January 19-22, 2017

W E E K E N D E D I T I O N | J A N U A R Y 19 - 2 2 , 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

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TRUMP’S TURN DAISY CREAGER • @DAISYCREAGER

A

OU students to participate in Inauguration Day march, protests in Washington

fter Donald Trump’s victory in the November presidential election, Abbey Rutherford had a wake-up call. The OU political science and environmental sustainability sophomore decided she needed to make action part of her daily life — including this weekend when she goes to Washington D.C. for Trump’s inauguration.

Rutherford and other members of the OU community said they will be in the District of Columbia this weekend to protest at the inauguration or to march in solidarity for women’s rights in the Women’s March on Washington. Trump will be inaugurated on Jan. 20 in a ceremony that starts at 9:30 a.m. ET, and the march will take place the next day.

Trump has a track record for his comments marginalizing women: During the election, audio from a 2005 recording emerged where he talked about “(grabbing women) by the p***y,” and insiders on his show, “The Apprentice,” said he repeatedly demeaned women.

Rutherford said she will be participating in a protest called “Not My President” on Jan. 20 and in the march Saturday.

“Especially with MLK Day behind us, I think that (the protest is) going to be historic, and I think that it really is going to make me personally feel better about the changes happening in our country,” Rutherford said.

Rilla Askew, English professor at OU, will also attend the Women’s March on Washington to show support for issues involving human rights and the environment.

The march aims to empower and uplift all people from all areas on a variety of issues. Unifying in light of many issues is important, Askew said.

“The unity of Black Lives Matter, the unity of Reproductive Justice, the unity of LGBTQ issues, especially health care, which affects every American, the environment,” Askew said.

“And I care about all of those issues, so that is why I am going.”

“Especially with MLK Day behind us, I think that (the protest is) going to be historic.”

ABBEY RUTHERFORD, OU SOPHOMORE ATTENDING INAUGURATION PROTEST

see TRUMP page 2

What are your thoughts on the inauguration? Tweet us at @OUDaily or share your thoughts at facebook.com/oudaily.

What: Inauguration of Donald Trump Where: Washington D.C. When: 11:30 a.m. Friday

ILLUSTRATION BY ABBIE SEARS/THE DAILY

Faculty, students reflect on Obama’s impact W

hen Jabar Shumate ran for unopposed reelection to the O klahoma Hous e of Representatives District 73 as a Democrat in 2008, he saw a name on his ballot that he identified with more than ever: Barack Obama.

He has kept that ballot to this day.

“That was pretty phenomenal,” Shumate, OU’s vice president for the university community, said.

Fa st f o r wa rd n i n e ye a r s, and Obama’s time as the leader of the countr y is almost up. Succeeding him Jan. 20 is Republican Donald Trump, a polarizing newcomer in the political world who shocked pollsters and experts when he defeated Democratic nominee Hillary Clinton on Nov. 9, 2016.

His election sparked fear, anger, shock, campus protest and uncertainty as to what the country’s future would hold.

But even though his time as

ANDREW CLARK • @CLARKY_TWEETS president will soon end, Obama has left a political, personal and inspiring mark on many prominent black members of the OU community. For Shumate, Obama’s election and presi-

“... You cannot knock the fact that this man has had incredible impact by showing what it really means to be a good person.”

JABAR SHUMATE, VICE PRESIDENT FOR THE UNIVERSITY COMMUNITY dency enhanced his vision of America’s potential greatness.

“I represented a district that was 70 percent African American,” Shumate said. “Many of the young people who lived in my district — trapped in schools that quite frankly didn’t give

them the opportunity to necessarily break the cycles of poverty — could look on television and say ‘I see somebody who looks like me, who is a good husband, and a good role model, and a good leader, and I can be that.’”

Obama’s book “Dreams from My Father,” which explores his search for his identity being a mixed-race child living in multiple places, sits on the top shelf of J.D. Baker’s office. The Student Government Association president said Obama did not inspire him to run for office — he only decided to run shortly before the deadline to file for candidacy — but inspired him personally.

“He constantly searched to find who his identity was, especially in this country where we know race divided a lot of people,” Baker said. “I think his whole journey really inspired me — finding his identity and really securing himself in that.”

“He’s inspired me in self-confidence, in loving who I am and in understanding my identity,”

Baker said.

Obama has received criticism from the president-elect for deepening the country’s racial and partisan divides and from other Republicans for enacting more than 250 executive orders,

“He’s inspired me in self-confidence, in loving who I am and in understanding my identity.”

J.D. BAKER, SGA PRESIDENT which do not require approval from Congress.

Baker said the changing partisanship of the U.S. government is something people will look back on when examining his presidency.

“Especially, I think, when you look at Merrick Garland being

appointed to the Supreme Court, now 11 months ago, and basically that nomination dying,” Baker said. “And Merrick Garland wasn’t even given one hearing, one hearing. And to me, that’s injustice. In our democracy, in Congress, that’s injustice.”

But despite the political criticism, Shumate said he believes Obama’s character has bipartisan support.

“Whether you were a Democrat or Republican, (liberal) or conservative, you cannot knock the fact that this man has had incredible impact by showing what it really means to be a good person,” Shumate said.

