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Campus Quotes
Awards
Education
Feature
Would you stop using cellphones if there was conclusive evidence it led to brain cancer?
UCO wins community service award.
Students receive $100,000 to drop out of school and do research.
Freshman Lacey Rhodes earns track and field All-American honors.
JUN. 8, 2011 uco360.com twitter.com/uco360
THE VISTA
UNIVERSITY OF CENTRAL OKLAHOMA’S student voice since 1903.
Campus News
OBITUARY
ENDEAVOR GAMES RETURN TO UCO The Endeavor Games, hosted for participants with physical disabilities, will be held at UCO for the 12th year. The Wellness Center is welcoming those who wish to volunteer in the event. By Ben Luschen / Staff Writer
Glenn Freeman Glenn Freeman, coordinator of international relations in UCO’s Office of International Services, died Sunday, June 5, from a heart attack. He was 49 years old, his next birthday only a month away. He worked with UCO’s International Office for 11 years. Freeman spoke French, Spanish, Italian, Portoguese, and German. He was known for frequently chatting up students in their native tounge. Services are still pending. Students and faculty can stop by the International Office to pay their respects or leave written notes of condolances and shared memories of Freeman.
WEATHER TODAY
H 97° L 74°
TOMORROW H 96° L 72°
The UCO Wellness Center will be hosting their 12th annual Endeavor Games starting this Thursday, an event in which they could still use some help. “We really need volunteers,” said Wellness Center public relations assistant Tiffany Wilson, “like, desperately.” The Endeavor Games is a nationally recognized and sanctioned event that allows athletes of all ages with physical disabilities to compete in a variety of different sports, including track and field, swimming and power lifting. Events take place both in the Wellness Center and throughout the Edmondarea, including Arcadia. Clinics are also being held for aspiring athletes who hope to learn a new sport. According to Wilson, it is the largest event of its kind in the nation. “It’s going to be people whose disability has led to an amputation, has led to them being in a wheelchair, cerebral palsy and being blind are basically the four big categories,” said Wilson. “Now, there will be others, but it is a physical disability. You may have heard of Special Olympics, stuff like that, but this is a true physical disability.” The Endeavor Games have steadily grown into national and global prominence. “The first year we had 85 different sport competitors sign up, about 115 came out,” Wilson said. “The numbers have increased year after year after year, and it spread with how far they’re coming from and the caliber of athletes who are coming out.” There will be representatives from 37 states and four countries this year, including Japan, Turkey, and the United Kingdom. There have been competitors who started competing in the Endeavor Games who have gone on to win gold in the Paralympics. With the increased popularity of the event comes a greater need for volunteers. “At the Wellness Center, we have about 25 permanent staff members,” said Wilson. “About half of them aren’t even directly involved in Endeavor Games but they come out and they help, but did I mention that we’re going to have more than 450 sport competitors come out? So I mean, 25 people
The Games, which play host to individuals with particular physical disabilities, are held in conjunction with the Wellness Center at UCO. Although 25 staff members are on hand to help with the event, volunteers are still needed, according to public relations assistant Tiffany Wilson. The Games will take place this weekend.
just aren’t enough staff to make this event happen and that’s why we need and have room for about 300 volunteers.” Though Endeavor Games registration and volunteer coordinator J.T. Mackey has received many volunteer commitments from local organizations and businesses, the event is currently well short on the amount of needed volunteers. According to Mackey, the most needed volunteer positions include people who can help with track and field, the junior events, and shuttle drivers who are responsible for driving people to various locations. Shuttle drivers have been especially hard to find, as you must be at least 25 to drive a UCO van. Motives for volunteering are many, but the ability to give back is one of the most popular. “There are a lot of reasons people volunteer,” said Wilson, “but if you’re looking for some way to get involved in your community, to get involved at Central, to give back to the community that you
feel has given something to you, then it’s a perfect place to do it because it takes such little time commitment. If you’re willing to give just three hours or if you’re willing to give a full day or the whole weekend, we’ll find a place for you.” Still, some feel it’s a chance to be a part of something bigger than yourself. “I feel like in Edmond we don’t get a lot of things that are bigger than Edmond, but this event truly is,” said Mackey. “You know, we talk a lot about how it’s a national, worldwide thing but especially for a town like Edmond, it’s really big.” Those who want to volunteer for the event can easily register at the Endeavor Games website, http://ucoendeavorgames.com. The Endeavor Games will be accepting volunteers up until the last moment. The games begin Thursday, June 9 and last until Sunday, June 12.
UCO NAMES DON BETZ AS NEXT PRESIDENT More weather at www.uco360.com
DID YOU KNOW? On June 8, 1949, George Orwell’s “1984” was published. On June 8, 1786, commercial ice cream was manufactured for the first time in New York City.
By Samantha Maloy / Editor-in-Chief On Thursday, June 2, UCO named Don Betz as Central’s 20th president. Betz has served as Northeastern State University-Talequah’s president since 2008 and served as provost for UCO from 1999-2005. Between his time serving at UCO and NSU, he was chancellor at the University of Wisconsin. In addition to serving in higher education, Betz has worked in international affairs. From 1982 to 2003, he has worked in conjunction with the United Nations concerning Middle East issues. He received his bachelor’s degree from the University of San Francisco and his master’s and Ph.D from the University of Denver. He also completed Harvard’s Institute for educational management.
PHOTO PROVIDED
President Roger Webb, who has served as UCO’s president since 1997, will remain in office until the end of July. In the Centralities report announcing the Board of Regents’ decision, Webb said, “Your new president is someone I have known and admired and valued both as a friend and a colleague. The work President Betz did while he was here at Central helped make UCO what it is today. Since that time, he has gained valuable experience that will make him an even bigger asset to helping Central continue to grow and excel. I applaud the Regional University System of Oklahoma (RUSO) Board of Regents for its wonderful decision.” Betz will take office on Aug. 1.
FOOD PYRAMID RESTS WITH THE PHARAOHS By Brittany Dalton / Copy Editor After two decades, the pyramid has fallen: the food pyramid. Considered the standard in healthy eating guidelines by the U.S. Department of Agriculture, the pyramid was officially retired Thursday. Although an enduring symbol of healthy eating, the pyramid was considered by many to be too complicated. Introduced in the 1990s, the pyramid was remodeled in 2005; however, this was not enough to reverse the perceptions held of the pyramid.
