The Oklahoma Daily

SPORTS • PAGE 7

LIFE & ARTS • PAGE 5

All-Star system in need of change Although deserving players like former Sooner Blake Griffin (shown left) made the NBA All-Star team, The Daily’s RJ Young thinks the process is flawed.

Spring albums to keep an eye on The Daily breaks down the music releases slated this spring that students should check out, including Lady Gaga (shown right).

The University of Oklahoma’s independent student voice since 1916

Tuesday, February 8, 2011

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OU cashes in with credit cards University profits from agreement with credit-card companies NICHOLAS HARRISON The Oklahoma Daily

Editor’s note: Nicholas Harrison is a former Daily opinion columnist who became a news reporter this semester. As a columnist, he wrote about this subject in a previous semester. This piece is fact based — not opinion — and has been edited to assure its objectivity.

When OU agreed to provide student information to credit-card companies five years ago, university administration intended to increase student activities funding with the program’s revenue.

Of the $8.8 million received since 2007, none of the money has gone to student activities, according to university cash-flow statements.

OU entered into two 10-year credit-card

University spending University & Alumni Affairs — $145,823 Athletic Department — $150,000 Fred Jones Museum of Art — $6,000,000 Arezzo Monastery — $445,595 Other Institutional Commitments — $691,980 — Source: OU cash-flow statements

SEE CREDIT PAGE 3

STATE GOVERNMENT

Education budget back on chopping block Fallin calls for higher education to receive 3-percent cut

WEATHER | SNOW SEQUEL TO HIT NORMAN

NICHOLAS HARRISON The Oklahoma Daily

Gov. Mary Fallin called the State Regents for Higher Education to cut $30.1 million from its budget Monday, constituting a 3-percent reduction from last year.

During her State of the State address Monday at the Oklahoma Capitol, Fallin cited a $600 million budget shortfall and said she would be asking all state agencies to take similar cuts.

“Some of the cuts and the reforms I am proposing will be painful,” Fallin said. “But I am not asking our state agencies to do the impossible. I don’t believe there is anyone, either in SEE CUTS PAGE 2

COLLIN SIMS/THE DAILY

Students pass piles of snow while walking to class Monday evening in front of Nielson Hall. Norman may see 6 to 8 inches of snow starting today and lasting through Wednesday, according to the National Weather Service.

More snow headed for campus OU will do everything possible to keep school open during this week’s winter weather, professors encouraged to use D2L

Instructors were sent three guides about how to manage content on D2L and how to e-mail students enrolled in classes.

During last week’s storm, provost Nancy Mergler also e-mailed professors telling them to use D2L to keep courses on track during KATHLEEN EVANS The Oklahoma Daily campus closures.

“When bad weather occurs during the semester that necessitudents can expect more winter weather and snow starting tates canceling face-to-face meeting, I ask faculty to move their late today and lasting through Wednesday, according to the classes into an electronic Desire2Learn medium and keep making National Weather Service. progress on the course learning goals,” Mergler said Norman is expecting 6 to 8 inches of snow, said in an e-mail.

Lamont Bain, meteorology senior and National The storm will not be as bad as last week’s blizzard, The last thing we want Weather Service volunteer. but students should still take precautions, Bain said. is for classes to be “There is the potential for some areas to get “There is the possibility for blowing snow, so visibilcanceled again.” maybe upward of 10 inches,” Bain said. ity will be limited,” he said. “Wind chill may be zero to OU spokesman Chris Shilling said admin10 below. The big difference is that the wind will not be istration will do everything in their power to — CHRIS SHILLING, as bad this week as it was last week.” avoid closing campus this week.

Because of the wind last week, the Weather Service UNIVERSITY SPOKESMAN “The last thing we want is for classes to be does not have an accurate count of how many inches canceled again,” Shilling said. “We are keeping of snow Norman received, Bain said. an eye on conditions and doing everything we can to safely keep The National Weather Service recommends people stock up on campus open.” food and water and avoid traveling, starting Tuesday night. If people The Provost’s office is advising professors to use Desire2Learn need to travel, they should drive carefully and bring blankets and to keep in touch with students in the event of campus closures, ac- water in case they are stranded. cording to e-mails sent to faculty.

When going outside, people should dress in layers, Bain said.

