September 21-24, 2017

W E E K E N D E D I T I O N | S E P T E M B E R 2 1 - 2 4 , 2 0 17 | T W I C E W E E K LY I N P R I N T | O U D A I LY. C O M

OUDAILY

For 101 years, the student voice of the University of Oklahoma

ENDING an

ERA

LEGACY

REACTION

TIMELINE

What Boren will leave behind at the university

How students and state leaders reacted to Boren’s retirement

Looking back on Boren’s accolades through the years

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14 MEGAN ROSS/SOONER YEARBOOK

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• September 21-24, 2017

THANK YOU,

PRESIDENT

BOREN AND FIRST LADY

MOLLY SHI

BOREN, FOR YOUR SERVICE TO THE UNIVERSITY.

H o u s i n g a n d F o o d S e r v i c e s i s a d e p a r t m e n t i n O U ’ s d i v i s i o n o f S t u d e n t A ff a i r s . T h e U n i v e r s i t y o f O k l a h o m a i s a n e q u a l o p p o r t u n i t y i n s t i t u t i o n , w w w . o u . e d u / e o o .

Well done, good and faithful servant.

Thank you

President David Boren St. Thomas More University Parish and Student Center 100 Stinson Street Norman, Oklahoma 73072 405.321.0990 sstm-ou.org tm-ou.o org

M

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September 21-24, 2017 •

YOU ARE INVITED! TO ONE OF THE MOST IMPORTANT SINGLE-DAY PROGRAMS ON AMERICAN HISTORY EVER HELD IN OUR STATE “It has been said that to remain great, Americans must understand how we became great. One of the most important obligations of any university is to prepare our students for the responsibilities of citizenship by making sure that they learn our own history and our own constitutional heritage.� — David L. Boren

Teach-In on The Strength and Fragility of Constitutions

“A Day With Some of the Greatest Teachers in America�

Monday, Sept. 25, 2017 Paul F. Sharp Concert Hall, Catlett Music Center 9:30 a.m. – “The Promise and Tragedy of a Constitution: Weimar Germany, 1918-1933�, presented by Eric Weitz who is a distinguished professor of history and past dean of humanities and arts at City College of New York. Trained in modern German and European history, he has worked in international and global history. His most recent book, Weimar Germany: Promise and Tragedy, will be published in a third edition in 2018 in advance of the centenary of the Weimar Republic. He currently is completing A World Divided: A Global History of NationStates and Human Rights since the Eighteenth Century. Question-and-answer period to follow.

10:30 a.m. – “The Reconstruction of Rights after the Civil War,� presented by Laura F. Edwards, whose books include A Legal History of the Civil War and Reconstruction: A Nation of Rights and The People and Their Peace: Legal Culture and the Transformation of Inequality in the Post-Revolutionary South. Edwards is a professor of history at Duke University and an affiliated scholar at the American Bar Foundation. Question-and-answer period to follow.

Photo by Peter Goldberg

Noon – Luncheon Address, – “Adams, Jefferson and American Constitutionalism,� presented

by Gordon S. Wood, the author of The Radicalism of the American Revolution, for which he won the 1993 Pulitzer Prize for History and the Ralph Waldo Emerson Prize. His most recent work, Empire of Liberty: A History of the Early Republic, 1789-1815, was a finalist for the 2010 Pulitzer Prize for History, earned the 2009 Association of American Publishers Award for History and Biography, the 2010 American History Book Prize by the New York Historical Society and the Society of the Cincinnati History Prize for 2010. Wood is a professor emeritus of history at Brown University. Question-and-answer period to follow.

2 p.m. – “The Crisis of Modern Turkey,� presented by Soner Cagaptay is director of the Turkish Research Program at The Washington Institute. He is the author of The New Sultan: Erdogan and the Crisis of Modern Turkey and has written extensively on U.S. and Turkish relations, Turkish domestic politics and Turkish nationalism. He has been published in numerous scholarly journals and major international print media. Question-and-answer period to follow.

3 p.m. – “A Republic, If You Can Keep It: Public Education and American Democracy,� presented by Johann Neem is a senior fellow of the University of Virginia’s Institute for Advanced Studies in Culture and professor of history at Western Washington University. He is author of the recently published Democracy’s Schools: The Rise of Public Education in America.

Question-and-answer period to follow.

Reservations required for each session. )RU UHVHUYDWLRQV RU DFFRPPRGDWLRQV FDOO 28 3XEOLF $ŕľľDLUV at (405) 325-3784 or email specialevents@ou.edu.

The University is an equal opportunity institution. www.ou.edu/eoo

For more information, visit teachin.ou.edu.

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• September 21-24, 2017

NEWS

Emma Keith, news managing editor dailynews@ou.edu • phone: 405-325-3666 oudaily.com • Twitter: @OUDaily

BOREN’S LEGACY LIVES ON KYLA GILLETTE/THE DAILY

OU president leaves university stronger after 23 years of dedicated service ANNA BAUMAN • @ANNABAUMAN2 | KAYLA BRANCH • @KAYLA_BRANCH | EMMA KEITH • @SHAKEITHA_97

B

oren stood before a crowd in Holmberg Hall 23 years ago with great aspirations for OU — an honors college, a thriving international community, a diverse institution of leaders.

Wednesday, with many of these dreams realized, Boren took to the same stage before hundreds of students, faculty and staff and announced that his time as OU’s president — what he called the most rewarding period of his life — will soon come to an end.

Boren — 76, with a distinguished career as a state legislator, governor and United States Senator before moving to Boyd House — will retire as university president, effective June 30, 2018, pending the selection of his successor by the OU Board of Regents.

Boren said the decision was strategically timed to align with a period when the university is at what he believes to be its strongest point in history. Boren, who has struggled with health issues in recent years, including a heart surgery earlier this year and a herniated disk in 2005, also acknowledged that he is facing his own inevitable mortality.

“The calendar finally caught up with me — that’s the biggest thing,” Boren said. “I didn’t want to be president unless I could give every ounce of my energy to the job ... time takes a toll on that, so I knew it was inevitable and I had to face it.”

The announcement sparked a widespread outpouring of gratitude for the leadership and vision exhibited by the man whose legacy is apparent in every dimension of campus — from the residential colleges housing nearly 600 upperclassmen in the heart of campus, to the 900 National Merit Scholars populating classrooms, to the 20,000 trees dotting all three of OU’s campuses.

Clarke Stroud, dean of student affairs, describes Boren’s legacy in one word: spectacular.

