Oklahom 4 24 14 proof3

April 24, 2014 | Volume 2, Issue 27 | Norman, OK

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THE SECRET OF COMMUNITY SERVICE PAGE 6

TOP COFFEE SHOPS IN NORMAN PAGE 4 REFLECTING ON AN OU COLLEGE EXPERIENCE PAGE 5 NUTRITION TIPS FROM A PRO PAGE 8

STUDENTS BREAK RECORDS RAISING MONEY FOR THE FIGHT AGAINST CANCER AT RELAY FOR LIFE Photo by: Chas Wojan

2 AN OPPORTUNITY FOR CHANGE IN OUR COMMUNITY Editor's note

Sorry, gents, this one is just for the ladies.

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educational and charitable.”

HALEY MOWDY

Have you ever sat around and thought Alpha Gamma Delta about what you’ll Editor-in-Chief be doing after you Haley is a senior studying classical become an alumna of languages & English writing. You your sorority? First, may contact her at hmowdy@ ou.edu.

I will not be wearing heels. Ever. Second, I’ll probably be working myself silly at some job that I worked myself silly to get. Third, I’ll be…wait.

No sisters around to go to lunch with on a whim? No group to come with me to the Food Pantry to volunteer with? No date parties? Well, forget that.

I’m the type of girl that doesn’t ever like to do anything alone, and I absolutely have to be connected with an organization that allows me to meet new people, serve the community and have a good time doing it. And, let’s face it, while I am so blessed to have an incredible alumnae chapter that is well-connected, not every sorority chapter does. So what’s a girl to do to stay involved when the last year ends?

Join the Junior League of Norman.

What? Here, let me explain.

According to their website www.juniorleagueofnorman.org, “The Junior League of Norman is an organization of women committed to promoting voluntarism, developing the potential of women and improving the community through the effective action and leadership of trained volunteers. Its purpose is exclusively

Sounds an awful lot like your sorority, huh?

Except you only meet once a month. Not kidding. The JLN is an incredible opportunity for women 21 and older to get involved with projects that help our community grow and strengthen, all while connecting you with potential networking connections, other sorority alums and life-long friends. Plus, there’s a ball at the end of each year, and it’s way more fun than your last sorority date party.

Plus, the focus is awesome: “The Junior League of Norman creates opportunities and reduces obstacles for vulnerable and at-risk youth.”

All of the programs put on by the League harken back to this mission. Remind me again, which one of our OU sororities doesn’t have a philanthropic mission that connects to kids in some way? Oh, right. We all do. Great, so you have the skills, the passion and the drive necessary to make a huge impact on our community. What are you waiting for?

Probably the application. It’s simple, and you can find it right on the League’s website. I’m finishing up my first year of membership within the League, and I can’t imagine not being a part of this incredible organization. I’ve met inspiring, impactful women and made a real difference in my community. You’d be so surprised at how many women you know are Leaguers. Come to one meeting, and I guarantee you’ll fall in love too!

If you have any questions or are interested in checking out the Junior League of Norman, email me at hmowdy@ou.edu, and I will personally get in touch with you about your questions, how to apply, how to get to the first social, anything you want to know. I promise you, if you don’t at least check it out, you’ll be missing out on an incredible opportunity.

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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The Odyssey is a private entity not associated or governed by University of Oklahoma Greek life office. The views and opinions shared in The Odyssey are those of the writers and do not necessarily reflect the views and opinions of The Odyssey and Olympia Media Group.

Scene on campus

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THE SUPPORT SYSTEM IN GREEK LIFE When

it

comes

to Greek life, each chapter has its own support system that is willing to do anything for one another. On

MORGAN BRUNELLI Delta Gamma

Morgan is a sophomore studying public relations. You may contact her at Morgan.L.Brunelli-1@ou.edu.

whole. Oklahoma State University recently had a tragedy within their Greek system. It was so overwhelming how everyone on a national level came together to support the Gamma Phi Beta chapter at OSU during their difficult time. I’ve seen, firsthand, that when something does occur within a chapter on campus, every other chapter comes together to help out in any way possible. This is extremely important

a national level, the

when it comes to being part of such a large university and seeing the

Greek community is

outcome is incredible. Occurrences like this make me positive that I

also quick to help out any and every chapter that is in need, whatever

made the right choice when I chose to come to OU and join a sorority.

that may be.

So here’s to celebrating how wonderful it is to be part of organizations

Tragedy can strike at any time, and I’ve quickly learned that the Greek community at OU supports one another while sticking together as a

that are so selfless and willing to stop what they’re doing to help out when others are in need.

KAPPA KUPCAKES

Who doesn’t like to

eat cupcakes? Kappa Kupcakes happened on April 23 from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. at the Kappa house. This is Kappa’s big

1. Heal children who have experienced a traumatic event or neglect

MAXI ANDERSON

through therapy and support groups.

Delta Gamma

2. Empower youth by giving every child the ability to access a safe

Maxi is a freshman studying Marketing. You may contact her at maxianderson@ou.edu

place and to participate in educational out of school activities. It helps

p h i l a n t h ro p y

them become a responsible citizen.

3. Strengthen families by focusing on the parent-child relationship and

event, benefiting their local charity, Center for Children and Families, healthy functioning at home. which focuses mainly on services that help aid and educate families on a wide variety of issues such as abuse and divorce. Since 1969, this organization has partnered with neighborhoods and schools to help prevent these problems. By doing so, they make the community aware of the services available. They believe every boy and girl deserves to grow up safe, nurtured and loved. Center for Children and Families focuses on three major areas:

During Kappa Kupcakes, families who have benefitted from Center for Children and Families were present, allowing all who attended to have a better appreciation of the impact of this great service organization as well as a better understanding of where the money raised is going.

Kappa Kupcakes was a great way to take a quick study break, eat a cupcake, learn about a local nonprofit organization and meet the people impacted by buying a ticket. Besides, who doesn’t love to eat cupcakes?

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Scene on campus

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STARBUCKS… OR, NAH? in Norman, so if you’re into that sort of thing I highly recommend Gray Owl. I’ve

Coffee is a staple of any college student’s allnighter and Starbucks is a staple of any sorority girl’s morning, afternoon or night. I don’t know how this phenomenon began,

AMANDA TANNER Pi Beta Phi

Amanda is a junior studying advertising. You may contact her at amanda.m.tanner-1@ou.edu.

but it’s super srat to carry

gotten a few weird glances walking in wearing a neon Pi Phi tank and yoga pants but nonetheless, Gray Owl is a great place for quiet studying. My only advice would be not to order the mini size coffee because it is, literally, miniature.

Michelangelo’s Coffee & Wine Bar, Main Street. As spoken in true sorority language,

I’m like literally obsessed. For anyone who hasn’t gone there, you need to check it out ASAP. Every time I go there, more and more people appear, so this place is well liked by way more than just me. It’s a coffee and wine bar that sells cute little chocolates.

a Starbucks cup on your way to class or place it on the desk while you’re studying at the library. I love a caramel macchiato just as much as any other typical sorority girl, but I don’t get why the Starbucks logo on a paper cup is such a big deal. I’ll admit the drive-through Starbucks are really convenient – and necessary if you’re in a hurry. However, there are so many other places in Norman I’d rather spend $5 on coffee than a Starbucks that I can go to anywhere. Here are some coffee shops in Norman that are unique to the local culture and are worth checking out.

Gray Owl Coffee, Gray Street. I’ve only been to Gray Owl a few times, but from my

Can you think of anything better? I can’t.

Crimson & Whipped Cream, Campus Corner. The name may be deceiving, but Crimson

& Whipped Cream is known for more than just cupcakes. It’s located on Campus Corner, so it’s the perfect place to grab a coffee to-go before class. Every time I order coffee here, I always feel super special because they make an artsy design in the foam of the drink. So if you appreciate ornate coffee, check out Crimson & Whipped Cream.

Next time you need your coffee fix, check out these local places around Norman before ordering your usual at Starbs. You won’t be disappointed!

limited visits I’ve observed quite a lot. This place fits in with the hipster culture

BEAUTIFUL DREAM SOCIETY FIGHTS HUMAN TRAFFICKING RACHEL CAMPBELL

Alpha Chi Omega Rachel is a sophomore studying professional writing.

