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FRIDAY FEBRUARY 19, 2010

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Oklahoma City may become a stop top on a new Amtrak route between Kansas sas City and Fort Worth. Details on pagee 3.

Baseball begins its season today.

Preview on page 5.

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Read about a few magical options for entertainment this weekend. See page 7.

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New gay rights

AGREEMENT REACHED ON GAY RIGHTS AMENDMENT

group forming in Norman

If passed, new policy will adjust language to reflect ranging beliefs, sexual expression, representative says

Norman Queer Pride to host events to celebrate, raise awareness, official says

RICKY MARANON Assignment Editor

AUDREY HARRIS Daily Staff Writer

A former OU Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, Transgendered and Friends vice president is looking for more interact between the university community and a new gay rights organization in Norman.

John Werner, political science and economics sophomore, said he would like to see Norman Queer Pride lobby for inclusion of sexual orientation on the university’s equal opportunity clause and more in-depth Residential Advisers training.

“Right now they have kind of a watered down version in the RA training and I’d like to see a push for an actual training session for RAs,” Werner said.

Werner said he attended the pride festival in Oklahoma City last year and said he’d like to get involved with the new Norman group.

Norman Queer Pride was founded by Keith Kimmel, Norman resident. The organization will hold its first meeting Saturday.

Kimmel said he wanted to start the organization because he’s lived in Norman for three years and there still wasn’t one. Kimmel said the Norman organization will provide a group closer to home, especially for students without cars who can’t drive to the city.

“I think it’s going to be something that’s a little more accessible,” Kimmel said.

Kami Day serves on the board as the interim president for Norman Queer Pride. Day said she plans to turn her position over once the organization has formal elections.

According to Day, the difference between the Norman Queer Pride and the Norman Queer Alliance is that the NQP “comes together specifically to plan and execute gay pride events, including a parade.”

Day said the organization is important to raise awareness about LGBT issues and make their population more “visible.”

“It’s partly political in that you want to be visible so you can work on the issues that are important to your community,” Day said. “But the other thing is we just want to celebrate who we are, and a parade is a great way to do that.”

Because the organization is still in the forming process, Kimmel said the organization doesn’t have many specifics about the event. He said once the organizers know their fundraising capabilities and how much money the group is working with, they’ll have more information on the event.

“Right now everything is focused on getting an annual event here,” Kimmel said.

“That’s the goal. Obviously once we get up and running I’m sure that goal will be more defined and focused.”

RIGHTS CONTINUES ON PAGE 2

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A decision has been reached concerning the language of the amending of OU’s non-discrimination clause to cover students of different sexual orientations.

The Graduate Student Senate Human Diversity Committee has reached an agreement on final language that if passed in UOSA would be sent to the OU Board of Regents as a suggestion to amend OU’s policies and procedures in dealing with a person’s characteristics and physical attributes.

“The original language was poorly written and we wanted to make sure it covered everyone that the original language was intending to cover,” said Susan

Adams-Johnson, GSS chairwoman. “We reached a decision that pleased everyone in UOSA, [Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, Transgendered and Friends] and many other groups.”

Adams-Johnson said those working on the bill had a direct investment in the legislation because they would personally benefit from the bill passing.

“We had people ranging in beliefs from conservatives to liberals to heterosexuals to gays and lesbians,” she said.

Adams-Johnson said it took so long to pass the resolution because they wanted to make sure all forms of sexual expression were covered except for extremes such as pedophilia.

The bill’s original author UOSA Rep. Shayna Daitch, international security studies junior, said she would support the bill, but she was disappointed the bill took so long to pass Senate committee.

“Am I disappointed that the legislation took so long to get through? Yes, but I will not vote for the bill out of AMENDMENT CONTINUES ON PAGE 2

PHOTO ILLUSTRATION BY JALL COWASJI/ THE DAILY

International gymnasts visit OU

MARCIN RUTKOWSKI / THE DAILY

Gymnasts from Canada and Australia share a laugh and a bite to eat Thursday night as the School of International and Area Studies welcomes them and other international teams to OU for a reception in the Sam Noble Oklahoma Museum of Natural History. Many international teams are in the area to compete in an event in Oklahoma City but were welcomed to campus by Olympic gold medalists Bart Conner and Nadia Comaneci.

OU hosts meet and greet with international, American gymnasts CAROLINE PERRYMAN Daily Staff Writer

The Sam Noble Oklahoma Museum of Natural History was filled with famous gymnasts Thursday night at an OU sponsored event for students to meet gymnasts competing this weekend at the Nadia Comaneci International Invitational.

The competition in Oklahoma City is held

in honor of Comaneci, the Romanian-born Olympic legend who calls Norman home.

“I have always thought international sports is something that needs to be appreciated,” said Zach Messitte, OU’s Vice Provost for International Programs. “When you get gymnastics or basketball or soccer, it is people competing. We aren’t talking about war and politics. They are talking about people competing against each other and learn from each other. I have always thought international sporting events are really important in understanding the world. We have a bunch of students who have heard about this and want

to meet students from all over the world. We are thrilled that we were able to do this.”

Comaneci is organizing the competition with husband Bart Conner, a 1984 Olympic gold medalist and OU alumnus. The couple run the Bart Conner Gymnastics Academy in Norman.

“We have 740 girls competing from eight different countries,” Conner said. “Most of the kids are from the U.S. but there is a busload coming from Ukraine, Romania, Israel, Venezuela, Mexico and Canada.”

Among the gymnasts visiting OU was 2008 Olympic floor exercise champion Sandra Izbasa GYMNASTICS CONTINUES ON PAGE 2

OU adviser hunts ghosts on Animal Planet Gaylord academic adviser’s work for paranormal organization to be featured GREGORY MAUS Daily Staff Writer

Students in the Gaylord College of Journalism and Mass Communication know Chr is Borthick as an academic adviser, but he also works an an occult specialist for an organization whose exploits will be featured today on cable television.

Oklahoma Paranormal Research

and Investigations will be featured in an episode of the Animal Planet paranormal anthology series, “The Haunted,” 9 p.m. Friday.

“We’re not really supposed to talk about (the episode) before it airs,” Borthick said. But he was allowed to reveal the show will deal with an investigation of a house in southeastern Oklahoma where the family’s animals were having problems with odd incidents.

The organization investigated the house previously and were called back again for the episode, Borthick said.

© 2009 OU PUBLICATIONS BOARD

Borthick said he could not be any more specific about the episode because of stipulations in his contract but called the incident “probably the most intense (paranormal) experience I’ve ever had.”

The experience was not like images familiar from horror movies, Borthick said, but more like riding a virtual roller coaster. “You know how your stomach goes up and down the whole time? It was pretty crazy.”

Despite the Oklahoma investigation unit’s recent media exposure, Borthick said its intentions

are primarily altruistic.

“There are a lot of reasons people do this,” he said. “Some investigators are out for fame and glory.

But I know that this group in particular is about helping people.

When people call us out it’s because they’re distressed or curious, and we try to get them answers and possibly strategies to deal with what’s happening.”

Borthick said his contribution to the group is to provide information on spiritual beliefs, in case the team encounters anything related to religions, such as Wicca or traditional

GHOST CONTINUES ON PAGE 2

VOL. 95, NO. 101

2 Friday, February, 19 2010 Caitlin Harrison, managing editor dailynews@ou.edu • phone: 325-3666 • fax: 325-6051

OUDAILY.COM » FIND OUT WHY THE DAILY’S BRAND RACKLEY AND BRICE BECKWITH PICKED HEINEKEN FOR THE BEER OF THE WEEK.

