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OU President James Gallogly speaks at a press conference Aug. 16. Gallogly plans on doubling OU’s research output.
CAITLYN EPES/THE DAILY
DOUBLING DOWN OU President James Gallogly sets goal to increase research despite apparent challenges
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espite optimism and interest from faculty and students, OU President James Gallogly’s goal of doubling OU’s research output would require monumental increases in federal funding, the likes of which OU has not seen in the recent decade. Though Gallogly has yet to release details of how he plans to accomplish increasing research, he said federal funding for research programs will be one benchmark used to determine the success of this goal. Gallogly pointed to Association of American Universities schools as an example of what OU could become with greater research output. AAU schools are “leading comprehensive research universities distinguished by the breadth and quality of their programs of research and graduate education,” according to the AAU website. AAU membership is by invitation only. “ We n e e d t o d o u b l e t h e amount of research that we’re doing today,” Gallogly said in a press conference Aug. 16. “That’s incredibly important because at this point in time, that’s about the only thing that keeps us from being an AAU-type institution.” Gallogly said this initiative is part of his strategy to promote the graduate student experience at OU and better serve faculty members who conduct research. However, OU falls well behind the pack of AAU schools when it
NICK HAZELRIGG • @NICKHAZELRIGG comes to funding for research. According to the AAU website, the University of Kansas, Iowa State and the University of Texas at Austin are the only schools in the Big 12 Conference in the AAU. Among the most notable members of the AAU are schools like Harvard, Yale and Brown. In total, there are 60 public and private U.S. universities in the association. Ac c o rd i ng to t h e U. S. D epar tment of Education’s Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System, OU’s research expenditures per full-time equivalent student were $5,000 in 2016. The average for an AAU institution was around $23,000 per full-time equivalent student in the same year. Additionally, 16 percent of OU’s expenditures in 2016 went to research, while the average AAU institution spent around 25 percent on research in the same year. The most recent public university accepted into the AAU, the Georgia Institute of Technology, increased its research expenditures per full-time equivalent student by 11 percent between 2011 and 2016. OU, on the other hand, has seen its spending remain roughly the same during those years. Despite the loftiness of this goal, Gallogly publicly voicing these aspirations has created a buzz among OU students and faculty who conduct research at
the university. Alisa Hicklin Fryar, director of professional programs for OU’s political science department, said OU has not had a broader discussion about research like this before — something she looks forward to. “As somebody who’s on faculty at OU, it’s exciting,” Fryar said. “I’ve been here for 12 years, and we’ve had a lot of opportunities to build in other areas, but we’ve not had an institutional-level discussion about this part of what we do. So it’s nice to get to have that and see what it looks like.”
“There’s no world in which you’ll always have enough money for research, and other institutions have been doing this for a very long time. So we’re going to be playing catch-up, and catch-up is expensive.” ALISA HICKLIN FRYAR, DIRECTOR OF POLITICAL SCIENCE PROFESSIONAL PROGRAMS
At the press conference where Gallogly laid out this strategy, the head of OU’s Faculty Senate, Megan Elwood Madden, said university faculty have continued to excel in research, sometimes
without recognition. She expressed support for the administration’s intentions regarding research. “Despite resources and few raises, OU’s faculty has continued to excel in their research and creative endeavors, a core and perhaps unrecognized component of the university’s mission,” Elwood Madden said. “The (Faculty Senate) executive committee has been meeting regularly since April with President Gallogly to discuss how we can improve diversity, equity and inclusion across campus, as well as how we bolster faculty scholarship.” Gallogly has pointed to and praised the expanded undergraduate programs built before his appointment to the presidency, but said it is time to promote the graduate student experience. This is a goal that will be, by nature, intertwined with his objective to double research. “We have a great undergraduate program here at OU — we’ve created a wonderful undergraduate experience,” Gallogly said. “It’s time to broaden that base and build out a more robust graduate program.” Along with the faculty, graduate students are intrigued but have been left waiting for details on how these ambitions will come to fruition. Carrie Pavlowsky, who serves as the chair of OU’s Graduate Student Senate, is a doctoral
student in the Department of Geography and Environmental Sustainability. Pavlowsky said graduate students are enthusiastic about Gallogly’s intention. “I’m very excited about it. I want graduate students to be more of a focus. After all, we are a part of the University of Oklahoma, and I want us to be more connected,” Pavlowsky said. “I am also just kind of waiting for specifics. It’s easy to say ‘Let’s double research,’ but it’s harder in practice.” When it comes to specifics, Pavlowsky pointed to one area where the graduate student experience definitely could use some attention — cost. Pav l ow s ky s a i d w h i l e O U waives tuition costs for graduate research and teaching assistants, most schools also waive fees, something OU does not do for its graduate students. “Quite honestly, the biggest issues graduate students have are fees,” Pavlowsky said. “We lose a lot of really good graduate students because they simply can’t afford to be here.” Gallogly said a main reason he wants to revitalize the graduate program at OU is because OU can recruit strong undergraduate students to campus but can’t convince them to stay for their graduate work. Gallogly also said convincing graduate students to stay in Oklahoma benefits See RESEARCH page 2
Gallogly denies Project Threshold shutdown OU president plans to seek funding source for beloved program ANNA BAUMAN @annabauman2
Among a group of concerned community members gathered late Friday, OU President James Gallogly denied rumors that OU’s Project Threshold program will shut down. A crowd of around 100 convened at 9 p.m. in the Jim Thorpe
Multicultural Center in response to rumors circulating on Twitter and other social media platforms that the TRiO program devoted to serving a combination of first-generation, economically disadvantaged and disabled students would be removed from campus within a month. Gallogly denied the rumors and said the administration will find funding to continue the program. He said he is unsure where the rumor started, as he has been involved in no discussions about ending the program.
