W E E K E N D E D I T I O N | D E C E M B E R 6 - 9, 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
OUDAILY
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PHOTO ILLUSTRATION BY JORDAN MILLER AND CAITLYN EPES/THE DAILY
A photo illustration of quotes around Director of Bursar Services Alison Baker as she talks to a reporter Nov. 30. The quotes are from interviews with OU student Sawyer Stephenson.
‘UP IN THE AIR’
Students struggle to enroll after being taken by surprise by change in enrollment, bursar payment policy
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itting in his money coach’s office, Da’Von Horn was ready to enroll. But in the span of just a few minutes, he learned his entire college future relied on whether he could come up with $26,000. Horn, a computer science junior, is one of the students who was unsure whether he could enroll next semester due to holds on his bursar account, which are part of a change in OU’s enforcement of the enrollment policy on bursar payments. Horn said he never had a hold on his enrollment due to his unpaid bursar balance before, which had accumulated over previous years. “I was just thinking, ‘How am I going to do this,’ like ‘How am I going to pay for this?’” Horn said. “I called my dad, and I talked to him about it, and he didn’t know either because he thought I had it all under control, which I feel like I did up until then. And then, at that point, I felt like I just lost all control of the situation.” This change is a reversion to how enrollment was handled with bursar payments two and a half years ago. The new enforcement places enrollment holds as soon as there is an overdue balance or necessary payments are not made through the payment plan, said Alison Baker, director of Bursar Services. This change in polic y implemented by President James Gallogly’s administration is meant to help students from incurring additional debt, Baker said. “Our goal is to help all students attain their educational goals, and provide resources to help them find necessary funding,” Baker said in a statement to The Daily. “However, if necessary funding cannot be secured by the student, this policy provides a safety net to ensure their debt to the university is as small as possible.” The way the policy on enrollment holds was enforced for the past two and a half years was to address unpaid bursar balances on a case-by-case basis, Baker said. The office had more flexibility, as holds were not placed on each and every person with unpaid balances. Whether a hold was placed depended on if the student was judged to be able to pay off their
JORDAN MILLER • @JORDANRMILLERR outstanding balance with loans or other resources offered, Baker said. As a first-generation college student, Horn said it was hard for him to figure out how to pay off what he owed, but his money coach helped him explore all the options available. Horn said he also reached out to the bursar office, and they were “zero help” to him.
“If (students) had gone into the semester knowing that we needed to pay everything off, that would be a different story. But we were advised and we went on like normal, like every other semester before this, and then, boom, we can’t enroll.” SAWYER STEPHENSON, LGBTQ STUDIES JUNIOR
Horn said the bursar office told him his only option would be to take out a personal loan for the entire amount, which he did not think he could get due to his lack of reliable income as a college student. “(My money coach) was definitely helpful because at that time I couldn’t even think straight,” Horn said. “Having her able to just lay out the options that I did have on the table or that I potentially had and then what those will look like for me in the future... was really nice.” It took Horn two months to come up with the combination of private and federal loans he used to pay off the outstanding balance. But by that time, some classes he had planned to take in the spring had filled up. “It affected how my schedule for next year will be,” Horn said. “Luckily, I was able to enroll in
all the classes that I need for next semester, but I had no say in what my schedule was going to look like.” Horn said he had to deal with midterms at the same time he was wondering if he would have to drop out. “(I was) constantly (thinking) whether or not I’m going to be able to attend university next semester — because for me it was all up in the air,” Horn said. “It’s not something that you really want to have to deal with at a time when you’re already stressed out with a bunch of other things.” OU’s Public Affairs Office said three different types of emails are sent to students who have overdue bursar payments. One of the emails alerts students to a hold on their account, tells students why the hold was put in place and directs students to call the Student Financial Center if they cannot pay the required amount. The two other types of emails warn students that overdue bursar balances could cause holds on their enrollment. Bursar Services also has two pages on its website warning of holds. Public Affairs said the bursar office also made “hundreds of phone calls” in August and September to students they felt “were subject to holds” before returning to the automated system. Baker said she sees a lot of students like Horn who plan on paying off what they owe after they graduate, but that’s not how the bursar operates. Students need to pay what they owe to OU first, and they can receive funds from an outside lender if they want to actually pay it off afterward, but they need to make that crucial step to continue their enrollment, she said. Sawyer Stephenson, planned program LGBTQ studies junior, said they also had problems with the new enforcement of the bursar policy, having been told when meeting with their scholarship adviser this semester that all they would need to do to enroll in the spring is owe less than $10,000 to the university. Stephenson said when they tried to enroll, they were told they always had to pay off their bursar all at once, which they had never had to do before. Stephenson also
said they were never aware of the new enforcement in policy before trying to enroll in late October. “No adviser really told me what was going on,” Stephenson said. “It’s something that they changed without giving any warning, which is really unfair to everyone because college is very expensive, and it’s really hard to get thousands of dollars together on short notice. I wouldn’t be surprised if there are people who aren’t able to come back next semester.”
