The Oklahoma Daily

THURSDAY DECEMBER 3, 2009

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Find out what’s going on around Norman this weekend.

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State health care bill could cost Okla. millions, agency says Medicaid coverage mandatory for households 150 percent below poverty level

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The health care reform bill approved by the State House last month could cost the state more than $128 million per year by its third year of implementation, according to estimates from a state health authority.

The Oklahoma Health Care Authority estimates the raised costs would be due in part to the bill’s mandatory Medicaid coverage.

The coverage would add more than 318,000 Oklahomans to the program, expanding it by about 40 percent, Nico Gomez, the authority’s deputy chief executive officer, stated in a letter to Congresswoman Mary Fallin, R-Okla.

The House bill mandates Medicaid coverage for households that fall 150 percent

of Medicaid with a tax on more expensive plans, while the House version would tax richer people to pay for the program.

State costs in Oklahoma will also increase due to a regular state matching rate for everyone below 150 percent of the poverty level, Gomez stated in the letter. He said the federal government assumes these people should already be in the state’s Medicaid program, but they are not as a result of not applying or completing their eligibility paperwork.

Gomez said while the bill envisions an enhanced federal match to cover the uninsured, it does not provide full federal funding.

“We cannot identify any mention of how administrative costs will be covered for the states as their Medicaid programs grow and thus have to assume that additional administrative expenses will be paid for under the current 50-50 match rate between the federal government and the states,” Gomez said.

Givel said neither the House nor the Senate versions of the bill provide controls on the private health industry to raise premiums,

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CAITLIN HARRISON Daily Staff Writer

below the poverty level, while the Senate bill mandates those 133 percent below the line, according to the letter. Medicaid covers primarily pregnant women and children in the state.

Michael Givel, OU political science professor, stated in an e-mail that 18 to 20 percent of Oklahomans are not currently covered under health insurance.

He said despite state cost increases, it would be a good thing if more people were receiving low-cost, universal health care.

“This assumes, of course, that these folks can afford the health care including potential increases in premiums, deductibles, co-pays and no reduction of services,” he said.

But there is no clear consensus that more poor people would participate, Givel said.

“They already are eligible under the current program and yet a number do not opt for public coverage for a variety of reasons,” he said.

Givel said there is also a bill up for debate in the Senate that would pay for the expansion

co-pays or reduce health services. He said the full financial impact to the state for either version of the bill is not yet known.

“While the parameters of the health model with an emphasis on expanding the customer base of private health companies while expanding coverage has become quite clear, the final details of the legislation between the House and Senate are still being negotiated,” Givel said.

HOLIDAY SPIRIT SHINES DURING CAMPUS FESTIVITIES

LAUREN HARNED/THE DAILY

Misheala Giddings, international and area studies junior, and Issac Freeman, international security studies senior, light a Menorah during the holiday lighting celebration Wednesday in Couch Restaurants in honor of the eight-day Jewish holiday of Hanukkah.

LAUREN HARNED/THE DAILY

A Christmas tree lights up Couch Restaurants Wednesday evening as part of the holiday lighting celebration. Holiday music was performed by The Pride of Oklahoma Holiday Pep Band, and Santa Claus was also in attendance at the event.

LUKE ATKINSON/THE DAILY

(Left to right) D’Andre Fisher, Karen Matambo and Nicole Minter prepare to light candles known as the Mishumaa Saba at the Kwanzaa Ball Wednesday night in the Oklahoma Memorial Union. The Kwanzaa Ball has been celebrated at OU for 11 years.

UOSA general counsel approves ballot initiatives UOSA executive branch beginning of every semester. membership and renamed UOSA to Rejected amendment semester comes to close Other proposed amendments the Cobra Command Consultant PAC. proposed dramatic changes to student government RICKY MARANON Daily Staff Writer

UOSA General Counsel Mike Davis approved five ballot initiatives and denied three other ballot initiative petitions that would have made a dramatic change to UOSA. Nicholas Harrison, second-year law and business graduate student, authored the five approved initiatives that, which would change some requirements of how people may run for elected office in UOSA in the legislative and executive branches.

Under the proposed amendments, UOSA president and vice president would not run together but separately, and members of Student Congress would be up for election at the

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would allow part-time students to run for UOSA office, set a signature limit for ballot initiatives regardless of voter turnout in UOSA elections and allow OU’s nominee to the Student Advisory Board to the Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education a position that would be elected by the student body every year.

Harrison also proposed an initiative that would prohibit UOSA from making campaign rules during student government elections.

Three additional petitions were submitted by Daniel Helm, french and philosophy senior, and would have put three constitutional amendments on the ballot. One would have eliminated all branches of UOSA and replaced all definitions of office with the phrase “This shit is bananas, B.A.N.A.N.A.S!” Two other amendments would have restricted the requirements for UOSA

These petitions were denied.

UOSA Student Congress Vice Chairman Matt Gress said that Helm’s proposed amendments are evidence that the UOSA Superior Court should reconsider its decision to allow one signature petitions to be valid.

“Mr. Helm has exploited the decision of the court, and I and other members of UOSA will ask the court to reconsider its decision,” Gress said. “Mr. Helm’s amendments would be funny if student government didn’t play such a vital role in students’ lives, but it does.”

Oklahoma Students for a Democratic Society spokesman Matt Bruenig said Daniel Helm is a member, but the group does not endorse or support his initiatives. Harrison told The Daily he is no longer a member of Oklahoma Students for a Democratic Society, but does talk

Speech and dinner set for January

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© 2009 OU PUBLICATIONS BOARD

RICKY MARANON Daily Staff Writer

The UOSA executive branch and president’s cabinet wrapped up the semester by planning a few final holiday activities and also preparing for next semester.

“UOSA will be putting up a Christmas tree outside of the Crossroads Lounge,” UOSA President Katie Fox said.

“We hope to have every department of UOSA represented on the tree. If students see a department they are interested in, we hope they will get involved with it.”

The executive branch and president’s cabinet also sent out “Thank You” and holiday greeting cards to students and faculty that have helped with projects throughout the fall semester.

Fox said she is preparing for the annual State of the UOSA speech which will take place Sunday, Jan. 24, 2010.

Fox said unlike last year where speeches were given to all branches at once, she is looking into the possibility

VOL. 95, NO. 72

2 Thursday, December 3, 2009 Meredith Moriak, managing editor dailynews@ou.edu • phone: 325-3666 • fax: 325-6051

New proposal aims to make overdraft regulations more transparent Unpopular bank practices lead to proposed reform of policies KARLIE TIPTON Daily Staff Writer

“Paper or plastic?” is the question asked at stores across the country. Now, however, that query probes more than a customer’s preference in shopping bags.

With the holiday season fast approaching, shoppers are using debit cards over cash more and more, often resulting in overdraft or insufficient funds charges. Even with recently proposed legislation that attempts to safeguard debit card users, there are still many reasons to think twice before reaching for one’s plastic.

Bank teller Alex Martinez deals with such charges on a daily basis.

“When a customer overdraws their account ... [he or she] will get charged an overdraft fee,” said Martinez, who works at Citizens Bank of Edmond.

The problem the legislation is trying to address is whether bank customers have a say in the ability of financial institutions to allow continuous overdraft fees to accumulate or simply decline their card.

H.R. 3904, also known as the Overdraft Protection Act of 2009, is meant to protect consumers by limiting abusive and misleading overdraft coverage fees and by providing meaningful disclosures and consumer choice in connection with overdraft

Changes Continued from page 1 to the group frequently.

UOSA General Counsel rejected Helm’s amendments on the grounds they are absurd and an abuse of the Superior Court’s decision.

“The General Counsel has reviewed the precedent set by the UOSA Superior Court in order to make a decision regarding the validation of absurd amendments,”

coverage fees.

