Feb. 18-21, 2016 by OU Daily

W E E K E N D E D I T I O N | F E B R U A R Y 18 - 2 1, 2 0 16 | 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

OU DAILY

NOT A TABOO

SIANDHARA BONNET/THE DAILY

“The Vagina Monologues” director Shawntal Brown holds up a “V” with her hands. The play will be shown next week as part of nationwide V-Day movements, which aims to end violence against women and girls.

Upcoming play aims to destigmatize vaginas CHLOE MOORES • @CHLOEMOORES13

THE VAGINA MONOLOGUES

when you can see it and what to bring Performances are Feb. 22 and 23 from 7-9 p.m. at Meacham Auditorium Admission is free, but donations, new sports bras and underwear will be collected to benefit The Women’s Resource Center in Norman

CAST

this year’s cast of “The Vagina Monologues” Adrian Demopulos Adrian Palmer Ariana Hall Arielle Rodriguez Breanna Bober Claire Winfrey Kait Wilkinson Kate Bergum Keaton Bell Maddie Wichryk Maggie Savage Megan Lambert Morgan Primeaux Rachel Hurtado Shawntal Brown Sierra Richey Sofi Padilla Sydne Gray

“The Vagina Monologues” is back and ready to break the negative stigma surrounding women’s sexuality, encouraging women to love their bodies and bond over the similarity of having a vagina. Eve En s l e r ’s “ Th e Vag i na Monologues” returns to OU Monday and Tuesday. Ensler’s play is a series of monologues that aim to break down the taboo associated with the word “vagina,” director Shawntal Brown said. “It’s a journey for a woman to know and love her body and experience her vagina for herself and enjoy those experiences,” Brown said. “It’s always really fun to explain that to people and say that it’s a good thing.” This is Brown’s third year of being involved in “The Vagina Monologues” on campus but her first year directing. Though the play generally conveys the same message each year, every woman interprets it in a different way, she said. “I love how each piece is very unique to the woman’s experience they are based off of,” she said. “Someone in the audience can relate to this.” Sydne Gray, an actress in the play, said because the monologues are based on real experiences, the girls aim to portray them authentically rather than act. “We definitely take time to get into groups and talk about the pieces, and we critique each other,” Gray said. “So we are not really forcing characters or specific

tropes on people.” Ensler has made revisions and additions to the play since its original premiere in 1996. Gray will perform Ensler’s recently added piece, “Rise, Dance, Disrupt,” which talks about activism for women, she said. “It’s just about using your voice and your existence to disrupt normal order,” Gray said. “I like it particularly because it is very easily applied to missing and murdered indigenous women, which is something I stand really high for.”

“It’s a journey for a woman to know and love her body and experience her vagina for herself and enjoy those experiences.” SHAWNTAL BROWN, DIRECTOR

Gray finds the controversy surrounding “The Vagina Monologues” funny because it speaks largely of the society we live in, she said. “It’s much easier for us to talk about penises because that is patriarchy,” she said. “It’s unheard of that women would have frank conversations about their own sexualities and sexual abuse.” Maggie Savage, another actress in the play, said one of the three monologues she is performing is entitled “My Angry Vagina,” in

which she discusses some of the terrible things that go along with having a vagina. “Things like going to the gynecologist and having to wear a tampon, which (are) struggles for women,” she said. “It’s like, ‘yeah, you can be mad about this. It can suck a lot of the time to have a vagina.’” T h e t i t l e “ T h e Va g i n a Monologues” is immediately associated with a move to be confrontational, but in actuality the pieces are a way to reach out to women and encourage them to express themselves, Savage said. “Those funny pieces are a way for us to talk about the daily life of being a woman, abuse and the hard times of being a woman,” she said. Savage hopes individuals are able to understand that the humor and uncomfortable moments in the show are there to prove a point, she said. “I hope they see it as a message rather than a group of 20-something girls getting up on a stage and being controversial,” she said. The play is good for anyone to come see, not just women, Gray said. “It really covers the full experience of what it’s like to be a woman every day and the implications of that,” Gray said. Chloe Moores

V-DAY HISTORY

what the celebration is and how it started In 1996, Eve Ensler wrote “The Vagina Monologues,” based on a series of interviews with women about sexuality and abuse. V-Day was established on Feb. 14, 1998, by a group of women in New York City. Every year, over 5,800 annual V-Day events include performances of “The Vagina Monologues” for a cause, demanding that violence against women and girls ends. The performances are coordinated by college students and local volunteers. The V in V-Day stands for “Victory,” “Valentine” and “Vagina.” Since its start in 1998, V-Day projects have raised more than $100 million. It has funded over 13,000 community anti-violence programs in five countries. Source: vday.org

margaret.c.moores-1@ou.edu

Company claims OU fixed stadium bidding STADIUM RENOVATIONS

OU’s history of lawsuits surrounding football stadium construction NOW: Terrazzo U.S.A. and Associates Inc. filed a lawsuit claiming that OU fixed the bidding process on the stadium THEN: In November 2015, Haas Metal Engineering Inc. sued OU for violating the Oklahoma Public Competitive Bidding Act of 1974. WHAT’S THE LAW? The Public Competitive Bidding Act of 1974 requires that any public construction project over $50,000 must be awarded to the lowest responsible bidder.

Business motions for permanent injunction, progress may be halted ANDREW CLARK @Clarky_Tweets

Football stadium renovations could be stalled once again. A contracting and architectural company is suing OU on claims that the university created a monopolistic bidding process for the renovations. Terrazzo U.S.A. and Associates Inc. claimed in a petition filed Feb. 12 that the university fixed the bidding process so that only one bidder in the state of Oklahoma could successfully bid on the stadium renovation project. The company alleges in its petition that OU made membership with the National Terrazzo and Mosaic Association Inc. a requirement to bid on the project. According to the association’s

website, only one company in Oklahoma, Southwest Terrazzo Inc., is a member. The company also alleges that membership to the association is a “superfluous requirement,” saying that it has previously been awarded a contract with OU despite not being a member of the association. The company has motioned for a permanent injunction to halt football stadium renovations and “prays” the court awards the renovations contract to it. OU faced a similar lawsuit in November 2015 when Haas Metal Engineering Inc. sued the university for violating the Oklahoma Public Competitive Bidding Act of 1974 in the bidding process for the stadium renovations. That company eventually dropped its lawsuit, and no details of a settlement between the two were released. Andrew Clark

andrewclark@ou.edu

BRADY VARDEMAN/THE DAILY

Renovations to Gaylord Family-Oklahoma Memorial Stadium are in jeopardy again as a contracting and architectural company has sued OU for monopolizing the bidding process for the project.

• February 18-21, 2016

ARTS&ENTERTAINMENT

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

Music festival to show local talent Event intended to fundraise for step show competition ALLISON WEINTRAUB @AllieFrances12

MIRIAM MEZZETTI/THE DAILY

OU alumni dance at the Pink & Black Ball on Feb. 11, 2012 benefiting Susan G. Komen for the cure. The 12th annual Pink & Black Ball fundraiser is Friday.

Partying for good cause Annual ball raises money for various on campus events LAMA AGHA @LamaAgha

The Gender + Equality Center will be hosting the 12th annual Pink & Black Ball on Friday. This year’s theme is One for the History Books, according to event director Kathy Moxley. “We are hoping to have 375 people in attendance this year,” she said. This event has tremendous support from across campus, including Housing and Food Services, Student Life, Student Affairs, Health Ser vices and the Greek

community, Moxley said. “This event is so important to our campus and office because the proceeds raised go directly back into providing the important services of the Gender + Equality Center,” Moxley said. “This event helps support LGBTQ Ally programs, Sexperts, Love Your Body Day, Take Back the Night and more.” Senior Clarissa Garcia, attended the Pink & Black Ball in 2012 and has continued to go because of the atmosphere and the cause it supports, she said. “It was a fun night to dress up and dance the night away with your f r i e n d s ,” G a r c i a s a i d . “There were about 150-200 people when I attended.

There wasn’t a large attendance, but it was definitely a lot of fun especially when you are with your friends.” The Pink & Black Ball serves as a way for students across campus to come together and meet new people, Moxley said. “In addition, the event is a great way for diverse groups of students to come together from across campus to have fun, support a great cause and enjoy a semi-formal event,” Moxley said. Lama Agha

lama.n.agha-1@ou.edu

PINK & BLACK BALL When: Friday from 8 p.m. to midnight Where: Molly Shi Boren Ballroom, Oklahoma Memorial Union Cost: $15 in advance, or $20 at the door. Rafﬂe tickets will be $1 or eight for $5. Tickets available at ou.edu/ pinkandblackball. Source: ou.edu/pinkandblackball

))01( 01(

ultimate event,” Kadira said. “So our Stompdown community is hosting different events where they’ll get the community anticipating the big show and also raise money, of course, because Stompdown costs a whole lot of money.” Though Stompdown is a very important event, it costs a great deal of money to put on, so it’s important for BSA to hold smaller events leading up to the larger program. The festival will serve as a contest to see which artist will open up the 2016 Stompdown Step Show. The crowd’s favorite act will be the opening act later at Stompdown. Kadira said that people should expect a good time. “It’s going to be really fun. This is the first time that we’ve done something like this since I’ve been here,” she said. The music festival extends just outside the walls of OU. “It’ll be a time to bring the community together, and we’ve reached out to other schools in Oklahoma, so we’re expecting a big turnout,” Kadira said. The music festival will take place at 7 p.m. in the Jim Thorpe Multicultural Center, with an after-party immediately following in the same location. Tickets are $6.27 for the festival and $11.54 for festival and after-party.

O U ’s B l a c k S t u d e n t Association and the National Pan-Hellenic Council will hold a new music festival this Friday. The UpNext Music Fe s t i v a l w i l l b e h o s te d by Chuck Te ez and Soufwessdess, with DJ talent provided by DJ View, DJ Yoamerikendream and DJ GQ. It features a host of local talent. T h e re w i l l b e p e rformances by Fresha Bam, Chuck G, Canutty, Jarry Manna, Pop Trunk Productions, GMF Entertainment, Slyrex , Fresh, Niqueo, Joey Sativa, LoveMcCoy, DutchDad Dutchess, Jordan Miller and Fre$hJay. All of t h e s e a r t i s t s a re f ro m the Oklahoma City and Norman area. BSA President Naome Kadira said the goal was to reach out to upcoming and local artists that were looking to promote their work in new areas. This showcase will be raising money for Stompdown, BSA’s annual step show competition that it co-hosts with the National Pan-Hellenic Council. “Definitely the goal behind everything that we do Allison Weintraub is to build community, but for this specific event, it’s a allison.weintraub@ou.edu lead-up and kind of a fundraiser for Stompdown, our

**(). ().

FEB. 18-21 Feb. F eb.

