Jan. 16

THE CAMPUS `

January 16, 2019 – Volume 112 Issue 14

Title IX to potentially change nationwide Nicole Waltman

EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

Changes are proposed to Title IX regulations nationwide that could impact college campuses.

The U.S. Department of Education released Nov. 18 a Notice of Proposed Rule Making (NPRM), which is a 150page document that would change existing Title IX regulations.

Title IX regulations protect students at federally funded schools from discrimination based on sex or gender. The regulations identify sexual harassment, sexual assault and rape as sex-based discrimination.

Betsy DeVos, Secretary of Education, spearheaded the proposed changes in September 2017.

A 60-day period for people to review the documents and send comments to the government began Nov. 29 and ends Jan. 28.

The proposed regulations and breakdowns of what they mean can be found at federalregister.gov. A list of all of the regulations that would either be amended, removed or added can be found in the “background” section, said Remy Barnett, OCU’s Title IX investigator.

The proposed changes include: - University officials would be able to choose between the two standards of proof—“Preponderance of the Evidence” and the higher standard of proof, “Clear and Convincing.”

“Preponderance of the Evidence” means that there must be a greater than 50 percent chance that a claim is true. Civil courts use this standard, which applies to cases involving divorce, car accidents, etc. University officials currently use this standard.

“Clear and Convincing” dictates that evidence be highly more likely to be true than untrue.

- There would be a change in the way university officials would request religious exemptions from the law. Religious exemptions currently are allowed when the law conflicts with religious beliefs. For exemption, university officials must write a letter to government officials, identifying the conflict and requesting exemption. The proposed change would allow institutions to exempt the conflict on their own without submitting a letter to government officials.

- Each party in a sexual misconduct hearing would be allowed to bring an adviser, parent, attorney, mentor, etc. to ask questions of the other party on their behalf, rather than having a neutral person asking questions.

“Before these regulations are finalized, the government has an obligation to respond to all substantive comments,” Barnett said. “They will basically release a document that goes over the comments they’ve received, their responses to that, and really clarifying a lot of the new regulations they’re proposing.”

Comments can be made directly to the federal register website, federalregister.gov/.

OCU’s Title IX officials and Student Civic Engagement Committee members are partnering to host an event called “Comment and Chill” from 6-9 p.m. tonight in the Great Hall in Tom and Brenda McDaniel University Center. Title IX officials also received assistance from Student Activities Council in

Current

Proposed

Universities across the country use preponderance of the evidence standard.

Universities would be able to choose between preponderance of the evidence and clear and convincing.

Universities are required to investigate complaints they’re given, no matter the location of the incident in question.

Universities would not be required to investigate incidents if they happened outside of the country, such as on a study abroad trip.

Universities can receive religious exemptions from Title IX by writing a letter to the government.

Universities would be able to file religious exemption on their own with no letter.

Sexual harrassment is defined as: “unwelcome sexual or sex-based conduct that is severe, persistent or pervasive.”

Sexual harrassment would be defined as: “unwelcome conduct, based on sex, that is severe, pervasive and objectively offensive.”

In university sexual misconduct hearings, each party can ask the opposing party questions through a neutral person.

Universities would have to conduct live hearings in which both parties could bring an adviser to ask questions on their behalf.

Source: OCU Title IX

“

the planning of the event, which is to help inform students about the potential changes and how they can address them.

The event is to provide students with information, not to argue about policies, Barnett said.

“I don’t see this as a space for debating the merits of any particular part of the regulations. I see this more as an opportunity for comradery, for mutual support, so we can all do this civic duty together and have each other’s backs throughout that,” Barnett said.

“Students are some of the folks that are most directly impacted by things like this, and I think it’s really critical that students have an active voice in shaping these kinds of policies. Commenting will always make a difference. It always matters. Regardless of the next step, it still matters.”

The event is meant to help the campus community, said Taylor Downey, youth ministry sophomore and Title IX program coordinator.

“Because the regulations are a lot to get through, we wanted a space where people could come get a brief summary of what

the biggest changes to Title IX would be if these regulations were passed,” Downey said. “We also want to help people make comments that won’t be disregarded by the federal government.”

Comments that don’t contain a certain level of formality or seriousness can be a waste of time for everyone involved, Downey said.

“The whole point is just to have a chill space where people can do their civic duty, but also have a good time,” Downey said.

The free, come-and-go event is open to the campus community.

Students should do their own research and learn as much about the regulations as possible, especially if they can’t attend the event, Downey said.

“Our campus is pretty good about making their voice heard, and this is something that’s way bigger than just our campus, but even so, it’s something that we can still be a part of,” Downey said.

Downey said OCU, as a campus community, should appreciate the protection of Title IX on college campuses for students, faculty and staff from gender-based discrimination and sexual harassment. She said the potential changes are important because they will impact the current and future campus community.

There are small flyers around campus containing a QR Code that digitally directs students to the regulations and the place to comment.

Trae Trousdale, mass communications sophomore and director of the Student Civic Engagement Committee, said, as soon as he learned of the potential Title IX regulation changes, he knew the committee should be involved in helping reach students.

“Our goal is to coordinate, produce and direct civically engaging activities for our student body. That’s not only for students that live here in Oklahoma and are civically engaged in our local communities, but also how can our students that are from out of state still be engaging with their communities, both at home and here in their new home,” he said.

