OKC Celebrates Black History Month, MLK
Oklahoma City celebrated Martin Luther King Jr. with an annual parade, making it the 44th year Dr. King’s legacy was honored. The parade was held Jan. 27 and the theme was, “Stand Up ... Speak Up!”
The morning started with a prayer breakfast that took place at the Reed Conference Center. Keynote speaker and Clara Luper Award recipient,
Stephanie Wilson, gave a meaningful speech about facing racial injustices growing up and the importance of Martin Luther King Jr. Day.
The parade contained a handful of bands whose sound could be heard from streets away. Hundreds of people could be seen from the streets waving and cheering along the sidewalk. The Children sprinkled in the crowd were joyful. Although
The 101 on FLEX courses
FLEX courses offer the ultimate flexibility, allowing students to seamlessly transition between on-campus sessions and remote participation even halfway through the semester. This built-in adaptability can help students navigate life’s twists and turns.
“A FLEX class is a traditional on-ground class which students can also do online if they wish," said Professor Toni Castillo, Dean of the Liberal Arts & Sciences Division, "They can do all or part of it online.”
No matter how students
choose to engage with the material, whether it is on campus, virtually or both, the quality is never compromised.
Both the face-to-face and online components are crafted to ensure a rich and fulfilling learning experience. Whether you prefer the immediacy of in-person discussions, or the focused concentration of independent study, students gain valuable insights and knowledge throughout their journey.
Students can choose to attend scheduled class meetings for interactive learning or participate remotely
Cost of Living Is Rising, Minimum Wage Is Not
Minimum wage. The lowest remuneration that employers can legally pay their employees.
Inflation and price increases forced minimum wage to grow in some areas of the country, but for some states people are still living on $7.25 an hour or less. Oklahoma is included in those states where the minimum wage sits at $7.25 an hour.
“I work as a CA or a
community assistant. I am responsible for the residents here. I also serve as a mediator for residential conflicts,” said Elijah Miles, community assistant at Rose State College.
This is Miles' second year at Rose State College where he works with the student housing community. He is also a full-time student.
“I get paid $9 an hour, which is a bit higher than minimum
FLEX offers students more options. (Photo by DeAndrea Samuel)
Ylleana Berryhill Reporter
Praveena Jackson Editor-in-Chief
Mariama Diallo Reporter
Oklahoma City celebrates Martin Luther King Jr. Day with the annual parade. (Photos by Ylleana Berryhill)
HISTORY, from Page 1
the weather was bitter and cold, the area was convivial.
A variety of organizations could be seen showing their support, such as the Tinker Federal Credit Union, News 9 and Rose State College.
Rose State College even won first place in the category of groups who walked in the Martin Luther King parade.
From commemorating the success of one historical African American, we continued to honor many others during Black History Month.
Festivities happened everywhere.
“I like to go to parades and/or festivals, and I always try to purchase a new shirt or sweatshirt every year,” said Maliyah James a Mass Communications major.
Although some individuals celebrate more personally, Rose State College took the opportunity to provide a handful of ways to celebrate Black History Month.
February held the second annual Black History Month Art Display located in the
Student Engagement hallway. This year’s theme was “Black Excellence: Celebrating the Past, Present, and Future.” A BestSelling Authors Event took place on Feb. 17.
ReShonda Tate and Victoria Christopher Murray hosted a book
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with other authors, purchasing books, listening to guest speakers and poetry readings.
Rose State was not the only college celebrating this month.
The University of Central Oklahoma hosted their annual Black
"It means everything. Black History Month does not only shine a light on people’s accomplishments but it also serves as a learning experience."
- Nazareth
Gates
the opportunity to praise Black history by hosting the second annual Black History Day. This free event was introduced by the Oklahoma Legislative Black Caucus. The theme was “Celebrating Black History - A Day at the Capitol.”
This month is not only
the importance of Black History Month and what it not only means for him but his family as well.
Gates believes that it is important to show his kids as well as the younger generation the spotlight Black-owned businesses are given.
Black History Month
discussion, meet-andgreet and book signing for all those attending.
On Feb. 18 the fourth annual Black Authors Expo. took place in the Jeanie Webb Student Union. For this event, the Diversity Center partnered with Belle Publishing Attendees enjoyed talking
Girl Magic Conference on Feb. 21. This year’s theme was, “Pretty In Pink.” Vice President of Diversity, Equity & Inclusion of Tinker Federal Credit Union and keynote speaker, Colisha Lewis spoke at this event.
The celebration doesn’t end on college campuses. The Capitol even took
celebrated personally but communally as well. Black-owned businesses around the state celebrated everything this month has to offer.
Nazareth Gates owns a dog grooming business called Naztydog, which is one of many businesses that showed pride this month. He expressed
Rose State Offers Personal Trainer Certification
Dakota Schick Editor-in-Chief
Rose State College is offering a four-week microcredential online initiative to introduce and cover all the necessities to becoming a personal trainer.
The National Strength Conditioning Association Certified Personal Trainer Microcredential helps students and working professionals begin their fitness and personal training careers.
A microcredential contains pieces of work that provide development of skills specified for the career wanting to be obtained. The personal training microcredential provides prep for the NSCA and CPT exam. This program also provides professional development and experiential learning necessary for the personal training field.
Besides exam prep throughout the four weeks of class, students will cover the four main parts of exam content. These being client consultation and fitness assessment, program planning, techniques of exercise and safety and emergency procedures and legal issues.
In an article posted on the Rose State website The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics suggests that, "Careers in Health and Sports Sciences are outpacing the average expected job growth rate from 2021 to 2030, faster than the average for all occupations.”
The article continues, “The job market expects increased Health and Sport Sciences job openings as current workers transfer to different occupations or retire from the labor force."
