W E E K E N D E D I T I O N | A P R I L 12 -15 , 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
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PHOTOS PROVIDED BY KATHY MILLER
A PATH OF HER OWN
Skyler Miller, a freshman from Norman, is a member of the OU women’s tennis team. Miller’s grandfather is former OU football coach Barry Switzer.
Skyler Miller debuts at Oklahoma driven by personal goal to create a legacy apart from grandfather Barry Switzer’s
O
klahoma freshman Skyler Miller can be found at the Headington Family Tennis Center, slamming lobs, diving for smashes and perfecting her serve. Only 30 years ago, Miller’s grandfather Barry Switzer, one of the greatest legacies in Sooner history, spent his days in Oklahoma Memorial Stadium. Now just 2 miles down the road from Owen Field, Miller is making a legacy of her own. From the time she was born and throughout her teenage years, Miller got to experience the University of Oklahoma in a way most never do. While she walked around campus and cheered on the football team like many others, Miller did so alongside one of the most esteemed coaches in the history of Oklahoma football. Inspired by her grandfather and all his accomplishments, a desire for greatness was instilled in Miller from a young age. That desire transformed into a goal of one day becoming a Sooner herself. “I’ve walked around campus a million times,” Miller said. “I grew up here, football games, everything. I knew I wanted to come to OU. This was definitely my dream.” Known as the king in Norman, Switzer has become a familiar face around the city and campus he once ruled. Now, Miller has begun her own reign in Sooner Nation, striving to carry on the legacy of her royal Sooner blood. “Skyler is my unique little granddaughter,” Switzer said. “She’s my first. I call her the leader of the pack. She is really highly motivated and driven.”
CHANDLER WILSON • @CHANDLERGWILSON CHASING A DREAM Not only did Miller know she wanted to attend Oklahoma, but she also knew she wanted to do so as an athlete. After realizing she lacked height as a pre-teen, Miller decided to set the basketball down and pick up a tennis racket instead. At the age of 12, Miller began playing tennis at the OU Tennis Club. “Originally, it was a little bit hard because I was 12 when I started,” said Miller, who is currently 5-4 in doubles from the two and three spots and 2-3 in singles from the four and six spots. “That’s really late for a tennis player. It was like a catch-up game and really discouraging at times and hard in the beginning.” After eighth grade, Miller opted out of attending traditional high school and instead relied on home schooling in order to focus on tennis. In doing so, she was able to play nationally and internationally before eventually graduating a semester early to begin college play. When head coach Audra Cohen was hired at Oklahoma, Miller had long been a part of the OU Tennis Club and was already comfortable playing on the courts she would eventually call home. Cohen said she knew they had a great opportunity of signing Miller because she was born and raised in Oklahoma athletics, but Miller’s connections to the university carried no weight in Cohen’s decision of adding her to the team’s roster. “She’s one of the nicest people, I think, I’ve ever met in my life, and she always does the
right thing,” Cohen said. “Her character is incredibly strong, and you would never in a million years guess that she was Barry Switzer’s grandchild. She doesn’t ever have a chip on her shoulder. She is exactly who she is, and she’s very secure with who she is.” While her coach thinks her genuine character and self-confidence are worthy of praise, her potential for greatness is what sets her apart. Cohen said she could not be happier about having someone like Miller, almost like a sleeping giant, on her roster. “ S h e ’s a l o t l i k e a B a k e r Mayfield, who maybe comes in and isn’t as much of the profile, per say, as a top 50 (International Tennis Federation) pro or a professionally ranked player,” Cohen said. “But she has a huge amount of room to grow. Already, she’s grown so much, so quickly.” Switzer always encouraged Miller to take advantage of the opportunities she was given and to be aware of the importance of earning things for herself. He knows she achieved her dreams of playing for Oklahoma on her own accord and is proud of how she has capitalized on the chances placed in front of her. “A lot of kids born on third base go through life thinking they hit a triple,” Switzer said. “But (my grandchildren) approached it the same way as being at bat, not being born on third base. They’ve done it the right way, and I’m proud of them that way.”
of college football, Switzer worries his grandchildren may experience the pressure of his name and the expectations that come with it. “I think (Skyler) feels pressure,” Switzer said. “I look at her and think the fact that who her Grumpy was and what we did and all that ... She kind of thinks it’s expected of her.” Regardless of the weight of Switzer’s name across his kingdom in Norman, Miller just sees him as her grandfather, or more specifically, as her Grumpy. Inspired by “Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs,” Switzer’s daughter and Miller’s mother, Kathy Miller, decided to start calling her seemingly always-grumpy dad by his favorite dwarf ’s name. The name stuck before his grandchildren knew any better, and before long, they were buying him Walt Disney T-shirts with Grumpy on them for every holiday. Family is everything to the Switzer and Miller clan, and Miller has always been close to her Grumpy. As the oldest of 10 grandchildren, Switzer views Miller as the leader and believes that is right where she belongs. He hopes her legacy goes far beyond the tennis court because she is capable of accomplishing whatever she wants. “She knows more than some of the books she’s reading right now,” Switzer said. “Skyler has the capability to be a CEO of a company. She is that smart and driven.”
