Final Article-Marriage Equality

The same hate that makes them want to get out of Norman is what’s keeping them here to fight for a change and provide a voice for people who aren’t being heard.

According to MarriageEquality.org, as of Nov., 21 states recognize various forms of legal relationships, but 30 states still ban all forms of marriage except one-man-one-woman couples. The Okla. State Senate ruled it unconstitutional for the state to recognize or perform same-sex marriages or civil unions.

“It’s kind of lonely being gay here, it’s pretty hidden, not many people are out about it,” OU junior Fallon Elliot said. “But being out in Oklahoma is a way to help others be more comfortable with themselves and so I’m glad that I’m here for that reason.”

Elliot’s classmate said that he also had a hard time coming out but believes the change happening around the country will eventually come to Okla.

“In my women’s studies class I wrote that I can’t stand living here and I wanted to get out,” Mason Chance Lilly said. “My professor responded and said that it’s really unfortunate I feel that way because Oklahoma really needs people like you here to help it become more accepted. Now I feel guilty for wanting to leave.”

Dr. Brent Landau is a religious studies professor at OU and said he makes a point to talk about homosexuality in all of his classes.

“I feel called to be in Norman, I want people to understand that being gay is a perfectly normal thing,” Landau said. “It’s important for students to hear opposite opinions of what they’ve heard in church or from home. What they need is a more balanced understanding about what the Bible does and doesn’t say about homosexuality.”

“I view it as something that is the same as somebody having red hair or being able to wiggle their ears,” Landau said. “In the same way we shouldn’t be judging people on their hair color or the way they look we shouldn’t be judging people on their sexual preferences as long as they are expressing it in loving relationships.”

Final Project Media-Marriage Equality

Dr. Brent Landau, Fallon Elliot and Mason Chance Lilly talk about why they feel being gay is biological and not a personal choice. Elliot and Lilly are juniors at OU and wish the campus was more gay-friendly. Video runs 2:26.

Blog 8 Media

 Mackenzie Stoops said she likes driving her Jeep because she feels safe in it.

Mackenzie Stoops watching her favorite show, 90210, with her dog Nelle. Stoops said Nelle always watches movies with her before the fall asleep. 

Blog 8

Parent’s jobs always affect their child’s lives, but for this high school student her dad’s job is her life.

Mackenzie Stoops is a sophomore at Norman High. Her father is OU head football coach Bob Stoops.

“My life is organized around football,” Stoops said. “Our family vacations depend on how the season goes and what bowl we get into. The last three years we've been in Arizona on new year’s, I’m ready to go somewhere else.”

Even though the Stoops family is well known around Norman, Mackenzie said her family isn’t that different from anyone else’s.

“My dad comes to as many of my brothers’ games as he can,” Stoops said. “I don’t play any sports but it’s fun going to those games with my parents.”

Stoops turned 16 over the summer and she said her favorite present was her red Jeep Wrangler.

“I guess you could say my parents are protective,” Stoops said. “They literally bought me a tank for my birthday.”

Stoops’ boyfriend, Austin Earley, is also a sophomore at Norman North and said he was very intimidated by Coach Stoops the first time they met.

“I’ve always been scared about coming to Mackenzie’s house,” Earley said. “I grew up an OU can and I always wanted to meet Bob but this wasn't how I imagined it. I’m just glad I’m not an OSU or Texas fan. That would make coming over here pretty awkward.”

Stoops said she was nervous to introduce her parents to Austin, but not nearly as nervous as he was to meet them.

“The first time I ever met her parents was when we were friends in 6 grade,” Earley said.
“Bob was even scarier when I was a foot shorter.”

“My football memories start at OU,” Stoops said. “I can’t even remember when my dad was coaching for Florida. I guess you could say I’ve grown up being an OU girl.”

Stoops said that this season has been one of her favorites now that her uncle Mike is coaching for OU.

“He’s not as scary as he looks on TV,” Stoops said. “It’s been really fun having my cousins around and I know that my dad really likes having him there.”

Stoops said that she has gotten used to the spotlight being on her dad and seeing her family in the media.

