08192019 Back to School Edition

BACK TO SCHOOL EDITION | AUGUST 24-31, 2020 | WEEKLY IN PRINT | OU DAILY.COM

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NEWS

August 24-31, 2020 •

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Does BLM meet BERT standards?

BERT co-directors examine recent surge in allyship ARI FIFE @arriifife

Thousands-strong protests in major cities and predominantly white towns commanding the nation’s attention. #BlackLivesMatter trending on social media.

Shouts of “I can’t breathe” and “No justice, no peace.”

Celebrities, professional athletes, politicians and university presidents making statements of outrage and deep sadness about the killings of countless Black Americans.

These are all marks of the recent resurgence of the Black Lives Matter movement — spurred on by the killings of George Floyd, Breonna Taylor and Ahmaud Arbery, among many others.

But for OU Black Emergency Response Team co-directors Jamelia Reed and D’India Brown, the growth of the movement in recent weeks has been “bittersweet.”

“We love the exposure on racial injustices and support,” said Brown, a psychology sophomore minoring in African and African American studies and women and gender studies. “But at the same time, it’s just kind of crazy that it ... took this long to get this type of exposure. And for some people, these things just started happening, but in the eyes of Black people, this is just the way things have been since the beginning.”

Reed said the Black Lives Matter movement has seen success in recent weeks, but advocates shouldn’t let that distract them from other, larger issues.

“Although I guess we finally have called … national attention to what has happened, you still see a bigger problem that still lies ahead,” Reed, an African and African American studies senior said. “Now, by no means is this a shot to the Black Lives Matter movement.

I love it. I’m a part of it. But we have to really look at it.”

BERT was founded by the Black Student Association four days after the first of multiple blackface incidents in January 2019 to respond to “any racial incidents in the future and play a strategic role in making the University of Oklahoma a more inclusive environment,” according to a press release. Headed last year

by Reed and Miles Francisco — who has since graduated from OU — the group is now made up of Reed, Brown and a team of 12 others including public

OU women’s basketball player Ana Llanusa holds up a sign at the rally in Norman on June 6.

re l a t i o n s, re c r u i t m e n t and retention, and local and university grievances representatives.

According to the fall 2019 OU Factbook, 1,429 Black students were enrolled at the Norman campus, making up only 5.1 percent of the student population. By contrast, white students made up 58.3 percent of the student population that semester.

As more and more become aware of the systemic racism that has plagued Black Americans for centuries, Brown said BERT’s ultimate goal is keeping the Black community safe and unified.

‘IT TAKES A SOCIAL CHANGE’ When it comes to BERT’s presence at OU this school year, Reed said their priority “will always be, and forever be the Black community.”

Brown said BERT has been becoming more proactive than reactive, and they plan to continue that in coming months. She said the group plans to host more events, do workshops whenever possible, listen to the community’s needs and continue to deliver on the promises and mission established before.

Brown said the group also plans to seek more feedback from its community.

Reed said other priorities are offering diversity education that OU hasn’t “fully been able to put out yet” and having necessary discussions with administrators, faculty, staff and students, adding that a lot of learning can be done faceto-face through talking. “ It t a ke s a s o c i a l change for us all to actually believe in this diversity, inclusion and

equity that we held so high,” Reed said. “So … (we are) still prioritizing the Black community … as well as learning from our mistakes in the past and going forward.”

Since the group’s creation, the most well-known BERT members have been the co-directors, but Reed said the group hasn’t been restructured to add new positions.

She said, instead, the group leaders are being more transparent about who holds each position.

The change stemmed from a desire for OU community members to know who’s part of BERT and who to “expect … to be changers, and (movers and shakers),” Reed said.

In February, BERT staged a three-day sit-in in Evans Hall calling for the firing of Provost Kyle Harper among other demands including the creation of a semester-long class in place of OU’s current three-hour freshman diversity training.

While administrators refused to fire Harper, they agreed to measures proposed

by BERT to hold him accountable. Harper announced on June 17 he’d be stepping down from his position as provost and senior vice president and returning to a faculty position, effective July 1.

O U P re s i d e nt Jo s e p h Harroz pledged to meet with BERT members every two weeks.

“Those are calls I look forward to, they’ve become friends of mine, and I think we understand each other and we have a common goal of accomplishing these,” Harroz said in a June interview. “It’s things that we want to talk about, (that) we think make a real change. So it is continuing, it is essential, and I think it’s an important part of those real policy changes — it’ll make a difference.”

For the time being, BERT is “pretty satisfied” with the changes resulting from the Evans Hall sit-in, Brown said, although she said progress has been slowed more than s h e’d l i k e because of COVID-19 and other factors.

Reed said she has seen attitudes in many groups change toward race, with more people becoming better informed about the reality of being Black in America.

“We are seeing, with response to recent national news and even now, international news … more awakening and understanding of what the Black experience is, especially on college campuses,” Reed said, “And we’re seeing a lot more outreach, as well as students becoming more aware of what’s going on and becoming more culturally competent.”

Reed said since BERT started, she’s seen more people speaking up when they see

something wrong in the Black community and other groups.

She said she’s also seen a lot more improvement, unity and hope in the Black community.

“I’m always more than happy to see the successful Black community,” Reed said.

‘IF I NEVER REALLY TRIED TO MAKE CHANGE, THEN AM I REALLY AN ACTIVIST?’ Reed said people can’t accurately call themselves activists if they’re not there to do the work. Brown said if there

TREY YOUNG/THE DAILY

community on their backs.

Especially as a woman and a “queer Black person,” Reed said it’s painful to see that Taylor’s case and similar cases of other Black women don’t get as much attention.

The energy of Black Lives Matter protesters also doesn’t extend to LGBTQ+ victims, Reed said. She pointed to the killing of Tony McDade in Florida, a Black transgender man, adding that “we barely hear a word” about his death.

“How can you say our Black lives matter, but you treat two marginalized groups with-

TREY YOUNG/THE DAILY

Protesters march to occupy Norman City Hall on June 9.

TREY YOUNG/THE DAILY

Protesters hold up their fists at the rally in Norman on June 6.

are so many supposed allies to the Black community, racism shouldn’t be so prevalent still.

“If I say, ‘Oh yes, I’m an activist,’ … if I never really tried to make change, then am I really an activist?” Reed said.

Brown said a lot of people are overwhelmed at the thought of doing the work, but true activism comes down to making an impact in individual areas of influence and self-evaluating acts of racism.

She said an officer kneeling on an innocent Black man’s neck is obvious racism, but there are different levels of racial injustice.

“We’re not asking everybody to be a bunch of baby (Martin Luther King Jr.’s) or Malcolm X’s,” Brown said.

“We’re not asking for that.

We’re asking you to check your dad whenever he makes a racist remark about a Black boy that you saw on the street. … We’re just asking you to check your heterosexual guy friend whenever he makes a homophobic remark — just simple things like that that everybody can do.”

Reed said in some cases, allyship to the Black community lacks intersectionality. The cries of justice for killed Black women often haven’t been as strong as they are for killed Black men, she said, even though Black women have historically carried the Black

in the group in such a way?”

Reed said. “And I think that not only calls out the Black community, but it also calls out the intentions of people who call themselves feminists or these people who believe in equality of the sexes, especially white women.”

Reed said BERT is focused on intersectional activism, which she described as believing that if activists fight for one marginalized group, they have to fight for others, too.

She said activism isn’t a oneand-done act, but something that evolves and continues.

“You have to fight for all, and not just the Black issues, but ... the issues that affect the Latinx community and the international students and other students, as well as other marginalized communities,” Reed said, “because you understand that this fight is not only us. ... And the fight is not only for us. Yes, this is our name this time. But who knows, next week? Next week I’m going to be fighting for DACA … or for gay rights. We don’t know what’s next. But we do know that we need to stand together.

And that’s what’s been beautiful … as well as tough and hard to see.”

A ‘DOUBLE-SIDED’ MOVEMENT Reed and Brown said

there’s a lot of performative allyship among Black Lives Matter advocates, which has been tough to see and damaging to the movement.

“People are attracted to Black culture, everything around it, but when it comes to Black people, it’s a very different reaction,” Brown said.

“They want our hair, they want our body, they want our lips, they want everything except us. And the fact that they can kind of Double Dutch between having whatever privilege that they have and then also taking part of our culture and our heritage and using that as decoration or as an accessory — it’s just definitely not cool and … definitely counterproductive.”

Brown said she hesitated to post anything related to Black Lives Matter on social media because she didn’t want to seem like she was “just following the crowd.”

“I would rather see people post this just regardless,” Brown said. “It doesn’t have to be Blackout Tuesday. I just want to see you keep that same energy on a Wednesday … next Wednesday, every day. I just want that to be consistent.”

Brown said one of her fears is that the Black community becomes “numb to making the headlines.” She also said every death of a Black American takes a different emotional toll on her.

More “subtle” racial injustices shouldn’t be overlooked because Black people are getting killed in the streets, Brown said — both must be dealt with.

Reed said the politicization of Black lives has also been counterproductive, calling it “the most incompetent argument I’ve ever seen in my life.”

“To see peers say ‘... this is a political issue’ … (and) organizations going back and forth about (whether) they respond and how they respond, saying this is a political issue, I think is ridiculous,” Reed said. “Because in my opinion, Republicans and Democrats alike have proven over and over again that (they think) Black lives don’t matter.”

Brown said the Black community is more than grateful for all its true allies, but added that if they’re true allies, they’re “not looking for validation, or even recognition or awards.”

Reed said she’s seen plenty of people uniting around Black Lives Matter, but she’s also seen people take advantage of the movement to create chaos and blame the Black community.

“You have to sit with yourself and be like, ‘Is it worth it?’

In my eyes, it is,” Reed said.

“But you know, now people are like, ‘My kids are terrified.’

I’ve been terrified since I was 3.”

She said the prominence of Black Lives Matter has had pros and cons. She said she’s glad the message behind the movement is finally becoming widely supported, but she’s also been more afraid to speak her mind, explaining she was scared when a police officer came into her work because she’s posted and said things he “probably wouldn’t agree with.”

“It’s a matter of ‘is this going to change the way we have life?’ or ‘is this going to make our lives better?’” Reed said. “I think we’re all sitting and waiting, and I think we’ll be sitting and waiting for a long time.”

All told, Reed described the Black Lives Matter movement as “double-sided.”

“I’m happy people have become more knowledgeable and more active and (are) speaking about the truth,” Reed said. “But at the same time I don’t know if it has become more dangerous or more safe to be a Black person in America right now — and not only that, be able to speak your mind.”

Ari Fife

ariani.s.fife-1@ou.edu

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NEWS

• August 24-31, 2020

OU leaders rally for social justice Community unites against inequity in downtown march MASON YOUNG @Mason_Young_0

A large crowd gathered outside OU’s Evans Hall on the afternoon of June 6 in honor of George Floyd, a Black man killed by police in Minnesota May 25.

The event — which began at Norman High School — traveled down Main Street and University Boulevard until participants such as OU President Joseph Harroz, former head football coach Bob Stoops, women’s gymnastics coach K.J. Kindler and many others found themselves on OU’s North Oval, listening to the encouragement of community leaders outside the historic university building.

