Tuesday, February 21, 2012 by OU Daily

Students, use your voice on Higher Education Day (Opinion, Page 4) The University of Oklahoma’s independent student voice since 1916

W W W.O U DA I LY.C O M

2 011 G OL D C ROW N F I N A L I S T

T U E S DAY, F E B RUA R Y 21, 2 012

ACADEMICS

HIGHER EDUCATION

Graduation rate hits high mark

State funds lobby’s focus

JAKE MORGAN Campus Reporter

OU’s six-year graduation rate has jumped 3.3 percent to 67.8 percent , making it the highest in state history for a public university. This latest number represents the graduation rates for students who entered the university in 2005. The climb signifies how OU is taking its place among the nation’s top universities, President David Boren said in a press release.

A 3.3 percent increase is substantial, said Becky Heeney, director of Graduation Office. “Even a 1 to 2 percent jump is nice,” Heeney said. The university has seen relatively consistent increases during the past 20 years, Heeney said. “We were really hopeful for a [large] increase, and I see nothing but positive in our future,” she said. The combination of the student body’s academic

excellence and university programs that facilitate graduation has contributed to the increase, Heeney said. One program in particular, OU Cares, focuses on the roadblocks students face on their path to graduation, including financial woes and time management issues. Heeney said the program has offered a resource network to teach students about the graduation process. Graduation rates are calculated based on the percent of first-time, full-time students who graduate within six years.

AT A GLANCE OU grad rates, 1990-2006 80%

Six-year rate

70%

Graduation Rate

67.8% of fall ’05 first-time students have graduated in six years, OU officials say

67.8% in 2005

Four-year rate

60% 50%

36.6% in 2006

40% 30% 20% 10%

JACQUE ENTWISTLE ’90 ’91 ’92 ’93 ’94 ’95 ’96 ’97 ’98 ’99 ’00 ’01 ’02 ’03 ’04 ’05 ’06

Year GRAPH BY CHRIS LUSK/THE DAILY

GREEK ALLY

First training session canceled

Fraternity eyes 2nd Stompdown title

Low participation leads to cutting first meeting EMMA HAMBLEN Campus Reporter

A Saturday meeting of a group intended to increase acceptance of gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender members in the greek community was canceled due to a lack of participants. After being formed in the fall, the Greek Ally training program’s first meeting of the spring was canceled, said Quinn Cooper, Women’s Outreach Center intern and Greek Ally Task Force member. “We had to cancel bec au s e t h e nu m b e r o f people we had signed up didn’t meet our minimum number to have the training,” Cooper said. Each of the four greek councils was represented at Greek Ally’s first training in October, an outcome event organizers had hoped for, Cooper said. Despite the cancellation, many of the people who had signed up for Saturday’s training have re-registered for a training in March, Cooper said. It’s important to unite the greek and GLBT communities, Cooper said. “We want to connect greek students with resources to better understand the unique needs of the LGBT community,” Cooper said.

CHELSEA LOTT/THE DAILY

Damion Thornton (right) leads members of Phi Beta Sigma’s stomp team while they practice their routine on Thursday in Dale Hall. The fraternity won last year’s Stompdown competition along with a $1,500 cash prize. Team members say they began to work on their routine in November and have been meeting for an hour and a half each week to bring home another victory this Saturday. (Page 7)

Student plays music

Professor seeks to expand students’ religious outlooks Campus Reporter

RICARDO PATINO/THE DAILY

In a world where conflicting religions can have explosive consequences, an OU professor is researching three major world religions and teaching the importance of understanding other religions. Charles Kimball, director of the OU Religious Studies Program, is investigating the relationships between religion and politics — two things his mother told him not to talk about in public — in Islam, Christianity and Judaism in the U.S. and the Middle East, he said.

OU students will lobby for increased funding for Oklahoma’s colleges and universities during today’s Higher Education Day activities at the state Capitol. About 44 student delegates will participate in the annual event, which is intended to remind legislators that higher education issues affect students, faculty and staff both at OU and across t h e s t a t e, O U Hi g h e r Education Day coordinator Steve Sichterman said. “We’re just trying to get up there and provide students’ stories about why higher education is so important,” Sichterman said. “We want to state the case for why ... funding should increase or at l e a s t n o t d ro p a n y further.” Students have worked the past month to schedule 70 meetings with legislators during the day, and they plan to contact every member of both the House and Senate w h i l e a t t h e Ca p i t o l , Sichterman said. “It’s an event where we’re able to show that students are interested in the issues legislators deal with,” Sichterman said. “We plan to contact every legislator, even if it’s just

RELIGIOUS STUDIES

ARIANNA PICKARD

Yan Zhang, an OU botany graduate student, plays the guqin for Focus on Arts and Sciences Week on Monday. The guqin is the oldest Chinese instrument with a simple structure but a complex playing style. The College of Arts & Sciences is hosting events all weeks to help bring attention to the different cultures. The event showcased Chinese instruments such as the hulusi, a gourd flute.

WHERE: Alpha Phi sorority, 1401 S. College Ave.

Campus Reporter

SEE EDUCATION PAGE 3

GO AND DO Greek Ally WHEN: 1 to 4 p.m. March 10

Students to visit Capitol to stress need for funding

What sparked his research was the way Judaism, Islam and Christianity have similar historical figures but different understandings and ways those understandings play out practically and politically, he said. “I’m very concerned to work on things in ways that have practical applications in the world,” Kimball said. “I’m tackling issues that are very explosive right now.” There is debate about the relationship between religion and politics, and there are multiple places in turmoil about it, he said. We need to

understand how the two intersect so we can make reasonable, well-informed decisions about how to deal with them, he said. O n e re s u l t o f h i s re search is his book “When Religion Becomes Lethal: The Explosive Mix of Politics and Religion in Judaism, Christianity and Islam,” published in 2011. Kimball analyzes why Islam, Christianity and Judaism often lead to violence and how to create a more hopeful future, he said. Kimball is interested in SEE VIEWS PAGE 2

The Daily’s open record requests

Oklahoma hosts Aggies for final time in Big 12

Requested document and purpose

Date requested

OU women’s hoops will look to bounce back from a loss to Iowa State tonight when the Sooners host A&M. (Page 5)

Post-season bowl expense reports for the two football seasons prior to the 2010-2011 Fiesta Bowl — To gain a better understanding of the OU football team’s costs accrued.

