The Oklahoma Daily

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Cohn speaks about career as female anchor WILL HOLLAND The Oklahoma Daily

Amy Frost/The Daily

Linda Cohn, ESPN anchor, speaks Thursday evening for the Delta Gamma Foundation lectureship series in the Molly Shi Boren Ballroom in Oklahoma Memorial Union.

SportsCenter anchor Linda Cohn spoke about defeating low expectations in everything from ice hockey to sports journalism at an event Thursday.

Cohn, who has worked for ESPN since 1992, said when she started working toward becoming a sports reporter in the late 70s, there were few women covering sports on television.

“There just wasn’t [any women] out there, but for some reason I believed I could do it,” she said.

She said she wanted to be a sports reporter because she grew up playing street and ice hockey in Long Island, New York.

When she was a teenager, she enrolled in a boys’ ice hockey league, but instead of playing with boys her own age, she had to play against eight-year-olds.

Cohn said she heard the other kids’ parents whispering behind her back, but she did not care because she was there to play a sport she loved. She said this experience helped prepare her for times later in life when male broadcasters whispered behind

her back because she was a woman.

Cohn said when she was first hired by ESPN, there were still few women covering sports. Established SportsCenter anchor Dan Patrick called her to congratulate her on being hired.

After he congratulated her, however he said, “Most of the women before you here have all failed.” Cohn said she was shaken by what Patrick said, but she did not let it bother her.

Instead, she turned to a motto she had used ever since she first made the boys’ hockey team her senior year of high school: “I’m not going to let you down,” she said.

These were the first words out of her mouth when her high school hockey coach told her she made the team, and she has said them many more times in her broadcasting career, both to herself and to male producers.

Cohn promoted her book, “Cohn-Head: A No-Holds Barred Account of Breaking Into the Boys’ Club,” which was published in September.

After the lecture, she took questions from the audience and signed copies of her

book.

Cohn was invited to OU by the Delta Gamma sorority to talk about and sign copies of her book, “Cohn-Head: A No-HoldsBarred Account of Breaking Into the Boys’ Club,” and to answer questions from students. Psychology junior Deena Hasbini was in charge of Delta Gamma’s efforts to bring Cohn to OU. “She’s my idol,” Hasbini said. “I love her.”

Hasbini said the sorority raised $50,000, which the national Delta Gamma organization then matched, to fund a lectureship.

The first lecture was hosted in 2006, when Jeff Probst from the television series Survivor came to OU. Public Relations sophomore Aran Coleman helped make the decision to bring Cohn to the university.

“I’m really excited about it,” she said.

“We’ve been working on it since last year.”

Cohn also made a prediction about OU’s football game against Texas Tech University this weekend.

“Listen, there’s a reason why I’m here, and I’m going to take full responsibility for a Sooners victory Saturday night,” Cohn said.

CAMPUS NOTES Nominations for the City of Norman’s Human Rights Award are due Monday, Nov. 24.

The award is given to individuals or organizations in Norman who have shown outstanding effort, achievement or leadership in the field of human rights and equality.

George Henderson, director of the Department of Human Relations Advanced Studies Program, was the last person from OU to receive the award. In 2005, Henderson was awarded for his work with the department and helping international students adjust to life in Norman.

Carol Coles, administrative assistant to the City of Norman, said the recipient will be chosen Dec. 1 by the City of Norman’s Human Rights Commission. The recipient, whose name will be added to a plaque in City Hall, will receive the award at the Dec. 9 City Council Meeting.

Nominations can be e-mailed to Carol Coles at carol.coles@normanok.gov or mailed to the Norman Human Rights Commission, City of Norman, P.O.Box 370, 73070.

ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT Reviews of “Bolt,”“The Boy in the Striped Pajamas” and “24: Redemption” TV movie in A&E. Page 5.

SPORTS The OU volleyball team lost all hope for a postseason berth Wednesday, but will be looking to end the season strong when it takes on Iowa State in the final home match of the year tonight. Page 8.

• Conservative, value-oriented Okla. voters defy national voting trend NIJIM DABBOUR AND RAY MARTIN The Oklahoma Daily When the nation went left, Oklahoma went right.

Democratic president-elect Barack Obama secured the last portion of a power triumvirate in Washington with his election earlier this month – giving Democrats control of the House, Senate and presidency.

In Oklahoma, though, Republicans gained control of both houses of the leg-

islature for the first time in state history — marking a dramatic break from the national trend. Local lawmakers and political experts say the national shift to the left made Oklahomans realize that Republicans reflect their traditional conservative values more than Democrats.

“When Oklahoma voted more Democratic, it was believing there was a conservative wing to the Democratic Party. What’s thriving is a realignment of partisanship,” said U.S. Rep. Tom Cole, R-Okla. “Ideologies are matching up now in Oklahoma.”

Cole said the rise of the GOP in Oklahoma is a model of where the national party is headed, and when Democratic seats open in 2010, Republicans might extend their control to more state offices.

“The fact that Republicans can do this well in a bad national environment — what will happen when the environment

“When Oklahoma voted more Democratic, it was believing there was a conservative wing to the Democratic Party. What’s thriving is a realignment of partisanship.”

U.S. Rep. Tom Cole, R-Okla changes, as it almost certainly will?” Cole said. “Republicans should look at this and say ‘this sets a great stage for 2010’.”

Republicans captured the state Senate for the first time since statehood, and picked up four seats in the Oklahoma House in the recent elections. They also won both open corporation commission seats. The new lawmakers were sworn in

Tuesday.

Political science professor Keith Gaddie said Republicans have been expanding their control in Oklahoma because they appeal to traditions that resonate with the state’s highly conservative population.

Gaddie and Cole said Oklahoma Republicans also have been more orga-

SHIFT Continues on page 2

TODAY’S INDEX A&E Campus Notes Classifieds Crossword Horoscope

5 2 6 6 6

News 3 Opinion 4 Police Reports 2 Sports 7, 8 Sudoku 6

WEATHER FORECAST

TODAY LOW 27° HIGH 46°

SATURDAY LOW 35° HIGH 55° Source: Oklahoma Weather Lab

Local foods to be more prevalent at OU • Local foods to account for 30 percent of food served at OU by next fall CAITLIN HARRISON The Oklahoma Daily OU plans to double the amount of locallygrown foods it serves by next fall, the next step in a long-running attempt to increase the among of local food available on campus.

OU has been using locally-grown food for a long time because it supports the area’s economy and reduces environmental impact, said Amanda Hearn, marketing and public relations

specialist for Housing and Food Services, in an e-mail. She said about 15 percent of OU’s food currently comes from local farmers and producers, including cheese, eggs, beef, produce, pizza crust, jerky and baked goods.

