The Oklahoma Daily

THE UNIVERSITY OF OKLAHOMA’S I NDEPENDENT NDEPEND DENT ST TUDENT U D E NT VO OICE I CE

VOL. 94, NO. 97 FREE — Additional Copies 25¢

TUESDAY, FEB. 17, 2009 © 2009 OU Publications Board

Senate bills seek to improve protection for rape, abuse victims •Victims of sexual violence gain support, options with Senate Bills 894 and 932 LEIGHANNE MANWARREN The Oklahoma Daily Victims of sexual and domestic abuse could have more options for responding to attacks if the state Legislature passes two proposed Senate bills, but the bills have raised concern among local law enforcement officers.

State Senate President Pro Tem Glenn Coffee proposed Senate Bills 894 and 932 to address victims’ concerns.

Senate Bill 894 would allow rape victims to ask for a rape test without obligating medical officials to report the incident to law enforcement officers.

This would allow victims of sexual violence to seek help and pursue legal action a few days after the incident, when they are less stressed, Coffee said.

“In the past, legislators have carried out legislation that protects the rights of the criminal and right now, we are trying to benefit the victim,” he said.

Coffee said he believes victims are sometimes overlooked during the legislative process and hopes these bills will help during traumatic times.

Rape victims often do not seek medical attention because they are too traumatized to consult law enforcement, Coffee said.

“I can only imagine how very traumatic an experience it is, and to add the health inspection with the police questioning, I believe that would only add to the trauma,” he said.

“As the law is right now, when we question the victim, we will be there for support, give them their options to allow them to make an educated

decision,” said Jennifer Newell, community relations officer for the Norman Police Department.

When an attack is immediately reported, the police are able to start a preliminary investigation to collect evidence, but will drop the case if the victim does not press charges, she said.

Under current Oklahoma law, when a victim seeks medical attention, medical officials are required to report the abuse to local law enforcement. When officers question victims, they verify where the abuse happened and contact appropriate investigative departments. If an incident occurs on campus, the victim can also take administrative action against the accused, said Lt. Bruce Chan, OUPD public information officer.

Senate Bill 932 would allow victims to obtain a 180-day concealed handgun license under an emergency victim protective order.

The licenses would be given only once, and the license holders would be subject to background checks.

Applicants for the license would be required to

attend and pass a concealed carry safety class as quickly as possible, Coffee said. “[Senate Bill 932] does not change the procedures of obtaining a license but instead makes a more expedited route for victims against their attackers,” he said.

Coffee said there is little opposition to the bills, but they’ve caused some concern within Norman law enforcement agencies.

“I am concerned with the idea of handing the emotionally distraught a gun; something they may not use at a normal time,” Newell said.

She also said she is afraid some victims are too reactionary, and if given temporary licenses, might take justice into their own hands. “[Victims] need a lot of support at the time and [police] can give them some of that,” Newell said.

After numerous phone calls asking Chan to comment on the bills, Chan said he doesn’t feel comfortable commenting until he looks at them more thoroughly. He has yet to comment.

OU’s oldest professor to retire in May • Employee since 1956 touches lives of many SANDRA KUNZWEILER The Oklahoma Daily While the nation was busy swinging to Elvis Presley’s “Heartbreak Hotel” in 1956, an Oklahoma geologist was bringing new meaning to the history of rock.

For the last 53 years, Robert Fay has been conducting geological field studies at OU. At 82-years-old, he ranks as the longest full-time faculty member at OU and in the state of Oklahoma.

A passion for rocks Fay said his passion for geology began in elementary school, when he first encountered fossils and rocks at age 12. He said living in St. Louis made it easy to develop a love of geology because he could discover washed up fossils along the Mississippi River banks.

He expanded his knowledge by taking courses in geology at Beaumont High School in St. Louis and making exhibits for the Junior Academy of Sciences.

Fay was drafted in the Army for a short time after he graduated but then attended Washington University in St. Louis. “[I] didn’t care as much for a degree as for the fun of learning,”

An ‘encyclopedia’ of geology Fay has worked with fossils throughout his life and time at OU, but has also spent time mapping Oklahoma and doing county studies. He has published 140 different articles, maps and books on various geology topics, many of which he was the first to write about.

Joyce Stiehler, shipping and receiving technician at the Oklahoma Geological Survey, has worked with Fay for 13 years. She said he is a knowledgeable man.

“He’s like an encyclopedia,” Stiehler said. “The more you get him to talk, the more information comes out.”

Stiehler said Fay is a daily resource at the OGS and is able to help with anything that comes his way.

Science education bill dies A controversial state Senate bill that would allow Oklahoma schools to teach all aspects of controversial subjects died in committee Monday.

The vote was 7-6 against Sen. Randy Brogdon’s Scientific Education and Academic Freedom Act. Page 3.

LIFE & ARTS It’s New Music Tuesday! Check out Trail of Dead’s new album on page 8.

Kate Leary is a student who can croon a country tune. Check out the story on page 8.

The Academy Awards are this weekend and The Daily’s Dusty Somers and Osi Aken’ova have picked their favorite flick. Page 8.

OU adventures

PROFESSOR Continues on page 2

SPORTS

Liz Brooks/The Daily

Robert Fay, geological surveyor, recounts his 53 years working at OU Tuesday afternoon in his office at the Oklahoma Petroleum Information Center. Fay taught geology for seven years before devoting his full attention to geological survey.

Criminologist attempts to refute “mean girl” theory • Visiting lecturer speaks out on girls’ aggression, theories surrounding it

BY RENEÉ SELANDERS The Oklahoma Daily

Photo illustration by Amy Frost/The Daily

Meda Chesney-Lind (not pictured) will discuss adolescent female aggression at the Sam Noble Okla. Natural History Museum at 7:30 tonight in the Kerr Auditorium.

Instructor assault update After his arrest Friday night, former OU student Michael Joseph Childers could be transferred back to Norman as early as today, OU President David Boren said.

Childers, 27, has been in Broken Arrow where he was arrested and held without bail.

He will face charges of assault with a firearm after allegedly attacking Japanese instructor Mano Yasuda.

Childers will be transported from Broken Arrow to the Cleveland County Detention Center.

While Boren says Childers could be moved today, officials at the Cleveland County Detention Center said they cannot give the exact time or date of his transfer due to security reasons.

Fay said.

After attending Washington University, Fay continued his education at the University of Kansas.

At KU, he worked as a graduate assistant and spent a lot of his time in the Kansas Geological Survey’s photography lab.

Fay said he took his first steps into OU as a part-time professor and part-time field geologist after he was hired in July, 1956.

He eventually gave up teaching and worked full time at OGS, but not without having a few adven-

CAMPUS BRIEFS

Tonight, a University of Hawaii criminologist will try to debunk the theory that teenage girls are more aggressive than they used to be.

