Sept. 18

THE CAMPUS September 18, 2019 – Volume 113 Issue 4

page 2

Opinion

Scooby Dooby Doo, where are you?

Columnist Paul Dower celebrates the 50th anniversary of Scooby-Doo, a popular children's cartoon, reviews the two Scooby-Doo live-action movies, and cartoon stereotypes.

page 3

News

page 4 Lifestyles

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Submitted

Students want options

Leading the way

Students are frustrated by the lack of vegetarian, vegan and gluten-free

A religion student recently adopted his two nephews after fostering them for

options in the Caf and in The Market at Alvin's. Dining officials said they are

the past year and a half. The boys live on campus with their new guardian

listening to students' concerns.

and attend on campus activities.

Kappa Sigma members use racist team name SGA senator writes resolution calling for Kappa Sigma to ‘suspend operations’ Jessica Vanek

COMMUNITY MANAGER

Editors' Note: This story contains an uncensored racial slur.

Members of multicultural organizations are speaking out after Kappa Sigma members used a racist team name at a philanthropy event.

Alpha Phifa is a philanthropy event hosted by Alpha Phi where different student organizations can participate in soccer matches against each other for charity. The event took place on Sept. 6.

Some members of Kappa Sigma played in the tournament under the team name “Porch Monkeys,” a racial slur for a lazy slave dating back to the pre-Civil War era.

Trae Trousdale, Student Government Association president, said the multicultural organizations on campus (Black Student Association, Hispanic Student Association and Native American Society) had already planned a meeting with President Martha Burger on Sept. 9 to bring up separate concerns, and addressed the incident in that meeting.

“The university and President Burger are well aware of the situation, and they are handling it at a student conduct level and organizational level,” Trousdale said.

An SGA senator is writing a resolution asking for Kappa Sigma’s suspension, Trousdale said.

“A resolution was specifically asked for by these three organizations,” he said. “By no means is racism a value in the Greek order.”

Hope Melton, Greek senator, is drafting the resolution to present to the Senate.

“Resolutions are largely symbolic,” Trousdale said. “This is by no means saying they will cease operations, just that we would like them to consider ceasing operations.”

Trousdale said the Senate will hear the resolution, and they will make amendments and vote on the issue.

“Once it’s on the senate floor, it can be approved or disapproved,” he said.

The university and President Burger are well aware of the situation and they are handling it at a student conduct level, and organizational level.

Trae Trousdale president SGA

Trousdale said if the resolution gets to his table, he might sign it.

“I lean yes,” he said. “Three organizations asked that this be taken on, and if our Greek district senate approved it, it’s a conversation to have with Matthew Moelling, president of Kappa Sigma.”

The resolution will be discussed at an upcoming SGA senate meeting.

In an email to Student Publications, Moelling wrote that Kappa Sigma condemns racist acts.

“While we cannot comment on individuals associated with an ongoing investigation, we can say that as a values-based organization, existing to create better men and contribute a positive influence to our community, diversity and inclusion are of utmost importance to our chapter,” Moelling wrote. “It is completely contrary to our values and teachings. Our chapter provides a safe open environment in which individuals can thrive.”

Chris Richie, BSA vice president, said the situation disappointed him.

“It’s just sad,” Richie said. “We are living in a world where it’s already hard enough being a person of color. This campus is all about diversity and inclusion, so when you have someone or a group of people come in and just decide to have a name like that, it just makes me sad.”

Richie said action needs to be taken against people who commit

“

racist acts.

“We’ve got to do more than just ignore it. There has to be consequences,” Richie said.

Richie said people need to be more aware of the situation.

“We can’t just keep keeping it quiet. If all of this stuff is happening, I don’t want to just hear about it through word of mouth,” Richie said. “We don’t need to keep anything under wraps, and we just need to find out why people think they can do these kinds of things.”

An email was sent out by President Burger on Sept. 10 about starting a new council for diversity and inclusion to be led by Amy Ayres, vice president for student affairs, and Joey Croslin, vice president of human resources.

Leondre Lattimore, studio art senior and member of BSA, said he thinks a panel or council would be beneficial, but more is needed.

“I think a panel would be good,” Lattimore said. “I’m all for the events planned, but besides that, I’d like to see more action done.

Just having more OCU talks isn’t going to solve this problem. There needs to be more action taken and done with racial sensitivity.”

Lattimore said the university needs to focus more on other facts of diversity and inclusion.

“I want to see something serious done. It seems like ever since I got on campus, there’s been some racial issues,” he said. “We talk a lot about diversity and inclusion, but I’d like to see more of a no-tolerance standpoint. It’s turning into a thing where students are starting to be ok with it.”

