UCO's The Vista, April 9, 2024

FDA sets a precedent by deleting ivermectin posts

A recent settlement in Texas shows the organization agreed to take down posts advising people not to take ivermectin for

Xander Strickland Reporter

On March 21, the Food and Drug Administration settled a lawsuit concerning several posts warning against the use of ivermectin for treating COVID-19. The lawsuit, filed by three doctors in June 2022, challenged the FDA’s posts, which explicitly cautioned against the use of ivermectin, an antiparasitic drug typically intended for use on livestock, as a treatment for COVID-19.

Of the three original plaintiffs, only one, Mary Talley Bowden, actually saw the lawsuit through to its settlement.

In the lawsuit, Bowden and others claimed that the FDA had overstepped its capacities in dispensing health information, and had strayed into the realm of health advisory, which they claimed negatively impacted the ability of doctors to continue their health care practices.

Bowden started recommending ivermectin for the treatment of COVID as early as the beginning of 2020 and, according to the lawsuit, was “derided by Houston Methodist Hospital and forced to resign her privileges there as a result.”

Now, following the conclusion of the settlement, Bowden has claimed that the FDA’s

agreement to remove the posts shows the organization is “losing its war on ivermectin and agree[ing] to remove all social media posts and consumer directives regarding ivermectin and COVID…” and that “this landmark case sets an important precedent in limiting FDA overreach into the doctor-patient relationship.”

COVID-19

In this settlement, the FDA stated that they have “not admitted any violation of law or any wrongdoing” and that the organization “disagree[s] with the plaintiff’s claim that the agency exceeded its authority in issuing the statements challenged in the lawsuit.” The FDA also stated that it did have the “authority to communicate with the public regarding the products it regulates” and that the agency had chosen to settle in this way because it saw no use in continuing to litigate over posts that are over two years old.

There are no peer-reviewed and published medical articles, no clinical trials, no isolated testing, and no definitive scientific information locatable on the internet that supports ivermectin as an effective treatment for COVID-19 in the dosages and forms that some medical practitioners like were prescribing prior to their suspension of medical privileges.

91% alcohol in short supply? This might be why

Sam Kozlowksi Digital Editor

Isopropyl alcohol has many practical functions as a cleaning agent, antiseptic, deodorizer and a chemical solvent. But shoppers might notice that 91% isopropyl alcohol (rubbing alcohol) is almost always sold out at the drugstore now; there are many reasons for the shortage.

First, the basics about isopropyl alcohol: many smells produced are a result of growing bacteria, which can be eliminated with rubbing alcohol. Odor-causing bacteria needs water to survive. The strength and fast evaporation of isopropyl alcohol makes it great for cleaning.

A post-pandemic world is more sanitary than ever before. When coronavirus emerged globally, demand for disinfectants surged. Millions stocked up on food, water and hygienic equipment as a result. Stores had to set quantity limits on certain goods like alcohol, hand sanitizer and toilet paper. According to a 2021 survey conducted by Stratus Building Solutions in Michigan, 89% of people said they are more conscious of hygiene than before the COVID crisis. In addition, 67% of people in the UK said they are more conscious of hygiene than before COVID, according to a 2022 survey by Citron Hygiene and OnePoll.

In conjunction with isopropyl alcohol’s legal uses are its illegal uses. The household disinfectant also plays a role in the illicit drug trade in North America.

According to the Oklahoma Bureau of Narcotics and Dangerous Drugs, overdose deaths in Oklahoma are up 135% in six years since 2018. Underground drug manufacturers buy quantities of 91%+ isopropyl alcohol to help them extract or synthesize chemicals. In contrast, drug manufacturers may prefer higher concentrations of isopropyl alcohol because lower concentrations (70%) produce less product, since more water evaporates during creation. Without a pandemic or supply chain

issues, however, there are typically no restrictions on the amount of isopropyl alcohol one person can buy. Weaker concentrations of alcohol, such as 70% isopropyl, are not as popular among consumers. Many people think that 70% isopropyl alcohol is a weaker disinfectant than higher concentrations, but some scientists recently found that 70% isopropyl alcohol disinfects better. Despite lower concentrations of alcohol, more water allows for alcohol to penetrate through the cell membrane and kill off bacteria. Higher concentrations are not as effective because the higher alcohol content can damage cell walls too quickly, without killing off the germs inside.

High concentrations of rubbing alcohol are also sought out after by resin printers. The relationship between it and resin print-

ing revolves around the cleaning and post-curing stages of 3D printing. Resin printers typically use over 90% isopropyl, however 99% is mostly recommended. People must be cautious and secure when using such a high concentration of rubbing alcohol because of its flammability and inhalation dangers.

Even lower concentrations of isopropyl alcohol are extremely toxic to humans when ingested. Isopropyl is unlike usual drinking alcohol, chemically known as ethyl alcohol. Ethanol and rubbing alcohol have different chemical makeups which is why one is safe for moderate consumption and the ladder can kill.

