April 13 issue by MediaOCU

THE CAMPUS

April 13, 2016– Volume 110 Issue 24

Spirit squads make history Maleyia Vaughn WEB EDITOR

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Submitted

Members of the pom and cheer squads hold up three fingers after winning three national titles at the National Dance Alliance and National Cheer Alliance National Championships April 6-10 in Daytona. This is the first year the pom team won a national title for team performance and hip hop, and it’s the cheer team’s third consecutive NCA national title. “The best part is how my teammates and I were able to ban together and come back strong from a loss,” said Karly Judkins, exercise science and cheer senior.

The pom squad made history by bringing home two national titles from the National Dance Alliance National Championship, and the small co-ed cheer squad won its third consecutive National Cheer Alliance national title. The teams competed April 6-10 in Daytona. It is the first year in OCU history that pom won a national title for both team performance and hip hop. The team has five national championship titles. The team posted a final score of 8.992 for team performance and 9.397 for hip hop. “I honestly can’t tell you how awesome it feels in the moment they announce second place and you don’t hear your name,” said Talor Kline, business administration and pom sophomore. “We’re the first team for OCU pom to win both divisions we

competed in, so that’s really cool to build the legacy further than what it is.” The pom squad placed third for team performance and fourth for hip-hop at NDA last year, and placed sixth at the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics Invitational on March 13 in Davenport, Iowa. “We came into this season after a streak of really tough losses and had the goal of leaving it all on the floor, making our coach proud and representing our school,” said Rachel Ashwood, nursing and pom senior. “The outcome has exceeded our expectations and every struggle we have gone through as a team has made this double win all the more meaningful.” The small co-ed cheer squad went to Daytona to defend its national title. Coaches of the cheer squad changed their routine after placing second at the NAIA

Invitational in March. “We were disappointed with second place, but it also gave us an opportunity to come back and prove that we deserved to be named national champions,” said Karly Judkins, exercise science and cheer senior. “In the three week period between competitions, the cheer team showed more passion and hard work than I have seen in a long time. My teammates and I were hungry for a win and we were ready to earn it.” The team won its third consecutive NCA national title with a final score of 92.33. The spirit squads have won 13 NDA/NCA national titles and three NAIA dance and cheer titles since Brandy Corcoran, former head coach, started the program in 2008.

Officials plan to move forward with interfaith dorm Elina Moon STAFF WRITER

Plans to turn Smith Hall into an interfaith dorm still are in place, and officials hope to move forward with the project within the next year. The Strategic Planning Committee approved the proposal in August for Smith Hall to be renovated and provide interfaith housing. An interfaith dorm would be an intentional space for students from different faith backgrounds to live together and learn about each other’s traditions. Smith Hall has been empty since Fall 2014 when it was closed due to low enrollment. “We’re still in the fundraising portion of the project,” said the Rev. Dr. Charles Neff, vice president for university-church relations. The project will not move forward with actual renovations, according to the plan, until all the funds are in place. The cost of the project is estimated to be a little more than $2 million. The fundraising team is talking to individuals who’ve invested in projects with similar goals and partners in religious communities. There are a couple of pledges from partners, including a sizable lead pledge of about $700,000, said Martin O’Gwynn, vice president of university advancement and external relations. “We’re confident that we’re going to have the support we need with this project,” he said. Once funds are in place, the team can contract for blueprints and structural design work, O’Gwynn said. “There have already been meetings with construction contractors, but there is not a plan for going forward yet,” he said. “The contractors visited the site and had specific recommendations and commended Smith as having a ‘very stable building frame.’ That

The end result is deeper respect and deeper understanding of where your friends are coming from, especially in faith discussions. Rev. Dr. Charles Neff vice president university-church relations

will give us flexibility to make the dorms much more contemporary. We’re anticipating having an architect here this month to get a more definitive idea of what can be done.” There is no set start or completion date for the project. “We hope that after we finish the fundraising work, we can begin renovations fairly soon after that,” Neff said. “Our hope would be to have it occupied as quickly as we can. Given where we are, its unlikely that 2017 will be a completion date, so we’re probably looking at 2018, but that’s just speculation at this point.” O’Gwynn said he anticipates construction to start during the 20162017 academic year and is more optimistic about the completion date. “There’s a possibility it could be occupied in the spring of 2017, but I think it’d be more likely to come online as a student housing facility in the fall of 2017.” The proposal is to create suites to give the residence hall an apartment-style feel. Instead of rooms connecting across the long axis of the building, they would be self-contained in each stairwell. Each suite would have three bedrooms with two students each, three bathrooms

