OKLAHOMA CITY — OU Board of Regents approved the student rights and responsibilities code, naming the newly renovated chemical engineering lab and adding signage naming the Cherokee Nation outside of the Stephenson Cancer Center in Tulsa at its Tuesday meeting.
The meeting was originally set to take place on the Norman campus, but was moved to the OU Health campus late last week. Six protesters with OU Students for Justice in Palestine briefly attended the meeting and quietly handed out pamphlets to attendees.
About 50 members of SJP protested Monday inside Evans Hall after the regents meeting was moved to Oklahoma City.
Harroz told OU Daily after the meeting that he was not present for Monday’s protest, but he appreciated the way they handled Tuesday’s protest in Oklahoma City.
“I thought today the students were terrific,” Harroz said. “There was no disruption of any kind here, so I totally respect that approach that they took today in this meeting.”
Student rights and responsibilities code revisions
The news: The board approved changes to the student rights and responsibilities code to include the definition of antisemitism in accordance with state law.
As of March, Oklahoma state law requires all institutions of higher education to integrate the state-adopted definition of antisemitism from the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance into the student code of conduct.
According to the meeting agenda, the definition will be added to section two of the OU Student Rights and Responsibilities Code.
“As defined by the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance, ‘Antisemitism is a certain perception of Jews, which may be expressed as hatred toward Jews. Rhetorical and physical manifestations of antisemitism are directed toward Jewish or non-Jewish individuals and/or their property, toward Jewish community institutions, and religious facilities,’" the amended code reads.
The code of conduct states that the Institutional Equity Office investigates allegations of antisemitism using standards applicable to all allegations of discrimination or harassment based on race, color or national origin.
The vote: The board passed the amendment unanimously.
Chemical engineering lab
The news: The board approved renaming the newly renovated chemical engineering lab in the Sarkeys Annex to the “Valero Energy Unit Ops Laboratory” in honor of the Valero Energy Corporation’s financial contributions.
Valero Energy donated $2.42 million to fund the renovation of the chemical engineering lab, which will include new flooring, paint and graphics on walls, lab infrastructure and equipment modernization, a collaborative workspace with reconfigurable furniture and storefront windows along the east wall.
“This significant update will enhance the learning environment for faculty and students and showcase the chemical engineering program for corporate partners and recruiters and prospective students,” the agenda reads.
The vote: The board unanimously passed the bill.
Stephenson Cancer Center honorific signage
The news: The board approved a request for signage at the Stephenson Cancer Center in Tulsa to honor the Cherokee Nation, which made an $8 million gift toward the center.
According to the agenda, the signage will acknowledge the Cherokee Nation’s vision in expanding healthcare and education access for Native Oklahomans. The sign will be placed outside the building and will read “With the support of Cherokee Nation,” the agenda states.
The Stephenson Cancer Center is Oklahoma’s only National Cancer Institute-Designated Cancer Center and was named the state’s top cancer care facility. There are currently over 400 cancer research projects and clinical trials being held at the center.
The vote: The signage was passed unanimously.
This story was edited by Ana Barboza. Ryan Little and Gretchen Schultz copy edited this story.
