The 6420-Summer 2019 by Rose State Media Group

The 6420

Letter from the Editors

The end of one journey marks the beginning of another. I have contributed to The 6420 since its first issue for Spring 2018 and although this marks the end of my time at the newsroom, I will cherish the memories forever. While there is no magic formula to success, being surrounded by wonderful people makes the journey one worth taking. Every issue has brought unique challenges but our staff and volunteers have worked continuously to provide fresh content for our readers.

I want to give a special thank you to my co-editor for her tireless dedication, our adviser, Professor Darcy Delaney-Nelson, for her unwavering support and to our readers, who are the reason we work day in and day out. Enjoy our Summer 6420 issue and my best wishes to the class of 2019 and their new journeys. We did it!

Letters to the Editor

The 15th Street News and The 6420 welcomes and encourages letters to the editor. Letters should be a maximum of 300 words and are subject to editing for obscenity, clarity and space. Submissions must include name, major and phone number. The 6420 reserves the right to not publish submitted letters.

Letters to the editor may be hand-delivered to FA110.

Policies

Congratulations to the 2019 graduates!

I cannot believe how fast this semester went by and that so many of us are graduating. This semester has been a crazy journey for everyone on staff.

Working for Rose State’s publications has been an amazing learning experience for me. I am so grateful to have received this opportunity to be a part of this great staff.

I would like to thank Professor Darcy Delaney-Nelson for pushing me to do my best every day. She has taught me so much through my experience here, and I would not have the skills I have now without her guidance.

I would also like to thank our staff for working hard to bring diverse topics for our publications. Thank you to our readers for your loyalty. We hope you enjoy our Summer issue of The 6420.

Julie Archer, Co-Editor in Chief & Graphic Designer

Adviser

A Rose State journalism graduate, Professor Darcy Delaney-Nelson received a bachelor’s in journalism and mass communication, with a minor in sociology, as well as a master’s degree in JMC from Gaylord College at the University of Oklahoma. She has been in the journalism and mass communication field for more than 20 years. She currently serves as the mass communication program head and student publications adviser.

The 15th Street News is published monthly and The 6420 is quarterly as designated public forum. Student editors have the authority to make all content decisions without censorship or advance approval. Columns, commentaries and letters to the editor are personal opinions of the writers and do not necessarily reflect the views of our publications or other students, faculty or administrators of the college.

Anyone having a complaint may contact the Editor in Chief, 733-7400.

15th Street News is a member of OCMA, OPA, ACP, Great Plains Journalism Association, and the Society of Professional Journalists. This publication is printed by Mercury Press, issued by RSC and authorized by the Adviser of Student Publications.

RSC is in compliance with Titles VI and VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, as amended, Executive Order 11246, as amended, Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972, Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 and other federal laws and regulations does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, sex, age, national origin, religion, disability, sexual orientation or status as a veteran in any of its policies, practices or procedures.

This includes, but is not limited to, admissions, employment, financial aid and educational services.

Cover photo by Kessley Miller Model: Trevor Akers

Front Page Photo

Yesenia Gonzalez, Co-Editor in Chief

Meet the Staff

Joshua Rojo Graphic Artist

Selena Williams Features Editor

Courtney Carpenter Staff Writer

Kessley Miller Social Media Director

Bailey Walker Assistant Editor

Hollye Carroll Online Editor

Brayden Conover Sports Editor

Tanner Pipins Multimedia Editor

Madi Zick Multimedia Editor

Na’imah Abdul Al-azeez Staff Writer

Leah Irwin Staff Writer

Zaviana James Staff Writer

Reginal Fields Staff Writer

Ahmya Williams Circulation Manager

Real Talk

What superpower would you like to have?

Ronald Faulkner, Sociology major

“Teleportation, because I could go anywhere at any time for free.”

Jayce Camp, Nursing major

“To effectively communicate with every person and animal.”

Christian Huber, Cyber Security major

“To control time so if my assignment is late, I can just reverse time.”

Amanda Pierce, Psychology major

“Super empathic abilities so I can feel exactly what someone else is feeling.”

Avery Heitland, Dental Hygiene major “Telepathic abilities so I can know what people are thinking.”

What’s in My Bag?

Story & Photos by Selena Williams

For this issue’s “What’s in My bag?,” we interviewed John Primo, Vice President of Information Technology at Rose State.

John Primo, the Vice President of Information Technology, has worked for Rose State for 15 years. He is an adjunct professor of history for the Social Sciences Division and is the author of many novels such as “Sunset Rising,” “Summit at Sunset” and “Bringer of Fire;” and those are just three of the eight books he has out right now. In his off time, he enjoys reading, writing novels, visiting museums, honing his freshwater fishing skills and playing Dungeons & Dragons with friends. He has a busy lifestyle and the items in his backpack are evident of that. Here is a peek at the items typically found in Primo’s backpack.

• Western Digital Passport External USB Hard Drive: It’s for shuttling files between home and work and for backing up important files from my system. One thing we all probably don’t do often enough is backup data. So, I’m always trying to remind myself by carrying it around with me.

• Gallon Jug of Unsweet Lipton Black Tea: I brew it every night at home and then I bring it to work. I’m a tea guy. I also like Bigelow brand teas, English Breakfast tea is really good and Earl Grey is one of my favorite blends, there is also a version called Lady Grey; it’s good, too.

• Apple iPad & Accessories: This is almost like my phone, it’s inseparable to me. I love my iPad; I take it everywhere I go. I take to all meetings. I don’t take notes anymore on paper. I normally take notes in meetings on my iPad using a program called Evernote. Evernote allows you to load an app on any mobile device or desktop to get to your notes.

I’m trying to go all electronic, I’m trying to go paperless as much as possible.

• History Lecture Notes and Roll Sheets: I’m an adjunct professor of history. I love history; it’s my favorite course.

• Jaz Primo Bookmarks: I have to credit my publicist for this, carrying bookmarks. My publicist said anywhere you go, for every book you have, bring a bookmark, and you’ll never know when someone will want one.

• Business Cards: I always have cards. When I go to conferences, these are handy, but sometimes fans like them, too.

• 3D Printed Fidget Spinner: This was made by one of my employees, Sean Hinckley. He is a really talented guy and a bright young man. It’s branded by Rose State and Moog, which is a manufacturing organization that’s over on 29th and Sooner Road in the Tinker industrial complex. Moog is a company that specializes in things like 3D manufacturing printing.

• Screwdriver: It’s too handy not to have. I take it everywhere.

• Clorox Wipes: You go into classrooms and keyboards and mouses are not cleaned especially around flu season. I’m not a germaphobe, but I try to help out anyway I can.

• Logitech Presentation Remote with Laser Pointer: I love this thing. You just [plug it in]and go, and you can immediately start your presentation.

• Office Supplies: There is always a student in class [asking] do you have a paper clip. So, I try to help the students.

• Plastic Bags: I’m a recycler, so I reuse plastic bags.

