Sept. 14-20, 2021 by OU Daily

W E E K LY E D I T I O N | S E P T. 14 - 2 0 , 2 0 2 1 | O U D A I LY. C O M

INSIDE: Harroz says OU to reconsider mask policy

OUDAILY

The University of Oklahoma’s independent student voice since 1916

EDWARD REALI/THE DAILY

Redshirt senior defensive lineman Isaiah Thomas celebrates with redshirt freshman safety Bryson Washington during the game against Western Carolina on Sept. 11.

OU secures 76-point shutout Sooners’ defensive coordinator keeps pressure on Speed D MASON YOUNG

@Mason_Young_0

Wanting to keep a shutout intact, OU defensive coordinator Alex Grinch needed to motivate his Speed D to finish. A threat did the trick. Western Carolina (0-2) was moving the ball against No. 4 Oklahoma (2-0) better in the second half than it had in the first, when the Sooners held the Catamounts to 68 yards. So OU’s defensive coordinator told his players they’d run extra in practice Monday if they allowed their FCS opponent to score a touchdown. He wanted them to keep their foot on the gas after watching them relent during the second half of their season opener against Tulane. Twenty-three minutes later, sophomore cornerback Joshua Eaton tackled the opposing ball carrier to cap a mercifully shortened 12-minute fourth quarter. The play put the finishing touches on OU’s dominant 76-0 win over Western Carolina on

Sept. 11 in Norman, which is Grinch’s second shutout since coming to Oklahoma in January 2019. “That was motivation for those older guys to help those younger guys out,” Grinch said afterward of his ultimatum. “Tonight was a pretty good opportunity for a lot of guys, and (I’m) happy for those guys that they took advantage of it, almost to the man.” Grinch’s other shutout came against FCS foe Missouri State in OU’s 2020 season opener, and Western Carolina proved an even less challenging opponent than the Bears. But after OU’s defense dragged through the second half against Tulane, allowing 21 points, it needed a chance to prove itself. The Sooners did that and more, as veteran and rookie defenders shined under the lights of Gaylord FamilyOklahoma Memorial Stadium’s first night game of the season before a sellout crowd of 83,538. Six of the Catamounts’ first-half drives ended in punts, while the other two resulted in turnovers on downs. OU sacked opposing quarterback Rogan Wells three times in the first two quarters, and senior noseguard Perrion Winfrey delivered 1.5 of those himself. He already has two sacks this season after posting

just 0.5 last fall following his transfer from Iowa Western Junior College. “He’s in better shape,” head coach Lincoln Riley said. “He’s better mentally, he’s just in a much better place and I think we’re seeing some of the results here. He looked like he played quite a bit better tonight from his game one performance. … When you’ve got a guy who can push the pocket and create disruption in the run game it makes life tough, and it does free up other guys on the edges to really be aggressive.” As Winfrey and crew kept bringing pressure, WCU’s mistakes piled up in the second half. Redshirt junior defensive lineman Jordan Kelley and freshman defensive end Ethan Downs forced fumbles. Those turnovers were recovered by sophomore linebacker Shane Whitter and redshirt freshman safety Bryson Washington — two players who showed glimpses of improvement after frustrating Grinch in the past. “In Shane’s case ... I expect more from him,” Grinch said. “He can run, he has a lot of the skill sets that we look for in a linebacker and particularly the ability to use speed and be elite that way. Same thing, Bryson is one of the fastest guys on our team. They’ve got to practice that way and ultimately they’ve got to play that

way, and it’s trending in the right direction, but by no means is it something that is quote-unquote fixed, but it’s certainly the right steps.” Freshman linebacker Danny Stutsman, a former three-star prospect who has drawn rave reviews since arriving on campus this fall, also impressed against WCU. He finished with a team-high eight tackles — seven solo and 0.5 for loss — and a forced fumble. Stutsman left during the fourth quarter with an apparent injury and tweeted after the game he’ll get a CT scan on his arm Sunday, but Riley said he doesn’t believe any injuries suffered in the game were serious. Stutsman has since deleted the tweet. One defensive series after Stutsman’s departure, Washington picked off Western Carolina backup quarterback Carlos Davis on WCU’s second to last drive. All but the Catamounts’ final possession ended in a turnover or punt. They produced only 178 total yards to OU’s 624 and carried -4 rushing yards into the second half. “The whole week of practice, we just practiced finishing, finishing, finishing,” Winfrey said. “Every play, every rep, just going in and doing what we need to do, just focusing on

