and help them become the players that they need to be," Smith said. Smith wants to make sure that he is doing his part and make sure that he, along with the rest of the Bronchos, give it their all each and every game as they look to rebound from last year's 3-8 record. "For me, playing as hard as I can is something that I can say I didn't do last season," Smith said. "We're held to a high standard and if we meet that standard then I think the team will be different and successful." Smith was part of the Bronchos Live United Texarkana Bowl team that beat Southwestern Oklahoma in 2015 and said he would like nothing more to help lead the Bronchos back to post season play. "Making the playoffs or a bowl is everybody's goal," Smith said. "But winning one is fun and something that I will never forget."
UCO’s Carson Smith, 51, celebrates after a play during the Aug. 31, 2017 game at Wantland Stadium in Edmond, Okla. (Provided/ UCO Photo Services)
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Sports
September 12, 2017
Bronchos Sweep Steel and Silver Classic Kurtis Johnson
@thevista1903 Contributing Reporter
The University of Central Oklahoma Volleyball Team wrapped up a perfect 4-0 weekend Saturday without dropping a set in the 2017 Steel and Silver Classic in Colorado Springs, Colorado. The Bronchos defeated the University of Colorado-Colorado Springs and the Colorado School of Mines on Friday, before beating Colorado State Pueblo and Newman on Saturday. In their morning match on Friday, UCO defeated the UCCS Lions in three straight sets. In the first set, the Bronchos defeated the Lions 25-21, then 25-18 in the second set, and in the third and final set, won 25-23. UCO completed 42-kills out of their 108 total attempts in the game, for a .250 hitting percentage, while also limiting themselves to only 15 errors. Taylor Bevis, Allie Davis and Jordan Spence helped the Bronchos cruise to victory. Bevis hammered 17-kills and added 7-digs, while Davis and Spence each contributed 8-kills. The afternoon match saw the Bronchos defeat the Colorado School of Mines. In the first set, the Bronchos won 25-21, then followed with 25-22 in the second set, and finished the match with a 25-18 win. They were successful on 44-kills on 105-attempts for a .295 hitting percentage while committing 13-errors. Bevis contributed 16 kills while Spence, Davis, and Malia Kaaiahelo added six kills. On Saturday morning, the Bronchos defeated CSU Pueblo with 25-22 in the first match, followed by 25-19 in the second, and ended with 25-20 in the last set. The Bronchos had raised their hitting percentage from the previous game to .327 and again limited their errors to 10. Bevis contributed 16 kills and 9 digs to the win with Karyn Chrismas also providing nine kills. The Bronchos were also able to get freshman Ericka Scholl playing time at setter and she was able to contribute 17 assists after starter McKenzie Fyfe had provided 21 assists to go along with seven digs. The final game of their tournament on Saturday afternoon saw the Bronchos beat Newman in three sets, winning 25-21 in both the first and second sets, and 25-17 in the final set. They struggled, having only 35-kills and a hitting percentage of .190, but were able to close it out in
UCO Volleyball Team breaks before a match on Sept. 5, 2017. (Provided/ UCO Photo Services). three sets. All-American, Bevis, once again provided an all-round performance with 11-kills, 3-blocks and 3-aces to
go along with 11-digs. With the four wins the volleyball team improves their record to 8-1. They play their first home matches
next week when they host the MIAA/ GAC crossover at Hamilton Field House on September 14 and 15.
Middle blocker Malia Kaaiohelo returns the ball over the net during a match on Sept. 5, 2017. (Provided/ UCO Photo Services).
Sports
September 12, 2017
15
UCO Tennis Ready to Make a Racket Ryan Jackson
@thevista1903 Contributing Reporter
The University of Central Oklahoma tennis team begins their season this Friday as they play in the Oral Roberts Invitational tournament and will face off against ORU, Northeastern State and Tarleton State. Second year Head Coach Jaron Maestas said that the level of competition will help him see where his team is at in the beginning of the year. The Lady Bronchos have a mixture of youth and experience with four juniors, a redshirt sophomore, and three freshmen, with junior Alli Hodges leading the way for the team. "Alli is my captain," said Maestas. "She has the skills to be a great player this year. Her work ethic and the things that she does is why she's our backbone and is going to be a big part of holding this team together." Hodges says she knows that she, along with junior Kirtana Bhat and junior Alix Williams, are the veterans on the team and will have to help the newcomers anyway they can. "We know what to expect," said Hodges. "We know what kind of energy we need to have during the matches. So, we just have to help them with those types of things because they've never been in a college match situation." "We also need to have a positive attitude all throughout practice and work hard every day. That is what kind of role models we’re trying to be right now." With that mixture of youth and experience, Coach Maestas said he believes that his team has the potential to be a top ten team in the country. "I think we're a really strong team," Maestas states. "We're going to be a really good team as long as all the little small things come together. If we can do that, I feel like it could be a really good season this year." One of the little things that Coach Maestas was referring to was how the Lady Bronchos struggled in doubles last year, going as far as to say that doubles was their Achilles' heel. Hodges agrees with her head coach that improving in their doubles will help them in the long run. "To improve our doubles is our number one goal," said Hodges. "Last year we struggled a lot, but I think our doubles can be stronger this year because we added some players with some height."
Alli Hodges, junior UCO tennis player, returns the ball during a Spring 2017 match in Edmond, Okla. (Provided/ UCO Archives). Freshman Laetitia Charbonnet is listed at 5 feet 10 inches, while Sarah Van Eeckhoudt, a redshirt sophomore transfer from New Mexico State, is listed at 6 feet. "Being better at doubles will give us more confidence and the momentum going into our singles, and I think we've already improved on that in the past couple of weeks," Hodges said. But in the end, the Lady Bronchos said they want to improve on being an overall better team. "Supporting each other, knowing that there is one goal, and having everybody buying in to the system is what we’re trying to establish here," said Maestas. "We're kind of starting a legacy and I hope we turn our legacy into a dynasty. We have the caliber to be a top ten team in the country, it’s just a matter of getting the work done now."
“I think we’re a really strong team,” said Maestas.