March 30-April 2, 2017

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CAC CHAIR ELECTION GOES TO RUNOFF • PAGE 2

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RODNEY

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Sophomore running back Rodney Anderson prepares to catch the ball during spring practice March 21. Anderson hopes to fill OU’s starting running back position.

Running back expected to step up after broken neck GEORGE STOIA • @GEORGESTOIA

W

ith 7:03 remaining in the fourth quarter and Oklahoma leading Akron 41-3, running back Rodney Anderson received his first carry in a Sooners uniform.

He burst through a hole on the left side after a little trap play, gaining five yards before he was chopped down at the 27-yard line.

As he jogged off the field after the play, Anderson had no idea his first carry would be his last for the next two seasons.

On Sept. 12, 2015, one week after his carry versus Akron, Anderson broke his left leg in what was only his second career game after trying to make a tackle on a kickoff against Tennessee. Anderson was prepared to make a return the following season, but on Aug. 18, 2016, he broke his neck in fall practice, sidelining him for the second consecutive season.

“God has a plan,” Anderson said. “It’s strange how they’re crazy injuries, they’re not everyday injuries. I don’t know, but God has a plan.”

Now in his third year at OU, Anderson is determined to make a comeback.

“I’m going to take the opportunity and do the most I can with it,” Anderson said. “I’m always going to give 100 percent in everything I do and just try to make the most of it.”

••• A four-year starter at Katy High School in Houston, Anderson grew up a star athl e t e. Ev e n i n h i g h s c h o o l , Anderson was known for his work ethic and his way to lead by example. “ That’s one of the toughest-minded kids to come through our program,” said Gary Joseph, Anderson’s former high school head coach.

“He always had a great attitude, a leader-type kid. Not so much vocally, but how hard he worked. People had a lot of respect for him.”

Anderson was highly recruited out of high school, ranked as the No. 2 running back in the country by 247Sports. After rushing for 2,485 yards, scoring 36 touchdowns and leading his team to a Texas 6A II state title his senior year, Anderson had high expectations when he arrived in Oklahoma.

Still, Anderson was stuck behind freshman All-American Samaje Perine and former fivestar running back Joe Mixon.

Anderson did start on special teams, helping with kickoff coverage, which is how he broke his leg against Tennessee.

A n d e r s o n ’s m o m , J o b i e Anderson, remembers her son setting goals for himself immediately after his season-ending injury. “ We w e re j u s t v e r y c o n cerned for him because it was his freshman year, and everything he had worked for to get to OU,” she said. “But he did like he always does. The doctor gave him a plan of action and a time frame. Rodney is very goal-oriented, and that’s what he worked on, that’s what he focused on.”

A n d e r s o n re t u r n e d f u l l y healthy in spring 2016, impressing his teammates and coaches with how quickly he recovered.

After a successful spring game, Anderson was expected to be a key contributor on the Sooners’ offense in the fall. But just a couple weeks from the season opener, Anderson broke his neck in practice, making him miss another entire season.

“My heart was broken,” Jobie Anderson said. “I just hurt so much for him, I couldn’t even imagine what he was feeling.

Number one, he’s never had a season-ending injury, and then to have one, and then another one right after that was just ... I was devastated for him.”

Anderson wasn’t able to travel with the team last season. He watched Dimitri Flowers torch Iowa State when Perine and Mixon were both unavailable in Ames. He missed a couple classics, too, like the showdown at Texas Tech when it seemed everyone had a turn in the endzone and the “snow globe” game in Morgantown. But even as he wasn’t able to travel with the team, Anderson grew closer with his teammates — his brothers.

“I don’t have to tell him to do his best because I know he’s going to do his best. ... I think the people of Oklahoma will be very, very proud of who he is and how he plays.”

GARY JOSEPH, ANDERSON’S HIGH SCHOOL COACH

“The thing about this team and this school is that whatever happens, we’re always brothers,” Anderson said. “We’re always going to put each other first and we’re always going to care for each other. So even though I wasn’t able to travel with them as much or be around them as much during the season other than practice, they still always checked up on me and asked how I was doing.

I was always around them as much as I could be.”

••• Now, almost fully cleared for all football activities, and with the departures of Perine and Mixon, Anderson hopes to fill Oklahoma’s void at running back. Mixon and Perine combined for 2,334 yards and 22 touchdowns, contributing to over 32 percent of the Sooners’ offense. Third-year offensive coordinator Lincoln Riley is excited about Anderson’s future and knows his potential.

“Shoot, he’s a freak. He’s one of the most gifted guys that we have,” Riley said. “All of Schmitty’s tests, he’s at the top or near the top of every test that we have. He’s strong, he’s fast, he’s smart. He has every quality that you could put down for a great running back, or just a great football player. He checks a lot of the boxes. We’re thrilled about where he’s come and we think he’s getting ready to have a big year.”

Joseph knows his former player will be great, but he hopes people give him time to fully recover.

“I hope people are patient with him because I know eventually he’s going to be a really, really good running back,” Joseph said. “That’s something that I don’t doubt. He not only has that kind of ability, but that type of character to come back.”

Anderson has returned to the field in excellent shape, and if it weren’t for his green jersey — meaning he can’t be hit — no one would be able to tell that he was previously injured. When he returned to the field this spring, he looked like chiseled stone. “I don’t miss workouts,” he said.

For his family and friends, his hard work and determination to return to the field is nothing new.

“He is a man of action,” Jobie Anderson said. “That’s how Rodney has always been. He is goal-oriented, he’s an action person, doesn’t say much, he just does. He’s dedicated.”

This season is one Anderson has been waiting for to leave a lasting legacy. Joseph knows his former running back will make the Sooner faithful proud.

“I don’t have to tell him to do his best because I know he’s going to do his best,” Joseph said. “Just play within himself, and I think the people of Oklahoma will be very, very proud of who he is and how he plays.”

For Anderson’s mom, she just wants him to enjoy the game he loves.

“I just want him to have fun,” Jobie Anderson said. “I just want him to finally get to enjoy the fruits of his labor and just have fun.”

George Stoia

george.s.stoia@ou.edu

SPRING GAME Running back Rodney Anderson will be back on the field after recovering from a broken neck for OU’s spring game April 8.

Time: Kickoff at 1 p.m.