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Saturday’s meeting will allow members to get involved in decisions concerning the organization, including the possible membership fees and the future of the organization. Day said they wanted to get together and see what everyone’s ideas are.

Kimmel said although OU’s Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, Transgendered and Friends organization is not involved officially, its members have helped in spreading the word.

The Norman Queer Pride’s first meeting will be Saturday.

Those interested in attending should join the organization’s Facebook group.

American Indian beliefs. said she remembered an Borthick is relatively encounter she had during new to the organization, her mid-teens with a “shadhaving officially joined ow person,” an event her sisthe 10-year-old unit in ter also witnessed. “Shadow December. Founder and people” are paranormal psychic Christine Clark phenomena of shadowy said Oklahoma Paranormal figures with somewhat huResearch and Investigations manoid shapes that lack has 10 members, includ- apparent cause, Clark said. ing one hisThe group has t o r i a n , o n e GHOST GROUP since gaththeologian ered together and two tech slowly over For more informamanagers. the years from tion about Oklahoma The techindividuals Paranormal Research and nology manwith similar Investigations, including agers are necinterests, bean extensive collection essary to opercoming more of photographs, video ate the armory formal as it and audio of previous of equipment developed. investigations, check out the team uses: And apparits Web site at www.okpri. several came nt l y t h e re com. e ra s, au d i o has been a recorders, demand for temperature their services. probes, elec“It’s been tromagnetic field meters, very active,” Clark said. infrared sensors and mo- “We’ve been pretty busy. tion detectors.

One weekend we did two In contrast to all of this investigations in one night. high technology, the foun- It’s pretty unusual to do that dations of the group began many that fast. It didn’t used with Clark’s simple unex- to be that busy.” plained experiences. She

spite,” Daitch said.

Daitch said she was disappointed the current bill did not appear to have language that the common student could understand.

“The current bill says ‘personal expression of sexualities,’ but no one knows what that really means,” Daitch said.

“Why can’t they use common language that everyone understands? Everyone

NORMAN QUEER PRIDE The Norman Queer Pride plans on hosting a parade and cookout June 19. The group’s first meeting is at 7 p.m. Saturday at Hideaway Pizza.

Join the “Norman Queer Pride” Facebook group for more info.

MARCIN RUTKOWSKI / THE DAILY

Olympic gold medalist Nadia Comaneci addresses a group of OU students and international gynmasts Thursday at the Sam Noble Natural History Museum.

Gymnastics

of Romania.

“I came here last year Continues from page 1 at hned N wa doi na Comaneci award,” said Izbasa, speaking with Comaneci as an interpreter. “After the Beijing Olympics I came here and competed in the Nadia Invitational last February.”

Izbasa will not be competing this weekend, as she tore her Achilles’ tendon in September, but was invited to attend a guest. She said she is still unsure if she will be competing in the 2012 Olympic Games in London.

“I think this event is pretty neat that we are inviting international people to come here, I mean we are obviously trying to be more friendly to the international community and it is nice to have them invited, especially through

a sport like gymnastics that the university is so well known for worldwide,” said Jeremy Isenberg, OU international and area studies senior. “Bart Conner and Nadia Comaneci, some of OU’s finest people, are on the international program’s center board of visitors, so they help the students out and we help them out.”

Comaneci, who has lived in Norman since the early 1990s, said they have sponsored several OU students during the years.

“We have a lot of friends and people that come from different countries, especially from Romania, that ended up going through the university,” said Comaneci, a five-time Olympic gold medalist.

The elite session of the Nadia Comaneci International Invitational will be 7 p.m.

Saturday at the Cox Convention Center in Oklahoma City.

knows what sexual orientation and gender identity are.”

UOSA President Katie Fox said last fall she would support any legislation to amend the non-discrimination policy, but she was unable to be reached for a comment before press time.

Adams-Johnson said she expects the bill to pass with minor changes when the GSS meets Sunday.

State Senate aims to increase graduation rates Proposed legislation to combat high school dropout numbers heads to Senate, House for debate DANIEL SIMON Daily Staff Writer

OKLAHOMA CITY — Oklahoma lost approximately $3.8 billion in lost wages from high school dropouts in 2008.

The highest percentage of high school graduates in Oklahoma are Asian-Americans at 80 percent while Caucasians are behind seven points, according to the Alliance for Education’s Web site.

The Oklahoma State Senate has been in recent discussions on increasing graduation rates for the state of Oklahoma.

Chairman of the Education Committee, Sen. John Ford, R-Bartlesville, proposed legislation to increase high school graduation rates.

More high school graduate means more potential graduates for OU, said economics professor Kevin Grier. There has been research that shows cities are more productive when there are more educated people, he said.

States and organizations are still looking for ways to increase revenue in 2010, and this includes OU and businesses in Norman.

According to OU’s provost Web site, OU has seen 141 less freshmen in the fall semester of 2009 than the previous year, a drop of 2.9 percentage points, which may be cause for concern when considering potential revenue for the university, Norman residents and businesses.

“Education is even more critical in Oklahoma — one of the poorest states in the U.S.,” said education professor Elon Dancy II. Still, Ford said he believes the odds for the bill passing are “very high.”

“I do not believe there are any drawbacks [to the bill],” Ford said by e-mail.

The next step for the bill is the floor of the Senate and then the House. After that, it

must be signed by Gov. Brad Henry.

Not everyone is as optimistic as the State Senate. Economics professor William Frick said the actual success of the bill requires smart thinking at the local level, whether it be assistance from actual teachers or people of the community.

“High school programming needs to be relevant for the high school student,” Frick said in order for this process to work.

Though he said the senate is making the right move, it will take “political will to make [educational success] happen.”

Frick said he believes relevant high school programming is necessary for this bill to work. It is the obligation of schools and districts to create interest for the kids, he said.

Adding to the issues, there is a 25 percentage point gap between AsianAmerican students and blacks who graduate at 55 percent, the lowest of all subgroups according to the AFE’s Web site.

Dancy said there are indicators of educational achievement. They include the educational level of parents, family structure (one-parent vs. two-parent homes) and household income. Those who lack access to these indicators will find themselves disadvantaged in school and the community.

Dancy said education is not just important among the disadvantaged, but among all communities given the everchanging needs of national and state workforces.

Sen. Kenneth Corn, D-Poteau, Oklahoma Senate Education Committee member, said the U.S. needs to stop prepping kids to just get into college. They need the education to give them the skills to go into various fields of work.

The bill is all about promises, but short on delivery because it does not deal with the actual issues and underlying problems, Corn said. These problems are keeping us from being competitive with world’s workforce and the new economy.

OUR COMMITMENT TO ACCURACY The Daily has a long-standing commitment to serve readers by providing accurate coverage and analysis. Errors are corrected as they are

identified. Readers should bring errors to the attention of the editorial board for further investigation by e-mailing dailynews@ou.edu.

Friday, February 19, 2010

3

TRI-STATE TRAIN ROUTE UNDER STUDY Amtrak still considering costs of connecting Texas, Oklahoma and Kansas, official says CASEY PARVIN Daily Staff Writer

An Amtrak study examining the possibility of a new train route connecting Texas, Oklahoma and Kansas is still in progress, Amtrak spokesman Mark Magliari said.

The Amtrak Expansion Feasibility Study is examining the costs of connecting Kansas City, Mo., and Fort Worth, Texas, according a press release. The new passenger rail service would extend the existing route from Dallas to Oklahoma City, known as the Heartland Flyer, to cover the 606 miles into Missouri.

The study was requested by the state of Kansas and was originally scheduled to be completed in 2009, but Magliari said Amtrak is still working on the analysis. He said he hopes the results will be released sometime this semester.

