W E E K LY E D I T I O N | S E P T E M B E R 8 -14 , 2 0 2 0 | O U D A I LY. C O M
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‘I think it is ignorant’
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Greek life members ‘embarassed,’ express concerns, anxiety amid lack of regard for safety protocols amid COVID-19 pandemic JONATHAN KYNCL @jdkyn
Editor’s note: This story contains quotes from three students involved in OU’s Greek life organizations. The sources were granted anonymity for fear of retaliation for speaking with The Daily and are referred to by pseudonyms throughout the article. Their identities are known to The Daily. Behind a joyful social media facade, some members of Greek life have shared their anxiety about seeing videos of their peers breaking COVID-19 precautions at unsanctioned Greek life events, including parties and photoshoots with no masks. Photos circulating social media depicting densely packed crowds at Campus Corner bars and pictures of groups on Greek row with a lack of masks gave these students a mix of anxiety, anger and embarrassment for being involved. “I feel angry and disappointed because I think it is ignorant,” said Ashley Thomas, a student involved in Panhellenic Greek life. “Seeing that makes me furious and I think it’s embarrassing.” According to Thomas, at least one sorority threatened legal action in a message to members if students spoke to The Daily regarding events which violated the university’s COVID-19 protocol. The Daily attempted to acquire documentation of this message, but the sources did not feel comfortable providing a screenshot. Since students have returned to campus, Norman has seen a sharp increase in
COVID-19 cases. Prior to Aug. 11 — the date students began moving back to campus for the fall semester — the largest single-day increase Norman recorded was 58 new cases on July 14. On Sept. 5, the first day of the Labor Day weekend, Norman reported 196 new cases, more than tripling its previous single-day high. Some of the data appears linked to students living off-campus or in Greek housing. On Sept. 3, OU’s COVID19 dashboard reported 143 students living in on-campus housing were tested by Goddard Health Center. Of those students, only three tested positive, a positive test rate of 2 percent. As of Sept. 2, the positive test result rate of all tests conducted at Goddard was over 30 percent. According to Goddard Hea l t h Ce nte r Me d i ca l Director Dr. Craig Rice, the OU dashboard numbers only reflect tests conducted at Goddard. Tests conducted at off-campus locations will appear in the Norman and Cleveland County data only. Director of Student Life Quy Nguyen said the university cannot “directly” track positive cases of COVID-19 in individual Greek organizations. “OU’s division of Student Affairs has advised and provided counsel to each Greek chapter regarding testing contact tracing, isolation, and other safety protocols related to COVID-19,” Nguyen said. “Each chapter operates independently from the university. Because of this OU cannot directly track cases for individual Greek-affiliated houses.” At a Sept. 2 Norman City Council meeting, Dean of Students David Surratt said
while the university has given recommendations to Greek houses on how to handle COVID-19 outbreaks in their organizations, they cannot guarantee the Greek organizations follow these recommendations. “We’ve … given them recommendations to do the same thing we’re doing in housing, but I emphasize it is a recommendation,” Surratt said. “Some houses are definitely better than others when it comes to that, but they have the same expectation to isolate individuals who have
logs. Officers were dispatched to a “loud party” report at a Greek organization’s house twice in one week, according to the logs. On Aug. 21 and Aug. 27, NPD responded to calls at the Kappa Sigma fraternity house. H o w e v e r, G r a c i e Clayton, another student in Panhellenic, said the blame isn’t solely on Greek houses, adding that OU Greek life organizations were put in a difficult situation by the OU Panhellenic Association. Although recruitment was moved “completely virtual”
The Kappa Sigma house Feb. 2, 2018.
symptoms or test positive.” Thomas said they were “embarrassed” to see Greek organization members wearing their letters to events disregarding COVID-19 safety protocols given the recent spike in COVID-19 cases. “When I see people with their letters on, I would be embarrassed,” Thomas said. “I think it’s shameful.” From Aug. 8 to Aug. 30, the Norman Police Department has responded to 55 “loud party” calls, according to NPD
OU DAILY FILE PHOTO
ths year after unsanctioned gatherings which broke COVID-19 protocols, students already in Greek houses were told to come back to campus to do training and prepare for recruitment prior to the switch; not giving them a chance to have fully virtual recruitment before the organization moved everything online, according to Clayton. Members were told to meet in person for recruitment and certain positions had to be in person for the majority of
recruitment. “Because of Panhellenic, Greek life has been put in an impossible situation. I think it was irresponsible of Panhellenic to make recruitment happen in the fall,” Clayton said. “I blame Panhellenic for letting rush happen — even though it was virtual, it wasn’t virtual for those already in sororities. OU should be held responsible for letting these things happen.” Clayton also said it was irresponsible of the university to put too much trust in students to adhere to its COVID19 protocols for an in-person semester. “It’s extremely frustrating but at the same time I’m not surprised; OU is also at fault for even having in-person classes,” Clayton said. “Obviously people should be responsible enough to not have parties, and in theory they wouldn’t, but we can’t trust everyone with that.” Nguyen said the administration has advised Greek life organizations but cannot exercise significant control over how the houses handle COVID-19 protocols, as Greek houses are “privately owned, off-campus residences.” Nguyen also mentioned the protocols for sanctioned Greek events, which include a consultation with a member of the Student Affairs team two weeks before the event. Those who break these protocols will possibly face “educational sanctions” for breaking the university code. “Educational sanctions can range from written warning to expulsion from the institution; or anything in between that can best help facilitate learning for the student,”
Nguyen said. However, some students involved in Panhellenic believe there should be significant consequences on the organizational level for having any unsanctioned event in person, including parties. “I would hope that there would be serious consequences,” Clayton said. “To suspend (Greek life) would be the wise thing to do. I would be upset if when inevitably they have to send everyone (home), they don’t mention the role Greek life had.” Since other universities have begun shifting back to online, several media outlets like the New York Times have covered the ties between campus closure and Greek life. These students said they believe OU should have learned from the errors of other universities. “When you look at outbreaks at different schools, it all comes back to Greek life,” Hannah Erickson, a student involved in Panhellenic, said. “We should’ve learned from their mistakes. Greek life already has a bad (reputation),and I think doing this is just hurting them more than benefiting them.” Erickson said she thinks Greek organizations have not allowed members to speak to the media in an effort to maintain their image and avoid public scrutiny. “I think they just want one story where they can control the narrative,” Erickson said. “I think it’s just so they don’t look bad.” Jonathan Kyncl jkyncl@ou.edu
2
NEWS
• Sept. 8-14, 2020
Students protest virus response
Protestors demand improved campus safety measures JONATHAN KYNCL @jdkyn
A group of OU students gathered in front of Evans Hall Thursday to voice their concerns on how the university is handling reopening amid the COVID-19 pandemic. The OUr Safety protest lasted for roughly 45 minutes and involved several students speaking in front of an audience of media members, saying the administration should value lives over profit. “We want a safer university,” said Jake Allen, a junior who helped organize the event, in an interview. “We want the administration to actually be taking responsibility and making choices that are focused on our health and not making money for the university.” Allen said the students will continue to push the university until their demands are met. Their demands include transitioning to mostly online classes, twice-weekly testing for everyone on campus, protections for international students and for the university to hold organizations accountable for breaking COVID-19 precautions. This was the third protest of its kind. The “die-in” at the
RAY BAHNER//THE DAILY
Protestors in front of Evans Hall during the OUr Safety First Protest Sept. 3.
