The Vista March 30, 2021

the

Volume 118, Issue 21

VISTA “Our Words, Your Voice.”

vistanews1903 @thevista1903 @thevista1903 The Vista ucentralmedia.com Tuesday, March 30, 2021

Oklahoma widens vaccine eligibilty

INSIDE

Plate Recognition

Lyric Peterson explains how UCO will use new technology to enforce parking lot discipline.

See Pg.3

Army Spc. Angel Laureano holds a vial of the COVID-19 vaccine, Walter Reed National Military Medical Center, On Mar. 29, 2021.

Oklahoma opened its vaccine eligibilty to include all residents ages 16 and older. (Provided/Creative Commons)

Amanda Siew

Guests at Graduation Conversations continue around guests at UCO’s May graduation.

See Pg.7

Football Kicks Off Rudy Barnes breaks down UCO footballs first competition of the season in this recap.

See Pg.6

Around Campus The Liberal Arts Symposium is this week among many other events around UCO campus.

See Pg. 2

@amandasiewyk Contributing Writer

All Oklahomans ages 16 and older will be eligible to receive the COVID-19 vaccine starting March 29, according to the Oklahoma State Department of Health.

“No more screening for eligibility groups. No more need for personal contemplation about whether you’re eligible or should get the vaccine,” said Keith Reed, OSDH deputy commissioner of health. “If you’re over 16 and live in Oklahoma, you’re eligible

and should get vaccinated.”

In a press conference Tuesday, Reed said vaccine eligibility will be expanded to phase 4 of the state’s vaccine distribution framework. This phase consists of “all Oklahoma residents who are at high risk of exposure to, transmission of, and morbidity and mortality resulting from COVID infection,” according to the framework.

Due to the Moderna and Johnson & Johnson vaccines’ age requirement, Oklahomans who are under 18 years old may only receive the Pfizer vaccine.

Vaccine appointments will be avail-

able to all Oklahomans on the state’s COVID-19 vaccination appointment portal starting Monday, and Oklahomans who have not registered are encouraged to do so, Reed said.

“Now that there are three vaccines available, and our supply is consistent and growing, we are able to continue opening up more access points to make the vaccine readily available around the state,” Reed said.

A fourth vaccine from AstraZeneca may be coming soon after a U.S. study found the vaccine to be 79% Continued on Pg. 4

President UCO COVID-19 DASHBOARD agrees to Active UCO Self-Reported COVID-19 COVID-19 hear appeal in Cases: Vaccinations: hazing case The Vista and UCentral continue to investigate and report on the case and events surrounding the UCO Cheer hazing incident. Page 7 of this issue is dedicated to providing full transparency on our reporting, and provides all of the latest information that we have discovered from UCO, and members relating to UCO Cheer.

Continued on Pg. 3

14

Recoveries: 841Total Cases: 855

605 Students: 260, Faculty: 166, Staff: 179

Statistics are based on information via the UCO online COVID-19 dashboard as of Monday, March 29. COVID-19 vaccinations can be self-reported following a community member’s final dose of the vaccine. Community members can also self-report intent to NOT receive a COVID-19 vaccination.

All self-reports can be made via the UCO Vaccine Clinic webpage. COVID-19 infection reports can be made via the UCO COVID-19 self-reporting tool on the online dashboard.

2 | The Vista

Tuesday, March 30, 2021 Virtual Health and Life Sciences Career Fair: From 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. the Health Professions Office, the Dept. of Biology, and the Career Development Center host a virtual event to assist those in UCO health programs or those considering them.

Learn about the programs themselves and what employment options are available.

Race, Representations and Relating: Lessons Learned from the Tulsa Race Massacre: At 2 p.m., join a panel of guests in a virtual seminar to discuss and reflect the Tulsa Race Massacre and what lessons the public has learned from the event. Attendees must register in advance.

FACS Jack Helsley - Michael Brecker’s Wide Angles: Jazz Lab: At 7:30 p.m. The School of Music’s Faculty Artist Concert Series will give an opportunity to faculty musicians to perform while fundraising for scholarship funds. The performance will be limited to 50 attendees and will also be livestreamed. The entry fee is $10.

March 30, 2021

SPB Golf Cart Karaoke: From 10 a.m. to 1 p.m., SPB will be giving golf cart rides to class, and singing karaoke.

Wednesday, March 31, 2021 College of Liberal Arts Symposium 2021: From 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. the College of Liberal Arts will host this virtual symposium to allow student to showcase their creative writing research and promote creative activities. All students in the College of Liberal Arts may submit their work.