“While it may seem like a new trend, we’ve been serving locally produced for a while,” she said. “Now the practice has a strong presence in the national dialogue for social responsibility.”

The increase in local foods is due partly to the growing availability of locally-grown food in bulk quantities, Hearn said.

Vianne Hinsdale, anthropology sophomore, said she likes to eat local foods when she can and appreciates the effort OU is making.

LOCAL Continues on page 2

About 15 percent of OU’s food currently comes from local farmers and producers, including cheese, eggs, beef, produce, pizza crust, jerky and baked goods.

Photo provided by photos.com

2

News

Friday, Nov. 21, 2008

AHUNTING WE WILL GO

POLICE REPORTS

MUNICIPAL WARRANT

Names are compiled from the Norman Police Department or the OU Department of Public Safety. The report serves as a public record of arrests or citations, not convictions. The people here are presumed innocent unless proven guilty.

Valerie Michelle Hunt, 39, Wednesday

PUBLIC INTOXICATION Charles Phillip Baer, 42, 400 block 12th Avenue S.E., Wednesday

DRIVING UNDER THE INFLUENCE-LIQUOR OR DRUGS/ ACTUAL PHYSICAL CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE

OTHER WARRANT Deshanon Garcia Jackson, 33, 300 block Atterberry Drive, Wednesday

COUNTY WARRANT Crystal Dawn Meyers, 29, 300 block N. Interstate Drive E., Wednesday

Jennifer Lynn Dellee, 21, N. Mercedes Drive, Wednesday

Local Continued from page 1 “It’s better for our local economy,” she said.

“Eventually, it comes back to help OU. Instead of going to a big corporation somewhere, it’s going back into Oklahoma, which either goes back into taxes or gets put back into another Oklahoman’s pocket.”

Hinsdale said locally-grown foods are fresher and taste better than their more-processed counterparts.

“You’re getting produce picked closer to its peak,” she said. “If you buy things from the store that are not local grown, they are picked way before they’re ripe.”

Chelsea Springer, zoology sophomore, said she has shopped for local produce several times at a Norman farmers’ market and sees the nutritional and economic benefits.

“I’m hoping the move towards local will stick,” she said. “If OU’s already been trying to use more

local products, maybe that will cause students to think about that.”

OU is not the only school serving foods from local producers. Kenyon College, a private college in Ohio, purchases 40 percent of its foods locally, according to an article in The Chronicle of Higher Education. The college serves as a model for other institutions when trying to enter the local food system, according to The Chronicle.

Hearn said the percentage of local food used at institutions depends on the size of the school and the location.

Hinsdale said she is glad OU is trying to serve more locally grown foods and thinks the trend will continue to increase.

“I think most college kids are pretty proactive about that kind of stuff,” she said. “It’s good for everybody, so I think any increase in it is excellent.”

Shift Continued from page 1 Michelle Gray/The Daily

Clayton Dorris, a marketing senior, holds his Savage Arms 7mm Remington Magnum rifle Thursday evening in his backyard. Dorris is going hunting on Saturday morning so that he can be back in Norman Saturday night to watch the Sooners take on Texas Tech.

• Some students will forego football game for hunting opener NATASHA GOODELL The Oklahoma Daily Saturday is the first weekend of deer season, and several students are grappling with the decision to wear bright orange or crimson.

They will have to decide which is more important: the deer game or the OU versus Texas Tech game.

“With it being Texas Tech, especially this year, I don’t think I want to miss it,” marketing senior Clayton Dorris said. “There

will be major national championship implications hanging on the line.”

Dorris, who has gone hunting almost every season since he was 12 years old, said he is hunting close to Norman.

University College freshman Hilary Wright said she was trying to decide whether to go hunting and then drive to the game on Saturday or to wait to go hunting with her younger brother on Sunday. But Wright said she is a committed Sooner fan and has decided to go to the game and delay the hunting trip. University College Freshman Matthew Richards, who has gone hunting every year for the last 10 years, said he is going hunting on Saturday with his dad in Seiling, Okla. But he isn’t worried about missing the game.

“I’m not gonna be too far from a TV, so I won’t miss it,” Richards said.

nized and better funded than the Democrats. Cole pointed to the fact that young Republicans like Scott Martin, District 46 State Rep. who was re-elected this month, are winning in Oklahoma, partly because they are able to generate more funds.

“It’s because of the effort [Republicans] have put forth throughout the last four years,” Martin said. “I certainly think we’re doing a lot of things right.”

While the GOP has long had a pro-business reputation, the controversy over House Bill 1804, which strengthened penalties against business that employed illegal immigrants, drove a wedge between the Chamber of Commerce and state Republicans.

Media outlets such as Fox News and CNN have suggested the next group of GOP rising stars will reflect even more traditional conservative values. Louisiana Gov. Bobby Jindal, Minnesota Gov. Tim Pawlenty, Congressman Eric Cantor of Richmond, Va. And Florida Gov. Charlie Christ are among the names being mentioned as rising stars who could surface in the 2012 presidential race.

But that shift could be detrimental to the national party, Gaddie said. Moderate democrats who appeal to voters in swing states overwhelmingly lost to their Democratic rivals.

“The moderates got purged.

Guys like Chris Shays up in Connecticut, he was the last

Republican in all New England,” he said. “The Republicans are [also] loosing seats dramatically in the Midwest and the Pacific coast … their party has become so Southern and the priorities of the Southern Republicans have become so out of step with the rest of the country that it endangers Republicans nationwide.”

To reverse the trend, Gaddie said, Republicans will have to find a way to tap into traditional values to solve modern problems.

“The fight in the [national] Republican party is indicative of the fight in Oklahoma that has always existed which is not really Democrat-Republican. It’s not really rural-urban. It’s modern versus traditional,” he said.

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Campus News

Friday, Nov. 21, 2008

3

OU fire safety systems given perfect score • Princeton Review rates OU a perfect 99 for fire safety JAMES LOVETT The Oklahoma Daily OU has another high score to brag about this fall—the school’s perfect fire safety score.

The Princeton Review recently gave the univeristy a perfect score of 99 for the school’s readiness and ability to react to fires on campus.

David Soto, director of content management at the Princeton Review, said 2,500 schools were surveyed this year, and OU is one of only 12 to receive the top score.

The rating measures schools based on answers to a set of questions designed in cooperation with the Center for Campus Fire Safety. The scale ranges from 60-99, with a low score of 60 given to schools that do not respond.

Questions involve the number of dorm rooms with sprinklers and smoke detectors, whether the campus allows smoking indoors, the number of prank fire alarms and other related safety concerns.

OU’s rating this year is an improvement on an already high score of 94 last year.

