Nov. 2-8, 2021 by OU Daily

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State board recommends clemency for Julius Jones · pg 2

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Norman Police Department vehicles on Oct. 15.

NPD requests return of 9 jobs Norman City Council considers proposition for reinstatements JILLIAN TAYLOR @jilliantaylor

The city of Norman is considering reinstatement of nine police positions — which would transition into its Community Outreach Division — that were cut following an $865,000 decrease to the department’s proposed budget increase in June 2020. The consideration comes at the request of Norman Police Department Chief Kevin Foster and Captain Stacey Clements. Both cited an 11 percent increase in Part 1 crimes and larceny, a 19 percent increase in aggravated assaults and a 50 percent increase in stolen cars in 2021, as of Sept. 1. The department also noted that 2020 was the deadliest year for vehicle accidents resulting in serious injuries or death in decades. The original nine positions were one master police officer from Staff Services; one master police officer and one sergeant from Criminal Investigations; two police officers and two master police officers from Patrol; and one master police officer and one sergeant from Special Investigations. Seven of the positions were vacant in 2020 because the department did not hold a police academy that year. Norman City Manager Darrel Pyle said during an Oct. 19 study session that council would have to wait until the next fiscal year to add these positions, as applications for NPD’s police academy are closed for the year. Following the confirmation of the city of Norman’s 2020 budget, Ward 7 councilmember Stephen Holman said the council voted in response to the public, which had an “overall desire” to implement

an alternative policing response for mental health crises. Now, since the nature of the positions is being reconsidered, Holman said he feels it is worth reevaluating the budget to see if there is room for the addition of nine positions to NPD’s community outreach division. The community division would require officers to communicate with Norman citizens directly and evaluate data instead of focusing on making contact with community members, Holman said. He believes having a division dedicated to creating community relationships could encourage policing that individuals who have and haven’t had poor interactions with officers can support. “Having the police department willing to listen to those concerns and problems that people have brought up and making an attempt, structurally, in how the department operates to try to address those, I think, is going in the right direction,” Holman said. “I think that’s what we all wanted.” Proactive policing is not always the answer, Holman said. Despite the presence of patrol cars parked in the driveways of Ward 7’s suburban neighborhoods, the ward still faces challenges with car break-ins. “As I mentioned (last) Tuesday (during a council study session), one officer that lived there told me he’s come out before and found a beer can on his patrol car,” Holman said. “The presence of a police car, or even the police officers themselves, don’t always deter crime.” COVID-19 decreased officers’ ability to physically respond to calls, resulting in a limitation of their services to high priority calls, Holman said. This explains some of the burdens NPD is facing, as most of Norman’s priority calls materialize in traffic

issues and accidents. If officers dedicate the majority of their time to addressing these calls, it doesn’t leave much time for community outreach, he said. Holman, who voted for the decrease to the NPD’s proposed budget increase, said much has changed since the 2020 vote regarding community access to mental health resources. He said he thinks Norman will experience expanded access to these resources following the federal government’s implementation of a 988 dialing linked to the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline. The three-digit number, which will formally launch in July 2022, will serve as an immediate emotional support and crisis counseling contact to help U.S. citizens in mental health crises. Holman said this number would redirect some of the mental health calls NPD gets and “ideally” take some of the pressure off of the department. The pandemic further exacerbated issues related to Norman’s response to its homeless populations, as most of the responsibility lay with the NPD. As Oklahoma City’s population grew about 12.9 percent in the last 10 years, Holman said it makes sense that homeless individuals flocked to suburban areas like Norman, where it is “safer to be homeless.” While community resource fridges on E. Main Street and W. Lindsey Street were present, Norman’s homeless population also became more visible, as they benefited from 24/7 access to resources. This increased calls to the department, which were often related to mental health crises. Holman said these individuals should not be prohibited from existing. He expects the 988 number and implementation of a recently approved unarmed, non-police crisis program will decrease the

criminalization of the population, allow them to get connected to resources and open opportunities for officers to focus on other calls. “If there’s areas where the police are going to respond to a call that doesn’t necessarily need a police officer, but they’re having to because they’re the only option, then it seems like it would be logical and reasonable that we would be supportive of a program that helps reduce that responsibility,” Holman said. Although Holman feels the 988 number and crisis program are effective solutions, Ward 6 councilmember Elizabeth Foreman said she considers the issue through the perspective of a former finance director for OU’s Health and Sciences Center campus police department and councilmember who wasn’t present for the initial vote on the city’s 2020 budget. Foreman said she felt the original allocations of $235,000 toward the internal audit function and about $630,000 to community services was “obscure” and “sloppy accounting.” She also worried about the $865,000 decrease to the proposed increase because Norman, the third-largest city in the state, has struggled with police response times. She cited Ward 5 as an example, which she said experiences 15-20 minute wait times. “I don’t feel that it was thought out. It was 3 o’clock in the morning. What do you do?” Foreman said. “So, when it comes to refunding and all that, (I’m) totally in favor of doing whatever we need to do to keep the public safe. But, before we make any move, we hastily went into making that decision — excluding me because I wasn’t elected yet — let’s not hastily back out of it.” To fund the positions, Foreman proposed the city turn to the public and seek