“(I was) constantly (thinking) whether or not I’m going to be able to attend university next semester — because for me it was all up in the air.” DA’VON HORN, COMPUTER SCIENCE JUNIOR
Stephenson also previously attended Southeastern Oklahoma State University as a concurrent student, and said Southeastern has a similar policy of needing to pay off all debt before enrolling in the next semester, but that they and their family never knew of a policy like that at OU. “We went into Southeastern knowing that,” Stephenson said. “I never got any kind of notice (at OU) that I was going to have a hold against me.” Stephenson acknowledged that they understand they have to pay off their bursar before they graduate but said they wished they had known about this change in enforcement of the policy so they could have had time to prepare. “If (students) had gone into the semester knowing that we needed
to pay everything off, that would be a different story,” Stephenson said. “But we were advised and we went on like normal, like every other semester before this, and then, boom, we can’t enroll.” Public Affairs said many university offices have been working together to help students who can’t pay the required balances to find resources. One of those offices, the Student Financial Center, was updated over the summer to become a sort of “one-stop” to answer all questions students may have about financial issues. “Student Financial Center is perfect for them, for a student that is completely lost or their plan fell to pieces,” Baker said. Baker said she also talked with two colleges that have been going through every one of their students with a registration hold to see if there is any discretionary scholarship money that can help to get them enrolled. Public Affairs said the bursar’s office gave presentations to the Provost Advisory Committee on Academic Advising to tell them how to address the automatic holds that would be put in place with students, and that they are still looking for more ways to aid students. Stephenson said they hope that, in the future, changes like this are announced to students more quickly. “I’m just worried about them changing a lot of policies in a way that’s really going to hurt students without telling us,” Stephenson said. “Going halfway through the semester thinking that the rules are one way and they’re actually another, it’s not fair to students or parents or anyone.”
Jordan Miller
Jordan.R.Miller-1@ou.edu
Student Financial Center: 405-325-9000 OU Money Coach: 405-325-4692 More information is available at askbursar.ou.edu.
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• December 6-9, 2018
NEWS
Anna Bauman, news managing editor dailynews@ou.edu • phone: 405-325-3666 oudaily.com • Twitter: @OUDaily
Altruist pursues OU doctorate
Ugandan nun changes women’s lives with learning CHARLEY LANZIERI @charlanzieri
A humanitarian responsible for changing the lives of abducted women in Uganda is getting her doctoral degree this semester at OU. Sister Rosemary Nyirumbe, a Catholic nun from Uganda, is working to get her doctorate in instructional leadership and academic curriculum. While on campus, Nyirumbe has been staying at Dunham Residential College, immersing herself in the OU community through presentations and connecting with her fellow students. She said for many years she has dedicated herself to creating a safe space for women who have been abducted in her country. It didn’t start off as a school, j u s t a p l a c e w h e re t h e women can have a family again. “We need to let these young women and children live in hope, knowing that their future can be rebuilt, k n ow i ng t hat s o m e o n e cares for them,” Nyirumbe said. “It’s very important that they live in a family and find acceptance, and they are not judged. Then, eventually, we bring in the idea of education.” Muneeb Ata, a biology and letters junior who is friends with Nyirumbe, said she brings hope to everyone she meets, including him. “I don’t really know how
to describe our relationship — probably hanging out. But how do you hang out with a 62-year-old nun who does the most important work in the world?” Ata said. “But we would just talk about things, so she’s a really good friend.” Ata said Nyirumbe is very sincere and talking to her and hearing about everything she does shows him there is a bigger picture to everything. “She’s super humble, and she lives a super simple life,” Ata said. “It was so incredible meeting her. I feel that if any of the students at OU see her, they should say, ‘Hi,’ and don’t let the fact that she’s a little different be daunting.” Josephine Kim, a firstyea r d o c to rate stu d e nt studying instructional leadership and academic curriculum specializing in English education, said she and Nyirumbe are very close friends. “She impacted my idea of education because she thinks of it different than other people,” Kim said. “Other people think of education as something that can get them that higher paycheck or they take it for granted, but in her country, it is quite different — they have to learn, and it’s very hard.” Nyirumbe said she has never been formally educated as a teacher, but s h e k n e w t h e s t a n d a rd Ugandan curriculum was not what they needed at her school. When it came to teaching these women, she drew from things she had learned throughout her life. She drew on her
Sister Rosemary Nyirumbe, a Catholic nun from Uganda, is pursuing a doctoral degree from OU.
experiences from babysitting, being trained as a midwife and her hobbies of cooking and sewing to teach these women the practical skills that they needed. “Education is just giving them some skills which can help them support themselves and support their children,” Nyirumbe said. “When they come home, people find it so difficult to accept these girls, so they didn’t know who to fall on. Giving these girls some education and skills was very important to let them be self-reliant.” When Nyirumbe talked about first starting the
school, she said they may have bitten off more than they could chew because the need for it was so great. There was a large number of women who had escaped from captivity and not a lot of room for all of them. Nyirumbe said she wanted to be able to create the school by themselves and get it running before looking to other people for help. However, after the school was started, Nyirumbe met a m a n f ro m O k l a h o m a named Reggie Whitten. His son had recently passed away, and he was introduced to Nyirumbe after coming to Uganda in 2002. “When this man saw
what I was doing with the children, caring for them and giving them a little bit of hope, he felt the pity and saw that this wasn’t something he could ignore, and it went above the pain he felt from losing his son,” Nyirumbe said. “He said, ‘I need to do everything I can to support this system.’” Whitten then returned to Oklahoma, gathered a group of professionals and went back to Uganda to help Nyirumbe. The group was composed of mostly athletes but also other professionals who wanted to give back. Many of them had gone to the University of Oklahoma.
