the
Volume 118, Issue 6 v
VISTA “Our Words, Your Voice.”
vistanews1903 @thevista1903 @thevista1903 The Vista ucentralmedia.com Tuesday, September 29, 2020
Dance practices canceled due to COVID-19 exposure
INSIDE
Spring Break Change
UCO announces changes to its winter and spring breaks to adapt to a COVID-19 impacted semester See Pg. 6
Trump Selects Justice
Ahead of the November election, President Trump has nomiated his choice for the U.S. Supreme Court. See Pg.7
Around Campus
Events are happening all over campus this week! The university is hosting several homecoming events. See Pg. 2
The photo above was taken prior to the pandemic, in a full dance studio. Those majoring in dance at UCO find themeslves here often to practice and perform their routines as they prepare for a regular semester of dance. (Provided/Ravin Ray}
Sarah Hite Editor-In-Chief
Dance classes and rehearsals have been temporarily suspended for a week at the University of Central Oklahoma due to COVID-19 safety precautions. In an email Friday, dance students were informed their classes for the remainder of the week would be held virtually in a zoom setting rather than meeting in-person. “This week will allow us to reset, do some extra cleaning in the studios and make sure we are putting the health of students and faculty first. … There are some students quarantined but there are enough students to continue next
week,” the email stated. Students were informed on Friday, in-person classes would resume Oct. 5. The impacts of the suspension should be minimal on rehearsal time according to the email. Rehearsals and class practice have been rescheduled so no students lose any time to prepare for any upcoming performances. However, some students are concerned that the closure will not be an isolated incident and could impact their craft later in the semester. COVID-19 has impacted how they learn and rehearse, instructors are not able to physically correct a student’s posture or stance and there can be no partner or group work due to the so-
cial distancing regulations on campus. Ravin Ray, a Dance Major at UCO, has been dancing since she was three years old. She performed ballet, jazz, tap and hip hop until she graduated in 2018. “Dance means so much to me. It’s my escape. I used to not have any rhythm at all and the more and more I danced I loved watching videos of myself each year from the dance recitals to see how much I was improving,” Ray stated in an email. “By the time I was 15 I was in love with dance and wanted to do it the rest of my life,” Ray stated. Ray explained the impacts of this Continued on Pg. 7
2 | The Vista
Tuesday, Sept. 29, 2020 Central Day of Giving: From 8 a.m.2 p.m. at the clock tower by Broncho Lake, you can join the Homecoming Activities Board to learn about this year's philanthropies, donate money and food items physically and virtually, and participate in activities that benefit the organizations. NAACP Voter Registration Tabling: From 9 a.m.-2 p.m. in the Nigh University Center, the UCO chapter of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People invites you to come get registered to vote. If you are already registered, bring a friend who isn't and help them get registered! Healthy Hooves Hut: Beginning at 1 p.m., at the clock tower by Broncho Lake, Bronchos will learn about different topics including - interpersonal violence prevention, substance and alcohol abuse, and mental health & well-being - by engaging in activities. The information is targeted to spread awareness to this community and surrounding communities. UCO School of Music - Chamber Orchestra Performance: The UCO Chamber Orchestra, an elite performing group made up of the finest string
September 29, 2020
players from the UCO Symphony and the UCO string faculty will perform at Mitchell Hall Theatre at 7:30 p.m. Homecoming Presents: An Evening of Hypnosis: Homecoming Activities Board will be hosting a fun evening as we watch our fellow Bronchos be hypnotized from 8-9:30 p.m. in the Nigh University Center Ballrooms. Students can also tune in virtually. For more information contact homecoming via UCORE. Wednesday, Sept. 30, 2020 Homecoming Spirit Event #2: Join UCO's Homecoming Activities Board from 11 a.m.-1 p.m. at the clock tower by Broncho Lake for a special homecoming spirit event. Virtual ‘Chos Trivia Challenge: Join the UCO Homecoming Activities Board from 6-8 p.m. in the Nigh University Center Ballrooms and get ready to bring your A-game and all of your brain power. We will find out who knows the most about UCO, our chosen philanthropies, and more! UCO School of Music - Jazz Combos: The Norman Rep, Z. Lee Rep and 5th Street Strutters Combos will perform live at the UCO Jazz Lab at 7 p.m. Tickets are limited to 50 attendees and are free for students and $18 for all others.
