Volume 117, Issue 21
the
VISTA “Our Words, Your Voice.”
vistanews1903 @thevista1903 @thevista1903 The Vista ucentralmedia.com Tuesday, March 10, 2020
UCO Releases Coronavirus Protocol Sarah Hite @SarahHite19
CONTRIBUTING WRITER
A worker at the Life Care Center in Kirkland, Wash., near Seattle, wears a mask as she walks near a UPS truck during a package delivery, Monday, March 2, 2020. Several of the people who have died in Washington state from the COVID-19 coronavirus were tied to the long-term care facility, where dozens of residents were sick. (AP Photo/Ted S. Warren)
Oklahoma Gov. Kevin Stitt and state officials announced the first confirmed case of COVID-19, coronavirus, in the state in Tulsa on Friday. The same day, The University of Central Oklahoma responded by developing campus protocols distributed through their website. UCO’s protocol concerns surrounding COVID-19 are prevalent after two students within the Edmond Public Schools system have been cleared to return to class following potential exposure. With spring break next week, many students, staff and faculty will be traveling then returning to campus. The incubation period of the virus is two weeks without showing any symptoms. A campus community vigilance is the best way to keep the university
safe. The UCO administration is taking the same preventative advice as the Centers for Disease Control and other federal and local health officials. Whether traveling or staying close to home or campus, students are advised to take common illness prevention precautions. “Such as frequent, thorough hand washing and/or use of hand sanitizer, covering coughs and sneezes with a tissue, avoiding the sharing of utensils or drinks, avoiding contact with sick people, avoiding touching eyes, nose and mouth and maintaining healthy sleep and dietary habits,” according to the CDC. The UCO Coronavirus Updates and Resources website outlines general information about the disease, travel information, university preparation and contact information. In the event of a confirmed case in Continued on Pg. 3
Daylight Saving Time: Why Does It Exist? Chris Krummrich @Chriskrummrich
CONTRIBUTING WRITER
Daylight saving time sprung clocks forward an hour on Sunday, but the change was not officially recognized nationwide in the United States until 1966, according to WebExhibits. Over 100 million Americans were observing daylight saving time based on local laws and customs. In 1966, Congress signed the Uniform Time Act to end the confusion and establish a law that said that daylight saving time was to begin on the first Sunday of April. Since then, the Uniform Time Act has been amended
CAMPUS CHAT
according to the Energy Policy Act of 2005 to begin on the second Sunday of March and end on the first Sunday of November. Daylight saving time occurs as a result of the Earth’s orbit around the sun, according to Charles Hughes, chair of the University of Central Oklahoma Department of Engineering and Physics. Earth’s tilt plays a factor in the shortening and lengthening of the daylight and nighttime. “Think of yourself as being in the middle of a field,” Hughes said. “The sun rises in the east and sets in the west, but it doesn’t go straight overContinued on Pg. 3
SPORTS
An analog clock sits on a table in the foreground as a woman sleeps in the background. Clocks were set back an hour Sunday for daylight saving time. (Provided/ Pixabay)
STATEWIDE
TECHNOLOGY
Campus Coronavirus Basketball MIAA Recap Doing Spring Break on a New Twitter Feature See Pg. 13 Budget See Pg. 7 See Pg. 8 See Pg. 5 Concerns
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March 10, 2020
Contents
VISTA
Content
UCO Virus Protocol/Daylight Savings..........................................3 Around Campus...........................................................................4 Campus Chat...............................................................................5 Joe Biden/Spotify.........................................................................6 Spring Break................................................................................7 Technology....................................................................8 Opinion.............................................................................10 Games....................................................................................11 Feature...............................................................................12 Basketball Wrap-up....................................................................13 Esports...................................................................14 Bucking Broncho........................................................................15
Staff Jeff Elkins Haley Humphrey CiCi Simon Megan Thele Jacob Silva JaNae Williams Kevin Blair Lauren Morris Chelsye Bacon Gerald Leong Teddy Burch
THE VISTA
is published as a newspaper and public forum by UCO students, weekly during the academic year, at the University of Central Oklahoma. The issue price is free for the first copy and $1 for each additional copy obtained.
EDITORIALS
Editor-in-Chief Managing Editor Photo Editor Copy Editor Sports Editor Reporter Reporter Reporter Photographer Photographer Adviser
Opinion columns, editorial cartoons, reviews and commentaries represent the views of the writer or artist and not necessarily the views of The Vista Editorial Board, the Department of Mass Communication, UCO or the Board of Regents of Oklahoma Colleges. The Vista is not an official medium of expression for the Regents or UCO.
must be typed, double-spaced and must include the author’s printed name, major, classification and phone number. Phone numbers are included for contacting purposes only. Letters are subject to editing for libel, clarity and space, or to eliminate statements of questionable taste. The Vista reserves the right not to publish submitted letters.
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On the Cover: Left: Rashelly Noriega smiles for a Campus Chat photo. Students this week gave their thoughts on the coronavirus. (Bailey Bussell/The Vista) Left Middle: Camryn Givens, forward, drives on a defender. Broncho basketball competed in the MIAA Tournament last weekend. (Gerald Leong/The Vista) Right Middle: Beachgoers party at Panama City Beach in Florida. For those staying in Oklahoma over the break, there are options. (Provided/Wikimedia Commons) Right: The Twitter logo is a blue bird named “Larry the Bird,” after NBA legend Larry Bird of the Boston Celtics. Twitter recently rolled out a new feature to fight misinformation. (Provided/Wikimedia Commons)
UCO Virus Protocol/Daylight Savings
March 10, 2020
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UCO Releases Coronavirus Protocol Continued from pg. 1
Edmond or on campus, UCO would continue services. The university provides staff and faculty with secure methods to access work remotely. There are programs in place for professors to file-share, real-time edit, chat and video conference with colleagues. If a long-term closure did occur, classes would be moved into an online environment. Every course instructor may approach the changes differently, but there are resources online to help the transition. “We have to look at the spread of the virus as inevitable,” said Alyssa Provencio, coordinator for the Certificate of Disaster Management program and Visiting Assistant Professor at UCO. “Only then can we begin to take necessary precautions as a community.” In an emergency situation, students can refer to the red books on the wall in every classroom. The books provide information on emergency situations that could occur while in the classroom or building on campus. With an infectious disease outbreak or pandemic, there are a variety of conditional factors, therefore a dis-
In this Tuesday, March 3, 2020 file photo, shelves that held hand sanitizer and hand soap are mostly empty at a store in Jersey City, N.J. On Friday, March 6, 2020, The Associated Press reported on stories circulating online incorrectly asserting that hand sanitizer will do nothing to protect you from the new coronavirus. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig)
ease like COVID-19 will not be in the book. “The university does have a pandemic response plan,” said Adrienne Nobles, UCO’s interim vice president for Communications and Public Affairs. “A team of university staff, in collaboration with partners such as our custodial and cleaning service and the team at the OU Physicians Health and Wellness Clinic at UCO, are working to review the plan and get resources in place should we need them.”
