Tuesday, March 4, 2025
Volume 122, Issue 15
VISTA The
HASA Protest Page 6.
Tuesday, Feb.
“OUR WORDS, YOUR VOICE.”
Volume 119, Issue 19
Your money, their budget
How UCOSA uses allocations from tuition Ella Spurlock Managing Editor
The UCO Student Association (UCOSA) is UCO’s student government association that serves the UCO student body by managing student organizations and clubs, addressing student concerns and enhancing the student experience for the student body on and off campus. The 2024-2025 UCOSA administration belongs to the Student Body President, Cooper Autry, and the Vice Student Body President, Reda Errahmouni. During their campaign, Autry and Errahmouni stood on a platform that aimed to uplift the student body through clear, concise communication. Along with this, they both aimed to encourage student engagement and involvement by promoting various campus events and initiatives on social media. But if you take a look at the Cooper Autry & Reda Errahmouni Instagram page, from the first day of school on Aug. 19 2024, there have only been 14 posts made and the posts don’t completely encompass events put on by clubs and organizations here at The UCO Student Association serves the UCO student community as its reprenstation on campus and acts as a voice UCO. If anything, these posts promote Autry for students. (VICTOR LOPEZ/THE VISTA) and Errahmouni as individuals. could be seen as concerning considering the that are allocated through the SAF to UCOSA Along with promotions of events being few fact that it is stated in the UCOSA information are derived from students’ tuition and are hanand far between, communication from the adsection of the UCO website that Autry “looks dled by the UCOSA Congress Ways and Means ministration has been choppy with the student forward to hearing their (the student body) com- Committee. So how is the money being used? body, and from interview attempts, Autry is ments, concerns and desires.” Any funds appropriated to UCOSA by the not seemingly able to answer questions openly. UCOSA does not just manage clubs and university are specifically divided. These approInstead, whoever may be seeking information organizations, address student concerns and priated funds are to be divided as follows before about the Autry Administration, or about what enhance student experiences, UCOSA also has any subdivisions or appropriations are made. UCOSA does, will more than likely be redirectthe privilege of having funds allocated to them ed to a different source for information. This from the Student Activity Fee (SAF). The funds Continued on Page 7.
Walters requests bid to supply Bibles in elementary schools Troy Isbell Reporter
The Oklahoma State Department of Education (OSDE) submitted a request for a proposal on Friday, February 21, 2025, asking vendors to supply Bibles to Oklahoma public elementary schools, so as to implement them as instructional material for students. The OSDE is requesting to make a one-year contract with a vendor that will provide Bibles to be used for teachings in social studies classes in all Oklahoma public elementary schools. The vendor will have the option “of four oneyear renewals for the contract,” reports Josh Wallace for KOCO 5 News. “The bidder is also required to be able to ship the materials to every school district in the state, with the quantities being ‘provided by OSDE.’” The request also requires that each vendor bidding to provide Bibles to the OSDE must comply to every requirement listed in order for the vendors to be considered, including:
“Materials should contain age-appropriate biblical content, provide simple explanations that are easily understandable for elementary-age students, and demonstrate how biblical figures and stories have influenced historical events and cultural practices in the United States.” “Materials shall emphasize the development
A stack of books including the Holy Bible are shown at an OKlahoma Baord of Education meeting. (JAKE RAMSEY/THE VISTA)
of core virtues such as honesty, respect, responsibility and compassion and provide historical
examples and historical figures to illustrate these virtues.” “Materials should provide activities and exercises that help students apply these core virtues to their daily lives.” “Materials should reference significant historical events that occurred in Oklahoma and key historical figures from Oklahoma.” “Materials should reference key figures and events that have shaped the history and culture of Oklahoma.” “Materials should provide a teacher guide to help teachers in integrating these topics into their classroom instruction and options for professional development.” “Materials should align with relevant civics concepts in the Oklahoma Academic Standards for Social Studies. Provide examples.” “The bidder’s entire order should be produced and delivered no more than 56 calendar days after the award date of the contract.” Continued on Page 3.
Trump Admin to select news outlets allowed in key White House events Ella Spurlock Managing Editor
This is because the AP would not change their style guidelines to replace the Gulf of Mexico with the Gulf of America per President Trump’s executive order. With the AP being a global outlet, their style guidelines are recognized across the world and since the United States is the only country to rename the body of water, the guide-
line change would not accurately represent every other country. To try to rectify the problem, the AP would have listed the Gulf of America alongside the Gulf of Mexico, but that did not please the administration.
According to White House Press Secretary, Karoline Leavitt, as of Feb. 25 all reporters belonging to media outlets that wish to report Continued on Page 3. within the limited presidential reporting pool will be handpicked by the Trump Administration to allow “new media” outlets to have access to key White House events and the press briefing room. The presidential reporting pool is a 13-person press pool that rotates daily and is chosen by the 100-year-old White House Correspondents Agency (WHCA). The journalists within the pool report on the day-to-day activities of the sitting president and their administration. This pool is mainly made up of journalists from traditional media outlets such as Reuters, CNN, Fox, ABC News and The New York Times, but The Associated Press (AP) has recently been removed. The AP, a global news outlet, has been a part of this list for over a century, but on Feb. 11 the AP was blocked twice from entering the White House to report on President Trump and his administration, but it does not stop there. The AP was blocked a third time during a media conference featuring President Trump. Finally, the AP The White House announced on Feb. 25, that it would be selecting from a pool of press on who has the authority to was officially barred from the White House. attend certain events. (PROVIDED/ASSOCIATED PRESS)