W E E K D AY E D I T I O N | S E P T E M B E R 17-19, 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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School of Drama James Garner Chair professor Tom Orr walks down stairs in the Old Science Hall. Orr recently resigned as the director of the School of Drama.
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CROSSING THE LINE Title IX investigated professor, former School of Drama Director Tom Orr after accusations of sexual harassment JANA ALLEN • @JANA _ ALLEN21 Editor’s note: This story contains a comment from an unnamed professor in OU’s School of Drama who worried for their job if their identity were known. The identity of the individual is known to The Daily.
T
om Orr, former director of OU’s Helmerich School of Drama and current performance professor, has been accused by multiple former students of sexual harassment while OU administrators continue to support his position as a faculty member despite numerous Title IX investigations into the allegations against him. An OU Daily investigation found at least two School of Drama alumni filed sexual harassment complaints against Orr with the university’s Title IX office that resulted in no actions taken against him. Multiple other alumni who did not file Title IX complaints spoke with The Daily about personal experiences with Orr inside and outside the classroom, saying his behavior was sexually charged and emotionally harmful. Orr resigned from his position as director Aug. 16 after a Title IX investigation into the School of Drama administration’s handling of sexual harassment allegations against former professor emeritus and donor John Scamehorn. Orr’s resignation was “in support of necessary changes within the School,” but he remains a “valued member of the faculty,” according to a statement released after Orr’s resignation by Mary Margaret Holt, dean of the Weitzenhoffer College of Fine Arts. “As someone who’s been Tom’s student ... I don’t have a lot of faith that significant change w i l l h a p p e n ,” s a i d B r y n n e Frauenhoffer, a 2014 School of Drama graduate who filed a Title IX complaint against Orr in June.
“He didn’t harass me as head of the department. I was harassed in the classroom setting, and I witnessed his harassment of other students in the classroom setting.” A professor within OU’s School of Drama, who asked to remain unnamed, told The Daily they had more than a dozen students come to them over the years with complaints of verbal sexual harassment from Orr.
“We were at the most pivotal moment of our lives. We were at the most vulnerable we’ve ever been. That was taken advantage of.” GABRIELLE REYES, 2016 SCHOOL OF DRAMA GRADUATE
‘THAT FELT LIKE CROSSING A LINE’ Zak Houra, a 2017 School of Drama graduate, participated in a fall 2017 Title IX administrative review of the College of Fine Arts when he filed a sexual harassment claim against Orr in December 2017. Houra shared with The Daily an email response from the Title IX office March 21 saying there was not “a preponderance of evidence” that Orr had violated the university’s sexual harassment policy. One incident Houra reported to Title IX office was Orr asking him questions regarding his sex life while the two were sitting on a bench outside Old Science Hall on the North Oval, the building that houses the drama department. Houra said this occurred in spring 2016. Houra said Orr asked him how
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often he had sexual interactions, what positions he preferred and told him other students said Houra “got around a lot.” Houra said Orr told him he was asking as his friend, not his professor or director. However, Houra said he made it clear he was very uncomfortable with Orr’s comments and felt it was an inappropriate conversation. “I mean, I was very uncomfortable that the director of my school is asking me these detailed questions that I don’t even talk to my friends about,” Houra said. Frauenhoffer filed her complaint in the wake of the Scamehorn allegations coming to light this summer, but her complaint consisted of her experiences in a class she took with Orr in the fall of 2013 called professional preparations. She said she perceived Orr’s teaching of the class was based on the students’ appearances. Frauenhoffer said Orr told her she would never be seen as attractive in the film or theater industries, but said to her directly in front of her classmates, “I am so attracted to you, you have no idea.” “I thought, well, it has to be coming from a helpful place, but even in the moment I knew that that was inappropriate for a professor to say to a student ... that you are attracted to her,” Frauenhoffer said. “That felt like crossing a line.” Orr also told Frauenhoffer in front of classmates she needed to buy a more expensive strapless bra after watching her audition for a role, and told her she needed to weigh 135 pounds but say she weighed 125 pounds, Frauenhoffer said. “There was this excess focus on sex appeal and appearance, far more than passion or talent or enthusiasm,” Frauenhoffer said. “And those are my memories of (Orr’s) class. I don’t remember anything about making art. I remember how appearance-focused it was.” Frauenhoffer, who reported Orr’s comments about her body, said she received an Aug. 22 email, which she shared with The Daily, from Title IX telling her
the recent investigation looking into Orr and the school’s administration was closed, but with no information about Orr resigning or telling her how her report impacted the investigation. “I felt like it was a very impersonal way to conclude something so personal and vulnerable,” Frauenhoffer said. “I spoke with one of the Title IX office members and we had a very personal conversation about things that have really hurt me ... and to conclude that process with a form email I thought was so disappointing.” Kelsey Ray, a 2013 School of Drama graduate, also said she experienced and witnessed Orr’s sexual harassment in the classroom, though she did not file an official report. Ray also took Orr’s professional preparations class in the spring of 2013. Ray said one day, not many students showed up to class, so Orr took them to the campus Starbucks and bought them all coffee. They then sat down in the courtyard of the Oklahoma Memorial Union for class, and during this time Orr said his favorite students were always the ones “he’d like to fuck,” Ray said.
“He didn’t harass me as head of the department. I was harassed in the classroom setting, and I witnessed his harassment of other students in the classroom setting.” BRYNNE FRAUENHOFFER, 2014 SCHOOL OF DRAMA GRADUATE
“At the time you think, ‘Well, this is part of acting, you are the product and your body is the product as well,’” Ray said. “And I think a lot of acting schools fall into that pit of this fallacy idea of, ‘If the students can’t handle it at school, they won’t be able to handle it in the real world.’ I would say that Tom very much subscribed to that idea.”
