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REGENTS APPROVE 2 NEW COLLEGE HEADS Board of Regents meeting topics also include addition of Arabic degree, conflict of interest policy, football air travel bid CHARLES WARD Daily Staff Writer
Two OU colleges will have new heads after action taken Thursday at the meeting of the Board of Regents. Joe Harroz, a former OU general counsel, will head up the College of Law, while David Ray will shed the interim tag from his title as Dean of the Joe C. and Carole Kerr McClendon Honors College. Harroz served for 12 years as OU’s general counsel, and left in 2008 to be president of Graymark Healthcare, Inc. in Oklahoma City.
He received a bachelor’s degree in economics from OU before earning a law degree from Georgetown, a release accompanying his announcement states. He said two things mattered to him when deciding to accept the position: the kind of legacy he wanted to leave and how frequently an opportunity like this would be available. “The last time this was available was 14 years ago,” he said. “For me, I thought about it, and to me the answer was, you can have a chance to be involved with students and I can do something I am passionate about, which is the law.” He also has been an adjunct professor at the College of Law for the last 10 years, teaching employment and sports law, he said. Harroz said he plans to teach at least one class a year at the college and remain a director of Graymark.
Harroz was selected after a national search and was approved by an “overwhelming vote” of the law faculty, Boren said. Ray has been a political science professor at OU since 1992. He took over as interim dean of the Honors College on July 1. “If there’s any person on this campus that has the heart of a teacher, that puts students first, that values the teaching enterprise and all it means to our students, it’s David Ray,” Boren said. Ray has won six teaching awards while at OU, according to a release that accompanied his selection. Ray will begin as dean Thursday, while Harroz takes over from Andy Coats on July 1. Also, OU will offer a bachelor’s degree in Arabic, if the new degree approved by the OU regents also is approved by the Oklahoma State REGENTS CONTINUES ON PAGE 2
MERRILL JONES/THE DAILY
Maureen Brady dances with Matt Johnson, health and exercise science senior, Wednesday at the Senior Prom at Rambling Oaks Assisted Living. The prom was sponsored by REACH ministries, an OU student organization.
Students take seniors to prom A university organization sponsors Senior Prom at assisted living center CASSI TONEY Daily Staff Writer
Residents at a local assisted living center attended prom Thursday night with the help of more than a dozen OU students. Rambling Oaks Assisted Living welcomed REACH Ministries, an OU student organization, for its second annual Senior Prom. The night included music from the 1950s and 1960s, a photo booth and crowning of Prom King and Queen. “Watching all the young people dance is a great thing,” said Jean Pevehouse, Rambling Oaks resident. Pevehouse said this is the first event like this she has seen in two years at Rambling Oaks. “It’s a good turn out for this group,” Pevehouse said. Resident Barbara Manning said the best part was visiting with the young people from OU. She said she also enjoyed the punch and the dancing. “It was a tremendous change from our usual routine,” Manning said. “The dancing made me want to turn the clock back. It’s great dancing music. It makes it hard to sit down.” Kathryn Collins, public relations
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junior, volunteered at the event for the second time. “It was so much fun to see the senior citizens have fun, dance and let loose,” Collins said. She said her favorite part was announcing the Senior Citizen Prom King and Queen. Melissa Hays, film and video studies senior, said she did not get to attend the prom last year. “I went to bingo last year, loved all the people and just wanted to come back,” Hays said. In addition to the dancing and picture, Hays said she loved getting to know the residents and letting them talk and tell their stories and relive their younger years. Taylor Doe, human relations junior, founded REACH Ministries, which hosted the event.He said while it was a success, more residents attended last year. “[Last year], we had several ladies crying because it was the first time to dance in 25 years,” Doe said. Doe said the group also organized “Bingo in the Bahamas” for the Rambling Oaks Assisted Living Center. “They get really competitive with it,” Doe said. “It’s crazy.” The residents praised the students whose efforts provided them a memorable night. “I’m looking forward to our next senior prom,” Manning said.
NICOLE ROGERS / THE DAILY
Taylor Doe, human relations junior, dances with Ann Ward at Rambling Oaks’ senior citizen prom. The dance took place Thursday.
© 2009 OU PUBLICATIONS BOARD
Official urges students fill out census Participation important for allocating federal money CASEY WILSON Daily Staff Writer
The 2010 Census has been mailed out and returning the form will determine more than just the state’s population, according to a census official. The census has two main purposes : To det e r m i n e O k l a h o m a’s political representation in congress and help determine how more than $400 billion in federal monies are allotted to the states annually, said Sidna Madden, local census office manager. The correct population amount also will affect the provision of social services and federal aid in Oklahoma, Madden said. By d e t e r m i n i n g t h e state’s population, the correct amount of federal aid can be allotted when a state of emergency is declared in Oklahoma, she said. The census will take a snapshot of Oklahoma’s population at a certain point in time, Madden said. “And we consider April 1 to be that point,” she said. Michael Leech, zoology sophomore, said he lives in student housing, and has not gotten the census in the mail. Leech said he probably doesn’t need to fill out the census. H o w e v e r, M a d d e n said college students will need to fill out the census wherever they happen to be. Madden gave the exa m p l e o f a s t u d e nt at OU who is actually from Texas. That student’s family in Texas will get the census form, she said. “It says if a student is away at college, do not count them,” she said. The amount of censuses returned as of now is about as expected, she said. The census office has seen 10 percent of Oklahoma County and 37 percent of Logan County respond to the census, she said. “I can see these numbers daily, and it’s kind of on track as to what we thought it would be since t h e s e f o r m s hav e ju s t gone out,” she said. The information the census provides will be available March 2011, she said. Colin Kirk, aerospace engineering senior, said he has received the census in the mail. Kirk, who is married and lives with his wife, said he plans to fill out the census, and has no problems with answering the questions.