One of the biggest complaints and reasons for the resolution is that banks are not transparent in their overdraft practices.

“There are times when customers are angry about a bank-related fee, but it is usually only because they were unaware that the fee existed,” Martinez said.

The proposal will give consumers the option to decline overdraft protection, which banks have previously automatically added to accounts.

According to Govtrack.us, a site promoting government transparency, abusive and misleading practices in connection with overdraft coverage fees have deprived consumers of meaningful choices about their accounts and placed significant financial burdens on low- and moderate-income consumers.

Ben Paston, public relations junior, said he would take advantage of such an option.

“I would definitely opt out if I could, anything to save me money,” Paston said.

However, the legislation will not eliminate the reasons for overdraft fees in the first place.

“The problem with debit cards is that you go out and purchase a $50 item and you have $150 in your account, so the operating system freezes your account for that $50 purchase, but that purchase doesn’t necessarily come in and post to your account for two or three days,” said Gaylynn Smith, vice president and chief financial officer of OU Federal Credit Union.

Davis stated in a press release. “Although the court has been clear, that amendments submitted in good faith are valid, and that a one-signature threshold may sometimes exist for amendment petitions, the court left some wiggle room for the General Counsel for absurd petitions.”

Davis stated he is working on asking the court for a complete reversal of its decision in light of Helm’s initiatives.

“The ramifications of

their certification include but are not limited to the distraction of voters from non-joke amendments, the risk of offending voters with foul language on the ballot as well as ideas that infringe upon proper etiquette or social attitudes, and the further de-legitimization of the petition process,” Davis stated.

“The UOSA Constitution’s process for petitions is already illogical. Certification of these amendments would add further illogic to the system.”

PHOTO ILLUSTRATION BY LAUREN HARNED/THE DAILY

This is often when customers incur costly fees.

“Therefore, you’re out, you check your account and see that you have $150, so you use that money,” Smith said. “Now when the $50 debit card transaction comes in, it can’t be returned as insufficient — it has to be paid — so that’s where the fee comes in.”

Paston said he believes this is dishonest on the part of financial institutions in order to make a profit.

“It seems like they find a sneaky way to get their overdraft fees, like I will transfer money to cover something, and they will say it didn’t

Close Continued from page 1 of a formal dinner with speeches after the meal.

“It would be nice to bring all the branches together,” Fox said. “We can all share our ideas and our visions.”

She said details are still in the works.

The last State of the UOSA speech was the first time a UOSA President and Vice President have addressed all three branches at once, and Fox said she wanted to do the same this year.

Because of dead week restrictions, organizations are not allowed to require meetings

transfer and charge me,” Paston said.

Although upset customers may sometimes feel that charges are the fault of their financial institution, Smith explained that in the end, it is the responsibility of the account holder to be aware of their own finances, and not rely on the often inaccurate temporary balance that an ATM or computer screen may show.

“Overdraft fees are a result of someone not tracking the amount of money that they have, therefore, I feel that overdraft fees can always be accounted for,” Smith said. “You have to know how much money you have.”

“We hope to have every department of UOSA represented on the tree. If students see a department they are interested in, we hope they will get involved with it.”

-KATIE FOX, UOSA PRESIDENT where attendance is required next week.

All UOSA branches will meet for the last time this semester this week.

The UOSA Undergraduate Student Congress met Tuesday and the UOSA Graduate Student Senate will meet Sunday.

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20904324(12)-09/09-GRD

Thursday, December 3, 2009

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HATRED FOR OZONE FAILS TO INSPIRE STUDENT RESPONSE Despite widespread dislike of new system, open oZONE forum showed low turnout NATASHA GOODELL Oklahoma Daily

The “I Hate oZONE” facebook group has received a large response from students, but, out of the 1,928 members of the group, only three students attended the “I Hate oZONE” forum Wednesday in Dale Hall.

The forum had 174 confirmed guests on Facebook.

There have been five forums about oZONE and out of the five sessions, 25 people have attended, said Nicholas Key, spokesman for the oZONE project.

“A majority of those were advisors, not students,” Key said.

At Wednesday’s forum, eight members of the oZONE project team attended the forum to answer questions. “oZONE gives us the ability to go much farther than [enroll.ou.edu] ever could, it’s just gonna take a while to get there,” Key said to a question from one of the three audience members Wednesday night.

The new system offers availability 24 hours a day as opposed to enroll.ou.edu, Key said. Enroll.ou.edu had reached its peak and would never have been able to reach this ability.

There have been a lot of questions about the timing of oZONE’s implementation, Shari Black said in response to another question.

Black is another member of the oZONE team.

“We went live when we did so students on campus would be here on campus to use it,” Black said. “In this way, we could teach them how to use it and it was done in a time when students could come in to mitigate their problems.”

Black said this system has 56 servers running oZONE and IT has set it up with battery backups and generators included to ensure a reliable system.

OU registrar Matt Hamilton said they have scheduled the departments to go live with oZONE at the opportune times.

“The implementation has gone well and the performance of the system has been nice,” Hamilton said. “Although there wasn’t the look and feel like we had before [with enroll.ou.edu].”

NEIL MCGLOHON/THE DAILY

An oZONE open forum in Dale Hall Wednesday night had little attendance, despite the many members of the Facebook group “I Hate oZONE”. The discussion answered many questions with the portal and gave a list of things that they are working to integrate with the current system.

There has been a question about implementing this system before it was ready, said Rick Skeel, another member of the oZONE project.

“It is ready and there are lots of schools that use it,” Skeel said.

“The problem is that our students come from a system that was better.”

Skeel said OU and SunGard, the company providing the software for oZONE, have paid close

attention to the questions and concerns on the Facebook group, “I Hate oZONE,” and have been taking note of that in their system changes.

Hamilton said this is not an easy situation and each university using a SunGard system has to choose how to do this.

“We appreciate the feedback and the candid conversations that have occurred on oZONE because

we really feel this feedback will help us,” Hamilton said.

The members of the panel all said that the system is not where they want it to be, but said it will get there eventually.

Caitlin Lawson, English senior, created the Facebook group, “I Hate oZONE.” She attended the forum and she said she appreciated the project team’s concern and their willingness to work on changes.

“I thought the forum was great,” Lawson said. “I wish more people had showed up, but I thought the information was good.”

Lawson said she will hopefully see a demo of the new system from the project team and explain some of what she sees to the Facebook group.

Top Priorities for Changes on oZONE: -Bursar go-live in December -Financial Aid go-live in February -Online Grading -Finals Schedule -Shopping Cart [Trial Schedule] -Student Services-request transcripts online -Portal Improvement -Overall Look and Feel of the Site

CAMPUS BRIEFS ASSOCIATE PROFESSOR APPROVED Kanika Capel, wife of OU men’s basketball coach Jeff Capel, was approved as an associate professor of law by the OU Board of Regents at its meeting Tuesday. Capel, a graduate of Duke University and Yale University law school, will begin her tenure in fall 2010.

PRESIDENT NAMED FOR THE COUNCIL OF COLLEGES OF ARTS AND SCIENCES Paul B. Bell, Jr., dean of the College of Arts and Sciences and vice provost for instruction, assumed the presidency of the Council of Colleges of Arts and Sciences at its annual meeting in Baltimore, Md. The council is the largest national association serving deans of colleges of arts and sciences. The Council of Colleges of Arts and Sciences has 1,500 members representing 450 colleges and universities that serve four million students. It promotes professional development opportunities for academic deans as well as the centrality of liberal arts and sciences in U.S. higher education.

ARTS LEADERSHIP AWARD GOES TO OU DRAMA PROFESSOR

Rena Cook, drama professor, was named the 2009 Irene and Julian J. Rothbaum Presidential Professor of Excellence in the Arts at OU. The annual award recognizes exemplary leadership in the arts and arts education.

