February 8-11, 2018

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W E E K E N D E D I T I O N | F E B R U A R Y 8 -11, 2 0 18 | 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

OU DAILY PAXSON HAWS/THE DAILY

Freshman guard Trae Young points upward after scoring during the game against Baylor Jan. 30. Young averages 30 points per game.

HOMETOWN HERO Freshman point guard Trae Young stays close to home, remains on track to become next great Sooner GEORGE STOIA • @GEORGESTOIA

W

hen Trae Young steps onto the court at the Hilton Coliseum Saturday afternoon, all eyes will be on him — not only because of the player he’s become, but also because of the expectation that Young is arguably the only player in the country that can bring Oklahoma out of its recent slump. The Sooners have lost five of their last seven games, dropping from No. 4 to No. 17. They’ve lost the hype that surrounded them for the first few weeks of the season, and now, coming off a twogame losing streak, Young is their only hope to bounce back. Expectations of Young have b e en high since the day he chose Oklahoma. Fans proclaim the freshman as the next great Sooner, following in the footsteps of Wayman Tisdale, Blake Griffin and Buddy Hield. Young puts his team in a position to succeed night in and night out, becoming a magician on the court with a basketball as his wand and Sooner Nation as his audience. He could have chosen an easier path and attended a school that worships the month of March instead of a school known for Saturdays in the fall. He made a bittersweet choice, understanding that wins weren’t going to come easy but knowing he’d always be a hometown hero. You ng d e c i d e d to pu t h i s school, city and state on his back. “Just being able to not only represent Norman but the state of Oklahoma, it’s exciting,” said Young’s mom, Candice. “It’s fun for him. He takes it all in, and he wants to represent the city and state well.”

...

Young sits in a Norman North High School auditorium, wearing

an all-black outfit with gold shoes on and a gold chain hanging out of his hoodie. He waits patiently for his turn to speak, listening as Norman North’s athletic director, Courtney Norton, and his high school coach, Bryan Merritt, both talk about the exceptional player and man Young has become. Finally, the mic is handed to Young, who’s prepared to announce the biggest decision of his life — where he is going to school. “This has been a long process for me, and a lot of ups and downs, but in the end, I came to a place of peace,” Young said that day. “That place of peace for me, in the fall of 2017, will be at the University of Oklahoma.” Days before announcing his c o m m i t m e nt t o O k l a h o ma, Young made a few phone calls to let coaches know of his decision. Each call grew in difficulty, as Young told coaches that had been recruiting him since middle school that he wouldn’t be playing for their schools. He worked his way down the list, eventually reaching the last coach, a coach that had almost as many conference titles as Young had years — Kansas’ Bill Self. “That was tough,” Young said. “That was the toughest phone call in my recruitment, telling him I was going somewhere else.” Self and coaches around the country knew the caliber of talent Young possessed. He could have gone anywhere — Duke, No r t h C a ro l i n a , Ke n t u c k y , Kansas, the list goes on and on. Self, John Calipari, Mike Krzyzewski, Roy Williams, Sean Miller — they all wanted Young, telling him he could be the next John Wall or Mario Chalmers or Kyrie Irving. But, while being the next great

player at a historic program was appealing to Young, he decided to stay home and go 16 minutes down the road to the school he grew up loving. Some questioned him, and others praised him, but Young knew exactly what he was doing. Confident in the choice he made, he didn’t need anyone’s approval but his own. His decision came easy to him. “He was trying to figure what was going to be the best fit,” Candice Young said. “I know that he did exactly what he wanted.”

... Young ’s love of basketball b e ga n at 4 ye a r s o l d i n t h e Cleveland County Family YMCA in Norman. He dribbled around defenders as he dominated his 4- and 5-year-old counterparts. Young grew up in that YMCA g ym, from watching his father play in the weekend men’s league to working out there until his senior year of high school. His love of the game and the community was fostered there, setting him on the path to where he is today. He dominated his peers at a young age, having to play up in P.E. classes as he grew older. He started playing AAU ball in fifth grade, traveling every weekend to play in tournaments. When he reached high school, everyone at Norman North knew they were getting a special player. Young was a standout at the high school, and, while he still has a long career ahead of him, his name will always be remembered in its halls. “I think he left the legacy of the greatest Norman North player of all time,” Norman North assistant coach Jake Rudd said. Today, Young still visits his old high school. Both his sisters are following in his footsteps, and Young will be right there to

TRAE YOUNG SEASON AVERAGES: • Points: 29.9 • Assists: 9.3

• Rebounds: 4

TRAE YOUNG RECORDS: • Single-game assists (22) • Fastest Sooner to 500 points • Program record for consecutive 20-point games (18)

witness it as they begin to make their own names. “He’s a family person, so being around his sisters and little brother and his parents — I think that was a huge factor in his decision,” Rudd said. “It could be really easy for him to not come around and move on with his life, but he’s still around, and he’s still a part of the community and coming to watch his sisters at Norman North. It would be very easy for him to not do that, and he makes the time to do that.”