You may contact her at rcampbell@ou.edu.

A young, African woman in Lesotho is awakened abruptly from her sleep in the middle of the night. Harsh voices yell at her, telling her come with them or face death. Tears in her eyes, she runs from her home and her family into the dark, unknown night. Her future lies in the hands of the human traffickers who just kidnapped her. This life-changing experience is what millions of women, men and children have fallen victim to through human trafficking. The Beautiful Dream Society, a nonprofit organization located in Lesotho and Oklahoma City, has made it their mission to abolish the horrific crime of human trafficking.

Currently, there are about 20 to 30 million slaves in the world, a number that grows every 30 seconds. About

80 percent of these victims were forced into sexual slavery while the remaining 20 percent became manual labor slaves an,d in some cases, were kept for organ harvesting.

The Beautiful Dream Society began their work in Lesotho and Oklahoma in 2010 by promoting awareness, providing support and rehabilitation for victims of human trafficking and attacking the source of the human trafficking industry. Their mission is simple, but it sets a lofty goal. Their website says, “Our dream is to see lives made beautiful,” and they have graced many lives with their work.

In Lesotho, alone, they have provided over 4,410 meals and over 1,470 beds to victims, along with taking several legal steps for victims and against human trafficking in court and through partnership with governmental agencies.

A little closer to home in Oklahoma, the Beautiful Dream Society has taken steps to promote human trafficking awareness and provide crisis care assistance for three victims. Although they began as an organization focused on giving aid to victims in Lesotho, they soon

realized that Oklahoma City was a major hub for human trafficking in the United States.

In order to help everyone participate in preventing and raising awareness for human trafficking, the Beautiful Dream Society invites anyone to join their team by visiting their website and signing up. They have also provided a list of ways to identify whether or not someone may be ensnared in human trafficking.

Look for substance abuse, poor health, lack of control over personal schedule and money, along with fear or depression.

Human trafficking’s negative influence has destroyed millions of lives, contributed to the spread of AIDS and HIV and brought down countries’ economic systems.

Human trafficking lurks beneath the façade of everyday life, quietly stealing its victims without attracting much attention. The Beautiful Dream Society is bringing these criminals into the light, refusing to let their crimes remain secret any longer.

Ignoring the issue of human trafficking only perpetuates it. Be aware and adamantly against human trafficking by helping make others’ lives beautiful.

Scene on campus

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YOU SURVIVED FRESHMAN YEAR, NOW WHAT? KAITLIN MANIS

Gamma Phi Beta Kaitlin is a freshman studying journalism. You may contact her at kaitlinrmanis@ou.edu.

I went into college wondering if I would even come out alive. I was scared to death about how difficult it would be to balance classes, Greek life, social life and sleep (still trying to figure out the sleep part). My freshman year is coming to an end and I think to myself, now what?

I’ve been told several things to do, now that I’ve successfully survived freshman year.

Get a job. My main focus this year was getting good

grades. Sure, it would’ve been great to get a job to earn money, but I just couldn’t juggle that on top of everything else.

Become more involved. Many people, at the beginning of the year, joined more clubs than they could count on two hands and then probably dropped after a month or two. I am one of those people. Now that I’ve gotten the hang of how to balance classes and everything else, it’s probably a good idea to join those clubs again, in the fall, and actually stay with them.

Embrace living out of the dorms. The dorm experience is essential for freshman year in order to get closer to people on campus. Without it, I don’t know how I would’ve met so many incredible people outside of my sorority. But, now, it is time to move on to living in the house as a sophomore. Whether you get to live in the

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house or just live in an apartment with some people in your pledge class, you have the opportunity to grow closer with the people in your chapter and build a strong bond with them. Make the most of it because everyone says it goes by fast.

Prepare for sophomore year. Most of the gen-eds are out of the way and, now, classes are focused more towards your desired major. They will be harder, but they will definitely keep your interest more because they are geared towards what you (hopefully) love doing.

Last but not least, relax. Yes, it is important to continue growing and being successful, but try to chill out this summer and regroup. You survived your first year in college and that’s definitely something to be proud of.

Realize that college might only get harder, but it will be worth it.

REFLECTING ON AN OU COLLEGE EXPERIENCE go to OU.

COURTNEY BLOSSEY Alpha Gamma Delta

Courtney is a senior studying public relations. You may contact her at blossey.courtneyrose@ou.edu.

What could I possibly say that could encapsulate my entire four years here at OU? Whatever words I could express could never do this wonderful university justice, however, I’ll do my best to give an adequate account of my time here.

My four years at OU have been about growth.

They have been some of the most challenging, but amazing, with respect to academics, character development, leadership skills and development of a great network of people. I’ve overcome so much and I’ve hit several bumps along the way, but my walk has lead me to the graduation stage this coming May. Perhaps one of OU’s greatest investments has been Camp Crimson. Coming from Austin, it is very difficult to show excitement about attending OU, so the opportunity to attend a camp centered on teaching incoming freshmen all about campus and the traditions was a very memorable way to start my college experience. My Camp Crimson leaders and small group (Buchanan!) are people that I still see around campus and keep in touch with off and on. They gave me a friend base since most of my Austinite friends really didn’t want to

Freshman year was filled with overcoming dorm life problems while embracing a new, independent life. I thrived on coffee at Cate, late night Crossroads runs with friends and the sudden realization that the freshman 15 was not fictitious.

Fall semester was consumed with adjustments to rigorous academics, the stress of constantly changing my mind about my major and attending good old Oklahoma football games. I remember being enthralled by the show put on after each touchdown and I’ll never forget getting chills in 105 degree heat when the opening video played.

Sophomore year was a big turning point. I met one of the best advisors ever, Kathy Sawyer, who went above and beyond to help me with class enrollment difficulties and persuaded me to be the public relations major I am today. I also did formal recruitment as a sophomore and joined Alpha Gamma Delta, an organization of women who have forever impacted my life in countless ways.

Junior year was filled with the stress of internship searching, upper division coursework that demanded a lot and meeting more people. I became involved in my major, met my boyfriend, Josh and got to a point where I could actually navigate more of Norman. I reveled in the idea of being an upperclassman, but still not being at the graduation point. Junior year was difficult, academically, but very rewarding in many ways.

And, now, there’s senior year. I sit here writing this article with the joyful, fearful and sad realization

that my time at OU as an undergrad is coming to a close. Senior year has been a whirlwind of OU vs. saxeT, Sugar Bowl, sorority recruitment, finishing classes for my major and minor, internships, job searching, Capstone research, the list goes on.

During all of this, I tried to make time for my family, boyfriend, friends, littles and, of course, myself.

Reflecting on my beautiful memories here, I’m hit with the realization that OU is a skeleton for housing memories. The buildings are the same, but the people that pass through are always changing, and their memories are growing and developing, just like mine have these past four years. I now stare at a crisp graduation cap and gown and seemingly endless “to do” lists of things that must be accomplished before graduation.

OU has developed me into who I was meant to be. The university, the Norman community, and all of the beautiful people, professors and outreach of the university have made my college experience the most memorable. Graduating this May will mark the completion of my biggest dream and goal thus far, just as graduating has paved the way for me to establish new dreams and goals for my future. Looking back on my college experience, I wouldn’t change a thing. All of my struggles, victories and moments have helped me grow, and have filled me with memories that I hold near and dear. My four-year walk around campus has been beautiful and has lead me to my walk across the stage this coming May.

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Ideas debate & discuss

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WHAT’S REALLY GOING ON IN RUSSIA? KATHERINE HARRIS Alpha Gamma Delta

Katherine is a sophomore studying international studies. You may contact her at kmharris@ou.edu.

By now, we’ve all heard about Russia and sanctions and other terrifying words that we may or may not have any idea about. Basically, there’s just a big mess going on and now the whole world is involved. There’s a lot happening with Russia and Ukraine, but you mainly hear about the dispute with Crimea.

Okay, so what exactly is going on here?

Where is Crimea?