Meda Chesney-Lind, the first speaker in the OU Department of Sociology’s Presidential Dream Course, “Men and Women in the 21st Century,” will discuss facts and myths about

BE THERE What: “Bad Girls, Mean Girls or Just Girls: Facts and Myths about Girls’ Aggression and Violence”

Where: Sam Noble Oklahoma Museum of Natural History, Kerr Auditorium

When: Tonight at 7:30, free to the public girls’ aggression and female juvenile delinquency in her presentation, “Bad Girls, Mean Girls or Just Girls: Facts and Myths about Girls’ Aggression and Violence.”

“I selected her [Chesney-Lind] because of her international stature as an expert in

GIRLS Continues on page 2

The women’s basketball team heads to Lubbock for a rare Tuesday-night contest. For all you need to know about the Texas Tech - OU series, check out page 7.

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

8 3 6 6 7

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

WEATHER FORECAST

TODAY

LOW 46° HIGH 70°

WEDNESDAY LOW 41° HIGH 60° Source: Oklahoma Weather Lab

2

News

Tuesday, Feb. 17, 2009

Girls

Professor

the study of women, girls and crime,” said Susan Sharp, sociology professor, in an e-mail.

The 2004 debut of the movie “Mean Girls” made teenage girls’ aggression a hot topic, and Chesney-Lind said she is trying to shed new light on the issue. She said she challenges the notion that girls are becoming more violent and aggressive.

Chesney-Lind said teenage girls learn meanness, not necessarily through violence, but through experience.

“Here’s the story; most girls have experienced meanness from other girls,” she said.

Rather than focus on the hype surrounding girls’ malice, she said she concentrates on the ways girls learn this camouflaged aggression and how they openly show it.

Chesney-Lind said she examines ways the justice system might be reformed to stabilize and rehabilitate female juvenile delinquents.

“Our juvenile justice system was basically set up to deal with bad boys,” she said.

“All of the intermediate interventions are things that are boy-centered. You know, we put boys in sports programs.

In youth centers we have lots of emphasis on the problems that boys have.”

Because boys’ and girls’ issues differ, Chesney-Lind said she would like to see solutions that are more responsive to girls’ needs.

tures.

Neil Suneson, geology professor, said his first field trip with the OGS was with Fay on a dirt road in an old station wagon.

During the trip, a displeased landowner pulled a pistol on Fay and the geologists, Suneson said.

“Bob talked him out of shooting us and they later became friends,” he said, “That was just classic Bob Fay.” Suneson said the field workers had a barbecue lunch with the landowner later that day.

Continued from page 1

Continued from page 1

Ashley Haggard/The Daily

Members of Delta Delta Delta sorority and Lambda Chi Alpha fraternity dance Thursday night during their Scandals practice.

Student organizations all over campus spend the spring preparing for Sooner Scandals, which will take place April 3, 4 and 5.

Scandals stays on schedule • Show will open on schedule despite setbacks ADAM KOHUT The Oklahoma Daily Despite limited practice time, conflicting schedules and inclement weather, groups participating in Sooner Scandals will perform on time.

A scheduling conflict forced the auditions for Scandals, an annual campus event presented by the

OU student group seeks to aid Lone Grove relief effort OU’s Management of Information Systems Student Association is currently collecting donations for tornado victims in Lone Grove.

MISSA president Amber Andros said the group is looking for items like blankets, socks, gloves, non-perishable food and men’s and women’s personal products. Other clothes are not needed.

Campus Activities Council, to be moved back one week to last Sunday. This left participants with four weeks to practice instead of the normal five.

Because of the shorter practice period, group auditions were cut from three songs to two, Mark Salvie, energy management and accounting senior and C.A.C. Scandals chair, said.

Fraternity initiation week presented complications for several Greek houses, as some Scandals members were prevented from attending practice.

“Every year I-week for the fraternities is an obstacle the execs have to plan around,” Salvie said.

“We are trying to reach out to the community; we were thinking of an event to plan and it seemed like a perfect opportunity to give back,” she said.

The group’s faculty advisor, Manonita M. Ratwatte, professor of management information systems, delivered the first load of cookies, candy and other Valentine’s Day gifts for kids to Lone Grove on Saturday.

The next delivery of goods is set for Friday, and donations can be made at the Management Information Systems office on the third floor of Adams Hall.

—Staff reports

January’s ice storm, which caused OU to close campus, also required Scandals practices to be cancelled, he said.

Tornado watches Feb. 10 in Cleveland County also presented problems for the Scandals Executive Board of judges who tour the houses to provide advice for performing groups’ acts. The judges’ tour was cancelled.

“It wasn’t safe for them to be walking outside, obviously,” Salvie said. “The purpose of the staff directors is to help the [act] directors in areas that they might not be the best in. We let the acts know the staff directors were still available for help.”

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

A knack for storytelling Apart from his studies, Fay said he has developed a mischievous mind.

In 1953, he was given a copy of a book produced by students at Cambridge University. He said it was cleverly written about a nonexistent, pre-historic bird that could fly faster than the speed of sound.

For his own amusement, he said he memorized the information about the bird, including its history, anatomy and behavior.

He used the information to trick gullible students into taking notes about the faux bird for an hour.

“You could fool almost anyone,” Fay said.

After tricking, and informing his students of the truth, Fay was invited to give a speech to engineers at a KU banquet.

“There were newspaper people there writing down the story and students started laughing,” Fay said.

The press soon realized the trick and journalists in New York City reported on his prank.

Since his lecture at KU, Fay has been asked to give the same lecture by people across the country.

Philip Pelton, Fay’s grandson, said his grandfather is equally as great a storyteller as a prankster.

As a child, Pelton said Fay would tell him how he cheated death when his esophagus swelled shut from strep throat.

Family and future Fay is more than just a science man; he’s a family man, too.

In 1966, Fay married his wife, Helen, whom he met at OU. They raised two children and now have two grandchildren and five great-grandchildren.

“My grandfather is one of those people who makes your life better by knowing him,” Pelton said.

Pelton said he sees Fay every day.

After 53 years of service, Fay intends to retire this summer. But he said he doesn’t look at it as retirement.

He plans to finish a bibliography on the Ouachita Mountains and the origin of the Gulf of Mexico in a few years. The bibliography was originally an assignment given to geologists in Arkansas and Oklahoma in 1985, but when government funding ran out, the programs were cut.

Fay said he feels it’s important to continue the piece, not only for future geologists, but for himself.

“The doctors say I’ve got to keep my mind and hands busy,” he said. “It’s the secret to longevity.”

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News

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

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

A BURDEN TO BEAR

DRIVING UNDER THE INFLUENCE Joshua Thomas Rains, 22, Intersection of 1st Street and Asp Avenue, Friday Jessica Marie Aragon, 33, Intersection of Chautauqua Avenue and Lahoma Drive, Sunday Jose Alfredo Reyes, 30, East Robinson Street, Sunday

Michael Joseph Childers, 27 , 3rd Floor of Kaufman Hall, Friday

BY RON JENKINS The Associated Press

COUNTY WARRANT Eugene Andrews, 47, 1901 E Lindsey St., Sunday Miguel Bazan, 51, 24th Avenue SE, Sunday Jeremy Ross Campbell, 22, 700 84th Ave., Sunday Kerensa Renee Conner, 29, 401 12th Ave. SE, Sunday Dale Travers Jacobs, 21, 747 Asp Ave., Sunday

MUNICIPAL WARRANT

PUBLIC INTOXICATION Matthew Wayne Corbin, 20, 901 N Porter Ave., Sunday, also disturbing the peace Jason A Martyn, 29, Lynn Street, Sunday Ramon Allen Olmos, 30, 600 N Berry Rd., Sunday

POSSESSION OF MARIJUANA Micah Harris, 21, Biloxi Drive, Sunday, also no insurance and driving without a license Whitney Smith, 29, Biloxi Drive, Sunday

Courtesy of U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service

Oklahoma’s black bear population may find itself behind the cross hairs.

