Story & Photos by Bella Kok

Story & Photos by Michelle Rojano

  E-waste is considered to be anything discarded that is electrical, including electronic devices. Now more than ever, our society not only uses more electronic devices, but we also have a high level of turnover for electronics. This means we go through devices rapidly but we do not necessarily properly discard them. 
   “The rapid turnover [of] e-waste by modern society has caused this fairly new category of waste to become a major concern for environmental pollution issues, which could lead to public health concerns,” said Daniel Ratcliff, environmental science professor and coordinator. 
   E-waste that is disposed of improperly can result in toxic chemicals released into the atmosphere. According to Ratcliff, e-waste tested with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s Toxic Characteristic Leaching Procedure contains more than 5 mg/L of lead. According to the EPA, children under the age of 6 are more vulnerable to the effects of lead. Effects of lead on children include lower IQ, issues with behavior and learning, anemia and hearing problems. In addition, pregnant women are also susceptible to side effects such as underdeveloped vital fetal organs, early birth, a smaller baby and can even be a cause of miscarriage. 
   According to Becca Stokes, Rose State alumna and environmental science major at Oklahoma State University, lead is not the only risk factor to tossing e-waste in the trash bin. 
   “[It] creates large amounts of solid waste that is full of toxic materials including mercury, cadmium, chromium and copper. When it accumulates in landfills, these materials are incredibly harmful to the environment,” Stokes said. 
   Chemicals in landfills can seep into our soil and water sources and even affect our air. According to the Department of Electrical Engineering at the University of Washington, residue from e-waste in groundwater can result in humans consuming toxic water, which can have a negative impact on the nervous and reproductive systems. 
   Recycling electronics has been made easier with popular retailers offering recycling services. Target stores accept plastic bags, ink cartridges, MP3 players and phones. Best Buy recycles everything from broken charging cords to major appliances, 
and they even offer haul away options for customers. 
   According to the Best Buy website, “Consumers recycle more appliances and electronics with Best Buy than any other retailer. The company collects more than 400 pounds of product for recycling every minute our stores are open — no matter what retailer the products were purchased from.” 
   Best Buy’s goal is to recycle 2 billion pounds of electronics by the end of 2020. In addition, Goodwill Industries of Central Oklahoma offers recycling for many items including phones. Recyclers of Oklahoma offers recycling for batteries, including car batteries. 
   Taking care of electronics and making them last is a great way to help reduce e-waste. Donating electronics is an alternative to recycling. Old computers can be donated to public schools or low income families. Computer brands like Apple and Microsoft Surface are known to have good quality items with great durability. 
   “[We should] update our electronics when needed, with the best brands that are shown to be more durable,” Ratcliff said.  
   Rose State takes part in reducing e-waste by auctioning or donating its old equipment. People interested in recycling electronics can start by having e-waste bins to toss broken phone chargers, batteries, remotes and other electronic waste. Taking old electronics to local retailers for recycling is another way consumers can safely dispose of electronic items. Sometimes, items may have a trade-in value and can result in extra cash. Appliances can be posted for free pick up or even donated to local appliance repair shops. Typically, they will be properly recycled or even used for parts to fix other appliances.
   Recycling bins picked up by the city only take plastic, paper, cans and glass, not e-waste. According to the official website for the city of Oklahoma City, people should rinse cans, jars and bottles before placing in the bin. Boxes should be flattened and all items should be loose; placing items in bags can slow down the separation process. 
   For more information, visit okc.gov. For a full list of recyclable items and where to locally recycle them, including electronics, visit okc.gov/departments/utilities/recycling/beyond-the-bin.
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Story by Danny Fritts
​Pictures by Michelle Rojano