OU Fire Marshal Kevin Leach said major improvements to the sprinkler systems around campus have been made in recent years.

“As far as fire detection and suppression we’re in good shape,” Leach said. “We’ve made significant improvements with the addition of addressable fire alarms systems and fully automatic sprinkler systems in the dorms. The upgrades have taken a substantial effort of time and money but it was considered a high priority.”

Mike Halligan, Center for Campus Fire Safety president, said the center provided The Princeton Review with questions several years ago, but the rating doesn’t involve any safety inspection.

“The schools have to self report so there’s no checks and balances so to speak,” Halligan said.

“They only send a survey.”

Halligan said there are still many safety problems that need to be addressed on campuses across the country.

“Depending on the location, smoking can still be an issue as well as cooking fires and electrical fires,” he said. “The most common is probably arson.

Smoking is also a concern primarily still in the south, but most campuses have banned smoking from the residence halls, so it’s not as big an issue on campus as it used to be.”

Fire safety tips for OU students can be found on the OUPD Web site, http://www.ou.edu/oupd/fslist. htm.

Photo illustration by Amy Frost/The Daily

Senator’s plan would strip money from OU hospital

Emily Ganus/The Daily

This September photo shows construction workers continuing work on the Health Sciences Center’s Cancer Research Center. Democratic Sen. Tom Adelson of Tulsa proposed a plan that would redistribute funds from the OU Medical Center to the cash-strapped Oklahoma State Medical Center in Tulsa.

OKLAHOMA CITY — A Tulsa state senator’s plan to fund state hospitals would strip about $15 million from the OU Medical Center.

Sen. Tom Adelson, D-Tulsa, has proposed a formula giving funds based on the number of patients qualifying for state and federal medical assistance.

The plan comes as state leaders work to address the future of the Oklahoma State Medical Center in Tulsa, which has been threatened with closure.

Integris hospitals would gain $2.1 million annually and St. Anthony Hospital would see about $1.1 million more a year, according to Adelson’s figures.

“All told, 47 hospitals throughout the state will gain over $15 million ... to help them absorb the cost of uncompensated care,” Adelson said.

“While OU University Hospital is one hos-

pital to experience a lower allocation, the hospital still receives 2 ½ times more than any other hospital.”

Allen Poston, OU Medical Center spokesman, said it was too early to discuss any possible changes.

Senate President Pro Tem-elect Glenn Coffee, R-Oklahoma City, and House Speaker Chris Benge, R-Tulsa, have said they are working with health care officials to address indigent care in Tulsa.

Coffee said he would not favor a plan for Tulsa that took money from the OU Medical Center.

“I don’t think that’s a solution at all,” he said of the proposal. “The OU Medical Center functions well and it makes no sense to cripple it to fix the other problem.”

“There is a solution for indigent care in Tulsa, we just don’t know what it looks like

at this point.”

Adelson’s plan comes after much discussion about the future of the Oklahoma State University Medical Center in Tulsa. OSU Medical Center owner Ardent Health Care Services had a disagreement with OSU a year ago about a pact to serve as a training hospital for OSU students.

Many patients served by OSU Medical Center are uninsured and can’t pay for their health care. If the hospital closed, it could affect hospitals across Tulsa, Adelson said.

“There is a very serious concern that the hospitals won’t have enough beds to take all the demand that comes our way,” Adelson said. “I hope we don’t have to find out, but we will if we close OSU Medical Center and there’s no planning for the provision of care.”

— AP

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Opinion

Friday, Nov. 21, 2008

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

OUR VIEW

Being classy involves staying off the field There are some things OU football is known for: Ruf-neks.

Ponies. Crimson and cream.

Forty-seven straight wins.

There is somethings OU football is not known for. storming the field.

As far as we’re concerned, we should continue to have fans who stay off the gridiron.

Even after we beat Texas Tech Saturday.

Come on, do you know who house? Never. storms the field? Fans Texas Tech fans of teams that are no OUR VIEW rushed the field after good but pull off a is an editorial beating Texas. Unlike selected and debated miracle and earn a W. OU, Texas Tech is not by the editorial board Think about it. and written after a used to winning big Who has stormed the majority opinion is games, so of course its formed and approved field this year? fans had to celebrate. by the editor. Our The Oregon State View is The Daily’s And in the course of Beavers after beating official opinion. celebrating, they rushed USC. When have the the field twice before Beavers been a football power- the game was over. Brilliant.

STAFF COLUMN

OU simply has a higher-caliber football program. OU is used to winning enough games that we do not have to celebrate every time. We need to behave with more class than our hysterical opponents.

Beating Texas Tech and storming the field will send this message to the world: Fans of OU — a five-time Big 12 champion and seven-time national

champion — were so surprised by beating Tech that they couldn’t contain themselves.

So, Sooner fans, stay in your seats.

Sure, it’s a big game, but Texas Tech is not worth the energy of vaulting onto the field. OU is the superior team, and it’s just rude to make fun of lesser opponents.

The only situation in which

we can possibly imagine storming the field would be after a last-minute win earned with a Hail Mary thrown as time runs out.

But we don’t see OU letting the score get that close.

Be classy, fans. Be deafeningly loud (and disprove Bob Stoops’ claim that Sooner fans aren’t loud enough), but be classy. From your seats.

Amanda Herrera — studio arts junior

STAFF CARTOON

The Africa experience One time in Malawi, this guy hung his fish on the bus windshield wipers for the journey. I might start fishing just so I can do that.

My most recent back of the truck experience featured about 14 people with one wet blanket and hail hitting us in the face.

Here, there is no football, or at least not real football.

There’s some game where they kick around a ball, but I mean, yeah, enough said.

Ughh, this place is so aggravating.

(Pause) Did, it work? Did you stop reading?

Did I make Africa sound annoying and uncomfortable?

That lack of football comment had to get you.

Hopefully, my rant scared away the faint of heart.

OK, now that it’s just those left reading, you don’t have to worry about being followed to Africa because it’s “cool.”

Here’s the rest of the story.

Yes, the Internet is slow, but who cares?

What better way to break your obsession with Facebook than having to pay for slow access to it.

Less Internet means more time talking in person. It’s pretty awesome.

African time is quite nice. You can’t be late when everyone is late.

Life is a lot less stressful when you just sit back and let things happen in their own time.

Travel across Africa has to be the greatest thing ever.

It’s incredibly cheap, and there’s nothing in the U.S. that compares to being on a mini-bus with 22 people, some babies and blaring house music.

One time in Malawi, this guy hung his fish on the bus windshield wipers for the journey.

I might start fishing just so I can do that.

And that ride in the back of the truck? It is something I will never forget.