Richie said BSA will continue to stand strong.

“BSA is here to be a safe space for people of color,” Richie said.

“We are here to spread the black agenda, and we will show campus that we are here and we are strong.”

Contributing: Emily Wollenberg, Editor-in-Chief Hope Melton, staff writer, is the Greek senator for SGA. She was not involved in the writing or editing of this story.

Police chief, lieutenant resign, new interim chief, supervisor appointed Emily Wollenberg

EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

The campus police chief and lieutenant resigned last week.

Former Police Chief Rusty Pyle and former Lieutenant Michael Kavenius resigned Sept. 11 after Kavenius was accused of racial profiling.

See mediaOCU.com for more on the accusation.

OCU communication officials sent an email to the campus community at 2:30 p.m. on Sept. 12 detailing the situation.

“Tomorrow will be Chief Rusty Pyle’s last day at OCU. Pyle has resigned as chief to return to retirement. Interim CFO David McConnell will provide oversight for the police department,” the email read.

The police department was previously overseen by Joey Croslin, vice president of human resources.

Croslin was unavailable for comment.

McConnell has overseen police and public safety departments throughout his career, the email read.

“He will be providing more information about OCU Police initiatives next week,” the email read.

Sergeant Mark LaHue was named interim chief of police, effective Sept. 14.

“Sgt. LaHue has served as a full-time certified police officer in Oklahoma since 2009,” the email read. “He has held various positions in law enforcement including school resource officer, field training officer, emergency response team commander, assistant police chief, and interim police chief, among others.”

Leslie Berger, university communications director, said in an email with Student Publications that Sept. 11 was Kavenius’s last day.

The resignations come less than six months after former police chief Jennifer Rodgers was terminated.

M MEDIAOCU.com

They are the symptom of a larger problem on campus.

Anthony Edwards circulation technician Dulaney-Browne Library

See mediaOCU.com for more on the termination.

Anthony Edwards, Dulaney-Browne Library circulation technician who submitted a grievance against Kavenius for racial profiling, said the atmosphere and toxicity of overhead administration must be addressed as well.

“They are the symptom of a larger problem on campus,” he said.

“This does not solve the issues with Joey Croslin covering for them, and it certainly doesn’t solve Martha Burger’s complicity with the racist tweets and actions.”

Erika Felix, acting senior, said she is frustrated with how university officials dealt with the situation.

“I think it’s completely unacceptable how the entire situation has been handled,” Felix said. “Also, we haven’t heard a single thing from our president about the situation.”

Felix said if the school can’t protect their faculty and staff, it doesn't say much about officials’ ability to protect their students.

“I just know that I don’t feel safe knowing that our school is actively trying to cover up such heavy issues,” she said.

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Go tell it on the mountain

A theologian will give a lecture at OCU about God and suffering.

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opinion Editors encourage students to attend guest speakers outside major One of the primary goals of a liberal arts education is developing a diverse, well-rounded perspective of the world through exposure to different subjects, cultures and educational styles.

OCU’s “Academics” page says the university offers students the ability to find “friendships, mentorships, and connections to employers and community leaders.”

Aside from ensuring every student takes general education courses and is exposed to many fields of study, OCU also frequently provides students with opportunities to hear professionals from various fields speak on campus. From speakers brought in for masterclasses and workshops at the various schools on campus, to speaker series such as the Martha Jean Lemon Distinguished Speaker Series and the Thatcher Hoffman Smith Poet Series, OCU has hosted a number of distinguished individuals, including

conservationists, theologians, authors, poets, and Nobel Laureates. Today, theologian Thomas Jay Oord will be speaking from 2:30-3:45 p.m. in the Great Hall in Tom and Brenda McDaniel University Center about his perspective and experience with religion.

See mediaOCU.com for more information.

Tomorrow, National Geographic photographer Annie Griffiths will be speaking in Norick Art Center about her work.

See page 4 for more on Griffiths's lecture.

Next week, Sept. 24, conservationist Fabien Cousteau will speak as a part of the Martha Jean Lemon Distinguished Speaker Series. While speakers’ topics may seem exclusive to certain fields, attending opportunities such as these is an integral part of the education and experience OCU cultivates.

Though religion and pho-

Talk Back “What topic would you like to hear a guest speaker discuss?”

tography are specific fields, any student in a liberal arts environment can benefit from attending these events and hearing different perspectives. Because of the structure of the various schools at OCU, it can be easy for students to stay within their own sphere of study. Focus on one’s work and studies is necessary for the academic rigor encouraged and enforced at OCU, but no one study is truly independent.