Date: April 8 Place: Gaylord FamilyOklahoma Memorial Stadium Source: soonersports.com

2

• March 30-April 2, 2017

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

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Candidates for Campus Activities Council chair answer questions concerning their platforms in Meacham Auditorium Monday. Alec Armer (left) and Jonna Vanderslice (right) will participate in a runoff election.

CAC chair will be decided in runoff Vanderslice, Armer still in the running; Shelden eliminated STAFF REPORTS

Two candidates are in a runoff for the OU Campus Activities Council chair position after the two-day election unofficially resulted in no candidate receiving more than half of the 2,421 total votes.

Bi o l o g y ju n i o r Jo n na Vanderslice received 43.99 percent of the votes, and entrepreneurship and marketing junior Alec Armer received 30.7 percent of the votes in the election Tuesday a n d We d n e s d ay , s a i d Abbey Taylor, the Student Government Association’s election board chair.

Va n d e r s l i c e ra n o n a platform of giving students opportunities for development, opportunities to make connections and increased accessibility to university

resources. She is also the current vice chair of CAC. Armer ran on a platform of assessing the state of CAC, acting on what said assessment shows and creating a common application that would allow more people to participate in more events.

He has served on CAC’s executive committee, Howdy Week executive council, homecoming and U-Sing.

Geology junior Will Shelden received 25.94 percent of the vote and has been eliminated from the election.

The election results must still be verified by the Student Government Association’s superior court before they can be deemed official. The runoff election will take place April 3.

Staff Reports

dailynews@ou.edu

CORRECTION A page 3 story with the headline “Gender gap deters students” has been corrected online to use the word “sex” instead of “gender,” because the Institutional Research and Reporting office reports data on sex, not gender.

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SGA member calls BYX funding into question Congress vice chair brings up concerns over discrimination KAYLA BRANCH @kayla_branch

T h e v i c e c ha i r o f O U Undergraduate Student Congress called the funding allocation for a religious student organization into debate during its meeting this week due to personal experiences with the organization.

Austin Reid, vice chair of congress and a drama senior, called into debate legislation allocating funding to more than 30 different student organizations, including Christian fraternity Brothers Under Christ (BYX), during Tuesday’s meeting.

Reid said he had personal experiences with BYX that led him to think it was d i s c r i m i nat i n g a ga i n s t members of the LGBTQ community.

“The reason I did it was because when I was looking to join Brothers Under Christ here on campus three years ago and during my initial interview they checked to make sure with me that I was not gay,” Reid said.

“I was told that the code of conduct said that you could not be homosexual and be in the organization.”

St u d e n t G ov e r n m e n t Association adviser George Ahmadi said the organization is considered a registered student organization through the university, meaning they are eligible to apply for funding. Ahmadi said the group is registered as a special interest religious

PAXSON HAWS/THE DAILY

FILE: Members of OU Undergraduate Student Congress raise their hands during a meeting Oct. 4, 2016. Brothers Under Christ’s funding request was called into debate during Tuesday’s meeting.

group and there are different stipulations that go along with those specific types of organizations.

The legislation was ultimately passed with 18 yes votes, 11 no votes and five members abstaining from voting.

Reid said he is hoping to pursue an investigation with the Student Affairs office to see if the organization is in violation of school policy. Reid believes the bill passed because SGA has a job to fund the other organizations included on the legislation, but if BYX was the only organization, the legislation would have “failed unquestioningly,” Reid said.

“Let me be very clear — I know of many members of the organization who are not homophobic or against LGBTQ people. I am calling out the organization as a whole, and with what I did tonight, I was attempting to do that,” Reid said.

Ky l e L e w i s, B ro t h e r s

Under Christ president and marketing junior, declined to comment.

Also during the congress’s meeting, Taylor Ke l l i n g , P ro b l e m s a n d Projects Committee chair and political science senior, announced the committee will be speaking with the OU Police Department about the emergency alert system protocol after receiving many student concerns regarding the recent Phi Gamma Delta shooting incident.

There was also legislation passed creating the “It’s On Us” task force within SGA, and nine resolutions passed dealing with hate speech directed at specific communities on OU’s campus.

For full coverage of Tuesday’s meeting, visit oudaily.com.

Kayla Branch

kaylabranch@ou.edu

OTHER OUTCOMES OF THE MEETING • The Problems and Projects Committee plans to discuss emergency alert system protocol with OUPD • Legislation passed creating the “It’s On Us” task force within SGA • Nine resolutions passed dealing with hate speech directed at specific communities on OU’s campus • The role of the vice chair of congress was redefined • The SGA code was updated to reflect that the liaison program is no longer a requirement of members

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Group pushes for inclusion SGA committee crafts resolutions, works for diversity KAYLA BRANCH @kayla_branch

A new chair has pushed a once inactive Student Government Association committee to take action in creating a more inclusive campus.

Ali Klima, political science and constitutional studies senior, was appointed as chair of SGA’s Human Diversity Committee at the start of the spring 2017 semester.

SGA created the committee after the 2015 Sigma Alpha Epsilon scandal to have a better understanding of how all students on OU’s campus are feeling, said Kaylee Rains, political science and public administration senior and Undergraduate Student Congress chair.

“We wanted to do something to make us more aware of the situations happening on our campus and what we could do as SGA to stand up for diversity and inclusion, and making sure we are adequately representing our students and standing up for every community,” Rains said.

Klima said she has been part of the committee since her freshman year and decided to run for chair so the committee might become more focused and driven.

“I was previously the secretary for five semesters in a row, and so I saw every single chair go through, and they

PAXSON HAWS/THE DAILY

Ali Klima, political science and constitutional studies senior, talks about the hate speech bills she is working on with SGA. She introduced 12 bills to SGA Tuesday.

had these great ideas, but it never really came to fruition,” Klima said. “So what it has really come down to is everyone being really eager to write legislation and get things going, and that has been really helpful.”

For multiple sessions of congress, the committee passed very little legislation and met few goals, said Naomee Ryana, psychology sophomore and longtime member of the Human Diversity Committee. This semester has been very different, though, Ryana said.

“The committee had mostly been in a brainstorming phase, and things were just kind of passive, and we kept saying, ‘These things probably won’t happen,’” Ryana said. “Then Ali came

in, and every idea someone’s pitched she’s said, ‘OK, we’re going to make that happen,’ and I think that’s so awesome.”

“There are people on this campus who need someone to stand up for them and be their vioce ...”