After the Ashes: “Reflecting on the Past” - Student Showcase: In the Nigh University Center between 11 a.m. and 1 p.m. students will showcase their creative works surrounding the theme of “Reflecting on the Past”.

College Boss - So, You Want to Get into Graduate School: 2:30 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. this workshop allows students to communicate with admissions committees on what it takes to enter graduate school.

Broadway Tonight - Master Class In Action: In the Nigh University Center Constitution Hall at 7:30 p.m. see a forum from the UCO Musical The-

Around Campus

atre program hosted by Greg White.

Take a look behind the scenes of UCO’s productions with this forum.

Thursday, April 1, 2021 Diversity Roundtable Presents: A Conversation with Rilla Askew: From 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. join the author of Fire in Little Beulah as she discusses the Tulsa Race Massacre. The event will be livestreamed and details can be found on uco.edu.

UCO Symphony Orchestra Concert: At 7:30 p.m. in the Nigh University Center Grand Ballroom the UCO Symphony Orchestra will be performing. For more information visit uco.edu Friday, April 2, 2021 Forensic Science Spotlight: Those interested in UCO’s Forensic Science program can visit during 1 p.m. and 2 p.m. to ask questions about the program and what career opportunities there are in the career field.

Tulsa Race Massacre Commemoration Week Closer Event: Dr. Stevie Johnson speaks about the influence of the massacre on communities that are further away. Participants may receive credit for the Continuous

Cultural Competence Program.

Monday, April 5, 2021 Priority Enrollment for 2021 Summer and Fall Courses Begins: Priority Enrollment for Summer and Fall of 2021 begins on April 5, and your official enrollment date will depend on the amount of credits you have accrued. The UCO priority enrollment website contains specific information on your enrollment date.

Retraction: The Vista used a photo last week on the front page that gave the impression that the cheer team was being shown. The photo was of a previous Pom team at UCO.

Front Pg. Teaser Photos, from top: Provided/Brittany Platt Provided/Pixabay Provided/Vista Archives Provided/Vista Archives

To submit events for next week’s Around Campus, please email thevista@ucentralmedia.com. Include the title of your event, time and place, and a brief description. Descriptions are subject to editing.

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VISTA

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Jacob Silva Cory Bryce McKinnis Tanner Johnson Lyric Peterson Tanner Laws Rudy Barnes Christina Bass Demetri Cruse Olivia Hernandez Amanda Siew Ty Wallace Cynthia Faulkner

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EDITORIALS

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Parking

March 30, 2021

The Vista | 3

UCO Parking to use new tech on campus Lyric Peterson Copy Editor

UCO sent out an email on Wednesday stating: “UCO Introduces License Plate Recognition Technology and Virtual Permits.”

The new technology allows for students and faculty to use their license plate as a permit. The Transportation and Parking department have been discussing the switch to virtual permits since 2017. In the email released

by UCO, the department will save $60,000 from the switch while promoting “sustainability,” but the prices of permits will not change though the cost of permit production is down.

“The virtual permits will still be $195,” Transportation and Parking Communication and Administrative Coordinator Brittany Platt said.

“We are already giving them so much money,” Bethany Garrison, a freshman at UCO, said.

“If they want to make our parking permits virtual, they shouldn’t cost $195.”

In 2019, the cost of parking increased from $125 to $195.

“The increase went back into the campus to build lots and reserve funds for a parking structure later on, should enrollment increase,” Platt said. “That is still the plan, that is still what those funds are going to go towards and we are not planning to raise the price of permits… anytime soon.” According to Platt the increase in permit prices came from inflation costs of maintaining lots.

Courtney Toney, a Business Management Major, said, “Inflation is only 1.2% a year… a slight increase in permit prices is reasonable to keep up, but they should not jump like they did in 2019.”

There will be small $5 increases every two to three years to keep up with inflation costs if needed, according to Platt.

Platt said, “We do not receive any government funding that the school receives. We also don’t get any percentage of any student tuition or fees.

“Anything that we generate based on our citation revenue and our permit revenue… that all goes into us maintaining parking lots on campus, lighting parking lots, capital projects [new parking lots or parking garage], ‘Bum-A-Bike’ and “Fix-It’ stations on campus.”

Anthony Neuendorf, a junior said, “If the department is saving $60,000 and I am still having to pay $200 for a parking permit, I expect more parking availability.