their approval for an increase in public safety sales taxes during the Oct. 19 study session. Pyle said during the session that the sales tax is currently operating in a deficit after the city paid $15 million upfront to replace the City Emergency Communication System. He estimated the debt service will be paid in full by 2027. Norman’s government lives paycheck to paycheck, Foreman said. She feels a decision of this magnitude should require public opinion and a public safety study to fully understand what the department requires and the public desires. “We couldn’t afford them in the first place,” Foreman said. “We can’t afford it. We just cannot afford it. I’m happy to give it back, but we have to pay for it somehow.” If the city conducted a public safety study, Foreman said council could approve a third party external source to contextualize Norman’s population size and determine how many officers the city needs. She also said this could fulfill Foster’s request to reevaluate officers’ salaries, as the external source could compare NPD salaries to officers in other college towns. “The chief did talk about (how) we need to pay them more, and I do not disagree with that at all,” Foreman said. “But, in order to do that, we have to stick it out and let someone figure this out for us so we can justify whatever decision that we make.” Regarding the future of Norman’s response to mental health crises, Foreman said she has the “unpopular opinion” on the council, as she doesn’t want to see officers put in positions where they can’t protect themselves. She said she doesn’t think the public will lean into the 988 number, as deescalation “is more difficult than (most) think.”

Foreman, who used to be a nurse, said if someone is having an episode, it takes a lot to walk them back. If they’re in immense distress, they don’t think about “their safety or others.” She sees a solution in plain clothes uniforms, like those worn by the Crisis Intervention Team in Austin, Texas, which allow officers to respond in a less intimidating manner. “Every single one of those calls is completely different,” Foreman said. “It might start as something, but then it winds up being something else. … You don’t know what you’re walking into. The calls that do come into dispatch are usually much different when the cop gets dispatched and arrives on the scene. So, I wouldn’t say that (the 988 number) would eliminate anything, because it won’t. It really just won’t. That’s the world we live in, and it’s really unfortunate.” Ultimately, Foreman said she feels it is incumbent on the police department to demonstrate good faith measures to gain the complete trust of their community. She said she is ready to see the boiling pot of Norman politics taken off the burner, allowing community members and NPD alike to “lower their swords” and “hear each other out.” “I think (both sides) can come to a good solution. … I’m optimistic,” Foreman said. “I think if we could do a study and then determine that and keep moving forward and see how that’s going to look for our community, I think we can come to a really healthy balance. But, it will not be because of anything council does. There’s nothing we could do that would make anyone feel better. I wish I could, but we can’t do it.” jillian.g.taylor-2@ou.edu

OU to implement employee vaccine mandate Requirement follows executive order for all federal employees JILLIAN TAYLOR @jilliantaylor

O U P re s i d e nt Jo s e p h Harroz announced that OU will require COVID-19 vaccinations for all employees in a Friday email following a legal examination of President Joseph Biden’s Sept. 9 executive order. The executive order mandates COVID-19 vaccinations for federal employees,

contractors and other identified individuals. All OU employees — including faculty, staff, undergraduate and graduate student employees, parttime, temporary and PEAK employees, and graduate research and teaching assistants — must be vaccinated with a World Health Organization approved COVID-19 vaccine by Dec. 8. Harroz wrote after consulting the state government, medical and public health officials, the university is “obligated to adhere to the order.” He wrote that if the university fails to comply, it risks losing “hundreds of millions of dollars each year in federal

funding.” The requirement does not impact students who are not OU employees, and it does not include COVID-19 boosters, Harroz wrote. Employees may submit a request for accommodations if they believe health or religious reasons prevent them from receiving a COVID-19 vaccination. Medical and religious exemptions remain confidential, according to OU’s COVID-19 vaccine FAQ. This requirement follows an Oct. 28 press release from the OU chapter of the American Association of University Professors, noting that OU remained “strangely

and disturbingly silent” by not acknowledging the release of Biden’s executive order. The association called on administration and the Board of Regents to take notice of the order and provide a public plan and guidance on how it will be implemented. “The Executive Order also supersedes any and all state or local laws, regulations, or gubernatorial executive orders,” the release read. “Several public universities have implemented campus-wide vaccination requirements in response to the mandate — it is time for OU to join their peers in taking this logical step.” Kansas, Kansas State and

Wichita State University recently applied the same vaccination policy to their institutions. The University of Tulsa also instituted this policy on its campus. The University of Tulsa’s Senior Executive of Marketing and Communications Mona Chamberlin wrote in an email to The Daily that because the university is a federal contractor, the order applies to it alongside most other research universities. While voluntary vaccination efforts have “proven effective,” Chamberlin wrote the university has “no option but to comply with the mandate.” Oklahoma’s 7-day case

average is currently 736 cases as of Oct. 28, according to the New York Times. Cleveland County’s 7-day average sits at 56 cases. The university offers Pfizer, Moderna and Johnson & Johnson COVID-19 vaccines free of charge through Goddard Health Services. Vaccines are also readily available at area pharmacies and health clinics. Continued guidance will be released through Human Resources regarding how to provide proof of vaccination and submit requests for accommodations. jillian.g.taylor-2@ou.edu

NEWS

• Nov. 2-8, 2021

‘We will continue to fight’ Student groups aim to provide abortion rights information MIKAELA DELEON @MikaelaDeLeon12