“To look back over the last two decades and see how far we’ve come — it’s just simply spectacular,” Stroud said.

No one could have foreseen the strides that would be made under Boren’s leadership, Stroud said, including OU’s recent ranking among the top 100 schools nationwide and top 50 public schools and the high quality of students and faculty members.

Keith Gaddie, chair of the political science department, said he has seen the university transform from one of disrepair when he first arrived into the thriving pinnacle of public education it has become today under Boren’s example.

“He started with the bones of a great university and he made it greater than anybody could have imagined,” Gaddie said.

Boren arrived at OU in 1994 with decades of public service under his belt. In his roles as governor of Oklahoma and U.S. senator, he championed legislature for education reform, fine arts programs, international outreach and bipartisan efforts.

Boren resigned his U.S. Senate seat two years early to accept the role as OU’s president, where he continued his dedication to the public sphere.

He initiated more than 30 new programs, among them the College of International Studies, an OU campus in Arezzo, Italy, the OU Health Sciences Center in Oklahoma City, OU’s University Research Park, a religious studies program and the Stephenson School of Biomedical Engineering.

These programs were the fulfillment of Boren’s visionary belief that the university could be a public school that offers as much intellectual challenge as any private institution.

“Because of you — because of the entire OU family — many of these dreams have already come true,” Boren said at a press conference Wednesday afternoon, reflecting on the decades of growth and success now behind him.

With the addition and renovation of more than 80 buildings and beautification efforts led by first lady Molly Shi Boren, OU’s campus has

undergone a physical transformation that landed it recognition among the 25 most beautiful campuses nationwide.

Boren’s time at OU was defined by innovation, growth and success, but also shadowed by challenging circumstances and events, leaving him to deal with the consequences.

Boren, once one of the state’s most powerful politicians, has been unable to protect the university from state budget woes. Oklahoma has been in a severe budget crisis for the past few years, with state funding for higher education slashed by more than $30 million in the last year alone.

Boren spearheaded 2016’s State Question 779, dubbed the “penny tax” measure, which would have added one cent to sales tax statewide with all of the profits going to education, but the effort was defeated in the Nov. 2016 election.

The shrinking budget has been filled with consistent increases in tuition and fees and resulted in incentivized retirement programs for faculty and staff, even as the new Residential Colleges and the renovations to Oklahoma Memorial Stadium — projects that are worth hundreds of millions of dollars but funded through different means than educational expenses — were completed on opposite sides of Lindsey Street.

Boren has also taken national and local criticism in recent years regarding his response to violence against women. Most notably, Boren was part of the decision to let football player Joe Mixon remain on the OU team after breaking a female student’s jaw in 2014.

Boren faced protests from his own students following comments he made regarding a sexual assault study conducted by OU researchers that were seen by some to be victim blaming.

“Can we eradicate the problem? Not any more than we can eradicate human nature,” Boren said in reference to sexual assault in a 2016 Daily article, his comments leading to protests from students.

Brenda Tracy, a sexual assault survivor and advocate who has spoken at OU, said these comments were problematic and showcased a deeper misunderstanding of the issue of sexual assault.

“I did see some pretty tone deaf comments regarding sexual assault,” Tracy said. “It looks like he’s done some really good work around different race issues, but I think when it comes to the topic of sexual assault, there is not a clear understanding of what was going on on campus and that he was placing the blame on women.”

Boren’s values and leadership were tested on a national stage during a 2015 Sigma Alpha Epsilon racist chant scandal. Two students left the university — Boren said he had expelled them, though that was later disputed — and the fraternity was kicked off campus, but there was also backlash from those who believed it was wrong to expel students over issues of free speech, including from The Foundation for Individual Rights in Education.

Boren said the incident was the most challenging situation he dealt with, but that the true identity of the university was made clear in the aftermath.

“That incident was going to define who we were, and when our students — on their own — spontaneously started marching, even in the dark — ‘not at our university’ — that’s not who we are,” Boren said at a press conference Sept. 20. “One of the things I’ve always felt here was great respect for student opinion, and I hope I’ve demonstrated that. I hope I’ve listened to students when I think they’ve deserve that.”

While the future of the university is not in Boren’s hands, there are qualities Boren wants to see in the next OU president — namely, a love of the university.

“Sometimes people regard being president of a university as a job, or maybe as a stepping stone, a line on a resume, or some other position,” Boren said. “I think that this place is worthy of all the love anyone can give it. I think someone who

has a special feeling for OU, maybe someone who spent part of their own college career at OU — to bring someone like that here, because they already have the love of the university, they realize what a special place that it is.”

The realm of retirement holds a more outspoken future for Boren, who said he will be able to more freely express political opinions and stances he was previously unable to vocalize as president of a public institution.

“Sometimes when you’re president of the university, there are moments when you say — because you must be non-political — ‘I’d like to just tell them what I really think about that,’” Boren said. “So I’m definitely gonna consider starting a blog after I retire as president so that I can tell people what I honestly think about what is best for the future of our state.”

Boren has, at times, been outspoken on politicized issues as president. Most recently, Boren voiced strong support for student recipients of the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program, and has repeatedly expressed public disappointment about the failure of his penny tax initiative.

Boren’s future also holds more time for what he loves most: OU’s students. Boren said even post-retirement, he will continue to teach at least one class a semester and be involved in students’ lives.

“My favorite part of the whole job is the time that I get to spend with students, and that’s sometimes frustrating because ... there are a lot of things going on, there are a lot of other duties that the president has, including trying to write a budget in these times, so I really look forward to having more time with the best part of the job as that’s more time with students,” Boren said.

Molly Shi Boren said she and David Boren felt the university would be secure moving forward without them in leadership, but that the couple will continue to be active at OU and “sitting on the sidelines cheering.”

“It’s been 23 wonderful years, and we’re not going anywhere,” Molly Shi Boren said. “David is still going to have an office, going to teach a freshmen class in political science, and we feel very good about our decision. We feel the university is in a good place, we’re happy with our decision.

It’s a good time for us, it’s a good time for the university, so all is good.”

Boren’s love and support for his students has been an inspiring example, said Kelly Damphousse, former dean of OU’s College of Arts and Sciences.

“He would tell stories about interactions he had with students and personal relationships he has with our students, and it was so inspiring to hear him talk about those things that it made me want to be a better professor and a better dean, because I wanted to live up to the idea that he was expressing in those moments,” Damphousse said.