... Nine months and 4.9 miles down the road after announcing his commitment, Young steps onto the court in the Lloyd Noble Center for the first time in a Sooners’ uniform. The freshman phenomenon who decided to stay home was prepared to make his college debut. Young has become the face of college basketball since that season opener in November, putting together breathtaking performances every night. He’s broken a multitude of records, including becoming the fastest player in

Oklahoma history to reach 500 points and tying the single-game assist record with 22 against Northwestern State. He’s handled the pressure of being the face of college basketball, taking each interview in stride and sharing the spotlight with his teammates. Young has brought Oklahoma to one of the top rankings in the country and has become the front-runner for player of the year. He’s brought life back into the Lloyd Noble Center, helping turn a football school into a basketball school for a few brief months. And though Oklahoma has recently hit rock bottom this season, Young is the perfect person to pick the team up. He’s done more than anyone imagined he would in his freshman season at Oklahoma, becoming exactly what he set out to be — a hometown hero. “ T h e r e ’s a c o m f o r t f o r Trae at the Lloyd Noble Center,” Candice Young said. “It feels like home for him.” George Stoia

georgestoia@ou.edu

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• February 8-11, 2018

SPORTS

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

Lack of fight bites Sooners Second half too little, too late against WVU

Defensive struggles spoil brewing upset

JADYN WATSON-FISHER

ALEX REYES

@jwatsonfisher

Oklahoma coach Lon Kruger doesn’t yell. His lip might curl up a little bit, and he might give a paternal look that says, “I know you can do better — I know you are capable of more,” but he doesn’t yell. He yelled Monday night. The Sooners had allowed West Virginia to go on a 14-0 run and sink five quick 3-pointers, most of which were uncontested. Kruger called timeout. He needed words — loud ones — not just a look. “Fight him harder than that,” Kruger said emphatically of West Virginia’s Lamont West. “Have a little pride here.” The fight finally came in the second half. The Sooners held the Mountaineers to 1-of-12 from deep, only 9-of34 from the field and more than doubled their effort off the glass with 25 second-half rebounds, but it couldn’t overcome what had already been done. Oklahoma snapped its 14-game home winning streak in its 75-73 loss to West Virginia. The Sooners’ first few minutes were productive, putting up much-needed shots and forcing key turnovers. Then their solid start ended abruptly. Of West Virginia’s 50 first-half points, 24 came from downtown, including the 15 easy ones from West. “When you’ve got a shooter

Sooners fall short against Lady Bears

@alex_reyes_6

PAXSON HAWS/THE DAILY

Oklahoma (12-12, 7-6 Big 12) lost to No. 3 Baylor (22-1, 12-0 Big 12) Monday night, 74-66. The Sooners, riding on a two-game winning streak, went into Waco, Texas, and came up short on a chance to upset the No. 3-ranked team in the country. Oklahoma was able to keep it close during the game in large part due to its offense, but in the end the Lady Bears were able to pull away from the Sooners. As a team, the Sooners

struggled on defense to keep Baylor from scoring. They shot 53 percent from the field but did a good job on the perimeter, limiting the Lady Bears to 11 percent shooting from behind the 3-point line. Top performers for the Sooners included senior center Vionise Pierre-Louis, who led with 19 points on 7-of12 shooting to go along with four rebounds and two assists. Freshman guard Shaina Pellington had 14 points and five assists while senior guard Gabbi Ortiz had 14 points on 5-of-10 shooting. O klahoma w ill b e on the road again Saturday to take on Kansas at 7 p.m. Alex Reyes

alex.b.reyes@ou.eduw

Freshman guard Trae Young plays defense in the game against West Virginia Feb. 5. The Sooners fell to the Mountaineers, 75-73.

who’s a good catch-andshoot guy, you’ve got to get to him,” Kruger said. “It’s a combination of recognition and making the extra effort to get there.” Oklahoma looked tired. Shots weren’t falling, and the defense couldn’t get stops. The Mountaineers controlled the tempo for most of the first half. It seemed like the Sooners’ only hope was to regroup at halftime. “We were disappointed in our defensive performance, for sure,” Kruger said. “The fight wasn’t what it needs to be, and they shot the ball for a great percentage — a lot of 3s — and we didn’t handle it very well.” The Sooners came out of the locker room a different

defensive team. They held West Virginia scoreless for almost six minutes. Senior forward Khadeem Lattin pulled down 13 rebounds and blocked four shots. There were breakdowns, sure, but they were nothing compared to the first-half 3-point spree. West Virginia coach Bob Huggins wasn’t thrilled, but he also wasn’t surprised, by his team’s second-half performance. “That’s very typical of our team,” Huggins said. “We make a bunch, and then we miss a bunch. Maybe we had the wrong guy shooting some of them, and then (Oklahoma) did a good job. We took too many.” Despite the change in effort — seen by the fighting

under the rim for rebounds and blocks and the sweat dripping down the Sooners’ disappointed faces after the final buzzer — Oklahoma couldn’t survive the hole it had dug itself. So, the yelling worked, it just wasn’t enough to win. “I thought what they shot in the second half was a big difference than the first, for sure, and we still couldn’t get a lot going offensively,” Kruger said. “We opened the second half with a good stretch defensively and still couldn’t quite cut into that (lead) as much as we, maybe, had a chance.” Jadyn Watson-Fisher jlfwf96@gmail.com

AUSTIN CARRIERE/THE DAILY

Freshman guard Ana Llanusa shoots a jumpshot in the game against West Virginia. The Sooners fell to Baylor, 74-66, on Feb. 5.

