Volunteers, OBU Students, Work To Display 'Oklahoma Standard' After Tornado

It's become known as the Oklahoma Standard and it's a light that always shines during our state's darkest hours.

It’s still shining a couple of days after those deadly tornadoes tore through neighbors' and strangers’ homes. As the polls were closing for the Oklahoma Baptist University’s student election a huge storm was on its way to campus.

“So, the election closed around 5 pm. We were sheltered probably around 8:30,” Max Peterson said.

Peterson, the newly elected student body president, immediately took charge.

“Things keep coming. We’re not rolling over. We’re not curling up,” Peterson said.

It’s going to take a lot of hard work.

“Every single building on campus is damaged. Every single one,” Senator James Lankford said.

Students, faculty, and staff are clearing out buildings where the roofs have caved in. One of those buildings is Shawnee Hall. Shawnee Hall is the first building built here on OBU’s campus. Folks said every student that goes here will take at least one class on OBU’s campus. Volunteers from the community like Senator James Lankford and his wife Cindy are there to help as well.

“We’re just being Oklahomans. Like everybody else is being Oklahoma. We’re out helping where we can pitch in where we can,” Cindy Lankford said.

The Lankfords said it’s the Oklahoma Standard, neighbors helping neighbors.

“Everybody’s noticing what could’ve gone wrong and didn’t and how much worse it could’ve been and everybody’s still looking at each other like okay god took care of us we’re still here let’s get to work,” James Lankford said.

Buildings may be destroyed but their faith is still intact.

“We’re here the night of and the next morning dusting off our gloves, tying up our boots it’s really inspiring, and it gives me a lot of hope. You can show love, you can show grace you can show mercy just by doing the little things,” Peterson said.