L&A: The remake of the 1987 film “Robocop” is a testosterone-fueled joyride. (Page 4) The University of Oklahoma’s independent student voice since 1916
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HIGHER EDUCATION
Officials fear for programs
SGA president, Sooners fight for funds OU lobbyists meet with Oklahoma legislators
Gov. Fallin’s proposed fiscal plan could funding to higher education ALEX NIBLETT & MIKE BRESTOVANSKY Assistant Campus Editor & Campus Reporter
OU colleges are preparing to make some difficult choices following OU President David Boren’s announcement of OU’s impending budget allocations. If Oklahoma Gov. Mary Fallin’s 2014 executive budget proposal is approved, a university-wide 5-percent budget reallocation will take place, reducing OU faculty’s budgeted SEE BUDGET PAGE 2
KELLY ROGERS Campus Reporter @KellyRogersOU
O U s t u d e n t s t r av e l e d t o t h e Oklahoma State Capitol on Tuesday afternoon for Higher Education Day to speak with state legislators about increasing higher education funding. More than 50 students rode a charter bus to lobby at the Capitol with politicians about future budgets contributing to universities across the state. Among these students was Student
Government Association president Madeline Grunewald. She and other student lobbyists met with state legislators throughout the day and met in the Senate Chamber to promote higher education in Oklahoma. Grunewald spoke with Oklahoma Sen. Jim Halligan, R-Stillwater, who raised questions about in and outof-state tuition, home schooling and what the state’s rights are while regulating education. Halligan asked whether universities should grant in-state tuition costs to immigrant students and if Oklahoma should move to performance-based funding within the university.
“Education is becoming an industry, and that’s not what we want,” Grunewald said. “It all comes back to money.” Halligan spoke about the budget plans for university funding but said the plans are in preliminary stages. “We’re not even at the bottom of the first in a nine-inning game,” Halligan said, referring to the budget planning process. Higher Education Day came a week after Gov. Mary Fallin proposed a bill that would cut state funding to higher education by about $50 million. Kelly Rogers, kelly.n.rogers-1@ou.edu
EQUALITY
Campus includes gender-neutral restrooms OU offers safe options for everybody on campus to use KATE BERGUM • CAMPUS REPORTER Editor’s Note: Micah Wormley is a former Daily illustrator.
M
icah Wormley was only comfortable using two campus restrooms while she was transitioning. Wormley, who is transgender, relied upon the gender-neutral restrooms in Kaufman Hall and Gittinger Hall.
ILLUSTRATION BY ORIANA LOVERA
The Daily found 13 gender neutral restrooms located inside classroom buildings on campus. The Daily contacted Facilities Management for a complete list of non-gendered restrooms, but such documents don’t exist.
Wormley said she stumbled upon these bathrooms by accident and finding other non-gendered restrooms on campus is difficult. “I have been looking, and it’s a tough search,” said Wormley, professional writing and anthropology senior. There are 13 gender-neutral restrooms scattered throughout classroom buildings of the North and South ovals. These restrooms are made for single use and were found on various floors depending on the building. The Daily contacted Facilities Management for a complete list of non-gendered restrooms, but such documents don’t exist. Wormley, who now uses women’s restrooms almost exclusively, said she saw a comic strip that perfectly illustrated the challenges of finding a restroom during her transition. “Instead of a men’s restroom and a women’s restroom, it had a ‘get beat up restroom’ and a ‘get yelled at restroom,’ and that’s a fear that many trans people have, including myself at that point,” Wormley said. Gender-neutral restrooms can help students who are not comfortable defining themselves strictly in terms of male or female, said Tyler Tennant, president of OU’s GLBTF. “There’s a common misconception in regards to gender
and sex that people are simply one or the other, and that’s not the case and it should not be the end-all, be-all in regards to gender expression,” said Tennant, letters and mathematics junior, in an email. Wormley said she has been verbally confronted twice while using women’s restrooms. The first time was in Bizzell Memorial Library when a woman asked Wormley if she belonged in that restroom. “I responded by saying, ‘Well, look at this: My wallet is Vera Bradley. My underwear is Victoria’s Secret. I spend more on foundation than on food. I think I belong here,’” Wormley said. She also said someone confronted her in Gaylord Hall. Though people have only confronted her twice, Wormley said she sometimes gets stares and glares in restrooms. Though he said he could not speak for the entire campus, Tennant said that he thinks members of the GLBTF and other students would appreciate an increase of gender-neutral restrooms. Though some people on campus might not be receptive to the idea, hopefully they would keep open minds, Tennant said. “I’m also sure that there are some who might not be so open to the idea, but I think that OU is really special in that
Opinion: Facilities Management continues to work hard to keep Sooners safe from the elements. (Page 3)
our students genuinely care about their peers,” Tennant said. The best thing to do when looking at gender nonconformist issues is to research and ask questions, he said. While some people might not think gender-neutral restrooms would help a large group, a gender-neutral restroom is created for everyone, GLBTF adviser Meredith Worthen said. “It’s neutral. That’s the whole point,” said Worthen, sociology and women’s and gender studies professor. “Of course the population is big enough. Anyone can use them.” Furthermore, it is difficult to define who might be most affected by non-gendered restrooms, Worthen said. Students might be uncomfortable using gendered restrooms for a variety of reasons aside from being transgender or gender variant, Worthen said. Additionally, many transgender students are probably completely comfortable in gendered restrooms. “I think that it’s really much more complex than it sounds at the outset,” Worthen said. Gender-neutral restrooms would show equality,
Sports: The men’s basketball team looks to build upon its win over Baylor tonight against Texas Tech. (Page 6)
SEE EQUALITY PAGE 2
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