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WEAR THIS If you want to see a college football season, help by flattening the covid-19 curve and wearing a mask
C OV E R S tory
O S U f oot ba l l
Column: Wear a mask if you want a football season C h ris Becker , Sports Reporter,
@ B h r is_cec ker 31 6
Before you move another step, ask yourself this: do you want to watch your favorite football team play this fall? Now, no matter the answer to the previous question, which should be yes, you should want the best for everyone, not just yourself. You should want everyone to live a healthy life. That means wearing a mask when you are out in public and/or
around people. With COVID-19 cases rising across the country the likelihood of football season is looking more and more grim each day. Especially with some Power 5 conferences going to conferenceonly schedules. The Ivy League recently announced that they would be pushing back all fall sports to the spring. A lot of national voices said they didn’t think this decision would sway FBS conferences in making a decision. But it will most likely
play a bigger role than people think. After all, Ivy League schools are the most elite academic institutions in the US, and their decisions will be treated with the weight that comes with that title. There is nothing anyone can do to ensure that there will be a football season, but wearing a mask can only help the chances of a season. This also affects other sports because without football, more and more sports will have to cut athletic
programs because they can’t support them. If a school with the financial stability of Stanford has to cut programs, it’s only a matter of time. However, this goes far beyond the football field and even sports in general. It goes into basic human decency. In absolutely no way is asking people to wear masks fear mongering. It’s protecting the citizens of cities and states. COVID-19 is real and is not going away unless everyone works together to fight it.
into political arguments, but a piece of cloth isn’t political. It doesn’t need to and shouldn’t be a political issue to wear a mask. No one is taking your freedom. Luckily, the world isn’t shut down anymore. The same group of people who were up in arms about the shutdown are the same people angry that cities are open, but with rules. Everything is open. Just wear a mask, it’s that simple.
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Having fans in stadiums this fall could be in jeopardy with spiking COVID-19 cases.
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State and even local counties are finally coming around to mandate masks in public, and it couldn’t come at a better time. Texas is just one example of states mandating masks. Norman’s city council passed an ordinance that would require masks at all times in public, and Stillwater won’t be far behind as a mask ordinance is being passed onto the second reading before going into effect. People are so quick to make situations
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“It was kind of like the Twilight Zone”: OSU student reflects on newscast’s misrepresentation of peaceful protest Ryan Novoz ins k y, editor in Chief, @Ryannovo6 2
Oklahoma State student Gregory Samuel was initially excited to be on the news. He wants to get into politics when he grows up and knows how to advocate for change in his community, so when a friend told him he was featured on News 9 in Oklahoma City during the George Floyd protests, he was ecstatic. “But then I saw the video and was like, that’s completely inaccurate,” Samuel said. “Grossly misrepresented and not factual at all. “It was kind of like the Twilight Zone because I was so confused how it could be misinterpreted in such a drastic way.” The news clip he saw was a video of News 9 reporter Jim Gardner misrepresenting the peaceful nature of the protest and singling out Samuel as someone inciting violence. “That is not a protest,” Gardner said in the clip. “You can see them, they got the white “X’s” on their pants (referring to Samuel)… The people that had the rally today, you need to distance yourself away from these people at all.” This reporting was in complete contrast to what actually happened. In reality, Samuel was encouraging peace and unity, not violence. In fact, he was simply handing water out to fellow protestors so they MONDAY, JULY 13, 2020
Gregory Samuel marched at the Juneteenth OSU March for Black Lives.