end of the summer and the Save Our Staff protest both called for similar demands. “They are going to notice a push for similar demands, continuing with what the workers were asking for,” Allen said. “Seeing that we are out here as students, I
think they will do something, but if it doesn’t then we will keep pushing for it.” Kathryn Powers, a sophomore who also helped organize the event, said in an interview that she hopes other groups will also begin to hold protests similar to this one.
“I definitely hope that more organizations will do this,” Powers said. “I think a lot of the people within our organizing group and just within our information group chat come from a lot of different backgrounds, to where I wouldn’t
be surprised (if more got involved).” Powers ended with a statement directed to the university administration and the OU community, urging those on OU’s campus to adhere to COVID-19 precautions. “I know OU can do better,
and we need to do better,” Powers said. “People’s lives, their livelihoods, their financial statuses and whether or not they have a home is at risk.” Jonathan Kyncl jkyncl@ou.edu
Council discusses virus mitigation efforts Norman leaders address house parties, game day JORDAN HAYDEN @jordankhayden
The Norman City Council met Tuesday night to discuss committee appointments, response to Greek life party concerns and game day preparation. The special session, live-streamed on the city’s YouTube channel, featured OU leaders like Dean of Students David Surratt and Associate Dean of Students Kristen Partridge. Surratt demonstrated OU’s new COVID-19 dashboard and addressed concerns about how positive cases are reported. Mayor Breea Clark questioned if some students may be using their permanent address or their parents’ home address instead of their local Norman addresses, which could skew case numbers reported on campus, in Norman and in Cleveland County. Ward 3 councilmember Alison Petrone requested clarification regarding the university’s response to outbreaks in student housing and in Greek housing. Surratt said while the university cannot directly enforce any policies in Greek housing, they have provided suggestions for how a potential outbreak could be prevented and addressed. “We’ve … given them recommendations to do the same thing we’re doing in housing, but I emphasize it is a recommendation,” Surratt said. “Some houses are
Members of the Norman City Council discuss the new Norman flag during their June 9 meeting.
definitely better than others when it comes to that, but they have the same expectation to isolate individuals who have symptoms or test positive.” Regarding parties occurring at Greek houses, the City of Norman’s city attorney Kathryn Walker said the city adopted an ordinance in 2004 to address “nuisance parties.” Walker said a party can be labeled a nuisance party once the police witness at least three violations. These include consuming spirits in a public place, furnishing of alcohol and/or narcotics and disturbing the peace. Once there have been three convictions for violating this ordinance within a year, that property will be labeled a
public nuisance. Clark said this law is being considered to combat Greek house parties. “I would love for you to communicate to our Greek community that we are now prepared to start using this law to crack down on these large social gatherings,” Clark said to Surratt. Surratt also clarified several students are choosing off-campus testing centers instead of utilizing the free tests offered at Goddard Health Center. “Some of our students are really nervous,” Surratt said. “There is an element of shame associated with testing positive.” Clark said she appreciated
the collaboration that has happened between the city and the university in an attempt to combat the spread of the virus. “We will do a better job managing this if we do it together,” Clark said. Deputy Police Chief Ricky Jackson said a group of plainclothes officers observed several bars around Norman over the weekend in response to reports of city ordinance violations. Jackson said the group visited bars on Campus Corner and other parts of the city and witnessed successful capacity limiting that complied with mandates, as well as prohibiting standing-room-only sections and compliance with the
TREY YOUNG/THE DAILY
city-wide mask ordinance. As for areas outside of these businesses, Jackson said officers observed long lines and groups not social distancing or wearing masks but were unsure if these groups arrived together. This occurred at three specific bars on Campus Corner: Logie’s, The Porch and Nompton Social. “It appears that people are trying to comply …” Jackson said. “(The officers) did observe that there was an attempt to comply with the mandate.” Jackson recommended the city form a working team tasked with monitoring and enforcing the mandates. This team would include city code enforcers along with fire
inspectors and fire marshal Fred Henderson. During the meeting, councilmembers also discussed preparedness and protection for the upcoming football season. “I am looking forward to football season,” Clark said “However, we have had restaurants share concerns … they’re realizing that they’re about to be massively overwhelmed by very large crowds.” Clark said Campus Corner is planning to offer more outdoor seating on game days and said there has been a suggestion posed from someone outside the game day planning committee that there be a 50 percent capacity limit all day in restaurants and bars. “We all know game day is not a normal day,” Clark said. Ward 1 councilmember Kate Bierman said she has talked with business owners and said they all seem to be okay with the proposal as long as additional outdoor seating becomes available. The council voted to approve the appointment of 5 people to a search committee for a Ward 2 interim councilmember after the death of councilor David Perry. These individuals are Gabriel Bird, Melissa Houston, Ellen Kanak, Julie Knutson and Jermaine Peterson. The council agreed not to take action on COVID-19 response protocols at this meeting and will instead take action at the city council conference scheduled for Tuesday, Sept. 8 at 5:30 p.m. Jordan Hayden
jordanhayden@ou.edu
OU to begin testing wastewater for COVID-19 University to expand voluntary virus testing options JANA ALLEN
@jana_allen21
The University of Oklahoma announced Wednesday two new measures for detecting asymptomatic infections on the
Norman campus in a university press release. A new COVID-19 testing program will start this week for residential students, as well as regular sampling of wastewater from across campus, to “provide an early warning system for positive cases” in densely populated parts of campus. This kind of testing has been successful at