Friday

NOW ONLINE AT

SPORTS

Contemporary author unknown, still relevant

Sooners prepare for this year’s NFL draft

Budgets for winter road maintenance for the past 10 years. — To learn more about how much funding comes from student fees and what happens to money leftover due to mild winters such as this one.

Friday

David Foster Wallace is not well-known posthumously, but he should be on your personal reading list. (Life & Arts)

Five former OU football players will participate in the NFL draft combine this week with hopes of being drafted. (Page 5)

Total squirrel fees accumulated for each of the past 10 years. — To gather information about the money OU receives from squirrel fees and what percentage of all student fees squirrel maintenance accounts for.

Campus ........................ Classifieds .................. Life & Arts ................... Opinion ...................... Sports .........................

2 6 7 4 5

RICARDO PATINO/THE DAILY

Bob Lemon (right) pours coffee for math junior Laurence White during a lecture on the cultural impacts of coffee houses in Vienna, Austria. The lecture which was held on Monday was the kick off event for Focus on Arts and Sciences week. (OUDaily.com)

• Tuesday, February 21, 2012

CAMPUS

OUDaily.com ››

Laney Ellisor, campus editor Kathleen Evans, assistant campus editor Chris Miller, assistant campus editor dailynews@ou.edu • phone: 405-325-3666

Students for a Democratic Society introduced a gender-neutral housing proposal to Student Congress on Monday.

VIEWS: Class discovers value of multiple faiths Continued from page 1

TODAY AROUND CAMPUS A free concert will be from noon until 12:30 p.m. at the Fred Jones Jr. Museum of Art’s Sandy Bell Gallery. It will feature Konstantinos Karathanasis’ computer music studio. A presentation of Latin American folk music will take place at 11 a.m. at 230 Kaufman Hall. The women’s basketball team will play Texas A&M at 7 p.m. at Lloyd Noble Center. A forum on congress and American politics will take place at 7 p.m. at Gaylord Hall’s Ethics and Excellence in Journalism Auditorium.

WEDNESDAY, FEB. 22 OU Summer Camp Job Fair will take place from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. in the Oklahoma Memorial Union Food Court. A game of bingo will take place at 11:30 a.m. at the Oklahoma Memorial Union’s Beaird Lounge. A Hebrew folk dance performance featuring Ori Kritz will take place at noon at 229 Kaufman Hall. A discussion about Arabic coffee with Mohammad Al-Masri will take place at 2 p.m. at 229 Kaufman Hall.

CORRECTIONS The Oklahoma Daily has a commitment to serve readers with accurate coverage and analysis. Readers should bring errors to The Daily’s attention by emailing dailynews@ou.edu.

making a subject he has the luxury of studying more accessible to people so they can learn to think in a broader way and be less inclined towards stereotypes, Kimball said. “This isn’t just academically interesting — it’s urgently important because religion can be destructive,” he said. He is writing a chapter on the impact of Sept. 11 on Muslims in the U.S. for the “Oxford Handbook on American Islam.” Sept. 11 sparked both negative and positive effects on Islam in America — a negative effect being that it sparked a sort of fear of foreign religions in America, he said. Americans are making attempts to prevent certain religious practices in the U.S. “Somehow, there are people out there who are afraid Muslims are going to take over the world,” he said. In Oklahoma, for example, a law banning Sharia and all other international law received 70 percent voter-approval in November 2010, he said. A federal appeals court blocked the law after a Muslim leader filed a lawsuit charging the law violated his First Amendment rights. “We have to be aware that all religions can cause violence, not just Islam,” he said. While Sept. 11 has brought about this negative effect of fear of Islam in the U.S., positive results have come out of it as well, such as religious education, Kimball said. “It’s interesting to see what good came out of 9/11, to see what good can come out of a disaster,” he said. It was after the Sept. 11 attacks when Boren and his wife created the OU Religious Studies Program because they realized people cannot understand the world

AT A GLANCE Program history • Created to educate students about religion after the 9/11 attacks. • Functions as an official department with majors and minors. • Has faculty from various areas of study, such as history, sociology and anthropology. • OU President David Boren and his wife Molly Shi Boren asked Charles Kimball to direct the program. • Kimball has traveled to the Middle East 40 times throughout his life. • Number of religious studies majors has nearly doubled in last two years

RICARDO PATINO/THE DAILY

Charles Kimball talks Monday in his office about his memories of the parts of the world he has visited. Kimball is the director of Religious Studies at OU. Kimball said he enjoys stirring up conversations by talking about religion and politics.

“While we should always make sure that the university never advocates any one religious point of view, there should be venues in public universities where we can discuss the spiritual dimension of life and questions about the meaning of life itself.” DAVID BOREN, UNIVERSITY PRESIDENT

without studying religion, Kimball said. “[Molly Shi Boren] strongly believes that while we should always make sure that the university never advocates any one religious point of view, there should be venues in public universities where we can discuss the spiritual dimension of life and questions about the meaning of life itself,” Boren said in an email. Nolan Kraszkiewics, a junior, said he switched one of his majors to religious studies after taking Kimball’s Islamic Religious Tradition class. “I myself am a devout and

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fervent atheist, and had you asked me during my freshman year, I would have never guessed that one of my majors would be religious studies or that an ordained Baptist minister would be one of my favorite professors,” Kraszkiewics said. Kimball’s research is important for OU students who have confined or shallow views or have been spoon fed beliefs, he said. It’s important to be exposed to something that doesn’t line up with your preconceived notions or beliefs, especially in college. Carleigh Houghtling is also a religious studies junior and

Source: Charles Kimball, OU Religious Studies Program director

said she appreciates how Kimball helps students broaden their views of religion. “There are so many misconceptions surrounding world religions that lead people to do and say terrible things, particularly in regards to Islam,” Houghtling said. “All of us know what an awful reputation Muslims have in Oklahoma, and part of the reason I study religion is to dispel some of those prejudices from people who know nothing about Islam but what FOX news tells them.” Kraszkiewics hopes to use what he has learned from Kimball and religious studies to help people around the world understand Islam. “Thanks to him, I just want to ease the Western world into learning about and interacting with Muslims around the world and especially in the Middle East,” he said.

