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CAMPUS BRIEFS Debate team takes nationals For the second time in three years, the OU debate team won the Cross Examination Debate Association’s national championship Tuesday at Idaho State University.

The team won in the final round against defending champion Towsend University, said team member Ben Dabiri, history senior.

The team will travel to Austin, Texas, today to compete at the National Debate Tournament.

RJ Giglio, petroleum engineering sophomore, and Nick Watts, history junior, competed in Idaho and will compete in the tournament in Austin.

— JARED RADER/THE DAILY

WHAT’S INSIDE

»

Imagine a house unique enough to attract visitors from the White House and be named a national treasure. You can find one closer than you may think. Page 2.

One OU professor has performed research for the State Department in various war-torn countries. Read her story on page 3.

LIFE & ARTS What is going on in Norman? Check out the Weekend Update on page 10.

Not fluent in Internet lingo? Check out page 11 to learn a new language.

SPORTS The men’s basketball team will face off against Syracuse Friday night in Memphis, Tenn. for a shot at the Elite Eight. To get to know the Sooners’ opponent, see page 7.

The softball team improved its all-time record against North Texas to 16-0 Wednesday afternoon as it defeated the Mean Green, 8-1 in Norman. Page 8.

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TODAY’S INDEX Campus Notes 13 Classifieds 12 12 Crossword Horoscope 13 L&A 10, 11

News 3, 5, 6, 13 Opinion 4 Police Reports 13 Sports 7, 8, 9 Sudoku 12

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Homeless children unseen victims of recession • Report ranks Oklahoma among the worst in child homelessness LEIGHANNE MANWARREN The Oklahoma Daily The nearly 6,000 homeless children in Oklahoma puts the state among the worst in the nation, according to a recent report.

The National Center on Family Homelessness recently ranked Oklahoma at 47th for child homelessness and 31st in its current state policies to combat the rising homeless subgroup — homeless families and children.

According to the center’s 2009 report, “America’s Youngest Outcasts: State Report Card on Child Homelessness,” there

OKLAHOMA BY THE NUMBERS OF 50 STATES: Rank based on average of reading and math proficiencies (elementary and high school): 1st Extent of child homelessness based on number of homeless children: 17th Rank based on composite health score (including general health, asthma, dental health and emotional disturbance): 13th

are an estimated 5,592 homeless children in Oklahoma.

But the state isn’t alone in its child homelessness problem. According to the report, one in 50 American children is homeless. Oklahoma is one of 24 states to have received an “inadequate” grade from the center, based on state efforts to decrease the number of children on the streets.

Connecticut is the top-ranked state overall, while Texas was ranked last.

Rank based on food security: 43rd Risk for child homelessness rank: 47th State policy and planning: Inadequate Oklahoma’s verall ranking: 31st Source: National Center on Family Homelessness

Homeless families and children are a growing problem in Oklahoma, but most are unaware of it because people don’t typically see homeless families on the streets, said Ellen Bassuk, president of the National Center on Family Homelessness.

“When we think of homelessness, we think of the ste-

HOMELESS Continues on page 2

For the love of the game • Sophomore sees future as a baseball trainer RENEÉ SELANDERS The Oklahoma Daily The bench might not be the most desired spot for a member of the baseball team, but the dugout is one of Pamela Carroll’s favorite spots.

In her third semester as a student athletic trainer, Carroll, pubic relations sophomore, spends approximately 40 hours a week working with the OU baseball team’s 35 players.

The hours are long, but it’s Carroll’s love of the sport, dedication to the players on the team and her goal of working for Major League Baseball that keeps her committed to her job, she said.

Her love for baseball started at a young age when she would watch her cousin’s games. She began her experience as a student athletic trainer for the football and baseball teams at Union High School in Tulsa.

“I’ve grown up with baseball,” she said. “When I started athletic training in high school, I asked for baseball and they put me on it, and I just loved it. I loved being in the dugout, I loved getting to know the guys on that level, and that’s really when I was like, ‘I want to work with the MLB, I don’t really care what I’m doing.’”

After taking a break from ath-

Elizabeth Nalewajk/The Daily

Student athletic trainer Pamela Carroll, public relations sophomore, tapes the right wrist of freshman outfielder Christopher Ellison, prior to the Sooners’ home game against the Houston Huskies on March 10. Carroll started working as an athletic trainer during her freshman year. letic training her first semester at OU, Carroll returned to athletic training in spring 2008 because she missed the experience. She spent that semester as an athletic trainer in OU’s general athletic training room, learning the basics

of general first aid, icing and wrapping injuries, and learning how to operate and administer electrical stimulation, a pain relieving treatment for athletes, she said.

Now the baseball team’s student athletic trainer, she works

under the guidance of certified athletic trainer Robert Fulton.

Carroll said she is back to working with the sport she loves.

Working as the team’s student trainer and being the only female in the dugout presents an interesting

dynamic, Carroll said. Helping the 40 players and coaches since last fall’s off-season, Carroll formed friendships with team members.

She said it’s as though she has

GAME Continues on page 2

White House aims to improve college graduation rates • Stimulus money includes $2.5 billion for education WILL HOLLAND The Oklahoma Daily EDITORS NOTE: The Daily’s Will Holland participated in a conference call with Secretary of Education Arne Duncan to discuss President Barack Obama’s vision for the future of education in the United States.

Secretary of Education Arne Duncan urged state and local education officials to be creative and use the money they

receive from the federal stimulus package wisely while discussing President Barack Obama’s goals for preschool to college education.

The federal administration’s budget focuses on improving education at three levels, Duncan said during a conference call Wednesday.

“This budget addresses our three major buckets of work: early childhood, K to 12, and then the huge emphasis on really transforming access and opportunity to [the] higher education side,” he said.

Duncan said the administration is placing an emphasis on higher education to create more opportunities for those who might not be able to afford it.

“The idea of dramatically, dramatically increasing access and opportunity to

college, millions more students literally receiving billions of additional dollars is huge,” he said. “And as you guys so well know, at a time when going to college has never been more important, it’s also never been more expensive.”

The administration is also aiming to increase the percentage of students who participate in graduate college because more participants would improve the nation’s workforce, Duncan said.

The federal package includes $2.5 billion to help states work with their local colleges and universities to improve graduation percentages, he said. The $2.5 billion will be dispersed over five years, the first being distributed early next week.

The administration will see how school districts use the first round of funds to

determine which districts will get additional funding, Duncan said.

“And states that are simply investing the status quo will put themselves at a tremendous competitive disadvantage for getting those additional funds,” he said.

Duncan said he would like to see local officials use the money in the best and most creative ways possible.

“We’re going to do everything we can to make sure every single dollar is spent wisely,” he said. “This is tax payers’ dollars.”

OU faculty members are already thinking of ways to use the stimulus money the school receives. Members of the College of Engineering have made proposals to

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Thursday, March 26, 2009

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Bavinger House re-opens to public

Continued from page 1

added 40 brothers to her family.

“At first, everyone’s really timid around me,” she said. “They kind of watch what they say, they watch what they do, but now it’s gotten to the point where it doesn’t even matter, they’ll say whatever’s on their mind. It’s like I’m one of the guys now.”

Fulton said Carroll’s positive attitude is what makes her interaction with the players work so well.

“It really brings the best out in our guys,” Fulton said. “When you’re around 40 guys and 40 guys get together, it gets a little crazy at times, so I think Pam can settle them down a little bit just by her presence.”

OU pitcher Stephen Porlier, multidisciplinary senior, said Carroll’s optimism, dedication and willingness to help the team during therapy and to help recovering players with rehabilitation is what makes her not only an asset to the team,

Homeless Continued from page 1

reotype — an individual living on the streets, under a bridge,” Bassuk said. “People do not know that there is an invisible subgroup to the homeless population, the families with small children.”

But the causes of homelessness tend to differ for families, the fastest-growing demographic in central Oklahoma’s homeless population, said Dan Straughan, executive director of Homeless Alliance, an Oklahoma City non-profit group whose goal is to end long-term homelessness.

“In individual circumstances, roughly 48 percent of homeless people are because of mental disability, illegal drug abuse or both,” he said. “However, with families, the root cause tends to be economic hardships.”

But one of the reasons people might not notice homeless children in the state is because of their attempts to fit in with classmates, said Debra Krittenbrink, executive director of Bridges, a Norman nonprofit group that aims to help high school students find housing or pay for school.

“A lot of times, we get most of our students because their school counselors noticed they are washing themselves at school, or they confide in them that something is wrong,” she said. “Most of the time,

• Historic home considered architectural landmark HANNAH RIEGER The Oklahoma Daily Elizabeth Nalewajk/The Daily

Student athletic trainer, Pamela Carroll, public relations sophomore helps catcher, Tyler Ogle, stretch before the Sooners took on the Houston Huskies, March 10. but a great trainer.

Porlier, who was recovering from a shoulder injury, said he was not able to travel with the team to away games. He said Carroll was always available to help recovering players with therapy when the rest of the team was gone.

“She ranks up there as one of

the top trainers of my five-year career, because I’ve been at Tulane University and I’ve been at Oklahoma, and I feel like I’ve seen it all,” Porlier said. “Definitely over everyone, over all the trainers that I’ve had, she’d be the one that I’d want in our dugout.”

these students are too proud to ask for help, and because they are able to look like everyone else, they become invisible.”

Fewer homeless students will remain invisible this year, though.

More students have filed housing requests this year than ever before, possibly because of the recession, Krittenbrink said.

“Before most of the cause was due to meth. Now the root problem has changed,” Krittenbrink said.

“More families are starting to send their students to us for help.”

Krittenbrink said homeless high school students don’t resemble the stereotypical homeless adult.

“A lot of times, people think of homeless students as directionless, but really they want fit in and be successful and are very motivated to do so,” she said. “With help, they can achieve a lot, and they have a maturity there from what they have been through that others don’t have.”

In the report, the center suggested solutions like a long-term, statewide plan to end homelessness and a state government agency on the issue.

But Straughan said Oklahoma established a statewide plan to end homelessness, after Gov. Brad Henry created the Interagency Council on Homelessness in conjunction with the national agency in 2007.

The state’s numbers may be escalating because of Oklahoma’s own economic demographics.

“I believe the big reason why we have such a hard time dealing with homelessness is because we are a state with poor people,” Straughan said. “With so many people in poverty, there are no long-term fixes.”

Bassuk said that while there is no hard data from the past six months, the center has received numerous reports from schools around the country detailing how the population of homeless children is rising.

“Historically, in times of recession, homelessness increases,” she said. “With the huge economic downturn now, this is a very scary situation for a lot of people.”

