Feb. 15-21, 2022 by OU Daily

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‘ A bsurd ‘It’s a dangerous practice’ abuse of power’ Councilmember faces assault allegations PEGGY DODD

peggy.f.lail-1@ou.edu

and the trauma that LGBTQ+ kids are subjected to through conversion therapy stays with them for the rest of their lives.” During the meeting on Feb. 9, Olsen opened by stating the bill is not about whether or not conversion or “change therapy” is good or bad, but more about allowing the option, should parents seek it for their children. “House Bill 2973 is a bill of liberty, freedom and choice. It deals with, most especially, young people perhaps who’ve experimented with homosexuality and decide they want a different path for their life,” Olsen said. “The great question before us is: Do we believe in freedom of speech and freedom of choice?” Olsen said this bill was in response to fears that President Joseph Biden’s administration would ban conversion therapy. Freedom Oklahoma, a political advocacy organization, tweeted in response to Olsen’s claims, saying it is dangerous to frame conversion therapy as a choice in this legislation. According to the National Center for Lesbian’s Rights Born Perfect campaign, 20 states and over 100 cities in the U.S. have banned conversion therapy. Major health corporations have also condemned and discredited conversion therapy, citing research showing how it does not work and instead creates more trauma and mental health struggles for 2SLGBTQ+ people. The American Medical Association said conversion therapy practices “may increase suicidal behaviors and cause significant psychological distress, anxiety, lowered self-esteem, internalized homophobia, self-blame, intrusive imagery and sexual dysfunction.” The Trevor Project reported a study where only 3 percent of participants who had gone through conversion therapy became heterosexual, with 88 percent of participants having no lasting changes to their sexuality or behavior. A study at the Williams Institute at University of California-Los Angeles School of Law found people who went through conversion therapy are twice as likely to attempt suicide compared to people who have not. Petrone said she is very concerned for youth and parents in Oklahoma, especially those in Norman. She said conversion therapy is not therapy of any kind, as this abuse involves both physical and mental torturing of 2SLGBTQ+ youth. “It tells a person that their natural inclination to be in a same-sex relationship, that that’s wrong, and they are broken,” Petrone said. “The

During the Norman City Council meeting Feb. 8, allegations of assault against Ward 3 Councilmember Kelly Lynn were read into the meeting’s minutes. Ward 1 Councilmember Brandi Studley used a portion of her time reserved for council announcements to read an email sent by Norman resident Sally Little on Jan. 28 detailing Little’s accusations of assault against Lynn. Little sent the email to Mayor Breea Clark and every member of the Norman City Council except Lynn. No charges were pressed against Lynn by the district attorney, though a police report was filed by Little. On Jan. 23 at Louie’s Bar and Grill, Little alleged in the email that Lynn approached her table and asked her for a cigarette. He then asked her who she was voting for in the mayoral election. Little replied, saying she was voting for Clark. Lynn then went on to call Clark a “f------ b----” and said she defunded the police, referring to council’s vote to decrease the Norman Police Department’s proposed budget increase by $865,000 in June 2020. Little responded to Lynn by asking for his definition of “defund.” At this point, Little alleged Lynn referred to her as an “ignorant f------ psycho b----” and “mother f----.” Little wrote that she outstretched her hand to Lynn so they could “agree to disagree,” but Lynn started toward Little with his hands raised. She threw a lime from a glass at him in an attempt to stop him. Lynn then grabbed Little by her hair and clothing, yanking her toward the door and telling her to “get the f--- out,” according to Little’s account. She alleged Lynn was then escorted out of the restaurant and walked back to his house. Little wrote she had to seek medical attention for pulled muscles in her ribs. “I do not feel safe in my own town. I am fearful of the police now, I am fearful of any car behind me thinking it could be him following me in retaliation. He has taken away my security,” Little wrote. Following Studley reading the email into the record, Lynn responded during his ward announcements, saying Little’s accusations had a political motive. “If you believe any of that nonsense, I don’t know what to tell you,” Lynn said. “Ms. Little, if you’re out there listening, I’ve found it in my heart to forgive you for this. Even if you got it from some of these people up here (the council), I can forgive them too for their actions.” Lynn said he hopes that other elected officials can be in public without accusations like these coming against them, saying it’s “a little ridiculous” to be “amped up” on politics. Following the meeting, Lynn told The Daily he had no further comment on the

