May 9-13, 2016

F I N A L S W E E K E D I T I O N | M AY 9 -13 , 2 0 16 | T W I C E W E E K LY I N P R I N T | O U D A I LY. C O M

OUDAILY

For 100 years, the student voice of the University of Oklahoma

2015-2016 IN

REVIEW

10 MOMENTS Looking back at the news that shaped the school year

From donkeys to moldy food to the controversy surrounding “Boomer Sooner,” here are our editor’s picks for the top news moments this year.

B

C

D

J

I

1

A

E

Norman Police Department officer Kyle Canaan’s December started off interestingly when he responded to a call about a loose donkey in a rural Norman area. Canaan thought it would be safest to put the donkey in the back of his squad car. And so he did.

2

OU President David Boren says changing ‘Sooner’ is unlikely

Boren said in a statement Sept. 28 that the only way OU would change the words “Boomer” and “Sooner” from its identity is if all of the university’s nearly 245,000 alumni agreed to it. The statement came after members of activist group Indigenize OU called for the eradication of the word “Sooner” from the school’s identity.

3

G

H

Norman PD officer puts escaped donkey into squad car

Oklahoma reports surge in earthquakes during 2015

About 850 earthquakes with magnitudes 3.0 or greater hit Oklahoma in 2015 — 266 more than occurred of the same magnitudes in 2014 and 741 more than in 2013.

4

YG must omit n-word from songs during OU concert

5

Ted Cruz, Bernie Sanders win Oklahoma presidential primaries

Rapper YG played a show at OU in September and was required by contract to perform only radio-edited versions of his songs. The sixth paragraph stated that YG “will omit any racial epithets including but not limited to (the) word ‘n*****’ or any version thereof.”

Texas Sen. Ted Cruz won the March 1 Republican presidential primary, while Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders won the Democratic primary the same day. Both candidates made campaign stops in the state in the days leading up to the primary.

6

Westboro Baptist Church plans to picket National Weather Center

The Westboro Baptist Church made a visit to Norman in October “to remind (the National Weather Center) that only by God’s mercy and power do you gather intelligence on His weather.” The church’s protest was met with counter-protests that included OU students.

7

‘Boomer Sooner’ causes controversy at congress meeting

The Undergraduate Student Congress voted down a resolution in April that would have congratulated OU sports teams by saying “Boomer Sooner.” A representative proposed an amendment to strike the phrase due to the controversy surrounding it, and others worried the resolution showed favoritism toward sports teams.

8

Bugs, mold found in OU-provided food

Photos and a video showed bugs and mold inside of OU-provided food in early December. As a result, OU student Ivey Dyson started an online petition proposing a change in the training of food handlers and a reassessment of food service facilities.

9

New believers bubble up at First Pastafarian Church of Norman

Don’t litter, wear deodorant, don’t be an asshole: these are just a few of the commandments of the First Pastafarian Church of Norman, located on Crawford Avenue. Members of the church worship the Flying Spaghetti Monster, believe humans evolved from pirates and believe heaven has a beer volcano and stripper factory.

10

F

Soonerthon raises over $721K for children’s hospitals, breaks record

The record for money raised in one Soonerthon cycle was shattered in March when it was announced the fundraiser raised $721,941.16 for children’s hospitals. This broke last year’s record of $561,268.15.

PICTURED ABOVE: A. PHOTO PROVIDED BY NPD

Norman Police Department officer Kyle Canaan puts a donkey in his car Dec. 1, 2015.

B. PHOTO PROVIDED

YG performs in Philadelphia Aug. 31, 2014.

C. PHOTO PROVIDED

Mold found in meat at Couch Restaurants Dec. 2, 2015.

D. SIANDHARA BONNET/THE DAILY

Members of student congress vote against a resolution that included the phrase “Boomer Sooner” April 19.

E. COLLINS LENFANT/THE DAILY

President David Boren moderates a discussion Sept. 24, 2015. Boren announced he wouldn’t change “Sooner” until all alumni agree to change it.

F. SIANDHARA BONNET/THE DAILY

Co-founders stand in front of the First Pastafarian Church of Norman April 27.

G. SIANDHARA BONNET/THE DAILY

The blue group at Soonerthon learns a dance March 5.

H. TYLER WOODWARD

Reporters from various news outlets interview Shirley Phelps, a member of Westboro Baptist Church, who is being guarded by an OU police officer Thursday, Oct. 8, 2015.

I. NOOR EEMAAN/THE DAILY

Sen. Bernie Sanders held a campaign rally in the Cox Business Center in Tulsa Feb. 24.

J. ANDREW CLARK/THE DAILY

Former Republican presidential candidate Ted Cruz speaks at a rally.

We Love Our Readers Event

GRAND PRIZE WINNER RESERVED PARKING SPACE

AUSTIN TAYLOR

2

ADVERTISEMENT

• May 9-13, 2016

THE UNIVERSITY COMMUNITY LOOKS FORWARD TO CELEBRATING YOUR ACADEMIC ACCOMPLISHMENTS DURING GRADUATION WEEKEND ACTIVITIES! JOIN US FOR COMMENCEMENT 2016 7 PM FRIDAY, MAY 13 THE GAYLORD FAMILY - OKLAHOMA MEMORIAL STADIUM TAKE THE COMMENCEMENT CART! BM L ?K>> :G= HI>G MH :EE @N>LML :G= @K:=N:M>L' AVOID TRAFFIC AND PARKING CHALLENGES AT COMMENCEMENT BY PARKING AT LLOYD NOBLE CENTER AND TAKING THE CART DIRECTLY TO THE GAYLORD FAMILY - OKLAHOMA MEMORIAL STADIUM. THE CART WILL RUN CONTINUOUSLY FROM 5 - 11 PM.

ATTEND YOUR COLLEGE CONVOCATION SATURDAY, MAY 14 FOR A COMPLETE SCHEDULE OF CONVOCATIONS, VISIT OU.EDU/COMMENCEMENT AND CLICK ON CONVOCATIONS/RECEPTIONS.

ATTEND THE CLOCK WALK!

LEGEND WARNS STUDENTS TO AVOID WALKING NG=>K MA> <EH<D MHP>K HK MA>R PHG M GRADUATE ON TIME! GRADUATES ARE INVITED TO PARTICIPATE IN THIS RITE OF PASSAGE AT BIZZELL CLOCK TOWER BETWEEN 11 AM AND 6 PM ON SATURDAY, MAY 14, AND RECEIVE A COMPLIMENTARY PHOTO TO COMMEMORATE YOUR CLOCK WALK. FREE FOOD AND FUN!

VISIT OU.EDU/COMMENCEMENT FOR MORE INFORMATION INCLUDING MAPS AND DAY OF INSTRUCTIONS THE UNIVERSITY OF OKLAHOMA IS AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY INSTITUTION. WWW.OU.EDU/EOO FOR ACCOMMODATIONS, CONTACT THE OU GRADUATION OFFICE AT (405) 325-0841.

May 9-13, 2016 •

NEWS

3A

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

Joe Mussatto Editor in Chief Andrew Clark News Managing Editor Dana Branham Engagement Managing Editor Spenser Davis Sports Editor Jessica Barber A&E Editor Supriya Sridhar Special Projects Editor Siandhara Bonnet Visual Editor Mia Chism Copy Manager

contact us 160 Copeland Hall, 860 Van Vleet Oval Norman, OK 73019-2052

phone:

405-325-3666

email:

dailynews@ou.edu 160 Copeland Hall, 860

The Oklahoma Van Vleet Oval Daily is a public forum, the University of Oklahoma’s independent student voice and an entirely student-run publication.