the fundamentals and realizing that everything else will come. So it’s just good to have a shutout. We wish we could have kept the rushing yards at negative, but maybe next time.” Grinch also said the week’s preparation in practice forecasted better results after warnings of slip ups preceded OU’s matchup with Tulane. He added he’s “still not over” his unit’s shortcomings against the Green Wave but is slowly moving on after its dominance against Western Carolina. Speed D will need to sustain strong preparation ahead of next Saturday’s clash with Nebraska, reigniting the Sooners and Cornhuskers’ historic rivalry. By then, perhaps Grinch won’t need to threaten his players to finish. “As long as you play the call, 11 guys doing the same thing, we’re gonna be alright,” Grinch said. “And obviously, that wasn’t the case, certainly at the level it should have been a week ago, and so again, tonight was better, and (we’re) on to the next week. We’re gonna make sure that we’re doing things the right way over the course of Monday through Friday so we can play at a higher level next Saturday than we did this Saturday.” masyoung@ou.edu

Students lack ample mental health resources Annual 12-session limits pose additional stress factors ALEXIA ASTON @alexiaaston

Several students reported the University Counseling Center’s 12-session limit and small professional clinical staff is restricting their ability to seek counsel amid mental health challenges exacerbated by the COVID19 pandemic. The center is a resource available to OU students, faculty and staff, according to a university spokesperson. Services include individual counseling, couples’ counseling and group counseling. Its 12-session limit on individual counseling is meant to “ensure new patients have access to care when they need it.” Currently, the center is funding 14 full-time professional clinical staff, four doctoral interns and four practicum students, according to the university spokesperson. The center is “actively working” with the university to increase staffing and resources to reduce wait times for patients. Over the last two years, three additional counselors have been hired and university leadership is currently exploring options to fund two additional positions, which will move

the center to the “nationally recommended ratio of counselors per student,” according to the university spokesperson. The American School Counselor Association recommends schools maintain a ratio of 250 students per school counselor and that school counselors spend at least 80 percent of their time working directly with or indirectly for students. According to most recent enrollment statistics, the ratio at OU is 1,197 students per counselor. The ongoing COVID-19 pandemic increased anxiety and depression in many college students, according to a study conducted at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. The study surveyed 419 first-year students and found moderate to severe anxiety increased from 18.1 percent before the pandemic to 25.3 percent after it began. It also found moderate to severe depression increased from 21.5 percent to 31.7 percent. Religious studies and public and nonprofit administration junior Ezra Koenig began using the center’s services during October of his freshman year because of a difficult time in his life and the confidentiality the center provided. “Whenever I was first seeking counseling services, I had a rough transition period from high school to college, and I was dealing with a bad roommate situation,” Koenig said. “I was

also suffering from trauma from being a part of a religious group for so long and also an abusive ex. Dealing with that and also overworking myself led me to have a nervous break my freshman year.” Limited by the center’s 12-session cap, Koenig said his time with counselors resulted in “band-aid fixes” on pending issues, as he could only attend sessions once a month. National research shows the average patient needs five to seven sessions to “resolve psychological issues,” according to the OU spokesperson. The length of treatment varies from person to person, according to the American Psychological Association. Recent research indicates that, on average, “15 to 20 sessions are required for 50 percent of patients to recover.” Koenig’s therapist informed him on his 10th session he was nearing his 12-session cap in May and asked if he wanted to request additional sessions. With plans to begin testosterone therapy, Koenig feared a potential setback in his treatment as he needed a letter from his therapist verifying his gender dysphoria to begin testosterone therapy. During the same time, Koenig said he was beginning to come out to his parents as a transgender man and was uncertain of how his parents would react. Due to his transition and

