the
Volume 118, Issue 8 v
VISTA “Our Words, Your Voice.”
vistanews1903 @thevista1903 @thevista1903 The Vista ucentralmedia.com Tuesday, October 13, 2020
City of Edmond extends mask mandate
INSIDE
Honoring Marissa The Vista’s JaNae Williams reflects on the lasting impact Marissa Murrow has left on the UCO family. See Pg. 4
Freshman Clara Hibbs (left) and freshman Jadyn Pitts (right) study together in the Nigh University Center. Masks are mandated across campus for the semester, and throughout the city of Edmond through Nov. 30. (Cici Simon/the Vista)
Sarah Hite Editor-In-Chief
OK State Questions The Vista breaks down what state questions you should expect on your ballot next month. See Pg.8
SAFE Ally Panel The Student Alliance for Equality held a panel for those looking to support the LGBTQ+ community.
As coronavirus related deaths rise across the nation, Edmond and the University of Central Oklahoma will continue to enforce mask mandates within their communities while the state just continues to recommend the use of masks. The Edmond City Council voted, 3-2, last week to extend Edmond’s mask mandate until Nov. 30 and amend the city’s current declaration of emergency. Ordinance #3799 was originally set to expire Monday. However, council members Josh Moore, Darell Davis and David Chapman voted in favor
Jacob Silva Sports Editor
Around Campus
See Pg. 2
The Oklahoma State Department of Health reports over 100,000 COVID-19 cases and 1,100 deaths in Oklahoma. UCO’s live COVID-19 dashboard reports it has had 340 total positive COVID-19 individuals since Aug. 11, despite strict campus restrictions. Ninety-three are active cases as of Monday. The city council meeting included periods of discussion among council members and time for public comment. The public and council’s discussions were brief. The vote was then held to decide whether to amend the existing Declaration of Emergency. Continued on Pg.6
UCO student dies from non-coronavirus illness
See Pg.7
Events are happening all over campus this week! UCO Ensemble prepares for “Bach for Christmas”.
of extending the mandate. Mayor Dan O’Neil and Councilman Nick Massey voted against the amendment. The motion and the revised declaration went into effect immediately. Oklahoma remains among the worst states in the United States for positive coronavirus tests per 100,000 people and the number of new reported cases, according to a report released last week by the White House Coronavirus Task Force. Governor Kevin Stitt spoke at a news conference Sept. 17 in Oklahoma City. Stitt said again that he will not issue a statewide mask mandate, despite a recommendation from the White House Coronavirus Task Force, the Associated Press reported.
Staff Sgt. Miguel Angel Alvarado Sixtos, a Licensed Practical Nurse and member of the Oklahoma National Guard. (Provided/Oklahoma Obituary)
Member of the National Guard and University of Central Oklahoma student Miguel Angel Alvarado Sixtos died due to a “non-coronavirus illness” according to the Oklahoma National Guard. Sixtos died on Sept. 27 and was a Staff Sgt. of the Oklahoma Medical Detachment, 90th Troop Command. Sixtos was born June 27, 1975 in Mexico City. UCO President Patti Neuhold-Ravikumar expressed her condolences for Sixtos’ family in a campus-wide email, “Miguel was a father of two young
girls, husband to a wife of 10 years, a proud Army veteran and National Guard member. Dedicated to service throughout his life, Miguel worked as a nurse, helping others overcome their struggles.” This is the second UCO student to lose their life in recent weeks, as Sixtos’ death preceded the loss of Marissa Murrow, a victim of a fatal car crash. Resources are available to support the UCO family during this difficult time. The Center for Counseling and Well-Being is accepting virtual-walk-ins every day between 9 a.m. and 3 p.m. and can be reached at 405974-2215 or ucoccwb@uco.edu.
