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Redshirt senior recovering from bar fight
OU’s independent student voice since before the 1918 pandemic
‘Using our privilege for good’ First Black Panhellenic president aims to foster positivity, inclusion CALEB MCCOURRY @CalebMac21
PHOTO PROVIDED
Psychology and African American Studies junior Sydney Smith became OU Panhellenic’s first Black president.
due to racist events — highlighted by Sigma Alpha Epsilon’s racist chant in 2015 and a 2019 incident with a video showing a member of Panhellenic wearing Black face and using a racial slur, as well as recent disregard for COVID-19 protocol during the 2020 fall semester. As a Black woman, Smith said she saw multiple things she wanted to improve about Panhellenic when she first joined as a freshman, such as how race sometimes influenced recruitment of new pan members. Smith said this grew her interest in applying for OU’s Panhellenic leadership. “I saw color going through the process of recruitment, and I remembered what it felt like to be a woman going through Panhellenic recruitment,” Smith said. “I wanted to make pan a better space for women of color, so that’s why I decided to run.” As vice president to judicial affairs, Smith worked on changing the language of Panhellenic and recruitment bylaws to be more inclusive to all members, while also leading initiatives to recognize pan’s history of privilege. Vice President of Recruitment Operations Mackenzie Tullier, who has known Smith since her freshman year, said Smith really used her sophomore year to take a deep look into the wording of pan legislation to make changes to all aspects
of OU Panhellenic to improve inclusion and greek life responsibility. Tullier said Smith’s work has significantly benefited recruiting. “Some things that she did in the past for Judicial Affairs — she changed a lot of the bylaws regarding recruitment,” Tullier, an international security studies junior,
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I wanted to make pan a better space for women of color, so that’s why I decided to run.
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OU Panhellenic advisor Kylie Frisby said when she first interviewed current OU Panhellenic President Sydney Smith in 2018, she immediately knew Smith would reach the upper echelon of the organization’s ranks. In Smith’s freshman year, shortly after joining Gamma Phi Beta, she wanted to serve on the Judicial Board. Smith was interviewed by Frisby and then-Vice President for Judicial Affairs Lily Taylor. “I remember we both interviewed Sydney and (Taylor) goes, ‘I think she’s going to be Panhellenic President one day,’” Frisby said. “She was just really impressive in her interview, and she’s one of those people (where) the things she says, she can back up those words with actions. And I’ve just always been really impressed by her work ethic, even from the very beginning.” Smith worked her way up from Vice Chair of Judicial Affairs her freshman year to Vice President of Judicial Affairs her sophomore year. Around two years after joining greek life, Smith, a psychology and African American Studies junior, was named OU’s Panhellenic President in November 2020. She will serve in this position for the full calendar year of 2021. There is more to Smith’s appointment than a bullet point on a resume or even the responsibilities that accompany the title — she is the organization’s first Black president since its creation in 1918, a distinction she said she does not take lightly. “I’m amazed and I’m honored to be the first Black Pan president,” Smith said. “To me, it means that we are progressing, and we are taking steps to do better. And that’s what I want to do within my term. … I want to make Panhellenic a better place for women of color.” Smith said her passion for leading and helping communities stems back to when she was 8 years old. One of Smith’s earliest memories that inspired her to pursue community improvement was when Barack Obama became America’s first Black president. She said while she has dreams of going to graduate school and becoming a licensed social worker, her current dream is to use her platform to improve OU’s community. In her two years of serving OU Panhellenic, according to other Panhellenic executives who have worked closely with her, Smith has devoted her time to improving inclusivity, mental health and greek life’s overall reputation, which has oftentimes been put in a negative light in recent years
-Sydney Smith, OU Panhellenic President
said. “And all of these changes were super positive and really important to make sure that, not only were we following COVID guidelines, but we were also making sure that the chapters and the women going through recruitment felt valued and they felt respected because of these bylaws. … Everything that she
brought to the table when it came to changing the bylaws for recruitment were all really fantastic ideas.” OU Panhellenic Vice President of Judicial Affairs Madison Young said Smith implemented a bylaw this past November stating Panhellenic does not stand for discrimination. “A lot of her bylaws have to do with education,” Young, a marketing and supply chain management junior, said. “Educating our members about inclusive language, or the racist history of sorority, or about mental health, or trying to work on some stuff with preventing sexual assault. … Having that education and making sure everyone understands that these are real problems and to not just like push them under the rug.” One thing Smith said she’s excited to implement is affinity groups, where women can meet in person or over Zoom to discuss their experiences in Panhellenic and the changes they would like to see. Smith said she’s aiming to start having group sessions this semester or early next semester, adding there’s no specific topic or task for the groups. “Women of different identities can kind of come together and have a place within Panhellenic to kind of talk about their experiences,” Smith said, “(They can) talk about what they are liking, what they’re not liking, things that they would