see 2SLGBTQ+ page 2

see LYNN page 2

ALAYNA WELDON/THE DAILY

KAROLINE LEONARD karolineleonard@ou.edu

The Oklahoma House State Powers moved to pass a new bill on Feb. 9 that would retroactively legalize the practice of conversion therapy on 2SLGBTQ+ individuals in the state. The bill passed with a vote of 5-1, with District 77 Rep. John Waldron (D-Tulsa) being the only opposition, and the bill will now be heard by the house floor. House Bill 2973, also known as the Parental and Family Rights in Counseling Protection Act, was authored by District 2 State Rep. Jim Olsen (R-Roland). If enshrined into law, the bill would not allow the prohibition of “sexual orientation change efforts” or “gender dysphoria resolution efforts” in the state. The act would also allow mental health or religious advisors to provide counseling on sexual orientation changes and gender dysphoria without any prohibition or restriction from state or political authorities. The bill defined sexual orientation change efforts and gender dysphoria resolution efforts as any counseling that seeks to stop sexual or romantic attractions towards people of the same sex and efforts to change gender identity expressions. Conversion therapy is generally considered to be any practice or treatment working to alter a person’s sexual orientation or gender identity to be heterosexual and cisgender. OU human relations professor Sage Mauldin said Rep. Olsen was elected into a “powerful position” and is now “saying to our faces that he supports child abuse.” Mauldin tweeted on Feb. 7 that he was exchanging emails with Olsen about the bill. Olsen did not respond to The Daily’s requests for a statement. “This bill is a violation of people’s rights, and it’s also a violation of children’s safety in particular,” Mauldin said. Former Ward 3 Norman City Councilmember Alison Petrone also criticized Olsen’s bill. “I can’t imagine being the author of a bill as heinous as this,” Petrone said. “I would encourage everyone … to express their disgust that Rep. Olsen is even considering writing child abuse into Oklahoma law.” In 2019, Mauldin submitted legislation to ban conversion therapy for minors in Oklahoma while serving on the board of directors for the American Civil Liberties Union of Oklahoma. He advocated this

through House Bill 2456, which was sponsored by District 88 Rep. Jason Dunnington (D-Oklahoma City). However, Mauldin said they decided to not move forward with the bill because it would not receive enough support in the house. In June of 2021, Norman City Council unanimously voted to amend a city ordinance by adding a definition of conversion therapy and partially banning the practice on minors. Mauldin said he worked closely with PFLAG, Norman Pride and Petrone on the legislation and helped urge city

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“Even conservatives here are very outspoken about their disgust with conversion therapy because, again, the numbers are documented,” Petrone said. “It’s a dangerous practice.” Petrone said the law in Norman protects children and parents from unknowingly interacting with people who offer conversion therapy. Children and parents can report these practices to the city, but if this bill passed, those protections would be gone, Petrone said. Olsen said the bill could supersede the Norman ordinance if it passes.

This bill is a violation of people’s rights, and it’s also a violation of children’s safety in particular.

-Sage Mauldin

OU Human Relations Professor

House Bill 2973 is a bill of liberty, freedom and choice. It deals with, most especially, young people perhaps who’ve experimented with homosexuality and decide they want a different path for their life. The great question before us is: Do we believe in freedom of speech and freedom of choice? -Jim Olsen

State Representative

council to ban conversion therapy for minors. Norman was the first city in the state to pass an ordinance like this. Petrone and Michael Robertson, PFLAG Norman chapter president and LGBTQ liasion to the city executive for the city of Norman, said HB 2973 can undo the hard work and progress accomplished in Norman and would be an enormous step backward. Petrone said the partial ban was supported by both liberals and conservatives in Norman.

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Oklahoma House State Powers presents bill prohibiting ban on conversion therapy

During the meeting, he denied the legality of the ban in Norman, saying it “takes away the free speech and free choice rights of individuals.” Mauldin said he understands the harm conversion therapy does because he is a survivor of conversion therapy, and he believes all forms of conversion therapy are child abuse. “(Conversion therapy) is deeply rooted in shame, causing LGBTQ+ kids to feel shameful for who they are, which is unchangeable,” Mauldin said. “It is deeply traumatizing to kids,

NEWS

• Feb. 15-21, 2022

Sooners seek sweethearts, community Anonymous Instagram creates student connections SILAS BALES silasbales@ou.edu

