March Vol. 113 Issue 7
Take a closer look News on Campus....... Section A Living in Oklahoma... Section B Sports and Life.......... Section C
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TABLE OF CONTENTS UCO Musical Theatre students bring Broadway classic “Cabaret” to the UCO Jazz Lab. ”Cabaret” first debuted in 1966, and was based on the John Van Druten play “I Am a Camera.” Photo by Cara Johnson, The Vista.
NAME AND POSITION Alex Brown Editor-in-Chief
Matthew Peterson Photographer
Queila Omena Managing Editor
Brianna Ryba Photographer
Daltyn Moeckel Design Editor
Kateleigh Mills Reporter
Bradley Jayroe Sports Editor
Jessica Phillips Reporter
Ryan Naeve Photo Editor
Eriech Tapia Reporter
Sabrin Abu Seir Copy Editor
Rachael Corbin Reporter
Cara Johnson Photographer
Ike Wilcots Sports Reporter
David Terry Photographer
Teddy Burch Advisor
SECTION A Latest at UCO...........................................................3
Editorials................................................................6-7
UCO Budget Cuts.................................................4-5
News on Campus.................................................8-19
Columns.............................................................20-23
ON THE COVER As humans, sometimes we move through life partially blinded. We may walk past the same buildings and scenery everyday; however, we usually don’t take time to notice the details and beauty. Next time you walk down your daily path, take a closer look. There’s more to life than meets the eye. Photos by Ryan Naeve, The Vista, Cover Illustrations by Daltyn Moeckel.
Advertise with the Vista: The Vista is published monthly 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
The Vista is published as a newspaper and public forum by UCO students, monthly 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. 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 250 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 73034-5209, or deliver in person to the editor in the Communications Building, Room 131. Letters can be emailed to vistauco@gmail.com.
Students gather outside of their classrooms in the dark during a campus wide power outage at UCO. The power outage, which was caused by a squirrel entering a power substation, was resolved within an hour. Photo by Ryan Naeve, The Vista.
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LATEST AT UCO
Oklahomans shaken up by quakes Katie Standlee @kkkkkatiemarie Contributing Writer
The recent earthquakes that have occurred have homeowners shaken up about their insurance plan. Homeowners seem to be looking more into what it means to be covered by earthquake insurance and why it is important. According to the Insurance Information Institute, the U.S. has about 20,000 earthquakes a year, mostly small. 42 states are at risk of quakes, according to the U.S. Geological Survey. Earthquake insurance actually isn’t covered under standard homeowner’s or renter’s policies; earthquake insurance is its own separate policy. The best way to know what is right for your specific residence is to speak with an insurance agent, whether that means a new agent or one you already have a relationship with, they will know what will best fit you. “It’s important to be covered because you, as the home owner, want to have some recourse to rebuild or repair your home in the event of an earth quake,” Michael Barry, vice president of Media Relations for Insurance Information
Rescue teams stand by as heavy excavation machinery continues to dig through the rubble of a collapsed building complex in Tainan, Taiwan, Thursday, Feb. 11, 2016. The Tainan District Prosecutors Office said in a statement Wednesday that they have approved the detention of three construction company executives who are suspected to have overseen shoddy construction of the 17-story Weiguan Golden Dragon building, which tumbled on to its side following an earthquake Saturday. (AP Photo/Johnson Lai)
Institute said. Being covered by earthquake insurance is especially important when living close to a fault line. However, it is also important to keep in mind that when
earthquakes hit they can be wide spread. Ultimately, it is up to the home owner and what will make the homeowner feel at ease. Without earthquake insurance, if a
In this Aug. 4, 2015 fill photo, Gov. Mary Fallin talks with the media after meeting with members of the Coordinating Council on Seismic Activity in Oklahoma City. With both the number and power of earthquakes increasing in Oklahoma, the Republican-controlled Legislature may be ready to take steps aimed at curbing the quakes scientists have linked to the underground disposal of oil and gas wastewater. (AP Photo/Sue Ogrocki, File)
home experiences damage the consequences could mean paying for the damage out-of-pocket. Being covered by earthquake insurance can help reduce that out-of-pocket pay in the event of damage. Many are unsure about earthquake insurance and if they need it. “Like any insurance you have to think, ‘How am I going to feel if it happens,’” said Michelle Schaefer, an insurance agent. Referring to how much coverage you can have when it comes to earthquake insurance, you must have earthquake coverage equal to 100 percent of the replacement cost of your home, there’s no option, said Schaefer. “It’s all or nothing. You can’t say I want you to cover half of my home.” Earthquake damage has increased for many reasons, some being due to frequent urban development and some because of homes that are older. When an older home gets hit by an earthquake it can be dangerous because the house may not be up to code anymore because it is out of date. Just as it is important to be insured by earthquake insurance, it also important to make sure that the home itself is up to date and safe for any event.
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UCO BUDGET CUTS
Budget shortfalls could lead to caps Eriech Tapia @eriechtapia95 Reporter
The University of Central Oklahoma is looking for ways to cut their budget in one of the largest shortfalls to higher education, with $4.6 million in cuts and $1.6 million from a credit hour production shortfall coming to the university. “What we know as of today, from the beginning of the rescissions, is $6.2 million to date cut,” UCO President Don Betz said. The university is considering raising tuition and fees across the board, capping student enrollment and cutting excess spending, however, no official decision has been made. “We have been working on this long and hard, scenario playing, so we will
get it to work out,” Dr. John Barthell said, UCO provost. “It is irresponsible to wait on what you are going to do in this situation.” The Oklahoma State System of Higher Education announced $32.1 million in cuts to the higher education system at their meeting, March 3, following a $24.1 million approval in cuts during the same meeting and a $26.3 million reduction from the oil and gas production shortfall. Oklahoma Gov. Mary Fallin, is requesting that $51 million of the state’s Rainy Day Fund go to education; however, the relief would only affect common education, not higher education.
“This is the time in Oklahoma history to ask those fundamental questions that proceed past the politics of the moment, when we ask what kind of state are you leaving to your grandchild,” Betz said during the higher education meeting. The first round of cuts came in January and totaled $1.28 million. In addition, a $1.51 million shortfall from the state’s oil and gas gross production tax in February, and another budget cut of $1.83 million came in March, equaling the $4.6 million cut from the state appropriations to UCO. “You cannot keep spending if you don’t have the money,” Patti Neuhold said, associate vice president for plan-
The University of Central Oklahoma is looking at a budget cut of $4.6 million in the near future. The university is considering raising tuition fees, capping enrollment, and possibly retirement buyouts, but no final decisions have been made. Photo by Ryan Naeve, The Vista.
ning and budget at UCO. UCO received $51.5 million dollars for the fiscal year 2016, according to the Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education. Due to two budget cuts and a shortfall to date, the university has been cut to $46.8 million in their base operations budget from the state. In addition, UCO is experiencing internal budget shortfalls, with a revenue reduction caused by a lower than expected credit hour production. A result of a lower than expected revenue from student fees and tuition. According to the UCO Factbook, credit hours for the fall of 2015 have maintained an average of 11.2 per student, even with the largest freshman class in the university’s history. Sophomore and junior levels, however, saw a decrease in the number of students. UCO is considering many different options according to Betz. The university is considering capping enrollment for the first time in its history due to high enrollment numbers and not having enough faculty. “We have too many students for the amount of faculty we have,” Betz said. When asked whether early retirement buyouts would be offered to faculty and staff, currently underway at other universities, Betz said ,no specific initiatives have been finalized. The total for the entire higher education cut for the 2016 year is $106.6 million, 10.8 percent cut, with many cuts taking effect immediately at universities across the state. “It is relatively impossible to make up that difference anywhere in the near future,” Betz said. The university received $51.4 million this last budget year from the state of Oklahoma, representing 26.4 percent of the entire UCO budget. Every university across the state has received an 8.89 percent cut from the Oklahoma State Regents Office. “What I think we have done is adjusted Oklahoma’s commitment to public
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UCO BUDGET CUTS
Graph from the University of Central Oklahoma Factbook 2015-2016.
higher education,” Betz said. Administrators in higher education expect additional cuts to possibly hit the state in the coming months as revenue collection is expected to fall. “These reductions [of $4.6 million] do not include those which may occur
prior to the end of the fiscal year should the state again declare a revenue failure and make additional across-the-board reductions in support to all state agencies,” Betz said in an email response. UCO administration is continuing to look for ways to cut the budget, in
preparation for the next budget release, expected to be over the summer. “At the same time you do not want to panic anybody and work through it,” Barthell said when speaking about reviewing areas the university is looking at for cuts.
The budget shortfall does not affect student activity dollars, a separate category, though it and other fees could increase if a mandatory across-the-board fee hike is implemented.
Overcrowding has become a serious issue for UCO. For the first time in history, UCO is considering a cap on number of students allowed in each year. Photo by Cara Johnson, The Vista.
EDITORIAL
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CAMPAIGNS The joke’s over
Sabrin Abu Seir @SabrinAbuSeir
Copy Editor
Everyone loves a good hype. There is a certain hilarity to hearing someone stand up and say the most outlandish things, that many of us have thought at one point in passing, but would never say out loud because of their absurdity and lack of merit. Such is the case with GOP candidate Donald J. Trump. Many of us have been so focused on the humor behind his campaign, his ludicrous statements to constituents, nonconformists and of course his opposition,
namely; Hillary Clinton, Ted Cruz, Bernie Sanders and Marco Rubio. However, the difference with Trump is, his statements are not just passing comments or a humorous joke. He believes what he says with conviction, which is scary. The primaries are underway and November is quickly approaching. It’s time to stop being funny and start being serious about who we elect as the next president of our country. Ask yourself in all honesty if you would really want a
man who makes fun of everyone; peers, colleagues and even fellow citizens. The very citizens he is campaigning to preside over. He has insulted people’s features, personalities, statements, viewpoints, religion, ethnicity and more. He has had citizens kicked out of his rallies for holding signs protesting his stance. Even the ones that were peacefully protesting. Trump has had more violent outbreaks at his rallies than any other presidential candidate in this election. Reports show the majority of violence has been towards
Presidential candidate Donald Trump speaks to a crowd of several thousand people at a campaign rally in Oklahoma City on Friday, February 26. Photo by David Terry, The Vista.
minorities. At one point, Trump even gave permission to his supporters, encouraging them to act violently. “Get him out …Try not to hurt him. If you do, I’ll defend you in court,” Trump encouraged rally goers after a protestor interrupted him. One video shows a young black woman being shoved violently around and towards the exit by Trump supporters as they called her derogatory names. One of them was even a 75-year-old Korean War veteran. Since then Alvin Bamberger, the veteran, released an apology. He said he was sincerely sorry and got caught up in the emotion. So again, let me ask, would you really want this man as your leader? A man who encourages hatred, violence, discrimination and causes people to lose themselves. Trump is not the only candidate to cast insulting com-
ments or make ridiculous comments. Other presidential candidates have had their less than flattering moments as well. Almost every candidate has had their moments making a mockery of the presidential campaign process and many have shed a poor light on their parties. This, in my opinion, has been the worst run of presidential campaigns this country has ever seen. Yet, I focus on Trump for the way he has treated people. It is one thing to say a bunch of unbelievable statements but to promote and applaud violence is taking it a bit far. Everyone has a right to their opinions and beliefs. But, no one has the right to demean and devalue someone else because of their opinions and beliefs. Especially a person running for presidency. So, for a third time I ask, do you really want Trump as your leader?
More than that, Trump’s campaign has very little substance. He rarely speaks on his platform or elaborates on how he is going to: Make America Great Again. Anytime he has been asked about his plans or the ways he would approach various situations, he avoids the question. He claims he doesn’t want to broadcast his intentions. He gives us no examples as to how he would approach major issues he could face as president. So basically, he is selling nothing and a lot of people are buying. I’m not saying don’t vote for Trump. If you truly believe in his campaign and what he stands for then by all means cast your vote. But know who you are voting for. This is one of those times when you have to stand up and be objective. The joke is over.
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EDITORIAL
How to deal with change Queila Omena @queilaomena Managing Editor
I can’t accept how fast time is passing by. I can’t accept how much I’ve changed. It’s hard to let memories go, and focus on the future when the only thing you want to do is rewind back to old moments. The question is: Have I lost myself in this transition, or do I just understand life better? We want to live in the moment, but we don’t want to let past memories disappear from our busy minds. When I was younger, I didn’t pay attention to responsibilities and I just wanted to have fun with my friends—probably a little too much fun. Where I would be in five years didn’t matter, because I was living in the present, the here and now. Shopping at 2 a.m. made sense, and so did all the crazy, endless parties with foreign students. Going to the beach, skipping school to go hiking and all the traveling in South California was a part of my week. It was a part of me. I was adventurous, reckless and simply young.
All the nights spent at State Street exploring the town, the sand in my shoes and the handsome surfers, made me understand Western life better. They were right: California is amazing. Beverly Hills, Santa Monica, and all the celebrities’ spots gave me excitement and thrill just to be around talented people that gave it all to follow their dreams in California. Ex-servers that went to L.A. to invest in their future without hesitation. People that never gave up. Sometimes I wish I did the same. Maybe I shouldn’t have left California after all, but maybe I should have. Leaving my past behind made me who I am today, and helped me love myself with all my flaws. It made me understand my scars, and find true meaning in them. At 17 years old living on another continent, I had no option but to accept myself and understand my deepest fears. I was lost. I was confused.
Having to leave my family and friends behind was a part of my life as an international student; carrying heavy luggage in the airport was a part of my life too. Every hug could be the last. But it also could last forever. As I logon my Facebook account, I see my friends from back home participating in each other’s lives: going to graduations, birthday parties, weddings, celebrations and so forth. Should I have left Brazil six years ago, or should I have stayed and never aspired for a different life? I gave everything up, but gained much more than I ever desired. I gained my true self and found meaning in life. I left my sorrows and hoped for a better future. I don’t regret my past decisions. The person that I was didn’t disappear, but has been upgraded. On this journey I learned to appreciate moments in life, and never take a second for granted. Everyday is a new day to reinvent yourself.
