Monday. Dec. 14, 2015

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Room for improvement Unheard’s grievances being heard, group says it shouldn’t stop there ANDREW CLARK • ASSISTANT NEWS MANAGING EDITOR • @CLARKY_TWEETS Unheard began as an alliance of black OU students that led a cold January march into Evans Hall simply wanting the attention of President David Boren and other administrators. Since then, they’ve commanded the attention of an entire university and served as a catalyst for movements of racial inclusivity across college campuses nationwide.

Unheard rose to prominence when it led the charge against Sigma Alpha Epsilon after a video of its members singing a racist chant made its way onto the Internet. But the alliance had been working on transforming OU before then.

Unheard had grievances in January, but no one acted on them until March.

OU has done plenty to address the grievances presented in Unheard’s letter but can still do more, according to its members.

GRIEVANCE ONE: BLACK FACULTY BEYOND THE AFRICAN AMERICAN STUDIES DEPARTMENT Chelsea Davis, a member of Unheard and a health and exercise science and pre-med junior, said she has never had a black professor.

“I think that having that figure … is kind of encouraging, and it kind of pushes you to want to do better,” she said.

Spencer Davis, a member of Unheard and a chemical engineering senior, said the alliance has noticed efforts to increase these numbers, as just the other day, he enjoyed breakfast with two new black faculty members in the OU college of engineering.

“When I see African-American faculty that have Ph.D.s … it reinforces me, like I can, if I wanted to, go to graduate school or get a higher degree than a bachelor’s degree. It’s just a positive reinforcement,” he said.

The presence of black faculty just increases overall comfortability, members of Unheard said. And many aren’t there for just academic purposes but social purposes, too.

“Having (minority faculty) there in social environments when we’re reaching out to younger freshmen, and having them in this environment and letting them know that there are people who are here for you beyond just teaching you things is really great,” said Naome Kadira, an accounting senior who is a member of Unheard and the president of OU’s Black Student Association.

GRIEVANCE TWO: RETENTION RATES AMONG BLACK STUDENTS In 2013, the retention rate for full-time, first-time degree-seeking black or African-American students was 88.6 percent. Chelsea Davis said she can feel those numbers increasing.

“I know just by the feel and the presence on campus that there are a lot more black freshmen on campus this year than last year,” she said. “I’ve never seen so many black freshmen on campus.”

Enrollment demographics for fall 2015 are not yet available, but in 2014, there were 1,432 black or AfricanAmerican students at OU — about 5.2 percent of the university’s total enrollment.

Everett Brown, a member of Unheard and an aviation management senior, said he has noticed individual colleges taking action to attempt to increase the rates, as well.

“Within the college of business, I know they’re doing things basically trying to encourage and let everybody know that, ‘Hey, we understand that we may not be a huge representative of diversity in terms of race, but we’re here for you,’” he said.

Spencer Davis said the OU administration’s response to the SAE incident in the spring has played a major role in the increases in numbers.

“I really thought that people wouldn’t want to come here, but I think (the administration) kind of said, ‘This is the campus we have, and this is the environment in which we are working to do better. Come be a part of this community and make this community a little better,” Davis said.

TONY RAGLE/THE DAILY

Students tape their mouths shut and link arms as they walk down the South Oval on Jan. 14, 2015. According to some Unheard members, the university can still do more to address with the organization’s grievances.

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SGA progresses despite changes Student leaders prioritize mental health, diversity BRIANNA SIMS news reporter @briannana18

O U S t u d e n t G o v e r n m e n t Association’s executive branch survived a tumultuous spring to finish the year with many of its initiatives accomplished.

This year, SGA has led the student body toward changes and strives to continue to do so. The year began, however, with the resignation of President Kunal Naik in June.

“I would love to continue this opportunity, but I also have an obligation to my physical and mental health,” Naik said in a press release in June.

Naik’s resignation followed his arrest for public intoxication early in the spring semester.

Vice President Alex Byron took over for Naik in June and served without a designated assistant until the beginning of the fall semester. Then she opened applications for the vacant vice president position.

“What I’m looking for is someone who’s really committed and passionate about student government, also about representing student’s rights and wishes and concerns in general,” Byron said in August.

She found that in Avery Marczewski, an energy management and economics senior, who wanted to prioritize mental health issues and different diversity initiatives.

“I wanted to serve students on a larger scale, so that drew me to the chief of staff position. When Kunal resigned, Alex and I had a discussion about who would possibly fill the vice president position. I toyed with the idea and really thought about it, and I thought that it would be a good experience to serve students on a larger level,” Marczewski said in September.

Byron was very excited to work with Marczewski, and together they began tackling their initiatives.

They began by meeting

with Indigenize OU, which expressed desire for a celebration of Indigenous Peoples’ Day on campus on the day when Columbus Day had been celebrated.

The initiative began to take shape when the leaders of Indigenize OU met with several members of SGA to create a joint resolution.

“The way this is working is it is a joint resolution. So it doesn’t originate in a single house, because it comes from both of the houses … this process is set forth by the constitution of SGA,” Congress Chair Emily Sample said in September.

H o w e v e r, w h i l e t h e Graduate Student Senate and the Undergraduate Student Congress passed it, congress voted to change the language of the resolution to better fit the needs of Indigenize OU. This sent the resolution back to the Graduate Student Senate the day before Columbus Day. It passed, and on Oct. 12, SGA held a signing ceremony to kick off the day’s events.

“I think it was a nice coming together of student government, student representatives, Native American community representatives, advocates for indigenous movements in general as well as faculty and administration,” Byron said

“What I’m looking for is someone who’s really committed and passionate about student government, also about representing student’s rights and wishes and concerns in general.”

ALEX BYRON, FORMER SGA PRESIDENT

in October. “I think it was a really nice example of the university coming together, starting with a dialogue, starting with addressing student concerns, student wants and resulting in a clear and tangible action for students on campus.”

Student Congress has overseen many other projects this year.

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• Finals Week Edition, Fall 2015

NEWS

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

OU groups accomplish much New clubs center around awareness, aquiring new skills

practicing and preparing for the AMTA competitions.

“We went through and competed, and now it’s how do we refine that process to DAISY CREAGER make practices more effinews editor cient and to make sure ev@daisycreager eryone is on the same page next semester and then It h a s b e e n a y e a r o f moving forward to make changes for OU, with many sure the organization stays student organizations active,” Freeman said. among them. Here is an update on some student orAutism Speaks U ganizations that began this year, what they have accomCassie Fluitt, social sciplished and what they have ences and organizational planned. studies senior, was inspired by her sister to bring Autism Undergraduate Mock Speaks U, a collegiate verTrial Team sion of national organization Autism Speaks, to OU The Undergraduate Mock this semester.

