The Oklahoma Daily

THE UNIVERSITY OF OKLAHOMA’S I NDEPENDENT STUDENT VOICE

VOL. 94, NO. 125 FREE — Additional Copies 25¢

FRIDAY, APRIL 3, 2009 © 2009 OU Publications Board

GREAT EXPECTATIONS

WHAT’S INSIDE Find out how you can help a Sooner win a free car and $25,000 scholarship on page 3.

The New York Times is now free to students.

Page 3.

One OU professor is researching a national movement that had unknown impact on the state. Page 2.

An OU employee of 30 years died Tuesday.

Page 2.

LIFE & ARTS Looking for some variety in your wine list?

Check out this week’s wine on page 9.

Going to the movies this weekend? Before you go, check out Dusty Somers’ review of ‘Adventureland’ on page 7.

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The king and queen will be in town this weekend for a Medieval time. Check out more about the Medieval Fair this weekend on page 10.

James Cornwell/ The Daily

The OU women’s basketball team waves to the waiting crowd outside Lloyd Noble Center Thursday. The Sooners will travel to St. Louis to compete in the Women’s NCAA Tournament Final Four for the first time since 2002. For coverage on OU’s game against No. 3 seed Louisville and a Friday Face-off about whether the Sooners must win it all to have a successful season, see page 5.

Archived photo by Lauren Hopkins/The Daily

SPORTS The softball team is in action this weekend with a three-game set against Nebraska. Page 6.

The men’s gymnastics team is the secondranked team in the country heading into this weekend’s conference championships. For details, see page 6.

OUDAILY.COM Get breaking news through your e-mail.

Go to oudaily.com/alerts/oklahoma-daily/

TODAY’S INDEX Boggle 8 Classifieds 8 8 Crossword Horoscope 9 L&A 7, 9, 10

News 3 Opinion 4 Police Reports 2 Sports 5, 6 Sudoku 8

WEATHER FORECAST

TODAY

LOW 34° HIGH 70°

SATURDAY

LOW 51° HIGH 76° Source: Oklahoma Weather Lab

Investigation raises censorship questions • Critics complain OU failed to include opposing views

• City officials take extra precautions RICKY MARANON The Oklahoma Daily

WILL HOLLAND The Oklahoma Daily March 6, the day author and evolution advocate Richard Dawkins spoke at OU, a state representative contacted an OU administrator asking for information about Dawkins’ appearance on campus.

Jay Doyle, university spokesman, confirmed Rep. Rebecca Hamilton, D-Oklahoma City, asked OU Vice President Danny Hilliard for detailed information about Dawkins’ visit, including how much the event cost, where its funding came from and about e-mails from departments that sponsored the visit.

Hamilton did not respond to repeated phone calls or a visit from The Daily, but some see Hamilton’s questioning as an attempt to attack academic freedom.

“I find it deeply [troubling] that elected state officials appear to be using the powers of their offices to attempt to censor the opinions of those with whom they personally disagree,” Piers Hale, history of science professor, said in an e-mail. “[OU] President [David] Boren has quite correctly pointed out that this is an issue of freedom of

Strong winds prompt building collapse scare

speech, and thus of constitutional prerogative.”

Doyle said Boren stands by the statement he made

Strong wind gusts threatened to collapse the tallest building in downtown Norman Thursday morning, forcing temporary road and business closures.

Businesses east of the Norman Financial Center, home of The Vista Sports Grill, were forced to shut down for the day, and Peters Avenue was closed while Main Street reduced traffic to one lane in the area.

Last month, the tower was declared structurally unstable and all businesses were asked to vacate.

“We’ve been told by structural engineers that if there is a sustained wind of 50 mph or more for more than 3 [seconds], then the building will collapse,” said the site supervisor who asked to remain anonymous because he was not authorized to release information.

He said if the building collapsed, it would fall straight down, but neighboring businesses to the east could be in danger as well.

Business continued as normal at The Diner, the closest open business east of the tower.

CENSORSHIP Continues on page 2

WINDS Continues on page 2

Archived photo by James Cornwell/ The Daily

State Representative Rebecca Hamilton, a democrat from Oklahoma City, has contacted the University inquiring information about Richard Dawkins’ visit in March. Information she requested included cost of the event, and where funding for the event came from.

Regents push for mandatory freshmen financial literacy course • College students most vulnerable to financial trouble due to lack of knowledge JAMIE BIRDWELL The Oklahoma Daily The Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education discussed the possibility of adding financial literacy lessons for college freshmen Thursday during their meeting at

the Noble Center in Ardmore.

The course would be similar to the alcohol abuse course students are required to take upon college entry, regent Ron White said.

It would consist mostly of information on how to handle a credit card account and explain interest rates on loans, White said.

“We need to help them understand,” regents secretary Joseph Parker said.

“They’re vulnerable. They don’t understand loans.”

When polled, 67 percent of students said they didn’t need more financial information, but institutions see many students making poor financial decisions based on a lack of knowledge, White said.

Oklahoma universities have some type of system to make students more financially conscious, but all are different and tailor to different types of students, said Kermit McMurray, vice chancellor for Student Affairs.

For example, some universities or colleges have more or fewer non-traditional students who are older and may already know about financial responsibilities, McMurray said.

The regents’ goal is to make a model program for state universities and colleges to follow.

College students are more susceptible to financial trouble than other groups, McMurray said.

“Research has shown that some students walk into college with at least two credit cards in their pockets,” McMurray said.

College students are the only known consumers that can get a credit card without proof of a job or the ability to pay it back, he said.

The Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education will be working with the President’s Council to implement the program, McMurray said.

“The regents are deeply concerned about the financial consequences of students,” he said. “We want to ensure that institutions are as serious as [the regents] are about this.”

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Friday, April 3, 2009

Winds

Memorial services set for OU employee, sports fan

Continued from page 1

“We’ve been told that we’re far enough east that we won’t have anything fall on us, but some of us are a little uneasy,” waitress Sarah Amspacher said.

She said she thought the restaurant was getting more business than usual on Thursday because a competing restaurant two doors down had to close.

A City of Norman spokeswoman said she could not comment on the future of the building.

“The city doesn’t own the building, but we are trying to help stabilize it,” said Susan Conners, Norman Planning and Community Development director.

She said the city is not directly involved in the future plans of the financial center, but when winds threaten the building’s integrity, the city will step in for the safety of everyone in the area.

“When the winds calm down, we will reopen all streets when the threat of collapse goes down,” Conners said.

High winds are forecasted for The Vista, located on Main Street, was having structural problems Thursday that caused sections of Main Street to be closed. The road was closed as a precautionary measure in case the building collapsed. the area next week.

Censorship Continued from page 1

before Dawkins’ speech in support of the appearance at OU. But State Rep. Todd Thomsen, R-Ada, said he supports Hamilton’s right to ask for information from OU because, as a public institution, OU is subject to government oversight. He said representatives ask for information from other state-funded agencies on a regular basis.

State Rep. Wallace Collins, D-Norman, said this is the first time he has heard of a legislator looking into any speaker a university has invited.

“Certainly, Richard Dawkins had a

right to come to OU, and OU had a right to invite him,” Collins said.

He said he thinks OU has an obligation to bring in controversial speakers like Dawkins so students can hear different sides of issues, like evolution, and make up their own minds.

Thomsen said he thinks OU’s celebration of Charles Darwin’s 200th birthday, and specifically Dawkins’ invitation, indicated OU was only presenting one side of the evolution debate.

“Not one speaker was brought in to oppose that,” he said.

Collins, however, said OU did host speakers with views opposing Dawkins’.

John West and Casey Luskin from the Discovery Institute, a nonprofit organization that advocates the teaching of the “strengths and weaknesses” of

POLICE REPORTS Names are compiled from the Norman Police Department and OUPD. The reports serve as a record of arrests and citations, not convictions. Those listed are innocent until proven guilty.