plans to come out, Koenig’s request for additional sessions was approved. “My fear was like ‘Oh my god, if I don’t get this letter, this will set me back a couple of months, even up to a year of going through my transition process,’” Koenig said. “Thankfully, through very strenuous circumstances … they approved my sessions.” According to the university spokesperson, additional sessions are provided based on the patient’s “presenting issue, their progress toward their therapy goals and whether they have access to community resources due to having health insurance.” Patients who do not have the ability to access community care will be considered for additional sessions. Facing similar limitations due to the center’s 12-session limit, biology junior Isabel Harmon began utilizing the center’s services her freshman year as she sought support through moving from Arkansas City High School in Arkansas City, Kansas to OU — a school with about 25,000 more students. Harmon said she chose the center’s services due to its on-campus convenience and affordability. For nearly two years, Harmon attended counseling sessions once a month for support through her college transition and her work in see UCC page 2

NEWS

• Sept. 14–20, 2021

OU-AAUP repeats demands

COMING UP AT OU

Faculty group gives university F+ for COVID-19 policies

Friday

Inauguration of OU President Joseph Harroz 10 a.m., Lloyd Noble Center

TAYLOR JONES

Harroz will be ofﬁcially inaugurated after serving as president since May 9, 2020. The ceremony will be followed by events on the South Oval starting at 11:30 a.m.

@wrongtailor

O U ’s c h a p t e r o f t h e American Association of University Professors gave the university a failing grade when evaluating its response to the group’s call for strengthened COVID-19 protocols. In an Aug. 11 open letter, OU-AAUP published a series of demands for “common-sense policies.” In a Tuesday press release, the group evaluated the university’s progress in meeting these requests, rating each on a scale from one to five. In its open letter, the group called for OU to publicize a legal rebuttal to laws preventing mask mandates, add the COVID-19 vaccine to the list of required immunizations and create policies that ensure a vaccinated campus community. They also called for the university to enact a mandatory mask mandate in all indoor public spaces, whenever the community transmission rate is rated substantial or high by the CDC. According to the CDC, Cleveland County currently has a high community transmission rate.

Saturday

First American Museum grand opening 8 a.m., 659 First Americans Blvd., Oklahoma City The 175,000-square-foot First American Museum will hold weekend opening ceremonies ending Sunday. The event will start at 8 a.m. and feature a procession of 39 Native nations and, later, remarks from museum, city and tribal leaders. OU Football vs Nebraska 11 a.m., Gaylord Family-Oklahoma Memorial Stadium Following a 76-0 victory over Western Carolina, the Sooners will aim to continue their early success against the former Big 12 rival Nebraska Cornhuskers.

Monday, Sept. 20 OU Board of Regents

Time and location TBD The OU Board of Regents will hold its ﬁrst meeting of the fall semester from Monday to Tuesday of next week. Previous meetings have consisted of a ﬁrst day of executive session followed by a public meeting on the second day.

Friday, Sept. 24

University Theater’s “Mad Forest: A Play from Romania” opening night 8 p.m., Weitzenhoffer Theater

The group also demanded the university grant hazard pay to compensate employees for using home utilities to complete remote work or working on campus under hazardous conditions and, finally, create and publicize a pandemic plan, according to the release. In its Sept. 7 release, OUAAUP gave the university a 1.0 rating on each of these demands. Demands to allow all workers and students to complete their activities remotely, to the extent that it is possible, and to engage in promoting vaccination, as recommended by the CDC’s Considerations for Institutions of Higher Education, received a 2.0 on the scale according to the release. “It’s important to … focus on the key points OU needs to do,” OU-AAUP president Michael Givel said. “The report card is what is offering attention to the important issues at hand regarding faculty, staff and student health and safety.” According to the release, based on these scores, OU received an early semester grade of an F+. “The decision makers at the University of Oklahoma want to have it both ways,” the release read. “They want to

TREY YOUNG/THE DAILY

An OU flag in front of the Bizzell Memorial Library on July 8, 2020.