VOL. 95, NO. 121
2 Friday, March 26, 2010 Caitlin Harrison, managing editor dailynews@ou.edu • phone: 325-3666 • fax: 325-6051
OUDAILY.COM » THE DAILY’S BRICE BECKWITH AND BRAND RACKLEY DISCUSS THE BEER OF THE WEEK — RED STRIPE.
PLANT LIFE
Regents Continues from page 1 Regents for Higher Education. Boren said OU earned a federal grant which will help pay for professors’ salaries for the first “four or five years” of the program. The regents also approved a plan for distributing more than $3.2 million of student fees for the 2010-11 school year. UOSA will receive $593,359 and Student Life will receive $581,696, the two largest line items on the distribution plan. Student Media will receive $169,561. The allocation is based on projected revenues from fees for the coming school year, the agenda for the meeting states. American Airlines won a bidding process to provide $451,486 worth of air travel to the OU football team for the coming season, and the regents approved that bid Thursday. American’s bid was one of nine, and one of four from legacy carriers. American’s total bid cost was second-lowest of the bids from legacy carriers, larger than one from Continental, but under another bid from Continental and one from
Delta. Boren is a member of the board of directors of American’s parent company, AMR. OU also now has a conflict of interest policy that covers all campuses. Boren said the new policy is “preventative” and is not in response to any specific concern. The regents also approved changes to a separate conflict policy for the Health Sciences Center in Oklahoma City. In his president’s comments, Boren said OU received a collection of Native American art from a collector in Arizona. The gift from James Bialac includes about 3,700 works of art, according to a press release that accompanied Boren’s announcement. The pieces will be displayed in the Fred Jones Jr. Museum of Art, the library at the College of Law and other places around campus, the release states. Eventually, a rotating collection of the pieces will be on permanent display in the Stuart Wing of the Jones Museum. That wing will be completed in 2011, the release states. The regents also named Larry Wade chairman of the board and John Bell vice chairman. Wade, who had been vice chairman, replaces Max Weitzenhoffer as chairman. The new officers will begin their service at the next Regents’ meeting in May.
JAREN COLLINS/THE DAILY
(Left to Right) Max Weitzenhoffer, the outgoing chairman of the Board of Regents, OU President David Boren, and Larry Wade, incoming chairman of the Board of Regents sit together Thursday afternoon during the Regents meeting in the Scholars Room in the Oklahoma Memorial Union.
OUR COMMITMENT TO ACCURACY NEIL MCGLOHON/THE DAILY
University College freshmen Christine Baukal, Laura Atherton and Ellen Burton plant a tree Thursday afternoon near the Kraettli Apartments during the Arbor Day event. OU President David Boren spoke at Couch Restaurants earlier that day about the meaning of Arbor Day to the university.
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 dailynewsou.edu.
In a page one cutline about martial arts in Thursday’s edition of The Daily, Joseph Lykins, University College freshman, was misidentified.
Friday, March 26, 2010
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NBC CORRESPONDENT: NETWORKS SCARED OF MEDIA CHANGES The Internet concerns TV executives; partisanship is here to stay, journalist says GREGORY MAUS Daily Staff Writer
Television network executives fear rather than embrace the ongoing change in media, veteran journalist Jim Miklaszewski said Wednesday in a speech to students at the Gaylord College of Journalism and Mass Communication. Miklaszewski, chief Pentagon correspondent for NBC News, formerly served as a correspondent for CNN with Mike Boettcher, visiting Gaylord professor. “I think what scares the hell out of most news executives or [reporters] is that it’s change — it’s huge, dramatic change and Mike and I both when going through our early days of CNN got to see how much it frightened the big three networks,” Miklaszewski said. At NBC since 1985, Miklaszewski served as White House correspondent during the George H. W. Bush and Clinton administrations. He viewed firsthand the response of the military and intelligence community to Sept. 11. According to his NBC bio, he was the first to report on the scene of the
Sept. 11 Pentagon attacks and has led the network’s coverage of the war in Afghanistan. Prior to joining NBC, Miklaszewski was a national correspondent with CNN during the Reagan administration. The autonomy the young network gave its reporters brought “the most liberating time as a member of the journalistic community that Mike and I could have ever had,” Miklaszewski said. The initial jolt of changes that CNN brought to the news industry — 24 hours of news and up-to-the-minute updates — is similar to the current changes the Internet is bringing to media. Journalism senior Kolt Atchley asked if Miklaszewski was concerned about increased partisanism in news. “I don’t think that we’re going to be able to get away from that kind of programming, but it’s what that network tries to do with the rest of their programming that sets them apart,” Miklaszewski said. “MSNBC is considered a counter to the conservative Fox network, and looking at our programming I can’t really argue with that. CNN says that JIM they have struck a middle ground, and overMIKLASZEWSKI all they have had pretty good ratings.”