2 | The Vista
Tuesday, Oct. 13, 2020 Contraception, Consent, and Costumes: From 11 a.m.-1 p.m. at Broncho Lake, you can join UCO Peer Health Leader to learn more about consent and birth control options. There will also be conversations about how costumes are not a sign of consent and being culturally sensitive when choosing a costume. Contact Peer Health Leaders via instagram (@ ucophl) for more information. Healthy Hooves Hut: From 11:30 a.m.-1 p.m. at the clocktower by Broncho Lake, UCO Peer Health Leaders invites you to learn about different topics including interpersonal violence prevention, substance and alcohol abuse, and mental health & well-being, by engaging in activities. Wednesday, Oct. 14, 2020 Lunch at the Lab: UCO student jazz groups will play free concerts every Wednesday from noon-1 p.m. outside the Jazz Lab. Viewers can bring their lunch and enjoy the talent at socially distanced tables. This week features the Rose Rock Saxophone Quartet and Bricktown Brass Quintet. Career Doctor: Creating a Knock-
October 13, 2020
out Resume: From 3:30-4:30 p.m. via Zoom, students can learn how to make a resume that highlights their strengths and skill sets. Get the Zoom link at ucore.uco.edu/events. STLRtagged for Health & Wellness. HASA Painting Class: From 4-6 p.m. join UCO's Hispanic American Student Association for a virtual painting class. An instructor will lead you in how and what to paint and HASA will provide the supplies. Contact HASA via UCORE or instagram (@ucohasa) for more information. Educational Tabling with Susan G. Komen Representative: Big Pink will host an event from noon-2 p.m. at the clocktower by Broncho lake. Individuals are invited to stop by and learn more about breast cancer and how they can get involved in supporting the cause. Event coordinators will also be taking suggestions on thoughtful notes for current patients. Thursday, Oct. 15, 2020 2020 Virtual Oklahoma Compost Conference - Mid-Scale Composting: Join UCO's Office of Sustainability and Student Transformative Learning Record from noon-1 p.m. for the second session of this year's Oklahoma Compost Conference. Additional sessions will take place on Oct. 22 and 29 and a final Q&A will be held Oct.
Around Campus
30. Sessions are $10 each. Scholarship opportunities are available for students who cannot afford to attend by emailing info@okcompostconference. org. Netflix and Domestic Violence: Join UCO Peer Health Leaders from noon1 p.m. in the Heritage Room of the Nigh University Center to learn the impacts of violence in the media, how it impacts culture, and mental health. Prepackaged food from Jason's Deli will be provided. Register at ucore. uco.edu/events. Broncho Bystander Training: From 3-4:30 p.m., UCO Peer Health Leaders will present virtual training to help attendees learn the importance of consent and practice skills that will empower you to be an active bystander when witnessing sexual assault, stalking, bullying or other violence. Contact Peer Health Leaders via instagram (@ucophl) for more information and the video conferencing link. Friday, Oct. 16, 2020 Afternoon Tea: A Panel on Activism in the U.S.: Join the members of the UCO chapter of Phi Alpha Theta from 6-7 p.m., via Zoom for a discussion on the findings of their research on Third World feminism, Black Power Movements, and Latino activists in the U.S. Visit ucore.uco.edu/events for the
To submit events for next week’s Around Campus, please email thevista@ucentralmedia.com. Include the title of your event, time and place, and a brief description. Descriptions are subject to editing.
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VISTA
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Sarah Hite Kiel Kondrick JaNae Williams Jacob Silva Cici Simon Lyric Peterson Tanner Laws Cynthia Faulkner
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Zoom link. Saturday, Oct. 17, 2020 UCO Composer's Ensemble Concert Series presents: Bach for Christmas: From 6-7 p.m. at Shannon Miller Park in Edmond, join the UCO School of Music for this production, mixing actors with live music from Bach's beautiful "Goldberg Variations." Bring your own chairs as the event is lawn seating. Social distancing and masks are required. No reservations needed and admission is free. Monday, Oct. 19, 2020 MERGE: From 1-1:50 p.m., in the Education Building, International House and STLR will present training to prepare international and domestic students to "communicate effectively in a complex world, to function in multiple and diverse environments and to adapt to the continuously changing global society through an attitude of awareness, consciousness and respect." Front page tease photos, from top: Provided/Marissa Krusemark Provided/Pixabay Provided/Pixabay Alex Fischer/The Vista
UCO’s Student Voice Since 1903 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
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.
LETTERS
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editor. Letters should address issues and ideas, not personalities. Letters 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.
ADDRESS LETTERS TO:
Editor, The Vista, 100 N. University Dr. Edmond, OK 73034-5209, or deliver in person to the editor in the Communications Building, Room 131. Letters can be emailed to thevista@ucentralmedia.com.