TYLER RIVERA, HUMAN DIVERSITY COMMITTEE MEMBER

So far this semester, the committee has produced legislation such as a resolution supporting students affected

by President Donald Trump’s first travel ban and has another set of bills regarding

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Liquor bottles line the shelves in Switzer Wine and Spirits on West Lindsey Street. House Bill 1686, authored by Rep. Harold Wright, would eliminate sales tax on alcohol and higher excise tax on beer and spirits.

Bill could raise alcohol costs If passed, HB 1686 would levy flat tax on all beer, spirits MITCHELL WILLETTS

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hate speech that were seen at Tuesday’s meeting.

Klima said one of her goals for the bills was to allow all the members of her committee to gain experience in healing with student organizations to hear concerns’ and in authoring legislation so they could better serve as representatives.

“I thought the legislation would have more power if we wrote it as individual bills because it not only gives everyone in my committee the opportunity to speak on behalf of the Human Diversity Committee, but it also gives the freshmen who don’t have much experience with congress the opportunity to have their name written on the legislation as the primary author,” Klima said. “That’s

really cool because a lot of freshmen don’t do that, and I just want to make them as excited about congress as they can be.”

Tyler Rivera, political science and African and African American studies, is a committee member who wrote legislation for the first time this semester. Rivera said the experience has helped him learn to take the student concerns the committee hears and find a way to do something about those issues.

“Writing a part of the hate speech legislation is a moment I’m proud of because I am able to be an ally for these students,” Rivera said. “There are people on this campus who need someone to stand up for them and be their voice, so while we can’t make actual federal legislation, we can create a platform for the university to stand on and say, ‘We are accepting.’”

Klima said even though most of the legislation that comes out of the Human Diversity Committee takes the form of resolutions, there is still meaning in writing and passing them.

“Those student organizations knowing that their concerns were heard and not only heard but written down and published and voted on — it means a lot to them,” Klima said. “So at the end of the day, they just know that they can come talk to these people, and their voices and their concerns are really heard, and I think that is the most important thing that we can do.”

Kayla Branch

kaylabranch@ou.edu

February death of OU student, fraternity member ruled accident

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@MitchBWilletts

A piece of legislation that passed unanimously in an Oklahoma state House subcommittee last month is receiving criticism from some in the alcohol industry as a step backwards amid recent pushes to revamp state liquor laws.

House Bill 1686, which passed in the Appropriations and Budget Finance subcommittee Feb. 16, was authored

by Rep. Harold Wright, R-Weatherford, and intends to simplify tax structure and collection. It seeks to eliminate the sales tax on alcohol altogether and replace it with a higher excise tax on all beer and spirits, according to the bill.

The bill still requires approval from both the House and Senate, but if passed, excise tax rates on spirits will climb from $1.47 to $3.50 per liter, and beer will go from $12.50 to $45 per barrel, according to the bill.

Bryan Kerr, owner of Moore Liquor and president of the

Retail Liquor Association of Oklahoma, said he believes HB 1686 is poorly thought out and, ultimately, unfair to the consumer.

“Unfortunately, the math (Wright) did on the bill is bad.

He will end up collecting a lot more money for the state, but the way he will collect it is by charging more for wine and spirits that are normally the cheapest wine and spirits,” Kerr said.

The current state sales tax on alcohol varies depending on the value of a given product, meaning the tax on a case of Pabst Blue Ribbon is less expensive than that of a pricier beer like Stella Artois. On the other hand, Wright’s suggested excise tax is flat, tacking on an additional cost regardless of what the product is, according to the bill.

“People who enjoy the lower-priced brands would experience a much larger increase in price,” Kerr said. “Harold Wright’s intentions may be pure, but anything that disproportionately affects people who are on a tight budget, I’m going to oppose.”

Tyler Self, political science senior, feels the price hike could change his purchase habits drastically, and he would consider crossing state lines for the sake of his wallet,

he said.

“If I were buying a lot, I’d do that. I feel like it’s worth it, compared to the 20 or 30 bucks you spend on gas, compared to what seems like $40 to $50 (on alcohol) if you’re buying in bulk,” Self said.

Other students, like entrepreneurship junior Sarah Becker, are not particularly concerned about the proposal.

“Alcohol is not something that important for it to be cheap,” Becker said. “I think if the state is using that tax money for something good, I would rather them do that than taxing people on income or something like that.”

This excise tax will be placed on the wholesalers, but Kerr emphasized that it will be the customer that will take the hit.

“It doesn’t cause me to make any less money,” Kerr said. “People are still going to buy alcohol, and if it costs more for me to buy from the wholesaler due to the excise tax, then that markup just occurs, and the customer has to pay for it. I end up making the same amount, or more, on people.”

Mitchell Willetts

mitchell.b.willetts-1@ou.edu

The death of an OU student and Delta Upsilon fraternity member who died in February has been ruled an accident, according to a report from the Oklahoma City medical examiner.

Kyle O’Brien, who was a finance sophomore, died Feb. 3 in Oklahoma City. That night, OKC police investigated a suspicious death in which the body of a male was found at the base of a parking garage at Robert S. Kerr Avenue and North Hudson Avenue.

O’Brien’s body was found at 321 Robert S. Kerr Ave., the address of the Metro Parking Garage, according to the report.

O’Brien’s probable cause of death is “multiple blunt force trauma,” according to the report. O’Brien, who was 19 years old, also had a blood alcohol content level of 0.24 g/dL — three times more than the legal driving limit in Oklahoma — according to the report.

A man about O’Brien’s weight would have had to consume more than 10 drinks to reach that BAC level and would have likely been experiencing blackouts or a loss of consciousness at that point.

In an email to The Daily, OU press secretary Matt Epting said the university does not have further comment regarding O’Brien’s death and pointed to a previous statement from OU President David Boren, in which he said, “Our sympathy and prayers go out to the parents, family and friends of the student who lost his life.”

Delta Upsilon fraternity said in a statement that “Kyle was an amazing person who was beloved by all. We miss him dearly and think of him often. Delta Upsilon wants to thank the entire OU community for their continued outreach and support.”

Interfraternity Council, which is the umbrella organization that serves the 18 fraternities in the council, including Delta Upsilon, sent The Daily this statement: “The Greek community lost a beloved brother and friend this past February. Our continuous thoughts are with the members of Delta Upsilon and the O’Brien family.”

