January 12, 2022 by MediaOCU

THE CAMPUS January 12, 2022 – Volume 115, Issue 16

VESPERS 2021 OCU In�ormation Dr. Tony Gonazalez, associate director of choral activities, conducts more than 250 university musicians in the 42nd annual Christmas Vespers concert Dec. 10 and 11 at First Presbyterian Church.

CAMPUS NEWS

OCU In�ormation On Dec. 4, a team of OCU students placed third in the virtual Region Intercollegiate Ethics Bowl. Pictured left to right sophomore Sophia Smith, freshman Henry Parks, and junior Raven Wade.

Next up: National Ethics Bowl championship OCU Ethics and Debate team places just behind Harvard, U. Chicago in regionals Blake Uhlig

EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

The OCU Ethics and Debate team took third place in the Virtual Region Intercollegiate Ethics Bowl. This placement has won the team a qualification bid for the national championship in February. The virtual Dec. 4 regional competition consisted of ten university teams. The OCU team placed just behind Harvard and the University of Chicago. Among the members who competed in the competition are sophomore Sophia Smith, freshman Henry Parks, and junior Raven Wade. The team was coached by Justin Wareham, Assistant Professor of Management. The team spent a long

time preparing for each debate. “We thought the best strategy was to become well versed enough in the issues to have a conversation about them, rather than preparing a formal presentation,” said Parks. Smith said that although the team was prepared for the competition, they “weren’t necessarily expecting much.” According to Smith, it was a challenge for the team to prepare for the debate while managing studies. The competing teams had a few major disadvantages. First, none of the members of the OCU team had participated in an ethical debate competition before. The second was the small size of the OCU team.

Each member of the OCU team had to prepare for more debates than their peers on opposing teams. “It was also intimidating competing against bigger and well-known schools like Harvard and Boston University,” Smith said. The team was given 15 cases to prepare for, six of which were debated in the competition. The team had to take a side on each case and build an argument. They were required to build the foundation of each argument on ethical theories. One of the debates was on the enforcement of patented life-saving treatments during pandemics. The team debated in favor of patents, using vaccines as

an example. The team debated on the government’s responsibility in protecting the environment from humankind. The team argued that the government has a responsibility to protect the environment and called for stricter regulations. On the issue of defunding the police, the team argued for the reallocation of funds to provide greater help for victims of domestic violence and those in mental health crises. “A lot of the cases we debate seem fringe at the time, but they seem to catapult to the forefront,” said Wareham. “I am specifically interested in the ethical debates specific to political issues,”

Smith said. Out of the cases, her favorites include debates on D.C. statehood and universal early childcare. Parks’ favorite field of ethical debate is environmental ethics. “I think coming up with solutions to the climate crisis is, at this point, and imperative,” he said. Smith said she was proud of the team’s accomplishments. She credits the team’s success to Coach Wareham. “He taught us the insides and out of ethics and was the reason for our success,” Smith said. Wareham says ethical dialogue is part of the university’s mission to train responsible leaders. “What we are debating is ethical and moral issues.

Equipping students with these skills is important,” said Wareham. The team received a qualification bid for the National Championship and plans to compete in the competition. Parks has transferred to another university and will not be able to participate. “We would like to compete but some of the members have scheduling consequences so we’re not sure if we will be able to,” said Smith. She says the team would be able to compete if more members joined, saying the team would welcome them with open arms. Students interested in joining the team can contact Coach Justin Wareham at Justinwareham@okcu.edu

University brings Russia to campus for summer program William Peetoom

STAFF WRITER

OCU will host an immersion-style Russian language summer camp from July 10 to July 31, 2022. This STARTALK event will include 24 high school students, 12 from Oklahoma, and 12 from other states. The program is offered to students in grades 9 through 12. A grant from the National Secu-

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rity Agency has allowed the university to offer this program for free. The program was named “Connecting People and Cultures: Russian Language Through the Arts and Digital Media.” It has the aim of teaching students more about the language and cultures of Russia and its neighbors. This encompasses Eastern Europe, Eurasia, and their influences in the United States.

The program director is Dr. Sabina Amanbayeva, an assistant professor of English and Comparative Literature at OCU. “We hope that the combination of language proficiency, increased cultural competence of a different region of the world and exposure to the college lifestyle will encourage learners to pursue higher education and intercultural experiences, such as advanced language studies and

Page 2: Opinion

Campus community should follow university COVID-19 protocols to protect all.