The Crimea is a peninsula in the Black Sea, which is right next to the Mediterranean. The Crimea is

directly east of Greece on the very edge of Europe and part of the Ukraine, a former Soviet satellite.

That means they weren’t a sovereign nation until 1999, when the Soviet Union was dismantled.

The background When the Soviet Union split up, there were still many Russians living in the various countries.

Since then, there has been a lot of prejudice against Russians in these countries. They blame any Russians for the oppression of the Soviet Union.

What did Russia do?

Russia argued that Ukraine had a weak and corrupt government. Are we sure if this is true or not? Not really. But Russia still went into Crimea.

They now have a military presence in the Crimea, which is still internationally recognized as a part of Ukraine. Crimea voted, through referendum

to formally become a part of Russia. However, this doesn’t adhere to Ukraine’s governmental procedure. Russia recognizes Crimea as a part of Russia, but insists that they are not trying to reassemble the Soviet Union.

How is the world responding?

This violates international law and, as such, not many countries are supporting it. Many have placed sanctions against Russia. However, there isn’t much that anyone could do. Russia is such a superpower that no one can afford to go to war with them.

Basically, all that’s happening right now is a lot of talk and no action. No one can afford to actually take action against Russia, but depending on how far they go, someone may be forced to.

THE SECRET OF COMMUNITY SERVICE make associations to give entertainments, to found seminaries, to build inns, to construct HUNTER churches, to diffuse books, to send missionaries MATTOCKS Pi Kappa Phi to the antipodes; in this manner they found Hunter is a freshman studying p o litica l s cie n ce & p u b lic hospitals, prisons, and schools. If it is proposed relations. You may contact him at to inculcate some truth or to foster some feeling hwm_95@yahoo.com. by the encouragement of a great example, they “The real Sooner music is kindness.” These form a society.” powerful words spoken by President David These words have such power behind them.

Boren at the Big Event opening ceremony They are only reaffirmed and made more really moved me. Sooners, Oklahomans and important by the fact that de Tocqueville was Americans are especially generous and kind. an impartial unbiased observer from France.

When it comes to community service, we He had witnessed first-hand the way that the stand together, working side by side to help developed countries in Europe did not have this our fellow man. From the very beginning of fraternal feeling. However, this brotherhood our little experiment in democracy, we have and sisterhood that fostered the growth of our strived to join organizations. We joined these great nation is fading. organizations to better ourselves and the According to the Bureau of Labor and Statistics, communities we live and grow in. volunteerism has dropped 1.1 percent within Alex de Tocqueville said: “Americans of the last year. If we are to maintain our status all ages, all conditions, and all dispositions as a kind and virtuous haven for the world, we constantly form associations… The Americans must rekindle our spirit of service! We cannot

turn our backs on the nation our founders intended us to have. We must continue to be the land of opportunity and a safe haven for those who have nowhere else in the world to turn to. We cannot do this without a strong spirit of service. The smiles and thanks my group received as we cleaned up debris from the May tornado was worth more than any monetary compensation that could have been offered.

The real secret of community service, however, is how easy it is. You can do something as simple as visiting a nursing home and talking to the residents. You can read to or tutor kids at schools and afterschool programs. Together, let us be the spark that starts a new flame of service. We will stand as a gleaming example much like the torch that welcomed so many Americans to this new and special society.

So give us your tired, give us your poor. We will be here when your huddled masses need someone to offer a helping hand.

Lookbook fashion

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AMERICAN APPAREL DRESSES these different themed date parties is hard for me and I become desperate. So the question still remains, how does one dress cute for a date party? Well, an American Apparel dress, of course!

KATHRYN ANDREWS

Kappa Kappa Gamma

Kathryn is a freshman studying public relations. You may contact her at kathryn.e.andrews-1@ ou.edu.

The second half of second semester means one thing – date parties start rolling around like nobody’s business.

Whether it’s a sorority or fraternity event, theme parties are always fun to dress up for. If you are the least bit like me, you procrastinate and figure out what you are going to wear the day before. And most of the time, this is early. For a Mardi Gras themed event, I was so desperate for something to wear I considered wearing a crawfish costume. But that didn’t sound cute, the more I visualized a dancing crawfish in the middle of creatively costumed sorority girls. Prior to coming to OU, I had never really been to themed parties. Therefore, the task of putting together appropriately clever costumes for all

I wish I had invested in one of these dresses earlier in my college career. It’s only a semester and a half career, so far, but it was a semester without something that could have made my life easier! These dresses go with virtually everything. The Figure Skater Dress sells for $52 online. They come in a variety of different colors including pink, navy, green, red and even metallic colors. You might be thinking that this is expensive for a cheesy dress-up party. However, I beg to differ. If you calculate all the different supplies you have bought to create costumes for different themed date parties for the whole year, you have most like exceeded the expense of one American Apparel dress. I would invest in a more neutral or metallic colored dress so that is can be used for different events. Better yet, get your sorority sisters to invest in a dress, as well, so you have multiple colors to choose from when the time to dress up rolls around.

I have seen these dresses used for almost every single informal event. I have seen the American Apparel dresses used for American themed parties. Some chose to pair a navy dress with patriotic bandanas and one of my friends even dressed up in a pink dress with a statue of liberty crown. The Figure Skater Dress also was prominent for many of the neon themed events.

A bright colored dress and, perhaps, a colorful tulle headband – and you’re good to go. For an Olympic themed party, many chose to wear the dress and be figure skaters. Go figure, right?

The combinations for this dress are endless. It might seem obvious to you if you already own a dress like this, but if you’re like me, and always struggle finding something to wear for themed events, a dress like this can be a lifesaver. Not to be dramatic, but it can really make your already very busy life easier. So, no, I don’t ever have to resort to the dancing crawfish option again.

However, I still think it would be kind of fun.

WHERE TO WEAR: MAXI SKIRTS A staple in any 21st century girl’s wardrobe, the maxi skirt, is both fashionable and Chi Omega functional. But maybe Sophie is a junior studying you’ve got a fabulous English. You may contact her maxi in your closet and at sophie.orlich@ou.edu. d o n ’ t k no w w h e re to wear it? Or you can only think of one occasion and it can only be worn to so many family functions before your aunt asks if your mother is buying you clothes? Or maybe you haven’t purchased a maxi skirt because you have no idea where you would actually wear it? Here are a few fresh occasions made for maxis.

SOPHIE ORLICH

Inter view. Comfy, but conservative, a silk or chiffon maxi skirt with a fitted sweater or blazer can make you look fashionable, elegant and respectable.

Wedding. Maxis range from cheap rayon and cotton to designer silks and cashmere. Whatever the requested wedding attire, I bet there’s a maxi for it.

Appropriate and cute, having your knees covered doesn’t give the creepy cousin any suggestions and lets you comfortably sit on the floor and color at the kid’s table.

Festival. Be careful and heed my warning that these long skirts can trap in heat.

A breezy outdoor summer festival, where the heat hasn’t broken three digits, is the perfect place for a fun printed skirt. To battle the heat, pair it with a loose crochet top or snug crop top.

Chapter. If you haven’t worn your maxi to chapter, you can never consider yourself a slacker. It’s easy, comfy and, if you’re lucky, it hides both the shorts you still have on under the skirt and your half-calf socks.

Abroad. Are you putting your passport to work this summer? Cotton is a great fabric for travel because it breathes, doesn’t wrinkle and is easy to wash. If you need something that can transition from touring in the day to dinner at night, the maxi is perfect because it can be cute and casual for day and keep you warm when the sun goes down.

Game day. Iknow it’s a little early to be thinking of game day outfits, but here’s a good excuse to talk about the best time of the year. My red silk maxi makes an appearance at least once a season because it’s chic and shows school spirit.

Again, try to avoid those smoldering games at the beginning, but it’s a fun and different way to show your game day style.

Running errands. Cotton maxi plus comfy cotton t-shirt equals a casual outfit.

Perfect for running around town, going to class, grabbing dinner with friends, anything! It’s the perfect comfy-casual outfit that makes you look like you have your life together because you bothered to put on something other than Nike shorts and your XL t-shirt.