S

Election Board signups extended The UOSA executive branch is extending the application deadline for the UOSA Election Board to 5 p.m. Thursday.

The deadline was pushed back due to last week’s campus closures. The UOSA Election Board oversees spring elections to ensure candidates are following rules, Election Board chairwoman Natalie Jester said in an e-mail.

“We want people with integrity because that’s obviously an important part of the election process,” Jester said. “We want a balance between those who are a part of UOSA and outside of UOSA to bring a different light ... An interest in political processes is also helpful.”

Jester will appoint at least three people to the board, but said she is looking for five to six members.

So far, she has received four applications to her personal e-mail, but does not know how many have been turned in at the Union.

Members of the Election Board receive a $60 stipend at the end of the election process, depending on how well they did their job and how much they contributed, Jester said.

— Kathleen Evans/The Daily

A LOOK AT WHAT’S ON Country musician Miranda Lambert will perform April 7 at Lloyd Noble Center with Justin Moore and Josh Kelley.

Career fair rescheduled due to icy weather The Multicultural Career Fair will be held at 12:30 to 4:30 p.m. Feb. 24 in the Kerr McGee Stadium Club.

The career fair was originally scheduled for Wednesday, but due to impending weather conditions the date has been changed.

All other arrangements for the fair remain unchanged, however it has not been determined whether all of the representatives set to attend Wednesday will be able to attend.

“We are going to give the organizations the opportunity to see if they can come at the later day,” said Betty Scott, Career Services director.

The event will be sponsored

by Career Services, American Indian Student Life, African American Student Life, Latino Student Life, and Asian American Student Life. Representatives will provide information on their various organizations before spring on-campus interviews.

— Sarah Martin/ The Daily

Egyptian revolution sparks discussion Professors, students, discuss causes, impact of nation’s ongoing protests CARMEN FORMAN The Oklahoma Daily

Students for a Democratic Society hosted a panel discussion Monday intended to educate students on the current turmoil in Egypt. “ We a re f o c u s i n g o n a l l of the Middle East because E g y p t ha s b e e n d o m i nating the media ... but we want people to know this isn’t just a n E g y p t m ov e m e nt ; t h i s happened in Tunisia, Jordan,

THE OKLAHOMA DAILY VOL. 96, NO. 91 © 2011 OU Publications Board www.OUDaily.com www.facebook.com/OUDaily www.twitter.com/OUDaily

Algeria, Yemen, everywhere,” said Lauren Brentnell, senior psychology, English and political science major at OU and Students for a Democratic Society member.

The discussion, which took place in the Associates Room in the Oklahoma Memorial Union, was led by Director of the Center of Middle East Studies Joshua Landis, Judaic Studies Program Director Norman Stillman and graduate student Nancy El Gendy.

Students for a Democratic

SEE EGYPT PAGE 2

JALL COWASJI/ THE DAILY

Egyptian graduate student Nancy El Gendy addresses controversial issues regarding the ongoing Egyptian revoluntion at an Egypt panel discussion Monday night in the Union’s Associates Room. The event was hosted

by Students For A Democratic Society.

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2 • Tuesday, February 8, 2011

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Chase Cook, managing editor dailynews@ou.edu • phone: 405-325-3666

CUTS: Education would receive smallest cut Continued from page 1 government or the private sector, who does not believe that our state agencies can’t find more ways to save money.”

Fallin said she believed Oklahomans had sent a message in the last election, and she was working with her administration and legislative leaders to implement the changes they expect.

“They reminded our government officials that when hard times hit, the public expects a leaner, more efficient government, not one that raises taxes to avoid making tough decisions and sacrifices,” Fallin said.

On Friday, Fallin told the Oklahoma Press Association

Mary Fallin she would ask all state agencies to take 3 to 5 percent cuts.

Certain priorities such as education, however, would receive smaller reductions, Fallin said.

The budget she presented today reflected a 5 percent overall reduction in state spending.

Previously, the state regents had requested $115.6 million in additional funds — including $59.8 million to replace stimulus spending, $16.5 million to replace debt service reduction, $30.9 million for operating obligations and $5.6 million for endowed chair bond debt service, according to the regents’ website.

Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education Chancellor Glen Johnson said he was pleased Fallin did not propose across-theboard budget cuts.