Trump’s character has been long-questioned; He’s been accused of sexual assault by multiple women, was recorded in 2005 saying he can grab women by their genitals because of his status and has dealt with his funds in manners many deem unethical.

see OBAMA page 2

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• January 19-22. 2017

NEWS

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

March to send strong message OKC event to mimic demonstrations across the country REGAN STEPHENSON @regan_leanne

Citizens from Oklahoma and across the world will participate simultaneously in marches for women’s rights this weekend, including one in Oklahoma City.

The Women’s March on Oklahoma is part of a national movement of more than 600 marches “to unify and empower ever yone who stands for human rights” that will take place Jan. 21 across the nation, with more than 1.3 million estimated marchers

participating worldwide.

T h e l o c a l m a rc h w i l l b e gin at the O klahoma St at e Cap i t o l bu i l d i ng, proceed south on Lincoln Boulevard to 18th Street, and circle back to the State Capitol Building, event coordinator Lindsey Kanaly said.

After arriving back at the capitol, several speakers and poets will address the crowd on issues of equality, she said.

“The purpose is to unite women behind common goals. We all want to protect the women and communities that have been marginalized for far too long,” Kanaly said.

Kanaly said the marches are taking place on the first day of Donald Trump’s

PROVIDED VIA FACEBOOK

The Women’s March on Oklahoma will begin at 10 a.m. Saturday. There will also be sister marches across the world occurring at the same time.

administration to send a strong message about uniting the country and about equality.

“We are using that day to

send a strong message on day one that says we will work to unite this country,” Kanaly said. “We will stand beside our legislators when

they are promoting good bills that will help all communities and all people, but we will also resist any (discriminatory) bills.”

Regan Stephenson

regan.l.stephenson-1@ ou.edu

Securing set list creates strife Toby Keith, 3 Doors Down, Rockettes among performers KAELAN DEASE @RedNPinkFish

President-elect Donald Trump will be inaugurated as the 45th president of the United States on Friday.

Lining up musical talent for the ceremony has proven difficult for the inauguration’s organizers.

The confirmed musicians for the inauguration are: Toby Keith, Jon Voight, Jackie Evancho, 3 Doors Down, the Radio City Rockettes, the Mormon Tabernacle Choir, Jennifer Holliday, Sam Moore, Lee Greenwood, The Frontmen of Country,

TRUMP:

Continued from Page One

Askew said she has been active in protests and demonstrations for four or five decades. She said she has seen activism make a difference, but there is still much more to do.

“The fundamental threat of racism, the fundamental threat of anti-LGBTQ, the fundamental threat of misogyny, which we greatly saw in this last election — all of those things are still here. So we are calling it out,” Askew said.

Corey Abernathy, political science junior who will participate in the march, said he has always been an outspoken critic of Trump on Facebook, but he feels being vocal on social media has had little effect other than creating a rift between him and friends who are Trump supporters.

The Piano Guys and DJ Ravidrums.

Several members from the Radio City Rockettes backed out of the inaugural performance due to Trump’s “locker room” rhetoric and other disagreements the Rockettes have with Trump’s policy. The dancers’ crew remains divided over the situation, according to a report from People News.

In an interview with Marie Claire, a member of the Rockettes who was granted the pseudonym Mary, said the Rockettes were blinded by the news when it was made public, having not heard about it directly from their employer or union first, according to a report from People Politics.

T h e Ma d i s o n S q u a re Garden Company (owner of

the Rockettes) followed up with Mary’s statement.

“For a Rockette to be considered for an event, they must voluntarily sign up and are never told they have to perform at a particular event, including the inaugural. It is always their choice,” the Madison Square Garden Company said in a statement.

O U g ra d u at e stu d e nt George Lee said he believes in The Rockettes’ right to protest.

“I think it is their right to protest, but I understand that with the current state of the political climate, there is a thin line between respectability and the right to do ‘X,’” Lee said. “I can understand the controversy that some may think they are disrespecting the political process, but in the end they have the right to

be against something if they believe it contradicts their values.”

In 2008’s presidential inauguration, subtitled “We Are One,” Obama had a multitude of stars show up to perform, including U2, Bruce Springsteen and Jamie Foxx, just to name a few. Many other celebrities attended this event as well, with a speech delivered by Samuel L. Jackson that referenced Rosa Parks and a rendition of Etta James’ “At Last,” sung by Beyoncé.

Manon Fisher, industrial and systems engineering senior weighed in her opinion of Trump’s selections for this week.

“I wouldn’t personally listen to that list, but I can see how there might be an appeal for the audience that will be

Abernathy, who ran for OU Student Government Association president, wants to participate in the march to show support for women, following Trump’s legacy of targeting them, he said.

“I just think it’s really important to get behind that movement and show my commitment to women and their rights,” Abernathy said.

“And I think men joining in that movement is super important. Since I’ve been critical of Trump, it’s really important to take action in that and not just continue posting. Posting is easy, it just takes a couple minutes.”

Abbey Taylor, women’s and gender studies and public affairs administration senior, is also attending the march.

However, she said her attendance is not in protest of the inauguration. She said she initially planned to see Hillary Clinton’s inauguration and visit a few law schools during

the trip.

After Trump was elected president, Taylor decided that being in the District on inauguration weekend was still important to her.

“I don’t want to miss this. I think I would really regret it if I wasn’t there,” Taylor said.

