December 7, 2022, Volume 116, Issues 12-15

HAPPY HOLIDAYS!

Heading home for the holidays? Wait a sec ... Residence Life reminds students of proper checkout procedures for winter break

Woemmel NEWS EDITOR

With winter break right around the corner, Residence Life is informing students of how to prepare and the correct procedures.

“Residents will need to check out with a Housing and Residence Life staff member by the time the residence halls close [on] Dec. 16 at 5 p.m.,” Residence Life said in an email sent out to students on Nov. 8. “Whether you are staying late or checking out before the halls close, the winter break check-out procedures must be followed closely. Failure to follow instructions could result in fines $50 and up.”

In a document attached to Residence Life’s email, they provided the following check-out checklist:

• All rooms and bathrooms must be completely cleaned, swept, mopped, vacuumed, and dusted. All sinks, toilets, and showers must be scrubbed, and all trash must be taken out.

• Beds must be made, and clothes must be hung in closets or placed in dressers. This ensures nothing could be ruined if maintenance needs to do any repairs over the break.

• Refrigerators in Banning or Walker halls must be unplugged and defrosted 48 hours prior to your departure. Fridges must be cleaned, and no food is to be left in them. Doors to the fridges will be left open over the break to allow ventilation.

• Cokesbury and Methodist residents do not need to unplug or defrost their fridges, but all perishable food must be removed.

• All windows and patio doors must be locked, and all blinds must be down and closed.

• All electrical appliances including televisions, radios, clocks, curling irons, hair dryers, air fresheners, plug-ins, coffee pots, lamps, and more must be unplugged.

• Thermostats must be placed to heat, auto, and 70 degrees.

• All lights must be turned off in rooms and bathrooms.

• Access to dormitories after their closure is not allowed. Items needed over break such as medicine, laptops, phones, chargers, keys, wallets, passports, ID’s, gifts, and more must be taken with you at your departure. Prohibited items such as shot glasses, candles, incense, hot plates, grills, and space heaters will be confiscated.

Continued at MEDIAOCU.COM

Water-line rupture leaves campus dry for 7 hours

Kohutek NEWS EDITOR

At 10:00 a.m. on Nov. 30, OCU students, faculty, and staff were informed via email that water had been shut off at multiple locations on campus due to a water line rupture, including Walker and Methodist Halls.

“At first, I was under the im-

pression that the water in the entire campus was shut off,” freshman BFA Acting major Ella Martin said.

“So, first, me and a couple of friends took a trip to Target because Target makes everything better. Plus, they had running water.”

In buildings without water, students and staff were unable to utilize toilets, sinks, showers, and water fountains, causing some to

go out of their way for those needs throughout the day.

“Instead of being able to go to the bathroom in the building that my classes took place in, I had to go to another place like Walker Center,” Martin said. “That was one of the most difficult things with the water shutting off.”

The university sent out campus-wide emails periodically, es-

timating the time left before the problems could be fixed, and eventually detailing which buildings had use of water.

“I understand that this can be out of their hands because it was a city problem, not a university problem,” Martin said.

“But giving the benefit of the doubt, if they didn’t have as much information, then I think they

handled it pretty well, giving us updates and stuff.”

Along with those emails was one explaining that the cafeteria would be closing early at 1:30 p.m. and Kitchen 1904 was closing as well.

“I got so lucky, I went [to the Caf] just before they had closed, and I left just before they closed,”

University announces first tuition hike in four years

Kohutek NEWS EDITOR

On Oct. 26, the OCU Board of Trustees announced via email that the annual block tuition rate for undergraduates will increase by 3% in the 2023-24 academic year, along with percredit-hour costs, and annual housing fees.

“In recent years, the university has absorbed a variety of increased operational, maintenance and ancillary costs,” an OCU email stated.

According to the email, this is the first time that tuition has increased in the last four years and the second time it has increased in the last nine.

“While the rates approved by the board represent a modest and limited increase, those funds, when combined with resources from other new initiatives, will allow the university to continue its mission to provide the personalized edu-

cational experience our students deserve,” the email said.

This being the first change in four years, certain undergraduate students were not prepared for the tuition rate to change.

“While I know this is a private university, and I’m paying for a really high-quality experience and education, especially in my field, this isn’t the tuition I agreed to originally,” first year BFA Acting major Ariel Celeste said.

