Back to School Guide | August 2022 by OU Daily

OU DAILY

BACK TO SCHOOL AUGUST 2022 OUDAILY.COM

COULD WE HAVE A NORMAL YEAR

PLEASE?

TREY YOUNG/OU DAILY

Title IX:

Reflecting on 50th anniversary | Page 8

Softball:

Team wins championship | Page 12

Relax:

OU-themed coloring page | Page 21

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• August 2022

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August 2022 •

FROM THE EDITOR

Daily enacts clean-slate policy Jillian Taylor

Editor-in-chief Jillian.G.Taylor-2@ ou.edu

Welcome to — or back to — OU. I hope you have had an opportunity to rest and reset amid internships, studyabroad trips, summer jobs and classes. May the creativity you harnessed and lessons you learned be reflected in all you seek out and accomplish this semester. I am so excited to serve the OU community as the Daily’s editor-in-chief for the next two semesters. I have been lucky enough to work in the Daily newsroom for the entirety of my college career, and it excites me to see new leaders within our organization rising to the challenge of covering events on campus and throughout the city. As we enter a new semester, the OU Daily will be making some operational changes in the hopes of better serving our audience as the OU community’s independent student voice. The biggest difference you might notice is there will no

longer be a weekly newspaper. Instead, we look forward to publishing less frequent, themed guides, with topics ranging from a Best of Norman Guide, an expressions guide that will be a compendium of opinion columns and essays written by students and Daily staffers, and a guide celebrating OU’s graduating class. The goal of these editions is to bring utility to the print medium — which more recently recycled our online content — by producing separate, bigger community-serving stories. We hope you stay tuned online for breaking news and pick up our guides when you walk down the South Oval or take a coffee break in the Union. In an effort to minimize harm in our coverage, the Daily’s editors also reexamined its editorial policies in the past semester and will implement changes through a “clean-slate policy,” which can be accessed on our website. The Daily has always reported on major crimes and incidents to hold Oklahoma’s public officials accountable and provide consistent coverage on cases that impact our audience. But, in the past, the Daily would publish police blotters online and in print, reflecting arrests and events

on campus that local police responded to in brief stories naming students. The digital footprints of these articles are impactful, as students’ minor crimes are one Google search away and remain tied to their names through our publication. We believe it is important to reflect trends in these incidents — as the Daily has in its coverage of university reports on crime statistics — but there are case-bycase situations where old news of short-term interest could cause harm to private individuals. The clean slate policy will reduce our publication’s use of booking mugshots and prevent the naming of most people accused of minor crimes — unless they are public figures. Additionally, the Daily will follow the lead of policies from other news organizations by creating a process through which people who were the subjects of prior coverage can appeal for stories including their name to be reexamined. This would cover single-story instances where a name could be redacted with an editor’s note explaining the change, multiple-story instances where editor’s notes provide fuller context to a story, and, in rare instances, delisting a story from

our content management system. Cases will be evaluated based on factors included in the policy by a committee led by the Daily’s editor-in-chief, along with the news managing editor, newsroom representatives on our Publication Board, a section editor of any desk from which the coverage originates and the Daily’s adviser in a nonvoting capacity. This committee will conduct research on applicants, in addition to materials they provide, evaluate requests and come to a conclusion as swiftly as possible. Anyone may apply, but individuals may do so only on their own behalf and once every five years. Editors will prioritize cases more than one year old. We hope this policy will provide an opportunity for members of the OU community — especially those who are not public figures — to successfully craft their futures without being impeded by our prior coverage. Thank you for picking up our Back to School Guide and reading our work on our website, oudaily.com. And, if you haven’t already, please sign up for our newsletter and follow us on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram.

You’ll need a few things if you decide to fill out the application for our cleanslate policy: -Your name and date of birth. -General contact information, such as your email, phone number and mailing address. -Links to the stories you would like reviewed. -Case documents, when applicable. -A brief explanation of your circumstances.

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• August 2022

REGHAN KYLE/OU DAILY

A protester joins the crowd at the March For Our Lives rally at the Oklahoma state Capitol building on June 11.

PEGGY DODD/OU DAILY

A protester holds a sign at the Oklahoma state Capitol on June 26.

PEGGY DODD/OU DAILY

Larry Heikkila being sworn-in as Norman mayor on July 5.

What you missed: summer news in review A recap of OU Daily’s June, July coverage featuring political protests, infrastructual changes

The Norman Public School Board of Education terminated history teacher Richard Cavett’s employment after he went public with a “hit list” and shooting threats found in a school bathroom stall.

KAROLINE LEONARD karolineleonard@ou.edu

June 21 | OU Board of Regents approves 3 percent tuition increase for out-of-state students, no increase for in-state The OU Board of Regents decided to not raise tuition for instate undergraduate and graduate students. However, outof-state tuition was raised three percent during the board’s June budget meeting.

Content warning: Stories include mentions of mass violence. June 1 | Shooting at Tulsa hospital leaves 4 dead Armed with an AR-15-style rifle and a handgun, Michael Louis opened fire on the second floor of Saint Francis Hospital in Tulsa, killing Dr. Preston Phillips, Dr. Stephanie Husen, Amanda Glenn and William Love. The shooting in Tulsa came eight days after the deadly shooting at an elementary school in Uvalde, Texas. June 6 | Federal judge upholds Oklahoma execution protocol Federal Judge Stephen Friot rejected the challenge to Oklahoma’s three-drug lethal injection protocol, which was cited as causing problematic executions. Up to 28 inmates may be executed by lethal injection in the next two years. June 11 | Protesters advocate for gun control at state Capitol Hundreds gathered outside of the Oklahoma state Capitol to protest for gun control and legislation in the wake of recent mass shootings in the United States. This protest was one of many taking place across the country in over 450 cities. June 18 | Norman High School teacher terminated after leaking shooting threat to media

June 24 | U.S. Supreme Court overturns Roe v. Wade in landmark case The Supreme Court of the United States overturned Roe v. Wade on June 24 in the case of Dobbs v. Jackson. Protests ignited across the country, including at the Cleveland County Courthouse in Norman. June 26 | Hundreds protest overturning of Roe v. Wade outside state Capitol Over 700 people protested outside of the Oklahoma state Capitol in response to the Supreme Court of the United States’ decision to overturn Roe v. Wade. Oklahoma’s “trigger law” went into effect just two hours after the decision. June 27 | City of Norman closes East Comanche Street emergency shelter Norman closed the emergency warming shelter located at 325 E. Comanche St. on June 27. The city announced its plans to close the shelter in late May and has still not offered an alternative resource for houseless individuals in Norman. June 28 | Primary and special elections take place across

the state Primary and special elections were on Tuesday, June 28. The elections included the races for state governor, senators and house representatives, as well as attorney general and state superintendent. July 5 | OU College of Law alumnus receives Medal of Honor Dwight W. Birdwell received the Medal of Honor from President Joe Biden for his heroic efforts in the Vietnam War during a ceremony on July 5. July 5 | Norman City Council swears-in Larry Heikkila as mayor Norman Mayor Larry Heikkila, along with other members of the Norman City Council, was sworn-in on July 6, marking the start of their three-year terms. Heikkila beat incumbent Breea Clark in the April election and aims to promote law enforcement and first responders. July 11 | Oklahoma Transportation Commission approves ACCESS Oklahoma turnpike routes The Oklahoma Transportation Comission approved the ACCESS Oklahoma turnpike routes, which will impact much of Cleveland County, including east Norman. This vote came one month after the Oklahoma Turnpike Authority approved the project’s routes. July 20 | City of Norman demolishes homeless camp outside of Crest Foods Several unhoused people were pushed out of a homeless camp on July 19 and 20 as the City of Norman began demolishing the area. The city closed its emergency shelter in late June with no plans to relocate.