AGGRAVATED DRIVING UNDER THE INFLUENCE Leeandrea Lynn Walker, 28, 1300 Classen Blvd., Wednesday

FURNISHING ALCOHOL TO A MINOR Mark Steven Bestmann, 21, 108 W. Main St., Wednesday Kimberlee Nichole Jones, 29, 321 E. Main St., Wednesday

MUNICIPAL WARRANT Audrey Lynn Carpenter, 43, 201 W. Gray St., Wednesday Sarah Brianne Villines, 19, 201 W. Gray St., Wednesday Jeffrey Todd Woodward, 35, 813 Biloxi Drive, Wednesday, also county warrant and public intoxication

evolution in public schools, spoke at OU in February.

West and Luskin were invited by the IDEA Club, an OU student organization that promotes intelligent design and evolution awareness, said Josh Malone, University College freshman and IDEA Club member.

West and Luskin’s visit was a bit different, though.

The club didn’t receive funding from OU to bring the speakers to campus, Malone said.

Thomsen not only said OU’s speakers were one-sided, but their views were not consistent with those of the state.

Three days before Hamilton’s inquiries, Thomsen proposed House Resolution 1015 in opposition to OU’s invitation of Dawkins. Thomsen said he wrote the resolution because he felt he

Amy Frost/The Daily

had a responsibility to his constituents to share his opinion as a state representative.

The resolution was never heard by the House, but Thomsen said that hasn’t stopped criticism.

“I have received quite a bit of opposition from a consistently atheistic crowd worldwide,” he said.

Thomsen said he has been accused of trying to advocate censorship, but said he feels as though he’s the one being censored.

He said his resolution proposal wouldn’t censor anyone but his critics are trying to censor him and others who question evolution.

“It [the proposal] simply says that, you know, we strongly oppose [Dawkins’ appearance at OU],” Thomsen said.

OUR COMMITMENT TO ACCURACY

COUNTY WARRANT Linda Sue Domer, 62, 1310 Glen Oaks Court, Wednesday Trae Emanuel Gaines, 20, 1900 Beaumont, Wednesday Shelly Renea Stover, 43, 12th Avenue SE, Wednesday Javier Armendariz, 21, Brandywine Lane, Wednesday

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.

ERROR SUBMISSIONS

POSSESSION OF MARIJUANA Justin Fesperman, 21, 1956 Fillmore Ave., Wednesday Myron Udell Magee, 55, 1956 Fillmore Ave., Wednesday Richard Kris Seals, 39, 1956 Fillmore Ave., Wednesday

After more than 30 years as an OU employee, academic records specialist Daryl Wayne Mehl died Tuesday in Norman. He was 56.

Funeral services officiated DARYL by the Reverend MEHL John Stitt will be held at 1 p.m.

Saturday at Riverside Church, 2300 24th Ave. SW, Norman.

A private family interment service will be held at Lorraine Baptist Cemetery in Lorraine, Kansas, at a later date.

Mehl was born July 19, 1952, in Ellsworth, Kan., to Wayne and Donna Mehl. He graduated from Ellsworth High School and received a bachelors degree in business from Bethany College in Lindsborg, Kan. Mehl married Jo Ann Droegemeier in the summer of 1974, in Ellsworth.

They moved to Norman in 1978 where Mehl began his job as an academic records specialist.

He was an avid sports fan, especially of OU football, and served as the academic advisor to OU Hockey Club.

Also an athlete, Mehl jogged more than 25,000 miles in his life following successful basketball, track and baseball careers in high school.

He was a member of Riverside Church in Norman.

Survivors include his wife, Jo Ann Mehl; sons, Ross Mehl and Derek Mehl, all of Norman; parents, Wayne and Donna Mehl, of Lorraine; sister, Denise Wells of Ellsworth; four nieces and four nephews, a great-niece and three great nephews.

Memorial contributions can be made to the Daryl W. Mehl Memorial Fund, which has been established on behalf of the OU Hockey Club, courtesy of the OU Foundation, 100 Timberdell Road, Norman, OK 73019.

Condolences can be sent online at www.havenbrookfuneralhome.com/ obituaries

e-mail: dailynews@ou.edu phone: 325-3666

— STAFF REPORTS

PUBLIC INTOXICATION Dettra Denise Oleru, 44, 901 N. Porter Ave., Tuesday

ATTEMPTING TO OBTAIN NARCOTICS WITH A FAKE ID Sarah Raiko Scott, 25, 901 N. Porter Ave., Tuesday

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Nijim Dabbour, managing editor dailynews@ou.edu phone: 325-3666 fax: 325-6051 For more, go to oudaily.com.

Campus News

Incoming OU freshman vies for scholarship votes • Winner to receive $25,000 for higher education, new Honda HANNAH RIEGER The Oklahoma Daily A Norman North High School senior is one of 10 in the running to win a car and $25,000 scholarship.

Incoming freshman Sogoal Davani is a finalist for the Honda 5 Free Ride Scholarship. The winner will receive a $25,000 scholarship to a four-year, post-secondary institution and a new 2009 Honda Civic LX. The winner must be a resident of a central Oklahoma county, have had a 3.5 gradepoint average and be in good standing in school. A selection committee chose the finalists, and will make its final selection today after considering public votes. The public is asked to vote for the student it thinks is most Amy Frost/The Daily deserving.

Sogoal Davani, a Norman North High Davani used her leadership role in Delta Epsilon School senior, is a finalist in the Honda Chi, a high school marketing, 5 Free Ride Scholarship which offers management, entrepreneur- a $25,000 scholarship and new car to ship and community service the winner. Davani will be attending association, to help deserving OU in the fall. cancer patients.

Through DECA, she hosted a fashion show and donated the proceeds to a research fund for Pseudomyxoma Peritonei, a rare type of cancer that has affected her life drastically.

She said when her brother was diagnosed with Pseudomyxoma Peritonei a little more than a year ago, it greatly changed her family members’ lives. She said the scholarship would help ease their minds.

“Since he has been diagnosed, it has put lots of stress on my family,” Davani said. “This scholarship would help my family tremendously. They could have one less stress on their shoulders.”

Friday, April 3, 2009

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NY Times free in trial run • Paper available at three campus locations RENEE SELANDERS The Oklahoma Daily Students across campus now have the opportunity to read The New York Times for free through a two-month readership pilot program delivered by OU faculty and staff.

The two-month pilot program began March 23 in Gaylord College of Journalism and Mass Communication, the Joe C. and Carole Kerr McClendon Honors College and the School of International and Area Studies. It supplies 150 copies of The New York Times Monday through Friday to the three participating academic programs at three designated newsstands.

“What it offers, it seems to be, is something of great value to students because for no investment of their own money, they have the opportunity to read the daily New York Times in hard copy,” said Kathryn Jenson White, journalism professor and Gaylord faculty coordinator for the readership program. “Many students, I feel, read the paper online, but the experience of reading online is very different from the experience of reading the hard copy.”

Jenson White said Gaylord College Dean Joe Foote approached her about beginning the program after he met with a representative from The New York Times Readership Program who expressed interest in bringing the newspaper to OU. Jenson White recruited Lesa Wilkerson, Gaylord administrative assistant and the two began coordinating the program in October.

After working with The New York Times Readership Program representatives, Jenson White and Wilkerson brought the program to campus, making OU one of nine Big 12 schools that have a readership program with the newspaper.

At a subsidized rate, the three participating academic programs fund one month of newspapers and The New York Times pays for the second month, Jenson White said.

In order for this pilot program to become a permanent fixture at OU, student interest in the program is vital, she said.

“Students will vote with their hands,” Jenson White said. “If they pick up the paper and we see that they’re gone, then we’ll try to pursue funding but again, we’re

not invested in whether it’s a success or not, we just want to offer it to students if indeed it’s something that they can benefit from.”

Wilkerson has been tracking student interest in the program daily and monitoring how many copies of the newspaper are left over from the previous day. She said response from Gaylord students has been good.

“That’s a real tangible example of how interested students are, just if the copies are gone,” Wilkerson said. “If you return in the morning and find that there are only two papers or 10 papers, then you can have a real tangible number that guides you.”

Tracy Holloway, academic adviser and readership program facilitator at the School of International and Area Studies, said the newsstand in Hester Hall is not cleared out everyday, but student interest and readership has been high.

Exposure to a newspaper that covers global events is essential to her students’ education, Holloway said.

