Autumn activities aimed at getting you outdoors (page 11) The University of Oklahoma’s independent student voice since 1916
T H U R s DAY, s e P T e M B e R 2 9 , 2 011
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international StudieS
iranian major on horizon at ou could have a new major to choose after the fall semester in the College of International Studies. College professors and COCO COuRtOiS Campus Reporter administrators have been Students interested in working to make Iranian studying Iranian history, studies the newest major l a n g u a g e s a n d c u l t u re at OU.
Persian course planned for fall
Iranian studies professor Afshin Marashi and Joshua Landis, Center for Middle East Studies director, are teaming up with others in the college to build the new program. The program plans to offer Persian language by
next fall, Marashi said. Once the program has history, culture and language, the college will then have an official major or minor, he said. “Our goal is to stand as one of the major Iranian study programs in the
country,” Marashi said. “In the past few years, there’s been a lot of efforts to create similar programs like in California ... Maryland or Portland State University.” While Iranian studies is see CULTURE pAGe 3
candlelit memorieS Students hold candles while listening to stories at a candlelight vigil Wednesday in the unity garden on the South Oval. The vigil marked the one-year anniversary of the suicide of Zach harrington, a bullied, gay teen from norman. The event commemorated the growth that has been made in the gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender community at Ou and in norman. While the community has made progress, many of the speakers, who ranged from elected officials to transgender students, said there is much change ahead, support group leader Will Weir said. (oudaily. AuBrie hill/The dAily com)
neuStadt FeStiVal
Children connect with festival book readers Norman fourth, fifth graders crowd union courtyard ViCtORia gaRten Campus Reporter
OU alumni welcomed a younger generation of students to the Oklahoma Memorial Union to hear excerpts from classic children’s literature by local authors and musicians Wednesday. About 200 Norman
fourth- and fifth-grade students crowded into the union courtyard for the Neustadt Festival’s Celebrity Read event. The university and oncampus magazine World Literature Today hosted the event to connect elementaryage students to some of their favorite authors, said Kathryn L e w i s, No r m a n P u b l i c Schools director of media services and technology. “I think it helps them learn
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INsIDe News .......................... 2 Classifieds .................. 9 Life & Arts .................. 10 Opinion ...................... 4 Sports ......................... 7
NOw ON
celebrate books, don’t ban them
about new books, enjoy the readers and give the students the opportunity to read as well,” Lewis said. The event awarded its first NSK Neustadt Prize to author Virginia Euwer Wolff, who also read at the event. Wolff The winners received a $25,00 prize and the opportunity to participate in various literature-related activities. The festival, which has taken place since Tuesday, promotes children’s literature,
according to its website. “The purpose of today was to involve and engage the school age students and share an amazing repertoire of work,” said event emcee Merleyn Bell, World Literature Today art director and OU alumna. Six Celebrity Readers shared excerpts from NSK Neustadt prize-winning children’s books. The Neustadt Festival ends Friday.
Oklahoma grabs Texas by the ’Horns
Americans have the right to read any book they want. (Page 4)
Sooners upset texas in emotional victory
remembering a young victim
a whirlwind tour of italian theaters
lgBTq Advisory Board held a candlelight vigil. (oudaily.com)
Two drama seniors recount their 10-day trip. (Page 10)
Sophomore middle blocker Sallie Mclaurin (14) blocks an attack next to junior outside hitter Morgan Reynolds (8). The Sooners upset the no. 8 longhorns, 3-2. (Page 7)
Beginning today, students can pick up their OUTexas football tickets at the Athletics Ticket Office under the Asp Avenue parking facility. Students must bring their OU IDs to pick up their tickets, and only the original student who purchased the ticket will be allowed to pick it up. Ticket pick-up will take place from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. through Wednesday, Oct. 5. After that, tickets will be available for pickup the day of the game at the Blue Coliseum building in the fairgrounds. Lilly Chapa, Campus Reporter
cenSorSHiP
Week fights book bans Campus group aims to raise awareness KatHleen eVanS
Senior Campus Reporter
An OU student organization is celebrating Banned Books Week, a nationwide, annual event to highlight the fight against censorship. The Oklahoma Library and Information Studies Students Association manned a table on the South Oval on Wednesday with famous banned books, as well as information on banned books and the week, which is held during the last week in September. “The point is to raise awareness that books are challenged in public schools and libraries across the nation,” association copresident Elisabeth Wright said. “This limits the freedom of choice in what you can read. Just because something is offensive to you doesn’t mean it should be banned to everyone.” University College freshman Cody Davis said he plans on reading from George Orwell’s dystopia novel “1984.” “I try to make a point of reading a banned book every year,” Davis said.
greeK liFe
One lot to be home to two OU fraternities
Campus Reporter
kinGsley Burns/The dAily
Tickets available to pick up today
see READING pAGe 2
ViCtORia gaRten
Volleyball pulls out win against longhorns in five sets in norman. (Page 7)
liFe & artS
• clarke Stroud, Student Affairs vice president • Kellie coffey, musician • mike Host, musician • molly griffis, author • marilyn Hudson, author • James tyree, journalist • Virginia euwer Wolff, this year’s award winner
Sigma Nu, Alpha Tau Omega to build on shared property
SPortS
multimedia
AT A glAnCe celebrity readers
ou-teXaS
Longtime greek rivals will come together when one OU fraternity demolishes its former house to make room for another. Sigma Nu is tearing down its 1950s-era house and will welcome Alpha Tau Omega to its 99,000-square-foot lot at 1300 College Ave., where
both chapters will live in two new houses, Sigma Nu president Michael Grant said. The Cherokee Gothicarchitecture houses will have two floors of residential living areas and a gym, dining room, kitchen, recreation room, study lounge and library on the first floor. Sigma Nu agreed to sell Alpha Tau Omega half of the property for $700,000 and split demolition and zoning costs, after Alpha Tau see DEMOLITION pAGe 2