Trial Team was formed this “My sister is living with semester by pre-law jumild autism and epilepsy, nior Taylor Freeman to give and she has been one of my students an outlet to gain biggest inspirations in my skills she learned in a similife and why I wanted to start lar program in high school, this organization,” Fluitt Freeman said. said.

“Students learn how to Fluitt said about 30 people think critically, how to speak are involved with the orgapublically, how to work as a nization, and this semester team and trust each other. was spent organizing. Next It’s a really great program semester, the organization in that OU did not have plans to register with the nathat opportunity for undertional organization, recruit, graduates (before) and we host speakers and events, have such a well­­-ranked law including a Hero Dash 5K, a school,” Freeman said. superhero-themed 5K run.

Freeman said this seThe national organization mester was used to build has received heavy criticism the team, expose students from other advocacy orgato how the competition nizations for the disability works and practice. The on trying to “cure” the disteam placed second in a ease rather than promoting competition put on by OU education and acceptance, College of Law and regisamong other things. tered in the American Mock Fluitt said when she creTrial Association, a nationated the student group, she al organization that puts on was not aware of these critcompetitions. icisms. She said a lot of the Freeman said she feels criticism is “mudslinging,” good about the organizasaying some people mistion’s start, and next semesunderstand the goals of the ter will be spent recruiting,

UNHEARD: Continued from Page One GRIEVANCE THREE: FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE/ SCHOLARSHIPS RECEIVED BY BLACK STUDENTS Members of Unheard said the organization is calling on alumni and donors to create more scholarships aimed toward black students.

Spencer Davis said he has not seen the creation of any new scholarships with this purpose, but Chelsea Davis acknowledged the difficulty of creating them.

“This one is going to take some time,” she said.

“I think the biggest change in that realm is the database to apply for scholarships. Putting all of the scholarship applications in one spot makes it so much easier for all students to apply for them, and it creates less hassle. But (creating scholarships aimed towards black students) is going to be hard. It’s really going to come down to our alumni and donations to create those scholarships.”

“We’re not saying that it can’t be done,” Brown said. “I think that’s why it’s still a grievance — because maybe the university isn’t willing to put money towards things where it’s like, ‘You have to be black or Native American.’ But donors and alumni … they have the ability to set the standard of where they want that money to go to.”

GRIEVANCE FOUR: SUPPORTIVE PROGRAMS FOR BLACK STUDENTS The creation of the Office for the University Community following the SAE scandal, led by Jabar Shumate, the OU vice president for the University Community, has played a major role in the support of black students across campus, Kadira said.

“I’ve seen a lot of support from the office for the University Community for BSA and Unheard and other smaller minority organizations,” she said. “The support has been there.”

Chelsea Davis said the College of Arts and Sciences has been a major supporter, as well, including Dean Kelly Damphousse.

“They’re always making strides to address the issues we’ve presented to them,” she said.

The college recently created a position for Paola Lopez as the founding director of student development and community. In this role, she will be tasked with increasing the diversity of the college.

A section of Unheard’s letter also calls for the application of the Multicultural Engineering Program within the college of engineering to other colleges, and Spencer Davis said he believes strides have been taken by other colleges to mimic the program.

GRIEVANCE FIVE: THE SOONER EXPERIENCE Unheard’s letter said “Black students do not and for many years have not received the equal opportunity” to have the “Sooner Experience,” adding there is a “tremendous lack of black cultural exposure on the University of Oklahoma’s campus.” The alliance said that is still true.

“To be honest ... it was great to see such change so fast,” Brown said. “But I think there’s this thing called check-boxing.”

Brown said he believes this grievance was the easiest for OU to address.

NOOR EEMAAN/THE DAILY

The executive board of new OU club Autism Speaks in front of the Bizzell Memorial Library

organization.

“What we’re trying to do is create positivity and make everyone feel like they are included. Me and my executive board all believe in having everyone come and feel welcomed, and we are trying to distinguish ourselves by our actions more than what we say,” Fluitt said.

The organization will carry that mindset into its events next semester, Fluitt said.

The Holocaust Remembrance and Restitution Society Organization president Eric Sunby said he and other students organized toward the end of last semester, mostly because of the

lawsuit against OU regarding the allegedly stolen art in Fred Jones Jr. Museum of Art. “It’s not just about that one painting; it’s about the entire collection. We wanted to fight for restitution of that painting, but we also wanted to conduct Holocaust remembrance and education and try to combat prejudice and anti-semitism,” Sunby said.

Sunby said the organization helped with events on campus but has not hosted events this semester.

However, the organization is planning a Holocaust remembrance event next semester. He said they are trying to raise awareness about the lawsuit.

The organization lobbied

“I think (OU) said, ‘We can bring a black artist, we can bring a black comedian, we can bring black people to OU and make people think that we’re there for them.’ But that was all within a semester,” Brown said.

Chelsea Davis said OU bringing black artists and performers to fix the lack of black culture on campus was the university grasping the low-hanging fruit on the tree.

“It’s like they were throwing these artists at us and saying ‘Be grateful. Check mark. We’re going to move on,’” she said.

Bringing one of these artists caused controversy, too. The Daily obtained rapper YG’s concert contract when he came to perform at McCasland Field House in September and discovered that he was limited, by contract, to perform radio-edited versions of his songs. Members of Unheard said they were furious when they learned of the university’s censorship.

“You’re bringing a black artist to campus and telling him what he can and can’t say,” Chelsea Davis said. “Stripping us of our culture. That was a problem. It was a problem within the system.”

“We’re looking to see if, in the future, more thought will go into that,” Spencer Davis said.

Another aspect of Unheard’s “Sooner Experience” grievance was reform within homecoming, claiming “the black community’s participation is high only during the pep rally” and “other events hosted throughout the week are not structured in a way that is inclusive or appealing to the black community.” Again, members of Unheard said the effort was there to try and create reform, but the execution fell short.

“I get they revamped the whole homecoming thing, and I greatly appreciate the work that went into the logistics and everything ... but the end result just wasn’t there,” Kadira said.

Camp Crimson is an aspect of university culture that lacks black representation as well, according to Unheard’s letter. While Kathleen Wong, the director of the OU Southwest Center for Human Relations, led the first-ever mandatory diversity training sessions at the camp this summer, members of Unheard said the trainings could not do enough to change students’ mindsets.

“The training got backlash from a lot of students, but a lot of them also said they left feeling like they took something from it,” Brown said.

