Nov 8 by MediaOCU

THE CAMPUS November 8, 2017 – Volume 111 Issue 10

FIRST-TIME WINNERS

Kappa Sigma wins Homecoming

fraternity won Homecoming sweepstakes this weekend for the first time in six years. The last time a fraternity won Homecoming was in 2011 when Lambda Chi Alpha took home the trophy, according to Student Publications archives. The men of Kappa Sigma won the 2017 Homecoming Sweepstakes. President Colton Kastrup, music theater senior, said he’s excited for the win, which he thinks may be the first in chapter history. “The current undergraduate brothers are ecstatic to finally have all their hard work pay off,” he said. “The competition was incredible this year, so it’s a huge honor to take home the trophy. I am so proud of my brothers.” Kappa Sigma got the Homecoming Cup at the awards ceremony after the men’s basketball game Saturday in Abe Lemons Arena in Henry J. Freede Wellness and Activity Center. The Stars defeated Southwestern Oklahoma State University, 84-82. Kappa Sigma placed first in Structure and Lip Sync and third in Window and Banner, awarding them the Sweepstakes prize. Their individual theme was The Sandlot, based off of the movie by the same name, so each of their entries was related to baseball. Their royalty candidate, Matthew Sparks, dance senior, also was crowned Homecoming king. “I am proud to represent Kappa Sigma because I have never met a more diverse, compassionate or studious group of young gentlemen,” Sparks said. “To be chosen as their nominee is a true honor, and I am humbled by their unending support.” This year’s Homecoming theme was “Then, Now and Forever.” Seven organizations competed in the festivities, choosing their own themes within the official theme. Competition categories were Lip Sync, Structure, Banner, and Window. All Greek organizations participated in each competition, except FIJI because their budget didn’t allow for it. Black Student Association participated in the Window category.

Hannah Rogers Student Publications Taylor Blackman, acting senior; Cole Cloutier, music theater junior, and Colton Kastrup, music theater senior, embrace the Homecoming Cup after being named Sweepstakes winners after the men’s basketball game Saturday in Henry J. Freede Wellness and Activity Center. The fraternity placed first in the Lip Sync and Structure competitions and third in the Banner and Window competitions. This is the first time in six years that a fraternity won Homecoming. Left: Gamma Phi Beta’s Sydney Blosch and Kappa Sigma’s Matthew Sparks are named Homecoming Royalty after the men’s basketball game Nov. 4 in Henry J. Freede Wellness and Activity Center. Gamma Phi Beta placed second in Lip Sync and first in the Banner competition.

Gamma Phi Beta placed first in Banner and second in Lip Sync, inspired by their theme of The Lion King. Their candidate, Sydney Blosch, music theater senior, won the Homecoming queen crown. “I wanted to represent Gamma Phi Beta because these women have helped me become the woman I am today,” Blosch said. “These women are my home away from home, my shoulders to cry on and my biggest cheerleaders. I have also gained a greater knowledge of who I am as a woman in the world today, and I am forever grateful for Gamma Phi Beta for teaching me that.” Alpha Phi placed first in Window and won the People’s Choice Award for Lip Sync. The spirit award went to Alpha Chi Omega for the sixth consecutive year. Alpha Chi Omega’s Emily Fruendt, acting freshman, said she’s proud of the sorority’s accomplishment. “This house shows relentless love and appreciation for this campus, and I couldn’t be happier with the work we put into Homecoming 2017,” she said. Sam Jones, dance pedagogy senior and Homecoming chair of Alpha Chi Omega, said she’s found the experience rewarding.

“I am so glad the spirit trophy is back at its rightful home at Alpha Chi Omega,” Jones said. Cole Cloutier, music theater junior, was the Homecoming chair for Kappa Sigma. He said his brothers put in a lot of work this year and are excited about the results. “I feel like we’ve done our part and tried our hardest, pulling through even further than last year,” Cloutier said. “I’m really happy with the outcome and proud of what myself and my brothers have put into Homecoming this year. Now we get to sleep.” Kappa Sigma’s Johnny Richards, film junior, said he noticed the plaques of winners on the Homecoming Cup. “K-Sig’s name is not on that,” Richards said. “It goes from 2007 to 2017. Our name will be on it now.” By Associate Editor Sage Tokach Contributing: News Editor Zoe Travers