For some students, the increase may change the look of their next year on campus.

“I’m going to have to work more shifts in the summer since I am mostly paying for my college except for a few minor costs,” first year BFA Acting major Kat Nickel said.

“It’s going to take a lot more out of me and a lot more work that I would rather not be doing.”

Beth

Amanda

Amanda Kohutek Student Publications

Amanda

Amanda Kohutek Student Publications

Star Dance Company to debut Holiday Spectacular

William Peetoom ARTS EDITOR

The Oklahoma City University Holiday Spectacular dance show will be the inaugural performance for the newly forged Star Dance Company of the Ann Lacy School of American Dance & Entertainment.

Performances will occur Dec. 8-11, with performances on the 8th, 9th, and 10th happening at 8 p.m., and performances happening on the 10th and 11th being matinee showings at 2 p.m.

The performances will take place in the Kirkpatrick Theatre in the

Kirkpatrick Fine Arts Building.

Tickets for the performance are available for $25 at www.okcu.edu/ tickets or at (405) 208-5227.

The American Spirit Dance Company is being retired in honor of recently retired Dance Chair Jo Rowan, who cofounded it, as well as the Ann Lacy School of American Dance and Entertainment, with former Dean John Bedford.

The Star Dance Company, however, will debut in its first season, continuing to give students an opportunity to perform and manage live-action productions under the direction of Tiffany van der Merwe.

Junior Dance Performance major Chloe Collins said that rehearsals began, “in early September along with our Rep Company rehearsals.”

Collins said that “one of the biggest struggles of putting any show together is keeping your mind and body healthy.”

She went on saying that, “There are many different contributors that are out of our control when it comes to keeping ourselves healthy, but as a performer in the show, it is my job to do this to the best of my abilities so I can be one of the many puzzle pieces that makes this amazing production possible.”

When asked about rehearsals this year versus last year, Collins said that, “There have been many exciting changes this year.

“The overall morale and energy has been so positive and inviting. Something about not having to wear a mask and getting to see our classmates’ beautiful smiles is such a blessing.”

She explained another element that had been affected was that the dancers, “had the opportunity to have more rehearsal time for each dance, due to having a shorter show,” adding that, “we are all so excited to see it all come together

on the big stage!”

Collins remarked on the change from the American Spirit Dance Company to the Star Dance Company as well, saying that, “overall, it has been a very smooth transition between our fearless leaders.”

Collins said that, “the Star Dance Company continues to maintain the wonderful values that were put into place with the American Spirit Dance Company, while emphasizing new growth and showing us all how exciting change can be.

“I am so honored to be a part of this new company and to see how it impacts future performers to come.”

43rd Vespers set for two weekend performances

William Peetoom ARTS EDITOR

On Dec. 9 and 10, OCU’s Wanda L. Bass School of Music will combine more than 250 choral singers and instrumentalists for the 43rd annual Christmas Vespers concert.

The Friday performance will begin at 8 p.m. in Oklahoma City First Presbyterian Church, 1001 NW 25th Street. The Saturday performance is a 4 p.m. matinee.

Tickets are available for the in-person concert, as well as a livestream, for $15 at www.okcu.edu/tickets or at (405) 208-5227.

The concert combines the talents of OCU’s four choirs, as well as the OCU Vespers Orchestra, the OCU Flute

Choir, student organists, and University Organist Dr. Melissa Plamann.

The Ad Astra, University Singers, University Chorale, and University Chamber Singers are directed by Dr. Randi Ellefson and Professor Tony Gonzalez. This will be the final year Dr. Ellefson conducts Vespers before he retires.

The Vespers Orchestra is directed by Professor Jeffery Grogan, and the Flute Choir is directed by Professor Parthena Owens.

Before both concerts, a musical prelude will occur for 30 minutes to showcase the best nationally ranked Flute Choir and student organists.

The concert includes Scripture readings, organ, poetry, orchestra, congrega-

SCHOOL OF THEATRE

tional carol singing, and the traditional candlelight recessional, ‘Night of Silence,’ which was inspired by “Silent Night.”

“We started learning the music for Vespers the first day back after fall break, so immediately after our Fall Concert,” said Emma Maki, a sophomore Musical Theatre major and member of the University Singers.

