Opinion: Don’t give your clicks to a Christian rapper’s response to “Same Love.” (Page 3) The University of Oklahoma’s independent student voice since 1916
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MONEY
Executive budget may cost OU Proposal will require OU to institute university-wide reallocations ALEX NIBLETT, Assistant Campus Editor, @alex_niblett
Oklahoma Gov. Mary Fallin’s 2014 executive budget proposal, if approved, may result in a 5 percent reallocation at OU’s Norman campus. While Fallin’s budget proposal claims one of its goals is to increase the number of degrees and certifications earned in Oklahoma by 1,700 per year for 12 years, resulting in a 67 percent increase by 2023, OU President David Boren said the university could be negatively impacted by higher education costs if this budget is approved. “While we are, according to The Washington Post, among the most affordable public universities in the country, there is no way that we can absorb another $12 to $13 million in cuts
to OU’s Norman campus without being under pressure to increase tuition and fees,” Boren said in an email. “The other alternative is to reduce programs, faculty and staff.” Boren said he believes OU students do not want fewer courses, but under this proposed budget, higher education will take a budget cut of nearly $50 million. Boren sent a mass email to OU’s Norman-campus vice presidents, deans, directors and department chairs, forewarning them that OU may be required to institute university-wide reallocations if the budget is approved. Aside from Oklahoma’s higher education budget cut affecting the current $8,915.50 per-year flat-rate tuition cost, the budget cut will decrease chances of faculty and staff receiving across-the-board pay increases, something Boren said hasn’t happened for some time. If this cut stands, it will affect everyone in our university’s community, Boren said. In his email, he asked everyone to take all necessary actions
to reduce spending, conserve resources and fill vacant positions wisely, since their budgeted resources will be reduced. “Over the past six years, OU has absorbed over $90 million in direct cuts or uncompensated fixed costs, like utilities and healthcare,” Boren said in an email. “We cannot continue to receive cuts like these without damaging the quality of the university.” Boren will meet with legislative members and state leaders to urge them to change the proposed budget and to provide more resources for higher education. “This is the largest cut to any single agency’s budget,” Boren said in an email. “It would mean that higher education will have $106 million less than it had to spend in fiscal year 2008 if the budget is not changed.” Alex Niblett, alexandra.g.niblett@ou.edu
RELIGION
Group dedicates room to 24-hour prayer sessions 24.7 Prayer Movement helps campus ministries, students through prayer KELLY ROGERS, Campus Reporter, @KellyRogersOU
S
BENNETT HALL/THE DAILY
English writing senior Ethan Fleischer reads from a prayer booklet in the United Ministry Center’s prayer room. Students have signed up to go to the room and pray 24 hours a day throughout February. Fleischer plans to pray an hour every day, he said.
tring lights and brown paper cover the walls of a room where OU students have been praying 24 hours a day since the first day of February. Advertising sophomore Alex Steele has continued a movement that began last year, started by two of her friends and fellow OU students, Matt Barton and Reagan McDonald. The goal of the 24.7 Prayer Movement is to assist campus ministries and churches to help students find their own church and ministries through prayer, Steel said. “We’re just enabling a room to be dedicated to that,” Steele said. In the room with beanbag chairs and Bibles, students can find markers to write on the papered walls. “It’s been awesome to see the walls just filled with things, even in the first couple of days,” Steele said. “And now it’s almost been a week, and there are tons of prayer requests, SEE RELIGION PAGE 2
BLOOD
MEDICINE
Petition gains steam with 12,000 signatures
Sooners offer aid to Africans
Grad student starts organization to promote women’s, GLBT rights
Students promote health in Ghana AMBER FRIEND Campus Reporter @amberthefriend
ADAM BURNETT Campus Reporter
Since fall 2012, an OU graduate student’s petition to allow gay and bisexual men to donate blood has received more than 12,000 signatures. Michael Hernandez started the petition in 2012. As of Feb. 10 at 5:40 p.m. 12,105 people had signed the petition. Hernandez’s goal is to garner 1 million signatures, he said. Under current FDA guidelines, men who have had sex with another man once since 1977 cannot donate blood, which limits the pool of available donors. Since November 2012, when Hernandez lobbied for signatures on OU’s campus, about 5,555 more people have signed. To help his cause, Hernandez founded the organization All R Equal, a nonprofit organization that promotes women’s and gay rights. Hernandez will gather signatures at the GLBT pride parades in Miami this year. Since he created the petition, the
Over the winter break, OU Global Brigades traveled to Ghana for a 10-day mission to spread medical help and public health information. Medically-minded Sooners went door-to-door with the program checking possible symptoms and shadowing doctors, said Melanie Purdy, trip attendee and University College freshman. OU students helped give patients a public health talk, discussing reproductive
SEE BLOOD PAGE 2
L&A: The Vagina Monologues opened at OU last night. Find out if it’s worth seeing this evening. (Online)
SEE MEDICINE PAGE 2
PHOTO PROVIDED
Andreana Prichard, assistant professor of honors and history gives a lecture on HIV to secondary school students in Kisumu, Africa.
