The O'Colly, Monday, August 14, 2023.

Monday, August 14, 2023

OSU staff member Hess to be inducted into Oklahoma Higher Education Hall of Fame

Michael Clark Staff Reporter

On Friday, it was announced that Jim Hess, the vice provost of Graduate Programs at Oklahoma State University’s Center for Health Sciences, will be inducted into the Oklahoma Higher Education Hall of Fame in November.

This award is being given out due to Hess’ commitment to quality education for over four decades, half of which was spent at OSU-CHS. During his time at Oklahoma State, Hess has

positively impacted the lives of students and staff alike.

Hess began his work in higher education at Rogers State University in 1983, then transferred to Oklahoma State University Tulsa before settling at OSU-CHS in 2003. The inductee has served as a professor of family medicine and health care administration. Beyond that, Hess has also been elected as chief executive officer of the OSU Medical Authority and the OSU Physicians Group. Other prestigious positions include working as the chair and director of the School of Health Care Administration and chair of the School of Foren-

sic Sciences.

Nowadays, Hess serves as vice provost of OSU-CHS’ graduate programs, in which he supervises academic program directors, admissions, new program development and evaluation.

Jim Hess will be inducted into the Oklahoma Higher Education Hall of Fame alongside 11 other leaders and administrators on November

6. The induction ceremony will be held in Edmond at the University of Central Oklahoma. Those who know Jim Hess well are unsurprised by this impressive nomination.

See Hall of Fame on 5

Freshmen show out, goalie update and more from Cowgirls’ exhibition win against Missouri

defenders became more distant.

“I just thought, ‘Oh perfect,’” Wilson said.

Chance found the freshman midfielder in space, as Wilson followed with a floater over the goalkeeper, into the back of the net for the match’s first score in the 43rd minute.

Daniel Allen Staff Reporter

Following Hannah Chance up the field was the premise of Laudan Wilson’s focus. Not in an exaggerated sense, of course, to where an offside penalty could be awarded. However, do that, she had been told by her coaches in practice, and good things will follow. Sure enough, it came to fruition Saturday evening in Oklahoma State’s 2-0 exhibition win over Missouri at Neal Patterson Stadium.

As Chance, a redshirt sophomore forward, dribbled the ball near the penalty box, a herd of Tiger defenders swarmed her. Wilson stood yards away from her teammate, ready to jump on an opportunity to assist her team. As her teammate drew closer, nearby

Venables seeks improvement from Oklahoma’s defense in 2023

Davis Cordova Staff Reporter

Over the next few weeks, The O’Colly sports staff will release its Big 12 preseason rankings in the form of team previews. This time, it’s the Oklahoma Sooners, which our writers picked to finish third.

A year before heading to the SEC, Oklahoma is looking to get back on top of a conference they’ve dominated.

It’s been three years since the Sooners claimed Big 12 title. From 2015-20, OU won each conference championship and appeared in four College Football Playoffs.

After two straight seasons of missing on the Big 12

Championship game, OU will need help from a lot of first- and second-year Sooners in order to return to the top of the conference. The roster has faced turnover the past few years with the departure of former coach Lincoln Riley, and Venables said the roster has 97 players who are in their first or second year in Norman. A 6-7 record in 2022, combined with new players, isn’t a desired position to be in to compete for a title, but Venables said it’s about developing into a good team.

“Improving in the areas where we can improve,” Venables said. “You do that in lots of different ways, whether it’s scheme, it’s players, it’s development, it’s teaching, it’s practicing. Again, it can’t ever happen fast enough. We haven’t been good on defense for a long time, but everywhere I’ve been it’s been a rebuilding process to some degree.”

See Venables on 3

After George Floyd’s murder, more states require release of police disciplinary records

Amanda Hernández Stateline.org

Faced with growing calls for the public release of police disciplinary records, lawmakers in almost every state have grappled with how to balance revealing law enforcement misdeeds and protecting officers’ privacy and safety.

California, Colorado, Illinois, Massachusetts, Maryland and New York also are among the states that have opened police disciplinary records to the public in recent years.

But police records in most states remain largely confidential or have some release restrictions. And even in states with open records laws, advocates seeking records have faced barriers, leading to lawsuits.

“I honestly thought the defender would get a little tap on it,” Wilson said. “But I was able to get my foot through and score, so I was really happy.”

But the offensive charge didn’t stop there.

Forty-two seconds later, freshman forward Lexi Lee’s put-back score gave the Cowgirls a cushion they wouldn’t relinquish.

