March 6, 2014 | Volume 2, Issue 21 | Norman, OK
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SOONERTHON PAGE 4
THE FIVE PHASES OF GETTING THE “SPRING BREAK BOD” PAGE 13 TYPES OF PEOPLE AT SPRING DATE PARTIES page 7 CHAMPIONSHIP CHASE: HOW THE NBA’S TOP TEAMS STACK UP page 10
CELEBRATING SPRING SPORTS WITH OU WOMEN’S BASKETBALL. Photo courtesy of Chas Wojan
2 Editor's note
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THE POWER OF PROCRASTINATION I bet you had to reread that title—the power of procrastination? Really? Haven’t we been told ourwhole lives that Alpha Gamma Delta procrastination is the Editor-in-Chief first cardinal sin? Well, Haley is a senior studying I’ve changed my mind classical languages & English on the issue—recent writing. You may contact her at research suggests hmowdy@ou.edu. that many people legitimately do work better under pressure and producesignificantly better work while under extreme duress (myself included). It came to my attention thisweek after many frantic conversations with friends that many of you haven’t made any headway withyour plans for spring break yet…and spring break is next week. Don’t panic, my friends, I am here toshow you how valuable it is to wait until the last possible second to set your travel plans in stone! The thing to remember is that there are two types of travelers in the world: first, the ones who planeverything to a T, have their whole itineraries planned out and printed out and handed out monthsin advance. Every moment is packed with things to do and their time is utilized in a way to maximizeefficiency. These people are so organized that when the inevitable happens (something is closed, theweather changes dramatically, you get lost, etc.) they’re so inflexible that they freak out. These are thetype of people who don’t handle the stresses of vacationing well and probably end up expending moreenergy controlling everything to allow themselves to relax. The second type of person, the procrastinator, is actually more likely to navigate potentially troublingsituations stress-free. Consider this—you haven’t made any
HALEY MOWDY
serious plans, haven’t gotten your heart seton any one activity, you’re then much more likely to be flexible when trouble hits. Here are a few toolsthat will help you maximize your procrastination power while planning a trip. Don’t have a flight or a hotel? Meet Travelocity, your new best friend. Sites like Travelocity and Kayakspecialize in last-minute planning. They recognize that hotels and airlines go into panic mode when theyrealize that they aren’t fully booked for a given week, and Travelocity capitalizes on this buy buying upremaining rooms and seats at a steeply cut price, allowing them to pass the deal on to you. The longeryou wait, the more desperate corporations get, so if you drive into town without a place to stay andcheck Travelocity that afternoon, guarantees there will be some available rooms at a much cheaper ratethan if you’d booked ahead for the standard price. The same is often true for flights. *Note, if you go with this plan, there are no guarantees that there will be availability in the particular hotel you want, and you might find yourself having to navigate strange layovers or weird arrival times. Be prepared to beflexible with this. Don’t have any plans? Groupon and Living Social to the rescue! Rather than trying to pack yourschedule in advance, wait ‘til you on location to decide what you want to do, and check these discountsites to plan your days. This way you won’t have to worry about cancellations, weather, etc. Mostvacation destinations will put up tons of fun touristy things to do, and you’ll save lots of money by fillingyour calendar with discounted adventures. Another tip—talk to the locals about the must-see and mustdo things around. They’ve lived there long enough to know where the best hideaway restaurants areand the cheapest ways to kill some time. You’ll also get ideas that are beyond what goes in the city’stravel blog. If you haven’t started planning your trip yet, don’t worry! The tips above can help you capitalize on your procrastination so that you can focus on what’s really important—enjoying your trip. **Side effects of travel procrastination may include: saving money, being less stressed than your friends, getting off the beaten path and having way cool, unexpected adventures!
THE ODYSSEY AT OKLAHOMA CREATIVE EXECUTIVE TEAM
Rachel Campbell
Editor-in-Chief Haley Mowdy
Jessica Schaefer
Alpha Gamma Delta
Alpha Chi Omega
Editor-Elect Annie Roach
Recruitment Chair Hunter Graham
Chi Omega
Delta Delta Delta
Contributing Editors
PR Chair Dea Pennington
Alex Bare
Delta Delta Delta
Alpha Chi Omega
Pi Beta Phi
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Scene on campus
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3
WHY OUT-OF-STATERS CHOSE OU
When it comes to life-changing decisions, choosing which college to attend is pretty high up on the list. I’m a junior in college and to this day (literally, every single day) I get asked why I chose to attend OU because I’m from the West Coast. If you’re from out of state—not including Texas, sorry— you’ll understand where I’m coming from. There are so many students at OU that are from California, New Jersey, Kansas, Colorado— the list goes on. It’s something about Oklahoma’s stereotype (i.e: “Do you, like, ride a horse to school?”) that makes snobbish Californians question my decision about going to one of the prettiest and best schools in the nation. However, it shouldn’t matter where you’re from. Everyone has the right to choose which college to attend, despite their hometown. It would also be a shame to only let Texans and Oklahomans experience the charm of the South. So, why do so many out-of-staters choose OU? Here are some reasons why:
graduate from OU won’t be scurrying last minute for an internship. It’s important to utilize the resources the school provides for you. 3. The Atmosphere
Community
AMANDA TANNER Pi Beta Phi
Amanda is a junior studying advertising. You may contact her at amanda.m.tanner-1@ou.edu.
When I came to Oklahoma, I was so confused by random people waving to me as I walked down the street. In California, the closest thing to experiencing acknowledgement from a stranger was someone honking at you to go when the light turns green. It’s comforting to know that the tight-knit OU community would come together at any opportunity or crisis. The family-like atmosphere in Oklahoma is truly a unique quality that would be rare to find at any other college. 4. The Sooner Tradition
1. The Oklahoma Campus The beautiful brick buildings, stately architecture, gorgeously manicured football field, and historic bell tower all add to the aesthetics of the school. Each building on campus carries a piece of history and tradition that makes OU unique. Whether the flowers are blooming in spring or the campus is covered in snow in the winter, the school is still beautiful. 2. The Academics Okay, so this is the most boring topic on my list, but there’s something to be said for a school with great programs, classes, and professors. OU definitely sets you up for success. It offers a multitude of opportunities to meet with potential employers, build your resume, and prepare yourself for the career world. The students who
EX-PERTISE
Exes – we all have at least one by now. From the fond memories to the bittersweet parting of ways, Pi Kappa Phi they have all assuredly left Hunter is a freshman studying a mark on us. Navigating political science & public the treacherous waters that relations. You may contact him at seem to appear the moment hwm_95@yahoo.com. that glimmer leaves your eyes can be a risky endeavor. How do you deal with a crazy ex? How do you cope with “the one that got away”? What do you do when you still have feelings for someone who broke your heart?
HUNTER MATTOCKS
The eternal question, it seems, is: what happens next? As of yet, I have not been particularly successful in the relationship department. Falling for those whose mission, it seems, was to break my heart, is the norm. Because of the romantic rollercoaster I have henceforth been a part of, I have my fair share of exes. A veritable Ex-pert, I am here to offer a bit of advice or rather, Ex-pertise. Falling in love or lust is always an engaging adventure. Sometimes you can’t help it and you quickly fall in love. Sometimes you see someone and have an immediate innate attraction to them. When you enter a relationship, you should understand what you are getting in to. The cold truth is that every time you enter in to a relationship you take a risk. You will either be with that person forever or you will leave each other. If you are not meant to be, no amount of memories, love, or attachment will keep you from parting ways. Assuming you do part ways and have not found the person whom you will be
“Sooner born and Sooner bred, and when I die I’ll be Sooner dead.” Enough said. 5. Football Season Football season may be the highlight of any OU student’s college career. Tailgating, cowboy boots, country music, red dresses, and a whole lot of Sooner spirit… What more could you need? Overall, OU is a school that offers phenomenal academics, an incredible football program, and a community-like culture that is truly one-of-a-kind. Despite your hometown, anyone across the nation deserves to experience the Sooner magic!
with for time immemorial, there are several possible outcomes. The crazy ex will try their hardest to make your life worse. They are either mad you left them or unwilling to let you be happy even if they dumped you. They may block you on social media, or they may use social media to hurt you. In my experience, the best way to handle the “crazy ex” is to ignore them. They are no longer a part of your life for a reason. They have no more bearing on your life than you give them. The “one that got away” ex is a different bird, however. This ex will gnaw at your soul. They will eat away at the deepest part of you, and most of the time, they have no desire to do this. This fact makes “the one that got away” especially hard on the heart. The reason they left does little to stifle the ache that permeates every cell in your body. Whether they left out of love or more selfish reasons, you just cannot seem to get over them. My advice on “the one that got away” is to get out. Do not sit and sulk around. Have fun. Meet People. Date people. Make friends. Live your life. They left for a reason, and being sad will not bring them back. The last of the exes is the most complicated. A dangerous mix of the two aforementioned types, they will really leave a lasting impression. What do you do when someone has hurt you, but that does not seem to matter at all? Sometimes you can fall in love with someone so much that no matter what they do – no matter how they hurt you – you still want to be with them. I do not have the perfect advice on what to do in this situation. It is a lot like Lana Del Rey’s “Dark Paradise”. She says: “all my friends tell I should move on, but I tell them when you find true love it lives on.” If it were me, I would give it one last shot. You never know if that person is your soulmate. If they made a mistake and broke your heart, give them one last chance. Give them an opportunity to earn your love back, but do not be the “old faithful”. Do not let them do it to you again and again and let them back into your life. Be strong. Love yourself, and let others love you.
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FOUR THINGS TO REMEMBER IN YOUR FOUR YEARS OF COLLEGE I can honestly say that being in college has been one of the best experiences of my life. I have made friends for life, learned hard life lessons and grown as a person. I know that many other students can relate, and feel similar. As college students, however, we tend to forget a few very important things. Here are some things that every what are possibly the best four years of their life.
JESSICA SCHAEFER
Alpha Chi Omega Jessica is a sophomore studying public relations. You may contact her at jessica.m.schaefer-1@ou.edu. student needs to remember during
Grades Aren’t Everything. Yes we are in school. Yes it’s our job to go to class, get good grades and land a good job. You have to have a life though. Don’t spend your entire college career with your nose in a book, worrying about what the future might hold. Get involved in organizations both on and off campus, because those can help you out in the future just as much as a good GPA can. Future employers look for involvement and experience, and you won’t stand out among the competition if you don’t have both grades and involvement. With that being said, you are here to SUCCESSFULLY get a degree. Yes, you should
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definitely have fun in college, but remember that it is college. If you have a huge test coming up, you probably shouldn’t stay out with your friends super late when you should be studying. College is all about finding balance, and you have to do so pretty quickly. Study when you need to study, and have fun when the time is right.