Gabrielle Reyes, a 2016 School of Drama graduate, said during her time at the school, she felt Orr took advantage of the power he had as director and she witnessed Orr make sexual comments and belittle students, especially women, about their bodies. “I’m paying for someone to teach me something,” Reyes said. “Not to belittle me, not to make me feel uncomfortable multiple times, not to feel like I can’t talk to the person who is really shaping who I am going to become as an adult ... We were at the most pivotal moment of our lives. We were at the most vulnerable we’ve ever been. That was taken advantage of.” UNIVERSITY RESPONSE OU Title IX Coordinator Bobby Mason told The Daily in an email statement that the summer inquiry the office conducted into allegations surrounding the College of Fine Arts did not substantiate a policy violation, but said he could not go into the specifics involving Orr. He also said the university’s sexual misconduct, discrimination and harassment policy is “not intended to serve as a general civility code or standards for appropriate professional conduct.” Mason said there are several reasons Title IX would conclude an individual has not violated the sexual misconduct, discrimination and harassment policy. “It can mean that there was not enough information to substantiate the allegations, or it could determine that conduct, even if it occurred, could not be so severe, pervasive or persistent, objectively and subjectively offensive that it alters the conditions of education or employment or institutional benefits,” Mason said in the statement. According to OU’s sexual misconduct, discrimination and harassment policy, sexual harassment is “unwelcome and discriminatory speech or conduct undertaken because of an individual’s gender or is sexual in nature and is so severe, pervasive, or persistent, objectively See ORR page 2
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• September 17-19, 2018
NEWS
Anna Bauman, news managing editor dailynews@ou.edu • phone: 405-325-3666 oudaily.com • Twitter: @OUDaily
Professors see gender gap Significantly more men are promoted, supported at OU BAILEY LEWIS @BaileyLewis75
There is a significant gender gap between associate and full professors at OU, and some female professors feel systemic bias and stereotypes against women are to blame. In fall 2017, there were 280 male full professors, at OU and only 96 female. However, when looking at associate professors, the gap is less, with 197 male and 119 female associate professors, according to the 2018 OU Factbook. These trends also follow previous years. According to the 2017 OU Factbook, in fall 2016, there were 303 male professors and 94 female full professors, but 183 male and 120 female associate professors. In fall 2015, there were 311 male and 88 female full professors, and 178 male and 133 female associate professors, according to the 2016 OU Factbook. Fa c u l t y S e nat e C ha i r Megan Elwood Madden said almost all faculty members come in as assistant professors, and then work their way up from there. “After five to six years on the tenure track as an assistant professor, you put in your portfolio to be promoted and your colleagues vote to see if you’ve met the criteria to be promoted to associate professor,” Elwood Madden said. “Then that goes to the dean, then to the campus tenure committee, then to the provost, then the president and then the regents.” A c c o rd i n g t o t h e O U Faculty Handbook,
ORR: Continued from page 1
and subjectively offensive that it has the systematic effect of unreasonably interfering with or depriving someone of educational, institutional, or employment access, benefits, activities, or opportunities.” The policy also lists examples of sexual harassment, including: “A professor engages students in discussions in class about their past sexual experiences, yet the conversation is not in any way relevant to the subject matter of the class.” Alan Berkowitz, an independent consultant in sexual harassment and assault prevention, said in general, it is unacceptable for a faculty member to ever discuss personal sexual matters with a student. He also said in a case where there are multiple similar accusations, the university must have a very strong case if it decides that the accused party is not guilty. Berkowitz, whose specialty includes training colleges and universities in sexual harassment and assault prevention, said multiple claims are more believable than one, make a stronger case and show a pattern of abuse. “So if the university is saying that despite the fact that there are multiple current and past charges, they do not believe he’s guilty, they have to make a stronger case because they’re not only reviewing one incident, they’re reviewing a pattern of incidents,” Berkowitz said. The Daily reached out to Provost Kyle Harper, who was made aware of the allegations against Orr by Title IX, asking whether the allegations against Orr were false or unfounded and what the provost’s office would be doing to support a change in the environment of the School of Drama.
candidates for tenure are looked at in three categories: teaching, research or creative/scholarly activity and professional and university service and public outreach. Political science associate professor Alisa Fryar said the promotion from associate professor to full professor is a bit more complicated because it does not have an automatic timeline, and you get to choose when you want to apply for the promotion to full professor. Additionally, Fryar explained a lot of the female faculty are expected to do the hardest work, which isn’t taken into account as much as research during promotions. “Female faculty are often called on to do a lot of the heavy lifting in other areas, especially when it comes to service work like program director positions, mentoring, overseeing internships and student organization advising,” Fryar said. “That work is absolutely critical to our mission to be a worldclass research institution, but those kinds of things are rarely valued when it comes time to make decisions about promotions.” Women and gender studies associate professor Hollie Mackey said she feels the lack of women who are promoted to a full professor shows “institutional sexism” and a lot of women feel they’re not considered for administrative and leadership positions at OU. “Some of the concerns mentioned among women faculty are that when some of the positions become open, it has always historically tended to be a white man that is chosen,” Mackey said. “We
“The health and well-being of our students is our top priority. We take these matters extremely seriously and continue to encourage faculty, staff and students to come forward with concerns,” Harper said in an email statement sent to The Daily. The Daily attempted on several occasions, once by phone and three times by email over the course of three days, to reach Orr for comment. He did not respond by a given deadline of 5 p.m. on Saturday, Sept. 15. ‘I JUST WANT BETTER FOR THE OU SCHOOL OF DRAMA’ Orr plays a role in students getting the internships and jobs they wanted through his widespread connections in the theater industry, Houra said. He said this made Orr someone students looked up to and wanted to please in order to receive his favor and assistance in landing a job, even when they felt he was inappropriate. “Tom pinned himself as a powerful man that at the snap of his finger could ruin your career,” Houra said. Frauenhoffer said Orr told them he was preparing them for the real world of acting, but she is now a playwright in the professional theater world and said it doesn’t have to be how Orr depicted it. “If (Orr) wanted to teach us that lesson, that the industry can be hard, he could have done it from a more sensitive and appropriate place without remarking so much personally on our physical attributes and his sexual reactions to them,” Frauenhoffer said. Houra said there was a lack of transparency in the school that made students feel like they wouldn’t be heard if they did come to anyone within the school with complaints. One example of this was in 2016, when preliminary investigations into Scamehorn began. Houra
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Associate women and gender studies professor Hollie Mackey in Robertson Hall on Sept. 12. Mackey said “institutional sexism” is part of the reason for the gender gap in associate and full professors.