The organizers of the Women’s March on Washington have made it clear that the demonstration is not a protest. This is one of the reasons Taylor said she is making the choice to attend the event instead of a protest of Trump’s inauguration.

“I like that (the Women’s March on Washinton) is happening the day after the inauguration. I think that is really meaningful because we get to say, ‘We’re here. We are women, we are minorities, we are underprivileged,’” Taylor said.

Similar to Rutherford, Trump’s election made Taylor think hard about things, but

she said that now she knows that advocacy is where her passion lies.

“It took me a while (after the election) to find my place again, because I do want to go to law school and I would love to be active in government in some way, shape or form,” Taylor said. “With an administration and a government that doesn’t value me as a college kid, as a woman, as opposition, I was scared about where I would be.”

A quote from “Hamilton: An American Musical” helped remind Taylor who she is and what she stands for : “This is not a moment, it’s the movement.”

Daisy Creager

daisy.c.creager-1@ou.edu

there,” Fisher said.

Josiah McNeil, undecided freshman, felt the lineup was appropriate and counts himself as a Toby Keith fan.

“Toby Keith is one of my favorite country artists due to his patriotism. Jackie

OBAMA: Continued from Page One

Evancho’s opera voice is amazing and I’m glad to see her still being successful in the music industry,” McNeil said.

Kaelan Dease

kaelan.a.deese-1@ou.edu

criticized — have begun their confirmation hearings. The political shakeup that Trump has preached throughout his campaign could begin on day one.

N o p r e s i d e n t h a s g a rnered universal acclaim, but Obama has shown that character can impact lives just as much as polic y.

Chandler Funderburg, an architectural engineering senior and the current Miss Black OU, said she feels that Obama and Trump are morally and idealistically opposites.

Jess e Pound and Emma But for the sake of all, she Keith contributed to this said she hopes Trump’s report. presidency is successful.

“I’m hopeful; I want things to go well,” she Andrew Clark said. “No, I didn’t vote andrewclark@ou.edu for him, but at the same time I do feel that, at the end of the day, we’re all Americans. So, I just hope for all of our sake that it For more information works out.” and related content Trump will be sworn about viewpoints on the in as president Jan. 20, inauguration, visit a n d ma ny o f h i s cab i oudaily.com net selections — many of whom have also been

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NOOR EEMAAN/THE DAILY

Toby Keith raises his red solo cup to the audience during his Neighborhood Sessions concert, hosted by State Farm Sept. 1, 2016. Keith will play at the presidential inauguration.

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Trains will toot horns no longer

Norman to enforce quiet zone starting in early February KAYLA BRANCH @kayla_branch

In the coming weeks, the City of Norman will no longer allow trains to blow their horns inside city limits due to a new quiet zone ordinance.

The quiet zone will likely go into effect the first or second week of February, said Angelo Lombardo, a transportation engineer for the City of Norman. Lombardo said complaints from citizens living close to the tracks and the plan to relocate the Norman Public Library right next to the tracks pushed the city to move forward with establishing a quiet zone.

“Over the years, our city council has received requests from residents and constituents to explore doing this,” Lombardo said. “If you have residential properties close to the railroad track and close to the crossings, then that can be very disruptive to your sleep when you have these high-volume horns being sounded every 45 minutes, 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, like is the case in Norman.”

The process began last summer and has continued to make progress despite multiple deaths caused by train accidents in September and early October.

Lombardo said these incidents were suggestive as the victims may have purposefully been in the way of the oncoming trains and most of the accidents did not happen at railroad crossings, where the trains are currently required to blow their horns.

SIANDHARA BONNET/THE DAILY

The Amtrak train crossing Lindsey Street Monday. Trains will no longer be allowed to sound their horns while passing through city lim-

“The few incidents that we have had with pedestrians have suggested that the person wanted to take their life,” Lombardo said. “There is an area closer to downtown where there is some level of documented trespassing. But train operators aren’t required to blow the horn. They are only required to do that at the crossings. So losing the horn may not have any impact.”

Lieutenant Brent Barbour of the Norman Police Department said the city will continue to enforce the rules already in place regarding railroad crossings and educate the public so tragic incidents are less likely to occur.

“It will be a city-wide stance to support an educational effort to make sure people are doing the things that we are asking them to do now to ensure that they are looking before they cross the track and to be aware when they approach them,” Barbour said.

“We enforce rules currently, especially crossing violations

with cars and pedestrians, so no changes will be made on the enforcement or legal side of things.”

“When I moved to The Ave, I was going to bed my first night there, and I heard the train, and then I started to realize that it happened constantly ... (It) was annoyance that I wasn’t expecting when I was going to move to my own place.”

BECKY DUBNER, ADVERTISING JUNIOR

Barbour said citizens must be aware of their surroundings because the trains are not able to avoid hitting someone who is in their path.

“By the time the train sees somebody in front of them,

Columnists’ and cartoonists’ opinions are their own and not necessarily the views or opinions of The Oklahoma Daily Editorial Board.

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they aren’t able to stop and they can’t swerve or move around anything,” Barbour said. “I think all of us have a very hard time because we overestimate our ability to judge the speed and the proximity of the trains. They are so large, and they are moving so fast and are so narrow, especially at a distance, and I think they take people by surprise.”