Around Campus
Homecoming Talent Show: Join UCO's Homecoming Activities Board from 8-9:30 p.m. in Constitution Hall in the Nigh University Center for a one-of-a-kind talent show with your fellow Bronchos competing as the talent! Thursday, Oct. 1, 2020 Bronze and Blueberry Breakfast: UCO's Homecoming Activities Board will host a breakfast from 9-11 a.m. in Plunkett Park. Come out and enjoy the best blueberry pancakes you've ever had! In case of rain, the alternate site will be the Nigh University Center Ballrooms. Homecoming Spirit Event #3: Join UCO's Homecoming Activities Board from 11 a.m.-1 p.m. at the clock tower by Broncho Lake for a special homecoming spirit event. Homecoming "Minute to Win It" Competition: From 6:30-8 p.m., in Plunkett Park, the Homecoming Activities Board invites you to test your skills at random games. ! Just like the game show, this competition will be full of random, fun games to determine who is the winner. In case of rain, the alternate site will be Constitution Hall in the Nigh University Center. ACM Bands Homecoming Showcase: This event will showcase several
ACM Bands at Plunkett Park, from 8-10 p.m. In case of rain, the alternate site will be Constitution Hall in the Nigh University Center. Friday, Oct. 2, 2020 Homecoming Spirit Event #4: Join UCO's Homecoming Activities Board from 11 a.m.-1 p.m. at the clock tower by Broncho Lake for a special homecoming spirit event. Homecoming "Yell!": Join UCO's Homecoming Activities Board from 8-10 p.m. as student organizations participate in a chanting competition. Edmond friends and students are welcome to come watch as we cheer on the participants. Event location is TBD. Monday, Oct. 5, 2020 Media Ethics Conference: The UCO Department of Mass Communication presents it's fourth annual Media Ethics conference, via Zoom. This year's theme is "Social Responsibility: Your Role in 2020?" For more information check @mediaethicscon on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram.
Front page, teaser photos, from top: (Provided/UCO) (Robert Franklin/South Bend Tribune via AP, File)
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 Cici Simon JaNae Williams Jacob Silva Lyric Peterson Tanner Laws Cynthia Faulkner
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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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Musical Theatre
September 29, 2020
The Vista | 3
UCO Musical Theatre embraces new normal
From left: Logan Wright, Ashlea Stewart. Musical Theatre students perform “Big Fish” last week on campus. Performers wear transparents masks on stage so that the can continue acting while following the guidelines UCO has enacted. (Cici Simon/The Vista)
Gretchen Houk Contributing Writer
Musical Theatre students at the University of Central Oklahoma, are continuing to develop their acting and singing skills while adhering to UCO’s social distancing guidelines. Kalyn Glover and Cara Chesney, senior theatre students, are happy to be back on stage to perform “Big Fish” after their spring performances were cancelled mid-production. The show, which ran through Saturday in the courtyard of the College of Fine Arts & Design House, was the first performance of the fall semester. It is one of three small cast productions the musical theatre department is putting together this semester. Each performance of “Big Fish” was limited to only 30 audience members for health and safety reasons.
