The Oklahoma Daily

TUESDAY OCTOBER 20, 2009

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U2 360° concert brings alcohol to campus

Wednesday’s Weather

67°/49°

60%

Proceeds to go to OU Athletics Department RICKY MARANON Daily Staff Writer

owl.ou.edu

CAMPUS BRIEFS LOCAL VIGIL TO BE HELD REMEMBERING DEATHS DUE TO LACK OF HEALTH CARE Local Norman churches will host a candlelight vigil in remembrance of those who die each year for lack of health care at 7 p.m. in Andrews Park, 201 W. Daws St. The event is one of several happening today in Oklahoma, inspired by the National Day of Remembrance and Hope, a nationwide event sponsored by Faithful Reform in Health Care.

Faithful Reform in Health Care is an organization committed to expanding support for health care reform within the religious community.

According to Faithful Reform in Health Care’s Web site, the National Day of Remembrance and Hope is an event to remember the 45,000 people who die each year because they lack insurance that provides access to needed health care.

The Rev. Chris Moore helped organize the candlelight vigil at Andrews Park through his church, Norman United Church of Christ.

“This is a faithful response from a variety of faith communities,” Moore said. “We are called to help those who are hurting. And beyond that, the fact that we’re the most affluent nation in the world and the fact that people go bankrupt simply because they get sick is an immoral situation.”

-Jared Rader/The Daily

CAMPUS GROUPS TO BAND TOGETHER FOR RALLY CommonGrOUnd, a rally brought together by over 50 academic, cultural and community organizations on campus, will take place from 7 to 10 p.m. Wednesday on the East Lawn outside of the Oklahoma Memorial Union, according to a press release.

Sigma Nu Alpha Gamma, the Society of Native American Gentlemen, will perform and S.O.S. Entertainment, John Calvin Abney III and The JonBear Fourtet will be performing a concert at the rally.

This event will be moved to the ballroom in the Union in the case of rain.

-Daily staff reports

ART MUSEUM HOLDING COMPETITION FOR EXHIBIT The Fred Jones Jr. Museum of Art is will host a poster competition in the spirit of the Works Progress Administration, with a grand prize of $1,000 for the winning entry before the launch of its new exhibit opening in spring 2010, according to a press release.

The deadline to submit an entry for this competition is Nov. 30.

The exhibit, “Revisiting the New Deal: Government Patronage and the Fine Arts, 1933-1943,” opens Feb. 6 at the museum and continues through May 11.

Poster submissions for this competition must adhere to contest requirements: They must be 15 inches by 22 inches, use no more than four solid, distinct colors and include information about the exhibition and museum.

The design should be submitted either as a screen print or in a format that is easily converted to a screen print.

Entries for this competition must be delivered in person from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. by Nov. 30.

-Daily staff reports

FREE — ADDITIONAL COPIES 25¢

RICKY MARANON/THE DAILY

Two cups of beer sit on the seats at the Oklahoma Memorial Stadium during the U2 concert Sunday night. The sale of alcohol was permitted despite OU being a dry campus.

Though OU is a dry campus, the university permitted outside concession vendors to sell beer at the U2 concert Sunday.

Sale of alcohol is prohibited in the Oklahoma Memorial Stadium during football games, but OU gave special permission to vendors to sell beer during the U2 concert, according to university spokesman Jay Doyle.

“OU contracted with an outside licensed beverage vendor to sell beer at the U2 concert, and the OU Athletics Department is receiving a portion of the proceeds from those sales,” Doyle said.

He said the dry campus policy does not apply to concerts and other events that do not involve student athletes.

But the sale of alcohol is reflected in OU Police reports.

According to OU Police reports, nine people were cited and arrested for public intoxication while attending the U2 concert.

Another man who was intoxicated was found to be urinating on ALCOHOL CONTINUES ON PAGE 2

OU RECEIVES AVERAGE GRADE IN SUSTAINABILITY SURVEY School criticized for lack of student involvement CAITLIN HARRISON Daily Staff Writer

OU earned an overall score of “C” — a drop from the “C+” it earned last year — in a recently released national survey evaluating sustainability of colleges and universities.

The College Sustainability Report Card, an evaluation of campus sustainability activities conducted by the Sustainable Endowments Institute, rated 300 schools across several categories. More than half the schools surveyed scored an overall grade of “B” or higher.

An overall “C” is not necessarily a bad grade, said Burr Millsap, associate vice president for administration and finance.

Of the eight categories in which it was ranked, OU scored highest — a “B” — in transportation, climate change and energy, and food and recycling.

The report states more than onethird of OU’s vehicles run on alternative fuel. It also notes OU’s contract for an entirely wind-powered campus by 2013.

Lauren Royston, spokeswoman

for Housing and Food Services, said the division’s green initiatives helped contribute to the above-average score in food and recycling.

“Within Housing and Food Services, any of the current initiatives we have in place absolutely compliment the sustainable actions of the university as a whole,” Royston said. “We’re very proud.”

Royston said some of Housing and Food’s recent sustainable initiatives include the trayless dining program, eliminating Styrofoam cups, using recycled napkins and serving fresh produce and cagefree eggs.

However, OU earned “Cs” and “Ds” in the remaining categories, including green building, student involvement, investment priorities, administration and endowment transparency.

Schools that invest in renewable energy funds receive higher ratings in this category. However, OU has little control over where it invests, Millsap said.

“Because the OU Foundation is a completely separate entity that is governed by an independent board of directors, we don’t have any control over that,” Millsap said. “That’s not to say that their investment polices aren’t sustainable, but we

don’t really govern that.”

Student involvement dropped more than an entire letter — from “C+” to “D” — compared to last year. But that could have been because environmental student leaders on campus did not receive a survey they were supposed to, said Brandon Mikael, National Teach-In chairman for OUr Earth and coordinator of the UOSA Office of Green Initiatives.

“Overall as a university, we’re working a lot on addressing these things,” said Mikael, entrepreneurship and venture management and environmental studies junior.

“Unfortunately we didn’t do so good on this one, but I think in the long run, we’re putting ourselves in a good position.”

Mikael said student involvement is increasing overall, and he is confident OU’s score will improve in the future.

“I think you’ll see more and more groups come out of the woodworks as this issue becomes more prevalent,” Mikael said. “We’re looking forward to improving the score and [making] OU a leader.”

