Oklahoma Institute for Duty to Journalism

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OIDJ Editor - page 29

OIDJ Editor has 309 articles published.

Drinking the Kool-Aid: Why rape culture and consent go hand in hand

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by Maria Chaves   At my school, girls are encouraged to dress modestly. Shorts, skirts and short-sleeved shirts have to pass the dollar-bill length test, a system that measures a dollar bill from the seam of the item to the knee or how much of the shoulder is covered. These rules are accepted but only to a certain extent. Although the school says it’s a matter of self-respect, we all know whom they are trying to protect: boys. The term “boys will be boys” has become a commonplace expression. We understand it is the main reason for the dress code.…

Camp Crimson aims to ease nerves of attending a new school

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 by Mariela Claudio For most students, going to a new school can be terrifying. Luckily, Camp Crimson is here to help at The University of Oklahoma. Camp Crimson has been an OU institution since 1995. This year, it started June 18 with the transfer session for students. This camp focuses more on helping students learn about the campus and its traditions. Maryann Callaway is a soon-to-be junior. She transferred from Western Oklahoma State College. “When you think of Oklahoma, you think of OU. You think of Sooner,” Callaway said. “It’s history. It’s just Oklahoma. “I don’t think of any of…

Only Human – The Confessions of an International Student

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by Chase Bryer Prior to coming to the U.S., Shugofa Dastgeer worked as a famous news anchor for Afghanistan’s biggest media network – TOLOnews. She went from a life of success and fame to a life of pure isolation as an international student plunged into a different culture. The University of Oklahoma is home to roughly 22,000 students, about 2,000 of who are international students. Migrating from across the globe, these students are given the opportunity to embrace the Sooner state though the International Student Service program. Dastgeer, a second-year doctoral student, said reporting in war-torn Afghanistan was challenging but…

The United States of dependency

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by Maria Chaves Gwen Sommer started drinking coffee in the fifth grade. By the time Sommer was 18, she was bringing coffee to school and drinking sodas during the day. Sometimes, she added an energy drink for a boost. She needed her caffeine fix. “When I wouldn’t have it, I felt like I needed it,” Sommer said. “I used to get crazy withdrawals.” She wasn’t alone in her caffeine dependency. The number of teens consuming caffeine has tripled since the 1970s, according to an American Dietetic Association study. (http://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/teen-angst/201305/over-caffeinated-teens) Caffeine is the most consumed legal psychoactive stimulant in the world,…

Social media sites often a big source of ‘drama’

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by Lauren Szmutko   The same websites that connect users with friends and family are the same platforms that have resulted in loss of friendship, self-confidence and deaths. Social media sites can bring news, keep the public informed and help businesses advertise.  Though there are many purposes, none of them include bullying, arguing, or gossiping online – which constitutes cyberbullying. “It’s too much to have drama on Facebook,” said University of Oklahoma student Alexander Plotkin. Unfortunately, Plotkin’s statement is true.  Nobody knows how another will react to comments.  Some shake it off, others take it personally, become depressed. A few…

Oklahoma Writing Project sends teachers back to school

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by Lauren Szmutko Despite popular belief, teachers still go to school to learn. The National Writing Project focuses on teachers teaching teachers. “It has definitely improved my teaching style and writing ability of my first grade students,” said Charlotte Fiekor, a Putnam City elementary teacher. Fiekor attended a 2014 summer workshop by the Oklahoma Writing Project  on The University of Oklahoma campus. It’s one of two National Writing Project sites in Oklahoma. The other is the OSU Writing Project at Oklahoma State University. Established by Jim Gray in 1974, the National Writing Project has more than 200 sites. A university’s…

Live each day

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by Jordan Evans Artist Ryan Harris learned this lesson early when his cousin committed suicide. This event continues to be a major influence on his screen-printing. “It’s a really tough sort of gray area when I create something because it’s coming from such a dark place, but it’s trying to be good,” Harris said. “And that can be well received by people that get it.” Harris’ first expressions of art were through poetry and photography during his adolescent years. His uncle was a professional artist and was one of his first role models. Harris entered OU as an international business…

Kiowa member ‘Wondo’ competes in World Cup

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  by Chase Bryer  Soccer and this year’s FIFA World Cup have some new fans – the Kiowa Tribe. Chris Wondolowski, a 31-year-old forward on the U.S. Men’s National Team, has inspired his people by becoming the first enrolled member of the Kiowa Tribe to compete in the World Cup. He also has sparked an interest in the game of soccer for Kiowas everywhere. “No one ever even thought of watching soccer. Now that he’s playing, … everyone’s watching soccer,” said Steve Quetone, Kiowa Nation Sports Club director. “Just the idea of knowing that we have a Kiowa that’s succeeded…

Some local teen workers can’t catch a break

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by Richelle Hallows As 17-year-old Sheila Seat handed a customer a snow cone, she thought about how she had been standing for at least five hours and wanted to sit. A Norman High School student, Seat spends 25 hours a week working at Eskimo Sno without ever being able to take a break. “We receive no breaks ever,” she said. “It really pisses me off that we don’t get breaks. If we even sit down, we’ll get fired.” Eskimo Sno’s owner sees it differently, noting that usually “only one person is working the shift, so if they had a break…

Micah Roberts

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by Destiny Washington At 16, Micah Roberts is doing more activities than many teenagers his age. A day usually consists of waking up for early morning band practice, going to school, yearbook club, and then after-school band or showchoir practice in his hometown of Lawton, Okla. “I enjoy being involved and meeting new people,” Roberts said. He has been playing the French horn for five years. “I used to play the trumpet, but I hated it,” he said. Roberts is the first chair in the MacArthur High School Band. “I love music,” he said. “All the friendships I’ve made have…

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