“I understand why you’re worried about this,” Gallogly said before the crowded room. “But I’m going to tell you very, very clearly: There has been no decision to shut down TRiO.” Funding for the program will run out in September or October, Gallogly said, because the organization did not receive federal grant money it applied for. The OU administration will now discuss potential funding sources that will sustain the program after current funds run out. “I’m saying we will do this,”
Gallogly said. “Which account (the funding) comes out of is just an administrative detail.” In September 2016, OU agreed to bridge fund the program after it lost federal funding. Repres entatives from the Student Government Association, including SGA President Yaseen Shurbaji, OU’s Faculty Senate, Project Threshold participants, OU alumni and others attended the meeting. Students, some distraught and in tears, expressed the importance of the program to their
OU experience. The program is aimed at increasing the retention and graduation rates of its participants, according to its website. “ Yo u k n o w w h a t P r o j e c t Threshold did for me?” one student said at the meeting. “It gave me a home. It opened so many doors, welcomed me with open arms.” “When I got involved in t h e c o m m u n i t y (o f P ro j e c t Threshold), that’s why I stayed at See THRESHOLD page 2
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• August 27-29, 2018
NEWS
Anna Bauman, news managing editor dailynews@ou.edu • phone: 405-325-3666 oudaily.com • Twitter: @OUDaily
Kayla Branch Editor in Chief Anna Bauman News Managing Editor Julia Weinhoffer Engagement Editor George Stoia Sports Editor Siandhara Bonnet A&E Editor Will Conover Enterprise Editor CAITLYN EPES/THE DAILY
Members of the OU Gender and Equality Center pose for a photo at the first Norman Pride Festival Aug. 25.
DEZ BROOKS/THE DAILY
A dog sports its Pride attire at the Mutt Misfits Animal Rescue booth during the Norman Pride Festival Aug. 25.
Norman shows its pride Festival celebrates, supports LGBTQ community, allies MORGAN MISSEL @tomahawkmissel
Nor man’s first Pr ide Festival brought together the community in an atmosphere of support and celebration of LGBTQ rights and individuals. The Norman Pride Council worked with Norman’s Parents, Family
and Friends of Lesbians and Gays organization, Oklahoma City Pride and Edmond Pride to put together the three-day event from August 24 to 26. The festival, which took place on Gray and Main Streets, included vendors, games for kids, free HIV testing, live performances by local bands and an open space for people to feel safe and to celebrate. Carin Brooks, a drama senior at OU, wore three flags on her shoulders, each representing a different group in
the LGBTQ community: the classic rainbow flag; a black, white, gray and purple flag which represents demisexuality; and a pink, blue and white flag which represents transgender individuals. Brooks, who is transgender, attended Saturday’s festival with her mother, Katherine Brooks. She said she enjoyed Pride not only for herself, but also because she saw her friends in the LGBTQ community out and freely expressing themselves. Kyra Rivera, a Norman
local, attended this year’s Pride with her friends. She said the love and encouragement she saw was moving, especially because she knows how hard it can be as a member of the LGBTQ community with little family support. She said she did not receive support from her mother when she came out as bisexual. While she was able to find support in other places, others don’t, she said. Ac c o rd i ng to Su i c i d e Aw a r e n e s s Vo i c e s o f Education, LGBTQ teens
are three times more likely to attempt suicide than heterosexual teens. Pride creates an area to discuss and bring awareness to issues like these. “The suicide rate of LGBTQ youth is a serious problem, and it all starts with family support,” Rivera said. “Just knowing someone is there for you can make a lot of difference.” Morgan Missel
morgan.missel@ou.edu
JORDAN MILLER/THE DAILY
Performer Busty Springfield hypes up the crowd during the Pride show at Norman’s first Pride Festival Aug. 25.
RESEARCH: Continued from page 1
the state economically by bringing in new innovation. “Those are the kinds of things that build university reputations,” Gallogly said. “When they rank universities, they often look to the graduate programs. There are also strong economic
THRESHOLD: Continued from page 1
OU,” an OU alumnus said. Students voiced concerns about Gallogly’s expressed desire to find out how to run the program with more efficiency. He said he has reached out to the program, along with every other department and college on campus, asking them to spot ways to operate more efficiently given OU’s large debt and financial insecurity. “There is no better way than the way it’s being done right now,” one student involved in Project Threshold said. In response to questions asking what that efficiency would look like, Gallogly said he did not yet know but hoped to have conversations with those involved in the program to figure it out. The room applauded when one student stood up and said
impacts of advanced graduate research depending on the type of research.” The specifics on expanding the graduate student experience and doubling research is something Gallogly, in his Aug. 16 press conference, hinted would be on the horizon in the near future. Meanwhile, faculty researchers like Fryar remain cautiously optimistic.
he wanted to make sure any potential changes to the program happen “without losing what makes Project Threshold Project Threshold.” “If TRiO changes that means someone is not going to make it here,” a student said. “That means someone is going to struggle. We understand that you’re going to fund it, but we’re asking you to keep it the same or even better.” Several students asked Gallogly to put his promise to fund the program into writing despite his repeated assurances that the program will not shut down. Instead, he asked they trust his word alone. “The only thing you can do is watch and see if I do what I say,” Gallogly said. Anna Bauman
Anna.M.Bauman-1@ ou.edu
FIELD PARSONS/THE DAILY
Then-OU President-elect James Gallogly speaks at the presidential announcement at the OU Health Sciences Center on March 26. Gallogly met with concerned students Aug. 24 to deny rumors that OU’s Project Threshold is closing.