Millsap, who is also part of OU’s Sustainability Committee, said the committee is working to continue the OU’s green initiatives, including recycling, minimizing paper usage and renovating light fixtures.

“I think we’ve got a great start,” Millsap said. “There’s still things that we want to do, and we’ll be accomplishing those in the future.”

GRAPHIC BY LAUREN HARNED/THE DAILY

Universities around the nation are graded from A to F on several categories relating to environmental sustainability.

Power outage causes students to miss class Representative appointed KATHLEEN EVANS Daily Staff Writer

A power outage throughout the southern end of the OU campus Monday morning caused some students to miss classes and some professors to cancel lessons.

The outage occurred around 6 a.m. “due to a primary power cable fault,” said Amanda Hearn, spokeswoman for the OU Physical Plant. It lasted for over three hours until 9:40 a.m., when the plant was able to restore power. The exact cause is unknown, but the plant is looking into it, Hearn said.

Hearn did not specify which parts of the southern side of campus were affected by the power outage, but students at

the OU College of Law and those living in Traditions Square East and West reported having no power.

“I knew something was wrong when I woke up to a steaming hot room,” said Chloe Meek, public relations sophomore.

Meek, a Traditions Square East resident, said she did make it to class on time because of her phone alarm.

Daniel Hensch, a third-year law student, said he missed two classes as a result. His professor for his first class on income taxes canceled the day’s lesson after learning there was no power.

“The class only meets two days a week OUTAGE CONTINUES ON PAGE 2

as new Okla House Speaker CAITLIN HARRISON Daily Staff Writer

Kris Steele, R-Shawnee, was elected today as House S p e a k e r- d e s i g n a t e f o r the Oklahoma House of Representatives.

“I’m very grateful and humble from the support in my caucus,” Steele said. “I do not take the responsibilities that have been entrusted to me lightly.”

Steele will serve as a mentee to current House Speaker

Chris Benge, R-Tulsa, who cannot run for re-election because of term limits, until Nov. 2010. Steele will assume the position if the Republican party remains the majority after the 2010 election. He said he believes the Republicans are likely to do so.

“We’re in the highest number we’ve ever been at in the history of Oklahoma,” Steele said. “We’re going to SPEAKER CONTINUES ON PAGE 2

Greater number of UOSA applications filed for upcoming fall election RICKY MARANON Daily Staff Writer

A large number of applications means the UOSA fall 2009 general election will not be like the uncontested, low turnout election last spring, Fall 2009 Election Chairman Jeff Riles said.

“Compared to what I’ve been told from what happened last spring, this is a complete turnaround in participation,” said Riles, a first-year law student. “We’ve worked really hard on getting the applications to the people rather than having the people come to us like they have in the past.”

UOSA received 58 applications for candidates to fill 30 seats in the fall 20102011 election, Riles said.

“Most seats are going to be contested

races,” he said.

Riles said the large amounts of applications received are a result of a campaign started by UOSA to increase student involvement.

“This was a combination of many people coming together to let people know that seats are available and that people can fill out an application if they want to run,” UOSA President Katie Fox said.

Fox said the campaign involved making people aware of the upcoming election and giving people access to the applications to sign up.

“We made posters and put applications in buildings where a lot of students have classes,” Fox said. “In the end, we are so glad people have signed up to take ELECTION CONTINUES ON PAGE 2

© 2009 OU PUBLICATIONS BOARD

AP PHOTO

Oklahoma State Rep. Kris Steele, R-Shawnee, left, and Speaker of the Oklahoma House Chris Benge, R-Tulsa, listen to a question following a Republican caucus vote in which Steele was voted the speaker for the 2011-2012 term in Oklahoma City Monday.

VOL. 95, NO. 43

2 Tuesday, October 20, 2009 Meredith Moriak, managing editor dailynews@ou.edu • phone: 325-3666 • fax: 325-6051

OUDAILY.COM » LOG ON TO OUDAILY.COM TO CATCH VIDEO AND READ STORIES ABOUT THE PERFORMANCES FROM U2 AND THE BLACK EYED PEAS.

Alcohol

CAMPUS NOTES

Continued from page 1

TODAY

the stadium wall during the concert.

People attending the concert said the alcohol did not bother them. “[The alcohol] doesn’t bother me,” said Penny Capps, OU alumna. “I think it’s a good way for the university to make money.”

Capps said although the alcohol did not bother her, she was worried about some of the people she had seen stumbling down the stairs on their way to the restrooms and to get more to drink.

“This seems like a minor concern compared to some of the other events I have been to,” Capps said.

Election Continued from page 1 part in making a difference in their community and school.”

Four candidates running for re-election are also being recalled. Riles said those candidates will only appear on the ballot once.

“We found it to be redundant that someone who is being recalled while being reelected has to be voted on twice on the ballot,” Riles said.

Riles said candidates who are running for reelection while being recalled will only have to run for re-election in the fall general election.

Candidates who are being recalled but only have to run for re-election are: Charles Biddle (Atmospheric Sciences district), John Hampton (Physical Sciences district), Ashley Zumwalt (University College district) and Kelly Lin (International and Area Studies district).

Speaker Continued from page 1 work hard … We’re not going to take anything for granted. I do believe we’ll maintain that authority.”

Steele will also serve as House Speaker pro tempore, the number-two position in the House which maintains daily activities and steps in for the House Speaker if necessary.

“It is a tremendous relief knowing the House will be in such capable hands,” Benge stated in a Capitol press release. “Rep. Steele possesses all of the qualities needed to be a strong leader of the House of Representatives—he brings a great amount of integrity to the position, he has

Q-and-A SESSIONS Medical School admissions is hosting a Q-and-A at noon in the Oklahoma Memorial Union.

MBA admissions is hosting a Q-and-A from 12:30 to 1:30 p.m. in the Union.

CHRISTIANS ON CAMPUS Christians on Campus will host a Bible study at noon in the Union.

WEDNESDAY ALPHA KAPPA DELTA PHI Alpha Kappa Delta Phi will host a pink ribbon breakfast to raise money for breast cancer research from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. in the South Oval.

Alpha Kappa Delta Phi will present “Pie-A-Prof” from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. in the South Oval.

GRADUATE SCHOOL A Graduate School

POLICE REPORTS Professional Fair will take place from 12:30 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. in the Union.

