Oklahoma

Depicting a Native American as a school mascot is harmful to Indigenous people | Guest opinion

Published

3 months ago

August 17, 2024

Depicting a Native American as a school mascot is harmful to Indigenous people | Guest opinion

Bobby “Trae” Trousdale
| Guest columnist

For my entire life, research has consistently shown Indigenous students are challenged and harmed by the use of Native American mascots. In my rural hometown, four of these systemic oppressors exist within a 20-mile radius. I am a Tecumseh graduate and an officer of Oklahoma’s oldest active alumni association; however, I am not a Savage. I am a proud citizen of the Citizen Potawatomi Nation.

Slurs should never be used to synthesize identity and pride in our affiliations. We cannot make exceptions for Indigenous people. Tradition cannot conquer conscience. The use of a slur accompanying the depiction of a Native American as a school mascot is a recurring conversation in my hometown. Debates of honor and absent personal offense should not permit de facto racism. We must accurately name the willful sustainment of slurs as mascots.

Individual action and redress are vital at the district level, but diversity of thought and experiences limit rural districts and overlook historically oppressed communities. The districts brandishing racial epitaphs are not governed by the population they seek to embody. Additionally, larger threats present themselves for districts to address: depleting funding revenues, qualified labor shortages and holistic student support.

This does not even broach the growing schism between districts, state schools Superintendent Ryan Walters and the Oklahoma State Department of Education. Statute or state mandates eliminating the use of slurs as mascots would present an opportunity to protect Indigenous children and honor the Native nations that are tokenized in the current system. Districts should not be responsible for implementing common-sense legislation on a case-by-case basis. This is a shortsighted waste of time that divides community, limiting the impact of devoted educators and Oklahoma’s education system. Responsibility lies at a higher level.

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Elected officials should have stepped in earlier. If the state forfeits that responsibility, communities must work together to protect each and every one of our children equitably. District officials, school board members and community leaders must take action now.

Slurs have no place in schools, let alone emblazoned on the masthead. All students are worthy of belonging and unfettered access to education. Change the mascots and resolve to limit obscenities within our children’s lives.

Bobby “Trae” Trousdale (Citizen Potawatomi) is a lifelong Oklahoman and active community member currently residing in the south side of Oklahoma City.

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Oklahoma

Oklahoma Ford Sports Blitz: November 17

Published

38 mins ago

November 18, 2024

Press Room

Join News 9 Sports Director Dean Blevins, News On 6 Sports Director John Holcomb, and Toby Rowland for this week’s edition of the Oklahoma Ford Sports Blitz.

Sunday, November 17th 2024, 11:27 pm

By:

News 9,

News On 6

OKLAHOMA CITY –

This week on the Oklahoma Ford Sports Blitz, Dean Blevins, John Holcomb, and Toby Rowland begin the show with their opening takes.

Toby’s Top 3

Thunder Recap

Viewer Question

OU Offensive Coordinator Candidates

OU, OSU, TU Opponent Preview

UCO Road To Division II Title

OU, OSU, TU Basketball Recap

Play The Percentages

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Oklahoma

Oklahoma superintendent Ryan Walters faces criticism over religious freedom video mandate in schools – Times of India

Published

8 hours ago

November 17, 2024

Press Room

Ryan Walters (Picture credit: X)

A top education official in the US state of Oklahoma is facing criticism after ordering public schools to show students a video promoting a new department of religious freedom and patriotism.
State superintendent Ryan Walters, a Republican, announced the department on Wednesday, claiming it will address attacks on religious liberty and patriotism by “woke teachers’ unions.” The new office will operate under the state’s department of education.
On Thursday, Walters emailed school superintendents demanding they show his video announcement to all students and send it to parents.
“In one of the first steps of the newly created department, we are requiring all of Oklahoma schools to play the attached video to all kids that are enrolled,” the email read.
In the video, Walters claims that religious liberty has been attacked and patriotism mocked “by woke teachers unions,” before praying for US leaders.
“In particular, I pray for President Donald Trump and his team as they continue to bring about change to the country,” Walters said in the video.
He further said that students are not required to participate in the prayer.
According to Walters, the new department will “oversee the investigation of abuses to individual religious freedom or displays of patriotism.”

