HIELD NAMED BIG 12 PLAYER OF THE YEAR PAGE 5
The University of Oklahoma’s independent student voice since 1916
W W W.O U DA I LY.C O M
2 015 C R O W N F I N A L I S T
M O N DA Y, M A R C H 9 , 2 015
SAE banned from OU campus Video shows members chanting racial slurs OU officials, student leaders denounce leaked video on social media sites STAFF REPORTS
MATT WESLING/THE DAILY
Soonerthon raised over half a million dollars for the Childrens Miracle Network this year, more than $200,000 more than last year. The reveal took place at Jim Thorpe Multicultural Center after the student dance marathon on Saturday.
Soonerthon becomes top donor for foundation CAC’s 12- hour dance marathon ranks among the top 10 in the county KATE BERGUM
Assistant News Editor
Students stood, danced and screamed for 12 hours, but all weariness was forgotten when they discovered they helped raise more than a half-million dollars for children in Oklahoma. Soonerthon, OU’s largest philanthropic event, raised a total of $561,268.15 for the Children’s Hospital Foundation Saturday night, propelling it into the ranks of the top ten dance marathon events in the country and shattering last year’s total of $318,711.14. The amount also gave OU the title of No. 1 dance marathon in the Big 12, and it pushed Soonerthon past Walmart and Love’s Travel Stop as the No. 1 donor to the Children’s Hospital Foundation in Oklahoma, Soonerthon chairperson Jessica Freeman said. When the total was announced, the
room erupted into “It’s not about the with OU students. cheers and confetti Soonerthon allows money...it’s about children cannons were fired. who battle Students wearing the miracles we can severe and sometimes bright T-shirts and make happen with life-threatening illglow sticks, who nesses to be celebratthe money” had been on their ed for at least one day, feet for most of their Freeman said. JESSICA FREEMAN, Saturday, clapped, “It’s not about the SOONERTHON CHAIRPERSON hugged and even money,” Freeman said. shed tears. “It’s about the miracles No one expected we can make happen such a staggering sum, said Layne with the money.” Ferguson, Campus Actives Council During the 12 hours particichairperson. pants spent at Soonerthon, Miracle The success of Soonerthon has not Children performed in a talent show yet sunk in for Freeman, she said. — dancing to “Turn Down for What” “But I know it has to be real be- and performing popular songs by cause that’s how amazing OU is,” Miranda Lambert and Taylor Swift, Freeman said. Freeman said. The talent show, This year more than 56 teams regis- along with the Spirit Tunnel — when tered for Soonerthon, and more than children ran by and high-fived thou2,500 people participated, Freeman sands of screaming college students said. — moved Freeman to watch, she During the event, during which said. students learned dances, ate and inSeeing children’s faces light up teracted with kids, among other ac- when they are placed in the center of tivities, Freeman tried not to check attention — their illnesses temporarthe running total of donations, she ily forgotten — is what the event is all said. Instead, she focused on the about, Freeman said. Miracle Children —those who benefited from the Children’s Hospital SEE FTK PAGE 2 Foundation and who spent their day
OU’s Sigma Alpha Epsilon fraternity has been disbanded by its national organization following the Sunday night leak of a video showing members participating in a racist chant. All fraternity members have been suspended and members responsible have had their membership permanently revoked, according to a press release from the fraternity’s national organization. The 10-second video, which started circulating late Sunday evening, shows men on a charter bus signing a chant, saying “There will never be a n***** in SAE” and “You can hang them from a tree, but they’ll never sign with me.” Sigma Alpha Epsilon could reestablish a chapter at OU in the future, according to the press release. The video sparked a 7:30 a.m. Monday protest on the North Oval from minority rights groups, OU Unheard, and a prayer circle Sunday at 11:30 p.m. at the George Lynn Cross statue. Before the group was shut down, OU officials and students denounced the video on social media, saying the behavior in the video did not align with OU’s values. Requests for comments from OU officials and Interfraternity Council President Payne Parker on the fraternity closure were not returned by press time. OU President David Boren released the following statement at 10:22 p.m., just before the fraternity’s national headquarters announced its closure: “I have been informed of the video, which shows students engaging in a racist chant. We are investigating to determine if the video involved OU students. If OU students are involved, this behavior will not be tolerated and will be addressed very quickly. If the reports are true the chapter will no longer remain on campus. This behavior is reprehensible and contrary to all of our values.”
OU Unheard to hold peaceful protest today Members organized demonstration in response to fraternity’s racist chant ANDREW CLARK News Reporter
MATT WESLING/THE DAILY
“FTK”, which stands for For the Kids, is the motto for the all day dance marathon hosted by Soonerthon on Saturday at the Huff. Soonerthon raised more than half a million dollars for the Childrens Miracle Network to help save children diagnosed with deadly diseases.
WEATHER Cloudy with a high of 54, low of 43. Updates: @AndrewGortonWX
FIND US ONLINE
OU DAILY OUDaily.com
Unheard members have planned a demonstration on OU’s campus early Monday morning in opposition to a leaked video which allegedly shows members of OU’s Sigma Alpha Epsilon participating in a racist chant. Unheard member Chelsea Davis said Unheard will demonstrate Monday morning at 7:30 a.m. at the entrance of the North Oval in response to the video, which allegedly shows Sigma Alpha Epsilon members participating in a chant that alludes to lynching and includes repeated use of a racial slur. Davis said she was “disgusted” with the video. “We hope that the administration will make some pretty instantaneous moves. We hope that SAE gets disbanded from [OU]. We hope that all students and all parties involved are punished accordingly. I hope the administration really steps up and does something to counteract this behavior,” Davis said. Sigma Alpha Epsilon is under investigation for the incident.
OU YAK OF THE DAY “Think about this: today someone’s resume went from two pages to two sentences.”
OUDaily
@OUDaily
theoklahomadaily
VOL. 100, NO. 106 © 2015 OU Publications Board FREE — Additional copies 25¢