Utah State University and the University of Arizona, where recent detections of the virus in dorm buildings likely stopped outbreaks before they could happen. According to the release, many people infected with COVID-19 begin shedding the virus in their waste days before symptoms appear. OU researchers have set up several daily wastewater
sample test sites in order to identify areas experiencing higher levels of the virus so that the university can better mitigate the spread. “People who have been infected with COVID-19 can be contagious for two to three days before displaying symptoms of the virus,” OU Chief COVID Officer Dr. Dale Bratzler said in the release. “These new
measures offer precious time – one of the most valuable and effective tools we have in slowing the spread of the virus on our campus.” Starting Sept. 4, residents of OU Housing will be offered free voluntary testing seven days a week from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. in Cate Center 3. T h e s e s e l f- a d m i n i s tered tests will be offered
in collaboration with OU Medicine and will collect specimens from the front of the nose. Students will be notified of their results within 24-48 hours. Residential students will receive information on testing appointments in a Sept. 3 email. Jana Allen
jana.r.allen-1@ou.edu
NEWS
Sept. 8-14, 2020 •
3
Stitt breaks mask policy in visit Governor wears political neck gaiter for OU visit JILLIAN TAYLOR @jilliantaylor_
Oklahoma Gov. Kevin Stitt broke OU’s masking policy during his Monday visit to OU’s Food Pantry by wearing a neck gaiter. Stitt wore a gaiter from “Thin Blue Line USA” — an organization in support of law enforcement — in a town that continues to discuss police reform amid national conversations regarding police brutality. On June 16, Norman City Council cut $865,000 from t h e p ro p o s e d i n c re a s e in the NPD’s budget for fiscal year 2021, putting $235,000 toward the internal audit function and leaving $630,000 to be allocated to community services. Mayor Breea Clark said in a July 2 interview with The Daily she continues to meet biweekly with a t a s k f o rc e o f v a r i o u s community partners as Norman decides how to best utilize these new c o m m u n i t y f u n d s. S h e said she hopes to continue mir ror ing larger cities’ e f f o r t s t o re f o r m t h e i r p o l i c e d e p a r t m e n t s by fostering a relationship between medics and crisis workers. A c c o r d i n g t o O U ’s mandatory masking policy, all individuals must wear fabric or disposable surgical-style m a s k s t h a t c ov e r t h e i r nose and mouth in indoor university facilities unless community members are alone and in a private space, eating, drinking or playing an instrument or
RAY BAHNER/THE DAILY
OU Food Pantry student worker shows Oklahoma Governor Kevin Stitt, wearing a “Thin Blue Line” neck gaiter, how to fill a food bag Sept. 1.
singing as an academic assignment. If outside, individuals must wear masks when proper social distancing is not possible. Neck gaiters are explicitly banne d from OU’s campus. Sttit wore his neck gaiter inside the food pantry while talking to members of its executive team and OU President Joseph Harroz. No one from OU checked his face covering before the event or asked him to change into an approved mask, according to a statement from his
office. Earlier that same d a y , S t i t t v i s i t e d O S U, urging residents to take precautions amid a spike in COVID-19 cases that closed Stillwater schools. Stitt wore a different gaiter with Oklahoma’s state logo to this event — adhering to OSU’s masking policy — and encouraged people to wear masks while also restating how he “does not believe” in the appropriateness of a statewide mask mandate, despite its proven effectiveness.
In a recent update from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, masks with exhalation valves, vents or thin material — including bandanas, scarves, gaiters and buffs — were deemed to be ineffective in preventing the spread of COVID-19 to others. The CDC said masks are meant to prevent respiratory droplets from reaching surrounding individuals. Face coverings with one-way valves or vents allow air to be exhaled through slits
in the material, enabling t h e s p re a d o f e x p e l l e d respiratory droplets. A Duke study comparing re a d i l y av a i l a b l e m a s k types validated this update by saying that speaking through a neck gaiter results in the dispersal of larger respiratory droplets, which turn into a multitude of smaller droplets. According to the study, smaller respiratory droplets stay airborne longer, making the usage of such a mask counterproductive. The Daily reached out
to Stitt’s communications director Baylee Lakey Thursday at 1:39 p.m. for a comment concerning why he changed his Oklahoma logo gaiter at OSU to a Thin Blue Line gaiter at OU, and if he was aware of OU ’s masking policy before he visited campus. The Daily did not receive a response by the time of publication. Jillian Taylor
jillian.g.taylor-2@ou.edu
Chief COVID Officer addresses rise in cases Bratzler outlines OU response, new campus testing site ZARIA OATES @OatesZaria
O U ’s C h i e f C O V I D Officer Dr. Dale Bratzler updated the public on the pandemic during a Friday afternoon livestream. Throughout the past week, 5,780 people have tested positive with an additional 60 deaths in O klahoma, Brat zler s a i d . Th e re have b e e n 62,040 confirmed cases of COVID-19 in the state of Oklahoma and 846 deaths as of Sept. 4. Bratzler said over 11 percent of tests ran in Oklahoma this week have come back positive. Ho s p i t a l i z a t i o n s h av e steadily decreased over the past week. On Thursday there were 518 Oklahomans in the hospital, 447 of those people with confirmed cases of COVID-19 and 193 in the Intensive Care Unit. “ T h e a g e g ro u p n ow that accounts for the most new cases on an average weekly basis in Oklahoma (is) the 15- to 24-year-old age group,” Bratzler said. Bratzler talked about studies reporting on the use of corticosteroids that are widely available. “The patients that were enrolled in these studies were all critically ill, seriously ill, there was a 34 percent reduction i n t h e m o r t a l i t y rat e,” Bratzler said. Bratzler said using drugs like dexamethasone and hydrocortisone can reduce mortality for
