F I N A L S W E E K E D I T I O N | D E C E M B E R 12 -16 , 2 0 16 | T W I C E W E E K LY I N P R I N T | O U D A I LY. C O M
OUDAILY
For 100 years, the student voice of the University of Oklahoma
A SEMESTER
IN REVIEW
Looking back at the fall 2016 semester, for better or worse
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1 The Die-In
On Sept. 22, a group of OU students held a “die-in” to protest police violence, as well as to bring attention to the death of Terence Crutcher, an unarmed black man shot by a white police officer in Tulsa Sept. 16. In the middle of the die-in, it was announced that first degree manslaughter charges were brought against the officer, Betty Shelby, whose next hearing is scheduled for Dec. 15. Crutcher’s death had additional impact on OU due to his shared childhood with Jabar Shumate, the OU vice president for the university community. The protest was organized by a new student activist group called The Revolutionary Baddies.
2 Donald Trump elected 45th president
After almost every poll said Hillary Clinton would win the 2016 presidential election, Donald Trump shocked the world. Trump, a billionaire business mogul, ended up receiving more than 300 electoral votes after running a divisive and tumultuous campaign. During his campaign, he admitted to dodging income taxes, was accused of sexual assault, was shown on video bragging about sexual assault, threatened to put Clinton in jail and mocked a disabled journalist. He has insulted 289 people, places and things on Twitter since declaring his candidacy in June 2015, according to The New York Times. After his election, OU students and faculty marched on the South Oval to unify and support one another. The College of International Studies released a statement to its international students, assuring them of their importance to the community and offering to listen to anyone who had concerns about a Trump presidency. And to top it off, Trump was named TIME Magazine’s person of the year for 2016. His proposed cabinet is full of CEOs. Rex Tillerson, the CEO of ExxonMobil, is reportedly his choice for Secretary of State. Andrew F. Puzder, the CEO of CKE Restaurants, is his choice for Labor Secretary. Linda McMahon, the former CEO of World Wrestling Entertainment, is his choice to run the small business administration. And Steven Munchin, a former Goldman Sachs executive, is his pick for treasury secretary. Additionally, Oklahoma Attorney General Scott Pruitt is Trump’s choice to run the Environmental Protection Agency. Trump will be inaugurated Jan. 20, 2017 as the 45th U.S. president.
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4 Dakota Access Pipeline
PICTURED ABOVE:
On Dec. 4, protesters around the nation cheered together as a breaking news update was released regarding the highly debated Dakota Access Pipeline. The Army Corps of Engineers announced it would not grant an easement that would enable the pipeline to be routed underneath Lake Oahe — a source of water for the Standing Rock Sioux Tribe of North Dakota. The announcement came a few days after the Morton County Sheriff’s Department in North Dakota said it planned to fine anyone who brought supplies to protesters on site. To show solidarity with those in North Dakota fighting against the pipeline, several Oklahoma rallies took place last month, during which activists used phrases such as “respect our water” and “kill the pipeline.” OU students were among those present at the rallies. In addition, the OU Undergraduate Student Congress passed a resolution Nov. 29 to show support for the efforts of the pipeline protesters, as well as to encourage more students to speak out against the pipeline’s construction.
1. NOOR EEMAAN/THE DAILY Student protest leaders hold signs and lead protesters in chants during the die-in Sept. 22 in the Oklahoma Memorial Union. Members of the OU community gathered in response to the Sept. 16 Terence Crutcher shooting in Tulsa.
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3. CARLY ROBINSON/THE DAILY OU President David Boren speaks with the media Nov. 8 following the failure of State Question 779. Boren said in a Twitter statement Nov. 15 that the OU student involved in the University of Pennsylvania incident is no longer enrolled.
Boren’s sexual assault comments
On Oct. 3, The Daily published an article about a campus sexual assault report published in April that was distributed to administrators across campus, but received little recognition. In the article, Boren claimed to not have received the report. He also said he was unsurprised about the findings of the research and that the problem of campus sexual assault cannot be eradicated any more than “human nature.” The comments sparked outrage on campus, prompting Boren to tweet a response to the article the same day it was published. On Oct. 11, students also gathered at the Unity Garden to march to Evans Hall in protest of his comments, claiming they perpetuated victim-blaming of those who experience sexual assault. The students presented a list of demands, demanding Boren follow them or resign. Among the demands were a “sincere and public” apology for his comments. Boren was not on campus the day of the march, but met with the students the next day. In the meeting, which lasted more than two hours, Boren promised to continue working with resources like the Title IX office to further their programs. Boren also said after the meeting that he would not apologize for his comments, saying they were misinterpreted by readers.
3 Boren suspends student after racist texts 6 Brother Jim On Nov. 11, Boren suspended an OU student, who is no longer enrolled at the university, after an investigation determined that he was involved in racist GroupMe messages to black freshmen at the University of Pennsylvania. The messages were rife with racial slurs and graphic images, and also originated in Oklahoma, but not at the university. The suspended student has not been identified and it is unclear if he was expelled or if he withdrew himself from OU.
Many OU students often ignore preachers who come to campus and shout on the South Oval. That was not the case Nov. 16. Two preachers, one of whom goes by Brother Jim, invaded campus, spewing anti-Black Lives Matter, anti-Muslim and sexist rhetoric. Hundreds of students confronted Brother Jim for more than two hours. Boren even showed up at one point during Brother Jim’s time on campus to tell him: “You have no place to be here.” Eventually, Brother Jim and the other man with him left at their own discretion in an OU Police Department vehicle. Continued on page 2
“There was a point where I realized that the only reason I was there was because I was afraid not to be.” An OU student’s chilling account of getting caught in the sex trafficking industry: oudaily.com/trafficking
2. EVAN VUCCI/AP PHOTO President-elect Donald Trump, left, stands with Republican National Committee Chairman Reince Priebus during an election night rally in New York Nov. 7. Trump named Priebus as his White House chief of staff.
4. DAVID GOLDMAN/AP PHOTO (From left) Native Americans of Portland, Oregon, Eugene Sanchez, Jason Umtuch, Martan Mendenhall and Hugh Ahnatock drum and sing at the Oceti Sakowin camp where people gathered to protest the Dakota Access oil pipeline in Cannon Ball, North Dakota, Dec. 4. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers said Sunday that it won’t grant an easement for the pipeline in southern North Dakota. 5. CALEB JOURDEN/THE DAILY Protesters walk toward Evans Hall from the Unity Garden Oct. 11. A meeting was scheduled with OU President David Boren regarding comments he made in a Daily article. 6.JULIA HARTH/THE DAILY Two anti-Black Lives Matter protesters, one named Brother Jim, preach antiMuslim and sexist rhetoric Nov. 16 outside of Dale Hall. The two later moved to the Seed Sower statue on Lindsey Street and left in an OU Police Department vehicle.
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• December 12-16, 2016
NEWS
Andrew Clark, news managing editor dailynews@ou.edu • phone: 405-325-3666 oudaily.com • Twitter: @OUDaily
IN REVIEW: FALL 2016
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REGENTS MEETINGS
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ROBYN CRAIG • @ROBYNCRAIG21
SIANDHARA BONNET/THE DAILY
Tim Crisp (right) laughs after the Faculty Senate approves a proposal to reform the university’s “dead week” protocol Oct. 10. The proposal says no work worth 3 percent or more of a student’s total class grade may be assigned during that week.