“I don’t think the diversity training has done anything wrong ... I just think it’s people’s mindsets that need to change overall,” he said. “At the end of the day, if you want to change your mindset, that’s up to you, and nobody is really responsible to change that about yourself but you.”

Overall, members of Unheard said the “Sooner Experience” is still not constructed to cater to black students.

in the state legislature earlier this year for a resolution: study the ownership history of artwork in its museums and return the artwork to its owners if it is found to be stolen. The resolution was filed May 11.

The organization also brought the lawsuit to the attention of Undergraduate Student Congress, who requested on Oct. 27 that there be a review of previous research conducted on the piece of art.

“We’ve gotten a lot of work done in a very short period of time. (It’s) real, concrete progress,” Sunby said.

Daisy Creager Daisy.C.Creager-1@ou.edu

SGA: Continued from Page One One congressional resolution was passed to initiate more extensive provenance research of the paintings in the Fred Jones Jr. Museum of Art due to the suspicion of stolen Nazi art. Congress also created a condolence letter to send to the organizations and universities affected by the Oklahoma State University homecoming tragedy.

In the executive branch of SGA, elections were held this semester. This was a significant election because it was contested and resulted in a runoff election between presidential candidates Daniel Pae and Isaac Hill. A week later, elections were held again to decide whom the new president and vice president would be.

Finally, Pae and his running mate Michael Lutter were elected.

“We have a pretty comprehensive platform of ideas that we want to push,” Lutter said. “I think the thing I’m most excited about is to meet with the different student organizations and get to know who they are and what their needs might be.”

They also want to continue the work that has been started with diversity.

“We also want to meet with other diverse groups from all walks of life and hear their stories and concerns,” Pae said. “It’s just remarkable to have this opportunity to serve everyone in this capacity.”

Brianna Sims Brianna.M.Sims-1@ou.edu

GRIEVANCE SEVEN: EQUITABLE FUNDING FOR BLACK STUDENTS ORGANIZATIONS In January, the time of Unheard’s letter’s publication, OU’s Black Student Association was allocated $7,000 annually as a registered student organization, the most money a multicultural organization on campus has received. On the flip side, the Campus Activities Council is considered an administrative organization and was allocated $159,000 annually at the time in January. Criteria that distinguishes an administrative organization versus a registered student organization is not transparently explained, according to Unheard’s letter. Kadira, the president of the association, said the organization’s lack of funding has hindered it in multiple ways, including its experience at this year’s homecoming. “(The Black Student Association) didn’t have the resources to make an equal impact and make an equal footprint (at homecoming) due to our lack of resources,” she said.

“Because we’re smaller and we don’t have the resources, we don’t have that equivalent support that other organizations have; we didn’t get that opportunity.”

“We don’t have the money that we need to represent our community,” Chelsea Davis said.

UNHEARD MOVING FORWARD While a lot has been done to address the grievances in Unheard’s letter, the alliance’s members agree that more needs to be done with all seven.

Spencer Davis said the next thing he wants to see happen is the creation of a physical environment for black students to spend time in.

Kadira and Brown said they want Unheard’s efforts to continue long-term even after its current, prominent members graduate.

“Diversity is not a checkbox that you can mark off and say ‘Hey, we did it, we’re diverse,’” Brown said. “I think there’s always room for improvement.”

Andrew Clark andrew.clarkou@gmail.com

GRIEVANCE SIX: LACK OF A PRESENCE WITHIN EXECUTIVE HIERARCHY Unheard’s letter claims “there are qualified AfricanAmerican men and women who could be effective members of the University of Oklahoma community” and serve in hierarchal positions. Shumate is African-American and serves as the leader of the Office for the University Community, an office created after the SAE incident, but members of Unheard said it has not seen any other action to bolster the presence of minorities in the OU hierarchy.

“However, we do recognize this takes time,” Brown said.

“We’re not asking somebody to become an adjunct professor, we’re asking somebody to be within the administrative hierarchy. So we don’t expect that change to happen overnight.”

SIANDHARA BONNET/THE DAILY

Unheard members Chelsea Davis, Everett Brown, Naome Kadira and Spencer Davis talk about Unheard’s original grievances and the changes that they have seen at the university Friday Dec. 11. Some of the organization’s grievances include black faculty beyond the African American Studies Department, retention rates among black students and financial assistance/scholarships received by black students.

NEWS

Finals Week Edition, Fall 2015 •

A3

Stimulants cause slippery slope Students try drugs like Adderall to focus, keep up GPA BRADY VARDEMAN

social media coordinator @BradyVardeman

Editor’s Note: The name Katie Hendricks is a pseudonym used to preserve the student’s anonymity.

Katie Hendricks was just tr ying to keep her head above a flood of classwork when she turned to Adderall as a freshman at OU. Her first semester didn’t go as well as she — or her parents — would have liked.

Bearing the load of a subpar GPA and the threat of being pulled out of school, Hendricks needed help.

Luckily, her friend had just what she needed, free of charge.

He n d r i ck s d i d n ’ t s e e a problem taking the Adderall because it wasn’t the first time she had done so. A stimulant designed to treat Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder, Hendricks was prescribed Adderall as a child but was taken off the drug in high school.

In college, after she turned 18, she attempted to get re-diagnosed with ADHD, but was told the next available appointment with a psychiatrist either at school or back home was four months out.

She couldn’t wait that long.

“I was at the point in the semester, maybe around midterms, where I really needed something, and my friend at the time had it. And he was like, ‘Oh, it’s fine. Take it,’” she said.

However, her Adderall use eventually spiraled out of control.

“I started taking it again b e c a u s e i t w a s re a d i l y available,” Hendricks said.

“That’s also the point in time when I started buying it (from other people) so my friend wouldn’t know how much I was taking.”

King of the World Hendricks is not alone.

The use of stimulants like Adderall, especially around finals week, is rampant on campuses across the country.

Officials at OU Health Services’ Goddard clinic said it rarely sees cases of students using stimulants to study.

“Some research has s h o w n , h o w e v e r, t h a t non-medical stimulant use is not as prevalent on campus as most students think and that students often over estimate usage amongst their peers,” a Goddard spokesperson said.

However, the numbers tell a different story.

According to a 2011 College Life study, more than 61 percent of college students were offered prescription stimulants, or

“study drugs,” during their time in college.

Thirty-one percent of those students reported accepting and using drugs like Adderall non-medically at some point in their college careers.

OU student Tanner Elias suffers from the inattent i v e s u b t y p e o f A D H D, which is absent hyperactivity. Like Hendricks, he was prescribed a stimulant — Vyvanse — as a child but was never taken off.

