Sports: The men’s gymnastics team could bring home a national title this weekend (Page 8)
L&A: The best places to nap between class on campus (Page 5)
Opinion: We encourage students to learn about and exercise their first amendment rights (Page 4)
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TECHNOLOGY
“This is my
house”
Strip club has storied history in Norman STEVEN ZOELLER • CAMPUS REPORTER
Editor’s Note: All the dancers preferred to be and beer glasses clinking, the men cheer and applaud. identified by their stage names in this story. The bar sits across the room from the stage, This story contains strong language. managed by a small woman in her mid-50s smoking a cigarette. Most wouldn’t even exTucked in the alley between Sage’s pect to see this severe-looking woman workWellness Lounge and Fuzzy’s Taco Shop is ing here, and she doesn’t just do that — she a portal to another dimension. Beyond its also owns the place. threshold, framed pictures of female anatKaren Summers is a subversion, a wrinkle omy adorn the walls of a lounge lit dimly by in the image most people have of strip clubs. colorful bulbs. A woman in lingerie has the The more she and the dancers talk about stage, her barely-concealed hindquarters aimed squarely at the audience as she danc- the story of Suger’s, the more wrinkled that image becomes. es. Over the noise of billiard balls colliding
‘A decent place to work’ Summers opened Suger’s 30 years ago in 1984 shortly after resigning as a dancer at Walter Mitty’s, another strip club on Campus Corner at the time. Suger’s became the only club of its kind when Summers outperformed her former employer and survived the strict zoning restrictions on adult entertainment facilities adopted by the City of Norman in 1987. Suger’s owes much of its success to Summers’ initial vision. She says she set out to “give girls a decent place to work.” “In this business, people have ideas about what goes on in strip clubs,” Summers said. “And I wanted to provide a decent place for dancers to be able to go to, where they don’t feel like they have to do things that they may feel like they have to do at other clubs in competition with other dancers.” One dancer called Savage said she was attracted to Suger’s for precisely this reason. She started dancing 10 years ago at an Oklahoma City club called Playhouse, which she left to avoid a toxic environment. “There was a lot of drug use at the time, and
that was a huge turn-off for me,” Savage said. “A lot of girls going home with customers and doing what sometimes can be referred to as private parties, which was also not something that I was ever interested in doing.” After only a few months at Playhouse, Savage went with a date to Suger’s and was impressed by how much “cleaner” it was. As someone who doesn’t like to be touched, Savage also liked that customers weren’t allowed to grab dancers. Physical contact between dancers and customers is technically illegal, but as Suger’s dancer Lexie Bay said, “Just because they’re not supposed to doesn’t mean they don’t.” Before Bay came to Suger’s four years ago, she also danced in Oklahoma City, where she says sexual contact was encouraged. Bay said people would sometimes find used condoms while cleaning a place at the end of the night. “When I worked at Red Light Nights, I saw a girl sucking dick in the lap dance area,” said Lexie. “That was my last night there.”
Students test new platforms D2L+ and Canvas available in tech. labs MIKE BRESTOVANSKY Campus Reporter
To determine which system best fits student preferences, Sooners are comparing two different online learning management systems: a beefed up Desire2Learn and Canvas. Students can test D2L+, an upgraded version of Desire2Learn — the platform OU currently uses — and compare it to Canvas, a similar competing platform and vote for which system they prefer. Demo versions of both platforms are available at Oklahoma Memorial Union’s OneUniversity store, the Physical Sciences Center computer lab and Couch Center’s computer lab. If students can’t reach a testing location, they can email academictech@ ou.edu for alternate arrangements, said Becky Weintz, Information Technology’s communication manager. “This demo will help us to better understand student needs and desired capabilities,” Weintz said. “Our mission is to provide students with the best possible learning experience, so student feedback on what that experience looks like is critical to our success.” Students can vote for their preferred system via email or via Twitter by using the hashtags #useitou and #loseitou. Students who test the systems in the OneUniversity store can also win a $25 gift card to the store, Weintz said. Mike Brestovansky mcbrestov@gmail.com
PROJECTS
Taste coffee for science
SEE CLUB PAGE 2
Students turn lab rats by assisting researchers AMBER FRIEND
TRIVIA
Campus Reporter
Some legal trivia about Suger’s In a business as regulated as adult entertainment, places like Suger’s are inevitably defined in part by the limits of the law. Many of its bizarre or goofy aspects can be traced back to some obscure statute on the books. When they arrive at Suger’s to work, dancers check in by flashing their breasts at the bartender. This is for the manager on duty to verify their areolas are covered with latex, in accordance with the law. A dancer cannot expose her butt crack or genitals, so that explains the barely-there lingerie. Sometimes dancers wear two pairs of bottoms just in case one falls off. It’s a way of covering one’s ass, literally and legally. Norman zoning laws ban adult entertainment facilities from outside the C-2 and C-3 districts and within 500 feet of a church, school, residential area or park. Suger’s wasn’t affected, but other clubs weren’t so lucky when they were passed. In Sugers’s owner Karen Summer’s words, “they zoned them all out of business.”
Sooners gathered Wednesday at the Stevenson Life Science Research Center to drink some coffee — and they did it all for science. This semester Ron Halterman, chemistry and biochemistry professor, and Steven Foster, mass spectrometer lab manager, have led six students in the Coffee Project, a research experiment that aims to determine the molecular components of coffee affect factors, such as flavor. This is a science known as molecular gastronomy, Halterman said. The six students are part of the First Year Research Experience. Through the program, select first-year students can research alongside OU professors and mentors. While most of the program’s students work individually, the Coffee Project called for a group. On Wednesday, they presented their findings to all 32 First Year Research Experience students, several chemistry and biochemistry faculty members and administrators, Halterman said. SEE PROJECTS PAGE 2
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VOL. 99, NO. 134 © 2014 OU Publications Board FREE — Additional copies 25¢
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• Thursday, April 10, 2014
Campus
Paighten Harkins, campus editor Alex Niblett, assistant editor dailynews@ou.edu • phone: 405-325-3666 oudaily.com • Twitter: @OUDaily
CLUB: Strip club ‘dances’ around zoning laws, stereotypes, protesters Continued from page 1 In addition to the stricter enforcement of rules, Summers said dancers are attracted to Suger’s because it’s owned by a woman — and because of her background in the industry. “There’s not very many female strip club owners,” Summers said. “So girls feel more comfortable dealing with a female. I’ve been told that over the years. And I know what it’s like to be a dancer.” Savage knows dancers at other clubs are sometimes harassed by the owners, and said the Suger’s dancers don’t fear that kind of sexual pressure under Summers’ management. In fact, some affectionately call her “momma.” “She knows every aspect of this business,” Savage said. “She’s been where we are as dancers. She’s had to put up with the same shit that we’ve had to put up with.”