She explained that some of the most challenging parts for her have been, “learning the Ralph Vaughn Williams piece, ‘Hodie,’ as well as learning how to sing in Russian for one of the songs.”

She said that her favorite song is Magnificat, by Z. Randall Stroope, adding onto it by saying, “it’s my favorite song I’ve ever sang in choir.”

‘Monsters’ is ‘biggest, wildest, most exciting’

of collaboration to work.

From Dec. 8-11, OCU Theatre will continue their Mainstage season with “She Kills Monsters.”

The 8th through the 10th will have performances at 8 p.m. and the 10th and 11th will have matinee performances at 2 p.m.

Tickets are available for the performances for $15 at www.okcu.edu/tickets or at (405) 208-5227.

The play is a comedy-drama by Qui Nguyen about the world of fantasy role-playing games that focused on the story of Agnes Evans who has lost her parents and sister, Tilly, in a car accident

She finds Tilly’s Dungeons and Dragons notebook and decides to play a module that she had written.

The story toes into reality and the imaginary world that Tilly had created as Agnes discovers things about her sister she never imagined.

Director Amy Osatinski said that, “the School of Theatre’s Mainstage productions are done at a professional level, so this is going to be the biggest, wildest, most exciting version of ‘She Kills Monsters’ that you’ve ever seen!”

She also noted some of the more challenging aspects of the production, saying, “the show is big and requires a great deal

“In particular, there is a lot of combat in the show, so I had to work closely with a fight director, the terrifically talented Kris Kuss who is a School of Theatre faculty member, and the props department, led by the amazing faculty member Larry Heyman, to coordinate all of the combat.”

Osatinski addressed the deeper meaning of the show, saying that, “though it is a very specific story about a woman confronting her grief over the loss of her sister, it’s also about all of us. We all have “monsters” that we have to battle.

“The show tackles some really serious subjects, including grief, identity, and bullying, but it is also incredibly funny, which makes it a very entertaining and meaningful evening of theatre.

“Oh, there are also a bunch of really awesome monsters.”

“The whole show is pretty awesome, and it has been so joyful to work with all of the School of Theatre students to bring it to life.

“However, we have a moment where some of our monsters act like NPCs (Non-Player Characters), and it cracks me up every time they do it!

“There are so many little details in this show that are really delightful, everyone who comes and sees it will find something that they enjoy!”

The Starettes perform a high kick during the 2018 Holiday Gala. The Starettes will be among the performers for the Star Dance Company’s first “Holiday Spectacular.” The 2018 Gala was hosted by the OCU Law School.

OCU A�chives

Dr. Randi Ellefson, left, and Professor Tony Gonzalez, right, direct during the 2017 Vespers concert. Both will direct again during this year’s concert, which will mark Ellefson’s last Vespers before he retires.

OCU A�chives

She also said that, “this year has been a challenge since it’s my first year in

University Singers. “The music is harder, and we move at a faster pace, but

I love Mr. G. (the director) and Vespers, so it’s definitely worth it.”

William Peetoom ARTS EDITOR

Fight director Kris Kuss, center, works with Sarah Filek, left, and Ella Carson in a recent rehearsal of “She Kills

Amy Osatinski

Dean announces imminent return to law practice; search planned

Beth Woemmel NEWS EDITOR

“When I agreed to serve as

dean in 2018, it was a five-year contract,” Jim Roth said. “My contract ends at the end of June in 2023, and I will be returning to the practice of law full-time.”

Roth stated his passion for law and public service began in his childhood.

“Yeah, so, where I think I

first found my passion in public service came from conversations I had with my dad as a child,” Roth said.

“I was just always curious in the news and really enjoyed nightly conversations about what was happening. I probably had an older soul than a kid

would typically have.”

Roth recalled watching the Camp David Accords, the signing of a peace treaty between Israel and Egypt, on his television in the late 70s.

“To see history being made with such different perspectives of people who had been fighting

for decades, if not centuries, come together and sign an agreement and shake hands, it captured my attention,” Roth said. “It was the law and policy in action but from a human perspective.”

Continued at MEDIAOCU.COM

Annual Brennan Lecture featured political theory scholar

Doha Hana MANAGING EDITOR

Oklahoma City University School of Law welcomed Professor Joseph Postell, associate professor of politics at Hillsdale College, as the 2022 Brennan Lecture Series lecturer Oct. 20.