You’re Still A Kid. It can be so hard to remember that we are still so young, and still have so much left to learn. We are expected to have so much responsibility and we are kind of left on our own to live our lives and make our own mistakes eight months out of the year. At 18, we are supposed to have an idea of what we want to do with our lives. It’s easy to just start to believe that we are on our own and that we know best. I still rely heavily on my parents for pretty much everything. No matter how much I think I know, my mom is the first person I call when there is a problem or when I’m sick. We don’t need to have it all figured out yet, so just relax, and don’t try to plan your future in one day. We have so much time to figure things out. You Won’t Get This Opportunity Again. College only lasts four years. If you’re anything like me, you’ve already realized that time really does fly by, and we will be putting on that cap and gown before we know it. Classes can be so stressful, but stress shouldn’t be the theme of your college career. Try to experience everything you can, from football games to campus-wide events. Don’t limit yourself to the friend groups you hang out with. Make friends in every chapter, and in other organizations on campus. Take classes that sound interesting to you. You never know where you might find your passion. Enjoy college as much as possible, because you only get to do it once.
SOONERTHON Meet Gentry, she was diagnosed with bilateral clubfeet at 20 weeks gestation. Born on August 30, 2010 she began having her feet casted just four days later. After four rounds of castings, Gentry underwent s u r g e r y. Tw o w e e k s following surgery, the right foot remained significantly swollen.
MAXI ANDERSON Delta Gamma
Maxi is a freshman studying Marketing. You may contact her at maxianderson@ou.edu
Tests revealed he had developed a pseudo-aneurysm, which is a weakening in the wall of an artery. Gentry was referral to Dr. Tuggle at The Children’s Hospital at OU Medical Center. Upon arriving at the hospital for a consultation appointment, Gentry’s pseudo-aneurysm burst. His leg was covered with blood, and he became unresponsive in hemorrhagic shock. He was in cardiac arrest by the time his mother reached the ER. Dr. Bogie and her team began immediate intervention. Following a blood transfusion and 20 minutes of CPR, Gentry was rushed to the operating room. Dr. Tuggle and his team were able to tie off the artery stopping the bleeding. Six days and many tests later Gentry was released from the hospital. Gentry’s family says doctors Tuggle and Bogie and the staff at The Children’s Hospital will always hold a special place in their hearts for saving their son’s life. I know you’ve probably heard about Soonerthon. If you haven’t, you probably live under a rock. Although many of you have heard about Soonerthon, many don’t know what it is and view it as another event your house requires you to sign up for. Yet, it is so much more than that! All money raised goes to The Children’s Miracle Network benefiting The Children’s Hospital in Oklahoma City.
The event is March 8th, and lasts all day. It starts at 10am and everyone is on their feet for 12 hours dancing and having fun. The cost of admission is $30.00. Last year Soonerthon raised $196,034.62. The goal is to exceed that amount. This year’s motto is: Give 120% in everything you do, and do something for the kids every day. The event Soonerthon is 12 hours because that’s usually how long, on average, a miracle child spends in chemotherapy or dialysis. 12 hours is also usually how long doctors will stand during one day of work. This is how we are able to show how much we appreciate the doctors and how much work they do. This year, Soonerthon is approaching the event in a different way, by focusing on giving participants the chance to spend a lot more time with the miracle kids. In addition, the number 12 will be celebrated, recognizing the 176 people on Soonerthon executive committees and the 12 months of fundraising they have done. When the reveal takes place, the amount of money each has raised will be announced, which is a surprise to all of them. Soonerthon has been using the hash tag #starttheparty trying to let the kids anticipate the biggest birthday party ever. Celebrating life is what Soonerthon is all about. Black jack stations, a place where you can make cards for the children, jazzercise, basketball, four square, a children’s carnival, dancing, opportunities to hear families speak on their children’s illness, and a glow themed rave will all happen during the event March 8th. This day celebrates both the doctors at The Children’s Hospital in Oklahoma City and everyone who fundraised for the event. Most importantly it honors the kids giving them the ability to get away and forget about their problems for 12 hours. These children go through so much and yet are so happy. Please help us help the children. Sign up is by going to http://www.helpmakemiracles.org, click on the red box labeled find the event, and select Soonerthon March 8th. Cost is $30.00 and to guarantee a t-shirt sign up by February 27th. If everyone raised an additional 20 dollars, we would far exceed our goal. If you can’t raise 20, raise at least a dollar. This is an event you don’t want to miss. Remember March 8th. Check in starts at 9 and the event kicks off at 10 starting 12 hours of celebrating begins. Sign up today. Do it now. Do it for the kids.
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5
THE PSYCHOLOGY OF INTELLECTUAL HUMILITY
I went to a lecture on the psychology of intellectual humility and it was appropriately over my head. Justin L. Barrett was the speaker, Kappa Alpha Theta a celebrated psychologist Emily is a junior studying and Fuller Grad who got his professional writing. Doctorate somewhere, and Yo u m a y c o n t a c t h e r a t spent some time at Oxford. I got emily.k.irvin-1@ou.edu. my pen out and tuned in, since Oxford is the biggest trigger word for establishing credibility in the realm of higher learning. I listened to everything, taking vigorous notes and four pages later, an hour had passed and he opened the floor up for questions. In the spirit of intellectual humility, I raised my hand.
EMILY IRVIN
“Uhh. Can you please explain everything again?” Barrett was gracious with me and explained the two main theories again. It starts out as pretty common sense, but then it gets tricky. Intellectual humility is an unusually low dispositional concern for social status gained by intellectual talent, according to psychologist Robert Roberts. So basically, a person striving to practice this trait doesn’t use their intelligence for social gain. By this definition, it suggests that motivation matters. For example, using intelligence for social climbing, the acquisition of money, or the hypothetical reward of a 4.0 corrupts the virtue. But using intelligence to solve social problems or simply for the pleasure of pursuing knowledge remains honorable. Not too hard to understand, but it creates a lot of grey areas. Since Roberts founds his theory on social acceptance, it raises implications about social awareness and our innate desires as social beings. Is it virtuous to fight our social nature that seeks acceptance? Think of a person
O-ZOO
College can often get lonely, with friends and roommates having opposite schedules, Alpha Omicron Pi the piles upon piles of homework that need to be completed daily and Nicole is a junior studying not to mention if you add economics & religious studies. a job or internship on You may contact her at top of everything else in smith.a.nicole@ou.edu. your life. When you feel like times are rough and no one understands you, the best thing to do is get a pet. There’s nothing like a furry or aquatic friend that can make any day better. The most difficult part is deciding what kind of animal to comfort you: Fish – Getting a fish for a pet means that you are a tad afraid of long-term relationships and high-maintenance situations. Fish require minimal care, aside from daily feeding and monthly cleaning. They are some of the only animals that you can have in the dorms or a Greek house, so it might be a good start if you want to take baby steps into owning a pet. Fish come in all different colors and sizes, so you can really show your personality through this pet. You may want to avoid salt-water fish, because they require expensive tanks (and if we’re being honest, everyone would rather buy Whataburger than food for our fish that will probably die in a month). Be careful not to take your fish out of the water when you’re drunk. Turtle – Depending on the size of the turtle, these are also low-maintenance animals (that you can also have in the dorms). Unlike a fish, you can pick up your turtle and play with it, kind of. Turtles live for quite a long time, so you might be getting more than you signed up for if you were only looking for an animal for your time in the dorms or Greek house. Turtles are very fun to watch swim around the water, though, and can offer a little procrastination if that’s what you’re looking for. You have to be careful not to capture a wild snapping turtle if you want to keep all your fingers. They also have really foul-smelling poop, so watch out. Hamster – Some of the cutest little rodents, hamsters offer endless hours of entertainment without the long-term commitment. Most hamsters only live two
NICOLE SMITH
who is socially impaired, on the autism scale for example, who doesn’t regard social acceptance to the same esteem. Are they more virtuous because of their wiring? Are others less virtuous because they must constantly fight the desire to seek social status through any means? Another psychologist, Church, covers some of these grey areas in his theory that looks at it from three angles—virtuous skepticism, virtuous revision, and virtuous dogmatism (in my notes, I wrote “dognation.” That’s how frantically I was scribbling this stuff down). This idea condemns intellectual arrogance, while still praising people’s ability to hold fast to their ideas or alter them in the face of new evidence. He defines intellectual arrogance as holding onto ideas too tightly, but also recognizes it as a virtue is some circumstances because being too easily swayed by information can be a vice. So Church basically interprets intellectual humility on spectrum of firm and flexible knowledge. In this theory, motivations for intellectual humility fall second to the way we accept or deny information. For example, it would not be virtuous for Shawn White to say, “I am a bad snowboarder.” It would be a lie. Shawn White saying, “I am a good snowboarder” may promote his social status, but it is still virtuous because it is true. Church thinks we shouldn’t lie about our intellect for the sake of false humility and abstinence from social gain. We should be honest, and if that means holding onto a belief firmly, despite how it might affect our social status, it is virtuous because it is true (true to the person. Absolute truth is a whole different lecture). Combining both of these theories, we arrive at the conclusion that we should use knowledge for good and be flexible and firm in what we believe in an effort to avoid ignorance and arrogance. This may be a helpful road map on the path to intellectual humility, but I find humility in the opposite, in knowing that I will always be ignorant and arrogant about something, if not everything. Even if I study from now until the day I die, I will never reach intellectual nirvana. When scientists spend their entire lives studying one gene, how could I ever say, “I am no longer ignorant. I have arrived.” I think intellectual humility comes from recognizing the infinite amount of knowledge in the universe and realizing you can never have it all. But what do I know?