In conditions that would make most Americans cry, the large smiling African women in the back were leading us in song, laughing the whole time. The painful hail was an afterthought.

In Africa, joy prevails.

I do miss our “football” a lot, but the “football” they play here — soccer — is pretty darn exciting too, and it is the whole world’s game.

They also have rugby, which is really intense, and cricket, which is...I have no clue.

Maybe you have wanted to come to Africa for a long time, or maybe you just need to break a Facebook addiction, but as my Nigerian roommate would say eight times a day, “You are most welcome.”

Consider this an invitation to share my experiences by creating your own.

I’ll give you a bear hug if you get here before I leave.

Mark Nehrenz is a journalism junior. His column appears every other Friday.

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T H E

STAFF COLUMN

Thanks even in hard times There’s a reason we don’t eat lamb for Thanksgiving dinner.

The woman whose petitions to U.S. presidents helped establish the official American holiday was also the author of “Mary Had a Little Lamb.”

Sarah Josepha Hale was a 19th-century American writer who believed the country desperately needed an official holiday to collectively give thanks.

There are countless contributors to the idea of Thanksgiving, but her pen pushed the concept to the forefront of presidential priorities as she wrote letters to Abraham Lincoln petitioning for the holiday.

WHITNEY It was while the Civil War raged on that her pleas became most ferCOLEMAN vent. Instead of waiting for peace to begin the feast, Hale recognized the greatest need for giving thanks in the midst of bloody hardship.

Lincoln understood the holiday’s potential to heal the country’s wounds. With two years of fighting ahead of them, Lincoln declared that the last Thursday in November would be nationally celebrated as Thanksgiving, beginning in 1863.

Two decades later, President Franklin Roosevelt also saw the holiday as an opportunity for hope instead of a celebration of deliverance. Struggling to end the Great Depression 1939, Roosevelt moved Thanksgiving up a week to jumpstart the holiday shopping season and boost the economy.

Some chose to ignore what became known as the “Franksgiving” and stuck with celebrating the last Thursday of the month, but Roosevelt’s hope in the holiday spirit revealed the potential power of giving thanks.

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T H E The Fine Print:

I’ve spent a lot of time lately staring at the big map of Africa on my wall, retracing journeys and sorting through memories.

I’ve tried to share these experiences through this column and my website, www.themarksperience.com, but there’s no way to fully convey my time here without kidnapping you and doing it all over again.

Don’t think I won’t do it.

As my last month in South Africa starts to wind down, I’ve been trying to figure out how this place has changed me.

At OU, I was “obsessed” with Africa for about two years. I studied its countries, donated time and money to its causes, convinced others to do the same and spent uncountable hours showing documentaries, trying to spark interest MARK in this continent.

Then I came here.

NEHRENZ I find myself still dedicating time to most of the same things I did before, but with a new motivation.

The funny thing is, I can’t find the words to explain this motivation.

It comes down to things that can’t be recreated.

It comes down to the intangibles; conversations, relationships, aggravations, jokes, arguments, joys and sorrows.

Full experiences can’t be quantified by words, or as hard as I try, even videos.

My experiences are my own, and no matter how many times you watch my videos or read my writing, they will still mean immeasurably more to me than they will to you.

But the extrovert in me still wants everyone else to have these experiences, too.

This predicament has left me with two options The first involves time travel.

Although I could probably build a time machine and kidnap a few of you to relive these past months with me, building one big enough to fit more than four of you is just unreasonable.

Think of how many flux-capacitors I would need.

Only one option remains.

I have to convince you to come to Africa.

Now, I don’t want the plane tickets to sell out too fast, so I’m going to start with the negative things to weed out the bandwagon folks.

The Internet on this continent is awful.

Even the fastest is slow compared to what it is like at Panera Bread.

Free wi-fi is unheard of. There’s always a catch, and if you aren’t paying for time at an Internet café, you are paying for the amount of megabytes you can upload or download.

Forget YouTube. The fastest Internet café blocks it.

Also, no one ever shows up on time for anything here, and just when you start to plan on things starting late, they start on time.

I just missed the first few minutes of “Quantum of Solace” because we showed up on African time.

If only we had driven there like 007, in his speedboat, (will someone please tell me how he got into the boat and why?), it would have been different.

If you want to travel across the continent, expect crammed mini-buses, super-crammed old charter buses, bicycle taxis and riding in the backs of trucks.

These circumstances of war and economic want don’t instinctively inspire thankfulness. We have been taught to say “thank you” because we have received something.

It is ingrained in us to give thanks in seasons of plenty and seasons of peace. But I like Hale’s approach more. The most important times to give thanks are during seasons of hardship, seasons of war and seasons of economic crisis.

We must not wait for deliverance from trials to give thanks. We should be thankful in the midst of trials — if not thankful for the trials themselves.

When Congress declared the fourth Thursday of November the official Thanksgiving holiday in 1941, it intended for it to be celebrated regardless of circumstances.

Giving thanks has proven therapeutic during our country’s toughest terms. Gratitude can shift our focus today just as our former presidents hoped it would: from an unpopular war to the safety and freedom such efforts help ensure, from poor stock prices to the wealth of loved ones who surround us.

In that respect, Thanksgiving’s timing couldn’t be better. And there is no citizenship that can inspire thanksgiving like ours.

Even in our worst economic slumps, America is the most blessed nation in the world. Even in our times of want, we have plenty. Even in our times of war, we dwell in peaceful homes an ocean away from the most horrific conflicts.

Regardless of the circumstances you, your family or your country face this holiday, may this Thanksgiving remind you of blessings and inspire you to share them.

Whitney Coleman is a journalism senior. Her column appears every other Friday.

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

Arts & 5 Entertainment The weekend on the big — and small — screen Adam Kohut, A&E editor dailyent@ou.edu phone: 325-5189, fax: 325-6051 For more, go to oudaily.com.

Friday, Nov. 21, 2008

Photo provided Photo provided

Jack Scanlon as Shmuel and Asa Butterfield as Bruno in “The Boy in the Striped Pajamas.” The film hits theaters today.

‘THE BOY IN THE STRIPED PAJAMAS’ Dir. Mark Herman Rating: PG-13 93 minutes As trendy as it is for filmmakers to take an alternate look at a story by portraying it through the eyes of the villain, you don’t see too many awarding that sympathetic angle to the Nazis.

There’s a good reason for that.

When it comes to the Nazis, it’s hard to find much to be sympathetic about.

Bring an eight-year-old in as the centerpiece of the story, and all that changes.

Bruno (Asa Butterfield, “Son of Rambow”) is a carefree child who loves to roam the streets of Berlin with his friends. He knows his father (David Thewlis, “Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix”) is a Nazi commanding officer, but is oblivious to what that means. All he’s told is that he should be proud of his father’s accomplishments.