Higher concentrations of rubbing alcohol can be more dangerous because more alcohol vapor is present. This high concentration can cause chemical burns with prolonged skin contact and increased eye irritation. Isopropyl alcohol is highly flammable, more of it means there is a greater fire risk. Due to the unregulated nature of illegal drug labs, chemical fires and explosions are a great risk and happen frequently across the U.S. In February 2024, a deadly fire in Tulsa was revealed to be from a meth lab. In March, New York State fire and police responded to an explosion near Horseheads, NY, also a result of meth manufacturing.

In the wake of pandemic panic, rubbing alcohol’s disinfectant properties became a highly-coveted commodity. Its scarcity cannot be attributed to only hygiene-conscious consumers though. Isopropyl alcohol’s use in the drug manufacturing process and illegal drug trade throughout the past two decades has substantially increased. Despite its universal utility, the dangers of rubbing alcohol can cause blindness, nausea, seizures and damage to organs. As the world faces new supply chain issues every year with pandemics, wars and bridge collapses, the roles of this product affect a wide variety of people and financial markets.

Weekly Horoscope

ARIES March 21-April 19

As the week unfolds, keep track of how you choose to respond. Your power is heightened now. An aspect with the Sun means that your powers to lead and inspire shine on when you compromise. Your song is “Waiting for the Miracle” by Leonard Cohen.

GEMINI May 21-June 20

Jazzing up your contact list? It’s the perfect time to take that idea public and just go for it. Your public face is updating in a brilliant way; lean into it and you’ll make some friends along the way! Your song is “Natural One” by The Folk Implosion.

LEO July 23-August 22

You are meeting yourself deeper than ever before. It sounds intense, and it can be, but there’s also a lightness and joie de vivre that comes with this new perspective. Be daring, be bright. Your song is “The Future” by Leonard Cohen.

TAURUS April 20-May 20

Feel like introspecting? A deep, healing energy lands in your sign this week. You may have an opportunity to take a leap of faith with some friends! Fear not, your intuition already knows the right way. Your song is “Color Me Once” by the Violent Femmes.

CANCER June 21-July 22

So, it’s here! Package delivery from the universe. That perspective shift may seem subtle at first, but the effects of trust and belief in yourself are life changing. You are working towards something big; it’s time to let the world see it. Your song is “Randy Described Eternity” by Built to Spill.

VIR GO

August 23- September 22

A mathematical equation is equaling out now; the scales are balancing regarding debts, contracts, love, and shared responsibilities. A spark of inspiration marks the start of your new chapter. Your song is “Hardly Wait” by Juliette Lewis.

LIBR A

September 23-October 2 2

SCORPIO October 23-November 21

There will be an opportunity to level up into a more intentional version of yourself this week. You can find it if you look! The door opens on something that may not have been possible before. Your song is “Range Life” by Pavement. Opportunities are revealed to you now. It’s a lucky spark that shows you where you can level up in your health. Joy comes your way this week and you let it in. Welcome to an easier chapter. Your song is “Pearl” by Chapterhouse.

SAGITTARIUS November 22-December 21

CAPRICORN December 21-January 20

This week portends celebration soon; it could be internal fulfillment or an actual party with balloons. You’ll know it when you see it, especially if you keep up with loved ones. Your song is “This Magic Moment” by Lou Reed. You’re building a new kind of community around yourself. It’s the kind you spent years wishing for, even if you didn’t know exactly what it would look like. It starts at home, with a leap of faith and good communication. Your song is “I Had My Chance” by Morphine.

AQUARIUS January 21-February 18

This week of energetic integration spotlights communication, self-worth, and relationships. If you have an opportunity to pause and trust yourself, leap into it! As the old saying goes, hold on loosely, but don’t let go. Your song is the demo of “Honeyspider” by The Smashing Pumpkins.

PISCES February 19-March 20

You’re taking a leap of faith now. It will likely involve the internal concepts of self-love, worth, finances, and value that the Solar Eclipse highlighted. Prepare for a time of growth that will soon prove immensely rewarding. Your song is “The Act We Act” by Sugar.

Money Motivation: Will there ever be hyperinflation in the US?

The

government continues its attempt to curb inflation levels, which are overwhelming millions of Americans. Since 2020, the Department of the Treasury and Federal Reserve have printed nearly 80% of all U.S. dollars currently in circulation.

For context, COVID-19 created tough times for citizens and governments, forcing many countries to stimulate the economy while the world was shut down. The U.S. had to print money in order to give these stimulus packages for all who needed them. Nations ended up spending trillions on aid packages for their people.

After heavy government spending and cash printing, central banks usually increase interest rates. Interest rates help keep the economy healthy when it is overstimulated. Rates reduce consumer spending and fast-rising housing demands while they encourage saving.

