May 8, 2014 | Volume 2, Issue 29 | Norman, OK
www.theodysseyonline.com | @OU_Odyssey | Facebook.com/TheOdysseyatOklahoma
DELT DIVE PAGE 6
HOW TO MAKE THE MOST OF YOUR TIME AT OU PAGE 3 HOW TO STAY PRODUCTIVE DURING SUMMER BREAK PAGE 4 SUMMER UNDER THE NORMAN SUN PAGE 5 HOUSE TOUR COMPETITION PAGES 8-11
DELTA TAU DELTA’S SAND VOLLEYBALL COMPETITION HELPS RAISE MONEY FOR THE JUVENILE DIABETES RESEARCH FOUNDATION. Photo by: Morgann Russell
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Editor's note
ALWAYS LOOKING TO IMPROVE
After almost two years of advancing in the ranks of (and losing more and more of my free time to) this paper, I have officially committed Chi Omega to letting it take over my life completely come Fall 2014. Annie is a sophomore studying I really did this to myself, professional writing and international though. Ever since I signed studies. You may contact her at on to this Greek news source annieroach@ou.edu. my freshman year, I found myself diving deeper and deeper into what exactly goes into creating a weekly publication. Haley Mowdy, former Editor-in-Chief, began molding me to step up to larger roles than simply writing, my eagerness to do more apparent. Since her reign as Editor-in-Chief, the paper has grown by unexpectedly vast amounts thanks to her and her team’s constant work. The pages that a once small staff scrambled to fill are now overflowing with content from our plethora of writers. This publication’s success wouldn’t be possible without the people behind the scenes. The leadership team is the backbone of this paper, their hard work throughout the year showing in how much we’ve grown these past two semesters. We have more writers than we ever
ANNIE ROACH
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thought possible and are still growing, only a few houses away from being represented by every chapter in our campus’ Greek community. New applicants show interest every day, wanting their voice to be heard by the frat and srat population on campus. The most rewarding part of helping to nurture this paper’s growth was watching the change in our staff. While our numbers were once small and constantly fluctuating, the impressive growth of the team brought about a steady staff of members in the Greek community devoted to providing quality entertainment news to the fraternity and sorority readership on campus. The writers that help to fill these pages weekly can now be counted on to constantly provide quality content. This paper offers so much more than just writing opportunities, though. We are constantly on the look out for new additions to our photography and sales teams, with new leadership applications opening every semester. We strive to go past being an observer of the Greek community, our focus being on predicting what you want to read before you even knew you were interested. We don’t want to simply be spectators of the Greek community, we want to provide new ideas, insights and stories that members of this campus look forward to reading every week. The huge strides this paper has made from its start are astounding, its growth catching local and national attention. But I want this paper to continue to evolve, and to delve deeper into the Greek community to make sure what we write is what you, our readers, want to read. So send me your comments, questions, concerns, ideas, anything. The best way to cater to an audience is to hear what they have to say, so come Fall 2014 I’m asking the Greek community of OU to speak up!
THE ODYSSEY AT OKLAHOMA CREATIVE EXECUTIVE TEAM
Rachel Campbell
Editor-in-Chief Annie Roach
Jessica Schaefer
Chi Omega
Alpha Chi Omega
Contributing Editors
Recruitment Chair Hunter Graham
Alex Bare
Delta Delta Delta
Alpha Chi Omega
Delta Delta Delta
PR Chair Dea Pennington Pi Beta Phi
OLYMPIA MEDIA GROUP 888.272.2595 | OlympiaMediaGroup.com Managing Editor, Brittany Binowski Graphic Designer, Grant Hohulin
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To apply for a writing, photography or sales position, TheOdysseyOnline.com/creative © 2014 Olympia Media Group, LLC All Rights Reserved. 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.
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Scene on campus
HOW TO MAKE THE MOST OF YOUR TIME AT OU It freaks me out that my freshman Bid Day was almost four years ago. The past four years at OU have been a hodge-podge of experiences, emotions, and memories. I thought high school went by fast, but college is just crazy. I’ve learned so many things, and most of them weren’t part of any curriculum. I’m sure you’ve been told to slow down and enjoy college while you can, so I’m not going to repeat it. Instead I’m going to write some tips on how to enjoy what little time is left of your college career. Eat the food. We’ve all heard the sayings, “A moment on the lips, forever on the hips” and “Nothing tastes as good as skinny feels.” But how much fun is that? I personally don’t just eat food because I need it to survive. I eat because I genuinely love food. You’re young! Eat Papa John’s at 3 a.m. I’m not telling you not to diet, but don’t let it get in the way of enjoying your high metabolism while you still have it. Go out with the group. I’m a pro at making up excuses not to go out with my friends or sisters. Maybe you’re like me and just not the social type. Take my word for it, being left out sucks. When your pledge class makes a funny senior video and you’re not in any of the clips or pictures, it’s crappy. Go out for 21st birthdays! Celebrate holidays on Campus Corner! Enjoy the people surrounding you while you still can. It’s not just about having FOMO; it’s about making memories with the ones you care about.