Disney and in movies. She decided to get involved in school plays and musicals in her hometown of Choctaw. Glover has gone from school performances to performing under a professional contract. Not many students perform professionally before graduating, but the experience has helped her expand her resume. Throughout her time at UCO, Glover has grown as a performer and found what aspect of musical theatre fits her skills best. “I think acting is my first love,” Glover said, “but what really brings my heart alive is doing theatre for children and for family audiences.” Glover became more confident that she wants to pursue a career entertaining children after performing for young audiences during a summer
production with a professional company. With the pandemic causing instability and uncertainty, Glover is not sure what post-graduation will look like, but has plans to one day perform at Disney or in Chicago or New York. When classes went virtual in the spring, Cara Chesney, who played Sandra Bloom, experienced the un-
“Coming back I think we were all just really excited to have the opportunity to even do a show at all.” - Cara Chesney
“I was always the kid that took it a little too seriously,” - Kalyn Glover Kalyn Glover, who played Josephine Bloom in “Big Fish,” has been a performer since she was a child, singing in school productions and in her church choir. “I was always the kid that took it a little too seriously,” she said, “It was easy to develop those skills and things to go with the passion that I had my whole life.” Glover said she was inspired to act and sing by the child stars she saw on
Pictured above is Caleb Barnett, a musical theatre student who plays “Edward” in the performance of “Big Fish”. Performances took place last week. (Cici Simon/The Vista)
certainty of when she would be able to perform next after production was cancelled for “Band Geeks,” the show she was supposed to be in. Chesney discovered her passion for performing in middle school, and had the opportunity to perform in community theater productions in Austin, Texas, before coming to UCO. She was first drawn to performing because it allowed her to connect with people’s emotions. She performed in a production of The Diary of Anne Frank when she was 14, and that experience helped show her how the audience can resonate with a performer. “It’s also about what the audience gets from the story that we’re telling,” Chesney said. In 2019 Chesney participated in a 10-week summer workshop at the Stella Adler School of Acting in New York, and hopes to pursue acting in television or cinema in addition to musical theatre and live performance. Chesney felt like she missed the experience of being live last semester, but has hope that this semester they will be able to creatively adjust to the new social distancing guidelines and create shows together. “Coming back I think we were all just really excited to have the opportunity to even do a show at all,” she said. In preparation for “Big Fish,” Chesney self-quarantined for two weeks, except for rehearsals. Despite the isolation and anxiety she felt leading up to the show, Chesney said that during rehearsals she felt a sense of normalcy. “We have come up with really awesome, creative ways to still make art and still be safe and socially distanced,” she said. For “Big Fish,” the cast blocked themselves in a way that the characters were never within six feet of each other, which made it more difficult to convey emotion. Chesney came up with ways to show affection without touching, relying heavily on facial expressions, which can be seen through clear face masks, and body language. The physical limitations helped her think from her character’s perspective more, and in romantic scenes Chesney put more emphasis on her character’s emotions. Both Glover and Chesney expressed their appreciation for the way the musical theatre department handled social distancing guidelines, adapting to outdoor classes and virtual dance and singing classes. “Having the opportunity to create art again has made all of us feel very excited, and happy, and at home again,” said Chesney.
4 | The Vista
September 29, 2020
Big Fish Photo Story
UCO Musical Theatre makes a
Cici Simon
@cicisimon Photo Editor
On Wednesday September 23rd, the University of Central Oklahoma’s theatre program performed “Big Fish.” With the original story written by John August as well as portrayed in a 2003 film, UCO adapted it for the outdoor stage. The cast and crew came together and prepared the show for a new location: the CFAD House Courtyard. The location provided socially distanced seating as well as lighting
to provide a cozy environent to a enjoy the show safely and comfortably. Not only was the audience required to wear masks but the cast and crew wore masks during their performance. The theatre program dealt with a short lived spring due to the recent pandemic. Graduating seniors saw their performance season cut short as shows were canceled. The current semester has a schedule of additional shows planned for October and November that will continue to be performed at the CFAD House Courtyard. Purchases of tickets and concessions go to the funding of the program and to help it continue to grow and provide entertainment, as well as necessary experience for musical theatre students. Top photo: left to right, Caleb Barnett, Cara Chesney, and Jordan Harris set the scene on their opening night of ‘Big Fish.’ The musical was located at the CFAD House Courtyard on Wednesday September 23rd and was performed through Saturday September 26th. Middle photo: Left to right, Ensemble members, Avery Ernsberger and Madison Eckerson dance across the stage. The audience was arranged for social distancing and mandatory to wear masks during the performance. Bottom photo: Left to right: Adam Thomas and Caleb Barnett bring emotion. The pair were casted as Edward and Karl in the recent production of Big Fish.