JORDAN MILLER/THE DAILY
Performer Sister Bitch Puddin’ dances on the stage during the Pride show at Norman’s first Pride Festival Aug. 25.
hazelriggn@gmail.com
ANNA BAUMAN @annabauman2
OU’s Beta Theta Pi fraternity has suspended a member of its chapter indefinitely after a viral Facebook post described the student using harmful rhetoric on Campus Corner early Thursday, Aug. 23. T h e Fa c e b o o k p o s t , written by River Sky Eagle at 3:20 a.m. Thursday, alleges that OU student and Beta fraternity member Jackson Harris yelled “Colored people are poor,” among other things, in front of New York Pizza a n d Pa s t a o n Ca m p u s Corner during an altercation between two groups of people around 1:45 a.m. Thursday. The post also alleged that an unidentified woman accompany i ng Ha r r i s “ t r i e d t o fight a group of Native Americans” and kicked their car. Harris said the allegations made against him
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James Gallogly speaks during his inauguration as OU’s 14th President at the Lloyd Noble Center Aug. 16. Gallogly plans on doubling OU’s research output.
OU fraternity suspends member amid incident Alleged racism causes chapter to take action
Sarah Barney Print Editor
Columnists’ and cartoonists’ opinions are their own and not necessarily the views or opinions of The Oklahoma Daily Editorial Board.
“As a scholar, I’m very curious about implementation,” Fryar said. “There’s no world in which you’ll always have enough money for research, and other institutions have been doing this for a very long time. So we’re going to be playing catch-up, and catch-up is expensive.” Nick Hazelrigg
Emily McPherson Copy Manager
Our View is the voice of the Editorial Board, which consists of eight student editors. The board meets at 10:30 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. Monday to Thursday in Copeland Hall, Room 160. Board meetings are open to the public.
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Caroline Coffey, a musical theater senior, draws a rainbow with chalk at the Norman Pride Festival Aug. 25.
Caitlyn Epes Visual Editor
are “absolutely false.” The post has been shared more than 1,000 times on social media and garnered thousands of comments. When The Daily spoke with Eagle on the phone, he confirmed and reiterated the incident described in the post. The executive committee of OU’s Beta Theta Pi chapter has placed Harris on immediate indefinite suspension and is conducting an internal investigation. Appropriate disciplinary action will be taken based on the findings of the investigation, according to a statement from Lane Prado, the chapter’s president. The alleged actions contradict the fraternity’s principles, the statement said. “This behavior, if true, is completely unacceptable and will not be tolerated by our chapter or the rest of our members,” the Beta statement reads. “To any members of the community that may have been hurt by the harmful rhetoric reported as being used by one of our members we offer our deepest sympathies.” The Norman Police Department was not involved in the incident, so
there is no police report available, said public information officer Sarah Jensen. Jensen said the behavior alleged in the post is not criminal and police will not be investigating the incident. The statements made by Harris are not classified as hate speech because nothing was said in a threatening nature, Jensen said. Erin Yarbrough, OU interim vice president for public affairs, said the university is aware of the off-campus incident. “The University of Oklahoma values and supports all of our students irrespective of their ethnic backgrounds or social economic status,” Yarbrough said in an email. “We are looking into the incident via appropriate university protocol.” Yarbrough said protocol involves looking into the incident further to determine if a code violation occurred. Anna Bauman
Anna.M.Bauman-1@ou.edu
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VOL.103, NO. 44
© 2018 OU Publications Board FREE — Additional copies 25¢
August 27-29, 2018 •
ARTS&ENTERTAINMENT
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Siandhara Bonnet, a&e editor dailyent@ou.edu • phone: 405-325-3666 oudaily.com/life&arts • Twitter: @OUDailyArts
Auditions open for competition Sooner Theatre to raise money through annual vocal contest HEATH KUYKENDALL @HeathKuykendal1
The fifth Annual “Voice of the Heartland” vocal c o m p e t i t i o n h o s t e d by Sooner Theatre will take place this September with the goal of raising money f o r n e w e q u i p m e nt f o r The Studio of the Sooner Theatre, the theater’s performing arts academy. Located in downtown Norman, The Studio hosts a small space used primarily for teaching children’s theater classes. The space is often used for independent theater shows and similar projects. The competition will feature performers of all types from across Norman, with three age categories, ages
The “Voice of the Heartland” vocal competition is now accepting auditions online until Sept. 17.
7-12, ages 13-17 and ages 18 and up. Contestants must submit a video audition online by Sept. 17. S o l o s, d u e t s, t r i o s a n d quartets are accepted, and contestants are allowed to
sing other artists’ work or their own original songs. Of the auditions submitted, 30 will be selected for the semi-finals. That group of singers will perform Sept. 24 at Sooner
Theatre, where the judges will narrow the contestant pool to 10 finalists who will perform on Sept. 27 for the end of the competition. Selected winners will receive a cash prize.