Say “yes” to spring break. Every time I check my bank account a little piece of me dies. The rare times I actually save up money, I spend it. Missing out on spring break because of money sucks. I’ve been there. But it doesn’t have to be expensive. Book a cheap spring break trip with your friends and save up. It’s possible to live on $18 for a month -- I’ve done it. Get the haircut. This is the perfect time to be daring. Before you have to go out and find an adult job, get the haircut. I went from long, to a bob, to a pixie cut. Don’t be afraid to shake things up. Like my mom always says, “It’s just hair. It’ll grow back.” Major in something you love. No one said you have to major in a subject just so you can be guaranteed a job. Actually, I’m sure someone has said that before. But I disagree! If you’re going to be going to school for four or more years, you should study something you love or are interested in. If you’re not in love with petroleum engineering, don’t take the classes! The job market sucks for everyone right now, regardless of your major. If you’re stuck on majoring in that subject, at least take classes or electives that you enjoy. Don’t be afraid to not have a plan. Plans are meant to be broken. One of my favorite quotes says, “When men plan, God laughs.” I feel like the harder you try to get your life on a set track, the easier it is to derail. Don’t get me wrong. You should have goals and dreams and aspirations. Just don’t get so caught up in everything going according to plan that you ignore what’s around you. Some of the best things in life happen when you least expect them to. Don’t freak out when something goes wrong. Welcome the change that it brings. Being average isn’t the worst thing in the world. C’s get degrees and B’s are like college A’s. Those are my conversions anyway. Don’t waste your parents’ tuition money, but don’t stress yourself out over every little assignment. There is always some fudge room to slack off. Manage your absences wisely, and don’t be afraid to take a mental health day.
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Before you leave, eat at these restaurants and get these dishes: The Mont – Loaded cheese fries with ranch S&B’s – The Thanksgiving fries Pennyhill – The meatball sub baked potato or hot ham and cheese Freddy’s – Cheese fries Diamond Dawgs – The Wonderdog Slim Chickens – Fried pickles with ranch Bagel Café – Pizza bagel with pepperoni Braum’s – Fries with honey mustard Victoria’s – Lasagna Five Guys – Little cheeseburger with an order of Cajun fries Panera Bread – Mac and cheese Charleston’s – Waldorf salad El Chico – Tortilla soup Seven47- Truffle fries with ranch If you’re ever offered the opportunity to have fun, don’t miss out on it. Go to the date parties, and go see a movie at midnight. It’s all worth it in the end. The tests and papers can wait for an hour or two.
ALEXANDRA BARE Delta Delta Delta
Alexandra is a senior studying professional writing. You may contact her at alexandra.bare@ou.edu.
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Scene on campus
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HOW TO STAY PRODUCTIVE DURING SUMMER BREAK
RACHEL CAMPBELL
Alpha Chi Omega Rachel is a sophomore studying professional writing. You may contact her at rcampbell@ou.edu.
Typically, the average college summer schedule consists of sleeping until noon, laying out at the pool, and then hanging out until the wee hours of the morning. Try to keep a somewhat loose schedule that will give you enough structure to be productive, but also plan in some time to relax or have fun. Keeping your mind active will help you glide through your assignments rather than struggling. Studies have also shown that keeping a productive schedule will help you feel happier and healthier than being a couch potato. 3. Utilize organization and to-do lists.
This is it. You burst through the doors of your last final and the sun’s rays greet you warmly, encompassing your body in its tan-inducing arms of light. You drive back to your hometown, blasting the new summer playlist you just made on Spotify. You make plans for trips to the lake and the beach. Maybe you’ll even meet up with some of your old high school friends. One thing is certain, though. Summer has begun. The summer plans swirl in your head, erasing all thoughts of the internship, job and summer classes you signed up for. Eventually, you’ll remember these obligations and be bogged down in the thought of monotonously working during your summer. Maintaining focus on what you have to do from the beginning of summer is the easiest way you’ll make it through without drowning in work and making sure you have time for fun.
Here are a few steps you can take to guarantee that you’ll be able to enjoy the thrills of summer and complete the duties of being a college student: 1. Keep the end goal in sight. Summer’s alluring call usually entices everyone at the beginning of the break, forcing them to procrastinate on all their work until the end. Don’t be one of these people. You have to stay in the work mode that you were in during school and use it to get everything done that you can at the beginning of summer break. This will allow you to tackle whatever jobs, internships or fun plans you have, free of distractions. It will also give you a nice break the few weeks before recruitment and school begin. 2. Maintain a summer schedule.
Nothing feels better than checking off an item on your seemingly never-ending to-do list. Use it to keep track of all the things you need to do during the summer so they don’t overwhelm you later. Also, as soon as you get back from school, grab all the papers you need and organize them so you’re not scrambling to find an assignment that’s crinkled at the bottom of your backpack. 4. Reward yourself. You’ll lose steam quickly if you don’t have anything to look forward to after your hard work. Schedule that vacation or road trip to give you a deadline for getting things. While working hard at your internship and summer school are important, you only have a few summers left before the real world begins, and you likely won’t have any more real summer breaks. Regardless of how much or little you accomplish this summer, you’ll be glad you spent it getting things done and being able to relax at the end.
