Aug. 22 by MediaOCU

THE CAMPUS August 22, 2018 – Volume 112 Issue 1

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Elina Moon Student Publications

MaKayla Baxter, music theater freshman, ceremonially touches the gold star after

Matriculation Convocation on Aug. 15 in Kirkpatrick Fine Arts Center. Students touch the star twice in their time at OCU, upon matriculating and at graduation, to signify

the start and end of their college careers. Above: Freshmen act out the building of the Meinders School of Business in a skit about former President Tom McDaniel. The skit was a part of the new Stars Week

event, the Traditions Rally. Students were split into groups and learned about important OCU figures, like Wanda Bass, Herman Meinders, Florence Birdwell, Starsky, and Bishop W. Angie Smith. The top six skits were then chosen to perform at finals.

Officials start year with new Stars Week orientation events Chandler White

I have great faith in the class of 2022 in doing great things for Oklahoma City University because they are so excited to be here.

COPY EDITOR

Academic affairs officials implemented group activities into a new tradition-oriented rally for this year’s Stars Week. Stars Week is the weeklong schedule of orientation activities meant to help freshmen acclimate to the campus community before classes start. It was Aug. 13-19. Students participated in traditional activities like Matriculation Convocation and First-Year Follies, as well as new events like the Traditions Rally. Freshmen of the class of 2022 were put into small groups called “Stars Groups,” each of which put together a five-minute presentation or skit focused around an assigned OCU tradition. The top six Stars Groups presented these performances at the Traditions Rally on Thursday in Petree Recital Hall in Kirkpatrick Fine Arts Center. Colbi Beam, senior coordinator of first-year experience, said the Stars Groups and Traditions Rally are helpful because they indicate more clearly who the university should try harder to connect with. “We’ve never taken real attendance in any meaningful ways,” Beam said. “We might know about how many people are there, but this allows us to see who is engaging with our programs and who isn’t and try to capture those who we missed in the past. The beauty of having these small groups is that we actually know who’s coming and who’s also having a really hard time so we can reach out to them.” The Stars Groups were assembled randomly and independent of major. Beam said this was to ensure students are acquainted with others outside of their classes or interests. “The whole point is that they get to know people who are different than them, that aren’t living on their hall, that they’re not going to share classes with all the time,” she said. “The New Student Orientation Leaders are the same way. They all have two or three orientation leaders to each group, and we try to really diversify those so that there’s not the same major and there’s not a lot of redundancy.” Blue Out Blow Out and Stars on Bricktown, former Stars Week events, were cut from this year’s activities. Beam said Blue Out Blow

Colbi Beam

first-year experience senior coordinator

Out, a spirit rally in Abe Lemons Arena, was fun but didn’t have enough of a learning outcome or create real connections between students. She also said Stars on Bricktown, an opportunity to visit Oklahoma City’s downtown entertainment district, was cut because it conflicted with Greek recruitment and was too expensive for a low level of engagement. “They outlived their legacy a little bit,” she said. “When I look at our programs and how we fund things, I need to make sure that the things we’re introducing have some real teeth, and we’re making sure that it benefits them and we’re not wasting their time or wasting our money on it.” Stars Week is planned by Beam and the New Student Orientation Leaders, a group of more than 50 upperclassmen who plan and prepare Stars Week starting in October of the previous year. Beam said this year the staff tried to orient events and attractions toward students who are less likely to feel comfortable at OCU in their first week. “We know the students who are going to be really successful and that Stars Week is going to appeal to. We know that our music theater students and our dance students are going to eat it up. We could literally just put them in a room and most of our students could find a way to have a good time and fall in love with OCU,” she said. “But there are other students that we’ve always catered our programs to, that get lost in the shuffle. So we’ve talked about, with every program we do, ‘let’s talk about the student who’s not the performer, or the student who isn’t going