OSU coach Colin Carmichael said his team garnering two goals from first-year players is a testament to the depth within his team. And on a roster looking for its next “it” factor with the losses of Grace Yochum and Olyvia Dowell – both of whom are top five in goals scored at OSU – Carmichael hopes that freshman productivity is a glance at the future.

See Freshmen on 3

Fueled by public outrage over the 2020 murder of George Floyd by a Minneapolis police officer and other high-profile incidents of police violence, state policymakers have offered a variety of police oversight and transparency bills.

Between May 2020 and April 2023, lawmakers in nearly every state and the District of Columbia introduced almost 500 bills addressing police investigations and discipline, including providing access to disciplinary records, according to the National Conference of State Legislatures. Sixty-five of the bills have been enacted.

Delaware in June became the most recent to pass transparency legislation, expected to be signed into law this month.

Advocates for transparency argue that the release of disciplinary records empowers residents, journalists and civil rights activists to identify patterns of misconduct and hold officers accountable.

“Police misconduct records should be available to the public in most situations, if not all situations, because these are folks who have a lot of power and authority,” said Lauren Bonds, executive director of the National Police Accountability Project, which advocates for more transparency. “They have the power to lawfully take a person’s life. The stakes are just so high when there’s a police officer who’s got a lengthy record of misconduct.”

See Records on 8

Courtesy of OSU

Jim Hess, vice provost of Graduate Programs at OSU Center for Health Sciences, will be inducted into the Oklahoma Higher Education Hall of Fame in November 2023.

Davis Cordova

OSU coach Colin Carmichael gave goalkeeper Ary Purifoy (pictured) the start Saturday night, but all three goalies played. Carmichael said it’s still a tight race at goalkeeper heading into the season.

Arland Bruce IV not involved in team activities, named in gambling investigation

eligibility.

Gundy said he wasn’t aware of Bruce’s involvement in the investigation until the reports came out last week. Bruce remains on scholarship.

“I have to make a decision on what I think is right,” Gundy said. “It’s not good for him to be involved in team activities now, but also, we have to support him a little bit as he goes through this.”

Defensive coordinator Bryan Nardo’s new 3-3-5 scheme means some shuffling on the defensive front.

Collin Clay played in 12 of OSU’s 13 games last season, all at defensive tackle in a four-man front, but with the new three-man front, Clay embraces his new role as nose guard.

Green started his Cowboy career as an outside receiver. Then he moved to inside receiver. Then to Cowboy back/tight end.

Now, Green is back to inside receiver.

OSU transfer wide receiver Arland Bruce IV is no longer involved with team activities because of his alleged involvement in a gambling scheme while playing at Iowa in 2021 and 2022.

“He’s got some things he has to work out way outside of football,” OSU coach Mike Gundy said after Saturday morning’s practice. “And that’s really all I know.”

The allegations, first reported by the Des Moines Register, stated that while an Iowa player, Bruce placed 132 online wagers on 12 Hawkeye football games across two years, totaling $4,342. NCAA rules state any player who places a bet on their team in any sport will receive a permanent loss of

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Bruce, a 5-foot-10, 200-pound inside receiver, had 44 receptions for 396 yards and two touchdowns in two seasons at Iowa, and he also rushed the ball 22 times for 112 yards and four touchdowns. He transferred to OSU in the spring and was expected to be a big contributor to the offense in 2023.

Gundy said educating players about the dangers of sports gambling has always been a major priority, but he and the staff placed more emphasis on it the past year.

“What has come out with what has gone on across the country has kinda been a shock to everybody,” Gundy said. “We’ve addressed it multiple times just in the last three weeks because of it to try to coach them up on the dangers of it.”

There is no timeline on the investigation or for updates of Bruce’s eligibility status.

Collin Clay enjoying role as nose guard

“It’s new. It’s pretty cool actually now, just because I enjoy playing this position now because just the energy that they brought into this position,” Clay said. “Like, they’re relying on us because we’re in the middle of the defense. So, it starts with us.”

As a defensive tackle last season, Clay often took on double teams, which is something he will see every play as a nose guard. That familiarity made the transition easier.

Clay took his first snaps in nearly three years last season after missing all of 2020 and 2021 with a torn ACL. Being back to full health, Clay said he’s confident in this year’s scheme and his position. Gundy acknowledged Clay’s development and said he played well in Saturday’s 100-play scrimmage.

“Collin is a guy that’s developed his body. He’s now 320-ish (pounds), something like that, and went through a year where he was injured for a while, has kind of grown up and developed some more toughness,” Gundy said. “He is a powerful dude.”

Blaine Green back inside

“Being able to be at like a true receiver position is a little bit more freeing than having to make certain blocks inside the box,” Green said.