VIA VOICE OF THE HEARTLAND
“Over the years, we have seen incredible talent,” said Nancy Coggins, public relations and development director for Sooner Theatre. “Our first Voice of the Heartland, Campbell
Walker Fields, went on to appear on America’s Got Talent. One of our winners is in Los Angeles singing. We see kids as young as eight, much older adults, great s oloists, w onderful songwriters — there are just so many talented individuals!” The comp etition w ill be guest judged by Linda Davis, a Texas Countr y Music Hall of Fame member and Grammy aw a rd - w i n n i n g s i n g e r. Davis will spend several days in Norman, teaching a number of classes and performing a concert at Sooner Theatre. Tickets for this concert can be purchased online. Tickets for the semi-finalist and finalist shows are also available for purchase at www.voiceoftheheartland.org. Heath Kuykendall
kuykendallheath@ou.edu
Fred Jones museum to display Chickasaw art Traveling exhibition shows tribe history, modern lifestyles DEVIN HIETT @Devinhiett
The works of artists from the Chickasaw Nation are now on display at the Fred Jones Jr. Museum of Art in an exhibit titled, “Visual Voices: Contemporary Chickasaw Art.”
The traveling exhibition navigates the relationship between the tribe’s history and contemporary Chickasaw lifestyles. It gives visitors the chance to see a range of more than 65 artistic works created by members of the Chickasaw Nation. “One of the reasons ‘Visual Voices’ is so unique is because the artists are all still living, which isn’t true for a lot of our collections,” said Kaylee Kain, director of communication at the Fred
Jones Jr. Museum of Art. “It’s a really great opportunity for the public to interact with artists and be engaged and involved.” Artists used several different techniques and materials including oil, watercolor, metal and glass to create an aesthetic that represents the landscape of 21st-century American Indian art, said Manuela Well-Off-Man, a Chickasaw artist, in a press release. More than 15 artists’ works
OU to host famous graphic design artist Swiss graphic designer will give lecture about career ABIGAIL HALL
Assistant A&E Editor
OU School of Visual Arts will host a renowned graphic designer, professor and award winner who will give a public lecture Aug. 28. Sw i ss- e d u cat e d St e f f Geissbühler is recognized as one of America’s most significant brand identity designers, said Eric Anderson, professor of Visual Communications. He is an award winner from the American Institute of Graphic Arts and founder
of Geissbühler Design, a consultancy which specializes in branding identities. A few of Geuissbühler’s national logos are NBC, Ti m e Wa r n e r a n d t h e Environmental Protection Agency. Anderson said Geissbühler’s lecture will focus on his career, and students who attend will gain perspective on branding identity as an “integral part of American business and life.” “I think he’s a great inspiration for what a creative person can accomplish in their career and how (they can) interact with a business community,” Anderson said.
Geissbühler is also known for his print work, posters and holiday cards, Anderson said. G eissbühler ’s lecture will be at 5:30 p.m. Aug. 28 in Room 205, Fred Jones Center, 520 Parrington Oval. The lecture is open to anyone interested. Abigail Hall ahall@ou.edu
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will be showcased in the exhibition, which explores the themes of identity, culture and history among contemporary Chickasaw life. The exhibition opened in June and will remain on display through Sept. 9 at the museum in the Nancy Johnston Records Gallery. More information can be found on the museum’s website. Devin Hiett
hiettdevin@gmail.com
ERIN TABBERER/THE DAILY
The Fred Jones Jr. Museum of Art is displaying an exhibit titled “Visual Voices: Contemporary Chickasaw Art.” The exhibit features the works of artists from the Chickasaw Nation.
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Variety of food trucks comes to OU campus Diners on wheels pull up for dinner hours near Cate SIERRA RAINS-MOAD @sierramrains
Various local food trucks are rolling into the Cate Rock Garden this fall. From sandwiches and soups to Vietnamese food, the food trucks will be providing students several dining options from 5 to 9 p.m. Sunday through Thursday, from Aug. 19 through Sept. 27. The arrival of the food trucks, located near Cate Center, comes after the announced renovations to
the Cate buildings, which began this summer. The Cate Restaurants, housed in Cate Main, will not be reopening. With the loss of options like Taco Mayo, Oliver’s B r e a k f a s t , O ’ H e n r y ’s S a n d w i c h e s , R o s c o e ’s Coffee and Ruthie’s, students will now be able to stop at various food trucks, i n c l u d i n g T h e T r a i l e r, Midway Deli, The Chosen Juan, Yum Yum Bites, That Pie Truck and more. Each truck has its own speciality, the variety includes sandwiches and soups, barbeque, Mexican food, pies, parfaits, Vietnamese food and burgers. Every day students will have different options as
the trucks are set to rotate positions on the schedule. Meal exchanges, meal points, Sooner Sense, cash and debit or credit cards will all be acceptable forms of payment at the fo o d trucks. The new dining options available in newly constructed, on-campus housing complex, Cross Village, are expected to open in late September, around the time the schedule for food trucks ends. For a full schedule and list of available food trucks o n c a m p u s , v i s i t O U ’s housing and food website Sierra Rains-Moad
sierra.m.rains@gmail.com
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• August 27 - 29, 2018
SPORTS
George Stoia, sports editor dailysports@ou.edu • phone: 405-325-3666 oudaily.com/sports • Twitter: @OUDailySports
JORDAN MILLER/THE DAILY
Freshman wide receiver Drake Stoops, far left, and former OU football coach Bob Stoops with their family and Athletic Director Joe Castiglione during halftime at the spring game. A video from fall camp of Drake Stoops recently went viral.
