W E E K LY E D I T I O N | S E P T E M B E R 1 -7, 2 0 2 0 | O U D A I LY. C O M
OUDAILY
The University of Oklahoma’s independent student voice since 1916
DIVERSITY IN ACTION
TREY YOUNG/ THE DAILY
OU football head coach Lincoln Riley speaks in the Unity Garden on the South Oval during the march for unity Aug. 28.
Sooners lead unity march across campus
Harroz announces new diversity training
Lincoln Riley fosters activism, equality in football players, staff
OU aims to combat systemic inequity through education
CALEB MCCOURRY @CalebMac21
Oklahoma head coach Lincoln Riley had center Creed Humphrey to his left, defensive back Chanse Sylvie to his right and the Sooners football team directly behind him as the group — wearing all black — marched in the South Oval Friday morning. In a demonstration of unity to speak out against police brutality, the Sooners were hand in hand as they made their way from the practice fields to the Unity Garden. As Riley spoke to media and spectators, players locked arms and stood around the fourth-year head coach as he made his remarks. “For the last several weeks including our last one yesterday after our practice, we’ve had a lot of team gatherings, discussions, opportunities for every person in our organization to express how they’re feeling,” Riley said. “Like a lot of other college football teams across the country, our organization is made up of just about every different background that you can imagine — females, males, people of all kinds of different skin colors, ethnicities, backgrounds, home life experiences — everything different. And those conversations have been tough. They’ve been raw and unfiltered, they’ve been eye-opening, very emotional, very tense. “We chose this place because it symbolizes unity. And unity is possible. And it is possible with people of different backgrounds because I’ve witnessed it, and continue to witness it with this group right here.” After Riley concluded his speech, the team took a 57-second moment of silence in honor of the 57th anniversary of the March on Washington led by Martin Luther King Jr. The Sooners chose to demonstrate late Thursday night after the team had what Riley described as
weeks of discussions about racism in America. After a police officer shot and paralyzed Jacob Blake, a Black resident of Kenosha, Wisconsin, Aug. 23, protests and public demonstrations spread nationwide. In the sports world, the NBA’s slate of Wednesday playoff games were postponed due to teams choosing not to play. Multiple Sooners used social media since then to speak out against police brutality. After marching back to OU’s practice facilities, Riley spoke to the media, saying this is an opportunity for him and his staff to learn from his players. “I grew up a white male,” Riley said. “I have not lived or had to experience some of the things that a lot of my players have had to. As much as you want to read about it, this or that, it’s different when it hits home and when it’s somebody that you care about. It’s absolutely been a learning experience for me. Every step of it. It’s definitely made me more aware. ... I hope it will (help) us to continue to do a better job of leading (our players).” Riley and the Sooners have been continuously vocal about racial equality, as seen when the team took to social media in late May and June after the death of George Floyd, a Black man who was killed by Minneapolis law enforcement while being arrested for a nonviolent crime. OU’s Friday march is reminiscent of the team’s march in 2015, when a Bob Stoops-led team walked out of practice wearing “Stronger Together” shirts in protest of the video of Sigma Alpha Epsilon members singing a racist chant. “There’s been a lot of buildup to this,” Riley said. “The players, I commend them, our players have been a part of potential policy changes within our university, within the athletic department. We’re always pushing our players to do more and more and more of it. That doesn’t just apply for the football field, it doesn’t just apply to the classroom.”
JORDAN MILLER @jordanrmillerr
“There’s never been a better time to reflect, find common ground, and work hand in hand to create a more united OU.” -Joseph Harroz, OU President
Caleb McCourry
caleb.a.mccourry-1@ou.edu
The university has announced a new mandatory diversity training program — an initiative that was part of the Black Emergency Response Team’s demands in February. According to an email from OU President Joseph Harroz, the program will “roll out in phases to different constituencies next week,” after plans for its release were unveiled at a July Board of Regents meeting. The program will be required for all students, faculty and staff across all three OU campuses. “Just as we’ve seen across the country, at OU we’ve also been shaken by threats to our community in the form of racism and intolerance. All across America and well beyond, our reckoning with systemic injustice marches on,” Harroz said in the email. “(The program) is interactive and designed to present a meaningful learning experience, where users’ choices to various scenarios impact the outcome of the narrative.” The training course’s educational materials take participants through five learning modules that address topics of identities, power, privilege and creating a culture of respect, according to a press release. The course is self-paced, and it will be required at least once every three years, with “other education and workshop options available annually.” The training includes interactive, scenario-based videos where participants’ choices impact the outcome of a narrative. It also includes a portion that fosters active listening and conversation skills. According to a press release, the university is using a program from Everfi that presents “a common framework for all participants, but with content tailored
to the student and employee populations.” The training is also part of a broader campaign to support “OU’s core purpose as a public flagship university,” as one of the five pillars of the OU Strategic Plan “calls upon the OU community to become a place of belonging and emotional growth for all.” When Harroz was selected as interim OU president in 2019, one of his main priorities was improving diversity and inclusion at OU, as the OU community had experienced multiple racist incidents that spring and over the previous years. The diversity and inclusion mandatory program was also a part of BERT’s demands during the February sit-in, following two professors’ use of a racist slur in two weeks. “With our sights set on a future that’s full of promise and possibilities, one thing is clear: We simply cannot reach our greatest potential unless excellence in diversity, equity, and inclusion is a top priority,” Harroz said. “We are incredibly grateful to Vice President of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Belinda Higgs Hyppolite, along with her entire office and the many individuals across the University, for bringing this idea to fruition.” The announcement als o comes after Jacob Blake, a Black man from Kenosha, Wisconsin, was shot several times in the back by police. Over the summer, OU students and community members were also involved in demonstrations across the country protesting the deaths of George Floyd, Breonna Taylor and others killed by police. “As we begin a new academic year under extraordinary circumstances, the events of recent months and days have put a spotlight on the importance of taking care of each other,” Harroz said. “There’s never been a better time to reflect, find common ground, and work hand in hand to create a more united OU.” Jordan Miller