Elias still uses the drug with a prescription, unlike Hendricks. He said it’s the only way he is able to focus.

“When I’m not on Vyvanse, it’s hard for me to pay attention to something for more than 15 seconds,” he said.

W h i l e s i m i l a r d r u g s, Vyvanse and Adderall, are processed differently by the human body, according to Healthline, Hendricks’ variant of Adderall was meant to be taken multiple times a day, with each 10 mg dose lasting three to four hours.

Elias’ Vyvanse is a once-daily capsule filled with beads and is inactive until the body metabolizes the medicine. Its effects can be felt for up to 12 hours.

Once in college, he was taking 40 mg of Vyvanse per day.

Despite the difference in processing, Adderall and Vyvanse create remarkably similar experiences for users. Side effects of both drugs include a boost in energy, focus and a loss of appetite.

While not all users experience it, both Hendricks and Elias reported euphoria, as well. “ Yo u w a k e u p i n t h e morning, you take it and two hours later, you would feel like you were the king of the world,” Elias said.

“Everything was amazing.

I would be in class and totally engaged with whatever the teacher was saying.

Totally interested and paying attention.”

“Basically, it was euphoria. That peak of euphoria lasts for two, maybe three hours,” he said.

With Adderall, Hendricks felt that sensation multiple times per day.

“There’s a point after you take it where — mine usually hits me about 10-15 minutes after I take it — I feel it in my heart and my lungs,” Hendricks said. “I’ll feel it in my chest, and you can almost tell when it hits your stomach because it’s the weirdest feeling.”

“At the same time, you get this euphoria of, ‘I can do anything,’” she said.

Addicted T h e re’s a d i f f e re n c e, however, between use and abuse. Hendricks fell into the latter category.

When she noticed an improvement in academic performance while on a regular Adderall regimen, Hendricks began to take

“You wake up in the morning, you take it and two hours later, you would feel like you were the king of the world.”

­—Tanner Elias BRADY VARDEMAN/THE DAILY

ADD, short for Attention Deficit Disorder, is spelled out with the prescription drug Adderall. The drug is designed to treat Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder.

more at one time to intensify the effect. Then, when her body began to build up a tolerance of the drug, she took more.

“It was almost like I didn’t think about it,” she said. “‘Oh, I’m tired. I’ll just take one.” “‘Oh, I really need to finish this.’ Just take one.” “‘Oh, when was the last time I took one?’ That’s when I knew it was really bad.”

At her worst, Hendricks was taking upward of 80 mg of Adderall per day.

During an average week, Hendricks used Adderall from Monday afternoon until Friday morning, sleeping for just “an hour or two” over the span and eating a meal or less per day.

According to the Addiction Center, full-time students are twice as likely to abuse Adderall as their peers not in college. Signs of abuse include needing an increasingly large dose, taking the drug despite the knowledge of the harm it does and an inability to work without Adderall.

By the beginning the second semester of Hendricks’ sophomore year, all three applied.

“I was addicted to the point where I didn’t sleep often, and I didn’t find an issue with it because I was still functioning,” she said.

“It wasn’t until fall break — I had gone home, and I didn’t take it with me, and I crashed. I crashed really hard.”

At home, Hendricks slept for days and ate until she was sick. After half a semester of using Adderall as a crutch, her body didn’t know what to do without it.

She knew she needed to change her habits.

‘Get off your ass’

According to a 2011 study conducted at a university in the United States, about 10 percent of the 308 students surveyed were using or had used a stimulant like Adderall or Vyvanse in college.

While the medications produce a mild sense of euphoria and well-being regardless of what the user is doing, 93.5 percent of the students who used a stimulant took it to study. At OU and on college campuses across the country, stimulants are widely believed to improve academic performance — earning them the “study drug” moniker.

Both Elias and Hendricks characterized their respective stimulants as switches they can flip when it’s time to work.

“It’s a get-off-your-ass switch. Get up. It’s time to go,” Hendricks said. “After you take it, you’re not going to be able to just sit there.

You can’t just mindlessly sit on the couch and watch TV all day. It’s just not going to happen.

“So it makes me do something. It makes me feel productive. It makes me get work done,” she said. “It’s almost psychological to where, if you just gave me a blue pill and had me take it, I’d probably still work for three hours.”

Yet, a year after her first crash, Hendricks doesn’t take Adderall every day.

Elias, after taking Vyvanse most every school day since ninth grade, hasn’t filled his prescription in weeks.

In a campus culture where stimulants are described as some sort of “miracle drug,” why are two college students leaving behind what seemed like the solution to their short attention spans?

Putting down the pills Taking a single stimulant once provides focus for a few hours. Taking it over the course of weeks, months and years is a different animal.

Elias said Vyvanse caused bouts of insomnia when he used it several days in a row.

“You don’t really get to sleep until late at night, and then you have to get up early in the morning for school.

You don’t get the amount of sleep that you need,” he said. “But then you’re like, ‘Oh, I didn’t get the amount of sleep that I need,’ so you take more Vyvanse to make up for it, and then it causes that to happen again, and then you need to take Vyvanse again because you got no sleep.”

Even though he no longer takes Vyvanse, Elias said his appetite still hasn’t fully returned. He believes years of using the stimulant and consuming very little food per day caused his body to reduce its nutritional expectations.

“The day before yesterday, I had a Jimmy John’s sandwich. That was all I ate that day,” he said.

A l t h o u g h s h e u n d e rstands the damage she did to her body while abusing Adderall, that isn’t why Hendricks decided to reduce her intake. She was no longer getting the drug for free.

On a college budget, prescription medication abuse can get pretty expensive.

Once on her back about poor grades, Hendricks’ mother would soon wonder where all of Katie’s money was going if something didn’t change.

“My mom had access t o my b a n k a c c o u n t a t

that point in time, and I didn’t want her to know,” Hendricks said. “If she saw random cash withdrawals.”

It went deeper than that, however. Hendricks didn’t want to be dependent on a pill. She needed to know she could function without Adderall.

For the most part, I wanted to know that I wasn’t a complete waste of space without it,” she said.

She still uses Adderall, but in much smaller, controlled doses. Hendricks records how much she takes per day, what she did that day and how she felt in a journal to avoid spiraling out of control again.

Hendr icks knows she won’t be able to take Adderall forever, but said she needs it while she’s in school. “ I’v e a l re a d y a c c e p ted that as fact,” she said. “I budget for it. It’s why I haven’t quit my job yet.”