Sports: Pete Hughes is helping Sooner baseball reach back to its roots. (Page 4)
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CAMPUS
Paighten Harkins, campus editor Alex Niblett, assistant editor dailynews@ou.edu • phone: 405-325-3666 oudaily.com • Twitter: @OUDaily
BLOOD: Law prohibits gay men from donating Continued from page 1
Go online for the full blotter. THURSDAY, FEB. 6 Law Center (on campus), at 9:02 a.m. OUPD officers assisted with security for a visiting dignitary, who held speaking engagements at the Law Center and the Oklahoma Memorial Union. There were approximately 250 students at the law center and 1,300 dinner guests at the union. Duck Pond Lot (on campus), at 1:35 p.m. A vehicle was impounded and removed from OU Parking Lot MP-4 by the L&A Wrecker Service. Duck Pond Lot (on campus), at 2:29 p.m. The reporting party signed a complaint to tow a vehicle that had parked improperly, blocking his car. Duck Pond Lot (on campus), at 4:01 p.m. The defendant was contacted and subsequently arrested for Public Intoxication and charged in District Court. Houston Huffman Recreation Center (on campus), at 4:38 p.m. OUPD was notified of a student with personal safety concerns regarding out-of-state family members. Oklahoma Memorial Union (on campus), at 9:50 p.m. The patient cut her leg and was transported to Norman Regional Hospital for further medical evaluation and assistance.
FDA has made no contact with All R Equal, but it has released a statement saying it is conducting independent research. Men who have had sex with other men can’t give blood because they are at an increased risk for HIV and Hepatitis B, which can be transmitted by blood transfusion, according to the FDA website. Even males who have had a low number of sexual partners or are in monogamous relationships can’t give blood, according to the FDA website. While having fewer sexual partners decreases the risk of HIV infection, the FDA hasn’t found evidence that supports lifting the ban for men who have sex with men, according to the website. In addition to trying to get signatures for the petition, Hernandez is starting another program this summer within All R Equal
MACEY DAVIS/THE DAILY
Michael Hernandez will graduate in May with a masters in Business Administration and Management Information Systems. Michael petitioned to allow gay men to donate blood.
called God Adores You. This project will have religious individuals speak out about why they support gay marriage and gay rights, Hernandez said. Two clergy members have aligned themselves with the project. Hernandez hopes
to have 10 churches within a 15-mile radius of Norman participate, he said. This project will also include video testimonials from religious members of all faith, showing people to continue to follow their religious beliefs and also
support gay and women’s rights, Hernandez said. Hernandez, who has a background as a web developer, is also planning to release some interactive tools on a mobile app for gay men and women trying to get married. This app will include information regarding what states allow gay marriage and how long the wait for a marriage application is, Hernandez said. From Feb. 1 to Feb. 14 another organization called Bears For Humanity will raise funds for All R Equal. Bears For Humanity sells teddy bears to raise money in support of social causes, the group’s spokesman Vijay Prathap said. Bears For Humanity is working to offer an exclusive teddy bear to support All R Equal. This teddy bear will be made from organic cotton, bamboo and soybean, Prathap said. Adam Burnett Adam.R.Burnett-1@ou.edu
RELIGION: More than 300 students, residents pray, sing, share stories Continued from page 1 verses covering the walls.” Since last year, this prayer group has grown from about 100 students to more than 300, Steele said. “It’s not necessarily about numbers and growth, it’s about OU students coming together before the Lord and praying for our campus,” Steele said. Communications senior McDonald began brainstorming the 24.7 Prayer Movement during her sophomore year when meeting with students in Dale Hall once a month to pray. Wa n t i n g t o d o m o re, McDonald paired up with recent OU graduate Barton GO AND DO and began putting their Weekly plans to action. 24.7 Prayer “ It was really co ol to Movement see it all come together,” McDonald said. “People Events have started taking initiative Wednesday: Worship and spreading the word.” from 8 to 9 p.m. Last year, the 24.7 Prayer Movement participants Sunday: Testimonies gathered in a rented space and prayer 10 to 11 paid for by an anonymous p.m. donor, but this year, the United Ministry Center is Where: The United providing a space for the Ministry Center, 1017 Elm Ave. movement. “It’s been less than a week and people are already finding out about this movement just by word of mouth,” Steele said. “It’ll be super exciting to see what happens by the end of February.” Weekly 24.7 Prayer Movement events will be held at the United Ministry Center, where Steele said students can pray, sing and share stories with each other. With the support of churches around Norman, Steele said planning and advocating for the movement has extended beyond the campus. “It’s not just students on OU’s campus,” Steele said. “It’s actually the whole community of faith in Norman coming together to do this.” McDonald said the vision for the 24.7 Prayer Movement is to attract anyone on campus who wants to pray. “It doesn’t matter what church you’re at, or if you even go to church,” McDonald said.