jordan.r.miller-1@ou.edu
Return to campus sees COVID-19 worries University updates attendance policy, releases dashboard BLAKE DOUGLAS @Blake_Doug918
OU students and faculty were given their first look at how the university plans to address the spread of coronavirus in the community during the inaugural week of fall classes. On Aug. 21, three days before the start of the fall semester, the university announced an over-
haul of its attendance policies across all campuses — students who miss class due to coronavirus symptoms or exposure to COVID-19 are not required to provide medical documentation for the absence to be excused. The announcement came a day after OU reported its first positive COVID-19 case in on-campus housing. On Aug. 24, the first day of classes, another positive case was reported in the Pride of Oklahoma, which led to the band suspending all activities for two days. The Pride resumed rehearsals and other activities by Aug. 26,
and another band member tested positive in an unrelated case according to the Pride’s director, Brian Britt. Britt said the band quickly suspended activities after the initial case to allow for the university’s contact-tracing protocols and give time for students who were potentially exposed to receive test results. Some results were still pending when Britt spoke to The Daily Aug. 28, but he said at that point, no one who was deemed a close contact had tested positive. “Frankly, we wanted to put everyone’s minds at ease as far
as if there’s any doubt about our student safety, then we’re going to stop,” Britt said. “It’s just a different ballgame with stakes this high.” OU launched its COVID-19 dashboard Aug. 28, which will be updated daily with coronavirus statistics provided by Goddard Health Center and the Cleveland County Health Department. However, community members who choose to get tested anywhere other than Goddard will not be reflected in the Goddard data on the dashboard and will instead be grouped into the data
for Cleveland County or their provided address. Kesha Keith, director of media relations at OU, said the university is encouraging those who get tested outside of Goddard to self-report positive test results to Goddard. According to the dashboard, updated Aug. 30 to include data as recent as Aug. 28, Goddard recorded 91 positive COVID-19 cases since Aug. 10. There were 253 OU community members in self-isolation — 231 students, 15 staff and seven faculty members. see COVID page 2
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NEWS
• Sept. 1-7, 2020
Dining protocols cause concern Student employees question feasibility of social distancing
kitchen and the space allow for proper social distancing protocols to take place. But the most important policy we have is that everyone is wearing a mask at all times.” Queener said although he’s adhering to the new protocols, he isn’t too concerned if he ends up contracting COVID-19. “I don’t have just a huge fear of the COVID and all that,” Queener said. “Which is not to say that I don’t take it seriously or understand why we’re taking such precautions. But, I just personally am not as afraid to get it. … I just kind of go with the flow. And if it happens, I’ll deal with it.”
BETH WALLIS @walliswrites
From behind plexiglass shields, student employees take orders from masked students standing on floor markers in a socially distanced line. Prepackaged utensils have replaced silverware. All orders are packaged to go. Every 30 minutes, an alarm sounds reminding employees to take off their gloves, wash their hands, put on new gloves and sanitize all surfaces. At Chick-fil-A, employees must pass a temperature check and a list of screening questions before being allowed to clock in or even enter the kitchen. To reduce wait time and prevent backup in the ordering line, the restaurant no longer serves sandwiches with lettuce and tomato and has taken customized additions off of its menu. As OU continues with its fall reopening plan amid the coronavirus pandemic, student employees at campus restaurants are learning to adapt to a new normal. Garrett Means, a history and German senior and Chick-fil-A student supervisor, is in his third year working for the restaurant. He said at his location, he feels confident to come to work because of all of the precautionary measures Chick-fil-A added to OU Dining’s COVID-19 mitigation strategies, such as the temperature checks and daily screening questions. Chick-fil-A, unlike other campus restaurants, hasn’t even opened for business yet. According to Means, employees are still training on new protocols, and the restaurant won’t open until everyone completes their training. He said the restaurant hopes to open Sept. 8. “Chick-fil-A’s got a lot of things going on,” Means said. “They don’t mess around when it comes to anything. They go the full mile with it. And in this case, I mean, that’s probably a better thing for sure.” ’WE’LL BE LUCKY TO MAKE IT A MONTH’ Biology and pre-med junior and Quiznos student employee Courtney Zang said even with the university’s precautions, she still has concerns about relying on OU’s student body to make responsible decisions so she’s not exposed to COVID-19. After seeing pictures and videos on Twitter of large groups of students at Campus Corner, bars and house parties, Zang said she’s nervous those same students will eat at her restaurant after a night of partying. “I do worry about getting (COVID-19) from (partying students) more so than anyone I know personally, because I choose to hang around people who care and take this seriously,” Zang said. “So it’s definitely concerning. And I feel like if I’m going to get (COVID-19), it’s going to be from the people who aren’t taking this seriously and are going to huge events.” Another campus restaurant employee, who asked to remain anonymous, said after
COVID: continued from page 1
‘IT SEEMS RATHER LIKE HOPE THAN PREPAREDNESS’
Students stand in line at Quiznos in the Union during the first day of school Aug. 24.
(COVID-19) symptoms, not to come to school. But again, I can do my part. I just hope for the best at this point.”
