The Oklahoma Daily

THE UNIVERSITY OF OKLAHOMA’S I NDEPENDENT STUDENT VOICE

VOL. 94, NO. 101 FREE — Additional Copies 25¢

MONDAY, FEB. 23, 2009 © 2009 OU Publications Board

CAMPUS BRIEFS

Eating Disorder Awareness Week reaches out to ‘silent sufferers’

SOONERS STUNNED

Stompdown canceled One of the most anticipated student events of the spring semester has been canceled.

The greek step show competition Stompdown, originally scheduled for March 7, will not take place for unspoken reasons.

“The issues are a private matter,” said Lauren McMillan, Black Student Association executive member and English junior.

Organized by the BSA, the step show consisted of performances by mostly National Pan-Hellenic fraternities and sororities. The event brought together the black population and other greek organizations from the Big 12 Conference.

Fraternities and sororities from Oklahoma, Texas, Kansas and Arkansas came to OU to participate.

“I was sad because this is why I came to OU,” said Brichette Reid, public relations sophomore. “As a kid from D.C., I came to OU during Stompdown weekend and was like ‘Wow, there is a lot of diversity.’”

• Ninety percent of college students report negative body image JAMIE BIRDWELL The Oklahoma Daily

— DALENESIA KENDRICK / THE DAILY

WHAT’S INSIDE Worried about getting an internship with a prestigious company? Some companies trade internships for cash. Page 3.

OU IT is still searching for a replacement for Ruckus. See what it recommends in the meantime. Page 3.

LIFE & ARTS Saturday, Oklahoma students came away with a victory in this year’s Red Bull Land Rush.

Check it out on page 9.

Pulitzer prize-winning poet Natasha Trethewey provides the secret to her success.

Check it out on page 9.

SPORTS

Photo by Lilly Chapa/The Daily

Sophomore forward Blake Griffin looks to the scoreboard during OU’s 73-68 loss to Texas Saturday afternoon in Austin, Texas.

Griffin played 11 minutes before Texas center Dexter Pittman accidentally hit Griffin in the nose while trying to block a shot.

Griffin was diagnosed with a concussion and never re-entered the game. He missed practice on Sunday, and head coach Jeff Capel said team doctors will decide if Griffin plays in tonight’s home game against Kansas. See the full story on page 5.

The women’s basketball team battled with Baylor on Saturday in a top-5 matchup. The Sooners came away with the win, staying perfect in the Big 12. Page 6.

New Miss Black OU crowned

The baseball team opened up its season this weekend with a four-game series against Western Illinois. OU swept the series in convincing fashion. Page 7.

• Winner’s platform promotes HIV/AIDS awareness

OUDAILY.COM

BY RENEÉ SELANDERS RS The Oklahoma Daily aily

Check out Daily reporters discussing their stories from the previous week at OUDaily.com/ weblogs/news-desk-blog/.

TODAY’S INDEX Campus Notes 2 Classifieds 8 8 Crossword Horoscope 9 L&A 9, 10

News 3 Opinion 4 Police Reports 2 Sports 5, 6, 7 Sudoku 8

WEATHER FORECAST

TODAY LOW 37° HIGH 53°

TUESDAY LOW 42° HIGH 57° Source: Oklahoma Weather Lab

people as possible. And I also want to bring out RAIN, it’s a non-profit organization in Oklahoma City with free testing and stuff.

That’s the first thing I definitely want to do ... and also on Feb. 25, one of the fraternities here on campus, Kappa Alpha Psi, they’re awareness event and I want having an HIV awarenes definitely, so that would be to support that definitel the first.

How long have you had your eeye on this pageant?

The Black Student dent da Association crowned new Miss Black OU ht 2009 Saturday night at the Miss Black OU Pageant at Norman North High School’s performingg arts theater. counting, Nikki Ajeh, accounting, an and finance and African African-American Studies sophomore, took thee honor after earning the highest combined score in the athletic wear, talent, evening nary and gown, and preliminary on-stage interview portions of the contest.

00 prize Ajeh won a $1,000 and the opportunityy to prom, HIV/ mote her platform, AIDS awareness, byy plache six ing first out of the Miss Black OU 2009 contestants. ught The Daily caught up with Ajeh after her ick crowning for a quick Q&A session.

Just since I got to OU, so about two years now. It’s an amazing honor and an opportunity to definitely implement my platform, imp so I’m excited to be able to do that.

Why does you your platform, HIV/ awarenes really AIDS awareness, resonate with yyou?

African-Americans, women in parAfrican-American ticular, it’s the No. 1 death for AfricanAmerican women be between the ages of 25 and 34. I’m 20 and th that could be me one day, you know? I jus just want to hit people ahead of time, edu educate them before it becomes one of th those stories, ‘Well, I got infected at this time, I got infected at 17, 18.’ I want to hit them before that particular situation comes across their paths.

What are you m most excited What is going to be about for your reign as Miss Black your first official act as Miss Black OU OU 2009?

Just implementing my platform and repre2009?

Cassie Little/The Daily

I definitely want to do a seminar over HIV/AIDS awareness and just invite as many

Being constantly confronted with the opportunities to eat fast food and gaze at photos of ultra-thin models isn’t just confusing, it’s dangerous, according to a former OU student.

As OU prepared for this week’s national Eating Disorder Awareness Week, former Sooner Catherine Swinson said the mixed signals present in college — food that is cheap yet unhealthy, little time to exercise and constant images of skinny celebrities — were a toxic mix that perpetuated an eating disorder she developed as a young teenager.

Swinson was involved in horseback riding and dancing, two activities that were very body image-oriented, she said.

“I had great instructors who tried to enforce a positive body image, but the overall focus on the body made me acutely aware of every little flaw,” Swinson said.

She always wanted to lose “a few more pounds,” but eventually Swinson’s desire to shed weight drove her to binge and purge, symptoms of the eating disorder bulimia.

“I was depressed and suicidal,” she said. “There came a point when I couldn’t control my reflexes and I realized I needed help.”

The Women’s Outreach Center, OU Recreational Services, and Counseling and Testing have teamed up for the week to raise awareness of the issues facing students.

Women’s Outreach Center coordinator Kathy Moxley said 90 percent of college students feel dissatisfied with

EATING Continues on page 2

Study abroad program blends culture, language • State lacks bilingual teachers RENEÉ SELANDERS The Oklahoma Daily One OU college is offering future educators the opportunity to learn and become more fluent in Spanish.

For the second year, the Jeannine Rainbolt College of Education is offering a six-week summer Spanish-immersion program for education students at the Universidad Popular Autónoma del Estado Puebla in Puebla, Mexico. This year’s program takes place May 18 through June 26.

The education-oriented study abroad program caters to education students and is coming at a time when Oklahoma needs more Spanishspeaking teachers.

Between October 2007 and October 2008, the number of Hispanic students enrolled in Oklahoma schools increased by 3,461 students, according to Oklahoma State Department of Education Data Services.

Teresa DeBacker, educational psychology professor, accompanied the five education students who participated in last summer’s Spanishimmersion program. She said the program not only helped students get closer to achieving Spanish fluency, but also included components that educated students about the value of education to immigrant families.

“Students entering a market are typically sensitive to market needs,” DeBacker said. “I think our students are already familiar with the benefit of ... being able to function in some minimal way in Spanish.”

DeBacker said Spanish-immersion classes, Spanish-speaking tour guides, visits to Mexican schools and the opportunity to live with a Mexican family enhance the study experience for many students.

“If we want to help English-language-learning students be successful in school, when we can try to reach out to them in their home language, even if we don’t do that very well, it really helps a lot for them to feel at home in the classroom and build relationships with the teacher,” she said.

Chris Brewster, founder and principal of Santa Fe South Charter

senting the black community. I’m excited.

Q & A Continues on page 2

BILINGUAL Continues on page 2

EVEN

2

ODD

News

Monday, Feb. 23, 2009

Eating

National Eating Disorder Awareness Week at OU Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday: Resources about preventing, recognizing and treating eating disorders will be available on the first floor of Oklahoma Memorial Union from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Wednesday: The HBO film “Thin” shows at 7 p.m. in Dale Hall, room 112.

Anytime: Campus groups can request a 45-minute presentation on body image and the media from the Women’s Outreach Center. For information, call 325-4929.

Continued from page 1 their bodies, and 13 to 20 percent of college students have a diagnosable eating disorder.

Although eating disorders are often thought of as a problem for women, men represent 10 percent of all individuals with eating disorders, she said.

“We want to reach out to those folks who are struggling in silence,” Moxley said.

Swinson said one of the core elements of an eating disorder is secrecy.

