08192019

TIME OF CHANGE B A C K -T O - S C H O O L E D I T I O N | A U G U S T 19 - 2 5 , 2 0 16 | W E E K LY I N P R I N T | O U D A I LY. C O M

OU DAILY BACK TO SCHOOL

HARROZ: INTERIM PRESDIENT | 2 ACADEMIC CALENDAR | 5 LINCOLN RILEY: MEDIA DAY | 9

KATHRYN STACY/THE DAILY

2

NEWS

• August 19, 2019

Harroz affirms mission at OU

Interim president leads alma mater after Gallogly SCOTT KIRKER @scott_kirker

OU has a new president as the school year begins — the university’s third president in three years.

Joseph Harroz Jr. was selected as interim OU president May 17. The OU Board of Regents unanimously approved Harroz as interim president for at least 15 months after a meeting that lasted nearly six hours. His selection followed former OU President James Gallogly’s unexpected May 12 announcement that he would retire as soon as a succession plan was in place. Gallogly served as president for less than a year.

The 11 months before Harroz’s selection were among the most challenging in recent OU history.

Financial struggles, presidential in-fighting, racist incidents, revelations of misreported data, sexual harassment allegations against the highest levels of leadership — a whirlwind series of events left parts of the OU community exhausted and discontented, and others angry and confused.

“It would be absurd to say we haven’t had challenges and don’t have challenges,” Harroz told The Daily shortly after taking office. “That wouldn’t be looking at any reality that exists. I think you have to address them squarely.”

In the months since becoming interim president, Harroz has spoken about one principle again and again — making decisions with the university’s mission first in mind.

In June, after a reduction in force and approval of his budget proposal, Harroz stressed that his administration will work to make OU the best value possible for students.

“That means excellence,” Harroz told The Daily, “and it means affordability. Together.

When we look at everything, you don’t want to be the cheapest, you want to be the best opportunity for our students to be successful. … We know the kind of pressure our students are under to afford their education, and we have to make sure we meet that with the best we can.”

Harroz has said that the university’s unique function in society makes it important to keep students first.

“What we do is really, really important,” Harroz said, “that we don’t just manufacture widgets, you know, but what we actually do is educate the next generation of leaders.”

Path to the presidency Harroz, an Oklahoma native, received his undergraduate from OU in economics in 1989. Thirty years later, he’s leading his alma mater as

interim president.

Harroz’s father was one of nine children of an immigrant family from Lebanon. The only one of his siblings to go to college, Harroz’s father graduated from college and medical school at OU with the help of his family.

It was natural to follow in his father’s footsteps through an OU undergraduate degree, Harroz said. But after he went on to Georgetown, it was clear that he had found more fulfillment at OU than he could elsewhere.

“I really didn’t come to understand and truly love OU until after I wasn’t there, and I tried going somewhere else. I thought it would be more enriching — and it wasn’t.”

Two years after graduating from law school, Harroz returned in 1994 as vice president for executive affairs at OU. Beginning in 1996, he served as OU general counsel for 12 years. After a brief foray into business from 2008 to 2010, Harroz returned to OU as dean of the College of Law in July 2010. He worked in that position until May 17.

Harroz told The Daily after taking office that with OU’s three campuses and operating budget over $2 billion, he doesn’t know that anyone is perfectly prepared for the OU presidency, but his experience may help.

“I think what helps me be, hopefully, able to be successful in this role is that for 23 of the last 25 years, I’ve been a senior leader of the university and I’ve been at the table, not just in the college but also at the overall leadership table,” Harroz said.

Some critics of Harroz’s selection have said Harroz’s years spent working in the administration are problematic, especially given his work with Boren, who now faces sexual harassment allegations.

Harroz said his work as general counsel and law dean left him with a fair amount of independence, despite working with Boren. The general counsel reports primarily to the OU Board of Regents, Harroz said, and while the law school is part of OU, it is also independent in numerous ways.

Working as general counsel for 12 years helped him gain perspective on all three OU campuses, Harroz said.

He has also taught classes since 1997, an experience he said has helped him to stay grounded in the needs of the students during his time as an administrator.

Harroz said his time as dean of OU Law helped him develop skills in a university setting that are important for someone serving as interim president. He said he learned about budgeting, recruited students, raised money, built an alumni base, spoke with numerous groups and dealt with varied challenges.

Ken Levit, executive director of Tulsa’s George Kaiser Family Foundation and president of OU’s Tulsa campus from 2001 to 2006, has known

KATHRYN STACY/THE DAILY

Interim OU President Joseph Harroz speaks with a reporter outside the University Club during his first day in office.

Harroz for decades. They worked together on thenSen. David Boren’s staff in Washington, Levit said, and he also worked closely with Harroz when Harroz was general counsel and Levit was president of OU-Tulsa.

“He is uplifting and positive and trust-inspiring,” Levit said, “while also rigorous and demanding and focused on accomplishing goals for the work that he is pursuing. I really think he is very well-suited to a very important job, and I have great expectations for his tenure.”

Levit said he thinks Harroz’s skills are up for the challenges the university faces in the near future.

“I think (Harroz) is precisely the right person for the kind of challenges and opportunities that OU currently faces,” Levit said. “I think he is a grounded and deeply sensitive person to the wide range of issues that we face in our communities. … I think at the same time he’s an excellent financial analyst, strategic thinker and decision-maker, and I think that’s really a set of qualities that will serve the university well.”

Principles in action As Harroz was working on the university’s budget proposal, he said he was making decisions based on his hallmark consideration: the mission.

“I’m looking at it through the lens of, ‘What’s our mission?’” Harroz said. “How do we keep it affordable? How do we pursue excellence? ... We need to make sure that every

dollar that we can, that can be focused. It needs to be focused on our mission.”

When Harroz’s budget was approved by the regents June 25, he seemed to act on that commitment to mission and students by ensuring undergraduate tuition and fees stayed flat for the second consecutive year after rates had increased for the previous three.

Harroz’s mission-focused approach may help keep him grounded in the face of challenges that will likely continue for the university.

In the spring 2019 semester, racist incidents on campus or in Norman took place in January, February and April.

The Gallogly administration faced criticism for its responses on racism — some members of the OU community said its rhetoric was not firm enough to deter further incidents. A Rally to Stop Racism was held Jan. 22 after the first of the incidents, in which two OU students wore blackface in a video that circulated on social media.

“The absolute most important thing to me,” Harroz told The Daily shortly after taking office, “is that we get it right around diversity and inclusion. ... Race and ethnicity have to be — we have to get that right. If we don’t get that right, nothing else matters. I mean, period.”

Harroz said he’s working with Jane Irungu, interim vice president for diversity and inclusion, as well as David Surratt, vice president for student affairs and dean of students, and others to address

issues of race, ethnicity and inclusion on OU’s campus.

The university must be proactive about addressing potential racist incidents, Harroz said, and be ready when they happen.

“I think it’s really important that we come into this semester and this year with clarity,” Harroz said, “that diversity matters to us, the clarity of a plan around that, and with a collective voice that makes it clear what we stand for. ... We can’t just sit back and (wait for) when the racist statement is made ... not if — but (ensure) that it’s clear where we stand.”

Harroz said entering the next academic year with a clear stance against racist incidents will be a priority.

In the face of continuing financial challenges, Gallogly’s administration made cuts to areas such as landscaping and IT that resulted in layoffs and reduced funding. Harroz said the university’s financial situation remains a significant challenge as well. He said his focus with finances is to ensure education at OU is “excellent and affordable” for students.

“We have to get the financial piece in a place where we can grow and flourish,” Harroz said. “There’s absolutely a painful component of that. There’s no way to achieve what we want to achieve as an institution and not go through change — and change is really difficult.”

When the administration announced the 69-person reduction in force June 13 that would affect staff members

employed in the Cleveland Area Rapid Transit system, the Lawton Medical Clinic and Norman campus operations and marketing, some of that painful component could be felt.

It remains to be seen whether more cuts will be made. The university has put out requests for proposals to assess the potential savings of outsourcing landscaping and custodial services.

Harroz said at the regents meeting that the request process began before he entered office, but it’s an important part of ensuring efficiency. He added that the “human element” in personnel decisions also matters.

“We have really remarkable people that work in these areas,” Harroz said, “and we have to be mindful of the absolutely human element that attaches to this. It’s not as though we say, we absolutely go with the low-cost bidder, because we know low-cost bidder isn’t always your best answer. But I do think we have an obligation to our students who borrow money.”

Harroz will likely to continue to emphasize the importance of the mission and, ultimately, students.

“The last thing I want to do is impact negatively the student experience,” Harroz said, “because it’s what I care about and because it’s also how we function as a university.”

Scott Kirker stk@ou.edu

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3

NEWS

• August 19, 2019

Staff cut, outsourcing explored June 13 reduction affects 69, follows two rounds of layoffs SCOTT KIRKER @scott_kirker

Editor’s note: This story uses quotes from two OU employees who discussed their knowledge of department meetings that took place June 13. Their identities are kept anonymous to protect their positions, but are known to The Daily.

A third wave of personnel cuts hit OU June 13, when the university announced a 69-person reduction in force.

The June 13 reduction primarily affected employees of OU’s Cleveland Area Rapid Transit bus system, the Lawton Medical Clinic and Norman campus operations and marketing staff, according to an OU press release issued the same day.

The university has reduced staff by a total of 136 full-time equivalent employees since July 2018, a c c o rd i n g t o t h e p re s s release.

The reductions reflected a transfer of many CART bus routes to city

operation, the transition o f t h e L aw t o n Me d i c a l Clinic in early August to Comanche Hospital and additional operations and marketing reductions related to restructuring that had been under review for 45 days prior to the reduction, according to the release.

“These actions are only occurring because they are necessary and ensure the future health of the university,” interim OU President Joseph Harroz wrote in the release. We are mindful of our students and the financial realities they face.

Because so many of our students borrow substantial amounts of money to finance their education, we have a responsibility to remain affordable while providing the excellence they demand.”

‘Morale is very low’ Following the June 13 reduction in force, The Daily reported that the university is assessing the costs of outsourcing landscaping and custodial services.

Two OU employees told The Daily June 19 that OU Fa c i l i t i e s Ma nag e m e nt held a meeting June 13 in which Eric Conrad, OU’s chief operating officer, told staff that outsourcing

options are being explored for departments within facilities management.

The university planned to issue requests for proposals for Norman campus landscaping and custodial services “to compare costs with similar services provided by area vendors,” an OU official told The Daily in a June 20 email.

“Our goal is to accurately assess our own costs of providing services to the university with an understanding of how others are costing similar work,” the official wrote in the email.

“Once the (request for proposal) process is complete there will be an analysis and evaluation of options for achieving high performance at a reasonable cost.

The plan is to complete that analysis before Jan. 1.”

The plan to assess the outsourcing costs of Norman campus landscaping and custodial services comes after 25 people in the landscaping department were laid off during OU’s Nov. 1 layoffs.

An OU employee who was in the June 13 meeting said on June 19 that staff was told the university would send out requests to outsource landscaping in July and would likely hear

back by November.

“If it’s only a small savings, they might keep us a rou n d ,” t h e e mp l oye e said. “But if it’s a big savings they might totally outsource it, is what they were telling us.”

The employees also said landscaping and custodial services held individual meetings after they were told of the coming cost assessment.

“Morale is very low at this time,” the employee said. “Everybody is expecting to lose their jobs … the people with kids, they’re going to be hurting if they go a few months without a job while they’re looking.

And quite a few people are looking right now.”

‘Yet again today, we are challenged’ Harroz released a letter to the OU community June 13 after the reduction in force was announced.

I n t h e l e t t e r, Ha r r o z wrote the cuts were necessary for OU to work toward financial stability and future growth. Harroz wrote that he would send another letter detailing the current budget status, which followed the budget’s approval in the June 25 OU Board of Regents meeting.

“To assist those who are losing their positions, we have committed $640,000 in university funds to bridge their transition to other employment,” Harroz wrote. “In addition to other support, we are providing two months of employment/pay and up to an additional three months of pay based on length of service.”

The affected employees will also receive COBRA medical benefits for up to five months based on length of service, Harroz wrote, and the employees will be eligible to apply for open university positions.

“Both for those impacted and the university, there are brighter days ahead,” Harroz wrote. “We are taking these steps today to ensure that the important and proud legacy of our past is a prelude to our best tomorrow.”

Justin Daniels, chair of the OU Staff Senate, released a letter to the OU staff community following the June 13 reduction in force.

In the letter, Daniels stated the last 12 months have been a significant challenge to “our strong and proud community,” mentioning previous layoffs

and racist incidents the staff has dealt with.

“We have sacrificed everything for this great institution we love. We have dedicated ourselves to this university that is in the fibers of our soul and the pieces of our heart. And yet again today we are challenged,” Daniels wrote.

The changes were necessary to ensure a sustainable budget in the future, Daniels wrote. The Staff Senate worked closely with human resources and Harroz to ensure policies regarding a reduction in force were followed. “ We w i l l c o n t i n u e t o work with administration,” Daniels wrote, “and we are hopeful we will begin to see things improving for our staff community.”

Two weeks later, staff and faculty raises were announced as part of Harroz’s proposed budget, which the OU Board of Regents a p p r o v e d i n a Ju n e 2 5 meeting.

Scott Kirker stk@ou.edu

KATHRYN STACY/THE DAILY

The OU Board of Regents meet June 27. The regents held their annual board retreat in Sulphur.

Budget holds tuition flat, raises salaries Regents approve Harroz’s 2020 budget proposal SCOTT KIRKER @scott_kirker

SULPHUR — The OU Board of Regents approved interim OU President Harroz’s proposed $2.02 billion fiscal year 2020 budget, which kept undergraduate tuition and fees flat for the Norman campus and included raises for faculty and staff.

The regents met at the Chickasaw Retreat and Conference Center June 25 through 27 for their annual board retreat, holding two meetings to consider OU business.

Before the budget’s approval at the regents’ June 25 meeting, Harroz told the board his thoughts about the budget. “ This is a budget that balances, it is a budget that makes investment in our mission and it is an important point from which we can launch further,” Harroz told the board. “This is not an ending point, but it’s a point from which we can absolutely advance.”

Harroz told The Daily the budget and decision to hold undergraduate tuition and fees flat were based on the university’s mission to try to be “the best value

institution.”

“That means excellence,” Harroz said, “and it means affordability. Together.

When we look at ever ything, you don’t want to be the cheapest, you want to be the best opportunity for the students to be successful. … We know the kind of pressure our students are under to afford their education, and we have to make sure we meet that with the best we can.”

Before the approval of the proposal to keep the 2019-20 Norman campus tuition and fees flat, Norman campus tuition rates had been held flat for the 2018-19 academic year after increasing the previous three years.

The fiscal year 2020 budget decreased from the fiscal year 2019 budget of $2.12 billion, the first university budget decrease since 2005.