like to improve upon — (it’s) just giving them a chance to kind of speak their truth and just have everyone listen.” One of the larger tasks Smith said she hopes to tackle is improving the party and drinking culture surrounding greek life. She said it’s important to her to bring greek life back into the good graces of the OU community, and she wants to lay the groundwork for a more responsible future. “Greek life can sometimes be seen in a very negative light, and honestly rightfully so sometimes,” Smith said. “But we’re really trying to make sure that we, as Panhellenic and as a group of women, are using our voices and our privilege for good. And that’s something that I really want to focus on, is making sure that we are acknowledging the privilege that we have, and using that for positives in our campus.” During Smith’s first two months in office, Frisby and Young said the leadership aspect of the job has been a natural fit for her. Young said Smith went right to work during a Student Affairs and Greek council retreat before the spring semester on having discussions about diversity and inclusion, laying the groundwork for what she wants done and opening the floor for everyone to discuss ideas and concerns. Frisby mentioned a specific moment that impressed her during a Panhellenic leadership biweekly meeting in the first week of February, where Smith implemented a self-talk positivity activity she learned about in one of her psychology classes. “I was like, ‘This is amazing. As the advisor, I should be doing that,’” Fribsy said. “I think her ability to apply things across all the areas of her life really just shows me that she can do anything she sets her mind (to), and we’re really lucky to have her.” Smith said her role is much more important for the future, as her presidency signifies a new era of diversity and inclusion at OU. “I think really making sure that we are doing what we need to do to support communities of color is not just like supporting them, but making sure that we are passing the mic — I think that’s something as Panhellenic women that we can do,” Smith said, “We take up a lot of space on campus. We are one of the biggest, if not the biggest student organization, and I think passing the mic is incredibly important and sharing space is incredibly important.” Caleb McCourry
caleb.a.mccourry-1@ou.edu
OU student drag performers foster identity Students find new ways to embrace community during pandemic JAZZ WOLFE @jazzmwolfe
Th e re d - b r i ck wa l l s o f t h e University of Oklahoma are for learning. Here, you can learn how to write music, build a computer program, solve a crime or do something else entirely. Here, you can learn how to be who you are. Drag — a performance art centered around a dramatic representation of gender — gives some students a similar opportunity. “Drag is a chance for people to be their authentic selves and to learn who their authentic selves are,” said musical theatre senior
and drag performer Taylor Ratliff. Since OU began hosting its two annual drag shows — Miss Student Theatre Initiative and Crimson and Queens — student drag performance has made its mark on campus. During the pandemic, student drag performers have struggled to continue their art, but they have found ways over social media to keep performing. Ratliff started doing drag officially on campus his freshmen year. He first competed in Miss Student Theatre Initiative with the OU School of Drama. “By the end of the night, my wig had slipped to the back of my head, and I was exhausted,” Ratliff said. “But I loved it.” After that experience, Ratliff began working to solidify his drag persona. He had always loved the
classic silhouette from the 50s, being especially inspired by the movies starring Marilyn Monroe and Audrey Hepburn that he grew up loving. He pulled inspiration from that era, focusing on “highbrow fashion, glamor and the impeccable beauty standards.” “It was this persona that lives in the 21st century,” Ratliff said. “But it harkens (back to) the age of where women walked the red carpet and were revered as goddesses.” From the vintage vision, Ratliff ’s drag persona — Plasma LaRose — was born. “I’ve probably focused more on drag than on my musical theatre degree,” Ratliff said, laughing. Many of the outfits Plasma LaRose wears feature big hair with a form fitting dress. LaRose also has a signature makeup
detail — a white line leading to a white dot on the tip of her nose. Overall, LaRose has an aesthetic strongly focused on the classic silhouette of Marilyn Monroe combined with the fashion style of Aubrey Hepburn. Meanwhile, Ratliff has been competing in an Instagram drag competition. Jak’kay Monroe’s Drag Idol is an OKC-based competition for local artists to show off what they can do despite the pandemic. Ratliff posts weekly batches of photos with different outfits to his Plasma LaRose Instagram page. “I have an opportunity to feel like I’m creating art,” Ratliff said. Ratliff works with his roommate to produce his content between classes. Apartment photoshoots see DRAG page 2
TAYLOR RATLIFF MEGAN FOISY/THE DAILY
JUSTIN NORRIS MEGAN FOISY/THE DAILY
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NEWS
• Feb. 23- March 1, 2021
Civil rights chair search begins OU Law position honors Ada Lois Sipuel Fisher CHRISTIAN HANS @ChristianHansOU
OU Law announced its search for the new Ada Lois Sipuel Fisher Chair in Civil Rights, Race and Justice position, named for the first Black student accepted into the College of Law. In an Interfolio job application, the College of Law announced the chair position will be appointed at the rank of associate or full professor commensurate with experience. According to the application, appointment for t h e p o si t i o n w i l l b e g i n between August 2021 and January 2022, with application review beginning immediately and remaining open until final selection is made and the position is filled. “(The position) is dedicated to a legal s cholar who holds an established interest in and deep knowledge of civil rights law, election laws, race and the law, anti-discrimination law, equal rights and diversity in law, and critical race theory,” the application read. “At least half of the successful applicant’s annual teaching load must fall within these (areas), with teaching and research conducted primarily at the College of Law.” According to The Daily’s project on the namesake of the chair position,
JACKSON STEWART/THE DAILY
The seal for the College of Law on Oct. 7.