Postell spoke on “State Legislatures and the Prospects for Self-Government.”

The talk labeled the importance of state legislative capacity for ensuring that state legislatures are capable of fulfilling their role in self-government, Postell said.

“In an era of increasing polarization, animosity, and dysfunction in the national government, what role can state governments and state legislatures play in ensuring that government responds to the wishes of the people?” Postell said.

“State legislatures are uniquely positioned to play an important role in self-government because they are close to the people. But how can they be best equipped to serve this function?”

Postell is the author of “Bureaucracy in America: The Administrative State’s Challenge to Constitutional Government”, and his articles have appeared in a variety of journals and law reviews, including the Administrative Law Review, Constitutional Studies, the Georgetown Journal of Law and Public Policy, George Mason Law Review, and Missouri Law Review.

“We are excited to welcome Joseph Postell, a leading scholar of American political theory and institutions, to deliver this year’s Brennan Lecture,” said Andrew Spiropoulos, professor of Constitutional Law and director of the Center for the Study of State Constitutional Law and Government at OCU Law.

“Postell’s pathbreaking work on the challenge the modern administrative state poses to constitutional government will be sure to provoke and enlighten.”

The Brennan Lecture is named in honor of the late United States Supreme Court Justice William J. Brennan Jr.

The lecture provides a forum for distinguished jurists and scholars to examine timely issues in the field of state constitutional law.

The OCU School of Law is fully approved by the American Bar Association and is a member of the Association of American Law Schools.

The School’s nearly 6,000 alumni practice in every state and several foreign countries.

Alvin’s supports local business by stocking dietary-friendly desserts

Beth Woemmel NEWS EDITOR

Desserts by Marshelle, a locally owned baking and catering business, has begun to stock some of the shelves of Alvin’s Supermarket with desserts for all, including gluten-free, sugar-free, vegan, and many more dietary restricted-friendly desserts.

“Desserts by Marshelle is a fromscratch bakery,” owner and baker Marshelle Walker said.

“We specialize in regular desserts as well as dietary-restricted desserts [such as] gluten-free, sugar-free, egg-free, dairy-free, [and more].”

Walker stated that her business can also cater to the needs of diabetic customers.

“We have a large clientele of diabetic customers because we do bake from scratch and use low-carb flours and things like that,” Walker said.

“We’re able to pretty much create whatever a customer needs.”

Walker stated that it has been her life-long dream to own her own baking business.

“I started baking when I was a little girl probably around 7 years old,” Walker said.

“I’ve been baking ever since. I started this business officially in 2016, and we’ve just been growing

ever since.”

Walker opened up about her granddaughter being diagnosed with celiac disease, which led her to experimenting in making dietary restriction-friendly desserts.

“One of my biggest pet peeves [is] when my granddaughter found out she had celiac, she would bring home some desserts and she’s like, ‘This is gluten-free,’ and it didn’t look that great,” Walker said.

“I started creating because I think to eat a dessert… it’s an indulgence. You should be able to enjoy your dessert.”

PsyD department provided free mental health screenings

Amanda Kohutek NEWS EDITOR

On Nov. 9, the Doctorate of Psychology department hosted a free mental health screening clinic for students, faculty, and staff in the Walker Center, conducted by PsyD students.

“We’re providing a free service to students and staff regarding some common symptoms of depression, anxiety, stress, trauma, and eating disorders,” third-year graduate student and screener Caitlin Cox said.

“So, things that students commonly face here. While we don’t give a diagnosis, we will give basically severity ratings on it, and then we can suggest services based on that.”

Each student, faculty, or staff member that came to get screened was given time with a graduate student screener (with supervision) alone to discuss these matters, with all information remaining confidential.

“I was very excited to be able to offer this to the campus community and be

able to play a part in helping hopefully lead to a healthier campus community,” graduate student and screener Madison Turner said.

The PsyD students performing the screenings at the event did so as a part of their education in the psychology profession.

Turner

“I hope that [through the event] we can just gain some knowledge about the campus health in general, and about how to do screenings and

move forward as future professionals,” Turner said. They were provided supervision from clinical staff of the school and licensed psychologists.