So, are we going to end up like Germany after World War I? The German

economy was so crushed and inflated in 1923, the price of a U.S. dollar to marks was $1 for every one trillion marks. Fortunately, we will most likely not get to that level of hyperinflation in the states.

Now, the Federal Reserve (Fed) tightened monetary policy by increasing interest rates on loans, in order to combat this new flood of money in circulation. Their goal is to get the inflation rate down to 2% before cutting interest rates.

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics in their most recent February 2024 Consumer Price Index report, the price of all goods has gone up 3.2% in 12 months, over a percent higher than the Fed’s ideal 2% goal. ‘Food away from home,’ or the price of any food purchased in a restaurant increased by 4.5% in the past year. The price of transportation services like flights, rideshares and subways increased by a large 9.9% since 2023.

Your money sitting in a typical savings account is losing about 3% of its value every year. Most banks only offer about 0.01% to 0.1% interest on their

normal savings accounts. With a $10,000 investment, these rates would only earn you about $1-$10 on the year, while your buying power decreases to about $9,709. However, high interest savings accounts can counter rising prices and earn you cash. For example, a high interest savings account with a 5% APY and the initial $10,000 investment will end the year with a buying power of about $10,218, more than a $500 difference. Bankrate. com, a finance company in New York, NY updates their website daily with the best high-interest savings accounts for 2024, only featuring FDIC-approved companies (The Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation protects bank depositors against the loss of their deposit in case the company goes out of business).

Considered the riskier way to hedge inflation, investing can conquer it too if done right. Successful businesses are successful on Wall Street too. The top 500 companies in the U.S. earn about 7% of real returns, usually outpacing inflation every year since 1957. For instance, the

(TESS PETERS/THE VISTA)

S&P500 had a 26% return in 2023. Just like life, companies have their highs and lows, not always going up. Recently in 2022, the S&P500 had a negative return of -18%.

More young people now than ever are worried they will never own a home after graduation because of high interest rates on mortgages. But with proper money management, becoming a homeowner is possible. Many people wait for the ‘right time’ to buy a house when mortgage rates drop. But there may not be a ‘right time.’ As inflation keeps increasing the cost of houses 1-8% every year

while your cash could be losing value, it may be cheaper to lock in a fixed mortgage rate (depending on your credit score and other factors). This would protect you from future rate increases.

Acquiring wealth is attainable through a lot of these three: common sense, discipline and research. ‘Money motivation’ is meant to inspire you to get on the right track, but you must always do your own research because everyone is in a different financial position.

AI’s bad Bad Bunny track offers glimpse of musical deep fakes

Isabel Contreras Contributing Writer

Artificial intelligence is a hot topic for many reasons, but the biggest factor is this: the extent of what it can do is unknown.

In November 2023, an audio recording labeled as being by the Puerto Rican reggaeton artist Bad Bunny was trending on TikTok. However, this song used artificial intelligence to portray Bad Bunny.

The song “NostalgIA,” was made using FlowGPT and featured the artist Bad Gyal.

Bad Bunny took to his WhatsApp fan channel.

“There are people who I’m in understanding with and people who I’m not,” Bad Bunny said. “There are people I connect with and people I don’t connect with. If you happen to enjoy that subpar viral TikTok track, please leave this group immediately. You are not deserving of my friendship.”

The use of artificial intelligence within social media like TikTok was a factor when Universal Music Group decided to remove their artist’s music on the app, including works by Bad Bunny.

The AI song generated a lot of positive feedback from the Puerto Rican star’s fans, including UCO

“I actually really liked the song,” Gordillo said. “It was super catchy and it sounded like some of his other songs.”

According to Gordillo, she was unaware the song was artificial intelligence until she read some

comments.

“I kept listening to the song and I was able to tell it wasn’t actually Bad Bunny,” Gordillo said. “At first I thought maybe it was AI, but then I compared it to his other songs and his voice did sound a little off.”

With artificial intelligence becoming increasingly powerful, will people be bothered if the artist makes the music or not, so long as it sounds good?

There may be a combination of both opinions, according to Gordillo.

“There will be people that won’t care if it is AI because music is being released,” Gordillo said. “As long as they like the song, it won’t bother them.”

According to Gordillo, others will care.

“On the flip side there will be people that do care, because they know it’s not the artist releasing music themselves,” Gordillo said.

As a musician, Gordillo said she knows how therapeutic and fulfilling making music can be.

“By using AI, I feel like it takes away the whole point on why an artist chose to make music in the first place,” Gordillo said. “I am not completely against AI either, I think it can be helpful, but I don’t think it should be the only source

music comes from.”

Similar to Gordillo, Karina Chavez, a nursing major, was also unaware that the trending Bad Bunny song was artificial intelligence. She described the song as being “muffled” when she first heard it.

“If it would’ve sounded more clear, I would’ve definitely gotten on Apple Music and downloaded it,” Chavez said.