Legislation that would turn hunters loose on black bears in Oklahoma has been overwhelmingly approved by the state House, according to an Associated Press report. House members voted 96-0 Monday to send the measure to the Senate for a vote. The Senate Wildlife Committee passed a similar measure two weeks ago. Supporters say Oklahoma’s black bear population is becoming a nuisance to campers. There are an estimated 700 to 800 black bears in Oklahoma.

OKLAHOMA CITY — The Senate Education Committee on Monday narrowly defeated legislation to allow classroom discussion of alternative theories to evolution, along with other topics where science conflicts with religious or moral viewpoints.

The vote was 7-6 against Sen. Randy Brogdon’s Scientific Education and Academic Freedom Act. Brogdon, R-Owasso, said science teachers in his district fear retribution for bringing up alternative theories on a wide range of subjects, such as evolution and stem cell research.

“This is the biggest case of window dressing that I’ve seen ... a direct slap at education.”

Sen. Richard Lerblance, D-McAlester Sen. Richard Lerblance, D-McAlester, called the measure a subterfuge that would lead to teaching of theories based on religious viewpoints and not science.

“Senate Bill 320 is a wolf dressed in sheep’s skin,” Lerblance said, predicting it was a first step toward teaching intelligent design in Oklahoma schools.

“This is the biggest case of window dressing that I’ve seen” and “a direct slap at education,” Lerblance added.

Career expert inspires students to seek jobs • Internships, character are key says speaker DANIEL MARTIN The Oklahoma Daily Economic woes and high unemployment rates have left students nation-wide wondering what extra things they can do to jump-start a successful career.

Donald Asher, career and higher education expert, addressed students Monday in Meacham Auditorium in the Oklahoma Memorial Union about how to

take the necessary steps for successful careers. He stressed that a major does not limit job options.

His workshop, “How to Get Any Job with Any Major,” was intended to motivate and inform confused, job-seeking students.

Sasha Johnson, graduate student, will graduate in May and said she attended the seminar to learn tips on finding a job.

“He encouraged us to be more outgoing and not to settle for positions listed in job postings,” Johnson said.

She said before the workshop she was confused and discouraged about entering the workforce, but the seminar helped her realize possibilities are nearly limitless.

“If you are in college, then

now is the time to start worrying about your future,” Asher said.

He said internships have a far bigger influence on a student’s career than a major does, and internships should be the most important thing on a student’s career to-do-list.

“Your major doesn’t even determine your skill set,” Asher said.

He said he has interviewed an art major who became the CEO of a bank, a psychology major who became a business consultant and an accounting major who became a nightclub manager.

“If you have a college degree then you have the chance to get almost any job you truly desire,” Asher said.

He said employers value per-

3

Alternate theory bill defeated in state Senate • Lawmaker calls measure a subterfuge

ASSAULT AND BATTERY WITH A FIREARM

Denovus Ternariell Daniels, 18, 201 W Gray St., Sunday Jameel Asmar Pickens, 25, 201 W Gray St., Sunday Carlos Augusto Sanchez, 25, 3009 Pinecrest St., Sunday

Tuesday, Feb. 17, 2009

sonal features as much as the major a student chooses.

The top three characteristics potential employers seek in applicants are honesty, communication and teamwork skills, Asher said.

Brian Foster, petroleum engineering junior, said he doesn’t want to work in the petroleum engineering field for more than a few years. He said he would like to get involved in business communication.

“I used to think your major defined what you had to do for the rest of your life,” Foster said.

He said the transition from college to a career now seems more simple than he previously thought.

The theory of an intelligent design to the universe and life has been advanced to counter court rulings prohibiting the teaching of creationism as science.

Brogdon said he did not mandate anything in his legislation, other than to allow teachers and students to have “an open dialogue on many types of issues.”

Sen. Susan Paddack, D-Ada, noted that Brogdon’s bill was endorsed by a preacher who spoke to the Senate last week and issued a warning about spreading atheism.

Brogdon said the minister spoke from the heart and his sentiments would probably be supported by “80 percent, probably 90 percent of Oklahomans.”

Sen. Jim Halligan, R-Stillwater, was among those voting against the measure.

Halligan objected to a provision he said would allow students to refuse to answer test questions on a subject because they did not believe what was being taught in textbooks.

CAMPUS NOTES TODAY CAREER SERVICES Career Services will host an interviewing workshop at 11 a.m. in the Oklahoma Memorial Union.

will host a lecture about adolescent female aggression at 7:30 p.m. in the Sam Noble Oklahoma Museum of Natural History.

WEDNESDAY

CHRISTIANS ON CAMPUS Christians on Campus will host a Bible study at noon in the Union.

CAREER SERVICES

ZOOLOGICAL SOCIETY The OU Zoological Society will have a meeting at 7 p.m. in Richards Hall.

Career Services will host a workshop about professional dress for men and women at 10:30 a.m. in the Oklahoma Memorial Union.

THE OU SCHOOL OF MUSIC

OU SOCIOLOGY DEPARTMENT

The OU School of Music will host a trombone choir at 8 p.m. in Catlett Music Center.

The OU Sociology Department

OU COLLEGE OF ARTS & SCIENCES

FAIR TODAY

11:30 a.m. - 2:30 p.m., Union Ballroom Free cokes, pizza, and giveaways!

Visit with university departments and get great information about the perfect major or minor for you!

W E N ng i r lo p ex

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A&S

 TODAY 

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• A&S Faculty Authors Reception

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FOCUS ON

4:30 p.m. to 6 p.m., 132 Ellison Hall

•

DREAMCOURSE PUBLIC PRESENTATION

“Bad Girls, Mean Girls or Just Girls: Facts and Myths about Girls’ Aggression and Violence” with Meda Chesney-Lind, professor of women’s studies at University of Hawaii at Manoa

7:30 p.m., Kerr Auditorium, SNOMNH

Sponsored by the Office of the President for the Dreamcourse “American Women and Men of the 21st Century.” For more information, contact Susan McPherson at (405) 325-1751.

DISTINGUISHED ALUMNI LECTURES THURSDAY, FEB. 19 A&S DISTINGUISHED ALUMNI LECTURE

A&S DISTINGUISHED ALUMNI LECTURE

“Are We Living in the Age of Obama?”