As of March 9, the University of Oklahoma leadership is considering moving classes online for the two weeks following spring break due to concerns regarding the coronavirus, according to an OU Daily reporter and News Editor Bailey Lewis. Nobles said the UCO administration retains the right to suspend classes when necessary but as of right now that is not in discussion. Thursday there will be a lecture dinner hosted by the International
Student Council and UCO Student Association, “Novel Coronavirus Awareness: More than a Medical Issue,” from 5:30-7 p.m. in the Nigh University Center Ballroom C. Also on Thursday, there is a Disaster Management in Local Government meeting from 6-7:30 p.m. in the Nigh University Center’s Heritage Room 326. Emergency managers from across the OKC metro will be in attendance, including Edmond, OKC, Midwest City and UCO.
The Truth About Daylight Saving Time Continued from pg. 1
head…It goes at an angle because it’s related to the rotation of the Earth, and the Earth rotates at a tilt.” In today’s society, working hours are determined by the nature of the occupation. Daylight saving time has allowed for an adjustment of hours in a way that helps conserve energy for businesses, according to Hughes. However, farmers are still basing work hours off of the sun.
“In an agrarian society, it was all governed by that. When the sun came up you went to work and when it went down you went home,” Hughes said. “But when we became mechanistic around the late 1800s, then we began to think in terms of ‘well, we don’t want to use the daylight, we want to go by the clock because that’s what the job was.’” Ruelle Kinslow is a farmer and rancher east of Dover, Oklahoma. Kinslow currently runs a cow and calf
When Americans “spring forward” due to daylight saving time, some feel tired because of their lack of sleep from a “lost hour.” Daylight saving time occurs because of the Earth’s tilt. (Provided/Pixabay)
Daylight saving time has ties to the government, as it was implemention nationwide in 1966. More than 100 million Americans observe daylight saving time because of the Uniform Time Act, which was signed by Congress. (Provided/Pixabay)
operation where he grows pasture to feed the animals. He said he prefers having more daylight to get more things done. “Daylight is daylight. You just get more done with more hours in the day, if I feel like it,” Kinslow said. “You can adjust accordingly, but I wish it would stay one way or the other. By the time you get used to one, you have to fall back to the other time.” Kinslow also said his line of work is
different than those in an eight to five job, as his work is based around the light, not standardized hours. “People who have an eight to five job, it benefits them a whole lot,” Kinslow said. “You have about four or five hours in the evening to get something done. It benefits them because they have a lot of time.” For people like Kinslow, as long as the sun is up, there is still work to do.
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March 10, 2020
Around Campus
The University of Central Oklahoma began its demolition of Buddy’s Cafeteria on March 3. The demolition process has continued throughout the week and into this week. The remaining space will be turned into a park for students and faculty. (Kevin Blair/The Vista)
Tuesday, March 10, 2020 OU Solidarity UCO Transformation Demonstration: From 11 a.m. - 12 p.m. under the Blue Tent by the Nigh University Center, UCO’s Diversity Round Table is hosting a solidarity march for students, faculty and staff to show support to University of Oklahoma students. This event will also allow members of the campus to show their desire for change on UCO’s campus. Intercollegiate Stickball Game: From 4-7 p.m. at Plunket Park, the Native American Student Association will host its intercollegiate stickball game. At this event, students will learn the history of the game, as well as how to play the traditional Native American game. Spinning, Twirling, Twitter pated: From 7:30-9 p.m. inside Mitchell Hall Theater, UCO Wind Symphony is hosting performances conducted by Brian Lamb. The event will feature a performance by soprano Danielle Herrington and Michael Relland as a guest conductor. The program features work by living composers hypnotically drawn to the universal muse of love. The poetic inspirations for these compositions betray the con-
stant fascination humans experience with attraction, fealty, jealousy and Eros. For millennia, artists of all types, musicians, painters, poets, dancers and playwrights mined the explosive delights and dark despairs of human affections. These musings ultimately inform us of our shared humanity across cultures and epochs. This event is STLR-tagged for research, creative and scholarly activities.
Wednesday, March 11, 2020 Vagina Monologues: From 6-8 p.m. inside the Nigh University Center Carl Albert Room 300, the UCO Women’s Outreach Center and AAUW @Central invite a performance of monologues expressing women’s experiences, sexuality and trauma and abuse.
Thursday, March 12, 2020 ISC & UCOSA Lecture Dinner - Novel Coronavirus Awareness More Than a Medical Issue: From 5:30-7 p.m. in the Nigh University Center Ballroom C, the International Student Council and the UCO Student Association will host a lecture to spread awareness on medical preventative measures and protocols. The event is meant to prevent potential
prejudices on campus due to health concerns surrounding coronavirus.
different types of dances and all of the in’s and out’s of pow wows.
Jordan Peele Movie Dissections: From 6-8 p.m. in Nigh University Center Room 304, UCO NAACP will host a night of discussion over black movie writer and director Jordan Peele. Movie critics, conspiracy theorists and movie lovers are welcomed. The two movies of discussion are “Get Out” and “Us.” This event is STLRtagged for global and cultural competency and research, and creative and scholarly activities.
Baseball vs Emporia State University: The Bronchos baseball team will take on Emporia State University at Wendell Simmons Field at 6 p.m.