Green, a 6-1 redshirt sophomore, said he slimmed up and is getting quicker after returning from Cowboy back. And with Bruce no longer participating in team activities and his eligibility in question, Green could shoulder more duties.

Green said he’s practicing as the inside receiver opposite of Brennan Presley and that the position is more reliant on reading coverages than the outside receiver spots. Green said he feels that with his size and skillset he can match up well with linebackers on the inside, or against corners and safeties on the outside.

“I don’t care if it’s Jalen Ramsey. I don’t care if it’s anybody,” Green said. “If you don’t come with that mindset, you can’t beat that guy off the ball or beat the DB that’s across from you. You don’t have that top-dog mentality.”

sports.ed@ocolly.com

Jaiden Daughty

OSU transfer receiver Arland Bruce IV is no longer participating in team activities after being named in a gambling scheme within the Iowa football team. Gundy said Bruce remains on scholarship.

Braden Bush Sports Editor

Venables...

with the Buffaloes.

Freshmen...

“Some of the stuff that we worked on, we weren’t able to do,” Carmichael said. “When you have more of a veteran team, it’s probably a little easier to play that preseason (exhibition) game.

“But (I am) definitely encouraged by what we got out of our young players tonight. We’ll take that and obviously move forward with it.”

Saturday saw a new-look slate of goalkeepers garner significant playing time. Ary Purifoy, who backed up and even recorded two starts in place of an injured Nytes in 2022, started Saturday’s match. Freshman and former ECNL standout Caroline Dill finished the first half and filled in for a chunk of the second half. Seton Hall transfer Grace Gordon finished the match, putting the bow on a shutout victory.

I was really proud of them. They got the shutout and all of them made some pretty big contributions.”

Bindbeutel out for season

After the match, Carmichael said forward Gracie Bindbeutel – an offensive catalyst for the Cowgirls a season ago – is out for the season with an undisclosed injury.

Starting quarterback Dillon Gabriel anchors the offense, which will feature a different look with running back Eric Gray and wide receiver Marvin Mims Jr. in the NFL. The Sooners still have talent on offense, but Venables said the defense needs work.

Vital parts of the defense’s improvement will be from one newcomer and one returner. Dasan McCollough is a transfer linebacker from Indiana, where he earned freshman All-American honors. The former four-star recruit had 48 tackles and four sacks last year.

Danny Stutsman, OU’s returning starting linebacker, had 124 tackles last season and was named an All-Big 12 honorable mention.

Carmichael pleased with goalie play

Just over a year ago, Carmichael and Co. scored big on the recruiting trail with the pledge of former Colorado Gatorade Player of the Year and ECNL club standout Jordy Nytes.

A prolific freshman campaign, featuring 58 saves and a 0.67 goals-surrenderedper-game average earned her Big 12 Co-Goalkeeper of the Year. Fast forward, Nytes is back home in Colorado, playing her sophomore season

Each drew high praise from Carmichael. He said the complexity of the goalie race is polar opposite to that of last season, where he and his coaching staff had a starter in mind for the season opener.

The Cowgirls open the regular season at home Thursday against Stephen F. Austin, and Carmichael would be pleased with starting any of the three.

Continued from 1 sports.ed@ocolly.com

“All three goalkeepers did a great job tonight,” Carmichael said. “They’re making it really hard for us (to pick a starter). All three have different qualities that are really good. And so, we’ll continue to evaluate it. But

Bindbeutel, a former blue-chip recruit and Missouri Gatorade Player of the Year, posted 17 starts for the Cowgirls in 2022 and was among the core of returning sophomores Carmichael anticipated a breakout season from.

Without Bindbeutel, the Cowgirls are thinner at a position more pivotal than others. And while returning fifth-year senior Megan Haines is paramount, the absence of Bindbeutel’s pure athleticism and nonpareil speed is one that may be felt, even at an early stage of the season.

“Gracie Bindbeutel is another special player that we’re missing,” Carmichael said. “But we’ll adjust moving forward.”

Venables is the first to say his defense didn’t play well last season. OU allowed 30 points per game in 2022, which ranked 90th in FBS. In OU’s seven losses, opponents averaged 41.7 points per game.

Venables said there were some silver linings from last year’s squad, but they need to keep improving.

“We’ve got a lot of work to do,” Venables said. “But I’ve got a lot of faith in both our players, our staff, and certainly how we do what we do and our developmental processes. But we led the Big 12 in interceptions. We led the Big 12 in tackles for loss. Those are building blocks, things you can build from.”