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August 2022 •

Top Reasons to

JOIN THE Honors College

REQUIREMENTS Requirements for Admittance: From High School: • 3.75 GPA or Top 10% of graduating class • 30 ACT or 1360 SAT • Honors College application and essay

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EXTRACURRICULARS

Reading Groups, Discussion Groups, Outdoor Adventure

With College Credit: • 15 college credit hours with at least a 3.4 GPA • Honors College application and essay

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Requirements for Graduation: • 18 total hours of Honors credit including: HON 2973 (Perspectives) – 3 hrs HON 3993 (Colloquium) – 3 hrs Reading and Research – 3 to 7 hrs • Completion of an Honors thesis • ‘C’ or higher in all Honors courses • 3.4 GPA or higher

Small classes with outstanding faculty

Every undergraduate college is represented in the Honors College

RESEARCH

Various programs for undergraduate research opportunities

Earn cum laude, magna cum laude, summa cum laude at graduation and on your diploma

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• August 2022

SOONER STAT

45% of college students report that they did not drink alcohol in the past 2 weeks

What is there to do on the weekend in Norman besides drink?

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Sample the great restaurants in Norman: •

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Head out for some fun and games: •

Plan ahead for these events: •

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BACK TO SCHOOL GUIDE | SPONSORED CONTENT

August 2022 •

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If you’re choosing not to drink at all, or just taking a break for the weekend, check-out the

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Decide ahead of time that you do not want to drink Consider confiding in a supportive friend that’s hanging with you OR find a friend to stay sober with you Bring your own non-alcoholic drinks If you’re going out, try ordering a soda with lime Be prepared to pass on drink offers with confidence... or with a professional-level excuse. Check out these lines: • “No thanks, I’m taking a break” • “No thanks, I’m not drinking” • “I’m the DD tonight” • “I’ve already got one, thanks” • “I have a test tomorrow” • “(Friend’s name here) is grabbing me one”

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HAVE HAPPY WEEKENDS AND STAY SAFE! Got a question about alcohol? Scan the QR code or email it to redcup@ou.edu

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• August 2022

1990 SOONER YEARBOOK

OU cut the women’s basketball team in the spring of 1990, sparking national opposition and large protests outside of Evans Hall, led by members of the women’s basketball program.

‘I wanted to do it for all the women that weren’t able to’ Former OU athletes, coaches, professors reflect on the impact of Title IX on its 50th anniversary KAROLINE LEONARD karolineleonard@ou.edu

BACK TO SCHOOL GUIDE On June 23, 1972, “The Candy Man” by Sammy Davis Jr. was at the top of the charts in the United States. “The Godfather” was still dominating the box office. Iconic ‘70s fashion started to emerge, with the women’s liberation movement making pants on women mainstream. The public watched “The Mary Tyler Moore Show,” “Emergency!” and “The Brady Bunch” on TV. News in Norman revolved around the planned Lloyd Noble Arena, set to be completed within the following year. Some OU students started summer classes, others took on jobs or internships. The Sooners football team, led by head coach Chuck Fairbanks, had just begun training for the anticipated fall season. On that same day — June 23, 1972 — the lives of students, athletes, professors, coaches and administrators were changed as Nixon signed the Education Amendments of 1972 into law. Members of the OU and Norman community reflected on how Title IX transformed their lives: offering a young Native American woman the chance to prove her worth on the softball field, allowing a local coach to advocate for her team and female athletes of all kinds, encouraging a local politician to run for mayor and shape young women’s minds in the field of politics, and shining a light on a young gymnast’s life decades after Title IX went into effect. When Alice Fernando-Ahmie first walked on the fields at Reaves Park, she took her shoes off and felt the soft grass underneath her, saying the complex was better than what she ever could’ve imagined compared to back home. Fernando-Ahmie is from Gallup, New Mexico, which was founded as an “Indian Camp” back when the Santa Fe railroad was moving west into Indigenous land. She grew up in box cars and learned to play softball with her two older sisters and her first-ever coach, her father. Fernando-Ahmie played on the hard dirt and rocks on a summer league team, and competed against college-level athletes brought in by a local Catholic priest for summer competitions. In 1977, during one of these summer league games, Fernando-Ahmie pitched against one of the best hitters at the time, remembering she hadn’t been struck out all season. Fernando-Ahmie struck her out twice, not realizing the player was one of Marita Hynes’, the head softball and field hockey coach at OU at the time. After that game, she said her life changed forever after being encouraged to play for the Sooners following her high school graduation. “I was on my way home (after the game), and one of the players that I knew came over and asked me if I would ever consider playing for OU,” Fernando-Ahmie said. “(My family) didn’t have much, and so I had never even considered going to college, let alone playing anywhere. We didn’t have a high school team where you could recruit from back then. … I said ‘Sure,’ and I didn’t really know what I was getting myself into, but I wanted to continue playing.” The following Monday, Hynes offered her a full scholarship through Title IX to come play at OU, and helped her pass her ACT and SATs. In 1978, Fernando-Ahmie felt the soft grass in Reaves Park, a step up from the dirt and rocks of the fields in New Mexico. Fernando-Ahmie was a pitcher for the softball team. She didn’t know much at the time about Title IX or what it meant for her and other women across the country. All she knew was Title IX opened her up to the world outside of Gallup. “Title IX opened up a whole new world for me, something

August 2022 •

that I probably never even imagined existed. It just took this little, really small-town girl and kind of got thrown out into the big world,” Fernando-Ahmie said. “It opened up a world of opportunity, not just for me, but for all women.” According to Fernando-Ahmie, the batting cages and running track were underneath the Gaylord Family-Oklahoma Memorial Stadium, and the softball team would practice there or in the field house during the winter months. She said it was always smoky down there, as trash was being burned next to the practice areas, giving it the nickname, “Pneumonia Downs.” Fernando-Ahmie said the softball program was a vision nurtured like a newborn child. The Women’s College World Series did not come to Oklahoma until 1990. Softball rarely, if ever, got any media coverage, and when newspapers such as OU Daily, then known as The Oklahoma Daily, or The Oklahoman did write about the team, they took up little to no coverage. Fernando-Ahmie played at OU for three years before tearing her rotator cuff, a career-ending injury that sent her back home to New Mexico. She said it has taken her years to come to terms with what happened, saying she felt like a failure and didn’t deserve to tell people she played for OU, a now-powerhouse for softball. She was asked prior to the 2022 WCWS to visit campus for an alumni reunion. Fernando-Ahmie met this year’s national championship team, saying she felt especially connected to Jocelyn Alo, as she also grew up from humble beginnings and was creating a legacy as a young female athlete of color. On a private Facebook page, Fernando-Ahmie was asked to write a letter to the 2022 softball team ahead of the WCWS tournament. She sat in her hotel room, with her tickets to the championships in hand, and reflected on how softball, Title IX and Hynes made her who she is today. “The one thing we have in common with the players of this era is our love of the game,” Fernando-Ahmie wrote in the post, which was later republished by NDNSports. “Softball is our outlet for expression, and it touches a place deep in our soul. Without the game, our lives would be incomplete.” Fernando-Ahmie said Title IX changed her life both athletically and academically, but more importantly, she said women of color were given opportunities they previously hadn’t received. Softball and Title IX proved to everyone that she was just as capable, powerful and important as anyone else, Fernando-Ahmie said. “Back in my day, I longed to see somebody that looked like me playing at the college level. I never saw anyone. … I love my teammates, but I just wanted to see somebody that looked like me,” Fernando-Ahmie said. “Today, you see all of these young women of color, and it just really makes my heart feel good to see how well they’ve done. First of all, to be given the chance, and then to see how well they’ve done and just how they’ve excelled.” Fernando-Ahmie said she looks at Title IX and sees it as opening the door for diversity, allowing women, especially women of color, to have the opportunity to receive amazing education and play athletics. Title IX advanced the rights of women tremendously, she said. “To me, Title IX opened the door for us to prove that, as women, we have the power. We have the strength. We have the knowledge. We are capable of competing at a higher level,” Fernando-Ahmie said. The softball program at OU was founded in 1975, three