The Market at Alvin’s to expand, offer more options Chandler White

COPY EDITOR

The Market at Alvin’s will expand later this month to a full market with additional space and new food options, officials said. Chartwells replaced Sodexo as the university’s food service provider in July. Officials announced in April that they planned to replace Alvin’s Café with a Chick-fil-A, based on a dining survey asking students their opinions on potential food providers. The current market is temporary, and the entire space eventually will include a full market and a Chick-fil-A. The full market will be

finished this month, said Lori Walker, director of auxiliary services. Construction was delayed because of permit issues, but it is underway now, Walker said. The exact date Chick-fil-A will open still is unknown, although Walker previously said it would be this semester. Barista Tori Anderson said the full market will include: - hot food options, - more to-go options, - twice as many fridges and freezers, and - smoothies and protein drinks. Walker said she looks forward to offering healthy options. “The type of students we

have on campus are very healthconscious, and there’s going to be more options available for them in the market than we’ve ever had before,” Walker said. Before Chartwells became the new food provider, Alvin’s Café served a variety of hot food options. The full market is planned to have hot food options, but not as many as before. The food options offered partially depend on the feedback employees receive, Anderson said. “We’re going to be asking people to let us know what they would like to have,” she said. “People are telling me the ‘Eclectic Henry’ is delicious, and I’m like, ‘alright, if you give

me the ingredients, I’ll tell my boss.’ I can make a sandwich. A sandwich is easy.” The “Eclectic Henry” was a sandwich served last year in Alvin’s Café. Named after President Robert Henry, the sandwich consisted of turkey, bacon, ham, lettuce, tomato, Swiss cheese, and pesto mayo. Anderson said she’s most excited for the additional space to work. She said the temporary market is “a little cramped.” “There’s at least four people working a shift at a time,” Anderson said. “I’d rather be in a bigger space.” Barista Carlos Sanchez, English junior, said he hopes hot food options will return, despite the difficulties it may cause.

“That’ll make my job a bit harder if I have to do both barista and food, but I really miss being able to eat here,” he said. Erik Hamilton, acting sophomore, said he hopes hot food returns along with a bigger variety for students. “I hope there’s an expansive menu with a lot of options for people because they had that last year,” Hamilton said. Hamilton also said he wants the original late hours of Alvin’s to return. The current hours are: - 7:30 a.m. to 11 p.m. Monday-Thursday, - 7:30 a.m. to 8 p.m. Friday, - 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday, and

Talk Back “What kind of food would you like to see at the completed Market at Alvin’s?”

- 5-11 p.m. Sunday. “I really hope they extend their hours again. I know they cut it back because they didn’t want to put unnecessary stress on the employees, but we’re students. We need jobs. People here could work at Alvin’s,” Hamilton said. “It’s such a safe haven for after rehearsals are done, especially rehearsals that end at midnight. It can be tough when you have to skip out on dinner or only go for a few seconds.”

Continued on Page 2

“I would love to see some Vietnamese food.”

“Bring back the Eclectic Henry.”

“Caviar food and T-bone steaks”

“Definitely more gluten-free options”

Anh-Mai Kearney music theater/vocal performance freshman

Bethany Marie Stanley religious education sophomore

Devaunjue Williams religion sophomore

Zoe Settle acting senior

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opinion Prepare for independence by tracking finances now Enrollment for the Spring 2018 semester began Oct. 31 for general students and Oct. 30 for honors students. It will continue until a week into next semester, but some students said they had trouble registering for classes last week because of holds on their accounts. Some of the problems resulted from charges issued on the first day of the month, but others could have been avoided with closer attention to students’ accounts. During this transition period between parental support and complete independence, students must learn how to handle their own finances. Successful financial management begins with awareness. Check your monthly balance and keep track of how much you spend. When a student’s university account balance changes, officials notify them via email. The email does not specify details, so students always should click on the link to their account and make sure the change is correct. The sooner you find a mistake, the easier it will be to fix.