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Scene on campus
SUMMER UNDER THE NORMAN SUN For those of you who are staying in Norman for the summer, do I have some information for you. Congratulations! You hit the jackpot on where to spend your summer. During the school year, the primary focus of Norman is on the university. But when summer rolls around, our town is much less crowded, allowing more room for you summer Norman dwellers to take over. If you’re at the Biz working on some homework, on level 1 and 2, the elevator lobbies, the corridor and all of the public restrooms are recommended shelters. In the Physical Sciences Center, the windowless “core” rooms, including restrooms, are also places of refuge. Sarkeys and almost every building surrounding it has serious underground space and often act as shelter to many in the Norman community. At any other building on campus, the best place to go is the lowest level and avoid spaces with windows. Also, if you ever need a reminder of where to go in case of an emergency, visit: www.ou.edu/oupd/ tornado.htm. Students who stay in Norman for the summer usually have to take summer classes, so you can guarantee your worried parents that you’ll be spending your time wisely. So for those in need of a summer class, here are some interesting options: For those whose inner artist is screaming for attention, Photography for Non-Art Majors is available this summer. This would be a busy class, though, so I recommend if you are going to have a job this summer, this class might not fit your schedule. A perfect class for fans of medieval times and who just need more knowledge of it in their lives, Medieval Vocabulary is also an available class during the summer sessions. Music in Film, a class I would personally recommend, is also offered this summer. And bonus: it’s only a 2-week class. For those of you who need to get a job to pay for your recreational summer habits, whatever they may be, I recommend you get a job based on your habits. For example, if you are the type of person who can’t wake up early if your life depended on it, maybe that job at Old School Bagel Café isn’t the best fit. If you are the type of person who is looking for a low-maintenance job, then nannying or babysitting is the job for you. It usually involves driving children to practices and entertaining them, but the benefit is that children are mainly entertained by television, so you’d mostly spend your days in front of a TV. Sorry to those of you who have stickler parent employers that put restrictions on electronic time, you might actually have to venture outside the home. To those who enjoy making a bunch of money, being a drink cart driver at a golf course is the way to go. I’ve heard from friends who have had this job that if you’re charming and willing to make small talk with older gentlemen all day, giant tips are in store for you. During summer, Campus Corner is also significantly less populated, so take advantage of all those restaurant deals. Fuzzy’s Taco Shop is normally pretty cheap anyway but they offer deals all the time, like in honor of National Tequila Day or National Margarita Day. They also have the Fuzzy’s Friends With Benefits loyalty app that keeps track of how much you spend from receipt pictures, eventually allowing you to earn rewards like a free taco or specialty drink. One should always take advantage of Chimy’s happy hour from 3 p.m. to 7 p.m. no matter the season. Four dollar pitchers and other specialty drinks, with two dollar tacos and chips and queso, are enough reason to make it over to Chimy’s for a much needed after class or work drink. At O’Connells they have BINGO night on Tuesday where you can win free shots for your table. What a great incentive to dominate this game! Also, the classic karaoke Wednesday always guarantees a fun summer night. Eskimo Sno on Lindsey is an absolute must for the summer. It’s too hot outside in the summer to not get a snow cone. Plus, they have dozens of combinations for you to try if you are planning on getting these frozen treats on the regular. Also, for those who are taking a nannying job this summer, Eskimo Sno is the perfect (and cheapest) place to take the kiddos for an afternoon treat. If you ever get in the mood for a day trip, there are some cool destinations just outside Norman you should visit. Oklahoma City is one of the best places to visit for a nice outing. You can go to the OKC Zoo, which has a lot of events coming up in the summer. On Mother’s and Father’s Day (which are quickly approaching, so get started on those presents), moms and dads get into the Zoo for free. Also, if you’re a morning person, the Zoo will begin opening at 8 a.m. starting July 1. And if these reasons aren’t enough to convince you to go to the zoo, July 17 is Sales Tax Appreciation Day meaning
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free admission for everyone. On the visitokc.com website under the Special Offers & Packages tab, you can find coupons to some nearby Chi Omega activities. There is a coupon Ellen is a sophomore studying online for the Frontier City journalism. You may contact her at Theme Park that allows ellen.p.pearson-1@ou.edu. everyone to pay kids price. And if you’re looking to have a creative and fun date, there is a coupon for a complimentary chocolate fondue for two at The Melting Pot, which is redeemable though June. How romantic! Pops near Edmond, OK is also a fun day trip I recommend you make. The drive isn’t long and it’s a fun and unique experience. They have over 600 types of soda and also have a nice a restaurant. Plus the location is a Route-66 Landmark, and at night, the famous bottle lights up, and it is quite the sight to see. No matter the reason you are staying in Norman for the summer, whether it be for a class, internship or for a change of pace, make the most of it.
ELLEN PEARSON
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Scene on campus
DELT DIVE ALAN XING
Delta Tau Delta
Alan is a sophomore studying psychology/premed. You may contact him at alan.xing@ou.edu.
At the University of Oklahoma, the Delta Tau Delta -- Delta Alpha Chapter holds an annual 4x4 sand volleyball tournament, in which all the proceeds go to the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation. Delt Dive is a fun philanthropy where many people come to watch and/or play sand volleyball.