“The issue is generally feasibility,” said Brenda Perry, spokeswoman for Oklahoma Department of Transportation.

“Without enough demand from riders, the potential route could fail to break even financially.”

The new cities in Oklahoma that are included in this study as potential stops are Ponca City, Perry, Guthrie, Edmond and Davis. Amtrak already has stops in Oklahoma City, Norman, Purcell, Pauls Valley and Ardmore along the Heartland Flyer route.

If the Heartland Flyer route was extended to Kansas City, professional writing junior Jamie Birdwell said she would definitely ride the train.

“My boyfriend lives in Lawrence and we trade off every other weekend, so I drive to Kansas about once a month,” Birdwell said. “It takes about five hours on a good day.”

Depending on if a train ticket were comparable to the two tanks of gas she uses to make the trip, Birdwell said she would ride the train every once in awhile.

“It’s a really long trip, and it’d be nice to get a drink or something,” Birdwell said. “I’m always kind of scared to be driving by myself in case I were to break down on the side of the road.”

Birdwell said her boyfriend, OU alumnus and current University of Kansas graduate student Tyler Branson, would probably ride the train to Norman as well.

“He is a graduate student and has tons of readings and homework,” she said.

WILL BRYNE/THE DAILY

Amtrak is currently studying the possible expansion of service to northern Oklahoma cities and Kansas. Current studies are being conducted by the Oklahoma and Kansas Departments of Transportation, and spokespersons have indicated that a conclusion on whether to expand service will come later this year.

Plans to figure out potential costs and time for construction are premature because the feasibility study has yet to be completed, Perry said.

Lawmakers pass budget bills for FY2010 fix OKLAHOMA CITY — Gov. Brad Henry and legislative leaders forged a fix for this year’s budget crisis on Thursday, using federal stimulus funds and money from a state savings account to prevent trooper furloughs and ease cuts for education, health care and prisons.

Special budget committees in the House and Senate approved several funding bills to close an estimated $284 million hole in the budget for the fiscal year that ends June 30. As a result, supplemental funding will be given to state agencies that oversee education, health care, public safety, corrections and rehabilitation services.

While state agencies across the board have seen their budgets decrease by 7.5 percent this year, the supplemental funding will lessen the cuts in the targeted areas.

The funding bills still must be voted on by the full House

and Senate and signed by Henry.

“This is an important step forward and I applaud legislative leaders of both parties for their hard work, but it’s important to note we still face many challenges ahead,” Henry said in a statement.

The state is facing a general revenue shortfall of about $669 million, which means collections to the state have come up short of the amount of revenue allocated to state agencies at the start of the year. The 7.5 percent agency budget cuts have totaled about $385 million, leaving what’s left of the shortfall to be filled.

Under the bills, $223 million would be tapped from the state’s Rainy Day Fund this year; another $223 million would go into a special cash fund for next year’s budget.

That would leave about $150 million in the constitutional

reserve fund.

Henry, a Democrat, had proposed spending $485 million from the reserve fund on this year’s budget, but GOP leaders in the House and Senate wanted to spend no more than $223 million.

The bills approved Thursday also provide supplemental funding, using a combination of stimulus money and Rainy Day funds, for colleges and public schools, health care, prisons and the Department of Public Safety.

From the federal stimulus money, about $37 million was appropriated for common education and $145 million for the Oklahoma Health Care Authority, the state’s Medicaid agency. That leaves about $485 million in stimulus funds available for next year’s budget.

-AP

Democrat accuses Republicans of catering to TEA Party House had more ‘business to take care of,’ Rep. Cannaday says RICKY MARANON Assignment Editor

OKLAHOMA CITY — A Democratic representative is accusing Oklahoma House Republicans of catering to the needs of the Taxed Enough Already Party over the needs of Oklahomans.

Rep. Ed Cannaday, D-Porum, said he is upset the Oklahoma House of Representatives adjourned early Thursday so the House chamber could be used to host a TEA Party event.

“I find it very upsetting that we adjourned early so the Republicans could hear a TEA Party activist encourage them to do things such as cede from the union,” Cannaday said.

“We are in the middle of a horrible budget crisis, and we had business to take care of.”

The legislators only heard four items and seven bills before adjourning for the day. he said.

“We have people who are going without health care. We are cutting vital services for our citizens, and yet they close the chamber for the rest of the day to play politics,” he said.

Cannaday said the House could have heard almost 40 bills Thursday if it would have been open longer.

According to a press release, the TEA Party speaker was former Arizona sheriff Richard Mack, who spoke on the

OU HOSTS DISCUSSION WITH GAY PASTOR An openly gay pastor will discuss personal identity at 4 p.m. Feb. 26 in Dale Hall Tower, room 607.

Scott Jones will speak as part of Focus on Arts and Sciences Week, Angela Startz, OU College of Arts and Sciences spokeswoman, said in a news release.

Jones, a pastor at Cathedral of Hope United Church of Christ in Oklahoma City, said the discussion will explore how personal identity is a real-world issue. “ ... questions such as ‘Am I gay?’ ‘What is a Christian?’ and ‘What is an Oklahoman?’ must be grappled with daily (in my career),” he said.

POLICE REPORTS The following is a list of arrests and citations, not convictions. The information given is compiled from the Norman and OU Police Departments.

At times, the Cleveland County Sheriff’s Department and the Oklahoma City FBI will contribute to these reports. All those listed are innocent until proven guilty.

DRIVING UNDER THE INFLUENCE Austin Clark Allen, 19, 400 W. Boyd St., Wednesday DRIVING UNDER SUSPENSION Ronald Lynn Ray, 35, 225 N. Webster Ave., Wednesday, also improper registration, no insurance verification and municipal warrant

CAMPUS EVENTS

“These identity questions generate ethical and political concerns, including what virtues to embody if one exists in apparently conflicting identity categories.”

Concerns of how identity politics can complement and conflict with community building also will be addressed, Jones said.

“Personal Identity: A Real World Problem, Not Just an Academic Issue” is free and open to the public.

For accommodations on the basis of disability or more information, call 405-325-6324.

TODAY

—Caroline Perryman/The Daily

WOMEN’S OUTREACH

NOTICE OF PUBLIC ACCESS During the Regular Meeting Of The University of Oklahoma PUBLICATIONS BOARD TODAY at 12:30 p.m.

Copeland Hall, Room 146 Students, staff, faculty and others in the community are invited to express their views concerning The Oklahoma Daily or Sooner yearbook to the Publications Board.

importance of state sovereignty.

Approximately a dozen people attended his speech Tuesday. Mack told his listeners that Oklahoma should not allow the federal government to impose “un-Constitutional tyranny,” according to the release.

A secretary for House Speaker Chris Benge, R-Tulsa, said the House was finished with its daily agenda, and that is why it was able to adjourn.

She said Benge was unavailable for comment on the event.

“I respect Speaker Benge’s right to have a small agenda for the day, but I wish he could use the time he gave to the TEA Party to help real Oklahomans struggling in this hard time,” Cannaday said.

COLLEGE OF ENGINEERING College of Engineering faculty, staff and students are invited to E-Week Fluid Dynamics from 7:30 to 11 p.m. at O’Connell’s on Campus Corner.

SATURDAY

CENTER The Women’s Outreach Center will hold its annual Pink and Black Ball at 8 p.m. in the Molly Shi Boren Ballroom of the Oklahoma Memorial Union. Admission is $15.

Rob Lake, International Magician of the Year, will perform at 2 and 7:30 p.m. at the Sooner

Theatre in Downtown Norman. Tickets are $10 to $30 and half price for students.