A new military assignment sends the family to the countryside, where Bruno is despondent over not having any friends. His mother

TV REVIEW: ‘24: Redemption’ Oh how I missed you, Jack Bauer. But he’s back – in more than one sense of the word.

Finally.

“24: Redemption” will make “24” fans crave season seven, which doesn’t air until January.

After last year’s writers’ strike, “24” was pushed back an entire year. “Redemption” was created to create a bridge between seasons six and seven.

Like the series, this special is still in real time, so all the events that happen occur in two hours.

For the special, which takes

WANT MORE A&E?

Visit oudaily.com for more Arts & Entertainment content, including The Daily’s look into “24” fandom.

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(Vera Farmiga, “The Departed”) confines him mostly to the house and the front driveway.

Bruno notices some odd things about this new home — a farm several miles away where all the workers wear pajamas, for example, and several tall smokestacks that Photo provided belch out an unbearable smell.

It’s obvious what’s going on here, and it soon becomes apparent that Bruno’s father is the one in charge of the nearby concentration camp.

Bruno’s parents make every effort to dampen his curiosity about the “farm,” but Bruno is undeterred, and sneaks away to get a closer look.

What he finds is a tall, barbedwire fence. Behind it is a boy around his age with a funny name and funny clothes. “What kind of name is Shmuel?” and “Why are you wearing pajamas?” Bruno asks.

Shmuel (newcomer Jack Scanlon) worries about being caught hiding in the corner of the camp where he escapes from his work, and is wary of Bruno at first, but the two soon develop a friendship, despite being separated by a fence. Bruno travels to the camp as often as he can, bringing food to Shmuel, who gobbles it down hastily. Bruno thinks it’s funny — he’s still oblivious.

If “The Boy in the Striped Pajamas” has a main flaw, it’s that

place on Inauguration Day, Jack is in Africa. The U.S. is trying to get Jack to return home to account for all of his rough actions.

But in Africa, it falls on Jack to save a group of child refugees. And for two hours he has a new place to kick ass.

Meanwhile, back in Washington, there’s a new president, a woman, and in true “24” fashion, scandal is brewing all over the place.

New villains, both foreign and domestic, start to take shape as well.

Season six was forgettable, so is this title supposed to inform fans that “24” is back on the right track? I think so.

It’s an excellent beginning and a seemingly fresh start to a new season. If only we

the story is too often in the risky territory of becoming Holocaust drama-lite. The Holocaust is probably the last historical event that should ever be trivialized, and while the film is never disrespectful, framing it from the perspective of an oblivious eight-year-old renders it kind of shallow and uninformed.

Still, the family drama is top notch, thanks especially to strong performances by Thewlis and Farmiga. The Nazis may not deserve any sympathy, but the emotional consequences of having the head of your household oversee the death of thousands of Jews would have to be troubling.

The performances of Butterfield and Scanlon are impressive as well.

There’s an honesty in their eyes, and a simple conviction in the way they deliver their lines. Nearly all of the emotional power of the film comes courtesy of these two.

“The Boy in the Striped Pajamas” requires a bit of sustained disbelief (is it really possible a boy in a concentration camp could hide in a corner of the camp for hours at a time without being noticed?) and a willingness to put up with a dreadfully saccharine score considering the subject matter (thanks for another one, James Horner), but by the final reel, all that will be forgotten. As the last few scenes flash across the screen, and the film fades to credits, you will be pinned to your seat. The ending is devastating. Don’t bring your mom to this one.

— DUSTY SOMERS IS A JOURNALISM JUNIOR.

Photo provided

didn’t have to wait two more months.

“24: Redemption” airs at 7 p.m. on Sunday on FOX. — CALLIE KAVOURGIAS /THE DAILY

Rhino the hamster (Mark Walton), Bolt (John Travolta) and Mittens (Susie Essman) embark on a cross-country search for the Bolt’s owner, Penny, in Disney’s “Bolt.” The film hits theaters today.

— getting Bolt riled up about Penny and her whereabouts.

It’s this deception that leads Bolt to escape his trailer and search for Penny. Somehow, he lands himself into a box and is shipped from Los Dir. Byron Angeles to New York City.

Howard and In New York, Bolt takes an alley cat, Muffin (voiced

by Susie Essman), captive because he’s Chris Williams convinced she knows where Penny has been Rating: PG taken.

Poor Bolt must learn how to survive in a world 96 minutes where he can’t melt locks, “super bark” his enemies or bend bars. It’s a miracle only possible in Bolt is a super dog, movies that he doesn’t die on his first adventure. equipped with heat But it’s Rhino (voiced by Mark Walton), the Photo provided vision, super strength TV addict hamster who Bolt meets on his jourand a lightning bolt on ney, who steals the show. Rhino is completely his side– at least that’s what he thinks.

But Bolt (voiced by John Travolta) is stuck in his starstruck, and is convinced that Bolt has super own “Truman Show,” where everyone deceives him powers. He’s completely delusional and, I admit it, just so cute. and everything in his world is a lie.

The unlikely trio makes their way cross-country, The newest animated Disney movie begins as with a few adventures in between. an episode of the TV show in which Bolt stars, also “Bolt” is filled with jokes about American culture, called “Bolt.”

The production team jumps through hoops so like stereotypical New Yorkers and Californians, that Bolt thinks everything is real. They also must embodied in the different pigeons Bolt interacts with on his adventures. get everything they need in one take.

“Bolt” is no “Finding Nemo” or “Lion King,” but The reason for deceiving Bolt is, according to the director of the fictional show, if the dog believes it’s entertaining and sweet.

Bottom line – “Bolt” is never boring, but also it, then the audience believes it. He wants the dog to really think his owner, Penny (voiced by Miley never “fully awesome,” as Rhino the hamster would Cyrus), is in grave danger. say.

An early scene in the film shows two cats that — CALLIE KAVOURGIAS IS A JOURNALISM SENIOR. play evil on the show — and are in on the secret

‘BOLT’

6

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Friday, Nov. 21, 2008

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Traditions Spirits is seeking motivated, energetic, and professional FOH managers, kitchen manager, and dishwashers for Autograph’s Sports Bar at Riverwind Casino. Manager applicants must have experience. Apply in person at 2815 SE 44th, 3 miles west of Riverwind on Highway 9. 392-4550.

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Ask for Charles! Great things start here!

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Bartending! Up to $250/day. No exp nec. Training provided. 1-800-965-6520, x133.