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SEAN CUMMING/SOONER YEARBOOK
Running back Joe Mixon walks around the team bench after being carried off of the field due to an injury Dec. 31, 2015. Mia Molitor, the victim in the Mixon case, requested the suveillance video be supressed again after the Oklahoma Supreme Court ruled it as public record.
Audience members give President David Boren a standing ovation after a speech regarding State Question 779 Nov. 8. The question was rejected with 60 percent of voters in opposition.
9 State Questions
Continued from Page One
video ordered 7 Mixon to be released
On Dec. 6, the Oklahoma Supreme Court ruled that the video of Joe Mixon punching a female student inside of a Campus Corner restaurant must be released to the public. Cleveland County District Judge Thad Balkman said in February that the video was not a public record. However, the ruling that the video must be public is not final until a mandate is issued, which cannot happen until the period that the city of Norman can appeal the supreme court’s ruling passes. After the mandate is issued, Balkman would have the jurisdiction to order the video’s release, his office told The Daily Dec. 6.
8 Dead Week Reform
CARLY ROBINSON/THE DAILY
On Oct. 10, a proposal to reduce student workloads during dead week passed in the Faculty Senate 19-6. The proposal, which has failed many times in the past, made it so there cannot be exams during dead week. Additionally, quizzes worth no more than 3 percent or assignments worth no more than 10 percent of a student’s total class grade may be assigned during that time. Lab classes, classes that meet one night per week, classes with no university-scheduled final exam date and graduate classes are not covered by the policy. The changes will go into effect in the spring 2017 semester.
On the Nov. 8 general election, Oklahomans decided on a lot more than just the next United States president. They voted on seven state questions, one of which was strongly supported by OU President David Boren. State Question 779 would have increased the state’s sales tax by one penny on the dollar — the additional revenue then going toward public education funding. Boren oversaw the campaign in favor of the initiative, publicly speaking about it and even contributing with his own money toward the cause. The proposal was defeated, as 59.4 percent of voters voted against it. Oklahomans also voted in favor of guaranteeing the state’s power to impose capital punishment, diminishing certain nonviolent drug and theft-related crimes from felonies to misdemeanors and allowing grocery and convenience stores to sell full-strength beer and wine.
10 #yOUrbad
On Sept. 5, shortly after OU received an award for diversity and inclusion Sept. 1, management information systems senior Emily Pham created a Twitter account and hashtag #yOUrbad, challenging the award and expressing frustrations with the delay of a bias reporting system promised in March. Pham used the hashtag to allow students to anonymously tell stories of bias they have experienced on campus. Four days after the account was created, the reporting hotline was rolled out.
Over the past semester, the OU Board of Regents met three times and had a big focus on campus construction projects. Here are four of the most important things the regents passed this semester. GAYLORD FAMILY OKLAHOMA MEMORIAL STADIUM BUDGET INCREASE
At the Oct. 26 regents meeting, the regents approved a revision of the construction cost for the OU football stadium. OU President David Boren asked for the stadium’s construction budget to increase from $122 million to $125 million. However, the total budget for the project remains at $160 million. STORM SHELTER BUDGET INCREASE At the Sept. 16 meeting, the regents approved a budget increase for the Storm-Hardened Shelters being built next to Couch Tower and Walker Tower. Due to “unforeseen site conditions,” $500,000 more was needed to complete the project. RENOVATIONS TO THE LLOYD NOBLE CENTER Also during the September meeting, the regents approved future renovations to the Lloyd Noble Center, which include a Strength Training and Performance Center. According to a press release, the new center would “provide for an approximately 17,600-gross-square-foot single building addition to the south of the existing two practice court gymnasiums used by men’s and women’s basketball programs.” The addition will cost about $7 million, which will come from athletic funds and private donations, including a donation from Blake Griffin, a former OU basketball player and current member of the NBA’s Los Angeles Clippers. BIZZELL MEMORIAL LIBRARY RENOVATIONS During the September meeting, the regents also approved renovations to the Bizzell Memorial Library. The lower level is expected to open in fall 2017, according to the University Libraries’ website. The proposal will add more work areas for faculty and graduate students on the Lower Level 2, according to a press release. The project will also address mechanical and electrical system upgrades in the building, according to the press release.
Congratulations, OU! On winning 10 Big 12 Championships in 18 years under Coach Bob Stoops!
Photo by Ty Russell
– THE PRIDE OF OKLAHOMA The University of Oklahoma is an equal opportunity institution. www.ou.edu/eoo
December 12-16, 2016 •
NEWS Dana Branham Editor in Chief Andrew Clark News Managing Editor Supriya Sridhar Engagement Managing Editor Spenser Davis Sports Editor Chloe Moores A&E Editor Audra Brulc Opinion Editor Siandhara Bonnet Visual Editor Mia Chism Copy Manager Mandy Boccio Print Editor
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The Oklahoma Daily is a public forum, the University of Oklahoma’s independent student voice and an entirely student-run publication. Letters should concentrate on issues, not personalities, and must be fewer than 250 words, typed and signed by the author(s). Letters will be edited for accuracy, space and style. Students must list their major and classification. To submit letters, email dailyopinion@ou.edu. Our View is the voice of the Editorial Board, which consists of nine student editors. The board meets at 4:30 p.m. Monday through Thursday in Copeland Hall, Room 160. Board meetings are open to the public. Guest columns are accepted and printed at the editor’s discretion. Columnists’ and cartoonists’ opinions are their own and not necessarily the views or opinions of The Oklahoma Daily Editorial Board. To advertise in The Oklahoma Daily, contact advertising manager Brianica Steenbock by calling 405-325-2521 or emailing dailyads@ ou.edu.
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Andrew Clark, news managing editor dailynews@ou.edu • phone: 405-325-3666 oudaily.com • Twitter: @OUDaily
The best graduation gift
Senior raises funds for mother to visit from Costa Rica DANA BRANHAM @danabranham
Ariel Ray Arias decided her mom needed a win. Her mom, Isabel Arias, lives in Costa Rica, in a small, rural pineapple-exporting community called Pital de San Carlos. Before her convenience store went under after economic struggles, she worked 11-hour shifts at the store and still, she would sometimes need Ariel’s help with the electricity bill. But even when things seemed to fall apart, she would give more and more of herself to others — she would worry about neighbors who did not have food before she would worry about herself. Ariel’s mom would call her, deflated over the failure of her business. She needed a win. She will get her win Saturday, when Ariel walks across the graduation stage, four years after she said goodbye to her family in Costa Rica and moved to Oklahoma to study. Her mom will be there to see Ariel in her cap and gown — back in the United States for the first time in 17 years. •••
The idea started with Ray Arias’s half-brother asking whether her mom would be there to see her graduate. Ray Arias, who was born and grew up in Costa Rica before coming to OU for school, said the idea had never occurred to her. “I never even thought that my mom could ever come to my graduation,” said Ray Arias, an anthropology and environmental sustainability senior. “I just always kind of envisioned it happening
PHOTO BY CAREY J. FLACK VIA ARIEL RAY ARIAS
Ariel Ray Arias is an anthropology and environmental sustainability senior. Ray Arias raised money to help her mom make it to attend her graduation this week.
