Oct. 9 by MediaOCU

THE CAMPUS October 9, 2019 – Volume 113 Issue 7

page 2

Opinion

page 3

News

page 4 News

Compliment someone today

Level up

Going Viral

The Compliments OCU Facebook page creator wrote a letter to the editor

The OCU esports club is officially competing in Overwatch, Rocket League and

A video by the Ann Lacy School of American Dance and Entertainment has

about spreading kindness and stomping out hate.

Super Smash Bros. Ultimate tournaments for cash prizes.

gone viral on YouTube.

Interim police chief takes leave of absence

Former officer speaks out about ‘inappropriate sexual comments’ Emily Wollenberg

EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

Interim Chief Mark LaHue is on an approved leave of absence according to Leslie Berger, senior director of university communications. The absence follows allegations made by a campus police officer against LaHue accusing him of making homophobic and sexually inappropriate comments. Student Publications first reported the inappropriate statements by LaHue in the Oct. 2 issue of The Campus. The officer filed a formal discrimination complaint with Human Resources on Sept. 26 against LaHue, said Steven Vincent, former campus police officer. Vincent said the officer, who identifies as openly gay, told him he was in the campus police department a few weeks ago when LaHue made an inappropriate sexual comment to him. See mediaocu.com for more on the allegations. Berger could not confirm if LaHue’s leave of absence is in connection with the allegations against him. LaHue was named interim police chief Sept. 14 after former campus police chief Rusty Pyle and Lieutenant Michael Kavenius resigned Sept. 11. See mediaocu.com for more on the resignations. Campus police officer Becca Ford is currently serving as the on-call supervisor, Berger said. Vance Klassen, music theater junior, said it is becoming exhausting to keep up with all the issues in OCUPD. “I guess I just don’t understand why people in positions of power can’t take that responsibility with professionalism and common human decency,” Klassen said. Klassen said he is frustrated by the disparity between the mission of campus police and a few people’s actions.

Sou�ce: okcu.edu Interim Police Chief Mark LaHue has taken an approved leave of absence after being named interim chief on Sept. 14. LaHue is facing allegations of making inappropriate sexual and homophobic comments to campus police officers.

“It’s extremely disappointing that those who set out to protect and serve the students and faculty of OCU are the same ones that continue to act inappropriately to others,” he said.

Campus police needs to change for the future, Klassen said. “I would love to see OCUPD restructure the staff in order to eliminate the politics behind decision making and recenter the focus on serving the community and not act out of self-interest,” he said. Sierra Paul, theatre and performance/education senior, said she is frustrated by some of the people university officials have chosen to hire in campus police. “As a third generation OCU legacy, it disheartens me that our standards have sunk so low,” Paul said. “I grew up hearing about OCU as a place that was diverse and safe, and now I hesitate to say so, to put it simply.” Campus police should represent the students they protect, Paul said. “I think we should completely start over and have the rehiring people be the members of the diversity committee and multicultural student organizations.” Vincent sent a statement to Student Publications addressing LaHue’s absence and the future of campus police. “I appreciate the university taking quick and decisive action against Acting Chief LaHue in the face of multiple allegations of grossly inappropriate sexual comments and blatantly homophobic statements attributed to him by several witnesses. My fear is that university administration officials will use recent controversial acts committed by police supervisors as an excuse to eliminate the police department entirely. My hope is that President Burger will hire someone who can restore trust and faith in the OCU Police Department, someone who will build bridges to university communities and individuals who have been discriminated against, made to feel unwelcome or diminished by the antiquated bigotry of those who are sworn to protect and serve.”