“In order for us to be productive citizens, we have to be productive students. In order for us to be productive students, we have to have a safe campus environment, and that is exactly what Title IX is doing.”

Trousdale encouraged students to attend tonight’s event and ask questions, no matter their views on the potential changes.

“We have our own personal opinions, but, officially, we are just presenting the information for students to get their opinions from it,” Trousdale said.

If students have questions about Title IX, they may email Barnett at rcbarnett@okcu.edu or reference the university’s Title IX website at okcu.edu/admin/hr/titleix.

Editor’s note: Community Manager Maddie Bowes is a member of Student Civic Engagement Committee. She did not participate in the writing or editing of this story.

Student Activites Council makes new Free Movie Night plans Nicole Waltman

EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

Students have expressed concerns about the changes made to an event that happens every semester.

Free Movie Night was a monthly, off-campus event hosted at Harkins Theatres Bricktown, 150 E. Reno Ave. Students would swipe their Student IDs at the door, receive free ticket vouchers and see a movie of their choice, until last semester.

SAC was trying something new in Fall 2018 by hosting Free Movie Nights on campus to save money and change things up said Madelynn Buckman, entertainment business senior and vice president of Student Activities Council.

SAC showed Oceans 8 on the quad and Hocus Pocus in Tom and Brenda McDaniel University Center last semester, both of which were on-campus Free Movie Nights.

“The plan is to have two Free Movie Nights this semester again,” Buckman said. “Obviously trying out last semester, not having it at a theater with choices didn’t work out, students weren’t happy about it.”

Buckman said her adviser, Haley Stiles, assistant director of student engagement, is trying to get in touch with Cinemark Tinseltown & XD, 6001 N. Martin Luther King Ave., to host both Free Movie Nights off campus this semester.

“I think people think that I don’t want Free Movie Nights, and that’s not the case,” Buckman said. “It was just us trying something new, and you don’t know until you try. We’re doing our best for this semester to fix that.”

The goal is for Free Movie Night to function as it did offcampus in the past. There are no dates set for Free Movie Nights this semester.

Morgan Wanamaker, dance junior and chief commissioner of SAC, said she is excited about the new plans because she was disappointed that there were no off-campus Free Movie Nights last semester.

“Fall semester is very hectic, and there’s a lot more on the calendar universitywide than there is in the spring, so that made things difficult,” she said. “I was really hoping we were going to get to do one.”

M MEDIAOCU.com

Come to the events. Talk to us. Come to our meetings. We're more than happy to work with you and hear your needs.

Morgan Wanamaker chief commissioner Student Activities Council

Wanamaker said she enjoyed the on-campus movies because it was a nice change of pace, but she hopes off-campus movies can be incorporated too.

“Each month I had something to look forward to, and I hope that’s something we can bring back into the campus this semester,” Wanamaker said.

Mark Howell, mass communications senior, said he thought on-campus movie nights were a good idea.

“I believe the on-campus movie night was a good alternative instead of the movie theater,” Howell said. “It does save tons of money, and, at the same time, students still get their movie night.”

Howell also said he attended the previous off-campus movie nights, and he appreciated being in an actual theater and having concessions nearby.

Buckman said not all of the budget for Free Movie Night was used last semester, and what was left will be added to the $7,500 Free Movie Night budget this semester. She also said tickets to Tinseltown are about $3 cheaper per ticket than tickets to Harkins.

Megan Berning, acting junior, said she prefers off-campus movie nights and wishes SAC members were less frugal.

“I understand the idea of saving money, but what’s the point in spending any money if people aren’t enjoying it? I think spending the money on Free Movie Nights is 100 percent worth it,” she said.

The highest past attendance on record from the Harkins Free Movie Nights was about 750 people, so Buckman said they hope to have 1,000 tickets in preparation for the first movie night this semester.

Elise O’Connell, music senior, said she’s disappointed that students were not warned of the changes to Free Movie Night last semester.

“The issue I had with the change was that nobody knew Free Movie Nights were gone,” O’Connell said. “If they had wanted to save money and done away with them, our community would have understood, but SGA should have notified the student body.”

O’Connell said she and many others were upset with the lack of transparency and honesty from SGA regarding the alteration of an event that happens every semester.

“I think they should bring them back if they can,” O’Connell said. “It’s a great way for OCU students to relieve some stress and get off campus.”

Having Free Movie Night every month caused SAC to lose money, Wanamaker said.

“People would be like, ‘oh, I’ll just go to the next one,’” she said. “So we’re trying to make it more of an exciting event that doesn’t happen every month so that people can benefit more from it, and it’s still financially smart.”

Buckman said she understands why students post questions about events on the OCU Facebook group, but encouraged them to approach her directly with questions or concerns.

“A couple people have reached out to me, and I’ve answered them, so I encourage them to reach out to me and talk to me about it,” she said.

Wanamaker said elections for new officers will determine what the future of Free Movie Night looks like. She said she hopes to run for the SAC vice president position.

“We hear you, and we want to make events that you want as well,” Wanamaker said. “Come to the events. Talk to us. Come to our meetings. We’re more than happy to work with you and hear your needs. But it’s easier to do it face-to-face than over social media.”

If students have questions, they may email Buckman at mybuckman@my.okcu.edu or Wanamaker at mewanamaker@ my.okcu.edu.

