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https://www.yahoo.com/news/ou-law-students-raise-11-135000297.html?guccounter=1&guce_referrer=aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuZ29vZ2xlLmNvbS8&guce_referrer_sig=AQAAAFiqh00AoILoIG_8Yv5op_IpcL0iUINL6jDMbzzMLUJckHxNmPdWfiCv1m2qdEf4ctwaWstAJdN5EXakHFo4Aj2H7czeFneodm6aBSe6UxDWiSHxFOI2CH04_vufiMCANeQHZcMwZINQ5qZ9MsPCLKAuXRjTN074Dp8ybn56Yvjl

OU Law Students raise $11,00 for Sulphur victims

May 18—University of Oklahoma Law students raised $11,000 worth of supplies to give to tornado victims in Sulphur.

John Kirchhoefer, an OU Law student, said the project required teamwork from different organizations to make it happen.

On April 28, an EF3 tornado ripped through downtown Sulphur with winds around 165 miles per hour, taking down homes, buildings and other infrastructure.

The city, which lies within the Tishomingo District of the Chickasaw Nation, had cautioned well-intended Good Samaritans from helping out immediately following the storm, which is why OU Law approached the nation to inquire on how to best serve those affected.

"I have spoken with Gov. Bill Anoatubby and the Chickasaw Nation," Kirchoefer said. "We are organizing our efforts at the law school with the OU Law administration, the alumni network, and student groups like NALSA — Native American Law Student Association — and the Federalist Society, and the Christian Legal Society, as well as the student government."

He said that last week, Chickasaw Nation commissioned a van to take the supplies to Sulphur, which included clothes, shoes, canned food, baby food and supplies, personal care products and pet food and supplies.

The students are also coordinating with Osage Nation to support victims from the May 6 tornado in Bartlesville.

"After Sulfur got hit, we law students were upset about that. I know some people from there, and we were looking for something to do. People were talking about driving out in big groups," he said.

Kirchhoefer, who came from Wisconsin and Chicago, Illinois, said he has been impressed with the Oklahoma Standard for helping those in need.

"It was really just a powerful showing of Okies supporting Okies," Kirchhoefer said. "I have become familiar with the Oklahoma Standard, as they call it."

He said students had filled the Pit, or student lounge of the Law School with boxes and buckets of supplies, which impressed him.

Kathleen Guzman, dean of the OU School of Law, said this kind of reaction is completely within the norm of what she would have expected from her students.

"The work that these law students and organizations have undertaken has been remarkable and yet unsurprising, both, I am in particular awe with how they pitched in amidst the end of the semester, finals, and graduation," Guzman said. "These students exemplify what it means to couple intent with action and serve with love."

She said that the action of these students held particular meaning because they were undergoing the natural rigors of end-of-semester finals.

Kirchhoefer said Chickasaw Nation was concerned that it would receive an abundance of support initially to the point where it could not process the assistance, followed by a lull when need was most needed.

"These students have taken lead and direction from the affected communities assisting where and how most needed and have revealed a willingness to be there next week and the ones after that, too, to continue the longest term needs that might arrive from these tragedies," Guzman said.

The OU Law School also donated clothing from its Career Closet, a program that has been phased out which provided professional clothing to law students who needed it.

"It was an entire closet full of professional clothing that the law school has collected over the course of the last few years," Kirchhoefer said. "They've hired more staff at the law school and they needed the space for offices, so they were cleaning that out."

Brian King covers education and politics for The Transcript.

https://www.yahoo.com/news/former-speaker-paul-ryan-laments-035900609.html

Former Speaker Paul Ryan laments current political landscape, asks for more civility

Mar. 27—Former Speaker of the House and 2012 Vice President Nominee Paul Ryan told Norman residents that the U.S. needs more civility in politics as the keynote speaker for the University of Oklahoma's Presidential Speakers Series.

Ryan told The Transcript that Oklahoma holds a special place in his heart since he married his wife, Janna, who is from Madill.

"I come to Oklahoma a lot because my wife is from Madill and their family ranch is there. I come to Oklahoma every year to hunt and fish in Madill, and I've been going to OU games for the last 20 years," Ryan said.

A few years ago, he attended the Bedlam football game with OU President Joseph Harroz Jr. and his wife Ashley Harroz, where he was extended an invitation to speak at OU

Ryan served Wisconsin House District No. 1 from 1999-2019 and as House Speaker from 2015-2019.

"I have a lot of roots to OU through marriage," Ryan said. "We have bird dogs, and I naturally wanted to name them Bucky and Badger, but we ended up calling them Boomer and Sooner. It just tells who makes the decision in our family."

