Thursday, October 18, 2012

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The University of Oklahoma’s independent student voice since 1916

T H U R S DAY, O C T O B E R 18 , 2 012

W W W.O U DA I LY.C O M

Sports: Sixth-ranked senior tennis player aiming high (Page 5)

2 011 S I LV E R C R O W N W I N N E R

QUeeN OF hArT’s

OUDaily.com: Kevin Greenspon to play free show at Gray Owl Coffee

L&A: Costumes for rent (Page 8)

sTUDeNT JOBs

campus employment up from last year Students represent 29 percent of current employees ARIANNA PICKARD Campus Reporter

After a slight decrease in on-campus employment, student employment rose during the last academic year.

During the 2011-12 academic year, 3,425 students were employed by the university, which is about 11.1 percent of total students enrolled at the university, according to the OU Institutional Research and Reporting Factbook for Fall 2012. This means 180 more students have part-time jobs through the university than

the years before, according to the Factbook. On-campus employment hit a five-year high during the 2009 to 2010 school year when 11.9 percent of students had jobs through the university. That number dropped sharply to 10.7 percent the next year. The university is not sure why there was a spike in

student employment followed by such a sharp decrease, said Cheryl Jorgenson, the associate provost and director of Institutional Research. Of all current campus employees, 29 percent of them are students, according to the Factbook. Almost 80 of the student employees were employed

NONprOFIT OrgANIZATION

in off-campus work-study student jobs for community service nonprofit agencies, according to Financial Aid Services. 119 students were hired through OU’s job location program to work off campus at non-work study jobs, Diana Biggerstaff, assistant director of OU employment and compensation services,

said in an email. The job location program is a federally funded program that connects students with local businesses that understand their needs for flexible work schedules. “OU has a wide variety of jobs for students with different class levels, interests and see JOBS page 2

speech

Group looks to expand in fall

Boren speaks about OU budget “State of the University” address urged citizens to consider education funding JOEY STIPEK Online Editor

kingsley buRns/the daily

Advertising senior, Alexa Mihalick (right), arm wrestles a student during snack time at the Love Works after school program sept. 19. The program provides free after-school care and learning activities for at-risk middle school students.

At risk children are main focus for group LINDSEY BODMAN Campus Reporter

A local nonprofit organization is expanding its work this fall after enrollment quintupled from its first year. Love Works Outreach is a nonprofit organization after school initiative for middle school students in the Norman Public School district as well as the Dimensions Academy School in Norman, said Daniel Smith, lead volunteer at Love Works. The organization provides after school care for students that are considered to be at risk for their age and

at risk regarding academic standing, according to the group’s website. Group members work with students before, during and after school, Smith said. In its first year in Norman last year, the organization worked with 27 middle school students, Smith said. This year, the enrollment in the program has jumped to 140 middle school students, he said. The spike led to the organization’s opening of a second location in Norman earlier this semester. Love Works’ focus is to pay attention to students and the impacts of personal life and personal growth in leadership, academic excellence or social life, said Bri Ramos, OU alumna and Love Works after school

coordinator. More than 120 people actively volunteer with Love Works, according to Smith. Most of these volunteers are OU students, Ramos said. However, with the growing community, they are always in need of more volunteers, she said. “There is so much interest, and the struggles are staying caught up and meeting all of the needs of the students,” Ramos said. The coordinators said Love Works not only has impacted the lives of the students, but their lives as well. Smith recently graduated with a master’s degree in chemical see GROUP page 2

OU President David Boren urged Oklahoma citizens to be concerned about continuing to shrink state appropriations to higher education during an hour-long discussion on Wednesday. “It’s what is critical for the future of our state that we need to wake up the public,” Boren said. “We need a Paul Revere’s ride around the state of Oklahoma to wake up the people to what is going on.” In a chart provided by the university, for the fiscal year 2013 budget OU receives 17.5 percent of its funding through state appropriations, 29 percent in tuitions and fees, 16.9 percent in grants and contracts, 27.5 percent in auxiliary funds, 8.7 percent in other Educational & General budget, 0.5 percent in one-time funding and “the rest of the costs are passed on to students and parents.” The discussion, which took place in Oklahoma Memorial Union’s Beaird Lounge, was Boren’s annual “State of the University” address to the Staff Senate. “At what point do we really still think we have a public university, and at what point, with regards to funding, does it become a private university supported by tuition fees and

cOMMUNITY serVIce

OU, United Way of Norman join forces to raise money to provide aid for communities, programs in need Partnership has raised over $62,000 during its 2012 Campus Campaign BROOKE HANKINSON Campus Reporter

