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Vol. 94, No. 92 FREE — Additional Copies 25¢

Communication with Higher Education Day officials breaks down • Some students fear concerns won’t be heard LeighAnne Manwarren The Oklahoma Daily

Elizabeth Nalewajk/The Daily

Danny Hilliard, vice president of government relations, discusses the purpose of Higher Education Day and how students can affect change within the legislature Monday evening in the ConocoPhillips Room on the third floor of the Oklahoma Memorial Union.

More than 50 OU students will attend the Oklahoma Capitol today for Higher Education Day, but some students fear their concerns won’t be heard. Higher Education Day was designed to give students the chance to lobby Oklahoma legislators for more higher education funding and to discuss higher education issues, but some feel it’s unorganized. Susan Adams-Johnson, Graduate Student Senate chairwoman, said she feels the student body was not considered enough during the planning of the event. “I honestly don’t know what the correct way of communication was to voice my concerns, but whenever I asked officials [in charge of the event] about it, I never received a response back,” she said. Kurt Davidson, Student Congress chairman and political science senior, said he feels students should be given a larger participation role. “In the future, [preparation] needs to be necessary for students

Convicted killer appeals today on campus

CAMPUS NEWS

OU’s free and legal music downloading network, Ruckus, unexpectedly shut down Friday afternoon. The Virginia-based Web site posted a graphic Friday afternoon stating the service “will no longer be provided,” said Nicholas Key, Information Technologies spokesman. Key said he doesn’t know why the site shut down and said OU received no notice. He speculated the economic recession may be responsible. The timing was unfortunate for OU, because the university is trying to raise awareness about illegal music downloading, Key said. OU does not have a plan yet to replace the service but will work throughout the week to find an alternative source of free and legal music, he said. — From Staff Reports

WHAT’S INSIDE Looking for a healthful, quick and portable snack? Check out the healthiest college-friendly foods. Page 3.

SPORTS The women’s basketball team sits atop the Big 12 and will be in action on Wednesday. The Daily’s answers five burning questions about women’s hoops. Page 5.

LIFE & ARTS It’s New Music Tuesday! The Daily’s Tyler Branson gives a review of the new P.O.S. release. Page 8. The Oscars are getting closer. Check out who we think will win the award for best actor and best actress on page 7.

OUDAILY.COM Get breaking news through your e-mail. Go to oudaily.com/alerts/oklahoma-daily/

• Man faces death penalty for 1996 murder of OU student Meredith Simons The Oklahoma Daily

The appeal of a Norman man sentenced to death for killing an OU student more than 12 years ago will be heard on campus today. OU College of Law professors have rearranged their schedules and law students are making plans to watch the oral arguments of attorneys for the state and Anthony Castillo Sanchez, who was convicted three years ago of raping and killing senior Jewell “Juli” Busken in 1996. Sanchez’s attorneys have filed briefs contesting evidence from his 2006 conviction, which rested largely on DNA evidence. They will argue their case today before a panel of five appellate judges in the Dick Bell Courtroom in the OU College of Law. Several times each year, the Oklahoma Court of Appeals offers to hear cases at OU so law students can observe the appellate process up close, law professor David Swank said. “It’s part of the educational process for the students and [the court] thought our students might have an interest in it,” Swank said. First-year law student Ben Ezzell called the case “fascinating.” He and his classmates are planning to watch the hearing as part of a criminal law class. “Everybody’s pretty interested,” Ezzell said. “We’re studying law all the time, but this is a chance to actually see it.” There are several thorny legal issues that will be highlighted during today’s arguments, the most prominent of which is the use of DNA evidence in convictions. Swank said the use of DNA evidence is far rarer and more complex than it

File photo by John Ferrante/The Daily

Above: Anthony Castillo Sanchez is escorted to Cleveland County Court on Feb. 16, 2006. He will be on campus today to appeal his conviction for the 1996 murder of OU student Juli Busken (below right). Busken, then a ballet performance senior, was raped and shot in the head in December 1996. appears to be on TV. “In the run-of-the mill criminal case, DNA evidence is not used very often,” Swank said. “That is sort of unusual, although it’s becoming more common.” Sanchez’s attorneys and the state’s attorneys already have filed more than 100 pages of legal briefs. Today, each side will have 45 minutes to present its argument orally. Sanchez’s lawyers, who will speak first, will also have 15 minutes for a rebuttal. Although today’s proceedings are expected to take fewer than two hours, Swank said it will probably be months before the judges return an opinion on the case, and this decision could be fol-

8 7 6 6 7

lowed by yet another appeal. “Any appeals process is incredibly time-consuming,” Ezzell said. “It takes years, especially for a death penalty case. You don’t want to get it wrong.” Sanchez’s appeal stems from the 1996 slaying of OU student Juli Busken. Busken, then a ballet performance senior, disappeared on the morning of Dec. 20, 1996. Her body was found near Lake Stanley Draper in Oklahoma City. Autopsy reports said she had been bound, raped and shot in the head. For almost eight years, the identity of her killer remained a mystery,

Appeal Continues on page 2

Pregnant professors carry more than books

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

and administration to make the agenda more feasible for all students, faculty and university administration so they can all stand behind it,” he said. In the past, Davidson said the point of student participation was to put a face to OU, thank legislators for their previous support and encourage them to continue supporting higher education. State preparations for the event were in a flux after the Higher Education Alumni Council dissolved and the Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education took over, said Danny Hilliard, Executive Office vice president. He said he thinks this is the reason why students found this year’s preparations confusing. Johnson said she hopes in the future all students will have a voice and an opportunity to meet and speak with their legislators. “We are just frustrated because somewhere there has been a connection lost in communication” she said. Hilliard said even with the confusion, he thinks Higher Education will be beneficial to students. “[It] will be a busy day and hopefully there will be plenty of legislators willing to listen to the students who participate,” he said. Davidson said he thinks there has been little student involvement concerning Higher Education Day, but the intention of the event is an important opportunity for students. “I really believe that it is critical for students to go and make a presence,” Davidson said. “It is important that we make a good presence as the largest university in the state.”

• Balancing career, pregnancy can be a struggle

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

Sandra Kunzweiler The Oklahoma Daily

WEATHER FORECAST

TODAY

LOW 51° HIGH 71°

30%

WEDNESDAY

LOW 44° HIGH 62° Source: Oklahoma Weather Lab

Zach Butler/The Daily

Elena Songster, history and international and area studies professor, discusses her midterm Monday in Adams Hall. Songster is six to seven months pregnant.