Student Publications to continue printing operations Emily Wollenberg

EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

Student Publications will continue printing the student newspaper after administrators considered eliminating it earlier this year. See mediaocu.com for more on the newspaper. The Campus newspaper has published at OCU since 1907. Dr. Amy Cataldi, dean of the Petree College of Arts and Sciences, said at the time the possibility of cutting the newspaper came from looking at other universities and comparing programs. Beth Adele, director of mass communications, said when she started working at OCU, she found the Student Publications budget had not changed since the previous year. Adele said she has been in communication with Ben Felder, Student Publications advisor, Cataldi and Dr. Helen Gaudin, associate dean of the Petree College of Arts and Sciences, about the future of Student Publications. “Everyone feels that it is healthy to have Student Publications on campus.” she said. “We have great aspirations of Student Publications evolving, just like newspapers worldwide, to make sure that the students involved, as well as the readers, are best prepared for the industry and being good consumers of journalism.” Adele said she has not been told if the printing publication will change after this academic year. “If any adjustments come about, it’s going to be from the editorial board themselves,” she said. Adele said she is hosting a communications council meeting on Oct. 11 to meet with alumni and local industry professionals to discuss mass communications curriculum and practical experience. “We are going to let that lead us into where we want to go next,” she said. Adele said officials will investigate furthering online publication methods and digital marketing. Having Felder, an industry professional, as an advisor is great leadership for Student Publications, Adele said. “I think it’s wonderful that we have a writer and editor of The Oklahoman making himself available and taking the advisement of Student Publications very seriously,” she said. At the end of the last academic year, four former mass communications faculty members left the university. Adele said, although most of the faculty are new this year, the transition has been a

M MEDIAOCU.com

positive experience. “The professors who left our department set this department up very well for me to be able to find information and continue on all the policies and procedures that are expected of the department,” she said. The new mass communications faculty include the following adjunct professors: Ben Felder, Moose Taylor, Chris Hudson, and Taylor Bollinger. Adele said she is excited for the future of Student Publications. “I’m happy that we are able to assuage the anxiety that may have been felt waiting to hear what might be happening next,” she said. Corinne Prudente, acting senior, said having a physical paper is convenient for students. “I personally really like being able to pick up a physical newspaper,” she said. “It’s a good reminder to keep up to date with OCU news.” Prudente said the newspaper is more personal for students who are featured in it. “It’s also nice to have an actual copy to be able to clip articles out of when they involve the accomplishments of myself or my

friends,” she said. Trae Trousdale, Student Government Association president and mass communications/political science junior, said the printed newspaper is a great opportunity for students to know what is going on around campus. “The physical paper is a little bit different in that it gives us something to look forward to,” he said. “It’s something physical and tangible to walk away with, to share with friends. We use them all the time in the SGA office, so I think it’s just better to have that option.” Working on a student newspaper is a great educational tool for students, Trousdale said. “If you take away the physical paper, you lose a little bit of the skills that you’re walking away with,” he said. “Knowing how to edit a paper, knowing how to format what’s going to be printed, I think that’s invaluable.” There is a difference in news that is produced in a weekly publication versus a constant online update, Trousdale said. “I think that the once-a-week allows for a little bit more of development in stories,” he said. Student Publications is SGA’s accountability, Trousdale said. “We don’t answer to administration,” he said. “But we have to answer to the student body. That’s the only way that we are able to do it.” Trousdale said Student Publications is an important, long-term investment for the university. “It’s irresponsible to look shortsightedly at a budget and say that Student Publications is something that could give,” he said. “While it may not always be in the university’s best interest to support Student Publications, I believe it’s a necessity for them to have that on-campus way to directly communicate with students.” Trousdale said in the future, he would love to see more student highlights. “Things like that I use as sort of my, ‘this is why we do it. This is why we’re here and why we stay in the SGA office until 2 a.m.,’” he said. “It’s students who aren’t highlighted during speeches; they’re just people we all know that you guys are taking a second to shine a light on and say, ‘this is what makes up our campus.’”