This wasn’t the first time in recent months Evans Hall had been the sight of a peaceful protest — and more specifically, the place of a demonstration against racial injustices plaguing the Black community.

In February, OU’s Black student community and Black Emergency Response Team hosted a three-day sit-in within the walls of that same building.

Their demands for justice came after two instances in a span of two weeks, when two professors used racial slurs during class.

The first occurrence was journalism professor Peter Gade’s use of the N-word in comparison with the phrase “OK, boomer.” The second instance was history professor Kathleen Brosnan’s use of the word while reading a historical document.

The June 6 protest bore a similarity to February’s events, as members of OU’s Black community once again gathered at Evans Hall, demanding justice for the death of Floyd

TREY YOUNG/THE DAILY

OU football player Justin Broiles speaks at the rally in Norman on June 6.

TREY YOUNG/THE DAILY

TREY YOUNG/THE DAILY

OU football player Justin Broiles speaks at the rally in Norman on June 6.

Protesters march southbound on University Boulevard at the rally in Norman on June 6.

and others, as well as respect for Black lives.

OU Student Government Association President Justin Norris released a statement of solidarity following the instances of racism on campus in February. June 6, he continued to show his support for his fellow Black students by participating in the march and providing water and masks for participants with funds raised from the OU Student Government Association for

Black community present. Football safety Justin Broiles and women’s basketball guards Ana Llanusa and Ashlynn Dunbar were among those who spoke to protesters outside Evans Hall, using their platforms to empower the Norman and OU communities.

Broiles, who participated in a Black Lives Matter rally in north Oklahoma City May 31, said he continues to appear at protests because he believes

Black Lives Support Fund.

“Obviously a lot’s been going on, so it’s been good to see (this demonstration) in our own town where we’ve had our own history on campus of racial issues, as well as in the city of Norman,” Norris said. “I’m here because I’m a Black person and I feel like I’m not only supporting myself, but I’m supporting all my brothers and sisters.”

Norris wasn’t the only prominent member of OU’s

it’s God’s will for him to use his voice to enact change.

“It’s not right in America, and God’s blessed me with this platform to inspire others and encourage others and to make change,” Broiles said.

“Not only for football … or to just chase their dreams, but for what’s right.”

As Broiles and his fellow athletes shared their thoughts with a racially diverse crowd the size of which they said they didn’t expect, there was

one message that continually prevailed — hope.

Llanusa said she was encouraged by the number of protesters and believes the protest was a step in the right direction in mending the deep divisions caused by racism.

“I talked to (Broiles) and my teammate (Dunbar), and we weren’t even expecting this many people out here, let alone this many other ‘racist’ white people,” Llanusa said.

“We didn’t expect that, and so it’s big to see that and it’s very hopeful.”

OU Black Student Association President Erin Palmer, a co-organizer of the march, said she was also optimistic about the day’s events as she stood on the steps of Evans Hall while the enormous crowd dispersed.

However, as Broiles and Llanusa echoed, Palmer said she acknowledged the event she helped build must not be the end of the fight against racism.

“Racism on campus will never be undone with one march, one protest,” Palmer said. “These things can’t be fixed, but marches like these help shed light on the issue and hopefully continue momentum as well because it doesn’t stop here.”

While marching down University Boulevard, carrying his cardboard sign with the message “Stop Killing Us,” Norris best summarized the full impact of the protest.

“I think it’s important for the OU community to see this and experience it to know that issues of racism — even though they may happen on our campus — have repercussions that are felt nationwide,” Norris said. “And so to be able to see what is now a national issue come back to campus, I think it really shows that we all play a role in making our world a better place.”

Mason Young

mason.e.young-1@ou.edu

George Henderson reflects on racial progress Mayor Breea Clark makes Juneteenth official city holiday JILLIAN TAYLOR @jilliantaylor__

OU professor emeritus and civil rights activist George Henderson commented on Norman’s first official celebration of Juneteenth — a day he said he never thought he would see in his lifetime.

Mayor Breea Clark proclaimed Juneteenth an official city holiday at the George Floyd candlelight memorial June 11. Henderson said this year marks progression as he watches celebrations occur in multiracial communities.

“This year is a very special year for Juneteenth because the faces are multiracial and multicolored,” Henderson said. “It’s another step toward freedom and recognizing that African Americans, indeed, are part of America too.”

Upon accepting an offer to teach at OU in the 1960s, Henderson previously said he was apprehensive of moving to Norman because he feared the community would not embrace him.

In 1967, Norman was still a “sundown town” — an allwhite town where Black people were not welcome after sunset. Henderson’s family was the first Black household to own property in Norman, and he was the third Black faculty member on OU’s campus.

Initially, Henderson said his family faced oppression from people throwing garbage in his yard and yelling racial slurs while passing his house. He said transitioning from a community of progressive, racial activism in Detroit to the hostile environment of community race relations in Norman was

OU professor emeritus George Henderson speaks at the George Floyd candlelight memorial on June 11.

exceptionally difficult for him and his family.

As he reflected on his time in Norman June 19, however, Henderson said his opinion changed quicker than he anticipated.

“I misjudged the people of Norman when I came (because) I was reflecting on not my knowledge, but my mentor’s knowledge and other people’s knowledge of the Norman they knew,” Henderson said. “But doggone it, within three to four years max, George Henderson, Barbara Henderson, seven children and a mother-in-law became integral parts of Norman, which indeed was a lesson to me — don’t prejudge a community or people in it until you’ve had a chance to interact with them.”

Living in Norman allowed

TREY YOUNG/THE DAILY

Norman Mayor Breea Clark celebrates Norman High School senior and event organizer Sydnie Woodfork’s leadership at the George Floyd candlelight memorial on June 11. Clark also provided a copy of the Juneteenth proclamation to Woodfork.

Henderson to intimately connect with OU’s community. In 1967, he — among other OU students and faculty — created what would become the Black Student Association — an organization encouraging

students to reflect on the Black community’s history and culture.

Henderson said watching the group he helped build commemorate Juneteenth elicits immense gratification.

TREY YOUNG/THE DAILY

“Often, civil rights and human rights activities start (with) people excited, but over the long haul they tend to drop off one at a time and someone has to restart,” Henderson said. “Well, the (Black) students … formed i nt o t h e Bl a ck St u d e nt Association and (they) have never stopped seeking equality for the university.”

Students, Henderson said, are akin to his extended family. He said just as most parents are proud of what their children do, he is also proud of the Black students — and their white student allies — for their passions for change.

“I honestly believe too many of my friends and colleagues have written off (the younger) generation — we underestimated them in the same way I underestimated people in Norman,”

Henderson said. “(But) there are more good people here and more young people who have that spirit and enthusiasm — they just go about it in their own way … as we did during our times.”

In watching current social justice movements, Henderson said he has seen naysayers comment on a lack of change in Norman and surrounding communities. Today’s celebration of Juneteenth, he said, is an instance of progress.

“This is a time in which … those of us who are committed to social justice and equality … can say we’re going to add to our commitment,” Henderson said. “(Instead of) talking about it and apologizing for what hasn’t happened, more and more young people … and others are doing.

They’re doing the work us olden folks started a long time ago, which is so gratifying.”

On Juneteenth, Henderson said he hopes — as people question why racial equality has not yet been realized — they will remember work has to be done until it is finished.

Until that work is complete, he said we should celebrate today.

“I regret that my mother, who told me, ‘Don’t give up on America, George,’ ... didn’t live long enough to see this day. I regret that Barbara and I lost three children, and they love this place, they love this community and the university,” Henderson said. “But I have to believe their spirit and their enthusiasm is what drove me, Barbara and the rest of us to continue this journey.

“This is a good day — this is a very good day,” Henderson said.

Jillian Taylor

jillian.g.taylor-2@ou.edu

SPORTS

August 24-31, 2020 •

5

5-star Caleb Williams commits ’21 Riley’s offense to possess double dual-threat QBs CALEB MCCOURRY @CalebMac21

COURTESY OF HEAD FOOTBALL COACH RANDY TRIVERS / GONZAGA COLLEGE HIGH SCHOOL

Five-star high school prospect Caleb Williams gets in motion to make a pass. Williams committed to OU July 4.

Josh McCuistion — co-publisher of SoonerScoop for 10 years — has worked for the site covering recruiting since 2003. He’s covered the Elite 11 competition on numerous occasions and watched all of Williams’ footage from the camp.

“What I saw was Williams in a setting that’s not really made for a player (with) his game,” McCuistion said. “He is such a capable runner and so gifted in that variety. ... I think (quarterback competitions) are always geared toward the guys that could just sit in the pocket and don’t have that ability, even to just extend plays to make things happen outside of the play design.

“But Williams made a lot of throws that anybody in the country would be proud of. He had some gorgeous ones.”

Williams has been compared to many quarterbacks, pro and college, with skills in the run game. But the name that shows up the most from those who watch him play is Seattle Seahawks quarterback Russell Wilson, a Super Bowl

champion and seven-time Pro Bowl selection with 3,993 rushing yards on his NFL resume.

His ability to be a problem for defenses both in the air and on the ground has been a focal point for scouts.

But Sooner fans shouldn’t

“

Conference Championship.

The Gonzaga Eagles came back from being down 20-0 at the end of the first quarter in the game, and Williams threw two touchdowns in the last 50 seconds of the game, while also converting on third and 33 in crunch time. Gonzaga’s

When I look at different years that I’ve coached over the course of my career, and different athletes that I’ve had, you say, ‘Man, Caleb certainly is a unique athlete.’

-Randy Trivers, Gonzaga College High School head coach

expect Riley to just hone in on running when Williams can’t find a man open downfield. Williams boasts an arm that threw a walk-off 53yard touchdown at the end of regulation to win the 2018 Washington Catholic Athletic

“

To Randy Trivers, five-star quarterback Caleb Williams is unique. He rightfully thinks so.

The G onzaga College High School head coach has watched Williams start every game for the Eagles for three years ever since taking the lead spot as a freshman in 2017. He’s considered the best dual threat quarterback in his class, and has a blog about his daily life that college football fans all over the country have kept up with.

He shares videos of himself training, whether in high school games or at prominent quarterback camps, to his more than 15,000 followers on Twitter and more than 31,000 followers on Instagram, and his throws have also appeared on SportsCenter.

On the Fourth of July, Williams made the decision to join the Sooners’ 2021 class, a decision Sooner fans have waited on for months.

“When I look at different years that I’ve coached over the course of my career,” said Trivers, who’s going into his seventh year as Gonzaga’s head coach, “and different athletes that I’ve had, you say, ‘Man, Caleb certainly is a unique athlete.’”

But for an athlete who’s made a career of standing out, he has a lot in common with coach Lincoln Riley’s quarterback room at Oklahoma.

By 2021, Riley will have two five-star dual threat quarterbacks in Williams and Spencer Rattler, who will be a redshirt sophomore by the time Williams arrives in Norman.

Each were the top dual-threat quarterbacks of their respective classes nationally.

Williams and Rattler were each named the Elite 11 MVP in their senior high school years. Chandler Morris, an OU 2020 class quarterback recruit, was an Elite 11 finalist in 2019.

The last Sooner to be named MVP of the competition before Rattler and Williams was Rhett Bomar, when he was named Co-MVP in 2003.

Williams was named the 2020 MVP on July 1.