MONDAY CAREER SERVICES Career Services will host a dining etiquette luncheon at 12:30 p.m. at the Associates Room. Admission is free. To sign up please call Career Services

at 405-325-1974.

The OU Women’s Outreach Center and Women and Gender Studies Department will present Eve Ensler’s The Vagina Monologues from 7 to 10 p.m. in the Meacham Auditorium. Tickets are $7 at the door and $5 with the donation of a toiletry item.

4

Friday, February 19, 2010

COMMENT OF THE DAY »

Max Avery, opinion editor dailyopinion@ou.edu • phone: 325-7630 • fax: 325-6051

You may vote for this semester’s big issue at:

OUDAILY.COM/OPINION

In response to Laura Wiederhoeft’s Thursday column on discussing environmental issues.

YOU CAN COMMENT AT OUDAILY.COM

“I like this start. If you continue to talk about the environment, please keep it away from a global warming vs. skeptics debate.

People can doubt the hockey stick, but I really doubt that anyone finds pollution to be wonderful. This could be a really great topic if it can avoid being turned into the political nonsense. Real solutions that are practical, and without any sort of hysterical rush.

- TheJeff

OUR VIEW

Don’t take the easy way out — exercise We want something for nothing, results with no effort. And fitness is a fine example. We see the modern cure-all — the pill you take to stay thin — advertised everywhere. Instead of taking the approach that’s tried and tested, diet and exercise, there is a market for this miracle; health in a pill.

OU’s Health and Exercise Science Department recently conducted a study with a grant from the General Nutrition Centers.

The study tested a miracle pill using the tri-pepper blend, pepper, niacin and 200 milligrams of caffeine as a diet pill. They were attempting to boost metabolism so you could have the health benefit of a 20-minute walk, without the walk.

We already have tested solutions with diets and exercise that give great results.

Pills like this are especially dangerous for college students.

We are new to the “real” world and inclined to indulge in less healthy substances at the age when our metabolisms begin to decline and our exercise time is cut by study and work.

We’re the prime market for these medical drugs that were proven by findings we find suspect. We aren’t challenging their methodology, we’re sure they’re pristine.

It’s just that last year, the Children’s Hospital Boston conducted a study that concluded research funded by a single

source, like General Nutrition Centers, is four to eight times more likely to conclude in favor of the donor, so we aren’t surprised the tests resulted positively.

This is why it’s always important to know who’s funding research, if it’s a single donor, or several donors with a common interest, conclusions should not be taken so seriously.

So don’t take the newfangled easy way out; it’ll hurt you more in the long run. Take the old and trusty approach to health — eat healthy and exercise. We doubt our Health and Exercise Science Department would argue with that advice.

Take care of yourselves, the natural way.

STAFF CARTOON

STAFF COLUMN

Dignity has more value than security

Dannon Cox is a broadcast junior.

STAFF COLUMN

Don’t ask, don’t tell people they can’t serve Each of the major branches of our armed services has its core values. In the U.S. Air Force, our servicemen are taught integrity comes first. In the Navy, it’s about “Honor — Courage — Commitment.”

The coat of arms at West Point reads “Duty — Honor — Country.”

Our rich military tradition is deeply rooted in the belief that the men and women who serve our country must stand as examples of the highest moral character for the people of the world. Sadly enough, we have spent almost 20 years drowning this ideal in the holy golden showers of our Christian nation.

At the beginning of this month, both Defense Secretary Robert Gates and chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Adm. Mike Mullen, testified about the repeal of “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” before the Senate Armed Services Committee. When both straight men came out in favor of repealing the policy, an ominous feeling washed over the land. As images of soldiers in skimpy rainbow camouflage raced through many conservative minds, Sen. John McCain, R-Arizona, rushed to place everything into perspective for a nation on the brink of chaos. “Has the policy been ideal? No, it has not,” McCain said. “But it has been effective.”

TRAVIS If anyone knows where I can get what McCain is smok- GROGAN ing, please let me know. This is the same guy who only a few years ago said “the day the leadership of the military comes to me and says ‘Senator, we ought to change the policy,’ then I think we ought to consider seriously changing it.” Well, the commander in chief, the secretary of defense and the head of the pentagon are now saying that repealing don’t ask don’t tell is the right thing to do. But I agree with you, Senator. We need to wait until the head of each sanitation department weighs in before making any hasty decisions.

Please clue me in, what exactly are conservatives afraid of? Does the Fox News crowd really believe that having members of the military utter the phrase “I am gay” is going to result in the undoing of our military?

Let’s look at the U.K. More than 10 years ago, the European Court of Human Rights found banning gays from openly serving in the military was a violation of their right to privacy. Since then, openly

gay members of the military seem to have been able to help us shoot back at Iraqis. Despite threats, there were no mass resignations.

There has been no noticeable detriment to combat effectiveness. In short, there have been no problems.

Conversely, I can see at least two big problems with don’t ask don’t tell. The first problem lies in fighting force. Under the policy, more than 800 mission critical troops have been discharged, including 59 Arabic linguists. I’ve talked to members of the military, both active and retired, who have said they would gladly risk talking to a member of the gay persuasion in exchange for a translator.

The second problem has far more terrifying implications.

If we force our gay troops to remain closeted, then we open ourselves up to potentially enormous security breaches. One of the highest-ranking soldiers to ever reveal themselves as gay is Gen. Keith H. Kerr, who spent most of his career in intelligence groups. Imagine if you were a foreign intelligence officer tasked with stealing secrets from the U.S. military. A general who feared being discharged under don’t ask don’t tell would look like a fairly lucrative prospect, wouldn’t he? Is our national sense of homophobia really worth compromising our vital secrets?

Make no mistake, Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell will be repealed.

Clinton should never have established it in the first place.

President Barack Obama should repeal it. This is not a matter for Congress. This is a matter for a president who can grow a pair and do the right thing. Our president needs to take a lesson from Harry S. Truman. Truman desegregated the U.S. military in 1948 with an Executive Order. Obama should do the same for gays in 2010.

We have lived with this absurd policy for the better part of two decades. The members of our armed services are asked to sacrifice enough. We ask them to sacrifice their relationships, their freedoms, and in some cases their very lives. We must no longer ask them to sacrifice who they are.

Travis Grogan is a political science and communications senior.

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Since airport security is already so quick, hassle-free and safe from the looming threat of nail clippers and safety pins, the Transportation Security Administration has decided to make it a little more exciting by requiring airports to install body scanners in place of metal detectors.

Well, in addition to taking full-color, highresolution photos of your naked body, apparently these scanners will take five times longer per passenger than traditional metal detectors and are so large that a lot of airports will have a hard time finding room for them.

Why are we putting up with this? Going through one of these scans is effectively the same as a strip-search, only the latter requires probable cause.

There’s a good reason for this — being system- BECCA atically stripped down in SKUPIN front of another person is invasive and embarrassing. We should only subject people to this with an extremely good reason.

It’s shocking the TSA thinks a three-dimensional photo is any less of a privacy violation. Even if the images are not stored or the scan operator doesn’t see the passenger afterward, it’s still disturbing and degrading to force the millions of people who fly every year to go through something like this every time they get on a plane.

Especially since it’s not going to work. Not completely.

This new technology might stop a few people from hiding explosives in their underpants, but it’s idiotic to expect airports to stop every single crazy person who walks through the doors. They can’t. Even the most intensive, thorough, time-consuming security anyone can come up with is not going to catch everything.

For example, even if airports somehow manage to squeeze these giant body scanners into already overcrowded airports, the machines wouldn’t detect an explosive if someone, say, swallowed it. Are we going to scan people’s internal organs next?

Maybe. The U.N. suggested it.