Her plan is to continue to use it sparingly until her final semester at OU, when she will try to wean off the drug.

As when she chose to s t o p b i n g i n g Ad d e ra l l , Hendricks’ motivation to completely leave it behind will come from the desire to be more than enslaved to that little “switch” in a bottle.

“There’s also an adult switch that needs to come in,” she said. “It’s less of a you-lazy-college-kid-takethis-pill-and-go-get-yourwork-done thing. Now, it’s a go-get-your-life-together switch.”

“That cannot be a pill,” Hendricks said.

Brady Vardeman bradyvardeman@gmail.com

Documents provide relevant information Open records give PARKING TICKET RECORDS public deeper look into administration Former Daily staff memJESSE POUND news editor @jesserpound

One of the most important tools for The Daily and for journalists in Oklahoma is the Freedom of Information Act. The law forces state institutions, including OU, to make many documents available to the public upon request.

All citizens can access these records, not just journalists. Here is a rundown of different records Daily staff members have accessed, or tried to access, in 2015.

ber Joey Stipek sued OU to release records of parking tickets issued by OU Parking Services, a suit the paper later joined.

CONCERT CONTRACTS The contracts that musicians sign with the university when they agree to play on-campus concerts are subject to public scrutiny.

These contracts include the riders that musicians include in their contracts, how much the artists are being paid for their performance and any specific clauses that are placed in the contract by either party.

Some of these are fun, such as Jack White’s guacamole recipe included in his contract with OU. Some are more serious, such as the cens orship clause in YG’s contract, which required him to perform only radio-friendly versions of his songs when he played in October.

OU REGENTS’ EMAILS The Daily tried and failed to get emails related to stories about Continental Re s o u rc e s C E O Ha ro l d Hamm and a painting that was previously stolen by Nazis.

One of the reasons given was that OU Board of Regents member Max Weit zenhoffer ’s emails

were confidential because regents are considered volunteers of the university.

The emails of for mer Fred Jones Jr. Museum of Art director Emily Neff were also denied because she was no longer a university employee.

A f t e r T h e D ai l y p u b lished a story saying that We i t z e n h o f f e r h a d a n OU email address, Open Records officer Michael Purcell said in an email to The Daily that his office would run a search of the account and return any responsive records.

the Sooner Fire and Safety Report did not represent all of the reported assaults on campus.

There were only 52 assaults cited in the report, but 122 reports were submitte d to O U ’s Title I X Office between its establishment in 2012 and Sept.

2, 2015.

performs many more traffic stops at night and early in the morning than in typical rush hour times.

BUDGETS

Budgets for different OU departments are also available upon request.

For example, The Daily published this story about POLICE REPORTS the changes to the Facilities Management budget, Police records from both which has increased subOUPD and Norman PD are stantially the past few years. available for public request.

This includes individual incident reports and logs of Jesse Pound jesserpound@gmail.com different episodes during SEXUAL ASSAULT RECORDS certain time frames.

One example of Records of the number this is traffic citations. of sexual assaults report- Examinations of police reed on campus showed that cords revealed that OUPD

A4

• Finals Week Edition, Fall 2015

OPINION Why we’re choosing to CLASSIFIEDS reduce production days

Dana Branham, engagement managing editor dailyopinion@ou.edu • phone: 405-325-3666 oudaily.com • Twitter: @OUDaily

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Our view: A five-day-a-

week printed newspaper is no longer essential at OU. With that in mind, The Daily will begin to print twice weekly next semester. This decision represents our shift into a modern news organization with a mission to reach readers in the most effective way possible.

Redeem at your nearest donation center for details.

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FREE AD WITH OU.EDU EMAIL ADDRESS Anyone with an ou.edu email address can place their ad in the Classified section of The Oklahoma Daily at no cost. Simply email your ad copy to classifieds@ou.edu, along with name, address and phone contact information. Maximum 5 lines and 10-issue run per listing.

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A student takes a copy of Friday’s ESCAPE from the racks outside of Dale Hall. Next semester, The Daily will publish two print editions a week — one on Monday and one on Thursday.

relevant once more. It will have a fundamentally different design filled with a compilation of our best content.

We will print a Monday and Thursday edition. Every Monday edition will focus around a centerpiece story — in-depth pieces that will showcase our strongest reporting abilities, telling the stories you need to know.

Thursday will be our weekend paper. These editions will give us a chance to find the best stories from across campus. Everyone has a story and we want to tell it. This edition will also be a primer for your weekend plans.

A less frequent print product doesn’t mean a less frequent Daily.

Our already established digital-first mindset will only become more precise and efficient.

The need for information can no longer wait until the next morning because it’s never more than a tap away on your phone. We’ve embraced this “news now� mentality, and our online platform reflects that.

We want our work to serve you in the best way possible. That way used to be through the print edition, but now it’s through our digital platforms. If fewer people are picking up the paper and more are reading online, it only makes sense for us to adapt.

Like every other decision at The Daily, reducing the number of print publications per week was a student-led initiative. We make plenty of mistakes along the way, but we have an unparalleled passion to serve all of you as best we can.

It’s the mindset behind every decision both big

and small.

This is an exciting opportunity for us, and you, as our readers, are at the heart of it. We want to continue the two-way street of conversation and have our content reflect every aspect of this community.

The Daily first hit the press in 1916. We know its founders started something special — the independent student voice of this university.

One hundred years later, our staff is charting a new course. We treasure The Daily’s past, but now it’s time to map its future.

Previous Solution

12/14

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.

42 Acupuncture item 44 Bermuda wear 46 “And ___ off!�

48 Psychiatrist, for one 49 Indian queen (Var.) 50 Miami daily newspaper 52 “Addams Family� cousin 53 Placate 58 “Mountain� or “rocket� finish 59 Spanish snacks 60 Keyboard instrument 61 Like the Sahara 62 “Hello� singer 63 River to the Missouri DOWN 1 Play subdivision 2 Rocky peak 3 In need of salting 4 Makes less tense 5 Hindu religious writing 6 Altar locales 7 Ad-___ (improvises) 8 Guinness and others 9 Pas’ mates 10 Maneuver around, in war 11 Boondocks

Place your display, classified display or classified card ads by 5:00 p.m. 3 business days prior to publication.

Eats flies. Dates a pig. Hollywood star.