“It’s been really important, just in general, to have our supervisors to lean on, to get guidance [from], because we endure a lot of heavy stuff,” Turner said.

According to Cox and Turner, this is the first time that this screening event has

happened at OCU.

“We’re really excited by the amount of people that [attended], so I think we’re going to ask Dr. Hackman, the lead of the department, if we can maybe do this on a more frequent basis,” Cox said.

As Cox said, the student and faculty turnout for the event was of decent size, and she commends their bravery.

“I’m proud of the students and staff for showing up,” Cox said.

“It’s really hard to come and ask for help, and I think

it’s really great. It’s really awesome that people are doing that.”

As for importance of this event, Cox said it was not only greatly important to the PsyD students who performed the screening, but those who attended as well.

“We talk about destigmatizing mental health, but I think it’s a lot stronger when we do things like this, and actually walk the talk behind it.” Cox said.

“I think this is one of the events that does that.”

OCU School of Law Dean Jim Roth has announced his eventual departure from his position, beginning a nationwide search for the next dean.

Roth

Marshelle Jones, owner of Desserts by Marshelle, showcased her handiwork at OCU’s Fall Festi-Ful Oct. 6, giving students a taste of her homemade sweets.

Dead Week, or the week before final examinations, is a nationwide phenomenon on college campuses. Exam preparation, sleep deprivation, and stacked to-do lists are staples of Dead Weeks. Traditions vary campus-to-campus, and some schools have very unique customs. One of the most iconic traditions is practiced by a handful of universities, including four Ivy Leagues and the incredibly prestigious Northwestern University. This tradition, commonly termed “The Primal Scream”, consists of students opening their windows or doors and screaming as loudly as they need to into the open air. It typically occurs at midnight and sometimes happens every night of finals week.

More conventional and much quieter practices include constant “quiet hours” in residence halls and extended opening hours for libraries, and both of these accommodations are implemented at OCU.

One common practice, created specifically to reduce students’ stress and workload, is a required pause on large assignments, student events, and even campus parties. Eliminating new concepts and additional homework allows students to focus on finals without feeling like they’re falling behind. Policies surrounding pre-finals week classwork vary from school to school, but OCU remains one of the universities without any Dead Week homework limit. The two biggest colleges in the state, the University of Oklahoma and Oklahoma State University, have established Dead Week policies.

As a university with reputable academic performance, we should model after other prestigious institutions, like Stanford and Georgia Tech, and enact policies limiting large assignments and projects during the week before final examinations. These policies will relieve some stress from students by allowing complete focus on finals.

As finals approach and coursework increases, you can still find ways to reduce stress without an administered dead week. Our Learning Enhancement Center in our campus library offers tutoring and academic coaching. If you’re overwhelmed with stress, University Counseling offers confidential sessions with qualified counselors and other mental wellness resources.

The first copy of The Campus is free. Each additional copy costs 25 cents. All contents copyright © Oklahoma City University Student Publications, 2022. All rights reserved.

The Student Publications staff welcomes unsolicited material and letters to the editor. All letters must be signed and must include the writer’s phone number, address, major, and classification. The staff reserves the right to edit all letters, and to refuse letters without explanation. Letters can be sent online at mediaocu.com, emailed to editor@okcu.edu or delivered to the Newsroom in Suite 121 of the Walker Center for Arts and Sciences. Submitted items may appear on MediaOCU.com and in the print edition.

The Campus has served the Oklahoma City University community since 1907. The Student Publications staff publishes periodically at MediaOCU.com, and in print each month, during the academic year.

Elizabeth Heffernan Student Publications

OCU Worship celebrates Native Heritage Month

Wilson: ‘Pause, take notice how everything is connected; take care of each other’

Ava Karas LIFE ASSISTANT

On Nov. 10, OCU Worship celebrated Native American Heritage Month during their weekly chapel hour.

The service featured guest preacher Bishop David Wilson.

A member of the Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma, Wilson has just been elected as the first Native American bishop in the history of the United Methodist Church.

A graduate of OCU, Wilson serves as a trustee for the university, a board member of the Oklahoma City Indian Clinic, and is the director of Rock the Native Vote, a non-partisan group that works on voter engagement in Native American communities.