CHRISTIANS ON CAMPUS Christians on Campus will host a Bible study at noon in the Union.

CAREER SERVICES Career Services will have walk-in hours from 1:30 to 4 p.m. in the Union.

OUR EARTH OUr Earth will meet from 8 to 9 p.m. in Gaylord Hall, room 2030.

CAMPUS CRUSADE FOR CHRIST Campus Crusade for Christ will meet at 9 p.m. in the Oklahoma Memorial Stadium’s Santee Lounge.

GREEN WEEK Green Week 2010 Executive Team applications are available until Friday. For more information go to ou.edu/green.

a genuine concern for all Oklahomans, and he is incredibly knowledgeable on the issues facing Oklahomans today. He is a hard worker with a servant’s heart, and I know he will serve the House to the best of his abilities.”

Steele represents District 26 in the House.

He has lead several health care reform initiatives, according to the press release. He is also co-chairman of the House Health Reform Task Force and an associate pastor at Wesley United Methodist Church in Shawnee.

“This election provides a clear leadership transition that will allow us to make longterm policy plans,” Steele said in the release.

“I look forward to working with not only all of the members of the Republican caucus, but all House members to move our state forward.”

The following is a list of arrests and citations, not convictions. The information is compiled from the Norman Police Department and the OU Police Department. All those listed are presumed innocent until proven guilty.

PUBLIC INTOXICATION Byron Barlow, 25, 1200 S. Jenkins Ave., Friday Kelly Sue Thompson, 43, E. Robinson Street, Saturday Blair Agnus Shorney, 54, Oklahoma Memorial Stadium, Saturday Levi McLean Coolley, 30, Oklahoma Memorial Stadium, Sunday Jay Robert Lindner, 29, Oklahoma Memorial Stadium, Sunday Sterling Noel Stevens, 32, Oklahoma Memorial Stadium, Sunday Miriam Gabrielle, 39, Oklahoma Memorial Stadium, Sunday Lauren Elisabeth Stephens, 32, Oklahoma Memorial Stadium, Sunday, also possession of marijuana and possession of controlled dangerous substance Daniel Michael O’Neil, 34, Oklahoma Memorial

Stadium, Sunday, also possession of marijuana Juan M. Alvarez, 31, Oklahoma Memorial Stadium, Sunday, also outraging public decency Michael Shane Smith 30, Oklahoma Memorial Stadium, Sunday, also interference with official process and possession of marijuana POSSESSION OF MARIJUANA Timothy Don Bashaw, 30, Oklahoma Memorial Stadium, Sunday DRIVING UNDER THE INFLUENCE Irvin William Wilson, 32, 900 Monnett Ave., Thursday Julie Marie McCurley, 23, Van Vleet Oval, Thursday, also transporting an open container of alcohol James Michael Selcan, 25, Jenkins Avenue, Friday, also possession of drug paraphernalia Ross Marshall McClish, 31, 200 E. Boyd St., Saturday Brandon Dale Babb, 2200 W. Main St., Sunday, also transporting an open container of alcohol OUTSTANDING WARRANTS Angela Camille McArn, 25,

Outage Continued from page 1 for an hour and a half, so [its cancellation] will probably set me behind,” Hensch said. “The professor didn’t say how we were going to make up for it, but we will probably just shorten the material.”

Hensch said he skipped his 9 a.m. class thinking it would be canceled as well, only to learn later that the power came back on at the College of Law at about 8:55 a.m.

Victoria Stolfa, economics sophomore and a resident of Traditions Square East, said her alarm did not go off Monday morning because of the outages, so she

200 E. Boyd St., Saturday DOMESTIC ABUSE IN THE PRESENCE OF A MINOR Jeremy Chad Bastianelli, 26, 3413 Bob Bush Drive, Sunday PETTY LARCENY Ashly Nicole Brundridge, 26, 333 N. Interstate Drive E., Saturday Ashly Katherine Wolle, 18, 333 N. Interstate Drive E., Saturday MUNICIPAL WARRANT Halston Eugene Ford, 19, 631 E. Boyd St., Sunday Kelli Ann Reagan, 23, 203 S. Jones Ave., Sunday GRAND LARCENY Seth Robert Kays, 21, 3901 Journey Parkway, Sunday, also unlawful use of a police radio Tony C. Phan, 22, 3901 Journey Parkway, Sunday, also unlawful use of a police radio COUNTY WARRANT David Edward McHugh, 33, 3750 W. Main St., Sunday OUTRAGING PUBLIC DECENCY Nathaniel James Welch, 28, 750 Asp Ave., Saturday

missed class.

“I overslept and ended up missing my 8:30 class [Monday morning],” Stolfa said.

She said she normally wakes up at 6 a.m. to prepare for class.

After waking up, Stolfa said her computer did not work because of the outage, and she was unable to get information about the outages, communicate with her professor or finish other class work.

OU does not have an official policy on absences related to the power outage, university spokesman Jay Doyle stated in an e-mail. Doyle said, however, he thinks professors will consider the circumstances.

GRADschool FAIR

oct 21

12:30-3:30p.m.

OMU Ballroom for more information, please visit

GRADschoolWEEK oct 19-23 admission advice for D.O. medical school 10.20.09 | 11 a.m.-12 p.m. | OMU Heritage Room

MBA admission advice 10.20.09 | 12:30-1:30 p.m. | OMU Heritage Room

law school admission advice 10.22.09 | 12:30-1:30 p.m. | OMU Heritage Room

graduate school admission advice 10.23.09 | 12:30-1:30 p.m. | OMU Heritage Room

Tuesday, October 20, 2009

3

UOSA Superior Court hearing imminent over ballot initiatives RICKY MARANON Daily Staff Writer

O k l a h o ma St u d e nt s f o r a Democratic Society has filed motions this month for the UOSA Superior Court to hear arguments against the UOSA General Counsel’s decision to invalidate their petitions to add amendments on the ballot in this fall’s general election.

If the Superior Court rules in favor of Oklahoma Students for a Democratic Society, students will have to opportunity to vote on two amendments to the UOSA constitution. One, if approved of by the voters will create a new senate made up of student organizations and another, if approved of, will ensure that any representative who runs uncontested will be automatically up for re-election in the next general election.

“Both sides have prepared briefs for the court, but we are unsure when the court will choose to hear the arguments,” UOSA General Counsel Michael Davis said.

