Monday, January 30, 2012

OU thrower Tia Brooks off to record-setting start (page 7) The University of Oklahoma’s independent student voice since 1916

M O N DAY, J A N UA R Y 3 0 , 2 012

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

2 011 G OL D C ROW N F I N A L I S T

ConFerenCe

event to emphasize Brazilian culture Ambassador hopes to build partnership between nations

gather today for a series of events scheduled in conjunction with Tuesday’s visit from the Brazilian Ambassador to the U.S. VICTORIA GARTEN The College of International Campus Reporter Studies’ “Brazil: Development Members of the OU com- and the City” conference will munity with a common in- take place in the Oklahoma terest in Brazilian culture will Memorial Union’s Meacham

Auditorium and includes a breakfast, three speeches focused on different facets of Brazilian culture and a screening of the film “Waste Land,” which was showcased in the Sundance Film Festival.

Brazilian Ambassador Mauro Vieira will

deliver a keynote speech at a President’s Associates dinner Tuesday at the Sam Noble Oklahoma Museum of Natural History, but today’s events will focus on the benefits of partnership between Brazil and the U.S., said Alan McPherson, College of International Studies

professor.

“As the two most populous countries in the Americas, the United States and Brazil should be natural partners in trade, energy and education, among other things,” McPherson said. “The events on Brazil this week are meant to encourage those

Norman residents, OU students attend local chocolate festival

partnerships.”

Today’s featured speakers are Erika Robb-Larkins, OU College of International S t u d i e s p r o f e s s o r, Washington University in St. Louis professor Derek Pardue and Northwestern University see BRAZIL paGe 2

ConSTrUCTion

Mosque to open next month Construction to be finished after 5-year planning HILLARY MCLAIN Campus Reporter

the study of Brazil, are evidence of this openness to Portuguese culture, Messitte said.

“We are very luck to have Dr. Robb Larkins,” Messitte said. “There was very little teaching or scholarship

A new center of worship for Norman’s Muslim community is nearing completion after nearly five years of planning.

When constr uction comes to a close, the Masjid An-nur Mosque located at 420 E. Lindsey St. will serve as a community center and a location where daily prayer will take place, project manager and founding member of the Islamic Society of Norman Saddiq Karim said.

The mosque is scheduled for completion by t h e e n d o f Fe b r u a r y , Karim said.

Construction of the $900,000 mosque began last year with the demolition of the house that had previously housed the congregation, but the Islamic society began fundraising for the project in 2007, Karim said.

Throughout the process, more than 90 percent of funding for the mosque has come from donations, Karim said.

A new place of worship was needed by the s o c i e t y to a c c o m m o date Norman’s growing Muslim commmunity, Karim said.

When the society was founded in 1976, there were around 45 members, Karim said. Today an estimated 200 people will use the mosque, 50 to 75 percent of which are OU students depending on the school year.

Th e Ma s j i d A n - nu r Mosque will be mainly for prayer, or Salah , Karim said. Muslims pray five times a day and must

see DEMAND paGe 2

see RELIGION paGe 2

darian Harmon/tHe daiLy

Madison Nickell takes a chocolate cake ball from Fancy That on Saturday at the Norman Firehouse Arts Center’s Chocolate Festival. Fancy That also offered chocolate sass brownies.

darian Harmon/tHe daiLy

left: Eisley Ladd excitedly shows off her full ticket on Saturday at the Norman Firehouse Art Center’s Chocolate Festival. Each guest was given a ticket that allowed them to get 10 different items.

Above left: Chocolate-covered strawberries were one of the many chocolate treats featured at Saturday’s Norman Firehouse Art Center’s Chocolate Festival.

Above right: Alivia Parsons looks at a cake display from the Sugar bakery on Saturday at the Norman Firehouse Arts Center’s Chocolate Festival. The Festival is held to earn money for the Firehouse. (Page 5)

ProgrAmS

Interest in Portuguese language present at OU Despite lack of program, openness to culture remains

the discontinuation of the university’s Portuguese language program.

OU President David Boren first mentioned cutVICTORIA GARTEN ting the language program Campus Reporter in 2006 due to low enrollAn interest in Brazilian ment, and after being cut in and Portuguese culture re- 2010, Portuguese was taught mains on campus despite this year only to students

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NOW ON

State should value non-descrimination

fulfilling the requirements to earn a language minor, assistant anthropology professor Misha Klein said.

However, despite the lack of language classes, OU administrators still have sought to expose students to the cultures of Portuguesespeaking nations, College of

International Studies dean Zach Messitte said in an email.

The upcoming campus visit of Brazilian Ambassador to the U.S. Mauro Vieira on Tuesday and the recent hiring of international studies professor Erika Robb Larkins, who specializes in

Sooners scrape by Lehigh in Norman

Oklahoma needs to look into protecting the GLBT community. (Page 4)

liFe & ArTS Kinect technology disconnects with PC Microsoft’s push to integrate motion controls needs to stop. (Page 5)

SPorTS

neWS

Sooner tennis tries to recover from loss

meal times different in U.S. than abroad

The men’s tennis team suffered its first loss of the year. (oUdaily.com)

OU exchange students are still getting used to eating schedule. (Page 3)

meLodie LettKeman/tHe daiLy

Junior Keldrick Hall holds his Virginia Tech opponent during Friday’s match at Lloyd Noble Center. The Sooners beat the Hokies and Lehigh during the weekend to stay undefeated in Norman. (Page 7)

The Daily’s open record requests Requested document and purpose

Date requested

Call logs for the past two years for the Alcohol and Hazing Hotline and number nyne Crisis line — This was requested to gather comparable information.

Jan. 20

The percentage of letter grades earned by oU-norman students broken down by college for each semester since Fall 2000 — This was requested to see how student grades have risen or fallen during the past decade and to compare trends between colleges.