COVID-19 patients. Bratzler said children are able to get infected and shed the virus longer, potentially spreading the d i s e a s e m o re r a p i d l y . The National Academy of Sciences released a draft S ept. 1 of their “Preliminary Framework of Equitable Allocation of COVID-19 Vaccine,” discussing how the prioritization of a COVID19 vaccine will work. “Even when one of the vaccine companies gets their vaccine approved possibly through emergency use authorization from the Food and Drug Administration, they’re still going to have to ramp up some of the production capability to actually get the vaccine out there for use,” Bratzler said. “It’s unclear to me how quickly they’ll … be able to … distribute the vaccine to get it on the front lines.” First responders and health care workers are expected to be the first to receive an approved vaccine, Bratzler said. “On the Norman campus we have 38,000 students, staff and faculty,” Bratzler said. “Although there’s been an uptick in the number of cases ... we also know t h a t i t ’s a v e r y s m a l l proportion of the total student body, staff and faculty body on the campus.” Bratzler said the university will continue to monitor the situation, but hopes to avoid closing down campus entirely. “We will make decisions about whether we close, move to online, perhaps move some courses
online and not move others online depending on the type of course,” Bratzler said. “The one thing we’re trying to avoid is just shutting down the entire campus.” Bratzler explained the d i f f i c u l t y i n re q u i r i ng COVID-19 testing for the OU community once per week lies with the state’s inability to accommodate an additional 38,000 tests each week. “ There is no lab that I’m aware of in the state that has the capacity to do 38,000 additional tests per week,” Bratzler said. Bratzler also said testing is still very expensive and millions of dollars would be spent per week if OU implemented a weekly testing policy. Bratzler encouraged students to g o t o G o d d a rd He a l t h Services to get tested if necessary. “This week, in fact, we just opened a voluntary testing site on campus. We are specifically targeting those students that live in the university h o u s i n g . We c o u l d d o potentially up to 500 tests per day,” Bratzler said. Over the long weekend Dr. Bratzler encourages the OU community to try to avoid crowds, wear a mask, physically distance as much as possible, enhance hand hygiene, be careful about traveling and to wear masks even around family. Zaria Oates
Zaria.T.Oates-1@ou.ed
TREY YOUNG/THE DAILY
OU interim Vice Provost Jill Irvine speaks during the 2024 OU Class Kick-Off Aug. 18.
Interim Provost clarifies COVID safety updates Email discusses isolation protocols, absence reporting Jordan Hayden @jordankhayden
OU Interim Provost and Senior Vice President Jill Irvine clarified COVID-19 protocols in an email to university deans and associate deans Wednesday. In the email obtained by The Daily, Irvine detailed COVID-19 lab protections, student isolation policies and the process for reporting students’ COVID-19-related absences to professors. “With the beginning of classes and the expected reporting of students on campus testing positive for COVID-19, many students and instr uctors w ill be concerned about the risk o f t ra n s m i s s i o n i n t h e classroom, particularly in the higher density computer and science labs,” Irvine said in the email.
Irvine stressed the importance of the university’s mask mandate in the email, saying mask-wearing is still highly effective even when social distancing of 6 feet is not being observed. Irvine said safety protocols for both students and instructors in labs are the same as those for in classrooms, with mask wearing still being the most important. Irvine also said students in labs are encouraged to wear eye protection in addition to a mask for extra protection. All labs are now equipped with hospital-grade MERV 13 air filtration systems, according to the email. Irvine said Dr. Dale Bratzler, OU’s chief COVID officer, approved all safety protocols for labs on campus. “If at any time the lab protocols were to become unsafe, he would direct us to change them or to move labs online,” Irvine said in the email. Ir vine also addressed confusion sur rounding student self-isolation
protocols and the process in which faculty are notified of their students’ status. Irvine said students who have had known contact with someone who is positive for the virus will isolate for seven days and then take a PCR test. If the test is negative, they are permitted to return to classes. Irvine clarified faculty are not allowed to ask a student for verification on whether or not they have been cleared to return to class, but a student can volunteer that information. Irvine also said in the email there may be a delay in notification to faculty from Student Affairs if one of their students tests positive due to students using other offcampus locations to receive testing, which creates a delay in verification and reporting. Irvine instructed faculty to tell the student to follow up with Student Affairs and take care of themselves if they are ill. Jordan Hayden
jordanhayden@ou.edu
4
CULTURE/NEWS
• Sept. 8-14, 2020
What dining options are open? Several campus restaurants close for fall semester
the Oklahoma Memorial Union. Buchanan said the trucks will accept all payment options used at other campus dining locations, including meal plans and S o oner S ens e, and w ill be open weekdays from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m, weather permitting.
ANSLEY CHAMBERS @ansley_chambers
Nearly every aspect of campus has been affected by COVID-19, and dining options are no exception. Whether this is your first year on campus or your fifth, you have probably experienced some level of confusion surrounding where to find lunch between classes amid this pandemic. H e r e ’s a r u n d o w n o f what’s open on campus — and what’s not — according to the OU Housing and Food website.
GRUBHUB
THE CAF AND DINING HALLS Couch Restaurants and the residential dining halls The Bookmark in the Bizzell Memorial Library sits closed Sept. 3. are open this semester but only to students with meal Other dining locations Headington Hall is open for CATE RESTAURANTS plans. on south campus, such as the semester. Ruthie’s, Taco Mayo and The Flying Cow Cafe in the Other campus coffee OKLAHOMA Oliver ’s are open while shops, like the Starbucks in National Weather Center, MEMORIAL UNION O’Henry’s and Sushi with Cafe 201 in the Innovation the Union, The Bookmark T h e J a n M a r i e a n d Gusto are closed for the Hub and the Amicus Cafe in the Bizzell Memorial in the OU College of Law, Library and the Bedrock R i c h a r d J . C r a w f o r d semester. will remain open for the Cafe in Sarke ys Energ y University Club is closed C e n t e r, w i l l b e c l o s e d semester. f o r t h e s e m e s t e r. A l l SOUTH CAMPUS for the semester to allow other union restaurants, Redbud Cafe, located COFFEE SHOPS for social distancing and i n c l u d i n g C h i c k- f i l - A , t o “d e - d e n s i f y h e av i l y Quiznos and Crossroads in the Sam Noble Natural Einstein Bros. Bagels in p o p u l a t e d a re a s,� s a i d History Museum, is closed. will remain open.