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1. Order your book between Feb. 20 and Feb. 24. 2. Mention the coupon when you call (405-325-3668), order online (www.studentmedia.ou.edu) or in person (124 Copeland Hall). Sooner yearbook is a publication of OU Student Media, a department in the division of Student Affairs. The University of Oklahoma is an Equal Opportunity Institution. When ordering online, list "$5 off coupon" in comments/special instructions field.

CAMPUS ELECTION 2012

Gingrich: Want lower gas? Make me U.S. president GOP candidate say his policies could lower gas prices T ULSA — Republican presidential candidate Newt Gingrich dangled the prospect Monday of gas as low as $2 a gallon if he’s elected. The former House speaker has spoken in the past of gas dropping to $2.50 a gallon under a Gingrich administration. The prediction, coming as Gingrich campaigned in Oklahoma, contrasts sharply with rival Rick Santorum, who told an Ohio audience that big-city Americans should brace themselves for $5-a-gallon gas. Both candidates are citing new sensitivity over rising pump prices to push for relaxed regulation on domestic oil production. Gingrich isn’t the first candidate to claim he can bring relief; former GOP candidate Michele Bachmann made $2 gas a standard part of her pitch. What the candidates don’t say is that U.S. presidents have limited, if any, power to affect prices of a global commodity like oil because such costs depend largely on supply and demand. As

EVAN VUCCI/THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

GOP presidential candidate Newt Gingrich waits to be introduced during a campaign stop Monday at the Jim Thorpe Museum in Oklahoma City.

the economy improves, demand could rise, putting extra pressure on prices. Gingrich and Santorum have been highlighting oil exploration in North Dakota and slamming the Obama administration for delaying a Canada-to-Texas oil pipeline. Those projects are considered long-term steps and might not have much effect on short-term prices. But Gingrich’s comments resonate in a place like

Oklahoma, where the oil and natural gas sector is vital to a bustling state economy. “With Gingrich policies, what we know is we will dramatically expand our independence in the world market, dramatically expand our capacity to produce energy without regard to our foreign potential enemies and in the process prices will clearly be a lot lower,” Gingrich said. “Now, I picked $2.50 as a stabilizing price for capital

Focus on A&S Week OU’s Oldest, Largest, and Most Diverse College

Tuesday: Latin American Folk Music 11 a.m., Tuesday, February 21 Kaufman Hall 229 Presented by Christina Audas, sponsored by Modern Languages, Literatures and Linguistics. Faculty Authors Reception Tuesday, February 21 4:30 – 6 p.m. Ellison Hall, Room 132 Congress to Campus Open Campus Forum: Congress and American Politics Today,” with former U.S. Representatives David Minge (D. Minnesota) and Nick Smith (R. Michigan) 7 p.m. Tuesday, February 21 Ethics and Excellence in Journalism Auditorium in Gaylord Hall Sponsored by the Association of Former Members of Congress, Politics Science Club, Department of Political Science, Carl Albert Congressional Research and Studies Center, OU Speaker’s Bureau. For accommodations on the basis of disability, contact Cathy Brister at (405) 325-8973 or cbrister@ou.edu.

Thursday Distinguished Alumni Lecture From HR 5193 to National AwardWinning Game, the Creation of “Paying Attention Pays” Lester Claravall, Distinguished Alumni Public Presentation Thursday, February 23 10:30 a.m. Mary Eddy and Fred Jones Auditorium, Fred Jones Jr. Museum of Art

Thanksgiving for Everyone... Everywhere, Everday John Danner, Distinguished Alumni Public Presentation Thursday, February 23 3:00 p.m. Mary Eddy and Fred Jones Auditorium, Fred Jones Jr. Museum of Art

Subversive Shakespeare: Performances behind the Iron Curtain during the Cold War Ann Jennalie Cook, Distinguished Alumni Public Presentation Thursday, February 23 1:30 p.m. Mary Eddy and Fred Jones Auditorium, Fred Jones Jr. Museum of Art

Fun with Physics, A Personal Odyssey Dr. A.T. Stair, Distinguished Alumni Public Presentation Thursday, February 23 4 p.m. Nielsen Hall, Room 170

investment reasons. It could easily go down to $2.” According to AAA’s daily fuel gauge, a gallon of regular gas was approaching $4 in some places and even topped it in California. The national average was $3.56 per gallon. Gingrich boasted that gas cost as little as $1.13 per gallon when he led the House and that the national average was below $2 when Obama was inaugurated. “Why do we have this assumption all of a sudden, ‘oh gee, that’s the distant past,’” Gingrich said. “He hasn’t been president that long.” Santorum focused on fears of prices climbing to record highs while campaigning in Ohio. The former Pennsylvania senator blamed Obama for failing to drill aggressively for more oil and gas in the U.S. Santorum said the economy has begun to improve slightly but “all of a sudden we’re going to be hit with the same force of wind that hit us in 2008, in the summer, that caused us to go into a recession, all because of the radical environmentalist policies of this president.” The Associated Press

Tuesday, February 21, 2012 •

EDUCATION: Students to discuss variety of topics with politicians Continued from page 1 through an informational packet we’ve prepared.” In preparation for the trip, two training sessions were held to provide participants with an idea of what it’s like to speak with a legislator, Sichterman said. The training emphasized professionalism and respect when speaking with legislators, UOSA President Hannah Morris said. “We don’t provide a script for the talks,” Morris said. “We want students to be able to tell their stories in their own words.” When speaking to politicians, topics of “We’re just trying to get discussion could inup there and provide clude the economic students’ stories about impact of universities on the state, the varywhy higher education is ing effects of majorso important. We want specific scholarships and the burden placed to state the case for on students by tuition why ... funding should costs, UOSA press secincrease or at least not retary Joe Sangirardi said. drop any further.” “For some students, STEVE SICHTERMAN, OU HIGHER if tuition were any EDUCATION DAY COORDINATOR more, they couldn’t afford to go to school,” Sangirardi said. Morris said she believes Higher Education Day is among the most important events produced by UOSA because it allows students not involved with the organization to have interactions that affect the larger university community. Sichterman agreed and said any time students get involved with larger issues the university benefits. “It’s very important that students get involved when they can,” Sichterman said. “The laws that are made at the Capitol affect them.” Chris Miller contributed to this report.