OU student groups say they’re continuing to provide healthcare resources and sex education on campus and volunteering with women’s health care organizations to combat increased demand in Oklahoma clinics after Texas Senate Bill 8 and the looming effective date of similar bills in Oklahoma. Gov. Kevin Stitt recently signed nine new anti-abortion laws set to take effect Nov. 1. One of the bills, House Bill 2441, is what some experts call a “heartbeat bill.” The bill prohibits abortion once a fetal heartbeat could be detected, which can occur as early as six weeks. House Bill 1904 will allow abortions to be performed only by physicians who are board-certified in obstetrics and gynecology. Senate Bills 778 and 779 will also increase regulations on two-dose abortion pill regimens used to terminate early pregnancies. With these laws, abortion rights experts say six out of 10 abortion doctors in the state will no longer be allowed to perform abortions. As of Oct. 25, the Oklahoma Supreme Court ruled 5-3 to temporarily block HB 1904 and SB 778 and 779. “The Oklahoma Supreme Court recognized that these laws would cause irreparable harm to Oklahomans,” President and CEO of the Center for Reproductive Rights Nancy Northup, wrote in a release. “All of these laws have the same goal: to make it harder to get an abortion in Oklahoma. We will continue to fight in court to ensure these laws are struck down for good. Politicians should not be meddling in the private health decisions of Oklahomans.” Oklahoma judge Cindy Truong issued a temporary injunction against two of the proposed Oklahoma abortion laws on Oct. 4. Among these blocked laws were HB 2441 and HB 1102, a law that would categorize performing abortions after six weeks as “unprofessional conduct” and result in doctors’ medical licenses being suspended, and could result in a doctor being found guilty of homicide. This court ruling came after multiple local and national reproductive rights advocates filed a lawsuit to block the laws signed by Stitt. The Center for Reproductive Rights, Oklahoma Call for Reproductive Justice, Tulsa Women’s Reproductive Clinic and Planned Parenthood affiliates all participated in the suit. The slate of Oklahoma laws follows closely behind the passage of Texas Senate Bill 8, which states “physicians may not perform or induce an abortion if a fetal heartbeat is

detected.” The only exception is in cases of medical emergencies, meaning rape and incest exceptions are excluded. Oklahoma abortion clinics have reported a surge in Texas patients since the passage of SB 8. An Oklahoma City clinic said their facility has gone from seeing five to 10 Texas patients a day, to nearly triple that. “We’re already seeing a huge surge in Texas clients here, and there are clinics that are asking for a lot of volunteers right now,” said BreAnn Redcross, Students for Reproductive Justice co-president and women’s and gender studies junior. TX SB 8 also notes that anyone other than an employee of the state or local government may bring civil action against anyone who performs or induces an abortion with a heartbeat, engages in conduct that aids an abortion or pays for abortion through insurance. In Oklahoma, doctors who perform abortions will have their license suspended for up to a year by the Oklahoma Board or even revoked. If challenged in court, the state will act as prosecutor towards a defendant according to HB 1102. Redcross and SRJ co-president Haley Lewsey, a community health senior, believe Texas’ heartbeat bill has made it a far more restrictive place for reproductive healthcare, and recent legislation will have a similar effect in Oklahoma. “We do have several abortion clinics here that are still operating with laxer policies right now than they currently have in Texas,” Lewsey said. “I do believe that, based on location and other factors, people will eventually have to go to states other than Oklahoma.” Some have questioned the longevity of Oklahoma’s laws based on previous precedents set by the state’s high courts. Northup wrote in a Sept. 2 statement that Oklahoma’s Supreme Court has commonly found its own state’s abortion laws as unconstitutional. “If allowed to take effect, these laws would end abortion access in Oklahoma, forcing patients to travel great distances and cross state lines to get essential health care. It’s unbelievable that, in the midst of a global pandemic, Oklahoma’s lawmakers would have people drive hundreds of miles to access abortion services,” Northup wrote in the statement. “They should be focusing on containing the spread of COVID-19 and saving the lives of people in their state instead of taking away their citizens’ constitutional rights.” Caroline Sacerdote, a Center for Reproductive Rights attorney, said the center plans to appeal the court’s decision on the three laws Judge Truong did not restrict and work with the Oklahoma state attorneys to reach an agreement on a formal order for the judge.

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Oklahoma City Women’s March participants outside the Oklahoma state Capitol on Oct. 2.

“Once the judge signs that order, we plan to appeal the ruling to the Oklahoma Supreme Court, and we hope to get these remaining three laws blocked before they actually go into effect on Nov. 1,” Sacerdote said. One of the bills Sacerdote worked to block is the six-week abortion ban in Oklahoma, which allows exceptions only if the life of the mother is in danger, mirroring a similar bill in Texas. The Texas Policy Evaluation Project estimated SB 8 will prevent eight in 10 people from obtaining abortion care. Out of 600 possible patients, the evaluation projected only 16 percent of those patients would have pregnancies under six weeks and would qualify for an abortion in Texas at the time of their appointment. Part of TX SB 8 also encourages citizens to enforce the state’s new law with a reward of $10,000. If an individual reports a violation of the bill and succeeds in court, Texas law states that they would be awarded at least $10,000. On Sept. 9, the U.S. Justice Department sued the state of Texas, stating the law is unconstitutional under Planned Parenthood v. Casey and Roe v. Wade due to the U.S. Supreme Court precedents. Federal Judge Robert Pitman decided to side with the Department of Justice and block the enforcement of SB 8 on Oct. 6, but on Oct. 14 the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit sided with Texas and struck down Pitman’s ruling. The Justice Department is now asking that the Supreme Court put SB 8 on hold as legal challenges proceed. OK HB 2441, the “heartbeat bill,” has been criticized as inconsistent for its lack of clarity surrounding exemptions. “With OK House Bill 2441, one of the conditions in there is that an abortion can supposedly only be performed in serious or emergency situations,” Redcross said. “However, if a patient says they are going to harm themselves or potentially commit suicide, that is not considered a reason to allow someone to