Jan. 23

All drafted recommendations by the President’s Tobacco Advisory Committee from Jan. 1, 2012 to present — This was requested to gather more information on the recommendations provided to President David Boren before the tobacco ban was implemented.

Wednesday

2

• Monday, January 30, 2012

Campus

Laney Ellisor, campus editor Kathleen Evans, assistant campus editor Chris Miller, assistant campus editor dailynews@ou.edu • phone: 405-325-3666

religion: Building used for more than worship Continued from page 1

Today around campus Last day for refund from dropped classes and complete withdrawals.

Last day for no recorded grade on dropped classes.

A student exhibition is on display until Feb. 12 in Fred Jones Jr. Museum of Art. This is the 98th of the annual student exhibitions.

A discussion on getting involved in campus activities will take place from 4 to 5 p.m. in Wagner Hall, Room 245. The seminar is part of the Student Success Series.

Tuesday, Jan. 31 Art Adventures will take place from 10:30 to 11:30 a.m. in Fred Jones Jr. Museum of Art’s Dee Dee and Jon R. Stuart Classroom. The event is focused on art for children and will feature the book Mouse Shapes by Ellen Stoll Walsh.

A seminar on time management will take place from 4 to 5 p.m. in Wagner Hall, Room 245. The seminar is part of the Student Success Series.

A forum on opportunities to study abroad will be led by Education Abroad staff and study abroad alumni at 7 p.m. in Cate Main Social Lounge.

Free pizza will be provided.

Wednesday, Feb. 1 Black History month begins A seminar on picking a major or minor will take place from 2 to 3 p.m. in Adams Center’s Housing Learning Center. The seminar is part of Student Success Series.

A film screening of “Traces of the Trade: A story from the Deep North” will take place from 7 to 9 p.m. in Cate Center’s Main Social Lounge. The movie is being shown as part of Black History Month, and a discussion about the movie will take place after. Free pizza will be available.

Thursday, Feb. 2 An information session for students interested in the Journey to Latin America program will be held at 4:30 p.m. in 221 Old Science Hall.

A meeting of the Animal Volunteers Alliance group will take place from 7 to 9 p.m. in Oklahoma Memorial Union’s Alma Wilson Room.

The group will discuss the benefits of spaying and neutering pets and create dog toys out of jeans.

Friday, Feb. 3 An opening reception will be held for “Reclaimed and Remixed: Chicano Art” by Narciso Argüelles at 5 p.m. in Fred Jones Jr. Museum of Art’s Lightwell Gallery. The reception is free to public. Exhibit runs Friday to Feb. 17.

The women’s gymnastics team will host a quad meet against Nebraska, Minnesota and Centenary at 7 p.m. in Lloyd Noble Center.

A film screening of “Eadweard Muybridge, Zoopraxographer,” directed by Thom Anderson will be held from 7 to 9 p.m. in Fred Jones Jr. Museum of Art’s Mary Eddy and Fred Jones Auditorium.

Saturday, Feb. 4 The women’s basketball team will play Oklahoma State at noon in Lloyd Noble Center.

A tennis match against Nebraska will take place at 1 p.m. inside Gregg Wadley Indoor Tennis Pavilion.

The men’s basketball team will play Iowa State at 5 p.m. in Lloyd Noble Center.

SUNDAY, FEB. 5 A faculty recital with Vicki Schaeffer on Organ will be held from 3 to 5 p.m. in Gothic Hall, Catlett Music Center. Recital is free.

Corrections The Oklahoma Daily has a commitment to serve readers with accurate coverage and analysis.

Readers should bring errors to The Daily’s attention by emailing dailynews@ou.edu.

wash before. The previous mosque did not have a place to wash, and this was an important factor in Karim’s design of the new building.

Masjid An-nur also will be used for fellowship, teaching children the faith as well as teaching those who are interested in Islam more about it,” Karim said. “We have open doors. Anyone can come and see.”

Omar Alamoudi, president of the OU Muslim Student Association, said when he first came to America the old mosque was a relief to find, as it helped him meet new people.

“The previous mosque didn’t feature typical architecture like a dome or minarets but still had the same home-away-from-home atmosphere and community,” Alamoudi said.

Now that the new mosque is almost finished, it may serve to fix a disconnect between Muslims who may not know about the city’s Islamic community, he said.

“More Muslims would recognize it and become more

AT A GLANCE New mosque by square footage » Men’s Prayer & Multipurpose Area — 1,836 square feet » Library, Office, Food Prep — 620 square feet » Men’s Toilet — 384 square feet » Men’s Foyer — 830 square feet » Ladies Prayer & Multipurpose area — 1,740 square feet Astrud Reed/The Daily

Masjid Annur, a new mosque under construction on Lindsey Street, is expected to be completed by the end of February. The mosque, sponsored by the Islamic Society of Norman, plans to serve Norman’s growing Muslim community — mostly university students — but will be open to all.

involved because it looks like a mosque,” Alamoudi said.

After construction, students may participate in suggested volunteering opportunities at the mosque, like tutoring middle and high school students, Alamoudi said.

The mosque is not

exclusive to Muslims and will be open to everybody, Alamoudi said. People can come and observe if they are interested, without worrying about embarrassment.

He also said he hopes it can serve as a bridge between Muslims and the fear that many people may have from the extremists that are

» Ladies Toilet — 350 square feet » Ladies Foyer, Food Prep — 420 square feet » Total Area — 6,700 square feet Source: Islamic Society of Norman website

portrayed in the media.

“Muslims are not so much different from anyone else,” Alamoudi said. “There is an identity to them … but at the same time the common things between people are so much more than the differences.”

demand: Experiences exist outside classroom Continued from page 1 o n B raz i l at O U . . . a n d none within the College of International Studies ... and yet we always had students asking us for courses on Brazil.”

Brazil recently became the world’s sixth-largest economy, and its rising status makes it a nation and culture worth studying, even

if OU is currently unable to offer Portuguese-specific courses, Messitte said.

