OPINION: Boren is defending education because our state legislators aren’t PAGE 6 W W W.O U DA I LY.C O M
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Voters approve Norman Forward Proposal passes with overwhelming support TANNER OSBORNE News Reporter @tannerosbear
Norman citizens passed the Norman Forward sales tax proposal on Tuesday with 72.05 percent voting in favor and 27.95 percent against.
Norman’s 49 precincts voted majority yes with a total 12,614 voters coming to the polls, according to unofficial results by the Oklahoma State Election Board. The proposal means there will be a one-half percent sales tax increase in Norman. The money earned from that tax will be used to purchase revenue bonds, which will have 3.75 percent interest rate and earn $11-$15 million in
revenue annually. The revenue will be used to fund several community improvement projects, including improvements of local parks, the Norman Public Library and the construction of a new pool and senior center. Alva Brockus, a supporter of the Norman Forward proposal, said during a Norman Forward watch party at The Railhouse in Norman that she is most excited for the pool
aspect of the tax plan. “I have two kids in professional swimming, and they don’t always have somewhere to swim,” Brockus said. “Norman has lagged behind other cities in Oklahoma when it comes to sports facilities, and I want Norman Forward to help fix that.” The supporters and creators of the proposal were in agreement that Norman Forward would do
more than change the tax code and fund public facilities. They also believe it will transform Norman as a city. John Woods is the President and CEO of the Norman Chamber of Commerce and a lead supporter of Norman Forward. Woods said he believes Norman Forward will change and excel Norman SEE NORMAN PAGE 2
Groups approve of new process Students work toward more inclusive events DAYTEN ISRAEL News Reporter @daytenisrael
JACQUELINE EBY/THE DAILY
Sophomore running back Samaje Perine runs through the rain during last year’s Kansas game. Perine has taken a less prominent role on the team during the 2015 season.
SAMAJE PERINE TAKES A BACK SEAT IN OU’S NEW OFFENSE BRADY VARDEMAN • ASSISTANT SPORTS EDITOR • @BRADYVARDEMAN JOE BUETTNER • ASSISTANT SPORTS EDITOR • @JOE_BUETTNER
“Of course, being a running back, you want to get the ball as much as possible. In this offense, I know my role now” SAMAJE PERINE, SOPHOMORE RUNNING BACK
Before Sept. 5, the last anyone had seen of Oklahoma football was a run-heavy offense, commanded by a tank in the backfield and executed by a stone wall in front. Samaje Perine set the college football record for most yards in a single game against Kansas — 427, old-fashioned style in the rain and mud. Even as OU was decimated in the Russell Athletic Bowl, 40-6, by Clemson, Perine still managed 134 yards on 23 carries. The effort capped a stretch of four-straight games in which he hit the century mark on the ground.
The big freshman finished the season with a final mark of 1,713 yards and 21 touchdowns. But as the Sooners opened their 2015 campaign against Akron, something was off. The tank sputtered. The stone wall seemed to have crumbled. Eleven carries for 33 yards? That’s not the Samaje Perine the nation, and especially OU fans, had come to know. Oklahoma brought in new offensive coordinator Lincoln Riley shortly after the bowl game as part of coach Bob Stoops’ plan to reinstitute a pass-first scheme. While
OU planned to revamp an almost non-existent aerial attack, Riley remained adamant he wouldn’t forget about the running backs. “I know we have a lot of good players, and we are going to continue to bring in a lot of good players,” he said at his introductory press conference. “We’re going to take a lot of pride in doing what our guys do well and making sure that our best players touch the ball and that we put our guys in position to make as many plays as they can.” SEE PERINE PAGE 5
A newly implemented pairing process for OU’s homecoming has promoted new student group involvement as part of Campus Activities Council’s initiative to promote inclusivity within its events and on campus. A few of the new student groups that are involved with this year’s homecoming events and festivities include Kappa Delta Chi, a multicultural sorority; Delta Epsilon Psi, a multicultural fraternity; Phi Kappa Sigma, an Interfraternity Council greek chapter; and the Okie Belles, a service organization at OU. In the past, campus members may have perceived the CAC and its events as focusing on traditional greek culture and recycling students previously affiliated with the CAC rather than encouraging involvement with other, new organizations, said Breanna Bober, the CAC community experience coordinator. Home coming esp e cially was believed to be a traditional greek event rather than a campus event, Bober said. The new pairing process sought to incorporate more organizations and involve students and groups that had never, or at least not in the recent past, been involved in homecoming, Homecoming Chair Katie Qualls said. This is the first time that Kappa Delta Chi, a multicultural Latina sorority, has been involved in homecoming in the past few
SEE HOMECOMING PAGE 2
Mace, taser guns among weapons allowed “You can walk in anywhere, carry mace, commonly known as Woollen said that students do self-defense, but they can also be Disabling devices can be and no one questions anything,” pepper spray, or any other form of have permission to tote those spe- used against you,” Woollen said. used on campus for defense computer science freshman Jacob disabling weapon, such as a taser cific disabling weapons if they so Students may face consequencANNA MAYER News Reporter @AnnaMay136
OU students are allowed to have mace and taser guns on campus, but only as long as the weapons are used for defense, OUPD Chief of Police Liz Woollen said. With the Oregon campus shooting still fresh on the nation’s mind and the recent OU sexual battery case still unresolved, many have been questioning campus safety, specifically what precautions students can take.
Lamb said. Lamb said, as a college student, he finds the lack of security guards on campus a bit troublesome. “I don’t necessarily feel like I’ll be attacked here on campus, but I understand why some would want to carry protection with them,” Lamb said. Around campus, it is especially common to hear female students discussing what they can do in an emergency. Late at night, many girls choose to partner up when walking anywhere on campus. They also often often question whether or not they should
guns. Advertising freshman Anna Linn said that she personally owns both mace and a taser gun. “I guess I don’t really carry it around a lot, but sometimes, really late at night, I do,” Linn said. Linn said she either carries mace with her or asks a friend to accompany her home. She has also had friends ask to borrow her mace before. However, for those women, there is always a question of whether or not mace or taser guns are even allowed on campus, as other weapons are prohibited.
wish. “I think it’s a personal decision whether they want to carry anything, but I think we have a very safe campus,” Woollen said Students and faculty may have disabling weapons such as pepper spray and tasers but only as long as the tools are used for self-defense, Woollen said. Using them for anything else, such as pranking, would be a violation of conduct. However, Woollen also said if anyone on campus does intend to carry either weapon, then they should know how to use them. “They can be used in
es for accidental deployment of pepper spray or stun guns as well, specifically if it comes at a harm to another individual. As for other weapons, the OU Student Rights and Responsibilities Code sets strict rules for what is and is not permitted. Among the obvious items that are illegal on campus are air pistols, metal knuckles, chemical substances and knives with blades longer than four inches. Anna Mayer anna.n.mayer@gmail.com