credits them for much of who she is, her expectations for herself on the tennis court and in the classroom come from a personal desire to create her own legacy. She has every intention of excelling in tennis and school and hopes to be known for her faith. “I would like to pursue professional tennis after (college),” Miller said. “I definitely want to use this as a stepping stool to get to that place in my game ... I would like to go through these four years showing Christ’s love. Making other people feel loved and how little acts of kindness can make a difference in people’s lives. I’d like to be a light to people here.” Switzer joked Miller’s goodness and drive have led her to be far more gifted than he is, both academically and athletically, making him confident Miller will thrive in every aspect of her life. With nearly four years left at the University of Oklahoma, Miller’s journey has just begun. With the encouragement of her parents and Switzer, along with her natural-born leadership and drive, Switzer believes she will blaze her own trail as Skyler Miller. “It makes me smile when I see her. She does well,” Switzer said. “I think she can be a great role model for little girls. She has great Christian values. She is genuine and sincere. There’s nothing (malicious) there. It’s all honest and true ... I’m proud of her.”
INSPIRED BY FAMILY Re co g nize d as one of the greatest coaches in the history
CREATING A LEGACY While Miller praises her family for supporting her goals and
Chandler Wilson cgwilson@ou.edu
Boren expresses confidence in Gallogly’s selection Current president voices support amid unanswered questions KAILEY FRALIX @kailey_fralix
Despite differing opinions surrounding James Gallogly’s selection as OU’s 14th president,
President David Boren has expressed faith in Gallogly’s ability to continue the university’s established tradition of greatness. While Boren’s legacy after 23 years in the position could be challenging to follow, Boren said he believes Gallogly’s upbringing, drive and dedication to the university will contribute to his future success as president.
With Gallogly’s lack of exper ience working or teaching in higher education, some OU community members have questioned Gallogly’s qualifications for the job. Boren said he believes past careers are not what qualifies someone for the job. “I think it’s not so important about what you’ve been doing
in your career before, but do you respect the academic mission? Do you have a deep feeling about it and a deep feeling about the priority of it and the importance of what teachers are doing?” Boren said. “And I think he does.” Boren’s relationship w ith Gallogly began long before the presidential selection process,
and Boren said he has watched Gallogly grow professionally since. “I’ve known him since he was the young upcoming officer in Phillips Petroleum Company,” Boren said. “I was on the board, and I knew him when he was . . . ma k i n g h i s w ay t h ro u g h see SUPPORT on Page 5
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SPORTS
George Stoia, sports editor dailysports@ou.edu • phone: 405-325-3666 oudaily.com/sports • Twitter: @OUDailySports
Tyler assists in shutout win Junior pitcher plays key part in OU baseball victory
Kelli Stacy Editor in Chief Emma Keith News Managing Editor Emily Farris Engagement Editor George Stoia Sports Editor Allison Weintraub A&E Editor
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With a 3-0 lead, junior right-handed pitcher Kyle Tyler took the mound to start the seventh inning — and though most were hesitant to mention it out loud — the crowd let out a sigh when a single up the middle on a 0-1 count would end Tyler’s perfect game. For six straight innings Tyler had faced 18 batters — striking out six to keep the momentum out of the Trojans’ dugout. With many holding their breath for No. 11 Oklahoma’s (2411, 8-1 Big 12) first perfect game of the season, Tyler approached the at-bat as he did any other, with the focus on one pitch at a time, no matter the outcome. All that mattered was the final outcome, a 13-0 win over Little Rock (17-14, 6-5 Sun Belt) to star t the Sooners’ fivegame home stint. “Just trying to keep attacking with the first pitch and getting ahead of hitters, making them make the mistake first,” Tyler said. “I was just feeling good tonight, and everything was kind of working for me.” Carrying last week’s 5-2 w i n ov e r O ra l Ro b e r t s,
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Junior right-hander Kyle Tyler pitches the ball April 10.
where he allowed two runs on four hits and struck out nine, into Tuesday night’s game, Tyler once again gave a strong performance to improve his record to 3-2. After giving up the hit to the lead-off man in the seventh inning, Tyler stuck with his routine and it paid off, retiring the next three batters to maintain the Sooners’ shutout. Tyler was simply displaying what
coach Skip Johnson has preached the whole season, playing the game on a one-pitch basis. “He’s executing pitches and I think it’s really big that we can rely on a guy who we know is going to go out and throw strikes,” Johnson said. “Tonight was a good job of going pitchto-pitch and making pitches when he had to make pitches.”