Fridƒy

THURSDƒY

Sound SSo oun und Lounge: LLooun nge: gee: Ly LLyrics y yri riics r cs & LLƒttes ƒtte ƒt tte tes 0 HE af :]Yaj\ Dgmf_]$ GcdY`geY E]egjaYd Mfagf& 0 HE E af :] f :] :]Ya Yaaj\\ Dgm g f_ f_]$ ] Gcd ]$ cdY` Y`ge Y` geYY E] ge E]eg egjajajaYd eg Yd Mfa Yd fagf gf&& gf Kgmf\ Dgmf_] ak Y fa_`l âdd]\ oal` klm\]fl emka[ Yf\ gl`]j Yjl ^gjek& Al ak YZgml k`go[Ykaf_ Yf\ Kggmff\ Dg D mf mf_] _] ak k Y fa fa_` _`l l ââdddd]\ _` ]\ oall` kl klm\ m\\]f ] l l em emmkak [ [ Yf Yf\\ gl gl`] `]]j j Yj Yjl l^ggje ek& Al lak YZg Zgml ml k`g `go[ o Yk o[ Y af af__ Yf Yf\\ ]f[gmjY_af_ Yjlakla[ ]phj]kkagf oalàf l`] GM [geemfalq& Làk k`go k h]j^gje]jk af[dm\]2 ?Yjj]ll ]f[g ]f [ggmj [gmj mjY_ Y_af Y_ af__ Yj af Yjlalal klla[[ ]ph phj] j]kk j] ]kk kkag agff oa ag f oa o l` làf aff l`] `] GM [g [gee geemf ee emf mfalalalq& q& Là q& àkk k` k k` k`go go kk h]j go k ]j^g ^gje ^g je]j je ]jk ]j k af af[d[ddm\\]2 af ] ?Yj Yjj] j]lllll j] @gdl$ ;Ykka\q @m[cYZYq$ @YffY` ?jY[] DYff]Ym$ Fgjl` GnYd BYrr& 9\eakkagf ak >J== Yf\ l`]j] @g gdldl$ $ $;YYkk kka\ a\q a\ q @mm[ccYZ q YZYq Yq$$ @Y Yq @Yff ffY` ff Y` ?jY jY[] [] DYf Y f] f]Ym Ym$$ Fg Ym Fgjl jl`` Gn jl GnYd Y BYrrr& Yd r& 9\e \eakakkkakagf gf ak k >J >J== >J == Yf\ f l`] `]j] j] j] oadd oa ddd Z]] ^j] j]]] ^g ^gg\ g $ $ [g g\ [g^^ ^^]] ^^ ]]$ $ $ Yf ]] Yf\ Yf \ gl \ gl`] `]j j jljlj]Y `] ]YYlk lk Hj Hj]k ]k]f ]k ]fl] ]f l]\\ Zq l`] Mfa l] fagf g Hjg gf jg_j _jYe _j Yeea Ye eaf_ ea f_ :gY gYj\ j\\$ $ l` l`]j l` ]j] ]j ] kk ] oadd Z]] ^j]] ^gg\$ [g^^]]$ Yf\ gl`]j lj]Ylk Hj]k]fl]\ Zq l`] Mfagf Hjg_jYeeaf_ :gYj\$ l`]j] k 9DO9 9D 9DO9QK KGE=L@AF? oal` MH:$ mhZ&gm&]\m& O9QK O9 QKK KGE=L GE E=L =L@A @AF? @A F? oalal`` MH F? MH:$ :$ mhZ hZ&g &ggm& m&]\ ]\m& ]\ m m& The Trojƒn Women T Th he T Tr rojjƒn roj ƒn W oom men en 0 HE Yl O]alr]f`g^^]j L`]Ylj]& Mfan]jkalq L`]Ylj] Yf\ @]de]ja[` 0 HE E Yll O]a ]alr lrr]f ]f`g `g^^ `g ^^]j ^^ ]j L`] `]Yl Y j] Yl j]& &Mf Mfan an]j an ]jkakaklq L`] ]j `]Yl Ylj] Yl j] Yf\ @]d ]de] e]jajaa[` e] [` K[`ggd g^ <jYeY hj]k]fl =mjaha\]k \jYeYla[ Y[[gmfl g^ l`] `Yng[ Yf\ jYnY_]k g^ l`] LjgbYf OYj K[`g K[ `ggd `g gd g^ ^ <j <jYe YeYY hj Ye hj]k ]k]f ]k ]fl l l =m ]f =mmjaj ha ha\] \]]k k \jY jYeY eYlalala[ [ [Y[[[g eY [gmf mfll g^ l`] `Yn mf Yng[ g[[ Yf\ f jYn YnY_ Y_]k Y_ ]k g^ ^ l` l`] ] Lj L gb gbYf Yf OYjj Yf\ Yf \ l` l`]] fg l` fgZd Z ] Zd ] og oge] og e]ff o` e] o`gg kmjn kmmjnann] alal& & >] >]Z& >] Z )*% Z& * *))& Hj Hja[a[[]2 9\n \nYf Yf[] Yf [] hmj mj[` [``Yk Y ] ] % * *- - Y\\md - mdl$l$ *(( Yf\ l`] fgZd] oge]f o`g kmjnan] al& >]Z& )*%*)& Hja[]2 9\nYf[] hmj[`Yk] % *- Y\mdl$ *( \ak[gmfl$ )( klm\]fl& 9l l`] \ggj +- Y\mdl$ )- klm\]fl <ak[gmfl % k]fagj Y\mdl .(#$ GM \ak[ \a k[gmfl k[gm gmfl f $ $ ) )( ( kl ( klm\ m\\]f ]fl&l&l 9l l l` l`]] \g l` \ggj gj +-- Y\m gj \mdldll$ $ ) )-- kl ) klm\ m\]f m\ ]fl l <a ]f <ak[ <a k[gm k[ gmfl gm fl % k]f ]fag agj jY\ ag Y\md m l l .( md .(#$ #$ GM ]ehdgq]]$ eadalYjq& Hj]k]fl]\ Zq Mfan]jkalq L`]Ylj]& >gj egj] af^gjeYlagf$ [gflY[l GM >af] 9jlk ]ehd ]e hdgq hd gq]] gq ]]$$ ea ]] eadadadalY lYjq lY jjqq& Hj Hj]k ]k]f ]k]f ]fl] l]]\ Zqq Mfa fan] n]jk n] jkalalalqq L` jk q L` L`]Y ]Yljljlj]& ]Y ]& >gj egj gj]] af ] af^g f^g ^gje jeYl je Ylag Yl agf$ ag f$ [gf gflY lY[l lY [l GM >a >af] f] 9jl jlk k k :gp G^â[] :gp :g p G^ G^âââ[] G^ [] ,(-!+*-%,)()$ l`]Ylj]&gm&]\m& ,(-! ,( -!+* -! +*-% +* -%,) -% , () ,) ()$$ l``]Y ]Yljljlj]& ]&gm ]& gm&] gm &]\m &] \m&& \m

Feb. F eb.

