April 11 by MediaOCU

Presidential Edition | April 11, 2018 | Volume 111 Issue 24

THE CAMPUS

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PASSING

THE TORCH

President Robert Henry holds the fire used to light the torch during Homecoming Kickoff Oct. 26, 2012. The torch was used for the Salt Lake City Olympics by Robert Spinks, professor of sociology and justice. | Student Publications Archives.

Henry reflects on accomplishments, hopes university continues to grow

obert Henry left the judge’s bench to become the university’s president eight years ago. Since then, his accomplishments earned him multiple awards and accolades, and the campus community has come to know him as a friendly, personable face on campus. Henry will retire as the university’s 17th president effective June 30. Martha Burger will assume the role the following day. “The president is the face of the university, and, over the last eight years, I was so fortunate I was presented with all these awards and honors,” Henry said. “The community could tell that I was a part of the community and that OCU was a part of the community. I’m very pleased with that.” Henry’s awards include the Governor George Nigh Public Service Arts Award in 2011, the Oklahoma Native Son Award in 2013, the Excellence in Leadership Award in 2015, the Spirit of Oklahoma Award in 2016, and lifetime achievement awards for his legal writing and interfaith work. Interacting with the community Henry said one of the best parts of his job was talking to students. Kevin Chissoe, accounting junior, said he remembers Henry would sit with groups of students in the caf. “When he sat with me and others around me, he would always ask how everything was going and actually have conversations with us,” Chissoe said. “He was always very respectful.” Callie Michaud, design and production senior and OCULeads student, said she appreciates how involved Henry was. OCULeads, also known as the President’s Leadership Class, is a program “to identify leadership potential in incoming students.” “I think his greatest accomplishment as president was how well known and well liked he was by the student body because he always put in so much effort into being present in the students’ lives, even in smaller departments,” Michaud said. Henry also enjoyed attending as many campus productions as he could. Michaud said he always went to design and production showcases and talked to students about their work. However, Henry had to take a medical leave of absence at the beginning of the academic year, which lessened his campus presence. “Unfortunately, I had a couple problems with my heart. I had to have two open heart surgeries and that sort of hurt me the last couple of years,” he said. “I didn’t have the energy to get out and do quite as much, but I’m getting there now.” Michaud said Henry still made an effort to reach out to students while he was on medical leave.

The education you got here is going to serve you well. The world appears to be a mixed -up place right now, but you can handle it. Robert Henry president

“Even when he was sick, he would still try his best to make it known that he wanted to be here for all of us,” she said. “He cares about each and every student and always makes an effort to be accessible to us, which I think is the best thing a president can offer their students.” Michaud said Henry always showed genuine interest in students’ passions, even if he wasn’t knowledgable about them. “I don’t think I’ve ever heard anyone say they don’t like him, and I think that’s an accomplishment in itself,” she said. Working with a team Henry said the job of president requires a lot of energy. And it was difficult to keep his energy levels high when there were events nearly every night, he said. Other difficulties of the job included dealing with campus property damages and arguments with insurance companies. “However, I put together a really strong cabinet, and we all work really well together. I also have a superlative board of directors,” Henry said. “I never had to worry about my board’s commitment. My board was always ready to help. Those are things students don’t often get to know about.” Henry said he’s grateful he had such strong support. “None of these things I did. They were all ‘we did.’ It’s not possible for a single person,” he said. “I’ve had two great provosts, Susan Barber and Kent Buchanan. Those two have really been extremely helpful.” Implementing change One of the first things Henry did as president was restructure the university’s debt. “It’s kind of crazy to say this, but maybe the biggest legacy he’ll leave behind is how he came in and he got into the financial situation,” Buchanan said. “He spent a lot of time early on going through