He said his biggest concern for young people is that they are witnessing an unprecedented tone as far as political dialogue.

"I think it's really important that young people, particularly college students, get a sense that politics and political discussion is not just about anger and personality destruction," Ryan said. "There are bigger issues to talk about, and there are civil discussions to be had.

Ryan has previously criticized members of both parties for implementing divisive rhetoric, including former president Donald Trump.

"I think younger Americans get fed this content 24/7 via social media algorithms that often play on the emotions of anger and fear, and they push people further into illogical corners that dumbs down policy and ratchets up partisanship," Ryan said.

He said he would like to see people look up to mentors and leaders who look for middle ground, and that many members of Congress exemplify moderation required to push positive policy and bring people together.

He said other members of Congress have fallen short by not bringing people together.

"With your thumbs on social media, and even on cable, you can become a household name quickly if you just shock and awe. Marjorie Taylor Greene is a perfect example. She hasn't passed a single piece of legislation that I know of," Ryan said.

Harroz told attendees that it is important to heed Ryan's advice about listening to others.

"We have an obligation. We need to make sure we have citizen leaders who can listen and engage in civil discourse that advances us forward," Harroz said. "Discounting individuals as not worthy of being heard based on party ... Those are the seeds of the destruction of our democracy."

John Kirchhoefer, an OU law student from Lake Geneva, Wisconsin, attended the event and had the chance to visit with Ryan prior to the lecture. He previously worked in Ryan's office.

"I got my start in politics, working for Speaker Ryan, in the First District," Kirchhoefer said. "He's been consistent in his views and his ideology, and his views don't sway within the political landscape, and I appreciate that."

He said he was touched by Ryan's message about listening to those who you may not agree with.

"Paul always says, you have one mouth and two ears, and you should use them in that proportion," Kirchhoefer said. "I agree with that, and I think it's about respect and seeing dignity and appreciating people who come from different backgrounds and have different perspectives."

Quinn Weimer, a first-year law student at OU, said it is important for leaders to meet with students to impart their knowledge and tell about their experiences.

"It means a lot that the former Speaker of the House has come to speak to us," Weimer said. "It was nice to hear from someone who was involved in Congress for so long and to hear it and to learn about the problems that are facing us and how he sees the legislature moving in the future."

Ryan currently serves on the faculty of the University of Notre Dame in political science and economics, as well as the board of Shine Medical Technologies.

Brian King covers education and politics for The Transcript.

https://law.ou.edu/about/news/federalist-society-and-acs-gift-chess-set-ou-law

Federalist Society and ACS Gift Chess Set to OU Law

The University of Oklahoma College of Law was the recipient of a chess board donated by the school's chapters of the Federalist Society and the American Constitution Society. While the two groups frequently take opposing sides on issues, they recognize the necessity of robust dialogue and intellectual growth.

The OU chapter of the Federalist Society issued the following statement:

As the president of the Federalist Society at OU Law, I, John C. Kirchhoefer, am delighted to express our heartfelt appreciation for the cooperative effort that has led to the gift of a chess set to the University of Oklahoma College of Law, a gesture made in collaboration with our colleagues from the American Constitution Society. This gift stands as a testament to the values of honor, intellect, and fellowship—a set of principles that both organizations hold dear, despite our ideological differences.

The Federalist Society at OU Law has dedicated itself to fostering a deep appreciation for the rigorous debate and discussion that is essential to the intellectual growth of our members and the legal community at large. Our commitment to these principles has been evident in the transformative work we have accomplished at OU Law.

We have always stood for the promotion of an originalist and textualist approach to legal interpretation, advocating for the principles of limited government and the rule of law. Yet, our pursuit of these ideals has never precluded our respect for, and engagement with, those who hold contrasting views. It is in this spirit that we have worked alongside the American Constitution Society to offer this chess set.

The game of chess is emblematic of the strategic thinking, patience, and the respect for one's opponent that are characteristic of both great legal minds and a healthy democracy. By presenting this chess set, we honor the intellectual contest and the shared pursuit of justice and equality that defines the legal profession.

In a time when political and ideological divides can be stark, this gift symbolizes our belief that civil discourse and mutual respect must prevail. We recognize that while we may not always agree with the American Constitution Society on every issue, we are united in our dedication to the virtues of robust discourse, cooperative collaboration, and our pursuit of truth.

Through this gesture, we aim to inspire future generations of legal scholars and practitioners at OU Law to engage in thoughtful debate and to appreciate the rich diversity of thought that contributes to the strength and vibrancy of our legal system. We extend this gift in the hope that it will serve as a lasting emblem of our shared commitment to these noble pursuits.