appear to be doing the right thing when it comes to scientifically backed COVID-19 mitigation strategies. But they also appear to want to please certain donors, politicians, parents, and others who want an ‘in-class experience’ without 100% indoor masking and COVID-19 vaccination requirements as is strongly recommended by the CDC. Students, faculty, and staff need clear, coherent guidance from university leaders as we try to survive one of the biggest public health crises of the past century.” Givel said the number of demands not yet met surprised him. “It’s pretty astounding,” Givel said. “These demands

are reasonable and common sense, they’re based on CDC guidelines to safety. Five of them (have) not even been addressed, at least publicly, and two of them that have been addressed have been done in a way that needs a lot of improvement.” The OU-AAUP wrote in the release that with proper effort and due diligence, OU can raise their grade substantially on COVID-19 workplace safety to a high passing grade. “The semester’s young, and we encourage the University of Oklahoma to work hard, and hopefully we’ll see some really high grades coming in the future,” Givel said. taylor.p.jones-1@ou.edu

From playwright Caryl Churchill, “Mad Forest: A Play from Romania” is a story set during the 1989 Romanian Revolution. A livestream of this performance will be available. Tickets at the door are $35 for adults and $15 for students. Advance purchase tickets are $29 for adults, $24 for senior adults and $12 for students. Fall Family Weekend Campus Activity Council’s fall family weekend begins Friday, with free events — including a trivia night, football game watch party, escape room and more — lasting until Sunday, Sept. 26. – From staff reports

UCC: continued from page 1

health care, which she began at the beginning of her sophomore year. Working as an at-home caregiver exposed Harmon to the “most at-risk” population during the COVID-19 pandemic. She said she saw a lot of loss with little time to process, as she would immediately care for new patients. Harmon also said it’s “terrifying” going from campus to patients’ homes during a pandemic because, although she’s vaccinated against COVID-19 and wears a mask indoors, she feels she is putting clients

at risk. “School is all in-person, and so many people are refusing to wear a mask despite professors pleading with them,” Harmon said. “It’s a lot of stress and responsibility. These people rely on me to keep them safe and to help them.” Limited to 12 50-minute sessions a year, Harmon said she had to “pack a lot” into each session, causing her and her therapist to “graze over” and prioritize her issues. “Sometimes, it felt like I was spending the majority of the sessions just trying to get it all out there,” Harmon said. “I didn’t even have a good amount of time to work through it with the therapist I was provided. It’s just a lot of

GRAPHIC BY JORDAN LANOUE/THE DAILY

information-dumping and not a lot of time to unpack and work through it.” During more difficult times in her life, Harmon sought more frequent counseling sessions, forcing her to give up sessions later. “It’s those hard decisions I have to make about if I really need (counseling) right now that jeopardizes (me) down the road if something happens and I need (counseling) more,” Harmon said. While some students struggled to navigate their limit of 12 therapy sessions a year at the center, others struggled to receive services through the counseling center altogether.

Microbiology and environmental studies junior Kelly Scheurich reached out to the center in September 2020 during “crisis mode” and in need of emergency support. When she called the center, they told her she’d have to wait months for an intake appointment. Her intake appointment was eventually scheduled for November. Scheurich’s intake appointment coincided with the November ice storm, forcing her appointment to be canceled. She said the center was not helpful as she tried to schedule a new appointment. “It added stress to my situation, because I had really

wanted to talk to somebody pretty soon about that so I could deal with everything in a healthy way,” Scheurich said. Scheurich said she ultimately decided not to schedule a new appointment because enough time had passed from her initial call to the center. She said her issues had “resolved themselves,” and she turned to other resources such as her network of support and social media. Scheurich said she navigated through homesickness and anxiety from the pandemic without help from the center. She had gone a month without seeing her family due to the virus in contrast to her

usual once-a-week visit. “I have a pretty negative view of (the center),” Scheurich said. “I have a very negative view of it, and if I ever needed help again, I would definitely choose other options before I went back there.” Reflecting on her lack of help from the UCC, Scheurich said she wishes she had a “listening ear” as she sought help. “I wish I would’ve had more immediate attention from a therapist that works there,” Scheurich said. “If I hadn’t had the resources I found, I would’ve just suffered and waited it out.” alexiaaston@ou.edu

OU to reevaluate legality of masking mandate Administration to rethink policy after court injunction ALEXIA ASTON @alexiaaston

O U P re s i d e nt Jo s e p h Harroz said administration is meeting to evaluate a university-wide mask mandate and discussed concerns regarding OU’s open records office in a Sept. 9 media law class guest lecture. On Sept. 1, Oklahoma District Court Judge Natalie Mai issued a temporary injunction against Senate Bill 658, which will remain until a permanent injunction court hearing takes place or a higher court takes action.