2018 win marked the first time since 2002 the team had won a WCAC Championship.

“There’s been a lot of good moments, but to say that there’s one bigger than that, and the way that that went down, I think you’d be kidding

yourself,” Trivers said. “That (game) is so unique, that you’d have to just say that that one minute, that 57 seconds of football right there, sort of epitomizes what he’s capable of.”

The play propelled Williams into high school football stardom, and his arm will prove to be a valuable asset to Lincoln Riley’s offense, which Williams chose over other schools such as LSU, Alabama and Clemson. Oklahoma has had its share of dual threat talents in the past few years, with Heisman winner Kyler Murray in 2018 and Heisman finalist Jalen Hurts the next year.

With Rattler likely taking the starting role for the next few years at Gaylord Family-Oklahoma Memorial Stadium, Williams will be able to learn from a quarterback who has a similar play style.

“It’s not hard to see what Lincoln Riley is excited about with him in the passing game,” McCuistion said. “It’s not that the offense is going to be designed for him to be run-heavy. That’s not what

Lincoln Riley believes. And that’s never been what they do, even with a gifted guy like Kyler Murray. But the fact that it’s there makes it so difficult for a defense to cope with him because on the zone read that’s a real scare.”

OU’s original 2021 quarterback prospect was Brock Vandagriff, a five-star talent who rescinded his commitment in January and gave his verbal commitment to Georgia. Picking up Williams seven months later is a testament to Riley’s ability to attract the nation’s best high school players. Adding Williams to OU’s offense makes the Sooners’ 2021 quarterback room one of the most impressive in Riley’s OU career.

“He’s a winner,” Trivers said. “He will find a way to be triumphant on that field. He does not fear competition, he really embraces competition and the challenge of pressure moments and big moments.”

Caleb McCourry

caleb.a.mccourry-1@ou.edu

How Pride of Oklahoma adjusts to COVID-19 OU marching band to stay home for fall 2020 away games CALEB MCCOURRY @CalebMac21

Away games for the Sooners will be missing a historic piece of Oklahoma football this upcoming season.

For the first time since 1993, the Pride of Oklahoma marching band will not travel with the football team during the regular season due to COVID-19 concerns. The decision was agreed upon by all Big 12 schools in early July, as first reported by the Lubbock Avalanche-Journal’s Don Williams. OU’s band staff was notified of the Big 12’s decision on July 7.

Starting in 1994 — the first year of former OU President David Boren’s tenure — the Pride has gone to all football games. This year, the first of Joseph Harroz Jr.’s permanent presidency, will look different.

Neutral-site games such as OU-Texas, the Big 12 Championship and the College Football Playoff are still under consideration from the Big 12. Brian Britt, OU’s director of athletic bands and the head of the Pride, says that not traveling is one of multiple changes to come to OU’s athletic bands.

“I think everything’s still really fluid right now with the

The Pride of Oklahoma’s drum major leads the band before the game against Houston Sept. 1, 2019.

current status of the virus,” said Britt, who’s going into his 19th season of being director of the Pride. “I think there’s so many other things that have to be decided for just starting the season and keeping everyone safe.

“All of us understand that health and safety come first. … It’s first and foremost about student safety.”

OU Athletics Director Joe Castiglione, head coach Lincoln Riley and numerous

prominent college sports figures have expressed interest in moving the 2020 college football season to the spring.

If that were the case, Shanti Simon, OU’s director of bands, said the Pride would attempt to keep its streak of attending all OU games.

However, Simon said the decision is still a ways out.

“It’s very possible that if they decide to move football into the spring, we would want to try and participate

in that as fully as possible,” Simon said. “Depending on the (COVID-19) situation at that time, we would, of course, be able to make that decision. ... We try to be a part of that in any way that is safe.”

Among the other concerns in discussion for OU bands now are social distancing when marching on campus before games and on the field. With over 300 members of the Pride marching in unison, shoulder to shoulder,

JACKSON STEWART/THE DAILY

Britt said he expects different marching formations that ensure more distance between the members and viewers.

OU’s athletic bands haven’t convened in person since March, before the NCAA tournament and winter and spring sports were canceled due to the country’s initial exposure to COVID-19.

The pandemic has canceled the Pride’s yearly summer training, prompting the band to meet virtually over Zoom.

Tyler Jones, a biomedical senior and a trombone section leader, hasn’t played alongside his bandmates since OU’s 63-28 loss to LSU in the 2019 Peach Bowl, and described the virtual practice process as being an interesting experience. Practicing over Zoom often includes warmups where a leader has bandmates play along while they’re muted.

“We’ve been able to make the best of it,” Jones said. “I think the biggest issue is the fact that it’s very hard to run a rehearsal with a big group.

For example, whenever someone’s having to run the rehearsal or conduct, everyone else’s mic has to be muted, and part of playing is being able to hear what they’re playing. So it’s kind of difficult.”

The Pride is scheduled to return to campus for band camp Aug. 15. Jones said he’s hoping the event will happen, despite all the changes he and his bandmates are going through.

“Whenever we were at the LSU game, I didn’t expect that to potentially be my last game in the band,” Jones said.

“I wasn’t mentally preparing for that. In the case that the Pride doesn’t happen this year, it would be a bummer, especially for the seniors.”

Caleb McCourry

caleb.a.mccourry-1@ou.edu

6

SPORTS

• August 24-31, 2020

2020 Sooner football predictions The Daily’s fall sports desk expects predominantly successful season Chandler Engelbrecht // @ctengelbrecht Austin Curtright // @AustinCurtright Caleb McCourry // @CalebMac12

MISSOURI STATE (SEPT. 5)*

OKLAHOMA STATE (OCT. 24)

Chandler Engelbrecht, sports reporter: Have you ever wondered how high the scoreboard at Gaylord Memorial Stadium can go? You’ll likely find out in the Sooners’ opening game against Missouri State, who went 1-10 last season and hasn’t had a winning year in a decade. There will be better games on TV. Score: 66-7, OU. Austin Curtright, sports reporter: In what should be Spencer Rattler’s coming-out party, OU will roll a bad Missouri State team, even for FCS standards. Score: 63-3, OU. Caleb McCourry, sports editor: Newly hired Missouri State head coach Bobby Petrino will be taking a loss in Norman. The Bears finished 1-10 in 2019, and fellow Missouri Valley Conference program South Dakota took a 70-14 beatdown in Norman the year before. Score: 66-10, OU.

Engelbrecht: The Pokes won’t be a team to overlook in 2020. They boast perhaps the most talented trio in the Big 12 in quarterback Spencer Sanders, wide receiver Tylan Wallace and running back Chuba Hubbard. With all three healthy, Oklahoma State will upset the Sooners in Norman and will rematch them for it all in December. Score: 42-34, OSU. Curtright: In what’s been a shootout in recent years, OSU returns arguably the nation’s best in running back Hubbard, Biletnikoff finalist Wallace and second-year quarterback Sanders. I think the Cowboys have a real shot at the Big 12 title in 2020. Score: 48-45, OSU. McCourry: Cowboy running back Hubbard is Oklahoma’s biggest concern in this match. OU held him to 104 yards and a touchdown in 2019’s Stillwater, Oklahoma, matchup. If he’s stopped in Norman, the Sooners can count on a win. Score: 42-28, OU.

TENNESSEE (SEPT. 12) Engelbrecht: Tennessee won its final six games last year to finish the season at 8-5, and the Volunteers have a lot of momentum heading into Jeremy Pruitt’s third season as head coach. However, it won’t be enough to replicate the same amount of trouble UT gave OU the last time the two teams played each other. Score: 44-27, OU. Curtright: Tennessee finished the 2019 season with five-straight wins, welcomed a top-10 recruiting class and has a stable coaching staff for the first time in quarterback Jarrett Guarantano’s career. I think Tennessee will get there, but they’re a few years away from making legitimate noise in the SEC. Score: 41-34, OU. McCourry: Although Tennessee’s last five in-season games resulted in wins, I don’t think they’re convincing enough to overshadow their faults earlier in the season, especially after losing their home opener to Georgia State and winning only two of the team’s first seven games of the season. I’ll take OU at home. Score: 42-24, OU.

ARMY (SEPT. 26) Engelbrecht: Army is far from the team that took Oklahoma to overtime and finished the year 11-2 in 2018. The Black Knights went 5-8 last season and were dismantled by Navy, 31-7, in their final game of the season.

Sooner fans will watch this game with normal stress levels. Score: 49-13, OU. Curtright: The last time Army met OU, the triple option thwarted OU’s high-powered offense, and kept the Sooners scoreless in the second half until overtime. Army is coming off a 5-8 season, and losing veteran quarterback Kelvin Hopkins Jr. doesn’t help its cause.

Score: 31-10, OU. McCourry: Army was able to own the ground game with their triple-option offense against the Sooners when Mike Stoops was OU’s defensive coordinator. I don’t think second-year defensive coordinator Alex Grinch will let Army’s offense frustrate him or Sooners fans, who watched Army march down field and dominate each possession in 2018. Score: 45-13, OU.

BAYLOR (OCT. 3) Engelbrecht: Though the Bears lost head coach Matt Rhule to the NFL’s Carolina Panthers, Baylor returns its leading passer, rusher and tackler of a season ago. New head coach Dave Aranda, who served as LSU’s defensive coordinator last year, will have plenty to work with in year one, but won’t beat OU. Score: 35-21, OU. Curtright: Coming off an impressive season in which they almost beat OU twice, the Bears losing head coach Matt Rhule to the NFL is a huge blow. However, Baylor is still a good team that returns seven offensive starters. They even added national champion defensive coordinator Aranda from LSU to take the head coaching role, but it won’t be enough for a win. Score: 38-27, OU. McCourry: Aranda is a nice hire for Baylor after losing Rhule to the NFL, and the team has good returning talent as well. But a first-year head coach coming to Norman after the Bears were beaten twice by the Sooners in 2019 won’t get a win in Norman. Score: 45-21, OU.

TEXAS (OCT. 10) Engelbrecht: The Red River Rivalry will live up to hype this season. The first-ever battle between Texas quarterback Sam Ehlinger and expected Oklahoma quarterback Spencer Rattler will leave fans clamoring for more.

Emotions will run high, touchdowns will be plentiful and a post-game Roy Manning celebration video will be made. Score: 48-38, OU. Curtright: In what might be the toughest game on the schedule, Texas proves to be a real threat in the Cotton Bowl. Ehlinger has torched OU in the past, and I think Rattler will struggle in his first Red River Showdown. Score: 34-28, Texas.

McCourry: I would say this is the Sooners’ hardest matchup of the season, and having the game in the same month as Bedlam and two road games only adds to pressure.

But Rattler, the young expected starter, against a seasoned Ehlinger will still be a great matchup for the Red River Rivalry. And because of that, I think this game will come down to defense. Score: 34-24, OU.

