THE CAMPUS
PAGE 2 Opinion Troy Freeman, arts & entertainment editor, reviews the new “Mulan” movie.
September 30, 2020 – Volume 114 Issue 3
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Stephen Jackson Student Publications
OCU deletes student Facebook group Francesca Iacovacci
NEWS EDITOR
PAGE 3 Life Students remember the life of former Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg.
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PAGE 4 Sports The athletics department announced the postponing of fall sports.
Stephen Jackson Student Publications
The university’s social media team has suspended the official OCU Facebook group for students after the group’s guidelines were violated. Christin Byrdsong, music alumnus, was in the Facebook group and said there were a series of events that led to the group being suspended, starting with a post by a student about someone writing “Trump 2020” in chalk during the OCU Scholar Strike. For more on the Scholar Strike, go to MediaOCU.com. “What caused it all was that someone wrote ‘Trump 2020’ over something that was intended to stand in solidarity with victims of police brutality, and someone in the Facebook group responded and said that hate doesn’t stand at OCU,” he said. “Someone else then posted they felt they were discriminated against for being a Trump supporter, and I thought it was completely insensitive and disrespectful.” Before suspending the group, the “Oklahoma City University” Facebook page posted in the group
acknowledging the opinions shared on the post and in the comment section by students and alumni. The post said the university takes a neutral stance on political matters. “A University is a place for expression of ideas, and both conservative and liberal viewpoints are welcome at the University. Just like in this forum, expression of ideas are welcome, but not at the expense of attacking others with differing viewpoints. That is not the practice we want on social media or in person on our campus. Hate speech in any form will not be tolerated,” the post said. The post said any comments made on the post that incited division and hate would be deleted. It also said students should speak confidentially to a member of the university’s administration or contact socialmedia@okcu. edu if they feel they are being, or have been, discriminated against because of their political viewpoint. The Oklahoma City University Facebook page later suspended the OCU group. Kevin Windholz, vice president for enrollment management and university communications, said the social media team declined to
EDITOR-IN-CHIEF
A new gallery has opened in the Nora Jean Hulsey Gallery.
Jessica Vanek Student Publications
PAGE 6 News Students have joined protests in OKC to support the Black Lives Matter movement.
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move coming from a university that tries to preach discussion and cooperation.” He said different opinions are naturally found on social media. “Everybody has their opinions, and people who want to are going to be more inclined to share their opinions. It doesn’t really matter what page they’re on. Not everyone on the same Facebook page is going to have the same opinions because we all have different experiences, and that’s no one’s fault exactly. It’s just how the world is,” Bressler said. Bressler also said it’s important to voice concerns to the university. “You can’t have a decently working organization or university without some type of feedback,” he said. “Sometimes it can be less constructive and more critical, and I think that’s something we can work on. Overall, I think if the university can’t take feedback from its students, then there’s something wrong with the intake of information.”
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Facebook group continued on 6
OCU clarifies Title IX updates, regulations Paul Dower
PAGE 5 Arts & Entertainment
comment on the suspension and creation of these Facebook groups. Byrdsong said he thought it was the wrong decision to suspend the group after discussion of politics and the Black Lives Matter movement in the group. “OCU has a history of running from uncomfortable conversations rather than facing them head on, and by refusing to say, ‘Black Lives Matter,’ OCU ran from the conversation,” he said. “The Methodist Church has already stood in support of Black Lives Matter, so for OCU to make a statement saying they were neutral was a complete slap in the face to the students of color at OCU.” Brian Bressler, cell and molecular biology senior, said he didn’t think hate speech was shared in the posts or its comments to warrant suspending the page. “I don’t know if ‘hate speech’ would be the right word for it. I know a lot of sensitive subjects were discussed, and people’s feelings were hurt because of other opinions that didn’t really match their own, but I think hate speech is definitely the wrong word to describe what happened,” he said. “Honestly, it was kind of a weird
OCU’s Title IX Resource Team sent out an email informing students, staff and faculty about the U.S. Department of Education’s updates to Title IX regulations. On Aug. 17, Joey Croslin, Title IX coordinator, sent out an email to the campus announcing that Title IX updated its definition of sexual harassment and changed the processes for the initial intake meeting, live hearings and informal resolution process. These changes went into effect Aug. 14. Kristi Pendleton, civil rights investigator, said there were a lot of changes in the Title IX updates, but the email highlighted the ones that pertained most to students. She said one of the biggest changes came from the updated definition for sexual harassment becoming more exclusive. “That definition has changed in the sense that it is unwanted sexual conduct that is so severe, so pervasive and objectively offensive that it denies a person access to the education program or activity that is happening on campus,” Pendleton said. “You may think, ‘well, I remember that wording before,’ but there is one little word that changed in that definition. It used to be severe, pervasive or objectively offensive, and that change to ‘and’ means that all three components have to be met in order to satisfy the definition of sexual harassment from the Title IX perspective.” Pendleton said the process for the live hearings were updated to require the person filing the complaint to have an advisor, where previously the advisor was not required in the process. “Before, if there was a hearing process, let’s say I was brought up on a Title IX charge, and I
had a hearing. I would have to make the cross examination questions,” Pendleton said. “Now with the new regulations, what the Department of Education said is, ‘we’re not going to make the students do that now. Now it is the advisor’s responsibility.’” Another change made by the Department of Education is the decision to have a board of impartial people to decide the responsibility of the alleged harasser instead of the civil rights investigator. “As before, the Civil Rights Investigator will investigate complaints by conducting interviews to gather evidence and then will compile an investigative report. However, the investigator will not enter a finding of responsibility; that determination must now be made by impartial decision-makers after a live hearing,” the email read. The final change made by the Department of Education was implementing an informal complaint process. Pendleton said OCU already had this kind of process before the update. “If students say, ‘I don’t want to go through a formal hearing. That’s too much stress for me,’ or, ‘I just don’t feel like that’s what I want to do, but I’d like to find some type of resolution. I’d be willing to sit down with someone and talk about “are you willing to take responsibility for what happened to me, and what are some possible conflict resolution that we can do?”’ Those are also available,” Pendleton said. “Students have the right to change their mind and say, ‘I don’t want to go through a formal process,’ or change their mind and say, ‘I do.’” Pendleton said since the update to the definition for sexual harassment was made on the federal level, OCU is required to follow these changes. The Aug. 17 email highlighted the initial
OCU should say to students that every situation that you feel uncomfortable in, you should come forward with it.