with me here and my mom in Costa Rica.” But the more she thought about it, the more she wanted it. “I just felt like my mom needed something, and that’s when I got really excited. She needs this,” Ray Arias said. “If I ever got anywhere in my education or my academic career, or any of the other things I’ve been involved in as a community organizer, it’s because of my mom. So with me graduating, it’s like she’s graduating too.” Getting her mom to Oklahoma for graduation came with a high price tag — between the plane tickets, the passport, the visa and other logistic costs, the total came out to a little more than $2,000. Angie Tran, a sociology senior and Ray Arias’s friend, helped her make the budget. Tran, who was also determined to make the visit happen, had a similar experience over the summer, when she was able to fly her mom out
to Los Angeles where she was completing an internship. “I was all for it, because I want that feeling when I got to bring my mom for Ariel. She’s been here for four years, and to share this accomplishment with her mom, it’s a big deal,” Tran said. “The moment she talked about it, I started planning. I was like, ‘look, girl, we’re going to do it because we have community right behind us.’” Tran helped both with logistics and encouragement. “Angie came up with a budget, and I remember looking at the numbers and my heart just dropping,” Ray Arias said. “I was like, ‘Angie, it’s over. I don’t see how we could possibly do this.’” Tran pushed Ray Arias to ask for help raising the money. They turned to Thousands Strong, OU’s crowd-funding platform for academic programs and organizations, and Sooners Helping Sooners, an OU organization that can provide funds for students in financial emergencies, but they
had no luck. When Tran suggested Ray Arias start a GoFundMe page, she hesitated. “ I’ve ne ver aske d for money, ever. It’s something that is really difficult, and especially in my family and in my culture, reaching out is not something you really do,” Ray Arias said. “You tough it out. I just couldn’t even fathom the idea of going out and asking for help.” But within two days of launching the GoFundMe campaign, Ray Arias received $1,300 in donations — a huge outpouring of support from OU faculty and fellow students. She had set the fundraising goal at $800 even though she knew she would need more, not thinking anyone would care. That covered about half of what she needed to get her mom to graduation, but she was sure, then, that she could make it happen. Things got quieter in the following few weeks, until she got a message from the College of Atmospheric and Geographic Sciences, where she is a student. The reply was this: the college was sending her a check for $1,000 — they were going to help her mom come to graduation. “The day I got that message, I went out and got my mom’s ticket,” Ray Arias said. “I called her and she was just crying.” It was an exciting day in the College of Atmospheric and Geographic Sciences, too. “The day we got it all figured out, that was a very happy day here. We are so happy for her,” assistant dean Mary Anne Hempe said. “Ariel is not only a wonderful student, she’s a wonderful person, too. I’m so very happy that her mom is going to be here.”
finishing high school in Costa Rica, where sometimes class would be canceled for weeks on end because the school could not pay the water bill. When she arrived, she was apprehensive about how she would fit in and how she could manage juggling paying her way and still send money home for her brother’s college tuition. But her family also had high expectations for her — she was going to be an engineer or a doctor. “I’m the only one from my family to be here, right? So there’s been this expectation that I’m the key out of poverty for my family, and that somehow I’m going to pull everybody out,” Ray Arias said. “It’s also this enormous pressure as an immigrant to be far from your family and want to help provide for them, but you’re not there yet. And I don’t know if I’ll ever be, but that’s my family, and I’m trying to get there.” Throughout her four years at OU, Ray Arias wanted to throw in the towel a handful of times. But the idea of helping provide a better life for her mom — whom she describes as a woman small in stature but with a personality that fills up a room — has pushed her to persevere. “She’s such a motivation for me to keep going, and especially in the face of everything that was going on to my family, I can’t tell you how many times I was ready to just go home,” Ray Arias said. “I want her to have a nice comfortable life, after everything that she’s done for me, and that’s really what’s kept me going.” Dana Branham
danabranham@ou.edu
•••
Ray Arias came to OU after
Looking back at the fall’s positives After a semester filled with turbulent and controversial news, it’s easy to forget about the good things that came out of it. Here are some of The Daily’s lighter stories from fall 2016: REGAN STEPHENSON • @REGAN_LEANNE
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VOL. 102, NO. 31
© 2016 OU Publications Board FREE — Additional copies 25¢
NOOR EEMAAN/THE DAILY
Environmental sustainability junior Allyson Wiley works in the freight farm behind Cate Center Nov. 3. The farm uses a hydroponic system to water the plants.
OU STUDENTS ENCOURAGED TO WRITE THANK-YOU NOTES TO LOCAL HIGH SCHOOL TEACHERS Following the failure of State Question 779 — which would have raised the state’s sales tax to fund public education — OU students had the opportunity to write thank-you notes to local high school teachers in a show of support. The event was well-received by the OU community and approximately 420 thank-you notes were written, said engineering senior Liz Hodgson, who helped plan the event. “I think (the teachers) were really pleased to have the support from the community,” Hodgson said.
SIANDHARA BONNET/THE DAILY
Junior running back Samaje Perine celebrates with a teammate after scoring a touchdown during the OU-Texas game Oct. 8. The Sooners won 45-40
DEAD WEEK REFORM PASSES IN THE OU FACULTY SENATE
OU WINS DAVIS CUP OU HOUSING AND OKLAHOMA FOOTBALL: FOOD BRINGS SUSTAIN- FOR FOURTH CONSECU- SOONERS BEAT TEXAS TIVE YEAR ABILITY TO CAMPUS 45-40
On Oct. 10, the OU Faculty Senate passed an initiative to limit academic workloads placed on students the week before finals week by a vote of 19-6. Quizzes administered during dead week are now required to be worth no more than three percent of students’ final grades, and assignments are to be worth no more than ten percent. Furthermore, professors will not be allowed to administer exams during this week. This policy will not take effect until the spring semester, and it still needs approval from OU Provost Kyle Harper and Boren.
OU Housing and Food has found a unique way to bring environmental sustainability to campus — inside a recycled freight truck hosting the first campus freight farm. The freight farm contains 256 vertical growing towers that produce nine to 20 plants per tower, said Allyson Wiley, the president of OUr Earth and an environmental sustainability junior. The freight farm grows lettuce, kale, swiss chard, cilantro and dill, Wiley said. Everything grown in the freight farm is served in campus restaurants such as Cate Restaurants or the Oklahoma Memorial Union Market.
For the fourth year in a row, OU was recognized for having a record number of Davis United World College Scholars. A record 56 freshman scholars enrolled at OU for the fall semester. The Davis United World Colleges scholars program promotes global engagement and international diversity, according to Davis UWC website. OU is the only public university to receive the Davis Cup and hosts more Davis international scholars than any other university in the country, according to a press release from OU President David Boren.
