W E E K E N D E D I T I O N | J A N U A R Y 2 4 - 2 7, 2 0 19
OUDAILY
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
ENOUGH
IS ENOUGH
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ENOUGH EDITION
• January 24-27, 2019
A student sitting behind OU President James Gallogly holds a sign that reads “You’re only sorry because you got caught” at Tuesday’s Rally to Stop Racism.
CAITLYN EPES/THE DAILY
‘TWO STEPS BACK’ Racist hate speech forces students to take activist role EMMA KEITH @emma_ckeith
“ We ju s t d o n ’ t f e e l welcome.” Four years after SAE. Six days after two OU students filmed themselves wearing blackface and saying the n-word. Hours after a man wearing blackface openly walked across Campus Corner. Black students don’t feel welcome on this campus. “I’m speaking for the entire black community: It really breaks our hearts,” Jasmyne Devonshire said. “Right now, I don’t think any of us are proud to say we go to the University of Oklahoma.” Devonshire is a senior, just a few months from graduating with a psychology and pre-medicine degree. She’s been at OU through three and a half years that were supposed to bring change, to rebuild a university almost torn apart in front of a national audience by racism. Those years since have been marked with sporadic incidents of public racism, just enough time between them for university-wide conversations about addressing racism to fade
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away. “I saw a small change starting to really happen my freshman and sophomore year, and then another incident happened, and then another incident, and it’s like every time we take a step forward, we take two steps back,” Devonshire said. “So I can tell that there has been some change, but it hasn’t been drastic.” Devonshire and other students of color packed the Molly Shi Boren Ballroom Tuesday, hoping to make their voices heard by a university they say has not yet listened. The sadness, exhaustion, anger and resilience of the four days before the rally filled the room too, hanging in the air and in the words of the students who spoke. The assembled audience heard a message from its administration: This won’t happen again. “We are saying enough is enough,” interim vice president for university community Jane Irungu told the crowd. “We need to hold each other accountable.” But in reality, change is slow, often backtracking as soon as it moves forward. The rally was a moment for some students to feel heard. A day later, they watched and reacted in anger and frustration as videos surfaced across Twitter in which a man in blackface silently
strode across their campus. “Face painted black again,” a voice says in one video of the man. “I guess President (James) Gallogly’s message did not go through. Again. Again.” Black students are stuck in situations like this — they want things to get better, but say this never gets easier. They want to push for genuine justice and change, but say they also want to be able to attend a university where they can just be students, not activists too. They shouldn’t be expected to shoulder that burden, said Karlos Hill, chair of the African and African American Studies department. “They are students. Their number one job is to be the best students that they can be. They’re not anti-racist activists, they’re not diversity workers — we shouldn’t be asking them to do that, that’s not their job,” Hill said. “We don’t ask other students to do this, so we shouldn’t ask them to do it … they should continue to raise these issues … but their job is not to solve the problem. Their job is to be students.” And yet, students are doing that activist work. Black students organized Tuesday’s rally, refocused its discussion after administrators strayed from the topic at hand and have responded with leadership to the events
of the last six days as they’ve unfolded. “What they did is what changes the world,” Hill said of the students who spoke at and arranged Tuesday’s rally. “Authentic witness is what they were engaged in, and that’s priceless.” Even as the Black Student Association called the community together Wednesday night for a time to feel safe and to process the last few days, the work did not stop. The organization wrote on Twitter that the meeting would allow black students to “come together as a community to strategize and come up with a viable plan of solutions.” BSA has already revived the demands made of OU administrators by OU Unheard almost four years ago, after the SAE event. Black students are telling the university that they’re still unheard, that there’s still significant work to be done. A zero-tolerance hate speech policy, a curriculum dedicated to cultural competency and education, a focus on increasing resources for African American studies programs and a push for more black faculty and staff are their clear demands. Increasing diversity in faculty and staff is a perpetual goal university presidents and leaders tell OU they’re working toward — Gallogly said in a statement Monday
he’ll work to “increase efforts to recruit more students, faculty and staff of color on campus.” It’s also something OU has to start taking seriously to move forward in a way that benefits its students of color or makes them feel welcome on its campus, Hill said. “I can tell you that for sure, OU is falling down in terms of terms of faculty diversity, and specifically black faculty diversity,” Hill said. “...If I were to capture the black experience at OU, that is it: They don’t see people who look like them.” And while black students don’t see people who look like them, while they don’t attend a school with a zero-tolerance racism policy, while some students around them sing racist songs and paint their faces black, they continue to advocate, to engage their campus and challenge it to be stronger, more welcoming to ever yone who invests in it. They’ll arrange events like the Better Together March, a demonstration starting at the president’s office and ending in the Union today that will push the administration for tangible action toward justice for their demands. The work continues today. Emma Keith
emmakeith97@ou.edu
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ENOUGH EDITION
January 24-27, 2019 •
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CAITLYN EPES/THE DAILY
Former dean of OU’s College of International Studies Suzette Grillot drops a piece of paper that reads “resign now” on OU President James Gallogly’s lap at the Tuesday Rally to Stop Racism. Grillot was removed from her position as dean Jan. 18.
