July 22-28, 2015

W W W.O U DA I LY.C O M

The University of Oklahoma’s independent student voice since 1916

2 015 S I LV E R C R O W N W I N N E R

J U LY 2 2-J U LY 2 8 , 2 015

Stoops

Justifies Mixon’s Return

PAGE 4&5

VOL. 100, NO. 140 © 2015 OU Publications Board FREE — Additional copies 25¢

PROFESSOR RESEARCHING MALARIA

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OKLAHOMA CONFEDERATE HISTORY 3

GREEK ROW RECEIVES FACE LIFT

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NEWS

• July 22 - July 28, 2015

OU professor developing vaccine Research to target transmission process of the virus ARLETTE ROJANO Staff reporter @arletterojano

An OU professor is developing a vaccine that could prevent the transmission of malaria and save millions of lives.

Jun Li, an assistant professor in the department of chemistry and biochemistr y, said his res earch started 12 years ago at the University of Minnesota. Li explained that as a child, he contracted malaria and when he heard about a research position that was focused on malaria, he took it in a heartbeat.

“After I graduated with a Ph.D in biochemistry, I saw a research position at the University of Minnesota,” Li said. “I saw this at a science journal and I said, ‘That is exactly what I want because I was infected by malaria when I was a child.’”

Li said that he has been working on this vaccine for more than a decade because “malaria has a very complicated system.” Many people are affected by malaria each year, and some even die from the virus.

“Asian malaria can last several years, sometimes even decades,” Li said. “Lots of people suffer from malaria, even famous people.”

Malaria is not a contagious disease; it is transmitted by mosquitoes, Li said. He said a mosquito must first bite an individual with the disease, become ill,

TORI CASS/THE DAILY

Assistant professor Jun Li performs part of an experiment that is expected to create a vaccine to prevent the spread of malaria from mosquito to human.

and then the mosquito can transmit the disease to another person.

“If I have malaria and you guys are healthy and we live together, you will not get infected,” Li said. “We need a mosquito as a kind of vector to transmit the malaria. For malaria to be transmitted, a mosquito must get infected first. It takes 10 days to get sick, and the mosquito is the ready to transmit the malaria to another person.”

L i explaine d that the

“We can’t always get the medication to where people are, so if we can significantly diminish how many mosquitos carry the virus, it can be a huge accomplishment.”

MORGAN MANN, UNDERGRADUATE RESEARCH ASSISTANT

vaccine he is developing blocks the transmission process, meaning that it prevents the mosquitoes from becoming ill from

malaria so that they will not be able to spread the disease. Li said that the vaccine will create an antibody that will breakdown

the molecule that enables the mosquito to contract malaria. “ The mosquito needs a type of protein to be infected by malaria,” Li said.

“If we can stop mosquitoes from contracting malaria by creating an antibody that will breakdown this molecule, then the mosquito will never contract the parasite. If the mosquito is not infected then there is no transmission.”

Morgan Mann, an

undergraduate research assistant, said the vaccine is different from other vaccines because it is not directly helping the humans who receive it. He said it is actually meant to affect the mosquitoes. Mann also said that because this process is so different, it might be difficult to convince people to take the vaccine since it will not immediately benefit them.

“It is harder to convince people to buy something that won’t directly affect them,” Li said.

Li said the practical analysis of the vaccine is complete and that they will soon start testing until they are sure that it is safe to use on humans.

Mann said the effects of a successful vaccine like this can be huge. He said it is hard to get the correct medicine to all the people that are affected by this disease, however, if the transmission of malaria can be reduced it can make a great difference, he said.

“We can’t always get the medication to where people are, so if we can significantly diminish how many mosquitoes carry the virus, it can be a huge accomplishment,” Mann said.

“I will feel like my hard work pay off,” Li said. “I will feel great, I suffered from malaria and I do not want others to suffer from malaria as well. If everything goes according to plan, we should have a great outcome within 5 years.”