‘The only bitch in this house is me’ Summers is a moralist at heart. She’s a self-identified Christian who bemoans the new generation’s lack of respect and tendency to stereotype. She’s also a no-bullshit businessperson with little tolerance for people denigrating her property. “I take a lot of pride in it,” Summers said. “When I get a young man in here that wants to put his cigarette out on the floor or spit on the floor, to be disrespectful, that’s what I’ll call it. I get aggravated, because I want to walk up to him and say ‘How would you like if I came into your home and spit on your floor or put a cigarette out on your floor?’ This is my house.” Summers enjoys running a unique club for her customers’ enjoyment, but she said some mistakenly think they can misbehave in the setting, as if standards are lower there. She recognizes this image of Suger’s as a moral-free zone is shared by many outsiders as well. Summers knows people naturally assume Suger’s is the site of heavy drug use and prostitution, but she says that’s “not even close.” It’s a stereotype she commonly encounters, sometimes even from protesters. “They’ll come stand out in the alley,” Summers said. “And they’ll call the dancers sluts when they’re coming in here, telling the customers, when they’re coming in or going, that they’re going to hell and they’re going to be damned and, you know, stupid stuff like that.” Summers usually lets judgment and criticism pass over her. For the most part, she said she doesn’t concern herself with what people think. But this sort of vitriol can get to her. In the case of protesters, she will have the police remove them from the alley because “it’s just not right.” “People need to know what they’re talking about before they talk about it,” Summers said. “Understand it fully and don’t be so judgmental. I’m a Christian. I’m going to go to heaven. You’re not going to go to heaven if you’re so judgmental.” It’s Summers’ brutal honesty that makes her who she is. It makes her a somewhat intimidating figure, as some dancers note, but it also makes her the subject of admiration. One dancer called Lyric said Summers is the best boss she’s had anywhere. “She knows what she wants, and she’ll get what she wants,” Lyric said. “She’s very strong. I look up to her because of the way she runs her business and wouldn’t put up with anyone’s bullshit.” Summers’ intolerance for bullshit extends to interactions with the people she works with. She likes the dancers, but she won’t sugarcoat her opinions for them.
Taylor Bolton/The Daily
Owner Karen Summers fills pitchers of beer at the bar to prepare for the night at Suger’s, a strip club in Norman situated in an alley between Sage’s Wellness Lounge and Fuzzy’s Taco Shop on Campus Corner. Summers opened the club in 1984 after resigning as a dancer herself.
“If they have a new outfit and they want to know if it looks good, if it looks like shit, I’m going to tell you,” Summers said. “I’m not going to pussyfoot around and make you feel better…” Summers said she also keeps an eye on the dancers’ etiquette. She doesn’t tolerate bad behavior from them any more than she tolerates it from customers. After all, part of their job is to create a welcoming atmosphere. “The only bitch in this house is me,” Summers said. “I tell everybody that.”
‘A job like anything else’ Why do women dance at strip clubs? Some say it’s because they’re dysfunctional. Nix Marie, a Suger’s dancer for four years, tells a different story. “There’s a misconception that all dancers have issues with their father and stuff like that, [that] they’ve been molested or raped or degraded in some kind of way that makes them feel like they have to show their body for acceptance,” Marie said. “That’s really not the reason that most dancers even dance. They do it because it’s good money.” In addition to it paying well, Marie said dancing is appealing because the schedule is flexible. Most of the dancers at Suger’s are mothers, and the late shifts allow some of them to spend the day with their kids. Also, being independent contractors, dancers choose when they want to rent Summers’ stage. Some dancers like it for a different reason — it’s empowering. “I think it’s empowering because not in any other job can you tell a customer to fuck off when they’re being inappropriate in a way and still have your job the next day,” Savage said. “So it’s kind of like the customer isn’t always right here.” This also encouraged Marie when she applied little more
than two years ago. Some clubs don’t like dancers responding to disrespect. Suger’s is different. “I told [Summers], ‘Look, I’m not someone who likes to be touched. I’m not dirty,’” Marie said. “’I will beat the shit out of the motherfucker who gets out of line,’ and she just looked at me like, ‘All right.’” In addition to being able to rebuke foul customers, the dancers at Suger’s are free to plan their own routines, dress themselves and choose the music. It’s highly improvisational, and that’s part of the appeal. Of course, it’s not perfect. These women face particular challenges, and mainstream society’s judgment is foremost among them. Sometimes that means receiving weird looks from cashiers when they pay with all $1 bills, and sometimes that means taking criticism from loved ones. Savage has danced for 10 years now against her parents’ wishes, but she’s learned to shut out what other people think of her career. She said people who judge that aspect of a dancer’s life don’t really understand it. “We see dancing as just a job like anything else,” Savage said. “A lot of people don’t treat us with respect … Not everybody does, but we try our best to kind of correct any misconceptions by treating ourselves with dignity and self-respect, and carrying ourselves with as much class and grace that we can.” While the dancers can expect condemnation from a lot of people, they don’t expect it from their children when they grow up. Savage said her kids will learn to appreciate how she supported them. They’ll also be raised not believing it’s OK to judge people as their mother is judged. “My boys are going to be taught how to respect people, especially women,” Savage said. “I’m not going to be secretive about it, because they’re boys — they’re going to go to strip clubs when they get older, and I’m not going to hide it.” Steven Zoeller, steven.v.zoeller.ou.edu
Projects: Local coffee shops assist researchers Continued from page 1 Employees from Mariposa Coffee Roastery and Gray Owl Coffee also attended, as both companies have s u p p o r t e d t h e p ro j e c t, Halterman said. At the tasting, the students gathered data for the project from taste tests evaluation cards each attendee used to judge their coffee. University College freshmen Jane Hsi, Dallas Milligan, Stephanie Allred, Anna Marie Rowell, Josie Smith and Emily Erdman are the students involved in the Coffee Project.