No matter where you wear it, a maxi skirt is a great investment piece. This style of skirt is not going anywhere anytime soon, so if you haven’t gotten yours yet, you should. I would check out Forever 21, Urban Outfitters, Old Navy and Target for reasonably priced ones. Free People, Neiman Marcus, J. Crew offer more expensive options, and Anthropologie, Asos.com and Gap offer tall and petite sizes.

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Self health & fitness

NUTRITION TIPS FROM A PRO MATTHEW ALFONTE Kappa Alpha

M a t t h e w i s a s o p h o m o re studying marketing.

Yo u m a y c o n t a c t h i m a t Matthewalfonte@yahoo.com.

I recently had the opportunity to ask my friend and training partner, Justin Blankenship, a.k.a.

Chef Spartacus, common questions asked by college students. Justin has recently started his own healthy and affordable meal planning service. His primary clientele consists of mixed martial artists.

The challenge behind this is that mixed martial artists have an extremely difficult training regimen that causes their body to expend immense amounts of calories. They need just the right amount of caloric intake to have the energy to train and for their bodies to recover while still losing weight.

His knowledge and personal experience inspired Chef Spartacus to start his business. Here is Chef Spatacus’ input on common nutrition questions.

How do you feel about a low carb diet?

Our body needs carbohydrates; it is our main source of fuel. Our body breaks carbs down into glucose, or blood sugar, which is the only fuel source the brain uses. Carbs should be eaten in moderation with a good balance of simple carbs, such as fruit, and complex carbs, such as sweet potatoes.

What is the best carb?

There are five best carbs that should be spread out in our diet: 1) sweet potatoes-- they are an abundant source of vitamin A and they also are a great source of potassium to help soothe sore muscles and maintain the right amount of fluids in the body; 2) oats because they have shown to reduce LDL (bad) cholesterol and total cholesterol levels; 3) wild rice because it provides a great source of protein (6g) and doublse the amount of fiber than your typical

brown rice; 4) bananas, not just for potassium but also a great source of vitamin C and helps with the absorption of nutrients; 5) chickpeas because they are loaded with protein, fiber and healthy carbs in just one cup and also maintains blood sugar levels.

I use a mixture of these great carbs for a balanced and effective diet for athletes.

When is the best time to have carbs?

There is a general misconception and urban myth saying, “no carbs at night and before bed,” which is false. While, yes, there are certain times your body needs carbohydrates such as an hour after any intense training regime, carbs should be eaten throughout the day in moderation and as part of a balanced diet. Your body is constantly burning calories, even while sleeping, so the digestion of carbs at night has no effect on your body weight; only when you consume more calories than your body actually burns and uses will you start to retain weight.

Do you count calories?

For fighters that I cook for – yes, I do, because their diets are on a strict calorie count for them to lose weight and perform at maximal level at the same time. For general clients that I cook for, I keep the serving size in mind, but do not break down every calorie. There is a general rule of thumb for losing weight: calorie intake has to be less than calorie output, meaning you need to eat more nutrient dense food with less calories and conduct a training regime that burns more calories than you actually consume. That is key to losing weight.

However, in the beginning, counting calories can have negative side effects; they often take to the extreme and lower their calorie count to an extent that their body will revert to a state of preservation and retain all calories they eat instead of burning them.

What are your suggestions for a typical college kid in regards to diet?

For the typical college kid to avoid the typical

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stereotype of the freshman 15, maintain a healthy diet of balanced foods. At the beginning of each week, write down in a planner, tablet or smart phone, what foods you will eat at certain times so that you don’t resort to burning cash on high fat foods that are easily ready for you on the go.

Meal prep everything, if possible, even if it’s just a sandwich. That’s a much healthier alternative to a burger at your local campus quick stop. Also, implement an exercise training plan and stick with it, even if it’s just for 30 to 45 minutes. My schedule is constantly booked: school, full time job, Chef Spartacus business and a fighter, so I make use of my free time and create a hard workout with the time I am given.

Who have you cooked for?

I first start cooking for a local fighter and teammate, Raja Shippen. He came to me with only a month and half to drop from 176 pounds to 135 pounds for his fight. He went straight to a strict calorie counted diet. The weight slid off him. In that time frame, he dropped to 143 and only had to shed water weight for the last pounds. From there, I started cooking for more of my teammates: Brett Cooper and Johnny Cisneros in Bellator, Matthew Lopez in RFA and a few other pro fighters in different organizations.

Then, I branched out clients who are non-athletes and just wanted to better themselves, like world renowned tattoo artist Carlos Macedo, who then referred me to others. And this is how my business, Chef Spartacus, was created. My biggest challenge and opportunity was given to me recently via a text message through a local personal training center for professional athletes who I have worked with before. They loved what I did in the past and made me an offer to be UFC fighter Chael Sonnen’s meal prepper. They give me the calorie count he needed to meet and I cook food to meet those numbers.

For more information or inquiries regarding a custom meal plan, feel free to follow Chef_Spartacus or contact him at chefspartacus@yahoo.com.

Self health & fitness

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THE TOP 5 DOS AND DON’TS FOR THE GYM ERIC PARSONS Lambda Chi Alpha

Eric is a junior studying chemical biosciences. You may contact him at snosrap@ou.edu.

When you decide to hit up the gym and get big, there are a few things you have to do to make sure you look right and are bearable to your fellow gym goers. These are the top five dos and don’ts that are musts for any fitness enthusiast.

Do 1. Lift legs. No one likes to lift legs. It’s hard, it hurts and if you do it wrong your back is hurting for days. Plus, the time spent racking and un-racking weight could go to much better causes (like biceps). However, I still maintain lifting legs is a must. Running just isn’t gonna do it, if you want to look even and not like a reverse kangaroo.

2. Respect the old people there. It can be annoying as hell when Grandpa is on the fly machine doing beginner weight and you’re trying to keep a pump on. However, before you launch the old man into the water aerobics class where he belongs, think about where you’re going to be in 50 years. For all you know, this dude was basically Arnold before he got really, really, really old. Once you build the habit of going to the gym every day, it doesn’t stop easily, and I know when I’m old I’m still going to try and stay fit. I mean, that’s how you get to be that old in the first place, am I right?

3. Put weight on properly. If you are going to bench 185 pounds, how do you go about it? The majority of you would say that you’d add a 45-pound plate and a 25-pound plate to each side. However, there is a minority that bears a special brand of stupid who would put seven 10-pound plates on each side. If I have to explain why this is not the best way to do things, please do not reproduce. Plus, everyone knows that a 45 is way heavier than four 10s and a five.

This also applies to machines. Curl on a curl rack and squat in the squat rack. Do not mix these up as you will seem like an idiot of epic proportions and the hulk

who was waiting to squat 700 lbs. will probably punch you out.

4. Wear the right clothes. Ask yourself two questions: do I look appropriate to be seen in public? And, are the clothes I’m wearing proper for the activity I’m about to engage in? If everyone asked this question, we would be free of people who insist on wearing their flip-flops and jeans to the gym. It’s cool if that’s what you wear to play volleyball, or whatever, but if we’re throwing around heavy weights, wear something that doesn’t show your toes. Fvefingers are an exception. While these do show your toes, they are probably okay for the gym, despite the fact that they look both creepy and stupid.

5. Speak (at proper volumes) if you need to. This is a very specific one. If you have a question or are making small talk, it is completely okay. For some reason, people seem to think the gym is this place where you’ll be shot if you utter the slightest whisper. If you’re curious about how a certain workout is done or what that guy is doing, ask. Odds are that he’ll tell you and you may have a new workout for your repertoire.

There are definitely wrong ways to use your voice in the gym. Don’t talk to someone mid-set when they are concentrating. This should be a no brainer. Another rule is to try to limit the amount of screaming that goes on.

While this problem has been quiet lately (Bazinga!), constant vigilance against the guy who sounds like an air raid siren is a must.

Don’t 1. Take weight off the ground without checking around.

