the
Volume 119, Issue 03
VISTA “Our Words, Your Voice.”
vistanews1903 @thevista1903 @thevista1903 The Vista ucentralmedia.com Tuesday, Sept. 14, 2021
Bronchos remember 9/11
INSIDE
Stress Paws
Therapy dogs return to campus to help reduce anxiety and promote student wellness. See Pg. 8
The Color Guard presents the U.S. flag and Oklahoma flag to commemorate the lives lost during 9/11. (The Vista/ Manuela Soldi)
Ceremony builds community at UCO Ainsley Martinez
Bronchos Win
The UCO women’s volleyball team celebrates their win at the Broncho Invitational. See Pg. 7
Edmond Arts Festival Art, fashion, music! Take a stroll through Downtown Edmond where the annual arts festival commenced. See Pg. 4
Managing Editor
Last Saturday marked the 20-year anniversary of the 9/11 attacks on the World Trade Center complex. It carries extra significance on campus with the University of Central Oklahoma’s 9/11 Service Series, first held 10 years ago, with events to honor the victims and their families, as well as first responders. “Our office really aims to serve our community and help our students find their passion for service, and really intensify that feeling of community building on campus, and outside of campus,” coordinator Ashley Clark said. “Anytime we can frame that against real world events, and other things that have shifted our daily lives in this country and our world, I think that is a really important thing to pass on to
the students.” This year, UCO Community Engagement hosted Oklahoma State Senator Adam Pugh and former Oklahoma State Senator Colonel Tom Ivester to discuss their experiences 20 years ago. Ivester gave a simple, in-depth military rundown of the events leading up to 9/11 and those following. He believes “letting [this generation] know what life was like beforehand” is important. “Life was different, and if they never lived up to that [point] they don’t know,” Ivester said. For example, he said one of the most significant changes after the event included air travel. High-level security and restrictions were not yet a priority. However, he said a major implication of the attack Students plant flags on the lawn around Broncho Continued on Pg. 3
Lake on Wednesday. (UCO website/Provided)
U.S. women’s sitting volleyball team wins 2nd gold Samuel Riggs Contributing Writer
Around Campus Movie night on Tuesday, free lunch on Thursday. There’s a lot to check out on campus this week. See Pg. 2
Heather Erickson of the U.S. blocks as Yixiao Xu of China tries to tip the ball over the net. (AP PHOTO/LOVELAND)
Edmond, OKLA. — Paralympians who trained at UCO brought home Olympic gold earlier this month. Team captain and outside hitter, Katie Holloway, was named MVP of the tournament. Holloway was born with fibular hemimelia in her right leg; her parents decided to
amputate the affected part of her leg at 20 months old. She earned her bachelor’s degree at Northridge in sociology and her master’s at OSU in therapeutic recreation and is also the host of her very own Paralympic podcast called: “Inside ParaSport.” Several members of the team earned individual honors. Continued on Pg. 6
2 | The Vista
Sept. 14, 2021
Wednesday, Sept. 15, 2021 Tuesday, Sept. 14, 2021 Healthy Hooves Hut: From 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the UCO Clock Tower, get your questions answered about COVID-19, vaccination, and speak with a case manager about needs like housing, food, health insurance, and more. FACS: Emily Butterfield and guest Debora Harris: This performance starts at 7:30 p.m. at the Jazz Lab in Edmond, located at 100 E. Fifth St. Doors open at 7 p.m. and requires $10 to enter. Follow the Voices: Speak Up Against Sexual Assault: UCO Peer Health Leaders are hosting this free event at the Broncho Lake Blue Tent from 9 to 11 a.m. Tie Dye and Chill: The UCO Association of Black Journalists is hosting this free event on campus at Plunkett Park from 5:30 to 8 p.m. Food and music will be provided. T-shirts are available to tie-dye for $5. Archaeology Movie Night: The Archaeology Society is hosting a free movie night featuring “The Dig” from 6:30 to 8 p.m. Food will be provided. RSVP on UCORE.
Successfully Supporting BGLTQ+ Students: This interactive student panel will take place virtually from 12 to 1:30 p.m. Gather ideas for improving interactions with BGLTQ+ students, learn to better offer support, and learn what resources to suggest to help students learn and thrive. Latinx Heritage Month Kickoff: Ronald Grant, director of student programming for Oklahoma City Public Schools, will be speaking in the NUC Ballrooms A and B at 12:30 p.m. This event is free and open to the public. Ice Cream Social: The UCO Public Health Club is hosting this free event from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. RSVP on UCORE. Thursday, Sept. 16, 2021 Broncho Bystander Training: The Center for Counseling and Well-Being is hosting this event in Thatcher Hall, Room 343 from 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Learn the importance of consent and practice skills that will empower you to be an active bystander. Women’s Rights are Human Rights Opening Reception: From 5 to 7:30
Around Campus
p.m, the Melton Gallery is hosting the opening ceremony of this traveling exhibition curated by Professor Elizabeth Resnick from the Massachusetts College of Art and Design.