can stay hydrated during the hot Oklahoma afternoon. “I rarely saw anyone there doing trouble, didn’t see anybody looting or vandalizing and it was in broad daylight so it was the most peaceful protest I’ve ever been to,” Samuel said. “Everything he said really could have elevated the response that the police force had to our peaceful protest… Those police really took a heed to what he was saying.” The video clip went viral on Twitter, garnering over 61,000 views and nearly 1,000 likes. After this attention, Gardner released an apology statement. “I understand that some of the comments I made during our protest coverage yesterday have hurt people,” Gardner said. “That was never my intention. I’m sorry and I sure wish I would have said things differently. I can and will
do better. I certainly did not mean to hurt anyone with my comments. I’m always looking for ways to improve and I’ve learned from this. I’m so proud of the folks who are peacefully protesting and of our great team at News 9 who are working so hard.” But rather than letting this situation gain local notoriety and be forgotten about, Samuel saw an opportunity. He felt a call to action to promote social change and did so by reaching out to Griffin Communications, which owns many news stations such as News 9 and News on 6 in Tulsa. “I actually talked to the president of News 9, David Griffin, about the situation and I really tried to press for more racial equity within the media and representation. So based off that conversation, we’ve reached somewhat of a starting point for creating that and
having a space for it. So it’s gonna be a continuous conversation.” As for Griffin Communications, the company is now trying to take steps forward to be more inclusive. “I will speak on (Griffin Communications’ diversity) both from a vice president and from my own personal standpoint,” Griffin Communications Vice President of Marketing Houston Hunt said. “From a personal standpoint, Griffin has always been an incredibly diverse and open corporation. “I am gay, I’m married to a man and it has never been an issue at my place of employment-- which, in Oklahoma, it can be an issue. And I will tell you that I have always been impressed by Griffin and the stations’ diversity and inclusion and the fact that they just want the best people in the seats.”
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In light of this incident, Hunt says that Griffin is putting more emphasis on diversity in their work space. They even put forth a team to ensure that this plan follows through. “We needed to really take a look and be more intentional about diversity and inclusion, so our vice president of human resources and our vice president of corporate development are actually leading a new diversity and inclusion task force that is made up of our employees,” Hunt said. This task force will include many employees and will be responsible for steering where Griffin goes in their work’s diversity, recommending changes on diversity, inclusivity and recruitment and looking at how the company can further evolve. Hunt believes real changes will stem from this. “A lot of companies I feel like will say they’re ‘setting
up a task force’ and a lot of times they’ll set up a task force, but if you don’t really empower that task force, you’re never going to see change,” Hunt said. “So I’m really happy that our vice presidents are not on the task force. It’s made up of our employees who are going to help lead us in this area.” While Samuel appreciates the task force, he thinks Griffin Communications should do more in light of this incident. “I definitely love that as a first step,” Samuel said. “I think it’s important to have that type of environment within your workplace but I believe that there has to be more steps… I just think that it will definitely need more follow up and more enhancement. “That can’t just be enough.” Samuel sent many ideas to Griffin Communications including weekly reporting on social and political issues being faced by African Americans, increased reporting and journalism positions for people of color at News 9 and other Griffin stations, a corrective statement from News 9 and Gardner that “should not center the intent of Jim Gardner,” and a televised conversation between both Gardner and Samuel to discuss the message of Black Lives Matter. “At this point, symbolic gestures just aren’t enough,” Samuel said.