get an abortion.” Redcross said she believes individual freedoms will be limited by the new “pro-life” bills. “Patients will be forced to carry pregnancies against their will,” Redcross said. “(SB 8) targets people who help or intend to help people get an abortion. It really isolates patients so they won’t really be able to have a support network. This law really targets abortion funds that would help people have access to abortion care.” OU Students for Reproductive Justice held a rally Oct. 6 to protest SB 8 and the recent “pro-life” legislation signed into place by Gov. Kevin Stitt. The organization plans to help OU community members get involved in advocating for abortion care in Oklahoma, as well as offering volunteers the opportunity to directly work with abortion clinics in the state. An Oklahoma City Women’s March was also held Oct. 2 to protest the new Oklahoma bills, and the increasing level of health care restrictive laws in the U.S. According to the website, the rally was intended to take a stand against strict abortion laws in the participants’ home state. O U Wo m e n ’s H e a l t h Advocacy President Kylie Hutchison said the organization plans to help OU students get involved with advocacy by educating them further on sexual assault, consent and sexual education. “There are fake women’s clinics, especially in Oklahoma, with the purpose of trying to mislead them in how far along they are pregnancy-wise to get them to miss the legal deadline to get an abortion,” Hutchison, junior psychology major, said. WHA plans to combat what they see as a lack of sex education and aid Texan patients, Hutchison said. With the growing number of Texans heading into Oklahoma for abortion-related health care, WHA plans to compile resources to help patients differentiate between legitimate healthcare clinics and

women’s crisis centers that do not perform services and only offer counseling. Aarya Ghonasgi, vice president of advocacy for WHA and psychology junior, works as a sex educator at Goddard Health Center and believes there is a lack of sex education in Oklahoma. “It’s really wild to see the amount of students who come in with no knowledge about how to have safe sex, how to prevent pregnancies and things like that make this age group very vulnerable for STDs and unplanned pregnancies,” Ghonasgi said. “They’re the ones that are going to have to bear the brunt of this really restrictive legislative process.” Stacey Johnson, vice president of education for WHA and a psychology and criminology junior, believes that restrictions on sex education can be harmful. “More unwanted pregnancies and STDs actually occur in red states that don’t offer a contraception-based sex education program,” Johnson said. WHA’s education committee plans to put together a comprehensive sex education program, Johnson said, and to reach out to the public schools of Norman in hopes of educating students. WHA also hopes to have educational meetings on campus over contraception, pregnancies and anatomy that OU students will be welcome to attend. As juniors at OU, Ghonasgi, Johnson and Hutchison said they want to make steps towards improving sex education in Oklahoma schools before they graduate. “The reason why all of these bills are being passed is due to a strong lack of education, and it also stems from the stigma and taboo that surrounds women’s bodies,” Hutchison said. “No one is trying to be malicious, they’re just uneducated.” mikaela.j.deleon-1@ou.edu

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Provost excuses fall withdrawals

stay connected

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SGA request granted to recognize mental health challenges BLAKE DOUGLAS @blake_doug918

OU Senior Vice President and Provost André-Denis Wright announced in an Oct. 28 email academic withdrawals taken during the fall 2021 semester will not count toward OU undergraduates’ total of allowed withdrawals. OU undergraduate students are allowed to withdraw from five total classes during their studies at OU. A withdrawal will not negatively affect a student’s GPA, and withdrawals taken before a certain date each semester are not noted on a student’s transcript.

In the email, Wright wrote leaders in the OU Student Government Association have “done an admirable job” advocating for students as they navigate academics throughout the COVID-19 pandemic. “In response to a request by SGA leadership, withdrawals during the fall 2021 semester will not count toward the overall limit of five withdrawals during an undergraduate student’s course of study at the university,” Wright wrote. “It is no secret that many of us are experiencing significant mental health challenges as a result of the pandemic.” Wright urged OU community members to take advantage of OU’s mental health resources as needed. University counseling services can be reached at 405-325-2911,

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Senior Vice President and Provost André-Denis Wright speaks July 22 in his office in Evans Hall.

according to the email, and students can register for a Therapy Assistance Online account with their OU 4x4. “I look forward to ongoing

conversations with the SGA campus experience.” and other student leaders,” Wright wrote, “as we continue to work together to provide the best possible educational and bdoug99@ou.edu

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CULTURE

Nov. 2-8, 2021 •

State board suggests clemency Julius Jones sees possibility for life sentence, parole after recommendation ARI FIFE