The process to have a quiet zone included applying for permission for the project through the Federal Railroad Administration and adding additional safety measures at railroad crossings throughout the city, such as constructing heightened medians near the tracks and multiple inspections of the 17 total crossings, Lombardo said. He said the final step was to send a notice to Burlington Northern Santa Fe Railroad Company, the business that owns and operates the tracks in Norman, to inform them of the changes and to give them three weeks to cease the use of horns inside of the city.

Advertising junior Becky Dubner said she lives at The Avenue at Norman, an apartment complex located close to train tracks, and is in favor of the new ordinance because the train horns have proven to be an issue.

“When I moved to The Ave, I was going to bed my first night there, and I heard the train, and then I started to realize that it happened constantly ... (It) was an annoyance that I wasn’t expecting when I was going to move to my own place,” Dubner said.

“I don’t think taking away the horns is going to cause a huge difference,” Dubner said. “They put down the gates and have the flashing lights, so it’s not necessarily a necessity to the safety of knowing a train is coming ... especially when there are all these other precautions taken to let people know that there is a train coming and that you need to stop.”

Kayla Branch

kaylabranch@ou.edu

Scholarship office to hold events to help students complete applications

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3

SCREENSHOT FROM THE SOONER ROVER TEAM’S THOUSAND STRONG VIDEO

A screenshot from the Sooner Rover Team’s Thousands Strong campaign. The team raised over 412 percent of its $4,000 crowdfunding in their campaign.

Rover team fundraiser blasts past expectations Money gained will help members buy materials, compete OLIVIA DUBCAK @olivedubbie

An OU student group raised more than four times its annual fundraising goal through OU’s crowdfunding platform.

The Sooner Rover Team has raised more than 412 percent of its $4,000 Thousands Strong fundraising goal, which will fund the team’s participation in the University Rover Challenge. The competition is a driving and manipulation challenge with Mars rover prototypes, said Dane Schoelen, mechanical engineering senior and founder of the team.

The money will help the team buy materials to complete the current rover design and send the team to Utah in June to compete against 60 teams from around the world, Schoelen said.

Last year, the team received a $10,000 grant from the R AS C-AL Robo Ops

competition and raised an additional $10,000 but did not receive the grant again this year, Schoelen said.

“This year, we’re plan-

“I’m incredibly proud of the work that I’ve done and the work that everyone else has done as well because we really have cut our hands up, spent a lot of time and focus when we could be doing other things.”

BRENTON WOLF, MECHANICAL ENGINEERING SENIOR

ning to send a lot more students to the competition, the rover is going to be almost twice as big and the technology involved is more expensive,” Schoelen said. “We have to actually do real science, which is always expensive, so our budget is looking to be about twice what we had last year.”

Schoelen said the team

set the bar relatively low this year with a crowdfunding goal of $4,000 but hoped to receive a positive response and raise well over that figure. After sending out a newsletter to more than 16,000 alumni and current students of the OU Gallogly College of Engineering detailing the team’s extreme success in last year’s competition, the campaign saw a huge response, Schoelen said.

Last year, the S ooner Rover Team beat the course record during its competition, requiring just 23 minutes out of its hour of allotted time, said Brenton Wolf, mechanical engineering senior.

“I’m incredibly proud of the work that I’ve done and the work that everyone else has done as well because we really have cut our hands up, spent a lot of time and focus when we could be doing other things,” Wolf said. “We want to make the school look good and we want to make ourselves look good, so it means a lot.”

Olivia Dubcak

oliviadubcak@gmail.com

The OU Scholarship Office will host a series of events throughout January to help students complete their scholarship applications before the Feb. 1 deadline.

The office will host CASH Campout events at various high-traffic spots around campus and will provide students with the opportunity to ask questions and go through their applications with the office, according to the OU Scholarship website.

Students are encouraged to bring their laptops and essay drafts to go over them with OU Scholarship Office staff members one-on-one, according to the OU Scholarship website.

Jessica Schwager, assistant director of the OU Scholarship Office, said the office launched the CASH Campout events along with the Centralized Academic Scholarship Hub last year. The office only held Campouts in a couple of locations last year but received a great response, which encouraged the office to expand the events to a greater number of locations this year, Schwager said.

Schwager said the office has tried to set up a Campout at almost every building on campus in order to give students within each department a chance to meet with the office before the CASH applications are due.

“I just really hope that students come out and really take this opportunity to have a visit with our office about their application,” Schwager said.

The CASH system allows current OU students and transfer students to apply for a variety of financial needand merit-based scholarships, study abroad scholarships and major- and minor-specific scholarships without requiring them to fill out multiple questionnaires, according to the OU Scholarships website.

For more information, visit www.ou.edu/scholarships. html.

Sierra Rains, @sierrarains

Oklahoma suspends cornerback Parrish Cobb after arrest in Texas Oklahoma cornerback Parrish Cobb was released from a Texas jail Wednesday morning after turning himself in to authorities the night before, according to the Waco Tribune-Herald. Cobb is potentially connected to a string of armed robberies in the Waco and Bellmead areas.

Police Sgt. Kory Martin told the Waco Tribune-Herald that he believes Cobb participated in a Jan. 10 armed robbery in Bellmead. However, a warrant for Cobb’s arrest was also issued for an armed robbery that took place in Waco on the same night, per Waco police Sgt. W. Patrick Swanton.