For those interested in this course, the cost is $399. Once the course is completed, it is
required to take and pass the NSCA Certified Personal Trainer exam within six months of course completion. Once the exam is passed by the student, they must email their receipt to Professor Elizabeth Brown at ebrown@rose. edu. A receipt will be emailed for reimbursement for the registration fee to take the exam, and the cost of the course which adds up to $744.
can uniquely vary in meaning from one Black business owner to another.
“It means everything. Black History Month does not only shine a light on people’s accomplishments but it also serves as a learning experience," Gates said. "Even now I am still
learning new things about the past. The educational aspect of this month is inspiring enough to know about other individual’s accomplishments.”
Black History Month is providing the opportunity to honor the idols of the past who have paved the way for future generations to know they can be successful, from Carter G. Woodson, to Audre Lorde, Claudette Colvin, Bayard Rustin and Medgar Evers.
One historical figure Gates looks up to is former president Barack Obama because he did not think he would see it in his lifetime.
His motivation to start his business came from his fondness of building.
“I like to build, I like to take pre-existing things and make them into something. I also like making my family proud. My kids and my wife are proud of me. Every day and every month is a struggle but my kids are proud of me, my wife is proud of me, my family is proud of me.”
Black history is everywhere. It’s in the community, the ways it’s celebrated, the businesses and in the youth.
OKC holds its annual MLK Parade. (Photos by Ylleana Berryhill)
Flyer for NSCA personal trainer prep course
Does a College Degree
Outweigh Financial Hardship
"I've generally longed for pursuing a career in counseling, yet the possibility of gathering enormous student loans fills me with anxiety."
- Sarah Shaw
Bailee Whorton Reporter
A growing number of young people are challenging this narrative, questioning whether pursuing a college degree is truly worth the financial burden it entails in an era when higher education is frequently portrayed as the key to success.
As somebody who comes from a single income household, I understand the heaviness of this choice directly. Until I received Ticket to Rose, a lifeline that gave me a break from my overwhelming debt for two years. This opportunity not just furnished me with a pathway to education but additionally permitted me to observe firsthand the battles and difficulties of my peers in exploring the intricacies of supporting their college dreams.
For many young individuals, the choice to pursue a college degree is loaded with monetary contemplations.
According to the Federal Reserve, undergraduate loan obligation in the United States has hit staggering levels, surpassing $1.7 trillion. The typical alumni leaves college troubled with a large sum of loan debt, a weight that can linger for quite a long time, molding
career decisions and monetary prospects.
In discussions with individual students at Rose State College, a common refrain arises: the fear of going toward debt surpasses the apparent advantages of a college degree.
"I've generally longed for pursuing a career in counseling, yet the possibility of gathering enormous student loans fills me with anxiety," said sophomore Sarah Shaw.
Freshman John Greene says that he came from a low-income family and that it was scary to take on a lot of debt for a degree that might not guarantee a good job.
"I've seen companions graduate with degrees just to battle to earn enough to pay the bills, burdened with loan payments they can scarcely afford," Greene expressed.
These firsthand records shed light on the perplexing calculus youngsters embrace while gauging the worth of a higher education against the financial risks.
While advanced education has for some time been proclaimed as the pathway to monetary versatility, the fact of the matter is undeniably more nuanced. A higher education doesn't ensure a good outcome, nor does it safeguard moves
Remembering Oklahoma’s Ralph Ellison
A personal look by Jacobey Brossie
Jacobey Brossie Reporter
I was inspired by this African American to live life to the fullest. This person was the one and only Ralph Ellison. It was in Oklahoma City that Ralph Ellison was born on March 1, 1914.
from the harsh factors of a competitive job.
Besides, the increasing expense of educational cost has exacerbated existing disparities, lopsidedly affecting students from low income backgrounds.
Students from families earning less than $30,000 annually are more likely than their wealthier peers to borrow money for college and graduate with more debt, according to a report from the Institute for College Access & Success.
Although, in the midst of these difficulties, there are rays of hope and innovation.
Organizations like Rose State College open doors for students to seek after advanced education without diving into difficult obligations.
Through grants, scholarships and other programs, universities can reduce the monetary weight on understudies, engaging them to follow their intellectual and professional desires without forfeiting their monetary prosperity.
As youngsters rethink their choices and focus on monetary strength, it's fundamental to regard their voices and work towards a future where education is a pathway to opportunities, not complications for financial hardship.
He is best known for his novel "Invisible Man," which is one of my favorite novels. He published "Invisible Man" in 1952. It went on to win a National Book Award in 1953.
I often tell friends that he was more than an author. Ellison was also a musician who played the piano.
Tuskegee Normal and Industrial Institute, now Tuskegee University, was the institution where Ellison studied. Tuskegee University is an Historically Black University in Tuskegee, Alabama. It was established on July 4 1881, by Lewis Adams and Booker T. Washington. Having graduated from Tuskegee University after three years, Ellison later moved to New York where he met Richard Wright. Wright was a famous African American author of novels, short stories,
poems and nonfiction. He encouraged Ellison to write when he met him in New York City. According to Britannica, Ellison began writing short stories, reviews and essays for various periodicals as early as 1937. From 1938 to 1942, Ellison worked on the Federal Writers’ Project as well as The Negro Quarterly, for just over a year.
During his time with the Federal Writer's Project, he wrote his award-winning book "Invisible Man."
This novel tells the story of a Southern Black youth who goes to Harlem, joins the fight against white oppression and is ignored both by Blacks and whites. While providing a thoroughly unique take on contemporary African American identity, the novel won praise for its stylistic innovations that infused classic literary motifs with modern Black speech and culture. In contrast, according to Britannica, Ellison’s focus on the novel as a work of art instead of a primarily critical piece led some Black novelists at the time to complain that his commitment
to social change was inadequate. He published two collections of essays in 1964, "Shadows and Act" and "Going to the Territory" as well as lecturing widely on Black culture, folklore and creative writing at various American colleges and universities following the publication of "Invisible Man."