“I certainly hope it can become a permanent program come fall,” she said. “That’s our goal ... that the response to it this spring will be great enough that we can get some more colleges or the university as a whole interested.”

Students also hope they will continue to receive free copies of The New York Times.

Megan Hulshizer, international and area studies and German sophomore, said she thinks there is enough student interest to

WHERE TO FIND YOUR COPY OF THE NEW YORK TIMES Look for the blue newsstands to get a free copy of The New York Times Monday through Friday at these locations.

• School of International and Area Studies – Hester Hall, first floor outside of Room 105 • Gaylord College of Journalism and Mass Communication – Gaylord Hall, southwest entrance • Joe C. and Carole Kerr McClendon Honors College – David L. Boren Hall, southeast entrance near OU Scholars office

“Students will vote with their hands. If they pick up the paper and we see that they’re gone, then we’ll try to pursue funding.”

Kathryn Jenson White, journalism professor sustain the program. She lives in the David L. Boren Hall dorms and said The New York Times newsstand has been cleared almost every morning since the start of the pilot program.

Hulshizer, who purchases the Sunday edition of The New York Times every week, said it’s important to have exposure to national publications that cover global events.

“The OU Daily only has so much international news that it can give us, so I think it’s important to expand your knowledge about the world,” Hulshizer said.

Though more print publications are turning their efforts to online and multimedia outlets, Hulshizer said she still reads the print versions.

“Not everybody can just carry their laptop around with them or carry an iPhone with them at all times to get the news,” Hulshizer said. “I guess Web sites can update it [news] as soon as something happen, but I like getting the Sunday New York Times and being able to sit down with a cup of coffee and read it cover to cover.”

Jenson White said the experience of reading a newspaper is something all students can benefit from. Online news allows viewers to jump from one story to the next, but reading a print publication allows readers to draw connections and see what news was considered worthy of including in a print publication, she said.

“I think we want, in Gaylord College, to offer students the experience of reading the newspaper as a print product because we want students to have [the] experience of both the online journalism that The New York Times represents at such a high level and the print product that is still one of the top three or four newspapers in the country,” she said.

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Opinion

Friday, April 3, 2009

OUR VIEW

Ray Martin, opinion editor dailyopinion@ou.edu phone: 325-7630, fax: 325-6051 For more, go to oudaily.com.

INVALID INVESTIGATION?

Personal finance education has a place, but it’s not here The Oklahoma State Regents for Higher to go about it in a different way.

Rather than enforcing mandatory sessions Education are trying to mandate that universities provide some type of financial education where students go and fall asleep while one of their peers is paid more than $20 to college students, despite the fact per hour to present a PowerPoint that 67 percent of students don’t OUR VIEW presentation, orientation sessions think they need such education. is an editorial and handouts could refer incoming Good idea? selected and debated freshmen to a Web site where they Sure, if they were the Oklahoma by the editorial board can learn the ins and outs of finanRegents for high school education. and written after a majority opinion is cial prudence.

But they aren’t. formed and approved Or, a one-hour, online credit The wrong people are taking this by the editor. Our View course available to anyone who on. So they’re going to end up wasting is The Daily’s official opinion. wants to take it would suffice. An state money to teach students how optional Student Success Series lecnot to waste money. ture would also be a good idea.

Personal finance education isn’t a Regardless of the structure of the program, bad thing, but it has no place at a university.

High school, the same place where students it should not be mandatory. Trying to force colreceive sexual education, driver’s education lege students to learn personal responsibility and drug education, should be the place for isn’t going to work.

The university is a place for scholarship and instilling financial responsibility.

If they must make finances part of higher higher education, not for practical life lessons education, the Regents and universities need that can be learned just as well elsewhere.

Eli Hull/The Daily

Evolutionary biologist Richard Dawkins sits outside of Holmberg House prior to his March 6 lecture at OU. Dawkins’ visit is being investigated by state legislators. Do you think legislators should be investigating public lectures? Voice your opinion online at the opinion blog.

STAFF POINT-COUNTERPOINT

Rosa Clemente: figure of change?

• Clemente embodies real change, the highest form of democratic action

• Activist represents failed third parties, disservice to American politics

As the saying goes, “In American politics today there are two parties, there’s the conservative party, and the more conservative party.”

For proof, consider how we don’t debate free trade, capitalism, farm subsidies, utility contracts, international trade, class polarization, sales tax or our extensive international influence; both political parties repeatedly vote to support Israel, regressive taxation, defining marriage as between a man and a woman, increased military spending, and ignorMAX ing the national deficit and AVERY debt.

Yet the media mostly focuses on the differences between the parties, which tend to be differences in political philosophies rather than substantive legislation.

This is why there are calls for change. An alternative to the two parties, the two choices we are presented in most elections.

Rosa Clemente is an advocate of that change. And she’s coming to OU as part of the Amnesty International State Conference.

She’ll be speaking at 1 p.m. on Saturday in Sarkeys Energy Center.

She represents activism, which simply means, if you don’t like what’s happening, don’t bitch about it, do something about it.

She is a famous community organizer, getting people in a community to work together for their shared gain.

The more active and involved the community the more opportunities there are for others to learn about and join their cause.

The more people involved, the more likely politicians will support the cause.

The more political parties there are, the more likely some politician will capitalize on the niche that community created and fulfill those views with substantive legislation.

When voters feel their views are represented, they cease being jaded by politics and become involved.

This could potentially lead to higher approval ratings and greater election turnouts, not to mention informed voters – all desirable goals.

However, we could stick with our two-party system of minimal election turnout, and low approval ratings for legislative bodies.

In last year’s presidential election, many voted on the basis of “the lesser of two evils.”

That seems to be how people vote these days.

Many were excited for Barack Obama, some were excited for John McCain, but far too many were voting because they were afraid of the “other guy.”

Clemente ran as the Green Party’s Vice Presidential candidate with Cynthia McKinney.

They weren’t on the ballot in Oklahoma or 18 other states.

They didn’t even make it into the “other guy” category.

The theory that a vote for a third party is a wasted vote is absurd. It’s only wasted because

Rosa Clemente’s appearance at OU this weekend offers ample material for us to discuss here. She is an outspoken American journalist, hip-hop activist and a community organizer, and she deserves respect as a responsible and intelligent figure in the public forum, and a dear advocate for those with less all across our country.

But all that aside, she represented the Green Party as vice-presidential nominee in last November’s Presidential election, and I want to take this opportunity to say something about third parties in our national political system.

They don’t work.

Their aims are, as stated, well enough and indeed very genuine. But in practice they dilute the force of the will of the people, and sway elections away from that general will when effective at all.

I am a liberal, though one of moderation and who acts always – I try to – in the interest of the whole, and of reconciliation and hope for the common good. I would be disingenuous to critique the Green Party as the only example of anti-productive and ultimately disenfranchising partisanship.

If not for Ross Perot’s reform movement, we may never have elected President William Jefferson Clinton, who received no majority in either of his presidential contests, love him though I may, and as worthy a president as I believe he was.

And to introduce a fringe interest into a fundamentally two-party system is almost always a doomed proposition, and likewise wrong. It serves to cleave off elements of the majority to work against themselves, and to stymie the will of the people.

The Green Party is a case study in self destruction by the progressive far-left of the American electorate, and the clearest example of their force can be seen in the ubiquitously referenced, but inescapable relevant 2000 election, when Nader’s 2.7 percent of the popular vote, representing undoubtedly similar concerns as Democrat Al Gore, in essence cost Gore the election.

Gore won the popular vote, make no mistake, and he did so by more than 500,000 votes.

But we all know the ultimate result, and little claim can be made that Nader’s nearly 3 million votes would have decisively shown the liberal bent of the electorate.

And the party standing for “grassroots democracy, social justice and equal opportunity ecological wisdom, non-violence” as well as “feminism and gender equity” and “respect for diversity” – that party was responsible for losing the George W. Bush administration upon

Max Avery is a political science senior.