his friends in the banking areas and trying to get these things under control. So that was a tremendous accomplishment for the university and really helped the university out.” During Henry’s tenure, he oversaw the transition of the OCU School of Law to its new downtown location, which paved the way for the creation of the physician assistant program. He also was instrumental in prioritization, a process that allowed officials to observe areas where money was spent and determine if changes should be made. “He had to make the difficult decision to go through the prioritization process, which was very difficult for the campus, but also helped us get on track now where we haven’t had budget cuts in four years now,” Buchanan said. Henry also oversaw the creation of the Chickasaw Warrior Garden and participated in Native American traditions. One of Henry’s favorite memories is receiving honorary membership to the Kiowa tribe at a powwow on campus, he said. “I’ve done work with the Native American community for some time and they are very special to me,” Henry said. “They have a special role at OCU. The building of the Chickasaw Garden was a great thing that I loved, and I love it when I see students out there eating their lunch.” With the addition of a physician assistant program and the prospective physical therapy program, Henry said the university is moving in the right direction, and he would like to see it stay on course. He emphasized the importance of a liberal arts education with a strong arts and sciences core. “Regardless of whether you’re an actor or an athlete or an accountant, whatever your major, those general liberal arts courses are going to be important. It’s vitally important that the college of arts and sciences be sustained here,” he said. “I think we’re on the right path. I think we need to do more of the same.” Saying goodbye Henry’s parting message for the campus community is to “be of good cheer, be creative, be collaborative.” “The education you got here is going to serve you well. The world appears to be a mixed-up place right now, but you can handle it,” he said. “Look at things differently, color outside of the box and be collaborative.” By Miguel Rios, editor-in-chief emeritus

Campus community benefitted from president's political background, connections

resident Robert Henry involved himself in political office and public service before becoming OCU’s president. He will retire as the university’s 17th president on June 30, and Martha Burger will assume the role on July 1. Henry grew up in Shawnee, Oklahoma, and developed a passion for community involvement. He received his Bachelor of Arts and juris doctor from the University of Oklahoma in Norman, as well as an honorary doctor of humane letters degree from the University of Tulsa and an honorary doctor of law degree from OCU. During his time as a politician, Henry served in every branch of the government. He was a member of the Okla-

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homa House of Representatives from 1976-86 and was elected Oklahoma attorney general in 1986 and 1990. He was appointed by former President Bill Clinton to the U.S. Court of Appeals 10th Circuit in 1994. He later served as chief judge from 2008-10. Henry began his career at OCU in 1991 as faculty in the OCU School of Law, where he later served as dean and professor from 1991-94. He became the president in July 2010. During this time, he secured funding for student scholarships, renovations of campus buildings and the construction of Sarkeys Law Center. When Henry was elected president, he told Rod Jones, assistant director of media relations, in FOCUS that he saw Oklahoma City moving in a positive direction.

“Oklahoma City and Oklahoma City University are exciting places to be right now. For the first time in my life it seems everyone is working together for the common good. The excitement is palpable,” Henry told Jones. Henry focused much of his life on education. He coauthored legislation that established the Oklahoma School of Science and Mathematics, serves on the advisory board for the Oklahoma Medical Research Foundation and co-founded the Oklahoma Symposium. Monica Hiller, elementary education senior, was a part of OCULeads, Henry’s class on leadership, during her freshman year. Hiller said, because of his community outreach, various public leaders came to the class. Hiller said she remembers Henry telling students, “I can’t

define leadership, but I know it when I see it.” “As a freshman, you’re trying to make your mark on the campus, and you want people to see you as a leader and not just hear you talk about it, so it was cool to get his perspective on leadership,” she said. Henry said it’s important for leaders to have the right attitude. “If you don’t have idealism when you’re young, you probably never will. Growing up, I was inspired by John F. Kennedy and loved his intellect, idealism and humor,” Henry said in FOCUS. Hiller said students enjoy interacting with Henry. “Students will remember him as this punchy, fun guy strolling around campus. When he’s here, he definitely has a presence. He just has a really

nice smile and a good personality,” she said. When he announced his retirement, Henry said he would take a one-year sabbatical before returning to teach in the law school, but he said he is keeping his options open now. “I’m not exactly sure what I’ll do. I know I’m going to take the sabbatical, and I have some opportunities back in the law field, or I may come back and teach,” he said. “I probably will come back and do at least some teaching, but I’m keeping my options open a little bit.” Hiller said Henry will continue to impact the Oklahoma community after he leaves. “I wish the best to him in whatever he’s doing. He’s a big name in Oklahoma. He’s a big name in the judiciary, so it’s been really nice for Oklahoma City University to have that

name attached to it, so I thank him for that,” she said. Judge Stephanie Seymour, who served on the 10th Circuit with Henry, told Rabindranath Ramana, who wrote Henry’s judicial profile when he became chief judge, that Henry was a good friend. She spoke of his devotion and energy. “If I had to use one word to describe Robert Henry, it would be ‘passionate.’ Robert’s passion about people, life, tolerance, justice, and the law, to name a very few of the things Robert is passionate about, has driven him to give the very best of himself to public service,” Seymour said. By Emily Wollenberg, associate web editor