Bassuk said she hopes the public will become more aware of the issue after media on Tuesday asked President Barack Obama what should be done in response to the report.

“At least, it is now being talked about and people are acknowledging that it is a problem,” she said.

OUR COMMITMENT TO ACCURACY The Daily has a long-standing commitment to serve readers by providing accurate coverage and analysis. Errors are corrected as they are identified.

Readers should bring errors to the attention of the editorial board for further investigation.

ERROR SUBMISSIONS

A world-renowned architectural landmark crafted by an OU art professor in the red dirt and prairie grass is getting new life and public attention.

The Bavinger House in east Norman, a unique structure of glass, stone and 200 tons of ironstone, was designed by Bruce Goff and built by Eugene Bavinger in the early 1950s. It has attracted architecture enthusiasts and designers from across the country.

The house is constructed in a spiraling floor plan with unconventional features like circular rooms, an indoor stream that once housed live fish, and a bridge connecting outdoors. Stairs and living areas are suspended from a single column running through the middle of the structure and an art studio on the fourth floor.

The house has won many architecture awards, including top honors from the American Institute of Architects, and is listed in the Oklahoma Historical Society.

Goff directed the school of architecture from 1947-1955. Eugene Bavinger, who died in 1997, joined the art school faculty in 1947, where he taught painting, drawing and design for the next 33 years, son Bob Bavinger said.

“Some architects feel it is the birthplace of sustainability,” Bavinger said. “The fact that it combines nature and incredible architecture really makes it unique.”

The house, which was home to Nancy and Eugene Bavinger for 48 years, has been vacant for almost a decade and is in need of renovations, Bavinger said. The family opened the home to annual tours

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

Liz Brooks/The Daily

The Bavinger House, located in east Norman, is the last standing Bruce Goff house that remains unchanged. Eugene Bavinger, former OU school of art faculty, and his family lived in the house for 48 years. in the 1960s and 1970s.

Growing up in such a wellknown house, Bavinger met an array of people, including members of former President Jimmy Carter’s administration and author Albert Albee.

Now, Bavinger is preparing another generation to take over.

He and his son are renovating the house, hoping to again open it to the public. Their plans include expanding the parking lot and cleaning up the landscape.

“We just want to open the house up for tourism and education, to fulfill the wish of Nancy and Gene,” Bavinger said.

The house is one of only a handful of places in Oklahoma on the national register of Historic Places, said Susan Atkinson, City of Norman historic preservation planner.

“Some people consider it a national treasure,” Bavinger said.

“We just try to keep the house true to its architecture.”

cles.

Duncan also discussed the importance of improving education at the kindergarten-through-12th grade levels by rewarding teacher excellence, including incentives for good teachers who choose to teach difficult subjects in tough

locations.

“What the president so clearly understands is absolute link between dramatically improving the quality of education and ultimately strengthening our economy,“ he said.

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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

Thursday, March 26, 2009

3

Gaylord professor collects research, memories • Instructor volunteers time, travels around the world RICKY MARANON The Oklahoma Daily

Amy Frost/The Daily

Maureen Taylor, communications professor, looks over an international newspaper in her office Wednesday. Taylor has spent time traveling around the world, including trips to Bosnia and Darfur.

If you’re looking for a true story of travel, intrigue and war, just find Maureen Taylor.

Taylor has studied in some of the most war-torn regions of the world, like Darfur and Bosnia. She came to OU in 2007 after accepting an endowed chairmanship at the Gaylord College of Journalism and Mass Communication.

Her international research trips are more than just data collection. Her work helps organizations and governments make sure their international humanitarian aid is actually working. “I try to help them use social science methods to show people what they have accomplished,� she said.

Taylor first volunteered to do international research for the federal government in 1997. “It was a good situation for me,� she said. “The organizations that hire

She recalls her international colme get the reports they want, and in return, I get to keep the data I collect, leagues and local guide wanting which is good for my career, as well.� to treat her to a special meal on Thanksgiving. With only two restauThe journey begins rants in town, and one being open but Taylor went to Bosnia shortly after out of food, the guide led the group to the end of the Yugoslav civil war in the local market. “I would say my favorite exotic 1995 and taught for a semester at the University of Sarajevo as a Fulbright food I’ve eaten is locusts,� she said.

Taylor said the locusts, cooked scholar. “I was there after the war when with their eyes, wings and legs still everything was getting in step again, attached, were sun dried and then and that had an impact on me,� she fried in oil and salt. “I’ll never forget going to a meeting said.

Taylor would spend weekends with with U.N. ambassadors with a wing the U.S. ambassador, shoveling dirt stuck in my back teeth,� she said.

She said she now takes tuna fish and sand off houses that were shelled and peanut butter with her on internaduring the war. “The fact that I was able to help one tional research trips. “Darfur is staying with me because family come back home was [heart warming] to me because as you dug it is the hardest place I’ve ever had to through the sand and dirt, you would go,� she said. “I always thought that I was adventurous, but Darfur taught find a teacup or toy,� Taylor said.

A lingering aspect of her time in me that there really are places that Bosnia is the memory of land mines, really are dangerous.� which were hidden throughout the Her discussion of Darfur was darkarea. She said she still finds it hard ened by grief as she received word to convince herself to walk on grass Wednesday that a colleague was shot whether in Bosnia, France or even on and killed there. campus.

ernment agency of 3,000 bureaucrats become more organized and set up a communication campaign to help the public know what they are doing,� she said.

Taylor will continue to work on that project in upcoming months. “My experiences are not horrible, but when you do crisis research management, you have to be flexible,� she said.

Taylor said her field is like a window and a mirror because she gets to see other cultures, and after viewing those cultures she is able to reflect and examine American values and methods. Taylor says she is motivated to continue her work overseas and at OU because Moving on Thanksgiving in Africa of her desire to see her colleagues Taylor recently returned from and students excel.

In fall 2007, Taylor was a part of “I feel I’m a better teacher, a group funded by the University of a spring break trip to the Middle East. researcher and American because I Pennsylvania to study displaced peo“I went to Jordan to help a gov- go overseas,� she said. ple in Darfur.

REGENTS APPROVE CART FUNDING The OU Board of Regents approved Wednesday the purchase of ďŹ ve new CART buses fueled by compressed natural gas and the appointment of Richard Taylor as Dean to the Weitzenhoer Family College of Fine Art, said Catherine Bishop, vice president of public aairs.

The Parking and Transportation Services for the Norman Campus requested the replacement of three diesel-fueled buses and the addition of two new buses to accommodate an increasing number of riders, according to the Regents’ agenda.

Taylor has been an interim director of the College of Fine Arts since June 2008. As Dean, Taylor’s plans to increase scholarship funding, create new programs and work vwith Oklahoma’s public schools to promote art education throughout the state, according to the agenda.

The Regents also approved the revised design plans and the $8.5 million budget for the Schusterman Center Library and Learning Center project in Tulsa, Bishop said.

The design and budget were readdressed due to an increase in cost estimates, according to the Regent’s agenda.

The revised facility will include group study rooms, reading areas and an information gallery.

OU President David Boren announced a $5 million gift for the OU School of Social Work, Bishop said. The gift came from the Anne and Henry Zarrow Foundation of Tulsa as a way to celebrate Henry Zarrow’s 93rd birthday. The gift will go toward constructing a new building for the School of Social Work. – LAUREN STALFORD/THE DAILY

James Cornwell/ The Daily

Cart buses pick up students south of Adams Hall on the South Oval. During Wednesday’s meeting in Oklahoma City, regents approved CART upgrades.

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Opinion

Thursday, March 26, 2009

OUR VIEW

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

STAFF CARTOON

Ian Jehn - civil engineering junior

Coffee too close to corrupt company It’s not exactly uncommon for government pay state taxes.)

He’s in good company. Fellow Republican and officials to act as if they’re above the law.

Eliot Spitzer, Rod Blagojevich and Richard former House Speaker Lance Cargill stepped down last year after not paying taxes.

Nixon are a few who come to mind.

The tax issue isn’t Coffee’s only Holding themselves to different standards than those they imposed on the OUR VIEW eyebrow-raising incident. This session, Coffee has skirted open meeting rules public didn’t work out well for those is an editorial selected and debated and held a meeting to pass a bill immepoliticians. by the editorial board diately after it was voted down in the It seems Oklahoma Senate President and written after a Senate. Under Senate rules, a measure Pro Tempore Glen Coffee is flirting majority opinion is formed and approved that is voted down cannot be revisited with putting himself in that not-so-disby the editor. Our View for at least two years. tinguished company. And if his careless is The Daily’s official Coffee is lucky. In a climate in which actions continue, things might not work opinion. two of President Barack Obama’s out well for him, either.

Cabinet choices were scuttled because Coffee failed to pay his income tax from 2006 until a lien was placed on him of tax problems, he should be thankful he still in November. Lawmakers wanted his job, but holds his powerful position.

He has another chance to get his act together, Coffee, who paid the debt in full in December, apologized to his caucus to hold on to his posi- and if other Oklahoma politicians don’t want tion. (Ironically, Coffee voted in 2003 for a bill to end up in the company of Spitzer, Nixon and that would remove state employees who didn’t Blagojevich, they should follow suit.

STAFF COLUMN

Put away hypocritical torches and pitchforks In more optimistic times, one might have hoped the outrage displayed by Congress and some members of the general population over the American International Group (AIG) scandal marks a turning point.

Sadly, this is not the case.

The latest overreaction by the Democratcontrolled Congress amounts to nothing more than a populist backlash with the overall intent to increase the JOE size and scope of the federal government.

HUNT Unless your spring break itinerary included a week-long stay on some deserted island, you have heard all about the recent bailout scandal, in which governmentcontrolled AIG paid out $165 million in bonuses to some of its employees. The reaction in the halls of Congress – shrill hypocrisy disguised as legitimate moral outrage – is absolutely disgusting.

The $165 million total sounds like a lot of money – and it certainly is to folks like you and me. However, considering AIG

has received in excess of $182 billion in bailout funding, $165 million doesn’t even register. It represents barely nine tenthousandths of a percent – a miniscule amount – and that just takes into consideration the money given to AIG. Listening to the hoodwinks in Congress, especially House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., you would think our representatives actually have some semblance of fiscal responsibility, but this is sadly not the case.

In one of her hastily assembled press conferences, Pelosi said, “We want our money back, and we want our money back now for the taxpayers. It isn’t that complicated.”

I couldn’t agree with Speaker Pelosi more – I do want my money back, but why stop at the $165 million in bonuses?