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V O I C E

NEWSROOM DIRECTORY Meredith Simons Nijim Dabbour Jamie Hughes Mack Burke Ray Martin Zach Butler

Editor-in-Chief Managing Editor Assistant Managing Editor Night Editor Opinion Editor Photo Editor

Dane Beavers Whitney Bryen Steven Jones Luke Atkinson Judy Gibbs Robinson R.T. Conwell

Senior Online Editor Multimedia Editor Sports Editor Life & Arts Editor Editorial Adviser Advertising Manager

O F

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T H E The Fine Print

I N D E P E N D E N T

Rosa Clemente Amnesty International keynote lecture When: 1 p.m. Saturday Where: Sarkeys Energy Center

Contact Us

T H E

of the fear of an opponent, that we’re stealing a vote from one of the “acceptable” parties.

This belief disenfranchises everyone who doesn’t follow the main party lines; everyone who agrees with libertarians, populists or greens doesn’t even receive a representative to vote for in many states.

Many question the legitimacy of elections in which there is only one option, like the recent UOSA presidential election or the election of Saddam Hussein.

This isn’t too different from choosing between two parties that are quite similar.

When no option that we genuinely support is presented and no candidate is running who represents our beliefs, are we really given a democratic choice?

The challenge to the legitimacy of voting for third parties becomes a challenge to the legitimacy of the republican democracy in which we live.

If a vote for what I am represented by is a wasted vote, what vote isn’t wasted?

This is why I advocate additional parties and community action.

These are the best ways for individuals who feel their views aren’t represented by politicians to become enfranchised by a system currently ignoring their views.

This is why speakers like Clemente need to come to OU more often. They are advocates of real change.

The most fundamental part of being American: If you don’t like something, change it.

With so many Americans removed from politics, we should listen to people like Clemente the most.

People who speak truth, who say things that challenge us – things we may not want to hear.

There are few among us who are happy with the way things are going. There are fewer, still, who don’t care for fellow Americans, fellow human beings.

For those of us who care about our community, our nation and our world and want to see it become a better place, we need to learn how to organize ourselves and our communities to help improve our communities and our world.

There are few things more democratic than community activism and promotion of minority opinions.

Unfortunately, these topics receive little attention.

Clemente is one of the few people giving it attention.

She will teach us about this type of action, but in the end, it’s up to us to act.

this country, and more broadly and painfully, upon the world at large.

Those are all pillars of the Green platform, as devised in their “Ten Key Values,” and they have each been viciously undermined by their very advocates.

What then can be the cause of the Green Party? All that I have stated is widely reported and known, and sincere advocates must be pragmatic ones.

The green party’s role has been one of agitation, and insurgent destruction which, while powerful, has proven cruelly and SLATER bitterly unnecessary.

Indeed, the dark lurch to RHEA the left and abandonment of righteous religious grounding and of anything vaguely conservative that the Democratic Party advanced in the wake of Green competition is only just being recovered from, and to brilliant results.

It doesn’t hurt President Barack Obama to invoke God’s blessings, nor to show how progressives as himself and all across this country, like me and many here in Norman, find political grounding in scripture.

Al Gore’s new life as Nobel Laureate and liberal patron saint of the environment, which he refers to as part of God’s creation, is evidence of a strong old Democrat who wasn’t the same as George W. Bush, and who has a seminal relationship to the new successful Democrats.

And there are important differences in our two national parties, imperfect as they are.

They may be seen by the robust actions taken by our new president, and in contrast to the backward thinking and internecine state of the disloyal opposition in congress.

My attitude towards Clemente is one of respect and solidarity, of thanks for her activism, and interest in her speaking. But the Green Party can be no good to its own ideals, except in endorsing those politicians with a chance, who will best support them.

In the 2000 election, I supported Ralph Nader, a good man of impeccable learning and whose advocacy for the public good throughout his storied career was absolute.

His 1965 book, “Unsafe at Any Speed,” was a masterwork of journalism and revolutionized safety regulations to make cars the safe and reliable vehicles they are today.

Modern turning signals and seatbelts are his legacy to the ages, as well as many more vital safeguards of public interest including the United States Environmental Protection Agency.

In that campaign, I was a kid handing out yard signs, bumper stickers and flyers; I cared that all should have a place in the debate and in the public forum. I still have my T-shirt which reads “Bush and Gore just make me wanna Ralph.”

And I was a Young Republican, too.

U N I V E R S I T Y

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

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

Slater Rhea is an English literary and cultural studies and Letters senior.

O F

O K L A H O M A

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

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

Editorial Board members are The Daily’s editorial staff.

The board meets Sunday through Thursday in 160 Copeland Hall.

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

Sports

Steven Jones, sports editor dailysports@ou.edu phone: 325-7630, fax: 325-6051 For more, go to oudaily.com.

Women’s Basketball

Friday, April 3, 2009

5

Sooners face Louisville in Final Four battle • See how this years’ team compares to OU’s 2002 squad ANNELISE RUSSELL The Oklahoma Daily The OU women’s basketball team is headed to St. Louis for the Final Four for the first time in seven years.

The Sooners, who some counted out after losing early in the Big 12 tournament, will be playing No. 3 seed Louisville Sunday.

The last time OU was in the Final Four, the Sooners faced the women of Duke, led by current Texas coach Gail Goestenkors.

Here’s how the 2002 and 2009 Final Four women’s basketball teams compare:

2002 • Senior forward Stacy Dales was the leader of the Sooner offense. The senior from Canada was the go-to player on the floor and could put the Sooners on her back. She was a Player of the Year nominee and an All-American. Dales was eventually picked third in the WNBA draft.

• Guard play was strong for OU in 2002. Seniors Laniesha Caufied and Rosalind Ross were threats from the outside and tough defenders. The bench was not very deep, so these athletes played almost 40 minutes on a regular basis.

• The Sooners played the 2002 season • Guard play for the Sooners is improvwithout a true center. Hard to imag- ing under the leadership of sophomore ine after four years with the Paris Danielle Robinson, but the consistent presence of the Paris twins, but this was a twins in the post has much smaller Sooner been what keeps the line-up. Jump-shots Sooners going. The and 3-point shots were ability to drive to the Looking to keep up with the the only way OU was post and the success of Sooners’ while they play in St. going to make it.

Courtney and Ashley Louis, Mo. this weekend?

Here’s • OU’s road to the Paris have been vital all the information you need.

Final Four involved to the Sooners’ wins taking down two Big this year.

12 teams. Unlike in When: 5 p.m. Sunday • OU suffered some 2009, Texas Tech and Television: ESPN, Cox channel injuries toward the end Colorado were strong 29 in Oklahoma City of this year. Freshman teams vying for a shot guard Whitney Hand Radio: KOKC 1520 AM in at an Elite Eight or was out for a few Oklahoma City Final Four berth. The weeks before the end Sooners played their of the season with a To keep up with OU following Regional games in 2002 hand injury. During the game, log on to in Boise, Idaho. this time, the Sooners OUDaily.com.

• OU’s first game in the lost to Texas A&M, and junior forward Final Four was against Amanda Thompson is Duke and Alaina now plagued by injury Beard. She was an and has played limup-and-coming young ited minutes for the player, who had the Sooners in this tournapotential to upset the ment.

OU will have to play past the Sooner offense. That did not matter pain to make it to the national chamto the Sooners who buried the Blue pionship.

Devils 86-71.

• The Sooners’ road to the Final Four has been fairly smooth. None of their wins have come down to the final minutes. While the Sooners may not have played their best basketball in a • Senior center Courtney Paris is the specific half, on the whole they have new leader of the Sooner team. She is been solid. The highest-seeded team a record four-time All-American and the Sooners faced was a No. 4 seed the Big 12 Player of the Year. Paris that they blew out. is probably the most-touted recruit • Louisville is this year’s road block the Sooners have ever had coming in and most would assume Connecticut and she has already guaranteed the will be in the Final Four from the Sooners a National Championship. other side of the bracket. The Sooners

WATCH IT

2009

Amy Frost/The Daily

Sophomore guard Danielle Robinson fights past Texas A&M’s Sydney Colson during OU’s game against Texas A&M on Jan. 18. Robinson had 19 points, six rebounds and 10 assists. The Sooners won 71-59. On Sunday, OU will play Louisville for a shot at the National Championship game. will have to contend with Angel McCoughtry, the heart and soul of the Louisville offense. She averages 23.2

points per game and 9.3 rebounds. If the Sooners shut her down, it will be a long night for the Cardinals.