and a shared living space. There are plans to renovate the first floor to create large meeting spaces, one of which to be used as a space for prayer, worship and other interfaith activities. “We want to provide a physical setting that encourages dialogue and encourages students to really learn and grow through discussion,” Neff said. “The end result is deeper respect and deeper understanding of where your friends are coming from, especially in faith discussions.” To live in the interfaith dorm, students likely would have to apply, agree to a covenant and attend training sessions on how to live with people of different traditions, Neff said. One plan for the dorm is that, for each of the suites, students would be paired with someone of their own faith tradition and the suitemates would be people of other faith traditions, in an effort to create interfaith dialogue. Sara Thias, dance universal freshman, said this is a positive change for Smith Hall. “It’s a great idea,” she said. “I feel like the people who’d make the choice to live in an interfaith dorm are already open to that sort of thing, but I think it can still increase knowledge between them.” The interfaith dorm is not just for people of Abrahamic religions, but also recognizes the importance of agnostics and atheists as part of the conversation, Neff said. It’s too early to determine the price of living in the interfaith dorm, Neff said. It should still fall within the price range of Banning, Draper and Harris, but it may be closer to Methodist to help cover renovation costs.

STAR Summit changes to encourage new ideas Miguel Rios EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

There was no Top 10 list created during STAR Summit this year. The summit usually invites student leaders to come together to brainstorm campus issues and discuss them until they pick the Top 10 issues on campus. An exercise called “I Would Like to See…” took its place. Officials passed out notecards where students were to write up to three things they would like to see at OCU on one side. On the other side, they were to write at least one thing they liked about the university. Officials changed the structure because they kept seeing issues from previous years showing up on the list year after year, most of which are difficult to fix. They thought the new exercise would promote different ideas, said Lesley Black, associate dean of students. “We were very hopeful that,

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with this information, we won’t get the same stuff over and over again,” she said. “We’re going to get some fresh ideas and we’re going to get things that students are really thinking of critically.” Amy Ayres, dean of students and vice president for student affairs, discussed with students what they wrote on their notecard. Levi Harrel, assistant director of student development, said they wanted STAR Summit to have the same look, but a new feel this year. He said a theme would help tie everything together, so they picked the theme “Being an Invested Leader.” “It gives us the same idea for the direction of the university: what you all would like, what you would want, what you don’t like,” he said. “We think it’s a more proactive approach, particularly to those issues that might be concerns for students.” Meagan Chew, acting junior, attended STAR Summit last year and she said she likes the changes they made this time. “I love how they did it this

year,” she said. “Last year it seemed like it kind of dragged on and it was just because it was very silent, there wasn’t a lot of talking. This year it was really interactive and I really liked that.” STAR Summit kicked off with keynote speaker Lee Brown, university risk manager and chairman of the diversity taskforce. His speech focused on diversity, not just regarding race, but also family, home life, individual experiences, and personality. Danne Johnson, law professor, originally was slated to be the keynote speaker but scheduling conflicts arose, Harrel said. Brown was chosen to speak because officials wanted the topic to be relevant, Black said. She said Brown led the “Why Black Lives Matter Matters” seminar, which really engaged attendees and showed officials students were interested in the topic. Spencer Gualdoni, music theater junior, said Brown’s speech was eye-opening. “I guess we all have this stereotype of diversity just being

races and things like that,” he said. “There’s so many ways that we are connected that we don’t even know.” LaVetra Ray, assistant director of student activities, also spoke during the Summit. She explained what S.M.A.R.T. goals are and passed out worksheets so students could set goals for their organizations. She said S.M.A.R.T. goals are Specific, Measurable, Attainable, Relevant, and Time bound. “I thought it was really productive and I think everyone learned a lot about what they want for their organization and the campus as a whole,” said Shelby McCarver, acting freshman who attended STAR Summit. The Summit ended with organization leaders sharing their 2016-17 events on calendars around the room. Harrel said he encourages students to attend next year, even if they’re nervous. He said the event is open to anyone on campus, not just organization leaders. “These events are my passion,”

Miguel Rios Student Publications

Tamara Doherty, psychology senior, and Levi Harrel, assistant director of student development, discuss what they would like to see at OCU during STAR Summit on April 8. This year’s theme was “Being an Invested Leader.”

he said. “I am here because my university officials created events like this, so come on down. It’s a lot of fun. It’s not a stuffy event, it’s student-centered and studentdriven, so come next year.” Harrel said he’s unsure of

when the list of items students would like to see will be released, but it will probably be within a week or two.