“Physics in Unexplained Places”

with W. DeVier Pierson

with Janet S Fender, Chief Scientist, Air Combat Command, Langley AFB, VA; Chief Master Sergeant Rodney McKinley, 2009 A&S Distinguished Alumnus, The Pentagon, Washington, D.C.; James M Larsen, Senior Scientist, Air Force Research Laboratory, Wright Patterson AFB, OH; and Grizelda Loy-Kraft, Chief Engineer, Aircraft Sustainment, Air Logistics Center, Tinker AFB, OK

1 p.m. Regents Room, OMU

3 p.m., 170 Nielsen Hall

Sponsored by the Office of the Provost, Housing & Food Services, Union Programming Board, University College - Center for Student Advancement, Career Services, Alpha Lambda Delta, University Printing Services, and Coca-Cola®

The University of Oklahoma is an equal opportunity institution. For accommodations on the basis of disability, call 405.325.2113 or 405.325.2574.

A&S DISTINGUISHED ALUMNI LECTURE

A&S DISTINGUISHED ALUMNI LECTURE

“Air Force Priorities and Thoughts on Leadership”

“Myopic Wisdom”

with Chief Master Sergeant Rodney McKinley

3 p.m., Regents Room, OMU

1:30 p.m., Scholars Room, OMU

by Jack Catlin

4

Opinion

Tuesday, Feb. 17, 2009

OUR VIEW

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

State lawmakers have bigger, better fish to fry The nation faces an economic crisis that is per- to try and take care of the bears, to the tune of 20 per haps the worst since the Great Depression. year. We think legislators could spend their time a bit Oklahoma has a budget shortfall of nearly $900 more wisely. million, and lawmakers are trying to cut Thousands of bills died in committee taxes.

OUR VIEW meetings in the last couple of weeks.

Hundreds of people in Edmond and And the bear bill should have been one is an editorial Lone Grove watched their houses blow of them. selected and debated by the editorial board away last week when tornadoes caused There are legitimate debates in which and written after a millions of dollars worth of damage and lawmakers should be engaging. In a time majority opinion is even more heartache. of economic turmoil, lawmakers are tryformed and approved by the editor. Our View ing to eliminate a grocery tax that proAnd Congress is spending time worrying is The Daily’s official about black bears. vides the state more than $300 million in opinion.

According to an Associated Press story, annual revenue. experts say the black bear population is up Concealed carry on college campuses to approximately 700-800 in Oklahoma, and that the could again resurface as a hot topic. And there are bears are becoming a “nuisance” to local campers – plenty of bills regarding abortion, education, official whatever that means. language, constitutional issues, etc.

The Oklahoma House of Representatives voted The legislators certainly has bigger fish to fry, and 96-0 in favor of legislation that would allow hunters bears to shoot, in this session.

STAFF COLUMN

Stimulus package won’t work as promised The newly elected president and his administration finally got its stimulus bill passed.

It is a one-of-a-kind achievement, a piece of legislation enormous in magnitude and scope, ushered in by an administration that has held power for less than four weeks. But what CARSON exactly is this bill all PAINTER about?

If we as a country are seriously going to spend $787 billion, I think the people of our nation deserve to know what the bill entails.

The bill has been known by many names, from the “rescue package” to the “economic bail-out”. But I find these terms do not do this piece of legislation justice.

When examined closely, it is, in fact, much more than a rescue pack-

age. Actually, it is estimated that only around 25 percent of the bill’s allotted money will go to actual economic stimulus.

The rest of the $787 billion will go to what is known in the political world as “agenda spending.”

Therefore, I think we should do away with these previous, misleading titles and call it what it is – a spending bill.

Money is going to flow from the already empty coffers to everything from national parks, to transgender pageants in California. I am not saying these things should go without funding. I think the national park system is a great institution, and I think it is great we are supporting the transgender community.

Funding things like these is a step we must take to achieve a more free and equal society. What bothers me, however, is how this funding came about.

The Democrats have used the eco-

nomic crisis, and their proposed solution, for their own gain. They have rushed through congress the most massive spending bill in our nation’s

I would sincerely request that The Daily be considerate of the controversial nature of birth control and contraceptives, and refrain from promoting contraceptives in its newspapers. This includes promotions by way of distributing coupons for birth control products. The Daily’s job is to provide fair, accurate and balanced news overage, not to promote contraception. Your consideration of these concerns and adherence to this request is greatly appreciated.

Carson Painter is an international business and finance sophomore.

-BRYAN TRACHIER, METEOROLOGY STUDENT

COMMENTS OF THE DAY In response to a Feb. 16 news story about a student who gave birth in the dorms.

As a friend of the mother, I can personally vouch that there were no signs of the pregnancy. She looked the same the night before as she did at the beginning of the fall semester.

Thankfully, she does not drink or smoke. Her and her baby are both perfectly healthy.

- POSTED BY IBEHIM08 ON OUDAILY. COM

studies, and no, it does NOT always have to be a larger girl for this to happen. The discovery channel just did a comprehensive study on this a few weeks ago.

- POSTED BY COLDSADER89 AT OUDAILY.COM

I did think it was weird that none of the other girls on the hall came to check on them .. And was 20 minutes as quick as the ambulance could get there?

- POSTED BY SOONER_0609 AT OUDAILY.COM

The reality of the situation is that, while it is not usually the case, a mother CAN be unaware that she is pregnant. There are countless medical

I N D E P E N D E N T

Nkunda falsely portrayed by media In a dramatic reversal, Laurent Nkunda has gone from being the most powerful rebel general in the Congo, to the cause of all ills that have befallen the Congo.

The reason: it looks like Nkunda lost. And now businesses know with whom to sign trade deals with. Trade deals tend to go better with the international community when dealing with the good guys. There’s a lot of money to be made on minerals in Congo. We can expect to see mineral deals in the immediate future. So the good guys conveniently are the victors.

But let’s look at Nkunda today.

There is so much hypocrisy and propaganda that makMAX ing sense of the situation is extremely difficult.

AVERY Nkunda, the most feared man in Congo, was caught by Rwandan troops on Thursday, January 22nd.

Calls for peace through Congo have been trumpeted through the news since his capture.

He is now viewed as the source of all problems in the Congo, and now that he’s out of the picture, Congo is free to prosper. Of course, this ignores the other dozen or so rebellions in the country, the corrupt government, the illegal extraction of Coltan – which is required for the tiny cell phones we love so much, as well as other minerals – which is destroying jungles and funding wars, especially in central, eastern and northeastern Congo. It is believed Coltan is partially funding Joseph Kony, leader of the LRA and the topic of the popular documentary “Invisible Children”, in Uganda and northeastern Congo. It’s something to think about next time you buy a cell phone.

Nkunda is not the evil warlord the media

S T U D E N T

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make him out to be, but he isn’t an innocent either.

General [Warlord] Nkunda is the former schoolteacher and priest, who beheaded 150 of his own men when they massacred a village [Human Rights Watch wants to charge him with war crimes, both for the beheadings and the massacre]. He is also the man who regularly fired his men for rape – common practice in Congo’s many factions today, most of which promote rape as a weapon of war.