“Most of the conditions that I have

Two campus police vehicles park outside of Old North on UCO’s campus. UCO Parking and campus police will be utilizing new technology to more efficiently identify parking permits. The tech may also be used for law enforcement. (Provided/Brittany Platt)

seen of the Bum-A-Bike are old, rusted, and not taken care of. I personally would rather have cheaper permits than bikes and fix-it stations.”

Toney said, “I feel like if they are saving money we should save money as well, we’re all college students.”

The new technology is a program called License Plate Recognition (LPR). Two vehicles have been placed on campus to begin testing, “Right now we are in the testing phase, since it is an AI (Artificial Intelligence) system it learns,” Platt said.

“Right now it is reading stop signs and writing on the sides of cars, it’s kind of a learning process to just try to get it to read the plate.”

When the LPR scans your license plate it notifies the driver and the transportation department if you are parked in the wrong lot or if the vehicle is not registered to a student or faculty member.

“It is essentially going to be user driven, the student will register for the permit and put in all their vehicle information … we are able just to see those vehicle details,” Platt said.

“We’re not able to see anything personal like insurance information.”

This system does more than scan a license plate “In addition, it will improve the safety of our campus through a partnership that allows campus police to identify stolen vehicles or vehicles that may have been involved in a crime via the LPR system,” Jenifer Redwine, director of Transportation and Parking

Services, said.

“The LPR system can note to alert us if we pass by that vehicle, that could go for city-wide, state-wide, as well,” Platt said. “If there is an Amber Alert, it can let us know.”

Visitors will continue to pay-to-park and a parking employee will come out to ensure the vehicle will not receive a citation. Guests to campus will continue to receive guest codes to put in a pay-to-park system and those codes appear in the LPR system so guests will not receive citations.

The transportation office is still handing out paper citations this year but are looking to switch to e-tickets in the future.

According to Platt there are benefits to switching to virtual permits, students and faculty can register and transfer permits day-of to different vehicles like rentals through your phone, but if you have multiple vehicles you cannot keep multiple vehicles on campus, each additional vehicle found under your name will be given a citation.

Student jobs will still be available with the new system.

According to Platt, the transportation department does not plan for any student job loss with the new program. “We will still have our parking ambassadors,’ Platt said. “There is still a need for student enforcement to be able to inspect.”

Currently, the drivers of the new vehicles are full and part-time employees. The transportation department

is looking to make drivers a student position. The requirement would be a current drivers license and training through the university.

The LPR system also changes the direction you park your vehicle.

UCO released in an email: “Backing in or pulling through a parking space is not permitted, unless the vehicle has a front license plate. TPS will offer front decorative plates to those who would like the option to park in any direction.”

“We would sell those at cost, if somebody wanted to have the ability to park any direction,” Platt said.

“Right now the quotes are looking between $5 -$10.”

“I personally do not support this switch to having to install a school plate to benefit the transportation system,” Jose Ibarra, a senior at UCO, said. While I support having a more sustainable system where we reduce the paper usage, this would only benefit the school. It would create a less convenient way for students to park, and have them spend even more money on parking. While a $60,000 saving seems good it’s only for the school. Although in bigger perspective it seems like a good idea, it will only create another burden on students.”

According to Platt, the department is pulling together resources like links to an installation kit on Amazon if your car does not already have a place for a decorative front-plate.

LPR will begin running in the Fall.

4 | The Vista

March 30, 2021

Vaccine/Homeowner

Oklahoma widens vaccine eligibilty Continued from pg. 1

effective against symptomatic cases of COVID-19, including in older adults.

According to the Associated Press, the company plans to file for approval with the Food and Drug Administration in the coming weeks.

AstraZeneca could win emergency authorization as soon as the second half of April, according to Mene Pangolos, the company’s biopharmaceuticals research chief. If granted, AstraZeneca would immediately deliver 30 million doses and deliver another 20 million within the first month.

In addition to the state portal, Reed said Oklahomans can use the VaccineFinder website to locate available vaccines through local providers in their area.

He said Oklahomans who have received their second doses should wait at least two weeks before meeting with others, especially with those who have not received their vaccines yet.

“Before gathering with friends and family, remember that it takes at least 14 days following your final dose for

your body to produce an optimal immune response,” Reed said.

The University of Central Oklahoma and Passport Health are continuing to offer vaccination appointments on campus for the UCO community.

They plan to hold clinics weekly at least until the end of the spring semester. Members of the UCO community can expect to receive announcements through their campus email.