MERCURY POST & PARCEL needs p/t customer assistant. Apply at 121 24th Ave NW. Traditions Spirits is hiring cocktail servers at Riverwind Casino in Norman. Must be 21, apply in person at 2815 SE 44th, 3 miles west of Riverwind on Highway 9. 392-4550.

$5,000-$45,000 PAID. EGG DONORS for up to 9 donations, + Exps, non-smokers, Ages 19-29, SAT>1100/ACT>24/GPA>3.00 Contact: info@eggdonorcenter.com

J Housing Rentals

HOUSES UNFURNISHED NOW LEASING FOR MAY 2009, nice 3 bed brick houses 1 & 2 blks west of OU on College or Chautauqua Ave. call BOB Mister Robert Furniture 109 E. Main 321-1818, or stop by to apply for other sizes.

Near OU, 3 bed, 1.5 bth, ch/a, garage, no pets, 504 Inwood Dr, $750/mo., deposit required. Call 996-6592 or 329-1933

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

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Attention Student Work $15 Base/Appt Flex sched, scholarships possible, customer sales/service, no exp nec, all ages 17+, conditions apply. Norman/OKC/Moore Call Now, 405-307-0979

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6

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PRE-LEASE FOR JANUARY $99 Deposit/ NO app fee!

1/2 off first months rent!

Models open 8a-8p Everyday!

7 locations to choose from!

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Report incidents at:

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Difficulty Schedule: 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.

All calls are anonymous.

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Universal Crossword Edited by Timothy E. Parker November 21, 2008

ACROSS 1 Sahib’s address 4 Thing from Melmac 7 End of a Hawaiian volcano 10 Kramden’s workplace 13 Chinese dynasty of 2,000 years ago 14 Besmirch 15 Type of attack 17 Mel of the Polo Grounds 18 Unbiased 20 Be a hustler 22 Country’s Haggard 23 NFL scores 24 It may be at the end of the tunnel 28 Child of Aphrodite 29 ___ Jima 30 Canal connecting the Great Lakes to the Atlantic 31 Without cheating 36 Brunswick competitor 38 Easter follows it 39 ___-Locka, Fla. 40 Sword’s superior, proverbially 41 Sneaky sales tactic 45 SeaWorld

Pre-Leasing for January www.oig.biz

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TAKE A SMALL STEP TO GET HEALTHY

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As a leader in community banking, Republic Bank & Trust is committed to providing a unique quality experience to our customers, community, and bankers. We currently have the following positions available: PT Teller: Mon-Fri 3-7pm, Sat 8am-1pm FT Teller Applicants are encouraged to apply in person at 401 W. Main, Norman, OK. Republic is an EOE.

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11 All-purpose truck, for short 12 A Chaplin 16 Taking the place (of) 19 Supplementary feature 21 “Born Free” lioness 25 Skill that produces images 26 One way to fill an opening 27 New driver, often 29 It may land on Broadway 32 One-million connection 33 Australia 34 Short drive 35 African tea leaves (Var.) 36 Take ___ (acknowledge applause)

37 Mother of Jesus 42 Squeal 43 Eden tempter 44 It’s cold and hard 48 Some distance runners 49 Baker’s gadget 51 Dagger handles 52 River of Paris 53 Moses’ brother 55 Degrees for CEOs, perhaps 56 Patrick’s “Ghost” girlfriend 57 Part of EST 58 Rhubarb, for one 59 Fall back, as a tide

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“MIND YOUR BUSINESS” by Ken Swalls

celebrate.

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NUMBER ONE cancer killer.

But new treatments offer hope.

Join Lung Cancer Alliance in the fight against this disease. lungcanceralliance.org

mammal 46 Gloucester’s cape 47 Purposes 50 Artist Andrew 52 Alphabetic run 53 Computer text can be written in this 54 Paycheck booster 57 Big hit on the lecture circuit 60 Soften fibers 61 Sherpa, perhaps 62 Comedian Philips 63 Amount past due 64 Cotillion celeb 65 Compass pt.

66 A third of a film dog 67 Bygone map letters DOWN 1 “Care to demonstrate?”

2 Alternative word 3 Like some memos 4 Leisurely pace 5 Yuri’s love 6 Facing the bow, e.g.

7 Cheryl and Diane 8 Withers’ song “Lean ___” 9 Equatorial’s opposite 10 Breakfast partner

Previous Answers

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

STAFF COLUMN

A view from the opponent’s sidelines Editor’s Note: This column was written by the sports editor of Texas Tech’s student newspaper.

It seemed the entire college football world was calling the Texas-Texas Tech matchup a few weeks ago the biggest game in Tech’s history.

Little did we know.

As far as the Tech-Oklahoma matchup is concerned Saturday, the Sooners have been in bigger games.

This is the Red Raiders’ chance to prove they belong and their rise to the top is not simply due to parity in college football.

But for Tech, this is not Texas or Oklahoma State in the friendly confines of Jones Stadium.

This game is in a place where Bob Stoops gives a whole new meaning to home-field advantage.

This game will define the program, could solidify a Heisman campaign and it will decide who ADAM will beat Missouri in the Big 12 Championship.

So what does Tech need to do to win?

COLEMAN First, the Red Raiders have to ignore what is on the line. A win will guarantee them the Big 12 South and a trip to Kansas City.

As nice as that sounds, that cannot be mentioned in the pregame meal or at the beginning of the game or at halftime.

In other words, they will be too cautious and being cautious is not the way to be in a place where the coach is 59-2 at home.

More importantly, every game has looked like this team is just playing worry free. It seems like they’re really just playing without the pressure that Alabama may be playing with, for example.

With that said, Tech should act like Saturday’s game is just another game on the schedule and not the biggest game in school history. Leave that speculation and talk to the fans and sports writers. Do what you love to do and compete.

Tech also has to get pressure on Sam Bradford. Maybe this is every team’s strategy against OU. The Red Raiders did it against Colt McCoy — sacking him four times — and it was probably the main reason they won the game.

Barring the comeback Texas had, Tech was in control for most of that game. If the Tech defense, which is now more prevalent than it has ever been, can accomplish anything close to the same thing Saturday, then Tech will have a chance.

Last year, the Red Raiders didn’t see much of Bradford because he sustained a concussion. Tech is aware that Bradford is just as good as Harrell, if not better, and he’s no Joey Halzle.

Finally, Harrell and Co. will need to exploit OU’s pass defense.

This is the Big 12 conference, where every pass defense is horrible.

There isn’t even a team in the top 50 in pass defense in the nation.

OU is 93rd. Tech should exploit this, and with more than just throwing to Michael Crabtree on a drag route. Use Detron Lewis, Eddie Britton and Eric Morris among others, and use them often.

Crabtree makes the team look nice on TV, but the more Harrell can spread the ball around, the harder it will be for OU to stop.