Why are Americans only outraged at AIG for fulfilling contractual obligations to the tune of $165 million? As a taxpayer and a laissez-faire capitalist, I want the $173 billion back that AIG received in bailout money.

I don’t want to stop there, either. I want back the $700 billion in TARP funds that the Bush administration wasted, as well as the $787 billion the Obama administra-

tion recently shoved through Congress with nary a debate in sight.

President Barack Obama expressed “outrage” over the AIG incident, calling their actions “reckless and greedy.” What about the actions of the federal government? This entire bailout debacle is nothing but reckless.

I’m outraged at the fact that the Federal Reserve recently announced plans to purchase $1 trillion of toxic securities and other assets. I want all the money back that our federal government has fleeced from its citizens.

I want us to return the borrowed money to the countries of origin. I want the federal government to stop printing money around the clock to pay for its promises.

Are Americans so blind now that they think Congress actually cares? The answer is an unequivocal yes, because anyone who freaks out over $165 million, when Congress has recently expanded our national debt in excess of $11 trillion, needs a serious head examination.

The populist pitchfork approach doesn’t end with mere incredulity, either.

Our exalted leaders in the House of Representatives hastily passed a bill by

a vote of 328-93 that would tax recipients of the AIG bonuses at a 90 percent rate.

The Constitution doesn’t apply to Obama or this Congress. The same critics who hammered away at President George Bush for the last eight years for ignoring the Constitution are now eerily silent when this administration and its Congressional lackeys ignore it, too.

Article 1 Section 9 of the U.S. Constitution prohibits the federal government from enacting laws ex post facto, retroactive legislation.

The law simply states Congress cannot pass legislation that retroactively changes the legal status of an action that occurred before the law was enacted. In this case, an argument can be made that the AIG tax bill violates the ex post facto clause of the Constitution.

Congressional leaders don’t care about bills of attainder in the Constitution, either.

The U.S. Supreme Court ruled in Cummings v. Missouri (1866), “any legislative act which inflicts punishment without judicial trial and includes any legislative act which takes away the life, liberty or property of a particular named or easily ascertainable person or group

Obama’s faith not genuine Christianity

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In response to M.J. Casiano’s Wednesday column about the lack of upsets in the NCAA tournament So what’s your point? Are you saying this tournament sucks because there are no underdogs? Or are you just trying (somehow) to make the fairly obvious point that power conference schools field better basketball teams than mid-majors?

I don’t get it.

This thing is wide open. But you’d rather have Dayton, Portland State and Cal Northridge in the Sweet 16 with all of us knowing that their run is about to end? No thanks. Lots of people are saying how boring this tourney is. I think it could be one of the best ever.

- POSTED BY ROYCE AT OUDAILY.COM

Royce, it seems pretty obvious to me that he likes the way the tournament panned out.

Although, I do wish we could be watching Stephen Curry again.

- POSTED BY LAUREN50 AT OUDAILY.COM

Find more opinions and discussions, go online to the opinion desk blog: http://oudaily.com/weblogs/opinion-desk-blog/

Charles Collins is a mechanical engineering senior.

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

that Catholic hospitals will stop operating if this bill is passed and enforced.

Considering this represents more than one-eighth of the nation’s hospitals and healthcare facilities, this cannot be taken lightly. It is not hard to imagine some of the possible ramifications that this would have on an already faltering economy and health care system.

This bill is designed to create division in a country that Obama is supposed to unite with his ideals and hope.

It is hard to find hope, though, in a person who has promised to bring disunity to this country.

He was elected on promises that he would bring unity and peace. Instead, he wants to divide and alienate. Many people say Obama promotes peace and love.

Forcing people to commit sins, however, only promotes hate.

From Obama’s belief and how he wishes to act on it, it seems hard to believe that he is a truly devoted Christian.

In the Bible, the place to look for what actually constitutes being a Christian, it says a person following Christ will obey God’s commands.

This provides a different definition for sin than Obama’s. People should be more careful in who they label as a Christian.

O F

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T H E The Fine Print

God, thus declaring himself as his own god. That is a view that does not coincide with what Jesus taught.

For the moment, however, let us assume his definition of sin holds.

With this definition in mind, it is interesting that he will force others to commit sin.

An example of this is how he wants to pass the Freedom of Choice Act. Obama once claimed this would be one of the first pieces of legislation he would sign into law as president.

If allowed to pass, this act would do away with a clause that allows doctors and hospitals to abstain from performing abortions if it goes against their consciences.

It would also force taxpayers to pay for many abortions, whether they want to or not.

Many taxpayers, and doctors, consider an abortion to be hideous, legalized murder, yet Obama wants to require them to be a part of it.

Would a true follower of Jesus force doctors and others to act against their consciences, thus committing a horrible sin according to his definition?

Doctors will have a choice, though. They can give up their practice or choose to perform abortions. Many Catholic doctors and hospitals have already spoken about this issue.

It is a matter of enough importance

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T H E

Joe Hunt is a history and economics senior.

COMMENTS OF THE DAY

STAFF COLUMN

It has been said repeatedly in the media that President Barack Obama is a committed Christian, the type that actually lives out the teachings of Jesus as opposed to just claiming Christianity.

Last semester, OU professor Barbara Boyd mentioned people with this view in an opinion article. Ed Dobson, former pastor and vice president of spiritual formation at Cornerstone University in Grand Rapids, Mich., voiced the same opinion in an interview with ABC. Obama even refers to himself as such on his Web sites. This is hard to CHARLES believe, however, based COLLINS on his definition of sin and how he will force others to sin based on that definition.

In an interview in 2004, Obama defined sin as anything that goes against his values.

This seems contrary to any historical Christian definition of sin, which generally defines sin as going against the values of God. According to the historical teachings of Christianity, Obama is committing the same sin that Satan did by elevating his own values above those of God. This would place him on a status higher than

of persons because the legislature thinks them guilty of conduct which deserves punishment qualifies as a bill of attainder and is illegal.”

To detractors that say this legislation does not qualify as either ex post facto or a bill of attainder, the Supreme Court looks at the intent of Congress when the bill is passed. Anyone who watched C-SPAN or listened to Rep. Charles Rangel, D-NY, would conclude that the intent was to punish.

According to Rangel, “We figured that the local and state governments would take care of the other 10 percent. The American people demand protection and that’s what we’re doing today.”

Congress has blown this entire debacle completely out of proportion, while ignoring the fundamental failure – the bailouts themselves. It’s time for Congress to put away the hypocritical torches and pitchforks and quit meddling in the economy.

It’s time for the American people to hold their representatives accountable for destroying any semblance of freedom and liberty in America.

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

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

News

5

Thursday, March 26, 2009

Hopeful signs, but economy not out of woods • Five key areas show signs of life WASHINGTON — Glimmers of hope for the economy — better home sales and higher demand for goods, plus optimism from the White House and a nearly 20 percent rally in stocks — have some people wondering if the worst is over.

Not so fast, say many economists. Layoffs are still mounting and home prices are still falling in an economy shrinking at an alarming rate. A recovery anytime soon doesn’t seem likely.

“We may be seeing the end of the beginning of this recession, but it is not the beginning of the end of the downturn,” said David Wyss, chief economist at Standard & Poor’s in New York.

Still, the recent news has been better than expected. On Wednesday, the Commerce Department said demand for big-ticket manufactured goods, which had fallen for six months in a row, actually rose by 3.4 percent in February.

And reports this week have shown sales of both new and existing homes rising by about 5 percent last month.

On Wall Street, the landscape looks better. The Dow Jones industrials gained about 90 points on Wednesday to close a fraction of a point under 7,750 — an 18 percent rally from its low point on March 9.

And President Barack Obama struck a more hopeful tone during his televised news conference Tuesday night. “We’re beginning to see signs of progress,” Obama said, adding that Americans should have a “renewed confidence that a better day will come.”

“The good news is that we don’t have the sort of unrelentingly persistent declines we had been seeing,” said Nariman Behravesh, chief economist at IHS Global Insight, who thinks the economy “may be approaching a bottom.”

The GDP fell at an annual rate of 6.2 percent in the fourth quarter.

Behravesh expects an even more severe decline for this quarter, and even a slight positive by the end of this year.

For now, in five key areas of the economy, there are both signs of life

Daniel Aguilar, Pool/AP Photo

U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton, left, meets with Mexico’s Foreign Minister Patricia Espinosa Wednesday in Mexico City.

Hillary Clinton: US shares drug war blame • Drug demand fuels violence Elaine Thompson/AP Photo

Hannah Teng, who moved from China to Seattle three years ago, wheels a new bicycle she decided to purchase Tuesday through a Costco store in Shoreline, Wash. Orders to U.S. factories for big-ticket manufactured goods unexpectedly rose in February after a record six straight months of decline. and reasons to believe the worst is of unsold homes. The results from not yet over.

February were still the secondworst in records that have been Durable goods kept since 1963. (January was the The good news: Orders for man- worst.) Experts are waiting for ufactured products expected to last several months of increases before at last three years, or durable goods, declaring the worst is over. “For me rose last month for the first time to be encouraged, I’d have to see a since July. Economists were expect- trend,” said Barclays Capital analyst ing them to fall instead. And orders Michelle Meyer. for nondefense capital goods, a key indicator of business investment plans, surged 6.6 percent.

Reality check: Orders for durable goods are still below their levels of a year ago, and analysts believe they will remain low because of weak demand both here and overseas for cars and other big-ticket items.

New home sales The good news: Sales of new homes rose 4.7 percent in February from a month earlier. And the government revised January’s figures higher. It was the first monthly gain for new home sales since July — perhaps a sign that developers have slashed prices and construction so much that sales have finally hit bottom.

Reality check: Developers still face competition from foreclosures, and there’s still a mountain

Existing home sales The good news: Sales of previously occupied homes went up 5.1 percent in February from the month before. Buyers took advantage of a market that pushed the median price down 16 percent from a year earlier. Mortgage rates are historically low, and a new $8,000 tax credit for first-time home buyers also could further lift sales.

Reality check: It’s too early to proclaim a comeback for the beleaguered housing market. Sales of existing homes are still the lowest they’ve been in a more than a decade. Mounting layoffs are likely to keep many borrowers on the sidelines, and thousands of foreclosed properties have yet to go up for sale in an already glutted market. That’s likely to push prices down even more, analysts say.

Retail sales The good news: Shoppers bought a few more necessities in February, offering some hope for stores.

Retail sales only dipped 0.1 percent, and they actually rose in January.

J.C. Penney and Target both said their same-store sales were down, but not as sharply as expected. That could be a tentative sign that the downward spiral in sales is moderating.

