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Will Ferrell voices Megamind (shown left), a supervillain destined to take over the world if he could just figure out what he’s doing. The Daily’s Laron Chapman reviews the film.

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Friday, November 5, 2010

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Program offers Arabic immersion

Voting in Cleveland County

FALLIN

58%

The Oklahoma Daily

Many of the 42 students in the Arabic Language Flagship Partner Program have no cultural or ethnic ties to the Arab world, but they recognize that knowing the language will not only help them procure a job but also improve foreign relations. Tiegan Willoughby is pursuing a minor in Arabic and was drawn to the program after a friend got him interested in studying the

the arts, politics and culture ONLINE AT of the region. Students have OUDAILY.COM the option to either major in the language or pursue an » Link: The Arabic Arabic minor. Flagship Program Siera Collins, an Arabic and international and area studies sophomore, was first inspired to pursue the language after a 2005 trip with the Junior Statesmen of America to the United Nations. “My long-term goal is to become an ambassador,” Collins said. “So becoming immersed

Askins

68%

TREVOR SHOFNER

language. “I’m just interested in languages, and Arabic’s fairly unique in comparison to English,” said Willoughby, a philosophy and linguistics junior. “To be honest, I see it being my biggest asset when it comes to job interviews and things like that.” The flagship program, in it’s third year at OU, is a government-sponsored program that pays for students’ Arabic courses in the program as long as they maintain at least a 3.25 grade point average, according to Heidi Gehret, flagship program coordinator. Students who participate in the five-year program take three years of core language classes and other humanity classes examining

32%

Flagship program stresses language and culture by offering language major or minor, sponsoring study abroad in Egypt

Voting in Precincts 13, 14

42%

OU polls different from state Lieberman stresses national security averages Sentor speaks on three foreign policy areas that require attention from both parties TREVOR SHOFNER The Oklahoma Daily

Sen. Joseph Lieberman, I-Conn., spoke to a group of attendees Thursday in the Oklahoma Memorial Union’s Beaird Lounge about the need for a U.S. presence in Afghanistan, a strong stance on Iranian nuclear proliferation and a unified effort to combat Chinese economic control, emphasizing the vital importance of bipartisanship. A converted Democrat, Lieberman has a reputation of being a “bridge-builder,” President David Boren said during his introduction speech. “He has always been a person who wanted to bring people together,” said Boren, a classmate of Lieberman’s during his undergraduate study at Yale. The senator explained the prospects of cooperation, noting past presidents’ worldviews that recognized the global importance of strong American leadership. “There is an inextricable link between America’s defenses and the defense of Americas values,” Lieberman said. “Between the spread of its values abroad and its freedom here at home.” Ian Keegan, international and area studies junior, asked Lieberman about his comment on “spreading American values.” He asked what should be kept in mind when approaching other cultures that “can’t look like us,” specifically citing democracy in Afghanistan as a value that “didn’t quite take.”

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“This goes back to the beginning, the Declaration of Independence and our human rights stated by the founders,” Lieberman said. “Our founders didn’t give those rights just to Americans, those are universal values of human rights. Our foreign policy has been at its best when we’ve been true to that vision.” There are three critical areas, Lieberman said, where America needs to embrace a bipartisan worldview to protect national security. Lieberman said first of all, Democrats and Republicans need to both support the necessity, for ONLINE AT national security OUDAILY.COM reasons, of the United States’ » Video: p r e s e n c e i n Highlights from Afghanistan. He Joe Lieberman’s said a withdraw speech Thursday would “allow a » Link: s a n c t u a r y f o r Lieberman’s terrorists” and Senate website “undermine American credibility throughout the world.” He also stressed the importance of bipartisan support for making tough nuclear rules in Iran a priority. He said setting that policy will be “the most important set of decisions that President Obama and Congress will make in the next two years.” Inside the Beltway Thursday m o r n i n g , P re s i d e nt O b a ma stressed that an agreement with Russia for a significant reduction JALL COWASJI/THE DAILY in both countries’ nuclear arsenals U.S. Sen. Joe Lieberman, I-Conn., addresses a range of political topics, should be a priority in the coming including the need for bipartisan cooperation on foreign policy on Thursday

in the Oklahoma Memorial Union’s Beaird Lounge. UOSA has declared Thursday Joe Lieberman Day. SEE POLITICS PAGE 2

Women, victims Take Back the Night Candlelight march ends in Unity Garden for moment of silence, discusses rape EMILY HOPKINS The Oklahoma Daily

Standing in the South Oval, Lindsey Vandeventer was astounded by what she witnessed. “So many people walked by and paid no attention, and when they saw the word ‘rape,’ they looked down and just kept walking,” she said. Vandeventer, women’s and gender studies senior, was one of MEREDITH MORIAK/THE DAILY several women Thursday afterStudents from the Women’s and Gender Studies Student Association stand in noon holding signs meant to adfront of Dale Hall promoting Thursday’s Take Back the Night event. Holly Frink, vertise the statistic that one in six entrepreneurship and management information systems senior; Caitlyn Wright, women will be victims of rape or attempted rape in their lifetime. political science and women’s and gender studies senior; Marni Vincent, film The Women’s Outreach Center and video studies and women’s and gender studies sophomore; Esther Chong, held the demonstration in supbroadcast and electronic media and women’s and gender studies senior; Bailey Daugherty psychology and social justice sophomore; and Lacey Sorrels, port of Take Back the Night, a time to speak out against sexual University College freshman held signs stating “One in six women experience assault, and for victims to share rape.” stories in a secure and supportive

A LOOK AT WHAT’S NEW AT Th Daily’s RJ Young and MJ The CCasiano debate who’s to blame for low 2010 World Series viewership lo

ONLINE AT OUDAILY.COM » Video: Highlights from Tuesday’s Take Back the Night event. » Link: The Women’s Outreach Center » Link: Take Back the Night » Link: Counseling Psychology Clinic environment. More than 50 people gathered in the Unity Garden at 8 p.m. Some came to talk, but others were there simply to listen. “Many survivors find closure and empowerment in speaking about their stories in public and informing others about the violence they’ve experienced. We encourage everyone to join us in speaking out against sexual assault, especially at a powerful event like Take Back the Night,” said Jennifer Cox, staff