EMILY ADDINGTON/THE DAILY
“ That is what star te d my relationship with the University of Oklahoma a n d O k l a h o m a i t s e l f ,” Nyirumbe said. For this reason, she chose to come to OU to work toward her do ctorate. To Nyirumbe, OU is a home away from home. “It has been a long history of relationship and partnership with OU, and I enjoy it, and I like very much that OU became a family for me,” Nyirumbe said. Charley Lanzieri
charlton.r.lanzieri-1@ ou.edu
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NEWS
December 6-9, 2018 •
OU to ‘demur’ room naming After layoffs, Tripp Hall won’t have namesake room NICK HAZELRIGG @nickhazelrigg
O U re c e nt l y re s c i n ded a plan to name a room in Whitehand Hall after former Vice President for Development Tripp Hall despite donor money being given specifically for that purpose. In a letter sent Nov. 19 and obtained by The Daily, OU Foundation President Guy Patton reached out to the donors who contributed to the Whitehand Hall renovation fund and said the university planned to “demur” the naming of a conference room on the fourth floor of the building after Hall, who was terminated from his position on Nov. 1 amid a round of staff layoffs. “ You ver y generously made a gift to refurbish the fourth-floor conference room in Whitehand Hall that was to be named in honor of Tripp Hall,” Patton wrote in the letter. “You probably know that Tripp Hall has left the university, and while the renovation is complete, the university has made the decision to demur
the naming.” Patton then goes on to offer a list of options in the letter for how the donor’s gift can be used: allow it to remain in the renovation fund, redirect the gift for another university purpose or have the gift refunded. Hall, who worked with the university for decades under the Boren administration, was appointed as vice president for development by Boren in 2008 and served on his staff while he was a U.S. senator. Hall was not the only long-time and high-ranking staffer who lost his job during the Nov. 1 layoffs. Other major administrators were J.P. Audas, who served as associate vice president for alumni, and Paul Massad, a development administrator for several decades. In an email to The Daily, OU Public Affairs said the conference room may be named in the future based on donations, but it won’t be named after Hall since he is no longer working at the university. “Tripp Hall is no longer with the university and therefore the decision has been made that the conference room will not be named at this time,” the statement reads. “If there
Online bookstore now open for OU Akademos runs new option for course materials JERICKA HANDIE @JerickaHandie
OU’s online bookstore is now open to all students, faculty and staff for purchasing and adopting coursework materials. OU students received emails inviting them to the new bookstore’s website to purchase course materials for the 2019 spring semester. The bookstore is run by the company Akademos, which provides materials in multiple formats, including new and used physical textbooks, rentals and e-book access, according to the website. An announcement released on the provost’s website in October said Akademos w ill provide
lower pricing on textbooks and course materials for students. There will not be a physical location for students to pick up books. Instead, materials will be shipped directly to each student. To accommodate a higher volume of shipments to students on campus, OU Housing and Food Services installed a series of locker systems in campus housing. The University of Oklahoma Bookstore currently sells both fan merchandise and course materials, but it will close Dec. 21. An OU bookstore employee said the store will reopen at the Campus Corner location Jan. 2. Additional infor mation about the transition to Akademos is available on the provost’s office website. Jericka Handie
Jericka.C.Handie-1@ou.edu
BAILEY LEWIS @BaileyLewis75
An OU program gives older adults the opportunity to continue their education and meet people in their community. The Osher Lifelong Learning Institute allows people over the age of 50 to take a wide variety of noncredit courses, which are taught by OU faculty and community members, according to the institute’s website. Program director Chris Elliot said Osher Lifelong Learning Institute is a membership-driven program, and currently has close to 900 members, which results in nearly 4,000 enrollments annually. Elizabeth Stingley, the institute’s program coordinator, said it offers almost 50 classes each semester in both Norman and Oklahoma City and has two programs: Mornings with the Professor and Senior Seminars. Mornings with the
Professor is an informal lecture series is held on Tuesday mornings and lasts about an hour. Instructors choose a favorite subject and volunteer their time to host the program, according to the Osher Lifelong Learning Institute’s website. The Senior Seminars reflect traditional courses, run for about four to six weeks and meet weekly for about two hours, but they do not have exams or papers. The courses allow the students to learn about a specific topic and discuss their life experiences with the other students in the course, according to the program’s website. Stingley said that Osher Lifelong Learning Institute gives older adults a chance not only to learn but to meet people of a similar age and make new friends. “Personally, I have watched the joy in each of our members as we notify them that their catalogs with the courses we offer will be coming soon,” Stingley said. “We even have some members who get together and plan their class schedules with one another as soon as their catalogs arrive.” Stingley said that the i n s t r u c t o r s ra ng e f ro m
Anna Bauman News Managing Editor Julia Weinhoffer Engagement Editor George Stoia Sports Editor Siandhara Bonnet A&E Editor Will Conover Enterprise Editor Caitlyn Epes Visual Editor Emily McPherson Copy Manager Sarah Barney Print Editor
CAITLYN EPES/THE DAILY
The sign in front of Whitehand Hall Dec. 3. A room in Whitehand Hall was supposed to be named after former Vice President of Development Tripp Hall, but OU has rescinded the renaming plan.