Boettcher noted CNN was responsible for breaking ground in partisan discussion with the debate program “Crossfire,” though Miklaszewski added the show supplied both sides simultaneously in contrast to the current split along network lines. Hailey Branson, journalism senior, asked about “war fatigue” of both the public and news executives, and whether Miklaszewski considers it to be exaggerated or underestimated by the public. Miklaszewski said it’s actually part of a larger phenomena in which the news industry will focus obsessively upon a story and then forget it completely. “It’s like a switch going off,” he said. “War fatigue is a real phenomenon, that I myself have felt. I have a hard time putting it on the American people or news executives, because I understand it.” He also said there is a point in news coverage where reporters are repeating themselves and no longer advancing the story. Miklaszewski finished the day at OU with lunch with professors and selected journalism students and then provided the students with individual critiques.
“Our undergraduate population seems to be fairly stable,” said Cheryl Jorgenson, associate provost and director of institutional research and reporting. “We have seen a growth in our liberal ltudies enrollment.” In Oklahoma, the State Regents policy for admission considers students over the age of 21 eligible for different admission criteria as nontraditional students, Jorgenson said. The average age of traditional undergraduates is 21.1 years, according to the 2010 OU Factbook. Conversely, the average age of students in the College of Liberal Studies is 38, Rodriguez said. “Over the last four years, our [College of Liberal Studies] enrollment has increased pretty drastically,” Rodriguez said. One of the reasons for this influx of student enrollment was the implementation of an online degree option, said Jennifer Gatlin, recent liberal ltudies graduate and University Student Services assistant. Convenience plays a huge part in the popularity of the online curriculum. “Eighty to 90 percent of our students work full time while earning their degrees at our college,” Rodriguez said. “The
convenience factor of our online programs continues to be popular with working students.” The College of Liberal Studies was one of the first colleges to offer degree programs entirely online. Students have the option to earn up to a master’s degree through the online curriculum. While on-site courses are offered as well, the online coursework has grown dramatically in popularity, Rodriguez said. “We have soldiers in Afghanistan and Iraq right now. We have instructors who live on other continents and students from around the country,” Rodriguez said. “Even students as close as Norman seem to prefer the online courses.” Degrees offered include liberal studies, criminal justice, museum studies and interprofessional human and health services. “The program is designed to work with working adults,” Gatlin said. “You can be a full-time student, a full-time worker and a full-time parent and still get a quality education.”
Liberal studies enrollment sees significant growth Numbers have risen drastically in past four years, university official says TA’SHELLE JONES Daily Staff Writer
For the better part of 50 years, the College of Liberal Studies has been operating on the south side of campus, yet many students may not know it exists. The Liberal Studies program initially was intended for nontraditional students over the age of 25, according to Frank Rodriguez, coordinator of undergraduate studies for the college. “This college is sort of the hidden gem at the university,” Rodriguez said. “We are uniquely situated to continue to grow in the foreseeable future.” During this economic lull, many institutions of higher education are seeing an increase in enrollment, Rodriguez said. The difference, however, is that OU is not seeing an increase in traditional undergraduate enrollment.
POLICE REPORTS
CAMPUS EVENTS
TODAY MUSLIM STUDENT ASSOCIATION The Muslim Student Association will hold a Jummah, or afternoon prayer, session at 1:30 p.m. on the South Oval. MEDIEVAL FAIR The annual Norman Medieval Fair begins at 10 a.m. today in Reaves Park.
MONDAY
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. COUNTY WARRANT
STUDENT SUCCESS SERIES University College will host a Student Success series lecture at 4 p.m. in Wagner Hall, room 245.
John Thomas Hayes, 35, 1923 Twisted Oak Drive, Wednesday
PUBLIC INTOXICATION MUNICIPAL WARRANT Ryan Austin Wilson, 19, 2800 Dewey Ave., Wednesday Jennifer Denise Zane-Hill, 37, 117 W. Frank St., Wednesday DOMESTIC ABUSE Leon Allen Yandell, 31, 2316 W. Lindsey St., Wednesday
Thomas David Horton, 48, 901 N. Porter Ave., Wednesday Sabrina Christine Kellogg, 41, 318 E. Hayes St., Tuesday, also interference with an official process Jerica Janae Parker, 20, 333 N. Carter Ave., Wednesday PETTY LARCENY Sumayyah Farrakhan Muhammad, 22, 909 SW 24th Ave., Wednesday
The University of Oklahoma Joe C. and Carole Kerr McClendon Honors College Invites the Public to UNDERGRADUATE RESEARCH DAY Saturday, March 27, 2010 OCCE Forum Building
SCHEDULE OF SESSIONS
GET ’EM TO YOUR COLLEGE THE BIG 12 COMPETITION
UNIVERSAL PICTURES PRESENTS IN ASSOCIATION WITH RELAT GPRODUCTION ET HIM TO THEHE GREEK” GREE RELATIVITY MEDEDIA AND SPYGLASS ENTER NMENTNT ANMUSICAPAPATOWW PRODUC ENTERTAI PRODUCTIION A NICHOLAS STOLLER FILM JONAH HILL RUSSELL BRAND “GET ORIGINAL ORIG COSTUME EDITED BY LYLE SUPERVISOR JON DESIGNER LEESA EVANS DESIGN BY WILLI LE WOR WORKMAN MAN JONATHAN HAN KARP ARP DESIGNER JAN ROELFS SA ETHOFMOSS SABETH OSS ROSE BYRNE COLM MEANEY MEAN ANAND SEAN COMBS SCORE ANS L L A AM M KERR MI K E SALE ELIDIRECTOR EXECUTIVE PRODUCED COBY JUDD APATOW PHOTOGRAPHY ROBERT YEOMAN ASC PRODUCER JASON SEGEL PRODUCER RICHARD VANE CREATED BY JASON SEGEL AP WRITTENNICANDHOLAS STOLLER DAVIDD BUSHELL RODNEY ROTHMAN BASED ON CHARACTERS DIRECTED BY NICHOLAS STOLLER A UNIVERSA ERSAL PICTURE © 2010 UNIVERSAL NIVERSAL STUDIOS
SOUNDTRACK ON UNIVERSAL REPUBLIC RECORDS
HEY, OKLAHOMA! VOTE FOR THE CHANCE TO WIN A FREE ADVANCE SCREENING of the upcoming comedy, “Get Him To The Greek,” and
A GUEST APPEARANCE BY JONAH HILL AND RUSSELL BRAND! All you have to do is vote at www.eventful.com/gethimtothegreek and the college with the most votes in the Big 12 wins!