Voter turnout near campus significantly decreases from 2008 to 2010 elections KATHLEEN EVANS The Oklahoma Daily

More than twice as many registered voters in two precincts located near OU’s campus voted in the 2008 presidential election than in Tuesday’s midterm election, according to poll numbers. In October 2008, 5,740 people registered in Cleveland County Precincts 13 and 14, which are encompassed by OU’s campus. Of those registered, 48.99 percent voted for a presidential candidate. In October 2010, 5,517 people were registered, and only 19.45 percent voted for a gubernatorial candidate. The difference in the percentage of OU precinct voters did not surprise Anette Pretty, employee at the Cleveland County Election Board. “ I t ’s a l w a y s l o w b e c a u s e [Precinct] 13 is OU students, and they move and don’t change their registration address,” she said. Nearly everyone who voted for governor this year also voted on State Question 744, which would have required Oklahoma to spend as much money on education as the average of the six surrounding states. Overall, 98.17 percent of people who voted for governor in Precincts 13 and 14 also voted on SQ 744. No other state question had voter participation as high as SQ 744. Statewide, 49.7 percent of registered voters voted for governor this year, up from 2006’s 44.8 percent, said Paul Ziriax, Oklahoma State Election Board secretary. Neither Cleveland County nor the State Election Board had percentages on how many registered Republicans or Democrats voted.

Voting breakdown Total votes for governor » 19.45 percent in Precincts 13, 14 » 50.02 percent in Cleveland County » 49.7 percent in Oklahoma Mary Fallin » 31.02 percent in Precincts 13, 14 » 58.42 percent in Cleveland County » 60.45 percent in Oklahoma Jari Askins » 68.98 percent in Precincts 13, 14 » 41.58 percent in Cleveland County » 39.55 percent in Oklahoma “Yes” on SQ 744 » 29.92 percent in Precincts 13, 14 » 18.88 percent in Cleveland County » 18.59 percent in Oklahoma “No” on SQ 744 » 70.08 percent in Precincts 13, 14 » 81.12 percent in Cleveland County » 81.41 percent in Oklahoma *Source: Cleveland County Election Board

SEE NIGHT PAGE 2

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2 • Friday, November 5, 2010

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CAMPUS

OUDAILY.COM ›› Margaret Jacobs, history and women’s and gender studies professor, speaks at Sam Noble Thursday night

Reneé Selanders, managing editor dailynews@ou.edu • phone: 405-325-3666

POLITICS: Students challenge D.C. policies “increasingly being pulled into China’s economic control.” He said that China is now using that economic leverage to inlame duck session for members on both fluence its neighbors on strategic issues, sides of the aisle, emphasizing “this is not compromising American security. a traditionally Democratic or Republican “There is a growing dis-alignment beissue but rather a issue of American na- tween national security architecture and tional security.” Obama said the reduction the economic architecture of their rewould show that the U.S. gion,” Lieberman said. is serious about nonpro“They don’t want to liferation, which will help become economically Joe Lieberman Day in our dealings with Iran. dependent on China. Lieberman said that They want the U.S. to be UOSA passed an official there has already been a part of it.” proclamation declaring Nov. 4 “remarkable” bipartisan Lieberman said Sen. Joe Lieberman day. agreement on the threat Congress needs to be UOSA representative Shayna of nuclear weaponry. unified in it’s dealings Daitch presented the framed An Iranian-American with China to be able proclamation to the senator. student from the auto effectively combat dience asked how this spreading control, Lieberman justified the stressing the need for damage suffered by the common people bipartisan action. of Iran — the farmers and carpet-makers Tuesday’s election results sent the imwho have been directly hurt — because of perative to Congress to “break out of this America’s economic sanctions, and why cycle” of partisanship for the sake of prosthe U.S. would “hope for a response [from perity, he said. Iran].” Lieberman described himself as “hawk“There’s no doubt they have had effects ish” and praised the response of President on the Iranian people,” Lieberman said. George Bush after the terrorist attacks of “And believe me, we regret this. But unless 9/11. He said the Obama administration, we assert our economic and diplomatic in comparison to that of Bush’s, is one of authority, we’re going to be left with the continuity rather than drastic change. more domestic choice of using military President David Boren spoke before power, not to go to war with Iran, but to Lieberman, telling of their time togethstrike the nuclear weapons.” er as Yale University undergraduates The third of Lieberman’s concerns is our dreaming of one day becoming polititrade policy with Asia, which Lieberman cians and as young U.S. Senators, as well said has a lot to do with national security. as Lieberman’s exemplary character even He said that Asian Pacific nations look as a young man, saying “public office has to America for security, because they’re never changed Joe Lieberman.”

Continued from page 1

Today around campus » Brown bag lunch series hosted by Life After College will offer a seminar on Teach for America from noon to 1:30 p.m. in the Oklahoma Memorial Union’s Sooner Room. » The Union Programming Board will show “Inception” at 4, 7, 10 and 11:50 p.m. in the Union’s Meacham Auditorium. » African Christian Fellowship will meet from 7 to 10 p.m. in the Union’s Frontier Room.

Saturday, Nov. 6 » Free graduate entrance exams practice tests will be available in the Physical Sciences Center computer lab, Room 229. Students must register online at www.princetonreview.com/events prior to taking the exam. » Sooner Ally Training will meet from 1 to 4 p.m. in the Union’s Sooner Room. » The Union Programming Board will show the OU-Texas A&M football game from 6 to 10 p.m. in the Union’s Meacham Auditorium. » OU Improv Rehearsal will meet from 8 to 11 p.m. in the Union’s Frontier Room. » The Union Programming Board will host the Hearts and Hammers Ball from 7:30 to 11:30 p.m. in the Union’s Molly Shi Ballroom.