SPORTS

February 8-11, 2018 •

Kelli Stacy Editor in Chief Emma Keith News Managing Editor Emily Farris Engagement Editor George Stoia Sports Editor Allison Weintraub A&E Editor Kayla Branch Enterprise Editor Paxson Haws Visual Editor Daniella Peters Copy Manager Savannah Saing Print Editor

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Class of 2018 complete Oklahoma adds three signees on final signing day STAFF REPORTS

With the season’s second signing day having taken place Wednesday, Feb. 7, here’s a look at the players that have signed with the Sooners:

574 rushing yards and 574 receiving yards. He threw for four touchdowns and one interception, ran in 16 touchdowns and caught seven touchdowns. Early Signees:

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

BRIAN ASAMOAH Asamoah is a 6-foot-1-inch linebacker out of Columbus, Ohio. He’s a three-star recruit out of St. Francis De Sales High School, and ESPN ranked him as the No. 29 outNational Signing Day: side linebacker in the nation. As a senior, Asamoah recordMICHAEL THOMPSON T h e S o o n e r s s i g n e d ed 36 tackles with eight for four-star defensive tackle loss, 1.5 sacks and two pass Michael Thompson as part breakups. of National Signing Day on KUNDARRIUS TAYLOR Wednesday. Ta y l o r i s a 6 - f o o t- 2 Thompson is a St. Louis native, the No. 2 player in the inch wide receiver out of state of Missouri and the No. Memphis, Tennessee. He’s 4 defensive tackle in the na- a four-star recruit out of tion, according to 247Sports. Ridgeway High School, who He is listed at 6 feet, 3.5 inch- is touted as the 34th ranked es tall and 291 pounds, with a athlete by 247Sports. As a 40-yard dash time of 5.37 sec- junior, Taylor amassed 401 onds. In his senior season at yards on 29 receptions. He Parkway North High School, also rushed 10 times for 117 Thompson recorded 56 tack- yards and three touchdowns. les, nine sacks and two forced fumbles. He had a total of 25 JORDAN KELLEY Kelley is a 6-foot-4-inch offers, including TCU, Kansas State, Iowa State, Alabama defensive lineman out of Tulsa. He’s a four-star recruit and Missouri. by 247Sports and a three-star recruit by ESPN out of Union DASHAUN WHITE Oklahoma signed four-star High School. linebacker DaShaun White on National Signing Day DELARRIN TURNER-YELL Turner-Yell is a 5-foot-10Wednesday. White is the No. 14 outside inch safety out of Hempstead, linebacker in the country Texas. He’s a three-star reand No. 25 player coming out cruit out of Hempstead High of Texas. White is a product School, and he is also ranked of Richland High School in No. 88 in the country at his North Richland Hills, Texas. position by ESPN. In his senior season, the outside linebacker recorded PATRICK FIELDS Fields is a 6-foot safety 154 tackles, three fumbles and two interceptions, one out of Tulsa. He’s a threeof which he returned for a star recruit from Union High School, and 247Sports touchdown. ra n k e d h i m a s t h e No. 9 recruit in the state of BRAYDEN WILLIS Oklahoma added three- Oklahoma. star tight end Brayden Willis to its 2018 class Wednesday MIGUEL EDWARDS Edwards is a 6-foot coras part of National Signing ner from Deerfield Beach, Day. A native of Arlington, Florida. He’s a four-star reTexas, Willis is the No. 190 cruit and was ranked as the player coming out of Texas No. 44 best corner in the naand the No. 58 tight end in tion by ESPN. the nation, according to 247Sports. He is 6 feet, 4 STARRLAND BALDWIN JR. Baldwin is a 5-foot-10-inch inches tall and 220 pounds. In his senior season at James corner from Houston, Texas. Martin High School, Willis He’s a four-star recruit from recorded 542 passing yards, Cypress Falls High School.

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Sooners’ search for three-peat begins

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Softball national champions set high expectations ABBY BITTERMAN @Abby_Bitterman

