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The Campus November 11, 2015 – Volume 110 Issue 10

Homecoming week wraps up

Ali Wonderly Student Publications

The women of Gamma Phi Beta celebrate after winning the Homecoming Sweepstakes on Saturday in Abe Lemons Arena in Henry J. Freede Wellness and Activity Center. Second place overall went to Alpha Chi Omega, and Phi Mu took third. This year’s Homecoming theme was “Unite.” The theme honored the class of 1965. Activities included banner making, window painting, building a spirit structure, and performing in Lip Sync. The Homecoming committee crowned Valentino Valentin, acting junior from Kappa Sigma, and Amanda Wright, acting senior from Gamma Phi Beta, as the 2015 Homecoming King and Queen. Alpha Chi Omega received this year’s Spirit Award and People’s Choice award for Lip Sync.

Gamma Phi places first in all categories, wins Sweepstakes Sage Tokach LIFESTYLES EDITOR

Homecoming ended as the ladies of Gamma Phi Beta swarmed the basketball court to accept their Sweepstakes trophy. The sorority won the overall Homecoming championship Saturday. The Sweepstakes award ceremony was after the men’s basketball game in Abe Lemons Area in Henry J. Freede Wellness and Activity Center. The Stars won the game against Southwestern Oklahoma State, 73-70. Eight campus organizations competed in the festivities. Six of those groups entered submissions in all four categories: banner, window, spirit structure, and

Lip Sync. The organizations that competed in all parts of the competition were: - Alpha Chi Omega, - Gamma Phi Beta, - Phi Mu, - Kappa Sigma, - FIJI, and, - Kappa Phi/Delta Alpha Chi. Earning honorable mentions as small organizations, Ris4Thurday participated in banner and window, and United States Institute for Theatre Technology entered a structure. Gamma Phi Beta placed first in all four categories, awarding them the Sweepstakes prize. Alpha Chi Omega won the People’s Choice award for Lip Sync and the Spirit Award. They took second place

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As a senior, I could not think of any other way I would rather spend my last moments. Leslie Marie Coffman acting senior Gamma Phi Beta

in Sweepstakes, and Phi Mu took third. “It was an amazing win for Gamma Phi,” said Chandler Hardy, biology sophomore and Gamma Phi Beta member. “But the real win was growing as a sisterhood.” Leslie Marie Coffman, acting senior and Gamma Phi Beta member, said winning was great, but the most incredible part was working

with people she loves. “As a senior, I could not think of any other way I would rather spend my last moments,” Coffman said. Other students said they felt the same way, loving the Homecoming process, regardless of the results. “You prepare for a long time and go through periods of stress, but, once it’s all over, you’re just on cloud nine,” said

Isa Ramirez, dance performance sophomore and Phi Mu Homecoming chairwoman. “It’s an amazing experience.” The Homecoming committee kicked off the announcements during halftime of the basketball game, when they crowned this year’s Homecoming royalty. Each competing organization submitted a nominee for the crown. Valentino Valentin, acting junior, and Amanda Wright, acting senior, won the titles of Homecoming King and Queen. Valentin represented Kappa Sigma, and Wright represented Gamma Phi Beta. “I am so proud of my sisterhood and all organizations involved for their hard work and unity during Homecoming,” Wright said. “It was an honor receiving Homecoming

Queen on behalf of Gamma Phi Beta because I love my sisters and my OCU family more than they know.” Students voted on OrgSync to choose the Homecoming King and Queen. The other events were scored by a panel of judges unaffiliated with any participating Greek organization. MaryAnn Grover, Student Government Association vice president of student activities, said she thought Homecoming was a success. “Our goal was to unite the campus, hence our theme,” Grover said. “I am proud to say that the organizations competing and the wider campus community embraced that goal.”

Two campus organizations unable to participate in festivities Emily Wiley EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

Two campus organizations did not participate in Homecoming this year. Alpha Phi sorority decided as a chapter not to participate. Lambda Chi Alpha fraternity could not participate because of an ongoing investigation from the headquarters for potential hazing. “While it is sad that these two organizations can’t participate, we are still trying to unite the campus together,” said MaryAnn Grover, Student Government Association vice president of student activities. “Both are a big part of the campus, but they are also still students, so I would hope that they still feel a part of the community.”