THE PROBLEM AT HAND Davis said he initially rejected the two petitions for ballot referendums because their approval could bring chaos to student government.

UOSA’s constitution allows potential amendments to reach a ballot if a number of students equal to 15 percent of the number of ballots cast in the most recent UOSA presidential election sign a petition requesting it.

“We ran into a problem with the 15 percent requirement because no one voted in the last presidential election because it was uncontested,” Davis said. “This is the first time

TEEKO YANG/ THE DAILY

Matt Bruenig, a member of Students for Democratic Society, addressed his concerns during a UOSA meeting Sept. 21. in UOSA history that there has been an uncontested race for president.”

2008 ELECTION TO DETERMINE SIGNATURE LIMIT Davis, a third-year law student, said since the last election did not set a minimum signature number, UOSA is using the vote count from the 2008 presidential election to determine the minimum signature limit. When that minimum limit from 2008 is put into effect, Oklahoma Students for a Democratic Society’s petitions did not have enough signatures to put a referendum on the ballot because their petition to request a referendum only had one signature, Davis said.

O k l a h o ma St u d e nt s f o r a Democratic Society stated in their motion that Davis’ decision was unconstitutional.

“Applying the literal meaning of his provision is particularly important in this instance because there is no legislative history or documentation reflecting the intent of the provision’s drafters,” stated Matthew Bruenig, Oklahoma Students for a Democratic Society spokesman, in the petition to the court.

The group is also asking the court to review the section of the Constitution which explains who may issue a recall petition.

According to the court petition,

Bruenig is arguing that it does not matter what district someone is from, anyone who wants to issue a recall against a member of the legislative branch should be able to do so regardless of what district they are eligible to vote in.

The argument comes in reference to a second signature that was in the recall petition against UOSA Vice Chairman Matthew Gress in which Davis invalidated the second signature against Gress because the signer was not in Gress’ district.

The petition to recall Gress was approved because it only required one signature, and one of the signatures listed was from a member of Gress’ district.

CRIME REPORT NORMAN MAN ARRAIGNED AFTER RAPING JUVENILE FOR TWO MONTHS Gregory Lee Sasser, 20, was arraigned Monday on two counts of first degree rape, three counts of rape by instrumentation and one count of lewd acts with a child.

According to Cleveland County court documents, the mother of the 12-year-old alleged victim said her daughter told her Sasser allegedly raped her over the past two months.

The mother told Norman Police she suspected sexual relations after she found Sasser sitting next to her daughter on the couch Oct. 16, and it

appeared that her daughter was pulling down her night gown while Sasser was pulling his pants up.

According to the documents, Sasser told police that the sex with the minor was “consensual,” and then he later said he touched the child and let the child touch his penis on multiple occasions. He also told police he had attempted to have sex with the minor but failed.

Sasser later told police when the mother of the child found them together Oct. 16, they were in middle of another sexual act.

Sasser appeared before Cleveland County District Judge William C. Heatherington Monday where according to a court clerk, he appeared without a lawyer and posted $50,000 bond.

HOMELESS WOMAN SNEAKS INTO STADIUM Blair Agnus Shorney, 54, was arrested for public intoxiation and second degree burglary Saturday after OU Police found her stumbling around in the basement of the Oklahoma Memorial Stadium.

An OU Police report states Shorney sneaked into the basement of the stadium and broke into a walk-in refrigerator where alcohol for the U2 concert was being stored.

Shorney took beverages from the refrigerator and was later found by OU Police.

-Ricky Maranon/The Daily

Davis stated in a counterpetition, “Recall elections simply do not function the way [Bruenig] suggests.”

“They do not traditionally serve the role of allowing individuals from outside a district to affect the representation of the people within that district,” Davis said. “If this had been a petition to recall the student president, who represents every student at the Norman campus, the signature would have been perfectly valid.”

D av i s s t a t e d h e r e j e c t e d Bruenig’s signature to recall Gress because Bruenig is a member of the humanities district while Gress’ district is in social sciences.

“Mr. Bruenig is not a part of Representative Gress’s constituency, and Representative Gress is unaccountable to Mr. Bruenig,” he stated.

Davis said depending on the outcome of what the court rules, the UOSA fall general election could be affected.

“If the court rules in favor of the SDS before Oct. 27, then the ballots will have the initiatives on them,” Davis said. “If the court rules in favor of the General Counsel, the referendums will not be on the ballot.”

Davis said the court has not yet decided when they will hear the case even though the paperwork has been filed.

OUR COMMITMENT TO ACCURACY The Daily has a long-standing commitment to serve readers by providing accurate coverage and analysis.

Errors are corrected as they are identified. Readers should bring errors to the attention of the editorial board for further investigation.

In Monday’s edition of The Daily, the student organization Backpacks for Burundi, was incorrectly identified as Backpacks for Berundi and the Batwa tribe, supported by the group, was incorrectly identified as the Botwa tribe. Additionally, the group meets bi-monthly, not bi-weekly as stated in the article.

Those interested in joining the group should join the Facebook group “Backpacks for Burundi” or e-mail president Kelsey Mulder at Kelsey.

Mulder@ou.edu.

4

Tuesday, October 20, 2009

COMMENT OF THE DAY »

Will Holland, opinion editor dailyopinion@ou.edu • phone: 325-7630 • fax: 325-6051

In response to Monday’s concert review, “U2 transcends concert going experience” YOU CAN COMMENT AT OUDAILY.COM

“Too bad they couldn’t fill the stadium. With all the hype, I expected U2’s crowd to be at least the same size as the football crowd. I guess we know where Oklahoma’s priorities lie.”

-mythman

OUR VIEW

Oklahomans should start marijuana discussion The federal government will no longer spend time prosecuting medical marijuana users in states where medical marijuana is legal, according to an Associated Press article Monday.

This approach to medical marijuana marks a change for the federal government, which did not give credence to state laws that allowed the medicinal use of the drug under the Bush administration, the article said.

This change in attitude by the federal government makes us wonder if this

might be an opportunity for Oklahomans to have a discussion about potentially allowing marijuana to be used for medicinal purposes here in the Sooner State.

Before we go any further, we want to make it clear this is not another “legalize marijuana” column. We are simply saying this issue might be worth discussing.

Fourteen states allow for the use of medical marijuana, the AP story said.

