Recent remakes lacking successful storytelling formula (Page 5) The University of Oklahoma’s independent student voice since 1916
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ACADEMICS
Oklahoma aims to boost graduation rates OU’s retention goals ahead of governor’s planned initiative BLAYKLEE BUCHANAN Campus Reporter
Gov. Mary Fallin is launching an initiative to increase college graduation rates, but she isn’t the only one with plans to swell OU’s alumni ranks. Fallin’s higher education
initiative aims to increase statewide graduation rates by 67 percent by 2023, according to a press release, but Senior Vice President and Provost Nancy Mergler said a presidential task force at OU has been addressing the issue for more than five years. To bolster graduation rates, President David Boren created the Graduation and Retention Task Force to keep students on track to graduate
on time, Mergler said. The task force, made up of OU faculty and staff, examines graduation and retention rates and suggests solutions to ensure academic success, Graduation Office Director Becky Heeney said. “We’ve discovered that one of the most important factors in ultimately achieving graduation is maintaining a proper pace in the accumulation of academic credits,”
Heeney said. The task force launched the Think 15 campaign to encourage students to enroll in 15 credits each semester. After four years, 15 credits per semester should enable students to graduate, she said. OU’s most recent six-year graduation rate for students enrolled full time beginning
80 %
OU Graduation Rates 1999-2004 OU graduation rates 1999-2004 70% 70 %
60% 60 %
50 % 50%
1999 1999
2000 2000
SEE GRADUATION PAGE 2
2001 2001
2002 2002
2003 2003
2004 2004
GRAPH BY ANNELISE RUSSELL/THE DAILY
INTERSESSION
HOMECOMING WEEK 2011
More signed up for winter Classes to study ‘Harry Potter,’ ‘The Jersey Shore’ SARAH BEDELL Staff Reporter
PHOTOS BY MELODIE LETTKEMAN/THE DAILY
University College freshman Andrew Row tags microbiology sophomore Ben Laptad with Holi powder Tuesday during the CAC Homecoming Week 2011 Paint the Mall Crimson event. Students were served cookies from Couch Restaurants and Coke floats, and then they were given the colorful powder to color one another.
Sooner spirit smeared across students the colored powder, which comes from an Indian festival of the same name, and throw powder at each other. Andrew Belliveau, an internaJAKE MORGAN tional business and economics juStaff Reporter nior, came up with the idea to use The Walker-Adams Mall be- Holi powder as part of the homecame a vibrant battleground of coming festivities. “Consider that this orange, yellow and year’s theme is ‘Paint purple hues Tuesday “It’s just as fun the Town Crimson,’ afternoon. as paintball but we really wanted As part of OU’s H o m e c o m i n g without the pain.” to paint the town,” Belliveau said. Week, the Housing Belliveau, whose C e n t e r S t u d e n t TARYN HILL, UNIVERSITY COLLEGE FRESHMAN face was eventuAssociation and ally blasted by purCampus Activities Council’s Homecoming Executive ple Holi powder, said the Indian Committee collaborated to stage Student Association graciously a Holi powder war. In a powder University College freshman Eric Jensen examines his colorful person after particSEE POWDER PAGE 2 war, participants take handfuls of
CAC stages war for students to ‘paint the town crimson’
ipating in the CAC Homecoming Week 2011 Paint the Mall Crimson event Tuesday.
OU December Intersession enrollment begins Oct. 31, and recent statistics show more students are taking advantage of this education alternative. In 2010, 1,455 students opted for winter intersession courses, compared with 1,375 in 2007, according to the OU College of Continuing Education and the College of Liberal Studies. If this increase persists, professors such as Anna Gurley may have a packed house come December. Gurley teaches the course “Harry Potter” and the Hero’s Journey, which the professor said will use student’s interest in “Harry Potter” to introduce critical theories of the 20th century and then apply the theories to the books and movies. But Gurley’s class is just one of many available to all students, regardless of year and major. Classes range from statistics to Jersey Shore-Depictions of Gender, Race and Class on the Shore. Classes such as “Harry Potter” still will cover the same information a semester class and count as a three-hour, junior-level elective class. Biochemistry senior Matthew McKeever said he opted for an intersession SEE DECEMBER PAGE 2
OPINION VOL. 97, NO. 44 © 2011 OU Publications Board FREE — Additional copies 25 cents www.OUDaily.com www.facebook.com/OUDaily www.twitter.com/OUDaily
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NOW ON
Values matter more over race in news
Students get tangled up to relieve class stress
Society should consider important issues instead. (Page 4)
Students’ pockets full of sunshine New campus organization works to bring smiles across campus. (Page 6)
SPORTS
Cold front pushes through Norman
Former Sooner now sports entrepreneur
Frost could be a result, meteorologists say. (OUDaily.com)
Basketball writer creates website job with what he already knows. (Page 8)
DOMESTIC VIOLENCE
Victim’s story to offer lessons
LIFE & ARTS
NEWS
CAMPUS BRIEF
DARIAN HARMON/THE DAILY
University College freshman Jacob Moore plays a game of Twister on Tuesday at Walker Center. Walker Resident Students Association put together a game night for the residents to relax.
A documentary detailing the domestic violence that led to the death of a Pennsylvania woman will be shown Thursday night on campus. The film, “Telling Amy’s S t o r y ,” s t a r t s w i t h t h e November 2001 death of Amy McGee and examines events in reverse to see what could have been done to prevent it. The documentary is called a fatality review, Verizon Wireless spokeswoman E lys e R ichards on said.
Fatality reviews are used as training tools to identify signs a person is a victim of domestic violence. The film is being shown around the state as part of domestic violence awareness month — which is October — and is sp ons ore d by Verizon Wireless’ Hopeline campaign, Richardson said. Thursday’s documentary will be preceded by a speech from Carol Stoops, OU football coach Bob Stoops’ wife. The event will begin at 7 p.m. in the Molly Shi Boren Ballroom. The event is free and open to the public. Chase Cook, Managing Editor