What’s interesting is that Tech’s pass defense is 98th in the nation. OU has as much chance to put points on the board, considering the Sooners are the only team in the nation that averages more than 50 points per game.

With that said, if the game becomes a shootout, then it’s anyone’s game — a situation Tech might not mind considering its history against OU. — ADAM COLEMAN IS THE SPORTS EDITOR OF THE DAILY TOREADOR.

.

Sports

Friday, Nov. 21, 2008

7

Stoops wants rowdier fans • Fans can make an impact this weekend JOEY HELMER The Oklahoma Daily On Nov. 1, the scoreboards around Oklahoma Memorial Stadium flashed Texas Tech 19, Texas 0 with 9:29 left in the second quarter in Lubbock, and the Sooner crowd exploded.

But there was a game going on, and the fans seemed more interested in scoreboard watching than rooting on their own team that was playing at the time.

The importance of that very crowd for this weekend’s showdown between No. 2 Tech and No. 5 OU was brought up several times this week, including after practice and at the Tuesday media press conference.

“You would hope [the crowd affects Texas Tech],” said head coach Bob Stoops. “That’s something that you would hope would happen. Hopefully our crowd will take an active interest in this game.”

The Sooners are 59-2 in Norman in Stoops’ 10-year tenure, but he downplayed the effect fans have had on that record.

“I don’t know that there is one answer why we have been

so successful at home in the last 10 years,” Stoops said. “I think maybe just our overall focus and our play are the biggest reasons. I don’t think we’ve ever been known as an overly raucous crowd, so that’s what you could probably attribute it to.”

He compared the differing type of noise at OU to that of Florida’s.

Stoops noted that Sooner fans tend to become loud almost exclusively on big plays like first downs, touchdowns and defensive stops.

But at Florida and other top programs across the nation, fans stand and make noise for the entire game.

“The crowd and the noise is much different [at schools like Florida],” Stoops said. “They are much more vocal and interactive in influencing the game as far as being vocal and loud before you make a big play.

They’re loud all the time when the opposing team’s trying to work.”

At many of the places the Sooners have traveled to this year, the crowd has had an effect on them, forcing them to run a silent count from the line of scrimmage.

It probably hasn’t been noticeable because of OU’s impressive statistics on the road, but Stoops said it effects the Sooners’ scheme when the offense is forced to run a silent count.

BE WARY OF COUNTERFEITS Police are cautioning college football fans to be especially wary of tickets offered for sale by unauthorized outlets after a recent flurry of counterfeit ticket activity in Texas.

More than 500 people were reportedly scammed by suspects selling apparently bona fide tickets to the recent Texas Tech vs.

Texas game. Those tickets proved to be counterfeit when scanners at admission gates failed to recognize them as valid passes.

The counterfeit tickets reportedly were distinguishable from genuine tickets only when compared side by side, which revealed slightly blurred lines and faded looking coloration on the fakes.

Those victimized in Texas reported paying anywhere from $250 to $350 per ticket.

Authorities recommend buying tickets only from established commercial outlets, or from resellers with whom the buyer is familiar.

— INFORMATION PROVIDED BY OU ATHLETIC OFFICE.

AP Photo

Head coach Bob Stoops yells at an official during the first quarter of OU’s Nov. 8 game against Texas A&M. This week, Stoops said OU does not have an “overly raucous crowd,” but he wants fans to have an impact this weekend.

Opponents coming into Norman haven’t had to battle the same issues.

“I’ve just noticed a lot of times, most people in here don’t have to use a silent count,” Stoops said. “We go on the road ready to use silent counts and not be able to communicate if we have to do everything by signaling, and that doesn’t usually happen here.”

Stoops added that he wants the fans in Norman this weekend to make an impact on Tech’s offense.

“The louder you are, the more difficult you make it, and it can influence the game,” Stoops said.

“And I really do hope our people will take an interest in not just cheering when we’re going into the end zone but actively cheering and making noise when they’re trying to communicate and get something going and to hopefully take away from something they’re doing. It definitely helps and hopefully we’ll have that come Saturday.”

HOROSCOPE

By Bernice Bede Osol

Copyright 2008, Newspaper Enterprise Assn.

Friday, Nov. 21, 2008 SCORPIO (Oct. 24-Nov. 22) -- Should you realize from personal experience that a friend is mismanaging an important personal relationship, find an opportunity to share the wisdom of what you’ve learned. Don’t let him or her suffer.

SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 23-Dec. 21) -- Although your initial yield might not meet expectations, your probabilities for success down the line are extremely good. Don’t despair -- that trickling flow will become a gusher.

TAURUS (April 20-May 20) -- There will be no doubt that you are in charge -- when you issue directives, you’ll mean business.

Yet because of the nice way you present the edicts, there will be no sting in them, either.

GEMINI (May 21-June 20) -You might not be persistent about accomplishing personal matters, but when it comes to anything of importance, you will be extremely tenacious and conscientious in carrying them out.

CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19) -- With your natural-leadership qualities, you should be able to show others how to do things in a manner that is agreeable to all.

Set the example of what it takes.

CANCER (June 21-July 22) -- Make it a point to let those people in valued relationships know how much they mean to you and how deeply you care.

At this time, any loving words you speak would greatly solidify those bonds.

AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 19) -- Your good deeds are admirable because you assist others in a manner where they believe they are accomplishing things on their own. It’s a formula for attracting popularity.

LEO (July 23-Aug. 22) -- Although you might have to work a bit harder than usual in order to gratify your ambitious objectives, the rewards you receive will be proportionate to the efforts you expend.

PISCES (Feb. 20-March 20) -Even if you have doubts, proceed with the new ideas suggested by two friends who have your best interest at heart. Their design will prove to be extremely successful.

VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22) -- Little things we do for others have a way of becoming very endearing, especially to those we love. It’ll be those thoughtful tokens of expression that will go a long way toward loving memories.

ARIES (March 21-April 19) -- Persons with whom you could be involved may come out of two camps. One will share your visions and hopes, while the other may possess the know-how and wherewithal to make things happen.

LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 23) -Even if it’s inconvenient, helping people who need your assistance could prove to be to your ultimate benefit. The dividends you receive will far exceed your effort.

8

Sports

Friday, Nov. 21, 2008

OU plays final home match tonight

Women play No. 18 Arizona State tonight

• Volleyball team hoping to recover despite dashed postseason hopes

The No. 2 ranked women’s basketball team will face No. 18 Arizona State tonight at 7:00 p.m. in the Lloyd Noble Center in the semi-finals of the 2008 Preseason Women’s NIT. The Sooners won by an average of 25 points against University of California Riverside and Middle Tennessee State in the first two rounds of the tournament on last Saturday and Tuesday, respectively.