I’m not saying national security is something that should ever be taken lightly. Not at all. Every time people are hurt when a bomb goes off at a bus station or an office worker receives biological weapons in the mail, it’s an awful, horrible tragedy and we should do everything within reason to prevent such events from happening.

Instead of spending countless billions of dollars implementing ever more extreme and unconstitutional security measures, we should spend this money gathering the intelligence to stop terrorist groups and individuals from ever making it to the airport.

It is critical for this country to draw the line between national security and paranoia. You could live in a world where your phone calls were constantly monitored and you were finger-printed and cavity-searched every time you went to work. You’d have to surrender every ounce of dignity you had, but you’d be a lot safer.

I don’t want to live like that. There are awful people in the world who are going to do awful things, but if we let our fear of what they might do scare us into giving up our right not to feel like a criminal in our everyday lives, we have more serious problems than terrorists.

Becca Skupin is an English sophomore.

The Oklahoma Daily is a public forum and OU’s independent student voice.

Letters should concentrate on issues, not personalities, and should be fewer than 250 words, typed, double spaced and signed by the author(s). Letters will be cut to fit. Students must list their major and classification. OU staff and faculty must list their title. All letters must include a daytime phone number. Authors submitting letters in person must present photo identification.

Submit letters Sunday through Thursday, in 160 Copeland Hall. Letters can also be submitted via e-mail to dailyopinion@ ou.edu.

Guest columns are accepted at editor’s discretion. ’Our View’ is the voice of The Oklahoma Daily.

Editorial Board members are The Daily’s editorial staff.

The board meets Sunday through Thursday at 4:30 p.m. in 160 Copeland Hall.

Columnists’ and cartoonists’ opinions are not necessarily the opinions of The Daily Editorial Board.

Friday, February 19, 2010

« BASEBALL Listen to the baseball podcast by The Daily’s Dan Hays and Jono Greco at OUDAILY.COM

5

Aaron Colen, sports editor dailysports@ou.edu • phone: 325-7630 • fax: 325-6051

Sooners look to change fortunes with upset OU needs a turnaround against Kansas State to keep any postseason hopes alive

12 Freshman of the Year, a positive light that would be shed on the Sooners, after so many disappointments this year.

JORDAN MARKS Despite the three-game losing Daily Staff Writer streak the Sooners are enduring, they look to add to their impressive The men’s basketball team, winning record at Lloyd Noble, loswhich has struggled ing only one game on the road, look to there this season.

KEYS TO THE GAME defend home court The Sooners and vie for a postseawill have to SOONERS WIN IF... son tournament this come to play on Saturday at Lloyd Saturday as they • They hold Wildcats below Noble Center against will have their 70 points the No. 7 Kansas hands full with State Wildcats. the Wildcats (21• They shoot above 42 The Sooners (134, 8-3), who are percent from the 3-point 12, 4-7) are coming on a four-game line off a tough road loss winning streakin Colorado, and are ing following a playing for pride as • They hold Clemente and two-point loss to they near the end Pullen to a total of 21 the No. 1 Kansas of this hard-fought points combined Jayhawks. season.

In order for the Though in the Sooners to make team's first 17 games, Tommy the big dance they will need to win Mason-Griffin did not lead the out, and have a good showing in Sooners in scoring, he has since the Big 12 Tournament. Saturday's had or tied for the scoring high in test will dictate the Sooners’ fate for the last 6 of 8 games. The fresh- the remainder of the season. man is competition to be the Big

NEIL MCGLOHON/THE DAILY

Cade Davis, junior guard, runs down the court during the men’s basketball game against Texas Tech Feb. 9 in Lloyd Noble Center.

Sooner baseball must answer tough questions as they open the 2010 season JONO GRECO Daily Staff Writer

NEIL MCGLOHON/THE DAILY

Danielle Robinson, junior guard, looks to pass the ball during the women’s basketball game against Baylor on Feb. 10 in the Lloyd Noble Center.

Women’s basketball travels to face Kansas State over weekend Sooner women to return to conference play after matchup with Connecticut earlier in the week ANNELISE RUSSELL Daily Staff Writer

OU women’s basketball is on the road this weekend to the Little Apple of Kansas, Manhattan, to take on Kansas State on Sunday afternoon.

The (18-7) women are coming off a loss at home to No.1 Connecticut and will be looking to get back into the swing of Big 12 basketball.

The Sooners broke the usual Big 12 schedule to play the Huskies, and they hung with the top team in the nation before becoming Connecticut’s 65th consecutive win.

The Sooners have only dropped three games in conference this season, all to ranked teams.

Those three losses came at the hands of Baylor and Iowa State on the road, and Texas at home.

This could prove problematic for a Wildcat team that is 12-13 so far this season. Kansas State has perennially been a Big 12 North powerhouse, but are experiencing a down year after losing talent like Shalee Lehning and Marlies Gibson to graduation.

Tip-off for this conference conflict is 2 p.m.

9

Association champion Howard College last season, and posted a 13-0 record with a 3.21 earned run average en route to a second team The recent weather has not been ideal for any All-American honor. What was most impressive baseball player, so it is understandable why the about Neal’s 2009 was his control and dominance No. 22 OU baseball team is excited to start the sea- around the place, recording 104 strikeouts and alson with a four-game series against the San Diego lowing nine walks in 89 2/3 innings.

State Aztecs at 8 p.m. in San Diego.

Neal has already gained the respect of his But before the Sooners take the field, they have teammates in his short time with the team, and to address a few issues following a disappointing Buechele said he is impressed by Neal’s arsenal end to the 2009 season. of pitches. “[Neal has] got three pitches that I think are alHOW WILL OU REPLACE ALL OF THE TALENT IT LOST most unhittable,” Buechele said.

DUE TO GRADUATION AND THE MLB DRAFT? Golloway said he is still looking for the Saturday and Sunday starting pitchers, but with the depth The Sooners lost many players at key positions of the pitching staff he does not plan on having from last year’s team that was knocked out of any problems finding players for those roles.

College World Series contention in the Regional The saving grace for this unfamiliar pitching round at home. During the offstaff will be its closer, season, they were looking to junior pitcher Ryan PLAYERS TO WATCH find replacements for six startDuke. His 16 saves ing positions: pitcher, includand .212 opponents’ SOPHOMORE THIRD BASEMAN ing a Friday-night ace, catcher, batting average last first base, second base, shortseason earned Duke GARRETT BUECHELE stop and center field. a 2009 third team All2009 Stats: .353 batting average, four home Head coach Sunny Golloway American Award and runs, 40 RBIs, .951 fielding percentage said he is anxious yet optimisa spot on the 2010 pretic to start the season with this season All-American JUNIOR LEFT FIELDER CASEY new roster to the point where team. the lack of sleep has become a Golloway said he JOHNSON running joke at his home bethought about moving 2009 Stats: .307 batting average, seven tween him and his wife.

Duke into the starting home runs, 44 RBIs, .966 fielding percent“We’ve got to replace that, rotation, but decided to age and we’ve got quality athletes to keep the solid reliever do that,” Golloway said. “We’re in the closer position, a JUNIOR INFIELDER CALE ELLIS excited about what they’re decision Duke said he going to be able to do.” does not have a prob2009 Stats (with Seminole State): .299 batTwo of the most important lem with. ting average, 28 RBIs, 14 stolen bases things about having a new team “[Closing is] a fun are finding leadership and crejob,” Duke said. “It’s ating chemistry between the what I like to do.” older players and the newer faces. Sophomore Garrett Buechele, a 2009 freshman All-American HOW MUCH WILL THE SOONERS HAVE TO RELY ON and Big 12 Freshman of the Year, said chemistry SMALL-BALL TO WIN GAMES? will not be a problem this season.