You are easily the buffest, most shredded guy at the gym, today. I mean, the dweeb patrol really rolled out and, by comparison, you are looking good. Speaking of looking good, it’s time for curls. Your 75s aren’t on the rack, but you notice them sitting on the ground next to a bench a few feet away. You pick them up and start busting out curls. Are you in the right? No. In fact, you’re a douche. It doesn’t matter if you’re huge or just stating out your gym life. We all pay the same exorbitant fee to use the Huff and, therefore, we all have equal rights to the weights. Therefore, you can’t usurp someone else’s weights. What if you need them? If you need the weights that are on the ground, you must follow this 3-step procedure: 1) stand above the weights and see if anyone

rushes up to claim them; 2) look around awkwardly to see if anyone is eyeing you or your new weights; and 3) ask a random stranger, “you using these?” even if he’s currently on another exercise. You are now free to claim the weights as your own.

2. Creepily stare at the girl in the yoga shorts. Imagine you’re working out and some amazon woman who is 6’4” with 22-inch biceps starts following you around and checking out what you’ve got going on. Yeah, creepy, huh? Don’t do it.

3. Use heavy weight without a spot. This is a really big one and, very well, might be the most important on the list. The first reason to heed this advice is that the opposite is dangerous. Just a guess here, but I’m going to go ahead and assume you like your chest not caved in like piñata at a sober party. If, for some reason, your own personal well being isn’t reason enough to make you stop acting like a rookie, then it’s gonna annoy the hell out of the guys who have to stop their workout to pull that 135 off of your crushed chest. So, to put a bow on it, not only is this a good way to die, but it’ll also piss off your fellow gym goers!

4. Give unsolicited advice. This is also a wildly annoying habit people seem to cultivate. Obviously, if you are going to attempt to use a machine or do an exercise, you should be familiar with the function or procedure, but nothing – and I mean nothing – makes someone seem more like a douche than walking up to someone and saying, “I noticed you on the whatever machine and if you blah blah blah, you can get a lot better pump.” This is, by far, the ultimate cocky move. Yeah, the dude may be doing it wrong, but who asked you to give him the invaluable gift of your lifting wisdom?

5. Sit on a machine or bench with your eyes in your phone. This is so annoying. This may be more dangerous than lifting heavy with no spot because you may cause the roid rage guy in the corner to tear your head off of your shoulders. This is a waste of everyone’s time, especially if the gym is busy. People are trying to get through workouts and, instead of working, you’re keeping them from moving forward by occupying the space that they are trying to work in. Nothing is going to piss of your peers more that slowing everyone down to tweet about the #fitlife.

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Sports

TROUBLED TIGER NATE FAIN Alpha Tau Omega

Nate is a freshman studying journalism.

Yo u m a y c o n t a c t h i m a t ndfain@gmail.com.

Last year, Tiger Woods had his best year since that fateful Thanksgiving of 2009 when a car crash just outside his mansion in Jupiter, Fla. and sent his world into a tailspin. In 2013, Woods won five tournaments, PGA tour player of the year and reclaimed his spot as the number one golfer in the world. However, for the fifth straight year, Tiger was unable to add to his total of 14 major championships. Unfortunately for Tiger, at this point in his career, the only thing he has left to

win are the five more majors that would break Jack Nicklaus’ record of 18 wins.

After his successful 2013 campaign, the golfing world had high hopes fo what 2014 would bring Woods. Much to the dismay of his fans, Woods teed off with one of the worst starts of his career and he is now going to miss the Masters Tournament due to back surgery.

“What’s wrong with Tiger?” has been a question that sports fans and analysts alike have been asking for years. Is it age? Is it his marriage? Is the competition too tough? I say, no. He is only 38. When Jack Nicklaus was 37, he had the same number of majors (14) as Woods. His marriage is over, but he is now in a relationship with skier, Lindsey Vonn, that has lasted over a year and his kids now attend some of his tournaments. His

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competition really hasn’t been too stiff. Nobody since his 2008 US Open win has won more than two majors. Rory McIlroy hasn’t won anything since he switched from Titleist to Nike clubs and Phil Mickelson is now in his mid-forties.

The answer has been obvious for years. It’s injuries.

I think we all underestimates the damage done to Tiger’s knee when he won that US Open almost six years ago with a torn ACL. Even if the knee is better, what about his neck (2011), his wrist (2013) and now the back? No golfer has ever reached the unparalleled amount of popularity that Tiger Woods has and you could probably say the same about his injuries. A healthy Tiger with a failed marriage could win five more majors at age 38, but this Tiger can’t. He’s breaking down before our eyes. Could he get to 15, 16 or 17? Yeah, maybe, but I think 19 is nothing more than a pipe dream.

BEDLAM HISTORY JENNIFER NYGREN Alpha Phi

Jennifer is a sophomore studying journalism. You may contact her at jennifer.n.nygren-1@ ou.edu.

The Bedlam term is most known in Oklahoma for the lopsided football rivalry, which is dominated

by OU. However, the term actually originated from an adjective used to describe the intense meets between the two schools’ wrestling teams. There also used to be a Bedlam Bell that was a trophy that traveled back and forth between OU and OSU, until the tradition declined in popularity and was soon forgotten.

The Bedlam football rivalry began in 1904, when the playing conditions were below freezing, at Cottonwood Creek in Guthrie, Okla. Can you imagine playing or attending a football game in the beginning of the twentieth century in below freezing weather?

This game is notable because when the former Oklahoma A&M Aggies were kicking off, the wind

was so strong it blew the football behind the kicker.

The play could turn into either a touchdown or a touchback based on who recovered the ball. The ball then rolled off the field, down a hill and into a half frozen creek. The Sooners, who played with as much determination as they do now, chased the ball down and recovered it to result in 75-0 victory.

Though the first Bedlam football game was very exciting, some think that the latest game is the greatest Bedlam game of all time. While both games had below freezing temperatures, the Sooners didn’t have to dive into a frozen creek for this victory. The upset by the Sooners helped propel them into the Sugar Bowl, while it prevented the Cowboys from making it to the Fiesta Bowl.

The second most popular Bedlam sport, nowadays, is basketball. OSU is always recognized as the more serious contender compared to OU, but the Sooners hold the winning record against them and have gotten away with a Bedlam sweep this season. Both Bedlam games were very exciting, but the Sooners have gotten the best of the Cowboys this season and have had neither a seven game losing streak nor a controversial suspension of one of their players.

Although football and basketball are the center of Bedlam, the rivalry surges into spring sports.

Recently, Norman hosted two Bedlam games in baseball and softball. The OU baseball team kicked off the Bedlam week on Tuesday, April 1 at 6 p.m. OU is the reigning Big 12 Champion in baseball, so the Cowboys were out for blood. The threats from OSU have now turned from “wait until basketball season” to “wait until baseball season.” On Wednesday, April 2, OU Softball matched up against OSU while defending their National Champs status.

Unfortunately, OSU does not have a gymnastics program to compete with our elite men’s and women’s teams, who have been among the top five teams in the nation this entire season. Don’t let that deter you from attending OU, hosting the Mountain Pacific Sports Federation Championship on March 29. Teams from Stanford, Air Force and University of California will be competing in this meet.

Bedlam brings intensity into every OU versus OSU match up. We, as the fans, need to carry on this tradition. Boomer.

Sports

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BLACK MESA OR BUST For m a n y, the panhandle of the state HUNTER of Oklahoma seems like MATTOCKS Pi Kappa Phi the most remote area Hunter is a freshman studying imaginable. Devoid of po litica l s cie nce & pub lic relations. You may contact him at all civilization and perks hwm_95@yahoo.com. of the city, this distant part of the state might as well be another country and, when you think about it, it almost is. In perhaps the most desolate part of the state, Cimarron County, stands the highest point in the state. Black Mesa rises above the scrub, cacti and yucca of the high plains, creating a breathtaking view. One hike through this majestic area will have you feeling like the Lone Ranger riding through the American wild West.

Black Mesa stands at 4,973 feet in Oklahoma; it reaches higher elevations in Colorado and New Mexico. Black Mesa State Park serves to facilitate hiking and exploration of the region while preserving the diverse flora and fauna.

Horny toads, mountain lions, road runners, bobcats, snakes, deer, antelope, pheasant, cacti, yucca, wildflowers, meadowlarks and the occasional bear all call Black Mesa home.