Cook is as associate professor of voice, speech and dialects as well as Performance Area coordinator in the OU School of Drama.

As a professional dialect coach, she has worked shows including “Cabaret,” “The Beauty Queen of Leenane,” “Great Expectations” and “The Grapes of Wrath.” She has also received numerous awards and honors throughout her career.

OU DONATIONS TO UNITED WAY EXCEED $200,000 OU student organizations have helped donate more than $211,000 to United Way of Norman, and money is still coming in.

That amount came in part from efforts of sororities and fraternities, including Kappa Alpha Theta, Pi Beta Phi, Sigma Phi Lambda, Phi Delta Theta, Phi Gamma Delta and Sigma Alpha Epsilon. The organizations combined their homecoming float budgets to host a Halloween carnival, totaling almost $7,000 in donated funds.

Gamma Phi Beta President Jackie Shultz presented a check for $6,858 to United Way at the organization’s November meeting. The

sorority raised the money at its annual Chili Cookoff.

“It starts at the top with Dean Ken Evans and Athletic Director Joe Castiglione,” said Jim Wade, United Way Campaign co-chairman.

“Their vision for the OU drive got the entire campus involved. And it took the effort of everyone- faculty, staff and students- to push OU over $200,000.”

United Way has reached about 75 percent of its goal of $2.15 million, and anyone can donate at www.unitedwaynorman.com. The campaign ends Dec. 17 with a celebration at Embassy Suites in Norman.

OU LIBRARIES TO SPONSOR NATIONAL LIBRARIANS’ CONFERENCE OU Libraries will sponsor its annual 2010 national librarians’ conference March 4 and 5 at Embassy Suites in Oklahoma City.

The conference theme is “Climbing Out of the Box: Repackaging Libraries for Survival,” and will feature lectures on current issues libraries are facing today.

Registration deadline for the conference is Feb. 19, and full details about the conference are available at libraries.ou.edu/conferences.

—Daily staff reports

THIS WEEKEND AT YOUR UNIVERSITY Thursday, Dec. 3 Children’s and Teen Book Sale | 10 a.m.-4 p.m. in Bizzell 100. This is a great way to get holiday gifts for your children, nieces, and nephews! Presented by The School of Library and Information Studies Student Association Student Success Series: Overcoming Procrastination | 4 p.m. in Wagner Hall 245. Presented by University College.

Women’s Basketball: OU vs. UT Arlington | 7 p.m. at the Lloyd Noble Center. Visit soonersports.com for ticket information.

Sutton Concert Series: OU Combined Choirs | 8 p.m. in the Paul F. Sharp Concert Hall, Catlett Music Center.

Tickets are $8 for adults and $5 for students, faculty/ staff and senior adults. Please call the Box Office at (405) 325-4101 for more information.

Friday, Dec. 4

The Creative Eye: Curatorial Perspective | 6 p.m. in the Mary Eddy and Fred Jones Auditorium, Fred Jones Jr. Museum of Art. Presented by Alan Atkinson, Exhibition Curator.

Holiday Craft Factory | 6-9 p.m. in Crossroads Lounge, Oklahoma Memorial Union. Come and make some FREE holiday crafts as gifts for your friends and family or for yourself!. Presented by the Union Programming Board, there is ALWAYS SOMETHING at the union.

Saturday, Dec. 5 Women’s Basketball: OU vs. Arkansas | 2 p.m. at the Lloyd Noble Center. Visit soonersports.com for ticket information.

Sunday, Dec. 6

EA Sports Lounge: NHL ‘10 | 11 a.m. in Crossroads Lounge, Oklahoma Memorial Union. Presented by EA Sports and the Union Programming Board.

Men’s Basketball: OU vs. Arizona | 6 p.m. at the Lloyd Noble Center. Visit soonersports.com for ticket information.

Free Movie: “The Informant” | free screenings at 4, 7, 10 p.m. & 12:30 a.m. in Meacham Auditorium, Oklahoma Memorial Union. Presented by the Union Programming Board and Campus Activities Council Film Series. ALWAYS SOMETHING at the union!

Sutton Concert Series: Collegium Musicum | 8 p.m. in the Paul F. Sharp Concert Hall, Catlett Music Center.

Tickets are $8 for adults and $5 for students, faculty/ staff and senior adults. Please call the Box Office at (405) 325-4101 for more information.

This University in compliance with all applicable federal and state laws and regulations does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, age, religion, disability, political beliefs, or status as a veteran in any of its policies, practices or procedures. This includes but is not limited to admissions, employment, financial aid and educational services. For accommodations on the basis of disability, please contact the sponsoring department of any program or event.

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Thursday, December 3, 2009

COMMENT OF THE DAY »

Will Holland, opinion editor dailyopinion@ou.edu • phone: 325-7630 • fax: 325-6051

In response to Tuesday’s news story, “Three charged with firstdegree murder” YOU CAN COMMENT AT OUDAILY.COM

OUR VIEW

“As a family member of murder victim Jennifer Sipes, I am very pleased that murderers will no longer escape punishment for burning, mutilating, or desecrating their victim’s bodies. I am so glad our state now has “Jenny’s Law”. My prayers

are with the family of Julian Ramirez Cazares.”

-survivorcouple

STAFF COLUMN

Low turnout at oZONE Faith, believers deserve more credit forums disappoints The developers of the new oZONE student portal Web site and the creators of the “I Hate oZONE” Facebook group held a forum Wednesday evening in Dale Hall for students to make suggestions about how to improve oZONE. Including the eight members of the forum’s panel, less than 20 people showed up to the forum (see page 3 for details).

This forum was the fifth this semester. About 25 people total have attended the five forums. The dismal turnout looks even worse when compared to the size of the “I Hate oZONE” group, which has 1,928 members as of Wednesday night.

Basically, it appears that a lot of people are unhappy with oZONE, but hardly anyone is willing to attend forums that would allow them to help improve the site. We are kind of disheartened by this, and we think students should stop complaining about the site if they are not willing to do anything about it.

Don’t get us wrong, we are not huge fans of the “student portal” either, and after getting to use it for a couple weeks, we expressed our displeasure on this page.

But, despite the initially mediocre quality of the site that upset so many (us included), the site’s developers seem to have been very willing to field student suggestions and genuinely seem interested in making the site as userfriendly as possible.

B e c a u s e o f t h i s, s t u dents have a responsibility to make their voices heard, and these forums have provided a phenomenal opportunity for that.

Unfortunately, not many have taken advantage.

We encourage the forums’ organizers to host another discussion, and if this happens, we hope students utilize it, unlike the previous ones. It wouldn’t take much time to go and let others know what you think, and it would benefit all of us who have to use oZONE.

Opinionated?

The Daily is hiring columnists and cartoonists for spring 2010.

For more information on how to apply, e-mail dailyopinion@ou.edu.

STAFF COLUMN

Like Stoops, columnist to return to OU next semester The second-most important issue on the dial. minds of the OU community was put to rest Still, when you see me at O’Connell’s, chancMonday when Bob Stoops announced that es are good that I’m more interested in getting he will be returning to grace 20 percent off with my OU ID than providing our sidelines for another year, you with a moment you’ll tell your grandkids quelling any talk that he was about. on his way to Notre Dame.

Times are tough, or so they say. My only Now that the undercard has other request is that you only join and associcleared the way for me, let me ate with fan clubs expressly authorized by my put an end to all of the rumors: people. The proliferation of unauthorized fan I will be returning to these clubs, while understandable due to my stature, pages next semester. is nonetheless potentially harmful to my allYes, the most attractive and important reputation.