EDWARD REALI/THE DAILY
seeing videos and pictures of crowded bars and packed parties, they were especially concerned about how seriously the student body is taking the pandemic. They said as soon as students moved back to campus, they had to deal with students moving tables and chairs to sit close to friends and ignoring social distancing rules while waiting in line. “That first week was really disheartening to many of us,” they said, “just seeing how overcrowded everything was.” They said they had hoped the university would be able to remain in-person until later in the semester — until they saw how students were behaving. “ Ma n y o f u s t h o u g h t we’d probably last until late October, (and) if we’re lucky, make it to Thanksgiving before we send everyone home,” they said. “But after those first few days … we were like, ‘Yeah, we’ll be lucky to make it a month, if that.’ We kind of lost faith that first few days of service, like ‘We’re not going to make it, it’s going out of control.’” They said they want to keep their job and have a full semester on campus, but they don’t have much faith in the university community to make responsible decisions. “We have a chance to save everything,” they said. “But some people just don’t want to give up the little things.” A l e x Ba ro n , a b ro a d cast journalism senior who worked at Couch restaurants as a student manager, said he’s not working at the restaurants this semester because he got another job after the university switched to online classes after spring break. But, he said if he was faced with the choice to work at campus restaurants again, he’s not sure he would. “What would be my determining factor for if I was going to continue working this semester is, what was going to be in place for not only my safety, but the other students’ safety?” Baron said. Baron said he started working campus restaurants as a room-and-board student, which meant he paid off his housing through working on campus. Baron said if the university offered other jobs that interacted less with the student body as viable roomand-board employment
options, he thinks students would take the opportunity. “For most of them, I feel like if they did have the choice, if it was a perfect situation and they could choose to do something differently and still have that room and board paid for, I guarantee that they would,” Baron said. “Because (working in campus restaurants) would be not only very hectic with everything that’s going on, but it’s definitely going to be very difficult to maintain that kind of safety.” Baron said at his new job as a server in an upscale restaurant, he rarely sees students, so he feels safer than he would working at campus restaurants. “I’m pretty sure ‘frat lap’ was on Wednesday,” Baron said. “Now imagine all those freshmen who were doing ‘frat lap.’ They go into (Couch restaurants) this entire rest of the week. And there are going to be cases that pop up, pretty much guaranteed. (Couch restaurants are) going to be
one of those places where all of those students have probably been, they had tons of interaction with the employees or other students that are in there with them. So I just feel like overall, it’s going to be kind of difficult, especially for everyone’s safety.” Means said though he disagrees with students partying without social distancing or masking, he can’t control what people choose to do in their free time. “There’s only so much I can do,” Means said. “... I can’t tell people how to live their lives. I disagree with what they do, and I would assume they would at least know (that) if they started feeling
ments to allow for more social distancing, Amy Buchanan, director of marketing and communication for OU Housing and Food Services, said in an email to The Daily there have been no staffing cuts, and changing to all staff-served options from selfserved options is what makes this process work. She also said some positions have been reassigned to clean and disinfect tables in the dining rooms between uses. B u c h a n a n s a i d “n e w COVID-19 protocols and procedures were communicated to staff during this fall’s training.” Sage Edwards, a public relations junior and Quiznos
student worker, said when she works behind the counter, she’s not usually able to maintain a six-foot distance from her coworkers. She said the lack of distancing was not addressed in her training. “I would say that distancing is probably the weaker part of what we’re doing,” Edwards said. “I think we are focusing a lot more on wearing masks and cleaning things a lot more.” Edwards said she knows her coworkers well and thinks they probably don’t go to parties or bars, but if she didn’t trust her colleagues, she would be more concerned. Whether in the back storage room or behind the counter, she said the space isn’t big enough to functionally accommodate a six-foot distance at all times. “I feel pretty safe, though,” Edwards said. “As an employee, I think I have bigger concerns with the people on campus that I don’t know and customers coming in who don’t wear their masks.” Means said he thinks Chickfil-A’s more stringent requirements and training is due in part to size restrictions — though he said his restaurant has one of the biggest kitchens in the Union. “I think that Chick-fil-A knows that at any of its stores, that’s not going to be plausible to work at a six-foot distance,” Means said. “So they want to do what they can with how much they (have). Fast food is not a very good setup for social distancing.” Journalism freshman Garrett Queener started the room-and-board program this semester and works at Quiznos. He said he and his coworkers are usually able to keep some distance from each other, but that it’s difficult to maintain when the restaurant gets busy. “We’re not all huddled together or anything,” Queener said. “We try to do the best we can with what we have, but we just don’t have a lot of room at the front.” In an email to The Daily, Buchanan said there was enough space for restaurant employees to socially distance. “Along with social distancing, masking is key,” Buchanan said in the email. “The amount of staff in the
The university currently has approximately 300 beds set aside for on-campus residents who may not have their own residence to self-isolate in, according to an Aug. 25 letter from OU President Joseph Harroz, and is contracting with nearby hotels to provide additional self-isolation rooms as needed. Keith said contracts have not been finalized with off-campus partners, so it is currently unknown which hotels will provide additional isolation rooms. Although students are en-
couraged to remain at home if experiencing COVID-19 symptoms, professors have received instructions not to move their in-person classes online without university approval. OU interim Senior Vice President and Provost Jill Irvine sent an email Aug. 28 noting the provost’s office was aware some professors had moved their in-person courses to fully virtual instruction. “This is not a decision that can be made unilaterally by a faculty member. Please do not make changes in the
mode of delivery,” she wrote in the email. “We will continue to monitor closely the health and health care capacity trends on campus and, should a decision be made to move some courses to a fully online format, you will be notified.” Six days prior, on Aug. 22, an OU professor informed The Daily he planned to make the first week of the semester a one-week “trial” of virtual instruction for his face-to-face class. In the email, Irvine also wrote professors should not
notify their classes if a classmate has tested positive for COVID-19. In his Aug. 28 end-of-theweek review, OU’s Chief COVID Officer Dale Bratzler announced Oklahoma had seen just under 5,000 new cases and 69 deaths statewide in the past week. “To me, it highlights that we’re continuing to see community spread of this particular virus,” Bratzler said. “We’re depending on personal responsibility of 18- to 22-yearolds to make the decisions that will keep them safe and
AT A DISTANCE Sarah Spurlin, a spring 2020 vocal performance graduate, said over three years, she worked in Couch, Cross, the catering kitchen in the Oklahoma Memorial Union and was a student manager at Cate Center Dining Locations. She said in her experience, distancing in kitchens and behind restaurant counters would be extremely difficult — if not impossible. “There’s no way to socially distance,” Spurlin said. “There’s a certain amount of staff you need at Cate. What we needed was probably 25 people to keep it going. … But the back is really small, and there’s no ventilation. In Cate, in the summer, we didn’t even have air conditioning.” Asked if OU Dining has changed staffing require-
EDWARD REALI/THE DAILY
A sign regarding Chick-fil-A’s temporary closure in the Union during the first day of school Aug. 24.