Alpha Phi’s decision not to participate came after a photo of one of their members surfaced on social media. She is seen dressed as Jay Z with her face painted black, a practice known as “blackface.” “We as a chapter felt that we needed to focus on addressing internal chapter needs,” said Tamara Doherty, Alpha Phi president. The chapter also has not participated in any other social events or hosted a philanthropy week this semester to continue to focus on internal needs, Doherty said. “We have taken a step back and will continue to do so for the remainder of the semester,” Doherty said. “We really need to focus on just education for our chapter.”

Visit MediaOCU.com for more photos from Homecoming week.

The chapter plans to participate in social and campus activities next semester, Doherty said. Lambda Chi Alpha was told by their international headquarters they could not participate in Homecoming because of an ongoing investigation into potential hazing. The investigation started when a student made a comment to an university official about a scavenger hunt hosted by the fraternity where the men had to ask a woman on campus if they

could give her a lap dance. The university official then reported it to Lambda Chi Alpha’s international headquarters, said John Hiller, the fraternity’s president. “We have given the university and headquarters all of the information each has requested as part of the investigation,” Hiller said. The fraternity had to send any videos taken of members participating in the scavenger hunt, a list of members who participated, and a list of what

activities were part of the scavenger hunt to headquarters during the beginning of the investigation. The list included drinking a raw egg, getting slapped in the face and chugging an energy drink, Hiller said. The chapter was placed under limited operations while the investigation is pending. Under limited operations, the chapter cannot host any social or philanthropic events, perform new member education or host a chapter meeting without a representative from the university there. Fraternity members are waiting to hear from headquarters about what to do next. “A report has been written and read by the appropriate people at headquarters so now

we are just waiting to see what will happen next,” Hiller said. “It is my understanding that there will be some repercussions such as having to do some training such as anti hazing or Title IX or social probation.” Hiller said university officials are waiting to see what the headquarters decides to do as far as punishment. “They will affirm whatever headquarters decides to do, unless they think it is not enough,” Hiller said. Amy Ayres, vice president for student affairs, was unavailable for comment Monday. Editor’s Note: Hiller is copy editor for Student Publications. He did not participate in the writing or editing of this story.

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opinion

Editors discuss need for better enrollment system Enrollment is one of the most stressful parts of college. Forget about the exams, projects, classes, and trying to get enough sleep, trying to get all the classes you want or need to graduate at the same time as 3,000 other students is a nightmare. Students enrolled last week and, for some, the process was smooth. They have the luxury of meeting with their advisers to choose classes then the adviser wakes up early to enroll their students in pre-selected classes. The downfall of this is when a class fills up too early. Then they have to go back to the students, tell them the bad news and then have them select another class. By the time this is all done, most classes are full. For others, the process can be a little more difficult. They meet with their advisers, pick

the classes and then set their alarms to be online at 7 a.m. when the system opens to try to get in classes before they fill up. The plus side to this is when the classes they want are full, they can immediately find something else before everything fills up. Both scenarios can cause students stress. We need to find a better system. The one we have is based on who can get to the class they need quickest. Hundreds of students on the same server at the same time trying to get into the same classes can cause it to freeze and sometimes crash. Another reason we need to find a better system is the classes offered don’t meet the student demand. The three sections of the integrated science lab course filled in less than a minute. It is a class that all students need to gradu-

Talk Back “Did you have problems enrolling?” “It was complicated because there had been a hold wrongly placed on my account.”

ate, but there were only three opportunities each with only 20 seats. Its partner class, methods of scientific inquiry, had five classes each with 25 seats available. That math doesn’t add up. There needs to be more sections of required classes. Students should not have to worry about not graduating on time because of required classes filling up. There will always be stress when it comes to enrollment, but finding a better system that doesn’t cause as much stress is something administration should look into. We need a system that doesn’t cause students emotional breakdowns because of system breakdowns.

“I signed up late.”

Hannah Rogers film production freshman

Ali Funkhouser acting sophomore

“I made my schedule, turned it in, and got an email from my adviser that said I was all enrolled.”

“I only had three required courses.”

Ira McCurry dance pedagogy junior

Kristine Bachicha dance management senior

“I had a perfect class schedule but at the end only had two of those classes.”

“Our advisers do it for us. I don’t deal with it.”