“One time I walked into 7’11 and I heard two guys talk about how Bob Stoops was moving,” Stoops said. “I thought they meant out of town so I went up and asked them about it and found out that my parents had just bought the land. It’s weird hearing things that other people know about what my family is doing.”

Blog 7 -- Flu Season

With the cold weather settling in and finals getting closer, the physical effects of stress and late night studying are catching up with students.

“Of course I would get sick the weekend before a big test,” OU junior Faye Womack said. “My professor emailed the power points and notes from lecture to review, but studying at home in bed alone isn’t the same as being in class and going to the review sessions.”

Monday morning Womack said she went into Goddard Health Center to get medicine for a cough that was keeping her up at night and left being diagnosed with the flu.

“Besides the occasional allergy or a bad cough I don’t get sick very often,” Womack said. “At the beginning of last week I started feeling weak and didn’t want to get out of bed. I should’ve realized I was sick when I lost my appetite.”

According to webmd.com, flu season begins in the Fall and lasts through the Spring. Flu symptoms usually come on suddenly and often start with the abrupt onset of fever, headache, fatigue, dry cough and body aches.

“I’ve had two appointments at Goddard this week and both times the waiting room was pretty full,” Womack said. “One of my friends I went to the football game with and hung out with Saturday night was there. Hopefully I didn’t get her sick we were sharing things all weekend.”

Womack said her roommate, Camille Sanders, has been avoiding her since she mentioned she wasn’t feeling well.

“I’ve been trying not to go in her room and I won’t drink after her,” Sanders said. “I’d be screwed if I got sick before finals.”

“I feel like getting sick goes along with being young,” Sanders said. “Students focus on school so you don’t pay attention to your health as much as you should.”

Womack said her doctor was worried about her infecting other students so she excused her from class for the rest of the week.

“I hate thinking about how much I’m going to miss this week,” Womack said. “I think getting sick came from a combination of cold weather and long nights. I’m never going to forget to get a flu shot again. Laying in bed all day makes me feel like I’m wasting so much time.”

On Tuesdays and Wednesdays, Goddard Health Center is promoting flu awareness by handing out hand sanitizers and first aid kits in the South Oval. Flu shots at Goddard are free for students with a valid ID and $25 for all others.

Blog 7 -- Flu Season Video

Blog 6 Video--Ashley Stephens

Blog 6--Ashley Stephens

Until she graduates in May, multitasking has become a way of life for this OU senior as she balances 15 hours of class with a fulltime job.

“My schedule is crazy but I love it,” Ashley Stephens said. “It definitely isn’t easy but I keep reminding myself that all the hours and work I’m putting in now are going to pay off in May when I graduate.”

Stephens is studying accounting and finance at Price College of Business and is an assistant coach for the Chesapeake Swim Club.

“I was swam for ASU for three years then transferred to OU because of a coaching change,” Stephens said. “I stopped swimming because I wanted to focus on school. I’m graduating in May, it’s hard not to worry about getting a job.”

After she graduates, Stephens said she is planning on moving to Seattle, Wash. to work for her dad at Costco’s corporate headquarters.  

“My dad is the Senior VP of Pharmacy for Costco,” Stephens said. “I won’t be working directly for him but I’m applying for jobs in the corporate headquarters.”

Stephens said that while she enjoys coaching, the time commitment and salary are making her question whether or not the job is worth keeping.

“Monday, Wednesday and Saturday I leave my apartment at 5:15 for 6a.m. practice,” Stephens said. “Tuesday, Thursday and Friday I leave straight from class at 2:15. This Tuesday I didn’t get home until 8:30, went straight to the library and didn’t leave until 2a.m. All nighters are normal for me now.”

The Chesapeake Swim Team practices at the OCC Aquatic Center in Oklahoma City. Stephens said she spends over an hour driving to and from practice each day.

One of Stephen’s swimmers, Jessi Hildebrand, said that she really appreciates how much time Stephens spends with them, as she is the only coach available for morning practices.

Another OU senior, Steven Pelitere, is balancing 12 hours of school with his 30-hour workweek as a bartender at Chimy’s on Campus Corner. Since Chimy’s opened in April, Pelitere has worked his way up from checking IDs at the door to training as a manager.