to walk in and have 10 friends already that they met at camps here.’” Tiera Matthews, acting freshman, said she enjoyed being so active during Stars Week because it showed her that officials genuinely want her as a student. “Always having somewhere to be, and just feeling super welcome, and knowing that you won’t be idle is comforting,” Matthews said. “In a college experience, I look for a community that wants me and that has a place for me, versus a super big school that’ll just place me somewhere.” Landon Honolka, music performance freshman, said he came to OCU because officials seemed to care about him more, based on scholarships and his impression of the campus. “I chose to go to OCU because I was offered a lot more than any other school, which means they probably care a little bit more about me here than other schools,” Honolka said. “They seem like they really care about what they’re doing here.” Beam said the class of 2022 is her favorite and the largest freshman class she’s ever seen at OCU since joining the faculty in 2011. The class is about 375 students. “I adore them,” she said. “They are so much fun. I have great faith in the class of 2022 in doing great things for Oklahoma City University because they are so excited to be here. I can feel it at all of our events.” Beam said, more than anything, she wants the class of 2022 to learn from OCU how to be adaptable. “I would be misguided in saying that I don’t think they’re going to have hardships, I don’t think they’re going to question their decision to be at OCU at some point or I don’t think that they’re going to have some struggles while they’re here,” she said. “But I hope that we give them the tools to make them adaptable to those situations and to learn to overcome them. My goal always is for them to find community here.”

President Burger takes office, discusses priorities for new academic year Nicole Waltman

EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

President Martha Burger is beginning her career as university president by implementing new programs and expanding on the university’s strengths. Upon the retirement of former President Robert Henry, President Martha Burger took office July 1. Since the start of her term, Burger said things are going great. “It has been mostly what I expected,” she said. “Because I’ve been so close to the university for a number of years, I knew a bit about what to expect.” Burger is an alumna and was a member of the board of trustees since 2008. Burger said she’s been able to experience “the other side of things” as president. “I have been spending time this week with the students and parents, and that was a part of OCU I had really not experienced as much,” she said. “I’m smiling when I say that because

M MEDIAOCU.com

it has been a really heartwarming experience.” Freshman interaction The new freshman class of 2022 consists of about 375 students. “What I have noticed is the degree of poise and confidence they have as freshmen,” Burger said. “I don’t even think I was in the same league when I was a freshman. The ability across the board to carry on great conversation and just the way that they interact is so full of confidence and poise. I am impressed.” This freshman class is the largest class since 2010, Burger said. “We know our mission—our mission is to serve students,” she said. “Our success is our incoming class, that’s what we all gather around.” Goals moving forward Burger has several goals set for this academic year, she said. First is a physical therapy program that is in the works. “We’re working on accreditation. We’re going to need to have

President Martha Burger addresses the audience at the Matriculation Convocation Ceremony on Aug. 15 in Kirkpatrick Auditorium in Kirkpatrick Fine Arts Center. Burger, OCU’s 18th president, took office July 1 and is beginning to implement her goals for this academic year.

some labs ready, so we’re going to work ahead on that,” she said. Another goal is to make further progress on building out OCU’s online educational infrastructure, Burger said. “We’re never going to be known to be a top online university, but there are some programs that really help us meet students where they are,” she said. Burger said she’ll also be spending a lot of time fundraising, and that’s how she’ll work closely with a lot of the deans and

faculty on campus. While she’s set goals for the university, Burger said students shouldn’t expect major changes in how the university runs. “The student experience that we offer students is excellent, it is unique, it is one-on-one,” she said. “Those things will all be the same, and we will just continue to build on them.” Trusting the vision Burger said her style of leadership and interaction with the

campus community will implement shifts and changes in an organic way. “Everything, to me, is built upon trust,” she said. “To have an atmosphere and a culture that’s based on trust is what makes an organization the strongest that it can be.” Burger said it’s essential for the campus community to come together in a safe and respectful way when faced with challenges. “We need to listen to other people’s points of view, and although we don’t agree with them, necessarily, we have to remember that people have positive intentions,” she said. Burger said her belief in the university is what drives her. “I hope that donors can sit across from me when I’m talking with them and know that I’m speaking from the heart because I absolutely believe in this place,” she said. Burger said her best advice to students for the academic year is to “let it be,” which was also the title a song performed at this year’s Matriculation Convocation.

“Take it in, have moments just for you where you sit and just kind of absorb the atmosphere here at OCU,” she said. While Burger bases her presidency on trust and implementing it through the campus community, she recognizes that it starts with herself, she said. “I am learning every day, so I do not have all the answers. I will work as hard as I absolutely can on behalf of OCU– that’s my pledge,” she said. Jordan Tarter, English senior and Student Government Association president, said Burger’s intentions are positive. “She has presented herself as an extremely qualified and dedicated president,” Tarter said. “From the interactions I’ve had with her, I could definitely vouch that her character as a person is stellar, and her intent seems to be to run a very student-focused administration.”