The medical examiner’s report also says O’Brien was tested for amphetamine, methamphetamine, cocaine and other substances, but nothing was found.

Andrew Clark, @Clarky_Tweets

Boren continues with recovery efforts, returns home to recuperate OU President David Boren is home from the hospital and “has done remarkably well” following a heart bypass surgery March 20, OU press secretary Matt Epting said in an email.

Boren will be recuperating for a few weeks, Epting said in the email.

“He really misses the OU family and appreciates all the well-wishes he has DAVID received,” Epting said.

BOREN Boren has continued to serve in his position during his recovery, but he missed the March 23 President’s Associates Dinner, where J.D. Vance, author of “Hillbilly Elegy,” spoke.

Staff Reports

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• March 30-April 2, 2017

PAXSON HAWS/THE DAILY

(Left) Al Roker rides the Sooner Schooner across the football field Monday. Roker kicked off his five-stop Rokerthon 3 tour at OU. (Right) Al Roker stands with Boomer and Sooner on the morning of Monday. Students gathered to break a world record in the Gaylord Family-Oklahoma Memorial Stadium.

OU breaks two world records Al Roker coaches OU to build human weather symbols

STAFF REPORTS

OU broke two Guinness World Records and two students won $5,000 scholarships at Rokerthon Monday, hosted by weatherman Al Roker of NBC’s TODAY Show.

Michael Empric, Guinness

World Records official adjudicator, determined that OU now holds the title for largest human image of a cloud and largest human image of a lightning bolt. Empric said there were 490 people in the cloud, beating the previous record of 468, and 280 in the lightning bolt.

Roker originally announced student Kelsey Hawk as the winner of a $5,000 scholarship, but Kelsey

Big Event attracts biggest crowd in 19 years with 6,000 participants OU’s annual university-wide day of community service is expecting its biggest turnout in 19 years this weekend.

The Big Event will draw just under 6,000 students, faculty and staff — about 300 participants more than the 2016 event, said Macy Muirhead, creative media productions senior and vice chair of public relations for The Big Event.

The 2017 Big Event will begin at 8:30 a.m. Saturday on the North Oval. Volunteers can pick up Big Event shirts and information at various times and locations across campus from Monday through Thursday, according to a Big Event tweet.

This year, about 160 job sites spanning 45 miles from Norman are registered to work with The Big Event volunteers. Locations include several local schools, public parks and nonprofits like Cleats For Kids and Beautiful Feet, Muirhead said.

Worksite locations were applied for the event through an application available at the beginning of the fall semester, Muirhead said.

Volunteer registration for The Big Event closed March 3.

Olivia Dubcak, @olivedubbie

Hull, who mistakenly thought he had called her name, came to the front. Roker said both Hull and Hawk will receive a $5,000 scholarship. “It’s very gratifying and humbling that so many students and faculty members and staff members would come together to do this for us,� Roker said.

Staff Reports

ROKERTHON MIXUPS A few funny mixups during Rokerthon made us chuckle on Monday morning. Here’s what you missed if you weren’t there: • Roker accidentally called dean of students Clarke Stroud the Oklahoma State University’s dean of students. • Roker announced that student attendee Kelsey Hawk was the winner of a $5,000 scholarship, but a student named Kelsey Hull thought her name was called, so she ran up to get what she thought was her scholarship. In the end, Roker said both Kelseys would be awarded scholarships.

dailynews@ou.edu

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SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 23-Dec. 21) -- At networking functions, you will be tempted to brag and make promises you may not be able to keep. Stay focused on what is and isnĘźt doable to avoid embarrassment. Romance is highlighted.

CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19) -- Assess your situation and evaluate your relationships with individuals who lack common sense or have behaved erratically. Stay focused on obtaining greater stability in your personal life and relationships.

AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 19) -Helping others can be healing, but can also lead to you being taken for granted. Set boundaries so you donĘźt wind up resentful. ItĘźs how you handle situations that will make the difference.

PISCES (Feb. 20-March 20) -- What you do for others will be appreciated and reciprocated. Compromise will help you overcome any concerns you have about whatĘźs fair. Pursue your dreams avidly.

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Universal Crossword Edited by Timothy Parker March 30, 2017 ACROSS 1 Mash the gas in a garage 4 Concluding part 10 Access onto the highway 14 Chowed down 15 It delivers cold comfort 16 Mean business?

17 Cookie locale, sometimes 18 Speak out about something 20 Priest’s garment 21 Is introduced to 22 Ill-tempered and then some 23 Roll call calls, sometimes 25 Recipe amt.

26 Type of recruiter 31 Little bear 34 Group of primo invitees 35 Charitable collections for the poor 36 Double negative 37 Shirt label info 38 Emulate a cat burglar 39 Bullets, briefly 40 Stands on a golf course?

41 Ease off, as from a baby bottle 42 Deepest sleeps possible

3/30

43 Put a stop to 44 Court order affecting one’s wages 46 Used a spade 47 Had been stretched out in bed 48 Sustain, as injuries 51 Prayer wheel utilizers 54 Inked-skin design, in slang 57 Transmit information to others 59 “Fi� front 60 Etch-aSketch part 61 Financial VIP 62 Rock worth something 63 Cravings 64 Systems of beliefs 65 Homer’s neighbor, on TV DOWN 1 Indian prince 2 And others, in shorthand 3 Spoke 4 Fantastic notion, as of one’s imagination 5 Most slippery 6 Campbell of TV and films 7 Assist a robber, e.g.

8 Johns or heads 9 Id complement 10 Brief summation 11 Some state names in D.C., briefly t

12 It may be thrown a curve 13 Clever maneuver 19 Part of M.I.T. 24 Favorable responses 25 Elephant feature 26 Sample, as a small bit of food 27 Out-ofthis-world creature 28 Less likely to be committed 29 Freshly washed 30 Certain Arab 31 Gives one’s opinion 32 Deprive of one’s courage 33 Upward push 36 Campbell of fashion

38 Oscars attendee’s “bag�

42 Some bar drinks 44 Know-it-all sage 45 On the schedule 46 ___ down (makes much simpler) 48 Gunky, slimy or yucky 49 Not even a single one 50 “Time’s a-wastin’�

51 Deceitful one 52 Teenager’s facial outbreak 53 Create or construct 55 Planting unit, for farmers 56 Five up, e.g.

58 Major American network

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March 30-April 2, 2017 •

A MESSAGE ON SEVERE WEATHER FROM PRESIDENT DAVID BOREN Dear OU Family, Out of concern for your safety, I ask that University procedures be followed for OU’s Norman campus for the 2017 tornado season. I sought the advice of consultants with special expertise in this area to help develop these plans.