Disaster Management in Local Government Panel: From 6-8 p.m. inside the Nigh University Center Heritage Room 326, Praxis Club invites students to a panel of local government leaders who will discuss how they handle disasters and emergencies in their communities. The panel will include local emergency managers and other UCO clubs and majors who may have an interest in the topic and in public service. Refreshments will be provided.
Friday, March 13, 2020 Pow Wow 101: From 4-5 p.m. in the Nigh University Center Room 201, NASA is teaching pow wow etiquette,
Saturday, March 14, 2020 Baseball vs Emporia State University: The Bronchos baseball team will take on Emporia State University at Wendell Simmons Field at 3 p.m. Sunday, March 15, 2020 Baseball vs Emporia State University: The Bronchos baseball team will take on Emporia State University at Wendell Simmons Field at 1 p.m. Monday, March 16, 2020 Ice Cream Social: From 5-6:30 p.m., the Freshman Action Team is having an ice cream for students to meet with other students across campus. Spring Break: UCO’s campus will be closed for spring break during the start of this week until March 20. Students and faculty will return to campus on Monday, March 23. Happy Spring Break, Bronchos!
Campus Chat
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March 10, 2020
What are your concerns with the coronavirus?
Delaney Spitz, Business Management, senior: “My concern about the coronavirus is people are acting like it’s the end of the world when we have so many other things to actually worry about. So, people are what I’m concerned about, not the virus.”
Aidan Sall, History, freshman: “I’m more concerned about general panic that might be caused by it.”
Nazka Nurbyek, Biomedical Sciences, sophomore: “I think it’s going to become something bigger. I’m definitely worried, especially as a Biomed major, and what this has for future doctors as well. I know a lot of states in the U.S. have started getting this virus, so I’m kind of scared about what’s going to happen with traveling to other states and traveling abroad. I hope that we can find a cure, so this doesn't continue.”
Kelly Lykins, Computer Science, sophomore: “I’m concerned that the government is not going to be doing what it needs to be doing to try and slow the outbreak. People just need to wash their hands. There’s not much the average person can do about it.”
Zoie Moan, Humanities, sophomore: “I take pretty good precautions. I wash my hands a lot. Sometimes I’ll wear a mask, but they’re sold out right now. I clean everything constantly. I think I’m fine.”
Catherine Jarshaw, Biomedical Engineering, sophomore: “I have really bad asthma so I’m really worried about that if I catch it. I guess I’m young, so I probably have a high chance of survival because of that, but I’m still kind of nervous. I wear a face mask when I’m home.”
Damon Lam, Computer Science, junior: “I say it’s pretty dangerous so far. There’s not too much concern being in Oklahoma right now, but I would just say people should be more clean. Wash your hands. Be clean. Just be safe.”
Rashelly Noriega, Computer Science, sophomore: “Hopefully it doesn't get here. I definitely watch the news and read that it is already in Washington, which is concerning.”
Zach Olson, Criminal Justice and Forensics Science, freshman: “With what we know about it right now, I’m not super concerned. My only real concern is what are we going to do to help it in other places where they aren’t as able to stay as clean as we are.”
Hiba Mezher, Biology, junior: “It’s just, if we get it here, the whole campus will close. I’m concerned mostly about the people that are going to be infected. I hope it doesn't happen here.”
Dalton Elmore, Physical Education, senior: “My concerns are whether or not it’s going to reach this far and whether or not it is going to adapt and change and get worse.”
Markus Hammons, Business, freshman: “My concerns for the coronavirus include primarily that it is being misrepresented. I think there is a lot of fake news going on around it. We’re told one thing or we mishear something and we continue to spread rumors. That’s what my concern is. Even though there is enough information out there, the information isn’t getting to those who it needs to. It’s more or less like a game of telephone.”
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March 10, 2020
Joe Biden/Spotify
Major Gun Safety Groups Endorse Joe Biden Presidential Bid Alexandra Jaffe AP REPORTER
GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. (AP) — Two of the nation’s largest gun control advocacy groups have endorsed Joe Biden, the latest sign that Bernie Sanders’ spotty record on guns may be weighing him down in the presidential primary. Everytown for Gun Safety and Brady announced they are backing the former vice president. Everytown for Gun Safety Action Fund plans to spend $60 million on electoral activities this cycle, some of which will go toward trying to elect Biden. An Everytown spokesman said the group typically airs advertisements and engages in grassroots organizing for the candidates it endorses, though it’s unclear when the group will begin to spend on Biden’s behalf. The group, which was co-founded by billionaire former New York Mayor Mike Bloomberg, also boasts 6 million supporters and more than 375,000 grassroots donors, numbers that could help boost attention and support for Biden’s presidential bid nationwide. Brady, another leading gun violence prevention group, endorsed Biden on Sunday. The group said in a statement that as a senator, Biden worked with
Democratic presidential candidate and former Vice President Joe Biden speaks at Tougaloo College in Tougaloo, Miss., Sunday, March 8, 2020. (AP Photo/Rogelio V. Solis)
Jim and Sarah Brady to pass the landmark Brady Bill, which established mandatory background checks for gun sales. Biden also championed a 1994 federal assault weapons ban. “Joe Biden has worked with the gun violence prevention movement, with survivors and with lawmakers his entire career,” Brady President Kris Brown said. ”We know him, and he knows us. We know he will work to deliver this change.” Biden said he was honored to receive the endorsements and lamented that the high rate of gun violence in the U.S. has become “normal” for most Americans. For those who are connected to gun violence, “normal is a living nightmare,” Biden said. In an interview with The Associated Press, John Feinblatt, head of Every-
When searching on Spotify, click the camera icon on the right and hover over the icon to be taken to a playlist created by editors from the Vista.