The book "Flying Home, and Other Stories" was published posthumously in 1996, in memory of Ellison. At the time of his death in 1994, Ellison left a second novel unfinished. After publication in 1999, the unfinished work of Ellison was published as "Juneteenth," which was a short story. Ellison was a huge success to many, and his name will always be remembered, with his award as stated by oklahoma.gov “The Ralph Ellison Award was created by the Center to posthumously honor individuals who have made outstanding contributions to Oklahoma’s literary heritage." A famous African American from Oklahoma, Ralph Ellison, is celebrated as a part of Black History Month.
Portrait of Ralph Ellison taken in 1961 by an unknown photographer. (Photo from the Library of Congress, courtesy of the National Archives)
Established and Upcoming Artists of Oklahoma
Amelia Beaty Reporter
While not the epicenter of the American creative community, Oklahoma certainly isn’t short of noteworthy artists.
Piper Bridwell, an abstract artist born and based out of Oklahoma, has managed to spread her work worldwide. She has been featured in galleries in the U.K. and Italy, with pieces selling for over $4,000. She has an upcoming show at BancFirst OKC and another in Dallas at the Other Art Fair in Dallas.
Kennedy Fine is a songwriter and singer who performs shows in popular restaurants and social locations. She has recently caught the attention of a recording company in Nashville and will be professionally recording her original songs to be released on music streaming platforms.
Success in the creative industry can be difficult to navigate, especially in the beginning. It is easy for young artists to find discouragement in their work.
One of the biggest roadblocks to having a creative career, as said by Bridwell, is time. Even for her, time is a valuable and sometimes a rare resource. While she was finding her skills in her art, she wasn’t always happy with her pieces, losing canvases and time altogether. She recounted a story of mixing
FLEX, from Page 1
via web conferencing. Although individual courses maintain distinct attendance guidelines, FLEX courses generally provide heightened accessibility to missed content. Instructors can share recordings of lectures through Canvas or upon request. However, remember that these recordings only sometimes vaguely
paint and ending up with a paint that was too thick, but when she applied it to the canvas she found that she liked the splotches of color that are now common in her works.
For Fine, she explained that the biggest roadblock can be the individual.
“Know the value of your work,” Fine said. “It’s easy to be hard on yourself in a creative career.”
She cited that sometimes it's just easy to get stuck on a song and some take months to complete, while others just flow far easier and are done in a short amount of time.
“If you’re having trouble writing, the more you focus on it the less in tune with your emotions you become," she said. So what happens when the work is as finished as it will be?
Well, you start to market it. Marketing creative works have become far more accessible through online platforms.
Instagram is one of these platforms. Both Bridwell and Fine heavily emphasized the role it played in getting their work discovered, especially so in the case of Fine, as she was contacted on the platform by an agency based out of Nashville.
But with an average of 95 million posts being made to Instagram daily, it can be very easy to feel lost in a sea of talented but unseen creators. This means that any creator who wants to make their posts known
capture the full classroom experience, especially for courses with interactive elements like writing, labs or performances. Think of them as valuable resources supplements, not replacements for attending class. Always check with professors for their specific policies and details.
Additionally, Canvas provides a centralized hub for accessing course materials, completing assignments and engaging with supplementary
has to know how to selfpromote on the platform.
“You have to get your music in front of the right people and it can be hard to find those right people,” Fine said.
Alongside this, Instagram has been criticized for creating an environment that fosters comparison-based insecurity, which easily extends to artists trying to build up their portfolios.
While she was still honing her skills, Bridwell expressed that she was nervous people wouldn’t want to buy her paintings.
“In the beginning, I was so afraid to use those bright bold colors because people wouldn't want them in their house,” Bridwell said.
But her success would refute this fear, as her work has been bought by celebrities and collectors, and has hung on the walls of public areas.
“I want to encourage people that if that’s what they want to do and they feel passionate about it then that’s what they're supposed to do,” she said, encouraging other artists who may be experiencing similar fears.
When it came to her online presence, she hired someone else to take photos and videos for her when she was starting her Instagram page and only switched over to running the account on her own once she was confident in her skills in photography and video. She explained that she learned from other
resources. FLEX courses cater to diverse learning styles by offering both collaborative and independent learning opportunities.
Professor Jonathan Honig teaches American Federal Government at Rose State College, which is now offered as a FLEX course for the first time with Honig.
“I prefer in-person classes, but when it comes to those who might not be able to attend higher education, technology
people’s videos, but the most important aspects of having a successful social media presence were having good lighting for the photos and videos and posting consistently.
Fine shared her uploading schedule of posting on Instagram at least six times a week, and Bridwell posts every day on her platform.
One of the most significant aspects of Instagram being so useful to creators is its ability to connect people.
makes it much easier than it would have been in the past,” Honig said.
Furthermore, FLEX courses are tailored to empower students with the flexibility to choose how you engage with your classes. For instance, if your work schedule shifts halfway through the semester, hindering your ability to attend oncampus sessions, students can seamlessly participate in the course remotely. Instructors incorporate
“People want to see the artist at work,” Bridwell said, “People want to connect.”
Creativity is not a beast to be tamed, nor is it supposed to be something to cause anxiety in the creators. It is meant to communicate ideas, emotions, thoughts and memories into a medium that can be enjoyed and shared.
“The only thing holding you back is fear. If you have the passion for something just do it,” Fine said.
