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Boren restates support for tax OU president says he is ‘disappointed’ in efforts to block his proposal ANDREW CLARK
assistant news managing editor @Clarky_Tweets
OU President David Boren said in a statement Wednesday that he is disappointed in those who oppose his penny tax plan to fund Oklahoma education. Read the statement below: “I am very disappointed that any group is trying to block the right of the people of Oklahoma to vote on improved funding for education in the state. Court action stops the circulation of petitions to put the issue on the ballot by collecting
voter signatures until the courts have ruled. “Others say they are for helping education, but they present no alternative plan for raising $600 million to do so. There is no free lunch. Our students deserve better. “I understand that cities and towns need more revenue sources. I support efforts to help them but for the good of their communities there is no greater attraction for jobs and economic development than great schools and colleges. “We must act to solve the teacher shortage in Oklahoma and the increased burdened on Oklahoma college students and their families. Even if some oppose the initiative they should be willing to let the people vote to solve the problem. “Those in favor of the education
proposal have a strong legal case before the courts.” The statement comes after the Oklahoma Municipal League and Dewey F. Bartlett Jr., the mayor of Tulsa, filed a joint amicus brief joining OCPA Impact in its opposition to Boren’s proposal. The brief contains written grievances relating to the constitutionality of Boren’s proposal. The penny tax would add one cent on the dollar to the Oklahoma sales tax, giving the state the highest sales tax in the country. The Oklahoma Supreme Court w ill hear arguments against Boren’s proposal Dec. 16 at the capitol building.
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OU President David Boren speaks on his penny tax initiative in the Oklahoma Capitol building on Oct. 21. Boren released a statement Wednesday saying he was disappointed in those opposing his proposal.
Andrew Clark andrew.clarkou@gmail.com
A Miracle Child Greek organizations pair up with children for Soonerthon MARY SMITH • NEWS REPORTER • @MARYSMITT Y21
South Oval to receive updates Renovations have no concrete timeline yet
Greek houses have been Wathen. paired with Miracle Children He loves the Soonerthon for 2016’s Soonerthon, and dance, and she likes raissome of the children are vet- ing funds for the hospitals erans of the dance marathon and raising awareness of the event. services at OU Children’s Each year, fraternities Hospital and educating othand sororities are paired ers about Down syndrome, with one or two kids who Lori Wathen said. are a part of the Children’s Because L ori Wathen M i r a c l e works at the Network and “When Reis was O U H e a l t h are known Sciences born, I didn’t as Miracle Center and Children. Reis sees seveven realize These children doctors at that there were eral receive care, OU Children pediatricians benefit from Hospital, she the Children’s who specialized was asked if M i r a c l e she’d like Reis in kids with Network and to be a Miracle the Children’s developmental C h i l d , s h e Hospital and behavioral said. Foundation “When Reis issues.” and speak was born, I about their didn’t even LORI WATHEN, illnesses or re a l i z e t h a t OU HEALTH SCIENCES disabilities to there were CENTER spread awarepediatricians ness and who specialeducation. ized in kids with developThe fraternity Sigma Chi mental and behavioral isis paired with Reis Wathen, sues,” Wathen said. “(There a 13-year-old with Down are) only a handful of them syndrome who will be par- in the state, and we have ticipating in Soonerthon for four or five of them at OU’s his third or fourth year, ac- child studies center.” cording to his mother, Lori
JESSE POUND news editor @jesserpound
Renovations for two buildings on the South Oval are still in the planning phase, and there is no current, concrete timeline for the completion of the project. The OU Board of Regents voted to approve renovations to Gittinger and Kaufman Halls in March 2014, with OU President David Boren saying renovations to the buildings were “long overdue.” In an email last week, OU press secretary Corbin Wallace said the renovations were still in the planning phase. Brian Holderread, director of OU Architectural and Engineering Ser vices, said he hopes to begin work on Kaufman during the spring semester. “A lot of Kaufman is going to be some exterior upgrades,” Holderread said. There is no current timeline for renovations to Gittinger Hall, Holderread said. MARY SMITH/THE DAILY
Reis Wathen plays with Christmas ornaments in his front yard. He is a Miracle Child with Down syndrome and has been paired with the fraternity Sigma Chi for Soonerthon this year.
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New associate dean has range of experience Gaylord College will welcome Walker to faculty ranks Dec. 21 DAYTEN ISRAEL news reporter @daytenisrael
The OU Gaylord College of Journalism and Mass Communication’s new associate dean will begin her position Dec. 21 and is looking forward to working with students. Yvette Walker is currently the night news director and director
WEATHER Partly cloudy with a high of 67, low of 44.
Gaylord’s interim dean, Ed Kelley, in 2006 when he was editor of the newspaper, according to a press release. She believes their work together allowed Kelley to see her capabilities, she said. “He knows me personally and has seen my day-to-day work ethic,” Walker said. Walker also teaches two classes at the University of Central Oklahoma and has held the Edith YVETTE WALKER Kinney Gaylord Endowed Chair of Journalism Ethics there for five of presentation and custom pub- years, according to the release. lishing at The Oklahoman and Walker said she hopes that the was recruited to the newspaper by combination of her experience in
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the journalism world and in educational institutions will help her to be a valuable resource for Gaylord students. “I bring experience from both worlds, and together they will help to make me a good sounding board for what students need at Gaylord,” Walker said. Dayten Israel daytenisrael@gmail.com
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NEW ASSOCIATE DEAN Who: Yvette Walker Where: OU Gaylord College of Journalism and Mass Communications When: Dec. 21 Currently: Night news director and director of presentation and custom publishing at The Oklahoman
OU YAK OF THE DAY “Today’s high was 74, and today’s low was when I ate an entire package of Oreos.”
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