HENRY talented writer in the history While I’m being candid, I would like to firmly MARTIN of this paper (your words, not deny speculation which may have existed earmine) will be back in January, lier this semester that I would be leaving my guiding you through the doldrums of the dread- position on the opinion staff to enter the NBA ed Semester Without Football.

Draft.

It was a difficult decision. Like my friend Mr. I believe these rumors resulted from my laStoops, I was also tempted by offers of untold ser-like three-point shot being unleashed upon riches and limitless power. In the end, though, some unsuspecting so-called “ballers” at the I had to say no to Valu Foods.

Huff.

Like Mr. Stoops, I am excited about what I’ve There is simply no truth to this idle chit-chat. got going on here in Norman. Eight bucks an I play basketball for the same reason I do everyhour goes a lot further here than most places, thing else – not to make money, but to instruct. you know.

I would never charge for lessons, and for this Ultimately, it’s all about you – you tens of noble reason I will never sign a professional people who faithfully waste five minutes of your contract. lives reading this space every other Thursday. I These issues aside, I look forward to once just don’t have it in me to let you guys down. again serving as a beacon of light for the unculI will continue to fight for tured masses to follow. the meek and helpless, see for Next semester I will strive Next semester I will strive the lost and blind and smell to do the impossible to do the impossible and for the scent-impaired. improve upon my perfecand improve upon my I understand the tremention, and I will do so here at dous responsibility which perfection, and I will do so Oklahoma. comes with being the un- here at Oklahoma.

I will not answer any questioned voice of reason questions about negotiafor the university, and I’m tions that may or may not excited about spreading my limitless wisdom a have occurred with other employers and can few more times. only speak with certainty about the immediate And people say I’m not charitable! future.

Of course, I can’t just turn down the likes of Bob Stoops cited an inability to be in two Valu Foods without asking a favor or two from places at once as proof that he cannot possibly my readers here. I’ve got the leverage, after all. coach Notre Dame next season.

First, I would like to be given some breathing Unfortunately that line of reasoning is not room when I’m out around town. sufficient in my case, so you’ll just have to take It’s not that I don’t understand – I used to be me for what my word is worth. Not much. enamored with Peyton and LeBron back when they were more than just names on my speed Henry Martin is a history senior.

T=: O@A6=DB6 D6>AN Jamie Hughes Editor-in-Chief Meredith Moriak Managing Editor Charles Ward Assistant Managing Editor Ricky Ly Night Editor Will Holland Opinion Editor Michelle Gray, Merrill Jones Photo Editors

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e-mail: dailynews@ou.edu

Psychology senior and Daily columnist Tarrant Carter wrote a column Tuesday titled “Logical scrutiny disproves faith.” In the column, he stated, “I have found that the rational arguments for the belief in a god do not hold up to skeptical scrutiny.”

T h a t ’s a v e r y bold claim to prove in 810 words.

If Carter’s claims TREVOR are correct then I, as a Christian, CLARK must undergo a radical paradigm shift to be consistent in my thinking. That being established, I am glad to say that I am not compelled to make this change.

Although Carter’s argument reveals quite a lot about how he defines faith and what criterion for discovering truth he commends, the extent of his argument stops there – miles short of his article’s grandiose headline.

Before moving on in this discussion, I’ve got to address a growing sentiment against columns that address religion and other controversial subjects. On The Daily’s Web site, one person commented on Carter’s column by writing “The Daily’s op-ed section has deteriorated to people bashing religion, or people bashing the people who bash religion.”

Indeed, there has been a lot of back and forth between columnists on this topic. I agree that The Daily, like any newspaper, has a responsibility to remain multifaceted.

Continuous droning on a particular topic does not expose students to many issues that they need to apprehend in order to develop a comprehensive worldview.

Then why am I writing this column? Because while religion is not the only subject that needs to be addressed, it is a (if not the) foundational lens through which other realities are assessed. If one believes the Bible to be true (or the Qur’an or the Vedas or none of these), that person aligns him or herself to a source of principles concerning issues such as government, social ills, the environment, etc.

Furthermore, this column does not fit the description of “bashing the people who bash religion.”

Ad hominem attacks do not generally constitute good arguments, so this column will not make use of them. Instead, I want to observe Carter’s argument and hopefully offer a better picture of what faith is according to my Christian worldview.

The underlying assumptions of Carter’s entire column seem to be a) that faith is blind belief in something apart from reason and b) that people attempt to prove religious convictions by citing their faith as evidence.

Let’s address the second assumption first. Many people certainly do lean on their faith as evidence for their belief. After all, haven’t you heard that “faith is the evidence of things not seen”?

From Carter’s perspective this means that religious people build their faith exclusively upon their faith, which is circular logic.

There are two things I would like to observe about this.

First, I partly agree that the case for faith includes faith itself. Faith is evidence in much the same way that the particulars of a crime scene are evidence.

If a crime was committed, there will be evidences of that crime (possibly fingerpr ints, blood The Oklahoma Daily is a public forum and OU’s independent student voice.

Letters should concentrate on issues, not personalities, and should be fewer than 250 words, typed, double spaced and signed by the author(s). Letters will be cut to fit. Students must list their major and classification. OU staff and faculty must list their title. All letters must include a daytime phone number. Authors submitting letters in person must present photo identification.

Submit letters Sunday through Thursday, in 160 Copeland Hall. Letters can also be submitted via e-mail to dailyopinion@ ou.edu.

spatter, etc.). Similarly, if – as the Christian believes – there is a just, loving God of the universe who acts in such a way so that people believe in Him, then people will believe in Him (which they do).

The existence of a plethora of other faiths does not remove the value of faith as a sort of evidence.

It merely entails that faith is not the only brick used to build a case for a particular belief.

This introduces my second point, that people do not cite their faith as exclusive evidence supporting their belief. Carter writes, “They [theists claiming to be rational] even attach moral worth to this lack of evidence and actually feel validated when logic and evidence do not support their belief.”

His assertion implies that theists are currently experiencing an absolute lack of reasonable support for their beliefs, and that they wear this poverty as a medal with temerity.

I wonder what Carter thinks about people like C .S. Lewis, William Lane Craig, G.K .

Chester ton, Alvin Plantinga, Francis Schaeffer, Nancy Pearcey and Jeff Budziszewski, as well as his theistic peers at OU who rebel against the caricature he paints them as falling under.

Even if these people are dead wrong and most pitiable, they are themselves empirical counter-examples to Carter’s stereotyping.

If his understanding of “rational theists” comes from repeated encounters with religious people, I apologize to him on their behalf and invite him to join a conversation with members of the group I just introduced.

Now let us return to the first underlying assumption of Carter’s article, that faith is blind belief in something apart from reason.

My “ b e e f ” w i t h t h i s a s s e rtion is that it runs against the realities of many peoples’ religious experiences.

Blind belief is to believe in something without a reason to believe.

Although faith involves believing in something not seen, that does not mean one’s reasons for believing are themselves invisible or inexistent.

I am suggesting here that Carter lacks knowledge of what many theists are talking about when they mention “faith.”

In “Mere Christianity,” C.S. Lewis writes that “ … Faith, in the sense in which I am here using the word, is the art of holding onto things your reason has once accepted, in spite of your changing moods.”

If Carter wishes to disprove the legitimacy of faith, it would be good for him to acknowledge the actual position of the camp he sets himself against.

As an afterthought, it may also be a good idea to take back the claim that the scientific method is the ultimate standard of arriving at objective truth, as the veracity of the scientific method must itself be demonstrated by something, and it cannot logically validate itself.

Trevor Clark is a religious studies and professional writing sophomore.

EDITOR’S NOTE To read Tarrant Carter’s Monday column, “Logical scrutiny disproves faith,” visit OUDaily.com.