Moving and adapting to change is something that everybody has to deal with at some pont or another. Sometimes life can move by faster than we’d like, but it’s important to let go of the past and not lose hope for the future. Photo provided by Pixabay.com
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POVERTY ON CAMPUS
The unknown issue: food insecurity on campus Eriech Tapia @eriechtapia95 Reporter
With the cost of tuition rising over the past decade, along with fees and the average cost of living expenses, many students now have less disposable income than ever and are having to cut costs, and it is seen mostly with food. With 7,938 students at the University of Central Oklahoma taking out loans, averaging $8,2oo per recipient in 2013-2014 school year, repaying these loans and still paying for food can be burdensome. Central Pantry at the university is hoping to curb the problem of campus hunger by providing food for students, faculty and staff, helping an average of 300 to 400 people per month. The Cost Problem: Students across campus continue to feel the pinch before payday when it comes to buying groceries or meals, though many students on campus receive no aid for college cost or housing. The cost of tuition continues to rise, with 30 hours of tuition running $5,157. This does not include fees
that can cost upwards of $1,000 per semester. “These students using the pantry have full time jobs or cannot provide the food they need,” Eric Hemphill said, assistant director of student alternative transportation, citing that rising living costs are forcing students to rely on programs like Central Pantry. “This issue, in the last year, has blown up,” Hemphill said, speaking on food insecurity due to the rising cost of living. In addition to the cost of tuition and fees, the cheapest room and meal plan at the university costs $4,848 per semester, with the total cost for one-year averaging upwards of $10,000. Off campus students must rely on what they can afford. “People are bound to only eat what their meal plan provides,” Ocean Scheel said, UCO sophomore. “I could say confidently that 95 percent of the usage is from students,” said Jerrah Conley, administrative assistant for the Volunteer and Service Learning
Center, who coordinates donations for Central Pantry. “Not being hungry is key to student success,” Conley said. She did rely on the pantry her last two semesters of college, sometimes having to find spare change in her car to pay for food. Students who use the cheapest meal plan on campus only receive 10 meals per week and $25 per semester on flex, leaving 11 meals for the student to pay for per week. “People don’t always have money or access to get the food they need,” Conley said. Along with Conley, UCO sophomore Makenna Mittelstet spoke on days she skipped meals when money was less abundant, eating a granola bar instead of a meal. “It shed light onto what other people go through,” Mittelstet said. “If you really need help that week then you should get help.” Financial planning is a key for certain students to avoid food insecurity, with many planning out their meals or skipping going out to eat. “I have friends
The Central Pantry is on the second floor of the Nigh University Center. Any student who is in need of food is welcome to take food from Central Pantry with no questions asked. Photo by David Terry, The Vista.
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POVERTY ON CAMPUS who can only get food that their meal plan provides,” UCO freshman Savannah Blue Collins said. The Unknown Problem: The pantry started in 2012 and was the first one to be introduced into an Oklahoma college, after community food banks saw a number of UCO students using them. Hemphill said that research about food insecurity is something new and little is known about the issue. “A lot of the agencies around town said that UCO students were using their resources,” Hemphill said. “Students had a need.” Being one of the first college food pantries in the state, the university had to look at other colleges for examples and looked to The University of Arkansas and Portland University for inspiration. “All of this stuff is very low key,” Collins said. Since then, Northeastern State University has introduced a food pantry, and the University of Oklaho-
ma is planning on introducing one by Fall 2016. “It’s a little bit bigger issue than our campus realizes,” Conley said. The College and University Food Bank Alliance has started a national study to look at the issue of food insecurity. Hemphill said that food insecurity is a big thing now. Users of the Central Pantry, according to Hemphill and Conley, are not concentrated on just one demographic of the school. However, they did say that families and students who pay for school use the pantry more than others. “These are not faceless individuals,” Hemphill said. “It is our peers who are going through this.” The Central Pantry offers guests a variety of different products to choose from, including fresh produce when available, something that Hemphill said is one of the first things people omit when cutting their budgets.
Graphs from the University of Central Oklahoma Factbook 2015-2016.
The VSLC has two gardens that students can receive fresh food from. “To me there is something better about a fresh tomato than a canned tomato,” Hemphill said. The gardens are located on the south balcony of the Nigh University Center and at the Rankin YMCA. “It is an on-campus opportunity to give students fresh food,” Hemphill said. “It is more of a shopping experience.” The pantry does run low on fresh produce often due to low donations, though canned food continues to be one of their strongest areas, but the VSLC is hoping to change the imbalance. The organization does receive donations from multiple food drives throughout the year and acquires food from local Homeland stores. “We have been fortunate with some of the food drives in the fall of 2015,” Hemphill said. “A little bit of compassion helps restore faith in the world.”
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CAMPUS NEWS
SAFE opposes discriminatory bathroom bill Ryan Salter @rjsalt93
Contributing Writer
The LGBT community has stated, the Senate Bill 1014 that requires people to use bathrooms consistent with their biological gender is discriminatory. “It stems from a lack of understanding,” said Student Alliance for Equality President, Jon Lowrey. “Defining people from a lack of diversity will cause harm, and make it harder for transgender people to live in the state of Oklahoma. I feel if Oklahoma legislatures knew a transgender person, they would have a new understanding and be less eager to pass the bill.” SAFE is an organization at the University of Central Oklahoma that provides support for students who are gay, bisexual, lesbian or transgender as well as others around the community. They recently invited Troy Stevenson, director of Freedom Oklahoma, the state’s LGBT group to UCO. He talked about the 28 discrimination acts from the
bill, which is the highest number in any state toward LGBT people. He asked members to go to the capital to talk to legislatures and explain why the bill is bad for them. “Unisex bathrooms uphold the idea gender is a construct society has created,” said Lowrey. “People have used those all their life and nobody freaked out about it.” “I hope SAFE does a good job telling people, gay people are in UCO and Oklahoma. Representing them will say there’s no net positive by making people feel awkward by using bathrooms that represents their gender,” continued Lowrey. The Oklahoma Senate Bill 1014 was enacted, January 12, 2016 as part of the Oklahoma Statutes. It reads: “It shall be unlawful for a person to use a gender-specific restroom when that person’s biological gender is con-
trary to that of the gender specific restroom...The State Board of Health shall promulgate rules to implement the provisions of this act.” It is set to be effective Nov. 1, 2016. Republican Sen. Joseph Silk of Broken Bow, filed the bill for public safety after hearing his supporters fearing male pedophiles identifying as females going into women’s restrooms. Many people in Oklahoma agree with him on this issue, and schools are also supporting his efforts. A spokesman for the Oklahoma State Department of Health said until lawmakers have voted and made it a law, they will not have a role whatsoever. While no bathroom police will catch people who violate the law, according to Sen. Silk, violators will be prosecuted.
Oklahoma Senate bill 1014 has been called discriminitory by the LGBT community. The bill, which was passed on Jan. 12, 2016, states that public restrooms must be used in accordance with one’s biological gender. Photo by Ryan Naeve, The Vista.
CAMPUS NEWS
N.O.W.
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on campus
Megan Prather
@meganthefeline
Contributing Writer
The University of Central Oklahoma’s National Organization for Women held its first meeting of the semester Wednesday, January 20. “We also say it’s UCO’s Organization for Gender Equality because we are welcoming to all genders,” said Dr. Lindsey Churchill, faculty sponsor. While the organization has been around for several years, it was revived in 2013. NOW focuses on a variety of gender related issues spanning anywhere from body image to reproductive justice. The group’s current project of focus is creating an on-campus daycare option for UCO students. “In February there will be a resolu-
tion on the floor in the University of Central Oklahoma Students Association about childcare for the UCO community,” Churchill said. “We want to find viable options for childcare that help our students and improve graduation and retention rates. This is a student-led coalition.” Courtney Mertz, co-president of NOW, said that the goal is to get the movement seen as a need presented by the student body. “When people show up to the vote it makes those voting actually take it seriously,” graduate student and UCOSA member Ben Rose said. UCOSA currently has $460,000 in its “rainy day” fund.
NOW also works with the Women’s Research Center and the BGLTQ+ Students Center which promote engagement with both women’s and gender issues to support interdisciplinary, educational and social programs. NOW has other events planned for the spring semester as well, starting with a film festival titled Women in Film that will be presented by NOW and the UCO Film Society. The first film being shown is a documentary called Harlan County USA which looks at the roles of women in a particular violent workers strike. This event will take place in the Pegasus Theater, January 27 at 7 p.m. The group will also be coordinating
events for Sexual Assault Awareness Month in March, including Take Back the Night, which is an event that focuses on sexual assault. “Last year there were so many people lined up to talk about their experience with sexual assault it took over an hour and a half,” Churchill said. NOW meets every other Wednesday at 5:00 p.m. in room 201 of the Nigh University Center and new members are always welcome. “If you are looking for an organization that takes action and can make a difference on campus this is the place to be,” said Churchill.
An attendee to the first NOW meeting of the year examines an informative flyer about gender diversity. Photo by Ryan Naeve, The Vista. Editor’s note: In the February 2016 issue of The Vista, there was a misprint in regards to the reporter for this story. We have made the appropriate changes for this issue above.
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UCO WORLD HONOR
UCO receives world honor Candice Macis @c_annemacis
Contributing Writer
The University of Central Oklahoma was named a 2015 International University of the Year by The Higher Education Review, a magazine in India. UCO was the only college in America recognized in the magazine’s December 2015 special edition issue. Some other colleges named were in places like Australia, Ireland, and the U.K. The magazine gave many reasons for UCO’s distinction among the international community. In a two page feature story called “University of Central Oklahoma: Supporting Research through Cutting-Edge Technology,” the magazine wrote about UCO’s supercomputer program, its other one of a kind programs and state-level collaborations. UCO’s supercomputer, Buddy, was given special attention in the article. Buddy is housed in the College of Mathematics and Science and is the result of a $304,745 research grant from the National Science Foundation. The supercomputer allows researchers to work on problems much faster than they ordinarily could. Buddy can transfer information 890 times faster than the average cable internet speed, and it allows multiple users to work at once. The article emphasized how Buddy is especially helpful in simulations of engineering research. Another reason the publication gave UCO distinctive status among the international community was the unique programs offered. UCO is the only college in the state to offer degrees in forensic science, biomedical engineering, professional golf management and more. The Academy of Contemporary
Music was also noted in the article. The ACM@UCO is led by CEO Scott Booker, manager of the Flaming Lips and other professional bands. The ACM@UCO is the only academy of its kind in America and is partnered with the original ACM in Guildford, U.K. The mission of The Higher Education Review is to help Indian students, faculty and leaders interconnect and give valuable insight into current higher education trends. The 2015 International University of the Year was named in line with this mission: “With a commitment to provide true information to the student community and Indian higher education sector, we have identified some of the best universities around the world where Indian students can pursue their higher education dreams.” India has one of the youngest populations in the world. The number of 15-34-year-olds has increased steadily since 2001, but the country suffers from poor university choices. They have chronic faculty shortages, outdated curriculum and no accountability. The demand from Indian students for international education is high, and this makes UCO’s recognition even more special. The Office of Global Affairs has worked hard on building strong relations with Indian students and institutions. Executive Director Dennis Dunham, Ph.D., and Assistant Director of International Recruitment Brandon Lehman traveled to India in January to accept the honor.
The University of Central Oklahoma’s supercomputer, “Buddy,” was praised in a “Higher Education Review” article. “Buddy” is able to process and transfer information 890 times faster than average internet speeds. Photo by Ryan Naeve, The Vista.
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CAMPUS NEWS
SAE at UCO
Skyler Baldwin
@skylerbaldwin13
Contributing Writer
The University of Central Oklahoma is welcoming a new fraternity on campus, adding to the already diverse selection for students interested in Greek life; however, this addition has sparked some controversy across the campus. Sigma Alpha Epsilon was founded in 1856, and is the only fraternity to be founded in the Antebellum South. It is currently one of the largest national social fraternities in existence. It is founded upon the idea of the “True Gentleman” and is instating a new chapter on UCO’s campus. “We really wanted to go there,” said Coordinator of Expansion for SAE Aaron Birney. “We have a lot of alumni in the area, and we did an institutional survey of the university, and campus life decided that this was a good place for us to pursue because of the campus population.” Fraternity and Sorority life has had a strong presence on UCO’s campus
for over 50 years, and Birney feels that SAE’s goals on campus will be met. “We want our students to have great academics, be leaders on campus, and to add to the campus experience that’s going on,” he said. However, some students feel that given SAE’s history, they may only bring problems to the campus. Many are especially concerned because of the recent incident at the University of Oklahoma which led to the shutdown of SAE’s OU chapter in 2015. Though others feel the conflict would come not from the fraternity itself but from misinformation of those already on campus. “If anything, it would just bring more conflict,” Freshman and Theatre Performance major Terrell Cox said. “People are already going with this preconceived notion that SAE is a bad fraternity. That it would bring more racism or conflicts than necessary.”
Sigma Alpha Epsilon’s Coat-of-Arms symbol is the most formal representation of the fraternity, which is over 150 years old. Photo provided by sae.net.
Although this was not the only incident of this nature committed by members of SAE, they are scattered and uncommon, and Birney said he does not feel that there will be similar issues at UCO.
Levi Pettit apoligizes for his behavior in a video that depicted him, as well as other members of the University of Oklahoma chapter of Sigma Alpha Epsilon, singing a racial chant on a bus. Pettit has since been expelled from OU. Photo provided by the Associated Press.
“We do not expect any racism whatsoever,” he said. “We expect that this group help lead the campus and the community. We learned a lot from the incident in Oklahoma. We expect our members to learn from it as well because we have trained so much.” Investigations and surveys over the OU incident are still occurring, and so far, very few chapters of SAE are actually known to have been familiar with the chant that caused the issue. Cox doesn’t feel that the addition of SAE on campus will really change anything, but that any fraternity or sorority would have issues that they would have to work to defeat. “A lot of people would see that it’s a bad thing that it’s coming to this campus,” Cox said. “But you have to realize that a lot of fraternities on this campus are no different. They all have flaws that they have to overcome.” Though some may believe the diversity on this campus would be an issue for SAE, Birney said he feels that it’s the best thing for the chapter. “Our fraternity is strictly made up of students of the campus,” he said. “If UCO is doing a good job with diversity, I trust that our decision to be on UCO’s campus would facilitate the diversity of the fraternity. If the right students are on campus in the first place, we can only benefit from that.”