“You make up so many lies to cover the fact you are sick,” she said. “If you want to break the cycle, you have to break the habit of lying.”

Swinson said having an eating disorder is like abusing alcohol or drugs, in that it is an

addictive behavior that can feel impossible to shake off. She didn’t break the cycle of her own disorder until she sought professional help.

Although she’s been through an outpatient recovery program, Swinson said she still struggles to let go of the negative thoughts associated with her disorder.

Moxley hopes the events that make up Eating Disorder Awareness Week at OU will help prevent students from becoming trapped by the same ideas

Q&A

Saturday, also possession of

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

Continued from page 1

How has the pageant experience been?

innocent until proven guilty.

DRIVING UNDER THE INFLUENCE

Amazing. All the girls get along, we were a tight, close bond. It was difficult to even see someone win because we were so close. It was a great opportunity.

Jenna Christine Huchton, 19, Rustic Hills Street, Friday Jack C Greenway, 47, 1700 Classen Blvd., Friday Matthew James Johnson, 22, 1700 Classen Blvd., Saturday Dean Layne Nichols, 21, 1700 Classen Blvd.,

How does Miss Black OU differ from the traditional beauty pageant?

AGGRAVATED DRIVING UNDER THE INFLUENCE Jonathan Bo Harper, 20, Classen Boulevard, Saturday, also possession of marijuana Joanna Lee Harris, 24, Berry Road, Saturday Dylan Brent Walter, 24, 100 Sandstone Drive, Saturday

DRIVING WHILE IMPAIRED

What did it feel like the moment they said your name?

Garrett Brook Akin, 22, East Boyd Street, Saturday

POSSESSION OF MARIJUANA Kelvin Joseph Foster, 24, Interstate 35, Thursday, also possession of drug proceeds Norman Foster Maennena, 25, 2000 W Brooks St.,

I was shocked. I passed out, I passed out five times. It was unreal, it was unreal but it was amazing.

It’s still kind of unreal.

S

EER

R

drug paraphernalia

DOG AT LARGE Colleen Kellie Malloy, 25,

POSSESSION OF ALCOHOL

700 E Brooks, Tuesday

Alexander Dalton Woodward, 19, West Brooks Street, Friday, also age misrepresentation Max Thomas Barton, 19, 1123 E Constitution St., Friday, also unlawful use of a driver’s license Cameron Al-Hasani Ghafil, 18, 2760 Classen Blvd., Friday, also age misrepresentation Kate Lee Levit, 19, 1123 E Constitution St., Friday, also unlawful use of a driver’s license Ian Stuart O’Dell, 19,

MUNICIPAL WARRANT

1700 Classen Blvd., Friday

Saturday

We have a platform and we implement that over the entire reign of our crown, so that’s what we’re pressing for. We also represent the black community not just as a beauty queen, but someone that stands up for them, like a spokesperson.

CA

and actions that have haunted others like Swinson.

She said media-driven pressure to look a certain way can overwhelm students, but if pressure is mitigated early enough, it can be treated before it becomes debilitating.

Staff members at the Women’s Outreach Center will be available this week for workshops about body images and the media.

“Anytime you educate people, it does help [address] the problem,” Moxley said.

Johnny Dale Campbell, 39, 401 12th Ave. SE, Thursday Jonathan Edward Hall, 20, 201 W Gray St., Thursday Susan Ruth Karns, 24, 201 W Gray St., Thursday James Berkely Quick, 26, 201 S Creekdale Drive, Thursday Janice K Sanders, 47, 401 12th Ave., Jan. 28, also public intoxication Brian Scott Lucas, 32, 1325 Crown Point Ave., Friday Brandy Nicole Mitchell, 25,

PUBLIC INTOXICATION

203 S Jones Ave., Friday

Levi Ralph Lucas, 32, 4400 W Main St., Thursday, also disturbing the peace Michael Christopher Ford, 18, 1100 24th Ave. NE, Friday Gerald Keith Greer, 20, Rustic Hills Street, Friday Keith Allen Millsap, 19, 1100 24th Ave. NE, Friday Damien Montez Okewole, 19, 1100 24th Ave. NE, Friday, also possession of marijuana Frederick Wayne Rayford, 18, 1100 24th Ave. NE, Friday James Bradley Atkinson, 23, 747 Asp Ave., Saturday Dustin Rick Hart, 23, 100 Sandstone Drive, Saturday Jerry Lee Strong, 50, 2420

COUNTY WARRANT

Classen Blvd., Saturday

iN the

Jason Ray Hammer, 31, Wilcox Drive, Friday Joseph William Nichols, 27, North Porter Avenue, Friday Julie Ann Richardson, 29, 1400 N Porter Ave., Friday

ENTRY OF A MINOR Lindsay Michelle Cook, 20, 1123 E Constitution St., Friday Robert Jack Talley, 20, 1123 E Constitution St.,

sponsored by:

ASSAULT AND BATTERY Milan Dane Riggs, 21, 1801 Aladdin St., Saturday Mark W Rogers, 32, 1250 24th Ave. NW, Saturday

presented by: Dillards

behavioral INTERVIEWING

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tuesday 24 feb 2009 OMU 2nd floor, north end weitzenhoffer room 10:30 - 11 a.m.

wednesday 25 feb 2009 OMU 2nd floor heritage room 10:30 - 11 a.m.

Continued from page 1 Schools in Oklahoma City, said 80 percent of his approximately 900 middle and high school students are Hispanic.

He said the schools greatly need Spanish-speaking teachers to communicate with students and parents. Plans to open a Santa Fe South elementary school are in the works, and the need for bilingual teachers will increase even more with younger students who have less experience with English, Brewster said.

“It is extremely difficult for me as an administrator to find folks who are capable of being not only equipped teachers, but [who] also can communicate in two languages,” he said. “So we would be very happy to have folks who could do that, and I think OU’s College of Education could really serve a growing market in many of our cities who are encountering this as one of their challenges right now.”

Jamie Simpson, special education junior, attended the Spanishimmersion program last summer in Puebla.

“I’ve always been interested in learning more Spanish,” Simpson said. “I wanted to get a full cultural perspective.”

She said her Spanish improved and she was able to apply for a Spanish-speaking pay raise at her bank job when she returned.

But reaping the economic benefits of speaking Spanish wasn’t all Simpson gained from her time in Puebla.

She was able to gain a new perspective on the importance of

Michelle Gray/The Daily

Teresa Debacker, a chairwoman and professor in the department of educational psychology, has started a summer program at OU which will allow education students to go abroad in order to learn different languages. education to immigrant families and children, she said.

“Because I was in Mexico, I could see the poverty and the way the schools were there,” she said.

She said the confidence she’s

CAMPUS NOTES

thursday 26 feb 2009 OMU 2nd floor traditions room 1:30 - 2 p.m.

gained speaking Spanish is invaluable and will help her to become a better educator.

The application deadline for this summer’s program is March 1.

HOUSING & FOOD SERVICES

OUR COMMITMENT

Housing and Food Services will host a session about how to become a resident adviser at 3 p.m. in the union.

TODAY

WOMEN’S OUTREACH CENTER

COLLEGE OF EDUCATION

The Women’s Outreach Center will perform “The Vagina Monologues” at 7 p.m. in the union.

The College of Education will host a Scholastic Book Fair at 9 a.m. in the Collings Hall lobby.

Friday

monday 23 feb 2009 2 - 3 p.m.

OMU scholars room 3rd floor north end

fashion industry

Bilingual

CAREER SERVICES Career Services will host a dining etiquette brunch at 10:30 a.m. and a dining etiquette lunch at 12:30 p.m. in the Oklahoma Memorial Union.

OU BASKETBALL The men’s basketball team will play Kansas at 8 p.m. at Lloyd Noble Center.

TO ACCURACY The Daily has a longstanding 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

SCHOOL OF MUSIC The OU School of Music will perform at 8 p.m. in Catlett Music Center.

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

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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

Monday, Feb. 23, 2009

3

High-profile companies offer internships for a price • Career Services advises students away from paying for internships SHERIDAN STOVALL The Oklahoma Daily Gone are the days of earning a paid internship through hard work and dedication to broaden career opportunities.

Students and parents can now buy internship positions with high-profile companies.

Companies like University of Dreams, Fast Track Internships and auctions at prestigious schools across the nation are giving students the chance to purchase resume building internships with elite companies.

Bette Scott, director of Career Services, said OU does not encourage the use of services practiced by internship placement companies, but offers the same services

for free.

University of Dreams, founded six years ago, guarantees placement for a hefty price.