‘Focus on the real problems’ Rally was platform to discuss handling of systemic racism JERICKA HANDIE @JerickaHandie
The OU community gathered on campus Tuesday to express concerns surrounding a racist video that depicts a then-OU student using a racial slur while in blackface. Eduardo Campbell, one of the rally’s organizers, said the Rally to Stop Racism was held to give students, faculty and staff an open forum to express their frustrations and disappointment with the video and the current administration. “This will be a point for the administration to take critical feedback seriously and build bridges between the student body and administration,” Campbell said. Campbell said student leaders planned the rally to ensure that student experiences and emotions were heard by the administration. After the video surfaced on Friday, multiple groups spoke out and called for the administration to take action. The rally included a lineup of student and faculty speakers, all of whom described issues involving systemic and institutional racism on campus. One by one, members of the community took turns expressing distaste for the racist video, adding that its content is divisive and reflects the many problems the university has with institutional racism. Tyra Jones, human relations junior, was one of the demonstrators in
a t t e n d a n c e . J o n e s e xpressed her support for the rally but said vocal outbursts during the rally took away from initial reason for gathering. “People were expressing their feelings and their reactions to the video and other institutions of racism on campus, but I think it got kinda lost and out of hand,” Jones said. T h e re w a s a n u p ro a r from the crowd after former dean of the College of International Studies Suzette Grillot called for OU President James Gallogly’s resignation at the rally. A’niya Derrick, sociology sophomore, stood up to try to redirect the crowd’s focus following Grillot’s speech, saying the purpose wasn’t to talk about Grillot’s and Gallogly’s personal problems. “We’re talking about the Black students and the Native students and the Mexican students who do not feel welcome here,” Derrick said. “We’re not worried about y’all’s problems at all … This is ridiculous, focus on the real problems.” Gallogly said he agreed w i t h D e r r i c k ’s w o r d s and began to address the crowd once it had been calmed, starting with saying he wasn’t sure if anyone wanted to hear his voice. Gallogly was interrupted several times throughout his speech. He said he believed there were students who hold hate toward him and want him to fail, and said this was not the OU he knows and loves. “I have heard harsh w o rd s t o d ay ,” Ga l l o g l y says. “I have heard family arguing with family, but we need to have the ability to
speak in a civil manner.” Jones said students will continue to express themselves and their concerns for inclusivity, and it starts with refusing to be silent. “I think Gallogly got lost, too, in what he was trying to say and communicate,” Jones said. “I definitely followed his message of respect and love for each other and for him, but I think he confused love with silence.” Jane Irungu, the interim associate vice president of university community, was in attendance and said she wants more spaces for
individuals in the community to express concerns for positive change. “We cannot let this moment disappear,” Irungu said. “This moment means we have committed ourselves and identified where we have failed.” Irungu said she and other administrators of the university community have made a strategic plan to combat the issues she heard today. “We are going to start looking at institutional priorities in equity, inclusion and diversity,” Irungu said. “We do have a strategic
plan which is a final draft now, and we will present that to the president and see how we can implement this.” Irungu said she understands the fr ustrations from the community and hopes to promote a more inclusive social system. “I hope that moving forward we can create consistent forums and have these community conversations more often so that folks do not have to feel like they are unheard,” Irungu said. Jericka Handie
jericka.c.handie-1@ou.edu
160 Copeland Hall, 860 The Oklahoma Vleet Oval Daily isVan a public forum, the University of Oklahoma’s independent student voice and an entirely student-run publication.
Letters should concentrate on issues, not personalities, and must be fewer than 250 words, typed and signed by the author(s). Letters will be edited for accuracy, space and style. Students must list their major and classification. To submit letters, email dailyeditor@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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stay connected CAITLYN EPES/THE DAILY
OU senior Sydne Gray holds a sign that reads “Don’t trust an oil baron with racial justice” at the Rally to Stop Racism Tuesday. Gallogly referenced the sign during his speech.