15A
CAMPUS NEWS
The Vagina Monologues Preshus Bagby @pbagby1@uco.edu Contributing Writer
The Vagina Monologues brought in a full house on opening night. The room was full of people not knowing what to expect from an event with such a title. The University of Central Oklahoma’s Women’s Outreach Center has been hosting the play for the past four years. The event brings out a mixture of men and women from all over campus. Based off the play by Eve Ensler, The Vagina Monologues is more than just a lecture over the female anatomy. It is about women truly loving and accepting themselves. The play is performed all over the country, reminding women how awesome they are. When Ensler first started performing her work, she did all of the monologues by herself. Now the monologues are read by multiple women portraying the different things women experience. The play touches on child birth, sex, rape, menstruation, female genital mutilation, acceptance and more. It touches on many things that women experience, or at least things that others they know have been through. Additionally, the Vagina Monologues
aren’t just about women. They are also about transgenderism. One monologue talks about a boy who wanted to be like his mom and sister. He grew up living like a heterosexual man most of his life, eventually undergoing a sex change. She was finally happy until they killed her lover for loving a transgender. During the V-Day movement is when the monologues are usually performed between Feb. 1 and April 30. V-Day is a movement to end violence against women and girls. It shows performances, documentaries and other things to try to change the social injustice towards women. UCO Women’s Outreach Center holds several events throughout the school year to bring awareness to the social injustices facing women. The program also celebrates women and the achievements that they have made. To get involved with the Women’s Outreach Center, join them on OrgSync and follow them on social media. For more information, contact Rachel Fairchild at woc@uco.edu or call 405-9743626.
(Above) Dezzarae Flynn performs Vagina Happy Fact in The Vagina Monologues at Radke Theatre. Photo by David Terry, The Vista.
Alyssa Compton, Chasady Minnifield, Haley Korff, and Allie Conoy perform They Beat the Boy Out of my Girl in The Vagina Monologues at Radke Theatre. Photo by David Terry, The Vista.
16A
CAMPUS NEWS
Poetry reading: Speaking in Tongues Rachael Corbin @rachaelcorbin Reporter
The Department of Modern Languages at the University of Central Oklahoma is presenting a Speaking in Tongues Poetry Reading Competition March 24 at the UCO Jazz Lab. Contestants are asked to recite poetry, whether solo or in a group of no more than four, in a language other than English. Although most choose to perform Spanish or Chinese poetry, poems in other languages such as Russian or Portuguese are welcome as well. The competition will be judged by faculty members of the Department of Modern Languages. Contestants will be graded on six points: physical presence, voice and articulation, dramatic appropriateness, level of difficulty, depth of understanding, and overall performance. It isn’t a requirement for contestants to have their individual poems memorized-- however, the judges will likely be more inclined to give a higher score to those
who perform from memory. There will be a monetary prize for whoever wins. The sum depends on how much the faculty donates for Speaking in Tongues. Participants aren’t the only ones who stand to gain from attending this competition. Admission is free to the public and will allow them exposure to different languages. “The program has the poems written in English so the audience can follow along even if they don’t speak the language,” Crimson Mason administrative assistant for the Department of Modern Languages said. Whether students are attending for extra credit or for fun, Speaking in Tongues is an education in how societies from other cultures are different, but also how they are the same. “You can kind of see how similar it is to our culture too,” Mason said. “You know, the themes are kind of
similar to what you would read from poems in English. You can see that we’re not that different from people from other cultures.” Dr. Catherine S. Webster, professor of French and chair of Modern Languages, Literature, and Cultural Studies, believes UCO students may take this opportunity to expose themselves to a variety of different languages for granted. “It’s a rare event,” Webster said. “Our students take it for granted because it’s just a part of what we do. But when I told my friends from graduate school who teach at other places that we have these sort of events, they thought ‘wow, that’s incredible.’” The event is scheduled for 7 to 9 p.m. Applications are due March 21, and are available in Thatcher Hall 204.
17A
CAMPUS NEWS
MEDITATION Interfaith room in the works
Luke Overmyer @lmdrluke
Contributing Writer
The University of Central Oklahoma Student Association passed legislature Feb. 22 that could allow for the creation of an interfaith meditation room on campus. If approved, this room will be available for students, faculty and staff so that they may use it for personal and spiritual reflection. “This has been implemented by other large universities in the area, and I believe that this is a good idea for UCO to implement as well,” UCOSA Senator Caroline Reckner said. Student interest has grown for the creation of this room over the last few years with multiple on-campus organizations backing it up. A majority of the lobbying for this legislation has come from the Muslim Student Organization, International Christian Association, Fellowship of Christian Athletes, and the Intervarsity Christian Fellowship. As a result, section one of the legislature passed by the student congress states that “The UCO Student Congress has heard the opinions of the UCO Student Body and it is our opinion that developing a private interfaith/meditation room within a centralized student community area is necessary for our students’ collective success.” While the university does have the Y-Chapel of song, the building is mainly used currently for weddings, initiations and other various meetings, whereas the interfaith meditation room will be solely a place for students and faculty to reflect and meditate. “I’m really excited to hear that UCO is considering going forward with this project. It is a great idea to have a place on campus for students both religious and non religious, to have a place to reflect,” UCO student Stephen Knight said. Furthermore, the interfaith room will be built given the consideration for student privacy and accessibility, along with access to appropriate spiritual and meditation materials.
“I think it is a great idea. We are so religiously diverse on campus. It’s great
However, while the student congress endorses the creation of this bill, it may
reaching a final decision. “The bill is still in the very begin-
that the university is thinking about providing us with a calming atmosphere
still take time to see it on campus. For instance, even though the legislation was
ning stages, and as far as the funding and everything else goes it is now up to
for people from various faiths,” UCO student Reagan Miller said.
passed by UCOSA, it still needs the approval from the faculty and staff before
the Campus Development committee,” Reckner said.
A young woman studies her bible during down time. The UCO student government has been pursuing the creation of an interfaith room, where students of any religion will be free to come and express their faith. Photo provided by Pexels.com
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CAMPUS NEWS
Progress at Old North Eriech Tapia @eriechtapia95 Reporter
Leaving a note for the future, students and faculty came out before spring break to leave a piece of history for the next portion of Old North’s life at the University of Central Oklahoma, with construction of the building continuing on schedule. “People gave their lives to something they saw in the future,” Sandi Stewart, executive assistant to President Betz. Leaving a piece of history for future generations, in the form of steal beams with messages, was an idea that came from Stewart after she wanted this generation to leave a message for the future. “I believe that we need to leave our mark for those who continue to come to this university,” Stewart said. “We have this opportunity, 125 years later, to make a difference for future generations.” The three beams will be used in the structure of the clock tower at Old North. Though being at the top of the structure, guest to the building will not be able to catch a glimpse of the beams due to the clock tower not being structurally stable. Construction started last summer and is now on phase two of the three-part project, which includes adding drywall to the building in preparation for its August 1 substantial completion date. However,
the building does not have to be completed until 30 days after that. “They are staying on schedule, it is such a complex situation, that they are having to go in sequencing everything,” Teresa Delaney said, project manager for Old North. “They will have little touch up things to do after that.” Crews at Old North had to start with construction on the fourth floor and work their way down to the first floor. They are continuing the same process into the final stages, with drywall being sent into the fourth floor. “It is such a complex project that is being completed,” Delaney said, “Right now we are almost done with the final demolition phase.” Each floor will serve a different group on campus. The fourth floor will be office space, the third floor the president’s office, the second floor will be classrooms, and the first floor will be used for the College of Education and Psychology. “We are trying to create a historic element to the building and to not cover up certain things,” Delaney said on leaving certain beams and walls open to add to the historic appeal. The building was originally used for the College of Education and Psychology before it closed in 2000, according to the UCO foundation office due to structural aging. Construction crews will be shutting down additional sidewalks in the coming months between Evans Hall and Old North, in addition closing sidewalks around the amphitheater at Old North to complete a new staging area. They are going to complete this area, between Old North and Evans, quickly so it is not closed off for too long, Delaney said. However, the area could possibly not be open for graduation and a new route would have to be considered. There are no details on when the current administration parking lot will be closed, though the newest parking lot across the street will need to be completed before a final date is set.
Old North currently sits walled off and boarded up, The renovation of the 123 year old building began in Summer of 2015 and is set to be completed by July 2016. Photo by Ryan Naeve, The Vista.
DONATE 19A
CAMPUS NEWS
Providing aid to victims in Nepal
Ryan Salter @rjsalt93
Contributing Writer
The Nepal Student Association at the University of Central Oklahoma, is working with UNICEF, the United Nations Children’s Fund, to help precede its fund to the victims of Nepal affected by the 7.8 magnitude earthquake, April 25, 2015. The NSA set up a table, March 7 at the Nigh building to raise donations to help the victims of Nepal. Despite not being able to travel to Nepal, they do their part by raising money and giving it to UNICEF for repairing damages in the country. So far they have raised about $1,000. “I was in Nepal on the day of the earthquake. I nearly died. It’s very hard to explain my reaction,” said RäTišh Kc, one of the members at the donation table in the Nigh building. He, as well as the NSA, believe there has been progress in repairing Nepal with the help of many countries.
Nepal was struck by a 7.8 magnitude earthquake, April 25, 2015 at 11:56 a.m. NST. Over 8,000 people were killed with 21,000 others injured. It was the biggest earthquake to hit Nepal since 1934. The earthquake also triggered an avalanche on Mount Everest, killing 21 hikers. The NSA will continue to have a table set up at the Nigh building all week long. UNICEF is an organization that provides children who have disabilities, live in harsh poverty or have illnesses with well-being support. It was created to guide them through difficult obstacles in their life so that they may be better people later in life. They are active in over 190 countries and have been supporting children in need for 70 years. The NSA represents Nepalese people and the culture and welcomes anybody who wishes to join. It has been
an ongoing organization for more than 10 years at UCO. Their meetings are Mondays from 7:30- 8:30 p.m. at the Nigh Center in Room 316. The current president is Neushan Pradhan. The NSA will be hosting the upcoming Nepal Night 2016, March 27. Students can sign up to perform at the event and get a chance to win a Beat Pill Speaker, a 9-inch Android tablet or a TONE Bluetooth headphone. All prizes are provided by Cellular Fix Cellphone Repair in Edmond. Their previous events included Dashian Night, Oct. 18, 2015, another event in which it celebrated the culture of Nepal. Students also signed up to perform at the event as well. Their other event was a car wash fundraiser, Sept. 19, 2015 in which they also raised money for the earthquake relief in Nepal.
The 1st Annual Gender and Sexuality Studies Conference, University of Central Oklahoma, Edmond, Oklahoma.
September 26-28 Deadline for proposals: March 11, 2016
THE CENTER WOMEN’S RESEARCH CENTER & BGLTQ + STUDENT CENTER
A University of Central Oklahoma Organization
The Center at the University of Central Oklahoma, composed of the Women’s Research Center and the BGLTQ+ Student Center, invites proposals for presentations at the first annual Gender and Sexuality Studies Conference, which will take place September 26-28, 2016 in Edmond, Oklahoma. The organizers of this international interdisciplinary conference welcome proposals for presentations in a variety of formats that address
An elderly injured woman is taken to her home after treatment in Bhaktapur near Kathmandu, Nepal, Sunday, April 26, 2015. Photo by Niranjan Shrestha, Associated Press.
issues of gender and sexuality in the social sciences, humanities, natural sciences, and fine arts. We invite students, faculty, staff, scholars, and activists to propose papers, panels, roundtable discussions, and poster presentations. We also welcome proposals to present or perform creative work including creative writing, drama, music, and visual art. Send a 250-350 word abstract about your project by March 11the thecenteratuco@gmail.com
Additional Information: https://www.facebook.com/thecenteratuco/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/TheCenteratUCO Payment for the conference: Centralconnec*on.org/genderandsexualitystudiesconference
20A
COLUMN
What makes a good professor? Ericka Brumley @ericka_b07 Contributing Writer
In college, sometimes the class that you are in isn’t too good due to a professor. A professor can help or hinder whether or not you gain the knowledge you need to prosper in the work world. Professors can make or break a student. At some point during a student’s college career he or she will come across a professor that changed his or her way of thinking towards school or, unfortunately, a professor that doesn’t teach you much. Here are some qualities that students attending the University of Central Oklahoma have said help make a great professor. Passion. Passion should fuel the teacher. If the teacher is passionate about what he or she teaches, then the students will pick up on that and often times leave wanting to know more about the subject. By showing passion students become more engaged with learning. Communication. Some topics or assignments can often be confusing to the student and when a professor doesn’t have good communication skills or seems unapproachable, it can be difficult for the student to fully grasp what is needed for the assignment and complete it properly. Communication is vital for students and professors for that very reason. “They don’t act like you should already have all of the information down. And when you ask a question in class or
go to their office hours they make you feel like they are understanding and want to be there to help you,” said Jane Paul, a finance major. Caring. Students who have a caring relationship with their professors are generally more successful in the academic field. A caring professor can transform any school experience for a student. “A good professor genuinely cares for the success of the students. The professor seeks to critically engage the students with what they’re learning to show that the student is actually learning and not just memorizing to regurgitate answers for a test,” said Joseph White, a political science major. Ability to listen. Learning can go both ways. A professor must be able to listen and keep an open mind when teaching students. By taking the time to listen to students professors can learn ways they themselves can improve, and they can also help their students to be more comfortable asking questions when they are confused. “Personable, approachable, caring, experienced in that field, someone who wants students to succeed, someone who takes the time to explain and wants you to succeed,” said Rachel Estes, an early childhood education major. Professors have many things to teach that aren’t just in the textbooks.
Travis Biddick, with the UCO Chambers library, helps a student during an APA style class. Photo by Ryan Naeve, The Vista.
NETFLIX 21A
COLUMN
Netflix or study: the struggle
Katrina Butcher @hurriKaneskis
Contributing Writer
Let’s face it: college is not easy. We must divide our time between classes, friends, studying, working and sleeping. Many college students admit to pulling all-nighters just to finish that last minute assignment they procrastinated on. In our syllabi it states “full-time college students are expected to spend approximately 40 hours each week in class attendance and study outside of class. For each hour in class a student is expected to spend two to three hours studying for the class.” Realistically, this does not happen and probably doesn’t even come close. Here are a few tips all of us can follow to hopefully make our lives a little bit easier. Make a to-do list. Buying a planner is great way to start this simple task. Even though we may not want to
add any more weight to our backpacks, a planner can easily keep you organized. Don’t procrastinate. It’s like preaching to the choir, right? It’s annoying to hear, repetitive, and we usually blow professors off when they tell us this. “I’ll start it tomorrow,” or “I’ll just finish it all in one day at the library.” When that day comes though, we instead turn on Netflix, sit at home, and binge watch our favorite shows. Get a head start. In the long run, you’ll save yourself the stress and probably sleep too. Sleep. Music to our ears. Getting a good night’s sleep will ultimately help you succeed. We are supposed to be getting at least eight hours of sleep every night, which once again is unrealistic. However, studies show that getting enough sleep produces higher test scores.