The Sooners are set to open their season at the GCU Kickoff Tournament in Phoenix this weekend, and after winning back-to-back national titles, their determination hasn’t changed. At the start of the 2018 season, Oklahoma has found itself in a similar position to the one it was in last year, fresh off a national championship, ranked No. 1 in the preseason and with almost everyone back once again. This year feels different, though. In 2017, the Sooners got off to a slow start, dropping their first game of the season to Auburn and losing a total of four games in the month of February. Throughout the season, Oklahoma fell to as low as No. 13 in the NFCA poll before turning a page and making a run that would lead it to the national title. Coach Patty Gasso credited last year’s slow start to the team’s attitude in the previous fall — resting on its laurels after winning the national championship. This season, she said, this team wasn’t going to waste its off-season again. “They’re on a mission,” Gasso said. “And I don’t

know that many people believe this.” Sixteen players of the 17-member squad that beat Florida in the Women’s College World Series in June are back this season, and they’ve added more talent. Four freshmen and one transfer joined a team that has only one starting spot open, but the Sooners know this is a different team than last year’s. “I think we just let them know that we weren’t trying to make them fit in with what we’ve already done,” junior first baseman Shay Knighten said. Freshman utility Jocelyn Alo is Oklahoma’s most-talked about freshman — Gasso even compared her hitting ability to that of Soonergreat Lauren Chamberlain. She is competing with junior outfielder Falepolima Aviu for the open spot in the outfield. The bullpen also added another arm with sophomore right-handed pitcher Parker Conrad, following along a path similar to that of senior lefty Paige Lowary and transferring from Missouri. As for those who were Sooners last year, the goal is the same. The juniors on the team still don’t know what it’s like to lose their last game of the season in college. “When I’m crying (at the end of a season), it’s a good cry,” junior second baseman Caleigh Clifton said. “So I’ve

CAITLYN EPES/THE DAILY

OU coach Lincoln Riley high-fives his players during the Rose Bowl against Georgia Jan. 1. The Sooners have signed 22 new players for the 2018 season.

TRAMONDA MOORE M o o r e i s a 6 - f o o t- 5 inch offensive lineman out of Oklahoma City. He’s a four-star recruit from Independence Community College, and he’s the topranked junior college offensive tackle by 247Sports. DARRELL SIMPSON Simpson is a 6-foot-7-inch offensive lineman out of Justin, Texas. He’s a four-star recruit from Northwest High School. JALEN REDMOND Redmond is a 6-foot-3inch outside linebacker from Midwest City, Oklahoma. He’s a four-star recruit from Midwest City High School, and he was ranked the No. 4 prospect in Oklahoma.

Worth, Texas. He’s a threestar recruit from All Saints Episcopal High School. He’s recorded over 100 passes for more than 1,400 yards and 18 touchdowns, as well as 800 return yards in his high school career. TJ PLEDGER Pledger is a 5-foot-10-inch running back out of Pacoima, California. He’s a four-star recruit from IMG Academy, and he’s listed as the No. 5 running back in the country by ESPN.

RON TATUM III Tatum is a 6-foot-5-inch defensive lineman out of Oklahoma City. He’s a fourstar recruit out of Putnam City High School who recorded 174 tackles, 16 sacks, seven passes defended and a forced fumble in his final two TANNER MORDECAI Mordecai is a 6-foot-3-inch years of high school. quarterback out of Waco, Texas. He’s a four-star recruit RONNIE PERKINS Perkins is a 6-foot-3-inch from Midway High School, and he was ranked as the No. defensive lineman from St. 10 pocket-passing quarter- Louis, Missouri. He’s a fourstar recruit from Lutheran back by ESPN. North High School, and he is ranked as the No. 10 deJAYLON ROBINSON Robinson is a 5-foot- fensive end in the country by 10-inch receiver from Fort ESPN.

never had to experience losing our last game, and our season being over with. It’s like, winning and tears of joy. It’s hard to explain, but it’s a great feeling, and I hope I can continue to do this.” Since 1982, schools have won back-to-back national championships eight times, but only one of those schools has ever pulled off a threepeat. UCLA took home the championship in 1988, ‘89 and ‘90. “Not too many people

are talking about threepeat,” Gasso said. “They were saying repeat quite a bit last year, but you don’t hear three-peat. I think it’s because it’s almost undoable. And the more people don’t think this team can do something, the more they’re bound to do it.” The Sooners will be on the road to start the season, opening with Weber State on Friday. Gasso said she wants to see the team be aggressive in its first weekend of

BREY WALKER Walker is a 6-foot-7-inch offensive lineman from Moore, Oklahoma. He’s a four-star recruit from Westmoore High School. JAQUAYLN CRAWFORD Crawford is a 5-foot-10inch receiver out of Rockdale, Texas. He’s a four-star recruit from Rockdale High School. During his high school career he amassed over 120 receptions, 2,100 receiving yards, 25 receiving touchdowns, nearly 1,000 rushing yards and 14 touchdowns, as well as over 500 return yards. NIKOLAS BONITTO Bonitto is a 6-foot-4inch linebacker out of Fort Lauderdale, Florida. He is a four-star recruit from St. Thomas Aquinas High School. BRENDAN RADLEY-HILES Radley-Hiles is a 5-foot10-inch defensive back out of Bradenton, Florida. He is a five-star recruit out of IMG Academy. Staff Reports

competition. “I’m ready to see what it looks like against new pitching, somebody that’s wearing a different uniform — because our inner-squad scrimmages are something that look like postseason matches at times,” Gasso said. Abby Bitterman abbybitt@ou.edu

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Way to go! Keep up the good work!