Having a diverse education is important for skills applicable to the real world. Employers in the job market are looking for employees that have wellrounded abilities and interests.

Students should get out of their comfort zone and attend speakers who could have an influential impact on their life.

They just might not know it if they don't give them a chance.

"How to transition and practice for the move from college into the real world."

"Native Americans and National Parks."

Cara Redding music theater freshman

Allison McMurry religious education sophomore

“How to share your religion with others in a way that doesn’t offend them but informs them.”

“I’m interested in hearing about what people in my field are looking for in employees.”

Emma Petherick music theater freshman

Kyle Suder computer science freshman

“Information on time management for student athletes.”

“Someone who has a deep story to share with others and help them find their voice.”

Aubrey Armstrong accounting/finance freshman

Kendall Sowerby mass communications freshman

Columnist discusses female-driven gender-bent revival of “Company” People are bending over backwards for a gender-bent production of Stephen Sondheim’s Company. The femaledriven revival will finally make its way across the pond from the West End. The show is set to begin previews on Broadway at the Bernard B. Jacobs Theatre on March 2 with an official opening on Sondheim’s 90th anniversary of “being alive” on March 22.

The original 1970 production of Company follows the story of “Bobby,” a bachelor approaching his 35th birthday in a community where everyone seems to be married.

Tony Award-winning director Marianne Elliott has reimagined the musical in present day with the lead character as

a woman, “Bobbie,” giving the social implications of the unmarried character a whole new meaning as she wades through the dating pool.

Because of the fact the revival is centered around the social treatment of women, it’s only fitting the show has a female director. Last Broadway season, Rachel Chavkin was the only woman directing a musical on Broadway and the 10th in Tony Awards history to be nominated for direction. To quote Sondheim, a lack of representation is really a way “you could drive a person crazy.”

Fellow Tony Award-winners Katrina Lenk and Patti LuPone are set to star in the musical as Bobbie and “Joanne.” With these powerhouses on stage, I

Francesca Iacovacci is a music theater junior from Clearwater, Florida. She loves zoodles, Jeopardy! and a good poop joke.

predict nothing less than captivated crowds. While the full cast has not yet been announced, audience members can expect other changes to traditional casting besides the main character Bobbie. Shall we compare them side by side (by side)?

“Mar ta,” “Kathy” and “April,” the three girlfriends in Bobby’s life, now serve as Bobbie’s boyfriends: “PJ,” “Theo” and “Andy.” Additionally, the character “Amy” has also been

gender-bent and is now a man named “Jamie.” This change makes his indecisive engagement to “Paul” a same-sex marriage in a modern America where it is now legal. Even the 11 o’clock number, “Ladies Who Lunch,” has been revisited and now takes place in a hip-hop club with pulsing electronic music.

All of these changes serve to reflect today’s world. Don’t get me wrong, watching a male Bobby struggle with marital

expectations and loneliness in traditional productions still makes for an interesting story.

I think the difference is when men are single, society accepts it as a reasonable, career-motivated decision. Women in the same scenario are seen as criminals, robbing society of its sexist presumptions of what a woman’s life should look like.

This is not to say men don’t also face pressure to get married, but they certainly don't face the same maternal expectations. On Bobbie’s 35th birthday, her biological clock ticks as she grows further away from the possibility of having children. This new narrative poses a radical idea that it is okay for women to not desire a domestic lifestyle and challenges what it means to be

a woman in 2019.

Bobbie’s problem isn’t that she doesn’t want to be married, rather she simply hasn’t found someone worthy of the job yet.

The denouement of the show portrays Bobbie’s rendition of the gut-wrenching ballad, “Being Alive,” where she sings about wanting to be in love with someone, not just anyone.

What has and always will set Company apart from other musicals is there is no “happilyever-after.” Though Bobbie finally comes to the conclusion she’s ready for a serious relationship, she still doesn’t have anyone in mind. The resolution of the show is therefore an internal one, arguing personal growth is just as important as tangible accomplishments.

Scooby-Doo live action movies lack charm of show, all-around pieces of garbage On Sept. 13, “Scoobert ‘Scooby’ Doo” and the rest of the mystery gang turned 50!

These meddling kids and their mangy mutt have been a part of just about everyone’s childhood, so I wanted to do something special for their birthday.

I decided to review the two live-action Scooby-Doo movies: Scooby-Doo and Scooby-Doo 2: Monsters Unleashed.

Oh god, they’re horrible.

Before I start ripping these movies to shreds, I want to look at the positives. Matthew Lillard, the actor who portrays “Shaggy,” is great.