Some say the drug can be used to alleviate pain, including pain caused by cancer.

According to statistics from the Web site, statehealthfacts. org, Oklahoma had a higher rate of cancer deaths than the national average in 2006.

Perhaps if it was legalized, medical marijuana would help those who have cancer in our state. Perhaps it wouldn’t.

Regardless, it seems like there are medical problems in Oklahoma, and medical marijuana might help solve them.

It’s at least worth discussing if it could benefit Oklahomans.

We fear people are often

too close-minded regarding this issue. Some think drugs are bad and should never be legalized, while others are in favor of legalization because they believe marijuana isn’t bad for society, especially in comparison to legal substances, like cigarettes and alcohol.

We hope people on both sides of this fence can come together to discuss this issue because, as we said, medical marijuana might present a solution to some of the problems we have.

STAFF COLUMN

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR THIS LETTER IS IN RESPONSE TO THURSDAY’S NEWS STORY, “STUDENT GROUP OPPOSES APPOINTMENT OF PROFESSOR.” TO READ THAT ARTICLE, VISIT OUDAILY.COM.

Greener options would give consumers guidance on how to help Mother Nature

Dear Editor, It is always amusing, if often unsettling, to read words one wrote long ago, as I had the pleasure of doing on the front page of Thursday’s paper.

In my undergraduate days I was extremely conservative and started a newspaper to remove any doubt on this point.

This means that many of my thoughts at the ripe old age of 19 or so, when being obstreperously conservative was my hobby, are a matter of public record. I was FOX News avant la lettre.

The suggestion that these are my current views is, of course, ridiculous (a Europhobe?! I spend as much time in Europe as humanly possible. A map of France hangs on my living room wall. I make John Kerry look like John Birch).

I have been encouraged and humbled by the spontaneous outpouring of support I have received, from people of all political persuasions, in response to the article.

I think OU is a place where a uniquely civil, tolerant and intellectually diverse conversation can take place. I am lucky to be able to say that I have benefitted from this environment – from my youth up to the present.

The Institute for the American Constitutional Heritage is committed to living up to the tradition of civility and intellectual diversity at OU. Our affiliated faculty (see http://www. ou.edu/cas/classics/iach) represents a broad ideological spectrum, and our programming will try to foster the sort of rational, deliberate discourse that America’s founding fathers envisioned and that a university should strive to achieve.

Kyle Harper Assistant professor of classics

On Oct. 14, The Oklahoma Daily published an article titled, “OU to receive compensation, share of revenue for hosting U2 concert.” A closer read, however, reveals that it is actually the OU athletic department that is to receive compensation, not OU. OU athletics communication director Kenny Mossman is then quoted as saying that this shows how OU athletics can be “self-sustaining.” Unfortunately, the idea that OU athletics is self-sustaining simply doesn’t hold water.

Perhaps the athletic department can balance the books in terms of dollars and cents, but other costs associated with such events (especially home football games) are borne by the entire OU community (see The Oklahoma Daily Oct. 15 headline about parking).

As just one example, consider the effect that the parking restrictions on Asp Avenue during U2 preparations have on the zoology department, which uses vans, typically parked on Asp, to transport lab students. The zoology department, as a direct result of the athletic department’s “self-sustaining” activities, is forced to park vans at the Lloyd Noble parking lot, costing instructor time to retrieve vans and costing undergraduate students class time.

Of course, every home football game presents similar problems for any student or faculty wishing, or required, to use academic buildings and/or campus parking on a Saturday.

The OU community may agree that these inconveniences are worth it for the school, and not worth financial compensation for those affected by such events. But let’s stop pretending that the athletics department is covering all its costs.

Matthew Dugas Zoology Ph.D student

Performing artist Chris Brown is Businesses would see huge profit in viewing green as more than just a back on the music scene, and I love environmentally friendly practices. fad; carbon labeling would embed the sound of his recently released The triple bottom line would move environmental friendliness into our single. With pictures closer to being a necessity, rather way of life. of singer and then- than just an idealistic approach to Again though, the success of such girlfriend Rihanna’s business. an initiative hinges on the compasI could go on and on about how sion of consumers. Do we care? bruised face in my mind though, I just carbon labeling would save the Would we even look at the carbon planet, but it ultimately comes down footprint of the products we buy? can’t download it.

And herein lies to one question: Do we even care?

I’d say yes. I know we, as college I think we may have a better idea students, care about the environa huge part of the answer to stopping soon. UPS recently announced that ment. We just need a better way of customers could pay a small fee to knowing how our everyday deciclimate change.

TJ W h a t ? C h r i s offset the carbon emissions of ship- sions affect the planet.

MOEN B r o w n t u r n i n g ping a package. I imagine other It’s easy for us to see that riding around his image companies will develop similar pro- bikes is good. It’s difficult though, by singing about global warming? grams as well; perhaps McDonald’s to understand which cereal Mother Redefining the “c” in c-walk to stand will be next with an offer to “green” Nature would prefer we buy. your meal for an extra ten cents. for carbon neutral?

By the way, goodguide.com will It will be interesting to see what tell you Cheerios scores an 8.1 out No, forget about Chris Brown, but think about the reason many won’t percentage of consumers take ad- of 10 for the environment, but it isn’t vantage of such options. buy his music. practical for consumers to get on the Because the price of sustain- Internet and investigate every purIt’s the same reason we might pick the eggs that are labeled “cage-free.” ably made products is often slightly chase they make.

It’s the same reason we want a con- higher than a traditionally produced Hopefully, the time will soon flict-free stamp of approval when we good (at least in the short term), en- come that we can easily obtain this vironmental labeling would, in some information as we shop. buy diamonds.

Our values guide our purchases cases, result in what is essentially a Until then, though, do the little everyday and oftentimes shape the voluntary green tax, much like the things to prove we care. decisions of big business. In regard UPS carbon offset option.

Buy a reusable water bottle.

I know a voluntary tax is not nearly to climate change though, our purGet on OUDaily.com instead of chasing power is greatly underuti- enough to solve our world’s biggest picking up this newspaper. lized; it’s nearly impossible to judge problem, but considering that our Recycle. a product based on its impact on the government and most other counUse the CART system or bike to tries in the world have been unable campus. environment.