University of Dreams places students in premier locations across the world like London, Barcelona, New York and Los Angeles, according to the company’s Web site. The Web site lists past student placement with companies like Betsey Johnson, Katz Media and Smith Barney.

Students must be 18 to 26 years old, a full-time student and have a minimum grade point average 2.5 to participate in the company’s program. Applicants can pay in full, apply for financial aid or finance payments with processing fees of 3 percent.

University of Dreams’ “tuition” varies by program, according to the company’s Web site.

Many universities offer some of the same services as internship companies, like resume critiquing, career fairs and job and internship assistance at no cost.

Clint Shaw, petroleum engineering junior, said he thinks the services offered by companies like University of Dreams could be a good thing.

“If a really big company is only looking

at people from certain schools, but a student from OU thinks that they are better qualified for the position, then I think it would be a good thing to be able to pay for exposure to a company that you probably wouldn’t have gotten before,” he said.

Shaw said the companies’ practices could defeat the value of hard work.

University of Dreams’ alumni reference contact list on their Web site does not include any former participants from OU. Scott said OU’s Career Service Center is available to provide students with skills like resume writing and interviewing that will help students throughout their careers.

As awareness of purchasing internships grows, concern is growing for students who cannot afford to pay for internships.

Scott said students who have worked hard to earn internships would likely be offered positions based on hard work. She said she does not believe all companies will use services to find their interns.

One reason companies use services like University of Dreams is to lighten the work- hefty promises they may not be able to load of sorting through numerous applicant fulfill, Scott said.

“I would caution students to be leery of resumes, Scott said.

Internship placement companies make things that sound too good to be true and

Photo Illustration by Cassie Rhea Little/The Daily

to be leery of organizations that promise them that they will get an internship,” she said. “If it sounds too good to be true, it probably is.”

Ruckus music service meets unexpected demise RICKY MARANON The Oklahoma Daily

Photo Illustration by Elizabeth Nalewajk/The Daily

The student music download service, Ruckus, told its users it was having downtime for an evening update, then without any warning, completely shut down Feb. 6.

With the service shut down, some students are wondering what their next options are for legally downloading free music.

“I had no idea Ruckus shut down,” said Megan Montgomery, English junior. “I have friends that are going to be so upset.”

Ruckus was equipped to handle the needs of students and had more than 3.5 million songs, 4,000 movies and TV shows that were 100 percent virus-free, according to the OU IT Web site.

It was partially because of these perks that OU and more than 1,000 other schools signed up for the Ruckus service.

OU IT’s Web site stated that OU began service with Ruckus in 2006 to reward students who already obeyed copyright laws and to provide those who were downloading songs illegally with a free and legal alternative. But now, OU IT is searching for what to do next.

“IT is still testing the waters of what is to take Key said.

Ruckus’ place,” said Nicholas Key, OU IT spokesLegal music downloaded to an iPod or other man. “We are searching for an alternative that MP3 player will cost 99 cents with iTunes and will not only satisfy the wants, but the needs of Napster. While initially free, illegally downloaded students in the best way possible.” music can bring a hefty price. Fines for illeSome students, however, found the music pro- gally downloading music can range from $800 vided on Ruckus difficult to to $150,000 per song, and transfer to music players, downloaders could spend up or said its music library fell to five years in jail. short.

OU has additional conse“I liked it, but I’m not sure Students can access free music online at quences for students who if I’ll miss it,” Montgomery several sites: use OU’s network to downsaid. “My friend found a • Pandora.com load files illegally. Students way to get the songs onto could face student code and • Deezer.com his music player. If Ruckus housing contract violations.

• Jango.com didn’t have the song I was Multiple offenders face • Mystrands.com looking for, I still went back increasingly steeper penalto iTunes and paid for what • Music.Yahoo.com ties per song violation.

I wanted.”

Key said OU IT does not Key said while IT searchSource: Nicholas Key, OU IT spokesman monitor individual use, but es for another service, stuif a watchdog group reports dents have streaming serillegal activity to OU, IT is vices available to them for free with Internet radio, which allows users to set legally obligated to track the source of the complaint. up playlists based on their music preferences.

“When it comes to downloading music, the But if students want to legally download songs onto music players, they will have to pay for it, legal option is always the best option,” he said.

FREE AND LEGAL

Graduation

GEAR-UP

Everything you need to make the transition from student to graduate 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Monday, March 2, through Thursday, March 5 Beaird Lounge Second floor, Oklahoma Memorial Union ou.edu/commencement The University of Oklahoma is an equal opportunity institution.

4

Opinion

Monday, Feb. 23, 2009

OUR VIEW

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

STAFF CARTOON

John Daxon - broadcast and electronic media senior

Internships should be granted on merit alone The internship process is bad enough as it is. grounds who might be just as, or even better, qualiStudents, who are more often than not already in fied for the position than the former Heritage Hall debt when they reach the internship stage of their student who bought it. Companies then are stuck college career, are asked to take three months out of with inferior students who they will refer to other their lives and work for very little, if any, companies when the students graduate pay while paying rent on two leases.

OUR VIEW (unless he or she is really inferior.) This It’s a daunting task for a lot of students, could potentially decrease productivity is an editorial which is why we think it’s absurd that and creativity for these companies that selected and debated some companies and internship programs employ numerous workers. by the editorial board and written after a are selling, sometimes even auctioning, The process also speeds up the process majority opinion is internships to the highest bidder or the of the rich getting richer and the poor formed and approved wealthiest prospect. See page three for by the editor. Our View poorer. The rich kids get the good interndetails. ship, and in turn, the good jobs when is The Daily’s official opinion.

Money has replaced merit in this supthey graduate. Whether or not they are posed job placement system, and it’s ultithe best suited for these jobs is seemingly mately a disservice to both the students irrelevant. seeking the positions and the companies that want Many students pay upwards of $40,00 over four their cheap help. years – nearly $80,000 for out of state students –for This internship philosophy effectively eliminates a college degree. Don’t make them pay more to get a students who don’t come from high-income back- head start in life.

We need cartoonists! contact dailyopinion@ou.edu for details STAFF COLUMN

Proposition 8 misunderstood by most Instead of tossing rhetorical grenades at the left and imploding the conversation, I would like to present a common-sense and compassionate argument in favor of Proposition 8. Proposition 8, if you have not heard, was a 2008 resolution to ban same-sex marriage in California. The voters of California MATT passed it despite protests from the left. Now, FELTY Proposition 8 lies in the hands of the California Supreme Court.

Oklahoma has a better chance of repealing the ban on gay marriage than the California Supreme Court does of affirming it.

The issue is about marriage. Marriage is both legal and religious. Attempts to deny either the legality of the issue or its religious roots prove fallible.

First, a legal examination Critics of the law contend that the revocation of homosexual marriage denies homosexuals equal protection under the law as outlined by the 14th Amendment of the U.S. Constitution. This assumes homosexuality is a protected class.

Justice Harlan Stone outlined protected classes for the Supreme Court in his famous “footnote four” of United States v. Carolene Products (1938).

Here, Stone stated “discrete and insular” minorities must be given the strictest scrutiny of judicial protection under the Equal Protection Clause. In those days, the protected classes were obvious and included racial, ethnic, religious and gender minorities.

Justice Stone’s little footnote provided the context for positive change and paved the way for the passage of important civil rights laws and protection for protected classes in America. The central thread in each of these classes is what former Chief Justice William Rehnquist calls an “immutable characteristic.” An immutable characteristic is, simply, something physically inherent within us. It’s something we were born with – something we cannot change.

And what about religion? Is our faith an immutable characteristic? Maybe not, but religious identification and freedom is nevertheless so valued and fundamental to our traditions and character that it is given express protection apart from an analysis of what is immutable.

Religious freedom is protected not only in the 14th Amendment, but also the First Amendment. Respect for this freedom and legal protection is afforded

because it is fundamental to a citizen’s life, liberty and pursuit of happiness.

If the practice of homosexuality is to be given equal standing, the proper mechanism would be to amend the U.S. Constitution – something the homosexual activists have never attempted because they know they have no chance of success.

For homosexuality to be a protected class, subject to the same strict scrutiny as someone’s race, it must be proven that it is an immutable characteristic. Science has yet to produce such proof. Until an answer is proven – an unlikely probability – the legal grounds for Equal Protection becomes problematic.

To be clear, I am not advocating for discrimination based on sexual orientation.

But let us bear in mind that orientation can be equated to preference. Just like I would not like someone discriminating against me based on my sexual preference for the opposite sex, I do not think we should discriminate based on one’s sexual preference for the same sex.