With the season of love permeating the air, filling Walmarts with chocolates and flower shops with discounts, students at OU may find themselves having trouble scoring a valentine with someone they admire. Among the 30,000 people on campus, it can be difficult to find “the one.” One student saw this as an opportunity to craft an elegant solution for others to share their feelings without the need to step out of their comfort zone. T h e O U L ov e L e t t e r s Instagram account receives anonymous professions of love, drama, excitement and college romance. The future of this account is uncertain, with hopes of remaining an anonymous confession blog of wants, dreams and desires. “I think I made this account in March 2020 when COVID first started and we were all sent home,” said the owner of the account. “I knew that everyone was pretty lonely, and it just felt like I lost touch with everyone and didn’t get to experience college life, so I wanted to make an account that would connect everyone and create a way of talking to

2SLGBTQ+: continued from page 1

impact of that lasts for the rest of your life.” Included in the bill is a section describing how “aversion therapy” is not condoned under this act. The bill described aversion therapy as exposing or asking a person to “undergo physical pain, such as electroshock or electroconvulsive therapy, touch therapy, pornography exposure or vomit-induction therapy.” Robertson said it is frustrating the bill mentions not justifying aversion therapy but mentions nothing about preventing the practice. He’s had conversations with parents who misunderstand banning conversion therapy to mean kids struggling with their sexuality or gender shouldn’t see counseling of any kind. This is not the case, he said. “I would recommend counseling to anyone that is struggling with their identity, however, a therapy designed to stop someone from discovering that identity is not the answer,” Robertson said.

LYNN:

continued from page 1

matter and is “not going to let these fools steal his joy.” Jeannie Taylor, a friend of Little, wrote a statement detailing her account of that night. This statement was sent to The Daily by the Kish campaign and was posted on the campaign’s Facebook page. Within the statement, Taylor corroborated Little’s account, writing that she had gone to the bathroom after Clark’s name was mentioned and returned to a discussion about the NPD. Taylor wrote that Lynn “lunged” toward Little and grabbed her by the ponytail and the neck of her sweatshirt. Taylor wrote that she yelled at Lynn to let go of Little and that Little was screaming for help, which prompted two men from another table to notice the interaction. She said one paid for Little’s tab and the other did not wish to be involved with the incident. “I will be more than happy to help in order to keep (Lynn) from doing this to other women. He must feel like a really powerful man if he picks on people so much smaller than he is — the epitome of a bully,” Taylor wrote. “I feel he should not be representing the people of Norman,

people.” The page has been a way for them to create a community on campus and become more involved, the account owner said. “It makes me feel more in touch with the campus and has had a lot of impact on me,” the account owner said. “I don’t know how to say this, but it makes me feel less alone. I just kind of post stuff when I’m bored. It gives me something to do.” The account owner is worried about revealing their identity to the public. “I guess I’m kind of scared to let people know who I am,” the owner of the account said. “I feel like if people know who I am, some people might not send in letters because I think the appeal of it is that it’s anonymous.” He a t h e r S c h i m m i n g , English literature and cultural studies sophomore, said that while she’s been written about three times, she doesn’t know who wrote them all. “The only time I’ve ever really found out is when it was my best friend who made it jokingly, she told me she wrote it, but the other two I have no idea who wrote them,” Schimming said. Schimming also said that she likes the way that the account interacts with the community. “Overall it just kind of adds to morale and the funny, comical nature of social media

and campus involvement,” Schimming said. “I think Instagram pages like OU Love Letters, OU Parking and others add to the sense of community here.” The OU Love Letters account has spawned a multitude of other accounts in a similar fashion, creating a community around the university. Some of the more popular ones include OU Affirmations, OU Worst Parking, and OU Contemporary Art, with each trying to bring their own spin to the OU parody account formula.

Caroline Sparks, a public relations and sociology senior, said the mere presence of this bill is an act of violence on 2SLGBTQ+ youth. “(The bill) is going to have an effect and an impact on people if it is passed, but just the fact that it has been brought up has an effect,” Sparks said. “It means that there are people in our state who believe in these practices.” The Gender + Equality Center at OU gave a statement to The Daily, writing the center supports people of all sexual and gender identities, and they will be monitoring this legislation to determine what effects, if any, it would have on campus-based programs. Outside of the emotional pain and violation of rights for the 2SLGBTQ+ community, Mauldin said the state of Oklahoma will see a ripple effect if this bill is enshrined, as businesses will be deterred from opening in the state. Mauldin said OU and other universities will face a direct hit because of the way the National Collegiate Athletic Association could perceive