town for Gun Safety, said the group chose Biden because working for gun control is “his past, it’s his present, it’s his future.” Asked if Sanders’ record on gun control factored into the group’s decision, Feinblatt said that the group looks at a candidate’s “total record.” “You can’t confine yourself to just what somebody says they’ll do in the future. You have to look at what they’ve done in the past,” he said. “Unquestionably, Joe is a person who’s dedicated much of his life to the issue of gun safety.” Feinblatt cited Biden’s support for the 1993 Brady Bill, which established background checks and a waiting period to buy most firearms, as well as Biden’s opposition to measures that would shield gun manufacturers from lawsuits over misuse of their guns. He
Wait for the Moment — Vulfpeck
No Judgement — Niall Horan
Quicksand — The Story So Far
All on Black — Alkaline Trio
Electric Feel — stories, Nataly Dawn
Bags — Clario
Guilty Conscience — 070 Shake
Dragonball Durag — Thundercat
Modern Loneliness — Lauv
The Man — Taylor Swift
Here Comes The Sun — The Beatles Galway Girl — Ed Sheeran Love & War in Your Twenties — Jordan Searcy Only In Dreams — Weezer Gray Area — KAYTRANADA, Mick Jenkins
Linger — The Cranberries Easily — Bruno Major Green Light — Lorde More — Flying Lotus, Anderson .Paak Invisible Things — Lauv The Middle — Jimmy Eat World
Soak Up The Sun — Sheryl Crow
Godzilla (feat. Juice WRLD) — Eminem The Bottom of It — Fruit Bats
Want to listen to music
Vista?
Dirty Little Secret — The All-American Rejects
Blinding Lights — The Weeknd
Gum — Moose Blood
from The
also pointed to Biden’s work on the Violence Against Women Act, which included some gun control provisions. During his tenure in the House and the Senate, Sanders opposed the Brady Bill and supported bills that would give gun manufacturers immunity from lawsuits. His position on gun control issues has shifted, and he now has a D-minus rating from the National Rifle Association. But Sanders’ past votes have been frequent fodder for attacks from his opponents, dating back to his 2016 Democratic primary fight with Hillary Clinton. Most recently, Sanders came under attack during the South Carolina debate two weeks ago from multiple opponents for his record on guns, with Biden charging, as he stood next to the Vermont senator, that “my friend on my right and others have given gun manufacturers absolute immunity.” Biden also has run ads highlighting his work on gun control measures. “I’ve taken on the NRA and defeated them twice,” he said. “And I believe we need a candidate for president who will fight alongside these leaders, not the NRA or gun manufacturers.” Everytown for Gun Safety is largely financed by Bloomberg, a former 2020 presidential candidate who dropped out of the race and endorsed Biden last week.
Where Am I At — MAX Naive — The Kooks Adore You — Harry Styles Scorpio Rising — Soccer Mommy Where Are You? (Love for JL) [feat. Copasetic & Lindsay Olsen] — Joomanji Ghostride — Crumb Nancy Mulligan — Ed Sheeran I’m Still Here (Jim’s Theme) - from “Treasure Planet” — John Rzeznik Die Contrary — As Cities Burn
When searching on Spotify, click the camera icon on the right and hover over this icon to be taken to a playlist created by editors from The Vista.
Spring Break
March 10, 2020
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Doing Spring Break on a Budget Sierra Carpenter @TheVista1903
CONTRIBUTING WRITER
For students wanting a road trip experience, there is the Chickasaw National Recreation Area in Sulphur, Oklahoma. The park is free to enter and offers hiking and walking trails, swimming, horseback riding and fishing, if you have a license. According to the U.S. National Park Service, the park is open 24 hours a day, all year. More information is available at nps.org. (Provided/Wikimedia Commons)
Another road trip idea is the Oklahoma Aquarium in Jenks. The Oklahoma Aquarium offers many exhibits including Aquatic Oklahoma, Extreme Amazon and Marvels and Mysteries. There is also a shark tunnel guests can walk through that houses the world’s largest collection of bull sharks, according to the aquarium’s website. The tunnel features 10 bull sharks and three nurse sharks. Tickets are $17 for an adult day pass. More information about hours and exhibits can be found at okaquariums. org. (Provided/Oklahoma Aquarium)
Another hidden gem is Riversport Adventures in the Boathouse District near downtown OKC. Sunny days over the break can be spent kayaking, rock climbing, paddle boating or doing many other outdoor activities. Riversport is more expensive, with day passes at $50, but allows attendees to take part in everything they have to offer. The passes also allow guests to enjoy outdoor activities offered at Lake Hefner and Lake Overholser as well. More information is available at riversportokc. org. (Provided/Vista Archives)
Factory Obscura is a 6,000 square foot interactive art display in Oklahoma City. Their latest experience is entitled “Mix-Tape,” and is a take on “the classic audio autobiography,” according to the Factory Obscura website. Each experience is hand crafted by artists to create an immersive display. A single day pass is $12 per adult; tickets are available online or on site. Factory Obscura is located at 25 NW 9th Street in OKC. (Provided/toddeclark)
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March 10, 2020
Technology
Twitter’s Latest Fact-Check Feature Selena Luna @selenaaluna
CONTRIBUTING WRITER
A leaked Twitter demo has revealed new features to identify misleading information posted by political and public figures. In the demo, an orange label directly beneath the tweet will notify users that a tweet has been flagged. In the midst of the 2020 election, many have called out social media companies to curb fake news and false information shared on their platforms. Twitter stated that the new feature will fact-check things posted from public and political figures by a team of journalists to prevent misleading information from going out to the public.
There’s also the possibility that the new feature will allow others to participate in correcting the information posted in a new “community reports” feature, which the demo claims is “like Wikipedia.” In addition to the bright red and orange badges for tweets considered “harmfully misleading,” corrections will be made directly beneath the post. “If I am able to see what is false and what is misleading, it will help me make a better decision when voting in the primary election,” said nursing major Jewels Martinez. A tweet about gun background checks by Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., and a tweet about whistleblowers by House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy, R-Calif.,
were featured in the leaked Twitter demo. The demo also has Twitter users earning “points” and a “community badge” if they “contribute in good faith and act like a good neighbor” and “provide critical context to help people understand information they see,” according to Twitter. This point system could prevent trolls or political ideologues from becoming moderators if they differ too often from the broader community in what they mark as false or misleading. In the demo, community members are shown being asked whether a tweet is “likely” or “unlikely” to be “harmfully misleading.” A rating scale will then be used to ask how many community mem-
bers would answer the same before elaborating on why the tweet is harmfully misleading. “I think all social media pages should have this new feature,” said sophomore Victor Ramirez. “Not just Twitter.” In January, Twitter announced a policy that bans tweets that “deceptively share synthetic or manipulated media that are likely to cause harm.” Twitter told NBC News that the community reporting feature is one of several possibilities that may be launched in several weeks, but did not specify when the brightly colored labels would take place on the website and app.
