COMM U N I T Y
NORMANITE IN THE SPOTLIGHT
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Jordan Evans
or Norman native and current Cincinnati Bengals linebacker Jordan Evans, education has been at the forefront of how he tackles the issues he has faced, whether on the football field or off. Evans was a standout linebacker at Norman North High School and the University of Oklahoma, completing his Sooner career in 2016 with All-Big 12 honors on defense while leading the Sooners with 7.5 tackles a game and four interceptions. He was a sixth-round pick of the Cincinnati Bengals in the 2017 National Football League Draft and will enter the 2021 season with a fresh one-year contract worth $1.2 million he signed in March. Stopping opposing offenses come naturally to Evans, who also grew up playing basketball and running track. However, he is now turning his attention to stopping another hard-charging opponent off the field, the uptick in racial, cultural and social division that has gripped the country over the past few years. Evans is partnering with Norman Public Schools in the creation of a new course that will be offered at both Norman North and Norman High School. The Introduction to Ethnic Studies course is an outgrowth of what Evans says he has seen off the field in America. “It’s a course designed to help people understand cultures different from their own,” Evans explained. “I have a firm belief that in order to get rid of a lot of the ignorance that’s
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in the world today, you have to educate people. And, in order to educate people when it comes to cultures, you have to have those uncomfortable situations and conversations and learn to be able to understand different views so you can live better with people that do not look like you do.” Evans began discussing the idea with NPS in 2020 and over the past year they’ve worked together to develop curriculum and search for faculty to teach the course. According to the NPS course description, the course objective will be to teach students to “be global citizens, engage in civil discourse, value their own cultural identity, appreciate the differences around them and understand worlds different from their own.” “Norman Public Schools affirms and values the experiences and identities of all our students,” Stephanie Williams, executive director of diversity, equity and inclusion with Norman Public Schools, said. “Introduction to Ethnic Studies is an interdisciplinary elective course that offers a unique opportunity for students to gain a better understanding of the world around them and the experiences of others. We are fortunate to have the support of Jordan Evans, who is also a former NPS student, in helping to make this course a great success.” For Evans, the objective is simple. “I hope what we see is people that understand each other and understand each other’s cultures and have a better living environment,” Evans explained. “I know there are kids