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opinion Student participation encouraged in important Title IX alterations Title IX and Student Civic Engagement Committee officials are partnering to host an important event in which the campus community can discuss recently proposed Title IX amendments.

Title IX protects people from gender-based discrimination in any educational program or activity that receives federal financial assistance.

See Page 1 for more on the possible changes.

A 60-day period for public review and comment ends Jan. 28. The event “Comment and Chill” from 6-9 p.m. today in the Great Hall in Tom and Brenda McDaniel University Center is intended to help students be educated and form opinions about the new legislation.

The regulations would refine Title IX requirements pertaining to sexual discrimination and non-discriminatory and religious accommodations, according to federalregister.

com.

The “Comment and Chill” event is important for students to form educated opinions about the legislation. If students want their voices to be heard and their well-being to be protected, it is necessary that they do their part, attend the event and send a comment to government officials if they feel inclined to do so. Even if students cannot attend the event, they should research changes that could directly impact their futures.

Title IX protects the basic rights of students, faculty and staff. Many students don’t realize how much of an impact Title IX laws have on their safety throughout their college experience.

Nearly two thirds of college students experience sexual harassment, and 20 to 25 percent of college women and 15 percent of college men are victims of rape during their time in college, according to

Talk Back “Would you rather have Free Movie Night on or off campus?”

the National Sexual Violence Resource Center.

It is important that students stay up to date on the laws that protect them. Students should educate themselves about any changes in Title IX legislation and voice their opinions about the laws that affect their basic human rights.

Not only do these changes impact protocol around sexual misconduct, but religious exemptions and standards of evidence as well.

No matter their views on each minute detail of the document, students should do their own research and ask for help from a Title IX official if there is something they’re unclear on.

This legislation could dramatically change how Title IX is enforced on college campuses, and not just during this generation’s time at college, but for generations to come as well.

"On campus"

"Off campus"

Kenzie Landes exercise science sophomore

Isma Kielty dance freshman

"Off campus"

"Off campus"

Avery Carlson acting junior

Erik Rangel economics and finance sophomore

"On campus"

"Off campus"

MaKayla Hiebert exercise science freshman

Haley Klopping acting sophomore

Columnist discusses Taylor Swift’s political involvement I never thought I’d write about Taylor Swift, but here I am, listening to her top hits while thinking about the ways in which she has changed after more than a decade in the public eye. With her new tour documentary release, Swift appears to be making some changes to her public persona.

For years, Swift was criticized for staying silent about politics and elections. But, on Oct. 7, Swift wrote an Instagram post in support of Democratic candidates in her home state of Tennessee, stating, “In the past I’ve been reluctant to publicly voice my political opinions, but due to several events in my life and in the world in the past two years, I feel very differently about that

now. I always have and always will cast my vote based on which candidate will protect and fight for the human rights I believe we all deserve in this country.”

Swift has 114 million Instagram followers.

In the Reputation Stadium Tour documentary, which was released Dec. 31 on Netflix, fans around the world can watch the live concert tour that garnered more than $266 million, as reported by Forbes. Social media platforms and news outlets alike have buzzed about whether this doc is a positive step for Swift, who faced backlash on her previous tour for 1989.

The 1989 tour, which spanned the second half of 2015, featured celebrity appearances like Mick Jagger, Serena

Amanda Miller is an English senior from Kansas City. She likes pop culture, glitter and iced coffee.

Williams, Justin Timberlake, and Uzo Aduba, presentations by athletes Kobe Bryant and Dwyane Wade, and appearances

by Swift’s “squad”—a group of women frequently seen with Swift.

Kadeen Griffiths of Bustle wrote on Sept. 1, 2017 that Swift featuring her guests and “squad” could be perceived as an act of “white feminism”— feminism that does not take into account the intersectional

need to acknowledge additional factors, specifically racism.

An additional Bustle article, written Jan. 19, 2018 by Kyli Rodriguez-Cayro, examines ways that white feminism can popularly show up in daily life, including the concept of “tokenizing.” Rodriguez-Cayro describes this as the inclusion of diverse woman solely for the sake of appearing diverse. Fans and critics were worried that some of Swift’s 1989 special

guests were tokenization, as she often featured her guests as side accessories to her own performances.

The Reputation era has been a time of change for Swift.

Swift’s backup team, both her dancers and vocalists, appear to be more diverse than tours past. From their skin tones to their body types, there is a lot of representation on stage, and it doesn’t go unnoticed.

In the Reputation single Look What You Made Me Do, Swift speaks the line “I’m sorry, the old Taylor can’t come to the phone right now. Why? Oh, cause she’s dead!” While many have perceived this to be a comment on Swift’s new tough-girl persona thanks to years of tabloid gossip, I think it’s meant

to be a shift in her focus. For years, Swift remained silent on politics and was accused by many of exclusionary or poorly-intentioned practices.

But, she has started speaking out on issues to make her art a better platform for artists of different backgrounds.

Perhaps Swift was unaware of the way her actions were perceived or how influential her opinions could be in our modern society. As I watched the tour documentary, I saw myself in each singing fan featured on screen. I’ll admit I had been wary of Swift in the past, but what appears to be her commitment to bettering her platform is something we should pay attention to in her future musical releases.