Bƒsebƒll Bƒse Bƒ ƒseebƒll bƒllll v bƒ vs. s. N s. Northeƒstern , HE af D& <Yd] Eal[`]dd HYjc& Hja[]2 >J== oal` NYda\ GM A<& orth orth or heƒ eƒst ƒst steer rn ,, HE af D& <Yd Yd]] Ea Eal[ l[[`]]dd HYj Yjc& c& Hjaja[] []22 >J [] >J== == oalal`` NY NYdadaa\ GM A<& <& Hj]k Hj ]k]f ]k ]ffl] l]\\ Zq \ Zq 9l` l`d] d]lalala[k d] [kk G^^ ^â[a[a[]& ]& >gjj egj gj]] af ] af af^g ^ggje jeYl Ylag Yl agf$ ag f$ nakakalal kgg ggf] f]]jk jkhg hgjl hg jlk& jl k&[g [gge& e& Hj]k]fl]\ Zq 9l`d]la[k G^â[]& >gj egj] af^gjeYlagf$ nakal kggf]jkhgjlk&[ge& W me Wo men' n's T Te ennis nn niiss v ss.. OOregon - HE Yl @]Y\af_lgf L]ffak ;]fl]j& Hja[]2 >J==& Hj]k]fl]\ Zq reeggoon -- HE r H Yl @] @ Y\\aff_l _lgf gf L]f ]ffa fakk ;] fa k ;] ;]fl fl]j fl ]j&& Hj ]j H a[a[]2 ]2 >J= J =& Hj] j]k] k]fl k] fl]\ fl ]\ Zq q Women's Tennis vs. 9l`d 9l `d]l `d ]laa[a[k ]l a[k k G^ G â^ [] G^ []&& >g > j j eg egj] eg j] af^^gj gjeY eYlalalagf eY gf$ $ na gf naka akakal l l kg kggf kg gf]j gf ]jkh ]j khgj kh gjlk gj lk&[&[&[ge lk ge&& ge 9l`d]la[k G^â[]& >gj egj] af^gjeYlagf$ nakal kggf]jkhgjlk&[ge& FFREE FR REEEE M o iee: 'T ov The he Go Good od DDinosƒur' .$ 1 HE ea\fa_`l af E]Y[`Ye 9m\algjame$ GcdY`geY od iin nos osƒu sƒu ƒur' ƒur' r .$ 1 HE E ea ea\f ea \fa_ \f a_`l a_ `l af E] E]Y[ Y[`Y Y[ `Ye `Y e 9m 9m\a \alg \a lgjajajame lg me$$ Gc me $ Gc GcdY dY`g dY `geY `g eY eY Movie: 'The E]eg E] eggjajaYd egja Yd Mfa fagf gf& & OY gf OYl[ OY l[`` l` l[ l`]] >J >J== === k[j [j]] ]]fa ]] faf_ fa f_k f_ k g^ là k àk k ââde k de Z]^ ]^gj gj] gj ] al ak Yn ] YnYa Y dY Ya dYZd Zd] Zd ] gf :dmm%J ] %JYq Yq'< Yq ' N< '< N<&& Hd & Hd Hdgl gl2 2 2Af Y gl E]egjaYd Mfagf& OYl[` l`] >J== k[j]]faf_k g^ làk âde Z]^gj] al ak YnYadYZd] gf :dm%JYq'<N<& Hdgl2 Af Y ogjdjdjd\\ o` og o`]j ]j] ]j ] \a \afg fgkY fg kYmj kY mjk jk Yf Yf\\ `m ` eYfk eYYfk dan an] ] kakaka\] \ %Z \] %Zq% q%kakaka\] q% \]$$ Yf 9hY \] hYlg lgkY lg kYmj kY m mk mj m fYe e]\\ 9jdg jddg eY eYc] eY c k Yf mfd c] fdac a ]ddq ac ogjd\ o`]j] \afgkYmjk Yf\ `meYfk dan] ka\]%Zq%ka\]$ Yf 9hYlgkYmjmk fYe]\ 9jdg eYc]k Yf mfdac]dq `meY `m eYf eY f ^j ^ja] a]f\ a] f\& &JY f\ JYl] l]\2 l] \2 H?& Hj] j]k] k]fl k] fl]\ fl ] Zq ]\ q l` l`] l` ] Mf ] Mfag agf ag f Hj Hjg_ Hj g_jY g_ jYee jY eeaf ee af_ af _ :g _ :gYj :g Yj\ Yj \ Yf \ Yf\ \ ;Y ;Yeh ;Y e mk 9[l eh [lan analala] an alla] a]kk ;g ;gmf mf[a[a[ad&d&d& mf `meYf ^ja]f\& JYl]\2 H?& Hj]k]fl]\ Zq l`] Mfagf Hjg_jYeeaf_ :gYj\ Yf\ ;Yehmk 9[lanala]k ;gmf[ad& Hja[a[a[]2 Hj ]2 >J= J=== lg Ydddd&& Hja[]2 >J== lg Ydd& UpNe Up Next xt /2+ 2+( ( HE HE af f BaBae e L` e L`gj gjjh] Emd mdlalala[m [mdldldlmj [m mjYd mj Yd ;]fl] ]fl] l]j&j& MhF hF]p ]ppl l Em E kaka[ [ [>] Em >]kl klan kl anYd an Yd ak k Yf ]n] n]fl fll oà à[` [` [gf gfkakakakl kl kl UpNext /2+( HE af Bae L`gjh] Emdla[mdlmjYd ;]fl]j& MhF]pl Emka[ >]klanYd ak Yf ]n]fl oà[` [gfkakl g^ dg[ g Yd Yjl jlakakakl lYdd Ydd gn Yd gn]j ]j l`] Fgj gjeY eYf eY f Yf Yff\ GC GC;; Yj Y ]Y [ge geh] h]]lalaf_ f ^gj [jggo\\ ^Yn f_ Yngj gjjal] all] ] Yf Y \ \ Y [` [ Yff[] lg g k` k`go k` go[Y go [Yk] [Y k] k] g^ dg[Yd Yjlakl Ydd gn]j l`] FgjeYf Yf\ GC; Yj]Y [geh]laf_ ^gj [jgo\ ^Yngjal] Yf\ Y [`Yf[] lg k`go[Yk] l`]aj lYd]flk lg l`] Ym\a]f[]& L`] oaff]j g^ MhF]pl oadd _]l l`] [`Yf[] lg h]j^gje Yl Klgeh\gof l`]a l` ]aaj j lY l d] d fllk lg l`] Ym\ m\a] a]f[ a] f[]& f[ ]& L`] ` oaf aff] f]j jg^ f] g MhFF]p ]pll oa oaddddd _]l l`] [`YYf[ f[] ] lg h]j ]j^g ^gje ^g je Yl l Kl K ge Kl geh\ h\go h\ gof go f j]dg j] dgY\ dg Y\]\ Y\ ]\\$ $ l` l`]] kl ] kl kl]h ]h k`g `go o g^ g^ l`] ` q]Y ]Yj&j& Hjaa[] []2 2 -&( &(((& Hj] j]k] k]fl k] fl]\ fl ]\ Zq q :d : Y[ Y[c c Kl c Klm\ m\]f m\ ]fl l l 9k ]f 9kkgg[a[aYl Yllag agf& f& >gj egj gj] ] aff^g ] ^g$ $ $ j]dgY\]\$ l`] kl]h k`go g^ l`] q]Yj& Hja[]2 -&((& Hj]k]fl]\ Zq :dY[c Klm\]fl 9kkg[aYlagf& >gj egj] af^g$ [g gfllY[ Y[l l lK` K`Y% Y J] Y% J]] ] Oj ] Oja[a[[]$ Klg Oj lgeh eh\g eh \ggof ;`Y `Yajaj Yl lk` k`Yj Yj]] Yj ]]8g ]] 8gm& 8g m&]\ m& ]\\m m gj ]eY e ada Mhff]p ]ple le lemk emk m a[a[>] >]kl >] kl8_ kl 8_eY 8_ eYadadad&[&[&[ge eY ge & [gflY[l K`Y%J]] Oja[]$ Klgeh\gof ;`Yaj Yl k`Yj]]8gm&]\m gj ]eYad Mhf]plemka[>]kl8_eYad&[ge & PPink Pi in nk k & BBlƒck lƒ ƒck ck BBƒll ƒlll 0 HE af Egddq Kà :gj]f :Yddjgge$ GcdY`geY E]egjaYd Mfagf& L`] GM ?]f\]j 0 HE af Egd gddq dq Kà :gj gj]f ]f :Ydddjdjgg gge$ gg e$$ Gcd cdY` Y ge Y` g Y Y E] E]eg E] egjajajYd Mfa eg f gf gf& & &L` L`] ] GMM ?]ff\] \]j j ## =imYdalq ;]fl]j hj]k]flk l`] *(). Hafc :dY[c :Ydd2 Gf] ^gj l`] @aklgjq :ggck & D]l k []d]ZjYl] l`] =iimYYdadalq lq ;]f ]fl] l j hj l] hj]k ]k]f ]k ]flk ]f lk l`] *() (). . Ha Hafc Ha fc :dY dY[c [c :Yd Ydd2d2d Gf Gf] ] ^g ] ^ggj l``] ] @a @ kl @a klgj gjjq q :g :ggc gck gc k & & D] k D]]l l kk [] []d] ]d]Zj d]]Zj Z Yl Yl] ] l` ] l`] l` ] ] j]eY j] eYjc eY jcYZ jc YZd] YZ d] ]n]]fl flkk Yf Yf\\ h] h ghhd] l`Y ` l `Y `Yn] n] aeh ehY[ Y[l] Y[ l]\\ à l] àkl klgj kl gjq$ gj q$ oà ` d] j]YYdadara raf_ ra f_ gmj gof bgmmjf jf]q ]qq& Dg D lk g^ ^ j]eYjcYZd] ]n]flk Yf\ h]ghd] l`Yl `Yn] aehY[l]\ àklgjq$ oàd] j]Ydaraf_ gmj gof bgmjf]q& Dglk g^ ^Yfl ^Y flYk fl Yklalala[ [^ggg\ Yk g\$ $dadan] n] emk mka[a[[$ <B Yf\ H`g ` lg Zgg ggl` l` Zq q F] F]]pm pmk k Hj k Hjg\ Hj g\m[ g\ m[lalalagf m[ g k$$ Yf\ ^mff ^gj Ydddd&& Hj gf H a[a[]2 ]2 )) Z]^ ]^gj gj] gj ] ] ^YflYkla[ ^gg\$ dan] emka[$ <B Yf\ H`glg Zggl` Zq F]pmk Hjg\m[lagfk$ Yf\ ^mf ^gj Ydd& Hja[]2 )- Z]^gj] >]Z& >] Z& )0l 0l`$ ` *( gf `$ f l` l`] ] \Y \Yq \Y q g^ q g^ l`] ]n] n]fl fl& & &>g fl >gjj eg j eg e j] af^ f^gj gjeY gj e lalagf eY gf$ $ $[g gf [gfl flY[ fl Y[[l l ,( ,(-% ,( -%+* -% +*-% +* -%,1 -% ,1*1 ,1 *1 gj j _] _ [&[&gm _] gm&] &]\m &] \m&& \m >]Z& )0l`$ *( gf l`] \Yq g^ l`] ]n]fl& >gj egj] af^gjeYlagf$ [gflY[l ,(-%+*-%,1*1 gj _][&gm&]\m&