The pyramid represented a hierarchy of “what to eat” and how much; the bottom tier represented the grains group, which individuals were instructed to eat the most servings of. On the upper tiers of the pyramid were fruits and vegetables, topped by dairy and protein groups. Atop the pyramid were the foods to avoid: fats, oils and sweets, which the USDA advised Americans to “use sparingly.” Many complained that the pyramid placed too rigid a focus on specific portion sizes, a
structural flaw to many Americans who didn’t have the time to measure out exactly two to four servings of fruit. The move to an easier to understand “healthy food plate” has been hyped by many, including First Lady Michelle Obama, as a step in the right direction. The First Lady praises the model as a simpler means of making more positive food choices. The new model is a brightly colored graph, which an individual’s plate, if healthy, should
mirror. Half the plate is devoted to fruits and vegetables, each of which should comprise approximately a quarter of the plate’s space. The other half of the plate should consist of about 25 percent grains and protein each; a small portion of dairy is represented by a circle aside the plate. According to the USDA’s site for the new model, half of the grains con-
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OPINION
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JUN. 8, 2011
THE VISTA 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.
If there was conclusive evidence that cellphone usage caused brain cancer, would you stop? MANDA GING
THU NGUYEN
Freshman - Business Management
Sophomore -Nursing
MARIA PERRY
Junior - Family Life Education
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
Adviser
Samantha Maloy, Editor-In-Chief Christie Southern, Managing Editor Brittany Dalton, Copy Editor Trey Hunter, Sports Editor Garett Fisbeck, Photo Editor
Mr. Teddy Burch
Graphic Design
Editorial Ben Luschen, Staff Writer Chris Howell, Staff Writer Josh Hutton, Staff Writer
“Yes, because that helps me keep in contact when I’m away from home..”
“You need a cellphone for any kind of emergency. Not everybody got brain cancer by cellphones, so I think it should still be ok.”
“No. Who would want brain cancer?”
HERU RA
PAPA GUEYE
JUSTIN GRIMES
Junior -Computer Science
Senior - Finance
Hall Director
Anthony Murray
Advertising Kylee Turner
Circulation Bill Southard
Photography Liz Boyer
Editorial Comic Prakriti Adhikari
Editorial
REDEFINING THE BAD DAY
“Yeah, I still would use a cellphone but probably use bluetooth instead of keeping it so close to my head.”
“I think I’d still use my phone because I can use my earphones instead of using the cellphone directly on my ear.”
“I’m kind of back and forth, yes on one hand and no on the other.”
By Samantha Maloy / Editor-in-Chief After much mental denial, yes, the summer semester of 2011 is finally here in all its glory. Ah, summer school. Maybe you’re jazzed about it…or not. From snippets of students’ conversations, tweets or Facebook statuses, the dreaded biology class or some other such helpless course get quite the bad raps, along with paying for school, gas prices and getting up for work. Actually, take stock for a moment and consider just how much of our casual banter and social media fodder is…complaining. While there is not anything inherently bad about sharing our woes, maybe it should not be our go-to conversation topics. Maybe a perspective shift would help. Since the May 24 tornadoes, I can’t help but think how absurdly lucky and utterly blessed so many of us are and we don’t even take stock of it all. It does one good to remember that it could always be worse. Always. I dare complain about a little eight-week class, when there are fellow Oklahomans who now have nothing? When that alarm clock goes off summoning us to our day’s work, do we curse the clock, or choose to be grateful that we still have a bed in house that hasn’t been swept away by Mother Nature’s latest EF-5 special? It could be worse. I think about the parents in Piedmont who in one day lost two kids, their home and their way of life, up until that day. I think about the high school graduate in Joplin, who at the dawn of his next chapter life, never got the chance to turn the page. That my friends, is truly a bad day. I propose that we cannot afford the high price of complaining. At the risk of sounding flaky or cliché, remember as you drag yourself out of bed for that 8:00 class or toss your books into your 450-degree car at the end of the day, that it could be worse. Before you take a breath to complain about the science class, take another breath and realize that it could always be worse. In fact, take another breath and be glad you could.
By Vista Archives
NEWS
JUN. 8, 2011
3
Aids Fundraiser
MUSICAL BENEFITS AIDS FOUNDATION P H O T O B Y B R YA N T R U D E
UCO alum Lance Overdorff (left) and actor Cole Long recieve instructions to refine their performance at the final rehersal of “Falsettos,” June 3 at the City Arts Center in OKC. “Falsettos” is a fundraising production for RAIN Oklahoma.
By Bryan Trude / Contributing Writer The opening night of “Falsettos,” a two-act musical held to benefit the Regional AIDS Intercommunity Network of Oklahoma (RAIN), was held 8 p.m. Friday, June 3 at the City Arts Center, 3000 General Pershing Blvd, in Oklahoma City. “I like to call [Falsettos] a beautiful Jewish Gay musical, or a gay Jewish musical,” director Robert Matson said. “Falsettos,” winner of the 1992 Tony Awards for Best Book and Best Original Score, was written by James Lapine and William Finn, with music by Finn. The musical is a combination of two other one-act Broadway musicals, “March of the Falsettos” by Finn, and “Falsettoland” by Finn and Lapine. “Falsettos” is the story of Marvin, played by UCO alum and “Falsettos” co-producer Lance Overdorff, at the dawn of the AIDS pandemic.
Having left his wife and son for another man, Marvin struggles to hold on to both his family life and his strained love for his boyfriend as the disease begins to make his decisions for him. “‘Falsettos’ is about family. We fight and struggle and cry but in the end we stand by each other no matter what,” Jodi Nestander, UCO alum, co-producer and actress portraying Marvin’s ex-wife Trina, said. “We overcome our own personal issues and anxieties to be there for each other. Families are those who stand by you through the hard times whether you’re flesh and blood or not.” “The message is about becoming a family not only by blood but by the people you surround yourself with in time of struggle and heartbreak,” Matson said. According to RAIN executive director Julie Lovegrove, RAIN is a non-profit charitable
organization that provides services to Oklahomans in 55 counties living with HIV/AIDS. Services provided include educational and outreach oppertunities, housing and medical assistance, HIV testing services, and assistance in coordinating the patient’s health and social care. All aspects of the show are self-funded. All of the actors and the crew on the show are volunteers, with all proceeds going to RAIN, according to Overdorff. For people like Matson, they do not view the production as work, but as “a privilege to give back to my community.” “My partner is HIV positive, he’s been like that for 10 years. I watched a man who became a part of my life totally drop down to 100 pounds, and fight something he couldn’t control,” Matson said. “I sat by his hospital bed every day and night, holding his hand and telling him it was going to be okay. ‘We’
will get through this. “It took him awhile to get back to his old self and he’s been stronger and healthier ever since. He didn’t let it get him down. He’s a fighter,” Matson said. “With [“Falsettos,”] it brought back those memories and it made me grateful that he is still here. I appreciate him more for the person he is and for supporting me with everything I have done as an artist. “We’ve been together for 16 years and loving every minute of it.” According to the U.S. National Library of Medicine, the term HIV, short for human immunodeficiency virus, was first published June 5, 1981. HIV works by attacking a certain variety of white blood cells called Tcells, lowering the body’s immune system and weakening its response to other infections and diseases. AIDS, or acquired immune deficiency syndrome, is the final stage of an HIV infection. It is diagnosed when a HIV-positive patient has one or more other infections, such as pneumonia or tuberculosis, and a T-cell count of 200 or less per cubic millimeter of blood. HIV is commonly spread through sexual intercourse with an infected partner, as well as the sharing of needles or other exchange of blood. HIV-positive mothers can spread the virus to their children during pregnancy or childbirth. While there are drugs that allow patients to suppress and manage the virus to extend and improve the quality of life, there is currently no cure. “I’ve worked in non-profit for a long time and always try to think of ways to give back,” Nestander said. “Our theatrical talents are what we have to give, it’s our ‘money.’ Performing for a greater cause adds a whole new level to the show. It feels like every song we sing is actually accomplishing something. “RAIN helped my partner and I out when he got sick,” Matson said. “They showed us how to cope with it and how to have a healthy and loving relationship.” “Falsettos” will run for one more weekend, at 8 p.m. Thursday through Saturday. General admission is $15, and $10 for students and senior citizens.