Reality check: A lot of the retail industry’s better performance is because of sales gains at Wal-Mart, where shoppers have hunted for discounts in the recession. Take out Wal-Mart Stores Inc., and same-store sales across the industry were down 4.3 percent, according to statistics kept by the International Council of Shopping Centers. Economists worry that spending could deteriorate further as layoffs mount.

Wall Street The good news: The stock market has finally caught a break. Major banks such as Citigroup and Bank of America have said they were profitable in January and February, and Wall Street embraced the details of the Obama administration’s plan to relieve banks of toxic assets.

MEXICO CITY — U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton on Wednesday pledged to stand “shoulder to shoulder” with Mexico in its violent struggle against drug cartels, and acknowledged the U.S. shares blame because of its demand for drugs and supply of weapons.

She said the United States shares responsibility with Mexico for dealing with violence now spilling across the border and promised cooperation to improve security on both sides.

“The criminals and kingpins spreading violence are trying to corrode the foundations of law, order, friendship and trust between us that support our continent. They will fail,” she told Mexican Foreign Relations Secretary Patricia Espinosa. “We will stand shoulder to shoulder with you.”

On Tuesday, the Obama administration pledged to send more money, technology and manpower to secure the border in the U.S. Southwest and help Mexico battle the cartels. Clinton also said Wednesday that the White House will seek an additional $80 million to help Mexico buy Blackhawk helicopters.

All that is in addition to a three-year, $1.4 billion Bush administration-era program to support Mexico’s efforts. Congress already has approved $700 million. President Barack Obama has said he wants to revamp the initiative.

Obama said Tuesday he wanted the U.S. to do more to prevent guns and cash from illicit drug sales from flowing into Mexico. But Clinton’s remarks appeared more forceful in recognizing the U.S. share of the blame. In the past, particularly under the Bush administration, Mexican officials have complained that Washington failed to acknowledge the extent that the U.S. drug demand and weapons smuggling fuels the violence.

“I feel very strongly we have a co-responsibility,” Clinton told reporters, adding: “Our insatiable demand for illegal drugs fuels the drug trade. Our inability to prevent weapons from being illegally smuggled across the border to arm these criminals causes the deaths of police officers, soldiers and civilians.”

Criminals are outgunning law enforcement officials, she said, referring to guns and military-style equipment such as night-vision goggles and body armor that the cartels are smuggling from the U.S.

—AP

—AP

THIS WEEKEND AT YOUR UNIVERSITY T hursday, Mar. 26

Saturday, Mar. 28

Student Success Series: Get Ready to Enroll | 3:30 p.m. in Wagner Hall, Room 245. Presented

by University College.

OU Baseball vs. Nebraska | 2 p.m. at L. Dale Mitchell Park. Visit http://soonersports.com for ticket information.

Ecology and Evolutionary Biology Lecture Series, “Order in Chaos: Communication and Cooperation in Ant Societies” | 7:30 p.m. in the Sam Noble Oklahoma Museum of Natural History. Ants are a remarkably successful because sister ants cooperate to perform feats impossible for individuals. The challenge has been to unlock the key to an ant colony’s gift for mass communication. Lecture presented by Bert Hölldobler, Foundation Professor, Arizona State University.

India Nite Live ’09 | 6-9 p.m. in the Donald W. Reynolds Performing Arts Center, Holmberg Hall. Presented by the Oklahoma Undergraduate India Society.

Friday., Mar. 27 Family Night Out: Wild in the Garden | 6-8:30 p.m. at the Sam Noble Oklahoma Museum of Natural History. Enjoy a fun night out with the family at the museum. Don’t worry about dinner and entertainment - it’s all here! We’ll introduce a topic, enjoy pizza and drinks for dinner, and complete a project to take home. These programs are a part of the museum’s “Becoming an Eco-Family” series, where families can learn more about Oklahoma’s diverse natural areas and find new ways to enjoy them together. Cost: $10 per person members, $12 per person non-members (Cost includes one craft project per person and dinner).

Edward S. Curtis in Oklahoma: Curatorial Perspectives | 6 p.m. in the Mary Eddy and Fred Jones Auditorium, Fred Jones Jr. Museum of Art. Exhibit curator Byron Price and Eugene B. Adkins curator Mark White will share insights into photographer Edward S. Curtis’ 1926 fieldwork in Oklahoma.

OU Women’s Tennis vs. Kansas | 6 p.m. at the tennis complex West of the Lloyd Noble Center. Visit http://soonersports.com for ticket information.

OU Men’s Tennis vs. Texas A&M | 6 p.m. at the tennis complex West of the Lloyd Noble Center. Visit http://soonersports.com for ticket information.

OU Baseball vs. Nebraska | 6:30 p.m. at L. Dale Mitchell Park. Visit http://soonersports.com for ticket information.

Comedy Fight Night | 7 p.m. in Meacham Auditorium, Oklahoma Memorial Union. Come watch OU students fight it out to see who is the funniest on campus. Presented by the Union Programming Board, www.ou.edu/upb.

Masala Concert Series: Valerie Naranjo, World Percussion | 8 p.m. in the Paul F. Sharp Concert Hall, Catlett Music Center. Adult admission $8, student, faculty/staff and senior admission $5. Please call F.A.C.T.S. Fine Arts Tickets Service at (405) 325-4101 for more information.

Gathering Fragments: Edward S. Curtis in Oklahoma | In summer 1926, toward the end of a long and distinguished career, photographer Edward S. Curtis and an assistant traveled to Oklahoma to conduct fieldwork for Curtis’ multivolume masterwork, The North American Indian. Curtis included more than 100 images of Oklahoma tribes in a subsequent volume and portfolio published in 1930. These fragmentary and often romantic images are the focus of this exhibition. Exhibit will be on display at the Fred Jones Jr. Museum of art through May 17, 2009.

Touch the Sky: Prairie Photographs by Jim Brandenburg | Photography exhibit on display at the Sam Noble Oklahoma Museum of Natural History through April 12, 2009. This exhibit features the breathtaking prairie photographs of National Geographic photographer Jim Brandenburg. The photos capture the beauty and drama of the prairie ecosystem - its landscape, plants, animals and weather.

Sunday, Mar. 29 OU Women’s Tennis vs. Kansas State | 1 p.m. at the tennis complex West of the Lloyd Noble Center. Visit http://soonersports.com for ticket information.

OU Men’s Tennis vs. Texas | 1 p.m. at the tennis complex West of the Lloyd Noble Center. Visit http://soonersports.com for ticket information.

OU Baseball vs. Nebraska | 1 p.m. at L. Dale Mitchell Park. Visit http://soonersports.com for ticket information.

Fred Jones Jr. Museum of Art Family Day | 1-4 p.m. in the Dee Dee and Jon. R. Stuart Classroom, Fred Jones Jr. Museum of Art. Explore American art in the museum’s permanent collection and temporary exhibitions, then enjoy a variety of art activities for the entire family.

Admission to the museum is free on Family Days.

Sutton Concert Series: University Chorale | 3 p.m. in the Paul F. Sharp Concert Hall, Catlett Music Center. Adult admission $8, student, faculty/staff and senior admission $5. Please call F.A.C.T.S. Fine Arts Tickets Service at (405) 325-4101 for more information.

This University in compliance with all applicable federal and state laws and regulations does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, age, religion, disability, political beliefs, or status as a veteran in any of its policies, practices or procedures. This includes but is not limited to admissions, employment, financial aid and educational services. For accommodations on the basis of disability, please contact the sponsoring department of any program or event.

6

Thursday, March 26, 2009

News

Fear keeps the peace in Baghdad • Violence has decreased, but few returning home

AOIFE WHITE Associated Press

HAMZA HENDAWI Associated Press BAGHDAD — The streets are calmer now. The fighting between Shiites and Sunnis has largely ceased. But this is not a sign of normalcy in the Iraqi capital. It’s fear that keeps the peace.

Only an estimated 16 percent of the mainly Sunni families forced by Shiite militiamen and death squads to flee their homes have dared to return.

It takes two sides to have a fight, and there’s really only one side left in Baghdad after violence and fear turned parts of neighborhoods into ghost towns.

Families that have gone back are sometimes met with spray-painted threats and other forms of intimidation. “Back after a break, the Mahdi Army,” is a Shiite militia’s slogan — playing off the same words that Iraqi television uses as a lead-in to commercials.

The findings — based on statistics obtained by The Associated Press from U.S. and Iraqi officials as well as AP interviews in key Baghdad neighborhoods in recent weeks — are acknowledged by U.S. military commanders on the ground. And they point to a troubling prospect.

Baghdad has been much calmer since the massacres reached their peak in late 2006 and the first half of 2007. And a U.S. military spokesman said Wednesday that attacks nationwide had fallen to their lowest level since the first months of the war.

In the capital, however, the calm has been achieved in part because the city is now ethnically divided. Shiites predominate. Sunnis have largely fled.

The situation is somewhat similar to Bosnia after the war of the 1990s — years of calm but no lasting political reconciliation after its populations divided into different regions and governments.

“Baghdad has been turned from a mixed city, about half of its population Shiite and the other half Sunni in 2003, into a Shiite city where the Sunni population may be as little as 10 to 15 percent,” said Juan Cole, a prominent U.S. expert on Iraq.

Stimulus called ‘the road to hell’

Dusan Vranic/AP

Iraqi children sit outside their home Wednesday in the Hurriyah neighborhood in Baghdad, Iraq. Eighteen months after the tide turned in Baghdad, only a small number of Iraqis who had been displaced by sectarian violence are coming back to their homes.

No accurate census has been taken since the bloodletting. But Cole’s estimates, backed up by AP observations and U.S. statistics, hold troubling implications for the future should Sunnis come back in greater numbers.

A Sunni government employee, Mohammed Abdul-Razzaq, fled his home in the Jihad neighborhood of west Baghdad for majority Sunni Amiriyah after Shiite militiamen threatened to kill him. Iraqi police last year forced out the squatters who had moved into his house, but he has no plans to return.

“Security is still fragile,” AbdulRazzaq said. “I was forced to flee once, and it can happen again. Next time they may kill me.”

Most startlingly, the ethnic divides remain even though the Iraqi and U.S. militaries have driven Shiite militiamen and death squads off the streets.

That suggests Sunnis still do not trust Iraq’s government to protect them in the long run. Their mistrust could hold the seeds of future bouts of violence, especially as the U.S. military begins to draw down this year.