Guest columns are accepted at editor’s discretion. ’Our View’ is the voice of The Oklahoma Daily.

Editorial Board members are The Daily’s editorial staff.

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Columnists’ and cartoonists’ opinions are not necessarily the opinions of The Daily Editorial Board.

OU STUDENTS YOU ARE INVITED! Informal Discussion

Thomas Friedman Pulitzer Prize-winning Journalist and Foreign Affairs Columnist for The New York Times Thomas L. Friedman is the author of five books on foreign affairs and globalization, with several focusing on world affairs following the Sept. 11 attacks on the World Trade Center and Pentagon.

His latest book is the No. 1 bestseller Hot, Flat and Crowded: Why We Need a Green Revolution – and How It Can Renew America, which focuses on globalization, specifically climate change and the rising competition for energy. It follows his earlier bestseller The World is Flat.

4:30 p.m.

December 7, 2009 Sandy Bell Gallery Fred Jones Jr. Museum of Art Please respond by calling the Office of Special Events at 325-3784.

For accommodations on the basis of disability, call the Office of Special Events at (405) 325-3784.

The University of Oklahoma is an equal opportunity institution.

6

Thursday, December 3, 2009

Unemployment numbers could affect graduation plans Employment lags even as economy recovers DANIEL SIMON Daily Staff Writer

With Oklahoma’s unemployment rate rising to 7.1 percent in October, students preparing to graduate this month might be nervous about finding a job.

Despite the national unemployment rate reaching 10.2 percent in October, public relations senior Morgan Dickerson said she’s optimistic about finding a job once she graduates.

Dickerson said if she cannot find a job after graduation, she will look for additional internships.

“You have to learn to work your way up if you don’t get what you what,” she said.

Lynn Gray, director of economic analysis for Oklahoma’s Unemployment Security Commission, said the current job

market is something everyone should be concerned with. jobs may lag for some time after.

He said attributes the limited effects of the recession in Dunne said the U.S. is coming out of the “latter end” of the Oklahoma to the “boom” and “bust” of the housing markets, recession because of the positive gross domestic product which wasn’t hit as badly as states like California. growth from the last quarter. Growth jumped up 2.8 percent OU economics professor Tim Dunne from the last quarter, Dunne said. said Oklahoma is doing better than other “The central plains have done Despite the recession, Oklahoma still states because of a variety of industries. better because resource ranks low in unemployment numbers “The central plains have done better and ranks 12th from last in unemploybecause resource industries are more industries are more important ment rates, according to the Bureau of in these areas.” important in these areas,” he said.

Labor Statistics.

Dunne said unemployment numbers Additionally, the nation’s unemployLYNN GRAY, DIRECTOR OF ECONOMIC can be deceiving in recessions. ment rate may be increasing overall, “The unemployment rate will move ANALYSIS but the number of jobs being lost each at a slower pace than the growth of the month is on the decline.

GDP,” he said.

According to the bureau, job losses Dunne said Americans may see growth in other sectors of have averaged 188,000 per month in from August to October the economy, especially in its gross domestic product, but as compared to 357,000 jobs being lost from May to July.

POLICE REPORT

NORMAN PALIN FANS ‘GOING ROGUE’ IN LINE

The following is a citation, not a conviction. The information is compiled from the Norman Police Department. The person listed is presumed innocent until proven guilty.

PETTY LARCENY Donna Sue Shumway, 42, 601 12th Ave. NE., Tuesday

CAMPUS NOTES

TODAY BOOK SALE The Oklahoma Library and Information Studies Student Association will host a children’s and teen’s book sale from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. in the Bizzell Memorial Library, room 100.

CAREER SERVICES Career Services will help students with resumes, cover letters and job search strategies from 1:30 to 4 p.m. in the OKlahoma Memorial Union.

LATKES FOR LOVE 2009 The center for Jewish life on campus and Alpha Epsilon Pi, the Jewish fraternity, will host Latkes For Love, an annual charity dinner, from 6 to 10 p.m. at OU Hillel.

LAUREN HARNED/THE DAILY

Eager fans form a line Wednesday night outside of Hastings, 2300 Main St., to receive wrtistbands to get copies of Sarah Palin’s book “Going Rogue” signed. Palin will be signing books Thursday at 7 p.m.

Learn the Languages of Law, Medicine, and the Sciences Take Greek or Latin to Satisfy Your Language Requirement The professional vocabulary of lawyers, doctors, and scientists comes from Greek and Latin. If you take courses in these languages, you’ll know what stare decisis means, what hematopoiesis is, and why you’re called a homo sapiens.

Besides, it’s just fun to tell people that you know Greek and/or Latin.

Beginning course in both languages are still open for the spring 2010 semester:

We also have some great Gen-Ed courses in English: Survey of Roman Civilization (CL C 2613), Ancient Epic (CL C 3113), and Classical Influences on Modern Literature (CL C 3613).

For more information, contact the Department of Classics and Letters, 100 Carnegie Building | 325-6921 | classicsandletters@ou.edu.

SATURDAY OU IMPROV! OU Improv! will host a free show from 8 to 10 p.m. in the union.

Thursday, December 3, 2009

7

US troops hopeful Obama plan will wind down war FORWARD OPERATING BASE AIRBORNE, secure. You get thousands of troops on some Afghanistan — U.S. service members in of these bases here, but what are they really Afghanistan said President Barack Obama’s doing? The troops just have to get out there.” decision to send 30,000 more troops offered The reason the surge worked in Iraq, he hope that they can go home — if the reinforce- said, is because troops were able to get into ments can build up the Afghan army to pro- the field and make Iraqis feel safer. tect civilians against the Taliban.

“The additional forces will allow us to partCommanders applauded the reinforce- ner with even more units of the Afghan army ments announced Wednesday, which they and police and deliver even more relationsay are needed to turn the war around. ships with those local influential leaders who “Counter-insurgency in the state we are may be sitting on the fence,” said Col. David in now, for the enemy we face, mass mat- Haight, commander of Task Force Spartan, ters,” said Lt. Col. Kimo Gallahue, as howit- which has about 4,000 troops in Wardak and zers firing in support of a nightime operation Logar provinces. against the insurgents shook their camp.

Commanders say a troop surge which The troops at this base in Wardak province, began in January dramatically improved the west of Kabul, learned of security situation in Obama’s decision while “If I were the enemy, I would the two strategic provwatching TV clips of hang back until 2011. We have inces, located at the his speech during their gates of Kabul. breakfast of sausage, to make sure that we are going Gallahue, who eggs, hash browns, fruit go stay until the job is done. It commands the 2nd and cereal. Obama said ain’t going to be as easy as he Battalion, 2-87th that if conditions per- thinks it is.”

Infantry Regiment, mit, the troops could said he and other offibegin coming home in cers from across eastCPL. MICHAEL THOMAS, MARINE BASED AT ern Afghanistan were 18 months.

“Really, I’m truly CAMP LEJEUNE “optimistic” following happy,” said Air Force a briefing by the top Tech. Sgt. Phillip M. Hauser, an explosives U.S. commander in the country, Gen. Stanley demolition expert from Salina, Kansas, who McChrystal. He quoted McChrystal as saying is on his fourth tour of Afghanistan and Iraq. Obama’s speech provided “clarity, capability, “As soon as the Afghans can do it on their commitment, confidence.” own without our help, we can go home.”

Gallahue, of Frankfort, Kentucky, said the Hauser said the Afghans were inexperienced focus should not be on an 18-month timeline — but he didn’t question their determination. but rather “the conditions that will exist at “They charge in and start pulling the that time.” He conceded that the Afghan powires” on the explosives, Hauser said. “It’s lice especially needed “a great deal of effort.” not the safest way to do things, but these guys In the United States, battle-weary troops have the guts.” and their families braced for a wrenching Capt. Mark Reel from Norfolk, Virginia, round of new deployments to Afghanistan, a civil affairs officer, said more troops mean but many said they support the surge as long nothing unless they can give local Afghans a as it helps to end the 8-year-old conflict. sense of perceived security.