LIVE YOUR DREAMS Pass It On. www.forbetterlife.org

Universal Crossword ACROSS 1 Not quite vertical 6 Memorable Texas mission 11 Basic college degrees 14 Hot chocolate 15 Rice cooked in broth (Var.) 16 “... of the ___ of Aquarius ...�

17 Apply maximum effort 19 Claretyielding area 20 Put emphasis on 21 Knockoffs 23 Paparazzi gear 26 Pizza units 27 Jungle vines 28 Gilbert and Sullivan emperor 30 Breeds or varieties 31 Canary relative 32 One for the off-road 35 Doctor’s charge 36 Washington Monument, e.g.

38 Neither this ___ that 39 Drug approver 40 One’s north and one’s south 41 Leave speechless

Display Ad ............................................................................3 days prior Classified Display or Classified Card Ad

Let us know what you think: comment on this story online at OUDaily.com.

Edited by Timothy E. Parker December 14, 2015

Fax: 405-325-7517 Campus Address: COH 149A

™ & Š 2003 The Jim Henson Company

The Daily will be different in the spring.

One hundred years after its inception as a daily newspaper, Friday morning marked a historic change. The OU Publications Board approved our proposal to reduce the number of print products per week to two beginning next semester.

The evolution of The Daily into an organization with a mission to report news in the digital age has grown over the last few years. Small steps taken by prior editorial staffs and a vigorous commitment by our current one have culminated into a celebratory result — the new Daily.

A daily print product is no longer essential on this campus. We all know this. Hundreds of copies remain in the racks at the end of each night.

Still, it’s important for us to still maintain a print product. The Daily has a rich history, and it’s paramount for us to preserve that.

But when you come back to class next semester, don’t expect the same looking Daily.

We’ve repurposed our print edition to make it

1327 E. LINDSEY ST., NORMAN, OK 73071 405.447.9977 *Applicable for eligible, qualified new donors. Fees vary by weight and location.

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12 Act the yes-man 13 “The Cat in the Hat� author 18 Blocks of history 22 First ___ kit 23 Jumping-off point?

24 Needed medical assistance 25 Utilize a journal 26 Snow sliders 28 Free-for-all 29 It gives peepers color 31 Bear’s order, on Wall Street 33 Praises loudly 34 Arp collaborator Max 36 28-Across production

37 Be an omen of 41 Joins metal, in a way 43 CBS logo 44 Click, as the fingers 45 Attentiongetting shout 46 Attempted, as this puzzle?

47 Fan’s opposite 48 Got out of bed 50 Ballyhoo 51 And others, for short 54 X-ray dose 55 Ottoman ruler 56 Mattress problem 57 180 deg. from WSW

PREVIOUS PUZZLE ANSWER PREVIOUS PUZZLE ANSWER

12/13

12/11

Š 2015 Universal Uclick www.upuzzles.com Š 2015 Universal Uclick

GO ON By Henry Quarters

HOROSCOPE

By Eugenia Last

Copyright 2015, Newspaper Enterprise Assn.

TAURUS (April 20-May 20) -- You have more to offer than you realize.

Proper diet, exercise and stress man- Speak up and share your opinion in order to make headway. Love and agement will help you adjust to the fast-paced world and the responsibili- romance will improve your disposition and living arrangements. ties that come with trying to keep up. Discipline and hard work will GEMINI (May 21-June 20) -- Keep help you put forth your best effort. moving toward your destination.

Personal and professional balance The less time you spend discussing will help you achieve your goals. your plans, the easier it will be to get things done without interference.

SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 23-Dec. 21) Keep your life and your plans simple.

-- DonĘźt send the wrong message.

Be exact about your capabilities and credentials in order to make a good CANCER (June 21-July 22) -- Take impression on someone who counts. the road less traveled. No matter what you do, if you are unique and Preparation will lead to success. innovative in your pursuits, others CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19) -- DonĘźt will take notice and praise you for your efforts. count on anyone but yourself when it comes to doing what needs to be LEO (July 23-Aug. 22) -- Emotional done. Personal improvements will draw favorable attention. Romance is matters will confuse you. Listen to whatĘźs being said and weigh in the stars. the terms or criticism you receive AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 19) -- DonĘźt carefully. Consider your options let your overloaded schedule get you and make decisions based on your down. Take things one step at a time happiness. and donĘźt let anyone put undue presVIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22) -- Discuss sure on you. Your actions will grab your plans with someone you want to the attention of someone special. form a partnership with. A heartfelt display will lead to a collaboration PISCES (Feb. 20-March 20) -- When that is both fruitful and long-lasting. dealing with institutions or people Romance is encouraged. who are secretive, you should take precautions. You wonĘźt get the LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 23) -- Even if answers you are looking for from someone begs you to offer advice, others. Focus on improving your refrain from meddling. YouĘźll be the standard of living. one blamed for whatever transpires if you arenĘźt careful. Work on ARIES (March 21-April 19) -- Speak self-improvement and forget about up, but avoid being condescending.

You will get much further ahead with changing other people. intelligent, thoughtful responses.

SCORPIO (Oct. 24-Nov. 22) -- Be direct DonĘźt let emotional situations turn ugly. Work on yourself, not on chang- in your approach to handling both domestic and professional matters. A ing others. clear-cut view of your plans will help you avoid setbacks due to someoneĘźs lack of understanding or confusion.

MONDAY, DECEMBER 14, 2015

OKLAHOMA VS. CLEMSON

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Finals Week Edition, Fall 2015 •

SPORTS

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

OU’s series of fortunate events SPORTS DESK

Now that the regular season is officially a wrap, we ranked the top moments of the Sooners’ run to the College Football Playoff.

1. Making the Playoff

On Dec. 29, 2014 Oklahoma fell to 8-5 with a 40-6 loss to Clemson in the Russell Athletic Bowl. One year and two days later, the two teams will meet once again — this time in the Orange Bowl with a national championship berth on the line. The Sooners have come a long way since that postseason shellacking, and their whirlwind season will culminate with a shot to complete their “revenge tour” against coach Dabo Swinney and his Tigers.

2. Parker’s swat

What turned out to be a “November to remember” almost wasn’t. With less than a minute remaining in the top25 showdown between OU and TCU, the Sooner offense was sputtering without Baker Mayfield, and the Horned Frogs were in position to tie the game. TCU coach Gary Patterson decided to go for two points and the win though when OU safety Steven Parker saved the game, and the season, for the Sooners when he made his own bold decision. To prevent the MATT WESLING/THE DAILY Frogs’ quarterback from strolling into the endzone, Parker left Junior quartback Baker Mayfield jukes a Tulsa defender Sept. 19 at Gaylord Family-Oklahoma Memorial Stadium. Mayfield played a part in his man wide open, but timed his jump perfectly to swat the several of the Sooners’ top moments of the season. ball, and the Frogs’ hopes, to the ground.