Arlette Rojano arlette.j.rojano@ou

NEWS

July 22 - July 28, 2015 •

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Confederate flag rooted in OK history Racist connotation of Confederate flag present even today BRADY VARDEMAN

Digital Managing Editor @BradyVardeman

President Barack Obama visited Oklahoma last week and was greeted outside his Oklahoma City hotel by protesters waving Confederate flags, an event that quickly garnered national news attention just a week after South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley ordered the Confederate flag flying over the Statehouse to be removed.

The flag has roots in the Sooner state; in 1966, thenGov. Henry Bellmon erected a display of 14 flags which had once flown over the territory, one of which was the stars and bars.

It would remain on Capitol grounds for another 22 years before workers removed it, along with the other flags, in March 1988.

After a year of construction, the flags were put back on the poles. This time, however, there were only 13.

“I don’t know if the larger community knows what a negative symbol that is to minorities,” Rep. Don Ross, D-Tulsa, said in 1987. “That has become a symbol of the Klan and every other rightwing group. If that offends one of us, it ought to offend all of us.”

Originally, the flag and its seven variations were not associated with race. The Confederate flag came to Indian Territory in the early years of the Civil War when a Cherokee regiment fighting for the South created its own

EVAN VUCCI/AP PHOTO

People wave Confederate flags outside the hotel that President Barack Obama is staying the night, on Wednesday, July 15, 2015, in Oklahoma City. Obama is traveling in Oklahoma to visit El Reno Federal Correctional Institution.

battle flag.

The flag was more similar to the Union’s flag than the traditional stars and bars associated with the Confederacy. In a blue field in the upper left-hand corner was a circular array of stars along with three red and white horizontal stripes adorning the rest of the flag.

‘CHEROKEE BRAVES’ was printed across the middle stripe.

I n 2 0 0 2 , G o v. F r a n k Keating decided to do away with Bellmon’s flag tribute and fly only the current Oklahoma state flag in the semi-circle, the way it remains today.

However, a year later in 2003, one Oklahoma lawmaker attempt to pass legislation to fly the Cherokee

Braves flag on a pole on Capitol grounds. However, he was met with hostility from the public and fellow lawmakers alike, as well as planned protests.

Former OU Gaylord College of Journalism and Mass Communication dean Joe Foote said the flag does not symbolize racism and hate to all who fly it. Foote hails from Durant, Oklahoma, a region of the state often called ‘Little Dixie.’

When Obama visited the area last week, several trucks adorned with Confederate flags lined a highway in the morning before they were forced to disperse.

“There’s this southern identity and southern identification,” Foote said. “It’s very

firmly ingrained [in Durant].

I certainly felt it. I didn’t see it in a negative way growing up.

(There was) certainly a lot of southern pride and a feeling that part of the country knew its identity well.”

The Confederate flag became associated with racism in the 1940’s when President

Harry Truman began to support efforts to end lynching in the south and desegregate the military, according to The Atlantic. Although some who choose to fly it do so in the name of ‘southern pride,’ the flag’s racist connotation was present in 1987, 2002 and even today.

“It has a dysfunctional aspect,” Foote said. “I’m not sure the people who live there necessarily see it that way at all.”

Brady Vardeman brady.vardeman@gmail.com

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July 22 - July 28, 2015

JOE BUETTNER/THE DAILY Oklahoma football coach Bob Stoops addresses the media at the 2015 Big 12 Media Days event at the Omni Hotel in Dallas, Texas, on July 21, 2015.

MIXON’S

CONTROVERSIAL RETURN STOOPS DEFENDS HANDLING OF MIXON’S CASE

BRADY VARDEMAN

Digital Managing Editor @BradyVardeman

D

A L L A S — A s e xpected, Oklahoma coach Bob Stoops was hit with a question at Big 12 Media Days regarding OU’s handling of the Joe Mixon and Frank Shannon situations.

Mixon, infamously, was caught on video punching a female student in Pickleman’s on Campus Corner in Norman. Although the tape was never released to the public, the freshman was suspended for the entire 2014 season.

Shannon, on the other hand, was accused of violating Title IX when he was accused of sexually assaulting a female student in his off-campus apar tment.

Although he was never charged, he was expelled from the university for a year.