EDWARD REALI/THE DAILY
Amy Buchanan, OU Housing and Food Services director of marketing and communications in an email. Instead, two independent coffee trucks will be available to students. Campers Coffee will be in front of the Bizzell Me m o r i a l L i b ra r y , a n d Lu c i d B e a n C o f f e e w i l l be on Asp Ave outside of
Buchanan also encouraged students to use mobile ordering through Grubhub, which is available at several campus dining locations, to enable social distancing. “When ordering through Grubhub from Cate Restaurants, a guest would not even need to enter the building since the pickup location is located outside at a window on the south s i d e o f t h e b u i l d i n g ,� Buchanan said. While a number of contingency plans are being explored in the event that OU moves online, no official decision has been reached concerning what dining or employment may look like for Food Services, Buchanan said. Menus and hours for all campus dining locations can be found on the OU Housing and Food website. Ansley Chambers
Ansley.c.chambers-1@ ou.edu
OU researchers study hurricane’s landfall Professor, team travel to Gulf of Mexico for storm MARIEN LÓPEZ-MEDINA @Ailime_Neiram
According to a press release, an OU professor is part of a team of research scientists who have traveled to the Gulf of Mexico to collect data during the landfall of Hurricane Laura. In an interview with The Daily, OU professor of meteorology Michael Biggerstaff said he received
funding from the National Institute of Standards and Technology to study landfalling hurricanes for the last few years. He said this funding has allowed the OU research team to travel and study such an “important storm.� Biggerstaff said Hurricane Laura has played an important role in informing engineers about how to build homes in hurricane-prone areas. “According to my coll e a g u e s a t t h e N I S T, (Hurricane Laura) is one of the most extreme wind events in that part of the
United States (that) has ever occurred,� Biggerstaff said. “It becomes the new standard for winning engineers to design homes to be able to withstand that kind of damage.� Members of the OU researchers’ team — data scientist Gordon Carrie, Cooperative Institute Res earch s cientist Kim Elmore, doctoral students Addison Alford a n d N o a h B r a u e r, a n d undergraduate students Robert Moore and Jeffrey Stevenson — are working on real-time data in coordination with the National
Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration National Severe Storms Laboratory (NOAA NSSL) and emergency managers from areas harmed by the hurricane. “We want to help mitigate property damage by working with engineers,� Biggerstaff said in the release. “(And by) using our data to improve the building and construction codes needed to develop a more resilient national infrastructure in the future.� The Cooperative Institute for Mesoscale Meteorological Studies and the College of Atmospheric
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Instructions: Fill in the grid so that every row, every column and every 3x3 box contains the digits 1 through 9. That means that no number is repeated in any row, column or box.
Copyright 2020, Newspaper Enterprise Assn.
TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 8, 2020 ASTROGRAPH by Eugenia Last VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22) -Expand your interests, pick up new skills and keep up with technology. Being able to take advantage of what’s available will help you move forward with your long-term plans. LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 23) -- Take care of personal matters. Start a new diet or health routine that will help build strength and encourage you to look and feel your best. Spending time with a loved one will bring you closer. SCORPIO (Oct. 24-Nov. 22) -- Sign up for online conferences and classes to expand your mind without taking unnecessary health risks. Doing what’s right and best for everyone should be your priority.
Previous Solution
By Eugenia Last
PISCES (Feb. 20-March 20) -- Be careful how much information you share online or by phone. Keep your personal information secret, as well as your plans. Listen to what others have to say, and absorb the information thoroughly before you comment or get involved. ARIES (March 21-April 19) -- Work toward a goal. Avoid friction with colleagues or anyone who can ruin your day or reputation. Strive to be your best mentally, physically and emotionally. TAURUS (April 20-May 20) -- Don’t overdo it or take on too much. Keep working toward your goal. Don’t take risks that can hurt your relationship with a loved one, lead to injury or damage your health.
SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 23-Dec. 21) -- Someone will give you the wrong impression or lead you to believe something that isn’t true. Before you get involved in someone else’s plans, do your research.
GEMINI (May 21-June 20) -- Speak from the heart, say what’s on your mind and do your best to resolve personal problems. Be willing to do your part and offer suggestions that help keep the peace.
CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19) -- Make your domestic space inviting, comfortable and convenient for you and your loved ones. An enjoyable environment will do wonders for everyone’s morale.
CANCER (June 21-July 22) -- Reach out to someone who needs your help. Be a good listener and a loyal friend, and you will gain respect, trust and admiration. A partnership looks promising.
AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 19) -- Take time to rejuvenate and pamper yourself. The break will be the pick-me-up you need to tackle some of the items you have on your to-do list. Romance should be a priority.
LEO (July 23-Aug. 22) -- Charm and diplomacy will be necessary to sidestep an emotional scene. Keep the peace, get your facts straight and avoid letting anyone talk you into something you don’t want to do.