Sipuel Fisher graduated from Langston University in 1945, then decided to transfer to OU to study law. On Jan. 15, 1946, she applied for admission to the University of Oklahoma College of Law, according to the project. The Board of Regents explicitly instructed then-OU President George Lynn Cross to refuse her admission on the basis of state law.
The project also read that in July of 1946, Sipuel Fisher filed a lawsuit in the Cleveland County District Court, which was followed by a three-year legal battle. Fisher was represented by lawyer Thurgood Marshall — who later became the first Black Supreme Court Justice — but eventually lost her case. Sipuel Fisher appealed to the Oklahoma Supreme
Cour t in Apr il the next year, but they also upheld the previous decision of the district court. Sipuel Fisher later filed a n a p p e a l t o t h e U. S . Supreme Court, and on January 12, 1948, the court ruled in Sipuel v. Board of Regents of the University of Oklahoma that Oklahoma must provide Fisher with the same opportunities a s i t p rov i d e d t o o t h e r
citizens of Oklahoma. “ To further honor Dr. Sipuel Fisher, the successful candidate will preferably hold qualities similar to those that guided her struggle and her achievements: courage, integrity, tenacity, intellect, vision and love,” OU Law communications director Carol Booth wrote in an email to The Daily. “With this new position, OU Law hopes to
DRAG: continued from page 1
and putting on makeup during class have become part of Ratliff ’s day-to-day routine, he said. “It’s really helping me cope with the absence of my true love, performing live,” Ratliff said. Ratliff is not the only student drag queen on campus. Justin Norris, vocal performance and marketing senior and former SGA president, also competes i n d rag. Th rou g h d rag, Norris became heavily involved in the queer community on campus. “Sometimes it can be hard, especially for queer people, to find that same sense of community that a lot of these events provide,” Norris said. Norris began his drag career through the Miss Student Theatre Initiative pageant, but it started with an outside perspective. He had been helping his roommate at the time get into costume for the pageant when he realized he wanted to try it out. A month later, the GEC announced the first “Crimson and Queens.” “I shot my shot,” Norris said. “I put on some makeup and a Goodwill dress, took some pictures, and that was it.” Norris went on to perform at OU’s first Crimson and Queens event along with future Miss Student Theatre Initiative competitions. Across his drag career, Norris has built the drag persona known as Blacc Cherry. The name came through a joke with friends as a play on socialite Blac Chyna, but Blacc Cherry’s personality was developed with a more personal touch. “Blacc Cherry is really the manifestation of a lot of the things that I was told I couldn’t be,” Norris said. “I was told I couldn’t be black and queer, but Blacc Cherry just doesn’t feel any of that. She’s always smiling, always trying to make
PHOTO ILLUSTRATION BY MEGAN FOISY/THE DAILY
Taylor Ratliff as Plasma LaRose.
