Lankford wins ‘religion’ word change in U.S. citizenship test
WEATHERFORD
SWOSU TO HOST EVENT ON SYRIA
Joshua Landis, an expert on Syrian politics, will speak Monday on the Southwestern Oklahoma State University campus.
Landis will discuss the policy implications for the United States’ war against ISIS, the future of Syria and extremism in the Middle East at 7 p.m. in the SWOSU Conference Center. Admission is free to the public.
Landis is a government consultant and a frequent analyst on television and radio. He is associate professor and director of the Center for Middle East Studies at the University of Oklahoma and publishes a daily blog, The Syrian Comment. He lived in the Middle East for 14 years.
For more about his talk at SWOSU, contact Erin Ridgeway at erin.ridgeway @swosu.edu or (580) 7743130.
OKLAHOMA CITY
FALLIN ANNOUNCES SIX APPOINTEES
Gov. Mary Fallin has announced these appointments to education boards. Each appointment must be confirmed by the Senate.
Teresa Jackson, of Hartshorne, reappointed for a seven-year term. Jackson, a graduate of Southeastern Oklahoma State University, is senior executive officer of health for the Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma. Dr. Scott Wood, of Tishomingo, will complete the term of Ronald Austin, who resigned. The term expires in 2020. Wood, a tribal legislator for the Chickasaw Nation, operates Wood Chiropractic Clinic and Texoma Physical Therapy and Rehabilitation Clinic LLC.
Samuel Combs III, of Bixby, will complete the term of Masoud Moazami, who resigned. The term expires in 2018. Combs, who graduated from Oklahoma State University, is president and chief executive officer of COMSTAR Advisors LLC.
Justin Lewis, of Frederick, is replacing Gilmer Capps. He will serve a seven-year term. Lewis, who earned a master’s in business administration from Oklahoma Christian University, is vice president of OKC Trading LLC.
Jeremy Frazier, of Cushing, will complete the term of Homer Nicholson, who resigned. The term expires in 2018. Frazier, who earned a master’s degree in public administration from the University of Central Oklahoma, is assistant city manager of Cushing.
Keith King, of Ardmore, is being reappointed for a nine-year term. King, who earned a finance degree from the University of Missouri, is executive vice president and chief financial officer of First National Bank and Trust Co. of Ardmore.
EDMOND
The Oklahoma Society of Certified Public Accountants presented the 2016 Outstanding Accounting Educator Award this month to a University of Central Oklahoma professor.
Mary Teal, CPA, an assistant professor of accounting at UCO, was recognized for teaching excellence, innovating educational techniques, motivating students and contributing to the accounting profession.
Teal will receive a scholarship from the OSCPA to award to an accounting student of her choice.
She received her bachelor and master’s degrees in accounting from UCO, her law degree from Oklahoma City University and her post-doctoral bridge certificate in finance and accounting from the University of Florida.
She is the founder of the Clean Slate Program, which helps at-risk youth improve grades, attendance and overall academic performance.
WASHINGTON — Senator James Lankford has persuaded U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services to broaden the definition of religious freedom in educational material given to people seeking citizenship.
Leon Rodriguez, the director of the agency, told Lankford in a recent letter that the civics lesson and naturalization test will now say that “freedom of religion,” rather than “freedom of worship,” will be the answer to a question about the rights enjoyed by U.S. citizens.
Rodriguez first rejected Lankford’s requested change but said he reconsidered because it was a “change in terminology rather than an addition or deletion of test content.”
The change will be reflected in 40 different internal and external Web-based and printed publications, Rodriguez told the Oklahoma City Republican.
Lankford, a Baptist minister who ran a Christian summer camp before his political career, said Friday, “I applaud the Department of Homeland Security for listening to me and deciding to change their material to reflect our First Amendment right of freedom of religion.
“At first glance, it appears like a small matter, but it is actually an important distinction for the Constitution and the First Amendment. The ‘freedom of religion’ language reflects our right to live a life of faith at all times, while the ‘freedom of worship’ reflects a right simply confined to a particular space and location.
“We live in a great nation that allows individuals to live out their faith, or have no faith at all. To protect freedom and diversity, we must carefully articulate this right throughout the federal government.”
UCO PROFESSOR GARNERS HONOR