TAYLOR BOLTON
Human relations junior Cavina Found and linguistics junior Tyler Troy practice worship songs during the kickoff for the 24.7 prayer event.
McDonald has been praying from 2 to 3 a.m. every day since the movement started. “I never imagined that this would grow as much as it has,” McDonald said. “It’s been important for me to trust that it would work out, and it’s shown me the importance of prayer. McDonald said they have been getting positive feedback from students who find the movement motivates them to seek change and learn the importance of prayer. Kristin Kohlmeyer, a broadcast and electronic media junior, was involved in the 24.7 Prayer Movement last year and said she is excited to see what will happen this year. “My experience with 24.7 Prayer [Movement] last year
really changed the way that I view prayer,” Kohlmeyer said. Despite the snowy weather, students have found this location to work well with their schedules, traveling by foot straight from campus, Steele said. The prayer room, designated for OU student prayer during February, is located in the United Ministry Center, just off of Elm Avenue. Students can sign up for a one hour prayer slot on the Google document designated for 24.7 Prayer Movement, which can be found on the 24.7 Prayer Movement Facebook page.
MEDICINE: Ghana trip gives students understanding of African culture Continued from page 1 health and holding a question and answer session at the end, Purdy said. However, the thing that set Purdy’s, as well as her friend microbiology sophomore Sarah Grebennikov, time in Ghana apart from many of the rest of the students, was their background in African culture, which they learned from professor Andreana Prichard. Prichard is an Honors C o l l e g e p ro f e s s o r w h o teaches interdisciplinary classes about Africa. Her classes include a study on the western world’s views on and relationship with Africa changing over time, Christianity in Sub-Saharan Africa and humanitarianism in Africa. Grebennikov said Prichard’s class let her see a side of African culture she hadn’t seen in any of her other classes. The class showed her the
different ways people interact, Grebennikov said. Such cultural lessons transitioned well to the Global Brigades trip, as Grebennikov began observing what she learned in Prichard’s class in day-today life in Ghana, including the societal role of AIDS and sugar-daddies. Also, Grebennikov said the class made her feel more at ease traveling in a foreign society. “I felt like I was more prepared than other people on the trip that had never been to Africa,” Grebennikov said. Purdy had a similar experience. The class helped her understand how Africa was a continent of diversity with dozens of very different countries, Purdy said. Purdy attended the trip without being scared or worried about stereotypes, she said. “Things that I learned PHOTO PROVIDED in class were reality there,” Andreana Prichard, assistant professor of honors and history takes a Purdy said, recounting a conversation she had with a photo with Maurice, an African colleague and social worker at Maisha International.