“We’ve just got great ballplayers who keep comIt is not a secret Golloway would rather win ing in,” Buechele said. “I can only see our team game by remaining balanced and playing smallgoing up from here. ball than rely on the long-ball to get past his opponents. Granted, he is not against hitting three WILL THE NEW-LOOK PITCHING STAFF RISE TO THE to five home runs per game, but Golloway and OCCASION THIS SEASON? the Sooners may not have that kind of luxury after losing the majority of their power hitters from last Golloway said the two most important pitching year. roles are the Friday-night starter and the closer. OU The Sooners hit 91 home runs in 2009, and they remained safe at closer, but had to figure out who lost six players who accounted for 67 of those home would replace pitcher Andrew Doyle, last years’ runs. None of the returning players hit double-digFriday-night starter, in the pitching rotation. it home runs, and junior left fielder Casey Johnson Teams can usually find someone who was a leads those players with seven home runs. starter from the year before to fill that role, but the “Our power numbers fell dramatically,” Sooners found their ace in a junior college pitcher, Buechele said. “We still have guys who hit the ball junior Zach Neal. a long way, we’ll still be a powerful club, but we The right-hander from Flower Mound, Texas, will probably play more small-ball than we had to played for 2009 National Junior College Athletic last year. We’ll still be all right.”

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6 Friday, February 19, 2010 Thad Baker, advertising manager classifieds@ou.edu • phone: 325-2521 • fax: 325-7517

PLACE AN AD Phone: 405-325-2521 E-mail: classifieds@ou.edu

Fax: 405-325-7517 Campus Address: COH 149A

DEADLINES Line Ad ..................................................................................3 days prior Place your line ad no later than 9:00 a.m. 3 days prior to publication.

Display Ad ............................................................................3 days prior Classified Display or Classified Card Ad Place your display, classified display or classified card ads no later than 5:00 p.m. 3 days prior to publication.

PAYMENT s r

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Payment is required at the time the ad is placed. Credit cards, cash, money orders or local checks accepted.

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There is a 2 line minimum charge; approximately 42 characters per line, including spaces and punctuation.

(Cost = Days x # lines x $/line) 10-14 days.........$1.15/line 15-19 days.........$1.00/line 20-29 days........$ .90/line 30+ days ........ $ .85/line

Employment

AUTO INSURANCE

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STUDENTPAYOUTS.COM Paid survey takers needed in Norman

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Foreign students welcomed.

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BUSSER, must be available for lunch shifts and weekends. HOST, must be available for night shifts and weekends.

Apply in person M-F 11am to noon, 1300 Classen Blvd.

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POLICY The Oklahoma Daily is responsible for one day’s incorrect advertising.

If your ad appears incorrectly, or if you wish to cancel your ad call 3252521, before the deadline for cancellation in the next issue. Errors not the fault of the advertiser will be adjusted. Refunds will not be issued for late cancellations.

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.

P/T dishwasher, waitstaff and delivery person needed.

Orient Express, 722 Asp, 364-2100.

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3 1 6 2 8 9 5 4 7

7 9 5 6 3 4 8 1 2

9 7 8 3 2 5 4 6 1

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2 6 3 4 1 8 7 5 9

6 3 4 1 9 7 2 8 5

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1 8 7 5 6 2 9 3 4

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

HOROSCOPE

By Bernice Bede Osol

Copyright 2008, Newspaper Enterprise Assn.

Friday, Feb. 19, 2010 AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 19) -- You’re on a profitable roll so press forward on matters or arrangements you believe can benefit you and others. Chances are everyone will realize some financial gain.

PISCES (Feb. 20-March 20) -- Your ability to judge others accurately is quite astounding. It can be used to your advantage if you are put in charge of allocating who does what specific assignments that could benefit all.

ARIES (March 21-April 19) -Lucky you, because there will be several persons working on your behalf without you even having to ask them for help. Be grateful so that you’ll remember what they did for you.

TAURUS (April 20-May 20) -- Wishes can become realities if you go out into the world and start to make things happen instead of waiting for fate to roll the dice. Life occurs for those who live it.

GEMINI (May 21-June 20) -- Remember the saying, “We get to heaven leaning on the arms of those we help.” You can advance your interests by offering some unselfish aid to those in need.

CANCER (June 21-July 22) -Some good relationships can be developed with several people who would be nice to know.

When you see others in need, step forward and offer to help in ways that only you can.

APTS. FURNISHED $400, bills paid, efficiency LOFT apartments, downtown over Mister Robert Furniture, 109 E Main, fire sprinkler, no pets, smoke-free. Inquire store office.

4 brm (individually leased) furnished apts $435 all-inclusive - near campus - open floor plan - private bath/walk-in closet Visit edgeApt.com or call 364-4000!

APTS. UNFURNISHED No Car Needed! Practically across from campus, 2 beds, hardwood floors, fireplace, all bills paid, $850. Sharon, Metro Brokers of OK, 397-3200.

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HOUSES UNFURNISHED AVAILABLE IN MAY A short walk to OU, 1-5 blks west of OU, nice brick homes, wood floors, CH/A, W/D, disposal, good parking.

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ROOMS FURNISHED NEAR OU, privacy, $230, bills paid includes cable, neat, clean, parking. Prefer male student. Call 329-0143.

Previous Solution 8 4 2 7 5 1 6 9 3

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.

Previous Answers

Needs students for all types of jobs, kitchen, dining room, housekeeping, stores, maintenance, horse wrangler, office and other. Salary, room & board/bonus. For information and application write to: Student Personnel Director 6315 Westover Drive Granbury TX 76049 or Call 1-800-548-1684 or email: rafain@sbcglobal.net

The Brewhouse NOW HIRING wait staff!

Apply after 3pm at 110 W Main. 3212739

Contact an Acct Executive for details at 325-2521.

The Oklahoma Daily will not knowingly accept advertisements that discriminate on the basis of race, color, gender, religious preference, national origin or sexual orientation. Violations of this policy should be reported to The Oklahoma Daily Business Office at 325-2521.

FUN VALLEY FAMILY RESORT SOUTH FORK COLORADO

University College is seeking current students to work with the Summer Enrollment Program for entering freshmen. Positions are FT temporary May 18 - July 30. Pay is $8/hour with weekends/holidays off.

Application at uc.ou.edu. For questions, contact Brian Nossaman at bnoss@ou. edu or 325-3521.

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J Housing Rentals

LEO (July 23-Aug. 22) -- Offer your abilities and expertise if what you know can be used to improve others’ lives. It’s one of those days when you will get back double what you put in.

VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22) -- People will find you to be an agreeable person with whom to make deals. Everyone wins when both sides are willing to be fair, impartial and share what they have to offer.

LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 23) -- Be on your toes for opportunities to get ahead in personal projects or business dealings. In either case, you will gain in proportion to the effort you expend.

SCORPIO (Oct. 24-Nov. 22) -- This is a better-than-usual day to make amends with people who have caused some recent problems. When you reach out, they will do the same.

SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 23-Dec. 21) -- Instead of waiting to be asked or told what to do, take the initiative and resolve what you think needs resolving. Follow your inclinations, and others will begin to pitch in, too.

CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19) -- It shouldn’t be too difficult to get others to join your efforts to do something nice for someone in need. If you ask nicely, there isn’t likely to be too many who will turn you down.

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Universal Crossword Edited by Timothy E. Parker February 19, 2010

ACROSS 1 15-0 in baseball, e.g.