Despite the decrease, the budget provided for a 3 percent salary raise program on average for eligible Norman staff, as well as compensation for staff at the Health Sciences Center. “(Staff raises are) an effort to say we value not just the people, but the work that’s done by the staff,” Harroz said. “I think that message has not been loud enough, and I think people didn’t feel valued when there hasn’t been a raise for five years. Hopefully what

this says is, we all know everyone is working really hard and their contribution is real.”

In addition to a 2.6 percent faculty salary increase on the Norman campus from Januar y 2019, the budget also incorporates support from the state legislature for another 2.2 percent increase for Norman faculty and an increase at the Health Sciences Center.

Both were proposed for October.

Harroz sent a letter to the OU community after the June 25 meeting.

Harroz wrote that the new budget eliminates a deficit by taking actions he said w ere “painful,” but ultimately necessary.

The budget was approved less than two weeks after a 69-person reduction in force on the Norman campus June 13, and reduced OU’s previous $2.12 billion budget by $100 million.

“One year ago,” Harroz wrote, “we were spending more money than we were taking in at a rate that was unsustainable. Today, a budget has been put in place that ensures our financial health. We have achieved this by honestly and clearly addressing our budget problems. At times, this past year was painful, but the actions we have taken were necessary, and they were done at all times in a way that was meant to

minimize the impact to our mission.”

Harroz wrote that the budget also aimed to help OU “achieve excellence in teaching, research and service.

“A g re a t c o m p re h e n sive, public university provides excellence at a price that does not exclude the most talented because of their economic circumstance,” Harroz wrote. “We continue to make new investments in need-based scholarships, notably the Cr ims on Commitment.

And for the second year in a row, we are holding undergraduate tuition and fees flat.”

Research programs — specifically in quantum technology, air, space and defense, and computer science — will be funded by an $8.3 million provision from the Oklahoma Legislature, Harroz wrote.

O U mu s t c o nt i nu e t o focus its resources to serve its mission, Harroz wrote, and to more efficiently serve students.

“We can approach the coming academic year together with a sense of optimism and excitement, and I want to be clear that a great university is never satisfied. … I believe that the world has never needed the OU spirit — a spirit of optimism and community — more than it does now,” Harroz wrote. “We have to

keep seeing and believing in the possibilities.”

The OU Board of Regents resumed its consideration of OU business June 27, addressing personnel actions, program changes, employee health care plan changes and other agenda items.

Harroz presented his report of OU’s fiscal year 2019 expenditures and awards, including several research awards.

Adjustments were also approved for OU student and employee healthcare plans. Har roz said this change would unify providers across OU campuses.

Blue Cross Blue Shield will serve as the new healthcare provider beginning in January, according to a June 27 OU press release.

The regents then entered into executive session to consider Harroz’s salary — which was approved at $500,000 — as well as administrative and personnel actions related to sports coaches and many other university personnel.

Jones Day’s work complete Following the June 27 meeting, OU Board of Regents Chair L eslie Rainbolt-Forbes told The Daily the board has concluded its work with the Jones Day law firm.

“They’ve made their rep o r t ,” R a i n b o l t- Fo r b e s said. “I’m not aware of any

ongoing work that we’re doing with Jones Day at this time.”

The regents had employed Jones Day to conduct two investigations — one regarding misreporting of alumni donations and another regarding personnel. The university has paid the law firm over $1 million, according to a June 5 report from The Oklahoman.

“Jones Day was only engaged relating to misconduct for one individual,” a university spokesperson told The Daily after the June 27 meeting.

Confirmation that Jones Day is no longer w orking with the regents came two weeks after former OU President David Boren separated from the university June 12, losing his role as president emeritus, any teaching positions and other benefits.

Boren, along with former OU administrator Tripp Hall, has been accused of sexual harassment. The Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation opened its own inquiry in March.

Following Boren’s separation from the university, the regents said his exit concluded the university’s investigation of sexual harassment allegations against him.

Scott Kirker stk@ou.edu

4

NEWS

• August 19, 2019

KATHRYN STACY/THE DAILY

The statue of David Boren outside of the Oklahoma Memorial Union June 12, the day Boren separated from the university.

Boren separates from university

Former president faces investigation, ends affiliation BLAKE DOUGLAS @Blake_Doug918

The legacy of former OU President David Boren, who served as university president for 24 years, has become clouded.

Boren resigned from his position as president emeritus June 12, completely separating from the university.

His resignation came after months of investigation by the university and the Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation into sexual harassment allegations against him.

When he retired a year earlier, Boren was respected. His statue stands outside the student union, and the College of International Studies and Honors College residence hall both bear his name. He is one of Oklahoma’s most wellknown politicians, having served as governor and a U.S. senator for nearly two decades.

But less than a year after Boren’s retirement, two OU graduates made public allegations that have changed Boren’s legacy at the university.

Boren, along with former administrator Tripp

Hall, were publicly accused of sexual harassment in March. Developments regarding those allegations, as well as university investigations and a separate inquiry by the OSBI, have continued throughout the spring and summer.

OU graduate Jess Eddy told NonDoc on March 26 that from late 2010 through 2012 he was repeatedly sexually touched by Boren, and in one instance, former Vice President of University Development Tripp Hall.

On Feb. 14, The Oklahoman had reported OU was employing the Jones Day law firm to investigate claims Boren had harassed male aides. The OU Board of Regents had met Feb. 20 “to discuss personnel investigation(s),” but did not confirm if the investigations were related to sexual harassment allegations.

A university spokesperson told The Daily on March 28 that the OSBI would conduct its own investigation of the allegations. Clark Brewster, Boren’s attorney, said that Boren met with OSBI on April 5, according to a report from The Associated Press.

The OU Board of Regents met in executive session April 9 and received a sixhour briefing from the Jones Day investigators. The Jones Day report was reportedly turned over to OSBI on May 25 after the university

received a state grand jury subpoena.

Eddy received access to a four-page excerpt of the Jones Day report on May 28, which he provided to The Daily and other news organizations. According to the report excerpt, Eddy’s account given in a March 26 interview could be considered “generally credible,” matching with the accounts of six other witnesses.

The excerpt also acknowledged credibility issues stemming from Eddy’s other varying accounts.

“Jones Day determined that Mr. Eddy provided generally reliable information during his second interview with respect to President Boren’s sexual conduct,” according to the report excerpt. “That said, Jones Day acknowledges the credibility issues raised by Mr. Eddy’s varying accounts and his conduct related to the same.

Thus, Jones Day notes that the core findings and conclusions in this report do not rely heavily and certainly not exclusively on Mr. Eddy’s statements.”

As the investigation continued, Boren submitted a resignation letter to the OU Board of Regents June 12, resigning from his position as president emeritus, giving up any teaching position and other benefits. Boren’s attorney, Clark Brewster, said Boren felt it was best if

he stepped away.

The following day, Boren released a statement addressing his resignation.

“I deeply love the University of Oklahoma.

The over 24 years I served at the University were the most rewarding years of my life. I will always be a supporter of the University and care about the university family,” Boren said in the statement.

Boren said he decided to resign to stop further damage to OU and the people involved.

“Last year, I came under a personal attack that was so vicious and relentless that it defied my comprehension,” Boren said in the statement. “As I wrote to the Regents, I felt that it was best to resolve this matter rather than continue a battle which was damaging lives and the University itself.”

In the statement, Boren said he was “tempted” to continue the legal battle to prove his innocence, and continued to deny the allegations. Boren said in the statement he felt it was best to “suggest a resolution to end this divisive and unfair controversy,” and that he has “only the best wishes” for OU moving forward.

OU Board of Regents Chairman Leslie RainboltForbes said Boren’s resignation ended university involvement with the Title IX issue related to Boren.

“David Boren no longer has any relationship going forward with the University as a result of his resignation,” said Leslie RainboltForbes, chairman of the OU Board of Regents. “We have worked very hard to bring to a close the Title IX issue between David Boren and the University of Oklahoma while respecting those individuals involved who desire to maintain their privacy.”

A university spokesperson told The Daily on June 12 there are no plans to remove Boren’s name or likeness from campus, though the decision could be changed pending the results of the OSBI investigation and grand jury proceedings.

Following the June 27 regents meeting RainboltForbes later confirmed the university was no longer employing Jones Day. “They’ve made their report. I’m not aware of any ongoing work that we’re doing with Jones Day at this time,” Rainbolt-Forbes said.

After the June 27 meeting, a university spokesperson told The Daily that Jones Day was only employed “relating to misconduct for one individual.”

OU has paid Jones Day over $1.5 million to conduct two investigations as of July 12, The Oklahoman reported. One inquiry regarded “misconduct” involving university personnel, according

to a university spokesperson, and the other investigated misreported alumni giving numbers that were provided U.S. News & World Report during Boren’s presidency. The latest payment of $376,558 was made June 4.

Eddy received a letter from OU June 20 which described part of the results of the university’s Title IX investigation.

According to the letter, following a thorough review of evidence the university concluded the evidence was “sufficient to substantiate that (Eddy) had been subjected to a hostile working environment.”

The investigation’s outcome was sent to the OU Board of Regents for proper administrative action, according to the letter. A university spokesperson wrote in the letter that while OU had ended its investigation into allegations against Boren, it would continue its investigation of Hall.

The spokesperson said after an individual “voluntarily separates or resigns from OU, the university lacks jurisdiction over the individual, as the maximum sanction that the university can impose on anyone is disassociation with the university.”

Blake Douglas bdoug99@ou.edu

Off-campus CART bus routes to be city-run Students to continue to ride free in Norman SCOTT KIRKER @scott_kirker

Cleveland Area Rapid Transit bus routes, which have been operated by OU since CART’s creation in 1980, will no longer be run solely by the university.

Some routes will be transferred to the city, but riders of the bus routes should see no change for the first year after the transition.

The city will begin to service many of the routes previously operated by CART, while the university will retain operation of four routes on or near OU’s campus.

Kris Glenn, director of parking and transportation at OU, told The Daily in an email on July 10 that students will continue to ride

all Norman and campus bus routes for free.

The university will retain operation of the Lloyd Noble Center shuttle, apartment loop, campus loop and research shuttle — four routes that many students, staff and faculty use as part of their commute.

The LNC shuttle carries riders from the Lloyd Noble Center to campus depot, the bus stop across from the football stadium, while the other three routes the city will retain operate on or near campus.

Earlier in the summer, it had been unclear whether those routes would continue to be run by the university, though the rider experience was likely to remain unchanged.

Shawn O’Leary, director of public works for the city, told The Daily on June 17 that if the city was going to run its own bus system, it would want to run more or

less the entire community, with the possible exception of the Lloyd Noble Shuttle, which accounts for over 50 percent of CART’s total ridership.

The negotiation eventually resulted in OU keeping the four routes it requested to keep.

O’Leary said that EMBARK, the organization that operates the bus transit system and streetcar system in Oklahoma City, will be Norman’s new bus provider for former CART routes run by the city.

The transportation system will not change for users for roughly the first year, O’Leary said.

“We’re going to try to retain all the same routes, all the same times, all the same bus stops, and so on. … The bus might say EMBARK on it instead of CART, but it will be the same kinds of buses, the same kinds of services that are being

provided today—including CARTaccess,” O’Leary said.

CARTaccess is an origin-to-destination service for individuals who are unable to use the regularly scheduled CART bus routes, according to the CART website.

O’Leary said the city has been approaching the issue with short- and long-term goals in mind.

“Short-term,” O’Leary said, “we are determined to not have any break in service and we want to take over the system as soon as the university needs to stop operating it, so we want to scramble and get it transferred over to a new operator. To do that, it was practical to take on exactly what CART had already designed, what they were already doing, and we think that’s easier on the customers, too.”

O’Leary said in a year or more, the city may consider

changes to its operation of Norman routes.

“Once we get established and get our operation settled out,” O’Leary said, “perhaps in a year or so, we’ll have an idea of whether we want to change the routes, change the rates, expand the system, all those sorts of things we’ve heard a lot of feedback about. We just feel like we need a year under our belt before we’re going to be prepared to do that.”

The university will lease part of the Theta Dempsey Transportation Center, which O’Leary said was built about 10 years ago for CART operations. The OU Board of Regents approved a leasing agreement in a June 27 meeting.

The university retained 14 CART drivers, but others were affected by the June 13 reduction in force as a result of the transition. O’Leary said while the city hopes

for former CART drivers affected to be able to work for EMBARK as it takes over operation of Norman routes, the city can’t promise that yet.

Embark employees operate under a union system, while university drivers did not, O’Leary said. This and other differences may make it difficult for drivers previously employed by CART to work for the transit system operated in Norman by EMBARK. “It’s not as easy as saying that EMBARK will just hire these folks here locally and give them the same routes if they’re not allowed to do that under union rules. It’s a little complicated that way, and we as a city don’t want to tell EMBARK how to run the system,” O’Leary said.

Scott Kirker stk@ou.edu

NEWS

August 19, 2019 •

ACADEMIC CALENDAR BEAU ANDERSON // @YouKnowBeau

FALL

Aug. 18 Last day to register before classes begin Aug. 19 Fall classes begin; first day for late registration, fee of $20.00 Oct. 28 - Nov. 22 Advanced registration for next term(s) begins Dec. 6 Final day of full-term fall classes Dec. 13 Final day to complete work for graduation Dec. 16 Winter intersession classes begin Jan. 10 Final day of winter intersession classes Add/Drop Dates Aug. 19 - Dec. 6 Grade of W on complete withdrawal for undergraduate students Aug. 23 Final day to register or add a class without permission of instructor Aug. 30 Final day to add a class. No reduction of charges, no record of grade with dropped class Sept. 30 - Dec. 6 Grade of W or F decided by professor with dropped class Final Exams

Dec. 1 - 8 Final exam preparation period Dec. 9 - 13 Final exams Dec. 17 Final grades due Holidays Sept. 2 Labor Day Nov. 27 - Dec. 1 Thanksgiving vacation

SPRING Jan. 12 Jan. 13 March 30 May 1 May 8 May 11 June 5

Last day to register before classes begin Spring classes begin; first day for late registration, fee of $20.00 Advanced registration for next term(s) begins Final day of full-term spring classes Final day to complete work for graduation Spring intersession classes begin Final day of spring intersession classes

Add/Drop Dates Jan. 13 Grade of W on complete withdrawal for undergraduate students Jan. 17 Final day to register or add a class without permission of instructor Jan. 27 Final day to add a class. No reduction of charges, no record of grade with dropped class Feb. 24 Grade of W or F decided by professor with dropped class Final Exams Apr. 27-May 3 May 4 - 8 May 12

Final exam preparation period Final exams Final grades due

Holidays Jan. 20 May 25 July 4

Martin Luther King Jr. Day Memorial Day Independence Day

KATHRYN STACY/THE DAILY

5

6

SPORTS

• August 19, 2019

2019 OU football predictions OU Daily football coverage team members George Stoia, Caleb McCourry and Vic Reynolds forecast season results HOUSTON Sept. 1

SOUTH DAKOTA Sept. 7

George: Oklahoma’s opening game surely won’t be an easy one. And no one has forgotten what happened the last time these two teams met. But OU should have no problem moving the ball against the Cougars, while Alex Grinch’s new defense will get its first real test. Score: OU 48-24 Caleb: Both OU and Houston have different looks since the Cougars won 33-23 in the 2016 matchup. Bob Stoops was beaten by then-Houston head coach Tom Herman in NRG Stadium in Houston. Lincoln Riley won’t let Cougars head coach Dana Holgorsen do the same in Norman.