New Stoops steps onto field
Drake Stoops prepares to make name for himself KEGAN RENEAU @keganreneau
It wasn’t just an ordinary touchdown catch. Freshman wide receiver Drake Stoops lined up across from redshirt freshman, and one of the most talked about players of Oklahoma’s fall camp, Justin Broiles. He jabbed inside, released outside, fighting with Broiles to gain separation and get to the corner of the end zone. Now-starting junior quarterback Kyler Murray let the ball go, giving Drake a chance to make a play. He turned to his outside shoulder, extende d his right arm and caught the pass over Broiles with one hand. The video went viral, and more than two weeks later, the buzz lives on. “Drake Stoops has really done a nice job,� coach Lincoln Riley said following the conclusion of fall camp on August 20. In case the connection isn’t clear, Drake — a 5-foot-9, 165 pound walkon from Nor man Nor th High School — is the son of coaching legend and all-time Oklahoma wins leader Bob Stoops. He’s a receiver, and this yea r, t h e w i d e re c e i ve r corps is filled with stars. Former four-star recruits l i k e re d s h i r t f re s h m a n Charleston Rambo, freshman Jaquayln Crawford
and junior Mykel Jones flood the position room, and names like CeeDee Lamb and Marquise Brown return after making major impacts last season. “He’s got a chance, he’s got a chance,� Riley said. “We got some experienced guys, but he’s a playmaker. He is, he’s tough. He’s a playmaker, so he’s got as good a shot as any.� He dazzled the Oklahoma high school f o o t b a l l s c e n e, e c l i p s ing the 1,000-receiving yard threshold his junior and senior seasons. Drake garnered attention from Football Bowl Subdivision programs like Iowa, Memphis and Ohio, but he chose the path less-traveled-without a scholarship to where his heritage lies. “This just felt like the best fit for me, and it felt like home because it is home,� Drake told the Norman Transcript after his decision. “I felt like I had the best chance to flourish as the best player I can be here, under coach (Lincoln Riley) and the coaching staff.� Drake is small in stature — similar to his dad — and doesn’t have the most natural athletic ability like many players who get recruited to Oklahoma, but that didn’t stop him from impressing his future coaches. Entering his sophomore season, he participated in one of OU’s high school prospect camps with highly touted defensive b a ck s f ro m a ro u n d t h e country.
Previous Solution
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.
Drake lined up as an unknown college prospect and not a single defensive b a c k c o u l d g u a rd h i m. He competed, showed off his crafty route-running ability and will to be successful, and that’s when O k l a h o m a k n e w D ra k e had a chance of donning a Sooners uniform. “We knew that we wanted him here,� said Cale Gundy, Oklahoma’s inside receivers coach. “Growing u p h e re a s I d i d i n t h e state of Oklahoma, being a ro u n d a p ro g r a m l i k e this that has so much success, why wouldn’t you go here? Obviously, in his situation, he could probably pick a school where he wanted to go. And especially the system that we have offensively, it was a perfect fit for him.� During the same
summer, Norman North finished a workout with 45-yard down-and-back sprints. Despite a grueling workout and midsummer Oklahoma heat and humidity, Drake finished each sprint with ever yone else behind him. He finished sprint one like sprint 36 in the same spot: first. Drake lives with a fierce competitiveness that his high school coach has never seen before. He finds a way to get something done — which is why his old coach isn’t s u r p r i s e d t o s e e D ra ke competing to play out of the chute. “Honestly, no. I mean, j u s t b e c a u s e I ’v e s e e n it every day for so many years,� said Brent Barnes, his former coach at Norman North High
HOROSCOPE By Eugenia Last
Copyright 2015, Newspaper Enterprise Assn.
MONDAY, AUGUST 27, 2018 ASTROGRAPH by Eugenia Last Take pride in what you do, and set an example. The world is your oyster if you put in the effort. Positive change will bring benefits that far exceed your expectations. Home and personal improvements will encourage you to live life to its fullest. VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22) -- Network, make financial and contractual changes and follow your dreams. Taking on a new role or position will expand your mind as well as your qualifications. LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 23) -- Look for a way to bring tranquility and peace of mind to your personal life. Make it clear that you expect equality. Bring about change instead of enduring unfairness. SCORPIO (Oct. 24-Nov. 22) -Listen, but don’t overreact. Assess situations carefully and formulate the best way to respond to what transpires. Greater opportunities will develop if you exhibit professionalism. Make your actions count. SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 23-Dec. 21) -- You’ll face interference if you are too open about your plans. Share with people you can trust to work with you instead of against you. Choose your words wisely. CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19) -Someone will make you an unusual offer that touches you emotionally. Getting together with old friends or co-workers will spark an idea that can turn into a moneymaking venture. AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 19) -- Think big, but take baby steps.