Sometimes late scholarships cause issues with student payments and account holds. If you know a scholarship might arrive late, contact financial aid officials with the specific details of your situation. They may be willing to lift your account hold while they wait for the scholarship to post. Most students will be on their own financially after college. Parents who help now are great, but students also should know how to handle their own money. Even if you aren’t making huge expenditures right now, create a weekly or monthly budget. Calculate how much money you want to spend on food, gas, clothing, entertainment, etc., and try to stick to your plan. Budgeting does not necessarily mean spending less money. If you want to spend $400 on underwear in one month, that’s fine, as long as you plan for it. Free apps like Mint and Level Money can help make budgeting easy and accessible. If you make income from a job, you also must file taxes at the end of the year, either independently or with your parents. If you file under your parents,

On Tuesday night, Oct. 31, the Student Senate heard Resolution 001. The first resolution to come out of the Student Services Committee headed by, myself, Pierce Gordon Political Science/ Philosophy Senior. The resolution was authored by our three members at the time: Jordan Tarter English Pre-Law, Kyle Hoyle Business and myself. The resolution was in response to the events of September 29, 2017 and the greater events of racial insecurity on our campus. On that late September night, Flute Performance Major, Broderick McQuarters was awakened at two in the morning and questioned for committing a crime he didn’t commit. The reason that Mr. McQuarters said for the early morning questioning was because of the color of his skin. However, Mr. McQuarters is not the only point of Resolution 001. This resolution answers a greater problem race relations at

Talk Back (continued from Page 1)

“What kind of food would you like to see at the full Market at Alvin's?”

observe their process. Independent students can file taxes via free online services like TurboTax or TaxSlayer. For tax purposes, keep track of your paychecks and the exact amount you make. When you make purchases, scan or take pictures of all your receipts and store them in an organized file. You can write off many of your expenses, depending on your occupation. The Internal Revenue Service has not offered a specific list, but a GO BankingRates article lists 50 potential personal tax deductions at gobankingrates. com/taxes/49-special-tax-deductions-dont/. Managing personal finances by yourself can be intimidating, but it’s a necessary part of life and will become easier if you start now. Ask your parents for advice and observe how they handle money. For online help, visit Forbes business magazine at forbesplanning.com or the website of Dave Ramsey, businessman and money expert, daveramsey.com.

“The smoothies were my staple.”

“Baked ziti”

Danielle Towle dance universal sophomore

Nehemiah Soap accounting sophomore

“I would like more whole foods, like burritos.”

“Quesadillas and paninis”

Aminat Olowara human performance senior

Logan Gwinn youth ministry freshman

“Grilled chicken sandwiches”

“Breakfast burritos”

Peri'Don Castille business marketing sophomore

Eric Capelle vocal performance senior

“Breakfast bagels and breakfast sandwiches”

“Thanksgiving food”

Hannah Malinowski dance universal sophomore

Cass King music theater freshman

Oklahoma City University. Only two weeks prior to Mr. McQuarters incident, on September 14 the Black Student Association had their posters torn down. They erected new ones, proclaiming they would not be silenced. Then—unfortunately—those were torn down as well. These events were addressed by President Henry; however, dialogue about race relations was never continued. When the Black Student Associations posters were torn down, someone should have noticed and they should have said something. However, no one did. Instead, student allowed for this to go on. Ultimately, injustice happens when someone sees something and says nothing. These two events represent a single commanding idea: Oklahoma City University is not a safe place for people of color to be free from discrimination. During Tuesday night’s Senate Meeting the resolution 001 came to the floor. It resolved that what had happened to Broderick and the Black Student Association was unacceptable, and that as Student Government we condemn those actions. To my surprise the resolution did not pass. Instead, it was tabled for the November 14 Student Senate meeting. Two main problems were expressed by the Senator’s at the meeting: it didn’t do enough, and what happened

to Mr. McQuarters wasn’t a problem. The Senators who believed that resolution 001 doesn’t go far enough and the other students reading this article, I remind you that the Student Services committee is unable to allocate funds. Instead, we are meant to set a course; similar to a ship’s rudder. Setting a course is what this resolution does. The resolution sets a course for the Student Government to fight discrimination, and to fight for what is right. I challenge the Senators reading this to vote for the resolution, because it’s a step in the right direction. Furthermore, I challenge the students who support this to go to their Senators. Challenge your Senator to represent your support of resolution 001 and vote yes on November 14. In contrast, if you do not think that the topic in resolution 001 needs to be addressed, please consider abstaining rather than voting against the resolution. This resolution may not affect you, but many are affect by it. They wish to represent something very important to them, and I see no reason to take their cause away. Finally, reader, I challenge you to do what’s right, and to speak up for the injustices that have been done against these members of our OKCU community. Be the change you want to see in our world. Senator Pierce Gordon