Oklahoma defeated Texas in the 2016 Red River Shootout 45-40. During the shootout, wide receiver Dede Westbrook broke the school record for receiving yards in a single game. Texas rallied to bring the score to a single-touchdown game late in the fourth quarter, but quarterback Baker Mayfield and the Sooners held the lead and prevailed over the Longhorns.
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NEWS
• December 12-16, 2016
STUDY SPOTS
Bizzell to provide study break fun The Bizzell Memorial Library is hosting activities to help students de-stress during finals week, which started Sunday and ends Friday. Throughout the week there will be complimentary snacks, board games, Xbox games and coloring pages each day in the Helmerich Collaborative Learning Center Community Room LL118. Therapy dogs will also be availible to play with every day except Friday. Additional events are also scheduled for specific time slots, including hot popcorn, creating your own light-up greeting card and art therapy. The schedule:
STORY AND PHOTOS BY HANNAH PIKE • @H_PIKE_ If you spent dead week living at the Bizzell Memorial Library or in the dorm study lounges, check out some lesser-known study spots on campus to spice up your finals week studying.
GOULD HALL LOUNGE AREA
(first floor) Noise level: It’s quiet aside from the sounds of students walking by. Nearest caffeine: About equidistant to The Bookmark Cafe in the Bizzell Memorial Library and Roscoe’s in Cate Restaurants. Overall atmosphere: With stone floors and modern furniture, it has a more contemporary layout than the interior of most campus buildings. Bonus: The lighting is just right for reading: neither too bright nor too dim.
SWINGING PENDULUM ROOM
(first floor, Nielsen Hall) Noise level: It is completely silent. Nearest caffeine: The Bookmark Cafe in the Bizzell Memorial Library. Overall atmosphere: It is comfortable and quiet, and the pendulum is somewhat soothing. Bonus: The ceiling is three stories high, a whole wall is made up of windows, and there is a swinging pendulum to watch on study breaks.
THE NANCY MERGLER LIBRARY
(first floor of David L. Boren Hall, Honors College) Noise level: Shhhh! It is a library! Nearest caffeine: Roscoe’s in Cate Restaurants. Overall atmosphere: It is as cozy as a library should be, and there is plenty of natural light. Bonus: There are copies of various magazines and newspapers, including The Wall Street Journal, The Economist and The New Yorker.
COUCHES IN RICHARDS HALL
(first floor) Noise level: Great for those who study better with ambient background noise. Nearest caffeine: The Bookmark Cafe in the Bizzell Memorial Library. Overall atmosphere: The leather couches are cozy, and it is just quiet enough. Bonus: There is a portable room containing radioactive material down the hall.
BEAIRD LOUNGE
(second floor, Oklahoma Memorial Union) Noise level: Fairly quiet except for the occasional student walking by. Nearest caffeine: Starbucks on the first floor of the Oklahoma Memorial Union. Overall atmosphere: It has a living-room feel with nice, natural lighting, comfortable seating and books. Bonus: There is a fireplace and a Christmas tree, and it’s open 24 hours a day.
K E I T H CA R R O L L ST U D E N T- FAC U LTY LOUNGE (third floor, Nielsen Hall) Noise level: Aside from the humming of a nearby heater, it stays quiet. Nearest caffeine: The Bookmark Cafe in the Bizzell Memorial Library. Overall atmosphere: With a chalkboard and tables, it’s perfect for study groups. Bonus: The physics diagrams on the walls make one feel as if Albert Einstein studied here.
HOROSCOPE By Eugenia Last
Copyright 2015, Newspaper Enterprise Assn.
my friend’s got mental illness
love without overspending.
Look past all the limitations and frustrations you have faced in the past and start focusing on making a better future. This is a year of positive change, love and prosperity. DonĘźt sit on the sidelines when you should be making progress.
GEMINI (May 21-June 20) -ThereĘźs a lot to do, but you must also take time to relax. Do your best to spruce up your appearance and plan your itinerary for the festive season. Preparation will help you avoid disappointment and stressful situations.
SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 23-Dec. 21) -Take the initiative. Opportunity is waiting for you to grab hold and move forward. Personal and professional gains are apparent, and incentives and perks will be made available.
CANCER (June 21-July 22) -Use your imagination when dealing with your peers or relatives. When in doubt, ask questions and look for practical, cost-efficient alternatives.
CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19) -DonĘźt feel pressured to make a snap decision. Exercise your right to find a better solution. Someone will use false information to entice you to take on heavy financial responsibilities.
To a friend with mental illness, your caring and understanding greatly increases their chance of recovery. Visit whatadifference.samhsa.gov for more information. Mental Illness – What a difference a friend makes.
MONDAY, DECEMBER 12, 2016
Previous Solution
Monday- Very Easy Tuesday-Easy Wednesday- Easy Thursday- Medium Friday - Hard
Instructions: Fill in the grid so that every row, every column and every 3x3 box contains the digits 1 through 9. That means that no number is repeated in any row, column or box.
AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 19) -ItĘźs a good day to make physical or environmental improvements. Wherever you want to put your energy, the results will turn out well. Romance is in the stars. PISCES (Feb. 20-March 20) -DonĘźt lose sight of your goal due to an emotional situation. Get to the bottom of whatever is causing you concern so you can move forward without feeling anxious. ARIES (March 21-April 19) -Personal gains can be made if you avoid getting involved in joint ventures. You need complete control if you want to reach your expectations. Romance will improve your life. TAURUS (April 20-May 20) -If you put in a full-fledged effort, you will avoid criticism. ItĘźs important to honor your word and to live within your means. You can please the people you
LEO (July 23-Aug. 22) -Reach out to someone from your past. Consider the changes you want to make and start the ball rolling. Take an energetic approach where negotiations, contracts and finances are concerned. VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22) -Emotional situations will escalate if someone isnĘźt being honest. Take a hard look at anything that seems dubious. Offer suggestions, but donĘźt interfere in other peopleĘźs private affairs. Focus on self-improvement instead of trying to change others. LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 23) -Keep an open mind when dealing with your home and family. Consider ways that you can improve your health, emotional well-being and physical appearance. Physical exercise will pay off. SCORPIO (Oct. 24-Nov. 22) -Evaluate your personal and business partnerships and consider what you can do to make them more rewarding and fruitful. The suggestions you make and the effort you put in will be appreciated.