years, but they stay active throughout their lives. Hamsters also seem to have a deeper psychological meaning, as some students picture the hamster running continuously on the wheel as a metaphor for our collegiate lives. Depending on your level of philosophical thoughts, you may enjoy letting your hamster run loose in a ball around the house or holding your dwarf hamster in the pocket of your favorite comfort colors. Be careful not to forget about the hamster ball for too long, and don’t play with your hamster when you’re intoxicated or sleep deprived. Chinchilla – Basically a large hamster, chinchillas are known to eat like college students. If you’re looking for a late night study buddy who also gets the munchies, then a chinchilla is the pet for you. They have more of a personality than most rodents and are mostly nocturnal animals. They require quite a bit of exercise, but this can be handled with a large hamster ball. If you have a love for Chester the Squirrel, you can just name your chinchilla Chester and make him a Twitter, because Chinchillas resemble squirrels with their bushy tails. Hedgehog – If you’ve ever ventured on to Pinterest (so basically if you belong to a sorority), you’ve seen the videos of hedgehogs, stealing your heart with their cuteness. The fact that a hedgehog can float on its back in water makes me want to buy one. They also curl up into little balls of joy. Hedgehogs are very easy to take care of and do not disturb other house guests. They are not very playful, but make great listeners since they rarely make noise. Be careful not to get an albino hedgehog, because their creepy red eyes could be used in a horror film. Dog – One of the most common pets for college students, dogs are great for the active person. If you decide to get a puppy, prepare for potty training and lots of walks for this friendly pet. On the plus side, dogs have a great personality and many enjoy cuddling with their owners. I’m a huge fan of golden retrievers because of their friendliness, but not everyone enjoys large dogs. The best thing about dogs is that you can pick what personality you want based on the breed. If you decide to get a dog, you will have to have a fenced in yard and be able to dedicate much of your free time to playing with your four-legged best friend. Your dog will never judge you for eating an entire pint of ice cream or wearing the same clothes for three days in a row. Be prepared to share your bed with your dog, though, because most dogs love to cuddle. Cat – While all the other animals are great options, cats are clearly the best. There’s no argument needed. Get a cat.
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LAVALIERE ME SO I KNOW IT IS REAL The topic of lavaliering comes up quite a bit… in the past, anyway. A lavaliere is a necklace with a fraternity’s letters on it vertically. It is a Greek tradition that has
When a lavaliere is given, the guy’s fraternity brothers typically assist him in delivering
OMAR AWAD
the necklace in a special way. It is usually given during a holiday or significant day for
Phi Kappa Psi
lady. When a sorority girl is lavaliered, she usually keeps it a secret until her chapter hosts
Omar is a freshman studying Criminology / pre-med. Yo u m a y c o n t a c t h i m a t omar.awad-1@ou.edu.
a candle lighting or candle passing ceremony, where the women pass a candle around a circle while singing a traditional song, and only the girl who was lavaliered may blow
slowly died in today’s
the couple. Valentine’s Day is definitely an excellent opportunity to lavaliere that special
out the candle to celebrate. The act of giving a lavaliere to your college sweetheart is not a commonly practiced
society. A lot of people have heard of promise rings--I personally know quite a few classmates from high school who were given promise rings during senior year. When you join the Greek system, a lavaliere is similar to a promise ring. It is given as a sign of commitment and affection. When a member of a fraternity feels strongly about his significant other and wants to show her that he is seriously considering marriage, he gives her the necklace as a promise. The name lavaliere is derived from the Duchess Louise De La Valliere, a mistress of King Louis XIV. A lavaliere is usually the next step after pinning. Pinning is when a man and woman begin dating, and he gives her a special pin (only a few fraternities do pinning, however, so the lavaliering ceremony is often done in lieu of a pinning). A lavaliere, as previously mentioned, is a highly significant moment in a relationship.
thing here at OU, but it should be. The Greek men of OU do not have swag... we have class. And chivalry is classy. We have many myths here at the University of Oklahoma, such as if you walk under the clock tower by the library you will graduate a year late, and if you kiss a girl in the spoon holder you are destined to get married. What better way to show a girl that you feel strongly about her than by walking her to the spoon-holder and putting that necklace around her neck with the letters of your house and sealing the deal with a kiss? Although it is a little too late to give your special lady a lavaliere this Valentine’s Day, it is something to deeply consider, for her birthday, an anniversary, maybe even next year’s Valentine’s Day. So gentlemen, next time you want to surprise your lady with something special, lavaliere her and be her frat in shining Sperry’s.
WHY LADIES LOVE A TRUE GENTLEMAN Newsflash--chivalry is not dead. It might be revamped to fit our modern times, but it still very much exists. Call it charm, call it swag, call it whatever you may, but being a gentleman is one of the biggest factors that splits the boys from the men, and ladies love it.
COURTNEY BLOSSEY Alpha Gamma Delta
Courtney is a senior studying public relations. You may contact her at blossey.courtneyrose@ou.edu.
I’ve been dating my boyfriend Josh for over a year, and from the very beginning, he has always embodied the definition of a true gentleman. In fact, it’s one of the main things that stood out to me on our first date. He was committed to ringing the doorbell of my sorority house to pick me up, opening the door to the restaurant, paying for our meal, giving me the inside of the sidewalk on our walk back to his car, then escorting me to my front door when the date was over and texting me that night. He has always made sure to treat me like a lady. Women are so used to going on dates that are “so-so” that it seems like a rare occurrence for a guy to treat them like a lady. No, I’m not writing this article to condemn all the guys out there. I’m sure you’re all wonderful, so this is in no way meant to be a slam to you. It’s just meant to be a simple reminder that women love to be treated like they’re worth something more and not taken for granted. You reap what you sow, and by treating your woman like the lady she is, she’ll come to appreciate you and respect you in a very deep way.
You might find yourself questioning what being a gentleman consists of. This answer is very broad at best, and can be defined and redefined. But the definition of being a classic gentleman on a date comes down to two major themes-- respect and appreciation. For starters, make sure to pick your date up at the door. Don’t sit in your car and honk, or text her from the driveway saying you’re there. Take the time to walk up to her door and escort her out to the car. She’s spent time getting ready to look good for your date, so spend the little amount of time it takes to greet her formally. When you get to your date destination, open the door for her. This is a free, polite way of showing your respect, and she’ll take notice. Depending on the date activity, offer to pay. But ladies, don’t take this for granted. You should always be ready and willing to pay, as well as gracious to your date for covering your portion—he doesn’t have to do that. True gentlemen are polite in words as well as actions. Make sure to steer your conversations in topics that interest and will not offend your date. When the date is over, walk her up to her door. And if you’ve had a great time on your date, don’t hesitate to let her know. Ladies tend to overanalyze things so don’t leave her guessing. She’ll appreciate and respect your openness. Being a gentleman is not only a deep sign of respect, but maturity. It proves a guy is classy and polite when he conducts himself in that manner, and it automatically makes a man more attractive. Anyone can be a normal guy, but guys who are gentlemen stand out like a highlighter in a box of sharpies. A true gentleman is the epitome of everything wonderful, and is a reminder to women that Prince Charming can exist, and that their dream of a fairytale romance can become a reality. So, treat your lady like a princess, and she’ll love you for the prince you are.
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Scene greek life
LIFE OF A FRAT HOUND You can go to the bars to pick up girls or meet them in class, but one way you can’t fail is taking the frat pup on a walk down Greek Row. He’s the ultimate wingman, and any guy couldn’t ask for better. He’s a key part of the fraternity and that lucky dog gets to make a career of college. While taking care of a puppy is a lot of work, every fraternity that is allowed to have one should get a pup (who will be the most loyal member of the fraternity). Now, no self-respecting man would own a poodle, pug, Chihuahua or any other sort of lap dog. Only the true American red-blooded dogs will do. Yellow and chocolate labs, golden retrievers, German shepherds and Bassett hounds are the ideal companions for the fraternity. What start off as little puppies will soon become the massive lugs that take up three spots on the couch. Early on in the little chick magnet’s life he will be dragged to every event possible. He will make appearances at all the intramural events, barking at the ref’s bad calls. Most likely, he will snag a pie off of a table at a sorority’s philanthropy event. The Greek row evening walk, which doesn’t involve much walking as it does stopping on each sororities’ lawn while they play with the frat hound, is a staple. This little guy is a great conversation starter and can introduce you to anyone and warm even the coldest of souls. He will go in the chapter’s composite in a place of honor alongside the House Mom
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and executives. You will put a bow tie on the little guy and maybe a pair of shades. Each year the composite will show him grow bigger and Phi Kappa Psi bigger, consuming more of the chapter ’s budget. Jeff is a junior studying political Undoubtedly, he will tear up science. You may contact him at a couch or two. He will ruin jdscott1993@ou.edu. the carpet in the hallways because the pledges forgot to take him outside after dinner. The treasurer will be pissed that he has to ask the alums to donate new stuff for the house, but not even the old alum can stay mad a cute little frat hound for long. Eventually the pup will start to gray and become the old man of the house, watching pledge class after pledge class pass through the chapter. He will protect the house from any stupid kids that think they are good enough to acquire your chapter’s composites and trophies without getting caught. Oh, what a nasty surprise those thieves are in for when a 120-pound Swiss mountain dog tackles them in the middle of the foyer. In his golden years, he will have to leave the chapter house and will go home with one of the younger alums that raised him from a pup. He will live out the rest of his life comfortably, hunting and making surprise visits on game days. Hopefully, he sired a new little pup to take over as the king of the frat castle. Even though having a house dog can be trouble and will cost the chapter a little bit of money and sanity, it’s a piece of fraternity life that each chapter should experience.
JEFF SCOTT
TYPES OF PEOPLE AT SPRING DATE PARTIES “Drunk Before Noon” Although the buses aren’t scheduled to run until 3 p.m., this over-enthusiastic guy woke up and started pregaming at the break of dawn. By the time the actual pregame starts, he is way ahead of his peers. This individual is normally unaccompanied and lost (napping in a chair, shotgunning beer alone in the shower, etc.).