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Horoscope By Nancy Black Tribune Content Agency Todays Birthday (07/13/20). Intertwine roots with your partner this year. Strengthen foundations for shared blooming. Adapt research for social changes. Personal glory this summer inspires overcoming a partnership hurdle. Settle into a quiet, restful winter to energize the power of your physical performance. Together, you can realize the impossible. To get the advantage, check the day’s rating: 10 is the easiest day, 0 the most challenging. Aries (March 21-April 19) — Today is a 9 — Advance personal causes. Family communications clarify, with Mercury direct. Collaborate and strategize. Share your visions. Determine domestic improvements. Clean up messes and resolve irritations. Taurus (April 20-May 20) — Today is a 7 — It’s easier to learn and express, with Mercury direct. Creative efforts leap forward. Sign papers, post and publish your views. Communicate and connect. Gemini (May 21-June 20) — Today is an 8 — It’s easier to discuss money. Financial transactions flow better, with Mercury direct in Cancer. Confusion diminishes noticeably. A barrier dissolves. Make deals and bargains. Cancer (June 21-July 22) — Today is an 8 — It’s easier to clear up misunderstandings, with Mercury direct in your sign. Serve as translator for others who don’t get each other. Listen powerfully. Leo (July 23-Aug. 22) — Today is an 8 — Words and traffic flow better, with Mercury direct. Articulate your feelings privately. Review experiences and memories. Keep a journal, make plans and strategies. Virgo (Aug. 23-Sept. 22) — Today is an 8 — Communication barriers evaporate. Team coordination comes together naturally now that Mercury is direct. Background noise quiets and you can hear each other again. Libra (Sept. 23-Oct. 22) — Today is an 8 — Negotiate, collaborate and network. It’s easier to advance professionally, with Mercury direct in Cancer. Brainstorming gets more productive and creative again. Discuss possibilities. Develop opportunities. Scorpio (Oct. 23-Nov. 21) — Today is an 8 — It’s easier to travel and launch, with Mercury direct. Traffic flows better. Make exciting educational connections. You can get your message out to a wider circle. Sagittarius (Nov. 22-Dec. 21) — Today is an 8 — Buy, sell and discuss finances. Money, invoices and payments flow with greater ease now that Mercury’s direct. There’s less confusion. Sign contracts and negotiate deals. Capricorn (Dec. 22-Jan. 19) — Today is a 7 — Partnership misunderstandings diminish. Communications clarify naturally, with Mercury direct. It’s easier to persuade, compromise and reach consensus. Talk about shared passions. Brainstorm and collaborate. Aquarius (Jan. 20-Feb. 18) — Today is an 8 — A physical obstacle dissolves. It’s easier to concentrate and communicate, with Mercury direct for three months. Traffic flows with greater ease. Discover health solutions. Pisces (Feb. 19-March 20) — Today is a 9 — Get creative. Practice the art of seduction. Share passions, possibilities and enthusiasm. It’s easier to express your feelings, with Mercury direct. Listen to your muses.
FOR RELEASE JULY 13, 2020
Los Angeles Times Daily Crossword Puzzle Edited by Rich Norris and Joyce Lewis
Level 1
2
3
4
7/13/20
Solution to Saturday’s puzzle
Complete the grid so each row, column and 3-by-3 box (in bold borders) contains every digit, 1 to 9. For strategies on how to solve Sudoku, visit sudoku.org.uk
© 2020 The Mepham Group. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency. All rights reserved.
ACROSS 1 Come or go, e.g. 5 Port in Yemen 9 Cheese with holes 14 Side squared, for a square 15 Jackson 5 brother 16 Foolish one 17 *Rock group since the ’80s with the worldwide hit “Creep” 19 Like Keebler’s animated bakers 20 2020 amt. so far, on paychecks 21 Exams 22 Upper crust 23 Turns loose 24 “East of Eden” son named for Moses’ older brother 25 *0-0, in tennis 28 *Improving trend 31 Fed. power dept. 32 Most draftable 33 Only Canadian MLB city 34 Author Beattie 35 Itemized concert songs in playing order ... and what all the words in answers to starred clues comprise 38 Here, in France 39 Stew holder 40 Had too much, briefly 41 Elliptical 42 *The two-engine F-15 Eagle, e.g. 44 *Greeting card for an ailing friend 47 Bird on Canada’s dollar coin 48 Poet Elinor or author Philip 49 Longtime SeaWorld attraction 51 Rip to pieces 52 Enjoy Aspen 55 Peter, pumpkinwise 56 *Lack of subtlety 58 Online finance firm 59 One-named Deco artist
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By Paul Coulter
60 Adored singer, say 61 Harbor towns 62 Caught in the act 63 Wet with morning moisture DOWN 1 Fluctuate 2 The “E” in Q.E.D. 3 Foxx of “Sanford and Son” 4 Ling of “The Crow” 5 Like an obedient dog on a walk 6 Semi fuel 7 French states 8 Agreeing gestures 9 Shows contempt for 10 “Weeping” tree 11 It’s split in Captain Kirk’s “to boldly go” 12 Agitated state 13 “Auld Lang __” 18 Other, to Ortiz 23 Votin’ yes on 24 Copies 25 Jumped 26 Currently airing 27 Device providing fresh air
Saturday’s Puzzle Solved
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28 Prefix with form or brow 29 Lite to the max 30 Cook over coals 32 “__ King Cole” 35 Temporary stays 36 Barbara of “I Dream of Jeannie” 37 Hanoi holiday 41 Be indebted to 43 Vegetarian credo
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44 Whirl on the dance floor 45 High dice roll 46 Neat 48 Word of location 49 Ooze 50 Angel’s topper 51 Cows and sows 52 Marquis de __ 53 Don’t have to ask 54 In a shiftless way 57 Ducked out of sight