often question how there is not a single woman on campus that is qualified for these positions, but it appears that they’re not considered.” According to the 2018 OU Factbook, in fall 2017, there were 28 male deans, associate deans and assistant deans, but only 16 female. Mackey said research has also shown women are not seen as professional or as competent as men in general, and she has even seen evidence in interactions with students. “We even see this in emails from students,” Mackey said. “For example, my male colleagues will get emails that say ‘Professor so-andso,’ but mine will say ‘Mrs. so-and-so’.” However, Elwood Madden said she doesn’t feel there is any type of institutional said he attended a meeting held by Holt with the entire School of Drama in which she told the student body not to talk to anyone about the allegations, especially not journalists, and to let the administration handle it. “Which is really not the way to approach it,” Houra said. “If you’re wanting to be fully transparent, you need to say, ‘These are the actual steps we’re taking to ensure this never happens again, that we will listen to the students whenever they come forth with anything, that we’re actually going to try and protect them rather than ... protect a donor.’” Ray said Orr believed his teaching style was to break students down so they could bounce back. She said this may have worked for a few, but for many, including herself, it didn’t. Ray said she left the world of acting after graduation with self-esteem issues as a result of Orr’s methods and felt better once she was out. Ray said she believes school is a place where students should be able to find themselves and not be torn down by their professors to “prepare you for the real world.” “I feel like a professor can lead you to your strength without invalidating you,” Ray said. “When someone in a position of power tells you something, you believe them. And Tom had power.” Frauenhoffer is speaking out because she wants to make up for not standing up for herself or her classmates while they were students and because she believes that Orr’s behavior emotionally harmed her and other students, she said. “ I re a l l y h o p e t h i n g s c ha n g e f o r t h e b e t t e r,” Frauenhoffer said. “Tom, he did get me scholarships, he did attempt to mentor me in some ways and I don’t think he’s an evil person, but nonetheless, I have concern for the present and future students because of his blind spots as to how he affects them. It doesn’t come
sexism at OU. “I think that we as an institution have done a better job of hiring and promoting from a diverse pool of candidates probably in the last 10 years compared to the previous 40 years,” Elwood Madden said. While the OU Factbooks show a wide gender gap, starting in fall 2016 to fall 2017, the number of female full professors rose by eight, while the number of male full professors dropped by 31. The number of female associate professors dropped by 14 and the number of male associate professors increased by 19. Fryar said she feels the problem isn’t just a clear-cut issue of bias in decision-making, but a mixture of many factors, like women not being supported or encouraged to pursue the promotion to full
professor and a lack of value placed on the wide range of work performed by female faculty at OU. “It’s one of those situations where, of course, there is some overt bias in the system, but it’s more often multiple forces that come together to make up a system in which what we say we value is not often what we value when it comes time to make the most important decisions,” Fryar said. “This disconnect contributes to a system that can result in placing a lot of women at a real disadvantage.” Bailey Lewis
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The sign denoting the School of Drama’s administrative offices with Tom Orr as director, pictured Sept. 13. Orr’s director office, number 125A, is being filled by the interim director while Orr moves to office 121, which is still in the administrative offices in the Old Science Hall.
from a place of revenge or anger, it’s just I want better for the OU School of Drama. I learned a lot from that place, but I also took away a lot of baggage and I just want better for Sooners, period.” When Frauenhoffer found out Orr had resigned from his post as director through friends, she said at first she was hopeful the School of Drama would be changing for the better. However, she said she was disappointed when she realized he was retaining his professor position. Even though the investigation did not determine there was any policy violation, Holt said she believes the College of Fine Arts requires additional sexual harassment training, which will be conducted by OU’s Title IX and tailored to the world of the arts. Holt said Orr will join her and the entire college’s faculty and staff in these efforts. Houra said he found it insulting when Holt said Orr would still be “a valued member of the faculty.” “Her saying he’d still be a valued member of the faculty is a slap in the face to everyone who came forward with allegations against S camehorn and (Or r),” Houra said. “It’s more or less saying, ‘You know what? We hear what you’ve said, but we don’t care that much. We
still trust this guy.’” Though the School of Drama did participate in past investigations, Ray said she didn’t feel the school did as much as they could have in terms of consequences. “I don’t begrudge him a job and I don’t wish him ill, but I also feel like it was a half-measure that was taken,” Ray said. “It feels like they knew someone needed to take the fall for John (Scamehorn) and so (Orr) took the fall, but not really ... He’s not director of the School of Drama, but he’s kept on as an esteemed colleague, and he still will be teaching. Will the inappropriate things he says go away, will the favoritism go away? I really don’t know.” In the wake of allegations against Scamehorn and Orr coming to light in recent months, Reyes said prospective OU School of Drama students have contacted her to ask if it would be safe for them to attend. “I told them honestly, it’s a great program, you’ll learn a lot, but Tom Orr is a sickness,” Reyes said. “He is a disease, and he will continue to belittle and sexually harass ... (students) until OU does something about it.” Jana Allen
jana.r.allen-1@ou.edu
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NEWS
September 17-19, 2018 •
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Interim Associate Vice President for University Community Jane Irungu on Sept. 11. Irungu formed a committee that will serve as a review council for reports of bias that the Office of University Community receives. A representative from the office has reached out to SGA to seek to allow students to join the committe.
Group to review bias reports Committee aims to respond more quickly to incidents JERICKA HANDIE @JerickaHandie
Submitted reports of bias at OU will be reviewed faster now that an established team of committee members will serve as a review council for incidents of bias the Office of Un i v e r s i t y C o m mu n i t y receives. Jane Irungu, interim associate vice president for u n i ve r s i t y c o m mu n i t y , said the committee, made up of nine invited faculty members from around the university, will review all reports of bias as they are sent from the Equal Opportunity Office.