The Oklahoma Pardon and Parole Board recommended commuting Julius Jones’ death sentence to life with the possibility of parole in a 3-1 vote to grant clemency. The board’s recommendation will now be sent to Gov. Kevin Stitt’s desk for review. Jones’ execution date is currently set for Nov. 18. State law dictates a death row inmate’s clemency hearing must be scheduled no less than 21 days before their execution date. After an Oct. 26 vigil, Cece Jones-Davis, Justice for Julius campaign director, said although Stitt chose not to act on the board’s Sept. 13 recommendation to commute Jones’ sentence, she’s hopeful he will act on a clemency recommendation. Jones has been on death row since 2002 for the 1999 murder of Edmond businessman Paul Howell. Jones has maintained his innocence throughout the case, claiming he wasn’t present for the crime and didn’t learn Howell was killed until the day after. Jones made a statement during the hearing in what he said was his first chance in over 20 years to discuss the facts of the case. Jones said he first met co-defendant Chris Jordan as a junior at John Marshall High School, and he knew he was “rough around the edges.” Even though the two played basketball together for a few years, Jones said they rarely spent time together. Because Jones’ family was middle class, he said he didn’t own the luxurious items a lot of his peers had. To fit in, Jones began stealing and also took tests for friends for a fee. Through doing this, Jones learned Jordan wanted to play college basketball but couldn’t pass the ACT. Despite his better judgment, Jones said he wanted to give Jordan the same opportunities he had and agreed to help him, building the foundations of what would become a close friendship. “Every day for the past 22 years, I have regretted these decisions,” Jones said. “And I hope my story can be a lesson for all young people — keeping the wrong company, sacrificing your values for a few bucks comes with a very high price. It can cost you 22 years of your life, or it can literally cause your death.” Jones said July 28, 1999, was “the beginning of the end of my life.” He said he’d just celebrated his 19th birthday and was spending the evening at his parents’ house playing dominoes with his brother Antonio while his mother fixed his sister Antoinette’s hair. He was expecting Jordan to pick him up and fell asleep while waiting. Jordan finally arrived between 11-11:30 p.m., and Jones said he was upset that he was so late. Jordan informed Jones he’d gotten

into a conflict with a few men and ended up shooting them. Jones said he was shocked but didn’t ask more questions, thinking the less he knew about the situation, the better. Jones said he was dropped back off at his family’s house later that night and fell back asleep. He woke up to Ladell King, a friend of Jordan, who was looking for Jordan. King said he needed help moving a car, and Jones agreed. King drove Jones from his parents’ house to King’s apartment and told Jones to follow him in a Chevrolet Suburban. Jones said he refused because he was fairly certain the car was stolen. King ended up driving the Suburban, and Jones drove King’s red Firebird. The two stopped at a grocery store, left the Suburban in the parking lot and rode together in the Firebird to an auto shop. Jones said King went into the garage when they got there and came out “looking spooked.” Jones and King drove silently back to the Suburban, and when they got there, King said the shop didn’t want the Suburban because there was a “body on it.” Jones said he took this to mean someone had likely been shot or killed. At this point, Jones said he should have called the police, but he was scared. King and Jones found Jordan at a recreation center where they’d often go to play basketball. When Jones walked into the gym, he said he found King and Jordan in the middle of a “very serious discussion.” Jones and Jordan left for Jones’ house together, and when they arrived, Jordan said he had to make a call. As he was waiting for a call back, Jordan asked to see the news, and the two saw a report that a man had been shot and killed during the robbery of a Suburban. “It was at this point that things started to add up for me that Chris and Ladell were involved in this,” Jones said. “It was stupid of me and naive of me not to go to the police with what I knew, but I was scared.” Jones said he was asleep when the police arrested him early in the morning of July 31, and they didn’t even give him a chance to put on a shirt. He said he was pulled out of bed and put in handcuffs. The events that followed were “a whirlwind.” Jones’ defense team has claimed Jordan initially encouraged police to investigate Jones. Jordan was used as the state’s main witness against Jones, claiming to only be a “getaway driver” in Paul Howell’s murder, despite the beliefs of many that he matches the only eyewitness’s description of the suspect. “I am here before you today to tell you what I never got to tell the jury in my trial,” Jones said. “Yes, I’ve made many mistakes in my youth, but I did not kill Paul Howell.” Jones’ attorney Amanda Bass said an Oklahoma Bar Association investigation revealed King was a longtime police informant in exchange for deals on his charges or the avoidance of charges entirely. She also said though Jordan was sentenced to between 30

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and 35 years in prison, he was released after just 15 years. Bass said the jury in Jones’ trial “failed to consider key evidence” and never heard the testimony of multiple individuals who said they heard Jordan bragging about killing Paul Howell and blaming Jones for the crime. The Oklahoma Attorney General’s office claimed none of those individuals are credible because they have felony convictions, Bass alleged. Outside of these individuals, one inmate who served time in an Arkansas prison with Jordan said Jordan admitted to killing Howell and is letting Jones take the blame, according to a March report from The Frontier. “The criminal justice system failed Mr. Howell because the person and the people

HOROSCOPE By Eugenia Last

TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 2, 2021 ASTROGRAPH by Eugenia Last SCORPIO (Oct. 24-Nov. 22) Take a moment to assess situations, but don’t linger too long. Decisive action will show how capable you are and highlight your leadership qualities. Mindfulness, precision and honesty will be key.