Both artists expressed
this adaptability directly into the course framework, eliminating the need for special requests or arrangements.
“We made the decision to offer FLEX classes as they fit to students demands,” Castillo said.
Zoom or Google hangouts are two examples of the free applications that classes will utilize for remote participation. Computers, tablets and smartphones are among the many gadgets that
a feeling of excitement for what is to come for them Bridwell with her upcoming galleries and Fine with her first professional recordings, and wherever their careers lead them next, both have found a sense of fulfillment in pursuing a passion that allows them to utilize their talents.
“Don’t be afraid to put yourself out there, because good things happen when you do,” Fine said when asked to provide advice for other small creators.
these apps are compatible with. The virtual learning environment correlates with any device that has a camera and microphone.
For students attending virtually and using Canvas for coursework, a reliable connection to high-speed internet (4G, LTE or Wi-Fi) is advised.
For more information about FLEX courses, visit the Rose State College website and look for FLEX courses, or contact your academic adviser.
Kennedy Fine records at a home studio. (Photo by Amelia Beaty)
LOCAL NEWS
Early College High School Program
Amar Arain Reporter
Modifications are being considered in Oklahoma as concurrent students are presented with newlydeveloped early education opportunities.
A new program known as the Early College High School Program helps secondary students take college-level classes throughout high school. Unlike current concurrent programs, ECHS allows students to simultaneously graduate with an associate degree and a high school diploma.
Entering high school for the 2024-25 academic year, freshmen students will take classes focused on college readiness. Collegelevel classes will begin during their sophomore year, and by their senior year, they will spend much of their school time on a college campus.
There are many purposes for this program.
A more college-educated workforce can be generated and students who emerged from less prosperous economic backgrounds can be presented with more academic advantages. It also encourages students to further their education by pursuing a bachelor's or even allow high schoolers significant readiness and justification
High Schoolers with Degrees? The Alterations of Early Education WAGES, from Page 1
wage, but because I’m a community assistant, most of my money goes to rent automatically or else I would be paid more,” Miles said.
For students making minimum wage, it's hard to live off of that amount.
According to the Oklahoma Department of Commerce, Oklahoma saw its highest inflation rate since the 1980s at 9.1% in June 2022. This has since slowed down in subsequent years to 3.4%
for higher salaries in the workforce.
The Oklahoman mentioned how many school districts, including two of the biggest within the OKC area, are implementing this program across all curricula.
Both Edmond and Norman public schools have announced the creation of such programs. So far, many more are following this trend: Union, Sand Springs, Tulsa, Memorial, McLain, Wilson, Moore, Cooked Oak, Western Heights and Muskogee public schools are all correlating with colleges in their districts.
Oklahoma City Community College has ECHS agreements in place with Moore Public Schools.
Vice President of Academic Affairs Travis Hurst gave some insight. "So where is Rose State’s position in all this," he asked. “I am a huge supporter of all concurrent programs. I think all students should take advantage of these opportunities, and Rose State is in the current process of exploring all options regarding the ECHS programs.”
Hurst explained that the biggest obstruction within this program is determining a better
in 2023.
In 2023, minimum wage was increased in more than 20 states. Oklahoma was not one of these states.
The cost of living in Oklahoma is $38,650, according to Bureau of Economic Analysis 2021 Personal Consumption Expenditures.
That means to live successfully in Oklahoma, an Oklahoman would need to make more than $18 an hour.
“I think it’s bad for our economy if minimum wage doesn’t go up," said
funding mechanism. Concurrent students are not eligible for student financial aid through FAFSA; this can become a financial burden on students and their families.
Nonetheless, Hurst and his academic outreach team are actively engaging in these programs and are in constant communication with high school administrators.
When asked about the positive and negative effects this program may produce, Hurst had this to say: “As high schoolers, we do not want them to be unprepared or have a negative start to their early college education. This affect can be detrimental, so our team is persistently monitoring this program to assure proper success and readiness.”
As far as positives go, Hurst mentioned that the program can allow students early access to more stimulating programs such as Nursing and Engineering here at Rose State.
10 Ways To Save Money As A College Student
Between only having time to work part-time, paying for school, and getting their feet planted in the world, college students are typically strapped for cash. Fortunately, there are ways to save money, big or small, that will leave some extra money in your pocket.
Here are 10 ways to save money as a college student.
Nathan Lowman News Editor
Use student discounts.
Streaming and music services typically offer bundles or massive discounts to students. Restaurants offer free drinks, sides or a small percentage off. Gym memberships, online retail and software purchases are all also options worth checking as well.
Buy secondhand. This is by no means an innovative solution, but it works. Check online shops like eBay, Mercari and Facebook marketplace for deals on laptops, phones, and even cars. In addition, eBay is worth checking for books, clothing and other materials. Don’t forget to check the local thrift or Goodwill either.
Book Rental. Renting text books saves a massive amount of money and the Rose State Library offers plenty of textbook rentals for a fraction of the price of purchasing a book outright.
Use school resources.
Rose State students already pay fees for a gym membership at the Wellness Center, tutoring and printing in the LRC and computers at various spots around campus. Don’t pay for something you’ve already paid for at campus through your fees. Various sporting events, art displays, concerts and plays are also free, which can save on entertainment costs.
Apply for scholarships.
Scholarships aren’t just available to high school students. Ask your department and advisers about scholarship opportunities specific to your degree and career path and look online. There is a whole host of scholarship opportunities available.
Get a roommate. If you’re living alone you may consider a roommate. This will cut rent and some of the bills down by half.
“If this program existed during my high school period, I would have been fully engaged in the program,” freshman Maliyah James said. “I believe this will strengthen our campus while appealing and encouraging more students to attend Rose State.” 1 2 3 5 6 7 8 9 10 4
18-year-old Antionio Mckinnon. "It is going to stunt our economic growth. We should either be more affordable or get more money.”
