EDITORIAL: Oklahoma ScissorTales: A tragic fire safety reminder

Feb. 02--BETTER building materials and wiring result in far fewer fatal structure fires than in years gone by, and thus make news like a deadly blaze last weekend in northwest Oklahoma City all the more jarring.

Four people -- three of them children -- died early Sunday in the fire at Quail Ridge Apartments, located near W Memorial Road and N May Avenue. Roughly 20 people were displaced.

The victims were identified as Carson Nyte, 12, Bentley Evans, 7, Paisley Evans, 4, and their aunt, 34-year-old Melissa Evans. The Evans children attended Charter Oak Elementary School in Guthrie; Carson attended Guthrie Upper Elementary School.

Evans' boyfriend survived by jumping from a balcony, and told firefighters he expected the woman to pass the children down to him. However, the four didn't make it to the balcony.

These were the city's first fire-related fatalities of 2019. Last year, 22 people died in Oklahoma City fires. Battalion Chief Benny Fulkerson says most house fires are caused by discarded cigarettes, cooking or electrical issues -- all of them preventable. He noted the importance of having working smoke alarms, and an evacuation plan that includes two possible exits.

The fire department can help city residents with the former. Information about free smoke alarms and installation is available at (405) 316-2337 or at smokealarmsokc.com or gratisalarmsokc.com.

Free-speech impediment

Following the posting of a video showing a student in blackface, the Black Student Association at the University of Oklahoma demanded changes. One was to add a zero-tolerance policy regarding hate speech to OU's student code of conduct. But as OU professor David Deming noted this week, speech of all kinds is protected by the First Amendment. "In practice, the term hate speech means anything that people find offensive," Deming wrote. "And the Supreme Court has said repeatedly and emphatically that speech may not be banned because it's offensive." In practice, he argues, a zero-tolerance policy "means the end of all intellectual and political freedom at the University of Oklahoma." The BSA's other demands included boosting the number of multicultural faculty and staff, providing more support for African-American programs and enhancing some curricula. These are reasonable and should be pursued with due haste. But the group's other call, however well intentioned, is highly problematic and likely wouldn't withstand a legal challenge.

A reason for hope

This week, a group of Israeli scientists announced they may be close to developing a "complete cure for cancer." Officials with Accelerated Evolution Biotechnologies Ltd. say they have developed a multi-target toxin that will essentially act as a cancer antibiotic and target cancer cells faster than they can mutate. Admittedly, such announcements should be understood as part public relations effort to attract investors. Similar "breakthroughs" haven't panned out. But the fact that a de facto "cure" is even discussed as a real possibility is astounding, and a reminder of how quickly science has progressed in a relatively short time. Diseases that once harmed thousands or millions are today virtually nonexistent, and even AIDS has gone from being an automatic death sentence to a chronic but manageable disease. That cancer could one day go the way of mumps is remarkable and reason for hope.

Stepping aside

Clay Bennett stepped aside this week as chairman of the University of Oklahoma Board of Regents, citing health concerns. Bennett, who underwent brain surgery in 2017, was named a regent by former Gov. Mary Fallin in 2011, and had served two years as board chairman. He led the search for a new university president, but health issues kept him from attending the installation in August of the eventual choice, Jim Gallogly. Bennett is chairman of the Oklahoma City Thunder and president of the investment firm Dorchester Capital, and has been a longtime civic leader -- the Bennett Event Center at State Fair Park is a tribute to his 30 years as a member of the State Fair Board. He also has led a group that's seeking to improve criminal justice efforts in Oklahoma County. The Thunder says Bennett "has continued to improve and is hopeful for a full recovery." We join others in hoping that comes to pass.

Sign of gratitude

Joseph Walker, born in 1946, served in the U.S. Air Force during the Vietnam War era and was discharged honorably. When Walker died recently, officials at Central Texas State Veterans Cemetery were concerned no one would be in attendance for his internment. The cemetery posted on Facebook, "We have the distinct honor to provide a full military burial for unaccompanied United States Air Force Veteran Joseph Walker. If you have the opportunity, please come out and attend. We do NOT leave Veterans behind." The response exceeded all expectations. The day of the ceremony, CNN reports, "So many people showed up that vehicles were backed up onto a nearby highway. The ceremony started late to allow everyone to attend." It's estimated more than 5,000 people were present. That outpouring of public support wasn't just for Walker, but a sign of the gratitude Americans hold for all who honorably serve in the military.

Schneiderman's sleaze

Last year, New York Attorney General Eric Schneiderman, an avowed supporter of the #MeToo movement, abruptly resigned when four women accused him of physical abuse, including choking. One woman told the New York Post that Schneiderman called her his "brown slave" and told her "to call him Master, and he'd slap me until I did." (Schneiderman said the activity was consensual.) This week, the Post reported that Schneiderman has paid $340,000 to his defense lawyers. Where did he get the money? From funds raised by his re-election committee. That this is legal doesn't make it less appalling. Michelle Manning Barish, a Democratic activist who was among those accusing Schneiderman of abuse, told the newspaper, "What a luxury to be able to assault women who donated to your campaign and then use their money to defend yourself." Indeed. If sleaze was cash, Schneiderman would never go broke.

Renewable community woes

In 2012, the residents of Georgetown, Texas (pop. 70,000), chose to shift to 100 percent renewable power sources (wind and solar) for the city's electricity supply. Georgetown locked in long-term contracts of 25 years that would provide enough power for residents, cover projected growth and still ensure sufficient power during peak summer usage. This meant the city bought far more electricity than it was expected to use, but officials thought they would be able to sell the surplus, assuming renewable power would be cheaper than fossil fuel-generated sources. Instead, the fracking revolution drove down prices for natural gas and electricity generated by gas-fired plants. Today, residents are stuck paying significantly higher prices than they would otherwise. A local ABC-TV affiliate reports that Georgetown citizens aren't happy. Given a choice between environmental virtue-signaling and cheap electricity, many people still prefer the latter.

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