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CLAYE’S FIELD DAY
17-year-old freshman sets triplejump record at regional meet ANNELISE RUSSELL The Oklahoma Daily
Family, friends and fans packed the stands of the John Jacobs Track and Field Complex this weekend for the NCAA Track and Field Midwest Regional. Facility records were slashed and regional records erased as competitors tried to punch their tickets to the NCAA Championships in Fayetteville, Ark. As the home team, OU had an impressive showing. The Sooners did not finish atop the team standings, but several athletes wearing the crimson and cream will move on to the championships, including freshman phenom
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Will Claye, who broke the facility’s triple-ump record.
FRIDAY The first Sooner standout to qualify for the next round was Mickaela Johansson with a third-place finish in the women’s hammer throw. Another OU athlete to put on a show Friday was Ti’Anca Mock, who secured her spot at the championships with a second place finish in the long jump at 21 and 1/3 feet. The only other competitor with a better finish was Blessing Okagbare of the University of Texas-El Paso. Okagbare took home a bronze medal from the Olympics last summer for her home country of Nigeria. Mock now looks to prepare for the NCAA Championships and said she would like to be a champion, if she could. She said the only way to really prepare for this type of event is simply practicing and being “ready to go out and just jump.” TRACK & FIELD CONTINUES ON PAGE 3
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VOL. 94, NO. 155
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Tuesday, June 2, 2009
James Lovett, managing editor dailynews@ou.edu • phone: 325-3666 • fax: 325-6051
COBURN TO RUN FOR ‘SECOND AND FINAL’ TERM Senator highlights friendship with Obama in first campaign ad RICKY MARANON The Oklahoma Daily
Republican U.S. Senator Tom Coburn announced Monday he will run for a “second and final” term in 2010. “Today, I am announcing my intention to seek a second, and final, term in the United States Senate in 2010,” Coburn said during a morning press conference at the Tulsa Press Club. “This decision has been difficult for me, my wife and our family.” Coburn made a campaign promise in 2004 only to pursue two terms in office. He said his desire to spend more time with his family at home is the major reason for the voluntary term limit. “I don’t like being away from Oklahoma and my medical practice, nor do I like asking my loved ones to make sacrifices,” Coburn said. “I also don’t particularly like Washington, D.C.” Before becoming a senator, Coburn served in the U.S. House of Representatives from 1995-2001. After leaving the House, he published “Breach of Trust,” a book
critical of Washington’s back-door politics. “Coburn for U.S. Senate 2010” released its first campaign ad on the Web site under the theme “There’s Only One.” The ad portrays the Senator as a maverick who has stood alone to promote the right thing on many issues. Despite President Obama’s low approval numbers in the state, Coburn highlights his friendship with the commander-in-chief in the ad. In 2006, Coburn and Obama worked on the “Federal Funding Accountability and Transparency Act,” a bill that created a database to track approximately $1 trillion in federal grants, contracts, loans and earmarks. Karina Henderson, Oklahoma Democratic Party communications director, said Coburn’s relationship with Obama is not necessarily reflective of his voting record. “We are looking forward to a spirited campaign,” Henderson said. “He may have a good relationship with Obama, but we want to look at whether his record has helped Oklahomans.” Coburn also said he is looking forward to the upcoming campaign season.
AP PHOTO
Sen. Tom Coburn announces he will run for a second term at the Tulsa Press Club on Monday. “If Oklahomans decide that I am the best person to carry this fight and represent their values in the United States Senate,
OU professor discusses Sotomayor nomination
AP PHOTO
President Barack Obama and Vice President Joe Biden listen to Supreme Court nominee Sonia Sotomayor May 26 during the announcement in the East Room of the White House in Washington.
Nomination is historic, but will not change balance of Supreme Court KYLE WEST The Oklahoma Daily
U.S Circuit Judge Sonia Sotomayor, President Obama’s nominee to replace U.S. Supreme Court Justice David Souter, will meet with senators this week in Washington for the first part of her confirmation process. Justin Wert, constitutional law professor, said Obama put Republicans in the difficult position of painting a negative picture of Sotomayor, because of her race, gender and personal history. “This is a win-win pick for Obama,” Wert said. “He’s chosen someone who more than likely will produce opinions that will support his viewpoints. She threatens also to further divide the Republican Party.” Sotomayor was raised in a Bronx housing project, and her father died when she was 9. Despite a difficult childhood, she graduated summa cum laude from Princeton University.
REPUBLICAN DISSENT The nomination of Sotomayor has produced a verbal backlash among many Republicans, including U.S. Senator Jim Inhofe, R-Tulsa, who said he was concerned with her tendency to legislate from the bench. “Some of her recent comments on [judicial activism] have given me cause for great concern,” Inhofe said in a statement released by his office. “In the months ahead,
it will be important for those of us in the U.S. Senate to weigh her qualifications and character as well as her ability to rule fairly without undue influence from her own personal race, gender or political preferences.” Wert said judicial activism is the term used to describe how courts can go beyond the Constitution to make policy. He said he thought Republicans’ criticisms of Sotomayor’s judicial activism are being made out of political convenience. “It’s not a dirty little secret that the courts are a partner in policy making,” Wert said. “Republicans are simply worried about liberal-oriented judicial activism. They are confusing the way things ought to operate and the way things actually do operate.” But Wert also said the Republican outcry against Sotomayor was understandable. “It’s not surprising they would be against her, because historically, presidents try to nominate people who fit into their ideology,” he said. “The future of the GOP is in question, so we’re going to see posturing on their part for everything the Obama administration does. The stakes always seem higher because it’s a lifetime appointment, but it’s the replacement of a liberal justice with a liberal justice. It won’t change the 5-4 breakdown.” Among other concerns by Republicans and social conservatives is Sotomayor’s position on abortion. However, there is very little documentation of her view on the issue. “I’m not sure if she has ever, in her cases, been asked to comment on Roe v. Wade,” Wert said. “It’s probably safe to say that she would be broadly sympathetic to the prochoice position.” He said there has been one case in which Sotomayor wrote an opinion on abortion, and that she actually protected President Bush’s policy of withholding federal aid money to international organizations that promoted abortions.