Against the Trojans, Ty l e r a l l o w e d t w o h i t s and struck out nine in a career-high eight innings pitched. Throughout the season, the pitchers have been the Sooners’ greatest asset, with opponents averaging 4.29 runs per game. With Tyler now trending upward after a 1-2 start with a 4.79 ERA, he is now averaging a 2.79 ERA and cementing himself
as a staple in the Sooners’ rotation. “The game had such a nice flow,” junior outfielder Steele Walker said. “Pounding the zone, that’s all I want out of a pitcher. Just keep the game going, keep the momentum in our dugout — that’s what he did.” Charlene Ainsworth
charleneainsworth18@gmail.com
The Oklahoma Daily is a public forum, the University of Oklahoma’s independent student voice and an entirely student-run publication. Letters should concentrate on issues, not personalities, and must be fewer than 250 words, typed and signed by the author(s). Letters will be edited for accuracy, space and style. Students must list their major and classification. To submit letters, email dailyopinion@ou.edu. Our View is the voice of the Editorial Board, which consists of ten student editors. The board meets at 4:30 p.m. Monday to Thursday in Copeland Hall, Room 160. Board meetings are open to the public. Guest columns are accepted and printed at the editor’s discretion. Columnists’ and cartoonists’ opinions are their own and not necessarily the views or opinions of The Oklahoma Daily Editorial Board. To advertise in The Oklahoma Daily, contact the advertising manager Brianica Steenbock by calling 405-325-2521 or emailing dailyads@ ou.edu. One free copy of The Daily is available to members of the OU community. Additional copies may be purchased for 25 cents by contacting The Daily business office at 405325-2522. Corrections: The The Daily Daily is is Corrections: committed to to accuracy accuracy committed in its its publications. publications. If If in you find find an an error error in in a a you story, email email dailynews@ dailynews@ story, ou.edu or or visit visit oudaily. oudaily. ou.edu com/site/corrections .html to submit a correction form.
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Quarterbacks prepare to throw the ball March 10.
Quarterbacks to battle in scrimmage Kendall, Murray to face off during spring contest ABBY BITTERMAN @Abby_Bitterman
O k l a h o m a’s q u a r t e rback battle has been the hot topic this spring, and Sooner Nation will get a chance to see it firsthand Satu rd ay at t h e a n nu a l spring game. Sophomore Austin Kendall and junior Kyler Murray will line up opposite each other, w ith Murray in white for Team Peterson and Kendall in red for Team Williams.
After the Sooners’ first s c r i m ma g e e a r l i e r t h i s spring, coach Lincoln R ile y said there hadn’t been much separation created between the two quarterbacks. “ T h e r e ’s b e e n s o m e days when Kyler ’s been better, there’s been some days when Austin has been better,” Riley said. “Pretty close right now ... They’re both progressing. Both doing some good things, both making some mistakes too, but they’re learning from them.” Last season, the battle wasn’t for the top spot but for the backup role, and Murray won. He played in
3
seven games for Oklahoma in his role as the backup to Baker Mayfield, including starting one game. He threw for 357 yards and three touchdowns after his transfer from Texas A&M forced him to reds h i r t i n 2 0 1 6 . Ke n d a l l , however, was redshirted for 2017 after playing in two games as the backup the year before, when he threw for 143 yards and two touchdowns. This spring, the familiar competition has been renewed, but with a bigger job on the line for the winner of the battle. “We’re all competing,” Ke n d a l l s a i d . “ T h e r e ’s
going to be competition everywhere.” E v e n w i t h t h e q u a rterback fight, not much has changed this spring, sophomore wide receiver CeeDee Lamb said, because the team has been working with Murray and Kendall for a while, even while Mayfield was there. He said they were preparing for the spring game and the future so there wouldn’t be any drastic changes, though he said they all miss Mayfield. “It’s very competitive, you can see the change in the offense,” Lamb said. “They’re going at it, and it’s very close. They know
it. And they’re both good — all of them.” While the quarterbacks continue to compete for t h e s t a r t i n g j o b, o t h e r spots on the offense are more solidified, with several starters returning at wide receiver and running back, and sophomore tight end Grant Calcaterra being the obvious choice to take over Mark Andrews’ role. “They’re obviously battling it out,” Calcaterra said. “When either one of them are in there, we’re just doing our jobs.” Abby Bitterman abbybitt@ou.edu
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VOL. 103, NO. 26
© 2017 OU Publications Board FREE — Additional copies 25¢
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• April 12-15, 2018
ARTS&ENTERTAINMENT
Allison Weintraub, A&E editor dailyent@ou.edu • phone: 405-325-3666 oudaily.com/a_and_e • Twitter: @OUDailyArts
Activist leader to Former OU athlete speak at OU event to sing on Netflix Black Lives Matter co-founder to visit campus April 25 ALLISON WEINTRAUB @AllisonWntrb
One of the co-leaders of the Black Lives Matter movement will come to OU to speak as part of a free event. Opal Tometi, who currently serves as the head of
the Black Alliance for Just Immigration, will come to OU as part of a collaboration among the Campus A c t i v i t i e s C o u n c i l ’s Speakers Bureau, the Black Student Association and the National Pan-Hellenic Council. She is one of the three co-founders of t h e # B l a c k L i v e s Ma t t e r m ov e m e n t , a l o n g w i t h Alicia Garza and Patrisse Khan-Cullors. The Black Lives Matter campaign was founded
after Trayvon Martin’s mur- Madison Ward to der to combat anti-black racism, according to the debut first single on organization’s website. David Letterman They have since grown to a network of 40 chapters SIANDHARA BONNET nationwide. Tometi will speak at 7 @SiandharaB p.m. April 25 in the Molly S h i B o re n B a l l ro o m o f Former Sooner athlete the Oklahoma Memorial Madison Ward is pursuing Union. a professional music career and making progress with a spot on a Netflix show. The Lawton, Oklahoma, Allison Weintraub allison.weintraub@ou.edu native sang her first single, “ Mir ror,� on David Letterman’s new Netflix series, “My Next Guest Needs No Introduction.� Ward
VIA WIKIMEDIA
Opal Tometi. Tometi, one of the three co-founders of the Black Lives Matter movement, will speak at OU on April 25.