Ghanaian woman regarding the AIDS epidemic and societal stigmas against testing. Those issues were heavily covered in Prichard’s class. “I don’t think I would have realized how interested I was in Africa if I didn’t take that class,” Purdy said. In fall 2014, Prichard will teach Modern African Lives, a class about African histor y through biographies, and Sex and Love in Africa, a class about sexual and relational African customs, which Purdy and Grebennikov took before. Prichard has been intensely studying African history since taking African history classes at Kenyon C o l l e g e w h e re s h e wa s inspired. A couple who lived in South Africa through the end of apartheid and the early constructions of independence and democracy, taught Prichard. “They had these really fascinating first hand accounts of their experience, and they
really brought history alive for me in a way that it had never, kind of, been brought alive before,” Prichard said. However, what made her want to pursue African history as a career was the challenging aspect of researching the subject. Prichard can’t go to traditional libraries, like the Library of Congress, to do her research because before 1870, there weren’t written records across Africa. Because of that, documents are hard to come by and when she finds them, sometimes they include some surprises. “I open books that fall ap a r t i n my ha n d s a n d t hat hav e m o t h s f l y i n g out of them and that have worms living in them,” said Prichard.
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Tuesday, February 11, 2014 •
OPINION
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Kaitlyn Underwood, opinion editor Rachael Montgomery, assistant editor dailyopinion@ou.edu • phone: 405-325-3666 oudaily.com/opinion • Twitter: @OUDailyOpinion
Editorial
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Ryan Lewis, left, and Macklemore accept the award for best new artist at the 56th annual Grammy Awards at the Staples Center on Jan. 26 in Los Angeles.
Song’s message ridiculous Our View: The “Same Love� remake should be a disgrace to all Christians.
Hip-hop duo Macklemore and Ryan Lewis have most recently been in the headlines for taking home four Grammy Awards earlier this month. At the awards show, 33 gay and straight couples were married as the pair performed their much-celebrated hit “Same Love,� a song that has been widely embraced by the GLBTQ community. So, we were pretty shocked by a music video making the rounds on Facebook that is a “response� to “Same Love� and basically spews socalled biblical notions against homosexuality. Noting Macklemore’s and Ryan Lewis’ soaring popularity and support for their stance on gay rights, we had hoped more Americans were finally beginning to embrace equality for all people, regardless of sexual orientation. Apparently not. The response song, sung by Christian rapper Bizzle, should be an embarrassment to all Christians. It warps the view that Christians should seek a loving relationship with God, claiming that He will love you, but only if you stop giving in to “sin� and are “reborn.� Really? It’s 2014 and we still have to hear the ridiculous claim that being gay or straight is something you can magically change? We really have a hard time understanding people’s fear of anyone or anything different than themselves. How on this earth is someone’s sexual orientation threatening or harmful to you? It isn’t. That’s the truth and that’s the point Macklemore makes in the original song. In Bizzle’s song, on the other hand, he equates homosexuality with the sin of adultery and argues that if he, a married man, has to curb his desire to cheat, then gay people should have to curb
their “desire� to be gay. Sounds like Bizzle needs marriage counseling to us. However, the most ridiculous aspect of Bizzle’s song is that he basically dismisses gay rights as an issue because it is not on par with the Civil Rights movement. No, gay rights and Civil Rights are not exactly the same, but they are both about human equality. The song claims no gay people have ever been hung, beaten or raped just because they are gay, unlike pre-Civil Rights African Americans. We beg to differ. The human suffering of gay men and women across the world is very real. Gay people living in countries ruled by strict Islamic law frequently face torture and death if their sexual orientation is found out. There are seven different The Our View is the majority countries that still impose the death penalty for homosexuality. opinion of But you’re right Bizzle, gay peoThe Daily’s eight-member ple don’t know anything about editorial board real suffering. Let’s be real, the winter Olympic games are currently happening in Russia, a country that has a law against “gay propaganda.� So while in the U.S. more people are beginning to support the gay rights movement, aided no doubt by pop culture figures like Macklemore, the global state of equality is still precarious at best. We encourage you not to click on Bizzle’s music video or share it on social media. As we’ve mentioned before, your clicks are your online currency in the Internet marketplace, so please do not give your capital to such an ignorant, hurtful song. Listen to Macklemore’s instead, we promise it will do you more good and sound better, too.
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Copyright 2012, Newspaper Enterprise Assn.
TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 11, 2014 Surrounding yourself with creative and stimulating people will inspire you to do something very special this year. Make an effort to reconnect with old friends while remaining open to new ideas. Positive partnerships or connections will develop due to your calm but inspiring attitude. AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 19) -- Step back from stressful situations. Taking time to regroup will be beneficial. By putting your thoughts in order, you will find it easier to get back on the right track. PISCES (Feb. 20-March 20) -- Ensure that you have all the tools required to make your ideas reality. If you get out and socialize, you’ll be admired for your unique contributions.