Jazz Lab in Edmond, located 100. E
Free Lunch for Students!: The Wesley Foundation at UCO is offering free lunch for all UCO students from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Wesley House, located at 310 E. Hurd St.
974-2100.
Chain Mail Workshop: The Medieval Society is hosting this free event from 6 to 8:30 p.m. Dr. Rings and starter wire will be provided. Register on UCORE.
at Lake Arcadia from 11 a.m. to 3
Friday, Sept. 17, 2021 Broncho Buddies Kickoff Party: This event will be from 5 to 7 p.m. in the Nigh University Center Ballrooms. Contact Jared Scism for more information at jscism@uco.edu. The Red River Ramblers: This performance will begin at 8 p.m. at the Jazz Lab in Edmond, located 100. E Fifth St. Doors open at 7 p.m. and tickets are $15. Tickets can be purchased online or by calling (405) 974-2100. Saturday, Sept. 18, 2021 The Hideaway Blues Band: This performance will begin at 8 p.m. at 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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Madalyn Nix Ainsley Martinez Lyric Peterson Manuela Soldi Sam Royka Theetso Thuku Samuel Riggs Christopher Lomelin Shannon Chuah Jaden Ford Cynthia Faulkner
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Fifth St. Doors open at 7 p.m. and tickets are $15. Tickets can be purchased online or by calling (405)
Lake Arcadia Hangout: The Student Programming Board is hosting this free event at the UCO boathouse p.m. Enjoy kayaking, zip lining, yard games, snacks, and more. Sunday, Sept. 19, 2021 Sabotage at Central Smash: Starting at noon at the UCO CO-OP Gaming Arena, Esports is hosting an epic Super Smash Bros. Ultimate Tournament. This event is open to the public and UCO community members.
Front Pg. Teaser Photos, from top: The Vista/Samantha Royka The Vista/Christopher Lomelin The Vista/Manuela Soldi Provided/Vista Archives
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.
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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.
9/11
Sept. 14, 2021
The Vista | 3
20 years later, Bronchos reflect Continued from Pg. 1
was its attack on American morale. “There wasn’t so much mistrust or fear—and that fear has manifested itself in a lot of different ways,” Ivester said. “There’s a lot of mistrust not only in the media and government, but in all societal structures.” Pugh remarked on the disillusionment of the United States government for this generation of students. He pointed out that many students born after 2001 have no memory of the United States not at war. However, he said the conflict in Afghanistan “was really the first war in our history where we all volunteered.” Pugh said this was, in part, due to the “heightened sense of patriotism, and this unified sense of what it meant to be an American” after 9/11. “I think over time that feeling is gone,” Pugh said. “It shouldn’t be, but I think that fresh memory of 9/11, and what it meant to be American and how we felt about each other, I worry, is kind of lost.” Pugh spoke at the 9/11 Ceremony on Sept. 10 where he reflected on his memories of the terrorist attacks while emphasizing a “willingness to serve the community.” A former U.S. Air Force officer, Pugh discussed how his military involvement shaped his experiences in the aftermath of 9/11. In the days following the attack, he felt eager to serve
In UCO’s 9/11 series, the flag planting event started the week off on Wednesday, followed by a luncheon and ceremony. (UCO website/Provided)
his country. While he wanted a “gun, airplane or tank” to fight with, he received an unexpected duty. Pugh said he received an email from a colonel asking for volunteers to ride the bus with American schoolchildren every morning. He was stationed in Germany, and “K-5th graders were afraid” to ride the bus overseas. He volunteered, even while thinking to
On-campus sports honored 9/11 as well. The Color Guard presented the flags at a UCO Women’s Soccer game last week. (The Vista/ Manuela Soldi)
himself: “This is not what I signed up for. Where’s my chance to serve?” But years later, when former students of those bus rides recognized and thanked him—he realized this was service. “I’ve flown a lot of cool things in my life. Our enemies have cool things too,” Pugh said. “What makes us unique is our people and our willingness to serve.” Coordinator Nicole Doherty said the “importance of the lessons we learned” from 9/11 are directly linked to community building. “It’s finding what you can do, and maybe it’s not military service, maybe it’s not medical service, but what can
you do to help a neighbor,” Doherty said. 20 years later, and now not all UCO students have lived through 9/11. Still, the date carries a significant lesson of community building and preparing for the future. “I think for the generation of college students that either were just born, or literally have no memory of this moment, it’s an important pivotal moment in American history where we really saw a country through tragedy and horrible things come together, and lift each other up in a way that we don’t see every day, especially right now,” Clark said.