“There are no immediate plans for Brazilian studies, but we are very responsive to student demands,” Messitte said. “Brazil is clearly going to be a major player in the 21st century political, social and economic world.”

Lack of student demand for Portuguese courses led to the program’s

discontinuation, and if the courses are to come back to OU, students must first demonstrate an urge to take them, Klein said.

“The only way we will have Portuguese again is if there is enough momentum and enough demand from students who are willing to take the classes,” Klein said.

Portuguese and Brazilian cultural experiences are available to students outside

the classroom in the form of the OU Portuguese Club, biomedical engineering graduate student and club president Luis Neves said.

“Sometimes people are interested or have family from Portugal or Brazil and would like to learn the language,” Neves said. “They express that to us and come to us, but we do not have the logistics to offer a class.”

BRAZIL: Speakers to focus on society Continued from page 1 professor Brodwyn Fischer.

Larkins plans to speak about the ongoing pacification project taking place in impoverished urban Brazilian neighborhoods, known as “favelas,” in the lead-up to the 2014 World Cup and 2014 Summer Olympics, she said.

“Brazil’s cities are the site of ongoing experiments in bold new social programs and security campaigns,” McPherson said.”

“The United States should watch closely and learn from them.” . Fisher’s speech will delve more deeply into the social and economic conditions that exist in Brazil’s favelas.

Pardue comes from a background in cultural anthropology, and his primary research has focused on hip-hop artists in Sao Paulo, Brazil, where he lived for more than four years, according to the Washington University website.

AT A GLANCE Speeches » 9 a.m. — Erika RobbLarkins: “‘Shock of Order’: Violence and the Spectacle of Pacification in the Olympic City » 10 a.m. — Derek Pardue: “Pop Speculation: A Reflection on Sao Paulo from a Hip Hop Perspective” » 11 a.m. — Brodwyn Fischer: “Mocambos, Favelas, Bairros: Informality and Citizenship in Urban Brazil” Film Screening » 1:30 pm — “Waste Land,” directed by Lucy Walker

VO TE GAME DAYS

FOOD CUPCAKES BBQ

Help us decide the best Norman and the OKC metro have to offer.

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CAMPUS

Monday, January 30, 2012 •

jetlag

BY C O C O C O U R TO I S • CA M PU S RE P O R T E R

A

fter five months at OU, most exchange students are getting used to the different foods they eat every day in America. But what many of exchange students still struggle to understand are the meal times.

Most American families eat lunch around noon or 1 p.m.

“They eat anything at anytime,” Amélie Plot said.

The French law student said she’s not used to eating early, even with her family.

“In France, when I eat with my famSpanish students are ily, it’s never before used to eating dinner 8 or 8:30,” Plot said. around 9 or 10 p.m.

“Here, with my host family, we ate Christmas dinner at 5:30.”

After five months in the U.S., Plot said she’s still not used to the American meal time.

“If I eat at 6, since I often go to bed late, at midnight I’m hungry again,” Plot said.

One of the big differences is the abundance of snacks in American culture, Plot said.

French students are used to eating dinner “The problem is around 8 or 8:30 p.m. that here, everyone nibbles,” Plot said.

“They eat snacks all the time, so they don’t mind eating early because they will eat again after that.”

For Leila Hamaidi, a French business student, snacks play a different and more strucSpanish students Many British students tured role. In France, many are used to eating are used to eating dinner children eat a snack after getMost American a healthful snack around 7 p.m. families eat dinner ting home from school called around 5 or 6 p.m. around 5 or 6 p.m. “goûter” — also called “the 4 o’clock” — a tradition some But even on a normal week French students carry on it — often will not adhere to the perfect I’m-hungry-buta precise eating schedule. I’m-too-lazy-to-cook meal.” day, noon seems too early throughout college.

After a late start to the to eat lunch for students like “When I come back from Despite the odd meal times class, I eat my goûter, so I of the week, the weekends are day because of the previous Alexander Manosalvas, a night’s revelry, noon can seem Spanish electrical engineercan wait until 8 or 9 to have different, Hamaidi said.

“After a big party, when I too early to eat lunch because ing student. a proper dinner,” Hamaidi usually wake up at 1-some- it’s more like a late breakfast, “With my family, we usualsaid.

But a year abroad — and thing, I always go for a with which American college ly wait for my father to come back from work to have lunch, the parties that come with brunch,” Hamaidi said. “It’s students might agree.

3

Exchange students still getting used to eating meals at different times than what they’re used to back in their countries

dinner at 9 or 10 p.m.

Manosalvas said he’s run into issues eating later because of the early closing times of restaurants on campus. “ Mo s t U n i o n re s t a u rants are open for dinner until 7 and Couch Restaurants for lunch until 2. What about those who eat later?”

Manosalvas asked.

The restrictive hours Spanish students are are no problem for Tim used to eating lunch Slater, a British aeroaround 2 or 3 p.m. space engineering student who said he usually eats dinner around 7 p.m. but knows people back home who have dinner at 4 or 5 p.m.

“It works with the values you’ve been brought up with,” he said.

Like the French and Spanish breaks, Slater said the British have what they call tea time around 4 or 5 p.m., keeping them from nibbling on snacks between Some French students eat a traditional snack lunch and dinner. called “goûter” at 4 p.m.

“When I was a lot younger, my parents w ou l d ma ke su re I wasn’t eating snacks between the meal. Now that I control my own diet, I still try to apply that,” Slater said.

British students are Slater said he thinks used to having tea time the lack of a schedaround 4 or 5 p.m. uled healthy snack in American culture is not an excuse to eat all the time.

“People use the culture as so usually around 2 or 3 p.m.,” an excuse. It’s what they tell he said. themselves to make it acManosalvas said many ceptable, but in the end, they Spanish families have a know they shouldn’t do it,” he small break around 5 or said. “Once you start, you’ll 6 p.m. called “merienda,” consider it acceptable eating when they eat a piece of snacks anytime, and you’ll fruit, a pastry or something carry on eating. It’s self-discismall to hold them over until pline, really.”