MONDAY: • 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. and 6 p.m. to 8 p.m.: therapy dogs from A New Leash on Life • 2 p.m. to 3 p.m.: hot popcorn provided by the OU Writing Center • 4 p.m. to 6 p.m.: create your own light-up greeting card • 8 a.m. to 10 p.m.: snacks provided by OU Information Technology, games, coloring pages TUESDAY: • 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. and 6 p.m. to 8 p.m.: therapy dogs from A New Leash on Life • 2 p.m. to 3 p.m.: hot popcorn provided by the OU Writing Center • 3 p.m. to 5 p.m.: create your own light-up greeting card • 8 a.m. to 10 p.m.: snacks provided by OU IT, games, coloring pagesw WEDNESDAY: • 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. and 6 p.m. to 8 p.m.: therapy dogs from A New Leash on Life • 1 p.m. to 2:30 p.m.: make art with the Fred Jones Jr. Museum of Art • 2 p.m. to 3 p.m.: hot popcorn provided by the OU Writing Center • 5 p.m. to 7 p.m.: create your own light-up greeting card • 8 a.m. to 10 p.m.: snacks provided by OU IT, Xbox games, board games, coloring pages THURSDAY: • 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. and 6 p.m. to 8 p.m.: therapy dogs from A New Leash on Life • 2 p.m. to 3 p.m.: hot popcorn provided by the OU Writing Center • 8 a.m. to 10 p.m.: snacks provided by OU IT, games, coloring pages FRIDAY: • 8 a.m. to noon: snacks provided by OU IT, games, coloring pages Staff Reports
Universal Crossword Edited by Timothy Parker December 12, 2016
ACROSS 1 Dampens 5 Like the runt of the litter 10 Consort of the King of Siam 14 Bubble bath ingredient 15 White house way up north 16 Aluminum product in the kitchen 17 Opening on a one-armed bandit 18 Honestly 19 Part of an angler’s gear 20 2,640 feet, to a miler 23 Give a loud speech to many 24 Become broader 25 “Charlie’s Angel� Ladd 28 Peruse a book 30 Type of male deer 31 Raccoon’s cousin 33 That lady 36 Sunday after the Sunday you sing, “Auld Lang Syne� 40 Opposite of “to� 41 Major blood vessel 42 Starting number of baseball players 43 Beatles hit “Hey ___�
12/12
44 Rinse and spin 46 Consumed 49 As expected 51 Almost midnight 57 “Golden Rule� preposition 58 French river valley 59 In a short time 60 Agendum, e.g. 61 Goals for telemarketers 62 Caustic etcher 63 Funeral fire 64 Board used by a manicurist 65 Young Brits during the Who’s rise DOWN 1 Clean 2 Legendary Fitzgerald 3 Thing for a carpenter 4 Present, as a proposal 5 “Where� attachment 6 Beautiful wading bird 7 Outwit, as a posse 8 Songs for one person 9 Santa’s sackful 10 Fearful 11 “With ___ in sight� 12 Female relative of 47-Down 13 Wrench type
21 Audition (with “out�) 22 Clemens’ pseudonym 25 Toque wearer 26 Scalp production 27 “Cogito, ___ sum� 28 Prince in India 29 Airport info, informally 31 Apple center 32 Many times, old-style 33 “___, Caesar!� 34 Atlantic eagle 35 Some strong whiskeys 37 Provoke with words 38 Handy mortar trough 39 Fingerpointer on a poster
43 “Ol’ Man River� composer Kern 44 Overly adorable 45 Swerve, at sea 46 Provide with weaponry 47 Certain female family member (Var.) 48 Spud 49 Serving a purpose 50 Angrier 52 “What ___ could I do?� 53 Travel from place to place 54 Batty, south of the border 55 “___ where prohibited� 56 Wraps up
PREVIOUS PUZZLE ANSWER PREVIOUS PUZZLE ANSWER
12/11
12/8
Š 2016 Universal Uclick www.upuzzles.com Š 2016 Universal Uclick
PARTLY SOLVED By Timothy E. Parker
NEWS
December 12-16, 2016 •
5
PAXSON HAWS/THE DAILY
A group of OU students march from campus to Main Street in Norman holding signs of protest Oct. 14. The protesters spoke out against State Question 777, also known as the Right to Farm. If approved, the amendment would have allowed the deregulation of factory farming.
Student activists take on 2016 Fall semester rife with protests for change on campus MADISON HOSTETTER @meehostetter
College students have always been at the forefront of social change. It is no different at OU; in the fall 2016 semester alone, there have been multiple protests and demonstrations against perceived injustice. On Sept. 22, students planned a die-in in the Oklahoma Memorial Union to protest the shooting of Terence Crutcher by a police officer in Tulsa. They filled the Union food court with chants of “Black Lives Matter” before lying on the floor in silence — living, but playing dead to protest the disproportionate killings of people of color by white police officers. The students wore all black and carried signs. On Oct. 11, students gathered and marched to Evans Hall to protest OU President David Boren’s statements about sexual assault in a Daily article. Boren told The Daily the problem of campus sexual assault cannot be eradicated “any more than we can eradicate human nature.” The activists, led by sociology sophomore Kelsey Morris, presented a list of demands — including a sincere apology and reassurance
that Boren believes women who claim to have been assaulted. Boren never apologized, standing firm in his belief that readers misconstrued his words. On Oct. 14, students marched from campus to Main Street to protest State Question 777, which they claimed would harm the environment if it passed. O n N o v. 9 t h e r e w a s a march in protest of President-elect Donald Trump. Students wore black and marched from Dale Hall to the Bizzell Memorial Library. All students who felt marginalized or threatened by Trump were encouraged to attend and wear black. And on Nov. 16, a large counter-protest clashed with anti-Black Lives Matter demonstrators on campus. There have also been multiple rallies in solidarity with the Standing Rock Sioux Tribe, who have been demonstrating since April in protest of the Dakota Access Pipeline and in opposition to the Plains All American Pipeline constructed during the summer that runs partially through Norman. Throughout the semester, student activists have also used the Twitter hashtag #yOUrbad to shed light on issues on campus, including campus climate, details about specific events and statements from administrators. The hashtag is used to show what experiences on campus are like for
marginalized communities. Each of these protests has been student-led, although in some cases, faculty also participated. “(Student activists) were the seeds that we planted, and now they’re full bloom. They’re shedding light on things, and they’re shading other things that need not be so prominent, such as hatred,” said George Henderson, professor emeritus of human relations. “I could not speak more proudly of the students today.” Henderson was once one of those students himself, although he wasn’t involved until after he received his bachelor’s degree from OU. Before joining OU’s faculty in 1967, he was active in the Civil Rights movement of the 1960s. When he began teaching at OU, he was only the third full-time AfricanAmerican professor. He was also the first AfricanAmerican property owner in the city of Norman. “A c c o r d i n g t o T h e Oklahoman and other papers — the Tulsa World — I was the first professor to say that I joined the faculty at a racist university, situated in a racist community, in a racist state, in a racist nation — but we will do better,” Henderson said. No one heard the last part of that statement, Henderson said. The promise to do better was often lost in the idea that the nation was racist. His willingness to be “the
