Arya Bahreini is a biomedical science senior with plans to go on to dental school. Aside from studying, you can find Bahreini practicing to maintain his reputation as one of the most successful runners to ever attend OCU. “It’s great to know I’ve set a high bar for the OCU program,” Bahreini said. Bahreini wasn’t…
Homecoming theme announced, festivities set to begin
Campus organizations are preparing for Homecoming Week. The theme this year is Unite, and will honor the Class of 1965’s 50-year anniversary. “The theme this year will be fun,” said Jacob Overling, business administration senior. “It will take a campus that is already a family and make them have a stronger bond.” Festivities will be…
After-hours library assistants hired, trained for technical help
Students can rest easy knowing there is after hours help in the library for late night studying. These students will be trained to be more helpful with computer and network-related issues, especially after hours when the librarians go home. “Generally, we have librarians here until six or seven o’clock in the evening, but not after…
Annual book discussion kicks off with theme focused on hardships
The “Let’s Talk About It, Oklahoma” book discussion is kicking off its fall session this month. The discussion series will include five sessions, where a humanities scholar will present the book selection before participants are split into smaller groups with discussion leaders, allowing students and faculty to come together and share their thoughts and ideas….
Student forms chess club
Ali Alataiwi, nursing graduate, could not find a local chess club, so he formed his own. He encountered opposition, but now Alataiwi’s club is a legitimate campus organization that will meet from 4-5 p.m. every Tuesday. The first gathering was yesterday. The official location is not determined, but for now, the group will meet in…
Indian taco sale canceled
The Native American Society’s Indian taco sale that was set for Sept. 25 was canceled. The cancellation occurred because of issues with where the food could be prepared, said Brianna Hillebrand, cell and molecular biology senior and president of NAS. The Indian tacos are usually prepared in the kitchen of Watson Lounge in Bishop W. Angie…
Annual film festival opens with theme inspired by survivor
The OCU Film Institute is presenting their 34th annual film festival. The film Timbuktu, written and directed by Abderrahmane Sissako, will be shown next. The film focuses on a cattle herder who lives a quiet life until it is interrupted by the Jihadists determined to control their faith. The film will show at 2 p.m….
Communications director resigns
Sandy Pantlik, senior director of university communications, resigned from her position Sept. 18. Pantlik left after receiving a job offer at Oklahoma State University-Oklahoma City. Leslie Berger, director of public relations, and Rod Jones, assistant director of media relations, said they were unsure of Pantlik’s reason for leaving, besides that it was a good opportunity for…
University counselors help students cope with college life
More college students are suffering from depression and mental health issues than in past years, according to a study by the Center for Collegiate Mental Health at Penn State in Pennsylvania. September is National Suicide Awareness Month. About 1,100 suicides happen on a college campus per year, and the number is increasing, according to an…
Campus warned of nesting birds acting in self-defense
Signs posted outside Meinders School of Business warn students about Mississippi Kite birds. The signs read: “WARNING: Mississippi Kite attack birds are currently nesting here. Please avoid this area.” “I was leaving Meinders one day this summer and there was a sign on the door warning me of the birds, which I thought was hilarious,”…
Campus tech works to solve Wi-Fi issues
Campus tech officials are frustrated because their upgrades are not working properly. Campus technology workers installed new equipment around campus during the summer. The equipment included about 90 new antennas, two controllers and new network switches, but the wireless keeps failing. “I am not saying that these upgrades caused this,” said Dennis Rigdon, assistant director…
Editors commend officials for medical amnesty policy
Officials reviewed the university’s Student Code of Conduct this semester. Most of it was kept the same, but there were some changes. One of the biggest changes is the introduction of the medical amnesty policy. The policy provides protection for students if they need to seek medical treatment during analcohol- or drug- related emergency. So…
Code of conduct revised to protect students, animals
Changes were made to the Student Code of Conduct to protect students and service animals, and to clarify punishments. Officials made three changes to the code of conduct this semester. These changes are the introduction of a medical amnesty policy, an animal neglect policy and the clarification of disciplinary sanctions. “We wanted to make sure…