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student connections

Student Publications a�chives

Learn from the best Above: President Robert Henry guest lectures for former professor Dr. Brooke Hessler’s Honors Composition 1 class in Fall 2011 at the Chickasaw Warrior Garden on the quad. He read poetry from N. Scott Momaday’s “The Way to Rainy Mountain.” Hessler was quoted saying, “He has such joy as a teacher. I was really inspired.” President Robert Henry listens as Kody Brown reads from a scroll during the Shakespeare Dress Parade on April 9, 2012 in Tom and Brenda McDaniel University Center. The parade was a part of ShakespeareOCU’s “Bard Week,” a week of events to celebrate the life and works of William Shakespeare, one of Henry’s favorite playwrights.

Students share favorite ‘President Henry memories’ "When I was working Phone-a-thon, it was always very exciting when President Henry came to visit. He would give us candy and words of encouragement, and we would play the fun game of calling his son and saying, 'Whatever you donate, your father will match.'"

"My favorite memories are of him just coming, sitting and chatting with students in the caf."

Meredith Funkhouser

Eric Capelle

"At my Stars 101, he talked about Persian rugs for 10 minutes, which I later found out was a pretty typical move."

"During my Stars Week, President Henry was walking around asking where everyone was from. I said I was from Alaska, and he dropped all of the pamphlets he was holding on the floor and it scattered, and he said, 'How did you wind up here?' I said, 'I like dancing.'"

film production senior

vocal performance senior

Mackenzie Reitz

Mary McLain film production junior

dance management junior

"I was sitting in the caf, minding my own business, when President Henry came over and gave me a bag of cookies. It wasn't for any specific reason. He just thought I would like them."

"Once I was in the caf, he was very kind to everyone he talked to. He gave us all coupons for a free coffee as well."

Natalie Gregg

Madelyn Parker

"He's always been a super friendly guy. He'd sit into our Leads LAS every once in a while and just chat with us about what we were learning that day."

"When he impersonated the 'Crocodile Hunter' for a campus tour video"

Carlos Sanchez

Caroline Harrist

English/education sophomore

English junior

music education senior

"Eating pizza and talking with him during orientation week at Pizza23"

"Singing for President Henry was a moment that I'll never forget. The choirs at OCU came together to surprise him with a flash mob in the caf. You could tell he was really surprised, and the performance meant a lot to him."

Carly Youngberg

Natalia Botello

English sophomore

music sophomore

The Campus has served the Oklahoma City University community since 1907. It is published Wednesday during the academic year, with the exception of holidays and exam periods.

THE CAMPUS April 11, 2018, Volume 111, Number 24

Editor-in-chief emeritus: Miguel Rios Associate Editor: Sage Tokach Copy Editor: Chandler White Photo Editor: Elina Moon Community Manager: Lauren Berlingeri Associate Community Manager: Harrison Langford

Web Editor: Nicole Waltman Associate Web Editor: Emily Wollenberg Staff Writers: Rodney Smith, Callie Dewees, Jessica Vanek, Mallory Scheidel, Erik Hamilton Photographers: Hannah Rogers, Carolann Stout Columnist: Caroline Hawthorne

The Student Publications staff welcomes unsolicited material and let-

Videographer: Emily Haan Proofreader: Tyler Patton Ad Representative: Emily Jones Circulation Director: Kalen Castor Faculty Adviser: Kenna Griffin

ters to the editor. All letters must be signed and include the writer’s phone number, address, major, and classification. The staff reserves the right to edit all letters. The staff also reserves the right to refuse letters without explanation. Letters can be sent online at mediaocu.com, emailed to stupub@ okcu.edu or dropped off at the Newsroom in Walker Center for Arts and Sciences. Submitted items may appear on MediaOCU and in the print edition.