The Perfect Size

Story by Leah Irwin l Photos by Julie Archer

Body positivity has been an ever-growing movement in recent years, but with the idea that no one should be shamed for their body type, there is another aspect that is surrounded by a bit more controversy – the fat acceptance movement.

The fat acceptance movement is nothing new. According to TIME, it dates back to the 1960s. The first protest against fat-shaming, named “Fat-In,” was held in Central Park. There, the protestors ate ice cream while burning posters of 1960s fashion icon Twiggy.

Shortly after, in 1969, an organization was founded under the name of National Association to Aid Fat Americans. This organization has since been renamed and is now the National Association to Advance Fat Acceptance.

The body positivity movement would not gain momentum until 1996 after the Body Positive Organization was founded by Connie Sobczak and Elizabeth Scott.

While both of these organizations sound like they would ulitmately have the same goal, the goals of their organizations are made clear on both of their websites.

The goal of NAAFA is “dedicated to protecting the rights and improving the quality of life for fat people. NAAFA works to eliminate discrimination based on body size and provide fat people with the tools for self-empowerment through advocacy, public education and support.”

The Body Positive is more focused on individuals.

“The Body Positive teaches people how to reconnect to their innate body wisdom so they can have more balanced, joyful self-care and a relationship with their whole selves that is guided by love, forgiveness and humor,” according to the Body Positive mission.

Now, body positivity is a very common topic in media. Barbie has released a line of dolls called Barbie Fashionistas Dolls that offers dolls in seven varied body types.

Dove also joined the movement a few years back and is still encouraging women to love their bodies today. Even now, plussize models have grown in popularity.

“I have had a mix of experiences, but the best has been the opportunity to meet some amazing individuals and work with some of my favorite brands,” Nikki Apostolou, a plus-size fashionista, said. “I’ve had the experience of traveling more, being backstage and front row at NYFW. Just because someone is plus-sized doesn’t mean they can’t ‘live that life’.”

Even though both movements have gained traction in recent years and seem to promote loving one’s self, many consider the two to be completely different.

“If anything, fat acceptance has a negative connotation,” Apostolou said. “It’s like – accepting people or one’s self because they are

plus-size rather than just loving themselves for who they are and how they look as a whole. Body positivity is the latter, it’s loving yourself, being positive about who you are and accepting yourself for all that you are not because you accept that you’re fat, skinny, tall, short, etc. Body positivity is for everybody.”

The body positivity movement has experienced some backlash. Critics point to potential negative health side effects.

“I feel that a person can be in support of the glory and beauty of human bodies, but set limits on what is ‘acceptably’ fat.” Sonya Belkin, a plus-size model, said.

There are many people out there who are body positive, but don’t agree with aspects of the fat acceptance movement because it may encourage unhealthy lifestyles and obesity.

“Well, I think you know accepting it rather than worrying about the health benefits is the important part,” Dr. Frank Shaw, a family practioner, said. “Certainly we know that different sizes, as far as that goes, is very important; acceptable. But at the same time to favor obesity, severe obesity, is not a good thing when we look at our health.”

According to the World Health Organization, worldwide obesity has nearly tripled since 1975. Who discovered that in 2016, 1.9 billion of people 18 years or older were overweight and 650 million of these adults were obese. A different study on stateofobesity.org showed 18.5% of U.S. children alone are obese.

Obesity has a number of effects over time on the body.

“You know they affect every body system as far as that goes,” Shaw said. Certainly diabetes, increased rates of diabetes, heart diseases, blood pressure, stroke. You know and some forms of cancer even related to obesity.”

Of course, it is not like people are not attempting to do anything about it. Worldmeters.info has a tool that shows how much money is spent on diets at a given moment. On April 15 at 11:55 a.m., $93,986,119 had already been spent.

This perpetuates the idea that most diets fail, but even then there are suggestions for those that seem unable to find the right diet.

“People just need to learn to be eating healthier,” Shaw said. “And it’s going back to the excess, fruits and vegetables, lean meats and, you know, limiting our carbs in sense of breads, potatoes, pasta, that sort of thing. Smaller amounts of it when you have it, that’s the important part.”

While it is common knowledge that healthy living can take off the pounds, not everyone has the same type of body and can still be plus-size and live a healthy lifestyle.

“Size and amount of fat doesn’t always determine how healthy one is,” Apostolou said. “At my largest, I was 325 pounds. I had perfect cholesterol, perfect blood pressure, perfect everything on every test. I was just bigger than your average woman. I was active, worked out, ate a balanced diet that sometimes included splurge meals just like everyone else. I was average and healthy in every way - except I looked ‘fat.’ Society tries to tell us we are unhealthy if we carry more weight and we must be sick. It’s just simply a misconception.”

For so long in society, it was common for boys and girls to look at people in the media and think that they too must fit into the Barbie doll’s figure, but now society is evolving and it is the norm to turn on the TV and see a plus-size person shown as what everyone should be seen as– a beautiful individual. Whatever thoughts people have about these movements, body positivity continues to evolve.

Plastic waste is not good taste

Story by Tanner Pipins • Photos by Tanner Pipins and Hollye Carroll

It has been almost four years since Christine Figgener filmed her research team removing a plastic straw from a sea turtle’s nose off the coast of Costa Rica. The video, with now over 35 million views on YouTube, sparked a nationwide movement. As the team assists the sea turtle, it is obvious he is in anguish. The video capture the restless and squealing sea turtle as the entirety of a 7-inch straw was removed from its nasal cavity. Figgener trusted that the gruesome sequence would impact others if she posted it.

According to data from Ecocycle.org, Americans use more than 500 million single use plastic straws per day. If this trend continues, there will be more plastic in the oceans than fish by

2050. After these reports were released, companies worldwide received pressure from consumers to change their methods of waste management and reduce the amount of plastic they use. McDonald’s, Starbucks and Disney were just a few of the many companies to make significant changes to their industries. In all 1,361 locations in the U.K. and Ireland, McDonald’s switched from plastic to paper straws. Starbucks has promised to eliminate straws globally from their stores by 2020. The straws will be replaced with a recyclable strawless lid. Starbucks also plans to offer alternative material straws for customers with disabilities and specific drinks. Disney also jumped on board with eliminating single use plastic straws at nearly all of

its theme parks and resorts. The hundred-billion dollar company also promised to reduce the amount of plastics in guest rooms, hotels and cruise ships over the course of the next few years.

The movement away from straws has been a great journey, but it must only be the beginning. Straws have become a gateway product to an otherwise vicious circle. A study conducted by National Geographic calculated 8 million tons of plastic flow into the ocean annually – straws make up only 0.025% of it.

Now, entire cities are responding to the public outcry that are demanding something to be done about this global issue. The city of Seattle became the largest city in the U.S. to ban single use plastic straws. Seattle now requires all food service companies to use a recyclable or compostable package, on top of all disposable food service items (i.e. cups, straws, utensils). Washington, D.C., and San Diego, followed suit after making the organized switch. The district is also among one of the locations in the U.S. that now fines businesses that continue to offer plastic straws.