UCO students, faculty and staff who have received their final (or only) vaccinations are encouraged to self-report through UCO’s voluntary vaccination reporting survey. The form can also be found on UCO’s coronavirus website. The self-reported vaccination numbers will be reflected on the campus coronavirus dashboard.

According to the OSDH, almost 1.7 million vaccine doses have been administered in the state. About 1.08 million Oklahomans or 27.3% of the full state population have already received at least one dose of the vaccine.

“I want to remind everyone that this pandemic has required a marathon response,” Reed said. “We are

Residents wait in line outside of UCO’s on-campus vaccine clinic hosted by Passport health. Appointments are made in advance for the clinic. (Provided/Manuela Soldi)

Pandemic introduces unique problem for homebuyers Lilli Meyers Contributing Writer

The real estate market in the metro area is unique due to scarcely low inventory that real estate agents haven’t seen in decades, if ever.

Denise Schroder works for Keller Williams Realty and is a top one percent realtor of over 6,000 realtors.

Schroder stated: “Normally we have 7,000 homes on the market for buyers to choose from. Right now, we only have 2,300.”

In Edmond, the average rent for a home is $1,149.00. For an apartment, it’s around $869.00.

Schroder predicts that sellers are going to start renting homes because of the market shortage. This could in-

A graphic depicting a new homeowner collecting keys to a house. (Provided/Pixabay)

crease rental prices and make rental inventory decrease.

Forbes.com states: “Amid all the uncertainty brought on by COVID-19, one thing is assured: the pandemic has re-ordered real estate markets across the board on an unprecedented scale.”

As of the middle of March, inventory in Edmond is down 61 percent.

Out of the 2,300 homes on the market, 351 of those homes are in Edmond. In 2020, there were 911 homes on the market in Edmond area.

Regarding popular spots to buy a house in Edmond, Schroder stated: “Edmond is one of the nationally sought-after suburbs to raise a family in. Pretty much anything you can find within Edmond school district is going to be gone within hours.”

Because of COVID, it has been more difficult for realtors to show houses to their clients.

Schroder stated: “COVID has changed the game. A lot of buyers right now are not wanting buyers coming into their homes and touching everything.”

Regarding a seller’s market, Investopedia states: “A seller’s market is a market condition characterized by a shortage of goods available for sale, re-

sulting in pricing power for the seller.

A seller’s market is a term commonly applied to the property market when low supply meets high demand.”

Schroder stated: “It is an absolute seller’s market. It’s a blood bath for buyers.”

The buyer is no longer in a position to ask the seller to cover closing costs.

Schroder group real estate is seeing offers come in at 10 to 15 thousand dollars over the listing price.

With the market having very little inventory, many people looking to move might turn to building a house.

COVID has also affected the building process.

Schroder stated: “Lumber prices are up 112 percent. This is making it very expensive for buyers to build a house that might’ve been in their price range when lumber wasn’t so high.”

During the middle of the COVID-19 pandemic, interest rates were historically low in the 2.6 percent range. Although they are starting to rise, interest rates are still low compared to past years.

Schroder stated: “On March 10th the rates were at 3.125 percent for a 30-year conventional loan and for VA and FHA loans it’s about 3.25 percent.

Cheer/Masks

March 30, 2021

The Vista | 5

DTU may honor cheer appeal decision Bryce McKinnis @McKinnisBryce Managing Editor

Dance Team Union, the organization hosting the competition that Central Jags plans to attend in April, will consider the results of the former cheer athletes’ university appeal in its decision to allow or not allow Central Jags to compete.

Which former athletes plan to compete for Central Jags and their individual roles in the August hazing incident are unclear at this time.

“The result of the appeal will factor significantly into our decision,” a DTU representative, who asked to remain anonymous, told The Vista on Friday.

A group of UCO parents and former cheer athletes filed the appeal Tuesday, the group confirmed in a statement last week.

“An appeal and formal request was sent to the University asking for a meeting to discuss the false allegations and mishandling of the UCO Cheer Hazing Investigations and Punishment handed down following a Team Bonding exercise in August 2020,” the statement said. “We requested a response to be made within 24 hours followed by a meeting scheduled within the next three days.”

It is not clear which or how many cheer athletes and parents are represented within this group.

President Neuhold-Ravikumar declined to comment on the appeal last week.

A March 18 report from UCO Office of Student Conduct indicated that the cheer athletes are allowed to make an appeal within three days “after the

disciplinary decision is rendered and received.” This is standard practice under the UCO Code of Student Conduct.