Crazy Kazoo Lady

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Get advice by emailing chawthorne@okcu.edu See photos of sorority and fraternity bid days

Star-studded week

See more photos from the different Stars Week events

opinion Editors give encouraging advice to incoming, returning students As the start of the academic year dawns, OCU is once again filling with excited newcomers, new transfers and returning students. All of that excitement is almost always accompanied by nerves. One thing that’s great about OCU is the welcoming community. If incoming students ever feel lost, confused or just need help, they shouldn’t be afraid to ask the first person they see on their way to class. Even though seniors may feel like experts going into their final year, even they may be a little nervous. Seniors, this is your last year—your final first semester of undergrad. This is the time to make the most of your college career. The goals you set three years ago as a freshman are either coming to fruition or they have changed. Whatever the case may be, senior year is the time to make things happen. This is your year. Sophomores and juniors, these years don’t necessarily make or break you, like everyone would have you believe. It’s easy to fall into a “slump.” The best way to combat stagnation is simply to be aware of it. If

you feel that you are falling into a slump, try reaching out to fellow students. This campus is filled with friendly people to help take your mind off pressing academics, deadlines, rehearsals, or practices. OCU is a complicated place. It’s easy to get overwhelmed in your first weeks. Auditions, syllabuses, homework, and new schedules are hard for everyone. Ne w s t u d e n t s s h o u l d remember, when you start to feel homesick and get overwhelmed, to ask for help. Take a break and go hang out at Alvin’s Market with some friends. Don’t hang out there too much, though, because those points go fast. Once they’re gone, you’ll have to reach out to family members, begging them to refill Stars Cash or Alvin’s points. OCU is filled with talented students. Many of them enjoy singing in the halls or on the way to class, and they might even serenade the entirety of the caf with their lovely voices. This is part of the fun that comes with attending a small, performing arts-focused college. Many people spend their time singing, acting or practicing, but this doesn’t mean you

Talk Back “What was your favorite part of Stars Week?”

should feel worse about yourself because of it. Rather you can see the skills and talents of others as an inspiration for your own and a reminder that OCU is a place where those talents are welcome. On-campus living as a freshman also can sometimes feel overwhelming. Walker Hall and Banning Hall may seem like tight spaces, or at least they will once you visit an upperclassman’s room in Methodist Hall or Cokesbury Court Apartments. Remember that your home is what you make it. Try getting your roommates to spruce the place up with you. Posters, lights, framed pictures, and plants are all ways to make your living space feel more like home. The start of the academic year brings a mix of emotions. Now is the time to set goals, to start bringing them to life or to accomplish them. Make sure to soak up every minute of fun, because this year will end before you know it.

“Open mic night”

Christa Blades dance universal freshman

“Just going around meeting new people”

“I met a lot of people. I feel like I've actually made connections this week.” MaKayla Baxter music theater freshman

“Follies was pretty cool.”

Charlie Freeman business administration freshman

Luke Gilmore music freshman

“I liked the whole skit thing. It was a lot of fun.”

“I really liked the Stars Groups. I made a lot of friends through that.”

Madi Love dance universal freshman

“The Matriculation ceremony"

Cesar Carreno music theater freshman

Dru Norton mass communications freshman

“I'm in the Honors Program and we all went to escape rooms.” Fritz Hager vocal performance freshman

New editor-in-chief introduces herself to the campus New, new, new, and more new. That’s basically what this time of year is about. Speaking of, hello, campus community! I’m your new editorin-chief of Student Publications, which means I am responsible for leading the production of this weekly student newspaper and mediaocu.com. I was born and raised in the tiny but mighty town of Fort Gibson, Oklahoma, and attended Fort Gibson Public Schools until I graduated in 2015. I chose to attend OCU because I was used to an intimate, family-oriented style of academia,

and OCU was a place where I could still have that. I came here as a double major in theater and performance and mass communications with an emphasis in broadcast journalism, and I still remain in those two majors today as a senior. I started writing for the Student Publications staff during my sophomore year, then, shortly after, I moved to the editorial board as web editor. Now here I sit as your editor-in-chief, something I never dreamed possible. To me, Student Publications is one of the most vital vessels of communication we have on