However, a legal line needs to be drawn. Marriage is an invention of the church. The church has strict guidelines regarding the issue and should not be compelled by the state to compromise them. Likewise, the church does not ask the state to compromise its institutions to appease its interests.

Second, a religious examination Leviticus has become the favorite book of the Bible for proponents of gay marriage. They correctly quote from the 20th chapter that homosexuals (and beard trimmers) were condemned for their behavior. Sadly, their biblical investigation stops here.

Fast forward to the New Testament.

One finds a different take on the issue embraced by most mainstream Christians today. In the first chapter of Romans, the Apostle Paul shares a laundry list of sins that afflicted people in Rome. Included is homosexuality. Paul encourages the people to repent and be forgiven.

His tone is not malicious. It is not hateful. Instead, Paul speaks with great concern for those living in sin. His purpose is not to damn. His gospel is one of reconciliation making God’s grace known and available to everyone – a definite big tent philosophy but with boundaries set

by God, not man.

This begs an important question: Assuming homosexuality was an immutable characteristic, why would God want people to ask forgiveness for something they could not control? Would not God then ask people to repent for the shade of their skin, the color of their eyes or their country of origin?

This issue undoubtedly sets off emo-

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S T U D E N T

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

V O I C E

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

Concealed carry column missed mark I was very dismayed to see Colton Wilson’s recent column calling for guns to be allowed on campus in response to the Michael Childers events.

Mr. Wilson seems to think arming the student population will secure the campus beyond the reaches of crime or tragedy.

He raises the specter of the tragedy at Virginia Tech to remind us of the danger. Histrionic fear-mongering aside, Wilson himself winds up providing the best response to this argument. He states criminals do not care about laws. As if somehow they are only aware of the possible force used against them. Are we honestly expected to believe that Seung-Hui Cho would have turned away from violence had he known one of the students he targeted was armed? Of course not. Contrary to what Wilson argues, guns on campus will not increase our safety. They will, however, foster an environment of fear and paranoia.

- JEREMIAH AMES, PSYCHOLOGY JUNIOR

COMMENT OF THE DAY In response to a Feb. 20 news story about issues the UOSA administration is currently tackling Good job on keeping the same and possibly increasing the money to student organizations. Also the bike rental program for our campus is behind. Other universities are already reaching new heights with theirs across the nation. I am glad to see this being worked one.

- POSTED BY TAG AT OUDAILY.COM

Lindsey Allgood is a professional writing senior.

O F

160 Copeland Hall 860 Van Vleet Oval Norman, OK 73019-0270 phone: (405) 325-3666 e-mail: dailynews@ou.edu

T H E The Fine Print

I N D E P E N D E N T

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

nothing.

NMF2 is offering you yet another sweet treat. A free T-shirt for all volunteers! In these times of economic woe, how can you bypass a full day of music and a wardrobe addition gratis?

For volunteer information, check out NMF2 at www.normanmusicfestival.com.

See? Isn’t the Norman Arts Council worth it?

Here’s the lowdown: Log on to www.normanarts.org. Press the cute little yellow PayPal button to donate via plastic. For checks and cash, whip out that cellular device and dial 360-1162. They’ll chat you up real nice.

It’s easy. Twenty bucks for students and educators to become an official member. It’s something to add to a resume. Not to mention, it’s a tax write-off.

Personally, I rather enjoyed last Friday night’s trolley rides, mingling with local celebs over free wine, learning how to blow glass, admiring naked painted people and tasting chocolate hors d’oeuvres at the first 2nd Friday Circuit of Art. You’ve got my allowance, NAC.

museum events in Norman are free. But, without everyone’s pocket change, Norman’s venues cannot provide inexpensive entertainment.

For all you sorority sisters and frat boys trying to get your community service points, the NAC has a deal for you.

Talk with your execs. Donate your money.

Knock out those points and have extra time to study (or primp for your date party). Sure beats chalking, right?

Next, for the business tycoons and entrepreneurs out there, the NAC offers ample opportunities to advertise in unconventionally cool ways.

Last Friday, a trolley rolled around town, carrying people from the campus to downtown arts districts’ hip and hoppin’ joints. During the ride, actors improvised live commercials for many local shops between stops.

You can’t exactly flip the channel on a trolley. So, does your campus organization or charity event need some promotion? Give the NAC a ring. While you slip them $10, ask about advertising.

Finally, one of the NAC’s events, the second annual Norman Music Festival, is right around the corner. It’s going to be South by Southwest — but just up the street. And it costs a big fat

Contact Us

T H E

Matt Felty is a public adminstration senior.

YOUR VIEWS

STAFF COLUMN

I’ll just be frank. I’d like you to give money to the Norman Arts Council, please.

If you donate to the NAC, you’ll get more than you give.

So, what is the Norman Arts Council?

Well, it’s a non-profit organization that helps keep creative and cultural events and programs alive in Norman. The NAC supports events you’ve probably heard of or been to, like Jazz in June, Summer Breeze, the May Fair, the Norman Music Festival and the Medieval Fair.

LINDSEY Why should you give your lunch money to the Norman ALLGOOD Arts Council? The NAC depends on donations. And everyone needs gigantic turkey legs, jam sessions and creative outlets.

What else is in it for you?

First, you will help the NAC provide cheap entertainment. With today’s tight budgets, no one wants to sit at home on Friday nights knitting. Well, I would, but not most people. Two movie tickets, dinner and drinks costs about $5 billion.

Many local art exhibits, concerts and groovy

tional responses on both sides. A compromise, however, is possible.

Civil unions, where financial and medical benefits can be granted to same-sex couples, should be approved. This is not a spiritual covenant. It is a legal contract.

Proponents of Proposition 8 are protecting an institution that is fundamental to their faith. However, no form of hate should be tolerated or practiced by people of faith in the name of God. Protect your values and beliefs with humility.

On the contrary, opponents of Proposition 8 equate the resolution to majority-sponsored bigotry. I would encourage opponents of the bill to reexamine the issue. The Church is a Christian’s place of worship. Respect, which seems to be homosexual-rights activists’ principle request, cannot be a one-way street. If you desire tolerance for your lifestyle, please extend respect to an institution that is spiritually vital.

People of faith should respect a person’s ability to make their own choices.

People in support of gay marriage should modify their aim as not to infringe on the sacred institution of the Church.

One hopes the two polarized camps can find a common ground of respect on which to operate.

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The board meets Sunday through Thursday in 160 Copeland Hall.

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Sports

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

5

Monday, Feb. 23, 2009

Men’s Basketball

Griffin suffers concussion in loss to Texas • Blake plays 11 minutes in 73-68 loss on Saturday CLARK MCCASKILL The Oklahoma Daily AUSTIN, TEXAS — Sophomore forward Blake Griffin has seen his fair share of rough play this season.

Against USC, he took a shot below the belt. Utah tried tripping the All-American. And against Rice, Griffin took a shot below the eye that left blood dripping down his face.

But Griffin simply shrugged those plays off. So when Texas’ Dexter Pittman’s hand grazed Griffin’s nose while attempting a blocked shot Saturday night, it looked like nothing.

But it was something.

Griffin had to come out of the game after playing only 11 minutes, scoring 2 points and grabbing three rebounds. He appeared sick on the sideline, became woozy, and according to head coach Jeff Capel, suffered a concussion.

Griffin never re-entered the game, and the Sooners couldn’t overcome the loss of the Player of the Year front-runner, losing to unranked Texas, 73-68. “From the jump ball it was a very physical game,� senior forward Taylor Griffin said.

The stakes were high for both teams on Saturday.

For OU, a potential No. 1 ranking was on the line.

Texas needed a win to avoid dropping to 6-6 in conference and putting its NCAA tournament hopes in jeopardy.

After a scoreless first two minutes, Texas’ Dogus Balbay scored the first goal. Three minutes into the game, junior guard Tony Crocker hit a two-point jumper, tying the game at 2 and foreshadowing the back and forth ball game that was to come.

After Blake Griffin got in early foul trouble, he sat early in the first half. The play that knocked him out of the game came with four minutes left in the half.