Their group is the largest in the program and — unlike other program — has attracted students who aren’t strictly science majors, the program’s coordinator Anthony Burgett said. For Halterman, the Coffee Project was — among many things — a chance to involve students who were interested in but necessarily pursuing scientific laboratory research. While most First Year Research Experience projects act as a prelude to more laboratory studies, the Coffee Project provides a more rounded experience to show non-science majors how
Michael Willmus/The Daily
University College freshmen Emily Erdman (left) and Stephanie Allred work at the Rotavapor machine. They use it to evaporate the solvent out of their samples.
BLOOD & THUNDER MUSING ON THE ART OF MEDICINE
The literary and artistic journal of the U University of Oklahoma College of Me Medicine is currently seeking healthcare related short stories, poems, and artwor for publication it its 2014 edition. artwork For submission guidelines, please visit www.ouhsc.edu/bloodandthunder
All entries must be received by May 31st,2014
science research is done, Halterman said. “I think that [this] has been a big success for those who may not ever do another project in a laboratory,” Halterman said. Rowell, who is studying chemical engineering, said she’s made friends in the programs, as well as connected with those who are going into a similar field, she said. Allred said she has learned a lot about research, including aspects of repetitive testing and publishing results. “The best thing that I’ve learned is what it’s like to be in a research lab … It’s really given me an idea of what a
researcher’s life is really like,” Allred said. For the remainder of the semester, the Coffee Project students will be taking what they have learned and applying it to separate hypotheses, which they will pursue individually. The public will be able to see what the Coffee Project and other First Year Research Experience students have done this semester at a poster presentation. The presentation will be in the last week of April at the Stevenson Life Science Center. Amber Friend, ambermfriend@ou.edu
campus
Thursday, April 10, 2014 •
3
ADMINISTRATION
SCHOLARSHIPS
‘Sooner born, Sooner bred’: Harper hopes for consistency in OU’s future
Panhellenic award deadline approaching
Harper hopes to keep up work Mergler started Matt Woods
Campus Reporter
Kyle Harper, senior vice provost, is the likely candidate to take the university’s provost position after Nancy Mergler, the current provost and senior vice president, announced she is stepping down from the position in June. As the provost is in charge of the university’s intellectual standards, The Daily spoke with Harper about his vision for OU in the future.
Q: A:
Q: A:
Assuming you are confirmed as the new provost, can you elaborate on your vision for the future of education at OU? I think to me, the most important value of education for students is that the students have a broad education, an education that prepares them for life, an education that prepares them for citizenship, an education that prepares them to be creators in a world that’s constantly changing … I think the university should maintain its most fundamental commitment to providing our students with a broad experience. What are the first steps you’re intending to take as provost? I’m very excited about this opportunity and also truly humbled … I’ve learned an enormous amount from Nancy Mergler … We really want to continue to build on her legacy. First steps will be trying to listen to students, to faculty, to leadership across the university, including — of course — the deans, and hearing from them what they value about OU and how we make sure that we preserve the things that people love about this university
Sorority members can apply for either $200 or $500 scholarships until Friday
and its academic experience. And also having broad conversations about what people would like the university to become moving forward. I think one of the exciting things about being at OU is that we’ve experienced 20 years of growth and constant advance under the president’s amazing leadership, and I feel a heavy responsibility to play my role in maintaining that momentum and desire to improve constantly and make sure our students have the best possible education experience.
Q: A:
Mike Brestovansky Campus Reporter
So really what I’m hearing is that you’ll be listening to students and faculty and then responding to that, but not necessarily any big changes planned? Tony Ragle/The Daily
Yeah, I think that’s exactly Kyle Harper is set to take the place of Nancy right. When you come into a role Mergler in the now vacant provost position. like this, your first item is to listen to the people that you’re here to serve, and that’s first and foreDo you have any final thoughts most students and faculty. or a message you’d like to give to the OU community? I understand that you’re one of the younger provosts to take the I just think to convey my treposition. How will your age affect mendous excitement at this the way you approach the posiopportunity. I’ve really been a tion and your leadership moving Sooner from the day I was born forward? — Sooner born, Sooner bred. And having been an undergradI feel very fortunate that to this uate here, I think, really creates stage in my career I’ve already a special connection and attachhad some wonderful opportument to this institution and to so nities to gain really valuable admany people that make it such ministrative experience building a special community. And to be new programs, working on some able to serve a place you love this of the most complex issues that much is something you can never a university faces, like curricutake for granted in life and I’m exlum and technology … And also tremely grateful to have this kind to have been mentored by someof opportunity. one as wise and experienced as Nancy Mergler and to be able to learn so much as senior vice provost for 15 months. It’s been a treMatt Woods, matt.woods@ou.edu mendous learning experience.
Q:
Q:
A:
Sorority members can apply for two OU Panhellenic Association scholarships until Friday for a chance to win $500 or $200. The award is for the highest achieving sorority members, said Anna Royce, OU Panhellenic Association president. The first scholarship is the Outstanding Panhellenic Scholar Award, worth $500. It is given to one woman in each academic class with at least a 3.5 cumulative GPA. The awardee is chosen based on academic achievement and campus involvement, Royce said. The second is the $200 G eneral Panhellenic Scholarship. This is given to five to 10 women with at least a 3.0 cumulative GPA, Royce said. Both scholarships require applicants to be a member in good standing in one of Panhellenic’s 11 member organizations, Royce said. “We encourage all of our women to apply so that they may be recognized for their hard work and dedication to scholarship and academics,” Royce said. The deadline for submitting applications is 5 p.m. Friday. Students can turn in applications in Oklahoma Memorial Union’s Room 370. Mike Brestovansky, mcbrestov@gmail.com
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4
• Thursday, April 10, 2014
OPINION
Kaitlyn Underwood, opinion editor Rachael Montgomery, assistant editor dailyopinion@ou.edu • phone: 405-325-3666 oudaily.com/opinion • Twitter: @OUDailyOpinion
FIRST AMENDMENT RIGHTS
Freedom of speech crucial to society
Bennett Hall/The Daily
Brother Jed Smock and many others use what they perceive to be their first amendment right to preach to students on the South Oval every year. Many people would argue that his preaching is harassment and should not be protected under the first amendment.