Catherine Brown
music junior
intake meeting not because there were any changes made, but to emphasize the importance of that meeting, Pendleton said. “In our initial intake meeting, anytime a student makes a report or someone makes a report on behalf of that student, I always reach out to that student as soon as possible to talk to them,” she said. “We are going to go over all those options in the very first meeting.” Pendleton said the update that made the definition for sexual harassment stricter was made in response to previous regulations that some policy makers thought leaned too far to the victim side. “It is a narrowing of the definition. It’s a much stricter definition, for sure, and it’s not necessarily something I would say that colleges and universities were looking for,” Pendleton said. Catherine Brown, music junior, said she thinks the changes can be unfair to people who experience sexual harassment in a university setting. Title IX continued on 6
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opinion
OCU must maintain fairness in Title IX hearings The U.S. Department of Education recently updated some of their Title IX regulations which went into affect in August. The main update catching people’s attention is one making the definition of sexual harassment stricter. See page 1 for more information on the Title IX updates. People are concerned about who exactly these regulations are for. They only seem to serve the side of the potential offender. While this could prevent cases in which individuals make fake claims against an alleged offender, cases such as those happen less often than cases where victims are telling the truth. The new regulations make it easier for colleges or universities to simply ignore more cases of sexual harassment on the campus, so it seems the updates are more keen on protecting the alleged offenders and universities rather than victims of harassment. This doesn’t mean that OCU is going to overlook victims of sexual harassment, but these new regulations make it more difficult to remove harassers from positions of power. Even if the university wants to do something about the harasser, the updates to Title IX protect their actions as long as they only apply to two or fewer of the criteria for sexual harassment. In a collegiate setting, maintaining a sense
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of trust between the administration and vulnerable students who may be the target for sexual harassment is crucial to fostering safety across campus. The changes to the regulations also present a danger to the reporting system for incidents of sexual harassment. It already takes extreme courage to bring allegations of harassment or assault forward in a country that has entrenched itself in misogynistic, patriarchal values, and the reporting process may now seem less reliable. However, OCU can still take measures to try to counteract this new update. OCU, first and foremost, needs to take every person who comes forward with these allegations seriously, even if their allegations don’t meet the new criteria standards of sexual harassment. OCU also needs to continue taking whatever steps necessary to make that person feel safe on campus. This will encourage students to share their experiences and remind them the university truly has their interests at heart. As an institution of higher learning, OCU has an obligation to maintain a sense of safety for its students, even when the government allows them not to.
Colton Tompkins is film junior. He enjoys going to class and being a responsible student. Go Stars!
“Rusty Quill Gaming Podcast” has fantasy, fun for all I find few things more tempting these days than escapism. I try to wrap myself in the comforts of a story where the agency of a protagonist remains to guide the reader through the strife of the journey. One of my favorite stories has been in the making since 2015, and it’s still going strong. I am writing about the “Rusty Quill Gaming Podcast,” a tabletop roleplaying game actual-play podcast hosted by a group of British nerds and improv comedians. The hosts of the podcast play “Pathfinder,” a tabletop roleplaying game similar to “Dungeons and Dragons.” It’s a project of collaborative storytelling; the gamemaster Alexander J. Newall sets the scenes and presents scenarios which the cast then roll dice and act their way through. The main plot line follows a
cast of characters exploring a steampunk pseudo-Victorian world filled with magic and machinery. The creators at “RQG” create a safe environment for storytelling, and they aim to keep their podcast family-friendly (meaning no swears) and accessible to those unfamiliar with tabletop games in general. The only downside is it makes the first dozen episodes a bit slow since the players are learning how the game works alongside the listener. Luckily, the humor holds everything together. The creators continuously crack jokes in and out of character, and they take each scenario as an opportunity to find fun and exploration amidst the number-crunching. They develop in-jokes and foster a sense of community with each other and the audience that contin-
Luke Barrett is an acting senior from the edges of time. They enjoy all aspects of geekery, collecting the bones of things long dead and antifascist music.
ues to pull me back again for another listen. The beginning cast features a halfling who wishes he was cool, a knight who hates tables, a dwarf who just needs a hug and a sentient knife collection named Sasha. This eclectic crew stumbles through the streets of London investigating crime, pretending to be statues and even diving into raw sewage, all in the name of glory and fame. In other forms of media, the above list might be too incoherent to wrangle into a complete narrative, but the game allows the players to
work cooperatively to play to their strengths in turn, keeping the action streamlined. The podcast members also often play other games to introduce the listener to new games and take a break from the rules of “Pathfinder.” My favorite episodes of the podcast come from their “Beowulf ” special, in which the performers follow the epic hero in order to stop the monster “Grendel” from wreaking havoc. Given that most of the cast members have a background in literature or history, there are as many jokes about Old English as there are about Scanned by CamScanner
being a large, hairy man with big sword. I would highly recommend the “Thanes of Beowulf ” special to beginning listeners, as it’s a quick, high-octane introduction to the podcast and the experience of listening to people play a board game many thousands of miles away. “RQG” also isn’t all comedy and slapstick violence. The story delves into issues of morality, grief, loss and, eventually, a global pandemic (created several months before the onset of COVID-19). The actors handle these moments with tact and nuance, allowing these heavier moments to carry just as much weight as their quick-witted banter. I have been frequently moved by their poignant reflections on personal loss and the struggles of moving on in a fast-paced world where there seems to never be enough time
to take a long rest. Fantasy tabletop games are more than hobbyist activities for geeks and calculator-lovers. There is a security in listening to characters explore what a quarantine feels like because it means there are people working through that experience. The core of “RQG” is consistently moral but never heavy-handed, allowing the listener to react to story beats as they would any good literature. Whether it’s for the fantasy, the found family or the fun, “Rusty Quill Gaming” has set itself apart as a narrative experience, and there are few projects I’ve enjoyed listening to as much as this one. Whether you’re a hardcore geek, a story-lover or you just need something new to listen to, I would highly recommend giving the “Rusty Quill Gaming Podcast” a go.
Film critic deems “Mulan” a “marvel of visual storytelling” In early September, Disney’s “Mulan” remake opened with a limited theatrical release – and a Disney+ rental – to a mixed reaction from critics and fans. On paper, “Mulan” was a loss. However, Disney is tight-lipped about their streaming subscriber numbers, so whether “Mulan” will still be a success has yet to be seen. For the time being, we only know “Mulan” as the controversial spectacle which Disney is undoubtedly relieved to finally have off their hands. The trouble with “Mulan” is tied closely to the story of a capitalist corporation attempting to navigate the cultural complexities of two vastly different world powers. It would take a novel to explain the context around this story. What I can do is run through the series of controversies leading up to the movie we got. The film’s first three years of development seemingly went well. The ultra-high budget production was shot
on location throughout China and New Zealand. The cast was stacked with some of the most popular Chinese and Asian American performers. The hype was still high when the first trailer dropped in July 2019 to 175 million views on YouTube within the first day. Things took a turn for “Mulan” shortly after leading lady, Yifei Lui, made a series of controversial comments about the protests in Hong Kong. Quickly, fans from across the world made a viral hashtag calling for a boycott. The next controversy was in February 2020 when Disney revealed they would be editing out Mulan’s love interest, “Li Shang,” in response to the concern that her love interest being in a position of authority would be an inappropriate element. LGBTQ+ advocates argued Li Shang is one of the few bisexual representatives in Disney’s repertoire and editing him out of the film is more an example of LGBTQ+ erasure than an active step towards progress.
Troy Freeman is a music theater senior from somewhere in Texas. He likes Malcolm Gladwell books and “High School Musical 3.”