Blake Griffin received a shot to the face from Pittman on a turnaround jump shot. He missed the shot, but Taylor Griffin grabbed the rebound and put it back in. On the next time down the court, Blake Griffin mishandled a pass in the paint before the Sooners real pulled him from the game. “ It was a good win for us, we came out there and for the most of us, executed our game plan,� Texas guard A.J. Abrams said. “With Blake going out it made us change our game plan.�

With Blake Griffin gone, freshman guard Willie Warren stepped to the plate. In the second half he caught fire, finishing the game with 27 points. “He’s a really good player, he’s been good for us all year,� Capel said. “This is no surprise for us.�

After starting the second half slow, it was Warren who brought the Sooners back into the game. OU

Lilly Chapa/The Daily

Sophomore forward Blake Griffin is attended to by OU trainers after taking a shot to the face from Texas’ Dexter Pittman. Griffin suffered a concussion and the Sooners lost 73-68. needed a 15–0 run in the middle of the second half that The Sooners then got a defensive stop and senior ended with a layup by junior Juan Pattillo to tie the guard Austin Johnson found Warren, who on a gimpy game at 41 with 15:27 left in the game. leg, hit another three-pointer to give OU a 61-56 lead After that point, it was a with just over five minutes back and forth game, and left in the game.

Warren led the Sooners’ “If Blake had been in charge. In a span of 3:30, that game, it would have Sophomore forward Blake GriďŹƒn did not practice in Warren hit four threebeen a totally different pointers. ball game.â€? Warren said. the Sooners’ practice on Sunday. Head coach Je Capel In one series of plays, “I would rather Blake be said team doctors would decide if GriďŹƒn plays tonight Warren banked a threeon the team, than have me against Kansas. point shot off the backmake all the shots.â€? “Blake has a future that goes well beyond the Univerboard. On OU’s next offenBut Warren was sity of Oklahoma and so that’s what the main concern is,â€? sive series, Warren sufmatched shot-for-shot and Capel said. “If he’s able to play than he will playâ€? fered a cramp on his way then some by Abrams. He up for a shot, and turned scored 23 points and 18 of the ball over. Unable to Texas’ last 20 to seal the run, Warren stayed on OU’s side of the court, strug- game for the Longhorns. gling to stand up.

Longhorn Damion James provided 16 points and 10

GRIFFIN UPDATE

Sooners take on Kansas tonight at 8 in Norman First-place in the Big 12 will be on the line tonight when Kansas comes to Norman to take on the Sooners at 8 at Lloyd Noble Center.

The Jayhawks (22-5, 11-1 Big 12) enter tonight’s contest winners of 11 of their last 12 games. Their only loss in that span was by 2 at Missouri on Feb. 9.

OU (25-2, 11-1) may have to play without sophomore forward Blake GriďŹƒn, whose status for tonight is unknown.

Without GriďŹƒn, the Sooners will have to ďŹ nd a way to contain sophomore center Cole Aldrich, who is averaging 15.3 points and 10.3 rebounds per game.

The other player to keep an eye on will be junior guard Sherron Collins. Collins leads the team in both points (18.0 ppg) and assists (5.0 apg). — ERIC DAMA/THE DAILY

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rebounds, seven that came on offense. James fouled out with 2:34 left in the game.

The only Texas bucket not made by Abrams in the final eight minutes came from an offensive put back by Pittman with 16 seconds left in the game. “I know they’ve prepared, and they’ve done the things they needed to do,� Texas head coach Rick Barnes said. “It’s really pretty simple. It all comes down to making shots. A.J. came up big, and Dexter’s rebound was a huge play obviously.�

The loss marked OU’s second on the season after a 13 game win streak. The Sooners will go into Monday’s game against Kansas 25-2 and 11-1 in the Big 12. “I really don’t care about that,â€? Taylor said. “Having a number by your name is cool and everything ‌ but we have a big one on Monday so were going to go back and focus on that one It’s not like the season is over, we are still playing for three big championships, that is focus enough.â€?

6

Sports

Monday, Feb. 23, 2009

Women’s Basketball

STAFF COLUMN

OU 12-0 in conference with 66-58 win • Sooners beat No. 5 Lady Bears, face No. 14 A&M tonight in Texas

Despite loss, men’s hoops proves its for real hose closest to the Sooner nation and those who have been following the Sooners all year long know it better than anyone.

But whether OU head coach Jeff Capel wants to admit it or not, the Sooners did prove something to the nation’s spectators Saturday night, despite dropping a 73-68 defeat in Austin at the hands of bitter rival Texas.

OU is for real, even without sophomore star forward Blake Griffin.

“We didn’t have anything to prove to ourselves,” JOEY Capel said. “We’ve played hard all year. Again, I’ve HELMER been saying all year, and our guys know it, that it’s not Blake and the Sooners. It’s Oklahoma. We didn’t prove anything to ourselves. We lost and we’re disappointed.”

They didn’t need to prove anything to themselves or to those who have followed them all season, but they did need to convince those doubters who said the Sooners can only run through Griffin.

For all intents and purposes, most people thought the Sooners shouldn’t have even been in the game after the probable National Player of the Year in Griffin.

But the Sooners proved on Saturday they were all wrong.

Freshman guard Willie Warren not only showed he can step up and hit the big shot when he needs to, he proved he can step up and hit many big shots as well.

Warren scorched the Longhorns for 27 points on 10-for-20 shooting, including six-for-12 shooting from behind the arc.

He also dropped several dimes, tossing six assists in the game throughout his 38 minutes of play.

Junior guard Tony Crocker is another guy who stepped up from behind the perimeter for the Sooners, as he put up 14 points and snatched seven rebounds.

While senior guard Austin Johnson didn’t wow anyone with a big scoring performance, he was complete in his outing, as well.

Johnson scored 6 points, tossed equally as many assists and pulled down seven rebounds for the Sooners.

And the Sooner posts showed ESPN announcers Dick Vitale and Dan Shulman, as well as the rest of the nation, they are physical enough to battle with the best.

Juniors Juan Pattillo and Ryan Wright each had momentum-swinging dunks, and senior forward Taylor Griffin scored 9 points and grabbed eight rebounds in a 35-minute effort.

It was hard not to notice the togetherness of this squad and the fact that they are for real when in comes to March Madness.

This team has the talent, motivation and chemistry to go all the way.

T

AARON COLEN The Oklahoma Daily Streaks and momentum swings defined No. 2 OU’s 66-58 victory agianst the No. 5 Baylor Lady Bears Saturday at Lloyd Noble Center The Sooners fought back from a second-half deficit and played stifling defense against Baylor to win their 12th straight conference game and remain undefeated in conference.

The Sooners (24-2, 12-0 Big 12) built up a 15-point first-half lead before letting the Lady Bears back into the game and finding themselves down by six in the second half.

“To be able to continue to win when you keep putting yourself in those precarious situations,” head coach Sherri Coale said.

“Every time you do that you put a little money in the bank that you can draw from the next time.”

OU relied on strong rebounding, particularly from senior center Courtney Paris and junior forward Amanda Thompson, who contributed 15 rebounds each. Nine of Thompson’s rebounds were offensive, as well, giving OU several second-chance opportunities.

“Honestly, I probably lost consciousness,” Thompson said. “All I could remember was Ashley [Paris] telling me ‘you’ve got to get every rebound. You’ve got to get every rebound.’ That just locked into my head.”

OU won the battle of the boards definitively, out rebounding Lizzy Brooks/The Daily Baylor by 51-31.

“It was just rebounding,” Lady Bears coach Kim Mulkey said. Sophomore Daniel Robinson (13) attempts a shot over Kelli Griffin (21) in OU’s “Rebounding was the difference in the game.”

66-58 win over the Lady Bears on Saturday. Robinson finished the game with 19 Both teams suffered through long scoreless droughts in the points and eight assists. The Sooners will now play No. 14 Texas A&M tonight in second half, with OU going six minutes without a bucket and College Station, Texas.

Baylor going 11 minutes late in the game, a drought which ultimately doomed the Lady Bears chances at an upset.

Paris then added another six straight points for OU, and freshParis added her inside presence to the strong defensive effort man guard Whitney Hand scored on a put-back that gave the which kept the Sooners in the game when they were struggling Sooners a 58-49 lead. offensively.

“I think what it says is our team understands the totality of the “The No. 1 thing we say is you’ve got game,” Coale said. “At a timeout, we actuto get stops because if we’re not scoring, ally made reference to that: We had quit they can’t score,” Paris said. “I just feel like scoring but they had quit scoring, too, and whenever we’re in a drought like that, we ours was going to come back.” have different people who can step up and The Sooners took a three game lead in the kind of take the game over.”

What: No. 2 OU vs. No. 14 Texas A&M Big 12 with four games to play with the win, Paris had 18 points to go along with her a school-record 20th straight. The Sooners When: 6:30 tonight 15 boards. remained undefeated in the Big 12 and will Where: College Station, Texas Sophomore guard Danielle Robinson led secure at least a share of the regular season The game will be broadcast on ESPN2. the Sooners with 19 points and added eight conference title with a win tonight. assists. The sophomore also had four steals “As proud as we are of this win and as significant as it is in the position it puts us and playing 36 minutes ran OU’s offense for in for the remainder of Big 12, the weekend’s not over yet,” Coale the majoirty of the game.