“Clearly, we are pleased that higher education is one of Fallin’s priorities,” he said.

Other proposals » Reforming the worker’s compensation system in order to take care of injured workers more quickly » Create a governor’s closing fund to entice businesses to work with Oklahoma in opposed to other states » Require the state to move from paper to electronic billing in order to save around $3.5 billion » Encourage citizen’s involvement through the website www.ideas.ok.gov

EGYPT: Class conflict inspires revolt, riots Continued from page 1

and cut off cell phone service.

“I personally think it hasn’t negatively affected the revolution,” El Gendy said.

Stillman agreed and said, “there was much more shock Society members mediated the panel, which discussed about that [shutting down the Internet] than sending in the origins of the Egyptian protests.

“Tunisia was the inspiration for what happened in troops to break peoples heads.”

The speakers also discussed American involvement in Egypt,” Stillman said.

Egyptian politics.

The panel agreed that protests in Landis said the United States gives $2 Egypt and Tunisia began because billion annually to the Egyptian governworkers in both nations weren’t We want people to ment, and a large portion of Americans paid enough to support themselves. know this isn’t just an fear democracy in the Middle East.

According to the panel, 40 percent of Egypt movement, this The rise of democracy in the Middle workers in Tunisia and Egypt live on East would mean more Muslims in power, happened in Tunisia, two dollars a day or less. which would scare Americans due to The panel also asserted that people Jordan Algeria, Yemen “rampant Islamophobia,” Landis said. of Egypt are generally unhappy about everywhere.”

The panelists agreed that removing Egyptian President Muhammad Hosni Mubarak from power is just the beginMubarak’s rule. The speakers were in — LAUREN BRENTNELL, ning of stabilizing Egypt, and though the agreement that the government was STUDENTS FOR A speakers don’t know what the revolumainly able to stay in power in Egypt DEMOCRATIC SOCIETY tion will bring, they are optimistic that because the army continues to back MEMBER the revolution will better the disjointed Mubarak. nation.

The panel also discussed the role of As El Gendy said in reference to the Middle Eastern nasocial networking in the revolution, including the ineffectiveness of Mubarak’s decision to shut down the Internet tion, “freedom is not free.”

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Ask about 100% college tuition waivers for Oklahoma public colleges and universities.

Student Congress to discuss intercollegiate conference UOSA Undergraduate Student Congress will consider a Bedlam Student Government Conference during their meeting at 7 p.m. today in the Governor’s Room of the Oklahoma Memorial Union.

The proposed conference would host the Oklahoma State University student government association in a meeting that would be a chance for the two governments to collaborate with and learn from each other, according to the agenda. At OSU’s last student government association meeting they showed interest in meeting with UOSA, according to the agenda.

A proposition to extend the faculty mentorship program into spring and to upperclassmen is also on the agenda.

The bill states this program has been so effective that it should be extended.

Award-winning author to speak during associates dinner Pulitzer Prize-winning author Gordon Wood will deliver a lecture at the President’s Associates dinner at 6:30 p.m. Feb. 28 in the Oklahoma Memorial Union’s Molly Shi Boren Ballroom.

Wood will deliver the keynote speech, but the topic of his lecture is yet to be determined. Before the dinner students may take part in a discussion with Wood at 5 p.m. in the Fred Jones Museum of Art’s Sandy Bell Gallery.

Wood won the Pulitzer Prize for History in 1993 and the Ralph Waldo Emerson Prize for his book, “The Radicalism of the American Revolution.” Wood is also the author of “Empire of Liberty: A History of the Early Republic, 1789-1815” and “The Creation of the American Republic, 1776-1787.” Wood was a professor at Brown University for 40 years and has served at five other universities.

The dinner is being held for the President’s Associates, a group comprised of donors to the university. Most President’s Associates members are alumni of the university, said Tara Malone, OU Public Affairs writer and editor.

The dinner also will be available by reservation to some students and faculty, and a limited amount of overflow seating will be available to the public.

For more information or reservations contact OU Office of Special Events at 405-325-3784.