April 11, 2018

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faculty & alumni

Alumni share experiences with President Henry Nicole Waltman

WEB EDITOR

Alumni remember President Robert Henry as an involved and dedicated administrator. He has supported students through the years with advice, recommendation letters and time. Henry will retire as the 17th university president June 30. Martha Burger will assume the role the next day. Alumnus Camal Pennington graduated in 2010, the year Henry was inaugurated. Pennington was the outgoing Student Government Association president at the time, as well as a member of the presidential search committee that chose Henry. “As soon as I met Robert Henry, I thought he was an excellent choice for president,” Pennington said. “He was engaging, intelligent and had a passion for students.” Henry had a tough act to follow after former President Tom McDaniel and first lady Brenda McDaniel, Pennington said. “One of his main jobs was to make OCU Oklahoma City’s university,” he said. “The stature of the university has raised significantly from his efforts directly.” Henry wrote Pennington a recommendation letter for law school and also supported him through his campaign when he ran for a seat in the Oklahoma House of Representatives in 2016, Pennington said. He also said Henry not only helps students prepare for their careers, but he had a successful career as well. “I would attribute almost every part of my career to him,” he said. “Robert Henry is the Thomas Jefferson of Oklahoma.” Pennington said he hopes Henry knows how grateful people are for him. “I hope he feels appreciated,” he said. “He has been a leader and mentor for me, as well as so many others.” Alumnus John Riesenberg graduated in 2011 and was the SGA president after Pennington. He said Henry had a positive impact on OCU and “thousands of students.” “President Henry has had a larger impact on my life than probably anyone outside of my immediate family,” he said. “Even after I graduated, President Henry continues to mentor me. He’s always asking me how my job is going and introducing me to

I would attribute almost every part of my career to him. Robert Henry is the Thomas Jefferson of Oklahoma. Camal Pennington alumnus

people he thinks I should know. He’s also constantly reminding me to make sure and save for retirement.” Alumna Kelsey Griswold graduated in 2014 and is an actress in Los Angeles. Griswold said she met Henry through his son, Josh Henry, who she considers a dear friend. Griswold entered the 2012 Miss Oklahoma pageant after running out of scholarship money. She went to Henry for assistance in her journey to Miss Oklahoma. “I lost Miss OCU, which was so sad to me because I just loved our school so much,” Griswold said. “I went to President Henry for help. How many college students at other universities can go straight to their presidents for help?” Henry gave Griswold advice and wrote recommendation letters for her. She was crowned Miss Oklahoma in 2013. “He believed in me long before I became Miss Oklahoma,” she said. “He was a support system for me before and during my reign.” Henry provided Griswold with her first speaking engagement at a Methodist conference on campus and also introduced her to her lifelong mentor, Jane Jayroe, trustee and former Miss America. Griswold is engaged to Alumnus Hunter Paul who also graduated in 2014. Henry will officiate their wedding in June. “He really rooted us on in our relationship, even when no one else really did,” Griswold said. “So it was a no-brainer for us to ask him to officiate our wedding.” Griswold said she could talk about Henry and how he affected her life for hours. “I’m sad he’s leaving,” she said. “But he invests in students’

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lives, and he’s instilled a sense of pride and a sense of family in OCU that extends far beyond graduation.” Caleb Harlin graduated from the School of Law in 2015. Harlin said he remembers the first time he met Henry. “I was struck by President Henry,” he said. “It just seemed like he was so incredibly well-read. I mean, no matter what topic the conversation turned to, he spoke intelligently on the subject.” Harlin applied to law school without having an undergraduate degree and said Henry helped him get in. “He really made it happen,” he said. “Without him assisting and making sure that the admissions committee took a real hard look at my unusual circumstance, I don’t think I would’ve actually ended up at law school there.” Harlin goes to Henry’s house and tunes his piano once a year. “He’s always warm,” Harlin said. “He’s interested in what I’m doing and where I’m heading and always offers assistance.” Not only does Harlin have a professional relationship with Henry, but a personal one as well, he said. “He’s the kind of man you want to have as your friend, have as your ally,” he said. “If something is going a little bit wrong, just to be able to call him up and say, ‘Hey, do you have any thoughts on this?’ I just really appreciate him a lot.” Harlin said Henry had a strong vision for OCU. “As president of the whole university, he cared about all the different schools and was trying to promote each of them as best as he could,” he said. Harlin said Henry’s legacy is impactful. “He didn’t really care which side of the aisle you were on, he just wanted to listen to you and move forward,” he said. “He’s leaving behind a legacy of collegiality in the true sense of the word.” Harlin said Henry will thrive in whatever path he chooses. “Wherever he goes, he’s going to be a huge asset to them in a lot of ways,” he said.