HISTORICAL SIGNIFICANCE Wert said much of the attention on Sotomayor’s nomination has to do with her Puerto Rican decent. “Certainly, as the first Hispanic woman, I can only imagine that this is a moment of pride,” Wert said. “[Her nomination] is further evidence that Hispanics are a very important and growing constituency in the United States.” He said he sees no reason why Sotomayor will not be approved by the Senate. “Unless there is some really ghastly skeleton in her closet, I don’t see anything standing in the way of an overwhelming positive vote,” he said. Sotomayor’s first offical confirmation hearing is not expected until July.
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. BARKING DOG Ryan David Conyers, 27, 1003 Garver St., Saturday MUNICIPAL WARRANT Darla Lujean Daily, 44, 1900 Renaissance Dr., Sunday Trenton Lamar Frazier, 38, 9600 E. SH9, Saturday Paul Daniel Gilchrist, 24, Chalmette Dr., Sunday Elizabeth Ann Hedrick, 42, 630 Sinclair Dr., Saturday Ivan Kenneth Laureano, 32,
1800 12th Ave. S.E., Saturday Marla Sheree Reed, 36, 251 12th Ave. S.E., Sunday DRIVING UNDER THE INFLUENCE Thomas Chadonayhe Farris, 30, W. Tecumseh Rd., Sunday George Robert Ross Geary, 31, Indian Hills Rd., Saturday POSSESSION OF MARIJUANA Cody Lane Johnston, 19, 1526 E. Lindsey St., Sunday Jonathan M. Rodriguez, 21, 2237 E. Imhoff Rd., Saturday NUISANCE PARTY Laura Michelle McGinnis, 21, 624 Coopers Hawk Dr., Sunday LITTERING Edward Joseph Preciado, 41,
13525 Roka Circle, Sunday POSSESSION OF A STOLEN VEHICLE Aaron Edward Slack, 33, 48th Ave. N.W., Saturday PUBLIC INTOXICATION Gregory Dale Smith, 47, 252 Hal Muldrow Dr., Saturday
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.
Brian Alexander Jennings, 21, 526 College Ave., Saturday COUNTY WARRANT James Edward Parnell, 43, 715 N. University Blvd., Saturday
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you have my word that I will be true to my oath and never back down, even if I must stand alone,” he said.
BOREN PROMISES NO TUITION HIKES FOR NEXT SCHOOL YEAR JAMES LOVETT The Oklahoma Daily
OU President David Boren notified students and parents Thursday there would be no across-the-board increase in tuition and fees next year. The university distributed the message by e-mail and in letters to parents. Boren will officially make the recommendation at the next OU Boawrd of Regents meeting on June 24. “I fully expect that my recommendation will be approved because our Board of Regents has been strong in its support OU PRESIDENT of keeping student costs to the minimum DAVID BOREN needed to maintain excellence,” Boren said in the e-mail sent to students. “While we are holding down costs, we are committed to maintaining the university’s high standard of excellence. In spite of a short fall in revenues, the governor and the state legislature did their best to avoid cuts in education budgets. In addition, OU made approximately $8 million in internal savings through freezes in hiring, in compensation, and other areas.” In July 2008, Boren implemented a hiring freeze and placed a limit on the issuance of bonds for new spending projects. He first revealed his intention to freeze tuition and fees at the January Regents meeting. In the e-mail, Boren thanked faculty and staff who are going without compensation increases this year, and commended Gov. Brad Henry and members of the state legislature for working to help education while functioning with a tight budget. OU press secretary Jay Doyle said although across-theboard fees are not being increased at the university, it is up to the college deans whether they feel increases are necessary. “[A fee increase] is up to the deans of each individual college,” Doyle said, “but it has to go before the Board of Regents before increases are approved.” Doyle said tuition was also kept constant from 19992000 and 2000-2001. He said he was unsure whether fees were held at the same level during those years. Last month, the Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education approved a $1.124 billion state higher education budget for next year. The budget is an increase of approximately 2.8 percent over last year. Oklahoma State University President Burns Hargis also said they would not increase tuition and fees next year.
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Tuesday, June 2, 2009
« MALCOLM GOES TO CAMP
James Lovett, sports editor dailysports@ou.edu • phone: 325-7630 • fax: 325-6051
OUDAILY.COM
Read Thursday’s edition of The Daily for a look at former Sooner wide receiver Malcolm Kelly at the Redskins’ pre-season camp.