first big-mouth activist” pro- been mostly organized by fessor made him the face of individuals. change in Oklahoma, regardTaylor Sanchez, a film and less of his personal feelings. media studies sophomore, is one of those individuals. “(Student activists) Before coming to OU, she were the seeds that organized activism in her hometown of Grand Rapids, we planted, and now Michigan. Although she has they’re full bloom. been in Norman less than a year, she co-organized one of They’re shedding largest protests of the selight on things, and the mester — the die-in after the they’re shading other killing of Terence Crutcher. Unlike Henderson, who things that need not believes an effective protest be so prominent, is defined by clear, long-term such as hatred. I goals, Sanchez believes occould not speak cupation is the most effective more proudly of the tactic. Her goal for the die-in was to take up space and students today.” cause disruption in order to force bystanders to pay GEORGE HENDERSON, attention. PROFESSOR EMERITUS OF HUMAN RELATIONS “The goal with the diein was not only disruption The culture of student ac- through holding the space tivism has existed at OU for hostage for four hours to far longer than one semester, force people to pay attention, but rarely have there been so but also blocking lines in the many individual demonstra- Union in order to make an tions against specific poli- economic impact,” Sanchez cies or ideas. The fall 2016 se- said. Jabar Shumate, OU vice mester brought an increased level of activism and a shift in president for the university how that activism is carried community, knew Terence Crutcher personally, and out. In March 2015, protests was present on the food against the racist Sigma court floor that day. “It was a good experience Alpha Epsilon fraternity chant were spearheaded by to be a part of students mobiUnheard, an alliance of black lized for change and sending students. During the fall 2015 a message that ... things that semester, Indigenize OU are happening in and around emerged as a group of Native us that relate to insensitivity or police brutality. We don’t American student activists. T h i s s e m e s t e r, h o w - stand for that. We stand for e ver, the protests have inclusion and diversity,”
Shumate said. Sanchez is part of Revolutionary Baddies, a group of women of color who have a weekly radio show on KXOU that discusses social issues facing marginalized communities. The members of Revolutionary Baddies were also involved in creating the Twitter hashtag #yOUrbad. “( Topics) rang e from talking about our own experiences to challenging mainstream narratives that overlook our issues. We also bring people in to get their insight,” said Angie Tran, a sociology senior who is also in Revolutionary Baddies. Tran has worked to improve the visibility of issues facing the Asian-American community through her role as director of the Department of Inclusivity in the Student Government Association. She has also started a new student activism group called Uprooted to advocate for greater representation of Asian-Americans. Henderson said activism will always be an important facet of change on college campuses. “We have an opportunity to succeed or fail,” he said. “That’s what the civil rights movement was about. We might not succeed, but we have the opportunity to try.” Madison Hostetter
madisonhostetter@gmail.com
Jenkins parking garage to open in January New lot, innovative technology to help students’ struggles EMMA KEITH @shakeitha_97
A new OU parking facility, which is expected to open the day after classes resume in January, will alleviate some of the parking congestion OU students, staff and faculty experience on a daily basis. T h e J e n k i n s Av e n u e Parking Facility is scheduled to open Jan. 18 by Headington Hall and the residential colleges. Vicky Holland, the marketing manager for OU Parking and Transportation Services, said the garage will have designated spaces for faculty and staff, but the rest will be multi-purpose spots. Holland said she hopes for a smooth finish to the garage’s construction so everything will be operational by January. “When you do a building, there’s a punch list, and
ERIN TABBERER/THE DAILY
The Jenkins Parking Facility remains under construction Dec. 9. The garage is scheduled to open at the start of the spring semester.
that’s when everyone from OU, the architects and construction team, go through and look at every nook and cranny. If there are things that cannot be fixed with the garage being occupied, then I can see there being a one or two week delay,” she said.
Holland said she doesn’t see a delay happening, though. She said she hopes everything goes according to plan and the garage is open by Jan. 18. A new and exciting aspect of this garage will be its “way-finding system” technology, she said.
“There will be a sign outside the garage that will tell you how many spaces are available on each level, and there will be lighting inside at each space: red if the space is taken and green if it’s not,” she said. “You should be able to immediately go to a parking space.
That’s new technology for the university, and we’re really excited about it.” Holland said the garage is also not expected to affect the current traffic levels on Jenkins Avenue due to its size. “We don’t see too terribly much increase in traffic around the Asp and Elm garages,” she said. “People know or they learn quickly how fast the garage fills. We anticipate there being excess spaces in there, because it is a large garage – it’s 1,220 spaces, which is the size of both the Elm and the Asp (garages) combined.” Students expressed excitement and relief that more parking will soon be available. Tiffany Martin, a multi-disciplinary senior, said the current search for parking sometimes makes her late for classes and events. “I’m a commuter — I think a lot of students are commuters — so I have trouble if I don’t get here like an hour early before my class time,” Martin said. Ma r t i n s a i d w i t h t h e
challenge of this year ’s parking situation, she is not sure purchasing a parking pass has even been worth her money. “Last year, I did not have a pass, so I parked a couple blocks away from campus,” she said. “And I always parked in the same spot everyday, I was always there. And it took me about maybe 10 or 15 minutes to walk to campus, and now I have to park so far even on campus with my spot that I don’t see a big difference and I don’t know if it’s worth it.” The prospect of the garage is a welcome addition to a difficult system, Martin said. “It would be nice to have a garage and have covered parking, definitely in the summertime when your car gets hotter and in the wintertime when there’s snow and rain and all that stuff,” she said. Madison Hostetter contributed to this report. Emma Keith
emmakeith97@ou.edu
6
• December 12-16, 2016
ARTS&ENTERTAINMENT
Chloe Moores, a&e editor dailyent@ou.edu • phone: 405-325-3666 oudaily.com/a_and_e • Twitter: @OUDailyArts
Top albums redeem lousy year KAELAN DEESE • @REDNPINKFISH
The year is coming to an end, and so begins the onslaught of year-end lists that give insight as to what numerical placement everyone’s favorite albums average into. While 2016 has been debatably the worst year in a long time, it is by no means a terrible time for music. Artists such as Chance the Rapper, Danny Brown, Frank Ocean and Parquet Courts released some of their best work to date, and some stars like Sturgill Simpson, Solange and the up-and-coming Car Seat Headrest took everyone by surprise and even ranked higher than the more-seasoned veterans in the industry. Not to mention J. Cole came in at the last moment with a follow-up to his “2014 Forest Hills Drive” album that showcases a tremendous upgrade in his talent and ability. Without further ado, here are The Daily’s top 15 albums of 2016. 15: Thee Oh Sees, “A weird Exits” 14: Kyle Dixon, “Stranger Things Vol.1” 13: Chance The Rapper, “Coloring Book” 12: Swans, “The Glowing Man” 11: David Bowie, “[Blackstar]” 10: Kendrick Lamar, “Untitled Unmastered” 9: Danny brown, “Atrocity Exhibition” 8: Leonard Cohen, “You Want it Darker” 7: Sturgill simpson, “A Sailor’s Guide to Earth” 6: Car Seat Headrest, “Teens of Denial” 5: Radiohead, “A Moon Shaped Pool” 4: J. Cole, “4 Your Eyes Only” 3: Solange, “A Seat At The Table” 2: Parquet Courts, “Human Performance” 1: Frank Ocean, “Blonde”
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A list of The Daily’s top 50 albums can be found at: oudaily.com/a_and_e
A&E TOP TEN
CAITLYN EPES/THE DAILY
Norman band Flock of Pigs performs in its practice space Sept. 8. According to the band members, they were thrilled to perform during the Norman Music Festival this past April.