It’s fun to dream, but don’t go into debt if it isn’t necessary. Take time to assess your personal finances and health. Romance is highlighted. PISCES (Feb. 20-March 20) -- Emotions will surface and bring out all sorts of feelings about past relationships. Address situations head-on, keeping in mind what’s happened in the past. You can make amends if honesty prevails. ARIES (March 21-April 19) -- Keep your personal secrets locked up. Don’t give anyone information that can jeopardize your career, position or reputation. Focus on self-improvement and important relationships. Make positive and progressive changes at work. TAURUS (April 20-May 20) -- If you want something, go after it. Physically do what’s necessary to advance. Success comes with a price. Come up with a solid plan and follow through. GEMINI (May 21-June 20) -Personal gains should be your goal. Fixing up your space or updating your appearance will give you a boost that will motivate you to take on greater tasks. CANCER (June 21-July 22) -- A unique offer will come your way. Consider the changes you must make to take advantage of a situation. Don’t hesitate when you should be moving forward. LEO (July 23-Aug. 22) -- Exaggeration will lead to trouble. Don’t promise something you cannot deliver. Taking physical action and following through on your plans will show others that you mean business. Personal improvements and romance are favored.
School. “Obviously you look at him and you would think, ‘Really?’ There is nothing when you just look at the kid that says, ‘This is going to be an unbelievable wide receiver or athlete.’ “But, when you’ve seen him, the way that he works and the way he competes and how tough he is both mentally and physically ... I always looked at it as, I just don’t think he’s ever stood on the sideline for anything. I don’t think he’s ever not played. A lot of those guys are probably that way, but his just wa s n ’ t ju s t b e cau s e h e was 6-foot-5 and naturally gifted.� He had the opportunity to play major college football at Iowa or Memphis, but chose to step through the shadows with a
chance to shine as bright as his father once did. Drake is now the s on of a legend, living in the shadows of the cathedral built by the person who raised him. It w a s a l e a p o f f a i t h to walk on — betting on himself to make the most out of an opportunity, and he’s already reaping the rewards as a potential piece to the revamped machine his dad built. “He just has something inside that, he’s going to go take something from somebody, he’s not going to sit back and wait his turn,� Barnes said. “ I actually tr ied to envision and picture him on the sideline, and I can’t even see it, because it’s just not in his personality.� Kegan Reneau
Universal Crossword Edited by Timothy Parker August 27, 2018
ACROSS 1 “All ___ glitters ...� 5 Awesome or fabulous 10 Asian royal 14 What a president takes 15 Lowest of the low 16 Black, fancy 17 Impossible acquisitions 20 Mindreader’s skill 21 What a creditor holds 22 Harasses 23 Gridiron attempt 24 Sweetie alternative 26 Certain muscles 29 Canonical hour 30 Exclamations of excitement 31 Discredit or disguise 32 Card for an actor 35 20,000 39 Forest fluid 40 Lady relative 41 Cut out 42 Flat plates 43 Given to yap 45 Entices 48 Hefty swine 49 Unceasingly 50 Particle beam particles
8/27
51 ___ out a meager existence 54 Need, if no primer 58 Russo or Lacoste 59 Native American crop 60 Property figure? 61 War god 62 Imposter 63 Callous bread piece? DOWN 1 Convenient bag 2 Hems and ___ 3 On the roof of 4 Still, in verse 5 Laminated rock 6 “Must see� statements 7 “East of ___� 8 Compressed stuff 9 Word of effort 10 Employ again 11 Stay, poetically 12 Adam of baseball 13 Neurotic feeling 18 Pajamas’ butt cover 19 Followed back to a source
23 Gnat, for one 24 Dawdle 25 Green isle 26 Automatedtask performers 27 Sioux City state 28 Dojo blow 29 Kicks the tires of 31 Simple beds 32 Penny 33 Type of pricing 34 Get a look-see 36 Salon’s making 37 It runs to the Humber 38 Ruler not seen since 1917 42 Jesters’ relatives 43 Huddle to talk
44 Treasure chest feature 45 Bone cavities 46 Send down below 47 Africa’s Sierra ___ 48 Stagger maker 50 Hornwearing goddess 51 Ireland’s Ireland 52 All fours part 53 Footnote phrase (abbr.) 55 Rock band staple 56 Chinese “path� 57 Dentistinduced sound
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DOUBLE UP By Timothy E. Parker
SPORTS
August 27-29, 2018 •
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Big weekend for Blake Griffin, alumni Griffin helps coach game, dedicates new training center KEEGAN WILLIAMS @keeganwillaimss
Four sheets of paper and an idea. Four years ago, on the b a c k o f s o m e n a p k i n s, Joe Castiglione and Blake Griffin formed the first sketches of the now stateof-the-art Griffin Family Performance Center. On Saturday, the Griffin Fa m i l y , O U P r e s i d e n t James Gallogly and both m e n ’s a n d w o m e n ’s basketball teams visi t e d t h e G r i f f i n Fa m i l y Per for mance Center to tour and participate in the dedication. Griffin and his family sat in the first row as Castiglione emphasized just how important the OU family is. “People have made the university great long before any of us got here, we’re just trying to do our very best to take us further,” Castiglione said. “When
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Former Sooners Buddy Hield, Trae Young and Blake Griffin pose for a large group photo after the Legends Alumni Game Aug. 25. Griffin coached the Cream Team while Hield and Young coached the Crimson Team.