Anyone who has never traveled to the panhandle is really missing out.

You cannot understand the true meaning of getting away from it all until you are three hours from the nearest mall and Starbucks. The mesa is not the only thing that this interesting region has to offer! Preserved dinosaur tracks surround creek beds. Kenton Lake and campgrounds offer fishing and camping opportunities. The Kenton community is also the only place in Oklahoma that uses Mountain Time Zone. You can drive to Autograph Rock and see the signatures of countless pioneers who traversed this area on the Santa Fe Trail.

I encourage everyone to get out and experience our great state. Get off of the beaten path and join the ranks of Coronado, Jesse James and the plains Indians in exploring the wild and wonderful western portion known as The Panhandle!

THUNDER PLAYOFF PREVIEW With the regular season coming to a close, the highly competitive Western conference standings find a handful of teams neck and neck for ideal seeding in the playoffs. The Phoenix Suns, Dallas Mavericks and the scrappy Memphis Grizzlies are all duking it out on a nightly basis for the seventh and eighth seeds while, at the top of the conference, the San Antonio Spurs, OKC Thunder and the Los Angeles Clippers have all clinched their divisions and are locks for the number one, two and three seeds, respectively.

The Portland Trail Blazers started the season redhot, but have cooled down significantly during the second half of the stretch, partly due to the absence of star forward Lamarcus Aldridge from a back injury, for a seven game stretch in which they dropped in the standings and never climbed back up.

Here in OKC, the boys in blue have been scratching and clawing at the Spurs for the top spot since Russell Westbrook’s return, but San Antonio’s franchise record 19 game win streak gave the Spurs the lock for the top spot, despite finishing the season with an 0-4 record against OKC. Kevin Durant and company have been struggling to find a consistent rhythm, due to injuries and a frequently changing starting lineup, and are now battling the LA Clippers for the second seed. Durant’s play has been absolutely remarkable all season, but his streak of games with 25+ points, that has now surpassed Bulls legend Michael Jordan’s 40 game streak, has been a major factor in the Thunder ’s success since the All-Star break.

However remarkable it may be, OKC desperately needs to find a rhythm within the entire team in these games leading up to the playoffs i f t h e y a re t o make a title run this year. Teams like the Dallas Lambda Chi Alpha Mavericks and the Phoenix Andrew is a freshman studying Suns, who a re advertising. You may contact him possible first at andrew.sanderson@ou.edu. round matchups for OKC this year, each pose different problems for the Thunder if the offense is relying on Durant to carry them through a seven game series. The Suns have emerging stars in guards Goran Dragic and Gerald Green, who have shredded the Thunder defense, with both going for career-high games against OKC this season. Without a balanced offensive attack by the Thunder, those two could be a major X-factor in a series matchup.

ANDREW SANDERSON

Dallas Mavericks’ future hall-of-famer, Dirk Nowitski, is always lethal in postseason play and with the twilight of his career approaching, he is sure to play with a renewed focus and intensity in the playoffs, which is bad news for OKC. Nowitski’s supporting cast is a veteran-heavy Mavs lineup that has a regular season record of 2-1 against OKC and, with the experience of players like Vince Carter and Jose Calderon, Dallas is definitely capable of giving OKC all they can handle in a series.

For the Thunder, role players like Caron Butler and Derek Fisher will be vital in bringing a spark off the

bench, as well as much needed veteran leadership to a playoff experienced, but still very young team.

The play off Russell Westbrook will be the major determinant of the Thunder ’s postseason success.

Westbrook’s freakish athleticism and explosive style of play can be unstoppable when he is hitting his shots, but his tendency to get out of control taking poor shots and turning the ball over have caused many a fourth quarter breakdown for OKC. Key defenders, Thabo Sefalosha and Kendrick Perkins, have to lock down and set a physical tone early on in order to allow the offense to start firing on all cylinders, because when the Thunder defense starts giving up easy buckets, they have a tendency to rely on Durant to pick up the slack on the offensive end, which has worked many times during the regular season, but in the playoffs, one player ’s efforts, however remarkable, won’t be enough to win a seven game series against such stiff competition.

With last year ’s disappointing playoff defeat at the hands of the Grizzlies still fresh on the minds of Thunder players and fans alike, this postseason finds the Thunder at a pivotal moment. To keep the Durant/Westbrook tandem here in OKC for seasons to come, an NBA championship is crucial this season, as Westbrook’s contract is reaching its end and key players, such as Reggie Jackson, Jeremy Lamb, and Serge Ibaka, are nearing free agency and likely to receive lucrative contract offers from franchises with deeper pockets than OKC. Regardless of the outcome, the 2014 playoffs are sure to deliver fans nonstop drama and excitement, with the legacies of so many players and franchises on the line. Thunder Up.

12 TOP 10 PHONE APPS FOR A COLLEGE STUDENT 500 words on

TREVOR GROSE Kappa Sigma

Trevor is a sophomore studying English lit/Spanish. You may contact him at trevorgrose93@ gmail.com.

Today, most college students have smart phones.

Every once in a while, I’ll run into one of those students who can rely on a flip phone or those who only use a phone for talking and texting. However, most college kids will use multiple apps on their phone, whether it’s for entertainment or to help them with classes. Here’s a list of the apps that are crucial for students.

10. Google. The Google app is useful for those who need a question answered quickly or are trying to figure out how late a restaurant stays open.

9. Amazon. Sometimes, a student really needs to buy

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things for a class and regular stores aren’t selling it.

Sometimes, they want to buy season three of Game Of Thrones for half off. Whatever it is, you can find it on Amazon.

also a good tool to calculate grades and what you need to make on finals.

8. The Clock. This one is already downloaded on most phones and for good reason. It’s the all-in-one clock. It’s an alarm clock, a stopwatch and a world clock. It’s the only thing that can get you out of bed or tell you the time in Bolivia, if that’s your kind of thing.

3. Twitter. Twitter might not seem that useful, but that’s where I find out about most of the events happening on campus. It’s also a great way to keep up with friends. #blessed.

7. GroupMe. Basically a group text app. It’s not the most useful, but if you’re trying to tell a group of people something and don’t want to waste time typing in their individual phone numbers, then this will save you some time.

6. Any game app. Any game that you want to play is in the App Store. They usually won’t help you in college, unless you buy a learning game. These will just help you be less bored in class.

5. Calculator. This is another app that’s already downloaded on the phone and can be a lifesaver if you’re in a math class and don’t have a calculator. It’s

4. Flashlight. For whenever you lose your wallet or keys in the dark. Just don’t lose your phone.

2. Google Drive. If you can’t access a computer and need to write a document, there’s an app for that.

The best thing about it is that you can later access the document on a computer, if it needs to be printed.

1. Facebook. Not my favorite app, but it is the one that I, and many other college students, use. It can work as a calendar for events. You can message your friends if you don’t have their numbers. Every once in a while, someone will post something entertaining, so it can help alleviate boredom. Most importantly, you can keep your family updated on how your college life is going.

WHAT YOU SHOULDN’T DO ON SOCIAL MEDIA (BUT EVERYONE STILL DOES) Social media – can’t live with it, can’t live without it, right?

As much as we love tweeting about every moment of our lives, documenting it on Pi Beta Phi Instagram and adding it to Amanda is a junior studying our Snapchat stories, there advertising. You may contact her at are some social media habits amanda.m.tanner-1@ou.edu. that have, seriously, got to go. The list, below, elaborates on what we shouldn’t do while using social media. But, let’s be real, we all do it anyway.

AMANDA TANNER

Favorite and RT. Every once and a while, the perfect tweet comes through. It’s funny, witty, thought provoking and relevant, all at the same time. You’re used to the same old stuff on your Twitter feed – tweets about the weather, tweets about school, tweets about sports – but that doesn’t mean you need to go overboard when a funny tweet crosses your newsfeed. Keep the “favorite” and “retweet” decision on an either-or basis. There’s no need to do both!

The 10 Second Snapchat Selfie. We all send selfies. If you say you don’t, there’s a 98% chance that you’re lying. But 10 seconds feels like a lifetime in the Snapchat world.