Boren’s final words on that stage in Holmberg Hall reflected his utmost priority as he closed his address with a message to the people of OU. “Serving as your president has been the most rewarding period of my life. So many of you in this room have rubbed off on me,” Boren said. “So many special friendships have been made. It’s impossible for me to express my appreciation to you. Thank all of you for making it so rewarding.”

“Because of you, as the chant says, our university will live on stronger than ever.”

Emily McPherson and Abby Bitterman contributed to this report.

Anna Bauman

anna.m.bauman-1@ou.edu

Kayla Branch

kaylabranch@ou.edu

Emma Keith

emmakeith97@ou.edu

NEWS

September 21-24, 2017 •

5

D-BO: BY THE NUMBERS

JULIA HARTH/THE DAILY

SUPRIYA SRIDHAR • @SUPRIYASRIDHAR | HANNAH PIKE • @H_PIKE_

Duing his time at the University of Oklahoma, President David Boren has seen major changes. From increased state budget cuts to the rising of OU Athletics and national championships, here is President Boren by the numbers.

OU has been a top 10 university in private fundraising while Boren has been in office, raising more than $3 billion from private donors.

David and Molly Shi Boren founded the OU Cousins program, which matches more than 1,000 U.S. students with international students every year.

The

faculty-inresidence program has

brought mentorship and engaging programing to students.

He made OU the No. 1 college of National Merit Scholars, with more than 900 currently enrolled.

Boren created 2 colleges, the Honors College and the College of International Studies.

Boren was the

longestserving

chairman of the U.S. Senate Intelligence Committee.

He launched more than 30 new programs and founded the International Program Center 21 years ago to increase study abroad and international programs.

A flat-rate tuition plan has been introduced.

More than 350 benches and approximately 20 fountains and sculptures have been added to campus.

Boren has spent 51 years as a public servant in Oklahoma as of June 2017.

Endowed faculty positions have increased from 94 to more than 550.

While Boren has been in office, the percentage of students who study abroad has increased from 2 percent to more than 30 percent.

Private scholarships for students have quadrupled.

There are 10 additional gardens on the Norman and Health Sciences Center campuses.

Boren has been present for 17 team national titles and 81 team conference titles.

More than 20,000 new trees have been planted on the three campuses in the last 23 years, as instituted by Mrs. Boren.

He is working on raising $500 million through the “Live On, University” campaign.

Succession plan for President Boren begins OU Board of Regents to hire replacement leader

his plans to retire from his long-standing position as president of the university effective June 30, 2018.

Boren did not name a successor, but said he is STAFF REPORTS committed to continuing O U P r e s i d e n t D av i d in his role until a suitable Boren announced Sept. 20 replacement is found.

With the president’s retire- of Regents with the help of ment. a search committee consisting of representatives HERE ARE THE NEXT from OU faculty, students STEPS TOWARD and staff.

DETERMINING BOREN’S Members of the commitSUCCESSOR: tee, the majority of whom Boren’s replacement will will be faculty, will be nombe chosen by the OU Board inated by faculty, staff and

student government organizations and appointed by the Board of Regents.

The Board of Regents is not bound to the recommendations of the committee.

In t h e e v e n t t h a t t h e president were to retire before a successor is found,

OU’s senior vice president and provost would fill the role on an interim basis.

In this case, that position would be filled by Kyle Harper.

Staff Reports

dailynews@ou.edu

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• September 21-24, 2017

NOOR EEMAAN/THE DAILY

OU President David Boren listens to then-SGA president Daniel Pae Aug. 18, 2016. Pae said Boren “is the best example of what a public servant should be.�

Boren inspires next generation

Recent, current student leaders praise president KAYLA BRANCH @kayla_branch

OU student leaders and recent graduates said OU President David Boren’s contributions to the university will continue to have a lasting impact long after he leaves his post.

Boren, who has served as president of the university for 23 years, announced Wednesday he plans to retire effective June 30, 2018, pending the selection of a successor.

Daniel Pae, who served as Student Government Association president during 2015 and 2016 and is currently a Republican candidate for Oklahoma House District 62, said Boren was influential in his decision to become involved in public service. “I really valued that relationship with President Boren because he is the best example of what a public servant should be,�

Pae said. “When people ask who are my political role models, I tell them that one of them is President Boren. He is the absolute finest example of a public servant that you can find.

Governor, senator, university president — he has always thought about how he could serve others.�

Boren spent the past 50 years in public service, and those contributions will be valuable far into the future, said Kendall Burchard, former OU student and current law student at the

University of Virginia. “President Boren will be remembered for the incredible leaps and bounds that he both inspired and encouraged among students and the people of Oklahoma more broadly,�

Burchard said. “I think everything that he’s done to keep key talent in the state and to cultivate talent in the state, through his mentoring work in the university and the state, will reap benefits for many, many years to come.�

Burchard said her time at OU was profoundly affected by Boren’s care and concern for the students who are part of the community. “I was able to take one of his classes, and he made the time to speak with me and ask me about my aspirations for law school and public service and was very encouraging,� Burchard said. “That’s the thing that s h o u l d a l w ay s b e s a i d about President Boren — he believed so deeply in the university and the people, and that can be difficult to find.�

Current SGA President and public relations senior J.D. Baker said Boren went beyond just caring for and being interested in OU students — he was also invested in trying to correctly handle situations such as the SAE racist chant scandal. “I appreciate him listening in that situation and understanding we cannot tolerate hate on this campus,� Baker said. “Being a minority is radical, whether it’s 1619 or 2017, and to have a university president who works hard to know that your humanity

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is recognized and understood, and who’s constantly trying to educate himself so that he’s a better leader, so that he’s a better administrator — that’s the thing I can appreciate about him.�

Boren has engaged with students in various ways, Pae said, and these efforts have made him unique when it comes to university presidents. “If you look at his Twitter account, he is quite popular, and students see him as connecting with them and engaging them,� Pae said. “I think President Boren is different from other presidents because he is very approachable, and there are people who walk down the North Oval, and he stops to take selfies with them.�

Because of this relationship, Boren has been able to cultivate a deep connection with students, Baker said.

“He has created this culture of community — of family,� Baker said. “We as young people are searching for ourselves and searching to understand the world.

I appreciate him leading the cause for people to find purpose or meaning or maybe just direction.�

While Boren’s time as president of the university is coming to a close, Burchard said those who have been part of the OU community during his tenure have been lucky. “I think w e are all s o much better for having had him at the helm of the university,� Burchard said. “He will be deeply, deeply missed.�

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Universal Crossword 45 Half a score 46 Brought back by the P.O. 48 Like swords 50 Ark builder 51 Drummer’s responsibility 52 LaBeouf of Hollywood 55 Scorch 57 Narrow 61 Result of tabby playing with a rattler and some steers?