the state. “The NCAA is very much committed to diversity, equity and inclusion. A bill like this is completely antithetical to diversity, equity and inclusion,” Mauldin said. “It’s completely anathema to any organization, to any business or to any person in power who values people’s rights.” The NCAA announced in April of 2021 that it will not hold championship events in states that discriminate against the 2SLGBTQ+ community. The association made this threat in response to outcries about the legality and fairness of trans athletes in college sports. “A lot of this is steeped in bigotry and ignorance. Conversion therapy absolutely does not work,” Daryl Callaway, treasurer at Norman Pride, said. “It being put into law at the state level really tells everybody within the LGBTQ+ community in Oklahoma that we are second-class citizens.” Both Callaway and Robertson expressed how they understand the fear 2SLGBTQ+ people and youth

because it is an absurd abuse of power.” Lynn wrote in response to a comment on Facebook from a Norman resident asking for his side of the story that the “anonymous witness” who confirmed Little’s story to the Norman Transcript was local optometrist and mayoral candidate Nicole Kish and Ward 5 Councilmember Rarchar Tortorello. Lynn alleged that, because he had recently denounced the grassro o t s o rganization Unite Norman, the pair perKELLY petuated LYNN Little’s story for political gain in the mayoral race. Kish and Tortorello were at Louie’s Bar and Grill that night and posted pictures on Kish’s campaign Facebook page. Tortorello wrote in the comments section of Lynn’s post that he, Kish and the group they were with stopped at Louie’s after another event, and other people witnessed the alleged assault. Ly n n re s p o n d e d t o Tortorello by writing “Who are you trying to fool? You guys are the worst.” Sassan Moghadam, a co-founder of Unite Norman, wrote on the group’s

Facebook page that the group is aware of its part in campaigning for Lynn during the 2020 election, but members were “shocked” to hear allegations against Lynn. The group no longer supports him and said he is a “ticking time bomb.” “We acknowledge that we helped Mr. Lynn in his Ward 3 race last year. That is a major reason why we feel this responsibility to bring him to account for his egregious behavior,” Moghadam wrote. “We want to learn from our mistakes. It would reflect badly on us all if we couldn’t find common ground on this issue.” In an email to The Daily, Kish wrote that, while Lynn is innocent until proven guilty, these allegations should be taken seriously. “Normanites have a right to participate in the process, run for office, have a conversation in a restaurant and have a difference of opinion without fear of being attacked — verbally or physically. … All candidates and leaders should condemn these vulgar, derogatory remarks about women and condemn any alleged physical violence, harassment, and intimidation against women,” Kish wrote. During the Feb. 8 council meeting, Tortorello did not comment on the Lynn accusations.

MAKENNA BUCKSKIN/THE DAILY

Ife Nwafor, health and exercise sciences senior, said when he is written about on the page, it’s cool to see his impact on others. “As soon as I started working on myself, maybe three months later, I had my first post and I was like ‘Wow, focusing on yourself and making yourself better really does have an effect on the people around you,’” Nwafor said. “There are a lot of random people around you, which you happen to influence or (have an) impact on, and you’re not completely aware of that.” The account has evolved

in the way people use it from when it was originally created, the account owner said. “I originally wanted to connect people through love letters, but now it’s more ranting about college or other things, and I think those posts get more likes and comments than actual love letters, so I just kind of go with it,” the account owner said. “Now I feel like the account serves as a place for people to vent their feelings about life or school. I’m glad that I’m able to create a safe space for someone to be able to share their feelings and find other people who might

must be feeling, but they reiterated there still are communities in Oklahoma who support them. Mauldin said he tries to remain optimistic despite everything he has been through as a member of the 2SLGBTQ+ community. “I’m deeply committed to fighting for queer liberation in the state of Oklahoma. I can’t do that if ... I’m operating

from a place of pessimism,” Mauldin said. “I have to always tell myself that one day, we’re going to have an Oklahoma where people are safe.” Sparks said she aims to remind 2SLGBTQ+ people they have people in their corner, even if their family or religions are trying to change them. Sparks said supporting one

be going through the same thing.” While they enjoy running the account and creating a community, there is some stress involved with running it, the account owner said. “It makes me happy that people are actually sending in letters and talking about OU Love Letters, but then at the same time, it does give me some pressure,” the account owner said. “I got a letter talking about how I wasn’t doing what I was supposed to be doing, but the thing is, I just upload the letters that people send in. It’s not my personal view or anything.” While the account is still anonymous, the student who runs it is graduating this spring, and they hope that it will continue after they leave campus. “I’m thinking of just maybe sending out like applications for anyone interested in taking over the account and then I’ll just give it over to them,” said the owner of the account. “I hope it will continue to grow and I hope it will become like this sort of OU tradition thing, kind of like how OU Affirmations is. I want people to keep sending in letters, keep talking about OU Love Letters and kind of just become a tradition at OU.”

another goes beyond a bill. “Truly and deeply caring for another human is not exercising power in hopes of changing who they are … this love is safety and comfort,” Sparks said. “It is committing to help create a world in which your loved one can thrive. It’s bigger than the law.”

