Tag: campus life

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‘Twas the Week Before Finals

Dead week means different things for different people. Some students just have a few finals to study for, while others are scrambling to finish final projects and essays. Though finals still loom ahead, we made it through dead week, and classes are officially over. 

Online finals are becoming the new normal, but some in-person finals are back. Celeste Douglas, a sophomore from Texas, gave her study tips and habits for finals week.

“I really didn’t have finals last year cause COVID,” she explained. She said in many ways, she still feels like a freshman. However, she knows what study techniques work best for her.

“I like to make flashcards, and then I try to at least have a few study sessions with friends in classes, and then reviewing notes and rewriting my notes in colors.”

Celeste’s best study tip is to make your own study guides. She also likes to make sure she takes breaks between studying for each class.

“I’ll just take thirty minutes and go for a walk or go to the gym or eat some ice cream.”

Rewarding and taking care of yourself are important parts of a successful finals week.

Though not everyone is going home for the entire break, the prospect of going home after this week is the light at the end of the tunnel for many students. 

“I definitely miss my family and my animals, and I’m ready to see my best friend from back home,” Celeste said.

Whether the semester has flown by or dragged slowly, we have almost reached the end. Merry finals to all, and to all a good break!

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Football > Finals

When OU’s football team faced the drama of losing a head coach and several key players right after a bedlam loss, finals seemed like a welcome distraction. Now that dead week is here, however, football has sparked new excitement and new hope to boost campus morale. On Sunday night, the new head coach of the football team, Brent Venables, arrived in Norman by plane. Bright and early Monday morning, the university hosted a press conference to welcome Coach Venables. Students were invited, and those who were lucky enough to escape the dead week responsibilities of class, projects, and studying were able to witness the exciting event.

Clayton Chiariello spoke with me about the event.

“It started off really really slow,” he admitted. However, when the band started to play, the energy in the room grew. 

“It started getting crazy, and they showed this video of Bob Stoops…then the new coach walked in, and everyone went crazy.”

Bob Stoops may not have been there in person, but quarterback Caleb Williams was, which is very encouraging to those who have been worrying that he, too, might decide to end his time at the University of Oklahoma. The loss of Lincoln Riley was one thing, but losing players and commits was also disheartening. 

Clayton said losing wide receiver Jadon Haselwood hurt the most. 

However, Coach Venables came prepared to usher in some much-needed joy just in time for the holidays.

“He shot a little cannon of confetti,” Clayton described. “And then the fire went off.”

Yes, flames shot out of the stage to welcome the new coach. We can always count on OU football for dramatic theatrics. 

Clayton is confident that Coach Venables is qualified for the position.

“Nine years with Oklahoma, three national championships, eight championship appearances,” Clayton listed. “Never had a losing season as defensive coordinator.” 

Clayton described the “people first” mentality that Venables discussed in his speech.

Still, Clayton acknowledged the transition.

“He’s going to create a different culture.”

The OU team has long been known for their offense, but Venables is expected to bring an emphasis on defense. 

However, as Clayton pointed out, “he has a lot of alumni backing him.”

Hopefully this, along with the support of Bob Stoops, will help ease the transition. 

“[Bob Stoops has been] pivotal in helping everyone maintain confidence in the team,” Clayton said. Now the torch has officially been passed. With the Stoops stamp of approval, the University of Oklahoma is proud to welcome Brent Venables back into the Sooner family.

Photo Credit: Clayton Chiariello

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Sustainability on Campus

I have always been interested in environmental issues, but since I arrived at OU I have already gained a much more in-depth understanding of how to be an effective steward of the environment. Much of this knowledge has come from my environmental studies class, but there are many resources on campus to create a more sustainable university. This week I talked to the chairman of the Sustainability Committee in SGA Congress. Jake Lange answered some of my questions about our campus’s recycling, sustainability initiatives, and more. 

One of the important roles Jake’s committee plays is monitoring the actions of other groups on campus to make sure environmental responsibility is being upheld. 

Jake explained this as making sure there are “no lapses in sustainability that are in our power to fix.”

One example of this is when they passed a funding bill to stop the SGA budget from supplying student organizations with confetti and balloons since these items usually end up as litter. 

“The other side of it,” he explained, “[is] letting our members identify what they want to work on and pursue that.”

The sustainability committee provides an opportunity for students to investigate and solve environmental issues on campus. 