RAZORBACKS STOP SOONERS’ SEASON EDDIE RADOSEVICH
The Oklahoma Daily
With high expectations entering last weekend’s Norman Regional, most Sooner fans thought Oklahoma was in prime shape to return to the super regional – something they haven’t done since 2006. Boy, how were they wrong. The bats went silent. The pitching went south. And the Sooners are done. The weekend started off great for the No. 7 national seeded Sooners when they took to the field versus No. 4 seed Wichita State Friday night. In front of the fifth-largest crowd in L. Dale Mitchell Ballpark history (3,176), OU took care of business to open NCAA Tournament play by winning 5-4. Down 4-2 in the bottom of the sixth inning, the Sooners answered like they have all year. Big 12 Player of the Year J.T. Wise led off the rally with a one-out walk followed by an Aaron Baker (2-for-4, HR, 1 RBI) double to the right center gap. The Baker double brought up Big 12 Freshman of the Year Garrett Buechele, who, in turn, answered the prayers of the Sooner faithful with a gametying single, scoring Baker and Wise. Designated hitter Ross Hubbard lifted a sacrifice fly to left field that brought home Buechele for the game’s go-ahead run. Chase Anderson came into the game in relief of Oklahoma starter Andrew Doyle, who went a season low two and two-thirds innings, and was spectacular. Anderson sat down 15 of the 17 batters he faced, and was in command of the entire game, until the bottom of the ninth when Oklahoma’s shut-down closer Ryan Duke came into record his 16th save of the season. The victory placed the Sooners in the winner’s bracket against No. 2 seeded Arkansas
ELI HULL / THE DAILY
Junior Outfielder Jamie Johnson (6) slams a homerun during the second pitch of the Friday game against Wichita State. The Sooners defeated the Shockers 5-4, but went on to finish the regional tournament 2-2, losing their final game against Arkansas 11-0 and ending their season. for a Saturday night showdown. And it was a one-sided showdown. Arkansas pounded 20 hits en route to a 17-6 dismantling of the hometown favorite. Razorback players Ben Tschepikow, Scott Lyons, Andy Wilkins and James McCann all recorded three hits or more as they led the charge, punching Arkansas’ ticket for a spot in the regional championship Sunday evening. Oklahoma once again failed to win back-to-back games to open the NCAA Tournament, a feat they haven’t accomplished since 1998. With the loss, Oklahoma fell into an elimination game against Washington State, a team OU split a four-game series with in
ELIZABETH NALEWAJK/THE DAILY
Runners take off from the start line for the men’s 1500 meter run finals. OU’s Robert Sorrell, center, finished sixth overall.
Track & Field Continued from page 1 SATURDAY The finals of most track events and the men’s triple jump took place Saturday night. Sooner fans had been waiting for the men’s triple jump because it featured one of the best collegiate jumpers in the nation, OU freshman Will Claye. Claye enrolled at OU just this spring at the age of 17, and has already built a presence as one of the best triple jumpers in the nation. Saturday’s event proved just how good the freshman is. The triple jump was divided into three preliminary flights with Claye qualifying in the third group. Out of the preliminaries, Claye was the overall leader breaking the facility record and earning the privilege of jumping last in the finals. Claye’s most staunch competition came from Texas
Pullman, Wash., on Sunday afternoon. OU and Washington State took a 2-2 tie into the games seventh inning. Aaron Baker’s first career grand slam sealed the game for the Sooners in a fiverun seventh inning. The clutch homer came after J.T. Wise drove in the go-ahead run on an RBI single. The home run marked Baker’s seventh home run in seven post-season games, as well as the four RBIs that brought his postseason total to 10. The win also put the Sooners back in contention for a regional championship. Arkansas had different plans, however, for the teams’ second matchup. Razorbacks’ Drew Smyly pitched a no-
A&M. The Aggies had four jumpers in the final group of 10. Claye’s original distance from preliminaries was still the farthest, 54 feet and 8 3/4 inches, after the first round of jumpers so the Sooner took a pass on his first jump in the finals. It looked as if Claye was going to easily walk away with the win, but his victory was put in jeopardy when Texas A&M’s Julian Reid took the lead during his third attempt with a jump of 55 feet. Claye said the great crowd at home was a vital asset as he moved into the final attempt. The freshman had one last chance to jump back into the record books. “I knew that Julian was beating me so I knew I just had to put something out there,” Claye said. Claye took off for his final jump and landed close to Reid’s previous mark. Anticipation grew as the fans waited for the distance, and a roar erupted from the stands when it was announced Claye had reclaimed the facility record and the win with a leap of 55 feet, 2 inches. “I didn’t want to lose and I just pushed myself to the limit,” Claye said. His win was the most contested event of the day, but he was not the only Sooner with a future at the NCAA championships. Luke Bryant took second in the discus behind a throw of 186 feet 1 inch on his second attempt. Mookie Salaam qualified in the 100-meter dash with a time of 10.40 seconds. He ran a season best of 10.30 seconds in the preliminaries. The women’s 4-by-100 relay also qualified for a trip to Arkansas with a time of 42.68 seconds. This relay included OU athletes, Ti’Anca Mock, Sherine Wells, Leslie Cole and Scottesha Miller. The qualifying Sooners will take the momentum from this weekend and put it toward an NCAA Championships beginning June 10.