Dear Ms. Marty Pants: A Bad Advice Column

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opinion Students encouraged to reach out to senators, attend SGA meetings Students have expressed frustration with recent events on campus, and Student Government Association leaders are working to represent students’ voices. In the wake of Resolution 001, which called for Greek houses Kappa Sigma and Alpha Phi to suspend operations after a racial slur was used as a team name, students have realized that their voices can make an impact if they direct it through the proper channels. See mediaocu.com for more on Resolution 001. Resolution 001 has expanded the powers of SGA and become a way for the student body to hold itself accountable for its own actions. Students in the multicultural coalition were able to make their voices heard through reaching out to their SGA senators, who then drafted the resolution. They

OCU’s School of Theatre will perform Aaron Sorkin’s new play, “To Kill a Mockingbird” on our campus, October 23-27. So, I have been thinking about the first time I read “To Kill a Mockingbird.” Mrs. Stocks, my 11th grade English teacher, kept a rack of “current fiction” in the back of her classroom and let us borrow her paperbacks for “leisure reading.” I read “To Kill a Mockingbird,” “Fahrenheit 451,” “The Catcher in the Rye,” and “Catch 22” that year. That was 1970 when I was an 11th grader in Selma,

made significant changes in the student body just by talking to their senators about how they felt they were treated on campus. Recently, SGA has initiated two different commissions, the Pads and Tampons commission and the Student-Animal Waste commission, to address issues students expressed concern about. See page 3 for more on the PATS commission. SGA has the capability to improve student life, but unless students speak to the people representing them, SGA won’t have a clear idea of what students want. SGA is supposed to be the voice of the students, and without students’ support, their voice has no purpose. It is also important for students to reach out to SGA when they feel like officials are making a mistake or they disagree with a bill or resolu-

Alabama. My classmates and I – the first students to attend the fully integrated Selma High School – were eyewitnesses to the Civil Rights Movement. Some of my African-American classmates marched in demonstrations and were close enough to the Movement’s leaders to call them “Uncle Martin” and “Uncle Andy.” All of us had grown up in midst of the Movement and were barely aware of how it was shaping us. When I read Harper Lee’s “ To Kill a Mockingbird” in 1970, I idealized “Atticus Finch,” the attorney who

Talk Back “What video game would you like to play or see played competitively?”

tion being passed. It is easy for one to feel as though their opinion doesn’t matter against everyone else’s, but it does. SGA supports discourse about all issues presented to them, and they welcome productive disagreements and arguments. Students can reach out to their senators by going to the SGA page on Engage. Students can also email their individual senators with any inquiries or concerns they might have. Students should also try to attend senate meetings. The Sept. 19 senate meeting was one of the most attended meetings in recent memory with over 100 students. If students keep up this sort of attendance, the communication between SGA and the student body will be much more impactful and effective.

defended Tom Robinson. He was my hero. While my classmates and I were experiencing profound social change, Atticus was the model of the person I wanted to be: strong, principled, savvy, stoic, and unswerving in his commitment to fairness and truth. My concept of “integrity” looked a lot like Lee’s Atticus. I admired him so much that I did not recognize that he might also be condescending, rigid and racist. Neither did I question the stereotypes of AfricanAmericans that the characters of Tom Robinson and Calpurnia represented. Now, almost 50 years later, Aaron Sorkin’s new play, “To Kill a Mockingbird,” gives me a welcome opportunity to revisit my idealization of Atticus

"Just Dance"

"Smash Bros."

Annie Youngs music theater/vocal performance sophomore

Derek Bryant biochemistry sophomore

“The original Mario Kart”

"Pac-Man"

JD Tatarian music freshman

Kaleigh Krimmel mass communications Junior

“Tron”

“Grand Theft Auto V”

Triston Willis mass communications junior

Jaden Jesseph psychology freshman

Finch. Granted, I had time to reflect on the brutal legacies of racism in my hometown while becoming a historian of the 20th century South. Even so, Sorkin’s re-telling of the story prompts me to consider how differently we (I) understand the role of race in our lives together. For example, in 1970, I did not think twice about Lee’s use of racist language in dialogue. Now, each time one of Sorkin’s characters uses the same words, they are especially hateful and vicious. In addition, I appreciate that Sorkin’s African-American characters are not stereotypes. Instead, they are three-dimensional people who demonstrate agency within their circumscribed circumstances. Most important to me,