years after Title IX. At the time it was passed, in 1972, OU had 11 sports for men and one sport for women: field hockey, according to a 1992 Oklahoman article. Coach Amy Dahl led several of the newly-added women’s teams in their infancies, including softball through its first year. Dahl later became the director of the women’s athletic department, and Coach Hynes took over the softball and field hockey teams in 1976, with a budget of only $1,250 for the softball’s travel expenses, equipment, uniforms and field rentals. Still on a high from celebrating another softball state championship, coach Hynes said goodbye to Putnam City High School and prepared to start the next chapter of her life at OU. Walking through the four fields and small dugouts of Reaves Park, she looked over her new home, intending to take the softball program out of its infancy and into the force it is today. While Title IX is best known for its impact on the lives of athletes and students, it altered the way female coaches were paid, hired and treated. At PCHS, Hynes was the softball, women’s volleyball and women’s tennis head coach. She also assistant coached the women’s basketball and women’s track teams. Hynes said before and during the early stages of Title IX, coaching multiple sports was not uncommon. “In those days, that’s what they expected of the women — to coach several different sports,” Hynes remembered. “It was not easy. Of course, the men all had just one sport that they coached.” Hynes said she took a significant cut in pay in order to coach field hockey and softball at OU, and when she started, the university did not yet offer scholarships to female college athletes. In her first year, Hynes recruited some of the graduates from the 1976 state championship team she led at PCHS, offering a couple of them scholarships years later. Although OU softball did not have a stadium or practice fields dedicated to them on campus, Hynes said Reaves Park was a blessing, as the majority of softball programs across the country did not have fields at all, let alone have access to four fields, the space Reaves offered. “Honestly, at that time, there were very few softball programs in the United States that had their own complexes — very few,” Hynes said. “So, we felt like it was a real good thing for us to have all four of those fields and to be able to host tournaments and bring teams in. … We didn’t know any better, but we couldn’t even fit all of our players in those little dugouts.” In 1976, many students and community members were concerned about the state of men’s athletics following Title IX and the addition of women’s sports. More specifically, many were concerned about what offering athletic scholarships to women could mean for the university. Hynes coached the softball team until 1984, and in those eight years as head coach, she led the team to 257 wins, which is the second-most behind current heach coach Patty Gasso. Hynes became the coordinator of promotions in the OU athletic department after leaving coaching, and she later became the associate athletic director in 1995. Hynes said one of the biggest memories she has from her time as associate athletic director is suggesting that the school needed to build a softball stadium at a meeting with other school and athletic officials. In honor of the legacy she left at OU, the field at the OU softball complex was dedicated to her, now named the Marita Hynes Field. The stadium was completed in 1998 and has held the softball program since. However, in 2019, the university

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• August 2022

1977 SOONER YEARBOOK

Marita Hynes coached softball for eight years at OU before working in administrative positions in the athletic department.

announced plans to construct a new softball field funded by Love’s Travel Stops. Hynes said when she was a college athlete, women had some pretty tough times. “We had one uniform, that one uniform for field hockey, volleyball and softball. And you were lucky if you played field hockey, volleyball and softball,” Hynes reflected. Hynes said during her time in college, with that one uniform, the players and coaches were responsible for driving themselves to all of their games, whether home or away, as well as supplying their own equipment and gear. Hynes said Title IX allowed her to be at the front and make a legacy for women in sports. “It gave me the opportunity to be at the very beginning and see the growth and see the opportunities that we finally are having,” Hynes said. “I was at the early part of it. Now, it’s even better. And I just love to think about how (Title IX) has helped women to be successful in sports.” After retiring from elite gymnastics, Maggie Nichols moved into Headington Hall while her friends competed in the 2016 Rio Olympics. Nichols, though she dreamed of going to the Olympics, also dreamed of being a member of OU’s gymnastics team since she was 10 years old. Even though she left elite gymnastics due to unforeseen circumstances, Nichols still was a star and leader at OU, becoming one of the most decorated collegiate gymnasts in history. Without Title IX, Nichols may have never competed in college after retiring, or she may never have even had the opportunity to do gymnastics in the first place. “It’s crazy to think that women didn’t have the opportunity to do athletics at all, and now to see where it’s gone and how much it’s improved — it’s amazing,” Nichols said. “My dream was always to be a collegiate athlete and to be able to experience it and be alongside so many incredible and powerful women. It’s so amazing to see, but it is sad to look back and know that a lot of women didn’t get the opportunity to do so. … I wanted to do it for all the women that weren’t able to.”

“

1990 SOONER YEARBOOK

Tammy Rogers, one of the star players of the women’s basketball team, protests outside Evans Hall with her teammates after OU cut the program in 1990. It was reinstated eight days later.

I’m thankful to those that came before me to blaze that trail, a trail that would lead me to who I am today. -Alice Fernando-Ahmie, former OU softball player

“

After Title IX was passed in 1972, several fans of OU athletics worried women would ruin men’s sports, infiltrating teams such as football and basketball and taking away potential scholarships and budgets for men. K.J. Kindler, the current OU women’s gymnastics coach, is a complete “badass” and “so powerful,” Nichols said. She said training under a female coach, especially one like Kindler, was amazing and has changed her for the better. Nichols said Kindler helped her fall back in love with gymnastics. Nichols was the first athlete to speak out about Larry Nassar, former team doctor of the U.S. women’s national gymnastics team and convicted serial child molester, but she didn’t let her past diminish who she wanted to become. Nichols continues to advocate and speak to students on college campuses and female athletes about sexual assault, and ending the stigma and silence surrounding the topic. Nichols said she learned about Title IX at a fairly young age, doing projects in school focusing on the act and how it changed the lives of women and athletes in the country. While in college, and even after, Nichols said she feels the effects of Title IX and its power on students’ lives. “I think it is improving so much, and it has just continues to ensure that women get the same opportunities as men, especially in athletics,” Nichols said. “In my own experience, it

was super cool to be here at OU and really see women’s sports flourish through my years there. Seeing gymnastics and softball starting (to be) on ESPN and big networking channels like that is super cool and is amazing for college athletics.” Nichols said Title IX can always be improved, but rights for all people need to especially be improved outside of schools and universities. Specifically, she said it is important that women’s athletics receive the same amount of television time and pay as men. Nichols believes it is important for young women to find “powerful” female role models in their lives, ones that will advocate for what they believe in and never take no for an answer, someone like Kindler to Nichols. “I know that you feel that you might not have equal opportunities in today’s society, (but) things are changing, and if you really do work for something, you can achieve it,” Nichols said. “I really strive to fight for what I believe in and show that women can do the same (things) men can do. We’re just as capable.” Fernando-Ahmie, Hynes and Nichols each said Title IX changed the course of their lives and of every woman’s life in education. The women spoke about how they hoped they left a legacy and could inspire or pave a way of change for other women and people of all kinds in the future. Fernando-Ahmie said she’s beyond thankful to have, in some small way, contributed to the legacy of OU softball and the legacy of “powerful” female athletes that followed her. “If you were to trace the history of OU softball back from the super highway of today to its humble beginnings, you’d find a narrow path of lightly trodden grass. I’m thankful to those that came before me to blaze that trail, a trail that would lead me to who I am today,” Fernando-Ahmie wrote. “I reflect on how (about 50) years ago, a young Native American woman’s footsteps pressed down a few blades of grass on a path that in some small way helped a young Hawaiian woman find that path and achieve greatness.”