“The potential for renewed sectarian violence is definitely there,” said Capt. Nathan Williams, the U.S. military commander at Hurriyah, a

northern Baghdad district that saw the worst sectarian bloodletting. “We believe if it restarts in Hurriyah, it will spread to the rest of the city.”

Even more remote is the hope of restoring Baghdad’s traditional character as a city where people can live together — though not always in harmony — regardless of faith or ethnicity.

Baghdad’s sectarian violence began as early as 2003 but picked up dramatically after suspected Sunni militants blew up a revered Shiite shrine north of the city in 2006. At its peak, dozens of bodies, some decapitated or with execution-style gun wounds, turned up at outlying areas of the city or in the Tigris each day.

Shiite militiamen who led the attacks against the Sunnis are largely thought to have won the sectarian conflict in the capital. The Sunnis, who are generally better off economically than the Shiites, largely fled to Jordan or Syria.

That has given Baghdad a distinctly Shiite character, which becomes obvious during the sect’s religious holidays when traditional Shiite banners are hoisted over most of the city.

In Hurriyah, the signs of sectarian division are still stark.

Attacks on Iraqi and U.S. forces have been rare since they rid the neighborhood of Shiite militiamen and death squads and Sunni militants.

But most of the 18 Sunni mosques remain shut or in ruins. Some are now used as sleeping quarters for Iraqi troops, with attached rooms turned into offices.

A recent prayer held in a Sunni mosque to mark a major religious occasion attracted a meager 48 worshippers, according to Iraqi army Maj. Imad Rassoul.

In a hopeful sign, some of the returning Sunnis in Hurriyah and elsewhere in Baghdad say longtime Shiite neighbors extended a warm welcome.

“They said they could not do anything to help us when the Mahdi Army came to force us out,” said Bassem Mahmoud, a 35-year-old father of two, speaking outside his Hurriyah home with his mother next to him. “They said they feared for their lives if they tried to help us.”

Omar al-Jibouri, a taxi driver and father of three, said his Shiite neighbors in the Dora district of western Baghdad helped repair his damaged home when he returned a month ago.

“For a whole week after our return,” he said, “they kept giving us food.”

BRUSSELS — The head of the European Union slammed President Barack Obama’s plan to spend nearly $2 trillion to push the U.S. economy out of recession as “the road to hell” that EU governments must avoid.

The blunt comments by Czech Prime Minister Mirek Topolanek to the European Parliament on Wednesday highlighted simmering European differences with Washington ahead of a key summit next week on fixing the world economy.

It was the strongest pushback yet from a European leader as the 27-nation bloc bristles from U.S. criticism that it is not spending enough to stimulate demand.

Shocked by the outburst, other European politicians went into damage control mode, with some reproaching the Czech leader for his language and others reaffirming their good diplomatic ties with the United States. The leaders of EU’s major nations — France, Britain and Germany, among others — largely ignored Topolanek and his remarks.

Obama pays his first official visit to Europe next week, aiming to thrash out reforms to the global financial system with the Group of 20 nations and call on NATO allies to commit more troops to the U.S. war in Afghanistan.

Europeans leaders hope the new U.S. administration will agree with them on tightening oversight over the global financial system — which they see as crucial to fixing the global economy.

Instead, the United States is focusing its efforts on economic stimulus and plans to spend heavily to try and lift itself out of recession with a $787 billion plan of tax rebates, health and welfare benefits, as well as extra energy and infrastructure spending.

To encourage banks to lend again, the U.S. government will also pump $1 trillion into the financial system by buying up treasury bonds and mortgage securities in an effort to clear some of the “toxic assets” — devalued and untradeable assets — from banks’ balance sheets.

Obama insisted Tuesday that his massive budget proposal will put the ailing U.S. economy back on its feet. “This budget is inseparable from this recovery,” he said, “because it is what lays the foundation for a secure and lasting prosperity.”

But Topolanek took aim at Washington’s deficit spending.

“All of these steps, these combinations and permanency is the road to hell,” Topolanek said. “We need to read the history books and the lessons of history and the biggest success of the (EU) is the refusal to go this way.”

“Americans will need liquidity to finance all their measures and they will balance this with the sale of their bonds but this will undermine the liquidity of the global financial market,” Topolanek said.

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

STAFF COLUMN

Sooners need national title before window of opportunity closes ver the last few years, the major sports teams at OU have given fans almost everything they could ask for.

Star players, a multitude of victories and awards, prestige, bragging rights — you name it.

But what’s missing from that list?

That elusive national championship.

The football team gave fans a 12-win season, an all-time great offense, a Big 12 title, and a Heisman Trophy . . . but no national championship.

The women’s basketball team has given us one of the greatest women’s basketball players in history, an untouchable double-double streak, and high NCAA Tournament seeds . . . but no national championship.

The men’s basketball team has re-emerged into the national spotlight for the first time in years. They have given us McDonald’s AllAmericans, a national player of the year candiAARON date, and a Sweet 16 berth in this year’s NCAA COLEN Tournament . . . but the team has never in its history delivered a national championship.

Although the football team must wait until next year to go after the prize, both basketball teams are in the midst of runs at the titles that have been so painfully and noticeably absent.

Realistically, this may be the best chance for years to come for both squads. The Paris twins are seniors, and their absence will no doubt be felt next season. Sophomore forward Blake Griffin has been touted as a near-lock to be the first overall pick in this year’s NBA draft, which means it is very possible that this will be his last collegiate season.

It would be a terrible shame if this great era in OU sports came and went with none of these teams reaching the ultimate goal.

All of the teams mentioned above have accomplished great things, and I acknowledge how hard it is to win a national championship. But when a team is as good as OU’s football and basketball teams are, anything less than No. 1 is a disappointment.

It isn’t good enough for the football team to just make it to a BCS bowl. It isn’t good enough for the women’s basketball team to advance to the Sweet 16. And this year it won’t be good enough for the men’s basketball team to just go a few rounds deep in the tournament.

The bar has been set very high, and hopefully, at least one of these teams will reach it before the window of opportunity closes.

O

AARON COLEN IS A JOURNALISM JUNIOR.

Sports

Thursday, March 26, 2009

7

Men’s Basketball

An introduction to the Orange he Sooners will have their hands full Friday in Memphis as they go up against the third-seeded Syracuse Orange. A six-overtime win against Connecticut in the Big East tournament, and the fact that head

T

coach Jim Boeheim is shooting for his 800th career win, means the Orange will have more than enough fuel to succeed Friday night. Here are a few nuggets to help you get to know OU’s Sweet 16 opponent better.

Lynne Sladky/AP Photo

Syracuse’s Jonny Flynn yells during the last minutes of the Orange’s game against Arizona State during the second-round men’s NCAA college basketball tournament game in Miami Sunday.

ARE YOU GRADUATING? Do you have your Commencement rain location tickets?

In the event of inclement weather, Commencement will be held at the Lloyd Noble Center.

Graduates and guests must have a Commencement rain location ticket in hand for admittance.

Please visit ou.edu/Commencement for complete Commencement rain plan information.

• In 2002, when OU head coach Jeff Capel took his first head coaching position at Virginia Commonwealth, he wanted to know more about the 2-3 zone. His crutch for learning was “Jim Boeheim’s Complete Guide to the 2-3 Zone Defense,” a video blueprint outlining the historic coach’s success with the defensive scheme.

If there is anyone in the country who knows how to attack a 2-3 zone, it’s Boeheim, and Friday night the two coaches will go headto-head, shot-for-shot and foul-for-foul in a battle for a spot in the Elite Eight.

• A two seed against a three seed poses one of the most even match-ups in the tournament so far. Syracuse and OU DANIEL have almost identical team statistics when it comes to MARTIN free throw percentage, shot percentage, three-point percentage, rebounds per game, steals per game and blocks per game. If there is anything to be learned from the stat books, it is that Friday night’s game is going to be a dogfight.

• The Sooners’ strong points are the Orange’s weak points, however. Sophomore forward Blake Griffin averages a team-high 22.5 points per game and an NCAA-high 14.4 rebounds per game. Griffin’s numbers are equal to the Orange’s starting front court combined.

Syracuse junior center Arinze Onuaku and junior forward Paul Harris combine to average 21 points and 10 rebounds per game.

• The back court is where the Sooners are going to likely experience most of their trouble.

Syracuse guards, sophomore Jonny Flynn and junior Eric Devendorf, combine to average 33 points and 10 assist per game, while OU starting guards, freshman Willie Warren and senior Austin Johnson, combine for 25 points and six assists per game.

• Syracuse has won five of their last six games and comes into the Sweet 16 with quite a bit of tournament experience, something OU hasn’t had in a while. However, OU has a healthy Griffin and full head of steam of its own.

• Boeheim said if Griffin hadn’t gotten hurt, he thought OU would have won the Big 12 tournament and been a No. 1 seed.

“They have a deep team and great coach,” Boeheim said. “They have the best player in college basketball and it is going to make for one heck of game.”

DANIEL MARTIN IS A JOURNALISM JUNIOR.

NEED MORE HOURS? HOW ABOUT SOME FUN? 5 DAYS IN CLASS, 3 HOURS CREDIT

May 2009 Intersession Environments in Fiction (Univ4000/Grad 5003) Class meets May 18-22, 2009

Neuromarketing, Coercive Advertising, and Autonomy (Univ4000/Grad 5003) Class meets May 18-22, 2009

The deadline to pick up your Commencement rain location tickets is

Wednesday, April 1 Tickets are available for pick-up 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Monday through Friday at the Graduation Office Lissa and Cy Wagner Hall, Suite 203. ou.edu/Commencement

Congratulations Class of 2009 The University of Oklahoma is an equal opportunity institution.

Fall 2009 Islam & the West After 9/11 (Univ4000/Grad5003) October 7-11, 2009

The Hacker Ethic (Univ4000/Grad5003) November 4-8, 2009 Special permission & application required 3 hours upper division/graduate credit For additional information: www.oslep.org 325-4309.

8

Sports

Thursday, March 26, 2009

Softball

Sooners take down Mean Green, 8-1 AARON COLEN The Oklahoma Daily

PLAYER OF THE GAME In just her second start since an injury sidelined her on Feb. 22, senior pitcher D.J. Mathis led the Sooners to victory on Wednesday.

Mathis pitched fourand-one-third innings, giving up one hit, one earned run, and striking out nine batters.

D.J. MATHIS

Baseball moves start time for Friday game Elizabeth Nalewajk/The Daily

Senior pitcher D.J. Mathis (11) strikes out North Texas catcher Caitlin Grimes (33) during Wednesday’s game. The Sooners defeated the Mean Green 8-1, and extended their all-time winning streak over the Mean Green to 16 games. Mathis pitched four-and-one third innings for the Sooners, struck out nine batters and got the win. home run by second baseman Lisa Johnson in the second inning. That home run would be the only hit allowed by the Sooners in the game.