everything felt fine, until suddenly being engulfed with fear and panic as your body began to slowly fade. Your mind is full of clarity, but your body insists it is in danger. You try telling yourself everything is fine, but you convince yourself that everything around you is burning as you’re up in flames. Soon enough, you find yourself in a hospital bed, being told what you’re going through is depression and anxiety.  ​
   Meet Riley Ramsey. Ramsey is a junior at the University of Oklahoma and takes online courses in order to work two different jobs to support herself. This is not new to her since she has been working both jobs since her senior year of high school. She lost both her parents and two younger brothers in a horrific car accident just days before class started at Duncan High School. As resilient as she is, she said keeping everything bottled in for so long only made things worse. 
   “I didn’t want to live,” she said. “No family, no life, no real goals. Why go on, I thought?”
   As unique as Ramsey’s case is, she is not alone. According to Mental Health America, 1-out-of-5 young adults between the ages of 17 and 26 are suffering from some type of depression or anxiety. This is a rate that can be caused by many different experiences in life or fearing the future. 
​   Whenever life would throw her a curve ball, she did not know how to handle it at times. She convinced herself that everything was all right and those feelings would eventually pass. There were times she thought it was her fault her family was in an accident; like if she were with them, maybe things would have happened differently. 
   After her hospital visit, she told herself she needed professional help. Keeping everything bottled up for so many years put her in a dark place, a place she never wants to return. 
   Putting her mental health as a top priority was the first step. She was so consumed with trying to make everything perfect, she forgot about the most important thing: herself. Ramsey also said she is learning how to truly love herself.
   “The past couple months have changed my perspective on life,” she said. “I am slowly realizing my self-worth and that help is always a phone call away. I am not alone.” 
   If you or someone you know is going through any hardship in life or just feel stuck, Rose State offers free counseling to all students and faculty. You can also call the Suicide Prevention Hotline at 1-800-273-8255, which is always available.
 

Story by Courtney Burleigh

   As the years go by, it is safe to assume that society’s views on different issues and topics change over time. It is not unusual for the newer generations to prioritize different issues and have varying perspectives that differ from those of earlier generations, including topics that may have been considered unpleasant or even uncomfortable to discuss. Such topics include mental health, politics and even education. All of these have carried some relevance in society for decades.

University of Oklahoma
  It’s nearly a foregone conclusion that OU is going to win its fourth straight Big 12 title. Yes, you read that right. FOURTH STRAIGHT. Although they lost most efficient quarterback to ever play the game, Kyler Murray is going to make Lincoln Riley’s offense even more explosive with his running abilities. One question still remains: Can the Sooners play defense? The side of the ball that cost them a shot at a National Championship in the Rose Bowl will be younger this year. However, look for Riley and Defensive Coordinator Mike Stoops to turn freshman and sophomores into grizzled ball hawking veterans by the end of the season.
Key Players to Watch: RB Rodney Anderson, QB Kyler Murray, linebacker Kenneth Murray, Defensive Secondary

West Virginia
   Dana Holgorsen’s Mountaineers are led by senior quarterback Will Grier. The 23-year-old transfer from the University of Florida has the media buzzing about West Virginia. Grier is an early season favorite to be in New York at the end of the season for the Heisman ceremony. West Virginia plays an unconventional 3-3-5 defense which matches well against the air raid offenses of the Big XII, but that multidimensional offenses and bruising running backs at OU, OSU and Iowa State, West Virginia will need to rely on the leadership and poise of Grier and the rest of the offense to win ball games.
​Key Players to Watch: QB Will Grier, wide receiver David Sills V, WR Marcus Simms, Defensive Line

TCU
   Gary Patterson’s Horned Frogs are returning one of its five starting offensive linemen from last year. The offense will be lead by true sophomore Shawn Robinson. Robinson, the second ranked dual-threat quarterback is the highest rated QB to sign with the Horned Frogs. Robinson beat out true freshman Justin Rogers for the job. TCU has by far the best defense in the Big XII and they will rely on it once again to keep them in the conference hunt late in the season. 
Key Players to Watch: Offensive Line, wide receiver KaVontae Turpin, QB Shawn Robinson, linebacker Montrel Wilson

Oklahoma State
   With all the buzz around Head Coach Mike Gundy and Athletic Director Mike Holder surrounding the Cowboys this offseason, the narrative is finally coming to OSU’s biggest problem heading into the season: Finding a quarterback. Fifth year senior Taylor Cornelius was announced the starter for the Cowboys week one matchup against Missouri State. Hawaii transfer Dru Brown, and true freshman Spencer Sanders are all fighting for the backup role and potential starting job if Cornelius under performs. No matter who is under center, they will have one of the best running backs in the nation to hand the ball off to in Justice Hill. Hill is anticipated to be the cornerstone of the offense with the departure of QB Mason Rudolph and wide receiver James Washington via the NFL Draft. The Cowboys need to improve in the trenches on both sides of the ball if they want to have a chance at a New Year's Six bowl. The defense doesn’t need to be great or even good for them to win games. OSU simply needs to take care of their home turf and improve on their 3-3 home record. 
Key Players to Watch: running back Justice Hill, QB battle, linebacker Calvin Bundage