people laugh. She is an extension of me, but she’s also what I aspire to be.” Blacc Cherry’s aesthetic features a modern look with clean lines, but she has a tendency to switch up the aesthetic not only between performances, but also between acts at the same event. She will often go from a modest look with simple colors to something daring, usually with the goal to add shock value, said Norris. During his time as SGA president, Norris said that his role as Blacc Cherry became even more important. “It felt so important to be that representation to other people on campus,” Norris said. “I hope that makes other pe ople on campus feel like they can be their authentic selves, whether they’re genderqueer or black or gay.” Norris has not been consistently performing as Blacc Cherry during the pandemic, but he has continued to participate in the queer community by
working on the LGBTQ+ Program Advisory Board and talking to friends like Ratliff. “I’m fortunate to have a su p p o r t sy st e m I ca n rely on,” Norris said. “We can check in w ith each other even if we can’t be together.” Despite the pandemic, performers like Ratliff and Norris are given opportunities to perform. The 2021 Crimson and Queens event has been in the making since the pandemic began. Jerry Lessley, p e t ro l e u m e ng i n e e ring masters student and founder of the event, started preparing as soon as the 2020 event was canceled. It was not an easy process, Lessley said. “This is my baby,” Lessley said. “But we weren’t able to plan too much because things were changing by the minute.” C r i m s o n a n d Qu e e n s started in 2018 as a combination of the Gender + Equality Center’s diversity and inclusion efforts and the Union Programming
PHOTO ILLUSTRATION BY MEGAN FOISY/THE DAILY
Justin Norris as Blacc Cherry.
board’s event organization experience. “I knew this would be a really great partnership between us,” Lessley said. Lessley was right. Through collaboration between the two organizations, Crimson and Queens started with a few different goals in mind. First, the event was meant to be student-based. While organizers would be inviting local drag artists to showcase the drag that exists in the community, Crimson and Queens was primarily an opportunity for students to perform and show off their talents. Second, it was a chance to give queer students, particularly students under the age of 21, a space to be open about who they are and meet other queer people. “This is a very safe environment to experience drag in,” Lessley said. “But this year will look a little different.” Due to the ongoing pandemic, “Crimson and Queens” will be hosted
online through Zoom. After performers are selected, they will be given the chance in early March t o re c o rd t h e i r p e r f o rmances on camera. Chakra Media Company, a local production team, will be filming and editing all performances with professional-level quality. “It’ll be just like a big music video,” Lessley said. Shangela — a world-renowned drag queen and former contestant on “ R u p a u l ’s D r a g R a c e ” and “Rupaul’s Drag Race: Allstars” — will host the event this year. She was previously listed as the headliner last year before the event was canceled due to COVID-19. Between the streamed performances, Shangela w ill be commenting on the competing queens and providing additional entertainment to the online audience. “We’re very excited we could work with her again this year,” Lessley said. The event will be streamed Apr. 29 from 7-10
bring difficult conversations to the forefront and encourage broad and open dialogue. Understanding difference is cr itical to relationships and to the many communities – social, political, legal, cultural – that house them.” Christian Hans
christian.j.hans-1@ou.edu
p.m. The event is completely free, and a link will be posted to register on the “Crimson and Queens” Facebook page. Ratliff and Norris both plan to audition for “Crimson and Queens.” Performers for this year have not been announced yet, but Raltiff said he is excited to see who will be on the stage. Ratliff and Norris will be graduating in 2021. Ratliff is planning to move to New York and hopes to continue performing in the drag scene while he pursues work in live theatre. “My plans are all very flexible,” Ratliff said. “I would love to break onto the drag scene, but theatre is my first love and always will be.” Norris is currently applying to multiple law schools across the country. He wants to work in entertainment law, representing those in the performance industry. He wants to represent marginalized performers especially, Norris said. While attending law school, he’d like to continue performing drag wherever he ends up. “It would be a disservice to myself and Blacc Cherry to keep her confined to N o r m a n , O k l a h o m a ,” Norris said. “The sky seems like the limit.” Norris said he hopes that the OU drag scene will continue after he graduates “Drag is not just a thing for queer people,” Norris said. “It’s a chance to learn, and college is a place of constant learning. So, go and learn.” Jazz Wolfe
jazzwolfe@ou.edu
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NEWS
Feb. 23-Mar. 1, 2021 •
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Students face additional stress Faculty, staff attempt to combat academic anxieties TAYLOR JONES @wrongtailor