Art, music, recipes among best student life stories in 2016 STAFF REPORTS
This semester has brought about the opportunity to cover a variety of bands, artists, recipes and the indiviudals that makeup Norman. Here is a sample of A&E’s best work. FLOCK OF PIGS OU Daily readers were introduced to local six-person band Flock of Pigs Sept. 13. The band prides itself on its unique sound — a fusion of hip-hop, reggae, soul and rock ‘n’ roll. Its members consist of Wyatt Helms, clarinet and keyboard; Joseph Lee, lead vocals; Nick Lovatto, drums; Ben Renfrow, guitar; Patrick Richardson, bass; and Riley Richardson, (electric) trombone. The band played at the Norman Music Festival l a s t ye a r a n d ha s b e e n working on recording its first studio album since this past summer.
SLOW COOKER VERSION OF MONT QUESO Th i s re c i p e f ou n d i t s way into the homes of OU student, faculty, staff and alumni readers on Aug. 25. — 21,568 readers, to be exact. This take on the classic Norman staple reminds members of the OU community that they are a part of this place, even if they don’t physically live here. NEW YORK CITY OU BAR The Mad Hatter, located at 360 3rd Avenue in Ma n h a t t a n , Ne w Yo r k , brings a Sooner vibe to the Big Apple on a daily basis. On game days, the bar serves The Mont’s fried pickles and queso and has acted as a must-visit spot for OU fans visiting New York and a haven for OU alumni living in New York. LUKE CAGE Netflix show “Luke Cage” debuted Sept. 30 and gives a modernized look at the titular 1970s superhero. OU expository writing professor Liz Locke teaches a course surrounding heroes and
mythology. A section of the class is devoted to the representation of black characters in comics, discussing the topic in the context of the characters’ history and the ability to discuss racial issues in America.
years leading up to 2014, 63 of 142 countries studied by the World Economic Forum have had a female head of government or state, according to the Pew Research Center; however, the U.S. is not one of those countries. On Nov. 8, Democratic presOU STUDENT idential nominee Hillary CO-CREATES COMMON Clinton lost the general CONTRAST COMPANY election to President-elect M a t t F e n n , c o m p u t - Donald Trump. er science freshman, honed his embroidery and NORMAN’S SECRET screen-printing skills to SANTA co-create clothing compaJaci Williams, executive ny Common Contrast. Fenn treasurer of the Cleveland works with Levi Hinson, a ju- County Citizen’s Advisory nior at Latta High School, to B o a rd , ha s s p e nt m o re carry out the minimalist de- than 25 years organizing a signs Hinson creates on hats, secret Santa program that hoodies and shirts. He re- donates Christmas gifts cently announced Common to local foster children. Contrast’s new website. The secret Santa program is made possible with the WOMEN’S PORTRAYAL help of funding from OU’s IN THE MEDIA yearly Coaches Luncheon Before the results of the and solicitation letters that 2016 presidential election are sent out Nov. 1. Local came to light, OU faculty and businesses, churches and students weighed in on the volunteers can purchase likelihood of nominating a presents for the children female president based off of through a shopping list American media’s interpre- that is put together with the tation of women. In the 50 help of the Department of
Human Services. Gifts will be ready for foster families to pick up and put under the tree Tuesday. LIVE MÁS SCHOLARSHIP Ta c o B e l l ’s L i v e Má s Scholarship was established this year in the spirit of helping “dreamers, innovators and creators” make a difference as students. Ricarda Urso, biology freshman, was one of 220 recipients of the Live Más Scholarship, which will cover Urso’s freshman year of tuition and enable her to achieve her dream of attending the OU College of Medicine and becoming a pediatrician. The Live Más Scholarship will open again to any legal U.S. resident aged 16 to 24 in early 2017. MUSIC DREAMS IN ECUADOR Hannah Asfeldt, a psychology and pre-nursing junior, has dedicated her life to learning about music. Asfeldt has spent this semester studying abroad in Ecuador to learn Spanish, but the nation’s culture has
influenced her musically. She plays four different instruments: piano, ukulele, oboe and accordion. Asfeldt hopes to make an indie folk album in the future. WE ART LINDSEY STREET Due to months of ongoing construction on Lindsey street, the Norman Arts Council — in association with the Norman P u b l i c A r t s B o a rd , t h e OU Institute for Quality Communities, the Norman Chamber of Commerce, t h e No r m a n E c o n o m i c Development Coalition and Visit Norman — developed the We Art Lindsey Street initiative. The initiative is designed to install 17 to 20 artists’ work or artistic performances on Lindsey Street between now and O ct. 17, when construction is scheduled to wrap up. Selected artists will receive a $1,000 grant to put toward their We Art L inds e y Stre et proj e ct. Staff Reports dailyent@ou.edu
ARTS&ENTERTAINMENT
December 12-16, 2016 •
7
Former EMS opens hookah bar
World traveler’s ‘Sheikh’ promotes living in the moment KAELAN DEESE @RedNPinkFish
Tucked away in the narrow Crawford and Main Street strip in downtown Norman, 20-year paramedic and magician Aaron Nelson runs his eclectic hookah bar Sheikh. The space is filled with neon inscriptions from past customers and plenty of eccentric conversation pieces that offer almost as much charm as Nelson’s inviting demeanor. Nelson has only been living in Norman for four years, but before his career began, he said he attended school at OU and eventually earned his acceptance into medical school. He soon found that the extended schooling was too much for him to afford, so he decided that being a paramedic would satisfy his goal of working in the medical field. From there he dedicated his life to saving the lives of others and was even present during the Oklahoma City bombing in 1995, he said. After his time with the EMS, Nelson decided to take up magic as a personal hobby. Nelson’s inspiration for becoming a magician was sparked after he went on a cruise vacation and met a magician on the ship that set him up with a job on Carnival Cruise Line. “Four months later I sold my house, packed my bags, and before I knew it, I was cruising around the world as a magician,” Nelson said. While he enjoyed his time getting to see incredible sights in the Caribbean, Mediterranean and Alaskan
CALEB JOURDEN/THE DAILY
Sheikh hookah bar owner Aaron Nelson sits surronded by neon lights Dec. 8. Nelson said he enjoys providing a welcoming introduction to the nightlife scene.