Nicole Waltman is a theater and performance/ mass communications senior from Fort Gibson, Oklahoma. She likes candles and makeup tutorials.

campus. The purpose is in the title—it's for the students. It's overarching purpose is to inform, entertain and serve the campus community. It’s a way to deliver the happenings around campus, whether they’re good or bad. You deserve the truth, and that’s what we’re

here to provide. Student Publications available as a resource and simultaneously a voice for the students. Your thoughts and opinions are valued and are the driving force of this campus. I vow to always work for you and with you to create open and

respectful dialogue that is reliable. I’m a firm believer that individually, this staff, our leadership, and the students on this campus are strong. But together, we’re much stronger. It’s my goal as editor-in-chief to create positive relationships between the Student Publications staff and every person who’s taking the time to read this column right now. It’s also my goal to distribute news that the students want and love to see. Because of this, speak up! Let us know what you’re curious about and what we’re doing right. Communication is key.

You can interact with us on Twitter, Facebook or Instagram at “MediaOCU.” If you ever feel the need to reach out to me personally, email me at nlwaltman@my.okcu.edu. Or, if you’d like to reach out to the editors, email stupub@ okcu.edu. I can’t wait to go on this adventure with this campus community. Just like all of you, I’m learning and growing as I go, because after all, academia is what brought us together and we never really stop learning. Go, Stars, go!

‘Hereditary’ deviates from industry standard with mixed results When the notorious and royal film company A24 announced a film called Hereditary, advertised that it was from the makers of The Witch and made every film critic start using words like “this generation’s Exorcist,” it naturally caught my attention. Hereditary is a film that, as half of Twitter’s population argued for most of the summer, transcends horror tradition. Going far beyond tropes and motifs that have long since outstayed their welcome (jumpscares, CGI, too elaborate backstories), Hereditary feels like yet another name in the “horror films of the future” roster. This is no real surprise from A24, who usually produce these films,

but this movie, in many ways, is atypical even for them. True to its name, Hereditary centers on a family directly after the death of the grandmother. This particular grandmother, Ellen, was not your average granny and left behind a disturbing, traumatic legacy of mental illness and dark secrets. Her daughter Annie (Toni Collette) has to keep her own family in check after this, managing tensions between her angsty son, Peter (Alex Wolff), and her eerily behaving daughter, Charlie (Milly Shapiro). One of many reasons that some audiences found this movie to be out of place with other horror films is that the cin-

Chandler White is an English senior from Meeker, Oklahoma. He likes gothic horror and good hip-hop.

ematography is slow, wide and carefully oriented at almost every frame of the movie, bearing kinship to Stanley Kubrick films like The Shining. This technique makes for some gorgeous visual moments and equally terrifying ones, the latter of which is strong in the veins of this movie. The visual orientation and expert use of darkness make for the kind of eerie moments you would imag-

ine happening in your house at night. I won’t go into details, but within the first 30 minutes of this film, it was already home to some of the most shocking moments of any film I’ve seen. By deviating so relentlessly from standard horror plotlines, the viewer is always guessing at what absolutely unpredictable thing will happen next, and, by the end

of it, enough shocking moments have transpired to fill waking and sleeping terrors. But, I find myself asking if it deviates a little too much. The last thing I want is a horror film like all the other ones Hollywood cranks out with a meatgrinder, but Hereditary also strays from viewer expectations in ways that are much less flattering. Much of its plot relies on certain ambiguities and parallels that make subliminal and symbolic sense, but are completely unbalancing when it comes to the on-paper plotline. The plot goes in directions that, though potentially valid in the underlying meanings of the film, simply don’t match with

other elements of the plot. This creates a very disorienting experience, and not in the way I like. For every ounce of my love that flows into this movie, an almost equal supply of hatred follows. I love this movie enough to passionately despise it when it jeopardizes its strengths with its leeching, unnecessary, intolerable weaknesses. When all is said and done, though, Hereditary will always have a place in my heart and on my shelf as one of the most interesting and shocking films of the 2010s. Viewers who are sick of the drivel of mainstream horror and patient with the oddities of experimental horror likely will feel the same.