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Comment of the day on OUDaily.com ››

• Monday, January 30, 2012

OPINION

“This article is not about abortion. It is about following Jesus and how you didn’t want to write an abortion article. So why did you?.” (OKtransplant13, RE: Column: COLUMN: Abortion feud should reach past religion)

EDITORIAL

Norman must protect gay rights Without a federal law, it is up to state governOur View: If the federal government won’t protect gay and lesbian citizens from housing ments to prohibit discrimination against GLBT discrimination, the state of Oklahoma — or at least families.

Norman — can.

According to the Human Rights Campaign website, only 15 states offer such protection based on The U.S. Secretary of Housing and Urban sexual orientation and gender identity. Another Development Shaun Donovan announced new five offer protection for sexual orientation only. inclusive policies for housing and lending Oklahoma is not among them. that protect gays, lesbians, bisexuals and Housing discrimination is a real probThe Our View transgender individuals from discrimiis the majority lem in the U.S., and one that must be adnation, while speaking Saturday at the opinion of dressed immediately.

The Daily’s Creating Change conference in Baltimore.

A 2007 study by the Fair Housing 10-member These new rules will prohibit owners or Commission of Michigan showed that aleditorial board operators of housing that is funded or inmost 30 percent of same-sex couples were sured by that federal department from ingiven higher rental rates and less encourquiring about an applicant or tenant’s sexual ori- agement to rent than the straight couples in the entation or gender identity, and it would require control group. them to abide by local and state non-discriminaA 2011 survey by the Department of Housing tion laws. and Urban Development found that 19 percent of The rules also will prohibit lenders of Federal transgender individuals had been refused housHousing Administration-insured mortgages from ing based on their gender identity. discriminating based on these factors, and they College-aged individuals, who face their own expand the definition of “family” to include GLBT obstacles to renting and home ownership, are parfamilies. ticularly at risk for this kind of discrimination.

These rules are a great step forward for GLBT If the federal government won’t pass a housing equality in the U.S. But they are just a small first non-discrimination law, it is up to Oklahoma to step. ensure fair housing for all Sooners.

The new policy stops short of establishing a fedYou can help by contacting your legislators and eral non-discrimination policy that would apply urging them to pass statewide protection for GLBT to all states. tenants. But the push should start at the local It amounts to a kind of housing “Don’t Ask, level.

Don’t Tell” in the states without their own nonSo contact the Norman City Council and urge discrimination policies. And we saw how well that them to pass local housing nondiscrimination worked for the military. rules for GLBT families.

It also only will effect federally funded housDuring the speech Saturday, Donovan said his ing, which offers opportunities to the economidepartment had been working for the last three cally disadvantaged. This is an important way to years to “ensure that our housing programs are fight GLBT homelessness, end the cycle of poverty open. Not to some. Not to most. But open to all.” these families often endure and, ultimately, save That dream can become a reality for Norman, lives. but only if residents demand it.

But it still leaves many thousands of GLBT famiAnd if you or your loved ones are at risk for this lies without protection. discrimination, you can go to the Human Rights This is because the federal government offers Campaign website, HRC.org, for more informano comprehensive housing equality protections, tion about how to ensure equal housing, lending, even though the Fair Housing Act prohibits disinsurance and related concerns. crimination based on race, color, national origin, religion, sex, family status or disability.

Comment on this at OUDaily.com

COLUMN

Be welcoming to exchange students

E

very year, more OPINION COLUMNIST than 100 students from all over the world come to study here at OU. It should be a great opportunity for both exchange and American students to get to know other cultures.

Simon Cantarel Sadly, this contact is not cantarels@gmail.com always easy.

A whole new country, no benchmarks and, more often than not, a language you only learned in class and did not get to practice much — all these reasons make it pretty hard to establish a real contact, or sometimes just break the ice. Not to mention the fact that almost all exchange students live in the same places — Kraettli Apartments or Traditions Square East.

It is a source of disappointment for those who hoped to have a real American experience and ended up in a sort of exchange students’ city.

Getting to know American people is often a very important part of studying in the USA. On a practical side, it allows an exchange student to get the information he needs faster and makes his life here more pleasant. But also, your relation with the people living in a country has a huge impact on what you may think of this country.

Living so far away from your homeland is a life-changing experience you may never forget. You can help make it a good memory today, and I am sure you want your guests to think well about you and about OU. But making the first step toward an exchange student should not be considered a sacrifice. It is a great opportunity to open your mind, get to know other ways of seeing the world and, of course, to have fun. It is a free world culture class, which will help you later on in your professional and social life.

And, who knows what may happen? I met friends here, very good friends. Some even found love.

“We are all human beings,” said Maggie Moge Wang, a student from China who met her boyfriend here in the USA. Once the ice is broken, it is as simple as that.

I also know this very nice couple — Calum Raffle from Scotland and Piper Cadieux from Oklahoma — who met one night in a bar here and got to know each other. Then a dinner and a movie, et voilà, a brand new couple. At the

end of this school year, she plans to go to Scotland to visit him.

Obviously, there is still room for improvement in the exchange student program, but OU can be proud of it.

Indeed, it already is a great opportunity. Special thanks go to people like Tina Henderson, our exchange student adviser, who do such a fantastic job taking care of us, even before we fly to the USA. There also are programs that are made to help the exchange students get in touch with American people. And you or your family can easily get involved.

For example, the OU Cousins program, which pairs a Sooner and an exchange student, is an easy way to know and help an exchange student and polish your resume.

A family also may host one or several newcomers, spending good moments with them and showing them around.

The greek system also is participating, inviting exchange students to some of their events if they just fill in a request.

It is now your turn, as a Sooner, to make the best out of this international cooperation for you, for those you will meet, for OU and, last but not least, for a more comprehensive world.