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Individual in blackface seen on campus Multiple videos of unknown man posted on Twitter JANA ALLEN @jana_allen21
An individual was seen and filmed in blackface walking around on campus and Campus Corner Wednesday afternoon. Mu l t i p l e v i d e o s w e re posted to Twitter showing the man with his face painted black, wearing an OU hat and an anti-political correctness Tommy Sotomayor T-s h i r t. S o to mayo r i s a controversial YouTuber
who has “made shocking accusations about black women, young gay men and the black community” in the past, according to a Huffington Post article. The OU Police Department had officers looking for the individual, but he could not be found, despite rumors that he was apprehended. Last Friday, Jan. 18, a video surfaced depicting then-OU student Olivia Urban in blackface using a racial slur. The student who filmed and posted the video was Francie Ford. Both members have since withdrawn from the university.
It is unclear the level of connection between the two incidents at this time. The Daily is attempting to independently confirm the man’s identity and get more details. O U P r e s i d e n t Ja m e s Gallogly released a statement on the incident, sayi n g e v e r y o rga n i z at i o n faces challenges and rising to the challenge can lead to greatness. “Events of the last few days have reinforced how critical it is to focus on ensuring OU creates a positive climate for students, staff and faculty absent racism and disrespect,” Gallogly said.
O U ’s B l a c k S t u d e n t Association said it was, again, not surprised by the incident. The organization said it would hold a gathering for students who “need a safe place to process all the emotions.” Tom Cassidy, chair of the Undergraduate Student Congress, released a statement saying this latest act of racism makes it clear t h a t O U m u s t d o m o re to address the persisting racism of the university community. “The individual who walked through campus in blackface following yesterday’s rally to end racism sought to further sow
disunity on campus and make students of color feel unwelcome at OU,” Cassidy said. S GA President Adran Gibbs also spoke out on the issue, saying he was not sure what the individual’s intention was. “One thing that we do know is that something is still not clicking,” Gibbs said. “The fact that this kind of racist backlash happening is scary for a lot of people on campus. That is all we know, unfortunately.” Jana Allen
jana.r.allen-1@ou.edu
@oudaily @oudaily
@theoklahomadaily @theoudaily
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VOL.104, NO. 4
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ENOUGH EDITION
• January 24-27, 2019
CAITLYN EPES/THE DAILY
Students listen to speakers at the Rally to Stop Racism Jan. 22. The rally was held in response to a racist video featuring an OU student.
Students respond to racism rally Attendees express positive, negative reactions to event DREW HUTCHINSON @drethegirl
Students have told The Daily their thoughts on Tuesday’s Rally to Stop Racism, which was organized in response to a video where an OU student wore
blackface and used a racial slur. During the rally, a former dean called for OU President James Gallogly’s resignation, and Gallogly accused some students of wanting him to fail. Sydne Gray, a philosophy student and founder of Indigenize OU, sat toward the front of the rally. She held a sign that read “Don’t trust an oil baron with racial justice.� Gallogly
referenced the sign toward the end of the gathering. “So many of you doubt me,� Gallogly said in his preface. “So many of you do not want me to be successful. So many of you have some hatred in your heart.� After the event, Gray said she thinks Gallogly’s attendance was a public relations move to “save face.� “I feel like it was honestly really disrespectful for
him to be dropping (Martin Luther King Jr.) quotes like that, while equating what he experienced (Tuesday) to what black students experienced when they saw the racist video,� Gray said. Jalynn Winrow, a university freshman, attended the rally and said she was glad everybody was able to be heard. But she said she thought opening a conversation turned into berating.