The Paris twins have led the way for Oklahoma with senior center Courtney Paris averaging 15 points and 14 rebounds in the tournament while senior forward Ashley Paris has averaged 17 points and 10 rebounds.

Freshman guard Whitney Hand’s debut with the Sooners has started well, with her averaging 10 points in the Sooners’ first two games.

On Tuesday against Middle Tennessee State, junior forward Amanda Thompson filled the stat sheet for the Sooners, scoring 20 points while pulling down nine rebounds and delivering four assists.

Tonight will be the Sooners first match against a ranked opponent, as they take on the Sun Devils.

Arizona State is coming off an 86 – 53 victory over Tulane on Nov. 16, led by senior guard Briann January who had 14 points, three rebounds and six assists.

If the Sooners win tonight, they’ll move on to face No. 4 North Carolina in the championship game on Sunday, Nov. 23.

MATT WELCH The Oklahoma Daily Same song, different tune.

The match went the distance again, and with a fifth set count of 15-8 — the exact final count of their first matchup — Texas A&M hammered the proverbial nail in the coffin of the OU volleyball team’s playoff hopes Wednesday night.

With postseason aspirations out the window, the Sooners (11-15, 7-11 Big 12) now aim to finish strong in the season’s home finale on Saturday, when they host Iowa State. First serve in McCasland Field House is set for 3 p.m. with a free shuttle available for those parking at Lloyd Noble Center.

Despite the loss to the Aggies, assistant coach Kelly Files said the players can’t let the defeat hang over their heads.

“We told them that they had to keep their heads up,” Files said. “We still have two matches left in the season and [the players need] to continue to focus on working hard so we can finish off the season on a high note.”

That will come as no easy task against a Cyclone squad that is on pace for its third consecutive finish in the upper half of the Big 12 standings.

Currently fourth place in the Big 12 with a 9-8 conference record and 17-11 overall, Iowa State is only one game ahead of Baylor and Texas A&M in the conference standings and will be fighting to secure a postseason bid of it’s own.

“Iowa State plays exceptional defense and they run a fast offense,” Files said. “We will need to be patient and expect a lot of balls coming back over the net.”

The Sooners failed to tame the Cyclones during a previous meeting in early October, where the Cyclone defense held OU to a .086 hitting clip and didn’t allow a single Sooner to eclipse the double digit kill mark.

The speed of the Iowa State offense amounted to a .396 hitting percentage and 17.3 kills per set — three kills above its 14.25 season average.

Saturday’s match also marks Senior Day, where the squad’s lone senior — libero Lacy Barnes — will be honored prior to the match.

Barnes, who has been a regular starter for the Sooners since her junior year, was named captain as a senior and Files said it has been an honor to coach a player like Barnes.

“Lacy has been one of the best representatives of our program since I have been here,” she said. “From the beginning she has worked extremely hard on the court … she has always given 100 percent and has always gone the

SPORTS BRIEFS

Men’s basketball takes on Gardner-Webb Saturday

Chelsea Garza/The Daily

Freshman Brianne Barker sets the ball during OU’s five-set loss to Texas A&M Wednesday. The loss guarantees the Sooners will be unable to make the playoffs, but they will try to end their home season on a high note at 7 tonight against Iowa State in McClasand Field House. extra mile for her team and this program. Not only does she work hard on the court but she is a great student and a great ambassador in the community. She will be greatly missed.”

The Sooners will attempt to rebound from a razor-thin 3-2 defeat (25-15, 20-25, 18-25, 25-20, 8-15) to the Aggies Wednesday at McCasland Field House.

Redshirt sophomore middle blocker Francie Ekwerekwu led the offensive charge with a team-high 19 kills and a .359 hitting percentage. Barnes managed 22 digs on defense, while freshman setter Brianne Barker added 20 digs of her own, on top of 50 assists.

“We went to the fifth game against A&M at their place and we couldn’t pull it out then,” Barker said. “It’s frustrating. This is the game we had to have to go onto the postseason.”

An evening of back-and-forth momentum swings saw the Sooners coast an early 1-0 lead overall, holding Texas A&M to a .000 hitting clip in the first set.

Despite opening up a 12-7 lead during the

second frame, the Aggies caught fire and strung together a 10-2 run to put the Sooners on the defensive. Coupled with a third-set performance that saw the Aggies commit only one attack error and hit .474 overall, the OU offense struggled to regain it’s rhythm until the fourth frame.

Behind four team blocks, OU forced a deciding fifth set, but committed six costly attack errors in the race to 15 points. The six points conceded helped the Aggies build a strong enough cushion to down the resilient Sooners. “[Winning the fourth set] showed that we really wanted to win the game,” Ekwerekwu said. “Unfortunately game five didn’t go our way. We just couldn’t get things to work, it’s really unfortunate.”

Following Saturday’s match against the Cyclones, the Sooners will hit the road for their final match of the season, when they travel to Boulder, Colo., for a 6:30 p.m. contest against Colorado.

The No. 14 men’s basketball team will play the Gardner-Webb Runnin’ Bulldogs at 1 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 22 at the Lloyd Noble Center.

The game will mark the Sooners last before heading to New York on Nov. 26 to play University of Alabama-Birmingham in 2008 NIT Season Tip-Off. Sophomore forward Blake Griffin is coming off his biggest game of the season, as he scored 25 points, grabbed 21 rebounds and went 11-12 from the free throw line in OU’s 82–78 win over No. 21 Davidson on Tuesday.

Freshman guard Willie Warren had his best stats as a Sooner on Tuesday, too, scoring 20 points in only 24 minutes. Warren’s time was limited to foul trouble.

The Runnin’ Bulldogs are 0–2 this season, but have lost both games by less than three points. Gardner-Webb is also famous for upsetting No. 20 Kentucky early in last year’s basketball season, but they finished the year 16-16.

The Sooners played Gardner-Webb on Nov. 16 of last year, and won the game 69–55.

Spates earns 200th win Head wrestling coach Jack Spates recorded his 200th win last night as the No. 19 Sooners beat the Oklahoma City University Stars in Norman.

The victory brings the Sooners to 2–0 on the season, and will be their last match before they take on Old Dominion at 4 p.m. Sunday at the McCasland Field House.

Enter to win Stoops-autographed photo Sooner fans can now enter to win a panoramic image of Oklahoma Memorial Stadium autographed by head coach Bob Stoops.

The contest is open to anyone, and the entry form is available on soonersports.com.

The OU athletic department is also offering personalized photographs.

Those interested can type in any name to appear on the back of a player’s jersey or spelled out by the band.

— DAILY STAFF