Continued from 1 sports.ed@ocolly.com

Venables said not only is Stutsman’s play valuable, but it’s also his leadership. Venables said he’s pleased Stutsman is maturing into a leader for this year’s team.

“Danny would be the first one to admit that 17 months ago he wasn’t capable of leading, and he’s in a much different place now,” Venables said. “The whole team follows Danny, his emotion, his work, his action. He’s a doer and a giver. I love the maturation that’s taking place with him off the field as much as on the field, his seriousness, his commitment to excellence every day. He’s put the team and the expectations on his back, and I love that.”

Davis Cordova

OU coach Brent Venables said linebacker Danny Stutsman is molding into a team leader.

Davis Cordova

Both of the Cowgirls’ goals in a 2-0 exhibition win against Missouri on Saturday night were scored by freshmen, including Lexi Lee (10).

‘They did us a huge favor’

President Shrum talks conference realignment

The Big 12 now sits at 16 teams for the 2024-25 season after the additions of Arizona, Arizona State, Colorado and Utah the past few weeks, and OSU’s foundation sits on rock, not sand.

“It’s much better to be on this side of conference realignment,” Shrum said Thursday evening at “A Night with OSU” in Oklahoma City.

tence for decades.” Although, she’s the first person to admit she’s changed her stance.

Kayse Shrum had her back against the wall less than a month into her job as president of Oklahoma State.

When OU and Texas announced their decision to leave Big 12 for the SEC in July 2021, the remaining eight schools were cast into uncertainty. Everything from adding teams or staying put, to merging with another conference or each going its separate way was all on the table. OSU’s athletic future was on the chopping block, and Shrum had to navigate it.

OSU football coach Mike Gundy and athletic director Chad Weiberg gave their thoughts on conference realignment last Saturday at OSU Football Media Day, but Shrum had yet to address it publicly. On Thursday, she looked back at what transpired on the realignment front since she took office and said it’s worked out nicely for OSU.

That wasn’t the tone Shrum had two years ago, when she called the move a “detriment to the State of Oklahoma” and said it “broke a bond of trust between our universities in exis-

“If you would have asked me two years ago if I felt like it was a good thing that the school down south followed the other school, Texas, out of our conference and that was the first domino, I would have said no,” Shrum said. “But today, looking back on it, I think they did us a huge favor.”

The Pac-12 missed chances to end the Big 12 a couple times, as Shrum pointed out. In 2021, a proposed merger with the Pac-12 would have given the Big 12 remnants a home, and the Pac 12 would have been here to stay.

“And they chose not to,” Shrum said. “And I think their downfall was greed and snobbery, I guess. Because they didn’t want to be diluted, and they didn’t think that we were on par.”

Shrum said being aggressive is important making decisions, and

that’s something Big 12 commissioner Brett Yormark did with the addition of the four Pac-12 schools and former commissioner Bob Bowlsby did with bringing in BYU, Cincinnati, Houston and UCF.

She said that kind of leadership and unity within the universities is what allowed the Big 12 to survive the run ins with trouble. There’s trust between the schools in the new Big 12, and that’s important to Shrum.

“Look at what’s happened in the Pac-12, where the schools that held out and didn’t want to add any teams are the ones that have left their conferences,” she said.

“And so, we don’t have any prima donnas in our conference anymore. They’re gone. And we have a group of presidents that respect each other’s university and do what’s right for the Big 12.”

sports.ed@ocolly.com

Mia Ledbetter

OSU president Kayse Shrum said two years ago she thought the loss of OU and Texas wasn’t good for the Big 12. On Thursday, Shrum said she now thinks it was “a huge favor.”

Braden Bush Sports Editor

Carter to serve OSU as OSU Alumni Association Board Chair

Jaycee Hampton News and Lifestyle Assistant Editor

Kurt Carter has been elected as chair of the Oklahoma State University Alumni Association Board of Directors.

“I am truly delighted to serve an organization and a university that gave me so much,” Carter said. “Together with our partners across the campus, we are constantly re-imagining how to best connect with our 250,000 alumni. The velocity of societal and technological change, provides ongoing challenges for us to remain the leading connection for our alumni to their alma mater.”

Originally from Oklahoma City, now residing in

Edmond, Carter has been a cowboy since 1977. During his time as a student, he was the executive chair of the Homecoming Steering Committee and served as Pistol Pete No. 33 during the 198081 school year.

After graduating with a degree in public relations, advertising and applied communications in ‘81, Carter entered the workforce as a certified financial adviser. Carter is currently the managing director of Cater Byford Wotjtek Group of Raymond James.

