Tuesday, Sept. 24, 2024
Volume 122, Issue 4
VISTA The
Balloon Festival Page 6.
Tuesday, Feb.
“OUR WORDS, YOUR VOICE.”
Volume 119, Issue 19
‘Accessible to an extent;’ UCO campus shows challenge to students with disabilities Jake Ramsey Editor-In-Chief
Rayce Phillips, a visually impaired student at the University of Central Oklahoma, had always dreamed of going to college. “College is something I’ve wanted to do ever since I was a child, and now I’m here,” said Phillips. Phillips began to lose his vision around 10-years-old, and while he can still see out of his peripheral vision in one eye, he uses a walking cane to navigate through life. Phillips said for the most part his experiences at UCO have been positive, but there are still areas where he runs into trouble, mainly when it comes to accessibility on campus. “If I need to go get books or something, that’s a much larger process,” said Phillips. Describing how he has to first locate the book number and then report it to Disability Support Services (DSS) in order to get it the way he needs it for his classes. He said this process can be time consuming and can cause him to get behind in classes. Phillips is not the only student to run into accessibility issues on campus, Bailey Williams, a UCO student who uses a wheelchair, has also experienced issues with accessibility. Williams describes accessibility on campus as not adequate enough, and feels that further
Rayce Phillips navigates his classroom using his walking cane and his hands to feel for desks and debris. Speech Professor Deborah Deppe ensures the aisles are clear for Phillips to walk through. (VICTOR LOPEZ/THE VISTA)
steps can be taken to ensure accessibility for all students. Phillips spoke in detail about an incident in which he could not find a room located in the School of Music, because it did not have a braille room number. Phillips said this has been an issue in other buildings as well. When describing campus, Phillips said, “It is accessible to an extent.” Williams also described the campus as doing a great job of meeting the bare-minimum for the
Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) requirements. Statements like these, and more, have grown on college campuses across the nation in recent months as the number of students with disabilities at universities has grown, according to the United States Government Accountability Office. The GAO is an independent, nonpartisan agency that is known as the congressional watchdog. Continued on Page 3.
Chos first 3-0 start since 2014; beat Nebraska Kearney 32-17
Ian Nikkel Contributing Writer
The Bronchos earned a big victory on Saturday and with losses by Oklahoma and Oklahoma State, UCO is now the state’s only undefeated
football team following the 32-17 win over Nebraska Kearney. Road woes have haunted this team since the arrival of Adam Dorrel, only going 2-9 over the last two seasons. The game started off poorly with a Jett Huff interception on the first drive
of the game after only three plays. But Central’s defense would force a three and out and a Lopers punt. The Bronchos would go on an 82 yard drive but come up two yards short on fourth down at the goalline. Both defenses would hold their own in a scoreless tie after the first quarter.
William Mason (22) breaks through Central Missouri Mules defense during the second game of the season. (ANDREA VASQUEZ/THE VISTA)
Continued on Page 4.
“A Gentleman’s Guide to Love and Murder,” opening Sept. 26 Zoe Gfeller Reporter
UCO Musical Theatre will be presenting “A Gentleman’s Guide to Love and Murder” at 7:30 p.m., Sept. 26 to 29, and 2 p.m., Sept. 29, in Mitchell Hall. Students are eligible for a free ticket with a valid UCO ID. This Tony Award-winning musical is set in Edwardian England and follows main character Monty Navarro as he navigates fortune, romance, deception and murder. After discovering he is ninth in line to the D’Ysquith family fortune, Navarro is determined to claim his title. He sets off on a humorous adventure to dispose of the eight in line in front of him. Along the way, he must deal with the swills of romance, caught in a love triangle between characters Phoebe D’Ysquith and Sibella Hallward. Navarro’s misadventures are always met with a good dose of humor that will undoubtedly keep the audience laughing throughout. The humor of the show stretches to rehearsals as well. Lillie Taylor, portraying Phoebe
D’Ysquith, said,“It’s just so funny and we laugh so much in rehearsal.” The fun of the rehearsals will no doubt be translated to the stage, creating a truly unforgettable experience for the audience. Not only will the audience be laughing, they will be kept on their toes as they navigate through the many twists and turns of the plot. Taylor continues, “There are a lot of surprises and you never really know what is coming next.” The show was a quick success upon its 2013 Broadway debut, winning four Tony Awards in 2014 including Best Musical. It was met with critical praise for its comedic aspects and inspired writing. New York Times reporter Christopher Isherwood praised the musical stating it was “among the most inspired and entertaining new musical comedies.” Despite its praise, the show has rarely been produced outside of Broadway and national tour circuits, making it a truly special and exciting experience for UCO Musical Theatre to embark on. “I’m very excited for the audience to see it and to have the ability to bring a rarely seen show to Edmond,” said
Taylor. This production is an example of what the UCO Musical Theatre department is made of. The show is directed by program alumni Justin Larman and features several cast members playing various characters. This is no easy feat for an actor at any level. The most notable performance of this type is Colin Rizzo who plays all eight members of the D’Ysquith family. All of Rizzo’s characters are vastly different in personality and gender presentation, adding to the difficulty of the performance. Furthermore, the show is double-casted, meaning the main roles are alternated between different actors. Monty Navarro is portrayed by Daniel Johnson and Harrison Shaw, Sibella is portrayed by Emilie Lange and Chloe Kenyon, and Phoebe is portrayed by Lillie Taylor and Jenna Gaston. Students can see the show for free with the presentation of a valid UCO ID an hour before showtime. All other tickets range from $15- $25.
Correction: Art Cotton is the Vice President of Transformative Leadership