You can become this amazing person — one who knows so much about how people around the world think. Even more, you can become a person who brings something different to his group of friends when they gather.

And for the food lovers, know that you could discover gastronomy from Thailand, Spain, Korea, Vietnam, etc.

The same thing goes for literature, music or whatever you want to share.

Or you can just party with all these new people who would be happy to meet you. When I see all the exchange student parties with not a single American showing up, my only thought is, “Such a waste.”

Of course these moments are fun even without them, as much as your parties are fun without exchange students.

And I admit it, it may not ruin your life not to make the effort to change that. But just think about it: You have nothing to lose and so much to gain.

And it’s not every day that you’ll have the opportunity to do so.

Simon Cantarel is an economics junior.

?

Mary Stanfield, opinion editor dailyopinion@ou.edu • phone: 405-325-3666

» Poll question of the day Should the state of Oklahoma create a better non-descrimination policy?

To cast your vote, visit COLUMN

Abortion feud should reach past religion

I

am a Christian. This OPINION COLUMNIST may surprise any readers that notice the political and social trajectory of my columns, but it is true. Since Oct. 25, 2002, I have considered myself a follower of Jesus.

Here’s the catch you’ve Elizabeth Rucker been waiting for: I do not wordful@ou.edu think this is the only correct way to see the world. I also do not believe in Hell, Heaven or the Rapture. Unsurprisingly, I do not believe the Bible is infallible. In short, I am a pluralist, or as I like to say, I believe in most paths to God and not-God. The finer points of my deeply personal spiritual journey are not the subject of this column, as much as I am certain they will be the subject of comments on this article. The important point is this: I am a pluralist Christian, and I am a queer radical anti-racist feminist.

On Jan. 22, I celebrated the 39th anniversary of Roe v.

Wade, because Jesus was about love, power and justice.

In fact, Martin Luther King, Jr. gave a good description of what I believe Jesus did best: “Power at its best is love implementing the demands of justice, and justice at its best is power correcting everything that stands against love.”

Protecting peoples’ autonomy over their bodies and allowing them to choose their paths in life is what is just.

Reproductive justice is about more than abortion: It is about preventing the use of shackles on inmates who are pregnant or in labor, allowing parents to choose their birth experience, ensuring transgender people can choose to preserve eggs or sperm so they may have genetically-related children and combating ethnocentric arguments about overpopulation. All these things also are threatened by those who wish to impose their will on others’ bodies.

The facts about abortion do not matter to people who oppose legal abortion. It does not matter that abortion was not illegal until the 1800s. It does not matter that in 1930 nearly one-fifth of all maternal mortality was due to illegal abortions. It does not matter that between 200,000 and 1.2 million illegal abortions were performed yearly in the 1950s and ’60s. It does not matter that about twothirds of women who choose abortion today are already mothers.

It does not matter to them that in 2007 “six women were reported to have died as a result of complications from known legal induced abortions,” according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Six women out of the approximately 810,000 abortions performed that year in the U.S., according to the Guttmacher Institute.

The reason is, at base, that they believe the Bible forbids abortion. As Trevor Clark implied in his Friday column, “Abortion Conversation Hard To Handle,” even Jesus opposed it. So here are some things that might matter to people of his persuasion: When Hosea prophecized about the Babylonian invasion (the punishment for Israel’s sins against God) in Hosea chapters nine through 13, infants, children and pregnant women are not spared as they would be under the pro-life logic that God’s protection of the innocent extends to the unborn. Samarian children will “be dashed to the ground, their pregnant women ripped open.”

(Hosea 13:16) Further, in Exodus 21:22, God commands that someone who injures a pregnant woman to the point of premature birth or miscarriage should pay a fine to her husband. This comes right before the famous verse about an eye for an eye (Exodus 21:23), and since the compensation is monetary, implies that pre-born life is not valued the same as the woman’s life.

Despite the fact that multiple verses throughout the Bible refer to God’s active creation of people within the womb (like Psalm 139:13-16), the Bible remains, at best, ambiguous on the question, especially since Jesus never directly addressed such issues.

Thus, people who oppose legal abortion on religious grounds, like Trevor Clark, are not advancing the teachings of Jesus. They are entitled to their opinions, but we would all do better to acknowledge that illegal abortion caused, and causes, undeniable suffering and to redirect our energies elsewhere. We should work together for reproductive justice, so that the relief abortion brings will be partnered by every parent’s joy at bringing a child into a world that will ensure its health and enable its pursuit of happiness.

Elizabeth Rucker is an international studies and interdisciplinary perspectives on the environment senior.

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Monday, January 30, 2012 •

Life&arts

OUDaily.com ›› If you missed the opening weekend of local dinner theater’s “Matt & Ben,â€? read Brooke Buckmaster’s review.

5

Lindsey Ruta, life & arts editor Mariah Webb, assistant life & arts editor dailyent@ou.edu • phone: 405-325-3666

chocolate

Festival makes charity sweeter Norman firehouse hosts chocolate fundraising event

Left: Luke Gehring, communication sophomore, punches a child’s ticket at the Norman Firehouse Art Center’s Chocolate Festival on Saturday. Tickets to the festival included punch cards that gave attendees a limited number of chocolate smaples from the vendors. Gehring volunteered for the festival through Alpha Phi Omega, a community service fraternity on campus.

Westlee Parsons Life & Arts Reporter

Towers of cakes, whoopee pies, truffles and other confections lined the perimeter of the room, while about a hundred people filed into the National Center for Employee Development’s grand hall at 10:30 a.m.

Saturday.

As the people made their way through the hall, all carrying boxes for their goodies and voting tickets in hand, one thing was clear, the 30th annual Norman Firehouse Ar t Center ’s Chocolate Festival had begun.

At first glance, the Chocolate Festival looks like just a great way to start the day with a chocolate high, but it means a lot more to the Firehouse and the Norman community.