“Kurt will bring passionate leadership to the Board of Directors,” said OSU Alumni Association President Ann Caine. “We look forward to continuing to work with him to discover new avenues to engage our alumni with their alma mater. Together, we will ensure our alumni are proud to be members of the OSU Alumni Association.”

Prior to the present,

Carter spent six years working with Phillips 66, nearly a decade at OSU as director of athletic development, and spent time at the OSU Alumni Association overseeing homecoming. Carter has dedicated years to serving the OSU Alumni Association. Carter also actively supports the arts, education and civic programs in his community. He serves on the board of directors for the Lyric Theatre of Oklahoma City and the OSU Foundations Board of Governors.

Not only is Carter a businessman, but he is also a family man. Carter and his wife, Jenny, have two children. Their son, Corbin, is an attorney, and their daughter, Rhagan, is a professional dancer and actress.

For more information about the OSU Alumni Association or the Board of Directors, visit https://www.orangeconnection.org/s/860/18/ home.aspx.

news.ed@ocolly.com

Hall of Fame...

Continued from 1

“Throughout his tenure at OSU Center for Health Sciences, Dr. Hess has played a pivotal role in shaping and growing the institution’s graduate program while also fostering a nurturing environment for learning and research.” OSU-CHS President Johnny Stephens said. “His impact on our campus and campuses across northeastern Oklahoma will be felt for decades to come.”

Hess said working in higher education can be a challenging task, but is rewarding nonetheless. The best part for him has always been making a positive impact all across the Oklahoma State campus.

“There is absolutely no other job like it. It’s been exciting to have an impact on the direction and vision of an institution, affecting change and serving with great leaders.” Hess said. “I have been blessed to work with great people – it’s the most rewarding aspect of my career. Without those people, this recognition would not have been possible, so this induction into the Hall of Fame really belongs to them.”

Hess finds his position to be a great honor and is proud to stand among the 12 inductees into the Oklahoma Higher Education Hall of Fame this year.

“I know many of the current and previous inductees, and it is humbling to be included in that group. I have reflected on all the people who helped me along the path of my career, and I owe so much to them,” Hess said. “There were so many who invested in my future, believed in me, and saw something in me that I didn’t see in myself. I shall forever be in their debt/”

Other inductees include Terry Britton from Rose State College, Cheryl Evans from Northern Oklahoma College, Pamela Martin Fry from OSU-Tulsa, Loy Helm from Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education, Adolph Linscheid from East Central University, Joseph Parker Jr from Oklahoma State Regents, William Radke from University of Central Oklahoma, Liesa Richter from University of Central Oklahoma, Jeanetta Sims from University of Central Oklahoma, John Starkey, a late professor from Oklahoma City University, and Steve Turner from Northeastern State University.

news.ed@ocolly.com

Courtesy of OSU

Jim Hess has worked with OSU-CHS for 20 years.

Courtesy of OSU

Kurt Carter said he is delighted to serve an organization that gave him so much.

Kansas newspaper co-owner, 98, dies after cops raid home with ‘illegal’ search warrant; cops seize paper’s computers, phones, equipment

Evan Rosen New York Daily News

A small-town Kansas newspaper said its 98-year-old co-owner died Saturday after local police raided her home, seized her computer and other equipment, and separately grabbed phones, computers and other material from the paper’s staff.

National press organizations have condemned the raids on the offices, staff and owners of the Marion County Record, a 154-year-old weekly paper serving Marion, Kan. and its namesake county, home to 12,000 people.

“We are shocked and outraged by this brazen violation of press freedom,” said a statement by Eileen O’Reilly, president of the National Press Club, and Gil Klein, president of the club’s Journalism Institute.

“A law enforcement raid of a newspaper office is deeply upsetting anywhere in the world,” the statement said. “It is especially concerning in the United States, where we have strong and well-established legal protections guaranteeing the freedom of the press.”

Joan Meyer, 98, who co-owned the newspaper with her son Eric, “collapsed Saturday afternoon and died at her home,” after becoming “stressed beyond her limits and overwhelmed by hours of shock and grief after illegal raids,” the newspaper reported.

The Record added that Meyer was “otherwise in good health for her age.”

During their raid on Meyer’s home Friday, police seized her computer and a router used by her Amazon Alexa personal assistant device, the newspaper said. Additionally, the paper reported, cops copied bank statements belonging to her son.

At the same time they raided Meyer’s home, officers raided the newspaper’s office in

Marion, the paper reported. Police seized journalists’ personal phones and computers and other equipment and material from the newspaper office, the Record said.

Officers also raided the home of Marion’s vice mayor, Ruth Herbel, 80, and seized her mobile phone and computer, the newspaper said.