CASTIGLIONE NAMED ATHLETIC DIRECTOR OF THE YEAR OU Athletic Director Joe Castiglione was named Athletics Director of the Year at the Sports Business Awards in New York City Thursday night. “When you work with people like President Boren, our Board of Regents, our coaches, our athletics department staff and our student-athletes, you never feel worthy of something like this,” Castiglione said. “This award reflects the collective efforts of many. I am honored to serve at a great university and really feel that I accepted the honor on behalf of the university.” The OU community also lavished praise on Castiglione. “We couldn’t be happier for Joe,” OU head
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football coach Bob Stoops said. “The effort he puts forth on behalf of this university, the coaches and the student-athletes is incredible. He’s a tremendous administrator, but he’s also a great friend to so many of us here. It’s gratifying to see him rewarded nationally because other are acknowledging what we have felt about him for a long time. Castiglione has won numerous awards for his athletic work at OU.In October 2004, the Bobby Dodd Foundation named him Athletics Director of the Year. In 2003, he was inducted into the National Association of Collegiate Marketing Administrators Hall of Fame. He received the General Robert R. Neyland Athletic Director Award for lifetime
achievement from the All-American Football Foundation in June 2001. The National Association of Collegiate Directors of Athletics (NACDA) named him Central Region AD of the Year in 2000. The OU Athletics Department was recognized in 2007 with the prestigious PRISM Award, which annually recognizes one Division I intercollegiate athletics department that demonstrates industry-leading excellence and innovation in sports management. Castiglione was hired at OU in April of 1998. Ricky Maranon/The Daily
hitter through eight and one-third innings, and the Arkansas bats relished the opportunity to crush Sooner pitching. Once again, starting off to a strong start Arkansas scored two runs in the first inning off of starter Antwonie Hubbard. Hubbard gave up four earned runs while only lasting two and one-third innings. Andy Wilkins, the regional’s Most Outstanding Player, delivered for the Hogs with a career-high five hits and five RBIs. And Arkansas never looked back, winning 11-0. The loss marks an end to the season, but the Sooners did accomplish a lot throughout the 2009 campaign, in which they posted a 43-20 record while on their way to a second place finish in the Big 12 regular season. Jamie Johnson, Aaron Baker and pitcher Garrett Richards were named to the AllRegional Team, which Oklahoma has had at least three players named to an all-regional team in each of the last four NCAA appearances. J.T. Wise and Garrett Buechele were named the Big 12’s Player of the Year and Freshman of the Year, respectively. While Wise was also honored being named to Collegiate Baseball’s second team All-American. The accolades don’t stop there for Wise. He is also one of 13 semifinalist for the 2009 Johnny Bench Award – awarded to the nation’s top catcher – and one of 30 semifinalist for the Golden Spikes Award for the nation’s top player. Junior Bryant Hernandez is also in contention for post-season honors, being named one of five finalist for the Brooks Wallace Award, awarded to the nation’s top shortstop). Oklahoma will lose seniors C.J. Blue, Matt Harughty, Trey Sperring and J.T. Wise off of the 2009 squad, as well as the possibility of losing more with the Major League Draft on June 9.
HOROSCOPE By Bernice Bede Osol
Copyright 2008, Newspaper Enterprise Assn.
Tuesday, June 2, 2009 GEMINI (May 21-June 20) -- It won’t be a waste of time to shoot for the moon, especially if it involves work. Favorable aspects have much to do with financial enterprises and foreign investments.
SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 23-Dec. 21) -- Something fortunate could develop that will elevate your immediate hopes and future expectations. Either a good friend or a close relative will play a role in these developments.
CANCER (June 21-July 22) -- If you can’t improve matters, you had better change your direction. You’ve entered into a propitious cycle where worthy targets can easily be attained with just a little effort on your part.
CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19) -- If the boss doesn’t come to you with a raise and your recent performance warrants one, bring the subject up. You stand an excellent chance of getting what you want.
LEO (July 23-Aug. 22) -- Opportunities might occur through not one partnership arrangement but two. The first could deal with a major learning experience, while the other is more personal. VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22) -- Your financial affairs look extremely encouraging, so be alert for a lucky break involving your work or talents; it will offer far greater rewards than usual for a good performance. LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 23) -People in general are inclined to perform favors, but two considerate persons who think the world of you will provide something you cannot accomplish alone. SCORPIO (Oct. 24-Nov. 22) -Owing to a self-assured manner and strong personality, you can’t help but finish strongly. Of equal importance: You will be just plain lucky as well.
AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 19) -- Appealing issues and special interests will attract others to follow in your footsteps. Because you are the one leading the parade, point people to where you want them to go. PISCES (Feb. 20-March 20) -- Lady Luck has been a little laid-back lately, but appearances might be deceptive. She is ready and willing to snap into action if you need her. ARIES (March 21-April 19) -- You have the ability to make a personal contribution to any group in which you are presently involved. This should be true if your involvement is either social or business-related. TAURUS (April 20-May 20) -- Don’t waste time on mundane goals. Make certain that you try to better something that is truly meaningful to you. Aim high, and fire accurately.
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COMMENTS OF THE DAY »
Tuesday, June 2, 2009
In response to pharmacist Jerome Ersland’s arrest
Luke Atkinson, opinion editor dailyopinion@ou.edu • phone: 325-7630 • fax: 325-6051
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“While the first shot may have been justified, this was plain murder.” - TheJR “he is a criminal trying to rob a store ‘he is not your baby anymore’ because you did a horrible job of teaching him values... this guy should never
have been arrested and i pray that he goes free. we need the jail space for true criminals. this never would have happened it the punk kid didnt try to rob the place.” - dodgeman
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Excessive force isn’t self-defense On May 19, pharmacist Jerome Ersland shot A nt w u n Pa rke r, o n e o f two intruders who tried to rob the Reliable Discount Pharmacy in south Oklahoma City. After the second robber ran away, Ersland grabbed another gun from behind the counter, and shot the incapacitated Parker five more times in his abdomen, taking Oklahoma’s self-defense laws too far. Ersland’s first shot to incapacitate the robbers was justified, but pumping an additional five rounds into a potentially fatally wounded teenager is absolutely unnecessary. District Attorney David Prater said the teenager was unconscious, unarmed, lying on his back and posing no threat when Ersland fired the final shots
into his torso. These shots, not the one fired into his head, were considered fatal by the medical examiner. Are Oklahoma’s “Make My Day” and “Stand Your Ground” laws too much? No. But there is a definite line between self-defense and excessive force. Oklahoma City’s conservative radio station KTOK reported a massive outporing of support for Ersland, with one calling stating, “... he should have put all the shots in the head.” This support should not come during a controversial case of an Oklahoma City youth’s death. If Ersland had left the incapacitated teen to the paramedics and authorities, the 16-year-old Parker may, although unlikely, be alive, and Ersland wouldn’t be charged with murder. Eli Wimmer is a multiple disciplinary studies senior.