Students often forget one of the easiest tips of all: ask for help if you need it. It’s okay to ask someone for help when you are unsure of an assignment or when you just don’t understand what’s going on. We sometimes fear asking our professors and colleagues for help because we don’t want to sound stupid. Ask anyway. And after you finish that big test or major presentation, always remember to reward yourself. Treat yourself to a night out with friends or go to your favorite hole-in-the-wall restaurant. Your face doesn’t need to be crammed into your book 24/7 in order for you to pass. College is not easy, but with a little help from our professors and probably a little luck, we can do our best.
Most college students know the struggle of dividing time between work, school, and relaxing. A few ways to focus and get more organized are getting a good nights sleep, making a to-do list, and asking for help if necessary. Photo by Matthew Peterson, The Vista.
22A
COLUMN
Searching for:
the perfect body
Abdullah Bashiti @bashroom Contributing Writer
“You look so good! Have you lost weight?” Such words seem harmless whenever you tell them to someone, or if someone tells them to you. But these words might cause a lot of damage to people suffering from eating disorders. Our continuous search for the perfect body has shaped how we view one another, and how we view ourselves. Instead of looking at the heart and personality of a person, we often find that people delve into making instantaneous judgments based upon if a body is curved enough for their own standards. Body image often only plays a small part in someone’s larger struggle to gain control over a part of their lives, punish themselves for something, or express an internal struggle. According to activeminds.org, eating disorders are negative coping mechanisms that develop out of underlying issues like depression or anxiety. Rare cases of eating disorders are about a desire to become thin. In fact, people with eating disorders often have binge eating disorders – an illness that results in significant weight gain. “One of the top misconceptions about eating disorders is that people think patients suffering from eating disorders are too caught up in their looks,” said Dr. Shonna Covin, professor of health at UCO. “That is wrong.” “People also think that it is easy to diagnose an eating disorder by looking at appearance,” Covin added. “That is also another misconception.” You can watch out for a few signs to find out if people you know have an eating disorder. Have they gained or lost significant amount of weight in a short period of time? Have they seemed depressed, anxious, or both? Do they disappear after meals or avoid eating out with other people? Those are just a few signs that you can
keep a look out for, and if you suspect anything, reach out to your loved ones before it’s too late. You might not get a warm welcome when you reach out to them, but your efforts and concerns will be hugely appreciated in the future if they do actually suffer from an eating disorder. In a study that was done by The Development of Ideal Body Image Perceptions in the United States, 69 percent of
elementary school girls who read magazines say that the pictures influence their concept of the ideal body shape. Forty seven percent say the pictures make them want to lose weight. It is always difficult to see someone you know, possibly a close friend or relative, suffering from an eating disorder. It is especially hard to address them if they seem to show some signs of having an eating disorder.
But not talking about the issue will worsen the situation instead of making it better. Reaching out to people suffering from eating disorders and encouraging them that they can get better is only the first step in an amazing journey to living a healthy lifestyle.
Comparing your own body image to celebrities and athletes is a sure-fire way to live a life of disappointment. Everyone is made differently, so be happy with the body you have. Photo by Ryan Naeve, The Vista.
23A
COLUMN
Women’s history month Kateleigh Mills @kateleighSuz Reporter
If the women in your life are acting more empowered than usual, it might have something to do with Women’s History Month. Sure, women all over the country do not have to have the month of March to prove to the world that they are a force to be reckoned with, but it also doesn’t hurt to be appreciated every once in a while. Historically, the origins of celebrating women’s history began in 1981 when Congress gave the permission and requested the President to announce the week of March 7, 1982 as “Women’s History Week.” It wasn’t until 1987, after Congress was petitioned by the National Women’s History Project, that March was officially Women’s History Month. Since 1995 Presidents have issued annual proclamations which designate the month of March as the month for women’s history. Fast-forward to Feb. 29, 2016 and President Barack Obama issued his last proclamation for Women’s History Month. “During Women’s History Month, we remember the trailblazers of the past, including the women who are not recorded
in our history books, and we honor their legacies by carrying forward the valuable lessons learned from the powerful examples they set,” President Obama said. But what can we learn from the women of our country’s past? One answer might be to acknowledge their resiliency. The first National Women’s Day was celebrated in 1909. The Socialist Party of America designated the day to honor women who were garment workers on strike in New York. These women not only went on strike to improve their working conditions but also to seek economic and political rights. In 1915, the United States House of Representatives voted against a proposal that would have allowed women the right to vote. It was not until Aug. 26, 1920 when the 19th Amendment guaranteed women that right. Another answer to the question, might be their passion to push the boundaries of social norms. Amelia Earhart embarked on the first trans-Atlantic flight from Newfoundland to Wales in only 21 hours, in 1928; the first flight by a woman. She would later make another record in 1935 as the
Rosie the Riveter became a common symbol of women empowerment since she first appeared in posters encouraging women to join the work force during World War II. Photo provided by the Virginia Historical Society.
first woman to fly solo over the Pacific Ocean. During President Roosevelt’s first administration in 1933, Frances Perkins was the first woman to be appointed to the U.S. Cabinet as the secretary of labor.
Protesters dance during a rally near the Presidential Palace to mark International Women’s Day Tuesday, March 8, 2016 in Manila, Philippines. The marchers are one in calling for gender equality and an end to all forms of discrimination and harassment against women. (AP Photo/Bullit Marquez)
39 years later, the Equal Rights Amendment made its way through Congress to the states for ratification, where it would fall short of the threefourths required approval. Since then the ERA has been reintroduced to every new Congress. It could be said that the purpose of Women’s History Month is to learn and to appreciate not only the women of our history who have paved the way for so many, but also to acknowledge and appreciate the female role models that have made an impact in our own lives. “The battle for the individual rights of women is one of long standing and none of us should countenance anything which undermines it,” Eleanor Roosevelt said. As for the University of Central Oklahoma, events will run throughout March that are designated to celebrate women and their progress throughout history. Some events include a keynote speaker, Estela Hernandez, March 24, at the Exceptional Women’s Brunch at 11 a.m. in the Nigh University Center. Then on March 26, the Go Girl Run OKC 5k will take place at 7 a.m., where all the proceeds will go to local charities. However, you decide to honor the women in your life, remember that where they are, in all forms of social, political and economic achievements, is not only because of their own efforts, but are apart of the ambition from the women before them who sought better lives for future generations to come.
2B
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Keynote speaker Michael Owens addresses students and staff regarding “Wake Up: The Real Black America”, this year’s Black History Month event at UCO. Photo by Cara Johnson, The Vista.
Don Betz, President of the University of Central Oklahoma, and his wife, Susanne Betz sign a steel beam that will be placed in the tower of Old North. The steel beams being moved into Old North is a part of a construction project to make the buiding more secure. Photo provided by Sandi Stewart.
SECTION B Voices of Oklahoma..............................................3-5
Celebrity News.......................................................11
OK News.........................................................6-7, 10
Classifieds...............................................................12
2016 Fashion..........................................................8-9
Spotlight..................................................................13
Columns.............................................................14-15
Students and tutors study in the main hall of Howell Hall. Photo by Cara Johnson, The Vista.
3B
VOICES OF OKLAHOMA
“My family [is] going on vacation and she was supposed to come… but she doesn’t want to go. She said she was going to go and be unhappy, and I said ‘we’re gonna be riding Jet Ski’s, have you ever seen someone who is not happy on a Jet Ski?’” -Mona and Cody
“The most amazing thing I’ve ever witnessed is the formation of clouds. Clouds exist as a combining of all variations of color, exposed by the light, yet, there is this reoccuring rhythm for a cloud to form or dissipate. To exist then not exist, but it’s beautiful—like dancing. It’s amazing to me because of the way it reflects humanity’s desire to live free. Free to exist in a rhythm and then not exist, free to combine all colors, or aspects of ourselves and allow those to exist in unity to produce the most beautiful formations.” - Alissa Dixon, Local Artist
4B
VOICES OF OKLAHOMA “I was actually still in school during the May 20 tornado. That was really interesting because a girl in my class was about six months pregnant, and I was the only one freaking out that, like, she would go into labor. ‘Cause I was like ‘I don’t know how to deliver a baby… This isn’t gonna end well.’ But she finished off her term, so it was good.” -Tia Rhodes, UCO student.
“The thing that gets me out of my comfy bed every morning is knowing that I will miss out on all the beauty in the world outside. Walking through the trees, talking to friends, or eating food. There is beauty in all forms everywhere around.” -Micah Fryslie
“We’re the same kind of weird.” -Austin Moore and Kiley Hoffman
5B
VOICES OF OKLAHOMA
“What interests you about photographing celebrities as opposed to just common people?” “I don’t really think there’s a difference, I mean, I think celebrities are just common people. I mean, they’re just famous. They’re just humans like we are. Nothing different, other than they have like, millions of dollars.” -Jacob Newton, aspiring to be the next Annie Leibovitz.
“I just bought a plane ticket, packed everything, said goodbye to some people, and left. I came here in a rush.” -Marco Carrilo, International student
6B
OK NEWS
Edmond updates district boundaries Jessica Phillips @thejessphillips Reporter
The boundaries are changing to populate the new Heartland Middle School when it opens this fall, and to relieve overcrowding at existing schools. “[The Realignment Committee was] looking out for two interests, I think. One was the overall district interest to try to meet the goals that were before them, and those goals were to populate Heartland Middle School, relieve overcrowding at several middle schools and high schools, and then to look to the future,” Superintendent Bret Towne said at the board meeting. Several schools are overcrowded, according to a study by Templeton Demographics, a firm hired to assist in the redistricting.
“We have a large bulge of anticipated growth on the very west side of the school district in neighborhoods that are being built and continue to be built,” Towne said. “Primarily in our, with our Oklahoma City [neighborhoods], but it’s still Edmond schools.” Clegern Elementary is 105 students beyond capacity and Dougherty Elementary is over by 19. Cheyenne, Sequoyah and Summit middle schools are overpopulated as well. Cheyenne is beyond capacity by 36 students, Sequoyah by 344 and Summit by 279. North High School is overpopulated by 244 students. “We’re addressing the western half with Summit moving up to Heartland,
with Cheyenne shifting population to Heartland, and then we’re back filling the Cheyenne numbers that go down with Summit,” Towne said. Some students can stay at their current schools, even with the new boundaries. Seventh and eighth grade students in the 2016-2017 can stay at their middle school, with the exception of seventh graders starting at Heartland. Ninth through eleventh graders can also stay at their high school. Sixth graders must attend the school designated by the newly drawn boundaries. The district is allowing sibling transfers for the next three years to prevent multiple children from the same
household from attending different high schools or middle schools. The district will not provide transportation for students attending schools outside of their designated area. Sibling transfers must be applied for and approved. Transfers will also be allowed for students enrolling in North’s ROTC program. Two public meetings were held in February to allow parents, teachers and community members to express concerns or support, and to pose questions to the Board and the Realignment Committee for consideration. The questions posed at the meetings and audio recordings are available on edmondschools.net.
A construction crew works on the new Heartland middle school on Penn between Danforth and Covell. The entire city of Edmond is redricting it’s school boundaries to make up for the new middle school. Photo by Ryan Naeve, The Vista.
YWCA 7B
OK NEWS
YWCA hosts upcoming eighth annual 5K Rachael Corbin @rachaelcorbin
Reporter
The Young Women’s Christian Organization in Oklahoma City will be hosting their eighth annual 2 Minute 5K and Kiddie K, April 16 at the Stars and Stripes Park in honor of Sexual Assault Awareness Month. The title represents the statistic that someone is sexually assaulted every two minutes. This year the YWCA is also offering Snooze for SAAM where participants may show support without having to run. Participants are asked to visit their favorite social media sites and make a post with the hashtag #SnoozeForSAAM. While most attendees are women, ages ranging from 16 - 40, the 2 Minute is part of a family-friendly event that feature several activities. “In the past, we’ve had face painters, photo booths, and jazzercise before the race,” said Karla Docter, senior director of Sexual Violence Prevention and Response. The YWCA’s community partners, Threads of Compassion, will also be present at the event. Threads of Compassion knits and crochets scarves to be given to survivors of sexual assault as a sign of support. Support, Docter said, is one of the many reasons she organized these races. “I actually went to school for criminal justice and realized that my talents would be better served helping individuals,” she said. When Docter began her job as director, one of her first tasks was organizing an event to raise awareness about sexual assault. She believed that a 5K would be the perfect opportunity to bring the community together and show sexual assault survivors that they have their neighbor’s support. “Essentially we all have either been directly or indirectly affected by this violence,” said Kimberly Moyer, senior director of Public Relations and Communication. “[This race] is an opportunity for survivors to get out and know there are people who are empathetic towards them.”
The proceeds made by this event will go towards funding programs that provide assistance for those who have been directly impacted by sexual assault, as well as classes that teach proper dating behaviors. “We do all kinds of therapeutic services from those that are still trying to
get there lives on the right track,” said Moyer. While assisting those who have been assaulted is a high priority, preventing potential rapes is just as vital, Docter said. “When we do this type of work it’s important that we provide resources,”
she said. “If you don’t know what resources are available, I think it makes the population very vulnerable.” Standard registration costs vary from $15 for the Kiddie K race and $25 for the 5K. Snooze for SAAM is $20. Runners may register on the YWCA website.
Dozens of runners participate in a 5K. The annual YWCA 2-minute 5K will take place on April 16 at Stars and Stripes park. Photo provided by Dave Wright.