Sorkin’s Atticus Finch is not the hero I once idealized. Like everyone else, he confronts the challenge of applying the principles to which he is committed in his everyday relationships. Lee’s Atticus is absolutely certain that he demonstrates strength when he does not permit others to provoke him. When Sorkin’s Atticus is slow to respond to injustice, however, the audience must consider whether he is actually cowardly or weak. On principle, Lee’s Atticus shows respect by treating everyone with equal courtesy. Calpurnia, his housekeeper, challenges Sorkin’s Atticus to recognize that his undifferentiating courtesy is, in fact, egregiously disrespectful to people who have been victimized. Lee’s Atticus is

committed to the truth, no matter what. Near the end of the play, Sorkin’s Atticus willingly accepts a lie in order to do what is right. I am looking forward to these performances and to the opportunities they give all of us to think, once again, about the ideals we hold high and the challenge of living out those ideals in the collective life of our campus community. George Sims Interim Provost

Ms. Marty Pants: A Bad Advice Column With of all the negativity that is being spread, I would like to shed light and hope on what seems like a dark time for OCU. I have received and posted so many people’s compliments on this page, from every major, ethnicity, sexual orientation, etc. It warms my heart that so many of the students here still take the time to bring each other up. While things might seem hopeless, we must remember this: love is stronger than hate. If we stand together to build each other up and call out when we see injustice, we become part of the solution. As the future generation, we have the right and responsibility to be the change we want to see in the world.

So, how do we do this? How do we spread kindness and stomp out the hate? Here are five things we can do to start: 1. Treat others the way you want to be treated. While this may seem like second nature, many forget this. Before you speak, just think “How would it feel if someone said this about me?” 2. Educate yourself on different cultures: Ignorance is not bliss. There are so many diverse cultures in this nation. Learning more about them leads to compassion. We are in school to learn: let's learn all we can. 3. Become the leaders we want to have: Join clubs, volunteer, reach out and help. 4. Support and encourage others to be kind. There is

“Dear Ms. Marty Pants, How can I find a good guy to date on campus? Sincerely, single student”

strength in numbers. 5. Be kind to yourself. Kindness comes from within you. What do you do to spread a positive message? There is no wrong answers when it comes to spreading kindness! Thank you for taking the time to read this, and be sure to friend us on Facebook. With love, Compliments OCU

Dear single student, When it comes to dating, you need to be very careful in assessing all your options. My advice is to take after alumni Chr is Harr ison and create a Bacheloretteinspired club! You can hold meetings every week and narrow down your options throughout the semester. By winter break, not only will you have a boyfriend, but you’ll also gain leadership experience in running a student-led organization! “Dear Ms. Marty Pants, Why is textbook butler so expensive? Sincerely, a sad bank account”

Dear a sad bank account, All butlers are expensive! Think of Niles in The Nanny or Geoffrey in The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air; they were certainly not tending to small houses. It’s a very serious, time-consuming job, and butlers deserve a wage that reflects their hard work. “Dear Ms. Marty Pants, I’ve hit four parked cars now. I just hit a red Subaru in a Chili’s parking lot. Should I do a hit-and-run or go inside and make an announcement? S i n c e r e l y, i n s u r a n c e through the roof”

are no laws against getting some chips and salsa at Chili’s before you exchange insurance information! Save some for me! S incerely, Ms. Mart y Pants Ms. Marty Pants is an expert on life and loves to give back to the community with her acclaimed problem-solving skills. Email any questions to Ms. Pants’s secretary at fiacovacci@my.okcu.edu.