64 Relieve, as anxiety 65 “... pan, ___ the fire�

66 Slender 67 Beast’s love 68 Pert talk 69 Archaic attachment to “while�

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Nick Hazelrigg and Hannah Pike contributed to this report.

Edited by Timothy Parker September 21, 2017

ACROSS 1 “Against� prefix 5 Constricting snakes 9 Seed covers 14 Bridle strap 15 Vane direction 16 Seaport in northwestern Italy 17 What a church feeding stray felines led to?

20 Impassive 21 When repeated, “Amen!�

22 Not quite eternity 23 Updates on current events 25 Light spray 27 Kid, as oneself 30 Parking place 31 Crew equipment 34 Eye part 35 Winegrowing part of Italy 37 William Tell’s target 39 Like electric toys for tabbies?

42 “Farewell, my French friend�

43 Coward who told stories 44 Strauss of jeans

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40 Continental cash 41 Hamburg’s river 47 Deftness 49 Behind schedule 50 Regarding birth 51 Imps 52 Picket-line crosser 53 Hearty mate?

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58 Ocean structure 59 BWI info 60 Monthly payment for many 62 Clog dissolver 63 Wins a fight decisively

PREVIOUS PUZZLE PREVIOUS PUZZLEANSWER ANSWER

Place line ad by 9:00 a.m. 3 business days prior to publication.

Place your display, classified display or classified card ads by 5:00 p.m. 3 business days prior to publication.

HOROSCOPE

By Eugenia Last

Copyright 2017, Newspaper Enterprise Assn.

THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 21, 2017 ASTROGRAPH by Eugenia Last

to get involved in a joint venture.

Financial gains look promising.

Don’t let temptation or desire get the better of you. Know what you are capable of doing, and put your energy into what you know you can accomplish. Dedication, loyalty and intuition will help you reach your destination. Trust in yourself and follow your instincts.

PISCES (Feb. 20-March 20) -- Personal improvements can be made.

Physical as well as professional changes will boost your morale, giving you an extra appeal.

Partnerships are encouraged, and romance is highlighted.

VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22) -- Walk away from a financial deal that leaves you feeling uncertain. Bank on what you know to be legitimate, and don’t budge if someone puts pressure on you.

LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 23) -- A disagreement should be handled carefully. A fair solution may not be enough. Offer an incentive that you know will be too difficult to refuse.

9/20 Š 2017 Andrews McMeel Syndication 9/18 Š 2017 Andrews McMeel Syndication www.upuzzles.com www.upuzzles.com

KITTY’S GOT CLAWS By Timothy E. Parker

SCORPIO (Oct. 24-Nov. 22) -Someone will take advantage of your vulnerability if you share your emotional concerns. Keep your personal thoughts and affairs secret.

Concentrate on getting ahead, not on helping someone else advance.

SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 23-Dec. 21) -- Confusion will set in while you are traveling or trying to obtain information. Ask questions that will help you better understand the changes going on around you.

Personal change is highlighted.

CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19) -- Emotional matters will escalate if someone is pressuring you or if you try to force your will on others. You are best off handling matters and doing things on your own.

AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 19) -- A change will do you good. An unexpected opportunity will boost your enthusiasm and encourage you

ARIES (March 21-April 19) -- An opportunity may not be as good as it sounds. Research the ups and downs of whatever situation you face before you agree to jump in.

Impulsive action will end in regret.

TAURUS (April 20-May 20) -- Don’t let the actions of others sway your opinion. If someone is enthusiastic about a deal, look past the excitement and see whether there is any substance behind what’s being offered.

GEMINI (May 21-June 20) -- An opportunity to make a work-related change is encouraged. Revamp your resume and discuss your options with someone who is already working in a vocation that interests you.

CANCER (June 21-July 22) -- A steady, levelheaded approach to life and dealing with others will help you bypass discord. Refuse to let your emotions spin out of control and lead to impulsive actions. Avoid excessive behavior.

LEO (July 23-Aug. 22) -- Take care of your responsibilities before moving on to enjoyable pastimes if you want to avoid complaints or criticism. A change may tempt you, but make sure you can afford it before getting started.

NEWS

September 21-24, 2017 •

Boren encourages activism

OU president helps lead campus in diversity, inclusion

Emma Keith News Managing Editor Siandhara Bonnet Engagement Editor Kelli Stacy Sports Editor

NICK HAZELRIGG @nickhazelrigg

W h e n t w o a nt i - Bla ck Lives Matter demonstrators clashed with counter protesters on the South Oval in November 2016, then 75-year-old OU President David Boren stepped onto a bench and grabbed a megaphone.

Standing among students, Boren condemned the actions of the demonstrators.

“As a part of the OU family, because we’re all brothers and sisters here together in one OU family, I condemn absolutely what he’s been saying to you,” Boren said.

“I condemn the hatred he’s been spewing.”

Student activists have expressed appreciation for Boren’s willingness to hear their concerns, emphasize the importance of diversity and inclusion on campus and create a safe environment during his 23-year tenure as president.

Recent OU graduate and student activist Chelsea Davis, who co-founded black student activist group OU Unheard, said Boren was always receptive to the needs of minority students on campus.

“I really think he opened the door. He allowed for conversations to be had with university administration that I don’t think (were) happening before,” Davis said. “I think moving forward for the next president to take his place — whoever that may be — I think it will be good for them to continue that for whatever groups are fighting for marginalized communities.”

Boren has seen many activist demonstrations in more than two decades at the university, especially since the Sigma Alpha Epsilon scandal in 2015, in which an OU fraternity performed a racist chant in a leaked video. In response to this event, Boren reprimanded two students involved in the incident who later withdrew from the university, Boren also created the position of vice president for the University Community to promote diversity at OU. Jabar Shumate, who filled the new position, said Boren will be remembered for creating a “national model” for diversity within the OU community.

“I think he’s really been a visionary,” Shumate said. “I think he’s been on the cutting edge creating an office of community understanding that diversity and inclusion is done throughout the university, that very few universities have been able to capture.”

Shumate said Boren

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The Oklahoma Daily is a public forum, the University of Oklahoma’s independent student voice and an entirely student-run publication.

Letters should concentrate on issues, not personalities, and must be fewer than 250 words, typed and signed by the author(s).

Letters will be edited for accuracy, space and style. Students must list their major and classification. To submit letters, email dailyopinion@ou.edu.