Finally, in the same month, director Niki Caro was criticized for being a white director heading an entirely Asian cast in a story filled with Asian history. Not all was problematic, however. When the film dropped on Disney+, much of the backlash was replaced by an enthusiasm for the positive cultural steps towards inclusion and diversity in Hollywood. Many critics have dismissed “Mulan,” saying the filmmaking was uninspired and the script was rushed. I have seen many reviews suggest the totality of elements ripped from the original left its little sister with little to enjoy. I couldn’t disagree more. While the political context
around the film leaves me with concerns, the movie itself did not. I thought Disney’s “Mulan” was a marvel of visual and thematic storytelling. Not only was the cinematography stunning and the scenery breathtaking, but the design was specific and educational. Several times during the movie I asked my friends about the setting. Every piece of clothing, prop and set piece was chosen with care. The result was a movie that celebrated the rich wonders of Chinese history. Specificity helped the story’s themes shine. Mulan isn’t just an inspiring figure because of what she does. She is an inspiring figure because of what she does in the time she does it. What the
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In many ways, Xianniang’s arc is the heart of the movie and creates a beautiful piece of dualism between her and Mulan. Unfortunately, the limited running time resigned them to only a couple interactions before the satisfying conclusion. If “Mulan” had more movies planned for the setting, the filmmakers would have had room to explore the themes and create something special. I used to say no story takes 3 hours to tell. I now know – partly because of “Mulan” – that some stories do. Some stories are so special, they take time to tell, and cutting them down takes away what could have been. I loved “Mulan.” So much so, I wish there were more of it. Unfortunately, there isn’t, and what we are left with is a flavor of what could have been. “Mulan” wasn’t great, but it was special. It needed to exist. I look forward to seeing Disney continue to invest in women and performers of color.
The Campus has served the Oklahoma City University community since 1907. It is published Wednesdays during the academic year, with the exception of holidays and exam periods.
September 30, 2020, Volume 114, Issue 3
Editor-in-chief: Paul Dower Managing Editor: Luke Barrett Photo Editor: Stephen Jackson News Editor: Francesca Iacovacci Lifestyle Editor: Jessica Vanek Arts & Entertainment Editor: Troy Freeman Sports Editor: MaKayla Baxter
script lacked in substance, the filmmaking made up for in grandeur. Every 10 minutes or so, I would loudly comment that “Mulan” made me feel the way I felt during “Lord of the Rings.” If anything, this comparison is the key to my only complaint. “Mulan” was too short. While the original was a simple five-act family film, the remake movie introduced a slew of new elements that didn’t have time to breathe. The world the new movie inhabits has a spiritual system called “Chi,” which gives certain people special abilities to manipulate the natural world. Mulan is one of these people, and she is thematically countered by her antagonist, a witch named “Xianniang,” played by Gong Li. Xianniang is a mysterious outcast who is helping the Rouran warriors invade China. The Chinese people’s misconceptions about her power forced her to become a reject with the intent to take revenge on her people.
Video Editors: Josh Eliot Shelby O'Brien Columnists: Luke Barrett Paul Dower Troy Freeman Francesca Iacovacci
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September 30, 2020
lifestyles
Students reflect on legacy of Justice Ginsburg Jessica Vanek
LIFESTYLES EDITOR
Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg, the second woman to be elected to the supreme court, recently died at age 87. Ginsburg was born in 1933 and fought for gender equity. Ginsburg served as a judge of the United States Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia for 13 years and later served as the associate justice of the Supreme Court of the United States from 1993 to 2020. Abby Banks, political science/philosophy/economics junior, said she has always had an interest in politics and law. Banks said Ginsburg has empowered her in many ways. “I can’t help but feel grateful,” Banks said. “Being a part of law is still a male-dominated field, and we, as women, have to take steps beyond what a male would have to take. RBG made that a little easier for us.” Ginsburg was inducted into the National Women’s Hall of Fame in 2002, named on the “Forbes World’s 100 Most Powerful Women” list in 2004, and named one of “Time’s 100 Women of the Year” in March 2020. Banks said Ginsburg paved the way for other women in government. “RBG is one of those people who made it possible for women to think that even getting a degree in politics is something they can do. She made sure there was no discrimination on the basis of sex, fought for women to sign up for credit cards, and the list goes on and on,” Banks said. Throughout her life, Ginsburg was diagnosed with five different types of cancer, including colon cancer, pancreatic cancer and lung cancer. She only missed one day of work due to her treatments. Banks said Ginsburg was essential in the fight for gender equity. “I’m extremely grateful for her life and the legacy she has made in the United States,” Banks said. “I can’t express my gratitude enough for what she did for women like me.” Sarah Landrum, political science/acting sophomore, said she admires how Ginsburg fought until the very end of her life.
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Fight for the things you care about
Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg was born in 1933 in New York. Ginsburg studied at Cornell University, Harvard University and Columbia University. She served in office from 1980-2020.
“I’ve always been a fan of Ruth Bader Ginsburg. I grew up in a very conservative home, but when I heard there was a woman in the supreme court, it was motivation for a young me,” Landrum said. “I aspire to be as dedicated and invested to working for my country and my fellow citizens and women.” Landrum said Ginsburg opened the door for the diversity of opinions. “For a woman of her age, she was a fantastic role model,” Landrum said. “I truly hope the lesson we learn from her is
that we have to take what our role models of the past have done and do better.” Lisi Levy, acting senior, said it is important to know about Ginsburg’s legacy. “In the time between her death and now, I’ve learned a lot about the complex legacy she leaves. She was obviously an important figure to women’s rights, and also the first Jewish woman on the Supreme Court,” Levy said. “I also learned about some Supreme Court decisions that were controversial regarding Indigenous rights. While I can love and honor her, we can’t just glorify a person. She would want to be honored and challenged in her memory. I don’t think it’s speaking ill of the dead to challenge decisions.” Levy said Ginsburg’s death was symbolic during the time of the Jewish new year. “She passed on Rosh Hashana, and at first it took me aback. Someone dying on Rosh Hashana is the sign of someone’s importance. It means a lot for the Jewish community that she passed away on such a sacred holiday. It’s sad, but it’s beautiful,” Levy said. “My rabbi described it as a call to wake up and a call to fight. I thought that could not be more apropos.” Kaylila Pasha, acting senior, said she didn’t know the impact that Ginsburg had on her until recently. “I didn’t know until recently that women couldn’t have credit cards or could be fired for having children before the 70’s. These are things I always took for granted, and I didn’t realize it was due to Justice Ginsburg,” Pasha said. Pasha said people must vote to uphold Ginsburg’s progress. “If we want to see Justice Ginsburg’s legacy live on, we have to vote to ensure that the legislation she fought to pass is upheld by the Supreme Court,” she said. Students can check their voter registration status for the Nov. 3 national election via vote.org.
Greek organizations adopt diversity, inclusion boards Josh Eliot VIDEO EDITOR
O C U ’s G r e e k L i f e organizations are adopting diversity and inclusion committees. Maya Momon, dance management senior and Alpha Phi president, said Alpha Phi began talking about a potential diversity and inclusion committee when the Black Lives Matter protests gained further media coverage this summer. “We were talking this summer about how maybe we should have a diversity and inclusion chair or person, but if it’s one person, that is the most taxing thing,” Momon said. Momon said there are two people from each grade on Alpha Phi’s diversity and inclusion committee. “That way, once this presidency ends and I’m gone, this is a lasting thing that continues,” Momon said. Katelyn Curtin, acting
We actually want to help and change the world.