TAURUS (April 20-May 20) Don’t count on something that isn’t a sure thing. Ask questions and insist on verification in writing. Don’t hesitate to distance yourself from anyone who isn’t playing fair.

SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 23-Dec. 21) Be realistic regarding how much you spend. Getting the most for the least by doing the work yourself instead of paying others is favored if you know what you are doing.

GEMINI (May 21-June 20) Thank matters through, make decisions for the right reasons and learn from the experiences you encounter. When in doubt, check the facts, budget appropriately and set a reasonable course.

CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19) Forward motion will keep you out of trouble. Keep your comments to yourself and avoid wasting time on senseless battles. Don’t step over others to make progress; treat everyone respectfully.

CANCER (June 21-July 22) Hide your emotions until you gather the facts. Knowing what you are up against will make it easier to do what’s best for you. Don’t give in to someone using manipulative tactics.

AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 19) Look over the possibilities and map out a course that will help you reach your destination. Refuse to let a change of plans someone makes throw you off. Talk to someone who always cheers you up.

LEO (July 23-Aug. 22) A positive attitude will help you bypass a stressful situation. Do your best to get along, and be prepared to do things on your own if necessary. Self-improvement is favored.

PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20) There is no clear-cut way to handle sensitive situations. Take the time to understand how others feel and ask questions that give others the chance to develop a solution without being told what to do.

Instructions: Fill in the grid so that every row, every column and every 3x3 box contains the digits 1 through 9. That means that no number is repeated in any row, column or box.

who are ultimately responsible for his death have not been held accountable,” Bass said. “And it also failed Julius by condemning him to death for something that he did not do. Reckoning with the failures of our system and of the fallible people in it is the first step towards righting the wrongs that were done and preventing yet another innocent life from being lost.” State attorneys Jennifer Crabb and Caroline Hunt said in their statement they believe the jury made the correct decision when they sentenced Jones to death row. Crabb said she believes Jones murdered Howell to sell his Suburban, and he viewed the money as more valuable than Howell’s life. Crabb pointed to Jones’ c r i m i na l re c o rd b e f o re

ARIES (March 21-April 19) Join forces with someone who shares your point of view. Together you can make a difference. A discussion will lead to a broader understanding of your long-term goals and give you comfort.

VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22) Pay attention to how you manage money. Overspending on things you don’t need will lead to regret. Put more emphasis on what’s meaningful to you and how you can utilize your time effectively. LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 23) Set rules, boundaries and incentives to avoid opposition. Listen to suggestions and find a way to incorporate requests. Getting along with others will be half the battle. Sincerity will be key.

Howell’s murder, which included shoplifting and the carjacking of a Lexus. Bass brought these claims into question, citing the fact Jones was never charged for several of those crimes. “The Howell family is facing an uphill battle today — not because Julius Jones’ defense claims he’s innocent, because we know he’s not — but because this involves the death penalty,” Megan Toby, Howell’s sister, said. “I hope all of you approach this clemency hearing with an open mind and follow the rules set because this isn’t about the death penalty. It’s about the truth, the facts and the evidence in this case.” Pardon and Parole Board members Kelly Doyle, Larry Morris and Adam Luck voted to commute Jones’ sentence,

and Richard Smothermon voted against it. Doyle said she’s still unsure if Jones is guilty, so the “ultimate punishment” shouldn’t be utilized. Morris said if Jordan is equally culpable in Howell’s murder, the discrepancy between his and Jones’ sentences is unfair. “Even though it may or may not be our role to determine whether or not someone is guilty or innocent, we do have the authority to make a recommendation to the governor based on our own opinions as to whether or not this man is deserving of some leniency in his sentencing,” Morris said. “And, at this point, I am convinced that he is deserving of that.”

Universal Crossword Edited by David Steinberg November 2, 2021 ACROSS 1 Collectible in an album 6 “Yes, ___!” (kitchen cry) 10 “Oh no!” 13 Prenatal procedure, briefly 14 “Work” singer’s nickname 15 It’s black at Punalu’u Beach 17 ___ fries (relative of poutine) 18 Without modifications 19 Langston Hughes poem whose title precedes “sing America” 20 Ballroom dance’s sentimentality? 23 Generic seashell seller 25 Were present? 26 Limited 27 Sky display caused by solar wind 29 “Fudge!” 31 Comic Jeong 32 It may follow “any” or “some” 33 Crew blade 34 Pharma products 35 Beloved bagel topping? 39 Regarding 41 Wine barrel wood 42 Words to live by 45 NYSE debut 46 Breakfast that may be prepared overnight

11/2

47 Grievous 48 Acuna of the MLB 50 Scolding for a noisy moviegoer 51Was ahead 52 Chitchat over drinks? 56 Plenty 57 Massaman curry’s cuisine 58 State with the most counties (254) 61 Unit of heredity 62 ___ Grey tea 63 Standing straight 64 12, in a date: Abbr. 65 Ready to eat ... or throw out 66 Finishes in last place DOWN 1 Gloomy 2 Texter’s “Didn’tneed to know that!” 3 Had complete authority 4 Mineral with thin layers 5 No Running sign’s spot 6 Fad 7 Anaconda’s “Don’t!” 8 Name within “maverick” 9 Source of some salmon 10 Like most of the world’s population 11 Goalie’s feline-esque attribute 12 Tied 16 Egg

quantities 21 Syllable before “la la” 22 Sch. by the Harvard Bridge, confusingly 23 Tool that has teeth 24 “That’s odd” 28 Cookie used in some milkshakes 29 Places to moor boats 30 Classic cheer 34 Stallion’s counterpart 36 Tesla sports car 37 Enjoyed a wingback chair 38 Green vacation destination? 39 Safety device that blows up 40 Wound, as thread 43 Owed 44 From way back 46 Spanish cheer