KINGSLEY BURNS/THE DAILY

OU President David Boren speaks during a rally to support gender-neutral housing March 7, 2012, on the South Oval.

created a system in which every dean has an employee who reports on diversity within their respective colleges, leading efforts in diversity and inclusion.

“I think the university has been very strategic and a leader in the state in terms of our recruitment of underrepresented students,” Shumate said. “The University of Oklahoma had various diversity and inclusion programs before I arrived three years ago. What we didn’t have is sort of a centralized mechanism.”

Shumate said the University Community has aimed to reach out to underrepresented youth early on to help them achieve goals of reaching college.

“More and more universities very much like OU are understanding the need to play a role in identifying and helping to mentor and nurture students earlier,” Shumate said. “As early as 10th grade in high school we

start building a relationship to help them understand what they need to be doing to be a successful student at the university and successfully be competitive at the university.”

Shumate said Boren’s legacy on campus activism will be the understanding he’s shown towards different student groups.

“He has encouraged students to be deep thinkers and be individuals who are very curious and ask questions,” Shumate said. “And I think the role of a university is to create an environment where students feel like they have the freedom to make the university into the kind of place we all hope for.”

Davis said despite the strides activist groups have made with Boren’s help, there is still significant work to be done.

“There’s still a lot of work that needs to be done within the minority communities here at OU — not just in the

black community, but also in the Native American community, the Hispanic community,” Davis said. “I think he has always been a proponent of change, he’s always been very open to hearing what minority students needed on campus.”

Public and nonprofit administration sophomore Elaina Fees, who is an associate member in the Student Government Association, as well as a student activist, said Boren is a good person, but is still a politician at heart.

“Something that is smart and necessary to do is to really critically analyze our leaders, whether it’s a student leader, a professor or David Boren,” Fees said. “He’s been very vocal about a lot of things related to student activism, like sending out a statement on DACA and the travel ban. I think sometimes, though, that is the entity that is ‘David Boren’ and not really himself. He’s got a

lot of ties to a lot of money, and it’s interesting where that money leads.”

Despite her criticism that Boren has failed to be vocal about certain important issues, Fees said she appreciates his administration’s support for demonstrations on campus. She also said she hopes Boren’s replacement continues his precedent on allowing activism in the future.

“The ability to come together as a community — I know that’s something that’s talked about a lot, the ‘OU Family,’ and I really think that’s employed through activism and through protests and rallies,” Fees said. “I find that to be vital within the thread of the community.”

Hannah Pike contributed to this report.

Nick Hazelrigg

hazelriggn@gmail.com

University staff celebrate Boren

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OU leaders reacted with gratitude and pride toward OU President David Boren at the Sept. 20 announcement of his upcoming retirement.

Here’s what faculty across OU had to say about Boren’s 23 years as president: “I think it’s overwhelming because of “We have witnessed “There should be celebrations and honor the impact he’s had on the university a transformational given to David Boren because through and higher education beyond our leader.” his leadership, he has changed many university and the impact he’s had people’s lives that have been able to GREGG GARN, on countless, thousands of faculty DEAN OF JEANNINE RAINBOLT come to the university, get a degree.

COLLEGE OF EDUCATION members and students and staff We’re more diverse than we’ve ever been, members. I think that we won’t know the people have had more opportunities enormity of his impact even for some to come — he’s always supported need“He has been the time, but it’s certainly lasting, beyond based financial aid, which is a big thing spirit and lifeblood any of our lifetimes currently, and we to me ... So I’ve just seen him as a man of of this college. We just owe him the most immense debt of can’t overstate his integrity really supporting students and gratitude for his energy and vision and importance.” being personal about it.” for his creativity.”

MARY MARGARET HOLT, DEAN OF WEITZENHOFFER FAMILY COLLEGE OF FINE ARTS

TOM HUSTON ORR, HELMRICH SCHOOL OF DRAMA DIRECTOR

MATT HAMILTON, VICE PRESIDENT FOR ENROLLMENT AND STUDENT FINANCIAL SERVICES AND REGISTRAR

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8

NEWS

• September 21-24, 2017

‘I’m sad to see him go’ Students react to OU President David Boren’s retirement announcement

“I really haven’t known him long but it is also kind of sad because, like, it’s DBo, man.

You can’t lose DBo.” -Rustin Beasley

VIA COLE.HOUSE.GOV

U.S. Rep. Tom Cole, R-Oklahoma, released a statement wishing OU President David Boren the best on his retirement.

“I personally felt that National Merit was too worked up. I felt that I got more than I deserved. I have heard from no solid source that the scholarship will go away after he retires. It’s going to be a bad thing on a personal basis, because I wouldn’t have had a free education, but also I am hopeful about the money going other places because there are other things it can do for in-state students and the people of Oklahoma as a whole.” -Zoe Narvaez

State leaders thank Boren Figures respond to retirement news, share appreciation STAFF REPORTS

“I’m sad to see him go. You know he did a lot of things for the students here from DACA to just supporting, like, everyone who felt like OU was their community, so I hope the next president does the same as well, follows in his footsteps.” -Daniel Enge

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Oklahoma politicians and other officials have expressed their thoughts after President David Boren announced his plan to retire June 30, 2018.

Congressman Tom Cole released a statement explaining that he respects Boren’s decision, and sees it as “a great loss for OU and the state of Oklahoma.”

Cole said in his statement that while Boren will be missed, he has confidence the OU Board of Regents will find a worthy successor, and OU will adapt well.

“By every conceivable measure he has left the university stronger than he found it,” Cole said in the statement. “The student body is more talented and diverse. The academic programs are richer and deeper. The campus is

more functional and beau- wonderful partner to him tiful. And the endowment and Oklahoma State. has been multiplied many “The state of Oklahoma times over.” owes David Boren its deepest gratitude,” Hargis said.

“His lifetime of public ser“The state of vice has earned him a place Oklahoma owes as one of Oklahoma’s finest statesmen. We appreciate David Boren it’s deepest gratitude. all he has done and OSU wishes him all the best.”

His lifetime of public Senator Jim Inhofe also service has earned tweeted his well-wishes after the announcement, him a place as one Boren “has been a of Oklahoma’s finest saying dedicated public servant statesmen. We for decades and has served O U w i t h d i s t i n c t i o n .” appreciate all he

has done and OSU wishes him all the best.”