Pakistan/Decolonizing the Academy
October 13, 2020
The Vista | 3
Walk Thru Pakistan: UCO hosts heritage event
Harman Kaur, member of Pakistani Student Association, and Alexis Loudermilk, graduate assistant, check-in students for the STLR tagged event. Check-in is also mandatory to keep track of everyone in case contact tracing is required amid the COVID-19 pandemic, a guideline set by the University of Central Oklahoma as a coronavirus safety measure. (Provided/Pakistani Student Association)
Daniela Arvizo Contributing Writer
Students at the University of Central Oklahoma joined the Pakistani Student Association for its firs event of the semester, which showcased Pakistan’s culture and heritage. The event on Oct. 5 allowed people to take a tour and experience Pakistan. It included cultural items, such as a display of handmade Pakistani jewelry filled with silver linings, ruby and sapphire stones which had gold threading. The association also showcased a Pakistani bridal gown with embroidery that made the dress an
additional 20 pounds heavier. There were also cultural presentations, music, dance, and authentic Pakistani food. This event is meant to unite students from across campus to experiece another culture. “Our members are always looking for new ways to facilitate intercultural activities and facilitate the promotion of diversity. Throughout the year we host several different events that showcase the Pakistani culture to UCO students,” said Hazzik Chaudhry, public relations for the association. Every year there are plans of orga-
nizing similar events for the local Pakistani community. However, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, they faced multiple challenges and obstacles. “We are unable to host events like before. Booking indoor venues are not feasible. People are hesitant to attend gatherings. The budget for student funding has also been affected. Food needs to be handed out differently,” Chaudhry stated. “Events like these are very important because firstly they facilitate intercultural exchange and create international friendships,” Chaudhry stated.
“Events like these are very important because firstly they facilitate intercultural exchange and create international friendships.” - Hazzik Chaudhry
Decolonizing the academy, UCO celebrates Indigenous Peoples Day David Swank
Contributing Writer
The University of Central Oklahoma celebrated Indigenous Peoples Day rather than Columbus day on Monday. As part of National Native American Heritage Month, UCO hosted a roundtable on Decolonizing the Academy on Friday. The concept is an ongoing discussion that has been around for more than 30 years. It seeks to legitimize non-eurocentric education. Due to Covid-19 the roundtable was held via Zoom. Bernadette Russo, an un-registered Mohawk and visiting assistant professor in the Department of English at UCO, spoke on what Decolonizing the Academy means and how institutions can separate themselves from the colonial ideology. Dr. Russo explained metropoles in a settler or colonial context, when a
mother country or city that is used as a point of reference to orient settler colonialism in the region. “Therefore things that cannot be referenced through settler colonial frames become erased.” This framing and erasure is part of the colonial construction of reality. According to Russo the academy which includes grade schools and higher education have been complicit, “it is a primary sight in the determination and legitimation of knowledge, it’s distribution.” The second speaker, Amanda Cobb-Greetham, a Cherokee chairperson and professor of Native Studies and director of the Native Nations Center, University of Oklahoma, spoke on institutional decolonization. She said the process can take place from student structures all the way up to administrators. Cobb-Greetham said “that decolonizing requires embracing personal discomfort and acknowledging ex-
periences of minoritized and traumatized students, and addressing the trauma of minoritized and traumatized students.” Alyssa Provencio, assistant professor, Department of Political Science at UCO talked about knowledge. She discussed what it is, who it is for, who it is produced by, and what types are valued. She spoke about research and objectivity, how it values detachment and rationality, but it wasn’t until the 1930 that scientists truly questioned objectivity and developed positivism. “For centuries, and still today students of the academy were taught to value knowledge that had been produced by scholars in controlled settings devoid of attachment to the subject.” The next speaker Shun Kiang, assistant professor, Department of English, UCO spoke on decolonizing the syllabus. “When left unchanged over an extended period of time a syllabus might
preempt or even foreclose meaningful encounters with new knowledge in the classroom.” By preventing the encounter with new knowledge this can cause uneven representation, marginalization of perspective, the recycling of half truths, and sanctioning of overt or implicit biases. The final speaker was Nick Cragoe, visiting assistant professor, Department of Sociology, UCO. He described himself as a settler and said he wasn’t going to talk about how to decolonize the academy. Cragoe said “I don’t think that decolonization can be accomplished by the colonizers certainly not while we chose to stay within colonial institutions.” Instead he addressed problematic issues in advising, curricula, and interactions between students, faculty and staff.