“Often what our committee does is it serves as a portal,” Jake told me. “[It lends] a lot of credibility and access to resources in pursuing [environmental] interests.” 

The big project Jake has worked towards is getting reusable food containers on campus. The project got put on hold because of the pandemic, but I was fascinated to learn about the impact the sustainability committee could have on reducing campus waste. Already, campus dining has moved away from using styrofoam for to-go cups and containers. Jake has worked to take this a step further. Jake described the project as “the hill I will die on.” The project was very close to going into effect before the pandemic put it on hold. 

“[The] cost is way lower,” Jake told me. The university had everything set up to partner with a company called OZZI, which Jake explained uses vending machines and tokens to dispense and return reusable to-go containers. It would be a big change that would have a big impact, and it has already been successfully implemented at several other universities across the country. Hopefully Jake will get to see the plan put into action before his time at OU comes to an end. 

When I expressed my interest in recycling, Jake was able to give me some insight into campus recycling. OU has a partnership with a contracting company that picks up recycling on campus. 

Because of this, Jake explained, “what you can recycle through the city of Norman is different than what you can recycle through OU.”

One of the main issues I have noticed with recycling is people’s awareness of what and how they should recycle. 

“That’s something we have kind of tried to work on,” Jake told me. “The Department of Energy and Sustainability has also been working on new signage.”

As far as knowing what is recyclable, Jake assured me, “It’s actually pretty easy…Plastics one and two are recyclable. On campus, glass is recyclable in the city of norman it is not…things like aluminum cans…paper that is not contaminated with food waste… it’s not actually that complicated.”

When you work towards a more sustainable campus, it is pretty easy to see positive change go into effect. 

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SGA Elections

It’s election day! On campus, this means the two-day long Student Government Association elections. Today we are voting for student body president and college representatives. This blog has featured several SGA voices already who spoke specifically over free speech. This week, I spoke with Aiden Dodd, a freshman running for University College representative. Many people, especially freshmen, are completely unaware of SGA, much less the elections going on today and tomorrow. Aiden was happy to share some background.

“SGA is the union for the students – basically the advocate to the higher-ups of the university for the students.”

For those who do not think elections affect them very much, Aiden was able to clarify the impact the SGA has on undergraduate students.

“Elections are a big deal,” he emphasized. “You need someone who’s not afraid to stand up to the people in charge.”

Additionally, Aiden pointed out the influence the students elected will have.

“A rule I make now could still be affecting [you],” Aiden explained. For freshmen on campus, the policies put into place this year could potentially affect them for three more years. 

On top of that, some of the fees every student pays go to SGA.

“You’re paying $115.75 for it per semester,” Aiden reported.

Since Aiden is running in the election, he has been campaigning. This has included everything from making graphics and posters, taking headshots for the candidate pamphlet, and, of course, talking to his potential constituents. 

“I have big ideas and see the changes that need to be made for the university to thrive,” Aiden told me. 

Aiden has received positive feedback as he has gone through the process of encouraging his peers to vote. 

“They are excited after I explain it to them.”

Across the country, it is election day. At the University of Oklahoma, we are lucky to have our own elections as well. If students take advantage of opportunities to keep up with campus events and elections, they can learn to uphold their civil responsibility in life beyond college. 

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Free Speech in College and Beyond

As I previously mentioned, my first year in college has been the first time I was aware of Free Speech Week. The University of Oklahoma put effort into organizing events and making statements to raise awareness for the week. Historically, there are many examples of when college campuses have been centers for free speech. I talked to one of my peer mentors, Chris Firch, to unpack the role free speech plays in a college education. 

Chris did not participate in any of the campus-sponsored Free Speech Week events, but he is aware of it. He feels comfortable speaking his mind freely, and he expressed to me his appreciation for the rights we have regarding this. During college, the things we learn help grow this respect. Chris gave me a recent example from his own life.

“I’ve been watching these North Korea documentaries which made me appreciate the blessing of free speech in our country.”

Chris has witnessed several instances of free speech during his time on campus. He has seen protests on the South Oval ranging from topics like pro-life and pro-choice to the conflicts in Palestine. 

“I would say the reason we go to college is to educate ourselves on real-world issues,” he reflected. “The right to protest and speak freely on the south oval really encourages free thought.”