“I’m kind of glad that it got emotional ... But it ended up kind of being attacking, you know what I mean?� Winrow said. During the rally, Gallogly told students he loved each and every one of them. But Tyra Jones, a junior human relations major, said she thought Gallogly “got lost� on what he was trying to communicate. “I definitely followed his
message of respect and love for each other and for him, but I think he confused love with silence,� Jones said. However, she said she believes talking about issues is always beneficial. “ To speak on how w e feel, to gather as we do, something positive comes out of that,� Jones said. Drew Hutchinson
drew.hutchinson@ou.edu
Faculty, staff call for continued conversations Anti-racism rally spurs desire for ‘cultural change’ DREW HUTCHINSON @drethegirl
The interim vice president for university community and the staff and faculty senates have responded to events at a Tuesday rally that
was organized in response to a racist video. The Rally to Stop Racism, held in response to a racist video in which an OU student wore blackface and used a racial slur, brought backand-forth dialogue between students and OU President James Gallogly. “I wasn’t expecting things to get that heated, but I also do understand where folks are coming from,� said Jane
Irungu, interim associate vice president for university community, who spoke at the rally. Irungu also said she thought the responses at the rally were a product of bottled-up feelings that needed to be addressed. “I wouldn’t call it anger,â€? Irungu said. “I would call it passion. They want the work done ‌ I feel there’s a lot that students, faculty and staff
have been processing for a long time, and you could see everything has boiled over.� More forums and town halls should occur to help people be heard, Irungu said. She also said a plan has been drafted and will be presented to Gallogly soon to improve diversity and campus climate at OU. “Let’s not focus on what happened here, but let’s focus on what will come out
Universal Crossword Edited by David Steinberg January 24, 2019
my friend’s got mental illness
To a friend with mental illness, your caring and understanding greatly increases their chance of recovery. Visit whatadifference.samhsa.gov for more information. Mental Illness – What a difference a friend makes.
Previous Solution
Monday - Very Easy Tuesday - Easy Wednesday - Easy Thursday - Medium Friday - Hard
Instructions: Fill in the grid so that every row, every column and every 3x3 box contains the digits 1 through 9. That means that no number is repeated in any row, column or box.
ACROSS 1 Agree 5 New jersey? 9 Bottle stoppers 14 Fan favorite 15 Humpty Dumpty’s shape 16 Sports stadium 17 Small inventions? 18 ___ sapiens 19 Make an offer for 20 Watch chain 21 Rodeo performer starts up a computer? 23 They go in and out 25 Stir up 26 Beachgoer’s acquisition 29 Wedding spinner 33 Squash, for one 35 Velvet barriers 37 World Cup cheer 38 Violin section 39 Danger 40 Clickable image 41 Show curiosity 42 Swimmer’s woe 43 Makes cookies 1/24
44 Split from the band 46 Bagel type 48 Furry feet 50 Classes that are smooth sailing 53 Pugilist destroys a circuit? 58 Former forensic TV series 59 Peace goddess 60 Leave out 61 Senate contest 62 Core belief 63 You only live ___ 64 Atop 65 Flies high 66 Stadium level 67 “Como ___?� DOWN 1 Instants 2 Birdbrain 3 British policeman punches? 4 Windy City trains 5 Fellow emcee 6 Declare 7 Woolly babe 8 Elevator stop 9 Taxi drivers 10 Baltimore baseballer 11 Change the decor
12 Shoelace bump 13 Without 21 One-tenth of a dime 22 Alpine call 24 Skulk 27 Bay ___ (Berkeley’s region) 28 Standards 30 Professional rider sets limits? 31 Soothing succulent 32 Cravings 33 Hosiery flaw 34 Cuban currency 36 Frosty accessory 39 Locations for figureheads 40 Purina competitor
42 Some reds 43 Sheep cries 45 First game of the season 47 Hunting canine 49 Photograph 51 Horse course near Windsor Castle 52 Tuscan city 53 Smidgens 54 Sweet sandwich 55 ’90s Warrior Princess 56 Upscale hotel chain 57 Paella ingredient 61 Regret
PREVIOUS PREVIOUSPUZZLE PUZZLEANSWER ANSWER
of this,� Irungu said. Irungu said she calls for patience during this time. She said everyone has the same goals: making OU better and promoting a successful community. In response to the recent events, the staff and faculty senates released a statement via email saying the organizations share Gallogly’s “vision of OU� but calling for “further cultural change� on
Š 2019 Andrews McMeel Universal Š 2019 Andrews McMeel Universal www.upuzzles.com www.upuzzles.com
“Activewear� by Susan Gelfand
Drew Hutchinson
drew.hutchinson@ou.edu
HOROSCOPE By Eugenia Last
Copyright 2015, Newspaper Enterprise Assn.
THURSDAY, JANUARY 24, 2019 ASTROGRAPH by Eugenia Last Look for ways to divvy up work. It’s important not to take on too much if you want to get ahead. Helping others is a kind gesture, but it shouldn’t come at your own expense. This is your year to advance, so choose how you spend your time wisely. AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 19) -- Deal with institutions and government agencies carefully. There will be no room for error if you want to avoid a loss. Make sure your finances, medical records and contracts are in order. PISCES (Feb. 20-March 20) -- Indulgent behavior will lead to emotional problems. Protect your heart and important relationships. Walk away from people offering empty promises. Do what’s right.
