Tuesday, January 15, 2013

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The University of Oklahoma’s independent student voice since 1916

T U E S DA Y, J A N UA R Y 15 , 2 013

W W W.O U DA I LY.C O M

opinion: Facebook messaging fees threaten communication (Page 3)

BOWIE’s BaCK

New vice provost aims to upgrade core curriculum MORGAN GEORGE Campus Reporter

Education that inspires is a top priority for OU’s new senior vice provost, who plans to help reform the university’s general education curriculum and explore new ways to bring technology into the classroom. OU classics and letters professor Kyle Harper was named OU’s senior vice provost Jan. 1 after working closely with provost Nancy Mergler last semester on projects involving general education curriculum review. Harper needed a title that suggested his impact on general education at the campuswide level, said Nancy Mergler, senior vice president and provost of OU. “He has a real passion for curriculum,” Mergler said. This passion comes from Harper’s belief that general education needs to

oUDaily.com: OU flags flew at half-staff for a state official’s death

L&a: Single is familiar but mournful (Page 6)

aDMINIsTraTION

Professor plans to focus on technology’s impact

2 011 S I LV E R C R O W N W I N N E R

be both inspiring and in line “The idea of a general eduwith the times, Harper said. cation curriculum is that To graduate from OU, all there are some things that students are required to everyone ought to know… complete at least 40 hours There is still a core of comof general education coursmon knowledge — spread es. These classes encompass across the disciplines — five core areas of study inthat everyone OU sends out cluding natural science, huin the world with a degree manities and a senior cap- KYLE HarpEr ought to know.” stone experience, according General education classto OU’s enrollment website. es are not always seen as inspiring to “In many ways our curriculum is ac- students and can become just sometually very good, but I think that there thing to check off so that they can start are some exciting opportunities to taking classes specific to their majors, bring it into line with the 21st century Harper said. world,” Harper said. “I know because I was a student here, It has been 20 years since the gener- and it’s too easy to think of my gen-eds al education curriculum was updated, as classes I have to take,” Harper said. Harper said. Harper graduated from OU in 2001 “Over time it’s just natural that the with a bachelor’s degree in letters, acworld changes, the faculty changes, cording to his faculty page. He then atstudents change, technology chang- tended Harvard University and earned es so it’s absolutely time for us to re- a master’s and doctorate degree in hisview —to take stock and to examine tory. After graduating from Harvard ourselves and say ‘what do we do well, where could we do better,’” Harper said. see PROVOST paGe 2

WINTEr WELCOME

Back to the Huff

CrIME

Case against former Sooner moves forward Conference will determine next step in alleged stalking, death threats case PAIGHTEN HARKINS

Assistant Campus Editor

The former OU s t u d e nt a r re s t e d i n O ctober on charges of conspiring to commit an act of violence and stalking is on the preliminar y hearing track after being found mentally competent to stand trial in mid-December, said the assistant district attorney assigned to the case. Naasik Ferdous is set to have a preliminary NaasIK FErDOUs hearing conference on Jan. 22 where his attorneys will meet with the prosecution to discuss the case, said Jennifer Austin, assistant district “We need attorney, in an email. intentions of the defense are not to move yetThe known, as they are still discussing forward.” those options with Ferdous, she said. Ferdous was arrested on campus by JENNIFER the OU Police Department in October AUSTIN, after making multiple death threats ASSISTANT against OU women’s soccer goalie, DISTRICT Kelsey Devonshire. ATTORNEY OU administrators chose not to notify students of the man on campus, finding in a later review that to use the emergency communication system to warn students of the situation could have interfered with OUPD’s pursuit of the suspect. In December, a judge determined that Ferdous was mentally competent to stand trial after Elton Jenkins, Ferdous’s court-appointed defendant, filed an application to determine Ferdous’ competency — citing a see TRIAL paGe 2

aT a GLaNCE

Lanice GeorGe/THe daiLy

Left: Danny rossi, energy management and finance junior makes a dunk at the Huffman Fitness Center as part of the Night at the Huff during Winter Welcome Week. right: Waves Denito (left) and Daniela spade (right), meteorology seniors, work out Monday night at the Huff event.

CAC to make it snow as part of Winter Welcome Week activities sonic ice will transform into snowballs to be thrown at friends and foes this evening on the Walker-adams mall. campus activities council has prepared a snowball fight for students today as part of Winter Welcome Week. sonic donated 2,000 pounds of ice for cac members to

ground into snow with snow cone machines, said emma Hunsaker, chair of Winter Welcome Week and strategic communications senior. The two previous Winter Welcome Week events were canceled due to conflicts. a new years kick-off event on campus was planned for sunday, but was canceled due to conflicts

with reservations of the venue, Hunsaker said. cac also planned a Jazzercise event on the south oval for yesterday, but the event was canceled due to scheduling conflicts. Evan Baldaccini Campus Reporter

naasik Ferdous was arrested by oupd on campus oct. 17 after making multiple death threats to the goalie of the ou women’s soccer team, Kelsey devonshire. While faculty and staff were notified of Ferdous’s presence students weren’t. president david Boren held a meeting on oct. 30 to review the university’s response, ou spokesman michael nash said in an email. The meeting was called to determine whether the emergency communication system should have been used. Boren and his staff found their decision to not use the system was appropriate since it could have hindered oupd’s ability to find and arrest Ferdous, nash said. Source: OU Spokesman Michael Nash

RANKINGS

RESTAURANTS

Okla. colleges make top 100 list

Union says goodbye to Wendy’s, hello to new option

in a time when college affordability is crucial, ou and two other oklahoma universities were ranked in the top 100 public universities in the country for their quality of education and tuition value. The Kiplinger Best Values in public colleges ranked ou 70th in the nation, while the university of science and arts of oklahoma and osu fall at 91 and 93, according to the ranking’s website. The rankings are produced annually based on several quality measures, including admission rate, graduation rate, financial aid and room and board, according to the website. “We are pleased to be recognized in national rankings that highlight ou’s academic excellence and best value to students,” said michael nash, university spokesman. “This recognition is a true testament to the quality of our faculty, staff and students here at ou.” university of north carolina, university of Virginia and university of Florida placed at the top of the list, according to the website.

dec. 14 marked the closing of the ever-popular Wendy’s in the oklahoma memorial union, the location of which is now filled by a sandwich cart. The Wendy’s restaurant, which was owned and operated by ou Housing and Food services, will be replaced with a new dining option this fall, said amy Buchanan, ou Housing and Food services assistant director. “[Housing and Food services] decided that the timing was right to renovate the space, and to add a different option

Matt Ravis Campus Reporter

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VOL. 98, NO. 79 © 2012 OU Publications Board FREE — Additional copies 25¢

ausTin mccrosKie/THe daiLy

a lunchtime cart sits temporarily in front of the former location of Wendy’s in the Oklahoma Memorial Union. The cart will serve sandwiches until a new dining option is chosen.

to the campus dining experience,” Buchanan said. While plans are underway for the new “dining concept,” many details are yet to be finalized, Buchanan said. in lieu of this renovation period, Buchanan said a

lunchtime sandwich cart will be in operation from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. monday through Friday at the Wendy’s former location on the lower level of the union. Bennett Hall Campus Reporter

INSIDE TODAY campus......................2 clas si f ie ds................4 L i f e & a r t s ..................6 o p inio n..................... 3 spor ts........................5 Visit OUDaily.com for more

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