Friday, April 20, 2012

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Want to know Hellogoodbye’s pre-show rituals? (Page 7) The University of Oklahoma’s independent student voice since 1916

F R I DAY, A P R I L 2 0 , 2 012

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state leGIslatIon

Higher-ed funding in danger of cuts Representatives consider trashing state income tax sARAh MARTiN Campus Reporter

State higher-education funding could be on the chopping block if lawmakers’ plans to eliminate the state income tax are passed. David Blatt, political analyst

and director of Oklahoma Policy Institute, said he is concerned higher-education funding will not withstand the major budget cuts that would accompany eliminating the income tax. If lawmakers passed the most radical plan to completely eliminate the income tax in seven years, higher education would be devastated, Blatt said.

“ The competition for scarce dollars would become even more fevered, and K through 12 [education] and transportation and health care would win out,” Blatt said. However, four lawmakers have outlined $90 million in higher-education funding that could be eliminated over two years in order to make room in the budget to

eliminate the income tax. Higher education was just one area of government spending among $853 million in spending cuts suggested by Rep. Leslie Osborn, R-Mustang; Rep. Tom Newell, R-Seminole; Rep. David Brumbaugh, R-Tulsa; and Rep. Charles Ortega, R-Altus. The state government could save at least $90 million by resolving inefficiencies in the

higher-education system, Brumbaugh said. These inefficiencies are created when multiple colleges within the state offer the same services, Brumbaugh said. He said there are multiple administrators and instructors performing the same services within the state that could be consolidated and, in turn, cut costs in higher education.

“Higher [education] is a monster. It is out of control,” said savings plan proponent Rep. Jason Murphey, R- Guthrie. For reduced spending in statewide higher-education funding to become reality, Murphey said the state first needs to come up with a fair system for evaluating the see STATE PAGe 2

tUItIon

stUDent lIfe

Men’s GYMnastICs

Sooner leaves positive legacy

Reps address regents on fees UOSA president stresses long-term effects of raises

Resident director remembered for kindness, lessons

ChRis MilleR

Assistant Campus Editor

hillARy MClAiN Campus Reporter

Ennis Koonce never left a day of work without stopping by each coworker’s desk to say goodbye. Those same coworkers now walk past the same neatly kept, now-vacant desk as a reminder of his untimely passing April 5. Koonce had a multifaceted career at OU. He served as an Adams Center resident director, higher education administration graduate student and Alpha Phi Alpha fraternity member. Those who worked with him said he had a passion for helping others. “He loved helping students, mentoring, just stopping and talking to people,” resident director Lauren Carter said. B efore his passing, Koonce helped develop a program intended to help transport injured students living in residence halls to and from classes, said Jennifer Doughty, Housing and Food director of operations. Koonce’s fondness for amusing wordplay inspired him to push for the name “Lending a Limb,” Doughty said. Colleagues said he was clever and had a sharp wit. “He created words, he coined phrases that became parts of his peers’ vocabulary,” said T. Elon Dancy, higher education professor. “He was very creative.” Koonce was at OU to study higher education administration, and his dissertation was focused on African American male performance in college,

kinGsley burns/the dAily

Junior Jacob Dalton crosses over on the high bar during the second session of the NCAA qualifying round Thursday night at Lloyd Noble Center. The Sooners finished second in the session behind Illinois but advance to tonight’s NCAA team championship finals. OU rested several key contributors, including all-arounders Dalton and freshman Dylan Akers.

Primed for championship Sooners advance past qualifier round to tonight’s team finals GReG FeWell Sports Editor

The No. 1 OU Sooners advanced to the NCAA team finals by finishing in second place in the 7 p.m. session of Thursday’s qualifying round. Oklahoma finished just behind first-place Illinois (356.25) with a total team score of 356.2. California rounded out the top three and took the final spot in tonight’s championships with a 351.15. The three teams will join the top three teams from the 1 p.m. session — Michigan, Penn State and Stanford.

Oklahoma and Illinois made it clear from the first rotation that they would be the teams to beat in the second session of Thursday’s qualifiers. With one competitor left for each team in the first rotation, the squads were deadlocked at the top with 58.85 points each. The Sooners still had their ace in the hole, though. Junior Jake Dalton was the final competitor for OU on the parallel bars, and he made the most of his position at the anchor spot, scoring a 15.4 to lead all competitors and give the Sooners the early lead. However, Illinois soon made the lead a moot point. After two events, the Illini had captured a 119.7117.6 lead that they would not relinquish until the final rotation of

AT A GLANCE Qualifier results 1st session 1. Michigan 2. Penn state 3. stanford 4. Ohio State 5. Nebraska 6. Iowa

2nd session 1. Illinois 2. oklahoma 3. California 4. Minnesota 5. Temple 6. Air Force Bold advanced to today’s team finals

the night. Both teams competed in their best events for the third rotation, with the Sooners grabbing a 60.15 on the floor even without Dalton, see SOONERS PAGe 5

see KOONCE PAGe 3

see TUITION PAGe 3

eDItorIal VOL. 97, NO. 142

© 2012 OU Publications Board FREE — Additional copies 25 cents

OU student representatives stressed the impact of tuition and fee raises on the campus community to the Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education during the group’s Thursday meeting. The addresses came during a public hearing focused on tuition and mandatory fee limits for undergraduate, graduate and professional programs, according to the regents’ agenda. UOSA President Joe Sangirardi participated in the hearing and said he wanted to bring the longterm consequences of tuition raises to the regents’ attention. During what he called a re f l e c t i v e a d d re s s, Sangirardi asserted that the higher education system is one of America’s greatest institutions. “A lot of [the public hearing participants] spoke about the immediate impact of tuition and fee raises,” Sangirardi said. “When I spoke, I took a little different approach. I spoke about the long-term effect of raising those fees.” Members of the State Regents expressed the group’s desire to keep any potential tuition raises minimal, but even consistently small increases can add up over time, Sangirardi said. Sangirardi made it a point to state the case for higher-education funding as a crucial aspect of the nation’s future, he said. “If there’s one thing we should be investing in, it’s higher education,” Sangirardi said. “That is the foundation of a society.” The regents will not act

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Come by today to share thoughts, ask questions or learn about opportunities to work with us. (Page 4)

Most recent contract between Gaylord College of Journalism and Mass Communication and apple Inc. — To better understand Apple’s relationship with Gaylord College after the college was named to the Apple Distinguished Educators program.

Wednesday

noW onlIne at

softBall

Friday

sooners look back on oKC bombing memories

Conference rivalry down to last regular series

list of current tenured professors — To find tenured professors and ask them about Oklahoma’s attempts to eliminate tenure.

Friday

OU students share their stories and thoughts about the OKC bombing 17 years ago on Thursday. (Multimedia)

The Missouri Tigers, who ended OU’s national title hopes last year, will visit Norman for the last time as a Big 12 foe. (Page 5)

list of events that served alcohol during fiscal year 2011 at the oklahoma Memorial Union — These documents were requested to better understand the number and types of events granted the ability to serve alcohol.

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Erin Weese, microbiology sophomore, checks out OU Housing & Food Services’ new fitter foods menu, which increases the healthy choices on campus, Thursday.

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