TUESDAY OCTOBER 27,, 2009
THE UNIVERSITY VEERSIT Y OF OF OKLAHOMA’S OKLAHOMA’S INDEPENDENT I STUDENT VOICE
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Wednesday’s Weather
Bradford explains decision to end OU career
67°/47° owl.ou.edu CAMPUS BRIEFS INTERFAITH PANEL TO DISCUSS THREE MAJOR RELIGIONS The OU Religious Studies Program Outreach will host a panel to discuss the three major Western religions and their connections to Abrahamic traditions at 7 p.m. in the Oklahoma M e m o r i a l U n i o n ’s M e a c h a m Auditorium. The panel for the discussion will include Rabbi Bradley Hirschfield, Reverend Robin Meyers and Imam Imad Enchassi. The event is co-sponsored by the OU Hillel Foundation and the OU Muslim Student Association.
OU HOSTS TRICK-OR-TREAT The OU Housing Center Student Association will be hosting a safe trick-or-treat for Norman-area children at 7 p.m. in Adams Center. The event will include a carnival, haunted house, costume competition and trick-or-treating. The event is open to all Normanarea children who are accompanied by an adult. Free parking is available at the Lloyd Noble Center, and shuttles will provide transportation to the event.
MUSEUM TO SHOW FILM ABOUT ENVIRONMENTALIST PIONEER The Sam Noble Oklahoma Museum of Natural History will show the film “A Sense of Wonder” at 7 p.m. in the Kerr Auditorium. The film is based on the events in Rachel Carson’s book, “Silent Spring,” in which she makes her case for conservation and warns people about the risk of using chemical pesticides. The film shows Carson’s life as she reflects on her emergence as a top advocate for the natural world. The film was shot on location at Carson’s cottage on the coast of Maine. -Daily staff reports
USED CLOTHING BARGAIN SALE SCHEDULED TO TAKE PLACE The bi-annual Twice As Nice Consignment sale will take place Thursday through Saturday at the Cleveland County Fairgrounds, 615 E. Robinson St. The semi-annual sales event runs from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Thursday and Friday, and from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday. Shoppers will find bargains on new and gently used clothing, including designer brands like Abercrombie & Fitch, Ralph Lauren and Coach. Items for sale include clothing for men, women and teens, and a variety of shoes, purses, jewelry and accessories. For more information contact Reagan Strickland at Reagan@twiceasnicenorman.com or 496-7004. -Nicole Hill/Contributing Writer
WOMEN’S OUTREACH CENTER TO CELEBRATE ANNIVERSARY The OU Women’s Outreach Center will celebrate its 10th anniversary Thursday. The Women’s Outreach Center invites anyone to attend the organization’s reception honoring 10 years of campus service from 5 to 6:30 p.m. in the Oklahoma Memorial Union’s David L. Boren Lounge. The center has requested testimonials from current and former students about what impact it has had on their lives. The stories will be displayed on posters at the reception. For more information, contact the Women’s Outreach Center at woc@ ou.edu or 325-4929. -Kelsey Witten/Contributing Writer
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Junior quarterback Sam Bradford announces his plan during a press conference to have right-shoulder surgery and enter the NFL draft in April Monday evening.