Dear insurance through the roof, You should definitely be honest and find the car’s owner, but you shouldn’t do it on an empty stomach. While hit-and-runs are illegal, there

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

TODAY OCU Jazz Band Concert at 7:30 p.m. in Petree Recital Hall in Kirkpatrick Fine Arts Center THURSDAY Weekly Play Club meeting at 7 p.m. in the Honors Lounge

in Gold Star Memorial Building OCU Choral Fall Concert - OCU Choirs from 7:30-9:30 p.m. in Petree Recital Hall in Kirkpatrick Fine Arts Center Carrie Dickason Workshop at

12:45 p.m. in Ann Lacy Visitor Center

from 6-8 p.m. in Oklahoma City University School of Law

Weekly chapel service at 1 p.m. in Bishop W. Angie Smith Chapel

FRIDAY Set a Fire: Student Choreography Showcase and Friends from 6:30-10:30 p.m. in Kirkpatrick Auditorium in Kirkpatrick Fine

Brennan Lecture: The Forging of the Universal Injunction

Oct. 9, 2019, Volume 113, Issue 7

Staff Writers: MaKayla Baxter, Erik Hamilton, Francesca Iacovacci, Hope Melton, Shelby O'Brien, Hannah Prentice Columnists: Paul Dower, Francesca Iacovacci, Hope Melton

SUNDAY Smashcade at 7 p.m. in the Great Hall in Tom and Brenda McDaniel University Center Free Screening: A Girl Walks

Home Alone at Night from 2-4 p.m. in Norick Art Center MONDAY Fall break - no classes TUESDAY Fall break - no classes

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: Emily Wollenberg Copy Editor: Paul Dower Photo Editor: Clara Foster Community Manager: Jessica Vanek Web Editor: Luke Barrett Ad Director: Maddie Bowes Graphic Designer: Melissa Campbell

Arts Center

Photographers: Clara Foster, Hannah Campbell, Katie Gibbs, Hope Melton Faculty Adviser: Ben Felder

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 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.

October 9, 2019

news Setting up for victory Left: Isabel Harwell, sophomore defensive specialist/libero, gets ready to play at the Oct. 5 volleyball game against Wayland Baptist in Abe Lemons Arena in Henry J. Freede Wellness and Activities Center. Right: Members of the volleyball team huddle together during a timeout at the Oct. 5 game. Bottom right: Sophia Salak, sophomore setter, prepares to receive the ball at the Oct. 5 volleyball game against Wayland Baptist. The next game will be today at 7 p.m. against John Brown in Abe Lemons Arena in Henry J. Freede Wellness and Activities Center. Below: Members of the Stars volleyball team celebrate at the Oct. 5 game against Wayland Baptist. The Stars won the game 3-0. Katie Gibbs Student Publications

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OCU to host statewide student government conference MaKayla Baxter

STAFF WRITER

Oklahoma City University was chosen to host the Oklahoma Student Government Association fall congress. According to Levi Harrel, dean of students, student governments from across the state will come together at the OSGA fall congress Nov. 9-10 to discuss important matters and develop future policies and resolutions for their respective campuses. SGA President Trae Trousdale said anywhere between 25 to 30 delegations will attend. “They will all be coming onto our campus and passing legislation for state-wide implementation,” Trousdale said. “If we’re talking about firearms and their place on a college campus, that’s decided at fall congress. The same goes for gender neutral restrooms, sex education and all the hot button issues. These are all decided from the student perspective for the entire state.” Harrel said SGA has been interested in hosting the fall congress since last spring. “Oklahoma City University is such a central location in the state,” Harrel said. “It gives an opportunity for folks from across the state to meet up while providing them a reasonable and costeffective travel schedule.”

It is truly such a great event, and we couldn't be happier to have been chosen to host it. Abigail Banks vice president sga

Harrel said he is excited for the idea to come into fruition. “Hosting events like this one gets our SGA’s name out there,” Harrel said. “It gives us great representation in our state’s higher education community and provides a terrific setting and environment for student leadership to take place.” SGA Vice President Abigail Banks said she believes hosting the fall congress will benefit not just SGA, but the university as a whole. “We’re so ready to have students from across the state come on our campus and get to experience OCU’s values and culture,” Banks said. “Overall, I know SGA is really excited to host the congress and network with other schools and student governments.”