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August 2022 •

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• August 2022

Softball wins back-to-back championships Sooners take home 2nd consecutive Women’s College World series title, Jocelyn Alo concludes collegiate career

COLTON SULLEY colton.m.sulley-1@ou.edu

OKLAHOMA CITY — Oklahoma coach Patty Gasso grasped the fence in the visiting dugout of USA Hall of Fame Stadium as she stood and bowed her head in disbelief of what her team had just accomplished. She then embraced her son and hitting coach JT, and pitching coach Jennifer Rocha, before joining her team on the field to commemorate her sixth national championship win. As the 60-year-old paced the chaotic scene of celebration following No. 1 OU’s (59-3) 10-5 victory over Texas Thursday, tears flowed from her eyes. The Sooners had done it. Despite all the pressure of repeating as champions since game one of the regular season, Gasso and co. worked hard to focus on their locker room and shut out the outside world. While social media is nearly impossible to avoid, especially for young people, the 28-year coach said her team never wavered. She got emotional during her postgame press conference when talking about where this team ranks on the all-time list. She said they don’t focus on the accolades like everyone else. They just go out everyday, play ball and have fun. “I just sit back like a fan,” Gasso said, struggling to find words. “I just sit and watch and it’s just prideful to see these guys get emotional like I am right now. They don’t realize how good they are and maybe I don’t realize how good they are. Everybody asks us and we just play. We love to have fun, we love to play. So you ask me to compare, you ask me what it feels like, it feels like something we do everyday at practice.” As Gasso strolled out of the media room and back to the locker room to her team, she seemed as proud as ever, not of the softball players in the room a few doors down, but of the young women. “I should be the only coach in the country that’s not crying,” Gasso said. ‘I think that I definitely left my mark’

Jocelyn Alo didn’t just wear her national championship hat like the rest of her teammates and coaches, she went with her signature sideways and backward-cap swagger. The OU utility and NCAA’s all-time career leader in home runs has come a long way since first arriving on campus in

Norman by way of Hawaii. After having her scholarship offer pulled by then-Oregon coach and current Texas coach Mike White, not being the hardest worker early in her career, feeling like she didn’t want to play softball at times and being forced to take a two week hiatus from the game by Gasso in April 2019, she’s on top of the world in the sport she loves most reflecting on her five-year career, and enjoying the moment. Throughout the rigors of a 62-game softball season, Alo doesn’t get to sit back and take things in. She, along with the rest of the team, was irresistibly focused on one thing: winning a championship. However, the thing that remained a constant in her life is her confidence in herself that she’s the best and can’t be beaten. Even when Texas sophomore Estelle Czech struck Alo out, looking in her first at-bat Thursday in the first inning and didn’t offer her a pitch to hit during her second time at the plate in the third inning, she remained unfazed and made adjustments. She crushed one to left field that was inches away from leaving the yard in the fifth inning and smacked a single through the infield in the sixth inning.

Alo ended one of the greatest seasons in college softball history 1-for-3 with a walk and a strikeout. However, all that matters to her is that her team finished with the win. As Alo exited the field one last time, smiling and sobbing simultaneously, she was content with the mark she left on the game. Having won almost every award there is, including being named the 2022 Women’s College World Series Most Outstanding Player, and breaking nearly every record there is, it’s safe to say Alo left the game of softball better than she found it. “It’s insane, just knowing it’s my last world series,” Alo told ESPN’s Holly Rowe after the Sooners’ 15-0 victory over UCLA Monday. “(I’m) just trying to leave it all out on the field and just try to leave my heart out on the field too. I won’t get this opportunity again, so (I’m) just trying to leave my mark.” Alo finishes her career a two-time national champion, USA Softball Collegiate Player of the Year and Big 12 Player of the Year, and someone who some on social media think should be honored with a statue at OU. She contemplated all she had accomplished during her postgame press conference and

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“

August 2022 •

I’m just excited to see what little girl’s going to work hard out there and come break my record.

REGHAN KYLE/OU DAILY

The Sooners celebrate winning the Women’s College World Series National Championship on June 9.

couldn’t help getting emotional. “I’ve enjoyed my five years through the ups and through the downs, I feel like something good always came out of it,” Alo said, holding back tears. “I came into this game very stubborn and thought that it was all about me. I came in as a girl and now I’m leaving as a woman. “And I’m just happy to be having that mentality going out into the real world. … I’m happy that this coaching staff continued to trust in me and have molded me into the person and player that I am. I think that I definitely left my mark (on the game). ... I’m just excited to see what little girl’s going to work hard out there and come break my record.” ‘We wouldn’t be here without Jordy’ A year ago, Jordy Bahl watched the Sooners win the 2021 WCWS National Championship Series over Florida State two games to one as a recently-graduated high school prospect taking notes. She admired the passion, emotion and togetherness

the group played with, which was one of the main reasons she chose to sign. Fast forward to Thursday as the National Freshman of the Year made her first career start in the WCWS for OU in front of a record 12,257 fans, earning the win and allowing four hits, two runs, three walks and finishing with two strikeouts. Right when sophomore infielder Tiare Jennings flipped the ball to redshirt senior utility Taylon Snow to record the final out of the ballgame, Bahl exploded onto the field from the bench uniting with her gang near the pitching circle after clinching a national title in her first start since missing time with an arm injury. Todd Peterson, Bahl’s coach at Papillion-La Vista High School in Nebraska, watched on his television with joy. “It was really cool to watch,” he said. “I knew that she was starting, her older brother Hayden is now my (junior varsity) coach and we had camps this week and we had like 125 campers in our two different sessions all the way from third grade through high school. So, we told them all about it and they were all excited. It was really cool today at camp to talk

“

-Jocelyn Alo, Former OU softball player

about it. We took a picture of the campers with horns down because they were all rooting for Jordy, of course. She’s a big deal around here.” Bahl is just the latest high-profile high school recruit to win a championship at Oklahoma following sophomore utility Jayda Coleman, senior infielder Grace Lyons and others. Next season, she’s expected to play both ways, as she did in high school, as the Sooners are bringing in yet another powerful arm in Kierston Deal — a left-hander from Winston Salem, North Carolina, who is rated the No. 1 player in the class of 2022 by Extra Inning Softball. Bahl celebrated the win for at least a week before it was time to get back to work. “With this being (my first title), I’m really going to sit with it for a little bit,” Bahl said. “But then, as far as our team’s future, we’re all competitors. And when you’re a competitor, when there’s something else out there you can go get, you’re going to want to go get it. So, I don’t worry about us ever losing our hunger to win more national championships.” For Gasso, it was important to start Bahl even though she wasn’t 100 percent healthy and her velocity was notably down. However, the veteran coach did it as a “thank you” for helping the team be in the position it was in. “We were trying to use what she had with movement and spin, and Jordy was ready to go as long as we needed her to,” Gasso said. “Knowing that Jordy was probably six miles an hour slower, which is significant, I’m giving her that opportunity. Jordy helped get us here. And you haven’t seen her in five weeks. So, people start to forget about her and the other pitchers did a great job, but we wouldn’t be here without Jordy. So, to give her that moment was big for all of us and big for her and her future as well.” As the confetti resolved near home plate and the team buses had left the stadium, the debate was just getting started. Are the 2022 Oklahoma Sooners the greatest collegiate softball team of all time? ESPN’s Scott Van Pelt seemed to think so during an interview with Alo on SportsCenter. He even compared it to the 100-year flood, inferring this team will be an outlier for years to come. Alo, backward hat and all, just smiled. “As far as the team,” Alo said. “We stayed on top through adversity and just never let anything come in between us, and we stuck together all year long.”