This year’s Delt Dive took place on Friday, April 25 from 4 p.m. to 9 p.m. Tickets were $5 and the team entry fee was $40. Many people came from all around to watch the tournament. Cane’s Chicken Delt’s sand volleyball competition and Cane’s was provided for those that bought tickets and music catering creates a positive event atmosphere for their played non-stop to promote a fun atmosphere. spring fundraiser. There were 6 women’s teams and 10 men’s teams. Do you know anyone with type 1 diabetes? Well, Each team consisted of four to six people, but only if you do, then you know that living with diabetes four people played at a time. The women’s bracket is a real struggle every day. It is a life filled with was won by “Chi O Gold” and the men’s bracket daily insulin injections, constant monitoring of was won by Delta Tau Delta’s “He’s All Negron Up,” glucose levels, daily exercise, and careful nutritional which was headed by Philanthropy Chair and Team regulation. Captain, Kevin Dunham. Delt’s spring philanthropy event drew crowds to fundraise for the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation.
Currently, there are no cures for type 1 diabetes, only treatments to help regulate glucose levels. However, there is a lot of research going towards finding a cure. The leading global organization in funding type 1 diabetes research is the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation, which also happens to be Delta Tau Delta Fraternity’s national philanthropy.
“Wow!!! What an event!!! The atmosphere was jubilant with competition, camaraderie, and Cane’s!!! My team feels so blessed to have had the opportunity to take home the title!!!!” Dunham said. A truly beautiful ending to a beautiful day for a beautiful cause.
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Lookbook fashion
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WHY LULULEMON IS WORTH IT GRACE ANNE MARCUM Kappa Kappa Gamma
Grace is a junior studying Journalism. You may contact her at clara.e.wilson-1@ou.edu.
CAUTION -- If you don’t believe that leggings are pants, you may want to stop reading this article now, because leggings are indeed pants, and I know that Lululemon Athletica agrees with me. Most of us go to class every day looking like we are headed to the gym. We obviously do this to be comfortable and because some of us are too lazy to pull on anything that actually requires a button and a zipper. But we also do this because sporting the latest athletic gear (whether we run five miles a day or not) is the definition of college casual wear. So, whether this is a good or bad thing, we might as well “be sporty” in the most fashionable way possible. And in my opinion, if this is indeed the comfy chic look you’re going for, you simply can’t go wrong
with Lululemon. This yoga-inspired athletic apparel company got its start in 1998 in Vancouver, British Columbia. Since then, Lululemon has become known for their stretchy performance fabric designed for all types of “sweaty pursuits” and is definitely a sorority girl favorite around campus. With Lululemon’s unique apparel designs and standout colors, it can turn a comfortable going to class outfit into a sporty chic fashion statement. There is no doubt that Lululemon makes rolling out of bed and throwing on a pullover a lot more glamorous than it really is, but this classy workout gear is also unfortunately known for being significantly overpriced. I know many of you are Lulu experts and understand the performance quality of the brand, but for anyone wondering why anyone in their right mind would invest in $100 leggings, I’m here to explain Lululemon’s incredible quality with help from one of the experts. Fellow Kappa and Lululemon employee, Dannan Lee, explained to me that the brand is more expensive because their products are made to last and that Lululemon’s great
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quality clothes are designed specifically for different athletic activities. “I’ve talked to people who say they still wear their pants from four years ago,” Lee said. Lee went on to explain that there is a “why we made this” tag on every product describing the product in detail so that learning more about the quality of each item is easy to do. I know I can agree with Dannan in that Lululemon takes athletic apparel to the next level with their quality and unique designs. And although I’m no yoga junkie or spend my free time training for marathons, I have to say that my Lulu leggings are my pride and joy. I seriously don’t remember the last time I wore actual pants. This may seem problematic on so many different levels, but my leggings have never been a disappointment. Because unlike other leggings that may in fact be a third of the price, Lulu’s leggings are built to last. With this amazing quality you can walk to class in your Lululemon jacket and leggings and feel good about investing in a high quality fashion statement.
COLLEGE CLOTHING TRENDS 2. Next spotlight is on monograms.
KATHRYN ANDREWS
Kappa Kappa Gamma
Kathryn is a freshman studying public relations. You may contact her at kathryn.e.andrews-1@ ou.edu.
Step aside, New York Fashion Week and Vogue. You have some competition. It has come to my attention that we Greek students are trendsetters. Well, let me rephrase that statement -Greek students set trends for themselves and only themselves. Some trends are really great, in my opinion, at least. However, some people would argue that such fashion choices are not so good. This is my attempt to justify these trends. 1. Let us begin with oversized t-shirts. When was the last time you ordered a shirt in anything less than a large? Oversized tees are great. They are comfy, right? Who needs to know if you’re wearing pants or not? It’s all about trust. People must trust you and your judgment -- that you know better than to go pant-less to class, right? We also love to wear our oversized t-shirts with leggings! Cover the bum, am I right? Justification: Comfy, trust-building, bum-covering shirts.