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

TODAY St u d e nt a n d Co m m u n i t y Involvement Fair from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. on the quad Caf Grand Opening Week prize giveaway at 12:30 p.m. in the caf THURSDAY Final day to drop classes without a professor's signature for

the Fall 2018 semester Caf Grand Opening Week prize giveaway at 12:30 p.m. in the caf Weekly chapel service from 1-2 p.m. in Bishop W. Angie Smith Chapel Weekly Play Club meeting from 7 p.m. to midnight in the Honors

Wanda L. Bass Music Center

tor Center

FRIDAY Caf Grand Opening Week grand prize giveaway at 12:30 p.m. in the caf

SUNDAY Opera and musical theater callbacks for Susanna at 2 p.m. in the Large Rehearsal Hall in Wanda L. Bass Music Center

Evensong at 8 p.m. in Watson Lounge in Bishop W. Angie Smith Chapel

SATURDAY Opera and musical theater callbacks for Only Human at 7 p.m. in the Large Rehearsal Hall in

MONDAY Physical therapy information session from 5:30-6:30 p.m. in Ann Lacy Admissions and Visi-

Lounge in Gold Star Memorial Building

THE CAMPUS

Staff Writers: Callie Dewees, Mallory Scheidel, Erik Hamilton Columnist: Caroline Hawthorne Photographer: Carolann Stout, Hannah Rogers Videographer: Emily Haan Ad/Marketing Director: Emily Jones

Cheers to Careers from 2-3 p.m.

Women’s volleyball vs. Bacone College at 7 p.m. in Henry J. Freede Wellness and Activities Center Marilyn Hildreth, Clara Luper's daughter, speaks from 1-2 p.m. in Great Hall in Tom and Brenda McDaniel University Center

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.

August 22, 2018, Volume 112, Number 1

Editor-in-chief: Nicole Waltman Associate Editor: Emily Wollenberg Copy Editor: Chandler White Photo Editor: Elina Moon Community Manager: Harrison Langford

TUESDAY Music assembly at 1 p.m. in Petree Recital Hall in Kirkpatrick Fine Arts Center

in Martha Burger Career Services Center

The Student Publications staff welcomes unsolicited material and let-

Faculty Adviser: Kenna Griffin

ters to the editor. All letters must be signed and include the writer’s phone number, address, major, and classification. The staff reserves the right to edit all letters. The staff also reserves the right to refuse letters without explanation. Letters can be sent online at mediaocu.com, emailed to stupub@ okcu.edu or dropped off at the Newsroom in Walker Center for Arts and Sciences. Submitted items may appear on MediaOCU and in the print edition.

August 22, 2018

news

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Kick it

Senior Forward Aboubakr Diallo kicks the ball during a scrimmage against Rose State at 3 p.m. Aug. 18 at Stars Field. The Stars won the game 2-1. Above right: Sophomore Defender Nick Stremel prepares to kick the ball at the soccer game against Rose State.

Below right: Senior Defender Alex Buckley attempts to steal the ball during the soccer game against Rose State. The game was a scrimmage and didn’t count toward the season.

Elina Moon Student Publications

Housing, residence life welcomes new staff members Emily Wollenberg

ASSOCIATE EDITOR

The new academic year brought new staff transitions into housing and residence life, which could affect students experience with housing. Michael Burns, former director of housing and residence life, left the position in June. Casey Kreger, former coordinator of residence life at Appalachian State University, was hired to the post. Kreger said he was interested in the position at OCU because he was attracted to the small school environment and the closeknit community. “The only challenges so far have been the learning curve,” he said. “When you enter a new institution, there are always things people do differently.” Kreger said he has had a positive experience working with all the staff and students. He has some long-term goals for housing and residence life to incorporate more student engagement. “We’re looking to have more student activities and further our outreach in the campus community,” he said. LaVetra Stevenson, former assistant director of student activities, now serves as the residence hall director of Walker Hall dor-