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4•

February 8-11, 2018

ARTS&ENTERTAINMENT

Allison Weintraub, A&E editor dailyent@ou.edu • phone: 405-325-3666 oudaily.com/life&arts • Twitter: @OUDailyArts

Chocolate fest returns to city Norman PTA Council to present event for first time ALLISON WEINTRAUB @AllisonWntrb

The 36th annual Norman Chocolate Festival w ill unite a var iet y of lo cal restaurants and confectioners to provide a community event for the city. 2018 marks the first year that the Norman PTA Council will present the festival. Annette Price, president of the council, said the group stepped up to take on the festival after learning that the Firehouse Arts Center would be discontinuing it. The vendors at this year’s festival will include Amy Cakes, Apple Tree Chocolate and Baked Bear. The festival’s basic format, free admission with ticketed access to “tastes� of different vendors’ wares, has remained unchanged. However, there will be additional events, including live music, a photo booth and a gallery showcasing local nonprofits. “We have a nonprofit gallery, which is new, because we want to try to support the other organizations in Norman that support children and families and have the same education missions as we do,� Price said. “So they will be coming and supplying activities to engage children and families.� When the Norman Chocolate Festival comes around, it’s the only time of the year some of its unique creations are available. The Diner only serves its chocolate chili for this event, Price said. Additionally, Loveworks, a local after-school leadership program for middle schoolers, will provide a specialty chocolate salsa, according to Price. The organization currently sells non-chocolate fresh salsa at Homeland and Crest. Price said the mix of vendors, which includes Chick-fil-A and Sam’s Club of Norman, changes every year. “We have a couple different options for people

PHOTO VIA F. JENSEN PHOTOGRAPHY

Norman children Ella Scott, Austin Maddry and Miranda Price look at chocolate apples from Apple Tree Chocolate. The Norman Chocolate Festival will include samples from vendors around Norman.

who don’t want the sweets, even though the sweets are pretty fantastic,� Price said. “The lineup is a little bit different from last year, but I think it does change every year.�

“OU students are so much a part of our community, and we love to embrace that.� ANNETTE PRICE, PRESIDENT OF NORMAN PTA COUNCIL

The Norman PTA Council works with schools across the city to pitch in resources like playground equipment, literacy nights and even hand sanitizer for the flu epidemic, according to Price. The money raised by this fundraiser will help

NOTICE OF PUBLIC ACCESS During the Regular Meeting Of The University of Oklahoma PUBLICATIONS BOARD

9:30 a.m. Friday, Feb. 9 Copeland Hall, Room 146 Students, staff, faculty and others in the community are invited to express their views concerning The Oklahoma Daily or Sooner yearbook to the Publications Board.

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make a difference, Price said. “It will all go toward the mission of the PTA, which is providing resources for our teachers and our schools and providing engagement opportunities for our families,� Price said. The Norman PTA Council has seen a great deal of community support, and the group chose to continue the event because of its significance to the community. “This is something that a lot of people enjoy and look forward to year after year, and we’re actually just very honored to be able to continue that tradition,� Price said. Price said the festival would be good for students because it is something friends or couples could do together and still have fun doing.

“O U s t u d e n t s a r e s o much a part of our community, and we love to embrace that,� Price said. “We would love to see them there.� The Norman Chocolate Festival is Saturday, Feb. 10 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at No r ma n No r t h Hi g h School, 1809 Stubbeman Ave. The festival has free admission, but general and premiere tickets will be sold for chocolate sampling. General tickets are $30 for 10 tastings, and premiere tickets are $50 for 15 tastings. General tickets will be sold every hour of the event, but premiere tickets will be available only during the 10–11 a.m. time period. Allison Weintraub

allison.weintraub@ou.edu

2/8

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Universal Crossword 50 A babe in the woods 52 Angola-toKenya dir. 53 Police officer’s request 58 Joe in a mug 59 Egypt’s capital 60 Writer’s block ender 61 Citation word 62 Race official 63 Regard in a specified way 64 Truman’s first lady 65 Vehicles on runners 66 Fish-loving flier DOWN 1 Company’s receivables 2 Sheep with fine wool 3 Theory confirmer 4 Not all 5 Wet impact sound 6 Sully 7 Piled on the years 8 Toy brick company 9 First eviction site 10 Ann ___, Michigan 11 “Titanic� Jack 12 Brit’s four o’clock swirler

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Edited by Timothy Parker February 8, 2018

ACROSS 1 Mischievous ones 5 Fresh no more 10 Clarinet type 14 Notorious Roman emperor 15 PA’ed at BWI 16 Underwater obstacle 17 Word on a gift tag 18 Fief holder 19 Toy in a tub 20 Old-school entree 23 What two who wed become 24 Cousin with hair to there 25 ___ myrtle (var.) 27 Type of premiere 29 Follow orders 32 Eggs in water? 33 Sang in the Alps 36 Word with “false� 37 Foxx and Wilson TV show 40 Pork lo ___ 41 Low-down thing to clip 42 Mess up 43 It dissolved on 12/31/91 44 Nearby planet 48 Chronicler of Alice

CLASSIFIEDS

13 Quite a bit, in verse 21 Hindered by no more 22 Worse than snowy 26 Migratory slitherer 28 Loretta with the pipes 29 More 7-Down 30 It makes coffee 31 Bart’s animated teacher 34 Pixels, essentially 35 Archer of love 36 Romantic getaway site 37 Song to the balcony 38 Medium for radio 39 Jackknifed

40 Director Brooks 43 Put to the test 45 Wanter’s kin 46 Never noticed 47 Bun seed 49 Mosque runners 50 Displayed pluck 51 Strong scents 54 Exploits 55 Catch but good 56 Call cost of old 57 Scrambler, e.g. 58 Triangular sail

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HOROSCOPE By Eugenia Last

Copyright 2017, Newspaper Enterprise Assn.