3. Tennessee

7. Scramble vs. Tulsa

4. Scramble vs. Baylor

8. Sterling and the Boz

Down 17-3 after three quarters, Mayfield and the Sooners’ revamped offense stepped on to the national stage with an epic comeback victory over the upstart Volunteers. Oklahoma overcame a stagnant first three quarters to put together one of the most thrilling college football games of the season. Coach Bob Stoops called it one of his favorite wins, certainly one that won’t soon be forgotten.

Possibly the biggest win of the regular season came in Waco, Texas, as the Sooners downed then-No. 6 Baylor on the road. The win launched OU into the playoff conversation, and one play in particular kick-started Mayfield’s Heisman Trophy campaign. With just under four minutes remaining and the Sooners holding tight to a three point lead, Mayfield made magic happen. He scrambled… scrambled… scrambled and finally connected with fullback Dimitri Flowers for the game sealing touchdown. He didn’t win the Heisman, but that touchdown pass will find its way onto plenty of highlight videos this offseason.

5. Bedlam/Baker’s block

After close wins over Baylor and TCU, Oklahoma made a statement in Stillwater. The Sooners trounced Oklahoma State 58-23 to claim the Big 12 title and a spot in the College Football Playoff. This year’s Bedlam highlight was an unexpected one — a block provided by none other than Mayfield.

It was OU’s star quarterback who flattened a defender to spring Joe Mixon for a 66-yard touchdown run.

6. K-State win/airport

One week after a mystifying loss to Texas in the Cotton Bowl, Oklahoma looked to bounce back at Kansas State. The Sooners were in trouble from the beginning, spending eight hours stranded at the Oklahoma City airport due to technical issues with three different planes. While the delay ruined the team’s planned preparations, the bonding experience that ensued must have worked just as well. Oklahoma took out some frustration on the Wildcats the next day, winning 55-0 and not losing again en route to its conference championship.

Before Mayfield’s scramble at Baylor he created some magic in Norman. In the third quarter of the Sooners’ 52-38 win over Tulsa, Mayfield escaped from a seemingly hopeless situation to find tight end Mark Andrews for a touchdown. It was early in the season, but it provided a glimpse of what OU could expect from the fourth place finisher in Heisman voting this season.

Perhaps the most poignant moment of Oklahoma’s season came on the field — but not during game action.

Before the senior night kickoff between OU and TCU, past and present collided. Former OU great Brian Bosworth presented senior wide receiver Sterling Shepard with a magazine cover bearing Shepard’s late father’s face. The Sooners Illustrated issue was signed by the entire 1985 Sooner national championship squad, of which Shepard’s father, Derrick, was a key part.

9. Mayfield announcement

One of the most important moments of OU’s run to the College Football Playoff came before a single snap was taken. On Aug. 24 it was announced that Mayfield had won the quarterback derby between him, incumbent Trevor Knight and Cody Thomas. Not that it seemed insignificant at the time, but the decision to hand the offensive reigns to Mayfield proved to be one of the biggest differences between this year’s 11-1 squad and last season’s 8-5 team.

10. Heisman snub

Over the last few weeks of the season it seemed like a foregone conclusion that Mayfield would be named a finalist for the Heisman Trophy. OU launched an intensive campaign plugging its quarterback to the voters, but Mayfield came up just short. It was a fourth place finish for the former walk-on, and the gap was wide enough that he did not receive an invitation to New York for the ceremony. As the postseason unfolds, this snub may carry more significance, but for now it’s safe to say the chip on Mayfield’s shoulder has only gotten bigger.

TYLER WOODWARD/THE DAILY

Junior quarterback Baker Mayfield discusses his new role as starting quarterback during an interview with media at Everest Training Center on Aug. 24. Mayfield took over for Trevor Knight as the Sooner starting quarterback.

What to watch for as Sooners swing into 2016 Men’s basketball will face tougher test after break

in scoring, efficiency, rebounding and steals, while keeping his turnovers to a minimum. The progression of his game is particularly JOHN WALKER men’s basketball reporter important as Woodard proj@jtw2213 ects to be the lone returning senior starting for the The Sooners have rolled so Sooners next season. far this season, but as the calBuddy Hield vs. Ben endar year turns, the competition will get stiffer. Here Simmons Fe w g a m e s w i l l h av e are a few things to watch for more potential for scorfrom Oklahoma in 2016: ing fireworks than when Maturation of Jordan the Sooners head to Baton Rouge to play LSU and freshWoodard The junior has been the man phenom Ben Simmons. unsung hero of the back- Senior guard Buddy Hield court playing beside guards has already reclaimed his Buddy Hield and Isaiah throne as the Big 12 leader Cousins. His strides in con- in scoring, averaging 20.8 sistency are an addition- points in under 30 minutes of al reason why the Sooners play. Meanwhile, Simmons sport one of the nation’s best already has 21-point, 20-rebound and 43-point, 17-rebackcourts.

The maturity of his game bound games under his belt. was evident when he flirted The two Naismith Award with a triple-double in the contenders will face off Jan. season opener at Memphis. 30.

Questions about his threeOklahoma vs. Kansas point shooting were put to One obstacle coach Lon rest with an explosive six three-pointer performance Kruger has yet to overcome against Central Arkansas. in his time at Oklahoma is Through six games, Woodard taking down the Jayhawks is shooting 52 percent from in Lawrence, Kansas. In fact, the perimeter, hitting a cou- the last Sooners coach to walk out of Allen Fieldhouse ple of treys per game.

A n d b a l l h a n d l i n g ? victorious was the legendWoodard has committed ary Billy Tubbs in 1993. one turnover or less in four The Sooners defeated the of the Sooners’ seven games. Jayhawks 75-73 last season He is sporting career-highs in Lloyd Noble Center, but it

Earlier in the season, Cousins acknowle dge d freshmen Rashard Odomes and Christian James as the heirs apparent to the future of the Sooners. The senior guard even likened their experience to his and Hield’s when they were underclassmen.

“They kind of remind me Progression of the of me and Buddy (Hield) Sooners’ youth T h i s c r o p o f y o u n g when they first came here,” Sooners is already making Cousins said after the home opener win versus McNeese an impression. is another test to come away with a win on the road. This is Kruger’s best team to date and it has performed like one of the best in the country, so this could be the Sooners’ best shot to win in Kansas since Blake Griffin donned the crimson and cream.

State.

Odomes and James have made an impact so far this season, using their athleticism and physical nature to earn playing time. Akolda Manyang and Jamuni McNeace have the length, athleticism and defensive instincts to alter the opposition’s path to the rim.