Douglas Shaw Elder, the executive director of the Firehouse, said the festival is not only a fundraiser for the Norman Firehouse Art Center, but the money they raise by this event helps them to continue teaching art classes not just at the Firehouse but in local elementary schools.

The Firehouse has art teachers in Lincoln and Jackson Elementary schools teaching children full time, Shaw Elder said.

There was a children’s art station in the center of the room, which had box painting and foil animal making projects the children could work on while their parents picked through the chocolate treats.

Jane Lawson, who has been teaching at the Firehouse for five years, said, “[the Firehouse is] mainly promoting creation, innovation and play.�

The Firehouse had a cube competition going on where the children can paint their cube and post it on Facebook to win free classes at the Firehouse, Lawson said.

Having art during one’s childhood helps with problem solving and social skills, she said. “It’s about creativity and intelligence,� she said.

Many OU students volunteered at the event. Macy

Below: A representative from the Melting Pot restaurant drizzles chocolate fondue over dessert items at the Norman Firehouse Art Centter’s Chocolate Festival on Saturday. The Oklahoma City restaurant was one of 25 vendors to attend this year’s festival. The annual event is the only fundraiser the Norman Firehouse Art Center hosts each year. Funds from this event support local childrens’ art programs at both the art center and nearby elementary schools.

oudaily.coM Slideshow: See more photos of the 30th Annual Norman Firehouse Art Center’s Chocolate festival.

Link: Visit OUDaily. com to find a link to this year’s winners of the annual Norman Firehouse Art Center’s Chocolate Festival.

Frye, a University College freshman, helped the children make foil animals. “We’re more like guiding them,� said Frye.

One of the children she helped, Tabe Mailo, said he was making a dragon out of his foil. Jessica Mailo, Tabe’s mom, said they come to the festival because the summer camp she works at sends the kids to the Firehouse, and she wants to keep showing support. She said, “[Tabe] is a big chocolate eater.�

The Norman Firehouse Art Center has been a place for 40 years where local people could take art classes. “The chocolate festival was set up 30 years ago to help fund the Firehouse,� Shaw Elder said. “All of these chocoholics are actually supporting

the arts.�

Many college students who attended the event had no problem supporting the arts with their chocolate addiction.

Josh Hardisty, an engineering physics junior at OU, said he was there for the chocolate but thought benefiting the arts in children’s lives was important too. “I have taken a pottery class at the Firehouse before and think it is a good thing to support,� Hardisty said.

Norman residents weren’t just there to taste the local chocolate, they were there to vote on the best in town.

There were 25 vendors this year that offered some of their tasty treats in support of the Firehouse and community arts.

Michelangelo’s coffee and wine bar, a coffee, wine and chocolate shop on Main Street, came prepared to show off all three of their features.

They had chocolate covered strawberries with different sprinklings of salt and chili powder, wine that paired with smaller chocolates and some of their fresh brewed coffee.

This is their fourth year at the chocolate festival Michelangelo’s owner

Darian Harmon/The Daily

Michael Palermo said. “The main reason we come here is because the Firehouse is a non-profit that is benefiting the children,� he said.

He said his wife is a principal at Lakeview Elementary school, who has partnered with the Firehouse to bring more art to the school, making this event even more important to them. “It brings more culture to the area,�

Palermo said.

Abbey Road Catering was one of the most adorned booths at the festival. It

was decorated in a Frenchinspired fashion with tiered pastries, candies, cakes and a sign that read “Let Them Eat Cake,� the infamous words of Marie Antoinette herself.

The servers and owner were dolled up with period gowns and wigs that reached at least one and a half feet above their head. Employee Janice Harris said they have been doing the chocolate festival for about eight years. “The owner, Kris Abbey, has dealt with the Firehouse

directly for many years and has actually been the chairperson for this event,� Harris said. She said Abbey believes strongly in community and helping children.

Amy Cakes was another cleverly displayed booth.

It had old suitcases and a

More Online Visit OUDaily.com to read Westlee’s complete coverage of the festival.

column

Motion sensor software loses connection with players Life & Arts Columnist

dimension. I think motion controls are great, and it’s a shame more games don’t utilize them.

No, my problem with Kinect isn’t that it’s a form of motion control, but it strays too far by abandoning the physical controller Steven Zoeller altogether. stevenv.zoeller@gmail.com The thought process beicrosoft’s motion hind Microsoft’s desertion of the physical interface control device, isn’t really hard to imagine.

Kinect, will be The criterion for immersing available for Windows on controls in gaming has long Wednesday, which is good news for gamers who enjoy been how well they make its controller-free gameplay. you forget about the chunk For me, it’s just another op- of plastic in your hands. portunity to discourage peo- I can see why Microsoft would assume getting rid of ple from buying into what I the plastic altogether would consider a pretty overrated make gaming automatically phenomenon.

I’m not talking about mo- more immersing.

But this was a mistake. I tion controls in general — think it was actually a step I’m happy to see gameplay backward in terms of imdepart from mere button pressing and enter this new mersion, because I’m more

M

help is just a phone call away

9

number

aware I’m grasping at air than I was ever aware I was holding a controller.

The controller might not have been perfect, but it gave me physical feedback and a sense that I was interacting somehow with physical objects in the game world. When my character wielded a gun or sword onscreen, I subconsciously associated it with the object I could feel in my own hands.

The Kinect disables this association, thus making it even more difficult to believe my actions are affecting objects in the game. I have to rely entirely on my vision to determine whether I have achieved something — the certainty that came from the press of a button and the strong intuition that something would happen when I acted is missing on the Kinect.

Perhaps I should qualify what I’m saying a bit, lest readers get the impression that I hate the Kinect, or I don’t think the technology behind it is amazing. Sure, there are some things the Kinect plays really well, like dancing games and menu navigation. I’d be lying if I said it didn’t feel pretty cool to play with.

