A Redirection Toward the People: Cherokee Nation Election

A Redirection Toward the People: The Cherokee Nation Election

By: Tyler Thomas

On June 25^th, 2011, the Cherokee Nation will hold the tribe’s principal chief election. The election is shaping up to be one of the most significant elections in recent memory. Many within the tribe’s government and citizens alike have grown tired of the current administration led by Chief Chad Smith.

Many within the Cherokee Nation are looking for a change in leadership as well as a new direction. One man seems to stand out as the alternative option to the current leadership. Councilman Bill John Baker has thrown his name in the ring for the principal chief election and will challenge Smith in next year’s election.

(Photo of Councilman Bill John Baker)

Baker has been an advocate of the Cherokee people for years on the Cherokee Nation Tribal Council. Baker has championed and endorsed numerous pieces of legislation that would help either tribal citizens or tribal employees. Baker was the councilmember that initially brought for the legislation that would raise the minimum wage within the Cherokee nation. Baker was also the one who proposed the increase in scholarship dollars to Cherokee citizens attending college. Baker was able to double the scholarship amount from $1,000 to $2,000. Baker believed that this was an absolute necessity considering the rising cost of college.

Baker’s top priority has always been taking care of the people. Baker says that it is always his focus and forte, to “find ways to care of folks that fall between the cracks.”

Baker and Smith have butted heads numerous times since both have been in their respective offices. It was a disagreement two years ago over the way Smith’s administration was practicing government that led Baker to the decision of running for principal chief. Baker believed the chief was not practicing good government by surround himself with councilors that would do whatever he asked. Baker believed that the people were growing weary of it and Smith disagreed.

Many within the Cherokee Nation believe that the current administration fails to take care of the people and that the administration is more concerned with the business side of the Cherokee Nation. This becomes apparent during tough economic times. The current administration will look to cut services to people instead of taking money from casinos that are prospering and investing that revenue back into the people.

Some of his fellow councilors and many of the citizens echo the sentiments, of Baker. Councilman Chuck Hoskin agrees with Baker and says, “What [the Cherokee Nation] needs is leadership that has good business sense and good people sense.” Hoskin believes it is important that the Cherokee Nation remembers the least among them and provides for those in need as well as manages the business side of government.

Baker possesses the ability to manage both sides rather well. His success as a businessman and success as a councilor will provide him with the ability to lead the Cherokee Nation in the right direction many believe. Councilwoman Tina Glory Jordan echoes what many believe in that Bill John Baker “is the only candidate that has the compassion coupled with the business mind to take over the [Cherokee Nation].”

A Redirection Toward the People: Cherokee Nation Election

Ft. Sill Army Interview

Pisa By The Slice

Better Than You Have Ever Had

Are you tired of the bland, restaurant chain pizza? Then take a drive down Main Street in Norman, Okla. and you will find a small, family owned pizzeria that offers the best pizza you will ever have.

Pisa By The Slice is a family owned business in Norman. The restaurant was established three years ago at its original location on 12th and Robinson, however, three months ago the family moved its business to the present location on Main Street next to Norman High School.

Pisa By The Slice is owned and operated by the Yango family. The family was trained by an Italian man. The man showed the family how to make the dough and prepare the pizzas in a traditional Italian manner. Everyone plays a role in the operation of the restaurant but, two of the most important employees are Regie and Ralph Yango. The two brothers work in the pizzeria almost everyday of the week. You can see the pride they take in their work and their ability to offer a product that is far superior to any product offered by any pizza chain.

Pisa By The Slice uses only the finest ingredients for their pizzas and calzones. Their dough is made fresh daily, along with the special sauce. The pizza sauce is a special recipe that only a few people know and it makes all the difference. The pizzeria offers a variety of toppings for your pizza or calzone including, but not limited to pepperoni, sausage, beef, chicken, peppers, olives, mushrooms, and much more. For the finishing touch, Pisa By The Slice cooks their pizzas in a brick oven. The pizzas bake to a golden brown and come out with crisp crust that you just can't find at any pizza chain.

The menu is what makes Pizza By The Slice so phenomenal. The restaurant not only offers the classic pizzas like supreme, meat lover's, and pepperoni, but also specialty gourmet pizzas. The gourmet pizzas range from a Mediterranean pizza to a chicken calabrese pizza. Ralph and Regie are always thinking creatively and trying to create new specialty pizzas for the restaraunt. In fact, Regie has just created a new pizza that could possibly hit the menu soon. The pizza was a chicken teriyaki pizza. The pizza consist of a special teriyaki sauce, chicken, and cheese. It may sound simple enough but, the way the flavors came together is amazing.