In response, Harroz said he planned to meet with administration later on Sept. 9 to evaluate a mask mandate and how the injunction affects OU. OU currently interprets Oklahoma Senate Bill 658 and Gov. Kevin Stitt’s Executive Order 2021-16 as barring it from requiring masks and vaccines. University policy “strongly encourages” masking indoors and in high-density settings. A group of OU law faculty — including OU law professor Joseph Thai — compiled a report before the fall semester began stating the two laws do not prohibit OU or its departments and faculty from requiring masking but only prevents OU from adopting narrow mask mandates targeting

PUT YOUR STATE FAIR FUN ON THE FAST TRACK Sep. 24 – Oct. 17, 2021

unvaccinated students. On Aug. 20, OU Senior Vice President and Provost AndréDenis Wright announced if a student in a class tests positive for COVID-19, that class can continue to meet in person by instituting a two-week masking policy. Wright wrote this policy is “within the boundaries of the law.” Harroz said Thursday the university’s belief is once there’s a positive COVID-19 case in a classroom, the nature of what’s allowed changes. In an email to The Daily, Thai wrote Monday there is “no exception” in SB 658 or Stitt’s executive order that allows mask mandates when there is a confirmed COVID19 case in a classroom. “If OU now believes it can

legally mandate masking — as OU law faculty have explained — it should require masking not only after students get sick, but also before, to prevent infection in the first place,” Thai wrote. Harroz also discussed the speed in which open records requests are filled, explaining the university receives thousands of open records requests. He said as the number of requests increases, positions need to be added to the open records office, but employees are difficult to attract. News outlets have entered lawsuits against OU for withholding records they believe are included in the state Open Records Act. NonDoc, for example, filed a lawsuit in June to the Cleveland County

District Court asking a judge to release Jones Day records related to investigations of former OU President David Boren for sexual misconduct and misreported donor data. In the lecture, Harroz also discussed the preservation of democracy and the importance of understanding other views. He said law and journalism are “first cousins” and “critically important” to society. “If you can capture the press, then you can control the collective thought,” Harroz said. “You can make people distrust the journalists and discredit them.” Harroz said people must understand the law and the institutions that can impact whether or not the law is

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upheld. He cited a 2017 study by the Annenberg Public Policy Center which found 26 percent of Americans can name all three branches of the U.S. government. “You have to know that power unchecked is the biggest threat,” Harroz said. “The role of the media is to make sure the power is checked and to make sure that those that form this democracy … have the information they need and the influence they need to understand what is right and wrong.” alexiaaston@ou.edu

SPORTS

Sept. 14-20, 2021 •

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Editor-in-Chief News Managing Editor Sports Editor Visual Editor Video Editor

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phone:

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The Editorial Board, which consists of student editors, meets Monday to Thursday in Copeland Hall, Room 160. The newsroom is open to the public. To advertise in The Daily, contact the advertising manager by calling 405-325-2521 or emailing dailyads@ou.edu.

One free copy of The Daily is available to members of the OU community. Additional copies may be purchased for 25 cents by contacting The Daily business ofﬁce at 405-325-2521. Corrections: The Daily is committed to accuracy in its publications. If you ﬁnd an error in a story, email dailynews@ou.edu or visit oudaily.com/site/ corrections.html to submit a correction form. VOL. 108, NO. 4 Copyright 2020 OU Publications Board FREE -- Additional copies 25 cents

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TREY YOUNG/THE DAILY

Redshirt sophomore quarterback Spencer Rattler during the game against Western Carolina on Sept. 11.