Monday, Nov. 8 » Ambassador Jianmin Wu will host a presentation, “China-U.S. Relationship in a Changing World” from 1:30 to 3 p.m. in the Union’s Beaird Lounge. » Student Success Series will host Test-Taking Strategies from 2 to 3 p.m in the Adams Tower Housing Learning Center.

» This day in OU history

Continued from page 1 coordinator for the Women’s Outreach Center. Philosophy senior Samantha Wafer began the evening with a poetry reading. “This performance is dedicated to today having an impact on tomorrow,” she said.

Afterward, Melissa Frey, director of the Counseling Psychology Clinic and professor for the department of educational psychology, was invited to share her thoughts as someone who has counseled sexual assault victims. “With that journey from victim to survivor comes healing through speaking the truth and through the support and love of others,” she said. “All of us

ARABIC: Courses federally funded

Professor lectures on time spent on Ceylon Island Sherril D. Christian, chemistry professor, lectured on the year he spent on the Indian Ocean island of Ceylon. During that time, he visited sites of archaeological, cultural and religious interest. *Source: The Oklahoma Daily archives

» Clariﬁcation The Daily has a long-standing commitment to serve readers by providing accurate coverage and analysis. Errors are corrected as they are identified. Readers should bring errors to the attention of the editorial board for further investigation by e-mailing dailynews@ou.edu. » Wednesday’s column, “Clueless people will remain clueless,” incorrectly described the relationship between Justice For All and the Eden Clinic. The Eden Clinic is not affiliated with Justice For All and was not on the South Oval at Justice For All’s request.

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in Arabic was very important to me, and the Arabic language is beautiful.” The program offers students the opportunity to study in Alexandria, Egypt. “I think the flagship program is a great opportunity for the students to learn the language and go places,” said Hossam Barakat, an Arabic professor originally from Egypt. Another way to become immersed in the language is living in the Arabic House in Cate Center’s Kirk House. The house shows Arabic news stations and offers an environment in which to practice the language daily with other flagship students. “We’re looking forward to getting some native speakers in the house that we can practice with, but right now, it’s a good opportunity just to practice the language every day,” Collins said. “My roommate and I like to joke around a lot in Arabic.” Collins said people remaining after the first year share a strong common interest in the language. “You get people that are really passionate,” Collins said. “Becoming fluent is very important to them. You have to love the language to do it.”

OU Student Media is a division of OU Student Affairs. For accommodations on the basis of disability, please contact 405.325.2521. The University of Oklahoma is an equal opportunity institution.

OU, OSU investigate impact of technology on economy Three professors, two from Oklahoma State University and one from OU, made up the newly formed research team charged with obtaining income, population and employment trends data. The project branched out into other states, and arrangements were made to obtain the cooperation of university, government and business institutions from around the region.

U.S. Sen. Joseph Lieberman, I-Conn., was born on Feb. 24, 1942 in Stamford, Conn. He received his bachelor’s and law degrees from Yale. In 1970 he was elected to the Connecticut State Senate, where he served for 10 years. In 1983, he was elected as Connecticut’s attorney general. In 1988, he left the position to serve in the U.S. Senate. Leiberman has served four terms in the Senate since his inauguration on Jan. 3, 1989. In 2000, he was selected as Al Gore’s vice presidential candidate. In May he proposed the Terrorist Expatriation Act, which allows the State Department to revoke the citizenship of Americans who affiliate with foreign terrorist organizations. In March, he voted for the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act. While supporting the bill, he fought to make sure it was fiscally responsible. Lieberman will be up for reelection in 2012. — Chase Cook/The Daily

NIGHT: Advocates sexual assault prevention

Continued from page 1

Nov. 5, 1962

About Senator Joe Lieberman

are demeaned by violence that occurs in our community and we all have a responsibility to do what we can to reduce violence.” After sharing stories and experiences, the group embarked on a candlelit march around campus and met back at the Unity Garden for a moment of silence to remember the victims of sexual violence.

The Oklahoma Daily | OUDaily.com

Friday, November 5, 2010 • 3

THUMBS DOWN ››

OPINION

Voter turnout in Tuesday’s election was fewer than half of the 2008 election turnout (see page 1)

OUR VIEW

Jared Rader, opinion editor dailyopinion@ou.edu • phone: 405-325-7630

LETTER TO THE EDITOR

OK becoming a laughingstock Last night, Oklahoma had a cameo appearance on the Colbert Report. Faux right-wing host Stephen Colbert gave a shout-out to Oklahoma voters’ decision to overwhelmingly pass State Question 755, which banned Sharia Law from being considered in state courts. “This is great news,” Colbert said. “Just because something doesn’t exist, doesn’t mean you shouldn’t ban it.” He then called for banning cat pilots, baby curling and man-futon marriage — threats all equally as ridiculous as the idea that Sharia was on the rise in Oklahoma. It would be hilarious if it weren’t so true. Oklahoma’s fear of Muslims has not only garnered attention from fake

news outlets, but serious ones such as CNN and Salon.com. In the article on CNN’s website, OU law professor Rick Tepker lambasts the new law for its ignorance. Not only does it seem to conflict with the First Amendment, it could have unknown implications. For all of Governor-elect Mary Fallin’s campaign talk of making Oklahoma a place for business, the law could become an obstacle for businesses working with international companies. Also, in its fervor of banning Sharia Law, Oklahoma could have inadvertently banned the use of the Ten Commandments - a set of tenets they admire so much, they put a display

of it on the Capitol grounds. The language of the state question bans the use of international law, and the Ten Commandments were conceived on foreign soil for another nation. But wait, the Ten Commandments have never been used, because of separation of church and state, meaning there was no point for SQ 755 in the first place. Oklahomans need to figure out what they want for their state. Do we want to be seen as the most business-friendly, economically innovative state? Or do we want to continue being the butt of late-night jokes?