If you’re feeling extra cute and want to send a selfie to all your contacts, keep it at five seconds or less. No one really wants to stare at your face for a whole 10 seconds, unless that someone is kind of creepy (insert surprised-face Emoji here).

The Classic Subtweet. Everyone has done it. Even I’ve subtweeted a few times – okay, maybe a lot of times. What does subtweeting really accomplish? It only makes the person you subtweeted annoyed (yes, they’ll know it’s about them) and it makes you look like you’re desperate for attention. People don’t respond well to a subtweet, so let’s all do our followers a favor and stop the subtweeting. That would be a really nice and refreshing change in the Twitterverse.

Using AIM Lingo. We’re all in college, now, and whether you like it or not, future employers do check your social media sites. Use this to your advantage. Social media can be an opportunity to show your personality through writing – 140 characters or less, of course. Stop typing like, “omg, im soooo annoyed 2day:/,” and start tweeting, posting or commenting in a more respectable and grammatically correct manner.

MCM and WCW Every. Single. Week. Guys, your obsession with Kate Upton is very apparent due to the not-so-new Instagram trend #WCW. We get it, she’s your everyday woman crush. And ladies, we understand your boyfriend will always be your MCM and your besties will be your WCW ‘til the end. But do you really have to post the same thing week after week? It may be time for all of us to reevaluate the whole MCM and WCW situation and, you know, maybe not post on a weekly basis.

The next time you’re going to angrily subtweet your friend because someone spilled on your shirt that she borrowed or the next time you Instagram a picture of your “bae” Harry Styles as your #MCM for the third week in a row, think about this: do your followers really want to see that? Chances are, the answer is no. But, hey, we’re all going to post what we want to post anyway, so there’s no point in trying to change it now! (#JustSaying).

500 words on

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LINKEDIN: WHAT NOT TO DO KELSEY GOSDIN

Alpha Omicron Pi Kelsey is a junior studying public relations. You may contact her at Kgosdin@ou.edu.

With the semester coming to a close and the stress of finals soon to be over, a campus wide sigh of relief can be heard. Then, two things hit you like a ton of bricks. One, there is school on Monday. Two, summer is approaching quickly and you haven’t done anything to secure that summer internship your mom wants you to have so badly.

You blow the dust off of your computer and go to that LinkedIn account your professor made you create. If you don’t have a LinkedIn, it is a social network that provides an opportunity to create a profile to make professional connections online.

You can grow your reach of connections, find helpful content, explore employment opportunities

and possibly be recruited.

However, I’ve found that while a lot of students have LinkedIn accounts, not many know how to use them or what the proper etiquette is. In order to help you make the most of this confusing social media platform, I have compiled a list of dos and don’ts for LinkedIn so that it can be a useful component in your arsenal when looking for that summer internship.

DO reach out and make meaningful connections.

Take time to find common ground with others based on relationships, interests and your profile.

However, do consider the value of each connection and how you can be a valuable connection to them.

Do not forget to provide context. Learn about the person and be prepared to explain why they should connect with you. (Hint: You should probably only add people you know.)

DON’T leave your account inactive. Post relevant and interesting content to your respective industry to keep your profile live and interesting.

DO build your profile to the best of its potential.

Treat it as a professional brochure. Give a detailed

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description of what you do at the top of your profile (don’t just be a “student”). This is someone’s first impression of you. Get intentional testimonials and endorsements that speak to your actual skills and use simple and concise language.

DON’T leave out your contact information. If an employer, recruiter or colleague is interested in contacting you, they should have easy access to your phone number and email address.

DO use a professional profile picture. LinkedIn is not the place to use that super cute profile pic you and your sisters took on the beach in Destin last week, or that cropped picture of you at a party.

DON’T use LinkedIn like Facebook or Twitter. It is a professional network and, while it is important to share some personal content, it is not a personal network. So, don’t treat it like one.

DO join groups carefully, ones that reflect your interests and can be most helpful to you.

DON’T be shy. A completed profile speaks volumes and is more helpful to you than a shell of a profile.

WHAT TO LOOK FOR IN A SIGNIFICANT OTHER JESSICA SCHAEFER

Alpha Chi Omega Jessica is a sophomore studying public relations. You may contact her at jessica.m.schaefer-1@ou.edu.

College allows people to have a wide variety of potential boyfriends or girlfriends and that’s definitely the case here at OU. With thousands of students attending this university, there are so many different people and personalities to get to know and eventually start a relationship with.

However, there are boys and girls out there who you should try and date no matter what. These are the best of the best personalities and most of them would happily agree. Here are just a few of the winners that you should try to be with.

High school hero. These people are my absolute favorite. They consistently start conversations with, “This one time in high school...” and usually follow with how awesome and cool everything they did before college was. You have the honor of being

able to hear the story about how they were the valedictorian, or how they set a school record with the number of passes they made as the quarterback of the football team. You are, obviously, the luckiest person on the planet if you date one of these people, considering OU only has a small number of people who were the valedictorian or star quarterback of their football team.

Drama queen or king. The drama queens and kings will keep you entertained with their enthralling stories about how their best friend is the worst person on the planet because they responded to their text with a “K”. It definitely won’t be annoying to hear about how everything that happens to them is the best or worst thing to have ever happened in their entire lives. Consider yourself blessed to be able to date someone who is so emotionally involved with everything that happens, especially since you will get to experience it when something happens between the two of you.

The “not looking to be in a relationship” type.

You will constantly hang out with this person, but eventually you’ll try to define the relationship of whatever is going on between the two of you. He

or she will whip out the, “You’re really cool, but I’m not looking to be in a relationship with anyone right now.” Don’t let that stop you, though! You can change his or her mind and they will stop wanting to “play the field” and settle down with you in no time. It doesn’t matter that they may be talking to a few different people. Once you make them realize that you’re the one, they will become the best boyfriend or girlfriend in no time.

The narcissist. These people are the absolute best of the best and will be the first ones to tell you so. Much like the drama king or queen, you’ll be kept up with stories of their lives. The narcissist, however, will keep himself or herself at the center of the conversation the entire time. You’ll hear about how they made someone’s day better just by saying, “hi,” or how they are so involved in their community because they went and volunteered at the nursing home that one time and stayed for a whole hour. You’ll get to know every single little detail about their lives, while they know little to nothing about yours. In fact, you won’t even have time to tell them things about yourself, but being mysterious is hot, right?

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Humor lol

HYPOTHETICAL ESCAPE FROM NORTH KOREA the State.

EMILY IRVIN Kappa Alpha Theta

Emily is a junior studying professional writing. You may contact her at emily.k.irvin-1@ou.edu.

One day, I made the casual mistake of mentioning Kim Jong Ill in a blog post. I didn’t say anything harmful or even politically infused. I simply compared him to a sloth. A few days after my post, my stats revealed that someone in North Korea had viewed my blog. The only other international hits on my blog were some places in Europe where I had friends studying abroad and a random fan in Belize. I was puzzled, but didn’t think much of it until a conversation over a speedy breakfast with my friend, Katie. She is an international areas studies major, making all of her comments credible.

“I mentioned Kim Jong Ill in a post and now someone in North Korea is following my blog.”

“It seems like their military has done an Internet sweep looking for his name.”

“Should I be worried?”

“Well, only high-ranking political officials have access to the internet.” Katie dumped her cereal bowl in the sink and started to head out the door to class. “Have a great day!” she said cheerfully.

A few days later, North Korea started making nuclear war threats. At that moment, I realized I was to blame for North Korea’s revived hostility. I sat motionless, playing out the inevitable in my mind. Once the warheads were on target to hit four major American cities, propelled by my loyalty, I would fly to Washington, D.C. and turn myself in to the Secretary of Defense as an enemy of

Their first instinct would be to protect me, put me in the witness protection program and set me up in rural Idaho as a potato farmer, away from my laptop where I could do no more harm. But as the missiles were locked on target and the countdown began, we would plead for a cease-fire, but there would be no peace as the blasphemer (me) goes free.