Snapchat Is Here For You in Upcoming Feature Selena Luna @selenaaluna
CONTRIBUTING WRITER
Social media app Snapchat has announced a new feature that will allow users to access mental health resources when needed. The new feature, Here For You, will officially launch in a few months, Snap Inc. said. The feature is supposed to help users who may be experiencing a mental health or emotional crisis, or users who want to learn about these issues and how to help loved ones deal with them. Snapchat will have local experts help with topics related to depression, anxiety, suicidal thoughts, stress, grief and bullying. “Sometimes I don’t know how to handle all of my emotions at once, and it doesn’t let me speak about them freely so I think this new Snapchat feature will help out students who are like me,” said sophomore Kaitlyn Crossler. The feature is somewhat similar to Pinterest’s mental health initiative that was introduced last year, which primarily focused on exercises and resources. Snapchat plans to have links directing to related topics users will search on. According to the National Alliance on Mental Illness, one in four college students have a diagnosed mental illness. The mental illness that affects students the most is depression.
The popular photo sharing app, Snapchat, plans to release an update in the near future that will allow users to access mental health resources through a new feature “Here for You”. The feature is intended to help users experiencing mental health and emotional crises, anxiety, grief and more. (Photo Illustration/Cici Simon)
In a 2013 study, depression was listed as the number one reason why students dropped out of school. UCO does have mental health resources on campus, including free group and individual counseling at the Center for Counseling and Well-Being, but some students don’t reach out. “With sociology being my major, I am familiar with how the younger generation behaves,” said senior
Alejandra Godinez. “I think creating something on an app used by mostly younger generations to help with mental health is going to be very successful.” The new Snapchat feature will work through the search bar. Users can search what topic they need help on or want to learn about, and local experts will be able to help on the topic. Along with Here For You, there will
also be links designed for users to help cope with mental health problems, including videos and shows that will teach skills such as breathing exercises for anxiety. With social media playing significant roles in the everyday lives of students, Snapchat said it was excited to launch this new feature to better help their younger audience suffering from mental health issues.
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March 10, 2020
Op-Ed
Opinion: Warren Should Endorse Sanders Lauren Morris @TheVista1903 REPORTER
If you aren’t caught up with the almost soap opera-like drama of the current presidential election, one of the Democratic front-runners, Elizabeth Warren, dropped out March 5 and has yet to endorse anyone. I think she needs to endorse Bernie Sanders. I think I speak for many when I say she did a lot worse than expected. I had pretty much known that Sanders and Biden would be the two in the end— but I definitely did not expect Warren to be several hundred delegates behind in third place. As easy as it could be to blame Warren for Sanders’ approximate 90 delegate loss, I won’t. It can be easy to strip the humanity away from an election and just look at the numbers. If I was surprised by the turnout of Warren’s votes, I have an inkling she was too, and it is hard to blame her or her supporters for voting for who they believed in. However, it would also be naive to ignore said numbers. She got third place in her home state of Massachusetts, practically the biggest hit you can receive. So when she exited the running a few days later, it was not very shocking. She did what she could with the information she had. It was humble… for a politician. Now I think she needs to take responsibility and endorse Sanders. Why Sanders? There have been some arguments in the past, particularly when it came
Sen. Elizabeth Warren, D-Mass., speaks to the media outside her home, Thursday, March 5, 2020, in Cambridge, Mass., after she dropped out of the Democratic presidential race. (AP Photo/Steven Senne)
out that Sanders had once said he did not think a woman could be president (which, I feel like if we give it the context of the current political climate, is a statement I find myself agreeing with). Their policies, while not identical, are more alike than either of them with Biden’s, according to a Washington Post policy comparison. They both agree on eliminating the electoral college and putting in either a popular vote or a ranked system. Biden does not. Warren and Sanders believe in Medicare For All, which is a step beyond the Affordable Care Act, which
Supporters of Democratic presidential candidate Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., cheer during a primary night election rally in Essex Junction, Vt., Tuesday, March 3, 2020. (AP Photo/Matt Rourke)
Biden plans on protecting. Warren and Sanders believe in repealing criminal charges against those trying to cross the southern border. Biden does not. Biden proposes making higher education more affordable— Warren and Sanders plan to make it free.
Sometimes we have to vote strategically. Even if it means voting for someone who, months ago, we were against, because chances are there will always be someone who we are more against. It’s not that all of Biden’s plans are necessarily bad or regressive. It’s that Warren’s plans of building something new instead of merely building on top of what already exists fall more in line with Sanders’. There are some who will say it is not her responsibility to endorse a can-
didate, but I have to disagree. Even before she ran for president, she had been in the Senate for about a decade. She is a public figure; she is a politician. Warren dropping out has not stopped that. She absolutely has the responsibility to endorse a candidate, and more so to endorse Sanders. If she is truly behind the policies she has been putting forth— if she actually wants them to be enacted— she will endorse him. With six more states voting March 10, it will be interesting to see what happens. While not as big as last week, there’s a little over 350 delegates altogether in Idaho, Michigan, Mississippi, Missouri, North Dakota and Washington. If Warren were to endorse Sanders, I think it would mean the difference of winning a few states. I will admit I have been a Sanders supporter since the beginning. Warren’s ignoring of the consequences she set forth when acting as a Native American for two decades sits wrong with me. She had also been a registered Republican until 1996. Regardless, I would have seen past my own issues to vote for her if this situation was switched, and if Sanders had been the one to drop out instead. Sometimes we have to vote strategically. Even if it means voting for someone who, months ago, we were against, because chances are there will always be someone who we are more against. I genuinely hope that Warren, as well as her supporters who now find themselves on the fence, can say the same.