Iowa State
   The Cyclones shocked the world last season when they went into Norman and beat the Oklahoma Sooners 38-31 and finished with an 8-5 record. Head Coach Matt Campbell enters his third year with big expectations. Iowa State wants to show the college football world that last season was not a fluke. Senior quarterback Kyle Kempt and former Lawton running back, junior Mike Montgomery lead the veteran offense. With 10 starters returning on offense and six returning starters on defense, the Cyclones are hungry to improve on their 5-4 conference record. Although they could easily be toward the bottom of the conference, ISU’s high side is being ranked in the top 25 to finish the year.
Key Players to Watch: running back David Montgomery, QB Kyle Kempt, linebacker Marcel Spears Jr.

Kansas State
   Bill Snyder is back for his 26th season as the Wildcats head coach. Kansas State averaged 5.1 penalties per game last year, which was 35th best throughout FBS schools. The Wildcats were just four touchdowns away from being 12-1 instead of 8-5. K-State is a team that can fall forward or backward record-wise. The Wildcats will have two quarterbacks this season in junior Alex Delton and sophomore Skylar Thompson. The two will split time and maybe even starts. With no star talent, look for Kansas State to finish near the middle of the pack in conference.
Key Players to Watch: offensive lineman Dalton Risner, QB Alex Delton, running back Alex Barnes, QB Skylar Thompson

Texas
TEXAS IS BACK! ... Well, sort of … not really. Head Coach Tom Herman is in his second season and trying to rebuild the Longhorn legacy. Herman named Ehlinger his starting quarterback just this week. Ehlinger may be on a short leash as former starter Shane Buchelle lurks in the wings. Texas signed three quarterbacks from the 2018 class, including former Newcastle star Casey Thompson who should have a crack at the starting job next season. The Longhorns lost left tackle Connor Williams to the NFL Draft as well as linebacker Malik Jefferson and safety DeShon Elliott. Texas needs to win and win soon, to keep not only their brand alive, but the Big 12 as a whole. If the Longhorns are good, the Big 12 is more respected.
Key Players to Watch: cornerback Kris Boyd, QB Sam Ehlinger, wide receiver Lil’Jordan Humphrey

Texas Tech
   Kliff Kingsbury's Red Raiders are underwhelming. With a weak defense in the Big 12, Tech did show improvement on the defensive side of the ball in 2017. Linebacker Dakota Allen will be the leader of an improving but still bad defense. Replacing QB - Nic Shimonek will be the biggest test for the offense. Coach Kingsbury named junior McLane Carter as his No. 1 quarterback on Tech’s depth chart. Carter is built like every other Texas Tech quarterback: tall, solid and has a rocket for an arm. No matter how potent the Red Raiders are on offense, their defense will keep them out of most games. Key Players to Watch: linebacker Dakota Allen, running back Tre King, wide receiver De’Quan Bowman
 
Baylor
   Ever since the sexual assault scandal in 2016, the program has fallen back to the bottom of the Big 12. Matt Rhule is in his second year, and trying to not only make Baylor competitive again, but to change the culture of the football program. With a back-loaded schedule, the Bears could be out to an above average start and fizzle out to finish the season. A young team, the Bears are looking toward building for the future. The offensive line has 11 underclassmen ready to take the reins over the next three seasons. Defensively, the Bears look more like cubs. This program is simply treading water until the NCAA comes down hard with sanctions stemming from the 2016 scandal that continues to get worse and worse.
Key Players to Watch: running back Dru Dixon, tight end Christoph Henle, wide receiver Denzel Mims, LB Jordan Williams

Kansas
   To sum up the Jayhawks season in five words: Is it basketball season yet? The Jayhawks have little to look forward to despite having a $300 million donation to the football program this past offseason. David Beaty is his fourth year of being tasked with making Kansas a non-laughing stock throughout college football. The Jayhawks have not had a winning season since 2008 nor have they won a road conference game during the same time period. With the highlight of the past 10 years being a home win against Texas two years ago, Kansas fans are already looking to fill Phog Allen Fieldhouse come October.
Key Players to Watch: cornerback Deante Ford, defensive end Vaughn Taylor Jr.