FOR RELEASE: THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 8, 2018 ASTROGRAPH by Eugenia Last AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 19) -- Care more and worry less. Forgo lavish pastimes and look for something that requires little from you monetarily, but plenty of time and energy. Offer to help those less fortunate than yourself. PISCES (Feb. 20-March 20) -- Take better care of your health, wealth and emotional well-being. Don’t give in to temptation or follow someone who makes poor choices. Live smartly, not excessively. ARIES (March 21-April 19) -- Don’t get anxious when something doesn’t add up. Gather the facts, ask questions and take a stand against something you feel is unfair. Don’t wait for someone else to make a difference.

2/7 2/5

Š 2018 Andrews McMeel Syndication Š 2018 Andrews McMeel Syndication www.upuzzles.com www.upuzzles.com

COME TOGETHER By Timothy E. Parker

involved in physical activities that will challenge you. A passionate approach to life and love will result in a romantic encounter. VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22) -Emotional manipulation or ulterior motives will lead to deception and discord. Honesty and integrity will be necessary for both you and those you deal with if you want to keep the peace. LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 23) -- Draw on your experience to help you gain perspective on what to do next. If you put your energy into using your skills diversely, you will succeed. SCORPIO (Oct. 24-Nov. 22) -- Problems with loved ones, health issues or domestic matters will surface. Refuse to let your emotions take the reins. Avoid excessive behavior and people who tend to be abusive.

TAURUS (April 20-May 20) -- Channel your energy wisely. Don’t lose sight of your intentions if someone interferes. Choose your words with care and your actions and responses thoughtfully. Love and peace will conquer hate and chaos.

SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 23-Dec. 21) -- Health issues should not be left unattended. Taking care of your interests first will be necessary if you want to avoid physical, financial or legal setbacks.

GEMINI (May 21-June 20) -- Channel your energy into your one-on-one relationships. Set time aside to spend with the people who need you the most. Don’t give up on someone going through a tough time.

CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19) -Emotions will mount, and financial problems will escalate if you have joint holdings with a friend or family member. Keep the peace and look for suitable solutions that will be beneficial to everyone involved.

CANCER (June 21-July 22) -- Money issues are apparent. If someone shortchanges you, speak up as soon as you notice. The longer you prolong what needs to be done, the less likely you are to find a resolution. LEO (July 23-Aug. 22) -- Get out with friends. Socialize or get

February 8-11, 2018 •

NEWS

5

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

Donors tied to search committee OU backers linked to panel choosing Boren’s successor HANNAH PIKE @h_pike_

Several at-large members of the search committee choosing OU’s next president are tied to some of the university’s biggest and most prolific donor families. The state of Oklahoma has led the nation in education funding cuts for the last five fiscal years, with appropriations decreasing by more than $185 million since 2012. But as state funding has decreased, OU has found funding in more than $2.3 billion in gifts and pledges since President David Boren became president, according to O U Public Affairs. Gene Rainbolt, whose family contributions to the university led to the dedication of the G ene Rainbolt Graduate School of Business in his name, said during a presidential focus group session that the ability to fundraise should not be the top priority. “While I would argue that fundraising is important, it is not the number one criterion,” Rainbolt said. “I still think the students, faculty, Health Sciences Center and their trajectory is most important.” Gene Rainbolt is an OU alumnus and chairman emeritus of BancFirst Corporation. He received the Bronze Star and Army

Commendation Medal during the Korean War and is a well-known civic leader and philanthropist, according to OU Public Affairs. Rainbolt has been on a number of search committees in the past, including the committees to find the dean of the business college in 2005 and in 1999, the vice president for research and dean of the graduate college in 1999 and current university president David Boren in 1993, according to minutes from regents’ meetings. Gene Rainbolt’s son is presidential search committee at-large member David Rainbolt, and his daughter is Leslie Rainbolt-Forbes, who is currently a member of the OU Board of Regents. The regents appointed the seven at-large members, who together hold half of the votes on the committee. The Jeannine Rainbolt College of Education is named after L eslie and David Rainbolt’s mother. Its dean, Gregg Garn, is also an at-large member on the presidential search committee. The Rainbolts’ gift to the College of Education made them “among the most generous family of donors to OU,” and, according to minutes from a 2008 regents’ meeting, “the Rainbolt family’s generosity touches almost every area of the university.” David Rainbolt said while his family has been a big supporter of the university, he does not think any privilege comes with that position, or that it is why he was selected for the committee.