The front of the bulletin provided for the service displayed a land acknowledgment, in which OCU recognized that students, faculty, and staff gathered on land indigenous to the Osage, Caddo, Kiowa, Comanche, and Wichita tribal nations,

and emphasized that lands throughout the state were originally inhabited by many tribes, including those that were forcibly relocated to Indian Territory under harmful federal policies.

The land acknowledgment also vowed “to honor the land and the people who have stewarded it since time immemorial” and committed to “continuing to learn how to be better stewards of the land we inhabit for future generations.”

Junior Composition and Cello Performance major Kiegan Ryan started the service with his composition “Songs of Home, Lakeside Memories.” He also arranged and played “Still Song,” and closed out the ceremony with “Stories from Where They Came,” which he arranged and played alongside renowned piano professor Dr. Sergio Monteiro.

Throughout each musical selection, Ryan played with incredible skill, passion, and beautiful, transcendent artistry that moved the entire congregation.

The Rev. Aly Shahan, director of University Religious Life, led the pastoral prayer centered around Native American celebration and history, then introduced Bishop Wilson.

Wilson then recited a Choctaw prayer before going into his sermon, entitled “Minds of His Own.”

Wilson is a thoughtful, engaging, warm, and powerful orator.

He began the sermon by talking about the symbolic meaning of pottery: how it is significant to Native culture, and how it represents the many ways that God transforms people throughout the course of their lives.

He discussed an experience he had recently in New Mexico, in which Pueblo vendors were selling broken pieces of pottery. When he asked the vendors why they were selling broken pieces, the vendors said that people bought them and would display them in their homes.

From this experience, Wilson learned that broken pottery, much like people

Bishop

who feel broken or imperfect, is just as beautiful, valuable, and worthy.

Wilson also talked about the importance of balance and challenged students at the infamous “Over Committed University” to take care of themselves.

He urged students to

pause and notice how everything around them was connected, and to take care of each other in hard times and in good times.

Wilson stood outside of the chapel after the ceremony to greet those who attended the service. Donations to OCU’s Native American

Society are encouraged by Wilson and the Worship team.

To learn more about or to contribute to OCU’s Native American Society, visit their Instagram @ocu_nativeamericansociety, Twitter @nas_ ocu or Facebook @OCU Native American Society.

‘Getting to meet new people’: Orientation applications open

Ko LIFE EDITOR

Stars Week, an OCU tradition, is an introductory activity and informational week for new students entering Oklahoma City University.

New Student Orientation (NSO) leaders help mentor these new students in small, hands-on groups.

Ashley Nguyen is a Cell and Molecular Biology major who, as a previous NSO Executive Board member, answered our burning questions about being an NSO.

What was your involve-

mentinStarsWeek2022?

This year, I served as the Director of Communications on the NSO Executive Team.

Within this position, I helped plan and implement Stars Week while also sharing events through various social media outlets.

Howdidyougetinvolved asanNSOleader?

I chose to be an NSO because I wanted an opportunity to help incoming students find their place on campus and learn about ways that they can get involved.

Since I came to OCU in the midst of COVID, my Stars Week definitely looked

What is your favorite memoryfrombeinganNSO leader?

My favorite NSO memory must be when we spontaneously ordered wigs to wear during Open Mic Night.

As an NSO Exec, we have to move in prior to STARS

The little moments where people can just relax, enjoy, and be themselves is one of the best parts of STARS Week.

What did you love the most about being an NSO leader?

I love the connections that I get to make with new people and getting to learn about where they came from, what they are planning on majoring in, and what they are passionate about.

Getting to meet new people was a highlight of being an NSO Exec.

With the 2023 NSO Leaderapplicationopening, wouldyourecommendbeing anNSOtootherstudents?

I would definitely recommend becoming an NSO, especially if you would like to become more involved on campus and want to meet new people.

Although STARS Week does require a moderate time commitment, I would recommend it to anyone that wants to get out of their comfort zone.

Additional questions can be answered at an informational session that will take place Jan. 18 in the Great Hall at 7 p.m. or by emailing involved@okcu.edu.

Students interested in becoming an NSO for Stars Week 2023 may apply on Engage by midnight Jan. 22.

Interviews for applicants will take place Jan. 30 and Feb. 1.