The standard advice, which those of you who have lived in Oklahoma through a storm season have heard many times, remains unchanged: If you observe a tornado / severe weather, you hear tornado sirens sound or receive a tornado warning emergency notification from the University, proceed to the closest building and seek shelter. Get to the lowest level away from glass and put as many walls between you and the outside as possible. Typically, this will be a closet or hall. Do not seek refuge in an automobile.

A tornado warning emergency notification from the University will read similar to the following: OU Alert: A tornado warning has been issued for Cleveland County. Move to a safe area.

Stay away from doors and windows. Do not take shelter in cars.

Remain in your safe area until a message is received from the University that the danger has

passed. This “All Clear” message will read similar to the following: OU Alert: The weather danger has passed. You may resume normal activity.

Also in place this season is our 2017 Severe Weather Procedure for days of enhanced risk to safety. When weather conditions appear to be coming together to warrant a threat of significant tornadoes, I may invoke an early closure of the Norman campus to allow people to gather their loved ones and proceed with their personal safety plans.

For these enhanced risk to safety days where sufficient advance warning of impending weather is available, the University has designated Best Available Refuge Areas in select locations for use by students, faculty and staff who are on campus at the time at which they may need to seek shelter. Please see the attachments for the maps of Best Available Refuge Areas. Note that these maps have changed recently to reflect the opening of the new storm shelters at the campus residence halls and apartments.

Sincerely, David L. Boren President

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

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8

• March 30-April 2, 2017

OPINION

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

US initiates war crimes Will Goree

wfgoree@ou.edu

On January 29 this year, Navy SEALs raided the village of al Ghayil on a mission to assassinate al-Qaida militants. In the firefight, the SEALs killed at least six women and ten children under the age of 13.

On March 16, an American drone blew up a mosque in the Syrian village of Al Jineh, targeting al-Qaida militants. Forty-six civilians died. A week ago, on March 22, the United States coalition bombed a school near Raqqa in northern Syria, targeting ISIS militants. Instead of militants, the bomb killed 33 refugees taking shelter in the school. On March 17, an American coalition bombing targeting ISIS militants killed at least 200 civilians in a neighborhood in Mosul, Iraq.

America has aided Saudi Arabia throughout its ongoing war against Houthi rebels in Yemen. The Saudi intervention has been widely recognized as an atrocity.

The Saudis and their coalition have bombed hospitals, directly attacked civilians and caused massive famine that threatens 17 million Yemenis. Saudi Arabia began its intervention in 2015; two years into the war, 10,000 civilians in Yemen have died.

The United States has supported Saudi Arabia during

FELIPE DANA/ASSOCIATED PRESS PHOTO

A Federal Police soldier moves towards the front line near the old city, during fighting against Islamic State militants on the western side of in Mosul, Iraq, Tuesday.

its war with arms sales, intelligence and logistical support. On March 16, the same day the United States killed 46 people in Syria, a Saudi helicopter machine-gunned a boat carrying Somali refugees off the coast of Yemen.

More than 40 refugees died, gunned down in cold blood.

The United States has not rescinded any support for the Saudis’ military effort, or even issued a statement about it.

You don’t need me to tell you that this is wrong.

Reading stories of the United States indiscriminately killing civilians in Iraq and Syria and facilitating genocide in Yemen should fill us with horror and disgust. Even if you are sympathetic to the idea that the United States should intervene to stop ISIS, our latest escalation is still unconscionable. Bombing schools and houses is a war crime; this would be true even in a just war. And under President Donald Trump, we appear to be churning out war crimes as fast as possible. The United States has committed far more atrocities in the Middle East and

in other places than these; naming them all would take much more space than one newspaper column. But these latest examples of open murder should remind us that American foreign policy, frankly speaking, is evil. It doesn’t have to be this way, but it is. And if we want to change that, we need to be honest with ourselves about the moral necessity of this change.

Speaking honestly about our wars in the Middle East means being honest about the people who made these wars happen and who sustain them. The Iraq War, an utterly unjustified and illegal war, killed at the very least 200,000 civilians, and more likely closer to half a million.

Without being histrionic at all: President George W. Bush is a monster. Bush was in the news recently for his paintings of veterans; the only thing he should be painting is the inside of a cell. President Barack Obama killed hundreds of innocent people in his unrestrained campaign of drone bombings. He also oversaw American military support

to Saudi Arabia well into his campaign of murdering children in Yemen. Obama did some good things, but he’s a monster, too.

We need radical change, but the beginnings of this change are within our capabilities. Former CIA director John Brennan coordinated a large part of Obama’s campaign of drone strikes.

When Brennan visited OU three years ago, members of Students For a Stateless Society protested his visit.

These students did good work, and we should imitate them in refusing to give mass murderers any respect. Earlier this week, hundreds of protesters, mostly young American Jews, shut down entrances to the American Israel Public Affairs Committee conference in Washington D.C. The protesters rallied for justice and equal rights for Palestinians and against the anti-Palestinian policies in Israel that AIPAC lobbies for — and that American politicians of both parties support. We can join our friends who take these brave steps to stop evil policies, and we can continue to organize.

Let’s stop making excuses for the leaders we like, as we did for Obama, and let’s condemn the crimes not only of Trump but of any American warmonger. We must stand against mass murder and war crimes.

If we can’t stand against those, why bother pretending to stand for anything at all?

Will Goree is a mathematics and philosophy senior and guest columnist for The Daily.

Millennials more than just selfies in 1989. Millennials are creating successful businesses at younger ages than in previous generations and making their own work in a recession left from generations past. Working in a way that is different than older generations may have preferred to work does not make my Maci French Maci.N.French-1@ou.edu generation lazy — it makes us innovative.

