readers respond to housing issue (opinion, page 4) The University of Oklahoma’s independent student voice since 1916
T H U R S DAY, M A R C H 8 , 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
Men’s BasKetBall
GendeR-neutRal housinG
Boren makes surprise visit
A&M beats OU 62-53 Sooners lose in opening round of Big 12 tourney GReG FeWell Sports Editor
KinGsLey Burns/tHe daiLy
OU President David Boren speaks to students while walking along the South Oval during a rally in support of gender-neutral housing Wednesday afternoon.
Students rally in support of housing policy OUDaily.com
Boren shows up to speak, takes group’s proposal
see The Daily’s video coverage of Wednesday afternoon’s rally.
hillaRY mClaiN
oudaily.com/multimedia
Campus Reporter
OU President Boren surprised students rallying for a gender-neutral housing policy Wednesday on the South Oval by attending the event MORE INSIDE and addressing Read more their concerns. about the rally Before his ap- for a genderpearance, “Safe neutral housing housing for all! option at OU. Gender-neutral PaGe 3 this fall!” and “We are Oklahoma!” were the rallying cries of dozens of students gathered in the South Oval’s Unity Garden. Rally organizers spoke to a crowd of more than 50 people about their desires for gender-neutral housing
and why it’s important to stand up for this issue in Oklahoma. Rally members had planned to march to Boren’s office in Evans Hall after the rally to deliver a gender-neutral housing proposal drafted by members of Students for a Democratic Society and Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, Transgender and Friends. Boren appeared at the rally 15 minutes after the speakers began. “It is very important that we create an environment where every student riCardo patino/tHe daiLy feels comfortable and respected,” Sarah Garrett, anthropology senior, demands a date for President David Boren said. see rAlly paGe 2
ReseaRCh
Boren to respond to a request for gender-neutral housing at OU during a rally Wednesday afternoon on the South Oval.
OU made several runs and had a chance, but Texas A&M held its ground in the end and sent the Sooners back to Norman with a 62-53 loss after only one Big 12 tournament game. The Sooners trailed by five at halftime but quickly cut the lead to two in the second half. Junior guard Steven Pledger hit a jumper to get things started after the break, and junior forward Romero Osby made one of two free throws. One play later, Pledger found Osby wide open under the bucket for the assist to make the score 29-27 in favor of A&M. From that point, the two teams traded buckets, with A&M clinging to a four-point lead. Eventually, OU tied things up for the first time since the first half. Junior guard Sam Grooms grabbed one of his five assists to set up junior forward Andrew Fitzgerald for a widesee HOOPS paGe 9
PLAyER PROFiLE sam Grooms Year: Junior Position: Guard Hometown: Greensboro, N.C. Game stats: 13 points, five assists and seven rebounds
state PolitiCs
Team tests video game Debate continues about abortion issues designed to prevent Senate passes AT A GLANCE new version of decision-making bias senate bills on heartbeat bill abortion issues
PaiGhteN haRKiNS Campus Reporter
Testing began Monday on a video game created by OU researchers to prevent the effects of biases on decisionmaking. An OU team of researchers received a $10.7 million grant in October to create a video game for the Air Force Research Laboratory to combat the effects of biases, which could lead to costly mistakes in decision-making for intelligence
sB 1274 — Requires doctors to inform patients they have the right to listen to the fetal heartbeat sB 1433 — Defines life as beginning at conception
see GAME paGe 5
Source: www.oklegislature.gov
RaChael CeRVeNKa Campus Reporter
As state legislators debate the future of abortion in Oklahoma, citizens and lawmakers on both sides of the issue are speaking out for what they think is fair. The Senate approved a measure Tuesday requiring
neWs VOL. 97, NO. 117
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discover a whole new world with disney exhibit
Women’s hoops prepares to open tournament play
The Daily’s Westlee Parsons says why you need to visit the Fred Jones Jr. Museum of Art’s newest exhibit. (life & arts)
After a first-round bye, the Sooners will open up Big 12 tournament play against Missouri today. (Page 8)
see ABOrTION paGe 5
Requested document and purpose
Studies indicate that emotions can influence one’s ability to make decisions in central and necessary ways. (Page 6)
sPoRts
according to a Senate press release. In conjunction with the legislation, the Abolitionist Society of Oklahoma has promoted its cause on campus by handing out anti-abortion fliers in the Oklahoma Memorial Union and on the South Oval, organization secretary Katherine Hunter said. The Abolitionist Society of Oklahoma aims to encourage
The Daily’s open record requests
ou professor researches affects of emotions
noW online at
doctors to inform a patient she has a right to hear the heartbeat of her unborn child before it is aborted, according to a press release. The patient is not required to listen to the heartbeat, bill author Sen. Brian Crain, R-Tulsa, said. SB 1274 was proposed in an effort to give women as much information as possible before undergoing the procedure, he said. The bill has advanced to the House for consideration,
riCardo patino/tHe daiLy
Students perform “indelible Grace: A Tribute to 9/11,” choreographed by OU dance professor Derrick Minter. The piece is the second of five that make up the School of Dance’s “Contemporary Dance Oklahoma.” (Page 11)
Date requested
Reports filed by the ou Police department for sexual assaults since 1980 — To learn more about the number of sex-related crimes reported in the past and how they were handled by OUPD.
March 2
dorm costs for single and double rooms for the last 10 years — To learn how the price of living at OU has changed during the span of a decade.
March 2
all construction contracts regarding the renovation of Cate Center’s Quad 1 — To learn more about the terms and conditions of those contracts and to gather more information about the cost of renovating part of Cate Center.
Monday