Score: OU 56-24 Vic: The Sooners offense will get off to a hot start to begin the season, and Jalen Hurts will establish that he’s capable of commanding Lincoln Riley’s system. Defensively, Alex Grinch and his team might struggle early to handle Cougar quarterback D’eriq King.

Score: OU 49-24

@ UCLA Sept. 14

George: South Dakota is not good, even for an FCS team. The Sooners should run away with this one early and likely never look back. Score: OU 56-3 Caleb: The team that finished with a 3-5 record in the Missouri Valley Football Conference will not do well in Norman.

If the Sooners were to lose to a non-conference foe at the dawn of the season, it’d be against a blue-blood program, with the exception of Army, who almost did the impossible in Norman in the 2018 season. OU had to go to overtime to beat the Black Knights, 28-21. South Dakota won’t do that. Score: OU 56-10 Vic: In what will likely be the least exciting game of the season, Oklahoma will roll over the FCS Coyotes. Score: OU 63-7

TEXAS TECH Sept. 28

George: Oklahoma stomped the Bruins in Norman last year, 49-21. This year should prove to be a tougher challenge for the Sooners. UCLA head coach Chip Kelly has a year under his belt and quarterback Dorian ThompsonRobinson has shown promising flashes. That said, OU should have no problems in Pasadena. Score: OU 45-28 Caleb: A primetime match under the Rose Bowl lights is always exciting, but it won’t change the outcome. UCLA head coach Chip Kelly and the Bruins don’t quite have what it takes to beat the Sooners’ explosive offense and improving defense. Score: OU 56-13 Vic: The Sooners’ marquee non-conference game of the year will likely prove as tense as the 2018 matchup against UCLA. In his second year, UCLA coach Chip Kelly can make improvements to his squad, but the talent gap between the teams will prove too much for the Bruins to handle. Score: OU 52-20

@ KANSAS Oct. 5

George: The Red Raiders have a new coach at the helm in 2019 in Matt Wells, and hope he can turn their program around. A trip to Norman early in the season likely won’t help his cause. Oklahoma has beaten Texas Tech each of the last seven years. This is year shouldn’t be any different.

Score: OU 50-24 Caleb: In recent years, the OU versus Texas Tech matchup is played in the air. Last year, the Sooners beat an explosive air raid offense with statistically the worst pass defense in the nation. Alex Grinch will make sure that reputation doesn’t stick around. If he does, the Red Raiders have no chance. Score: OU 52-16 Vic: The Sooners’ first conference game will be an early test of Alex Grinch’s defense.

Quarterback Alan Bowman shredded Oklahoma in the first half in the teams’ 2018 matchup, and has the potential to do it again. Bowman will impress, but the Sooners’ offense will be too much for Texas Tech. Score: OU 52-28

TEXAS (Dallas) Oct. 12

George: Like Texas Tech, Kansas has a new man in charge — Les Miles. Known for his spontaneous and ambiguous personality, Miles will surely put the Jayhawks in the news, but it may not be for winning. Oklahoma will have to stop running back Pooka Williams, who ran all over the Sooners last year. But if they can semi-contain him, they shouldn’t have any issues. Score: OU 52-14 Caleb: Kansas running back Pooka Williams ran circles around the Sooners last season — 252 rushings yards and two touchdowns in Norman. But that’s the only thing the Jayhawks have going for them. It’ll take more than one star and a new head coach in Les Miles to beat the Sooners. Score: OU 48-13 Vic: Kansas is looking to rebuild behind new coach Les Miles, but it will take the Jayhawks at least a few years to establish their program. Miles has one of the least-talented teams in the conference, and the Sooners will dominate the game on both sides of the ball. Score: OU 55-14

WEST VIRGINIA Oct. 19

George: This is widely considered the toughest game on OU’s schedule. The Longhorns are fresh off an impressive Sugar Bowl win over Georgia and return most notably their quarterback Sam Ehlinger. These two will likely meet in the Big 12 Championship in December, too. I’ll take the Sooners in a close one. Score: OU 42-38 Caleb: Easily OU’s toughest regular season matchup. The Longhorns have returning star power in sophomore quarterback Sam Ehlinger and senior wide receiver Collin Johnson, but OU defensive coordinator Alex Grinch just needs to make stops the Sooners couldn’t make last year in Texas’ 48-45 Red River win. It’ll be doable. Score: OU 42-28 Vic: Oklahoma’s first battle against elite competition will come at the Cotton Bowl. The Longhorns boast the conference’s best defense and possibly the best player with quarterback Sam Ehlinger. Ehlinger shredded the Sooners in both 2018 matchups, and he will lead Texas to its second consecutive Golden Hat. Score: Texas 31-27

@ KANSAS STATE Oct. 26

George: The Mountaineers will not be nearly as good as last year, despite the addition of former Sooner quarterback Austin Kendall. West Virginia loses the majority of its production on the offensive side of the ball and no longer has offensive guru Dana Holgerson at the helm.

Score: OU 49-21 Caleb: WVU’s star quarterback Will Grier is now in the NFL. Head coach Dana Holgorsen left for Houston. The addition of Oklahoma backup quarterback Austin Kendall is helpful, though. It’s still not enough to win in Norman.

Score: OU 42-21 Vic: Former Sooner quarterback Austin Kendall will be under center for West Virginia in this matchup, and he will struggle in his return to Norman. With a new head coach, a transfer QB and losing multiple skill position players from last season, the Mountaineers won’t be able to keep up. Score: OU 52-17

IOWA STATE Nov. 9

George: Another Big 12 team with a new head coach.

Bill Snyder is gone, which means there’s likely little chance for upset here. That plus the Wildcats being poor on the recruiting trail the last few years, should make this an easy road trip. Score: OU 48-14 Caleb: With Dan Snyder gone, it’ll be hard for a first-year coach to take down the reigning Big 12 champs. The Wildcats will most likely end the regular season with one of the worst records in the conference. This is an easy Oklahoma win. Score: OU 42-13 Vic: Kansas State was voted by the media to finish ninth in the Big 12, and they will likely reside near the bottom of the standings all season. The Wildcats offense struggled to put up points against a weak Oklahoma defense in 2018, and it will be the same this year. Score: OU 48-13

@ BAYLOR Nov. 16

George: Most people are pretty high on Iowa State as a dark horse to win the Big 12, with head coach Matt Campbell and quarterback Brock Purdy both back for the Cyclones.

Not me. Losing both David Montgomery and Hakeem Butler on offense could prove detrimental to the Cyclones.

Score: OU 42-28 Caleb: Iowa State head coach Matt Campbell is one of the more impressive coaches in the Big 12 who isn’t named Lincoln Riley. The last time he and the Cyclones came to Norman, they performed one of the most surprising upsets in recent memory. That won’t happen this year. They’ve lost a few key offensive tools — especially Hakeem Butler — and it’ll hurt in Norman. It’ll still be a good game, though. Score: OU 45-35 Vic: The Cyclones have some preseason buzz, with many people seeing them as the clear third place team behind Oklahoma and Texas. They have the pieces for a competitive team, but losing the production of running back David Montgomery and wide receiver Hakeem Butler will be difficult to overcome. Score: OU 49-34

TCU Nov. 23

George: This, in my opinion, is OU’s toughest game on the schedule. Matt Rhule has the Bears heading in the right direction and has Charlie Brewer, one of the most underrated quarterbacks in the country, leading his offense. The Sooners will have to bring their A-game to Waco if they want to leave with a win. Score: OU 45-38 Caleb: A Baylor home crowd always helps, but the Sooners will win this game. Though Matt Rhule has improved the Bears immensely, he’ll have to wait longer than his third year at the helm of the Baylor program to beat the Sooners. Score: OU 45-24 Vic: Baylor won seven games in 2018, which was a six win improvement from 2017. As is the case with much of the Big 12, the Bears will throw out a quality offense and a weak defense. Lincoln Riley’s crew will be able to score points with ease, but the Waco home crowd will help keep it a close game. Score: OU 42-35

@ OSU Nov. 30

George: The Horned Frogs are never an easy challenge, and this year likely won’t be any different. Gary Patterson has his defense looking as good as ever, but needs a quarterback to lead the offense. This will be one of the better defenses OU faces this season. Score: OU 42-24 Caleb: This game will be one of Oklahoma’s toughest defenses to face. The Horned Frogs finished 24th in the FBS in total defense in 2018 and their dominance won’t go away this season under head coach Gary Patterson, but TCU’s offense will lag. The Sooners don’t have Kyler Murray, but Lincoln Riley and Jalen Hurts will still pull through just fine. Score: OU 45-24 Vic: TCU’s Gary Patterson has proven over the years to be one of the conference’s best coaches. In 2019, the Horned Frogs have one of the conference’s stronger defenses and an elite receiving threat in Jalen Reagor. But the Sooners will prevail comfortably behind a steady offensive attack. Score: OU 38-24

George: A trip to Stillwater is always a tall task. Mike Gundy’s team is always ready for Bedlam, just see last year for reference. The Sooners will have to try to slow down Tylan Wallace and Oklahoma State’s high-powered offense.

If they can do that, they should have no problem with their in-state rival. Score: OU 52-35 Caleb: No matter what quarterback the team has, OSU wide receiver Tylan Wallace will make catches. He tallied 220 yards and two touchdowns against the Sooners in 2018.

If the Sooners contain him just a little, they have good odds to win this years’ Bedlam bragging rights. Mike Gundy’s offense will still keep it close, though. Score: OU 42-35 Vic: This year’s Bedlam will not be as exciting as 2018’s dramatic shootout, but it will be a competitive game nonetheless. The Cowboys’ duo of running back Chuba Hubbard and wide receiver Tylan Wallace will cause problems for the Sooners, but Oklahoma’s offense will overpower the Pokes. Score: OU 49-31

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SPORTS

August 19, 2019 •

AUSTIN CARRIERE/THE DAILY

CAITLYN EPES/THE DAILY

7

JORDAN MILLER/THE DAILY

Left to right: Defensive coordinator Alex Grinch, head coach Lincoln Riley and senior quarterback Jalen Hurts.

Riley reloads with QB, coaches Defensive staff, offensive leader join Sooners CALEB MCCOURRY @CalebMac21

Lincoln Riley needed to rebuild.

Oklahoma’s defense, one of the worst statistically in college football, was consistently bailed out in 2018 by an offense that finished the season averaging 570.3 yards per game — the best in the nation — and a sensational Kyler Murray, the 2018 Heisman Trophy winner and the eventual No. 1 overall pick in the 2019 NFL Draft. Murray will be the Arizona Cardinals’ starting quarterback come fall.

B u t n o t e v e n Mu r ra y could save the defens e against Texas in October.

Murray threw for 304 yards and accumulated five total touchdowns. He prompted the Sooners offense to score 21 in the fourth quarter. It didn’t matter.

Even with explosive offensive numbers, Oklahoma was so far behind they lost 48-45 after a crunch-time Longhorn field goal. Defensive coordinator Mike Stoops was fired following the blunder. Ruffin McNeill moved up from his position as Oklahoma’s defensive tackles coach to take over as defensive coordinator.

But there’s only so much a n e w c o o rd i n a t o r c a n bring to the table halfway through the season. The defense continued to lag behind.

When the Sooners faced Alabama in the College Football Playoff, the Crimson Tide scored 28

points before the ten-minute mark in the second quarter. Riley’s unstoppable offensive mind needed an equalizer on the other side of the ball.

Riley needed new pieces.

In the offseason, he gathered several that have the potential to put OU on top.

Riley looked to former Ohio State co-defensive coordinator Alex Grinch.

Grinch spent one year at Ohio State before being named Oklahoma’s latest defensive coordinator. He was Washington State’s defensive coordinator for two seasons (2015-17), where he coached the Cougar’s from an abysmal 97th in total defense to 16th by the time he left for Columbus, Ohio.

Grinch brought along Brian Odom — who spent the last two seasons as Missouri’s outside linebackers coach — as the Sooners’ inside linebackers coach and former UCLA outside linebackers coach Roy Manning, who w ill coach Oklahoma’s corners.

Odom and Manning both worked under Grinch at Washington State.

Another offseason concern was Riley’s offense — more specifically, Murray declaring for the 2019 NFL Draft. Murray is an exceptional talent who won the Heisman Trophy behind his 5,362 total yards and 54 touchdowns in his lone season as the starter in Oklahoma’s backfield.

And Mur ray’s per formance came just a year after Browns quarterback Baker Mayfield won the previous Heisman Trophy for the Sooners. By securing the transfer of former Alabama star quarterback Jalen Hurts, Riley may have

been able to fill their shoes and complete a trifecta.

With his defensive coaching hires and Hurts, Riley arguably had his best offseason to date. Meet Riley’s newest additions.

Alex Grinch Grinch brings two things to the Sooners: Tough love and “Speed D.” In an April inter view, Grinch let the media know that he doesn’t want his players to forget their m i s t a k e s. T h e 2 0 1 8 - 1 9 Oklahoma defense finished the season ranked No. 129 in passing defense — dead last in the nation. Grinch wants his returning players to never forget it.

“We’re 129th out of 129 t e a m s v e r s u s t h e p a s s.

Believe me, if I could get it tattooed on every single one of them, I would,” Grinch said. “Because that’s something if we don’t get corrected, we’re gonna have major, major issues.”

Grinch has yet to say anything positive about his defense — he is always seeing room for improvement. In his first year as a Sooner, Grinch is taking a step back and looking at his players.

Every spot is up for grabs.

“I told the guys the other day, don’t ever say you never had the chance to play at Oklahoma,” Grinch said. “Because right now, whether you’re a walk-on, or you thought you were just gonna get a jersey and a couple square meals on a Friday before a game, you got a chance to get reps out here and you better take advantage of it.”

Grinch brings “Speed D,” a scheme that emphasizes the art of the turnover.

There’s only one goal: Go

for the football as if ywwou’re playing downhill.

Interceptions, strip-sacks, punching the ball out, anything to get the ball back.

The aggressive playstyle is meant to cause unease for the offense while trying to put the ball back into the hands of the Sooners.

It seems like a straightforward tactic, but to Grinch, it’s a science. And he’s done the math to quantify one number: 24.

Learning from his 17year career as a coach, Grinch says that teams who reach 24 turnovers in a season will get nine wins. The Sooners have forced only 27 turnovers since 2015.