you become a Sooner, you become a Sooner for life.” “This is a football school, and it will be for a long time because of everything
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Former Sooner Blake Griffin answers questions during an interview Aug. 25. Griffin coached the Cream Team at the game.
they’ve accomplished, and rightfully so,” Griffin said, “but that doesn’t mean that basketball can’t take that next step.” Thinking back to when Griffin played in high school, women’s basketball player Ana Llanusa became emotional talking about how he impacted her growing up. “From an Okie to an Okie, it’s been an honor and a privilege to get to train here in your training room,” Llanusa said. “I’ve grown up watching you play from high school to college to now professional, and you’ve inspired me and so many other people.” Llanusa got a few laughs from Griffin and the crowd as she nicknamed the facility “The Griff.” “‘The Griff ’— it’s funny
because I remember being here and every building has a nickname, so I like it,” Griffin said. “I like it a lot. I think it’s perfect.” After the de dication, players and fans headed to Lloyd Noble Center for the alumni basketball game, where the energy was felt throughout the stadium. “It’s a great buzz for the weekend with the dedication of the performance center, the alumni coming back and the start of the school year. It’s been fantastic,” men’s basketball head coach Lon Kruger said. On the sidelines, Griffin coached the Cream Team while Buddy Hield and Trae Young coached the Crimson Team to a victory, getting the crowd excited for what’s to come.
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Former Sooner Buddy Hield arrives at the Legends Alumni game Aug. 25. Hield coached the Crimson Team.
“It was fun seeing Buddy, probably my favorite part.” Trae and Blake out there making wages and stuff. You saw Blake lost, so he Keegan Williams was out there doing push- keeganwilliamss4@ou.edu ups,” senior center Jamuni McNeace said. “That was
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SPORTS
• August 27-29, 2018
Senior running back Marcelias Sutton runs into the end zone during the spring game April 14. Sutton has cemented himself as the Sooners’ No. 3 back.
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Running backs ready to return New, old players alike prepared to start season strong ABBY BITTERMAN @abby_bitterman
I f t h e re i s o n e t h i n g Oklahoma is known for as a program, it’s producing great running backs year after year. But at the start of last season, pretty much everyone in the Sooners’ stable was a question mark. This season, the strength
of Oklahoma’s running back room is already known and looking to build on what it accomplished last year. With a year of experience under their belts, sophomore Trey Sermon and redshirt junior Rodney Anderson will look to pick up where they left off at the end of last season. The tw o w ere dominant for Oklahoma, with Anderson rushing for 1,161 yards and notching 281 receiving yards while Sermon totaled 744 rushing yards and 139 receiving yards.
The other returning running back, senior Marcelias Sutton, has cemented himself as the Sooners’ No. 3 back. “Marcelias Sutton has had a great camp,” coach Lincoln Riley said on Aug. 20. “He’s asserted himself as that No. 3 guy, I feel pretty comfortable saying that right now.” Last season was the junior college-transfer’s first at Oklahoma, and it didn’t go as planned. He battled an injury that impacted him and his confidence on and
off the field, but at the start of this season, he feels more prepared. Sutton said running backs coach Jay Boulware helped him by talking with him, breaking things down for him and telling him to pay more attention to the little details. “Expectations, help the team best I can,” Sutton said of his goals for the season. “Be a great teammate (and) get mine at the end of the day.” All three of the returning backs have grown a lot
as players from last season, Sutton said, and the freshmen are catching on quickly. “We’re still a little bit trying to figure out who No. 4 is between (redshirt freshman) Kennedy Brooks and (freshman) T.J. Pledger,” Riley said. “Two young guys who are really getting after it and getting better fast. They got a lot of reps throughout camp. We’ve got some quality depth, there’s no doubt.” The run game is an important part of Riley’s offense, with an emphasis on
backs being able to catch the ball. This season’s more experienced running back room could be an asset for the Sooners, especially at the start of the year as the new starting quarterback, redshirt junior Kyler Murray, settles into his role. “It’s such a competitive room full of great backs,” Anderson said. “Every guy is making their own path, making their own way.” Abby Bitterman abbybitt@ou.edu
Sooners start season with 3 straight wins OU volleyball team aces opening season games CALEB MCCOURRY @CalebMac21
The Sooners are off to a hot start as they took all three of their season opening games this weekend at the Northern Illinois University Invitational in D ekalb, Illinois. OU beat DePaul 3-0 (2513, 25-15, 25-12) and NIU 3-1 (25-19, 17-25, 25-15, 25-20) in a double header Saturday. Oklahoma also beat Xavier on Friday night, starting off the season 3-0. Sophomore setter Kylee McLaughlin started the match against DePaul with three consecutive service aces to start the day, giving the Sooners momentum to win 16 of the first 20 serves of the match. She also finished the match with 34 assists and 11 digs, her first double-double as a Sooner. OU’s biggest win margin was in the third set, winning
25-12, scoring 11 of the last 13 serves of the match to complete the sweep. The Sooners won their second match of the day against NIU, but took their first set loss of the weekend after the Huskies took the second set, ending their seven-set win streak. But Oklahoma went on to win the last two sets in the match. Junior middle blocker Brianna Kadiku, senior outside hitter Alyssa Enneking and sophomore outside hitters Sarah Sanders and Sarah Maras combined for a total of 45 kills. Enneking was named tournament MVP. Even with a near-perfect start to a season, head coach Lindsey Gray-Walton says the team has to keep looking forward. “We’ve just got to build on it,” Gray-Walton said. “We can’t feel like 3-0 can finish a championship season for us.” OU got the season underway Friday afternoon by beating Xavier 3-0 (25-22, 26-24, 25-20) in their season opener. It was Gray-Walton’s first taste of victory at OU after being named head
coach in December. “We were able to care about what we did on our side of the ball, and each set we got a little bit cleaner in our communication and our fundamental details,” GrayWalton said. “I’m so proud of them for the effort, and they earned this one. They’ve earned it since January, and I was happy to see it happen for them today.” The next stop for OU will be in Orange, New Jersey, as they play Pittsburgh at 3:30 p.m. CT on Friday, Aug. 31, with another double header against Virginia Commonwealth University at noon and Seton Hall at 6 p.m. CT on Saturday, Sept. 1. Gray-Walton said they’re prepared for the tough schedule, but it will still be difficult. “Next week, we’ve got an even tougher slate ahead, so I think this prepared us,” GrayWalton said. “I like our chemistry right now and what we’re building as a team, the identity we’re creating.” Caleb McCourry
caleb.a.mccourry-1@ou.edu
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The Sooners celebrate after scoring the winning point at the end of the game against West Virginia Nov. 4. The Sooners started off their 2018 season with three straight wins.
