OPINION: Baltimore riots highlight larger issues at hand PAGE 4
SPORTS: One man’s journey to ‘The World’s Toughest Foot Race’ 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 S I LV E R C R O W N W I N N E R
W E D N E S DA Y, A P R I L 2 9 , 2 015
OU strives to improve safety at weather center’s entrance Weather center car fire prompts faculty to work on upgrading back gate JESSE POUND Staff Reporter @jesserpound
In the aftermath of Thursday’s car fire at the National Weather Center, OU is looking at ways to upgrade security at that entrance of the center, said Brian Ellis, director of OU Facilities Management. Ellis is working with other departments, including the OU Police Department, to determine how to make the back entrance of the center more secure, Ellis said.
The gate at the back entrance of the center was damaged when the car ran through it, and then the Norman Fire Department cut away portions of the gate to gain access to the car, Ellis said. On Monday, facilities management removed the rest of the gate and replaced it with a temporary security gate, similar to what is used at football games, Ellis said. The Oklahoma City Medical Examiner’s office revealed that the man who died in the incident died of thermal burns and smoke inhalation.
New appointee an ‘ideal choice’ for OU AMBER FRIEND Staff Reporter @amberthefriend
JACQUELINE EBY/THE DAILY
Jesse Pound jesserpound@gmail.com
On Thursday at 3:38 p.m., OUPD received a 911 call saying a car was on fire at The National Weather Center. The person killed in the car fire was determined to be Michael Allan Rouse of Wichita, Kansas.
TONY RAGLE/THE DAILY
Russian junior Laurel Wheeler poses with her guide dog, Stockard, outside of Kaufman Hall where she spends much of her time. Stockard leads Wheeler through busy streets, sidewalks and public transportation, and Wheeler takes her to each of her classes on campus.
Vision is trivial in earning a degree
Student does not let disability halt or deter her progress AMBER FRIEND Staff Reporter @amberthefriend
As most students agonize over finals, senior Laurel Wheeler is glad she can finally pursue a major in Russian after years growing up with a disability that threatened to
Special assistant to join Shumate
deny her a degree. Wheeler was born blind as a result of underdeveloped eyes — her left eye did not form at all and her right one did not have a pupil. Her left eye is now artificial, and since doctors were able to insert a new pupil in her right eye, she is able to see colors, shapes and movement in bright light. D espite this, Wheeler works like most other students, however, she has
to consider factors such as transportation and navigation. Since Wheeler relies heavily on public transportation, a trip to and from campus takes her about 45 minutes. However, she often has to walk to grocery stores since there is not a bus route close enough to accommodate her. Fortunately, Wheeler is SEE VISION PAGE 3
As part of OU’s diversity initiative, the president’s office has selected OU Recruitment Services’ D’Andre Fisher as special assistant to Jabar Shumate, the newly appointed vice president for the University Community. After speaking with many student leaders and staff involved with Student Affairs and recruitment services, Shumate saw Fisher as the “ideal choice for the position” because of his connections and relationships w i t h ma ny s tu d e n t s, s a i d O U p re s s s e c re t a r y Corbin Wallace in an email. Fisher has been involved in many D’ANDRE different groups FISHER around campus, including the McNair Scholar program and Recruitment Services. In addition, Fisher is an active Sooner Ally, has helped with programs for Student Life and works as an adjunct professor for the human relations department. Fisher also recently held the second annual Developing Black Males Conference, which aims to help black high school males overcome barriers to college success. Fisher said he was honored that the university was recognizing his work and was humbled to even be considered for the position. “[I] just really believe in our mission and really believe in what President Boren [and Vice President Shumate] are trying to do,” Fisher said. “I’m committed and ready to work as much as I can for the university.” As special assistant, Fisher will work with Shumate to plan projects to improve diversity and inclusion on campus. Fisher said he plans to work with all students, particularly with black student alliance Unheard, as well as alumni, faculty and staff. “A lot of departments around the university are all working together and trying to make sure we have a more diverse community,” Fisher said. “We already have that, but we want to push forward and do a better job and make it happen.” Fisher will take office June 1.
Event offers disposal of meds OU provides military bases with programs
Sooners can maintain water quality by safely throwing away meds
Norman faculty teach graduate programs to personnel and families
MIKE BRESTOVANSKY Assistant News Editor @BrestovanskyM
SUPRIYA SRIDHAR
Instead of throwing away unused or expired medication, students can dispose of it at Wednesday’s “Medication Take Back” event. Th e e ve nt w i l l b e h e l d o n PHOTO PROVIDED We d n e s d ay , Ap r i l 2 9 a n d i s sponsored by OU’s Southwest OU’s Southwest Prevention Center is holding an event Wednesday called SEE DISPOSAL PAGE 3
WEATHER Mostly sunny, high of 72, low of 48. Updates: @AndrewGortonWX
“Medication Take Back” at Couch Restaurant and Traditions East and West to help patients properly dispose medication like the pills shown above.
FIND US ONLINE
Staff Reporter @SupriyaSridhar4
Students know about OU’s campuses in Oklahoma and in Arezzo, Italy, but perhaps not about 19 unusual places around the world people can receive the OU experience: military bases. OU ’s Advanced Programs
OU DAILY OUDaily.com
has offered graduate degrees to military bases across North America and Europe for the past 50 years. Faculty members from OU’s Norman campus are sent to these bases to teach the courses to active duty members and their families. Lee Williams, dean of the graduate college, said 12 of the bases OU serves are in Europe, and the remaining seven are in the United States. Servicepeople greatly appreciate the fact that OU SEE MILITARY PAGE 6
OU YAK OF THE DAY
oudaily
OUDaily
@OUDaily
theoklahomadaily
“50 % is .5 and .5 rounds to 1, and 1=100% so I should have a 100%. Why can’t my math teacher understand this?”
VOL. 100, NO. 131 © 2015 OU Publications Board FREE — Additional copies 25¢