Forward Dante Buford is still getting acclimated to the team but has the athleticism and scoring instincts to make

a push into the rotation.

With three seniors currently in the starting lineup, the young guns can learn from their growing pains this season in hopes of eventually taking the reins as successfully as their upperclassmen counterparts have.

John Walker john.t.walker-1@ou.edu

SCOTT HINEY/THE DAILY

Senior Buddy Hield runs drives against Oral Roberts on Saturday. Hield will match up with freshman phenom Ben Simmons on Jan. 30.

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• Finals Week Edition, Fall 2015

ARTS&ENTERTAINMENT

Jessica Barber, a&e editor dailyent@ou.edu • phone: 405-325-3666 oudaily.com/life&arts • Twitter: @OUDailyArts

Premieres to catch over break Brand new movies to watch with part or all of the family PARKER STRUBHAR staff reporter @parker_bryant20

After days of being cooped up in the house playing card games that your great-grandma barely remembers from her childhood and finishing off the Christmas dinner

leftovers, the classic go-to option is a trip to the local movie theater to catch a holiday blockbuster.

He re a re f i v e m ov i e s being released the week of Christmas that we think certain relatives will love.

“Joy” BEST FOR: PARENTS, AUNTS, UNCLES, JLAW ENTHUSIASTS

O s ca r w i n n e r, m e ga star, and Entertainment Weekly’s newly announced Entertainer of the Year, Jennifer Lawrence, stars as the title character in this biopic based on the life of the inventor of the Miracle Mop, Joy Mangano. It is already generating Oscar buzz, so your “cultured” uncle won’t complain.

In an interview with the New York Times, director David O. Russell said Lawrence commands the film “not with a bow and arrow, but with her heart and soul.”

“Joy” tells the story of t h e s u b s e q u e nt r i s e o f Mangano’s business empire after her invention and her personal struggle as a divorced mom of three. Also starring Bradley Cooper and Robert DeNiro, this film might not be the mindless action some crave, but its fascinating story will be a crowd pleaser.

about a researcher battling the NFL after discovering the serious brain damage suffered by players. The film is biographical and also shows the NFL’s denial of the research. The film will present a conflict for football fans as it details the grim repercussions of the game, prompting Smith to tell People Magazine, “You don’t want it to be true.” One drawback is that after the barrage of bowl games, some relatives might need a break from football overload.

“Daddy’s Home” BEST FOR: IMMEDIATE FAMILY, PEOPLE HOPING FOR AN “ELF” SEQUEL ONE DAY

Reuniting after the success of “The Other Guys,” Will Ferrell and Mark Wahlberg star in this comedy, which promises to deliver plenty of laughs and, given it revolves around an extended family, probably some relatable moments as well.

BEST FOR: GRANDPA, OLDER Ferrell stars as an upCOUSINS, FOOTBALL JUNKIES tight stepfather trying to imWill Smith stars in this film press his new stepkids when

“Concussion”

PROVIDED BY MAGUZZ

The movie poster for “Joy”. “Joy premieres Christmas Day.

their cool father, played by Wahlberg, returns home.

A much publicized scene from the movie involving a half court shot and an unfortunate cheerleader has increased the hype for this movie, and if the rest of the film follows suit, hilarity is sure to abound.

“Alvin and the Chipmunks: The Road Chip” BEST FOR: LITTLE COUSIN TAGALONGS, ANIMAL LOVERS

C’mon, admit it, you grin from ear to ear upon witnessing partially-dressed chipmunks perform a synchronized number to an ‘80s hit.

A lesser known fact is the allstar cast behind the squeaky voices. Justin Long, Jesse McCartney, Matthew Gray Gubler (yes, the one from “Criminal Minds”), Christina Applegate, Anna Faris and Kaley Cuoco provide the headache— inducing yet adorable voices for the chipmunks and chipettes. While

some grumbly relatives might complain about the silliness, this fourth film in the modern chipmunks series is a safe bet to provide some laughs and catchy musical numbers for the kids and adults.

“Star Wars: The Force Awakens” BEST FOR: ANYONE WITH A PULSE

Has there been a more anticipated release in the past few years? Already breaking records with more than $50 million in pre-sales, this multigenerational crowd pleaser will surely satisfy every branch in the family tree. The flashing of the lightsabers might be too much at times for grandpa, but this highly anticipated blockbuster will satisfy everyone’s appetite for entertainment and will be the talk of the town this holiday season.

Parker Strubhar Parker.B.Strubhar-1@ou.edu

Gift-related games to make things more fun Save money while still ensuring that everyone is included MADELINE ROBERTS volleyball reporter @MadRobs_

I don’t know about you, but as a poor college student, I just don’t have enough money to buy gifts for all the people in my life who I feel deserve them. For this reason, I am a big fan of gift exchange games; while they may seem a bit impersonal, they’re a favorable alternative to scraping pennies to buy tiny gifts for each and every person in your life. Several variations of these gift exchange games exist, and while every friend group and family has different rules for these exchanges, here are three of our favorites at The Daily.

Secret Santa Also called “Kris Kringle,” this exchange consists of a group of six or more participants who draw the name of one other person before the holiday party or get together. Everyone must get his or her assigned individual a present and then give it to him or her secretly at the party. Usually, participants attempt to guess who their “Secret Santa” was once all gifts have been opened.

Participants: This game is best played with close friends rather than acquaintances since thinking is required when giving a certain gift to a specific person.

Dirty Santa White Elephant Gift T h i s k i n d o f g i f t e xchange is similar to a White Swap Elephant gift swap, except A White Elephant gift swap requires at least six people.

Each participant in this exchange generally brings a small, wrapped gift. In some cases, this gift can be something nice with a price limit, such as $10, while in other cases the gifts are tacky or jokes. All gifts are placed in a central area, and then participants draw numbers. The lucky No. 1 chooses a gift and opens it. No. 2 then has a choice: steal the first person’s gift or open a new one. This continues until the last gift is opened. Often, there is a limit on how many times each gift can be stolen.

Participants: This kind of gift exchange doesn’t need to be played with friends since the gifts aren’t for specific people.

the “gifts” are almost always either random objects, funny gifts or simply crazy things. For example, a few years ago I played Dirty Santa with some friends, and one of the gifts was a live goldfish. Participants tend to get really creative with the “gifts” they give in this game.

Participants: Like White Elephant, knowing the other participants is not necessary in this exchange game.

Madeline Roberts madelineroberts@ou.edu

r o f g n i v Lea ? k a e r B Winter

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• Finals Week Edition, Fall 2015

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