Saying good-bye

Celebrating the year

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Read about Head Resident Jeri Jones’s departure See photos from Big Event in the Boathouse District

Leading women

Read about Meinders School of Business Women in Leadership Conference

opinion Editors commend the campus community on Relay For Life Great things happen when the campus community gathers around a common cause. We saw an example of this community’s passion and hard work last weekend at Relay For Life. Relay For Life is a fundraiser for the American Cancer Society. The society spends funds on cancer research and lobbies to support a legislative agenda to end cancer. OCU’s Relay raised more than $23,000 leading up to and during the 12-hour event Friday night through Saturday morning. There were 193 participants on 18 teams who hosted various fundraisers on the quad such as bake sales, a dunk tank, and arts and crafts. Ten of the teams met the general team fundraising goal of $1,000. Relay For Life did more

than raise money for cancer research, though. At the event, four students donated their hair to be used in wigs for those who lose their hair due to cancer treatments. The event also raised awareness of cancer and informed attendees on how to be involved and supportive. See Page 4 for photos from Relay For Life. Especially during this busy time of the year, as we make plans for the summer and beyond, it is good that many students take time out of their schedules to support others. As we focus on ourselves and what each of us needs to do to finish the year, it can be easy to forget to take time to serve others. When the campus community works together we can be a powerful force in the larger community. Teams also consisted of groups from off-campus

Talk Back “How do you get your books?”

like U.S. Grant High School, 5016 S. Pennsylvania Ave., and Everything Goes dance studio, 1721 N.W. 16th St. Campuswide competitions like Homecoming and Spring Sing bring out the best in organizations by pushing us, but Relay For Life shows what can happen when we put that same energy we normally use to try to beat each other toward a common goal. Thank you to everyone who made Relay For Life happen: the planning committee, team captains, and those who came out to support the event and display the best of OCU. Editors note: Photo Editor Ali Wonderly is a co-chairwoman of the Relay For Life committee.

“Chegg”

“I get textbooks from the bookstore.”

Blake Lemmons political science freshman

Marcus Lonardo vocal performance freshman

“Bookstore, Amazon and friends”

“Amazon Prime”

Gabriella Ottersberg music theater/ vocal performance freshman

Micaela Heinrich entertainment business freshman

“Through the online thing through the school”

“Bookstore”

Katrina Walt acting freshman

Samantha Cuellar acting freshman

Editor encourages students to look for support to handle fear Twenty-four days. That is how much time many seniors, including myself have at OCU. As the semester progressed, I began to worry about the things seniors worry about: where to live, what to do and what grad school is right for me. But then, the pieces started to fall into place. I was accepted to the grad school I wanted, I received a good scholarship, I got a job offer and found housing. Then, some uncertainties

came to light. It is scary. No, it is terrifying, to have my career hanging in the balance, wondering if the last four years of education will mean nothing. Fear is a powerful emotion. It can consume you by taking over all of your thoughts. It can cloud your judgment by dimming hope. My fear of unknown future events created palpable stress I can feel constantly in my shoulders and the pit of my stomach. Fear

John Hiller is a religion senior from Ringling, Okla. He enjoys running, spending time with his fiancé, Hannah, and sarcasm.

is real and needs to be acknowledged, or it can overcome you. The fears of a community can change a culture. Fear of violent religious extremists fosters fear of

everyone who is different. Fear leads to prejudice and hate. Fear of changing demographics brings archaic racial tensions to bear. I pray that the other members

of the class of 2016 find peace as they make their final preparations before graduation. If you are struggling to cope with the stress that comes with entering the real world, seek help. I met with university counseling services to talk last week about my fear and stress. It really helped to talk about my problems, instead of letting that fear well up inside of me. Fear, if unchecked, can force us to clam-up and try to revert

back to the way things were. I have thought, “I would give anything to just go back,” or “I should give up.” But instead, I found support in my friends, professional help and in my faith. To everyone with anxiety about the next step, summer plans or career aspirations, you don’t have to do it alone. When you are afraid, look to your support system for love, don’t look for hate, and don’t let fear destroy you.