As recent as 2018, many grocery stores started to wean off from the amounts of plastic and Styrofoam they require. Precycle, located in Brooklyn, is the East Coast’s first zero waste grocery store. The package-free store is selling locally sourced

items such as organic produce, pastas and environmentally friendly household products. Conforming to the swelling amount of shoppers looking for a store that is free from the plastics and Styrofoam, Precycle is one of the few plastic-free stops that is opening its doors.

However, making the switch from plastic does come with complications. Many of the newer alternatives to plastic are experiencing functionality issues. McDonald’s customers in the U.K. and Ireland have been less than pleased with the switch away from plastic straws. Customers are claiming that the new straws are “awful” and “saturate too easily.”

A petition to bring back plastic straws surfaced and accumulated over 35,000 signatures. Paul Pomroy, chief executive of McDonald’s U.K. and Ireland, said he plans to find a solution that works both for customers and that the supply is there given the size of our business. Since then, the petition has been extinguished by the U.K. government. Pomroy added that since the transition is so new, many suppliers are in the earlier stages of development with the straws.

For many companies, such as the American Chemistry Council, ordinances focusing on just straws are missing the point. The trade organization’s vice president, Steve Russell, claimed the focus on the individualization of products is just a distraction from bigger issues at hand.

Permitless carry in Oklahoma:

What HB 2597 means for Oklahomans

Story by Reginal Fields • Photos by Kessley Miller

The right to self-defense is provided by the common law, but this act is what now allows Oklahoma citizens to open carry without a permit. Gov. Kevin Stitt campaigned on the promise of passing HB 2597, which changed “handgun” to any firearm.

HB 2597 was introduced by Rep. Jon Echols. It received overwhelming approval during the 2019 legislative session, after former Gov. Mary Fallin vetoed a similar bill May 2018. The bill passed Feb. 27.

Under the new law, Oklahoma’s residents are no longer re quired to pay a fee to acquire a firearm license. The law would also allow any citizen over the age of 21 or a veteran, active duty or reserve military personnel over the age of 18, the right to carry a handgun or other firearm without a license or training. The bill goes into effect this November.

The bill has prompted many concerns and questions, since the Second Amendment does not cover firearm training.

Some students feel as though it is necessary for new guidelines and procedures to be put in place with updated training for our law enforcement personnel because of HB 2597.

Cpt. Rick Melendez, of Rose State Security, stated this bill would make it necessary for Rose State to enact a new standard for law enforcement to handle everyday situations.

Melendez said Rose State’s policy will stand firm on its policy of no firearms on campus.

“The only personnel allowed to carry firearms on campus are the Midwest City Police Department,” Melendez said. “Rose State has the right to set its own policies regarding firearms.”

This new law could be an additional burden for law enforcement. Rose State recently had active shooter drills on

campus. According to Melendez, the campus scored high on the drill as all of the students were compliant and went to the shelters.

“They turned off lights and locked doors,” Melendez said. “It was a really good drill, a mock scenario.”

Melendez said security hopes anyone on campus who knows of or hears anything suspicious about any unlawful activities on campus would alert authorities immediately.

“Security welcomes any group or organization to help by contributing to the education to our students, staff and faculty on Rose State’s security policy,” Melendez said.

Joedon Hughes, Rose State Coordinator of Safety, Security and Risk Management, agreed with Melendez and said the security policies will need to be cognizant of the right of Oklahomans who choose to carry a firearm.

However, the college’s current policy views the presence of weapons on our campus as an unacceptable risk to students, faculty, staff and visitors.

Hughes is a member of Campus Life and Safety and Security and Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education. These organizations have tried to help college campuses enhance and maintain awareness for any potential changes

that affects safety and security.

Lt. Mike Gray of the Del City Police Department and a Rose State student said, “You would do yourself and the community a disservice if you did not get some training and education before buying and carrying a firearm.”

Lt. Steve Simanson, Community Action Unit Supervisor, said the Midwest City Police Department does not expect anything but the usual activities concerning citizens with firearms.

Responding to an active shooter in addition to encountering citizens exercising their open carry rights would make it very difficult for any law enforcement officer. This type of scenario could be the first for Oklahoma.

“If you become concerned about a person that is openly carrying a firearm, you could call a police officer,” Simanson said. “The officer would have the right to question that person about the firearm and with a satisfying answer the officer would be on his way.”

HB 2597 is meant to be a self-defense bill. However, there are ramifications as well as considerations regarding campus safety. These concerns need to be addressed and upheld by students, faculty, staff and visitors to this campus.

Bitter Sweet: What sugar does to your body

Story & Photos by Julie Archer

Sugar is delicious and addictive. We can find it everywhere – in fruits, dairy products and even pasta sauces – added sugar is found in almost everything. From adding sugar to coffee to indulging in sweet treats, sugar is a big part of the standard American diet.

According to PubMed Central, added sugars account for up to 17% of the total calorie intake for adults and 14% for children in the United States. The Department for Health and Human Services dietary health guidelines suggest having less than 10% of calories from added sugar daily.

Obesity rates are rising, and added sugar is the main offender. Sugar is an empty calorie, meaning it does not have any nutritional value. In a study conducted by Yale University, those who consume sugar also have an increased appetite. Sugar not only fills the body with empty calories, but it also makes someone want to

consume even more calories.

According to PubMed Central, obesity is considered the strongest risk factor for diabetes, and constant sugar consumption can cause insulin resistance. Insulin is a hormone that regulates blood sugar levels. Diabetics must keep track of their diet to regulate their blood sugar.

“I am a Type I [diabetic], which means I no longer produce insulin in my body so I must replace that with injections of the hormone,” Richard Wedemeyer, psychology professor at Rose State, said. “Diabetics should not eat simple carbohydrates, and should eat the right amount of calories to be consistent with how much insulin they take.”

When trying to control blood sugar, it is important to monitor sugar intake from both refined and natural sugars.

“All sugars, including glucose, fructose, sucrose, lactose, etc. are carbohydrates and made up of a combination of carbon, hydrogen and oxygen molecules, but in different arrangements,” Sarah Hoss, professor of health sciences at Rose State, said.

Hoss also mentioned that eating natural sugars is still better than eating refined sugars, but people who are watching their blood sugar levels need to regulate the amount of fruit they eat so their levels do not get too high.

quent cells from mutation and malfunction.

“Diabetics should not eat simple carbohydrates, and should eat the right amount of calories to be consistent with how much insulin they take.”

Consuming high amounts of sugar has a direct correlation to early signs of aging. According to PubMed Central, high sugar consumption causes a shortening of telomeres, which prevent chromosomes from deteriorating or fusing together. As telomeres shorten, they stop protecting subse-

-Richard Wedemeyer

To start reducing sugar intake, it is important to make small switches in an everyday diet and sugary drinks are usually the culprit. With a single can of Coca-Cola containing 39 grams of sugar, more than the World Health Organization’s daily recommended amount, cutting it out can make a difference. Check labels on food to see how much sugar is in it because the results may be surprising. Peanut butter, marinara sauce, yogurt, granola and smoothies are examples of foods that seem to not have much sugar but do.