is a decision at a later date to name the conference room based on donations, it will fall under new processes being developed for
naming and accepting gifts did not receive a response. at the university.” Hall declined to comment. The Daily tried in person and via phone multiple Nick Hazelrigg times to reach Patton, but nickhazelrigg@ou.edu
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Employees gather bicycles Donations will go to families for Christmas presents BLAKE DOUGLAS @Blake_Doug918
OU ’s annual Fill the Trolley donation drive made a stop at Monnet Hall Tuesday, with volunteers dressed as Santa and his elves helping load bicycles to be donated to local families. Kay Blunck, accounts specialist at the Carl Albert Center and World Literature Today, said e v e r y y e a r e m p l oy e e s working in Monnet Hall on the North Oval pool their money to buy bicycles and accept bicycles for donation to the Cleveland County Christmas Store, which helps provide Christmas gifts to underprivileged families. Blunck said the tradition started in 2011 when she and two co-workers decided to buy bicycles for the donation drive. Since then, the event has grown in Monnet Hall, now including the whole building. “Instead of buying Christmas gifts for each other within the building, which is what we had been doing, we decided to take that money and put it towards a bicycle for a kid,” Blunck said. Blunck praised Laurie McReynolds, her friend
community members, graduate teaching assistants, full-time faculty, deans and even the provost, Kyle Harper. Stingley said members can take a wide variety of classes over almost any subject. “ F ro m c ou r s e s ab ou t Greek mythology and Shakespeare’s works to geology, politics, religion, meditation, history and so much more, the opportunity to learn is ever-present,” Stingley said. “I have seen our members take classes both to learn something new as well as expand their knowledge on topics in which they are already well-versed.” Carol Block, an Osher Lifelong Learning Institute student, said her favorite subjects to learn about are history and literature, and she has been taking the noncredit classes for around three to four years. “I would honestly be a student for life,” Block said. “(Osher Lifelong Learning Institute) gives me the opportunity to learn about various topics and things that I’m interested in.” Stingley said she feels incredibly lucky to be a part of the program, and that the
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Letters should concentrate on issues, not personalities, and must be fewer than 250 words, typed and signed by the author(s). Letters will be edited for accuracy, space and style. Students must list their major and classification. To submit letters, email dailyeditor@ou.edu.
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OU employees gather in front of Monnet Hall with bicycles they donated to local families for Christmas.
and co-worker who recently died, for having a big influence on organizing the event. “S h e w a s k i n d o f t h e driving force behind this,” Blunck said. “O ne year there was a stranger walking through the building, and he stopped and asked her what was going on with the bicycles. She told him the whole story of where they go and about the Christmas Store, and he pulled out his wallet and handed her a hundred dollar bill. He wouldn’t leave his name, he was just a stranger.” This year, a record 24 bicycles and helmets were loaded onto the trolley. Blunck said that one year she and a co-worker were invited to board the trolley back to the Christmas Store to help unload the bicycles.
“It was just a great feeling to see the families who were there working to buy gifts for their children be so excited to see the bicycles show up,” Blunck said. Monnet Hall employees chose bicycles because of the sentimental value that a first bike can often have to a child, Blunck said, adding that each year they would often start out their email donation requests asking potential donors to remember their first bicycle. “We all get excited every time bicycles show up,” Blunck said. “Everybody comes out and brings them in. It’s a great feeling to be able to give the bicycles to some kids.” Blake Douglas bdoug99@ou.edu
Older students learn through OU Institute partners with school to offer noncredit courses
Kayla Branch Editor in Chief
members of the institute encourage and uplift her with their love for learning. Elliot said the social aspect of the Osher Lifelong Learning Institute is what he has found to be the biggest benefit for those enrolled. “Over the years, I’ve had so many OLLI members comment on how important these courses are to their overall well-being,” Elliot said. “They not only enjoy learning from some of OU’s top faculty members, but they love enrolling in courses with their friends and even meeting after the sessions for lunch and to discuss the class they just had.” B e cky Me yer, als o an Osher Lifelong Learning Institute student, has been taking classes for about 10 to 15 years and said she takes many courses throughout the year. “The classes are so very interesting, and it’s a good opportunity to meet people, and then you run into the same people over and over and find out what you have in common,” Meyer said. “The classes are always interesting and always very well done.” Elliot, the program director, said being a part of the program has changed his life
and has positively impacted him in many ways, and that it has been extremely rewarding to see the interest that other members have in the courses they offer. Elliot also said he has also grown close to a lot of his fellow members. “In many ways, the OLLI members are part of my own family,” Elliot said. “I have a 17-year-old son who has grown up around the OLLI members. He has gotten birthday cards from some of the members over the years, and they always ask me about him when I see them in classes. As a proud father, that means so much to me.” Elliot said Norman has an increasing number of baby boomers that are retiring and want to have meaningful lives beyond work, so Osher Lifelong Learning Institute gives them the opportunity to continue learning for the rest of their lives. “One of OU’s top administrators once said that OLLI at OU is ‘learning in its purest form,’” Elliot said. “The OLLI members aren’t seeking a degree or credit, they are here because of their passion for lifelong learning.” Bailey Lewis
Bailey.N.Lewis-1@ou.edu
Our View is the voice of the Editorial Board, which consists of eight student editors. The board meets at 10:30 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. Monday to Thursday in Copeland Hall, Room 160. Board meetings are open to the public. Guest columns are accepted and printed at the editor’s discretion. Columnists’ and cartoonists’ opinions are their own and not necessarily the views or opinions of The Oklahoma Daily Editorial Board. To advertise in The Oklahoma Daily, contact the advertising manager by calling 405-325-8964 or emailing dailyads@ ou.edu. One free copy of The Daily is available to members of the OU community. Additional copies may be purchased for 25 cents by contacting The Daily business office at 405325-2522.