Mary Beth Tinker + Brother Jed = Learning moment for all Sooners Our View: We support First Amendment rights for everyone and encourage students to attend Tinker Tour events and use Brother Jed Smock’s religious ranting to explore their rights.
all involved parties in tricky situations, like Smock yelling at students saying they are going to hell. Not only does Smock have the right to say whatever he wants on publically-owned property, but students passing by also have the right to respond It’s that time of year again, folks. The sun is shin- to him. Students also have the right to playfuling, birds are singing, flowers are blooming and ly parody Smock, as the Constitutional Studies local preachers are screaming on the Student Association did by sitting South Oval. Yep, it’s springtime at on a couch and playing “Brother Jed GO AND DO OU. Brother Jed Smock, a preacher Bingo.” who has been visiting college camRegardless of whether you see “The Law (and puses for over 40 years, made an apSmock’s ranting as an expression of Life) After pearance at OU on Tuesday, but this free speech or as disruptive, unwantTinker” time was different. ed harassment, his words inevitably When: 1:30 p.m. today Even though we don’t agree with open important dialogue on campus Smock’s often-hateful messages deabout the First Amendment. And Where: Gaylord Halls’ Ethics & Excellence in livered by Smock, we do support his more than anything, we believe it is Journalism Foundation First Amendment right to speak on essential to continually discuss our Auditorium, Room public property. But on Tuesday, First Amendment rights, because 1140 students from the Constitutional without the freedom of the press and “Mary Beth Studies Student Association used freedom of speech, we wouldn’t able Smock’s presence to explore the limto do our jobs or represent the needs Tinker: My its of our First Amendment rights. and desires of OU students. Story” We applaud those students and want Open, unfettered discourse does When: 3 p.m. today to talk about the First Amendment, so much more to advance humanity since the issue is especially prevalent than complacent silence. Although Where: Dale Hall, Room 211 at OU this week. we think it’s a bit psychotic for Smock’s public sermon on the Smock to claim all women with short Panel session doomed fate of many college stuhair are lesbians or that listening to dents’ souls is particularly fitting, rock music will send you to hell, his When: 4:30 p.m. considering the Tinker Tour is makyelling inspires students to have seWhere: Gaylord Halls’ ing a stop at OU on Thursday. The rious conversations about religion, Ethics & Excellence in tour is traveling the U.S. to speak ethics and morals. We are just as inJournalism Foundation Auditorium, Room about First Amendment issues and spired by the students who choose 1140 is related to a 1969 to go toe-to-toe with Smock on bibThe Our View Supreme Court case lical scriptures as the students who is the majority in which the court choose to play “Brother Jed Bingo.” opinion of ruled in 13-year-old Mary Beth We love that both reactions incite meaningful The Daily’s Tinker’s favor and supported thought about our First Amendment rights. eight-member her freedom of speech after she In same spirit of celebrating our constitutioneditorial board was suspended from school for al rights, we encourage all students to attend wearing a black armband in reThursday’s Tinker Tour events on campus. Even membrance of soldiers killed in the Vietnam War. though we have to put up with opposing viewThe Tinker Tour reminds students of their First points, like those of Smock, we wouldn’t trade our Amendment rights and the court decision that right to speak freely for anything. states students and teachers should not lose their Comment on this at OUDaily.com First Amendment rights at school. With that in mind, we must uphold the rights of
Westboro’s actions legal, uncalled for
M
embers of Assistant Opinion Editor the Westboro Baptist Church were driven out by hundreds of counter-protesters in Moore last weekend after the notorious church group attempted to picket at Central Junior Rachael Montgomery High School. CJHS is the rachaeljmo94@gmail.com new home of Plaza Towers Elementary School, the school where seven children died after the May 20 tornado reduced it to a pile of rubble. Regardless of your religious beliefs, you probably don’t like the Westboro Baptist Church. Whether you agree with their mission statement of “God hates fags” or not, it’s important to know if what they’re doing is right. I believe that as U.S. citizens, we should be able to exercise our First Amendment freedoms in any way we see fit. However, I must question whether those freedoms should still be extended for hate speech. If you visit the Westboro Baptist Church’s website, you’ll find an abundance of hate messages and a list of the places the church aims to protest. Sadly enough, funerals of the Boston Marathon victims, universities and even elementary schools are among the places that the church has picketed. The fact that members of the church drive across the country to disrupt the lives of others is appalling, but things become a lot more personal when the group marches up to your backyard. It is a well-known fact that Oklahoma is in the heart of the Bible belt; just look the rows of churches down every main street. So when a group like Westboro Baptist Church comes here to protest a city just recovering from a natural disaster, a city that is also located in one of the most pious states in the nation, it is obvious that the group’s goals are to spread hatred. Just because the First Amendment protects the members of Westboro Baptist Church when they picket funerals and sites of tragedy, doesn’t mean they should. I believe a petition against the group would be appropriate and would inspire action to stop the group’s sickening protests. OU experiences its fair share of Westboro-like preachers and religious fanatics, and we do a good job of granting them their First Amendment rights to speak, despite how hateful their messages sound. The difference between the preachers we see on the South Oval and Westboro Baptist Church members is that Westboro’s goals are not to convert or share its faith, but instead to hurt and cause commotion. If you disapprove of Westboro Baptist Church as I do, I urge you to take action to stop them by starting a petition or calling your representative. Rachael Montgomery is a public relations sophomore.
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LIFE&ARTS
Tony Beaulieu, life & arts editor Luke Reynolds, assistant editor dailyent@ou.edu • phone: 405-325-3666 oudaily.com/life&arts • Twitter: @OUDailyArts
leisure
Top three: Best places to nap at OU Life & arts columnist
Andrew Wagner andrew.w.wagner-1@ou.edu
A
s we grow older, we begin developing a taste for the finer things in life, and many delicacies that our parents once described as “acquired tastes” suddenly appeal to us. Perhaps the most important of these newfound delicacies is the art of taking and enjoying a nap in a public place. Much like an appreciation for the subtle complexities of a perfectly aged scotch or the profound abstractions of smooth jazz, a mastery of napping in public will set you
apart from your peers as a distinguished connoisseur of life’s truest pleasures. As an enthusiast of all things delightful, I scoured the campus for the best couches, love seats, shaded benches and ledges to encourage young nappers, such as yourselves, to lift your heads from the drool-caked armrests of the library couches and expand your napping comfort zones.