In lieu of a traditional spring break this semester, some OU instructors are incorporating a break into their class schedule, citing increased mental-health-related challenges to online learning. Online learning designe r a n d O U e d u cat i o na l psychology teacher and research assistant Murat Turk said while the stress of moving to an emergency remote learning system h a s c a u s e d e x t ra c o m plications for students, the switch also affects instructors. “ I hav e s o m e f r i e n d s (who, at the beginning) were extremely stressed out and anxious about what they’re going to do because they have never taught online,” Turk said. “(Online instruction) takes a lot of time and a certain period of design. The lack of preparation to teach online (due to the pandemic) is the core challenge faced by faculty.” Turk said one solution to dealing with mental health in the absence of a spring break is for professors to work in a break when designing their course. “(Instructors) don’t have to look for a university decision — they can give certain short breaks in their course schedule,” Turk said. “Faculty should also create such opportunities, especially for this semester, where there is no official spring break, by making certain accommodations and modifications in our course schedule to create relaxation space for students.” Laura Gibbs, an online general education instructor in the College of Arts and Sciences, said even though students have been succeeding in her classes, she recognizes the issues in mental health that come along with a national pandemic, especially in light of OU’s decision to cut
ALAYNA WELDON/THE DAILY
traditional spring break in favor of an extended winter break. “I was very disappointed to see that the university considers two random days off as the equivalent of spring break this semester,” Gibbs said. “It’s a pandemic — we need more of a break, not less, but less is what we have been given.” Due to the absence of a spring break, Gibbs said she decided to give her students two break weeks from the asynchronous class to use at any time. She said, however, students are still reporting high levels of stress. “S t u d e n t s h av e b e e n doing an optional anonymous ‘stress check’ in my classes, and every week I see students who are suffering from serious stress,” Gibbs said. “The university has not done a good job of checking in with students, f a c u l t y a n d st a f f ab ou t the challenges we face — doing a survey is easy, but it’s like the administration really does not want to hear from people (about) what’s actually going on in
our lives.” Stephne e His ero dt, a staff counselor and licensed clinical social worker at the OU University Counseling Center, said the effects of isolation have a large impact on mental health. “Humans, whether they’re introverted or extroverted, are social creatures,” Hiserodt said. “I’ve seen isolation affect relationships with roommates and partners. Even for ones that prefer living alone and are more introverted, the isolation has really taken a toll on mental health.” The impact isolation has on mental health is shown in increased feelings of depression and anxiety, Hiserodt said. “ Pe o p l e a re n o t u s e d to this type of isolation,” Hiserodt said. “And you think ‘Oh, if I got to stay home for the day, there’s a million things I would want to do.’ But when it’s day after day, after day, after day, it really becomes hard. That isolation leads to burnout, and boredom, and increased loneliness,
depression and anxiety.” COVID-19 has brought such an increase of stress upon students that OU’s UCC decided to hire three new counselors to their staff, Hiserodt said. Turk also said although some studies suggest online learning is as effective as in-person instruction, t h e e m e r g e n c y re m o t e instr uction te chniques brought on by the pandemic led to underprepared professors and disengaged students. “In an online learning environment, you don’t have the immediate ins t r u c t o r p re s e n c e, y o u don’t have the immediate instructor support, you don’t have the immediate peer support (and) you don’t have the immediate peer presence,” Turk said. “So these are some inherent challenges of online education.” Gibbs said, as a longter m online instr uctor, changing the class structure can alleviate some of the challenges associated with an online format. “Students have a lot of
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Previous Solution
Instructions: Fill in the grid so that every row, every column and every 3x3 box contains the digits 1 through 9. That means that no number is repeated in any row, column or box.
By Eugenia Last
Copyright 2020, Newspaper Enterprise Assn. TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 23, 2021 ASTROGRAPH by Eugenia Last Put more time and effort into creative endeavors this year. Expand your interests. Learn something new, and take an interest in reconnecting with people or pastimes you miss. Push uncertainty into the background; concentrate on what excites you most. Change begins with you. PISCES (Feb. 20-March 20) -- Make the first move. Pick up the phone, send an email or set up a reunion with someone you miss. Quality of life depends on the decisions you make. Consider what makes you happy and content, then head in that direction. ARIES (March 21-April 19) -Sink your teeth into what you can accomplish. Productivity will help ward off disagreements and make an impression on someone who counts. Refuse to give in to pressure or get involved in someone’s success instead of your own. TAURUS (April 20-May 20) -- A unique take on an old idea will excite you. If doubt sets in, know enough to step back and rethink your next move. Change is only useful if it is beneficial. Focus on using your skills efficiently. GEMINI (May 21-June 20) -You’ll have to stay ahead of the competition. Gather information, verify facts and use your intelligence and charm to keep the peace and bring about positive change. Avoid taking risks with your health. CANCER (June 21-July 22) -If you are resourceful, original and insightful, acknowledgment will follow. Look for workable partnerships and moneymaking opportunities. Invest time and money in your interests and pursuits.