The code of conduct indicates that appeals must be submitted under one of three merits: disproportionate sanctions, new information or procedural error. It is unclear at this time if the cheer parents and athletes appealed under one of these merits.

The alleged acts of hazing were listed in the report: Members were blindfolded.

Members were asked to answer questions that were of a sexual nature.

Members were asked questions about their sexual preferences.

Members performed lap dances.

Members were grinding against objects “in a sexual manner.”

• Members were twerking.

• Members were yelled at in a military fashion.

• Members drank a mixture of things taken from the refrigerator.

• Alcohol was provided to underage team members.

• Members were sprayed with a liquid.

The number of members, which specific members committed these acts and where they occurred are unknown, but a public Instagram post from a member of the UCO Cheer team last Monday said that the hazing occurred in August.

Sanctions against the former cheer athletes were indicated in the report and announced to the UCO student body March 20 in an email from the office of Neuhold-Ravikumar. Those sanctions included:

Wantland Hall is seen at the University of Central Oklahoma on March 24, 2021. A group of UCO cheerleaders released a statement calling all hazing allegations false.

(Tanner Laws/The Vista)

•

A “shutdown” of UCO cheer and stunt teams throughout the end of the semester, including the effective removal of all cheer athletes from the team.

• A two-year suspension from competing at national competitions.

• A two-year probation period.

Annual hazing prevention and bystander training for all members who are eligible to try out next year.

A membership review process for each member who wishes to try out next year.

DTU Nationals, hosted in Orlando, Florida, is set for April 8-10.

Ruthie Ross, a UCO junior and former cheer athlete, told The Vista last Monday that about 25 former UCO cheer athletes plan to compete at DTU Nationals under the alias of Central Jags.

University officials confirmed to The Vista that UCO cannot restrict the Central Jags from competing at DTU. “They cannot [compete] as the UCO Cheer team or any other official representation of the university,” said Adrienne Nobles, vice president for communications and public affairs.

The athletes have been organizing their practice times and coaching themselves. With the cheer athletes not going to the competition as UCO Bronchos, they are unable to use the practice facilities at UCO. “There isn’t a coach taking us to the competition or leading our practices.

It’s all student led,” Ross stated.

Central Jags has been raising money to attend the competition by selling apparel and holding a cheer clinic in Edmond.

Tyler Wallace

choose.

UCO has decided to continue its mask policy regardless, requiring all students, staff, faculty, and visitors to wear masks while on campus, when around others.

With the continued usage of masks, UCO’s face mask tips come in handy.

“Fabric masks, like your UCO mask, can be washed and dried with your regular laundry. It’s recommended that you use hot water and a high heat setting to dry. You can also hand wash your mask in hot, soapy water. Scrub for at least 20 seconds and dry on high heat in the dryer or in direct sunlight.

Disposable masks are not meant to be washed and should be thrown away when they appear dirty or are damaged.”

UCO also does not allow face shields as a sole form of protection but are welcome along with mask usage.

City of Edmond ends mask mandate, UCO keeps @HALTexe

Contributing writer

(Provided/PixaBay)

Edmond’s mask mandate expired last Tuesday as the Edmond City Council has opted to not renew.

The City of Edmond released this statement: “The Edmond City Council has allowed the face covering ordinance within the city limits to expire.

Beginning at midnight on Tuesday, March 23rd, the ordinance that required all people age eleven and over to wear a face covering in indoor public spaces, will no longer be in effect…”

With the expiration, citizens may now enter indoor public spaces without masking up beforehand. This also affects businesses, as they no longer are required to post signage requiring masks for entry. They may still post signage and require masks if they so

6 | The Vista

March 30, 2021

Sports

UCO Football plays first game in 497 days

The Unversity of Central Oklahoma Football team played its first game in 497 days last Saturday due to its 2020 season being entirely canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

The Bronchos lost their previous game 14-34 on Nov. 16, 2019 when they faced Emporia State to end their season. The Bronchos play next on April 10. (Photo/Ravin Ray)

Rudy Barnes Contributing Writer

The University of Central Oklahoma Bronchos beat Southern Nazarene University in a spring exhibition game 30-26 Saturday at Wantland Stadium.

The Bronchos quarterback and recent transfer student Stephon Brown recorded three touchdowns including the game winning rushing touchdown from two yards out to capture the lead with 54 seconds remaining in the game.

The exhibition game was the first time the Bronchos football team played in 497 days, their last game was Nov. 16, the 2019 season finale 14-34 loss to Emporia State. The entire 2020 football season was canceled due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.

