Skip to main content
You are the owner of this article.
Edit Article Add New Article
You have permission to edit this article.
Edit

LATEST

ALERT

Weather Alert

...EXTREME HEAT WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT FROM NOON TO 8 PM CDT
TUESDAY...

* WHAT...Dangerously hot conditions with air temperatures of 105 to
108 degrees and heat index values up to 115 expected.

* WHERE...Portions of central, east central, northern, northwest, and
southeast Oklahoma.

* WHEN...From noon to 8 PM CDT Tuesday.

* IMPACTS...Heat related illnesses increase significantly during
extreme heat and high humidity events.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

Drink plenty of fluids, stay in an air-conditioned room, stay out of
the sun, and check up on relatives and neighbors.

Do not leave young children and pets in unattended vehicles. Car
interiors will reach lethal temperatures in a matter of minutes.

&&
Alert

OU professor Peter Gade to step back from journalism capstone after backlash over use of racial slur

Oklahoma drought here to stay, worse is yet to come

Stay in the loop

Get our top OU and Norman stories in your inbox. Free newsletter sign up

Gaylord College Dean Ed Kelley announced Friday that professor Peter Gade would "step down" from teaching the journalism capstone course for the remainder of the semester after Gade used a racial slur in class Tuesday.

Gade faced significant backlash from his capstone students as well as other members of the OU community after he used the word "n-----" in comparison to the phrase "OK, boomer." 

In an email from Kelley to members of Gaylord College, Kelley announced Gaylord Associate Dean David Craig would take over teaching the course for the rest of the spring semester. The statement did not say Gade would step back from any other responsibilities within the college. 

"Dr. Gade also has agreed that this episode is a chance to learn and grow," Kelley said in the statement. "Thus, he will engage in OU's program in culturally competent communication over the next month. Further, he has agreed to meet one-on-one with OU's team in the Office of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion in sessions over the coming semester."

Students in Gade's class met Thursday with Gaylord College leadership as well as Vice President for Diversity and Inclusion Belinda Higgs Hyppolite and Dean of Students David Surratt. During the meeting, students told administrators that they felt Gade should no longer teach the class.  

The statement also says Gaylord College faculty and staff will participate in an unspecified training directed by the office of diversity and inclusion. 

OU Daily standards

See an error? Earning trust is our duty. We correct errors atop stories. Identify an error, request a takedown or get in touch.

Independent and free since 1916: OU is committed to our editorial independence. You can help ensure our reporting remains strong and accessible to all invested in OU and Norman.

Want to comment? We value dialogue on issues we cover. On our social media accounts, we moderate disparagements, arguments and attacks, including those directed at our staff — and ban those repeatedly failing civility. The editor considers guest column submissions.