Letters should concentrate on issues, not personalities, and must be fewer than 250 words, typed and signed by the author(s).

Letters will be edited for accuracy, space and style. Students must list their major and classification. To submit letters, email dailyopinion@ou.edu.

Our View is the voice of the Editorial Board, which consists of eight student editors. The board meets at 10:30 a.m. and 4:30 p.m.

Monday to Thursday in Copeland Hall, Room 160. Board meetings are open to the public.

Guest columns are accepted and printed at the editor’s discretion.

Columnists’ and cartoonists’ opinions are their own and not necessarily the views or opinions of The Oklahoma Daily Editorial Board.

To advertise in The Oklahoma Daily, contact the advertising manager by calling 405-325-8964 or emailing dailyads@ ou.edu.

One free copy of The Daily is available to members of the OU community. Additional copies may be purchased for 25 cents by contacting The Daily business office at 405325-2522.

Corrections: Corrections: The The Daily Daily is is committed committed to to accuracy accuracy in its its publications. publications. If If in you you fi find nd an an error error in in a a story, story, email email dailynews@ dailynews@ ou.edu or visit oudaily. ou.edu or visit oudaily. com/corrections to com/site/corrections submit correction .html toasubmit a form. correction form.

stay connected

/oudaily /oudaily

@oudaily @oudaily

@theoklahomadaily @theoklahomadaily

oudaily oudaily

oudaily.com oudaily.com

VOL. 101, NO. 92

© 2016 OU Publications Board FREE — Additional copies 25¢

MARY SMITH/THE DAILY

OU Provost Kyle Harper speaks on virtue, community and higher education in a lecture hosted by the Institute for the Study of Human Flourishing Dec. 8, 2015.

According to Harper, OU considers rank, discipline and merit when determining faculty pay.

Pay gap proves persistent White male faculty members receive more on average PAGE JONES @pagejones31

At OU, minority and female faculty members are outnumbered and receive less pay on average than their white male coworkers.

The average salary for white male faculty members at OU is $89,849 — the most of any race or gender at OU, according to salary data from the OU Open Records Office.

White men also make up about 47 percent of the fulltime faculty at OU, and white women make up 27 percent of the faculty, according to the records.

Kyle Harper, OU provost, said when determining faculty pay at OU, three factors

are considered: rank, discipline and merit.

“Someone might be a faculty member in finance, someone might be a faculty member in the humanities and their salaries are going to be strongly influenced by the rates of pay in those disciplines,” Harper said.

This means some disciplines will have faculty with higher salaries than other disciplines, which is all based on the national market for professors in those disciplines, Harper said.

The three disciplines with the most minority staff are African American studies, Native American studies and computer science, according to records provided by the Institutional Research and Reporting Office.

The average salary for these three disciplines is 16 percent or more below the

average salary at peer institutions, according to the records.

Rank within a discipline is a key determinant of pay, Harper said. Faculty members wanting to be on a tenure track will start off as assistant professors for six years. After those six years are over, a faculty member will be reviewed by the college and may or may not receive tenure and a promotion to associate professor, Harper said.

After another six years, associate professors can be considered to become full professors and are again reviewed by the college, the dean, the provost and the president, Harper said.

“The full professor is the highest rank on that scale; (they’re) generally our senior faculty. It’s the faculty who are in that point in their career where they have accomplished a lot as teachers and researchers,” Harper said.

White men are the

“Someone might be a faculty member in finance, someone might be a faculty member in the humanities and their salaries are going to be strongly influenced by the rates of pay in those disciplines.”

KYLE HARPER, OU PROVOST

majority of the academic faculty at the highest rank, filling 62 percent of full professor positions at OU, according to the records acquired from the open records office.

Diverse representation among faculty members has been a concern voiced by student groups like Unheard, which listed a lack of representation as one of its grievances in January 2015.

Harper said the goal of the university is to have the best staff it can for all its students.

“We want the best faculty to achieve our mission, and I think one dimension of that is you’ll need faculty who are going to be effective in a diverse variety of classes, for a community with a diverse variety of students,” Harper said.

Page Jones

pagejones@ou.edu

CAC moves toward more inclusivity Students, groups say council’s efforts still could improve DEREK PETERSON @DrPetey15

Campus Activities Council has been criticized over the past year for not being diverse or inclusive enough, but one group on campus thinks the organization is at least trying to change that.

Marie Nguyen, president of the Asian American Student Association, said she thinks CAC has been better this year at providing opportunities to all the students on campus.

“There was (a diversity problem) in the past, and I still think there is more room for improvement, but I felt like this year it was a little bit better,” she said. “I felt like we were being included more this year.”

Nguyen said CAC was reaching out to and interacting with AASA members during the planning stages of CAC events, something Nguyen said she didn’t necessarily ask for but was an effort on the part of CAC. “I felt like we were being noticed, and that felt pretty cool,” Nguyen said.

In March, CAC was criticized following an OU Nightly story, which has since been retracted, that claimed CAC was made up of almost 84 percent white students. In fact, 32.18 percent of CAC members are nonwhite, according to statistics provided by former CAC Chair Chloe Tadlock.

OU Unheard, a black student alliance, also released a “report card” in March

that accused CAC of giving “disproportionate resources” to the Black Student Association during homecoming, affecting BSA’s level of involvement in the event.

It also said larger organizations were given “free reign to freely impede over inferior organizations without proper accountability from any faculty, administration, or advisor.”

“I think this year they did a lot better job of reaching out to us and our community,”Dasol Lee, the vice president of AASA said.

Both Nguyen and Lee said that while in the past CAC has not been as inclusive as it could be, they noticed a difference this year that gives them reason for optimism.

Nguyen said the makeup of CAC might just be due to white students being more attracted to CAC then other students. Now, she thinks CAC is trying to attract other students on campus, as well.

DANA BRANHAM/THE DAILY

Asian American Student Association President Marie Nguyen believes CAC has done a better job reaching out to minority groups on campus this year.

initiative. These organizations are trying to adhere to the guidelines that we have set with the university, but no, not much has changed.”

“Unless CAC and SGA and all these higherup organizations are going to start offering multicultural organizations more money to fund programs that better their community, then no, we’re not going to see change.”

CHELSEA DAVIS, OU UNHEARD MEMBER

“They want to improve it,” Nguyen said.

Chelsea Davis, a member of OU Unheard, agreed CAC has made the effort to change but said there is still a ways to go.

“We haven’t met with CAC or its representatives this semester,” Davis said. “Last semester we were invited to a couple roundtables to help kick off their diversity

Davis said there is a lack of genuine respect between CAC and the other minority groups on campus, and that’s something she said hasn’t changed much this year.

“I think that if you really want to see change, then we’re going to have to put money where people’s mouths are,” Davis said. “Unless CAC and SGA and all these higher-up

organizations are going to start offering multicultural organizations more money to fund programs that better their community, then no, we’re not going to see change.”

Davis said while there is a bit of a “two-way street” between students wanting to be a part of CAC and CAC having them, she doesn’t think CAC is doing enough to encourage minority students to join.

“That’s a sellout, or copout, excuse for why CAC isn’t doing better in their diversity efforts,” she said. “If students aren’t wanting to be involved, then CAC needs to look at itself as a whole and see why that space is not welcome to minorities and students of color.”

Davis said CAC still needs to do a better job of creating a “welcoming” and “safe” environment.