Sƒturdƒy

Bƒsebƒll BBƒ ƒse seebƒ bƒll bƒ ll v vs. ss.. N Northeƒstern ) ,2+( HE Yl D& <Yd] Eal[`]dd HYjc& L`] *(). ZYk]ZYdd or orth rth theƒ ƒsst tern ern ) ,2+ er 2+(( HE Yl D& <Yd Yd] ] Ea Eal[ Ea l[`] l[ `]ddddd HYj `] Yjc& c& L`] *()).. ZY Z k] k]ZY ZYdddddd ZY k]Ykgf [gflafm]k l`] o]]c]f\ k]ja]k Y_Yafkl Fgjl`]Ykl]jf oal` Y \gmZd]%`]Y\]j& Hja[]2 >J== oal` NYda\ k]Yk k] Ykkgf [gf gflalalafm fm]k fm ] l`] o]] ]k ]]c] c]]f\ c]f\ f k]j ] a] a k Y__Ya Yafk f l l Fg fk Fgjl jl`] jl `]]Yk Ykl] l]jf l] jf oala ` ` YY \g \gmZ mZd] mZ d]%` d] %`]Y %` ]Y\] ]Y \]j&j& Hjaja[] \] []2 2 >J [] >J== >J == oalal`` NY NYdadada\ \ \ GM A<& Hj]k]fl]\ Zq 9l`d]la[k G^â[]& >gj egj] af^gjeYlagf$ nakal kggf]jkhgjlk&[ge& GM A<& Hj] j]k] k]fl k] fl]\ fl ]\ Zq q 9ll`d ` ]l ]la[a[a[k k G^ G^âââ[] []&& >g [] >gj j jeggj] af^^gj gjeY e lalagf eY ggff$ $ na nakakal kaal lkg kggf g ]j gf ]jkh khhgj khgj gjlk lk&[&[&[ge lk ge& ge 2016 Miss Indiƒn University Pƒgeƒnt 20 016 16 M isss In ndiiƒn nU niiveers rsit sity it ty of of OOklƒhomƒ kllƒ k ƒh hom omƒ Pƒge PPƒ ƒggeeeƒn ƒnt / HE af E]Y[`Ye 9m\algjame$ ƒn / HE af / f E] E]Y[ E] Y[`Y Y[ `Ye `Y e 9m e 9m\a \alg \a lgjajajame lg me$ $ me GcdY Gc dYY`g `geY eY E]e ]egj gjaY gj a d Mf aY Mfag agf& ag f& L`] Mfa fan] n]jk ]jk jkalalalq q Gc q GcdY dY`g dY `geY `g eY 9e] e]jajaja[Y [Yf [Y f Aff\a f \aYf Yf Klm l \] \]fl fl 9kk k g[ g aY a lalagf g hjg gf j m\ m\dq dq dq GcdY`geY E]egjaYd Mfagf& L`] Mfan]jkalq GcdY`geY 9e]ja[Yf Af\aYf Klm\]fl 9kkg[aYlagf hjgm\dq `gklk gf] g^ l`] Mfan]jkalq g^ GcdY`geY k egkl mfaim] ]n]flk gf [Yehmk$ l`] Eakk Af\aYf GM `gkl `g klk kl k gf k gf]] g^ l`] Mfa fan] n]jk n] jkalalalq jk q g^ g^ Gcd cdY` Y`ge Y` g Y ge Y kk eg egkl kl mfa faim im]] ]n im ] ]n ] ]f ]flk lk gf [Y f [Y [Yeh ehmk eh mk$$ l` mk l`] l` ] Ea Eakk kkk Af\\aYf aYYf f GM G HY_]Yfl L`] [Yl]_gja]k l`Yl l`] [Yf\a\Yl]k oadd k`go[Yk]2 LjY\alagfYd LYd]fl$ LjY\alagfYd J]_YdaY$ HY_] HY _]Yf _] Yfl Yf l L`] ` [Yl Yl]_ ]_gj ]_ g a] gj a]k k l` k l`Yl l` Y l`] [Yf Yl Yf\a \a\Y \a \Yl] \Y l]k l] k oa k oadddd k`ggo[ oa o[Yk Ykk]2 LjY jY\a \alalaagf \a gfYd Yd LYd Yd]f ]fl$l$l LjY\a ]f jYY\a \alalalagf gfYd gf Yd J]_ ]_Yd YdaY Yd aY$$ aY Hj]k]flYlagf g^ HdYl^gje$ Eg\]daf_ g^ ;gfl]ehgjYjq [dglàf_$ =n]faf_ ?gof$ Yf\ Aehjgehlm Hj]k Hj ]k]f ]k ]flY ]f lYlalalagf lY gf g^ ^ Hd H Yl Yl^g ^gje ^g je$ $ $Eg je Eg\] \ dadaf_ \] f_ g^ ^ ;g ;gfl ;g fl]e fl ]ehg ]e hgjY hg jYjq jY jq [dgl` dggl` làf af_$ af _$ =n]fa n]]fa faf_ f__ ?go of$ Yf\\ Aeh ehjg jgeh jg ehhlm e lm IIm]klagf& L`] ]n]fl ak >J== gh]f lg l`] hmZda[& L`] 9e]ja[Yf Af\aYf Klm\]fl 9kkg[aYlagf ]pl]f\k Yf Im ]kklaagf ]kla gf&& L` L`]] ]n ]n]f ] l l akak >J= ]f J=== gh gh]f ]f lg g l` l ] l` ] hm hmZd hm Zda[a[a[& &L` Zd L`]] 9e e]j ]ja[a[a[Yf Yf Af\ f\aY aYf aY f Kllm\\]f ]fl l9k 9kkg kg[a[a[aYl kg Ylag Yl aggf ]p f ]p ]pl] l]f\ l] f\\k YYff afna af afnalYlagf lg [mjj]fl GM lald] `gd\]jk$ GM klm\]fl gj_YfarYlagfk$ Ydd GM klm\]flk& 9 j][]hlagf oadd nalY na lYYlalagf gf lg g [m [mjj jj]f jj ]fll GM lalald] ]f d] `gd gd\] \]jk \] jk$$ GM klm jk l \] \]fl f gj_ fl j_Yf YfarrYlag Ylag agfk fkk$ $ Yd Ydd d dGM klm l \] \]fl flk& fl k& 9 j][ ][]h ] lalagf ]h gf oaddd ^gddgo af :]Yaj\ Dgmf_] Yl 1 HE& >gj egj] af^gjeYlagf$ [gflY[l ;gflY[l JYn]f Egj_Yf$ Kg[aYd 9^^Yajk ^gdd ^g ddddgo go af f :] :]Ya Yaj\ Ya j\ Dgm gmf_ f_] f_ ] Yl Yl 1 HE& >gj egj gj]] af af^g ^gje ^g je eYl Y ag agf$ f$ [gfflYY[l ;gf g lY lY[l [l JYnn]f Egj gj_Y _ f$ Kg[ _Y g[aY aYd d 9^ aY 9^^Y 9^ ^Yajajk ^Y ajjk ;`Yaj$ jYn]f&e&egj_Yf%)8gm&]\m& ;`Ya ;` Yaj$j$ jYn Ya Yn]f ]f&e ]f &e&e &e &e &egj egj gj_Y _YYf% _Yf% f%)8 )8gm )8 8gm gm&] &]\m ]\m& \m&

Sundƒy

Feb. F eb.

Wo W omeen n''s Te en nn niss v ss.. IIowƒ )) 9E Yl @]Y\af_lgf L]ffak ;]fl]j& Hja[]2 >J==& Hj]k]fl]\ Zq ow wƒ )) 9E E Yl Y @]YY\a \ f_ f_lg lgf lg f L] f L]ff L] fffak ;]f ]fl] l]j&j& Hjaja[] l] []2 2>J [] >J== ==& & &Hj == Hj]k ]k]f ]k ] l] ]f l]\\ Zq Zq Women's Tennis vs. 99l`d]la[k G^â[]& >gj egj] af^gjeYlagf$ nakal kggf]jkhgjlk&[ge& 9l `d]l `d ]la[a[a[kk G^ ]l k G^ G ââ[] []& & >g [] >gjj eg >g egj] j] af^ f^gj gjeY gj eYllagf eY lagf$ gff$ na nakakakal l lkg kggf gf]j gf ]jkh ]j khhgj khgj g lk lk&[&[[ge ge&& BBƒ ƒseebƒ bƒll bƒll ll v s. N ort or th heƒ eƒster ster st ern n )** HE E Yll D& <Y <Yd] <Y d] Ealal[` [`]d [` ]dd dHY ]d HYjc jc& & Hj jc Hja[a[a[]2 Hj ]2 >J= J = = oa o l` NYd Yda\ a\ GM M A< A<&& A< Bƒsebƒll vs. Northeƒstern )* HE Yl D& <Yd] Eal[`]dd HYjc& Hja[]2 >J== oal` NYda\ GM A<& HHj]k]fl]\ Zq 9l`d]la[k G^â[]& >gj egj] af^gjeYlagf$ nakal kggf]jkhgjlk&[ge& Hj ]k]f ]k ]fl] ]f l]\\ Zq 9l` l] l`d] d lala[k d] [k G^â[ ^^â[a]& >gj egj g ] ] af af^g af ^gje ^g jeYl je Ylag Yl agf$ ag f$ nakakalal kgg ggf] f]jk f] jkhg hgjl hg jlk& jl k&[g k& [gge& e

The h University Universi Univ ers ty ersi y of of Oklahoma Oklaho Oklaho lahoma lah ma a

L`] L` ] Mf ] M ann]j ]jkakakalq lq g^ ^ GccdY dY`g `geY `g eY ak k Yf ]im imYd Yd ghh hhgj gjlm gj lmfa lm falq fa lq afk fklalalalm lmlalalagf lm gf$$ oo gf ooo& o&gm gm&] gm &]\m &] \m'] \m ' gg '] gg& & >g >gj j jY[ >g Y[[g [gee [g eeg\ ee g\Yl g\ Ylag Yl a fk gf l` ag f l` l ] ] ZY Z kakakk g^ \akakYZ ZY YZadaddalalq$ YZ q hd] q$ d Yk Yk] ] [g ] [gfl flY[ fl Y[l l ll` Y[ l`] ] hj ] hj]k hj ]k]f ]k ] lalaf_ ]f f_ \]h ]hYj Yjle Yj le]f le ]fl l lg^ Yfq hjg ]f jg_j _jYe _j Y gj ]n Ye ] ]f ]fl&l& L`] Mfan]jkalq g^ GcdY`geY ak Yf ]imYd ghhgjlmfalq afklalmlagf$ ooo&gm&]\m']gg& >gj Y[[geeg\Ylagfk gf l`] ZYkak g^ \akYZadalq$ hd]Yk] [gflY[l l`] hj]k]flaf_ \]hYjle]fl g^ Yfq hjg_jYe gj ]n]fl&

February 18-21, 2016 •

SPORTS

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

WEEKEND SCHEDULE Men’s basketball 3 p.m. Saturday @ West Virginia Women’s basketball 2 p.m. Saturday @ Kansas Baseball Home series vs. Northeastern 4 p.m. Friday 1 p.m. Saturday 4:30 p.m. Saturday Noon Sunday Softball Troy Cox Classic @ Las Cruces, New Mexico 2:30 p.m. Friday vs. Creighton 5 p.m. Friday vs. New Mexico State 2:30 p.m. Saturday vs. Western Mich. 5 p.m. Saturday vs. New Mexico State

SIANDHARA BONNET/THE DAILY

Senior outfielder Hunter Haley throws the ball back to the pitcher during practice Feb. 17. AstroTurf replaced the natural grass and dirt at L. Dale Mitchell Park.

Men’s Golf

Laying turf, leaving tradition Synthetic surface gives baseball field new look, feel DILLON HOLLINGSWORTH @DillonJames94

Baseball is a sport steeped in tradition, but the college version of the game is heading steadily down a less traditional path. To become better suited for a season that begins February, teams are more frequently moving away from natural grass and dirt and toward synthetic playing surfaces. Oklahoma joined that group this offseason, enlisting AstroTurf to reinvent the field at L. Dale Mitchell Park. What was once grass is now a 1 5/8 inch tall synthetic surface made up of a particular balance of sand and rubber. Where there used to be dirt, there now lays a halfand-half mixture of nylon and a polyethylene product. The Sooners could not be more excited. “I really fought for it,” OU baseball coach Pete Hughes said. “We’re lucky to have an administration that has an open ear and an open mind to those things, especially at such a traditional athletic department. To bring in artificial turf is a big leap of faith.” OU is the sixth Big 12 program to switch to an artificial surface, leaving Oklahoma

State, TCU and Baylor as the remaining conference holdouts. One of the primary reasons for the widespread shift is the start of the college season in mid-February, when cold and wet weather can force teams inside to avoid tearing up a natural field. With a synthetic surface, that worry disappears. “Now that Division I college baseball is being played at such an early time frame, it really gives an advantage to the schools that have synthetic for a number of reasons,” said Doug White, A s t ro Tu r f ’s d i re c t o r o f baseball operations for the Western states. “With synthetic you get a lot more outdoor, on-the-field practice time which leads to more repetitions on ground balls and live (batting practice).” Those extra repetitions are no small matter for an Oklahoma team that is attempting to integrate 21 new players in 2016. “With so many kids — 21 new faces out there — you need the weather to cooperate to evaluate,” Hughes said. “And fortunately, now we have a new facility that allows us to practice every single day.” The new turf also gives Hughes more control over the way the game is played on the Sooners’ home field. The mix of sand and rubber in the artificial grass is adjustable to make the surface play slower or faster. The surface at OU is

mixed to play a hair slower, and as the games get going, Hughes and his squad will adjust the balance to find the perfect recipe. The new surface isn’t only for the athletes already at OU though. Its aesthetic is just as important as its playability. The grass will stay green all year, and the crimson interlocking logo in the outfield will remain bold and colorful throughout the season’s 25 home games. Most importantly for Hughes, the wear and tear the field receives from intense summer camps and tournaments won’t tarnish its image for potential recruits. “So many people come to our games in the spring,” Hughes said, “They don’t see this field in the summertime, when we run a thousand campers through here, when we have five travel-team tournaments when they play four games a day for four days on it. And then you bring your best recruits around, and they see a field that’s just worn out. From a recruiting standpoint, it was a no brainer.” All of this doesn’t mean the transition will be seamless, however. There are some adjustments to be made, particularly for the fielders. The consistency of the turf eliminates bad hops, there is no lip on the edge of the infield dirt for the ball to bounce off, and the outfield will be

springier than natural grass. Despite recent improvements to add some friction to the infield surface, White said the slides will be longer than what is typical on a natural surface. Hughes said those adjustments just come with understanding your home field, and his players seem to agree. “It’s not a lot different, honestly,” junior shortstop Sheldon Neuse said. “Some spots are a little bouncier than others, but you get used to it with the repetition. It’s nothing crazy.” The only issue White could think of comes off the field from traditional-minded MLB scouts who don’t relish the idea of a prospect transitioning from an artificial surface to natural grass. The latter of which adorns all but two major league stadiums. But junior right-handed pitcher Alec Hansen, who is listed as the No. 2 college prospect in the countr y by Baseball America, isn’t concerned. “When we throw inside in the indoor (field), that’s obviously turf. So the turf mound is not really much different really,” Hansen said. “I don’t think for pitchers it’s really that much difference.” The turf mound is perhaps the most unusual sight to baseball purists, but the pitchers who have to use it have no problems with the