During the first quarter the Bronchos showed exactly how a team with nearly 500 days in between games would play. During the first quarter play the Bronchos had lost a fumble, threw an interception and gave up big plays on defense. At halftime the Bronchos were trailing 16-6 with their only score

being a 1-yard touchdown run by No. 22 freshman running back Thomas Grayson.

“We didn’t play very clean today, it’s been nearly 500 days since we last competed, we just needed to perform better, we played a team that this is their fourth game this spring,” said Bronchos head coach Nick Bobeck. “They played harder than we did, we needed to attack more and be more aggressive, physical and communicate more.”

The second half of the game the Bronchos played Stephon Brown as quarterback and the team was able to move the ball with consistency. The Bronchos started scoring with a 30-yard field goal by No. 46 Alex Quevedo, to reduce the lead to 16-9 Crimson Storm. Stephon Brown started a 21-point scoring surge for the Bronchos in the fourth quarter.

Brown started with a 6-yard quarterback keeper run to close the Storm led to 23-15. A few drives later Brown threw a 32-yard touchdown strike to No.88 Aeron Woodson, Brown then converted the 2-point play with a pass to Tucker Pawley to tie the game at 23-23. The Crimson Storm answered with a field goal to break the tie 26-23 with under five minutes

remaining in the game.

“We dug ourselves into a hole early but we fought back, that’s all we really needed to do was stay competitive and never give up. We haven’t played football in so long I expected there to be some rough drives,” said Bobeck.

On the game winning drive for the Bronchos, freshman Jayce Gardner racked up 45 yards of his total 82 yards for the game putting the Bronchos inside the 10-yard line. Then Brown dialed up another quarterback keeper for a 2-yard touchdown to take a 30-26 lead with less than a minute left. The Bronchos defense was able to hold off a tough final drive by the Crimson Storm to secure the win 30-26.

“Fight and effort is one of our core values, we persevered today and won the game,” said quarterback Stephon Brown. “I’ve only been with the team for about two months so it’s been an easy process, I felt a little rust but as I played the team and myself started to get better and we got the win today.”

The Bronchos next home spring exhibition game is Apr. 10, at 2 p.m. at Wantland Stadium against Oklahoma Baptist University.

After win, Valorant team advances to playoffs Rudy Barnes Contributing Writer

The University of Central Oklahoma eSports Valorant team finished their 10-week league for the FACEIT Collegiate Valorant Premier Spring with a 5-5 record. The team will enter the double-elimination playoff as the 38th seed on April 5.

During the final week of competition, the team beat the University of Western Michigan Carnage esports team 1-0 to clinch a playoff berth. Through-

out the season, the UCO Valorant team also beat New Haven, Texas Christian, Texas State, and Uni versity of California Santa Cruz.

“The Valorant team has improved so much since we started, and we continue to get better every match,” said Valorant team captain Tecumseh “TJKhaled” Cline. “The team is full of great leaders and players, and we can only get better the more games we continue to play.”

This is the team’s second participation in a league with the first being the Collegiate Star League this

past fall. They finished with an 8-2 record.

“The team formed during the COVID-19 pandemic. And we played pretty good considering that it was still a new game, and people were still trying to find the meta,” Cline, a senior, said. “Throughout the fall semester we were able to play more together as a team and that helped build chemistry along with new players switching over to play Valorant.”

Valorant is a first-person team-based tactical shooter game developed by Riot Games. It was released through closed beta on April 7, 2020 and was officially released two months later on June 2.

Graduation/Vaccines

Vaccines available at UCO

March 30, 2021

The Vista | 7

UCOSA fights for in-person graduation

J.D. Silva

@jdsilva_ Editor-in-Chief

Passport Health will be hosting a vaccination clinic Tuesday, Mar. 30 and Wednesday, Mar. 31 at the University of Central Oklahoma. Taking place at 312 E. Main St, UCO faculty, staff, and students ages 18 and older may schedule an appointment to receieve a dose of the COVID-19 vaccine. You are required to bring your UCO ID card to the appointment.

According to a statement from UCO, those who received their first dose of the vaccine on Mar. 5 will be receiving their second dose on Mar. 31, not April 5 as originally scheduled.

A limited number of first doses may be available on Wednesday as well.

The vaccine is free of charge, and your second dose will be scheduled 21 to 28 days after your first. An appointment must be scheduled in order to receieve a vaccine from UCO’s Passport Health clinic, and masks are required at the site. You may call 405-563-8961 to contact Passport Health or email them at myclinic@passporthealthok. com.