Along with their computers, notes and books, some professors are carrying a little extra to class: their unborn children. For pregnant professors, making physical accommodations and foreseeing contingencies for the classroom are necessary, said Elena Songster, history and international and area studies professor. Songster has one son, 2-year-old Dylan, and is six to seven months pregnant with her second child. Christine Tinsley, mathematics professor, wasn’t planning on interrupting her lecture class to tell her students she was pregnant with her first child, but when the projector started overheating, Tinsley felt dizzy and wanted to explain it to her class. “I think they were surprised,” Tinsley said. “Before, they had been hesitant to ask.” Pregnancy wasn’t hard for her, she said, but normal tasks tired her faster than usual. Tinsley gave birth to her daughter Savannah in 2008 and returned to teaching two weeks later because she was not

eligible for paid leave. OU abides by the Family and Medical Leave Act of 1993, which grants anyone who has been working for 12 months, 52 weeks or 1,250 hours up to 12 weeks of unpaid, job-protected leave. Tinsley is an adjunct professor and is not covered by the act. Jennifer Lopez, Spanish teaching assistant, had her son, Alexandro, in December of last semester, and said being a mother and juggling her OU responsibilities was difficult. “As a TA, you’re expected to do your master’s degree or Ph.D., attend classes and work,” Lopez said. The workload for Lopez was heavy, she said, but students were understanding. Lauren Young, University College freshman, had Lopez for a Spanish class last semester and said students did not treat Lopez any differently than other teachers. “They actually had fun with her, telling her not to drink soda or beer,” Young said. “They gave her random facts about what she should do to keep the baby healthy.” Young said Lopez only missed one class during the semester. Lopez doesn’t get much sleep now as a new mother, but said she is calmer now because she has less anxiety about her son’s health. “It was difficult,” she said. “But at the end, when you see your baby, you forget all the difficulties.”

News

Tuesday, Feb. 10, 2009

Recent earthquakes shake up Oklahoma • Fault line between Norman and Pauls Valley most active in state Hannah Rieger The Oklahoma Daily The three earthquakes that shook the state during the past two weeks caused some Oklahomans to wonder if they should be alarmed. Oklahoma has many earthquakes that go unnoticed every year because they are so small, said Kenneth Luza, an engineering geologist at the Oklahoma Geological Survey in Norman. The recent earthquakes reached magnitudes of up to 3.4 on the Richter scale, he said. “The average magnitude for an earthquake in Oklahoma is around 2.4, which is a very small earthquake,” Luza said. These earthquakes are not uncommon and are not a cause for alarm, he said. The first earthquake occurred Jan. 28 in Grady County, the second on Jan. 29 in Lincoln County near Chandler,

and the third on Feb. 3 in Cole County in the town of Colgate, Luza said. Grady County is approximately 40 miles southwest of Cleveland County, Lincoln County is 55 miles northeast of Cleveland County, and Cole County is 200 miles northeast of Cleveland County. The major areas for earthquakes in Oklahoma include the fault line between Norman and Pauls Valley, the Canadian County area, including El Reno and Mustang, and the Arkoma basin area in the southeastern part of the state, Luza said. The fault between Norman and Pauls Valley is the most active in the state. “Oklahoma averages around 50 earthquakes a year,” Luza said. “Usually one or two are reported felt earthquakes, so it is unusual to have three felt earthquakes within two weeks of each other.” These earthquakes do hardly any damage and only last seconds, he said. “Windows and dishes might rattle but that is it,” Luza said. Because the earthquakes are so small, geologists locate them with instruments, he said. Earthquakes as small as 1.5 on the Richter scale can be felt depending on surrounding conditions, Luza said. The largest earthquake in Oklahoma’s history occurred in April 1952. It reached a magnitude of 5.5 and was felt from Des Moines, Iowa to Austin, Texas.

Professors may ease up on Dead Week • Student Congress offers changes for pre-finals week assignments Jacqueline Clews The Oklahoma Daily Changes proposed by Student Congress could lessen the workload for students during pre-finals week and entirely prohibit faculty from changing a class syllabus. The current policy outlined in the OU Faculty Handbook prohibits instructors from assigning projects during pre-finals week, and any assignments due that week must be equal to or less than 10 percent of the class’s total grade. The proposal would cut the grade percentages assigned during pre-finals week to 5 percent. It would also prohibit professors from

Appeal

No injuries in Campus Lodge fire, cause unknown

Continued from page 1

Nanette Light and Clark Foy The Oklahoma Daily A fire at Campus Lodge Apartments, 1600 Beaumont Dr., in east Norman brought five fire engines and three ambulances to the complex Monday night. Assistant Fire Chief Mike Wilson said the cause of the fire is unknown and an inspector is looking into possibilities. Wilson said no one he knew of was hurt in the fire, and officials said most of the damage was caused by water. Firefighters had the fire out within 10 minutes of their arrival at the apartment, Wilson said. A call came in around 7:45 p.m. Monday about a fire that originated in apartment 1623. Within minutes, the fire had spread from the second floor balcony to the grass below, said Courtney Voorhees, history junior, who lives in apartment 1624. The fire was mostly contained to the second-floor balcony, Wilson said. Most of the damage to the unit was caused by water from sprinklers. Ty Cocker lives in apartment 1623 and said he was in the parking lot when he heard a sound like a gunshot. Cocker,

giving assignments that week that were not in the initial syllabus. “I believe a syllabus is a contract, but more policies equal constricted teaching,” said zoology professor Laurie Vitt, a member of the Faculty Senate. “I’ll be honest. I read very few policies. If every evening I read every e-mail I got from the university and department, that’s all I’d do all day.” Chemistry professor LeRoy Blank, member of the Faculty Senate, proposed altering the plan to allow professors to make changes to the syllabus during the semester, as long as they announce it at least 30 days beforehand and the department chair approves the change. “The main thing we are trying to hold on to is 5 percent,” said Frank Wood, academic affairs chairman for the Undergraduate Student Congress. The 5 percent policy would give students more time to focus on studying for finals, therefore allowing the retention of more information for classes that follow, Wood said. The changes to the OU Faculty Handbook will be up for vote March 9.

until the DNA of a man booked for burglary was run through a national DNA database and found to match DNA samples taken from Busken’s clothing. Sanchez, then 27, was arrested in 2004. He was charged with rape, forcible sodomy and murder. Sanchez was tried in Norman in February 2006. A jury found him guilty on all charges. They sentenced him to death by lethal injection two days later. When Busken died, she had just finished her final exams and was scheduled to graduate. She was last seen alive dropping a friend off at Will Rogers

World Airport early the morning of Dec. 20. On the morning of her death, Busken’s parents were on their way to Norman from their hometown of Benton, Ark., to help their daughter pack and move home. When they arrived in Norman, she was not at her apartment. Her parents, Mary Jean and Wilbur “Bud” Busken, came to the Cleveland County Courthouse every day during Sanchez’s trial in 2006. According to the Benton Courier, the Buskens are planning to attend oral arguments today at OU.