Critic disappointed by Krampus, finds it inconsistent The more frustrating movies are usually the ones that start with the most promise. A great filmmaker working with a certain actor or an intriguing premise builds anticipation, making it more disappointing when the finished product doesn’t live up to expectations. Released in late 2015, Krampus combines all the elements of a promising movie: an excit-

ing director, great cast and a good premise. Directed and cowritten by Michael Dougherty and starring Adam Scott, Toni Collette, David Koechner and Allison Tolman, Krampus follows a family struggling to come together around Christmas. Frustrated by a lack of togetherness, the family’s son “Max” tears up his letter to Santa, losing his Christmas spirit and inadvertently bringing forth

Danielle Petersen is a music theater senior from San Jose, Calif. She likes playing the violin, playing with her cat and watching films.

a sinister demon. “Krampus,” described as the shadow of Santa Claus, punishes those who are naughty around Christmas and

sets his sights on “Max’s” family. The film tries to do too much and ends up with a middling movie that doesn’t quite know

what its message is. Krampus starts slowly and when it introduces annoying relatives, it almost becomes cringeworthy. The horror elements in the first half are slow-building and atmospheric, but in the second half, it jumps to a level of insanity that is reminiscent of the Evil Dead film series. Each approach could have worked individually, but having both makes the movie

uneven and inconsistent. In the end, it feels like the three co-writers all wrote their own version and threw it all together. There are enough funny moments and so-so scares that the film ends up being enjoyable, but the mistakes are too much to overcome. If it was more consistent it could’ve been something special. Instead, it ends up a fun but muddled mess.

in Wanda L. Bass Music Center

Campus Calendar Calendar items must be received in the Newsroom or stupub@okcu.edu by noon Friday for inclusion in the following Wednesday issue.

WEDNESDAY CETL Faculty Awards Luncheon at 11 a.m. in the Great Hall in Tom and Brenda McDaniel University Center Miscast cabaret at 9 p.m. in the medium rehearsal hall in Wanda L. Bass Music Center THURSDAY Chapel with the Rev. Dr. Leslie Long, associate professor of religion, as speaker at 1 p.m. in

Bishop W. Angie Smith Chapel FRIDAY Performance of Minor at 8 p.m. in the medium rehearsal hall in Wanda L. Bass Music Center SATURDAY Katleen Dugas’s senior vocal performance recital at noon in Petree Recital Hall in Kirkpatrick Fine Arts Center Anna Andersen’s senior music theater recital at 2 p.m. in Petree

Recital Hall in Kirkpatrick Fine Arts Center

rehearsal hall in Wanda L. Bass Music Center

in Kerr-McGee Auditorium in Meinders School of Business

Jennifer McMichael’s senior voice recital at 2 p.m. in the small rehearsal hall in Wanda L. Bass Music Center

Thomas Bastable’s graduate opera recital at 6 p.m. in Petree Recital Hall in Kirkpatrick Fine Arts Center

Nathan Hilger’s senior music theater recital at 4 p.m. in Petree Recital Hall in Kirkpatrick Fine Arts Center

Maryann Dutcher’s senior voice recital at 4 p.m. in Petree Recital Hall in Kirkpatrick Fine Arts Center

Zak Laughlin’s senior percussion recital at 6 p.m. in the small rehearsal hall in Wanda L. Bass Music Center

Taylor Rey and P.T. Mahoney’s junior voice recital at 4 p.m. in the small rehearsal hall in Wanda L. Bass Music Center

Kim Donnelly’s senior music recital at 6 p.m. in the small

SUNDAY Life Itself film screening at 2 p.m.