Grinch plans to change that, and the attitude is catching on.

“One thing we’ve really harped on: effort and getting the ball. When you have 11 guys on the ball, it’s hard (for the offense) because even if you have one guy miss a tackle, you got 10 other guys there,” s o p h o m o re l i n e b a c k e r Levi Draper said. “Then, turnovers is obviously one thing we emphasize for sure. When you’re around the ball, first guy has to wrap up and the second guy strips it.”

Jalen Hurts In his Oklahoma debut in the annual spring game in April, Hurts threw his first touchdown pass as a Sooner: a 6-yard throw to running back Kennedy Brooks.

As a celebration, Hurts and his teammates posed in the end zone for a photo — a celebration he believes he wouldn’t have been able to do at his old school.

“I told (then-sophomore

tackle Adrian) Ealy, ‘yeah, I ain’t doing that at the other place, at Alabama.”

Hurts said. “It’s a fun atmosphere, I figured, why not?

I know with my old coach, coach (Nick) Saban, I probably would’ve got a chewing for that one.”

Hurts threw for 141 yards and a touchdown on 9-of12 passing. The Jalen Hurts era had officially begun.

The transfer quarterback spent the last three seasons in Tuscaloosa, Alabama.

He’s a national champion, a 2016 First Team All-SEC member and a two-time SEC Championship winner. He’s accumulated a college career 26-2 record.

He has one more year to add on to the accolades.

In 2016, Hurts was put into the limelight as a true freshman, the first true freshman to start for Alabama in over 30 years.

Hurts threw for 2,780 yards and 23 touchdowns, and rushed for 954 yards and 13 touchdowns. He led the Crimson Tide to the 2017 National Championship, where they lost to the C lems on Tigers, led by now-Houston Texans quarterback Deshaun Watson, 35-31.

Hurts would go on to lead Alabama to another CFP National Championship in 2018, a rematch against Clemson. Hurts was benched at halftime, and was replaced by then-true freshman Tua Tagovailoa, who would go on to win the game with a walk-off 41yard pass to wide receiver DeVonta Smith.

Ta g o v a i l o a w o n t h e starting role in the 201819 season and Hurts got limited playing time as a junior, but Hurts still ca m e u p c l u t c h. In t h e

2019 SEC Championship game against Georgia, Hurts came in for an injured Tagovailoa to push the Crimson Tide to a 35-28 victory and win the SEC. Alabama would advance to the 2019 National Championship and lose to Clemson, 44-16. With limited playing time, it was Hurts’ last game at Alabama. Not wanting to spend his last season behind Tagovailoa, who is going into his junior year, Hurts announced his transfer to Oklahoma on Jan. 16. He’s been a leader ever since he arrived in Norman.

“The first day he fit right in. We listened to what he had to say,” junior cornerback Tre Brown said after t h e Ap r i l s p r i n g g a m e.

“He’s been part of Alabama and what they’ve got going on over there. He’s a leader and they build leaders (at Alabama). (The transition) hasn’t been tough at all for him.”

Hurts could do something special for Oklahoma.

As a seasoned vet, he has an opportunity to lead one of the nation’s best offenses while the team’s defense has a chance to restructure itself under Grinch. Murray and Mayfield both had to carry their defenses to the finish line, but Hurts and the offense could flourish while the defense can possibly hold its own.

“There’s never been really anything that’s been in my way that I couldn’t overcome or see through,” Hurts said at a March press conference. “I’m here. I’m going to do whatever I can to help this team in whatever way to achieve the things see NEW ADDITIONS page 9

8•

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SPORTS

August 19, 2019 •

9

KATHRYN STACY/THE DAILY

Head coach Lincoln Riley speaks at Big 12 Media Days July 15. This fall will be Riley’s third season as head coach.

Riley discusses offseason change OU head coach shares thoughts at Big 12 Media Days VIC REYNOLDS @vicareynolds

at all. Not updated at all.

That’s a process that our school takes very seriously and we leave that to the people that their job is to handle that, and when they do we take it from there.”

On how players are adjusting to the new defensive system under defensive coordinator Alex Grinch

ARLINGTON, Texas — Oklahoma coach Lincoln Riley addressed the media in a press conference July “I think for us it was first 15 at Big 12 Media Days at in spring football getting a AT&T Stadium. Here’s what baseline of schematically Riley had to say: what we wanted to do and more importantly starting On new faces on the to understand the mentalioffensive side of the ty that we want to play with ball “A lot of new faces on the defensively, and I think Alex offensive side of the foot- (Grinch) and his staff have ball with obviously having done a great job setting the a new quarterback this year, foundation with that for our four new offensive linemen, players.

“When you get to summer but (we) return quite a few you only get eight hours a skilled guys around those players. Should be a great week with these guys, which year. We’re very, very ex- is not very much. So they’ve cited about it and looking got to know what they need forward to a new challenge to work on, so a lot of spring with a new group, but that’s for us was educating them one of the best parts about on things we need to do to coaching college football. get better. You can’t get it all Thankful for the opportu- done at once, it is a step-bynity to coach at this place step process and we do have and a chance to do it at one to get better at it each day.

“But I think our guys had of the great conferences in a good concept of the things America.” they needed to improve on from a mentality standOn Kennedy Brooks point and physical standbeing reinstated to the team after Title IX point and learning and understanding schematically investigation “Referring back to the what we want to do. I think s t a t e m e n t w e p u t o u t , it’s a process. I think it’s a Kennedy was reinstated hungry group. There are a back to the team late last lot of guys that have played week. He’s back full-go a lot of ball and they’re with our guys. During the eager to play their very best process I was not involved ball.”

NEW ADDITIONS: continued from page 7

we want to achieve as a team.”

Even though it’s his last season in college football, Hurts said he isn’t done making an impact.

“They always say the moment you stop getting those butterflies or those feelings before a game, you should stop playing,” Hurts said.

“That time ain’t coming any time soon.”

Brian Odom Oklahoma inside linebackers coach Brian Odom is a national champion.

The Ada, Oklahoma,

native played running back for the 2000 Oklahoma national championship team.

Odom and Hurts are the only people on the team, coach and player, to know what it’s like to be at the top of the college football world.

He’s ready to bring that feeling back to Oklahoma.

“It’s a tremendous honor to step back in this building and be a part of this program,” Odom said at a press conference on Jan. 20.

“There’s obvious sentimental value to walking these halls and putting on this logo. But at the end of the day we’re here to do a job and I’m excited about doing this job.”

Odom worked under Grinch as a defensive quali t y c o nt ro l a s s i s t a nt at Washington State, and has already adopted Grinch’s

On how transfer Jalen Hurts has adjusted to learning a new scheme

of Oklahoma and then the Metroplex and those are absolutely critical for us, for the distance, the number of games that we play here each year, the talent, the coaching that you get here in the Metroplex area.

We devote a lot of our resources to this area, a lot of our coaches are here many, many days throughout the year. We’ve got a good familiarity and trust with the coaches in this area, so a lot of respect for this area. We have had so many of our great players have come from here and we certainly hope that can continue.”

“It’s certainly been different. He brings game experience that Baker and Kyler did not have when they got here, but also doesn’t have as much experience in the system. It has been quicker but it’s been fun. He’s been eager. There have been things that we do that he’s been able to trace back kind of the roots to different things that he’s done at Alabama or even in high school. So it’s not like you’re starting from scratch. It’s a fun process. He’s a smart kid. He’s eager and works On the season opener very hard at it, and we have against Houston “Houston is a really good meshed together well.” football team. Has been a really good program for the On if he thinks his last several years, have a lot offense will perform of respect for the players worse than in 2018, and if the defense can they have, one of the best returning quarterbacks make up for that “We don’t plan on the of- in the country, without a fense dipping. The second doubt, and a lot of talented part of that, we definitely players around him. I’ve got expect our defense to be a ton of respect for Coach better. I don’t think there is Holgorsen. We have known any doubt. That’s why we each other for a long time. have recruited as hard as we We’ve coached against each have. That’s why we made other here for a number of the changes on the coach- years. He does a tremendous job. He has at all the ing staff that we’ve made.” stops, and I am sure he will do so at Houston. I’m sure On why he and his it will be a tough opener for staff recruit so many us.” players from the

Dallas area

“It’s a critical area for us and it has been historically and even maybe more so in the last few years. It’s almost like our s e cond home base, really, the state

aggressive defens e. He helped Grinch coach the Cougars to No. 16 in total defense. Odom is looking to bring Washington State’s defensive success and aggression to Norman.

“These guys are going to be attacking the ball downhill,” Odom said. “That’s going to be the phrase that we’re going to use quite a bit. We’re playing downhill. … We want guys to be free, to go out and play as fast as they possibly can, play as violent as they possibly can and play relentless in each and every snap.”

Odom said he’s only looking forward coming into the new season.

“From this point moving forward it’s a complete clean slate. Whatever happened in the past happened. Our job is to move forward and get

not letting it set in and for returning guys. Not assuming it’s going to happen because it did before, and for new guys not assuming it’s going to happen because the players did it before, when I wasn’t there. It’s a new team, a new challenge.

I think the expectations and standard of Oklahoma football are so high that it almost helps a little bit in a funny way. It almost helps you refocus in that, yeah, the last four were great, but what about the fifth one?

That’s the mindset around the program. I think we’ve got a good culture. I think our guys understand and have a healthy respect for how difficult each and every championship has been, each and ever y win has been. We have had to play our tails off and coach our tails off to get it done, and that’s how it should be in the Big 12 and to make another run will be just as difficult if not more difficult and it will take everything we have.”

On quarterback Austin Kendall transferring to West Virginia

“I was always going to let him go to West Virginia.

That was no issue. That’s part of these new rules is we can’t restrict them from going anywhere. My contention was I had a concern On dealing with about a player being able to expectations after transfer and be immediaterepeated conference ly eligible the very next year in our league. I don’t think and national success “That’s always a chal- that’s healthy for the league. lenge. It’s complacency, I n t h e e n d , I t h i n k m y

this group as good as we can possibly get in order to win ball games, and that’s what we’re going to do. That’s all we’re concerned about and that’s going to be our charge.”

Roy Manning Cornerbacks coach Roy Manning has a big challenge ahead: entering a league of tough air-raid offenses and transforming a cornerback squad that finished last in all of college football against the pass.

Manning is up for the test.

“I don’t want to shy away from challenges. I’m glad that we are in this conference,” Manning said at a press conference in January.

“There’s no hiding. (The air raid) is really the way of offense now. In college

football … they throw the ball around a ton.”

Manning spent last season coaching outside linebackers at UCLA. The last time he coached corners was in 2014 at Michigan, where the team finished at No. 19 in the FBS in passing yards allowed. He coached Washington State’s linebackers on a defense that finished the 2017 season at No. 16 in total defense.

But the Sooners need help in a specific category: defense against the pass.

Oklahoma allowed an average of 294 yards a game, something Grinch is trying to fix in Norman. He brought along Manning to do the job.

Manning played at linebacker at Michigan for four years before joining the Green Bay Packers as an undrafted free agent. He spent three years in the NFL before

personal relationship with Austin and his family, the fact that he took a chance and came out to Oklahoma when I first got there, the fact that I was kind of with him every step of the way, I think the personal side of it overtook maybe more the business side of it from my head and my views on it haven’t changed. I still don’t really agree with it but I realize in that moment I wanted to do the best thing for the kid and I couldn’t get past the personal side of it.”

On the Big 12’s reputation for highscoring offenses

“I think there will always be really good offenses in this league. I do. But I think the league will continue to evolve. I think there are too many good coaches, too many good players, too many programs that maybe had been down for a few years that are showing a lot of promise right now.

You could name several right now off the bat in this league. I think it’s healthy for the league. I think great offense will be played in this league. I think great defense will be played in this league and I think the future for this league is as bright as any league in the country. I really do.”

Vic Reynolds

victor.reynolds@ou.edu

becoming a coach, where he’s coached three different positions.

“You love the versatility he brings to your staff, and he obviously has ties with Coach Grinch from their time together,” Riley said in a press release announcing Roy Manning’s hire. “Those guys have a great working relationship and familiarity that I think is really important in this scenario. Roy’s got a great personality and I think he’s going to be a dynamic coach for us.”

Caleb McCourry

caleb.a.mccourry-1@ou.edu

10

SPORTS

• August 19, 2019

Lamb sets sights on Biletnikoff Wide receiver aims for success among strong Big 12 field VIC REYNOLDS @vicareynolds

ARLINGTON, Texas — Among the abundance of media, players and coaches roaming the field of AT&T Stadium on July 15 at Big 12 Media Days were three wide receivers that will play key roles in maintaining the Big 12’s reputation of elite passing attacks: Oklahoma’s CeeDee Lamb, Oklahoma State’s Tylan Wallace and TCU’s Jalen Reagor.

The Biletnikoff Award is given to the nation’s best wide receiver annually, and since 2007, a Big 12 receiver has won it seven times. Only two players won the award twice in that span — Texas Tech’s Michael Crabtree in 2007 and 2008, and Oklahoma State’s Justin Blackmon in 2010 and 2011. In six of those years, two of the three finalists were from Big 12 schools. In 2008, all three were from Big 12 schools.

The Big 12 produces elite wideout prospects year in and year out. According to Oklahoma coach Lincoln Riley, there’s not one simple answer why. He said the blossoming of wide receivers throughout the conference is the result of multiple factors.

“I think the different offensive minds in this conference have attracted great wide receivers, really good quarterback play has attracted it and they are put in systems to where they can maximize

their talents,” Riley said. “It’s been a historic run in the Big 12 for receivers. There’s a lot of household names and I’m sure there’s going to be some names that no one is talking about right now that will establish themselves next year.

“You feel like every week in the Big 12 you have to cover an elite receiver. It’s every single week.”

One of the Big 12’s elite receivers that Riley does not have to worry about covering is the Sooners’ own Lamb.

Going into his junior year, Lamb will finally have the opportunity to be the top receiving target for a prolific Oklahoma offense.

As a true freshman, Lamb emerged as a solid target for 2017 Heisman Trophy winner Baker Mayfield. He hauled in 46 catches for 807 yards, which ranked third on the team in both categories. His seven receiving touchdowns tied for second on the team.

His performance earned him a spot on ESPN’s Freshman All-American Team.

Lamb made leaps in his sophomore year in nearly every category, upping his stats to 65 catches for 1,158 yards and 11 touchdowns. He capped off his season with a spectacular performance in Oklahoma’s 45-34 Orange Bowl loss to Alabama with eight receptions, 109 yards and a touchdown. But Lamb was still widely seen as the second option behind First Team All-American Marquise “Hollywood” Brown.

With Brown gone to the NFL — drafted by the Baltimore Ravens with the No. 25 pick — Lamb is the presumptive top receiver for graduate transfer

KATHRYN STACY/THE DAILY

Junior wide receiver CeeDee Lamb speaks with reporters during Big 12 Media Days July 15.