The current university bias reporting hotline will still receive all reports of bias, harassment or discrimination, Irungu said. Irungu formed the committee on Aug. 20, which was one of her first acts in her new position. “Forming a committee provides us with a faster way to review and make sure that we are responding in a timely way, but also making sure that we have a team that is representative of our OU community,” Irungu said. A representative from the Office of University Community has reached out to the Student Government Association to allow students to join the committee. Tom Cassidy, SGA undergraduate student congress chair, said last year
the length of time it took to establish a bias hotline brought frustrations among students. Cassidy said students are pleased they have something in place to help mitigate problems. “ T h i s c o m m i t t e e ca n mean that complaints that are submitted to the bias hotline are dealt with faster,” Cassidy said. “I think this will be a major improvement and will also help to establish more trust between the student body and the Office of University Community.” On June 6, 2018, an open letter sent to The Daily revealed allegations of sexual harassment by John Scamehorn, an OU profess or emer itus. Thir ty individuals wrote the letter stating their distaste for how both the
SGA opens applications for search committees Students can add voices to candidate recommendations SIERRA RAINS-MOAD @sierramrains
T h e O U S t u d e n t Government Association has opened up applications for students to serve on search committees for several university vice president positions and various student-faculty-staff joint committees. The search committees will recommend candidates to the OU Board of Regents for the vice presidential positions of student affairs, human resources and research, according to a university-wide email sent out by SGA Sept. 14. University policy stipulates that the regents are not bound by the committee’s nominations. Vice presidential search committee applications are due by 5 p.m. on Friday, Sept. 21 and can be found on OrgSync. Student-faculty-staff joint committee applications will be accepted on a rolling basis and can also be found on OrgSync. These committees include a range of oversight boards, such as a
discrimination and harassment committee, environmental concerns committee and others, which a student is expected to serve on for one year. Tom Cassidy, SGA congress chair, said this is one of the first times SGA has opened up applications for students beyond SGA for this type of position. “We reached out to the administration, and we said we really want to make sure we have a strong student voice on these committees because they are so relevant to the students’ day-to-day lives,” Cassidy said. Cassidy said SGA is looking for candidates who are actively involved within the student body, who are aware of issues the student body is concerned about and who can approach the position with a fair and open mind. “We’re interested in seeing students who don’t just come with their own personal complaints but can speak on behalf of other students and say, ‘I’m hearing from a lot of people that have an issue we’d like to resolve,’” Cassidy said. Students who are selected to serve on the committees have the opportunity to make a substantial impact on the
university, Cassidy said. On the vice presidential search committee, students will make recommendations on what they want to see in candidates, which are then taken under consideration by the Board of Regents. “The impact students on the search committee can make is to bring us issues that otherwise may not be noticed,” Cassidy said. Students on the student-faculty-staff joint committee will have the opportunity to discuss day-to-day issues with university administration, Cassidy said. One of the vice president positions opened up when former vice president of student affairs, Clarke Stroud, moved to the athletics department. Another, vice president of human relations position, opened up as a result of President James Gallogly changing it into a vice presidential position. This was also the case for the vice president of research. University policy requires a search committee composed of stakeholders to be created any time a higher position such as vice president opens up, Cassidy said.
OU Helmerich School of Drama and OU handled the allegations. “A n u m b e r o f p e o p l e were very unhappy with the way that the university and the various colleges handled issues in the College of Fine Arts that most people were made aware about this summer,” Cassidy said. Cassidy said some students in the college felt that the traditional methods of reporting issues through a university to report instances of harassment were not as effective. Director of student engagement and experience Monique Ramirez said as she started to look for the best ways to handle reports of bias, she found a lot of universities have bias committees or people who review different types of bias. Ramirez said she wants
students to send in reports of bias so tthey understand what is affecting campus climate and community. “If something is a pervasive negative experience on campus, we cannot address it if we do not know about it,” Ramirez said. “If people don’t share some of these things, how can we help try to create a more inclusive, open community?” Cassidy said members of SGA will name students to serve on the committee within the next few weeks. “A committee that is as neutral, made up of individuals from all over campus who ver y likely will not know the people who are being reported on will be a great way to build more trust in the system,” Cassidy said. Irungu said a benefit of the committee is that it
opens up opportunities to engage with other offices on campus. She also said she would like to include students on the committee. Ramirez said she hopes students will continue to utilize the hotline to report acts of bias around campus. “ We have t o c o l l ab o ra t e w i t h o t h e r p e o p l e on campus in order to do this work,” Ramirez said. “Taking in the report and then reviewing them helps us to understand what’s going on on campus. Having a larger group of people to weigh in helps us gain different perspectives. We want to make sure we are serving our community well, but we can’t do that by ourselves.” Jericka Handie
Jericka.C.Handie-1@ou.edu
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The Undergraduate Student Congress at its meeting Aug. 28. SGA opened up applications for students to serve on search committees for several university administrators and various student-faculty-staff joint committees.
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• September17 -19, 2018
ARTS&ENTERTAINMENT
Siandhara Bonnet, a&e editor dailyent@ou.edu • phone: 405-325-3666 oudaily.com/life&arts • Twitter: @OUDailyArts
New organization features Native art New Play Festival split from OKC Theatre Company SAM TONKINS
@samanthatonkins
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The Tom Love Innovation Hub. The Hub will host Port of Mokha Coffee founder Mokhtar Alkhanshali as part of its 201 Talks series, at 5 p.m. Sept. 17. The event will be free and open to the public.
Entrepreneur to share story of coffee company Business founder will host Q&A as part of talk series DEVIN HIETT @Devinhiett
F o r M o k h t a r Alkhanshali, changing the world starts with a cup of coffee. As a young YemeniAmerican entrepreneur, Alkhanshali founded Port of Mokha Coffee as a way to help revitalize the ancient art of Yemeni coffee and empower economic development in the region. On Sept. 17, Alkhanshali will be sharing his story and holding a Q&A with the Nor man community as part of the Tom Love Innovation Hub’s 201 Talks
series. The series was created as a way to promote innovators and entrepreneurs in the Norman community and give students the opportunity to engage with speakers from a diverse range of backgrounds and industries. “The aim of the program is definitely to inspire and motivate students and show them what’s possible,� said Enxhi Mustafaraj, advertising senior major and marketing team member for the Hub. “After each talk, we have built-in time for a Q&A so it’s not just like, ‘Oh I could’ve watched this on YouTube’ — you actually get to speak one-onone with the presenters.� Alkhanshali’s journey began in 2013, when he
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was working as a doorman and started researching the history of coffee. Alkhanshali learned that in the 16th century, his ancestral homeland of Yemen was the sole exporter of coffee to the entire world. This was due to the fact that Yemen’s unique, highly elevated climate produced drought-resistant plants that yielded coffee with a chocolate flavor that couldn’t be found anywhere else on Earth. For 150 years, all global coffee exports were shipped out of Yemen’s Port of Mokha on the Red Sea. Other countries soon tried to imitate this rich and flavorful coffee by adding chocolate to coffee cultivated outside of Yemen and calling it “mocha,� but 90 percent of global coffee today can still be genetically traced back to Yemen. Alkhanshali was disturbed to find that not a single cafe in his hometown of San Francisco s e r v e d p u r e Ye m e n i coffee. This motivated Alkhanshali to travel back to Yemen, where he educated and trained local
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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.
