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Friday, January 21, 2011
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EDUCATION
Storm puts classes on ice
Higher Ed to ask for more funding Additional state dollars requested despite million-dollar budget shortfall NICHOLAS HARRISON The Oklahoma Daily
Chancellor of Higher Education Glen Johnson didn’t let inclement weather stop him from outlining the state higher education system’s agenda for the upcoming year Thursday at Rose State College. Johnson is asking the state Legislature for $115.6 million in additional appropriations — a 5.6 percent increase from last year. He hopes to replace $59.8 million in stimulus funds and $16.5 million in debt-service reduction. He also said another $30.9 million was necessary for operating obligations. To bolster his case, he pointed to the success of the state higher education system during the past 10 years. He said higher education will have cut $112.3 million in costs from 2009 to 2012. At the conclusion of Johnson’s presentation, Rep. Gary Banz, R-Midwest City, said he believed nobody makes the case for higher education better than Johnson, but the state will face a difficult budget year. “It’s a tough year. There’s no question about it. We’re looking at between a $500 million to 600 million budget shortfall,” Banz said. Johnson said although it will be tough, his obligation is to work with institutions to make the case. The Legislature has been good about prioritizing in recent years, Johnson said. In addition to discussing the state system’s budget request, Johnson also outlined other priorities in higher education, which include funding for bond payments to clear the $267 million backlog for the endowed chairs program, opposing concealed weapons on campus and protecting the Promise Scholarship Program and the State Regents’ tuition-setting authority. The presentation was the sixth stop on Johnson’s legislative tour and about 90 people attended his speech. Although the audience was composed mostly of regents and administrators from four colleges in the Oklahoma City area, state legislators also were in attendance. Rose State College President Terry Britton said he was pleased with the attendance and happy to host the event and show off his campus. He said he had heard Johnson outline the year’s legislative goals at another event, but he learns something new every time and likes the clarity of Johnson’s message.
NEIL MCGLOHON/THE DAILY
History junior Drew Slagle de-ices his car Thursday afternoon in the Traditions East parking lot after the overnight winter weather. Ice built up on cars and roads across campus in the early morning and resulted in canceled classes.
Not all students receive class cancellation alert OU’s emergency notification system did not text some students who had not signed up for the website CARMEN FORMAN The Oklahoma Daily
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lasses were canceled on all three OU campuses Thursday, but many students awoke without notification from university administration. OU employs an emergency communication system intended to send text messages in the event of an emergency, such as a school shooting, or in this case, canceled classes. The emergency-communication system was used at 6:55 a.m. Thursday, university spokesman Chris Shilling said. “A s o f n o w , O U [ I n f o r m a t i o n Technology] is reviewing the logs from this morning’s inclement weather messages to ensure that the emergency communication system performed as intended,” Shilling said in an e-mail. He said a text message about the cancellation was sent to those who had signed up for the system.
But photography junior Carli Lewis said although she has received text messages from the university in the past, she received nothing Thursday morning. “I don’t know why I didn’t get a text message, but I didn’t find out [that school was cancelled] until way later,” Lewis said. Lewis said she found out classes were cancelled when a friend told her he saw the update on OU’s website. Students and employees can sign-up to receive emergency text message alerts at www.account.ou.edu. Students must enter their full ten-digit phone number on the website if they wish to be notified. Within 24 hours, those registered will receive a text message asking them to confirm the activation. In order to confirm the activation, they must reply to the text message with “Y SOONER.” If anyone decides at a later point they do not want to receive emergency communication notifications, they can text “STOP SOONER” or “QUIT SOONER” to 23177. At the website, they also can choose to add their e-mail address as a means of receiving notifications.
›››› Sooner Sampler: What did you do on your day off from class? “I slept in and watched ‘Modern Family.’” ANNIE DELSIGNORE, UNIVERSITY COLLEGE FRESHMAN
“I slept in and went for a drive.” AUSTIN DONNELL, UNIVERSITY COLLEGE FRESHMAN
“I slept in until noon and had a two-hour lunch.”
Campus cleanup complete Author to address Middle East issues
Facilities Management director warns students to be alert for ice in isolated areas of campus
The Center for Middle East Studies is bringing a noted author with insight on the situation in the Middle East to speak on campus. Author Graham E. Fuller will speak at 5 p.m. Monday in the Oklahoma Memorial Union’s Meacham Auditorium. Fuller is the former vice-chairman of the National Intelligence Council and is coming to OU to discuss his book, “A World Without Islam.” It’s important to bring Fuller to OU because of his international knowledge, said Nur Uysal, event organizer. “It is a chance of a lifetime to get to see him and ask him questions,” Uysal said. Fuller’s talk will provide students insight into the war on terror, said Joshua Landis, The Center for Middle East Studies director. “The U.S. has spent well over a trillion dollars on the war on terror, and Graham Fuller will tell why much of that money has been misspent,” Landis said.
CHRIS MILLER
— Sarah Martin/The Daily
The Oklahoma Daily
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he OU Facilities Management and the Landscape and Grounds Department directors said they were pleased with the pace of campus cleanup in the wake of Wednesday night’s winter storm. Most of the cleanup operation was finished by 10 a.m., Facilities Management Director Brian Ellis said.
The Landscape and Grounds Department monitored the weather leading up to the storm and put down salt on high-traffic areas before the storm hit, said Allen King, department director. “At around 4 a.m. we had crews ... working on the steps, stairs and handicapped ramps around the residential areas on campus,” King said. Ellis warned students, faculty and staff that even after the completion of the cleanup, there may still be isolated patches of ice on campus sidewalks and shortcuts. “We can’t cover every square inch of campus, so be alert where you’re stepping to ensure conditions are safe,” Ellis said.
BETSY HAYS, UNIVERSITY COLLEGE FRESHMAN
“I spent time hanging out with friends before school starts.” LAUREN DAVIS, UNIVERSITY COLLEGE FRESHMAN
OU College of Law to host Pre-Law Day for American Indian students interested in law A Feb. 12 event sponsored by three Oklahoma law colleges will provide interested Native American students insight into future law academics and careers. The Native American Pre-Law Day is free and will bring in American Indian lawyers and law students to the OU College of Law to share their experiences with undergraduate students. The event also will include information regarding admission and financial aid for law school, according to a press release.
A LOOK AT WHAT’S ON AAlthough the hot cocoa was nice, The Daily’s Margo Basse says the unexpected day off came too early
The event is sponsored a grant from the Law School Admission Council and also is being hosted by OU’s College of Law, Oklahoma City University School of Law, the University of Tulsa College of Law and the Council on Legal Education Opportunity, according to a press release. Although the event is free, there are limited slots available.
» Native American Pre-Law Day will be 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Feb. 12 at OU’s College of Law To register, contact Brittany Mayes at 405325-8521 or e-mail bmayes@ou.edu
— Alyssa Dudek/The Daily
THE OKLAHOMA DAILY VOL. 96, NO. 83 © 2011 OU Publications Board www.OUDaily.com www.facebook.com/OUDaily www.twitter.com/OUDaily
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