WEDNESDAY OCTOBERR 228, 8, 22009 009
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news A rabbi, reverend and imam met Tuesday night to discuss the Abrahamic religious traditions. PAGE 3A
Read about the lives of student filmmakers. PAGE 6B
Two old friends meet at Owen Field Saturday. Details on PAGE 2B
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68°/55° owl.ou.edu CAMPUS BRIEFS OU HEALTH SCIENCES CENTER HONORED FOR RESEARCH
The University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center in Oklahoma City has been named one of the best academic medical research institutions in the country by The Scientist magazine. Rankings were released Tuesday, placing OU fourth out of 94 institutions on the list of the “Best Places to Work in Academia.” “To move into the top five institutions in such a short period of time is remarkable and a testament to the hard work of our faculty, students, campus leaders and the community, who are working together to expand our world-class research and treatment opportunities right here in Oklahoma,” said Joseph Ferretti, Ph.D., senior vice president and provost of the OU Health Sciences Center, in a press release. The list focused on collaboration, team building and unique funding opportunities as important work environment factors. OU jumped from 30th in 2007 to fourth in 2009. Princeton, the University of California – San Francisco, Albert Einstein College of Medicine in New York and Emory University in Georgia were the others in the top five.
Measure would have allowed judges to sentence repeat offenders to jail time TROY WEATHERFORD Daily Staff Writer
On Tuesday night, the Norman City Council indefinitely postponed amending a proposed ordinance that would have allowed judges to sentence public intoxication offenders to up to 10 days of jail time. A person found in violation of the public intoxication ordinance can currently face a fine of up to $500. The change would have allowed judges more flexibility in their sentencing when dealing with repeat offenders. In Mayor Cindy Rosenthal’s absence, Councilmember Doug Cubberly led the meeting. He said that the amendment would return to committee and a public hearing would be held before AMENDMENT CONTINUES ON PAGE 2
TEEKO YANG/THE DAILY
City Council members convene Tuesday evening in City Hall. The main topic of the evening was whether Norman should be allowed to increase the penalty of public intox charges.
Campus group provides safe environment for Halloween fun Safe Trick-or-Treat serves community for over 10 years KAITLYN BIVIN Daily Staff Writer
PRESENTATION TO DISCUSS TOPICS ON TOBACCO INDUSTRY “A Call to Action: Countering Tobacco Industry Tactics” will be presented by the University of Oklahoma College of Public Health Grand Rounds from noon to 1 p.m. today in the Oklahoma City College of Health Building, room 150. According to a press release, Alan Blum, M.D., director of the Center for the Study of Tobacco and Society at the University of Alabama, will discuss a number of topics. These are to include the realities of the tragic tobacco use pandemic, what health care and public health practitioners can do to fight this, public policy being a means for change, zero tolerance for secondhand tobacco smoke pollution in workplaces, the Institute of Medicine’s special report—“Our Health is at Stake,” the federal court decision finding tobacco companies guilty of racketeering being upheld on appeal, and the tobacco industry’s behavior today and tomorrow.
HOMECOMING 2009 EVENTS Organizations across campus have teamed up to compete this week in various homecoming activities, culminating in the pep rally at 9 p.m. Friday in McFarland Field House, followed by the Homecoming Parade at 3 p.m. Saturday and concluding with OU’s game against the Kansas State Wildcats. The theme for OU’s Homecoming Parade this year is “There’s Only One,” with the intention of embracing Sooner tradition and spirit, and celebrating Oklahoma’s rich history, according to a press release. The parade will be prior to the university’s face off against the Kansas State Wildcats for OU’s annual homecoming game. Millie Audas, an OU staff member currently serving as a special assistant to the president for international partnerships and as a faculty member in the Jeannine Rainbolt College of Education, has been chosen to serve as parade marshal for OU’s annual Homecoming Parade, according to a press release. The Homecoming Parade will begin Saturday at the corner of Boyd Street and Elm Avenue and end at the intersection of Felgar Street and Jenkins Avenue. -Daily staff reports
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Kati Stone, University College freshman, gives six-year-old Marie Thille of Moore candy in Adams Center Tuesday night. The annual Safe Trick-orTreat provides children with a safe alternative to normal trick-or-treating.
Images of vampires, pumpkins, pirates and cowboys could be seen from the windows of Adams Center Tuesday, as children from the Norman area flooded OU’s campus for the annual Safe Trick-or-Treat event. Events included a carnival, organized by the Cate and Couch Centers, trick-or-treating throughout Adams Center, a spooky bus created by Traditions Square residents, and a haunted house. “This is our first year attending,” said Christie Stone, a parent. “[We came] because it provides a safe atmosphere for the kids.” Sponsored by the Housing Center Student Association, the Safe Trick-orTreat event has provided parents and children with an alternative to trickor-treating in their neighborhoods for more than 10 years, said Richard Day, director of Safe Trick-or-Treat and president of the Resident Student Association. “[Safe Trick-or-Treat] vastly predates me,” he said. “I have people working for me that did this as kids. It has been an evolving program.” For the past three years, Safe Trickor-Treat has been held on a Tuesday to avoid scheduling conflicts.
