OU law student, newly elected state representative will focus on education. See page 3. The University of Oklahoma’s independent student voice since 1916
Wednesday, November 17, 2010
www.OUDaily.com
Free — additional copies 25¢
UOSA officially condemns SQ 755 Congress approves bill to oppose state amendment that bans Sharia law in courts TREVOR SHOFNER The Oklahoma Daily
The Undergraduate Student Congress passed a congressional bill Tuesday night to denounce a newly approved state amendment that prohibits state courts from considering international or Sharia law in decisions. Congress members are encouraging the OU community to join them in condemning the implementation of State Question 755, according to the bill. State Question 755 passed Nov. 2 with a 70 percent majority. Gerrit Verbeek, petroleum engineering senior, argued in favor of the condemnation bill at the meeting. He said SQ 755 would
inadvertently alienate American Indians, since their status as domestic dependent nations puts treaties made between the tribes and the federal government at odds with the international law ban in the state question. “Oklahoma isn’t safeguarding its state culture, it’s actively destroying it,” Verbeek said. “That’s why we, as a university in probably one of the most diverse and educated areas of the state, have a responsibility to say to our fellow citizens that it is absolutely stupid.” The UOSA bill states that SQ 755 “portrays the state of Oklahoma as xenophobic and Islamophobic,” and that it will jeopardize job and communication opportunities for university students “in our increasingly global society.” Shayna Daitch, international and area studies district representative, authored the bill. “I specifically wrote it because of the district I represent,” Daitch, international security
About the amendment State Question 755 prohibits state courts from considering international or Sharia law in decisions. The question passed Nov. 2, but the results were never verified. U.S. District Judge Vicki MilesLaGrange ordered a temporary block on the bill as a result of a civil rights lawsuit filed by Muneer Awad, Council on American-Islamic Relations executive director. Awad claims the law is unconstitutional and the case will be heard Monday.
studies senior, said. “Dozens of students have talked to me about it. Everybody is extremely concerned.” Twenty-three representatives voted in favor, none against and two abstained.
STUDENT CONGRESS | 16 SWORN IN AS NEW REPRESENTATIVES
Norman Music Fest becomes 3-day event, organizers announce The Norman Music Festival has grown into a three-day event, festival organizers announced Tuesday in a press release. The festival will take place April 21 to 23 — shifting from a Saturday-Sunday event to a Thursday-Friday-Saturday event — to help turn Norman into a weekend destination for travelers from across the state and region, festival spokesman Quentin Bomgardner said in the release. Festival headliners have not been booked, but organizers will hold an open call to fill 130 slots with performers, according to the release. Submissions will be accepted Dec. 5 to Jan. 9. The Norman Music Festival is a free music festival that takes place in downtown Norman. Previous headliners include Dirty Projectors, of Montreal, The Polyphonic Spree and Chainsaw Kittens. — Daily staff reports
Informing students Congress’ priority UOSA hopes more-informed students will be more likely to run for office, vote this spring CHASE COOK The Oklahoma Daily
MERRILL JONES/THE DAILY
Alyssa Loveless, human relations junior, is sworn in as a Undergraduate Student Congress communications district representative at Tuesday evening’s meeting. Loveless was one of 16 representatives sworn in after being elected during the fall general election Nov. 9 and 10. Also at the meeting, Student Congress voted to create a webmaster position to serve all four branches of UOSA. The Pre-Medical Professionals Club was allotted $200 in emergency allocations for programs and activities. The “Fall General Election Compensation” Act of 2010 and “Fall General Election Poll Operators Compensation” Act of 2010 were passed unanimously. Election chair Natalie Jester will be paid $200 and election board members Ann Marie Daniel, Kristen Lauck, John Morrow and Gabrielle Skillings will be paid $40. Alpha Phi Omega will be paid $300, the OU Cycling team $150 and the Asian American Student Association $75 for manning the polling stations.