Myles Smith, a broadcast journalism senior, has worked at Couch restaurants for four years, mainly at the hot bar. He said if the university ends up going fully online, he’s worried that he’ll be out of a job like he was this spring when OU switched to online classes. He said he’s concerned only fulltime workers will be retained. “Figuring out how to pay for rent is up to me,” Smith said. “I don’t know, we’ll see. Hopefully, I’ll be ok.” The anonymous source who spoke to The Daily said they were “lucky” to be a fulltime staff member because they were able to keep their job after spring break. They said they were unsure if they’d have a job this semester if OU went online. “That is the million-dollar question,” they said. “... Some people are still hoping we’ll last till the end of the semester. There’s so many dynamics within campus Housing and Food, that we’re not really sure what’s going on.” Smith said it would be helpful if the university identified a threshold for switching to all online classes so he could plan for a job switch — though President Joseph Harroz said in a July 20 town hall there was no “bright line” that would trigger a switch to all online classes. “It’d be nice (to know what would trigger a switch to all online classes), especially if I had an idea of the amount of cases currently at OU,” Smith said. “And hopefully, that number is known before it leads to somebody dying on campus.” S m i t h s a i d O U ’s n e w COVID-19 dashboard is helpful, even if it doesn’t give a complete picture of the university’s current cases. “It does make me a little bit more comfortable knowing that (OU is) trying to figure it out,” Smith said. “... But it does also make me a little uncomfortable knowing that nobody knows the exact number.” Ultimately, the anonymous source said, they’d like to see “some more transparency from the administration” in communicating with workers about their futures. “For me, for (OU) to say there’s no threshold and they’re just watching to see what happens just seems like hoping for the best,” they said. “It doesn’t seem like there’s an actual plan in place. I’m sure there is, but it seems rather like hope than preparedness.” Beth Wallis
bethwallis@ou.edu
not risk other people.” According to the City of Norman COVID-19 dashboard, on Aug. 18, the sevenday rolling average of cases in Norman was 10, marking its lowest average since June 20. The rolling average continued to climb as the first day of classes approached, peaking on Aug. 30 at 24.1 cases. As of Aug. 30, Norman’s highest reported seven-day average was 38.6 on July 30. Blake Douglas
bdoug99@ou.edu
CULTURE
Sept. 1-7, 2020 •
3
Local music scene mourns NMF
CALEB WELLER/THE DAILY
The Allie Lauren Project performs at the Budweiser Depot Stage during the third day of Norman Music Festival April 28, 2018.
Norman Music Alliance aims to aid local artists, bands SAM TONKINS
@samanthatonkins
The last weekend of August was meant to be filled with music. The streets of downtown Norman were meant to be closed, and crowds were meant to gather around stages, listening to old favorites and new ones alike.
the community,” Jackson said. “We just go door to door to ever y neighbor and small business and everybody pitches a little in the pot, and some pitch a lot.” Jackson said there were big plans in place for the 2020 Norman Music Festival , as it was supposed t o b e a f u l l , t h re e - d a y festival for the first time, with live performances all day Friday, Saturday and Sunday, and would include an arts market and street performers. “This was a year that was
JUSTIN JAYNE/THE DAILY
Empty parking spaces where food stands and tents are normally located April 23. The annual Norman Music Festival was originally scheduled for that weekend.
But the COVID-19 pandemic changed those plans once again. Norman Music Festival is a free three-day festival put on by the Norman Music Alliance, usually held at the end of April on Main Street. In March, the festival was postponed until late August due to coronavirus concerns. Shari Jackson, executive director of the Norman Music Alliance, said her team was hopeful that things would calm down by the fall. However, as the amount of COVID-19 cases in the state increased, the festival was officially canceled in June. “ The numbers stayed high and began to increase again, and we realized that inviting folks out to get in front of a crowded stage was not at all an advisable thing to do,” Jackson said. Jackson said by canceling the festival as soon as possible, the Norman Music Alliance was able to avoid spending money on a festival that would not be able to happen. The festival costs around a quarter of a million dollars to put together, and all of that money is a result of donations, Jackson said. “Every dollar is donated, everything we do we give to
going to be redefining,” Jackson said. “Everything was going to be big and beautiful and great, and then we just had to say ‘poof, there it goes.’ Like a sand mandala, we just had to wipe it all out.” Canceling the festival ended up being a simple decision, but not an easy one, Jackson said. During a board meeting, she said committee members voiced concerns about the safety of musicians and audience members, along with the financial uncertainty of local businesses during the following months. “We don’t want to push musicians or audience members into an unsafe space, and we don’t want to push partners to be spending money they can’t right now,” Jackson said. With the festival canceled, Jackson said the Norman Music Alliance is focused on helping support local venues and musicians w h o s e l i v e s h av e b e e n altered by the pandemic. “Our independent live music venues, avenues for that entire industry, are crashing down right now, and we hurt for all of the bands that made their livelihoods (performing). They made rent touring and playing gigs and they