*Closely related: The “Incoherent” The “Outsider” This girl is either a part of a different social group or from an entirely different university. She can be easily spotted due to her awkward nature, odd fashion sense, and antisocial attitude. However, she’s normally pretty cool once you get to know her, so make her feel at home. The “Angry Mob” We all know the drill: the buses arrive and all of a sudden, a light-hearted pregame turns into an aggressive stampede. The “Angry Mob” will do anything to get to the date party before the rest of the crowd. This occasion results in utter chaos, and typically leads to an indignant bus driver who refuses to open the bus doors for 20+ minutes. The “Motion Sick” Sometimes the bus gets the best of people. Enough said. The “Unfortunate” This group of people survived The “Angry Mob” only to spend two hours on a bus that gets lost—or worse, breaks down. Either way, these people get the short end of the stick when it comes to safe transportation between Norman and the undisclosed date party location. Irritated and most likely sober, this group ends up shutting down the date party at the end of the night. The “Emotionally-Unstable” Maybe her boyfriend broke up with her, maybe she saw her ex with another girl, or maybe The “Hijacker” (see below) swept in and stole her crush. Whatever the reason, a date party just isn’t complete without at least one crying girl. “Born to Run” These people look like they’ve never experienced an open space before. They are seen running back-and-forth in the date party field with no rhyme or reason and generally loving everything about life. Pay close attention and you may see an individual face-plant (see The “Accident Prone” below). The “Incoherent”This guy walks up to you and attempts to start a conversation. After about three seconds of his slurred words and your confused gaze, he walks away to go find another victim. This person is completely obliterated and will have no recollection of the date party whatsoever. The “Show Stopper” While Juicy J or Gorilla Zoe may be the featured act, this girl truly believes she is the star
of the show. This girl channels her inner Miley and twerks all over the stage all night long. Although this girl receives hate from the crowd, she gets to hang out with the band after everything is said and done. So Pi Beta Phi work it, I guess. Dea is a junior studying public The “Accident-Prone” relations. You may contact her at Scratches, bruises, dpenn@ou.edu. concussions, and broken limbs are not uncommon while belligerently riding a mechanical bull, diving in foam, or playing in a pool of water. Good luck with nursing that the next couple weeks. The “Hijacker” We all know this person well. You’ve finally received that date party invite from that guy you’ve been crushing on. Unfortunately, The “Hijacker” swoops in and steals him away for the rest of the night. The “Hijacker” comes in many forms: the ex, the rando, your best friend… Whoever it is, this person sucks. The “Delinquent” This person is kicked out of the date party several times but still manages to sneak back in. The “Delinquent” normally ends up being carried on to a bus or into a cop car at the end of the night. The “Third Wheel” The obvious crush date. No one knows her, but she somehow has a wristband. The “Hit and Run” This person uses their date for the pregame then hits the date party and runs far, far away. These are the individuals who turn into The “Hijackers” (see above) or Those “Difficult to Please” (see below). If everyone just stayed with their dates, the world would be a much easier place. Those “Difficult to Please” First you see this girl with her date, then you see her with a guy from the other fraternity, then you see her 5 minutes later with The “Incoherent” guy, and finally she’s getting on the bus with your best guy friend. This girl is relentless and will do anything to end up with the perfect man. Look out for these date party frequents at your next party—makes for good people-watching.
DEA PENNINGTON
8 THE FIGHT FOR INDEPENDENCE, FAIR TREATMENT Ideas debate & discuss
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AND AFFORDABLE EDUCATION OVERSEAS Before I came to Spain, I gave little thought to the political happenings of the area. I knew the unemployment rate was outrageously high (26%), but other than that, I was pretty clueless. It wasn’t until I arrived that I began hearing about all the problems with the Spanish government.
ALEXIS HAMES Kappa Kappa Gamma
Alexis is a junior studying Public Relations. You may contact her at alexis@ou.edu.
For starters, Catalonia (the province in Spain that I live in) wants to secede from Spain and become an independent nation. They believe that they would be better off economically without the European Union. Additionally, they would prefer that Catalan be the official language, as opposed to Spanish. Most Catalan people do not consider themselves Spanish, but exclusively Catalan. Advocates of independence often set up tents outside of Las Ramblas (Barcelona’s most popular square) in attempts to gain awareness and support of the people. As you are walking by, they’ll hand you a flyer explaining their desire to secede and ask for your signature, signifying your support. But you don’t have to visit Las Ramblas to be reminded of the desire for independence. Flags symbolizing Catalan independence are displayed on most building balconies. Walk down any street in Barcelona – you can’t miss them. This isn’t the only thing the Catalan people are up in arms about. The price of public transportation has increased by 3.5% in the last year. To put this in perspective, the
ridership of the Barcelona Metro in 2012 was 448.5 million. In a city of 1.6 million residents, with a colossal unemployment rate, affordable public transportation is necessary to maintain the Catalan way of life. I had no knowledge of this issue until I went to the metro one day and was greeted by hundreds of people jumping over the ticket machines and filling the metro station. The protestors were holding signs displaying a metro ticket with a euro sign on it, encompassed by the common “no” symbol. As a result, the metro I was trying to use was shut down for the rest of the day. The closing of the metro deterred protestors, as their plan for a weeklong protest was cut short. Funding for education has also taken a hit in Barcelona. This concern first came to my attention when I went to volunteer at a Catalan high school as an English language teacher’s assistant. All of the teachers were wearing the same yellow t-shirt that read “S.O.S.” with a picture of a life ring. When I asked one of the instructors what the shirt signified, she explained that without more funding, schools are sinking ships. These cuts in funding are affecting all stages of schooling, from the elementary level to universities. Demonstrations of all sizes are a frequent occurrence. One of the largest marches took place on Oct. 24, when tens of thousands of students, educators and parents took to the streets. If the government doesn’t change any of their policies, I expect protests to continue and grow in support. With 26% unemployment, education of Spanish youth is of paramount importance. These are just three examples of outcry that I have seen in my first month in Barcelona. It is not uncommon for me to look outside my schoolroom window and see people with megaphones, flags and signs marching. One thing I have realized from all of this is that the grass isn’t always greener on the other side. Each country has its unique struggles and dysfunctional laws and the people of Catalonia are fighting for what they view as basic human rights.
WHAT DAVE RAMSEY ISN’T TELLING YOU College students know how expensive college life can be, but it’s about this halfway point in the semester when you can really find yourself in a pinch with money. With thousands of dollars in tuition, rent, food and simple pleasures piling up on one another, our bank accounts suffer and many find themselves entering a world of scrounging. While it is human nature to scrounge, there are in fact many tricks to the trade of saving money–and I’m not talking about what you learned about in high school personal finance class. Eat Cheap Spending money on ten-dollar meals around Norman can add up fast, and can be very detrimental to your wallet. Groceries are the way to go. My advice is to become a pro in buying the off brands– Cinnamon Toasters are every bit as good as Cinnamon Toast Crunch, and nobody ever died from drinking Sam’s Choice Dr. Thunder. If you do go out to eat, use coupons, find specials, and for the love of God, save your leftovers. A wise man once said, “Let today’s steak be tomorrow’s breakfast burritos.” He was my seventh grade science teacher who got fired after his first month, but that is neither here nor there. If you are really low on dough, get a job bussing tables. You can make meals off table scraps, and receive a paycheck for it. Party Cheap Let’s face it: if you enjoy going out on the weekends, you already know how expensive it can become. There are a multitude of places in Norman that sell expired beer for dirt-cheap, so put your tastes aside and get a bargain. When at house parties, don’t worry about bringing alcohol. Keep a sharp eye out for half-empty abandoned drinks and suck them down. For the nicotine junkies out there, forget buying a pack of stogies. Bum a lighter off your buddy, head out to the porch, and pick up a handful of cigarette butts. There will be enough life left in them to combine for an adequate buzz, and that’s tax-free!
Buddy Barber
NICK CALLAWAY
Haircuts may be the biggest racket in town, costing anywhere from 20 Sigma Alpha Epsilon to 30 dollars at most places. Forget about it. Find a friend Nick is a junior studying with a pair of clippers, and journalism. You may contact let him do the honors. him at nickcallaway@ou.edu. The beautiful thing about human hair is its ability to grow back, so don’t concern yourself with the high chance that you will look like a dog’s butt. I let my buddy Dean cut my hair a few weeks ago, and I didn’t lose any friends over it. Casino Raids Many people call local casinos and lottery tickets a tax on the poor, but they can offer a lot for college scroungers. I learned this next method from my El Salvadorian friend Ana. Go to Riverwind on any given weeknight and move from slot machine to slot machine. Most players leave their printed tickets with a dollar or less behind, and they are fair game. Gather a hefty stack of these deserted tickets, and you’ll be surprised at what they can add up to. If you’re feeling lucky, take your stack to the roulette machine and put it all on black. If all else fails, you’ll still enjoy the free soft drinks. Sell Yourself…Legally It’s a common belief that one’s body is a temple, but it can also be a gold mine. Donating plasma, eggs or sperm can earn you some crazy money, and it’s as easy as demeaning yourself a just a little bit. The plasma donation center is a few minutes away from campus, and they pay 50 dollars for your first three donations. That’s a hundred and fifty dollars for sticking a needle in your arm weakening your immune system a tad. For you ladies out there, the eggs in your ovaries are worth thousands of dollars that could potentially cover the rent for your entire college career. Desperate times most frequently call for desperate measures, and there’s no shame in scrounging every once in a while. Consider your current spending, saving, and earning habits, and decide what little things you can do to become more efficient.
Adventure traveling
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WHEN IN ROME At the University of Oklahoma, it’s almost a daily occurrence to hear one of your friends say they are Alpha Omicron Pi traveling abroad. President David Boren is the reason Kate is a sophomore studying for the cultural immersion marketing. You may contact her happening here at OU. at Kate.E.Jenkins-1@ou.edu.. Heck, he brought back bright red telephone booths from England because he finds knowing and experiencing other cultures to be extremely important. Almost every college here on campus has a study abroad option in a multitude of different countries all over the world. The two popular study abroad options are spending the summer in different country or spending a whole semester there. Each study abroad option forces you to dive deep into the culture of the country you’re staying in, immersing yourself in their way of life. The worldliness you gain from that experience is priceless and sets you apart from those who haven’t studied abroad.