9/17
51 Hospital fluids 53 School undertaking 55 Barren 58 Say in a nutshell 62 Babe Ruth’s 22 65 “Yikes!� kin 66 Slicing beam 67 Mr. Kringle 68 Paves a road 69 Make a rude face 70 Road stone DOWN 1 Barrel part 2 Money of old Italy 3 Courtroom swearing-in 4 Didn’t just watch 5 Air pressure meas. 6 “And things like that� 7 Coloratura’s solo 8 Some ducks 9 Support for a fracture 10 More freshly deep-fried 11 Fancy theater level 12 Sounds of amazement 13 Banned bug spray 18 Like some serfs and lords
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The Native American New Play Festival (NANPF) is separating from the Oklahoma City Theatre Company. NANPF will become the focus of the new Oklahoma Indigenous Theatre Company.
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Devin Hiett
Edited by Timothy Parker September 17, 2018
ACROSS 1 Place in a schedule 5 Bog fuels 10 Ball of dirt 14 Deceiver 15 Throat infection type 16 Primitive cross 17 What’s unnaturally bright? 20 Giggle sound 21 AKA names 22 Refuse destination 25 Work scissors 26 Pay-___view 29 Be a challenger 31 Group of three 35 Historical chapter 36 Place for a big fight 38 Julia Roberts played her 39 Completely locked in 43 Plot of the Good Book? 44 Tongue-lash 45 Masterful serve 46 Withstand, as temptation 49 Quite factual 50 Cartoon Flanders
Sam Tonkins
samantha.tonkins@ou.edu
hiettdevin@gmail.com
Universal Crossword
Here’s The Daily’s take on myrecipes.com’s baked spinach and artichoke dip: • Two 6-ounce packages of fresh baby spinach • 8-ounce package of 1/3 less fat cream cheese • 1/4 teaspoon garlic powder • 14-ounce can artichoke hearts, drained • 1/2 cup sour cream • 1/2 cup shredded mozzarella cheese • Tortilla chips 1. Microwave both bags of spinach in a microwave safe container for three minutes. 2. Remove spinach and pat until dry then finely chop. 3. Turn stove on to medium-high heat and melt butter in a skillet. 4. Add cream cheese and garlic. Stir until soft. 5. Fold in spinach, artichokes, sour cream and 1/4 cup of mozzarella cheese until cheese melts. 6. Move the mixture to a 1-quart, shallow baking dish and sprinkle with 1/4 cup mozzarella cheese. 7. Bake mixture at 350 degrees for 15 minutes or until hot and bubbly. Serve and enjoy!
farmers on how to elevate the quality of their coffee beans and practice sustainable farming metho d s. A l k ha n s ha l i a l s o provided Yemeni farmers with interest-free microloans that enabled them to start their own businesses and earn 33 percent more for their beans. This led to the creation of Alkhanshali’s company Port of Mokha Coffee, which strives to “create ripples of positive impact that can improve lives, lift economies, and revitalize cultures,� according to the company’s website. “It’s a story not only of innovation and entrepreneurship but also a story of courage, bravery and creativity,� Mustafaraj said. “He’s invested in the quality of life and the people there. You can really see his heart and his passion behind it. You see the impact one small idea and one small act can have.� To kick off the 201 Talks series, Alkhanshali will Skype in to the Tom Love Innovation Hub at 5 p.m. Sept. 17. All of the talks are free and open to the public. To learn more about Alkhanshali’s story you can visit Port of Mokha Coffee’s website.
The Native American New Play Festival is separating from the Oklahoma City Theatre Company and will become the focus of the new Oklahoma Indigenous Theatre Company. The Oklahoma Indigenous Theatre Company is a new organization dedicated to featuring the work of Native artists, according to a press release. The Native American New Play Festival is an annual production that showcases the work of Indigenous playwrights. E a c h y e a r, t h e f e s t i va l t a ke s su b m i s s i o n s from around the country and chooses one play to become the center of the festival w ith a full production. D av i d B r i c q u e t , p ro temp managing director for the Oklahoma Indigenous Theatre Company, said the festival outgrew the Oklahoma
City Theatre Company, so the new company was formed. He also said the festival is about sharing culture and getting recognition for Native artists. “The purpose of the festival is to give a platform for Native American people and First Nation people to have a place where they can raise their voice and be heard in an artistic way and through the magic of theater,� Bricquet said. Bricquet said the Oklahoma Indigenous Theatre Company is focusing solely on the Native American Play Festival this year but hopes to add more shows and productions in the future. Despite arts funding cuts, Bricquet said theater is adapting to changes and growing stronger. Bricquet also said the company wants Oklahoma City to be known as a place with great art and culture. “We want a stronger arts community, and if that means that we have to lead the way and show a different way to do it, then that’s part of our goal, as well,� Bricquet said.
19 Home for some predators 23 Loose earthy deposit 24 Emulates a hungry tiger 26 Beatrix Potter character 27 Gradually chip away 28 Four Seasons info 30 Legislate 32 U-turn from rural 33 Female in the family 34 Finished up 37 Canaveral cancel 40 Liqueur flavorings 41 Turn sharply about a mast
42 Ukrainian city 47 Croat neighbor 48 Courtroom dramas 52 Singer David ___ Coe 54 Wild boar’s weapons 55 Long account 56 Pre-revolution leader 57 Questioning word with “who� 59 Greedy person’s cry 60 Any condo 61 Secretive “Look here� 62 Common Vegas action 63 Visualize 64 Cause an unearned run
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HOROSCOPE By Eugenia Last
Copyright 2015, Newspaper Enterprise Assn.
MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 17, 2018 ASTROGRAPH by Eugenia Last It’s time to make a few changes in your life. Focus on things that will make you happy, content and eager to put your skills and knowledge to use. The results you get will make you feel secure and give you the chance to live in the moment. VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22) -- Take care of your responsibilities quickly so you can enjoy your day. Put more energy and thought into how you handle your finances and treat those you love. LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 23) -- Avoid trouble by keeping busy and living up to your promises. Focus on self-improvement and what you can accomplish yourself instead of trying to change others. Mixed emotions will lead to change.
9/16 9/13
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ALL’S WELL By Timothy E. Parker
SCORPIO (Oct. 24-Nov. 22) -- Keep your life simple. Don’t take on something unrealistic that could lead to ill health or injury. Love who you are and concentrate on being your best. SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 23-Dec. 21) -- Don’t believe everything you hear. Consider the source of any information you receive. A scam or inaccurate instructions will turn out to be quite costly. It’s OK to decline. CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19) -- Trust in yourself and make decisions based on experience. You will gain support if you make changes that will improve your environment at home or work. Romance is encouraged.
AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 19) -Alter your life for the right reason, not because someone else is making a change. Don’t complicate matters by trying to be someone or something you’re not. PISCES (Feb. 20-March 20) -- Size up your situation and take the initiative to improve your life. You have everything to gain by trusting and believing in yourself and your attributes. ARIES (March 21-April 19) -- Not everyone will see things your way. You’ll get the most out of doing your own thing. Don’t let others stand in your way or take advantage of you. TAURUS (April 20-May 20) -- You’ll be tempted to make a change, but before you do, figure out the best way to move forward. Haste makes waste, and preparation and attention to detail will ensure that you reach your goal. GEMINI (May 21-June 20) -- An energetic approach to learning, and executing your plans with thought, integrity and caution will help you interest others in your dreams and plans. CANCER (June 21-July 22) -- It’s OK to do things differently. In fact, you will draw positive attention that will boost your reputation and expand your circle of friends. Romance is on the rise. LEO (July 23-Aug. 22) -- Not all change is good. Think before you launch something that could work against you. Don’t let emotions be your guide when logic and practicality are what’s required.
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September 17-19, 2018 •
SPORTS
5
George Stoia, sports editor dailysports@ou.edu • phone: 405-325-3666 oudaily.com/sports • Twitter: @OUDailySports
Murray shines as team leader New quarterback makes replacing Mayfield look easy GEORGE STOIA @GeorgeStoia
AME S, Iowa — Kyler Murray makes it look easy. The 70-yard touchdown pass, the 15-yard scramble, the running in circles, the baseball slides after each run, and the nearly eight-minute, 12-play, 47yard drive to seal a game on the road — all of it, easy. This was on full display during No. 5 Oklahoma’s (3-0, 1-0 Big 12) 37-27 win over Iowa State (0-2, 0-1 Big 12). His ability to control games with his feet and arm while staying poised in big moments is everything Murray was advertised to do and then some. “He had a good, calm demeanor all day,” said Oklahoma coach Lincoln Riley. “He can play better, but he’s leading our team, he’s leading our offense right now and doing a pretty darn good job of it.” Mu r ra y h a s b e e n e xceptional for the Sooners through three games, recording 863 yards through the air, 169 on the ground and 10 total touchdowns. In comparison, through three games last year, Murray’s predecessor and eventual Heisman Trophy-winner Baker Mayfield had 1,046 passing yards, -13 rushing yards and 10 touchdowns. It’s safe to say Murray has done a phenomenal job replacing Mayfield so far. “He’s making big plays
and taking care of the ball,” Riley said. “He’s grown, no doubt.” Murray’s big play ability has never been in question. His feet give him the ability to go the distance every time he touches the ball, and his arm — paired with a couple talented wide receivers — also gives Oklahoma the chance to score every time he lets the ball go. With Murray leading the way, Oklahoma’s offense has experienced little to no drop-off, something Murray strives for. “That’s what we do at the University of Oklahoma,” Murray said. “The past couple years, while Coach Riley has been here, the offense has been potent and we take pride in that.” Murray hasn’t just been tearing up opposing defenses, either. He’s been terrorizing Oklahoma’s defense in practice since the day he stepped foot in Norman. “Kyler is a real slippery dude,” said sophomore linebacker Kenneth Murray. “He definitely makes some plays. You can never really get a good shot on him. I’m just glad he’s on my team.” “Not surprised at all,” said senior redshirt linebacker Curtis Bolton. “He does that every day in practice. When it turns into a scramble with that dude, you better take a deep angle, because all I know is that I’ve taken the deepest angle before and he still outran me.” Last year, against Tulane, Murray connected with then-sophomore wide receiver Marquise Brown on an 87-yard touchdown pass.
Oklahoma adapts without Anderson Sooners confident despite running back’s injury ABBY BITTERMAN @abby_bitterman
AMES, Iowa — The Sooners took the field in Jack Trice Stadium Saturday with one question looming: How does the run game recover after the loss of star back Rodney Anderson? The first game without the injured running back showed the Sooners’ run game could overcome the loss, but Oklahoma (3-0, 1-0 Big 12) was obviously missing something without Anderson in uniform in its 37-27 win against Iowa State (0-2, 0-1 Big 12). “I think they played about how we would have expected,” coach Lincoln Riley said. “They were tough. We ran very physical. We held onto the ball. We blocked well, had some explosive plays.” Oklahoma rushed for 171 yards, but 77 of those yards came from redshirt junior quarterback Kyler Murray. The running back room only
accounted for 96 yards on the ground, with sophomore back Trey Sermon carrying the group with 74. Anderson wasn’t absent from the game. He walked in with his team and was on the Sooners’ sideline throughout the game. The redshirt junior was motivating his position group every time it came off the field. “He was just telling us, ‘Just play your game, you’re built for this, you’re here for a reason to get the job done,’” Sermon said. “He believes in us.” While Anderson, who was voted a team captain for Oklahoma, may still be a voice of leadership for the Sooners, he’s left a void that needs to be filled. “ We e s t a b l i s h e d t hat we can still keep the ball running no matter what,” Sermon said. Sermon, who took over the role of Oklahoma’s lead back, had 13 carries on the day, far less than the career-high 20 carries he had last season against Texas. The Sooner backs combined for just 23 carries on the day, with every rusher averaging less than six yards per carry.