A photo taken from UCO’s Passport Health clinic of one dose of the Moderna vaccine. Moderna and Pfizer were the first two vaccines to be approved for emergency use by the FDA. Johnson and Johnson followed weeks later providing a third vaccine. (Provided/Manuela Soldi)

A group of graduates sit together during a graduation ceremony. The University of Central Oklahoma recently announced there would be an in-person commencement ceremony for spring 2021, however, an audience would not be allowed.(Provided/Pixabay)

Amanda Siew

@amandasiewyk Contributing Writer

The UCO Student Association is requesting to meet with leadership at the University of Central Oklahoma to discuss options of hosting guests at the spring 2021 in-person graduation.

The executive board emailed their request Thursday afternoon to the university administration, namely President Patti Neuhold-Ravikumar, Vice President for Enrollment and Student Success Christopher Lynch and Commencement Coordinator Lori Beasley.

Coleman said the executive board decided to bring their request to university leadership after hearing concerns from students through their Congress sessions and conversations with individuals.

“When looking at graduation and there not being a plan when we have other large in-person events across the campus, it is a tough pill to swallow,” said Christian Coleman, UCOSA student body vice president. “You can have these events, but we can’t celebrate our graduates.”

In creating their request, the UCOSA executive board said they took inspiration from Brooklynn Wigington, a UCO graduating senior, who created a Change.org petition earlier this month asking the university to allow limited guests at this semester’s graduation ceremonies. The petition has gathered over 920 signatures so far.

Coleman said the executive board had unofficially discussed a plan of hosting graduation outdoors at Wantland Stadium to give both students and guests space to social distance, if weather permits. They plan to discuss this and explore other options when the university agrees to meet.

In a campus-wide email sent Feb. 24, UCO announced they were planning for in-person commencement

ceremonies for the spring 2021 graduates in the Hamilton Field House.

They also said the ceremonies would be held without guests or faculty to allow for social distancing measures but would livestream the ceremonies online for others to view.

“To the sentiment of everyone [on the board], we think that there is a major discrepancy when you can have families come support athletes and sporting events or families come support musicians at recitals,” Coleman said. “When students have proven that they can complete the coursework and have done so in a respectable manner, their families should also be able to come support them as they take the next step in life.”

One such sports event that received public criticism was the Class 6A state championship football game that was held at Wantland Stadium Dec. 5. Jenks Public Schools released photos of the game on their social media showing the large number of people attending. Some were also not masked and in close proximity to others. During that same month, UCO’s commencement ceremony for the fall 2020 graduates was held virtually.

Jenks Public School’s Facebook post with the photos received over 1,600 comments, with several comments calling the game a “super spreader” event. The school released a statement the day after apologizing for “the lack of safety protocols” at the game.

The UCO Office of the President also released a statement regarding the state championship game Dec. 7, saying the spectators “were not in compliance with the agreed COVID-19 safety protocols the OSSAA and UCO put in place” and that the university would “do a better job of monitoring compliance.”

UCOSA Student Body President James Limbaugh said he agreed with students that there are “inconsisten-

cies” when comparing the game to UCO not allowing guests at graduation, but said the outcome of the game was “the fault of the school breaking the guidelines [UCO] set forth,” not the university itself.

While none of the executive board members are graduating this semester, the board said representing the wishes of graduating students was just them “fulfilling their role as UCOSA.” “We’ve had a lot of students reach out to us saying this is what they want to see, and our role is basically to convey that message to the people in charge,” Limbaugh said. “Regardless of if our personal opinion agrees with them or not, it’s our duty and our responsibility to progress that message forward to them.”

The UCOSA executive board said they’re confident in hearing back from the university.

“We know that they’re going to listen to our ideas regardless of what they are,” Limbaugh said. “We have a really good relationship where we keep an open mind between each other, and it’s really helpful.”

The executive board hopes to hear from the university by Monday.

“Just because we’re now taking this to the university as an executive committee does not mean it’s necessarily out of the hands of the students,” said DeLauren Diaz, UCOSA congressional vice chair. “This only works if we have the continuous support from the student body.”

Students who are interested in submitting their concerns for graduation should send it to the association through written documentation. This includes emailing/direct messaging UCOSA, the individual executive board members or UCOSA senators.

Diaz said students can also continue signing the existing graduation petition.