Politics professor impacted by Henry’s presidency, friendship Harrison Langford

COMMUNITY MANAGER

President Robert Henry formed a long-lasting bond with Dr. Mohamed Daadaoui, professor of political science, at the beginning of his tenure. They met during Henry’s first week of presidency in 2010. Daadaoui started as an assistant professor and said he was shocked when Henry arrived unannounced in his office to introduce himself. Henry came because he learned that Daadaoui did extensive research on the Middle East and North Africa. “That’s a common interest we both share,” Daadaoui said. “He wanted to have a

chat with me, and, since then, I’m proud to say he’s become one of my mentors and friends throughout the years.” Henry will retire as the university president June 30. Martha Burger will assume the role the next day. Daadaoui said Henry helped expand his sources of information and gave him books he added to his personal library. Daadaoui said the most important thing Henry taught him is to cultivate friendships. “It’s a lost art,” Daadaoui said. “In this age of social media and phones, we are constantly cloistered on these things. I think he himself loves to invest in new friends constantly and invest in new friendships with

interesting people, whether it’s faculty, students or people from the community.” Daadaoui said he is sad to see Henry retire as president. He said Henry has led OCU in a positive direction as far as outputting excellence in education within a liberal arts college environment. Daadaoui also said he will miss Henry’s speeches most. “I think he’s a gifted auditor. I’ve heard a lot of speeches in my life. I think he can draw on multiple references. I think he’s so versatile in his knowledge– encyclopedic,” he said. “It just comes to him naturally.”

I think he will go down in history as one of OCU’s greatest presidents, not only because he has kept us on a path of financial stability, but also because of the prestige that he brought to OCU and the kind of people that he has brought to the university. For me, President Henry is a person who strives to be open to the wisdom of all faiths and all peoples. At heart a learner, an erudite scholar, and then a teacher. His discussion of Shakespeare and international relations in my class was exceptional. Dr. Mohamed Daadaoui His several lectures on the judiciary to my government professor classes have always been a hit with students. And I always political science have had such a tough task lecturing after him. President Henry is truly a renaissance man, and an enlightenment man in the sense Voltaire spoke about it in Candide’s adage “il faut cultiver notre jardin” (We must cultivate our garden). President Henry has literally cultivated his many gardens, for he is a master gardener, but beyond Voltaire’s philosophical call to horticultural quietism, President Henry, in his corpus of life work, both public and private, has also embodied the moral maxim that I believe Voltaire intended in Candide, that we must strive to be the force of change in our milieu, finding real solutions to real world issues in order to improve our human coexistence and social condition. All things, President Henry has done and continues to do.

Elina Moon Student Publications

Much Ado About Robert Scott Higginbotham and Hugh Akin, trustee and executive director of the Hatton W. Sumners Foundation, surprise President Robert Henry with a viking hat at Much Ado About Robert on April 7 at the OCU School of Law in downtown Oklahoma City. Henry was presented with the Hatton Sumners Award. Right: President Robert Henry thanks the attendees at Much Ado About Robert. The event honored his tenure at OCU and was inspired by William Shakespeare, one of Henry’s favorite playwrights.

