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TRUMPâS TURN DAISY CREAGER ⢠@DAISYCREAGER
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OU students to participate in Inauguration Day march, protests in Washington
fter Donald Trumpâs victory in the November presidential election, Abbey Rutherford had a wake-up call. The OU political science and environmental sustainability sophomore decided she needed to make action part of her daily life â including this weekend when she goes to Washington D.C. for Trumpâs inauguration. Rutherford and other members of the OU community said they will be in the District of Columbia this weekend to protest at the inauguration or to march in solidarity for womenâs rights in the Womenâs March on Washington. Trump will be inaugurated on Jan. 20 in a ceremony that starts at 9:30 a.m. ET, and the march will take place the next day. Trump has a track record for his comments marginalizing women: During the election, audio from a 2005 recording emerged where he talked about â(grabbing women) by the p***y,â and insiders on his show, âThe Apprentice,â said he repeatedly demeaned women. Rutherford said she will be participating in a protest called âNot My Presidentâ on Jan. 20 and in the march Saturday. âEspecially with MLK Day behind us, I think that (the protest is) going to be historic, and I think that it really is going to make me personally feel better about the changes happening in our country,â Rutherford said. Rilla Askew, English professor at OU, will also attend the Womenâs March on Washington to show support for issues involving human rights and the environment. The march aims to empower and uplift all people from all areas on a variety of issues. Unifying in light of many issues is important, Askew said. âThe unity of Black Lives Matter, the unity of Reproductive Justice, the unity of LGBTQ issues, especially health care, which affects every American, the environment,â Askew said. âAnd I care about all of those issues, so that is why I am going.â
âEspecially with MLK Day behind us, I think that (the protest is) going to be historic.â ABBEY RUTHERFORD, OU SOPHOMORE ATTENDING INAUGURATION PROTEST
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What: Inauguration of Donald Trump Where: Washington D.C. When: 11:30 a.m. Friday
ILLUSTRATION BY ABBIE SEARS/THE DAILY
Faculty, students reflect on Obamaâs impact W
hen Jabar Shumate ran for unopposed reelection to the O klahoma Hous e of Representatives District 73 as a Democrat in 2008, he saw a name on his ballot that he identified with more than ever: Barack Obama. He has kept that ballot to this day. âThat was pretty phenomenal,â Shumate, OUâs vice president for the university community, said. Fa st f o r wa rd n i n e ye a r s, and Obamaâs time as the leader of the countr y is almost up. Succeeding him Jan. 20 is Republican Donald Trump, a polarizing newcomer in the political world who shocked pollsters and experts when he defeated Democratic nominee Hillary Clinton on Nov. 9, 2016. His election sparked fear, anger, shock, campus protest and uncertainty as to what the countryâs future would hold. But even though his time as
ANDREW CLARK ⢠@CLARKY_TWEETS president will soon end, Obama has left a political, personal and inspiring mark on many prominent black members of the OU community. For Shumate, Obamaâs election and presi-
â... You cannot knock the fact that this man has had incredible impact by showing what it really means to be a good person.â JABAR SHUMATE, VICE PRESIDENT FOR THE UNIVERSITY COMMUNITY dency enhanced his vision of Americaâs potential greatness. âI represented a district that was 70 percent African American,â Shumate said. âMany of the young people who lived in my district â trapped in schools that quite frankly didnât give
them the opportunity to necessarily break the cycles of poverty â could look on television and say âI see somebody who looks like me, who is a good husband, and a good role model, and a good leader, and I can be that.ââ Obamaâs book âDreams from My Father,â which explores his search for his identity being a mixed-race child living in multiple places, sits on the top shelf of J.D. Bakerâs office. The Student Government Association president said Obama did not inspire him to run for office â he only decided to run shortly before the deadline to file for candidacy â but inspired him personally. âHe constantly searched to find who his identity was, especially in this country where we know race divided a lot of people,â Baker said. âI think his whole journey really inspired me â finding his identity and really securing himself in that.â âHeâs inspired me in self-confidence, in loving who I am and in understanding my identity,â
Baker said. Obama has received criticism from the president-elect for deepening the countryâs racial and partisan divides and from other Republicans for enacting more than 250 executive orders,
âHeâs inspired me in self-confidence, in loving who I am and in understanding my identity.â J.D. BAKER, SGA PRESIDENT which do not require approval from Congress. Baker said the changing partisanship of the U.S. government is something people will look back on when examining his presidency. âEspecially, I think, when you look at Merrick Garland being
appointed to the Supreme Court, now 11 months ago, and basically that nomination dying,â Baker said. âAnd Merrick Garland wasnât even given one hearing, one hearing. And to me, thatâs injustice. In our democracy, in Congress, thatâs injustice.â But despite the political criticism, Shumate said he believes Obamaâs character has bipartisan support. âWhether you were a Democrat or Republican, (liberal) or conservative, you cannot knock the fact that this man has had incredible impact by showing what it really means to be a good person,â Shumate said. Trumpâs character has been long-questioned; Heâs been accused of sexual assault by multiple women, was recorded in 2005 saying he can grab women by their genitals because of his status and has dealt with his funds in manners many deem unethical.
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