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Story by Yesenia Gonzalez

Photos by Yesenia Gonzalez & Michelle Rojano

​   Water is the source of life on earth. When looking for life on other planets, one of the first signs scientists look for is any amount of water. More than 70 percent of the earth is covered in this resource and human beings cannot survive more than three days without it. At any given moment, different parts of the world exhibit unique weather patterns with profound effects on the ecosystem. Natural weather events, like floods, droughts and tornadoes are some of the most common in Oklahoma.
​Weather   
   Weather occurs in cycles and one way that scientists can predict incoming disasters is by looking at weather patterns. Oklahoma is no different and its varied landscaping makes for a wide variety of inclement weather activity. Oklahoma is prone to drought because of factors like the dry line, which means there is low moisture in the atmosphere. Wildfire dangers emerge when there is a lack of rain, dry air, high winds and low dew points over a region. Wildfires are one of the negative consequences of periods of intense drought.
   According to Steve Carano, professor of atmospheric science and geosciences coordinator, in 2011, Oklahoma had more than 50 days with temperatures over 100 degrees. If 100-degree weather is not dry, but rather muggy and moist, there is a potential risk for other types of severe weather outbreaks. As the environment becomes more unstable, tornado chances increase. The weather during 2011 proved deadly, with the Oklahoma Forestry Services reporting 1,745 fires that blazed across Oklahoma. It was a different story for May 20, 2013, with the resulting weather being just as deadly. A category EF5 tornado ravaged central Oklahoma, with Moore enduring the heaviest damage. A tornado forms when cold, dry air converges with warm, moist air and that combination creates instability in the atmosphere. Thunderstorms precede tornadoes but can increase in severity depending on how unstable the environment is at the time.
   One of the reasons Western Oklahoma exhibits a different climate than that of the dry, eastern region is that the western part of the state faces the Rocky Mountains. Its location gives it a wide gap in the diurnal temperature. A diurnal range of temperature is the difference between the highest and lowest daily temperatures. When the diurnal temperature difference is wide, there is an increased risk for the atmospheric instability that causes thunderstorms, floods and tornadoes.
   According to Professor of Environmental Science and Geosciences Coordinator Daniel Ratcliff, there is no real way for humans to prevent droughts; in fact, one of the biggest challenges in water preservation is the copious amount needed by the agricultural industry.
Agriculture   
   The United States Department of Agriculture estimated that agriculture accounted for about 80 percent of the United States’ consumptive water use. Oklahoma is right in the middle of a region known as the central plains, which hosts other dry, flat areas. Texas, Kansas, Nebraska, North and South Dakota, New Mexico, Colorado, Wyoming and Montana are the other states located in the central plains. Economic research conducted in 2017 by the United States Department of Agriculture concluded that Oklahoma is the state with the fourth highest number of farms in the US, the total sum being about 77,200. Texas is the top farm state in the United States, with about 240,000. In the case of Oklahoma, regions in the western half of the state are prone to dry, arid conditions while the eastern half of the state receives more precipitation.
   Although human intervention cannot prevent Oklahoma’s inevitable droughts, scientists, farmers, agricultural engineers and utility companies take steps to mitigate the consequences of Oklahoma’s droughts.
   Xeriscaping is a practice where farmers place plant species that consume less water in areas prone to drought. Water laws during the summer time are instilled by different municipalities across the state, each law limiting the amount of water people can use to water their gardens and at what times. Oklahoma has the most man-made lakes in the United States. Since Oklahoma is a flat, dry state, man-made lakes have one primary function: underground water storage. Lake Hefner, Stanley Draper and Overholser are all man-made lakes that serve as water storage.
   Lake Stanley Draper specifically functions as an aqueduct. The way an aqueduct functions is that when the lake fills with water, a series of ducts and canals transport that water to the regions it serves. Lake Thunderbird also has an aqueduct that supplies water to Midwest City and Norman. Oklahoma’s eastern half is more prone to flooding than the western half, so it is especially important for artificial lakes to collect some of the excess to place less of a burden on the area.
   “The No. 1 cause of weather-related fatalities is drowning,” said Professor and Director of Emergency Management Jackie Wright.
   In 2015, record flooding impacted eastern Oklahoma. The Red River was backing up to the dam, which could not keep up with the heavy rainfall that hit the state. When a natural disaster hits Oklahoma, the Oklahoma Emergency Management Department oversees ensuring the safety of those affected. Oklahoma is one of only about 20 percent of the U.S. whose emergency department is not directed by the Federal Emergency Management Agency. Rather, it is overseen by Oklahoma’s Department of Homeland Security as an office under public safety instead of being its own department.