Sooners’ quarterback plans to undergo surgery and enter NFL Draft JONO GRECO Daily Staff Writer
His teammates stood behind in support, and head coach Bob Stoops sat in the wing with a smile on his face while Heisman-winner and junior quarterback Sam Bradford addressed the media Monday about his decision to opt for surgery and enter April’s National Football League Draft. “To make this decision and to realize that I’ve probably played my last game at Oklahoma is really tough,” Bradford said. Bradford said surgery is the best option after sustaining two injuries
to his right throwing shoulder, and if he does not have surgery, he would be at greater risk of a third injury. “The best was to try to let the shoulder heal itself,” Bradford said about the initial prognosis. “We tried that, and it didn’t heal. It’s just something [doctors] feel as long as I keep trying to come back, it’s just going to keep re-injuring when I take a hit.” Bradford will undergo surgery performed by Dr. James Andrews Wednesday in Birmingham, Ala. “[Surgery is] pretty much going to repair the joint, put it back to normal and strengthen it,” Bradford said. Of all of the moments Bradford has gone through since his initial AC joint sprain Sept. 5 against Brigham Young, he said the most
difficult thing was being in the locker room against Kansas knowing his storied tenure as a Sooner was over. “Last week was probably the hardest game I’ve ever had to sit on the sidelines,” Bradford said. “Going into the locker room and seeing everyone celebrate, I just realized that I’m not going to be a part of that much more. It’s pretty tough.” Now Bradford passes on the ceremonial torch to redshirt freshman quarterback Landry Jones, who has started four games this season while Bradford was sidelined. “I think Landry’s a great player,” Bradford said. “He’s been put into some really tough situations, and it’s not easy coming in the middle of a game.” Bradford said the thing he’s
City Council to consider new public intoxication penalty Judges could add 10 days to offenders’ jail sentences RICKY MARANON Daily Staff Writer
The Norman City Council will decide tonight if it wants to increase the penalty for public intoxication. The current penalty for public intoxication is a fine ranging from $50$500, but under the proposed new ordinance, a municipal judge could add the penalty of 10 days in jail to the punishment. “We wanted to give our court judges more options than just issuing a fine,” said Assistant City Attorney Rebecca Frazier. Frazier said the city attorney’s office will give a presentation at the city council meeting about the proposed changes before the council votes on the new ordinance. The meeting begins at 6:30 p.m. at 201 W. Gray St. Frazier said the new ordinance would not put a strain on the Cleveland County Detention Center. “Anyone who is found to be publicly intoxicated in Norman is sent to the Cleveland County Detention Center for four hours,” Frazier said. “So the people who would be going to jail for the proposed extra days are already planned to be in jail by law enforcement.” Frazier said the current four-hour requirement is an attempt for one to become sober before they are cited
and released. “When someone is publicly intoxicated, they can be a danger to themselves and others,” Frazier said. Students expressed mixed ideas about the issue of increasing the penalty for public intoxication. “If it is just an option for the judge to make as a penalty, then I am in favor of the change,” said Blake Jenkins, letters sophomore. “Penalties ought to be determined in a case-by-case basis. If the proposed new law is a blanket mandate, then I think the law should not be changed.” Jenkins said the current penalty is a sufficient punishment depending on the details of the incident surrounding the citation for public intoxication. But some students said the ordinance should not be changed at all. “The law is fine the way it is,” said Victoria Stahl, journalism senior. “I think spending four hours in a cell is a good enough lesson for anyone who gets arrested for being intoxicated.” Stahl said since the law affects many people, the citizens of Norman should be able to vote on the issue instead of just leaving it to the city council. The Oklahoma Daily has received 50 reports from Norman Police and OUPD of people being cited for public intoxication during the month of October. Frazier said if the city council approves of the ordinance change, the new rules will take effect at the end of November.
been most impressed about Jones is the role he has taken over the past month. “I think he’s just done a tremendous job, especially stepping up and being a leader of this team,” Bradford said. “I just think it shows the tremendous upside that he has, and I think he’s going to be a great player.” With Bradford’s decision looming over the team for several weeks, Jones said it is somewhat of a relief to know he will be the starting quarterback for the rest of the season. “There’s a little relief, so it cleared up some of the uncertainty of whether Sam’s coming back or [if ] he’s going,” Jones said. “Sam’s a great player. He’s one of the best quarterbacks to ever come through DECISION CONTINUES ON PAGE 2
Greek organizations focus on philanthropy for homecoming Some groups forego floats in order to host Halloween carnival for community NATASHA GOODELL Daily Staff Writer
Instead of spending dozens of hours and thousands of dollars decorating floats for a two-hour homecoming parade, some fraternities and sororities have found a way to re-budget their time and money toward a different cause. Six greek organizations — Kappa Alpha Theta, Pi Beta Phi, Sigma Phi Lambda, Phi Delta Theta, Phi Gamma Delta and Sigma Alpha Epsilon — have combined their float budgets and will host a Halloween carnival, “Ghouls, Ghosts and Greeks,” from 6:30 to 9 p.m. inside the Community After School Program’s administrative office located at 1023 N. Flood Ave. “We felt it was important that we don’t just give our money away but actually serve the community, too, in a hands-on way,” said Hayley Spencer, Kappa Alpha Theta homecoming chairwoman. Spencer, letters junior, said they are expecting 870 students from their greek houses to be working at the carnival throughout the night, and 700 kids from the after school program are expected to be in attendance. There will be free food, face painting, a moon bounce, Trunk-or-Treating and an optional spook house hosted by OU’s greek community members, according to a press release. “It has been great to see how excited United Way has been to see what we’re doing,” Spencer said. “Our members are getting to contribute to something that is bigger than themselves.” She said the houses participating in the carnival will still HOMECOMING CONTINUES ON PAGE 2
© 2009 OU PUBLICATIONS BOARD
VOL. 95, NO. 48