Zach Butler/The Daily

Firefighters responded to a fire in Building 16 of Campus Lodge Apartment complex Monday night. commercial aviation sophomore, said he called 9-1-1 and began banging on apartment doors and telling people to evacuate. He then ran into his room to grab his TV and comforter. By the time he made

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.

it back up to the apartment for a second retrieval round, the apartment was ablaze. Cocker said he doesn’t know how the fire started. He said his roommates were in their rooms when the fire began.

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Campus News

Tuesday, Feb. 10, 2009

Cheap and healthy options abound for the frugal student • Grocery shopping instead of eating out helps keep students healthy SHERIDAN STOVALL The Oklahoma Daily

In an effort to stretch money on a campus where fast-food is affordable and convenient, students might often overlook the crucial aspect of proper nutrition. Some students might not realize that nutritious food is just as readily available and affordable as fast-food. A quick trip to the

grocery store can provide more nutritious food while purchasing groceries can provide food that lasts much longer than a trip through a drive thru. The following foods are affordable, accessible and nutritious, and are just as convenient as anything from a fast-food stop.

WORST

• Fried fast food items are actually the least nutritious choice students can make. Fried foods are high in fat, and the fat tends to settle in the stomach. • Students are often studying or sitting in class, rather than remaining active and burning oﬀ the unhealthy food. This can lead to sluggishness and fatigue.

OATMEAL • Great source of ﬁber • Quick, easy and inexpensive • Can be prepared with milk, fruit or honey to change ﬂavor LOW-FAT YOGURT

OTHER

COLLEGE FOODS

NUTRITIOUS FOODS

NUTRITION INFORMATION SOURCE: HEATHER HOFFHINES, NUTRITION PROFESSOR

NUTS • Less expensive source of protein • Very convenient • Can be used to make trail mix with dried fruit • Can be substituted with peanut butter

• Good source of calcium • Contains “good bacteria” which aids in digestive health • Young women should be aware of daily calcium intake to help prevent osteoporosis

• Frozen vegetables are a great source of fiber, and can sometimes have even more nutritional value than fresh vegetables, Hoffhines said. Whole grain bagels or English muffins can also be a great source of fiber. • Students should not be afraid of canned goods, Hoffhines said. If students do choose to buy canned items, it is important to find the items with low sodium and sugar content. • Low-fat string cheese is a great source of calcium and protein

FRUIT • Best convenient snack • Essential vitamins, ﬁber and antioxidants

Alcohol Recovery Group A support group for members of the OU community.

For accommodations on the basis of disability, call 325-4611 x41777. The University of Oklahoma is an Equal Opportunity Institution.

For details and weekly meeting location, please call Dr. Scott Miller at 325-2913.

Opinion

Tuesday, Feb. 10, 2009

OUR VIEW

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

COMMENTS OF THE DAY

Higher Education Day needs reform in favor of students Higher Education Day used to be an opportunity constructive criticism of students and official unifor students to petition to state lawmakers. versity policy. It’s a distinction that lawmakers are That’s what it should be. sure to recognize. But the once-open exchange of ideas has turned We think Higher Education Day should be an into a restricted meeting that allows OU officials open forum for students to petition to whichever to control the message students send to legislators lawmakers they want, as long as the lawmakers sit (see page 1 for details). on committees relevant to the students’ The current method forces students to OUR VIEW concerns of if they represent the stuvoice their concerns to an intermediary is an editorial dents’ district. who then takes the concerns to legisla- selected and debated They should hold meetings that allow tors. Students then have the opportunity by the editorial board mass amounts of students from OU and and written after a to attempt to contact legislators as long majority opinion is other universities unrestricted access to as they aren’t busy. This method isn’t fair formed and approved numerous officials at once. by the editor. Our View to the student body. This event is essential to making sure is The Daily’s oﬃcial With a gatekeeper dictating what is students’ voices are heard by the officials opinion. said to lawmakers, it’s impossible for who make the policy regarding the instistudents to know if their concerns are tutions that students attend and preserve. ever heard. One day of the year isn’t too much to ask. If OU officials are worried about students speakAnd everyone involved – from OU officials to ing on behalf of the university, they shouldn’t be. state legislators – should work to make this event There is an obvious distinction between the as open and inclusive as possible.

In response to a Feb. 9 news story about the arrest of OU basketball playabout the rebirth of the NAACP student er Ray Willis I just hope he learns from this. chapter - POSTED BY OUSOONERS AT OUDAILY.COM

NAACP needs to have representation on campus. The black community at OU has been too complacent -especially given OU’s strong past in ﬁghting for civil rights. - POSTED BY JWADE AT OUDAILY.COM

In response to a Feb. 9 news story

YOUR VIEWS We must respect alcohol Should the drinking age be 18 instead of 21, as Michael Wilkinson suggested in his Feb. 6 column? Of course it should. I would never disagree with the notion that a citizen, with the right to vote or go to war, should also have the right to drink. But will lowering the drinking age to 18 help solve the issues we have with binge drinking and alcoholism? I used to think so – not surprisingly when I was also a college freshman – but these days I’m much more skeptical. Last year I had the phenomenal opportunity to study abroad in the UK. I don’t think anyone would argue that, of the European peoples, the English are the closest to us in the U.S. culturally. However, in addition to having far

superior accents, the Brits differ from us in that their drinking age is 18. When I arrived in London I expected to find a society that had moved beyond the issues we face with alcohol due to their wise choice to have a lower drinking age. Instead, I discovered that despite their law, the English have as many alcohol related problems as we do. The issue facing us is the same issue facing the English. The problems we have are cultural. They have little to due with laws. Until we learn, as a culture, to respect alcohol from childhood through adulthood, the drinking age won’t matter. Unfortunately, culture is much more difficult to change than legislation. - DAVID SHERMAN, METEOROLOGY SENIOR

THE RUNNING ARGUMENT

Who was more influential: Darwin or Lincoln? Lincoln Would another president have led the Union to victory over the Confederacy? They probably would have. Would another president have pushed so ardently for individual liberties, civil rights, and swift, generous reconstruction of the Confederacy? Maybe, but maybe not. Now, let’s apply this argument to Charles Darwin. Maybe Darwin would have published his theory of natural selection 30 years after the voyage of the Beagle rather than 20 years afterwards had he not read an essay by Alfred Russell Wallace proposing an independently conceived and virtually identical theory. Maybe he wouldn’t have. It’s hard to see how someone who’s been alive during the past century could say that Lincoln’s influence was isolated to the U.S.