Things got worse for the Mean Green in the third inning when Flores scored on an error by North Texas shortstop Sarah Jones.

The Mean Green continued to selfdestruct in the fourth inning, as the Sooners scored three runs on two errors

by Jones and a walk. Jones was pulled from the game after her third error.

OU’s last four runs of the game were all unearned.

Flores believes that the team’s offense is on an upswing right now.

“I think we’re really starting to climb,” Flores said. “Hopefully we can peak at the right time. I’m excited.”

Senior pitcher D.J. Mathis started for the Sooners, pitching four-and-one-

third innings and giving up one hit, one inning of the game by striking out two earned run, and striking out nine batters. more batters.

“What I take the most from the game She got credit for the win and improved today is our pitchto 8-2 this season. ing,” Gasso said.

The game was “It was really kind just Mathis’ secof fun to see the ond since sitting amount of strikeout for nearly a outs we had.” month with arm OU is now soreness.

27-8 on the year “We really and has won five wanted to get straight as they D.J. back on the get back to Big mound, to get 12 play in Austin, her feeling back,” this weekGasso said.

Junior short stop Amber Flores Texas end for a twoFreshman game series pitcher Kirsten against the Texas Allen relieved Mathis for one-and-two-thirds innings Longhorns.

The first game in the series is at 1 p.m. and had three strikeouts before freshman pitcher Allee Allen finished the last on Saturday.

BE A PART OF OU HISTORY.

(AND SHOW THEM THAT YOU MADE IT.)

100

TH

SOONER yearbook

Legendre named Gymnast of the Week Sophomore gymnast Steven Legendre was named the Mountain Pacific Sports Federation Gymnast of the Week Tuesday.

The honor is Legendre’s third of the year and fifth of his career.

This past week, during the Sooners’ meet against Penn State on Saturday, Legendre won the floor exercise with a 16.000, the vault with a 16.400, parallel bars with a 15.100 and the all-around title by scoring a 92.250.

Legendre’s performance helped the Sooners soar past the Nittany Lions, 366.850 - 356.300.

The Sooners’ score was an NCAA scoring record.

The meet was the Sooners’ final regular-season meet, and they finished 12-0.

They will be in action next at the 2009 MPSF Championships April 5 in Palo Alto, Calif.

• OU extends winning streak over North Texas to 16 The No. 8 softball team closed out its four-game home stand with a decisive 8-1 victory over the North Texas Mean Green Wednesday evening at the OU Softball Complex.

The Sooners’ offense kept up its recent scoring tear, however, in this game the team got some help from the Mean Green defense, which committed three errors in the game.

“I felt like we were women out there today,” head coach Patty Gasso said. “I really felt our good dominance.”

OU got the scoring started quickly with two two-run home runs in the bottom of the first inning, one by the Big 12 player of the week, junior shortstop Amber Flores and the other by junior catcher Lindsey Vandever.

North Texas starting pitcher Jennifer Smith gave up all four runs and only recorded one out before she was pulled from the game.

“Amber, [Samantha] Ricketts and Vandever are all doing their job in the lineup,” Gasso said.

North Texas responded with a solo

SPORTS BRIEFS

SCHEDULE YOUR

LAST FREE SENIOR CHANCE! PORTRAIT

Call (405) 325-3668 Final round begins April 6 Sooner yearbook is a publication of OU Student Media in the division of Student Affairs.

The University of Oklahoma is an equal opportunity institution.

“I think we’re really starting to climb.

Hopefully we can peak at the right time. I’m excited.”

The Sooners’ series opener against Nebraska Friday night is now scheduled for 3 p.m. at L. Dale Mitchell Park.

The series will continue at 2 p.m. Saturday and 1 p.m.

Sunday.

Tickets are available at the gate, or by getting in contact with the OU Athletics Ticket Office online or at (800) 456-GoOU. — DAILY STAFF

LIVE CHAT

Log on to OUDaily.com Friday night to chat with The Oklahoma Daily’s sports staff during the men’s basketball’s Sweet 16 game against Syracuse.

Sports

Thursday, March 26, 2009

9

Men’s Basketball

Sooners head to Memphis for Sweet 16 • Sooner fans flock to Lloyd Noble to see the basketball team off PHOTOS BY LILLY CHAPA The Oklahoma Daily

Left: Sophomore forward Blake Griffin, freshman guard Willie Warren, and junior guard Tony Crocker greet the crowd as they board the bus to Memphis.

The men’s basketball team is playing No. 3 seed Syracuse in the Memphis regional semifinals.

Bottom left: Betty Cummins of Chickasha (left) and Tyler Deluca (right) cheer as men’s basketball players load the bus. Cummins said she attends every football, basketball and softball game, and that she has been a Sooner fan since the ‘40s.

Bottom right: Norman resident Irene Cook holds a sign for the men’s basketball team before the Sooners departed for Memphis. Cook said she graduated from OU in 1950 and faithfully watches every basketball game.

Celebrating

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10

Life & Arts

Thursday, March 26, 2009

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

WEEKEND UPDATE Looking for something to do this weekend? Here is a preview of some cool events happening around the state. From comedy competitions to concerts, we’ve got your weekend covered.

The ‘Norman Music Festival Promo Show,’ featuring The Workweek and Citizen 5, starts at 9 p.m. at Coach’s Brewery.

Tickets are $5.

Surfs up! The Beach Boys will perform at 7 p.m. Thursday at Osage Million Dollar Elm Casino in Tulsa. Tickets are $45.

Free popcorn will be served at 11:30 a.m. in the first floor lobby of Meacham Auditorium.

Comedy Fight Night, a student comedy competition, will begin at 7 p.m. in Meacham Auditorium.

Come see OU students battle to see who is the funniest!

All of the excitement of March Madness is coming to the Ford Center in Oklahoma City when the Big 12 Conference plays host to the NCAA Division I Women’s Basketball Regional on March 29 and March 31, 2009.

The No. 1 seed Oklahoma Sooners face the No. 4 seed Pittsburgh Panthers 9 p.m. Sunday.

Armed man arrested at ‘DWTS’ studio LOS ANGELES — A restraining order has been issued against a man authorities say tried to break onto the set of “Dancing With the Stars” to meet Shawn Johnson.

Court records show an order was issued against Robert O’Ryan, who was arrested by Los Angeles police on Tuesday. According to documents that accompanied the restraining order application, O’Ryan was stopped by security at CBS Studios, where “Dancing With the Stars” is produced, after he jumped on a fence on Monday afternoon.

Police later searched his car and found two guns and duct tape, according to the documents.

A police spokeswoman said she did not have any more details about the arrest.

Johnson, 17, is a gold medalist in gymnastics, and one of the celebrity contestants on ABC’s “Dancing With the Stars.”

She is “in fear of her life,” her parent’s attorney wrote in a restraining order application.

Her parents requested and were granted the restraining order on Wednesday. A hearing on whether to grant a lengthy restraining order will be held on April 14.

–AP

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Motion City Soundtrack with This Providence, The Nightlife and Hush Hush Commotion play at 7 p.m. at The Marquee in Tulsa. Tikcets are $16.

Life & Arts

11

Speak ‘L33T’ Thursday, March 26, 2009

HOW 2

Ever wonder what the internet jargon your roommate uses when he’s playing Counter Strike means? It’s called ‘leet’ and The Daily’s Life & Arts editor Luke Atkinson has the definitions for you, so you’ll be pwning noobs in no time.

ROFL [raw - full] -v. origin: rolling on the floor laughing • Form of describing how humorous a situation is. When in moments of extreme laughter, a ROFLCOPTER (see photo) often appears in the chatlog.

“I ROFL’d hard at the snow angel video.”

Pwn [pn] -v. other variations: pwned, pwnage, pwnsauce; origin: Own • 1. The act of dominating an opponent. 2. In ‘Warcraft’ games, a map designer misspelled the word ‘owned’ and ‘pwn’ swept the internet gaming world.

“You got beat so bad, you got pwned!”

Noob [nüb] -n. also spelled: newb, nub, n00b; origin: Newbie • Noobs are new to the gaming world and show lesser skill during gameplay.

“If you are reading this, you are a noob.”

FAIL [fl] -v.

origin: greek phelos • When someone performs an action of stupidity, those who witness the action yell , “FAIL!” The term is used to demean the person who committed the failure. see photo.

QQ [cyü - cyü] -v. other variations: TT • 1. Complaining about getting ‘pwned’ will cause others to become upset with your whining. 2. Using the letters ‘QQ,’ to represent crying eyes, can express sympathy, sarcasm or frustration with complaints.

“Texas didn’t go to the national championship game. QQ”

Nerf [nurf ] -v. origin: “World of Warcraft” • In “World of Warcraft,” developers would release updates to specific skills controlled by character class. When those skills were demoted or decreased, they were being ‘nerfed.’

“Organic chemistry got nerfed so all the noobs could pass.”

FTW [for-the-win] -prep. phrase antonymn: FTL (for-the-loss) • When declaring a victorious action, gamers describe the effort by ending the sentence with ‘for the win.’

“Sam Bradford FTW!” or “Colt McCoy FTL.”

Hax [hăcks] -n.

Leet [lēt] -n.

also spelled: H4X, haxxor; origin: Hacks, Hackers • When a player does something game-defying, he must be cheating by hacking.

“Why didn’t Adrian Peterson ever win a Heisman? Hax.”

also spelled: l33t, 1337; origin: Elite • When a player reaches the highest skill level, they can be refered to as ‘elite’.

“He beat the boss on his own? He’s leet.”

L&A BRIEFS Author Chuck Klosterman to visit OU Pop-culture journalist and author Chuck Klosterman will visit the Gaylord College of Journalism and Mass Communication on April 14 and 15, according to a university press release.

Klosterman, who is best known for his 2003 pop culture essay collection, “Sex, Drugs and Cocoa Puffs,” will speak on April 14 about his writing experiences for magazines such as “GQ,” “Spin” and “ESPN,” and his personal thoughts on pop culture.

The Gaylord Ambassadors, the student representatives of the Gaylord College, chose to bring Klosterman to campus because he has experience in multiple areas of media, according to Chris Borthick, student and

Ambassador advisor.

“The ambassadors feel that he is a good representation of journalism; [Klosterman] does a little bit of everything -- he does blogging, he does novels, he does magazine articles. He’s pretty varied,” Borthick said.