2016 8B
2016 FASHION
Spring make-up and hairstyles
Elizabeth Spence @lizzlynn
Contributing Writer
Hair and makeup is something that is always changing, and not slowly. So what’s in right now for 2016 hair and makeup? Two professional hair dressers from the Final Cut Salon in Oklahoma City have a few tips and tricks for hair and makeup. “We may not take two hours to do our hair and makeup but isn’t that a good thing? I mean who really has time to take that long to get ready? I don’t and I know Olivia doesn’t so I don’t see how anyone in college could.” said April Terry, professional hair dresser. Even if you don’t go to college, time is of the essence and you would probably rather spend that time doing something more important to you. Or maybe you would rather spend that time doing your hair and makeup so that it looks perfect. “I would say for the 2016 hair trend for color is defi-
nitely balayage, ombre, and fun pastels. More women are going with their natural hair textures too,” said Olivia Means, professional hair dresser. “Balayage is a French word meaning to sweep or to paint. It allows for a sun-kissed natural looking hair color - similar to what nature gives us as children - with softer, less noticeable regrowth lines. The principal idea being less is more when creating soft, natural looks,” according to Jack Howard, international colorist at Paul Edmonds. Ombre’s can come in all different colors and they are usually best described with pictures. Pastels can be pretty and fun but they can also be dangerous. “Pastel color is not only an investment — especially if you go to a salon — but a potential risk to your hair,” says L.A.-based colorist Lorri Goddard.
The right lipstick, such as Urban Decay’s Revolution Lipstick can help accentuate details of the face and hair. Photo by Ryan Naeve, The Vista.
You may want your hair to be fun and pretty, but you probably don’t want to end up bald. Recommendations for this is hair chalk or temporary, easy to wash out, color. This way you can change colors frequently and not be so rough on your hair. “Makeup is a huge thing right now. Lipstick and eye shadows are pretty big that I have seen. I noticed that after seeing all my clients who wear lipstick, I started wearing lipstick. For the colors I usually Pinterest colors I like for makeup. I usually stick to things that lighten the color of my eyes or bring out certain aspects of me that I want people to notice,” said Terry. After talking to a few consultants at Sephora the best colors for eye shadows, lipsticks, and bronzers are a few items by Urban Decay. All of these items can be found at the Sephora in Penn Square Mall.
Aeshlynn Seraphin, a freshman at UCO, has light gray pastels in her hair. It’s important to invest time and money into pastels, however, since some chalks can be harmful to hair and scalps. Photo by Ryan Naeve, The Vista.
9B
2016 FASHION
A UCO student with ombre hair walks past the art building to class. The ombre trend features dark, natural hues that gradually fade lighter toward the end. Photo by Ryan Naeve, The Vista.
Let’s start with bronzer. It’s the Urban Decay Naked Illuminated Simmering Body and Face Powder/Bronze. This can give your face instant glow and shimmer, it will definitely bring out that tan everyone is striving for. Next up is eye shadow. Now everyone knows that Urban Decay is famous for their Naked Eye Shadow Pallets. They just came out with a fourth one, but even more recently there is the Urban Spectrum Eye Shadow pallet. Perfect for bringing out those blonde ombre’s or
American pop star, Ke$ha, currently is sporting a blue bayalage hairstyle. (Photo by Wade Payne/ Invision/AP)
pretty pastels in your hair. Last but not least, let’s take a look at lipstick or lip gloss. Urban Decay’s Revolution Lipstick is a sure way to help you compliment and rock your eye shadow. Put on one coat of the lipstick and it will stay all day, but it’s easy to wipe off when you’re tired of it. Now that we have covered all the bases, Means advised people that the main thing to keep in mind when choosing makeup and hair color is whether you love it or not— if you don’t then don’t use it.
Dark, bold lips are a staple for brightening up a neutral palette. Photo by Ryan Naeve, The Vista.
The second point she advised, is that you should always try to bring out your best features with your hair and makeup. The most important thing when choosing anything that alters how you look is to remember that you are beautiful and to do what you love and what will make you happy. Beauty starts on the inside, outward beauty is just a reflection of that.
10B
OK NEWS
House Bill proposes age restriction on tanning beds Megan Prather @meganthefeline Contributing Writer
A new House Bill could make it illegal for anyone under the age of 18 to use a tanning bed in the state of Oklahoma. A group of citizen concerned over the health risks children face while using tanning beds met at the state capitol, February 9, to discuss the importance of the House Bill 1471 and the dangers of indoor tanning and tanning in general. “If you’re going to let your kid lay in a tanning bed, as far as I’m concerned, get her a pack of cigarettes,” said attendee Caryn Ross.
According to the Skin Cancer Foundation, those who use a tanning bed before the age of 35 increase their risk of obtaining melanoma by 75 percent. In 2013, the FDA reported that 1.6 million minors used an indoor tanning bed. According to the Center for Disease Control each time you tan, you increase your risk of developing skin cancer. Tanning beds also cause premature skin aging, a change in skin texture and, if you don’t use proper eye protection, blinding eye diseases. About 86 percent of melanoma cases can be attributed to exposure to UV radiation from the sun. Over the past 30 years more people have been diagnosed
with skin cancer than all other cancers combined. In 2015, according to skincancerprevention.org, 3.5 million new cases of basal cell or squamous skin cancer; which is non-melanoma and 73,870 cases of melanoma; which is the most serious form of skin cancer, were predicted to be diagnosed. As far as dermatologists are concerned, there is no such thing as a healthy tan. Any tan, even a base tan, is skin damaging. There are some precautions however, that one can take involving the sun. 1. Avoid the sun between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. This is the time of day when the
sun’s rays are the most powerful. 2. Cover up using clothing, hats and sunglasses. 3. Use sunscreen with an SPF of 15 or higher everyday. Reapply the sunscreen every two hours. According to skincancer.org, you should perform regular self-exams on your skin. If you notice any skin growths that have increased in size, any type of spots that are regularly bothersome, or open sores that don’t heal within three weeks you should see a physician as soon as possible. You can follow the progress of this bill at oklegislature.gov.
A bill is currently making its way through the Oklahoma Legislature that could make it illegal for anyone under the age of 18 to use a tanning bed. Excessive use of tanning beds has been linked to the development of melanoma. Photo by Brianna Ryba, The Vista.
11B
CELEBRITY NEWS
Kesha loses civil suit against producer Rachael Corbin @rachaelcorbin Reporter
The New York Supreme Court denied pop star Kesha her wishes to break her contract with Lucasz Gottwald, aka Dr. Luke, her producer, February 16. In 2014, Kesha filed a civil suit against Gottwald, alleging he raped and emotionally abused her while she was working with him. She even claims that he pressured her into becoming bulimic
which lead to her stay in a rehab facility in January of that same year. Kesha claims that Sony knew about the abuse, but chose to remain silent on the issue because of the influence Gottwald has had in the music industry. Gottwald is said to have discovered several artists such as Katy Perry and helped launch Miley Cyrus’ musical career.
Since Kesha filed the lawsuit, she has been unable to make any new music because of her six-albums contract with Kemosabe Records. Losing this injunction means she cannot go on tour, nor partner with another production company to generate new songs or albums. The verdict had the 28-year-old singer in tears and her fans in an uproar. The
hashtag #FreeKesha has been trending throughout the internet and adorned many signs of protesters who were waiting outside Sony studios. Other pop singers such as Kelly Clarkson, Lady Gaga, Ariana Grande and Lorde have shown their support for the singer’s plight by taking to Twitter. Adele even threw her hat into the ring on the night of The Brit Awards by stating her support for the singer while onstage for winning Best Female Solo Artist. Even students at the University of Central Oklahoma are disgusted by the recent turn of events. “I, personally, think it’s bogus,” said Brittany Skansen, a junior and humanities major. Kesha thanked her fans and colleagues for their continued support, but also expressed her concerns about others. She fears that because she was not believed about the allegations she made regarding her own abuses, this may convince other victims to remain silent about their own experiences with physical or verbal violence. “This issue is bigger than just about me,” Kesha said in a Facebook post, February 24. “I think about young girls today – I don’t want my future daughter – or your daughter – or any person to be afraid that they will be punished if they speak out about being abused, especially if their abuser is in a position of power.” However, she still believes there is still hope for those who seek help. “I just want to say that if you have been abused, please don’t be afraid to speak out,” she said. “There are places that will make you feel safe. There are people who will help you. I for one, will stand beside you and behind you.”
Pop star Kesha leaves Supreme court in New York, Friday, Feb. 19, 2016. Kesha is fighting to wrest her career away from a hitmaker she says drugged, sexually abused and psychologically tormented her and still has exclusive rights to make records with her. Producer Dr. Luke says the singer is slinging falsehoods and ruining his reputation to try to weasel out of her recording contract and strike a new deal. (AP Photo/Mary Altaffer)
12B
CLASSIFIEDS
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13B
SPOTLIGHT
Can you Dig It? Elisabeth Slay @Eslayslay Contributing Writer
Dig It Boutique is a quirky store that sells vintage clothing, classic records, interesting artwork and other unique trinkets made and produced by local artists. Art and Stephanie Sunday have owned the store for five years and, during that time, have strived everyday to provide rare merchandise to their customers. “The vendors and artists we have don’t sell their stuff anywhere else. We try to focus on more counter culture rather than just mainstream stuff or Oklahoma themed stuff. We also like to focus on more horror, sci-fi and fantasy type merchandise,” Sunday said. Dig It is ran mainly by Stephanie Sunday and she used all her previous work experience to open the store. “I worked retail for long time and I had a little gallery before, but when I met my husband this space opened up and we decided to combine everything and focus on having vendors that come from a show he does called the Underground Monster Carnival,” said Sunday. Located in Oklahoma’s well known Plaza district, Dig It has become an interesting piece in the puzzle of this exclusive neighborhood.
“We love the Plaza district. I have been involved with the Plaza district for the last eight or nine years so there was really no other choice in location,” she said. Since Dig It opened in 2011 it has had a steady business flow and continues be popular amongst young people. “It grows every year. I feel that we have grown a lot and learned a lot and we finally have our perfect little blend of artists to work with and merchandise to carry,” said Sunday Dig It has an extremely interesting and diverse customer demographic; there is pretty much something for everyone. “Mostly high school and college kids come in here, but we do get a lot of 30 and 40 year olds that appreciate being able to find something different,” she said Some may describe Dig It as a hipster store because it is unique and sells vintage items, however that is far from the truth. While Dig It is in a location typically associated with this new stereotype, the store’s main goal is to produce merchandise no one else has. “It is inevitable that anything mod-
Dig It Boutique is a specialty store that sells vintage clothing and records, art, and other unique trinkets. It is located in Oklahoma City’s Plaza District. Photo by David Terry, The Vista.
ern we bring to the store is going to be somehow ‘retro’ and have been ‘hip’ at some point in the past. We like to look back to the past and try to predict the next wave from the past before it
A customer at Dig It Boutique sorts through stacks of vintage records. Dig It specializes in vintage and unique items. Photo by David Terry, The Vista.
becomes so hip everyone else has it,” Sunday said. However, this type of branding can be difficult to maintain because of the need for business. “We try to find a balance between hipster and underground to expand our customer base but still maintain being relative in 2016,” said Sunday. Their merchandise is a hodge podge of original jewelry and artwork that they find when they hold their yearly Underground Monster Carnival. “It’s locally handcrafted goods that mostly come from vendors at our Underground Monster carnival, which is a convention for horror, fantasy and cosplay,” she said. In addition to unique works of art and jewelry, Dig It also contains classic music and vintage clothing. “Our second focus is retro clothing and records. We also sell a small selection of counter-culture new clothing, sort of like rockabilly and pin up girl purses,” Sunday said. It is important to Sunday that the items she sells remain true to her store’s aesthetic. “Everything that is new is still retro and that’s why the store is called ‘Dig It’ because we like to focus on that [concept],” she said. At the moment Sunday said they do not plan on extending the store but will continue to focus on making Dig It a unique and original business.
14B
COLUMN
How to make connections Abdullah Bashiti @bashroom Contributing Writer
Founded in December of 2002 and launched May 5, 2003, LinkedIn has become one of the most important, most influential social networks of the modern era. The business-oriented website uses the internet as a tool to connect the world’s professionals and job-seeking individuals, who are aiming to become more productive and more successful in their careers. Serving more than 400 million members across 200 countries and territories with 24 languages ranging from Arabic to Tagalog, LinkedIn has proven itself indispensable to employers and their future employees. It began in the room of co-founder Reid Hoffman, who is now serving as the chairman of the board, and is currently ranked as one of the top 400 richest people in the world, with a net worth of $4.7 billion. Hoffman was also a founding member of PayPal. The current CEO of the company is Jeff Weiner, who worked at several leadership roles at Yahoo. Although LinkedIn has shown to be an important piece of the technological world in recent years, it has received as much attention, recognition, and popularity from the global community as Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, or other hugely-known social networks. “I have an account on LinkedIn, but I don’t use it anymore,” said Mark Scott, instructor at the University of Central Oklahoma. The same answer was reiterated when some UCO students were asked about their usage of LinkedIn. “I have an account but I
don’t use it,” said Crystal Sweiss, a sophomore majoring in business at UCO. One reason why LinkedIn is not fondly looked upon by the younger generations is that they might tend to think of it as a website that requires seriousness and thoughtfulness. Most students don’t like taking things seriously, especially in their teens and college years. That is one reason why Facebook and Twitter are more popular and more famous than LinkedIn. People use them to have fun and express themselves without a prospective employer being on the lookout for the moment you make a mistake so that he or she can easily jump to the next available candidate. Even though LinkedIn is trailing its other competitors regarding numbers of members and other statistics, its future is looking brighter than ever. LinkedIn is aiming to be more popular and more influential in people’s lives and careers in the upcoming years, by advertising and exposing its brand to a wider audience, other than people interested in employment. The company is also thinking of expanding its wide range of services in order to compete with its rivals, and that will certainly put it on road map to competing with the other companies. But for now, the norm remains on planet Earth for people to say: “Hey, add me on Facebook.” You never know, maybe one day people will be saying to each other, “Hey, add me on LinkedIn.”
