THE UNIVERSITY OF OKLAHOMA’S I NDEPENDENT STUDENT VOICE
VOL. 94, NO. 83 FREE — Additional Copies 25¢
MONDAY, JAN. 26, 2009 © 2009 OU Publications Board
Debt demolishes OU’s ‘Best Value’ standing • OSU Cowboys jump Sooners in Kiplinger rankings SANDRA KUNZWEILER The Oklahoma Daily For the first time, Oklahoma State University surpassed OU in Kiplinger Magazine’s “100 Best Values in Public Colleges” for in-state tuition in 2009. OU dropped to 74 from its high point of 21 in 2003, while OSU jumped to 71 this year from its low point last year of 94.
Economics played the greatest factor in the shift, with the recession forcing many universities to cover budget deficits by raising tuition. “[The list] is very competitive. One number can throw everything off,” said Marc Wojno, senior editor of Kiplinger Magazine. “From a cost standpoint, OSU is more affordable than OU.” He said the biggest impact on OU’s rank came from the average debt rate for graduates, the fouryear graduation rate and the differences between in-state tuition at OSU and OU. “The economic crisis has affected everyone on the list. Costs have gone up everywhere,” he said. Kurt Davidson, undergraduate Student Congress chairman, blamed the state for OU’s budget shortfalls.
“It is difficult at this point with the economy to make OU education more affordable. State legislature is resistant to funding,” said Davidson, political science senior. “Unfortunately, if the state doesn’t help out, the burden is placed upon students.” He emphasized the list’s subjectivity. “The fact that OU was so highly ranked on Kiplinger’s list is a testament,” Davidson said. “However, I am a little suspect that OSU is ranked higher than us.” Kiplinger annually examines a list of more than 500 four-year-colleges and universities ranking schools based on cost, quality and financial aid measures. It factors in ACT/SAT scores, admission rates, student-faculty ratios, graduation rates and average student debt upon graduation.
BIG 12 SCHOOLS ON KIPLINGER LIST 19. The University of Texas 36. Texas A&M 57. Iowa State University 62. Missouri University 69. The University of Nebraska 71. Oklahoma State University 74. The University of Oklahoma
Construction junction A facelift is underway on the South Oval. Four buildings are undergoing renovation. Features will include new technology equipment and energyefficient windows, among others. Gould Hall, one of the four buildings under construction, will receive its first major renovation in half a century. OU is pooling more than $66.5 million to cover renovation costs. Renovations began in June 2007 and are scheduled to be completed by Spring 2011.
Construction began: October 2008 Expected completion: late spring/summer 2010 Cost: $9.5 million Renovations will include new duct work and air conditioning
and heating systems, a twostory addition including science and math conference rooms, restrooms, general purpose classrooms, conference rooms, a student professional services center and a curriculum library. The building will also have a bell tower on its east side.
LIFE & ARTS The Fred Jones Jr. Museum of Art unveiled its latest collection Friday. Page 9. The Daily’s Shayna Daitch stopped by the Henderson–Tolson Cultural Center to audition for “The Vagina Monologues.” Read her story on page 10.
ASHLEY BODY The Oklahoma Daily
Collings Hall
Source: Kiplinger Magazine
SPORTS The Red River Rivalry spilled onto the hardwood Sunday afternoon when Texas came to Norman to take on the women’s basketball team. See the results on page 5. From one rivalry to another, the men’s basketball team heads to Stillwater this evening to take on the Cowboys. But first, the men looked to stay perfect in conference play when No. 23 Baylor invaded Norman on Saturday. The Daily has all the coverage you need. Page 6.
Nielsen Hall Construction began: January 2008 Expected completion: summer 2009 Cost: $4 million Renovations will include energy-efficient windows, the restoration of the brick and stone work.
Clark McCaskill/The Daily
TODAY’S INDEX L&A 9,10 Campus Notes 6 Classifieds 8 8 Crossword Horoscope 9
Gaylord Hall Phase II Construction began: June 2007 Expected completion: Spring 2009 Cost: Nearly $20 million Renovations will include an auditorium, a studio, a computer lab, an advertising agency department, classrooms and offices
News 3 Opinion 4 Police Reports 6 Sports 5, 6,7 Sudoku 8
WEATHER FORECAST
TODAY LOW 24° HIGH 32°
70%
TUESDAY Gould Hall Construction began: June 2008
Photo by Zach Butler/The Daily (Gaylord, Collings, Nielsen) and Lilly Chapa/The Daily (Gould)
Expected completion: Spring 2011 Cost: $33 million Renovations will include design studios, classrooms, a presentation gallery, jury areas, a library, IT classrooms and support space, faculty center, conference rooms and faculty offices
LOW 21° HIGH 30°
40%
Source: Weather.com
Expect freezing rain and drizzle off and on today, in the morning and afternoon. This evening and into early Tuesday morning, most of central Oklahoma can expect to see freezing rain, with the possibility of some road problems. Source: National Weather Service