Klosterman, a University of North Dakota graduate, has written 4 other books in addition to “Sex, Drugs and Cocoa Puffs” and is the Picador Guest Professor for Literature at the University of Leipzig’s Institute for American Studies in Leipzig, Germany.

–ADAM KOHUT/THE DAILY

NOTICE OF PUBLIC ACCESS During the Regular Meeting Of

The University of Oklahoma

PUBLICATIONS BOARD 2:00-3:00 p.m. FRIDAY Copeland Hall, Room 146 Students, staff, faculty and others in the community are invited to express their views concerning The Oklahoma Daily or Sooner yearbook to the Publications Board.

12

Thursday, March 26, 2009

PLACE AN AD Phone 405.325.2521

E-Mail classifieds@ou.edu

Classifieds Announcements

HELP WANTED

SPECIAL NOTICES Hookah Bar! Grand Re-opening at 117 N Crawford Live Belly Dancer every Saturday!

Next Door to Opolis 321-0826

Office Copeland Hall 149A

Mail The Oklahoma Daily 860 Van Vleet Oval, 149A Norman OK 73019-2052

DEADLINES Line Ad. . . . . . . . . . . . . 9 a.m.

Place your classified line ad by 9 a.m., Monday-Friday to run in the next issue.

Display Ad. . . . .3 days prior Classified Display or Classified Card Ad are due 3 days prior to publication date.

PAYMENT s r

r

Auto Insurance Foreign Students Welcomed Jim Holmes Insurance, 321-4664

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

C Transportation AUTO INSURANCE Quotations Anytime

Employment

Payment is required at the time the ad is placed. Visa, MasterCard, Discover and American Express; cash, money orders or local checks accepted.

Credit Accounts Businesses may be eligible for credit in a limited, local billing area. Please inquire with Business Office at 405.325.2521.

RATES Line Ads Rates are determined by the price per line, per day. There is a two line minimum charge; approximately 40 characters per line, including spaces and punctuation.

1 day ............. $4.25/line 2 days ........... $2.50/line 3-4 days........ $2.00/line 5-9 days........ $1.50/line 10-14 days.... $1.15/line 15-19 days.... $1.00/line 20-29 days.... $ .90/line 30+ days ..... $ .85/line

Now hiring lifeguard, swim instructors, and AM pool managers. Apply at the Cleveland County Family YMCA, 1350 Lexington Ave. EOE.

HELP WANTED

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

$5,000-$45,000

MERCURY POST & PARCEL needs p/t customer assistant. Apply at 121 24th Ave NW.

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 CAYMAN’S seeks part time Sales Associates.

Must be motivated, fashion-driven, self-starter with excellent customer service skills. Some Saturdays and holidays required. Apply in person 2001 West Main.

TM

Payment

Deputy Marshal (Part-Time) Municipal Court Graduation from college and currently attending law school. Valid OK Driver’s License and satisfactory motor vehicle record. Knowledge of courtroom proceedings and practices. $8.00 per hour. Work Period: 15 hrs a week maximum. Approx. 10 hrs in the courtroom on Tue, Wed, and Thu afternoons and 5 hours serving processes.

Selected applicants must pass a background investigation and drug screen. Application Deadline: Open Recruitment. Obtain application at: 201-C West Gray, Human Resources Dept., City of Norman, (405) 366-5482.

Web: NormanOK.gov EOE/AA

Fax 405.325.7517

Employment

Here is your chance!

Blu Fine Wine and Food is now accepting applications for waitstaff and experienced cooks.

Must be 21. Apply in person between 2-4 pm M-F, at 201 S Crawford. 360-4258.

STUDENTPAYOUTS.COM Paid survey takers needed in Norman 100% FREE to join. Click on Surveys.

Rusty’s Frozen Custard Now Hiring for Summer 09 Competitive pay and flexible hours Apply at 24th & Main or 12th & Alameda

oudaily.com

$99 1st MONTH/$99 DEPOSIT* Immediate Move-Ins Only Prices Reduced / 2 beds Available!

Pets Welcome! Large Floor Plans!

Models open 8a-8p Everyday!

Elite Properties 360-6624 or www.elite2900.com

CONDOS

TOWNHOUSES UNFURNISHED

Edge Condo, 4 bd/ 4 bath, $126,900 - 1st time homebuyers: $8000 tax rebate Call Carol Lindley 401-0246 - Dillard Group

Taylor Ridge Townhomes 2 Bdrm, 2.5 Bath, Fully Renovated Townhomes near OU! Pets Welcome! • Call for current rates and Move-in Specials!!!

Taylor Ridge Townhomes (405) 310-6599

oudaily.com

Summer Rent Slashed in 1/2!

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

HOUSES UNFURNISHED 211 W Symmes, 4 bd, 2 bth, CH/A, wd, dw, $1500/mo, security dep, no pets, 719-748-5141

3 bdrm, 2 bath, 1 mile east of campus!New carpet and paint, fridge, w/d included. Pets okay, $825/mo. Call 637-7427.

4 bed/3 bath/2 car garage + study in Norman. All bills paid. Available NOW. $1600/month, $1200 deposit. Call 366-0074.

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 $750-$1500 2 Bdrm $600-$800 1 Bdrm $420-$460 MISTER ROBERT FURNITURE 9-4 pm, Mon-Sat, 321-1818 Clean 3 bdrm, 1 bath near campus, big yard, fireplace, basement, $800/mo. 447-8313.

805C Cardinal Creek Condo’s, 2 bdrm, 2 bth gated community, pool, weight room, on-site washer/dryer, close to campus, nice enviroment to study, overlooks OU golf course $585/mo. Call (580) 763-4278

4

4 1 9

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1 9

3

3 7 5

7 9 2 2

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Previous Solution 1 5 2 9 4 8 6 7 3

8 4 6 5 7 3 1 2 9

7 9 3 2 6 1 4 5 8

2 3 1 8 9 6 7 4 5

6 7 4 1 3 5 9 8 2

5 8 9 7 2 4 3 6 1

4 6 8 3 1 2 5 9 7

9 1 5 4 8 7 2 3 6

3 2 7 6 5 9 8 1 4

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.

Universal Crossword Edited by Timothy E. Parker March 26, 2009

ACROSS 1 Kelpies herd them 6 Suffix with “soft,” “hard” or “share” 10 Area map 14 Co-creator of “The Flintstones” 15 Cheese type 16 City on seven hills 17 Yale of Yale University 18 Aggressive witticism 19 Athena’s breastplate 20 Traveler’s accommodations, sometimes 23 USO user 24 Smaller than small 25 One-time protest site 31 Brothers of soul 32 Islandhopper’s stop 33 Pub feature 36 Absolute must 37 Mushroom stem 38 Thorn in the flesh 39 Leave the straight and narrow 40 “I ___ Song Comin’ On” 41 Bridge directions 42 Fancy dining wear

Classified Card Ads are $170 per column inch with a minimum of 2 column inchs and run 20 consecutive issues. Ad copy may change every five issues.

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

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.

Housing Sales

CONDOS UNFURNISHED

Classified Card Ads

POLICY

J

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.

Rates are $16.00 per column inch, per day with a minimum of 2 column inches.

(located just below the puzzle)

NEAR OU, privacy, $250, bills paid includes cable, neat, clean, parking. Prefer male student.

Call 329-0143.

FOR RENT

P/L Now for Summer & Fall! $99 Deposit! No Application Fee! Models open 8a-8p Everyday!

7 Locations to Choose from!

Elite Properties 360-6624 or www.elite2900.com

Classified Display Ads

1 col (1.833 in) x 2.25 inches Crossword .....$515/month

ROOMS FURNISHED

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.

BILL’S RESTAURANT

THE MONT Now accepting applications for the following positions: SERVERS-must be available for day shifts beginning at 10:30 am, experience preferred HOSTESS must be available nights and weekends. Apply in person M-F, 2pm to 4pm, 1300 Classen

HOUSES UNFURNISHED

915 W Lindsey, NEAR OU, 1/2 bd, 1 ba, NO PETS, $500 per mo.

1104 Grover Ln, NEAR OU, 2 bd, car garage, CHA, W/D, stove, refrigerator, microwave, compactor, NO PETS, $800 per mo.

Contact: 329-1933 or 550-7069

817 Birch - Short walk to campus! 3bd/2ba 2 car garage. Remodeled kitchen & master bath. W/D & lawn service included. $1200 mo. Call Steve Gray 214-455-4508.

Now hiring part time servers. Apply in person.

1101 Elm St. 364-2530.

J Housing Rentals

$400, bills paid, efficiency LOFT apartments, downtown over Mister Robert Furniture, 109 E Main, fire sprinkler, no pets, smoke-free. Inquire store office.

Wanted Fabricator welder, pay nego by exp. Must pass alcohol & drug test. Only serious applicants need apply. 573-2920 or 820-2866.

GREAT STUDENT JOB Part time leasing agent, M-F Rotating Sats. Pay based on experience.

Must be friendly & detail oriented.

Apply at 2900 Chautauqua Or call 360-6624 for more info.

J Housing Rentals

322 S Lahoma, 2/3 bdrms, 1 bth, CH/A, w/d, dw, no pets, $700/mo + security dep. 719-748-5141.

Edge 2 bdrm/2 bath condo, w&d - built 2007. $850, available May 15. 214-616-8398 (khwang@yahoo.com)

SeekingSitters is open in the Moore/Norman area, and is looking for qualified, reliable sitters to work flexible hours. FT, days, nights, and weekends available. If you are interested apply at seekingsitters.com.

Applicant must be at least 16 years of age and have cash handling experience. $6.55 per hour.

Work period: No fixed schedule. Must be able to work evenings, weekends, and holidays. Application Deadline: Open Recruitment. Obtain application at: 201-C West Gray, Human Resources Dept., City of Norman (405) 366-5482, Web: NormanOK.gov EOE/AA

APTS. FURNISHED

Traditions Spirits is seeking a motivated, energetic, and personable Bar Supervisor for Riverwind Casino. The ideal candidate must: have at least 1 year experience in high volume club, hotel, or resort; be skilled in staff management; be knowledgeable of wine and spirits, and have open availability. Apply in person at 2813 SE 44th, Norman or email resume to michelle.snider@traditionsspirits.com 405-392-4550

Eskimo Sno NOW HIRING for ALL locations Fun & Energetic people for Spring/Summer Full/Part Time. Must be able to work weekends and have reliable transportation.

Summer Bonuses available. Call 321-SNOW or come by Eastside store @ 867 12th Ave NE

Tennis Shop Attendant (Part-Time) Westwood Park Tennis Center

J Housing Rentals

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

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.