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campus. “Both Senates will cont i nu e t o w o rk t o g e t h e r along with administration, the Office of University Community, and other campus groups to ensure our campus is one where all feel welcome and have opportunities to succeed,� the statement reads.
ARIES (March 21-April 19) -- Challenge yourself physically and get rid of some of the anxiety you are feeling. It’s best to calm down before you complain or criticize. Keep the peace and show compassion. TAURUS (April 20-May 20) -- Take care of your responsibilities without complaint. If you let the actions of others get to you, it will lead to discord. Focus on getting ahead, not on causing trouble. GEMINI (May 21-June 20) -- You may want to initiate a change, but make sure it’s what you really want. You must be willing to do some physical work. Your reputation is at stake.
CANCER (June 21-July 22) -- You can make a change at home, but run your plans by the people who will be affected by your actions. Your openness will determine whether you receive help or hindrance. LEO (July 23-Aug. 22) -- The only way to get things done is to do them yourself. Refuse to let anyone cost you emotionally or financially. Protect your plans and assets. VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22) -- Do something you enjoy or spend quality time with a loved one. Ask questions and find out what others want in order to avoid a misunderstanding. LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 23) -- Use your intelligence to outsmart someone who is giving you a hard time. It pays to gather facts and to hold those who put demands on you accountable. Romance is encouraged. SCORPIO (Oct. 24-Nov. 22) -- Get your responsibilities out of the way before someone complains, and move on to the things you enjoy doing. Get together with someone who shares your enthusiasm. SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 23-Dec. 21) -- Don’t let an emotional matter sidetrack you. Focus on fitness, health and moderation. Take charge of your life, and walk away from people trying to tell you what to do. CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19) -Look over your personal documents and finances, and consider how well you take care of your emotional and physical health. If change is required, put a plan in place.
ENOUGH EDITION
January 24-27, 2019 •
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ENOUGH EDITION
• January 24-27, 2019
“Unacceptable OU has to do something about this.” -Christian James, basketball player
“Love not hate. Love not hate. Love not hate. Love not hate. Love not hate. Love not hate. Love not hate. Love not hate. Love not hate. Love not hate. Love not hate. Love not hate. Love not hate. Love not hate. Love not hate. Love not hate. Love not hate. Hate for what???” -Tatum Texada, cheerleader “Don’t even have words smh” -Tre Brown, football player “Please pray for my school! Seems every few years there must be a community check against black people. It’s a blessing to see how strong a community can get but it’s sad that racism is the recurring pattern to bring us together.” -Caleb Kelly, football player
“Malicious trolling bc a group of people want their right of equality. This is enabled once there’s no clear policy condemning these actions.” -Nick Basquine, football player
“The thing that is sad is that this isn’t a shocker to the black community. How can a university that prides itself on diversity allow us to feel unwelcome day in and day out the proof is in the video. ‘Our lives begin to end the day we become silent about things that matter.’”
-Chanse Sylvie, football player
“Amazing. He can just walk around freely and do this disgusting thing. They only like you as an athlete, some performing artist or entertainer but still won’t accept us as human beings.”
-Sorre Bah, track and field
“‘There comes a time when silence is betrayal.’ Speak up OU community this is unacceptable. Let your voice be heard.”
-Vernon Turner, track and field
OU student athletes respond to racist videos Oklahoma student athletes don’t fight racism with silence GEORGE STOIA @georgestoia
Oklahoma student-athletes have become some of the leading voices of change over the last week after a racist video involving two OU students surfaced Friday, and an individual was seen around OU’s
campus wearing blackface Wednesday. Fo r s o m e o f t h e a t h letes, this isn’t the first time they’ve faced racism head on at OU. In the spring of 2015, after a racist video involving two members of the Sigma Alpha Epsilon fraternity surfaced, Oklahoma student-athletes were some of the first to respond to the video. The football team canceled their practice the following day and marched from Owen Field to the
Everest Center arm-in-arm and dressed head-to-toe in black. Then-senior linebacker Eric Striker became not only a spokesperson for the team but also the university, doing numerous national interviews on the matter. In light of the two incidents that have occurred over the last week, OU athletes and coaches are once again not staying quiet. Football coach Lincoln R i l e y c a l l e d F r i d a y ’s video “sickening ” while
senior wide receiver Nick Basquine told The Daily he wants “zero tolerance for racism” on OU’s campus. Vo i c e s l i ke R i l e y a n d Basquine hold a lot of weight on a campus such as OU’s. They are often some of the first people students look to for leadership, and these incidents have proved no different. George Stoia
georgestoia@ou.edu