Consumers need a way to look at to agree on a meaningful plan of acAnd stay away from individually a product and say, “No. Unless you tion to fight climate change, carbon packaged cheese slices. figure out a more sustainable way to labeling would be a great way for orproduce and package this, I’m not dinary citizens to make an impact. buying it.”

It would certainly be a step toward TJ Moen is an industrial engineering junior.

W hat i f w e c o u l d simply turn a product around and look at its carbon footprint label right above the nutritional content?

This might actually be a reality in the near future. The UK and Japan are among countries that have launched carbonlabeling initiatives.

Earlier this year, WalMart announced that it would create a universal rating system to label products based on their environmental impact.

Ideally, this will allow the free market t o l e a d t h e w ay t o ward stopping climate change.

The accumulation of millions of people choosing a carbon neutral product over PHOTO PROVIDED a carelessly produced item would revolu- UPS, which operates trucks like this one, recently announced that it will offer customers the option to tionize manufacturing. pay extra to be environmentally friendly when delivering packages.

T=: O@A6=DB6 D6>AN Jamie Hughes Editor-in-Chief Meredith Moriak Managing Editor Charles Ward Assistant Managing Editor Ricky Ly Night Editor Will Holland Opinion Editor Michelle Gray, Merrill Jones Photo Editors

CONTACT US

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LeighAnne Manwarren Jacqueline Clews Annelise Russell Cassie Rhea Little Judy Gibbs Robinson Thad Baker

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e-mail: dailynews@ou.edu

The Oklahoma Daily is a public forum and OU’s independent student voice.

Letters should concentrate on issues, not personalities, and should be fewer than 250 words, typed, double spaced and signed by the author(s). Letters will be cut to fit. Students must list their major and classification. OU staff and faculty must list their title. All letters must include a daytime phone number. Authors submitting letters in person must present photo identification.

Submit letters Sunday through Thursday, in 160 Copeland Hall. Letters can also be submitted via e-mail to dailyopinion@ ou.edu.

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The board meets Sunday through Thursday at 4:30 p.m. in 160 Copeland Hall.

Columnists’ and cartoonists’ opinions are not necessarily the opinions of The Daily Editorial Board.

Tuesday, October 20, 2009

5

Annelise Russell, sports editor dailysports@ou.edu • phone: 325-7630 • fax: 325-6051

«VOLLEYBALL Tomorrow, The Daily previews OU’s game at College Station.

LANDRY JONES TO TAKE OVER OU OFFENSE Sam Bradford is out this weekend and Landry Jones is again leading OU JONO GRECO Daily Staff Writer

Head coach Bob Stoops confirmed what everyone suspected by announcing Monday Heisman: Winner Sam Bradford would not play against the No. 25 Kansas Jayhawks Saturday.

Stoops said a set timetable has not been put in place for when or if he will return.

“He’s not going to play this week,” Stoops said. “From there the path hasn’t been determined, yet.”

So, the news means freshman quarterback Landry Jones will be back under center for the Sooners.

Jones went 2-1 during Bradford’s first stint on the sidelines because of injury, and completed 91 of 154 passes for 1,111 yards with 11 touchdowns and five interceptions.

But this time around the circumstances are a little bit different for Jones.

This time the coaches, players and fans know what they can expect out of the Artesia, N.M., native.

He does not have to answer the outstanding question about whether he can handle the pressure of playing looming over him.

The question that surrounds him during his second stint as starting quarterback is if he can make it his offense with

Bradford’s 2009 status uncertain.

This shaky offense played poorly against Texas, only putting up 16 points on numerous opportunities off of Texas turnovers.

Can he step up and take the reins as more than just a temporary solution to a problem?

The answer in the locker room is yes.

Sophomore wide receiver Ryan Broyles said Jones is able to be the leader the offense will need in the huddle between every play.

“We’re just going to rally around him,” Broyles said. “He’s a great player, so this is his coming out party, his second one.”

Despite Jones’ confident demeanor both on and off the field, he remains humble and maintains the mindset that Bradford may make a triumphant third return.

“It’s kind of the same kind of thing where I knew that I was going to be playing that week,” Jones said. “I don’t really know about Sam right now. I don’t know what he’s going to be doing, so I can’t really say for sure what’s going to happen.”

If Bradford does not come back either for the end of this season or for a senior season, Jones should, and probably is, treat the offense as one of his prized possessions. He will now be the leader of a struggling OU offense.

Both he and his teammates should see Jones as the new leader of the offense if the Sooners want to salvage the season.

STOOPS ANNOUNCES OFFENSIVE LINEMAN OUT FOR A FEW WEEKS Head coach Bob Stoops said senior offensive lineman Brian Simmons will miss a few weeks with a knee injury, and his status for the rest of the season is uncertain.

“He won’t play,” Stoops said. “He’s out for several weeks.”

Stoops said Simmons’ return later this season is being treated as a wait-and-see situation. Simmons was the one of two offensive linemen who had received some significant playing time prior to the start of this season, and was one of two seniors to play on the line. Simmons sustained the injury against Baylor, and did not play against Texas Saturday.

MICHELLE GRAY/THE DAILY

Redshirt freshman quarterback Landry Jones looks for a pass as a Texas defender closes in during Saturday’s game in Dallas. The Sooners ended the game 13-16.

NFL suffers from a lack competitive teams every week What has happened to the NFL? The league used to be a showcase of the world’s best football players across all teams, raising the competitive level of every game because each team had incredible talent.

But things have changed.

There have always been shutouts in the NFL , but it seems like t h e y ’ re i n c re a s i n g i n regularity.

Sunday saw two s hu t o u t s i n t h e s a m e afternoon.

The New England JAMES Patriots rolled to a 59-0 CORLEY victory over the winless Tennessee Titans after jumping ahead 45-0 by halftime. Tom Brady was 29-of-34 for 380 yards and threw six touchdowns in two quarters of play. In the snow.

The Titans’ quarterback duo, Vince There are currently three winless NFL Young and Kerry Collins, were 2-of-14 programs : Tampa Bay, St. Louis and combined with -7 net passing yards and Tennessee. There are also three programs two interceptions. with just one win: Detroit, Cleveland and Aaron Rodgers and the Green Bay Kansas City.

Packers shut out the Detroit Lions 26-0.