can’t,” Jackson said. Jabee, a hip-hop artist based in Oklahoma City, has been performing at ever y Norman Music Festival for almost a decade and was set to perform this year. He said his favorite part of the festival was always the excitement of the crowds and the ability to connect with new listeners. “I have several people that support me now that their first time seeing me or hear ing me was at a Norman Music Festival show,” Jabee said. “For me, it’s always an opportunity to do something new, try to do something big, and I know that it’s going to be one of the biggest crowds I’ll probably do that year.” In addition to the loss of his festival performance, Ja b e e w a s n o t a b l e t o celebrate the June release of his new album, “This World is So Fragile and Cruel I’m Glad I Got You,” in the ways he imagined. Since the pandemic started, Jabee said it has been difficult not having the income he is used to getting from live shows. “I wasn’t able to have a release party,” Jabee said. “I wasn’t able to go on tour. I’ve been really building up to this one moment for the past three years, a n d t h e r u g g o t pu l l e d from underneath me. … A h u n d re d b u c k s f o r a livestream and having your Cash App link posted is not the same.” While he has been partnering with local businesses and organizations to do virtual performances and livestreams, it’s harder to make hip-hop have the same effect over video. “I think the best way for me to impact people is live,” Jabee said. “Buying music and listening to music and watching videos and all that is cool, but I feel like my gift is the performance I give live. It’s hard not to be able to do that.” In addition to providing local musicians with exposure, Norman Music Festival has around a fourmillion-dollar economic impact on the local economy, Jackson said. “People come out. They spend money. They put gas in their cars, buy new clothes. They buy some vinyl. ... Arts and the impact of public arts events, they are economic drivers for communities like Norman.” Will Muir is the manager at Guestroom Records, which often ser ves as a per for mance venue for
the festival. He said the decision to cancel the festival was a necessity. “The first word out of my mouth was ‘good,’” Muir said. “We have no business having a music festival right now.” Mu i r s a i d t h a t w h i l e the festival br ings new customers into the store, the store’s sales on festival days are not that different from typical weekends. While regular customers might avoid the crowds, purchases made by festival attendees make up for the loss of any sales. Muir said he still misses the atmosphere that accompanies the festival every year. “ I t ’s s o r t o f l i k e a homecoming every year,” Muir said. “Lots of bands that are normally on tour and things like that were all in one place. Everybody’s having a good time together celebrating music.” The store has introduced several new policies in order to make shopping safe, including mandatory masks and using hand sanitizer when you enter the store, Muir said. Guestroom is also operating at a limited capacity, which is a drastic change from busy festival crowds. “ D u r i n g t h e No r m a n Mu s i c Fe s t i v a l , a t a n y given time, there could be anywhere between 20 to 60 or 70 people inside the store,” Muir said. “Our capacity right now is five.” The store has also seen a definite drop in sales, Muir said, and while many regular customers are still coming in to shop, they do so less frequently. “I have lots of people I used to see personally at least three times a week, and now maybe I see them once ever y two weeks,” Muir said. “I hope that everybody can continue to make choices that help keep our community safe so that we can get back to having some live music around here.” The Norman Music A l l i a n c e i s w o rk i ng o n virtual shows to bring music back to the Norman community, Jackson said, but when it is safe, Norman Mu s i c Fe s t i v a l w i l l b e ready. “We definitely want to be a part of the after for all this,” Jackson said. “When it is time to put a stage up, when it is time for people to gather and listen to great music again, we’ll be there.” Sam Tonkins
samantha.tonkins@ou.edu
Norman artists hold joint exhibit
VIA PRESS RELEASE FROM MAINSITE CONTEMPORARY ART
A painting from “Neuticles” by Richard McKown, which will be featured in MAINSITE Contemporary Art’s dual exhibit with Douglas Shaw Edler’s “OKecoScapes” through Sept. 12.
Sculptural, 2D art styles contrast in MAINSITE display JACINDA HEMEON @jacindarae4
MAINSITE Contemporary Art will showcase the work of two Norman artists as the local art community grapples with the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic. L ocal artist Douglas S h a w E l d e r ’s e x h i b i t , “OKecoScapes,” features sculptures and twodimensional ink drawings inspired by the Oklahoma landscape, said Norman Arts Council Executive Director Erinn Gavaghan. Gavaghan said Elder’s sculptures — molded atop plywood to represent the horizon line — depict what you see on the surface of the Oklahoma landscape and what you may see below the ground. “They’re really quite beautiful,” Gavaghan said. “I hope that people come and see it because a photograph just doesn’t do it justice.” Elder’s work is juxtaposed with coworker Richard M c K o w n ’s p a i n t i n g s . Gavaghan said the two were excited to exhibit their work together after working side by side for over 20 years. McKown’s “Neuticles” embodies a more narrative style. Gavaghan said McKown’s monochromatic paintings on stretched cotton are set up as stills from his screenplay. The exhibit allows its observers to walk through pathways that guide them through the narrative of the play. According to his website, McKown describes “Neuticles” as a “cautionary
tale” and “tragic comedy.” “If you choose to follow along, I ask for your patience and openmindedness. I hope that you understand that it was put together with the best of intentions,” McKown wrote on his website. Gavaghan said the museum is unable to host its usual opening and closing receptions for exhibits due to the pandemic. In lieu of the usual, public event, the gallery will broadcast an artist talk for the exhibits at 7 p.m. Sept. 10 on the MAINSITE Facebook page. The Norman Arts Council typically supports other art organizations in Norman through grants funded by the city’s hotel tax. Gavaghan said the pandemic has dramatically slowed the hotel and tourism industry, leaving the arts council with a slashed budget and forcing it to reduce its hours of operation. Until the situation improves, Gavaghan said she hopes the Norman community comes to support the exhibit and the museum. “Our big focus right now while we’re in the pandemic is figuring out a solution to keep the art funded,” Gavaghan said. “O Ke c o S c a p e s” a n d “Neuticles” are on display from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. We d n e s d ay t h rou g h Saturday until Sept. 12 at MAINSITE Contemporary Art, 122 E. Main St. in Norman. Due to COVID-19, the museum capacity is currently 25 people, and masks are required to enter. Jacinda Hemeon
jacinda.r.hemeon@ou.edu
4
CULTURE
• Sept. 1-7, 2020
5 fun spots to eat 6 feet apart
TREY YOUNG/THE DAILY
Tables between the Christopher C. Gibbs College of Architecture and the Gaylord College of Journalism Aug. 30.