Mckinnon attends Mustang High School. He currently works at Burger King for minimum wage. He plans to take a gap year after high school to make more money before going to trade school.
Minimum wage in Oklahoma has not been increased since 2008 from $6.55 to $7.25. Inflation has risen in Oklahoma.
To get by, families have multiple people, including parents and children, contributing to paying bills. Some households have residents working more than one job on top of that.
“I am making $7.25 an hour. I think minimum wage should be $12.50 an hour," Mckinnon said. "That’s how much it costs to buy a meal in fast food, and I should be able to buy five times that by the end of my shift.”
The Oklahoma Minimum Wage Initiative
Renew your FAFSA. Remember to renew your FAFSA each year to receive financial assistance. Pell Grants, Work-Study and low-interest loans will save thousands over
could change all that.
State Question 832 was filed in October 2023 and could appear on the November ballot if it receives the 92,263 valid signatures required by state law.
Under the measure, the state minimum wage would increase to $9 per hour in 2025, $10.50 per hour in 2026, $12 per hour in 2027, $13.50 per hour in 2028 and $15 per hour in 2029.
State Question 832 is currently being heard by the Oklahoma Supreme Court. In early
your college career. If you have any questions visit the Financial Aid office in Student Services Room 220.
Ticket To Rose. If you’re a graduate of Mid-Del Schools, Choctaw, Star Spencer, or a resident of these areas, you are eligible for Ticket To Rose. This program pays for the costs that alternative forms of financial aid do not cover. See the Financial Aid office for more details.
Work on campus. Campus jobs are flexible and allow students to work and make some extra money without skipping class. Many of these jobs allow students to go to campus activities and work on homework as well. Get involved. Many campus events offer free T-shirts, gift cards, and free food. Check the Rose State website and social media pages for info about upcoming events. The flyers posted around campus also have event schedules for all semesters. There’s no shortage of student organizations to get involved in.
February, the Oklahoma Supreme Court began hearing arguments from The Oklahoma State Chamber and Oklahoma Farm Bureau challenging the measure, with the chamber saying, it was "legally insufficient for submission to the voters."
The two organizations maintain it would "threaten the economic viability of many agricultural businesses and the vitality of rural communities."
The court has not yet reached a decision on the State Question.
College Students and Screentime
How much is too much?
grows and humans use their smartphones more often.
Are students spending too much time on their phones - this is a question that has been asked frequently as technology
Many people have strong opinions on the topic of screentime. Some feel it is normal to have high screen time in a world where technology is everywhere.
Others do not like how increasingly normal a high number of hours having spent on the phone has become. Many specifically fear how it affects students, but why is this?
One reason may be
From Tumbleweeds to Towers: How Oklahoma City is Changing Its Identity
Right now, Oklahoma City is experiencing a renaissance of new infrastructure, culture and ideas.
Anyone who has been around central Oklahoma for the past few years has noticed the endless construction zones and new facilities popping up on every block. It is drastically different from the empty buildings and open land from the past decades. Through intense planning and arranging, Oklahoma’s leaders are actively trying to take Oklahoma City from a road trip pass-over to a place worth visiting.
In 2015, the Oklahoma Planning Commission adopted Plan OKC, an allencompassing blueprint for the future of Oklahoma. It includes everything from Oklahoma’s economic development, cultural preservation and urban
design. Most notably, it contains the Metropolitan Area Projects, better known as MAPS, a term-limited, debt-free, one-cent tax that aims to enhance downtown OKC.
MAPS was first introduced in 1993 by former Mayor Ronald Norrick in an attempt to create a more attractive city and has since been renewed four times to date. Though MAPS has been around for the past 20 years, it really caught traction in the late 2000s and early 2010s during the third iteration, MAPS 3. During this time, Oklahoma was quickly transformed with the addition of a professional basketball team, the boathouse district, event centers, streetcars, trails and more.
“That really is the whole reason behind MAPS to help make Oklahoma City a better place to live and work,” said Dr. Monique Bruner, Vice President of
statistics that show high numbers of screentime for teens. A 2021 survey by Common Sense Media found female teens aged 13 to 18 had an average 8.02 hours daily of entertainment screentime. They also found that male teens aged 13 to 18 had a daily average of 9.16 hours of entertainment screentime. Because of this statistic and others similar to it, many parents and educators have begun to worry about students.
This fear has been extended to college students as well. The panic over heavy screentime does have validity because of potential symptoms that it may cause.
According to Dr. Aris Mosley of Valleywise Health, symptoms of excessive screentime in children and adults can be problems sleeping, depression, anxiety, chronic neck pain, chronic
back pain and obesity. Some have also started to fear how excessive screen time may begin to affect students’ performance with school. There are people, though, who feel like the fear surrounding screen time may be extreme and constantly monitoring screen time is unnecessary. Whichever way people believe, it is clear that many hold strong opinions over screen time. For many people, a lot of their average screentime comes from their phone. Thomas Whetstone's average phone screen time was around six hours.
“I don’t think it affects my school work too much outside of occasionally getting distracted while I’m studying," Whetstone said.
Mari Breeden's average screentime was around four hours. When asked if she thinks her phone screen time
affects her work she said, “Greatly. I feel like it distracts me and I don’t even realize it.” Everyone is different, not everyone is as affected by their phone as much as others. How distracted one might be by their phone could also depend on what content they regularly consume on it. Cell phones play an important part in many people’s day-to-day life and it would be almost impossible for most students to go about their academic career without them. Most students know they cannot completely escape from their phone. For those who feel their phone is distracting them from work or who just would like to know how much time they spend on their phone, tracking your screentime could be a big help. Both iPhones and Androids have features that can track one’s screentime.