Reader comment on OUDaily.com ››

• Tuesday, February 21, 2012

“You forgot one. It will also encourage drunk driving, as those turning 21 will head to Gainesville, Texas, or other state line watering holes for their first legal drink, then come back to Oklahoma for more of the “hair of the dog” on the day they become legal here.” (EIOjo, RE: ‘Bill to delay legal drinking oversteps boundaries’)

OPINION EDITORIAL

Sooners should stay informed, be involved in legislative acts While we understand the impulse to tie funding only day a year students use their voice. to results and reward well-performing schools, this model also would punish low-performing schools Today is Higher Education Day at the Oklahoma with a decrease in funding. Surely, the absolute Capitol. It’s a day that brings delegations of stufailure of No Child Left Behind has driven home the dents, faculty and administrators from institutions point that taking money from failing schools is not across the state to the Capitol to lobby for the way to help them improve. the importance of education issues. And it would place a lot of pressure The Our View is the majority on universities to graduate students in a It would be easy for those involved to opinion of view it as a one-time thing — and some timely manner, instead of focusing on proThe Daily’s might view it as a way to get out of class — viding them with an in-depth education, nine-member but this day is just one example of the imeditorial board which always should be the primary focus. pact individual citizens can have. It’s not just higher education issues that It’s important to get involved in the demcould benefit from your help. Senate Bill ocratic process, and that means more than just vot- 1433, otherwise known as the “Personhood Act,” ing. You need to let the people representing you on would define a “person” status as beginning at conthe hill know how you feel about timely issues and ception. That would mean that a zygote, embryo specific bills. How else can they properly represent or fetus would have all the legal rights of any other your interests? citizen. The first step is simply to stay informed. Among other negative effects, this bill would Consume news from a variety of sources. Pay atcriminalize in vitro fertention to what your friends post on social media. tilization, certain kinds Listen to what classmates and co-workers are talkof birth control and — Find your legislator’s ing or complaining about. And take what you hear in theory — abortion. It contact information. seriously. would decrease options oudaily.com/opinion The controversies or concerns you see on for infertile couples tryFacebook or overhear in the Starbucks line are seriing to conceive and take ous issues. It’s easy to cast them off as just another away women’s access to important medical care. debate-of-the-week, but think about the ways they That’s not to mention the host of ridiculous implicould directly affect you — and the ways you can af- cations it entails. fect change. You can join in a rally at the capitol on Feb. 28 to For example, the legislature will consider a bill help stop the personhood bill before it goes to a this session to take control of tuition rates from the vote in the House. Board of Regents and give it to the legislature. That Of course, you can contact your legislators would affect your futhrough phone calls and emails to express your “It’s important to ture tuition rates. But views on these issues. But an even more effective lawmakers have not yet way to express your opinion is in person. Just conget involved in the made a strong enough democratic process, tact your legislator’s office and schedule an apcase that this move and that means more pointment to speak with them at the capitol. would be good for But if meeting with them in person is intimidatthan just voting.” students. ing, there is still more you can do. Find an event We hope our delor a group dedicated to the issues you care about. egation at the Capitol today will push legislators Attend a rally, participate in a lobbying day like on that issue. But whether they do so, you can go Higher Education Day or sign a petition (Change. straight to the source and get an answer yourself. org is a great place to find petitions on a variety of Another important education issue is House issues). Bill 2517, which would tie the amount of fundAll it takes is a little persistence and a willingness ing a school gets from the state to what Rep. Sally to keep an eye out for the important issues and the Kern, R-Oklahoma City, called an “outcome-based ways people already are working to create change. model,” which would include graduation rates, among other factors. Comment on this at OUDaily.com Our View: Higher Education Day shouldn’t be the

Are you on track to graduate in four years? To cast your vote, log on to COLUMN

First Unitarian Church welcome to all religions

and consequently had to OPINION COLUMNIST fight to get my GPA back up for the next few years. Just about the time I was ready for upper division coursework, my support system crumbled beneath me. My family no longer could help me get through Scott Starr school, and I had to go to scott.e.starr-1@ou.edu work. Take your chances and opportunities seriously while you have them. There is no guarantee they’ll be there for extra semesters. The most important thing you will need out there in “Jobland” is people skills. I wish I had realized that as a student. You’ll need to be able to look co-workers, bosses and clients right in the eyes and establish your value in the workplace. You absolutely must be able to promote yourself if you want a stable career. I don’t mean the shameless, opportunistic, backstabbing kind of self-promotion. I mean you need to be articulate and able to read people, and respond to the dynamics and relationships accordingly. That will apply to any field of endeavor. You simply can’t develop those skills without engaging in real face time with people. Having lots of Facebook friends doesn’t count. Find an organization or a cause and get involved. Being able to network is the skill that will take you the farthest, and not being able to develop connections and relationships that sustain you will cost you the most. If you need help or ideas in this area, contact OU Leadership Development and Volunteerism online or at 405-325-4020. Scott Starr is a Native American studies senior.

Tom Taylor is a political science graduate student.