1. Literally anywhere in Wagner Hall Lissa and Cy Wagner Hall is almost too easy to nap in. First, the whole place smells like fresh apple pie. I don’t know how they do it, but Wagner Hall — from the foyer to the bathrooms — smells delicious. It’s like taking a nap at your grandma’s house, except you don’t have to worry about anyone passive-aggressively judging you for taking a three-hour nap on a Tuesday afternoon. Second, all of the couches in Wagner are pretty new. The leather is soft and warm, and the cushions are relatively not farted in. You can even find some facing away from the foot traffic, like in the Savoie Lottinville Alcove on the second floor if you’re not into people watching you sleep. Its only downfall is voices carry like you would not believe. I’m confident two people could have a full conversation at a normal volume on opposite ends and floors of Wagner. But fortunately, people seem to hardly ever talk louder than a whisper, making Wagner the easiest place to nap on campus.
Honorable mentions:
The Union’s Beaird Lounge A little too mainstream to place among the best napping spots on campus, but people flock to it for good reasons. It’s quiet but a little chilly. Great if you appreciate a sense of community while napping.
Dale Hall If you’re in a bind, Dale is littered with wooden benches along the walls at nearly every corner. Pro tip: The sub level is a lot quieter than the upper floors
Catlett Music Hall If you ever find yourself tired on the northern end of campus, Catlett has some decent napping locations. It has some of the only cloth-covered couches, so you don’t have to experience the disgusting agony of peeling your face off of a leather armrest after a heavy slumber.
Physical Sciences Center
2. Don’t sleep on sleeping outside There’s a lot of trade-off when taking your nap outdoors. You won’t experience the same apple pie-induced coma as you would in Wagner Hall, but you gain a lot of ambiance the inside spots can’t compete with. One of my favorite spots is the bench that encircles the large tree on the south side of Buchanan Hall. I think you’ll be pleasantly surprised with how forgiving the bark of the tree is. However, if you were to bring a pillow from home, I would certainly applaud your dedication to the art. The breeze on a warm day and the distant drone of the construction equipment make this an excellent spot to rest your eyes for 15-30 minutes. For longer outdoor naps, I would suggest any of the benches on the grassy area behind Bizzell. It’s well shaded, there’s very little foot traffic and the trickle of the small fountain is certainly soothing.
5
Photo Illustration by Tony Ragle/The Daily
Wagner Hall has some of the best locations for napping on campus. Padded couches and chairs fill the building for plenty of space for everyone to find a spot.
The Blender has long, backless benches with decent padding throughout its many hallways. However, with all the foot traffic, somebody will probably take a picture of your snooze.
3. Oklahoma Memorial Union’s Third Floor
As you snooze across campus, keep in mind this is merely a list to introduce you to the main styles of napI should preface this nook by saying that, by convenping spots. It’s my personal and professional opinion that tional standards, this is a bad place to nap. It’s immediate- the beauty of the nap is in the spontaneity. Wherever you ly outside a frequently-used restroom, and the surround- find yourself dozing off is the perfect place to do so. ing area is just noisy. This is the abstract expressionism of nap spots; you probably won’t understand it on your first try. If you someday develop strong enough public sleepAndrew Wagner is journalism sophomore. ing skills, this is the place to show them off.
Apr. 10-13
Thursday, Thur ursd Apr. 10 The Che T Cherry Orchard | 8 p.m. Weitzenhoffer Theatre. University sity Theatre presents p THE CHERRY ORCHARD by Anton Chekhov. Tickets are - $22 adult | $18 discounts | $14 student. Fine Arts Box Office (405) 325-4101. Additional showings will also be Apr. 11 & 12. Percussion Ensembles Concert | 8 p.m. at Sharp Concert Hall. The School of Music and Sutton Concert Series present the Percussion Ensembles Concert featuring all of the percussion chamber ensembles at the University of Oklahoma. The repertoire will be quite varied ranging from large percussion ensemble works to smaller chamber-like works The OU Steel Band will perform in Gothic Hall at the end of the concert and refreshments will be served. Tickets $9 Adult, $5 Student. For more information, contact 405-325-4101.
Saturday, Apr. 12 Oklahoma Football Spring Game | 2 p.m. at Gaylord Memorial Stadium. Sooner Football is back, even if just for a day. Come out and watch the Sooner football team give us all a preview of our team for the upcoming season. Students get in FREE with your OU ID! Baseball vs Texas | Sat 4 p.m. at L. Dale Mitchell Park. The Sooners continue their series with the Top-15 Texas Longhorns.
Friday, Apr. 11 Friday Frid Gallery Talk | 6:30 p.m. at the Fred Jones Jr. Museum of Art. Eastern Band Cherokee artist and activist Shan Goshorn will speak about the powerful personal experience of being included with exceptional indigenous photographers from around the world. She also will discuss the multi-step process involved with creating her hand-tinted, black and white double-exposed photographs, as well as the direction her photographic work has recently taken. For more information, visit www.ou.edu/fjjma. Men’s Tennis vs Baylor | 5:30 p.m. at Headington Tennis Center. In a huge match for the Big 12 Tennis title race the Sooners host a Top10 battle against the Baylor Bears, the team whom the Sooners have defeated in the past two Big 12 finals. Baseball vs Texas | Fri 6pm /Sat 4pm/Sun 2:30pm at L. Dale Mitchell Park. The Sooners play host to a Top-15 Texas Longhorns squad. No matter the situation these two teams always play each other tough, so come out this weekend to watch some Red River Rivalry Baseball. Kel Mitchell Comedy Show | 7 p.m. in Meacham Auditorium, Oklahoma Memorial Union. One of your favorite childhood stars is coming to the union! Kel Mitchell from “Kenan and Kel” and “Good Burger” will be performing in Meacham. Come out to watch and nd meet m the th legendary Nickelodeon star! Presented by the Union n Programming Prog rogram Board, upb.ou.edu.