“There’s not going to be

change overnight,” CAC Chair Aimee Schnebeck said. “We’re not going to wake up the next day and everything is going to be great.

It might not even happen in a year. We’re certainly going to try and continue to make the efforts.”

Schnebeck said CAC was active this year in communicating with different multicultural groups, the Black Student Association in particular, about events or opportunities to become involved with CAC. She also said CAC had two former BSA presidents on their general council this past year.

“We want to bring different voices in to general council so that we have different perspectives,” Schnebeck said. “We really are trying and making an effort.”

Derek Peterson

Derek.R.Peterson-1@ ou.edu

4A •

NEWS

May 9-13, 2016

Cuts loom over state’s schools Oklahoma faces teacher shortages amid budget crisis ANNA MAYER

@Honestly_Anna

Oklahoma public education will face a nearly $110 million budget cut by the end of the fiscal year June 30, negatively impacting all schools in the state.

O k l a h o ma e d u cat i o n ranks 48th in the nation, and some believe the budget cuts could hurt its quality even further. With the additional cuts, education administrators are worried it will be even more difficult to improve the standing and are planning for the worst.

“We must find ways to make required cuts in a manner that will do the least amount of damage to our core mission and to the excellence which has been built at the university,” OU President David Boren said in an email to university faculty and staff last month.

Boren isn’t the only one preparing for adjustments.

Joseph Siano, the superintendent of Norman Public Schools, said what concerns him more than the money is the quality.

have the quality or the resources to pay for,” Siano said, mentioning that the Norman Public Schools system already faces a shortage of a 1,000 teachers.

Siano is worried that even if O klahoma education managed to accrue more money, there would not be any more well-qualified teachers left in the state to hire because they have all been driven out.

all current and future public university students.

Siano said the rise in tuition has caused hesitancy among all high school students considering attending college, especially those from low-income families.

Around 50 percent of students enrolled at Norman Public Schools are on free and reduced lunch, Siano said, therefore turning the possibility of higher educa-

“We get lots of people who, regardless of the negative aspects of teaching, can’t wait to come into the college. It’s definitely a challenge ... but we still get tons and tons of people where that’s their passion.”

GREGG GARN, COLLEGE OF EDUCATION DEAN

That is also a concern of Gregg Garn, dean of the OU College of Education, who said around 60 percent of the college’s graduates leave the state to seek better teaching jobs, and that it is becoming increasingly difficult to keep them in Oklahoma.

“The sort of discrepancy in terms of the salary gap between us and surrounding states, it continues to increase,” Garn said.

Garn said that as a result of more teacher education graduates leaving the state, Oklahoma has had to hire “emergency” teachers — people with no teaching degrees or experience.

The Oklahoma State Board of Education approved 503 emergency certifications last August.

Meanwhile, the educaJOSEPH SIANO tion budget cuts have been accompanied by a sharp in“It doesn’t matter the crease in higher education money you have if you don’t tuition, a detail that affects

tion into an equity one.

“They are more and more isolated from getting higher-ed opportunities,” Siano sa i d o n stu d e nt s g o i ng through adverse conditions.

“It affects their high school grades too because they don’t feel like they have anything to strive for anymore.”

“You don’t want a state of have and have-nots,” he added.

Garn said the higher education barriers are something that should definitely be addressed, but even still, enrollment at the College of Education has not been severely affected.

“We get lots of people who, regardless of the negative aspects of teaching, can’t wait to come into the college,” he said. “It’s definitely a challenge … but we still get tons and tons of people where that’s their passion.”

Garn said the higher cost of an education is one of

the reasons the Debt-Free Teachers program was put into place. For any recent education graduate with student debt, Oklahoma is willing to pay $5,000 every year toward the debt for four years so long as the graduate works as a teacher in the state.

Garn said the program has been able to keep some students from leaving, but not enough. “ You ’ l l n e ve r g o i nt o teaching for a huge check … but there has to be that livable salary,” he said.

As of now, there have not been many attempts at combating the education budget crisis in Oklahoma, but Boren has proposed his own solution: an increase in the state sales tax by 1 cent on the dollar. Boren hopes the penny tax would raise an additional $615.5 million to go toward state education.

His plan will be put on the November ballot if the process of gathering signatures for a petition is successful.

Anna Mayer

PROPOSED REVENUE BREAKDOWN OF BOREN’S PENNY SALES TAX

$378 million: Funding to raise teacher salaries $125 million: Higher education funding

anna.n.mayer@gmail.com

STARTING TEACHER SALARY BY STATE, 20122013

$50 million: Grants, locally controlled reforms $50 million: Early Childhood Education

Oklahoma: $31,606 Texas: $38,091 Kansas: $33,386 Arkansas: $32,691 Colorado: $32,126 Source: National Education Association

$12.5 million: Vocational tech school system

Total: $615.5 million Source: Oklahoma’s Children-­­Our Future DANA BRANHAM/THE DAILY

5A

ADVERTISEMENT

• May 9-13, 2016

Save big on your MBA or Master of Accountancy degree with a limited-time offer from Oklahoma Christian University. Enroll now to lock in your tuition and save almost $2,000 on your degree.

Choose from eight degree tracks to personalize your MBA degree plan. Take classes online, at our Oklahoma City campus, or both!

It’s the perfect time to make a boss move for your career. Enroll by July 4 to get the best value from the #1 Best Value Christian MBA in the USA.

ONSITE OR ONLINE • OC.EDU/BOSS

GRADUATE SCHOOL OF BUSINESS

6A

NEWS

• May 9-13, 2016

New doctor welcomed aboard Pyschiatrist hired to shore up gaps in mental health care

MENTAL HEALTH AT OU • OUr Mental Health held its first meeting Oct. 18 when its name was still Sooner Mental Health.

MARY SMITH

@marysmitty21

OU hired a new psychiatrist at the Goddard Counseling Center after two special issues by The Daily that highlighted the university’s lack of mental health resources on campus.

OU President David Boren authorized the psychiatrist’s hiring after The Daily published the issues in November. His response was encouraging to members of OUr Mental Health, a student group promoting mental health awareness, including its founder, public relations sophomore J.D. Baker.

“I was in complete awe at just how swiftly President Boren acted,” Baker said.

“He told me that even though there were budget cuts, we were going to find a way.”

Oklahoma ranks 49th in adult mental health care nationwide, and Boren said in a statement that the state must do more to address it.

“It is imperative that the entire state of Oklahoma increase its efforts in the area of mental health,” Boren said in the statement. “We cannot separate mental health needs from physical health needs.”

Ed Hill, the counseling center’s new psychiatrist, attended OU for his undergraduate and medical schooling and said he’s glad to be back at his alma mater.

“The staff at the University Counseling Center and at the Primary Care Clinic at the Goddard Health Center have been very welcoming,” Hill said in an email.

He has seen 50 new

• The Daily began its yOUrmentalhealth video series Oct. 28.

• Video Dates: - Oct. 28 (Ivey Dyson on anxiety) - Nov. 13 (JD Baker on depression, stigma in mental health, finding strength) - Nov. 20 (Audra Brulc on generalized anxiety disorder, ending mental illness stigma)

SIANDHARA BONNET/THE DAILY

Dr. Ed Hill was hired after OU President David Boren’s authorization. Hill has seen 50 clients since beginning work in March.

“It is imperative that the entrire state of Oklahoma increase its efforts in the area of mental health.”

DAVID BOREN, OU PRESIDENT clients since he began working in March and believes that having another psychiatrist at OU will improve access to mental health resources, he said in the email.