COLUMN

People skills are a must for jobs

» Poll question of the day

often jokingly tell OPINION COLUMNIST people that every one of my mother’s marriages and divorces resulted in my getting a new religion. The truth is more complicated than that, but not by much. When I was 8 years Tom Taylor old, I was baptized in the tomtaylor.home@gmail.com Mormon Church. At 9, I joined a Baptist church. At 10, I joined a Full-Gospel church. At 13, I was baptized in a Methodist church. By 14, I was an atheist. At 24, I converted to agnosticism. At 33, I joined a Unitarian Universalist church. My becoming an atheist was less due to any particular life-shattering event than it was to a paradigm-shifting one, and this shift was brought on by the churches that had been a part of my life. During my early teenage years, I came to the realization that every church I had been to promoted a very similar message: Only members of its denomination were going to heaven. This meant that every person, at every church I had gone to, was in danger of going to hell. And the mortal sin every one of these people committed was that they went to the wrong church. As they couldn’t all be right, I felt the need to explore the issue further and started exploring other religions. My research included everything from Shamanism to Shintoism and from Japanese mythology to Russian mythology. By no means did I become an expert in any of these religions, but I made a conscious effort to learn what I could about them. By the age of 14, I concluded that God did not exist and that religion was simply the product of our primitive ancestors’ attempts at explaining the world. For this reason, I became an atheist. As time went on, I came to the realization that I could no sooner definitively declare that God did not exist than I could declare that he does. Thus, I converted to agnosticism, and while I’m 99 percent sure that God doesn’t exist, I do allow for a 1 percent margin of error. For many years, the totality of my religious experiences had taught me one thing: I wanted nothing to do with organized religions. This is because they were a frequent source of pain and harassment for me and others like me. I guess that is why it is surprising to many that I eventually joined a church after spending 19 years rejecting the existence of God. All it took was the discovery that there are churches in this world that welcome people like me with open arms. I attend the First Unitarian Church of Oklahoma City, and it is part of the Unitarian Universalism religion. Unitarian Universalism has a thriving community of Christians, Buddhists, Pagans, atheists, agnostics, spiritualists, members of nearly every other religion and people who still are discovering what they believe. It also extremely is inclusive toward members of the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgendered community. While it may sound like some new-age hippie religion, it is far from this — the first Unitarian church was established in the 16th century, and the first Universalist church was established in the 18th century. The two religions merged in 1961. Rather than focus on preparing for an eternal afterlife, members of the church focus on making the world a better place. Instead of telling people what to believe, the church helps others decide for themselves what they believe. For the past year and a half, I have served the church as a Sunday school teacher for the junior high and high school classes. Currently, I facilitate as my students explore and discover their personal religious beliefs. This soon will culminate in a beautiful Sunday service where my students will stand before the congregation and explain what their personal religious beliefs currently are. In return, the congregation will endeavor to help them as they continue on the search for truth. My students are on the same journey I was on when I was their age. The difference is they have a community to help them, and I had to do it on my own. It comforts me to know that my daughters and my son will not have to make their searches for truth alone. I don’t care if my students decide they are Christian, atheist or anything else. What is important to me is the fact that they are granted the freedom to decide for themselves. I am an agnostic, secular humanist and Unitarian Universalist, and I have finally found a religious community where I belong. Have you?

OUDaily.com

f you are a student and are reading this, I most likely am old enough to be your father. I am in my second life as a college student. The term “non-traditional student” does not have any fixed meaning. It just means someone who is working toward a degree in a manner other than the usual way of going from high school straight to college and earning a degree in a timely fashion that does not span three decades. For me, it means that I blew my first chances and got stuck in the world of manual labor for 25 “The most important years. There’s certainly nothing wrong with thing you will need out hard and honest work. there in “Jobland” is But, let’s face it, you people skills. ... You’ll probably aren’t majoring in Wage Slavery, need to be able to look right? co-workers, bosses and If you are a non-tradiclients right in the eyes tional student like me, maybe you can relate. If and establish your value you’re a younger, more in the workplace. You traditional student, let absolutely must be able me be a good “bad example” to you. to promote yourself if you Probably the biggest want a stable career.” mistake I made as a student in the 1980s was thinking I had unlimited chances to get through college and make my dreams come true. Sure, I am re-enrolled now, but here’s the thing: I have been trying to get re-enrolled since 1988. My first few years in college, I didn’t take it seriously enough. I came in as a beer-drinking galoot who thought I was smart enough to wing it through my classes on minimal effort, and that college primarily was a time for reenacting the movie “Animal House.” So, I made bad grades

Mary Stanfield, opinion editor dailyopinion@ou.edu • phone: 405-325-3666

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Tuesday, February 21, 2012 •

SPORTS

OUDaily.com ›› The OU men’s golf team fell from third to sixth after the second day of competition at the Puerto Rico Classic with only one round remaining.

Greg Fewell, sports editor Kedric Kitchens, assistant sports editor dailysports@ou.edu • phone: 405-325-3666

WOMEN’S BASKETBALL

ATHLETICS

OU to face challenging matchup

Sooners welcome assistant director

Sooners to look to guards in hopes of beating Texas A&M

KEY OPPONENT Tyra White Year: Senior Position: Guard Hometown: Kansas City, Mo. Season stats: White is leading the Aggies with 13.2 points per game.

KEDRIC KITCHENS Assistant Sports Editor

The OU women’s basketball team finds itself in the midst of another challenging matchup at 7 tonight when the defending national champions, the No. 13 Texas A&M Aggies come to Norman. The Sooners are coming off a hard-fought loss to Iowa State on Saturday and will look to their guards to bounce back. The Sooners are led by their starting guards, junior Whitney Hand (12.9 ppg, 6.6 rpg) and sophomores Morgan Hook (10.5 ppg, 3.9 apg) and Aaryn Ellenberg (14.9 ppg, 2.8 rpg). The Aggies have four starters averaging double digits, senior guards Sydney Carter (11.2 ppg) and Tyra White (13.6 ppg), senior forward Adaora Elonu (11.8 ppg) and junior center Kelsey Bone (12.4 ppg). Ellenberg, after struggling, especially from deep, for several games, has come on as of late after strong performances at home against Kansas State and on the road against Iowa State. “It was creating the offense when we were just

BEN WILLIAMS/THE DAILY

Junior guard Whitney Hand drives hard to the basket during the Sooners’ Feb. 13 loss to UConn in Norman. Hand, along with fellow guards Morgan Hook and Aaryn Ellenberg will be asked to play a big role as the Sooners prepare to take on defending national champion Texas A&M tonight.