I’m only saying the Kinect’s power of

immersion has been vastly exaggerated, and the best way to play games is still with a physical controller. I think Microsoft mistakenly decided the controller was a barrier between the game and the gamer, rather than what rooted the gamer in the game.

In advertising, Microsoft likes to say, “You are the controller,� as if to make it sound like they’ve cut out

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the middleman with their technology. I think this best illustrates the device’s shortcomings. Microsoft apparently didn’t understand that a controller becomes an extension of the gamer’s body when he or she holds it.

Needless to say, I didn’t appreciate the amputation.

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HOROSCOPE

By Bernice Bede Osol

Copyright 2012, Newspaper Enterprise Assn.

MONDAY JANUARY 30, 3 2012

Even if you weren’t able to market some of your good ideas in the past, don’t stop trying in the months to come. It isn’t likely that you’ll run into the same obstacle that previously blocked you.

AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 19) -- It’s erroneous to believe, as others say, that a very important arrangement is slipping from your control.

Regardless of what others try to get you to think, know that the opposite is true.

PISCES (Feb. 20-March 20) -You’re presently in a very good cycle for fulfilling your desires and expectations, but good things can only happen if you believe in yourself. Don’t dash your chances for happiness.

Previous Solution

Monday- Very Easy Tuesday-Easy Wednesday- Easy Thursday- Medium Friday - Hard

Instructions: Fill in the grid so that every row, every column and every 3x3 box contains the digits 1 through 9. That means that no number is repeated in any row, column or box.

ARIES (March 21-April 19) -Although initially you might not believe it, the odds are slanted in your favor. Even if you’re delayed for a while, you’ll take full advantage of the lull.

TAURUS (April 20-May 20) -- Your powers of observation are extremely astute, so carefully observe a role model handle a situation similar to one you must take care of. If you watch closely, you’ll quickly learn how to do it as well.

GEMINI (May 21-June 20) -- For whatever reason, your dealings with male pals will be easier to handle than any involvements you might have with the ladies. Keep this in mind if you need a favor.

CANCER (June 21-July 22) -- The proof you’ve been looking for regarding the loyalty and/or support

of your associates will be made clear to you. You should now be able to move forward with your plans.

LEO (July 23-Aug. 22) -- Any sincere effort you put forth to protect a critical matter for another will work well, and will also let others know that they had better not poke their snoots into matters you want kept private.

VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22) -Someone who is in a position of power is apt to sense a kinship with you. As a result, she or he is likely to do something significant to help you without being asked.

LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 23) -- Normally it isn’t too smart to have too many irons in the fire simultaneously, but your case may be an exception. The more you have going for you, the better your chances are for success.

SCORPIO (Oct. 24-Nov. 22) -- It won’t be because you’ll be more forceful or assertive than usual that you’ll have a greater impact on others; it will be because your enthusiastic manner is so uplifting.

SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 23-Dec. 21) -Don’t be indifferent about situations that are running smoothly and producing good results for you. If you have the will to do so, they can be improved upon even further.

CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19) -Your ability to evaluate and utilize information so well is likely to be the envy of all your associates. They’ll see and hear what you do, but won’t know how to copy your results.

lungcanceralliance.org

Universal Crossword Edited by Timothy E. Parker January 30, 2012

ACROSS 1 Pizza perimeter 6 Ty of Cooperstown 10 Kind of salmon 14 Way from the heart 15 Hip-shaking dance 16 Eager, and then some 17 Bright or clever 18 Blackjack needs 19 As one entered the world 20 Experiments with nuclear fission, e.g.

23 Hawaiian dish 24 Sit ungracefully (with “down�)

25 Fender attachment 28 Name of several Norwegian kings 31 Portion of hair 34 Shortening 36 Had debts 38 Puts up, as 10 cents 40 Ends a relationship badly 43 City in Tuscany 44 Sprawl comfortably 45 Rip in half 46 Hot under the choler?

1/30

48 Potatoes’ partner 50 Petal wetter 51 Big birds 53 Kind of story or sister 55 Demands results 61 Kind of pony 63 So long, in 43-Across 64 Site of the Arab League headquarters 65 You, formerly 66 Golden Fleece carrier 67 They’re no pros 68 Egyptian vipers 69 Copy editor’s mark 70 Not in vogue DOWN 1 Musical Mama 2 Win easily 3 River to the Caspian Sea 4 Remove the paint from 5 Body image?

6 Bit of chinwagging 7 “That hurts!�

8 Cuss word surrogate 9 Kind of igneous rock 10 Kitchen appliance

11 Female gamete 12 Concealed 13 “___ to Billie Joe�

21 Missile or grain containers 22 Synagogue scroll 25 Priestly robes 26 Shriver or Callas 27 Groom 29 Army deserter 30 Weapon of 68-Across 32 Not adventurous 33 Badminton opener 35 Unsafe 37 Opposite of 69-Across 39 Beef and vegetable dish 41 Cause and

effect, in Buddhism 42 Reduce, as prices 47 Agave family plants 49 Boot part 52 Maxi or mini 54 “Call Me ___� (Bob Hope flick) 55 Hoof sound 56 Spice-rack member 57 “Beep!� on the ocean 58 Chart-toppers 59 Spring flower 60 One may be assumed 61 School’s booster org.

62 Cries of excitement

PREVIOUS PUZZLE ANSWER

1/29

Š 2012 Universal Uclick www.upuzzles.com

OOPS! By Aaron Zarrie

Monday, January 30, 2012 •

OUDaily.com ››

SPORTS

The OU men’s tennis team looking to bounce back from a Round One loss at the ITA Kickoff today in Knoxville, Tenn.

Track and field

OU thrower gains status Sooner Tia Brooks qualifies for June Olympic Trials

7

Greg Fewell, sports editor dailysports@ou.edu • phone: 405-325-3666

wrestling

Sooners sweep twelfth victory Oklahoma defeats Lehigh on Sunday to stay undefeated in home duals

Dillon Phillips Sports Reporter

Tia Brooks hadn’t always planned on throwing shot put in college.