Banks said the event will be a great learning opportunity for SGA. “We have the chance to learn from other SGA chapters and, in turn, become a better student government and serve our student body to the best of our abilities,” she said. Banks said SGA is thrilled and grateful for the opportunity. “We’re so excited to get the ball rolling and start planning and organizing,” Banks said. “It is truly such a great event, and we couldn’t be happier to have been chosen to host it.” Trousdale said the university is one of the only private institutions to have been chosen to host the fall congress. “The fact that we’re one of the only private universities to ever be chosen is really important in the grand scheme of things,” Trousdale said. “There’s definitely a disconnect between student governments and student bodies as a whole between public and private systems. Private systems are generally viewed as high sidity or that we’re the kind of people who have our noses in the air, and that’s an assumption we strategically want to defeat.”

SGA starts feminine product project Francesca Iacovacci

STAFF WRITER

Student Government Association is starting a Pads and Tampons Project to supply free feminine products on campus. SGA plans to supply pads and tampons in the bathrooms of the Tom and Brenda McDaniel University Center for the rest of the year. Emma Grey, SGA secretary of public relations, said she is hopeful the initiative can expand to other buildings on campus in the future, but it is dependent on the project’s reception by the campus community and how much it is utilized. “I think it’s important for women on this campus to know they don’t have to worry if they left their products at home,” Grey said. “It’s nice to know the university cares about our health and feminine hygiene.” PATS will officially launch at an event from 11 a.m.-1 p.m. on Oct. 16 in the student lounge outside the caf in Tom and Brenda McDaniel University Center. They will give away period care-packages at the event, Grey said. Grey said SGA has discussed creating a program like PATS since last year. “I think free feminine care should be a no-brainer, so it’s nice that the university and SGA are taking an initiative,” she said. Haley Holmberg, business marketing sophomore, said she appreciates SGA’s initiative in supporting free-feminine care, despite the state’s tampon tax.

“What may seem a small, insignificant gesture is really influential,” Holmberg said. The “tampon tax” refers to state sales taxes placed on menstrual products. Many products considered necessities are tax exempt, but tampons and other feminine hygiene products still have valueadded taxes despite being considered medically necessary. According to The New York Times, 35 states, including Oklahoma, still tax feminine hygiene products as of July 2019. “Feminine hygiene is a necessity, and no woman should be forgotten,” Holmberg said. “It’s cool to know that in an emergency, pads and tampons have been paid for and provided so we can feel safe. I’m glad OCU is taking that step to support women.” Kaylila Pasha, acting junior and social media and marketing manager for the Female Empowerment club, said feminine hygiene products are taxed unfairly. “There’s this thing called the Pink Tax where, on average, women’s personal products are taxed 13% more than men’s,” Pasha said. “I think what SGA is doing is a step in the right direction to correct that by providing free resources for women. Since FEM’s goal is to empower women on campus, I think this is a great idea.”

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Hannah Campbell Student Publications

It takes two to tango Kathryne Pham, piano/vocal performance sophomore, learns to tango at the Tango Tuesday event on Oct. 1 in the student lounge outside of the caf in Tom and Brenda McDaniel University Center. David Wells, tango instructor from Tango Life OKC, taught tango dancing at the event.

Esports team, club establish team structure, begin tournaments Erik Hamilton

STAFF WRITER

OCU’s esports organization is participating in several tournaments. There are varsity and junior varsity teams for Overwatch, Rocket League and Super Smash Bros. Ultimate. The Overwatch teams each have six members, the Rocket League team has four to five and the Smash team has 10 members. Esports Director Jeff Price said they compete online in the virtual reality lab, and an esports lab is currently being built. The organization is the same group which runs Smashcade every Sunday night in the Great Hall October 9, 2019

in Tom and Brenda McDaniel University Center. “I was speaking with the dean of the College of Arts and Sciences, and there was a strong desire for the university to create a team and also create a club so that not only can people play competitively, but we could also have a way in which students could just play for fun and be social,” Price said. Price said tryouts for the esports team took place two weeks ago. Tryouts for next year’s team will take place in the spring, and scholarships will be offered for playing on these teams starting next year. “For Smash, it was a roundrobin tryout; so one v. ones until

