L&A: ‘The Lego Movie’ provides all the fun of the toys without the tediousness of having to assemble them yourself. (Page 2) W W W.O U DA I LY.C O M
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WINTER WOES ›››› Sooner Sampler: How did you get to school in this weather? “I drove to school today and slid on the way. I thought class was going to be canceled.” EMILY HARKER, MULTIDISCIPLINARY STUDIES SENIOR
“I usually park at Headington Hall, but today I parked at the Huff and walked. The roads were not that bad, only in the neighborhoods.” BENNETT HALL/THE DAILY
HAYLEY SCOTT, POLITICAL SCIENCE SENIOR
University College freshman Brett Barrientes walks back to the dorms from his Thursday evening class. A light northeast breeze put the day’s wind chill at a glacial 11 degrees, according to the National Weather Service.
Close for frigid weather? Not this time. MATT WOODS • EMMA SULLIVAN CAMPUS REPORTERS
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lthough most surrounding schools closed due to inclement weather Thursday, including slick roads and almost two inches of snow, OU’s Norman campus opened after a slight postponement. Norman Public Schools, Oklahoma City Public Schools, Oklahoma City Community College, Oklahoma City University and OSU’s Oklahoma City campus canceled school today due to weather conditions, according to official school websites. OU press secretary Michael Nash said President David Boren decided to open campus at 10 a.m. to allow students and employees enough time to travel to campus, without the addition of the heavy morning traffic. School officials take current and predicted weather conditions into consideration as well as current and potential changes in travel conditions, Nash said. Thursday’s low temperatures in the mid-teens and one to two inches of snow marked this week’s continuing cold weather trend, according to the National Weather Service forecasts. Despite the university opening late, unfavorable road conditions and traffic complications delayed one student’s commute to her morning class. Public relations senior Alexis Trammell waited for a bus at the Lloyd Noble Center along with two busloads of students for about 20 minutes. Her normal wait time is normally about 5 minutes, she said. “I just can’t believe that Boren didn’t finally call [school] off,” Trammell said. A traffic accident this morning around 10 a.m. delayed three CART buses carrying commuters from the Lloyd Noble Center, said Vicky Holland, OU Parking and Transportation Services marketing specialist. However, Holland said she doesn’t think delays “slowed us down that much.” “I have heard from at least one professor that said
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“I usually walk to campus from my house around St. Thomas. It wasn’t as cold as yesterday, but my roommate was upset the trucks didn’t salt the roads..” HILLARY MEDINA, INTERNATIONAL AREA STUDIES SENIOR
they’re using the buses as an excuse to be late for class, but the buses have actually been on schedule,” Holland said. The buses typically can function well in all sorts of weather — including snow — because they are heavy enough to perform and get traction, Holland said.
“Rode the Lloyd Noble bus to campus today, like usual. The roads were bad because there was still snow.” EDDIE RICH, CHEMICAL ENGINEERING SOPHOMORE
I just can’t believe that Boren didn’t finally call [school] off.” ALEXIS TRAMMEL, PUBLIC RELATIONS SENIOR
The delayed school day came on the same day as former Supreme Court Justice Sandra Day O’Connor’s visit to campus, during which she was set give two speeches, including one at the President’s Associates Dinner. Nash said the non-closure wasn’t related to O’Connor’s visit, and he doesn’t anticipate the weather to affect attendance at the dinner.
Opinion: U.S. veterans are close to receiving in-state tuition at public universities. (Page 3)
Matt Woods, Emma Sullivan matt.woods@ou.edu, emmanic23@gmail.com
“I ride the Lloyd Noble bus when it’s cold outside, like today. Normally I ride my bike to campus from Traditions.” FLAVIO MOVENO, AREOSPACE ENGINEERING JUNIOR
Sports: Men’s gymnastics readies itself for key home matchup against Stanford. (Page 4)
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