Big Fish Photo Story
September 29, 2020
The Vista | 5
splash with 'Big Fish' production
"I think we have something that's really beautiful." - Logan Wright Top left: Jordan Harris belts his ballad during the University of Central Oklahoma's production of Big Fish. Inspired by the book John August, the cast and crew built the stage at the CFAD House Courtyard to provide safe viewings for their team audience. Top right: Left to right: Daniel Johnson and Cara Chesney enact a circus scene in the UCO production of Big Fish. Seniors in the program are able to enjoy the stage after spring performances were canceled. Middle photo: Destyni Newman sings her solo as the Witch during the show. Big Fish was located at the CFAD House Courtyard where future shows will now be hosted. Bottom left: left to right: Ashlea Stewart, Cara Chesney, and Madison Eckerson sing and dance during their number of the play. The spring semester canceled pre productions before even hitting the stage. Now the fall semester has three new shows scheduled for October and November.
6 | The Vista
September 29, 2020
Theatre/ Flu/Spring Break
UCO Theatre Department adapts to COVID-19 Adrian Mack
Contributing Writer
The University of Central Oklahoma Department of Theatre Arts has experienced many changes in student performance this semester. Due mainly to the Covid-19 pandemic, ongoing changes in department structures have taken place across the campus. Students have had even smaller classroom settings and cancellation of shows and dance recitals. For students who are scheduled to graduate and hope to create a career in the industry, live performance is a key part of development for future success and exposure. Kato Buss, interim assistant dean of the Department of Theatre Arts said faculty had to implement serious changes before fall semester. “All the staff took summer courses to learn how to keep the environment safe for the students,” Buss said. Because the virus easily spreads from person to person, safety precautions are an important part of the transition. Teachers and students are not able to be hands on as they would like to be in order to help them refine their craft.
Mitchell Hall is typically the home to productions by the UCO Department of Theatre Arts. COVID-19 has disrupted much of the department’s normal operating procedures for the 2020-2021 school year as the department works to adapt. (Cici Simon/The Vista)
“The notion of wearing a mask and having physical distancing is a real challenge,” Buss added. With theater, art, and dance being some of the first businesses shut down, Buss believes that it will also be the last to come out of the pandemic and back to reality. The idea of utilizing outdoor performances is gaining traction. “The idea of performing outside, or
the man on the street concept will be very beneficial for the students and department,” Buss added. Sophomore Hilary Winkleman, believes the saying “the show must go on” to be more true now than ever. “I knew I wanted to be a part of the live theater and that it was where I wanted to be,” said Winkleman, who has always had a passion for community theater and the arts.
Winkleman added that she sees the department pushing forward and attempting to keep COVID-19 from spreading within its ranks. “It’s worth it. It’s a challenge and everything worth doing will be at some point,” Winkleman. For now students and faculty alike will continue to mask up, because following the guidelines set, is how the show can go on.
University, local providers COVID-19 leads UCO to arm campus against flu adjust spring schedule Daniela Arvizo and JaNae Williams Contributing Writer / Copy Editor
Last week the University of Central Oklahoma’s Student Nurses Association held the first flu shot vaccination clinics of the season on campus. There will be additional flu shot clinics in the coming weeks to allow for students, faculty and staff to receive a vaccine. Medical providers recommend getting a flu vaccine before flu season begins, to avoid spreading the virus. “Getting immunized against the flu helps decrease the spread of a recurrent, problematic disease that claims thousands of lives every year,” said Dr. James T. Cail III, one of the physicians at the Edmond location of Primary Health Partners. It takes approximately two weeks after vaccination for antibodies to develop against the flu, according to the Centers for Disease Control. Once antibodies develop, the vaccine helps avoid contracting the flu. If infected, the vaccine decreases the duration of the flu and lowers the severity, according to Johns Hopkins Medicine.
More than 600 people took advantage of the vaccination clinic last Thursday and Friday at the Nigh University ballrooms, according to Kathy Smith, assistant professor and Coordinator of the Fast Track in Nursing. Over the next two weeks, clinics will be provided by Passport Health and Primary Health Partners. Registration is recommended for the events occurring from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Tuesday in Old North Room 213, Wednesday in Liberal Arts Room 135, and Oct. 5 in Bausher Place Room 110. “Primary Health Partners is excited to work with UCO in taking the first step to protect the community, and to do what we can to mitigate the damage done by this ubiquitous virus,” added Cail III. Face masks are required to participate in the immunization clinics. Bring your insurance card, driver’s license and a completed consent form in order to receive your vaccination. Visit https://www.uco.edu/offices/ benefits/flu-shot-clinic-flyer.pdf for more information or to register for upcoming immunization clinics.