Undergraduate Student Congress will have a plan before it adjourns Nov. 30 to tackle student involvement at both the voter and candidate levels, said Brett Stidham, UOSA Congress chairman. UOSA election chairwoman Natalie Jester said she started formulating her plans after the election was over. She said she will organize public relations campaigns to emphasize candidates and their goals. Currently, candidates use the UOSA elections website and personal appearances to inform students of their plans. Jester said she wants to make polling sites more
Visit OUDaily.com to view the bills. SEE UOSA PAGE 2
COLUMN
President Boren’s total pay much higher than reported Editors note: The following column is in response to Monday’s story about the average pay for top college executives. The story, which ran on the bottom of page 1, compared President David Boren’s salary to total compensation packages of other college executives, but failed to mention Boren’s benefits. Daily editors felt it was necessary to clarify this information by running this column in the same spot as the initial story. On Nov. 15, The Daily reported President David Boren’s salary was only one-half the national average for university presidents. However, although it appears Boren received only $380,585 in the university budget, he receives more under the terms of his contract. His base salary automatically increases each year by the average faculty salary increase. Boren also is considered a full professor in the College of Arts and Sciences. He has never been paid
STAFF COLUMN
Nicholas las Harrison son for teaching; however, if he served as a full-time professor, he would receive the highest salary for a full professor in that department — which was $173,400 in 2011. And, he would be entitled to a one-year sabbatical. After turning 70 this year, Boren became eligible for payments under a supplemental qualifiedretirement plan created for him by the OU Regents — $45,000 per year until he reaches 85. This is in addition to the estimated $69,500 federal pension he became eligible for in 2001 under the Civil Service Retirement System. Boren also receives the use of Boyd House — a state residence
A LOOK AT WHAT’S NEW AT Visit the multimedia section to watch footage from football coach Bob Stoops’ Tuesday press conference
which underwent a $2 million renovation and expansion when Boren took over in 1994. The university maintains, pays utilities on and provides household staff for this residence. He also receives the use of an automobile plus all maintenance and operating expenses. He receives one $50,000 annual expense account for meals, receptions, social functions, gifts, country-club dues, printing, postage, publications, subscriptions, professional dues and other expenses. And, he receives another $50,000 annual expense account for scholarships, library acquisitions, campus beautification, student activities and other expenses. Under his last contract, Boren also received $450,000 as an incentive for staying through June 30, 2013. And, he receives this sum on a pro rata basis even if he leaves — so long as he does not serve as president of another university.
THE OKLAHOMA DAILY VOL. 96, NO. 64 © 2010 OU Publications Board www.facebook.com/OUDaily www.twitter.com/OUDaily
ONLINE AT OUDAILY.COM » Documents: President David Boren’s employment agreement, proxy reports from the four corporations Boren sits on, the Norman campus fiscal year 2011 operating budget and more. Boren also is permitted to serve on the board of any corporation or other legal entity so long as it does not interfere with his duties. Last year, he served on the boards of four corporations — receiving $167,146 from Texas Instruments, $73,849 from American Airlines, $131,682 from Torchmark and $270,917 from Continental Resources. To be fair, Boren is a remarkable individual — a Yale graduate and Rhodes Scholar, holding an OU law degree and master’s degrees in philosophy, politics and economics from Oxford. He was the youngest governor in the state’s
INDEX Campus .............. 2 Classifieds .......... 6 Life & Arts ........... 5 Opinion .............. 4 Sports ................ 7
history when he was inaugurated in 1975. He served 15 years in the U.S. Senate — distinguishing himself as the longest-serving Senate Intelligence Committee Chair. Since coming here, Boren also has raised $1.75 billion. He is the longest-serving university president in the Big 12. He has donated more than $1 million to the university — including the proceeds from his book. And, he and his wife named the university as the beneficiary of their $1.5 million life-insurance policy. However, Boren also is very well compensated. He could make a lot more in the private sector, but his compensation package at OU represents the pinnacle one can attain in public service. — Nicholas Harrison, law and business graduate
Comment on this column at OUDaily.com
TODAY’S WEATHER 60°| 34° Thursday: Sunny, high of 62 degrees Visit the Oklahoma Weather Lab at owl.ou.edu