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COLUMN

Nobel peace prize used as politics O ver time, the Nobel Peace Prize has become STAFF COLUMN UMN more a tool for political criticism than an actual acJohn Bestt knowledgment of respectable work. The Nobel Peace Prize was originally intended to be given to an individual who “...shall have done the most or the best work for fraternity between nations, for the abolition or reduction of standing armies and for the holding and promotion of peace congresses.” Unfortunately, the idea of an individual receiving the Nobel Peace Prize as a result of their work towards inter- or intra-national peace appears to be of little consequence in the present day. The 2010 Nobel Peace Prize went to Liu Xiaobo, an imprisoned democracy activist in the People’s Republic of China. Liu has been part of a multitude of peaceful movements calling for change in his authoritarian nation. He was an active participant in the 1989 Tiananmen Square protests and has been actively pursuing his goal of democratic elections, accountability and other forms of reform. He has been jailed four times under trumped-up criminal charges, the latest of which placed him in prison until 2020. The Chinese government’s actions against Liu are deplorable. For such writings as Charter 08, a manifesto calling for democratization and reform in China, he has been charged with “inciting subversion of state power.” This is clearly another action in the long trend of human rights abuses the Chinese government has committed against anyone they suspect as posing the smallest threat to one-party rule. That being said, this is not the reason the Nobel Prize Committee awarded Liu this year’s prize. Soon after the award, the Chinese government criticized the organization, saying “relations [with Norway] would suffer” as a result of the award. In reaction to this criticism, the Noble prize committee has written various letters to the press, including one in The New York Times by Thorbjorn Jagland, the chair of the committee. There was also an interview with Geir Lundestad, a member of the committee, in the Guardian. From these statements, it is easily gleaned that the Nobel committee picked the country they wanted to criticize, and then looked for an individual in that country to award the prize to.

Jagland’s reaction to Chinese criticism was that Chinese criminal law does not respect the protection of human rights in their constitution. First of all, there is no mechanism of enforcement of the Chinese Constitution. It is not enforced in any way that can be compared with that of western democracies. It is not Chinese criminal law that is not in line with its constitution — it is the entire government itself. When the Chinese government’s actions are in line with their constitution, it’s because the reality of the situation necessitates that kind of action, not because such action is constitutional. The only other reasons that Jagland gave as to why they granted Liu the award was because he is a “jailed political activist,” and that he had “expressed his opinion.” These are valid reasons, but a letter by the chair of the Noble Peace Prize committee should have had much more convincing reasons than these simple lay person justifications. Clearly it was more about the message than the work of the individual. Geir Lundestad proves my point with his own words when he said, “If we had given a prize to a dissident from Cuba or Vietnam, fine, there are difficult situations in those countries ... But the question would then be: why don’t you address China?” Then he went on to say, “The next question was who should we give the prize to?” Clearly the country, China, was chosen to be criticized and then Liu was chosen as the most likely candidate. This is despicable. It’s not within the Norwegian committee’s power to use the Nobel Peace Prize as a form of political criticism. It is not the committee’s role to, every year, pick a country that is not living up to Norwegian standards. There are countless activists in China, including Liu, who deserve the Nobel Peace Prize for their political work within China. Liu in every way represents the struggle of reform and democratization movements within China. He should be honored by receiving the award for the right reasons though. The committee must stop making a mockery of this distinguished award. — John Best, biochemistry and Asian studies senior

It’s their party and they can kazoo if they want to Editor’s note: This letter is in response to Tucker Cross’ and Jerod Coker’s Tuesday column, “Abortion rights group antics ridiculous” It appears that the mission of the Women’s and Gender Studies Student Association’s party favors has flown right over the heads of the many people who are tossing around criticisms, like those which claim that it was a childish attempt at sabotaging dialogue altogether. Their goal was not to hinder reasonable dialogue concerning this issue, but to put an end to dialogue which is propagated through Justice for All’s dangerous medium of grotesque, shocking and fear-inducing images placed in the middle of throngs of tuition-paying students who are attempting to attend class without being accosted by individuals armed and trained with neverending circular rhetoric about extremely personal beliefs and experiences, and, if nothing else, to avoid the gruesome images which are quite capable of causing both social and emotional damage. It should also be brought to light that many of the statements paraded across the expansive 30-foot exhibit are not only problematic, but examples of misinformation. For one, the claim that abortion leads to a higher risk of breast cancer was disproved by the Susan G. Komen Foundation, a leading institute on breast cancer research. By quoting the words of an individual activist who claimed “God hates women” and attributing this as a critique of an entire group of people is an example of irrational generalization, and cannot sensibly be regarded as a reflection of the pro-choice activists as a whole. As for insulting their use of light-hearted humor as a tool for activism as being immature and childish, this is also a laughable argument. If one takes a look at the activism of not only the past but the present, humor has been a useful and positive agent for bringing issues to light. For more on this, research Yippies or meander the Onion, but I think the showing of support at Tuesday’s picnic says more than enough. To demonize an individual for an already difficult, and potentially traumatic, decision is questionable in itself. By demonizing I mean, of course, comparing the act of abortion to the Holocaust, slavery, as well as nonchalantly and irresponsibly throwing around words like murder and murderer which could, if heard by the wrong ears, incite violent acts of domestic terrorism and homicide, as we witnessed with the murder of Dr. Tiller and the numerous bombings of abortion clinics. I, for one, know more than a few Jewish and AfricanAmerican individuals who would find the aforementioned comparisons to be detestable. JFA, yet again, showed even more audacity by busing in young impressionable high school students, some from a private Christian school, to witness their indecent methodology in action, and ensure that they could brainwash youngsters into carrying on their foul and insensitive legacy. As for those who side with these heinous “abortion crazies,” over kazoo playing, picnicking, good-humored activists, I’ll leave that to rest on your conscience. — Mason Parker, English senior