Teacher’s unions bad for American schools Politics and irony are very fond of one another. An example might be a xenophobic U.S. Representative (and second-generation immigrant) arguing for harsher immigration quotas. Or maybe a 6-term U.S. Senator telling a crowd to vote for him because he'll bring “change” to Washington. Any profession that hinges on the ability to convince millions of very different people to pull the lever for one person is inherently ripe for bouts of cognitive dissonance. Sometimes the irony is not so obvious. President Obama recently introduced Sonia Sotomayor as a candidate ELIJAH for the U.S. Supreme Court. During his LAVICKY introduction speech, the President mentioned that Sotomayor's mother "sent her children to a Catholic school called Cardinal Spellman out of the belief that with a good education here in America all things are possible." This statement is interesting because President Obama and the Democrat-controlled congress two months ago agreed to end the Washington, D.C., voucher program. The same President who lauds the importance of his Supreme Court nominee’s private school education and who attended one of the best private schools in the
country (Punahou) for some reason opted to shut down a program that has allowed 1,700 poor D.C. school children to escape the squalor of their government run schools. This begs the question: Why do Democrats hate school choice so much? They posit many reasons. First, they might try to claim that voucher programs should be stopped because they "don't work." False. A recent study commissioned by the Department of Education confirms that students who entered the voucher program in 2004 are two reading levels ahead of their government school counterparts. Countless other studies (9 in recent years according to the Friedman Foundation) show similar results. But even if the programs had no marginal benefit, allowing parents the opportunity to send their kids to the school of their choice is justification enough. The anti-choice crowd also complains about the cost. First we'll cast aside the blatant hypocrisy of simultaneously opposing a $12 million education program for a few hundred students and voting for a $3.6 trillion budget. The cost is also very minimal when you consider how much the D.C. school system somehow manages to waste every year. The city is currently spending close to $1.3 billion for less than 49,000 students. This comes out to a per-pupil spending average of well over $26,000 per
student. Of course despite the outrageous expenditures, D.C. children are some of the most poorly educated in the country. Finally, the anti-choice factions will claim that vouchers erode the foundation of the public schools in this country. To that charge, the only proper response is "good!" Just last year over one million high school students dropped out of government run schools. The fact is that the public schools have had a consistent record of failure in this country despite steadily increasing levels of education funding. So back to the original question: why do Democrats hate school choice so much? As Education expert Andrew Coulson recently explained, Democrats “see the programs as a threat to the public school employee unions at the core of their party.” The National Association of Educators (NEA) is a 3.2 million member teachers union that overwhelmingly votes Democrat. Like any monopoly, the teachers union doesn't like its power to be undermined. The more successful alternative schools are, the less powerful the status quo becomes. Unfortunately, the political party in this country that purports to be pro-education is more concerned with getting reelected than with doing what is best for children. How ironic. Elijah Lavicky is a finance senior.
Pet owners should be responsible with new living plans Last summer, a friend and I were walking back to his place when we noticed a large box sitting in the middle of his lawn. Inside of it, we found about a dozen kittens that could not have been older than just a few weeks old. They were obviously left by somebody hoping someone else would take care of their problem. We briefly debated about keeping them all for ourselves – after all, having a team of cats seemed like a pretty cool idea at the time. After realizing that neither of us were capable of taking care of all of them, we were faced with the next question. What were we going to do with all these kittens? DARA It happens every year, while MIRZAIE thousands of Normanites go embark on summer adventures ; some pets don’t get to make journey with their owners and get left behind to fend for themselves. Some of the smarter ones make it up to Campus Corner, where they can hopefully
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get scraps of food from restaurants. Others may find a pet friendly homeowner that will take care of them, but most just end up roaming around neighborhoods. There are many explanations as to why an owner may no longer be able to keep their pet. Perhaps they did not realize just how expensive being a pet owner is, or are moving into a new place that doesn’t allow animals. Maybe it could be like when we found those kittens, where a new litter all of a sudden means that instead of one animal you are taking care of ten. There is nothing wrong with simply not wanting a pet anymore, but whatever the reason is that you may need to get rid of your pet, the worst option you could do is abandon them. Put yourself in the position of the animal. For years, you have been protected in this nice, little home, never having
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to search to food. Then all of a sudden, you’re left in the not-so-great outdoors, no shelter to protect you from the hot sun or the bitter rain, having no idea where your next meal is coming from and that is all while trying to avoid cars driving down the street. If you’re a pet owner and you do need to get rid of your pet, your last responsibility needs to be making sure that pet has a home. Ask a friend or put up fliers, you never know when someone has been thinking of getting a pet, and after all you’re offering one that has already been trained to live in a home. If you cannot take care of them anymore and you have run out of options, your next best alternative is to find an animal shelter. Across Norman, there are at least four different animals shelters that will take your pets. These are not the pounds you hear horror stories from, where the ugly dog that no one wants to take care of
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eventually gets put down. At these shelters not only will they find your pet a good owner, but also take care of them until they find a home for them. Which is a lot better than simply putting them out on the street. Pets can be a big responsibility, but also have great rewards. Getting one is making a commitment for years to take care of them. It is more than simply a fun thing to have in the house. If you think you may be one of those owners to leave, then perhaps the best option is simply to not get a pet. As for the kittens we found, we did take care of them for a few days, and even found one of them a home, before giving them to an animal shelter. Hopefully, they are all sitting in cozy little homes right now – and if you ask me – that is a lot better of a situation than when we found them.