TCU (OCT. 31) Engelbrecht: To close out a tough October schedule, the Sooners face TCU in Fort Worth. Despite a loss, the Horned Frogs held Oklahoma to 28 points last season — a feat only accomplished by them and LSU. This time around, an even more explosive OU offense will help the Sooners overcome TCU and rebound on the road. Score: 41-27, OU. Curtright: The Horned Frogs finished 5-7 in 2019, and lost five players to the NFL Draft. Last year, head coach Gary Patterson’s team could beat anyone, but they only return 11 starters on both sides on an already mediocre team. Score: 42-24, OU. McCourry: A road game at TCU to end an action-packed October is taxing, and I think this game can really take the Sooners by surprise. This Horned Frog team is just a year removed from the one that narrowly lost to OU in Norman, 28-24. OU’s lone regular season loss in 2019 was at the end of October, a road game against an unranked Kansas State.

Although TCU did go 5-7 in 2019, Patterson often makes matchups against OU interesting. Score: 45-42, TCU.

WEST VIRGINIA (NOV. 7) Engelbrecht: Morgantown isn’t an easy place to win on the road.

Even so, the Sooners have yet to lose to the Mountaineers since WVU joined the Big 12. This season won’t be any different, as West Virginia is still one year away from posing as a legitimate conference threat under head coach Neal Brown. Score: 56-17, OU. Curtright: Second-year head coach Neal Brown found his quarterback late last season in Jarret Doege, while also returning 17 starters. Brown isn’t afraid of being the underdog, as he upset LSU while coaching at Troy, but OU will be too much for the Mountaineers who are trending upward. Score: 37-28, OU. McCourry: The last time the Sooners went to Morgantown, there was a wild shootout that resulted in a 59-56 OU victory. But both teams have changed a lot since then. OU has a new defensive coordinator in Grinch, and WVU has a new head coach going into his second year. The Mountaineers finished 2019 with a 5-7 record, and the Sooners beat them the same season with a 52-14 rout. Score: 52-21, OU.

KANSAS STATE (NOV. 14) Engelbrecht: As the Sooners’ head coach, Lincoln Riley has never lost to the same team in back-to-back seasons. Kansas State has the opportunity to be the first team to do so after the Wildcats upset Oklahoma, 48-41, in 2019. However, with Grinch’s defense taking a big leap in year two, KSU won’t be able to repeat that performance. Score: 44-24, OU. Curtright: Kansas State will not be nearly as good in 2020, and will not upset the Sooners like they did a year ago. Head coach Chris Klieman does return quarterback Skylar Thompson, but loses his entire offensive line which was key in their upset against OU. Score: 51-24, OU. McCourry: Kansas State’s Thompson and the Wildcats’ rushing took advantage of OU’s epic fail of a first half in the teams’ 2019 matchup, almost derailing the Sooners’ 2019 College Football Playoff hopes. The Sooners will welcome Kansas State to Norman and will play this game with a grudge, and will not lose to them twice. Score: 52-21, OU.

KANSAS (NOV. 21) Engelbrecht: Kansas, in terms of competition, will offer the Sooners a breath of fresh air in late November. The Jayhawks won’t be able to do much against Oklahoma, causing Gaylord Memorial stadium to start to empty out by the start of the second half. Score: 51-10, OU. Curtright: Kansas has to find some sort of consistency at the quarterback position to have any chance in the Big 12. The Jayhawks are hoping that established head coach Les Miles can revitalize their program, but it’s not happening in 2020. Score: 54-14, OU. McCourry: It’ll be a long time before Kansas gets a win in Norman ever again.

Score: 56-14, OU.

IOWA STATE (OCT. 17) Engelbrecht: Cyclone quarterback Brock Purdy threw for 282 yards and 5 touchdowns in Iowa State’s 42-41 loss to OU in Norman last season. With Purdy and company getting the Sooners at home this year, Iowa State will get the best of the Sooners early on. Oklahoma will need some second-half magic to pull this one off. Score: 37-28, OU. Curtright: Iowa State has a future NFL quarterback in Purdy, but I wouldn’t bet against OU especially after a loss against Texas. Score: 45-41, OU. McCourry: Iowa State almost beat the Sooners in Norman twice in a row, but the Sooners narrowly avoided the 2019 loss with a 42-41 win that saw the Cyclones score 20 unanswered points in the fourth quarter. Iowa State now gets to welcome the Sooners back to Ames, Iowa, where possibly the best quarterback in the Big 12 — Brock Purdy — will put on a show. It doesn’t help that this game is sandwiched in between Texas and Oklahoma State, but I’m still taking the Sooners in a close one. Score: 42-35, OU.

TEXAS TECH (NOV. 28) Engelbrecht: In the last few years, Oklahoma has typically saved its best performance for the last game of the regular season. That won’t be the case this time, as the Red Raiders will cause a scare for the Sooners, who might be too focused on postseason play. Still, OU will walk out victorious. Score: 34-28, OU. Curtright: The Sooners played one of its best games against the Red Raiders last season, holding their offense to just 16 points. If quarterback Alan Bowman can stay healthy, Tech proves a real threat to the Sooners, and I think they’ll take it to the wire, but without prevail. Score: 51-42, OU. McCourry: Texas Tech quarterback Bowman is OU’s biggest concern when the teams meet in Lubbock, Texas. But even if he is a problem, the Sooners will march downfield against Texas Tech’s defense without any setbacks whatsoever. Score: 48-21, OU.

*OU’s season opener against Missouri State could possibly play on Aug. 29.

On July 10, he Sooners requested that the NCAA consider moving the game to Zero Week. At the time of publication, the NCAA has yet to decide.

Chandler Engelbrecht

chandler.engelbrecht@ou.edu

Austin Curtright

austincurtright@ou.edu

Caleb McCourry

caleb.a.mccourry-1@ou.edu

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7

8

• August 24-31, 2020

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OU DAILY

FEATURES &CULTURE Joseph Harroz wears a face mask during the OU Board of Regents meeting May 8, one day before he was announced as OU’s 15th president.

TREY YOUNG/THE DAILY

Harroz talks plans for presidency Pandemic, social issues among top priorities for fall

many OU community members exhausted, angry and disconnected.

Much is left to be determined regarding the university’s path forward and how SCOTT KIRKER @scott_kirker leaders demonstrate its values in the face of these significant ARI FIFE challenges. OU students will @arriifife have an opportunity to see It’s 1989, and Joseph Harroz how Harroz and his adminisJr. has just graduated from the tration handle them.

University of Oklahoma with a degree in economics. He has ‘THERE’S STILL AN a big decision to make: What OBLIGATION TO LEAD’ next?

In a 2019 interview with Harroz’s father was one of nine children of an immigrant The Daily, shortly after his family from Lebanon. The appointment to interim unionly one of his siblings to go to versity president, Harroz university, his father graduat- said he had a good experied from college and medical ence at Georgetown Law, but school at OU with the help of it showed him that he had “found more fulfillment” at his family.

Harroz was on track to fol- OU. “I really didn’t come to unlow in his footsteps. He grew up in Oklahoma, graduated derstand and truly love OU from OU and was deciding until after I wasn’t there, and whether to attend medical I tried going somewhere else,” school at OU — the only med- he said. “I thought it would ical school he had applied to. be more enriching — and it But Harroz had also gotten wasn’t.”

Two years after graduatinto a few law schools, and the Friday before medical classes ing from law school, Harroz started, he decided to attend returned in 1994 as vice preslaw school at Georgetown ident for executive affairs at OU. Beginning in 1996, he instead.

“I had an amazing experi- served as OU general counsel ence at OU (as an undergrad- for 12 years.

After a brief foray into busiuate),” Harroz told The Daily, ness from 2008 to 2010, Harroz “but there was still this part of me that was like, ‘I wonder returned to OU as dean of the what it’s like to be somewhere College of Law in July 2010. else, that I’d heard about, Some critics of Harroz’s selecmaybe a name that everyone tion have said his years spent working in the administration knows.’”

That’s when Harroz decid- are problematic, especially given his work with Boren. ed to pack up and move out.

Harroz said his work as gen“I’ve got a U-Haul, you know, really impressive mat- eral counsel and law dean left tress-on-top-of-the-car look him with a fair amount of in— which everyone thinks is dependence, even with Boren. terrific — and drove out (to The general counsel reports Washington, D.C.),” Harroz primarily to the OU Board of Regents, Harroz said, and said.

Thirty-one years later, while the law school is part of Harroz has been named per- OU, it is also independent in manent president of OU, lead- numerous ways.

Harroz said being general ing his alma mater in the unicounsel for 12 years helped versity’s second administrahim gain perspective on all tion change since former OU President David Boren retired three OU campuses. Harroz has also taught classes since in 2018.

Harroz was named perma- 1997, an experience he nent president about a year said has helped him to stay grounded in the needs of the after beginning his interim.

The interim presiden- students during his time as an cy began after former OU administrator.

Harroz said his time as dean President James Gallogly resigned with less than a year in of OU Law helped him develoffice. Gallogly’s presidency op skills in a university setcame on the heels of the resig- ting that are important in the nation of Boren — a president top job, such as budgeting, widely beloved across cam- recruiting students, raising pus in his 24 years in office, money, building an alumni but plagued by sexual harass- base, speaking with numerment allegations that surfaced ous groups and dealing with varied challenges. months after his retirement.

“A lot of people have misHarroz’s past year has been taken the president’s job as among the most challenging being a classic CEO job, and it in recent OU history. Multiple racist incidents involving absolutely is not,” Harroz said. both students and profes- “There are executive funcsors, a three-day student-led tions, and there are functions protest in Evans Hall calling that are much closer to being for the firing of then-Senior legislative functions, where Vice President and Provost you’re working in a shared Kyle Harper and the out- governance model and you break of COVID-19 across don’t answer to one group of the globe — a whirlwind se- shareholders.”

Harroz said the many ries of events that has left

shareholders he must serve as interim president include students, faculty, staff, alumni, the state itself and others.

“You have these groups that you have to understand what their interests are, and you have to also understand that there’s still an obligation to lead,” Harroz said.

Ken Levit, executive director of Tulsa’s George Kaiser Family Foundation and president of OU’s Tulsa campus from 2001 to 2006, has known Harroz for decades. Shortly after Harroz’s appointment as interim university president in 2019, Levit told the Daily he remembers the first time he met Harroz, who was still a college student spending his summer on Capitol Hill.

“He just greeted me with a huge smile, an outstretched arm and a complete spirit

we haven’t had challenges and don’t have challenges,” Harroz said in the summer of 2019. “That wouldn’t be looking at any reality that exists.

I think you have to address them squarely.”

Since then, Harroz has had his share of challenges. As a person of color heading a predominantly white institution — with 58.3 percent of students self-identifying as white and 33.4 percent self-identifying as a minority, according to the fall 2019 OU Factbook — he’s had to address multiple instances of racial insensitivity so far during his tenure.

In September 2019, an OU freshman posted a picture of himself in blackface on a private Instagram story, which Harroz publicly condemned.

A few months later, two university professors used the

TREY YOUNG/THE DAILY

Signs on the Boyd House lawn welcome OU’s 15th president May 11.

TREY YOUNG/THE DAILY

OU President Joseph Harroz elbow-bumps at the May 9 Board of Regents meeting.

N-word within two weeks of each other — one used it while comparing it to the phrase “OK, boomer,” and the other read the slur from a historical document.

This series of events, as well as other racist incidents on campus in recent years, led the Black Emergency Response Team to organize a three-day sit-in at Evans Hall, where many university administrators’ offices are housed. In this protest, students called for the firing of then-Provost Harper, citing dissatisfaction with his response to racist incidents, among other issues.