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• December 6-9, 2018
ARTS&ENTERTAINMENT
Siandhara Bonnet, a&e editor dailyent@ou.edu • phone: 405-325-3666 oudaily.com/life&arts • Twitter: @OUDailyArts
A&E desk changes to ‘culture’
The Daily makes adjustments to expand coverage SIANDHARA BONNET @SiandharaB
“Was your work relevant and essential today?� a sign in The Daily’s newsroom reads. The phrase came from f o r m e r e d i t o r- i n - c h i e f Blayklee Buchanan, who helped begin The Daily’s transformation into a digitally focused newsroom. After looking at some of the arts & entertainment desk’s top stories over the past four years and some of our coverage from this semester, we have realized the desk hasn’t been as essential or as relevant as it could be. The Daily has gone through many chang es over the past four years, such as switching from five days a week in print to two,
expanding our social media and focusing on being more useful to our readers. Even with all of this, we know we aren’t done progressing or changing how we can be more useful and relevant. To better serve our readers, the arts & entertainment desk will be known as “culture� at the beginning of the spring semester. The desk changed its name from “life & arts� around 2015, but we think it’s time to change again. As students graduate, technology changes and the world progresses, we want to be able to focus on what is relevant to the OU, Norman and Oklahoma City-metro communities — and “arts & entertainment� seems a little too niche to cover it all. We won’t just be changing the desk name — we’re changing what and how we cover the community, too. We’ll still cover OU ’s We i t z e n h o f f e r Fa m i l y
College of Fine Arts and the music, arts and theater scene in Norman, but we’re expanding our coverage to include technology, food, healthy relationships and sex, and the OKC-metro area arts. We will also implement a calendar, which will be hosted on oudaily.com, to show what events are happening in Norman, Moore and OKC. However, to be successful in this change, we need our readers’ help. We want feedback on what we’re doing and how we can do better. Feel free to tweet us @OUDailyArts or email us at dailyent@ou.edu. This change to be more relevant and essential, and to better reflect the communities we try to serve, feels long overdue. We’re excited for it — we hope you’ll be excited, too. Siandhara Bonnet arahdnais@ou.edu
PHOTO ILLUSTRATION BY CAITLYN EPES/THE DAILY
A photo illustration of a sign that reads “culture desk.� The arts & entertainment desk at The Daily will be renamed to the culture desk for the spring 2019 semester.
Oklahoma Film Society hosts first free fest 3-day festival will include awardwinning films ALMA CIENSKI @almacienski
T h e O k l a h o m a Fi l m Society will host its first free film festival Dec. 13 through 15 in Oklahoma City’s historic film row. The long-running film exhibition group hopes to make this an annual festival to celebrate Oklahoma filmmakers. The Paramount Room will show the first film, “The Grave� by Emmy award-winning director Kyle Roberts, on Dec. 13. “The Grave,� which took Roberts around two years to film, is a story of an unexpected hero in 1920s Oklahoma City who defends the innocent from those who believe they are above the law. This film was an official selection of the 2018 deadCenter Film Festival, according to The Oklahoman. Following “The Grave� will be a showing of “Strike, Dear Mistress, and Cure His Heart�
by director Mickey Reece. This film, which won Best Oklahoma Film at the Tulsa American Film Festival this year, focuses on a mother/ daughter dynamic that infects the daughter’s love with her recently acquired husband. Doors will open at 7 p.m., with “The Grave� beginning at 7:30 p.m. and “Strike, Dear Mistress, and Cure His Heart� at 8 p.m., according to a press release. The festival will continue at The Paramount Room with a screening of “The Jurassic Games� on Dec. 14. From director Ryan Bellgardt, “The Jurassic Games� happen when 10 death row inmates compete in a virtual reality game for freedom, except death in the game results in death in real life. Doors open at 7 p.m., and the showing begins at 7:30 p.m., according to the release. The festival will conclude Dec. 15 with two showings at different venues. “Mono,� a collection of short films by five Oklahoma directors, will show at 2:30 p.m. at Artspace at Untitled.
Directed by Cait Brasel, Jacob Leighton Burns, John Burton, Laron Chapman and Mickey Reece, the individual short films come together through one central character, played by actress Lindsay Fritts, according to the Oklahoma Gazette. Doors open at 2 p.m., according to the release. The final film will be “You People,� directed by Laron
Chapman, with a screening at 7:30 p.m. at 21c Museum Hotel. Chapman’s film centers on the identity crisis of a black college student who has been adopted into a white family. “You People� was named the Best Oklahoma Feature at the 2018 deadCenter Film Festival. The deadCenter Film Festival is Oklahoma’s biggest
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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.
12/6
51 Is regretting 53 Capped body part 55 Rejected and how 58 Hotels’ sun providers 62 “OK, kid, here’s a treat� 65 Sailing direction 66 Salad fishes 67 Predatory whale 68 Sport or don 69 “Satyagraha,� for one 70 Rewarding coal site DOWN 1 Stare at 2 Links choice 3 Plagued by drought 4 Director’s reshoots 5 Beat everyone 6 It may be swept under? 7 Noted space chimp 8 Porgies in pans 9 Some tropical fish 10 Place for racing 11 Pitiful me word 12 Brewery supply 13 Little aliens?