Big Mouth outshines Stranger Things in Netflix genre The best show available on Netflix about a rag tag group of children going through a difficult time is not Stranger Things. This honor should only be given to Big Mouth, Netflix’s newest animated comedy. Created by Nick Kroll and Andre w Goldberg, the show follows the characters “Nick” (Kroll) and “Andrew” (John Mulaney) as the boys face the challenges of puberty and middle school in the suburbs of New York.

Each 30-minute episode follows Nick, Andrew and a few of their friends through embarrassing moments, confusing bodily changes and the occasional musical number. The show should probably come with a disclaimer warning viewers that the jokes are at times unprecedentedly shocking and the depictions of bodily functions are not for the faint of heart. For some, the graphic images and descriptions will only momentarily entertain before forcing the viewer to

as he acts out in horrifying moments of misconduct, all while breaking your heart with his sincere need for parental affection. The other characters on the show are less charming, but unique in the their own ways. Some of these characters include “the Hormone Monster,” “the Hormone Monstress,” “the Ghost of Duke Ellington,” “Freddie Mercury,” “Socrates,” a pillow, “Nathan Fillion,” and “Antonin Scalia.” For those in the mood for

boundary-pushing humor, children making non-child friendly jokes and perfectly timed fourth wall breaks, I suggest starting Big Mouth as soon as possible. Try not to be deterred by the shows quirky animation style, the heart of the storylines prevails over any disturbing facial features. Watch with friends and revel in the all-too-familiar horror of middle school tribulations. By the second episode you will be quoting the Hormone Monster.

TheatreOCU's Stage II presents Fefu and Her Friends at 8 p.m. in the Black Box Theater in Wanda L. Bass Music Center.

TheatreOCU's Stage II presents Fefu and Her Friends at 2 p.m. in the Black Box Theater in the Wanda L. Bass Music Center.

Irwin's joint junior recital from 8-9 p.m. in the Small Rehearsal Hall in Wanda L. Bass Music Center

Out of the Box presents The Submission at 10:30 p.m. in Room 405 in Clara E. Jones Administration Building

Abby McBroom's senior recital at 8 p.m. in the Small Rehearsal Hall in Wanda L. Bass Music Center

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

Mary McLain is a film production junior from Baton Rouge, Louisiana, who loves sandwiches and social media.

revisit the reality of adolescence in a painfully honest avalanche. The show’s young characters are realistically nuanced and rarely fall into any one middle school stereotype. This is due to the sharp,

honest writing and genius voice actors who feed their teenage characters with hints of adult retrospect. One of these charming characters, “Jay,” voiced by Jason Mantzoukas, is the epitome of unpredictable

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

THURSDAY Chapel service from 1-2 p.m. in Bishop W. Angie Smith Chapel Business graduate open house from 5:30-7 p.m. in Meinders School of Business TheatreOCU's Stage II presents Fefu and Her Friends at 8 p.m. in the Black Box Theater in Wanda L. Bass Music Center Play Club at 10:30 p.m. in the honor's lounge in the Gold Star

Memorial Building

L. Bass Music Center

FRIDAY Dr. William Christensen's voice studio recital at 8 p.m. in Petree Recital Hall in Kirkpatrick Fine Arts Center

A Slice of Science Life: The OKCU Equation at 9:30 p.m. in Sarkey's Science and Math Center

Project 21 concert at 8 p.m. in the Medium Rehearsal Hall in Wanda L. Bass Music Center TheatreOCU's Stage II presents Fefu and Her Friends at 8 p.m. in the Black Box Theater in Wanda

Out of the Box presents The Submission at 10:30 p.m. in Room 405 in Clara E. Jones Administration Building SATURDAY Orchestra concert at 8 p.m. in Petree Recital Hall in Kirkpatrick Fine Arts Center

SUNDAY Give Back OKC's public donation drive from 1-4 p.m. at Classen Coffee Company, 2515 N. Classen Blvd.

