Tuesday, November 1, 2011

Page 1

The University of Oklahoma’s independent student voice since 1916

T U E S DAY, N OV E M B E R 1, 2 011

W W W.O U DA I LY.C O M

2 010 G OL D C ROW N W I N N E R

DRUNKEN DRIVING

New DUI laws enforce accountability Act’s key device gauges sobriety KATHLEEN EVANS

Senior Campus Reporter

LANEY ELLISOR

Assistant Managing Editor

B e g i n n i n g Tu e s d a y , drunken students caught attempting to drive home from a late night on Campus Corner may not be able to start their cars for at least 18 months without proving they are sober. The Er in Swezey Act,

named after a 20-year-old student at Oklahoma State University killed by a drunken driver, puts in place stricter laws for all DUI offenders in Oklahoma. “We want people to know that if they choose to drink too much and get behind the wheel, they will face greater consequences, “ state Sen. Clark Jolley, R-Edmond, said in a statement. “Hopefully that may discourage some people from driving drunk in the first place.” The new laws, written by

AT A GLANCE Highlights of the new law • Interlock device for 18 months for first-time offenders with BAC of 0.15 or more • Device for four years for second-time offenders with BAC of 0.08 or more • Device for five years for more

Jolley and Rep. Jason Nelson, R-Oklahoma City, require those convicted of a DUI with a blood alcohol content of 0.15 or higher use an

than two offenses with BAC of 0.08 or more • All offenders must have a sticker on licenses to signify having an interlock device Source: Oklahoma state Senate Bill 529

ignition interlock device for 18 months, according to a press release. Blood alcohol levels of 0.08 or higher are considered legally drunk.

An interlock device requires the driver to breathe into it and measures the blood alcohol content before the individual can start the car. The test also requires drivers to randomly breathe into the device throughout the drive, designed to make it harder for drivers to have a sober friend take the test for him or her, according to the device website. Those receiving a second DUI offense with a level of at least 0.08 must use the interlock for four years, and for

Sooners look to slam Riverhawks in first game Senior forward Barry Honore dunks the ball while the OU men’s basketball team practices during Hoops Jam 2011 on Oct. 16 at Lloyd Noble Center. The basketball team tips off its season with an exhibition game at 7 tonight against Northeastern State. The Sooners, who were 14-18 last year, return four of their five starting players from the 2010-11 season. The matchup against Northeastern State will be OU coach Lon Kruger’s first game leading the Sooners in action. Kruger was hired in April to replace fired coach Jeff Capel. (Page 6)

SUE OGROCKI/THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

OPINION VOL. 97, NO. 53 © 2011 OU Publications Board FREE — Additional copies 25 cents www.OUDaily.com www.facebook.com/OUDaily www.twitter.com/OUDaily

INSIDE News .......................... Classifieds .................. Life & Arts .................. Opinion ...................... Sports .........................

2 4 5 3 6

NOW ON

Harsher DUI state laws must be abided

Students hail Halloween

Sooner achieves ambassador role

LIFE & ARTS Online music service entices students Spotify’s renown climbs on campus. (Page 5)

MULTIMEDIA

SPORTS

International Bazaar boomed on campus

Women’s basketball voted No. 15 in nation

Friday’s cultural market on the South Oval sold success. (OUDaily.com)

The Sooners start outside the top 10 for the second time in six years. (Page 6)

DARIAN HARMON/THE DAILY

Josiah Irwin, University College freshman, wears a Guy Fawkes mask for Halloween as he walks down the South Oval on Monday.

SEE DUI PAGE 2

OU REGENTS

Multiple campus projects passed PAIGHTEN HARKINS Staff Reporter

The OU Board of Regents approved multiple multi-million dollar renovation projects for campus at its October meeting Wednesday. Items passed include: • A name for the $75 million, new athletic housing center was agreed upon. The building will officially be called Headington Hall after Tim Headington, OU tennis player and 1972 alumnus. • Upgrades were approved to L. Dale Mitchell Park, the men’s baseball field. The first phase of expansion will feature two new rows of seats behind home plate and a netting backstop. These renovations are part of a $4 million plan to upgrade the ballpark. Later renovations will include updated locker rooms and additional seating. This phase of the project will cost $695,900. • On the agenda was a proposal for a new audio sound system for Paul F. Sharp concert hall. It would cost $307,190 and would be installed by Solotech US Corporation out of Las Vegas, Nevada. • A series of bonds were proposed to the tune of $75 million to continue projects that are currently underway and in need of bonds. The bonds would assist completion of the f o l l ow i ng re n ovat i o n projects: Hester Hall: $6 million Oklahoma Memorial Union: $3 million Cate 1: $2 million Fine Arts Center : $4 million

CAMPUS BRIEF COMPETITION

Unlike other states, Oklahoma cannot tread lightly with new laws. (Page 3)

five years for all additional offenses. And offenders will have to foot the cost for the interlock device themselves. Interlock device companies typically charge an installation fee between $50 and $200 and a monthly rental fee between $50 and $100, according to the Oklahoma Board of Tests for Alcohol and Drug Influence. New law may add costs and inconvenience for offenders,

OU’s Kyle Olson has been named a Young Ambassador for the 2011-2012 academic year, according to a press release. The Young Ambassador competition is part of the German Academic Exchange Service, an organization that promotes higher education in Germany and provides funding to do so. The 42 Young Ambassadors from Canada and the U.S. are interested in promoting study in Germany at their home

universities and colleges. Olson, a civil engineering and economics senior, studied abroad in Stuttgart, Germany, during the 20102011 academic year with the support of one of the program’s undergraduate scholarships. Olson took a wide variety of G erman-taught technical, cultural and language courses. According to Olson’s biography on the service’s website, he lists his plans to study full-time in Stuttgart or at another technical school in Germany for an international graduate degree. Jalisa Green, Staff Reporter


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