Jonathan Falcon business marketing freshman

Morgan Wilson dance performance junior

Columnist pushes for more aware, less violent society I have seen my share of tragic headlines. Instead of being shocked by tragedies, most Millennials feel a sense of uneasy calmness. I mean, how many times can a mass shooting or drunk driving accident shock us? We’ve recently experienced several brutal reminders of how precious our time on earth is. The community of Stillwater and the state of Oklahoma were shaken by a tragic car accident that occurred last month

during the Oklahoma State University Homecoming parade. A time that was supposed to be for celebration became a time of sorrow. Sadly, what was a major disturbance at the time already has moved to the back of many of our minds. There have been many school shootings this academic year across the country. It has become normal to turn on the news and see a headline about another school shooting or drunk driving casualty. Although we hear

Tatum Nelson is a religion/mass communications sophomore from Tulsa, Oklahoma. She enjoys cooking with her mom and going shopping with her little sister.

about these incidents relatively often, we should not consider them the norm. Preventable tragedy has become so common that it makes instances like the one in Stillwater less of an event and

more of an unavoidable aspect of life. We need to change the system, have more of an influence over the law and less of an influence over the media. Spreading the news is helpful,

but we have begun to publicize killers with pictures and statements, which glorifies them, instead of changing laws to prevent future tragedies. Just talking about these tragedies is not enough to stop them. We are one unit, one community that needs to join together in times of grief. As Millennials, we may be more numb to these experiences than others, but we can bring change to our community by addressing problems at our schools. We can build a

society where future generations don’t find tragedy to be common, whether this change comes through legislation or education. Let’s be the generation that makes a change in the world by bringing an end to the routine of tragedies. Let’s start with our school. We can’t just stand by and watch. As we suffer through the heartache of these catastrophes, we need to look out for each other and grow stronger as a community.

Critic unmoved by award-winning film, wouldn’t recommend it The only things I knew about Foxcatcher when I watched it were Channing Tatum was in it and it was nominated for five Academy Awards. I did not know it was based on a true crime story. I had never heard of the Schultz brothers, and I did not know I was about to watch a depressing story unfold. Produced and directed by Bennett Miller and written by Oscar nominees E. Max Frye and Dan Futterman,

this film shows the viewer the effects of extreme insecurity, jealousy and self loathing in a captivating way. The film is about Olympic gold medalist “Mark Shultz,” played by Tatum, and his struggle to stay out of the shadow of his talented older brother “Dave,” portrayed by Mark Ruffalo. Living a life of poverty, Mark is excited when recruited by multimillionaire and wrestling enthusiast “John E. du Pont,” played by Steve Carell,

Danielle Petersen is a music theater senior from San Jose, California. She likes playing the violin, playing with her dog Marko and watching films.

to join his wrestling team, Team Foxcatcher, and train in his self-built training facility in Pennsylvania. Once Mark is given his own guest house to live in and full access to the training facilities, it is soon becomes clear that

it is really his brother Dave who du Pont is interested in recruiting. I won’t spoil the ending, but for those of you who are familiar with the story of the Shultz brothers and du Pont, the ending is as confusing

and messed up as you would imagine. I did not like this film. It was slow moving, although never boring. It was too depressing for me to watch. I did not find enjoyment from this movie or feel I came out better in any way from watching it. But, the four main actors in this movie, Carell, Tatum, Ruffalo and Vanessa Redgrave, gave outstanding performances. Carell offered my favorite

performance. I did not recognize him at first with his enhanced features for the film, but, once I did, I was even more impressed with his portrayal of such a serious character. Overall, I do not recommend this movie for everyone. It serves its purpose and tells a story, but it is not uplifting. I didn’t have a pleasant feeling after watching it. It is a well put together movie, but I will not be watching it again any time soon.

NOV. 20 Don Pasqule at 6 p.m. in Kirkpatrick Auditorium in Kirkpatrick Fine Arts Center

rick Auditorium in Kirkpatrick Fine Arts Center

Campus Calendar Calendar items must be received in the Newsroom or stupub@okcu.edu by noon Friday for inclusion in the following Wednesday issue. TOMORROW Men’s and women’s wrestling duals vs. Lyon at 4 p.m. in Abe Lemons Arena in Henry J. Freede Wellness and Activity Center

Center

Men’s and women’s wrestling duals vs. Northeastern Oklahoma A&M College at 7 p.m. in Abe Lemons Arena in Henry J. Freede Wellness and Activity