Outdoor options to hang out while social distancing JILLIAN TAYLOR @jilliantaylor_
COVID-19 has significantly limited dining options across campus, leaving the Union almost d e s e r t e d a n d No r m a n restaurants at lower seating capacities. Luckily, OU’s campus offers a variety of COVID19-friendly alternatives where students can congregate in smaller groups. Here is a list of outdoor
locations to enjoy takeout or a meal from home. GAYLORD Si tu at e d t o t h e r ig ht of the Gaylord College of Journalism and Mass Communication on a patch of grass is a smattering of picnic tables. Enjoy catching some rays and people-watching from this spot, which overlooks the South Oval. Tables allow for about four people to sit while remaining socially distanced. THE SOUTH OVAL
Vibrant flower beds and a 360-degree view of campus makes the wide strip of grass on the South Oval a perfect place for picnics. All you need to bring is a blanket and a basket or lunch box — depending on how fancy you want to get. Just make sure to keep your mask handy and try not to get too close to other picnic-goers! THE DUCK POND If you are looking for a more natural environment, head over to the Duck Pond. This location is across from Callaway House
Apartments, at 403 E. Brooks St., offering commuter pass parking if you don’t feel like walking. There are picnic tables if you are hoping to study while you eat and places to picnic near the pond if you want to dine with the ducks. It is also a great place to watch the sunset! THE UNION If you don’t feel comfortable eating your Chickfil-A inside the Union, there is a set of tables outside of the east entrance. The location is hidden aw ay f ro m t h e u s u a l l y
HOROSCOPE Jordan Miller Blake Douglas Caleb McCourry Trey Young Will Conover
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Previous Solution
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.
By Eugenia Last
Copyright 2020, Newspaper Enterprise Assn.
TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 1, 2020 ASTROGRAPH by Eugenia Last
PISCES (Feb. 20-March 20) -- Let your intuition guide you. Personal VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22) -- A gains, love and romance are within change of pace is required. Set reach; all you have to do is be new goals that will challenge you. honest with yourself and others. A new hairstyle or fitness routine Your heart will lead you in the will lift your spirits and prompt you right direction. to pursue your dreams. Romance is favored. ARIES (March 21-April 19) -- Keep your life moderate and straightLIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 23) -- Sit forward, and pay close attention back and take in what’s going on to your physical well-being. When around you. Observation will buy you’re uncertain, take some time you time and save money. Do your to slow down and reflect. own thing, and refuse to get roped into someone’s misfortune. TAURUS (April 20-May 20) -- Send a message that will inform peers, SCORPIO (Oct. 24-Nov. 22) -- Plan relatives or friends of a decision something special for a loved one. you’ve made. The support you Take the initiative, and make a receive will gain you needed supchange at home that will add to port. A personal change will bring your comfort and happiness. A you closer to a loved one. creative pursuit looks promising. GEMINI (May 21-June 20) SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 23-Dec. 21) -- Refrain from sharing personal -- Don’t trust anyone with personal information with someone who information, passwords or posses- can affect your reputation. Work sions. Concentrate on taking care quietly on your own until you are of business and staying out of happy with what you accomplish. trouble. Limit yourself to pursuing Someone will try to make you look personal growth and better health. bad or take advantage of you. CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19) -- Investments, partnerships and joint ventures will be full of changes. A relationship will take a positive turn. A better lifestyle and romantic escapades are heading your way.
CANCER (June 21-July 22) -Virtual travel and research will pay off. A creative pursuit will help you make positive changes at home. How you handle a partnership will determine how much help you receive.
AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 19) -- Go at your own pace. You don’t have to keep up with anyone or follow someone taking a path you don’t care for. Concentrate on what matters to you, and don’t lose sight of your goals.
LEO (July 23-Aug. 22) -- Don’t feel that you must make a change because someone else does. Put your energy into what makes the most sense and brings the highest return. Avoid taking a physical risk.
crowded campus, offering tables that seat about three to four people. Chairs are currently not marked to encourage social distancing, so be cautious if you choose to eat here. CLOCK TOWER Adjacent to the clock tower are a few sunsoaked tables, enclosed by foliage. This location is extremely scenic and a great spot to eat when the weather is nice. As long as you don’t walk under the clock tower while traveling to this location, you should
be safe to eat there. THE WALKER-ADAMS MALL Instead of eating your meal inside your dorm room, try taking food out to one of the tables on the Walker-Adams Mall. This location is close to Raising Cane’s, Cate Restaurants and the Couch Rest-aurants, and it is a great place for impromptu gatherings. Once you’re done with your meal, you can enjoy a quick swing before you return to class. Jillian Taylor
jillian.g.taylor-2@ou.edu
Universal Crossword Edited by David Steinberg September 1, 2020 ACROSS 1 Holey rubber shoe 5 She goes “baa� 8 Without a warranty 12 Health care helper 13 In the ___ (not virtual) 15 Either parent’s nickname, perhaps 16 *Smart home security features (see letters 7 to 9) 19 Used Twitch, e.g. 20 Swiss city known for early Dada art 21 Subj. of Obama’s 2016 JAMA article 22 Prefix with “soft� or “sweet� 23 *PC key combo of last resort (6 to 8) 28 Soda with a vanilla variety 32 Roth ___ 33 Tree secretion 34 Stretchy glove material 35 Group of artisans or Neopets players 37 Section leaders, often: Abbr. 38 Bit of silliness 39 Pop Secret competitor 40 Outdo 42 Before, to Dickinson
9/1
43 Paper purchase 44 *Groovy ocean dweller (4 to 6) 46 IVF cell 48 Singer or “Mean Girls� character Janis 49 Off course 52 “Later!� 57 Financial news site that hints at the starred answers’ indicated letters? 59 Decked out 60 Fragile ecosystems 61 Luxurious hair 62 Certain 63 Like just-painted nails 64 CPR experts DOWN 1 Dishonest types, old-style 2 Certain demonstration 3 Stench 4 Hotel breakfast basic 5 “Ex’s & Oh’s� singer King 6 Fuse, as metal 7 Key to try before 23-Across 8 Word after “Arab� or “Latin� 9 Indian garment that may be nine yards
10 Apple desktop 11 Kate Middleton’s wear 13 Alpha ___ 14 Greenish eye color 17 Rum brand 18 Silent 22 Karate instructor 23 Hades smokes one in “Hercules� 24 Break from fighting 25 Sauce with yogurt and cucumber 26 Lightning bolt on a weather map, briefly 27 “Endless Love� singer Ross 29 Monterey Bay Aquarium mammal 30 Oscar nominee Knightley
31 Perform very well 34 Some snuggling pets 36 Newlyweds may share one 41 Marriages 44 Party on “House Hunters� 45 Right before the bell, say 47 Yellow vehicle in “Little Miss Sunshine� 49 Early lesson 50 Cho’s “Star Trek� role 51 Bygone Russian title 52 “Makes sense� 53 Present 54 Comic artist Ellis or skater Rippon 55 Classy chap 56 Mine deposits 58 Stitch up
PREVIOUS PREVIOUSPUZZLE PUZZLEANSWER ANSWER
8/31 3/8
Š 2020 Andrews McMeel Universal Š 2020 Andrews McMeel Universal www.upuzzles.com www.upuzzles.com
Holding Company by Evan Kalish and Brooke Husic
SPORTS
Sept. 1-7, 2020 •
5
Coale apologizes amid criticism
EDWARD REALI/THE DAILY
OU Women’s Basketball Head Coach Sherri Coale during the game against Oklahoma State on Feb. 11.