Scott Miller, the director of the University Counseling Center, said in an email that with two psychiatrists, they are now able to schedule 10 more appointments a week.

The reduced wait time will help get more peop l e ap p o i nt m e nt s, a n d what is good about the appointments is that there’s no time limit, Baker said.

Psychiatrists take their time

to help patients, he added.

He believes OU is meeting the basic needs of students with mental health issues to the best of its ability, but there is always room for improvement.

“It’s a multifaceted issue, and there could always be more done, but I know that the administration is doing everything it can right now,” Baker said.

From here Nicole Larsen, OUr Mental Health’s vice chair, wants to take the next step in educating the community about mental health and conveying the idea that

mental health goes along with physical health.

“If we could correct (the misconceptions), we would understand how to better care for those around us and to not treat people who struggle with mental health issues as outsiders or weird,” Larsen said.

Next fall, OUr Mental Health hopes to bring in mental health professionals to speak on campus and work with other areas on campus, such as Goddard Health Ser vices Center, Larsen said.

“Our vision is to create a campus on which all students are informed about and have ready access to mental health care, on which mental health issues are discussed openly, deeply and without stigmatization and on which mental health is considered just as serious

as physical health,” former vice chair Ben Kannenberg said on behalf of OUr Mental Health in an email.

With Oklahoma ranking behind only Arizona and Mississippi in adult mental health care, those of OUr Mental Health see that a change is necessary, and believe more must be done to address mental health not only at OU, but in the state as a whole.

Mary Smith

mcsooner19@gmail.com

- Dec. 6 (Cooper Lund on weight of depression, ending mental illness stigma) - Dec. 13 (Jeremiah Stinnett on social anxiety, getting better) • The Daily reported on Sooner Mental Health changing its name to OUr Mental Health Nov. 4, but the exact date of the name change is unknown.

• The Daily ran its mental health special issues Nov. 23 and Nov. 24. Boren authorized the hiring of a new psychiatrist just hours after the first issue appeared on racks Nov. 23.

MENTAL HEALTH IN OKLAHOMA • Oklahoma’s nationwide ranking in adult mental health care: 49th.

• Oklahoma’s nationwide ranking in child mental health care: 43rd.

NORMAN’S

BEST KEPTSECRET.

THE BEST CHOICE

for STUDENT HOUSING!

YOU COULD GET A FREE MONTH OF RENT *certain restrictions apply.

• • • •

All Inclusive Rates Walking Distance From Campus Bike Share & Zipcars Private Shuttle to Campus

Schedule your tour online today! ReserveStinson.com

730 Stinson Street | Norman, OK 73072

NEWS

May 9-13, 2016 â&#x20AC;˘

SGA leader adjusts plans Points of original platform met with challenges in 2016 TANNER OSBORNE @tannerosbear

D a n i e l Pa e, S t u d e n t Government Associationâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s president, had six initiatives at the beginning of his term. At the end of the academic year, varying degrees of progress have been made on each of them. Take a look at the initiatives below and what progress has been made in enacting them: Dead week reform One of the biggest issues taken up by Pae and his administration was dead week reform, now referred to as pre-finals week reform.

Pae said reforming OUâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s pre-finals week policies has been an agenda item f o r S G A p re s i d e n t s f o r many years now. SGA Vice President Michael Lutter said he is happy with the administrationâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s efforts. â&#x20AC;&#x153;This is the furthest legislation like this has gone in 17 years,â&#x20AC;? Lutter said.

Pae said he, Lutter and his cabinet took a different approach to the pre-finals week issue than other administrations had in the past.

Pae said they first polled students in order to better understand what exactly students were looking for with reforms, then had several series of meetings with faculty and the faculty senate in order to find a compromise.

This compromising has led to continuous reductions and regular changing of the pre-finals week proposal, which looks vastly different in its final form than it did a few months ago.

The final proposal will

NOOR EEMAAN/THE DAILY

SGA President Daniel Pae attends the housing awards banquet in the Beaird Lounge April 1. Dead week reform was a big issue Pae wanted to address.

have only two propositions: no tests, quizzes or exams be given during pre-finals week, and all pre-finals week rules and policies be clearly outlined on all syllabi.

OU President David Borenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s penny tax proposal Pae and Lutter planned to support Borenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s penny tax proposal to better fund education in Oklahoma.

Soon after their term actually began, Pae and Lutter were informed that they could not endorse the proposal as student leaders due to rules and regulations of SGA, so that aspect was eliminated.

Bike-sharing initiative Similarly, before much progress could be made with the proposed bike-sharing initiative, the proposal was struck down in order to save money after a bad budget year for OU. However, Pae said they still want to make this a service a priority for the coming semester, and have attempted to lay some

groundwork for a â&#x20AC;&#x153;scaled downâ&#x20AC;? model of the original plan.

Lu t t e r s a i d t h e re a re plans in the works for 10 or so bikes and racks to be set up on campus, possibly by next semester.

Better educating about SGAâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s role to students As far as educating the student body about SGA, Pae and Lutter led a series of what they called â&#x20AC;&#x153;South Oval Offices,â&#x20AC;? where they set up a table and tent and allowed students to come to them and ask about what they do. â&#x20AC;&#x153;We have taken steps to make SGA more transparent,â&#x20AC;? Pae said.

The first â&#x20AC;&#x153;S outh O val Office,â&#x20AC;? which Pae said was a real success, focused on Higher Education Day, a day where students and student leadership could gather at the state capitol to air their grievances about education budgeting to representatives.

Pa e s a i d t h e y s i g n e d about 60 students up for the event and that Higher

â&#x20AC;&#x153;This is the furthest legislation like this has gone in 17 years.â&#x20AC;?

MICHAEL LUTTER, SGA VICE PRESIDENT

Education Day itself was also very successful.

Legal counsel for students Lutterâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s main focus of the year was a student legal counsel initiative, something he said the administration has made significant progress on.

The initiative will provide counseling services to students regarding certain legal matters, with exceptions such as student vs. student cases.

The proposal for the service has already been approved, Lutter said, and now it is a matter of hiring the right part-time attorney for the job and working on a referral system with local lawyers and attorneys to set up discounted prices and sessions for students when the case facing a student is beyond the scope of the on-campus service. â&#x20AC;&#x153; We h a v e s e e n t h i s working at other colleges that provide similar services,â&#x20AC;? Lutter said.

Campus food pantry Another initiative taken up later in the spring semester by Pae and Lutter is a campus food pantry.

Pae said progress has been made on the pantry due to the work of his cabinet and other student organizations.

The pantry will provide canned and non-perishable food items for those in need at OU, as well as some basic hygiene products, such as deodorant and toothbrushes.

The pantry will serve the students and faculty at OU for free, and Pae said it should be hopefully running around this August.

7A

THE YEARâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;S MOST READ As we near the end of the school year, we looked back at the five most-read stories from the fall and spring semesters using page view data from Google Analytics. Some of these stories were zany, some were serious, and a couple focused on the rivalry between OU and Texas. Without further ado, our five most-read posts: 1. POLL: Vote on your favorite homecoming board Honestly, weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re a little shocked this is the topread story of the year. It was just a simple PlayBuzz poll â&#x20AC;&#x201D; what happened? (Our hunch: Maybe some of the homecoming board creators thought our poll was a way to earn points and officially win the competition. It wasnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t.)