Darwin

Despite the fact that the Union most likely would have won the Civil War regardless of Lincoln’s existence or lack thereof, it’s ludicrous to claim Lincoln did not play a major role in reshaping and restructuring the U.S. after the war. Likewise, it’s impossible to say the modern U.S. has not vastly influenced most issues in most countries of the world. Contrarily, natural selection’s influence was restricted not only to the scientific field, but JULES to biology. Again, the scope and scale of KUNZE Darwin’s accomplishments pale in comparison to Lincoln’s. Jules Kunze is a biomedical sciences senior.

tion, lump it all under the heading “invented the theory of evolution,” and declare it a single accomplishment is a meaningless exercise in semantics. Kunze’s claims about Lincoln’s outstanding morals are similarly distorted. Despite abolitionists’ demanding that all slaves be freed, when Lincoln drafted the Emancipation Proclamation, he only granted freedom to slaves in states not under Union control. By the time the 13th Amendment was passed, slavery had already been outlawed in all but four states. Had Lincoln demanded nondiscrimination toward African Americans, he would be the beacon of unparalleled enlightenment Kunze describes him as. However, in reality, Lincoln was only a half-step ahead of most of his contemporaries.

Jules Kunze’s description of Darwin’s theory contains several mistakes. Evolution was not a preexisting theory that Darwin augmented. Rather, it was an observed phenomenon for which several explanatory theories had been proposed. Lamarck’s theory of evolution, for example, was the most popularly held before Darwin discovered natural selection. That evolution had been observed for more than 2,000 years before Darwin proposed ZAC the definitive explanation for it SMITH is no more material than that apples had been observed to fall before Newton created his theory of gravitation. Furthermore, to take the years of research and writing that Darwin put into understanding evolu-

Zac Smith is an English junior.

STAFF COLUMN

Daily headline ‘classless’ and ‘unprofessional’ I hope The Daily doesn’t make a habit of mocking private citizens with its headlines. The Daily’s classless and unprofessional decision to run, “Just Wanted to Make it Snow” as a headline on Jan. 29 should not be repeated. The “Just wanted to make it snow” video itself isn’t admirable. STEPHEN The poorly-shot video CARRADINI shows a girl crying hysterically over a prank gone wrong. While the entire event may make the girl question whether she actually wants to be part of

a group that treats its members this way, this video not anything particularly heinous in the YouTube world. People laugh at others’ misfortune, and no article is going to stop that. But for The Daily to co-opt one of the phrases from this unfortunate video as a headline is ridiculous. Pop culture references in headlines are often clever and interest people in stories. But making light of this girl’s misfortune is, at the very least, in poor taste, and at most, an egregious error in judgment. One of this girl’s worst days ever has been viewed and laughed at more than 500,000 times by private citizens. It’s their right to do so. I support the right to post the video and the right to watch the

video, even if my personal opinion is that it should not be posted nor viewed out of respect for the girl. The Daily is not a private citizen. It markets itself as the OU’s independent student voice. If this is so, then by using this phrase as a headline, The Daily has associated the entire student body with the ridicule of this girl. As a member of the student body that doesn’t favor the practice of kicking a girl while she’s down, this is a slap in my face. This is not what the newspaper should be about. If “Just Wanted to Make It Snow” was a headline on the opinion page, I may have still taken offense. It may be good opinion writing to poke fun at elected officials and other public figures, but it

is not good opinion writing to heckle private citizens. There’s simply no reason for it. If a subject is not fit for the opinion page (as I would argue that any non-serious reference to “Just Wanted to Make it Snow” is), it is certainly unfit for any news-related section of the paper. The news should be clear, precise, accurate and free of waste. This is what they teach in the journalism college that many of the members of The Daily attend. The only section that may have had a legitimate claim to the headline would perhaps be the L&A section, which may have run a piece on the fact that people enjoyed the YouTube clip. The Daily shouldn’t be associated with this drivel

at all, but if it must be covered, it should have been mentioned in the L&A section. Even though it may have been seen as a quick laugh at the expense of a fad, the lack of foresight on the part of The Daily distresses me. There was no reason to associate The Daily with this sort of sophomoric drivel. There is no reason for the student paper to mock the misfortune of one of the people in its readership. It is poor journalism to make laughs at the expense of private citizens, even if the insult is one step removed from the actual event. Stephen Carradini is a professional writing senior.

STAFF COLUMN

Deification of President Obama not warranted

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The imagery and the adulation it has received is enough to creep me out a little. Remember that all of this was produced before the man even signed one bill or made one executive decision. Maybe I haven’t been alive long enough to remember a time when a politician was so revered, but I still find it disconcerting that this reverence is so strong as to warrant multiple sets of commemorative coins, throw blankets, and jigsaw puzzles with the man’s face on them. There’s even a Chia Obama bust. He’s a politician, not a plant-sprouting idol to tote around our living rooms, “green” though he may be. I tend to question the level-headed, decision-making abilities of a voter seen practically convulsing, tears streaming, in a fit of adulation for any politician. And I find it worrisome that a figurehead in the government is the object of such a fanatic display. I was always taught to be especially suspicious of the government—to treat politicians with an especially strong but fair critical eye. The creation of the aforementioned icons, coupled with the hysterics of many Obama proponents, shows that many people

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T H E The Fine Print

T H E

bespoke his then coming ascension to the highest throne in the free world. Actually, these not-so-subtle glorifications betray the prejudices of many of our media outlets. Additional troubling images come from the familiar and highly stylized “HOPE” and “CHANGE” portraits of Obama featuring a muted red and blue color palette. Every time I see these, I can’t shake recollections of the propaganda images of pariahs like Che Guevara and Lenin. Of course, I am not comparing them with our president. These kinds of pictures say more about the campaign and the followers of Obama than the man himself. They harken back to a blind and emotional support that I find a little unsettling. It should surprise no one to find out that the artist responsible for the iconic image is the same one responsible for enigmatic “OBEY” graphics. The difference between the two is that one is a joke while the other helped elect our president. Both attempt to evoke emotion with little discernible substance to back them up.

Barack Obama fever has certainly infected this nation. Even before our new president was sworn in, the charisma bug was affecting people from all walks of life. As the glassy-eyed electorate looked up to their messianic figure for those always alluded to yet vacuous ideas of change and hope, it was clear that this virulent fever is based more on raw emotions than sound politics. Many of these mystified citizens are caught in a star-struck stupor rather than an engaging consideration of policy. Looking at Obama’s portrayal in popular media and merchandising, JOSHUA it’s all too clear that our president WADLIN has already been deified. If you ever had any doubts about the demigod qualities of Obama, just check some recent covers of magazines like Time, Newsweek, or Rolling Stone. In these you may catch a glimpse of Obama’s halo. The literal disc of light that adorned the president

lack this healthy suspicion. The electorate is one of the checks and balances that makes our system of government great, but the check will not function if skepticism is frittered away. The point I’m trying to make here isn’t that Obama isn’t someone to inspire hope or command our respect, nor I am making judgments about his abilities. I simply think the kind of celebrity worship that creates bleary-eyed citizens cuddling with Obama blankets crosses a line into the area of the American psyche in which an active public servant should never reside. I hope that those infected with Obama fever can put away their Barack Brand shampoo and put their hopes and dreams into their own hands. He can’t solve everyone’s problems—hair-related or otherwise. The U.S. president should be someone to criticize and respect, not something you rinse out of your hair every morning. Joshua Wadlin is an entrepreneurship and zoology senior.