This is a man who continually set the precedent for peace in the region when no one else would. Instead of taking Israel’s approach and crushing the enemy after a victory, thereby denying the opportunity to regroup, Nkunda frequently called for peace talks. In an effort to avoid future violence, he allowed his enemy to regroup, take care of their wounded and withdraw. He gave up his advantage for the hope of peace, despite the government’s history of breaking ceasefires.

Most blame him for the crisis in Goma. That particular crisis was caused by government troops breaking a ceasefire with Nkunda and attacking his troops. Humiliating the government troops again, Nkunda won that battle decisively. The violence displaced 250,000 people in Goma and the surrounding areas.

The fault for the displacement has been put on Nkunda.

Nkunda has been fighting for Tutsis, both in Rwanda and Congo since the 1994 Rwandan genocide. He has since taken to engaging Hutu militias in eastern Congo [many militias fled there after losing in Rwanda], most of the area he has controlled is ethnically Tutsi. Before Nkunda conquered the area, stories of Hutu oppression of Tutsis was common. This type of story was largely introduced in the economically privileged parts of the world by the

T H E The Fine Print

I am writing this letter to express my concern and strong disapproval of The Daily’s decision to include a coupon for Durex condom products with the Monday, Feb. 16 edition. I find the promotion of contraceptives by The Daily to be both out of place for the purposes of journalism and reporting, and offensive towards those students, including myself, who are opposed to birth control and contraceptives for traditional religious and family value reasons.

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

history, a bill riddled with hidden agendas and costs that they did little to make known to the public.

Why rush it? The longer it sat in

STAFF COLUMN

Contraceptive advertisement out of line

T H E

Charles Dharapak /AP

President Barack Obama holds a town hall style meeting in support of the economic stimulus package in Elkhart, Ind. on Feb. 9, 2009.

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congress, the longer it lay under the scrutiny of our nation’s elected officials and the more and more they would realize that this bill was a total misrepresentation of what its creators claimed it to be.

Our nation has spent more on trying to stimulate the economy than the cost of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan combined in a single day, and it is to the sound of thunderous applause that they did so.

I warn all of you who think this bill is going to be the salvation of our nation’s economy, to not expect too much from this “rescue”. What we thought was going to stimulate the economy, will instead stimulate a party’s pet projects.

Unfortunately, the crutch our leaders have given to the nation’s economy is riddled with holes and will snap before it can do our nation any good.

U N I V E R S I T Y

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

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

popular movie, Hotel Rwanda.

We in the west find it in our economic interest to forget this all started with Nkunda defending oppressed people. And to believe that with Nkunda gone, peace will prosper in the lands.

An interesting question that needs to be asked is, ‘Why would the Rwandan army take Nkunda captive?’ Every other time Rwanda entered the region, the Kinshasa government would complain of Rwanda stealing resources.

This time, resources haven’t been mentioned.

It isn’t unthinkable that Congo would trade some resources for the removal of the most powerful threat to their legitimacy – Nkunda.

It isn’t unthinkable that Rwanda would make that deal, either. Especially with the deals that are available once Nkunda’s territory is up for international speculation.

It’s difficult to find a newspaper that isn’t praising his capture. The international community is calling on Rwanda to turn him over to the Congolese government, which will undoubtedly kill him, with or without a trial.

The international community’s idea of justice seems a little fuzzy when mineral rights enter the picture.

Removing a man accused of war crimes from one of the few countries with an international war crimes tribunal, and placing him in corrupt Congolese hands sounds like justice to some. But not to me.

Rwanda’s capture of Nkunda brings other concerns, such as the fact Rwanda has been supportive of Nkunda until Nov. 2008. Some fear Rwanda won’t turn him over because they sympathize with him, and might actually protect him.

I hope and pray their fears are realized.

Max Avery is a political science senior.

O F

O K L A H O M A

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

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

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The board meets Sunday through Thursday in 160 Copeland Hall.

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

Sports

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

STAFF COLUMN

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Tuesday, Feb. 17, 2009

SPORTS BRIEFS Griffin, Warren take conference honors again If Player of the Week honors are any indication, sophomore forward Blake Griffin and freshman guard Willie Warren should be in prime position to take Big 12 Player of the Year and Freshman of the Year honors as well.

As announced on Monday, Griffin and Warren were named the Phillips 66 Big 12 Player and Rookie of the Week, respectively. It was Griffin’s fifth time to receive the honor this season, which ties a Big 12 record, and the sixth time that Warren has come away with the award, a Big 12 record.

Last week, Griffin averaged 29 points and 16.5 rebounds in the Sooners’ two games against Baylor and Texas Tech. On Wednesday in Waco, Texas, Griffin scored 18 points and 10 rebounds before going off against Texas Tech on Saturday.

In a record-setting performance against the Red Raiders, Griffin scored 40 points and grabbed 23 rebounds. It was the third time in OU history that a player scored 40 points and pulled down 20 rebounds in one game.

Warren averaged 14.5 and four assists and shot 53 percent from the field in the Sooners’ two wins. Griffin and Warren were picked as preseason conference Player of the Year and Freshman of the Year.

Men’s, women’s golf teams both in action today The men’s golf team is entering the final round of the UTSA Intercollegiate at Oak Hills Country Club in San Antonio, Texas, in fourth place. The Sooners are just two strokes out of second place, behind University of Texas-Arlington and Texas State.

OU shot three-under on Monday. No. 15 Texas Tech has a 19-stroke lead heading into Tuesday’s action.

Meanwhile, the women are in Florida participating in the 15-team Central District Invitational in Parrish, Fla. — DAILY STAFF

Men’s tennis stays perfect on new home courts with 6-1 win over Pacific

Matt York/AP photo

Nate Robinson of the New York Knicks jumps from Wilson Chandler’s back during the slam dunk contest at NBA All-Star Weekend basketball Saturday, in Phoenix.

Robinson won the competition. On Sunday, the actual All-Star game was held. The West defeated the East 146-119.

All-Star festivities take away from game his weekend’s National Basketball Association’s All-Star events wrapped up the four major North American sports’ all-star and Pro Bowl extravaganzas for the 2008-2009 seasons.

For once I watched a portion of each game, and I have one question for all four major sports: when did the pregame spectacle become bigger than the game itself?

Don’t get me wrong, I love watching Major League JONO Baseball’s home run derby and the random skills GRECO competitions for football, hockey and basketball, but they are diverting attention away from the reason why players and fans congregate at the arena or stadium in the first place: to celebrate and honor the individuals who are doing what they can to improve their respective sports.

I can safely say there are more sports fans who know which player hit the most home runs in the 2008 Home Run Derby than who drove in the winning RBI in the next day’s game – hint: they play on the same team.

Every year there are controversies over who should and shouldn’t make the All-Star teams, but nowadays a player does not even need to make a significant contribution to the game to make them. It’s like we’re back in high school during Homecoming season and everyone is voting for the most popular people to make up the court.

It has now become more important to see the big name players in the

T

pregame events and activities rather than letting younger, more deserving players participate and using those days as a tribute to the great players that played the game before them.