Oklahoma announced Tuesday night that Cobb is suspended indefinitely PARRISH from the team.

COBB Cobb, who started two games for the Sooners as a true freshman this season, hails from Waco and originally signed with Baylor. However, he landed in Norman after Bears’ coach Art Briles was fired in the wake of ongoing sexual assault allegations against numerous members of the football team.

Staff Reports

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• January 19-22, 2017

OPINION

Audra Brulc, opinion editor dailyopinion@ou.edu • phone: 405-325-3666 oudaily.com/opinion • Twitter: @OUDailyOpinion

Someday, girl will change world Devin Hiett

hiettdevin@gmail.com @DevinHiett

My dad has always been one of my greatest role models. He is kind, intelligent and works harder than anyone I’ve ever met. People tell me I have his eyes and his sense of humor.

My dad has always been one of my best friends and biggest supporters. Since I was a little girl, he told me I could be anything and do anything I wanted. He taught me I was just as capable as any man, if not more so. He shaped me into the woman I am today.

This is why it hit me so hard when he cast his vote for Donald Trump.

My father has always labeled himself as a Republican, and politics has long been something we’ve agreed to disagree on. He has never voted for a Democratic candidate in a presidential election, but he told me he would be open to it in the future. Like most of the country, he expressed his distaste for both candidates in the most recent election.

EVAN VUCCI/AP PHOTO

President-elect Donald Trump speaks during the presidential inaugural Chairman’s Global Dinner, Jan. 17, in Washington.

Weeks before Election Day arrived, my father told me he planned to vote for Gary Johnson, since his disdain for both Clinton and Trump increased with each passing day. I considered this to be a great triumph. As long as he didn’t vote for Trump, I didn’t care to criticize his decision. On Nov. 8 he called me while in line to vote.

“I’m waiting in line at the polls. I’m going to vote for Gary and get this over with,� he said.

I told him I was proud of him. I thanked him for not voting for Donald Trump, and we didn’t speak again until the next day. “Are you OK?� he texted me the afternoon after Trump’s election. “I know

you must be upset.�

I was upset, but I took solace in the fact he didn’t contribute to Trump’s victory. I felt sorry for all of the wives, mothers and daughters whose husbands, fathers and sons voted for a man who treats women like expendable objects.

How sickening to live with a man who voted for the

disintegration of your rights, I thought. To have a man you love cast a vote condoning sexual assault. A vote saying you aren’t worthy of respect.

A vote saying you will only get as far as your physical appearance will take you.

A week later, I saw my father in person and he confessed he had been lying to my mother and me. “I decided at the last minute to vote for Trump,� he said. “I didn’t want to waste my vote.�

I have never felt as betrayed and heartbroken as I did in that moment. The man who taught me I was strong, powerful, capable and smart voted for someone who treats women like the opposite.

For days I couldn’t look my dad in the face. I was furious at him, but mostly I was hurt.

I didn’t understand how someone with a wife and two daughters could vote for a man who, when referring to women, said,“Grab them by the p***y. You can do anything.�

I am writing this for all of the women who feel the same way I do because I know there are a lot of us.

I don’t want this election to sever my relationship with my dad. He’s still one of my best friends and I still love him more than anyone else, but I want him to know why I am so upset.

I want him to know all of the love and courage he instilled in me are now at stake as this man takes office. I want him to know that he voted for a man who made women all over the world feel worthless, unloved and incapable.

In Clinton’s post-election speech, she addressed girls across the nation feeling as hopeless and desolate as I did. “To all the little girls who are watching this, never doubt that you are valuable and powerful and deserving of every chance and opportunity in the world,� she said.

Someday, a little girl who watched that speech will take Clinton’s words to heart.

Someday, that little girl will run for president and change the world.

Someday, I hope my dad votes for her.

Devin Hiett is a journalism sophomore and an A&E reporter for the daily.

The Daily welcomes letters to the editor and guest columns from the OU community. To submit a letter or column, email dailyopinion@ ou.edu.

It’s time to end echo chamber CLASSIFIEDS Sarah Miles

Norman are disproportionately moderate, disproportionately open to new ideas and disproportionately I didn’t post on social oblivious to the outside media in the weeks after world. OU is lucky to have the U.S. presidential eleca community of students tion. I haven’t completely willing to learn, and taught disavowed it — I still check by professors who are hellFacebook multiple times bent on making sure all a day. I just didn’t post individuals are welcome. much.

Now, however, I fear that is I was one of those peonot enough. ple who posted political If the election taught opinions, shared op-eds me anything, it is that we and argued regularly must reach outside the on Facebook threads. I echo chamber, outside live-tweeted the presiden- the university and outtial debates and read New side our comfort zone to Yorker articles about who make sure that we underall those people supportstand and accept the rest ing Donald Trump were. I of this country. Certainly, certainly didn’t know any. some of those who voted So I read and shared and for President-elect Trump spread information to my voted because of hate self-selected list of friends and bigotry. Certainly, and colleagues, as many of many of those who are us do. now tapped to work in the My sudden change in White House under Trump internet behavior was only are hateful, harmful and a little bit because I was bigoted. I remain ideoseriously depressed by the logical enough to believe actions individuals took, we have no obligation to and still take, in our coun- reach across the aisle to try since Trump was elect- those who deny someone’s ed. It’s mostly because I am essential humanity. Yet so afraid the primary reason many of those disenchantwe lost this election is the ed by today’s politics, so echo chamber. many of those discounted OU has an incredible by the pollsters and New community of kind-heart- Yorker writers and acaed and well-meaning indemics have been erased dividuals, most of whom from this vision we share of genuinely believe we’ve a progressive America. Too got a shot at changing the often, we do not reach out world for the better. So is to those people who do not the University of North think like us. We cannot Carolina, where I am now teach or learn from them if enrolled in a graduate we simply discount them. program. But students in sarahmiles95@gmail.com @Miles_SarahK

Previous Solution

Monday- Very Easy Tuesday-Easy Wednesday- Easy Thursday- Medium Friday - Hard

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.