8 | The Vista

March 30, 2021

Movies/Spring Break

Movie theaters reopen Students feeling

Some continue to stay home stretched Demetri Cruse

Contributing Writer

Movie theatres in Oklahoma are slowly starting to open with social distancing rules after closing due to the ongoing pandemic that has been in effect for over a year.

Many theatres around the world have been shutting down over the past year to prevent large gatherings and reduce the chances of people contracting COVID-19. Because of the theatres closing, this has made it difficult for new movies to premiere on the big screen. The closings also affected the staff in theatres, as well, because they could not come back to work during the early stages of the pandemic.

There has been a significant change in how theatres operate as they open back up. One of the most popular theatres in the world, AMC Theatres, released a video of the CEO and president of AMC, Adam Aron, explaining the changes that the business has made on their website.

“As we reopen, we recognize the world has changed,” Aron said. “The health and safety of our movie theatre

staff is our absolute highest priority.”

Aron continued to talk about how much the AMC company has implemented a new system called Safe and Clean, which keeps the theatre sanitized at all times with the use of electrostatic disinfectant sprayers, HEPA filter vacuums, and MERV 13 air filters, which are hospital-quality.

AMC also has reduced the capacity down to 40 people in the theatre and closed every other seating row to encourage people to social distance when watching a movie.

There are some people who are excited to go back to the theatres and watch movies on the big screen and there are others who prefer to wait a little longer due to the pandemic. Muhammed Hussnain, a student at the University of Oklahoma, says that he is excited to go back to open theatres.

“I am happy that some theatres are working to open back up,” Hussnain said. “I still like streaming movies on Netflix and HBO Max, but nothing can compete with actually being in a theatre because it is just a different experience.”

Samuel Riggs, a student at UCO,

also said that he can’t wait to see movies in a theatre again but prefers to wait until the summer.

“As much as I would like to go to the movies again, I rather wait until the summer,” Riggs said. “I feel like it’ll be safer in the summer because the number of people being vaccinated will increase and hopefully theatres will increase their capacity as time goes on.

“For right now I enjoy what directors are doing for new movies by putting them on streaming services for people who do not want to go to theatres at this time.”

As of right now, the only theatres that are open in Oklahoma are Cinemark Tinseltown, AMC and Harkins Theatre. Other theatres remain closed. There are no specific dates for theatres to open back up except for Warren Theatre in Moore, Oklahoma. Warren Theatre plans to open Friday to premiere the new “Godzilla vs Kong” movie, which comes out on Wednesday. For more information on theatres that are open in Oklahoma, visit any local theatre websites to see if there are any movie showings available.

This May 8, 2020 photo shows an AMC Theatre is shown in Clinton Township, Mich. AMC Theatres says it will have 98% of its U.S. movie theaters open on Friday, March 19, 2021, with more expected to open by March 26. Shares of AMC Entertainment Holdings Inc. are up more than 4% before the market open on Thursday. (AP Photo/Paul Sancya)

after no break Christina Bass

Contributing Writer

University of Central Oklahoma and many other universities across the states decided to not let college students out of classes during a normal spring break week. The semester at UCO has been chaotic with a return to in-person classes and multiple delays due to bad weather.

“It’s been pretty difficult and had to postpone a lot of events this semester,” said Gilda Parlatto, second-year master’s student in vocal performance.

Universities, however, decided to have shorter breaks or add wellness days for college students instead of having a full spring break week.

The administration hoped to help stop the spread COVID-19 but with online classes, students could do their classwork anywhere they went.

This month in Miami, Florida, South Beach drew many spring breakers and tourists. The police made over a thousand arrests as visitors fought in the streets and destroyed property, according to the Associated Press. When it got out of hand, SWAT teams dispersed the chaos. Later, the city decided to have an emergency 8 p.m. curfew that would likely extend sometime into April after spring break season is over, AP reported.

A few UCO students and faculty were affected by the spring breakless week.

Madison Danner, who is a freshman, said that it would be “a mental break from school” to not have to do any homework.

Anastasia Wickman, associate professor of English said, “Not having a break in the middle of spring semester has been a little tough for me.

“To alleviate some of the stress, I am trying to rethink my curriculum for the remainder of the semester and eliminate anything that isn’t necessary to achieve the learning goals.”

Joshua Blackston, 3rd year, music education said, “For students it helps to relax and make up with homework.

For teachers it helps to get grades and lesson plans planned out.”

April 15 will be UCO’s respite day, which means classes will be canceled and offices will be closed.