April 12, 2023 v116 i25-28

Carranza, Smithhart to lead Student Gov’t

Outgoing Shaw-Gonzalez administration lists nine initiatives and bills passed

High Officers:

President: Anthony Carranza

Vice president: Tate Smithhart

Senators:

Athletics: Korbin Cardoza

Business: Ben Ball

Greek: Kyah Alexander

Humanites: Isabella Felton

Religion: Landon Cain

Science & Mathematics: Katelynn Murphy

Social Sciences: Maya Bustamante

Theater: Alisabeth Westfall

Senior-at-Large: Madeline Jones-Milks

Senior-at-Large: Ivey Johnston

Junior-at-Large: Tyler Wright

Junior-at-Large: Annelise Watkins

Sophomore-at-Large: Charli Henn

Sophomore-at-Large: Mace Lowrance

OCU eSports team hosts charity drive for SISU

Above, SISU Development Director Aaron Wilder speaks to members of the OCU Esports team at their March 21 charity drive. Below, Wilder looks over some of the donated items later with Avery Robison, left, event & outreach coordinator of the Esports Student Leadership Team, and Connor Knudsen, right, OCU Esports coach and coordinator. Wilder was “blown away” by the results of the student effort, Knudsen said.

Last week, students elected Tate Smithhart, left, vice president, and Anthony Carranza, right, president, in the annual Student Government elections.

OCU Espo�ts Connor Knudsen

Kyle McKinley

Tornado time is now

Spring is the official “Tornado Season”, when severe weather causing tornadoes is most likely, for the United States. It spans from March to July, with May being the most active. 2023 has already been above average for severe weather and dangerous tornadoes. Over 300 confirmed tornadoes have already hit the States as of April 3, including numerous that caused significant damage.

Oklahoma City sits in the heart of Tornado Alley, where tornadoes are most common. With Tornado Season in full swing, it’s important to know your plan in all severe weather scenarios. Staying aware of upcoming weather through news or weather apps can keep you from being caught off-guard by a powerful storm.

During a storm, the National Weather Service issues various alerts pertaining to current radar conditions. The distinction between tornado watches and warnings is crucial for understanding your current risk. Tornado watches indicate that the weather conditions are suitable for spawning tornadoes, but none have been officially reported. Warnings mean that a tornado has formed, and immediate action should be taken.

During a tornado warning, you should shelter in a safe location on the floor level of a building away from windows and doors. On the OCU website, there is a full map of designated shelter locations on campus, including the University Center and the library.

If severe weather is forecasted, preparing a go-bag with necessities could save precious time during an emergency. A go-bag could include any prescription medication, your wallet, a portable phone charger, spare glasses or contacts, and anything else you could need. If you have a pet, you could set their carrier by the door for easy access.

Being aware and prepared could save your life during severe weather. Follow the weather radar, have a plan, and don’t waste time.

There is nothing more important than your life in an emergency.

Social media ‘friend’ might need a time out

Social media is like that friend who always seems to know what’s happening in the world but can also be a bit of a downer.

While social media can be great for staying connected and informed, it can also contribute to increased levels of anxiety and depression.

Fortunately, there are ways to use social media in a way that promotes positive mental health and reduces the negative effects.

To promote positive mental health on social media as OCU

students, we need to take a page out of that friend’s book and practice some good habits.

First off, let’s limit our exposure to negative content by following accounts that promote mental wellness and positivity.

And if we come across something that triggers negative feelings, let’s unfollow, mute, or take a break from social media altogether.

Here are some more tips for promoting positive mental health on social media:

• Take breaks from social media to reduce stress and anxiety (and to stop that friend from dominating your time)

• Connect with others on social media in a meaningful way (let’s be honest, we all need someone to talk to sometimes)

• Practice self-care on social media (which could mean taking a break from the friend that always seems to stir up drama)

• Be mindful of the time of day you use social media (because no one wants to be

Let your voice be heard

kept up at night by that friend’s latest post)

On campus, mental health resources are readily available to students. By engaging with these resources, we can take advantage of tools and support groups to help us manage stress, anxiety, and depression. Plus, let’s not forget about the mental health apps and resources that are just a download away.

To stay up-to-date on mental health resources and events at OCU, follow OCU Care on Instagram at @ocu_care.

And remember, while social media can be a source of stress and negativity, it can also be a powerful tool for promoting mental health awareness and advocacy.