ALLISON WEINTRAUB @AllisonWntrb
Kennedy Davenpor t, a former contestant on “RuPaul’s Drag Race,� will headline the upcoming drag show at OU, Crimson and
Queens. Davenport, who competed in “RuPaul’s Drag Race� season 7, coming in fourth place, and “RuPaul’s Drag Race All Stars� season 3, is known for her dancing skills. Davenport also competed on “America’s Got Talent.� Davenport will headline the first Crimson and Queens drag show. The show, a collaboration between OU’s Gender and
VIA OU GENDER AND EQUALITY FACEBOOK PAGE
Promotional image for Kennedy Davenport’s appearance. Davenport will headline Crimson and Queens on April 26.
Previous Solution
Universal Crossword Edited by Timothy Parker April 12, 2018
4/12
Monday- Very Easy Tuesday-Easy Wednesday- Easy Thursday- Medium Friday - Hard
Instructions: Fill in the grid so that every row, every column and every 3x3 box contains the digits 1 through 9. That means that no number is repeated in any row, column or box.
46 Christened 48 It’s single 49 Frown inducers 51 Creation inspirer 52 Genetic letters 53 Relapse 56 Left the union 58 Miss in the future? 59 Pale 60 Mini-PC network 61 It forms links 62 Brit’s conservative leader? 68 U.S. snooper grp. 69 Send elsewhere 70 Chillingly spooky 71 Code breaker 72 Gloomy, poetically 73 Barrel bottom stuff DOWN 1 Slugger Mel 2 Diner dessert 3 Eternally, in poesy 4 Like a farm 5 Orbital extremes 6 Old PC screen
Siandhara Bonnet arahdnais@ou.edu
NOOR EEMAAN/THE DAILY
Equality Center and the 26 in the Molly Shi Boren Union Programming Board, Ballroom of the Oklahoma will also feature a discus- Memorial Union. sion about drag in LGBTQ culture. Crimson and Queens will Allison Weintraub take place at 7 p.m. on April allison.weintraub@ou.edu
ACROSS 1 “Nixon in China,� for one 6 King of snakes 11 Co. with an eye logo 14 Gridlock 15 Is a king 16 Deluge refuge 17 Out-ofcontrol semi? 19 Seven on a sundial 20 In the past 21 When a plane’s due 22 Tiny harvester 23 Some colorful shrubs 27 Attachable PC devices 29 Secret keeper 30 Dutch cheese 32 Incision reminder 33 Up to, informally 34 Guitar relative 36 Pharaoh’s domain 39 Stats for the well-armed 41 Down source 43 Porcelain pourer 44 Old steering wheels?
times when she was a student, singing the national anthem at the men’s NCAA Final Four in 2016 and a Christmas carol with a few other athletes in an OU athletic department holiday video in 2015. L e t t e r m a n ’s s h o w i s available on Netflix and features interviews with people such as former President Barack Obama, George Clooney and Malala Yousafzai.