The internet is filled with Recently the media has articles proclaiming just been obsessed with the stahow much everyone hates tistic that millennials get my generation — the milmarried later in life than lennials. I read at least one other generations did. People piece of media per week love to warn us how socially stating that my generation devastating this can be for is lazy, entitled, pampered, a person. It is quite possible self-absorbed and “selfie” the high levels of divorce that obsessed. Although I, too, millennials saw with their am able to find the humor parents, their friends’ parents in millennials’ growing and elsewhere have resulted interest in novelty prodin a cautious approach to ucts like beard wax and marriage before committing Birchbox, I think there is to one person for the rest of much more to say for a their lives. Millennials getgeneration that spends its ting married later in age than time writing hurtful articles some consider preferable about the future leaders of does not make us afraid of the world. Just like previous commitment. It makes us generations, millennials are powerful and independent. multifaceted and must stop I know you think that being simplified the way we are all Kardashians or they are in these types of self-absorbed freeloaders — articles. but we are not. We are a genFirst, millennials are eration dedicated to seeing kicking butt. Statistics show the good in people, somethat volunteering and the thing the authors of hurtful presumed value of volunarticles that put millennials teering is higher in milleninto a stereotypical box could nials than it has been in possibly benefit from by past generations. According adapting themselves. to a survey conducted You don’t hate millennials by the Corporation for — you hate change. Luckily, National and Community you can’t stop either.

Service and the National Conference on Citizenship, 21.7 percent of millennials Maci French is a journalism volunteered in 2013, 7.7 senior and staff columnist for percent higher than the 14 The Daily. percent from the same poll

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March 30-April 2, 2017 •

SPORTS

9

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

Backs battle during spring Samaje Perine, Joe Mixon leave spaces for new OU stars KELLI STACY @AstacyKelli

The running back battle is heating up at spring practice as the Sooners look to replace both Samaje Perine and Joe Mixon.

Oklahoma offensive coordinator Lincoln Riley said the competition at running back would be ongoing throughout the offseason, as all of the backs have been impressive in spring practice. “ T h e y ’ re g o i n g t o b e good,” Riley said. “It’s going to be a great competition. I have no clue what’s going to happen. We’re going to have some productive guys back there.”

One of the Sooners’ many options is redshirt sophomore Rodney Anderson.

Anderson has impressed coaches the past two springs, but he has faced freak injuries both years. In 2015, Anderson broke his leg against Tennessee. Last year, he broke his neck in fall camp. Now that he’s healthy, Anderson’s ready to fight for his spot.

“I’m going to take the opportunity and do the most I can with it,” Anderson said.

“I’m always going to give 100 percent in everything I do and just try to make the most of it.”

Riley said Anderson is one of the most gifted players the Sooners have.

“We’re thrilled about where he’s come and we think he’s getting ready to

SIANDHARA BONNET/THE DAILY

Freshman running back Abdul Adams runs toward the endzone with senior cornerback Marnez Ogletree on his heels Oct. 29. The Sooners are looking for players to replace Samaje Perine and Joe Mixon.

have a big year,” Riley said.

Sophomore Abdul 2017 SPRING Adams is another option for GAME Oklahoma in the backfield.

Adams was the third man up Time: Kickoff at 1 p.m. behind Perine and Mixon last season, accounting for Date: April 8 283 yards. Adams said he’s Place: Norman focused a lot on his weight and speed over the offseaSource: soonersports.com son, and he feels good about the progress he’s made.

“I feel like Abdul’s real- confident, more comfortly come a long way,” Riley able, like he’s not thinking so said. “He just seems more much and just really letting

loose right now, and he’s back healthy. He was a little nicked up at the second half of last year.”

The Sooners also have junior Marcelias Sutton and freshman Trey Sermon, who have both been said to be performing well in spring practice.

Despite the number of backs Oklahoma has, Riley said he won’t deny the possibility of using players at different positions, such

as when senior fullback Dimitri Flowers played running back against Iowa State last season. He ran for 115 yards against the Cyclones.

Flowers said he’ll do whatever his team needs him to do to win.

“It’s whatever Coach Riley wants, whatever it takes for this offense to succeed is what I’m going to do,” Flowers said. “If it means I’m going to get two or three carries a game and just throw in

that wrinkle for the defense to have to game plan, than let’s do it. But I’m not expecting to have every game like the Iowa State game. That was just a rare occurrence, I just made the most of my opportunity and proved that I can run the ball whenever that time comes.”

The Sooners’ spring game is set for April 8.

Kelli Stacy

kelliastacy@ou.edu

Former OU pitcher gets YOU ARE INVITED! change of pace in Seattle Public Master Classes

Star Sooner traded from A’s to Mariners after big-league start

Marilyn Horne

JESSE POUND @jesserpound

PEORIA, Arizona – A former OU pitcher is fiddling with a new pitch for a new team as he tries to bounce back from a rough showing in his first stint in the major leagues.

Dillon Overton, who played for the Oklahoma Sooners from 2011 to 2013, was traded to the Seattle Mariners in January after the Oakland A’s designated him for assignment. He said the Mariners are a nice change of pace from the A’s, who dealt him suddenly after he struggled in his first big league experience in 2016, allowing more than a run per inning.

“It was a shock, but I think this is a good move for me,” Overton said. “It’s good to change the scenery a little bit. I’d been there threeand-a-half years since I got drafted, so I think this place will be a real good fit for me.”

Overton was drafted in the second round of the 2013 draft by the A’s, but he quickly discovered he needed Tommy John surgery. He has tried other pitches to make up for his lost velocity, abandoning a cutter he introduced last season in favor of a two-seam sinking fastball this year. He’s searching for something to complement his change-up.

“He’s not going to blow you away with his fastball, but the change-up is the big weapon,” manager Scott Servais said.

Overton was an immediate contributor for the Sooners as a freshman in

Former Star of the Metropolitan Opera, praised by critics as having “the greatest voice of the 20th Century”

JESSE POUND/THE DAILY

Dillon Overton warms up before practice March 15. Overton was traded to the Seattle Mariners by the Oakland A’s in January.

2011 and then developed into a dependable starter.

He started 30 games in his last two seasons in Norman while striking out 205 batters.

Overton blasted former OU coach Sonny Golloway on Twitter when the coach bolted for Auburn in 2013, say i ng G o l l oway “ rea l ly disappointed me and my teammates.” He said he hasn’t really been back to OU since he left, but he does still go back to western Oklahoma to hunt and see family in the offseason.

Even with the stress of a new team and an uncertain roster situation, the Weatherford, Oklahoma, product is enjoying his new clubhouse and putting up more respectable numbers than last summer.