Community Service
UCO WINS COMMUNITY SERVICE AWARD UCO’s Volunteer and Service Learning Center received the President’s Community Service Honor Roll award from the Corporation for National and Community Service for the fourth consequtive year. By Chris Howell / Staff Writer UCO was placed on the President’s Higher Education Community Service Honor Roll for the fourth consecutive year. The award is the highest level of federal recognition available to colleges and universities, according to a press release by UCO. “I would say that UCO is a very service-oriented campus. We just got, for the fourth year in a row, the President’s Community Service Honor Roll, which is not the reason why we do service, but it definitely validates our efforts,” said Lyndsay
Holder, director for the Volunteer and Service Learning center. The Corporation for National and Community Service, an independent federal agency, announces the Honor Roll annually in conjunction with the Department of Education, Department of Housing and Urban Development, Campus Compact, and the American Council on Education. The CNCS was established in 1993 to consolidate several service programs and was substantially expanded in 2009. The award is given based on innovation in service projects, the amount of service students per-
formed and other factors, according to the CNCS website. Several Oklahoma colleges and universities were named to the Honor Roll. UCO was first given the Honor Roll award in 2007, the same year the Volunteer and Service Learning Center was opened. “We started really amping up our efforts in January 2007. We hadn’t really recorded any service hours you had done until then. Any service you do, we can print off an official transcript you can provide for employers, scholarships, internships, things like that,” Holder said. UCO also started the Distin-
guished Service Graduate Program, which recognizes graduates who have performed 384 hours of community service during their time at UCO. “We’ve been doubling the hours of community service we’ve been doing. Two years ago, we did 25,000 hours. Last year we did 66,000. This year I think we will surpass 140,000. So we’re growing exponentially on the amount of service we’re performing, and on the flip side, the amount of service hours that students are taking the time to record,” Holder said. Volunteer service at UCO can be
as simple as visiting the VSLC website, at http://www.uco.edu/volunteer. A booklet on the site breaks down the various service opportunities based on location, interest area and other categories. “For instance, if you like animals you might volunteer at Free to Live [Animal Sanctuary]. If you are interested in something more long-term, you could come in and talk to us about a long-term experience like a hospice,” Holder said. The VSLC also has numerous annual events, such as the 9/11 Service Project or the MLK Day of Service.
increased obesity in America, and a negative eating trend that the USDA hopes to reverse. Others argue that the aesthetics of the new “food plate” guideline will not have a significant impact on a healthy eating trend.
seems “arbitrary and effectless.” Chanoa Garza, a senior majoring in photographic arts, agrees with Witthuhn and cites the pyramid’s decades-spanning prominence as the healthy eating standard. “In my eyes, the food pyramid was something we were taught as children, in middle and high school,” she said. “I understood the pyramid at that time and still do.” She adds that as a younger child, her appreciation for the pyramid was less than it would have been as an adult. She said her parents instilled in her the importance of eating healthy, but that the pyramid
most likely did not reach as many as it intended. “I think [healthy eating] is good knowledge to get in school, but I also think it would be more effective to be taught at an older age too, when I actually control and care more about what I eat,” she said. With the food plate model still in its infancy, only time can tell whether the re-vamp will lead to a definite in healthy eating habits. Ultimately, it is up to the consumer to make positive decisions in their food choice; the food plate aims to provide Americans with a simpler to understand model in doing so.
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FOOD PLATE sumed according to the new model should be substituted whole grains. The dairy consumed should be skim or low-fat milk. However, in an article for The Huffington Post, Toby Smithson cautions Americans not to overlook one thing not overtly mentioned in the Choose My Plate campaign. Smithson is a spokesperson for the American Dietetic Association. “You can’t fill up a platter,” she said. Smithson warns that despite healthier choices in eating, Americans should still be watching their serving sizes when they eat. As recently as 2007, physicians
and critics alike had noticed that at fast food chains, a “sleight-of-hand” had taken place with portion sizes. Although chains such as McDonald’s had gotten rid of the Supersize option, what was previously a medium size drink became a small; the former large size drink was now medium, and so on. Many chains have followed suit, and a study done by the Center for Disease Control and Prevention showed a clear link exists between larger portion sizes given to customers and the customers’ increased likelihood in eating more. This discovery is a possible cause of
“I think every adult could read [the pyramid] before,” Travis Witthuhn said. Witthuhn is a senior at UCO majoring in Creative Studies. “The design of instructional media is not the reason people don’t eat healthy.” He adds that the change to the model, at least at this early stage,
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NEWS
JUN. 8, 2011
Weather
OUTSMARTING OKLAHOMA WEATHER In the event of severe weather, UCO is just one shelter By Christie Southern / Managing Editor & Samantha Maloy / Editor-in-Chief option for the city of Edmond. Primary and secondary shelters have been established throughout the campus for convenience. In addition to tornadoes, oppressive summer heat is In the event of severe weather: These buildings that have been approved as another trademark of Oklahoma summers. Here is what Certain buildings, like the Center for Trans- tornado shelters also have secondary shelters formative Learning, Y-Chapel of Song and that are backup options if time does not per- you need to know to keep your cool and protect yourself Mitchell Hall, should be avoided and not used mit students, faculty or citizens to make it to from heat diseases. as shelters in the event of tornadic or other severe weather. According to the Emergency Services section on the UCO website: students and/or citizens should make their way to one of the eight primary shelters on campus, which are the basements of the following buildings:
•Liberal Arts Basement •Thatcher Hall Basement •Communications Building Basement •Nigh University Center Basement •Murdaugh Hall Basement •Howell Hall Basement •Art and Design Building Basement •Chambers Library Basement
the primary shelter. A complete list can be found on the UCO website. As always, it is good to wear protective shoes (like tennis shoes) and clothing that covers your arms and legs. Good supplies include a flashlight, weather radio, bottled water and non-perishable snacks. If time permits, gather important documents like passports and insurance verification and other non-replaceable documents.