Making small lifestyle changes to an everyday diet over time can make a big difference in sugar intake. Overall, it can help reduce the risk of diseases and break the sugar addiction.

Whitewashing history:

Racism in cinema

Story by Selena Williams

Racism is deeply rooted in American values. Whether on or off the big screen, it has impacted past generations and is still relevant in today’s world. Like a virus mutating, racism continues to shape-shift in order to stay alive. When it is detected, it retreats in a coded language until it can resurface again.

Blackface:

The recent blackface incidents that occured on the University of Oklahoma’s campus have caused an age-old racist behavior to resurface again in America. Blackface, also known as minstrel paint or burnt cork, was used predominantly by non-black performers and it became [famous] in the 19th century. Thomas Dartmouth Rice was the first big minstrel star of the 1820s. He dressed in tattered garments to create an ugly caricature of a black man, whom he named Jim Crow, a name that eventually became synonymous with institutional segregation.

Stereotypical African American films:

The Birth of a Nation (1915) is an American silent film directed by D.W. Griffith. This film stars non-black actors and actresses in blackface all throughout the film. The film’s plot is about the Stoneman family, who finds friendship with the Cameron’s, and how both families are affected by the Civil War fighting in opposite armies. The development of the war in their lives plays through to Lincoln’s assassination and the birth of the Ku Klux Klan.

The Jazz Singer (1927) is an American musical film starring the late Al Jolson. The song “Mammy” in the film will make you rethink saying the word ma’am ever again. This was the first feature-length movie with synchronized dialogue. It marked the ascendancy of “talkies” and the end of the silent-film era.

Gone with the Wind (1939) will also make you rethink the word ma’am as well. It is an epic Civil War drama and focuses on the life of petulant Southern belle Scarlett O’Hara. Starting with her idyllic life on a sprawling plantation,

the film traces her survival through the tragic history of the South during the Civil War and Reconstruction, and her tangled love affairs with Ashley Wilkes and Rhett Butler.

Guess Who’s Coming to Dinner (1967) is about Joanna Drayton, a free-thinking white woman, and a black doctor, John Prentice, getting engaged and traveling to San Francisco to meet her parents. Matt Drayton and his wife Christina are wealthy liberals who must confront the latent racism their upcoming marriage arouses. Also attending the Draytons’ dinner are Prentice’s parents, who vehemently disapprove of the relationship.

The Green Mile (1999) is about Paul Edgecomb who walked the mile with a variety of cons. He had never encountered someone like John Coffey, a massive black man convicted of brutally killing a pair of young sisters. Coffey had the size and strength to kill anyone but not the demeanor. Beyond his simple, naive nature and a deathly fear of the dark, Coffey seemed to possess a supernatural gift. Paul began to question whether Coffey was truly guilty of murdering the two girls.

“Early sound and silent films both kind of played into that blackface caricature that came from the old minstrel show days,” Tim Tharp, Humanities professor at Rose State, said. “White people would dress up in blackface and present these stereotypical characters that were usually presented as lazy, not too bright and cowardly.”

Tharp, who also teaches Introduction to Cinema at Rose State, also explained how non-black performers used blackface for their own amusement.

“I hate to call it an art form because it’s such a crude thing, but it was a comedy show. There would be versions of black songs and they would camp them up,” Tharp said. “The stereotype of the not very bright person who is easily frightened, all of those stereotypes played into blackface.”

Non-black performers are not the only people who used blackface. Bert Williams, a black Bohemian-American, de -

cided to sing in minstrel shows. Like many black actors at the time, he was typecast in blackface and forced to invoke the stereotypes of the African-American culture.

“As black actors and actresses were trying to get into a very racist Hollywood, it was very difficult for them to get handed serious roles,” James Hochtritt, history professor at Rose State, said. “They played maids (mammies) and butlers.”

African Americans have been treated unfairly in the past and still continue to be discriminated against. This is because America does not teach the proper history of our country.

“While America has made many strides since the civil rights marches of the 1960s, we have barely touched the surface of racial equality,” Monique Bruner, Rose State Center for Success, Inclusion & Diversity director, said. “Many still use derogatory terms, claim they did not realize something was racist and fail to acknowledge that people of color are not represented. Until America creates an equal playing field, we will continue supporting racial divides.”

Bruner explained why America needs to take the initiative in solving the racial injustices in our country.

Brownface:

Another form of blackface is brownface, which is when a white performer playing the role of a non-white, typically Native American or Latin American, person. In early films, Native Americans were almost always depicted as halfclothed savages played by white men, screaming war cries as they got shot off their horses by the white heroes. The majority of Western films would paint the faces of white men and women brown for them to play Native roles. The Native women of early films were depicted in only two categories. She was either a princess or a ‘squaw’ [wife]. Either she was a dangerous and seductive threat to the white frontiersman, or she was the faceless, dutiful figure tagging along behind her man with her ‘papoose’ [child].

“While America has made many strides since the civil rights marches of the 1960’s, we have barely touched the surface of racial equality. Until America creates an equal playing field, we will continue supporting racial divides.”

“Indians were portrayed as completly hostile for the most part,” Hochtritt said.

He also shared something surprising about the 1939 film Scouts to the Rescue.

- Monique Bruner

“Why should the responsibility of educating America fall on people of color,” Bruner said. “Sometimes people have to be uncomfortable to learn and change. People of color have lived this way their entire lives.”

“The director of the sound technician ran the English that the Indians spoke by printing the film in reverse, a perfect lip-sync was maintained and wallah a new Indian language was created,” he said. “So, the director was having them speak gibberish, but it sufficed as Indian language in the movie.”

Stereotypical Native American films:

Pocahontas (1995) cannot be further away from the truth. The true story of Pocahontas is not one of a young Native

Powhatan woman with a raccoon friend who dove off of mountain-like cliffs off the coasts of Virginia. Her name at birth was Matoaka, meaning “flower between two streams,” because she was born between the two rivers of Mattaponi and Pamunkey. She had a Native American husband and child; never married John Smith and she did not save his life either.

The Last of the Mohicans (1992) is based off of the 1826 novel by James Fenimore. Cooper. He is set in 1757 during the French and Indian War (the Seven Years’ War), when France and Great Britain battled for control of North America. During this war, both the French and the British used Native American allies, but the French were particularly dependent, as they were outnumbered in the Northeast frontier areas by British colonists.

The Battle of Elderbush Gulch (1914) is about an Native American tribe eating puppies and because of that, starts an action packed battle in a western town. This silent film is clad with racist stereotypes, which is unsurprising given that D.W. Griffith was the director.

