October 10, 2018 by MediaOCU

THE CAMPUS October 10, 2018 – Volume 112 Issue 7

University president puts OCU art in Wilson House Emily Wollenberg

ASSOCIATE EDITOR

The university president displays art from OCU artists in her new home, Wilson House. President Martha Burger moved into Wilson House, the house owned by the university for the president, Sept. 1. Burger became OCU’s president in July. The house is located on Blackwelder Avenue between the Oklahoma Children’s Theatre and the Ann Lacy Admissions and Visitor Center. It was built in 1975 by Architect George Seminoff. Florence Wilson, alumnus and trustee, donated the money to fund the house’s construction. The house has undergone few renovations since the ’70s, Burger said. Some of the furniture was already in the house when she moved in, and some she brought from her previous home. Many furniture pieces are antiques, passed down through her family. The two-story house has a master bedroom, three guest bedrooms, three bathrooms, a living room, a kitchen, a secondary living room area, a dining area, and a study. One of the guest bedrooms is named the “Sandra Day O’Connor Suite” after the Supreme Court justice who served on the court from 1981 to 2006. Former President Robert Henry had close relationships with many Supreme Court justices, and Burger said O’Connor stayed in the suite when the Henrys lived in the house. The Henrys lived in Wilson House for six out of the eight years of Henry’s presidency. Burger said the house was vacant, except for some of the Henry’s furniture, for two years until she moved in. Burger had two rooms in the house repainted and re-carpeted. “The facilities staff here at OCU did all of that work,” she said. “I am forever grateful for them.” The dark wood and furniture in the living room is tied together by an oil painting Burger bought while traveling in Morocco with the Henrys and Dr. Mohamed Daadaoui, professor of political science. She filled the house with art from her travels across the world and artists from OCU. She has a display case in the living room with mementos from Prague, Russia, Tanzania, Morocco, Israel, Mexico, Antarctica, and more. The living room can comfortably seat about 20 people, Burger said. The house can seat about 50 for dinner. “I haven’t had to do that yet,” she said. “But I can’t wait to.” Burger hosted a faculty and staff open house from 4-6 p.m. Friday. The event celebrated Burger’s 100th day in office. Between the living room and the master bedroom is a baby grand piano illuminated by skylights and an almost 10-foot-tall graphic painting created by Roger Lee White, former chairman of the School of Visual Arts in the 1960s. A tall, three-legged sculpture and a blue, geometric piece by Morgan Robinson, artist in residence for the School of Visual Arts, stand guard in front of the piano. Allegra Knight, visual arts junior, said she appreciates that Burger is displaying art from OCU artists. “I think any chance people get, they should purchase from artists they know. It’s good to encourage young artists and have

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Elina Moon Student Publications

President Martha Burger features art from the School of Visual Arts in Wilson House, the university-owned house for the president. Morgan Robinson, artist in residence for the School of Visual Arts, created the two sculptures, and Roger Lee White, former chairman of the School of Visual Arts, created the painting. Burger said the painting is her favorite piece of art in the house.

I was worried if I could ever make this place feel like home to me. When I saw this, I knew this was perfect. This was going to make it feel like home. Martha Burger university president

their work displayed," Knight said. Burger said she looked through the archives from the School of Visual Arts with Heather Lunsford, the school’s director, and chose the pieces she wanted. One of White’s paintings caught her eye immediately and made everything in the house come together, Burger said. “I was worried if I could ever make this place feel like home to me. When I saw this, I knew this was perfect. This was going to make it feel like home,” she said. Wilson House is a great place to display art from the school, said Burt Harbison, visual arts professor. “Since I’ve been here, I’ve always liked to have art there. For one thing, I know it’s secure and it’s seen,” he said. “The different presidents who have had art there have tried to show it off as much as possible.” Opposite the piano hangs a painting Burger painted herself.

Elina Moon Student Publications President Martha Burger gave Student Publications a tour of Wilson House, the university-owned house for the president. The house contains artifacts and mementos from Burger’s travels and antique furniture pieces, as well as paintings and sculptures from the School of Visual Arts. Burger painted the center painting decorated with multi-colored circles pictured above. The work has peace signs painted on it, which Burger said is her favorite symbol.