Jalen Hurts. Lamb was named to the preseason All-Big 12 Team, and he’s ready to take on a bigger role.

“I’m obviously more focused on my leadership role and trying to be successful in every part of the game,” Lamb said. “That’s when it comes to blocking, being in the film room or even just running routes. It’s all about bettering myself every day.”

Lamb said that winning the Biletnikoff is a goal of his for 2019. But before even looking to other wideouts outside of the Big 12, Lamb had some stiff competition at Big 12 Media Days on July 15 as Wallace and Reagor represented their own schools.

Wallace was one of three finalists for the Biletnikoff in 2018 and had more receptions, yards and touchdowns

than Lamb. Reagor had more receptions, but less yards and touchdowns than Lamb.

Lamb said he enjoys playing in a conference with multiple elite peers, but he doesn’t let what his opponents do affect him.

“At the end of the day it’s just me competing against myself,” Lamb said. “During the preseason, I would never use someone else to motivate

me. All the work I’m putting in during the preseason will show itself during the season.”

Wallace and Reagor both have different mindsets about the Big 12’s loaded receiver group. Wallace actively enjoys the competition and comparisons between the different stars, and even said thinking about his opponents motivates him to work harder.

“It’s definitely fun (to play against other elite receivers),” Wallace said. “I mean, going out there you just never know what kind of stats the other guys are going to put up. So it’s just fun to compete and see where you end up ranking and to see how one guy does compared to the others. Just being out there and really going at it every week.”

Reagor takes a different approach from Wallace. He said he never thinks about what other players are doing and only focuses on himself in order to succeed, because he’s friends with other receivers around the conference.

“CeeDee and Tylan are my friends,” Reagor said. “Seeing them succeed is what I want for everybody. I don’t wish bad on anyone. That’s why I don’t worry about stuff like ‘Who’s the best receiver?’

We’re all good.”

So, who is the best wide receiver in the Big 12? It depends on who you ask.

“Me.” Lamb said.

“Nah, I’m gonna have to go with me.” Wallace said.

Reagor took a safer approach to the question.

“I don’t concern myself with that.”

Vic Reynolds

victor.reynolds@ou.edu

Grinch’s defensive transition smooth, DE says New coordinator motivates Sooners to get turnovers TARIK MASRI

@TarikM_Official

Redshirt senior defensive end Neville Gallimore said July 15 at Big 12 Media Days that the transition to coach Alex Grinch’s system has been smooth.

Many were wondering how the defense would respond to the arrival of

Oklahoma coach Alex Grinch in January. Grinch has been constantly reminding the Sooners’ defense of their poor performance during the 201819 season, but Gallimore says it’s just what the team needs.

“I love it. I’m not really a fan of the people that are always gonna tell me how great of a job I’m doing,” Gallimore said. “You need someone who’s gonna give you constructive criticism, somebody who’s gonna tell you when it’s right and when it’s wrong, tell you

when it’s wrong.”

Gallimore says that the new system Grinch has implemented hasn’t changed their training physically as much as it has mentally.

“Just adding that extra sauce, that mentality just to ever y down play like i t ’s you r l a st, s e l l ou t,” Gallimore said. “It’s a defense that’ll make you or break you. It’s an eff o r t- b a s e d d e f e n s e . I t shows when you’re flying around the ball.”

Gallimore was named an honorable mention to the All-Big 12 team during the

2018-19 season after recording 50 total tackles including 5.5 tackles for loss, three sacks and two forced fumbles.

Easily missed in the crowds of media day, the redshirt senior stood alongside All-Big 12 teammates like junior wide reciever CeeDee Lamb, redshirt sophomore center Creed Humphrey and junior linebacker Kenneth Murray.

Gallimore had received some buzz the previous week after being named No. 2 on Bruce Feldman’s

annual college football “freak” list. Despite this, the veteran defensive lineman knows he still has a lot to prove on the football field.

“I haven’t done anything yet. Those numbers are great but there’s 10 other athletes in this conference who could probably bench more than I do and aren’t getting the recognition that I do,” Gallimore said.

“At the end of the day, it’s about football, and whatever I have to do to take that next step I’m gonna do it. Now it’s just about

showing it on the field.”

With just over a month remaining until the season begins, Gallimore and the rest of the S o oners defense seem excited for the chance to showcase Grinch’s new defensive system.

The Oklahoma defense will face its first test on Sept. 1 against Houston.

Tarik Masri

tarikmasri1@ou.edu

Humphrey steps up after 4 linemen drafted Sophomore center says challenge is ‘gonna be fun’ JORDAN GLEDHILL @J_gled

Creed Humphrey stood at the Big 12 Media Days in Arlington, Texas, as the only returnee from 2018’s Joe Moore Award-winning offensive line.

The redshirt sophomore center had watched fellow linemen Cody Ford, Bobby Evans, Dru Samia and Ben Powers go off the board in the first four rounds of April’s NFL Draft, marking the first time since the draft shortened to seven rounds in 1994 that a program has had four offensive linemen taken in the first four rounds of a single draft.

A year ago, Humphrey had been fresh off his redshirt season and was prepared to be the lone new face among four veteran starters on the OU offensive line — a line which had the job of protecting, among others, star quarterback Kyler Murray in the backfield. Now, Humphrey

I enjoy being the leader.”

Outside of much of the the offensive line, the offense saw the departure of Heisman Trophy winner Kyler Murray, star wide receiver Marquise Brown and running back Rodney Anderson. Early success from expected starter Jalen Hurts, a transfer from Alabama, in Lincoln Riley’s high-powered offense will certainly have some level of dependence on the performance of the Humphrey-led offensive line.

The challenge going forward is evident on the depth chart, but it’s a challenge that Humphrey said he and the fellow linemen have recognized and are ready to take on.

“You don’t come to the University of Oklahoma not ready to accept that c h a l l e n g e ,” Hu m p h r e y said. “We’ve always put out KATHRYN STACY/THE DAILY great offensive lines and Sophomore offensive lineman Creed Humphrey speaks with reporters during Big 12 Media Days July 15. great offensive linemen and they’re expecting the has the most blocking ex- into the leadership role Hu mp h re y d e s c r i b e d everybody was leaving, I exact same thing.” perience on the line. He w i t h c o n f i d e n c e . N e w himself as a “natural lead- was like, ‘Okay, that’s fine,’” will be looked to as the starters in the trenches er,” going back to his days Humphrey said. “It’s just Jordan Gledhill leader of a corps that will does not mean establish- as a four-star recruit at gonna be a new challenge Jordan.R.Gledhill-1@ou.edu see four new starters. ing camaraderie will be an Shawnee High School. for me, it’s gonna be fun. I Humphrey has stepped issue, Humphrey said.

“Whenever I found out enjoy doing things like this,

SPORTS

August 19, 2019 •

11

Team spikes under Gray-Walton Volleyball coach seeks 20 wins in second season JORDAN GLEDHILL @J_gled

The honeymoon phase has worn off.

OU volleyball head coach Lindsey Gray-Walton led the Sooners to 17 wins in her first year in 2018, ten more than the team was able to garner in 2017 and the program’s highest total since 2014. Heading into 2019, the program is set to return, among others, a trio of reigning All-Big 12 selections from a core that held Big 12 opponents to a conference-low .189 hitting percentage.

But, as Gray-Walton described it a month before she begins her second season at Oklahoma, the honeymoon phase that comes with being a first-year head coach has indeed worn off.

Just a year removed from one of the worst seasons in program history based on record, the Sooners will enter the 2019 season with revitalized outward expectations and internally, not as a response to outside predictions, have set the bar at 20 wins.

“We feel like a 20-win season is where we need to be,” Gray-Walton said. “(Adding three wins to last year’s total) is the really difficult part. ... The attention to detail has been turned up by each of our kids and now upperclassmen are the majority of them.

“Now we just need to go out and execute at a high level.”

Gray-Walton certainly has a familiarity with programs that execute at a high level.

The Olathe, Kansas native spent eight years as a recruiting coordinator and assistant coach to Craig Skinner at the University of Kentucky, where she helped lead the Wildcats to the postseason in each of those years including a program-record 29-3 record in 2017.

The coaching duo of Skinner, the winningest coach in Kentucky history, and GrayWalton led the No. 4 overall Wildcats to an Elite Eight appearance in the 2017 NCAA Tournament.

That same year, as GrayWalton was name d the American Volleyball Coaches Association national assistant coach of the year, a different story was brewing in Norman.

The Sooners’ largely forgettable 2017 season ended on senior night against TCU with the blow of a fourth consecutive sweep.

A regressing Oklahoma volleyball program — at least in terms of record — had reached its low point, finishing the campaign with a 7-22 overall record and 4-12 mark in Big 12 play.

An NCAA Tournament appearance had never seemed so far out of reach for a program that had followed up five consecutive 20 win seasons from 2010-14 with three straight losing campaigns from 2015-17. Following the TCU loss on November 25, head coach Santiago Restrepo resigned on November 28. It marked the end of a 14-year era and the beginning of the search for the volleyball program’s next leader.

During the process, Skinner received a phone call. The Sooners were interested in hiring Gray-Walton as their next head coach.

“You’re getting someone that works hard, is very competitive, has great energy,” Skinner recalls telling OU, “and if that’s what you’re looking for then you’re gonna get a great coach in (Gray-Walton).”

Skinner told The Daily that Gray-Walton’s ability to persist and balance life’s demands continue to make her successful.

“When you prove that you can recruit and you can manage your family life and personal life and coaching, the daily grind it requires, then over weeks, years, months you’re able to do that then

THE ARTISTS BIBLE FROM MOSAICS TO GRAPHIC NOVELS HIST 1573-001

you’re prepared for the next step,” Skinner said.

On Dec. 24, 2017, it was made official. OU Athletic Director Joe Castiglione announced he hiring of GrayWalton as the next head coach, remarking her “remarkable background” as a student-athlete, teacher, recruiter and motivator in a statement at the time.

“She’s highly respected and lauded throughout the profession… We’re confident she’s the right person at the right time to lead Oklahoma volleyball,” Castiglione said in the statement.

The announcement of Gray-Walton’s hiring was perhaps the pinnacle of GrayWalton’s young coaching career. Just ten years into her climb up the coaching ranks, Gray-Walton assumed a head coaching role for one of the nation’s most respected athletic institutions.

With current OU coaches Lincoln Riley, Patty Gasso, Mark Williams and K .J. Kindler seemingly in contention for national titles year after year in their respective sports, Gray-Walton understands the prestige of OU Athletics and forsees the process of building a gold-standard program.

“It’s not going to happen in a year, it’s not going to happen in three but as you build the layers and you build an identity that is (what) you’re able to fall back on,” Gray-Walton said. “I think that is something that is started here. Without even an appearance in the postseason there were layers definitely laid this past season that will help us build and build quickly and we’re excited about that.

“There’s just so much opportunity.”

As she continues to take on the opportunity of coaching at Oklahoma, Gray-Walton brings with her a love for the game that has lasted all the way back to her playing days at Georgia Tech. Sharon Gray, Gray-Walton’s mother, said

KATHRYN STACY\THE DAILY

Sophomore Kylee McLaughlin sets the ball on Oct. 10 against the Red Raiders.

Gray-Walton still sought opportunities in coaching even after she accepted another job in early 2009 at the end of her playing career. “‘I’m not done with the game, I love the game,’” Gray recalls Gray-Walton telling her. “I knew then that she was going to find a way to get back into volleyball.”

Gray-Walton said she feels that she took the right path.

“I fell in love with the game because it was just something different,” Gray-Walton said. “I truly believe things happen for a reason and they direct your course. I am where I am because of all those great people who invest in me… I owe it to those people.”

The 2019 campaign is set to begin Aug. 30. GrayWalton and the Sooners, led by preseason All-Big 12 selections Kylee McLaughlin and Keyton Kinley, will begin

CONVERSION IN MEDIEVAL EUROPE HIST 3060-001

their 27-game schedule in Fort Collins, Colorado at the Colorado State Invitational.

Gray-Walton has made it clear that a 20-win season and trip to the postseason are certainly goals for the team, but the coaching staff’s focus throughout the summer was figuring out the team’s identity after the loss of four seniors during the offseason.

“Everybody is back, working hard and going to class,” Gray-Walton said of her players. “They’ve been really proactive this summer and I think every little bit that we’ve been here we’ve seen growth in that area. Their want, desire to do a little bit more. That was what gave us the ability to have success early on last year and turn it around and it gives good momentum.”

For Gray-Walton, the vision of future success goes beyond wins earned in the gym and

an appearance in December’s NCAA Tournament, which the team is trying to reach for the first time since 2014.

“We have the opportunity to affect young female athletes that need to feel confident in their abilities both on the court and in the classroom, but also out in their communities,” Gray-Walton said.

As for her goal of building a championship program, Gray-Walton knows she is at the right place.

“I truly believe that if you want to be a champion, you come to OU.” Jordan Gledhill

Jordan.R.Gledhill-1@ ou.edu

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CULTURE

August 19, 2019 •

FALL EVENT CALENDAR

by NANCY SPEARS // @ThisIsNancyS

CONCERTS KATHRYN STACY/THE DAILY

AUGUST 2 4 7 8 14 26

Giovannie & The Hired Guns - The Criterion, OKC Hosty - The Deli, Norman Hex Girls - The Deli, Norman mewithoutyou - Tower Theatre, OKC HELLYEAH – A CELEBRATION OF LIFE - Diamond Ballroom, OKC Chris Brown - Chesapeake Energy Arena, OKC

SEPTEMBER 14 20 25 29

Alan Jackson - Chesapeake Energy Arena, OKC Brad Fielder - Lazy Circles Brewing, Norman Carrie Underwood - Chesapeake Energy Arena, OKC Starset - Diamond Ballroom, OKC

OCTOBER 5 7 11 19 22 23

Luke Bryan - Adkins Farm, Norman Billie Eilish - BOK Center, Tulsa Mumford and Sons - Chesapeake Energy Arena, OKC Jason Young Band - Othello’s Italian Restaurant, Norman Theory of a Deadman - Diamond Ballroom, OKC Guns N’ Roses - Chesapeake Energy Arena, OKC

NOVEMBER 8 14 23

The Lacs - Diamond Ballroom, OKC The Chainsmokers and 5 Seconds of Summer - Chesapeake Energy Arena, OKC Wight Lighters - Riverwind Casino, Norman

DECEMBER 13

Charlie Daniels Band - Riverwind Casino, Norman

ARTS & CULTURE AUGUST 24 27

KATHRYN STACY/THE DAILY

Fifty Shades of Play, With Poets Glenjamin Tha Great, Sharita Renee and Donut - Ice Event Center & Grill, OKC All About Succulents - Myriad Botanical Gardens, OKC

SEPTEMBER 7

Oklahoma Glow Run - OKC

OCTOBER 4 13 25-27

Hocus Pocus (Outdoor Movie Series) - Lions Park, Norman Oktoberfest - Plaza District, OKC Michael Pink’s “Dracula” ballet - Civic Center Music Hall, OKC

NOVEMBER 15 22 & 24

Jim Gaffigan - Riverwind Casino, Norman Oklahoma Festival Ballet - Elsie C. Brackett Theatre, Norman

DECEMBER 5 5-8 14-22

The Price is Right Live - Chesapeake Energy Arena, OKC Oklahoma Festival Ballet - Elsie C. Brackett Theatre, Norman Devon Energy’s “The Nutcracker” - Civic Center Music Hall, OKC

RECURRING EVENTS — — — —

Norman Art Walk - 2nd friday of every month 6-9 p.m. - Norman Arts Council Norman Farmers Market - Tuesdays 4-7 p.m. and Saturdays from 8:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.