LEO (July 23-Aug. 22) -Cross every “T” and dot every “I” to avoid criticism. Someone will be waiting and watching for any mistake you make. Avoid unpredictable people and protect your reputation, meaningful relationships and professional position. VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22) -A power play will pay off. Have everything in place, and be ready to roll. Look for the signs, and let your intuition lead the way. Don’t share information with a peer who may not be trustworthy. LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 23) -- You’ll encounter turmoil at home or work if you let your emotions interfere with your responsibilities. Get your duties out of the way and move on to more pleasurable tasks. SCORPIO (Oct. 24-Nov. 22) -- Spend more time at home, learn something new or make a lifestyle change that encourages better health. Walk away from bad habits, influences and extreme situations. SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 23-Dec. 21) -- Keep an open mind, but don’t believe everything you hear. Someone will take advantage of you if you let down your guard. Discipline will pay off when it comes to work and finance. CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19) -- Pay attention to what’s happening in your domestic life. Putting the zest back into your life and doing your best to adapt to inevitable changes will be your ticket to success. AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 19) -- Think twice before you take a risk. Live within your means and avoid relationships with extravagant individuals. Concentrate on personal improvement. Turn an unexpected change into a new beginning.
flexibility to choose when they do the work for class (in the online format),” G i b b s s a i d i n a n e ma i l to the Daily. “So, for students who are dealing with pandemic complications, maybe having to self-isolate or quarantine, the flexible online course schedule accommodates all that. I’ve been incredibly impressed in all three of our pandemic semesters at how willing the students are to manage all the chaos in their lives while still doing excellent work for class, working hard on their class projects.” Gibbs suggested the way courses are graded needs to change to better accommodate students experiencing pandemic stress. “I’m a proponent of a practice called un-grading, which has been gathering a lot of momentum lately, in part I think because the pandemic has exposed the unfairness of grading in even more dramatic ways than before,” Gibbs said. “Pass or no pass (grading) is a great alternative and one that is very appropriate
in the pandemic. There were literally hundreds of schools which implemented P/NP grading in Spring of 2020 as a response to the pandemic.” Pass/no pass grading allows for students to mentally adjust to the stress is olation br ings, Gibbs said. “Nothing is the same during the pandemic, and trying to pretend things are the same is actually harmful for everybody involved,” Gibbs said. “During the pandemic, P/NP is exactly the kind of flexible grading alternative that can help to alleviate at least some of the pandemic’s impact on education right now.” Hiserodt said the absence of a spring break needs to be met by students, faculty and staff with what she described as a “self-care lifestyle,” meaning taking the time to eat healthy, watch a movie, read a b o ok or relax in other ways. “When we’re in this COVID world, we really have to think about (selfcare) as a lifestyle, which means that when you are looking at your schedule, you’re carving out space that you can use intentionally for (self-care) activities, Hiserodt said. One of the keys to emergency remote learning and online learning in general, Turk said, is to simply communicate and engage with students. “We need to acknowle dg e that this is a ver y stressful period for students, Turk said. “Contact your students, check in to see how they are doing not only in terms of coursework but also as human beings. They want to talk about (what) is going on in their lives, and if they need some flexibility in terms of the course requirements … don’t be hesitant to do that. It’s not bad teaching — you are making accommodations to make your students’ lives much more comfortable, especially during this stressful time.” Taylor Jones
taylor.p.jones-1@ou.edu
Universal Crossword Edited by David Steinberg February 23, 2021 ACROSS 1 Off in the distance 5 Scary giant 9 Hangs in there 14 Big name in pineapple 15 Swamp menace, informally 16 Greek leader? 17 19 Gymnastics gold medalist Kerri 20 Baron’s title 21 It may mean “Pet me!” 23 Opera princess who loves Radames 24 Payment promises 26 Rhinoceros part 28 Daisylike flowers 31 Slightly cracked 33 Spy org. that split up in 1991 36 39 “___ it snappy!” 40 Stretch of history 41 Sci-fi princess who loves Han 42 47 CIA’s predecessor 48 Grape or tomato holder 49 Floppy-eared hound 50 Last word of a prayer 52 Donate
2/23