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.
ARIES (March 21-April 19) -- Apply yourself diligently, and communicate your intentions precisely. Misunderstandings will develop if others feel you are neglecting your duties. Avoid a confrontation with someone who doesn’t share your priorities. TAURUS (April 20-May 20) -- Planning short trips to new locations will help you discover different cultures. Interesting conversations will develop as you share your knowledge with acquaintances you make along the way. GEMINI (May 21-June 20) -- It would be a good idea to take stock of your financial situation. It may be necessary to make a change. An opportunity to improve your earning potential will develop if you put serious effort into learning new skills.
CANCER (June 21-July 22) -Lighten up and have some fun. Organize an entertainment with old friends. They will welcome the chance to share in your sparkling wit and excellent memory. LEO (July 23-Aug. 22) -- Be wary of people trying to coerce you into something you don’t agree with. Stand your ground, even if it means walking away from someone you thought was your friend. VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22) -- New connections can be made through groups or interests that you pursue. The approval you receive for your contributions will bring beneficial and long-lasting results. LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 23) -- Treat yourself to some personal pleasures. Take a walk, settle down with a good book or listen to your favorite music. Avoid interference by doing your own thing. SCORPIO (Oct. 24-Nov. 22) -- Don’t be afraid to seek advice from people who can provide you with valuable information. Your intuition and memory are both highlighted today, putting you in a good position to negotiate. SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 23-Dec. 21) -- Watch your expenses. Ignore people who try to persuade you to overspend on items you don’t need. Don’t make hasty decisions that may cause personal, emotional or financial setbacks. CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19) -- Your heightened emotions may get out of control today. Keep your expectations realistic. Don’t cause unnecessary problems by forging ahead without considering alternatives. Think twice before taking action.
Universal Crossword Edited by Timothy E. Parker February 11, 2014
ACROSS 1 Central New York city and lake 7 Dye out? 11 They replaced cassettes 14 Large wasp 15 A sign of things to come 16 Quick plane trip 17 Bread, proverbially 19 She wears a wool coat 20 Touch up, say 21 Natural flat-top 22 Wisdom tooth e.g. 25 Black & Decker is one 27 Cry of enlightenment 28 Brother or sister 30 Hither’s partner 31 Completely engrossed 33 Hispanic house 36 Princess’ crown 40 Ivy League apparel 43 Prefix meaning “sun� 44 Ben Franklin flew one 45 Where pirates moor 46 Capture, as a crook 2/11
48 Follower of Robert E. Lee 50 Woman with a good habit 51 Strands in a diner 56 Up to the present time 58 Word with “sugar� or “candy� 59 Lord’s prayer word 61 Flow like water 62 A sergeant may order one 66 Inn beverage 67 The “A� in A.D. 68 Native American tribe (var.) 69 Chicken ___ (childhood affliction) 70 Grows older 71 Lacking in vitality DOWN 1 Understanding cries 2 “I’m ___ Rappaport� 3 Pitcher’s stat 4 Prefix with “red� or “structure� 5 Puts off until later 6 At the acme 7 Largest book size 8 ___ acids 9 With great skill 10 WSW’s opposite
11 It could be rosy or dimpled 12 Use a divining rod 13 Bit of broccoli 18 Salt-cured pork 21 Stark raving type 22 Winter’s end 23 Windy City landing site 24 Carnation holder 26 Speck of dust 29 Neat drinkers decline it 32 Sudden pain 34 Vail vehicle 35 Sitting normally, as on a horse 37 Muscle weakness 38 Casino show 39 Looks ___ everything
41 Noted pairs guardian 42 Itsy-bitsy 47 Fit in 49 Gotham City protector 51 Fragment, as of paper 52 Sao ___, Brazil 53 Architectural wing, e.g. 54 Tin-lead alloy 55 Folded-over munchies 57 Tonsorial operation 60 Ferber or Best 62 LAX regulators 63 Head-butt 64 A.L. or N.L. city 65 Ad ___ committee
PREVIOUS PUZZLE ANSWER
2/10
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TEAM WORK By Mary Jersey
4
• Tuesday, February 11, 2014
LIFE&ARTS
Tony Beaulieu, life & arts editor Luke Reynolds, assistant editor dailyent@ou.edu • phone: 405-325-3666 oudaily.com/life&arts • Twitter: @OUDailyArts
Care to dance with us, Sooners?