March 10, 2020
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BALLPOINT DOCUMENTS DRAWING FELT FOUNTAIN INK INSTRUMENT JOT NIB PAPER QUILL ROLLERBALL SCRIBBLE STYLUS WRITING
WEEKLY HOROSCOPE ARIES (March 21 to April 19) Disappointed about something that didn’t go your way? Cheer up. Look at the reasons it happened, and you could find a valuable lesson about what to do (or not do!) the next time. TAURUS (April 20 to May 20) It’s a good time to do some reassessing of plans and goals -- even how you considered redoing your bathroom. The point is to be open to change if change can improve things. GEMINI (May 21 to June 20) Take some time to learn who is the right person (or persons) to approach and discuss your ideas with for your new project. Also, reserve time to prepare for an upcoming family event. CANCER (June 21 to July 22) Dealing with a demanding situation, as you recently did, could drain much of your own emotional reserves. Take time to relax and indulge yourself in some well-earned pampering. LEO (July 23 to August 22) The regal Lion might feel that she or he is above emotional displays. But showing your feelings can be both liberating for you and reassuring for someone who has been waiting for you to do so. VIRGO (August 23 to September 22) An emotionally needy person might make more demands than you can cope with. Best to ask for some breathing space NOW, before resentment sets in and makes communication difficult. LIBRA (September 23 to October 22) An unexpected spate of mixed signals could cause serious schedule setbacks. Best to focus
CROSSWORD Answers
LAST WEEK’S ANSWERS March 3, 2020
MAGIC MAZE Answers
(Week of Feb. 17, 2020)
on straightening everything out as soon as possible and get everyone back on track. SCORPIO (October 23 to November 21) Be aware that someone in the workplace could try to use a disagreement with a colleague against you. If so, be prepared to offer your side of the story with the facts to back you up. SAGITTARIUS (November 22 to December 21) An unexpected challenge to a previous decision can be unsettling. But your reservoir of self-confidence -- plus your loyal supporters -- should help carry the day for you. Good luck. CAPRICORN (December 22 to January 19) While the idea of making some sort of major move in the near future continues to interest you, don’t overlook a new possibility that could be emerging closer to home. AQUARIUS (January 20 to February 18) Be careful not to base an upcoming decision on gossip or anything you might hear if it can’t meet provable standards. That’s true regardless of whom the source might be. PISCES (February 19 to March 20) You might still need to do some solid reassessing early in the week before you can close that sensitive situation. A new job-related opportunity could present itself later in the week. BORN THIS WEEK: You are extraordinarily sensitive to people’s feelings, and you’re always ready to offer comfort if necessary. (c) 2019 King Features Synd., Inc.
Weekly SUDOKU Answers
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March 10, 2020
Feature
A Three-Decade Old Friendship Spurs a New One Anthony Mellendorf @HighTechTony CONTRIBUTING WRITER
It is a dark cloudy night in Tonkawa, Oklahoma. Inside the fans are cheering and the stadium is packed full. There is 15 seconds left in a close game as Kapriece Richardson, the star point guard, passes the ball to Dana Vap-Pulley, the star forward – buckets! Game over. On any given night, Kapriece and Dana could be found winning games for the Northern Oklahoma College Mavericks 34 years ago. Today, Kapriece and Dana can be found on the sidelines in Edmond watching their daughters Kaci and McKenna win games at the University of Central Oklahoma. Kaci Richardson and McKenna Pulley both transferred to UCO following their 2017-18 season in which they played against each other in junior college. Not only did Kaci and McKenna play against each other, but they also guarded each other and said that they were extremely competitive. Kaci said that McKenna’s team won most of the time, but she remembers one game when her team came back from down 20 points to win. “They won the majority of the time, there was I want to say one game [that we won],” Kaci said. “Yeah, well when we played at Seminole [State College], we were up by 20 and you all came back at the very end, but I think we ended up winning, or did you?” McKenna said. “I think we won that game, we got her, we got her,” Kaci said, laughing. Kapriece and Dana reconnected through their daughters’ time playing against each other at junior college and it was at that time Kaci and McKenna found out that their moms were such good friends. “I really didn’t know that they played together until my mom would tell me [after the game], hey this is one of my teammates, go speak to her daughter and get to know each other,” Kaci said. Kaci and McKenna really started to get closer to each other when they realized that they would be transferring to UCO to play with
each other. Kapriece and Dana would always talk about the glory days and thought it was so cool that their daughters would finally be playing with each other and not against each other. “It’s just so cool, you know the circle of life, to think we played together now our girls are playing together,” Dana said. “It is just a sweet memory for us and them as well.” Kapriece even recalled a funny story about how Dana was crowned homecoming queen her freshman year at NOC and then came back the following year after graduating to crown Kapriece homecoming queen. Kapriece said she never wanted to be homecoming queen, but Dana did and that was good enough for her. The one lesson that Kapriece and Dana said they hope that they passed on to their daughters is the life lessons that they learned through the game of basketball together. “Basketball and all sports teaches you life lessons about dedication, perseverance and working hard to achieve a goal so those are the things that made us successful as adults and we hope that has been passed on to our kids as well,”
Kapriece Richardson, left, goes for a contested layup as Dana Vap-Pulley comes to support from behind. Richardson and Vap-Pulley played basketball together at Northern Oklahoma College 34 years ago. (Provided/Kapriece Richardson)
Dana said. Kaci played high school basketball at Westmoore, where she earned All-State honors, Oklahoman All-City honors and all district honors before going to Oklahoma Baptist University in Shawnee and then transferring to
Kaci Richardson, left, shoots a free-throw in a game against Emporia State University. Richardson and McKenna Pulley, right middle, are playing basketball together 34 years after their moms played together in college. (Provided/Anthony Mellendorf)
play at Seminole State. Kaci averaged 14.4 points per game and 8.7 rebounds per game at Seminole State, and had a season high 33 points against Kilgore College. This season for the Bronchos, Kaci averaged 6.4 points per game and 4.4 rebounds per game on 41 percent shooting from the field and 33 percent shooting from the 3-point line. McKenna played high school basketball at Newkirk, where she also earned All-State honors before signing to play for Northern Oklahoma College in Enid. McKenna was named Region II and Oklahoma Collegiate Athletic Conference Second Team at NOC Enid, where she averaged 12 points per game on 43 percent shooting from the floor and 34 percent from the 3-point line. This season for the Bronchos, McKenna averaged 5.9 points per game and 3.1 rebounds per game on 38 percent shooting from the field and 26 percent shooting from the 3-point line. McKenna, a senior elementary education major, plans to graduate from UCO this fall and Kaci, a junior biology major, will return for her senior season this fall.