November 8, 2017, Volume 111, Number 10

Staff Writers: McAlyn Forbes, Emily Wollenberg, Sophia Babb, Grace Babb, Rodney Smith Photographers: Maridith Grimsley, Hannah Rogers Columnist: Caroline Hawthorne, Harrison Langford Film Critic: Mary McLain

Rachel Weisbar t and Patty

TUESDAY Future Lawyer's Day: Examine with OKCU from 9:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. in Sarkey's Science and Math Center

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

THE CAMPUS Editor-in-chief: Miguel Rios Associate Editor: Sage Tokach Copy Editor: Chandler White News Editor: Zoe Travers Photo Editor: Elina Moon Community Manager: Lauren Berlingeri Web Editor: Nicole Waltman

Distinguished Artist Series presents: Sergio Monteiro at 3 p.m. in Petree Recital Hall in Kirkpatrick Fine Arts Center

The Student Publications staff welcomes unsolicited material and let-

Videographer: Emily Haan Ad/Marketing Director: Madison Clark Circulation Director: Brianna Demuth 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.

November 8, 2017

news

Elina Moon Student Publications

Having an affair

Brandon Doyle, acting senior who plays “Harcourt,” kisses the hand of Lauren Mylin, acting senior, in front of Brandon Elder, acting senior, in TheatreOCU’s Stage II production of The Country Wife. The show is a restoration comedy about a man who fakes impotence to trick married men into trusting him enough to leave him alone with their wives. Right: Danielle Pike, acting junior, leaps into the arms of Alexander Beys, acting junior. The Country Wife had performances at 8 p.m. Nov. 2-4 and 2 p.m. Nov. 5 in Black Box Theater in the Wanda L. Bass Music Center. The next Stage II show is Fefu and Her Friends at 8 p.m. Thursday through Friday and 2 p.m. Sunday.

SGA to vote on resolution addressing prejudice on campus Miguel Rios

EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

Some student senators want the Student Government Association to take a stance against prejudice. Sen. Pierce Gordon (social sciences) proposed Resolution 001, which was co-authored by himself, Sen. Jordan Tarter (humanities) and Sen. Kyle Hoyle (business). The resolution was presented at the Oct. 31 Senate meeting. It addresses torn Black Student Association posters and campus police’s 2 a.m. questioning of Broderick McQuarters, flute performance sophomore, after which the student accused police of racial profiling. “It is asking students here to be on the lookout for prejudice, to hold each other accountable and to treat each other with the respect you would want to be treated with,” Tarter said. “The biggest problem is admitting that racism is a problem on campus, no matter how small. I feel like we do have a very accepting campus, However, there are issues.” Senators discussed the resolution section by section with some amendments to the wording of certain parts. Senators tabled the resolution once the meeting hit the one-hour limit. It will be the

first item on the agenda at the next meeting at 7:30 p.m. Nov. 14 in the Great Hall in Tom and Brenda McDaniel University Center. SGA President Randy Gipson-Black said he’s happy student senators proposed the resolution because it is more impactful than if it came from his office. “It’s good because then I’ll have a chance to sign it, and it’ll be written in a way that reflects the consensus of the student body,” Gipson-Black said. “I feel it’s SGA’s prerogative, and it’s also our duty, to promote the most inclusive environment that we can for each student because we do live in a unique and thriving community.” The resolution is the first to come out of the Student Services Committee, which ensures administrative policies on academia, the campus environment, public safety, and campus aesthetics are in the best interest of the student body, according to the constitution. Gordon said a main point of contention was that the resolution lacked action. He said resolutions cannot spend money, making it hard to have action. “This bill does lack a spending area, unfortunately. Constitutionally, we are unable to do that,” he said. “But this is setting a path that this is a first step.” Gipson-Black said he’s never personally seen racial prejudice on

“

campus, but he hopes to better understand the issue. “Maybe that’s because I haven’t talked to enough people, maybe that’s because I don’t go to the BSA meetings,” he said. “That’s something I hope to gain perspective on.” Tarter said the resolution will show minority students that SGA supports them. “I believe there are a lot of students on this Senate that this would not affect. I think, if you’re considering saying ‘no,’ consider the reasons you’re saying ‘no.’ Because resolutions do not cost any money. It is just a statement,” she said. Gipson-Black said he encourages students to not act out of hate, malice, fear, or any divisive behavior. “Greet your neighbors with open hearts, open minds and open arms,” he said. “Don’t let divisiveness come into the conversation because it doesn’t construct proper discourse to explore possible solutions to help us grow as a community.”