Spencer Rattler finds stride in win over WCU The Heisman Trophy favorite’s teammates could feel his preseason poise and growing confidence throughout the week. “I could just look in his eyes and tell that he was CHANDLER ENGELBRECHT going to have a different @ctengelbrecht game,” senior defensive lineman Perrion Winfrey Donning a Jordan said. “Just knowing the headband and Beats head- work he put in this week phones, Spencer Rattler and that he was a little frustrotted onto Owen Field trated last week … I knew almost two hours early. that he was going to come Joined by the rest of and attack this game from OU’s quarterbacks, the a different approach. redshirt sophomore want“And that’s what he did. ed to get some extra reps I just can’t wait to see what in before No. 4 Oklahoma he does next week and the (2-0) faced Western Carweeks to follow.” olina (0-2). Rattler stood Two of Rattler’s touchnear the west corner of downs went to redshirt the field’s south end zone, sophomore wide receiver launching throws ranging Jadon Haselwood, who finfrom five to 40 yards to ished with four receptions freshman third-string quarterback Ralph Rucker, who for 19 yards. Haselwood also had four receptions would toss them back. Rattler’s body language against Tulane, but the Ellenwood, Georgia, grew stronger with each native was upset he didn’t accurate pass. As the score in the team’s season group headed back to opener. the Sooners’ locker room Rattler sensed Haselabout 10 minutes later, wood’s frustration and Rattler jogged toward the approached him about it. tunnel with confidence, The duo discussed their waving to fans along the performance and how to way. A week after the improve it, and that’s when Phoenix native appeared Rattler promised he’d rattled in OU’s season throw a touchdown pass opener, Rattler’s pregame demeanor hinted at his re- Haselwood’s way. “He kept his word,” ascension to the collected Haselwood said. “He came gunslinger of last year. up to me over the last “We just wanted to be couple days and told me, better,” Rattler said after ‘We’re gonna get you in the Sooners’ 76-0 rout of the Catamounts. “When we the endzone this week.’ Last week I didn’t get as got in the facility on Monmany touches, which is day, even on Sunday, the sometimes going to hapvibe was uncomfortable.” pen. I mean, it was never Tossing for five toucha conversation where we downs and 243 yards on said I need more touches, 20-of-26 passing in just it was just like a natural one half of play, Rattler’s feeling between us. We statline lies juxtaposed got the job done this to his single touchdown week.” pass and two interception Prior to Sept. 11, Haselperformance in OU’s 40-35 win over Tulane on Sept. 4. wood had never caught more than one touchdown Though he also went 30of-39 for 304 yards against in a game for the Sooners. Rattler was elated he’d the Green Wave, Rattler helped get his teammate and the Sooners were far over that hump. from satisfied, which led “It was great to have him to their rigorous week of back at full speed,” Rattler practice. After that, Oklahoma’s said. “He came off the offense scored on every ball aggressively tonight. drive Rattler captained. He had a bunch of one-

OU quarterback regains confidence, encourages team improvement

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on-ones that he won. He kinda bailed me out (a few times). … So, he played very well tonight.” Rattler said he felt very comfortable behind OU’s offensive line against Western Carolina. Despite the Catamounts’ pass rush sacking him twice, Rattler took blame for those offensive mistakes. The Sooners accounted for 624 total yards, with Rattler responsible for 272 of those. He also credited Oklahoma’s readiness for Western Carolina to head coach Lincoln Riley’s teachings, which help his team approach every game with a fresh mentality. Riley believes the Sooners cleaned up a lot of their self-inﬂicted errors from a week ago, but he doesn’t want his team to lighten up just yet. If the build up to game two proved anything, Rattler believes his team will just get better. “We knew what we had to do, and we were challenged this past week,” Rattler said. “We came out here today and executed our plays, went through the reads, played hard for four quarters and ﬁnished.”

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HOROSCOPE By Eugenia Last

TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 7, 2021 ASTROGRAPH by Eugenia Last An open mind will lead to new adventures. Embrace life, learning and new experiences. Look at the possibilities, and be the one to make your dreams come true. Take the initiative and lean into something you feel passionate about, and good things will transpire. Work with a purpose in mind, and you’ll have no regrets. Live life your way. VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22) -- Turn your dream into a reality by ensuring that everything goes according to plan. Share your enthusiasm with someone who offers insight and support. A unique partnership will promote new beginnings. LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 23) -- Stay on top of due dates and pending problems waiting for an inopportune moment to make you take notice. Be smart with your responsibilities and you’ll be able to enjoy the good that comes your way. SCORPIO (Oct. 24-Nov. 22) -- Let the past dissipate and fall by the wayside, and embrace life at the moment and see where it takes you. Embark on a path that brings you peace.