SPORTS

Feb. 15-21, 2022 •

COMING UP AT OU Tuesday Men’s basketball vs. Texas, 6 p.m. The Sooners will take on the No. 20 Texas Longhorns at home. Tipoff is at 6 p.m. in the Lloyd Noble Center. For more information or to purchase tickets, visit soonersports.com. Don’t forget, students get in free with an OU ID. For game day coverage, visit oudaily.com and follow us on Twitter @OUDaily or @ OUDailySports.

Wednesday Women’s basketball vs. Texas Tech, 6 p.m. No. 12 OU will take on the Texas Tech Red Raiders at home. Tipoff is at 6 p.m. in the Lloyd Noble Center. For more information or to purchase tickets, visit soonersports.com. Don’t forget, students get in free with an OU ID. For game day coverage, visit oudaily.com and follow us on Twitter @OUDaily or @ OUDailySports.

Friday UPB Movies: School Daze Join the Union Programming Board in Meacham Auditorium for a showing of School Daze. For more information visit ou.edu/upb/movies.

New Sooner talks 2022 Starting quarterback makes 1st comments as Sooner AUSTIN CURTRIGHT austincurtright@ou.edu

Quarterback Dillon Gabriel spoke for the first time since transferring to Oklahoma on a podcast released Feb. 9. The redshirt junior lefthander appeared on “The Podcast on the Prairie,” a show hosted by former Sooners H-back Jeremiah Hall and current OU tight end Brayden Willis. Gabriel threw for over 8,000 yards with 78 total touchdowns during his three years at Central Florida. At OU, the 6-foot, 200-pounder reunites with offensive coordinator Jeff Lebby, who coached then-freshman Gabriel at UCF in 2019. Gabriel was previously committed to transfer to UCLA but skipped his first day of class and committed to the Sooners on Jan. 3 following freshman phenom Caleb Williams’ decision to transfer out of Norman earlier that day. Lebby declared on Feb. 2 that OU won’t have a quarterback competition this season and Gabriel will be the Sooners’ starter. Gabriel discussed his path to Oklahoma, his relationship with head coach Brent Venables and Lebby, and his expectations for the 2022 season. Here’s the best of what Gabriel said on the podcast: Path to OU

Saturday Men’s gymnastics vs. Nebraska, 6 p.m. The No. 2 Sooners will host the Nebraska Cornhuskers in McCasland Field House. Students get in free with their student ID. For game day coverage, visit oudaily.com and follow us on Twitter @OUDaily or @ OUDailySports. For tickets and other information, visit soonersports.com. – From staff reports

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Previous Solution

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

“Crazy story. Just from the beginning, obviously, entered the portal in early December. Went through the process. Took a couple visits. I visited Ole Miss, where Coach Lebby was. Visited UCLA and then obviously Coach Lebby came here. Kinda made my decision a little easier, not knowing the full situation yet. I committed to UCLA. Was letting it ride out, just kind of heard rumors and some stuff. “Coach Lebby ended up giving me a call and was saying how (Williams) was going to be entering the portal, and just a bunch of changing in this whole time. Obviously, me leaving, I think there are at least 15 top quarterbacks that entered the portal. A spot opened up and I ran with it. “I truly believe in Coach

COURTESY OF UCF ATHLETICS

Dillon Gabriel during UCF’s game against Bethune-Cookman on Sept. 11, 2021.

(Venables), got to talk to him. Got to talk to Coach (Lebby) and just felt like it was a no-brainer. And shoot, fast forward a week from me committing, I’m up here and we’re getting this thing rolling. It’s been really quick, really fast, but I’m just glad to be here. I’m grateful.” Coming to OU with Williams’ decision looming “Honestly, I tried to keep other people’s situations out of it. I just felt like it was an open opportunity. That’s what I was told. Once I heard that, I ran with it. But definitely on the day of me committing, I mean, just on my side, I think a lot of people know on Caleb’s side, but on my side, a lot was just going on. I was starting school at UCLA at the time. “Didn’t end up going to class because in the NCAA, there’s a rule that there’s a couple of things you have to pass to officially be enrolled at that school. So didn’t end up going to class on Jan. 3, and then once obviously Caleb announced, called Coach (Lebby) and just an open opportunity. It was a chance to play with a really good team. This school’s got a lot of history with quarterbacks, but also just some great players.”