The Vanishing American (1925) -history, as portrayed in this film, has been a succession of conquests by stronger races over weaker ones. As played out on the stage of Monument Valley, long ago, tribes of Native Americans defeated the ancient cliff dwellers; then came the Europeans to conquer the Native Americans. Now, in the early 20th century, a Navajo tribe lives on a reservation overseen by a Native American-hating agent, Booker. He and his men steal the best Native American horses for their own profit. The film refers to Native Americans as basket-makers and portrays them as savages.

Broken Arrow (1950) uses brownface by using white actors and actresses to portray Native Americans. Synopsis: for a decade, the white settlers and the Apaches have been engaged in a bloody war with no peaceful end in sight. When a white scout, Tom Jeffords, has a dangerously close, but enlightening encounter with the natives, he begins to see the humanity in these “enemies.” Entering the Apache Territory seeking peace, Jeffords forms a friendship with the Apache leader, Cochise, despite people on both sides who resist extending the olive branch.

“Natives are always seen as stoic and the men are always represented as savages,” Alannah Fenner, member of the Absentee Shawnee tribe and mass communication major at Rose State, said. “I don’t think we’re represented well at all, we’re represented in the past tense.”

Fenner said she is happy for the other races that are becoming successful in television.

“When I see every other races getting represented on shows, I don’t feel jealous,” Fenner said. “I feel happy because they’re making it, but for the Natives, we have not been able to put our foot in the door yet because we have not been shown in a modern setting. We’re always referred to in the past tense like we are not still not here with every other race.”

She explained how it’s kind of a unique perspective for natives compared to everybody else because everyone knows other races are still here. She said people think they will only see a Native at a powwow or on the reservation. She said the only reminder people have that Native Americans still exist are the Chickasaw Nation commercials.

“I see the commercials a lot, but is that really the only reminder that we are still here,” she asked. “You’ll see me at Walmart and people think you won’t see Natives in Walmart. They think they’ll see us at a powwow and I’m like no, we go to Walmart.”

She explained how Native Americans are never placed in leading roles in movies, they are always put in the background.

“In ‘The Revenant’ the main character is Leonardo Dicaprio and you have his wife who dies and his son who is struggling,” Fenner said. “So, it’s like we’re the background, we’re the set up. We’re the thing that makes everything authentic.

Stereotypes in films against any race are unethical and have a negative effect on society. Hollywood takes part in this cycle of racist stereotypes being put out into the world. This makes it difficult for people who experience these stereotypes in their everyday life to live without society passing judgment on them because of their race. Bringing awareness to this sensitive topic will shed some light on it, so people will learn and not make the same mistakes.

Extravagance without the expense

Story & Photos by Tanner Pipins

With summer right around the corner, Oklahoma’s state parks will work together to provide families with free vacations full of new experiences. The Oklahoma Tourism and Recreation Department has partnered up with the Oklahoma State Department of Health to present students statewide with a State Park Passport.

Illustrated inside the passport is a list of the 34 state parks, as well as activities to do while visiting them. While at the parks, visitors can stop by the state park’s office to collect that park’s designated sticker for their passport.

For every park visited, there is a matching page inside the passport where the sticker can be placed. For every six stickers collected, you will become eligible for an Oklahoma inspired token. Guests have the opportunity to earn all six unique tokens after attending each of the 34 parks.

The State Parks Passport Program was created with the intention of encouraging families to travel and experience all that Oklahoma has to offer, but the experiences do not end there. After touring the park, passports list different activities that are specific to each park visited.

Activities like fishing, hiking, swimming, biking, yoga, horseback riding, boating and scavenger hunts are among the alluring activities the parks render. As an incentive to boost physical activity, the Oklahoma Department of Health provided fitness medallions for those who participated in the fitness portion of the passport program.

“It is our hope to create lifelong outdoor adventurers for a healthier and more fulfilled Oklahoma.”

As for state park employees, they also find joy in seeing more and more families visiting their parks and having the opportunity to be a part of the memories being made.

get enough time outside. As we have become a more [indoor] culture, people need to be encouraged even more to travel out to our parks. [With this program] we hope to tap into people’s desire to collect and create memories with their families.”

-Tyra Owen

“It is our hope to create lifelong outdoor adventurers for a healthier and more fulfilled Oklahoma,” Tyra Owen, warehouse manager and buyer for Oklahoma’s State Parks, said. “Studies have shown that many young children don’t

Oklahoma State Park Passports are free and available at every state park office location. To receive your tokens and fitness medallions, guests must present their completed passport to a state park official. The official will sign the record of visits page in the passport, confirming the completion of required visits.

After this step, simply mail in the record of visits page to the address provided in the passport. Let the adventures begin.

Down the stretch they come:

Horse racing in Oklahoma throughout the years

Story & Photo by Kessley Miller

We see horses almost everywhere in Oklahoma. Whether they are on someone’s ranch, on the side of the road or at a horse racing track, horses are bound to be in sight.

Horse racing has been popular in Oklahoma for decades, dating back before statehood. What started as a modest race between two horses on a country backroad has now evolved

into a large industry in the state.

According to the Oklahoma Historical Society, horse racing dates back in Oklahoma as far back as the 1800s. Documents of the Indian Territory from Native Americans and settlers say horse racing was one of the most popular events in the nineteenth century.

Today, they have transformed into all-day events where spectators can enjoy the atmosphere of these fast-paced competitions or come to gamble on which horse will win the race.

Some of the most popular races today include American Quarter Horse and Mixed Breed season, which is from March 8 through June 1, and Thoroughbred season from Aug. 23 through Dec. 15. Kentucky Derby Day was held on May 4 at Remington Park.

“If you do not have the trust of your horse, you do not have your horse,” said Oklahoman and horse owner, Patsy Williams. “You have to become as one when you ride. It is important to have the horse respond to you in every way, with just a little movement of your body.”

Williams also added most people think Texas is the horse capital of the world because the American Quarter Horse Association is based in Amarillo. However, Purcell is in fact trademarked as the “Quarter Horse Capital of the World” because of the numerous horse farms of Quarter horses, including the American Paint and Appaloosa breeds.

“If you do not have the trust of your horse, you do not have your horse. You have to become as one when you ride, it is important to have the horse respond to you in every way with just a little movement of your body.”

$220 million has had a direct economic impact because of national and global competitions held in Oklahoma, as well as the state being home to numerous commercial enterprises. About 6,500 people in Oklahoma are employed from the race horsing industry alone.

The most popular tracks in Oklahoma are Remington Park in Oklahoma City, Fair Meadows in Tulsa and Will Rogers Downs in Claremore. There are more than 14,000 racehorses in the state and 800 breeding horses.

“Quarter horses are the smaller horses that run the fast sprints in the races that only run straight down the straightaway,” Richard Osborn, director of print operations at Heritage Integrated, said. “Thoroughbreds are larger horses and run at least one turn, if not two turns around the track.”

-Patsy Williams

Today, horses bring in about 35,000 jobs and a whopping $3.6 billion in income to the state, according to farmflavor.com.