KATE JENKINS
The majority of my friends have chosen the summer study abroad option. It’s a short three-week period in which they will stay in the country of their choosing and take university classes. Three weeks is just enough time to actually get to explore and experience the country you’re in without getting homesick. Most of the universities in the different countries are located a fairly short distance away from major cities. For example, the
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Arezzo OU campus is only an hour away from Rome by train. It’s a great distance to be away because you are far enough away that you won’t be too distracted from school, but you’re close enough that you can take a day trip to go and explore one of the oldest cities in the world. You do have to take some type of language class when you do study abroad in a non-English speaking country. Since three weeks is a short time to be in a country, you really have to adapt quickly to learn the language. The semester study abroad option will definitely give you the time to work on your language skills, since you will be in a country for about five months. You also really get to know the other people who are in the same group as you; some don’t even attend the University of Oklahoma. An art history professor told me it took one month to actively explore the Louvre museum in France. If it takes you a month to experience one sight, then imagine how long it will take you to look at all the other things your new country has to offer? The semester long study abroad option definitely gives you the time you need to experience and partake in the culture of the country you’re in. It is the pricier option, however. To study abroad for a semester is the equivalent of studying at the University of Oklahoma for a semester but, there are numerous scholarships waiting to be given out to help students who are studying abroad. If you get homesick when your parents still only live two hours away from OU, the semester long option probably isn’t for you. The experience and worldly understanding you gain when completely immersed in another country’s culture is priceless. You will make connections with those on your trip as well as with the country you are in. So many have said told me they were glad to be back at OU because they missed their friends, but they could and would have stayed longer in their respective countries. Studying abroad changes you for the better, no matter how long you choose to stay and where.
WHAT IS YOUR PERFECT SPRING BREAK DESTINATION? With the spring break season coming up, I’m sure you’ve heard your fair share of conversations involving this popular topic. If you and your friends are like mine, you’ve been planning your trip since before Christmas break. While most of you may be heading off to the beach once March comes, some choose other locations for their spring break destination. Last year, my friends and I decided to skip the beach scene and go to the happiest place on earth instead. Yes, you guessed it. Disney World. I’ve grown up loving everything Disney, so when the opportunity came up to go to Orlando, I was all for it. Once spring break was here, four of my best friends and I headed off to Orlando for the week. Let me tell you, Disney World is for people of any age. I honestly probably enjoyed it more when I was 18 than when I was 8. There are so many things to do at each park for those of any age and I loved every second of it. It just so happens that my birthday always falls during the time of spring break, so being able to spend my birthday at Disney World was the absolute greatest. On days that we didn’t go to Disney World, we hung out by the pool, explored Orlando and even took a trip to Universal Studios (including the Wizarding World of Harry Potter) on our last day of the trip. Going to Disney World was honestly the best spring break trip that I could have asked for. I mean Florida, roller coasters, Mickey Mouse-shaped food and getting to bring out my inner child every day--what more could you ask for? Well, maybe Disney World isn’t on the top of your list of places to spend your spring break. How about taking a ski trip with some of your closest friends? While it may be starting to warm up in Oklahoma once spring break comes, locations such as Colorado, New Mexico, and Utah still have the perfect skiing weather. Grab your snow gear and head up into the mountains for a fun week of snow and skiing. You can rent your skis once you arrive, allowing more room in your suitcase for all of the jackets and boots you’re going to need to stay warm. Grab some hot chocolate and sit by a warm fire at the end of the day, and you have another great option for a spring break trip.
Want to get away from the college scene during your spring break? Lots of colleges have the same spring break. You could spend your break with Delta Gamma friends from home rather Morgan is a sophomore than your OU friends for studying public relations. a refreshing change. Pick You may contact her at out a fun location, such as New York, California or Morgan.L.Brunelli-1@ou.edu. maybe somewhere tropical such as the Bahamas or Mexico and start planning! It’s always fun getting to spend time with the friends you grew up with and spring break is the perfect time to do so. Are you part of a church group or organization that takes part in volunteering regularly? Lots of church groups take mission trips during spring break to various countries to help out in struggling communities. This is a great time to take part in helping others while making unforgettable memories. Maybe you’ve decided to just go home for your week off. There’s absolutely nothing wrong with that. It’s always such a treat to go home and be pampered by your mom, and of course, we all love our free meals and laundry service. If you’re upset about having to go home for a week, change your attitude and make your week at home what I like to call a “staycation.” According to Wikipedia, a staycation is a period in which an individual or family stays home and participates in leisure activities within driving distance, sleeping in their own beds at night. No matter where you’re from, there has to be somewhere exciting that you can drive to in order to make the most of your time at home. I’ve already made a long list of things I could do in Dallas if I were to choose home over a vacation one year. Don’t mope around all week while you’re at home. Get some much needed rest and enjoy your time off of school, because once you return back to school, the chaos will start right back up again. For the majority of students who choose to go to the beach for spring break, I know the stories and memories will be unforgettable. Whatever you choose to do for your spring break, I hope that it’s filled with lots of fun, pictures, relaxation and memories. Happy vacationing.
MORGAN BRUNELLI
10 Sports
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CHAMPIONSHIP CHASE: HOW THE NBA’S TOP TEAMS STACK UP
Now that the All-Star break is in the rear view mirror and football is on its annual 7-month vacation, Alpha Tau Omega the “actual” NBA season is finally upon us. While each Nate is a freshman team has played over 50 studying journalism. You may contact him at games of their respective 82 ndfain@gmail.com. game schedules, it wasn’t until this past weekend when all eyes were finally focused on basketball. And it’s a beautiful thing really, at least for us fans of the association, especially this year. With Miami not playing its best ball and upstart teams like Indiana, Oklahoma City, and Portland playing better than most expected, it’s shaping up to be a very competitive, very fun race for the Larry O’Brien trophy. This is especially true in the Western Conference, which has five teams that have all won at least two-thirds of their games thus far. The way I see it there are about seven teams that have a realistic shot at winning the NBA finals, and I’m going to rank and explain why each of these seven teams will win the finals, as well as why they won’t.
NATE FAIN
1) Miami Heat: Why they will: When it comes to the two-time defending champs, their success begins and ends with the “Big 3.” With 29 All-Star appearances and nine All-NBA first team selections, Chris Bosh, Dwayne Wade, and Lebron James are the cornerstones of the league’s most talented team. And despite what critics may say, Bosh is still the best power forward in the Eastern Conference, Dwayne Wade is still a superstar of the highest order when healthy, and Lebron James is still the game’s best player. There is also the fact that the East is really only a two-team race, so besides Indiana, Miami will have an easy road to the finals. Why they won’t: While I do think Miami is still the favorite to win it all, they still have some obvious flaws that worry me. The first is their interior defense. Chris Bosh and Chris “Birdman” Andersen are both good rim protectors, and can get the job done against most teams. However, Indiana is not most teams. If last year’s East finals are any indicator, Roy Hibbert and David West will be too much for Bosh and the Birdmam in the low post. The other reasons are Dwayne Wade’s health and Ray Allen’s shooting. We know how good Wade, the former finals MVP, is when healthy, but we also know that when his knees are bothering him the Heat have a tendency to become one-dimensional. We also know Ray Allen is the best pure shooter of all time and he hit the shot that pretty much won Miami last year’s title. This season, however, Allen is having career lows in three-point percentage and points per game. Even though Allen may not be a member of the “Big 3”, the question still remains: Can the Heat win the title if Ray Allen isn’t making big shots? 2) Oklahoma City Thunder: Why they will: Kevin Durant is on a mission and his goal is obvious. He wants to win the NBA Championship and dethrone King James as the best player in the world. He is the obvious front-runner for the league’s MVP award, and is putting up forty point games more effortlessly than a frat star shotguns a beer. Not to mention that the emergence of young players like Reggie Jackson and Jeremy Lamb will lighten the work load for Durant, incase injury continues to plague Russell Westbrook. Why they won’t: Oklahoma City’s enigmatic point guard will either be the factor that pushes the Thunder over top and into the pantheon of greatness, or he will be the reason the Thunder crash and burn. Though he is thought of as Durant’s sidekick, Westbrook often tends to forego the role of Robin in pursuit of a more Batman like responsibility. Over the past few seasons, Westbrook has averaged more shots and less points the KD, and with his alpha male mentality compiled with the ample touches that come from playing point guard, Westbrook’s return from knee surgery could hurt the Thunder more than it helps them. 3) Indiana Pacers Why they will:
This is another team on a mission. The Pacers, by most accounts, don’t like the Miami Heat, and they want to beat Miami more than I want to marry Jennifer Lawrence. If Indiana can get home court advantage in the playoffs, they have a more than real shot at ending all hopes of a Miami three-peat. Why they won’t: The main question mark for Indiana is at the point guard position. It’s not that George Hill is a bad player, it’s just that he isn’t a true point guard. With the trade deadline looming, it will be interesting to see if Indiana decides they want to try to improve the roster or stick with who brought them to the dance. 4) Los Angles Clippers Why they will:
The main positives for the Clippers are obvious. Chris Paul is their point guard and Doc Rivers is their Coach. It’s as simple as that. Another thing to pay attention to is the Clipper’s front line. It has gone from being a couple highlight dunkers who get punked by Memphis in the first round into probably the best set of big men in the league. DeAndre Jordan is currently the league’s best rebounder and Blake Griffin, who was probably the most overrated player in the NBA last year, may now very well be the best power forward in the game today. Why they won’t: One thing Chris Paul, Blake Griffin, and the Clipper’s organization will have to overcome this postseason is a history of losing. Rivers is really the only person with any type of association to the franchise with any championship experience. Can he have that big of an impact in just his first year with the team? We’ll find out. 5) San Antonio Spurs Why they will: Let’s take a moment to realize how close these guys were to winning the whole thing last year… Ok, moment over. Every year we say it’s the end of an era, and every year we are wrong. I’m done betting against the Spurs. Why they won’t: That being said, they are still a team built around its old stars. While Kawhi Leonard, Danny Green, and Marco Belinelli can make big plays for San Antonio, a team’s stars are what win road playoff games. So if Duncan, Parker, and Manu aren’t all healthy come May, it could be an early exit for the Spurs. 6) Portland Trailblazers: Why they will: A franchise that seems perpetually injured is finally, if only for a short time, healthy. I love this roster. Damien Lillard is a superstar in the making and LaMarcus Aldridge could also fit into that same classification. I also think Robin Lopez and Nicolas Batum are both two deadly weapons that could help this team do something special this postseason. Why they won’t: This team is really talented, but it is also really young. Are they too young? Probably, but who knows what will happen at the trade deadline and beyond. 7) Houston Rockets Why they will: A strong finish has landed Houston in the third seed in the Western conference at the All-Star break. This team is loaded with versatile playmakers on offense and Dwight Howard in the middle to block shots and snag rebounds. I think Kevin Mchale has done a solid job as head coach, and seems to really grasp what his team does best. If they are making threes come playoff time (think Dallas in 2011), they could surprise some people. Why they won’t: I think very highly of James Harden and his facial hair, but if Houston wants to make it to the promise land, it will be on the broad shoulders of Dwight Howard. I am a huge D12 fan, but between the poor attitude and lowly free-throw shooting, Howard may not be the man for the championship job.