- Cleveland County Fairgrounds Dope Poetry Night - Every Wednesday night - Ice Events Center and Grill, OKC Oklahoma Shakespeare in the Park: Jane Austen’s “Christmas Cracker” - recurring weekly on Thursday, Friday and Saturday Dec. 5-21, 8 p.m. - Oklahoma Shakespeare in the Park, OKC

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CULTURE

• August 19, 2019

KATHRYN STACY/THE DAILY

Victoria’s Pasta Shop’s old location on Campus Corner May 29.

Pasta la vista: Victoria’s moves Triple X Chicken, Volcano’s new to Campus Corner BLAKE DOUGLAS @Blake_Doug918

A pair of new restaurants will be new to the campus area this school year, while a long-time Campus Corner staple announced over the summer that it would relocate in early August.

In a May 25 Facebook post, Victoria’s, a popular pasta shop, announced it would relocate from its Campus Corner storefront to a new location on Main Street.

Newcomers to Norman’s dining scene include Triple X Chicken, a Campus Corner location of a restaurant based out of Burlingame, California, and Volcano’s, a small Mexican restaurant located on Lindsey Street.

VICTORIA’S After nearly 30 years on Campus Corner, Victoria’s The Pasta Shop announced in a May 25 Facebook post it would be moving to downtown Norman. Its new location at 215 E. Main St. previously housed Fancy That restaurant, which closed in May. The soft opening date for the new location is Aug. 1.

“It was really just the fact that this opportunity arose for us to purchase our own location and be able to remodel and do everything we want to do,” said Melissa Daugherty, a Victoria’s employee who has worked at the restaurant for 10 years. “We are completely remodeling the place that we bought.”

Daugherty said the new location will be reworked to give the restaurant more space, and planned changes include a room to host larger private parties. An existing apartment space will be repurposed into this space

some time after the new location opens, Daugherty said.

“Downstairs, we’re just kind of reshaping the layout so that we have a little more area for our kitchen and our walk-ins and stuff like that for our prep people,” Daugherty said. “It won’t happen before we open, I don’t believe, but eventually what we’re going to do with that apartment is turn it into a banquet area … so people can have their own room where we can do reservations and large parties.”

With increased kitchen space, Daugherty said Victoria’s new location will be able to consistently offer menu items that were only served occasionally as specials at the Campus Corner location.

“The Oklahoma City location always has meatballs on their menu every single day, and that’s something we’ve never done,” Daugherty said.

“We’re going to start having meatballs all the time. I think we’re going to start doing

pizzas regularly.”

Daugherty said while the staff will miss the environment on Campus Corner, the move won’t change too much ultimately.

“We’ll miss campus immensely. We’re going to miss the game day vibes and everything like that,” Daugherty said, “but it’s just Main Street — it’s only like two miles down the road, it’s not like we’re moving to Kansas or anything.”

TRIPLE X CHICKEN Triple X Chicken will be a new addition to Campus Corner in the fall.

“What I can tell you is that Triple X Chicken is a sitin fried chicken sandwich restaurant,” said Enmanuel Sanchez, manager of the only other Triple X Chicken location in Burlingame, California.

Triple X advertises “100 percent antibiotic-free & cage-free chicken,” according

to their website, and their Burlingame location offers a variety of chicken sandwiches. Triple X also offers unique items like the Cheesy XXX, a sandwich featuring a fried mozzarella patty instead of a chicken patty.

Sanchez said while he is currently unsure of the Campus Corner location’s hard opening date, Triple X hopes to open by late summer or early fall.

VOLCANO’S MEXICAN FOOD Volcano’s Mexican Food occupies a bright greenand-orange building located at 2030 W. Lindsey St., just down the road from Classic 50’s Drive-in. The restaurant opened May 27 and offers authentic Mexican cuisine.

The restaurant’s owners said Volcano’s opened after they purchased the location from money they made previously operating a food truck in towns around Norman.

Volcano’s menu reflects that — Volcano’s tacos are smaller and served in soft tortillas.

The menu overall is similar to what one would find served at a usual taco truck.

The small restaurant has Mexican food staples like tacos, burritos and quesadillas, mixed with more unique items like the Volcano Burger.

Aside from fountain drinks, bottled water and bottles of Jarritos soda, Volcano’s offers horchata, Jamaica juice and Tamarindo juice.

According to the restaurant’s Facebook page, every Tuesday Volcano’s offers $1.20 tacos.

Volcano’s is open 10:30 a.m. to 9:30 p.m. Monday through Friday, 10:30 a.m. to 10 p.m. Saturday and 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday.

Blake Douglas

bdoug99@ou.edu

Fred Jones ends night hours, closes store OU museum faces change after operations review BLAKE DOUGLAS @Blake_Doug918

After OU’s June 13 reduction in force, the Fred Jones Jr. Museum of Art announced it would be adjusting its Thursday hours and closing its store.

The museum issued a press release June 14 announcing details of the changes, including permanent closure of the museum’s store, Muse, and the discontinuation of the museum’s late-night hours on Thursdays.

According to the release, staff at the museum store were notified of the closure on June 13. The store’s last day of operation was June 28, which was also the final day of the store’s liquidation sale.

The museum also announced it would reduce its Thursday hours. Prior to the change, the museum

was open from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. on Thursdays. Since July 1, the museum has been open from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Thursdays, with other days remaining unchanged.

The release said the decision to close the store came “in the midst of a comprehensive review of university operations” to put OU’s finances on a “sustainable foundation.”

“These actions are only occurring because they are necessary and ensure the future health of the university,” interim OU President Joseph Harroz said in a June 13 press release following the reduction in force. “We are mindful of our students and the financial realities they face. Because so many of our students borrow substantial amounts of money to finance their education, we have a responsibility to remain affordable while providing the excellence they demand.”

Blake Douglas

bdoug99@ou.edu Fred Jones Jr. Museum of Art Nov. 5.

KATHRYN STACY/THE DAILY

CULTURE

August 19, 2019 •

17

FILE/THE DAILY

Gray Owl Coffee barista pours foam on a cappucino.

Find your n(eat)che: Essential eats Well-known Norman favorites include The Mont, Tea Caf

by JULIA WEINHOFFER // @juliaberit

CLASSIC 50’S DRIVE-IN

APPLE TREE CHOCOLATE

Over on West Lindsey Street is Norman’s cutest drive-in diner. Known as “Classics,” this is the place to go for a cherry limeade, a burger or a milkshake. Many campus groups go here for orientations, mixers and hang-outs, so you’ll probably see a friendly face or two.

Although it is newer on Campus Corner, Apple Tree Chocolate is an addictive destination. Drop by to try candy-covered caramel apples, chocolate-covered Oreos and other treats you’ve only dreamed of.

FUZZY’S TACO SHOP

THE LIBRARY

DIAMOND DAWGS

There are not many restaurants that primarily sell hot dogs, but Diamond Dawgs sells one unforgettable sausage.

Especially busy during football games, Diamond Dawgs is known for its unique hot dogs with toppings like pulled pork, mac and cheese and even the classic Cap’n Crunch corn dog.

THE MONT

Fuzzy’s is a chain Mexican restaurant on Campus Corner known for its excellent queso, fishbowl margaritas and extended hours. Thursday nights are especially busy, so be prepared to wait for your Mexican food cravings to be fulfilled.

The name is deceiving, but The Library is not a study spot. It is a restaurant and bar on Boyd Street. No matter what time of day you drop by The Library, parking is limited, but it’s still worth the wait to try their pizzas and watch the ever-changing crowd of students with friends or professors grading papers.

Another destination for the perfect queso, The Mont is a great spot to hit with friends. Celebrations are especially memorable here, with a rentable fuzzy booth and an iconic free T-shirt on your birthday.

OZZIE’S DINER

TARAHUMARA’S MEXICAN CAFE

TEA CAFE ON THE CORNER

It may be a bit far from campus, but Ozzie’s is still a Norman staple. The diner, located in Norman’s Max Westheimer Airport, is known for its all-you-can-eat breakfasts that are sure to impress.

If you want some Mexican food that is a touch more authentic than Chipotle, this is the place to go. Tarahumara’s serves free queso and tortillas with the usual chips and salsa. The plates are large, the food is fresh and the service is top-notch. It’s quite popular, so you may want to call ahead.

Kyler Murray made it famous, but “Tea Caf ” has always been a favorite spot on Campus Corner. This Asian-Fusion restaurant is perfect for stopping in for some boba or sitting down for chicken fried rice. The restaurant also provides vegetarian options.

GRAY OWL COFFEE

If your taste in coffee goes further than what Starbucks can offer, checking out Gray Owl is a must. Just north of Main Street, Gray Owl offers an inclusive environment to catch up with friends — or catch up on your homework. The coffee is always hot, and there are endless options for all diets.

O’CONNELL’S

O’Connell’s is the classic college town bar, fully equipped with weekly events such as karaoke on Wednesdays and trivia on Thursdays (bring your friends, this is a team sport). For anyone under 21, you can still have a great time at O’Conn’s — the food is perfect for a fun night out. The cheese fries and the ranch-hand burger are our favorites.

VICTORIA’S PASTA SHOP

This small, charming restaurant is home to house-made pesto, stuffed mushrooms and as many pastacombinations as one menucan hold. It’s affordable, too. You’ll see local art for sale on the wall, and relaxed, friendly servers will take care of you.

It’s moving from Campus Corner to Main Street over the summer.

Bang for your buck: Discounts in Norman

by NANCY SPEARS // @ThisIsNancyS

STUDENT DISCOUNTS WITH ID CHICKEN EXPRESS

$5 chicken meal (chicken fingers, biscuit or roll, fries and drink) every day

QDOBA

24th Avenue location offers free drinks to students with ID

O’CONNELL’S

20% discount with student ID on Mondays and Tuesdays

INTERURBAN

$6.99 burgers and $6.99 pizzas for students from 5 p.m. until closing on Sunday nights

LOUIE’S

Special menu with student-discounted items

DAILY DISCOUNTS FOR EVERYONE SUNDAY

MONDAY

TUESDAY

WEDNESDAY

THURSDAY

FRIDAY

SATURDAY

Louie’s $6.99 one-topping pizza Interurban brunch buffet from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

The Garage $2 Coors all day, half off appetizers and $3.99 classic burgers (beef and turkey only) after 10 p.m.

Qdoba $1 tacos (at all three Norman locations) Louie’s BBQ chicken theta sandwich WingStop 6 0 - c e nt boneless wings Interurban $6.99 pizza night from 5 p.m. until closing N e w Yo r k P i z z a & Pa s t a $ 1 0 l a r g e one-topping pizza The Garage $2 Coors all day, half off appetizers and $3.99 classic burgers (beef and turkey only) after 10 p.m.

Chicken Express $1.40 two-piece chicken Louie’s $8.99 Okie Monster (fancy frito chili pie with lettuce, onions jalap eno, tomato) WingStop 60 cent boneless wings Interurban $6.99 burgers all day Buffalo Wild Wings half off traditional wings N e w Yo r k P i z z a & Pasta $10 large one-topping pizza, and buy any two pizza slices and get a free drink The Garage $2 Coors all day, half off appetizers and $3.99 classic burgers after 10 p.m.

Chicken Express $6.99 Livers and Gizzards special (8 livers or 10 gizzards, fries, biscuit or roll, and a drink) L ouie’s Blackened Chicken Caesar Sandwich Interurban soft pretzels for $7.50 and hot dogs for $6 Buffalo Wild Wings $1 tenders The Garage $2 Coors all day, half off appetizers and $3.99 classic burgers (beef and turkey only) after 10 p.m.

Chicken Express $3.99 for two-piece dark meat plus a drink Louie’s Buffalo Tender Wrap Interurban $7.99 enchiladas all day, plus free chips and queso f r o m 5 p. m . u n t i l closing Buffalo Wild Wings 65-cent boneless wings Ne w York Piz z a & Pasta buy any two pizza slices and get a free drink The Garage $2 Coors all day, half off appetizers and $3.99 classic burgers (beef and turkey only) after 10 p.m.

Chicken Express Fish Fridays The Garage $2 Coors all day, half off appetizers and $3.99 classic burgers (beef and turkey only) after 10 p.m.

The Garage $2 Coors all day, half off appetizers and $3.99 classic burgers (beef and turkey only) after 10 p.m.

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CULTURE

• August 19, 2019

NAME NAME/ORGANIZATION

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KATHRYN STACY/THE DAILY

The Moore Warren Theatre June 12.

Boredom busters: Local hangouts Ten local activites to light up any day or night, including movies, music and more

by JULIA WEINHOFFER // @juliaberit

YEAR-ROUND FRED JONES JR. MUSEUM OF ART

This sleek art museum is not only close to campus, but it is also free. It features well-known artists such as Van Gogh and Monet, as well as many NativeAmerican artists.

SEASONAL CASINOS

If you like to gamble, you’re in the right place. Oklahoma has its fair share of casinos, and some are even right here in Norman. Riverwind Casino and Goldsby Gaming Center could be the best bet if you don’t want to go too far.

MOVIES

STAR SKATE

Just down the road from campus, Star Skate is the place to slide and glide. It is open Thursday through Sunday for a fun weekend or to laugh while your friends fall.

MOORE ESCAPE ROOMS

Test your luck in an escape room close to you. Take your friends to Moore and have a fun-filled experience for only $25 per person. Choose your teammates wisely.

OKC ZOO EVENTS

Throughout the year, the OKC Zoo holds various events for holidays or just for fun. For example, October’s events include Haunt the Zoo and festive pumpkin drives. Check out the zoo’s website for hours on other holidays to avoid any mishaps. This year, the zoo will be closed on Thanksgiving and Christmas Day.

This is a classic college pastime.

Check out Regal Cinemas Spotlight 14 in Norman, the Warren Theatre in Moore or the new AMC theater opening late this fall in Norman.

BOWLING

The Sooner Bowling Center isn’t too far from campus and is open late on weekends. What’s more fun than a friendly (or competitive) game of bowling with friends?