“I got a roller and masking tape to get the squares right, so this is, ‘an accountant tries to paint.’ I didn’t get much past circles,” she said. One her favorite pieces of art in the house is a vibrant portrait of a Cuban woman, Burger said. She purchased the portrait from a street art vendor while visiting Cuba. “I just love her. She’s got spunk, you can just tell,” she said. Past the Cuban portrait is the study, filled floor to ceiling with shelves displaying relics from Burger’s travels. Sparkling blown glass in vivid colors decorate the room. Burger said much of the glass artwork was gifted to her from Oklahoma State University, her alma mater, as recognition for her accomplishments and contributions to the school through the years. “They always give you orange glass,” she said. “I thought, ‘I just love the glass, but I want other colors besides orange,’ so I’ve actually bought blue glass for OCU.” Burger said she spends most of her time in a smaller living area, which has a television, comfortable seating, her desk with a Mac computer, and a small breakfast table. The upstairs area has two guest bedrooms that feature many more family heirlooms, antiques and pieces of art. Burger said she hopes to add an additional piece to the house from one of the female art professors. “I asked for two pieces to be framed that were done by a woman who taught in our art department in the early 1900s,” she said. “She had to be one of the first female art professors in the country.” Displaying the artist’s work in her house would mean a lot to her, Burger said. “Being the first female president, I really want to display women’s art,” she said. When asked by the university trustees if she intended to live in Wilson House when she became president of OCU, Burger happily accepted. “It is absolutely the right thing to do,” she said. “There’s so many things that I need to be here for in the evenings. If you’re home 10 miles away, you’re less likely to come back.” After the past few months living in the house, Burger said she loves the space and wants to let others enjoy it as well. “I hope to have student events here,” she said. “This is the university’s house.”

Campus police discuss removing or repairing blue emergency phones Caroline Hawthorne

STAFF WRITER

Campus police are discussing whether to remove or repair the blue emergency phone booths scattered around campus. The phones are located throughout campus to provide students with a way to access OCUPD immediately. They also provide a speaker for announcements to be made throughout campus in case of an emergency. Police Chief Jennifer Rodgers said the discussion began after a meeting with the Crisis Management Committee where someone suggested removing the blue phones. “I kind of like them,” Rodgers said. “Apparently several of them need to be replaced. Most campuses I’ve been on have the blue phones because they make a good effort to show that we are available in different ways.” About 20 blue phones are placed strategically around campus. Rodgers said four of them are broken. “Some of it is as minimal as the blue light overhead doesn’t work,” she said. The blue phones are only used about once a month, Rodgers said.

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Elina Moon Student Publications There are various blue emergency phone booths on campus as a way to contact OCUPD, including one outside Meinders School of Business.

Part of the reason why the blue phones may be taken down is because of the campus app, Rave Guardian, she said. The app was created this year for testing and can contact the OCUPD more easily, as well as provide a safety timer. The student assigns a guardian, such as a parent or friend, and sets a timer to get to their location. If the alarm is not turned off when time runs out, the campus police are notified. “If you were leaving the library, for example, at 10 p.m., and expect to be back at your dorm in 15 minutes, you let the guardian

know the time. If you do not turn off the alarm by then, your guardian is notified, as well as the OCUPD,” Rodgers said. “I have seen an increase in using this to call the OCU police. Students have been sending us more tips.” Budget will be a factor in whether or not the blue phones will be replaced. Rodgers said the department gets $40,000 a fiscal year for changes in safety. This year’s money is going into signs and new cameras. “I think replacing the blue phones is in the budget,” she said. “We do have some more to play with, and it will probably go into the phones or lighting. I see where we need to go. It just may take another three to four years.” Rodgers said she plans on sending out a survey to the campus to see what students think about the issue. Sammi Bronow, economics senior, said she dislikes the blue phones and prefers the app. “I wouldn’t feel comfortable using a blue telephone,” she said. “I feel more comfortable using the guardian app.”

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Get advice by emailing chawthorne@okcu.edu Watch a video of Student Publications receiving a tour of President Martha Burger's home

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See a gallery of pictures from the play Uncommon Women and Others