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• August 2022

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August 2022 •

The sign outside of the Stanton L. Young Biomedical Research Center.

JAZZ WOLFE/OU DAILY

Cancer drug shows promise Oklahoma researchers develop potentially nontoxic, preventative treatment for gynocologic cancer

JAZZ WOLFE jazzwolfe@ou.edu

A potential nontoxic ovarian cancer treatment developed by an OU researcher was approved for human trials this summer. Doris Benbrook has studied potential cancer treatments for the past two decades at OU. This year, a drug called SHetA2 will be moving into phase one of human trials for the treatment of gynocologic cancer. In preliminary testing, the drug showed to be a completely nontoxic, orally-administered alternative to current treatment methods, such as chemotherapy. When Benbrook was younger, she said she was a “poor student.” She didn’t pay attention in class nor did she do her homework consistently. However, she was naturally curious about the way the world works. Shortly before high school, she decided she wanted to go into research. Her grades rapidly improved. “The science kept me going,” Benbrook said. Benbrook and her family came to OU in 1991. Her husband had wanted to stay at home with their child, and Oklahoma had an economy that could support a single-income household at the time, she said. Benbrook immediately dedicated her time to studying potential cancer treatments when she arrived. She found mentors to help her write grant proposals and quickly began studying potential drugs. Her goal was to find something that did not cause side effects. Early in her studies, she worked with K. Darrell Berlin of Oklahoma State University’s Department of Chemistry. Together, they studied a variety of proteins for the relationship between effectiveness and toxicity. Unfortunately, their initial research was not successful.

“The toxicity went right along with the efficacy, and we couldn’t separate that,” Benbrook said. In response, Berlin developed flexible heteroartinoids, or Flex-Hets, which allowed for more manipulation of the structure of the proteins. His and Benbrook’s goal was to figure out how the different Flex-Het compounds worked. However, Berlin quickly began providing Benbrook with more compounds than she had the funding to study. To better use their time, they decided to flip the script. Instead of focusing on how the compounds functioned, they began searching for compounds that worked. This method brought them to SHetA2. The compound showed to be capable of preventing cancer cells from continuing to grow while also shrinking tumors. “We weren’t just inhibiting growth,” Benbrook said. “We were killing (cancer) cells.” Once they had identified SHetA2, they were able to investigate how the protein functioned. The compound binds to mortalin, a protein that, when in abundance, leads to an increased number of cells while inhibiting cell death. By binding to mortalin, SHetA2 allows proteins that cause cell death to be released. “When I looked at how the proteins worked, it was like finding a puzzle piece that was missing,” Benbrook said. Soon after the discovery, Benbrook began to face new challenges for her research. While she expected funding issues and tests of her patience, she was not prepared for a particular issue involving the drug’s name. “It hadn’t occurred to me that … it sounded like a swear word,” Benbrook said, laughing. Other names were proposed, such as OK1 to demonstrate how the drug was “designed and synthesized and conceived” in Oklahoma, but none were able to surpass SHetA2. One roadblock Benbrook did expect was bureaucracy. She said she grew frustrated at times with the grants she had to write and edit repeatedly and how often she had to sit in meetings to defend her research. “What I love is the science,” Benbrook said. “(The

bureaucracy) takes me away from it. It also takes me away from the students.” Benbrook’s lab often has graduate students working in it, helping her study the different compounds Berlin sends her and find which ones work best. She said she loves working with students, particularly because of how excited they get. “Students play a big role in research like this,” Benbrook said. Another key component of Benbrook’s research will come from the patients that take part of phase one of human trials, which will focus on the toxicity levels of the drug. While Benbrook is excited about the start of the trials, she is hesitant to provide potential patients “false hope.” The trial will focus on patients who have gynecologic cancer. In order to qualify, they must have “failed upfront therapy.” For ovarian cancer, that usually means that surgery and chemotherapy did not succeed in treating their cancer. However, the patients must also be healthy enough to handle the blood draws required to study how SHetA2 affects the human body. Because the drug is taken orally, it is easier to administer than other treatments, Benbrook said. While they cannot ship the drug across state or international borders, patients can come to Oklahoma to take the initial pill, stay in a nearby hotel for observation for 24 hours, then take the rest of the bottle home. The patients will only come back around once a month for checkups, Benbrook said. It is planned for the trial to last for one to two years with around 25 patients participating. “These patients have been through so much,” Benbrook said. “I just want to improve their quality of life.” After phase one, Benbrook hopes to begin testing SHetA2 for a more long-term goal: cancer prevention. She said the drug, particularly when paired with one or two other compounds, shows promise as a preventative for cancer growth and kidney damage. Because the drug is oral, it would also be more widely available than some current preventatives, Benbrook said. “But first, we have to show it works, that it’s nontoxic,” Benbrook said. “Everything is depending on this first in-human clinical trial.”

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• August 2022

EDWARD REALI/OU DAILY

Sydney Brown during Dancing with the Stars hosted by the Union Programming Board April 1, 2022.

MEGAN FOISY/OU DAILY

An illustration depicting signs used during the 2020 BERT sit-in at Evans Hall.

ABIGAIL AMISH/OU DAILY

Students pose on Feb. 9, 2022, as part of the Queer Love Week, hosted in part by the LGBTQ Student Alliance.

OU’s student-led organizations PEGGY DODD plail@ou.edu

College is an important time in your life. You will figure out the person you wish to be and make friends you’ll keep for a lifetime. If you want to be a leader, meet new people or find a new hobby, OU is made up of over 500 active student organizations to provide you opportunities. Here are a few: Campus Activities Council Serving as the programming branch for the Student Government Association, CAC organizes several campus-wide events throughout the year and is responsible for programming traditions. Their events, like Howdy Week — a week-long series of events to welcome students at the start of each semester — provides a way to meet new people, gain leadership skills and learn about campus culture. Student Government Association Elected by students, the SGA represents the OU student body to administration. SGA members are tasked with being the voice of students and allocating funds to student organizations. This organization consists of the Undergraduate Student Congress, the Graduate Student Senate and the Crimson Leadership Association. Union Programming Board UPB plans events and activities exclusively for the Oklahoma Memorial Union. Past events include “Dancing with the Stars,” where OU campus “stars” compete in a dance competition, and “Retro Night,” which is part of Camp Crimson.