OU struggled from behind the three-point line, but a big three said. “We still have Monday night to deal with.”

Monday night the Sooners go on the road to face No. 14 Texas from junior Nyeshia Stevenson gave the Sooners a 50-49 lead with A&M, a team they beat 71-59 in Norman on January 18.

7:20 to go in the game.

WHAT’S NEXT?

“Most people thought the Sooners shouldn’t have even been in the game after the loss of the probable National Player of the Year in Griffin.”

JOEY HELMER IS A JOURNALISM JUNIOR.

SPORTS BRIEFS Women’s gym wins quad meet Friday The women’s gymnastics team (6-3, 1-1) bested No. 13 Missouri, No. 18 West Virginia and Brown on Friday night at Lloyd Noble Center.

The Sooners started off on vault, where they totaled 49.250 to lead Mizzou’s 48.975 on bars in the first rotation.

The Sooners moved to bars, where senior Haley DeProspero led with a solid 9.775. Trouble struck, however, with a fall from senior Jessica Kinder and a labored set from sophomore Melanie Root, earning a 9.150 and 9.600, respectively. The Sooners rebounded with a 9.85 from freshman Megan Ferguson and a 9.8 from junior Hollie Vise to finish the rotation .150 ahead of the second-place Tigers.

In the third rotation, the Sooners performed well on beam to overcome a fall from Ferguson late in the lineup, but the Tigers cut OU’s lead to .075 with a strong floor rotation.

Closing the meet on floor, OU needed a strong performance for the win. Ferguson led with a 9.825 followed by a 9.85 from Kinder.

A trio of 9.875s closed the meet for the Sooners and clinched a 196.375–196.225 victory.

“The last three 9.875s across the board, that really sealed the deal,” head coach K.J. Kindler said. “They fought for it, and they had to. ... That shows a lot of heart.”

West Virginia finished third with a 195.250 ahead of Brown’s 185.950.

OU next heads to Ames, Iowa, for its third conference matchup against Kindler’s alma mater, Iowa State, on Saturday.

Amy Frost/The Daily

Sophomore Natalie Ratcliff performs on Friday.

Day one and the possibilities are endless ©2009 ERNST & YOUNG LLP Ernst & Young refers to the global organization of member firms of Ernst & Young Global Limited, each of which is a separate legal entity. Ernst & Young LLP is a client-serving member firm located in the US.

— KELSEY WITTEN/THE DAILY

Day one. It’s when you take charge, meet new challenges and stretch yourself. It’s where you discover fresh opportunities around every corner. And it’s where you find the freedom to explore different services and industry sectors.

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Sports Baseball

Eli Hull/The Daily

Sophomore pitcher Antwoine Hubbard begins his motion toward the plate in OU’s first game against Western Illinois on Saturday. The Sooners won the game 6-1, and swept the series.

Sooners sweep weekend set two homers, two doubles and six RBIs, while scoring nine runs. His two home runs doubled his single season high and raised his career total to four.

“It felt good [hitting those home runs],” Hernandez said. “I’m comfortable at the plate and I’m seeing the ball pretty well. The team has been talking about JONO GRECO going the opposite way and staying behind the ball, The Oklahoma Daily and that helped out a lot.”

Junior first baseman Aaron Baker also connected The baseball team flexed its muscles and proved why it is ranked No. 16 in the nation this weekend for a home run in the series’ first game, and went .333 with a convincing four-game sweep against the with one round-tripper and a double while driving in five runners.

Western Illinois Leathernecks.

The series displayed the experience of the veterIn the four-game start to the 2009 season, OU (4-0) ans and the maturity of the young players, most of out-scored WIU (0-4) 59-16, 17-2 in game one, 6-1 in game two, 15-4 in a game three run-rule and 21-9 in whom saw their first collegiate action.

The Sooner freshmen were led by designated game four, and racked up 60 hits, which was 25 more hitter Tyler Ogle, who hit .500 with one home run, than its opponents.

Sunday’s weekend finale was an back-and-forth two doubles and 10 RBIs, which is tied for the team match-up early before the Leathernecks let a 5-4 sec- lead.

“The younger guys stepped up,” Johnson said. “I ond inning lead explode to a 12-run loss.

In four games, WIU could not figure out an answer remember my first time being scared, and they come out not scared at all, just no fear and confident.” for junior center fielder In his first collegiate atJamie Johnson and senior bat, freshman first basesecond baseman Matt man Cameron Seitzer hit Harughty’s one-two punch a three-run blast over the atop the Sooner lineup. right-center fence and finCombined, Johnson ished the weekend hitting and Harughty went 18-30 .400 with the homer and while hitting two homers three RBIs. — including a grand slam “I asked Cam, ‘Where on Saturday by Harughty — do you go from here?’’ three triples, four doubles Golloway said. “[I told him] and driving in 14 runs.

‘You hit a home run and “They’re starting out reala curtain call on your ly hot,” head coach Sunny — Junior center fielder Jamie get first [at bat],’ and he said, Golloway said. “I think we but up, coach.’” expect that out of them.

Johnson ‘nowhere One of the biggest staThey’re experienced guys ples for OU was its bulland returning starters.” pen. In 14 innings of work, This is the first time in Harughty’s career hitting out of the two-hole, and he Sooners relievers gave up four runs, struck out 16 displayed why he deserved that spot via base hits, and allowed 10 hits.

“Our bullpen is going to be strong,” Golloway sacrifice bunts, sacrifice flies, bunts for singles and said. “I’ve said all along that we have a deep pitching a grand slam.

“I love Harughty at [the] two-hole,” Johnson said. staff.”

The Sooners head to California for two games “He’s a great ballplayer and he can do anything with the University of San Diego Toreros beginbehind me.”

Junior shortstop Bryant Hernandez started off the ning Tuesday, before traveling north to take on season on the right foot, as well, as he hit .643 with Washington State in a four-game weekend series.

• OU out-scores Western Illinois 59-16 in series

“The younger guys stepped up. I remember my first time being scared, and they come out not scared at all.”

SPORTS BRIEFS Men’s gymnastics takes dominating win over No. 10 Iowa on Saturday

Softball goes 4-1 in Cathedral City Classic, improves record to 12-3

The No. 1 Sooners won all events on Saturday when they took home their fourth straight win over No. 10 Iowa at Howard McCasland Field House. The Sooners won the event 354.250-336.000.

Sophomore Steven Legendre won the floor title with a score of 15.650. Second place went to senior Russell Czeschin, who scored a career-high 15.150.

Senior co-captain Jacob Messina won the pommel horse by scoring a career-high of 14.800. Junior Corey English finished second with yet another career-high, 14.750.

Two more Sooners posted career-highs on the vault, with Czeschin winning the event with a 16.100 and sophomore Bobby Shortle scoring 16.000.

Messina grabbed another career-high on parallel bars, scoring 14.900 to take the event title.

The Sooners finished off their sweep of the event by taking high bar with a team score of 56.400 with a career score of 15.150 from Legendre.

The Sooners return to action against No. 8 Nebraska on Feb. 28 at McCasland Field House.

The No. 8 Sooners won four of their five games this weekend in the Cathedral City Classic in Cathedral City, Calif.

In the first game, the Sooners beat Cal Poly 3-2 behind senior first baseman Samantha Ricketts who went 2-3, scored one run and knocked in three RBIs. In the second game, the Sooners took down No. 3 Arizona State, the defending National Champions 8-6. OU scored all eight of its runs in the first inning, led by a grand slam from junior catcher Lindsey Vandever.

Senior pitcher D.J. Mathis pitched a complete game for OU, giving up six runs in seven innings. She also struck out seven batters.

On Saturday, the Sooners beat No. 19 Nevada 11-2, runruling the Wolf Pack in six innings.

The Sooners’ first loss in the tournament came against No. 1 Alabama on Saturday. The Sooners had a chance to beat the Crimson Tide, but fell short late.

OU held a 3-2 advantage heading into the final inning, but Alabama’s Kelley Montavlo, who homered earlier in the game, doubled with runners on second and third, and knocked in the winning runs for Alabama.

Freshman pitcher Allee Allen picked up her first loss of the year, surrendering four runs in 6.1 innings on six hits and four walks. She also recorded two strikeouts.

The Sooners finished off their California trip on a strong note, taking down No. 24 Massachusetts on Sunday, 5-3.

Sophomore center fielder Krystle Huey went 2-3 in the game and scored twice.