According to teammate Zack Sanchez, Shannon rejoined the team in late May. “There’s not only domestic violence, but there’s violence towards women, there’s violence in general,” Stoops said. “None of it should be tolerated and it has been disciplined.

“We disciplined in a certain way depending on the circumstances we have, and these guys have had significant penalties.”

OU’s handling of Mixon’s case has been called into

question over the last few weeks after Florida State q u a r t e r b a c k D e ’A n d r e Johnson was dismissed from the program following a nearly identical incident. Johnson’s video was released to the public, however.

“They’ve had a lot of other internal measures to meet and to stand — to right up to, and if all those were met, then they had the opportunity to redeem themselves and hopefully grow from their experience,” Stoops said.

As an educational institution, Stoops said it is the university’s responsibility to help and rehabilitate cases such as Shannon and Mixon, rather than just let them go.

“But they also know that we have some very high standards for them to meet and if they’re not met, then they won’t be with us any longer,” Stoops said.

Oklahoma quarterback Trevor Knight said he feels the coaching staff and administration handled the two situations correctly.

“Every single incident is different,” Knight said.

“People want to compare this to that and how we handle things. But I think every incident is different. They look at all parts of everything and make an informed decision. That’s way above my paygrade.”

Te x a s c o a c h C h a r l i e Strong has a reputation for a

zero-nonsense policy within his program. Soon after arriving in Austin, Strong instituted his five core values — honesty, treating women with respect, and no drugs, stealing or guns.

Before his first season even began, Strong had dismissed nine players from Texas.

When Strong addressed the media from the podium, he was asked about big-name players transferring schools after getting in trouble.

“I’m all into giving guys second chances but I want to give guys on my team second chances, not someone else from another program,” Strong said.

On the other hand, had Mixon been a Longhorn when his incident occurred, Strong said he would not have let him stay with the program.

“I can’t help you there,” Strong said. “It you hit a young lady — that’s how it’s always been if you hit a young lady. I’ll help you go somewhere else but you can’t play for me.”

Oklahoma State coach Mike Gundy ran into a similar situation in December 2014. Less than a week after he was crowned a Bedlam hero, Cowboys running back Tyreek Hill was arrested on complaints he assaulted his girlfriend, allegedly striking her in the face and stomach.

Unlike Oklahoma, Gundy

and the Cowboys wasted no time dismissing Hill from the program.

“There’s certain things right now that aren’t up for debate with Oklahoma State football and [domestic assault] is one of them,” Gundy said. “But they’re told that before they start.”

Gundy acknowledged all people, especially kids like Hill, get into trouble. He said life is about second and third chances.

“But there’s just some t h i n g s t hat a re k i n d o f frowned upon right now in society and it’s been made very clear before the season started — there’s just not really two sides to the story,” Gundy said.

Despite how frequently he has had to defend the university’s handling of the two cases, Stoops refused to disclose whether he would make the same decisions with Mixon and Shannon today if he had to do it all over again.

“The decisions were a year ago and it’s different,” Stoops said. “Like I said, all circumstances are always different in a lot of cases. You can’t paint them all with one single brush.

“In the end they have been disciplined and they’re doing what they can to earn their way back with strict guidelines moving forward.”

Brady Vardeman brady.vardeman@gmail.com

JOE BUETTNER/THE DAILY University of Texas football coach Charlie Strong addresses the media at the 2015 Big 12 Media Days event at the Omni Hotel in Dallas, Texas on July 21, 2015.

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• July 22 - July 28, 2015

Page Jones

Joe Buettner

Editor in Chief 160 Copeland Hall, 860 Van Vleet Oval Norman, OK 73019 phone: 405-325-3666 email: dailynews@ou.edu

Brady Vardeman

Digital Managing Editor

Andrew Clark

News/L&A Editor

Universal Crossword Edited by Timothy E. Parker July 22, 2015

ACROSS 1 Removes paint, in a way 11 Jest 15 Some short films 16 Japanese sashes 17 Things for losers only?