Named the starter early, bonding with the team “I think for me, that doesn’t really change anything in terms of like, continuing to compete, continuing to work, being who I am. That’s who I am, too, so it’s a bit easy for me because I’m not going to fake it. I continue to work and grind every day because that’s what the quarterback does. “Set the standard, but also bring the guys around him to do the same thing. With that, it’s just continuing to be cohesive. It is a new staff, but also it’s a new team. It’s a new squad. Just getting it all together, you know how it is every single year, but that’s really the big thing and the faster we click, the more growth that can be made.” Lebby’s evolution as a play caller “It’s funny, because I’ve

“Oh yeah, for sure. I think

By Eugenia Last

TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 15, 2022 ASTROGRAPH by Eugenia Last AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 19) Settle any differences peacefully. Be ready to compromise to ensure that fair play is maintained. Keep your emotions under control, and let your intellect help you navigate your way to victory.

LEO (July 23-Aug. 22) Accept, adapt and carry on with your day. A steadfast approach to accomplishing something will ensure that you reach your goals. Choose your words carefully when others ask for support.

PISCES (Feb. 20-March 20) If you second-guess yourself, you’ll fall short. Own whatever you decide to do and follow through with precision and gusto. A take-charge attitude will help you gain respect and get things done.

VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22) Go someplace that stimulates your mind, body and soul. A hike, museum, art gallery or sports event will motivate you to do things differently and explore possibilities.

ARIES (March 21-April 19) Trust in your ability to get things done. Don’t wait for someone to finish what you start. Take care of responsibilities and feel good about what you accomplish. Treat yourself.

LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 23) If you like someone or enjoy doing something, carry on and don’t stop until you’ve had your fill. Refuse to let a lack of motivation stand between you and something that will enrich your life.

TAURUS (April 20-May 20) Follow through with your plans, and don’t worry about any complaints. You must satisfy yourself instead of bending over backward trying to please others. Live life your way.

SCORPIO (Oct. 24-Nov. 22) Don’t show emotion when dealing with professional situations. Do what others expect of you, but give whatever you do a unique twist. Take on projects that require ingenuity.

GEMINI (May 21-June 20) Making your life more leisurely will help you be productive and give you more time to enjoy downtime with friends and family. Good timing coupled with discipline and hard work will lead to praise.

SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 23-Dec. 21) Take better care of your health and financial matters. Don’t spend unnecessarily; being overly generous or careless will result in loss. Don’t let someone take advantage of you. CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19) You’ll face opposition today, but don’t let that stop you. Take a different approach and offer something that will make it easier for others to accept and support what you want to pursue.

got the memory of the UCF (Lebby). But man, dude’s grown. I can even see in the offense, a lot of things that we were talking about, trying to find answers to. Now it’s on a whole other level, in a really good way. “Shoot, I’m glad to be back with (Lebby). Obviously, love being coached by him. Pushed me to be a lot better than I play. Gets me to play at a higher level. That’s all I can ask for.” Expectations for 2022 season “The biggest thing is, obviously, not looking past, is the conference championship and taking care of business on that side of things. Obviously, being at this caliber of school, that national championship is something that we always chase. That was not unknown when I first walked in. “Right when I walked in, it was very clear what the goals were. And being around guys like that, shoot, we all make ourselves better, even in the workouts. The type of leadership we’ve got in the building, man, it’s crazy to see. I’m just blessed to be here, grateful. And shoot, we’re going to get to work.”

Universal Crossword

Fighting to start if Williams stayed at OU

HOROSCOPE

CANCER (June 21-July 22) Educate yourself and implement what you learn into your everyday life. The changes you make will fortify your plans and help you succeed. Your energy and drive will attract support.

just the whole opportunity in general. A lot comes with it, but I’m also the man for the job and excited for it. I know there’s a lot of guys around me, too, just being able to be at a different program and then coming to this one, there’s a lot of great things that come with this program too that a lot of people don’t get to see.”