In fact, if the Grand Rapids, Mich., native had her druthers back in high school, she’d still be running sprints.

Before coming to OU, Brooks ran the 100-meter dash, the 4x100-, 4x200- and 4x400-meter relays at East Kentwood High School, as well as reluctantly throwing shot. “I didn’t want to be a thrower,� Brooks said. “It wasn’t on my list of things to do.�

Since arriving on campus, she has embrace d throwing shot and become a marquee name as one of the premiere throwers in the nation.

In 2010 — her freshman year at OU — she was an All-Big 12 selection during both the indoor and outdoor seasons, as well as an Indoor All-American.

Last year, she proved to be immune to the sophomore slump, following her stellar freshman season with backto-back All-Big 12 and AllAmerican selections, a Big 12 Indoor Championship and a second-place finish at the NCAA Outdoor Championships — something that is sure to be bulletin board material for Brooks this season. “To me [second place] is the worst place, but [NCAA champion Julie Labonte] was just the better competitor on the day,� Brooks said. “Everyone strives to have an NCAA title, so I’m hoping to get a couple before I leave here.�

At t h e J. D. Ma r t i n Invitational, Brooks raised the bar once more with an NCAA season’s-best throw of 18.49 meters. The throw is the 13th-best in NCAA history, and Brooks was named the Big 12 Female Track and Field Athlete of the Week for the first time in her career as a result. “It feels good,� Brooks said. “Out of all the track and field athletes [in the Big 12], to be named the best woman of the week is an honor. It’s a good feeling.�

In addition to setting an OU school record, the throw qualified Brooks for the NCAA Indoor Championships and met the Olympic “A� standard, which automatically qualifies her for the Olympic Trials in June. “I mean, of course everyone wants to go to the

RJ Young

Sports Reporter

Tia Brooks OU Junior thrower

O l y m p i c s, b u t I’ m j u s t trying to take everything one day at a time and gear up for the Big 12 Indoor [Championships],� Brooks said. “But of course, I want to take my ability to the next level. I just want to be the best I can be.�

Although many members of the team have the advantage of attending school in their home state, Brooks doesn’t have the luxur y of competing in her own backyard.

Hailing from Michigan, Brooks has been affected by the culture shock of traveling nearly 1,000 miles across the country to go to school, but she says the experience has been positive. “I’d always heard about ‘southern hospitality,’ but just coming here and feeling all the love from everybody — it’s definitely different than Michigan,� Brooks said. “People here are so fr iendly and nice; the y smile, and they wave, and they ask me if I play basketball or if I’m on a sports team. It’s the true meaning of ‘southern hospitality.’�

After such a successful start to the season, some athletes might find it difficult to stay motivated, but Brooks continues to press on, always looking to improve her game. “The first thing I did after the meet was go home and review my film,� Brooks said. “There’s still a lot of technical stuff I need to work on. It’s an Olympic year, so everyone is ready

Being

NUMBER ONE is nothing to

Top: Junior Tia Brooks laughs with a coach during the J.D. Martin Invitational Saturday, Jan. 21, in Norman. Brooks threw a personal-record throw of over 60 feet in the Sooners’ opening meet of the season.

“It’s an Olympic year, so everyone is ready for blood. That just keeps me motivated.�

Left: Brooks prepares to let loose one of her first throws of the season during the J.D. Martin Invitational Duals in Norman. Brooks’ throw automatically qualified her for the Olympic tryouts later this year.

Photos by astrud reed/the daily

BY THE NUMBERS Tia Brooks

60

Brooks’ record throw of 60’8� during OU’s opener was one of the best in the world.

13

The throw was the thirteenth best alltime in NCAA history.

3

Brooks currently has the third-best throw in the entire world so far this season.

for blood. That just keeps me motivated. I’m only as good as my last throw, and I strive to be the best that I can be — to get my technique right, to get stronger, faster — whatever it is.�

With the top throw in the country and an invite to the Olympic tryouts in the bag, Brooks appears to be at the top of her game. In her opinion, though, the junior still has a long way to climb.

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Oklahoma overcame a dismal start to top Lehigh, 22-16 Sunday afternoon at McCasland Field House.

Five matches in, the Sooners needed to win every remaining match — with one coming by major decision — just to tie the No. 14 Lehigh. “I thought, ‘Here we go,’� OU coach Mark Cody said. “I knew we needed to get majors. I knew we needed to get pins, and I thought they’re all very capable of doing that.�

The No.7-ranked 125-pound wrestler in the nation took the mat, as those words worked through Cody’s mind. “I was thinking that I need to score a lot of PLAYER PROFILE points,� junior Jarrod Jarrod Patterson Patterson said. “I feel like I haven’t been wrestling Year: to my ability lately, so I felt Junior like I needed to step it up.�

Position: S t e p i t u p, h e d i d .

125 pounds Patterson dispatched Hometown: Lehigh junior Alex Abreu Cushing, by technical fall.

Okla.

133-pound senior Season stats: The No. Jordan Keller followed 7-ranked 125-pounder in the Patterson on the mat, nation is now on a ninefacing Lehigh freshman match winning streak.

Mason Beckham. With Sooner points at a premium, Keller wanted to win big, and he did just that, pinning his opponent in just under three minutes.

Keller’s win made way for redshirt sophomore and No. 3-ranked Kendric Maple.

Suddenly, a dual victory didn’t seem completely out of reach for Oklahoma. But Cody didn’t feel that way. “Even after (Keller’s) pin, I didn’t feel very relaxed,�

Cody said.

Maple secured a major decision victory and brought the Sooners to within two points of Lehigh, down, 16-14, with two matches left to wrestle.

More Online Visit OUDaily.com to read the complete story

8

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