2. OU President David Boren says changing the word â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Soonerâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; unlikely OU President David Boren said in a statement that the only way OU would change the words â&#x20AC;&#x153;Boomerâ&#x20AC;? and â&#x20AC;&#x153;Soonerâ&#x20AC;? is if its almost 245,000 alumni agreed to it. The statement followed calls from members of Indigenize OU eradicate of the word â&#x20AC;&#x153;Soonerâ&#x20AC;? from the universityâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s identity due to its historical context of the Oklahoma land run.

3. Obituary: Mourning the loss of Texas football For The Dailyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s half of the OU/Texas editorial swap, we paid tribute to the fallen Texas Longhorns football team.

4. Oklahoma reports surge in earthquakes during 2015 It was a rocky year for Oklahoma, literally. More than 850 earthquakes of magnitude 3.0 or greater shook Oklahoma, compared to 584 of the same magnitude in 2014 and 109 in 2013.

5. Oklahoma football: Players and coaches calling for a 12th man Saturday night Before the final home game of the season against TCU, players and coaches called for the crowd to get them fired up. With a 7 p.m. kickoff, coach Bob Stoops told fans theyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;d have an extra hour to â&#x20AC;&#x153;get charged up.â&#x20AC;?

Dana Branham, @danabranham

Tanner Osborne

Tannerosborne84@yahoo. com

3+, %(7$ .$33$

WKH SUHPLHU KRQRUDU\ VRFLHW\ IRU WKH OLEHUDO DUWV DQG VFLHQFHV LV SOHDVHG WR DQQRXQFH WKH VHQLRUV MXQLRUV HOHFWHG WR PHPEHUVKLS IRU

Jessica Ackerman Katherine Adams Mian Ali Erik Allison Joseph Altermatt Chris Anderson Lauren Anto Maxwell Appel Heidi Babin Christian Bailor Courtney Balke Christopher Baze Christopher Bender Madison Beneda-Bender Jack Bergum Saba Bingabr Lauren Black Caroline Blakley Adisson Bolles Brett Borchardt Chelsea Bowman Jessica Brewer Adam Brobson Marisa Brumfield Kendall Burchard Jennie Burger Kari Burnett Natasha Camacho Katie Cannon Sarah Capps Keelan Cassidy Teah Caughlin Andrew Chandler Christina Cheng Jamie Christian Coree Clinton Emily Cole Megan Conner Leslie Corbly Gregory Cox Alexander Craig Destiny Crowley Brandon Curd Thomas Davis Joseph DeAngelis Nicole DeYear Tawna Dickens Maegan Dilks Arthur Dixon Melissa Doan Storm Dowd-Lukesh Graham Dudley Caleb Duggan Ashten Duncan Jason Dydynski Nathan Edmonsond Landon Eggleston Lena Erickson Emily Estes Elise Fast Lisa Fiedler Priya Filinto Ashlyn Fouret Meaghan Frank Rachel Frazier Rahul Gaikwad Katherine Garbarino

Brenna Gardell Mohsain Gill Daniella Glidewell Sarah Grebennikov Briana Hall Molly Hall Allyson Hamill Taylor Hamstra Derek Hansen David Harrison Aison Hausner Kendra Havens Steven Hefner Hayden Hefner Benjamin Hildebrandt Michaela Hill Kathryn Hillis Hayley Hinsberger Maggie Hogan Kaitlyn Holland Holly Holmaas Amber Hubbard Harmony Hughes Saba Imani Darby Jalbert Aakash Jivan Derrick Jones Alexandra Jones Anthony Joyce Thomas Joyce Tarryn Kahre Austin Keeton Amber Kenworthy Ali Khan Hanna Kimpel Laura Kincaide Elizabeth Knapp JoAnne Kosta Rachel Lampi Nicole Lardner Micah Larsen Austin Larue Stephanie Lee Alexandra Len Alissa Lindsey Mary Littlefield Holly Loeffler Johnathon Loera Jorgen Lund Tran Luong Sarah Lynch Carlie Malone Elan Marche Erika Marrs Conner Martin Jake Martin Lauren McGraw Allison Mee Reagan Metz Marie Mihara Sarah Miles Reece Miller Travis Miller Monique Mogilka Ana Mohammed-Zadeh Megan Mont Rachael Montgomery

Elena Morgan Daniel Moses Taylor Murphy Thomas Murphy Alaina Nash Katie Ngo Jennifer Nguyen Derek Nguyen Tyler Nguyen Alana Niblett Jordan Nix Molly Oberstein-Allen Emilee Oâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;Hair Alyssa Orton Franklin Otis Hayley Parker Darshit Patel Arianna Patton Brenna Paul Andrew Pham John Pham Samantha Phillips Susanna Pyatt Hayley Raasch Robin Rainey Chad Ratashak Anne Reburn Alicia Reynolds Brittany Ribble Jordan Rippetoe Justin Robbins Emily Roberts Dillon Roberts Brandon Robinson Nicole Rodriguez Monique Rodriguez Nicholaus Rohleder Heath Rosenberger Ashlyn Rude David Rudolph Daniel Schexnayder Hayley Severson Kaitlyn Sheehy Josie Simmons Margaret Sine Kristin Smelser Morgan Smith Alexandra Smith Danielle Snyder Frank Speer Frances Springer Stephen Stacy Sylvienne Staines Marta Stangl Kelly Stephens Kiersten Strachan Stoffel Strange Kaitlyn Streight Samantha Stroup Cassandra Swatek Kathleen Taylor Angela Thoman Clara Thomson Alicia Tomlin Amanda Tomlinson Autena Torbati Cole Townsend

Stephen Tran Daniel Tritz Chandlar Vazquez Melody Vidmar Taylor Warta Elizabeth Wells Sarah Whitson Brooke Wiederkehr Brady Williams Hannah Wilson Maureen Wolf Courtney Woltjen Angel Worth Alan Xing Jiyoun Yoo Samuel York Ashley Young Andrew Young Matthew Young Yanjia Zhou

JUNIORS Alice Barrett Karlee Bradberry Ethan Holaday Hannah Lanneau Jordan Larsen Elizabeth Low Samuel Madaj Connor Moore Rachel Schaub Linda Stack-Nelson Rachel Thatcher Lena Wilson Matthew Zisi

3KL %HWD .DSSD ZDV IRXQGHG LQ DW WKH &ROOHJH RI :LOOLDP DQG 0DU\ DQG WKH 8QLYHUVLW\ RI 2NODKRPD¡V FKDSWHU $OSKD RI 2NODKRPD ZDV FKDUWHUHG LQ )RU RYHU WZR KXQGUHG \HDUV HOHFWLRQ WR 3KL %HWD .DSSD KDV EHHQ D UHFRJQLWLRQ RI LQWHOOHFWXDO FDSDFLWLHV ZHOO HPSOR\HG HVSHFLDOO\ LQ WKH DFTXLULQJ RI DQ HGXFDWLRQ LQ WKH OLEHUDO DUWV DQG VFLHQFHV 3KL %HWD .DSSD ³ UHFRJQL]LQJ 28¡V H[FHOOHQFH )RU PRUH LQIRUPDWLRQ SOHDVH FRQWDFW .HUP\W $QGHUVRQ DW NJDQGHUV#RX HGX RU &UDLJ +D\HV DW UFKD\HV#RX HGX

8A

• May 9-13, 2016

SPORTS

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

Recapping a magical year in OU sports Basketball, football and gymnastics provide memorable moments

1. Final Four run

SIANDHARA BONNET/THE DAILY

Senior guard Buddy Hield speaks to his teammates during the game against Villanova April 2. The Sooners lost 95-51 after trailing 42-28 at the half.

