Wednesday, July 12, 2023
Tulsa massacre survivors to appeal dismissal of reparations Kelsey Butler Bloomberg News
Benningfield Randle, 108, Viola Fletcher, 109 and Hughes Van Ellis Sr., 102 — said they would be appealing to the Oklahoma Supreme Court. Lawyers for the last three living “We will not go quietly,” the survivors of the Tulsa race massacre of survivors said in a statement read by 1921 said they will appeal a decision to Damario Solomon-Simmons. “We will dismiss a lawsuit seeking reparations continue to fight until our last breaths. for the attack on what was known as Like so many Black Americans, we Black Wall Street. carry the weight of intergenerational At a Monday press conference, racial trauma day in and day out.” an attorney for the plaintiffs — Lessie Judge Caroline Wall, a Tulsa
county district court judge, on Friday dismissed the lawsuit with prejudice, which means the same claim can’t be refiled in that court. In a brief entry on the court docket, Wall said she was dismissing the case based on arguments from the city, regional chamber of commerce and other state and city officials. It’s the latest setback in a decadesold effort by survivors as well as their families and allies to seek reparations
for the May 1921 attack by a white mob on the Greenwood neighborhood of Tulsa, which was home to a thriving Black community and multiple Black-owned businesses. A coalition to explore reparations for the survivors was established in 2001, and previous litigation to establish redress has been unsuccessful. See Reparations on 6
Thapa awarded newest chair in Spears Jake Sellers Staff Reporter
The inaugural Carl and Marilynn Thoma Distinguished Chair has been awarded to Brij Thapa, professor and head of the School of Hospitality and A new chair has been established in the Spears School of Tourism Management (HTM). Business thanks to two Oklaho- Established in 1937, HTM has expanded to a business-focused ma State alumni and long-time curriculum and engaged in supporters of the university. research and outreach programThe Carl and Marilynn ming for hospitality, tourism Thoma Distinguished Chair in and economic development. Hospitality and Tourism ManThapa also serves on the agement will support the head Oklahoma Restaurant Associaof the Hospitality and Tourism tion’s Advisory Board. Management department, who In this role, he will take brings distinction to the school over student mentorship and and the university through replacement of graduates in key search, outreach activities and a commitment to student learning industry sectors. Thapa will also prioritize advancing research and leadership. “We are proud to support targeted for industry and community practice as well as work the School of Hospitality and Tourism Management with this with industry and government stakeholders to make an impact gift,” Thoma said. “We hope the chair will help this program across Oklahoma as part of the land-grant mission of OSU. continue its success in serving students and making a positive impact across the region.” See Spears on 6
Courtesy of Mackenzie Janish Stephon Johnson Jr. (6) showed promise as a freshman wide receiver at OSU last season before transferring to Houston.
A look at Big 12 football teams’ biggest losses and gains in the transfer portal
Calif Poncy Staff Reporter
Courtesy of OSU The inaugural Carl and Marilynn Thoma Distinguished Chair has been awarded to Brij Thapa, professor and head of the School of Hospitality and Tourism Management.
Life in college football with the transfer portal is still new. While some teams saw the portal take away starting-caliber players, others used the portal to replenish lost talent. Almost every team in the Big 12 had major losses and big gains from the portal this offseason, but the teams that can replace starters could rise to the top of the new-look Big 12. Here’s a look at Big 12 portal movement. TCU Gains: WR JoJo Earle, OT Tommy Brockermeyer, RB Trey Sanders Earle is an undersized, but effective wide receiver with blazing speed and twitchy athleticism. Earle recorded 12 catches each of the last two seasons at Alabama and also made a difference in the return game. Brockermeyer, like Earle, brings three years of eligibility from Tuscaloosa to Fort Worth. Brockermeyer didn’t get much playing time with Alabama, but as a former top-10 recruit, he projects as an NFL Draftlevel tackle and has the ability to fortify the edge for the Horned Frogs. Sanders was a five-star recruit but never consistently got on the field at Alabama. When he did get on the field, though, he averaged four
yards per carry. player off the edge. He only Losses: WR Jordan had two tackles and one sack Hudson, QB Sam Jackson last season and is now at Hudson, a former four- Arizona State. star, had potential for a big Texas role at TCU before taking Gains: WR Adonai his talents across town to Mitchell, CB Gavin Holmes SMU. Hudson was ranked as Mitchell, who spent the sixth-best wide receiver the first two seasons of his in the transfer portal by career at Georgia, recorded 247Sports. 65 yards and two touchJackson, a 5-foor-11 downs on four receptions in athlete was listed as a quar- this year’s College Football terback, but many thought Playoff and was one of the he would turn out to be a top wide receivers in the receiver in college, but it portal. never quite materialized for Holmes, 5-11, 168 him. Jackson transferred to pounds, spent his first two Cal and has three years of seasons at Wake Forest and eligibility. is very sound technically Kansas State with many snaps over the Gains: RB Treshaun past two seasons. Ward, WR Keagan Johnson Losses: WR Brenan The reigning Big 12 Thompson, QB Hudson Card Champions were relatively Thompson now at rival quiet in the portal, losing OU, still has four years of only two players and taking eligibility left and is the defon only four. inition of a burner. ThompWard totaled 1,100 son was the most likely to yards the last two season at take over for Xavier Worthy, Florida State at an average who will likely leave for the of 6.6 yards a carry. With NFL after this season. Card the Wildcats in need of a heads to Purdue after throwreplacement for program ing for more than 1,500 legend Deuce Vaughn, Ward, yards the last two seasons. two years of eligibility left, Texas Tech could be that guy. Gains: EDGE Steve Johnson has been in an Linton, WR Deandre Mcoffensive desert for the past Cray few years in Iowa, while also Linton, a former Syramissing much of last year cuse edge rusher, had four with an injury. He has three sacks and a forced fumble years of eligibility remainlast season in his first year ing and with long-time star of starting every game. He Malik Knowles moving on, has one year of eligibility Johnson could fill in. remaining. Losses: LB Krew McCray is a little bit Jackson more of an unknown. He Only a freshman, spent the last few years at Jackson has an elite frame, Austin Peay, where he was a standing 6-foot-5, weighstar for the Governers, totaling 204 pounds, but with ing nearly 2,000 yards and multiple years to fill out, 17 touchdowns the past two Jackson has the physical seasons. potential to be a really good See Transfer on 3