Law professor writes about Henry’s contributions, influence “Robert Henry has displayed his considerable talents in a number of arenas, including the state legislature, the attorney general’s office, the federal bench, the classroom, and OCU’s law school among them. I’ve been asked to say a few things about a small number of his accomplishments as OCU’s President, and I am delighted to do so. About 20 years ago, in an address to his Alumni Council, James Wright, the President of Dartmouth College, said that former Oklahoma Governor Alfalfa Bill Murray had described history as “just one ***-damned thing after another.” This might be accurate, but the sources with which I’m familiar have Murray saying this about the governorship, and in slightly different language. It was, he said, “one damn thing after another.” I’ve not heard President Henry say this about his time at OCU’s helm, but presiding over a university is an arduous adventure, with each day a festival of surprises. Hats off to anyone who survives this relatively intact. President Henry surely did this, even with the occasional medical procedure thrown in. And he will certainly leave April 11, 2018

us much better off than when he came to us. Many of the President’s most important achievements came in the area of stewarding resources. I served on the Academic Task Force, which was part of our prioritization effort to create a more strategic allocation of resources. This involved extensive program review and resulted in, among other things, a rethinking of admissions and recruiting strategies. The Art LeFrancois work was difficult, and not without controprofessor emeritus versy, but I think it had to be done, and while law President Henry was, by design, hands-off in the process, his leadership in initiating it was obviously crucial. Of at least equal importance was the University debt-restructuring that occurred under his leadership, a restructuring that was essential to the University’s continued vitality. Put another way, the importance of this debt-restructuring was directly proportional to how boring it

sounds. President Henry also sustained our long-running relationship with the Oklahoma United Methodist Conference and moved investments to the Oklahoma United Methodist Foundation. Other achievements of note include securing the match for the Priddy grant, resulting in the permanent establishment of our Center for Excellence in Teaching and Learning. Accreditation bodies affirmed the quality of our academic programs and our University leadership. As a professor (now emeritus) in the School of Law, I have experienced daily our magnificent downtown building, the acquisition of which was an immensely complex project achieved under President Henry’s aegis. There is much else of course, including new academic ventures like the Doctor of Psychology and the Physician Assistant program. But the President’s greatest achievement, perhaps, was doing his best (and that’s awfully, awfully good), every day, to position us to better serve future student generations and the many communities and constituents to whom we feel bound.” 3

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in the community

THE FIRST LADY Dr. Jan Henry defined her own title First lady Dr. Jan Henry changed the dynamic of the president’s wife’s role by working full time in a separate profession. Henry worked as a dentist in Oklahoma City throughout her husband’s presidency until she retired in May 2017. Robert Henry will retire as the 17th university president effective June 30. Martha Burger will assume the role the following day. After completing a degree in dentistry at the University of Oklahoma in 1989, Jan Henry became an assistant professor at the OU College of Dentistry. She published several articles in the Journal of Oklahoma Dental Association and worked as a practicing dentist until retirement. She also trained in advanced cosmetic dentistry at the Las Vegas Institute and has facilitated multiple health care research projects regarding victims of domestic violence. Henry is a member of the Omicron Kappa Upsilon Dental Honor Society and has received awards from the American Academy of Periodontology and the American Association of Women Dentists. Henry and her husband, President Robert Henry, have been involved in numerous philanthropic causes in Oklahoma. Jan Henry served on the Oklahoma Arts Council for seven years and won the Marilyn Douglass Memorial Award at the 35th Annual Governor’s Arts Awards in 2010. She is a founding member and past board president of Windsong Chamber Choir, and she collects native and western art. Henry said, when her husband became president of OCU, she spoke with Molly Boren, outgoing first lady at the University of Oklahoma in Norman, and Brenda McDaniel, former first lady of OCU, to learn more about the position. “I didn’t know what I was getting into, and I didn’t plan on quitting my job,” Henry said. “I worked full time when he

Every woman in this place is looking toward being a working professional, and I want them to know it's possible. Dr. Jan Henry first lady

started, and I didn’t know how I would balance my career or what my role would be. I still don’t really know.” Henry said she knew she would be different from the first ladies who had worked alongside their husbands for decades. The typical gender roles don’t necessarily apply to them, she said. “Robert is the cook and chooses our dinner. That’s not my forte at all,” she said. “I’m great at hosting, though, walking into a crowd and blending and fitting in.” Minh Ton, cell and molecular biology senior, is applying for dental schools and shadowed Henry in the dental office. Ton said Henry is a great role model for her. “Her patients all love her and would only have her for a dentist,” she said. “She is always very calm and patient, yet she always has a story to make things interesting. I could tell how much she loves being a dentist and a mentor to other kids just from those stories alone.” Henry said she is proud to show women they can support their husbands but have their own identities. “The one thing I am leaving with is that I make no apologies because I am a working professional,” she said. “Every woman in this place is looking toward being a working professional, and I want them to know it’s possible.” By Associate Editor Sage Tokach