OCU presents Nathan Gunn at 8 p.m. in Kirkpatrick Auditorium in Kirpatrick Fine Arts Center

FRIDAY Discover sciences: explore with OCU at 1 p.m. in Ann Lacy Admission and Visitors Center

SUNDAY

Pavel Neressian’s piano recital at 3 p.m. in Petree Recital Hall in Kirkpatrick Fine Arts Center Or Kribos’s graduate composition recital at 6 p.m. in Petree Recital Hall in Kirkpatrick Fine Arts Center TUESDAY Women’s basketball at 7 p.m. in Abe Lemons Arena in Henry

J. Freede Wellness and Activity Center NOV. 18 Guitar Studio Recital at 8 p.m. in the medium rehearsal hall in Wanda L. Bass Music Center Downtown lunch and learn at noon at Oklahoma City Community Foundation, 1000 N. Broadway Ave.

NOV. 21 Karlye Whitt’s junior voice recital at 4 p.m. in the smaller rehearsal hall in Wanda L. Bass Music Center Don Pasqule at 6 p.m. in Kirkpat-

NOV. 22 Don Pasqule at 3 p.m. in Kirkpatrick Auditorium in Kirkpatrick Fine Arts Center Liza Clark and Ashton Parrack’s junior voice recital at 8 p.m. in the small rehearsal hall in Wanda L. Bass Music Center

Editor honors veterans but promotes peace-not war Today we celebrate Veterans’ Day. The first World War ended on this day 97 years ago after four years of slaughter and bloodshed. Veterans’ Day was first called Armistice Day to celebrate the armistice or ceasefire that went into effect Nov. 11, 1918 at 11 a.m. President Woodrow Wilson proclaimed the first Armistice Day one year after the fighting ceased. He called for Americans to observe the day, “because of the oppor-

tunity it has given America to show her sympathy with peace and justice in the councils of the nations.” Unfortunately the “war to end all wars” did not live up to that name. Humans continue to engage in armed conflict. It is hard to believe at times that the United States has a sympathy with peace as Wilson suggested. The U.S. has existed as a country for 239 years. For 222 of those years we have been at war, according to washington’sblog.

John Hiller is a religion major from Ringling, Oklahoma. He enjoys being snarky, planning his wedding and driving the other editors insane.

com. I do not consider myself a pacifist, but that is a sobering statistic. Most college students have been alive for more years than our country has been at peace. In our lifetime we have wit-

nessed fighting in Afghanistan and Iraq. Now just as these conflicts simmer down, American forces begin to engage in fighting in Syria. It seems as we defeat one foe, another arises. The fighting may never end.

The Campus

Advertising and Marketing Director: Anna Nyugen Photographers: Courtney Beyer, Anna Anderson, Donovan Lawson, Andrew Robling Senior Staff Writers: Miguel Rios, Kyle Wallace Staff Writers: Kaylie Yap, Alex Ger-

dom of speech and freedom of religion, these are what our nation should promote. Not war and violence. Thank a veteran for his or her service and sacrifice to keep us safe, not just today but every day. Even as we remember those who have fought for our freedoms, know that we as a nation must look for other ways to protect our freedoms, other than violence and bloodshed.

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.

November 11, 2015, Volume 110, Number 10

Editor-in-Chief: Emily Wiley Web Editor: Maleyia Vaughn Lifestyles Editor: Sage Tokach Photo Editor: Ali Wonderly Copy Editor: John Hiller Community Manager: Sara Coleman

We cannot continue to fight these enemies, even if we defeat one group another will take its place. We must find ways to bring peace to these conflicted areas instead. Peace is about more than the absence of conflict, it is about working together to solve issues. There is a difference between a peace created by the threat of conflict and a peace created by systems that encourage cooperation and equality. Democracy, education, free-

man, Prisca Lynch, Taylor Rey, Elina Moon, Oaklin Davis Columnists: Tatum Nelson Film Critic: Danielle Petersen Circulation Director: Allie Glazner Faculty Adviser: Kenna Griffin

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.