Darius Freeman
diversity chair Lambda Chi Alpha
senior and Phi Mu president, said the Black Lives Matter movement played a role in the creation of Phi Mu’s diversity and inclusion task force. “Mackenzie Vanvee, one of our sisters, reached out about doing a Black Lives Matter fundraiser, and I was super on board,” Curtin said. “I didn’t want to stop there, so I created this task force over the summer and now we have some freshmen on it too, which is really awesome.” Curtin said Phi Mu’s National Conference has created a diversity and inclusion task force.
“There will be collegiate and alum representation on that board, and I think that’s really important that there’s national leadership provided for each organization, because when it happens on a broader scale, it’s much easier to educate those individual chapter members,” Curtin said. Curtin said Phi Mu’s diversity and inclusion board has already started working with its chapter members. “During recruitment process, we worked a lot on implicit bias and what that looks like in sorority life,” Curtin said. Russ Tallchief, director
of student diversity and inclusion, said it’s great to see diversity and inclusion spreading throughout universities across the country. “We’re thinking more inclusively as a country, while simultaneously we have these race riots and we have so much conflict. Concurrently with that, we’re seeing places like universities start to formalize diversity inclusion into their institutional programming,” Tallchief said. Darius Freeman, acting senior and diversity chair for the OCU chapter of Lambda Chi Alpha, said Lambda Chi also recently added a diversity and inclusion chair and small committee. “I am the chair, and I have two or three people that are on my diversity committee,” Freeman said. Freeman said Lambda Chi’s diversity and inclusion committee has been active through the fraternity’s Facebook group and Zoom
meetings. “For now, we’re just posting things on our Facebook, whether it be things going on in the news or just little articles that I think could be important, and then at meetings I’m giving a presentation just talking about something going on in the world. It doesn’t even have to be just about Black people, but just about people of color and people of the LGBT community,” Freeman said. Freeman said he hopes the Lambda Chi’s diversity and inclusion committee will help end stigma about fraternities not caring about important issues. “I wanted to be involved with the actual diversity and inclusion person on campus, so I could at least mediate things that go on and try and get this stigma away from fraternities that we just don’t care when we actually have opinions. We actually want to help and change the
world,” Freeman said. Gretchen Bush, vocal education freshman, said she believes every campus organization should have a diversity and inclusion board. “I think that no matter what it is, whether it’s your major or a club that you’re in, or a sorority or a fraternity, it should have a diversity and inclusion board,” Bush said. Curtin said she believes the diversity and inclusion committees will benefit sorority life. “ When you have an inclusive, equitable and diverse group of sisters, your sisterhood and connection is overall going to be better, and I think that’s the goal at the end of the day,” Curtin said.
Law professor publishes book about women’s property Jessica Vanek
LIFESTYLES EDITOR
An OCU Law professor is publishing her second book. Law Professor Carla Spivack’s book, “Feminist Judgments: Rewritten Trusts and Estates Opinions,” was released this September. It consists of rewritten legal opinions and explanations judges may attach to cases explaining their rulings. Spivack edited the book along with Deborah S. Gordon from Drexel University and Browne C. Lewis from North Carolina Central University. “We took several opinions that had gender issues in them, and then we rewrote the opinion to come out the other way and sort of bring out the gender issues. Then someone else wrote a commentary on the rewritten opinion, sort of explaining how it expressed the gender issues and providing legal context for it,” she said. “Feminist Judgments” is part of a larger body of work, Spivack said. “‘Feminist Judgments’ is part of a series published by Cambridge University Press,” she said. “This is maybe the third or fourth book of supreme court opinions dealt with the same way. There are family law opinions, property law, a whole bunch of other stuff.” Spivack published her first book, “The Smart Woman’s Guide to Property Law,” last spring. “It’s sort of a legal guide for women to keep from losing property that they have a right to,” Spivack said. “The basic point of the book is that law looks like it treats people equally on the surface, but when it’s applied to people it can come out with really inequable results, since men’s and women’s social positions are so different. We were thinking people need to be aware of that and protect themselves from it.” Spivack said her students support her work. “A lot of my students bought it, and someday I may even autograph it for them since they can’t get in the building,” she said. “People might be put off because it’s a law book, September 30, 2020
but it’s not written like a law book at all. It tells stories of things that happened to people, and it’s super readable.” Spivack said she was inspired by the world around her to study law. “If you’re actually trying to help people deal with injustice and even make change to make things more fair, then law is the way to do that,” she said. Spivack said she had personal experiences with the inequities of property law. “My parents had divided financial responsibilities in the house. What my dad did was taxes, and my dad did not like paying taxes. So, he found all of these semi-unacceptable ways around to get deductions,” she said. “It takes the IRS a few years to catch those things, so when he died my mother was left with this tax bill, and she had no idea.” Jessica Brown, law alumna, said Spivack made a positive impact on her life. “Whenever I got her book, I saw she had thanked me in the foreword, and I cried,” Brown said. “She was a fierce advocate for me and a huge proponent for not only women, but people in general. She treats everyone like a human.” Brown said Spivack’s book is important because it shines a light on the current world. “She highlights the inequities that exist in the law and how societal stereotypes are and ways to avoid that,” she said. Spivack said the point of the book is to prepare women for difficult situations. “One thing I say in the book a lot is that you need to pay attention to these things,” she said. “Dividing up the finances isn’t enough, and you need to actually know what’s going on.” “Feminist Judgments” is now available on the Cambridge University Press website.
“Matter” is the minimum Emma Krajicek, music theater junior, promotes Black Lives Matter at a demonstration on the quad. The demonstration takes place at 11:30 a.m. every Friday. Read more about the demonstration at MediaOCU.com.