In recent weeks, the Black Lives Matter movement has gained momentum nationally and locally, spurred by the kill‘THE GOAL ISN’T JUST TO ings of George Floyd and other SURVIVE IT, BUT IT’S TO Black Americans at the hands COME OUT OF IT BETTER’ of police.

Harroz also had to lead the “It would be absurd to say university response to the of friendship and openness, which was deeply genuine,” Levit said.

Levit said Harroz’s demeanor and problem-solving ability are good fits for the challenges the university faces.

“He is uplifting and positive and trust-inspiring,” Levit said, “while also rigorous and demanding and focused on accomplishing goals for the work that he is pursuing. I really think he is very well-suited to a very important job, and I have great expectations for his tenure.”

In the 2020–21 academic year, OU students will have an opportunity to see Harroz adapt his skills to the permanent presidency firsthand.

COVID-19 outbreak — a pandemic that has jeopardized the financial stability of higher education institutions across the nation, and has challenged OU’s.

During a May OU Board of Regents meeting, Harroz said OU’s Norman campus lost $4.2 million for fiscal year 2020, and the OU Health Sciences Center lost $10.5 million due to loss of patient revenue from a lack of elective procedures.

In a June interview with the Daily, Harroz contrasted his time as interim president with the beginning of his permanent presidency. He explained there were a lot of university-specific issues during his interim, but now he’s had to handle problems on a national and global scale.

“There’s been a lot going on over the last 13 months that I’ve been in the interim role and then in this role, so it’s been challenging,” Harroz said. “But ... in crises like these, I think that you really find out who you are as an institution.”

Harroz said despite obvious financial challenges due to COVID-19, he thinks — as a flagship university — OU is in a better place to weather hiccups than other universities.

“I think that we’ll see ourselves hopefully .... being in a place to not only come over the bumps … but also come through … and this is not just rhetoric,” Harroz said. “The goal isn’t just to survive it, but it’s to come out of it better.”

Harroz said the university’s responses to COVID-19 and the Black Lives Matter movement must be different, even though they’re both important issues that must be addressed. He said issues around race must be addressed “really honestly,” referencing a quote popularized by Martin Luther King Jr. that “the arc of the moral universe is long, but it bends toward justice,” and adding that those for equality must cause it to bend.

As a Lebanese-American, Harroz said he’s had experiences that range from “great privilege to feelings of being discriminated against.”

Harroz said his father was born in 1929 and grew up in the Great Depression. As traders, Harroz’s grandparents strove to Americanize their children.

“They were so poor that they had to take turns putting the kids in orphanages because they couldn’t afford to feed them all — there were just too many kids,” Harroz said. “And so … those stories really resonate. I’m always trying to chase being good enough to be worthy of being from a family like that. And so I think ... one of the reasons I’ve always worked really hard and not taken things for granted is because of that.”

Harroz said he doesn’t know what it’s like to be Black in America, but he has had

experiences that help inform his response to Black-specific issues.

“I don’t have to worry about going to the gas station and looking good enough that folks don’t look at me sideways whenever I’m getting gas,” Harroz said. “But there are moments when I have been looked at as an Arab in a negative light, and those little windows, those episodes … give me a degree of empathy that I think I otherwise wouldn’t have.”

Harroz said the important part is using those experiences to make a “real and lasting change.” On campus, Harroz said key changes are working to increase faculty and staff members of color, revamping hiring practices and developing a Diversity, Equity and Inclusion general education course.

Harroz said when it comes to coronavirus-related issues, he’s looked to the OU Health Sciences Center for guidance, and has also named Dr. Dale Bratzler as the university’s Chief COVID Officer. He said he’s sought out advice on race-related issues from professor emeritus George Henderson and his wife, Barbara; Karlos Hill, department chair of African and African-American Studies; and Belinda Higgs Hyppolite, vice president of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion, among others.

George Henderson said he’s advised all university presidents since his arrival on campus in 1967, and he’s always encouraged them, including Harroz, to prioritize action instead of just discussion.

“Diversity and inclusion and justice must be more than just words,” George Henderson said. “Simply talking about it and having consciousness about it without any systemic changes will result in more inadequate diversity initiatives. … Diversity, in my mind, has always been broader than just black-white issues. Diversity includes all of the underrepresented, marginalized groups on campus.”

Ultimately, Harroz said he thinks the focus of the Black Lives Matter movement is the change that needs to come as a result.

“When you think about Breonna Taylor, Christian Cooper, George Floyd, make no mistake,” Harroz said.

“Obviously, George Floyd has been the most used name of the group, but … these are deep, systemic issues that require really honest understanding and very clear action. … So, without a doubt, it’s an unusual time, (but) I think it’s a time where we can make a big difference.”

Scott Kirker stk@ou.edu

Ari Fife

ariani.s.fife-1@ou.edu

10

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CULTURE

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11

26 essential eateries of Norman Iconic restaurants to try during your college career

Open for dine-in and curbside pickup. Call 405-310-3157 or go to www.elhuevomexidiner.com to order. Open 7:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Sunday through Tuesday and 7:30 a.m. to 8 p.m. Wednesday through Saturday.

salads and a brunch buffet. Open for dine-in, curbside pickup and delivery with Postmates. Call 405307-9200 to order. Open 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. daily.

Even on a college budget, stu- FUZZY’S TACO SHOP dents can still periodically enjoy a 752 Asp Ave. An Austin-based great meal from a local restaurant.

Despite the coronavirus pandem- chain — and now an Oklahoma ic, there are also more options for favorite — serving tacos, burritos, satisfying your latest craving than enchiladas and salads. Open for ever before. Here’s a list of the best dine-in, curbside pickup or delivery with Doordash. Call 405-701places to grab grub in Norman.

1000 or go to www.fuzzystacoshop.com to order. Open 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. daily.

601 W. Eufaula St. Former OU football coach Barry Switzer’s home away from home. A grocery store and market that also serves some of the best sandwiches around. Open for dine-in, carryout, or delivery with Doordash.

Call 405-321-7004 or go to www. midwaydeli.com to order. Open 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. daily.

MASON YOUNG

@Mason_Young_0

GABERINO’S HOMESTYLE ITALIAN RESTAURANT 400 Ed Noble Parkway. A local homestyle Italian fixture offering traditional pizza, pasta and sandTREY YOUNG/THE DAILY wiches. Open for dine-in, carryA car parked just outside of Hurts out or delivery with Postmates, Donut on Campus Corner on May 20.

Grubhub, Doordash or Uber Eats. Call 405-310-2229 to order.

Dining room open 5 p.m. to 9 p.m.

Monday through Saturday, and 11 BISON WITCHES BAR AND a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday. Carryout DELI available 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. Sunday 211 E. Main St. A long-stand- through Thursday and until 9 p.m. ing local sandwich shop with Friday and Saturday. some wacky combinations and toppings. Open for dine-in, car- GRAY OWL COFFEE ryout or delivery with Grubhub 223 E. Gray St., Suite 7205. A faand Doordash. Call 405-364-7555 vorite coffee supplier and study to order. Open 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. spot for OU students. Open for Sunday through Wednesday and carryout only. Call 405-701-2929 until midnight Thursday through to order. Open 7 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Saturday. daily.

CLASSIC 50’S DRIVE-IN GREEK HOUSE 1521 W. Lindsey St. The O.G. 7 6 8 S. Je n ki n s Ave. A Sonic and a neon-lit staple of Mediterranean diner serving Norman serving sodas, shakes, gyros, falafel and other Greek burgers and other drive-in items.

Open for drive-thru takeout only. dishes. Open for carryout only.

Call 405-321-2271 to order ahead. Call 405-364-6300 to order. Open Open 10 a.m. to 11 p.m. Sunday 10:30 a.m. to 8:30 p.m. Monday through Thursday and until mid- through Saturday and closed on Sunday. night on Friday and Saturday.

DIAMOND DAWGS

HIDEAWAY PIZZA

753 Asp Ave. A Campus Corner favorite serving loaded hotdogs and other ballpark favorites.

Open for dine-in, carryout or delivery with Postmates, Doordash or Uber Eats. Call 405-364-3294 to order. Open 11 a.m. to 10 p.m.

Monday through Thursday and until 3 a.m. Friday and Saturday; closed on Sunday.

5 7 7 B u c h a n a n Av e. A n Oklahoma chain with a variety of unique pizzas, pastas, sandwiches and salads. Open for dine-in, curbside pickup and delivery. Call 405-292-4777 or go to www.hideawaypizza.com to order. Open 11 a.m. to 9:30 p.m. Sunday through Thursday and until 10:30 p.m. on Friday and Saturday.

EL HUEVO MEXI-DINER

INTERURBAN RESTAURANT

MIDWAY DELI

NEIGHBORHOOD JAM 102 W. Main St. A breakfast and brunch spot with pancakes, breakfast bowls, sandwiches and benedicts. Open for dine-in, carryout or delivery with Postmates or Doordash. Call 405-310-2127 to order. Open 7 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. daily.

O’CONNELL’S IRISH PUB AND GRILLE

and delivery. Call 405-310-3333 or visit www.picklemans.com to order. Open 10 a.m. to midnight daily.

Open 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Monday through Thursday and until 10:30 p.m. Friday and Saturday. Closed Sunday.

RAY’S BBQ

THAI DELIGHT

1514 W. Lindsey St. Owned by former Sooner football player Darrol Ray. A casual barbecue place with brisket, ribs, chicken and other smoked meats. Open for dine-in and carryout. Call 405329-4040 to order. Open 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. daily.

761 S. Jenkins Ave. Serving Asian specialties including sushi rolls and spicy curries. Open for curbside pickup or delivery with Grubhub or Doordash. Call 405321-8838 to order. Open 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. and 4:30 to 9:30 p.m.

Tuesday through Sunday. Closed Monday.

SCRATCH KITCHEN & COCKTAILS 132 W. Main St. A craft American restaurant ser ving dinners, sandwiches and salads. Open for carryout only. Call 405-801-2900 to order. Open 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. Monday through Wednesday, 11 a.m. to midnight Thursday and Friday, 9 a.m. to midnight Saturday and 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. and 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. Sunday.

SYRUP. 123 E. Main St. A cozy breakfast and brunch joint with pancakes, waffles, benedicts and soup.

Open for carryout or delivery with Doordash. Call 405-701-1143 or visit www.syrupbreakfast.com to order. Open 7 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Monday through Friday and until 2 p.m on Saturday and Sunday.

769 Asp Ave. A favorite lounge of students serving some of the best burgers in town while offering trivia and karaoke nights.

Open for dine-in, carryout or delivery with Postmates, Grubhub or Doordash. Call 405-217-8454 to order. Open 4 p.m. to midnight on Monday and Tuesday, 4 p.m. to 2 a.m. Wednesday through TARAHUMARA’S MEXICAN Saturday, and closed on Sunday. CAFE AND CANTINA

CAITLYN EPES/THE DAILY

Campus Corner during the first day of online classes after Spring Break on March 23.

PEPE DELGADO’S 786 Asp Ave. A local Mexican establishment serving burritos and tacos. Open for carryout only.

Call 405-321-6232 to order. Open 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Monday through Saturday and closed on Sunday.