and Geographic Sciences are operating Shared Mobile Atmospheric Research and Teaching (SMART) radars along with Mobile Mesonet weather instruments provided by NOAA NSSL. The OU community will have access to Hurricane Laura’s data through the NIST website once the OU researchers team organizes it for better understanding, Biggerstaff said. In the interview, Biggerstaff said the OU research team put together a COVID-19 protocol for their trip that included
wearing gloves while in t h e i r s t u d y a re a, u s i ng hand sanitizer, and restrictions for hotel stays and interactions. This protocol had to be approved based on the OU Safe and Re s i l i e nt In s t r u c t i o na l Plan. Biggerstaff thanked the OU administration and federal agencies in the inter view for the support shown in his last 22 years of data research and for their commitment to keeping the data updated. Marien LĂłpez-Medina ailimelmarien@ou.edu
Universal Crossword Edited by David Steinberg September 8, 2020 ACROSS 1 Hourly pay 5 “The Michelle ___ Podcast� 10 Low voice 14 Happily-after connector 15 Pie nut 16 Surmounting 17 Where actor Danson appears at the end of “Cheers�? 19 Up for it 20 Regarded (oneself) highly 21 “Sharknado� star Tara 23 Levi’s rival 24 Longtime senator Specter 25 Where actress Moreno appears at the end of “West Side Story�? 27 Word before “even� or “real� 28 Blunder 30 Like some simple questions 31 Biblical utopia 33 Previously 35 Sight or smell 36 Where actress Moore appears at the end of “The Fugitive�? 39 ___ Hawkins dance
9/8
41 Mire 42 Places to rejuvenate 46 Battlefield doctor 47 Kind of hall 49 Insect that digs tunnels 50 Where actor Momoa appears at the end of “Aquaman�? 54 ___ cuisine 56 Homophone of “wrecks� 57 Duel sword 58 “The Crucible� playwright Arthur 59 Valuable rocks 61 Borrower’s limit, and a theme hint 63 Passrusher’s goal 64 Ship that carries fuel 65 Part of A.D. 66 Anna’s sister in “Frozen II� 67 Model 3 automaker 68 Favorable votes DOWN 1 You might get a cookie when you visit one 2 Declared positively 3 Kind of fish for Passover 4 Wear down over time 5 Newspaper piece with a view
6 ___ Paese cheese 7 Squash variety 8 Like most male lions 9 1973 Rolling Stones classic 10 Suitcase 11 Puzzled 12 No-name? 13 Small swimsuit brand 18 Surrealist Magritte 22 It may “eat� a sock 25 Implore 26 Proceeds (one’s way) 29 Hourly charge 32 Rock bottom 34 Venus or Mars, poetically 35 Herb in many fall dishes 37 Microfilm unit
38 “Phrase� or “sentence� 39 A few 40 “Mad Men� figures, informally 43 Mario rescues her in Donkey Kong games 44 Vertical house extension? 45 Sound systems 46 Gloomy 48 Voucher 51 Florida theme park 52 Eagle’s lookout point 53 Old film spools 55 Quiet, as worries 58 Oscar winner Sorvino 60 Music genre influenced by calypso 62 Benicio ___ Toro
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Places, Everyone! by Gary Larson
SPORTS
Sept. 8-14, 2020 •
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PHOTO FROM THE OU DAILY ARCHIVES
Former Oklahoma wide receiver and cornerback Andre Woolfolk attempts to catch a pass against Nebraska Oct. 28, 2000.
Reliving OU’s ‘00 National Title Reflecting on the Sooners’ victory 2 decades later MASON YOUNG
@Mason_Young_0
In the heat of the 2000 summer, Roy Williams, Damian Mackey and Jay Hunt sat just down the road from Owen Field in their apartment at Summer Pointe on East Brooks Street. Amid a period of hot and hard practices, the Sooner sophomore safety, wideout and running back found themselves deep in excited conversation about their team’s schedule. The first few games of the 2000 season appeared to be handy victories leading up to October, a month in which the Sooners would face highly touted Texas, Kansas State and Nebraska. Despite the promise of one grueling month, the trio was confident about the prospects of the coming season. And they weren’t the only ones. “We don’t know who the national championship is going to be against, but we should be able to run the table,” Williams remembers saying. “And the crazy thing about it is everybody else (on the team) was having those conversations and we didn’t even know about it.” Despite the confidence among players, OU was hardly a favorite to win the 2000 FBS title after its performance in 1999. In his first season at the helm of the Sooners, head coach Bob Stoops had picked up the pieces of John Blake’s time in Norman to lead the program back to its first winning season since 1993 — an initial product that still amounted to a shell of what Oklahoma had been during the Barry Switzer era. Though OU was finally winning again, a loss to Ole Miss in the Sanford Independence Bowl on a last ditch field goal left a sour taste for fans, and while they hoped for improvement in the coming year, few could have predicted the kind of run the Sooners were destined for. The team believed in itself more than most outside the locker room, but greatness always comes at a price. During practice and on game days, the Sooners were determined not to return to the program’s mediocre play
of the last decade plus. The players and coaches on OU’s 2000 team were all in on making their aspirations a reality. Twenty years ago, on Sept. 2, 2000, Oklahoma embarked on its quest for the program’s seventh national championship. Four months later, they’d take the field at Hard Rock Stadium to achieve what no OU team had in 15 years. “When we finally got a taste of winning in college it’s like, ‘OK, so there’s no turning back,’” said then sophomore cornerback and wide receiver Andre Woolfolk. “This is the new normal. We can’t do anything else.”
conditioning coach Jerry Schmidt had players running stairs to the top of the stadium until they keeled over and threw up, among other tasks designed to push the athletes to new limits. “If you ask any player from the past that had Coach Schmidt and you mention his name, it always shook anyone down because he took us out there in that football field during offseason workouts and destroyed us,” said then-senior safety J.T. Thatcher. “But he destroyed us in the right way to get our bodies ready to play football.” Meanwhile, Stoops owned the book on every other coach