47 “___’s Next” (1971 album) 49 Nahuatl speaker 50 Expression in a dentist’s ad 53 Hindi for “tea” 54 Instrument in the Guinness logo 55 Five minus five 59 Card that often beats a king 60 Wall and Canal, briefly

PREVIOUS PUZZLE ANSWER

10/26

Schmossword by Hal Moore

SPORTS

• Nov. 2-8, 2021

‘I’ve never seen nothing like it’ Caleb Williams breaks records; OU remains undefeated MASON YOUNG @Mason_Young_0

Like a rabbit sprung out of a hat, Caleb Williams slipped past a headhunting defender, shimmied through a gap in his offensive line, sprinted out to his right, soared into the air and slung a pass to the back of the end zone where a wide open Mario Williams waited. The freshman quarterback has taken college football by storm in recent weeks, saving Oklahoma from certain doom against Texas before leading wins over TCU and Kansas. During a Halloween eve showdown with Texas Tech, Williams’ dominant performance saw him likened to another larger-than-life character. “Houdini gets out of it,” former OU defensive lineman Dusty Dvoracek said after the play on the ABC telecast, astonished by the enchanting escapability the former fivestar recruit exhibited in the first quarter against the Red Raiders on Saturday. And that was only his opening act. Behind Williams’ wizardry, No. 4 Oklahoma (9-0, 6-0 Big 12) rolled to a 52-21 victory over Texas Tech (2-4, 5-4) before 82,732 fans at

Gaylord Family-Oklahoma Memorial Stadium, extending a nation-leading 17-game winning streak. The young magician, who doesn’t turn 20 years old for 16 more days, completed 23-of-30 passes for 402 yards and six touchdowns, breaking school records left and right. Williams became the first OU true freshman with five touchdown passes in a game and joined former Heisman Trophy winners Baker Mayfield and Kyler Murray as the only Sooners quarterbacks with six touchdowns and no interceptions in a contest. Upon his curtain call in the fourth quarter, he tied Landry Jones, a redshirt freshman in 2009, for the freshman single-game touchdown record and was just 16 passing yards shy of Jones’ freshman single-game passing record. “It’s definitely something that’s unprecedented, at least from my perspective,” said redshirt senior defensive lineman and team captain Isaiah Thomas. “I’ve never seen nothing like it.” After OU went three-andout on its first possession, Williams settled in. He mystified opposing tacklers with a spin move early in the downfield march and later threw the back-corner touchdown pass to Mario Williams. Two possessions later, Williams showcased his full bag of tricks, spinning out of a

potential safety one play, then standing tall in the pocket and firing a 36-yard strike to Mario Williams on another. The drive ended with Williams’ 8-yard touchdown pass to senior H-back Brayden Willis to put Oklahoma up 21-7. “There’s some things just for him that he does at a young age that are really impressive,” OU head coach Lincoln Riley said. “He’s got a good, calm demeanor about the game. He’s done a good job in scramble situations here early in the season. He does a good job not getting too high or too low. I think there’s a certain feel that he has on some things that are good, and I would expect to continue to get better. “There’s a lot of things as a young player that he’s doing at a high level, no question about it. It’s impressive to see his poise and the way he approaches it without having had all the experience in the world. There’s a lot of positives and a lot to build on.” Against the 77th ranked passing defense in the country, Williams also tossed a pair of touchdown passes to sophomore receiver Marvin Mims, who finished with four catches for 135 yards. Mims’ effort complemented a touchdown by redshirt junior receiver Drake Stoops and Mario Williams’ five receptions for 100 yards. While the Sooners’ passing game thrived, their

ground game wasn’t effective Saturday, only recording 72 yards. Despite that, Williams helped OU maintain a streak of 12 games with at least 38 points against Texas Tech, it’s longest against any opponent in program history. “You can kind of tell that the whole offense was just kind of clicking today … but as a whole, Caleb has performed great,” Mims said. “He’s been thrown into the fire. (At) Oklahoma, being a quarterback here isn’t easy ... but he’s played great. I’m proud of him, I’m happy for him and he’s gonna keep succeeding in life.” For his final act, Williams evaded pressure again and rolled right, finding junior H-back Austin Stogner for his sixth score. After tossing touchdowns to five different receivers, Williams was relieved by redshirt sophomore Spencer Rattler, the preseason Heisman Trophy favorite who