OU United Way — a partnership between OU and United Way of Norman to help raise money to support 41 programs across Norman — has raised $62,248.23 to date for the organization’s 2012 Campus Campaign, less than half of its $215,000 goal, according to Laurie Bass, United Way of Norman director of information services. OU United Way identifies the most pressing needs of communities and supports programs that address those needs, said Kristin Collins, United Way of Nor man president. “We still have a ton of work to do because we are not

oud-2012-10-18-a-001,002.indd 1

even at 50 percent of our goal so far,” Collins said. The campaign started Sept. 13 and will end Nov. 9, she said. The current amount of money raised consists of donations from OU faculty, staff, retirees, students and events held on campus to raise money, said Brian Ringer, OU United Way Campus Campaign co-chair and director of Student Media. Two such events, the United Way OU Office Olympics and Student Media/United Way of Norman three-on-three Basketball, recently raised a total of $1,280, Ringer said. The campaign team visited four programs — Love Works

Outreach, Bridges, Full Circle, and Food & Shelter, Inc. — of the 41 total programs, Collins said. Love Works Outreach is an after-school program for middle school students that includes tutoring and team and character building, Ringer said. The program, which acts as a leadership building block for students, also includes summer leadership camps to nurture students’ athletic, musical and artistic abilities, Ringer said. Geared toward high school students who are living on their own, Bridges is a program that provides access to housing and the services to help such students graduate high school, according to the United Way of Norman website. Full Circle provides

AT A GLANCE campus campaign $2,890

ou Foundation $11,492

ou retirees $47,866

ou employees total: $62,248 Source: Brian Ringer, OU United Way Campaign Co-Chair and Director of Student Media

activities, meals and health monitoring for senior citizens in order to prevent nursing home placement, according to the website. Food & Shelter, Inc., as the name implies, gives the homeless or struggling

access to hot meals, laundry facilities and showers, Ringer said. The campaign also wants to educate the OU community about these programs around Norman and convince 20 to 25 percent of all OU employees to participate in the campaign, Collins said. OU United Way’s last fundraising event, the Chili Cook Off, will be held Nov. 9. OU United Way accepts cash, check or credit card donations online. Brooke Hankinson Brooke.k.hankinson-1@ou.edu

gifts?” Boren asked. Boren praised faculty and staff for “doing more with less” in the midst of the current economic crisis. “We have been challenged more in terms of our financial support than ever before,” he said. Boren said during the last year, the university has had to absorb $100 million in cuts or uncompensated cost increases. This includes $20 million in uncompensated health insurance costs and rising utility costs over which Boren said the university had no control. This is because the Oklahoma legislature cutting higher education funding by 20 percent over the last three years. In a chart provided by the university, OU in 1985 received 38.6 percent of its funding through state appropriation, he said. In 2012, OU received 11.3 percent of its funding through state appropriations. Boren said citizens have to think about the future of Oklahoma and opportunities for young people. “Teachers are being laid off. Courses aren’t being offered,” Boren said. “And here we have been weathering see SPEECH page 2

Sooners look to beat West Virginia in Morgantown SPORTS: after twoconsecutive conference wins, the soccer team looks to continue its streak against mountaineers. (Page 5)

Pres. candidates’ views on smaller economic issues matter too Opinion: tax and spending reforms are not the only candidate platforms that affect the economy. (Page 4)

VOL. 98, NO. 45 © 2012 OU Publications Board FREE — Additional copies 25¢

INSIDE TODAY campus......................2 clas si f ie ds................6 l i f e & a r t s ..................7 o p inio n.....................4 spor ts........................5 Visit OUDaily.com for more

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