“I’ve told my family, here, to me, it’s just more fun,” Overton said. “Here we joke around a lot, have a lot of fun in the locker room, even on the field, it’s more of a laid-back feeling, which helps the spring go by a lot faster, a lot easier.”

Now 25 years old, Overton is part of a bevy of young pitchers the Mariners have to choose from. Ser vais

said he expects to be sending guys up and down, from Seattle to triple-A Tacoma and back again, all season.

“We have a lot of guys with options,” Servais said.

“So if we start taxing these guys, or if they run somebody for two-and-a-third or whatever one night, they may be down. We do have moveable parts.”

When Overton was traded, the Mariners told him its major league rotation was already set but that he might be able to make the major league team as a reliever. Even though he came up through the minors as a starter, Overton is willing to do anything to stick in the big leagues.

“To me, it doesn’t really matter,” Overton said. “As long as I’m up there, that’s all that matters to me.”

Jesse Pound is a writer for OU Covers Baseball, a journalism project covering spring training by the OU Gaylord College of Journalism and Mass Communication. He is also the enterprise editor for The Daily.

Jesse Pound

jesserpound@gmail.com

7 p.m.

Friday, March 31 Pitman Recital Hall Catlett Music Center OU Fine Arts Free and Open to the Public For more information, go to www.ou.edu/finearts The University of Oklahoma is an equal opportunity institution. www.ou.edu/eoo

- THE PRIDE OF OKLAHOMA

10

• March 30-April 2, 2017

ARTS&ENTERTAINMENT

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

Group praises women of color OU Women of Power fosters female community, empowers club members

S

ROBYN CRAIG • @ROBYNCRAIG21

ierra Levy, sociology sophomore, experienced the open arms of the OU Women of Power organization as a shy freshman last year. She went to a few events her first semester, gained more confidence and is now the historian for Women of Power.

“Women of Power is a place for other women to be comfortable, to have someone to talk to,” Levy said. “We are here for each other.

Even though we don’t hang out 24/7, there will always be someone there for you — so it’s kind of like a family.”

Women of Power focuses on creating a community made of women from all walks of life. Women under Power is an umbrella organization of the Black Student Association, Levy said.

Being an umbrella organization under BSA means that the organization receives funding from BSA, follows the guidelines of BSA and overall works around BSA. Being an umbrella organization under BSA is what helped current president Kristina Berry, early childhood education senior, discover the group herself.

Berry was introduced to Women of Power after attending an event during which BSA introduced its umbrella organizations.

“I saw Women of Power and I went once and it was kind of a chill event, like a movie night and just a place for women to come together, and it kind of resonated with me,” she said.

Since becoming president of the organization last year, Berry has focused on keeping the Women of Power’s mission alive: to provide a place on campus for women of color to discuss the issues they face on a predominately white and male-dominated campus, she said.

Berry understands that students wish to belong, so she feels that Women of Power is a great start, she said.

“If somebody cares about (a student) or is excited to see them every other Monday, then they are more likely to stay in school or fight when things get hard,” she said.

It is important for these women to have a place to speak out about the issues they face rather than keeping it to themselves, Berry said.

“If you’re struggling, if you are a first generation college student, or you don’t have money, or your grades are slipping and you don’t have a group to be connected with, it is easier to leave versus if you have someone to talk these issues out with, especially if you feel like your voice is going unheard,” she said.

Last year’s Women of Power events included a relationship talk event, which Berry said is “always interesting.” Another event focused on diminishing gender stereotypes by leading the women in a hardware workshop, which included a toolbox giveaway that both Levy and Berry enjoyed.

“The hardware event focused on the idea that ‘You don’t need a man; you can do it yourself,’” Levy

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2.

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3.

4.

5.

NOOR EEMAAN VIA ANGELICA LOBLACK, PROVIDED BY ANGELICA LOBLACK, AND ALYCIA BROWN VIA ANGELICA LOBLACK

1. Courtney Warren, accounting sophomore poses for a photo shoot Feb. 27. 2. Angelica “Jelly” Loblack, special events coordinator for Women of Power, poses for the photo shoot event that took place Feb. 27. 3. Deion Maloy, human relations junior, poses for the photo shoot Feb. 27. 4. Unique Griffin, vice president of Women of Power, poses for a photo shoot Feb. 27. 5. Lisa Egede, secretary of Women of Power, poses for a photo shoot Feb. 27.

said.

In addition to the events that focused on empowering the women in the organization last year, Women of Power donated and distributed toiletries and business professional clothes to a women’s shelter, Berry said.

“A lot of us have clothes you buy one time for one event that you never wear again, and there are people out there who really don’t have them,” Berry said.

This year the organization has decided to allow each member to create and host her own empowerment event. Although Women in Power executive members have complete freedom in creating the group’s events, each event relates to each other, Levy said.

This semester, the organization hosted two events, said Angelica “Jelly” Loblack, international security studies and criminology-sociology junior and Women of Power’s special events coordinator.

“This semester I just sat down and was thinking of things that I’ve seen or topics that I feel are very important for us to address and cool ways we can address it besides people just talking about it with us,” Loblack said. “I try to be creative about it, like, ‘What would get girls interested in coming to these events and handle those issues besides sitting down and hearing someone talk about it?’”

Loblack later decided she wanted to have a photo shoot. On Feb. 27, Loblack helped host the “Capture the Power Confidence Photo Shoot,” which helped reflect the rising organization’s overall message.

“I really wanted to do a photo shoot initially to just give the girls a chance to really feel good about themselves in whatever way that was,” she said.

GET CONNECTED Women of Power meets at 7 p.m. every other Monday at the Henderson-Tolson Cultural Center. To stay in the loop on Women of Power events, check out its Twitter @OUWoP1 and Instagram: ou_wop.

Loblack reached out to various local photographers, as she wanted to create diversity among both the photographers and the participants involved in the shoot, she said.

“I wanted to make sure there were photographers, that I had a wide array of cultures. I didn’t want it to be just one type of photographer. We had a film photographer, a street photographer and an OU Daily photographer,” Loblack said.

“We had a multitude of different

types of artists because I felt it was important to have that sense of creativity and bond with the photographer and girl instead of just a photographer to take a picture.”

Loblack had eight photographers and 20 to 25 women attend the photo shoot. Loblack’s only requirement was for everyone to wear a black T-shirt for uniformity. The women were then asked to write one word on their bodies.