FIND YOUR COLLEGE. SHARE IT. DEMAND IT! Opens in Theaters Everywhere June 4, 2010
SESSION I, 8:30-10:00 Dance Room A-1 Economics Room A-3 Sociology Room A-5 Political Science Room A-6 Anthropology Room B-1 Linguistics I Room B-2 Engineering, Meteorology Room B-3 Mechanical Engineering Room B-4 Chemistry Room B-5 Zoology I Room B-6 SESSION II, 10:15-11:45 Industrial Engineering, Chemical Engineering Room A-1 Architecture, Art, Music Room A-3 Botany, Microbiology Room A-5 Social Issues Room A-6 History, Politics Room B-1 Linguistics II Room B-2 Construction Science, CEES Room B-3 Engineering, Physics Room B-4 Chemistry II Room B-5 Zoology II Room B-6
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Friday, March 26, 2010
Max Avery, opinion editor dailyopinion@ou.edu • phone: 325-7630 • fax: 325-6051
COMMENT OF THE DAY »
In response to Our View on the Federal Government taking control of student loans.
OUR VIEW
Why we won’t be endorsing a candidate for UOSA president In the past, The Daily has endorsed a candidate for UOSA president and vice president. We have been following UOSA for some time, and thus have a certain expertise on the topic that could be shared with the student body. However, in the interest of remaining neutral, this semester we will not endorse a candidate. This way we can better do our job to provide objective, neutral coverage of this election. Considering that only a score of students who are not members of UOSA attend meetings and we are the only serious news provider covering UOSA elections, we feel it would be too influential for us to endorse a candidate. Put simply, most students learn about UOSA through friends and through The Daily. This monopoly on UOSA coverage is because other news providers don’t care about OU student
BREAD WEEK- FINAL DAY
government, nor should they, because we’re such a small percentage of their readership. We follow them because we are marketing to a niche group (OU students) and it is our job to be the watchdog of governing institutions around campus. Because UOSA is student government, it only makes sense for us to cover it. That is why we also cover the Regents meetings and Boren’s announcements; we do not cover faculty senate, department meetings, faculty meetings and many of the other organizations around campus that effect change because UOSA is here to represent us specifically, so we give it more attention. Thus, instead of giving one candidate a radically unfair advantage, we will not be endorsing a candidate this year. Sorry to break tradition. It’s called progress.
COMMENT ON THIS COLUMN AT OUDAILY.COM
On the week of Feb 18-25 we asked our readers (you) to vote on topics that piqued your interest. Bread recieved an overwhelming majority of votes so every day this week we had a column on, or related to, bread. This will end the bread week series.
Representative democracy protects us from idiotic decisions If you haven’t been paying attention to what’s been national system (as well as state systems) of repregoing on here at the opinion section of The Daily, I sentation, I trust it over direct citizen participation don’t blame you. It’s a bit ridiculous. Many of you who any day. voted in our poll to see what should be the next major Some states, including California, have direct demtopic of discussion for us decided to choose bread. ocratic systems known as the initiative, whereby citiNot everyone, mind you. But many of you. It zens propose — or “initiate” — legislation was enough to win out over actual issues like to be approved, and a referendum, wherehealth-care reform, gay rights and, yes, even by that legislation is put to a statewide vote abortion. Frankly, I don’t want to write about of the citizenry. In California, its referenbread. So I’m using this as an opportunity to dum is known as a ballot proposition. talk about something that at least has some Notice what happens when they do semblance of importance: Democracy. this. In 2005, the California State Assembly The fact that we have to write about bread passed the nation’s first statewide bill alfor a week — bread, over issues that actually lowing same-sex marriage. affect people directly and need to be seriously JEROD What a momentous occasion for addressed — shows the fundamental flaw in COKER California, we all thought. It had become direct democracy. When ordinary people are the first state to grant gays and lesbian given a direct voice, they can — and do — make equal rights. We got to witness history in bad decisions. Yes, I know it’s just the opinion section the making. of a college newspaper, but the fact remains the same: But then history took a turn for the worse. In We are a representative democracy for a reason. 