Only six weeks into the season, six NFL Rodgers threw for 358 yards and a pair teams have only three wins among them. of touchdowns while the You can’t say there isn’t Packers held the Lions to just WEEK SIX SHUTOUTS something wrong there.

183 total yards of offense.

And these teams are not WEEK SIX Over the last decade, there just bad—they’re terrible.

Packers 26, Lions 0 Last year’s 0-16 Detroit were 79 regular-season shutPatriots 59, Titans 0 Lions, who hold the worst outs in 1,168 games played NFL record ever, were not before this season started.

WEEK FIVE shut out a single time. In That’s one shutout every Seahawks 41, Jaguars 0 fact, they averaged 16.75 15 games. There have been WEEK FOUR points per game in their six so far out of 90 games 49ers 35, Rams 0 winless season. played with the same 1-inThis year’s winless St. 15 ratio.

WEEK THREE Giants 24, Buccaneers 0 L ou i s R a m s hav e b e e n But something about this shut out twice, in Week 1 particular season feels difWEEK ONE by the Seahawks and in ferent than the other eight Seahawks 28, Rams 0 this decade.

Week 4 by the 49ers, and

are averaging just nine points per game.

Where has all the talent gone? It can’t be that a handful of winning teams have all the best players in the league. And it’s certainly not that defenses have improved across the board.

Has talent been squandered away and wasted by poor coaching?

Have the teams at the bottom caused this current crisis with a history of poor draft picks? Are the undefeated Vikings, Saints, Colts and Broncos just that good?

There’s a disaster brewing in the NFL that will not just affect the bottom of the barrel.

If the NFL ceases to house 32 teams with the cream-of-the-crop in the world’s talent and be competitive, what will remain that separates it from the Arena Football or the newly-created UFL? James Corley is a journalism senior.

SOONER FOOTBALL PRACTICE SOUNDBITES Sophomore wide receiver Ryan Broyles on his shoulder after playing against Texas.

Offensive lineman Trent Williams on what the team needs to do after the loss.

Head coach Bob Stoops on senior defensive back Brian Jackson’s performance Saturday.

“IT’S JUST MORE OF A PAIN THING, SO EVERY DAY IT GETS A LITTLE BIT BETTER. IT’S NOT FULLY HEALED YET, THOUGH.”

“[WE’RE] JUST TRYING TO GET BACK ON TRACK.WE KNOW THE BIG 12 CHAMPIONSHIP IS STILL IN OUR REACH. WE’VE GOT TO PLAY OUR COURSE, WE’VE GOT TO WIN THE REST OF OUR GAMES.”

“BRIAN JACKSON WAS EXCEPTIONAL IN A LOT OF ONE-ON-ONE, MAN-TO-MAN, BUMP-ANDRUN SITUATIONS WITH [TEXAS SENIOR WIDE RECEIVER JORDAN] SHIPLEY, AND IT WORKED GREAT ALL NIGHT.” -Jono Greco/The Daily

For daily OU football notes, visit OUDaily.com

6 Tuesday, October 20, 2009 Thad Baker, advertising manager classifieds@ou.edu • phone: 325-2521 • fax: 325-7517

Phone: 325-2521 E-Mail: classifieds@ou.edu Fax: 405-325-7517 Campus Address: COH 149A

Announcements ENTERTAINMENT

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Display Ad ............2 days prior Classified Display or Classified Card Ad Place your display, classified display or classified card ads no later than 5:00 p.m. 2 days prior to publication date.

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Businesses may be eligible to apply for credit in a limited, local billing area. Please inquire with Business Office at 325-2521.

Need people to post ads online. Social networking knowledge a plus. Paid every Friday. See paycheckonfriday.com

Line Ads There is a 2 line minimum charge; approximately 45 characters per line, including spaces and punctuation.

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,

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POLICY

Help Wanted ads in The Oklahoma Daily are not to separate as to gender. Advertisers may not discriminate in employment ads based on race, color, religion or gender unless such qualifying factors are essential to a given position.

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Universal Crossword Edited by Timothy E. Parker October 20, 2009

ACROSS 1 Army bugle call 5 Lincoln and Burrows 9 Bird that grows nuptial plumage 14 Opera highlight 15 “Circle� or “final� start 16 Worst possible turnout 17 Bank encumbrance 18 Tight, straight cut 19 Material for Hush Puppies 20 Predinner event 23 “___ only as directed�

24 Amber, for example 25 Car-racing class 29 Kind of enemy 31 Bridge (over) 33 “What Kind of Fool ___?�

34 Midnight, in some horror stories 37 A concha tops it 40 Kind of pursuit 41 Something ___ (extraordinary thing) 42 Unit of academic credit 47 ___ de vie (clear brandy) 48 Cluster of feathers 49 Without further ado

The Oklahoma Daily is responsible for one day’s incorrect advertising. If your ad appears incorrectly, or if you wish to cancel your ad call 325-2521, before the deadline for cancellation in the next issue. Errors not the fault of the advertiser will be adjusted. Refunds will not be issued for late cancellations.

The Oklahoma Daily will not knowingly accept advertisements that discriminate on the basis of race, color, gender, religious preference, national origin or sexual orientation. Violations of this policy should be reported to The Oklahoma Daily Business Office at 325-2521.

8

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Contact an Acct Executive for details at 325-2521.

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53 Reach, as a goal 55 Word often between two names 56 Trireme item 57 Last-minute 61 Unconnected 64 “Are you ___ out?�

65 Centuries-old Icelandic work 66 Granter of three wishes 67 Unspecified quantity 68 Money guru Greenspan 69 Chose 70 “... so long ___ both shall live?�

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!

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pitch 45 Yellow ribbon site of song 46 State with many Mormons 50 Piece of pasta 51 At the tail 52 On the wrong course 54 Condo for a condor 55 Breakdown of societal norms (Var.) 58 Foreigntravel necessity 59 Baseball Hall-of-Famer Slaughter 60 Trouble quantity?

61 “Four score and seven years ___ ...�

62 Type of highschool rally 63 Model Aesop character

Tuesday, October 20, 2009

Cassie Rhea Little, L&A editor dailyent@ou.edu • phone: 325-5189 • fax: 325-6051

7

« CLASSICAL C MUSIC OUDAILY.COM The Oklahoma Chamber Players series has its second concert tonight. Go online to OUDaily.com to read a preview of the show.