ALL PHOTOS BY GARETT FISBECK
As the sweltering heat of summer comes sweeping down the plains, people should be mindful of the various risks of summer weather. Simple measures can be taken to significantly reduce the chance of getting heat exhaustion and heat stroke. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends drinking plenty of water and taking frequent breaks while working outside. Staying inside and avoiding strenuous activity is also recommended. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, approximately 400 Americans die each year due to summer’s sweltering heat. Furthermore, the National Weather Service says
Tuesday Webb, 7, takes a drink of water to cool down before taking a train ride at the Crawfish Festival in Yukon, June 4.
per year than floods, lightning, tornadoes, hurricanes, winter storms and extreme cold from 1994 to 2003. The American Red Cross says that everyone is at risk when temperatures rise above 90 degrees but the elderly and the very young are most susceptible to heat and heat-related illnesses. Heat-related illnesses can cause serious injury and even death. Signs of heat-related illnesses include nausea, dizziness, flushed or pale skin, heavy sweating and headaches.
that excessive heat was the number one weather-related killer, causing more fatalities
Heat stroke? Heat exhaustion? Can you tell the difference? Heat-related illnesses can cause serious injury and even death. Signs of heat-related illnesses include nausea, dizziness, flushed or pale skin, heavy sweating and headaches. Know what these heat-related terms mean: Heat cramps: Heat cramps are muscular pains and spasms due to heavy exertion.
Red Cross Heat Safety Tips •Dress for the heat. Wear lightweight, light-colored clothing. Light colors will reflect away some of the sun’s energy. It is also a good idea to wear hats or to use an umbrella.
Heat exhaustion: Heat exhaustion typically occurs when people exercise heavily or work in a hot, humid place where body fluids are lost through heavy sweating.
•Blood flow to the skin increases, causing blood flow to decrease to the vital organs. This results in a form of mild shock. If not treated, the victim may suffer heat stroke. •Signals of heat exhaustion include cool, moist, pale flushed or red skin; heavy sweating; headache; nausea or vomiting; dizziness; and exhaustion. Body temperature will be near normal. Heat stroke: Also known as sunstroke, heat stroke is life threatening.
•The victim’s temperature control system, which produces sweating to cool the body, stops working. The body temperature increases causing brain damage and even death if the body is not cooled quickly. •Signals include hot, red and dry skin; changes in consciousness; rapid, weak pulse; and rapid, shallow breathing. Body temperature can be very high—sometimes as 105 degrees.
•Drink water. Drink water through out the day, even if thirst is not an issue. Staying Residents of the Carr Edition in Newcastle clean up and assess damage after the May hydrated during the summer months is important. Avoid 24 tornado. alcohol and caffeine, which dehydrate the body. Avoid using salt tablets unless directed 10 $8 million By the Numbers to do so by a physician. Final fatality count for Cost of damages for the city Oklahoma’s May 24 tornado. of Chickasha alone from the May 24 tornadoes. For the total cost of the Sooner State storms, officials 141 $3 billion may be a few weeks out of completing assessment of the Current fatality count for Cost of damages from the damages. Missouri’s May 22 tornado. Joplin tornado.
•Eat small meals and eat more often. Avoid high-protein foods, because they increase metabolic heat. •Slow down. Avoid strenuous activity. If you must do strenuous activity, do it during the coolest part of the day, usually in the morning between 4 and 7 a.m. •Stay indoors when possible. If air-conditioning is not available, stay on the lowest floor out of the sunshine. Remember that electric fans do not cool, they simply circulate the air. •Be a good neighbor. During heat waves, check in on elderly residents in your neighborhood and those who do not have air conditioning.
Brian Stout climbs out of the small storm shelter behind his house that he shared with two other people in Newcastle, May 24.
Mary Koch cools down with a bag of ice during the Women’s College World Series game between Arizona State and Baylor at the ASA Hall of Fame Stadium in Oklahoma City, Sunday, June 5, 2011.
NEWS
JUN. 8, 2011 Education
5
Opinion
CUTTING CLASS, MAKING MOOLA PHOTO BY JOHN RAOUX
By Josh Hutton Cult of Mom
In this May 27, 2011 photo, John Burnham, one of two dozen recipients of a unique scholarship, walks past a space mural on display at the Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex in Cape Canaveral, Fla. Burnham is being paid not to go to college and instead will work on an ambitious science project involving building mines on asteroids.
By Josh Hutton / Staff Writer When the U.S. average for student loan debt at a four year university skyrockets past the $25,000 mark, parents and students alike begin to look for alternatives. Enter Peter Thiel, the co-founder of PayPal and integral Facebook investor. Thiel aims to challenge the classic educational footpath with a blazing trail of invention. “In our society the default assumption is that everybody has to go to college,” Thiel said in an interview with The New York Times last week. The program sports the moniker The Thiel Fellows, and consists of 24 people under age 20. Each of these students has been given a $100,000 grant and mentor guidance to start their own tech company. The students who came out on top of the application process – which included over 400 applicants – all seek vastly different goals. “There’s an urgent need for innovation,” Thiel said, citing examples of nanotechnology, energy and other fields far from the cellular apps that seem to be the focus of most techies in the status quo. UCO’s Employer Relations coordinator Charles Sager, agrees that college is not for everyone. “Should everyone attend college? No.
Should people pursue higher education? Yes, at all cost.” Sager continues by saying, “I am pro-education, whether college or tech school.” If Thiel’s research grant to college-age youth triggers a snowball effect, will universities be able to compete? Both Sager and Jarrett Jobe, UCO’s executive director of Student Leadership Programs, feel the campus is very competitive. “At UCO, we make it more economical. We provide several scholarship opportunities, and aside from that if a person picks up 15-20 hours of work per week, chances are they will graduate with less that $15,000 in debt. I’d say that’s doing pretty well,” Jobe said. He continues, “Here you are going to be challenged scholastically, you will grow as a student, without contributing to the bubble that higher education may be creating. Especially at private universities, where students leave with much larger amounts of debt.” In his New York Times interview, Thiel points out the same thing. “I believe you have a bubble whenever you have something that’s overvalued and intensely believed,” he said. “In education, you have this clear price escalation without incredible improvement in the product. At the same
time you have this incredible intensity of belief that this is what people have to do. In that way it seems very similar in some ways to the housing bubble and the tech bubble.” A bill in the Oklahoma Senate, set to re-establish a higher education Quality Assessment and Accountability Task Force, has recently echoed Thiel’s criticisms. Senate Bill 264, fronted by Republican Senator Clark Jolley of Edmond, calls for more oversight and accountability on the university level. Jobe sees Jolley’s supposition as incorrect. “Universities are held to high standards of accountability. Our students make sure of that. If we are not putting out a good product or crafting a sound learning environment, we would know by the enrollment,” Jobe said. Once a student graduates will they be more likely to land a job than those without a degree? “The degree will always set you above the competition, but experience is a key factor as well,” Sager said. With 17,000 students enrolled for the fall, the university gains accountability and continues to progress forward. Thiel’s plans might turn to vapor or be the first domino to fall in changing the face of education.