Dara Mirzaie is an economics senior.
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 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. Editorial Board members are The Daily’s editorial staff. The board meets Sunday through Thursday in 160 Copeland Hall. Columnists’ and cartoonists’ opinions are not necessarily the opinions of The Daily Editorial Board.
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Tuesday, June 2, 2009
Thad Baker, advertising manager classifieds@ou.edu • phone: 325-2521 • fax: 325-7517
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PETS Good health, 2 English Bulldogs to a lovely home. If needed contact me at robenwillson@yahoo.com.
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J Housing Rentals J Housing Rentals APTS. FURNISHED ExLarge 1 bedroom furnished garage apt. Bills paid. Easy I35/HW 9 access. Avail 8/09. $450/mo, $300 deposit. 3609983 or 639-7571 $400, bills paid, efďŹ ciency LOFT apartments, downtown over Mister Robert Furniture, 109 E Main, ďŹ re sprinkler, no pets, smoke-free. Inquire store ofďŹ ce. Furnished 1 room apartment. Very quiet & private. Easy I35/HW 9 access. Bills paid. Avail 5/09. $375/mo, $250 deposit. 360-9983 or 639-7571
APTS. UNFURNISHED Lease Now or P/L for Fall! *Free Membership at Steel Fitness! $99 Deposit! 1/2 off 1st Month Rent! Models open 8a-8p Everyday! Elite Properties 360-6624 or www.elite2900.com
Foreign Students Welcomed Jim Holmes Insurance, 321-4664
CONDOS UNFURNISHED 2 bd, 2 full bath, w/d, ďŹ rst oor of The Edge, $850/mo, no pets. Call 414-4046.
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JUNE RENTAL 202 S Flood - 2bd, $700/mo+bills. 212 S Flood - $600+bills. Small house on S Pickard - W/D, $550+bills. Smoke-free, no pets, 1 year lease, security dep. 360-3850
ROOMMATES WANTED Looking for friendly, respectful roommate for summer or fall, 2 bdrm furn at Kraettli, bills incl’d, $300. Ref avail. 405-796-7118
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HELP WANTED MISAL OF INDIA BISTRO Now accepting applications for waitstaff. Apply in person at 580 Ed Noble Parkway, across from Barnes & Noble, 579-5600. Bartending! Up to $250/day. No exp nec. Training provided. 1-800-965-6520, x133. Childcare needed 8a-6p M, Th, and every other Friday through the summer. Some driving necessary. Please send your information to amy-tyler@sbcglobal.net. CITY OF EDMOND Summer positions at Pelican Bay Aquatic Center: Asst Pool Manager, Cashier & Cafe Managers, Cafe Staff/Cashiers, Lifeguard Staff, Water Safety Instructors. Golf Course, Arcadia Lake, Parks & Recreation jobs also open. Job info line, 359-4648 www.edmondok.com Apply at 100 E First, Room 106
Housing Sales
CONDOS 3 bd/2 ba condo approx 1200 sq feet. Close to campus, recently updated & has a ďŹ replace. Appliances may stay. $62,000 - call Bill Prust 921-4877
HOUSES UNFURNISHED
Available 4/18
Previous Solution
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1700 Jackson Dr. 3/2/2 $950 Available 6/1 1413 Peter Pan 3/1.5/2 $950 140 Alameda Plaza 3/2/2 $1000 321 Waterfront 4/2/2 $1260 Contact Wendy at KW, 473-6832
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933 S Lahoma, 2 bd, 1 bth Refrig, w/d, stove, wood oors, no pets, $775/mo, $500/dep. Lawn maintenance optional. Call 329-1933 or 550-7069.
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Handy Man Special in OKC, 2 bdrm, 1 bth, 1 car, fenced yard, needs TLC, rent free in lieu of repairs. 714-726-1204
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Monday- Very Easy Tuesday-Easy Wednesday- Easy Thursday- Medium Friday - Hard
7 6 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 June 02, 2009
ACROSS 1 Idol worshipper 6 Literal or figurative stews 11 Jet bath 14 Abrade 15 Send to the minors again 16 Shortened preposition 17 Nevada municipality 19 What I is? 20 “Breaking Up Is Hard to Do� singer Neil 21 Secret agent Matt 22 Snow-rain or rain-heat connection 23 “You’ve Made ___ Very Happy� (1969 hit) 25 Attire 27 Like many a junkyard car 31 Informal assent 32 Commotion 33 Grassy plains 35 Reunion number 38 Pooh-pooh 40 He wears very little clothing 41 Exotic juice flavor 42 Sushi bar drink 43 Gambia’s unit of currency 45 Pit of the stomach
2 col (3.792 in) x 2 inches Sudoku ...........$760/month Boggle ............$760/month Horoscope .....$760/month 1 col (1.833 in) x 2.25 inches Crossword .....$515/month (located just below the puzzle)
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Summer Special! Nice 3-4 bd, 2.25 bth, 612 Ash, $750; 916 Branchwood, $775; 826 Jona Kay, $975; 3401 Abilene, $1000. Call 360-2873 or 306-1970.