Marines and their families interviewed by “They have to believe they are more The Associated Press in Jacksonville, North

AP PHOTO

U.S. Army soldiers talk to each other before leaving on patrol at Forward Operating Base Airborne, near the town of Maidan Shar, Wardak province, Afghanistan Wednesday. President Barack Obama ordered an additional 30,000 U.S. troops into the long war in Afghanistan, nearly tripling the force he inherited as commander in chief.

Carolina, near Camp Lejeune, felt a mix of fresh concerns and renewed hopes. The Marine Corps base could supply some of the first surge units by Christmas.

“All I ask that man to do, if he is going to send them over there, is not send them over in vain,” said 57-year-old Bill Thomas of Jacksonville, who watched Obama’s speech in his living room, where photos of his three sons in uniform hang over the TV. One of his sons, 23-year-old Cpl. Michael Thomas, is a Marine based at Camp Lejeune.

He’ll deploy next year to Afghanistan.

An ex-Marine himself, Thomas said he supports Obama’s surge strategy. But he shook his head when the president announced a 2011 transition date to begin

pulling out troops.

“If I were the enemy, I would hang back until 2011,” Thomas said. “We have to make sure that we are going go stay until the job is done. It ain’t going to be as easy as he thinks it is.”

The idea behind Obama’s troop buildup is to provide enough extra security for a period of time to give the Afghans a chance to build up their government and security forces.

Asked how the U.S. and international forces will prevent another resurgence of militant violence once the foreign forces leave, Gen. Stanley McChrystal, the top U.S. commander in the country, said that insurgents can’t afford to leave the battlefield while the ranks of trained Afghan forces swell.

—AP

STATE BRIEFS DHS TO REDUCE NUMBER OF CHILD WELFARE WORKERS OKLAHOMA CITY — The state Department of Human Services is planning to cut the number of child welfare workers it has in the state to fewer than 1,000 people.

DHS chief operating officer Marq Youngblood says the cuts are in part due to state agencies being told to cut their budgets by 5 percent through the end of the fiscal year in June. DHS officials also say fewer child welfare workers are needed because of fewer children in state custody, fewer calls to the child-abuse hot line and fewer confirmed cases of abuse and neglect.

DHS had 1,095 child welfare workers in May. That number was down to 1,056 in October and Youngblood says plans are to cut the number to 997 through attrition.

TASK FORCE TO INVESTIGATE UNSOLVED DEATHS

TRIAL DATE SET FOR PHARMACIST

POTEAU, Okla. — A task force has been formed to investigate the deaths of two people in Le Flore County.

Sheriff Bruce Curnutt has asked the FBI, U.S. Marshals, the Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation and the county district attorney’s office to jointly look into the deaths of Joe Neff and Jody Rilee Wilson.

Wilson’s body was spotted May 8 by a paraglider over Poteau Mountain. The state medical examiner’s office says her body was too decomposed to determine a cause of death.

Neff’s body was found May 17 in an old mining pit with a gunshot wound to the head.

Both cases remain unsolved and Curnutt says with leads drying up he hopes the task force will be able to generate some new ideas.

OKLAHOMA CITY — A June 21 trial date has been scheduled for a pharmacist who has been charged with first-degree murder in the death of a teenager.

Oklahoma County District Judge Tammy Bass-LeSure set the date Wednesday for Jerome Ersland after speaking with Ersland’s attorney, Irven Box, and District Attorney David Prater.

Ersland fatally shot 16-year-old Antwun Parker, who was unarmed, May 19 at the Reliable Discount Pharmacy in south Oklahoma City.

Prosecutors alleged that Ersland went too far when he shot Parker five more times after knocking him unconscious with a shot to the head.

Ersland said he was defending himself and two female employees, and he thought Parker had a gun.

—AP

8

Thursday, December 3, 2009

Annelise Russell, sports editor dailysports@ou.edu • phone: 325-7630 • fax: 325-6051

«BASKETBALL Go online for a recap of the women’s game tonight.

OUDAILY.COM

Sooners spread scoring around without Warren Sooners fill in amidst Warren’s first half slump Wednesday against Razorbacks

MICHELLE GRAY/THE DAILY

Senior guard Tony Crocker (5) goes for a basket during the Sooner mens game against Arkansas which took place on Wednesday night at the Lloyd Noble Center. The Sooners took the 67-47 win.

SOONERS REBOUND WITH WIN AARON COLEN Daily Staff Writer

Arkansas drew within double digits, but OU tightened up its defense and got a late scoring burst from sophomore guard Willie Warren, who had a quiet 2-point first half.

After a rough trip to Alaska during which Sooners not named Warren controlled the ball and got in the paint and to the line Willie Warren were inconsistent at best, OU displayed a more to finish the game strong with 13 points, most of them coming balanced attack in a 67-47 victory over Arkansas in Norman late in the half. His totals would have been better had he not Wednesday night. struggled from the free throw line, where he “It’s good to be home,” Coach Jeff Capel said. only shot 5-11.

“And the second half was our best defensive efOU 67, ARKANSAS 47 Crocker had a strong game for the Sooners as fort of the season.” well, shooting 50 percent and scoring 16 points The Sooners came out slow shooting the ball, OU leading scorers: and grabbing 16 rebounds. and fell behind by eight with 3:48 left in the first Tony Crocker: 16 points “I was just attacking them and getting physihalf with Arkansas seemingly in complete conWillie Warren: 13 points cal with them,” Crocker said. “I was just trying trol of the game.

Cade Davis: 11 points to fight hard for the team.”

“If we have open looks we’re going to take Davis played 38 minutes in the game, putthem,” senior guard Tony Crocker said. “It’s not ting up 11 points while also having to work hard Arkansas leading scorers: going to be a thing where we say ‘oh, I missed on the defensive end guarding Arkansas star Marshawn Powell: 12 points two so I better not shoot.’ We all shoot with player guard Rotnei Clarke. Davis held Clarke Rotnei Clarke: 11 points confidence.” to only 11 points.

The turning point came when Crocker hit Jemal Farmer: 8 points “I blame Coach Capel for that last basket two straight three-point baskets to bring OU [that gave Clarke double-digits],” Davis said within two. Arkansas responded with a basket, with a laugh. “Right before that he came up to but Crocker scored again for his eighth straight me and said ‘Don’t let him get ten’ and sure enough, next time point. down the court he got it.”

Freshman guard Tommy Mason-Griffin then hit a three to give “I think I jinxed him,” Capel said. the Sooners a 28-27 lead.

Davis said the team prepared for Clarke by having former Junior guard Cade Davis and freshman guard Steven Pledger Sooners Omar Leary and Michael Neal come in for the scout followed with three of their own to cap off a 17-2 run that took team and emulate him. them into the half with a 34-27 lead.

“Cade did as good a job as anyone on him,” Capel said. “I OU continued its run into the second half, scoring five more thought our guys had urgency to guard him, and I think that points in a row. comes from the guys we used to prepare.”

They extended their lead over the Razorbacks to 18 points, but With the win, the Sooners (now 4-3) look ahead to Sunday’s Arkansas began to take some of the momentum back, and went home game against Arizona. on a 9-0 run that forced an OU timeout with about eight minutes “This win is a step. All the problems in the world aren’t fixed, left in the game.

“When we got that lead, I thought we relaxed a little bit,” Capel but it’s a step,” Capel said. “We just have to take another one tomorrow.” said.