4 | The Vista
October 13, 2020
Remembering Marissa Murrow
Remembering Marissa Murrow: Lives left JaNae Williams Copy Editor
Nineteen years is too short of a time for all the things any person needs to do in life. While it seems too little time to accomplish all of our dreams, for Marissa Murrow, it was not too little to have a profound impact. A natural empath, Marissa was born in Oklahoma City on January 24, 2001. Her kindness and willingness to love others without judgment were traits that stood out from an early age, according to her mother, Kristy Murrow. “Even during that time where kids can be mean, you know a little cruel, a little protective of themselves so they kind of lash out to others, that was never Marissa’s style, ever. And she didn’t like to see anybody else treated that way either,” Kristy Murrow said. “That was very natural to her to be that way. It wasn’t anything that we had to raise her to be like.” From the time she was a small child, Marissa was the type of person who filled the world with love and light, according to her mother, Kristy Murrow. “She never wanted to hurt anybody’s feelings, even if what she needed to
say wouldn’t hurt their feelings, she just didn’t want to take that chance,” she said. As Marissa grew, so did her faith, another aspect of her life that her mother says never required encouragement to develop. “She wasn’t over the top about it, as far as, making it the first thing everybody had to know about her. I don’t think she spoke really openly, publicly in a big way about it,” Kristy Murrow said. “I think she just tried to live it, and then people would know it about her through her actions and through her speech and through how she made them feel.” Marissa’s faith led her to plug in atthe University of Central Oklahoma. But staying connected to her faith wasn’t all that mattered to Marissa. Giving back played a role, too. “It was always very important and she took it very personal as far as, you know, doing devotionals, reading the bible, attending services, going to camp in the summers,” Kristy Murrow said. “Actually even in high school she was a sponsor for the middle school group, and I think her freshman year [of college] she even went back and worked at Falls Creek with the younger girls as well because she wanted to
The final picture that Marissa Murrow, left, and Marissa Krusemark took together before Murrow’s death. Murrow’s loved ones laid her to rest Oct. 10 at the Mustang Cemetary. (Provided/Marissa Krusemark)
help nourish them, too.” When Marissa first came to UCO she began pursuing a degree in forensics, but as time went on, her love for science and the forensic curriculum did not outweigh her love for people. She craved the human interaction that she had experienced during her time leading Sunday school classes and as a teacher’s aide while in high school. “Even in her younger years she liked the idea of being a teacher,” Kristy Murrow said. “I think she wanted something that was more personal,
around people, and that led her back to education and specifically special education.” Human connection was important to Marissa in her personal life, too. She went through the panhellenic recruitment process her freshman year, which is where she first met Marissa Krusemark, a junior in Sigma Kappa at the time. “Whenever I first saw her she had this smile that just beamed through, it was like radiating,” Krusemark said. “She had these little dimples, she just
Marissa Murrow often spent time exploring with her sorority big sister, Marissa Krusemark, allowing Krusemark to take numerous photos of her. Krusemark recalls Murrow’s willingness to try anything and said it encouraged her own desire to be more adventurous. (Photo Illustration/ JaNae Williams, Original Photos Provided/ Marissa Krusemark)
Remembering Marissa Murrow
October 13, 2020
The Vista | 5
impacted and lessons learned through loss
Marissa Krusemark, left, and Marissa Murrow were sorority big and little sisters. Krusemark met Murrow early on in the recruitment process and the two became fast friends. Krusemark admired Murrow's zeal for life.(Provided/Marissa Krusemark)