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sports
OCU Athletics postpones fall 2020 season MaKayla Baxter
SPORTS EDITOR
OCU Athletics has postponed the 2020-21 season due to COVID-19 concerns. The decision, announced Sept. 20, comes after the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics canceled all fall championships with the intention of rescheduling them to the spring portion of the season. “The health and safety of our student-athletes, as well as all involved in our championship events, is the NAIA’s highest priority,” the NAIA national office stated in an announcement in March. “We will continue to monitor COVID-19 developments and NAIA leadership will work closely with our member institutions to determine the best path forward for future NAIA events, including all spring 2020 championships.” Bill Popp, president of the NAIA National Administrative Council and director of athletics at Reinhardt University, said the National Administrative Committee of the NAIA is confident in their decision to reschedule the fall championships. “We feel good about resetting these dates after taking a good look at our fall championship events, and being able to find dates that fit our membership and most of our host venues,” Popp stated in a memo on the official NAIA website. “This was a tough task and the group that has been working together both from the national office and NAC have really done an exceptional job. My hat is off to them for their hard work.” The Sooner Athletic Conference, subject to NAIA guidance
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regarding practices and non-conference competitions, followed suit in moving all fall league championships to spring 2021. The university’s decision primarily affects fall and winter sports, with cross country, soccer, wrestling, volleyball and basketball delaying all games and competitions until the spring semester. Jim Abbott, OCU athletics director, said university administration made the decision to delay the season in conjunction with the athletic department. “The primary consideration was the health and well-being of student athletes, non-student athletes, faculty and staff,” Abbott said. “We wanted to avoid sending teams to interact with people outside our campus, sometimes requiring physical contact.” Abbott said the men and
women’s golf season will continue as scheduled, making it the only fall sport unaffected by the announcement. “Golf is played outdoors with no physical contact, and it is very easy to physically distance,” Abbott said. “Also, the three golf tournaments our teams are competing in are all in Oklahoma City, so they won’t require significant travel or contact. That was the one sport we felt most confident in being able to continue.” Abbott said the news was disappointing for affected coaches and student athletes. “I think everyone understands, but when you take away what people are passionate about, it is naturally emotionally difficult,” Abbott said. “It’s challenging, but we all understand that the priority here is the university. We are committed to
doing everything we can to further Oklahoma City University.” Brett Tahah, head women’s basketball coach, said her team is handling the news with grace. “The girls are staying incredibly positive, and we are looking forward to picking back up in January,” Tahah said. “We’re still working extremely hard and keeping up our work ethic towards our goals.” Tahah said practices will continue with COVID-19 precautions, primarily focused on skill work and conditioning. “Practices are basically staying the same as they were at the beginning of the semester,” Tahah said. “We’re still working in small groups and doing a lot of weight lifting to keep in shape for our new spring season, and are being overly cautious on everything we’re doing to help mitigate the spread.”
Tahah said the trials the team has faced have helped her grow as a coach. “As a coach, I feel like it’s been great because I’ve gotten to know the girls over the past couple weeks on a different level since we’ve been working in smaller groups,” Tahah said. “That has been really helpful for me.” Olivia Nutter, volleyball middle blocker junior, said the announcement was disappointing but did not come as a surprise. “However, it was a little shocking that we found out so late. Our first game was supposed to be around Oct. 16, so we had been practicing and conditioning, and because we were getting really close, we were starting to think we were going to go ahead with the full season. So, that was upsetting,” Nutter said. Nutter said the volleyball team members have helped each other cope with the news. “We’re all really good friends, so we’ve been there for each other through all this,” Nutter said. “We’re just trying to look at the fall semester as extra practice time, so we can hopefully come out of this really strong in the spring.” Nutter said she is optimistic about the spring season. “It’s really sad to think about the fact that we would be well into our normal season by now if things were normal, and it’s kind of weird to think about playing in the spring, but I do think it was probably a smart choice,” Nutter said. “I understand why they made the decisions they did. I’m not too upset about it, because at least we will have a
season at all. I know we will have a season at some point.” Nutter said the team will continue taking as many COVID-19 precautions as possible throughout the semester and into the spring season. “As it is, we spread out our water bottles, can’t be too close to each other, and have to wear masks during practice, and I’m sure all that will continue when the season actually starts,” Nutter said. “I’m sure when we start playing other teams we’ll have to be even more strict and have more to think about, like how often we sanitize everything. Our athletic department has made sure we’re all staying safe and healthy, so I have faith that it will be okay.” Nutter said even with the added precautions and schedule changes, she is excited to one day get back on the court and compete. “I’m just looking forward to being able to play six-on-six with my team again,” Nutter said. “We miss it, and I’m just excited that we will be able to play at all.” Nutter said the season delay has brought the entire university athletic department closer. “We’re being more empathetic and understanding towards each other because we know how hard it is not being able to do what we love and what we came to this school to do,” Nutter said. For sports-related COVID19 updates, visit OCUSports. com.
Meyers named 2019-20 SAC men’s golf student athlete Hannah Prentice STAFF WRITER
David Meyers, mass communications senior, was named the 2019-20 Sooner Athletic Conference men’s golf student athlete of the year. The award honors both academic and athletic accomplishments of student athletes throughout the league. Athletes were nominated by sports information directors from member institutions, and all nominees were required to meet the minimum criteria of having been named to the academic all-SAC teams. Meyers received a 3.387 cumulative grade-point average last semester. His additional academic awards were Golf Coaches Association of America all-America scholar, three-time commissioner’s honor roll and academic all-conference. Meyers said he was excited to receive this award. “It was awesome, really just very cool to hear I had won this award,” Meyers said. “It’s one thing to get a golf award, but getting specifically a student athlete award makes it just that much better.” Meyers said the award is the first he has ever received honoring not only his athletic achievements, but his academic achievements as well. “It’s not really my area, so to get an award like this was just so touching,” Meyers said. Meyers said he thinks his educational dedication over the last year played a part in being nominated for the award. “I kind of started working harder on balancing and managing my time better last semester,” Meyers
said. “I feel like for school I was focused and successful regarding time management, and golf-wise I was really consistent in my game.” Andy Crabtree, head men’s golf coach, said he also believes Meyers’ academic commitment makes him stand out. “I am very proud of David for his commitment to earn his degree,” Crabtree said. “He puts in a tremendous amount of work. To be a student athlete and to accomplish what he has done, that doesn’t come easy.” Crabtree said Meyers has a deep drive for success both on and off the golf course. “A lot of people just don’t understand how many hours someone has to put into honing their golf game,” Crabtree said. “When he is tired after being on the golf course all day, he still goes home and does hours of homework.” Meyers said he thinks his consistent athletic dedication and improvements also helped him in the nomination process. “I think I only finished outside of the top five once at all of the tournaments last year,” Meyers said. “In the last year, my wedge game has gotten a lot better. I also think I’ve improved on putting a score together when I am not playing my best.” Meyers closed out the 2019-20 season with a 71.44 stroke average per round, with 64 birdies and three eagles. He was named SAC player of the year, SAC men’s golf athlete of the year, two-time receiver of the NAIA all-American and all-conference awards, two-time Jack Nicklaus player of the year semifinalist, and NAIA all-freshman. He ranks No. 2 in OCU history in career stroke average (72.03) with five wins.
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Driven toward excellency
David Meyers, mass communications senior, was named the 2019-2020 SAC men’s golf student athlete of the year. Meyers received a 3.387 cumulative GPA last semester and closed the 2019-2020 season with a 71.44 stroke average per round.
Meyers, originally from South Africa, said he hopes to continue his success in golf on the professional level after graduation. “Eventually I want to play on the PGA tour here in America,” Meyers said. “I want to play some of the smaller tours before that. Hopefully after I graduate in May, I will be able to go and play on those smaller tours for a few years and see how that goes.” Crabtree said he believes Meyers has the skill
and work ethic to achieve his goals after graduating. “We are producing winners, leaders and very well-rounded student athletes with both a commitment to academics and a commitment to golf,” Crabtree said. “We have had other OCU golfers go on to play professional golf, and we believe David is on the right path to do that, too.”