Page 3: Arts

Film students see capstone projects take shape.

Page 4: Sports

Long-time athletics director Abbott retires.

study abroad,” Amanbayeva said. Students accepted into t h e p ro g r a m will spend three weeks at OCU. Amanbayeva Students will learn on campus and be given opportunities to visit sites that have been influenced by Russian culture.

After the nearly three-week stint on campus ends, students will be able to participate in bi-monthly “Russian Café” meetings. The goal of the meetings is to reinforce student learning habits, connections, and interest in Russia. The deadline for applications is Feb. 15, 2022. Students interested in participating in the program can find the link on MediaOCU.com.

opinion IN OUR VIEW

We must stop the spread of COVID-19 The campus community must follow protocols to stop the spread We are entering another year of COVID-19. The pandemic has been a disruption for all of us. These disruptions can be seen everywhere: It has put many things in our lives on hold. It has taken something away from nearly everyone. It not only threatens our lives, but our way of life. To stop the spread of COVID-19, we must all make sacrifices. That can be by wearing a mask, social distancing and, getting vaccinated. Making these sacrifices should not be a political issue. These small sacrifices allow us to save lives. It is important that we all remain committing to stopping the spread. Only by working together can we overcome the challenges ahead. Student Publications calls on the campus community to follow university guidelines. Take the steps! 1. Wear a mask. 2. Practice social distancing. 3. Get vaccinated 4. Limit social gatherings. 5. If you have COVID-19 isolate 6. Stay updated on the news.

Elizabeth Heffernan Student Publications

CAMPUS VIEWPOINTS

Lietzke: ‘I wondered if I was Hispanic at all’ Being Latina is my absolute favorite part of myself. I love immersing myself in my culture and learning something new about it every day. I love being able to eat menudo, a Hispanic dish made up of broth, hominy, and the lining of a cow, in the wintertime with my grandmother. However, as proud as I am, it was not always this way. There was a time when I questioned everything and wondered if I was Hispanic at all. I grew up in Corpus Christi, Texas. Corpus Christi’s population is dominantly made up of Latinos of Mexican descent, including my family. However, according to other people, there was no way I was Hispanic.

Unlike the rest of my family, I had pale skin. I never learned Spanish, and, except for Selena, I did Lietzke not listen to Spanish music. I did not find a problem with any of this, but the words of microaggression started to get to me after so long. People would read my biological last name, Bueno, and question it. “Your last name is Bueno? But you do not look Hispanic. Do you even know what that means?” they’d say. People would also ask me, “What part of Mexico is your family from?”I have no idea what

part of Mexico my family is from because my Mexican heritage can be traced far back and gets complicated quickly. When I said I did not know I would get weird looks. People would say, “Oh, so you’re not a real Hispanic.” As a 12-year-old, it messed with my brain. Was I a real Hispanic? What even was a real Hispanic? I took it all in and suppressed my heritage. When I was adopted, my last name changed to Lietzke. I did not speak of my other last name Bueno. I let people make assumptions because I did not want to deal with or handle what they had to say. When I got to college, my first-year RA was Amanda Boozer.

Amanda, being the president of the Hispanic Student Association, invited me to a meeting after learning I was Hispanic. I was extremely hesitant, mainly because up until her invitation, I was made to feel society that I was not Hispanic enough to be part of an organization like the Hispanic Student Association. After my first meeting, my perception of myself completely changed. Never had I been so comfortable with a group of people. It did not matter what other people thought I was or was not. The members of the Hispanic Student Association did not care, either. What they cared about was who I truly am, and more impor-

tantly how I felt. Their priority was and still is to make sure that every member feels like they are heard and have a safe space no matter what their background is. From movie nights, holiday parties, and community ofrendas, the love is always there. Never did I feel ostracized or weird. There is no such thing as “not Hispanic enough,” especially in HSA. The members love you for who you are. The HSA has taught me more about my culture and I feel inspired to embrace my background and who I am. Destyni Lietzke (Bueno) Hispanic Student Association