looked like the sweetest person.” Krusemark instantly knew there was something different about Marissa. Talking to her only confirmed that. “I met her on open day and got to talk to her for a couple of minutes and in those first couple of minutes I just knew that she was someone special and that I wanted to be able to be her friend,” Krusemark added. Krusemark would get to have another conversation with Marissa a few days later, during an evening called preference night. “You get to talk to them for about 30 minutes,” Krusemark said. “In those 30 minutes, it felt like I had known her my whole life. Talking to her, we had so many similarities and I could just see her heart right away.” Eventually Marissa would join Sigma Kappa and become Krusemark's little sister. This sisterhood, and sorority life as a whole would lead Marissa to begin impacting a number of women at UCO. “She is a quiet presence at first,” Krusemark said. “But once you got to know her there were just so many sides to her and so that was something that I loved. The more time that I spent with her, I was constantly revealed another side to her that I didn’t know she had.” Krusemark added that Marissa’s positive attitude toward things made her a natural leader, even during her freshman year. During long late night rehearsals for UCO’s Cheer & Dance competition, Marissa encouraged the other women of Sigma Kappa. Marissa had been
involved in cheerleading throughout high school, which may have played into her enjoyment of the event. “You never saw her angry. She would light up these practices even when we were all just tired and exhausted,” Krusemark said. Many at first felt anger toward the man whose actions ended Marissa’s life, believing it to have happened needlessly. While Kristy Murrow acknowledged the validity of these emotions, she also pointed out the way she thought Marissa would respond, were she placed in the same situation. “I think overwhelmingly, she would have felt bad that this person did a horrible thing, a terrible thing. It was a mistake,” Kristy Murrow said. “And yes, he was drunk while he did it, but he will be sober soon and he will then have to realize what happened.” She added that her daughter wouldn’t want anyone to harbor or hold on to hate or bitterness on her behalf. “I know that we’re all going to go through those things and feel those things and think those things, but she would not want anybody to live there,” Kristy Murrow said. “She would not want anybody to stay in that.” Likewise at her vigil and balloon release, held at the Sigma Kappa House on Oct. 7, chapter president Kenzie Taylor said the sorority was choosing to push past mourning and celebrate Marissa’s life. “Marissa was a light herself,” Taylor said. “She was a beacon of joy and happiness.” During the vigil, several of Maris-
sa’s sorority sisters spoke about her. Over and over she was described as a woman who chose her words carefully. Krusemark echoed this same memory. “She knew how impactful words were and how much they meant,” Krusemark said. “She wanted to make sure that she never just wasted words or threw out empty phrases. She never wanted to say ‘I love you’ if she didn’t mean it.” Choosing her words wisely meant those around her cherished their conversations. Ashlynn Stewart was Marissa’s roommate, and addressed the crowd during her vigil. “I could listen to her speak for hours and just soak it all in,” Stewart said.
“Everything she said and did made me feel so seen, so heard, so valid. She would never let you struggle alone.” Validating others, and never seeking self-validation was another of Marissa’s character traits according to her sorority sisters. “She’s the type of person who made everybody feel like a somebody,” said Bailey Poage, one of Marissa’s Sigma Kappa sisters. “She didn’t ever feel a need to be loved and valued by all of these people. She just was who she was,” Krusemark said. “When she loved people, she loved them so deeply. And it was like once you experienced that you just never wanted to go without that.” Krusemark said one of the greatest lessons she learned from Marissa, is not to take anything for granted. “She lived life to the fullest and she lived it with no regrets. She was never afraid to do things,” Krusemark said. “She would push me out of my comfort zone and push me to do things because she was like ‘Life is short.’” In only nineteen short years, Marissa embodied the heart and soul of what it meant to be organic and genuine, according to the people who knew her well. Krusemark holds onto Marissa now, counting her as her greatest inspiration and wanting her to know that she will never be forgotten. “I will always carry her legacy on with me,” Krusemark said. “Words just always seem like they fall flat, because she was just everything to everyone.” To her friends, family and acquaintances, an indelible impression will forever remain in every area that she walked. Through them we might all learn to adventure a little more fearlessly, love a bit more genuinely and live life more organically, like Marissa.