Sunday, Apr. 13 Men’s Tennis vs Texas Tech | 1 p.m. at Headington Tennis Center. The Sooner’s Men’s Tennis team host their second Big 12 match of the weekend as the Red Raiders of Texas Tech come into town. Come out on your Sunday afternoon and enjoy some tennis under the sun. Baseball vs Texas | Sun 2:30 at L. Dale Mitchell Park. The Sooners continue their series with the Top-15 Texas Longhorns. The Cherry Orchard | 3 p.m. Weitzenhoffer Theatre. University Theatre presents THE CHERRY ORCHARD by Anton Chekhov. Tickets are - $22 adult | $18 discounts | $14 student. Fine Arts Box Office (405) 325-4101. President’s Concert: Haydn’s “The Seasons” | 3 p.m. at Reynolds Performing Arts Center. The School of Music, Dance and Sutton Concert Series present OU President’s Concert - Haydn’s “The Seasons” Dr. Richard Zielinski, Artistic Director and Conductor. Featuring the World Premiere Ballet choreographed by Mary Margaret Holt and Ilya Kozadayev. Oklahoma Festival Ballet, OU Chorale, OU Symphony Orchestra. 8pm April 12, and 3pm April 13 Tickets - $20 reserved seating Reynolds Performing Arts Center, Holmberg Hall. For more information, contact 405-325-4101. mation, contac conta
This University in compliance with all applicable federal and state laws and regulations does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, genetic information, age, religion, disability, political beliefs, or status as a veteran in any of its policies, practices or procedures. This includes but is not limited to admissions, employment, financial aid and educational services. For accommodations on the basis of disability, please contact the sponsoring department of any program or event.
6
• Thursday, April 10, 2014
LIFE&ARTS
Tony Beaulieu, life & arts editor Luke Reynolds, assistant editor dailyent@ou.edu • phone: 405-325-3666 oudaily.com/life&arts • Twitter: @OUDailyArts
money
Simple tips to help navigate the bureaucracy of tax season Ashley Geary • Life & Arts Reporter
I
f you didn’t know, taxes are due in five days, and for a lot of newly-minted adults tax season can be a very perplexing time. The Daily sat down with local tax experts Michael Thomas and Connie Williams of H&R Block to talk about some common problems first-time tax filers run into and some fast and hard tips for getting the most out of your return:
3.
You can take off any expenses related to school on your taxes, and we mean anything — pens, paper, notebooks, books, parking passes. If you have an online class you can deduct your Internet as a mandatory Internet expense. Just be sure to keep your receipts for textbooks so if you get audited, you can still prove you had them.
1.
Many college students mistakenly think that just because their parents claim them as a dependent there is nothing left for them to do. However, the tax experts say it’s always a good idea to file a tax return if you’ve had any income. Dependent or not, if you make an income, you probably have taxes withheld that you need to file to get a refund.
4.
There are a number of free tax filing software programs available to low and moderate-income taxpayers. But not every software is the best suited for everyone. The IRS website keeps a handy guide for which tax software is best for your specific situation.
2.
If you are supporting yourself through college, you probably qualify for the American opportunity tax credit. It’s a refundable credit, so even if you didn’t owe taxes, you’d get a refund from the federal government. That credit has to be voted on each year but is right now extended until 2017.
photo illustration by taylor bolton/the daily
Taxes are due April 15. Many first time tax filers find it difficult to navigate complicated forms. Make sure you’re getting your full return this season with these handy tips.
film
comedy
Production club opens submissions to annual student film festival
Activities council brings comedic publication to campus for free event
The Student Film Production Club (SFPC) and OU Film and Media Studies Department (FMS) will host the 6th annual Redbud Film Festival at 7:30 p.m. April 25th in the Sam Noble Museum’s Robert Kerr Auditorium. The screening is free and open to the public. The festival is an event that showcases films made by OU students, whether film majors or not, said Britni Harris, broadcast electronic media senior and president of the SFPC. It gives students a platform to exhibit their talents and also show the creative diversity of OU students, she said. Harris added that Redbud is one of the biggest film festivals hosted by OU a great way to gain experience in filmmaking and meet other filmmakers. The submission deadline is 4 p.m. on April 19th.
The satirical newspaper “The Onion� will be on campus at 7 p.m. April 16 in Oklahoma Memorial Union’s Molly Shi Boren Ballroom. The Campus Activities Council Speakers Bureau executive committee organized the event, which is open and free to the public. “We thought it would bring a wide variety of students to the event,� said Lindsey Hand, communication junior and events team member. The Onion is unlike any speaker CAC Speakers Bureau has brought to campus before. Most speakers who come to campus share their stories such as astronaut Fred Hays and activist Dan Savage, so having “The Onion� will be different. “We’re not sure what to expect, honestly,� Hand said. “They’ve been very vague about it.�
Sama Khawaja, Life & Arts Reporter
A drunk driver ruined something precious. Amber Apodaca.
Sarah Pitts, Life & Arts Reporter
HOROSCOPE
Friends Don ’t Let Friends Drive Drunk.
By Bernice Bede Osol
Photo by Michael Mazzeo
Copyright 2014, Newspaper Enterprise Assn.
THURSDAY, APRIL 10, 2014
It will take a lot of energy to meet the goals you’ve set. It will be important to accept help and to call in favors. Don’t be too proud to let those you’ve aided in the past return the favor. You will be respected for your perseverance. ARIES (March 21-April 19) -- Gather together with friends who share your passion and vision. You can mix business and pleasure while collaborating on a new venture. Your final result could prove very lucrative. TAURUS (April 20-May 20) -- Take a backseat and relax for a change. Let others make decisions. Pick your battles and don’t let a difference of opinion turn into a major problem. Strive for equality.
Previous Solution
Monday- Very Easy Tuesday-Easy Wednesday- Easy Thursday- Medium Friday - Hard
Instructions: Fill in the grid so that every row, every column and every 3x3 box contains the digits 1 through 9. That means that no number is repeated in any row, column or box.
colleague may be trying to get ahead at your expense. Someone who seems overly enthusiastic could have an ulterior motive. LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 23) -- Keep an open mind today. A casual remark from an old friend will give new spark to your creativity. A trip to an unfamiliar location will result in a rewarding partnership. SCORPIO (Oct. 24-Nov. 22) -- You don’t appreciate being scrutinized, so don’t question what others are up to. Be trusting. Your relationship with friends, peers and partners will suffer if you display jealousy.
SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 23-Dec. 21) -- Take a break from your usual schedule. Get out into the fresh air with friends or loved ones. A brief jaunt to a nearby park or nature trail will get your juices GEMINI (May 21-June 20) -- Your flowing. home and work environment will be filled with tension if you CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19) gossip or get involved in other -- An elderly relative may be a people’s business. Stick to your burden. Look over your budget chores and stay out of trouble. and see where you can make beneficial adjustments. Contracts, CANCER (June 21-July 22) -- If investments or legal matters you have ideas for improvement should be dealt with now. at your workplace, speak up. Even if your suggestions are not AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 19) acted upon, you will gain respect -- The time is right for love. Take and credit for making the offer. things slow and easy. You may be feeling romantic, but don’t come LEO (July 23-Aug. 22) -- Your on too strong, or your special emotions are on a rollercoaster someone may take off in the ride, with you tearful one other direction. moment and cheerful the next. Don’t let this instability lead to PISCES (Feb. 20-March 20) an impulsive decision that can -- Don’t waste time gossiping or influence a contract or promise. sharing personal stories when you should be working. You’ll VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22) be criticized if you don’t finish -- Don’t reveal too many details what you start with efficiency and about what you are up to. A dispatch.
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HELP WANTED After School Teachers Community After School Program is now hiring part-time staff to work in our schoolage childcare programs in Norman Public Schools for current school year and for the Fall. We are also seeking staff with Special Needs Experience. Hours: M-F 2:30 p.m.-6:00 p.m. Closed for all Norman Public School holidays and professional days. Competitive wages starting at $7.75/hour. Higher pay for students with qualifying coursework in education, early childhood, recreation and related fields, and/or experience. Complete application online at www.caspinc.org. Line Cooks Needed - Start Immediately Fully private golf club restaurant seeking qualified, experienced, line/ short order cooks. Applicants MUST have evening and weekend availability. Seeking full and part time applicants. Cleveland County food handler license required. Cooks need to be punctual, and eager to learn and excel in the industry. Pay is $8.00 $12.00 determined by skill-set, and experience. Useful skills include, but are not limited to the following; flat top grill, char broiler, Sautee station, fry station, baking, vegetable prep, fruit prep, knife usage, portioning, cleaning, etc. Interested applicants can apply by submitting a resume via reply to the online posting. Also, interested applicants may apply in person at (Tuesday - Saturday 3pm - 5pm) 1025 E Indian Hills Rd Norman OK 73071 Email cantina@ilovethiscourse.com
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Now hiring full and part time servers. Shifts are 5:00pm - 10:00pm. Apply in person after 2:00pm. If applying before 5 please enter through the back door. Royal Bavaria Restaurant & Brewery, 3401 S. Sooner Road (12th Ave N.E.), Moore, OK, just north of Norman.
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Universal Crossword Edited by Timothy E. Parker April 10, 2014
ACROSS 1 Oktoberfest instrument 5 Oscar presenter’s take 9 Rye grass disease 14 Burden 15 Diamond Head locale 16 New Zealand native 17 What “if tree falls in forest� has 20 Parthenon’s site 21 Made a memo 22 They’re put in food 23 Sign for the superstitious 25 No, in a circle 28 Hardly ordinary 29 Brass or bronze, e.g. 31 Campus VIP, slangily 33 Like fairy-tale dragons, eventually 34 “But will it play in ___?� 35 No longer in existence 38 “Play something else!� 39 Broadcast 40 Colors crudely 41 Middle ear bone 42 Bagpiper’s headwear 45 It may be spotted in a tree 4/10
46 Excessive criticism 47 Make a silhouette 49 The best 52 Marinara and bechamel 53 They’re cast over the ocean? 57 Overly full 58 Floor 59 VIP in the UAE 60 Door fasteners 61 Piquant flavor 62 Baglike structures in animals DOWN 1 Beefsteak or cherry 2 One way to stand 3 Plumb tuckered out 4 Positive attribute 5 Some deliveries 6 Shake one’s tail 7 “Caught you!� 8 Ambulance item 9 Discharge 10 One may be on its last leg 11 Comedian Whoopi 12 Valuable find 13 “Whether ___ nobler ...� 18 Asthmatics’ needs 19 Huge amount of bricks
23 Gallimaufry 24 Western state 26 X or Y, in math 27 Swedish rug 30 How workaholics often work 31 Place for a statue or a hero 32 Large crucifix 33 Arrogant one 34 Land of the alpaca 35 Chew like a rat 36 Some eye doctors 37 Many a “Li’l Abner� character 38 Tokyo, pre-Tokyo 41 Greenest around the gills
42 Port on Commencement Bay 43 Acid found in vinegar 44 Partners of Mmes. 46 ___ Tuesday (Mardi Gras) 48 Game essentials 50 Hard to comprehend 51 Front and back 52 Belted out a tune 53 Burning remnant 54 Living Nativity sound 55 Airport stat. 56 Woman’s hairstyle
PREVIOUS PUZZLE ANSWER
4/9
Š 2014 Universal Uclick www.upuzzles.com
LOST IN TRANSLATION By Dennis E. Mitchell
Thursday, April 10, 2014 •
SPORTS
OUDaily.com ›› Find out what the field will look like for the spring game on Saturday.