2001 Orange Bowl: Oklahoma v. Florida State.
‘IT WASN’T LIKE THAT BEFOREHAND’ The Stoops era of OU football wasn’t very fun at first. In 1999, a few players who were recruited by Blake departed after Stoops’ arrival, and OU’s new coach was tasked with getting those who remained to buy in. Player and coach relationships weren’t fantastic at the outset, as Blake holdovers had to get used to a pro-style offense and Mike Stoops’ and Brent Venables’ adjustments on defense. A 7-5 record showed that even with new leadership, Oklahoma was in need of polish. The refining process really took off in summer 2000 with twice-daily practices in the heat. Strength and
the Sooners would face that season and was bent on imparting that wisdom to his players. OU’s second-year leader, whose future success made him a legend in Norman and abroad, wanted his team to be prepared for anything, and often went to measures players described as “overkill” to make sure they were ready. The road to the top was tough and often mundane, but as players continued to work hard, there was a shift in the culture. Athletes and coaches began to gel and things became a lot more fun. After practices, Stoops would take players to the campus swimming pool or the OU Softball Complex for some entertainment and relaxation. Other coaches would
hold position group gatherings and meals at their houses to give players time together away from football. OU’s philosophy of football was being rebuilt from the ground up, and so was the team’s morale. “(Coach Stoops) made sure that we could go to waterparks or stuff like that and made it where we had an opportunity to spend time around each other where it wasn’t the locker room, and we’re dreading going through two days or something like that,” Woolfolk said. “It wasn’t like that beforehand. I don’t remember having any team gatherings where we weren’t doing team
media didn’t exist. “I mean it’s easier back then, but Coach Stoops did a great job of (saying), ‘Hey, let’s not worry about the news clippings. We’ve got a game to win.’ And we just took it one game at a time.” ‘THE STANDARD FOR THE YEAR’ Regardless of press perceptions and the prior year’s finish, UTEP head coach Gary Nord knew Oklahoma was good. O k l a h o m a’s o f f e n s e had evolved significantly since his time as Howard Schnellenberger’s offen-
FROM AN ARCHIVED ARTICLE ON FOOTBALL.COM
activities or football related activities.” As preparations for the season carried on, Stoops also showed his mastery at keeping players focused. He told his team to save reading newspapers for a time down the road, block out the media’s opinions of them, and stay locked in on the task at hand. So when the Associated Press ranked OU No. 19 entering their Sept. 2 season opener against UTEP, the Sooners were mostly indifferent about what the media did or didn’t think of them. “I honestly can’t say that we even cared where we were at the beginning of the season,” Williams said, reflecting on time when the internet was just taking off, and social
sive coordinator in Norman in 1995. By 2000, OU had jumped from the wishbone to the pass-favoring offense Nord had hoped to establish during his tenure there. The Sooners were far more potent through the air with Heisman contender and then-senior Josh Heupel under center and a host of skilled athletes alongside him. An Oklahoma season-opener record temperature of 106 degrees in front of 74,761 fans — OU’s largest first-game crowd since 1988 — further added to the Sooners’ advantage. In his first game at the reins of the Miners, Nord knew he would have to pull out all the stops to hang with the Sooners. “I was there long enough to know that OU is blessed
with tremendous talent and size and speed that got a lot more worked with every year than (UTEP),” Nord said. “So I knew that for us to have any chance, we would have to try to get them going in one direction and go the other way because we weren’t going to outrun them, we weren’t going to run over them and we weren’t going to be able to protect long enough to get the ball down the field.” Nord resorted to trickery, but he was outmatched by the Sooners’ preparation. OU senior linebacker Torrance Marshall — who would become the team’s hero later in the season — and freshman defensive back Brandon Everage were suspended due to a violation of team rules, but the Oklahoma defense was unfazed by the absence of two starters. After an onside kick, the Miners ran a sweep play on the first snap of the game and coughed up the ball as junior defensive lineman Cory Heinecke pounced on the fumble. Three plays later, Heupel’s dive into the end zone gave OU a 7-0 lead. But Nord wasn’t done playing games with the Sooners. UTEP converted a fourth down fake punt on its next drive and tied the game on a touchdown pass from senior quarterback Rocky Perez to senior wideout Paul Tessier. As the teams traded blows, OU held a 17-7 lead at the end of the first quarter. While its defense had been stout, Oklahoma was struggling to run the football. Combine that with some incompletions from Heupel, and UTEP was very much still in the game. It was in moments like these that someone would always answer the call throughout OU’s 2000 season. When the Sooners needed a momentum-shifting play, they got it. This time it was Williams, who picked off Perez and returned the errant throw 35 yards for a touchdown, giving Oklahoma a 24-7 advantage from which it never looked back. “Roy stepping in front and doing what he does all the time, forever — I don’t have bad memories of him doing anything at OU,” Woolfolk said. “But that was literally the standard for the year. It didn’t matter if we were home, away, or if it was the national see TITLE page 6
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SPORTS
• Sept. 8-14, 2020
Obi Obialo says ‘I’m one of one’ New wide receiver recounts unique path to Oklahoma MASON YOUNG
@Mason_Young_0
Even before his arrival in Norman, redshirt senior receiver Obi Obialo had significant ties to the state of Oklahoma. Due to an injury during his high school career, Obialo lost all of his scholarship offers and walked on at Oklahoma State to continue playing at the next level. After competing in four games for the Cowboys, he headed to Huntington, West Virginia, where he racked up 987 yards and four touchdowns in three seasons with the Marshall Thundering Herd. In a Thursday Zoom conference, the Coppell, Texas native spoke to the media for the first time since he transferred to Oklahoma in February. Now that he’s settled back in the Sooner state, he’s looking to make the most of a new opportunity with OU. “I’m just happy to be here,” Obialo said. “Just whatever they put me at — wide receiver, special teams — I’m gonna take that role and do the best I can.” Though his introduction to Sooner football has come primarily during the COVID-19 era, Obialo said the transition has been easy. He credited his coaches and teammates for welcoming him and getting him up to speed seamlessly despite the obstacles of masks and social distancing. It was that family mentality, along with a winning reputation that Obialo said drew him to OU in the first place. “Just like the atmosphere
An OU helmet sitting on the field before the Bedlam game against Oklahoma State Nov. 30, 2019.