Marissa Murrow and Marissa Krusemark celebrated bid day together outside the Sigma Kappa House at the start of the fall semester. Murrow's sorority sisters held a celebration of life in the same place on Oct. 7, a few days after she died from injuries sustained when hit head-on on the Kilpatrick turnpike on Oct. 3. (Provided/Marissa Krusemark)
6 | The Vista
October 13, 2020
Mask Mandate/Bach for Christmas
City of Edmond extends mask mandate
Continued from pg. 1
“Mask mandates across the state have helped contribute to stable numbers,” Oklahoma City-County Health official, Latoya Knighten said. Knighten spoke about the upcoming flu season as a, “very real threat” to local hospitals. The impact to staff could put a strain on capacity and resources as the winter months approach. In previous meetings, council members were critical of the council’s process, noting that county health officials had not been invited to participate. Oklahoma set a record for coronavirus-related hospitalizations last week. Approximately 738 Oklahomans were hospitalized with either confirmed or suspected cases of COVID-19, as of the Oct. 9 Executive Order report. Davis appealed to the community to stop the anti-mask rhetoric or mask bullying and he was in favor of the extension until the positivity rate sits at 5%. Massey said he worried about the personal disconnect of Zoom meetings. He reported receiving citizen complaints about feeling disenfranchised and there was a strong need to return into council chambers. Massey opposed, saying the man-
date was “government overreach.” He also expressed concern of being sued over the mandate. “We passed the emergency part. We’re at the - what do we do to get back to day-to-day life.” Chapman also worried about government overreach. He said he was disappointed to be in a position to have to issue a mandate, which he referred to as an infringement of citizen rights. However, he did vote for the mask extension. O’Neil spoke about the public need for Edmond specific numbers. He elaborated with new COVID-19 cases and Edmond’s pattern and analysis. Before school resumed, with the mask mandate in place, the average cases had dropped from 15.9 per day to 10.7. The University of Central Oklahoma reopened on Aug. 11 after closing due to the coronavirus pandemic. Two weeks later, cases increased from 10.7 to 16.2 per day. Edmond Public Schools also reopened Aug. 24 and there was another surge in cases according to O’Neil. Since Sept. 22, the average new cases in Edmond have increased from 16.2 to 20.3 per day. O’Neil expressed a need to get schools back to normal “getting back
Students line up outside the local Bondi Bowl food truck at the University of Central Oklahoma. While campus is utilizing mandatory face masks, Edmond’s extended mandate was set on October 7th and extended to November 30th. (Cici Simon/The Vista)
to full-time classrooms, that to me is the most important.” The current emergency declaration was last amended July 28 and has been in place since June 15. The declaration was first issued in March and has been amended nearly a dozen times.
The Oklahoma City Council approved a mandatory mask extension until Oct. 20. The emergency public safety ordinance was set to expire Sept. 8, but Sept. 1 action moved the expiration date to Oct. 20.
Composer’s Ensemble plays Bach for Christmas Steven Reese
Contributing Writer
The Composer’s Ensemble Concert Series at the University of Central Oklahoma will be presenting a concert on Saturday from 6 to 7 p.m. at Shannon Miller Park in Edmond. “Bach for Christmas” is an ensemble concert that combines actors and musicians. The story is about two of Johann Sebastian Bach’s great-great-great grandsons. They not only try to perfect Bach’s music but also try to make their lives perfect, as well. The actors for this production include Erica Tschida, Rick Lockett and Michael Relland. The musicians include Chazlen Rook, Harper Golden and Timothy Privrat. Relland, who is also directing and composing the production, is one of three 2020-2021 scholarship award recipients for the Academic Excellence Award in Honor of Ted Honea. For this year, Rook is also a recipient of the Robert Glenn Rapp Upper Level Music Award. This production will feature live music from Bach’s “Goldberg Variations.” “It is long, complex, beautiful and, therefore, a difficult piece for pianists to prepare,” Relland said. “We’re us-
ing just five of the 30 movements of the piece, which are all based on the theme that plays at the beginning and end of the play.” Relland said this production gives his students a chance to explore Bach and his complex music. “The actors and musicians each get to interpret the text the way they see fit and which makes them feel like they are saying something important,” Relland said. “When you think about it, we all have to agree on the importance of this. “All of Bach’s music is spectacular. Some of it needs repeated listening to be able to sense all of it, as the way he wrote can be rather intellectual, but of course most is also very emotional. Even the simplest melodies are enjoyed all over the world by millions of people.” Ines Burnham, who helps promote and manage the events, explained how the UCO Composer’s Ensemble project can be presented for free. “We have a grant from the Oklahoma Arts Council and the National Endowment of the Arts which helps support the UCO Composer’s Ensemble project,” Burnham, who directs at the Oklahoma Center for Arts Education, said. “It allows us to provide funding for five concerts this academic year
Actors perform during a Composers Ensemble Concert at a past show. The next show will be played at the Shannon Miller Park in Edmond. (Provided/UCO School of Music)
focusing on original compositions created by UCO students and performed for live audiences for free.” ” Burnham, who is also an academic advisor for UCO’s College of Fine Arts and Design, also praised Relland for what he has done for the production. “He wrote the short play and arranged the musicians and actors for this project,” Burnham said. “He is a great advocate for the arts and we are excited to see this project come to life.” Shannon Miller Park is located at South Jackson Street and East First
Street in Edmond. There is parking in front of the park on First Street but it is limited. Guests can also park at the Edmond Public Library, which is next to the park. UCO students, faculty and staff can park on campus and walk to the park. Guests will see a small stage in the park where the production will be performed. Admission is free, but guests will have to bring their own chairs as it is lawn seating for this performance. Social distancing and masks will be required.