Puerto Rico Shootout, SundayTuesday in Rio Mar, Puerto Rico Men’s gymnastics

surface. “Our pitchers love it,” Hughes said. “There are no holes. You know, sometimes you get the kid who’s 5 foot 8 and then you get the guy who’s 6 foot 9 and there are holes everywhere, and it messes up their strides. That problem’s been eliminated.” The turf will begin to be tested when the season’s first pitch is thrown Friday afternoon, but so far, it has been a hit with those whom it will directly affect. There’s one other group who will benefit from the new surface. “The people that have to clean their uniforms don’t have to worry about trying to clean out the red clay,” White said.

3 p.m. Thursday Winter Cup prelims @ Las Vegas Women’s gymnastics 3 p.m. Saturday @ Georgia Men’s Tennis 5 p.m. Saturday @Tulsa Men’s and women’s track and ﬁeld 11 a.m. Saturday @Indianapolis, Alex Wilson Invitational Men’s tennis

Dillon Hollingsworth

2 p.m. Saturday vs. Utah State

dillon.j.hollingsworth-1@ ou.edu

2 p.m. Sunday vs. Troy or UTSA Women’s tennis

TURF TREND

5 p.m. Friday vs. Oregon

Big 12 schools with artiﬁcal baseball ﬁelds

11 a.m. Sunday vs. Iowa

• Kansas • Kansas State

Wrestling

• Texas

7 p.m. Friday vs. Iowa State

• Texas Tech • West Virginia

Source: soonersports.com

Adopt - An - Area Area ratings for this week Air Force ROTC Alpha Chi Omega Alpha Gamma Delta Alpha Kappa Alpha Alpha Kappa Delta Phi Alpha Omicron Pi Alpha Phi Alpha Phi Alpha Alpha Phi Omega Alpha Sigma Kappa Alpha Tau Omega Beta Theta Pi Catholic Student Assn. Chi Omega Delta Delta Delta Delta Epsilon Psi Delta Gamma Delta Phi Omega Delta Sigma Theta Delta Tau Delta

Delta Upsilon Gamma Phi Beta Hispanic American Student Assn. Iota Phi Theta Kappa Alpha Kappa Alpha Psi Kappa Alpha Theta Kappa Delta Chi Kappa Kappa Gamma Kappa Kappa Psi Lambda Chi Alpha N. Soc. of Collegiate Scholars Omega Delta Phi Omega Psi Phi Our Earth Phi Beta Sigma Phi Delta Alpha Phi Delta Theta Phi Gamma Delta

Phi Kappa Psi Phi Kappa Sigma Pi Beta Phi Pi Kappa Phi President’s Community Scholars President’s Leadership Class Rotaract RUF/NEK Lil Sis Sigma Chi Sigma Gamma Rho Sigma Lambda Gamma Sigma Nu Sigma Phi Epsilon Sooner Jump Start Program Zeta Phi Beta Adams Center Cate Center Couch Center Walker Center

Way to go! Keep up the good work!

Volunteer u Programs Strengthening Our Traditions through Service to State and Society

Leadership Development and Volunteerism • leadandvolunteer.ou.edu The University of Oklahoma is an Equal Opportunity Institution. For accommodations on the basis of disability, call 325-2340

• February 18-21, 2016

NEWS

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

SGA battling bad bills? Some say overlypolitical bills are being presented

TANNER OSBORNE @tannerosbear

A Student Government Association resolution condemning Gov. Mary Fallin for her stance on Syrian refugees is currently languishing in a Graduate Student S e nat e c o m m i tt e e, bu t Undergraduate Student Congress representatives are still angry about the resolution’s political nature. On Jan. 26, congress first considered a proposal called “A Concurrent Resolution Regarding the Syrian Refugees Humanitarian Crisis.” The resolution, originally authored by congress Public Relations Chair Austin Reid, was tabled in the last meeting of the Senate Human Diversity Committee. During the discussion in congress, much of the concern originated from section two, which stated the SGA legislative branch and OU student body “stand with President Obama and his administration’s goal to continue to admit Syrian refugees into the United States at a higher rate during this and following years.” Congress debated and questioned the bill in session for nearly two hours with concerns about student representation, the role of representatives regarding political ideology and the details of the bill itself. Kyle Meyer, a freshman political science major and a representative for University College, said he thinks congress, as a student

NOOR EEMAAN/THE DAILY

Undergraduate Student Congress representatives vote on whether to further debate a bill condemning Gov. Mary Fallin’s statements on Syrian refugees. The proceedings lasted around hours.

government body, makes too many political statements. “I feel that I’ve seen a lot of political statements being passed,” Meyer said. Meyer said though he does not really mind political statements, they don’t address true issues at this campus. He feels this way about the Syrian crisis bill. Dayten Israel, SGA representative and public relations sophomore, said he opposed section two of the bill because he thought it had an ideological leaning. Israel said the original message of the bill was meant to call out Fallin’s views on the Syrian crisis as unconstitutional; the rest of the bill came from the political view of the author. Israel said he would not want to express an ideology for his constituents without at least first polling them or in some way gaining their consent. Israel said he liked the way the bill looked when it passed congress — after it was stripped of what he thought were its biased political viewpoints. Israel said this was different than simply passing

legislation. “There’s a difference between me working on behalf of my constituents to benefit the school versus me establishing a political ideology and expressing viewpoints that may be contrary to what my constituents want,” Israel said. Israel proposed and successfully passed a hostile amendment, which struck section two from the bill completely. Reid said he sees the merit in both sides of the argument on representation, and he could not go one way or another with it. “I think that there is validity to both sides; I think you can’t go one way or the other,” Reid said. “I’m writing this bill because of my constituents’ urgings, but I’m also writing for me.” Reid said right now the bill is in the Senate’s Human Diversity Committee, and they have decided to table it for another week of discussion. Reid said they have taken the bill in a different direction since it reached the Human Diversity Committee and is more focused on the

Teach-In honors centennial World War I to be celebrated through education, speakers DERRIC CUSHMAN @derric_cushman

OU will host some of the world’s leading historians and best selling authors with its Teach-In on the First World War. The event will be held March 7 and will provide attendees with sessions designed to give a historical perspective on World War I from some of the most respected scholars who study that era in history, according to Joshua Landis, director of the Center for Middle East Studies and associate professor at the OU College of International Studies. “It’s really a great occasion because we get topflight speakers from all over the world, and because it’s the 100th anniversary of the

Free transportation 10 p.m.-3 a.m. Thursday-Saturday saferide.ou.edu

First World War this year, (OU President David Boren) has chosen this as the topic.” Invited speakers headlining the day’s events include best selling author H.W. Brands and historian John Horne. Brands, who has authored 25 books and written numerous articles that have garnered both national and international acclaim, will present a luncheon address titled “We’re All Wilsonians, Whether We Like It or Not.” Horne has likewise written and edited books and articles detailing the World War I era. He ser ves on various committees dealing with World War I, such as the French National Commission for the Commemoration of the Great War, and serves as emeritus professor of modern European history at Trinity College in Dublin, Ireland. His dinner address is titled “World War One: Rethinking the Centenary.”

Promoting wellness, safety, and success for our Sooner community. Report online: ou.edu/normanbit

Other speakers include authors Philip Jenkins and Heather Perry. A panel discussion titled “How the First World War Shaped the Modern World,” led by Landis and featuring all of the event’s speakers, will occur near the end of the day. Through the “Teach-In on the First World War” event, Landis said he hopes people can see the lasting effects World War I has had on the world today. “By looking at the impact of World War I, these speakers are going to be able to talk about the conflicts that are raging today in the world and give us some historical context and insight into the geopolitical struggles of our day,” Landis said. Derric Cushman

derric.cushman@yahoo. com

WITHOUT IT!

YOU ARE NOT

ALONE

Tanner Osborne

Tannerosborne84@yahoo.com

A magazine will recognize OU President David Boren’s diversity and inclusion efforts by honoring him with the 2016 Giving Back Award. The Giving Back Award, given by “INSIGHT Into Diversity” magazine, honors university presidents and chancellors for doing more than everyday duties and ﬁnding ways to give back to the campus community. Award recipients must have ﬁrst been nominated by a colleague before being selected by “INSIGHT Into Diversity,” the largest and oldest publication honoring diversity and inclusion in higher education, according to the magazine’s website. A recipient must exemplify a passion for social responsibility, commitment of charitable services and involvement with students, faculty and staff across campus, according to a press release. As a result of this award, Boren will be featured in the April 2016 Leadership Support and Giving Back issue of “INSIGHT Into Diversity” magazine. Emilee Rowe, @RoweThisBoat

Some say OU lacks free speech, Boren says racism is uncalled for OU was named one of the 10 worst colleges for free speech by the Foundation for Individual Rights in Education for the expulsion of two students following the Sigma Alpha Epsilon incident last year. According to an article by the president and CEO of FIRE on the Huffpost College website, OU President David Boren’s “unilateral” decision to expel two students following the SAE incident was a violation of free speech as protected by the first amendment. Last March, a video surfaced showing members of the SAE fraternity participating in a racist chant on a date party bus. The chapter was disbanded by its national organization, and Boren expelled the two students, Levi Pettit and Parker Rice, “identified as playing a leadership role” in the video. Because the chant did not fall into the narrowly defined category for unprotected free speech by the first amendment, the article says the expulsion of the two students without notice of the charges against them or an opportunity to contest those charges was a violation of free speech and due process rights. Boren said in a statement that FIRE’s criticism is “outrageous.” “Of course every group is entitled to free speech, but their criticism is outrageous,” he said. “Free speech is one thing, tolerating overt and threatening racism on a college campus is quite another. Hopefully we have been an example and role model to the rest of the country in standing up against such unjustifiable and irresponsible actions.” Lauren Massing, @LaurenMassing

OU Facilities Management’s

Bike Sale

(abandoned bikes left on campus)

Thursday, February 25, 2016

9:00 am - 10:00 am

(Students only, I.D. required, one bike limit)

10:00 am - 3:00 pm (Open to all!)