Staff Reports

BURNS HARGIS, OKLAHOMA STATE UNIVERSITY PRESIDENT

B u r n s Ha r g i s , p r e s i dent of Oklahoma State University, released a statement commending B o re n o n h i s “ re m a r kable career and epic succ e s s” a n d ca l l e d h i m a

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• September 21-24, 2017

The faculty, staff, and students of the Religious Studies Program express our profound appreciation for the leadership and support of President and Mrs. Boren.

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NEWS

September 21-24, 2017 • 13

PAXSON HAWS/THE DAILY

OU President David Boren speaks to the audience during his retirement announcement in Holmberg Hall Sept. 20.

Boren dedicates life to education Former politician transformed OU with his advocacy EMILY MCPHERSON @emcphersonok

OU President David Boren said Wednesday he still plans to teach a political science class once his tenure as the university’s executive is finished, a fitting role for a man who has made education the focus of his entire professional life.

Boren’s interest in education is evident in the actions he took as an elected official. Before coming to OU in 1994, Boren served as a state legislator, governor and U.S. senator. As governor of Oklahoma, he signed two bills into law in 1977, bringing millions of dollars to both common and higher education, raised teachers’ salaries and expanded common education programs.

During his tenure in the Senate, Boren authored several pieces of legislation to improve the education system in the country. One bill, passed in 1991 and renamed in his honor a year later, established the National Security Education Act, providing money to students and universities to promote learning foreign languages and studying abroad.

“Ignorance of the rest of the world is itself a threat to our national security,” Boren said in a statement in 1992. “If America is to keep its place as a global power, we must improve our language skills and our knowledge of other regions.”

His most impactful action

— at least for the state of Oklahoma — was creating the Oklahoma Foundation for Excellence as senator.

In 1985, Boren brought together community and business leaders from across the state to achieve two goals: improve public education with private investment, and honor outstanding teachers.

Over 32 years later, more than 220 local education foundations, supported by the state’s foundation, raise money and encourage support for their local schools — more per capita than any other state in the nation. “ We a d m i re h i m t re mendously for what he has done,” said Emily Stratton, executive director of the O k l a h o m a Fo u n d a t i o n for Excellence. “We feel so lucky to work here.”

In 1992, members of the Oklahoma Democratic Party strongly encouraged Boren to r un for president, but Boren never campaigned for the nation’s highest office. In 1994, he became OU’s 13th president, and his dedication to education efforts only increased.

As a university president, Boren was able to add a personal element to his support of education.

“I have heard him give hundreds of speeches over the years,” said Kelly Damphousse, former dean of OU’s College of Arts and Sciences and current chancellor of Arkansas State University. “He would tell stories about interactions he had with students and personal relationships he has with our students, and it was so inspiring to hear him

talk about those things.”

Gregg Garn, dean of OU’s Jeannine Rainbolt College of Education, emphasized Boren’s transformational leadership qualities.

“I’ve had the good fortune to work with one of the greatest leaders this university has ever seen,” Garn said. “I’ve just been so fortunate to be able to work in this institution and see firsthand what great leadership looks like and being able to truly transform a university.”

Even though Boren’s domain is in higher education, his attention to Oklahoma’s K-12 education system is far from lacking.

Most notably, he led the charge for a statewide penny tax to help fund pay raises for teachers. Although his initiative – on the 2016 ballot as State Question 779 – failed during the November elections, Oklahoma teache r s h av e n o t f o r g o t t e n Boren’s dedication to them.

“He’s led a conversation that others in the state have not been willing to about the importance of salary and compensation for public school teachers,” Garn said. “I can’t tell you how many meetings I go into where teachers, principals, superintendents, parents hear that I’m from the University of Oklahoma and just come up and say, ‘Thank you. We’re so grateful for President Boren’s leadership in education in this state.’”

Oklahoma’s 2016 Teacher of the Year, Shawn Sheehan, made statewide news when he publicly moved to Texas because he could no longer afford to live on his low salary as a teacher. Still,

Sheehan said he remains grateful to Boren for his efforts.

“Higher education and public education are losing a strong advocate,” Sheehan said. “I’m sad to see him go, and I’m also wondering just who’s going to step up and fill his shoes, because those are ver y large shoes to fill.”

Within OU, Boren fostered the idea of community, often referring to the OU student body, faculty and staff as “family.”

Damphousse said he sees him as a role model, b o t h f o r o t h e r u n i ve rsity professors and for other leaders in higher education. “(Boren) made me want

to be a better professor and a better dean,” Damphousse said. “If I can achieve half of the things that he did (at OU), I’ll feel like we’ve had a huge success (at Arkansas State).”

Upon his arrival at OU, Boren set lofty goals, including the creation of the OU Honors College and an increase in the percentage of students who study abroad.

On Wednesday, Boren reflected on the importance of those goals and of the university in general.

“The university has never in our history been more important than it is today. It is the guardian of intellectual freedom,” Boren said. “No institution is more important to our future … (it) is the

linchpin of our society.”

According to the American Council on Education, the average tenure for a university president is 8.5 years. After he retires in June, Boren will have nearly tripled that with 24 years of service.

“We have witnessed a t ra n s f o r mat i o na l l ea der,” Garn said. “I could’ve worked 19 years here and had five or more different presidents ... the good fortune to have been here at a time when you truly have a transformational president and leader is a pretty special thing.”

Emily McPherson

emilymcpherson@ou.edu

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14

• September 21-24, 2017

A FOND FAREWEL

In the same building where he was inaugurated over two decades ago, OU President David Boren announced his retirement to raucous applause from a room full of admiring students and employees.

DANA BRANHAM • @DANABRANHAM

W

ith more than half an hour before OU President David Boren is scheduled to take the stage and make a not-so-secret surprise announcement, Holmberg Hall is buzzing.

In a way, it looks like a big lecture hall: students inside are chattering about their theories on who might succeed Boren as president; some of them are on laptops, scrolling through Fa c e b o o k . T h e y ’ re i n T-shirts and shorts, joined by administrators and faculty members in suits and dresses.

High in the balcony section, a pair of students look down at the burgeoning crowd below, one gripping the balcony’s crimson rail.

Under a dome-shaped, intricately decorated ceiling — perhaps not unlike the ceilings at the U.S. or Oklahoma capitol buildings Boren would stride below earlier in his career — the room is packed, filled with a sense of anticipation.

At 2 p. m. o n t h e d o t, President Boren walks out to an immediate standing ovation.

***

“I love and appreciate each and every one of you,” he says, thanking students, the OU community, his wife and the state of Oklahoma.

Right away, it feels like a goodbye.

