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Professor overseeing video game to prevent decision-making biases
Faculty mentor classes to grow
$10.7M grant given for game PAIGHTEN HARKINS staff reporter
OU researchers are the recipients of a $10.7 million contract — for a video game. The Air Force Research laboratory and an OU research team led by communications professor Norah Dunbar are developing a video game for intelligence analysts. “I’ve never had a grant this big. In social sciences, a $500,000 dollar grant is a big grant. … This $10
million grant knocked everybody’s socks off,” Dunbar said. The game will be used to combat the effects of biases on decisionmaking. If the process of sorting through information is based on bias and quick decisions rule, then instead of thorough examination of the evidence, it might lead a player to make bad decisions, Dunbar said. That is what the video game is trying to prevent. Dunbar, along with Scott Wilson, associate director for Innovative Technologies at the OU K20 Center, is overseeing the development of the video game called “Intelligence
MoRE oNliNE Visit oudaily.com to read the complete story Crisis”: codename MACBETH, which stands for Mitigating Analysts Cognitive Bias by Eliminating Task Heuristics. Later stages of the game will be geared more toward a third-person experience, Dunbar said. A working prototype of the game must be ready in nine months, and then heavy testing will begin. The aggressiveness of the
timelines does not allow for the normal student participation anticipated in projects similar to this. Wilson said, work for students is done at a 4-1 student to full-time staff ratio, but because of the delivery requirements, the ratio is reversed to a 1-4. Kylie Harrison, a graduate student working on her Ph.D. in communication, said she is working in an area of expertise she isn’t familiar. “It was really incredible to see the amount of collaboration between social scientists, video game experts and intelligence specialists,” Harrison said.
Students build shacks to fund impoverished Oklahomans
KINGSLEY BURNS/THE DAILY
phi Delta theta members raisul islam (left) and connor sims, university college freshmen, patrol the south oval during shacka-thon tuesday. the two appointed themselves officers of “shack exec,” a fictitious shackinspection authority. the pair said their group’s shack would be the only one able to withstand oklahoma’s tornadoes: “it’s been approved by shack exec, don’t argue.”
Visit oudaily.com to watch a video about Shack-a-Thon and a few of the students who participated in Tuesday’s event on the South Oval
MEMOrial
Mentor program now available to upperclassmen JALISA GREEN staff reporter
Recent class changes to a freshman mentoring program indicate freshmen aren’t the only ones trying to find their place on campus. Upperclassmen can now participate in the President’s Distinguished Fa c u l t y Me nt o r i ng Program, a program originally made for freshmen. The decision to expand was influenced by positive responses from past and current mentees, said Lisa Portwood, director of the Center for Student Advancement. Political science and letters senior Zach Lanier said navigating the campus life can be hard, and thought the program was a good idea. English professor Robert Con Davis-Undiano said he thinks students understand what good can come from the program. “This program epitomizes the college experience at its best — students and professors working in small groups to maximize learning and to help each other fulfill their educational dreams,” DavisUndiano said.
MoRE oNliNE Visit oudaily.com to read the complete story
HOUsiNG aND FOOD
Service celebrates Sooner’s life OU alum, former OUPD officer remembered with recipes, stories KEDRIC KITCHENS staff reporter
A memorial service was hosted Tuesday at the Sam Noble Oklahoma Museum of Natural History to commemorate the life of an active member of the Sooner family. A slideshow greeted well-wishers as they filled Kerr Auditorium to honor former employee James Mustoe, who died in August. Mustoe wore many hats in his life
— teacher, mentor, uncle, captain, scoutmaster and a true friend. Mustoe worked for the university police department for 27 years before joining the museum in 1998 and building its security program. Mustoe was also a scout leader for more than 50 years and received a doctorate in botany from OU. Michael Mares, director of the museum, said he remembers one occasion when Mustoe got the chance to use his botany expertise on the job. “Jim (Mustoe) found a student growing marijuana in a dorm amongst other plants,” Mares said. “He testified, and the lawyer asked if he thought he
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was some kind of plant expert. He responded ‘yes’.” One common theme was Mustoe’s renowned ability with a dutch oven. The former scout leader was likened to a wizard with the dutch oven. The service’s program included a Dutch oven peach cobbler recipe on the back. The mood of the ceremony was light-hearted, with attendees celebrating his life instead of mourning his death. Speakers shared stories about Mustoe’s life, and nephew Marhsall Shull reiterated Mustoe’s life motto. “Live a life of service to others before yourself,” Shull said.
OU hoops to speed up its game this year
a shift in attitudes could improve the south oval event’s image. (Page 2)
Balance necessary to maintain wins
student Congress meeting updates
shorter squad banking on talent
read a summary of the most recent meeting. (OUDaily.com)
a shortage of tall players hasn’t phased ou’s men’s basketball team. (Page 4)
Dorms entertain costumed guests for Halloween fun COCO COURTOIS campus reporter
the football team’s work on better play away hurt its play at home. (Page 4)
sPOrts
university college freshmen tori Fulkerson and echelle Yengst wait for trickor-treaters during adams center’s safe trick-or-treat on tuesday. children trick-or-treated at volunteer residents’ rooms in the residence halls.
Candy, carnival games draw children to campus
sPOrts
NEWs
MELODIE LETTKEMAN/ THE DAILY
SIMONE ORJIAKO/THE DAILY
Junior forward romero osby (right) is guarded by senior forward c.J. Washington during practice tuesday. the sooners are implementing an up-tempo offense this season. (page 4)
Little superheroes and a miniature Darth Vader swept through the residence halls Tuesday night for an early Halloween treat of a tour. The spooky bus tour, organized by the Housing Center Student Association, led children and parents through a night of trick-or-treat fun. Walker Center featured a
Halloween Carnival. Abigail Skinner, environmental sustainability sophomore and president of the Walker Resident Student Association, said the night has become a tradition. Skinner said she and the other coordinators expected about 700 people. Due to several booths, they were able to fulfill the desire for sweetness and spookiness. Candy floss and popcorn were a major attraction, in SEE TREATS PAGE 2