waters, Nelson said he felt his time as a magician had come to an end. “I had traveled everywhere that Carnival was going to take me, and I was ready to move onto the next chapter in my life,” he said. On his last cruise tour, Nelson received word that a bar in Norman was for sale. He decided to purchase it for himself, and the bar became what is now known as Sheikh. Sheikh’s walls are covered in a maze of neon yellow, blue, orange and pink writing. When asked about the iconic writing across the walls of the building, Nelson gave a brief overview of how the tradition came to be. “Before I took over, the original owner only allowed
“Four months later I sold my house, packed my bags, and before I knew it, I was cruising around the world as a magician.” AARON NELSON, SHEIKH OWNER
some walls to be painted. By the time I came into the picture, I figured that if some of the walls were already painted, that we might as well try to cover them all. Now, that is about six years of history spread across one room,” he said. Nelson works hard to give all of his guests the best hookah lounge experience possible, he said. “Every six to eight months I get a new group of regular customers that have just finished up high school. Being the owner of an 18+
establishment, I know that I am in some ways the bridge that introduces the younger crowd into nightlife, so I try my best to provide a warm and welcoming environment for anyone that is going through that transition phase,” he said. Dakota Poolaw, political science freshman, and Bryanna Sackett, computer engineering freshman, agreed that Nelson’s hookah bar provided the atmosphere they were looking for. “At the start of the semester, Bryanna and I were
looking for somewhere to go at night to have some fun and relax, but 18+ establishments were few and far between. We stumbled across Sheikh and immediately fell in love with the environment and we have been frequent customers ever since,” Poolaw said. “ T h e e nv i ro n m e n t i s super welcoming and the experience can be compared to being in your friend’s rad basement,” Sackett agreed. More than anything else, Nelson said he wants everyone that walks into his lounge to come out feeling more fulfilled than they came in. “It’s less about hookah and more about fellowship. In a world where everyone is on their phones and
disagreeing about politics, it’s nice to see people come in and have a great conversation,” he said. Kaelan Deese
kaelan.a.deese-1@ou.edu
IF YOU GO Location: 117 N. Crawford Ave next to Opolis. Hours: Monday - Wednesday, 8 p.m. to 12 a.m. Thursday - Sunday, 8 p.m. to 2 a.m. Age: 18 and older
‘Fantastic Beasts’ spinoff highlights misconceptions New magical series ignores facts about Native Americans DEVIN HIETT @DevinHiett
J.K. Rowling, acclaimed author of the Harry Potter series, created a multi-part background series on her website, Pottermore, detailing the history of magic in North America. Rowling’s depiction of indigenous people in this series has received backlash from readers and activists across the nation who believe Rowling is contributing to negative stereotypes of Native American people T h i s f o u r-p a r t h i s t o r y ser ves as context for R o w l i n g ’s n e w e s t h i t , “Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them,” which is set in Wizarding America in the 1920s. In the first part of the series, entitled “Fourteenth C e nt u r y - S e v e nt e e nt h Century,” Rowling writes about what she calls “The Native American magical community.” Individuals critical of Rowling’s portrayals of the Native American community note she fails to acknowledge individual tribes and instead refers to all Native Americans as one singular community. Brittany McKane, member of the OU American Indian Student Association and a citizen of the Muscogee Creek and Seminole tribes, believes Rowling’s new series falsely portrays Native Americans as both mythical and magical. “When you put it in a science fiction context, it does reinforce those stereotypes that we’re mythical, that we don’t even exist really as people. We’re not mythical beings, we’re not witches and wizards. We’re people and our cultures are still alive just like we are,” McKane said.
In the first part of the series, Rowling writes, “The legend of the Native American ‘skin walker’ — an evil witch or wizard that can transform into an animal at will — has its basis in fact.” McKane believes Rowling’s vague generalizations and misconceptions about the Native American community could have been easily avoided if she had taken the time to reach out to Native Americans and research their cultures.
“While her intentions weren’t to be harmful or offend anybody, she had the option to reach out to Native communities and to see what was acceptable, but she didn’t.” BRITTANY MCKANE, OU AMERICAN INDIAN STUDENT ASSOCIATION
“While her intentions weren’t to be harmful or offend anybody, she had the option to reach out to Native communities and to see what was acceptable, but she didn’t,” McKane said. Sabrina Bogle, pre-nutritional sciences sophomore and citizen of the Cherokee Nation, believes Rowling’s misconceptions are due to a lack of information rather than ill-intent, and thus are not offensive to Native Americans. “She’s not looking down on Native American cultures, and she’s not trying to offend anyone. She usually is a strong supporter of minorities and oppressed groups. She means well,” Bogle said. While McKane agrees Rowling didn’t intend to offend anyone, her failure to apologize, rewrite the story or retract the parts about Native
Americans showed a definitive decision to disregard Native Americans’ concerns. “Whether peoples’ intentions are good or not, that doesn’t reverse the harm and the consequences of their actions. I love her books, but to me that showed she didn’t really care about Native people except to use them as a prop in her book,” McKane said. Josh Clough, OU Native American studies professor, believes Native portrayals in literature have a long-standing history of inaccuracy. “She’s in the U.K., she probably is not exposed to Native culture; but again we have writers in America who have made their living depicting Native people and they don’t know anything about indigenous people either,” Clough said. Clough believes most people who find offense are upset Rowling depicts “the Native American community” as monolithic, which he says holds no place in reality. According to the National Congress of American Indians, there are 566 federally recognized Indian tribes, bands, nations, pueblos, rancherias, communities and Native villages in the United States. Failing to recognize the vast diversity in Native American communities is a common oversight seen in non-Native authors, Clough said. “It’s homogenizing the differences between different tribes. Mystical is one of the typical Hollywood depictions. Sounds like she’s borrowing from the older traditions of the frontier writers of America to portray the Indians romantically, mystically. Lumping everyone together doesn’t have a basis in reality,” Clough said. Devin Hiett
hiettdevin@gmail.com
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8
• December 12-16, 2016
SPORTS
Spenser Davis, sports editor dailysports@ou.edu • phone: 405-325-3666 oudaily.com/sports • Twitter: @OUDailySports
Heisman bypasses Sooners’ duo Mayfield finishes third, Westbrook fourth in voting SPENSER DAVIS @Davis_Spenser
Oklahoma quarterback Baker Mayfield and wide receiver Dede Westbrook received disappointing news Saturday night as L ou i s v i l l e q u a r t e r b a ck Lamar Jackson took home the Heisman Trophy. Mayfield and Westbrook were both named finalists for the award after leading the Sooners on a ninegame winning streak and an undefeated Big 12 season. Mayfield finished third and Westbrook came in fourth. The duo was joined b y Ja c k s o n , C l e m s o n ’s D eshaun Wats on and
Michigan’s Jabrill Peppers as Heisman finalists. Jackson finished well out in front of the pack with 2,144 points. Watson came in second with 1,524. Mayfield totaled 361 points and Westbrook earned 209 points. Peppers came in fifth with 2,015 points. Mayfield, who hails from Lake Travis, Texas, threw f o r 3 , 3 6 9 y a rd s a n d 3 8 touchdowns in 12 games this season. His 197.1 passer efficiency rating is on pace to set the new NCAA single-season record. Westbrook, a junior college transfer from Cameron, Texas, was the best receiver in the country this season, winning the Biletnikoff Award with 1,465 yards and a school-record 16 touchdowns. Westbrook was the first Sooner ever to win the Biletnikoff. Jackson won with 3,390
passing yards and 30 touchdowns through the air. Jackson also rushed for 1,538 yards and totaled 21 scores on the ground. Mayfield and Westbrook w ill be in the spotlight again Jan. 2 as the Sooners face Auburn in the Sugar Bowl. Spenser Davis
davis.spenser@ou.edu
NEXT GAME: SUGAR BOWL Opponent: Auburn Channel: ESPN Time: 7:30 p.m. CT Date: Jan. 2, 2017 Place: New Orleans
SIANDHARA BONNET/THE DAILY
Source: soonersports.com
Junior quarterback Baker Mayfield and senior wide receiver Dede Westbrook pose for a photo after interviews with the media about being Heisman Trophy finalists Dec. 5 in the Everest Training Center.
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