\textit{R}-matrix Analysis of $^{16}$O Compound Nucleus Reactions*

A large amount of experimental data exists for reactions which probe the $^{16}$O compound nucleus near the alpha and proton separation energies, the energy regimes most important for nuclear astrophysics. Difficulties and inconsistencies in \textit{R}-matrix fits of the individual reactions prompt a more complete simultaneous multiple entrance/exit channel analysis of all available reaction channels with the specific aim of attaining a consistent fitting for the $^{15}$N$(p,\gamma_0)^{16}$O cross section data.