around OU, you can feel it every day — the championship atmosphere,” Obialo said. “It just makes you want to get better and better each and every day. People, the strength staff, the coaches, they all want to help you reach your goals and all that.” As Obialo continues to bond with teammates and coaches, he provides a perspective few other Sooners will likely ever have. He was on the opposing sideline with the Cowboys in 2016 when OU defeated Oklahoma State, 38-20, to clinch the Big 12
Championship. While the loss was disappointing at the time, Obialo said he’s glad to have that unique experience under his belt. It’s helped shape him into who he’s become. “I took the opportunity to walk on at Oklahoma State,” Obialo said. “And then just being on the other side, being at OU, I’ve gotten to see both sides of the spectrum. I’m one of one actually, and I feel blessed to be that one.” Obialo said he’s matured greatly since his days in Stillwater. At Marshall he said
he learned a lot about the culture of West Virginia — a lifestyle very different from that of his “Texas city boy” upbringing. While playing for the Thundering Herd, Obialo also developed a distinct versatility. He has experience on special teams, and at both inside and outside receiver. As the Sooners deal with an injury to sophomore Jadon Haselwood, and the potential suspension of fellow sophomore Trejan Bridges looms, Obialo’s flexibility becomes all the more valuable to a group
in flux. OU is also looking for a new punt returner after 2019 Biletnikoff finalist CeeDee Lamb’s departure for the NFL. Despite being the new guy on the block, Obialo — along with UCLA transfer Theo Howard — drew rave reviews from outside receivers coach Dennis Simmons in an August Zoom conference for his leadership within the position group. Through hardship and hard work, Obialo has prepared himself for a chance to play championship-caliber football. His journey to the top
TREY YOUNG/THE DAILY
makes him stand out, but his hunger for success helps him fit right in with the Sooners. “Coach Riley, the whole staff, the whole team, they’ve done a really good job of just bringing me in and just making me feel a part of the team,” Obialo said. “And I’ve really respected that and just felt like this is really like where I’m supposed to be, and it’s home.” Mason Young
mason.e.young-1@ou.edu
Sooners’ Redmond opts out of 2020 season Defensive lineman withdraws ahead of upcoming season MASON YOUNG
@Mason_Young_0
OU redshirt sophomore defensive lineman Jalen Re dmond is opting out of the 2020 season, per a report from 247Sports’s Brandon Drumm that was later confir med by S o o n e r S c o o p ’s C a r e y Murdock. P e r D r u m m’s re p o r t , Redmond made the decision not to play this year after a conversation with Oklahoma head coach Lincoln Riley. According to Murdock’s report, Sunday is the deadline Riley has set for players to tell him if they plan to opt out of the season.
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championship. When something was going wrong, all of a sudden some defensive player just made some wicked awesome play.” ‘WE’RE ABOUT WINNING CHAMPIONSHIPS’ OU carried the momentum from Williams’ pick-six to a 27-7 lead at halftime and continued to tear up the turf in the third quarter. Heupel tossed a touchdown pass to sophomore receiver Antwone Savage before ceding control of the game to an up-and-coming player whose light was about to shine a lot brighter. Renaldo Works, a true freshman running back from Booker T. Washington High School in Tulsa, entered the fourth quarter as the
Redmond was expected to be a key piece for the Sooners’ defensive front this fall after he played in 13 games last year, and led the team with 6.5 sacks. He also ranked third on the squad in tackles for a loss with 11 in 2019. Previously, Redmond has battled blood clots that kept him out of all but three games in 2018 and caused him to miss OU’s contest against Oklahoma State in 2019. The 6-foot-3 Midwest City High School product was considered a five-star recruit by 247Sports prior to his arrival at Oklahoma. Mason Young
mason.e.young-1@ou.edu
backfield’s hot hand during a game in which Oklahoma’s offense hadn’t executed well on the ground. Works had broken off a big run in the second quarter, but fell just shy of the end zone to set up junior kicker Tim Duncan’s field goal. Teammates and coaches knew of Works’ talent, but few could have predicted how much better acquainted he was about to become with the paint inside the pylons during the twilight of the game. With his blazing speed, Works wouldn’t be denied again. He burst onto the scene and proceeded to run up the score on the Miners. He galloped to the end zone from 19, six and five yards out, registering three fourth-quarter touchdowns to cap off a dominant 55-14 OU victory. “It was a surreal feeling,” said Works, who later parlayed his success into a freeagent contract with the Miami Dolphins. “I always said that I wanted to be able to play as
PAXSON HAWS/THE DAILY
Then-redshirt freshman defensive lineman Jalen Redmond before the Big 12 Championship game Dec. 7, 2019, in Arlington, Texas.
a freshman, and then to be able to score touchdowns and listen to that crowd roar, it’s a high like no other, and it was just an exciting, great experience.” Works was one of five OU true freshmen who played in the game, providing validation for the members of Stoops’ first recruiting class. “Obviously we were excited for our classmates to go in and ball out like that,” said then-freshman receiver Mark Clayton, who went on to play seven seasons in the NFL with Baltimore and St. Louis. “We were excited because we’re freshmen, and we came in together and we did those stupid workouts (together) on Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday mornings super early, so yeah, (we were) excited for our boys.” W hile the S o oner offense poured on the points, Oklahoma’s defense remained unflinching against Nord’s slick play-calling. Starting in place of the
suspended Everage, Thatcher snagged an interception, while junior linebacker Rocky Calmus also showed his mettle. The Sooners’ Butkus Award contender racked up 10 tackles on the evening while forcing a fumble and recovering two more to keep the Miners’ offense in check. “Rocky was always around the football (and it) never seemed like he would get tired,” Thatcher said. “And that’s one good thing to have as a free safety myself and then the rest of the defense — somebody like that who never gets tired and never takes a play off.” Oklahoma also got a glimpse of the future when starting receiver Woolfolk stepped onto the field as a cornerback for the first time in his college career. Woolfolk played 31 snaps on defense that night, becoming OU’s first true twoway player since 1969, when Steve Zabel played linebacker and tight end for the Sooners.
While he felt like his technique wasn’t great that night and his anxiety was high, Woolfolk said he enjoyed the contest that put him on the path to four seasons with the NFL’s Tennessee Titans. “It was kind of like trying to catch my breath at once, and you had to find a way to be efficient at the same time,” Woolfolk said. “It was fun and a dream come true.” Though UTEP scored its second touchdown after converting on fourth down in the third quarter, the Sooners managed to snuff out the impact of a second onside kick and a fake field goal during the course of the game. Oklahoma scored 35 points off turnovers that night. That ferocity on defense would become crucial in a low scoring championship game in January. Despite an easy win for OU, the Associated Press critiqued the Sooners’ offense as “rusty” and “far from crisp” after three quarters of tough sledding on the ground along
with a fumble and an interception from Heupel — the transfer from Snow College who months later would be a Heisman finalist in New York and years later a longtime OU assistant coach himself. But once again, Oklahoma didn’t take the evaluation too personally. Stoops even admitted after the game the performance was “sloppy” and the team was already focused on improving in time for its next game against Arkansas State on Sept. 9. The Sooners were hungry for a more complete game. “It was like one pat on the back, we got the win, (that’s) huge, we put some points on the board, great,” Clayton said. “But (when) we play a better team, (we) can’t play like that. … We checked certain boxes, that’s good, but again, we’re about winning championships and this was not a championship performance.” Mason Young
mason.e.young-1@ou.edu