I really don’t know how any of us would ever be able to tell our belongings are actually our own. The $60 to sew on a frocket with your initials is totally money well spent. How will people even know who you are… right? We enjoy monogramming virtually anything we own! Such as hats, shirts, purses, wallets, bathroom caddies, water bottles and even slap monograms on our cars. We do so because we want everyone to know that the hat we are wearing or the water bottle we are sipping on is, in fact, ours. Justification: To be able to accurately promote that said product is yours, noted by swirly initials. 3. How about those crew socks? We love to throw them on with our Converse and Nike shorts because it’s oh-so- fabulously fashionable. Plus, it’s great protection from the sun. Our poor ankles would definitely burn without them. Sock lines are great lines. Clearly justifiable. Tan lines bring me to… 4. Chacos. Is your wardrobe even complete with out them? We just love to flaunt our Chaco tan lines because a) we are outdoorsy and b) we are fratty. (Do those two even mix? I don’t know, but we sure make it work.) Not only are they really attractive, rubber, strappy sandals and the cutest little shoes ever, they
are a reasonable price of $100. Seriously, can you find rubber sandals cheaper than that anywhere else? I didn’t think so either. Justification: Great for the treacherous hike through the concrete terrain to class. 5. Chubbies. I believe the phrase men use goes something like, “Skies out, thighs out!” I think that’s how it goes at least. Chubbies are super short colorful shorts just for men. Super short. Super fun. Justification: Don’t ask me, I don’t wear them.
To be quite honest, from the outside looking in, these trends are really confusing. Most are actually very unattractive. I admit, even I order large shirts and wear high socks because all I can really justify it with is the simple word, “college.” We are going to have to dress up and go to work for the rest of our lives. Today, we are college students. So, I believe that is why we embrace these trends. We can be silly because we are in college. We can wear really ugly sandals because we are in college. As far as I’m concerned, I will be avoiding pant suits and blazers for as long as possible. So for now, I will continue to dress socially unacceptable. Justification: Because I can.
HOUSE TOUR COMPETITION
Compiled by Haley Mowdy, Kaitlin Dorrough, and Kaitlin Manis
SIGMA PHI EPSILON PHI DELTA THETA
DELTA UPSILON KAPPA ALPHA
PHI KAPPA PSI PI KAPPA PHI
BEST OVERALL FRATERNITY & BEST SOUTH GREEK: DELTA TAU DELTA BEST NORTH GREEK: SIGMA ALPHA EPSILON
SIGMA CHI
BEST FRONT VIEW: PHI GAMMA DELTA
PHI KAPPA SIGMA
RUNNER UP: ALPHA TAU OMEGA
BETA THETA PI
Unique Features
DELTA TAU DELTA STUDY HALL
SIGMA ALPHA EPSILON LIVING ROOM
PHI KAPPA PSI UNIQUE FEATURE Beta Theta Pi: Backyard with grill, porch, sitting area, sand volleyball and basketball courts
Sigma Phi Epsilon: TVs in the showers Sigma Alpha Epsilon: Covered Patio Phi Kappa Psi: Front balcony Lambda Chi Alpha: Shaped like an L Pi Kappa Phi: Front deck Kappa Alpha: Snack area Delta Upsilon: finished basement Sigma Chi: Individual balconies and back doors in bedrooms leading to backyard Phi Delta Theta: Balcony Delta Tau Delta: Largest single story Greek house in US Alpha Tau Omega: Gameroom Phi Gamma Delta: Courtyard
BEST LIVING ROOMS: SIGMA ALPHA EPSILON
Sororities
PI BETA PHI ALPHA GAMMA DELTA
GAMMA PHI BETA
ALPHA OMICRON PI RUNNER UP & BEST SOUTH GREEK : ALPHA PHI
ALPHA CHI OMEGA DELTA DELTA DELTA
DELTA GAMMA
BEST OVERALL SORORITY, BEST FRONT VIEW & BEST NORTH GREEK : KAPPA ALPHA THETA
KAPPA KAPPA GAMMA
CHI OMEGA
Unique Features
CHI OMEGA STUDY HALL
ALPHA CHI OMEGA BEDROOM
PI BETA PHI UNIQUE FEATURE
AGD BEDROOM Alpha Phi: multi-purpose room Alpha Chi Omega: courtyard Alpha Omicron Pi: Lisa Weider garden Chi Omega: Painter’s Cottage Kappa Kappa Gamma: Kappa Hall Delta Gamma: House is shaped like an H, standing for Hope Delta Delta Delta: Delta Beach, the courtyard area Gamma Phi Beta: Chapel Kappa Alpha Theta: HUGE laundry room Pi Beta Phi: Sun room, acting as a study room and sitting area “Our hearts go out to the women of Alpha Gamma Delta as they rebuild their house. Even though we couldn’t do a house tour, here is a picture of the (former!) Editor in Chief ’s old bedroom.”
ALPHA OMICRON PI LIVING ROOM
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Sports
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A SPORTS FAN’S GUIDE TO ENJOYING SUMMER 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.
For most sports fans here at OU, the fall and winter are our favorite seasons. NFL football and the Oklahoma City Thunder dominate winter and spring, with OU football (the crown jewel of our fandom) dominating the fall. This leaves a summer, which on the surface may not be the best for us couch potatoes. However, after taking a closer look, this summer could be one of the best sports watching seasons of your life! Here’s why: The US Open: The Masters may be golf ’s most exciting
tournament, but the US Open is definitely the toughest. This year the Open is being played at Pinehurst number 2, one of golf ’s most famous courses. Hopefully Tiger will be healthy enough to play and provide some of the thrills we were so used to six years ago.
remember about that particular player. This year, we might get to see if Kevin Durant will finally have his moment.