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Quotations Anytime
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HOUSES UNFURNISHED
46 Machu Picchu builder 48 Two smackers? 49 Trade org. formed in 1957 50 Agitate 53 Bronchial sound 55 Start of the Musketeer credo 56 Razor cut 58 Trinity River city 62 George Bush once headed it 63 Monterey County golf course 65 Cohort of Luke and Leia 66 Marquetry feature 67 Accustom to hardship 68 Check the check 69 American plow pioneer 70 Fills the hull DOWN 1 Banned pollutants, briefly 2 Millet’s “Man with ___� 3 Tasteless ornamentation 4 Burning 5 Outlaw played by Mick Jagger 6 Boston Bruins legend
7 Peace Nobelist Walesa 8 More treacherous in the winter 9 Expenditures 10 Thwart 11 Tourist attraction on England’s Salisbury Plain 12 Assign, as the blame 13 All-points bulletin 18 Artist’s prop 24 Honshu city 26 Poet Angelou 27 Little shavers 28 Notion 29 Illinois Civil War prison site 30 Fishhook fastener 34 Broadcasting 36 Shivering fit
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37 Univ. military program 39 Pay for a spare room 41 Identify wrongly 43 Daughter of Dan and Roseanne 44 One in a suit 47 Incisor neighbor 50 Black Sea bungalow 51 Homer classic 52 Volume in a courtroom 54 Verdugo of “Marcus Welby, M.D.� 57 Bunny slope device 59 Compliment 60 Bit of a spread 61 Ships at sea 64 Strong solution of sodium
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Tuesday, June 2, 2009
« LIKE JAZZ?
Dusty Somers, L&A editor dailyent@ou.edu • phone: 325-5189 • fax: 325-6051
OUDAILY.COM Go online to read reviews of two classic jazz album reissues - Sonny Rollins’ “Saxophone Colossus” and Art Tatum and Ben Webster’s “The Album.”
‘Cream of the crop’ at Spirit Red exhibit MEGAN MORGAN The Oklahoma Daily
Spirit Red, a new exhibit of Native American art, will open Wednesday at the Fred Jones Jr. Museum of Art. The exhibit is a donation from Dr. Rennard Strickland, an art collector who grew up in Muskogee, where he said that many Native American craftspeople live. Strickland began collecting art at a young age, he said. “I bought the first painting in either l948 or 49 when I was either eight or nine,” Strickland said. This first one - a painting of an Acee Blue Eagle called “Warrior with Shield” is included in the show. From this auspicious beginning, he went on to collect many other pieces. Strickland, who comes from Osage and Cherokee heritage, said that his parents encouraged him to collect art. The Spirit Red exhibit includes a number of art mediums including rugs, katcinas, beadwork, paintings, drawing, sculpture, deer skins, pottery and baskets. “I would describe the exhibit as ‘the cream of the crop,’” Strickland said. The Spirit Red exhibition has a lot of to offer because of its wide range, Strickland said. “It is contemporary as well as traditional,” Strickland said of his donation. “For example, there is a gourd titled ‘Cherokee Warrior with iPod.’” Strickland also added that there is a Cochite pot about Marilyn Monroe and Elvis Presley and a litho called “Rose and the Res Sisters,” which is about a coyote rock group. The Spirit Red exhibit was created with a specific purpose, Strickland said. “The collection was designed to show the diversity within the native fine arts movement,” he said. In addition to being an art collector, Strickland works PHOTO PROVIDED with the OU School of Law in the Native American Law and “Oklahoma – the Unedited Version” is a black-and-white photo collage featured in the Spirit Red exhibit at the Fred Jones Jr. Museum Policy Center. of Art. The exhibit opens Wednesday and runs through Sept. 13. Gail Kana Anderson, the deputy director and curator of collections at Fred Jones, said that the Spirit Red exhibit is art.” 9 p.m. Before the reception, there will also be a lecture at 6 a special addition to the museum. She helped organize the Anderson said that the museum was very happy to ac- p.m. called “Paintbrush Warriors: Native Artists as Radicals, exhibit. cept Strickland’s generous donation. Capitalists and Revolutionaries.” The lecture will be given by “This exhibition is a visual delight, and I think visitors will “We were highly pleased when Dr. Strickland said he Dr. Strickland and Dr. Mary Jo Watson, who works through really enjoy it,” Anderson said. “The collection has amazing wanted to donate his collection to our museum,” Anderson the School of Art and Art History and is a curator of Native depth and breadth and includes artworks that demonstrate said. American Art at the museum. beauty, technique, narrative and even humor. It also offers The opening reception of Spirit Red will take place on Spirit Red continues through Sept. 13 in the Sandy Bell our visitors a contemporary perspective on Native American Wednesday at the Fred Jones Jr. Museum of Art from 7 to Gallery. Admission is free for OU students.
LOCAL STAND-UP ACTS BUST NEW MUSIC GUTS AT COMEDY NIGHT Tuesday
They say laughter is the best medicine. If that’s the case, then Norman comedians must be doing their best to cure cancer. The Opolis hosted Comedy Night Friday, and laughs were in no short supply. The audience chuckled and snorted along through the twohour show that featured JOSHUA eight local comedians, all BOYDSTON of whom showcased his or her own distinctive brand of humor. We’ve witnessed a sort of Renaissance in comedy in the last few years; while David Cross, Demetri Martin and Dane Cook have exploded on the national scene, Norman comedians have quietly been plugging away as well, and the show Friday night was a testament to how their efforts have not been in vain. The Opolis showcased a blend of up-andcomers as well as Oklahoma comedy vets, and each and every one of them had something to offer. The show launched off with Cameron Buchholtz poking fun at hipsters, and would continue throughout the night as the show’s emcee. Recent OU grad James Nghiem then indulged in some absurdly wonderful tales before Seth Joseph made a triumphant return from New York to his hometown of Norman. Another OU grad, Leah Kayajanian, then strode onstage and left the crowd in stitches before the mellow, causally raunchy set by Derek Smith. The veterans, Spencer Hicks, Anthony Cavazos and recently named Loony Bin host Brad Porter, closed out the evening just in time to avoid an overdose of laughter. The evening was a glimpse of how lucky the region is to have such interesting and diverse comedians. There were hits and misses of course, but my evening of comedy was pleasant and gave me my daily dose of laughs for sure. The show was a relaxed affair - no one taking themselves too seriously and all content on having a good time. The crowd laughed the night away in amazement of the talent these locals possess. As talented as some of these guys are, you might not be able to catch them around here for much longer. I would especially like to applaud the sets of Buchholtz, Nghiem and Kayajanian. They all seemed especially on point and
MUSIC FESTIVAL BRINGS MILLIONS TO NORMAN People traveled from all over the country to attend the Norman Music Festival, and Norman is reaping the benefits.