The search warrant used by authorities was signed by a local judge, Laura Viar, who ordered the seizure of equipment and information used in “the identity theft of Kari Newell,” a local restaurant owner.

Last week, the newspaper reported that Newell had

forced their journalists out of a public forum at her restaurant with U.S. Rep. Jake LaTurner. LaTurner’s staff was apologetic, said a story in the Kansas Reflector, a news website.

But Newell was angry with the newspaper’s report on the situation, and said so on her Facebook page. “Journalists have become the dirty politicians of today, twisting narrative for bias agendas, full of muddied half-truths,” Newell said. “We rarely get facts that aren’t baited with misleading insinuations.”

Afterwards, an anonymous source contacted the paper and provided evidence

that Newell had lost her license

after a DUI in 2008, and had illegally operated her vehicle afterward. Local news reports said the DUI could affect Newell’s wish to obtain a liquor license for her business.

The Record checked the tip, but didn’t run a story. Eric Meyer said he also alerted local police to the situation. “We thought we were being set up,” Meyer told the Reflector.

Meyer accused authorities of “Gestapo tactics.”

The National Newspaper Association called on officials in Kansas to “immediately return any property seized by law enforcement so the newspaper

Courtesy of Tribune

can proceed with its work.”

But the Marion Police Department defended the raids in a Facebook post. “When the rest of the story is available to the public, the judicial system that is being questioned will be vindicated,” said the post. The department’s webpage says its staff includes Chief Gideon Cody and four full-time officers.

Melissa Underwood, the communications director of the Kansas Bureau of Investigation, confirmed that an investigation into the matter has been launched.

In an unprecedented raid on Friday, Aug. 11, 2023, local law enforcement seized computers, cellphones and reporting materials from the Marion County Record office, the newspaper’s reporters, and the publisher’s home.

A look into Cowboy Week

Events and parties students can attend

As the fall semester kicks in, Oklahoma State University is expected to welcome thousands of new students to the Cowboy family. Events, games and parties are some of the things welcoming the class of 2027. Cowboy Welcome is a tradition for incoming students and returning students alike for that reason. From a party at the library to the iconic class photo, here are some of the most exciting events during Cowboy Welcome. Students can find a full schedule for the Cowboy Welcome events by downloading the Guidebook app and searching “Cowboy Welcome 2023” in the search bar. You can RSVP for events but no registration or fee is required for any festivities during Cowboy Welcome. Simply show up to any given event and have a great time.

Every day throughout Cowboy Welcome, tour guides and orientation leaders will be helping students find their classes and important OSU landmarks, all you need to bring is a class schedule and these helpful figures of the community will be happy to show you around campus. Another consistent event is free Colvin fitness classes all the way until August 27.

Wednesday is the first day of the Cowboy Welcome fun. Many students are expected to move in on this day, so the main event is the Student Union Activity Board night. Games such as bingo, movie trivia and karaoke are expected to be present throughout the night, bringing an excellent opportunity for students to come out of their shells and meet their fellow cowboys.

Afterward, the Edmon Low Library lawn will have a glow-in-the-dark rave party.

Thursday has far more variety in the events that students can attend.

College of Arts and Science students can meet in Life Sciences East 109 at 2 p.m. to meet fellow CAS students and faculty. There are socials, snacks and tours everywhere, so keep an eye out for the Guidebook. The Library House Party will be held at the Edmon Low Library from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. at this time. On Friday there will be other welcoming parties for specific colleges. Events for everyone include a selfdefense workshop at 10:30 a.m., at the Nancy Randolph Davis Building. There are a handful of seminars and sessions to attend if you have any burning questions about college life as well. One of the most iconic events of Cowboy Welcome is Rock the Block, which will be held just outside the Colvin Recreational Center at 5:30 p.m., Rock the Block has all kinds of games and activities. Afterward, a dance party will be held at the Colvin Center at 7:30 p.m.

Saturday is a bit lighter on events,

giving you plenty of time to explore campus on your own and make yourself at home. There is a team-based scavenger hunt outside of the Student Union at 4 p.m., and Xposed will be held in the same area at 6 p.m. Xposed is described by the Office of Fraternity and Sorority life as “a culturally based, diverse experience for our incoming Cowboys.” Afterward, head to the McKnight Center lawn for a late-night rave.

Sunday will bring us to the class photo at 7 p.m, Boone-Pickens Stadium. The Class of 2027 will meet up and pose in a unique, secret formation. Every year brings a unique shape to the class, so be sure to show up and be a part of OSU History.