Volleyball leads preseason polls MaKayla Baxter
MaKayla Baxter
SPORTS EDITOR
SPORTS EDITOR
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Spike for Success The 2019-20 OCU Stars pose for their annual volleyball team photo. The team went undefeated for 33 consecutive games last season and placed 16th in the 2019 NAIA Championships after a program record-breaking victory streak, directly impacting the 2020-21 SAC preseason poll results.
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OCU volleyball secured the No. 1 spot in the 202021 Sooner Athletic Conference preseason volleyball poll. The Stars garnered all possible first place votes from the league’s coaches, amounting to 100 total points. OCU was followed by Texas Wesleyan University with 87 points, John Brown University with 82 points and Southwestern Assemblies of God University with 75 points. Catelyn Vargas, exercise/ sports science junior and middle blocker, said she was happy to see the team rank higher than previous
seasons. “I think we were voted eighth last year, so being voted No. 1 is amazing,” Vargas said. “It’s a huge step for us as a team.” Vargas said the team’s hard work over the last year helped improve their 2020-21 preseason ranking. “We made sure we stayed focused and made sure everybody knew that we needed to be in the top spot,” Vargas said. Kenady Bertling, political science junior and middle blocker, said many team members were not surprised by the poll’s results. “Our conference is a bit on the weaker side, and with the way we played last year, we were excited to see how
the poll would turn out,” Bertling said. “We won every single conference game and went undefeated until we got to nationals, and our team is really, really strong overall. So, it just makes sense to me that we would get the top spot.” OCU (34-4) went undefeated for 33 consecutive games last season and ranked 16th in the 2019 NAIA Championships after a program record-breaking streak, passing its previous program mark for longest winning string of 24 victories in a row from Sept. 9 – Nov. 30, 2016. For more information about the volleyball team, visit MediaOCU.com.
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Norick Art Center opens light-themed exhibition Tyler Robbins
STAFF WRITER
The Nona Jean Hulsey Gallery in the Norick Arts Center has a new installation on display. “Lights on the Horizon,” a visiting installation of interpreted and visual casted light from the collection of Christian Keesee, is now on display. The installation features a video projection light installation by Chad Mount and works by various artists. The exhibit is one of several funded by the Kirkpatrick Family Fund as part the “Bright Golden Haze: Reflections,” series, each of which uses light thematically and responds to the Oklahoma Contemporary’s inaugural exhibition “Bright Golden Haze.” Heather Lunsford, gallery director, said the Hulsey Gallery is a noncollecting venture, meaning they only house traveling exhibits. Julie Maguire, curator of the “Lights on the Horizon” show, said light is more than meets the eye. “Given the visual nature of most art, one can say that light is a part of all artwork,” Maguire said. “With the rise of modernism and electric light, artists have increas-
ingly sought to utilize light as the artwork itself.” Maguire said the artwork on display embodies a diverse background spanning multiple time periods, styles and subject matter, all pulling on a specific element to bring them to fruition. “The element is light and how the human eye perceives light in all dimensions,” she said. “Lights on the Horizon” consists of work from Oklahomans such as Chad Mount, whose “Meadow Rhythms” explores the color spectrum cast from a meadow sunset on the horizon. Mount said the interactive art piece works in collaboration with projection and auditory elements. “Sunsets have the effect of scattering light across a greater atmospheric zone of the sky,” Mount said. “At sunrise, there is more focused light around the sun, and the light leans more towards the blue and violet spectrum.” Maguire said Olafur Eliasson’s “Shadow Projection Lamp” is an example of artificial light and shadow perspective. “A circular glass disc with concentric mirrored rings are oriented vertically
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on a tripod with a small light shining directly onto the glass,” Maguire said. “This reflection casts a spiral shadow onto the opposite wall. Eliasson has utilized reflection to manipulate the light wave and bounce it back onto the wall so that a viewer then sees the shadow.” Sierra Pratola, dance freshman, said she was interested in seeing artwork on campus. “I didn’t know we had an art gallery at OCU,” Pratola said. “I love to view others’ work and will definitely visit if I have the time.” Maguire said “Lights on the Horizon” features a broad pool of pieces and works. It highlights only a small part of how light can be perceived and interpreted. “It is hoped the viewer’s sight will be challenged and expanded by these artworks and the learned experience can be applied to artwork seen in the future,” Maguire said. The curated exhibition will be on display 8 a.m. - 5 p.m. weekdays until Oct. 13 in the Hulsey Gallery. Admission is free to the public.
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Creating magic in stories
Oklahoman artist Holly Wilson speaks to students in her talk, “Native Thoughts in Contemporary Art.” She spoke about her art and the impact one’s culture has on the artistic process of creation. The talk was Sept. 24 in the Nora Jean Hulsey Gallery in Norick Arts Center.
Music theater group creates anti-type production Troy Freeman ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT EDITOR
OCU STRIPPED announced its season’s first production theme and date. The STRIPPED production, “Reclaiming and Reinventing: A Night to Challenge Type,” is a part of their performance project series, a collection of in-person and prerecorded showcases taking the place of the Wanda L. Bass School of Music spotlight series. M e g h a n R o o n e y, music theater senior and STRIPPED co-director, said the School of Music asked the STRIPPED team to be the virtual performance study option over the summer, and the members of STRIPPED spoke to Dr. David Herendeen, director of opera and music theater, about what they could do. “We were kind of left to do whatever we want for the performance study. Dr. H told us what he was doing, and we were wondering what would be most helpful for students here. We talked about type a little bit and how it’s easy in a collegiate setting to have one idea of
If you do the work and show up intentionally and specifically with what you have in mind, I think that comes through more than anything. Simón Gómez
music theater/composition senior
yourself or play one type of role,” Rooney said “We wanted to give people an opportunity to play something else that is in their wheelhouse, but not what they generally get to play.” Rooney said the team decided to split the production into two parts: reinventing modern theater and reclaiming Golden Age musical theater. Rooney is directing the latter section. “Over the summer, I was working on a masterclass and got a note to reclaim my song. And I was like, ‘oh my gosh, I’m obsessed with that.’ And then I kept taking ingenue songs this summer and giving them their humanity back,” Rooney said. “Because I feel like often times the humanity of these women gets stripped away
and play the coyness and the ‘wink wink’ of these Golden Age characters. When you take that out, I think the lyrics stand for themselves and create a more impactful performance.” Rooney said she was hesitant about the theme but realized there was demand for re-examining Golden Age material during the audition process. “From the two-minute excerpts that everyone had to submit along with their videos, a lot of people were talking about how they love the revival of ‘Oklahoma’ and when they take Golden Age material and flip it on their head,” Rooney said “We were like, ‘wait, maybe people do want to do this,’ and that is when we had our confirmation to go ahead
with the idea.” Rooney said the performance will be filmed and edited together for a YouTube premiere on Oct. 2. She said the production was originally going to go up on Sept. 25 but was pushed back a week to give the performers time to perfect their acts after their first scheduled recording session. “We gave every person 30-minute time slots to do their two group numbers. It was just so packed. We were stressed. They were stressed,” Rooney said, “We spent more time fixing notes than we did with individual people because we had never heard them sing in person.” Rooney said the School of Music gave the team permission to add a week of filming, which allows for more polish. Simón Gómez Villegas, music theater/composition senior and STRIPPED co-director, said his section of the production is centered around re-imagining modern theater. “The weekend before we started rehearsals, Meghan had already come in with the idea for reclaiming
Golden Age stuff, and I was completely blank. I just wanted authentic actors,” Gómez said. “And when I realized Meghan had honed in on Golden Age material, I figured I can hone in on contemporary music and find ways to reinvent these contemporary songs, whether that’s through gender bent songs or challenging stereotypes.” Gómez said the industry’s current stereotypes about gender and archetype are limiting. “Watching the auditions, I kind of realized that anyone could honestly play most roles if they walk in an audition room with an intention and purpose for being seen for that role. If you walk in and you are initially seen as a gay best friend or a sidekick just because of the way you look or the way you talk, you have to do something about that, or they will box you in,” Gómez said. “If you do the work and show up intentionally and specifically with what you have in mind, I think that comes through more than anything.” Hunter Semrau, music theater junior, is perform-
ing in Gómez’s section of the production. He said the process has introduced him to material he never considered before. “I am performing a gender bent version of ‘Always Starting Over’ from ‘If/Then,’ and I am so happy I have the opportunity to do this. I legitimately think this might be the best song I’ve ever sung. It fits so perfectly in my voice, and I will be doing it for the rest of my life,” Semrau said. Semrau said working with Rooney and Gómez has been an excellent experience of artistic exploration. “There’s just been so much dialogue making sure everybody feels happy and safe in rehearsal,” Semrau said. Rooney said “Reclaiming and Reinventing: A Night to Challenge Type” will stream at 8 p.m. Oct. 2 on YouTube. Students can follow STRIPPED via their Facebook or Instagram.