Osborn’s sister-in-law owns the race horse named Signalman, who came close to racing in the Kentucky Derby. He explained how this horse was a success story, but it has been about 20 years in the making of buying, selling and training horses.

If you are interested in attending a horse racing event, tickets are on sale at www.remingtonpark.com

Tattoos in the workplace

The evolution of body art in a professional enviroment

Tattoos are a form of body art and have been around for thousands of years, dating back as far as 2000 B.C. and have been found on female mummies in Egypt. A recent discovery made in 2015 found an iceman, Ötzi, with 61 tattoos dated back to roughly 5,000 years ago. Ötzi the Iceman’s remains prove that tattoos have been around forever, and as time goes on, they will become commonplace.

Usually, when people used to think of someone with tattoos of they would think of people associated with bikers or gangs. Although, in today’s society, that is

not the case. Nearly half of the U.S. population alone have a tattoo in some capacity on their body.

Many people view their bodies as a canvas and view tattoos as the artwork. Tattoos can literally be anything a person wants it to be from symbols, phrases, pictures and so forth.

Tattoos are very common for younger generations. According to CBS News in 2007, 36% of individuals aged 18 to 29 years old, had at least one tattoo. That percentage has continued to increase over time.

In most states, the legal age limit for a tattoo is 18

Story by Zaviana James • Photos by Brayden Conover

years old. Despite the age requirement, there are a decent amount of teenagers who get tattoos before even graduating high school. Many people decide to get a tattoo before deciding their future career.

The decision to have a noticeable tattoo before deciding on a career is something that a lot of people have to deal with.

Not all employers allow visible tattoos in the workplace, so when a potential employee has a noticeable tattoo this can affect the chance of being hired.

There are plenty of jobs that have tattoo restrictions in place for their employees. A few well-known careers that do not allow visible tattoos include many health professions, law firms and government jobs. There are even restrictions at some places people would expect to be more lenient, such as some clothing stores, restaurants such as Denny’s and some AMC movie theaters.

Due to the fact that people can get a tattoo wherever

they want, it may be at the root of tattoo restrictions. Of course, personal appearance is an important factor when it comes to some jobs, but what about restricting tattoos that are not offensive in nature?

Meredith Rhodes, who has been a manager at Dollar Tree and Walmart, not only has tattoos that are easily covered if needed, but also had to make the decision of hiring people with visible tattoos or not.

“If someone has a noticeable tattoo, obviously you’re going to look. Especially if you have your own, you’re curious [about what it is]. If it’s an obscene tattoo, I go over the policies and tell them to find a way to cover it,” Rhodes said.

Rhodes once interviewed a future employee who had profanity across their knuckles. Even though profanity is considered inappropriate in the workplace, Rhodes decided she wasn’t going to turn them away. Instead, Rhodes decided to come up with a solution by covering up his knuckles during work.

“He had all the qualifications and I felt like he would make a great fit for our team. I told him to get some gloves, Band-Aids or even cover it with tattoo makeup. Whatever we had to do to not let his tattoos affect his chance of being hired,” Rhodes said.

“A tattoo does not define your work ethic. I know very successful people with tattoos, from doctors to judges, but if they are noticeable, they cover them when needed at work,” Rhodes said.

Tattoos used to be seen as irresponsible and people with tattoos were troublemakers but in today’s society, that’s not necessarily the case. Most tattoos have a story behind them. Tattoos do not affect the way someone does their job or gets their job done.

“The whole ‘it’s not professional’ situation, to [whose] standards or what standards? Now 20 years ago, it was frowned upon, but we’re [seeing] a whole new generation who loves tattoos. A generation who is going to be the CEOs of companies in the next 10 years,” Rhodes said.

With so many college students having at least one tattoo, whether it is noticeable or easily concealed, most plan on getting more. Some jobs are turning people away from having noticeable ink.

the job of a hiring committee is to stock a company’s job openings with qualified candidates. If that committee refuses to hire a qualified candidate for reasons unrelated to qualifications, that committee has failed to do its job,” Crain said.

Crain also said that his wife’s job used to have tattoo restrictions and if someone had a noticeable tattoo, it would have to be covered, but this also applied to the company’s gym that was open to employees and family members.

“A tattoo does not define your work ethic. I know very successful people with tattoos from doctors to judges but if they are noticeable they cover them when needed at work.”

Because of the restrictions set in place, Crain also had a hard time working out in the gym due to his forearm tattoo. This is how strict some businesses can be about their tattoo policies.

Although a college graduate has accomplished years of school and may have more than enough qualifications for a position — they are being rejected for having a tattoo.

Is this right, for both our current and future generations, to be turned away from a job because of self-expression?

-Meredith Rhodes

Dr. Guy Crain, a Rose State philosophy professor, has a tattoo on his forearm that may not be noticeable to the untrained eye. Crain said that he has never really had issues with his tattoo while being at home or at work, just a few students being curious about it.

“Refusing to give someone the job for that reason seems qualitatively no different than refusing to give someone a job based on eye color or because he or she lost a coin toss. Secondly, and more importantly,

“If a significant number of qualified workers have tattoos, then refusing to hire people with tattoos means a business has fewer qualified workers to choose from when hiring,” Crain said. “And if a company knows that a significant number of qualified workers have tattoos, then the company can infer that having tattoos probably won’t violate other workers sense of minimum standards for professionalism.”

Slowly but surely, tattoo policies are changing and becoming more tolerant because more and more people are getting ink. At this rate, employees will have at least one tattoo. If businesses continue to remain strict with their tattoo policies, employers will have a harder time hiring qualified people.

The Arnold Palmer Cup:

The most elite golf event you have never heard of

Story by Brayden Conover • Photos courtesy of GCAA

The Arnold Palmer Cup is a collegiate golf event hosted by the Golf Coaches Association of America, in conjunction with Arnie’s Army. The Ryder Cup-esq event features 48 of the best American and International collegiate golfers. Along with the growing popularity of collegiate golf, the event is growing too, but it still flies under the radar of even the most hardcore golf fans.

In 1997, the GCAA approached Arnold Palmer about creating an event that showcased the best collegiate golfers. The event originally took eight of the best male golfers from the United States against eight of the best from Great Britain and Ireland. The inaugural Arnold Palmer Cup was hosted at Bay Hill Club, Mr. Palmer’s

home golf course. In 2003, the event expanded to encompass the entire continent of Europe. In 2010, the Arnold Palmer Cup expanded to 10 American men vs. 10 European men. Last year, the event grew once more to include the best collegiate women and broadened to include the entire world.

Former APC participant, University of Oklahoma and 2018 Team USA head coach, Ryan Hybl said, “I had a phenomenal squad … If you fast forward 10 years from now, there will probably be some Ryder Cuppers, President Cup guys and potentially some of the same pairings that we used [in 2018].”

