University of Oklahoma
Coverage of University of Oklahoma in the Nexus archive.
- Oklahoma Student Performance Is Declining. Charter Schools Are an Exception
Oklahoma's student performance has declined, dropping to 48th in NAEP rankings, but charter schools, particularly brick-and-mortar ones serving Black and Hispanic students, have shown stronger performance. Data from 2024-25 shows 31 of 49 brick-and-mortar charter schools outperformed traditional schools, with notable examples like Deborah Brown Elementary School outscoring peers by 59 points. Virtual charters, however, largely underperformed except Oklahoma Connection Academy High School.
- Natural hormone may reduce obesity without cutting calories, scientists say
Researchers at the University of Oklahoma discovered a hormone called FGF21 that may reduce obesity in mice by increasing metabolic rate without calorie restriction. The study, published in Cell Reports, shows FGF21 targets the hindbrain to regulate metabolism, similar to GLP-1 drugs, but with distinct mechanisms. However, experts caution that results in mice may not translate directly to humans due to differences in FGF21 behavior.
- WILLIAM BENNETT, ROB NOEL: Two years after Columbia encampment, campuses still chilled by fear
Two years after the 2024 Columbia University Gaza Solidarity Encampment, campuses remain marked by fear and self-censorship, with 91% of students avoiding open dissent on topics like Israel-Palestine and abortion. A 2026 FIRE survey highlights growing ideological conformity, violent threats against conservatives, and a 72-to-1 Democratic-Republican faculty ratio in Yale’s humanities departments.