November 11, 2015

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news

Student inspired by own illness to create national organization Kyle Wallace SENIOR STAFF WRITER

One student has turned her illness into an opportunity to educate and inspire others. Amanda Kronhaus, acting freshman, was diagnosed with Hashimoto’s Thyroiditis in Spring 2013 during her sophomore year of high school. As a result, Kronhaus founded Project Neck Check in November 2014. Prior to her diagnosis, she had trouble managing her weight and suffered

from depression, but wasn’t sure why. “You have a lot of symptoms including hair loss, weight gain, and your moods can be very dramatic,” Kronhaus said. “I struggled with depression and people just thought I had something wrong with me, but it’s a physical disorder that has varying effects on your entire body.” H a s h i m o t o’s T h y r o i d itis is an autoimmune disease in which thyroid tissue is attacked by the body’s immune system. As a result, the tissue dies and there is a

I struggled with depression and people just thought I had something wrong with me.

decrease in the production of hormones. The thyroid is a butterflyshaped gland in the front of the neck responsible for producing hormones that regulate metabolism. Initially, no doctors tested

Amanda Kronhaus acting freshman

her thyroid, Kronhaus said. It wasn’t until she went to a different doctor that she discovered there were problems with her thyroid. Kronhaus started Project Neck Check as a result of her experience to advocate

for treatment and awareness of thyroid issues. “I was misdiagnosed with a lot of different things,” Kronhaus said. “One of the reasons I wanted to start Project Neck Check is because a lot of doctors do not think to check for thyroid disorders.” Project Neck Check is Kronhaus’s platform when she competes in pageants. Kronhaus has competed in pageants since she was 8 years old. She said she hopes to raise awareness for thyroid disease and inspire others suffering with thyroid problems.

“ I t ’s s o m u c h m o r e common than people think, and I just really want to raise awareness for it,” Kronhaus said. Pr o j e c t Ne c k C h e c k became an official non-profit organization in October. The next step for the organization is to develop a board of directors and begin promoting it, Kronhaus said. “I think it’s great that she could turn her passion into a real organization,” said Phillip Oliver, entertainment business junior.

Chalking policy changes to maintain campus appearance Alex German STAFF WRITER

Ali Wonderly Student Publications

Moving forward

Junior Defender Syrina Lopez kicks the ball down field during the Stars’ first playoff game Saturday at Stars Field. The Stars defeated Southwestern Assemblies of God, (Texas), 1-0, moving on to the semifinals of the Sooner Athletic Conference Tournament. The team Played John Brown (Ark.) on Tuesday.

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A new university policy changes the way student organizations can use chalk around campus. The policy requires that LaVetra Ray, assistant director of student activities, approve all chalking. Chalk is only allowed on sidewalks and may not be within 30 feet of any building entrances. Organizations who break this policy are subject to a $200 fine and the organization is required to clean the area with power washers provided by facilities. Chalking allows organizations to announce events. It is common during sorority “Big/ Little” week for sororities to welcome new members using messages written in chalk around campus. Chalking is prohibited on all other surfaces, including building exteriors, furniture, patio cobblestones, and out-

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If your organization wants to chalk, fill out the form on OrgSync and chalk on.

side of dormitories, according to the policy. The policy is a compromise between allowing students to chalk and maintaining the cleanliness of the campus, said Amy Ayres, vice president for student affairs and dean of students. “While we encourage and appreciate that students take advantage of this means to communicate events and activities, we also need to keep in mind the housekeeping and appearance of our campus facilities,” she said. Shannon Beshears, dance

Shannon Beshears president Phi Mu sorority

performance junior and president of Phi Mu sorority, said she recognizes the need for the rule change and is not deterred. “There are a few rules that this campus has struggled with following, such as organizations are not allowed to chalk underneath an awning,” Beshears said. “There are a few rules to keep our campus looking great. If your organization wants to chalk, fill out the form on OrgSync and chalk on.”

Officials discuss canceling cable to improve Wi-Fi Elina Moon STAFF WRITER

Officials are considering disconnecting cable to dorm rooms to improve Wi-Fi. The idea to disconnect the cable was proposed earlier this year after officials became aware many students don’t use cable in their rooms. Housing is working with student relations to determine if this would benefit students. Kevin Culbertson, coordinator of housing operations, said he wants to figure out the

best use of resources. There aren’t enough wireless routers and a large enough bandwidth to accommodate the students using campus Wi-Fi. “Disconnecting the cable would allow the funds previously put toward cable installation and usage to be diverted toward the Wi-Fi issue,” Culbertson said. “This would allow for new infrastructure upgrades, more wireless ports, and faster internet speed.” Culbertson could not give the exact price the university pays for cable services to

Disconnecting the cable would allow the funds previously put toward cable installation and usage to be diverted toward the Wi-Fi issue.