Mathis and Allen teamed up with freshman pitcher Kirsten Allen to go seven innings, surrendering six hits and three earned runs. They combined for five strikeouts.

Both tennis teams drop road matches Liz Brooks/The Daily

Senior Chris Brooks performs against Iowa on the pommel horse Saturday at McCasland Field House. The Sooners beat the Hawkeyes 354.250 - 336.000. The No. 1 men’s gymnastics team will next be in action at 7 p.m. on Feb. 28 against No. 8 Nebraska at McCasland Field House.

The women’s tennis team dropped a road match to Purdue 6-1 on Saturday, and the men fell 5-2 at Arkansas.

On the men’s side, sophomore Ionut Beleleu and freshman George Chanturia won their matches. For the women, sophomore Ana-Maria Constantinescu won her match, 6-2, 6-2.

— DAILY STAFF

Monday, Feb. 23, 2009

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Make up to $75 per online survey, student opinions needed www.cashtospend.com.

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

$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

1/2 OFF 1st MONTHS RENT* Immediate Move-Ins $99 DEPOSIT! PETS WELCOME! Models open 8a-8p Everyday!

1 & 2 Bedrooms Avail / Prices Reduced Elite Properties 360-6624 or www.elite2900.com 1 BLK FROM OU, very nice 4 room apt, 800 sf, wood floors, 1016 S College, Apt 1, $295/mo.

Call 360-2873 or 306-1970. www.3MonthsFreeRent.info Brand New Apartments. Limited Availability.

CONDOS UNFURNISHED

1 bdrm near OU, $340/mo + all util, $200/dep, others at $425/mo + electric, no pets. 886-6709. $400, bills paid, efficiency LOFT apartments, downtown over Mister Robert Furniture, 109 E Main, fire sprinkler, no pets, smoke-free. Inquire store office.

Housing Sales

CONDOS The Edge Condo, 2 bdrm, 2 full bath, new fully furnished with everything, new appliances, 2200 Classen Blvd. Sale $115,000, without furniture $110,000. Call 626-826-9262 or christina_ 91773@yahoo.com.

FETCH THIS PAPER YOURSELF

Sell your stuff.

TAKE A SMALL STEP TO GET HEALTHY www.smallstep.gov

classifieds@ou.edu

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

3 Bdrm $1200-1800 2 Bdrm $700-$900 1 Bdrm $420-$460 MISTER ROBERT FURNITURE 9-4 pm, Mon-Sat, 321-1818

3 room efficiency, 413 Elm,$395/mo, bills paid, one year lease, smoke-free no pets. Call 3603850.

322 S Lahoma, 2/3 bdrms, 1 bth, CH/A, w/d, dw, no pets, $700/mo + security dep. 573-2944.

ROOMMATES WANTED Male student, $350/mo, all bills paid, hi-speed wireless, 12th & Rock Creek area. 918-3973081 Female nonsmoking roommate needed in big beautiful house 6 blocks from campus!! No Deposit! Must See!! Call/leave vm to see!! 405-6236352

5 9 The onset of eye disease may not be as visible as the appearance of new wrinkles. An eye doctor can spot the early warning signs of vision

1-2 roommates needed for a 3 bed, 2 bath house.

Close to campus. $450 month / all bills paid. Contact me via email, bailee.m.murray-1@ou.edu or by phone, (405) 343-5824

NEAR OU, privacy, $260, bills paid includes cable, neat, clean, parking. Prefer male student.

Call 329-0143.

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.

1 4

Previous Solution

3 1 6 9

8 9

3 5 7 6 4 3 1 9 1 2 4 2 6 7 7 8 5 2 1 5 9 8 4 3 6 8 5

9 7 4 5 6 2 1 8 3

8 1 2 3 7 9 5 6 4

6 5 3 8 4 1 7 9 2

3 8 7 4 2 6 9 5 1

4 9 5 7 1 8 3 2 6

2 6 1 9 3 5 8 4 7

7 2 9 1 5 4 6 3 8

5 3 6 2 8 7 4 1 9

1 4 8 6 9 3 2 7 5

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.

SOONERS

Drink Responsibly.

Universal Crossword

Call the Hotline at

Edited by Timothy E. Parker February 23, 2009

325-5000

ACROSS 1 Eyebrow or rainbow 5 Computer feed 9 Ten sawbucks 14 No great shakes 15 “Once ___ a time …”

16 Expressed great pleasure 17 Achieve milestones 20 Came down 21 Scratch (out a living) 22 Moved about energetically 26 Engage in one-on-one combat 30 Disentangled 31 Smudge on Santa 32 Audio receiver 33 Watch parts 34 Pseudonym of H.H. Munro 35 Garage compartments 36 Get right down to business 39 Oodles 40 Cheshire cat trademark 41 Whistles when the police are spotted 43 Curved segment 44 Beetle-to-be

to report illegal or unsafe drinking.

All calls are anonymous.

The University of Oklahoma is an Equal Opportunity Institution.

Game Sponsorships Classified Display Ads located directly above the following games/puzzles. Limited spaces available – only one space per game.

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 The Oklahoma Daily is responsible for one day’s incorrect advertising. If your ad appears incorrectly, or if you wish to cancel your ad, call 405.325.2521 before the deadline for cancellation in the next issue. Refunds will not be issued for early cancellation.

Errors not the fault of the advertiser will be adjusted.

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

Help Wanted ads in The Oklahoma Daily are not classified as to gender.

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.

All ads are subject to acceptance by The Oklahoma Daily. Ad acceptance may be re-evaluated at any time.

small step no. 34

Summer Rent Slashed in 1/2!

Leasing 1-4 bdrms, amenities galore, The Edge Call Iris, 303-550-5554

ROOMS FURNISHED

APTS. FURNISHED

J

R.T. Conwell, advertising manager classifieds@ou.edu phone: 325-2521, fax: 325-7517 For more, go to oudaily.com.

45 Slim and trim 46 Get from a parent 48 A Clinton 49 Kettle and Bell 50 Bed end 51 Wastes no time with 59 Odds partner 60 Gala 61 Classic opera 62 One of Barrie’s Darlings 63 Expect with alarm 64 Contrary current DOWN 1 Bit of air pollution 2 French king 3 O’Hare clock setting 4 “Some Like It ___” 5 Crossed swords 6 Pest for a rose 7 Words after “hop” or “jump” 8 Director Lee 9 Hearse’s burden 10 Backs of necks 11 “Eureka!” relative 12 Hanoi New Year 13 They get the last wd.

18 Most robust

19 Like a Bronze Star recipient 22 Potato eye 23 Mythical equine 24 Steadfast 25 Fights with a lance 26 Snatched from dreamland 27 Old World prickly plants 28 Infant outfit 29 Sounds of hesitation 31 Hindu’s sir 34 Walk like a peacock 35 Genesis tower locale 37 Like Shrek (Var.) 38 Must 39 ___ chi (martial art) 42 Coral, for one

PREVIOUS PUZZLE ANSWER

© 2009 Universal Press Syndicate www.upuzzles.com

“GET GOING” by Jim Lilly

Millions of Americans expose themselves to noise levels above 85 decibels for hours at a time – the level audiologists identify as the danger zone. Lawn mowers, sporting events, live or recorded music, power tools, even traffic and crowded restaurants can sustain these levels. If you’re around noises like these for prolonged periods, you’re risking permanent hearing loss. For more on the 85 dB threshold, and ways to protect your hearing health, visit ASHA.org.

Previous Answers 1-800-638-8255

44 Like an infamous Dallas knoll 45 April event 47 Improve text 48 Terra ___ 50 Complimentary 51 Kitty cry 52 Hail to Caesar 53 “One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest” author Kesey 54 Wide of the mark 55 Charlotte of “The Facts of Life” 56 Billy the ___ 57 Roulette play 58 Wray in “King Kong”

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

Life & Arts

Monday, Feb. 23, 2009

9

Sooner students victorious in modern land run 50 [miles per hour.] I hit a bump and bottomed out,” he said. “I had to get my car towed. It’s still in Ponca City.”

His car may be in bad shape, but Panas said the Land Rush was still a good time.

“It was a lot of fun,” he said. “I saw one competitor pass another going like 90 on the shoulder. It was like some of the most intense driving I’ve ever seen in my life.”

Winters said legality and safety were clearly not the issue during the Land Rush.

“There were a lot of people who didn’t care about the legal rules,” he said. “One car got totaled in Stillwater.

[But] we tried to keep it pretty safe.”

The challenges that teams completed along the route varied from pitching tents to extricating a Red Bull can from the middle of a block of ice..

The most memorable challenge for Jonathan George, human relations senior and member of Sandy Sacks, a team of four OU students, occurred at a stop at Eskimo Joe’s in Stillwater.