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Mourn the past, for the future is woe Left: Hannah Hamel, acting senior, portrays “Hecuba I” during the final dress rehearsal of “Woe is Me.” The production included monologues and scenes from Classical Greek, Shakespeare and French Neoclassical plays. It was directed by Lance Marsh, head of performance for the School of Theatre, and Hal Kohlman, adjunct theater professor. Above: Kirby Crosbie (right), acting senior portraying “Hecuba II,” watches as “Andromache II,” portrayed by Kaylila Pasha, clutches her child. The scene occurred in the first act of “Woe is Me,” “Trojan Woe-men,” a selection of pieces from “The Trojan Women” by Euripides, which was planned to perform in March but was canceled due to the university shutdown caused by COVID-19. “Woe is Me” streamed Sept. 18-19 from the Burg Theatre.
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Facebook group Continued from 1 Jane Goto, marketing and managing junior, said she doesn’t think it was necessary for the university to delete the page. “I feel like as college kids, we are adult enough to have these conversations, and these conversations need to be had without censorship because if they start censoring people, people don’t get to learn,” Goto said. “So, we should be able to have these conversations openly and honestly and be allowed to share our differing opinions on all sides of everything so that we can learn and grow.” Goto said she understands the university has to stay politically neutral, but she doesn’t think ‘Black Lives Matter’ should be considered political. “It’s definitely a moral topic, but everybody has made it so political to the point where we’re forgetting it’s a humane thing, not a political thing,” Goto said. In place of the “OCU” group, which had members including both current students and alumni, the university created a new Facebook group specifically for current students, “Oklahoma City University: Current Student Group.” The page says page admins will remove students from the group once they graduate. “This group is for current Oklahoma City University students to share information and discuss events in and around the campus community. This group is for community building, making new friends, questions and concerns, and open and constructive dialogue,” the “about” section of the new page reads. Dr. Talia Carroll, vice president for diversity and inclusion, said there has already been conversation to create a group solely for current students. She said the university created the ‘OCU’ group in 2011 with the intention of it being for current students. She said she is creating a new reporting
process for student concerns. “I shared in a recent statement to the campus community that I’ll be creating a reporting process for the entire campus to report concerns regarding campus climate and culture. It is my hope to share this process with the community at the beginning of October,” she said. Carroll said the university’s statement of neutrality relates to their lack of political affiliations. “As a non-profit institution of higher education, Oklahoma City University does not officially advocate for the election or defeat of any political candidate and does not officially advocate for the passage or defeat of any legislation,” she said. “I do believe there are social ills that are often politicized, though I do not believe the mattering of people – people’s lives – should have to be political.” Christin Byrdsong, music alumnus, said he thinks it’s important for students to feel safe to voice their concerns, especially on a college campus. He said he believes in the core values of OCU and hopes the university puts the well-being of the students first. “I think that OCU is in a great position of power and leadership,” he said. “OCU became my home as a queer, Black man, and while I experienced a lot of great support and a fantastic education, I also experienced a lot of hate and discrimination. But I believe in the core values of my alma mater, and I believe OCU, at its core, is a community of love and support. I think what the OCU community is looking for right now is OCU to take a clear stance on what it stands for and what it supports, and to put the safety and well-being of the students first in every way, not just the way that makes the donors comfortable, but the ways that the students are looking for, because we are in a period of change, and I would hate to see OCU left behind.”
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Students participate in national BLM protests Francesca Iacovacci
NEWS EDITOR
Students have attended protests to demand justice for victims of police brutality. Over the summer, many students attended civil rights protests across the country to support the Black Lives Matter movement. Now that students are back on campus, some have continued to protest in Oklahoma City. Jay Williams, religion senior, said he’s attended several protests in Oklahoma since the death of George Floyd caused by a police officer kneeling on Floyd’s neck. Williams said protesting and civil disobedience has caused a lot of change throughout history. “I think of people like Martin Luther King Jr. and Rosa Parks, people like Marsha P. Johnson who led protests for queer freedom,” he said. “I think when you look at history, beyond voting and participating in elections, protests and civil disobedience has been the way we have affected most change. So, continuing the work of the giants that have gone before us and being in the streets participating in these protests and marches, I think that’s the most important way we can advocate for change.” Cheyanne Marie, non-profit leadership graduate, said she’s attended protests in different states this summer, and each city handled the protests differently. “I was visiting family in Tampa, Florida, and I just so happened to run into a march, and it was beautiful. There was no violence going on, and the police were really supporting the protesters. Contrary, I grew up in Atlanta and was visiting friends there around there and attended a rally, and it was not safe at all. It was definitely the police causing violence. A couple of my friends got hurt at that protest. The one I was actually a part of, I got to sing the Negro National Anthem, ‘Lift Our Voice and Sing,’ for the OKC rally,” she said. Catherine Garcia, music theater sophomore, said she attended protests in her hometown of Portland, Oregon. “Our protest focus shifted a lot over the summer because of where we were, but it started out primarily about the death of George September 30, 2020
Protests and civil disobedience has been the way we have affected most change.