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COLUMN

How education destroys our creativity Do the discussions in our classrooms inspire the next leaders, or do they encourage the pathetic imitation of them? Do our teaching methods stimulate creativity and innovation, or do they produce students who are so practiced in the art of memorization, repetition and regurgitation that they have lost their capacity for creation? Does our model of education encourage the pursuit of knowledge and the beauty of understanding, or does it reduce knowledge to packets of information so abbreviated as to be indistinguishable from trivia? Are our universities beacons of knowledge and social progress, or are they merely printing presses — finishing schools in which the highest honor is a piece of paper, embellished with an inscrutable Latin phrase, bearing the symbolic affirmation of self-worth necessary to be a “fully-qualified” human being? It is no coincidence that our modern system of education curiously bears resemblance to an assembly line — the symbol of the Industrial Revolution, which not only gave birth to our modern paradigm of education but has also simultaneously infected it with the notion that efficiency and conformity are the hallmarks of progress. Today, our classrooms remain possessed by an industrial mentality which succeeds in polluting the very intellectual environment that promises growth. Our educational paradigm is perverted by the absurd notion that the quality of education should reflect the speed at which it’s delivered; that feverishly copying bullet points delivered in rapid succession through a PowerPoint is the best way to excite people about learning; that one’s academic achievement

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can and should be reduced to a few meaninglessly inflated numbers on a transcript; that the optimal classroom reflects a division of labor regulated by time and place and based on rigid desks placed in evenly spaced rows, geometrically arranged such that the acoustics and visual assembly discourages individual participation; that the only type of learning that matters is that which can be recorded, dictated and confirmed by an accredited educational institution; that a single score imparted by the LSAT, MCAT or GRE can immediately determine whether one’s academic experience ‘mattered;’ and that the ‘departmentalization’ of knowledge, like workers in an assembly line, is efficient and therefore optimal. We are products placed on an educational assembly line at age five and are forced through the system in batches with other students who share our date of manufacture. If you are defective, you’re discarded — an efficient system, after all, cannot tolerate eccentricity. Can your reptilian brain not handle the 24-hour stimulation afforded by iPhones, laptops, television screens and PowerPoint projections? We’ll call it A.D.D. and put you on Ritalin. You’ll never have to daydream, never have to imagine, never have to think. You’ll be better for it, liberated from the specter of distraction, emancipated from the inconvenience of being human ,and you’ll be free to absorb that which you’re told and be like the rest of us. It doesn’t matter that at each step in the process we are given another feature, another lesson that makes us feel special, because in the end, when we finally graduate from

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the system, we’ll all be the same — learned for the tests, STAFF COLUMN UMN taught from the book and educated for the promise of Evan money. DeFilippis is I don’t claim to know the solutions, but I do know that they won’t be found by clinging to an antiquated system of standardized tests and uniform curriculum. It won’t be found by preserving a model that treats students as workers and education as a commodity. It won’t be found by privileging math and science at the expense of art and music. It won’t be found by encouraging memorization over creation. And it won’t be found through insights gleaned from the depths of a factory. Curiosity killed the cat, but it’s what gives us life. It infuses our sensibilities with purpose and ignites the flame of learning. Without curiosity, there is only obedience. Without creativity, there is only trivia. Without activism, there is only imitation. We must encourage a model of education that is based on these tenets or brace for a future in which the attention-deficit, mentally exhausted, disempowered students of today are tomorrow’s leaders. Personally, I’d prefer cat’s fate. — Evan DeFilippis, economics and political science junior

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GREAT FOR STUDENTS! Needed: 2 grounds/pool maintenance, 23 days/week, 20-25 hrs. $7.50/hr. Please call 360-7744 or apply at 333 E Brooks.

POLICY The Oklahoma Daily is responsible for one day’s incorrect advertising. If your ad appears incorrectly, or if you wish to cancel your ad call 3252521, before the deadline for cancellation in the next issue. Errors not the fault of the advertiser will be adjusted. Refunds will not be issued for late cancellations.

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Help Wanted ads in The Oklahoma Daily are not to separate as to gender. Advertisers may not discriminate in employment ads based on race, color, religion or gender unless such qualifying factors are essential to a given position.

Being

NU M B E R ONE is nothing to celebrate.

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A Bit of Yesteryear in this fabulously restored one bedroom apartment. Perfect for the person who loves eclectic but new! Built in 1940, restored in 2010. Upstairs unit of 3 unit bldg. Campus Corner Area - 3 bedrooms, 2 living area unit in a triplex, $895/mo. Campus Area - Ground floor 3 bedroom apartment, $600/mo. Sharon @ Metro Brokers, 397-3200

This year, more than 172,000 people will be diagnosed with lung cancer, and more than 163,000 will die from it—making it America’s NUMBER ONE cancer killer.

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HOROSCOPE By Bernice Bede Osol

Friday, Nov. 5, 2010

3 8 6

5 3

9 8

6 4

4 7

7 2

1 7 3

Previous Solution 3 9 5 2 7 4 1 8 6

7 6 2 9 8 1 3 4 5

1 4 8 6 5 3 2 9 7

4 2 7 5 1 6 9 3 8

5 8 6 4 3 9 7 1 2

9 3 1 8 2 7 5 6 4

2 1 3 7 6 8 4 5 9

8 5 9 1 4 2 6 7 3

Monday- Very Easy Tuesday-Easy Wednesday- Easy Thursday- Medium Friday - Hard

Instructions: Fill in the grid so that every row, every column and every 3x3 box contains the digits 1 through 9. That means that no number is repeated in any row, column or box.

6 7 4 3 9 5 8 2 1

SCORPIO (Oct. 24-Nov. 22) You couldn’t find a better day to disengage yourself from an unproductive involvement. Once you cut loose, you’ll free yourself up and be able to work on a more profitable endeavor.

TAURUS (April 20-May 20) - You may think you’re going to be doing your own thing, but a situation might arise that finds you working instead in close unity with an ally. The collaboration will be quite effective.

SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 23-Dec. 21) - Something you’ve been viewing only from an intellectual level can be advanced even further by following a powerful hunch that you can’t ignore.

GEMINI (May 21-June 20) - This might be one of your better days to begin that diet or exercise program you’ve been contemplating starting, but putting off. If you start now, it’s destined to be successful.

CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19) - This can be a fortuitous day for launching a new endeavor on which you’ve been working. If you believe you’ve dotted all the “I’s” and crossed all the “T’s” go head and put those wheels into motion.