2008, Proposition 8, a proposed amendment to the Bread won for the same reason that we need repre- California Constitution, became a ballot proposition sentatives: People make bad decisions. Ordinary peo- put to a statewide vote. Prop 8 said plainly: “Only marple are incapable of making the best policy decisions riage between a man and a woman is valid or recogmost of the time because they lack sufficient knowl- nized in California.” And the it passed by a 52-percent edge, background and majority. generally will not take The people of California voted to get rid the time to educate “The fact that we have to write of gay marriage after it had been passed by about bread for a week — themselves. a representative body and become law. I don’t trust myself bread, over issues that actually Oh, the things direct democracy does. to manipulate the affect people directly and need Representative democracy simply Fed’s open market works better than direct democracy. operations or dis- to be seriously addressed — Whether it’s bread being chosen as a topic count rate, so I trust shows the fundamental flaw in for a college newspaper’s opinion secBen Bernanke to do direct democracy.” tion, or gay marriage being overturned in it. I don’t trust myself California, direct democracy is irresponto coordinate war efsible. Representation is a necessity for an forts or to draw battle effective democracy. plans, so I let Gen. David Petraeus do it. I don’t trust The Founding Fathers realized it, hopefully the myself to negotiate with doctors and lawyers and law- state of California has realized it and now the opinion makers and lobbyists about health-care reform, so I section of The Daily realizes it. let President Barack Obama do it. Jerod Coker is a professional writing, political science and Rather than make every decision for ourselves, we philosophy junior. choose representatives to make important decisions for us. And although there are certainly flaws in our COMMENT ON THIS COLUMN AT OUDAILY.COM
“Lets put more money in to student pockets so we can get the education we need in the global economy. - OUsoonercitizen
LETTER TO THE EDITOR
Don’t mooch off what you didn’t want In 2003, OU decided it would no longer produce the Medieval Fair, nor allow it to happen at Brandt “The Duck Pond” Park, which was OU property. The Medieval Fair moved to Reeve’s Park, which was Norman property and better suited to the fair’s growth. Grow it did. The fair’s Web site boasts that it is the third largest annual event in Oklahoma, and named one of the top 100 events in America by Events Media Network. Now, even though OU has nothing to do with Med Fair, the OU Athletics Department has made a move for its share of the pie. Although parking at Lloyd Noble Center is free daily, during sports events and even July 4th, this weekend the OUAD is charging $5. With over a hundred thousand people expected, OU can expect to make a killing. Or perhaps the more appropriate metaphor would be a flesh wound. Fewer people will go to a free event when they find out it’s not free to go. Fewer still will want to experience the hassle, either through the traffic nightmare if every tourist is stopped for the fee, or the long walk from the next closest parking. It won’t be enough to take down MedFair as a whole, but over 200 vendors and many more performers will notice that decline. OU gave up its rights to Med Fair years ago, and now they’re exploiting its success to make money. Where will this money go? I’m sure those volunteering at the Med Fair would enjoy being paid for their efforts, and the vendors would enjoy lower rent for their booths. I’m sure thousands of students would enjoy a lower tuition or better education. But, as I’m sure, the Athletics Department feels that their multi million dollar facilities and salaries aren’t enough. —Jay Edwards Bizzell Library Staff
UOSA presidential debates more a show than debate UOSA has been defined by one thing this year: The lack of student participation, and how to increase our involvement. Priding myself on my wanting to be an informed contributor, I headed over to the UOSA presidential and vice presidential debate promptly at 7 p.m. on Wednesday. On the way, I passed sign after sign telling me to vote for so-andso. What an eyesore, I thought. Those signs alone made me want this election to be over as soon as possible. Three hundred chairs were placed for about 200 students who, as a collective, resembled more a Simon-Says game than open-minded voters seeking information on whom to choose in next week’s election. More than 75 percent of the body was sporting colors and had corralled into specific sections. Presidential and vice presidential hopefuls used these groups for photo ops, much to delight of their friends who had anticipated this debate JORDAN with fervor. ROGERS “What’s the point of a debate,” I asked a friend, “if everyone here already knows who they are voting for?” “It’s for show,” he told me. I later learned The Daily ran an article in the next day’s paper with several of the candidate’s answers in an effort to inform those who didn’t attend. Every candidate is passionate about getting us involved, but it seems all they succeeded in so far was bringing their friends out to the debate, an accepted technicality of OU’s election process. Even though the event had been advertised as starting at 7:00 p.m. it really began at 7:30 p.m.. I never found out why, but something tells me they were so worried about attendance they wanted to get every last straggler in. I, on the other hand, had to leave at 7:40 p.m. for another meeting. My 40 minutes of debate, which seemed like enough time to get a decent understanding of the candidates, had been cut to 10 (and really five after introductions) because we are presumed to not be punctual. I had enough time to hear one question before bolting. I felt bad that I wouldn’t see the rest of the event, but it’s OK. I already knew who I was voting for anyway. Jordan Rogers is an industrial engineering senior.