Chavez believes that it makes a difference whether you’re listening to music made by an artist or AI.

“I don’t really like AI,” Chavez said. “I think it’s beneficial in many ways, but it’s also not.”

Not only has AI impacted the music industry it has also impacted the health industry.

According to Chavez, one of the things that nursing students and professors have been discussing is the replacement of professors with artificial intelligence in nursing school.

“There is no way to know if they are teaching the students right or not,” Chavez said. “So I feel like it is the same thing with music.”

Chavez said that listening to music by artists allows fans to follow their journey and listen to their authentic music.

“I want the music to mean something,” Chavez said.

ads. For information or questions, contact: 405-974-5549 or thevista.ads@gmail.com

instrumental music education major, Azusena Gordillo.

Bad Bunny does not currently use AI in his work. (CHRIS PIZZELLO/ASSOCIATED PRESS)

Solar eclipse darkens the sky above UCO’s campus

Oklahoma experienced a total solar eclipse for the first time since June 8, 1918 on Monday, April 8, 2024. The UCO campus, receiving 93% coverage from the eclipse, was abuzz with excitement for this historic astronomical event.

Food truck lines stretched out, UCOSA members were handing out UCO branded solar eclipse glasses following ISO 12312-2:2015 safety standards next to Broncho lake, and people set up blankets in fields across campus.

“This is our third solar eclipse within driving distance here in the city in the last eight years. And in 2017, my family, we drove up to Nebraska to get into totality. And see, it feels strange. It gets dark, birds stop singing, and it looks like sunset in every direction,” Chilton said.

Generally speaking, there are two types of solar eclipses, total and annular. This one just passed is a total eclipse, not an annular eclipse. “The

sun is 400 times larger than the Moon, and 400 times farther away. So they appear almost identical in size from our perspective,” said Drue Chilton, planetarium educator at the Oklahoma City Science Museum.

“The moon passes between the Earth, the sun every 29 and a half days. But because the moon doesn’t have a perfectly circular orbit around the sun, it varies each time and it winds up actually being kind of rare,” Chilton said.

This eclipse is one of three solar eclipses visible within driving distance of Oklahoma in eight years, an unusually active period for astronomical intrigue. With such frequent events, it is easy to lose context and appreciation for such rare phenomena.

The next eclipse to reach totality in Oklahoma isn’t scheduled by the universe until 2045, 21 years from this event, probably not too late to book hotel reservations.

“Totality runs northeast from Maine down through southwest Texas. We’re gonna get about 93%, pretty close, and even when they are happening they’re only visible in a small portion of the world,” he said.

The eclipse reaches 50% totality in this photo. (TROY ISBELL/THE VISTA)

UCO students enjoy views of the eclipse through glasses and a telescope. (TROY ISBELL/THE VISTA)

(JESSEY MILLER/THE VISTA)

The University of Central Oklahoma crowned its new international royalty during the annual International Pageant. Jia Le Chin from Malaysia was crowned Mr. International UCO, while Angela George from India took the title of Miss International UCO.

The International Pageant at UCO, a lively showcase of talent and diversity, highlighted the cultural wealth of the university’s international student community. Participants from various countries captivated the audience with performances that beautifully reflected their individual heritage and traditions.

The event featured first, second, and thirdplace winners, each receiving scholarships ranging from $500 to $1,600. These scholarships are awarded for the participants’ academic achievements and commitment to promoting cultural exchange and understanding.

Jia Le Chin, representing Malaysia, won

over the judges with his idea called “Weaving Dream Catchers.” He really wants to help people at UCO achieve their dreams. To implement his idea, he is planning to invite important leaders to talk to international students and help them grow personally and professionally.

Angela George, representing India, also impressed everyone with her platform called “A Little Piece of Heaven on Earth.” She wants to help people in poor areas of Uganda by giving them better education, living conditions, and healthcare. George wants to make a real difference in these communities.

Samantha Vu Tran, the director of the International Pageant, expressed her enthusiasm for the newly crowned students.

“They are going to serve the crown,” Vu Tran said. “I got to know them, and they are incredible students. Both Jia and Angela are extremely proud of their culture. And that’s what I want to see them representing the international student body to where they love their culture being confident.”

As Mr. and Miss

International UCO, Chin and George will serve as cultural ambassadors, representing the university’s diverse international student population at various functions and events throughout the academic year. Their coronation marks a significant moment in UCO’s commitment to promoting inclusivity, unity, and cultural exchange within its community.