CANCER (June 21-July 22) - Right now can be one of new beginnings, which means, among other things, it can be one that restarts a faltering love life. Wily Cupid himself may intervene and get you to begin making up for lost time.

AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 19) - A couple of goals concerning a workrelated project on which you’ve labored dearly will finally be achieved. Don’t let Lady Luck catch you napping.

LEO (July 23-Aug. 22) - Initiate those constructive changes that you’ve wanted to make in your basic lifestyle, instead of waiting for outside influences to force you into doing so. Get a head start and you’ll be ahead of the game.

PISCES (Feb. 20-March 20) Some extremely helpful knowledge can be acquired through everyday life experiences, which is likely to be the case for you at present. It is apt to be some special information that you can use right away. ARIES (March 21-April 19) - Although you can be quite successful going it alone, you could also realize your goals by working with someone who is a specialist in the field of endeavor in which you’re embarking.

VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22) Your chances for success can be substantially enhanced regarding something new that you’ve been itching to try. The more concise and exacting your plans are, the greater your probabilities for success. LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 23) - Begin to hoe lots of rows and plant more seeds involving your financial affairs. If you give your efforts plenty of time to mature, they will develop into a harvest you’ll be proud of.

Universal Crossword Edited by Timothy E. Parker November 05, 2010

ACROSS 1 Perfume from rose petals 6 History segment 9 Like some news 14 Hotel queen Helmsley 15 “The TellTale Heart” author 16 Chicago landing site 17 Dazzling display 18 That thing’s 19 Bull-ied? 20 Cantata performer 23 “Paper or plastic?” item 24 Ho ___ Minh City 25 Ask for a hand? 27 Made wealthy 32 Enthusiastic liveliness 33 Words after “... so help you God?” 34 Not dry-eyed 36 Permitted by law 39 Insect drawn to flames 41 Filthy quarters 43 Got carried away? 44 John who sang “Levon” and “Daniel” 46 Arrange, as equipment for a band 48 TV dinner

morsel, perhaps 49 Cross to bear 51 Traitorous 53 Sleeveless shirt 56 Possesses 57 Alphabet section 58 Bow-taking occasion 64 Dance or sauce 66 Hockey legend Bobby 67 Hospital worker 68 Cases for notions 69 Gym floor sight 70 Walt Disney’s middle name 71 Hasidic spiritual leader 72 Person with intelligence? 73 Shoulder muscles, briefly DOWN 1 Baldwin of TV and film 2 Kind of stock or support 3 Cough-syrup ingredient 4 Person against government 5 Sprocket 6 Grand in scale 7 Type of IRA 8 Noted Greek fable writer 9 Engage in vote-swapping

10 “Eureka!” relative 11 Duplicate 12 Some geometric figures 13 Window projection 21 “Fatha” of jazz 22 Fury 26 It beats nothing, in poker 27 Frozen coating 28 Object of devotion 29 Famous Harlem nightspot 30 Chows down 31 Did a dishwashing chore 35 Bigfoot’s Tibetan cousin 37 It’s formed in your head 38 Mallard’s cousin

40 Gander’s message 42 Bite-sized Japanese dish 45 Screwball 47 Mapped out 50 Almost worthless French coin 52 Small mouthlike aperture 53 Shocking weapon? 54 Lessen, as a storm 55 Senior dances 59 Weapon of mouse destruction? 60 Pretentious, perhaps 61 Nutmeg seed covering 62 Exam for an aspiring atty. 63 A smaller portion 65 Bro or sis

PREVIOUS PUZZLE ANSWER

AVERAGE GRADES by Andy Kraft

(Editors: For editorial questions, contact Nadine Anheier, h i @ li k )

2 col (3.25 in) x 2 inches Sudoku ..............$760/month Boggle ...............$760/month Horoscope ........$760/month

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SPORTS BRIEFS

Football studentathletes honored A trio of OU football players were named to ESPN’s Academic All-District VI team Thursday. Senior offensive lineman Brian Lepak, sophomore defensive tackle Jamarkus McFarland and sophomore defensive back Demontre Hurst were eligible for consideration with at least a 3.30 grade point average while starting or performing as important reserves. They advance to the Academic All-American ballot, and the team will be named at the end of the season.

Duo earns 2nd straight award Junior hitters Suzy Boulavsky and Caitlin Higgins were named to the College Sports Information Directors of America Academic AllDistrtict team Thursday. Boulavsky, named to the first team, has a 3.95 grade point average in journalism. Higgins, named to the third team, has a 3.42 grade point average in multidisciplinary studies. It’s the second straight year the pair have been named to the student-athlete team.

Sooner earns Big 12 distinction Wednesday senior Ellen Mueller was named the Big 12 Golfer of the Month for October. Mueller won her first career individual title Oct. 13 at the Dale McNamara Invitational in Owasso, where she also broke the program record for 54 holes by two strokes. “It’s an incredible honor,” Mueller said. “There are so many talented golfers in our conference, and it feels very gratifying to be awarded this title.”

OU cross country men take fifth The men’s and women’s cross country teams finished fifth and 12th in the Big 12 Championships on Saturday in Stillwater. Four OU men’s runners earned All-Big 12 honors. —Daily staff reports

Tennis pair wins at indoor tourney Senior Ana-Maria Constantinescu and freshman Alice Radu won their first doubles match Thursday at the USTA/ ITA Indoor Intercollegiate Championships in Flushing, N.Y. The pair face the tourney’s No. 2 seed pair — Mari Anderson and Jana Juricova from the University of California — today. The men’s team is in Austin for the Texas Invitational, which starts today. —Jenni Cochran/The Daily

It’s the NUMBER ONE cancer killer. NO MORE EXCUSES. NO MORE LUNG CANCER.