A University of Central Oklahoma student updates her LinkedIn profile. LinkedIn is a business oriented social media website meant for professionals and job-seekers. Photo by Cara Johnson, The Vista.
iii
15B
COLUMN
Albums on repeat Kateleigh Mills @kateleighSuz
Reporter
During the beginning months of any new year, there are aspects that have the ability to shape what will be remembered and what will be hurriedly shoved under the nearest rug, such as what albums will be the soundtrack of the year. So far 2016 has proven to take the music-making business seriously. We have already been introduced to Rachel Platten’s “Wildfire” since the beginning of January. But what about other albums that have the songs we will use to remember the year? The 1975, a pop-rock band from Manchester, released their sophomore album, “I Like It When You Sleep, for You Are So Beautiful Yet So Unaware of It,” February 26. With some of the same sounds from the self-titled album in 2013, this album has new sounds that are reminiscent of ‘80s funk. The album also includes the elements of an all-encompassing intimacy from songs like “Somebody Else” or “She Lays Down.”
“I Like It When You Sleep, for You Are So Beautiful Yet So Unaware of It,” also has the anthems that are sure to be playing throughout the summer, such as “The Sound” or “Love Me.” Next up on the list is hip-hop artist Kendrick Lamar and his “untitled unmastered” album, which was released March 4. The surprising follow-up to his highly successful third studio album, “To Pimp a Butterfly,” has elements of the provocative as well as direct and unapologetic calls to political and social issues that we could face in our country. All the songs on the album have “untitled” and dates in the title, the oldest one being “untitled 03|05.28.2013.” “Untitled unmastered,” although labeled as explicit, has attention-grabbing power. The album has throwbacks to funk and jazz sounds, while maintaining an almost hypnotic control over the listener. Moving on to Miike Snow, this name has been circulating throughout the alternative music world since the start of the
“ iii” is the third studio album by the Swedish indie pop band, Miike Snow. The album was released on March 4, 2016 and receaved generally favorable review. Photo provided by Columbia records.
new year. The Swedish indie-pop band’s third album, “iii,” was also released, March 4. The new album includes songs that have anthemic rhythms and sounds, but also a cool and confident surface, such as in the hit song “Genghis Khan.” There seems to be techno-dance vibes as well, which are prevalent in the song “For U,” featuring fellow artist Charli XCX. And while the album has brand new sounds for the indie-pop band, the success has already been talked about more than once on social platforms.
On the contemporary R&B side, Rihanna’s eighth studio album titled “Anti,” was released, January 28. The album has already produced the infectious dance song “Work” featuring Drake. The album has elements which call to Rihanna’s heritage from Barbados, with her voice pouring out in soothing waves contradicting the steady and prevalent beats. Although this album also has an explicit nature to some of the lyrics, the over all delivery from Rihanna could put one of her songs into the playlist of 2016.
“Anti” is the eighth studio album released by pop singer, Rihanna. It was released on Jan. 28, 2016 and features the popular single, “Work.” Photo provided by Roc Nation.
Sports and Life
Appreciate your daily path
2C
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Johnny Watley, the fitness coordinator for the UCO wellness center, demonstrates how to deflect an attack during a self defense class. The class was held in the wellness center on Wednesday, March 9. Photo by Ryan Naeve, The Vista.
Environmental activist and legal clerk Erin Brokovich discusses earthquakes at the Edmond Town Hall meeting in the Constitution Hall on Tuesday, February 23. Photo by Cara Johnson, The Vista.
SECTION C Broncho Sports......................................................3-6
UCO Cheer..............................................................10
NBA..........................................................................7
Health.................................................................11-14
Column..................................................................8-9
Music.......................................................................15
The Edmond Fire Department visited UCO to continue the “Stop, Drop, and Roll Chos� campaign, showing students how to use fire extinguishers. Photo by Cara Johnson, The Vista.
3C
BRONCHO SPORTS
Women’s golf looks to build on strong fall season
TJ Eckert
@tj_eckert Contributing Writer
Marla Souvannasing and the rest of the University of Central Oklahoma’s women’s golf team will look to carry momentum from a strong fall season into the start of spring play starting Sunday, in the Las Vegas Desert Classic. The team is scheduled to play at Paiute Golf Club on the northwest side of Vegas on Sunday and Monday. The tournament will be hosted by the University of Missouri-St. Louis. The Bronchos finished the fall season without a win, but placed in the top six in all five of the tournaments they played in. The team was picked as the preseason MIAA Conference Champion, after winning the title last year, their third straight conference title. Souvannasing, a sophomore and reigning MIAA Player of the Year, won three of the five fall tournaments while averaging a round of 72.4. She tied the school record by shooting a final round 66 to win the UCO Classic at Lincoln Park in Oklahoma City. UCO is scheduled to play in five spring tournaments, including the Southern Nazarene Classic at their home course, Kickingbird Golf Club. UCO will then head to Kansas City for the MIAA Championship, April 18. The Bronchos will play in the Division 2 Central Regional, if they qualify, starting, May 2 at Awarii Dunes Golf Club in Axtell, Nebraska. UCO will play
Marla Souvannasing hits a drive down the fairway during a golf tournament in Las Vegas on February 28. Photo provided by Broncho Sports.
at the same course for the UNK Spring Invitational hosted by Nebraska-Kearney on March 25. The Bronchos will feature a young team this spring, returning just two starters from last year’s team. Featuring just one senior on the roster along with two sophomores and four freshmen. Daniela Martinez, the lone upperclassman, finished in the top 20 in four of the five tournaments this past fall. With Souvannasing and Martinez leading the way, sophomore Allyson Wilcox
and freshmen Grace Shin and Makena Mucciaccio will have to play consistently to give the team a chance at another conference title and national tournament appearance. Even with the lack of experience, UCO still has high expectations coming off of last year’s historic accomplishments. The girls competed in 13 tournaments in the fall and spring, winning nine team titles, including the conference championship, with their worst showing coming in the Division 2 National Championship,
Grace Shin Tee’s off during a golf game in Edmond on the morning of Monday, March 7. Photo provided by Broncho Sports.
where they finished seventh. The Bronchos are led by Michael Bond, who is in his eighth year as head coach. UCO has turned into one of the best programs in the country under his leadership, having finished in the top four in 66 of 87 tournaments, including 25 titles. The Bronchos have also qualified for the national tournament in each of the last four years.
HOCKEY 4C
BRONCHO SPORTS
Broncho hockey season recap: title defense falls short TJ Eckert
@tj_eckert
Contributing Writer
There will be no magical run to another national championship this year for the University of Central Oklahoma’s hockey team. The fourth-ranked Bronchos capped off an impressive season with a disappointing loss, falling to fifth-ranked Davenport 5-1 Sunday night, in the quarterfinals of the American Collegiate Hockey Association National Tournament. UCO finished the season at 26-8-2. The game started out well for UCO, as the team took a 1-0 lead over Davenport halfway through the first period following a goal from Trevor Leblanc. From that point on however, it was all Davenport, as the Panthers rattled off five straight goals to close out the Bronchos.
Matt Kaludis had 31 saves for Davenport, and the team had a different goal scorer for all five of its goals. The Panthers took the lead for a good four minutes before the end of the second period when Everett Thompson scored off of an Aaron Beally assist. UCO began the national tournament by dominating 13th-ranked Michigan-Dearborn 8-1. The team was led by Brandon Formosa, who scored one goal of his own and assisted on two others. The Bronchos actually trailed in that contest at first, as the Wolverines netted a goal with just over eight minutes into the first period. The Bronchos took the lead for good on Formosa’s goal late in the period to make it 2-1.
The Bronchos played a difficult regular season schedule, which was made known in the national tournament as three of the four semifinal participants were teams UCO played earlier in the year. UCO finished with a 5-5 record against those teams. Third-ranked Lindenwood squeaked by ninth-ranked Iowa State 2-1 to claim its third ACHA National Championship. Second-ranked Stony Brook was the third team in the semifinals that the Bronchos faced during the season. UCO qualified for the national playoffs by winning the Western Collegiate Hockey League for the first time in the program’s existence. The Bronchos clinched the WCHL regular season crown by
defeating arch rival University of Oklahoma 4-1, February 5. UCO opened the season 2-4, then got to 6-6 before finishing the season 19-1-2, including the distinction as one of the hottest teams entering the tournament, having won 13 of its previous 14 games. The Bronchos will look to build off of the past two seasons going into next year, and will hope to have repeat success from last year’s championship team. The 2014-2015 Bronchos team finished the year 33-5-1, which included its historic run to the club’s first ever ACHA National Championship, culminating with a 4-0 victory over Stony Brook.
Tyler Minx (3) celebrates after scoring a goal during a 2015 hockey game. Photo from Vista archives.
5C
BRONCHO SPORTS
UCO tennis continues hot streak TJ Eckert @tj_eckert Contributing Writer
The UCO women’s tennis team is nearly halfway through its spring schedule and is in the middle of an impressive winning streak as the players set their sights on the remainder of the regular season. The team closed out its fall matches at 2-2 before dropping its first two spring exhibition matches against Division 1 opponents. From that point on, the Bronchos have not been defeated, winning their last seven matches, all of which took place in February. UCO began the winning streak at home, with a dominating win over Texas Permian-Basin 8-1 before hitting the road for its next six matches. The Bronchos ventured to Dallas over Valentine’s Day weekend, winning two close matches, beating Dallas Baptist 6-3 before edging out Arkansas-Fort Smith 5-4, the following day. The Bronchos played a mid-week match, February 17 against in-state rival East Central in Ada, where they won 6-3. They then headed out to Russellville, Arkansas for a three-match weekend. UCO beat host Arkansas Tech the first day 6-3 before playing a double-header the next day. UCO started with a perfect 9-0 shutout of Ouachita Baptist, then capped the
weekend by defeating Henderson State, by a score of 6-3. UCO has been led so far by a quartet of freshmen. Kirtana Bhat, Jenny Bond, Alix Williams and Alli Hodges have combined to go 30-3 in singles matches. Anya Minakova and Alison Powers have been the most successful doubles team, going 3-0 up to this point. Hodges and Bhat have each taken turns at the number one singles spot, with Hodges going 6-1 in her appearances and Bhat going 3-0. Bhat and Shali Schoepflin have played as the number one doubles team in the majority of matches, going 4-2. The Bronchos return home this weekend to start a five-match home stretch spanning over three weekends. UCO hosts Southern Nazarene, Friday at 2 p.m. before playing Midwestern State Saturday, at 9 a.m. The Bronchos then host Upper Iowa, March 11 before taking off for spring break. UCO finishes the regular season at home, April 19 when they host Oklahoma Baptist. The team will then head to Springfield, Missouri for the MIAA Conference Tournament, played from April 29 to May 1. Following that tournament, the team must be ranked highly enough to qualify for the Central Regional, played from May 6 to May 8. If the Bronchos finish high enough there, they will head to the Division 2 National Championships, played in Denver from May 18 to May 21.
UCO junior, Shali Schoepflin launches a serve over the net in her doubles match against the University of Texas- Permian Basin Saturday; January 6. Schoepflin and her doubles partner Kirtana Bhat routed their opponents in 11 sets at Broncho Courts. Photo by Matthew Peterson, The Vista.
UCO freshman, Jenny Bond digs a return in front of the net at Broncho Courts in her match against the University of Texas- Permian Basin Falcons. Bond won in her debut match as a Broncho at UCO’s home opener Saturday, February 6. Photo by Matthew Peterson, The Vista.
6C
BRONCHO SPORTS
Bronchos basketball postseason tournament recap Ike Wilcots @ikewilcots Sports Reporter
Kansas City, Missouri hosted the men’s and women’s MIAA postseason tournament March 3-6. Both of the University of Central Oklahoma’s basketball teams fell short in the quarterfinals, Thursday and Friday night. Coach Guy Hardaker and the Lady Bronchos couldn’t compete with No. 20-ranked Emporia State, losing 65-54 and finishing the season with a 19-11 record. The following night, coach Tom Hankins finished his first season 16-14, as the UCO men lost in the quarterfinals to Fort Hays State by a score of 67-61. The women finished fifth in conference play this season, while the men finished in a five way tie for fifth place. Here are quick recaps of the quarterfinals and this year’s conference acknowledgements. The Lady Bronchos traveled up to Kansas City, Missouri after a dominating victory over Lindenwood, on Monday in the first round of the MIAA Tournament. They faced No. 20-ranked Emporia State, who took a commanding lead over the Bronchos going into the half and
Trai Jordan (1) goes to dunk the ball during UCO’s basketball game against the University of Central Missouri. Photo by Ryan Naeve, The Vista.
never let up as the Hornets would end up winning 65-54. UCO shot 32.8 percent from the field and a low 21.7 prcent from three point range. The Hornets bench outscored the
Bronchos bench 17-2 and had the largest lead in the game of 15 points in the fourth quarter. Seniors, Julia Mason and McKenzie Solberg both finished the night with
The University of Central Oklahoma’s basketball team gathers around coach Tom Hankins, while he discusses team strategies during a game. Photo by Ryan Naeve, The Vista.
15 points apiece. Junior, Olivia Mason helped out with 11 points on the night. Solberg earned a spot on the All-MIAA second team averaging 16 points and 4.6 rebounds, while Julia Mason was given All-MIAA honorable mention averaging 10.6 points and 4 rebounds for the season. The women finished the season with a 12-10 conference record and a season record of 19-11, the most wins for the team since it team moved to the MIAA back in 2012. The men’s team took on the Fort Hays State Tigers in Kansas City, Friday night. The Bronchos had some crucial turnovers and also missed shots late in the game, leading to the team coming up short against the Tigers. The final score was 67-61. UCO shot better than Fort Hays from the field at 45.8 prcent and also dominated points in the paint, with an advantage of 32-16. Senior Jarred Bairstow had another solid game, scoring a team high of 17 points. Junior, Cornell Neal, also had a solid performance scoring 11 points and adding assists for the night. Neal, alongside Senior Seth Heckart, was named All-MIAA honorable mention for the season. Neal averaged 13.8 points, 3.9 assists, and 3.7 rebounds per game while Heckart averaged 8.9 points and 3.1 rebounds this season. The Bronchos ended the season with a conference record of 11-11 and a regular season record of 15-13.
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NBA
Previewing a potential Thunder-Warriors playoff battle Jacob Beeman @jacobbeeman860 Contributing Writer
With the Western Conference boasting three of the top five teams in the the league, there are two in particular that are creating a buzz for the upcoming NBA Playoffs. The reigning NBA Champions, Golden State Warriors and the local heroes, the Oklahoma City Thunder. Even though the Thunder lost all three games in the regular season series, that does not rule them out as a contender for the playoffs. Regardless of how the season ends and which teams are seeded where, the anticipation for watching these two battle it out in the postseason is off the charts, especially after all of the regular season contests went down to the wire. The Golden State Warriors are unquestionably the top team in the NBA right now. After winning the NBA Championship last year against the Cleveland Cavaliers, the Warriors have not only kept up their momentum but have capitalized on it. Here are five statistics and how they have contributed to the team’s tremendous record. 1. After their, March 6 win at home against the Orlando Magic, the Warriors passed the ‘95- ‘96 Chicago Bulls for the record of most consecutive home wins in history with 45.