2. College Football Playoff bid Leading up to the NCAA Tournament, there was plenty of doubt as to how far Oklahoma would actually go in the Big Dance.

After a blazing start that saw them ascend to No. 1 in the nation, the Sooners struggled down the stretch with road losses at Kansas S t a t e a n d Te x a s Te c h .

But once the tournament began, OU found another elite gear, getting past Cal State Bakersfield and VCU in Oklahoma City before blowing out Texas A&M and Oregon in Anaheim to make it to its first Final Four since 2002. The Sooners came two wins short of the first national title in program history.

TYLER WOODWARD/THE DAILY

Oklahoma quarterback Baker Mayfield stiff-arms a Clemson defender at Sun Life Stadium in Miami Gardends, Florida, Dec. 31, 2015. OU fell to Clemson 37-17.

4. Buddy Hield’s season

3. Men’s/women’s gymnastics winning titles The men’s and women’s gymnastics teams made NCAA history April 16 when OU became the first school to have both teams win national titles in the same season. The Sooners are now tied with Penn State for combined national championships. This season’s national title marks the second consecutive title for men’s gymnastics and 10th in program history, while it is the second in three years for women’s gymnastics and second in program history.

OUDaily.com CHRISTOPHER MICHIE/THE DAILY

Senior gymnast Haley Scaman performs her floor routine at the National Championship competition at the Fort Worth Convention Center. The team won its second national title.

For a complete list of the top spring sports moments, visit oudaily.com/sports

CHRISTOPHER MICHIE/THE DAILY

Senior guard Buddy Hield searches the court during a game against Villanova April 2. Hield led the NCAA in three-pointers.

On Dec. 29, 2014, Oklahoma fell to 8-5 with a 40-6 loss to Clemson in the Russell Athletic Bowl. One year and two days later, the Sooners were off to face Clemson again the 2016 Orange Bowl for a spot in the national championship.

The Tigers once again prevailed, but OU’s run in the semifinal matchup brought the Sooners back to college football relevance.

Buddy Hield’s senior season ended as one of the most efficient scoring campaigns in recent memory. Hield led the NCAA in three-point makes and did so at a 45.7 percent clip. He also finished No. 2 nationally in scoring with 25 points per game en route to a Final Four appearance and the 2016 Wooden Award. But Hield also provided moments that will long outlive his tenure in Norman. Some of those moments cemented his legacy — a 46-point outburst at Allen Fieldhouse — while others did not — his half-court shot against West Virginia in the Big 12 tournament that came just after the buzzer — but all will be remembered.

ManeMan

The

No Appointment Necessary, non-requested stylist only

Haircuts $12.99 Main & Porter 127 N. Porter 360-4247

The Works

Cut & Color

$17.99

$55.99

Shampoo, Cut, & Blow Dry

1/4 mile W. of campus 1215 W. Lindsey 364-1325

Highlight add $10.00

W. Main & 24th 129 NW 24th 360-1325

268 2.& FDQ KHOS \RX VWD\ RQ WUDFN WR JUDGXDWH

Run The Numbers. *VU]LUPLU[ VUSPUL VY VU JHTW\Z VW[PVUZ PU 6RSHOVTH *P[` ,HYU [YHUZMLYHISL JYLKP[Z [V OLSW `V\ NYHK\H[L VU [PTL

The SMU Cox Master of Science in Business Analytics.

Top-ranked business school. 96% placement rate. 3:1 student-teacher ratio. $71,000 average starting salary. 1 smart career move.

APPLY TODAY. START THIS FALL. Learn more at coxmsba.com.

SMU will not discriminate in any program or activity on the basis of race, color, religion, national origin, sex, age, disability, genetic information, veteran status, sexual orientation, or gender identity and expression.

May 9-13, 2016 •

ARTS&ENTERTAINMENT

1B

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

Residence hall dwellers reflect

As the year ends, so will many experiences in the residence halls. Dorm life sets the tone for many students’ college experience, and a variety of different housing options means an array of experiences. Here are three students’ end-of-year thoughts on OU residential life: MIA PONS • @MIAISABEL4

NOOR EEMAAN/THE DAILY

SIANDHARA BONNET/THE DAILY

Chemical engineering and biotechnology freshman Jaimin Patel stands outside of the David L. Boren Hall where he has spent this year.

Sports management and marketing freshman Tyler Paul sits in the Headington Hall lobby. Paul says living in Headington has been “the ultimate experience.”

Jaimin Patel

Tyler Paul

Hometown: Mustang, Oklahoma Residence hall: David Boren Hall Major: Chemical engineering and biotechnology Patel said his experience living on campus has been fun.

“One thing for the honors dorm is it’s a commute, but ... you get to bond with your floormates a lot more than the other dorms,” Patel said.

He s a i d h e ha d s o m e fears at the beginning of the year.

“In high school people can’t really prepare you for college,” he said. “You actually have to live it. You have to be organized, prepared and make new friends.”

Patel said he wants his sophomore year to be about making good grades

and meeting new people.

When it comes to his future at OU, Patel said he wants to leave something behind.

“I feel like being able to participate is something OU provides,” he said. “It’s a very open experience that allows you to do a lot of things, and I want to be able to do that. I would sum it up as OU is the type of college that would allow me to reach my goals and endeavors.”

Hometown: Tulsa, Oklahoma Residence hall: Headington Hall Major: Sports management and marketing “It’s been like the ultimate experience (living in Headington Hall),” Paul said.

“You have everything you could want and need here.

It’s just kind of like a small community.”

However, Paul said he wishes he had talked to more people about college before coming.

He said time management is something he feels better prepared to handle during sophomore year.

“It’s kind of hard your freshman year to learn to balance academics, social life and family all at once,” he said.

As college continues, Paul said he is looking forward to his major.

“I’m looking forward to taking my classes that are going to apply to what I’m going to do in the future,” he said.

Paul said he was also pleased by OU’s sense of community.

“You hear ‘Sooner Family’ before you get here, but like I didn’t realize,” he said.

“It’s just like everybody’s here to help everybody. It’s a lot more close-knit than I thought it would be.”

NOOR EEMAAN/THE DAILY

Health and exercise science freshman Michael Takahata stands in front of Walker Tower, the residence hall he lived in this year.

Michael Takahata

Hometown: Oklahoma City Residence hall: Walker Tower Major: Health and exercise science, pre-physical therapy

“I like the community that the dorms involves,” Takahata said. “Just being a ro u n d s o m a n y p e o ple was fun, and being so close to my classes was convenient.”

Takahata said he was worried about his roommate situation at the start of the year.

“I do like my roommate, but I realize I would rather be just friends with him than roommates,” he said.

Takahata also said he regrets not using his on-campus resources during the year.

“I could have used my

resources better. The fact that I was so close to so many things here on campus already, when the only one I really used was the library,” he said.

Looking back, Takahata said, “I came to OU for the college experience. But now that I’m here, I appreciate OU for what it is — the whole community that’s here and all the resources that are available to me.”

OUDaily.com For another residence hall profile, visit oudaily.com/a_and_e

2B

ARTS&ENTERTAINMENT

â&#x20AC;˘ May 9-13, 2016

Shows highlight power of art This school year has included some great productions at the Weitzenhoffer College of Fine Arts. Plays, musicals and ballets all celebrated the arts and touched on some difficult concepts. Here are our editorâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s picks for the top shows of the year: JESSICA BARBER â&#x20AC;˘ @JESSICADYLAN16

â&#x20AC;&#x153;The Nutcrackerâ&#x20AC;?