5 Antiknock ingredient 10 Gold-winning Korbut 14 It’s plucked in Parma 15 A bib catches it 16 Bank or library offering 17 Browse through 18 In desperate need of help 20 Like craft fair goods 22 Annoy 23 “Gidget” star Sandra 24 “The Mikado” wardrobe item 25 Cooperative effort 30 Sting’s real last name 34 Celestial spheres 35 First sound in an MGM movie 37 Infamous first name among hoteliers 38 “This ___ shall pass” 39 Egg-based paint 41 What gossiping tongues do 42 Draw forth 44 Weapon with a bellshaped guard 45 Meet

head-on 46 Authors Anya and Ernest 48 Insults 50 Aromatherapy setting 51 Times gone by, in times gone by 52 Is a part of, as a play 55 Handle incorrectly?

60 All over 62 “Hello, sailor!”

63 “Just ___!” (“Be right with you!”)

64 War classic “Low ___” 65 Hackman of “The French Connection” 66 “Honey do” list item 67 Absinthe flavor 68 Casey Jones, for one (Abbr.)

DOWN 1 Acting too hastily 2 Doomed vessel in “Jaws” 3 No longer bedridden 4 Bicycles built for two 5 Collection of Norse poems 6 Beat a path 7 “Battle Hymn of the Republic” author 8 Hither and ___ 9 Argentine grasslands

10 Ancient 11 Goods for a fence 12 Caesar’s conquest 13 Opening payment 19 Astronomer’s sighting 21 Kitten’s noise 25 Bags at the mall 26 Create chasms 27 Assayer’s raw material 28 Seven Hills city 29 Certain sorority woman 31 At times 32 Bring into law 33 Continues furiously, as a storm 36 Coral buildup 39 Alley target 40 He may OK a KO

43 Czarist-era peasant group 45 Fall display 47 Bullock of “The Blind Side” 49 Abbr. after many a military title 52 Give ___ lip (punch) 53 Castro calls it home?

54 “___ bien!”

55 Between mini- and maxi56 13th or 15th of the month 57 All dried out 58 “Blaze” politico 59 Once-over giver 61 “... ___ one for the Gipper”

PREVIOUS PUZZLE ANSWER

© 2010 Universal Uclick www.upuzzles.com

AND THEN WHAT? by Dell Landon

Friday, February 19, 2010

Joshua Boydston, L&A editor dailyent@ou.edu • phone: 325-5189 • fax: 325-6051

7

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Check out the “Fun Friday” videos, including “Rant!,” “Crazy Squirrel” and the latest “Fan Boys” podcast discussing “Bioshock 2” and the new “Halo” trailer.

WHAT A MAGICAL FRIDAY IT IS SUPERSTAR MAGICIAN REAPPEARS BACK HOME DUSTY SOMERS Daily Staff Writer

Rob Lake didn’t get an acceptance letter from Hogwarts on his 11th birthday, so he had to make his own magic.

“They don’t take Americans,” Lake said.

A childhood fascination with magic tricks and illusions led to a globetrotting career for Norman native Lake, who takes his magic act all over the world and will be back to perform his first hometown show in four years Saturday at Sooner Theatre.

Lake is the 2008 recipient of the Merlin Award for international stage magician of the year from the International Magicians Society, but his magic career began much earlier. Lake did his first magic show at 10 years old, but friends and family didn’t recognize how serious he was about it, he said.

“I don’t think anybody realized it was more than just a hobby,” Lake said. “[Even as a kid] I knew it was more than a hobby. I practiced and drove my family and friends crazy with card tricks.”

People found out just how serious it was when Lake dropped out of OU, where he was a health and exercise sciences major, in 2003 to pursue magic fulltime. He planned to come back and finish his degree, but had too many performance offers, he said.

Now, Lake still calls Norman home, but is on the road about 75 percent of the time performing about 500 shows in a year, he said. He st staves off burn out with a healthyy diet and train training for triathlons and hee staves off loneliness with his tight-knit knit collection of assistants and crew, w, a group he’s dubbed “the magic family. amily.”

While the he near-constant touring means he doesn’t get to see much of his friends ds and family in Norman or his dog, Lake is grateful for the opportunity to o travel everywhere from Tokyo to London ndon to Los Angeles.

PHOTO PRO PROVIDED OVIDED

Magician Rob Lake performs his illusions. The Norman native willl appear at 2 andd 7:30 p.m. Saturday at Sooner Theatre, 101 E. Main St. “I love being on the go and traveling a lot,” Lake said. “It’s just part of what I do.”

Some of Lake’s most popular illusions include making a motorcycle vanish in mid-air and writing a prediction on a chalkboard at the beginning of the show that comes true. So far, he’s never been wrong, he said, but just in case something unexpected happens, he has three or four different methods for each trick to provide an alternate path.

Although Lake admits to simply doing illusions in his show, he’s open to discovering actual magic, and is studying the ancient history of it, he said.

“I definitely want to believe there’s at least a possibility for magic [to exist],” Lake said. “It’s very interesting h how secretive the origins of magic are.”

Lake’s interest in the ancient extends to his show, where h he often performs the oldest illusion in the w world.

It was depicted on pyramid walls and features three different colors of sand and water that had to be imported directly from the Nile River, he said.

For Lake, getting etting skeptics to suspend disbelief elief — even for a moment ent — is a big thrill of his job, and somethingg that almost everyone seems to enjoy, he said.

“Especially now more than ever, people need an escape,” cape,” e ” Lake La said. “We all want to believe eve in magic ic and miracles.”

Saturday at Sooner Theatre, heatre, he’ll give that chance to a hometown crowd, including friendss and family he hasn’t seen in a long ng time, Lake said. And they’ll give him something he can hardly ly find anywhere else in thee world. “[Norman] is one of the few places I can sayy ‘Boomer’ on stage and gett a proper response,” he said.

Rob Lake will perform at 2 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. Saturday rday at Sooner Theatre, 101 E. Main St. in Norman. Tickets range ange from $$20 to $30, and are halfprice for stud students. For tickets, kets, call 321-9600.

« Gob Bluth from “Arrested Development.”

PHOTOS PROVIDED

ENCHANTING BAND HAS A FEW TRICKS UP ITS SLEEVE MATT CARNEY Daily Staff Writer

Ever wonder what a song that requires seven months to record sounds like? Just ask Will McElroy from indie band Magic Kids, who’ll be playing “Hey Boy,” amongst other songs, at their show at Opolis Friday night.

“We were recording it ourselves, FOR FANS OF: so we just had to figure it out as we went along,” McElroy said. “For the Girls orchestral stuff, we had to reach out Grizzly Bear to some acquaintances. We didn’t Beach House have any budget for it, so we had to convince some really nice people to play for us.”

The orchestral music is part of one of the most elaborate and catchy throwback tracks to be performed in Norman in a while. “Hey Boy” captures a time when boys and girls went steady and dreamed of surfing, filtered through the 2010s’ hipster nostalgia. But don’t expect a prissy, polished live show that prattles on forever, fueled by the artists’ penchant for entertaining themselves with the funny sounds they make. “The things important for recording aren’t necessarily as important for a live show,” McElroy said. “We want it to be immediate and fun — hopefully people will feel the same way.”

Magic Kids are a Memphis-based indie pop set, scooped up a few weeks ago by True Panther Sounds, a smalltime outfit that claims Girls — one of last year’s biggest

their clientele. McElroy breakthrough acts — among thei was excited to share a stage with a band that shares his passion for stripped-down surf tunes in San Francisco Sunday night. “Oh [the show with Girls] was great. It was a really good atmosphere atmosphere, a really positive night.”