2. Stephen Curry. racked up seven 30-point games in February alone. 3. The Warriors became the first team since the 19871988 Los Angeles Lakers to clinch a playoff spot in February. 4. Curry has set, surpassed, and continues to set the bar higher for the most three pointers in a season with 301. 5. All five of Golden State’s starters are averaging a 46 percent shooting average or better. With an NBA record season of 56-6, the best start to a season through 62 games, the Warriors have no indication of being slowed down anytime soon. They have hit a few speed bumps along the road to possibly setting the best regular season record, despite the recent loss to the Western Conference bottom-feeding Lakers; 13-51 earlier this month. Though this does not hinder their chances of winning the championship, this does prove that they are beatable. The Oklahoma City Thunder began the season with a slightly above average start of 12-8 and even after a much needed victory on Sunday against the Milwaukee
Oklahoma City Thunder’s Kevin Durant (35) drives to the basket between Golden State Warriors’ Harrison Barnes, left, and Shaun Livingston during the second half of an NBA basketball game Thursday, March 3, 2016, in Oakland, Calif. Golden State won 121-106. (AP Photo/Marcio Jose Sanchez)
Bucks, that only moves them to a 3-6 record since the All-Star break. But the Thunder are still here and have not given up on making a run for the championship. Here are five essential statistics that keeps Oklahoma City’s chances alive: 1. Kevin Durant leads the Thunder in points per game, 28.1 and rebounds per game, 8.1. 2. Russell Westbrook leads team in assists per game , 10.3 and steals per game, 2.1. 3. Oklahoma City ranks second in the NBA for points per game with 110. 4. Oklahoma City ranks first in rebounds per game with 48. 5. They also rank third in the league for shooting percentage with 47 percent. With only a few months left in the regular season, it’s difficult not to get excited about the playoffs already. But until then, everyone can only hope the Thunder can figure out a way to not take the Warriors to the wire, but win some games to make for a star-studded and exciting series. [All stats in this article were retrieved from pointafter.com]
Golden State Warriors’ Stephen Curry (30) scores past Oklahoma City Thunder’s Serge Ibaka (9) during the second half of an NBA basketball game Thursday, March 3, 2016, in Oakland, Calif. Golden State won 121-106. (AP Photo/Marcio Jose Sanchez)
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COLUMN
Above the Rim:
In Presti we trust?
Bradley Jayroe @bradjayroe
1. Kendrick Perkins contract
Sports Editor
The Oklahoma City Thunder is not a contender this year. Sure, the team has a pretty good record, and will likely finish third or fourth in the Western Conference. The team still has Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook, two of the top five or so players in the entire league. But the Thunder, sadly, is not going to win the championship this year--, or even come close-- because of the players that have been put around the Thunder’s dynamic duo. You can blame coaching all you want, or use injuries as an excuse, but at the end of the day the Thunder has still not been back to the NBA Finals since 2012. The main reason this has happened is because the team’s bench and role players have steadily declined in the last few years, and the blame for the roster’s deterioration falls squarely on general manager Sam Presti. First off, it’s important to note that Presti is undoubtedly a good person and great representative of Oklahoma City and the Thunder organization from a character standpoint.
His community involvement and philanthropic efforts show that he has a lot of passion for Oklahoma City. True passion for Oklahoma City is not something you see very often, but Presti exemplifies this in every way. This is about job performance. The issue with Presti is that he seems to be above criticism in Oklahoma City, and even nationally to a degree. Maybe it’s because he appears to be such a good person, or because we all know how intelligent he is. But intelligent people can still make mistakes and even severe errors in judgment. No one in any executive position should be above criticism. Presti’s mistakes in recent years revolve almost completely around his deals in free agency, trades, and contracts; he’s been incredibly adept at drafting. It’s the other key areas where Presti has left a lot to be desired. In this piece we’ll examine Presti’s moves over the last few years, and see how the Thunder has fallen from the NBA’s elite to a flashy facade of what it used to be.
Oklahoma City Thunder Executive Vice President and General Manager Sam Presti talks with the media in Oklahoma City, Friday, Sept 24, 2010. (AP Photo/Sue Ogrocki)
In all honesty, this is where Presti’s performance as a GM started to head downhill. It’s imperative to note here that this point is about Perkins’ contract, not the trade to bring him to OKC. People forget in their revisionist history that at the time, the Thunder was one of the softest teams in the league and easy to push around defensively. As much as we like to joke about the “intangibles” Perk brought to the table, he really did bring a lot of toughness, attitude, and experience to a very young and unfocused Thunder team. There shouldn’t be any issue no issue with the trade itself. No, the big issue here was Perkins receiving a four-year deal in the neighborhood of $8 million per year. This was in the wake of Perkins re-
covering from a serious knee injury. Furthermore, the contract was signed before Perkins ever played a game for the Thunder. This was a blunder because it gambled not only on Perkins having fully recovered, but also wagering that he’d fit in with the Thunder on the floor. Perkins is a polarizing figure in OKC, but it’s generally agreed among most that his overall tenure was disappointing-- particularly in light of how much he was being paid. Likely due to his contract, Perkins got a lot more playing time than he probably deserved. Additionally, his large cap hit prevent the team from bringing in more help when the Thunder was on the cusp of a championship.
2. The James Harden trade You probably knew that this was going to come up. This has been rehashed so many times, but that’s because it was such a huge mistake, whether Presti’s apologists like to admit it or not. This trade was arguably the worst in NBA history, and by far the biggest mistake of Presti’s career. Harden was the reigning Sixth Man of the Year, and was blossoming into a star. However, contract negotiations weren’t going so well in the October of 2012. So Presti traded “The Beard” to the Houston Rockets for Kevin Martin, Jeremy Lamb, and two first rounders that ended up becoming Steven Adams and Mitch McGary. We all know what happened next. Harden went from being a pretty good player to a bonafide superstar and top ten player. Many people have tried to justify the trade by saying Harden wanted to start, or wouldn’t have signed a contract extension with the Thunder no matter how lucrative it was. For the former excuse, Scott Brooks painted a very different picture in a recent interview with Chris Mannix of The Vertical Pod: “The thing that I love about James, he loved his role. He loved coming off the bench, he loved working with that second unit... We tried to start him a few times because Thabo Sefolosha got hurt. I think we started him like two
games and he came to me after each game and said ‘Coach, Coach, Coach, please, please, please get me back in my same role. I like the second unit.’” As for the latter excuse of Harden wanting to go somewhere else, people tend to forget that Harden was a restricted free agent. That means the Thunder could have matched any offer Harden got from another team that following summer. So even if we assume that he wanted to leave Oklahoma City, it really wasn’t his decision at the end of the day. To that point, who’s to say that potentially winning a championship in 201213 wouldn’t have changed his mind. We’ll never know, and Oklahoma sports fans will be haunted by “what if” forever. Not to mention that the assets gained in the trade were laughably mishandled. Martin thrived as Harden’s replacement, but wasn’t retained due to luxury tax and “flexibility” concerns, which we’ll address momentarily. Lamb was never really given a fair shake or consistent playing time, and was forced to take a backseat to inferior talent. McGary is currently in the same boat as Lamb and is probably doomed to a similar fate. The only saving grace from this trade is Adams, who has been a solid starter at center for the team. Even so, his value will never come close to the value of Harden.
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NBA 3. Mishandling of the luxury tax situation When the Thunder traded Harden, one of the biggest reasons was the threat of the punitive luxury tax, which penalizes teams financially for going over the cap. With Martin, it was a similar situation. Which is partly why Presti has been so focused on collecting young players and their smaller contracts.
So when the Thunder traded Harden, it was because a max contract would have thrust them into luxury tax territory. Presti wanted to save the organization some money at the time. But the Thunder was right on the brink of a championship. If there’s anything we’ve seen in the NBA countless times,
it’s that you never want to break up a good thing no matter the cost. With a core of Durant, Westbrook, Harden and Ibaka it was only one or two pieces away from winning a title. But instead of bringing players in, they were shipped out. The explanation fans and onlookers
were given at the time was sustainability and future flexibility. When OKC finally ventured into the luxury tax, that sustainability and flexibility was used to bring in Dion Waiters and Enes Kanter. Now ask yourself honestly: Would you rather have James Harden or those two?
4. Hiring Billy Donovan given the circumstances In a vacuum, the decision to hire Donovan as your team’s head coach isn’t a terrible decision. Donovan was successful coaching the Florida Gators, and appears to be very intelligent and knowledgeable about the game. However, hiring someone with no NBA head coaching experience in the same season that Durant will be an unrestricted free agent could backfire in a big way.
So far, there hasn’t been much of a visible difference between Scott Brooks and Donovan. We still see the same puzzling lineup decisions and lack of strategy that made us pull out our hair when Brooks was at the helm. Considering that Brooks and Donovan couldn’t be any more different in personality and philosophy, isn’t it a bit odd to see the same peculiar decisions made in regards to the team?
It makes you wonder who is really in charge, and the only logical conclusion is Presti. Randy Foye and Dion Waiters are getting minutes over Cameron Payne and Anthony Morrow, just like Derek Fisher and Caron Butler played over the likes of Jeremy Lamb and even Reggie Jackson in some instances. Thus, some people have characterized Donovan as a puppet, and it’s hard to refute that based on what we’ve seen.
If you just watched the games and never heard that Brooks got fired, you might think he was still there. One thing we know about Brooks, is we definitely wouldn’t be seeing all of the fourth quarter collapses we are now. Whether it’s really Presti pulling the strings or Donovan lacking what it takes to get the Thunder over the top, the current mediocrity in the coaching aspect of the team undoubtedly falls on Presti’s shoulders.
Oklahoma City Thunder’s Kevin Durant (35) smiles next to Golden State Warriors head coach Steve Kerr during the first half of an NBA basketball game Thursday, March 3, 2016, in Oakland, Calif. (AP Photo/Marcio Jose Sanchez)
5. Recent bad trades and contracts in general The Thunder gave a contract extension to Nick Collison, which is a good move as the veteran leader in the locker room, but it was needlessly lucrative for the player he currently is in his twilight years. The team also locked up mediocre role player Kyle Singler for a half decade. Presti also gave up a first round pick for Dion Waiters who has been unable to consistently be productive, or even halfway decent. Lance Thomas, who was shipped to the Knicks in the trade for Waiters, is currently averaging better numbers across the board when compared to him. Jeremy Lamb, who was traded to Charlotte this summer for basically nothing, has almost double the PER of Waiters this season and would have been just as good, if not better than Waiters if
just given the chance. This of course with the added bonus of still having a first round draft pick and Thomas. Enes Kanter, another player brought in via trade, has been serviceable-- at least on one side of the ball. Because of his defensive woes and in spite of his max contract, he rarely gets big minutes. So the Thunder is paying max dollars for a guy to play 20 minutes and put up an average stat line of 12 points and 8 rebounds with bad defense. This doesn’t make a whole lot of sense given that they refused to give Harden max dollars despite him being an integral part of the team. While he too wasn’t a great defender, he was a huge part of closing out opponents in the fourth quarter. Whether it was taking over facilita-
tion of the offense when Westbrook was turning it over, or going on a ridiculous scoring tear, you could usually count on Harden to step up when it was winning time in the fourth quarter. Meanwhile, the Thunder doesn’t even trust Kanter enough to play in the fourth because of his lackluster defense. In summation, the Thunder has transformed from a promising potential dynasty to a cautionary tale. The lesson to be learned? When you have a shot at a championship, go for it. Not in the future, but right then and there. As dominant as the Miami Heat was back then, beating them in a playoff series now looks like child’s play compared to the daunting task of toppling the Golden State juggernaut rolling over the entire league today.
At present, it looks as if Thunder basketball may be remembered on what might have been for decades to come. If Durant and/or Westbrook leave, it undoubtedly will be one of the most heartbreaking “what if” tales in sports lore. If that happens, it will be as a result of a championship-- and perhaps even dynasty--caliber team being dismantled right before their eyes. Presti built a machine of basketball dominance, but eliminated some of its most efficient parts in bizarre misjudgments. The team still has some time to turn it around, but all is lost if Durant departs either this summer or next. If he does, Presti should be right behind him.
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UCO CHEER
Broncho cheer Eriech Tapia
heads to nationals
@eriechtapia95 Reporter
The University of Central Oklahoma Cheer Team preforms a pyramid during their competition on Sunday against Michigan State, winning 18-10. Photo by Eriech Tapia, The Vista
The University of Central Oklahoma Cheer Team took a seven-point loss against Davenport University, the defending national team, Saturday at Oklahoma City University. UCO took a win against Oklahoma Baptist University after loosing to Davenport and Oklahoma State. They only lost to OSU by one point, 14-13. “We are both really good teams and it really comes down to the smallest things,” Olivia Boling said, senior UCO cheerleader, on their loss against Davenport, “winning is just a bonus.” The final score of the Davenport game was 10-17, though both teams agreed
that playing the other team early in the season will allow for them to correct their mistakes before they head to nationals. “We love that it was such a close competition, because it shows who they are,” Amber Gniewek said, assistant head coach for Davenport. “They are very seasoned … which shows on the mat.” The UCO Cheer team took a win on the first routine and started to fall behind against Davenport after that round. However, official and team timeouts to review the game occurred throughout, with UCO receiving a tie after one review. “We have to beat the game,” Austin
Robles said, head coach for UCO Cheer, saying that the game is like chess and that with the right strategy they can win against any team. Members of the cheer team agreed that playing Davenport will allow them to become more aware of their competition and allow for them to fix their mistakes. They also agreed that the team is strongest when it comes to tumbling. However, Robles said the team should not questions themselves. “Playing Davenport early in the season will allow us to come back and be the best we can be,” Robles said. Boling, said that the small things are
important to the judges, like how their toes are pointed and that facial expressions matter and can be more important when the two teams are past national champions. “For the rookies it has definitely put a fire under their butts,” Boling said about new members on the team, who are learning the routines and how college cheer works. The team has 21 new members who are on the roster this year, with only 11 upper cheerleaders with previous UCO Cheer experience. The team will head to their national competition at the end of April in Sacramento, California.