Jiwoo Han

Contributing Writer

Mr. International, Jia Le Chin, and Miss International, Angela George, surrounded by their court. (THE VISTA/VICTOR LOPEZ)

(THE VISTA/VICTOR LOPEZ)

(THE VISTA/VICTOR LOPEZ)

(THE VISTA/VICTOR LOPEZ)

Miss International, Angela George holds a bouquet. (THE VISTA/VICTOR LOPEZ)

Together: Mr. International, Jia Le Chin, and Miss International, Angela George (THE VISTA/VICTOR LOPEZ)

Mr. International, Jia Le Chin (THE VISTA/VICTOR LOPEZ)

BRONCHO SCOREBOARD BASEBALL

April 2

So. Nazarene - 5

UCO - 8

A Ryan Strickland 3-run inside-the-park home run and 2-run homer from Caden Robertson were a huge spark that led to the Broncho’s win over their in-state rivals. They move to 28-7.

April 5

#19 UCO - 7

#9 Mo. Southern - 5

The Broncho’s 12 team hits were enough to snag an win over their conference rivals in an upset victory. The win pushes them to 29-7.

April 6

#19 UCO - 1

#9 Mo. Southern - 11

Behind only four team hits and three fielding errors from UCO, the Lions were able to enact some revenge with the statement win. The Bronchos now fall to 29-8.

April 7

#19 UCO - 6

#9 Mo. Southern - 17

The hitting numbers tell the story as UCO’s 7 were nothing compared to MSSU’s 15. They now fall to 29-9 and 15-8 in conference after the run rule loss.

TENNIS

April 5

Fort Hays State - 1 UCO - 6

April 6

#28 Neb. Kearney - 4 UCO - 3 UCO split series as they defended the Broncho Courts over the weekend. Now 5-6 and 1-2 in conference, they have three more matchups this week to right the ship.

OKC THUNDER

April 2

Thunder - 105 Philadelphia 76ers109

April 3

Thunder - 100 Boston Celtics - 135

April 5

Thunder - 112 Indiana Pacers - 126

April 7

Thunder - 121 Charlotte Hornets - 118

The Thunder went 1-3 in their 4-game road trip as they rested SGA and Jalen Williams in preparation for the postseason. They now sit at 5325, good enough for number three in the Western Conference.

Bennett leads men’s golf to third straight championship

Bradie Gray Sports Editor

Led by another outstanding individual showing from junior Bennett Baldwin, the UCO men’s golf team won its third consecutive team tournament championship Tuesday at the Showdown at Shangri-La.

As a team, the Bronchos shot 849 in three rounds, just one shot ahead of second place Harding University. Host team Rogers State finished third, shooting 861, and Central Missouri and Winona State rounded out the top five, shooting 865 and 869 respectively.

Individually, Bennett Baldwin showed out by shooting 202 and outdoing second place by three strokes. This was good enough for 11-under, his three-round personal best and his second career tournament win.

Jordan Wilson had a great tournament in his own right, shooting 211 and earning sixth place individually.

Baylor Bostick was the third-best Broncho, shooting a 15th-place 217, and Dylan Henderson rounded out the squad, finishing tied for 28th shooting 221.

The team win is its third in a row. They won Oklahoma Christian’s Oak Tree Invitational on March 18 and, most recently, claimed victory in their own event in Edmond at the Skip Wagon Invitational. However, this has not just been a recent hot streak, in their last seven events, dating back to October, the Bronchos finished second as a team or better, and for the entirety of the 2023-24 season, the squad has finished no worse than tied for third

place in every single tournament.

Both the sustained and recent success has the team poised as favorites in the upcoming MIAA Championships at Shoal Creek Golf Course in Kansas City, Missouri. That event is set to tee off on April 15. If they can perform there and move on to NCAA play, they will be right at home since NCAA Regionals will be taking place in Edmond at KickingBird Golf Club on May 9.

UCO softball posts rare loss in action-packed week

The number eight-ranked UCO softball team was handed their first loss in nearly two months last week, but that lone blemish was their only mistake in a hectic, six-game week.

The stretch began at home as the team hosted the Southeastern Oklahoma State Savage Storm in a double-header on Tuesday. The Bronchos got off to a slow start, trailing 1-0 through four innings, but in the fifth, a two-run single from Jacee Minter gave the home team both the lead and momentum, leading to the 4-1 win. In game two, the game was scoreless through three, but a Shayleigh Odom one-run

double in the fourth and another from Rylee Anglen in the sixth got UCO out of the game with the 2-0 victory. Behind stellar pitching in both games from Terin Ritz and Jordyn Pipkin, UCO was able to extend their winning streak to 23 and move to 30-6.

Friday featured the team’s second double-header, this time against Central Missouri in Warrensburg. In the first inning, all was looking up as Ritz belted her 15th home run of the season. After a quiet middle of the contest, Emily Deramus followed suit in the sixth with a solo shot of her own going into the bottom of the inning. This is where disaster struck. Two Broncho errors in the inning would lead to the Jennies scoring four unearned runs in the

Fram alone. That would be the difference as Central Missouri won game one, 4-2, handing UCO their first loss since February. In game two, it was all defense. Following their costly errors in the previous bout, the Bronchos were pristine in the field with zero errors, and Pipkin was electric in the circle. The junior had her best game in her Broncho career, pitching wireto-wire in all eight innings of the extended game and striking out an astounding 11 batters. She had a no-hitter going through seven innings but could not close out history. In the extra inning, Minter drove in two runs on a double and Odom added one on a sacrifice fielder’s choice to blow the game open and close it out, winning 3-0. With a bit

of revenge now taken care of, the squad went into the weekend, 31-7.