OU Esports Club OU Esports Club has over 1,000 members aimed at establishing a free community, open to all, to play video games with OU students and alumni both casually and competitively. Over 200 universities are now involved in esports, allowing members to meet a large network of gamers. Rug Club A new, art-based club that focuses on rug making, this club took OU by storm with their entertaining email subject lines that screamed, “RUG! RUG! RUG!” Open to anyone interested in exploring rug making, this club became one of the largest art clubs on campus and amassed over 300 members in under a semester. American Indian Student Association AISA seeks to promote all Indigenous cultures — Native American, Alaska Native, Native Hawaiian and all others — at OU by nurturing a community that will support students and address any concerns at the university. AISA’s annual cultural events include the Miss and Mr. Indian OU pageant and the OU Spring Powwow. Asian American Student Association AASA aims to enrich the OU community by sharing the cultural heritage, languages, traditions and history of Asian Americans through activities and programs. AASA serves as an umbrella organization for other Asian American organizations and provides advice for those groups. Annual events include Mr. and Miss Asian OU and an Asian New Year celebration. Hispanic American Student Association HASA serves to emphasize the culture, heritage and traditions of the Hispanic and Latin American communities at OU while enhancing student’s educational, personal and

professional development skills. HASA helps organize the Day of the Dead Street Festival and the Mr. and Miss Hispanic OU pageant. Black Student Association BSA works to create a community among students where they can share experiences, gain leadership skills and boost the community through service and advocacy. BSA’s annual events include the Stompdown Step Show and the Miss and Mister Black OU Scholarship Pageant. Black Emergency Response Team BERT focuses on social change through confronting racism and other oppressive structures, specifically for Black students and other marginalized communities at large. BERT aims to be proactive in addressing racial issues and concerns, occasionally holding marches on the South Oval in support of various social movements. LGBTQ Student Alliance The LGBTQ Student Alliance holds weekly meetings, participates in volunteer projects and hosts social activities in hopes of increasing visibility and providing a safe and informative environment for the 2SLGBTQ+ community on campus. OU Women’s Health Advocacy WHA works to fight period poverty through education, advocacy and providing bins around campus. This organization is dedicated to advocating the importance of health literacy, screenings, contraception and menstrual health. WHA provides free menstrual products in women’s and gender-neutral bathrooms across campus to the OU community through donations funds.

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August 2022 •

KATHRYN STACY/OU DAILY

The David Boren statue in front of the Oklahoma Memorial Union on June 12, 2019. The former OU president emeritus resigned from the position as well as any teaching positions in June 2019.

Regents seek protective order in records case OU board files motion against NonDoc Media, publication’s editor-in-chief for their investigation in Jones Day lawsuit

y UKAROLINE LEONARD

karolineleonard@ou.edu

eContent warning: This story mentions sexual assault. t l The OU Board of Regents filed a protective order against d NonDoc Media and Tres Savage for their efforts to make the university search and release information and reports from the law firm Jones Day regarding the investigation into former m sOU President David Boren and former OU Vice President Jim o“Tripp” Hall. - Savage, editor-in-chief of NonDoc, filed a lawsuit against -the regents on June 10, claiming they violated the Oklahoma Open Records Act. NonDoc requested “any and all reports created by the law firm Jones Day for the University of Oklahoma -relating to David Boren or Jim ‘Tripp’ Hall.” n Jones Day investigated Boren and Hall for sexual assault -on behalf of the university. The Oklahoma State Bureau of nInvestigation was the lead agency into criminal allegations, later deciding not to indict neither Boren nor Hall. In 2019, Jess Eddy, an OU graduate and former teaching -assitant, filed a Title IX complaint about Boren, alleging he nreceived unwanted sexual touching from Boren, according ,to interviews with NonDoc. Eddy said he heard rumors of -Boren’s sexual harrassment before being on the receiving end -of his advances. h Boren resigned from OU in June of 2019, cutting all remaining ties with the university. Currently, the university has a statue of Boren on the North Oval. The regents, represented by Whitten Burrage Attorneys,

filed the protective order on June 15 in hopes of making all records uncovered in discovery remain private and not be released to the public. The order would prevent Savage and NonDoc from publishing any of the information revealed in the discovery phase. Kathryn Gardner, the attorney representing Savage and NonDoc, explained this protective order is typically used for some type of discovery concerning a sensitive topic that needs protection. Gardner said the information they hope to receive from the university was outlined in their initial discovery conversations, however OU did not specify what information needs protection. The regents cited two reasons for the protective order: the risk of the plaintiffs publishing the records found in discovery and the filing of these documents in the public record. They also said the order would “protect the University from the annoyance, harassment, embarrassment, oppression of having confidential materials published,” in the motion. Additionally, on June 30, OU released another argument for the protective order, saying NonDoc’s belief that since the university is a public institution its records should be public “is legally incorrect.” “That position creates a chilling effect on all investigations conducted by the University or any other arm of the State of Oklahoma,” the regents’ attorneys wrote. “If production is compelled without a protective order, the University will no longer be able to assure informants and potential victims that their information is kept confidential. Without such assurances, no student or employee will take part in investigations involving high ranking officials of the University.” Joey Senat, associate professor of multimedia journalism at Oklahoma State University, said the motion is “essentially asking for a gag order.” He said OU is asking Savage and NonDoc to receive documents off the record without specifying what the documents would contain. Senat said no journalist would ever agree to those terms.

NonDoc and Savage said the university failed to discuss the potential protective order prior to taking it to court. The defendant cited one email and one phone call, which lasted two minutes, according to the plaintiffs, that referenced the possible filing of the protective order. The defendants also cited that since NonDoc published articles referencing the university’s response to the initial lawsuit, this action shows a need for a protective order going into discovery. The plaintiffs responded calling it “an absurd allegation” since the articles published by NonDoc and Savage contained only public information. The court has not issued a decision on whether or not to uphold the protective order, however Gardner said she anticipates a hearing regarding the order in a few weeks. NonDoc and Savage said in their response on June 27 that the university has not given any clarification as to what information it will provide during discovery to require a protective order, and also cited that the university has failed to give any relevant information, besides one document, in the six months since NonDoc and Savage filed the discovery requests. Senat said OU needs to request a protective order for specific documents rather than such a broad request. According to him, a protective order needs to specifically identify the material to be removed from the public record. Senat said he’s never seen a protective order like this in an open records lawsuit before. “It’s absurd,” Senat said. “You’ve got a public university claiming that it needs to be protected from annoyance, harassment, embarrassment (and) oppression by a journalist who is simply reporting on the case.” OU sent a statement via email to the OU Daily, saying the requested protective order is a “very common tool used in litigation” and would only protect confidential information provided from the university to NonDoc, remaining in place until the court rules on the lawsuit.

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• August 2022

MEGAN PRATT/OU DAILY

In 2022, scarcity of menstrual hygiene products has become a growing issue as prices rise and resource access decline due to a combination of inflation and supply-chain issues.

‘This is period poverty’

OU offers on-campus solutions, alternatives to price increases, scarcity of menstrual hygiene products MEGAN PRATT megan.v.pratt-1@ou.edu

In the U.S., stores have seen a considerable decrease in product availability and increase in prices for items like menstrual hygiene products. Notably, tampons have taken a large hit. In a rough estimate, Statista found that in 2020, about 34.1 million consumers in the U.S. answered “yes” when asked if they used tampons. Over the last decade, menstruators have seen a steady increase in hygiene product price. Average prices rose 9.8 percent for tampons and 8.3 percent for a package of menstrual pads from January of this year through May 28, according to NeilsenIQ. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, about 50.5 percent of the population can menstruate. However, period supplies are also not eligible to purchase with government aid programs, such as the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program and the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families program.