Boren recounts some of

the dreams he had for the university when he first arrived in 1994 — creating an honors college, bolstering the school’s study abroad program and making diversity its strength. Many of those dreams, he says, have become realities.

He say s h e’s t h ou g ht long and hard about when it would be time for him to step down, to allow the university to transition to its next president.

“I believe that the right time has come,” he says, and the room is silent.

It’s the message most everyone had expected to hear, but after 23 years of one university president, it feels surreal to imagine anyone else.

***

He explains the logistics of the transition to a crowd anxious to know what — and who — is next : he’ll remain as university president until June 30, 2018, unless a successor isn’t found by then.

Moments later, Boren crescendos to the end: “Because of you, as the chant says, our university will live on stronger than ever.”

He’s met with another ovation, louder than when he first stepped on stage.

Reporters and photographers swarm the stage, and soon, Boren disappears, swallowed by them.

One photographer takes a chair set on the stage, turns

it around, and stands on it.

Around the room: people line up to hug Molly Shi Boren, and a student audibly wonders: “Where’s Bob Stoops? I want a picture with Bob Stoops.”

Students linger, waiting to say goodbye or thank you.

“It hasn’t set in yet,” one of them, S GA President J.D. Baker, says. This morning, when he saw the announcement that this would happen in Holmberg Hall, he knew what was coming. All of Boren’s biggest announcements have been in Holmberg, he says.

The last time Boren made an announcement of this magnitude, it was in 2015 — the same auditorium — when he denounced a racist chant from the Sigma Alpha Epsilon fraternity.

Beloved zoology professor Doug Gaffin stands alone looking at the crowd, a messenger bag slung over his shoulders. Bob and Carol Stoops walk over to Molly Shi. She tells them that she and David thought seriously about Boren stepping down after they saw Bob retire over the summer.

Political science freshman Taylor Putman and Jordan Fraser, a master’s student in public administration, are among the last students waiting in the auditorium for Boren.

Putman skipped a class for this, and he has questions for Boren: is someone from OU going to succeed him? “ I t ’s a p r e t t y b i g

moment,” Putman says.

“How many students can say they were there for the changing of a president?”

F r a s e r h e a rd r u m o r s Tuesday night, and when he saw the announcement Wednesday morning, he knew. He notices someone holding a copy of Boren’s book, and regrets not bringing a book for Boren to sign, too. He says he wants something personal to remember him by — maybe a selfie, but that would be too awkward.

***

After the media crowd disperses, Boren leaves the auditorium through a side door, and outside, a group of students is waiting for him. They thank him for his service and pose for a photo with him — they’re all in the Pride, they tell him.

“I was in the band too,” he says, and they already know — the y’ve s e en a photo of him playing the alto sax in an old newspaper clipping.

“Thank you for the National Merit scholarship, too!” biology sophomore Brenna O’Hara chimes in.

Boren laughs and makes sure to shake each of their ha n d s. He l e av e s t h e m with a last reflection on his presidency.

“It’s been the best part of my life.”

Dana Branham

danabranham@ou.edu

OU President David Boren speaks to members of the media after announcing his plans to retire during a Sept. 20 speech. Boren, who came to OU in 1994 after nearly three decades in politics, will retire e

A LIFETIME OF ACH

A look at OU Preside 1994

Boren joined OU as the university’s 13th president.

1974

1963

Boren elected governor.

Boren graduated Yale with a bachelor’s degree.

1965

Boren was a Rhodes Scholar and studied at Oxford, getting a master’s degree.

PHOTOS FROM “A LETTER TO AMERICA” BY DAVID BOREN, COURTESY OF OU

1979-1994

199

Boren was inaugurate ident of the university the oath of office.

Boren began his 15 years in the U.S. Senate, chairing the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence. He authored the National Security Education Act and served on the Joint Committee on the Margaret Thatcher, former Br organization of Congress. ter, spoke at OU. OU’s petrole program was ranked top

NEWS

September 21-24, 2017 •

15

LL

WILL CONOVER/THE DAILY

effective June 30, 2018, contingent upon the OU Board of Regents selecting his successor.

HIEVEMENT:

ent David Boren’s life from Yale to OU SUPRIYA SRIDHAR • @SUPRIYASRIDHAR

2017

95

ed as presy and took

1999

ritish prime miniseum engineering p 10 in the nation.

President Boren had heart bypass surgery but continued to serve in his position during his recovery. Boren announced his retirement in September.

2005

Boren returned to work more than six weeks after having surgery for a herniated disc.

2011

President Boren created the College of International Studies.

2007

Colin Powel, former secretary of state, comes to visit. Michael Bloomberg gave a commencement speech at graduation.

2015

Boren reprimanded the SAE fraternity after a racist incident.

16

ADVERTISEMENT

• September 21-24, 2017

All the students, faculty, and staff of the OU Honors College express our deep appreciation and gratitude to

PRESIDENT DAVID L. BOREN AND FIRST LADY MOLLY SHI BOREN for their strong and constant support of all our efforts and programs. President Boren elevated the OU Honors Program to College status and for 20 years has been its greatest champion and advocate.

“The point of an Honors College is its idealism. Honors represents higher education at its best and most aspirational.”

- Nancy West, “What’s the point of an Honors College, Anyway?”

The Chronicle of Higher Education, January 27,2014

September 21-24, 2017 •

SPORTS

17

Kelli Stacy, sports editor dailysports@ou.edu • phone: 405-325-3666 oudaily.com/sports • Twitter: @OUDailySports

Athletics advances under Boren

Department has seen growth, wins in president’s time KELLI STACY @AstacyKelli

On June 7, Oklahoma was rocked with the news of coach Bob Stoops’ retirement. Just 106 days later, the state faced yet another shock when OU President David Boren stood before a packed crowd in Holmberg Hall inside the Donald W. Reynolds Performing Arts Center and announced his retirement.

As president, Boren moved the athletic department forward in monumental ways. He was part of a triumvirate of himself, Stoops and Athletics Director Joe Castiglione that was arguably the most successful and longest standing president, head football coach and athletic director trio in the NCAA. B o re n a n d Ca s t i g l i o n e helped bring in coaches and develop facilities that led to increased success in recruiting and overall success in the athletic department.

“For decades David Boren has been a driving force in higher education, public service and politics,” said Bob Bowlsby, Big 12 Conference Commissioner. “Under his leadership, the University of Oklahoma has risen to unprecedented heights both academically and athletically. His impact on the success and stature of the Big 12 also cannot be diminished. Since the conference’s inception, David has been an influential part of the Big 12’s trajectory.

