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T H U R s DA Y, M A Y 2 , 2 013

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

Opinion: Understanding is the answer to hateful mosque vandals (Page 4)

2 012 S I LV E R C R O W N W I N N E R

steP uP in style

l&A: The shoes make the man (Page 8)

AcADeMics

ou to honor 98 graduates for perfect gPAs Number of graduates with 4.0 averages marks 51-percent increase from last year evaN BalDaCCiNi Campus Reporter

Ninety-eight students have completed their degree requirements and are graduating with perfect grade point averages this year, marking over a 50-percent increase from last year. Those 98 students are graduating with a 4.0 for the summer

2012, fall 2012 and spring 2013 terms, said Lori Stevens, associate director of the OU Graduation Office. The number of students graduating with perfect GPAs has increased from 65 last year, marking a 51 percent increase, according to The Daily’s archives. This increase is proportional to the higher number of graduates and the larger number of academically exceptional students in the incoming classes, Stevens said. President David Boren will give the students who receive a 4.0 for their entire undergraduate degree a 4.0 medallion in a smaller ceremony the week before the commencement

ceremony, she said. Andrew Belliveau, economics and international business senior graduating with a 4.0, said he used many of the on-campus programs to maintain his perfect GPA. “It gives you a good sense of accomplishment that you really grasped the material of your areas of study,” Belliveau said. He also took advantage of professors’ office hours and the study areas on campus, he said. At the commencement ceremony, the students with perfect GPAs can be recognized wearing their 4.0 medallions, Stevens said.

LOCaL CRime

coMMenceMent

Man sentenced to 177 years for sexually assaulting OU students nORMAn, Okla. (AP) — A Colorado man accused of sexually assaulting students on the OU campus over a 21-year period has been sentenced to 177 years in prison after pleading guilty to multiple charges. Robert Howard Bruce pleaded guilty Tuesday to five counts of first-degree rape, 10 counts of first-degree burglary, two counts of sexual battery and one count of forcible sodomy. Prosecutors RoBeRt accused him of attacking people on the hoWARD OU campus between 1985 and 2006. Bruce wasn’t arrested until last year BRuce after his DnA was entered into a national database. He’s also been sentenced to 156 years in prison after pleading guilty to nine rape charges in new Mexico. The Associated Press

FRienDshiP

MELODIE LETTKEMAn/ THE DAILy

celebrating her graduation from the school of nursing, a student listens to Brown university President Ruth simmons’ address as her cap sparkles during commencement May 11, 2012.

OU seniors look forward to future College of Arts, Sciences graduates most students KaiTlyN UNDeRWOOD Campus Reporter

A fireworks show, international flag bearers and President David Boren will herald the almost 7,500 May graduates to receive their diplomas at OU’s commencement ceremony. This semester’s ceremony will be held at 7 p.m. May 10 in Gaylord Fa m i l y - O k l a h o m a M e m o r i a l Stadium. Following commencement, students are invited to participate in their respective college’s convocation ceremony, which will take place May 11 at various times across campus and Oklahoma City. At convocation, graduates will be presented with a degree cover by their college’s dean and take photographs, according to the Graduation Office’s convocation schedule. As per usual, the College of Arts and Sciences is projected to have the largest number of graduates for the 2012-2013 academic year, said

Laurie Tinsley, assistant director to OU’s Office of Academic Records. For the past five years, the College of Arts and Sciences has conferred an average of 2,421 degrees per year, the majority of which were bachelor’s degrees, according to the OU Factbook. The Michael F. Price College of Business traditionally is the second-largest producer of graduates, with an average of 666 degrees conferred over the last five years, according to the Factbook. Rounding out the top three, the College of Engineering has granted an average of 448 degrees over the same period, according to the Factbook. However, while the arts and sciences, business and engineering colleges produced the most graduates, the major that typically has the highest entering salary post-graduation is not under any of them. Petroleum engineering graduates earning bachelor’s degrees within the Mewbourne College of Earth and Energy have earned an average

in dePTH commencement festivities 5 p.m. CART shuttle begins from Lloyd noble Center to the Oklahoma Memorial Stadium and will run for free until 11 p.m. 6:15 p.m. Pre-commencement concert by University Commencement Choir and a presentation of senior portraits taken for the Sooner 2013 OU yearbook 7 p.m. Commencement begins and will include: • A procession of international ﬂag bearers • Commencement speaker, Fareed Zakaria, editor-at-large of TIME and a Washington Post columnist • Individual recognition of doctoral candidates • Group recognition of undergraduate and master’s candidates • Conclusion with a fireworks display

SEE GRADUATION PAGE 2

Two Cousins underscore program goal Program awards two women for their outstanding dedication to group ideals CeDaR FlOyD

Campus Reporter

After a year of learning to be best friends, an international student and an American student culminated their friendship with barbecue, country dancing and a plentiful supply of tears. When Bora Kwon, nutrition senior, got on the bus and began the journey that would take her away from Korea and her family for the first time, she “I never thought about couldn’t stop the going to Korea, but now tears from streamI’m going to miss Bora ing down her face. Almost a year later so much we have to find at the OU Cousins a way to get together.” year-end barbecue, she faced yet angaBRieLa BORJa, eneRgY other separation, managemenT and FinanCe this time from her sOPHOmORe best friend and OU cousin Gabriela Borja, energy management and finance sophomore. The two couldn’t bear the thought of having to part, and the tears freely flowed once again. The pair received the award for best women OU Cousins, one of two sets of cousins that best exemplified the intention of the program by diving into the experience, learning from each other and erasing the boundaries between international and American students, said Ray Wolber, OU Cousins student director and human relations senior.

RenovAtions

SEE COUSINS PAGE 3

University Club re-opens to high turnout Club’s new features and prices draw membership MaTT Ravis

Campus Reporter

Less than a month after re-opening for renovations, OU’s University Club has 236 members and has been reserved for two future events. Since the club reopened on April 9, 175 individuals including faculty, staff and friends of the university, 46 departments, three corporations and 12 graduate students are members of The Jan Marie and Richard J. Crawford University Club, said Laura Tontz,

Oklahoma Memorial Union director. Additionally, more applications are being received every day, she said. Graduate students pay $5 a month for a membership, with no initiation fee. All other members pay $15 per month, with a $25 initiation fee, Tontz said. Since the renovation, the club has new features like a fireplace, wood floors, a bar and a wine room, according to the club website. The overall cost of the club through Jan. 31 was $2.2 million, according to requested documents. The bulk of the renovation costs were in general construction and renovation

expenses, which were $1.6 million or about 76 percent of the overall costs. Events held at the club so far include receptions and dinners, Tontz said. The most recent event, a Sunday brunch, had over 50 guests in attendance, she said. The club is open Tuesday through Friday for lunch, Wednesday through Saturday for dinner and brunch Sunday. The club has received reservations for commencement day and Mother’s Day weekend, Tontz said. Matt Ravis matt.ravis@ou.edu

OU gymnast goes from walk-on to national champion Sports: Sophomore gymnast Michael Squires won the national title on the rings this year, just one season after joining the team as a walk-on. (Page 7)

Hungry at night? Forget Norman restaurants Opinion: If you have the munchies, norman restaurants close too early. (Page 4)

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