160 Felgar Street west side of Facilities Management compound 24/7 support for sexual assault, relationship violence, stalking, or harassment. OU Advocates is available for all gender identities. 405.615.0013

DON’T LEAVE HOME

immigration policies of Fallin and Oklahoma. Nothing is finalized as of yet. Reid said he personally will not try to add section two back onto the bill, and he doubts that is the direction the senate or the Human Diversity Committee will take either. Reid said the point of the more “positive” direction they are taking with the bill is to “get it to pass and unify the bodies around it a little bit better.” Reid said this resolution is taking longer than a resolution normally takes, but because of the hot button nature of the resolution, he expected that. “I’ve never seen a bad bill that went through rigorous processes with various people,” Reid said. Reid said the bill will be seen Sunday, Feb. 28, and once it’s through the Human Diversity Committee it will have to be passed by the senate, congress and then sent to SGA President Daniel Pae. It will be up to Pae to either sign the resolution or veto it.

OU President David Boren to be awarded 2016 Giving Back Award

$25 and under Cash or checks

February 18-21, 2016 •

NEWS

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

Poet’s work sheds light on world’s darkness

PHOTO BY ELAINE MARSCHIK VIA MARK HENRIKSEN

Arkansas poet Matthew Henriksen reads some of his poetry. Henriksen will read at OU’s Mark Allen Everett Poetry Reading series Feb. 22.

Three writers from Arkansas will read at upcoming event EMMA KEITH @shakeitha_97

Moments of beauty and grace in a frightening, destructive world. That’s what Matthew Henriksen wants his readers to find in his work. “My work is like ... when my parents or former in-laws read it, they’re like, ‘that’s really dark,’” Henriksen said. But the rising Arkansas poet strives to portray more than darkness in his poems. After all, he’s working with his own emotions, feelings and experience. “Creative types see that I’m really invested in what’s beautiful in this world, in moments of grace and our own need to experience grace,”

he said. “The world is a really frightening and destructive place, but we can accept its beauty and grace.” Henriksen will read his poetry aloud at an installment in OU’s Mark Allen Everett Poetry Reading Series at 7 p.m. on Monday at Norman’s Mainsite Gallery. The series is an annual semester-long event, and it featured Oklahoma’s most recent poet laureate at this semester’s first reading. Henriksen will be joined at the event by his peers and fellow Arkansas poets, Sara Nicholson and C. Violet Eaton, who will read from their own work. While the three are united in their youth, passion and understanding of the world, Nicholson said each has a distinct poetic voice. “I don’t really write about

things or about things that happened to me. Matt and Chris and I are really different poets in that respect,” she said. Although only 38, Henriksen is relatively established and accomplished in his craft, having written two books and coedited online literary journal Typo. His first book, “Ordinary Sun,” was published in 2011, and his most recent publication, “The Absence of Knowing,” was released in December 2015. “Ordinary Sun” received acclaim from Publishers Weekly as “one of the most striking collections from a small press this year.” Henriksen’s pursuit of poetry has been a long journey. “I always wrote my entire life,” he said. “There were a series of teachers telling me

‘you’re good at this’ — some teachers in high school and mentors in college. As my life has gone on, I’ve been more and more immersed in poetry, and now a lot of my friends are poets.” Thoughtful and strikingly well spoken, Henriksen speaks bluntly on his poetic inspiration. “Absence of Knowing” deals with the end of a marriage and a divorce and moving from a long history of substance abuses into sobriety, Henriksen said. “The book charts the end of a marriage and divorce right as I was going through my divorce, so it wasn’t so much writing about it as writing from that point in my life.” “The great thing about being a poet is you can use anything as inspiration,” Eaton said. “Anything can change your perspective, even if you don’t derive direct inspiration from it.” Despite his latest book’s emphasis on a darker time in his life, Henriksen said much of his writing is focused on his young daughter. “A lot of it’s about her, and everyone who knows me knows that,” he said. Her importance and influence in his life is evident when he speaks about their relationship. “I called her my ‘life coach’ last night, and I’m her lifeguard,” Henriksen said. “You know, I need her more than she needs me, but I have to feed her and such.” Apart from his parenting, Henriksen is also influenced by his job as a teacher and his interactions with his students. While he teaches his students, he also learns from them, and he said they’ve given him the perspective to become less critical and destructive toward his own work. “They have an experience they want to convey, and my job is to help them articulate that but also to appreciate their courage in even writing,” he said. “You know, writing is like spilling your guts out.” He explained that this process of appreciation is something he’s learned to apply to his own work. “I used to be a vicious critic, but now I look at something I’ve written as a first draft. I look at the person who wrote it and the change since then,” Henriksen said. “ W i t h ‘A b s e n c e o f Knowing,’ I’m not the person

who wrote that book. I’ve come out better,” he said. “I can look at the dark and hopeless and emotional times and know I’m a different person now.” Despite his achievements in publishing and writing, Henriksen said his greatest poetry accomplishment has come through the friendships he has cultivated. “You think you’re going to change people or publish certain things, and express certain ideas, and you get to do those things,” he said. “But you get some poems in some good magazines and publish a book and meet people like you who are invested in poetry with great brains and amazing hearts, and build a great network.“ Henriksen listed Nicholson and Eaton as

members of that network. “If someone’s inclined to something new or creative or to philosophical thinking, that’s what they’ll see at the reading,” Henriksen said. Nicholson is the author of “The Living Method,” as well as a forthcoming book “What the Lyric Is,” to be released this April. Eaton is the author of the book “Some Habits,” was published last April. “All three of us think a lot about what we write and how we write. We’re more interested in what we understand intuitively,” Henriksen said about his fellow poets. “We’re all relatively young and in touch with the world.” Emma Keith

Emma.C.Keith-1@ou.edu

CAMPUS CALENDAR Thursday

Gaylord College and AFAM “Eyes on the Prize,” viewing A free screening of a segment of the award winning PBS documentary “Eyes on the Prize” with a panel discussion to follow. When: 6 p.m. Where: Gaylord Hall, Ethics and Excellence in Journalism Foundation Auditorium 1140 UPB Sound Lounge: Lyrics and Lattes A free showcase of student music and art with free food and coffee provided. When: 8 to 10 p.m. Where: The Oklahoma Memorial Union’s Beaird Lounge OU Write Club’s Open Mic Night An open mic for students and community members to perform poems, spoken word and music. When: 7:30 p.m. Where: Second Wind Coffee House

Friday

Gender + Equality Center Pink & Black Ball This alcohol-free semi-formal beneﬁts the Gender + Equality Center with a night of dancing, music and food. Tickets: $15 in advance, $20 at the door When: 8 p.m. to midnight Where: The Oklahoma Memorial Union’s Molly Shi Boren Ballroom UpNext BSA Music Festival Tickets: $6.27, for the show, $11.54, after party Where: Jim Thorpe Multicultural Center When: 7:30 p.m.

• • • • •

5% Discount for OU Students and Staff Quiet Neighborhood Pets Welcome Internet, Cable, Trash, and Water All Included Conveniently Located Just 2.5 Miles Off Campus

NEED HELP PAYING FOR

COLLEGE NEXT YEAR?

It’s time to fill out the Free Application for Federal Student Aid 2016 - 2017 Fill out early for best considerations. One application will apply for you all grants, loan opportunities, work study opportunities and need based scholarships. The application can be found at fafsa.gov. For more info, please contact Financial Aid Services, 405-325-4521 or stop by Buchanan Hall, Room 216.

NEWS

â&#x20AC;˘ February 18-21, 2016

Boren to tour state to collect signatures for penny tax petition OU President David Boren will kick off his statewide tour to promote his penny sales tax Thursday night in Norman. Boren will speak at 6 p.m. Thursday at the Norman Embassy Suites, where Oklahomaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Children | Our Future, an organization headed by Boren, will have its petition for those attending to sign. Boren will also visit Ponca City, Durant, Lawton and Oklahoma City before April, according to the Oklahomaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Children | Our Future schedule. If the petition collects more than 123,000 signatures in 90 days, the tax will be pushed to the ballot for voting in November, according to a previous Daily article. Borenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s plan is to increase the state sales tax by one penny on the dollar to raise approximately $615 million for Oklahoma education in one year. Boren also told The Daily in October that the money would contribute enough funds to possibly keep OU tuition from increasing. If passed, the initiative will raise a teacherâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s salary by $5,000 and allow school districts the ďŹ&#x201A;exibility to address areas that need improvement as well as make college more affordable and provide better pre-school availability for low-income families, according to the organizations website. Mary Smith, @marysmitty21

Stay connected with The Daily

Follow @OUDaily for breaking news and campus info

Student leaders initiate push for legal counsel

Potential program introduced by SGA vice president TANNER OSBORNE @tannerosbear

SGA leadership is pushing to hire an attorney for use by OU students to resolve minor legal issues. The Legal Counsel Initiative was one of the six primary goals of SGA President Daniel Pae and Vice President Michael Lutter. Pae said OU is the only university in the Big 12 that does not provide its students with any form of legal counseling. Pae said the initiative is something that Lutter is really passionate about and that he has been doing most of the work on the project. â&#x20AC;&#x153;The whole process is going smoother than I thought,â&#x20AC;? Lutter said. Lutter had several meetings with OUâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s legal counsel, which is setting out the guidelines and requirements that OU will have to meet in order to provide its students with legal counsel, he said. The idea for the program

was originally met with some resistance. â&#x20AC;&#x153;(In) the first meeting we had with them, they posed some serious questions regarding the program,â&#x20AC;? Lutter said. Lutter said SGA seemed to have satisfied many of the concerns that OUâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s legal counsel had. Some of the concerns, Lutter said, included worries about malpractice, who will be hired and how, where the funding will come from and what kind of cases will be permitted and covered by the counseling service. Lutter said issues that involve a student versus another student, or student versus the school, are not traditionally permitted, and that the same can be expected here at OU. Heather Hendricks, a staff attorney with OUâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s office of legal counsel, is helping to make sure that whatever SGA is doing is legally sufficient under Oklahoma law and board policy. Hendricks said the students have been doing the leg work for the program, and she has not met any real roadblocks legally. â&#x20AC;&#x153;If the students want to do something, then I check and

New Donors: Donate plasma and earn up to * $400 per month! 1327 E. LINDSEY ST., NORMAN, OK 73071 405.447.9977 *Applicable for eligible, qualified new donors. Fees vary by weight and location. New donors must bring photo ID, proof of address and Social Security number.