Saturday capped off the team’s week and roadtrip in Jefferson City, Missouri, as they took on Lincoln. With the loss still fresh on the team’s mind, they let it rip against the Blue Tigers. Game one was an 8-0 runrule. They earned four runs in the first inning and did not look back. Odom had a standout game with four RBIs, including her third homer of the year.

Despite this one going all seven innings and Lincoln grabbing 1-0 lead in the second inning, a three-run Lincoln error in the fourth and a Rylee Lemos tworun bomb in the sixth were more than enough to end this game with an eventual final score, 6-1 Bronchos.

Gamecocks defeat Iowa in NCAA women’s March Madness

Nicholas Borghini Contributing Writer

The South Carolina Gamecocks defeated Caitlin Clark and the Iowa Hawkeyes 87-75 in Sunday’s NCAA women’s basketball championship game. After Iowa started the game with a 10-0 run, the undefeated Gamecocks steadily fought their way back to the lead, despite Clark scoring 18 of her 30 points in the first 10 minutes.

South Carolina’s depth secured the win, with their bench players scoring 37 points and holding off Iowa’s bench from scoring a single point. The Hawkeyes struggled in the paint, giving up 18 offensive rebounds and 30 second-chance points to the Gamecocks.

South Carolina freshman Tessa Johnson came off the bench to score 19 points, making her their leading scorer, while 6-foot-7-inch tall South Carolina center Kamilla Cardoso snatched 17 rebounds. This was Iowa’s second runner-up finish in a row after last year’s loss to the LSU Tigers, where Clark also scored 30 points. “To

be so close twice, it definitely hurts.” said Clark at the postgame press conference, “But at the same time we were right there, we battled.” The Hawkeye’s 11-point lead in the first quarter matched the largest deficit the Gamecocks had to come back against all season.

In 17 NCAA tournament games, Clark scored 492 points, made 78 3-pointers, and had 152 assists, an NCAA record in all three categories. With the WNBA Draft on April 15, Clark is predicted to

be drafted by the Indiana Fever, who hold the number one pick.

Caitlin Clark’s impact on the court has translated to a dramatic increase in women’s college basketball viewership. “We started our season playing in front of 55,000 people,” said Clark, “... and now we are ending it probably playing in front of 15 million people or more on TV. It just continues to get better and better and better.”

Starting with 3.2 million viewers in the first round of the tournament, Clark

ended up playing in front of 14.2 million viewers in her Final Four game against the Connecticut Huskies, a larger audience than all of last year’s NBA Finals games.

“I want to personally thank Caitlin Clark for lifting up our sport.” said South Carolina head coach Dawn Staley to the crowd after winning her third title, “When she is the number one pick in the WNBA Draft, she’s gonna lift that league up.”

South Carolina players and coach celebrate their win at the March Madness final. (MORRY GASH/ASSOCIATED PRESS)

Oklahoma City Thunder forward Aaron Wiggins shoots against Grant Williams of the Charlotte Hornets. (NEIL REDMOND/ ASSOCIATED PRESS)

Bennett Baldwin shot 202 to win first place by three strokes. (CENTRAL SPORTS/PROVIDED)

Bradie Gray Sports Editor

Author speaks at UCO on history of gay rodeo

Sam Royka Editor-in-Chief

As the Spring 2024 rodeo season kicked off across the states, Elyssa Ford, two-time author of books about rodeo, visited UCO from Missouri to talk about her research on gay rodeo.

Queer rodeo rose in the 1960s and 1970s with the Golden State Cowboys, which began a wave of more gay rodeo groups popping up. It was a space for freedom and liberation, in keeping with the sexual freedom movement of the ’60s.

The gay rodeo became a space for activism, fundraising, and community support when it mattered most. There were stories of how the lesbian community stepped up to nurse patients who were dying of AIDS, fundraising and advocating for people who became like family. Ford said the world changed quickly once people became aware of the virus. “This has an immediate impact on the rodeo,” Ford said. “Rodeo programs quickly moved from overt promotions of the sexual freedom, expression and enjoyment to some more conservative views on gay sex, ads about HIV/ AIDS, medical advice and in memoriam announcements remembering those who died.” Though people started to become aware of the virus, it was still

poorly understood and discrimination affected how it was discussed. Ford mentioned an infamous event in which President Ronald Reagan’s press secretary, Larry Speakes, was asked by Baltimore journalist Lester Kinsolving about the spread of HIV/AIDS.