FRONTIER CITY

OKC’s own Wild West theme park has limited hours during its offseason, but you can still catch some frontier fun on the weekends once the semester starts.

The park hosts seasonal events such as Fright Fest and Holiday in the Park.

Make sure to check out frontiercity.com for its calendar and hours.

OKC THUNDER GAMES

It’s a longer drive, but head to Chesapeake Energy Arena to see OKC’s NBA team in action. Depending on where you want to sit, tickets can be pretty cheap. After the game, you can take a walk around Bricktown, which is jam-packed with bars and restaurants.

NORMAN MUSIC FESTIVAL

This annual festival occurs on Main Street toward the end of the spring semesters. The shows consist of national and local artists, plus admission is free.

Beware, some bands perform in bars, so don’t plan on attending those unless you are 21 or over.

Save time: On-campus parking tips, tricks Avoid unecessary tickets, struggle by thinking ahead, parking smart

1

Buy a parking permit. Students cannot park anywhere on campus except for the Lloyd Noble Center without a parking permit. Freshmen will need a housing permit, which will give access to parking lots near the dorms. Commuter students will need to purchase the commuter pass — it gives access to different parking lots across campus. Parking passes can be purchased online at www.ou.edu/parking.

2

Move on up. For students in the dorms, it helps to park as close to your dorm as possible. A good trick to remember is to move your car to a closer parking spot on the weekends, when a lot of students have gone home or gone out and the parking lots aren’t as full. Also, prepare yourself for game days.

The lots will be jam-packed, so get a good spot beforehand to avoid the dreaded walk home.

3

LNC, baby! Parking at the Lloyd Noble Center is a great money-saving parking option. If you park there, you can take the shuttle to the main part of campus without having to pay for a parking pass. Just be aware of the route cycles, and give yourself enough time to get to class. If you are too late to class, some professors might count you absent for the whole day, which might affect your overall grade.

4

Leave the car at home.

Another trick to avoid parking stress is not worrying about parking at all.

If you’re up for it, you can save time and money by walking or riding a bike to campus. That way, you won’t have to pay for a pass or waste time driving around parking lots in search of a spot. It’s an environmentally friendly option, and it helps you get some exercise.

Plus, a lot of people you meet will have cars, so carpooling is an option.

5

by JORDAN HAYDEN // @jordankhayden

Pay attention to the signs. There’s nothing worse than getting a parking ticket because you didn’t see a sign that said “Commuter Parking Only.”

Make sure you know where you can and can’t park to avoid any tickets or citations. If you’re unsure about where to park, you can go to ou.edu/parking/maps and look at your options with a color-coordinated campus diagram. It’s better to be safe than sorry.

6

Follow @OUParking o n T w i t t e r. O U Parking Ser vices updates the best parking options for commuters on campus throughout the day.

If you’re not sure where to go, they can help you out.

During the winter months, the campus will often shut down the top floor of garages or close them completely.

OU Parking will post these updates, so you don’t have to waste time figuring it out the hard way.

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CULTURE

• August 19, 2019

JORDAN MILLER/THE DAILY

The Indigenous Peoples Day Opening Procession marches down the South Oval Oct. 8, 2018.

Student orgs: Find a new home From leadership to lettuce, there’s a club for everyone BLAKE DOUGLAS @Blake_Doug918

Meeting new people is one of the most interesting parts of moving to campus for both new and returning students. Getting involved in a student organization is a sure way to find people with similar interests and passions, and find somewhere to feel at home on campus.

You can view all the student organizations OU has to offer in a helpful online portal called OrgSync.

There are over 500 student o r ga n i z at i o n s o n c a m pus, and with such a variety of groups representing

different values, goals and communities, you’re sure to find an organization that appeals to you. And if you don’t, you can start your own.

LEADERSHIP ORGANIZATIONS If you’re looking for an organization where you can work together with other student leaders, OU has quite a few organizations that might be a fit for you. Here are a few.

Campus Activities Coun c il i s re sp o n s i b l e for keeping students involved across campus by programming fun events all year. This organization is responsible for planning big events like Howdy Week and Homecoming. It also organizes year-round

Requisition Number #191704

events like the CAC Film Series and CAC Concert Series, where they bring free movies and live concerts to campus for students to enjoy.

Student G overnment Association represents the student body, holding regular meetings and office hours. Members are elected by students, and the organization works to represent the wants and needs of the OU student body, voicing any concerns to OU’s administration and allocating funds to student organizations. SGA includes the Undergraduate Student Congress, the Graduate Student Senate and the Sooner Freshman Council.

Union Pro gramming Board is similar to CAC, as it also plans events to enrich the student experience

at OU. However, UPB hosts events inside the Oklahoma Memorial Union. UPB organizes events like haunted houses, laser tag and bingo days throughout the year — and sometimes you can catch the organization offering free food in the union.

MULTICULTURAL ORGANIZATIONS Moving to a campus as b ig a s O U ca n b e ove rwhelming. While meeting a diverse set of people is a great part of the OU experience, having a familiar community nearby can help. The following organizations are a few of the many that help OU students feel connected and have a voice.

American Indian Student Association looks to promote the well-being of students at OU by offering a variety of educational, cultural and social activities. AISA holds cultural events like the annual Spring Stomp Dance, OU Spring Powwow and hosting a Miss. and Mr. Indian OU pageant.

Asian American Student Association helps students get involved with the OU communit y by p ro m o t i ng d i ve rsity on campus through activities celebrating the heritage and traditions of Asian Americans, emphasizing their language, history and culture. AASA events include the Mr. and Miss Asian OU Pageant, an Asian New Year celebration and the Asian Food Fair.

Black Student Association aims to build a community that helps students succeed while openly sharing their triumphs and stresses and providing

leadership opportunities. BSA events include the Miss and Mr. Black OU Scholarship Pageant hosted with African American Programs and Services, a Black History Month celebration and the Stompdown Step Show, a celebration of the history and culture of OU’s black student groups.

Hispanic American Student Association unites students through activities promoting leadership, diversity, community service and cultural awareness. HASA helps organize the Day of the Dead Street Festival, Latino Flavor of OU (which features Latino food and entertainment from several countries) and the Mr. and Miss Hispanic OU Pageant.

International Advisory Committee ser ves as a n u m b re l l a o r g a n i z a tion for international student groups on campus.

Students from cultures across the globe promote diversity by bringing asp e c t s o f t h e i r c u l t u re s t o No r m a n a n d s h a ring them in events like the International Bazaar, t h e Ev e o f Nat i o n s t a l ent show and dinner, and International Prom.

Queer Student Ass ociation provides a space for members of the LGBTQ+ community and hosts speakers and events.

OU’s Gender + Equality Center is also a helpful resource for LGBTQ+ students and allies. The center offers counseling and sexual health resources, along with ally training.

OU’s student organizations help people of numerous identities to flourish on campus. Check out OrgSync to find an organization for you.

RECREATIONAL ORGANIZATIONS

OU offers organizations for students just looking to relax and enjoy their hobbies with friends, too. Here are some organizations for just that — more can be found online.

Bad Movie Club is just like any other film club, but it caters to the worst of the worst. This club is perfect for those looking for a laugh or hours of groans.

Hopefully your favorites don’t make the list.

Intramural sports present another opportunity for students to hone their craft, meet new friends or just have an all-around good time. Available sports include badminton, basketball, dodgeball, golf, soccer, tennis and numerous others.

L ettuce Club is a beloved OU organization.

The club’s goal is simple – to unite students across campus through their love of lettuce. Things get serious when the club hosts lettuce-eating competitions each semester. If you are thinking of getting involved in these contests, be sure to review the club’s rules for regulation-sized lettuce heads.

OU Esports Club connects students who enjoy gaming at various levels of competition. While it has competitive teams of different skill levels, they also host events where students can come and play games casually.

Blake Douglas bdoug99@ou.edu

CULTURE

August 19, 2019 •

23

OU sports: Click it for tickets Students attend sports free except football, men’s hoops SCOTT KIRKER @scott_kirker

FOOTBALL

There are 8,000 student tickets available for the 2019 football season. 6,800 of the tickets are designated for returning students, and 1,200 are designated for new students.

Season ticket cost: $210 Returning student sale window: April 23 to Aug. 16 New student sale window: Aug. 19 to Aug. 23

If more first-year students attempt to purchase season tickets than the amount available, a lottery will be held Aug. 23 to determine which students can buy tickets.

OU v. Texas in Dallas

The football game between OU and Texas takes place in the Cotton Bowl in Dallas each year. Tickets for the Texas game will be sold Sept. 10 to returning students who purchased season tickets.

If tickets remain available after the Sept. 10 sale, new students with season tickets can purchase OU v. Texas tickets.

Students can purchase season tickets online at SoonerSports.com/students. Students can log in with their OU ID or register an account on the website. During

the season, students who have purchased tickets must claim their ticket the week prior to each individual game online.

Tickets will be print-at-home or mobile delivery only.

On Thursdays leading up to a football game, unclaimed student tickets will go on sale at the OU Athletics Ticket Office. If no student tickets remain unclaimed, the sale may not occur.

MEN’S BASKETBALL

While men’s basketball season tickets have been sold separately in prior years, this year football season tickets will include men’s basketball season tickets. The included tickets allow entry to basketball games on a first come, first served basis.

If you’re interested in buying men’s basketball student season tickets or individual game tickets without football tickets, information hasn’t been released yet. To check for updated information, you can visit SoonerSports.com, hover over “Tickets” and then click on “Student Tickets.”

OTHER SPORTS

Students can get into all sporting events other than football and men’s basketball for free. All you need is a student ID and some OU spirit.

Scott Kirker stk@ou.edu

SIANDHARA BONNET/THE DAILY

The student section makes the letter “O” with their arms before the game against Baylor Nov. 12, 2016.

Six athletes to watch during 2019-20 seasons OU’s star players, performers include Jalen Hurts, Maggie Nichols

by PAXSON HAWS // @ PaxsonHaws

JALEN HURTS

JORDAN MILLER/THE DAILY

TANNER JUSTUS

KATHRYN STACY/THE DAILY

Hurts is a graduate transfer from the University of Alabama and plays quarterback. He was the first freshman quarterback to start under Nick Saban. Hurts accumulated 7,617 total yards of offense with a 72.9% completion percentage his junior season at Alabama.

Justus is a senior on the men’s gymnastics team. He performs on the floor, vault and still rings. He performed at the conference championship and in eight regular season meets. Justus also placed second on vault at the Mountain Pacific Sports Federation Championship and competed at the Winter Cup.

GISELLE JUAREZ

LEVI PRATER

KATHRYN STACY/THE DAILY

JACKSON STEWART/THE DAILY

Juarez is a senior pitcher on the softball team and transferred to OU last year from Arizona State. She received Big 12 weekly honors six times last season. On March 14, Juarez pitched a perfect game against Loyola Marymount.

Prater is a junior pitcher on the baseball team. Last season, he was a starting pitcher with a 3.26 ERA and 7-4 record. Prater was named Big 12 pitcher of the week on March 11, and he was later named to the All-Big 12 Second Team.

MAGGIE NICHOLS

JAMAL BIENIEMY

CAITLYN EPES/THE DAILY

Nichols is a senior on the women’s gymnastics team. She is the first gymnast at OU to complete a Gym Slam, scoring a perfect 10 on every event, and the only collegiate gymnast to do it twice. She won the All-Around award at the national championship in April and the Honda Sport Award.

CAITLYN EPES/THE DAILY

Bieniemy is a sophomore on the men’s basketball team. His freshman season, he started in 17 games and averaged 4.9 points per game. He led the Sooners in steals and assists, and was fifth place in program history for steals by a freshman.

24

CULTURE

• August 19, 2019

Mental health resources at OU University offers students numerous services, programs

IN THE EVENT OF AN EMERGENCY CALL 911.

University Counseling Center: 405-325-2911 OU Advocates: 405-615-0013 Disability Resource Center: 405-325-3852 Title IX office: 405-325-2215 Norman Women’s Resource Center: 405-364-9424 National Hopeline: 1-800-442-4673 National Suicide Prevention Lifeline: 1-800-273-8255

EMILY MCPHERSON @emcphersonok

College can be a lot — paying tuition, living away from friends and family, working, balancing a heavier workload with new extracurricular activities — but you don’t have to struggle alone. It can be easy to lose sight of your mental health among it all, but OU has mental health resources for students to utilize.

Mental health is just as important as physical health, and both are vital to success and happiness in college.

When your mental health is not taken care of, your social life and grades may suffer. It’s important to get help when you feel like you need it.

There can be a stigma associated with seeking help, but don’t let that stop you.

Whether you are having difficulty adjusting to school, relationship problems, anxiety,

SIANDHARA BONNET/THE DAILY

Charles B. Goddard Health Center on Nov. 2, 2015.

depression or any other mental health issue, what you are dealing with is valid, and you deserve help and support.

Don’t be afraid to take advantage of the resources OU offers.

One resource is the University Counseling C e n t e r, l o c a t e d i n t h e Goddard Health Center on Elm Avenue. The UCC

offers individual counseling, couples counseling, group counseling, career counseling and testing and psychiatric services. The UCC is open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., and appointments can be made in advance by calling 405-325-2911.

Another resource is the OU Advocates, a 24/7, free and confidential resource. The

OU Advocates provide support and additional resources for anyone who has experienced sexual assault, relationship violence, stalking or sexual harassment. They can be reached in person at the Gender + Equality Center, located in the Oklahoma Memorial Union, or on the phone via WhatsApp or the crisis line at 405-615-0013.

Additionally, the Disability Resource Center can provide accommodations for those who need them. After you provide the DRC with documentation and request accommodations, DRC staff will set up a meeting during which you can talk about what you need.

Accommodations include alternative test-taking, tutoring

and help with notifying your professors about how they can best accommodate you.

The DRC can be contacted at 405-325-3852 or drc@ ou.edu.

Emily McPherson

emilymcpherson@ou.edu

Students face prescription drug abuse Abuse of Adderall, other drugs has consequences BAILEY LEWIS @BaileyLewis75

Editor’s note: This story uses quotes from two OU students who discussed their use of prescription stimulants but asked to remain anonymous out of fear of legal repercussions. In this story, these students’ names have been changed to Sarah White and John Smith. Their identities are known to The Daily.

Abuse of prescription stimulants among college students is extremely common, especially for those who struggle with addiction and mental illness.

The amount of college students who take ADD (Attention Deficit Disorder)/ADHD (Attention Deficit Hyperactivity D i s o rd e r ) m e d i c at i o n s such as Adderall, Ritalin and Vyvanse continues to increase each year, and the percentage of college students who report using these stimulant medications without a prescription ranges from 5 to 35 percent, according to the Center on Addiction.

Abuse of prescription stimulants is defined as taking the medicine in a way or dose other than prescribed, taking someone else’s prescription stimulant or using it to get a high, according to the National Institute on Drug Abuse.