Health
TECHNOLOGY LIABILITY PHOTO BY TRE VOR HULTNER
Jeanna Wilson, elementary education senior, uses her iPhone between classes. The World Health Organization’s International Agency for Research on Cancer recently classified radiation from mobile devices as “possibly carcinogenic to humans.”
By Trevor Hultner / Contributing Writer A working group convened by the World Health Organization and the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) has determined that radiofrequency electromagnetic fields, such as those emanating from mobile phones, are “possibly carcinogenic to humans.” Last Monday, the 31 member interdisciplinary group made their conclusions public via a virtual press conference that included Dr. Jonathan Samet, the chairperson of the group, and IARC director Christopher Wild. “After reviewing essentially all the evidence that is relevant to looking at radiofrequency electromagnetic fields, the working group classified radio frequency electromagnetic fields as possibly carcinogenic to humans,” Samet said. “That is, within the classification used by the International Agency for Re-
search on Cancer or IARC, a 2B classification.” The group came to the conclusion that there was a possible link between long-term, heavy cell phone usage and a malignant form of brain cancer called glioma. However, the link was not causal, only correlative. “I think, having reviewed all this evidence,” Samet said, “the working group members were also struck by the need for further research to fill in the gaps that were identified.” In 2010, a study conducted by multiple research institutions, including IARC, was published by Oxford University. The study, called “Brain tumour risk in relation to mobile telephone use: results of the INTERPHONE international case– control study,” came to the conclusion that “Overall, no increase in risk of glioma or meningioma was observed with use of mobile phones. There were suggestions of an increased risk of glioma at the highest exposure levels, but biases and error prevent a causal interpretation.” It added, “The possible effects of long-term heavy use of mobile phones require further investigation.” The IARC’s classification of radiofrequency electromagnetic fields as possibly carcinogenic, supported by the conclusion of the INTERPHONE study, comes at a time when mobile phone usage has surpassed five billion subscriptions internationally. Whether cell phones and cancer share a causal link is a growing topic of interest. “I think again we found some threads of evidence telling us about how cancers might occur, but I think there are acknowledged gaps and uncertainties,” Samet said. Radiofrequency electromagnetic radiation is non-ionizing, meaning it doesn’t have enough energy to strip an electron from atoms or molecules. However, it is strong enough to excite them. Over a long enough period of time at sustained amounts of the right kind of exposure, it could fragment strands of DNA, which could potentially lead to certain forms of cancer, including glioma. The IARC’s full report, titled “Volume 102: Non-Ionizing Radiation, Part II: Radiofrequency Electromagnetic Fields [includes mobile telephones]” will be released later this year.
Now, before I delve into my latest theory, I feel the need to divulge some background info. I grew up in Prague, Oklahoma (“Pruh-egg” according to Okie dialect, capiche?). I spent the awkwardness of my youth helping my dad around the farm. Under the blistering summer sun, I would look up from my garden hoe, and ask if I could get a drink of water. He often replied, “Drink your own spit.” Couple that humility with a bizarre small town environment, where all gossip courses through the collective mind of the community. Even the comatose octogenarian in the nursing home knows when a local teenage girl frets over a late period. The men of the town gather at the bakery, which seconds as a coffee shop. They play dominoes ferociously, survive on a diet of chicken-fried steaks, and love to demonstrate their dedication to American-made vehicles. A respectable woman of Prague attends church regularly, knits, reads the newspaper, and maintains a browbeating knowledge of local broadcast news. Given my quaint upbringing, strolling into Edmond gives me a keen sense of contrast. The suburban men may be sharky, smooth-talkers, but their wives strike a more sinister chord. Edmond moms age like photographs—their color distorts and mellows into a warm yellow, but their middle years are hosed daily with a plastic vanity and biting perfume. They travel in caravans of SUVs and tether knees to steering wheels, left hands to lipstick vials, right hands to cell phones, and hide wandering eyes behind gargantuan sunglasses. If gas guzzler lies vacant, odds lean toward them cruising down the aisles of Target (Wal-Mart is a breeding ground of low culture). My stomach turns at the sight of them, and if their eyes ever meet mine, I’m left shuffling like an insect-ridden chimpanzee—behind a zoo cage of unkempt facial hair and thrift store fashion. The mass-produced Edmond mom image frightens me most. Most would argue middle-aged suburban moms to be a mere symptom of a hedonistic nation. Poppycock! Edmond moms have tapped into the occult, not Cosmo. This eerie Cult of Mom is responsible for more than perpetually walking with noses 12 stories high. There is a rumor rolling about that the peculiar light pollution hovering over Edmond is nothing more than a Cult of Mom’s ritualistic bonfire. Edmond ranks as the 10th safest city over 75,000 because suburban moms curdle the blood of hood rat and gangster alike. Whether their skin is actually bulletproof from the leathering of tanning beds or they keep wolves at bay with simple false superiority, one thing stands certain: I will never have the courage to actually converse with a member of the Cult of Mom.
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FUN FACTS
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SUDOKU Puzzle 1 (Medium, difficulty rating 0.51)
After having an argument with his son about Crazy 8’s, Merle Robbins, a barbershop owner and card lover, invented UNO in 1971 in Reading, Ohio. He introduced the game to his family, and after they started playing the game more and more he decided to have the game printed.
If the tracks on a typical compact disc ran in a straight line, they would travel for about three miles. Although both aardvarks and anteaters feed on ants, they’re members of different families and live in different areas of the world.