Student Resources.
Oklahomans seem eager to keep this momentum going, so voters gave the green light for MAPS 4 in 2019, with a 72% approval rating; the highest approval rate of all the MAPS programs.
According to Steve Hill, current Mayor David Holt’s Chief of Staff, the latest iteration of MAPS is all about assisting the people rather than creating new attractions.
“We understand that we have human infrastructure needs, so about half of the package is affordable housing programs, mental health programs, there’s a domestic violence center, a diversion hub to keep people from going in and out of the jail system and back on their feet.”
Other projects coming from MAPS 4 include increased bus routes, the Clara Luper Civil Rights Center, an innovation district and the Henrietta
B. Foster Center for Northeast Small Business Development and Entrepreneurship.
Bruner, when asked about these developments, expressed her excitement for the connectivity these facilities will provide, along with the new resources students and graduates will have access to.
Additionally, there are other exciting projects outside of the original MAPS 4 plan, one being the highly-anticipated OKANA Resort and Indoor Waterpark. It is partially funded by MAPS 4, but it is largely the Chickasaw
Nation’s project. Located right beside the new First Americans museum, the 400 million-dollar resort is expected to be a popular tourist destination with an impeccable return on investment.
Another interesting structure that could be on its way is the tallest building in the United States Scot Matteson, a developer from California is proposing to build the “Legends Tower” a 1907 foot-tall tower in the heart of downtown. No plans have been solidified yet, but it is certainly a possibility.
Plan OKC and MAPS 4
have allowed Oklahoma City the resources to make great strides toward an attractive and nationally competitive city. There are also more chances to grow occupationally and personally which entices Oklahomans to stay and others to come and live here.
“We’re building a city that’s inclusive, that’s gonna offer opportunities for everybody,” Hill says, "that's what makes a really good city.”
For more information about Oklahoma City’s development, go to planokc. org or okc.gov/Maps4.
DeAndrea Samuel Reporter
Kelcie Petty Reporter
A view of downtown Oklahoma City from Scissortail Park. (Photo by DeAndrea Samuel)
Students smartphone screentime increases every year. (Photo by Dakota Schick)
The Problem with the New Oklahoma County Jail Location
The new Oklahoma County Jail should be located where it is legal to build. This is not
a not-in-my-backyard problem, it is a legal problem that will cost the county millions of dollars if ignored.
Oklahomans have
responded to violent crimes in our state by taking a stand against violent criminals. After [incidents of] children being violently attacked and kidnapped from parks, schools and campgrounds we were sickened and cried out “NEVER AGAIN." Our state government passed laws to help prevent similar crimes. One law is known as
the “Sex Offenders Registration Act." It was separately placed in Title 57 that deals with Prisons and Reformatories (jails). The Sex Offenders Act applies to jails.
Title 57 Section 590.1E states that it is unlawful for an entity (County) to knowingly operate a structure (jail) in violation of this section. Section 590A states that it is unlawful to temporarily
reside within a 2000-foot radius of a school site, park, playground or childcare facility. Convictions of this section result in fines and imprisonment. County jails incarcerate people accused of committing any type of crime. Most will be released on bail before they are tried. A potential violent and or sex offender will be released from the jail at all hours, without
transportation, into our park. This sets the stage for a potentially dangerous situation to occur.
The County will be both criminally and civilly liable for incarcerating sex offenders at 1901 S.E. Grand. Unfortunately, it will take a victim and a jury for the county to finally understand that they are accountable under this law. Then, we will be forced to potentially
build another new jail on the correct site to resolve additional litigation. Let’s protect our children in Trosper Park which abuts this jail site, two daycares within 500 feet and our school children in their ballfields 700 feet away. Let’s not have to say NEVER AGAIN – AGAIN.
-Michael Dean
Oklahoma City into a big city ambiance?
City
When you think of a big city, what cities come to mind? You’re probably thinking of New York City, Chicago and probably Los Angeles. In 2021, Oklahoma City joined the big city club by becoming the 20th largest city in the country, according to the Census Bureau and kept that title in 2022
as was reported by The Oklahoman last year. This puts OKC in an interesting place. On the one hand, it’s now a big city, but if you go downtown it feels more akin to a smaller city. There’s a lack of public transportation, like the subway systems in NYC and Chicago, and it lacks a sense of busyness you’d expect from a big city. What should city leadership do to bring
The city has started to address this with the Metropolitan Area Projects, or MAPS. The upper and lower portions of Scissortail Park were part of MAPS 3 and the current work on the hotel and resort on the riverfront are part of MAPS 4. Is this enough to give Oklahoma City a big city feel? The honest answer is no. There’s a huge hole in the city’s services.
No major public transit. Yes, there’s a bus service, but the bus routes are confusing and appear random. There’s no connection between
Oklahoma’s third and fourth largest cities, Norman and Edmond. What the metro area needs is a public rail connection from the east side of OKC to the west and another from Edmond to Norman. The benefits of a system like this would be immense. People would be able to cheaply and quickly get to work in Moore from Edmond if they wanted to. Do you live in Midwest City and want to go to a concert at the new amphitheater in Yukon and not worry about parking? You could use this potential rail system.
Another thing the city is missing is people. Downtown after 5 p.m. is
almost empty. A vibrant urban area can only be vibrant if there are people making it so. This means that we need more people living downtown, which in turn, means we need to increase density downtown.
Empty lots of land or parking lots should be converted into apartments and not “luxury apartments.” It needs to be relatively cheap for people to live downtown. Cheap is not $1,400 or $1,500 for a month's rent. People may say that there’s nothing downtown to draw people in, but more people downtown would create demand for new,
fresh amenities in that area. Housing downtown, just like public transportation, should be made available by the city to create demand that creates the supply.