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Sports

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

Tuesday, Feb. 10, 2009

Women’s Basketball

STAFF COLUMN

Five questions the Sooners must answer

Rodriguez’s situation sad, handled poorly by MLB

• OU is 20-2 but still has some questions. The Daily’s Annelise Russell looks for the answers. 1. Can the Sooners avoid an upset in the Big 12? The Sooners are deep into conference play and so far their slate is clean. The Big 12 has arguably produced some of the nation’s highest-quality rosters. Teams with potential to upset OU include Baylor, Texas and Texas A&M. For OU to avoid an upset from any of these teams, the Sooners must prove they are able to put together a streak of games with 40 minutes of efficient offense and stifling defense. If they can consecutively pull it together, there should not be any team in the conference who takes down the Sooners.

2. What kind of bench play can Sherri Coale expect from her squad?

factors that cannot be predicted. For a loss, one cannot assume disappointment, but if the Sooners choke in the second round of the NCAA tournament, then the conversation might be up for discussion.

5. Can this OU team beat Connecticut? Depending on how the brackets break down and who ends up where, when regions are announced in March there is a good chance OU will have to face Connecticut down the road. In the last match up, the Sooners were handed a 28-point defeat and a reality check for the plane ride home. OU has never beaten UCONN, and if the Sooners wish to reverse the trend they must find a way to make up almost 30 points. If OU can learn from the last game, anything is possible, but it is definitely a David and Goliath tale. ANNELISE RUSSELL IS A POLITICAL SCIENCE AND JOURNALISM JUNIOR.

ANNELISE RUSSELL

All coaches expect the bench players to be able to step into a game and provide fresh legs. In reality, many times this hope is lost and those coming off the bench get lost in the game and struggle to find a rhythm. In the case of OU, junior guard Nyeshia Stevenson has been a huge spark averaging 10.1 points per game and providing the speed on fast breaks. When OU made it to the Final Four in 2002, the one thing it lacked was a deep bench. To extend the season and the starters’ stamina, sophomore forward Carlee Roethlisburger and sophomore guard Jenny Vining are going to need to contribute more than 4.6 and 3.3 points per game.

3. Do free throws matter? Senior center Courtney Paris said free-throw shooting was one area that needed work, and the All-American is spot on with this observation. As a team, the Sooners are shooting 67 percent on the season, but only 60 percent in conference play. For years in the NBA, players had gone inside to contest a Shaquille O’Neal dunk, and as a last ditch effort to avoid the easy bucket, foul the big man. Teams could count on the 7-foot center to miss at least one of the two from the line. The Sooners have the same problem in their post. Missing free throws has not been the deciding factor in any game this season, but once tournament play rolls around, missing free throws could be the difference between a Sweet Sixteen team and a Final Four contender.

4. Is anything but a national title a disappointment? If not winning a national championship qualifies as disappointing, then most teams will find themselves in deep depression come March. There is never an end-all-be-all in sports, however, when a team starts one of the most influential players in the history of women’s basketball, along with a supporting cast that could start on any college team, there is something to be said about not pulling it together. Chemistry, opponents and rhythm factor into a national championship team, intangible

Amy Frost/The Daily

Sophomore guard Danielle Robinson (13) drives past Tennessee forward Glory Johnson (25) Feb. 2 at the Ford Center in Oklahoma City.

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ajor League Baseball and New York Yankees third baseman Alex Rodriguez took a big blow Saturday morning when Sports Illustrated reported that the slugger used anabolic steroids in 2003. Rodriguez came clean in an interview with famed baseball reporter and analyst Peter Gammons Monday, admitting to using the performanceenhancing drugs during his 2001-2003 tenure with JONO the Texas Rangers. GRECO In his interview, Rodriguez said he used steroids because of the $252 million contract he signed prior to the 2001 season, and to prove he could live up to his god-like status. “When I arrived in Texas in 2001, I felt an enormous amount of pressure,” Rodriguez said. “I felt like I had all the weight of the world on top of me, and I needed to perform — and perform at a high level — every day.” During his years with the Rangers, Rodriguez hit .305 — 4 points lower than his career average — with 156 home runs and 395 RBIs. He also won his first of three American League Most Valuable Player awards in 2003. His reasons are inexcusable, but there are probably only two reasons the public should accept an athlete using steroids: to recover from surgery or if a licensed medical doctor prescribes it. Yankees pitcher — and A-Rod’s current teammate — Andy Pettite admitted to using human growth hormones and was not chastised for it, because he said it was used to recover from an elbow injury. Even with the confession, Rodriguez will not be treated the same as Pettite because of the selfish reason he gave. Rodriguez was already at the top of the “America’s Most Hated Baseball Players” list mainly due to his huge contract. Outside of the fact that Rodriguez used steroids, I have two major problems with this entire situation. First, the 2003 drug test in which Rodriguez tested positive was supposed to be anonymous and destroyed immediately afterward. It has been almost six full years since the survey, but all the information is coming out now. Secondly, of the 104 players who tested positive for illegal substances, why was A-Rod’s name the only one revealed? There are 103 other players on that list, yet the public has no idea who they are. Either come out with the entire list or don’t release any names. The only saving grace for A-Rod is that he has not failed a drug test since the 2003 survey and signing with the Yankees. During that five-year period with the Yanks, Rodriguez has hit .303 with 208 homers and 616 RBIs. In 2005 and 2007 he earned his other two AL MVP awards. Even though coming out with the truth was his best option, A-Rod’s Hall of Fame status is still up in the air and the odds of being a first-ballot selection is almost zero. I thank him for telling the truth but hope his legacy will not be completely tarnished because all of this.

JONO GRECO IS A JOURNALISM SOPHOMORE.

Classifieds

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PAID. EGG DONORS for up to 9 donations, + Exps, non-smokers, Ages 19-29, SAT>1100/ACT>24/GPA>3.00 Contact: info@eggdonorcenter.com

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1 bedroom near campus, $340/mo plus all utilities, $200/dep, no pets, Call 886-6709. $400, bills paid, efficiency LOFT apartments, downtown over Mister Robert Furniture, 109 E Main, fire sprinkler, no pets, smoke-free. Inquire store office.

ROOMS FURNISHED NEAR OU, privacy, $260, bills paid includes cable, neat, clean, parking. Prefer male student. Call 329-0143.