PICKLEMAN’S GOURMET CAFE

1150 Ed Noble Parkway. A 759 Asp Ave. A deli chain offer3522 24th Ave. NW. A Mexican classy American restaurant with ing sandwiches, pizzas, soups and brunch option with tacos, burseveral dinner plates, sandwiches, salads.

Open for dine-in, carryout ritos and some American fare.

TREY YOUNG/THE DAILY

Baked Bear on Campus Corner on May 20.

THE LIBRARY BAR AND GRILL 607 W. Boyd St. One of Norman’s top bars, serving pizza, sandwiches and other bar cuisine. Open for dine-in or carryout.

Call 405-366-7465 to order. Open 11 a.m. to 2 a.m. daily.

THE MONT

1300 Classen Blvd. A popular hangout with a shaded patio and a variety of American and Mexican 702 N. Porter Ave. A fami- favorites. Call 405-329-3330 to ly-owned cantina serving faji- order curbside pick-up. Open tas, tacos, quesadillas and other 11 a.m. to 2 a.m. daily.

Mexican fare. Open for dinein and carryout. Call 405-360- TORCHY’S TACOS 8070 to order. Open 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Sunday through Thursday 2050 24th Ave. NW., Suite 130. and until 10 p.m. on Friday and A taco chain serving some of the Saturday. spiciest Mexican food around.

Open for dine-in, carryout or deTASTE OF INDIA livery with Doordash. Call 405364-0286 or go to www.torchysta1000 Alameda St., Suite 140B. cos.com to order. Open 10 a.m. to A local eatery with some of the 9 p.m. daily. best traditional Indian foods such as saag paneer and lamb curry. VICTORIA’S PASTA SHOP Open for takeout or delivery with Grubhub, Doordash or Postmates.

215 E. Main St. A Norman staCall 405-259-1072 to order. Open ple formerly on Campus Corner, 11 a.m. to 2:15 p.m. and 5 to 9:30 offering made-from-scratch pasta p.m. Monday through Saturday dishes and other Italian delicaand noon to 2:30 p.m. and 5 to 9 cies. Open for carryout only. Call p.m. on Sunday.

405-329-0377 to order. Open 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Sunday through TEA CAFE ON THE CORNER Wednesday and until 9:30 p.m.

Thursday through Saturday.

788 Asp Ave. Offering a variety of Asian dishes along with several kinds of boba tea. Call Mason Young mason.e.young-1@ou.edu 405-310-6655 to order carryout.

Find your fit in OU campus organizations Check out 13 of OU’s 500+ student groups

Gender + Equality Center offers counseling, sexual health resources and ally training for LGBTQ+ students and allies.

JACINDA HEMEON @jacindarae4

RECREATIONAL ORGANIZATIONS

LEADERSHIP ORGANIZATIONS College is the perfect time to grow and figure out who you want to be. If you want to become a better leader and communicator, OU has a plethora of leadership organizations to join. Here a few to laser tag and bingo days. If you’re check out for now: lucky, you might happen upon the UPB offering up free snacks in the Campus Activities Council is Union! a way for students from all backgrounds and walks of life to get MULTICULTURAL involved on campus. It provides a ORGANIZATIONS way for students to gain leadership skills and build a community by OU is a huge campus, and it can planning events that keep campus be easy to feel small. Luckily, OU exciting and connected. The CAC has countless multicultural orgaplans events like Howdy Week — nizations designed for students the week-long series of events to from all different backgrounds to welcome everyone back to school feel at home. If you’re feeling out of at the start of each semester. place, these organizations can help S t u d e n t G o v e r n m e n t you make OU your new home away Association members are elect- from home: ed by students to represent the OU student body. SGA members African Women’s League is voice student concerns to OU’s an organization for passionate administration and allocate funds and driven African women. This to student organizations. SGA in- sisterhood offers a community for cludes the Undergraduate Student International African female stuCongress, the Graduate Student dents to exist and excel in order Senate and the Sooner Freshman to navigate life on campus, racism Council. in the U.S. and other barriers for Union Programming Board African women. plans events and activities in the American Indian Student Oklahoma Memorial Union to A ss o ciation c e l e b rat e s t h e enhance student life at OU. Past customs and culture of Native events include haunted houses, A m e r i c a n p e o p l e . T h r o u g h

If you’re looking for a fun way to blow off steam after class or meet new friends, OU has plenty of recreational organizations for you to try on for size. Here are a few: MEGAN FOISY/THE DAILY

activities and education on Native culture, AISA hopes to enhance the lives of OU students. AISA holds annual cultural events like AISA Stomp Dance, OU Spring Powwow and the Miss and Mr. Indian OU pageant.

Asian American Student Association promotes diversity on campus by encouraging students to get involved in various activities to celebrate the heritage and traditions of Asian Americans.

AASA events often emphasize Asian language, history and culture, and include the annual Mr. and Miss Asian OU pageant, an Asian New Year celebration and the Asian Food Fair.

Black Student Association offers a safe space for Black students to share their experiences and build a community for success. BSA students can gain leadership experience and celebrate the history and culture of OU’s Black students in events such as the Stompdown Step Show, the Black History Month celebration, and the Miss and Mister Black OU Scholarship Pageant hosted with

African American Programs and Services.

Black Emergency Response Team, also known as BERT, is a student-led organization that fights for social change on campus for Black students and other marginalized communities. BERT’s goal is to dismantle oppressive systems in order to create a safer campus community for Black students. BERT hopes to be more proactive this year in addressing racial issues, as opposed to reactive.

Hispanic American Student Association promotes leadership, diversity and cultural awareness in an effort to unite students.

HASA assists in organizing the annual Day of the Dead Street Festival, Latino Flavor of OU — an event featuring Latin food and entertainment — and the Mr. and Miss Hispanic OU pageant.

LGBTQ Student Alliance is a safe space for all members of the LGBTQ+ community and allies. Speakers and other events throughout the year seek to unite the student body and create a warm and welcoming environment. OU’s

Student Film Production Club offers a collaborative community for creative students interested in filmmaking. No previous experience in film is required, and students of all skill levels are welcome. The group takes an annual trip to the Austin Film Festival where students can see new films, meet with film professionals and form new friendships.

Bad Movie Club offers students a break from the poetic cinema of Student Film Production Club. If you’d rather talk about the Razzies than the Oscars, then Bad Movie Club might be for you.

OU Esports Club is a fun way for students who play video games — casually or competitively — to come together and enhance their gaming experience. Everyone is welcome regardless of experience level. With over 200 universities now involved in esports, OU Esports offers an opportunity for joining a large network of gamers and making the most of your college experience.

Jacinda Hemeon

jacinda.r.hemeon@ou.edu

12

CULTURE

• August 24-31, 2020

Norman gains new chicken joint MASON YOUNG @Mason_Young_0

A bright orange sign posted outside the storefront on Main Street in Norman brings color to the dark windows of the red brick shop.

If not for the sign, passersby might assume the empty storefront is the shell of another local business lost to the economic depression of COVID-19, but the situation surrounding the empty bay is quite the opposite.

While 3 percent of all American restaurants have been lost in the wake of the coronavirus pandemic, the dining space at 214 E. Main St. won’t be dormant for much longer. Soon, the smell of Nashville hot chicken will be wafting through the building’s rafters, providing a taste of Tennessee to the Norman community.

Marc and Jenny Dunham, the founders and owners of Nashbird Hot Dang! Chicken, had intended for their new Norman location to open in March or April — until their plans were halted by COVID-19.

The initial target date is long past now, but construction has resumed, and Marc said they are optimistic they’ll open by early August. The duo of creators said they are excited to invest in the community with their quality customer service and their always-delicious chicken.

Regardless of the setbacks they’ve faced, Marc and Jenny said they’re elated to start serving Norman soon.

“Scouting locations around the metro, we always knew that we wanted several locations within the OKC Metro,

and Norman just makes sense,” Marc said. “It’s a growing community, it’s always going to be there with OU there, so it makes sense for us to be there.”

Marc, originally from New Braunfels, Texas, entered the restaurant business at age 12 by working as a dishwasher at a local restaurant. At first, he said it was a way to make money for things like bicycles and skateboards that his mother couldn’t afford to purchase for him.

Marc said he eventually realized he could make a living in the restaurant business and became enamored with the restaurant experience.

“There’s a lot of things that surround the restaurant business in terms of experiences,” Marc said. “People do business in restaurants, people get married or get engaged in restaurants, people have first dates and all these sorts of things, all these life experiences and I really liked that about (restaurants).”

With Marc’s love of the culinary world came a determination that he said he credits with helping him through several obstacles in his career, including the one major hurdle he’s been facing in recent months with his Norman project — COVID-19.

“The one quality that I think has probably saved me more times than anything else is just being persistent,” Marc said.

“I just have this persistent quality about me that if I want something ... I’m going to find a way to do it. It may not be the exact way that I thought it was going to be the first time but I’m going to get it done one way or another.”

Marc’s journey in the kitchen took him to New York City to formalize his training for four years before he landed at a culinary school in Austin where he met Jenny, an Oklahoma City native.

As they prepared to start a family, their desire to be close to Jenny’s mother brought the couple back to her hometown with plans to open their own restaurant. Inspired by the Dunham’s love of spicy food, Nashbird opened its doors on 9th Street in downtown Oklahoma City in the summer of 2017.

Since that time, Nashbird’s success has resulted in the recent opening of an Edmond location May 18. Now Marc and Jenny are looking to put their chicken on the map in the middle of historic downtown Norman.

Following the departure of Triple X Chicken from Campus Corner in November, Norman has lacked another restaurant with food like what Nashbird brings to the table.

With a menu featuring spicy

“

I always say you can fix anything but (being) rude...

-Jenny Dunham, co-founder and owner

Nashville hot fried chicken, available in tenders, wings, sandwiches and biscuits, along with a few comforting sides and cold slushies, the Dunhams have a simple but unique offering they said they enjoy and hope the Norman community will love as well.

“We like to keep the menu simple. … I don’t need 1,000 things on the menu,” Jenny said. “We’re going to do hot chicken. We’ll do it a few ways, but it’s gonna be delicious every time.”

Though the Dunhams said they are dedicated to the quality and authenticity of their food, they’re willing to admit they aren’t perfect. Marc says because his company is not a food manufacturer or a fastfood restaurant, the margin for error is greater because actual

7 parking tips to navigate OU lots, find best spots What you need to know about tickets, permits, more when parking at OU

by Jordan Hayden // @jordankhayden

01

Buy a parking permit. You won’t be able to park anywhere on campus except for the Lloyd Noble Center without a parking permit. If you’re a freshman, you’ll need the housing permit, which will give you access to parking lots near the dorms. If you are a commuting student, you’ll need to purchase the commuter pass — it gives access to different parking lots across campus. You can purchase a pass online at ou.edu/parking, the website for OU Parking Services.

02

Don’t ignore tickets. Parking tickets will not just go away on their own. It’s important to either pay your citations in full on time or, if applicable, appeal them by the given deadline.

03

Move on up. If living in the dorms, he goal is to be parked as close to your room as possible. A good trick to remember is to move your car to a closer parking spot on the weekends, when a lot of students have gone home or gone out and the parking lots aren’t as full.

04

LNC, baby! Parking at the Lloyd Noble Center is a great money-saving parking option. If you park there, you can take the shuttle to the main part of campus without having to pay for a parking pass.