CAITLYN EPES/THE DAILY
Redshirt junior quarterback Kyler Murray runs the ball during the game against Iowa State Sept. 15. Murray accounted for 348 yards and three touchdowns against the Cyclones.
Now, a year later, Murray and Brown may just be one of the best deep-ball threats in college football. All summer, Murray and Brown worked out together, hoping to reap the benefits come the start of the season. And so far, they have. “I really took the initiative to work with him,” Brown said. “It’s just been building, and now you see it.” Up seven, with 10:35 remaining, Murray went to
Oklahoma can’t replace the on-field impact of Anderson overnight, and Riley knows replacing such a big component of the offense will take time. But the running back room can only improve in Anderson’s absence. “ Those guys are just going to continue to get better,” Riley said. “You have a chunk of reps that have been going to Rodney, but now all of a sudden Trey Sermon’s getting more work, Sutton, Pledger, Brooks, all of them, so they’re going to continue to grow. They’re going to continue to get better, but I thought it was a great start for a kind of a new look group.” Sermon looks like the leader in the running back room now, at least on the field. He’s not concerned about the extra load being placed on his shoulders, and Riley said he’s in better shape than he was last season, as a true freshman, to take on a bigger role. “He’s ready to car r y t h e w o r k l o a d , t h e re’s no doubt,” Riley said of Sermon. “And I think our other guys are too, no concern.” Abby Bitterman abbybitt@ou.edu
CAITLYN EPES/THE DAILY
Sophomore running back Trey Sermon runs the ball during the game against Iowa State Sept. 15. Sermon accounted for 74 yards against the Cyclones.
work against Iowa State. Seven minutes and 44 seconds later, Austin Seibert hit a 42-yard field goal to seal the game. Murray accounted for 38 yards of the 47-yard drive. “I just put in the work during the week to be prepared for the moment,” Murray said. “I feel like I always am.” Murray’s summer with Brown and his game-sealing drive are perfect examples of
Murray’s work ethic. He works tirelessly at his game. He wants every throw to be perfect, every run to be a first down. It’s the whole reason he came back to Oklahoma despite being the No. 9 overall pick in the 2018 MLB Draft — he wants to be perfect, he wants to win a national championship, and he seems to be the perfect leader to do it for the Sooners. Following the game, as Murray spoke to the media,
Brown walked out toward the bus. “Q B o n e,” B ro w n e xclaimed at Murray. Mu r r a y j u s t g r i n n e d and shook his head. It was the end of another tiring Saturday for the 21-yearold quarterback, just one of many more to come. “Yeah, it was,” Murray said. “It was a long day.” George Stoia
georgestoia@ou.edu
Sooner defense sees room for improvement Performance this weekend reflects past struggles GEORGE STOIA @GeorgeStoia
AMES, Iowa — It felt like a replay. Oklahoma struggling on the road against an inferior opponent, its defense failing to come up with stops and its offense bailing them out. But No. 5 Oklahoma (3-0, 1-0 Big 12) squeaked it out Saturday — as they did time and time again last year — beating Iowa State (0-2, 0-1 Big 12), 37-27. The question that surrounded the Sooners all last season resurfaced: Will the defense cost Oklahoma its season? It was only a matter of time — Oklahoma played well defensively in its first two games, but it was due for a poor performance, and it had that performance Saturday. While it didn’t derail its season, Oklahoma’s trip to Ames did show the defense still has plenty of work to do. “ To d a y , w e g o t h i t w i t h s o m e a d v e r s i t y ,” said Oklahoma sophomore linebacker Kenneth Murray. “Adversity defines true character, and when the defense gets hit with adversity like the way we got hit today, we have to stand together.” Iowa State put together 447 total yards, with backup quarterback Zeb Noland passing for 360 y a rd s a n d t w o t o u c h d o w n s. Ru n n i n g b a c k David Montgomery a d d e d 8 2 y a rd s a n d a touchdown. B u t I o w a S t a t e ’s Hakeem Butler was the difference-maker for the Cyclones, catching five passes for 174 yards and two touchdowns. Butler
CAITLYN EPES/THE DAILY
Redshirt senior linebacker Curtis Bolton dives after the carrier during the game against Iowa State Sept. 15. The OU defense allowed 447 yards and three touchdowns from the Cyclones.
was lined up across junior corner Parnell Motley f o r t h e m aj o r i t y o f t h e day, making Motley’s day frustrating. I n t h e t h i r d q u a r t e r, Motley was penalized for body slamming an Iowa State player after the whistle. The following play, Motley gave up a 51-yard touchdown pass. “That was stupid by me,” Motley said. “I’ve got to use my head like Coach Riley always says ... It hurt the team.” The Sooners missed a load of tackles Saturday, Motley included — much like their game against the Cyclones last year. This was a point of emphasis in the offseason, said redshirt safety Justin Broiles, and days like Saturday anger them as a team. “We hate it,” Broiles said. “We hear it, but we hate it. That’s been our focus this past offseason.” “ We t a ck l e d t e r r i b l y , ever ybody knows that,” Motley said. “We’ve got to get 11 men to the football and not assume things — we assume things and bad things happen.” Saturday’s performance w a s n o t g re a t o r g o o d , but somewhere around average. They showed
vulnerabilities like they have in the past, but there’s still a different feel about the Sooner defense this season. It may feel like 2017 all over again, but this year’s players suggest they know what went wrong and how to fix it. “We have to control, we have to tackle better on third and fourth and short, and we have to really focus on not giving up these deep balls,” said redshirt senior linebacker Curtis Bolton. As the Sooners ran onto the field Saturday, Brendan “Bookie” RadleyHiles crawled in front of the team. This defense has new names and new faces, and while their per formance may have looked eerily similar to last year, there seems to be a new mentality. “After every game, there’s always going to be things you can correct,” Broiles said. “I feel like today was a baby step, just the adversity part. Scheme-wise, we just have to go back in there and everyone do their job. “We’re going to be all right.” George Stoia
georgestoia@ou.edu
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SPORTS
• September 17-19, 2018
Defense drags in weekly grades
Sooners earned B’s, C’s in week three report card PARKER PRIMROSE @parker_primrose