Who gets your vote for ‘Sexiest Professor?’ Ten fun facts from Novembers past

Did you know?

1929: Only two students made an average grade of “A” upon graduation in 1929.

1921-1930s: From November 1921 until the late 1930s, parents/guardians were issued and mailed the examination grades of their kids.

1924: Famous psychologist “Dr. House” visited OCU, where he gave his lecture on “that mind of yours.”

1926: More than 80% of OCU students drove a Ford “Humple” car in 1926.

1926: A humorous collegiate column published a statement noting that 32 out of 50 large billboards in downtown OKC featured a pretty girl eating, driving, or wear-

ing something.

1947: OCU once had a downtown campus!

In 1947, approximately 500 students attended downtown classes only, plus 300 more attend both the downtown and main campuses.

This added up to about 800 students, which kept the place wellfilled and bustling with activities.

The downtown campus included 10 classrooms, a gym, a swimming pool, a cafeteria, a bookstore, offices, and a lovely chapel.

Many students were married there by Homer M. Lewis, an OCU night school student, and pastor at Minco.

1930: In November 1930, the word “loyalty” was voted the most abused word in college lingo.

1946: In November 1946, three OCU Fine Arts students doubled as professors, teaching more than 26 pupils each.

1965: There once was an election for OCU’s “Sexiest Professor” run by the World University Service (WUS). Votes were cast in the form of monetary contributions, which were to be donated to WUS.

Each candidate had a jug with their name on it in the Student Union, Library, and Administration Building where their ‘‘votes’’ were cast.

The professor with the most money in their jug at the end was declared the “sexiest.”

1974: On November 8, 1974, Senators debated the use of guard dogs for campus security due to an increase in crime on campus.

Danielle Ellison vocal performance

“Stuffing”

Olivia Davis-Eagan BA music

“Green bean casserole” Mariah Hunt universal dance

“Honey Baked Ham or a good roll”

Lauren Whyte theatre design and production

“I don’t like Thanksgiving food”

Haley Beauchamp computer science

“Rolls” Bea Glover theatre design

November 1946 saw these students playing football on the Quad - but, as budding sports photographers often learn to their horror, it is harder than it seems to get a good sports action shot, and the players often appear in strange poses once frozen in time.

Jamison

Nguyen

Jake Adebayo Tech Archivist

David Wilson, a member of the Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma, spoke in chapel Nov. 10 as part of OCU’s recognition of Native American Heritage Month. Wilson is an OCU alumnus and trustee.

Oklahoma Indian Missiona�� Con�e�ence

Groves returns to serve as associate athletic director

Heffernan SPORTS EDITOR

Natalie Graves is the new Associate Athletic Director for OCU.

She began working as part of the OCU staff on Nov 14.

Graves graduated from Baker University with a bachelor’s degree.

While attending Baker University, she competed in NAIA-level track and field and basketball.

After this, she went on to attend the University of Kansas, where she was a graduate research assistant and coordinator, studying physical education subjects.

She earned her master’s degree from KU, going on to work at the Redlands Community College in El Reno, Okla.

While at Redlands, Graves worked as the cross-country coach and the associate athletic director.

She also worked to improve the school there by actually kickstarting their men’s and women’s cross-country programs.

Graves was appointed associate athletic director by Corey Bray, athletic director, who was appointed in February 2022 after Jim Abbot’s retirement.

Bray came to OCU from Drury University in Springfield, Mo., where he was the vice president and

athletic director.

Bray had been working for Drury University since 2019 before he came to Oklahoma City University.

And before his time at Drury, he worked as associate athletic director for compliance in Alabama for 7 years, worked six years as assistant athletic directors for Eastern Kentucky University, and he also worked six years in the Indianapolis NCAA offices.

During his time at OCU so far, Bray has overseen OCU’s win of the men’s indoor track and field championship and women’s golf finishing as runner up in the NAIA championships among other feats. Graves may see the same sort of success.

Cross-country, soccer teams wind down year

Elizabeth Heffernan SPORTS EDITOR

On Nov. 5, both the men’s and women’s cross-country teams secured first place at the SAC conference championships which were held at Eldon Lyon Park.

This means that the teams were set to attend the NAIA Nationals in Tallahassee, Fla.

Shimales Abebe and Abraham Chelengam, OCU runners on the men’s team, placed first and second overall in the conference.