FRIDAY FACEOFF

If OU doesn’t win a title, is the season a disappointment?

YES ould it be a disappointment if the women’s basketball team failed to win a national championship this year? Let’s just ask senior center Courtney Paris.

“I feel like we’re not missing pieces,” Paris said after the Sooners defeated Texas Tech 61-49 on Senior Night to claim the Big 12 title. “If we play hard [and] we execute, we are a great team that can win the national championship. If we don’t do that, it won’t be because we’re not good enough.”

Paris went on.

“So when you’re good enough and don’t do something, then you have to take accountability for that, and that’s your own fault. We can win a national championship. If we don’t, I’ll feel like I didn’t earn my scholarship,” she said.

Paris was right.

If the Sooners don’t win the national championship this season, they have no one to blame but themselves.

The fact of the matter is this team truly is stacked.

Sophomore point guard Danielle Robinson brings great poise and leadership.

Freshman shooting guard Whitney Hand is the purest outside shooter the Sooners have had in a long time.

Junior forwards Nyeshia Stevenson and Amanda Thompson, one starting and the other coming off the bench, bring the athleticism OU needs in the small forward position, players who can step up and hit shots from the outside but also drive or nail the mid-range jumper.

W

NO

Then, the Paris twins, Courtney and Ashley, are the deadliest post duo in the game.

The high-low game is virtually unstoppable when the two are on their games.

Not to mention, the Sooners can roll out an up-and-coming freshman point guard Jasmine Hartman and sophomore forward Carlee Roethlisberger off the bench.

JOEY The Sooners are deep.

HELMER They are extremely talented.

Yes, the Connecticut Huskies are the best team in women’s college basketball, but the Sooners have all the pieces to upset them in the national championship, should both teams get there.

Let’s also take this to the next level.

Not only is it a disappointment if the Sooners don’t win the title, but it’s a disappointment that in Courtney Paris’ four years at OU, she never brought home a title.

Courtney Paris is the first player ever to be named an AP All-American four consecutive years.

It would be a shame if the Sooners were to let Courtney Paris leave without any national championship hardware.

If the Sooners don’t win the national championship this season, they have no one to blame but themselves.

SPORTS BRIEFS Women’s golf hosting tournament Sunday

Baseball faces Mizzou in three-game road series

The women’s golf team is hosting the Susie Maxwell Berning Classic at the Jimmie Austin Golf club Sunday and Monday.

Fifteen different teams will participate in the event, including Big 12 schools Baylor, Kansas and Kansas State.

The men’s tennis team is looking to snap its two-game losing streak and get back on the winning track.

The Sooners will host Rice at 6 p.m. today at the Gregg Wadley Indoor Pavilion. The Sooners, currently 9-7 overall and 0-3 in Big 12 play will have to battle a tough Rice team who is currently 13-7 on the year and has won four of its last six matches.

The No. 12 baseball team heads to Columbia, Mo., today to continue its Big 12 schedule against Missouri in a three-game weekend series.

OU is led by junior shortstop Bryant Hernandez. He leads both OU and the Big 12 in batting average (.443), is sixth nationally in hits (51) and is tied for 14th in the nation in runs (40) and RBIs (38).

Head coach Sunny Golloway said Hernandez is playing well because he has matured as a ball player.

“Sometimes things just come together for you,” Golloway said. “I think that’s the case for [Hernandez].

I think the game is not too fast for him, it’s probably almost slow. So, it’s just his time and it’s been fun for us to watch that maturity.”

Game one starts at today at 6:30.

— JAMES ROTH/THE DAILY

— JONO GRECO/THE DAILY

— DAILY STAFF

Men’s tennis in Norman

JOEY HELMER IS A JOURNALISM SENIOR.

he madness is almost over.

There are four teams left in the Women’s NCAA Tournament and OU is one of them for the first time since 2002. To many Sooners fans that may come as a bit of a shock.

You would think with the Paris sisters on board OU would have reached the Final Four more than once. This begs the question for this year’s tournament, if OU does not win a title, is this season a disappointment?

Personally, I don’t think so.

I do think it will be a disappointment if the Sooners do not reach the title game, however, when they get there, we will probably be playing Connecticut and losing to them would not surprise me at all.

The Huskies are 37-0 on the season and probably good enough to beat some WNBA teams. As great as the Sooners have been this year, UConn has been better.

UConn has the best player in the country, Maya Moore who is averaging 19.2 points and 8.9 rebounds per game. In the Huskies’ Elite Eight game against Arizona State JAMES she set the single-season scoring ROTH record at UConn and will continue to add on to that record in the next two games.

The Huskies also have big-time scorers in Tina Charles, who averages 16.5 points and 8.6 rebounds per game and Renee Montgomery, who averages 16.2 points per game and five assist. Compare those numbers to OU’s top three scorers, seniors center Courtney Paris, forward Ashley Paris and sophomore guard Danielle Robinson, and it is obvious that

T

I think it would be great for Courtney Paris to finally get one title under her belt before her OU career ends, but I am just being realistic.

OU is just outmatched on paper and on the court.

Courtney Paris averages 15.9 points and 13.5 rebounds per game which is crazy good, but after that there is a big decline. Ashley only averages 12.5 points per game and Robinson is just more than 13.

It is also important to note that UConn is better on the defensive end than us as well. The Huskies hold their opponents to 53 points per game and win by a margin of 31 points on average. The Sooners allow 60 points per game and win by a margin of 15 which is while impressive, is just not better than the Huskies.

Don’t get me wrong I think it would be great for Courtney Paris to finally get one title under her belt before her OU career ends, but I am just being realistic.

The entire season in women’s college basketball, has been UConn and then everybody else. I think by this time next week, we will be talking about how the Huskies have had an undefeated season and how if it were any other year, the Sooners could have been national champs.

JAMES ROTH IS A JOURNALISM SENIOR.

6

Sports

Friday, April 3, 2009

Men’s Gymnastics

Softball

OU shooting for conference title • Sooners hoping to win fifth-straight MSPF championship CLAIRE BRANDON The Oklahoma Daily As the four-time defending conference champions, the No. 2 OU men’s gymnastics team will compete this weekend at the Mountain Pacific Sports Federation Conference Championship.

The meet will begin at 6 p.m. Saturday at Stanford’s Maples Pavilion in Palo Alto, Calif.

“I think we’re looking good as a team and I think we should all feel pretty confident coming in,” sophomore Stephen Legendre said. “As long as we do what we can do and just go out there and hit our routines, I think we should be good to go.”

OU will compete against No. 1 Stanford, No. 3 California, No. 9 Nebraska and No. 15 Air Force.

“We’ve put ourselves in a good position to win, but it’s also going to be in California where Stanford and California are going to be favored to win,” senior co-captain Chris Brooks said.

“So we just have to go out there and do our job and let the chips fall where they may.”

Head coach Mark Williams said he is confident competing against the first- and thirdranked teams in the nation.

“It’s probably going to take a fairly consistent and good day by our team to really finish up at the top,” Williams said. “Trying to travel there gives us a bit of a challenge because of the two teams that are right there. I feel like we’ve prepared as well as we can. It’s going to be up to them to make the performances happen.”

Since Williams took over as head coach in 2001, the Sooners have won every conference championship, excluding 2004. Senior co-captain Jacob Messina said he feels slightly pressured about this weekend since he has won the conference championship every year he has been at OU. “I want to live up to it and go out on top,” Messina said. “I’d hate to go out with a loss. No one wants to do that.”

This weekend, the Sooners will be looking to focus on their performances rather than the scoreboard.

“Our first two events are going to be lowscoring events compared to what the other two teams are going to be starting on,” Brooks said. “So staying away from looking at the scoreboard [will be our toughest challenge] because when you look up, we’re going to be behind after the two events. We can’t let that

Amy Frost/The Daily

Sophomore right fielder Chana’e Jones runs to first base after making contact during OU’s game against Baylor Wednesday. Baylor took the game 5-0.

