Professor brings color to classroom with graphic novels (page 5) The University of Oklahoma’s independent student voice since 1916
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Ou credit rating remains unchanged Future investment urged despite negative outlook BlaYklee Buchanan Campus Reporter
A major credit-rating company has reaffirmed OU’s rating from last year — the same rating accompanying a report that said OU might need to raise tuition to deal with its financial issues. Fitch Ratings, one of the top credit-rating systems in the world, has given an ‘AA’ rating
to the series of general revenue bonds issued by the OU Board of Regents, according to the company’s website. However, the outlook on that rating is negative. Bonds are similar to loans. OU receives money from investors to finance projects, and those bonds must be paid back with interest at fixed intervals. Credit-rating agencies like Fitch assess the ability of financial institutions to pay back their bonds. Fitch explains that the rating of an ‘AA’ indicates a very low default risk, which means investors should feel safe buying debt from
the organization. While the rating promotes investment, it is possible for an organization to be downgraded. Fitch highlights this by giving each organization an outlook on future investment. Fitch analyzes the organization’s finances to try and determine the potential for an upgrade or a downgrade during future credit reports. This doesn’t always mean the organization will be downgraded. Last January, OU also received an ‘AA’ rating with a negative outlook. In the previous report, an OU official told Fitch a 4.5-percent tuition increase could
help subsidize losses due to reductions in state aid and other cost increases. At the time the report was released, President David Boren called the rating a “prediction” and not an official decision on tuition increase. However, the university eventually raised tuition by 5 percent because of reductions in state funding and increases in fixed costs, such as health care and utility bills. Managing Editor Chase Cook contributed to this report.
cAMPuS criMe
Boren pushes for new policy Incoming students might have to take sexual-assault classes kierStin kite staff Reporter
All incoming OU students will be required to participate in online sexual-assault prevention training if changes to OU’s sexual assault policies are approved. President David Boren announced Monday that he would present at the Sept. 19 OU Board of Regents a plan to make policies more accessible to students, faculty and staff and provide a program that is more consistent. “The University of Oklahoma is committed to keeping our campus communities safe for all students,” Boren said in a press release. Student needs, along with guidance from the U.S. Office of Civil Rights, were taken into account when creating specific recommendations for the new policy, according to the press release. The effort to clarify the process of handling sexual assault cases includes specialty training for law enforcement, staff and faculty along with the creation of a staff position responsible for reporting, investigating and responding to sexual misconduct cases. A website that will provide access to all policies regarding sexual misconduct will be developed as well. Immediate implementation of the new policy would occur after receiving approval from the Board of Regents. University spokesman Michael Nash said further information on the updated sexual assault policies would be available closer to the Board of Regents meeting.
Staying connected
International Sooners bridge gaps coco courtoiS
worried about his family or his girlfriend, who remains in England. “As long as I can talk to them, it’s fine,” Poole said. Studying abroad is never an easy thing. But as a study abroad student, he does not forget the reaSure, it’s mainly about meeting new people and discovering a new country, but when the excitement of discovery son he came to OU. “I’m here to discover and to make the most of this expegives way to homesickness, being away from home can be rience,” Espallargas said. “I have to open myself to other just as hard for the student as for the family. But thankfully the arrival of social networks has provided international students and American culture.” South Korean student JiHye Lee still talks to her family an outlet for these international students at OU. Keeping in touch with family has never been so accessi- every day. “My mom misses me and wants me to come ble. Social-networking tools have completely back,” said Lee, an undergraduate English ed“i have to open changed the study abroad experience, while ucation student. 10 years ago, a trip for one year meant almost myself to other Lee said she uses Skype to contact her famno contact with friends and family, with a few international ily but mainly uses popular Korean applicaletters and postcards and a phone call once tions on her Android cellphone. a week. Gone are the expensive phone calls, students and Lee had never traveled outside of South and say hello to free video chats. american culture.” Korea for more than one week and was still Adrian Espallargas, an undergraduate jourliving with her parents back home. She said nalism student from Spain who is a columnist AdRiAn espAllARgAs, the experience studying at OU is a good way JouRnAlisM student and photographer for The Daily, said he thinks fRoM spAin to find her independence. feeling homesick will not be a problem. But it’s not that easy to leave one country’s Speaking to his family once a week on Skype is enough for him, and because it is not his first abroad ex- customs for another, Lee said, and her mother seemed perience, Espallargas said he knows he can adapt well. He to agree when she sent her a 42-pound parcel of Korean previously spent seven months studying in Edinburgh, food. Social networking and new technology can be a great Scotland. For him, social networking tools are useful for speaking way to meet new people and make the most of an international experience, but for some, it means they can easily to his family in Spain and his girlfriend in Japan. “We probably couldn’t make it if we couldn’t talk for a revert back to what’s comfortable. “Korean people understand me more than foreigners beyear,” Espallargas said. Matt Poole, a mathematics graduate student from cause they share my culture and my mother tongue,” Lee said. “English is not [my native language], and I can’t really England, echoed Espallargas’ sentiments. Even though it’s Poole’s first experience abroad, he’s not express my feelings.”
Campus Reporter
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8 ways to work out on a busy schedule
Wagner Hall namesake dies Tuesday at age 77
life can get hectic, but you can still take care of yourself. (Page 5)
Oklahoma’s liquor laws need updating
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Counties should say whether grocery stores can stock wine. (Page 4)
SPOrtS
Pros and cons of social networking
Volleyball team sets high goals for itself
students keep in contact with friends, family back home. (Oudaily.com)
the sooners want to top 2010 by reaching the final four. (Page 7)
Energy seminar stresses simpler life Lecture works to discourage alternative fuels
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Campus Reporter
pHoto proVided
Cy Wagner (right) poses with his wife, lissa. Wagner, a long-time supporter and university donor, died tuesday morning after a brief illness. Wagner was 77. (Page 3)
Students were encouraged to live a simpler life rather than find alternative fuels Tuesday in Devon Energy Hall. Jan Lundberg, founder of the nonprofit organization Sustainable Energy Institute, now Culture Change, delivered this
message to a roomful of students and professors. L u n d b e r g ’s l e c t u re, “Natural Gas: A Bridge to Nowhere?” is part three of the seminar series “Bridging Fuels for the Future,” which is sponsored by the Oklahoma Energy Education Foundation, Oklahoma Energy Resources Board and RKI Exploration & Production. Lundberg said natural see LECTURE paGe 2