“I had each girl write the word ‘power’ on them on either a spot they felt insecure about on their body or a part they feel is their best quality,” Loblack said. “So some girls put stuff on their thighs, or on their hands or on their collarbone.

We had the word ‘power’ everywhere on people’s bodies. And I just wanted them to embody what they felt power was, what it meant to be a powerful woman.”

Loblack made a playlist filled with powerful female artists for the photo shoot to give the event a very mellow and fun atmosphere, she said.

“It was just let loose type of event where the photographers and models could really collaborate on what they believed would embody female empowerment,” Loblack said.

Oyinda Smith, psychology sophomore, attended the event and loved both the photo shoot and the atmosphere, she said.

“They had a local photographer, which I thought was really good.

We got to take the pictures outside.

The environment was really chill, but just knowing the reason behind the photo shoot is what really made it great,” she said.

The group is working on a future event that will honor female professors, Berry said.

“We know it’s hard to be a female professor, especially at OU, and there’s not a lot of them, and they have to do more and stand out more. That’s something I’m really looking forward to,” she said.

As for the future of the group, Berry would love to see more participation from other girls on campus and subsequently provide the group with more perspectives.

Although the organization is associated with the Black Student Association, the group is open for all women of color and who are eager to join and help build confidence, Berry said.

“We are women of color, any minority of women. We are here and we are powerful. We are not just our skin, we are just not our hair, we are not just what people perceive, like the stereotypes and stuff,” Levy said.

Robyn Craig

robyn.craig04@gmail.com

Artist invites all students to create sculpture Art installation features public contributions, open for modification MADDIE ROPER @maddieroper4

PROVIDED BY REAGAN SCHREIER, PHOTO BY STEVE HILTON

An unfired clay formation by Steve Hilton, an OU guest artist. Hilton has requested Norman community members help him with the formation of his clay sculptures in the Lightwell Gallery from Monday through Friday.

The Lightwell Gallery in the School of Visual Arts invites OU students and Norman community members to interact with guest artist Steve Hilton and contribute to the Graph I Exhibition.

The hands-on component of the exhibition opened Monday and runs through Friday and is free of charge.

The exhibition will consist of unfired clay molded together by many artists. Regan Schreier, public relations and event coordinator of the School of Visual Arts, said this medium makes the instillation unique because the shape of unfired clay will morph.

“It’s malleable and it will be

GRAPH 1 EXHIBITION Students can help contribute to the sculpture until Friday.

Dates open: April 3 - April 14 Place: Lightwell Gallery, located on the second floor of the OU School of Visual Arts.

throughout the entire exhibition,” Schreier said.

Depending on temperature, moisture and other conditions, the unfired clay will take many shapes throughout the duration of the instillation, Schreier said. This sets the piece apart from a finished, fired sculpture that has a set form.

In order to create the exhibition, artist Steve Hilton has requested hands-on assistance from members of the Norman community

interested in creating sculptures.

The Lightwell Gallery will be open Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., and students are welcome to stop by any time in order to assist with the project or simply observe and ask questions, Schreier said.

“I don’t think you have to have taken a ceramics class to love art or to want to put your hands on clay,” Schreier said.

The Graph I exhibition will give students the ability to exercise creativity and learn more about sculpture.

In addition, Schreier hopes that Graph I will act as a jumping point for conversation among those who choose to participate. The School of Visual Arts hopes that this experience will give students the opportunity to learn more about the school while meeting new people, Schreier said.

Maddie Roper

maddieroper4@ou.edu

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March 30-April 2, 2017 •

YOU ARE INVITED! Placemaking Conference Placemakers University of Oklahoma Institute for Quality Communities

Monday, April 3, 2017 • Catlett Music Center

Schedule of Events 9:30 a.m. Introduction Welcome, Shane Hampton | Director, OU Institute for Quality Communities Opening Remarks, Dean Hans E. Butzer | OU College of Architecture Paul F. Sharp Concert Hall, Catlett Music Center

10 a.m. Session One: Making Places Moderated by Charles Warnken | Associate Dean and Director, OU Division of Regional & City Planning “The Story of Placemaking,” Fred Kent | Founder and President, Project for Public Spaces “Placemaking: Ideas to Action,” Susan Silberberg | Founder, CivicMoxie Paul F. Sharp Concert Hall, Catlett Music Center

Noon Lunch Keynote Address

“Leadership in Placemaking,” Jim Brainard | Mayor, Carmel, Indiana Molly Shi Boren Ballroom, Oklahoma Memorial Union

1:45 p.m. Session Two: Making Communities Moderated by Mia Kile | Director, OU Division of Interior Design “Renew Australia,” Marcus Westbury | Founder, Renew Australia “A New Dallas,” Patrick Kennedy | Founder, A New Dallas Paul F. Sharp Concert Hall, Catlett Music Center

3 p.m. Session Three: Making Change Moderated by Stephanie Pilat | Director, OU Division of Architecture “Design for the Just City,” Toni Griffin | Founder, Urban Planning and Design for the American City “Tactical Urbanism,” Mike Lydon | Principal, Street Plans Collaborative Paul F. Sharp Concert Hall, Catlett Music Center

4:30 p.m. Session Four: Making Great Streets Moderated by Leehu Loon | Director, OU Division of Landscape Architecture “Making Great Streets,” Victor Dover | Principal, Dover, Kohl & Partners Paul F. Sharp Concert Hall, Catlett Music Center

Reservations required.

For reservations or accommodations, please contact OU Public Affairs at (405) 325-3784 or email specialevents@ou.edu.

To learn more or register, visit iqc.ou.edu/conference The University of Oklahoma is an equal opportunity institution. www.ou.edu/eoo

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• March 30-April 2, 2017

You Are Invited!

Picnic: 11:30 a.m.

Program: Noon Thursday, March 30 David A. Burr Park Campus “Adopt-An-Area” winners will be announced and honored.

Bring your blankets and join us for a free picnic lunch celebrating the 2017 OU Arbor Day. The picnic is free and open to the public.

Tree planting immediately following to beautify the Duck Pond.

To volunteer for the tree planting, please contact Volunteer Programs at 325-2340 or email Kari@ou.edu.

In the event of inclement weather, the picnic will be held in Couch Restaurants.

For accommodations, please call the Office of Public Affairs at (405) 325-3784 or email specialevents@ou.edu.

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