Sports
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‘TIS THE SEASON
Get the SPF 15, a bag of your favorite sunflower seeds, and a cooler of cold ones, and head down to L. Dale Mitchell Park for a ballgame. When the weather is nice outside, you can’t beat a ballgame with your best friends.
MICHAEL LANTERO
Sigma Phi Epsilon
Michael is a freshman studying Mechanical Engineering. Yo u m a y c o n t a c t h i m a t michael.p.lantero-1@ou.edu.
The stadium is set up for all sorts of fans. You can sit in the multiple sections of the stadium seating, or sit on the two big grass hills on either baseline. Finally, you can sit outside the ballpark with some lawn chairs and a cooler, behind the fence in the outfield. On opening day, I saw some die-hard fans that knew what they were doing. They had two coolers filled with a wide variety of beer, a grill roaring, with the best ballpark franks, and finally, a big ‘ole comfy couch. They were heckling the opposing outfielders and making a fantastic day out of it. The best part about all of these places to watch the games is that they are all free. You only need your student ID card to get into the stadium. Not to mention that the stadium is just a short walk
SPORTY PERSONALITIES The type of personality that you have may affect the sports you prefer to play or watch. This is great news for OU fans, because this weekend is jam packed with all types of sports. This week, OU will be hosting gymnastics, tennis, wrestling, baseball and softball. So keep reading, and you might find out that your personality may draw you to a new sport. People with an introverted personality are typically drawn to sports with a high level of concentration and precision. They prefer self-motivated and individual performance sports. This includes golf and gymnastics. So you introverts better get excited, because both men and women’s gymnastics will be hosting meets in Norman this weekend. Women’s gymnastics will host Arizona State on Friday at 7p.m. in the Lloyd Noble Center, while Men’s gymnastics will compete against Nebraska the next day at McCasland Field house. Exciting sports seem to match well with extroverted personalities. Extroverts are also fans of team sports that are fast-paced. For example, sports like football and basketball will greatly appeal to you. So sit back and relax and watch preseason coverage or the NCAA tournament. Extroverted people can also be involved in sports that usually have a degree of aggression. Not a scary type of aggression, but a competitive drive that feeds off of the sport. In tennis, extroverted players will often relieve their aggression during their serves. So if you’re one of these people, be sure and check out the men’s tennis team on Friday and Sunday at the Headington Family Tennis Center. Other extroverts may prefer sports like wrestling, where the player gets to reduce
away from the dorms.
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The Sooners are coming off a 43-21 NCAA Super Regional season. They ended up winning the Big 12 conference for the first time in 16 years. The hope is that this year they can repeat what they accomplished last year. There was a coaching change in the off-season. Pete Hughes is the new skipper of the team. He is a veteran coach with 17 years of experience, but the best part is he has been to 10 college world series and has made 36 NCAA tournament appearances. Although the team lost many guys to the MLB draft, they have retained a lot of talent and leadership. The Sooner’s closer, Jacob Evans, was a freshman All-American and is looking forward to another successful season. He is the first of three freshman All-Americans that have returned to play for Hughes. As for the starters, Jake Elliot and Octavio Rodriguez are both freshman and show immense talent. Anthony Hermeyln, the catcher for the Sooners this year, is ready to try and repeat his freshman All-American season. The infield looks solid, with a team that is very talented defensively, but also very dangerous offensively. The third and final freshman All-American from last year’s team, Craig Aikin, looks to keep hitting big for the Sooners while defending the right side of the outfield. All around, the Sooners look like they are ready for the big time. The Sooners will be playing a total of 33 of their 56 games at home this year. Not only will they be playing at home, but they are also playing great teams here. They opened the season taking two of three from Seton Hall, who was ranked 44. The Sooners don’t have an easy schedule, going up against opponents every week that finished in the top 45 last year. Some of the big home games to watch out for are: TCU (March 18), Bedlam (April 1), and The University of Texas April (11-13). This year is going to be a fun one to be a part of, so make sure you grab some friends and head down to the ballpark for some Sooner baseball. stress by maneuvering an opponent during a match. The OU wrestling team will be in an important tournament this weekend, as they will be hosting the Alpha Phi Big 12 Championship. The Jennifer is a sophomore tournament will be going studying journalism. on all day on Saturday, and You may contact her at hopefully OU will come jennifer.n.nygren-1@ou.edu. out ahead this weekend after some disappointing losses in the latter part of the season. This tournament will be essential, because the NCAA Championships are only a couple weeks away.
JENNIFER NYGREN
If you’re one of those people who define themselves in the middle of an introvert and an extrovert, you might be a baseball or softball fan. These sports are both team sports that require concentration and individual effort. Both OU Baseball and Softball will be having plenty of games this weekend, so there is no excuse to miss out. Baseball will be hosting a triple-header against Rutgers on Friday, while the OU Softball team will be battling against Western Illinois, Tulsa and Liberty this weekend. Softball will be playing all weekend with two games on Saturday. So if your personality got matched with a new sport, go ahead and try it out this weekend. There are plenty of options and all of these sports are free admission with a student ID. See you there.
WELCOMING BACK WESTBROOK With the All-Star break behind us and the Thunder still standing atop the Western Conference, one question remains on the minds of basketball fans here in OKC. Will Russell Westbrook’s return to the lineup provide the spark the Thunder need to power through this second half of the season and deep into the playoffs? History tells us that it will.
ANDREW SANDERSON Lambda Chi Alpha
Andrew is a freshman studying advertising. You may contact him at andrew.sanderson@ ou.edu.
This season, the Thunder boasts a 21-4 record with Westbrook, and a 22-8 record without the superstar point guard. After notching a triple-double in his last appearance versus the Knicks on Christmas day, Westbrook underwent the scope operation that has sidelined him for the last two months. But, if the recovery this time around goes anything like last November’s early return from Westbrook, then it seems as though Thunder fans should have nothing to worry about. The former UCLA Bruin has, during his time in OKC, established himself as one of the most utterly ferocious and unquestionably fearless players in the entire NBA. This unrelenting style of play that Westbrook possesses, however, is cause for worry in the minds of both upper management and fans alike. When cleared to play, will Russell’s “attack-first” mindset lead to more knee issues in the future? Will these three operations over the course of one year have a
substantial impact on the longevity of his career? Or will Russell simply defy logic again, come back right on schedule and continue to electrify fans across the country with his signature, fearless style of play? Some of these questions will take time to be answered. However, Westbrook’s impact to the Thunder will be felt immediately following his return to the lineup. With KD distancing himself from LeBron James this season, the Thunder have dominated all opposition this season, in large part without the Durant-Westbrook tandem that many thought was absolutely essential to the continued success of this still relatively young team. This opens up room for a couple possibilities. Westbrook could come back and not adapt to this new, KD-led style of basketball that the Thunder are playing, and we could see little or no improvement in the product out on the court. Or, Westbrook could come back and act as more of an offensive facilitator, contrary to his signature style, while still providing the necessary offensive production to take some of the burden off KD’s shoulders, all the while extending the longevity of Russell’s career due to less of the soaring dunks and high-octane acrobatics that we are so accustomed to seeing from him. If Westbrook does the latter, then it is very likely that the Thunder will finally have the championship recipe they need to make the title run in 2014 that OKC desperately needs to keep this Westbrook-Durant superstar duo invested in long-term commitments to this franchise. With so much young talent, and arguably the current league MVP in Kevin Durant, Westbrook’s return could be just the boost the Thunder need to ride this momentum into the postseason as the No. 1 seed in the West, and favorites to win the NBA Finals. As Russell Westbrook always says: Why Not?
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Lookbook fashion
GET RUNNING READY The annual Oklahoma City Memorial Marathon is only a little over two months away! According to www.okcmarathon.com, the Oklahoma City Memorial Marathon is taking place in Oklahoma City neighborhoods on April 27, 2014. This run does not only offer a full marathon, but also includes a half marathon, a 5K and a children’s marathon. This run is an incredible opportunity to get involved and to give back to your community. This event is much more than a run. It is a fundraiser and a way to remember those who were affected by the Alfred P. Murrah Federal Building bombing. If you are not a runner and want to participate in this event, or just want to increase your workout ability, here are some basic tips on how to become a better runner. The first most important step to running is to find a pair of tennis shoes that fit your feet properly. You can have any running shoes of your choice as long as they are snug fitting and comfortable. Loose tennis shoes can result in blisters or stubbed toenails. There are a wide variety of athletic stores in Norman that can help you pick out running shoes that are most suitable for you. Next, you need to make sure you are efficiently nourishing your body. It is crucial that you are constantly drinking water both before and after your run. If you have a lack of water intake, your body will dehydrate fast and you will not have the energy to complete your workout. Along with drinking water, it is also important to eat a light and healthy meal before your training. If you eat a large cheeseburger or taco before a run, your body will feel sluggish, bloated and heavy. Instead of indulging in a huge meal, try eating smaller portions or simply grabbing a protein bar. It is vital that you eat before you decide to workout. Food and water provide natural energy that will help you become a better runner.
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After finding the right shoes and properly preparing your body, it is finally time to hit the road. If you have never Kappa Kappa Gamma been much of a runner, Matty is a sophomore it is important that you studying journalism. slowly ease into your Yo u m a y c o n t a c t h e r a t workout. For beginners, madison.t.williams-1@ou.edu. start out speed walking for about thirty minutes everyday. Once you feel comfortable with this step, you can add in intervals of jogging or running. After a couple weeks of training, you will be able to run the whole thirty minutes.
MATTY WILLIAMS
If you were already an experienced runner, try changing between sprinting and jogging intervals. Sprinting a few times a week will help increase your stamina and overall speed. Running is an activity that can last a lifetime. Scientists have proven that people who run regularly live a healthier and happier lifestyle. Running is not only good for your physical health, but it also helps relieve stress and lowers your risk for depression. Overall, running is a fun and beneficial hobby that everyone should try. This year, make it your goal to get into some sort of running or walking exercise at least three times a week. If you need a motivation to help maintain your goal, sign up for one of the Oklahoma City Memorial Marathon events that are taking place on April 27, 2014.