1-800-638-8255

True Sooners Don’t Haze.

44 Just say yes 47 Ancient flood insurance 48 Objects of some raids 55 Alka-Seltzer sound 56 “Waiting for the Robert ___” 57 Dazzling effect 58 Roll-call yell 59 Reporter’s quest 60 Fuel-yielding rock 61 Word of hearty concurrence 62 Till section 63 Creedal statement DOWN 1 “The Purple People Eater” singer Wooley 2 Sound and healthy 3 “Idylls of the King” character 4 Like some digital pictures 5 Corpulent 6 Friday on TV 7 Jewish calendar month 8 Like the spotted owl 9 Fortify, as a town 10 Fancy 11 Boston’s airport 12 Astray

13 Quick to be ticked 21 Happy associate 22 Stem-tostern part 25 Salesman’s stock 26 ___-friendly 27 Cub or Met, for short 28 Granolalike 29 Being of service 30 Like some stock 33 Tedious undertaking 34 Kick in to a pot 35 Royal pain 37 Feeling 38 It could cause one to lay down on the job 40 Huckleberry or Mickey 41 Heartfelt 42 Intensify

43 Book after Heb. 44 Omega’s antithesis 45 City of witch hunts 46 Part of some chains 49 Open delight 50 Chopped 51 Role for Nastassja 52 Family group 53 Crinkly cabbage 54 Leave in

PREVIOUS PUZZLE ANSWER

© 2009 Universal Press Syndicate www.upuzzles.com

“EAT AROUND THE CLOCK” by Alice Walker

Report Hazing.

325-5000 All calls are anonymous.

The University of Oklahoma is an Equal Opportunity Institution.

Previous Answers

Details

Saudis awaiting change from religious police

STATE BRIEFS

Democrats demand Coffee’s tax records

OKLAHOMA CITY — Democrats in the Oklahoma Senate on Wednesday demanded that Republican Senate President Pro Tem Glenn Coffee make public his income tax returns and other documents concerning a federal tax lien filed against Coffee by the Internal Revenue Service last year.

The lien sought $28,822 in federal taxes owed for almost two years.

In a letter to Coffee, Democratic Caucus Chairman Kenneth Corn of Poteau said Democrats believe releasing the information would confirm Coffee’s explanation of the lien and its payment and “is essential to restoring public trust in your leadership and the Oklahoma State Senate as a whole.”

Corn’s letter said that “while some of the requested documents may not be considered public records, we believe the extraordinary nature of this matter more than justifies the public’s right to know.

“By releasing supporting documents to the Senate members, news media and the public, you can clear the air and remove any concern or even the appearance of any impropriety,” it said.

Oklahoma expects to lose lottery sales OKLAHOMA CITY — Oklahoma lottery officials say they will lose sales when the border state of Arkansas implements its new lottery.

Arkansas Gov. Mike Beebe signed legislation on Wednesday to create a lottery as Arkansas joined 42 other states and the District of Columbia, where such games are legal.

Jim Scroggins, the director of the Oklahoma Lottery, was reported to be out of town and unavailable for comment.

But Rolla Redburn, the director of administration for the lottery in Oklahoma, said he expects Arkansas will be trying to get its games up and running as soon as possible.

“We feel like the Arkansas lottery is going to cost us some sales,” Redburn said.

—AP

13

Thursday, March 26, 2009

• Human rights groups urge for better regulation

Hassan Ammar/AP Photo

Saudi women look at jewelry Saturday at a gold fair in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. A Saudi human rights group has criticized the kingdom’s religious police, saying its members sometimes commit acts that infringe on people’s rights. In the report issued Monday, the National Society for Human Rights calls for better defining of the powers of the Commission for the Promotion of Virtue and the Prevention of Vice, which runs the religious police.

CAMPUS NOTES

The College of Law will host a lecture about the world food crisis at 7 p.m. in the College of Law.

TODAY

FRIDAY

CAREER SERVICES Career Services will hold a presentation on finding scholarships at 1:30 p.m. in Oklahoma Memorial Union.

OKLAHOMA UNDERGRADUATE INDIA SOCIETY The Oklahoma Undergraduate India Society will host India Nite 2009 at 6 p.m. in Holmberg Hall.

AMERICAN INDIAN STUDENT ASSOCIATION The American Indian Student Association will hold a general meeting at 7 p.m. in Jim Thorpe Multicultural Center.

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

AGGRAVATED DRIVING UNDER THE INFLUENCE Rebecca Elaine McMichael, 44, 10808 E. Alameda Drive, Tuesday

PUBLIC INTOXICATION William Jay Trumbo, 44, 1430 24th Ave. SW, Tuesday

COLLEGE OF LAW

OKLAHOMA UNDERGRADUATE INDIA SOCIETY The Oklahoma Undergraduate India Society will host India Nite 2009 at 6 p.m. in Holmberg Hall.

UNION PROGRAMMING BOARD The Union Programming Board will host Comedy Fight Night at 7 p.m. in the union.

SCHOOL OF MUSIC The School of Music will present a Masala World Music Concert with Valerie Naranjo at 8 p.m. in Catlett Music Center.

Brompton Drive, Monday

COUNTY WARRANT Jonathon Ray Arnold, 33, 555 W. Main St., Tuesday Jeffrey Shawn Bixler, 27, 300 Hal Muldrow Drive, Tuesday Sandra Lee Brown, 50, 1200 Westlawn, Tuesday Tuhtaka Neshoba Wilson, 36, East Lindsey Street, Tuesday, also assault and battery; eluding a police officer

MUNICIPAL WARRANT Heather Annette Contreras, 25, 3212 Caddo Lane, Tuesday Brehan Alicia Hotopp, 26, 2803

PETTY LARCENY Blake M. Barnes, 18, 3499 W. Main St., Monday Preston Michael Volz, 18, 3499 W. Main St., Monday

RIYADH, Saudi Arabia — Visitors to a women’s job training center heard terrified screams — and rushed to see an agent of the religious police dragging a woman by her hair down the stairs of the building.

The woman had apparently run for shelter in the center after the religious police caught her alone in a car with a man she is not related to — a violation of Saudi Arabia’s strict gender segregation, one of the visitors, Nasreen Qattan, told the Associated Press.

Under that same segregation, the male agent should not have entered the all-women center — yet he still barged in and grabbed the woman.

The incident a week ago in the holy city of Mecca is the sort of heavy-handed behavior by the kingdom’s Islamic religious police that many Saudis hoped would end after King Abdullah in February appointed a new chief of the force, billed as a reformer.

But so far, there’s been little sign of change, and complaints against the religious police continue. On Monday, the Saudi National Society for Human Rights, an independent group, issued a report with stinging criticism of the force, accusing it of infringing on civil rights and calling for rules to regulate the religious police.

Currently the police, run by the Commission for the Promotion of Virtue and Prevention of Vice, has nearly free rein to enforce kingdom’s strict Wahhabi interpretation of Islamic law. The policemen patrol

public places to ensure women are covered and not wearing make up, the sexes don’t mingle, shops close five times a day for Muslim prayers and men go to the mosque and worship.

They have long been above criticism. Two years ago, members of the force were charged with causing the deaths of two men and were put on trial — the first ever such prosecution. But eventually Saudi courts dropped charges against the men.

Since then, Saudis have become increasingly vocal in their complaints. Many say they are not opposed to the commission itself but to what they see as the agents’ rough methods and their meddling in private lives, such as stopping people to check their cell phones for calls to women or scolding women whose abayas— the black cloaks all women have to wear in public — have embroidery.

The newly appointed commission head, Abdul-Aziz bin Humain, has promised a new tone. Last month, he said the commission will follow the principle of maintaining good faith in people, since “a person is innocent until proved guilty,” the Saudi Gazette newspaper reported.

But so far he has not announced any concrete steps to reform the force, and little change has been seen on the streets.

One Riyadh resident, Mohammed al-Kahtani, told AP he has filed a complaint against the commission after he was beaten up by religious police as he dropped off his wife at a mall a week ago. The agents accused him of being with a woman who was not his wife, dragged him into the street and hit him on the face and back, al-Kahtani said.

—AP

POSSESSION OF MARIJUANA Eric Richard Jazzar, 18, North Berry Road, Monday, also possession of drug paraphernalia Steven Wayne Tannehill, 19, 2272 W. Lindsey St., Tuesday, also interference with official process and municipal warrant

Universal Crossword Edited by Timothy E. Parker March 26, 2009

ACROSS 1 Kelpies herd them 6 Suffix with “soft,” “hard” or “share” 10 Area map 14 Co-creator of “The Flintstones” 15 Cheese type 16 City on seven hills 17 Yale of Yale University 18 Aggressive witticism 19 Athena’s breastplate 20 Traveler’s accommodations, sometimes 23 USO user 24 Smaller than small 25 One-time protest site 31 Brothers of soul 32 Islandhopper’s stop 33 Pub feature 36 Absolute must 37 Mushroom stem 38 Thorn in the flesh 39 Leave the straight and narrow 40 “I ___ Song Comin’ On” 41 Bridge directions 42 Fancy dining wear

44 Just say yes 47 Ancient flood insurance 48 Objects of some raids 55 Alka-Seltzer sound 56 “Waiting for the Robert ___” 57 Dazzling effect 58 Roll-call yell 59 Reporter’s quest 60 Fuel-yielding rock 61 Word of hearty concurrence 62 Till section 63 Creedal statement DOWN 1 “The Purple People Eater” singer Wooley 2 Sound and healthy 3 “Idylls of the King” character 4 Like some digital pictures 5 Corpulent 6 Friday on TV 7 Jewish calendar month 8 Like the spotted owl 9 Fortify, as a town 10 Fancy 11 Boston’s airport 12 Astray

13 Quick to be ticked 21 Happy associate 22 Stem-tostern part 25 Salesman’s stock 26 ___-friendly 27 Cub or Met, for short 28 Granolalike 29 Being of service 30 Like some stock 33 Tedious undertaking 34 Kick in to a pot 35 Royal pain 37 Feeling 38 It could cause one to lay down on the job 40 Huckleberry or Mickey 41 Heartfelt 42 Intensify

43 Book after Heb. 44 Omega’s antithesis 45 City of witch hunts 46 Part of some chains 49 Open delight 50 Chopped 51 Role for Nastassja 52 Family group 53 Crinkly cabbage 54 Leave in

PREVIOUS PUZZLE ANSWER

© 2009 Universal Press Syndicate www.upuzzles.com

“EAT AROUND THE CLOCK” by Alice Walker

14

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