Religious misunderstanding prompts more communication Zoe Travers

NEWS EDITOR

Religion faculty are further emphasizing interfaith dialogue after a miscommunication at a local synagogue. A student attended a Yom Kippur worship service Sept. 30 at Emanuel Synagogue, 900 N.W. 47th St., as part of the service learning requirement for his world religions class. He attended with two other students. The student was not aware of Jewish faith customs, and, when asked to pray, he remained sitting, as opposed to standing. Rabbi Abby Jacobson said a member of the synagogue was offended and told a bishop. The member was further offended when the student took off his head covering, which Jacobson said was taken

November 8, 2017

as an act of disrespect. Jacobson said the student’s Middle Eastern heritage also was referenced. “This is horrifying and deeply embarrassing,” she said. “We are a community that strives, above all, to be part of the interfaith community.” The student was contacted after the service by a police officer who was working security since it was Yom Kippur. Jacobson contacted the student and apologized. She also met with professors in the Wimberly School of Religion to discuss how to better inform students about being respectful in religious services. “It was an ironic thing to have happen on our day of atonement when we’re supposed to be apologizing for the things that we’ve done wrong,” Jacobson said. She said the miscommunication also stemmed from the

They were very embarrassed with the circumstances and the situation has been resolved.

Imam Dr. Imad Enchassi professor Islamic studies

fact that more attendants were present for Yom Kippur. Students were encouraged to attend service on a different date. “I wouldn’t have wished a Yom Kippur service on any student,” Jacobson said. “It’s five hours long and it’s extra formal.” Jacobson said she is working with religious leaders to provide clear expectations and a detailed calendar for the university, including special services. Jacobson said she wants students to learn more about

how to be respectful with body language and how to contact churches about being accommodating. “One of the complicated parts of our relationship with OCU is that students have a deadline and often get information from each other, rather than getting information from us directly,” Jacobson said. Emanuel Synagogue has accepted OCU’s service learning students for five years. Jacobson said she hopes they can improve interfaith dialogue

and counter Islamophobia. Imam Dr. Imad Enchassi, professor of Islamic studies, said he discussed the situation with Jacobson, who’s a close friend. “They were very embarrassed with the circumstances and the situation has been resolved,” Enchassi said. He said OCU officials focus on interfaith dialogue and will continue to emphasize it. The university has an interfaith prayer room in the west wing of Kramer School of Nursing and offers an interfaith minor. Fundraising is ongoing to turn Smith Hall into an interfaith dorm. Joe Bonfiglio, acting sophomore, is enrolled in Enchassi’s class. He said the course has properly prepared him to visit places of worship, but more information may be useful. “I would like to know what to expect, so I wish he would

go further into detail, but I honestly think he did give us a good baseline,” he said. Dr. Sharon Betsworth, director of the Wimberly School of Religion, said she encourages her service learning students to explore a religion they’re not as familiar with. Betsworth also said the situation was well-handled with no harsh feelings because of Enchassi’s friendship with Jacobson. “There wasn’t anger flaring on our side, and there wasn’t anger flaring at the synagogue,” she said. Betsworth said the situation caused the religion faculty to think of new ways to approach the class to lessen the possibility of miscommunications.

“ BLUE

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SGA officials plan three-step environmental initiative Miguel Rios

EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

ethodist Hall residents soon will be able to sign up for recycling bins. Young Democrats bought 180 recycling bins in September, which will be distributed during Thanksgiving Break to dorm rooms who opt-in. “We’re going to send out an email, probably within the next two weeks, and then it’s up to them to sign up. It’s on a first-comefirst-served basis,” said Randy Gipson-Black, Student Government Association president. Gipson-Black adopted the recycling initiative as one of his presidential goals shortly after being named president-elect. The recycling bins are part of a pilot program, which might be expanded into other dorms in the future. Each dorm room can only have one recycling bin, which will be treated as furniture, meaning students will be charged if it’s taken or misplaced. Gipson-Black said informational material on how to use the bins will be distributed soon via email, fliers, posters, and a video. The program will start by recycling only paper and cardboard, Gipson-Black said. A federal work study position was created specifically to handle the recycling bins. That person will take out the bins once a week. The recycling bins originally were part of a bill drafted by Alumnus Ken Williams through the Repurposing Club. The bill passed in the Student Senate last spring semester, but was vetoed by the former SGA president because he didn’t think it was well thought-out. “It’s super important that he vetoed it. It reduced the cost. It helped us make it more efficient. It helped us get a federal work study. It helped us get the whole logistical side of it figured out, so thank God for that,” Gipson-Black said. The bill was rewritten and passed with a smaller number of bins, and the money was placed in the Repurposing Club’s