This isn’t an overnight fix; it’ll take time to create plans for a public rail system. It’ll take time to evaluate plans for apartments and longer still to build them. Good examples of strong cities exist for OKC to look to and build itself into a strong city. If you want to learn more about MAPS and get involved in any way with the city’s growth, please check out the MAPS website, https://www.okc. gov/government/maps-4.
Del City Councilman Ward 1
Downtown OKC is growing but still needs developments to compete with other big cities. (Photo by Hugo Gutierrez)
Hugo Gutierrez Reporter OKC: The Small Big
OPINION/ENTERTAINMENT
Two Presidents: Twice the Fun
Peter Monden Managing Editor
I’m beyond exhausted with politics, I’m downright disillusioned. This isn’t helped by the fact that politics have a horrifying tendency of popping up completely unwarranted. Just look at the comment section of any public social media platform. The failure of how many people address politics is a problem I couldn’t possibly hope to solve. I could talk down to the masses about the state of politics long enough to watch the atmosphere burn from the death of our sun, but it wouldn’t really solve anything. Fortunately for you all, I have a limited word count.
My frustration with the state of our presidential candidates has led me to speculate about potential solutions. In my eyes, the biggest problem in politics
is escalation. Because it’s too easy for Democrats and Republicans to work independently of each other, every election becomes a power struggle with both sides getting more extreme, seemingly to compensate for perceived losses. Neither side really represents their base as a result. So what’s my solution? I think there should be two presidents.
The first issue this would bring to the forefront is this would permanently establish two political parties. The thing is, we’re already basically a two-party system so we might as well make the best of it. Mark my words, no independent or third party will ever win the presidency.
So what would be the benefit of having two presidents? There would be a strong incentive for people of differing political backgrounds to work
together for common solutions that would benefit the most people. The reason this is so important is: there is an observable correlation between geographic factors and political affiliation. Areas with high population density tend to be more liberal than areas with low population density. A possible reason for this is because areas of different population densities are affected differently by the same
policies. This is part of the reason for districts and the electoral college. Most people would agree that it’s unfair for areas with a lower population density to have their best interests neglected indefinitely. Unfortunately, it would likely take a while for such a system to become effective. I’m well aware that the first couple terms under a system like this would likely be mostly stalemates. But eventually, the American people
should be able to catch on and start electing more moderate and reasonable presidents. This would hopefully result in a relative deescalation when it comes to politicians and policies. Failing that, we have other branches of government which could step in as a tiebreaker as needed.
Considering all other branches of our government are made up of more than one political party, it only makes sense
that the same apply to the presidency. While it’s unquestionable that things would be less productive at first, I find it hard to believe that a twopresident system would be any worse in the long run than what we have now. I believe the decisions that would be made would be more beneficial to more people. Over time Americans should adapt. And if we can’t, maybe we don’t deserve to keep moving forward.
New Indiana Jones Game Swings onto Consoles in 2024
breakdown covering more than what was featured in the trailer. This happened so quickly, but how does the game look?
game. MachineGames chose the worst part of the graphical fidelity to show off in the first moments of the trailer.
Recently, Xbox had a Developer Direct that featured Bethesda Softworks’ newest title, “Indiana Jones and
The Great Circle.” It was announced back in January of 2021. Because of Bethesda’s radio silence, I expected a cinematic trailer with a release date of 2024. This is why I was flabbergasted to see
not only cinematics, but gameplay and large story moments from many different parts of the game. I was shocked when I saw the game developer behind it, MachineGames. They released a 13-minute
The first aspect of the game I noticed was the name. “The Great Circle” is a name that I have mixed feelings about. It is not terrible, but it is not ideal. The older games have dramatic names like “The Fate of Atlantis,” “The Emperor's Tomb,” and “The Infernal Machine,” so I expected this new game to have a similarly eye-catching name.
These names bring wonder and mystery and this new title should give off the same feeling of a mysterious type of vibe. Graphics are another paramount aspect of the
The Nazi antagonist, Emmerich Voss, looked a bit uncooked. His movements were janky; his facial design and animations looked plastic and uncanny. The other characters looked leaps and bounds better. Why they chose one of the worst scenes is beyond me. Aside from the first sequence, the rest of the game’s graphics seemed on par.
MachineGames is prominently known for the recent “Wolfenstein” games, so it’s no surprise that “Indiana Jones” is in first-person. The choice to make the game first-person is probably
driven by the existence of the “Uncharted” series, another treasurehunting game featuring a third-person view. To avoid direct comparison, MachineGames chose a different style of game. The player can play as Indiana Jones as he solves puzzles, fights enemies and searches out ancient mysteries. My prediction is that it will be less gunfocused and there will be a greater emphasis on melee and stealth.
The last big “Indiana Jones” game was “The Staff of Kings” in 2009. “The Great Circle” will be released 15 years later. Hopefully, MachineGames can bring their A-game to this and give us the best “Indian Jones” game to date.
"Indiana Jones and the Great Circle" will be the first Indiana Jones game this year. (Photo courtesy of Machine Games)
Sean Penn* Reporter
Batter Up
Rose State Baseball, Softball in Full Swing
Dakota Schick Sports Editor
The Raiders Baseball team is sitting at a 6-8 record halfway through February, with high hopes to improve by the end of the season for their conference tournament.
In their first game, the Raiders rode the backs of sophomore pitchers Isaac Thornton, Luke Cummings and Andrew Sheppard who combined threw a no-hitter.
With a final score of 8-0, the Raiders went on to beat the Lions of North Central Texas College.
The Raiders relied heavily on Glynn Wilson, Cole Barton, Wyatt
Fielding and Silas Voegely who all had batting averages above .300 through the first 14 games.