COMMENT ON THIS COLUMN AT OUDAILY.COM
Civil liberties are more American than torture Shortly before spring break, the “Al Qaeda “freedom” was meaningless, and the cour7” ad produced by Liz Cheney, daughter of age to enshrine such a notion in the suformer vice president Dick Cheney, gained preme law of this land. wide attention for suggesting seven attorneys And we stand on a slippery slope. representing accused terrorists be shamed In 1951, communist organizers were conand fired from Justice Department jobs as victed of conspiracy to overun-American. throw the government under What is more, this ad insinuates what the Smith Act for doing nothis widely said, to allow terrorists a trial, ing more than exercising free indeed to accuse and convict them of speech that happened to be being criminals is itself un-American. about communism. And the Obama Justice Department, In his dissent against the having pledged to administer justice in majority upholding its convicthe tradition of our Constitution, seems tion, Supreme Court Justice ready to capitulate to critics and to deny SLATER Hugo Black wrote that “Public individuals, the accused and those alleg- RHEA opinion being what it now is, edly harmed by them the recourse of real few will protest the conviction justice. of these communist petitionThe founders of our nation must certainly ers. There is hope, however, that in calmer have contemplated how fair trials would times, when present pressures, passions make more difficult — even onerous — the and fears subside, this or some later Court task of conviction, but they had the wisdom will restore the First Amendment liberties to to understand how without such a system, the high preferred place where they belong
in a free society.” It is so, too, that the abuse of the rights of those whose alleged behavior we all now find objectionable endangers our own rights. What has at least equally disturbed the bedrock of American civil liberties has been the recent ruling of the court, in Citizens United v. Federal Election Commission striking down decades of statute and even the recent opinion of retired Justice Sandra Day O’Connor, and declaring that corporations may make unlimited contributions to political campaigns and associated advertising. Corporations, they suggest, without regard for owners’ citizenship, are entitled to every protection afforded to individuals’ free speech. The ramifications are obvious and sweeping. What has for so long been a driving interest in political campaigning — though it has been checked — must now swell beyond comprehension. This has launched a new conflict, between
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our president, who has condemned this decision, and our chief justice, who defends it. The final end will depend on the will of everyone who has a voice to be heard. Many among us have felt the crushing, stultifying force of impossibility of real hope, and the urge to escape, detach, stay home. But to withdraw in protest is to allow those who disagree with you to have the final say. Minor though these recent events may seem, they have fundamentally changed our country and our world. We must realize that subtle though it may seem, our world is changing in ways that are irrevocable. It will require the greatest courage and fortitude of a generation to grapple with these changes and the new order they announce.
Slater Rhea is an English and letters senior.
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Friday, March 26, 2010
« BASEBALL The Sooners face Nebraska in a fourgame series this weekend.
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Aaron Colen, sports editor dailysports@ou.edu • phone: 325-7630 • fax: 325-6051
OUDAILY.COM
SOONERS PREPARE FOR BIG 12 CHAMPIONSHIP PETER DAVIS Daily Staff Writer
After an undefeated regular season highlighted by a monumental upset, the No. 2 OU women’s gymnastics team is staring down history as it heads into the Big 12 Championship this weekend in Lincoln, Neb. Since the NCAA officially recognized women’s gymnastics in 1982, only four programs have been able to lay claim to the national title: Alabama, Georgia, UCLA and Utah. In only her fourth year as head coach for OU, K.J. Kindler has the Sooners positioned with an opportunity to become the fifth different national champion, and also to win their third-consecutive conference title. When Kindler accepted the position, she said she was intrigued by endless possibilities of the program and the level of support provided by the administration within the athletic department. She also said she fully intends on this being more than just a once-in-a-lifetime shot. “The vision is to contend for a national championship on a consistent basis and to break ground in NCAA gymnastics where few other programs have gone,” Kindler said. Given the chance to think about what the title would bring to the program, Kindler leaves little doubt to its place in OU athletics. “What it would mean to OU is indescribable, and what it would mean to the entire gymnastics community is equally astounding,” she said. The program is already making strides, as it recently competed in front of its largest ever crowd against top-ranked Alabama earlier this year. With all eyes on the Sooners in the meet against No. 1 Alabama, OU rose to the occasion, besting the Crimson Tide 197.950 – 197.275. In a night of firsts, the Sooner women upset the Tide, recorded their first-ever win over a top-ranked opponent and also recorded the highest program tally in the OU history, and did it in front of a record crowd. Former two-time world champion and current Sooner senior gymnast Hollie Vise looks to what it might mean for the team if it can win it all April 22 to 24 at the NCAA Championships in Gainesville, Fla. “To add our school to that list would be absolutely amazing," Vise said. “It would show everyone that anything is possible when you want it bad enough, and we do.” Senior Jackie Flanery also shares the sentiments of
MARCIN RUTKOWSKI / THE DAILY
Jackie Flanery, senior, performs a Shushunova on floor March 5 while OU competed against Alabama. OU clinched its first win over a No. 1 opponent in program history with a 197.950-197.275 victory. her coach and teammate about winning the national championship. “Winning the NCAAs would be monumental for the program here at OU,” Flanery said. “It is something that has never been done and I definitely think this team and the coaching staff have the ability to make history at this university.” Even as the team looks forward to its potential opportunities, Kindler hasn’t let herself or her team forget the path they had to take to get to this point. While construction took place at the Sam Viersen Center, the team was forced to train in a temporary facility. “We had very little in terms of equipment and it was a tough road. I have been so impressed with the team’s resilience and the ability to push through a less than ideal situation,” Kindler said. It has been her team’s effort that has made it all the sweeter
for Kindler. She looks forward to how her team will handle the challenges over the next few weeks as the season goes into the home stretch. As the team continues to stay focused and works toward the ultimate goal, she envisions the entire team stepping up. “It has been an incredible season thus far,” Kindler said. “I am privileged to work with these women. I have been so impressed with our team’s work ethic.” Even as the Sooners aim to press toward the conference and national titles, Kindler said she looks at the bigger picture. “We want gymnastics to become a sport at OU that everyone talks about, plans their weekends around and attends enthusiastically," Kindler said. "We want our popularity to grow and our product to remain of the highest of quality."
Women’s basketball seeks redemption against Notre Dame ANNELISE RUSSELL Daily Staff Writer
MARCIN RUTKOWSKI/THE DAILY
Carlee Roethlisberger, junior guard, tries to get past opponents against Arkansas-Little Rock in the Lloyd Noble Center Tuesday evening.