19 React to a horror film 20 Adjusts, as a clock 21 Type of influence 22 Fatty foods, to dieters 23 Pac-Man noises 24 Thanksgiving pie 27 Possessed 28 Silo contents 29 Tardy 32 Lamb’s lament 35 “Don’t worry�

39 “Bleah!�

40 Bad emotion to have 41 Follows a recipe direction 42 Legendary singer Charles 44 With tongue in cheek 45 Used the + key 48 Have ___ in the matter 51 Persona non ___ (unwelcome one) 7/22

52 Ornamental pitcher 53 Radar image 57 Exactly 60 “... happily ___ after�

61 Bathing places for some 62 Compass direction 63 Trumpeter DOWN 1 Musical number 2 Wild ox of puzzledom 3 It’s hot off the presses 4 Plumbing problem 5 Franklin or Kingsley 6 Class exercise 7 Lacking citizenship 8 Small altercation 9 Bridge support 10 Govt. check issuer 11 Bound together 12 Domicile 13 Bathing beauty 14 Gossip center?

18 Oompah band need 22 When doubled, Mork’s goodbye 24 Rock genre, briefly 25 A head

26 OSS replacement 27 “Rings on ___ fingers ...�

28 Bearded antelope 29 Grassland 30 Back of the boat 31 Digit that gets socked 32 Crumbly soil 33 It’ll fight for you 34 Wake-up times, typically 36 Socially challenged?

37 Not straight 38 Produce, as an egg 42 Witty comeback 43 Month in the Jewish calendar

44 “No surprises, please�

45 Discredited veep 46 Took the wheel 47 Female equivalents of knights 48 “Cool!� old-style 49 Dog tag datum 50 Automobile type 53 Smudge 54 Sainted pope called “the Great�

55 Doctrines 56 “Check this out!�

58 Bailout key 59 Crumb

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HOROSCOPE

By Eugenia Last

Copyright 2015, Newspaper Enterprise Assn.

WEDNESDAY, JULY 22, 2015

Quick adjustments will lead to success. Being flexible will help you attract assistance. If you don’t feel satisfied with your current lifestyle, situation or profession, consider something you used to enjoy doing and incorporate it back into your life. It’s up to you to make suitable changes.

CANCER (June 21-July 22) -Don’t hesitate to make a positive change. There is always room for improvement if you are willing to do the work. An unexpected source will offer valuable advice.

LEO (July 23-Aug. 22) -- Your stress level will be lessened if you get involved in physical activity or tackle a challenge that takes your mind off your troubles. Stewing over emotional issues will lead to a costly mistake.

7/21

7/15

Š 2015 Universal Uclick www.upuzzles.com Š 2015 Universal Uclick

NEGATIVE REACTION By Lewis Forte

J Housing Rentals

Seth Prince

Sports Editor

VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22) -- Step into the spotlight and share your knowledge and plans, but be aware of someone who is jealous or feeling left out. Your inclusion of everyone will be what makes you popular.

LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 23) -- If you have trouble making up your mind, don’t commit to anything. It’s better to be sure than to make a promise you don’t want to keep. Weigh the pros and cons.

SCORPIO (Oct. 24-Nov. 22) -- Money is headed your way.

Don’t put yourself in harm’s way by associating with unscrupulous or overindulgent individuals. Spend little money and protect what you’ve got.

SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 23-Dec.

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21) -- Dealing with government, bureaucracies or institutions will be frustrating. Concentrate on self-improvement programs instead.

Gather knowledge and plan your strategy. There is no room for error.

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CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19) -- Today’s emphasis is on financial matters. Keep your money safe. If you can convince others to invest in your ideas, you will come out ahead.

Love and romance are in the stars.

A drunk driver ruined something precious. Amber Apodaca.

AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 19) -Don’t act on impulse. An intriguing job prospect will have some unexpected detriments. Be sure you know what you are getting into before you give the go-ahead.

PISCES (Feb. 20-March 20) -- Don’t try to embellish or overstate your talents. You will do much better if you stick to the truth. Problems will surface if you give the wrong impression.

ARIES (March 21-April 19) -- Family relations will be overly dramatic and upsetting. You are best off focusing on business matters and making more money. Extra time put in at work will pay off.