Rounding out the bill is Okl Oklahoma City’s own Junebug Spade, a spot frontman tman Peter Pet Seay is anticipating with curiosity. “[Magic Kids]] aare a pretty original band, I can’t wait to check ‘em out,” Seay said. His band skews more toward their favorite classic rock influencMAGIC KIDS AT THE OPOLIS es, like The Kinks, The Rolling Stones and The When: 9 p.m. tonight Velvet Underground. “ Ju s t A n o t h e r,” f ro m Where: Opolis, 113 N. Crawford their self-titled first EP, Ave., Norman screeches guitars like early-era Wilco and With: Junebug Spade and La chimes and jangles like Panther Happens The Cars, another band Seay says people comCost: $8 pare the band to, “because of our synthesizer sounds.”

The combination of the two acts ought to provide a well-balanced night of music that’ll appeal to a wide audience of listeners. Also PHOTO PROVIDED supporting will be La Panther Happens. The show will The Magic Kids’ Al Bennett playing guitar.

The band will appear at start at 9 p.m.

9 p.m. tonight at the Opolis.

Mention Or Bring This Coupon In And Receive N.O.-XPLODE for $35.99.

*offer ends Feb. 28th, 2010

1326 N. Interstate Dr. In Robinson Crossing Norman, OK 405.307.0455

8

Friday, February 19, 2010

Mind-bending thriller shows Scorsese still has it For film fans, a Martin Scorsese picture released in the middle of February is like manna straight from heaven. A month that’s usually reserved for the dregs of the barrel, like “Valentine’s Day” and “From Paris with Love,” featuring a film from one of the masters of American cinema? It’s got to be too good to be true.

And in a way, it is. It’s no secret the Scorsese of the 21st century doesn’t hold a candle to the Scorsese of the 20th — anyone who proclaims that “The Departed” is a masterpiece must DUSTY not have seen SOMERS “Taxi Driver” or “Raging Bull” or the underrated, surreal “After Hours.”

So, evaluating “Shutter Island,” Scorsese’s latest, based on the novel by Dennis Lehane (“Mystic River”), presents a bit of a quandary.

Is it a good film compared to everything else on the theater marquee right now? Absolutely.

Is it a good film compared to Scorsese’s output from the last 10 years? Yes, and it’s probably his strongest achievement from that time frame.

Is it a good film, period? Well, sort of. It’s certainly an effectively engaging psychological

thriller with flashes of the cinematic brilliance one hopes for in a Scorsese film. Still, there’s no getting around the fact that the film relies far too heavily on a telegraphed gotcha twist ending that relegates it to the one-viewing-only pile.

Scorsese’s go-to guy, Leonardo DiCaprio, stars as U.S. federal marshal Teddy Daniels, a World War II veteran investigating a federally funded mental institution on a rock in the middle of the ocean in 1954.

Paired up with a new partner, Chuck (Mark Ruffalo), Daniels is determined to get to the bottom of a missing patient case — a woman (Emily Mortimer) who drowned her three children and has seemingly vanished into thin air.

The two marshals run into their share of difficulty, primarily from head honchos Dr. Cawley (Ben Kingsley), known for his unorthodox methods of treatment, and Dr. Naehring (Max von Sydow), who has German roots that set alarms off in Daniels’ head.

With no answers to the mystery forthcoming, Daniels and Chuck soon find themselves trapped on the island thanks to a hurricane, and Daniels begins to suspect that the man who killed his wife (Michelle Williams) may be in that very same institution.

Scorsese develops a very measured sense of pacing that reveals little, but remains interesting.

The Boom Bang lights things up The Boom Bang have exploded onto the Oklahoma music scene over the course of the past year.

And with a Las Vegas music festival and SXSW house parites coming up, the blast seems far from fizzling out.

The Boom Bang’s guitarist Tommy McKenzie took the time to answer a few questions about their upcoming show in Stillwater, influences and playing with fire.

WHY MAKE THE DRIVE UP TO STILLWATER TO SEE THE SHOW?

The drive is totally worth it.

The Vault is one of our favorite places to play. Where else could you watch a great local band, and look at gruesome old horror movies? The local scence is so supportive and personal to everyone up there. The owner, Dave, makes us feel like it is our home away from home.

« SHOWTIMES Hollywood TheatersSpotlight 14 1100 N. Interstate Drive, Norman 12:15, 12:45, 3:25, 3:55, 6:30, 7:00, 9:35, 10:05 Moore Warren Theatre 1000 S. Telephone Road, Moore 12:10, 12:50, 3:10, 4:00, 6:15, 7:15, 9:30, 10:20, 11:00 PHOTO PROVIDED

Mark Ruffalo and Leonardo DiCaprio in a still from “Shutter Island.” The film is released nationally today.

However, it’s clear from the start that the film is setting its audience up for a surprise — and frankly, there aren’t many options as to what that’s going to be.

As a series of homages — “Shutter Island” is steeped in a ’50s noir atmosphere — the film succeeds in a way that most wouldn’t, as most contemporary directors don’t have a tenth of the film history knowledge that Scorsese does.

And when it deals with Daniels’ interior life, “Shutter Island” is riveting. His hallucinations and flashbacks have a photographic richness and emotional resonance that just isn’t there among most of the labyrinthine

schedule

plot machinations.

Then there’s the film’s final flashback — an extended sequence that gives us the truth once and for all. It’s a horrific, beautiful, heartbreaking and long section that is masterful, and something most directors would’ve communicated in a series of quick edits and shocked faces. Scorsese lets us savor it, even if we don’t particularly want to.

At its best, “Shutter Island” is a reminder of the gift to cinema that Martin Scorsese always will be. He’s on the downward slope, but plop him down in the middle of February, and it seems like the golden age all over again.

free senior

your

portrait sitting

Call 325-3668 to schedule or walk in Feb. 22-March 12 in

Oklahoma Memorial Union

HOW WOULD YOU SAY ALL THE BANDS ON THE LINEUP CONNECT MUSICALLY?

All of the bands play with such large amount of passion and charisma. We are all willing to try something new and a bit odd. Buying a ticket will guarantee you to seeing the newest up and coming Oklahoma bands.

HOW WOULD YOU DESCRIBE THE SOUND OF THE BAND?

The Boom Bang’s sound can be described as a messy, sloppy stew of fuzzed out garage music with punk. We are able to make a music that bands typically aren’t able to individualize, and give it a very personal and hot attitude.

WHAT ARE A FEW THINGS THE BOOM BANG HAS ON THE HORIZON?

We are looking forward to a very busy March. We will be playing at the Neon Reverb Music Festival in Las Vegas, drive all the way back home to play with the Turbo Fruits (former members of Be Your Own Pet), then shortly after going up to Austin to do house partys and such at SXSW. We will also be finishing up our debut album, “Ghost Without A Coast,” to be released this summer.

WHAT HAS BEEN THE COOLEST EXPERIENCE PLAYING LIVE SO FAR?

The best experience playing has been probably getting to play DFest, and not getting kicked out for fireworks and destroying an amp. We were able to play with The Intelligence (In The Red). They are one of our favorite bands, and they were unbelieveably nice.

WHO ARE SOME BANDS THAT YOU LOOK UP TO?

We look up to surf musicians such as Davie Allan, Dick Dale, and Link Wray, garage bands such as The Music Machine, The Mummies, The Cramps, The Gruesomes, The Novas, The Swamp Rats, and contemporay bands like Wavves, Lightning Bolt, The Intelligence, Thee Oh Sees, Dum Dum Girls, Crocodiles.

Joshua Boydston is a psychology sophomore.

Sooner yearbook is a publication of OU Student Media in the division of Student Affairs.

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Dusty Somers is a journalism senior.

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