18 Most sick 19 Celebrate Thanksgiving 23 Beehive state 24 Eggs complement 26 Long, drawn-out tales 27 Opened one’s eyes 28 Late comic Jerry 30 Gull relatives 32 Like acrobats 33 Lamp dweller 34 Lawn tool 37 Reeked 40 Unwelcome guest 41 Check the price 42 Become visible
47 Continental dollar 48 Musical note held full time 52 Arrange 54 Set of guiding beliefs 55 Shoe part 56 Defendant’s answer 57 Force unit 59 Very lightly cooked 60 Peru natives 61 Comedian Sandler 62 Fumbling verbal hesitation 63 Blade in the lake 64 Place in crusade?
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IN THE BE-INNING By Timothy E. Parker
Alma Cienski
aacienski@ou.edu
HOROSCOPE By Eugenia Last
Copyright 2015, Newspaper Enterprise Assn.
THURSDAY, DECEMBER 6, 2018 ASTROGRAPH by Eugenia Last Emotions will peak, and sensitive issues will need to be handled properly if you want to take advantage of new prospects. Don’t leave anything to chance or overreact. If you bring order to whatever situation arises, you’ll raise your profile, gain status and achieve your goals. SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 23-Dec. 21) -- Don’t overreact. Get the facts and consider things carefully before you take action. Indulgent behavior will be frowned upon. Protect your reputation and avoid being reprimanded. CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19) -- You’ll discover something about your heritage that will surprise you and influence your plans for travel or education. A new look will draw compliments and encourage romance.
12/5 12/3
new footage from local filmmakers will be shown, according to the release. The Oklahoma Film Fest will run Dec. 13 through 15 at The Paramount Room, Artspace at Untitled and 21c Hotel Museum. Admission is free and open to the public.
VIA OKLAHOMA FILM SOCIETY
The Oklahoma Film Society is hosting Oklahoma Film Fest from Dec. 13 to 15.
Edited by Timothy Parker December 6, 2018
my friend’s got mental illness
film festival, with more than 30,000 attending yearly, according to The Oklahoman. A Q&A with the directors will be held after each film showing. Following the Q&A with Chapman for “You People,� awards will be allocated to the best films at a ceremony. Throughout the screenings, unannounced premieres of
AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 19) -- A change to the way you earn your living will lead to new opportunities. Your descriptive way of sharing information will please some, but not all. PISCES (Feb. 20-March 20) -- Stick to the truth, or you will be sidelined by your peers. An emotional situation will surface if you or a colleague is indulgent or overreacts. ARIES (March 21-April 19) -- Set your goals and don’t stop until you are satisfied with what you’ve accomplished. A gift, reward or financial gain is heading your way. Express your gratitude. TAURUS (April 20-May 20) -- Personal improvements can be made that will enhance your relationship
with a loved one. Your determination and dedication will pay off. A bonus, raise or chance to make some money is apparent. GEMINI (May 21-June 20) -- Too much of anything will be to your detriment. Don’t let anyone talk you into something you shouldn’t do. Overspending, exaggerating or emotional indulgence should be curbed. CANCER (June 21-July 22) -- Your ability to see all sides of a situation will keep you out of harm’s way. Dig in and concentrate on what you want to achieve; the rewards will be spectacular. LEO (July 23-Aug. 22) -- Do something different. Attend an event that you can share with the whole family or friends. Shop for a festive outfit or a present you’d like to give someone special. VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22) -- You’ll do best if you don’t stick too close to home. Distance yourself from any emotional chaos or someone who tends to be indulgent. Visit a friend or find something entertaining to do. LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 23) -- Socializing will be fun, but be careful what you share if you are out with colleagues or people who could easily put you in a vulnerable position at work. SCORPIO (Oct. 24-Nov. 22) -Personal improvements will turn out well and give you the lift you need to get your energy level at maximum. An idea you have will be considered if your budget is realistic.
December 6-9, 2018 •
SPORTS
5
George Stoia, sports editor dailysports@ou.edu • phone: 405-325-3666 oudaily.com/sports • Twitter: @OUDailySports
Murray named Heisman finalist OU quarterback headed to New York for ceremony ABBY BITTERMAN @abby_bitterman
Kyler Murray is going to New York. The redshirt junior quarterback is officially a Heisman Trophy finalist, according to an announcement Monday evening. He was getting a massage when he heard the news. “I feel pretty normal, honestly,” Murray said. “Obviously a great honor to be going to New York and being represented as one of the finalists for the Heisman. I wouldn’t be here without my guys, my coaches, my family. Just thankful for all the work that’s been done, but, for me, the job’s not done. Obviously we’ve got hopefully two more games left, and that’s really what my focus is on.” Murray said this season has gone by quick but it has been everything he’s dreamed of and worked for. Murray said he’s only been to New York once before, but he was in Cooperstown — the home of the National Baseball Hall of Fame. Now, after leading the nation in many statistical categories used to measure quarterbacks, Murray will head there for the Heisman ceremony. As he prepares for the Heisman Trophy presentation, he’s also gotten some tips from Oklahoma’s most recent Heisman winner,
CAITLYN EPES/THE DAILY
Redshirt junior quarterback Kyler Murray runs the ball in the Big 12 Championship game against Texas Dec. 1. Murray is one of the three Heisman Trophy candidates for 2018 and will go to New York City for the award ceremony Saturday.
