In a never-ending news cycle, it can be hard to remember the biggest campus events from the past few months. Here’s a look back on the top stories at OU from The Daily this semester:
OU President David Boren announces retirement
OU President David Boren, who took the position in 1994, announced Sept. 20 that he will be retiring on June 30, 2018, pending the selection of his successor by the OU Board of Regents.
Boren was Oklahoma governor for four years, a senator for 15 and chair of President Obama’s Intelligence Advisory Board. Boren also founded the OU Honors College and the College of International Studies, and he plans on continuing to teach at OU post-retirement.
“Serving as your president has been the most rewarding period of my life. So many of you in this room have rubbed off on me,” Boren said in our Sept. 21 story. “So many special friendships have been made. It’s impossible for me to express my appreciation to you. Thank all of you for making it so rewarding.”
“Because of you, as the chant says, our university will live on stronger than ever.”
'All I know is America': OU's DACA students reflect on uncertain future
President Donald Trump’s administration announced Sept. 5 its plan to end the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program, or DACA. The program, which gives those who came to America as children the ability to obtain work permits, travel permits and temporary reprieve from deportation for two-year periods, currently protects about 80 OU students.
Carlos Rubio, Diana Prieto and Ruth Cruces are three students at OU that are recipients of DACA.
Cruces, who has hopes of becoming a pediatric oncologist and surgeon, now faces potential deportation when her DACA status expires.
“I grew up singing 'The Star Spangled Banner' and saying the Pledge of Allegiance. These things are about freedom and America and hope,” said Cruces in our Sept. 7 story. “I might have a different birth country, but it isn’t my home. All I know is America.”
OU Counseling Psychology Clinic faces possible shutdown after program suspension
The OU Counseling Psychology Clinic, which sees 180 to 200 clients monthly and is run by OU’s doctoral psychology students, faces possible closure.
Staffing issues earlier this year led OU administration to decide to no longer accept students, which will potentially cause the closure of the clinic. The clinic will remain open through May 2018 and is encouraging those who need it to seek help through the clinic.
“Now we’re fully functional, we’re fully staffed for the time being, and we want to serve people, especially people who can’t get services elsewhere,” said Erika Warbinton, third-year doctoral student in the psychology practicum program and senior clinic supervisor.
Former OU student alleges hazing, files lawsuit against Beta Theta Pi fraternity
A former OU student filed a personal injury complaint against OU’s Beta Theta Pi chapter and two of its members involved in an alleged hazing incident and its subsequent cover-up.
Blake Novacek claims to have suffered “serious bodily injury” when struck by a bat and knocked unconscious during a fraternity initiation ritual, according to court documents.
OU students and Beta Theta Phi members Gavin Martindale and Shane Muselmann, both implicated in the suit, will be seeking defense against the suit.
"The allegations against me are completely false, and I have no idea why they are being made. I intend to aggressively fight this suit and defend my reputation," Muselmann said in our Oct. 3 story.
OU student designs shirts to benefit Houston after Hurricane Harvey
When OU student Matt Welsh, supply chain management and journalism junior, saw the aftermath of Hurricane Harvey, he decided to take action to support those who were affected.
Hurricane Harvey was estimated to have cost anywhere from $70 billion to $108 billion in damage, according to The New York Times. Welsh began to sell shirts with “Houstrong” on them to raise money for those affected by Harvey. He raised upwards of $1,500 in his effort to help support those in Houston.
“I wanted to help and noticed that no one was selling shirts yet,” Welsh said.