05

Pay attention to the signs. There’s nothing worse than getting a parking ticket because you didn’t see a sign that said “Commuter Parking Only.” Make sure you know where you can and can’t park to avoid any tickets or citations.

06

Leave the car at home. Another trick to avoid parking stress is not worrying about parking at all. If you’re up for it, you can save time and money by walking or riding a bike to campus. That way, you won’t have to pay for a pass or waste any time driving around parking lots in search of a spot.

07

cooks make the food to-order.

If a customer is displeased with their meal, they can ask for a refund or a redo, and it will be granted with no questions asked. The Dunhams said their refund policy is all part of an initiative to become more consistent by learning from mistakes.

“We want to be consistent,” Marc said. “We want you to come in and enjoy the chicken sandwich every time you come in and for it not to be different. We’re not fast food.”

In addition to Marc and Jenny’s commitment to always making great food, they said their desire to provide great customer service is also paramount.

“I always say you can fix anything but (being) rude, and so I want our staff to always provide the super-best

Look for parking updates online. On Twitter, @OUParking updates the best parking options for commuters on campus throughout the day. If you’re not sure where to go, they can help you out! For the newest information on parking throughout the summer, make sure to visit ou.edu/parking.

“

Nashbird Chicken optimistic about OU community

customer service,” Jenny said.

“If we mess up your chicken or your french fries, we can fix it, that happens, but I need our staff to always have the 100 percent highest level of customer service.”

To accomplish that goal, Marc and Jenny said they established a customer service philosophy similar to that of chicken restaurant giant Chick-fil-A. Heralded by Marc as the business with the best customer service in the world, Chick-fil-A is known for friendly employees who often use the phrase “My pleasure” in place of “You’re welcome.”

However, Marc and Jenny’s philosophy of customer service has a slight twist on the Georgia-founded fast-food juggernaut’s philosophy. In

order to avoid the automated feeling from bouncing from nearly-identical Chick-fil-A to Chick-fil-A, the Dunhams want the employees at each of their restaurants to maintain their individuality.

“I want the same approach to customer service (as Chickfil-A), but I also want our people to be our own people and their uniqueness to come through,” Marc said. “Rather than requiring every single employee to say ‘My pleasure,’ I want them to say ‘Thank you,’ or whatever they feel like saying, but I want it to come from them. What I’m hoping to accomplish with customer service (is) ... people feel like they can be themselves, but also be very empathetic and give genuine, really caring customer service, and I hope that comes through every experience.”

To provide a worthwhile service experience, Marc said hiring the right kind of people is crucial, with optimal employees being those who have a heart for serving others. He and Jenny both said they’re optimistic about being able to find those people in Norman.

“We want local Norman people to work there and be a part of it,” Jenny said. “And another cool thing is (the Norman community) is growing, and so people that join with us can grow with us. To be able to do that for a community is also pretty cool.”

The Dunhams both said they hope to hire Norman residents and, in particular, OU students as well. In a time when the local economy has been hampered by COVID19, those new jobs provided by incoming businesses like Nashbird could be a valuable asset to the community.

Marc said he’s also working on a discount or promotion for OU students that would allow them to eat at his restaurant on a typical college student budget. He said because he didn’t

have much money growing up, he wants his restaurant to be a place where people from “many different walks of life” can come and eat good food for an affordable price.

No r m a n C h a m b e r o f Commerce President Scott Martin praised the Dunhams and other entrepreneurs like them, whose commitment to Norman has not swayed — even during a global pandemic.

“People are proceeding with caution as they look at expansion or new construction, so to have a restaurant like (Nashbird) who’s committed to Norman is very encouraging, and we’re going to welcome them with open arms,” Martin said. “I think it’s great that they’re willing to commit to us and our community.

Likewise, we will commit to them.”

While their latest endeavor hasn’t gone entirely according to plan, Marc and Jenny will soon cut the ribbon on the newest addition to Norman’s fraternity of restaurants.

“We’re super excited to come to Norman,” Jenny said.

“It’ll be a fun, different energy than we have in downtown (Oklahoma City), but I think it’s going to be awesome.”

When asked what he ultimately hopes to gain from the arrival of his Norman location, Marc’s answer was simple: “My wife and I and my partners are excited to bring hot chicken to Norman, grow into the community, be a part of the community, help serve the community and be there for people when they’re happy, when they’re sad — just be a part of their life and make some memories with them.”

Marc said. “That’s our number one goal.”

Mason Young

mason.e.young-1@ou.edu

Opinion: Editor plans change Fall editor to serve readers, improve representation JORDAN MILLER @jordanrmillerr

This semester is going to be different for all of us.

In my past few years at OU, I’ve seen nothing but change. We’ve had a different president every year I’ve attended save for this one, and there’s been no shortage of breaking news during these tumultuous times on campus. Now, on top of all the campus chaos, we’re living through a pandemic. Admittedly, the news can be hard to read these days.

I’m Jordan Miller, a journalism and political science senior, and I’ll be serving as The Daily’s editor-in-chief this fall. We’ll be here no matter what, serving the OU community in the best ways we possibly can in the coming months — investigating, reporting and bringing clarity to this chaotic time through our work, along with hopefully shining a light on things that can bring a little bit of happiness in these difficult times.

This past spring and summer have taken us through some of our hardest challenges yet, covering a new permanent president while working almost entirely remotely to avoid the spread of COVID-19, but I have faith that the expertise our leadership has attained these past semesters will ensure we can continue operations effectively and best serve you. Our editors have been working hard over the past few weeks to plan coverage for our first few weeks back, and we’re eager to

JORDAN MILLER / THE DAILY

Jordan Miller is The OU Daily editor-in-chief for fall 2020.

continue that work over the course of the semester, wherever it takes us.

There are a few changes the newsroom will be implementing this semester.

One is that our weekly print edition will now come out on Tuesdays instead of Mondays, but our online content will remain updated 24/7. We will also be pursuing more connections with campus communities, and hope to have our leadership work closer with groups across OU to be sure we are covering the university the most accurately and beneficially for our readers. Without the community, we wouldn’t be here, so we hope to increase our dialogue with more groups to make sure we can develop better, deeper and ongoing relationships, actively seeking opportunities to do better work with various sources.

We’ll also be working to increase our publication’s representation compared to the OU student body, working more toward goals of diversity and inclusion not only in our coverage but among our staff.

When I first came to The

Daily in fall of 2017, I was a photographer. I can’t say that being editor-in-chief was a goal for me forever — honestly, being in charge of anyone here at The Daily was daunting to me for a while. Through encouragement of my editors and our adviser, I hope we can continue to be a pillar for the community that the leadership of past editors-in-chief have helped us become. That can’t happen without our readers, so I welcome your suggestions, advice or story ideas.

My email is jordan.r.miller-1@ou.edu, and I’d love to hear from you — either through email or through our anonymous tip form, which is accessible via our Twitter account’s pinned tweet.

Although the entire university is facing a lot of unknowns this semester, our coverage will remain a constant, and that’s something I know for sure — wherever we all may be.

Jordan Miller

jordan.r.miller-1@ou.edu

CULTURE

August 24-31, 2020 •

13

20–21 season players to watch Athletes promise talent, excitement for future games

third player in program history to do so. With two years left of eligibility and an already record-breaking resume, Robertson has established herself as a must-watch OU athlete for the upcoming season.

CALEB MCCOURRY @CalebMac21

MEN’S BASKETBALL: NEW TRANSFER GUARDS UMOJA GIBSON AND ELIJAH HARKLESS

With fall sports just around the corner, there are a lot of good storylines to follow in OU athletics, ranging from careers young and accomplished to the new additions of transfer athletes.

Here are a few Sooners to watch out for: FOOTBALL: AUSTIN STOGNER AND JALEN REDMOND For the past half-decade, elite OU quarterbacks such as Baker Mayfield, Kyler Murray and Jalen Hurts have led head coach Lincoln Riley’s offense on game day. For this season, the baton of OU’s backfield is set to be handed off to either redshirt freshman Spencer Rattler or redshirt sophomore Tanner Mordecai.

Rattler is a former five-star prospect out of Arizona, and Mordecai has played backup at OU behind Murray and Hurts. Every year, Riley insists there’s a battle for the quarterback position.

Even though Riley’s final decision in the backfield is the most popular topic yearly, there are many other players who will certainly make immediate impacts for the season, two of which are sophomore tight end and half back Austin Stogner and redshirt sophomore defensive end Jalen Redmond.

Stogner tallied seven catches for 66 yards in his first season catching Hurts’ passes.

Stogner’s stats are low when they meet the eye, but his contributions came in crucial moments. In his breakout game, he scored two touchdowns that propelled OU to a 34-31 win over Baylor in the regular season, a comeback that saved the Sooners from being down 31-10 at halftime.

Redmond played in 13 of OU’s 14 games last season, tallying up 11 tackles for loss and 6.5 total sacks on the year. The 6-foot-3, 278-pound lineman

Austin Stogner dodges a tackle during the game against Texas Tech Sept. 28, 2019.

Jalen Redmond before the Big 12 Championship game Dec. 7, 2019, in Arlington, Texas.

only had three appearances in his freshman year due to blood clots, but he has high praise from coaches as being a talented rusher.

With junior defensive end Ronnie Perkins, the team’s best pass rusher, to miss a good chunk of games due to being suspended before OU’s 63-28 loss to LSU in the Peach

Bowl in December, Redmond is bound to be relied on in the trenches.

OU’s season-opener is set for Sept. 5 against Missouri State.

Robertson, OU’s leading 3-point shooter, is coming off of a record-breaking sophomore season, where she made 131 shots beyond the arc in a year that was cut short due to the NCAA canceling the WOMEN’S BASKETBALL: rest of the season due to the TAYLOR ROBERTSON COVID-19 pandemic. That output beat the single-seaJ u n i o r g u a r d Ta y l o r son record for the program

CAITLYN EPES/THE DAILY

PAXSON HAWS/THE DAILY

and the Big 12, the latter being unbeaten since the 2002–03 season. Robertson is also the first player in the Big 12 to ever make 100 or more 3-pointers in consecutive seasons.

In just two years at OU, Robertson has established herself as one of OU’s greats.

She’s reached the 1,000-point career mark, being only the

With junior point guard Jamal Bieniemy having transferred from Oklahoma to UTEP in May, Sooner head coach Lon Kruger rebounded with the additions of transfer guards Umoja “Mo” Gibson from North Texas and Elijah Harkless from Cal State, Northridge.

In his last season with the Mean Green, Gibson averaged 14.5 points per game. The All-Conference USA Second Team selection led North Texas to a regular conference championship. Gibson scored 21 points on 8-of-17 shooting when North Texas hosted the Sooners in December, resulting in an 82-80 win for the Sooners.

Harkless holds a career field goal percentage of 44.9 in his two seasons with the Matadors, and posted 10.7 points 5.8 rebounds last season. The 6-foot-4 guard scored a career-high 30 points against UC Irvine in March, leading his team to a 72-70 victory.