CSSA guides us through the Lunar New Year The Lunar New Year celebration is a good demonstration of how culture can overcome geographical and social barriers, meet the social and emotional needs of students, and promote the establishment of communities. The Lunar New Year has existed in East Asia for thousands of years. Increasingly, Lunar New Year is celebrated all over the world, including at American university campuses. The Lunar New Year has been branded as “Chinese New Year”. In fact, it is not only China that advocates this festival, but also most of the Asia-Pacific region, including Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Japan, South Korea,

Laos, Malaysia, Mongolia, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, and Vietnam. The Lunar New Year is Xiaolu also known by many traditional names, such as Chinese New Year (Chunjie); South Korea’s Seollal; and Vietnam’s Tet Nguyen Dan (a feast on the first morning of the new year). The importance of the Lunar New Year to many international students (and Asian Americans) makes it a holiday that faculty, counselors, and admissions officers need to understand better. At the

same time, it is an opportunity to build a community for everyone. This sense of community can be found in residential life and student activities. There are many ways to celebrate the Lunar New Year, including lighting firecrackers, fireworks, and gathering with the family for dinner. The Dragon and Lion Dance is undoubtedly exotic. However, there are many similarities between the Chinese New Year tradition and western festivals. Having a big meal with family on Thanksgiving, exchanging gifts and blessings at Christmas, lighting the fireworks on the first day of the new year—— these

events are part of Chinese New Year celebrations. In addition, the Lunar New Year holiday can be up to two weeks long! But its profound meaning may be easily overlooked. Most countries in the Western Hemisphere use the Gregorian calendar for holiday arrangements, but the dates of the Chinese New Year do not match the school holidays. This means that for international students who have celebrated the Chinese New Year since childhood, returning home is not an option. For a culture where filial piety is the root of virtue and philosophy, it is a pity to miss the festive reunion.

As a countermeasure, some Asian students will participate in virtual hometown gatherings via phone or video calls, and organize dinner parties with each other, which will include traditional dishes such as dumplings or rice cakes. In a word, the new year has arrived, and the new semester is full of energetic expectations and positive energy. We hope everyone has a good and meaningful campus life this new semester! Xiaolu Lin (Olivia) Vice-president Chinese Scholars and Students Association

Student urges campus to take climate action Two years ago, a survey by the American Psychological Association found that 2 out of 3 adults in America experience climate anxiety. With lives as crazy as ours already are, it can be tempting to avoid the topic. But the real solution, one I can attest to from personal experience, is the opposite. The best antidote to climate anxiety is climate action. Feeling like a part of the solution and working alongside other like-minded people can shift the climate from something that brings feelings of dread and isolation into something that fuels love, connection, and empowerment. The science is clear, it is still possible to stop the worst effects

of the climate crisis. To do that, we need to cut emissions from fossil fuels. The thing that makes achieving this so May scary is the same thing that makes it great: There is no one solution to stop the climate crisis because it encompasses everything. That means I cannot give you a one-size-fits-all key to sustainability, but it also means that whoever you are, whatever your passions and talents are, there is a unique role that only you are best suited to play in bringing about a better

THE CAMPUS

here on campus. We have courses on ecology, stewardship. At the same time, we are offered courses that prepare us to become fossil fuel executives who reap sweet world-ending cash. Taking advantage of classes like Environmental Ethics, Global Ecological Challenges, or Environmental Science is a great way to learn more about sustainability and meet other people interested in making change. Since we are at a school that has achieved little in the way of sustainability, we may want to look to other schools for inspiration. Student activists have spent the last decade demanding universities divest their money from fossil

fuels. This makes sense– a university cannot pretend its mission is to prepare us for our futures if they are invested in destroying that future. Maybe we should bring that energy to OCU as well. Sustainability is not just about what we pressure the campus admin into doing. There is a lot to do if we want to stop the climate crisis, but by finding the unique ways we fit into the puzzle, we can do it in a way that simultaneously heals our planet and ourselves.

Nathan May Sunrise OCU coordinator

The Campus has served the Oklahoma City University community since 1907. It is published by the Student Publications staff online at MediaOCU.com, and printed monthly during the academic year.