We’re looking to have more student activites and further our outreach in the campus community. Casey Kreger

director of housing and residence life

mitory, overseeing the policies and procedures there. Haley Stiles was hired to fill the position that is now titled assistant director of student engagement, and reports to Levi Harrel, who was promoted to director of student engagement. Both are positions that maximize campus involvement for students. Devon Murphy, former administrative assistant of Cokesbury Court Apartments, is now the residence hall director of Draper and Banning halls. She oversees policies and procedures in these residence halls. Murphy said she was interested in the Banning position because

she lived there as a freshman and loved her time there. “I had such a good experience here that I wanted to continue that on. So, when I found out it opened, I was really excited,” she said. Murphy said, even overseeing two different dorms, she doesn’t interact with as many people as she did at Cokesbury. “Even with Banning and Draper at full capacity, I’m still dealing with fewer residents and fewer students than I was over at Cokesbury,” she said. “Cokesbury holds about 463 beds when it’s at max capacity.” Both Banning Hall and Draper Hall house up to 75 students. Murphy said she is excited to bring more activities and events to the dorms. “Banning has had a reputation of just being a fun place to be, so I want to continue that,” she said. Sarah Martin, acting sophomore, said she is concerned that students weren’t informed of the staff changes. “I wish there was more information about these changes to the students,” Martin said.

Men’s golf takes national championship during summer Callie Dewees

STAFF WRITER

The men’s golf team won the NAIA Golf National Championship during the summer. Seventeen teams competed in the championship May 15-18 in Silvis, Illinois. After the first round on May 15, the Stars were in ninth place, but advanced to third place May 16. They pulled an eight-shot lead May 17, putting them in first place. The Stars shot five-under and won by 13 shots May 18, the last day of the championship. They were also the only team to score below

par, the next highest score being a four-over 1140. “The competition at the National Championship is always very strong,” Junior Golfer Rupert Kaminski said. “This year, in particular, there were several teams who were always going to be difficult to beat. I think the biggest key to our success was the determination our team showed throughout the tournament and how it was such a team effort. We all knew we were playing for something much bigger than ourselves, and I think always reminding ourselves of that was important.” Kaminski is not returning to school this semester so he can

Cou�tesy o� OCUspo�ts.com The men’s golf team celebrates their championship May 15 at TPC Deer Run in Silvis, Illinois. This marks their second national title in three years.

focus on a professional career in golf. He said he attributes this decision in part to the training he

received at OCU. “It’s been such an honor to be able to represent Stars golf and

Coach Blaser,” Kaminski said. “I just felt that the three years I spent playing there gave me everything I needed to take my career to the next level. Being on the team has played a huge part in where I am as a golfer today.” Kaminski and three other OCU students, Senior Golfer Garrison Mendoza, Freshman Golfer Gaston Romero and Sophomore Golfer David Meyers, were named to the All-Tournament Team. All five players finished in the top 25 for their individual scores during the championship. “The whole team played well,” Meyers said. “We all had a consistent week. If you look at the

individual results, we really took each day as its own tournament, which was a key factor in winning the event.” Meyers said the team not finishing as well last year made this year’s win feel even better. He also said everyone on the team is great to work with. “It’s going to be a really competitive team, as every individual on the golf program is good enough to play in the top five,” Meyers said. “I really think this team will win another national championship next year.”

Rowing team hires alumnus as new men’s, women’s coach Harrison Langford

COMMUNITY MANAGER

Officials hired a former student as the new rowing head coach. OCU alumnus Hadzo Habibovic was selected as the new coach for the men’s and women’s rowing teams. Habibovic was hired after Coach Thomas Daugherty was terminated from his position before the academic year began. Officials were unable to comment further about Daughtery’s termination. Habibovic graduated with undergraduate and master’s degrees in accounting and rowed for the team from 2011-2015. Habibovic was the coxswain, the steerman of the boat for the men’s team, and he also coxswained for the U.S. World University team in its August 22, 2018

first entrance in the games to win eight gold medals, according to OCUsports.com. “Hadzo has great experience as a rower and coach and an intimate understanding of the mission of Oklahoma City University. I look forward to the very positive impact that I know he will have on our teams,” Athletic Director Jim Abbott said in an Hadzo OCUsports.com article. Habibovic Habibovic also said he is interested in bringing rowing coach change and improvement to the rowing teams. “We are looking to revamp the OCU rowing team right from the start of this school year and continue to build up our speed and tradition in the coming years,” he said. “I am excited to see what we can build up here in OKC and show our speed on a national level.”