American flags decorated Broncho Lake to honor those impacted by 9/11, as well as reminding students of the 20 year anniversary. (The Vista/Ainsley Martinez)
4 | The Vista
Sept. 14, 2021
Edmond Arts Festival
Edmond gets artsy with
Big Train and the Loco Motives brings the Red Dirt Blues to the Downtown Edmond Arts Festival on Saturday. (The Vista/Manuela Soldi)
Artist Kelly Killough creates character art for Downtown Edmond Arts Festival attendees Haylee and Tyler. Killough has a studio in Edmond. (The Vista/Manuela Soldi)
Pandora kept turning heads with her bedazzled look during the Downtown Edmond Arts Festival on Saturday. (The Vista/Manuela Soldi)
Edmond Arts Festival
Sept. 14, 2021
The Vista | 5
Downtown Arts Festival
Metal sculptures from Andrea’s in Stratford spin in the wind while being displayed in the Downtown Edmond Arts Festival on Saturday. (The Vista/Manuela Soldi)
Volunteers help fill up the giant chess pieces with water as a result of heavy winds coming in. It takes a team to run and operate Downtown Edmond Arts Festival safely and successfully. (The Vista/Manuela Soldi)
Shane Gonzalez and children play Connect Four in the Festival Marketplace area during the Downtown Edmond Arts Festival on Saturday. (The Vista/Manuela Soldi)
6 | The Vista
Football/Paralympics
Sept. 14, 2021
SPORTS
Paralympians with UCO connection take gold Continued from pg. 1
Bethany Zummo was named best libero and best receiver, Kaleo Kanahele Maclay was named best setter and Monique Matthews named best blocker. MVP Holloway was born with fibular hemimelia in her right leg; her parents decided to amputate the affected part of her leg at 20 months old. She earned her bachelor’s degree at Northridge in sociology and her master’s at OSU in therapeutic recreation and is also the host of her very own Paralympic podcast called: “Inside ParaSport.” UCO is a national training site for the Men and Women’s National Sitting Volleyball Team. UCO has a long history of supporting the Paralympic and Olympic movement. In 2006, Central received the designation as an official U.S. Paralympic Training Site and in 2009, received the official Olympic designation becoming one of a select group of U.S. Olympic and Paralympic Training Sites in the United States. Five Central alumni have competed with the team. “Sitting volleyball rules are similar to standing volleyball, but the court is smaller, and the players have to remain in contact with the floor,” said U.S. Women’s Sitting Team Head Coach, Bill Hamiter.
The USA team celebrates defeating China to win the gold medal at the Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Games. (OIS/Thom)
“To play internationally, the athlete must have some level of disability. It can be missing limbs but other things as well, as we have a player born with drop foot, and one has her ankle fused together. Their disabilities may come from cancer, accident, or from a war, but they are deserving athletes.”
Coach Hamiter, who led the team to a silver medal in the London Paralympics Games in 2012 and a gold medal at the 2016 Games in Rio de Janeiro, admits he never saw himself coaching a Paralympic team. He started coaching college volleyball on the side, but one thing led to another, and he was
asked to coach sitting volleyball. This is the fourth finals in a row by the U.S. Women’s Sitting Volleyball team. China came into the final with a perfect pool record of 3-0, including a defeat of the U.S. team. China defeated the USA, 3-0 (25-17, 25-22, 26-24).
Bronchos football team loses at Emporia to be 1-1 on season Jaden Ford
Contributing Writer
The University of Central Oklahoma Football team posted their first loss of the season 31-21 at Welch Stadium Saturday against The Emporia State Hornets in Kansas. Central (1-1,1-1 MIAA) scored first in the game with a 20-yard run on second-and-4 from quarterback Stephon Brown. By the end of the third quarter, ESU was leading 21-14. The UCO defense got only a few breaks as Emporia State seemed to have the Bronchos game plan figured out and forced the offense to punt 14 times. ESU defensive back Jaedon Pool picked off a Brown pass on fourth and 20 with two minutes remaining in the fourth quarter. It stopped the Bronchos’ last chance at coming back. Emporia State had nearly twice the offensive output as Central. The Bronchos started the game strong ending the first quarter leading 7-0 after forcing Emporia State
to punt on their first two possessions. In the second quarter, the UCO offense went cold. With 8:11 left, Central decided to put in senior QB Keats Calhoun looking for a spark. ESU forced the Bronchos to punt every drive in that quarter. Going into halftime, Central was only down 14-7. After halftime, the UCO defense forced a three and out on the Hornets’ first drive. Central decided to put Brown back in. Unfortunately, he was sacked on third and 8 in his first drive, fumbling the ball, but it was recovered by UCO OL Hector Becerra. On the next drive, Emporia State scored in just two minutes, capping off the drive with a 2-yard TD run from Billy Ross Jr to expand the lead, 21-7. Central did fight back toward the end of the third quarter with a Noah West strip-sack recovered by UCO defensive back Kobey Stevens. It gave the Bronchos the ball on the ESU 6-yard line, setting up a second-and-5 TD run for WR Marquise Brown. At the end of the third quarter, UCO was down 2114 with some hope of making a comeback.