â&#x20AC;&#x153;Carmina Buranaâ&#x20AC;?

Contemporary Dance Oklahoma

Every four years, Oklahoma Festival Ballet produces its The collaborative efforts from the music, dance and vocal Contemporary Dance Oklahoma included work from OU version of â&#x20AC;&#x153;The Nutcracker,â&#x20AC;? and luckily for us, the produc- departments of OU produced â&#x20AC;&#x153;Carmina Buranaâ&#x20AC;? this spring. professors and guest artists. The show was powerful and tion fell this Christmas. â&#x20AC;&#x153;The Nutcrackerâ&#x20AC;? was stunning and The performances were powerful, with the story being full of interesting topics ranging from physics to love. The classic, making it the top event this year. brought to life by dancers and a powerful, live score. performances were the perfect closing for the University Theatreâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s 2015-2016 season.

NOOR EEMAAN/THE DAILY

Katelyn Chargois and Joseph Van Harn dance the parts of the Sugar Plum Fairy and Cavalier in the Nutcracker. Oklahoma Festival Balletâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s performance opened Dec. 4, 2015.

Young Choreographersâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; Showcase

NOOR EEMAAN/THE DAILY

NOOR EEMAAN/THE DAILY

Carlie Preskitt and Isaac Martinez perform in the April 29 dress rehearsal of â&#x20AC;&#x153;Carmina Buranaâ&#x20AC;? in Sharp Concert Hall in the Catlett Music Center. The show was a collaborative effort between the schools of music and dance.

OU dance students perform Ilya Kozadayevâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s â&#x20AC;&#x153;Lucidâ&#x20AC;? during dress rehearsal April 28. Contemporary Dance Oklahoma featured dances choreographed by OU Dance faculty and guest choreographers.

â&#x20AC;&#x153;The Trojan Womenâ&#x20AC;?

â&#x20AC;&#x153;Ragtimeâ&#x20AC;?

The Young Choreographersâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; Showcase this year was filled This powerful play was a highlight of spring semester.

OUâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s musical theater department shined with its producwith new talent from dance students who created their own The ideology of war and its effects really hit home, espe- tion of â&#x20AC;&#x153;Ragtime.â&#x20AC;? â&#x20AC;&#x153;Ragtimeâ&#x20AC;? was a cross-departmental efpieces. With themes like depression and anxiety, the perfor- cially with all of the destruction current wars overseas have fort to include performers from every school under the OU mances gave light to the self-expression that arts provide for caused.

College of Fine Arts. many.

NOOR EEMAAN/THE DAILY

OU Dance students Cameron Morgan and Lauren Peterson perform Tye Loveâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s choreography to â&#x20AC;&#x153;Where is My Mindâ&#x20AC;? by Maxcene Cryin. Young Choreographersâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; Showcase offered dance students the opportunity to choreograph their own pieces.

NOOR EEMAAN/THE DAILY

Kat Combs plays Hecuba in â&#x20AC;&#x153;The Trojan Womenâ&#x20AC;?. The show ran in the Weitzenhoffer Theatre in the Fine Arts Center this February.

OUDaily.com

HOROSCOPE

For the full list of top 10 A&E moments, visit oudaily.com/a_and_e

By Eugenia Last

Copyright 2015, Newspaper Enterprise Assn.

own thing. Find a space that allows you peace of mind and provides the Your insight will be enhanced. Gather right setting to develop something information, participate in open dis- spectacular. cussions and collaborate with people who can offer different perspectives. SCORPIO (Oct. 24-Nov. 22) -- Sort out personal affairs and discuss your Making changes that add to your plans with an important person in appeal will also give you incentive your life. ItĘźs OK to do things differto keep up with current trends. ently. Someone with interesting ideas Romance will improve your life. will help you reach your destination.

TAURUS (April 20-May 20) -- Make things happen. Aim to improve your SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 23-Dec. 21) -- You are best off making some hands-on life. Alter your living quarters or changes to your residence. Physically lifestyle to suit your current needs moving things around or renovating and projects. Personal changes and a space to help carry out one of your romance are favored. dreams will be your best outlet.

GEMINI (May 21-June 20) -- Rethink CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19) -- You your next move. Something or someone will lead you astray. Resist can reap the rewards for smart temptation, and concentrate on what moves you have made in the past. you can accomplish. Arguing will not Financial gains, settlements and canny negotiations are all favored. bring the results you want.

Celebrate with someone you love.

CANCER (June 21-July 22) -- Your suggestions will be well received and will AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 19) -- Do put you in the running to advance or your best to bring about changes that will make others notice you. Children make personal gains. Partnerships or an older friend or relative will supare favored, and expanding ideas, port your efforts and decisions. making plans or broadening your surroundings will improve your life.

PISCES (Feb. 20-March 20) -- Say less and do more. YouĘźll have outstanding LEO (July 23-Aug. 22) -- You desire ideas that can help you bypass change, but will face opposition if anyone trying to make you look you are too blatant about what you want to do. Putting everything in its bad. A partnership is favored, as is romance. place before you share your plans will give you an advantage.

ARIES (March 21-April 19) -- DonĘźt be daunted by the changes going VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22) -- Engage in discussions that will increase your on around you. Turn any negative knowledge and help you gain respect you encounter into a positive.

Strive for perfection and detail, and from the people you deal with focus on getting things done. Work regularly. Short business trips will independently. give you an opportunity to promote your ideas.

MONDAY, MAY 9, 2016

Previous Solution

Instructions: Fill in the grid so that every row, every column and every 3x3 box contains the digits 1 through 9. That means that no number is repeated in any row, column or box.

Monday- Very Easy Tuesday-Easy Wednesday- Easy Thursday- Medium Friday - Hard

LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 23) -- DonĘźt let a challenge stop you from doing your

NOOR EEMAAN/THE DAILY

Musical theater senior Nancy Ross performs in dress rehearsal for OUâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s production of â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Ragtimeâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; Oct. 14.

Universal Crossword Edited by Fred Piscop May 9, 2016 ACROSS 1 Plant used as a ground cover 6 Genealogistâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s map 10 Small pooches, briefly 14 Significant __ 15 Redundant exclamation 16 Rapper on â&#x20AC;&#x153;Law & Order: SVUâ&#x20AC;?

17 Solo at a recital 19 Worst possible score 20 â&#x20AC;&#x153;Cross my heart!â&#x20AC;?

21 Match, as a bet 22 Director Snyder 23 Chicago paper, familiarly 25 Vast area 27 Plastic pipe material 30 Catch, in a way 32 Tyrolean peak 33 Basketball player, informally 36 Horse that hasnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t won 40 Set of morals 41 Tour transportation 43 â&#x20AC;&#x153;Wow!â&#x20AC;?

44 Entered 46 Texas flag symbol 48 Moneymanaging exec 49 Former NBA star Ming 50 Arboreal street name

5/9

51 Greet casually 55 Ready to pluck 58 Support, with â&#x20AC;&#x153;upâ&#x20AC;?

59 Air quality org.

61 Discriminatory, in a way 65 Mischiefmaking Norse god 66 â&#x20AC;&#x153;Well, arenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t you the perfectionist!â&#x20AC;?