Now that I know what my future holds, I must be prepared. It’s only a matter of time before I’m captured by the Koreans and held in an internment camp. If I have any chance of survival, I must plan my escape now.

Only a handful of people have escaped North Korea.

Out of this group, none of them were especially capable.

An unlikely pair found a small gap under the electric fence that surrounds North Korea’s border with China.

They dodged guards and lighted areas at night and tried to scramble under it. The first to go under made it to the other side. The fence killed the second.

Another man took a less conventional route. He got wasted by the shore, fell into the sea and washed onto the beach of South Korea the next day.

A prominent defection happened shortly after the signing of the armistice towards the end of the Korean War. On September 21, 1953 a 21-year-old senior lieutenant named No Kum Sok flew his MiG-15 over the DMZ to the South. North Korea mourned the intelligence breach because his fighter plane was one of the finest in the Communist bloc.

Now, there is a non-profit organization called Liberty in North Korea working to get people out. They are coupled with the underground inside the country and have successfully rescued seven people out of their goal of 100 (http://libertyinnorthkorea.org/rescue/).

So, examining past successes, I have four options: 1)

www.theodysseyonline.com

I can work my way up from political prisoner to senior lieutenant; 2) team up with the non-profit underground; 3) chance the electric fence; or 4) get drunk on the beach.

The safest route would be the non-profit underground.

But they already have the 100 picked out so it would be hard to wiggle into the system. My second most promising option would be promotion into the military.

Though I doubt my escape will go as smoothly as Sok’s, since he wasn’t a political prisoner, an enemy of the state or a girl. I would also assume that they’ve cracked down on military defections since the incident in 1953.

I definitely don’t want to chance the electric fence.

I’ve never been a proficient at limbo and I’m scared my skills would only worsen under stress. Plus, the electric fence will lead me to China and, in an attempt to quell the tension on the Korean peninsula, China deports suspected North Korean defectors. I have no allies in China and would easily be discovered.

That leaves me with the beach. Not even the insanity of Kim Jong Ill can put borders on the ocean. Having read Life Of Pi twice, I consider myself practiced in the ways of sea raft survival. Even the acquisition of a small inflatable would suffice for my midnight escape into the sea. Since an inebriated and unconscious man simply let the current carry him to the shores of South Korea, I feel like I could easily do the same with my wits about me.

Once safe on the southern shore, I will find the American Embassy. From that point, I will return to the United States safely.

The missile threats may begin again, but the humiliation from my escape will further discredit the country. With my new knowledge of the sea escape route, I will team up with the non-profit underground and help others escape the clutches of Kim Jong Ill, the overly sensitive blog stalker of the Korean Peninsula.

Humor lol

www.theodysseyonline.com

@buuwaba “I didn’t know it was my roommate’s birthday.. #oops #bestroommateaward” @buuwaba “I hate getting ready in a rush because you always forget something. Like putting lotion on your ashy legs.. #dontlookatme” @hmfallon “When your JMC lab instructor brings you Panera” @johnsontruong “MONDAYS ARE FOR HOW I MET YOUR MOTHER AND NOW IT’S OVER WHAT DO I DO EXCEPT SIT IN A CORNER AND CRY” @ash_the_cupcake “I can never look tough on campus bc i have a rainbow tie dye backpack.” @LindsayLand3 “To the stranger who just bought my coffee at Starbucks, thank you for making my day” @rileysroberson “I’m at the point where I’m thinking.. do I really have to do this homework? Do I really have to go to class? Do I really have to... breathe?” @stuffaimeesayz “What’s smh mean? So much hate?” @carolineebreit “The amount of hours of sleep I got is almost directly proportional to the number of tests I have today. I have 2 tests.”

15

@TheBigEvant “Whenever I wear a hat while having a clean shaven face I look like a 10 year old that has aspirations of being a train conductor.”

@KlideBell “i look like a horse when i laugh so from now on when i think something’s funny i’m just going to say “laugh.”

@TheBigEvant “The woman @ Whataburger gave me a free lemon pie, like ugh is this some rewards program for frequent customers???”

@LesAsamoah “It’s almost as if Saturday is homeworkproof”

@ccourtneydiane “i h8 when I’m driving and another car pulls out in front of me and kills my vibe” @ccourtneydiane “#GoToOU bc we’re the first and only school in the Big 12 to raise over 1 million for Relay for Life #blessed #JustCureIt @rachclegg “the man who put the drainage systems in Norman must have been a longhorn. #drowning”

@HunterBirkhead “My mom just used the word ratchet. #YAS” @Brandons_taudt “I used to think the idiom “shoot the breeze” was actually “shoot febreze” lol” @_SHMINDIA_ “The most productive thing I’ve done today is successfully turn a styrofoam cup inside out”

@peytonisrad “Isn’t everyday a wind advisory in Oklahoma?” @KelceyBeckman “Coffee can’t even fix how tired I am” @NateJ24OU “S/O to pollen for making my car that disgusting shade of yellow that Honda doesn’t offer, because it’s the color I really wanted” @OklahomaProbs “Ohhhklahoma, where the wind comes sweeping down the plains (at 50 mph). #OklahomaProbs”

AIMEE SCHNEBECK Delta Gamma

Aimee is a freshman studying broadcast journalism.

You may contact her at aimee.schnebeck@ou.edu.

ABSURD ADDITIONS TO OUR DICTIONARY It may not be a surprise that our generation often falls into the lockstep of using slang terms.

However, it discourages Delta Gamma me to know that the Emilee is a sophomore trendy way we like to studying public relations. talk is affecting actual You may contact her at dictionary entries. In Emilee.B.Ohair-1@ou.edu. case you guys didn’t know, there have been many additions to the dictionary, lately, that are rather questionable. There have also been some additions that were probably necessary. To keep you up to speed with the type of words being added to the Oxford Dictionary, I’ve compiled a list of the most interesting I’ve seen, thus far.

EMILEE O’HAIR

Jorts. Is this word used for both girls’ and boys’ jean shorts? I’ve been wearing jorts since I was three years old and I’ve never felt the need to call them jorts. Is jean shorts that difficult to force out of our mouths that we had to condense it into a one-syllable word? The Oxford Dictionary could’ve done without this addition.

Selfie. Unlike jorts, selfie might actually be a necessary supplement to the Oxford Dictionary. Here me out now, people. The song “#Selfie” is proof that selfie has truly become an epidemic of a word. Not to mention Snapchat, which has increased all of our selfies by tenfold. Despite the fact that taking a selfie might be somewhat of a taboo, we’ve all done it at some point. So shouldn’t something that is so common in today’s world be worthy of a dictionary entry? Yes!

Srsly. I almost have no words for this one, other than it should not be in any sort of dictionary. I’ll admit that it is amusing to read in tweets, instagram comments and the like. However, it just kind of looks like it belongs in a drunken text sent at 4 a.m. Technically, this word is already in the dictionary… in its correct spelling. Adding srsly to the dictionary makes me wonder what our society is coming to.

Twerk. I have mixed feelings about adding twerk to the dictionary. On the one hand, it might seem like a good idea because of its prominence in today’s American culture. On the other hand, it’s just another dancing fad. Just like the jerk, catdaddy, dougie, gangnam style, etc. I wouldn’t be surprised if twerking went out of style about as quickly as it came into style. It’s not exactly the family-friendly Macarena, if you know what I mean. It might be hot on the scene, right now, but just wait; in three months, twerking will seem like a foreign concept and Oxford will have a wasted dictionary entry.

Unlike (as a verb). This word could actually be a useful addition to the dictionary for several reasons. Social media has completely altered the way people spend their free time, run businesses and advertise products since certain organizations thrive on the number of likes they receive on social media sites. With such an emphasis on the liking process, it is natural for an antonym to exist for such a concept. Also, I’m pretty sure we’ve all been in that situation where we like something by accident and frantically have to unlike it to prevent what could have been a terrible mistake.

Some of the odd, new entries into the Oxford Dictionary do make sense.

Our culture is changing and that means our language is changing, too. If it didn’t, we’d all still be calling our shorts, pantaloons and our glasses, spectacles. However, some of the new additions should be vetoed, because having jorts in the dictionary just makes us look like idiots.