l&a | page 5
nEWS | OUDaily.com
SPortS | page 5
SWOLLEN BELLIES
GOLF’S NEW HERO:
Dust Bowl-era movie filmed in norman area by oU alums
MCILROY
The University of Oklahoma’s independent student voice since 1916
T H U R s DA Y, J U n e 2 3 , 2 011
W W W.O U DA I LY.C O M
2 010 G OL D C ROW N W I N N E R
Regents approve tuition increase 5-percent hike keeps OU as one of Big 12 Conference’s most affordable educations CHasE CooK
The Oklahoma Daily
ARDMORE — Students will be seeing an increase in their bursar bills this fall after the OU Board of Regents approved a 5-percent tuition increase. The regents, who met Monday through Wednesday at the Noble Conference Center and Pavilion in Ardmore, voted in favor of mandatory fee increases totaling $5.65 and a 5-percent tuition increase. The combined tuition and fees increase will cost resident undergraduate students about $170 more each
semester while non-resident, undergraduate students will pay about $431 more each semester for a student taking 15 credit hours, OU President David Boren said. This is the second increase since tuition went up 4.5 percent last year. Tuition increases aren’t the only method the university has used to deal with state-funding decreases. Boren asked for 5-percent budget cuts university-wide and a partial hiring freeze that is still in effect, according to the agenda. The tuition increase has been expected since early March when OU told Fitch Ratings — one of the biggest credit-rating companies in the world — a 4.5-percent tuition increase would be a way to pay back debts after the credit company evaluated OU’s bond rating, according to
Daily archives. The final 5-percent increase is higher than OU anticipated. This tuition raise still leaves OU in the top two most affordable institutions in the Big 12 Conference, Boren said. Graduate Student Senate chairman Derrell Cox attended the meeting and spoke with Boren. Cox said he was worried fees would increase more than they did, and that it is harder to subsidize fees than it is tuition. “Reasonable people understand [a tuition increase] is inevitable,” Cox said. The tuition increase is in part a response to a decrease in funds distributed by the state and federal governments to higher education. SEE TUITION PAGE 2
A NEW PLACE TO PRAY | MOSQUE CONSTRUCTiON CONTiNUES
Enjoli Di Patri
Top: the gold dome was placed on the Masjid an-nur last week. the mosque is being built to help promote a dialogue between all religions and cultures in the norman area. Right: an inside look at the mosque’s gold dome. the mosque, near campus on lindsey Street will be completed by February 2012.
See page 2 to read the full story about the new mosque. mUsic
money
Salary freeze over for now Pay increase approved Wednesday by OU Regents for full-time faculty and staff CHasE CooK
The Oklahoma Daily
ARDMORE — The three-year salary freeze on OU staff and faculty thawed Wednesday after salary increases were approved by OU officials. The OU Board of Regents approved raises for the Norman campus, the Health Sciences Center and the OU-Tulsa Schusterman campus during its June retreat meeting in Ardmore. The decision will give a 2-percent raise to full-time staff across all three campuses. Faculty at the Schusterman and HSC campuses will receive a 2-percent raise as well; however, faculty at the Norman campus will receive a 3-percent raise starting July 1. The College of Law, located on the Norman campus, will see a 4-percent increase for faculty and a 3-percent professional staff compensation increase. OU President David Boren said the university is glad to have the funds to give raises to faculty and staff, implemented to curb the compensation erosion that has occurred over the last three years. “[The university] has fewer people doing more,” Boren said. These raises will take place across the board at the Schusterman and Norman campuses, but the raise at the HSC will be merit-based. A provision also placed into the approved agenda will ensure staff receive at least a $1,000 raise. This provision protects the staff that make $20,000 a year, Boren said. If these staff members, which include staff from the custodial and landscaping departments, receive a 2-percent raise on $20,000, that’s about $400 a year. That isn’t enough, Boren said. SEE SALARY PAGE 2
stUdent goveRnment
End of this month Morris, Bock still active while away jammed with jazz Student leaders use email for duties while working, interning this summer
3-day festival to attract jazz and blues musicians nationwide, offer live performances and clinics alyssa GrimlEy The Oklahoma Daily
Jazz will flood the city of Norman from today to Saturday for the 28th annual free Jazz in June festival. The three-day-long festival will attract musicians from Oklahoma and beyond, according to the Norman Arts Council website. Included in the lineup are jazz artists Larry Coryell, Poncho Sanchez and the Norman North High School Jazz Choir. In addition to numerous live performances, there will be four back-to-back jazz and blues clinics from 11 a.m. to 3:10 p.m. on Saturday, Program Chair Jim Johnson said. In these clinics, people will be able to chat with jazz legends and these musicians will relay music history and provide tips on how to play certain instruments, Johnson said. “It’s a cool meet-and-greet opportunity,” Johnson said. “You can learn first-hand from a jazz idol.”
A LOOK AT WHAT’S ON OU does not have to obey new Norman city ordinance mandating the use of new energy-efficient light fixtures in the Norman area
HalEy o’Hara
The Oklahoma Daily
Busy with jobs and internships this summer, the University of Oklahoma Student Association president, vice president, and Campus Activities Council chair are still fulfilling their responsibilities to the student body. After a busy semester of campaigning for the UOSA President and Vice President positions, Hannah Morris and Laura Bock are still hard at work during their summer vacations. Hannah Morris, UOSA president said she is currently in Washington D.C. where she is participating in the Ewing Public Service Fellowship Program. The program has put Morris right in the middle of politics. Morris is directly working for congressman Tom Cole at the U.S. Capitol building. Cole represents Oklahoma’s 4th District. Morris’ daily duties include running errands and answering the phone. Although Morris is in Washington D.C., she would like the OU community
THE OKLAHOMA DAILY VOL. 96, NO. 155 © 2011 OU Publications Board www.OUDaily.com www.facebook.com/OUDaily www.twitter.com/OUDaily
Daily arChiVES
UoSa Vice President laura Bock, left, and President hannah Morris have stayed active by using email to complete their duties over the summer. to know that she is keeping an eye on OU, and if anyone has any questions they can email her at UOSApres@ou.edu. Since Morris is at the Capitol and Laura Bock, the UOSA vice president, is spending the remainder of her summer
WHAT’S INSIDE News .......................... Classifieds .................. Life & Arts .................. Opinion ...................... Sports .........................
2 4 5 3 5
in Norman, the two have been communicating through email. “Laura Bock can sign off in my absence,” Morris said about issues that require a signature. SEE UOSA PAGE 2
TODAY’S WEATHER
95° | 76° Tomorrow: Partly cloudy, high of 99 degrees