UOSA Superior Court to hear fall ballot disputes Monday Students for a Democratic Society confident they’ll make an impact RICKY MARANON Daily Staff Writer
The UOSA Superior Court has set a date to hear arguments from Oklahoma Students for a Democratic Society against the UOSA General Counsel. A hearing on the issues involving the UOSA Constitution surrounding the recall process for members of Student Congress and the number of signatures needed to put a referendum on a general election ballot will begin at 7 p.m. Monday in the Bell Courtroom of the OU School of Law, a UOSA secretary told The Daily Friday. The issues discussed will not affect the UOSA fall 2009 general election. “If the court rules in favor of the SDS before Oct. 27, then the ballots will have the initiatives on them,” Davis said in an earlier interview. “If the court rules in favor of the General Counsel, the referendums will not be on the ballot.” Oklahoma Students for a Democratic Society Spokesman Matt Bruenig said the group is ready for the court to hear its arguments. “We hope the court members will hear our arguments and see that we are following what is written in the Constitution,” he said. Bruenig said the group would be
representing themselves throughout the first part of the hearing, but they do have a UOSA Associate General Counselor ready if they need assistance. But Oklahoma Students for a Democratic Society believe the outcome of the Superior Court hearing should affect the upcoming general election. “While I understand that law students are very busy, it is unfortunate that the date was set so late into the year,” said Elizabeth Rucker, group member and international area studies sophomore. “I know that the General Counsel has said that the decision would need to be before Oct. 27, but I do not see any reason why we cannot work with the election chair and the UOSA to still ensure that the decisions of the court are reflected on the fall ballot. If the time period after the date is too short, they have the power to move the election date back.” Group members said the way the fall election is set up, the election’s operations would be affected if the court rules in favor of Oklahoma Students for a Democratic Society. “To have the decisions of the court not reflected on the fall ballot would create some serious problems,” said Lauren Brentnell, group member and psychology sophomore. “For instance, if they run the recall elections by district instead of university wide after the court has said that they must run CASE CONTINUES ON PAGE 2
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“We hold the event the week preceding Halloween so that students who are participating are not missing their plans,” Day said. “And kids can still trick or treat in their neighborhood.” Day is in his second year of directing the program, and views it as a way to give back to the community. “It’s a way to give back, and it’s something fun that people enjoy,” he said. “It has become a part of how OU interacts with the Norman community. On top of that, we give elementary-aged kids a safe environment to trick or treat in.” Day said there is no shortage of candy at the event and minimal expense to participants. “We pay for all of the candy,” Day said. “We have allergy-free candy, pre-made baskets for those who are handicapped and may not be able to get around. No one has to worry about getting enough candy.” For University College freshman Kira Kendrick, helping to organize Safe Trick-or-Treat has been a memorable experience. “[Being a part of Safe Trick-or-Treat] is already rewarding,” she said. “But as soon as the kids get here it will be even more rewarding.” Kendrick said the hard work pays off because of the holiday spirit found around Halloween. “Around Halloween everyone is in a good mood because it’s a holiday,” Kendrick said. “So, even though balancing between school and work is hard, it doesn’t feel like work.”
Student works to promote safer sex on campus Condoms, education part of message KAITLYN BIVIN Daily Staff Writer
“Free condoms” is not a phrase many would expect to hear in a conservative state, but for Alice Oliver, communications sophomore, it is her slogan. As a SafeSite for the Great American Condom Campaign, sponsored by Trojan Condoms, Oliver is responsible for passing out free condoms across campus and
spreading the message of safe sex, a movement that has always been close to her heart. “People are going to make choices in life,” Oliver said. “I wanted them to be protected and be safe [when it comes time to have sex].” Oliver said she learned about becoming a SafeSite from a mentor after volunteering with Planned Parenthood during high school. “I applied online after the position was recommended to me,” she said. “Twenty-three hundred students applied, CONDOMS CONTINUES ON PAGE 2
MERRILL JONES/THE DAILY
Alice Oliver, communications sophomore, passes out condoms on the South Oval Monday afternoon. Oliver works with Advocateyourvoice.org, a grassroots movement to provide university students with free condoms. Oliver will be passing out 500 condoms to students around campus during the semester. VOL. 95, NO. 49