While events will continue for another week, many are specific to your college. Check the Guidebook app and have a great time during your first few weeks of a new year at OSU.

entertainment.ed@ocolly.com

Students will gather for welcome week activities. Students can download the Guidebook app to keep up with the events.

Michael Clark Staff Reporter

Records...

Continued from 1

But some police unions and law enforcement organizations have raised concerns about officer safety and privacy, with names and other identifying information made public. They emphasize that the focus should be on serious misconduct rather than minor infractions like being tardy, worry about false accusations and want officers to have due process.

“What’s included should be substantiated. It should be included only after the officer was provided due process, and it should be significant misconduct,” said Bill Johnson, the executive director of the National Association of Police Organizations, in an interview with Stateline. He said that includes an officer having the opportunity to respond to allegations and having a “neutral fact finder” investigate.

“If it’s going to be something that’s useful, where you are safeguarding the public against persons who should not be in law enforcement, you have to be careful about, ‘What are we really talking about here? What gets included and how do we know that we can rely on this?’”

Ongoing debate

Even states that have recently enacted laws face ongoing debate.

In Maryland, where records have been available through public records requests since October 2021, public interest groups and news organizations have filed lawsuits citing exorbitant fees, missed deadlines and outright denials of records requests by law enforcement agencies.

And in New Jersey, the state Supreme Court issued a ruling in June that requires individuals who sue for public records to pay the entire cost of their own attorneys, regardless of the case’s outcome. Public interest and transparency advocates fear the decision will create additional hurdles for

people seeking access to police records, including disciplinary reports and dashboard camera videos.

Delaware is the latest state to pass legislation that will require substantiated reports of misconduct, such as use of force that results in serious physical injury and sexual assault or harassment, to be reported to the state’s Criminal Justice Council and posted publicly on the council’s website. Democratic Gov. John Carney is expected to sign the legislation into law on Aug. 7, according to state Rep. Melissa Minor-Brown, a Democrat who sponsored the bill.

“After we witnessed the situation that happened with George Floyd and we saw the public outcry, we knew that something had to be done,” Minor-Brown said in an interview with Stateline. “We owe it to the community. I owe it to my son, to my daughter, to my husband, to my colleagues, to those who do not have a seat at the table, to those whose voices aren’t heard, to those who have experienced injustice.”

It took lawmakers about three years to push through the legislation. While transparency advocates supported previous versions of the bill, they opposed the current version, arguing that it falls short of achieving full transparency and external oversight. The ACLU of Delaware noted, for example, that police departments will decide whether to investigate complaints and that only specific categories of misconduct are covered.

“It does not necessarily meet the standards that we think is enough to increase trust between communities and the police,” said Javonne Rich, the group’s policy and advocacy director, in an interview with Stateline. “All the information that will be made public will be what the police department wants to be made public.”

But Delaware Attorney General Kathy Jennings, a Democrat, endorsed the new bill, as did representatives from several police agencies. During a Senate Judiciary Committee

hearing in June, a witness read a supportive statement from Jamie Leonard, who leads the Delaware Fraternal Order of Police union, WHYY reported.

“We wanted to lift the veil of secrecy that so many believe surrounds our profession,’’ Leonard’s statement said, according to WHYY, the Philadelphia public radio station. “We want to provide access to information that includes names on cases where we believe our officers fell short of the standard expected by our agencies, by other officers, and by our community.”

Minor-Brown, the Delaware state representative, said that although the bill may not entirely meet advocates’ expectations, it represents a “huge step in the right direction.”

“I hear what the advocates are saying and there’s definitely going to be some space for tweaking,” MinorBrown said. “We could have not moved forward based off of some of the advocates feeling like it wasn’t enough, and then we could have gotten nowhere. I was not willing to not move anywhere because we weren’t at 100%.”

California concerns

In 2018, California made records on officer use-of-force incidents, sexual assault cases and acts of dishonesty available through public records requests. Another law enacted in 2021 established a decertification process for law enforcement officers involved in serious misconduct.

But this year, a provision enacted in the state’s budget shifts back to local police departments the responsibility of releasing their records, instead of having the state’s Commission on Peace Officer Standards and Training do so.

The measure, backed by Democratic Gov. Gavin Newsom as a cost-saving measure in the face of a large budget deficit, drew strong criticism from criminal justice and press freedom groups, The Associated Press reported. The state commission backed the bill. The measure “continues to ensure public access to police misconduct

records in a way that improves efficiencies, reduces duplicative efforts, and saves substantial taxpayer money,” wrote Meagan Poulos, the commission’s legislative liaison and public information officer, in an emailed statement.