Some sports touch on the history of the All-Star weekends. MLB probably does this the best out of the four major sports, but history is being lost as more and more people care less about the individuals who play in the actual All-Star game.

I’m not going to be a hypocrite and say I care more for the All-Star games than the spectacles that precede them, because in most cases it’s not true. Outside of the MLB All-Star game I couldn’t care less about who won or lost.

I do, however, commend the NCAA for keeping its major sporting events pure and not adding these spectacles to the playbill to entice fans to go watch their favorite players and teams.

It would be a sad day if the NCAA had OU sophomore forward Blake Griffin compete in a slam dunk contest or Davidson junior guard Stephen Curry show off his sweet shooting stroke in the three-point competition.

Even though it would be fun to watch the showmanship and skills of these two dominant college players, the last non-professional level of the sport would compromise its on-court purity.

I realize these skills competitions generate revenue and fan support, but they should be reformed or removed because they take focus off the purity and child-like passion of the game.

JONO GRECO IS A JOURNALISM SOPHOMORE.

The OU men’s tennis team looked to make it two in a row today after upsetting No. 34 TCU just a few days before.

The Sooners remain perfect in the new Gregg Wadley Tennis Pavilion as they beat Pacific University 6-1. The Sooners are now on a two-game winning streak after losing their two previous games at the Great Northwest Shootout earlier in the month.

“The team played really well today,” said sophomore Ionut Beleleu, “I was able to win big points in my match to get the win for the team.”

The Sooners started off slow losing the doubles point but were able to bounce back and win all six of the singles matches to take the match overall.

“The team was very confident today,” said junior Andrei Daescu, “We fell behind in the doubles point, but we used that as motivation for the singles matches.”

The team’s next game will be on the road as it will travel to Little Rock to play the University of Arkansas on Feb. 20. The next time James Cornwell/ The Daily the men’s team plays in NorSophomore Ionut Beleleu sets up for a man will not be until March forehand Saturday against TCU during the 7 when it faces off against first match held at the Gregg Wadley Indoor San Diego University.

— JAMES ROTH/ THE Tennis Pavilion. The Sooners won the match, DAILY 5-2.

Big 12 struggling to gain respect, more NCAA tournament berths JOHN MARSHALL The Associated Press KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — The Big 12 Conference had six teams get into the NCAA tournament a year ago, including eventual national champion Kansas and regional finalist Texas.

Matching that number this year could prove to be difficult.

With three weeks left until the Big 12 tournament, the conference has three teams well on their way to the NCAA tournament and three that have almost no shot, leaving a big group still with some work to do.

“Everybody’s playing for high stakes right now,” Texas assistant coach Russ Springman said Monday during the Big 12 coaches teleconference. “Some teams are fighting to get in, some teams are playing for the highest seed they can possibly get; everybody’s playing for high stakes.”

Oklahoma should have no problem getting in. The Sooners have national player of the year candidate Blake Griffin and have clearly been the best team in the conference.

Kansas and Missouri also would seem to be locks.

The Jayhawks reached the 20-win mark and are still in the hunt for a fifth-straight Big 12 title. The Tigers are 22-4 and had impressive wins over Texas and Kansas over the past two weeks.

At the bottom end, Iowa State, Texas Tech and Colorado have combined to win five conference games. Winning the Big 12 tournament is their only chance at this point.

As for the rest of the conference, there are still

some questions.

— Texas. The Longhorns are 17-7 and 6-4 in conference, which should put them in good position to make the tournament for the 11th straight year. But Texas also had a three-game losing streak, including two at home, to drop out of the polls after being as high as fifth.

“Our focus won’t change. We always talk to our players about playing one game at a time,” Springman said. “We talk to our guys about getting better every day and focusing on the next opponent, not worrying about two or three or games later.”

— Kansas State. With Michael Beasley and Bill Walker gone to the NBA, Kansas State appeared to have no shot at a return trip. The Wildcats (17-8) rallied to win six straight and are 6-5 in conference after losing to rival Kansas on Saturday, meaning a strong finish to the regular season and a win or two in the Big 12 tournament might get them in.

— Nebraska. The scrappy Cornhuskers (15-8) created a buzz in Lincoln by beating then-No. 16 Texas on Feb. 7, pushing their winning streak to three after a 2-3 start to conference. A 23-point loss to Missouri over the weekend dropped Nebraska to 5-5, so the final six games will be crucial.

— Oklahoma State. The Cowboys (15-9) looked good early playing in first-year coach Travis Ford’s uptempo style, opening 11-3 in nonconference, but they have been inconsistent in the Big 12. A win over Iowa State on Saturday and an attitude adjustment should help, though it’s still going to be an uphill climb against Texas, Kansas State and Oklahoma.

“We allowed ourselves and our players to make

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excuses,” Ford said. “Rather than looking at all the things we do have, we’ve been looking at the things we don’t have.”

— Baylor. The program’s first trip to the NCAA tournament in 20 years lifted expectations, and a 16-3 start had everyone eyeing a return trip. Then came a six-game losing streak. A physical win over Texas A&M on Saturday helps, but the Bears (16-9) have some ground to make up at 4-7.

— Texas A&M. The Aggies made it to the second round of the NCAA tournament a year ago and were 14-1 headed into the Big 12 this year. But things haven’t gone well so far in conference play. Texas A&M opened 1-4, then followed a two-game winning streak with three straight losses.

“We just haven’t been able to close games out,” Texas A&M coach Mark Turgeon said.

With so many teams struggling to get into the tournament this year, does that mean it’s a down year in the Big 12? It’s possible.

The conference had a record 10 players selected in last year’s NBA draft and had the No. 2 overall pick each of the past two years (Beasley last year, Texas’ Kevin Durant the year before). Lose that much talent and chances are there’s going to be a dropoff.

But there’s also the parity factor. Oklahoma has been dominant, but the rest of the teams are evenly matched, able to knock each off on any given night.

“I don’t think our league gets the respect that maybe it should,” Oklahoma coach Jeff Capel said.

“Is it down? From the past couple of years, maybe.

But there are no easy games in our league.”

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Kansas coach Bill Self yells to his team during the first half — AP of their game in Manhattan, Kan., Saturday.

Tuesday, Feb. 17, 2009

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Universal Crossword Edited by Timothy E. Parker February 17, 2009

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Sports

Tuesday, Feb. 17, 2009

7

Women’s Basketball

Sooners travel to Lubbock to face Tech • Paris twins, OU have dominated recent history against Lady Raiders ANNELISE RUSSELL The Oklahoma Daily The No. 2 women’s basketball team heads to Lubbock to take on Texas Tech tonight and although the Lady Raiders are not the powerhouse they used to be, they have been known to give OU fits.

RECENT HISTORY

• Feb. 23, 2005: Tech spoils OU Senior Night, 83-70 The Sooners had no success against the Raiders this season with a loss on the road and at home. No. 14 Texas Tech took the Sooners (15-10) to town and avoided an OU surge at the end of the second half.

Cisti Greenwalt led the Raider’s in their road to victory over OU with 19 points, but the real spark came from point guard Erin Grant who put up a season high 21 points.