53 Drink at a sushi bar 55 “Catch ya later,” in London 58 Children hunt for them annually 61 Double checkers? 63 Commonly misused adverb, or how to read the clues to 17-, 36- and 42-Across 66 Like the best-case scenario 67 Swear to 68 Minute ___ (juice brand) 69 Like the screws in eyeglasses 70 Achy 71 Pros at saving lives DOWN 1 The second word of this clue, e.g.: Abbr. 2 Fair’s opposite 3 Additionally 4 Pet that may be “golden” 5 Condition with rituals, briefly 6 International bakers’ units 7 Flower on a float 8 Automatic response to a call? 9 ___ Vegas Aces 10 Wedding site
11 Parts of a fire safety system 12 Ungraceful landing sound 13 Multiseason show’s storyline, perhaps 18 Love to pieces 22 Alphabetically first of the five W’s 25 Seabees’ org. 27 “... man ___ mouse?” 28 Have the intention of 29 Iranian leaders, once 30 Protests during the national anthem 31 Button on an electronic contract 32 Rock icon Jett 34 Tour leader 35 Monster 37 Marine bird
38 Its final score may be 20-21 43 The night before 44 “You ___ lyin’!” 45 ___-Wan Kenobi 46 Seesaw on a decision 51 “Will & Grace” Emmy winner Mullally 52 Swamp menace, informally 53 Comedy sketch 54 Political assistant 56 “Sad to say ...” 57 Pioneering DVR 59 Glitzy rock style 60 Cut, as a welltaped box 62 Crafty 64 Lamb’s mother 65 Three-ft. measures
PREVIOUS ANSWER PREVIOUS PUZZLE ANSWER
2/22 2/9
© 2021 Andrews McMeel Universal © 2021www.upuzzles.com Andrews McMeel Universal www.upuzzles.com
Fill in the Blanks by Howard Barkin
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SPORTS
• Feb. 23-Mar. 1, 2021
ISU ATHLETICS/POOL PHOTO
Senior guard Austin Reaves during the game against Iowa State on Feb. 20 in Ames.
OU overcomes shaky first half
Sooners defeat Cyclones despite schedule changes AUSTIN CURTRIGHT @AustinCurtright
After a week featuring two schedule changes against No. 12 Texas before the game was ultimately postponed due to inclement weather, senior guard Austin Reaves called the days of uncertainty “frustrating.” The Sooners, preparing for the Longhorns up until Wednesday, had limited time to ready themselves for Iowa State with the postponements of the Texas game. “It is what it is, I guess,” said Reaves, who had 20 points and five rebounds on
Saturday night against the Cyclones. “I mean, you prepare for a team and then you get to the day of the game and then (it) gets (postponed), next day (you’re) supposed to play, (it) gets (postponed) and then gets (postponed) for good.” Despite playing only three games in the last two weeks due to postponements from COVID-19 protocols within No. 2 Baylor’s program and the weather that kept Texas from traveling to Norman, OU managed to win its first game in Ames since 2011. No. 9 Oklahoma (14-5, 9-4 Big 12) defeated Iowa State (2-16, 0-13), 66-56, in Hilton Coliseum on Saturday night. The Sooners had a 21-point lead at one point in the first half, but the Cyclones came back due to uncharacteristic play from Oklahoma to start
the second half. OU shot 25 percent from 3 and scored only 66 points against the last-ranked defense in the Big 12, but managed to prevail late with calm play. “Second half, we were just a little frantic,” OU head coach Lon Kruger said. “When they were making their run, (we) didn’t finish some plays that we had an opportunity to.” Iowa State went on a 28-6 run from the end of the first half to the start of the second half. It eventually took a 46-45 lead for one possession with under 12 minutes remaining in the final period before Reaves gave OU the lead for good with under 11 minutes to go. The Sooners scored just six points in the first 9:05 of the second half. However, OU stayed relaxed and went on a 15-4
run after losing the lead. Oklahoma’s week of preparation challenges seemed to show in the second half, but the Sooners buckled down and took control late. “It was a good response, in terms of losing the lead and then widening it right back out,” Kruger said. “Not that we want to get ourselves in that position any more than we have to, but guys (I) thought maintained their poise.” On nights when OU isn’t hot shooting the ball, its poise is one of the factors that’s put it in the Top 10 in the AP Poll and kept it from losing to an unranked team in conference play. “We really just locked back in,” Reaves said on taking the lead back. “Coming out of the half we didn’t do a good job staying focused
(or) really just sticking to the game plan and just really finishing out at halftime.” “We let them get some momentum and come back and take the lead. And that’s something that we’ve got to work on, but for us to get (the lead) back and push it back to 10 (points) is big.” Kruger said Iowa State has b e en a tough team when healthy and playing with its normal starters. The Cyclones’ first game since Jan. 9 with their entire starting lineup was against OU on Feb. 6. Iowa State has given the Sooners trouble this season. Similar to this game, the Cyclones took the lead with under 10 minutes in the second half before OU pulled away late in the teams’ initial meeting. The Sooners this season