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Friday, November 5, 2010 • 5

OUDAILY.COM ›› Women’s basketball players, including senior guard Daniellee Robinson (right), share their expectations for this season

FOOTBALL

James Corley, sports editor dailysports@ou.edu • phone: 405-325-3666

SOCCER

New QB, same challenge Team seeking

historic victory

After poor performances this season, quarterback Jerrod Johnson benched CLARK FOY The Oklahoma Daily

The key road game at Kyle Field OU had circled to start the season looks very different now than it did in August. Texas A&M senior Jerrod Johnson, a preseason first team All-Big 12 quarterback and an early Heisman candidate, was benched last week in favor of junior Ryan Tannehill, who converted from QB to wide receiver and now back again. “Well, [A&M] went from having a great quarterback to a great quarterback,” junior linebacker Travis Lewis said. “Jerrod was a great player, and they just added another great player. Nothing changes with the offense.” After being so hyped in the preseason, Johnson amassed nine turnovers in just two games earlier this season. In his first start last week, Tannehill put up a schoolrecord 449 passing yards against Texas Tech. Both quarterbacks have

For second appearance in Big 12 semifinals, OU facing formidable foe

Big 12 Conference Semifinals Schedule

TOBI NEIDY

» OU vs. Texas A&M 5:30 p.m. today

The Oklahoma Daily

FILE PHOTO/THE BATTALION

Texas A&M junior wide receiver Jeff Fuller (8) pulls in a touchdown Saturday against Texas Tech in College Station, Texas. leaned on junior wide receiver Jeff Fuller to fuel the offense this season. “The strength of their team is always in their offense,” Lewis said. “They have a great one. I know they have lost a few games, but they were still putting up points and still moving the ball.” For Lewis and the Sooners, Saturday is more than just one game; they’re looking

to prove they can win away from Norman. “We just want to prove it to everybody. We feel we play good, but not great, on the road,” Lewis said. “It comes down to those two tough games on the road at the end of the year and this one. A&M is a great team, and if we don’t watch our back and play on the road well, we’re not going to win those games.”

» Nebraska vs. OSU OU soccer (11-7-2, 5-4-1 8 p.m. today Big 12) continues the team’s stint in the postseason with » Championship Game a matchup against Texas Noon on Sunday A&M (15-3-2, 8-1-1) in the Big 12 Championship semifinals at 5:30 tonight Of the four teams left, OU is in San Antonio. The Aggies the only program without a hold a 14-1 all-time record conference championship. over the Sooners. OU’s only win over the Aggies came in 2009, when the Sooners routed then-No. 13 A&M 3-1. Earlier this season, the Sooners lost a close 2-1 match to the Aggies in double overtime. OU’s sophomore forward Caitlin Mooney scored her sixth goal of the year to give the Sooners the 1-0 lead in the second half before the Aggies forced overtime. A&M’s senior midfielder Alyssa Mautz netted the game winner in the 105th minute to give the Aggies the important conference win. OU’s last trip to the Big 12 semifinal game in 2000 ended with a 1-0 loss to Texas A&M. During that year, the Sooners also downed the Longhorns 2-0 to advance to the semifinals stage. A win over the Aggies tonight would propel the Sooners into the championship final at noon on Sunday. No Sooner team has made it past the semifinal stage.

COLUMN

OU must stop Tannehill to win at Kyle Field The OU football team’s upcoming game against Texas A&M has been on the radar as a dangerous test since the schedule was released in the spring. The S o oners haven’t been terribly impressive a w a y f r o m No r m a n i n 2010, and lost to Missouri in their only tr ue road game so far this season. Saturday they’ll play a Texas A&M team that has been energized by a recent quarterback change. College Station, Texas, is a hostile environment, and the Aggies will be favored to win, but an A&M victory this weekend is far from guaranteed.

STAFF COLUMN LUMN

Aaron Colen olen

THE SOONERS WILL WIN IF… THEY PUT PRESSURE ON A&M’S QUARTERBACK For OU to win, its defense must put pressure on junior quarterback Ryan Tannehill. He threw for more than 400 yards in his first career start at quarterback last week against Texas Tech. For most of this season, the Sooners expected to be facing senior quarterback Jerrod Johnson, who was picked as the preseason Big

12 Offensive Player of the Year, but he has had a disappointing season and was recently benched. Now they’ll go against Ta n n e h i l l , w h o s u re l y gained confidence from his successful first start. The OU defensive front can’t afford to let him get comfortable in the pocket and should make a point to prevent him from getting into a rhythm early. While he isn’t as mobile as Johnson, Tannehill can still move around in the pocket. If the Sooners decide to blitz, they must get to Tannehill and not allow him to extend the play. Lack of pressure on the

quarterback was an issue in OU’s loss to Missouri, and if they don’t get to Tannehill on Saturday, they could be facing another loss.

THE AGGIES WILL WIN IF… THEY STOP OU’S SWING/ SCREEN PASS OFFENSE Sophomore quarterback Landry Jones has completed 67.2 percent of his passes this season, including a 30-of-34 (88.2 percent) performance against Iowa State. Jones’ high percentage is partly because of a low-risk offensive strategy that incorporates swing and screen passes — primarily to junior wide receiver Ryan Broyles and senior running back

DeMarco Murray — that often yields gains of 5-10 yards. The swing/screen pass game has become an extension of OU’s rushing attack and has become the foundation of the team’s offense, setting up big passing plays and deep threat potential of Broyles. If Texas A&M finds a way to neutralize this offensive tactic OU has come to rely on so heavily, it will make the offense one-dimensional and greatly improve the Aggies’ chances of upsetting the Sooners. —Aaron Colen, journalism senior

6 • Friday, November 5, 2010

The Oklahoma Daily | OUDaily.com

OUDAILY.COM ›› Still wearing pajamas to class? Check out the OU Daily fashion blog for tips on more appropriate apparel

LIFE&ARTS MOVIE REVIEW

Dusty Somers, life & arts editor dailyent@ou.edu • phone: 405-325-5189

DVD REVIEW

Slasher flick matches bad plot with killer clown PHOTO PROVIDED

Reporter Roxanne Ritchi (Tina Fey) and supervillian Megamind (Will Ferrell) share a moment in “Megamind,” the latest film from DreamWorks Animation. “Megamind” opens in theaters today.