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

TUTORS WANTED!!! Available positions in the OU Athletics Department!!! Junior, Senior, Graduate, and Post Graduate applicants only!! All Subjects! Hiring for Spring 2009. Call 325-8453, for more info!!

AVAILABLE IN MAY A short walk to OU, 1-5 blks west of OU, nice brick homes, wood floors, CH/A, w/d, disposal, good parking. 3 Bdrm $1200-1800 2 Bdrm $700-$900 1 Bdrm $420-$460 MISTER ROBERT FURNITURE 9-4 pm, Mon-Sat, 321-1818

WE DONâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;T JUST PROVIDE FOOD FOR THE HOMELESS.

Two roommate wanted for 3 bdrm, 2 bath house, hot tub, internet, $350/mo, all bills included! 12th & Rock Creek area, 290-8815.

1/2 OFF 1st MONTHS RENT* Immediate Move-Ins Only / Prices Reduced! $99 DEPOSIT! PETS WELCOME! Models open 8a-8p Everyday! 1 & 2 Bedrooms Available! Elite Properties 360-6624 or www.elite2900.com

Cricket Wireless is now hiring for full and part-time sales, $8-10/hr. Apply in person 1000 Alameda.

MISAL OF INDIA BISTRO Now accepting applications for waitstaff. Apply in person at 580 Ed Noble Parkway, across from Barnes & Noble, 579-5600.

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

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5 2 3 1 8 6 4 7 9

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Universal Crossword

Previous Solution 8 9 1 3 5 4 2 6 7

Edited by Timothy E. Parker February 10, 2009

ACROSS 1 Con men? 6 Risked getting points 10 Garden adjunct 14 Not accidental 15 Lemurâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s hangout 16 Nicolletteâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s co-star 17 Hardly revolutionary 20 Wishing for 21 â&#x20AC;&#x153;â&#x20AC;Ś if you want to avoid troubleâ&#x20AC;? 22 German carmaker Karl 23 Fake handles 24 Federal repository 28 Theyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re noted on flights 29 Part of an Adenauer epithet 30 Hat-passing network 33 Beer alternatives 34 Flood insurance of sorts 36 â&#x20AC;&#x153;The ___ shall inherit â&#x20AC;Śâ&#x20AC;? 37 ___ X-ing 38 Stick in mud 39 Bay of Naples resort 40 Commuterâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s system 43 Defame

46 â&#x20AC;&#x153;The Last Days of Pompeiiâ&#x20AC;? girl 47 â&#x20AC;&#x153;ScoobyDooâ&#x20AC;? character 48 Characteristics 52 Latest fashions on the racks 54 Suit to ___ 55 â&#x20AC;&#x153;Elizabethâ&#x20AC;? star Blanchett 56 Carter and Dunn 57 It may precede the sharing of a secret 58 It needs room to grow 59 Fields of study DOWN 1 Within 2 Endangered goose 3 Makes torchon lace 4 Represses 5 Sound systems 6 Poem division 7 Stuck-up one 8 Nighttimeâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s start, in poetry 9 Barren 10 Word with â&#x20AC;&#x153;winningâ&#x20AC;? or â&#x20AC;&#x153;losingâ&#x20AC;? 11 They may be cooled 12 Delete 13 Thin mint

products 18 Wisc. neighbor 19 Threefold 23 Having the know-how 24 Certain tide 25 Toll unit 26 Connected, as two musical notes 27 Washed up 30 ___ up (gets excited) 31 Doubled, a thiamine deficiency 32 Bit of burlesque 34 Feigns singing 35 One of five great ones 36 Gambit 38 Homerâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s wife 39 Mexican saloon 40 Lament

41 Having multiple layers 42 Airport sound 43 Songwritersâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; org. 44 Bars or bolts 45 Cuts back 48 It may be tempted 49 Breathing abnormality 50 She, south of the border 51 Air hose sound 53 Kinetoscope co-inventorâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s monogram

PREVIOUS PUZZLE ANSWER

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Details POLICE REPORTS

PUBLIC INTOXICATION

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.

Nathaniel Bane Bigbie, 23, Boyd Street and Elm Avenue, Friday Walter Glenn Crowell, 30, fountain area on 1000 Asp Ave., Saturday Brandi Nicole Ward, 19, 2670 Classen Blvd., Sunday, also municipal warrant

DRIVING UNDER THE INFLUENCE Joseph Foster Wojtkowiak, 49, 607 W Boyd St., Sunday, also driving without a license and transporting an open container Sarah Rosemary Crewson, 20, Boyd and Jenkins, Sunday Jayson Shanti Patel, 19, Lindsey and George Street, Thursday Sofia Antonia Alegre Marchand, 24, 500 W Boyd Street, Friday Brandon McKenzie Smith, 21, 500 Block of South Chautauqua, Saturday Erin Leann Wilson, 26, Boyd Street, Saturday

AGGRAVATED DRIVING UNDER THE INFLUENCE Jessica Paige Rollins, 24, 12th Avenue, Sunday

POSSESSION OF MARIJUANA Justin Wade Campbell, 18, 1200 E Louisiana St., Sunday Jacob Wayne Strutton, 18, 1200 E Louisiana St., Sunday Jeremiah DeWayne Walker, 22, 1432 24th Ave. SE, Sunday, also public intoxication Gabriel Nicholas Jouas, 20, 2401 S Chautauqua Ave., Thursday, also public intoxication and possession of drug paraphernalia

ASSAULT AND BATTERY Kelly Ann Click, 26, Carter St., Sunday Amber Dawn Griffin, 24, 221 Chalmette Drive, Saturday Amber Nicole Sager, 33, 1200 E Louisiana St., Sunday

POSSESSION OF ALCOHOL Colton Lee McGetrick, 18, 1800 24th Ave. SE, Sunday

TRESPASSING Brandon James Kelly, 21, West side of Dale Hall, Friday

PETTY LARCENY Ronald Theodore Edwards, 24, 3651 W Robinson St., Sunday, also municipal warrant and disturbing the peace

Casey Lynn Luster, 35, 1800 24th Ave. SE, Sunday

COUNTY WARRANT Raymond Marquatte Baker, 37, West Main Street, Sunday

WARRANT - OTHER NUISANCE PARTY Cynthia Marie Judson, 20, 1111 Oak Tree Ave., Sunday