I haven’t posted much on social media since the election. Instead, I’ve taken the time to talk to real people.

I’ve taken the time to learn from them. I’ve looked outside my educated circle — outside my echo chamber.

It’s kind of a scary world.

But we can no longer afford to sit in our ivory tower and wait out the inevitable tide of liberalism. Following the footsteps of those brave individuals who realized long before this election that progress does not come without a struggle, we must step into that world and work to change minds instead of lauding those who already agree with us or rejecting those who do not.

We must abandon the

echo chamber and address the great divide between us in this country, not damn it. We must both teach and learn, when we can, from those who will take our outstretched hand if we are to stem the tide of fear, hate and fascism which threatens to overrun this nation.

If I were following my own advice, I ought to get on a soapbox and say this on the street corner. But maybe I’ll just post it on my Facebook and see if I get a few likes.

By Eugenia Last

Copyright 2017, Newspaper Enterprise Assn.

Move slowly regarding decisions that will influence the way you proceed when it comes to education, relationships or relocation.

Choose reason and common sense over impulsive action and quick fixes. Sit back and ponder. Time is on your side.

CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19) -- YouĘźll take two steps forward and three steps back if you act prematurely. Question everything and everyone to avoid stepping into an abyss that will take forever to climb out of.

AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 19) -- Line up all the things you want to do and get moving. An opportunity to bring about a positive change will lead to perks as well as additional income.

PISCES (Feb. 20-March 20) -- Listen carefully and use your insight to determine what part you can play in the changes that are unfolding around you. A subtle response will enhance your reputation.

ARIES (March 21-April 19) -- It will be difficult to contain your feelings or keep your plans under wraps.

Put your energy into education and pursuing a promising partnership.

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PLACE A PAID AD Phone: 405-325-2521 E-mail: classifieds@ou.edu

Fax: 405-325-7517 Campus Address: COH 149A

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3 days prior

Sarah Miles is a 2016 OU graduate. She is now pursuing a Ph.D. in history at the University of North Carolina.

HOROSCOPE THURSDAY, JANUARY 19, 2017

J Housing Rentals

to reap rewards without doing the work. Make sure you are compensated for your efforts.

CANCER (June 21-July 22) -- Put more emphasis on formulating plans that will help you stand out from the competition. A creative approach to your work and personal finances will pay off.

LEO (July 23-Aug. 22) -- YouĘźll end the day on an emotional note if you arenĘźt bold enough to stand up for your rights and the rights of those you care about. Do your part and avoid regret.

VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22) -- Be open about the way you feel and receptive toward those willing to share. Partnerships will lead to opportunities that allow you to take on more responsibilities. Romance is highlighted.

LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 23) -- DonĘźt act on impulse or emotion. Focus on making personal improvements and nurturing relationships that are important to you. Compromise will help ease any festering dispute.

SCORPIO (Oct. 24-Nov. 22) -- DonĘźt jump or make an impulsive move just because someone else does. Trust in yourself and your ability to achieve whatever you set your mind to with finesse and punctuality.

TAURUS (April 20-May 20) -- DonĘźt let an unexpected turn of events cause you to question what you are SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 23-Dec. 21) doing. Live up to your prom-- Emotional spending will be your ises, trust in your plan and see it downfall. You cannot buy love or through to the end. happiness. Stay focused on whatĘźs GEMINI (May 21-June 20) -- YouĘźll best for you, not on what others want you to do. be taken advantage of if you willingly give your time, money and services to people who want

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

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

Universal Crossword Edited by Timothy Parker January 19, 2017

ACROSS 1 Put down some chips?

6 Throw lightly 10 It may come out of a trunk 14 Weapon for a hawk 15 Woodwind with a conical bore 16 Bird of prey around a shore 17 Train times?

20 Easter container 21 Proverbially wealthy man 22 Be a generous kid 25 Brief conflict 26 Stat for Zach Britton 30 “Sesame Street� resident 32 Land and its buildings 35 Pals or compadres 41 One in the business of cultivating soil 43 Spoiled, as food 44 City in Texas 45 Clothing of a distinctive style 47 Resting on the highest point 48 Festive, luxurious affairs 53 Weasel family member 1/19

56 Montevideo’s place 58 Dumpling of India 63 Admirable achievements 66 Attachment to a snaffle-bit 67 Lira’s replacement 68 Relish 69 June 6, 1944 70 Fish-eating diving duck 71 Those with upturned noses DOWN 1 Stick with a blade 2 Valley known for wine 3 Yodeler’s range?