Chapel goes ‘on the road’
Officials are experimenting with new locations for Chapel this semester and going “on the road” to give students a change of scenery. The location of the service will vary by week this semester, but typically Chapel is at 1 p.m. every Thursday in Bishop W. Angie Smith Chapel. Chapel will be hosted twice this month…
Student receives nationwide support to pay for school
Students often complain about the price of tuition, but imagine paying for college without any help from your parents because they disagree with your sexual preference. This is the situation one student found himself in after telling his parents he is gay. “I originally came out to them when I was 12, but then this…
Official announces retirement
Dr. Liz Donnelly, senior director of university housing, is retiring Oct. 9, according to a Sept. 22 email sent to the campus community. Donnelly has served as an instructor, women’s volleyball coach, director of student affairs, dean of students, associate vice president for students affairs and acting vice presidents for students affairs during her 31 years…
Baseball program receives endowment
Denney Crabaugh, head baseball coach, will leave behind the legacy he’s always dreamed of when he retires. The Denney Crabaugh Endowment will be invested permanently to benefit OCU baseball and provide funds toward the program’s needs such as scholarships, equipment and travel. “Coach Crabaugh has given countless hours to build our nationally prominent program, positively…
Learning enhancement center relocated to library
The John Hoyle Carlock Jr. Learning Center moved this semester from Walker Center for Arts and Sciences to the Dulaney-Browne Library. During prioritization the LEC was recommended for transformation, meaning that it is important to the university but it could work better. Prioritization is the process in which university officials can see where money is…
Speaker’s visit postponed
Sister Rosemary Nyirumbe’s visit to campus has been postponed, according to a Sept. 18 email sent to the campus community. The event, scheduled for Sept. 23, was postponed after Nyirumbe experienced unexpected difficulties traveling out of Uganda. The screening for the film Sewing Hope also is postponed. Nyirumbe directs the Saint Monica Girls’ Tailoring Centre in Gulu,…
BREAKING: Officials ask for help locating missing student
Officials are asking for the public’s help locating a 21-year-old OCU student. Dalton Viner was reported missing Sept. 14, according to reports. Viner’s family reported his disappearance to the Midwest City Police Department, according to a Sept. 17 email from university officials. Viner was traveling between his house near campus and his family’s home in Choctaw for…
Award-winning play featuring Peter Pan opens
The School of Theater and Oklahoma City Repertory Theater will collaborate to present Peter and the Starcatcher. Peter and the Starcatcher is a five-time Tony Award winning Broadway hit based on the novel of the same name by Dave Barry and Ridley Pearson. Peter and the Starcatcher is the grown-up prequel to the classic story…
Dance school changes name to define program
The Ann Lacy School of American Dance and Arts Management will no longer be known by that name. The school was renamed The Ann Lacy School of American Dance and Entertainment to help make the school’s purpose easier to understand, said Melanie Shelley, associate dean and professor of arts management. “It’s an effort for it…
Class enrollment requirements result in cancellations
Kara Klamm had a panic attack at the beginning of the semester when she discovered that two of her classes were canceled. Klamm, education senior, found out her classes were canceled a week before the semester started. “The school should have made that decision earlier,” Klamm said. “This is my last semester of classes, so…
Prioritization recommendations implemented
Class cancellations and the termination of professors impacted students as the semester began. These changes were a result of prioritization recommendations. Prioritization allowed officials to see where university money was being spent and determine if changes should be made to academic and support programs. It was necessary because of a $1.5 million shortfall in the…
Critic finds Mad Max to be intense and exciting
Mad Max: Fury Road 10/10 There’s something to be said about a movie that is so intense it will cause you to jump up from your seat in the theater in excitement, spilling whatever candy you happened to have on your lap at the time and then not caring because what you just saw was…
Constitution day welcomes expert speaker
Constitution Day will be celebrated with a discussion panel and an expert presentation. The discussion panel will feature students from Associate Professor of Political Science Mohamed Daadaoui’s U.S. foreign policy class. “I’m tremendously excited,” said Chance Johnson, political science senior. “It’s not every day that you get to sit down and have a serious discussion about…