CAMPUS NOTES

Howard Nathaniel Rollins, 27, 2600 W Main St., Sunday

Tuesday, Feb. 10, 2009

Mummies found in newly discovered tomb in Egypt CAIRO â&#x20AC;&#x201D; A storeroom housing about two dozen ancient Egyptian mummies has been unearthed inside a 2,600-year-old tomb during the latest round of excavations at the vast necropolis of Saqqara south of Cairo, archaeologists said Monday. The tomb was located at the bottom of a 36-foot deep shaft, said Egyptâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s top archaeologist, Zahi Hawass. Twenty-two mummies were found in niches along the tombâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s walls, he said. Eight sarcophagi were also found in the tomb. Archaeologists so far have opened only one of the sarcophagi â&#x20AC;&#x201D; and found a mummy inside of it, said Hawassâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; assistant Abdel Hakim Karar. Mummies are believed to be inside the other seven, he said. The â&#x20AC;&#x153;storeroom for mummiesâ&#x20AC;? dates back to 640 B.C. during the 26th Dynasty, which was Egyptâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s last independent kingdom before it was overthrown by a succession of foreign conquerors beginning with the Persians, Hawass said. But the tomb was discovered at an even older site in Saqqara that dates back to the 4,300-year-old 6th Dynasty, he said. Most of the mummies are poorly preserved, and archeologists have yet AP Photo/Supreme Council of Antiquities to determine their identities or why so many were put in one room. The remains of a newly-discovered Egyptian mummy and sarcophagus are seen The name Badi N Huri was engraved into the opened sarcophagus, but Sunday, in a tomb at Saqqara, south of Cairo, in Egypt. the wooden coffin did not bear a title for the mummy. â&#x20AC;&#x153;This one might have been an important figure, but I canâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t tell because there was no title,â&#x20AC;? Karar said. Karar also said it was unusual for mummies of this late period to be stored in rocky niches. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Niches were known in the very early dynasties, so to find one for the 26th Dynasty is something rare,â&#x20AC;? he said. Excavations have been ongoing at Saqqara for 150 years, uncovering a necropolis of pyramids and tombs dating mostly from the Old Kingdom Low $29.95 We have Non but also tombs from as recent as the Roman era. memberships for Speed $42.95 In the past, excavations have focused on just one side of the siteâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s two most prominent pyramids â&#x20AC;&#x201D; the famous Step Pyramid of King Djoser and 5 weeks starting Premium $54.95 that of Unas, the last king of the 5th Dynasty. The area where the current at $29.95 tomb was found, to the southwest, has been largely untouched by archeologists. Dorms 364-7344 â&#x20AC;˘ East 321-7344 Dorm In December, two tombs were found near the current discovery of mummies. The tombs were built for high officials â&#x20AC;&#x201D; one responsible for the quarries used to build the nearby pyramids and the other for a woman in charge of procuring entertainers for the pharaohs. In November, Hawass announced the discovery of a new pyramid at By Bernice Bede Osol Saqqara, the 118th in Egypt, and the 12th to be found just in Saqqara.

SANDY BEACHES â&#x20AC;&#x153;EASTâ&#x20AC;? IS NOW OPEN!!! 5 Weeks Until Spring Break!

HOROSCOPE

WEDNESDAY

â&#x20AC;&#x201D;AP

Christians on Campus will hold a Bible study at 12:30 p.m. in the union.

AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 19) -- If you are just skating through life and merely trusting to luck to carry the load for you, donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t expect any big returns. Rewards will come only in direct proportion to the efforts you expend.

CHRISTIANS ON CAMPUS Christians on Campus will hold a Bible study at 12:45 p.m. in the Oklahoma Memorial Union.

CAREER SERVICES Career Services will host an interviewing workshop at 2:30 p.m. in the union.

RecycleMania ou.edu/recyclemania /"5*0/"- $".164 3&$:$-*/( "/% 8"45& .*/*.*;"5*0/ */*5*"5*7& t /08 5)306() ."3$)

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The University of Oklahoma is an Equal Opportunity Institution.

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PISCES (Feb. 20-March 20) -- There are no free rides in life, even when it comes to dealing with loved ones. Small, thoughtful gestures, however, will yield big returns. Do something considerate so that those close to your heart know you care. ARIES (March 21-April 19) -- When working on something in unison with another that is turning out well, donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t attempt to take all the accolades. Sharing the glory and rewards must be equally distributed.

SOONERS to report illegal or unsafe drinking. All calls are anonymous.

Sunday, Feb. 10, 2008

CHRISTIANS ON CAMPUS

TODAY

recycling ONE ton of aluminum cans

CONSERVES the equivalent of

1,655 gallons of gasoline. 6RXUFH (QYLURQPHQWDO 3URWHFWLRQ $JHQF\ 0XQLFLSDO 6ROLG :DVWH *HQHUDWLRQ )DFWV DQG )LJXUHV IRU

HOW TO PARTICIPATE: Reduce your total waste. Recycle your paper, plastic and aluminum on campus. Register for our sweepstakes at OU.EDU/RECYCLEMANIA.* 1R SXUFKDVH QHFHVVDU\ 9RLG ZKHUH SURKLELWHG 6HH RIĂ&#x20AC;FLDO UXOHV IRU GHWDLOV DQG SUL]HV 7KDQN \RX WR RXU JHQHURXV VSRQVRUV &$57 +RXVLQJ DQG )RRG 6HUYLFHV 2IĂ&#x20AC;FH RI WKH 6HQLRU 9LFH 3UHVLGHQW DQG 3URYRVW 3K\VLFDO 3ODQW 6WXGHQW $IIDLUV 6WXGHQW 0HGLD 8QLYHUVLW\ 3ULQWLQJ 6HUYLFHV DQG :HE &RPPXQLFDWLRQV 7KH 8QLYHUVLW\ RI 2NODKRPD LV DQ HTXDO RSSRUWXQLW\ LQVWLWXWLRQ )RU TXHVWLRQV RU DFFRPPRGDWLRQV RQ WKH EDVLV RI GLVDELOLW\ SOHDVH FRQWDFW UHF\FOHPDQLD#RX HGX

TAURUS (April 20-May 20) -- When you make decisions based upon existing, realistic facts, the outcome will be excellent. Conversely, shy reasoning that impairs your judgment will only lead you far from your goal. GEMINI (May 21-June 20) -- Avoid inclinations to blow small difficulties out of proportion and make them far more overwhelming than they actually are. Instead, use that splendid imagination of yours in positive ways. CANCER (June 21-July 22) -- Taking your business or financial problems to someone you know on a social basis is not only out of line -- it would be a big mistake. Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s much wiser to use an objective banker who knows how to advise you.

LEO (July 23-Aug. 22) -- If you can hit your stride, you will be a productive, industrious performer. But that is iffy, especially if you are looking for a free ride. To succeed, you must first have a sense of purpose and then total focus. VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22) -- A discussion with friends can prove to be enlightening, but if it leads to advice about a business or financial arrangement, take what they have to say with a grain of salt. Thoroughly investigate all deals independently. LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 23) -- You are likely to get off to an ambitious start with a project, but you could quickly become disenchanted if you overreach or go after something beyond your skills. In this case, you will not finish what is begun. SCORPIO (Oct. 24-Nov. 22) -- Upon occasion, we can do a bit of harmless exaggerating and nothing will come of it. But a lack of candor now, especially with co-workers, will lead to a serious situation that will be difficult to untangle. SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 23-Dec. 21) -- Even small financial dealings and transactions with others must not be taken frivolously; otherwise, you could be more concerned with their interests than with your own and give away the store. CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19) -- You must be careful not to behave in a superior or condescending manner when dealing with others. Although all looks well on the surface, youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re on shaky ground and could trip over your own feet.