OU had no answer for the Tech offense and OU senior guard Dionnah Jackson’s 23 points were not enough to hold off the top-25 team.

• Jan. 23, 2008: No. 11 Sooners dismantle Tech 78-39 OU was reeling from a loss to Baylor earlier in the week, and the Sooners took out their frustration on a struggling Texas Tech team.

The Sooners built a large lead early and headed to the locker room with a 40-18 lead at the half.

OU sophomore forward Amanda Thompson took the reins for the Sooners and put together a 16-point game. The Sooners handed Tech the worst loss they had suffered since losing to Louisiana Tech 95-54 in 1990.

• Jan. 18, 2006: OU is 4-0 in Big 12 with 63-57 Tech win

The Paris twins’ dynasty began in the 2005-06 season and the Sooners handed the Raiders the same two defeats Texas Tech dealt • Jan. 5, 2003: No. 3 OU wins 86-70 OU the season before. OU freshman center Courtney Paris had 17 The No. 3 Sooners took down the No. 9 Raiders in convincing points and 19 rebounds in the game — a glimpse of what was to fashion after building an early lead. come for the now Sooner legend.

OU senior guard LaNiesha Caufield was the driving force in OU junior guard Erin Higgins drained threes for a 13-point total. the win with 23 points, followed closely by Rosalind Ross with 21 The junior would go on to be known as one of the most prolific points. scorers and deep three-point-threats for Ross was one of OU’s most impresOU despite suffering a season-ending sive players from outside, widely injury during her freshman year. known for her hustle and toughThe injury may actually have been the ness while playing with bad knees. best thing that happened to Higgins as Consequently, Ross’s knee issues were she got to sit on the sideline and pick the • Texas Tech has the overall advantage in the series, leading the reason her WNBA career with brain of OU senior forward Caton Hill, 21-16 and 12-6 at home. the Los Angeles Sparks was so shortwho was also injured. lived.

• OU is currently undefeated in the Big 12 and going for its The big win over the Lady Raiders 19th straight win. The Sooners hold the third longest winwas one of the Sooners’ main cata• Jan. 22, 2007: OU squeaks out ning streak in the country. lysts before their Final Four run. It marked the Sooners’ most recent Final an 86-81 double overtime win Four.

• Texas Tech is currently 4-6 in the Big 12, but they have noThe Sooners were in trouble of droptable upset wins over ranked teams in Texas and Texas A&M. ping a key Big 12 conference home game to the Raiders, but senior guard Kendra • Feb. 10, 2004: OU takes away a • Junior forward Amanda Thompson churned out 16 points Moore was there to save the day for over the Raiders last season and is fresh off a game against OU. close one in Lubbock 68-62 Kansas where she again put up 16. Another strong effort Moore put up 20 points on the hopeful After the Sooners lost key seniors from the forward would go a long way towards OU’s success.

Raiders, but their hopes were crushed Stacy Dales and Caufield, they were quickly in overtime. Thirteen of Moore’s in for a rebuilding year, but apparpoints were scored in the extra periods.

• Tip-off for the game is at 7 p.m. at United Spirit Arena in ently no one told the No. 7 Texas Tech Paris added 22 points and 17 rebounds Lubbock, Texas.

Raiders. to notch her 45th consecutive doubleOU came into Lubbock and again double, a streak that would not end took away a win for the second straight until 2009 at 112. During this season, the Amy Frost/The Daily year over a highly ranked Raider team.

Sooners relied heavily on Paris’s producOU’s senior guard Maria Villarroel put 20 points on the Raiders. tion, and this game was no different. They needed every one of her Junior forward/guard Nyeshia Stevenson fights to recover the ball during the game Villarroel was from Venezuela and a transfer student from points and rebounds as the game took two overtime periods before against Iowa State Wednesday. The Sooners beat the Cyclones 58-49. The Sooners Northeastern Oklahoma A&M. it ended. will face off against Texas Tech tonight at 7 in Lubbock.

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Tuesday, Feb. 17, 2009 AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 19) -Visualize arrangements that can awaken fresh hopes for fulfilling personal desires. Once you see them clearly, you will find a way to make them possible.

PISCES (Feb. 20-March 20) -Persons who can help advance or elevate your desires will give you the boost you’ve been hoping to receive. Once provided the opportunity, you’ll do a fantastic job.

ARIES (March 21-April 19) -Enterprising and positive people will prove to be extremely lucky for you. Not only will you profit from their optimism but you can duplicate it by observing their methodology.

TAURUS (April 20-May 20) -You’re likely to be far more ambitious and assertive than usual, yet you won’t surrender your measured pace of doing things.

With each step, you’ll make sure that your footing is solid.

GEMINI (May 21-June 20) -- One of your better assets is having a strong desire to put into action that which you conceive.

Your judgment as to how to go about things is outstanding.

CANCER (June 21-July 22) -Something special is in the offing as life attempts to balance the accounts for all the people you have helped and all the good things you’ve done lately. Enjoy the rewards.

LEO (July 23-Aug. 22) -- Because you and your mate will be working off the same song sheet, you should be able to make beautiful music together.

You won’t have to plan anything special; it’ll just happen.

VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22) -- A pleasant surprise awaits you when a negative situation proves to be extremely positive instead.

You’ll be able to envision happy results in all of your endeavors.

LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 23) -- Don’t waste any more time linking up with those who can help you promote your immediate desires and/or concerns.

They’ll be extremely cooperative at this time.

SCORPIO (Oct. 24-Nov. 22) -- There is a strong probability that something good can occur, strengthening your material position. If all the signals are telling you to move on something, do it.

SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 23Dec. 21) -- Be sure to involve yourself in something that can be extremely meaningful because it’s a propitious time to advance your desires. The more significant things are, the better.

CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19) -- Now is the time to advance your sphere of influence by strengthening anything of value to you. Whether it is something material or personal, it can increase your dimension of life.

8

Life & Arts

Tuesday, Feb. 17, 2009

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

Oscar Showdown: Best Picture of the year “Slumdog Millionaire”

“The Curious Case of Benjamin Button” “The Curious Case of Benjamin Button” is the choice for best picture. It has forbidden romance, based on a story by a great American writer, a time spanning epic, and elegant costume design. Just throw in a Nazi or two and it would be the perfect pick.

“The Curious Case” follows the winning forOSIZIMETE mula so well, excelling AKEN’OVA at almost every aspect of filmmaking. It deserves the award.

The performances by the actors are nothing short of amazing. Brad Pitt is wonderful as the title character giving his best performance since “Babel”. Cate Blanchett is captivating as usual playing Benjamin’s love interest, Daisy. She adds an ethereal quality as she dances on a gazebo and narrates the film on her death bed.

The supporting cast also helps construct the film’s core themes of morality and love.

Jason Flemyng brings the feelings of regret and loss in his role as Thomas Button,

Benjamin’s estranged father. Taraji P. Henson plays Queenie, Benjamin’s adopted mother with the authority and strength of a frustrated actress demanding to be heard.