also became the first team since 2016 to win at least two road conference games in a season, the year they went to the Final Four and were led by former Naismith Award winner Buddy Hield. Although it struggled against two-win Iowa State at times Saturday night, Oklahoma showed why it can make a run in March by limiting the damage from teams it’s projected to beat by a large margin. “Any win in the Big 12 is a good win,” Reaves said. “And even though they haven’t got a win in conference play, they’re still a really good team. … It’s just big to keep the momentum going and just keep moving forward.” Austin Curtright
austincurtright@ou.edu
NPD investigating incident involving OU holder Redshirt senior recovering from facial surgery MASON YOUNG @Mason_Young_0
AUSTIN CURTRIGHT @AustinCurtright
The Norman Police Depar tment confir med Monday afternoon it has launched an open investigation into a bar fight involving OU receiver and holder Spencer Jones. TMZ initially rep or ted Monday morning that the investigation had been launched. NPD has labeled the incident as aggravated assault and battery in its report and says it has identified all involved parties, but the report doesn’t name parties other than Jones. No arrests have been made, it states. Norman Public Information Officer Sarah Jensen clarified to The Daily in an email that any eventual charges would be determined by the Cleveland County district attorney upon the conclusion of the investigation. In a comment attached to the tweet that initially displayed video of the altercation, a user identifying himself as Braden Brown said he and his brother are the men who fought with Jones and an unidentified man in a jean jacket. Brown said in his tweet they were left with “no options.” The altercation as captured on video occurred in the bathroom at Logie’s on the Corner, a Campus Corner bar within walking distance of Gaylord Family-Oklahoma Memorial Stadium. “Just to get rid of the misconceptions, I’m the fellow
PAXSON HAWS/CRIMSON QUARTERLY
Then-redshirt junior wide receiver Spencer Jones walks into the Cotton Bowl before the Red River Showdown on Oct. 12, 2019.
in the beanie and that is my brother,” Brown said in the tweet. “We are not wrestlers at any university, we have been wrestling since we were in diapers and MMA/Cage Fighting since we were 12. They gave us no options unfortunately. We showed restraint.” In the video, Jones yelled “get the f*** out of here,” and added “what you got,” while the man in the jean jacket standing next to Jones pushed Brown’s brother, who appeared to already be bleeding from his nose. The Daily reached out to Brown for comment via social media on Sunday afternoon and received no response. The
Daily reached Brown’s father, Thomas Brown, on Monday afternoon and he declined to comment other than to say the family will release a statement soon. The Daily previously reported Jones nearly lost his left eye in the fight and underwent reconstructive surgery, according to his attorney, Woodrow “Woody” Glass of Ward and Glass, L.L.P. in Norman. After the incident occured in the late hours between Saturday, Feb. 13 and Sunday, Feb. 14, a police report was filed on Feb. 16, the same day Jones underwent surgery for his injury. NPD wasn’t called to the scene of the incident initially.
After seeking aid from OU’s athletic trainers, Jones was held from surgery until the swelling around his eye receded, Glass said. Dr. Perry Brooks of Norman, whose website says he specializes in facial reconstruction, performed a four-hour outpatient operation in which he rebuilt Jones’ left orbital socket. “Dr. Brooks came out of that surgery saying he’s extraordinarily lucky at this point, that he’s lucky he didn’t lose the eye altogether,” Glass said. “And so he was able to do some things surgically to rebuild that orbital socket and thinks everything is eventually going to come back to normal,
but it’s going to take a while for him to fully recover.” The Daily reached out to OU Assistant Athletic Director Mike Houck regarding the matter. Houck confirmed the athletic department is aware of the situation but gave no further comment. Jones hails from Nashville, and transferred to Oklahoma in 2018 after two seasons as a walk-on at Liberty. Jones has one brother, Price, who attends OU. His father, Stu, and mother, Denise, are Oklahoma natives. In 2020, Jones was named to the All-Big 12 Academic First Team and was placed on scholarship on Dec. 9. He
played in all 11 games for OU on special teams and won the Peter Mortell Holder of the Year Award, which recognizes the best place holder in college football. “He’s had great support from his coaches through all of this,” Glass said. “He’s had great support from his teammates. They kind of all banded together around him and are really supportive. … Spencer’s just a superb kid too. … He didn’t deserve this, ever.” Mason Young
mason.e.young-1@ou.edu
Austin Curtright
austincurtright@ou.edu