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and 12-4 in the Big East. They clinched their spot in the Sweet Sixteen with an 84-66 win over Vermont. The Fighting Irish will try to add another win this Notre Dame 81, OU 71. season by going 2-0 against the Sooners. That’s what it looked like last time OU women’s basNotre Dame bested OU early in the season during a ketball played the Fighting Irish. Thanksgiving tournament, immediately following the Luckily for Sherri Coale’s Sooner team it has a loss of sophomore guard Whitney Hand who went out chance to redeem itself Sunday night en route to a spot for the season with an ACL injury. in the Elite Eight. While the Sooners are still without Hand, OU will be in Kansas City this weekend GAME TIME this OU team is much different. potentially playing for a consecutive year In the game against Notre Dame, senior in the NCAA Final Four. Tipoff between the guard Nyeshia Stevenson had a mere two And the first major roadblock is Notre No. 3 Sooners and points. The Sooners can now count on her Dame. No.2 Fighting Irish is to average 13.9 points. Notre Dame is the No. 2 seed in the slated for 6:30 p.m. Senior forward Amanda Thompson only Kansas City regional and can attribute had five rebounds against the Irish, but for much of its success this season to the the rest of the season she averaged twice play of Skyler Diggins. that many at 10.5 a game. The freshman guard has made a big impact for the OU will need these much improved numbers if it Irish averaging 13.9 points a contest. hopes to prevail as the underdog Sunday night. Diggins and the Irish finished the season 25-9 overall
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Friday, March 26, 2010 ARIES (March 21-April 19) - Get out and mingle today if you get a chance, especially if you’ve wanted to make some new contacts or friends. People in general are likely to be more available and friendly than usual. TAURUS (April 20-May 20) Your concern and compassion is easily aroused today for everybody, but especially for those you love and cherish. It won’t take much for you to make some sacrifices on someone’s behalf.
LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 23) Because you’ll be sincere in your efforts in making others feel important and special today, don’t be surprised if people flock to you. Members of the opposite gender may be first in line. SCORPIO (Oct. 24-Nov. 22) - The key to happiness today is simply enjoying what you’re doing. It won’t matter if you’re working on something special, playing tennis or gabbing with the neighbors, you’ll take pleasure in the moment.
GEMINI (May 21-June 20) - Uplift your spirits today by spending some quality time with good friends and/or family. Good fellowship will be a major contributing factor for making this a better-than-usual day.
SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 23-Dec. 21) - This could be a very fun day for Sagittarians who are restless and need some excitement in their lives. There’s a good chance you’ll run into an upbeat friend who knows how to have fun.
CANCER (June 21-July 22) - Someone who knows your desires will be instrumental in helping you acquire something you’ve wanted for a long time. It isn’t necessarily anything expensive, but something that touches the heart.
CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19) - All you have to do to get started is have the courage to try something new that may look a bit intimidating to others. Anticipate success and it will not only be fun, but a whirlwind of an experience.
LEO (July 23-Aug. 22) - Others who are eager to participate in an endeavor you have been proposing are looking to you for leadership. Take the reins today and show them what needs doing in order to pull it off.
AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 19) - When collectively aiming for the same target, you and your special someone can make a dynamic team. Focus your efforts and energies on a situation that can yield something big.
VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22) - Soft lights, sweet music and a secluded nook is all it might take for you and your special someone to have a perfect day. Actually, anything that has romantic overtones could be very appealing to you.
PISCES (Feb. 20-March 20) - Motivate yourself to go for bigger and better things today by thinking about things you would like to have in your life, and formulating possible ways of achieving them. Inspiration can work wonders.
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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.
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Universal Crossword Edited by Timothy E. Parker March 26, 2010
ACROSS 1 Impudent 5 Coptic bishops 10 “___ Wonderful Life� 14 Indian maid 15 Boxer’s measurement 16 Thirty-day mo. 17 Music to a bargain hunter’s ears 19 Huron neighbor 20 Yale student 21 Fighting force 22 “It’s finished!� 24 Whistle blower, in basketball 25 “Can’t Help Lovin’ ___ Man� (Kern/ Hammerstein song) 26 Peacock’s pride 28 Phonograph needles (Var.) 30 It might come in handy for a standee 32 Writing implement 33 Sad ending? 35 Brooding mother 36 Give an expensive coat to? 37 Car dealer’s come-on 40 Bard’s black 42 Center court object 43 Engage in
espionage 44 Dipsomaniac 45 Fancy violin, for short 47 Drive-thru sign 51 Medical test control substance 53 Organ with a drum 55 Sally Field film, “Norma ___� 56 Ignore a Commandment 57 Cornrows alternative 58 Be in a different form? 59 Like India paper 60 Commercial reference 63 Flue accumulation 64 Nigerian currency 65 What hearts do, in romance novels 66 Needles partner 67 Group of students 68 Florida isles DOWN 1 Beepers 2 Shoelace hole 3 Confirm with a vote, e.g. 4 Despite, briefly 5 Gladiators’ fight site 6 Suits 7 One of TV’s
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Maverick brothers Top fighter pilot Some ponies “Sorry if ___ a little harsh ...� Diamondback reptile Its first catalog was mailed out in 1905 Dined Bare existence? March syllable Flies, to spiders Book’s last word Detroit football player Eighth letter of the Greek alphabet Highest peak in the Alps English actress Nell Marginal
reference 38 Infamous Rome fiddler 39 Coordinated gene cluster 40 Telepathic gift 41 Moscow theater company 45 The Honeydrippers’ “___ of Love� 46 Postpones 48 Seance phenomenon 49 Coarse, as a sense of humor 50 “Speed� actor 52 Piggy bank filler 54 Smoking and nonsmoking, e.g. 57 Nepal’s continent 59 Cook’s meas. 61 Erie Canal mule 62 Yellow-ribbon tree, in song
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SHOPPING SPREE by George Darby
Friday, March 26, 2010
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« ONLINE
Read a review of “How To Train Your Dragon” at OUDaily.com.