Submitted Dr. Jan Henry, first lady of OCU, and President Robert Henry take a photo outside Bishop W. Angie Smith Chapel. Jan Henry worked full time as a dentist during most of her husband’s presidency. She participates in several philanthropic causes with her husband, but has a separate career of her own.

Henry receives interfaith awards, encourages peaceful conversation Zoe Travers

CONTRIBUTOR

A large part of President Robert Henry’s legacy is his interfaith work. Henry will retire as the 17th university president effective June 30. Martha Burger will assume the role the following day. During his time in office, Henry worked to promote interfaith dialogue and received several awards for his efforts. His awards include the Oklahoma Human Rights Award, the Myrtle Wreath Award for Humanitarianism from the Oklahoma City Chapter of Hadassah and the Oklahoma Israel Exchange Award. Henry received the Lifetime Achievement Award from the Dialogue Institute of Oklahoma City in March 2017. The Dialogue Institute is an organization established by Turkish-Americans with the purpose of creating peace and harmony among people.

Henry said focusing on commonality is crucial to interfaith work. “We are more alike than we are different,” Henry said. “Once you begin studying different faiths, you’ll find that people are after the same things in their faiths. They’re after comfort, understanding of who they are in the world, why they are here, and the desire to understand life and understand about death.” In an interview preceding his acceptance of the Dialogue Institute award, Henry said his most meaningful interfaith experience was with the “Say No to Hate” campaign, which he helped start in the late 1980s after Aryan supremacists desecrated a Jewish synagogue in Silver Spring, Maryland by painting “take a shower, Jew” on it. “It still horrifies me to recall that,” Henry said. Henr y represented the United States Judiciary at the Arab Judicial Forum, and he

served on the Council on Foreign Relations and on the board of directors for Foundation for the Future in Amman, Jordan. Henry said he’s proud of OCU officials for their close relations with the interfaith community and their willingness to let rabbis teach. “We’ve made our campus open to people of goodwill,” he said. Henry created the Islamic studies program in 2009 and chose the Imam Dr. Imad Enchassi to be in charge of it. “Whenever any religious group is victimized by some bad thing that happens, everyone on this campus comes to help, and, particularly now in the United States, our Muslim brothers and sisters have experienced a lot of discrimination,” Henry said. Enchassi said he appreciates that Henry is present during interfaith conversations. “His commitment is very refreshing, considering the political atmosphere,” he said. “His approach to interfaith

Student Publications a�chives President Robert Henry helps Wimberly School of Religion officials host a dedication service for a new spire before its installation on Bishop W. Angie Smith Chapel in 2011. The chapel’s original spire broke off during a windstorm in 2008.

dialogue is not only needed for us to live in a tolerant society, but also to achieve peace.” There is an Interfaith Prayer Room in Kramer School of Nursing, open 24 hours a day to all students. There is also an opportunity for an interfaith studies minor, and students can get involved with events like “Better Together Day,” which was this week. The day celebrates different religions and world views with love, not hate. Addison Saviers, religion freshman, is pursuing an interfaith studies minor. She said a big part of her college decision was related to interfaith

dialogue. “As members of the human race in the human family, it’s important to know about each other, our cultures, our faiths, our beliefs, to make it easier to live with each other,” Saviers said. “There’s no reason anyone should stay in their little bubble of people and not explore.” Saviers said the Wimberly School of Religion recently came up with an accommodation policy stating that students can be absent for religious holidays, even flying back home to celebrate with family. She also said people don’t have to be religious to be a part of inter-

faith conversations and said it’s actually very helpful for atheists and agnostic people to learn about more religions. “That’s what I love about the interfaith minor,” she said. “You don’t have to be religious to be a part of that minor.” Henry said he will continue to speak at churches and interfaith events after his retirement.