Every one of his actions and line deliveries is spot-on. He was so good as Shaggy, he was offered a voice acting role for the character and has been voicing him in the recent

TV shows. Linda Cardellini’s performance as “Velma” is also pretty stellar. She captures the way Velma speaks, moves and thinks very well. Just a very solid performance. Also, the set design is pretty good. The set designer did a good job making a somewhat real-looking but cartoony set in both movies; however it was dialed up to an 11 in the sequel. And...um...the costumes were nice?

Okay, let’s get to the poop.

These movies are awful. I mean, they are really awful.

Everything from the writing to the camera work is just bad.

The general look of the movies, moreso the first one rather than the sequel, just makes me want to vomit. The CGI looks so bad and dated. The CGI characters do not look like they are really

Paul Dower is a film production sophomore from Tulsa, Oklahoma. He likes squishy toys, hoodies and Stanley Kubrick.

there, especially Scooby-Doo. He looks so ugly and is really hard to look at, which is a shame because he is the titular character.

Speaking of which, the characters are awful.

The way “Fred” is written is the most basic and boring way to write a good-looking team leader. He is, say it with me now, a dumb jock who is obsessed with himself and takes credit for all the team's successes, even when he didn’t

do much of the planning. I guess these movies are just hoping that no one in their audience has ever seen a movie before because anyone can tell you where his character arc is leading. Fred is such a boring character in these movies, and he doesn’t have to be. There are plenty of Scooby-Doo shows and movies that have way more interesting and developed Freds.

Now, let’s discuss “Daphne.”

I believe the discussion the writers had in the writing room

went a little something like this, “Hm, what should we do with Daphne? She doesn’t really do that much in the show. She normally just plays the role of damsel in distress. Oh! I know!

Let’s make her do Kung-Fu for literally no reason and make her a dumb popular girl!” Daphne’s character makes me want to slam my head into my wall.

Again, it was just a boring, bland, unoriginal, popular girl stereotype whose sole arc is to not be the damsel in distress. I get bored just writing about it.

Most of these character flaws carry over to the second movie, yet somehow I enjoy it more. I don’t know how or why really (maybe because they are toned down), but in the second movie it just feels better.

The first movie sucks. I

would rather watch anything other than that piece of ugly garbage. The sequel, however, I would actually watch again.

It’s a bad movie, don't get it twisted, but the parts that are good are actually decent enough to keep me watching. Maybe it’s just because I watched a colossal poopshow right before it, but I kind of enjoyed it. It’s definitely an easier movie to get through, and the use of more practical effects definitely helps.

I find it sad that the ScoobyDoo franchise, a franchise that revolutionized the way children’s cartoons are written, has such bad, boring and formulaic live-action movies.

These movies are poop, and I Scooby-Dooby-Don’t recommend you watch them.

SATURDAY 2019 Fall High School Dance Workshop from 9 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. in Ann Lacy School of Dance and Entertainment

Hall in Tom and Brenda McDaniel University Center

Campus Calendar Calendar items must be received in the Newsroom or stupub@okcu.edu by noon Friday for inclusion in the following Wednesday issue.

TODAY Capital City Connect: Predictive Analytics from 12-1 p.m. in OCU School of Law Thomas Jay Oord - Thank Goodness, God is Not in Control! from 2:30-3:45 p.m. in the Great Hall

in Tom and Brenda McDaniel University Center THURSDAY Weekly Play Club meeting from 7 p.m. to midnight in the Honors Lounge in Gold Star Memorial Building

Weekly chapel service from 1-2 p.m. in Bishop W. Angie Smith Chapel

National Geographic Photographer Annie Griffiths lecture from 5-7 p.m. in Norick Art Center

OCU Project 21 Concert from 7:30-9:30 p.m. in Medium Rehearsal Hall in Wanda L. Bass Music Center

Guest Speaker Richard McKinney at 7 p.m. in Kerr McGee Auditorium in Meinders School of Business

The Campus has served the Oklahoma City University community since 1907. It is published Wednesday during the academic year, with the exception of holidays and exam periods.