The beauty of Pisa By The Slice is that they are not limited to pizza on their menu. The restraunt offers a variety of fantastic dining options. In addition to pizzas, the Pisa By The Slice menu consists of calzones, Stromboli, gyros, pasta, sub sandwiches, and various appetizers. The customer always has options and can never get burned out because of the ability to try something different every visit.

The pizzeria's business has really came to life since the change in location three months ago. The location next to the high school on Main Street provides great exposure and opportunity. The restaurant receives consistent business from the high school students during their lunch break and also receives a good amount of business from the local business owners on Main Street. Some of the family have dreams of expanding the business and possibly branching out to other surrounding communities. There is no questioning the product, it will be just a matter for opportunity for their expansion to be a success.

If you find yourself craving pizza, save yourself the disappointment that is bland, chain pizza and make a trip to Pisa By The Slice. You will be met by a warm friendly face, that is eager to serve you. The pizza will revolutionize the way you think about pizza.

Finding Home

To say that it only took an unexpected encounter with a college student to shake Sarah Sullivan's faith would be a misconception. However, it would be the start of a life changing process for Sullivan as she embarked on finding her true inner peace.

Sullivan is a senior at the University of Oklahoma, working hard toward a major in pre-dental hygiene and religious studies. Sullivan was raised as a Southern Baptist, having lived in both Texas and Oklahoma. Sullivan is an extrovert who isn't afraid to speak her mind, but is happy to help others. Her positive attitude is contagious, and she has a bright smile.

In most respects, Sullivan seems to be a typical All-American. Yet, she wears a scarf around her head and neck called a hijab, and she prays a minimum of five times a day. Sullivan is a Muslim, and some people have been quick to let this fact blind them from the individual that she is.

Sullivan has always had religion in her life. In Wichita Falls, Texas, she was a practicing Christian for most of her life.

"When I say conservative, I mean very conservative" Sullivan says of her background. "In high school I was titled a saint, angel, prude, because I was the girl that didn't agree with drugs, sex, drinking, all that stuff."

So in Sullivan's freshman year of college, when she was asked by a fellow student why she was staying behind one weekend at the dorms while her sorority sisters left to go party, Sullivan replied that it was against her faith to drink. The inquisitive student revealed that his faith also did not condone drinking. When Sullivan asked about his faith, he revealed that he was a Muslim. That fall of 2007 was the first time she was introduced to Islam.

They continued to meet to discuss their respective religions and soon, two other Muslims joined the group.

“The four of us would meet and discuss religion. I would bring the Bible and they would bring the Quran, and we would just talk and share, communicate, dialogue, and discuss,” says Sullivan.

As the discussion group meetings continued, Sullivan began to question her faith as the others asked increasingly difficult questions about Christianity, questions that they could answer about their own faith of Islam without hesitation.

“I couldn’t find the answers. I would try to look in the Bible and look for answers because I was like ‘[the Bible] is what we base everything on, why can’t I find the answers?’” says Sullivan. “It was a rigorous, growing, terrifying time of my life.”

After fighting with herself for some time, Sullivan finally took the first step to accept Islam into her life, by partaking in the first pillar of Islam, the Shalhada, or declaration of faith. By reciting the Shalhada, she accepted Islam. Sullivan says that a feeling of peace came over her afterwards.

“It was a feeling of home.”

Sullivan says that while her conversion has been difficult for her family members, they are accepting and understanding. Sullivan also feels that in her three years of being a Muslim, she has become a better person. On Saturdays, she and her friends (some who have also converted to Islam) volunteer at the Regional Food Bank of Oklahoma. Her charity work makes her feel good about herself, and also adheres to the fourth pillar of Islam, Zakat, or charity.

Sullivan loves Oklahoma, but she recognizes that living in the Bible belt has not been easy for her or her friends. Despite this, she stands by her faith more than ever.

“My religion comes first. God comes first in my life, not anyone else. I don’t fear what other people say… I think the challenge makes me love my religion even more, and I fight for it even more.”