World Cup: I’m not a huge soccer fan and have zero authority to talk about it. However, no one can deny how significant this once in every four years event is. The FIFA World Cup in Rio, Brazil is what will make this summer in sports truly special.
Even a little baseball won’t hurt: I know baseball can be boring to watch. Especially if you don’t have a team to root for. However, I find that baseball can also be very relaxing, and there isn’t anything quite like watching your favorite team put together a successful season. If you have patience and time, do it. If you don’t, make it your goal to get out to a ballpark a few times this summer.
NBA Playoffs/free agency: There is something really special about the NBA Playoffs. Because a basketball player’s legacy is so heavily dependent upon how many championships he has won, fans can actually watch a player create their legacy during these games. Images like Allen Iverson stepping over Tyronn Lue after dropping 48 on the Lakers in 2001, or Lebron James knocking down that buzzer beating three at the buzzer against the Magic in 2009, are the type of moments you’ll always
Horse racing: Since most of us are in fraternities and sororities, it’s time to conform some of our sports watching habits. Horse racing is obviously no one’s favorite sport (I apologize if it is), but it can be kind of fun to dress up, hangout with some friends and bet single dollars on who will win the Kentucky Derby, The Preakness Stakes and the Belmont Stakes. Especially if there is a horse that’s going for the ever illusive Triple Crown.
SUMMER SPORTS CAMPS JESSICA SCHAEFER
Alpha Chi Omega Jessica is a sophomore studying public relations. You may contact her at jessica.m.schaefer-1@ou.edu.
While all OU students are on summer break, the OU athletic coaches will be hard at work providing camps for high school students who want to improve their skills in their respective sports. Here are some of the camps OU will be hosting this summer: OU Baseball OU baseball will be holding its summer camp June 11 through July 19. Days that campers come depend upon their age and skill set. OU offers two baseball combines, which allows athletes to compete in front of major college and junior college coaches, and a father and son baseball camp. There is also the Sooner Elite Camp, which is a camp that prospects can attend and actually see what it’s like to be a baseball player at OU. They are even given an
OU uniform to wear for the game. They have other camps that focus on different aspects, such as a hitting camp, and a future star showcase camp that allows players to learn the recruiting rules, and what a D1 coach actually looks for during the recruiting process. OU Volleyball OU volleyball camp kicks off July 5 and runs until July 24, offering both skills camps and team camps. There is a skills camp and an elite skills camp that is more tailored towards athletes who have more experience. The team camps allow coaches to sign their teams up, learn skills together, and actually make the team better as a whole. OU Softball Who wouldn’t want to attend a camp that is put on by a coach whose team has recently won the National Championship? The OU softball camp starts on June 8 and goes until June 18. The first camp is an advanced prospect camp that really focuses on incoming 9-12th graders and begins to prepare them for a higher level of playing, and hopefully for eventual college playing. The second camp provides a more fun environment and places the athletes with those who share the same skill level.
OU Football Camp The OU football program provides the extremely valuable opportunity to receive instruction from the coaches that are responsible for OU having an amazing football team. The OU football camp runs from June 3 to June 10, and there is a youth skills camp, a high school camp and a separate kicking camp. As well as being taught from the OU coaching staff, campers will also have the opportunity to work with the top high school and junior college coaches from across the country. OU Basketball The basketball program holds a variety of camps, ranging from parent and child camps to the “Little Sooners” camp, which is specifically for children ages 4-7. The camps are held between June 6 to June 19. OU Soccer The OU soccer camp is so great that it even has its own special name. The Matt Potter Soccer Academy is June 2 to June 5 and July 21 to July 27. The camps teach students technical soccer skills, and they play games throughout the day in order to actually use their newly learned skills. There is also a competitive half day camp, open to boys only, that teaches them skills in a much more competitive setting.
Sports
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GOODBYE, SWEET BABY JAMES PARKER CASSELL Delta Tau Delta
Parker is a junior studying English literature. Yo u may contact him at parkercassell@yahoo.com.
James Harden is a lot like your average-looking friend’s hot ex-girlfriend. She (Harden) was always much too good looking to even associate with your friend (the Oklahoma City Thunder), but somehow by the powers of true love or a rigged NBA lottery system, they ended up together. Puzzlingly, their relationship worked for a surprisingly long time. They had chemistry. They loved each other. However, you always had a gut feeling that things would not work out, that things were not geared for the long haul of eternal partnership, that the relationship would most certainly go awry. You were right, and your friend’s much-too-sexy girlfriend left him for a guy with copious money and more insane point guards. Sometimes true love works out. Sometimes it does not. Sometimes your friend’s bearded girlfriend moves to Texas. Life goes on. The sweet, vindictive glory of these relationships is that, usually, the flaws of that smoking hot ex-lover are exposed. The Thunder-Harden break-up is no different. Oklahoma City prides itself on a created self-image that values hard work and ethical action over anything else. If winning cannot be done in a good and decent, old-fashioned, hard-working way, then Oklahoma City reckons that it probably ought not be done at all. James Harden reached the point where those values did not line up with his values anymore, so he left. Harden, at least in the harsh eye of public perception, was revealed to be two things after the trade. First, without delving too deep into the numbers of his new contract, Harden appeared to be a spineless money grabber. He refused the contract Oklahoma City offered because Houston offered him more money—plain and simple. Even worse, when put on the same scale and time frame, the difference between the two contracts comes out to about a meager (meager!) 4 million dollars. But hey, beard products do not buy themselves.