Cox Communications, but the number is six figures, he said. Cable is set up so it is connected to each individual dorm room and lobby area. One compromise option is to keep cable

Kevin Culbertson coordinator housing operations

in the lobby, but disconnect it from dorm rooms. Another scenario officials are considering is to give residents the option of having cable. Students who chose to have cable

would pay for it on their own. This model is used in University Manor, Culbertson said. Prior to this year, Wi-Fi and cable weren’t offered as an amenity, but this year residents were offered Wi-Fi. There have been no complaints so far. Officials from telecommunications, IT, housing, and student affairs will collaborate to make a decision. Dr. Amy Ayres, vice president for student affairs and dean of students, said she is preparing a student survey so residents of dorms will have input in the

situation. Students seem to agree that cable should be cut, officials said. “Most students who have expressed their opinions so far are in support of disconnecting the cable,” Culbertson said. One student expressed concern about losing cable. “I don’t want them to disconnect the cable, I watch Project Runway on there,” said McAlyn Forbes, vocal performance freshman.

Wesley Center collects donations for foster children Miguel Rios SENIOR STAFF WRITER

The Wesley Center teamed up with Circle of Care to provide Christmas presents to 12 foster children. Circle of Care is a United Methodist organization whose mission is to help children and families in need assure a healthy future, according to its website, circleofcare.org. “They have given us 12 children to take care of and our goal is to get $100 per child to give them $100 worth of Christmas gifts for the year,” said Olivia Coil, youth ministry senior. “It’s also bringing awareness that foster children are a part of our community.” Last year about 230,000 children exited foster care in the U.S., about 20,000 less than those who entered into it, according to data from the Adoption and Foster Care Analysis and Reporting System. “I donated to Circle of Care because I’m in Ris4Thursday and I know the struggles that foster kids go through,” said

People should donate because it helps them to believe that they have made a difference in the world bigger than themselves. Even donating a penny, it makes a difference.

Olivia Coil

youth ministry senior

Tomorrow Denton, cell and molecular biology sophomore. “I had foster brothers growing up and they would always get free Christmas presents from the agency, and they would be super happy. I just wanted to contribute to that happiness.” People can donate money or new items from a list the children created, Coil said. Items on the list include Play-Dough, books, LEGOs, camping gear and Barbie dolls. The complete list can be found at their table outside the caf in Tom and Brenda McDaniel University Center.

“People should donate because it helps them to believe that they have made a difference in the world bigger than themselves,” Coil said. “Even donating a penny, it makes a difference. That one penny can change a child’s life by making them realize that someone cares enough to donate.” The Wesley Center will also host a silent auction from noon to 2 p.m. Nov. 19 upstairs in Bishop W. Angie Smith Chapel. “People can come and bid on lots of different items that we’ll have available,” Coil said. “So they can give money that way and get something in return.” Items for auction come from the Belle Isle Brewery, Rocktown Climbing Gym, Riversport Adventure, and Starbucks. To make a donation, visit the Wesley Center’s table between 11:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. weekdays through Nov. 18 outside the caf. For more information on how to help the Wesley Center and Circle of Care, students, faculty and staff may email Coil at ogcoil@my.okcu.edu.

Facilities workers prepare safety procedures for icy weather Oaklin Davis STAFF WRITER

Facilities workers are preparing for icy weather to keep students safe as winter approaches. Facilities added one snowplow and three golf cart plows to the two trucks and one bobcat already used for clearing ice from sidewalks and roads. Facilities will use fertilizer November 11, 2015

instead of ice melt this year, as it is cheaper and equally effective, said Mark Clouse, director of facilities. Facilities already stored the estimated amount that will be needed this winter. Officials focus pretreatment on high trafficked areas and steps. High priority places include the dormitories, caf and library entrances. Then they focus on clearing all entrances

to buildings and walkways across campus. Clouse said he advises students to use the ice-free paths to prevent injuries. “Our biggest problem is students don’t use the cleared sidewalks,” he said. Staff members may stay overnight on the couches in their offices or arrive to campus early to avoid dangerous driving conditions and ensure workers are

available during bad weather situations. Facilities maintain that student safety can be maximized given preparation time and the measures already taken. “When we know it’s coming, we do a good job preparing,” Clouse said. “If all our guys can make it to work, we do well.” Students can take precautionary measures to avoid injury and inconvenience. Some students

advise to watch the weather and plan driving trips before ice storms hit. “Be weather aware,” said Tris Patton, music theater sophomore. “Get what you’ll need early and stock up. Avoid shady spots behind buildings and metal sidewalk doors.” If the decision to cancel school is made, it will be announced through Blue Alert, the campus text and email service.