“Representatives of the press, Reagan’s press secretary, they’re laughing about AIDS or ridiculing gay people. Any reporter who asks a question about AIDS, they make fun of that person and say, ‘Well, you only care because, like, he must be gay.’ And I think for new generations, even within queer spaces like out of the rodeo, it can be really difficult to understand the very real deep and traumatic experience of the AIDS crisis in the 80s and 90s,” Ford said.

Rodeo fundraising made a large impact. Just between 1982 and 1984, Texas rodeo royalty “donated over $30,000 annually,” Ford said. Throughout the country, this fundraising continued, but in Oklahoma there was an exception.

In 1995, the Alfred P. Murrah Federal Building was bombed in Oklahoma City, and gay rodeo took notice. The focus shifted from providing support to the HIV/AIDS crisis to providing support to many kinds of causes. This was the story now often told

of Oklahomans banding together during crisis. Though gay rodeo was its own distinct community, there was a palpable time and place connection in this support that told the story of resilience and strength.

The rodeo has been an American cultural tradition, especially in rural areas, since Buffalo Bill created his Wild West Show in 1882.

However, rodeo culture spreads

much further and wider than the mainstream, as detailed in the companion book review to this article. However, from vaqueros in Mexico to group-specific rodeos like the gay rodeo, there is emphasized a connection to roots, home, and community. Esquire magazine wrote in 1989 that “if you’re an American male, buried somewhere deep in your soul is a little bit of a cowboy.”

Ford takes readers for a ride in “Rodeo as Refuge, Rodeo as Rebellion”

Sam Royka Editor-in-Chief

“Rodeo as Refuge, Rodeo as Rebellion,” Elyssa Ford’s first book, is an exploration of the facets of rodeo that exist outside the stereotype. Her thesis states that “rodeo is a site of cultural history. It is a place where the past is performed, reproduced, and invented. What will emerge is a way to see the rodeo as a place of cultural performance-cum-historical significance for all of the groups participating in it.”

Moving through the five chapters offers insight into the rest of rodeo: the parts that exist regardless of a mainstream lens. Widening the definition of the cowboy through historical contextualization allows the reader to see the rodeo as what it is for so many: a place of roots, refuge, and rebellion.

The first chapter follows charreadas and vaqueros. A charreada is a Mexican rodeo with some ties to Spanish horsemanship. It is an approximation and partial rewriting of the past. While this rodeo’s roots lie with lower class farm workers, the charro wears a modern redux of old nobility costume. A vaquero is a Mexican cowboy, and vaqueros and bolseros started the first charreada-type events. Women participated in the charreada, but were limited to a women-only event called the escaramuza, more like choreography than roughstock. Historically, some women found themselves as vaqueras through striving, and some did through coincidence. In modern times, the charreada is still a male-dominated event.

The next chapter covers pa’u riding in Hawaii and the unique occurrence of an island rodeo. Horses and cattle were ranched differently because of the terrain, and this shows in the Hawaiian

rodeo through unique events. The question of who to share the rodeo with is still under hot debate because of Hawaii’s history with colonialism and other groups being brought to the island. While pa’u riding takes many cues from traditional indigenous culture, other elements are included as well. Ford introduces multifaceted Hawaiian cultural identity through some names of historical sources, like one surname, the Kamehameha O Ka Hawai’i von Holts. Women’s participation is allowed, though still differently than men’s, and there are several women’s rodeos on the islands.

Chapter three details Native American ranching. There was pressure to assimilate as tribes were violently forced from their homes and reformatted into parcels of land. Even so, settling into stationary ranching offered ways to keep some traditions alive, and could provide an amount of stability and security. This is partially where resistance in these rodeos began. There was occasional Native participation in the colonizer rodeo at first, but soon white men did not want Native men to compete in the same rodeos. This was in part because the white showrunners wanted to keep Native competitors from showing their horsemanship skills – they were embarrassed to lose! Reservation rodeos rose as a place to speak in Native languages, teach traditions, and build community. These rodeos are still male-dominated today, but women have less restrictions placed on them than in other kinds of rodeos.

Black rodeo developed out of, like the other rodeos so far, the search for a place of refuge.

Discrimination meant that in the early 1900s, few if any Black people were admitted to the rodeo. A notable exception was the famous

Bill Pickett, a man who could wrestle a steer to the ground through a maneuver that included biting the bull’s upper lip. There were just a few others who competed in the rodeos without being “portrayed as the exoticized other,” as Ford said. Some Black rodeos began as a way to set a fair stage. Also, some rodeos were Black simply because that’s who happened to live in the area. In the title of the chapter, Ford mentions a newspaper article’s wording that these rodeos dance to an “untraditional beat” of soul, hip-hop, R&B, zydeco, and more depending on location.

Education is also an important part of this rodeo. Ford makes the point that promoting education as a part of the rodeo is an act of rebellion, writing the real history of the American West in ways that may not be taught in school.