The list of alumni from the event is long and prestigious. Rickie Fowler, Jus-

tin Thomas, Dustin Johnson and the list goes on. One hundred and twenty-two competitors have gone on to earn their PGA, European or LPGA tour cards. Fifty-seven Arnold Cup players have tallied 228 victories worldwide on the PGA and European Tours, including seven Major winners. Twenty-eight APC players have been selected to Ryder Cup teams.

Although women were introduced into the event just last year, the impact the 24 women have made over the past year is awe-inspiring .

Jennifer Kupcho, a Wake Forest senior and 2018 APC Team USA member, won the inaugural Augusta Women’s Amateur Championship held at Augusta National (the site of The Masters). Runner up at

the ANWA, Maria Fassi was a member of the International team in 2018.

In the LPGA’s first major of the year, the ANA Inspiration, a total of four APC alumni made the cut, with Kristen Gillman finishing tied for sixth.

“It’s an exciting time in women’s amateur golf,” Susan Rosenstiel, University of Alabama Assistant Women’s Golf Coach, said. “The addition of some television coverage is now drawing viewers from all over the globe to see what the future of golf holds.”

The inclusion of women into the event proves as a win-win to all parties involved.

Ireland native and Arizona State junior, Olivia Mehaffey said the APC is, “a huge moment for female amateur golf. It really puts our sport on a higher podium.”

With the event playing mixed matches, both the men and women get to compete with each other, often for the first time in a tournament setting.

“Playing mixed matches was such a fun experience.” said Brad Dalke, an Oklahoma senior and a 2018 Team USA member.

“I know who many of the girls were on my team, but I don’t think I had ever been able to play with any of them before. It was fun to see and to get to play with some of the best women’s golfers in the world,”

Mehaffey said, “We don’t get to play

with the men very much. Getting to see their game was very cool and very impressive.”

The selection process of the teams is based off World Amateur Golf Rankings as well as two coaches’ picks. This allows the APC to be one of the most elite golf events in the world, showcasing 48 of the best amateur golfers worldwide. There is simply no other golf event at the amateur level like it. The most comparable of golf events would be the PGA Tour’s World Golf Championships. There are four WGC events a year and exclusive to golfers ranked in the Top 64-100 in the Official World Golf Ranking.

Although, the competition is what grabs the public’s attention, the core of the Arnold Palmer Cup is to carry on Mr. Palmer’s legacy and keep the values that he brought to the game of golf alive. Since Mr. Palmer’s passing in 2016, the event has ensured that each golfer chosen understands what they must do to live up to Mr. Palmer’s expectations that he held himself and others to.

Three-time APC participant and Texas A&M senior, Chandler Phillips said, “Mr. Palmer’s legacy means so much to how I go about everything in life. Everything he said was most important in life and how people remember you.”

Mr. Palmer’s legacy is paramount as the

event continues to share the values he carried on and off the course throughout his life.

The sentiment of what it means to be named a part of the APC resonates with everyone chosen.

“I was fortunate enough to meet Mr. Palmer a few times at Bay Hill and for what he represents, the love of the game and the love of people, I would always cherish those moments.

So, being part of his legacy at the APC in Evian was one of the highlights of my career,” TCU assistant and 2018 International assistant coach, Adrien Mork said.

Oklahoma State sophomore and 2018 APC Team USA member, Matthew Wolff shared the same opinion.

Wolff said, “Mr. Palmer’s legacy is something that very few golfers can even come close to. We all look up to him as a role model and someone that you should try to be like on and off the course.”

This year’s Arnold Palmer Cup will be hosted by The Alotian Club, just 30 minutes Northwest of Little Rock, Arkansas June 7-9. The event will feature competitors from six continents and 20 countries. USA will look to improve upon their 129-1 record and retain the Cup for a second straight year.

For more information or tickets, go to arnoldpalmercup.com

Swim team makes a splash: Rose State becomes first to have Oklahoma JUCO swim team

Story by Madi Zick • Photos provided by Ken Beachler

For as long as it has been around, the Rose State Swim Club has only been a club, until now. Starting in Fall 2019, Rose State will not only have an official swim team, but it will also be the first junior college in Oklahoma to have one. It will also be the third collegiate level swim team in Oklahoma, after Oklahoma Christian University and Oklahoma Baptist University.

The swim team will be coached by Josh Everett, who has been coaching for 18 years. Everett grew up in Oklahoma and began swimming when he was 5 years old. In high school, he

was a junior national-level swimmer, and went on to swim for Kenyon College, where he was a five-time All-American and was a part of two Division III National Championship teams.

“I find it exciting to be a part of the beginning of something at Rose State that has the potential to bring a lot of opportunity to kids and communities that have not had these opportunities before,” Everett said.

Everett is ready for the team to work hard and improve, and thinks when they are successful, other schools that have the

facilities and capabilities will want to make a team of their own. He is excited to get started and see what can be done and what they can build upon from here on out.

“His swimming background and his coaching background is incredible,” Kim Queri, director of Rose State’s Aquatic Center, said. “He is definitely a strong coach in the state of Oklahoma. He has a passion for kids and making them better swimmers, and that’s exactly what we are working for. I am really excited for this, it’s a huge step for Oklahoma swimming.”

Queri is looking forward to the work Everett will put in with the students – in and out of the water. She explained his personality and philosophy work well with the college, which makes him a perfect fit for the new team. Queri has cam -

paigned for a swim team since she began at Rose State, and is glad it finally worked out.

Athletic Director, Joey Davault, is proud Rose State is able to create this program and hire Everett before he retires at the end of this school year.

“[Everett] is a very respected coach in the swim world and is part owner of the King Marlin Swim Club in Oklahoma City,” Davault said. “He has wonderful credentials. [Everett] is amazing, he’s a guy who is going to come in here and is going to fulfill our goal of winning championships.”

The swim team held open tryouts April 26, so get ready for Fall 2019 and come out and support the newest addition to Raider athletics.

Have you ever confidently ordered something and then it comes out looking not even close to what you were promised? You are not alone; so has Nick Dorety, Creator of Nick’s Food Tour.

Dorety is a local ‘foodster’ who travels statewide looking for the best restaurants to put his refined palate to the test. In pursuit of the next best bite, Dorety moves from restaurant to restaurant, trying as many items from the menu as possible. Dorety hopes to introduce people to new and interesting places to eat, places they would not have found on their own.

He began his food tour in August 2018 when a few of his friends recommended he start a food blog. Not enjoying the thought of eating alone, he reached out to the public to join him on his journey.

“I had [originally] hoped for 15 people to show up, at the last event we had 80 people,” Dorety said. “[It is] pretty cool to see it grow and become something that people look forward to each month.”

Since August, Dorety has hosted monthly events to keep his followers engaged and growing. In light

of this, he has realized the importance of putting forth extra effort towards making each stop on the tour unique. March’s event, hosted at The Krow’s Nest had a live DJ, door prizes and a hot wing eat -

Story by Tanner Pipins • Headline Graphic by Josh Rojo • Photo courtesty of Nick Dorety

ing contest.