UP NEXT vs. Texas A&M

team’s win over Kansas State. “She wasn’t exhausted. She hadn’t been out there for 40 minutes. And When: 7 tonight I thought you could really Watch: Sooner Sports Network tell that she had a little different spring in her step that a lot of Kansas State players, trading back and forth. She and our guys, too, that had was fresh,” coach Sherri played a long time, didn’t Coale said following the have.”

Coale felt like letting Ellenberg come off the bench and have a chance to see the pace of the game helped her get out of her slump. Another Sooner who has been coming off the bench lately is sophomore center Nicole Griffin. Griffin will be coming off the bench for the Sooners

for the third consecutive game against A&M. OU will look to her to give them a boost, as she had a seasonhigh, 14-point performance in the loss to Iowa State. This game marks the last between the two squads before A&M departs for the SEC next season. The Sooners fell to the Aggies by a 17-point margin when the two teams played the first time this season on Jan. 8 in College Station. The key for OU will be to control the ball. Aggies’ opponents are averaging 21.1 turnovers per game. That allows Texas A&M to win games despite averaging just 42 percent from the field, 28 percent from beyond 3-point arc and 66 percent from the charity stripe. Keeping the turnovers down will be vital for the Sooners to notch a win.

PAIGHTEN HARKINS Campus reporter

The OU Athletic Department announced Monday that an assistant athletics director overseeing communications position has been filled. P e t e M o r i s was chosen for the job after a search beginning in January. M o r i s PETE has spent t h e p a s t MORIS 17 years working for the Kansas City Chiefs’ public relations office. He also has worked in media relations with the Indianapolis Colts and the University of Florida. Moris is excited about the move, he said in a press release. “We are grateful for the warm welcome we have received, and will enthusiastically embrace Norman as our new home,” Moris said.

COLUMN

NFL has eye on OU players SPORTS COLUMNIST

ST. Thomas More University Parish 100 Stinson • Norman, OK

Greg Fewell greg_f@ou.edu

klahoma will have a very scant delegation at this year’s NFL draft in April. Just a few short years removed from becoming the first school in history to have three of the first four draft picks in 2010, Oklahoma does not have any first-round prospects entering this year’s draft. Several Sooners still are hoping to take their talents to the next level, though. Ronnell Lewis, who spent his last two seasons at Oklahoma wreaking havoc as a defensive end, is projected to go first among the Sooners in the draft class at No. 62 overall in the second round. Lewis struggled to grasp the x’s and o’s of the linebacker position in high school and moved to the end position to focus on rushing. However, his size, 6 foot 2 inches and 234 pounds, definitely fits the mold of a linebacker in the pros. Lewis currently is projected to be taken by the San Francisco 49ers. Cornerback Jamell Fleming increased his draft stock drastically over last season and through precombine workouts during this offseason. In fact, Fleming is projected possibly to move up the board with a good showing at this week’s combine. However, if the draft was tomorrow, Fleming would be a projected early thirdround pick along with former teammate Ryan Broyles. Broyles, who currently is rehabilitating a torn ACL suffered midway through last season, is hurt by his size at just 5 foot 11 inches and 178 pounds. Teams are very interested in the quickness and elusiveness the receiver

KINGSLEY BURNS/THE DAILY

Former OU receiver Ryan Broyles breaks free in the Sooners’ Oct. 1 victory over Ball State last season.

displayed for four years at Oklahoma en route to becoming the school’s all-time leading receiver. Broyles fits the mold of a Wes Welkertype player. He may not beat a lot of NFL cornerbacks deep for the home run ball, but he is a sure-handed receiver who knows how to find space in the open field. Oklahoma’s only true linebacker in this year’s draft class, Travis Lewis also is projected to be taken in the third round. A four-year starter at Oklahoma, Lewis currently is slotted to be taken by the Kansas City Chiefs with the 75th pick in the draft, about midway through the third round. The final former Sooner projected to go pro this year is defensive end Frank Alexander. Alexander had his ups and downs at OU but embraced his role as a leader during his senior season and led OU with 81 tackles for loss. While the 6-foot-4-inch 259-pounder would certainly like to be picked sooner than 117th overall, going to Detroit in the fourth round, as projected, could be a perfect fit for Alexander. Playing in Detroit would give him the chance to play with and learn from Ndamukong Suh, one of the nation’s best at the position. This year’s NFL draft will not be a historic occasion for Oklahoma as 2010’s was. However, OU has a solid showing in this year’s class and will definitely continue the tradition of having players join the NFL, which has happened every year since

coach Bob Stoops’ arrival at Oklahoma in 1999.

ASH Wenesday Mass Times For February 22, 2012 7:30 am •12:00pm • 7:oo pm • 9:00pm

Greg Fewell is a journalism senior and the sports editor.

CALL FOR RESEARCH PROPOSALS The Joe C. and Carole Kerr McClendon Honors College invites applications for the Undergraduate Research Opportunities Program (UROP) for the 2012 Spring and Fall semesters This is a competitive program open to ALL undergraduate students at the University of Oklahoma main campus and the Health Sciences Center. Projects can be in any discipline; for example, allied health, architecture, business, education, fine arts, engineering, the humanities, journalism, natural sciences, and social sciences. These awards are intended to support individual projects designed and undertaken by undergraduate students. Winners receive research grants of up to $1000 to be used for the projects.

The deadline for submission is March 27, 2012. Applications and details are available on the Honors College website: http://www.ou.edu/honors/Undergraduate-Research-Opportunities-Program.html

APPLY TODAY!

• Tuesday, February 21, 2012

CLASSIFIEDS

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HELP WANTED

AUTO INSURANCE

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SUMMER EMPLOYMENT! Fun Valley Family Resort, South Fork, Colorado needs students for all type jobs: kitchen, dining room, housekeeping, stores, maintenance, office, horse wrangler. Room/board, salary, bonus. For information and application write to Student Personnel Director, 6315 Westover Drive, Granbury, TX 76049

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STUDENTPAYOUTS.COM Paid survey takers needed in Norman 100% FREE to join. Click on Surveys.