In 1970, the Oregon DeOnly pharaohs were alpartment of Transportation lowed to eat mushrooms in used a half ton of dynamite ancient Egypt. to blow up a sperm whale Though the Ford Mustang carcass. The blast showered uses a mustang pony as an the beach with rotten blubimage the car was actually ber and one piece of debris named after the P-51 Mus- crushed a car. tang, a fighter plane from Al Gore and actor Tommy WWII Lee Jones were college roomThe celery stick garnish be- mates. came a staple of the Bloody Most people know that Mary only after an impatient “Video Killed the Radio Star” patron at Chicago’s Pump was MTV’ s first video, but do Room couldn’t wait for his you know the second video to server to bring him a swizzle air? It was Pat Benetar’s “You stick. He took matters into Better Run.” his own hands and snatched a celery stalk from a nearby In the 16th century, gin was relish tray. referred to as “mother’s ruin” Diamonds are close, but because people thought it they really aren’t forever. Dia- could induce abortions. monds are actually unstable at Not only are all automoour comfortable temperature bile taillights in the U.S. red, and pressure. Every diamond they’re a specific shade of red above ground is very, very (with a specific color waveslowly altering into graphite, length and intensity) mandatanother form of pure carbon. ed by the federal government. It is impossible to predict In 1969, before he ever weather more than three appeared on television or in weeks ahead of time with any films, Steve Martin won an degree of certainty, thanks to Emmy as a writer for The MIT alum Edward Lorenz’s Smothers Brothers Show. studies into the chaos theory in 1972, for which he is reCruise control and autogarded as its creator. matic transmissions were inDespite the well-known vented by a blind engineer urban legend, ingesting un- named Ralph Teetor. cooked rice will not expand The “french” in french fries in a bird’s stomach, causing it actually describes the way to explode. the spuds are sliced, not their country of origin.
1. Horace volume 5. Deadly 10. Actress Sorvino 14. Cheer starter 15. Benefiting the environment 17. “Good grief!” 18. Large business investor 19. Cheat, slangily 20. “Raiders of the Lost ___” 21. ___ Carlo 22. Ancient colonnade 24. Rate of payment for written material 27. Long-jawed fish 28. Mountain pool 29. Certain exams 31. Brio 32. Shirley Maclaine book (4 wd) 37. Pathetic 39. Daniel Webster, e.g. 40. Pilferer (2 wd) 42. Sacred Hindu writings 43. Burdened 44. Anger (pl.) 45. “Help!” 48. People in SW Nigeria 51. Sonatas, e.g. 52. ___-frutti 54. ___ gestae 55. Bar bill 56. Infinite time (pl.) 59. ___ bread 60. Intense aversion 61. Shakespeare, the Bard of ___ 62. European language 63. Dusk to dawn 64. Doofus
1. Goes beyond a proper limit 2. Stimulant from foxglove 3. Disappear 4. Blue 5. ___ matter, e.g. dog do 6. Mites in stored grains 7. Tuft of feathers on bird’s head 8. “Aladdin” prince 9. Auction offering 10. Actor O’Shea 11. Cake topper 12. Bob Marley fan 13. Adjust 16. Indonesian percussion orchestra 23. Temper, as metal 25. Ascended 26. Swindler, slangily 30. Indo-European languages, e.g. Russian 32. Best 33. Wedding role 34. Repetitious 35. One who presides over a debate 36. Group with no string instruments (2 wd) 38. Approving (informal) 41. Habituating 45. About 1.3 cubic yards 46. Exterior 47. Advances 49. Cherry alternative 50. Money in the bank, say 53. “How ___!” 57. Setting for TV’s “Newhart” 58. Clavell’s “___-Pan”
59. Calphalon product
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SPORTS
JUN. 8, 2011
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NBA Finals Report
MIAMI HEATING UP IN DALLAS By Jared Hall / Contributing Writer The NBA finals of 2010-2011 are definitely not lacking for superstars. The Dallas Mavericks emerged from the tough Western Conference to battle the Miami Heat, and the new big three of the Eastern Conference. Dirk Nowitzki is looking to lead his team to a title after a bitter loss to the Miami Heat in the NBA Finals in 2006. LeBron James, Dwayne Wade, and Chris Bosh are looking to lead the Heat to an NBA title after a highly publicized and criticized
the second half Dallas lead by as many as eight in the third quarter, but Miami battled back to take a four point lead into the final period of game one. LeBron James led the way for the Heat in the fourth quarter, and finished the game with 24 points and 9 rebounds. Dwayne Wade also contributed 22 points 10 rebounds and six assists. Dallas kept it close in the final quarter and made it a five-point game with four minutes remaining in the game. Wade came
LeBron James goes up for a dunk in game 3 against the Mavericks in Dallas. (AP Photo/David J. Phillip; Pool)
first season together for the “new big three.” In game one of the finals in Miami, FL the American Airline Arena was full of excitement and featured a white out asking the fans of the team to wear all white shirts for the game to help the home court advantage Miami capitalized on their home floor by taking game one 9284. Both teams got off to slow first halves with the Mavericks taking a 44-43 lead into halftime. From the opening tip you can tell that this was going to be a slow game with both teams taking their time and running their half court offensive sets, and looking to limit their opponent’s offensive opportunities. In
up clutch for the Heat late in the game when leading by six points he proceeded to block Sean Marion’s shot and then came down on the offensive end of the floor and hit a three pointer to make it a nine point ballgame with just over three minutes left. Dallas couldn’t pull off a late game comeback in game one as they had become so accustomed to doing in these 2011 playoffs and fell behind one games to none in the 2011 NBA finals. In game two of the 2011 NBA finals both the Mavericks and the Heat looked from the opening tip to be more assertive on the offensive side of the ball and the Heat showed much better team passing
to open the game. The big story for the Mavericks was an injured left middle finger of Dirk Nowitzki that he injured in the final minutes of game one The Mavericks emerged with a 1-1 series split in Miami after a historic comeback to win the game 95-93. The first half went back and forth with teams seeming to trade buckets, and went into the locker rooms at half tied at 51. The second half is where things got tricky in game two, and Miami looked to take control of the game on the defensive end of the court forcing turnovers against a veteran Miami guard Dwayne Wade looks for a layup over the Mavericks’ Tyson Dallas offense. In the game Miami Chandler during game 3 in Dallas. (AP Photo/David J. Phillip; Pool) forced 20 Dallas turnovers, and Everyone in the arena knew who back on the court and showed it converted those turnovers to 16 would get the ball on the final pos- early in game three by attacking the fast break points. The Heat took session for the Mavericks, and Mavericks defense and getting the a four-point edge into the fourth Nowitzki didn’t even hesitate mak- basketball to the rim to finish. The quarter of game two, and looked ing a move to his injured left hand Heat went on a seven to zero run to be rolling to a two to zero games and finished over the defending capped by a Mario Chalmers half lead in the series. Dwayne Wade Chris Bosh with the hurt hand to court three to end the first quarter knocked down a corner three with give the