It's just like any other sports team. There needs to be a booster part of that. Jeff Price game design and animation professor esports director

there was an obvious winner,” said Austin Hogue, president of the esports organization and member of the Smash team. “Overwatch, we filled people in positions and then see how they played and rotated people out based on their preferences. Rocket League, it was again one

v. one seeing who was the better player, and we formed teams based off that.” Price said they currently hold membership with the National Association of Collegiate Esports, and they have an application submitted for membership with Tespa, another

international collegiate esports organization. Price also said they are considering starting teams for Call of Duty and League of Legends. Price said the group hopes to start weekly meetings soon for the club portion of the esports organization, which does not require trying out. At these meetings, students will be able to play different games outside of a competitive structure. The club will produce online content, work on streaming games online, have parties, and support the esports teams. “There’s a function of supporting the varsity teams as well, so if somebody wants to come and be a part of that, maybe

they’re a writer or maybe they do video editing and they want to create,” Price said. “It’s just like any other sports team. There needs to be a booster part of that, and that all would be a part of what the club would do.” The Overwatch team is currently playing in a pre-season Tespa tournament, the Rocket League team is competing in a NACE tournament and the Smash team is preparing to compete. “Can’t wait,” Hogue said.

news

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Katie Gibbs Student Publications

Smash the competition

Left: Rachel Brantley, senior forward, kicks the ball into play at the Oct. 1 game against Panhandle State on Brian Harvey Field. The Stars won 12-0. Above: Keilah Ayum, senior defense, goes for the ball at the game against Panhandle State. The next game will be at 5 p.m. on Oct. 12 against John Brown University.

Interim Diversity and Inclusion advocate selected Matthew Lavery

STAFF WRITER Shelby President Martha Burger hasO’Brien selected an interim Diversity and STAFF WRITER Inclusion advocate for the university. Jessica Martinez-Brookes, former director of diversity enrichment programs at the University of Oklahoma, will take on the role. “I look forward to meeting with individual student organizations, listening to their concerns and ensuring that their voice is heard as OCU continues to build a more diverse and inclusive campus community,” Martinez-Brookes wrote in an email from President Burger to the campus community. Burger is reinstating the Diversity and Inclusion Council on campus. The council is setting out to look at how the university is recruiting. “Oklahoma City University has had a diversity and inclusion

Oklahoma City University has had a diversity and inclusion task force for the past several years. Trae Trousdale president SGA

task force for the past several years,” said Trae Trousdale, Student Government Association president. “At these smaller meetings of the university council, you’re seeing everything being touched on, from recruitment and how we are going about recruiting our students and scholarships, to how we are going about recruiting staff members and faculty members.”

Trousdale said the council will also touch on the experience of students. “We’ve got two individuals from student affairs,” Trousdale said. “And then, we also have the director of institutional research and OCU’s chief council.” Trousdale said the council will be made up of a small power team of people that will best bring their expertise to the realm of student diversity and inclusion. The OCU Communications Office sent an email to the campus community on Oct. 2. “Students, faculty and staff can apply to serve on one of the council’s six committees,” it read. To apply, students can go to okcu.edu, click on the About tab, President’s Office, and then Diversity & Inclusion Committees.