» THE FLAMING LIPS “EMBRYONIC” WARNER BROS. RECORDS Oklahoma’s own beloved freaks had — dare I say it — grown to be kind of cute over the past several releases. From contributing tracks to films like “Good Luck Chuck” a n d “ M r. Ma g o r i u m’s Wonder Emporium” to recent ballads like “The Yeah Yeah Yeah Song,” the band, though still undoubtedly appealing and exciting, seemed like JOSHUA a far cry from the bizarre BOYDSTON rockers of old.

But now comes “Embryonic,” the loudest, most raucous and experimental we’ve seen the Lips in years, and while the band still aims to make you smile, you might be left grinning with a fat lip and a few missing teeth after this one.

“Embryonic” largely feels dysfunctional and disjointed upon the first listen. It’s a mashed-up concoction of scattered ideas and clashing intentions, but with each listen, “Embryonic” begins to assemble itself into an increasingly clear work of genius.

Un-edited and uninhibited, the album is a snarling beast that unfolds into enough material for two discs without growing exhausted. It’s spontaneous, sporadic and seemingly, mostly improvised.

Lips’ frontman Wayne Coyne seems to thrive out in this grotesque wilderness.

The first disc is noticeably more violent, thrashing and gnashing from the get-go.

The album opens with the monstrous “Convinced of the Hex,” and immediately lets the listener know this will be no “Do

You Realize?” It comes off like a warning siren for the chaos about to ensue as it squiggles and writhes over scraggly guitar zags and Coyne’s ominous tone.

T h e re s t o f t h e d i s c f o l l ow s s u i t.

“Aquarius Sabotage” plunges into a crossfire of pulsing percussion and cascading chime rings before finding open waters of strings at distant drum plugs.

“See The Leaves” has a thudding stoner rock loop that screams Queens of the Stone Age more than The Flaming Lips as it heaves and clomps away.

Disc two is noticeably tamer, but in a way that compares a tiger to a mongoose.

The Daily’s Joshua Boydston reviews The Flaming Lips’ newest release, “Embryonic.”

You probably wouldn’t want to be locked in a room with either of them.

The Flaming Lips reach toward melody a bit more on this half, but with that metallic bite and charred façade unrelenting.

“Worm Mountain,” which also features the Lips’ newly realized unofficial godsons, MGMT, becomes a brilliant mix of young and old over a trodden path of zipping riffs and throaty distortion as it sinks into an oily pit.

Karen O contributes vocals (aka animal noises) via telephone for “I Can Be A Frog,” probably the cutest The Flaming Lips attempt to get with subtle hints of danger ever present.

The song that marries the freaky distortion a n d l ov e l y balladry the best is

PHOTO PROVIDED

The album cover from The Flaming Lips’ newest release, “Embryonic.” The band’s 12th studio album is also its first double album. “Embryonic” is in stores now.

the standout “Silver Trembling Hands,” a trippy trek through outer space that darts between loungy, intimate moments of beauty and incoming meteor showers that only barely escapes with its life.

“Embryonic” goes out with a bang, courtesy of “Watching The Planets.” It feels like a slow march off a cliff being led

by Coyne howling over a crackling megaphone, and his band mates orchestrating the impending fall to our deaths before skirting to a stop just in time to see a few pieces of rubble rattle down.

You will either immediately want to start the journey all over again or purge it from your memory completely. It’s a polarizing record that will undoubtedly leave many disappointed.

But for those who are looking to let their freak flag fly and are excited to see The Flaming Lips do the same, you can do no better than “Embryonic,” the most challenging — and rewarding — release of the year.

Joshua Boydston is a psychology sophomore.

HOROSCOPE

By Bernice Bede Osol

Copyright 2008, Newspaper Enterprise Assn.

Tuesday, Oct. 20, 2009 LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 23) -- The best way to ensure personal happiness is to do everything you can for others to make certain that they are happy. In return, the joy you promote will quickly find its way back to you.

ARIES (March 21-April 19) -- Some of your greatest advantages will come through the quality relationships you have with others. Do your part by being warm and friendly to everyone, even those you meet for the first time.

SCORPIO (Oct. 24-Nov. 22) -- Something that has caused trepidation recently looks as if it is running out of steam. A number of unexpected developments will be responsible for its demise, pleasing you very much.

TAURUS (April 20-May 20) -- One of your more ambitious objectives that you never thought had a chance could make headway toward success.

It’ll prove that you should never give up.

SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 23-Dec. 21) -- Try not to get involved in mundane affairs and instead look for a change of pace. A fun activity with good friends could be just the ticket to refurbish your outlook.

GEMINI (May 21-June 20) -- Strive to be bolder than usual when it comes to investment involvements you have with others -- without being foolish or taking any outlandish gambles.

Big gains can be made.

CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19) -- Conditions pertaining to your material security look exceptionally promising. Lady Luck is likely to have her hand on the tiller, with a bountiful destination in mind.

CANCER (June 21-July 22) -- When it comes to a mutual interest, coordinate your efforts to the desires of another to the best of your ability. This action will substantially increase the possibilities for achieving success.

AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 19) -- Successful methods and tactics that worked in the past can do so once again when adapted to your present affairs. Put them to work.

LEO (July 23-Aug. 22) -- It’s a fortunate day to get what you want when your purposes are unselfish and in harmony with another’s. Put it to the test.

PISCES (Feb. 20-March 20) -- It will be good luck to reap rewards from seeds sown by another. This person wants you to be party to the success he or she has developed.

VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22) -This is one of those days when you can garner far more than you ever imagined in meaningful financial matters.

Give these issues top priority.

YOU ARE INVITED! President’s Associates Dinner featuring

Bill Bishop Author of The Big Sort In his book, The Big Sort, Bishop shows how, despite the celebration of diversity in this country, Americans have over the past three decades been “sorting themselves” at the micro level of cities and neighborhoods into like-minded communities, resulting in growing political polarization. He helps us understand why growing divisions threaten the spirit of community in America.

6 p.m. — Reception 6:30 p.m. — Dinner

TODAY Molly Shi Boren Ballroom Oklahoma Memorial Union Limited seating is available by reservation for OU students, faculty and staff. Please respond by calling the OU Office of Special Events at (405) 325-3784.

For accommodations on the basis of disability, call the Office of Special Events at (405) 325-3784.

The University of Oklahoma is an equal opportunity institution.