“Period products are already inaccessible to many menstruators, and the higher prices that accompany the scarcity of period products will hit those who live in period poverty the hardest,” Rylie Mansuetti, member of the Period OKC board of directors, wrote to the OU Daily via email. “Shortage or not, thousands of Oklahomans still can’t access the menstrual products they need. … This is period poverty and the effects are harmful to the physical and mental health of our community.” Mansuetti added that college students “absolutely” are affected by period poverty and lack of access. She said that in college she struggled to purchase pads and tampons each month, eventually buying a DivaCup to save money. “When someone is pursuing their education and also has to worry about making their pad and tampon last as long as possible, they aren’t able to focus as well as their nonmenstruating classmates,” Mansuetti said. “They risk leaving a tampon in too long or getting irritated from having a dirty pad on for too long. They also face the economic impact of higher-priced products.” Access to hygiene products On campus, students have access to Health Services and Women’s Health Advocacy.

University Health Services is based out of Goddard, which is located near the Bizzell Memorial Library. They are well known for their “sexperts,” peer sex education, counseling options and access to hygiene products and medications alike. In freshmen-level University College courses, Goddard often has their “sexperts” and health advocates give presentations on what resources are accessible to students at the university. These resources include: menstrual products, healthcare and contraceptives, such as Plan B and IUDs. The PERIOD @ OU chapter of WHA is working in tandem with PERIOD to start a menstrual movement, according to both websites. For those who do not have sanitary items on campus during a cycle, WHA provides products in most women’s and gender-neutral restrooms on campus. They are also working to destigmatize the conversations surrounding menstruation and health for people who can become pregnant, according to their website.

Alternatives to traditional menstrual products Due to the shortage of pads and tampons, and the subsequent increase in prices, these products may not be the best option for all menstruators. However, there are several alternative options available for those who need them.

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Menstrual cups are relatively small, bell-shaped cups made of either medical-grade silicone, rubber, latex or elastomer that are inserted in a similar fashion to a tampon. The cup can gather about 10-38 milliliter of fluid, and it is advised that a user empty the contents every four to 12 hours depending on flow and cup type, according to research published by Lancet Public Health. DivaCup, a well-known menstrual cup brand, encourages users to boil the cup before the first use, rinse everytime after emptying the cup’s contents, wipe off any material that might be left in the cup and regularly sanitize the cup to avoid infections. Menstrual hygiene is something key to remember when using new or unfamiliar products. The misuse of tampons or menstrual cups can lead to the development of toxic shock syndrome. This illness is commonly referred to as TSS and occurs when the product user doesn’t regularly change their tampon or properly sanitize their menstrual cup. Planned Parenthood recommends rinsing a menstrual cup before reinserting, as well as closely following the sanitizing instructions included with its box. Period underwear are a great option for those who’d like to avoid extra products and favor “free bleeding,” a movement of menstruators who choose to bleed without the use of traditional absorbent products. Period underwear are meant to be washed after use like normal clothing. Similar to regular underwear, these undergarments range in style, size and absorbent capability. New York Times writer Nancy Redd reviewed several brands and styles of Yperiod underwear to compile a list of best to worst products,

August 2022 •

SEX ED RESOURCE CENTERS Goddard Health Services Located at 620 Elm Ave., Norman, OK 73019-3146. Email: healthservices@ou.edu Phone: 405-325-4611 University Health Services Website: https://www.ou.edu/healthservices/medicalservices

Women’s Health Advocacy Website: https://ouwhadvocacy.wixsite.com/home Phone: 303-868-5817 Instagram: @ouwhadvocacy

Planned Parenthood Closest center is the Central Oklahoma City Clinic located at 619 NW 23rd St., Oklahoma City, OK 73103. Phone: 405-528-2157

depending on each person’s needs. “The style that will be best for you depends on your period flow and preferences,” according to Redd’s article. With single-use pads becoming less available, reusable cloth pads have become a better option, providing benefits for menstruators who use them. Not only are they more eco-friendly, reusable pads are also more cost effective, according to Trade to Aid. Similar to single-use pads, this product comes in many sizes and materials, ranging from cotton to spandex material with clips on the wings to secure the product to your undergarment. Most brands range in size and thickness that helps each person customize both fit and flow control. To clean reusable pads, soak them in cold water overnight, and wash them with light detergent in a standard washing machine. Stains might appear on the fabric, but it shouldn’t affect the overall hygiene and absorbency of the pad.

What to do with this information For questions about sex ed, contraceptives or menstrual cycles, students can reach out to any of the resource centers listed above. Each website has contact information in the form of phone and email. Students concerned about privacy should note that HIPAA laws apply to healthcare at the age of 18. They keep all medical files private from everyone but healthcare providers and the patient. These laws allow the patient themself to decide whom, when and what they are comfortable disclosing about their treatment. However, this only applies if you’re not paying with a joint insurance policy.

Comparing abortion access state-by-state Closest abortion care clinic located 3-6 hours from OU, what students can expect from Okahoma’s near-total ban PEGGY DODD plail@ou.edu

When the Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade, it removed the right to abortion’s federal protection and turned the decision to the states. Several states, including most of the states surrounding Oklahoma, have banned or nearly banned abortions. Oklahoma’s “trigger law” reinstated former bans and criminalized abortion, except in cases where the mother’s life is at stake. Oklahoma was the first state to pass a near ban on abortion. Because the right to abortion is no longer federally protected, there are different laws in several states regarding the practice. Here’s how Oklahoma’s regulations compare to OU’s nonresidential students’ home states: The vast majority of OU’s out-of-state students are from Texas, and over 1,600 freshmen in the class of 2026 reside there. There is a total ban on abortion in Texas, except if the mother’s life is in danger. Abortion providers stopped services following

the Dobbs decision. Missouri passed its abortion ban in 2019, taking effect shortly after the 2022 ruling. The law only provides exceptions in order to save the life of the mother, and performing an abortion is a felony crime punishable by five to 15 years in prison along with revoking providers’ medical licenses. Those seeking an abortion in these states often turn to Kansas where under current law abortions aren’t banned until week 22 of pregnancy. In 2019, the Kansas State Supreme Court ruled that access to abortion is a right under the state constitution. However, on Aug. 2, Kansas voters will cast their votes on a new constitutional amendment that would state the constitution does not grant a right to abortion, possibly paving a way for stricter regulations. Early voting has already begun, marking this the first post-Roe vote on abortion rights. Drives to Kansas’ abortion clinics range from three hours to six hours from OU. Colorado heavily protects the right to abortion through House Bill 22-1279, or the Reproductive Health Equity Act, which codifies reproductive rights into Colorado law. After Dobbs, Gov. Jared Polis signed an executive order that further strengthened abortion access by directing state agencies to protect the right on July 6.

Several Coloradan reproductive rights organizations are currently seeking to get two constitutional questions on the 2024 ballot, one that would remove a clause that prevents state funding from going toward abortion and one that would write HB 22-1279 into the state constitution. Both California and Illinois legalized abortion until the point of viability, or until a fetus could be considered able to survive outside the womb. The National Library of Medicine estimates viability at about 24 weeks. In California, a November election will decide whether the right to have an abortion and contraception should be written in the state constitution. Gov. Gavin Newsom has also promised to keep abortion legal in the state, calling California a “safe haven” for women. Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker signed the Reproductive Health Act in 2019, which codified the right to reproductive healthcare into state law. In a press release from May, Pritzker said abortion will “always be safe and legal” in Illinois. Tulsa Women’s Clinic, an Oklahoma reproductive and abortion healthcare provider, recently announced it would close its doors and move to Carbondale, Illinois, in order to be protected under state law and still provide access for Oklahomans. Carbondale is over nine hours away from OU.