Athletic Department ‘committed to listening’ to players CALEB MCCOURRY @CalebMac21
OU women’s basketball head coach Sherri Coale and Athletics Director Joe Castiglione responded in a press release Sunday night to former player Gioya Carter’s criticism of the coach. Carter tweeted Friday during OU head football coach Lincoln Riley and the Sooners’ march on campus, a demonstration against police brutality, and bashed Coale’s leadership when it came to advocating for racial equality. “I wish I knew what it felt
like to have a head coach at OU like this,” Carter tweeted Friday. “But instead my four years there (were) filled with comments like ‘You guys act like it happened to you’ (and) ‘If y’alls long braids hits one of my players in the face’ as if the people in braids weren’t her players.” Former Sooner guard T’ona Edwards and forward Ijeoma Odimgbe backed Carter up on social media as well. Coale responded with an apology, saying, “it is clear that there have been moments where my intent has not been the same as my impact.” “To hear the concerns raised by my former student-athletes is disheartening, because it is clear that I have unknowingly caused harm to people I care deeply
about,” Coale said in the statement. “Over my career, I have taken pride in the work that I have done on the court and the commitment to the personal growth of the women I’ve been responsible for leading. While I have always had the intent of expressing care for others, it is clear that there have been moments where my intent has not been the same as my impact – for that, I sincerely apologize. “For several years, I’ve made a concerted effort to educate myself and my players about how we can, together, create and sustain an environment in which all feel welcome and at home – a part of our women’s basketball family. While our past and present efforts in support of inclusion are ones I am proud of, I also
know I should not assume that our learning and growth is ever finished. I am committed to working with my staff and my players toward continual growth. I want to ensure that any of my words or actions reflect my values, and the love I have for my student-athletes is shown in the knowledge I impart on them every day. I will continue to work and to demonstrate my commitment to increasing awareness of and appreciation for diversity, equity, and inclusion in all its forms, and I will continue to represent that same commitment on behalf of Sooner Athletics and the University of Oklahoma.” Castiglione said the Athletics Department is continuing to look into the accusations and is “committed to
listening.” “When these matters were raised by former members of the women’s basketball program, we were obviously concerned,” Castiglione said. “Though we were unaware of the reported concerns of insensitivity in the women’s basketball program prior to the comments that were posted in the last few days, we are committed to listening. “Throughout her 24 years of collegiate coaching, Coach Coale has demonstrated tremendous character and a consistent record of advocating for her student-athletes. I know Coach Coale – along with the rest of the women’s basketball program leadership – joins me in eagerly availing ourselves to further engage in these important conversations. We
have avenues through which student-athletes can converse with coaches, administrators or confidentially and anonymously with our team of sports psychologists any time they want to bring a concern to our attention, and we actively seek their input. My hope is that we can move forward and work together in building greater understanding as we constantly strive to be better.” From 2013–2017, Carter played in 120 games under Coale, shooting 38.6 percent from the field and scoring 7.9 points per game in her OU career. Caleb McCourry
caleb.a.mccourry-1@ou.edu
Lincoln says Sooners ‘under 10 active cases’ Recent tests show 6 new positive COVID-19 results CALEB MCCOURRY @CalebMac21
SIANDHARA BONNET/THE DAILY
Sooner fans tailgate before the OU vs. West Virginia game Nov. 25, 2017.
