OIDJ at Gaylord College

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OIDJ Editor has 297 articles published.

As food insecurity rises in Norman, pantries aim to fill the void

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By Thalia Henry, Lawton MacArthur High School As certain effects of the pandemic start to subside, people around the nation are still facing financial burden and food insecurity. Despite this, local food pantries are continuing to try and aid those in need, including the OU Food Pantry and another called Food and Shelter in Norman.  In Oklahoma, Norman’s poverty rate has been on a constant incline over the past four years, with 43% (55,040) of the population being below the SNAP threshold, according to the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities. To combat this, both food pantries in Norman are operating…

In the three years since the pandemic, a lot has changed, including college

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By Jensen McKey, Epic Charter Schools Students, educators, and professionals alike are coming to terms with the lasting effects of the pandemic on their studies, work and lives.  Before the pandemic, 62% of college students had never been enrolled in a virtual class. Then, in March 2020, many colleges around the country made the decision to hold the rest of the semester online over Zoom. The University of Oklahoma was no exception, moving all classes online after spring break.  Dr. Cyndi Frisby is a professor of strategic communication at Gaylord College of Journalism at OU. She was a new faculty hire at…

Oklahoma public schools may be commanded to display the Ten Commandments

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By Kylee Crisswell, Yukon High School Eight years after the Oklahoma Supreme Court ruled the Ten Commandments could not stand on state property, a new push would propose putting them into public schools. The recurring debate over whether this is constitutional is once again coming back into the public eye.  The state superintendent of education recently received a recommendation to place displays of the Ten Commandments in public school classrooms. This suggestion was proposed by the Advisory Committee of Foundational Principles. This committee is independent and not tied to the state government. The committee is made up of people from…

A future without affirmative action 

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By Ethan Dixon, Frisco (Texas) Heritage High School Soon-to-be college students are left asking how the Supreme Court’s recent decision to ban affirmative action might affect them. Affirmative action, first enacted in 1961, survived through the Cold War, 12 presidents, 22,460 days, and over 61 years before its federal ban in a 6-3 decision June 23. Oklahoma State Sen. George Young stressed the importance of diversity in an interview with OIDJ.  “You limit your ability to be great when you’re focusing on one avenue,” Young said. “Diversity is good, and I’m not afraid of it. Once you learn the richness…

Minimum wage employees work against inflation for $7.25

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Hanna Joo, Norman North High School Many college students struggle to pay for their education, often through minimum wage jobs. These students live in constant dread of not having enough money to make ends meet. And for Alyx Sabina of Midwest City, the past three years have been a series of minimum wage jobs. Alyx has worked as a waitress for $2.25 per hour plus tips while attending Rose State College.  “Just because most of the time, minimum wage jobs are more flexible with their hours. And when you’re a college student, you really need flexibility in the workplace,” she…

Welcome Black Weekend coming Aug. 26-28

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By Houston Williams, Walnut Grove High School, Prosper Texas The University of Oklahoma is most known for its football team hitting the field each fall, but that’s one of many groups to make their debuts.  One of those is Welcome Black Weekend. The OU coordinator of African American programs and services, Angelique Price, said, “Welcome black weekend is a three day orientation for incoming or transfer Black students. The Welcome Black Week is a part of African American Programs and Services.” Welcome Black Weekend will be held Aug. 26-28. This organization is all about getting connected with Black students of OU.…

The Role of Social Media in Kidney Disease

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By Lucas Mann, Bartlesville High School  Ashley Winn is a nurse in Oklahoma but she never thought she’d be the one needing help. Winn has is polycystic kidney disease. She is one of several thousand in the nation with chronic kidney disease. Katie Hallum is another Oklahoman with kidney disease. This story illustrates the perspectives of patients with CKD and the organ donation processes. Most organ donors are matched to patients through various organizations, such as Organ Procurement and Transplantation Network (OPTN) but as social media becomes more popular cases have been found where people use TikTok to find donors.

Controversy is second nature to Ryan Walters

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OU public library inside

By Joslin Tinline, Plainview High School, Ardmore Though he is only months into his first term in office, Oklahoma Superintendent of Public Instruction Ryan Walters continues to generate controversy.  So far this year, Walters has called the teachers union terrorists, banned books and demanded a teacher to be removed for advising a certain library to her students.  Walters said he will ensure that indoctrination and (Critical Race Theory)  are eliminated from our state. Last week, Walters made remarks that further divided the state. On July 6, Walters held a forum at the Norman Public Library. Walters spoke and answered questions. A YouTube…

Rebuilding a community

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By Rylie Lockerman, Vandegrift High School, Austin, Texas The towers that once cast shadows over OU’s campus have slowly come tumbling down this summer, making way for a new beginning. One that allows for the past to be appreciated, but a successful future to be built. Adams Center, which stood 12 floors tall and housed 1,150 students, had its charms when it opened in 1964 but was better known for mold and flooding in recent years.  “I think it opens up a good opportunity for better housing,” fifth-year senior Lacey Bacon said. “It already feels like the university is selling more…

Browsing for housing: What to expect as a college freshman 

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By: Keely Betenson  Fall is officially upon us as the summer comes to a close. As students scurry to pack their totes with college essentials and begin browsing for places to stay, there may be certain aspects they either overlook or simply don’t know. In order to fully understand the what, where and why of moving into a new “home,” I interviewed upperclassmen staying on or near campus.  Here is what they have to say about the first year of college life.  “Don’t bring too much stuff. Don’t do it, ” said Destiny Gregory, an OU senior in Gaylord College. Gregory…

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