OU hosts UT-Arlington tonight Sooner women play first home game without sophomore guard Whitney Hand JAMES ROTH Daily Staff Writer

OU women’s basketball hosts University of Texas-Arlington tonight, while still reeling from news that sophomore guard Whitney Hand is done for the season after tearing her ACL last week.

The No. 18-ranked Sooners are 4-2 on the year and have won three of their last four games.

The Sooners put up a strong performance over Thanksgiving break in the Virgin Island Paradise Jam, only losing to No. 5 Notre Dame by ten points.

The Sooners’ biggest obstacle might not be UT-Arlington, but how to adjust their playing style now that Hand is done for the season.

Hand, who was the second leading scorer on the team with 13.4 points per game, will be greatly missed.

While her off-the-court leadership will remain strong, it is her on court presence where the Sooners will feel the effects.

Hand also averaged 4.4 rebounds per game this season and was solid from the free throw line at almost 80 percent.

Now that Hand is out, other players such as junior guard Danielle Robinson, senior guard Nyeshia Stevenson and junior forward Carlee Roethlisberger will step up to make up for what Hand brought to the table.

Each player is a threat from the outside, with Roethlisberger shooting over 40 percent from three.

If OU struggles from outside, that puts added pressure on senior center Abi Olajuwon who is averaging over 13 points and almost seven rebounds a game.

UT-Arlington is 4-3 on the year and has currently lost two out of their last three outings.

Tip-off is set for 7 p.m. at the Lloyd Noble Center.

If sophomore guard Willie Warren would have two points in the first half of any game, would the reasonable prediction be anything like Sooners up at half?

To think that to be true would be absurd, but stranger things have happened in college basketball.Believe it or not, that’s the story: Sooners win without their star player pumping out his usual 20 points per game.

In fact, he got his 10th point with less than five minutes left in the contest. One thing’s for sure, Wednesday night’s team was not the same one that went to Alaska over Thanksgiving.

Senior Tony Crocker helped fill Warren’s void at guard by putting up 16 points and shooting 50 percent from the field, including two of five from the three point line. However the most outstanding thing about Crocker’s performance was his CLARK 16 rebounds. Sixteen and 16; that FOY sounds a lot like Blake Griffin number doesn’t it?

While a double-double out of Crocker is not something the Sooners are going to or should rely on, it does show he is embracing his new found power forward position that Coach Jeff Capel throws him into in some situations.

Junior guard Cade Davis helped fill the void as well while managing 11 points and three signature three-pointers from the corner.

The most outstanding thing about Davis’ performance was his matchup against Arkansas’ Rotnei Clarke – one of the best shooters in the NCAA. Clarke was averaging over 26 points and 57 percent from the arc before heading to Norman. Davis played Clarke one-on-one for 38 minutes, holding Clarke to 11 points and shooting one of six from outside.

Warren would end up closing out the game and scoring nine of his 13 points in the last ten or so minutes of the game.

For Sooner fans, it must be refreshing to see several players step up for the team while their star player is struggling with foul trouble in the first half and only played 25 minutes for the whole game.

However, this team is known to be streaky, and maybe Wednesday’s performance was just a good night for several players.

One thing is for sure, the team will only continue getting better as the season goes on.

The question is: When will this happen again?

And if it does, can other Sooners step up again in a star player’s virtual absence?

Only time will tell.

And Sunday’s game against Arizona will be a great test to see if the team is going to be hot-orcold all season.

Clark Foy is a journalism junior.

Thursday, December 3, 2009

9

Big 12 Conference goes Bowl-ing It’s fun to play the game “which team will play in which bowl game” the days leading up to the various conference championship/bowl selection weekend.

The Daily’s Jono Greco predicts which bowl games the Big 12 will play in.

Alamo Bowl

Holiday Bowl

Texas Tech Red Raiders vs.

Michigan State

Nebraska Cornhuskers vs. USC Trojans

Not only did the Red Raiders’ 41-13 victory over OU give them revenge for being knocked out of the national title argument last season, but also it gave them a better bowl game.

Nebraska’s stout defense carried the Cornhuskers to victory in a few close games, and now it has been rewarded with a trip to sunny San Diego, Calif., to take on the six-time BCS-bowl-winning Trojans.

BCS National Championship Game Texas Longhorns vs. Florida Gators The Longhorns and Gators are more than likely going to win their respective conference championship games Saturday, which means they’ll meet up in Pasadena, Calif. on Jan. 7, 2010.

Insight Bowl Cotton Bowl Oklahoma State Cowboys vs. Ole Miss Rebels The Cowboys’ loss to OU Saturday took them out of a BCS game and set up a rematch of the 2004 Cotton Bowl where Ole Miss quarterback Eli Manning outlasted OSU’s offense highlighted by wide receiver D’Juan Woods 31-28.

Missouri Tigers vs.

Minnesota Golden Gophers The Tigers won their final three games, including quality victories over at-the-time Big 12 North leading Kansas State and rival Kansas, to give them an eight-win season and a trip to Tempe, Ariz.

Independence Bowl Texas A&M Aggies vs. Auburn Tigers Head coach Mike Sherman exceeded my expectations by bringing the Aggies out of the Big 12 South cellar. His prize is taking on an Auburn Tigers team that lost in the final minutes to the BCS-bound Alabama Crimson Tide.

Sun Bowl Oklahoma Sooners vs. California Golden Bears Even though the Sooners have the same conference record as Texas Tech, their five losses have made them fall from pre-season BCS destiny to a pre-New Year’s Day bowl game.

Texas Bowl Iowa State Cyclones vs. Navy Even though Iowa Sate won only three games during conference play, its six total victories against bowl-quality teams give the Cyclones their first bowl appearance since 2004.

10 Thursday, December 3, 2009 Thad Baker, advertising manager classifieds@ou.edu • phone: 325-2521 • fax: 325-7517

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HELP WANTED CHRISTMAS BREAK JOBS Not going home for the holidays? The C Lazy U Guest Ranch in the Colorado Rockies has positions available from Dec 19 thru Jan 3 - after Jan 3, you are welcome to stay w/ free room & board, to ski & snowboard the local resorts for 5 days.

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Part-Time College and Young Adult Coordinator Needed. College and Young Adult Coordinator needed for a large church located near the University of Oklahoma in Norman. This individual will guide and develop small groups of people primarily in their 20’s into a closer relationship with God. Please send resume to rwade@mcfarlinumc.org or PO Box 6390 Norman, OK 73070 att Randy Wade.

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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.

Universal Crossword Edited by Timothy E. Parker December 03, 2009

ACROSS 1 Diamond side 6 “While� beginning 10 Seemingly boundless 14 Cremona violin-making family 15 German industrial region 16 Former Canadian major leaguer 17 Loaded 19 “Away in a Manger,� for one 20 Tell it like it isn’t 21 Family men 22 Heart and soul 24 Morally ignoble 26 Loosen, as a knot 27 Loaded 32 Word with “string� or “horn�

35 William Tell’s canton 36 Loan shark’s interest 37 Mason’s trough 38 Convertible 41 What a fall guy takes 42 Guesstimate word 44 Coiffeur’s goop 45 Coil in the yard 46 Loaded 50 Accelerate

HOROSCOPE

By Bernice Bede Osol

Copyright 2008, Newspaper Enterprise Assn.

Thursday, Dec. 3, 2009 SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 23-Dec. 21) -- It wouldn’t be wise to get involved in a commercial venture with a friend, especially if he is not an expert on the subject. If you fail -- and chances are you will -- it could end the relationship.

CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19) -- When striving for a major objective, you could bruise some associates in the process if you go about it with tunnel vision.

Be cognizant of whom you push out of the way.

AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 19) -- If your hard work isn’t producing the anticipated results, you might want to think about disengaging from the project. In order to be fruitful, you need to make some progress.