A
SAMA KHAWAJA • LIFE & ARTS COLUMNIST
dmit it. We’ve all pranced around our room trying to copy that elegant dancer on YouTube and failed (epically). However, there’s no need to assume you have two left feet. You just need the right instructor and the right class. The dance classes at OU are hidden gems just waiting to be discovered. And you don’t have to be a dance major to join them. African Dance Workout: Enjoy some African culture and let it all out in this intense dance workshop. In celebration of African Week, the OU African Student Association decided to host a dance class with a uniquely African flare. “If you like to do Zumba or any form of dance, I would definitely encourage you to go,” said Nageen Mir, international studies senior and one of the instructors for the workshop. The class is there to create cultural appreciation and generate interest in African Week, Mir said. Looking at the exotic list of dance styles, from upbeat Azonto, to the Afro-Caribbean Dutti Wine, you’re definitely going to get the full African dance experience. The class will be held at 7 p.m. March 4 at the Huff. Best part? It’s free! Dancing in Dale: To dance the night away with this group, all you need is a love of dance and the willingness to learn. So what is Dancing in Dale? “It’s just a bunch of people coming together to learn,” said Chris Kramer, computer science senior and Dancing in Dale participant. It isn’t your ordinary dance class, where you come to learn a specific type of dance, Dancing in Dale offers a multitude of dances ranging from the waltz to modern hiphop. The group is constantly growing, bringing in new people every week, Kramer said. “One of the reasons the group has gotten so big is because it is not limited to the OU campus,” Kramer said. Perhaps what makes it so popular is how casual it is, with no set schedule or instructor. Anyone can pop in to learn whatever strikes his or her fancy. Kramer even pointed out how people of different majors have come closer together through dance. Joining the group is as easy as going to Dale Hall at 8 p.m. on Friday. There is no price, and you will be welcomed with open arms.
Salsa Classes: There’s nothing more sultry and elegant than knowing how to salsa. Last semester, the OU Latin Dance Club offered a four week salsa crash course. The course was so popular it switched to a weekly salsa dance class. There are three different dance styles taught in the class, said Heather Arnett, French senior and president of the Latin Dance Club, said. There is salsa, which is slightly more complicated since it’s all about timing and feet movement, then you have Bachata, which is a lot simpler to learn, Arnett said. A style called Merengue is the easiest to pick up since it’s just a two-step beat dance, Arnett said. Two to three instructors are available per class to teach both beginners and advanced dancers. “That way, everybody is learning at their level, and they can always progress,” Arnett said. Participating in these classes is a great cardio workout and a much needed study break for students, Arnett added. The price is $15 for one class and $20 for four. The classes are held 6 to 7:30 p.m. every Tuesday in the Oklahoma Memorial Union Frontier Room. No partner is necessary, so don’t be afraid to go over and learn something new. Sooner Ballroom Dance Club: Another multifaceted club, the Sooner Ballroom Dance Club, caters to an array of styles in a more structured fashion. A student-registered organization, the club is all about promoting, teaching and generally sparking interest in dancing. Every semester, there are three five-week sessions. For beginners, they focus on a different class per session. However, with advanced or intermediate learners, they switch up the dances every week, experimenting with everything from Argentine Tango to West Coast Swing. It’s $15 per series of lessons for students and $20 for non students. They meet at 7 p.m. on Tuesdays at the Scholars Room in the Union. The door is always open to those willing to learn. Sama Khawaja is a petroleum geology junior
SPORTS
OUDaily.com ›› Michael Sams is the first football player to come out as gay. What does that mean for his draft stock and the sports world?