Second, Harden proved himself a man that cares deeply about his own image. He desperately wanted to be known as an NBA superstar who brought in the maximum amount of money (what Houston offered) an NBA player could make. Never mind that Harden, combined with two dudes named Russ and Kevin, had the opportunity to compile several championships over the course of the coming years if he stayed in Oklahoma City. James Harden sought to shed his image of beloved and eccentric collection of whiskers that came off of the bench in Oklahoma City in an effort to re-establish himself as an NBA superstar.
Being the savvy, self-promoting bearded weirdo that he is, Harden knew that he would never be the primary attraction in Oklahoma City playing alongside those two superstars. He refused to share attention, and shots, any longer and chose to rebrand himself a superstar as a member of the Houston Rockets. At least from a character standpoint, it seems that James Harden always wanted more. Oklahoma City offered him plenty of money, Harden wanted more. The Thunder offered him a share of the spotlight, Harden wanted more. He had the opportunity in Oklahoma City to become a top 15 NBA player, but he wanted to be top 5. Nothing seemed to be more important than for Harden to emerge from the shadows of Russell Westbrook and Kevin Durant to embark on his journey to heroic superstardom. Sometimes your friend’s hot ex-girlfriend falls flat on her face and gets dumped the week after leaving. Sometimes she marries a billionaire and dives into pools of coinage for the rest of her life while your friend works a double-shift at the Starbucks on Main. The jury is still out on James Harden. Yet, at least to this point, he has experienced more success than failure, and has mostly accomplished everything he had hoped to by moving to Houston. Over the last two years, Harden emerged as a sure-fire NBA superstar. His scoring average jumped roughly 10 points after the move. Harden is a tremendous scorer, amongst the best in the association, with an uncanny knack for getting to the free-throw line. Usually, he is tremendously efficient with the basketball, shoots well for his position, and Houston wins fairly often. He has
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made two NBA All-Star teams. Harden is the face of the Houston franchise, and one of the most recognizable players in the association. Unfortunately, superstardom comes with disadvantages too. Harden has been dreadful in the playoffs for most of his career, but especially bad in the 2014 post-season. Through the first four games, Harden shot a combined 36 of 103 from the field, which comes out to around 35%. Frankly, that is not very good. Generally, his Houston playoff career—which, to be fair, consists of only 2 series—has been a pristine example of inefficiency and bearded ball-hoggery. Harden might score 29 points in a playoff game, but he will take 25 shots to get there. So far, playoff James Harden has been the exact opposite of regular season James Harden: inefficient, somewhat selfish, and unsuccessful. As a greater blessing to Harden, we will even half-ignore his play on the defensive side, a place where Harden plays with all the passion of a baked potato. If you are having a bad day, look up “James Harden, Defensive Juggernaut” on YouTube and think to yourself, “Well, at least I can do pretty much everything better than James Harden can defend.” Of course, NBA Playoff basketball is different than NBA regular season basketball. Everyone is better. Harden does not play the lowly Lakers, lead by a player who inexplicably gave himself the nickname “Swaggy P” even though his name is Nick, four times in playoffs. Numbers deflate. Even so, if Harden is truly the top 5 NBA talent he promotes himself to be, he should perform better in the playoffs. Plain and simple. Houston demands it. His contract demands it. His dreams of reaching truly elite superstardom demand it. All things considered, it remains to be seen if Harden made the right move. It takes time to see if your friend’s hot ex-girlfriend will work out with her new rich boyfriend. Either she lives lavishly, swimming in pools of crème brulee and Kendra Scott earrings for the rest of eternity, or she gets dumped. James Harden will either experience success in the playoffs and cement himself as an elite player in the association, or he will likely be remembered as a nice player who valued money, his own self-image, and what appeared to be at least a couple NBA titles. It all takes time.
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Humor
@Khris_Smith: “think girls shed more than dogs.” @Batwaterloo: “maybe i’ll be hot tomorrow” @HoehneJordan: “Guilty Pleasure? Pottery Barn e-mails #noshame” @johnsontruong: “Wide awake like Katy Perry.” @_OUFancy: “Wow, embarrassed. Going to bed now.” @jordanrayfield: “idk I won 41 bucks at #riverwind after going to #wafflehouse #dgallnight”
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@Lena_del_rayy: “When one episode of FRIENDS turns into 10”
@CGaasbeck: “JK ending Harry Potter was the worst thing you could ever done to me
@AliciaMcintyre2: “Well it took a nice 40 minutes to realize I put my clothes in the dryer instead of the washer. So that’s where I’m at.”
@BrightestSide: “Getting in one good last sleep before the late night, early morning trend gets real. #deadweek”
@OklahomaProbs: “It’s quakenado season yall. #OklahomaProbs” @BigAshProbs: “It’s called Dead Week for a reason:
@allipanalli: “These allergies though..”