We're going to have to transition the next administration on this as well to get them to understand the importance of continuing and being a steward to this kind of program. Randy Gipson-Black SGA president

OrgSync account. Williams was the president of the club, but graduated before the money was used, so there was no way for the organization to withdraw the money. SGA officials decided to let Young Democrats purchase the bins since the two groups co-authored the bill. “We’re in it for the long run now because it’s an actual pilot program,” Gipson-Black said. “We’re going to have to transition the next administration on this as well to get them to understand the importance of continuing and being a steward to this kind of program.” At the end of spring, a survey will be sent to those who had a recycling bin to gauge their usage. SGA officials want to see if students actually use the bins often and to assess its impact. After that, they may decide to extend the program to other dorms on campus. The recycling bins are part of Gipson-Black’s Blue Initiative, a three-part plan to reduce waste and make campus more environmentally friendly. He said the three parts don’t just stand on their own but complement each other. “The big thing to get started was the recycling bins. We’re like ‘well, we have this going for us, but we can always do more, we can always improve, we can always do better at recycling,’” Gipson-Black said. The second part of the plan is buying more water bottle filler

attachments for the water fountains. “We’re going to try to overhaul that program and make sure each academic building and each residence hall has at least one on each floor,” Gipson-Black said. “But that might involve also buying new water fountains, which is not a problem at all.” The price of a water bottle filler attachment is $700-$800, but facilities can get them for about $500, Gipson-Black said. “The idea is to reduce the amount of bottled water students purchase, especially from the university, which would drive down the need for plastic recycling,” Gipson-Black said. The third part of the plan is a water bottle campaign pilot program to further reduce the amount of plastic recycling. “We’re going to go by the numbers of the vending machines that currently produce the least amount of revenue for bottled water and take it out of those places,” Gipson-Black said. “We’re going to try to leave at least one option available, but the idea is that students will go from buying bottled water to using the water bottle fillers.” Gipson-Black said he wants to start announcing the three-part plan late this month or in early December. “We’re almost done getting all that stuff in order to actually start saying ‘hey this is how we can do this, so let’s do it.’ Next semester is likely when we’ll roll this stuff out,” he said. Laura Jardine, biology senior, said she hopes students appreciate the convenience of recycling and using reusable bottles once everything goes into effect. “I’m so glad SGA is prioritizing minimizing OCU’s carbon footprint,” Jardine said. “If students want to begin to mitigate our changing climate, the best things we can do are to make every effort to go green on an individual level and support policies and politicians that look out for the environment.”

Students work to create campus composting efforts Emily Haan

VIDEOGRAPHER

Students are able to compost on campus. When Hallie Schmidt, vocal performance sophomore, first came to OCU from Washington, the absence of a composting program shocked her. So she started her own. “I grew up composting,” Schmidt said. “Washington, as a whole, is very focused on the environment.” The program began when Schmidt contacted biology professors Dr. Adam Ryburn and Dr. Anthony Stancampiano. A bin was set up in the community garden behind Oklahoma Children’s Theater with hopes of adding more in the future. Past efforts to increase ecofriendliness on campus have happened through different programs like the newly-pur-

Visit MediaOCU.com to watch a video on the composting efforts.