As a campus tour guide, Chris has had to explain this to visitors to OU’s campus. Whenever a protest or activist event is occurring while Chris is giving a tour, he does not shy away from mentioning it. 

“Even if it can be polarizing at times…it’s important to value knowledge and hear the different perspectives.”

This is all part of the college experience. 

“Adults have their minds made up a lot more clearer than college students do,” Chris explained. “Freedom of speech is so prevalent here in college…it’s the first time we can experience so many backgrounds, beliefs, and cultures.”

As college students are exposed to so many different perspectives, they also have the opportunity to access quality content to help shape their interpretation of the world around them. Whether it is hearing from professors or student government leaders, learning from literature and textbooks, or staying caught up with campus and global news, college is full of opportunities for accessing quality information. All these aspects contribute to another freedom that is firmly dependent on freedom of speech.

“Freedom of thought…[it] is so valuable. Freedom of knowledge and actually getting accurate information is so powerful.”

Keep an open mind. Be a lifelong learner. These are important lessons that extend far beyond our time in college, and they will allow us to celebrate free speech every day of our lives. 

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Campus Tours with Jaci Walker

As a high schooler, I loved college tours. Everything about college seemed exciting, and I always enjoyed fantasizing about what it would be like. College has, indeed, lived up to my expectations so far (plus a little less sleep and a little more stress). When I walked into the union this morning, there was a big Scholars Day tour event going on. I smiled as I walked by with my backpack and coffee cup, feeling like a real college student.

Tours are not just about seeing campus, however. An important part of picturing yourself on campus is talking to students to hear what their campus life is like. Today I talked to Jaci Walker about what it’s like to be a tour guide here at OU.

Jaci is a sophomore, so this is her first semester as a tour guide. It’s also the most normal semester she has had at OU since last semester had many more pandemic restrictions. I asked her if this made it harder to be a tour guide. Many other sophomores I have talked to seem almost as lost on campus as I was my first week. Jaci, however, does not feel like the COVID year hindered her too much. 

“As a freshman, I was surprised by how normal it still felt,” she shared with me. “The university did a good job of providing that environment.”

The main factor that made a difference for Jaci was her involvement.

“Being in things like HSLC and PLC.”

These clubs, along with her sorority, gave her upperclassmen mentors who already knew the ropes of campus. Jaci explained that the people you are around are the most important resource on campus.

Thanks to these experiences, Jaci was able to pass the daunting tour guide test.

“It’s extensive. You just really have to know a lot of things about the university that would be applicable to students interested in the university. It’s mainly short-answer, fill in the blank…those are blanks you’re supposed to be filling in the tour. Some things there may not be one specific answer.”

This test, along with an interview over the summer, makes up the process of being a tour guide. It’s a paid position, and Jaci told me a little about how this makes it different from other campus activities.

“As a college student, a lot of your involvement is choice. But this is a job.” 

Being a tour guide has taught her about having balance. While she is spending time on campus with friends, it is a real job, which makes it a different kind of commitment than clubs or activities.

“The job itself is somewhat demanding, just in the sense of the events you help with on top of your regular tour shifts during the week.”

Working with people is another aspect of the job that has helped her grow. 

“It’s kind of the same as working in food service or working in retail. Working with people is huge. You’re going to get so many different types of parents, so many different types of students.”

With this, Jaci has learned to adjust her tour depending on her audience. However, across the board, her favorite part is reminiscing about life as a freshman. Jaci uses her experiences as a freshman to help visitors figure out what their time on campus could look like. 

It is also fun to connect with people about food.

“When we go to the Caf,” she told me, “if we haven’t sold [them] on anything else, we always say we have the only all-you-can-eat Chick Fil A and the biggest cereal bar in the Big 12.”

(Will we still be able to brag about our cereal bar when we join the SEC??)

As I remember from my campus tours, Jaci ends her tours with her “Why OU?”.

“It is simply for the fact that nowhere else I visited felt like home the way OU did…the size of it was perfect. Also, the people here truly invest in you, in your goals and your dreams and what you want to do.”

It may sound cliche. It may sound like something you would hear on a campus visit anywhere. In my short time on campus, though, I already see how true this is. 

The OU family is real, no matter how cliché it may seem. This is exactly what Jaci tells visitors. 

“Go where you feel at home, supported, and loved for who you are. Where you can be guided into who you want to be. I want you to know that this is what I have found here [at OU]. I want this for you.”