Early in the fourth, UCO tied the game at 21 after a 19-yard run by Jayce Gardner on second and 10 that capped off a 63-yard scoring drive. Later, UCO committed 25 yards of penalties, one of them being unsportsmanlike conduct, and the other defensive pass interference. It put the Hornets in position to score. On first-and-9, ESU quarterback Braden Gleason, threw a 9-yard TD pass to wide receiver Dalton Cowan, making the lead 31-21. On the next drive at fourth-and-20, UCO’s Brown was picked off by Pool, ending any Bronchos hopes of a comeback. Brown was 13-for-30 passing, finishing with 171 yards and one interception. Gardner, a freshman, led the way for the Bronchos in rushing with 76 yards on 13 carries and one touchdown. On the defensive side, UCO linebacker Lemontre Huval led the way with seven tackles. Central Oklahoma is back home in Week 3 against Missouri Southern at 7 p.m. Saturday at Wantland Stadium.
Volleyball
Sept. 14, 2021
The Vista | 7
Broncho Invitational reaps success UCO women’s volleyball wins all five games in tournament Chris Lomelin Contributing Writer
UCO women’s volleyball went undefeated in the 2021 Broncho Invitational this weekend for five wins in five games. UCO served a defeat to Western New Mexico University in the 2021 Broncho Invitational Friday evening at the Hamilton Field House on campus in front of fellow students and fans. The game was the second of the day and third of the tournament. The Bronchos would later go on to win the remaining two games, resulting in an undefeated campaign heading into conference season. The Broncho Invitational is a tournament hosted by UCO as a chance for the campus to get a head start on some home games before the Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association season begins. The Bronchos started off their tournament with a victory against Western Colorado University 3-1 Friday morning at the Hamilton Field House. “In our season, we get two weekends before [MIAA] conference starts, and so typically we have a travel game that we play on the road…and then we like to host a weekend,” assistant coach Emily Todd said, “We get four [other teams] to come in, so that’s five teams total and everybody gets four games. It’s an opportunity to play in front of our home crowd and parents.” After winning their first match against Western University of Colorado Mountaineers in a 3-0 sweep played earlier Friday morning the Bronchos started out strong
against the WNMU Mustangs but failed to take the first set after WNMU came from behind to win the first set 27-25. The Mustangs’ lead was short-lived however as the Bronchos sought to comeback with a swift 25-13 victory for the second set, leveling the score to 1-1 as the seats continued to fill up with friends and family members cheering the players on from the stands. “It’s been really motivating for our players, and I think we’re ready to compete and show what we got,” Todd said about what it meant to the players to be able to play in-person again. As UCO looked to win the best of three out of five possible sets, they continued their strong form beating out the Mustangs again in the third set 25-9, bringing the score to 2-1 for the Bronchos. Although the Bronchos had previously played a match Friday morning, they were able to rotate some players with the depth they had within their squad.,
Broncho Women’s Volleyball team gather in a huddle after a undefeated five of five game victory. (The Vista/ Chris Lomelin)
“We were able to contribute some other players who had not been getting as much playtime, so that helps them get some experience, but it also helps some of the players who aren’t in the court from wear and tear for a long weekend like this,” head coach Edgar Miraku said when asked
#7 Jenna Karp serves to Western New Mexico University Mustang’s as #4 Mallorie Kohen prepares for the serve. (The Vista/ Chris Lomelin)
about making sure his players are finding the right balance between getting enough rest and enough playtime. The fourth set went neckand-neck throughout as the Mustangs were fighting to avoid a defeat for the night, but the Bronchos proved too much for the away team as UCO finished the fourth and what would be the final set of the night 25-16, ending the game 3-1 to the Chos. “The first set was a little back and forth…after that [first set] our serving got a lot better, put a lot of pressure on…so they were out of system a lot of times, so it made the rest of our sets a lot easier,” Miraku said. The Bronchos continued their strong run into Saturday winning the following two and final games of the tournament, sweeping both East Central University and Oklahoma Christian University 3-0 respectively.