The power bats of Wilson and Blake Seefeldt are also contributing, hitting two home runs each.
The Raider defense, however, is being led by pitchers Thorton and Tyler Root. Thorton has pitched 18 innings with an ERA of 5.50 and has 22 strikeouts. Root has pitched 16 innings with an ERA of 2.81 and has 15 strikeouts.
Baseball still has a lot of time left to prepare for their end of the season tournaments where they hope to make it to the NJCAA World
ENTERTAINMENT
Series starting May 25 in Colorado.
The Raider Softball team started their season going 4-4, being a perfect 4-0 at home.
Raider Softball’s offense has started the season hot with nine different players
batting above .300, five of those being above .400.
The Softball team has leaned on the power bats of Kortney Griffith and Morgan Thomas with two home runs, as well as freshman Kaysie Lee with three home runs.
The Raider defense has played behind pitchers Keylee Beckwith and Addison Wilson. Beckwith has pitched 20.2 innings and has had 26 strikeouts with an ERA of 2.71, while Wilson has pitched 10 innings and has
had 14 strikeouts with an ERA of 7. The Raider Softball team hopes to continue their perfect home record and continue to strive for their conference tournament and NJCAA World Series May 22-25.
Disintegration: Quintessential Gothic Rock
Peter Monden Managing Editor
It’s been a little while since I’ve talked about music. This time I figured I’d discuss one of my favorite albums by one of my favorite bands: “Disintegration” by The Cure: released in 1989. For the uninitiated, The Cure is a “goth” band. The best way I could describe goth music is: sad/mopey rock with
somewhat of a low energy. Not to be confused with emo music which tends to be sad, angry and high energy. Now that I’ve lost everyone’s interest, I’ll talk about the album.
"Disintegration" opens with “Plainsong,” which is one of the weaker songs on the album. There’s a neat cosmic quality to the instrumental and it’s melancholic enough for
my taste but it’s ultimately too slow for its own good. To say I like it would be more of a technicality, but ultimately true.
“Pictures of You” follows the first track and it’s an improvement. It starts a little weak but once Robert Smith’s vocals start, they do all the heavy lifting. “Closedown” continues the trend of these early tracks being slow and
unremarkable. What I said about “Plainsong” might apply more to this track. It comes across like an intermission which is fitting because the next song is where things really start to get good.
“Lovesong” may be the fourth track of the album but it’s the first worth remembering. It has low energy without being dead on arrival like some of the first few tracks. The lyrics capture the feeling of falling in love but come across bittersweet in their delivery. The bass and guitar paint a harmoniously melancholic sound which is perfectly punctuated by the drums.
“Lovesong” is easily one of my favorite songs of all time. It’s hard to oversell because not only is It one of The Cure’s most popular songs, but it’s the song that made me take notice of them.
“Last Dance” is a bit better than “Pictures of You.” It’s mopey enough for me, it’s slow but not too slow, it’s pretty good. “Lullaby” is unsettling in a good way
and pretty enjoyable. I could try to decipher the meaning within the song, but if you can’t figure it out … “Fascination Street” is a contender for best song of the album. It has a lengthy instrumental opening that clocks in at nearly two and a half minutes. The instrumentation in this song is drawn out and perfected, the lyrics are a little seedy, there's a hint of melancholy and as always Smith kills it with the vocals, what more could you want from a goth band?
“Prayers for Rain” feels stripped back compared to most of the other songs. It meanders in a way, which I respect. “The Same Deep Water as You” is good if not great, but it’s over nine minutes long and overstays its welcome a bit. “Disintegration” opens with a memorable bassline that repeats throughout all eight minutes of the song's length. The instrumental builds for a minute and a half before the vocals come in. Something about
the sound is very nostalgic to me. It easily makes the top three songs of the album, but picking exactly where it belongs in that lineup is difficult.
“Homesick” lives up to its name. It’s like a more melancholic and uncertain version of “Last Dance.” It’s somewhere between good and great which seems fitting. “Untitled” is a solid but ultimately weak sendoff for such a strong album. Overall “Disintegration” is a great album, there are no fewer than three must hear songs, the average songs are still pretty good and the weakest songs are solid. My picks for the three best songs of the album are: “Lovesong,” “Fascination Street” and “Disintegration.” I honestly couldn’t choose which song I like best and I downright refuse to do so. If you haven’t listened to this album, you really should. Now if you don’t mind, I’ll get back to doomscrolling on Spotify.
Silas Voegely gets in position to swing in a game against Barton Community College on Feb. 10. (Photo by DeAndrea Samuel)
The Cure's "Disintegration" cassette tape from 1989. (Photo by Peter Monden)
Freshman Skylar Wells focuses on getting a hit against Southwestern Christian University JV. (Photo by Bob Whitaker)
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Staff Members
Editors-in-Chief
DAKOTA SCHICK & PRAVEENA JACKSON
Managing Editor
PETER MONDEN
Copy Chief
WILLIAM LITTLE
News Editor
NATHAN LOWMAN
Arts & Culture Editor
JOSUE LEIJA
Sports Editor
DAKOTA SCHICK
Graphic Design & Page Design Editor
MICHELLE JOHNSON
Cartoonists
PETER MONDEN
SHANNON LITTLE
Reporters
AMAR ARAIN
AMELIA BEATY
YLLEANA BERRYHILL
JACOBEY BROSSIE
MARIAMA DIALLO
HUGO GUTIERREZ
MALIYAH JAMES
MOLLY MONTGOMERY
QUOC NGUYEN
SEAN PENN*
DEANDREA SAMUEL
BAILEE WHORTON
ADVISER
DARCY DELANEY-NELSON