D r. Ta n y a Z i e l i n s k i , a psychiatr ist bas e d in Grapevine, Texas, said prescription stimulants can be very addictive, especially for those who already struggle with substance abuse and mental illness because it can be used as a coping mechanism.

“Anything in the stimulant category goes through the addiction pathway, which is commonly referred to as the reward circuitry,” Zielinski said. “The kids that misuse stimulants are more likely to suffer from mental illness or substance abuse than your average college student.”

Sarah White, an OU student, said she struggles with depression and anxiety and uses a friend’s prescription stimulants to help her mental illnesses. White said she has tried to get a prescription for a prescription stimulant before but can’t because she does not suffer from ADD or ADHD. “Medication can give you the drive to get out of bed on the days when you are feeling too depressed to do so,”

White said. “My thoughts tend to race and make me very anxious, especially when it comes to school, and prescription stimulants help me to better control this.”

The risk of addiction to prescription stimulants is very low if you’re prescribed the medication, but the risk is much higher if the medication is taken without a prescription or snorted, Zielinski said.

Zielinski said when students snort prescription stimulants, it can have the same effects as methamphetamine or cocaine, and the risk of addiction and overdose is higher when taking stimulants this way.

“If you’re snorting it and you’re abusing these medicines, it can have the same potential effects as using speed or cocaine,” Zielinski said. “If you swallow (the medication) and it’s delivered through the gut, it doesn’t really affect the addiction circuitry because the speed of delivery really has a lot to do with it. So the way that some students use these medicines is by crushing it and snorting it to get high.”

Because of the potential for prescription stimulants to caus e a high, some students use them to mix with alcohol or illegal substances.

John Smith, a former OU student, said he has used prescription stimulants to party but not on a regular basis.

“I used the medications to stay up when I was going to be out late with friends,” Smith said. “This was normally mixed with alcohol, not weed.”

However, Zielinski said most college students use prescription stimulants for academic purposes.

“Usually what (students) do is use it as a performance-enhancing drug,” Zielinski said. “So a lot of the people that are using it don’t actually have ADD or ADHD, so they use it for tests or to try to stay up at night and study for tests.”

About three-quarters of stimulant abusers use the drug for school to help them stay awake, focus and study for tests, according to the National Center for Health Research.

Smith said he used prescription stimulants frequently while at OU to help him stay awake while studying and that he only used them for long or difficult tasks.

“I used the medication because it allowed me to stay up longer and be more

KATHRYN STACY/THE DAILY

A handful of assorted pills July 12, 2019.

focused while working,” Smith said. “I have a terrible problem with falling asleep when I’m studying, so the medication would counteract this problem.”

The reason these medications are so popular among college students is because they are easily accessible, and most students get them through friends with a prescription for a stimulant, Zielinski said.

“It is very widely known from research that (students) get it from other college students with prescriptions,” Zielinski said. “The way they do it is by figuring out which people are being treated for ADD or ADHD and they offer them money to get their drugs.”

White said she gets prescription stimulants from one of her close friends, but in the past, she got them from drug dealers.

“I get Vyvanse from a friend of mine who has a prescription for it,” White said. “In the past, I have bought Adderall and Vyvanse from people I knew, as well as drug dealers.”

Although taking prescription stimulants as directed puts you at a much lower risk of addiction, Zielinski said there are many uncomfortable or even dangerous side effects.

“Stimulants can make your heart beat too fast, and you can get overstimulated, which doesn’t feel good, and then when it wears off you can have a crash,” Zielinski said. “You can have side effects like akathisia (restlessness), have insomnia and suffer from sleep deprivation or become underweight because your appetite is so suppressed.”

White said even though she has a lot of side effects from prescription stimulants and it is illegal for her to use them, the benefits outweigh the negatives.

“For me, the side effects don’t bother me that much because they help me in so many ways,” White said.

“I do worry about getting caught, but since I get them from a friend, the chances of me getting caught are pretty slim, I think.”

Some studies have shown

Adderall and Ritalin can have negative side effects of blurred vision, gastrointestinal problems, irritability, reduced circulation and increased heart rate and blood pressure, according to the National Center for Health Research.

These drugs can even be deadly for those with an underlying heart condition by causing cardiac arrest or death, and the risk of this greatly increases for those taking these medications without a prescription, according to the National Center for Health Research.

Smith said he has experienced many side effects from taking these medications.

“The side effects I have felt are nausea, fluctuation of body temperature, headaches, loss of appetite, depression, anxiety and lack of sleep,” Smith said. “Not all of these happen every time, and most of the time the only side effects felt are fluctuation of body temp, loss of appetite and loss of sleep. I found myself getting depressed and angry,

specifically when I took Ritalin.”

White said she has also encountered different side effects from prescription stimulants, especially irritability and insomnia.

“I will sometimes become irritable if someone tries to distract me from doing my schoolwork,” White said.

Along with having many negative side effects, prescription stimulants are also a Schedule II drugs, which means the Drug Enforcement Agency cons i d e r s t h e m h ig h l y a d dictive, according to the National Center for Health Research.

The federal penalty for a first offense of possession of a prescription stimulant can be up to one year in prison, a $1,000 fine or both, according to American Addiction Centers. The penalty for distributing Schedule II substances is a fine of up to $5 million and up to 20 years in prison for a first offense.

Bailey Lewis

bailey.n.lewis-1@ou.edu

OPINION

August 19, 2019 •

25

CAITLYN EPES/THE DAILY

2019 fall Editor-in-Chief Nick Hazelrigg smiles in front of a vine-covered wall at Copeland Hall Jan. 18, 2019.

Opinion: Editor seeks to serve Incoming editor discusses change to newspaper NICK HAZELRIGG @nickhazelrigg

When I first started as a writer at The OU Daily during my freshman year in April 2017, many students I knew asked me with skepticism why I would do that.

Many of my fellow freshmen didn’t see the relevance of The Daily on campus. Some upperclassmen knew The Daily for one of the many mistakes we’ve made over the years. Today, many people react much more positively when I talk about the publication I work at.

Ask twenty different

people at this university what they think of The Daily and you’ll probably get 20 different answers.

Some professors will tell you w ith excitement of a time they worked here during one of The Daily’s golden ages while some will lament periods of misdirection our paper has seen.

The truth is The Daily has existed as a publication for more than 100 years at this university. The blessing and curse of the organization is that at an extremely high rate, its leaders graduate and go on to new things.

This feature gives us an opportunity to frequently reinvent what we do here.

I’m Nick Hazelr igg, a political science senior, and I have the pleasure of serving as The Daily’s

e d i t o r- i n - c h i e f f o r t h e 2019-2020 s cho ol year.

Over the last several years The Daily has been engag e d i n a n att e mp t t o change what we do to better serve our audience, and I’m happy to say we’ve had a good couple of years.

Less than five years ago, this publication printed every day, prioritizing the physical newspaper over online content despite the fact that our audience primarily reads online. Today, we’ve reduced our print edition to once a week in order to showcase our best work in print while devoting more of our resources to delivering relevant content to our readers all day, every day.

We’ve changed the nature of Student Media’s feature publications in order

to focus on creating content like Crimson Quarterly, a magazine where we’ve been finding growing success in experimental visual and design techniques as well as long-form investigative and feature journalism at the OU Daily.

We’ve altered the outlook of our publication’s news, sports and arts reporting divisions by analyzing what content our readers find engaging and how we can continue to be a resource for this university. Our metrics have shown we’ve been continuing to grow in this field.

I’ve seen three presidents in three years during my time here and I can say with no uncertainty that this has been one of the most tumultuous times in the history of this university. I’m

proud that The Daily has been there every step of the way — not always getting it perfectly, but doing our best to cover these moments in OU history.

We’ve made these changes because The Daily belongs to the OU community — whether you like us or you don’t, we work for you.

For that reason, we have to be stewards of what this community has given to us, and that means working to find out how we can serve you. We’re nowhere near finished, and likely never will be. But I ask that you, our readers, continue to be part of this conversation and continue to call us out when we’re wrong and tell us what you like when we get it right.

I’ve worked at The Daily as a news repor ter and

editor, and most recently I’ve covered higher education news at a national level. My email is nickhazelrigg@ou.edu and my Twitter direct messages are always open. I ask that no matter your question or concern about our work, pleas e reach out to me anytime.

It’s likely going to be another year to remember at OU. There’s no doubt we’ll have our work cut out for us. But no matter what changes — on the football field, in Evans Hall, in the state capitol, or in our newsroom — we intend to be there for you daily.

Nick Hazelrigg

nickhazelrigg@ou.edu

Opinion: SGA president shares priorities Gibbs addresses challenges, expresses hope ADRAN GIBBS @Adran_Gibby

Welcome home, Sooners! I hope your summer has been restful and productive. For those who may not know me, my name is Adran, and I have the honor of ser ving as your student body president through the Student Government Association, or SGA, through December 2019. Although I was born in Albuquerque, New Mexico, I am from Oklahoma City, Oklahoma and went to Putnam City North High School. I am a senior studying economics, with minors in political science and philosophy. In my free time, I am often reading books on LBJ, experimenting with new foods in the kitchen or doing my newfound hobby of fishing on the weekends.

I am excited to tackle the new challenges this semester poses for the student body. At this point in time, we have had three university presidents in three years.

While some may be worried, I am optimistic about working with you, our dedicated Department of Student Affairs, and interim

OU President Joe Harroz this semester. Last spring, we experienced an event of hatred and racism that tore our community apart.

We grieved, came together and supported one another. We created a plan to be more aggressive in tackling our past with racism and being more proactive to educate our community of the inherent harm of letting these behaviors fester. We must be better, and we will, I am sure of that. Our plan consists of a multifaceted approach to address student concerns through specialized student committees, with topics ranging from recruitment practices to international student concerns. Only together through a collective effort can we achieve a community that promotes inclusiveness and acceptance regardless of one’s identity or identities.

For all new students, it’s important to remember that being a student at OU is more than just going to class and having a superstar football team (or a superstar gymnastics program for that matter).

OU, while it is different to everyone, means community and family. We must hold these values of family close to our hearts and take action when needed.

More importantly, we must listen to each other. As a

new student, you will have plenty of opportunities to get involved. I challenge each of you to always stand up for what you believe at all times. Together, we will continue to build a community that cares for one another. I was elected to lead the student body, but we must diligently work together to address our challenges as a team.

If you or anyone ever has any questions, please do not hesitate to stop by and share your ideas on your experience as a student! We welcome feedback and encourage students to voice their concerns. Our primary objective is to relay these to OU administration. Each meeting, concern, comment and question is always taken seriously. Our greatest asset in combating the inequities in our society is through honest conversations started by you!

Our offices are located on the first floor of the Oklahoma Memorial Union in the Archie H. Dunham Conoco Student Leadership Center. My email is sgapres@ou.edu should you want to reach out.

Again, welcome home. I wish you all the best in your upcoming semester at OU! Adran Gibbs

Adran.E.Gibbs-1@ou.edu

CAITLYN EPES/THE DAILY

OU SGA President Adran Gibbs speaks at the Martin Luther King Jr. choir concert Jan 21.

26

CULTURE

• August 19, 2019

FILE/THE DAILY

A calendar and office supplies splayed out on a desk.

15 things we wish we knew Freshman year at OU is here, but don’t freak out. The Daily staff has a few survival tips to keep you afloat.

by OU Daily editorial board

ONE

TWO

THREE

Try new things. College is a time when you can meet new people and enjoy new experiences. Don’t just stick to what you’ve always done. You might find a new hobby or passion.

Make friends with at least one or two people in each of your classes. This way, you’ll have someone to study with or share notes if you happen to miss a class.

Clean your room once in awhile. You’re going to get stressed at some point with your classes, extracurriculars or job, and a messy room could make you feel worse.

FOUR

FIVE

SIX

Do some research on your classes before you enroll.

Ask around about what classes and professors are best. Sometimes your professor can be the difference in a class being really fun or impossibly boring. Find people who took the classes you want to take and ask them their thoughts.

If you have a meal plan, try to budget your points.

When you first get to campus, it’ll be easy to spend them all quickly. Then, you get halfway through the semester and you have almost no points to spend.

Make sure you know how many points you can spend per month, and try not to go over that.

If you can, make a trip to the grocery store occasionally. The Caf can be great, but you’re going to get tired of the on-campus food eventually. You can get some snacks from the grocery store to keep you going throughout the day.

SEVEN

EIGHT

NINE

Try to have a good relationship with your roommate.

If you’re rooming with someone random, you may get lucky and find your best friend. But chances are that won’t be the case — still try to be cordial with them, because you will both share a tiny space for the whole year.

Use the resources OU provides — access to Sarkey’s Fitness Center, tutoring, writing assistance, and many other resources all come at no cost to OU students beyond standard tuition and fees. Get your money’s worth.

Make friends with upperclassmen. Being new on campus can be challenging, and if you’re living in the dorms then it’s likely that most of your friends will be freshmen like you. An upperclassman friend can be a good mentor to help you navigate the ins and outs of your freshman year.

TEN

ELEVEN

TWELVE

Prioritize your mental health. People often say college is the best time of your life, but it can also be extremely stressful. You may be far from home, away from old friends and stressed about your workload.

Make sure you keep your mind healthy. It may help to exercise, get the right amount of sleep, take advantage of the mental health resources on campus — or maybe even all three.

Go to office hours. Every upperclassman and faculty member will tell you to get to know your professors, but that goes beyond just introducing yourself after the first lecture. Office hours are a great time to get one-on-one help from you professors. It might even help you get a letter of recommendation down the road.

Be prepared to struggle. You might be the type of person who never had to work too hard and could still get straight A’s in all of your classes. That may not happen in college. There’s going to be a lot more work and stress in your life freshman year, and it’s like that for everyone else, too. Try not to let it overwhelm you, and do your best not to procrastinate too much — it can be so tempting.

THIRTEEN

FOURTEEN

FIFTEEN

Don’t be afraid if you don’t know what you want to do.

You’re going to have a million conversations that start with “So, what’s your major?” or “What do you want to do with that?” You might not have the answers to these questions, and you’re going to feel like everyone else does. There’s no pressure if you don’t know what your career path will be yet. College is a great time to find your passion, and if you have to change your major a few times to find it, that’s okay.

Don’t take classes because they are easy. You’re going to have a lot of options for Gen Ed courses during your first year, and you’ll hear a lot about which ones are blow-off classes. It’s nice to coast through the semester with an easy A, but if you don’t enjoy the content you’re studying, you might still be miserable. Find courses on topics you enjoy or are interested in, and take them. Those are the courses you’ll still remember senior year and beyond.

It’s important to build good study habits early in college. For some people, it’s easier to get work done when you can get away from a dorm or apartment.

OU’s campus has tons of great study spots. There are lots of hidden places in the Bizz, and tons of other options — the courtyard and library at DLB, the architecture building. You can even study in the football stadium! Ask around, and don’t be afraid to get creative as you look for the best study spots for you.

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August 19, 2019

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