PAYMENT

Research volunteers needed! Researchers at OU Health Sciences Center need healthy volunteers ages 18 to 30 who have a parent with or without a history of an alcohol or drug problem. Qualified participants will be compensated for their time. Call (405) 456-4303 to learn more about the study and to see if you qualify. The University of Oklahoma is an equal opportunity institution.

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DEADLINES

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cancer killer. But new treatments offer hope. Join Lung Cancer Alliance in the fight against this disease. lungcanceralliance.org

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y Happ

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my friend’s got mental illness

Help Wanted ads in The Oklahoma Daily are not to separate as to gender. Advertisers may not discriminate in employment ads based on race, color, religion or gender unless such qualifying factors are essential to a given position. All ads are subject to acceptance by The Oklahoma Daily. Ad acceptance may be re-evaluated at any time.

To a friend with mental illness, your caring and understanding greatly increases their chance of recovery. Visit whatadifference.samhsa.gov for more information. Mental Illness – What a difference a friend makes.

Spring Specials

HOROSCOPE By Bernice Bede Osol

TUESDAY TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 21 21, 2012 The year ahead is likely to be quite memorable, with a number of happy accidents occurring. Numerous excellent changes can bring about the fulfillment of your hopes and expectations.

$445 $515 $440 $510 $700

PISCES (Feb. 20-March 20) -- It’s important to begin elevating your sights a bit if you see that the cycle you’re now entering holds tremendous promise. Don’t waste the good times on frivolous activities. ARIES (March 21-April 19) -- The chances for accomplishing your objectives look good, though you’ll have to bring other people in on the action. Interesting things could happen that’ll bring fulfillment.

1 5

2 4

9 8 7 2 8 1 4 9 1 8

8 9 1 8 3 4 6 7 7 1 9 5 4

Previous Solution 4 3 8 2 6 5 7 1 7 9 5 8 4 1 3 2 1 2 6 9 7 3 8 5 5 1 9 4 8 7 2 6 2 8 3 6 1 9 5 4 6 4 7 3 5 2 1 9 8 5 1 7 9 4 6 3 9 6 2 1 3 8 4 7 3 7 4 5 2 6 9 8

9 6 4 3 7 8 2 5 1

Monday- Very Easy Tuesday-Easy Wednesday- Easy Thursday- Medium Friday - Hard

Instructions: Fill in the grid so that every row, every column and every 3x3 box contains the digits 1 through 9. That means that no number is repeated in any row, column or box.

TAURUS (April 20-May 20) -Because you’ll be able to recognize some of the signals, a situation unfolding at this time could enable you to share in some benefits already being generated by another person. GEMINI (May 21-June 20) -- An arrangement that you mastermind should prove advantageous for everyone involved. It has all the essential elements needed for success: fairness, integrity and unity. CANCER (June 21-July 22) -- If you get the chance -- and you probably will -- do what you can to strengthen bonds involving two of your more significant relationships. You could bring about happy changes for all. LEO (July 23-Aug. 22) -- Someone of the opposite gender whom you recently met is eager to get to know you better. If you are of the same

mindset, don’t hesitate to respond in kind. VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22) -- If you’ve been putting forth your very best effort where your work or career is concerned, a promotion, bonus or some kind of acknowledgement may be in the offing. LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 23) -- When it comes to an enterprise or endeavor that you personally manage or in which you play some kind of leadership role, your luck could take a well-deserved change for the better. SCORPIO (Oct. 24-Nov. 22) -Starting right now, there is a strong probability that you could experience a favorable shift in your material affairs. Be alert for what occurs, because it can have a long-range effect. SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 23-Dec. 21) -Starting right now, there is a strong probability that you could experience a favorable shift in your material affairs. Be alert for what occurs, because it can have a long-range effect. CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19) -- New life can be breathed into an arrangement that you’ve been seriously thinking of writing off. If you check out every possibility, you might find that now is not the time to call it quits. AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 19) -- A relationship that you recently established might greatly help you advance some plans for the future that you’ve had in the back of your mind. It pays to listen to everyone.

Universal Crossword Edited by Timothy E. Parker February 21, 2012 ACROSS 1 Provide with a headpiece 6 Gp. with a Brussels HQ 10 Litter creatures 14 Type of acid 15 “Prince ___” (Borodin opera) 16 Bogus butter 17 Rosalind Russell comedy 19 Offed, in the Biblical sense 20 Doomed individual 21 Scale’s range 23 “___ a Wonderful Life” 25 Feel inappropriately 28 Bright-eyed and bushy-tailed 29 Use chicanery on 31 Barely shining 32 Transports with no wheels 33 Easter Island attraction 36 Olive and linseed products 38 Lack of hygiene 43 ___ gin ﬁzz 44 Trade sans money 46 Whitney’s partner in aviation 50 Next-door neighbor on “The

2/21

Simpsons” 52 “Chariots of Fire” highlight 53 Too coincidental 54 Miscue 57 Attachment for “skeptic” or “cynic” 58 Steep slope 60 Winning, for the moment 62 Untrustworthy one 63 Chanteuse 68 “Giant” author’s first name 69 ___-fly pie 70 Old fable writer 71 Unenviable grades 72 Having a hard time choosing 73 Easy victim DOWN 1 Lamb’s sound 2 Aussie coat of arms bird 3 Airplane measurement 4 Dividing word 5 Auctioneer’s next-to-last word 6 Genesis hunter 7 Bygone Turkish dignitary 8 Thumb or Sawyer 9 Cookie that often appears in crosswords 10 Kind of clerk or card 11 Unfilled part of a wine

container 12 Ticked off 13 They need seed money 18 All eternity, poetically 22 Big name in business planes 23 Bartender’s requests 24 “Swan Lake” getup 26 Settler 27 Oscar winner Jannings 30 “And more” 34 Heavy overcoat 35 Anguillid 37 Ad-___ (improvise) 39 Unsurpassable rating 40 Act proverbially human 41 Least wild and frivolous 42 Abbreviated moments 45 Sleep

phenomenon, for short 46 Like canned tomatoes 47 Have a place to call home 48 Mysterious 49 Sparkling toppers 51 Firebreathing fairytale beast 55 Fun house cries 56 Put another hole in the cask 59 “Hey you, c’mere!” 61 It equals LxW 64 “I get it now!” 65 Snow-rainheat-gloom connector 66 Urgent call at sea 67 Peek through a keyhole

PREVIOUS PUZZLE ANSWER

2/20

FAMILY FRIENDLY By Kathy George

Tuesday, February 21, 2012 •

OUDaily.com ››

LIFE&ARTS

Today is the birthday of contemporary author David Foster Wallace. Don’t know him? The Daily’s Steven Zoeller tells you why you should.

