Friday, October 24, 2013

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L&A: See how OU’s homecoming history runs deep throughout the decades (Page 7) The University of Oklahoma’s independent student voice since 1916

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

2 013 PA C E M A K E R F I N A L I S T

T H U R S DA Y, O C T O B E R 2 4 , 2 013

ENROLLMENT

OU to offer new online course platform New platform Janux features useful tools for students in a well-organized interface

on Ozone for credit. The courses range from flipped classes to blended to fully online, according to a press release. The platform allows students to rewatch videos of lectures as many times as they may need, take self-quizzes MAX JANERKA and talk to their classmates and the professor about the Campus Reporter coursework easily online, said Kyle Harper, OU’s senior Students can start enrolling to take spring classes on vice provost. OU’s new interactive online course platform, Janux. Some more features Janux provides are online note sharStudents can choose between 14 classes available on ing, live chats with fellow students and professors and inJanux next semester by participating for free or enrolling teractive whiteboards, according to the release. Courses

are broken up by section and taught through short videos and notes to allow for each lesson or concept to be thoroughly understood. This semester, students in six courses participated in a pilot program named platform.ou.edu that launched Oct. 21 as Janux, according to a press release. One of the classes offered is called Law and Justice, taught by Harper. SEE JANUX PAGE 2

OPEN RECORDS ACT

HOMECOMING

OU petitions to move suit to federal court Cites FERPA as defense to releasing records to Stipek and student media ARIANNA PICKARD Campus Editor

CHRIS JAMES/THE DAILY

Business sophomore Samantha Hutchison donates to team Aladdin – University College freshmen Jillie Kerwin and Stephen Wood, during Wednesday’s Homecoming Hold-Up on the South Oval.

Students bailed out for a good cause Events raise money for children’s charity group RACHAEL MONTGOMERY Campus Reporter

Students were “held captive” as part of an annual fundraising homecoming activity Wednesday on the South Oval. The Homecoming Hold-Up is an event held every year for representatives from groups participating in homecoming to dress up as their respective themes and beg passing students for donations. “Whatever draws people to them gets them more money,” said homecoming chair Kassidy Cook. The group that raises the most money will get priority seating at the

their respective money-collecting pep rally Friday, Cook said. All proceeds raised during the buckets. “It’s for the kids and a purpose,” two-hour hold-up and the benefit said Alex Malati, at Chipotle Mexican G r i l l M o n d a y “My favorite part of university college freshman. night, will go tothe Homecoming The costumed ward the Campus participants were Activities Council’s Hold-Up is that we all very friendly and Soonerthon philanget to meet lots of enthusiastic about t h ro py a n d ra i ses money for the people from different working together to Children’s Miracle raise money for the organizations.” Network, Cook said. kids. The Soonerthon is a “My favorite part GARRAH DRAPER, EDUCATION JUNIOR charity dance maraof the Homecoming thon that takes place Hold-Up is that we each spring. get to meet lots of Just 30 minutes after the hold- people from different organizaup started, representatives from tions,” said Garrah Draper, educathe 16 groups participating had tion sophomore. already made a dent in filling up

AT A GLANCE Homecoming events around campus this week Thursday

• 7:30 p.m. – Pep Rally

• 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Class Council of 2015 Giveaways • 1 to 3:30 p.m. Sidewalk Chalk Competition on the South Oval

Saturday

Friday • 11 a.m. – 2:00 p.m. Class Council of 2014 Giveaways • 7 p.m. – Pep Rally doors open

• 10:30 a.m. – Parade lineup begins • 11:30 a.m. – Parade • Royalty winners will be announced during halftime of the football game. There will be free food on the South Oval everyday at 9 a.m. and noon.

Despite OU’s petition to move student Joey Stipek’s Open Records Act lawsuit to federal court, Stipek says he will “fight his case to the bitter end.” If the case is tried in federal court, Stipek’s attorney, Nick Harrison, could be prohibited from trying the case because he is a government employee, Harrison said. However, Stipek said he will continue to pursue his case even if Harrison can’t defend him. “If I can’t have Nick Harrison, I’ll just find somebody else to help me,” Stipek said. In May, Stipek filed a lawsuit to sue OU President David Boren and the director of OU’s Open Records Office for denying him and other student journalists access to records he believes are public. Stipek, multidiversity studies senior, filed a petition with the Cleveland County Court May 10 to sue Boren SEE LITIGATION PAGE 2

DROPPING CLASSES

Withdrawal period ends on October 25 Friday is final day to withdraw from a class without approval from professor BENNETT HALL Campus Reporter

Friday marks the last day for undergraduate students to withdraw from courses, after this day, professorial approval will be required to receive an automatic “W” for withdrawal. The two-week period after classes first begin is always a flurry of uninhibited dropping and enrolling because this is the full refund window, and course switches can be done entirely through the Ozone website, said Rhonda Kyncl, assistant dean of the College of Arts and Sciences. After this period, students are able to drop up to five classes throughout their OU career and receive a “W” on their transcript, she said. “The records office will consider a petition for a full refund [after this period], but it has to be under extenuating circumstances,” Kyncl said.

See More Online Scan this QR code with your phone to go straight to the rest of the story at OUDaily.com

Sports: Sallie McLaurin’s leadership and volleyball News: OU researchers got a $3 million grant from the U.S. skills have grown during her four years at OU. (Page 5) Department of Energy to develop a process to convert biomass into a bio-oil compatible with refinery operations. (Online)

VOL. 99, NO. 48 © 2013 OU Publications Board FREE — Additional copies 25¢

INSIDE TODAY Campus......................2 Clas si f ie ds................6 L i f e & A r t s ..................7 O p inio n.....................4 Spor ts........................5 Visit OUDaily.com for more

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