He also said he does not expect to have any more input than anyone else. “There are a lot of constituencies and donors are one of them,” David Rainbolt said. “I’m an alum, too. I’m a parent of three OU students. So I have a lot of touchpoints at the university, but I don’t think my opinion is any more relevant than anyone else’s.” The Rainbolts are not the only major university donor family to have representation on the committee. At-large member Charles Stephenson’s family has also made significant contributions to the university. The Stephenson School of Biomedical Engineering is named in its honor. The family’s gifts, which totaled more than $24 million as of 2010, also helped develop OU’s research campus in Norman, build a Life Sciences Research Center and create the Stephenson Cancer Center, according to minutes from a 2010 regents’ meeting. Robert Ross is another at-large member and president and CEO of the Inasmuch Foundation and the Ethics and Excellence in Journalism Foundation. The foundations had made contributions to OU totaling $16 million as of 2007, according to minutes from a 2007 regents’ meeting. Since, the Inasmuch Foundation has made a $500,000 gift to the Scholars Walk on the South Oval in 2012 and donated $1.5 million to renovate space in the College of Law Library in 2016.

via Kayla Branch

The McCasland Foundation, which is owned by at-large member Barbara Braught’s family and of which she is executive director, has also made a number of gifts to OU and Cameron University, which is one of the universities the OU Board of Regents governs. The McCasland Foundation had contributed almost $2.7 million to Cameron University as of 2008, including through its McCasland Foundation Challenge Grant Program, according to minutes from a 2008 regents’ meeting. The foundation has also

donated to OU Athletics, the Fred Jones Jr. Museum of Art, endowed faculty positions, the Presidential Professorships Program, the Sam Noble Oklahoma Museum of Natural History and OU Libraries, according to minutes from a 2002 regents’ meeting. Braught is the daughter of T.H. McCasland, who played basketball for OU from 1914 to 1916 and for whom the McCasland Field House is named. Braught said the next OU president has to be the best leader the committee can find who can work with private donors and the

legislature to find funding. “I think funding is a huge concern and a huge topic,” she said. “I’m hoping that our next president can definitely bring that leadership, as well as being able to be a leader on the academic side.” A request for comment from the regents regarding these connections was ma d e t o C h r i s Pu rc e l l , a sp okesp ers on for the group, via email on Dec. 7, but she did not respond. Hannah Pike

Hannah.M.Pike-1@ou.edu

OU dean calls for transparency in letter Faculty denounce secrecy of search for next president STAFF REPORTS

OU faculty members are using an open letter to the university’s Board of Regents to push for a more open presidential search process and request that the OU community have access to candidates. Suzette Grillot, dean of OU’s College of International Studies, released the letter in a Feb. 5 email to university faculty. According to the email, Grillot and other faculty drafted the letter because of “concerns about a potentially closed search process,” and will send it to the regents by Feb. 16. The letter, which is also a petition that can be signed by faculty, notes that faculty expected to play a more active role in OU’s ongoing search to replace President David Boren, and believed that conversations about the next president would be made more public. Faculty found it “disappointing and demoralizing” that the search committee would operate in secrecy and would not release the names of its

SIANDHARA BONNET/THE DAILY

Dean Suzette Grillot of the College of International Studies speaks at a protest in the Unity Garden Feb. 9, 2017. Grillot plans to send a letter to the Board of Regents calling for a more open presidential search process.

presidential candidates, according to the letter. “It is inconceivable that the next president of a university worthy of its excellent reputation would be selected behind closed doors, shrouded in secrecy,” the letter reads. The letter requests that the regents amend the situation

by releasing the names of the final candidates for the position and allowing the OU community, including students, faculty, alumni and donors, to meet them. “A secret process does not establish a new president’s tenure on a solid foundation, but rather limits the new president’s capacity from

the first day in office ... the president represents a wide array of interests and must be equipped with a range of skills that can only be sufficiently displayed through a public process of engagement and discussion,” the letter reads. “Members of the university community, therefore, should be able

to question and review the values, vision, experience and qualifications of their leaders.” The letter concludes with a final request for transparency and for an opportunity for public forums and discussion times for all presidential candidates, noting that OU is not “a closed,

exclusionary and secretive campus” but “an accessible, inclusive and respectful community.” Grillot has previously raised concerns about the search process on Twitter. Staff Reports

6

NEWS

• February 8-11, 2018

Local activists seek change

Norman group proposes citizens’ advisory board SCOTT KIRKER @KirkerSc

In response to the death of a local man in police custody, a group of activists is working with the Norman Police Department to create a proposal for a citizens’ advisory board. Leaders of Norman Citizens for Racial Justice, an activist group made up of Norman citizens from a variety of backgrounds, met with representatives of the Norman Police Department on Jan. 31, said Deon Osborne, political communications senior and

spokesperson for Norman Citizens for Racial Justice. The meeting followed the group’s earlier response to the death of Marconia Kessee in his jail cell following an altercation with police Jan. 16. “We came to the conclusion that (the NPD) is not opposed to a citizens’ advisory board,” Osborne said. Norman Chief of Police Keith Humphrey said the meeting with Norman Citizens for Racial Justice was a “positive, proactive, collaborative discussion,” and the department is open to regular meetings with the group and the eventual creation of an advisory board. Norman Citizens for Racial Justice envisions a diverse advisory board of Norman citizens that will advise the police department on