Daniela Arvizo
Contributing Writer
Winter break will last an extra week and there will be no spring break in 2021 at the University of Central Oklahoma, officials announced via email Thursday. Due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, the university made changes similar to the decision to cancel fall break and move classes online after Thanksgiving. Winter Break will be extended by one week, so spring classes will not start until Jan. 19, which is the day after the Martin Luther King Jr. federal holiday. The extra week of winter break will replace spring break, intended for March 15-19. Some students did not take these changes lightly, including senior elementary education major Rebecca Hanke. “UCO needs to talk to its students before they decide to make big deals like this. COVID is over and move on with your life all are going to get it so just let us get it. It’s not a big deal we’re college students, we’re not the ones
dying over it,” Hanke stated. Students and faculty will continue classes according to their regular schedule March 15 -19 and staff will report to work but can request vacation. Employees will receive an additional week of paid leave from Jan. 4-8 and staff will report back to work Jan. 11. Freshman Caitlin Taylor had mixed feelings about this especially comparing it to past spring breaks. “A longer winter break is nice, but spring break is our only chance to take time to ourselves and relax during the semester,” stated Taylor, whose major is Funeral Service. While Oklahoma State University and the University of Oklahoma have not changed their schedules like UCO, reporting in the OU Daily confirmed that OU is considering a similar change. Of the three universities UCO’s reported COVID numbers are the lowest. Currently UCO plans to return to a regular semester and break schedule for the 2021-22 academic year.
Dance/TikTok/Justice
September 29, 2020
The Vista | 7
Dance practices canceled due to COVID-19 exposure Continued from Pg. 1
suspension isn’t about her rehearsal time, but rather on her overall mental and emotional health. “With the dance department shutting down this week I didn’t go out at all besides to work and be on the newscast on UCentral news on Monday and Wednesday,” Ray stated. “I feel more tired, the lazier I was this week. I’m used to moving across a huge room sweating and constantly just moving my body. I’ve felt like crap all week and tried to keep myself engaged on zoom in the classes but just didn’t feel the same. We had to cancel rehearsals this week as well so we couldn’t even move freely on our own with no professors around either. I’m just ready to be moving across that room in my mask again,” Ray stated. This attitude is reciprocated by another dance student, Devyne Hawkins, a dance minor and soon-to-be dance major, spoke about his love for the craft and how the coronavirus has impacted his ability to perform. Hawkins has also been dancing
since he was two years old. Once in high school, his focus was in the art of ballet. He will be switching from a minor to a major in spring 2021, and is currently needing to practice for that audition. Hawkins spoke about how the closure of the department scared him because he needed this time to practice for that audition so he can pursue his dreams of dancing and one day opening his own dance studio. He also expressed concern that the department would not disclose who tested positive for COVID-19. “Plus, I’ve been around dance majors who were around the girl who has COVID. So that was something, they won’t say who she is so I don’t know if I’ve been around her personally,” Hawkins said. There are two upcoming dance events according to the UCO Department of Dance website. The High School Day of Dance is Oct 10. from 1:00 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. The event is open to high school students and there is a $35 registration fee. It includes participation in two dance
workshops: Aerial, Hip Hop, Jazz, Ballet, and/or Modern, snack and optional guided campus tour before the workshops. Students can also secure an adjudication slot as a solo, duet or group to receive written critique and feedback for their performance from UCO dance faculty. Space is limited, register online or email ocae@uco.edu
or call 405.974.3754 The other is a three day event Nov. 19-21, Kaleidoscope Dance Company Concert presents a one-of-a-kind dance performance featuring new and innovative choreography from UCO faculty and guest artists. It is at 7:30 p.m. in the Mitchell Hall Theatre.