Redeem at your nearest donation center for details.

Center staff scan to enter payment comment.

CSLPlasma.com

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.

see if they can do it and give with maybe one part time a green light,â&#x20AC;? Hendricks attorney. If it goes well, the plan is to expand from there. said. Hendricks said the Board of Regentsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; policy limits what types of actions the Tanner Osborne legal counsel service could Tannerosborne84@yahoo. com provide and that the board will set certain parameters for SGA to abide by. As for cost, Lutter said LEGAL SGA gets a certain amount COUNSEL of money for its projects INITIATIVE each semester, and it is up to its discretion how it allocate â&#x20AC;˘ OU is the only those funds. university in the Big 12 â&#x20AC;&#x153;This initiative will probthat doesnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t provide ably not be affected by the legal counseling for budget cuts,â&#x20AC;? Lutter said. students Lutter said now it is time to get to the logistics and â&#x20AC;˘ The Board of Regentsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; policy limits the types of look for ways to make this actions the legal counsel program sustainable. service can provide, and Lutter said initially, SGA the Board of Regents will be looking to have this will set the parameter for initiative work as a pilot proSGA gram for about two years

Universal Crossword Edited by Timothy E. Parker February 18, 2016

ACROSS 1 Carplike fish 5 Hired thugs 10 Recipe meas. 14 Primo rating 15 Judging group 16 Miscellaneous medley 17 Knocked out 20 Crumble to the sea, as shoreline 21 Tigerâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s rival, sometimes 22 Cigarette ingredient 23 â&#x20AC;&#x153;Good ___!â&#x20AC;? (praise for a batter) 26 â&#x20AC;&#x153;Yuck!â&#x20AC;? 27 Org. of Wizards and Warriors 30 Lip-___ (mouth the words) 32 Letters on an ambulance 34 Lightheaded? 36 Have great respect for 39 â&#x20AC;&#x153;___ on a true storyâ&#x20AC;? 40 Throwing a match, in the ring 42 Iranian language 44 Give, as blood 45 Raises cattle 47 Game, ___ and match 48 Cleaning cloths 52 Drink refresher

2/18

53 Letters on a tachometer 55 Amniotic ___ 57 â&#x20AC;&#x2122;60s war zone, informally 58 Faunasâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; kin 61 What cats and rats do? 63 Give up 67 Flue dirt 68 Guided trips 69 Bulb measure 70 Identifies 71 â&#x20AC;&#x153;Forest and Doveâ&#x20AC;? painter Max 72 Caustic materials DOWN 1 Middiesâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; opponents 2 Hip appendage? 3 Like new clothes on the rack 4 Assume a stooped posture 5 Where IRS forms are made 6 Small-boat mover 7 Not fooled by 8 1960s jacket eponym 9 Santaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s vehicle 10 Hammer, for one 11 Puritanical person 12 What God says not to do 13 It may call r the kettle black

18 Professional payment 19 Share an apartment 24 Bigfootâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s cousin 25 Correct a manuscript 28 Buzzing insect 29 Stick in 31 Stop 33 Lily family members 35 Four-time Wimbledon champ Rod 37 Hard-luck area 38 Currycombs comb them 40 Arboreal amphibian 41 Computer input or output 42 â&#x20AC;&#x153;Most Wantedâ&#x20AC;? org. 43 Rainbow, e.g.

46 Elfish one 49 â&#x20AC;&#x153;As I was saying ...â&#x20AC;? 50 Reproductive cell 51 Runs a blast furnace 54 Bruce Wayneâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s home, for one 56 Old PC display part 59 Land parcels 60 Take aback 62 Wolfâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s wail 63 Little sister of 10-Across 64 Unharden a garden 65 Stats for sluggers (Abbr.) 66 Fish story suffix?

PREVIOUS PUZZLE ANSWER PREVIOUS PUZZLE ANSWER

CLASSIFIEDS J Housing Rentals

Services

HOUSES UNFURNISHED

MISC. SERVICES Voluntary Retirement? 1040 Tax Impact Analysis, Robert La Valle, ATP (405) 329-2502

ROOMS FURNISHED HELP WANTED Recreation Leader I (PPT) Whittier Recreation Centers Applicant must be at least sixteen (16) years of age. Experience working with youths in a recreational atmosphere and knowledge of recreation activities and programs. $10.74 per hour. Work Period: 2:30 p.m. to 8:00 p.m., Monday through Friday during the school year . Hours vary during the summer. Selected applicant must pass physical examination, background investigation and drug screen. Application deadline: Open Recruitment. A complete job announcement and application are available on our website at www.normanok.gov/hr/hr-job-postings or call (405) 366-5482, or visit us at 201-C West Gray, Human Resources Dept., City of Norman.

2/15

ÂŠ 2016 Universal Uclick www.upuzzles.com ÂŠ 2016 Universal Uclick

BOX SET By Kenneth Holt

Room for Rent!! Share Kitchen & Bath. M Student Preferred Close to Campus!! $240/mo. All Utilities Paid 405-924-2985

A drunk driver ruined something precious. Amber Apodaca. Friends

Don â&#x20AC;&#x2122;t Let Friends

Drive Drunk.

PLACE A PAID AD Phone: 405-325-2521 E-mail: classifieds@ou.edu

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

DEADLINES Line Ad .................................................................................. 3 days prior Place line ad by 9:00 a.m. 3 business days prior to publication.

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

HOROSCOPE By Eugenia Last

THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 18, 2016 Strive for perfection and follow your most heartfelt dreams. You can help make your community, friendships and life better. If you share with the people you care about, the rewards you receive will be remarkable. Offer innovative insight. AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 19) - Simplicity, precision and experimentation will help you achieve balance and success. Your enthusiasm will be infectious and will promote positive change. PISCES (Feb. 20-March 20) -- DonĘźt share your secrets. Focus on personal improvements and modify an old method of doing things with a trendy new twist. A private matter is questionable.

2/17

Near OU 503 Inwood Dr.3 bed 21/2 bath no pets $1000 500 Fleetwood Dr 3 bed 1 bath no pets $1000 Call 255-0940

Photo by Michael Mazzeo

SIANDHARA BONNET/THE DAILY

OU Student Government Association is pushing to hire an attorney for the use of OU students through the Legal Counsel Initiative. Vice President Michael Lutter has been very passionate about the initiative, according to SGA President Daniel Pae.

grief if you eliminate problems before they have a chance to escalate. LEO (July 23-Aug. 22) -- Gather information, travel, attend a conference or have a conversation that will help you get a better handle on your current status. Think carefully about how to move forward. Taking stock will prove fruitful. VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22) -- If you express your feelings, you will find out exactly where you stand. Once you have your position quantified, you will know how to speed things up in order to get what you want. LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 23) -- Get out with friends and have some fun. Flirting and being playful with someone special will improve your relationship and help you come one step closer to positive changes to your current living arrangements.

ARIES (March 21-April 19) -- Do what needs to be done without wasting your time trying to get othSCORPIO (Oct. 24-Nov. 22) -ers to take action. You will be far Participate and be ready to take more effective if you work alone. action. DonĘźt be afraid to do things Romance looks promising. on your own, rather than waste TAURUS (April 20-May 20) -- YouĘźll time arguing with someone who doesnĘźt want to contribute to your have to put more energy behind your plans if you want to see them plans. come to fruition. Use emotional SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 23-Dec. 21) tactics to motivate others to pitch -- Connect with people who want in and help. to collaborate and share in your pursuits. New friendships will GEMINI (May 21-June 20) -- Be honest about what you can accom- help you build a brighter future. A chatty encounter will spark your plish. If you donĘźt set unrealistic interest. goals, others will see your vision and help you reach it. Love is in CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19) -the stars. YouĘźll be reminded of someone or something from your past that can CANCER (June 21-July 22) -- Mull help you handle a challenge you over your experiences and make a mental note of what not to do in face at home. Making an effort to the future. You can spare yourself be entertaining will be rewarded.

February 18-21, 2016 •

OPINION Will Ted Cruz help or hinder? Jake Mazeitis jmmz1@ou.edu @jakemaze19

Note: This column is the second in a series focusing on the education policies of presidential candidates. The first focused on Sen. Bernie Sanders’ policies. While researching Ted Cruz’s policies on education, I was reminded of a quote from Professor Trelawney, who teaches Divination in J.K. Rowling’s “Harry Potter” series. As she welcomes students to her class, she says, “So you may have chosen to study Divination, the most difficult of all magical arts. I must warn you at the outset that if you do not have the Sight, there is very little I will be able to teach you.” Well, I must not possess this elusive “Sight.” Attempting to pinpoint how Ted Cruz feels about higher education seems to require a certain degree of fortune-telling and clairvoyance that I simply don’t possess. The platform outlined on his campaign’s website doesn’t mention education in any of its nine key pillars. In fact, the word “education” only appears once in any of his policy materials, and that is to outline his intention to dismantle the Department of Education. The word “school” appears two or three times, but never in connection with an actual policy objective.

PAUL SANCYA/AP PHOTO

Republican presidential candidate, Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas speaks with William Griffin of Charlotte, N.C. Wednesday, at the Seneca Family Restaurant in Seneca, S.C.

In fact, an article published by “Inside HigherEd explicitly states that, “Unlike his Democratic counterparts— as well as some of his fellow Republican challengers —Cruz has not formally outlined any specific policy proposals relating to higher education.” Despite this, Cruz has not been entirely silent on the issue of student loans and other matters. In an interview with The Skimm, Cruz claims that “economic growth is critical to young people because if we want this generation to be able to pay off their loans and develop the skills to live the American dream, we’ve got to return to an environment where small businesses are growing and flourishing, and creating jobs and opportunities. That’s my top priority.”

To Cruz, the best way to alleviate student loan debt is to promote economic growth, allowing students to obtain jobs that enable them to pay off their debt. However, in May 2014 Cruz and Senator Elizabeth Warren supported a bill allowing students to refinance their student loans, which is a move that seems out-of-character for the conservative candidate running today. Cruz later voted to block the bill, only serving to muddle and obscure his higher education policy. What this means for you I’m honestly not too sure. There is simply not enough information from Cruz about higher education for me to feel comfortable attributing any specific policy to his campaign. If you intend to vote for Cruz, you’ll need to delve into his

other policies, because education is clearly not one that he views as an integral part of his would-be presidency. In my opinion, a candidate who doesn’t take the time to even consider the future of their nation’s leaders is not worthy of presidential office. If the Oklahoma legislature has proven anything, it’s that when education is not at the top of the list, it can be found near the bottom. I don’t need to peer into a crystal ball to know that Cruz will act in a similar manner.

Jake Mazeitis is a political science and international studies freshman.