Sooners to take on Nebraska this weekend AARON COLEN The Oklahoma Daily

Amy Frost/The Daily

Sophomore Anthony Naddour competes on the still rings against Texas on Jan. 31 in McCasland Field House. The Sooners outscored Texas 349.050 to 304.950. This weekend, the Sooners head to California to try for their fifth-straight conference title. get to our head.

The pommel horse is normally OU’s lowestscoring event, however, the Sooners went six-for-six in the event at their last meet, and five-for-six the previous meet.

“I actually challenged them a few weeks ago that we can’t afford to be a team that misses half the routines in competitions,” Williams said. “They kind of stepped up, so hopefully we’re over that hurdle.”

OU broke the all-time NCAA scoring record at its last meet, posting a 366.85. Although the Sooners swept every event title, the pommel horse brought in the lowest score.

“Pommel is a beast,” Legendre said. “That’s the one we have to conquer. Pommel kind of dictates a lot of things when we’re competing.

If we do good on pommel a lot of times the rest of the events follow in that way. But a bad pommel day can send you in the wrong direction, so it’s definitely an important one for us.”

The Sooners beat Stanford in the regular season but are going against California for the first time this year.

“I’m just thinking about crushing Stanford’s dreams,” Messina said.

The Sooners accomplished that feat at last year’s NCAA Championships, defeating topranked Stanford in Palo Alto to win OU’s eighth national title.

Williams said he has been preparing the team for this weekend so the team knows what to expect at the meet.

“It’s one of those things you get in a championship-meet environment, and guys need to be able to step up when the pressure’s on,” he said. “Hopefully we’ll see some great performances this weekend and get us some confidence going before the NCAA’s in two weeks.”

TheNCAAMen’sGymnasticsChampionships will be April 16-18 in Minneapolis.

The softball team will have a chance to turn around from its recent struggles in Big 12 play this weekend, as the Sooners face off against Nebraska at the OU Softball Complex.

“There’s no rest for the weary,” head coach Patty Gasso said.

“We’ve got to get back on the field and continue to work things out.”

The Sooners have hit a rough stretch of late, having lost three of their last four games.

Last weekend the team traveled to Austin, Texas and was swept by the Longhorns, and on Wednesday night split a doubleheader against the Baylor Lady Bears.

Nebraska, although unranked, is 25-8 this season and received a vote to be ranked in the NFCA Softball Top 25. The Sooners are currently ranked 12th.

“Nebraska and Oklahoma are notorious for hard-fought games,” Gasso said. “It’s always down to the wire.”

Despite the team’s recent troubles, the Sooners are still in the midst of a tight race for the top of the Big 12.

“We’re still definitely in the race,” Gasso said. “I’ve been look-

ing at some of these scores right now and I see that there is definitely a big opportunity for us to make some noise and get back in this Big 12 race.”

While OU has been getting the usual production from the heart of its lineup, including National Player of the Year finalist junior infielder Amber Flores, other players have also begun to step up, such as freshman outfielder Karolyne Long.

“She has learned a lot and grown a lot I think,” Gasso said.

“And because of that she has become more effective in the lineup and more of a mainstay in the lineup.”

Long said she is becoming more comfortable on offense and understands what she has to do to continue to get playing time.

“You just have to mentally and physically be there,” Long said.

“You can’t just go through the motions anymore.”

Long also said she has benefitted from the guidance of her older sister, former OU player Savannah Long who is on the coaching staff.

“It’s good to have her here,” Long said. “It helps me a lot because she has been through it all.”

The Sooners will play Nebraska on Saturday at 2 p.m. and Sunday at 1 p.m.

Student Research + Performance Day Saturday 4 April 2009 10:00am to 3:00pm National Weather Center 120 David L. Boren Boulevard Norman, OK 73072 Hosted by

The Joe C. and Carole Kerr McClendon

Honors College Graduate College K20 Center Graduate Student Senate

Come celebrate the discoveries of undergraduate and graduate students as they share their research results and demonstrate their creative talents at the annual Student Research and Performance Day.

For more information or accomodations on the basis of disability, contact the Honors College at 325-5291 or the Graduate College at 325-3811.

Luke Atkinson, L&A editor dailyent@ou.edu phone: 325-5189, fax: 325-6051 For more, go to oudaily.com.

Life & Arts

7

Friday, April 3, 2009

DANCING THROUGH TIME

Zach Butler/The Daily

Students dance at a dress rehearsal of “Sooner Scandals” Wednesday.

Unlike other years, this year’s performance did not sell out during the first day of sales. The performance will run through “Parent’s Weekend.” This year’s theme is “One for the History Books.”

photo provided

Joel (Starr) and James (Eisenberg) star in the 80s dramedy “Adventureland.” The film is directed by Greg Mottola, the director of “SuperBad.” The film opens today.

L&A BRIEFS

FILM REVIEW

Another surprise from Mottola

The marketing geniuses behind “Adventureland” had me convinced going in that I was in for another round of outrageous (read: obnoxious) humor courtesy of the guy who brought us “Superbad” (Greg Mottola). Sometimes, I’m not even sure why I bother with movie trailers.

Fortunately, the film eschews the supposedly edgy Apatowstyle humor – a trend that has quickly lost its shiny comic veneer – and heads straight in the direction of coming-of-age tale. Look out folks; it’s the old bait-and-switch – “Adventureland” is a drama, and it’s a better film because of it.

Mottola’s script isn’t groundbreaking, but it’s thoughtful and clearly personal, and he coaxes so many strong performances from his wide array of DUSTY actors that it’s a pleasure to watch SOMERS from start to slightly corny finish.

Based on a real amusement park in Long Island where Mottola himself worked a crappy summer job, Pittsburgh’s Adventureland is where recent college grad James Brennan (Jesse Eisenberg) finds himself working as a last resort in the summer of 1987.

James plans to tour Europe over the summer before going to grad school at Columbia in the fall, but his parents’ (Jack Gilpin, Wendie Malick) money problems force him to look for work instead.

A comparative literature major, James is a nerd without skills or experience, making him the perfect candidate for a job at Adventureland, owned and operated by quirky couple Bobby and Paulette (Bill Hader, Kristen Wiig).

The park’s full of a colorful cast of characters, including brooding Em (Kristen Stewart), misfit Joel (Martin Starr) and handyman Mike (Ryan Reynolds).

It isn’t long before James is falling for Em and confessing his

crush to the super-cool Mike. Of course, people aren’t exactly what they seem, leading to emotional confusion and hurt that comes off as surprisingly authentic. One of “Adventureland’s” biggest strengths is its residence in a world that isn’t hyper-reality, like many of its contemporaries and look-alikes.

Chalk it up to a script that likely draws a lot from Mottola’s own experiences, and a completely winning performance by Eisenberg, who doesn’t play some caricature of the lovable geek, but is intelligent, naïve and real.

Stewart, whose involvement in the “Twilight” series will likely be just a minor blip in a long and acclaimed career, is excellent as the troubled Em, and Reynolds shows himself to be more than capable as a dramatic actor.

It doesn’t hurt that the entire film is bathed in a loving ‘80s nostalgia – it’s a pitch-perfect period piece that captures the fashion, music and sensibility of the era without ridicule or parody. The direction is similarly outstanding – Mottola’s got an eye for how to conjure up longing, and the shadows and earthy tones in his mise-en-scène are just gorgeous.

The comedic moments, most of which are in the photo provided trailers, often take on a new level of humanity placed within the context of the film. They’re just as funny, especially Hader and Wiig’s moments, but they’re also a lot more meaningful this way.

“Adventureland” wraps up with an ending that has more clichés than I can count on one hand, but that hardly makes it any less satisfying. Here’s hoping that a backlash won’t arise among the uninformed who thought “it wasn’t funny enough,” and audiences will recognize one hell of an ‘80s dramedy – one that’s just a couple of decades late.

DUSTY SOMERS IS A JOURNALISM JUNIOR.

“

Hollywood Wax Museum set to auction wax celebs LOS ANGELES — Want to permanently share your home with James Dean, Marilyn Monroe or all four Beatles?