So, let’s use social media wisely and help make a positive difference in our communityand maybe even impress that friend with some good habits!

THE CAMPUS

Editor-in-Chief: Natalie Turner

Managing Editor: Doha Hana

Arts Editor: William Peetoom

Life Editor: Jamison Ko

Photo Editor: Bibek Maharjan

Video Editor: Deserail Rose

Tech Archivist: Jake Adebayo

Critic: Michaela Childs Faith Writer: Mamadou Yafa

Life Writer: Mariah Hunt

Jake Adebayo Tech Archivist

Students gather to sing a worship song as a part of an Easter celebration April 10. All Christian organizations on campus partnered to celebrate an evening consisting of music, prayer, preaching, and small group conversations.

Jamison Ko Student Publications

OCU In�ormation

• April 12: Campus Leadership Awards

• April 13: DARE to Grow Multicultural Night

• April 15: Student Leadership Summit

• April 20: SAC Summer Send Off

• April 21: Blue Key Honor Society Spring Sing

• April 22: OKConnect Spring Service Project

• April 25: SAC Senior Sunset Jamison Ko Life Editor jtko@my.okcu.edu

Community includes Ramadan celebration

Jamison Ko LIFE EDITOR

Considered one of the holiest months of the year for the Muslim community, March 23 marked the ninth month of the lunar calendar and the beginning of Ramadan.

During Ramadan, Muslims fast from food and drink, including water during the sunlit hours of the day.

This means they only eat or drink prior to dawn or after sunset for roughly 11-16 hours a day of no consumption. Married couples also abstain from sex during the sunlit hours.

These sacrifices are made to grow in self-reflection and spirituality. By fasting, one hopes to achieve “taqwa”, an Arabic word signifying a state of constant awareness of God.

To gain awareness, Muslims neglect food and drink to train themselves in discipline and become more in tune with their mind and soul.

An increase in prayers is also prevalent

during Ramadan as Muslims focus deeper on their devotion to God.

Charity increases immensely, especially as seen by community dinners often held nightly at mosques where many break that day’s fast together.

The Islamic Society of Greater Oklahoma City is one mosque that hosts these daily iftar dinners. Dr. Imad Enchassi, OCU’s adjunct professor of Islamic Studies and Chaplain, serves as the imam at the ISGOC and is happy to provide more information to students about Ramadan.

This semester, Dr. Enchassi pilots a new course, “Introduction to Islam,” which teaches Islamic theology, tradition and culture. These students are currently studying Ramadan as the season approaches. Ramadan will last for an entire month and end on April 20.

To commemorate the ending of the fast, Muslims celebrate Eid ul-Fitr, or the “Festival of the Breaking of the Fast,” which includes prayers, community events and celebrations.

Lambdas’ philanthropy week ends quarter

Last month, starting on March 6, OCU’s chapter of Lambda Chi Alpha began their philanthropy week supporting Feeding America and the JED Foundation.

These organizations support food security and young adults’ mental health. The Lambda brothers held all

events all week in support of these causes.

Monday was “Chopped Ice” where snow cones were sold outside the Caf during the day and at the fraternity house in the evening.

Tuesday was originally planned to be “Paint the Chops” where students could pay to throw paint balloons at the brother of their choice.

Unfortunately, the high winds

pushed this event back a day, and it instead occurred on Wednesday, in addition to “Lambda le Crepe.”

Selling crepes outside the Caf was hugely successful proven by how the brothers had to end early after they ran out of supplies due to high demand.

Different flavor crepes added to the variety and excitement.

Thursday was another crowd favorite, “Cookie Telegrams.”

BLAST FROM THE PAST

Students ordered cookies to be hand delivered anywhere on campus by the brother(s) of their choice.

Orders could also include a message to be read aloud or a song to be performed by the brother(s) completing the delivery.

Friday was the final hurrah of the week – Lambda Carnival!

The carnival included games on

the quad, a dunk tank, guessing jars, and plenty of fun.

The brothers struggled to compete with students leaving for spring break but for those able to attend, the carnival promised a good time.

Lambda’s philanthropy week was a great way to end the third quarter and support worthy causes at the same time.

Tobacco stops with ... her? OCU boys prefer non-smoker girls!

Did you know?

March 12, 1927:

The Oklahoma City University Gymnasium was abuzz with excitement for the Scarab Queen Beauty Pageant’s Stunt Night.