THE CAMPUS Sept. 18, 2019, Volume 113, Issue 4

Editor-in-chief: Emily Wollenberg Copy Editor: Paul Dower Photo Editor: Clara Foster Community Manager: Jessica Vanek Web Editor: Luke Barrett Ad Director: Maddie Bowes Graphic Designer: Melissa Campbell

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Staff Writers: MaKayla Baxter, Ava Cruchon, Maria DeLoera, Erik Hamilton, Francesca Iacovacci, Hope Melton, Shelby O'Brien, Hannah Prentice Columnists: Paul Dower, Francesca Iacovacci, Hope Melton

SUNDAY Smashcade at 7 p.m. in the Great

TUESDAY Fabien Cousteau - OCU Distinguished Lecturer Series from 7-9 p.m. in Petree Recital Hall in Kirkpatrick Fine Arts Center

Photographers: Clara Foster, Hannah Campbell, Kai Dunn, Katie Gibbs, Hope Melton Faculty Adviser: Ben Felder

The Student Publications staff welcomes unsolicited material and letters to the editor. All letters must be signed and include the writer’s phone number, address, major, and classification. The staff reserves the right to edit all letters. The staff also reserves the right to refuse letters without explanation. Letters can be sent online at mediaocu.com, emailed to stupub@ okcu.edu or dropped off at the Newsroom in Walker Center for Arts and Sciences. Submitted items may appear on MediaOCU and in the print edition.

The first issue of The Campus is free. Each additional issue costs 25 cents. Contents copyright, 2019. All rights reserved.

September 18, 2019

news

Students frustrated by lack of dining options Hannah Prentice

STAFF WRITER

Vegan, vegetarian and gluten-free students have struggled to find sufficient meal options for themselves, both in the cafeteria and in The Market at Alvin’s.

David James García, music theater/vocal performance senior, lives a vegan and gluten-free lifestyle but said he struggles to find the right nutrients to maintain a healthy diet through the campus dining services.

“It can be a little bit frustrating. A lot of the time different things fluctuate but it is never in the same realm, and they have the same couple things all the time,” García said. “It’s especially frustrating because the same thing is happening in the caf where there’s still not enough options for students who are vegan or have special diets, and in that instance you would go to Alvin’s, who also doesn’t have much, which leads to me scrounging for things and eventually spending my own money off campus instead of the meal plan I’m paying for.”

Last year, a focus group was conducted on campus under a former faculty member to work on tailoring the dining service options to what the students desired. However, after said faculty member left the university, no major changes came from the focus group results.

Students, having heard about

the focus group and then finding a continued lack of vegan and vegetarian options, were left wondering what happened and why no changes had been made.

Casey Kreger, director of residence life, also works very closely with both dining services and the company who provides all food to the university, Chartwells.

Kreger said this focus group, though not the last one that will happen on campus, did not show results impactful enough to make any significant changes.

“I do have the other person’s records, but there is nothing that shows any huge results or assessments from that focus group,” Kreger said. “The best way for students to give feedback is on Sept. 24 in our first dining community meeting, but the idea is that maybe we will have a couple of different times so students that can’t make one can make the other. We want to make sure students are able to be there to answer their questions and receive the information.”

Dining officials said they are taking steps to listen to student concerns regarding this issue, such as bringing back the hummus bowls to Alvin’s after significant student input regarding the lack of them. However, students say both the caf and Alvin’s are still lacking when it comes to providing a wellrounded diet to students with specific nutritional issues.

García said he has noticed a lack of protein options for

vegan students consistently at meal times, which is a vital part of their nutrition. He said these need to be more readily available to students if at all possible.

He also said there was a major lacking point in the gluten-free options for students who physically cannot have gluten.

Kreger said in order to make change, students can reach out in the proper ways to report these concerns to school officials, so they can work to better the options provided on campus.

“We’re never going to be able to please every student because that is an impossible thing to do,” Kreger said. “If we look at what can we do to help our students who have specific dietary restrictions, while also looking at how can we meet the average student, trying to balance those can be a struggle. But, in the market specifically and outside of the Jack and Olive brand that Chartwells uses, as long as it is one of Chartwells’ approved vendors, change can be discussed.”

Kreger said students should report their concerns to himself or Emily Anderson, head of dining services, or do so by attending the upcoming dining community meeting on Sept. 24 in the Great Hall in Tom and Brenda McDaniel University Center, for which a time has not yet been announced, but will be soon in an email.

Keeping the ball in play Top: Aleksa Mitrovic, junior defender, dribbles the ball onto the field at the Sept. 11 soccer game against Friends University on Brian Harvey Field.

Right: Ljubisa Palic, sophomore forward, slides toward the ball at the Sept. 11 soccer game against Friends University on Brian Harvey Field.

Below: Andre Salvador, senior goalkeeper, protects the goal at the Sept. 11 soccer game against Friends University at Brian Harvey Field.

Kai Dunn Student Publications

Campus tech to upgrade internet bandwidth on campus Matthew Lavery

STAFF WRITER

OCU is set to receive new technology upgrades on campus.

Campus tech officials are reportedly doubling the internet bandwidth on campus, increasing internet speeds in both wired and wireless connections.

“It will not do anything specifically to the Wi-Fi,” said Gerry Hunt, chief information officer for campus technology services.