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who puts you down or manipulates you. Putting more time and effort into attitude, appearance and independence will bring you closer to your goal. PISCES (Feb. 20-March 20) -- Start making moves that help you achieve your heart’s desire. Put your energy into relationships, causes and actions that make a difference to you and the way you feel about your life and future. ARIES (March 21-April 19) -- Follow the path to victory, and eliminate challenges rather than create them. Once you do the best you can, take time to nurture a meaningful relationship. Plan something special. TAURUS (April 20-May 20) -- Leave nothing to chance, and put your energy where it counts. How you approach your responsibilities will matter. If you expect others to do things for you, you’ll be disappointed. GEMINI (May 21-June 20) -Choose facts over hearsay and peace over discord. Maintaining balance and integrity will be your best option. Aim to ease stress, not make matters worse. Make personal growth your priority.

7 2 9 2 4 5 1 2 (Nov. 23-Dec. 21) 3 CANCER (June 8 21-July 6 22) -SAGITTARIUS -- Look inward, and you’ll know Consider your options carefully and without a doubt 7what you can5 do to 8the consequences that can develop make your life better and your future if you make a mistake. Time is on brighter. Take the road side, 1 that leads6to a your 5 and working 4 quietly on happy and healthy lifestyle. something you enjoy will lead to clarity. 3 2 CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19) -- 9 You are the master of your domain. LEO (July 23-Aug. 22) -- Read, 8 a 6educate yourself and say 7no to Head in a meaningful5direction; healthy attitude will encourage you anything that feels risky. Focus to excel. Revise your priorities and on relationships 4 7 5 8 and keeping 9 the forge ahead. peace. Take care of responsibilities that will ease stress and improve AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb.219) 3 family ties. 1 8 -- Distance yourself from anyone V. EASY

Universal Crossword Edited by David Steinberg September 7, 2021

ACROSS 1 Rainbow goddess 5 Anticensorship grp. 9 Really bad 14 “A dolphin sleeps with one eye open,” e.g. 15 In a few minutes, say 16 Employee’s annual goal? 17 Janitorial innovations? 20 Novelist’s language 21 Smile segment 22 Sophs., in two years 23 Horses with speckled coats 25 “Boo-hoo!” 27 Address that contains dots, briefly 28 Revolutions in playground design? 34 Name that sounds like an insect 35 Lack of difficulty 36 Pungent bulb 37 Costa ___ 39 Fail to save 42 Miss, in Mazatlan: Abbr. 43 Notions 45 Word after “sitting” or “waiting” 47 Mask holder, usually

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48 Improvement that makes paper money harder to counterfeit? 51 Tiny, magical being 52 “Dang!” 53 Collect together 55 Mud bath venue 58 Tuna type 59 Approach hastily 61 Positive outcome of child psychology? 66 Very, informally 67 Ages and ages 68 Steep, as tea 69 Gather little by little 70 One may jump into a garden 71 “Now, about ...” DOWN 1 Possibilities 2 Not cooked 3 Structures that are many blocks wide? 4 Unrelenting 5 Seller’s warning 6 Edible ice cream holder 7 Proverbial bump’s place 8 Rid of obstruction 9 Great Plains tribe

10 Pallid 11 Fruits that Turkey produces the most of 12 Manual reader 13 Not as much 18 Entourage 19 Sound like a snake 23 Grading aid 24 Frozen french fry brand 25 Dismiss with contempt 26 Clamors 29 Used to be 30 Cable co., often 31 People who have hot meals? 32 Completely destroys 33 Gobbles (down) 38 Satisfied cries 40 Gallic denial

41 Person with a stethoscope, briefly 44 Very arid 46 Intended 49 Qatar’s capital 50 Made null 54 African snake 55 Self-satisfied 56 Thing often stored in a weekly organizer 57 Just one chip, perhaps 59 Ancient letter 60 Russia, once: Abbr. 62 “... blessing ___ curse?” 63 Coffee, slangily 64 Cautious acrobat’s device 65 Lowest roll in Monopoly

PREVIOUS PUZZLE ANSWER

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Making Progress by David Alfred Bywaters

• Sept. 14-20, 2021

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