Mavericks a 95-93 advan- with a 29-22 advantage. Both teams 7:13 remaining in the ballgame to tage with 3.6 seconds left in regula- seemed to pick up the defensive put the Miami Heat up by 15 points tion. Dwyane Wade attempted what intensity of the game and the Heat at 88-73. After the basket Maverick would have been a game winning took a 47-42 lead into halftime. players seemed to take exception to three that bounced off the back of The Heat led for much of the the fact that Wade seemed to hold a the rim, and the Mavericks capped second half, but the Mavericks alpose and taunt the Mavericks right a historic comeback to tie the series ways seemed to stay within striking in front of their own bench. Jason at 1 game apiece. distance of Miami. The largest lead Terry of Dallas was seen mouthSince the expansion of the NBA the Heat held was a 14 point lead ing something to Wade and James finals to the 2-3-2 format, where that was followed by a 17 to three as the teams went into a television the home team has the first and last run by Dallas to tie the game up timeout. Mavericks center Tyson 2 games of the series and the visi- at 57 with fewer than five minutes Chandler was quoted after the tor hosts games three through five, to play in the third quarter. Both game saying, “When that happened the winner of game 3 has won the teams looked to their superstars we knew the game wasn’t over. series all 11 times. Needless to say, throughout the game, with Dirk That’s all we kept telling each other when the NBA finals shifted back to Nowitzki leading the Mavericks in the team huddle is that we still Dallas Sunday night for game three with 34 points and 11 rebounds have time.” Dallas responded the both teams looked to the game as a while Dwyane Wade paced the Misame way they have responded all must win if they were going to ulti- ami offensive attack with 29 points postseason when faced with a huge mately win the title this season. and 11 rebounds. deficit, they battled back and reThe Miami Heat almost surrenMavs point guard Jason Kidd lied heavily on their superstar Dirk dered another late game lead to the connected on a bounce pass for a Nowitzki, who led the team back Dallas Mavericks, but seemed to Nowitzki layup with 2:23 left in with bucket after bucket and got solve some late game miscues and regulation to even the game up at his teammates involved offensively. survived to take a two games to one 84. The teams traded baskets and Nowitzki tied the game up at 90 advantage by edging the Mavericks then with under a minute to play, with just under a minute left in the 88-86 on the Mavs home court. Dallas native Chris Bosh for the Mifourth quarter, and then seconds Whatever momentum Dallas might ami hit a clutch late game shot to later hit a three that put the Mavs have stolen with a comeback victo- put his team up 88-86 with under ahead by three with 26 seconds ry in game two seemed to slip away 40 seconds left. Dallas got the ball left. All the Mavericks had to do when they gave back the home to their superstar, but a jumper by was stop the three headed attack of court advantage with the loss. Nowitzki went off the back of the the Heat for one more possession, After settling for late game rim, and the Mavericks came up but James found Mario Chalmers in jumpers in the Mavericks game short falling to the Heat 88-86. The the corner and Chalmers knocked two comeback victory, James and Heat now look to control the series down the shot to tie the game at 93 Dwyane Wade were eager to get with a two games to one advantage. with 24.5 seconds remaining.
BRUINS CUT CANUCKS LEAD TO 2-1 sion for the finger-chomping incident, received a double-minor for roughing, half of which was served by Canucks left wing Raffi Torres. Bergeron also received a minor for roughing during the scrum. The game remained scoreless until the last 18 seconds of regulation, when Torres recorded his third goal of the playoffs with assists by Jannik Hansen and Ryan Kesler. Looking to put the fallout from the biting incident behind him, Burrows exploded in Game 2 on June 4 in Vancouver, scoring the opening goal 12 minutes into the 1st with assists from winger Chris Higgins and defenseman Sami Salo. Boston came back in the 2nd period with goals by Milan Lucic and Mark Recchi to take a 2-1 lead going into the 3rd. Johnny Boychuck, David Krejci, Zdeno Chara and Bergeron all recorded assists. After Daniel Sedin’s goal for Vancouver tied Bruins goaltender Tim Thomas makes a glove save against the Canucks during game 3 the score 9 minutes into the 3rd, the Canucks in Vancouver. (AP Photo/Charles Krupa) were able to force overtime. the Finals in 1994. By Bryan Trude / Contributing Writer That’s when Burrows, Game 1’s black eye, Game 1 on June 1 in Vancouver was made his case for redemption with a gameThe Boston Bruins will attempt to pull marked as a penalty-laced goaltender’s battle, winning wraparound goal 11 seconds into even with the Vancouver Canucks tonight at with the Canucks’ Roberto Luongo record- the extra period, with assistance from Sedin 7 p.m. on Versus HD in Game 4 of the Stanley ing 36 saves against Bruins netminder Tim and Alexander Edler. The goal was Burrows’ Cup Finals. Thomas and his 33. 9th of the playoffs. The Canucks lead the series 2-1 going into Citing viciously physical play, Bruins and tonight’s Game 4 in Boston’s TD Garden, and Canucks players accounted for 13 penalGame 2 logged far fewer penalty minutes will be looking to take a commanding series ties in the first two periods, including three than the first, with a total of five logged durlead before returning to Vancouver. roughing calls during a play at the end of the ing regulation. This is Boston’s first Finals appearance 1st, during which Canucks left winger AlexLuongo recorded 28 saves versus Thomas’ since 1990, with 5 Stanley Cup wins under andre Burrows appeared to bite the finger of 30. their belts. Bruins center Patrice Bergeron. Seeking to avoid going down 3-0 in the Vancouver, with no Cups, last appeared in Burrows, who managed to avoid a suspen- series, the Bruins brought the series back to
Boston for a must-win Game 3. Scoreless in the 1st period, marked by winger Nathan Horton leaving on a stretcher following a hit by Vancouver’s Aaron Rome, a slap shot goal by defender Andrew Ference 11 seconds into the 2nd marked a furious 5-0 Bruins run. That extended into the 3rd, including a powerplay goal by winger Mark Recchi, the oldest active player in the NHL at 43, and an unassisted shorthanded goal by center Brad Marchand following a minor for slashing by Lucic. Also recording goals during that run were Krejci and Daniel Paille. Vancouver attempted to get back into the game with a Jannik Hansen goal 14 minutes into the 3rd, but Boston answered back with three goals in less than two minutes by Recchi, Chris Kelly and a powerplay goal by right winger Michael Ryder. Game 3 marked a big return to the physical play of Game 1, with 27 penalties recorded between the two for a total of 135 penalty minutes. 56 of those minutes came in 11 minutes into the 3rd, when a fight broke out between the Canucks’ Burrows and Kesler; and the Bruins Dennis Seidenberg and Lucic. In addition to 10 minute misconduct penalties for all four players, Seidenberg and Kesler received 5 minute majors for fighting. Burrows received a minor for slashing, while Lucic received a minor for roughing. Thomas led goaltending in the near-shutout with 40 saves against Luongo’s 30.