Julia Nelson, sports editor Joe Mussatto, assistant editor dailysports@ou.edu • phone: 405-325-3666 oudaily.com/sports • Twitter: @OUDailySports
BASEBALL
Head coach works to bring alumni, team closer Hughes inspired by former coaches JOE MUSSATTO
Assistant Sports Editor @joe_mussatto
He had just been introduced as Oklahoma’s newest baseball coach and given a crimson bat inscribed “Pete Hughes, June 27, 2013.” After a few opening remarks, he was already asked about the factions that have marred the program’s past. It didn’t take long for Oklahoma’s newest baseball coach to say, in his harsh Yankee accent, that he knew nothing about the rift among different eras and faces of the program. T h e n , o f c o u r s e, n o t many details had been reported of such rifts, and the Massachusetts native had just been on the job for a few minutes. More than seven months have passed since fans caught their first glimpse of Hughes donning his appropriately crimson tie at the summer press conference. While it’s anybody’s guess if the coach studied up on the mysterious Sooner baseball squabble, Hughes has made significant strides in honoring the favor he promised upon his arrival. “I’m anxiously anticipating meeting our alums and bringing them together, because those are the guys that have built this storied tradition,” Hughes said in June. “I want them around us.” Then he stepped into uncharted territory. “It’ll be a product that alums from any age group, any era and any faction (are) going to love to be a part of,” Hughes said.
‘‘
JONO GRECO/THE DAILY
Oklahoma baseball coach Pete Hughes and his family pose for a picture following Hughes’ introduction as the team’s new head coach June, 2013, in the Adrian Peterson Team Meeting Room of Gaylord Family Oklahoma Memorial Stadium.
Enos Semore coached the Sooners from 1968 to 1989 and has the most wins in school history. Larry Cochell took over in 1990, won the national championship four years later and coached OU until his resignation in 2005. But in the last 10 years, the two men who shaped Oklahoma baseball tradition while amassing more than 1,300 career wins have been, for the most part, invisible from the program — gone from the grounds of L. Dale Mitchell Park. No matter what is to blame for the disconnect, Hughes, who regularly meets Cochell for lunch and has lured Semore out of the shadows and into the park to watch the Sooners practice, has worked tirelessly to reconnect. “He’s been by four or
The greatest thing about Oklahoma baseball is not anyone individually, it’s the tradition.” PETE HUGHES, OU BASEBALL COACH
five times,” Hughes said of Semore. “Once you get him coming back, you get 20 years of alums and serious allegiance coming back.” Hughes, who has spent the majority of his coaching career on the East Coast, had no familiarity with the program or community before his arrival. He sees the former coaches as great mentors as he sets to begin his first season in Norman. “Coach Semore went to Omaha (five) straight years
— what a resource for me to sit and listen to that guy,” he said. “Coach Cochell won a national championship — that’s what I want to do. I want those guys to know that this is home.” The reconnect with tradition has boiled over and been recognized by Hughes’ players who speak glowingly of their new leader. Craig Aikin, a sophomore outfielder, said the exchanges with alumni did not take place before Hughes
implemented and emphasized an open-door policy. “I was kind of blind to it last year,” Aikin said of the divide. “I didn’t even think ‘Hey where’s the head coach before you, or where are the guys pictured in our locker room?’” Aikin admitted to not having ever met Oklahoma’s winningest coach until last fall. “Coach Semore is the one that really sticks out to me,” Aikin said. “He’s always at practice and loves just being around us. You kind of pick his brain a little bit and just know ‘You did it, you’re the guy, you’ve done it before.’ It was truly an honor to meet him.” Hughes’ endless efforts to reestablish the OU baseball family may have materialized Friday night, at the team’s
annual Diamond Dinner, when the largest attendance in the event’s 11-year history was announced. Bobby Witt, who starred at Oklahoma before being drafted third overall in 1985 and playing 16 seasons in Major League Baseball, was an honorary guest at the dinner. “Bobby hasn’t been around in a while,” Hughes said. “Bobby’s got season tickets now.” With Semore, Cochell and Witt behind him, the once stranger to Norman has quickly learned who the stakeholders are in Sooner baseball. “The greatest thing about Oklahoma baseball is not anyone individually, it’s the tradition,” Hughes said. “If you disconnect from the people that created that tradition, it’s a serious, serious mistake.” A mistake Hughes seems determined not to make. A bat hasn’t been swung, and a strike has yet to be recorded, but Hughes might have already defeated his biggest obstacle: garnering the respect of the Sooner legends who have been neglected. “Absolutely,” he said. “And to do that before wins and losses factor into the relationship is a pretty good accomplishment.” When wins and losses do start counting, at least the coach will be able to step out of his dugout, glance into the crowd and lock eyes with a few familiar faces that were forgotten just a short time ago. Joe Mussatto jmussatto@ou.edu