What makes these additions to Kruger’s roster interesting is how the two will contribute alongside sophomore guard De’Vion Harmon with the departure of Bieniemy, whose pass-first style of play and ability to avoid turnovers complemented Kruger’s roster. And with the struggles that were plentiful last season for the Sooners — especially during conference play, where the Sooners finished 9-9 — two new accomplished guards can be useful. Oklahoma has talented players — guards Austin Reaves and Alondes Williams, along with forward Brady Manek — returning for the 2020–21 season.

Caleb McCourry

caleb.a.mccourry-1@ou.edu

TREY YOUNG/THE DAILY

The south side of the Gaylord Family-Oklahoma Memorial Stadium on June 30.

RACHEL LOBAUGH/THE DAILY

7 things to do at home, outside Bored? Here’s a list of fun, free pastimes to try JORDAN HAYDEN @jordankhayden

WORK OUT If you’ve always wanted extra time to form a healthy workout routine, now is the time! As long as you’re staying healthy and not overworking yourself, this could be a great opportunity to take advantage of online fitness classes or just finding what works best for you.

never had the time? Why not try it now? It’s as easy as looking up a recipe on Pinterest or being a part of Michelin-starred chef Massimo Bottura’s Instagram cooking classes.

SPEND TIME OUTSIDE

Norman has a variety of parks where you can hang out with friends, exercise or just take a break from homework. The George M. Sutton Wilderness Park offers beautiful views and plenty of walking trails. If you’re looking for a spot closer to campus, try out Lions Park, located on Flood Avenue. Outside LEARN TO COOK OR of Norman, the Myriad BAKE SOMETHING Botanical Gardens are loNEW cated in downtown OklaEver wanted to try out homa City and the perfect a complicated recipe but place to take photos of you

and your friends.

LISTEN TO A PODCAST

START A NEW BOOK

Podcasts have certainly gained more popularity in recent years, and now you can find one on just about anything! The OU Daily has its own podcast, “Uncovered: The Lovers’ Lane Murders,” available for free on Apple Podcasts, SoundCloud and Stitcher.

Reading as a hobby is not for everyone, but sometimes all you need is a little extra time to dive into a book. There are several resources for finding good books available online like the University of Oklahoma Libraries, or if you feel comfortable, STAY INFORMED head to your local bookKeep up with the news! store or library.

During this time, it is especially important to make TAKE A FREE ONLINE sure you are aware of what COURSE is going on around you.

You can always find up-toOU students get free date coverage about Noraccess to Lynda — now man and the OU commuLinkedIn Learning — nity at oudaily.com, and which offers video cours- find us on social media! es from experts in fields like software development Jordan Hayden and photography. jordanhayden@ou.edu

Student tickets on sale for football How to score discounted rates for sooner sports AUSTIN CURTRIGHT @AustinCurtright

Student season tickets for the 2020–21 school year include all football and men’s basketball games for $210.

All other sporting events at OU are free to attend with an official OU student ID and all student tickets are general admission, so the earliest attendees usually get the best seats.

Returning students’ window for purchase is from April 21 to Aug. 14 or until tickets sell out, and are on a first come, first served basis.

Freshman and new students have from Aug. 24 to Aug. 28 to purchase tickets, but are allocated just 1,200 tickets, compared to 6,800 for returning students.

Season tickets can be claimed the week leading

up to the game, starting at 5 p.m Sunday until 5 p.m.

Wednesday. Tickets left unclaimed for the week will be sold starting at 8 a.m.

Thursdays in the OU Athletics Ticket Office.

Away game tickets go on sale for season ticket holders at 10 a.m. Aug. 25 online.

The away game sale ends AT 5 p.m. Sept. 3. Tickets will be available the week of the game and pick-up details will be emailed.

Tickets for the Red River Showdown against Texas go on sale Sept. 8th, but are only on sale for returning students who bought season tickets before July 1st.

Freshman and new students can only purchase tickets to the Cotton Bowl in Dallas if there are tickets left over from returning students — those go on sale Sept. 9.

Austin Curtright

austincurtright@ou.edu

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CULTURE

• August 24-31, 2020

OU offers services to provide mental support Access resources on campus, in Norman, at home EMILY MCPHERSON @emcphersonok

College can be a lot — paying tuition, living away from friends and family, working, balancing a heavier workload with new extracurricular activities — but you don’t have to struggle alone. It can be easy to lose sight of your mental health among it all, but OU has mental health resources for students to utilize.

Mental health is just as important as physical health, and both are vital to success and happiness in college. When your mental health is not taken care of, your social life and grades may suffer. It’s important to get help when you feel like you need it.

There can be a stigma associated with seeking help, but don’t let that stop you. Whether you are having difficulty adjusting to school, relationship problems, anxiety, depression or any other mental health issue, what you are dealing with is valid, and you deserve help and support.

Don’t be afraid to take advantage of the resources OU offers.

One resource is the University Counseling Center, located in the Goddard

Health Center on Elm Avenue. The UCC offers individual counseling, couples counseling, group counseling, career counseling and testing and psychiatric services. The UCC is open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. To get involved in these groups or make an appointment in advance, call the center’s front desk at 405-325-2911.

Another resource is the OU Advocates, a 24/7, free and confidential resource.

The OU Advocates provide support and additional resources for anyone who has experienced sexual assault, relationship violence, stalking or sexual harassment. They can be reached on the phone via WhatsApp or the crisis line at 405-615-0013.

Additionally, the Accessibility and Disability Resource Center can provide accommodations for those who need them. After you provide the ADRC with documentation and request accommodations, ADRC staff will set up a meeting during which you can talk about what you need. Accommodations include alternative test taking, tutoring and help with notifying your professors about how they can best accommodate you.

The ADRC can be contacted at 405-325-3852 or adrc@ou.edu.

Goddard Health Center on March 31.

TREY YOUNG/THE DAILY

Here are some numbers you can call for mental health assistance: University Counseling Center: 405-325-2911 OU Advocates: 405-615-0013 Accessibility and Disability Resource Center: 405-325-3852 Title IX and Sexual Misconduct office: 405-325-2215 Norman Women’s Resource Center: 405-364-9424 National Hopeline: 1-800-442-4673 National Suicide Prevention Lifeline: 1-800-273-8255

IN THE EVENT OF AN EMERGENCY, CALL 911.

Emily McPherson

emilymcpherson@ou.edu

11 tips for success at OU Make the most of your time at OU by following these handy guidelines we wish we’d known

by Vic Reynolds // @vicareynolds The new academic year is upon us, and you’re probably feeling a million different emotions – excitement, nervousness and everything in between.

There will be a lot of fun times and a lot of stressful times, but it could be one of the most unique and rewarding years of your life. Especially for those who are new to OU, The OU Daily staff knows this can be a difficult time, so we put together a list of tips to help you navigate your college career.

06

Use the resources OU provides — tutoring, writing assistance and many other resources all come at no cost to OU students beyond standard tuition and fees. Get your money’s worth.

07

Make friends with upperclassmen.

An upperclassman friend can be a good mentor to help you navigate the ins and outs of your major and give you insight when picking classes for next semester.

08

Do some research on your classes before you enroll. Ask around about what classes and professors are best. Sometimes your professor Try new things! College is a time when can be the difference in a class being really easy or you can meet new people and enjoy new experi- impossibly hard. Find people who took the classes ences. Don’t just stick to what you’ve always done. you want to take and ask them their thoughts.

You might find a new hobby or passion.

01 02

Make friends with at least one or two people in each of your classes. This way, you’ll have someone to study with or share notes if you happen to miss a class.

03

Clean your room once in a while!

You’re going to get stressed at some point with your classes, extracurriculars or job, and having a messy room will only make you feel worse.

09

Don’t be afraid if you don’t know what you want to do. You’re going to have a million conversations that start with “So, what’s your major?” or “What do you want to do with that?” You might not have the answers to these questions, and you’re going to feel like everyone else does. There’s no pressure if you don’t know what your career path will be yet. College is a great time to find your passion, and if you have to change your major a few times to find it, that’s okay.

10

Go to office hours. Every upperclassman and faculty member will tell you to get to know your professors, but that goes beyond just introducing yourself after the first lecture. Office hours are a great time to get one-on-one help from your professors. It might even help you get a letter of recommendation down the road.

Don’t take classes because they are easy. Especially if you’re a freshman or sophomore, you’re going to have a lot of options for Gen Ed courses and you’ll hear a lot about which ones are blow-off classes. It’s nice to coast through the semester with an easy A, but if you don’t enjoy the content you’re studying, you might still be miserable. Find courses on topics you enjoy or are interested in, and take them. Those are the courses you’ll still remember long after you graduate.

05

11

04

Prioritize your mental health. People often say college is the best time of your life, but it can also be extremely stressful. You may be far from home, away from old friends and stressed about your workload. Make sure you keep your mind healthy. It may help to exercise, get the right amount of sleep, take advantage of the mental health resources on campus — or maybe even all three.

Be prepared to struggle. You might be the type of person who never had to work too hard and could still get straight A’s in all of your classes.

That may not happen in college. There’s going to be a lot more work and stress in your life at a university, and it’s like that for everyone else, too. Try not to let it overwhelm you, and do your best not to procrastinate too much, tempting though it is.

9 Zoom class tips for success Master online lectures with these helpful strategies

by Mason Young // @Mason_Young_0 and Jillian Taylor // @jilliantaylor__

01

Go to class! With more classes going online, attendance is more important now than ever. Your online class will be one of the few opportunities to receive instruction from your professor and ask questions.

02

Keep your microphone muted unless you are speaking. In the event you are not practicing the utmost discipline while attending Zoom class, your peers and professor don’t want to hear the TV show you’re watching in the background.

Open microphones also create feedback noises that can be disruptive to learning.

03

Check the volume on your computer.

Before you log on to Zoom, make sure your volume is turned on so you can hear what’s being said and be heard during discussions.

04

Take notes often using a splitscreen with a text editor or a notepad. Taking notes during Zoom classes as if you were in a physical classroom will help you focus on what you’re being taught and provide a reference for you to look at as you study later.

05

Stay on gallery view to avoid annoying screen switches. Zoom can be very touchy with sound, and if you’re on the regular screen setting, your visuals will often flip between the displays of whoever is making the most noise. Putting your screen on gallery view will allow you to see everyone in your class and avoid the distraction of a moving screen.

06

Eliminate distractions by removing TV and cell phones and utilizing empty study rooms.

Zoom classes will require intentional focus for maximized learning and information retention. Set yourself up for success by silencing or hiding your cell phone and shutting off your TV. If that doesn’t help, leave your room and go to a quiet, secluded place, such as the library or a study room.

07

Attend your professor’s or TA’s virtual office hours or communicate via email often.

Your professors and TAs want to see you succeed, but you must be willing to ask them for assistance.

Use them as a resource as often as possible by attending their virtual office hours to get help with concepts you don’t understand. If you feel uncomfortable talking with them on Zoom, shoot them an email with your questions.

08

Hold study groups with classmates.

Working together can be extremely beneficial in completing assignments and preparing for tests.

Although you may not immediately know your classmates, don’t be afraid to hold study groups with them over Zoom. Doing so can serve as a great way to discuss material and make friends.

09

When entering a Zoom class, come with the mindset that it’s just like a regular class.

It may be hard to do this at first, but if you set your mind to treat online classes seriously, it will help you learn more effectively. By simply attending, reading and working as you would in person, you can find success online.

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