Gray Leiper’s junior voice recital at 6 p.m. in the small rehearsal hall

Selena Gilliam’s senior vocal performance recital at 6 p.m. in Petree Recital Hall in Kirkpatrick Fine Arts Center Elizabeth Burnett’s senior voice recital at 8 p.m. in Petree Recital Hall in Kirkpatrick Fine Arts Center TUESDAY Softball vs. Mid-America Christian at 2 p.m. in Ann Lacy Stadium

Columnist explains the concept of simple living Today’s culture seems to be in a pursuit of more. We have allowed the material world we live in to rob us of a simple lifestyle. My recent devotional focused on the art of simplicity. I was challenged to purge old clothes, clean out my car and organize my room. I am a self-diagnosed hoarder, so getting rid of material things wasn’t easy, but the outcome was worth it. We tend to focus on tangible

aspects of simple living, like decluttering, but that barely touches the surface of simplicity. Living simply doesn’t mean forsaking all of your belongings and claiming the wilderness as your new home, nor does it mean adopting a self-righteous attitude about money. To live a simple life means to be present and empowered, to make the choice to create a life you love without clutter. I have experienced a new

Tatum Nelson is a mass communications/religion sophomore from Tulsa, Okla. She enjoys spending time with her sister and eating tacos. !

freedom and self-control in my life since adapting a few characteristics of a simplistic lifestyle. My favorite benefit of simple living is having more engaged relationships. I chose to take at least 30 minutes every day

to turn off all my technology. It can be hard to connect with anyone in the flesh when we are hyper-connected to our computers and phones. Our minds are bombarded with information, so unplugging gives us a calm

THE CAMPUS

Photographers: Danielle Frost, Donovan Lawson, Andrew Robling Staff Writers: Prisca Lynch, Elina Moon, Taylor Rey Columnists: Tatum Nelson, Madelyn Parker Film Critic: Danielle Petersen

and remove stress-inducers such as debt, crappy jobs and hurtful relationships, we have more time to take care of our heart and mind. We also free up resources, which allows us to need less, be happy and gives us more time to consider what’s important. Instead of trying to live up to the standards that someone else sets for us, we can be who we want to be, which is more loving, caring and giving people.

The Campus has served the Oklahoma City University community since 1907. It is published Wednesday during the academic year, with the exception of holidays and exam periods.

April 13, 2016, Volume 110, Number 24

Editor-in-chief: Miguel Rios Associate Editor: Emily Wiley Web Editor: Maleyia Vaughn Lifestyles Editor: Sage Tokach Photo Editor: Ali Wonderly Copy Editor: John Hiller Community Manager: Lauren Berlingeri

platform to listen and engage with others. This has not only improved my relationship with friends, but also with God. I have healthier relationships because I take time to shut off my phone, be still and listen. Better health and self care are other benefits from living a simple life. Simplicity can lower blood pressure and reduce the risk of disease, according to bemorewithless.com. When we lessen commitments and obligations,

The Student Publications staff welcomes unsolicited material and letters to the editor. All letters must be signed and include the writer’s phone

Ad and Marketing Director: number, address, major, and classification. The staff reserves the right to Ashten Vincent Digitally signed by Newsroom edit all letters. The staff also reserves the right to refuse letters without exCirculation Director: DN: cn=Newsroom, o, ou, planation. Letters can be sent online at mediaocu.com, emailed to stupub@ email=ehwiley@my.okcu.edu, Allie Glazner okcu.edu or dropped off at the Newsroom in Walker Center for Arts and Scic=US Faculty Adviser: Kenna Griffin

Newsroom

Date: 2016.01.09 13:22:47 -06'00' ences. Submitted items may appear on MediaOCU and in the print edition.

April 13, 2016

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news

New program designed to integrate international students Taylor Rey STAFF WRITER

University officials are introducing a new program to help integrate students from foreign countries into the campus community, and they are looking for student volunteers to welcome incoming students. The Stars Connect program is a project designed to welcome international students to OCU and to promote cross-cultural engagement among students by pairing international students with domestic students. The program is still in the

early stages of development, but a trial run is scheduled to begin next semester. “This is a program that has existed in the past but has been dormant,” said Evan Frejo, graduate student/intern in the study abroad office developing the program. “We are just building on the excellence of the previous model.” Domestic students may volunteer as peer advisers for this program. “We are really looking for natural leaders or students who have had the opportunity to study abroad themselves and are more open to cultural competency,” Frejo said.