The decision is made by a collective effort with influence from OCU’s risk management, facilities and police department, as well as surrounding universities and the National Weather Service in Norman, Okla., according to okcu.edu. Visit MediaOCU.com to read more about how the decision to close school is made.

news

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Students to showcase knowledge through poster contest Taylor Rey STAFF WRITER

Students have the opportunity to showcase knowledge and a chance to win cash prizes at the annual undergraduate research poster contest. The contest is open to all undergraduate students, and entries can cover any topic. The work must be original and completed during the current academic year, in class or individually. Students

can submit a poster individually or as a group. After topics are submitted, faculty will divide them into categories for judging. Past entries include, “A Psychoanalysis of The Hulk” and “P53 Structure in Cancer Therapy.” The contest is hosted by the Honors Program and is at 11 a.m. Dec. 4 on the first floor of the Goldstar Memorial Building. All students are welcome to attend and listen to other student’s presentations, even if

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I liked getting to share my research with the faculty and seeing the variety of topics students were interested in.

they are not competing. Faculty from various university departments will judge the posters based on the students’ knowledge of the field

Noelle Bradley

dance management junior

and creativity. “The trick is to find the sweet spot on the posters between being visually interesting while displaying

research,” said Marc DiPaolo, a s s i s t a n t d i re c t o r o f t h e Honors Program. “Posters need to be as creative as they are informative.” First, second and third place winners in each category receive cash prizes. The amount of the award is based on the budget for the event and number of categories. “I did it freshmen year and won $50,” said Noelle Bradley, dance management junior. “I wrote a paper on Supergirl and how her appear-

ance responded to changes in views on women. I liked getting to share my research with the faculty and seeing the variety of topics students were interested in.” Applications are due Nov. 20 and can be returned to Room 258 in Walker Center for Arts and Sciences. For an application form or more information, contact DiPaolo at medipaolo@ okcu.edu or 405-306-2103.

Play addresses racism, sexism Nicole Hacker STAFF WRITER

A student-directed play portrays the struggles of black women against racism and sexism. For Colored Girls Who Have Considered Suicide/ When the Rainbow is Enuf follows seven black women and the difficulty they face in a racist and sexist society. The women each wear a specific color: red, blue, purple, yellow, brown, green, and orange. The colors represent different issues such as, rape, abortion, abandonment, and domestic violence. Performances are at 8 p.m. Nov. 19-21 and 2 p.m. Nov. 22 in the Black Box Theater in Kirkpatrick Fine Arts Center. For Colored Girls, written by Ntozake Shange in 1975, was nominated for a Tony

Rehearsal is fun. Laughing is necessary when working with a subject matter this personal.

Award for “Best Play.” It was later adapted into a book, television movie and feature film. The show is a choreopoem, composed of 20 different poems choreographed to music. The poems and music weave together stories of love, empowerment, struggle and loss. “Rehearsal is fun, laughing is necessary when working with a subject matter this personal,” said Tyra Bullock, acting junior. “The show gives insight to a lot of things that women have wanted to say for a while.” Isaiah Williams, acting

Tyra Bullock acting junior

junior and director of the play, said he is eager to portray a story about struggles against racism and sexism. “I want to do the female role models in my life proud,” Williams said. It is important in the climate of New World politics to remember where we come from and what we are working toward, Williams said. “Sometimes, we forget about women,” he said. Tickets are available from the box office in Kirkpatrick Fine Arts Center.

Ali Wonderly Student Publications

Royals

Jennifer Higley, dance senior, and President Robert Henry cheer for Homecoming Queen Amanda Wright, acting senior from Gamma Phi Beta, and Homecoming King Valentino Valentin, acting junior from Kappa Sigma. The royalty were crowned during halftime of the men’s basketball game Saturday in Abe Lemons Arena in Henry J. Freede Wellness and Activity Center.