TAURUS (April 20-May 20) -- Love is on the rise. A promising partnership will result from a social gathering or group activity. Get involved in community and industry events. Collaborate with people you respect.

GEMINI (May 21-June 20) -Consider the feelings of a loved one when you are using charm to impress an outsider. What you consider harmless fun will have a sobering effect on a personal relationship.

Friends

Don ’t Let Friends

Drive Drunk.

Photo by Michael Mazzeo

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Previous Solution

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

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.

NEWS

July 22 - July 28, 2015 •

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Sisters receive academic award Celeste and Janella Clary recognized as outstanding students DEON OSBORNE Staff reporter @deonrnb

Two siblings were recognized as Outstanding Students in the same academic year for the first time in OU’s history, an achievement they attribute to their immigrant mother.

Mechanical engineering sisters Celeste and Janella Clary, one an incoming junior and the other an incoming sophomore, have been awarded the “highest honor bestowed to students by the university,” due to their “excelling in scholarship, character, leadership and service,” according to an OU college of engineering news release.

“Grades and education were really stressed by my mother growing up,” Celeste Clary said. “Basically, for us to be the best.”

The sisters’ mother grew up in Ecuador. She worked hard and educated herself so that she could travel to the U.S. with the intention of making a better life for her future children.

“It’s kind of a poor country,” Janella Clary said. “So basically, her only way out was through hard work and education. So, she kind of taught us that.” Describing their upbringing as conservative and strict, the sister’s mother instilled in them a work ethic that would lead to success. They said their mother’s stress on education has become a large part of who they are now.

Unsurprisingly, the notion runs in the family.

“We also have one older

PHOTO PROVIDED BY JANELLA CLARY

From left: Janella Clary, Lisa Morales, Director of Diversity and inclusion in the college of engineering, and Celeste Clary pose together.

This year the Clary sisters both won outstanding students awards at OU, the first time siblings have ever won together.

sister who also went to OU and graduated with an engineering degree,” Janella Clary said. Her dad, aunt and uncle also claim OU as their alma mater.

Out of nearly 22,000 enrolled undergraduates for the 2014-2015 academic

year, 48 were selected as O u t s t a n d i n g S t u d e n t s.

Volunteering since high school, the sister’s have been active in more than a dozen campus organizations and Celeste Clary has been actively mentoring other students.

Lisa Morales, the executive director of the diversity and inclusion program inside the college of engineering, said she met Celeste Clary as a prospective student while she was still finishing her senior year of high school.

“She was offered multiple scholarships from OU, one award being from the Multicultural Engineering Program (MEP),” Morales said. “Celeste also worked as a counselor for the 2014 AT&T Summer Bridge program. The same year, her sister attended [the program]. This is when I met Janella.”

For Celeste and Janella Clary, being awarded the honor of Outstanding Students means their academic performance has been recognized, and it is a reflection that hard work pays off, the sisters said.

Janella Clary seemed more excited for her mother, though.

“I was really happy, mostly for my mom because that means a lot to her,” Janella Clary said. “I guess I was mainly happy that she was happy I got it.”

Both will travel to Italy to learn more about engineering and experience another culture.

Celeste Clary travels this summer and will return to the states to an internship with Exxon Mobil, while Janella Clary will travel this fall with aspirations of a career in the Peace Corps. “ C o l l e g e i s a b l a s t ,” Celeste Clary said. “It takes a lot of hard work if you really want to do well. Enjoy the time while you have it.”

Deon Osborne deonwrites@gmail.com

OU law students receive $10,000 scholarship Elizabeth Dankers and Victoria Proctor awarded by law firm NOOR JAFFERY Staff reporter @nooreemanj

A Norman law firm has awarded two OU law students scholarships of $10,000 each through its Minority Scholars Program, according to a release.

The Crowe and Dunlevy’s Minority Scholars Program is an effort by the firm to promote diversity within the legal profession. Minority students qualify for the $2,000 per semester scholarship based

on academic achievement, financial need and commitment to the law.