The Hollywood Wax Museum is offering wax representations of nearly 200 celebrities at the first auction in its 44-year history, set for the first week of May. Fans can bid on political figures, such as George Washington and Bill Clinton, and athletes like Tiger Woods and Michael Jordan. Musicians such as Cher, Stevie Wonder and the Fab Four will be available, along with TV and film stars including Lucille Ball, Johnny Carson, Will Smith and Charlie Chaplin.

The auction will be administered by Profiles in History and a portion of the profits will support efforts to preserve Hollywood’s historic Walk of Fame.

After 72 years, TV’s ‘Guiding Light’ switching off NEW YORK — CBS is pulling the plug on the soap opera “Guiding Light” after a 72-year run that predates television, the show a victim of the economy and changed viewing habits.

The drama’s final episode will air on Sept. 18.

The Guinness Book of World Records has cited it as the longest-running television drama. It began as a 15-minute serial on NBC Radio on Jan. 25, 1937, and debuted on CBS TV in 1952, focusing on the fictional town of Springfield and the Spaulding, Lewis and Cooper families.

“For many of us, it was the first show we ever watched,” said Lynn Leahey, editorial director of Soap Opera Digest.

Megan Joy ‘flies’ off ‘Idol’ set in first elimination LOS ANGELES — Megan Joy says she was just being goofy and showing her love of birds when she flapped her way across the “American Idol” stage.

“I love birds and bird noises,” said Joy, who was eliminated from the TV show Wednesday. “I just decided that if I’m elimination’ out, I’m elimination’ out with a bang and I’m just going to be myself. So I ... flew the whole time.”

Joy created the most bizarre moment of the night — if not the season — with her flapping and squawking.

–AP

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Classifieds

Friday, April 3, 2009

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Previous Solution

8 9 1 1 7 4 8 9 3 6 6 7 4 5

6 2 3 1 8 5 4 7 9

2 6 3 7 8 5 9 6 3 5 2 9

8 5 4 6 7 9 1 2 3

Universal Crossword

325-5000

Edited by Timothy E. Parker April 03, 2009

ACROSS 1 Comments indicating comprehension 5 Rhymester 9 Trumped-up 14 Amateur 15 Restless yearning 16 Bermuda border 17 Position for a distracted person 20 Access road 21 Place to walk 22 Baby goat sound 23 “The Cask of Amontillado” author 25 Sidekicks 29 “Como ___ usted?”

31 Miffed 33 Genetic material 34 Cowboy’s domain 36 In the offing 38 Position for a cornered person 42 Shade of brown 43 Removed the center 44 Boat propeller?

45 One who’ll put you in your place 47 Bit of a tiff 51 Rule of personal conduct 54 Showy dance maneuver 56 Letter from

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2 col (3.792 in) x 2 inches Sudoku ...........$760/month Boggle............$760/month Jumble ...........$760/month Horoscope .....$760/month 1 col (1.833 in) x 2.25 inches Crossword .....$515/month (located just below the puzzle)

POLICY

7 9 8 2 6 4 3 1 5

Greece?

57 WWII predator 59 Like some escapes 61 Position for a sensible person 65 Commence 66 Viscount’s superior 67 Pre-Soviet royalty 68 Stinging surprise 69 Something to do to the music 70 Slippery and slimy DOWN 1 Where telecommuters work, often 2 Wolflike scavengers 3 Biblical high spot 4 Type of cracker 5 Locate precisely 6 Mel with 511 home runs 7 Audio feedback problem 8 From that place 9 Ledger page 10 One struck Chicken Little 11 Romanian money 12 Down in the dumps 13 Printer’s measures 18 Little rascal 19 It may be drawn by

hand?

24 Hence 26 Figure in a pagoda, perhaps 27 Organic compound 28 Claimed a spot at the cineplex 30 Sole’s curve 32 Yawl look-alike 35 Wanted poster abbreviation, perhaps 36 Reverent wonder 37 Passing fancies 38 “Lord of the Flies” creature 39 “God’s Little ___” 40 Did groundbreaking work 41 In a mistaken

be as visible as the appearance of new wrinkles. An eye doctor can spot the early warning signs of vision problems like glaucoma and macular degeneration, as well as other serious health conditions such as diabetes and hypertension. Early detection is key.

For men and women over 40, it might be wise to look into your eyes. For more information, visit checkyearly.com.

A public service message from Vision Council of America and AARP.

Previous Answers

3 4 6 9 5 1 7 8 2

2 8 5 4 1 6 9 3 7

1 6 7 5 9 3 2 4 8

4 3 9 7 2 8 5 6 1

manner 42 Implement in a bucket 45 Abreast of 46 Union members 48 Pore over 49 Lacking a musical key 50 Cheap and shoddy 52 Interrupt, as a news broadcast 53 Dark black hardwood 55 Big deal for a duffer 58 Winterto-spring transition 60 Habitual repetition 61 DVD warning issuer 62 Auction end 63 Self-indulgent type of trip?

64 Historical segment

PREVIOUS PUZZLE ANSWER

© 2009 Universal Press Syndicate www.upuzzles.com

“PERSONAL POSITIONS” by Luther Vakes

The onset of eye disease may not

5 1 2 8 3 7 6 9 4

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

Call the Hotline at

to report hazing, illegal or unsafe drinking.

9 7 1 3 4 2 8 5 6

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.

Save a Life.

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Advertisers understand that they may not discriminate in employment on the basis of race, color, religion or gender unless such qualifying factors are essential to a given position.

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Life & Arts

Friday, April 3, 2009

9

WINE of theWEEK Photo Provided

Nick (Aaron Umsted) and Pam (Mackenzie Warren) are unsuccessfully trying to conceive a child in the musical “Baby,” which opens tonight at 8 p.m.

THEATER REVIEW

Singing the ‘Baby’ blues This weekend and next, the University Theatre is presenting “Baby,” a musical about the happiness and strains that pregnancy brings to three very different couples.

Musical theater seniors Jason Grauerholz and Melissa Steadman play the youngest couple, Danny and Lizzie, juniors in college who suddenly find themselves expecting a child.

Steadman’s character wants to keep the baby, but reels when Grauerholz’s character proposes marriage. Steadman effectively captures this feeling when she heatedly informs Grauerholz, “Marriage is an antisocial act; no one survives.”

Musical theater junior Mackenzie Warren and musical theater senior Aaron Umstead play the 30-something couple trying desperately for a baby.

SARAH Warren embodies the perpetual tomboy “Pam” and DORN convinces the audience of her ferocity in trying to do the one female thing of her life: carry a child.

Umstead’s powerful voice adds to conveying the emotional turmoil of this clearly loving, but desperate, couple.

The show’s third couple is a pair in their 40s who think they’ve gotten their children into adulthood, only to find that they too are expecting. Paul Sabala and Heather Hurst, musical theater senior and junior, respectively, play the oldest couple very convincingly, especially with Hurst’s mastery of the “mom look,” a stare that silences anyone in its way. Their relationship is cleverly illustrated in a scene where they dance the cha-cha. As they go through the dance, they relive what they will go through in their new child’s life.

A highlight of the show, outside the performances, is the costuming. When the company makes its first full appearance on stage, an audience member will feel like they’ve suddenly stepped into the Breakfast Club, with Rufio from “Hook” randomly along for the ride. The award for best costume, though, goes to Hurst’s very turquoise windsuit in the first act, a look not seen outside a track meet since we college kids were in kindergarten.

In addition to the great costuming, the set is perfect for the size of the Weiztenhoffer Theatre, and allows the characters to have their own space in the audience, even though they were sharing the same simple space in the set.

The most interesting part of the set design is the incorporation of the live five-instrument band into the layout. The band sits behind a screen that is opaque when the lights are up on the characters, and nearly transparent while the lights are down for scene changes.

The band itself is a great addition to the show, although the music occasionally overwhelmed the performers, volume-wise.

Perhaps the strongest vocal performance of the show is Steadman’s solo, “The Story Goes On.” Her voice is sure to give every audience member goosebumps as her powerful vocals explore the consequences of her pregnancy.