Tuesday, Feb. 10, 2009

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

Life & Arts

Innovation and honesty in hip-hop Mainstream hip-hopâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s festering decline has been more than evident within the past 10 years, especially considering the mass-produced, lyrically impotent â&#x20AC;&#x153;talentâ&#x20AC;? gracing our radio-waves today. But while the mainstream world is facing its own apocalypse, there is a hiphop community underground that continues to push the limits of that long-forgotten musical genre that once defined itself on dissent, innovation, edge and honesty. TYLER Minneapolis-based rapper P.O.S. BRANSON is light years ahead of hip-hop, and he knows it. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Never Better,â&#x20AC;? the follow-up to his 2006 release â&#x20AC;&#x153;Audition,â&#x20AC;? takes some bold risks with surprising ease. Formerly a punk rock musician, P.O.S. fuses together with rap the audaciousness and dissident qualities of punk to create something unique and charming, rude and gallant, but overall a breath of fresh air.

Frequently rhyming over literal drum-rolls, P.O.S. on the opening track â&#x20AC;&#x153;Let it Rattle,â&#x20AC;? he sounds like sounds like heâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s rapping on a moving train, skillfully Atmosphere; when he decides to utilize a sample demonstrating a quick, angry and a synthesizer, like on the track delivery while riding the storm â&#x20AC;&#x153;Goodbye,â&#x20AC;? he sounds like a more of his excruciatingly drum-heavy innovative and obscure Brother Ali. beats. But it works. But itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s when he goes in his own The innovative beats match direction, when he tries things that his style well. He employs mainstream hip-hop would never heavy guitars, drums and a very attempt, that he shines bright and subtle use of samples â&#x20AC;&#x201C; unlike rises above his peers. The songs label-mates Brother Ali and â&#x20AC;&#x153;Drumroll,â&#x20AC;? â&#x20AC;&#x153;The Basicsâ&#x20AC;? and â&#x20AC;&#x153;Out Atmosphere, who make frequent of Categoryâ&#x20AC;? show P.O.S.â&#x20AC;&#x2122;s true, raw use of old, retro soul samples. talent. With crazy blues samples, P.O.S. gives us a glimpse of the distorted electronic snare drums, new direction hip-hop may take and out-of-this-world lyrical barafter the mainstream officially rages, P.O.S. does well with these crashes, burns, and looks undersongs to show the potential future â&#x20AC;&#x153;Never Betterâ&#x20AC;? ground for new direction. of the genre. P.O.S. has powerful lyrics and His lyrics focus on real-life issues, Strange Famous Records delivery that at times rival the struggles and the occasional bravalyrical genius of Sage Francis; do characteristic of all good emcees. when he sings the occasional catchy chorus like On the track â&#x20AC;&#x153;Get Smokes,â&#x20AC;? he boasts â&#x20AC;&#x153;Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;m on some

Ichabad Crane raps/Ghetto with headless gaps,â&#x20AC;? showing his unique ability to brag without sounding clichĂŠ. But he also gets more profound and shows true writing ability, like on the song â&#x20AC;&#x153;Optimist,â&#x20AC;? where he laments and leaves the audience hanging with â&#x20AC;&#x153;Nothinâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s tougher than the dream/And good sleep/Tryinâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; to teach my son how to reach/Damn right/Because it gets a little darker every night/And the rent goes up/They gonna cut out theâ&#x20AC;Śâ&#x20AC;? P.O.S. leads us on often, making use of audience anticipation. While we wait for an expected hook or word, he diverts from where we thought he would go and goes an entirely different way, or he doesnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t go anywhere at all. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Never Betterâ&#x20AC;? really hasnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t been better, and proves itself as one of the best releases this year, not just in hip hop, but in music period. â&#x20AC;&#x201C; TYLER BRANSON IS AN ENGLISH SENIOR.

Oscar showdown: Who should take the trophy for Best Actor and Best Actress? Best Actor â&#x20AC;&#x201C; Mickey Rourke

DUSTY SOMERS

I was thoroughly impressed with Sean Penn in â&#x20AC;&#x153;Milkâ&#x20AC;? and Frank Langella in â&#x20AC;&#x153;Frost/Nixon.â&#x20AC;? But thereâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s something about Mickey Rourkeâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s revelatory performance as Randy â&#x20AC;&#x153;The Ramâ&#x20AC;? Robinson in â&#x20AC;&#x153;The Wrestlerâ&#x20AC;? that sets it apart from all the others. Perhaps itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s because watching Rourke achieve acting greatness by channeling the demons that have haunted his personal life makes the film transcend the class of static fiction.

Best Actress â&#x20AC;&#x201C; Kate Winslet

Best Actor â&#x20AC;&#x201C; Richard Jenkins

Best Actress â&#x20AC;&#x201C; Anne Hathaway

First, she had two strong performances this year with â&#x20AC;&#x153;The Readerâ&#x20AC;? and â&#x20AC;&#x153;Revolutionary Road.â&#x20AC;? Second, Winsletâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s turn in â&#x20AC;&#x153;The Reader,â&#x20AC;? and much of the film itself, smacks of Oscar bait â&#x20AC;&#x201C; itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s got super serious subject matter (the Holocaust, underage sex) and a decade-spanning performance by Winslet as a Nazi. This is the kind of stuff Academy voters canâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t resist.

As Professor Walter Vale, Jenkins captures the loneliness of a man with nothing to live for and no interest in his teaching job. Jenkins makes you feel extreme despair for this lonely character as he unenthusiastically sits in his office changing the dates on his syllabus. Richard Jenkins plays his character with a realistic ease a trait other actors take for granted. The other nominees in this category did not impress me as much as Jenkins did.

Anne Hathaway might be new to receiving Oscar nominations but she is by far the most deserving of the award for her performance in â&#x20AC;&#x153;Rachel Getting Married.â&#x20AC;? Why? She is able to bring what every other actress in this category is lacking; range. Hathaway plays Kym, the fast talking, self-centered train-wreck, recently released from rehab the day before her sister Rachelâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s wedding.

OSIZIMETE AKENâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;OVA

â&#x20AC;&#x201C;DUSTY SOMERS IS A JOURNALISM JUNIOR.

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â&#x20AC;&#x201C; OSIZIMETE AKENâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;OVA IS A FILM AND VIDEO STUDIES JUNIOR.

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