VP Debate/SAFE Panel
October 13, 2020
The Vista | 7
Speech team hosts watch party for VP debate Logan Long
Contributing Writer
The University of Oklahoma held its second watch party for this years election debates on Oct. 7. One of the main topics of contention during the Vice Presidential debate on Wednesday night was the Green New Deal and where exactly Joe Biden’s campaign stands on fracking. The Director of the UCO Speech and Debate Team, Matthew Moore, headed up the program’s watch party. Moore probed questions with the viewers concerning the main topics discussed during the debate and the tone of the debate compared to the previous presidential debate.
“Both candidates sell their version of a climate package by offering jobs,” - Matthew Moore “The reason you see Biden and Harris backing away from fracking is because Ohio and Pennsylvania have recently created a lot of new jobs because of increased fracking,” Moore
Vice President Mike Pence looks at Democratic vice presidential candidate Sen. Kamala Harris, D-Calif., as she answers a question during the vice presidential debate Wednesday, Oct. 7, 2020, in Salt Lake City. (AP Photo/Morry Gash, Pool)
said. Both Biden and Kamala Harris had previously stated that they were in favor of banning fracking. Although the Biden and Trump campaign have different ideas when it comes to climate change, both try to frame their proposal in the same way. “Both candidates sell their version
of a climate package by offering jobs,” Moore said. One of the hot topics of the night had more to do with a person rather than a policy. Harris’s record was debated by many in wake of her stance on marijuana. Harris put thousands of people of color in prison for marijuana as attor-
ney general of California but is now in favor of decriminalizing marijuana at the federal level. Such a change would no longer make the distribution or use of marijuana a felony but would not make recreational use legal in all states. That would still be determined state by state. Following the debate, both Harris and Pence seemed to feel as if they had come out on top. Another common consensus was the professionalism of this debate compared to the first presidential debate. “Unlike the first debate, both [candidates] were very calm and composed,” Moore said. UCO student, Jamal Maryland, said “This debate was done in a more civil manner.” The second presidential debate was set to take place this week, but due to Trump’s COVID-19 infection, the nonpartisan Commission on Presidential Debates said the candidates should not be on stage together. Trump refused to debate virtually. Therefore, the second presidential debate between President Trump and Joe Biden is off, according to the Associated Press. The third presidential debate is still scheduled for Oct. 22.
SAFE explores how to be ally to LGBTQ+ community Alex Fischer Contributing Writer
The Student Alliance for Equality held a panel discussion over what it means to be an ally to the LGBTQ+ community. The Oct. 6 workshop was led by the president of S.A.F.E. Nathaniel Johnson, a junior at UCO. Johnson had several topics to cover between what being an ally looks like and why you should be one, and other topics like the basics of sexuality and gender to the LGBTQ+. According to Johnson, an experience that all transgender people feel
either on campus or off is an anxiety about the bathrooms that they go into. A fellow UCO transgender student Andrew Hedges who attended the workshop talked about his experience both on and off of campus. Hedges would track his heart rate early on in his transgenderition of going in and out of the bathroom and noticed that his heart beat would always rise when entering the restroom. Multiple students who attended this workshop brought up the fact that there is always a level of fear and anxiety with who is around when they are entering a bathroom in fear that they
SAFE regularly hosts panels that educate those who attend on the LGBTQ+ community, as well as supporting them through events on campus. (Provided/SAFE Instagram)
may be called a slur or harassed. Another problem that Hedges has brought up for transgender people is if there is only one stall in a bathroom, he turns around and walks out or has to wait which may seem small to nonLGBTQ+ people but it’s a struggle that many transgendered face on a daily basis. A question that was brought up during the discussion was about in-fighting within the LGBTQ+ community. Many students talked about this during the workshop on how they felt about how transgender, bisexual, and pansexual members are discriminated by gay members of the community. Hedges talked about the hierarchy he sees in the LGBTQ+ community and described it as gay and lesbian individuals are typically treated better and are viewed toward the finish line with their rights. Those transitioning or who have transitioned and other members of the community are treated much lower and more progress needs to be made. The harassment in the community was brought up, “There is a lot of fetishizing in the community…I was fetishized over my body by gay men,” Hedges said. Pronouns are a key factor in identity
Edmond Pride Details More panels will take place from Friday Oct. 16 to Sunday Oct. 25. Find more details on the Edmond Pride Facebook. inside the community. Bernadette Russo, a visiting assistant professor in the Department of English talked about how she deals with properly identifying her students. She said it’s difficult in the beginning, but the more she sees them, the easier it gets. With trying to normalize and destigmatize the use of misgendering, Russo is trying to set a precedent, “ I want to be respectful and honor the person’s choice and feelings… Since I’m the authority figure in the room, if I do it right it will reflect to other students to do it right”. If you missed out on this event and you are interested in learning more about the LGBTQ+ community, Edmond Pride will be an online event from Oct. 16 to Oct. 25. You can find the event on Facebook by typing “Edmond Pride” in the search bar.