8 | The Vista
Sept. 14, 2021
Mental Health/BSA
Who let the dogs back at UCO? Sam Royka Reporter
Therapy dogs return to campus for students’ well-being after a year of pandemic stress. The Human Animal Link of Oklahoma Foundation or H.A.L.O., houses about 42 dogs in their program, said Carlie Deatherage, Assistant Director of Health Promotion at the Center for Counseling and Wellbeing. H.A.L.O. partnered with UCO to fulfill the requests for dogs in Stress Paws. According to Deatherage, Stress Paws was created by an intern years ago in the center for counseling and well-being doing research on pet therapy. The events typically have between three and six dogs, with a few regular appearances like Gus and Emme, a pair of Bernese Mountain Dogs, as well as Hank, a Great Pyrenees, and Abby, a grey and black spotted dog like a blue heeler. The events started Sept. 9 and around 100 students turned out on the first day according to Deatherage. According to Deatherage, she hears positive feedback from students that said they really needed time UCO student Paige Brunson pets Hank, a therapy dog at Stress Paws. (The Vista/Sam Royka) with the dogs. said. Stress Paws runs from 3 to 5 p.m. Thursdays on Before COVID-19, Stress Paws saw 30 to 50 stuShe compared Milkbones to cake, as they do not the second floor of the Max Chambers Library on dents per day on a regular basis, Deatherage said. campus as well as during finals week. contain a lot of nutrients that dogs need. “People get busy as the semester goes on and don’t Deatherage also mentioned six dogs in the Bron“Most dogs like peanut butter and meat snacks show up as much” Deatherage said, “This past year cho Barkers program, a separate program on camUCO hasn’t had Stress Paws on campus because of and carrots and green beans,” she said. Carrots and green beans can be cooked or raw, pus where therapy dogs belonging to faculty and concerns about safety regarding the coronavirus as and she mentioned that some people put carrots in staff take the role of “facility dogs,” meaning that well as the small number of students on campus.” they go all over campus. Students are allowed to feed the dogs with the the freezer for an extra crunch. Broncho Barkers can be requested by students “We are expecting people to wear a mask and sanhandlers permission. “Students should be mindful of what the dog itize their hands before and after interacting with two weeks in advance of an event, in housing, or needs, especially as some are older,” Deatherage dogs,” Deatherage said. for the classroom before a big test.
Bystander training educates students on violent scenarios Shannon Chuah Contributing Writer
(The Vista/Madalyn Nix)
A new beat University of Central Oklahoma’s Black Student Association hosted A New Beat: Intros onThursday at the Nigh University Center. The event was a part of BSA’s “Welcome Black Week.” As a part of this week, BSA also hosted brunch trivia on Tuesday and a gospel explosion event on Wednesday. BSA held a cookout on Friday, a campus clean up event Saturday, and an eventwith Reach Out Ministries on Sunday.
— Kaleb Simmons
The UCO Center for Counseling and Well-Being will host a bystander intervention training from 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Thursday in Thatcher Hall, Room 343. The training, which is open to students, faculty and staff, helps those who observe bullying, stalking or sexual assault to know how to respond. “We talk to them about what it means to be a bystander and some of the norms surrounding that, like social norms and increase the awareness of violence prevention on our campus,” said Alexis Washington, coordinator for Project SPEAK, an interpersonal violence prevention project on campus. The monthly event, which is also held virtually, will go over topics of self-care and provide participants with violent scenarios and how they can intervene. The event will also include discussions among participants to share their life stories and what they would’ve done in those scenarios. “The training is meant to be conversational; it’s not meant to be us just talking to students,” said
Carlie Deatherage, who is the assistant director of Health Promotion and Outreach. Although registration is not required for in-person participants, virtual parti cipants need to register in order to receive the Zoom link. According to Deatherage, the trainings will return to being conducted by student peer health leaders, who organize and conduct campus-wide health programs. “When COVID was at its peak last year, it was all virtual. There were no issues with us carrying out the bystander training. The only issue would have been getting participants involved. It’s really hard to give an hour and a half presentation in person to keep students engaged, so it was even harder keeping students engaged via Zoom,” Washington said. Because of the pandemic, in order to keep participants safe, they are required to social distance, Washington said, and masks, wipes and hand sanitizer are provided. Students and staff can find more information regarding the event posted on flyers throughout campus and can also contact promotion@uco.edu.