Edited by David Steinberg February 15, 2022 ACROSS 1 Ali ___ 5 Nudge 9 “Forever Your Girl” singer Paula 14 Beyond dry 15 Chicago mayor Lightfoot 16 Like myths about Asgard 17 *What a British chef says after botching a pasta topping? 19 Fluctuates wildly 20 ___-Wan Kenobi 21 Blast producer 22 Perfect basketball shot 24 Ancient Japanese assassins 26 *Earworm? 29 Stories that can be read backward? 30 Complete, as this puzzle 31 WOW upside down 32 Seat 34 Go to a diner, say 36 Letters before a texter’s POV 39 Time off, briefly ... or two letters dropped from each starred clue’s answer 41 Coffee dispensers 42 Lipton packet

2/15

44 Painter’s support 46 “... and the list goes on”: Abbr. 47 Stalesmelling 49 Sprays near waterfalls 53 *Build farm enclosures? 55 Mr. Peanut’s headwear 56 Zesty dip ... or dance 57 Corn serving 58 Tipper’s banknote, often 59 “Time is money,” e.g. 61 *Young cat’s Elizabethan collar? 64 Coyotes’ cries 65 Sandy shade 66 Nourish 67 Liability’s counterpart 68 Appear 69 10:9 or 8:7 DOWN 1 Conductors wave them 2 Saudi ___ 3 Sharp, like a cold wind 4 Name hidden in “lead actress” 5 Strategies 6 Beat decisively 7 Tolkien beast 8 What keeps a trucker going? 9 “Do you have a guess?” 10 Uplift 11 Deadpan comedy 12 G.I.

13 18 23 25 26 27 28 30 33 35

36 37 38 40

43 45

entertainers “___ Miz” Squirrel away Is indecisive Twin of Esau Charlotte hoopsters Any thing CPR pros “Cheap Thrills” singer Bickers Flower in a 17thcentury Dutch economic bubble Tabloid twosome Prefix with “physical” Fine-toothed hand tools February 29, 2020, but not February 29, 2022 Most abundant University near Georgia Tech

48 Mambas and boas 50 Chased away 51 Sun-kissed 52 Mounts of yore 54 Two under par 55 Channing of “Magic Mike” 57 Raison d’___ 59 “Caught ya!” 60 Hairstyles, informally 62 Diamonds, slangily 63 Money exec

PREVIOUS PUZZLE ANSWER

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NEWS

• Feb.15-21, 2022

Norman mayoral runoff set for April

Mayoral incumbent Breea Clark and former Norman Safety Manager Larry Heikkila will compete in a runoff election April 5.

Race narrows to incumbent Breea Clark, Larry Heikkila JILLIAN TAYLOR jillian.g.taylor-2@ou.edu

The Norman mayoral race entered a runoff election, extending the race into April 5. Incumbent Breea Clark and the second-highest vote earner, former Norman Safety Manager Larry Heikkila, remain on the ballot, according to unofficial results Feb. 8 from the Oklahoma State Election Board. Clark received 36.46 percent of the vote and Heikkila received 32.01 percent, according to the unofficial results. Former Ward 1 Councilmember and Midway Deli owner

Bob Thompson received 18.9 percent, local optometrist Nicole Kish received 12.5 percent and retired farmer Alice Stephenson-Leuck received .14 percent. Clark moved to Oklahoma in 2005 to attend the OU College of Law and continues to work at the university as the director of its JCPenney Leadership Program. During her second term, she hopes to prioritize affordable housing, create solutions for homelessness, address stormwater issues and increase accountability in local government. In a Facebook livestream, Clark thanked her father and campaign volunteers. She said she ran for mayor in 2019 because she always appreciates people's perspectives. "This is the level where

you can affect the most change," Clark said. "When you volunteer and you vote, people will often wonder, ‘Does it make a difference?' At the local level, it does." She said the beauty of local government is not the candidates, but the people and issues they represent. She emphasized that Norman residents will have an opportunity to make their choice again on April 5. "I promise you, over the next two months, we are going to keep fighting because I believe in a better Norman," Clark said. "I believe in Norman, and I believe in the progress we’ve made in the last three years. We’re just getting started. The next three years are going to be the best yet. So, get excited."

Heikkila, a retired Command Master Chief and current chairman of the Cleveland County excise board, has lived in Norman since 1978. He said he believes the City of Norman has “lost their focus” and hopes to be a mayor that focuses on the local needs of its residents. Heikkila did not respond to The Daily for comment before publication. When Clark was elected in 2019, 13,068 people voted in Norman's mayoral election, according to the Oklahoma State Election Board. In the 2022 mayoral election, 22,712 people voted. Kish, endorsed by Gov. Kevin Stitt and Unite Norman, wrote in an email that she is proud of the campaign she ran as a