PHOTO PROVIDED
STARDEATH AND WHITE DWARFS “THE BIRTH” REPRISE RECORDS RELEASE: JUNE 9
LIZ GREENE/THE DAILY
Experimental freak folk? Psychedelic noise rock? From Oklahoma? It’s got to be the Flaming Lips. W e l l , i t ’s a c t u a l l y Stardeath and White Dwarfs, but it’s a forgivable mistake, especially considering that
James Nghiem, former Student Media employee, performs stand-up Friday night at the Opolis. Nghiem was one of eight local comedians featured at the Opolis’ Comedy Night. remarkably fresh, made even more notable by the fact that they were probably the youngest and least experienced of the show. Buchholtz noted that “whenever I watch comedians, I’m constantly thinking about how I would approach their topics and often work my way from there.” You can see that in his jokes, all of which are off-the-wall and extremely clever. Kayajanian and Nghiem’s humor leans towards the absurd, with the inspiration coming from real life. I could barely contain myself during their sets. I might just have these guys to thank for the few more hours that have been tacked on to the end of my life. If you are feeling like you need your own dose of hilarity, you are not out of luck. You can catch these, and many other, comedians at the “Mondays Don’t Suck” show at Oklahoma City’s 51st Street Speakeasy on Monday nights, Othello’s Open Mic on Tuesdays and the Loony Bin Open Mic in Oklahoma City on Wednesdays. Joshua Boydston is a psychology sophomore.
More than $2.5 million came into Norman and surrounding economy as a result of the 2009 Norman Music Festival, said a spokesman for the Norman Convention and Vistors Bureau. A survey sent out during the festival showed
PHOTO PROVIDED
OPERATION ALOHA “OPERATION ALOHA” SELF-RELEASED RELEASE: OUT NOW
What do you get when you mix members of Gomez, Maroon 5 and Phantom Planet and lock them into Maui resort for 30 days? Well, an album of course, and with all of the inspiration in the form of tidal waves, tropical flowers and sandy beaches all around, why not make an attempt at
that participants came from California and New Jersey. The festival had more than 25,000 people in attendance viewing over 97 acts on April 25. - Staff Reports
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THE DAILY REVIEWS STARDEATH AND OPERATION ALOHA
lead singer Dennis Coyne is Wayne’s little nephew. The uncle might have taught them a few tricks, but these boys have a few up their own sleeve as well. Stardeath’s major label debut, “The Birth,” is loud and in your face. There is something strangely poetic to this album, but it will leave a brassy aftertaste in your mouth as well. They bounce between gorgeous ballads and grinding noise experimentation, and are at their best when there is a little of both. You can find this one-two punch in the form of “I Can’t Get Away,” which has to be the best Oklahoman invention since the parking meter. You hear a jazzy undertone to “Those Who Are from the Sun Return to the Sun” that comes across like
a trombone caked in oil. “New Heat” soars like a rocket over the surface of the sun. “Keep Score” and “Country Ballad” sound as though they belong on the pages of a Dr. Seuss book. I have to mention “Smoking Pot Makes Me Not Want to Kill Myself ” just for the sake of having those words printed in a newspaper. They tilt towards the unlistenable at some points in the album; most notably on “The Birth” that screeches along after a dreary introduction with the unbearable cries of an infant echoing along, but these moments are few and far between. I am left with an album that is getting better and better with every listen, and also has me asking, “The Flaming Who?”
Hawaiian Island music? Let the beach bonfires ensue. The music is faint and sweet, as delicate as a flower. It provides enough sensory information to even transport you out of this Oklahoma heat to the beautiful swell of waves and sunrays of Hawaii. Operation Aloha sounds like the house band of the coolest bar on that island, and will get the crowd swaying and smiling in a heartbeat. “Failure” should belong on every summer mixtape for the poolside and cookout. It’s a gorgeous, melodic ditty that swings to and fro like a hammock. There’s a sort of soul searching aspect to the introspective “Phone Booth” that gently sways like a field of grass. That being said, “Operation Aloha” is far
from perfect; it is less of an album, and more of a backdrop to your next summer fling. There are moments on the record that are so repetitive and dreary that is just about enough to put you to sleep, though there are certainly worse lullabies than this earnestly played island ditties. Your friends will nod along smiling, silently willing themselves to the beaches of Hawaii, if only in their mind. “Operation Aloha” is not a bad result from an impromptu gathering of musicians in a gorgeous oceanic setting, and I am hoping it sets a precedent. Fi n g e r s c ro s s e d f o r Grizzly Bear, Arcade Fire, and Wilco in Acapulco. Joshua Boydston is a psychology sophomore.