January 12, 2022 • Volume 115, Issue 16 Editor-in-Chief: Blake Uhlig Managing Editor: Anna Schmidt News Editor: Ava Karas Sports Editor: Elizabeth Heffernan Arts Editor: Natalie Turner Life Editor: Anette Barrios-Torres Business Manager: Samuel Usaide

future. Community members have organized several times over the years for more sustainable practices on campus. This includes community building gardens, planting trees, and switching to more efficient lightbulbs. However, it is hard to keep the momentum going when the people propelling it graduate and leave. The Sunrise Movement OCU has been working to solve this by urging President Evans to establish an office of sustainability. It is a standardized institution at universities across the country. The university offers a variety of courses relating to the climate

Photographers: Annie Bragg Laura-Sofia Granados Staff Writers: William Peetoom

The Student Publications staff welcomes unsolicited material and letters 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 editor@okcu.edu or dropped off at the Newsroom in Suite 121 of the Walker Center for Arts and Sciences. Submitted items may appear on MediaOCU and in the print edition. 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.

January 12, 2022

arts FILM DEPARTMENT

Student Publications file photo

OCU In�ormation

Film seniors present their capstone pitches Nov. 19.

Seniors write, direct own capstone films

Newman: ‘Sink or swim moment’ involves process of ‘countless moving parts’ Elizabeth Heffernan

SPORTS EDITOR

Film students are being thrust into the waters this semester, as the completion of their capstones is a sort of “‘sink or swim’ moment” according to Connor Newman, BFA Film Production major. Film majors are expected to a full film, taking up the entirety of their senior year. The first semester is mainly dedicated to the writing and shooting process, while the second is dedicated to the editing process. “Each student writes and directs their own project. They lead their crew, work with actors, edit, and determine the logistical and creative aspects of the production,” film professor Billy Palumbo said. With projects of this caliber, Pa-

lumbo advises students that “persistence is key to the process.” Students are expected to apply what they’ve learned throughout their years in film classes. At the same time, the students are expected to apply artistic liberties. The process, according to Newman, has “countless moving parts,” the film student capstones are an outlet for students to express their own experiences, ideas, and creative outlooks. Film student Joshua Eliot says that he took his capstone as an opportunity to create a reflection of his philosophy. “I like to view my films as an outlet for me to try and make sense of the world, and as a gay Christian, I’ve struggled a lot with my belief in the church, so I wanted

to make this film to try and dissect those feelings.” Eliot did just that. His film is centered Eliot around a couple, Tommy and Dustin, who are conflicted about whether to baptize their child. Throughout this conflict, Joshua’s characters are challenged to overcome their ignorant bliss on how they view the church and their families. By using this year-long project to create an artistic representation of a combination of his own ideas and struggles, Joshua has been able to express himself and prepare for a career after college.

By simply completing this capstone project, Palumbo says that students are well equipped for the world outside of college. This is because students will be able to share their films with employers. Newman adds to this, saying that film student capstones allow students to become familiar with the filmmaking process, giving them the experience needed to step foot in the outside world. Creating a film capstone is something of a necessary challenge for film students, this vital “sink or swim” moment entails a few difficulties along the way. Eliot encountered a major bump in the road when it came to casting one of his characters. Eliot says he “put a lot of time and effort into casting a baby and

figuring out the logistics of how it was going to work,” only to have the baby come down with sickness right before the shooting was scheduled to start. This setback caused Eliot to scramble to find another baby fit for the role. His efforts proved successful, and the challenge that he had overcome better prepared him for the unforeseen obstacles that arise in the filmmaking world. This semester these students will be faced with a new challenge: choosing which footage to keep and which to cut. This process may cause some film students to feel as if they are being forced to choose their favorite child. However, it gives them a taste of the film industry they will be entering.

SCHOOL OF THEATRE

Theatre school adds new tracks, history Natalie Turner

STAFF WRITER

The OCU School of Theatre has two major changes coming to its curriculum. The changes include the introduction of new on-camera courses and a new focus on global history in the theatre history course. One of the changes is the addition of a second Bachelor of Fine Arts track. The two BFA tracks are Stage and Screen and On-Camera Acting. Stage and Screen is the new title for the current BFA Acting track, which trains students in musical theatre, classical Shakespearean acting, and on-camera acting. On-Camera is the new track, which includes seven semesters of screen work, with classes in commercials and voice-overs and 27 hours in the OCU film department with training in writing, directing, producing, and editing. The new tracks will begin in the Fall 2022 semester. Head of Performance Lance January 12, 2022

Marsh noted the growth in on-camera acting work, mainly as a result of the COVID-19 crisis. The second curriculum change is in the Theatre History course. The department is working on a variety of ways to include diversity and inclusion in the program. Some of the changes are expanding the theatre history classes to include theatre from around the world, rather than focusing on theatre that originated in the Western world. They will also provide topic courses on a wide range of theatre history, with topics rotating every semester. The main skills taught in these courses are the ability to engage in history and implement it in the art form. The School of Theatre will be presenting two main-stage productions in the Spring 2022 semester. “Marisol” will run from Feb. 3 to 6, and “School of Lies” will be running from March 31 to April 3. There will be four Stage II productions going up alongside them.