We are really looking for natural leaders or students who have had the opportunity to study abroad themselves and are more open to cultural competency. Evan Frejo graduate student/intern

Volunteers in Stars Connect will establish contact with international students and introduce them to American culture, two or three months prior to their arrival. Once the students arrive, peer advisers will pick them up from the airport, and help them gather basic essentials

like a cell phone and groceries. As the semester continues, group activities will be planned involving the international students and peer advisers on a weekly basis in large and small groups. Peer advisers also will check in with international students regularly to ensure

they are settling in well. One international student said he thinks the program is a good way to ease the transition for international students. “This is a very good idea,”said Sriharsha Annabattula, first semester international student from India. “It is very nice to be included with the local students. We just got here you know, we are still learning.” Nathan Moelling, history junior, studied abroad in Japan. He said he supports the new program. “The Stars Connect program should be used as a

buddy system,” he said. “It’s good to have a specific person assigned to them rather than an office number that handles everyone.” An email will be sent to students with information on how to volunteer at the end of this month. For more information email Mary Benner, director of global engagement, at mbenner@okcu.edu.

OCUNYC no longer funded by the university, self-funded by alumni Taylor Rey STAFF WRITER

Elina Moon Student Publications

It’s a girl! “Celia” played by Olivia Cinquepalmi, acting junior, watches as “Oliver,” played by Trevor Strahan, acting senior, discovers “Rosalind’s” secret that she is woman pretending to be a man in TheatreOCU’s production of Shakespeare’s As You Like It. Ariel Richardson, acting senior, played “Rosalind.” The show follows her escape from persecution into the Forest of Arden where she finds safety and love. Performances ran Thursday through Sunday.

Campus bookstore to provide automatic textbook service Tatum Nelson STAFF WRITER

A new program from the bookstore will automatically deliver required books to students’ rooms. The service is called Textbook Butler. When students enroll in classes, Textbook Butler receives a book order from the professor. The books ship directly to campus and are delivered to the student’s room before classes start, with no extra fee for delivery. The books are charged to the student’s account. After a student receives their textbooks, the balance posts to the account. “It will help students and I really think it would help teachers too,” Bookstore Manager Christina Chapman said. “They should appreciate it since their students will be prepared on the first day of class with this program.” Incoming freshman are automatically enrolled in the

program. Current students will have to opt-in to the program to use the service. Any student can opt out of the program or return unneeded books. Students who use Textbook Butler can return or exchange books up to one week after delivery without penalty, and the credit will be returned to their student account. After the first week, a 15 percent restocking fee will be added to returned books. Students not in the program have 48 hours to return a book purchased from the campus store. The default book preference on Textbook Butler is to rent required books. Once students have enrolled in their classes, book preferences can be managed at textbookbutler.com. Students can choose “buy new” or “buy used” as their Textbook Butler preference. Rented books can be purchased later. “I will for sure take advantage of this program since it is so easy and convenient,” said McKenna

Murphy, mass communications freshman. Textbook Butler is contracted by Tree of Life Bookstores, the family-owned company that operates OCU Campus Store. “The first year they wanted to see how just adding the student charging would impact students and we had a lot of students take advantage of it,” Chapman said. “They wanted to see what the next step was in making the process even easier for students and that was Textbook Butler.” Any time a student has a scholarship or financial aid, they will use that money to pay for the books before charging any additional amount to the student’s account, Chapman said For more information, contact the campus store at 405-2085112 or okcu@tolbookstores.com

OCUNYC recently hosted its 11th annual workshop in New York City, the first since alumni who host the workshop self-funded the event. OCUNYC is a workshop that takes place annually in New York City and is open to all performing arts majors at no cost to students. The workshop’s purpose is to acclimate students to New York City and to help them transition from students to professionals in the theater community by introducing them to current professionals in the performance world. The workshop includes masterclasses with cast members of current Broadway shows to learn original

Broadway choreography and vocal masterclasses with distinguished vocalists, directors and teachers. The workshop also includes vocal and dance mock auditions with immediate feedback from theater and dance professionals. OCUNYC is also a network dedicated to helping OCU alumni connect and network in New York City after graduation. Hosts of the program help students find housing with alumni while they are there for the workshop. “OCUNYC used to be funded by a donor, but we stopped receiving funding from that donor last year,” said Mark Belsik, dean of the Wanda L. Bass School of Music. “It is now being sponsored by the alumni chapter in NYC.