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• August 2022

PHOTO PROVIDED

Zack Lissau was inaugurated as the Student Government Association president on Nov. 29, 2021.

SGA president welcomes OU community ZACK LISSAU sgapres@ou.edu

The start of the school year is an exciting yet unnerving time. For some, it’s a brand new start. For others, it’s the beginning of the end of their time at university. Students will reconnect with old friends and make new, life-long connections. No matter where you fall on this continuum, I believe that most of us feel a strong sense of restlessness as Aug. 22 approaches. As young adults in America today, we have faced unprecedented times. Our country has rarely been more divided than it is now. We have seen war and violence rage, and our personal liberties and freedoms have come under attack. Recently, we have been reminded just how precious our democracy is

“

We know this year will hold uncertainty and challenges, but this is where we grow and learn as individuals. -Zack Lissau, SGA president

“

Student body representative aims for campus to be a ‘safe space,’ advocates for physical, mental health of peers

— and how fragile. As students, we have dual priorities. We must continue to participate in the shaping of the future of our country while also concentrating on our studies and readying ourselves for our postcollege lives. This is a challenge, but an attainable one. I truly believe that time well spent today will better prepare all of us for the challenges of the future.

As difficult as it is to envision now, the upcoming school year will fly by. If you find yourself filled with anxiety due to uncertainties, let me share an idiom with you from childhood fire drills: “stop, drop and roll.” When facing our own personal “fires” or crises, it can be a simple way to get back on track. It’s a way to remind ourselves to “stop” for a second and practice self-care. Our mental health is just as important as our physical. Allow yourself a brief pause. Secondly, as an upcoming senior, allow me to encourage you all to “drop” expectations of exactly how the school year ahead will unfold. It has been said that the only certainty in life is change. We know this year will hold uncertainty and challenges, but this is where we grow and learn as individuals. Lastly, learn to “roll” or adapt to these obstacles. Challenge yourself to look for the positive side in unexpected circumstances and embrace the new and different. Your college experience will be that much richer and diverse. I firmly believe that the University of Oklahoma provides a safe space for students to grow, thrive and develop both academically and as an active member of society.

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August 2022 •

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• August 2022

22 YEARS AGO AT OU

History repeats as OU softball wins national championship

On March 19, 1975, the OU women’s softball team won their opening game against Oklahoma Baptist University 3-1. In April, they won their second state championship, giving them a chance to compete for the first time at the Women’s College World Series. Unfortunately, they lost their first game and the double elimination tournament. “I think part of the problem may have been psychological,” said then-coach Amy Dahl. “The girls were too excited.” The team would get the chance to compete again in 1980, 1981 and 1982, losing each time. However, the pattern did not last forever. In 2000, they would claim the national championship under coach Patty Gasso. They have won the WCWS five times since, including in 2022. “It’s been an incredible ride, an incredible story and a perfect ending,” Gasso said after the first win. “I couldn’t have written a better story.”

Aug. 22 - Classes begin.

Aug. 23 - Norman special election.

Aug. 26 - Final day to register or add a class without instructor permission.

Aug. 29 - OU Daily Football Guide distribution begins.

Sept. 2 - Final day to drop classes for a full refund and without it showing on your transcript.

Sept. 3 - Home football game against Texas at El Paso.

Sept. 5 - Labor Day holiday.

Sept. 10 - Home football game against Kent State.

Sept. 23 - Contemporary Dance Oklahoma begins.

Sept. 24 - Home football game against Kansas State.

Sept. 26 - Fall Crimson Quarterly distribution begins.

2000 SOONER YEARBOOK

A 1999-2000 yearbook spread showcases the success of OU’s women’s softball team.

CALENDAR Sept. 29 - Oct. 1 - Final weekend of Contemporary Dance Oklahoma. Oct. 8 - OU-Texas football game in Dallas.

Dec. 12-16 - Final exams. – Staff reports

Oct. 10-15 - Homecoming. Oct. 15 - Home football game against Kansas.

Nov. 5 - Home football game against Baylor. Nov. 7 - Winter Crimson Quarterly distribution begins. Nov. 8 - General election day. Nov. 19 - Bedlam football game in Norman. Nov. 23-27 - Thanksgiving vacation. Dec. 4-11 - Final exam preparation period.

ACROSS 1 Fraudulent offer 5 “___ the Night Before Christmas” 9 Word before “Putty” or “String” 14 Like a couch potato 15 Scratchy voice 16 Forge an alliance 17 Have ___ in your pants 18 Understudies with scheduled appearances 20 *Artistic freedom (note the last word in each starred clue’s answer) 22 Split from a country 23 Color, like Easter eggs 24 *Oxygen carrier 31 Awards for Naomi Osaka 34 Homophone and antonym of “raise” 35 Bambi’s mother, e.g. 36 Water filtration brand 37 Yucatan natives 38 Therapy center? 39 “What I think ...,” in a text 40 Word that becomes its own antonym when an “n” is added to the front

41 Extracted, like ore 43 *They’re pressed when typing 47 DiFranco with the album “Revolutionary Love” 48 What might be curbed? 52 *Environmentalist’s concern 56 Look inward 58 Perimeter 59 Off-limits 60 Grain in dolmas 61 Animal on Morocco’s coat of arms 62 Strict 63 Subpar 64 Very small DOWN 1 Is really good 2 Kayak alternative 3 Certain ancient Nahuatl speaker 4 Whodunit genre 5 Used a stencil 6 Pictureperfect spot? 7 Italian wine region 8 Design detail, for short 9 Tangy orange drink brand 10 “Be right there!” 11 Lo-cal 12 4G ___ 13 Word that a nod might replace

19 Has another go at 21 The ___ of March 25 First Pixar film with a female protagonist 26 Lasagna section 27 Netflix crime drama set in Missouri 28 Garden with forbidden fruit 29 Handeddown tales 30 Pb on the periodic table 31 It’s a long story 32 Japanese wrestling form 33 “The ___” (2016 musical centered around a high school dance) 37 Period to recharge alone

41 Bit of 29-Down 42 Tel Aviv resident 44 Unhealthy lack of color 45 In ___ (all together) 46 Graphic artist M.C. 49 Break up 50 Some frozen waffles 51 Very small 52 Shape of a sugar clump, maybe 53 Group for people 50 and up 54 Ben Folds Five, inaptly 55 Danish shoe brand 56 Ave. crossers 57 Acai bowl bit, maybe

SOLUTION

Solution

Oct. 18 - Midterm grades due. Oct. 24 - Advance registration for spring 2023 begins.

Universal Crossword Edited by Amanda Rafkin August 1, 2022

8/1

6 8 1 9 8 2

2 6 7

1 9

4 5 1 4 6

2 9 5 3 2 8 9 3 7 4 4 5 3 6 Instructions: Fill in the grid so7that every row, 3 every column 1 8and every 3x3 box contains the digits 1 through 9. That means that V. EASY in any row, column or box. no number is repeated

In the Pocket by Emet Ozar

6 4

7 2 9 2 4 5 2 3 8 6 7 5 8 1 6 5 4 9 3 5 8 6 4 7 5 8 2 3 1 8 V. EASY

2 7 9 #2

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August 2022 •

INTEGRITY MATTERS. We value integrity. Our students do too!

Know the rules. Protect your investment. Value your OU degree.

Visit integrity.ou.edu for more information about OU’s student-led system and about academic integrity at OU.

Sunday Worship: We are in person for 8:40 and 10:45 a.m. & livestreaming on YouTube for 10:45 a.m.

fccnorman.org A community joined together in a reverent, thoughtful, loving quest for faith.

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