Senior rower Juliana Soper said she’s most of all looking forward to a new team mentality. “Our goal is to create ‘a new standard’ for OCU rowing,” Soper said. “Creating a new standard will not only challenge us to take our training on the water and in the weight room to the next level, but it will also motivate us to excel in the classroom as we head into a new semester and grow in our academic endeavors.” Habibovic said he’s excited to take over as head coach for the men’s and women’s teams. “I rowed here for four years while I was in college and cannot wait to give back to the program that gave me so much,” he said.

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Go Greek!

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Top: The women of Phi Mu sorority take a group photo to celebrate their new sisters during Sunday’s Bid Day on the quad. Phi Mu received 30 new members. Middle left: The women of Gamma Phi Beta welcome their new members on the quad after a week of recruitment. Gamma Phi Beta received 30 new members. Middle right: Gareth Forsberg, acting junior, embraces his new fraternity brothers of Lambda Chi Alpha in the Great Hall in Tom and Brenda McDaniel University Center. Lambda Chi Alpha received 19 new members. Bottom left: The women of Alpha Phi sorority chant on the quad with their new members. Alpha Phi received the most new members this semester at 31 members. Bottom right: The women of Alpha Chi Omega welcome their new sisters with hugs in Tom and Brenda McDaniel University Center. Alpha Chi Omega received 30 new members.

Greek recruitment numbers double, IFC amends rush process Elina Moon

PHOTO EDITOR

Greek life officials saw increases in recruitment participants this semester. The four sororities and three fraternities represented on campus concluded formal recruitment for the fall, which took place Aug. 15-19. Bid day was Sunday. Unlike previous years, sororities and fraternities ran recruitment concurrently, as opposed to the usual two-week gap between events. For sororities, the recruitment process had three rounds, the first being open house, the second being philanthropy night and the third being preference night. The fraternity rush process had major changes this year, all of which were overseen by the Interfraternity Council. “We actually completely restructured the rush process,” said Trae Trousdale, mass communications sophomore and IFC president. “In the past, it’s been very informal and very lax. The two nights of formal recruitment were awkward, so we’re trying to bring that down and humanize it while expanding it at the same time.” In lieu of two nights of formal recruitment and meeting in the Kramer School of Nursing, potential new members spent two hours and 15 minutes with each fraternity at the houses and various locations on campus for three nights, Trousdale said. These changes were an initiative planned last semester by former IFC President Blake Lemmons. “It’s a good mix of his ideas and my ideas, and a willing adviser, Levi,” Trousdale said. Preparation for the week’s events have taken place all summer, said Levi Harrel, associate director of student development. “Fraternities have been contacting potential members, and our sororities have been having conversation practice,” Harrel said.

This is really the first year we’ve had this personalized contact and they’ve had someone they can truly go to.

Trae Trousdale

Interfraternity Council President

“They have been prepping T-shirts, making schedules and working hard to present the best versions of themselves that they can to our potential new members.” Fraternity rush had double the amount of involvement this year, with the number of potential new members reaching 46, compared to the 23 seen last year. The number of new members for each organization were: -Alpha Chi Omega, Phi Mu and Gamma Phi Beta sororities each received 30 new members, -Alpha Phi received 31, -Kappa Sigma received 15, -Lambda Chi Alpha received 19, -and FIJI received one. Though the number of incoming freshmen as a whole increased, Trousdale said the increase in rush numbers was due to the efforts of IFC. Throughout the summer, Trousdale and Jace Jordan, vice president of logistics, contacted every incoming male freshman via text, phone or email. “This is really the first year we’ve had this personalized contact and they’ve had someone they can truly go to,” Trousdale said.

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“We got many to sign up before even stepping foot on campus.” Alex Reida, music theater freshman, said he was interested in the formal recruitment process and what the Greek organizations had to offer. “I wasn’t really interested in Greek life until my friend Tanner Pflueger told me that he participated,” Reida said. “Since then, I have been looking into the fraternities.” Anna Luczynski, theater performance sophomore, participated in formal recruitment last year. “I loved going through recruitment because I was able to meet so many new people,” Luczynski said. “Bid day was by far the best day of the process, though, because everyone was excited to welcome their new sisters.” Joseph DeShazo, business freshman, said he enjoyed acquainting himself with others no matter what bid he took. “My favorite part of the fraternity rush was getting to know the guys and making friendships that would last regardless of the fraternity I chose,” DeShazo said. Trousdale said he hopes that, whether or not the potential new members joined a fraternity, that they made friendships through recruitment alone. “There’s not a lot of guys on OCU’s campus, so I think this is truly the largest gathering of men that we have all year,” Trousdale said. “I hope they take away relationships.” Students who were unable to participate in the recruitment ceremonies can participate in continuous open bidding, practiced by every Greek organization except Alpha Phi and Phi Mu. For more information about Greek life and the formal recruitment process, visit www.okcu.edu/students/greeklife. Contributing: Staff Writer Jessica Vanek