Former outside hitter Madison Ward watches UTSA prepare for a serve. Ward performed on the Jay-Z episode of David Letterman’s Netflix show “My Next Guest Needs No Introduction.�
Drag queen star to visit OU ‘RuPaul’s Drag Race’ contestant to headline show
appears singing a duet in the last 10 minutes of “I Had a Paper Route Too,� the fourth part released in the series, where Letterman interviews Jay-Z. Ward, who uses Madison Ryann Ward as her stage name, went viral on Twitter in summer 2015 w ith a singing video. According to an earlier stor y from The Daily in November 2015, Ward began singing before she played volleyball. She said she never had formal training growing up but learned by ear. Ward performed a few
7 “Pardon ___ dust� 8 Dyed, in a jeans factory 9 Right-hand pages 10 Sideways, as a look 11 Charge!? 12 Salty liquid 13 Funny sketches 18 One with amped-up back? 23 Better suited 24 African nation 25 Grammarian’s dreaded 24 hrs.? 26 Lustrous material 28 Plum type
31 Gentleman’s go-with 35 Br’er Rabbit man 37 Pasta type 38 Step part 40 Snooty sort 42 Market after marking up 45 Sailors’ direction? 47 Way past stale 50 Fishmonger’s tool 53 Strike openhandedly 54 A Muppet 55 Cutlery unit 57 Board 63 Mauna ___ 64 Be goof-y? 65 Mine find 66 Semi 67 Formal affirmative
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HOROSCOPE By Eugenia Last
Copyright 2015, Newspaper Enterprise Assn. FOR RELEASE: THURSDAY, APRIL 12, 2018 ASTROGRAPH by Eugenia Last ARIES (March 21-April 19) -- Listen to what others say, but don’t share your personal opinions. It’s best not to make unnecessary changes or upset the applecart without good reason. Keep the peace. TAURUS (April 20-May 20) -Make minor changes to your image and you’ll receive compliments. Help and favors will be granted. Love and romance will lead to a closer connection to someone special. GEMINI (May 21-June 20) -- Emotional deception can be expected to surface when dealing with people from your past. You are best off letting go of people or situations that have created havoc in your life.
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MISSING OMETHING By Timothy E. Parker
Fax: 405-325-7517 Campus Address: COH 149A
CANCER (June 21-July 22) -- A change will do you good, but first do some research or simply make observations. Socializing will lead to an interesting encounter, and romance is highlighted. LEO (July 23-Aug. 22) -- Look over legal and financial documents and make sure you have everything in order. A mistake could end up costing you. Don’t be giving out more than you’re getting back. VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22) -- An unusual event will open up new possibilities. A chance to team up with someone quite different from you will broaden your outlook and teach you to be accepting and tolerant of others. LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 23) -- Look for ways to improve your surround-
ings and domestic environment. Get rid of things you no longer use so you can have more space to enjoy with your friends or loved ones. SCORPIO (Oct. 24-Nov. 22) -Expand your interests and make changes to how or where you live that will better suit the goals you want to achieve. Be your own master and follow your dream. SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 23-Dec. 21) -- Be careful how much you share with your peers, friends or relatives. You will be judged by what you do and should take measures to avoid being gossiped about. CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19) -- Make adjustments at home that are conducive to something you enjoy doing. Personal improvements will turn out well, as long as you refuse to let anyone meddle in your affairs. AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 19) -Don’t fall for someone’s fancy talk or a friendly gesture. Look past all the fluff and hype coming your way and you’ll avoid getting involved in something unsavory. PISCES (Feb. 20-March 20) -You’ll see things clearly and should base your opinions and decisions on what you discover, not on what someone else tries to lead you to believe. Trust in yourself.
April 12-15, 2018 •
NEWS
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Emma Keith, news managing editor dailynews@ou.edu • phone: 405-325-3666 oudaily.com • Twitter: @OUDaily
SUPPORT: Continued from Page 1
what became a very successful career.” While Gallogly worked in executive positions at companies like Phillips Petroleum Company, ConocoPhillips, Chevron Phillips and LyondellBasell, Boren said his upbringing makes his success at these companies all the more respectable. Gallogly grew up as one of 10 children in a family that was not wealthy, and he met his wife working at a Safeway store while working his way through school, Boren said. “He didn’t start out by any means that had a lot of financial support,” Boren said. “He had to earn it h i m s e l f w o rk i n g at t h e Safeway store. He’s done it the old-fashioned way, and he’s earned it.” Boren has also worked with Gallogly in his capacity as a major university donor. Boren said he began to target Gallogly as a donor after learning Gallogly was an OU Law graduate and “a very proud alumnus with an attachment to the university.” Gallogly’s most significant contribution was his donation to establish OU’s biomedical engineering program, a gift made in partnership with Charles and Peggy Stephenson. Despite the other financial opportunities he had a f t e r s t e p p i ng d ow n at LyondellBasell, Gallogly was comfortable financially and decided giving to the university would be the best way to give meaning and purpose to his life, Boren said. “I think, given all those things, a lot of people were interested in this job when they found out I was retiring. A lot of people saw it as a stepping stone to other things, a lot of them saw it as something for thems elves, or the salar y or whatever,” Boren said. “He doesn’t need the salary.
PAXSON HAWS/THE DAILY
OU President-designate James Gallogly shakes hands with current OU President David Boren. Boren has expressed confidence in Gallogly as the university’s next president.