First posthumous XXXTentacion album mediocre, unfinished If you’re up to date on your music memes, you’ll know SoundCloud rap is home to the most bizarre-acting and looking musicians of the modern day, all of whom I’ve wanted to grab by the shoulders and say, “calm down.” 6ix9ine, arrested for racketeering and sexual misconduct with a child, will likely not see light of day until the 2040s, Lil Peep overdosed in November 2017 from a combination of nine different drugs, and Lil Pump’s Wikipedia photo switches weekly to his latest mugshot. But, no name in the industry can gather more attention—positive and negative—than XXXTentacion.

XXXTentacion likely needs no introduction. Reminiscent of rappers like 2Pac, just about every part of his life was a headline, from his breakout success

in 2017, the extremely harrowing accounts of his domestic abuse and finally his murder and robbery last June. But, his label Bad Vibes Forever made it clear that “more than two albums’ worth of material” still remained to be released. This started with XXXTentacion’s third album and my first real acquaintance with the artist, Skins.

Skins, like just about every other XXXTentacion record, is so brief it feels wrong to call it an album. Almost none of the 10 tracks break the threeminute mark, most of them not even breaking the two-minute mark. It slides by at a quick 19 minutes, which, though not unusual for X, cements even more to the listener that this album is not just posthumous, but possibly even unfinished.

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

The album opens with the song Guardian angel, which features a reversed sample of X’s 2017 hit Jocelyn Flores. Over this gentle beat, X raps in an apologetic tone, ending with some lines that almost seem to eerily suggest he’s rapping about his own death from beyond the grave. What’s more is that this song’s lyrics are delivered in a fast, straight hip-hop fashion, refreshingly different from X’s usual approach. The same can be said for the following track

Train food, which tells the story of X being jumped by the personification of death and being left to die on train tracks.

But, this straight-rapping flavor ends there, giving yield to the two other flavors Skins provides—emotional R&B pop-crooning, and X screaming his absolute brains out. Of the former style, there are three tracks—the lead single BAD!, the barely-song whoa (mind in awe) and the track I don’t let go, the last of which, though short,

at least features some legitimate rapping and diverse flows. Still these tracks can come off as just the same song reorganized, playing it safe in territory that X already covered a billion times in past releases.

As for the latter flavor of Skins, boy howdy are there some bad results. In the past, XXXTentacion has pulled from emo and screamo genres by incorporating them into trap, but to my knowledge, he has never written a straight up emo-screamo song—until STARING AT THE SKY, that is. The song opens with an acoustic guitar riff over which X sings lyrics that could be confused with the poetry of an angsty ’90s scene kid, all in his best and most annoying Green Day impression. Don’t worry, though, he proceeds to mix it

up by screaming, “we’re gonna break” unimaginably loud over a blown-out metal version of the same riff. If you’re still listening to La Dispute in 2019, you’ll love it. If you have ears, you won’t.

Overall, there’s not much to Skins. It’s anything but consistent, and when it’s not revisiting styles XXXTentacion has done to death, it’s expanding on those styles in the exact wrong direction. There’s a few tracks that stand out as strong, but the fact that these different flavors sit side-by-side with virtually no chemistry is proof that it’s not XXXTentacion who is putting this album together. It’s the producers who control X’s leftovers and who will, hopefully, make the next posthumous release more than merely mediocre.

Activity Center

SUNDAY Maborosi: movie screening from 2-5 p.m. in Norick Art 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 Comment and Chill at 6 p.m. in Great Hall in Tom and Brenda McDaniel University Center THURSDAY Weekly Play Club meeting

from 7-9 p.m. in the Honors Lounge in Gold Star Memorial Building Artist Talk Series: Morgan Robinson from 5-8 p.m. in Norick Art Center

FRIDAY Final day to register or add spring 2019 classes SATURDAY Distinguished Artists Trumpet Recital: Huw Morgan at 7:30 p.m.

in Petree Recital Hall in Kirkpatrick Fine Arts Center Women's basketball vs. Southwestern Assemblies of God at 2 p.m. in Abe Lemons Arena in Henry J. Freede Wellness and

Jan. 16, 2019, Volume 112, Issue 14

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Staff Writers: Luke Barrett, Callie Dewees, Erik Hamilton, Paul Dower, Dru Norton, Sarah Muscarella, Hope Melton Columnists: Caroline Hawthorne, Amanda Miller Photographers: Carolann Stout, Kylie Sullivan, Hope Melton, Clara Foster

MONDAY Martin Luther King Day—No classes, university closed

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.

THE CAMPUS Editor-in-chief: Nicole Waltman Associate Editor: Emily Wollenberg Copy Editor: Chandler White Photo Editor: Elina Moon Community Manager: Maddie Bowes Web Editor: Jessica Vanek

Men's basketball vs. Southwestern Assemblies of God at 3:45 p.m. in Abe Lemons Arena in Henry J. Freede Wellness and Activity Center

The Student Publications staff welcomes unsolicited material and let-

Videographer: Emily Haan Ad Director: Emily Jones 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.

The first issue of The Campus is free. Each additional issue costs 25 cents. Contents copyright, 2019. All rights reserved.

January 16, 2019

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Student collects dancewear for Belizean children Emily Wollenberg

ASSOCIATE EDITOR

A dance student was inspired to organize a dancewear donation drive after returning from a mission trip to Belize.