‘Megamind’ treads no new animated ground Remember the animated film about a family of lovable and eccentric superheroes, each proficient with their own exclusive power? Of course you do. The film was called “The Incredibles,” and it won the Academy Award for Best Animated Feature in 2004. Since then, the superhero theme has become commonplace in animated films, returning earlier this year with “Despicable Me” and now, this week’s release of “Megamind.” Bringing together a talented cast and a studio with a well-regarded reputation, “Megamind” is at best a spirited, early-holiday diverSTAFF COLUMN UMN sion that aims to entertain. Laron The battle between good Chapman and evil is embodied by the beloved Metro Man (Brad Pitt) and the infamous Megamind (Will Ferrell), whose glorious rivalry is bestowed upon them before they can utter their first words. It doesn’t take long for Megamind and his loyal accomplice Minion (David Cross) to take full ownership of their searing resentments, having spent their entire adolescence being the object of mockery at the hands of Metro Man and his faithful comrades. What none of the fanatical Metro City residents, including the beautiful, motormouthed news reporter Roxanne Ritchi (Tina Fey), seem to know (or care to know) is that Megamind is a gentleman and a madman. While his malicious obstacles are elaborately constructed, they are too predictable for his bright-eyed, egotistical adversary.

After every defeat, Metro Man is the first in line to bathe in the city’s applause. Then one day, miraculously, one of Megamind’s intricate plots triumphs, making him Metro City’s newly appointed ruler. Now the city must answer to the supervillian they’ve spent decades ridiculing. “Megamind” is a smart, humorous and warm-hearted family film. That is, when it’s not relying on outdated pop culture references such as its use of the songs “Bad to the Bone” and “Highway to Hell” to inspire cheap laughs. While the film is often clever, the jokes are far too brainy to resonate well with its target audience. Thankfully, the actors’ enthusiastic voice work supplies the film with enough charm to overshadow its pretentious missteps. Ferrell and Fey generate a sparkling chemistry and garner several inspired laughs. Pitt is also amusing, proving he has a natural flair for sharp comedy. Visually the film is vibrant and dazzling, but still not quite on par with Pixar’s masterful “Up” or “Toy Story 3.” What audiences have here is DreamWorks Animation’s version of a popcorn movie. There is nothing especially moving or memorable about the film because, like its colorful, egghead hero, it just wants to have a good time. — Laron Chapman, film and video studies junior

YOU ARE INVITED TO ATTEND

T TH HE EU UN NIIV VE ER RSSIIT TY YO OFF O OK KL LA AH HO OM MA A’’SS IIN NSST TIIT TU UT TE E FFO OR RW WR RIIT TIIN NG G,, R RH HE ET TO OR RIIC C,, A AN ND DT TE EC CH HN NO OL LO OG GY Y SSEECCO ON ND DB BIIEEN NN NIIA AL LS SYYM MPPO OSSIIU UM M

HISTORICAL AND CURRENT TECHNOLOGIES OF WRITING AND RHETORIC WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 10, 2010 9:30 A.M. TO 4:30 P.M. 109 GITTINGER HALL SPONSORED BY THE INSTITUTE

Meta G. Carstarphen

Laura J. Gurak

Charles R. Swadley

Featuring lectures by: x Meta G. Carstarphen, Gaylord Endowed Professor of Journalism, the University of Oklahoma, http://www.ou.edu/content/gaylord x

Laura J. Gurak, Founding Chair and Professor of the Department of Writing Studies, the University of Minnesota, http://writingstudies.umn.edu

Charles R. Swadley, Associate Professor of English and Spanish, Oklahoma Baptist University, and University of Oklahoma Alumnus; Ph.D. English; http://www.okbu.edu/academics/cas/langandlit

and a public interview with: x

Laura J. Gurak, conducted by Kathleen Welch, Presidential Professor of English, the University of Oklahoma

The public is invited. For lunch ticket requests and information about specific lecture times, contact: Sydney Teel: Sydney.N.Teel-1@ou.edu or Kathleen Welch: kwelch@ou.edu Follow us on

EDITOR’S NOTE: Redbox machines are full of terrible B-movies. You know it. I know it. Each week, a brave Daily staffer will take the plunge and watch one of them so you don’t have to.

Meester), a rebellious high school senior on the verge of turning 18, who realizes that a mascot, Horny the Clown, from the fast food restaurant Hella-Burger is out killing 18 year olds. Got it? Good. When writing a Redbox It’s a really standard film review, you know what B-movie slasher premise, you’re in for; watch a terrible but it tries way too hard. film and write a bad review, For example, Mackenzie tearing it a new one. is “rebellious” in the sense That’s only sort of what I that she’s a liberal living in got when I watched the 2007 the upper-class right wing film “Drive Thru.” I expected town of Blanca Carne, Calif. to watch one of those horShe calls her schoolro r m ov i e s mates things that was self like “Banana aware of it’s Republicans” aw f u l n e s s and detests her and proonce-flower ceeded to child parents, make fun of because they itself. sold out. It wasn’t; The film is rather it was full of these one of those “pro-liberal” B-movie sentiments horrors that that I don’t BOTTOM actually tries really have a of to take itself problem with the seriously, because good BARREL which is acfilms — even tually pretty horror ones sad. — have hidT h e s t o r y f o l l o w s den meanings, but in this Ma c k e n z i e Ca r p e n t e r film, it’s just too obvious and (“Gossip Girl’s” Leighton uneven.

I’m sorry, but it’s hard to take your film seriously when the evil clown is sending messages to teenagers through very bad ’80s gimmicks like Ouija boards and magic eight balls. Of course it’s a B-movie, and it comes with it’s standard set of problems like bad costumes, bad acting, bad editing and so on. But it’s just depressing watching a bad film that’s not in on the fact that it’s a joke — like a dog after a porcupine attack or watching a 5-foot-2-inch person try to dunk a basketball. Don’t bother. — Osizimete Aken’Ova, film and video studies senior

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