The night featured twenty-four incredible contestants and was heavily supported by various clubs, fraternities, and sororities, making it an event to remember.

March 15, 1926: Students at OCU initiated their own version of a GoFundMe campaign to support the OCU Advancement Campaign, raising approximately $70,000.

At the time, OCU was still a young school with fewer than 400 students, but it had a promising future. Despite its small size, the students’ initiative and generosity demonstrated

a strong commitment to the school’s growth and success.

As a gesture of gratitude, the school administration awarded all students a one-day holiday.

March 4, 1929:

A report was released that caused quite a stir among the students. According to the report, the most popular girls with the boys were those who did not smoke.

Who knew that avoiding cigarettes was the secret to winning hearts?

It seems like even back then, non-smoking girls were the real catch.

It’s safe to say that those who kept their lungs smoke-free were also keeping their love lives ablaze!

March 7, 1930:

The OCU registrar decided it was time to crack down on the grades of fraternity and sorority pledges.

Apparently, some of the students were so busy partying and socializing that they forgot they were there to study!

To ensure that everyone was keeping up with their coursework, the registrar launched an investigation to identify the academic underachievers.

It’s safe to say that some students were probably feeling a little nervous as they awaited their fate, wondering whether their frat party antics had been worth it after all.

Jake Adebayo Tech Archivist

John Regan aims to dunk a fellow Lambda Chi Alpha brother at the Lambda Carnival March 10. The carnival was the penultimate event in the fraternity’s philanthropy week supporting JED Foundation and Feeding America.

Jamison Ko Student Publications

Bibek Maharjan Student Publications

Jamison Ko LIFE EDITOR

Pulitzer Prize winner is 24th Smith reader

On Mar. 28 and 29, OCU hosted Pulitzer Prize-winning poet Jericho Brown for the 24th annual Thatcher Hoffman Smith poetry series.

Brown is a graduate from Dillard University, earned his MFA from the University of New Orleans,

and his Ph. D. in literature and creative writing from the University of Huston.

He is currently the director of the creative writing program at Emory University, as well we an associate professor.

Brown has written three books, “Please,” published in 2008; “The New Testament,” 2014; and “The Tradition,” 2019; with a new edi-

tion named “The Tradition: Civic Dialogue Edition” released in 2022.

On Mar. 28, Brown held a poetry workshop. English professor Dr. Tracy Floreani explained that this workshop was “primarily intended for area middle- and highschool teachers, so they can learn from living writers and spread the joy to their students.”

“We also invite English pro -

fessors from OCU and other area colleges, as well as a few are poets who are doing public outreach in some form or another,” she said.

Floreani explained that this year was the 24th annual Thatcher Hoffman Smith poetry series and that, “The series began in 1999. An English professor here at the time had studied with the poet Robert Pinsky, so when the donation was

Project 21: El Sistema collaboration sets record with 30 student pieces

On March 12, Project 21: Music of the 21st Century held a historic student-performed and -composed concert in cooperation with local nonprofit music organization El Sistema, titled the Project 21: El Sistema Collaboration, with a record-breaking 30-piece concert.

For this concert, Project 21 paired with El Sistema Oklahoma, a 3rd- to 12th-grade after-school conservatory that teaches composition, instrumental lessons, and ensemble work for children

April 13:

OCCC Symphony Orchestra Concert

OCCC Visual and Performing Arts Center

April 18:

Jazz Band Concert

Petree Recital Hall

April 21-23:

OCU Opera and Music Theatre

“Sunday in the Park with George”

Kirkpatrick Auditorium

to have a creative extracurricular.

The program originated from Venezuela to help keep children off of the street and has since branched across the world.

Kiegan Ryan, an OCU student and El Sistema faculty member, explained that “there’s two branches in Oklahoma, one in Oklahoma City and one in Tulsa, so of course we serve the Oklahoma City area.”

Ryan explained that the roots between El Sistema and OCU run deep, saying, “there’s always been a long sharing of musicians, teachers, and even some

students who come here, like one of the teachers at El Sistema was a student at OCU and went to teach at El Sistema.”

“Primarily for this concert the composition team has always been interested in El Sistema and one of the things we study is educational music … so one of the things we wanted to do is have the composition program at El Sistema be able to have a facete and a place to perform these works and so it was only natural for OCU,” Ryan said.