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Theater school releases revised, shortened program Alex German STAFF WRITER

The School of Theater has released a revised Bachelor of Arts program. The change will go into effect in Fall 2016. It will replace the old Bachelor of Arts program when the current students graduate. The program will give students the education they would receive in show business, but localized into a four-year program. “There are jobs now that didn’t exist 10 years ago,” said Brian Parsons, associate dean of the School of Theater. “So that was the driver behind it.” The course will focus on the applications and context of theater, teaching students to generate art projects for themselves and others. “My hope and ambition is that when the graduates of this revised program leave, they will look at the world around them and just see opportunities to generate art,” Parsons said. Kate Brennan, assistant professor of voice and acting, agreed and said the students “can be artists without anyone

My hope and ambition is that when the graduates of this revised program leave, they will look at the world around them and just see opportunities to generate art.

Brian Parsons associate dean School of Theater

else giving them permission.” The new degree program contains a requirement to study abroad. Students in the program will travel to the United Kingdom spring of their junior year. Expenses for this semester are included in tuition. Brennan said the goal of the study abroad semester is to create “global citizens in an international market.” The updated program also has a new capstone requirement. Seniors will be required to write, produce, fundraise for, and participate in a one-week festival of new works. The works can be digital, movement pieces or theater. “This program is the answer to the classically based BFA,”

Brennan said. “Because it is what a lot of people end up doing in the world, a hodgepodge life. We are creating sustainable artists.” The School of Theater is searching for a faculty adviser to be in charge of the program. “The ideal person for the job is renaissance, a jack of all trades,” Brennan said. Recruitment will start for Fall 2016. Current freshman will be allowed to switch to the program with no repercussions. Some students have expressed concern about the time they will spend acting. “I don’t feel as if it would be focused enough on acting, but I feel like every program should have a required study abroad aspect,” said Emily Diaz, theater and music sophomore. “I just would not want to miss out being a theater performance and acting major.” Dean Parsons remains positive about the program. “Those graduates are going to be very exciting young people,” Parsons said.

Students create YouTube series from their dorm room Miguel Rios SENIOR STAFF WRITER

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Donovan Lawson Student Publications

Basketball players cheer for their team at the game Saturday in Abe Lemons Arena in Henry J. Freede Wellness and Activity Center. The game kicked off the men’s basketball season. The Stars defeated Southwestern Oklahoma State, 73-70. “Great start to the Coach Vinay Patel era at OCU,” read a tweet on Jim Abbott’s Twitter. “Nice win in game No.1.”

November 11, 2015

Two students are creating and producing a weekly YouTube series. The DormRoom is a show created by Lincoln Korver, acting sophomore, and Graydon McNally, music theater sophomore, as a way to entertain and connect with people. The series is meant to make viewers laugh while giving them a quick escape from reality, Korver said. “We wanted to create something for our friends and families to look forward to and enjoy,” Korver said. “It’s a show where two friends discuss trending topics, perform bizarre challenges and experiments, and give advice on everything.” McNally pitched the idea to Korver after trying to find a creative way to connect with his family and friends in Canada, McNally said.

“We make a rough outline of anything we want to talk about then turn the camera on and just go for it,” McNally said. “Our subject matter is usually based on random thoughts we have in our day-to-day life.” Two episodes have been uploaded so far. Episode 1 has 353 views and features a taste challenge and a quick workout. Episode 2 has 157 views and features meat carving and things to be grateful for. “We really want people to know that this show is for pure entertainment,” Korver said. “We aren’t doing this in hopes of becoming YouTube famous or for any other ulterior motive. It’s a show we created to make others happy.” Each show opens with an unusual fact and ends with an inspirational quote. “I think it’s definitely entertaining and shows the personalities of two

guys who might not get to show that side of themselves often,” said Hailey Hart, acting sophomore. “I’m excited to see where it goes.” McNally and Korver encourage people to share ideas for the show. “While we will always be ourselves on the show, we want the show to be focused on our viewers,” Korver said. “We welcome new ideas and requests via email, Facebook and comments on our videos.” Other students think the show is interesting. “They took somthing that can be boring and made it unique,” said Sara Cason, psychology junior. To share ideas with The DormRoom, visit their YouTube channel, or email Korver or McNally at ljkorver@my.okcu.edu and gcmcnally@my.okcu. edu.