“The speed to getting to resources on the internet will be quicker.”

Campus tech officials are improving the internet speeds after an increase in the number of devices students are using on campus.

“It is growing at a rapid rate,” Hunt said. “Students and employees are coming with not just one, but at least two, if not four or five devices.”

Over-stressing the Wi-Fi has caused the demand for internet bandwidth to become very high, and it is always growing. Campus internet has been at one gigabit per second for years.

“We have just reached a point where we needed to increase it,” Hunt said. “We also have other initiatives going on, like an

eSports initiative that’s coming up.”

The need for more bandwidth caused campus tech to look for and identify a provider that will double the internet at a reasonable rate.

“It should feel better when you’re browsing on the internet or accessing resources,” Hunt said. “The less buffering that would be required and the quicker you can download content should provide a better experience.”

Additionally, campus tech officials are also replacing the copy machines around campus.

“We are beyond the end of our contract for our existing copiers,” Hunt said. “We’re well beyond their lifespan, and it’s reached the point where we need to replace the devices.”

Replacing the copiers on campus with newer models will give campus access to the latest technology when it comes to copying and printing.

“The new devices will be more reliable,” Hunt said. “They’ll have faster components, up-to-date touch screens, all the later more up-to-date components that you wouldn’t find in an eightyear-old copier.”

“ “

The new copiers will be under a five year lease by the university, so when the lease is up, the copiers will be replaced with newer technology.

“The exact price, I don’t recall,” Hunt said. “It’s a hardware lease, plus we pay per page for maintenance. So, the university is charged for every page that is printed by RK Black, which is our vendor that we lease this equipment through. They charge us that because that is how they provide us maintenance, and they also provide us toner at no extra cost.”

Print subsidies via StarCards will still be accepted.

Duke Bartholomae, acting junior, said the internet upgrades would be helpful.

“I feel like it’s very well needed because a lot of the stuff I do on a regular basis is involving the internet,” he said. “It’s nice to have that safety net for what the internet can do for us.”

Contributing: Web Editor Luke Barrett

Acting seniors to perform Shakespeare show on campus, in China MaKayla Baxter

STAFF WRITER

Eight acting seniors will attend a theater conference in China.

Laura Kariuki, Erika Felix, Mallory Scheidel, Sydney Epstein, Austin Wyatt, Blayne Childers, Blake Sauceda, and Erik Hamilton, acting seniors, will attend the fifth annual World Theatre Education Alliance conference in Beijing, China on Oct. 12-23.

The trip will be paid for by the School of Theatre.

The WTEA, based out

of The Central Academy of Drama in China, is comprised of 14 theater schools from 12 different countries.

Lance Marsh, professor of acting and head of performance, said OCU is the first American school to be invited to the conference.

“We were in the position to be invited because of all the incredible work Dean Mark Parker has done connecting us to China,” Marsh said. “The university has been very open to exploring new opportunities like this one.”

Students will attend mas-

The university has been very open to exploring new opportunities like this one.

terclasses and learn from international instructors. They will also attend performances organized by other schools, and present their own original play, Clowns, Lovers, and Women in

Lance Marsh professor of acting head of performance

Pants.

Epstein said the show consists of various Shakespeare comedy excerpts, with the cast providing commentary between each set.

“The show technically originated with another group of OCU students who went to the Edinburgh Fringe Festival over the summer,” Epstein said.

“We’re using the same Shakespeare scenes, but changing all of the in-between bits and making them our own.”

Olivia Laskin, acting junior, attended the Fringe Festival and helped to write and develop Clowns, Lovers, and Women in Pants.

“Putting the show together was a great experience,” Laskin said. “The group going to China are an absolutely amaz-

ing bunch, and I’m sure they’ll do a fantastic job and help make it an even better piece.

It’s very exciting.”

Clowns, Lovers, and Women in Pants will be presented by the students as a Stage II production on Oct. 3-6 in the Black Box Theater in Wanda L. Bass Music Center.

Staff Writer Erik Hamilton was not involved in the writing or editing of this story.

School of Music to perform first mainstage musical production Maria DeLoera

STAFF WRITER

Theater students are preparing to perform The Music Man in late September.

The Music Man is the first Wanda L. Bass School of Music mainstage of the school year. The show is a classic musical that tells the story of “Harold Hill”, a con-man who has a change of heart when he comes to River City, Iowa. Jonah White, music theater senior, said he hopes the show will bring comfort to audiences, as well as entertainment. He said it is the music that resonates with audiences.

The show was chosen because the music has interesting vocal techniques for the students performing.

“The show is very vocal based, and we love performing classic, timeless musicals that are always going to be relevant to the ages.” White said.