There isn’t enough I can say about what David Fincher has done for this film. He has been able to pull great performances from his actors and bring his own creative edge while maintaining confidence in dealing with a subject that is completely new to him. He handles the film as the seasoned film director we know him to be.

Eric Roth, known as the go-to guy for great scripts (e.g. “Munich”, “Ali”, “The Insider” etc.), is able to capture the feelings and short-comings of his characters.

Similarly to Fincher, he is able to turn the short story by F. Scott Fitzgerald into his own script, changing everything about the story except Benjamin’s reversal in aging.

Yes, “The Curious Case of Benjamin Button” is something we haven’t seen before. It rightfully deserves the Best Picture Oscar.

–OSIZIMETE AKEN’OVA IS A FILM AND VIDEO STUDIES JUNIOR.

Film critics, film scholars and members of film organizations, such as the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, get a bad rap for being out of touch with audiences. The reasoning goes that these people are only interested in DUSTY films that are artsy, SOMERS obscure or depressing, and hopefully all three. They care little for the movies most audiences flock to en masse.

Major award snubs for “The Dark Knight” aside, the Academy will almost certainly ignore the stereotype and award its highest honor to a movie that popular audiences would love if only more of them took the time to see it.

“Slumdog Millionaire” is one of the most uplifting, crowd-pleasing films I’ve seen in years, and it deserves

Best Picture far beyond any of the other nominees. Danny Boyle’s electric rags-to-riches tale brims with hope, a definite thematic shift from most of the Best Picture nominees over just the last two years (“No Country For Old Men,” “There Will Be Blood,” “The Departed,” “Babel”).

The time is right for a film like “Slumdog” to come out on top – it’s already been on a roll, winning the highest prize at the British awards, the Golden Globes and a number of critic’s awards.

I’ll be shocked if it somehow misses out on Best Picture, but if I had to pick a spoiler, it would be Gus van Sant’s biopic, “Milk.”

Nothing’s ever a total lock when it comes to the Academy Awards, but this time around, I’m more confident about this one than any other category – it’s “Slumdog’s” year.

–DUSTY SOMERS IS A JOURNALISM JUNIOR.

Singer finds voice in college Trail of Dead cooks up new rock album BRITTANY BURDEN The Oklahoma Daily

“Century of Self,” the 6th studio album from rock outfit …And you will know us by the Trail of Dead, is loud and eccentric, resembling a sort of rock ‘n’ roll gumbo, combining elements of punk, noise, the 70s, 80s metal and a dash of Austin, Texas—resulting in an eclectic and often clashing release. Chockfull of epic piano and organ arrangements, TYLER slowly built up intros and largBRANSON er than life crescendos and drop-offs, “Century of Self” is almost as epicsounding as the name of the band. Very distortion heavy, with psychedelic guitar parts, droning vocals and abstract lyrics, Trail of Dead sound, like rock ‘n’ roll from 1994 with modern-leaning tendencies, rather than a typical, modern sounding band with vintage-leaning tendencies.

Following a nasty split with major label Interscope Records in 2007, Trail of Dead formed Richter Scale Records and completely funded “Century of Self” on their own. The new album is set to be released nation-wide today.

“Century of Self” takes a lot of risks and directions a major label probably wouldn’t recommend, which may have been the reason they left Interscope in the first place. The heavy distortion from their previous albums is less prevalent, but the low-fi vocals and super-loud drums remain a staple. At times the vocals sound a lot like a more beefed up Oasis, with

profound, artsy lyrics to match the profound, artsy musical arrangements.

The album has its amazing moments, like the heavy, multi-vocalist track “Far Pavilions,” the piano-rock sounds of “Bells of Creation” or the noisy, synth-metal sounding “Isis Unveiled” (which most resembles the Trail of Dead everyone remembers). But it also has its low moments, like the sing-a-long chorus of “Fields of Coal” or “An August Theme,” a keyboard instrumental that reminds me of an interlude from Zelda. Most of the ballads are on the latter half of the album, save for “Ascending” which is awkwardly placed between two slower songs, making it less of a concept album (much like their other releases) and more like a loose collection of new Trail of Dead songs.

They’re all good songs, for the most part, especially the first half of the album, but the rest just seem to lag behind, getting lost in the awkward hallways of prog-rock.

Sometimes a major label can be a good thing.

Even though Trail of Dead wanted to take more risks and come more into their own by splitting with Interscope, which they very well may have done, the quality of the music seems to have been compromised; at least to the extent that it does not match up to the high, art-rock standards of their earlier work. It’s not their magnum opus, to be sure, but it’s not the worst thing you could purchase this month.

‘Century of Self’

Richter Scale Records

–TYLER BRANSON IS AN ENGLISH SENIOR.

One Saturday afternoon, Kate Leary gently sings “All That It Takes” by Amarin Morris. Her soft, breathy voice and bright smile captivates listeners and stops a passersby on the sidewalk.

Leary, a letters senior, found her passion for singing at a young age. The Boston native who calls Colleyville, Texas home, said it was moving from town to town that led her to music.

“In a new town when you’re just getting your feet beneath you, it was nice coming home to an instrument,” she said.

Starting at the age of 5, Leary says that she first learned to play the piano by ear. Later in life, she enrolled in lessons for the next 10 years and obtained her first guitar as a sophomore in high school. This became the beginning of a lasting passion for music.

“I’ve always loved it and have gone to as many concerts as possible. I would just sit down and try to play songs that came on the radio”.

Leary is attracted mainly to country music, which began when she “came down south,” as she puts it. She became influenced by the everpopular Texas country music scene.

Leary also admits to having had a karaoke machine which she used to emulate her favorite musical influences like Patty Griffin, Bonnie Rhea, Phil Collins, Faith Hill, The Beatles and many others.

Leary admits that initially music was not her first ambition when entering college.

“I wanted to be everything-- a teacher, broadcast journalist, social worker, even a singing meteorologist,” she said.

After several major changes, however, Kate chose Letters. Her biggest musical influence is people. “[My influences are the] people and life and the interaction of people within the different areas of their lives. There is so much richness in human interaction and I love the challenge of

photo provided

Kate Leary, a letters senior, performs at Othello’s. capturing that in a song,” she said.

Leary said she solidifed her path in music when she discovered her true passion during a trip to Italy.

“I loved Florence and my grandmother is full Italian. I loved the culture, people, food and it was great to mingle with a different set of people. I came back from Florence feeling like it was time to make life happen and choose music.”

Upon her return from Italy, Leary answered an ad in a local paper and began singing for Charlie Rayl. Leary said Rayl gave her the opportunity to sing and cultivate her songwriting.

In her music, Kate mentions a love for all people.

She said experiences in Italy and being a letters major have helped this love grow. She discloses that her first ambition as a songwriter is the need to be relatable.

“I might not reach everyone but I should try to have the courage to put myself out there honestly. My music will find its own path,” she said.

Leary also mentions that without the support of her family and God, she would never have had the courage to pursue music at all.

SEE HER PERFORM

WHERE: Othello’s

434 Buchanan

WHEN: Thursday at 7:30 COST: Free