His legacy is unmatched.”

Boren had a hand in some of the most important coaching hires at Oklahoma, helping pave the way for what is now known as one of the best athletic departments in the country. In his time at OU, the former governor has been part of hiring six highly successful coaches in Stoops, men’s basketball coach Lon Kruger, women’s basketball coach Sherri Coale, softball coach Patty Gasso, men’s gymnastics coach Mark Williams and women’s gymnastics coach KJ Kindler. Boren cultivated relationships with these coaches, showing how much he cared about every aspect of the university.

“We’ve always had a great relationship,” Stoops said.

“He’s always been a great

CHRIS JAMES/THE DAILY

OU President David Boren and his wife Molly Shi Boren stand with former OU head football coach Bob Stoops after the Sooners’ victory over Alabama in the 2014 Sugar Bowl.

mentor (and) adviser in many ways, on top of a great friendship. That’s always been important to me, that the leadership and direction of not just the university, but it infiltrated through to the athletic department and to me directly. He’s meant a great deal. One of the primary reasons that I’ve been here 18 years, (is) because I so trusted the leadership and the direction that he provided for us, as well as the university.”

Boren didn’t just support the athletic department by attending events, though.

He was also instrumental in the renovations of multiple athletic facilities on campus and the creation of softball’s

Marita Hynes Field, football’s Everest Training Center and the Switzer Center, and soccer’s John Crain Field.

Improvements in the athletic facility have yet to come to a halt under Boren, with the most recent being the south end zone renovation of Oklahoma Gaylord Family Memorial Stadium and the addition of the Blake Griffin Performance Center to be used by all sports. New plans are also in the works for the baseball and softball facilities, as well as a potential new home for both men’s and women’s basketball in the new expo center proposed this week.

“When you look at the facility enhancements with

all of our athletic teams over the last 15 to 18 years, everybody’s been directly impacted financially and with new facilities, a new dormitory, new stadiums across campus,” Stoops said. “On and on, President Boren, through Joe Castiglione, has really developed and helped all these teams prosper and compete for championships.”

The longstanding president helped develop a culture of winning at OU alongside Castiglione and Stoops.

Stoops’ retirement broke up the trio, and with Boren’s retirement, Castiglione is the last man standing.

“We were already thinking maybe a year later, and then after Bob we thought, ‘Well,

why not now? Why wait another year?’ The more we thought about it, we decided it was (time),” Molly Shi Boren said.

Boren’s era — one full of more athletic success than most presidents see — will come to an end on June 30, 2018, pending his successor.

Thus far in his presidency, he was witness to 17 team national titles and 81 team conference titles, as well as 54 individual national titles and 147 individual conference titles. He watched the football program go from arguably the darkest era in program history — missing bowl games from 1995 to 1998 and going 17-27-1 — to arguably the No. 1 program in the

nation, making a bowl game every year since 1999. Come July, OU will face a new era, but the foundation for athletic success Boren helped to build will remain intact.

“He has a heart for people, for equality, for diversity and offering the best overall college experience for all students,” Gasso said in a press release. “It has been an honor being led by President Boren and I will work endlessly to follow his lead and make him proud both on and off the field. THERE’S ONLY ONE OKLAHOMA ... and his name is David Boren.

Kelli Stacy

kelliastacy@ou.edu

OU, Norman consider new event center Entertainment district to include basketball arena GEORGE STOIA @ GeorgeStoia

The OU men’s and women’s main basketball teams may have a new home soon, with plans of a new expo center to be built in northern Norman.

Tuesday night, the City of Norman unveiled a plan to develop a new entertainment district that could become the home for Oklahoma basketball. Along with hosting Sooner basketball, the district would consist of restaurants, hotels and other amenities. The project has been put together by the City of Norman and the University of Oklahoma Foundation, both believing the new district will benefit the people of Norman.

“We’re really, really excited about the possibilities of the larger mixed-use development that we believe is not only exciting, but quite possible,” Guy Patton, president of the OU Foundation, said. “We imagine that, as a place where people live, they shop and they

go to concerts and basketball games. It’ll be a really unique place, not just in Norman but in Oklahoma.”

The new district would be located between Rock Creek Road and Tecumseh Road, about six miles from OU’s campus. The University of Oklahoma has agreed “in principle” to be the multi-purpose arena’s anchor tenant, and Athletic Director Joe Castiglione said the university’s interest level is “very high.”

“The idea of creating an experience and an overall destination, in addition to the event itself, leads us to believe it will give us a lot more to offer our fans in terms of an experience,” Castiglione said. “It’s much more than purchasing a ticket — it’s making a determination that they want to take full advantage of the overall experience.”

Castiglione went on to say the arena would seat somewhere in the range of 10,000 versus the L loyd Noble Center’s current capacity of 11,528.

If the basketball teams were to move to this new arena, the LNC would still be used for university events. Castiglione said in the past they have had

scheduling issues due to multiple events attempting to take place at the LNC in the same period of time.

The new arena would solve these issues and would allow for local high school teams to play occasionally at the LNC. “It’s no secret that the Lloyd Noble Center, while still a great facility — and whether this plan goes forward or not — would still be a viable venue for a variety of different events,” Castiglione said. “It can be complimentary to this new arena.”

One concern for OU in the past has been the low student attendance at games, but Castiglione believes this new arena and the district surrounding it would attract more students to games.

“We think of our event being part of a destination for overall enjoyment, and that relates to everything,” Castiglione said. “We think in the long run, in what those offerings are, create a great dynamic to be even more attractive to students.”

Coaches Lon Kruger and Sherri Coale are also looking forward to the possibility of a new home.

“Both are very excited about the opportunity it

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The proposed plan for Norman City Council’s new entertainment arena.

creates,” Castiglione said.

“They know the competition they face, they know what prospective student athletes are looking for, know the environment — they’re very excited about the possibilities.”

While OU believes the venue would be great for hosting home basketball games, they also believe it could host a variety of NCAA

tournaments. Castiglione said they would have a good shot at hosting NCAA tournaments for basketball, gymnastics and volleyball.

Norman mayor Lynne Miller said they hope to have the project approved in the next few months, but for now Castiglione and the university look forward to the future.

“To be perfectly candid,

we’re limited at where we are right now,” Castiglione said. “It’s the synergy of everything else going on in that part of the area that creates that dynamic environment that would attract more and more people to come to our games.”

George Stoia

george.s.stoia-1@ou.edu

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