7
Julia Nelson, sports editor Joe Mussatto, assistant editor dailysports@ou.edu • phone: 405-325-3666 oudaily.com/sports • Twitter: @OUDailySports
thunder
OKC needs to pick up the pace T
he Oklahoma City Thunder had a busy weekend. They played three games in a four-day stretch, but that wasn’t the tough part. The tough part was that all three teams are playoff teams in the Western Conference — the more dominant conference in the NBA. One particularly arduous match up the Thunder had was against the San Antonio Spurs. Not only were the Spurs on a franchise record 20-game win streak, but they were also the lone holders to the top spot in the West. The following night, the Thunder traveled to Houston to take on the Rockets. If the playoffs started today, the Rockets would have home court advantage as the fourth seed. To end the four-day stretch, the Thunder traveled out to the desert to take on the Phoenix Suns, a young and feisty team currently the eighth seed in the West. Not an easy test for the Thunder, who is dealing with injuries and trying to stay healthy for an upcoming playoff run. Regardless, it was time for the “Boys in Blue” to buckle down and take care of business against their Western Conference foes. Too bad business wasn’t taken care of. The Thunder looked ready on Thursday night, screeching the streaking Spurs to a halt. Kevin Durant looked good. Russell Westbrook looked explosive, as usual. It was even good to see Kendrick Perkins back from a groin injury. It was a terrific game for the Thunder, who won by double digits and swept the season series with the Spurs, 4-0. One would think the Thunder would ride that momentum into Houston the next night, but that wasn’t the story. Ever since Westbrook returned from meniscus surgery, coach Scott Brooks has opted to bench him in one of two back-to-back games. So after playing against the Spurs on Thursday, there was no chance he would take court versus the Rockets — the team he was originally injured against. When Westbrook isn’t on the court, all of the defensive attention shifts directly to Kevin Durant. Defenses are able to double- and triple-team him consistently, forcing tough shots and making other people on the team step up. That’s the exact approach the Rockets took. Whether it was Chandler Parsons, Francisco Garcia, or a combination of the two, Durant didn’t look comfortable. His streak of 40 straight games with at least 25 points looked to be in jeopardy. He was eventually able to extend the streak late with 28 points, but Durant wasn’t able to lead his team to the win, losing to the Rockets 111-107. KD, who had been tagged the nice guy early in his career, had some “not so nice” comments about the Rockets
Rich Pedroncelli/The Associated Press
Oklahoma City Thunder forward Kevin Durant, center, dribbles between Sacramento Kings Travis Outlaw, left, and Ben McLemore during the third quarter of an NBA basketball game Tuesday in Sacramento, Calif. The Thunder won 107-92.
defense after the game. “They weren’t playing one-on-one, it was one-onthree. They followed me with two or three guys, and before I got the ball, they had two guys on me. Those dudes can’t check me one-on-one. They know that. I ain’t afraid to say it either,” Durant said. Some very blunt and honest words from the MVP favorite. Would these words inspire a great bounce-back performance against the Suns? Kind of. On Sunday night when the Thunder played the Suns, Durant had his sidekick back. Everything looked to be inline for a redemption win, but the Suns had something else in mind. Their small-ball lineup with point guards Goran Dragic and Eric Bledsoe caused some problems from the get-go for the Thunder. Dragic scored 19 points in the second quarter, and no one on the Thunder seemed capable of stopping him. In the close game, the Suns were able to pull out the victory despite Durant and Westbrook both scoring 30 plus points. Interestingly enough, the Thunder are only 1-2 on the season when both Durant and Westbrook eclipse the 30-point mark.
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The Thunder clearly needs them both to score highly for the team to be successful, but the shot selection was very poor against Phoenix on Sunday. Between the two all-stars, they shot a whopping 24 three-point attempts and only made six of them. The Suns also shot a season high 58 percent from the field, and contributed to a less than impressive result for the Thunder. One positive? Durant was able to extend his streak of games where he scored 25 points or more to 41, which is a modern day NBA record. So is going 1-2 in a tough three game stretch against Western Conference opponents the end of the world? No. But lack of defensive intensity, along with bad shot selection, is a sign of concern, especially with playoffs approaching. The good thing is they have six more regular season games to get completely in groove before playoffs.
Brett Coppenbarger is a journalism senior.
8
sports
• Thursday, April 10, 2014
men’s gymnastics
Jacqueline eby/the daily
Junior Sergey Resnick turns himself on one arm as part of his pommel horse routine during the Mountain Pacific Sports Federation Conference Championship on March 29 at McCasland Field House. The Sooners won the championship with an overall score of 446.100.
OU has high hopes for championships No. 1 Sooners face tough competition in No. 2 Michigan Jennifer rogers
Men’s Gymnastics Beat Reporter @jenrogers315
The OU men’s gymnastics team is ranked No. 1 overall in the NCAA National Championship tournament, which begins today and continues through Saturday. The Sooners traveled to Ann Arbor, Mich. — home of the defending National Champions — in hopes of bringing home their first National Title since 2008. OU begins competition at 11 a.m. (CST) this morning in the qualifying round. The Michigan Wolverines are the No. 2 overall seed after posting an impressive 448.200 at the Big 10 Championships and pose the biggest threat to the top-ranked Sooners. Oklahoma will no doubt be in a hostile environment in Ann Arbor, but the Sooners have been preparing for that, explains freshman Colin Van Wicklen. “We have been doing certain things in the gym, getting
really rowdy during routines to prepare. But, I think that we have been preparing for this type of environment all season where it takes that mental toughness,� Van Wicklen said. Oklahoma kicks off the competition against No. 4 Stanford, No. 5 Illinois, No. 8 Iowa, No. 9 California and No. 12 William & Mary in Session I. Michigan will be in Session II later Thursday, taking on No. 3 Ohio State, No. 6 Penn State, No. 7 Minnesota, No. 10 Air Force and No. 11 Nebraska. The top three teams from each session will continue on to the finals tomorrow. After the team National Champion is crowned, the top 10 individuals on each event will move on to Saturday’s individual competition, where junior Michael Squires looks to defend his 2013 National Champion title on still rings. Oklahoma has faced six out of the 11 other teams that will be competing this weekend, and defeated all with the exception of Ohio State. The Sooners will need to ride the momentum they created at the MPSF Championships to come out victorious this weekend. The team will rely on their physical ability and their
trademark team chemistry. Head Coach Mark Williams talked about his game plan going into the championship and what he thinks it will take for his Sooners to win. “It is going to be about the team’s performance, not about one talented guy. My goal has been to mold the team into feeling like they are better then themselves,� Williams said. “If we get into the rhythm, that is how you win a National Championship. You start off doing what you can do, and then somewhere along the line you catch fire and you carry it all the way to the end. That is what I am hoping for.� The hard work and dedication the team has put in this season all lead up to this weekend. The Sooners are eager to add a ninth National Championship to the program’s collection. Junior Sergey Resnick is confident in the team’s ability to bring home the trophy. “If we go 30 for 30 and 12 sticks, we win. Hands down,� Resnick said. Jennifer Roger Jennifer.Rogers-1@ou.edu
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