Campus community welcomes largest freshman class in years Emily Wollenberg

ASSOCIATE EDITOR

Admissions officials said the freshman class is one of the largest in university history at about 375 students. The class of 2022 is the largest class since 2010. Students spent their first week participating in Stars Week orientation events, engaging in small groups and acquainting themselves with the campus. Alexa Beathard, chemistry freshman, said she appreciated that everyone helped move her in. “So far, it’s been really easy, and we’ve gotten a lot of good information without it being super boring,” Beathard said. Beathard said she is glad she joined the Honors Program because it has exceeded her expectations and because honors students are allowed to move in earlier than others. “I was kind of on the edge about it at the beginning, but there are a lot of perks that I didn’t know, everyone is super helpful, and I’m really glad we got to move in early,” she said. Courtney Quinn, design and production freshman, said she is excited for classes to start. “I’m really looking forward to my stagecraft lab because I actually get to go in and start doing stuff for theater,” Quinn said. The class of 2022 includes international students from more than 30 countries. Emiliano Tarin, nursing freshman, said his experience coming to OCU has been different from his friends’ college experiences in Juarez, Mexico. In Mexico, students don’t have a freshman orientation week, Tarin said, and students arrive the day before classes start. “This school gave me much more than that. It was awesome,” he said. “I’ve been loving it so far.” Beathard said she looks forward to the study abroad opportunities at OCU. August 22, 2018

I think that OCU is probably the best school I’ve ever been to.

Emiliano Tarin nursing freshman

“I didn’t realize that the cost of tuition can transfer and the same scholarships can transfer, so it’s a lot more realistic now, and it’s not going to cost me a ton more if I do decide to do it for a semester,” she said. Tarin said, as an international student, he deals with a lot more paperwork than most students, but he still has had a positive experience. “I feel a part of the school already,” he said. Tarin also said he read reviews about professors on ratemyprofessor.com to get a feel of what his classes will be like, and he is excited to really experience them. Beathard said she is impressed by the food in the caf. “They had really good options today, and they have Chickfil-A, so I’m excited about that. Food is important,” she said. Students can participate in the Student and Community Involvement Fair from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. today on the quad to see what clubs, organizations and activities are available to join. Beathard said she is interested in the Civic Duty organization because she has a passion for volunteering. Tarin said he is excited to play intramural basketball. “I really like sports. I know in college you sometimes have a lot of free time, and I know if I don’t play sports and do exercise, I’ll just get really, really fat,” he said. Quinn said she is interested in United States Institute for

Theatre Technology because she participated in the organization in high school and she knows the OCU chapter is involved with the organization. “They go to a whole bunch of conferences, and I think that is going to be super awesome,” she said. Tarin lives in Banning Hall dormitory and said, at first, he was a little caught off guard by how old some of the furniture looked compared to the furniture in Walker Hall dormitory, but said he knows there are pros and cons to living in either dorm. “A sophomore told me the difference between Walker and Banning is that there’s a few people living in Banning, so they get to know each other more, and, in Walker, there’s a lot more people so they don’t get to know each other as well as the people in Banning,” he said. Beathard and Quinn both live in Walker Hall. They said they appreciate the storage space and that the lounges on each floor have lots of cool furniture and spaces. Tarin and Beathard said they look forward to experiencing performances and activities outside of their majors and meeting people from different disciplines. “I know OCU is a huge program and they excel at music, so I’m really looking forward to the concerts that the school gives sometimes,” Tarin said. Beathard said she has met many acting majors and looks forward to seeing the plays they perform in. “I can’t do any of it, but I can watch it and really enjoy it,” she said. Tarin said he appreciates how much the school looks out for students. “I love my roommate, and I love how they manage to get good roommates for you that are kind of identical,” he said. “So, yeah, I think that OCU is probably the best school I’ve ever been to.”