-I’ll look like I’m dead
@LindseyGroth: “Asiago cheese bagel cuz it’s Monday & I slept for 2 hours.”
-I’ll be wishing I was dead
@AshleyBates1231: “Semis should not be allowed in the fast lane” @Pontifex: “Inequality is the root of social evil.” @maggiemctwerkin: “SOS: currently eating the gummy vitamins that my mom bought me that I haven’t been taking because I’m hungry and broke and it’s 3 am.”
-My social life will be dead” @QueenDwyer: “I probably say “this is why I need a fanny-pack” at least 4 times a day. #fannypack” @yoDovie: “HAPPY DEAD WEEK :] Remember: dance like no one is watching, sing like no one is listening, and ~tweet as if you have a million followers~” @cpwatson: “I haven’t felt this bad since someone left me off their top 8 on MySpace”
FASHION CONTROVERSIES ALEXIS HAMES Kappa Kappa Gamma
Alexis is a junior studying Public Relations. You may contact her at alexis@ou.edu.
Glamorous, poised, lavish… These are some of the words that come to mind when I think of high fashion. But the industry isn’t without its scandals. Here are a few (of the many) large and entertaining fashion related controversies: During JFK’s presidency, Jackie Kennedy became known as a fashion icon. In fact, in her first year as First Lady, she spent $45,446 more on fashion than the $100,000 annual salary her husband earned as president. Despite all of this, she later sold her designer goods for money at a New York consignment store in 1975. Her numerous loyal followers were shocked. In the late 70s, Yves Saint Laurent was in poor health. With rumors flying, a 1977 report mistakenly declared his death. Soon after, he was taken to Paris’s American Hospital for treatment of alcohol and cocaine addiction. Ironically, his perfume released that same year was called Opium. The advertising slogan was “Opium, for those who are addicted to Yves Saint Laurent.”
Another controversy struck in 1980, with then-15-year-old Brooke Shields was modeling for Calvin Klein. In the commercial, she provocatively says, “Do you know what comes between me and my Calvins? Nothing.” This line became infamous. There were many critics of this campaign, including Gloria Steinem, American feminist, journalist and political activist. Steinem believed that the campaign was likely to provoke violence against women. Filipino president Ferdinand Marcos and his spouse, Imelda, were exiled from their country in 1986 when his government collapsed. Behind them, Imelda was forced to leave behind 15 mink coats, 508 gowns, 888 handbags and 1,100 pairs of shoes. Something tells me these shoes weren’t from Payless either.
Grace Mirabella began working at Vogue magazine in the 1950s and was appointed Editor-in-Chief in 1971. Unfortunately for her, she found out that she was out of a job via “Live at Five,” when gossip columnist Liz Smith announced that current editor-inchief, Anna Wintour, was replacing Mirabella. Mirabella had served as editor-in-chief for 17 years. For American designer Randolph Duke, the 2000 Oscars was a success. Hilary Swank had just won an Oscar in one of his gowns. But the next day, Duke became aware of a sexual harassment suit being filed against him. Maureen Walsh, Duke’s former personal assistant, claimed that she was “being forced to hold Duke’s hand during a botched penile enhancement surgery.” This doesn’t sound like very good publicity to me, especially with the Randolph Duke Resort Collection making its debut in that same year. Calvin Klein, 71, is an American fashion designer and founder of Calvin Klein, Inc. In 2003, Klein was at a Knicks basketball
@caseyyyb: “Sorry for the picture overload on Facebook. I just had a really fun weekend.” @MollyMcGrew: “I only like cleaning when I should be doing homework instead.” @_SHMINDIA_: “The whiplash I’m experiencing from being thrown around like a rag doll in the SAE jungle “pool” is unreal and may need serious medical aid”
AIMEE SCHNEBECK Delta Gamma
Aimee is a freshman studying broadcast journalism. You may contact her at aimee.schnebeck@ou.edu.
game and stumbled onto the court, grabbing a player’s arm and attempting to have a conversation before being escorted back to his seat. A “Calvin Klein bill” was later passed, increasing fines for unruly fans. In 2005, “Sunday Mirror” (Sunday sister paper of London’s “Daily Mirror”), accused Kate Moss of taking “vast quantities” of cocaine at a 2001 charity fashion show. According to the press, she collapsed into a coma shortly after. The paper later apologized to Moss. However, just a few months later, the “Daily Mirror” published pictures of Moss appearing to do lines of cocaine at a London music studio. As a result of the controversy, Moss lost modeling jobs with former clients like H&M, Chanel and Burberry. Canadian Don Charney, 45, is the founder and CEO of the American Apparel clothing company. In 2004, Charney masturbated in front of a magazine reporter. A couple of years ago, he was accused of a multitude of unwanted sexual contact incidents. The accusers were female staff members and advertisement models. Irene Morales made the most well known accusation. Supposedly, she was held as a sex slave inside Charney’s apartment. We later found out that most of the sexual contact allegations against Charney were false. In the beginning of Sarah Palin’s vice-presidential campaign, she was taken aback by lavish spending on clothing. But in 2008, the Republican National Committee purchased more than $150,000 worth of clothing and accessories for Palin. All of this was purchased on the campaign fund, in preparation for the Republican National Convention.
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Humor lol
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