But transparency advocates argue that the public should have a central clearinghouse for the records and that some local police departments may resist releasing such information.

“There has been significant resistance to disclosure. Others have been more proactive,” said David Loy, the legal director of the First Amendment Coalition, a nonpartisan group that aims to protect free speech rights, in an interview with Stateline. “It impacts the entire community. … Information is power, and without transparency, there’s no accountability at any level.”

Some police unions and law enforcement organizations have raised concerns about officer safety and privacy in California and nationwide.

They fear that releasing unrestricted personnel records, which may include names and other identifying information, could expose individual officers to undue scrutiny and even endanger their safety and

professional reputation.

“We understand that’s not the intent of why these things are getting released, but it is an unintended consequence of releasing names. … They could be doxxed, they could be harassed, there could be protests in front of their house. And because of the nature of the work we do, it’s very concerning,” said Lolita Harper, the executive director of the Sheriff’s Employees’ Benefit Association and a former detective for the San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Department, in an interview with Stateline.

Many law enforcement groups recognize the importance of accountability and transparency in fostering community trust and say that making disciplinary records accessible plays a significant role in achieving that goal.

“The utmost thing is to have that trust with the public, so with the specifics that at least the California legislation requires … we can understand that compromise with where the legislation was coming from and if that helps the public to have more trust than we understand it,” Harper said.

Stateline is part of States Newsroom, a national nonprofit news organization focused on state policy.

Edited by Patti Varol and Joyce Lewis

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Daily Horoscope

Nancy Black

Tribune Content Agency

Linda Black Horoscopes

Today’s Birthday (08/14/23). Professional fortunes rise wonderfully this year. Con tribute steadily to grow family fortunes. Developing a creative project from spark to flame this autumn inspires new winter directions with your work. requires adaptation next spring, motivating summer travels and exploration. Exciting career opportunities abound.

To get the advantage, check the day’s rating: 10 is the easiest day, 0 the most chal lenging.

Aries (March 21-April 19) — Today is an 8 — Romantic barriers or limitations abound. Find clever solutions through connection. Patiently resolve misunderstand ings and untangle complications. Focus on love and everything works out.

Taurus (April 20-May 20) — Today is a 7 — Indulge in nostalgia, retrospection and introspection. You can see what didn’t work while appreciating what did. Plan and prepare before launching domestic renovations.

Gemini (May 21-June 20) — Today is an 8 — Listen to intuition. Connect the dots to solve an intellectual puzzle. Propel creative dreams in collaboration. Network to propel shared dreams. Dig for solutions.

Cancer (June 21-July 22) — Today is a 9 — Monitor volatile financial conditions. Patiently contribute and build. Study the budget and adapt with changes. Don’t rely on luck where money is concerned.

Leo (July 23-Aug. 22) — Today is a 9 — Take care of yourself before caring for others. Find efficiencies to save time, energy and resources. You’re gaining influence despite self-doubt. Nurture your inner spark.

Virgo (Aug. 23-Sept. 22) — Today is a 6 — Don’t launch before you’re ready. You could make silly mistakes. Finish old projects and organize for what’s ahead as you process where you’ve been.

Libra (Sept. 23-Oct. 22) — Today is a 7 — Find new ways to connect with friends. Share team support around an obstacle. Discuss, coordinate and sort resources. Keep your objectives in mind.

Scorpio (Oct. 23-Nov. 21) — Today is an 8 — Egos could get in the way of a professional endeavor. Communication and teamwork can resolve irritations and advance projects. Contribute to a dreamy situation.

Sagittarius (Nov. 22-Dec. 21) — Today is an 8 — Your investigation could take an unexpected twist. Illusions, tricks and distractions line the trail. Make your own assessments. Investigate and research for deeper insight.

Capricorn (Dec. 22-Jan. 19) — Today is an 8 — Love is the common thread that binds your enterprise. Plan, coordinate and build together. Maintain a philosophical attitude about money. Avoid financial arguments.

Aquarius (Jan. 20-Feb. 18) — Today is a 7 — You and your partner are on the same wavelength. Strategize, collaborate and support each other to tackle a common challenge. Tighten your coordination.

Pisces (Feb. 19-March 20) — Today is a 9 — Prioritize your health. Assumptions get challenged. Steadily practice your routines. Strengthen immunities with good food, exercise and rest. Collaborate with a great coach.

ACROSS

1 Foot-in-mouth

Solution

By Brian Callahan

Complete the grid so each row, column and 3-by-3 box (in bold borders) contains every digit, 1 to 9. For strategies on how to solve Sudoku, visit sudoku.org.uk