“We had to sing the ‘Oklahoma’ song to a table that was dining at the restaurant,” he said. “If they gave us approval of the quality of our singing, then we got our next clue.”

For Winters, the final checkpoint was the one stuck in his mind. The challenge was simple: get to the finish line.

“The [second place team] was right behind us,” he said. “We bailed out [and] it was pretty much a footrace for the final 200 or 300 feet.”

• Students race to win Spring Break getaway ADAM KOHUT The Oklahoma Daily

Students Ben Winters and Tyler Shockley drove 110 miles per hour on Interstate 35 Saturday – and were rewarded with a Spring Break beach house in South Padre, Texas.

Winters and Shockley, University College freshmen, were the winners of the Red Bull Land Rush, a 101-mile race from Arkansas City, Kan. to Guthrie.

Forty teams of four were provided with GPS navigation devices and given rudimentary directions to nine checkpoints along the route. Teams were required to complete a challenge at each of the checkpoints. After a challenge was completed, the teams were given a clue which guided them to the next stop.

Shockley and Winters teamed up with two OSU students, Cody Lum and Cody Wann. Their team – A Team…Divided -- completed the race in one hour and 47 minutes.

“Our driving quote was ‘Win or go to jail,’” Shockley said. “The Red Bull people weren’t even set up when we got to the finish line.”

Shockley said his team kept its lead for the entire race.

Photo illustration by Michelle Gray/The Daily

“We’re all really athletic so we just killed the challenges,” he said. “Our navigator, Ben [Winters], did a really good job. We didn’t make any wrong turns or anything like that.”

But A Team…Divided’s relative-

ly smooth race was not the norm.

Complications befell many of the other teams, causing some to quit before crossing the finish line.

Kenton Panas, University College freshman and a member of He’s Gonna

Do One!, a team of four OU students, said his team only made it through three checkpoints before running into car trouble.

“We were going down a side street in a neighborhood and I think I was going

Pulitizer Prize-winning poet shares how to tell the stories EDITOR’S NOTE: Natasha Trethewey, a Pulitzer Prize-winning poet, will visit campus today and Tuesdsay to participate in a poetry reading and a book signing. The Daily’s Sarah Dorn participated in a phone interview with Trethewey about her writing and Pulitzer experience.

Today, Pulitzer Prize-winning poet Natasha Trethewey will conduct a public conversation entitled “Poetry and Memory,” with poet and OU NATASHA professor Honorée Jeffers. The event is free and TRETHEWEY open to the public and will be held in Gaylord Library at the Gaylord College of Journalism and Mass Communication at 7 pm.

On Tuesday, Trethewey will present a poetry reading of her Pulitzer-winning book, “Native Guard.” A book signing and reception will follow. This event is free and will be held in the auditorium of the Sam Noble Oklahoma Museum of Natural History at 7 p.m.

In your books, you often find largely unknown histories to illuminate and discuss. How do you approach finding these historical stories for your poetry?

Well, I think that I kind of stumbled upon the lesser-known history of the “Native Guard.” I often have an assignment that I give my students about uncovering lesser-known histories.

I was at Auburn University at my first job, and there was a marker in the center of town right in front of campus that was apparently telling something about how Auburn was founded. And it read something like “after the Indians left,” which is as if they had just woken up one morning and said, “Man, this is a drag; let’s move West.” It’s as if they hadn’t given consideration to the Trail of Tears or other parts of history.

So one way to go about uncovering unknown histories is to do research around historical markers, and ask what’s not there, what has been left out.

What was it like to win the Pulitzer? What was the feeling?

It was pretty unbelievable; that’s what the feeling was. I couldn’t stop shaking for a long time, and then for months after, my right eye twitched (laughs).

The Pulitzer Board publishes it on their Web site and you find out because reporters start calling you. And I was teaching a class so my phone was turned off, so it took a long time before anyone could reach me. They started finally calling the English department, and then the creative writing administrative person got the call and ran over to my building. It was pretty unbelievable and thrilling.

For the full interview, visit oudaily.com.

–SARAH DORN IS AN ENGLISH JUNIOR.

Whose work would you say influenced your writing most?

There’s never a “most.” There’re always different influences. In particular, for example, in writing “Native Guard,” I was deeply influenced by Irish poets Seamus Heaney and Eavan Boland, their histories of place, of psychological exile.

A collegue knew this and gave me all of the drafts of Heaney’s poems because we had them here in our collections at Emory. So I got to see his entire thought process over the working of that poem collection.

HOROSCOPE

By Bernice Bede Osol

Copyright 2008, Newspaper Enterprise Assn.

Monday, Feb. 23, 2009 PISCES (Feb. 20-March 20) -- Keep your hopes and wishes realistic, and they will have a better chance of realization.

Assess people, experiences and situations logically, not wishfully, and it’ll be a snap.

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Resort Style Amenities Private Bedrooms & Bathrooms

ARIES (March 21-April 19) -- If a friend could use some help and you’ve got what he or she needs, be a good chum and offer to loan it to this person. It’ll go a long way toward strengthening your relationship.

TAURUS (April 20-May 20) -- There is a thin line between pushy and acceptably assertive, and you seem to find just the right amount of aggressiveness without anyone resenting your guidance.

GEMINI (May 21-June 20) -- Your ability to see both sides of an argument makes you the person to run a group involvement. You’ll get both sides to merge their positions into one acceptable stance.

CANCER (June 21-July 22) -Matters of little consequence are unlikely to bother you, and that attitude is just what the doctor ordered when dealing with some sensitive people. You’ll keep your head and keep all together.

LEO (July 23-Aug. 22) -- Keeping your objectives in harmony makes a partnership arrangement really work well. Neither you nor your counterpart is so self-involved that you take off on tangents.

VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22) -- For inexplicable reasons, it may seem as if everyone at work has decided to be in a harmonic mood. Needless to say, everyone’s job will go a lot smoother and seem to be lot easier.

LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 23) -- Because you are generally a lucky person, you enjoy chancy or speculative ventures or enterprises. More than one gamble could go your way.

SCORPIO (Oct. 24-Nov. 22) -- A few psychological feelings may undergo some subtle changes that will be for the better. Some kind of spiritual feelings may provide a new sense of wellbeing.

SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 23-Dec. 21) -- Use a discussion with friends as a means to figure out what another may have been thinking. It’ll be a big eye-opener that’ll serve you well.

CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19) -- Find a middle ground when it comes to financial dealings with friends who won’t be either selfish or overly generous. You will be judged by your display of common sense.

AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 19) -The best way to influence people: Don’t tell them what to do or how to do it but set an example you would like them to follow.

Everyone wants to be liked and will copy your lead.

10

Life & Arts

Monday, Feb. 23, 2009

The 81st Annual Academy Awards Fashion hits and misses The Best

The Worst

OSIZIMETE AKEN’OVA/THE DAILY

DUSTY SOMERS/THE DAILY

Kate Winslet

Beyoncé Knowles

Winslet always looks good, but this year she looked exceptional in her dress. I don’t know what the exact color it is, but it definitely deserved a double-take. Winslet has the perfect body for this dress and I bet she can wear anything with enough confidence to make it look good.

Honorable Mentions

Nobody would put a ring on that, based on this black and gold travesty worn by Beyoncé. If the living-room-couch-inspired pattern wasn’t bad enough, the flared mermaid-like hem lands her a guaranteed spot at the top of the worst-dressed list of the night. Yikes!

(Dis)honorable Mentions

AP Photos

Taraji P. Henson

Amy Adams

Goldie Hawn

Vanessa Hudgens

Honestly, she didn’t have a chance winning the best supporting actress, but she won my vote for one of the best-looking.

Everything about her ensemble was amazing. The jewelry and beautiful wrapping of the dress she wore, made her a stand out among the stunning celebrities.

Amy Adams is one of the most beautiful actresses, and Sunday night truly captured her beauty. Her red dress flowed majestically and her jewelry complemeted the outfit well. She radiates beauty and I think she looks great in this red, strapless dress.

We all know Goldie’s seen better days, but somebody needed to tell her she was not rocking the beige frock — of which she was severely in danger of falling out. We can tell those breasts (along with everything above them) have seen their share of scalpels – we didn’t need that up close and personal of a look, thank you very much.

The erstwhile “High School Musical” star and tabloid sensation, Vanessa Hudgens, wore a bouquet of black and white flowers on her chest, making her look appropriately juvenile. It’s not like she can really sing or act. Why shouldn’t she add worst-dressed to that list of non-achievements?

NEED MORE L&A?

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