“OCUNYC is fantastic. Our students love it and it is a great opportunity for them, we definitely want to keep it going.” Students who attended the workshop this year had masterclasses with Alumna Kelli O’Hara, who is currently starring on Broadway in The King and I, and Sasha Hutching, cast member of the Broadway show Hamilton. “ T h e w o r k s h o p re a l l y changed the way I see myself as a performer,” said Helen Han, music theater sophomore. “I definitely grew and learned a lot and I think it’s really wonderful for students.”

FREAKY FAST! FREAKY

FRESH!

Theater for young audiences major canceled, only offered as minor Prisca Lynch STAFF WRITER

The theater for young audiences major is no longer accepting students, though the minor is available still. The major prepared students for work in theater for younger audiences, such as acting, directing and design. The program was approved three years ago, but there was no money available for targeted recruiting. Since there was less recruitment outreach, enrollment is low, said Judith Palladino, professor of theater. “When we were going through prioritization, it actuApril 13, 2016

ally survived,” she said. “Even though we have low enrollment, all students that applied and got accepted to the major came to OCU.” Prioritization is the process that allows officials to examine university expenditures and determine if changes should be made to academic and support programs. The theater for young audiences minor still will be available, due to good levels of enrollment. “The trend is students getting a degree in other kinds of performance are adding children’s theater because there are typically jobs available in children’s theater,” Palladino said. Current theater for young audiences majors will be able to

finish the program. “I wish that there had been a harder push to recruit for this program before it was cut,” said Meghan Webb, theater for young audiences sophomore. “I think that theater for young audiences is an incredibly valuable art form that isn’t always held to the high standards that it deserves.” Higher enrollment is required to bring back the theater for young audiences major, Palladino said. For more information, email Palladino at jpalladino@okcu. edu.

SERIOUS DELIVERY!

★ JIMMYJOHNS.COM ★

Relay For Life Students and community members gather around the sidewalk on the quad to celebrate survivors as they walk the first lap, officially kicking off Relay For Life on April 8. The event had 18 teams and 193 participants who signed up and donated to raise money for the American Cancer Society. The event raised $23,441 for cancer research. Donovan Lawson Student Publications

Zack Travers, business administration junior and Relay For Life chairman, holds Kyrian Anderson, honorary event chairperson, on his back as they walk a lap during Relay For Life. Kyrian is a 10-year-old boy battling cancer for the second time. He was chosen to inspire students and community members to engage more with the event. “Cancer is nameless and faceless, but when you see it impact someone, it gives you an added motivation,” Maleyia Vaughn Student Publications

David Hall, music education/sociology sophomore, wipes whipped cream off his face as Alumna Beatrize Martinez laughs. Organizations set up tables to sell food or services to raise money during the event. Organizations sold fried Oreos, pies, drinks, and Frito chili pies. They also hosted other activities such as pie in the face or a dunk tank.

Travers said. “Kyrian is such a lovable and supportable face for us to rally around.” Danielle Frost Student Publications

Thomas Olsen and Anastasia Fields, dance universal freshmen, watch as students perform in the Relay For Life pageant. Each organization was encouraged to nominate one member to create an alter ego and perform a talent during the pageant in front of the community. Alpha Phi sorority won the pageant. Danielle Frost Student Publications

Danielle Frost Student Publications

Wes Peddycord, music theater sophomore, emcees the Relay For Life pageant as Joey Simpson, religion sophomore, performs his talent of posing. Simpson supported the Lambda Chi Alpha fraternity team, which also sold fried Oreos to raise money during the event. The fraternity didn’t meet their fundraising goal of $1,000, but raised $559.

Erin McDermitt, dance performance sophomore; Stephanie Francis, vocal music education sophomore, and Peighton Hornung, acting freshman, walk around the quad for Relay For Life while playing with Hornung’s puppy, Ellie. McDermitt and Francis supported the Alpha Chi Omega sorority team, which sold canvases Miguel Rios Student Publications

Evan Hudson, human performance freshman, shaves the head of Tom Hoblin, music theater freshman, while he takes a photo with Tyler Eccles, finance senior. The three men supported the Phi Gamma Delta (FIJI) fraternity team, which accepted donations before shaving another member’s head. The team exceeded their fundraising goal of $1,000, raising $1,113.

April 13, 2016

to “Paint the World Purple,” which was the overall theme for this year’s event. The team raised almost $1,900. Maleyia Vaughn Student Publications