“It’s all about time management, my school and work schedules fit together like puzzle pieces,” Pelitere said. “When I’m not in school I’m working. My boss adjusted my schedule so I could attend office hours every week and still make it to work.”

Because of their ability to efficiently manage time, Stephens and Pelitere both said they are leaving OU feeling confident they will find jobs upon graduation.  

Blog 5-Laura Bergey

Going to OU and competing individually sounded better than chasing her collegiate equestrian dream at OSU for this Norman local.

“OU is the only school in the Big 12 without an equestrian program,” junior Laura Bergey said. “I wanted to be on a collegiate team but the closest school was OSU and I wasn’t about to go there.”

Bergey’s mother, Jennifer Bergey, trained horses professionally and taught her how to ride when she was 5 years old.

“Laura probably spent as much time in the barns with me and the horses as she did at home,” Jennifer Bergey said. “We taught her how to ride on a little grey pony named Rosie.”

Bergey’s dreams and her horse have gotten much larger. She is now riding a chestnut thoroughbred that stands 17 hands high, weighs close to 15,000 pounds, named Toby.

“Toby’s back is about 5-foot-6, he used to be a racehorse, his legs are really long,” Bergey said. “We do high adult jumpers so the fences are between 3-foot-6 and 3-foot-9 inches tall.”

Bergey said that training for a show is a lot like training for a sporting event.

“I have to keep my horse in shape and myself in shape,” Bergey said. “People think the horse does all the work but it’s a team effort. I have to steer him and show him where to go but I also have to control the speed and distance of his stride and find the spot to jump. If I don’t control him he’ll just gallop full speed and it’ll be a disaster.”

Bergey said she’s gotten used to disasters and that falling was one of the things she had to accept when she decided to become serious about riding. When she falls, Bergey said she gets mad at herself instead of the horse and focuses on how she can improve.

According to the National Collegiate Equestrian Association, collegiate athletes jump between 3 feet and 3 feet 6 inches. In the Olympics, athletes are jumping between 4 feet 7 inches and 5 feet 3 inches.

“I’m glad I compete individually because I’m already competing at a higher level than college athletes,” Bergey said. “The highest I’ve jumped is 4-foot-6.

“After college I want to turn pro. My goal isn’t necessarily the Olympics but I’d like to compete in Grand Prix events. Those shows are in pretty high paying classes. I’d love to be able to make a living out of this.”

Blog 5 Slide Show--Laura Bergey

Laura Bergey competes individually in equestrian horseback riding. She rides her thoroughbred, Toby, every other day on her parent's land in Norman.

Midterm Slide Show-Jonny Schank

Jonathon Schanke played at the Deli on the first Wednesday of every month at open mic night. He plays two cover songs and two that he wrote.

Midterm-Jonny Schank

The sky is the limit for Jonathon Schanke; at age 4 he laced up his first pair of hockey skates, at age 14 he taught himself to play the guitar and at age 21 he piloted his first plane.

Today Schanke is playing center for the University of Oklahoma hockey team, playing live at the Deli on Campus Corner and working towards his pilot license.

“Of the three, I get the most nervous before hockey games,” Schanke said. “This is my last year playing competitive ice hockey so just trying to take it all in. I don’t let myself get nervous before I fly and I think of playing the guitar as a fun event. It’s exciting I like to make peoples’ ears happy. A couple whiskey and cokes help me get in the zone.”

Schanke plays on the first Wednesday of every month when the Deli has open mic night. He has played there four times.

“At the Deli I play two songs that I wrote myself,” Schanke said. “Next month my brother Joel will be up there playing bass with me.

The Schanke brothers grew up playing hockey and the guitar together in Wallingford, CN.

“I’m excited to be on stage with my brother,” Joel Schanke said. “I’m a little nervous, but not as nervous as I’ll be the first time he flies me around.”

OU’s aviation program flies out of the Max Westheimer Airport where Schanke flies single-engine Piper Warrior planes.

“My first flight was like drinking water out of a fire house,” Schanke said. “It was the first time I’d ever been in a plane there was so much going on I didn’t know what to think. But it’s gotten a lot easier, I soloed for the first time in September.”

(SLIDESHOW, Emma Kittle, 1:35)