He’s done it for the right reasons, and that is that he wants to give back of himself.” Boren said when he decided to resign from the U.S. Senate and become OU’s 13th president, he felt a calling to the university and believed he could be of greater service, making a difference there. Boren said he believes Gallogly, who has been retired since 2015, feels the same calling. “I hoped that someone would take this on that had the same sort of feeling about it,” Boren said. “I think (Gallogly) has these
strong feelings — he said it in his remarks about excellence.” Boren said during his p re s i d e n c y , h e w o rke d hard to set high standards and make OU a place where students would feel challenged, and said he hopes Gallogly will continue to do the same. When he inherited OU, Boren said, it was not in the best condition, and he worked to leave his successor in a situation that set him up for success. “I always said I wanted to leave the university when it was on top because when I inherited the university, it
was not on top. It had been a much stronger university at other times in its history,” Boren said. “It had been sliding downhill, and I didn’t want to leave the university for my successor in that situation. I wanted it to be in the best state for him. And I think, in many ways, the university is the best it’s ever been in its history.” Gallogly is coming to office at a time when Oklahoma’s budget crisis is the worst it has ever been. While Oklahoma is ranked 49th in the nation for public education funding,
educators are rallying for more money for their classrooms. Boren said he leaves with worries for the university’s financial future but has faith in the financial skills Gallogly brings to the table. “He certainly has tremendous financial skills and understanding of budgets, and he’s going to be very well-equipped financially, so he’ll certainly understand that,” Boren said. Ultimately, Boren said he believes the abilities, experience and qualities Gallogly brings to the table will make him successful
when he takes over as OU’s 14th president beginning July 1. “He’s a very independent thinker, and he’s a person who has strong values himself,” Boren said. “I’ve watched him before, and he’s a great listener, and I think the president of the university is not a person who just gives orders, who rules from the top down.” Kailey Fralix
kailey.a.fralix-1@ou.edu
Oklahoma station to air Boren special on TV will appear on a TV special dedicated to his legacy at the university next week. Oklahoma Educational Television Authority will EMMA KEITH air the “Boren Legacy” spe@shakeitha_97 cial at 7 p.m. April 19. OETA channel numbers are availOU President David Boren able on the organization’s
Program will cover president’s legacy, accomplishments
site. The preview for the special includes OU faculty and administrators such as OU College of Law Dean Joe Harroz, Price College of Business Dean Daniel Pullin and Vice President for Administration and Finance
Nick Hathaway discussing the impact of both President and Mrs. Boren, who each appear in the program. “When I think about the real legacy that they’re leaving, what they’ve been doing is teaching all of us and making sure that we understand
the purpose of a great university, that we understand the possibilities that exist for each of us,” Harroz said in the preview. Emma Keith
emmakeith97@ou.edu
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OU math, physics student wins Goldwater Peters plans to study astrophysics, work with NASA ANNA BAUMAN @annabauman2
An OU mathematics and physics student has been recognized with a prestigious national scholarship. Matthew Peters, a mathematics and physics junior, won the 2018 Goldwater S cholarship to be come O U ’s 5 3 r d G o l d w a t e r Scholar since the competition began in 1991, according to a press release. The scholarship is awarded on the basis of intent to pursue a research career in the fields of mathematics, the natural sciences or engineering. “We are proud of Matthew for earning the prestigious Goldwater Scholarship,” OU President David Boren said in the release. “His achievement is another example of the
tradition of excellence that professors at the Institute defines the University of for Solar Energy Research Oklahoma.” in Hamelin, Germany, according to the release. After graduation, Peters “We are proud of plans to pursue a doctorate Matthew for earning in propulsion or astrophysics and conduct research the prestigious with NASA. This summer, Goldwater he plans to contribute to Scholarship. His the development of the achievement is Laser Interferometer Space Antenna space telescope another example at Goddard Space Flight of the tradition of Center, the release said. excellence that Peters was among 211 redefines the University cipients of this year’s scholarship, chosen out of a pool of Oklahoma.” of 1,280 college sophomores and juniors from 455 DAVID BOREN, OU PRESIDENT institutions, according to the press release. Three OU P e t e r s , w h o i s f r o m students, including Kate Pu rc e l l , O k l a h o ma, re - Avery, Alex Hamilton and searches stars with circum- Eli Jergensen, were among stellar disks through OU’s the 281 honorable mendepartment of physics and tions for the award. astronomy. He has presented his work at the annual American Astronomical Anna Bauman Society meeting. Peters anna.m.bauman-1@ou.edu has also worked on a solar cell project with
PHOTO PROVIDED BY OU PUBLIC AFFAIRS
OU mathematics and physics junior Matthew Peters. Peters is a recipient of the Goldwater Scholarship, a prestigious national award given to those who intend to pursue a research career in mathematics, the natural sciences or engineering.