The dance studio at UCO now sits empty. Dance classes have been suspended due to COVID-19 exposure. Classes are set resume in-person on Oct. 5. (Provided/Ravin Ray)
TikTok aims to avoid U.S. ban Trump names pick for justice Logan Long
Contributing Writer
College students across the country use Tik Tok as a source of social media and laughter, but security concerns raised by President Donald Trump have the app’s future in jeopardy. Trump has said that the wishes to ban the app altogether in the United States. The solution he put forward is that an American company had to buy the app from its current Chinese owners. “I know it is just an app, but I really enjoy watching Tik Tok’s,” UCO student Cameron Urbach said. “I will be really disappointed if it gets banned.” 41% of Tik Tok users are between the ages of 16-24, and roughly 50% of Tik Tok’s audience is under the age of 34, according to Statista. “I’ve actually learned a lot of interesting things on Tik Tok,” another student, Matt England said. “My favorite part about Tik Tok is seeing all of the places people travel to.” After several American companies failed to buy Tik Tok, Trump finally said that he would ban the app from American users starting on Sept. 20. One day before the ban was supposed to go into effect, on Sept. 19, Trump gave his “blessing” to Oracle for operations of Tik Tok in the U.S. According to Trump, Tik Tok U.S. would be under the control of Oracle and Walmart. Previous reports had said that each of the companies would take a minority stake in a global Tik
Tok, with the owner of Tik Tok, ByteDance, retaining majority control. Trump says the new company, called Tik Tok Global, would be headquartered in Texas, hiring up to 25,000 people and contributing $5B toward U.S. education. Although the deal has Trump’s approval, it still needs approval from the Chinese government to move forward. On September 21, ByteDance said that it would own 80% of the new Tik Tok global, contradicting the statement from Oracle and Walmart saying that the majority of ownership would be American. With a deal still unfinalized, the ban was set to go into place last weekend. A federal judge, Carl Nichols of the U.S District Court for the District of Columbia, postponed the banning of the app on Sunday as concerns about whether or not the ban violated First Amendment Rights came into question. Oracle and Walmart are set to take control of 12.5% and 7.5% of Tik Tok Global stakes; but 41% of ByteDance is owned by U.S. investors. So, for the time being, college students across the country will still be able to enjoy Tik Tok. But the future of Tik Tok, in the U.S., still remains in question as the two countries and their companies still have to come to an agreement on stakeholder percentage.
Jacob Silva Sports Editor
On Saturday, President Donald Trump nominated his pick for the Supreme Court, selecting Judge Amy Coney Barrett for the seat. Barret is currently the circuit judge on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit. This nomination comes after the passing of women’s rights pioneer Ruth Bader Ginsburg. Barrett, a 48 year old republican and well-known Catholic would be the 3rd judge appointed by the Trump administration in his first term as president of the United States. This nomination comes in an election year; a choice that does not follow precedent in the Supreme Court. In 2016 former president Barack Obama nominated Judge Merick Garland for a vacant seat in the Supreme Court, but Senator Mitch McConnell blocked the nomination, citing the precedent that justices would not be elected in an election year. Republicans will now hold the majority in both the Senate and the Supreme Court. House democrats warn that the selection of Barrett, a judge who has made many conservative case decisions in the past, will pose a threat to Roe v. Wade, a case that legalized abortion in the country. Barrett has previously spoken out against those decisions, and served as a clerk for former Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia, who held similar views.
In the previous 5-4 conservative majority, one vote could swing a decision if a conservative judge voted in favor of a more progressive decision. With a 6-3 majority, that scenario is far less likely. The nomination will be voted on in the Senate by the end of October. Hearings will begin on Oct. 12, and the voting process will be finalized in the week following as Republicans will look to move quickly ahead of the presidential election. Trump had previously promised his supporters to overturn Roe v. Wade by appointing justices who would do so. Rival candidate Joe Biden has urged the Senate to hold off on appointing a new Supreme Court judge until the election is over. In a story by the Associated Press, Biden urges to “let the people decide” who they want leading the country in November before a lifelong role as Justice of the Supreme Court is selected. The ongoing pandemic and divisive political landscape ahead the election should be prioritized first, according to Biden. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi believes Trump is moving too quickly to secure a majority. Democrats also fear of a mounting battle for the Affordable Care Act. If the current administration proceeds with their Supreme Court nominee, they will have the leverage they need to adjust or repeal the act altogether if Trump moves on to a second term of his presidency.