Being the outspoken type, Sullivan is eager to teach others the ways of Islam - not preaching, but informing, so they can get a better understanding of Islam and what it really represents. Sullivan finds the media to be particularly at fault for the misconceptions and negativity toward Islam.

“With the media and everything else, I feel bombarded with having to defend my religion” says Sullivan. “It’s heartbreaking to me because I feel like I’m screaming at the top of my lungs ‘This is not Islam! I don’t practice this! Every Muslim I know doesn’t agree with this’, and people are, like, ‘Well, you’re just one person.’”

Sullivan doesn’t seem to be losing hope in people however. She feels that underneath, no matter what religion a person does or does not practice, people are able to find their roots as human beings and make connections.

“It’s just connecting that line underneath all of these religions, people can find common ground and relate. It’s worth it as the end of the day. I may get upset, but it just makes me love my religion more. It makes me discuss it more. It makes me challenge it and question it, and I seek knowledge. Not just about my religion but other religions because I want to relate to these people of faith. So, it’s all good basically.”

Nothing to Read

Nothing to Read

Video wouldn't upload on Blogger so I uploaded it onto Youtube and copy, pasted the link below.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bmfy9_PjKtc

Muslims in Oklahoma

Teaching a Dog New Tricks

BOOM TOWN

Every fall thousands converge on Norman to form a makeshift boom town. The multitude all arrive for a single purpose on these special weekends. These loyal fans are here one reason and one reason only, Oklahoma football. This boom town is evidence that sports provides a sense of camaraderie amongst diverse people that is hard to find in this day and time.

(Photos from top to bottom: Tailgaters within the "boom town"; Entrance into the "boom town"; RVs parked in Lloyd Nobel Center parking lot that form the "boom town")

*All photos by Tyler Thomas

A Show of Complete Disrespect

This past Saturday was the showdown between two storied football programs but, most importantly it was the 9 year anniversary of the 9/11 terrorists attacks. It was a day to show reverence to those who perished in the attacks.

The University of Oklahoma held a special moment of silence to honor these fallen Americans. The majority of the fans in the stadium respected the moment and acknowledged the victims. However, there was a select group of fans seated in the south endzone of the stadium that shouted the "Boomer Sooner" chant during the entire moment of silence. It was a complete act of disrespect to the meaning of the day and to the victims and their families. The act of disrespect left many fans flabbergasted and astonished by the lack of class the fans possessed.

Many of the students were astonished and angry at the lack of class of the fans. "I was left completely speechless by those who participated in the chant during the moment of silence," said sociology senior Kyndle Taylor, "It showed an act of classlessness and was an embarrassment to the university." These comments echo the feelings of the majority of fans in the stadium.

The 9/11 terrorist attacks marked a turning point in American history and is a very dark era in American history. A football game is just that, a game. It is nothing more than a contest. While what happened on that September day is real life and affected millions of people in a serious way. It is our duty as American citizens to show reverence and honor those that perished in those horrific attacks.

Contruction Causes Headache with Parking

Students arrive to campus to realize the simple task of finding a parking spot is now a ridiculous chore. University construction on the north side of the Huston Huffman Center is taking up the majority of what was a multi-purpose parking lot. Many of the students who have purchased a parking permit for campus parking are now having to take their permit to the free parking at Lloyd Nobel Center.





University officials attempted to implement a new parking regulation that would require a valid parking permit, except a select area that would still be considered a free parking area. The university officials had to retract and double the initial size of the free parking area after a number of complaints from students who used the free parking at Lloyd Nobel.



"I have used the free parking at Lloyd Nobel for the past two years. It is a nice alternative to the high price of parking permits," pre-dental senior Cobey Clemshire said. "The new parking rules would have been unfair to the students who used Lloyd Nobel as an alternative and also to the ones who would have to park in the area after they purchased the permit."

It is not clear when the construction will be complete or how much of the old parking lot will be taken up by the new addition. The relaxation on the new parking rules will help ease the unhappiness about the parking situation at campus for now.

For students like Clemshire, they will be able to use the parking at Lloyd Nobel for the time being while not worrying about being ticketed or having to purchase a parking permit. This comes as a relief on the mind and wallet with rising costs in tuition.

Mission Statement

This blog will address political, health, and university news that has a direct impact on the University of Oklahoma's student body and surrounding community. The blog will inform and elaborate on stories as to help the students and public become aware of current happenings in their community.