Elizabeth P. Dankers received the scholarship for her efforts for often unheard or powerless groups. She has completed the Oklahoma Lawyers for Children training, provided Victim Protective Order assistance and is involved with the Organization for the Advancement of Women in Law. Dankers previously received both the Frank and Edna Asper Elkouri and Second Century scholarships through the OU College of Law. The award is specifically geared towards minority

students to provide assistance to underrepresented groups in the legal profession.

“It’s important that the composition of the legal profession mirror the diversity of the communities they serve,” said Jimmy K. Goodman, director at Crowe & Dunlevy and diversity committee co-chair.

The other award recipient, Victoria S. Proctor, is active in the Native American community. She is a member of the Native American Law Student Association, has been involved in the National Conference of American Indians and won Miss Keetoowah for 2009-2010. She

PHOTO PROVIDED BY CROWE AND DUNLEVY ATTORNEYS AT LAW

Oklahoma-based law firm Crowe & Dunlevy has selected first-year OU College of Law students Elizabeth P. Dankers and Victoria S. Proctor as the 2015 Minority Scholars Program scholarship recipients.

also worked with the United Keetoowah Band of Cherokee Indians as an administrative assistant and special projects coordinator.

The Minority Scholars student was also awarded a Program began at OU College $10,000 scholarship. of Law and is now also in effect at Tulsa University Noor Jaffery College of Law, where one noor.e.jaffery@ou.edu

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L&A

• July 22 - July 28, 2015

Greek houses to be renovated Renovation funding provided by former members, parents EMILY AKINS Staff reporter @akins_emily

Five OU Greek houses are undergoing physical renovations, including fraternity Beta Theta Pi with the most expensive renovations at close to $9 million.

The renovations for Beta Theta Pi began in the summer of 2014 and are expected to finish by this upcoming fall. The renovation includes an extension to the pre-existing house, as well as a complete renovation of the old house. Before construction, the house was 16,444 square feet, and when the new update is finished, it will be around 36,795 square feet. It will include three individual study rooms and two group study rooms.

“The private study rooms in the basement are a great addition because we can study without having to go

to the library,” said current OU Beta Theta Pi member David Havala.

A majority of the funding for the Beta house came from multiple alumni, including one of the top donors who donated over $1 million. Although there were many types of alum involved in making this house, they all have a similar love for their fraternity.

“I donated to this new house because it gave me a sense of brotherhood in college,” former OU Beta Theta Pi member Michael Beavers said. “I would hope that this helps future men of this fraternity have that same experience.”

The Sigma Nu chapter is also building a new house.

Years ago it was decided to take down the old chapter house and begin the rebuild of the third Sigma Nu house to be built on OU’s campus.

Reasons for the rebuild include past declining numbers and needs of members at the university. The total square feet of the total property is around 49,522.

Sigma Nu alumni want

EMMA HYDE/THE DAILY

Construction workers put the finishing touches on Kappa Sigma.

Kappa SIgma will be the largest house on campus when it is finished.

the students to grow and want to help them achieve certain goals they may have.

Student Nick Rohleder said the leadership opportunities he has had since he joined the house have been great.

Another house on campus that has recently been receiving renovations is Kappa Alpha. Its house’s renovations began this summer and will include new walls and floors for the house.

Kappa Sigma has also received a new house built on campus. The president of Fraternity Management G ro u p a n d p a r t n e r f o r Greek Ladders Matt Noble said many of its fundraising has come from alumni or parents.

“One of the best parts about being involved with this chapter is seeing how well the undergraduates are doing now and how supportive the alumni have been, especially a few of them,” Noble said.

With over 300 donors and multiple ways to donate online to the house, over 50 Kappa Sigma members will be able to move in.

Also among the five houses getting renovations is the sorority Alpha Gamma Delta. The construction began in the spring of 2015 and is projected to be finished in the spring of 2016.

“It is so great to see the h o u s e i s c o nt i nu i n g t o grow and flourish,” Alpha Gamma Delta alumn Jamie Bishop said, “I will always want the best for my sisters.”

Emily Akins emily.m.akins-1@ou.edu

EMMA HYDE/THE DAILY

Beta Theta Pi is being renovated to create a more expansive living space for the members of the fraternity.

The construction began at the summer of 2014 and will be finished this upcoming fall.