VIA CLARK AND HEIKKILA’S CANDIDATE PAGES

first-time candidate. She wrote that she “left everything on the field” and looks forward to working with Heikkila to create a better future for Norman. Thompson wrote in a text message that he's proud his message has been both positive and optimistic. He wrote he's thankful for his wife, family and the support he received from friends and volunteers. "I believe the message of a non-partisan focus on Norman remains the key to bringing our community back together," Thompson wrote. Leuck wrote in an email that she had a wonderful experience running for mayor with a zero contribution and expenditure campaign. She thanked everyone who voted for her, congratulated the

elected mayor and asked them to focus on the greater good of Norman and its residents. “Work as a team so we will have a safe city, safe water, an earth-friendly recycle program and become a ‘one for all and all for one’ team,” Leuck wrote. “Set a positive example to our children by applying the 4 R’s and conducting yourselves reasonably, responsibly, rationally and respectfully of one another, our city, our state, our country and our earth.” The term of the candidate elected in the April 5 runoff election will continue until the next mayoral election in 2025.

OU selects spring 2022 commencement speaker Author, New York Times columnist to deliver address JILLIAN TAYLOR jillian.g.taylor-2@ou.edu

Bestselling author and longtime New York Times columnist David Brooks will deliver the OU commencement address at 7 p.m., May 13 in the Gaylord-Family Oklahoma Memorial Stadium, according to a university release. Brooks has authored several books, including the No. 1 New York Times bestseller “The Road to Character,” which explores how to attain a “deeper inner life” and explains

how selflessness leads to success, according to the release. Brooks’ most recent book, “The Second Mountain: The Quest for a Moral Life,” draws heavily on his experiences and explores attributes he feels exemplify a life of meaning and purpose. In his writings, Brooks often focuses on culture, politics and social sciences, according to the release. He joined The Weekly Standard magazine during its inception, where he served as senior editor, and worked at The Wall Street Journal for nine years. He has also served as a contributing editor at Newsweek and The Atlantic Monthly. Brooks is a commentator on “The PBS

NewsHour” and NPR’s “All Things Considered” podcast, according to the release. He also teaches at Yale University and is a member of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences. OU President Joseph Harroz said in the release that Brooks’ reflections on society and culture — which include personal values, the importance of relationships and defining true happiness and joy — are timely for university graduates as they set out on the next chapter of their lives. “As one of the top public intellectuals of our time, in his writings, David Brooks inspires us to build community and seek a life of purpose,” Harroz said.

VIA UNIVERSITY PRESS RELEASE

NPD, School of Social Work partner for victim advocacy New position to provide resources, field experience

ment pitched the role of a victim advocate as a field practicum site for a student pursuing a master’s degree in social work. TAYLOR JONES Jensen wrote that NPD taylor.p.jones-1@ou.edu Capt. Eric Lehenbauer will serve as the victim The Norman Police advocate preceptor, Bonni Department partnered Goodwin, the OU Center with the OU Anne and for Child Welfare Training Henry Zarrow School of & Simulation program Social Work to implement manager, will be the OU a victim advocate position field instructor and Morto assist victims of crime gan Albright, an OU social and law enforcement in work graduate pursuing a Norman. master’s degree in social Sarah Jensen, the work, will serve as the NPD public information victim advocate. officer, wrote in an email “Being able to be a to The Daily the departsocial worker in a differ-

ent field, there’s different goals, there’s different roles and responsibilities,” Goodwin said. “But understanding the really important and powerful integration of both of those things is really exciting and incredible. Our student gets the opportunity, as well as myself, to be walking that out in the midst of this practicum and getting this super cool chance to be a part of the development of what it’s going to look like from here on out.” The victim advocate will help victims of crime by identifying resources

for food, clothing, transportation and seeking connections to helpful websites or programs, Goodwin said. The position also allows Albright to collaborate with the NPD by sharing what she’s learned through her social work education. “In my position, I get to put really valuable social work experience and knowledge into the various components of working with crime and working systems and at the same time, supporting and providing empathy to the police officers who also are part of it because

it’s a simultaneous thing. I’m here for the victims and the officers as well,” Albright said. Jensen wrote the position will further the NPD’s ability to assist victims of crime by assessing and identifying their needs and then connecting victims to resources to support and meet those needs. Though the NPD does not have jurisdiction over incidents reported on the university’s campus, Jensen wrote, Albright said the role gives OU students or anyone in Norman a person to come to if they

were ever to need one. “I get to learn about so many resources around the entire city of Norman that are available for people to be able to utilize should they be in a time of crisis or simply in a time of need, (or) any type of aid even if it’s something small or something big,” Albright said. “I think it’s a really important role to be able to not only use the resources that I have been able to identify for my role, but also for the students that are coming in behind me into this position.”