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SPORTS
JUN. 8, 2011
Central Track and Field
RUNNING DOWN A DREAM PHOTO BY GARETT FISBECK
By Celia Brumfield/ Contributing Writer
For nearly ten hours she waited for the NCAA Nationals track meet to start at Cal-State on Saturday the 4th, as the weather outside worsened, causing delay after delay. UCO freshman Lacey Rhodes was the only athlete from the UCO Track team to qualify for the nationals with her season- best high jump of 5’9 ¾”, and placed sixth in the event clearing 5’6”. It was an unexpected fifty degrees and ring in Turlock, California on the day she was to compete, and Rhodes had packed for hot weather, and only brought her uniform for the event with no sweats or jacket. “I was really nervous,” said Rhodes of the afternoon. “I woke up at eight, but the meet actually didn’t start until six. That was the worst part, was waiting for the meet to start. After the first jump, I started feeling okay.” Central Oklahoma sprinter Lacey Rhodes earned all-american honors during the 2011 season. She tried to get away from the track until she needed to compete “In high jumps, usually there’s Rhodes went on to accept her damaged by the airlines’ careful lugand went to lunch with her family ties,” said Rhodes, “Then they go plaque for the NCAA All American gage handling procedures. who had followed to support her, by your misses.” Rhodes tied for her honors on an Olympic style, tiered Rhodes was the highest ranking but on the track there was no other sixth place spot with a girl from an- podium, but shortly after accept- freshman at the meet, and head option than to be cold and wet. other University. ing it, an announcement was made track coach, Martha Brennan said of Rhodes went on to clear the 5’5” The conclusion of Rhode’s first for everyone who tied in the event the event, “the girl who won was a bar on her first attempt, the 5’6” bar national competition was confusing to report to the podium building. senior.” Brennan recruited Rhodes on her second attempt, and was not for everyone involved, as there was There, they explained they did not from high school and remembered able to clear the 5’7 ¼” in the three no fourth or fifth place, according to have enough awards for everyone saying to herself, “Oh boy, she’s reattempts allowed at each level. Rhodes, and the judges were at one who placed and needed to make ally talented.” PHOTO BY GARETT FISBECK point, not pre- sure all the international students Brennan also said of Rhodes, “She cisely sure of a and non-returning seniors would has other events to keep her busy. few details be- leave with one. She’s really good at the javelin.” cause, “ their “I was the only freshman, so they Rhodes’ best event in high school papers were took mine away,” said Rhodes. was the long jump, but one day her sketched up After the initial shock of having coach jokingly said she could never because of the the plaque confiscated, she admit- do something like the high jump, so rain,” Rhodes ted it was probably better that they she ran in her flat shoes (cleats are said. mail hers to her, so it wouldn’t be usually worn) and cleared the bar.
Coach Brennan also has her competing in hurdles. “You’ve got to be a good sprinter to be a good jumper,” Says Brennan. Rhode’s favorite event is the high jump because, she said, “You get three chances and it’s really competitive.” Her least favorite event to train for is the 800 and long distance in general. “It definitely pays off, but it hurts,” she said. Rhodes is majoring in Public Relations at UCO and wants to work with non-profit organizations as an event coordinator when she graduates. She grew up in Mustang, OK and spends her summers in Paul’s Valley with her family who recently moved there. She trains a little in the off- season and said, “during the summer, I like to do what I like,” as far as her training, “but mainly, it’s just time off.” Rhodes indulges a bit during the summer, “I definitely drink a lot of Dr. Pepper. I know…that’s bad,” and has a propensity for the junk food delicacy known as “Zingers,” which she said Coach Brennan would be able to vouch for. She vehemently denied continuing the Dr. Pepper consumption during training season, however, curiously, not the “Zingers.” Coach Brennan is also known to have to drive around looking for places that serve breakfast when she is traveling with the girls, mainly because of Rhodes. “She knows I eat a good Breakfast,” said Rhodes and she laughed. “Typically I eat pancakes,waffles, bacon… the whole nine yards.” Coach Brennan said of her star athlete, “She’s just a good kid. She’s coachable, listens well, and is dedicated to what she does.”
FRESHMAN ALL-AMERICAN
“You’ve got to be a good sprinter to be a good jumper, you get three chances to be competitive.” - Lacey Rhodes Lacey Rhodes shows off her running shoes.
BASEBALL LANDS 16 RECRUITS PHOTO BY GARETT FISBECK
Bronchosports.com
Central Oklahoma baseball coach Dax Leone capped off a successful first year at the helm with a big haul on the recruiting trail Thursday as he announced the signing of 16 players for 2012. The Bronchos signed seven state high school standouts and added nine junior college transfers, with the bulk of that group expected to contribute immediately. Leone took over as head coach last summer and led the Bronchos to a 24-23 record in 2011, with the Bronchos winning 10 of their last 11 games to finish with a flourish. “This is a very special group because it is really our first true recruiting class here at UCO,” Leone said. “Our main focus in this class was to get tough, blue-collar minded players who have a passion for Broncho baseball. It’s a good nucleus of high school and junior college student-athletes who will represent the university in a positive way “We believe that the biggest strength of our program is recruiting, no question about it. My coaching staff has developed great relationships over the past 11 years with Oklahoma high school coaches and all the junior colleges in the region. Hopefully this class will The UCO baseball team signed 16 players for the 2012 season on June 2. Central finproduce right away and lay a solid foundation ished the season with a 24-23 record and won 10 out of their last 11 games. for many years to come here at UCO.”
High School players signing with the Bronchos were utility player Jackson Matthews and pitcher Easton Mitchell of Edmond Santa Fe, catcher Tanner Bell and infielder Hunter Marcum of Purcell, pitcher Hayden Sharp of Morris, outfielder Cooper Ansell of Shawnee and pitcher Josh Cline of Del City. Joining UCO from the junior college ranks will be pitchers Alex Coplon and Ryan Miller of Labette (Kan.), infielders Nathan Lucas and Brandon Mason of Rose State, catcher Eric Garza and infielder Brayden Little of Vernon (Texas), outfielder Jake Parsons of Fort Scott (Kan.), outfielder pitcher Derek Towler of Murray State and pitcher/infielder Edgar Lopez of Arizona. Pitcher Trent Scrivner of Eastern Oklahoma will also join the team this year after signing with the Bronchos last fall. The Bronchos will schedule off-season events and practices throughout the summer. “Last season was a great experience for me and the ball club,” Leone said. “It could have gone better for us record-wise, but to finish the season winning 10 out of our last 11 games, it doesn’t get any better than that.” “I’m hoping that the legasy of my first team can carry over into next year. It’s very important that the players coming in realize how important this program is.”