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• April 12-15, 2018
YOU ARE INVITED! Informal Discussion featuring
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April 12-15, 2018 •
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SGA passes election reform bill
Student congress breaks record for longest meeting GRACE MITCHELL @Graceem_
In its longest meeting in history, the Undergraduate Student Congress met April 10 to consider a wide array of legislation including SGA election reform and a resolution criticizing the Environmental Protection Agency, among other things. The nearly five-hour meeting, which broke the re cord for long est S GA meeting ever, covered 15 pieces of legislation, all of which were either tabled for future sessions or passed. Session 99 ended during the meeting and Session 100 began. As a result, nominations for chair, vice-chair and secretary of the body were heard. Th o s e n o m i nate d f o r chair included Tom Cassidy and Jake Mazeitis, while the vice-chair nominations included Mackenzie Cordova, Gabi Thompson and Timothy Kuketz, as well as Richard Holt for secretary. Cassidy, who authored five pieces of legislation at the meeting, said it was an honor to be nominated and that it would be an honor to be elected. Among the legislation Cassidy proposed was t h e E l e c t i o n Ru l e s a n d Procedures Reform Act of 2018, a bill that would reform the rules and procedures for SGA elections. The bill was passed unanimously after surviving two hostile amendments. Cassidy said the legislation will help students better express their voice, as
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Members of the Student Government Association sit during a meeting on Feb. 13.
well as their desired campus leadership. “Students can have an easier, quicker, better time expressing their voice and how they want their campus to be led and preventing some of the controversies that we’ve seen in the past that have prevented that student voice from being heard,” Cassidy said. Cassidy authored four other bills, one of which repealed and replaced the Undergraduate Student Congress bylaws. Cassidy said the purpose of this was for Congress to better understand their
responsibilities to serve the student body. Other bills Cassidy authored April 10 include a bill changing the numbering of legislation and a bill that seeks to provide a more diverse election board. Several resolutions were heard Tuesday, including one that would call for Scott Pruitt, EPA chief administrator, to reconsider repealed regulations. Timothy Kuketz, author of the bill and chair of the Sustainability Committee, spent most of his authorship speech lambasting
Pruitt. “We would not have chosen Scott Pruitt to be the head of the EPA, as he has shown incredible opposition to the EPA,” Kuketz said. “He was quite literally in bed with big oil.” The b o dy considere d three more resolutions that focused on OU-specific issues. One requested OU require professors to provide a course syllabus and estimated cost of course materials before the semester of the class starts, and another called for the addition of questions to teacher evaluations that discuss
textbook relevancy. Karla Bonic, head of University Policy Committee, which was responsible for these pieces of legislation, said these pieces were just the beginning of a goal they have toward making college more affordable for students. In addition to this, Bonic’s committee also p re s e nt e d a re s o l u t i o n that requests OU decrease the radius of bike parking zones, place signs alerting students of change in bike hub areas and promote the BikeShare incentive program. The resolution,
which Congress voted to suspend indefinitely, would have called for students to be fined should they violate the new set of rules. Congress also saw the appointment of Foster Bennet t o t h e St u d e nt Pa rk i n g Appeals Court and numerous pieces of legislation allocating funding to various student organizations. Grace Mitchell
GraceMitchell222@ou.edu
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• April 12-15, 2018
OU eSports excels in big leagues Student association grows, sees success in tournaments SCOTT KIRKER @KirkerSc
David Kaucic sat down at his computer in a library study room with a few friends on a Saturday morning. He could have been any student, just studying at the Bizz — but not that day. Instead, he was representing OU in a tournament that he and his team had been working toward for weeks. Kaucic and his team play League of Legends, an online video game, in a recreational league as a part of OU eSports Association’s gold-capped team. Despite coming together under less-than-ideal circumstances, the team made it to the top four in the league over the course of February and March. On April 7, the playoffs took place. While Kaucic said he and his team struggled a bit in their matches and ended up placing fourth, he said it was a big accomplishment to even be in the playoffs. The team was competing against others from around Oklahoma that had a set roster for the duration of the season, while its lineup rotated weekly for most of the season. Kaucic, a chemical engineering sophomore, has been a member of the esports association since its creation, and he has also been a member of the League of Legends team since its creation. The roster rotation was designed to determine the best candidates for more competitive teams
A group of students participates in an esports event on March 31.