DESIGNER IN THE SPOTLIGHT: RALPH LAUREN In honor of the recent Winter Olympic Games, here’s a behind-the-scenes look at the seasoned designer behind Team USA’s gear, who’s known around the world for embodying preppy, classic and American style. Ralph Lauren was born Ralph Lifshitz on October 14, 1939 in the Bronx1 to Jewish immigrants from Pinsk, Poland (now known as Belarus). At age 16, Ralph changed his surname to Lauren. Why? In an interview with Oprah Winfrey he explained, “My given name has the word ‘shit’ in it. When I was a kid, the other kids would make a lot of fun of me.” Some people have questioned if Lauren changed his name in order to hide his Jewish heritage, which he firmly denies. He reports that his cousins who lived in California changed their name to Lawrence--name changing was not uncommon in their family, and ‘Lauren’ wasn’t particularly connected to anything or anyone. If only he would have known that his name would be known in every household in America, Europe, and a large portion of the rest of the world. Lauren attended MTA (now known as the Marsh Stern Talmundical Academy). At MTA, Lauren was known for selling ties to his fellow students. Ralph transferred again, eventually graduated high school in 1957. Lauren attended Baruch College and studied business, but dropped out after two years. From 1962 to 1964 he served in the U.S. Army, followed by a brief period of working for Brooks Brothers as a salesman. His first big break came after he opened his own necktie shop, taking rags and turning them into ties. Ralph was just selling them to small shops in New York, and then Neiman Marcus approached him and ordered 1,200. In 1967 Lauren opened a new necktie store and designed ties of his own under the label “Polo.” He later received the rights to use the trademark Polo from his former employer,
Brooks Brothers, but the menswear company retained the rights to the “original polo button-down collar,” which is what we now know defines a polo shirt.
SOPHIE ORLICH
Chi Omega
Sophie is a junior studying English. You may contact her at sophie.orlich@ou.edu.
In the early 1970’s, business was booming for the young designer. He opened a Polo boutique on Beverly Hills’ Rodeo Drive, won the COTY Award for his menswear line and released a line of women’s suits that were tailored in a classic men’s style. The iconic Polo emblem appeared for the first time on this suit, on the cuff of the sleeve. Lauren also released Polo’s world-famous short sleeve pique Polo shirt in 1972 in 24 colors and was an instant American classic. The brand unveiled his first Ralph Lauren collection for women that same year. In the late seventies, Ralph earned the costuming contract for the movie The Great Gatsby. In recent years, the Financial Times reported in January 2010 that the brand had revenues of $5 billion for 2009. As of September 2012, Forbes estimates Lauren’s wealth at $6.5 billion dollars, making him the 162 richest person in the world. This wealth has led him to the notoriously expensive hobby of collecting cars. He reportedly has over 70 automobiles at his estate in Katonah, New York. His cars are often shown in museums and prestigious car shows all over the world. On December 20, 1964, Ralph married Ricky Anne Loew-Beer in New York City and is married to her today. The met at the optometrist’s office where Ricky was a receptionist. Ricky is only half Jewish--a fact that Ralph kept a secret from his parents as long as he could. They have three children: Andrew, David and Dylan. Andrew is a film producer and actor; David is the Senior Vice President at Polo Ralph Lauren and married Lauren Bush in September 2011; and Dylan is the owner of the infamous Dylan’s Candy Bar, based in New York City.
Self health & fitness
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HEAVY WEIGHT VS. LIGHT WEIGHT With spring break right around the corner, people are hitting the Huff hard in an effort to get that beach Kappa Alpha body to impress the ladies. Matthew is a sophomore A combination of lifting studying marketing. weights and a certain You may contact him at amount of cardio will help Matthewalfonte@yahoo.com. shape your body into that Hercules-looking figure that everyone admires. Most people know that the optimal way to schedule your workouts is by grouping certain muscles on different days so that your muscles have time to properly recover and grow. However, one question that is still up for debate today is: what is the optimal rep range for building a strong and good-looking body?
MATTHEW ALFONTE
There are some people who swear by heavy weights and low reps, while others emphasize light weight and higher reps. Generally speaking, lower reps and high weight tend to increase your maximum strength and work your nervous system more than your muscles, while higher reps and lower weight tends to put more emphasis on your actual muscles. To break it down even further, your nervous system is the driving force for everything that you do. Whether it is getting out of bed to go to class or trying to hit a new personal record for deadlift, your central nervous system is engaged and plays a heavy role in accomplishing that task. One of the reasons that some people are naturally better at certain lifts than others is not only because they genetically build more muscle in that said area, but also because their central nervous system is more efficient at performing activities
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that involve that certain muscle. Obviously, there are immense amounts of benefits to strengthening this part of your body as it transfers to literally everything that you do. Your muscles on the other hand, really need no introduction. They have a functional as well as an aesthetic component that we all would love to possess.
The truth of that matter is that the best method of building a strong and good- looking body is to mix it up and implement both strategies of lifting. Heavy lifting, in addition to working your central nervous system, also targets your fast-twitch muscle fibers, while high rep lifting targets mainly slow-twitch muscle fibers. Everyone is unique and has a different composition of muscle fibers. Some people have more fast-twitch, while others have more slow-twitch. This means that it would do everyone good to systematically target both in order to maximize the amount of muscular gains. Mixing up your workout will widen the range of muscles worked in addition to strengthening your body as a whole. In addition to looking better and more muscular, your joints will be protected and your bones will get stronger. When you are lifting to build muscle, your ultimate goal is to obtain hypertrophy. Whenever you lift weights, your muscles are literally breaking, and as you recover, they grow back, and they grow back even stronger. By breaking down a different array of muscle fibers, you are maximizing your potential to increase the size and strength of your muscles. My personal advice is to have a set routine of exercises that you do each week. The exercises from week to week should not change, but amount of sets that you perform and the amount of reps you do change each week in order to work different muscle fibers and really help your muscles grow in both size and strength.
THE FIVE PHASES OF GETTING THE “SPRING BREAK BOD” I t ’ s t h a t d re a d e d t i m e again. The covers of the fashion magazines are offering ways to get the perfect “spring break body.” The girl in the exercise demonstrations is a size 0 and it will take you at least three months of repeating those exercises to look like that. So, good luck.
ALEXANDRA BARE Delta Delta Delta
Alexandra is a senior studying professional writing. You may contact her at alexandra.bare@ou.edu.
It’s been two weeks since Aunt Flow left and you’re still off the wagon. This is the phase that traps most girls. It’s the deciding factor of whether you’re going to be successful with your goals, or just totally discard them. Depression If you’ve made it to this phase, you’ve discarded your diet and exercise goals. It’s too hard to keep working out and eating healthy. When going to Sonic is easier than cooking a meal after a long class, why cook? Most of the fruits and veggies in your fridge are spoiled, you never quite figured out how to make the quinoa, and bread without gluten just isn’t worth it. That tanning membership has been used a handful of times, and you really regret signing a contract.
It seems like at the end of February and the beginning of March, everyone goes into panic mode to get ready for spring break. The tanning salons all have a wait and the treadmills and ellipticals that have been free all semester are suddenly full. This is panic mode.
You tear up your inspirational pictures and quotes and put your new bikinis back in the bag, because they’re going back to the store. It’s too late to cancel your reservations, you already checked.
Now that spring break is only days away, it’s time to dissect the five phases you go through to get the perfect body.
This phase is the weirdest. Spring break is next week, but you refuse to accept that seven days is too short of a time to lose the required weight to get to your goal. You only drink water and eat stalks of celery. The laxative pills are starting to kick in, and your teacher is wondering why you keep getting up to leave class. In reality, the most you could lose at this point is water weight, but you’re in denial, after all, and some websites say that it’s possible to lose five inches in a week.
Motivation The first phase is the excitement and willpower to get the body you want for the beach. Your Pinterest board is full of inspiration and you have pictures and quotes taped on your walls, mirrors, refrigerator, and car dashboard reminding you of your goal. You bought that month-long deluxe premium supreme ultimate membership at the tanning salon, and you’re going to make great use of your purchase. During the motivation stage, you typically group together with your roommates or spring break trip companions and decide on your diet and exercise regimen. You already hit up Sprouts and your pantry and fridge are overflowing with veggies, gluten-free products, and quinoa. Whether it’s the Paleo diet, Weight Watchers, or the Special K two-week plan, your diet is ready to go. Temptation Your diet and exercise program was going great, until that time of the month came and you ate a large pizza, a pan of brownies, a bag of Cheetos, and a Super Big Gulp Dr. Pepper. Temptation hits, and it hits hard, my friends. And since you already cheated once, one trip to Cane’s won’t hurt.
Denial
Acceptance You’ve accepted the fact that you don’t have the “perfect spring break body,” whatever that is. You might not be as tan as a Kardashian, but hey, you won’t look like a leather purse in thirty years. That’s a win in my book. If you’re like me, you bought a tankini made by the same lady who makes Spanx. If you have a high metabolism and are naturally skinny, bust out your favorite bikini, sister. This is the best phase, because you accept the fact that you didn’t reach your goal, but you realize that no one else did either. The best part of acceptance is that you don’t have to feel guilty about eating pizza or having a few drinks. It is spring break, after all. And if we’re being honest, how many people will actually remember seeing you in your bikini anyways? My guess is, not that many.
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500 words on
CAMPUS CHEFS
Last week Dave Tarrant was interviewed by The Odyssey to give our Greek community more insight to the company Campus Chefs. Tarrant is the general manager of business Delta Delta Delta operations for Campus Breanna is a sophomore Chefs, a food company studying public relations. interested in serving our You may contact her at college campus. breanna.a.bober@ou.edu. What makes Campus Chefs unique is that they only employ trained master chefs. Also, Campus Chefs shows dedication to their customers by putting chefs up in hotels for snow days and other emergencies so that customers are getting fed even when the weather doesn’t cooperate. For example, a few weekends ago in Indianapolis the weather was so bad it was literally illegal to drive, but Campus Chefs made a point to make sure their customers were still fed. Campus Chefs also employs a better staff. Employing a better staff means more money for the company but also that their customers are guaranteed to get more and better food. This is what makes Campus Chefs so competitive. Dave said that though they employ real chefs, that does not mean they need a full fancy kitchen. The size and type of kitchen does not affect food. Another neat component of Campus Chefs is that they create a unique menu for each chapter. This is beneficial because fraternity and sorority members have most of the power over the menu since they are the majority of the ones who pay for the service. Campus Chefs recognizes that being a chef is a hard job. They typically work long hours, but through their company, life is easier. They get a good schedule of 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. They receive holiday and vacation time, plus weekends off. Chefs who work for Campus Chefs are excited for a better quality of life.