Caroline Piper, dance senior, traveled with the university religious life mission team from Dec. 30 to Jan. 5 to Belize to teach a Vacation Bible School Camp. The students also helped repair houses in the area and volunteered to assist with activities, staying in Camp Camalote in Belmopan, Belize.

“We all split up between teaching, sports, games, music, arts, and reading, and every day had a Bible verse that the kids were really great at memorizing,” Piper said. “The theme was hope, love and joy, and the verse of the week was, ‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart, your soul, your mind, and strength and love your neighbor as yourself.’”

Piper said, for part of the trip, the group didn’t have running water, but she didn’t mind because it made her feel humbled.

“I fell in love with the country,” she said. “This is my first mission trip. It was eye-opening and breathtaking.”

During the trip, Piper met a dance instructor named Bethany who teaches five dance classes with up to 40 students in each class. Piper said she was inspired by the instructor, who started the class five years ago with neighborhood children and now has dance recitals for the students in the spring.

“She teaches ballet, contemporary and jazz, and she wants to start introducing hip-hop and music classes,” Piper said. “They don’t have a lot of technology or internet, so she does all the marketing by hand. She told me, ‘I just want to have this safe environment for them.’”

The students confide in Bethany about hardships or things they are upset about, Piper said.

“She tells them to put those feelings into a dance,” Piper said.

Kendal Willis, religion sophomore, attended the mission trip and described Bethany as an “incredible woman” who created the dance program after seeing the need in the community.

“Many of them can’t afford their own dance clothes, obviously,

All the kids are so happy and so willing to learn. I think that some of them understand that as they grow up, they get to learn, and it's such a blessing.

Caroline Piper dance senior

and it’s becoming a big ordeal for her to try to expand and make sure all her kids have the tools that they need,” Willis said.

The students can attend the dance classes because most of them receive sponsorships from the camp. It’s rare for children in Belize to get opportunities in the arts, let alone sponsorships, since the country is poor, Piper said.

Because of the limited resources in the camp, Piper said they always need more shoes and clothes for the dance classes. She decided to collect dancewear of all kinds to donate to the students in the dance classes after seeing posts on the OCU Buy Sell Trade Facebook group selling dance clothing.

“I thought, ‘why not give them to Belize where they really need it?,’” Piper said.

Piper said she is looking for leotards, tights, jazz and ballet shoes, and athletic wear such as leggings.

“A big thing also is boy’s jazz shoes or boy’s ballet shoes, because she is starting to have more boys come to the classes, and they don’t want to wear the girl’s ballet shoes,” she said.

Piper said she will collect throughout the semester, and anyone can message her on Facebook at any time if they want to donate.

She said she hopes to return to Belize in the summer after graduation to help with the dance classes.

“All the kids are so happy and so willing to learn. I think that some of them understand that as they grow up, they get to learn, and it’s such a blessing,” she said.

“

Submitted Caroline Piper, dance senior, helps children on a mission trip to Belize. Religion students, faculty and staff took the trip during Winter Break.

Willis said she is empowered by Piper’s idea to start the drive.

“I think it is incredible that Caroline has this huge heart and is willing to do this for the kids and Bethany, and I hope it blows up and can turn into an annual thing,” Willis said.

School of Theater prepares to open all-female play Hope Melton

STAFF WRITER

The first mainstage production for the spring semester is The Wolves, directed by Courtney DiBello, assistant professor of stage management.

The Wolves will have performances at 8 p.m. Jan. 31 to Feb. 2 and at 2 p.m. Feb. 2-3 in Burg Theatre in Kirkpatrick Fine Arts Center.

The play, written by Sarah DeLappe, centers around a girls’ indoor soccer team as they come of age.

Shelby Parker, theater and performance freshman, plays

“Soccer Mom.” She said the play has deeper themes that go beyond soccer.

“The Wolves is basically about being young in suburban America and being a woman in suburban America and everything that comes with that,” Parker said.

DiBello also said the play is about more than soccer.

“Folks will try and sum this play up as a play about an indoor soccer team, but it’s not about soccer,” DiBello said.

“It’s about women on the cusp of finding who they are. There are complicating factors about defining themselves as women.

Folks will try and sum this play up as a play about an indoor soccer team, but it's not about soccer. It's about women on the cusp of finding who they are.

Courtney DiBello assistant professor stage management

They are having to learn not only how to support each other, but how to support themselves.

They’re not supported by the community, and they know that, but it also becomes more and more obvious to them that

the lack of community support means that they have to find a way within themselves to do what needs to be done.”

Kaiden Maines, acting junior, plays “#13.” She said the show’s soccer component

has made the rehearsal process unique.

“It’s been unlike any other show that I’ve done here at OCU because its a very physically demanding show,” Maines said. “As a soccer team, we have to be able to play soccer and do warm-ups and drills, and so we’ve been learning some of that.”

The play features an allfemale cast.

Maines said working with the other women has been a great experience.

“When I was cast in The Wolves, I got really excited because some really special

things happen when you get a group of strong women together with a common goal and you can create magic,” Maines said.

“These are the greatest women, so being able to be on a team both in the show and in real life is wonderful, and I’m so grateful.”

Tickets can be purchased in advance at okcu.edu/main/ tickets or through the ticket office in the Edith Kinney Gaylord Center.

Music fraternity begins spring recruitment, hosts events Erik Hamilton

STAFF WRITER

The OCU chapter of Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia has begun their rush process for the Spring 2019 semester.

Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia is a national fraternity for men with an interest in music. The chapter on campus is the Delta Zeta chapter.

Marvin Lewis, trumpet performance graduate and the fraternity’s education officer, said the university’s Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia chapter started about 90 years ago, at about the same time as the university’s chapter of Sigma Alpha Iota, a music sorority.

In the past 90 years, the campus’s Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia chapter has gone in and out of existence, Lewis said. The members are determining how they want to govern and form their identity.

“The object of our fraternity is the development of the best and truest fraternal spirits, the mutual welfare and brotherhood of music students, the advancement of music in America, and our loyalty to the alma mater,” Lewis said.

Joel Jenkins, acting junior and fraternity member, said he admires his brotherhood’s goal of the advancement of music in America. He said an example of their dedication to this goal

“

Kylie Sullivan Student Publications

Jeremiah Rupp, bass performance senior; Marvin Lewis, trumpet performance graduate; Trey Cole, music education sophomore; and Joel Jenkins, acting junior, perform choral pieces Jan. 11 in Wanda L. Bass Music Center.

is a history of visiting nursing homes and retirement centers to sing to the elderly.

“It’s way different from what you’d traditionally think of as a fraternity,” Jenkins said. “It’s

not all the heavy partying and stuff like that. There’s a lot of really interesting history with this fraternity.”

Lewis and Jenkins said the group is fun to be around, in addition to being a constructive, serious group. Lewis said they have a tendency to play video games together as well as musical jamming.

Students may be in another fraternity and still join Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia, as long as the other fraternity is not related to music. Members do not have to be music students, but must have an interest in music. The fraternity is open to any student who identifies as a male.

The fraternity has recruit-

ment events planned, including laser tag on Friday at Laser Quest, 10944 N May Ave., and a movie night on Jan. 23 in United Methodist Hall.

The chapter’s Facebook page is “Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia – Delta Zeta Chapter at OKCU.” Lewis said Hollis Taylor, vice president and historian of Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia on campus, shares information about rush on his personal page.

Students may email Lewis at malewis@my.okcu.edu to join or for more information.

Student-directed organization to produce The Addams Family musical Luke Barrett

STAFF WRITER

Students and OCUStripped leaders are preparing for the upcoming production of The Addams Family musical.

OCUStripped is a student-run organization that performs musicals with minimal technical elements. Dr. David Herendeen, professor of music and director of opera and music theater, is the organization’s sponsor.

“The students provide the props. The students provide the costumes. It’s student music-directed. It’s basically taking musicals and stripping them down, which is the basis of the name, and we put them up in three weeks,” said Megan Carpenter, music theater senior and artistic director of OCUStripped.

The original production of The Addams Family musical premiered in Chicago in 2009. The music and lyrics were composed

by Andrew Lippa, and the book was written by Marshall Brickman and Rick Elice.

The “Addams family” consists of “Gomez,” “Morticia,” “Wednesday,” “Pugsley,” “Grandma,” “Uncle Fester,” “Lurch,” and a disembodied hand referred to as “Thing.”

Anna Lasbury, music theater senior, plays the role of “Grandma” in the production.

“It’s basically a twisted love story where two very different families collide, and the night that they spend together just kind January 16, 2019

I think it's super important in an educational setting to taste and to play around and experience all different types of theater.

Megan Carpenter music theater senior

of unfolds in many crazy ways,” she said.

Due to the stripped-down nature of the performance, Teresa Franks, music theater senior and director of the production, said the team had to brainstorm ways to pull off some of the absurd elements people may expect from The Addams Family.

“I think the ensemble will play a huge part in it, too, in creating the magic or the spectacle of whatever we need,” she said. “Our artistic director Megan says that it’s problem solving, and that’s what Stripped is.”

Cole Cloutier, music theater senior and choreographer of the production, said there were some line changes to keep the script updated, and some technically demanding elements can’t be done.

“It definitely will be ‘OCUStripped presents The Addams

Family,’ not The Addams Family, but in the best way possible, and I’m very excited for it,” he said.

Carpenter said part of the organization’s reasoning in choosing The Addams Family was the variety of opportunities and roles available in the show, and its deviation from mainstage shows.

“I think it’s super important in an educational setting to taste and to play around and experience all different types of theater,” she said.

OCUStripped produces shows with a minimal budget, so donations will be accepted at the doors.

Nick Atkins, music theater sophomore playing “Gomez,” said he found the minimalism of OCUStripped interesting.

“It’s really cool to see how each director of each different show experiments with the lack of budget, because, I mean, we’re performers. We’re not going to have shows with multi-thousanddollar budgets to have amazing sets and technical pieces to the show, so it’s really cool to see everything come together with so few pieces,” he said.

Performances will be at 8 p.m. Feb. 1-2 in the Petree Recital Hall in Kirkpatrick Fine Arts Center.

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lifestyles

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SHINING STAR

Mass communications student hired as university employee A mass communications senior has already found a job... working at his own university.

Evan Juedeman, mass communications senior, recently applied for and was hired as a communications specialist with enrollment operations on campus. He said he plans to stay in the position after he graduates.

“It’s basically for obtaining the interest of prospective students to the university,” Juedeman said. “I’m kind of a liaison between admissions and enrollment operations.”