Nick’s next stop on the food tour will be May 4 at HunnyBunny Biscuit Co. on NW 23rd Street. The event will begin at 6 p.m., and includes the serving of an extra special dish.

The Edmond Memorial Culinary Management Team will attend the annual National ProStart Invitational in Washington, D.C. The NPSI is the country’s premier secondary school competition focused on restaurant management and culinary arts. In hopes of winning scholarships from the program, the Edmond Memorial Culinary Team will present

their very own restaurant concept, ‘Boast Toast.’

HunnyBunny Biscuit Co. plans to support the team, and allow them to serve their competition ready concept, ‘Boast Toast’ on May 4.

As always, each event is an open invitation, and friendly to all ages. In support of the team as they represent Oklahoma City, all of the proceeds from this event will be given to the Edmond Memorial Culinary Team and their travels to D.C. to compete.

For recommendations on restaurants and staying up-to-date on future tour stops, follow @NicksFoodTour on Instagram.

The Loaded Bowl

Lunch

1211 SW 2nd St. Oklahoma City, OK 73108

Phone number: 820-9599

Time of visit: 1 p.m.

Fairly busy at this time

Hours:

Closed Mondays

Tuesday - Saturday: 11 a.m. - 10 p.m.

Sunday: 11 a.m. - 3 p.m.

The Loaded Bowl has a creative variation of vegan food bowls. They have created one-of-a-kind recipes using plant-based food. The portions of the meals are generous and very filling. The Loaded Bowl’s mission is to provide conscious comfort food in an accessible and affordable way. After my visit, I think they are doing great in accomplishing their mission.

Featured food we tried: Southwest Quinoa Bowl

Seasoned quinoa tossed with black beans, cashew queso, green chile sauce and corn on a bed of fresh spinach. Topped with fresh pico, guacamole, and chips + salsa. $9

The Loaded Bowl is the first vegan restaurant I have been to and this restaurant’s atmosphere was so refreshing. The quinoa bowl was so good, and I will definitely be back to try more of the menu options over time.

Spring Bowl

Rice vermicelli noodles tossed in a creamy peanut sauce, topped with riced broccoli, shredded Napa and purple cabbage, shredded carrot, squash relish, crushed peanuts and Sriracha. $9

“I didn’t know how I felt about my food at first. I’ve been to the loaded bowl before and loved it, but I thought the spring bowl was okay. It tasted a lot better as leftovers the next day because the cabbage was able to absorb the peanut sauce.” - Julie Archer

Story & Photos by Ahmya Williams • Graphic by Josh Rojo

Loaded Nacho Bowl

A bed of house-fried corn tortilla chips topped with refried black beans, soy + lentil chorizo, cashew queso, shredded cabbage, fresh pico, sour cream and guacamole. $10

“The place had an amazing vibe to it, and the food was surprisingly good given the fact that I had never tried vegan food before. I had the loaded nacho bowl, and although it cannot compare to the real thing, it came pretty close.” - Selena Williams

The Red Cup

Lunch

3122 N Classen Blvd, Oklahoma City, OK 73118

Phone number: 525-3430

Time of visit: Noon

Very busy at this time

Hours:

Monday - Friday: 7 a.m. - 3 p.m.

Saturday - Sunday: 9 a.m. - 3 p.m.

Kitchen closes at 2:30 p.m. daily

The Red Cup opened in Oklahoma City in 1995 and has been a haven for vegan and vegetarian eaters ever since. With its chic and art-filled ambiance, the Red Cup also has an ever-changing vegan menu with great tasting options and variety.

Featured food we tried:

Cowpoke Burger

Onion bun, aioli, PB patty, cashew cheese sauce, fried onion, jalapeno, hickory sauce, pickle. $10

This was my first time eating a vegan burger and I am not disap-

pointed. This burger was good and tasted like a beef patty barbecue burger, without the undeniable regret after.

Breakfast Burrito

Flour tortilla, tofu scramble, potatoes, black beans, onions, peppers, tomatoes and cashew cheese sauce. Served with crema and pico. $9

“This was my first time trying vegan food and this burrito with tofu was surprisingly good and had a lot of flavor.” - Teah Williams

Zoë’s Kitchen

Lunch

14110 N Pennsylvania Avenue, Suite 4, Oklahoma City, OK 73134

Phone number: 749-4980

Time of visit: Noon

Fairly busy at this time

Hours:

Sunday - Monday: 11 a.m. - 9:30 p.m.

Zoë’s Kitchen is a newer restaurant in Oklahoma City with a menu full of freshly made Mediterranean dishes and many vegan options. The food here is inexpensive, light and healthy.

Featured food we tried:

Mediterranean Salad Trio Bowl with Grilled Chicken

Trio of cauliflower rice, pesto farro and zesty quinoa salads with Greek tzatziki, Italian salsa verde, feta, cucumbers and fresh dill.

$10

This was my first time trying Mediterranean food and I am eager to try more after eating this. This was so fresh and light tasting, while also still full of great distinct flavors.

Sunshine Snacks & Sips

Recipes & Photos by Yesenia Gonzalez

Chicken Tacos

Start to finish: 40 minutes

Servings: 4-6

Ingredients:

2 tablespoons Greek yogurt

2 large boneless chicken breasts, cubed

1 teaspoon cumin

1 tablespoon salt and pepper

2 teaspoons dried parsley

1 tablespoon vegetable oil

Corn flour tortillas

Directions:

In a large mixing bowl, combine Greek yogurt and spices. Add diced chicken breasts and refrigerate for 20-30 minutes.

In a large skillet over mediumhigh heat, add 1 tablespoon of oil. Cook for about 12 minutes or until browned.

Warm tortillas in a skillet over low heat for 1 minute on the first side and 30 seconds on the other side. Fill with chicken and desired toppings.

Hibiscus Iced Tea Directions:

Start to finish: 40 minutes

Servings: 4-6

Ingredients:

1 cup dried hibiscus leaves

8 cups water

1/2 cup granulated sugar

Sparkling water (optional)

Fresh mint leaves

1 lemon

2 cups frozen berries

Bring water to a boil. Add dried hibiscus leaves. Reduce heat to low and allow to simmer for 20 minutes. Add sugar until disolved. Allow to cool and refrigerate.

Add frozen berries. Fill serving glass 3/4 full and top off with sparkling water, a squeeze of fresh lemon juice and mint.

Ingredients: Chipotle Tahini Directions:

Start to finish: 10 minutes

Servings: 16-24

Mango Salsa

Start to finish: 10 minutes

Servings: 8-10

1/2 cup sesame seeds

1/4 cup lemon juice

2 teaspoons salt

1 1/2 tablespoons olive oil

3 whole chipotle peppers

1/2 tablespoon chia seeds

Water, as needed

In a blender, combine sesame seeds, lemon juice, salt and olive oil. Blend until smooth. Add chipotle peppers and chia seeds until smooth. Add water as needed to obtain desired consistency.