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

SGA should focus on campus matters Letter to the editor: The Undergraduate Student Congress has an issue that has not been talked about enough on campus. This issue is that SGA is becoming a liberal leaning organization. SGA is not an organization that is supposed to be partisan and make political statements. It is an organization that is supposed to help address problems or issues that are happening on campus. In the few weeks that I have been a part of SGA Undergraduate Student Congress, they have passed or proposed several bills that make partisan political statements. A bill that recently passed after being heavily amended was a bill that made a statement saying that Gov. Mary Fallin and the 31 other governors who have said they will reject Syrian refugees is unconstitutional and that we should accept these refugees. This is completely inappropriate. First, this has nothing to do with what is going on at OU and has no effect on the students here. Second, the people passing this bill do not have the intelligence that our government has. And finally, this statement makes our organization look like a liberal group trying to push a liberal agenda. Another statement that SGA passed was one that said, “The Student Government Association of Oklahoma disagrees with Governor Greg Abbott and his decision

to let students have concealed carry on campus.” This is totally unacceptable. It is not our place to get involved with what is going on in Texas state politics and to be frank, I don’t think Abbott cares whether or not the SGA at OU disagrees with him. This organization is taking a wrong turn by passing things such as that. This past weekend, I was in Nashville, Tennessee, at a Young America’s Foundation’s Freedom Conference. At the conference, they spoke about how many college student government associations have a liberal bias. Unfortunately that is what I am starting to see at OU. I would like to see more bills that address free speech on campus. This is something that we are seeing decline not only at OU but on campuses all across America. Students are being silenced for having opposing viewpoints. I would like to see more free speech promoted on the campus of this great university. I respect my colleagues in congress, and I love how passionate they are. We just can’t afford to spend our time on making political statements. Kyle Meyer is a member of OU’s undergraduate Student Congress and political science freshman.

• February 18-21, 2016

ENGINEERS WEEK 2016 The 103rd Engineers’ Week — Hoot and Holler!

WEEK OF EVENTS

THE LAWYER RIVALRY The rivalry between engineers and lawyers is one of our most time-honored traditions. The beginning of the rivalry at OU can be traced back to 1915, when a group of engineers “confiscated” a cannon and fired it to honor St. Patrick. The firing destroyed every window in the Law Barn, and so began the rivalry.

SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 21 Road Rally-E Sponsored by ONE Gas, Inc. 2-4 p.m. REPF 200 An automobile-powered scavenger hunt that requires successful completion of engineering problems to find the next clue and win. Featuring a cookout at the final location. Chaired by American Association of Drilling Engineers, Society of Petroleum Engineers and Women in Petroleum and Geological Engineering.

Although engineers have clearly shown their superiority through the years, lawyers have had their moments. In 1919, a female law student gained entrance to the Engineering Banquet and managed to spike the coffee with a mixture containing pepper, castor oil and other assorted ingredients. The combination caused considerable gastric distress among the guests. Some guests caused an interruption due to their nausea-related exit.

MONDAY, FEBRUARY 22 Family Feud Co-sponsored by CP&Y and Valero Energy Corporation 4-6 p.m. REPF 200 Students, faculty and staff form teams in this family feud-style competition covering knowledge of engineering concepts, history of the college and more. Winning teams receive cash prizes. Chaired by the American Indian Science & Engineering Society, National Society of Black Engineers, and Society of Hispanic Professional Engineers. Games Tournament Sponsored by Phillips 66 7-9 p.m. Willoughby Lounge Two-person teams compete in pool, ping pong and foosball for cash prizes. Chaired by Alpha Sigma Kappa.

In 1926, the owl on the Law Barn received the first of many future coats of green paint, which have continued to this day.

LEGEND OF ST. PAT

TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 23 Stress E-liminator Sponsored by AT&T Noon-3 p.m. REPF 200 An afternoon for students, faculty and staff to put aside classes and relax. Chair massages, video games, puzzles and healthy snacks are available for stress relief. Chaired by E-1 Club.

St. Patrick’s Day is drawing near, and it will once again be time for the engineers to pay homage to their patron saint, St. Patrick, who is revered through legend as the oldest engineer. In modern times, we do this by electing new E-Club officers, crowning the Engineering Queen and King and consuming healthy portions of green brew.

Engineers Got Talent Sponsored by Cameron 7-9 p.m. Robert S. Kerr Auditorium, Sam Noble Museum Students showcase their non-technical talents for a chance to win cash prizes. Chaired by the Society of Women Engineers.

In the spring of 1903, the University of Missouri began construction of a new engineering building. While the construction crew was digging, a large stone with a faint inscription was unearthed. The stone told the adventures of St. Patrick and his ties to the engineering profession.

WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 24 Blood Drive Co-sponsored by Chevron Phillips Chemical Company 10 a.m.-3 p.m. REPF 200 Give back to the community by donating to the Oklahoma Blood Institute. Opportunity to win raffle prizes, while food and drinks are provided. Extra attendance points are awarded to departments and organizations for giving blood. Chaired by Tau Beta Pi.

Later that year, a geology instructor from Missouri brought a small piece of the stone to Oklahoma where OU engineers kept it. Each year thereafter, graduating seniors would survey their way into the woods, bury the stone, and leave their calculations for the next year’s seniors to locate and rebury the stone.

Casino Night Sponsored by Williams 7-9 p.m. REPF Dunham Student Leadership Center Las Vegas style games that encourage strategic thinking to win various prizes. Chaired by the American Institute of Chemical Engineers. THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 25 Wise Saints Mixer Sponsored by Union Pacific Railroad 2-4 p.m. Devon Energy Hall Atrium Students, faculty and staff will have time to meet and greet each other on an informal basis and enjoy light hors d’oeuvres. Chaired by Triangle Fraternity. E-Olympics Sponsored by Shell Oil Company 6-8 p.m. Men’s Basketball Practice Gym, Lloyd Noble Center Five-person teams compete in dodgeball and relay races to win bragging rights and cash prizes. Chaired by the American Society of Civil Engineers. FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 26 Fluid Dynamics Lab Sponsored by Chevron 6:30-11 p.m. O’Connell’s on Campus Corner The study of the movement of low viscosity, green, effervescent fluid into human oral cavities. This faculty/ staff/student celebration of our Irish background includes a beard and hairy leg contest, and singing of our famous engineering songs. SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 27 OU Women’s Basketball Game Sponsored by Coach Sherri Coale and Team 2 p.m. Lloyd Noble Center The GCoE, in competition with colleges across campus for two $1,000 scholarships, has been assigned this game day to compete for high attendance and to demonstrate our “Uncommon Spirit.” Admission is free to all GCoE students. Sign in at the marketing table on the north concourse of the LNC. E-Week Banquet Sponsored by Chevron, Shell and Williams 6-9 p.m. Great Hall, Sam Noble Museum Outstanding students, faculty, staff and corporate sponsors are recognized, coronation of Engineering Royalty commences and event winners are announced.

In 1980, engineers posing as construction workers poured a cement footing on the lawn of the new law center in broad daylight. Later that night, a large concrete tombstone was erected on the footing with the inscription, “IS THE RIVALRY DEAD?” Due to extremely cold temperatures, the tombstone was not fully cured and was found the next morning on the engineering lawn upside down with the words “HELL NO!” spray-painted on its face. In 1982, a couple of fine engineering students attached a green dye injection system to the law center’s water supply. Every time a fountain was turned on or a toilet flushed, green water “mysteriously” appeared. That E-Week the law center was ceremoniously decorated each night with green toilet paper. A few years later, a “Lawyer” mannequin was found buried face-down (with only his feet to be seen) on the engineering lawn. The epithet classically read: Here lies the poor lawyer His legal work undone He mouthed off to an engineer When he should have run During the winter of 1985, a profuse growth of winter rye grass in the shape of a shamrock adorned the north-side lawn of the Law Barn. Accusations were made but what do engineers know about gardening?

From the ideals and values set forth by St. Patrick, each year a student is elected Knight of St. Pat. His or her fellow students acknowledge that student’s devotion to the engineering profession and to the Patron Saint of Engineering, St. Patrick.

In 1989, engineers were once again blamed for a law school computer malfunction that resulted in letters being sent to more than 500 law students informing them that their records had been lost due to computer error. Fearful that they would not graduate, they proceeded to call the 24hour hot-line listed on the letters; good thing it was the law dean’s home phone number.

ENGINEERS’ CLUB

Rumor has it law students don’t have what it takes to play with engineers anymore. Don’t be disappointed; there’s always the business college …

Engineers’ Club was founded in 1910 and has grown to

ROYALTY CANDIDATES

become the largest engineering program in the Sooner state. With more than 3,000 undergraduate and 500 graduate students, it is the largest student organization on the University of Oklahoma campus. E-Club’s purpose is to promote fellowship among engineering faculty and students and to help students develop leadership skills to supplement their technical expertise. There are several opportunities for students to become involved with Engineers’ Club. Annual events include the Fall Festival/New Engineers Welcome, Career Fair, Winter Ball, Engineers Week, Student Leadership Retreat and several philanthropy events throughout the year. Additionally, E-Club’s members can be found in the Engineering Quad selling homemade burgers before every home football game. Serving the engineers since 1910, E-Club’s purpose has surpassed even its most lofty goals. E-Club now serves as a hub for all engineering student organizations and competition teams, actively promoting the hands-on engineering and leadership experience that sets OU graduates apart from the competition.

.DWLH &URZOH\ 6HQLRU

-RDQQH /HH 6HQLRU

6HQLRU

All three Queen candidates are Chemical Engineering majors.

-RHO -LPHQH] &RUWH] 1DWKDQLHO -RKQVRQ

Engineers Week is celebrated nationally each spring as a time for students to escape the pressures of the classroom and have fun with fellow engineers. At OU, the tradition and history of St. Patrick and the spirit of engineering is showcased in grand display throughout the engineering campus during this week-long celebration. As evidenced by Engineers Week and all of the many events throughout the year, the principles of dedication, perseverance and hard work, on which E-Club was founded, are still apparent today and guarantee its enduring future.

5DFKHO :LWWHQEDFK

-XQLRU LQ 0HFKDQLFDO (QJLQHHULQJ

6HQLRU LQ 3HWUROHXP (QJLQHHULQJ

0DUF 7KLERGHDX

6HQLRU LQ &RPSXWHU (QJLQHHULQJ

ELECTIONS: GCoE and MPGE students login to OrgSync, join “Engineering Student Life” to vote on Royalty, Outstanding Faculty, Senior and Staff awards! Polls open Sunday, Feb. 21 at 12:01 a.m. and close Thursday, Feb. 25 at 11:59 p.m. bit.ly/eweek103vote

SALES: 9 a.m.–4 p.m. Feb. 15-19, Devon Atrium Sales will also be available at all events until sold out. Banquet tickets $5, Mini steins $7, Mugs $10, Long-sleeved t-shirts $15. bit.ly/eweek103sales

THANK YOU TO OUR SPONSORS

For accommodations on the basis of disability, please contact (405) 325-3892. The University of Oklahoma is an equal opportunity institution. www.ou.edu/eoo