Basketball
March 10, 2020
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Late Surge by Bearcats Ends Women’s Season Tanner Johnson @TheVista1903
CONTRIBUTING WRITER
The University of Central Oklahoma women’s basketball team lost to the Northwest Missouri State University Bearcats in the first round of the Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association postseason tournament with a final score of 71-67. The loss brought Central’s season to an end, and they finished with an 1810 overall record. “[I’m] just really proud of Shatoya [Bryson], McKenna [Pulley] and Micayla [Haynes], who didn’t get to play today,” said head coach Guy Hardaker. “It’s always the worst part to play in your last game. It’s never easy, and I’m just really proud of that group.” The Bronchos got off to a solid start against Northwest Missouri. After a 3-pointer by Clary Donica, UCO found themselves up 18-7 with about two minutes remaining in the first quarter. The Bearcats would answer by going on an 8-0 run in the last few minutes to make it 18-15 at the end of the
first quarter. Northwest would continue that run in the second quarter, turning the 8-0 run into an 18-0 run. The Bronchos were down by as many as 11 points in the first quarter, trailing 33-22. At halftime, UCO trailed 38-30. The Bronchos needed a big second half to get back in the game, and ultimately save their season. Central didn’t get off to an ideal start in the third quarter. The Bearcats scored the first two buckets of the second half to take a 12-point lead. Anytime it looked like the Bronchos were going to make a charge, Northwest would answer by going on a run of their own. In the fourth quarter, a Brooke Rayner layup capped off a 7-0 run to cut the Bearcats’ lead to just one point at 63-62 with 1:12 left in the game. In that final minute, the Bearcats would outscore the Bronchos 8-5, with all of Northwest’s points coming from the free-throw line. The 12-point deficit in the third quarter was ultimately too much for Central to overcome. Kelsey Johnson led the team in scoring with 22 points and she also
Broncho guard Lauren Chancellor drives into the lane against Emporia State University. Chancellor has averaged 14 minutes per game for Central this season. (Gerald Leong/ The Vista)
added 10 rebounds. Jaci Littell finished with 11 points, Pulley had nine points, Bryson added eight points and
six steals, and Rayner also tacked on eight points.
Men Fall to Blue Tigers, Head Home From MIAA Garrett Johnson @garrettmj97
CONTRIBUTING WRITER
The University of Central Oklahoma men’s basketball team’s season came to an end Wednesday evening in the first round of the Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association tournament, falling to Lincoln University 78-69. The Blue Tigers led for all of the game, excluding a collective 17 seconds. They led by as many as 15 in the final three minutes. “I didn’t do well tonight, I just got outcoached,” said head coach Bob Hoffman. “I love our seniors, thank you guys for being a part.” This was the final game for senior guards Dashon Bell and Cooper Clark. Bell finished his collegiate career with 15 points per contest alongside Clark’s 4.8 points per game. The Bronchos were resilient late in the season following their eight game losing streak that nearly took them out of contention to qualify for the MIAA Conference Tournament, which only accepts the top 10 records in league play. UCO finished the regular season ninth in the standings. “I’m very proud of this team,” Hoff-
Senior guard Dashon Bell steps back on offense while facing Emporia State University. Bell finished his final season with the Bronchos averaging double-digit points and 3 assists per game. Bell will look ahead to graduating as a general studies major for the University of Central Oklahoma. (Gerald Leong/The Vista)
man said. Hoffman’s debut season at UCO had lofty expectations from many and although the record was not ideal for him, there is much promise for the future from young players’ performanc-
es throughout the season. Justin Nimmer and D.J. Basey, both freshmen, played valuable minutes in close games. Nimmer ended his freshman campaign averaging nearly nine points a game and five rebounds, cou-
pled with Basey’s six points per game and just over three rebounds a night. UCO will only lose two players going into next season, pending any transfers or unforeseen roster turnover, and there is much reason to expect an improved record and development from all members of the team. Junior Dashawn McDowell averaged 11 points coupled with five rebounds per game. Upon graduating from Southeast High School in Oklahoma City in 2016, he signed a National Letter of Intent to play at Southern Methodist University in Dallas and appeared in 29 games his freshman season before entering the transfer portal. Following a brief two-year stint at Seattle University, McDowell made his debut for the Bronchos this season and provided an immediate impact. Once an All-State player who averaged nearly 30 points per game as a senior, he will look to continue averaging double digits in his second season in Edmond. UCO will return to MIAA play in the fall, looking to expand upon their late season success in hopes of chasing a conference championship bid again.