Jay Williams religion senior
Floyd, Breonna Taylor, Ahmaud Arbery, and the Black Lives Matter movement. Then, of course, in Portland, the feds came, so it did shift to be both about Black Lives Matter and getting the feds out of Portland,” she said. Garcia said the protests were mostly peaceful and would feature Black leaders in the community as speakers. “At least when I was there, the protests were definitely peaceful. It’d get a little weirder the later into the night it got, but there was a fair amount of violence from the Portland police bureau and from the feds,” she said. Garcia also said she attended a protest on Sept. 23 in Oklahoma City after the decision made in the Breonna Taylor case, wherepolice officers shot a Black woman in her home, and a grand jury charged one of the officers with wanton endangerment for shots fired into neighbors’ apartments. She said the protesters walked around 23rd St. and Classen Blvd. “To me, personally, what really struck me was that what that one officer was charged over was destruction of somebody else’s property, not even her life. No real justice was served,” she said. OCU Police Chief Dexter Nelson said protests nowadays are changing. He said organizers used to reach out to the police ahead of time to get a permit, and law enforcement could work with them by re-directing traffic and making sure they’re safe. “The days that organizers would reach out to police to make sure their march was peaceful and successful are out the window. We’ve gotten away from that because of the anti-police sentiment that people have started to take up with police brutality. Even the term ‘police brutality’ and ‘police violence’ to me, it would have been unheard of years ago to think the
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Stand together
Top: Christina Saliga, dance pedagogy junior, chalks the name of Breonna Taylor on the sidewalk outside the library during the OCU Scholar Strike Sept. 8. Students and faculty wrote the names of victims of police brutality in support of the nationwide Black Lives Matter movement. The strike was led by the OCU chapter of the American Association of University professors in conjunction with a national scholar strike to support the Black Lives Matter movement. Papers were handed out including the names and lifespans of some of the victims of police violence. The OCU Scholar Strike was Sept. 8-9. To read more about the Scholar Strike, go to MediaOCU.com.
Title IX Continued from 1 “I think that if the work environment or any place that is educational makes someone feel uncomfortable to where it prohibits what the company or operation is for, and it can’t be dealt with because the criteria wasn’t met, then I think that is unsustainable to that person,” Catherine Brown said. “I think that that’s unfair, and I think that takes away from what people feel. I think that takes away a right of feeling comfortable in your environment.” Brown said the university should treat all cases equally, whether the accounts meet all criteria of sexual harassment or not. “I think that each victim should be heard, one: always, and should always be taken seriously,” she said. “I also
police would be involved in violence and brutality, but it happens. It doesn’t happen as often as you would think, and I still believe, having been in law enforcement for 30 years, a lot of it is more widely known. It’s always happened, but it was never termed the way it is termed now because people are less compliant with police, and because of that lack of compliance, officers are having to do more different things, and it’s leading to these types of issues,” he said. Marie said police brutality is a major issue and should not be normalized. “Yes, people are always dying, and yes, we hear about it more, but that does not make it right. That does not mean the numbers are soaring when they don’t need to be that high. It’s ridiculous how that’s a thought in peoples mind, ‘oh, this is normal,’” she said. “People are also not afraid to speak up like they were 50 years ago. I think people are now feeling like their voices are being heard, and I can say that as an Afro-Latina woman, I grew up with a mother who allowed me to speak my mind, so I never really had that notion that I can’t speak up or I can’t speak how I feel.” Nelson said protests and marches are not peaceful if they interfere with people’s rights to peacefully go about their way. “I know people say it’s peaceful, but if your march interferes with somebody else’s rights, it’s not peaceful,” he said. “When you’re marching through the street and you don’t have a permit to be in the street, technically that’s not a peaceful march, because you may have to go to work, an ambulance may have to pick someone up.” Nelson said protests have become more disorganized. “Protesting today is so disorganized it’s like a flash mob. There’s some internet, social media stuff, people show up, and they do
think that OCU should say to students that every situation that you feel uncomfortable in, you should come forward with it, even if you don’t think that it’s worth saying or you don’t think it’s important.” Billy Palumbo, visiting associate professor of film, said he is concerned about the treatment of victims under these new regulations. “I’m a little bit concerned, generally, that they might take away protections from victims of harassment or abuse on campuses,” Palumbo said. “It seems to me that it raises the threshold for what is a legal requirement for institutions to take action, but I also know that not every institution in the country follows the letter of that policy, that institutions are able to have more strict campus policies that go beyond what the federal guidelines are.”
what they want to do. They yell and scream, they have some signs, march, sometimes stuff gets torn up, and then it dissipates. What did that get you? Nothing. It’s better to have more organization to it; what’s the plan? Signing up to vote, getting a petition started to change the law as to what the police do and how they do it?” Nelson said sometimes when you exercise your rights, even if you’re in the right in doing so, it can escalate and give officers more justification to detain you or use force. He said he doesn’t understand why people protesting police attend protests when they know there will be law enforcement there. “If you know police are doing things they shouldn’t be doing and people are getting hurt, why then would you do something to put yourself in the situation for that to happen to you? Most people can’t separate one cop from another, so they think it’s all of us, but if you think we’re all wrong, why then would you load the gun and give it to him and say ‘shoot me’ by not complying and giving that officer more of a reason to use force and detention and other methods, because that’s what that does,” he said. Nelson said he’s experienced racism from law enforcement both before and during his time working as a police officer. “I’m a Black man first. I’m always going to be a Black man. I’m not always going to be a police officer. I’ve had some of the same experiences as a lot of these people who have ended up dead have had with police officers. I’ve had guns drawn on me, I’ve been thrown on the ground, I’ve been pulled out of my car as a police officer and before I was a police officer. I’ve even had the police called on me and they arrive and are like, ‘hey, what are you doing here?’ So, I see it, and I understand a lot of white officers
Joey Croslin, Title IX coordinator, said she encourages students, staff and faculty to report any instances of Title IX violations. “I just want to make sure that members of our campus community feel comfortable reporting instances of policy violations under our policy,” Croslin said. “So whether it’s sexual harassment, sexual assault, intimate partner violence, whatever the case may be, I would hope that they feel comfortable reporting that, so, at the very least, we could provide supportive measures and connect that individual with resources, making sure they are safe and supporting those members of our community through our policy.”
don’t have those same experiences and they can’t relate to that, and some of them are trying to deal with it and understand, and some aren’t. Until we’re able to empathize with someone else and see the other person’s side, these things are going to continue to happen.” Nelson also said people should understand if you do anything that can be construed as a violation of the law while protesting, officers can take action against you. He said to immediately separate yourself from the group if people start vandalizing or violating the law in other ways. Garcia said it’s important to be able to exercise your right to protest. “I think the right to protest is one of the most fundamental of any democracy in the world,” she said. “When a governing body is not doing what the people want, it’s important that the people have a voice and a chance to speak out against that and say, ‘this isn’t what we elected you to be doing. You need to be doing better for us.’” Marie said if people don’t want to protest, people can create change in other ways. “You can hand out flyers. You don’t have to physically be there. You can share your voice, donate, be an ally for a friend or people when you see them being treated differently,” she said. “For me, it surpasses the Black community. It’s everyone; we’re all human beings. Right now, our people are struggling, but at the end of the day, just figure out what you can do in your life using what you have, because there is something you can do, and even the smallest thing makes a big difference.”
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