Henry connects with campus community through videos, tree plantings Sage Tokach

ASSOCIATE EDITOR

President Robert Henry connected to the campus community through videos, conversations and campus greenery. His ideas and programs connected OCU students, faculty and staff with their administrators and the school’s history. Henry will retire as the 17th university president effective June 30. Martha Burger will assume the role the following day. At the beginning of his presidency, Henry introduced himself to the campus community through videos in which he improvised characters. His videos included his cat Zoe going through the enrollment process at OCU, a Jurassic Park-themed campus tour, a one-man safari, and “Nubs,” a friendly campus squirrel running for the provost position. “I said Nubs the squirrel had ‘worked his tail off for the university and looked at the campus from every possible angle,’” Henry said. “Poor old Nubs must have passed into that great oak tree in the sky because we haven’t seen him for years.” Henry said he thought the videos would be a way to communicate with students before the campus knew him. “My son was an acting major here at OCU, so I’ve always been a bit of a ham,” he said. “I wanted to show the students that, despite my serious job, I had a sense of humor. The students here always play along and agree to participate in the filming when I ask.” Another fun way to meet students was through Hava Java cards, Henry said. Hava Java cards are coupons that students can redeem for a free coffee or soda at Market at Alvin’s. Henry started handing out the cards in 2011. “When students have bake sales outside the caf, I usually buy some baked goods and pass them out while students are eating lunch,” he said. “I sit down with the students, talk to them for a while and give them a Hava Java card. Every now and then, I figured they’d need a caffeine hit.” Beth Woodall, vocal performance senior, said Henry has become an iconic figure at OCU. “Who will be the main character of Lip Sync now?” Woodall said. “There’s always a President Henry who gets kidnapped or treats us to some morsel of wisdom at the end that reminds us April 11, 2018

Student Publications a�chives President Robert Henry prepares to plant a Cherokee Chief Dogwood tree on the Quad Lawn in Honor of Chief Wilma Mankiller for the 2011 Memorial Tree Planting. More than 100 trees were planted on campus during his presidency.

to be a star.” Henry said he hoped to improve campus life by planting trees to make the campus as beautiful as it could be. More than 100 trees were planted during his presidency, and OCU was given a Tree Campus USA recognition from the Arbor Day Foundation for outstanding commitment to urban forest management last year. Some of the trees are dedicated to former trustees and univer-

sity officials to keep OCU’s history alive, Henry said. Henry also helped organize the planting of a community garden on campus. “One of the first things God did was plant a garden, the Garden of Eden, so it seems like that’s a bit of a divine directive,” he said. “The chefs use the community garden from time to time, and trees add so much and give shade and make things cooler. Some of the trees are old friends.” Henry said one of his favorite campus improvements was the installation of the Chickasaw Warrior statue in 2011. Kelly Haney, law alumnus, told Henry about the sculpture at a funeral where Henry was speaking, and they discussed the idea for a sculpture garden with native stones and plants. Native American communities continue to host gatherings around the statue. “Oklahoma was never supposed to be a state. It was supposed to be the home for the five tribes and other tribes, and we owe so much to Indian culture and agriculture,” Henry said. “The U.S. has not been good to its First Nations, but the First Nations were good at collective effort.” One of his most cherished memories is when the Kiowa nation gave him an honorary Kiowa membership, Henry said. “The Kiowas are known for their painting and storytelling,” he said. “I like to tell stories too. I feel deeply honored by that.” Henry’s friend, Dr. Scott Momaday, a Kiowa artist and writer, came to OCU to read some of his poems. Momaday was one of the many guests proudly brought to campus in the last few years, Henry said. Other speakers Henry brought to campus include Sister Rosemary Nyirumbe, renowned humanitarian; Justice Sonya Sotomayor, associate justice of the Supreme Court; Dr. Matt Mountain, president of the Association of Universities for Research in Astronomy, and Dr. Kenneth Cooper, founder of aerobics. Henry said his main regret is not being able to teach more classes during his presidency. “I was only able to teach two classes, but I enjoyed that,” he said. “There’s so much work to do, so I try to look for other ways to find time with students.”