in the long term. The OU eSports Association is aimed at matching the rapid growth of a rising gaming industry and fostering a community at the university. Five months in, the association has swelled from fewer than 30 members at its November 2017 launch to more than 250 members today. Kaucic said the growth of the group has been incredible. “It’s basically exploded,” Kaucic said. “It’s really big now, and I’m looking forward to seeing how that stabilizes.” An esport is essentially a video game played competitively. Games like League of Legends, Over watch, Dota 2 and Counter-Strike: Global Offensive dominate the competitive scene at the moment. In North America specifically, esports have seen
significant investment from numerous franchises in traditional sports leagues like NBA and MLB, including the New York Yankees, Golden State Warriors, Houston Rockets and Philadelphia 76ers, among others. Championships and large esports events have filled major sports stadiums including Madison Square Garden and the Staples Center. Many universities around the country have esports programs at different levels. The Big 10 Conference is currently in its second season of conference play in League of Legends, and schools receive $35,000 in scholarship money from Riot Games to distribute evenly among players. Recent OU graduate Alex Tu, who served as vice president of the OU eSports Association before he graduated in December, said the
PHOTO PROVIDED BY SOONER ESPORTS
organization wants to make OU a bigger player in collegiate esports. Tu said at OU, the organization hosts events and community nights and is in the process of forming competitive teams in a number of different titles, adding that the team aspires to someday incorporate scholarships for its competitive teams as well. “We would like to make our teams very competitive so that they can hold their own with some of the best in collegiate leagues,” Tu said. The organization meets in person every other week, and much of its communication takes place via an application called Discord. The meetings cover what is happening with the association at the moment, and Discord plays a big part in building friendships between members. “We’d like to continue to
have a very strong sense of community on campus,” Tu said. Kaucic said he feels the organization has excelled at building connections among students so far. Even as an engineering major, Kaucic writes for the esports association’s website, which is still in development, as a part of its media team. “(We) get to connect because we really love to write, but we never would have met otherwise,” Kaucic said. An avid gamer since childhood, Tu also serves as chief operating officer and caster, or announcer, for GetRECt, an organization that hosts tournaments and gam ing leagues in Oklahoma with games like League of Legends, Hearthstone and Overwatch. In April 2017, Tu said he happened on a League of Legends tournament that was being hosted by Mike
Aguilar, technology strategist for OU IT and now adviser for the esports association, who was hoping to develop more student cohesion around the idea of an esports organization. Combined with Tu’s previous experience in esports, specifically League of Legends, Aguilar’s vision was on its way to becoming a reality. Tu said one unique goal of the esports association is to eventually enable industry-related professional development. “We’d also like to start building curriculum so that we can make professionals out of the esports association that are ready to go into careers in esports once they graduate,” Tu said. Callie Simonton, a film and media studies junior and internal communications director for the organization, said she enjoys her role monitoring the Discord voice and text channels that the organization uses, as well as serving as the Overwatch coach. The esports association is working toward weekly online streams to give a bigger platform to streamers from OU and to increase exposure for the organization as a whole, Simonton said. “We’re growing really fast, and we want colleges to realize that esports is going to be a big thing in the future,” Simonton said. “That’s what we’re trying to work on at OU.” Scott Kirker
scott.t.kirker-1@ou.edu
OU regent addresses state teacher walkouts Former governor lectures on funding issues, education KATE PERKINS @ Kate_perkins6
Former Oklahoma governor and current OU regent Frank Keating spoke on OU’s campus Tuesday, addressing teacher walkouts, OU’s presidential search and other state issues. The April 10 lecture was sponsored by the
Political Communication Center and held to commemorate Josh Lee, a former Oklahoma senator, congressman and chair o f O U ’s D e p a r t m e nt o f Communications. Keating ser ved as the 25th governor of Oklahoma from 1995 to 2003, and he was governor during the 1995 Oklahoma City bombing. He also has served as an Oklahoma senator, a U.S. attorney and a published children’s author. In the wake of April teacher walkouts across
Oklahoma, most of Keating’s lecture focused on education and funding issues in the state, as well as his disappointment that walkouts have not yet been handled. Keating said he believes more funding should go toward the classroom in order for children to succeed academically and benefit the state. “To get a $6,100 raise for teachers ... that puts us up with Michigan and Illinois ... If we put the money in the classroom, not to the
bureaucrats ... then we have the opportunity to educate a workforce and a population better educated than we were,” Keating said. Keating said more money should be going toward the classroom, and the state should spend less money on Medicaid and smaller college campuses. Oklahoma needs not only more funding for education, but more rigor in academics as well, Keating said. Keating also discussed OU’s recent presidential
search in his lecture. As a member of the university’s Board of Regents, Keating helped select James Gallogly as OU ’s president-designate and voiced his confidence in Gallogly and his future during the lecture. During the interview process, Gallogly said he wanted to “make Oklahoma a significant academic powerhouse,” Keating said. Keating said this sold him on Gallogly, as Keating thinks academic excellence and rigor should be the
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main focus in Oklahoma at the moment. O v e r a l l , K e a t i n g e xpressed Oklahoma’s need to “focus on superb academics in the classroom” throughout his lecture. “That’s the way you make a rich and successful society,” he said. Kate Perkins
mperkins5@ou.edu
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Frank Keating, former Oklahoma governor and current OU regent, spoke about the state's teacher walkouts and the importance of funding education during an April 10 lecture on campus.
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