Lindsey Ruta, life & arts editor Mariah Webb, assistant life & arts editor dailyent@ou.edu • phone: 405-325-3666

STOMPDOWN 2012

Fraternity ready to step up to defend title Phi Beta Sigma brothers say they have worked since last year to validate win

Phi Beta Sigma President Maurice Chevalier (right) and members of the fraternity’s stomp team practice Thursday, in Dale Hall. The fraternity won last year’s Big 12 stomp competition with its “Toy Soldiers” routine. The members will compete in this year’s stompdown at 8 p.m. Saturday at Norman’s Embassy Suites. Chevalier said the inspiration for this year’s routine came from an exploration of the fraternity’s history and roots. The Zeta Phi Beta sorority helped choreograph the routine.

JALISA GREEN Life & Arts Reporter

The OU students who were dubbed as the best male steppers in the Big 12 last year have no plans to let another team stomp all over their chance defend that title. The Phi Beta Sigma step team is looking to Saturday’s Stompdown competition to validate its title, fraternity member Richie Mills said. “Last year we were seen as the underdog. We heard rumors revolving around ‘they got lucky,’ ” said Mills, public relations senior. “This year I feel like we’re out to prove that it wasn’t a fluke.” The fraternity members took home last year’s title with their performance, “Toy Soldier.” The victory not only won them a $1,500 cash prize, but recognition among the National Panhellenic community and it brought the members closer together, Mills said. “Toy Soldier” was a collaboration among the entire fraternity, something the members did again for this year’s number, President Maurice Chevalier said. “It was a group effort,” said Chevalier, management information systems senior. “One of our brothers, Adryan Moorefield, came up with one step. I came up with another, then we all put something in, and it went from there.” Stepping is a choreography that requires a good amount of team effor t, Chevalier said. A f t e r t h e c h o re o g r a phy was finalized, the team began practicing in November to ensure everyone was on the same page, he said. “When this semester started back up, we got strict

GO AND DO Stompdown 2012 WHEN: 8 p.m. Saturday WHERE: Embassy Suites Hotel in Norman PRICE: $12 in advance, $20 at the door

on meeting to get this routine down,” Chevalier said. “We’ve been meeting for an hour and a half during the week. We got this.” Each year, step teams from across the Big 12 Conference meet for a stomp showdown to see which men’s and women’s teams are the best — and to take home $1,500, a c c o rd i n g t o t h e e v e nt website. While Stompdown is about stepping, the Phi Beta Sigma brothers believe it’s more than just the performance, fraternity member Jason Quaynor said. “Our fraternity is more than that,” said Quaynor, English wr iting senior. “We’re about community, brotherhood and service. Stepping is just another part of what we are.” Fraternity member Damion Thornton echoed his brother. “We are brothers. We are a

CHELSEA LOTT/THE DAILY

“Last year we were seen as the underdog. This year I feel like we’re out to prove that it wasn’t a fluke.” RICHIE MILLS, PHI BETA SIGMA STEP TEAM MEMBER

family,” said Thornton, multidisciplinary studies senior. “And we work together to build and show that.” This year’s competition will be a chance for Phi Beta Sigma to solidify its stepping status with back-to-back victories — and prove the fraternity’s emergence was not by accident, Mills said. “We won because we did. We brought it to the table,” Mills said. Phi Beta Sigma is out to prove that this year, again.

X Expires on May 31, 2012

help is just a phone call away

number

crisis line

325-6963 (NYNE)

OU Number Nyne Crisis Line

8 p.m.-4 a.m. every day

except OU holidays and breaks

A drunk driver ruined something precious. Amber Apodaca.

Photo by Michael Mazzeo

Friends Don’t Let Friends Drive Drunk.

Come celebrate with us in our romantic atmosphere! 405.579.5600 580 Ed Noble Parkway misalofindia.com Across from Barnes & Noble

MAR CH 1 , 2012 Each year, up to $500,000 is awarded to student majoring in petroleum-related fields at the University of Oklahoma, the University of Tulsa and Okla homa State University. Visit oerb.com/scholarsh ips for more information. The deadline for applications is March 1, 2012.

LIFE&ARTS

â&#x20AC;˘ Tuesday, February 21, 2012

MUSIC REVIEW

Dr. Dog fills the â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Voidâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; with new release DR. DOG

REVIEWS, PREVIEWS AND MORE

â&#x20AC;&#x153;Be the Voidâ&#x20AC;? (ANTI- Records)

THE DAILYâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;S

NEW MUSIC TUESDAY

Rating: Â?Â?Â?Â?

Welcome to the Dr. Dog show. Enter the quintet from Pennsylvania that has made its mark through energetic live shows and quirky lyrics. Hipster hipshaking and rhythmic beats shall ensue. Dr. Dog released its sixth studio album, â&#x20AC;&#x153;Be the Void,â&#x20AC;? Feb. 3 of this year with the intent to professionalize and prune its raw sound that has been stacked together in its quaint Pennsylvania studio since 1999. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Be the Voidâ&#x20AC;? illustrates the emptiness created by the monotonous routine of releasing an album, then touring and putting that playlist on repeat. â&#x20AC;?Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s hard, when you spend half your time away from your friends and family, to feel like youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re as connected as you could be to the people around you,â&#x20AC;? vocalist and bassist Toby Leaman said on their website. â&#x20AC;&#x153;I think thatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s a lot of what this album is about. â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;m alone of my own makingâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; â&#x20AC;&#x201D; that attitude. You see that all these people have lives and things go