Juedeman was hired as a part-time employee and works for the university as he finishes up his senior year.

“As a senior in my spring semester, I have seven credit hours, just to wrap up my capstone and a science class,” Juedeman said.

The position was posted in December, Juedeman said.

“I applied, interviewed and found out just before Christmas break,” he said.

Juedeman started out as a mass communications minor, but eventually switched to a mass communications major with a minor in business entrepreneurship.

“When I started here, I was a business administration major, but then I fell in love with the world of mass com-

Get your gen eds out of the way as soon as possible. Sit down, listen and do the work.

Evan Juedeman

mass communications senior

munications,” he said.

Juedeman said he appreciates his time on campus.

“All of the mass comm professors have made an impact on me,” Juedeman said. “Matt Hamilton has always been great with helping me out with my schedule and helping me out with my degree.”

Students should work hard and pay attention, Juedeman said.

“Get your gen eds out of the way as soon as possible,” he said.

“Sit down, listen and do the work.”

Juedeman has a boundless energy and creative spirit, said

Dr. Matt Hamilton, mass communications department chairman.

“Evan is a young professional who truly understands the value of public relations and building partnerships in the business world,” Hamilton said. “He is respected by his peers as a friendly, helpful team member. I always enjoy having Evan in my courses.”

Juedeman has been making an impression since he was a freshman, said Kevin Windholz, vice president for enrollment management and university communications.

“As a student, he worked in all areas of my division as a student employee, serving as a student worker in Student Financial Services, a Gold Star Ambassador in admissions and a marketing intern in University Communications,” Windholz said.

“In each role, he was a leader and showed a strong commitment to our university. It is those types of students we celebrate bringing on as staff members in our division after graduation.”

By Web Editor Jessica Vanek

Interfraternity Council elects new leaders, plans to partner with Title IX Sarah Muscarella

STAFF WRITER

The Interfraternity Council has three new leaders for 2019.

IFC is the governing body for all fraternities on campus, which allows members of every fraternity to meet and discuss Greek life issues.

The new heads of the IFC took office Jan. 1. Jace Jordan, cell and molecular biology junior, will serve as president; Trae Trousdale, mass communications sophomore, will serve as vice president of member development, and Erik Hamilton, acting junior, will serve as vice president of logistics. As the Panhellenic Council does with sororities, IFC positions rotate to different fraternities every year.

“Each year is a little different, and that’s what’s so exciting about it,” said Levi Harrel, director of student engagement.

The new leaders are either elected or appointed, depending on the organization. Lambda Chi Alpha, for example, nominates their candidates and then has elections, Trousdale said.

“We have to be nominated, then we have general primaries that narrow it down to two people,” Trousdale said. “Then, out of that, you do a speech again and outline what you want to see the position in, and then you are elected between the two of you.”

Each year is a little different, and that's what's so exciting about it.

Levi Harrel

director student engagement

As the vice president of member development, Trousdale oversees fraternity recruitment efforts. Recruitment occurs year-round, but Trousdale said most of his responsibilities involve incoming freshmen during Stars Week.

“It’s over the summer reaching out to the freshmen, making sure that they know about Greek life, that they know the different organizations that we represent and the benefits and why they should. We’re really trying to sell the product that is Greek life,” Trousdale said.

IFC members intend to expand Greek life’s focus this semester to Title IX and sexual assault awareness, Trousdale said. Title IX

protects people from discrimination based on sex or gender.

“We’re truly going to start focusing on and building a relationship with Title IX on campus and focusing on sexual assault and how that plays a role in Greek Life and things that our fraternity gentlemen can do,” Trousdale said.

Trousdale said he also wants to bring attention to philanthropic efforts in Greek life.

“I also hope to begin working more on the philanthropy side of things,” Trousdale said. “How can we increase our philanthropic engagement, what we’re doing with our volunteer hours and our community service, not only in Kappa Sigma or Lambda Chi, but how can we incorporate other people that maybe aren’t Greek but would like to get to know us.”

The changes brought to Greek life by new council leaders reflect the ideals of OCU Greek life, Harrel said.

“Fraternity and sorority life values evolution and growth, and the leaders who we see filling these positions on both IFC and the Panhellenic Council will be fulfilling that value,” Harrel said.

Jace Jordan was unavailable for comment Jan. 9.

Editor’s Note: Erik Hamilton is a staff writer for Student Publications. He did not participate in the writing or editing of this story.

Nursing school ranked 12 out of top 75 schools Paul Dower

Carolann Stout Student Publications

Shoot for the stars Junior Forward Creed Kemp shoots the ball at the men's basketball game Jan. 10 in Abe Lemons Arena in Henry J. Freede Wellness and Activity Center.

The Stars lost by one point to Wayland Baptist University. Their next game is at 3:45 p.m. Saturday in Abe Lemons Arena in Henry J. Freede Wellness and Activity Center.

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STAFF WRITER

The Nursing School Almanac ranked the Kramer School of Nursing No. 12 in the southwest region in their 2018 list of the Top 75 nursing schools in the southwest.

The site collected data from more than 3,000 institutions in Arizona, Oklahoma, Texas, and New Mexico. Each school was evaluated by their prestige and perceived value, the breadth and depth of nursing programs offered and student success.

Diana Blackmon, chairwoman of traditional bachelor of science in nursing Program and associate professor of nursing, said Kramer was placed so high due to the faculty.