8| The Vista
October 13, 2020
Election Coverage
Oklahoma votes on two state questions Sarah Hite / Amanda Siew Editor-in-Chief / Contributing Writer
In the upcoming Nov. 3 general election, Oklahoma voters will not only be voting for the next president of the United States, but also on two state questions that will impact the state. The first question relates to Oklahoma having one of the highest incarceration rates in the country. State Question 805, Initiative Petition No. 421 would prevent those currently sentenced to prison from having their sentences extended for current violations, enhanced sentences for previous violations. By voting yes on 805, it amends the Oklahoma constitution in such a way that prevents one’s prior nonviolent felony convictions from being used in enhancing their sentence and it will not allow their sentence to be prolonged or made harsher. It would also allow reductions of sentences for those who are currently serving or are set to serve enhanced sentences. It does not apply to those convicted of violent felonies. By voting no, it would maintain the constitution as it is. People convicted
In this March 3, 2020 file photo, voters cast their ballots in the California Primary on Super Tuesday at a voting center at Union Station in Los Angeles. The Nov. 3 election will test California’s commitment to voting by mail as the nation’s most populous state will offer fewer in-person polling places hoping it will convince more people to cast ballots from the safety of their mailboxes during a pandemic. (AP Photo/Ringo H.W. Chiu, File)
of nonviolent felonies can have their prior felony convictions used to enhance their sentence. Gov. Kevin Stitt supports voting against the initiative. State Question 814, Legislative Referendum No. 375 concerns Oklahoma receiving money annually from tobacco companies as a result of the 1998 Master Settlement Agreement lawsuit. From that amount, 25% goes into the Tobacco Settlement Fund, al-
loted by the state legislature, and 75% goes to the Tobacco Settlement Endowment Trust Fund. The money in the trust fund is used to fund health initiatives and other things determined by the fund’s board of directors. By voting yes, it flips the percentages around. The 75% for the Tobacco Settlement Fund, state legislature, 25% for the Tobacco Settlement Endowment Trust Fund. The State Question
directs the legislature to appropriate the remaining money in the special fund to secure federal matching funds for the Medicaid program. If it is approved, it will pass Senate bill 1529, which changes proportions of the Tobacco Settlement Fund so that the Attorney General will receive the same amount as under the current law after the switch. By voting no, it maintains current percentages.
Candidate for Oklahoma’s 5th Congressional District visits Brianna Garcia Contributing Writer
Congresswoman Kendra Horn is set to visit the University of Central Oklahoma to meet students on Friday in Room 213, on the second floor of the Nigh University Center. The event, hosted by the American Business Club, gives students an op-
Promotional photo of U.S. Rep. Kendra Horn. Rep. Horn participated in a debate Wednesday against republican opponent Stephanie Bice. (Provided/KendraHornForCongress Facebook)
portunity to meet with the Democratic candidate ahead of Election Day. The meeting is open to all students and no registration is required to attend. The time of the meeting will be announced closer to the date. Horn, the incumbent, is running against Republican nominee Stephanie Bice for a seat in the U.S. House to represent Oklahoma in the 5th Congressional District, which includes most areas of Oklahoma County and all of Pottawatomie and Seminole counties. Students also had the chance to meet Bice in another event hosted by the business club on Oct 2. The two candidates took part in a debate Thursday night on OETA in which they discussed issues such as education, healthcare and police reform. The next debate between Horn and Bice will be hosted by News 9 on Saturday at 8 p.m. The election of the
5th Congressional District’s representative will be held during the Nov. 3 general election. All 435 seats of the House will be up for election next month. Right: Promotional photo of Oklahoma State Sen. Stephanie Bice. Sen. Bice participated in a debate Wednesday against democratic opponent Kendra Horn. (Provided/BiceforCongress Faceboook)