OU issues COVID-19 game day precautions Measures to limit tailgating, cancel Homecoming MASON YOUNG @Mason_Young_0
OU announced in an Aug. 25 press release it will prohibit fans from tailgating on campus grounds during the 2020 football season. Additionally, masks will be required at all game day venues in 2020, and the Campus Activities Council’s annual Homecoming has been canceled. Per the release, other tailgates and events canceled for 2020 include the OU Alumni
Association Boomer Bash, Sooner Club Tailgate, Tailgate Guys event, Varsity O Tailgate and the Walk of Champions event. Events that will continue with heightened safety precautions include the Allstate Party at the Palace, College Events and Gatherings, Duck Pond RV Parking and the SooneRVillage at Lloyd Noble Center. Masks worn on game days must be surgical-style, covering the nose and mouth. Bandanas, scarves, gaiters, buffs and other similar masks will not be allowed. “In past years, a typical game day in Norman draws over 100,000 people to campus,” OU Vice President for
University Operations Eric Conrad said in the release. “While we realize these decisions will be disappointing to many, it is imperative that the university does its part to slow the spread of the virus on campus and in our community so we can protect each other.” The athletic department has already announced seating will be reduced to 25 percent capacity for Gaylord Family-Oklahoma Memorial Stadium for the upcoming season as it continues to tighten restrictions due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. Mason Young
mason.e.young-1@ou.edu
Oklahoma head coach Lincoln Riley addressed the latest COVID-19 test results that were released Aug. 24, telling reporters in a Tuesday Zoom conference, “We’re definitely under 10 active cases.” Per the Sooners’ Monday announcement, 166 football players were tested from Aug. 17–20, with six tests coming back positive. The Sooners announced 17 active cases in that testing timeframe, but Riley said “eight or nine” of those 17 players returned from quarantine since then. From Aug. 24’s results, there have been 17 total recoveries on the team. Riley also mentioned in the media conference an instance where almost an entire position group tested positive. Riley wouldn’t say which unit it was, but said that all but one player in a position group had to quarantine. “I’m not gonna say what position, we had a day last week (where) we’re getting ready to do a scrimmage, had a (COVID-19) test which then come back and we lose all but
TREY YOUNG/THE DAILY
OU football head coach Lincoln Riley speaks with members of the media after the march for unity Aug. 28.
one person in the position group,” Riley said. “I mean, a major position group on the field. And we have to practice that day with a position where we have multiple players on the field at one time. And we have one player, and we found out that night, and then we’re going to practice the next morning. “For us, it’s been a call to every player on our roster that you’ve got to be willing
to do whatever is called. It’s on us to have a plan.” The Sooners started fall camp on July 31 after returning to campus for the first time in months for voluntary workouts July 1, and are set to kick off their season against Missouri State Sept. 12. Caleb McCourry
caleb.a.mccourry-1@ou.edu
6
SPORTS
• Sept. 1-7, 2020
Struggles supersede sports
JACKSON STEWART/THE DAILY
Cornerbacks coach Roy Manning works with the cornerbacks during practice April 1, 2019.
Roy Manning says coaching requires more vulnerability MASON YOUNG
@Mason_Young_0
In an Aug. 26 Zoom media conference, OU cornerbacks coach Roy Manning discussed his continued conversations with players regarding social justice and police reform after the killings of George Floyd and Breonna Taylor and the
recent shooting of Jacob Blake. Manning emphasized transparency and vulnerability as key components of conversations on racial justice, while saying he’s checked in with players as much as possible to discuss concerns. “I think that coaches, not only here but coaches around the country, have had to at least step back from coach role, and from football mode, and step back into human role and just be willing to be a little bit vulnerable and transparent,” Manning
said. “I know personally, we’ve taken that on and went full steam ahead with not brushing things under the rug, or not keeping things just all about ball here.” Following Floyd’s death in late May, Manning was one of many Sooner coaches and athletes who shared their thoughts on racial issues on social media. Since then, redshirt senior defensive back Chanse Sylvie, redshirt junior safety Justin Broiles and others have been engaged in activism and reformational conversations, while head
coach Lincoln Riley created a racial justice task force on his team. Manning said Aug, 26 that despite progress his players and others have made in promoting equity, it’s still disheartening to see continued disturbances in the news on a regular basis. “I just wish we could do better as a nation,” Manning said. “I really do, because I really do feel like we’ve dropped the ball in a lot of ways. ... You hate reading about things every other week, or whatever it is, and
it seems like new things and new situations keep popping up, but it’s just the reality of the world that we’re living in.” It’s that very reality that keeps Manning conferring with his athletes on a regular basis, asking if they need to talk or get something off their chest. Manning said he often has issues bothering him that motivate him to be a good resource for his players. As these struggles for justice continue across the nation, struggles that supersede sports, Manning said he
and OU’s other coaches will be doing their best to “wrap their arms around” players and ultimately show student-athletes that they care. “When you bring young men here, it’s more than just football you’re bringing them here for,” Manning said. “And so we can’t get quiet, and (we) can’t act like these things that go on in the world don’t affect our guys, because they do, and they affect us as coaches just the same.” Mason Young
mason.e.young-1@ou.edu
#WeWantToPlay: Players push to keep fall football season L LO O Z E ZE NG NG ES ES
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Big 12 Commissioner Bob Bowlsby talks with reporters on the opening day of the 2016 Big 12 Media Days in Dallas, Texas.
Bob Bowlsby says Big 12 still plans to hold sports in fall CHANDLER ENGELBRECHT @stevenplai
On Aug. 22, just weeks b e f o re O U a n d t h e Bi g 1 2 a re s e t t o b e g i n t h e 2020 football season, Big 12 commissioner Bob Bowlsby told 247Sports’s Chip Brown it’s unlikely the conference will play any sp or ts dur ing the 2020–21 school year if football isn’t played. The Big 12, along with the SEC and ACC, is still planning to hold a fall
football season despite the Big Ten and Pac-12 postponing their seasons to the spring. Bowlsby’s latest push for a fall season comes after multiple S o oners — including senior center Creed Humphrey, junior linebacker DaShaun White and redshirt freshman quarterback Spencer Rattler — used the #WeWantToPlay hashtag on Twitter recently. “We understand what could come with (playing the season), but at the end of the day this team wants to play,” Humphrey said in a Aug. 21 Zoom media availability. “And we’re gonna do whatever it takes. With our training
staff and everybody, they put together great protocols for us to stay as safe as we can. So they have our complete trust and we’re definitely gonna play the season.” OU announced Aug. 24 that there were 17 active cases of COVID-19 after 166 football players were tested from Aug. 17–20. Riley clarified the next day that “eight or nine” of the 17 players were already out of quarantine. The Sooners are scheduled to begin their season against Missouri State on Sept. 12 in Norman. Chandler Engelbrecht
chandler.engelbrecht@ou.edu
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