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March 10, 2020
Esports
Doomfist Swings Momentum, UCO Loses 2-1 Ty Wallace @haltexe
CONTRIBUTING WRITER
The University of Central Oklahoma Overwatch team played their second varsity game of the season against the University of Texas at Arlington on Feb. 29. The games were played in a best of three format, with Arlington taking the win 2-1. The first map was Oasis, a control point map. The first round on Oasis was played in the City Center, with UCO running Reinhardt, D.va, McCree, Mei, Moira and Lucio. Arlington ran a team composition that included Reinhardt, D.va, Mei, McCree, Lucio and Ana. The first team fight took place on the City Center’s jump pad, with Arlington taking the high ground first, and UCO coming in behind landing from above. After wiping the enemy team and capturing the first control point, Central managed to hold the point to 87 percent. Arlington took back the point after swapping their McCree to a Doomfist, using his high mobility to quickly get to the point to contest. UCO managed to recapture the point and take the first round The second round on Oasis was held in the University section of the map. Central continued with their previous team composition. Arlington also kept their team composition the same, including their Doomfist pick. The point was held to 99 percent by UCO, and Arlington brought the round into overtime. After Hope, their McCree player landed a fourman Deadeye ultimate, essentially clearing the point, bringing it out of overtime. Arlington managed to continue to hold the point to 100 percent, capturing it and taking the second round of Oasis. The third round was played on Gardens, with UCO quickly capturing the control point and holding it to 99 percent, before Arlington captured the point taking it to 73 percent. Central was able to recapture and finish off the first map with a win. The second map was selected by Arlington, who is able to pick after a loss. They selected Dorado from the pool of available escort maps. UCO took the defense in the first round, while Arlington was on the attacking side, tasked with escorting the cart across three checkpoints. UCO’s hero composition this round included Reinhardt, D.va, Mei, McCree, Ana
A group of gamers participates in an online gaming league. The University of Central Oklahoma Overwatch team competed in their second varsity game of the season on Feb. 29, losing to Arlington 2-1. (Provided/Pexels)
and Brigitte. Arlington attacked with Reinhardt, Orisa, Mei, Genji, Lucio and Ana. UCO managed to prevent Arlington from pushing to the first checkpoint until they had exhausted their timebank, bringing the match into overtime. Arlington then cleared UCO off the point and captured the checkpoint, adding two minutes and 30 seconds to the timebank. They then swiftly pushed the cart to the second checkpoint over the span of a few team fights, leaving UCO to defend on the third checkpoint. Arlington managed to bring the map to the third checkpoint in overtime, earning them three points in the round. On attack, UCO swapped their D.va pick for Zarya, who is able to project barriers onto her allies, protecting those who may be caught alone by the enemy team. Central began their attack with a swift initial push from with the payload, letting them capture the checkpoint in a little under a minute and a half. Arlington then started to stall UCO’s push around the 92-meter mark. After a couple of team fights, Central managed to capture the second checkpoint with 41 seconds remaining. Arlington stalled UCO’s push again successfully, draining their time bank and winning the round, letting them take the match. With both teams winning one map each, the third and final map was decided by UCO. Out of the hybrid maps available, Central picked Eichenwalde. UCO started off on defense again, running a composition featur-
ing Reinhardt, D.va, McCree, Mei, Baptiste and Ana. Arlington swiftly captured the first point under a minute and a half and continued to push the payload to the second checkpoint, stacking their timebank up to four minutes and 30 seconds. UCO is able to stall Arlington’s progress, but Arlington captured the final point with 50 seconds to
spare. UCO took the attacking side in the second round and was able to capture the first point after exhausting their four-minute time bank in overtime. Central was unable to push the payload to the second checkpoint, running out of time, leaving Arlington with the map and match win. Arlington won 2-1 against UCO.
A statue of Tracer, a character from the Overwatch game, stands alone. A group of UCO Esports team members play Overwatch competitively, taking on other schools in the region for online play. (Provided/Unsplash via Spark)
Sports Column
March 10, 2020
15
The Sporting World Adjusts to COVID-19
A view of the empty Juventus Stadium, as a measure against coronavirus contagion, prior to the Serie A soccer match between Juventus and Inter, in Turin, Italy, Sunday, March 8, 2020. Serie A played on Sunday despite calls from Italy’s sports minister and players’ association president to suspend the games in Italy’s top soccer division. (Marco Alpozzi/LaPresse via AP)
Jacob Silva @jdsilva_
SPORTS EDITOR
Coronavirus, also known as COVID-19, is well on its way to becoming a pandemic. Originating in the city of Wuhan, China, the virus has infected over 100,000 people across the world. Among many other cancellations and cautionary tales, the world of sports is caught in the middle of it all. On the eve of March Madness, the NBA playoffs and the Tokyo Olympics, many coordinators face tough decisions in order to keep their players and fans safe from coronavirus. COVID-19 reaching the United States came at a crucial time for the NBA. The playoffs are only a couple of months away, and the league office is already taking measures to ensure safety. In a memo sent out to everyone affiliated with the NBA last week, several expectations have been laid out. According to a report by senior NBA insider Adrian Wojnarowski, teams must have an “infectious disease specialist” on-call, as well as a known testing facility nearby at all times. At times, the teams may have to condense all travel parties to only the players and a few essential team employees. The NBA also advised players to think about avoiding handshakes
and signing autographs. The most impactful change listed in the memo is the potential for some NBA games to be played inside an arena with no fans in attendance. The games would still be televised. “I play for my teammates. I play for the fans. That’s what it’s all about,” said LeBron James in a video from ESPN. “If I show up to an arena and there are no fans in there, I ain’t playing.” Another player, CJ McCollum of the Portland Trailblazers, tweeted out last week that he would be “taking a break” from signing autographs, as the coronavirus hit Oregon. Both of these players have great points here. Playing in an empty arena sounds dreadful. In the TV broadcast, I imagine you would hear a lot of squeaking sneakers and players cursing, along with awkward banter from whoever had to run play-by-play for that game. On the other side of the coin, caution has to be taken. These players come into contact with thousands of people, and with a virus that has been known to be very contagious, that could lead to an outbreak quickly. In a similar realm of the basketball world is March Madness. The prestigious tournament takes place at different venues all across the U.S. and will feature nearly as many fans
as those attending an NBA game. Executives from the NCAA have come out to follow in the footsteps of NBA Commissioner Adam Silver, and will also consider holding games without any fans in attendance. With what would be a tough blow to players, the NCAA simply has too much money on the line to completely cancel March Madness. The show must go on.
Soccer, being the most popular sport in the world, is facing the same issues. Many premier league games are being outright canceled, as players themselves are being infected overseas in places like Italy. The Italian government themselves said in a statement on March 4, that all sporting events will take place behind closed doors with no fans in attendance until April 3. Decisions like that are surely influencing associations like the NBA, as at some point they may share that reality. In what is the most expensive event of them all, the Summer Olympics are still scheduled to take place between July and August. The Olympics, in general, put a large financial strain on the host city and canceling an event of that caliber would be a loss of tens of billions of dollars for Japan. Things may change as we get closer to the opening torch ceremony. This virus is going to change the day to day lives of many people. It may even reach our lives at the University of Central Oklahoma at some point, but we can be sure that every necessary safety measure will be taken to keep the students here safe. We can help as well by following basic sanitary procedures like washing our hands for 20 seconds and not touching our faces. Let’s all use one extra pump of hand sanitizer in solidarity, and agree to have a healthy 2020.
Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games Organizing staffs climb the wall in the test event of Speed Climbing in preparation for the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games at Aomi Urban Sports Park Friday, March 6, 2020, in Tokyo. The recent outbreak of the coronavirus has forced them to cancel or postpone several. But they allowed a sport climbing event on Friday to go ahead, with a few restrictions: like the absence of elite athletes. (AP Photo/Eugene Hoshiko)