Baker Mayfield, on the experience and what to expect. Murray said he also credits Mayfield for helping him get to this position after learning behind him for two seasons. Alabama’s Tua Tagovailoa and Ohio State’s Dwayne Haskins are the other finalists for the award. Murray said he knows Haskins and both quarterbacks are having a great season. “For me, I’m just blessed to be a part of it,” Murray
said. “I’m not going into it thinking it’s mine or I’m going to win it or anything like that. I’m just going into it clear eyes, open-minded, just have fun.” Heisman voting opened last week, but last year only about 11 percent of votes were cast before the conference championship games were played. In the Big 12 Conference Championship game, Murray recorded 424 total yards of offense and threw
three touchdowns. In the SEC Championship, Tagovailoa recorded 143 yards of total offense while throwing one touchdown a n d t w o i nt e rc e p t i o n s. In the Big 10’s title game, Haskins accounted for 494 total yards of offense and threw five touchdowns and one pick. “If I do win, I think this past weekend had something to do with it,” Murray said. “I really don’t pay attention much to that stuff.
For me, all I can do is go out there and play, and if people vote for me, they vote for me, and if they don’t, they don’t.” Murray has accounted for 4,945 yards of total offense so far this year, a single-season record for the Sooners, surpassing last year ’s Heisman Trophy winner Baker Mayfield, who recorded 4,938 yards of total offense in the whole season. Murray is responsible for
51 touchdowns and leads the nation in a number of offensive categories, including total QBR, pass efficiency rating and yards per pass attempt. If he wins, Murray will be the seventh Sooner to receive the Heisman. The winner will be announced Dec. 8 and broadcast live on ESPN. Abby Bitterman abbybitt@ou.edu
Kyler on level with OU Heisman quarterbacks Murray announced as finalist for big football award ABBY BITTERMAN @abbybitterman
Oklahoma once again has a finalist for the Heisman on its team. Redshirt junior quarterback Kyler Murray was announced as one of three f i n a l i s t s f o r t h e aw a rd Monday. He will be joinAlabama quarterback Tua Tagovailoa and Ohio State quarterback Dwayne Haskins in New York for the award presentation on Saturday. If Murray wins, it will be the first time two players from the same school have won the Heisman back-toback since the 1940s, when both Doc Blanchard won in 1945 and Glenn Davis took the award home in 1946 for Army. In the 1970s, one player won in back-to-back
years, when then-Ohio State running back Archie Griffin received the award in 1975 and 1976. In addition to joining the larger Heisman fraternity, Murray will also be joining the exclusive group of Sooners to win the award. The number of Oklahoma p l a y e r s w h o h av e w o n currently sits at six: Billy Ve s s e l s , S t e v e O w e n s , Billy Sims, Jason White, Sam Bradford and Baker Mayfield. Vessels, Owens and Sims are all running backs, but all of Oklahoma’s more recent winners have been quarterbacks. If Murray wins, he will be No. 7 for the Sooners and the fourth quarterback. Two schools, Ohio State and Notre Dame, currently have s even Heisman winners. The University of Southern California’s official total is six, but the Trojans would have seven winners had Reggie Bush’s w in not b e en vacate in 2005.
As a previous Heisman Trophy winner, Mayfield has a vote for who will receive this year’s award, and on Sunday he made it clear who he was voting for. “I think you know exactly who I’m voting for,” Mayfield said. He said Oklahoma wouldn’t be in the College Football Playoff again this year if it weren’t for Murray. Murray, who succeeded Mayfield as the Sooners’ quarterback this season, said he’s talked with Mayfield about what to expect in New York and what the experience of being a Heisman finalist is like. Murray’s stats have often been compared to those of his fellow finalists, but how does he stack up against Mayfield and the previous Sooner quarterbacks who have won the Heisman? Here’s how Murray’s stats so far this season compare: JORDAN MILLER/THE DAILY
KYLER MURRAY Redshirt junior quarterback Kyler Murray runs the ball through the defense during the Big 12 Passing: 4,053 yards Championship game against Texas Dec. 1. Rushing: 892 yards Total: 4,945 yards Murray has the most Touchdowns: 51 yards of total offense and Passing efficiency rating: highest passing efficiency 205.7 of the four quarterbacks, as well as the most rushB A K E R M AY F I E L D , ing yards. Only Bradford 2017 accounted for more touchPassing: 4,627 yards downs than Murray the During the Rushing: 311 yards year he won the Heisman, Total: 4,938 yards Regular Meeting Of and Murray’s season isn’t Touchdowns: 48 done yet. Passing efficiency rating: The University of Oklahoma Fi v e s t at u e s c u r re nt198.9 ly stand in the Sooners’ PUBLICATIONS BOARD Heisman Park across SAM BRADFORD, 2008 f r o m t h e e a s t s i d e o f Passing: 4,720 yards Gaylord Family-Oklahoma Rushing: 47 yards 9:30 a.m. Friday, Dec. 7th Memorial Stadium; a sixth, Total: 4,767 yards Mayfield’s, is already in Copeland Hall, Room 146 Touchdowns: 55 the works. On Saturday, Passing efficiency rating: Oklahoma will find out if it 180.8 needs to make room for a seventh. JASON WHITE, 2003 Th e He i s ma n T ro p hy Students, staff, faculty and others in the Passing: 3,846 yards presentation will take community are invited to express their views Rushing: -150 yards place at 7 p.m. CT Dec. 8 on Total: 3,696 yards concerning The Oklahoma Daily or Sooner ESPN. Touchdowns: 41 yearbook to the Publications Board. Passing efficiency rating: 159. Abby Bitterman
NOTICE OF PUBLIC ACCESS
CAITLYN EPES/THE DAILY
Redshirt junior quarterback Kyler Murray prepares to throw the ball in the Big 12 Championship game against Texas.