Comedy jets out with gags but struggles to keep head above water “Hot Tub Time Machine” gets points for its fearlessly blunt title; too bad it oversells the fun quotient by about a mile. By all accounts, “Hot Tub” should be a nonstop laughing spree — screenwriters Josh Heald, Sean Anders and John Morris were clearly too busy jampacking their script with comedic brilliance to bother with the title — but most of DUSTY the humor feels halfhearted. It’s more like “Tepid SOMERS Bathwater Time Machine.” Fortunately, the trio of writers understood the setup is often the dullest part of a high-concept comedy, and they breeze over the trials of tribulations of Adam (John Cusack), Nick (Craig Robinson) and Lou (Rob Corddry), three high school friends who’ve drifted apart. Somebody’s girlfriend just moved out, another one has marital problems, there’s a suicide attempt thrown in there. Yada, yada, yada. Within 15 minutes, these guys are in the tub and back in time. Joined by Adam’s nephew Jacob (Clark Duke), they had taken a trip to their old ski
FILM SCREENING ON CAMPUS This Sunday, OU’s Other Film Club is screening the 2007 Romanian film “4 Months, 3 Weeks and 2 Days.” The film chronicles the journey of two university students who try to arrange a late-term abortion. Abortion was a felony in Communist Romania from 1966 to 1989, which led many women to dangerous back-alley abortions. In the film, the students are faced with many hardships on the way to finally obtaining the abortion. The film was critically acclaimed, receiving awards at numerous film festivals. It has been praised for its realism, acting and emotional power. The Other F ilm Club screens free films every Sunday at Meacham Auditorium. “4 Months, 3 Weeks and 2 Days” begins at 7 p.m. Sunday. -Annika Larson/The Daily
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resort stomping grounds, only to find their hotel hot tub was the only source of potential fun in the dilapidated village. After a spin in the magical tub, they’re back in the ’80s, where the three adults inhabit their teenage bodies while Jacob remains his normal self. A mysterious repairman (Chevy Chase) hints they must not change anything or they may never get back to the present. The requisite ’80s jokes all make an appearance, from leg warmers to giant cell phones to hair metal bands. A douchey ski school instructor recites “Red Dawn” and has a hankering the weird folks from the future might be commies. The soundtrack pumps out power ballad after power ballad to remind us that in fact, these characters are still in the past. Rather than servicing as period details though, the songs turn into the punchlines, with the script increasingly relying on musical cues to drum up laughter. “The Safety Dance,” “(I Just) Died in Your Arms” and “Jessie’s Girl” may have been inherently funny at some point in time, but in the wake of “I Love the ’80s” and literal music videos on YouTube, I think the moment has passed. Still, the film has a few winning gags up its sleeve — most prominently a recurring bit with
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The cast of “Hot Tub Time Machine” look on at the magical hot tub. The movie opens nationally today. Mr. George McFly himself, Crispin Glover, as a bellman who’s destined to lose an arm. It also doesn’t hurt that the film gives Robinson his biggest role in a film yet, and he manages to turn at least half of his tired comedic tropes into gold just by virtue of his superb timing. Duke does some good work also as the only one too concerned with getting back to the
present, as his very existence depends on it. Unfortunately, “Hot Tub Time Machine” fills in the blanks with the most expected of jokes most of the time. Its title suggests either wryness or laziness; the rest of the script seems to confirm it’s the latter. Dusty Somers is a journalism senior.
Norman music revue aims to give attendees a seat beside Sondheim ALEX EWALD Daily Staff Writer
A musical revue honoring one of Broadway’s most popular and influential artists, Stephen Sondheim, opens at 8 tonight at the Sooner Theatre. Taking its name from a number from his musical “Company,” “Side By Side By Sondheim” runs through next weekend. It includes more than 25 numbers from the composer-lyricist’s songbook. A cast of nine will perform Sondheim’s songs, divided into different themes such as “Marriage” and “New York,” from musicals for which Sondheim wrote the lyrics, including “West Side Story” and “Gypsy.” Sondheim is recognized as one of Broadway’s most recognized
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artists — he has won an Academy Award, multiple Tony Awards and a Pulizter Prize. Musical director and OU student Leslie Downs said Sondheim’s music is known for being difficult because of its signature musical complexity and lyrical speed. “A lot of the words have to be spit out really quickly,” said Downs, a music graduate student whose job was to teach the music and intended style to the cast. “Sondheim is basically in his own category.” After Downs directed the performers — three of whom are OU students — on the musical aspect, Director Lisa Fox staged the numbers with them. “Sondheim songs are not the easiest songs to learn, either,” Fox said. “[The performers] have done a great job, because it’s kind of different learning all of this music quickly, because it’s a lot of music to get off book.”
PLAYBILL What: “Side By Side By Sondheim” When: 8 p.m. March 26, 27, April 1-3. 2 p.m. March 28 Where: Sooner Theatre, 101 E. Main St., Norman Cost: $30 and $25, halfprice with student ID.