In their first conference game of the season, No. 5 Oklahoma (3-0, 1-0 Big 12) beat Iowa State (0-2, 0-1 Big 12), 37-27. Here’s how the Sooners stacked up in week three. OFFENSE: B+ The Kyler Murray Show was back in action this week, with the redshirt junior quarterback accounting for 425 total yards and three passing touchdowns. Murray proved adept at moving in the pocket and giving receivers a chance to make plays downfield, connecting with junior receiver Marquise “Hollywood” Brown nine times for 191 yards and one touchdown. No other receiver had more than three receptions or 41 yards, but Murray and Brown were able to move
the chains and stretch the field while eight other receivers had at least one reception. With redshirt junior running back Rodney Anderson out for the season, it was apparent the Sooners lacked a clear leader to carry the team on the ground. Murray led the team in rushing attempts and rushing yards for the second week in a row, with sophomore running back Trey Sermon close behind him in both categories, but they were the only two Sooners to average more than 3 yards per carry behind an offensive line that was missing its starting center for the majority of the game. In spite of some warning signs and a rough second half where the Sooners only put up 13 points, the offense ultimately took care of business and produced a scoring drive at the end of the game when the team needed it most. Murray’s ability to carry the team has become clear, and if the supporting cast around him is
able to become more consistent, this offense will be able to score at will on anyone in the country. DEFENSE: C+ The defense wasn’t as sharp as it had been the past few weeks, allowing 447 total yards and 17 second-half points to a team that hadn’t scored a touchdown yet this season, but there were still glimpses of improvement compared to years past. The run defense was again stout, allowing just 87 yards at three yards per carry while led by sophomore linebacker Kenneth Murray, who had 10 total tackles and two tackles for a loss. The athleticism in the linebacker corps was a key to success, as they were able to prevent the Cyclones from breaking free for any huge gains on the ground. The Sooner secondary had its roughest day of the young season, giving up 360 passing yards to Iowa State’s backup quarterback at 10 yards per attempt. Tackling and playmaking were at
a premium, evidenced by Cyclone touchdown passes of 51 and 57 yards that left multiple Oklahoma defenders on the ground holding nothing but air. Similar to the offense, the defense struggled for a majority of the second half, but tightened up when the game was on the line. Junior cornerback Parnell Motley intercepted an errant pass on third down to ice the game late in the fourth quarter, underscoring the b e n d - b u t- d o n ’ t- b r e a k mentality that has defined this defense thus far. SPECIAL TEAMS: B+ S e n i o r k i c k e r Au s t i n Seibert had a strong day, making all four of his extra point attempts and converting three field goals. Seibert also averaged 48.5 yards per punt and turned all of his kickoffs into touchbacks, giving Iowa State no chance to make any plays in the return game. The Sooners didn’t get much of an opportunity in the return game either,
Redshirt junior quarterback Kyler Murray runs the ball during the game against Iowa State Sept. 15.
CAITLYN EPES/THE DAILY
as they only returned one an opportunity to take the punt and one kickoff, but field. sophomores Tre Brown a n d Ce e D e e L a mb d i sParker Primrose parker.m.primrose-1@ played sure hands and ofou.edu fered moderate gains, ensuring that the offense had
CAITLYN EPES/THE DAILY
OU coach Lincoln Riley cheers on the Sooners during the game against Iowa State Sept. 15. The Sooners beat the Cyclones, 37-27.
CAITLYN EPES/THE DAILY
Sophomore cornerback Tre Norwood falls while attempting a tackle during the game.
CAITLYN EPES/THE DAILY
Sophomore tight end Grant Calcaterra attempts a catch during the game. The play ended in a fumble by Calcaterra.
CAITLYN EPES/THE DAILY
Junior wide receiver Marquise Brown attempts to catch the ball during the game. The catch was incomplete.
CAITLYN EPES/THE DAILY
Sophomore wide receiver CeeDee Lamb misses a catch during the game.
CAITLYN EPES/THE DAILY
Senior running back Marcelias Sutton jumps over the defense during the game.
Austin Seibert, special teams shine in Ames Field goal seals deal in victory against Iowa State KEGAN RENEAU @keganreneau
AMES, Iowa — The clock struck zero, and after shaking hands with Iowa State, Oklahoma made its way off the field slowly, dejectedly, except for one star who made the most out of the limited chances he gets to shine. Senior punter and kicker Austin Seibert had just had another day at the office. He was smiling, talking to a teammate before being pulled off to the side for his own interview after doing a major part in the Sooners’ 37-27 win over Iowa State, including kicking the game-sealing field goal.
“Special teams did a really, really good job, our punt team, Seibert — how awesome was he?” coach Lincoln Riley said. “Kicked every (kickoff) out. Made all the field goals — including one there at the end that was a big play — and then punted just lights-out. I don’t know what else you can do. He was awesome.” It was just a year ago when Iowa State stuck around and found a way to leave Norman with the college football world in shock, and Oklahoma left the door cracked for them to do it again. Up 7 in the third quarter after the Cyclones regained momentum with a long touchdown drive, it was a Seibert 31-yard field goal that closed the door. A 53yard punt on Oklahoma’s
JORDAN MILLER/THE DAILY
Senior kicker Austin Seibert punts during the spring game April 14. Seibert went three-for-three kicking field goals against Iowa State.
next drive after a three-andout pinned Iowa State deep into its own territory, forcing the Cyclones’ backup quarterback to lead his team the
length of the field. Then, as Iowa State looked ready to bust through the door one more time, Seibert trotted out for a 42-yard field
goal. Riley admitted after the game he was more aggressive calling plays on that drive due to his trust in his specialist, who ended up celebrating the field goal he made when it was halfway to going through the uprights. “Austin Seibert did phenomenal today,” redshirt senior fullback Carson Meier said. “Field goals, punts, everything, and that was a big part of the game. He did great for us.” Elite specialists are indispensable. Seibert has held the duties of place-kicker, punter and kickoff since he arrived on campus in 2015. He was a Ray Guy and Lou Groza preseason award watch-list member this season. The Belleville, Illinois, n a t i v e, w h o h o l d s o n e of the most polar izing,
high-pressured jobs in football, was the man behind closing the door on Iowa State’s chance to knock off one of college football’s elite. “You guys know, I’ve always been a big believer in him,” Riley said. “I just know what the kid’s made of, know what he has had to do here. All those jobs for all those years, it’s hard, and he’s done it well.” Kegan Reneau
keganreneau@ou.edu
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