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chased recycling bins that will go in Methodist Hall during Thanksgiving Break. Schmidt said the lack of success in other programs was concerning. “We are trying to create a work study position through the biology department,” she said. Maintenance of the compost bins includes turning the compost and adding it back into the garden. S c h m i d t a n d Mc A l y n Forbes, acting junior, are speaking with dining services about a potential partnership. Tessa Neeno, music freshman, said wasting food is irresponsible. “It’s disheartening to see food waste,” she said. One of the biggest challenges

is generating interest, Schmidt said. Because the campus community is so busy, it can be difficult for students to find time to participate, she said. Nadjalie Santos, vocal performance freshman, said she would support the program even if she couldn’t participate. “If I personally couldn’t partake in actually helping it, I would support it from a distance,” Santos said. For more information or to get involved, email Schmidt at hschmidt@my.okcu.edu. Editor’s note: McAlyn Forbes is a staff writer for Student Publications. She did not participate in writing or editing this story.

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Hannah Rogers Student Publications

Isn't it rosy? The cast of Company performs “Side by Side.” The production reimagined the protagonist “Bobby” as a photographer who takes photos throughout the show. The show ran Nov. 3-5 in Burg Theatre in Kirkpatrick Fine Arts Center. It was the last musical of the semester. The next musical will be On the Town with performances April 20-22.

Housing officials change procedure to become an RA Zoe Travers

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Housing officials are trying a new approach to recruiting resident assistants. RAs supervise residents of dorms, conduct room checks and act as a liaison between students and housing staff. Students can attend workshops to learn more about what it means to be an RA. If they decide they want the job, they can go through the interview process and attend a training program before accepting. “It may not work, but I’m hopeful it will,” said Michael Burns, director of housing and residence life. In years past, students were required to attend an eight-week, two-credit-hour class to learn about the job and sociology. Attending events leading up to the application is optional. Burns said students who don’t want to attend a session can talk to their RAs about the job or meet with housing officials. Students also may apply outright if they think they have enough information. “For some students, they can’t fit it in their schedule and we didn’t want that to be a barrier,” Burns said. There are three upcoming events students can attend to learn more about the job. There will be a “coffee with the housing staff” event at 9 a.m. Nov. 16 in Cokesbury Court Clubhouse. RAs will host a Q&A session with interested applicants at 2 p.m. today in Walker Hall and a Q&A session at 2 p.m. Nov. 21 in Banning Hall lobby. Burns said he predicts the sessions in Walker and Banning halls will attract a lot of new students. The housing staff is stepping out of the room to let students talk about what it’s like, Burns said. He also said he hopes the new process November 8, 2017

There are high expectations, but it's easy to meet those expectations because our bosses are great. It's a hard job, but it's a rewarding job. Jenna Mazzoccoli music theater/mass communications senior

makes housing officials more available to interested students. “In the past, the class has just been there and people who know about it sign up,” he said. “We wanted to do more events where students can ask questions.” Methodist Hall RA Daniel Etti-Williams, acting junior, said he wishes this new process was in place when he was going through the application process. “It sucks that the RAs now wasted that credit hour, but it’s also like we’re more prepared,” Etti-Williams said. Etti-Williams said he encourages interested applicants to attend the sessions, ask questions, talk to the housing staff, and reach out to an RA. “A lot of the RAs are people you see every day. They’re chill guys and girls,” he said. “Ask them what their experience was like. If that’s what you want to do, go for it.” Cokesbury RA Jenna Mazzoccoli, music theater/mass communications senior, said she liked the session she attended. “I think you get more interaction with the current housing depart-

ment and the current RAs than you did last year or years previous with the class,” she said. Mazzoccoli said she was glad to see the class phased out, even though she enjoyed it. “I think a lot of people are glad they don’t have to take the class because OCU students are so busy,” she said. Mazzoccoli said she advises interested applicants to consider the amount of responsibility of being an RA and to be genuine during the interview process. She also said she enjoys her job and encourages students to apply. “There are high expectations, but it’s easy to meet those expectations because our bosses are great,” Mazzoccoli said. “It’s a hard job, but it’s a rewarding job.” Cokesbury RA Brandon Elder, acting senior, said he enjoys the new process because it saves students time and money. He also said students should focus on getting to know the housing staff without being nervous. “Just relax,” he said. “Don’t stress about it.” Stephany George, Walker Hall Director, said current RAs often reapply, but they are not guaranteed a spot. Generally, there are six RAs in Walker Hall, eight in United Methodist Hall, five in Banning, Harris, and Draper Hall, and ten in Cokesbury Court Apartments. The RA application will be sent out Nov. 27 through OrgSync and must be completed by Jan. 26. Selected students will go through the training during the spring semester.