Caroline Allen, music theater/vocal performance senior, is playing “Marian Paroo,” a driven young librarian and music teacher.

Allen said The Music Man was a prominent show when it was September 18, 2019

We go between following the material or trying something new.

Adam LaPorte music theater/music composition senior

written in the 1950s.

“Our director recently made the comparison that The Music Man was their Hamilton,” Allen said.

Adam Laporte, music theater/music composition senior is playing Harold Hill.

Laporte said the students performing in the musical balance traditional and new methods.

“It changes the process. We go between following the material

or trying something new,” LaPorte said.

Despite the generation gap, students performing the show said they believe it has universal themes for current audiences.

Claire Greenberg, music theater senior, is playing Marian Paroo alongside Allen. Greenberg said actors become familiar with the music and style while also making it relevant to the audience.

“It’s really refreshing and surprising that Marian Paroo existed then, and it’s inspiring,” said Allen.

Students said they hope audiences will come to hear the classic music of The Music Man. LaPorte said the scope of the show is about music’s ability to build a community and bring people together. The sentiment is shared among the other theater students in the show.

The opening show is Sept. 27, and runs through Sept. 29. Student tickets are $10 at the ticket office or at okcu.edu. The week of the show, student vouchers will be sold outside the Caf for $6.

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lifestyles

Submitted

Family unites Jay Williams, religion senior, adopted his two 11-year-old nephews after fostering them for the past year and a half.

Williams is an active student on campus, participating in cheer and living in Cokesbury Court Apartments with his nephews.

Religion student adopts 11-year-old nephews Jessica Vanek

COMMUNITY MANAGER

Jay Williams, religion senior, is a pastor, a cheerleader and now, a father.

Williams recently adopted his two twin nephews, whom he had been fostering for the past year and a half.

Williams said the process of fostering took some time.

“It was around spring semester sophomore year,” Williams said.

“I had a sister who got into a little legal trouble. I was not 21 at the time, which is the age you have to be to officially foster, so I had to wait a few months. As soon as I turned 21, the boys were able to move in with me.”

The boys were officially adopted on Aug. 26.

Williams said the boys are now 11 and growing up fast.

“They just transitioned into middle school. They got into a really good school, and I was hoping that diversity and inclusion was a focus there, and it is,” he said. “One of them is getting into theater, and he’s even auditioning for Hairspray Jr. at his school.”

Williams said he wasn’t expecting to be a parent in college.

“I knew I was going to foster at some point in my life, but I didn’t expect it to happen this soon,” he said. “Sometimes they will come to class with me if they’re out of school, and all of my professors know about them.”

The trickiest part of the adoption process was the legal work, Williams said.

“It was rather extensive,” he said. “The adoption itself was easy, but it was just the paperwork that was challenging. Even postadoption, I still get things from my lawyer.”

Williams said the three of them live on-campus in Cokesbury Court Apartments.

“The housing department graciously offered us enough room to stay there,” he said. “They originally lived in Seminole County, and we’ve lived in Oklahoma our entire lives.”

The boys enjoy on-campus activities, Williams said.

“They consider themselves just as much a part of this campus community as everybody else,” he said. “They love the back to school bash we’ve had every year.”

The boys have enjoyed some on-campus productions as well, he said.

Williams, also a member of the OCU Cheer team, takes the boys to practice with him in the morning.

He said he hopes his kids will grow up to be tolerant people.

“They had a different environment growing up than I did, which I appreciate. And I hope they learn to appreciate it too,” he said. “I hope they learn to love people and grow from that.”

Andrew Tompkins Lewis, acting junior, said Williams is his cheer big, which is a mentoring relationship within the cheer

team. Tompkins Lewis said Williams is responsible for a lot of his growth in college.

“He’s really helped me develop into the person I am. He’s always been one of the best role models I have in my life,” Tompkins Lewis said. “He’s a heck of a pastor as well.”

Tompkins Lewis said the boys are very well-behaved.

“They spend most mornings at cheer practice before school playing basketball, throwing a football or working on homework,” he said.

Tompkins Lewis said he thanks Williams for his presence in his life.

“He’s one of those people who will be a big part of my life for years and years,” Tompkins Lewis said.

Williams said trusting a higher power and trusting others is the way to overcome change.

“This is definitely a journey that I would not be able to do by myself,” he said. “The university has helped out a lot, and I have friends and family who live here. It truly takes a village, so just trust where God has put you and know that you are capable even when you don’t feel capable.”

Student wins 2019 Ford Fiesta in blood drive raffle Erik Hamilton

STAFF WRITER

Jocelyn Schifferdecker, religion/mass communications freshman, won a brand new 2019 Ford Fiesta in a raffle.