4 It plugs a port 5 Where the strike zone begins 6 Nursery moppet 7 Geisha sash 8 European football 9 Visionary 10 Small bit of laughter 11 Hand holder?

12 Johnny Five’s need 13 Plaster of Paris 18 Ultimate degree 19 Distressat-sea message 23 Genesis brother

24 Begin again 26 Box for fitness 27 Mythical craft of Jason 28 Obsolete TV dial abbr.

29 Give off, as radiation 31 Twelve Oaks neighbor 33 Type of skater or water 34 Like some numbers set to music 36 Ram from the rear?

37 Olympic skating champ Kulik 38 Covered with gold 39 City in Norway 40 “Enough!�

42 Shield’s boss

46 Refugee’s request 48 Basketball position 49 Moved like a cannon ball 50 St. ___ (Windward island) 51 Ecstasy’s opposite 52 Total 54 Eruption stuff 55 Subdues 57 Gorillas, e.g.

59 Villainous 60 Recognizing the intentions of 61 Ticket part 62 Killers along the Nile 64 Intense anger 65 Fat farm creature

PREVIOUS PUZZLE ANSWER PREVIOUS PUZZLE ANSWER

1/18 Š 2017 Andrews McMeel Syndication 1/17 Š 2017 www.upuzzles.com Andrews McMeel Syndication

15 ON THE A-LIST By Timothy E. Parker

January 19-22, 2017 •

ARTS&ENTERTAINMENT

5

Chloe Moores, a&e editor dailyent@ou.edu • phone: 405-325-3666 oudaily.com/a_and_e • Twitter: @OUDailyArts

School of Drama brings light to OU Ghostlight Project symbolizes unity in wake of election DEVIN HIETT @DevinHiett

Thursday, on the day of the presidential inauguration, the framed photographs lining the walls of the Fine Arts Center exhibiting OU School of Drama performances will be covered by flyers promoting equality and diversity.

This is part of the message the school will be sending by taking place in The Ghostlight Project.

The Ghostlight Project is a national movement in which members of theater communities around the nation gather outside their theaters at 5:30 p.m. in their respective time zones and create a light to symbolize unity and inclusion.

This light, while serving as a metaphor for hope and strength, is also tangible and real.

For the project, theaters will use a ghostlight, the electric light that is left energized on the stage of a theater when the theater is empty, to symbolize their pledge to provide light in the “dark times ahead,” according to the project’s official website.

Without the ghostlight, unoccupied theaters would be completely dark. This project aims to let people know that upcoming times, like the stage of a theater, will never be fully dark.

Meghan Buchanan, props supervisor and stagecraft professor at OU, headed the school’s involvement in the project and coordinated with other professors and

the Drama Student Senate to make the project a reality.

Buchanan has wanted to take action since the election results came in. After hearing about The Ghostlight Project from friends in New York, Buchanan felt it was the perfect way for the School of Drama to get involved, she said.

Buchanan’s main purpose for helping spearhead the event is to promote collaboration and inclusion, two qualities that the department feels President-elect Trump does not represent.

Before Trump was elected president, a video resurfaced from an interview he gave with Billy Bush in 2005 on Entertainment Tonight. In the video Trump said he grabbed women “by the p***y,” according to NPR. Additionally, Trump mocked a disabled New York Times reporter at one of his campaign rallies.

Buchanan wants to let people know that despite Trump’s remarks, the members in the School of Drama are valued.

“You are always welcome (in the School of Drama) no matter who you are, no matter who you love, no matter what color you are, no matter your religion. In this space we are here for you, and we are connected,” Buchanan said.

Judith Midyett Pender, performance and directing professor, is one of the faculty members helping with the project. Pender said multiple professors in the School of Drama had been feeling the need to do something tangible before Trump was sworn in as president.

“This is meaningful for us because it’s a commitment to the things that we already

SCREENSHOT FROM THE GHOSTLIGHT PROJECT WEBSITE

A collage from The Ghostlight Project’s website. The OU School of Drama will take part in the project.

“It’s all about inclusion and diversity and making sure people know we can be a beacon of light through our art and our positivity. The School of Drama is a safe place for everyone.”

KAMERON KNOTT, MEMBER OF THE DRAMA STUDENT SENATE

try to practice in our art — inclusion and diversity,” Pender said. “It seems more necessary at this time to say it out loud. We’re realizing as artists that art is going to be more valuable and necessary now in this political climate than it has been for a while.”

The Ghostlight Project’s

official website has a mission statement that reads, “January 19th is a moment of gathering within a larger resistance to intolerance at all levels. We aim to create brave spaces that will serve as lights in the coming years.

We aim to activate a network of people across the country

working to support vulnerable communities. This is not a substitution for protests or direct action, but rather a pledge for continued vigilance and increased advocacy.”

Kameron Knott, acting junior and member of the Drama Student Senate, said OU’s ghostlight ceremony will be unique. As the project’s website states, “While the national event is simultaneous and collective, the particular event is yours.”

The Ghostlight Organization provides a script and breakdown of the ceremony, but how each theater wants to run the night is up to the individual organization.

The OU School of Drama will begin the ceremony with quotes about light from renowned playwrights such as William Shakespeare, Anton Chekhov and Tennessee Williams. Attendees are encouraged to bring individual lights, such as a candle or flashlight, which they will then turn on together.