abbybitt@ou.edu
6
SPORTS
• December 6-9, 2018
Brady Manek is next Larry Bird
Sophomore baller resembles NBA legend in game
resemblance to NBA legend Larr y Bird, and it wasn’t just because of his looks. Manek was 5-8 from beCALEB MCCOURRY yond the 3-point line with @CalebMac21 17 points in Oklahoma’s 85-80 win against Notre ESPN T V announcers Dame Tuesday night in the couldn’t g et enough of Jimmy V Classic in Madison sophomore Brady Manek’s Square Garden.
Oklahoma went into halftime with a 43-36 lead on 7-11 shooting from the 3-point line and out-rebounding the Fighting Irish 26-23, even though Notre Dame’s John Mooney had a double-double in the first half. But Notre Dame went on a 9-0 run near the
beginning of the second ha l f t o c u t O k l a h o ma’s lead to 47-45. It was a close game the whole time after that, with Oklahoma winning 85-80. Oklahoma finished 15-29 from downtown w h i l e o u t- r e b o u n d i n g Notre Dame 43-41 without redshirt senior Jamuni
McNeace, who’s out with an ankle injury. Along with Manek’s Birdesque performance, senior guard Christian James finished with 25 points and 10 rebounds.
Next Matchup OU vs. Wichita State
When: Sat. Dec. 8 at 8 p.m. Where: Chesapeake Energy Arena, Oklahoma City
Caleb McCourry
caleb.a.mccourry@ou.edu
College football world prepares for awards Murray finalist for two accolades at presentation event ABBY BITTERMAN @abby_bitterman
Though the Sooners will not play this weekend, Sooner fans may still want to have their T Vs tuned to ESPN with the College Football Awards and Heisman Trophy presentation taking place. Catch up on the latest football news in this week’s notebook:
HOME DEPOT COLLEGE FOOTBALL AWARDS The Home Depot College Football Awards show will air Thursday. Here’s how to watch: Time: 6 p.m. CT TV: ESPN Stream: WatchESPN
West Virginia quarterback Will Grier and Alabama quarterback Tua Tagovailoa. He is also a finalist for the Davey O’Brien National Quarterback Award, up against Grier, Tagovailoa and Washington State’s Gardner Minshew. Former Oklahoma coach The Home Depot College Bob Stoops will present an Football Awards Red Carpet award on the show. He will Special will air at 5 p.m. CT announce the winner of the on ESPNU. Paycom Jim Thorpe Award. Redshirt junior quarterback Kyler Murray is up for H E I S M A N T R O P H Y two awards that will be an- PRESENTATION nounced on the show. Kyler Murray is a finalHe is a finalist for the ist for this year’s Heisman Maxwell Award for college Trophy, and the winner will player of the year, along with be announced this Saturday.
Here’s how to watch: Time: 7 p.m. CT TV: ESPN Stream: WatchESPN Alabama quarterback Tua Tagovailoa and Ohio State quarterback Dwayne Haskins are the other finalists joining Murray in New York for the award presentation. So far this season, Murray has accounted for 4,945 total yards of offense and 51 touchdowns, Tagovailoa has recorded 3,543 total yards of offense and 37 touchdowns, and Haskins has 4,702 total yards of offense and 47 touchdowns.
BOB STOOPS TO BE INDUCTED IN ORANGE BOWL HALL OF FAME Former Oklahoma coach Bob Stoops will be inducted into the Orange Bowl Hall of Fame during this year’s game on Dec. 29. Stoops went 1-2 in the Orange Bowl in his time with the Sooners. Oklahoma p l ay e d f o r t w o nat i o n al championships in the Orange Bowl, beating Florida State 13-2 to win in 2000 and losing to USC in 2004. The Sooners also lost to Clemson in the College Football Playoff in the 2015 Orange Bowl. Stoops will be inducted
alongside former Virginia Tech coach Frank Beamer — father of Oklahoma’s assistant head coach for offense Shane Beamer — as well as Nebraska coach Scott Frost, former Alabama running back Shaun Alexander and former Florida State defensive end Derrick Alexander. The Sooners will take on Alabama Dec. 29 in the Orange Bowl in the semifinals of the College Football Playoff. Abby Bitterman abbybitt@ou.edu
Photos credits and captions
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CAITLYN EPES/THE DAILY
Sophomore tight end Grant Calcaterra catches the ball in the end zone Dec. 1.
JORDAN MILLER/THE DAILY
Junior wide receiver Marquise Brown attempts to catch the ball against Texas. AUSTIN CARRIERE/THE DAILY
Sophomore cornerback Tre Brown prevents a pass during the game Dec. 1.
CAITLYN EPES/THE DAILY
Sophomore running back Trey Sermon runs the ball during the Big 12 Championship game. AUSTIN CARRIERE/THE DAILY
Junior linebacker Caleb Kelly comes out of the tunnel before the game Dec. 1.