was replaced after struggling against Texas. Following a standing ovation from fans, Rattler unleashed a 42-yard touchdown pass to sophomore receiver Brian Darby for the last score of the night. Williams was among several who celebrated with him when he returned to the sideline. “The cool thing is, those two are really happy for each other and have pushed each other,” Riley said. “On a great team, that’s what you gotta have.” Thanks to his latest act beneath one of college football’s brightest spotlights, Williams’ Heisman Trophy odds continue to ascend from hocus pocus toward a real possibility. His chances jumped from +1400 to +800 after Saturday’s game, according to DraftKings. Regardless of his award potential, Williams finds himself leading an undefeated team with national championship

aspirations this season and a bright future with him at the center. After the Sooners’ bye week, the teenage “Houdini” will face his toughest challenges in Baylor, Iowa State and Oklahoma State. Saturday’s performance indicates Williams might have just enough Sooner Magic to escape those matchups unscathed. “He was making a way out of nowhere,” Thomas said. “I was impressed by his performance. What makes it so exciting is that he’s only a freshman. I think that’s exciting because he has a lot to learn, a lot to grow on and he can only get better because he’s definitely not at his peak. But for him to be where he’s at as a freshman is really impressive. I can’t say that for a lot of freshmen that I’ve seen play that position, so he’s a special kid, man.” masyoung@ou.edu

‘Big-time facility for a big-time program’ OU softball to receive new stadium after $12 million Love’s gift JASON BATACAO @J_batacao

During the 2020 MLB World Series, Patty Gasso sat in the stands and took notes over the Texas Rangers’ $1.2 billion Globe Life Field in Arlington. While the stadium, which was opened on May 29, 2020, was out of Oklahoma’s budget, the Sooners’ softball coach was looking for inspiration from stadiums around the U.S. to incorporate into OU’s upcoming Love’s Field. Notably, Gasso toured Baylor’s softball facilities, which she considers the best in the entire Big 12, and then expanded her observations to the Southeastern Conference. From that point on, Gasso kept a folder of notes and pictures from her favorite facilities across the country. Now, following a $12 million donation from Love’s Travel Stops on Thursday — the largest toward a female athletics program at OU ever — the Sooners will have a sterling new $27 million stadium for the 2024 season. Gasso’s convinced the Sooners have found the missing piece to their program and future. “What is monumental for us is that we are able to be self-contained in our own stadium,” Gasso said. “We don’t have to go to the men and women’s basketball arena for me to sit here to talk to you via Zoom, versus sitting in our classroom with cinderblock walls. We don’t have to go to

football to use the cold tubs. We’ll be able to have our own. There’s just so many differences now. … And since I have been here, we’ve always had to use or borrow somebody else’s facilities. “(This is) a big step towards legitimacy with a big-time facility for a big-time program.” Love’s Field will be constructed on the northwest corner of Jenkins Avenue and Imhoff Road, with groundbreaking beginning in 2022. The stadium will also include a new training room, locker room, classroom and trophy staging area for a total of 10,500 square feet. The new stadium will be about one-half mile south of OU’s current Marita Hynes Field. Love’s Field’s parking will be on the current surface of the Lloyd Noble Center. The new stadium’s capacity will increase from 1,900 to 3,000 with additional room to grow. Oklahoma’s players had to keep the announcement tight-vested for a couple days after Gasso told them. She didn’t want the news to leak, but she also didn’t want her team to be shocked. There were mixed reactions from every player on the team. Some, who will be on the team in 2024, are excited to take the field and experience the state-of-the-art indoor facilities. But, for players who will graduate before its completion, there is a sense of disappointment. Gasso, however, sees the development as a celebration for the entire program and its contributing alumni. So does OU President Joseph Harroz. “This transformative gift

from Love’s Travel Stops turns our dream of building a bestin-class softball facility at the University of Oklahoma into a reality,” Harroz said in a Thursday press release. “Many future generations of student-athletes and Sooner fans will be impacted by the generosity of our friends at Love’s, and we are remarkably grateful for their support.” On its run to a fifth national championship, Oklahoma broke program records for team batting average, team slugging percentage, on-base percentage and home runs. “I’ll start with the alums. The timing of all of this could not have been more perfect that we get to celebrate with them this weekend,” Gasso said. “They have their handprints all over this. It started back for me in 1998, and it’s just been building and building and building to the point of where we are right now. But, if the foundation wasn’t built back then we wouldn’t be sitting here where we are now.” As the Sooners bask in the glory of their 2021 NCAA title, the next step for them is pivoting to the upcoming season, and, in a couple of years, the transition to the SEC. For now, Gasso is assured stadium upgrades were necessary to garner the respect of opponents like Alabama and Florida, but also for fans that pack the stands in every Oklahoma game. “I think our attendance will continue to grow because of these matchups that are coming from Florida, Alabama, Arkansas and so forth,” Gasso said. “So, it is important for recruiting as well because we need to train you to feed this program and bolster the athletes that are in it to continue to compete. “The level of intensity and competition will be extreme. So there are many purposes for the stadium to have a lot of meeting meanings in a lot of different areas for us.” jason.f.batacao-1@ou.edu

TREY YOUNG/THE DAILY

(From left to right) Director of Athletics Joe Castiglione, co-CEO of Love’s Greg Love, OU President Joseph Harroz, OU Board of Regents chairman Michael Cawley and OU softball head coach Patty Gasso commemorate the announcement of Love’s Field for OU softball during the game against Texas Tech on Oct. 30.

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Freshman quarterback Caleb Williams motions during the game against Texas Tech on Oct. 30