Ryan explained that the concert Continued at MEDIAOCU.COM

made to start a series, Dr. Eaton reached out to his former professor and invited him to come,” she said.

Dr. Floreani also explained the process that went into the decision to have Jericho Brown, saying, “the Thatcher Hoffman Smith poetry series is guided by an advisory committee made up of Arts & Sciences

Continued at MEDIAOCU.COM

Choral director Ellefson ends 19-year run

Earlier this year, Dr. Randi Von Ellefson announced that, after 19 years of work at OCU, he would be retiring at the end of the school year.

Dr. Ellefson currently directs the Ad Astra Women’s chorus and the chamber choir, as well as teaching conducting and graduate courses, and became Professor of Music and Director of Choral Activities in 2004, which is the same year that he became the artistic director of Canterbury Voices of OKC.

He graduated from Texas Lutheran University, the University of Minnesota, and Arizona State University, as well as being a founding member of the National Collegiate Choral Organization, where he received the Honorary Lifetime Member Award in 2017.

In an interview about his time at OCU, as well as his plans for retirement, Dr. Ellefson said that throughout his time with the university the choirs have gone through several changes, explain that when he first arrived here that a new choir was added.

He said that, “the choral program has become really stable and that works well within the context of a program that is known for it’s music theatre and opera.”

“It’s been great to be here and see the development of the School of Music – when I first came here I was in the chapel,” Ellefson said.

Ellefson explained that his office was in the chapel and that, “the choirs rehearsed in a corner room in the chapel” before all the building for the Wanda L. Bass School of Music was finished.

Ellefson also said, “I think there’s a lot of the great plans for the future to continue to make OCU and excellent university, but to continue to keep the arts an important part of the school,” and that, “the fine arts aren’t just the school, that the university has got a lot of great things going for it.”

“I hope for the best for it, for it to continue to grow and flourish and become known as a unique place to go to school, not just another private, church related school, but a really significant place where people have a lot of personal interactions with faculty and students get a lot of personal attention,” Ellefson said.

Dr. Ellefson said that, “the most rewarding part of being at this university is developing good friendships with other faculty members and having colleagues that you actually like to work with.”

He pointed to fellow choral director, Professor Tony Gonzalez, university organist Dr. Melissa Plamann, as well as conductors Dr. Matthew Mailman and Professor Jeffery Grogan and other faculty as these rewarding relationships.

Dr. Ellefson said that there were three big concerts that came to mind when asked about directed at OCU: Hector Berlioz’s “Requiem,” Leonard Berstein’s “Mass,” and Benjamin Britten’s “War Requiem.”

“All four choirs and orchestra combined for a huge production for just OCU,” Ellefson said about Hector Berlioz’s Requiem.

“A combination between OCU Theatre and Music and Canterbury Voices mounted a fully staged Oklahoma premiere of the Bernstein Mass that was a huge undertaking, and it was a big success and Jamie Bernstein, the daughter of Leonard Bernstein, came for the performance and was very complimentary,” Ellefson said about the production of Leonard Bernstein’s Mass.

“Another combination with OCU and the Canterbury Voices, not staged, but a big concert was the Benjamin Britten, The War Requiem, because that’s a huge piece, calls for a full Chamber Orchestra, three big soloists, and a huge chorus,” Ellefson recounted about Benjamin Britten’s “The War Requiem.”

He explained that the performances for “The War Requiem” and Mass were performed at the Civic Center, while Requiem was performed at First Presbyterian Church.

Ellefson also said that, “there’s been a lot of smaller things that stand out too, but those are the big ones that took a lor of extra effort and aren’t your normal just stand and sing concerts.”

Dr. Ellefson explained that, “annually, one of my favorite moments is always Christmas Vespers, when we would do that big concert,” explaining that originally, “we were first in the Chapel, and then we moved to the First Presbyterian Church because we could seat many more people.”

Pulitzer Prize-winning poet Jericho Brown reads some of his poetry during the 24th annual Thatcher Hoffman Smith poetry series. Jericho won the prize in 2020 after the success of his book “The Tradition” released in 2019.

William Peetoom ARTS EDITOR

William Peetoom ARTS EDITOR

William Peetoom Student Publications

William Peetoom Student Publications

Orion Turner and Jackson Barnes perform Turner’s composition “Death’s Protest” during the Project 21: El Sistema Collaboration concert. Project 21 is a student-led organization founded in 1997.

William Peetoom ARTS EDITOR