Cailen Jolley, an OCU senior, finished runner up in the women’s conference race.

“I felt good because I knew that it was good placement scoring wise for my team to win, and last year I got 10th so it shows improvement place wise (and time wise) not really much else I can ask for. I knew going into the race that I was (going to) be 1st-3rd if I ran well.

This is because I do a lot of research.” Jolley said.

The women’s cross-country season was a little rocky through the last few meets, so it was uncertain as to whether they would advance to nationals.

“There was a slight doubt overall due to past races not going as well as we wanted, so it was a little in the air if some things went wrong. Personally, I didn’t doubt though because I saw how our team seemed more locked in after the last race.” Jolley said.

The team needed to pull themselves together for the Eldon Lyon Conference, and, led by Jolley, they were able to win the conference championship.

“The driving factor was our last two races. Times were slow and it’s disappointing after training really hard for months. And also, [Coach] Frezer [Legesse] has specifically emphasized all year that November is our peak time, so I think that all gave us a positive outlook for conference. It would be sad to lose

the 8-year streak too.” Jolley said.

Jolley spoke about her goals in the Nationals race in Tallahassee, Florida.

“I mean the original goal was Top 40 to All-American, but I’m actually not running what times I wanted to be by this time, but end goal will remain the same – I’m not changing it. (My) original time goal was 18:00 (or better) which would usually get me in the top 40 in past years. The national’s course is fast, so who knows what will happen.” Jolley said.

On the same day as the cross-country conference, the men’s OCU soccer team lost their first conference game to the University of Science and Arts of Oklahoma Drovers, which put them out of the SAC conference tournament.

On Nov. 3, the OCU women’s soccer team beat out Texas Wesleyan 2-0 in order to advance to the next round of the SAC conference. On Nov. 7, however, they also lost to the USAO Dovers to end their season.

Volleyball ends, 13-15

Heffernan SPORTS EDITOR

OCU’s volleyball team lost to John Brown in Siloam Springs, Ark., Nov 8.

This removed them from the SAC tournament. The tournament weeds out teams until the final few have made it to the NAIA Nationals.

After their loss to John Brown, the Stars were 13-15 for the season.

Their season began early in the semester, and they played their first game on Aug. 19 against Oklahoma Wesleyan.

Unfortunately, their performance in this game also resulted in a loss.

But the Stars didn’t let this stop them.

After their loss against Wesleyan, the Stars went on to have a four-game win streak against Wiley (Texas), Tabor (Kansas), Southwestern Christian, and John Brown.

After this, though, OCU’s volleyball team seemed to lose their stride a little as they had a four-game loss streak to contrast their wins.

These games took up the days of early September, as the Stars found themselves

However, after this, the Stars were able to defeat the University of Science and Arts of Oklahoma Drovers on Sept. 6, launching them into a stream of games in which they took equal defeats and triumphs.

And, from Oct. 13-20, the Stars picked up another win streak – this one lasting three games.

The Stars seemed to find their groove as they defeated USAO once again, Central Christian, and Langston before being brought down by the Southwestern Assemblies of God. After this, the Stars played three more games before entering into the SAC conference tournament.

On Oct. 29, the stars lost to Texas Wesleyan. On Nov. 4, the Stars won against Wayland Baptist. And, on Nov. 5, the Stars lost to Panhandle State.

The Stars game against John Brown Nov. 8 was to be the first of their games in the conference championship.

However, they were knocked out of the tournament with a loss of 2-3.

Elizabeth

Oklahoma City University’s Valorant Esports team won the National Association of Collegiate Esports Varsity Plus Grand Finals on Wednesday, the team’s first championship on a national scale in its three-year history.

OCU team members are game design and animation majors Edward Bennett and Cooper Patrick, computer science majors Kaleb Cosgrave and Ryan McLaughlin, and instrumental performance major Karl Huber. Connor Knudsen, who was named head coach last month, said the team’s dedication to hard work, practice and preparation paid off in the grand finals victory.

Graves

defeated by Cornerstone (Michigan), MidAmerica Nazarene, Doane (Nebraska), and William Woods.

Elizabeth

Cailen Jolley finished runner up in the women’s SAC conference finals. OCU Athletics

OCU In�ormation