Rent increases continue to impact UCO campus housing prices

from year to year.

The University of Central Oklahoma has about 1,200 students living on campus for the 2022-2023, the closest to full capacity since before the coronavirus outbreak.

Rent prices have increased over the last few years, pushing students to decide between on- or off-campus housing. A double room in West Hall cost approximately $3,990 for the 2021-2022 school year. The same room costs $4,200 for the 2022-2023 school year.

Chelsea Ratterman, Director of Marketing for Campus Enterprises, said that the University attempts to keep price increases around 3-5%

“We try to mitigate the increases because we know they have life costs, tuition costs, everything like that,” said Ratterman. She also said that there were necessary increases in order to keep the lights on.

Zoë Adam, a Forensic Science sophomore, lives off-campus, citing financial accessibility for the choice.

“When I broke down the prices, it was almost double to live on campus for the same amount of time,” she said. Adam says that one semester’s rent is about $2,500 for a two-bedroom apartment.

If any student has questions about housing, UCO Housing and Residential Engagement can be reached at 405-974-2746 or housing@uco.

Bradie Gray

Contributing Writer

The No. 8 ranked Lady Bronchos softball team comes home from their season-opening weekend at the Division II Spring Invitational Kickoff with a 4-2 record, all capped by knocking off No. 3 UT-Tyler on Sunday.

UCO kicked off the weekend in Conroe, Texas against No. 18 Angelo State. The game was a track meet from start to finish, with Central coming out on top, 13-9. UCO led the entire first part of the game until ASU scored five runs in the top of the fifth to take the lead, 8-5. However, the ‘Chos were not to be outdone. In the bottom of the fifth, they exploded with eight runs themselves, taking a five-run lead and never looking back. There were five Lady Broncho home runs belted in the game; two from Shayla Harper, two from Terin Ritz, and one from Emily Deramus — a great start to what would be a brutal upcoming slate of games.

The next game against St. Edward’s would offer a stark difference to what Central displayed earlier as the defense took over and made light work of the matchup. UCO pitcher Corrina Rivas, who had not pitched for the team since 2021 due to injury, had no issue knocking the rust off as she dominated throughout. In a complete, five-inning game, she gave up only two hits and one run with five strikeouts thrown. Behind her electric performance and four RBIs from Emily Deramus, UCO dominated St. Edward’s, 9-1, in the five-inning run-rule.

Game three for Central is where things got rough. Crosstown rival Oklahoma Christian got the better of UCO, 8-3. The Lady Bronchos dug a big hole for themselves early, trailing 7-1 after two innings. UCO would score one more run in the third, but could never recover more than that. Rivas was not as sharp in this one, giving up four earned runs in just over six innings pitched, however her fielders did her no favors with two errors that would lead to OCU runs, marking the team’s first loss of the season.

They would bounce back in game four against Texas Woman’s University. The game almost got away from Central early, trailing 3-0 after four innings, but after a great inning in the sixth, the game was tied 4-4. A scoreless seventh inning meant the game would go into extras. In the top of the eighth, All-American Jacee Minter came through in the clutch, pumping a solo home run over the left field wall, giving Central the lead and eventually the win, 5-4. Pitcher Teri Ritz was more than solid in the circle, throwing all eight innings with six strikeouts, with only six hits given up. The gutsy win from the Lady Bronchos marked their second comeback win of the young season, as they were now 3-1.

Game five was the worst of the weekend for the Lady Bronchos offensively against St. Mary’s. UCO were dealt the dreaded no-hitter from the Rattlers, losing 2-0. The ‘Chos only had two baserunners all game. Defensively, UCO had a good game with pitcher Jordyn Pipkin notching four strikeouts, but going hitless almost always makes the outcome of the game inevitable.

The final game of the weekend was poised to be the toughest of the Invitational, but the Lady Bronchos certainly saved their best for last. Against No. 3 UT-Tyler, the Lady Bronchos were almost untouchable. Central never trailed, having a great game at the plate by racking up 10 hits. Tatum Long and Minter each had a pair of doubles to lead the way for UCO, as they would go on to win 9-5 — a fantastic way to cap off the tough weekend at 4-2.

“We went through a gauntlet and I’m really proud of the way we finished strong,” head coach Cody White said. “We learned a lot about ourselves and can build off what we did this weekend.”