School of Dance video reaches two million views on YouTube Jessica Vanek

COMMUNITY MANAGER

The Ann Lacy School of American Dance and Entertainment is reaching students in more ways than one. Kelli Rhodes-Stevens, professor of dance, is the choreographer of a dance video posted to the Oklahoma City University YouTube channel that has gone viral. The video, set to the song “Torn” by James TW, has over two million views and 27,000 likes on YouTube. Rhodes-Stevens said the dance was choreographed in the 2016 fall semester and uploaded to YouTube in January of 2017. “We have different goals for the combinations we do in class. Sometimes we get things that has some artistic aesthetic that transcends the objectives of the syllabus,” Rhodes-Stevens said. Rhodes-Stevens said she and the students liked the song chosen for the piece. “I thought that this could be an interesting opportunity if we can get someone to film it. It could resonate with possible students and be great for recruitment,” she said. The choreography was taught and filmed in the jazz B red class. The class was comprised of sophomores, juniors and seniors, all of whom have graduated. Rhodes-Stevens said the video was not instantly viral. “It was kind of interesting. It first started with a little surge, and then it died out,” she said. Rhodes-Stevens said she is not sure what exactly caused the resurgence in popularity. “I started to ask around, but apparently a couple of dance Instagram pages had shared it. Now when you search jazz dance on YouTube, it’s one of the first videos that pops up,” she said. Rhodes-Stevens said the original dancers have since moved on to professional jobs, such as the first national tour of “Bandstand,” the North American tour of “Margaritaville,” “Newsies” in Washington D.C., the Royal Caribbean Cruise in eastern Asia, and the Celebrity Cruise Line in Alaska. Rhodes-Stevens said the video has captured the attention of current and prospective students. “I had hoped that it would be something that would resonate with prospective students, and I’ve had a few people who told me that that video made an effect on their decision to come to OCU,” she said. Rhodes-Stevens said the video has boosted morale in the dance school.

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Sou�ce: YouTube.com

Ann Lacy School of American Dance and Entertainment officials posted a video to the OCU YouTube channel two years ago featuring the choroegraphy of Kelli Rhodes-Stevens, professor of dance. The video now has over two million views.

“Even though none of the current students are in the video, video. it’s something fun for current students to rally around,” she said. “I never expected it to have this many views,” she said. “I am Jeffery Dubey, dance junior, said the video has made the dance proud of it, and I’m glad it does. Anything we can do to spread program more visible to outsiders. our talent and what we do here is a positive thing.” “It’s definitely made us feel less stuck in a bubble. More people know about what goes on here,” Dubey said. “It’s really exciting to know that other people can see what we are doing here and hopefully inspire more students to come.” Rhodes-Stevens said she is proud of the work put into the

Religious activist to speak about pacifism, gun violence Maxwell McIntire

STAFF WRITER

Both students and faculty express excitement for the upcoming lectures by a religious activist and author. Shane Claiborne will visit campus on Oct. 17 as a part of the Willson Lecture Series. He will be giving three lectures in the afternoon and evening, all of which are open to the campus community. The event will be in Bishop W. Angie Smith Chapel, with lectures occurring in both the Chapel Sanctuary and Watson Lounge. There are plans for three separate lectures throughout the day on Oct. 17. The 1 p.m. lecture will be a part of the regularly scheduled chapel service in the Chapel Sanctuary in the Bishop W. Angie Smith Chapel. The 2:30 p.m. lecture will be in Watson Lounge in the basement of the Chapel. The final lecture at 7 p.m. will also be in the Chapel Sanctuary. Taylor Downey, youth ministry junior, said she plans to visit the 1 p.m. and 2:30 p.m. lectures. Downey said she enjoys the October 9, 2019

For students and community members who aren’t sure how to bridge those gaps - faith and action - he can be a good example to look to. Elizabeth Horton-Ware religious life director

Willson Lecture series as a whole. “I’ve attended every other Willson Lecture because the School of Religion does encourage its students to go, and every time my expectations are always exceeded. It’s always well worth my time; I learn something new,” Downey said. Claiborne is a writer and public speaker based primarily in Philadelphia, whose most recent book “Beating Guns: Hope for

People Who Are Weary of Violence,” co-written with Michael Martin, focuses on working against gun violence in the world, a view that aligns with Claiborne’s stance on pacifism and nonviolence. Elizabeth Horton-Ware, director of Religious Life, said Claiborne could be a good influence for students. “I think that Shane Claibourne has an interesting view on the world and interacts with his Christian faith in our society in unique ways. For students and community members who aren’t sure how to bridge those gaps, faith and action, he can be a good example to look to,” Horton-Ware said. Looking to the future of Willson lectures, Downey said she would be interested in seeing people from all over the world come in to speak. “It might be a big task, but I think it would be interesting to get a global perspective on campus,” Downey said.