Two of Oklahoma’s largest school districts, Edmond and Bixby, have said they will not show the video. Oklahoma City Public Schools is reviewing the matter.
Oklahoma attorney general Gentner Drummond’s office declared Walters’ mandate unlawful.
“Not only is this edict unenforceable, it is contrary to parents’ rights, local control, and individual free-exercise rights,” the statement read.
This is not the first time Walters’ actions have drawn legal challenges. He is currently facing two lawsuits over a June mandate requiring schools to incorporate the Bible into lesson plans for grades 5 through 12, a directive several districts have refused to follow.

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Oklahoma

Alabama Crimson Tide vs Oklahoma Sooners Opening Football Odds: Cover or Not?

Published

16 hours ago

November 17, 2024

Press Room

Alabama Crimson Tide vs Oklahoma Sooners Opening Football Odds: Cover or Not?

Gambling can be a shady profession. Everyone is looking for an angle. If a person has inside information into the physical condition of a key player, say a certain quarterback, it is a big advantage. That said, my sources say that Alabama QB Jalen Milroe is in excellent shape. That sort of news gives the Crimson Tide a better chance at success.

Sportsbook FanDuel has come out with their line on Alabama-Oklahoma and graced the Tide with a 14.5 point advantage. The Over/Under is set at 49.5.

Hopefully, you got in on the preseason number of Bama favored by two points for this game in Norman. The Sooners were not expected to win the SEC, but then again not many prognosticators had OU pegged at 5-5 coming into this game. The win total for Oklahoma this summer was set at 8.5. Those lucky enough to take the under have already profited.

Not only are the Sooners 5-5 overall, they are also 5-5 against the spread and in the Over/Under.

OKLAHOMA

Date	Opp	Close	Result	ATS/OU
Aug 30	Temple	-42.5 / 57.5	Won 51-3	Won / Under
Sep 7	Houston	-27.5 / 49.5	Won 16-12	Lost / Under
Sep 14	Tulane	-12.5 / 49.5	Won 34-19	Won / Over
Sep 21	Tennessee	+5.5 / 56.5	Lost 15-25	Lost / Under
Sep 28	@Auburn	+1 / 43.5	Won 27-21	Won / Over
Oct 12	Texas	+17 / 49	Lost 3-34	Lost / Under
Oct 19	South Carolina	+1 / 40.5	Lost 9-35	Lost / Over
Oct 26	@Ole Miss	+19 / 49.5	Lost 14-26	Won / Under
Nov 2	Maine	-37.5 / 48.5	Won 59-14	Won / Over
Nov 9	@Missouri	-3.5 / 42.5	Lost 23-30	Lost / Over

The Sooners are 1-5 in the SEC with the one win coming against Auburn at home. Okie lost their other two SEC home games to Ole Miss by 12 and against a Brady Cook-less Mizzou by 7. Is the Tide a field goal better than OM? Can Milroe generate 8 more points than Drew Pyne?

If night games factor into your betting, Oklahoma won their first two of the season against Temple (51-3) and Houston (16-12). In Week 4, they fell to Tennessee under the lights in Norman 25-15.

The Sooners have lost four straight SEC games with a win over Maine mixed in, while playing musical chairs with their quarterbacks.

ALABAMA

Date	Opp	Close	Result	ATS/OU
Aug 31	Western Kentucky	-34 / 59.5	Won 63-0	Won / Over
Sep 7	South Florida	-30.5 / 64.5	Won 42-16	Lost / Under
Sep 14	@Wisconsin	-14.5 / 47.5	Won 42-10	Won / Over
Sep 28	Georgia	+2 / 50	Won 41-34	Won / Over
Oct 5	@Vanderbilt	-22.5 / 53.5	Lost 35-40	Lost / Over
Oct 12	South Carolina	-21.5 / 50.5	Won 27-25	Lost / Over
Oct 19	@Tennessee	-3.5 / 57.5	Lost 17-24	Lost / Under
Oct 26	Missouri	-16 / 51	Won 34-0	Won / Under
Nov 9	@LSU	-3 / 59.5	Won 42-13	Won / Under
Nov 16	Mercer	-42.5 / 58.5	Won 52-7	Won / Over

The Crimson Tide is 8-2 and 4-2 in conference play. They have won three straight and covered the spread each time. A healthy Milroe is a good Milroe. But it’s the defense that has really stepped up. Alabama has given up 20 points in those three games with one of the touchdowns being a garbage score against the Tide reserves. It would seem Bama is getting back to Joyless Murderball.

Bama is 2-2 on the road and 4-0 in night games. Weather is not expected to be a factor.