68 â&#x20AC;&#x153;You asleep?â&#x20AC;? response 69 Year, on monuments 70 Not fancy at all 71 Like a broken bronc 72 Like one end of many pools 73 â&#x20AC;&#x153;Fiddler on the Roofâ&#x20AC;? matchmaker DOWN 1 Arizona tribe 2 Redding of R&B 3 Irwin or George Bernard 4 Religious principle 5 Loud, like a crowd 6 â&#x20AC;&#x153;More than I want to hear!â&#x20AC;?

7 Some deli loaves 8 Show host 9 Driverâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s license requirement 10 Dominoâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s deliveries 11 Neptuneâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s realm

12 Cougars or Bobcats, to auto buffs 13 Feed, as a furnace 18 Computer command under â&#x20AC;&#x153;Fileâ&#x20AC;?

24 Telly watchersâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; network, with â&#x20AC;&#x153;theâ&#x20AC;?

26 Cessna or Lear product 27 â&#x20AC;&#x153;That was close!â&#x20AC;?

28 Say â&#x20AC;&#x153;yea,â&#x20AC;? say 29 Red Scare lawyer Roy 31 Word in a letter sign-off 34 A choirmaster may toot one 35 â&#x20AC;&#x153;Star Trekâ&#x20AC;? genre 37 Go out with 38 â&#x20AC;&#x153;And others,â&#x20AC;? briefly

39 Expected outcome 42 Do some parasailing 45 Place to jot things down 47 See 5-Down 51 Banana concoction 52 Enticing emanation 53 Liâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;l Abnerâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s surname 54 State oneâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s views 56 Full of vim and vigor 57 Napoleon on Elba 60 Oily skin can cause it 62 Self-confident words 63 Burlesque bit 64 Daly of â&#x20AC;&#x153;Cagney & Laceyâ&#x20AC;?

67 Keystone lawman

PREVIOUS PUZZLE ANSWER PREVIOUS PUZZLE ANSWER

5/8

5/5

Š 2016 Universal Uclick www.upuzzles.com Š 2016 Universal Uclick

PI ARE SQUARED By Victor Fleming

May 9-13, 2016 •

OPINION

Dana Branham, engagement managing editor dailyopinion@ou.edu • phone: 405-325-3666 oudaily.com/opinion • Twitter: @OUDailyOpinion

‘Before I say goodbye, let me say thank you’ Joe Mussatto

jmussatto@ou.edu; @joe_mussatto

When I started covering softball for The Daily my freshman year, I never dreamed to one day be its editor. The job didn’t appeal to me. I liked writing and reporting too much. I didn’t feel comfortable in a leadership position.

Last spring my advisers somehow talked me into applying for the job. A little more than a year later, without hesitation, I can say it’s the best decision I’ve ever made. And now, way too soon, it’s already over.

But before I say goodbye, let me say thank you.

First, to all of you, the readers of The Daily: We never stop thinking about you. Our mission is to serve you, to provide you with essential news. We’re here to report the news with the accuracy and speed of a professional organization because that’s what you deserve. It’s been an honor to help keep you informed.

Thank you.

To President Boren: I’ll never forget talking to you after the December Board of Regents meeting about our staff ’s proposal to reduce The Daily’s print product to two days a week.

Six days later, we were in your office to finalize the historic change. Your support helped us reinvent our print edition while allowing us to fully commit to our online focus. You h av e a l w a y s re s p e c t e d The Daily’s editorial independence — even when it might not be in your best interest. Thank you.

To my a d v i s e r s, Ju d y Gibbs Robinson and Seth Prince: Both of you always believed in me, and I could never ask for more than that. I came to you both about everything, and you never turned me away. The two of you lead us in the right direction and push us to be our best. You’re both irreplaceable. I’ll always appreciate our time working together and look forward to being friends for as long as you’ll put up with me. Thank you.

Finally, to The Daily staff: I could never say enough.

You guys are the reason this job is so special. It’s impossible to understand the bond of a newsroom

3B

until you’re a part of it.

We’re a family. There was plenty of fun and laughs along the way, but I remember the days when I was tough on you guys, days when I wondered what the hell I was doing and days when I let you guys down. You all never stopped supporting me.

I’m going to miss this place because of you. We had a few rough patches, but we never stopped coming in the next day knowing it would be better. It always was. Thank you.

After a year on the job, I’m not sure I was ever satisfied after a day of work. Things I could’ve done better would race through my head on the way home. I always used that as motivation for the next day. I wanted to be better for all of you, and I never wanted to let anyone down.

I still don’t know if I was the right person to lead The Daily. I just know that I did my best through it all and never stopped loving this job. That’s enough to finally be satisfied.

Stories sparked conversation Take a look back at some of the issues and topics we covered that got you talking — from the Westboro Baptist Church’s visit to the university’s collective disdain for 11 a.m. kickoff times for football games.

1. Westboro Baptist Church visits OU I wonder if Westboro Baptist Church is planning on checking the forecast in Norman before they come out to see us? LOL — Zach Stanford (@zachstanford) September 29, 2015 Having run out of things to protest, Westboro Baptists will shake their fists at the sky.

— James G. Cobb (@NYCjamescobb) September 29, 2015

2. OU community responds to call for OU to move away from “Boomer Sooner” Making no judgment here on whether “Boomer Sooner” is offensive but saying “It’s too hard to change it” isn’t a good answer — D a n Wo l k e n ( @ D a n Wo l k e n ) September 29, 2015 If you want to remove boomer and sooner from OU then let’s just rename the whole state #RedPeople — Drew Purdin (@DrewPurdin) 3. 11 a.m. kickoff times for football games September 29, 2015 Does anyone ever “like” 11am kick offs? Give us 4. OU parking woes a break and set it to 6pm. @OUDaily give $ bonuses to students who — Morg an Harp er (@_mOUrg an) ditch the car for a bike. Setup bike sharing September 21, 2015 @OUDailySports Nooooooo not at all. Have stations?

— Chris Park (@chrisdopark) August to get around earlier and the atmosphere is 25, 2015 weaker.

Parking on campus is turning OU into the — Matt (@TheMadMatter) September 21, Hunger Games. May the odds be ever in your 2015 favor.

Joe Mussatto is a journalism senior and The Daily’s editor in chief

268 2.& FDQ KHOS \RX VWD\ RQ WUDFN WR JUDGXDWH

11 AM TO 6 PM SATURDAY, MAY 14 BIZZELL CLOCK TOWER

LEGEND WARNS STUDENTS TO AVOID WALKING UNDER THE CLOCK TOWER OR THEY PHG M @K:=N:M> ON TIME. GRADUATES ARE INVITED TO PARTICIPATE IN THIS RITE OF PASSAGE AT THE BIZZELL CLOCK TOWER BETWEEN 11 AM AND 6 PM ON SATURDAY, MAY 14, AND RECEIVE A COMPLIMENTARY PHOTO TO COMMEMORATE YOUR CLOCK WALK. *VU]LUPLU[ VUSPUL VY VU JHTW\Z VW[PVUZ PU 6RSHOVTH *P[` ,HYU [YHUZMLYHISL JYLKP[Z [V OLSW `V\ NYHK\H[L VU [PTL

THE FIRST 100 GRADUATES WILL RECEIVE A FREE CLASS OF 2016 CLOCK TOWER KEY CHAIN! FREE SNO CONES FROM ESKIMO SNO!

THE UNIVERSITY OF OKLAHOMA IS AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY INSTITUTION. WWW.OU.EDU/EOO FOR ACCOMMODATIONS, CONTACT THE OU GRADUATION OFFICE AT (405) 325-0841.

ADVERTISEMENT

May 9-13, 2016 •

4B