The fifth and final chapter covers gay rodeo. Riders sought refuge here because of a similar search for the feeling of home. This was a particular reconnection to roots for those who had to leave rural areas in favor of finding a more accepting community in the city. The beginnings are difficult to trace, but in the 1960s and 70s a clear rise came with the Golden State Cowboys. In the 70s, advertisements for gay rodeo began to show muscle men that got the attention of viewers. During the AIDS crisis, the gay rodeo also became a place of fundraising and education, and that is where it took off.

Gender was, and still is, an expansive concept in gay rodeo. There was drag essentially from the start, but also there were transgender participants. Women participated some, but it seems that in most places rodeo is a male-dominated event. Rodeo also seems to be a masculinity-affirming exercise for all men who

participate, no matter their sexual preference. Same-sex attraction inherently bucks gender norms, so this place is both an affirming place for masculinity and a place where divulgence is accepted. It’s not perfect, and there are far more gay men than others who participate in the rodeo, but it is a far more accepting place than mainstream rodeo even today.

Ford’s examination of rodeo culture beyond stereotypes not only sheds light on the diverse historical and cultural dimensions of the institution of rodeo but also highlights its significance as a site of resistance and refuge for marginalized communities.

Ford reveals a rich collection of identities, struggles, and triumphs interwoven within the fabric of this enduring tradition. Her work challenges us to broaden our understanding of the rodeo beyond conventional narratives, recognizing it as a dynamic space where history is both performed and rewritten.

Ultimately, Ford invites us to see the rodeo not merely as an event, but as a living testament to the resilience, diversity, and enduring spirit of those who call it home.

“Rodeo as Refuge. Rodeo as Rebellion” book cover. ( UNIVERSITY PRESS OF KANSAS / PROVIDED)

Rhodes dethrones Reigns at WrestleMania

Jake Ramsey Managing Editor

The WWE’s flagship event WrestleMania took place over the weekend, and saw some familiar faces return to the sport, as well as a newly bestowed Undisputed Universal WWE Champion.

Cody Rhodes, son of Dusty Rhodes, has dethroned the Tribal Chief, Roman Reigns as the Universal WWE Champion after a year of questioning if Rhodes would finish his story, as he says.

After winning the Royal Rumble back in January, Rhodes was set to compete for the Universal title against Reigns, who had held the title for 1,316 days. The match which was almost immediately shrouded in controversy almost didn’t happen because of the return of Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson.

The storyline set-up by the WWE around the 40th WrestleMania saw Rhodes attempt to pass off his chance at the title belt to Rock, who would have fought Reigns for both the title and being the Head of the Table.

Rhodes would go back on this decision, causing Rock and Reigns to instead team-up against him. In an attempt to rally various members of the WWE universe, Rhodes would turn to former teammate of Reigns, Seth Rollins.

This set the stage for the main event of night one, which saw Cody Rhodes and Seth Rollins facing off against Roman Reigns and The Rock. The winner of this match would set the rules for night two’s title match between Rhodes and Reigns.

With Rock and Reigns coming out on top during night one, Reigns set the rules for his 1-on-1 fight with Rhodes.

Night two would see a brand new intro for both Rhodes and Reigns, and as the fight began it was very clear that Reigns had the advantage. As Rhodes slowly began to take control of the fight, members of Reigns following began coming out to disrupt the fight and ensure the win for the Tribal Chief.

With Rhodes taking a surprise blow from Solo Sikoa about 25 minutes into the match. This event sent Rhodes to the ground, where Sikoa

and Reigns would attempt to pin him. Kicking out at the last second, Rhodes was still left disoriented and outnumbered. This was when WWE superstar John Cena rushed the ring and saved Rhodes.

Shortly after Cena sent Sikoa through the announcers table, his former rival The Rock made his entrance.

Rock, who was set on securing a victory for Reigns, attempted to take on Rhodes. In that moment a gong rang, the stadium went black and long-time WWE fans exploded. WWE legend The Undertaker appeared as the stadium lights came back on. Undertaker then grabbed Rock in a choke-slam and sent him onto the canvas. The lights go black again, and in classic Undertaker fashion, he’s gone.

Rhodes climbs back to his feet and begins to fight once again. Hitting Reigns with the crossroads three times. This is the final move that he would take on Reigns, before pinning him and securing his win. Cody Rhodes finished his story, and while he was unable to bestow the belt upon his father, he was able to give it to his mother.

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Ryan Bingham, April 19, Riverwind Casino, 1544 Highway 9, riverwind.com

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Sierra Ferrell performs April 18 at Tower Theatre. (ROUNDER RECORDS/PROVIDED)

Cody Rhodes, son of Dusty Rhodes, finished his father’s story at WrestleMania. (WWE/ASSOCIATED PRESS)

Roman Reigns relinquished his title to Cody Rhodes. (WWE/ASSOCIATED PRESS)