BREANNA BOBER
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Dave’s favorite memory at his job is when a customer said to him “you guys are so awesome” and that Campus Chefs has been such a change from last year (or their old food company). The goal of Campus Chefs is to become the most desired by students and all chefs. Some advice for young entrepreneurs that David gives is to focus on your first customer. Then improve and expand to the next customer. Think “long term.” When asked if working with fraternities and sororities has been difficult, Dave says it has been nothing but a positive experience. “There is a movement changing stereotypes of fraternities and sororities. They teach respect and organization. A lot of responsibility is within the Greek system,” he said. Businesses should not be afraid of college students. They should go for it and be “pleasantly surprised at what they find.” To the majority’s surprise, Campus Chefs gets most of their thank you letters from students. A mission of Campus Chefs is to serve fraternities and sororities the healthiest foods. They eliminate processed and frozen food to better the lives of their customers. An advantage to using chefs over companies is that every chef has a culinary degree. They are trained, they know how to cook, and they write recipes and create menus. Chefs appreciate quality food and are not into low-end cafeteria food. This does not mean that Campus Chefs only creates high-end food though – they make pizza with rolled dough and homemade sauce. They also have a special events coordinator on staff for different occasions. Kevin Gadus, the founder of Campus Chefs has 30 years of experience with the food business. Gadus relocated to Champaign, Illinois from Chicago and saw an opportunity for fraternity and sororities. Though the business is based in Champaign, Illinois, when hiring chefs the company will usually hire local chefs in each customer’s area. Campus Chefs serves over 30 campuses in Colorado, Texas, Florida, and other southern areas, and they serve 75 customers nationwide.
FIVE THINGS YOU SHOULD KNOW BEFORE ORDERING AT STARBUCKS If you have any kind of money and are walking around campus, you’re probably thinking that a drink sounds really Delta Gamma g o o d r i g h t n o w. A Lauren is a freshman Starbucks drink that is. studying public relations. Yo u m a y c o n t a c t h e r a t So, being the tired Lauren.E.Keenan-1@ou.edu. college student that you are, you make it a trip to go to the closest Starbucks location. Because you want a drink, because of the weather. Because it’s too hot, or too cold outside. Or because it’s snowing, or because it just stopped snowing. And you probably want Starbucks because there are seasons, which means seasonal drinks. Maybe you’re going to Starbucks because you’re a white girl. Who knows what reasoning brought you to the magical land of coffee. But before you waltz up to the register to tell your barista exactly what you are drinking, there are some Starbucks etiquette rules that you should know about. 1) Don’t talk on your phone while you’re ordering. You come off as rude and inconsiderate to the barista. And if you’re trying to order a drink while telling your mom that classes are going great, chances are that you’re distracted while ordering. This means that you are more likely to mess up telling us exactly what you’d like to drink, so then you can be upset if we made your drink wrong, and we take up more of your day then we intend to. Please just mute your phone call before ordering, or step out of line if you can’t. 2) There is no ‘secret menu’ at Starbucks. Starbucks drinks are customizable; that’s why we have so many little boxes on our cups. We encourage people to try new drinks. That’s how we ‘invent’ them. But unless you have the recipe for the secret drink, we won’t know how to make it for you, because there are millions of different drink combinations out there that we don’t know about yet. And not all of the baristas behind the bar know exactly how to make a butterbeer
LAUREN KEENAN
frappuccino, because that’s a fictional beverage. 3) If you glance at the menu, our iced, blended beverage is called a ‘frappuccino’. “Ron: Wingardium leviosa!” “Hermione: Stop, stop stop! You’re going to take someone’s eye out. Besides, you’re saying it wrong. It’s Levi-OOO-sa, not LevioSA.” But seriously, how does Harry Potter play into Starbucks? HP shows us that correct pronunciation is key. We are not McDonald’s, so the drink is not a ‘frap’ or a ‘frappe’. (It is a frappuccino because Starbucks got the trademark on that word back in 1995.) Please don’t be lazy with your wording in attempts of acting like a hipster, or your barista will internally sigh at you. 4) Tall is small! In case you didn’t know this by now, Starbucks drinks have a very unique sizing system. For our hot drinks, from smallest to largest, it goes short, tall, grande, and venti. For our iced drinks, also from smallest to largest, it goes tall, grande, venti, and trenta. And if you can’t remember all of that, don’t be afraid to ask. Your baristas are there to point you in the right direction and assist you as much as they can. 5) Be patient. This is a message that I try to preach to as many Starbucks-goers as I can. We baristas know that the lines can get to be rather long at points, which can eat at one’s patience. But please don’t be short with us when we ask you a variety of questions about your drink. We ask the questions that we do in order to insure that your drink is made 100% correctly. Although categorized as a fast food establishment, it does not mean that your drink is going to come out instantaneously. We actually put time, care, and detail into every drink we make. So please be patient with us as we try to give you the best experience possible. These are just some key things to keep in mind when you come into Starbucks, and it is okay if you don’t always remember them. Your baristas are human beings too, and we appreciate it when you treat us with respect when you come in. As long as you are nice to us, we will be nice back. And who knows? A little kindness goes a long way in a barista’s day, and they could have a great way of showing you that they care about you too.
Humor lol
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@AnnOdom97 “rest easy everybody, despite the severe damage to my front screen I can still take clear selfies, no need to fret” @Emily_Kitchens “Got to read a death warrant at work today so that was cool” @oliviajgray “The person in front of me in the Starbucks drive thru paid for my drink. Nice people make my day! #RandomActsOfKindness”
campus corner. I repeat, THERE ARE GIRL SCOUTS ON CAMPUS CORNER. #getyourcookies” @kandrews517 “I’m happy because it’s a beautiful day and it smells like a hamburger” @allisonnguyen “Perfect weather, beautiful campus, and free donuts… how could you not come here? #go2ou” @maxianderson1 “Nothing a cupcake can’t fix”
@megmiller24 “or does the wing man never get to flap his wings?”
@BijanHosseini “The Weekend – Drunk In Love on repeat all day.”
@MaddyHaer “There needs to be a 10 second time limit on snapchat stories”
@KyleBayram “Lets all be realistic people. It’s not spring until Triangle starts blasting alternative music outside.”
@missvii94 “My biggest fear at the gym is my eyebrows sweating off or smearing #asiangirlproblems #ihavenoeyebrows”
@Caroline_Pajda “I JUST WANNA SELL MY BODY SO I CAN GO TO ALL THE DATE PARTIES”
@UltimateFrisby “George the bus driver always plays awesome smooth jazz and it always makes my day.” @MikeArmenariz “You would think I just saw Old Yeller the way my eyes look cause of these allergies. I wanna name my dog Old Yeller now.”
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chance? Because I did’ #ohok?” @allyblair44 “Couples breaking up on the south oval…. #awkward” @madisonalyse12 “Kristen Wiig, can we just be best friends?” @cassblake_ “Just tripped and fell while snapping” @LindseyGroth “God bless my little & her meal plan.” @Jnoizemaker “Apparently if you miss a class it’s equivalent to paying for 22 lattes. #ifeelrobbed” @rachclegg “socially awkward in everyway possible” @AlexPreble “I feel like my money goes to Chipotle, Buffalo Wild Wings and t-shirts. #broke”
@zirby23 “There isn’t enough time in the day in college...” @totalsratmove “Verbalizing the word “hashtag” in your daily speech #TSM” @caitlinweaver13 “Put on shorts this morning and hated myself for it bc so white”
@hcrabtree2 “I think my Chapstick goes to the same places my bobby pins go…”
@LesAmoah “Is it against House rules to take selfies with representatives?”
@ali_dough “This is not a drill. There are Girl Scouts on
@erincrafttt “Did either of you get hit by a car today by
AIMEE SCHNEBECK Delta Gamma
Aimee is a freshman studying broadcast journalism. You may contact her at aimee.schnebeck@ou.edu.
WHAT THE PEOPLE WANT I’m back. Yes, that’s right, the one and only Blonde Bombshell is back again to split your sides with really really bad jokes. I took quite the hiatus, I know.
CLAY TUCKER
Sigma Alpha Epsilon Clay is a senior studying sociology. You may contact him at clay.w.tucker-1@ou.edu.
relax a bit on a couple of things. For starters, weed. That’s almost all you hear about these days: who’s legalizing what, who’s cracking down on the devil’s lettuce, who’s smoking that good. Pot smokers in non-legalized states are sick of it, because they keep hearing about how “rad” Colorado is and they can’t partake, and the people in Colorado honestly don’t even care. Why? Because they’re high, that’s why. It’s news for the dopers, but the dopers don’t care. So, who does?
“But Clay, we couldn’t live without your jokes! You think you can just come back to us?! After all this time?! After all you put us through?!” you exclaim.
There is yet another overly covered news topic, probably more so than weed. I’ll give you one guess, go ahead. Knock yourself out…
Well, settle down there, Emotional Emily, I was really busy. I was off in the Himalayas receiving top-secret training in the martial art Krav Maga. Or, I was in a freak accident and the only way to save my life was to make me half-man half-robot, and now I’m a death dealing comedy machine. It’s whatever you guys want, either way, watch out because I’m a lethal weapon, I’m a government project gone wrong.
Relax, Informed Irene, no it’s not those. Those are serious topics, not for joking, you scoundrel. And I said you could have one guess, not two. Do you have no boundaries? I’m talking about the tyrannical media titan also referred to as “Biebs.” That kid is a douche, yes. True, he’s been messing up a lot of things lately, but since when does celebrity news take precedence over “actual” news? You’ve probably heard about or seen the video of MSNBC interrupting a congresswoman’s interview to bring an urgent Bieber update. Believe it, it happened. Just google it and watch it, it’s worth it.
Ok, so now that the whole “I’m awesome” elephant is out of the room we can get on with what matters-- your entertainment. That’s what this is all about, right? So, what do the people want? I know what you want. For starters you’d probably like me to stop talking about myself. Fine, done. See, I do care about you. And if you’re anything like me, you probably really want people in the news to
“Well Clay, I’d probably have to say Obamacare, or perhaps even the drone programs,” you say.
I hope this article got you all riled up. Not just over the terrible state of the news, but for my grandiose return. I look forward to smangin’ tang with you once more.