“policies, plans, trainings, hiring practices and make recommendations based on research in those areas,” Osborne said. “So it wouldn’t be something where we tell the police what to do,” Osborne said, “but we have a good, transparent communication between the police and the citizens on what’s happening, how people feel and what people feel needs to be done.” Humphrey said the department and Norman Citizens for Racial Justice discussed the department’s training policies in order for the group to better understand police training on issues like mental illness and homelessness. Humphrey also said the department hoped to be as transparent as possible regarding Kessee’s death, and

said the department disagreed with the actions of the officers involved in the situation. Norman Citizens for Racial Justice is currently finalizing its proposal, which it will circulate as a petition at the 2nd Friday Norman Art Walk, Osborne said, and after receiving community feedback the group plans to return to talks with the department. “That’s what they asked us to do, come back when we had a detailed plan and a clear vision for (the advisory board),” Osborne said. “That’s what we’re working on right now.” Scott Kirker

scott.t.kirker-1@ou.edu

CLAIRE BENDTSCHNEIDER/THE DAILY

The Norman Police Department building pictured March 31. The NPD is working with the activist group Norman Citizens for Racial Justice to create a proposal for a citizens’ advisory board.

School teaches Chinese culture, language OU students study China through Confucius Institute THOMAS GAO @tgao1018

As China becomes a more popular study abroad destination for OU students, one university program is working to further Chinese language and culture education in the Norman community. The Confucius Institute, located just a mile east of OU’s Norman campus, was started in 2006 in partnership with OU’s sister school, Beijing Normal University, and is one of 110 Confucius Institutes located in the United States. The Chinese government initiated the Confucius Institute program in 2004 to promote Chinese language and culture in foreign countries. The institute is primarily an outreach program focusing on Chinese language education, and it will also assist local companies that seek to do business with their Chinese counterparts, said Paul Bell Jr., executive chairman of OU’s Confucius Institute. “Every Confucius Institute abroad has a Chinese partner university, and because of that connection we were able to get an exchange program started with Beijing Normal Un i ve r s i t y , s o ou r students could start to study in

Beijing,” Bell said. “And then later, when the Confucius Institute started a scholarship program, we are able to tap into that so that our students can get scholarship to the Confucius Institute to then go study in China basically for free.” In 2016, China was the sixth most popular destination for OU students studying abroad, with 65 education abroad participants choosing to study in China, according to the College of International Studies’ International Profile. But the Confucius Institute is not only a resource for students who are interested in studying abroad in China — it’s also for students who are interested in Chinese language and culture. The institute allows students to focus on the learning experience by providing uncredited classes, said Sharon Gou, the board director of the Confucius Institute. “We offer a variety of classes, like culture classes, dance classes, Tai Ji, Chinese painting and Chinese crafts,” Gou said. “We have all kinds of classes we can offer, and we can also offer classes at a request from the students or faculty altogether. We can do that really every year because we have so many talents from China.” Civil engineering sophomore Puthynan Bin took Great Wall Spoken Chinese for Beginners at the institute during the spring 2017

semester and said the class was interactive and fun. “In the class, we would learn how to pronounce and to write a word in Chinese. The teacher was a really funny person, sometimes we would play games to practice what we learned,” Bin said. “We also watched videos about Chinese culture and food — that really helped my understanding of China.” Students who are taking Chinese at OU can also receive help from the institute. The Confucius Institute offers students services such as action tutoring and one-onone conversation practice with Chinese exchange students, Gou said. “Professors usually contact us. We will then try to get them connected with one of our graduate students,” Gou said. “They can be a pen pallike partners — American students can learn Chinese, and Chinese students can learn English.” The institute also offers assistance to on-campus activities and organizations. Last year, it worked with the International Advisory Committee and participated in the Eve of Nations competition. This year, the institute will work with the Asian American Student Association to put on celebrations of the Chinese Lunar New Year on Feb. 16. Thomas Gao

jgao3@ou.edu

Non-student suspect involved in two Couch Center sexual assaults no longer employed by university An OU employee involved in two separate reports of sexual assault in Couch Center is no longer employed by the university. The unidentified former employee was connected with two reports of inappropriately touching co-workers, according to a Feb. 5 report from the OU Police Department. The alleged victims are full-time OU employees and are not students, according to an email from OU press secretary Matt Epting. Epting said the assaults occurred in Couch Center’s garbage room and basement, and that the suspect, also a non-student employee, did not have access to the building’s residential rooms. The reported assaults occurred Jan. 28 and Feb. 3. Staff Reports

come find your

passion MAJORS & MINORS FAIR

Wed. Feb 14 11am-2pm the union ballroom

free pizza & cokes enter in giveaways!

CAITLYN EPES/THE DAILY

Members of the OU community participate in a dragon dance on the South Oval on Sept. 28, 2016. The OU Confucius Institute works to further Chinese language and culture education in Norman.

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