“We have an excellent faculty,” Blackmon said. “In fact, I’d say three quarters of the faculty have a terminal degree, or is working on one, so education is their focus.”

Blackmon also said the faculty all works well together to better provide for the students.

“We team-teach, so there’s lots of faculty-student communications and time together. So we pretty much have open doors during our office hours and students can come in at any time,” she said. “We really meet the students’ needs when it comes to nursing school.”

Brianna Miles, nursing freshman, said she thinks Kramer was

ranked due to its faculty and its high-tech simulation labs.

“Without this advanced technology, nursing students don’t have the resources to excel in training for the real world,” Miles said. “Our simulations are realistic, and not many universities have the opportunity to access resources such as the ones that we have on campus.”

Lois Salmeron, dean and professor of nursing, said she is happy with the school.

“I believe this is very earned and deserved, and we are very happy with it,” she said.

Salmeron said she thinks the ranking on the The Nursing School Almanac will boost recruitment rates.

“We put these things on our website,” Salmeron said. “Students are very smart and will be looking for these types of things.”

Salmeron said she thinks that the ranking is due to the way Kramer interacts with their students.

“It’s because of the ‘Kramer Way,’” she said. “The ‘Kramer Way’ has always been about caring, kindness and respect, and that is what makes us unique.”

Students interested in checking the list can visit nursingschoolsalmanac.com/rankings/southwest for more information.

Honors seniors share advice, tips for positive college experience Dru Norton

STAFF WRITER

Students want to succeed academically, but there doesn’t seem to be a single way to accomplish that goal.

Organizing your schedule, studying in advance, embracing failure, and making time for yourself are just some of the ways senior honors students recommend achieving academic success.

Tammy Phillips, cell and molecular biology senior, said she maintains her GPA by asking upperclassmen’s advice before choosing classes.

“I always try to get some information about professors from upperclassmen before I take any class. I think that has really helped me know what I was getting into,” Phillips said. “If I ever had a professor that, within the first week, I felt my learning style didn’t match with their teaching style, I would always switch out of that class.”

Phillips said it’s important to maintain your hobbies.

“I love watching movies. I think sometimes it’s easy to spend all your time studying, and while that may reflect in great grades, it may not reflect in a great life,” Phillips said.

As far as her advice for underclassmen, Phillips said they should know they’re not alone and always ask for help.

“Life can be hard in college because this is most people’s first time out in the world alone, but really you aren’t alone,” Phillips said. “You should reach out to somebody. It only takes one person to believe in you for you to succeed.”

Using a planner or phone calendar to keep track of due dates is essential to maintaining a good GPA, said Tom Hoblin, music theater senior.

“Making sure you get all your work done and turned in can really make or break your grade. I know it seems obvious, but January 16, 2019

If you start feeling really stressed, step back and ask yourself, 'Will this truly matter in two, three, four years?' If the answer is 'no', which it probably will be, have some ice cream and move on.

Sammi Bronow

economics senior

when work starts piling up and you start missing assignments, those easy points can add up,” Hoblin said.

To avoid feeling overloaded, Hoblin said he makes time for himself.

“If you learn how to take breaks and do what you want to do, the remaining work no longer seems so daunting,” he said. “Personally, I would take a quick break and play a few games of Rocket League or watch a few episodes of Parks and Rec. It helped reset my mind and refocus.”

Hoblin also makes sure to communicate with his professors.

“Talk to your professors," he said. "They want you to succeed as much as you do, and most every professor I’ve had has been chomping at the bit to give that extra bit of help.”

Hoblin said he balances work and fun by knowing his limits and making compromises.

“Try not to over book yourself. Most students have class, a job, homework, rehearsal, and another job, and it’s hard to fit in some fun,” Hoblin said. “If you know the time you have for work, then you can plan for some fun. Sometimes, I’d sacrifice sleep for some fun, and sometimes fun for sleep.”

Hoblin said his advice for underclassmen is to keep moving

forward, no matter how hard it may be.

“I know the semester can get pretty rough, and it may seem like it will never end, but it will. All you have to do it keep pushing through,” Hoblin said. “When you think you can’t move another muscle, take one more step. It’s never as bad as you think it is.”

Sammi Bronow, economics senior, said she plans her studying in advance to avoid cramming last minute.

“If my professors provide a weekly breakdown of the course, I am able to mark test dates on my calendar and plan out my studying,” Bronow said. “Studying far in advance takes a lot of discipline, but it is really rewarding in the end.”

Bronow said putting her mental health first helps her avoid feeling overwhelmed.

“Putting your personal happiness and mental health first is so important, and that is something a lot of us tend to forget,” Bronow said. “When I start to feel really stressed, I stop doing work and do something fun.”

It is important to remember the bigger picture, Bronow said.

“OCU is a tiny bubble in the grand scheme of life, and it is important to realize that a bad grade or audition isn’t going to matter in the long run,” Bronow said. “If you start feeling really stressed, step back and ask yourself, ‘Will this truly matter in two, three, four years?’ If the answer is ‘no,’ which it probably will be, have some ice cream and move on.”

Bronow offered some advice for embracing failure.

“You’ll never truly succeed without experiencing failure. No one is perfect, even if you feel like OCU expects you to be,” Bronow said. “Embrace your mistakes wholeheartedly, you’ll be better for it.”

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