   During the 2015 eastern Oklahoma floods, disaster declarations informed residents of the incoming dangerous road conditions. According to Wright, fatalities caused by floods are common because people do not respect dangerous flood waters.
   Severe weather events do not only impact human lives but can also bring about negative consequences to wildlife. According to Ratcliff, since every habitat is different, organisms are adapted to varying conditions. What may not greatly affect one ecosystem can bring about detrimental effects to another. Species who are adjusted to dry climates like those of Western Oklahoma would not experience particularly adverse effects during a drought but organisms who live in wetland environments would receive a greater impact. Environments like bogs, marshes and wetlands contain microorganisms who contribute to nourishing the soil. Without water, those microorganisms would not be able to thrive and keep the habitat healthy.
   “Those [animals] which have adaptations that are tied to an aquatic environment [are more vulnerable to extreme drought],” Professor of Life Science Dr. Cory Rubel said. “This obviously includes fish which require water as their habitat, but also, droughts can affect the level, temperature and salinity of water which can cause detrimental consequences. But other animals as well, such as those whose reproduction is tied to water, [like] the amphibians, and animals whose food source requires water, which can include reptiles, birds and mammals.”
Droughts   
   Long-term versus short-term droughts can mean all the difference for plant and animal species when it comes to survival. Ratcliff explained that droughts increase evaporation in the soil. In a short-term drought, the earth can regain that lost moisture content, but extended droughts can have permanent effects. Droughts are not unique to the 21st century. In fact, as severe as weather events may appear during certain years, severe weather patterns are nothing new. Ratcliff used the Ancient Pueblos of the Four Corners region as an example of the result of a severe drought that occurred more than 3,000 years ago. The region is known for its dry cliffs that formed during the drought and housed Native American groups. Today, the cliffs remain, a picture of the far-reaching effects of long-term arid conditions.
   “Brief droughts are usually recoverable. Organisms often have variations in populations that allow for survival of some members during the drought that recover fully when conditions return to normal. Organisms with many offspring allow for a high mortality, yet those few that survive often survive until adulthood. However, most populations will see a decline in population due to many factors including loss of habitat, reproduction, food source, fires, and an increase in disease due to organisms crowding together by the remaining water sources,” Rubel said.
   Water is a limiting factor when it comes to population growth among humans. Currently, there are about 7.5 billion people inhabiting the earth. Sociobiologist Edward O. Wilson from Harvard University is among the scientists who believe that the earth has a capacity to carry, at most, 10 billion people. The United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs estimates that the total global population will reach 9.7 billion by 2050. There are various solutions to alleviate droughts and reduce water consumption, each with their own benefits and drawbacks.
GMOs
   Genetically-modified crops are nothing new, but Ratcliff thinks that talks of genetically modifying crops to consume less water may increase in the coming years. Some of the benefits of genetically modifying crops are lower water consumption and increased drought resistance. However, genetically modifying plants reduces biodiversity among species. Without biodiversity, a disease could easily wipe out an entire plant species to extinction because all the plants are engineered to be alike. Cloud seeding is another widely debated topic. Seeding a cloud means to insert more particles in it so that it can produce more condensation, which in turn produces rain. While cloud seeding has the potential to relieve areas in long-term droughts, it can also cause floods and other types of damaging, inclement weather to the area or even surrounding states.
   “Now, cloud seeding is just one of those things, what we’re doing in the cloud seeding [process] is we’re putting condensation nuclei in the atmosphere and, so, moisture will condense upon those particles and make clouds and hopefully it will precipitate. Well, let’s say we, like you said, set a cloud seed here and it goes over to Arkansas and they have ten inches of rain and people die and lose their homes. Well, you know, somebody’s gonna be paying the piper for that. So, I think that’s the big reason why they don’t do a lot of cloud seeding; because of [potential] lawsuits,” Carano said.
   Water can be a resource that many take for granted. After all, more than 70 percent of the earth being covered in a single resource makes it appear abundant but there are various factors to consider. Only about one percent of all water on earth is readily available for human consumption. As the world population increases, so will the demand for natural resources, which can put a strain on the earth. Ratcliff mentioned a quote by Benjamin Franklin that summarizes the necessity to be mindful of water consumption:
   “When the well is dry, we know the worth of water.”