The school’s ghostlight will be placed in the window where the department’s “trophies” and awards are kept.

The faculty intends to keep it there for the remainder of the semester as a reminder of its purpose and mission.

To conclude the ceremony, School of Drama director Tom Orr suggested participants take a moment of silence to think of what they’re fighting for, what they believe in and what they want to make better, Buchanan said.

Once the moment of silence concludes, The Ghostlight Project has created sheets of paper with a space for people to write who they are and what they are fighting for. The project’s website

includes examples such as, “I am a playwright, I fight for unity” and “I am awake, I fight for all who can’t”.

These sheets will later be the papers covering the photographs covering the halls through the School of Drama.

The school chose to cover their current photos in order to strip the walls of the commercialization of the department and cover them with the thoughts of why they’re here and what they believe in, Buchanan said.

“It’s all about inclusion and diversity and making sure people know we can be a beacon of light through our art and our positivity. The School of Drama is a safe place for everyone,” Knott said.

The Ghostlight Project is a mere step in the School of Drama’s commitment to promoting equality and diversity, Pender said.

“As long as there are official voices that are excluding groups of people from their rights and preaching hatred towards certain beliefs and things like that we’ll be working in the opposite direction however we can,” Pender said.

OU’s School of Drama’s ongoing pledge to promote unity and inclusion led the individuals heading the event to create a mission statement specific to the School of Drama, which they will read at the ceremony: “The Helmerich School of Drama pledges from this night forward to be a place of diversity and inclusion, celebrating and honoring what makes us different and brings us together as one.”

Devin Hiett

hiettdevin@gmail.com

Garden fosters community Relationships have room to bloom at OU’s shared plot MOLLY KRUSE @mollykruse98

Although Norman is well populated with community gardens, the OU Wellness Community Garden does things a little differently than most. The garden encourages a collective effort from staff, faculty and students to produce its bounties of herbs and vegetables, but it’s not just about growing food.

The garden is the brainchild of Amy Holt Davenport. Among her many jobs, including adjunct faculty member for the higher education program and chair of Student Affairs assessment committee, Davenport is also the director of OU Fitness + Recreation. She considers her role as director of Fitness + Recreation and her job running the garden to be interconnected.

“Gardening is very much a part of recreation. It’s also a really big part of a healthy lifestyle,” Davenport said.

Davenport began the garden around 2011 by utilizing a sheltered corner of the recreation fields south of Headington Hall that was “not that great for sports,” but worked well for her purposes, she said.

“I saw an opportunity with that little open space to be able to expand, reaching out to the OU community, by having a garden,” Davenport said.

The garden now boasts around 100 volunteers in the spring, although numbers tend to dwindle during the fall and winter, she said.

Garden crops include tomatoes, cucumbers, okra, squash, beans and eggplant. Volunteers are encouraged to harvest the amount of crops they need

for their household.

Surplus crops are taken to Sarkey’s Fitness Center by whoever happens to pick them.

“Not everybody can go and pick right when that’s ready.

So we’ll bring stuff in, and then when we have an overload of vegetables like that, we will email out to people that are signed up for the garden and let them know, ‘Hey we have vegetables. We’re going to hold them until whatever date and time,’” Davenport said. “Then we will open it up for other members of fitness and recreation, whoever’s coming through the door, if they want to grab a tomato or something, they can grab it.”

By combining their work, volunteers share in making the garden successful.

“One of the things that’s different about the community garden is that it’s not a community garden in the sense that every participant has their own plot,” Davenport said. “It’s a community garden in the sense that we all work together.”

OU librarian and veteran gardener Molly Murphy said she first discovered the garden several years ago while riding her bike past it. Now she helps out twice a week during tomato season. Even though Murphy already has a garden in her own backyard, she still considers the community garden worth her time.

“I like the community garden because it’s just a completely different thing. … I plant tomatoes every year in my yard, and they never do as well as the ones in the community garden,” Murphy said.

The community garden provides a way for members of the OU community to learn and connect over a shared interest, Davenport said.

“We have faculty members that are working side by side with students in a setting that’s not in a classroom, and they’re getting to know each other, not through academics, but personally,” Davenport

said.

The garden “continues to be a learning experience,” Davenport said.

Athena Perez, construction science graduate student and teaching assistant, has had bad experiences with plants in the past.

“I tend to kill everything,” Perez said.

After noticing the garden and attending an event that the garden hosted, Perez said she is excited to see what the spring holds.

“I just think it’s really important for people to know how to grow things,” Perez said. “Everyone is so used to just going to the store and picking things up, and that’s it, but it’s you’re learning how to grow things from scratch and seeing the process that goes into it and all the hard work that goes into it.”

Perez hopes that her 4 1/2-month-old son will develop a love of gardening someday too.

“I just I had a s on in September. ... He’s the bee’s knees right now, but one day I hope that he gets into the gardening thing and knows where his food comes from and it’s an educational thing for him,” Perez said.

Molly Kruse

molly.kruse@ou.edu

COMMUNITY GARDEN • Amy Holt Davenport runs the community garden in addition to being the director of Fitness + Recreation • Davenport began the garden in 2011 • About 100 volunteers work on the garden in the spring • The garden produces tomatoes, cucumbers, okra, squash, beans and eggplant

6

• January 19-22, 2017

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