PISCES (Feb. 20-March 20) -Caution and prudence are major requirements when involved in a commercial endeavor with others. However, if someone is ready to take a big risk, regardless of how you feel, all could fail.

GEMINI (May 21-June 20) -- You’re not always the most careful person in the world about handling your resources, and this may be one of those days you’ll get careless. Stop and think about what you’re doing with your funds.

CANCER (June 21-July 22) -- As a natural-born caregiver, you might feel obliged to do something for another that you, in fact, hate doing. If your heart isn’t in the task, you’ll do a lousy job. Beg off, if you can.

LEO (July 23-Aug. 22) -- If you ask questions about critical information that you don’t understand, no one will think less of you. If you proceed without fully comprehending the issue, you’ll bomb.

VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22) -- Someone you call a friend but whom you feel has never treated you with the same respect could behave in a manner that will confirm your viewpoint.

Wise up, and drop this person.

ARIES (March 21-April 19) -- Don’t allow yourself to be placed in a position where you feel obligated to go along with the will of the majority, whose antics you don’t like. Find a nice way to be your own person.

LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 23) -- An endeavor on which you’ve worked long and hard might never come to fruition if you prematurely show this project.

If it isn’t totally ready, it will fall flat.

TAURUS (April 20-May 20) -Be extremely careful what you say about another, even if it is an innocent comment, because anything deemed an unkind remark could make it back to that person. You’ll have a lot of explaining to do.

SCORPIO (Oct. 24-Nov. 22) -- Unless you first correct what isn’t working properly, you could compound the situation further.

The result could be ruinous and devastating.

51 Like Shakespeare’s sonnets 55 Akihito, for one 58 Try to get some answers 59 Nipponese capital, once 60 Apres-bath powder 61 Loaded 64 1944 Normandy beach name 65 Soothe 66 Bring to a new level 67 Word of denial 68 Young guy, slangily 69 Some editorial notations DOWN 1 Goes on the fritz 2 Prenatal test, informally 3 Supply prepared food 4 Addis Ababa is its cap.

5 Menswear accessory 6 Winged god of love 7 Shutout spoiler 8 Lustrous 9 Soap opera meetings 10 Thin surface layers 11 Neurotransmission site 12 ___ sheet

(guidelines) 13 Painted metalware 18 Concocted 23 Get out of a slump?

25 Unknown John 26 Exhausting 28 “Bells ___ Ringing� (musical) 29 Coin featuring a Maltese cross 30 Big band and gaslight 31 Use an Underwood 32 Robert of “Jaws�

33 Vagrant 34 Feature of Limburger 38 Alternate 39 Face card’s value, in blackjack 40 Not so

PREVIOUS PUZZLE ANSWER

Š 2009 Universal Uclick www.upuzzles.com

LOADED by Kay Daniels

Previous Answers

youthful 43 Netherlands city near Rotterdam 45 Bottom seam 47 Openly declared 48 Agency 49 Western basket makers?

52 Give a false impression of 53 Helpful Latin phrase 54 Area and zip 55 Small ornamental bag 56 Karate class precautions 57 Syllabus 58 Away from the wind, on a ship 62 Something that’s illegal to drop 63 Use (up), as savings

Thursday, December 3, 2009

Cassie Rhea Little, L&A editor dailyent@ou.edu • phone: 325-5189 • fax: 325-6051

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« NEW MOVIE

Read a review for “Everybody’s Fine” in Friday’s Life & Arts section.

CHOIRS’ CHRISTMAS CHEER TO FILL HOLIDAY AIR ALEX EWALD Daily Staff Writer

will sing several traditional and modern selections, Zielinski said. Smaller ensembles will also OU Combined Choirs will play traditional carols in between spread holiday spirit through choral sets. song tonight as they present Kayley McCoy, a member of “Christmas at OU” at 8 p.m. in University Chorale and Singing Sharp Concert Hall.

Sooners, and, music education The choir concert, part of the senior who joined OU’s choral OU School of Music’s Sutton program as a non-music major Concert Series, will include fa- freshman, said she is most lookmiliar Christmas carols such as ing forward to sharing the experi“Joy to the World” and “Silent ence of the hard work she and the Night” as well as newer holiday rest of the ensembles put in with songs. the audience.

The four choral groups include “I know I speak on behalf of University Chorale, University the other choral members when I Singers, University Chamber say that after the last note is sung Singers and and the audience Singing Sooners. gives their apR i c h a r d plause of approvZielinski, direcal, that it makes tor of University every minute of Chorale and rehearsal worth • “Christmas at OU” Singing Sooners it,” McCoy said.

• 8 p.m., Thursday and the OU “Christmas • Catlett’s Sharp Concert School of Music’s music especially Hall new choral activholds some of • $8 general, $5 students, ities director, said the greatest stofaculty/staff, seniors t h e C h r i s t ma s ries told to man • OU School of Music’s concer t would of redemption Sutton Concert Series also feature an and hope for the OU student brass world.” quintet that will Z i e l i n s k i ’s play holiday choral group carols.

University Chorale will perform “I’m trying to unite the cam- Christmas classic “Silent Night” pus in song,” Zielinski said, who and “ Three Nativity Carols” started teaching conducting and by modern composer Stephen choral this semester at OU. “We Paulus. do a lot of classical music, and The choral group Zielinski with singing there’s a variety of also co-directs, Singing Sooners, music. I think this concert really includes men and women’s glee shows off the variety of music clubs of both vocal majors and here.” non-majors, and was started this The choral groups, all of which semester. The group performs have rehearsed two to three both OU spirit songs and popular times a week since mid-October,

DETAILS

PHOTO PROVIDED

OU choir students singing. The Choirs will perform “Christmas at OU” at 8 p.m. in Sharp Concert Hall, 500 W. Boyd St. songs.

“There’s a rich history of singing at this university, which dates back to the glee clubs at the turn of the century,” Zielinski said.

“We’re going back to those songs and learning about the history of those songs. It ties us to the past and it ties us to the present and we want to take those songs to the future.”

Singing Sooners’ other co-director, Mark Lucas, an OU choral conducting and music education professor, said there have been holiday-themed concerts in the past, but “Christmas at OU” is

unique because it is a continuous program without breaks.

“There probably won’t be any applause until the end,” Lucas said. “[This concert is different because] it’s highlighting all the different choirs at the university.”

The University Singers, Lucas’ directed group, also will perform a Paulus piece, “A Savior from on High,” a Christmas piece accompanied by harp and oboe.

University Chamber Singers, directed by Steven Curtis, has a program that includes a Jamaican Christmas song.

The finale, “A Musicological Journey Through the Twelve Days of Christmas,” is definitely not a traditional classical song, as it goes through every style of music since Gregorian chants, Lucas said.

Audiences will be able and are encouraged to sing along with the songs they know, Zielinski said.

OU choirs are open to all OU students, faculty and staff for credit. For more information contact Richard Zielinski at sing@ou.edu.

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Thursday, December 3, 2009

WEEKEND UPDATE » ▲

CONCERT

▲

Camille Harp will perform at 9 p.m. Friday at Othello’s, 434 Buchanan Ave.

Colourmusic and The Uglysuit will perform at 9 p.m.

Saturday at The Opolis, 113 North Crawford Ave.

FREE MOVIE

▲

CONCERT

The Daily’s Life & Arts staff put together a list of things happening in Norman this weekend.

▲

The Union Programming Board will show “The Informant” at 4, 7 and 10 p.m. Friday at Meacham Auditorium in the Oklahoma Memorial Union, 900 Asp Ave.

FESTIVAL OF TREES

See decorated trees from various student organizations from noon to 2 p.m. Friday at Crossroads Lounge in the Oklahoma Memorial Union, 900 Asp Ave.