HEALTH
vs.
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Celiac disease Brooke Watkins @brookewatkins22 Contributing Writer
Many people are eliminating gluten from their diets to improve their health. While some are just doing it for their own choice, others must eliminate gluten because they have celiac disease. People who have celiac disease must maintain a completely gluten free diet. If they even eat the tiniest amount of gluten, their immune system begins to attack their small intestine which can lead to malnutrition. Gluten is a protein found in wheat, rye, and barley and causes the inflammation in the small intestines for those with celiac. Celiac disease has been found to affect one in 100 people worldwide and is known to be genetic. People who don’t have celiac but choose to have a gluten free diet may have realized they are more healthy without gluten because they have non-celiac gluten sensitivity. This means they may see health improvements from eating less gluten, but if they do have the smallest amount of gluten it won’t directly affect their immune system like it does those with celiac disease. Dr. Douglas Seider, director of the
gluten sensitivity
Center of Human Nutrition at Vanderbuilt University, says NCGS is a wildly popular topic on the internet. The problem is that little is known about NCGS, from how much gluten is needed to trigger symptoms, to whether gluten is even the culprit, he says. Both conditions have intestinal symptoms, such as bloating and pain, and symptoms outside the digestive tract, such as fatigue. NCGS is also not known to run in families like celiac disease is. Another intolerance that is common among adults is lactose intolerance. This means the body does not produce the necessary enzymes called lactase, that are needed in order for the body to break down lactose. Lactose is the natural sugar that is found in milk and other dairy products. Some who have lactose intolerance can’t digest any type of milk or dairy, while others may consume only a small amount without feeling uncomfortable symptoms. Some of the symptoms of lactose intolerance include bloating, gas pain, throwing up and belly pain. It becomes very
uncomfortable for your body to digest anything once you have taken in any type of milk or dairy. Lactose intolerance most commonly runs in families and symptoms usually develop during the teen or adult years. In rare cases, newborns are lactose-intolerant. A person born with lactose intolerance cannot eat or drink anything with lactose. More information about lactose intolerance can be found on the website from WebMD. One college advice website gives a few different tips for college students who face lactose intolerance: Avoid cross-contamination at school by asking a food preparer to use a clean skillet or griddle to prepare your food. Read all labels to check for the various names that might indicate dairy is present in a packaged or prepared food, or a body care item. Consider dairy alternatives, like almond milk, soy yogurt and dairy-free frozen desserts.
Celiac disease is an autoimmune disorder that occurs in about 1 percent of people globally. Those who suffer from celiac disease are unable to process gluten produts such as bread and cereals. Photo by Cara Johnson, The Vista.
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HEALTH
Keep your meals on pace Katie Standlee @kkkkkatiemarie Contributing Writer
Eating on time has proven to provide many benefits for the body and the brain. What exactly does “eating on time” mean? It simply means eating meals in a planned out fashion. Most people think that three to four planned out large meals is the way to go. However, research has shown that five to six smaller meals, including snacks, is actually the healthier route. For example: breakfast, snack, lunch, snack, dinner and then another snack. All of the research and information given in this column comes from Berkshire Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust, studies done at University of Rochester , as well as Kimberly Davison P.h.d., R.D. and Rachelle Franz Ed.D. both instructors in the University of Central Oklahoma’s department of Kinesiology & Health Studies. Here are 10 benefits to eating on time: 1.Reduced tiredness and irritability. Franz explains it like a car with food being the fuel, if you don’t put any gas in your car, it’s not going to perform, you’re not going to get anywhere, same goes if you don’t put any food into your body. When a meal is skipped everything slows down and your mood changes and you become tired. However, when you eat on time and stay on schedule, everything stabilizes and you feel more awake and less irritable. 2. Helps with brain function. “Feeling where you’re just not focused in class or you’re tired, sometimes can be helped just by having food,” said Franz, “when you feed your body, you’re also feeding your brain.” Research has shown that not just eating on time, but also eating healthier options has greatly increased brain function. Davison states, “if you’re hungry you’re not going to pay attention in class.” 3. Helps with losing weight. Eating early in the day helps boost your metabolism. Studies have shown that
eating in the morning actually decreases over eating later in the day. Data from a 2002 study shows that rates of obesity are less in those who eat breakfast than those who skip it. 4. You’ll have fewer digestion problems. When you eat more structurally and planned out it is easier on digestive system. When you skip meals you are more likely to experience things such as constipation, diarrhea, and weight gain because your body doesn’t fully understand what is happening and everything slows down. 5. Helps prevent binge-eating. This one in particular is important, because when meals are skipped you will feel as if you need to compensate and eat a lot more at dinner. In actuality doing that is really bad for you. According to Franz your body has been in, stress mode all day and your body thinks, “oh I’m not going to get food, so I’m going to store this all as fat.” However, when you eat on a schedule your body always knows where the food is coming from so it distributes the fats, proteins, nutrients, etc. equally. 6. Energy levels are kept steady. Current recommendations support snacking as a way to boost energy levels, and also helps get nutrients that might be missing from regular meals. “When you’re not getting enough food in your body, your body recognizes that and so it starts conserving energy,” Davison explained. 7.Keeps your blood sugar levels stable. When your blood sugar levels are stable you will feel more focused and have less feelings of irritability, tiredness, and dizziness. Davison explained that when you eat irregularly your blood sugar goes up and down dramatically, these big peaks and valleys are what make you tired. That’s why
it’s better to eat smaller meals with snacks. When you eat really big meals your blood sugar will shoot way up and then shoot right back down, which is really taxing on your body. This also depends on the person, some people’s bodies are more sensitive than others and even more precautions have to be made when it comes to eating on time. 8.Gives a structure to your eating habits. Part of the big problem with college students especially when it comes to eating sporadically is that there is no structure to the eating habits. When there is more structure you are less likely to fail. 9. You start to listen to your body more. When you are on a schedule you have more time to stop and realize the things your body needs other than food. When you know when all of your meals are coming because you have everything planned out you become more attuned to how you body is doing. 10. You eat enough food and the right food. Many college students find it difficult to eat three regular meals a day, which makes snacks even more important. When you plan ahead and follow the small five to six meal plan, you are less likely to over eat. When you have more of a structure you give yourself more room and time to make healthier decisions. Everyone can receive these benefits, all you have to do is eat on time and prepare. Meal planning for the week is important for the preparation process. When you meal plan you are less likely to run into spontaneous eating and or binge eating. “You just have to adjust to what works for you and come up with your own game plan,” said Davison. “It’s about the planning, if you don’t plan you’re more likely to walk in on the spur of the moment and what I call binge.”
Breakfast is considered to be the most important meal of the day. Habitually eating breakfast can help the brain function, reduce irratibility, and even help lose weight. Photo provided by Olia Gozha. Photo by Cara Johnson, The Vista.
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HEALTH
Don’t start your day “hangry” Brooke Watkins @brookewatkins22 Contributing Writer
With time and money always running out for many college students, breakfast can take a backseat when it comes to starting the day. According to the Food and Nutrition Service, breakfast is the most important meal of the day because it not only provides important daily nutrients such as protein, fiber, calcium and carbohydrates, but it also helps improve school performance, allowing students to do better on tests. According to a study published in the journal Archives of Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine, students who increased their participation in school breakfast programs had significantly higher math scores than students who skipped or rarely ate breakfast. As an added benefit, the group of students who increased breakfast participation also had decreased rates of tardiness and absences. Dr. Kimberly Davison is a professor at the University of Central Oklahoma and has been a registered dietician since 1990. She really encourages everyone, especially students, to not forget about breakfast because it is so crucial to start their day successfully.
Photo by Cara Johnson, The Vista.
“When you skip breakfast, I use the term hangry. And students definitely become hangry when they don’t have that first meal of the day. They can’t focus as well and their brain isn’t prepared to take in everything it needs to in order to be more productive.” Davison suggested that a breakfast is balanced with complex carbohydrates and protein. “If you only have carbs for breakfast, you don’t last as long. With the combination of carbs and protein, you are full longer and are more attentive for a longer period of time,” she said. According to research published in Physiology and Behavior, students given a low-glycemic breakfast were able to sustain attention longer than children given a high-glycemic breakfast. Children following the low-glycemic breakfast plan also had improved memory and fewer signs of frustration when working on school tasks. Davison also said her biggest suggestion for those that say they don’t have time in the mornings to eat breakfast, is to plan ahead. She suggests packing your meals every night or at the beginning of every week so
that way you can just grab and go in the mornings when you are in such a rush. Blinn College did a study that shows students who ate breakfast received better grades on their exams. According to the study of 1,259 college students, more than 70 percent of the students who ate breakfast passed an exam with a C grade or better, compared to 50 percent of students who did not eat breakfast. So if you find yourself struggling in the morning or having a hard time focusing on lectures in your morning class, it could be directly related to your breakfast or lack thereof. Cassidy Jackson, a senior at UCO, said she can’t go on through the day if she skips breakfast. She is always on the go but has a few suggestions for easy and quick breakfast treats. She said some nights she will boil eggs and have those with a piece of toast to get her day started. Another option she chooses is a smoothie or fruit and oatmeal. “Breakfast is my favorite. It gets me through work and school without feeling too blah,” said Jackson.
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HEALTH
Plan to balance your diet Callie Ridley @calliejoyridley Contributing Writer
Eating well is proven to help manage weight, improve mood, boost energy and fight diseases, but what nutrients does your body need to obtain all of these things? According to the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, it is best to limit the calories from added sugars, choose a dietary plan that supplies adequate fiber, limit alcohol consumption and limit sodium intake to 1,500 milligrams per day for adults with prehypertension. The Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics have also created an infographic further detailing the information. “We focus more on eating a well balanced diet as half of your plate should consist of fruits and veggies. Also use skim or one percent milk and vary your protein sources,” said Aisa Trice, a dietician at Norman Regional Hospital who received her Masters of Science in Nutrition and Food Management from The University of Central Oklahoma. Trice also believes that it is important to cut back on foods high in fat and added sugar and salt. She also suggested using online tools such as the United States Department of Agriculture’s “Choose My Plate” website. This website allows users to learn about portion control and teaches them how to identify healthy nutrients versus oils and saturated fats. “You can use choose my plate to get more specific about certain nutrients and why it’s important,” said Trice. Choose My Plate suggests focusing on making healthy food and beverage choices from every food group, especially fruits, vegetables, grains, protein foods and dairy in order to get the proper nutrients your body needs. They also suggest eating a specific number of calories for you depending on your age, gender, weight, height and activity level. Reports show that by choosing to eat healthier, you decrease your risk of getting cancer and other diseases and becoming overweight. They also suggest using nutrition labels to check amounts of sugar, sodium, saturated fat and calories in each food or beverage item.
Eating sweets with large amounts of sugar and saturated fats can be unhealthy in the long run. Eating fewer calories from foods high in saturated fat and added sugars can help you manage your calories and prevent overweight and obesity. Most
of us eat too many foods that are high in saturated fat and added sugar, according to the USDA. It also helps to start with small changes like switching over to low-fat dairy, eating more vegetables and fruits to replace sweets and eating, and drinking
the correct amount of food or beverages for you. For more information, visit the USDA’s website at www.choosemyplate. gov/MyPlate.
Eating the right types of food and having a properly balanced diet can lead to an improved immune system and overall mood. Photo from Vista archives.
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MUSIC
Start Painting With Animal Collective
James Rodriguez @jamesthekuma Contributing Writer
Animal Collective released their 10th studio album, February 19. The album is titled “Painting With,” and features all the strangeness that fans have come to expect, featuring fuzzy synthesizers, overlapping vocals and even vocal samples from the 1980’s sitcom “The Golden Girls.” The band originally formed in Baltimore with four members, David Portner (Avey Tare), Noax Lennox (Panda Bear), Brian Weitz (Gelogist) and Josh Dibb (Deakin). While the four primarily play and record together, Dibb was absent for this album as he currently is preparing a solo album. As such, the album features a line up of Portner, Lennox and Weitz, the same line up they had when they released their most commercially successful album “Merriweather Post Pavillion” in 2009. The trio began recording the album in May 2015, working in Studio 3 of EastWest Studios in Hollywood, CA, the same studio where The Beach Boys recorded their 1966 album “Pet Sounds.” Animal Collective also took a different approach to writing for this album. In the past they’ve played songs live multiple times before recording them, however for “Painting With” the band decided to do all of the writing in studio before playing it live. Weitz discussed this in an interview with Pitchfork. “For this album, our challenge was to show up with nothing and write together through jamming. We thought it would be cool to do it this way because we’ve never really done it before and because it worked out in terms of what each of us had going on in our lives. We couldn’t just jump back on the road, so we felt this would be a less stressful way to get things done,” said Weitz. The band also wanted to slightly
change their sound for their latest album. They aimed for the album to not have overly long songs and not use any reverb, two things that the group’s previous releases have had a fair amount of. In order to make this change, the new album finds vocalists Portner and Lennox harmonizing and trading melodies over much shorter tracks that have more of a pop music influence. “We talked a lot about the first Ramones record - not that we expected the music to sound like that,” said Lennox. “But we wanted to do something where the first song revs up the engine, and it kind of just cruises after that. We didn’t want to throw in some ethereal moment. We wanted to do something that blasted away the whole time.” Animal Collective used multiple strange tactics to promote the album. The album first priemeried by being played on loop at Baltimore-Washington International Airport, Nov. 25, 2015. Shortly after the album’s premiere the band released the first single from the album “FloriDada,” Nov. 30, 2015. The band also released an app for iOS, named “Painting With” that allowed users to digitally paint on their phones or tablet with strangers over the internet. The app was also used as a way of releasing the album’s second single, “Lying In The Grass,” which plays during each painting session. The brushes in the app were inspired by the album’s three covers which were painted by Brian DeGraw. Each cover features a member of the trio painted in very distinctive styles. The band is currently touring the United States and Europe in support of the album. They will be playing at Cain’s Ballroom in Tulsa, OK, Sunday, May 1, 2016.
“Painting With” is Animal Collective’s newest studio album. The trio began in Baltimore in 1999 with they’re debut album, “Spirit They’re Gone, Spirit They’ve Vanished.”
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