The show’s comic highlight is “Fatherhood Blues.” The choreography is fun and smart, and successfully avoids the lewd placement of baseball bats for cheap comic effect. This number also serves

to highlight the personalities of the male characters, and allows Grauerholz especially to wield his slapstick talent.

Ultimately, OU’s presentation of “Baby” is worth the watch. With a very talented cast and crew, the musical provides an evening of entertainment for anyone, parent or not.

“Baby” opens at 8 p.m. tonight in the Weitzenhoffer Theatre, 563 Elm Ave. The show will continue its run at 8 p.m. Saturday and April 8-11, and at 3 p.m. Saturday and Sunday and April 11.

SARAH DORN IS AN ENGLISH JUNIOR.

This week’s wine is “River Road” of the Russian River Valley of Sonoma Valley, Calif.

Admittedly, I am partial to the California grape. This particular wine will go down very smoothly and has a clean finish without having either too powerful or too weak a bouquet.

The “River Road” Pinot Noir offers rich elements of coffee bean and berry flavors mixed in with the soil from where it is grown, giving it a surprisingly light and airy taste. An excellent combination, in my opinion.

Usually, a Pinot noir is either too strong or too weak and you should be careful about ordering it as a house wine at a restaurant. Also, be warned about picking out a Pinot Noir from a wine seller who is not well seasoned in his or hers knowledge of the difficulty in finding the right one.

This scrupulous “River Road” is ideal for those of you looking to try a red wine with little knowledge of wine in general for its ability to meet in between the possible tastes of a Pinot noir.

The wine does not need the meticulousness of decanting and can be enjoyed at room temperature, particularly with a heavier, red meat meal.

So, try the 2006 “River Road” from the Robbins Vineyard and be amazed by this truly amazing wine.

BRITTANY BURDEN IS AN ENGLISH SENIOR.

HOROSCOPE

By Bernice Bede Osol

Copyright 2008, Newspaper Enterprise Assn.

Friday, April 3, 2009 ARIES (March 21-April 19) -- Your friendliness will be much in evidence, and this will work to your advantage. People are drawn to you and want to share who and what they know with you. Get out and mingle.

TAURUS (April 20-May 20) -- You will eagerly want to help make things easier for those you love, but may do so in ways that might not always be evident to them or others. It’s OK. You are not asking for applause.

GEMINI (May 21-June 20) -Cheery types will influence your behavior in ways that make you a happy-go-lucky person, so try to seek out those who fit the bill.

Their company will ensure that you’ll have a pleasant day.

LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 23) -Something might occur that will provide an opportunity to draw you closer to an individual you like -- someone you have been hoping to get to know better.

SCORPIO (Oct. 24-Nov. 22) -You’re likely to take over dealing with certain situations you find easy to handle but others feel are arduous. It’ll make you look as if you’re an angel from heaven sent to ease their pain.

SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 23-Dec. 21) -- The sunshine follows you wherever you go. You don’t have to do anything special, because the smile on your face and the kindness you display makes everyone happy.

CANCER (June 21-July 22) -- You’re smart enough to know that to get what you want, you must first cast a little bread on the water. Being thoughtful to the right person could do the trick.

CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19) -- A window of opportunity to accomplish something profitable is likely to open, but you won’t keep the proceeds just for yourself. You’ll share it with those in need.

LEO (July 23-Aug. 22) -- If someone recently did something nice for you, let this person know how much the gesture meant and how well everything worked out.

Acknowledgement means a lot.

AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 19) -The secret to your success is to do a little bit more than necessary for the other guy. Being kind and cooperative will turn out to be a magic elixir.

VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22) -Factors that have been instrumental in cementing a wonderful relationship might surface. You’ll be proud of what the other person thinks of you.

PISCES (Feb. 20-March 20) -Doing the best you can is always a reward in itself, but the job you perform is apt to produce a further bonus. The pride you take in how well things turn out will be of greater value.

10

Life & Arts

Friday, April 3, 2009

Eli Hull / The Daily

Adam Macpherson, a carnival worker, attaches a swing to the flying carousel at Reaves Park Wednesday afternoon in preparation for the Medieval Fair this weekend. Macpherson has been working at the annual fair for six years.

THE MEDIEVAL FAIR

BY THE NUMBERS 300,000 people expected to attend this year’s three-day-long Medi-

eval Fair.

40 Port-a-Potties set in place at Reaves Park for the event.

75,000 people per Port-a-Potty.

245 different art vendors at the fair.

34 different food vendors at the fair.

9 tons of root beer McGilly’s Pub intends to sell during the fair.

8 tons of glass it will sell the nine tons of root beer in.

3 consecutive years McGilly’s has finished second in sales to the turkey leg stand.

15 different games and rides available.

Archive photo by Lauren Hopkins/The Daily

The “Rat Lady” explains how she kills rats which carry the black plague to two men at the 2008 Norman Medieval Fair.

spray the outlines for each tent’s space.

35 dollars, the cost of a two-liter souvenir “Growler” jug of root beer from

medieval Fair 2009

Excitement stirs for timeless festival I am extremely excited about this year’s Medieval Fair, and that is quite possibly my understatement of the century.

Last year’s quest was an epic tale of knights jousting, “freak-normous” turkey legs and the occasional giant elephant.

Trailers boasting all varieties of carnie cuisine posted up throughout Reaves Park, interspersed among multicolored tents enticing customers with imitation daggers, home wares and silks supposedly imported from Far East.

MATT theThis, the 33rd annual CARNEY Medieval Fair, promises a three-day “journey to a time of kings, queens and knights in shining armor,” one that groundskeeper Merv Long guarantees to be better than ever.

“Oh, it’s definitely bigger than normal this year,” said Long, who’s worked at the fair in various capacities since 1989. “We’re counting on about 250,000-300,000 [people] walking through the gates since the weather’s going to be good.”

A Wednesday afternoon walk through Reaves Park revealed the improved scope of this year’s fair. More nationwide vendors are staking their tent poles in Oklahoma soil than ever before.

“There are more vendors than last year, and we’ve had to extend into areas of the park that we haven’t had to,” said Linda Linn, fair coordinator. “We have vendors attending from New York, California, Minnesota and Florida.”

All this isn’t bad for a grassroots event that began on the South Oval in 1976.

“It’s one of the most unique events in the state and it is free,” Linn said. “People can come have fun and not spend a lot of money.”

Judging by the Wednesday preparations, this year’s fair won’t be short on activities for people any age. Some 15 rides and game stations are set up, among them are attractions like DaVinci’s Hurlinator, axe-throwing displays, a 40-foot pirate ship and a brand-new gypsy encampment. All kinds of shows are scheduled for the weekend, including jousting tournaments and music performances.

For the less active tourist, there are plenty other options; eating and shopping among them.

20 hours (over the course of three days) that it took for two people to

“We’ve got 245 art vendors this year, and 34 food vendors who sell everything from Cajun to Indian to East Indian,” said Ann Marie Eckart, assistant fair coordinator. “The turkey legs are really popular, and so is the root beer, I always have to set up extra room for the 60-foot lines outside their booths.”

Ultimately, Linn says the entire purpose of the Medieval Fair is to provide safe and educational enjoyment for the Norman community.

“We want it to be a quality event that offers quality entertainment, food, and arts and crafts and something that hundreds of thousands of people come every year to enjoy,” Linn said.

“We also want to offer educational opportunities for people to learn medieval history, what life was like in the Middle Ages.”

So come by Friday through Sunday and enjoy one of the most unique occurrences in Oklahoma: a chance to learn about times past while simultaneously stuffing your gut with carnival goodies and enjoying quality entertainment.

We think you’ll be glad that you did.

Clan McGilly’s Pub.

0 dollars, the cost of entrance to the Medieval Fair. It’s also the same price as a refill of a one-liter root beer bottle purchased from Clan McGilly’s.

CHECK OUT OUDAILY.COM TO GET A COPY OF THE MAP OF THE FAIR.

MATT CARNEY IS A JOURNALISM SOPHOMORE.

BE A PART OF OU HISTORY.

(AND SHOW THEM THAT YOU MADE IT.)

100

TH

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