OCU In�ormation

Theatre artist-in-residence Tom McGowan works with students.

sports OCU ATHLETICS

‘This is our house!’

OCU Athletics Above, senior Abby Seltzer looks to score in a recent game for the Stars. The two-time All-American says it’s hard to stay motivated during the pandemic.

Student-athletes face pandemic delay, uncertainty Elizabeth Heffernan

SPORTS EDITOR

Facing rising numbers of COVID-19 cases, the OCU campus has moved almost all classes online. The university began the Spring 2022 semester on a moderate alert level. The university has taken steps to reduce the spread of COVID-19 on campus. The measures include social distancing, masking, cleaning, and limited activities. The athletics department is implementing COVID-19 testing for athletes.

OCU officials say that sports will continue as normal. However, the first two basketball games of the season have already been canceled. Jan. 1 was supposed to be the kickoff for the basketball season, but it was delayed after officials determined that rising COVID-19 numbers implied a health risk. Two-time all-American OCU basketball player Abigail Selzer says that the cancellation was mentally challenging “because the team was practicing well and felt prepared to start playing again.” She says that they were “hop-

ing that Covid-19 would stop last year so this year would be more normal.” But despite their hope, the start of this year mimics the start of 2020, since basketball games versus Wayland and Panhandle have already been canceled. OCU athletes are entering a rocky start of the year: They may be facing a canceled season. “When I was not able to compete, I maintained my motivation by reminding myself that I would be out on the field again. The lack of certainty about when was an issue but just the idea of being out

there playing again kept me m o t i v a t e d ,” OCU Soccer athlete Tommy McElyea said. Selzer says McElyea that “staying motivated during the pandemic was difficult just because it felt like we were practicing for no reason. “Right now, the team is all ready for this brief period of not competing to end so that they can get back to accomplishing their goals for the season.”

Although it has been difficult for athletes to remain motivated some have found positive aspects. Selzer says that she had a “new perspective on basketball since the pandemic. “The pandemic reminds me of how much I love the sport.” Mcelyea says that the pandemic has shown him that “it can all be taken away at any time so we must enjoy it while we can.” OCU’s shift to a moderate COVID-19 alert level has led some athletes to wonder if their sports will continue as normal this season or be canceled.

Student-athletes face pandemic delay, uncertainty YOU COVER THE STORIES WE COVER THE TUITION

about his career. He says that his decision to leave SPORTS EDITOR was “just a realization that I have other OCU will be searching for a new things to achieve while I DAN can.” HARRISON SCHOLARSHIPS FOR WINNERSon his 30 MEMORIAL athletic director. $2,000 On Dec. 21, 2021, Reflecting years in this SCHOLARSHIP IN FIVE CATE GORIES long-time director Jim Abbott officially field, Abbot said “Things haven’t CATEGORIES PHOTOGRAPHER retired. changed much over the years. Submit entries to the student categories for the 2021 Great Plains Journalism WRITER Awards. The Tulsa Press Club will give $2,000 Dan Harrison Memorial Abbott announced his retirement “We are still in the business of proEDITOR Scholarships for winners in five individual categories. DESIGNERto stuback in August. viding growth opportunities BROADCASTER New to the contest this year is the Student Magazine category! Be sure to After thirtycheck years in athletics andon thisdents.” greatplainawards.org for details addition to the competition as OVERALL the entry dates higher education administration, he approach.In his time with OCU, Abbott has CATEGORIES The contest is a greatanything” opportunity for students to be recognized their nationalNEWSPAPER says that he “wouldn’t change overseen 48 forteam championElizabeth Heffernan

efforts in our eight-state region: Oklahoma, Arkansas, Kansas, Missouri, North Dakota, South Dakota, Nebraska and Iowa. In addition, your entries will be reviewed by nationally recognized journalists.

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