Sooner safety prospects prove concerning Coach plans to fill empty spots with rookies, new players GEORGE STOIA @GeorgeStoia
With the 2018 season only days away, Oklahoma defensive backs coach Kerry Cooks has been hammered with questions every week about a Sooners secondary. One position continues to be a recurring theme during those post-practice interviews: safety. “I think it’s going to be a work in progress,” Cooks said. “But I’ll say this: I feel very comfortable with the talent. I’m not concerned with the talent level that’s back there.” Both safety positions, free and strong, are arguably the most worrisome hole on Oklahoma’s team. It’s been by far one of the most
talked-about positions this offseason after the departures of Steven Parker and Will Johnson. Here’s everything you need to know about who could be starting at safety for the Sooners: THE ROOKIES: DELARRIN TURNERYELL, BRENDAN RADLEY-HILES No one, including defensive coordinator Mike Stoops, truly knows how to say Delarrin TurnerYell’s name, but that hasn’t stopped anyone from saying it — he was one of the most talked-about players this fall camp. A true freshman, no one expected him to play a big role this year. But that’s no longer the case. “It’s been a long time since I’ve seen a safety that just has no hesitation, and when he goes, he’s going to get there,” Cooks said. “He’s
a very physical player, smart player, picks up on things and a tremendous athlete. He’s been kind of the surprise of this camp.” Also a true freshman, Brendan Radley-Hiles was rated as one of the top defensive backs in the country out of high school. Players and coaches say he’s mature beyond his years and expect him to be on the field come Saturdays. Radley-Hiles has been injured the past week or so, but Cooks didn’t express any concern. “He’s fine. If we had to play a game last Saturday, if we had to play a game today, he’d be ready to rock ‘n’ roll,” Cooks said. “If we have a guy that we know we’re going to count on a lot, then maybe we’ll give him off a day or two to rest his legs.” THE NEWCOMERS: J O R DA N PA R K E R , JUSTIN BROILES Redshirt sophomore
Jordan Parker’s football ca re e r ha s n o t g o n e a s planned. As a true freshman, he was diagnosed with Wolff-Parkinson-White syndrome, a rare heart condition. Last season, he suffered a season-ending knee injury. T h i s s u m m e r, Pa rk e r made the transition from corner to safety. “ I d i d n ’ t wa nt t o p u t Jordan Parker at corner knowing that I had Motley for sure, and (Tre) Norwood and Tre Brown, who have both played and showed they could be significant playmakers for us out there,” Cooks said in July. “I wanted to give him an opportunity to win a spot, and I think that having him at that strong safety adds competition.” Along with Parker, redshir t freshman Justin Broiles has also made the move from corner to safety.
Broiles has been one of the most talked-about players this fall and is expected to be a key contributor. “It’s been a great transition for him,” Cooks said. “He’s coming out and playing with hunger. He’s intense, a smart kid, can play corner, safety, nickel. He’s that guy we’re talking about taking command and leading. I’m very excited to see him on the field.” THE VETERANS: K A H L I L H AU G H TO N , ROBERT BARNES Senior Kahlil Haughton has one last chance. His four-year career in the crimson and cream has been up and down. He’s started five games a n d p l ay e d i n 3 5 . He’s shown signs of being a reliable safety but hasn’t taken that next step his coaches know he can make. Now, in his final season, he knows he has to make that step.
“Last one, best one — that’s my mindset right now,” Haughton said. “Every day, (Cooks) tries to make it an emphasis that this is the last one. I can’t take anything for granted. I’m just trying to do the best I can on every rep.” The only other safety returning with valuable playing time is sophomore Robert Barnes. In the 10 games he played last year, Barnes had only seven total tackles. Barnes struggled as a tackler at times, but he said putting on 10 pounds this summer will help him be more physical. “It helps me tremendously,” Barnes said. “It builds my confidence. It allows me to be more physical and just be an overall safety.” George Stoia
georgestoia@ou.edu