Bob Moore Ford and Oklahoma Blood Institute annually partner up for a one car giveaway for blood donors.

“So I gave blood, and I guess my name got entered in a drawing,” Schifferdecker said. “And I actually didn’t answer the call at first because it was an unknown number. They kept calling, so I answered. Five finalists got to go to the dealership. Everybody chose a key, and if your key started the car, you got the car. My key started the car; lucky number three.”

Schifferdecker said the other finalists were a girl from Oklahoma Christian University, a family from Owasso, an elderly man, and another man who didn’t initially attend.

“One of the people actually didn’t show up, and then he showed up later, and he was yelling at the people at the dealership that they didn’t give him a chance,” Schifferdecker said. “So I got kind of scared by that for a minute.”

Schifferdecker went to the dealership with her boyfriend, Jeremiah Olsen, for the key drawing.

“I didn’t go down that Saturday because I didn’t think she’d actually win,” said Stacey Schifferdecker, Jocelyn’s mom. “He texted me that she won, and I didn’t believe it; I told him, ‘You’re messing with me. She didn’t really win.’”

Schifferdecker said she didn’t know what to do with her two cars at first, but after discussing it with her mom, she decided to sell her old car to her friend. She said her friend visits her a lot, and she is setting up a payment plan.

“My friend has a terrible car,” Schifferdecker said. “Two cars, it’s like ‘first world problems.’ Not even a first world, like negative one world problem. It was my interesting fact for all of my classes the first day.”

Schifferdecker said her old car has multiple operating issues.

She said it has a broken air conditioner and makes worrying sounds when driving. Stacey Schifferdecker said the new car makes

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her more comfortable in regard to her daughter’s safety.

“It’s going to make her safer,” said Stacey Schifferdecker. “Her old car was twelve years old. Now, I feel confident that her car’s not going to die on her.”

Schifferdecker said she still has trouble believing she actually won the car.

“My family never wins anything, like even those super cheap little raffles that 20 would enter and there were like 15 prizes; wouldn’t win anything,” Schifferdecker said. “I don’t think I have any luck in the future. I think it’s gone. I’m sure I’ll rebuild some luck, but as for winning drawings and stuff, I probably shouldn’t gamble because I’m not going to be lucky with that. I think I used it all for at least five years.”

Both Stacey Schifferdecker and Olsen said Schifferdecker is a very charitable person. Stacey Schifferdecker said their family serves food at a homeless shelter every New Years’, and her daughter has

historically been, and plans to continue to be, an active volunteer in her communities.

“I think it was a really cool situation. It’s really cool how donating blood, we had the chance to win a car and give people a chance to help out their community,” Olsen said. “She’s still going to be the same person, she’s still going to help out her community a lot; she’s still going to be an amazing person.”

Olsen said he and Schifferdecker may plan to travel in the new car, which Stacey Schifferdecker said has multiple functions which the old car did not, such as a backup camera.

“I still don’t believe it,” Schifferdecker said. “I don’t think I’ll ever believe it.”

Female National Geographic photographer to give guest lecture Francesca Iacovacci

STAFF WRITER

National Geographic photographer Annie Griffiths will give a guest lecture at OCU. Annie Griffiths was one of the first female photographers to work for National Geographic and has traveled to more than 150 countries in her career. The lecture will be 5-7 p.m. on Sept. 19 in the Norick Art Center.

Anna Wheat, art sophomore, said she is looking forward to the opportunity to meet Annie Griffiths.

“I’m excited to see what someone who works for National Geographic does and how they got started,” Wheat said. “It’s always been a dream of mine to work for National Geographic as a photographer.”

Heather Lunsford, director of the School of Visual Arts, said September 18, 2019

I’m excited to see what someone who works for National Geographic does and how they got started.

Anna Wheat art sophomore

the presentation will be about Griffith’s travels, non-government organizations and The Ripple Effect.

“The Ripple Effect is a non-profit organization that’s a team of journalists documenting the plight for women and how they deal

with the effects of climate change,” Lunsford said. “I’m looking forward to the presentation because several of the upcoming shows in the art department have to do with climate change this year.”

The art department’s next show is a month-long project about consumerism called “Regarding the Discarded.”

“Students will be weaving locally savaged and collected materials into a suspended sculpture in our gallery to create artwork from trash,” Lunsford said. “We’ll be talking about consumerism, globalism and how we interact with the world.”

To reserve a spot for Griffith’s lecture or to get involved with the School of Visual Arts’ upcoming project, contact Lunsford for more information at hklunsford@okcu.edu.

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