— Sarah Martin/The Daily

NEWS

The Oklahoma Daily | OUDaily.com

Tuesday, February 8, 2011 • 3

CREDIT: Funding not spent where promised Continued from page 1

Today around campus » Tickets for the Pink and Black Ball will be on sale for $15 from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. in the Oklahoma Memorial Union’s main lobby. » The Student Learning Center will host a free seminar on success in online courses from 4 to 5 p.m. in Wagner Hall, Room 245. » The African Student Association’s Africa Week continues with a cultural fair at Crossroads in the Union. » Christians on Campus Bible study will be held from noon to 12:45 p.m. in the Union’s Traditions Room. » SIAS Career Workshop Series is putting on a free workshop concerning government jobs from 12:30 to 1:30 p.m. in Hester Hall, Room 170.

Wednesday, Feb. 9 » The Student Learning Center will host a free seminar on money management from 1 to 2 p.m. in Wagner Hall, Room 245. » Tickets for the Pink and Black Ball will be on sale for $15 from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. in the Union’s main lobby. » Free health and fitness seminar and brown-bag lunch from noon to 12:45 p.m. at the Huston Huffman Fitness Center conference room. » The OU Multicultural Career Fair will be held at 12:30 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. at the Kerr McGee Stadium Club.

Thursday, Feb. 10 » A research librarian will be available to help students with research questions from 1 to 3 p.m. in Wagner Hall, Room 280. » Emily Brodsky will present a lecture titled “Earthquakes Triggered by Seismic Waves” from 3:30 to 5 p.m. in Sarkeys Energy Center, Room A235. » The African Student Association is hosting the Taste of Africa at the Henderson Tolson Cultural Center.

Friday, Feb. 11 » Men’s Wrestling will compete against Wyoming at 7 p.m. in the McCasland Field House. » A Film Comedy Conference which is free and open to the public will be held from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. in the Union’s Heritage Room.

Saturday, Feb. 12 » The Pink and Black Ball 2011 will be held from 8 to 11:45 p.m. in the Union’s Molly Shi Boren Ballroom. Tickets are $20 at the door. » Women’s Basketball vs Missouri at 2:00 p.m. in Lloyd Noble Center. » Wrapping up Africa Week, the African Student Association is holding African Night in the Union’s Meacham Auditorium.

» This day in OU history

Feb. 8, 1961 Bud Wilkinson files for name change Former football coach C.B. “Bud” Wilkinson filed a petition to legally change his name to Bud Wilkinson.

He had been called “Bud” for years, but was officially Charles Burnham. The petition would allow his name to appear as “Bud Wilkinson” on the Republican side of the senate ballot. Wilkinson spent 17 years as a coach at OU and set a national record of 47 consecutive victories.

— Source: The Oklahoma Daily archives

Have a Twitter account? Follow The Daily

@OUDaily News and information about the Norman community

accounts and other royalties.

Student information was not being sold because the university is required by law to provide student-directory affinity agreements with Bank of America and Mid-First information to anyone who tenders an open records request, unless students elect to withhold their information, Bank on Dec. 5, 2006, at a regular meeting of the regents.

These agreements are contracts made between banks Shilling said.

However, OU treats this information as confidential, and organizations like OU to provide increased access to credit cards for students, faculty, staff and alumni. Within according to the contract. Neither the university nor the these arrangements, the organizations receive commis- bank may provide these contact lists to other parties unsions and royalties on all sales and new members acquired, less forced to do so.

When an open records request is filed, the university has according to the contract.

Revenues have gone to University and Alumni Affairs, the agreed to consult with the bank and the OU Foundation “on Athletic Department, the Arezzo Monastery Project, and the advisability of taking legally available steps to resist or other “institutional commitments,” with $6 million devoted narrow” requests for this information submitted under the to the Fred Jones Museum of Art in the past year, according Oklahoma Open Records Act, according to the contract.

The university does not disclose its to the cash-flow statements. agreement with Bank of America in its Some of the money the museum repolicy regarding the release of student inceived went toward exhibits and proAt the time, there formation on its website. It also does not gramming aimed at students, university was less concern for give students the option to simply withspokesman Chris Shilling said. student over-borrowing hold their information from being shared “In the past few months, the art muand more concern for commercial purposes. seum has opened exhibits exclusively for Students must fill out a request to place thousands of students and created profor opportunities for a hold on all of their directory informagrams that support art and art education,” students to begin to tion and there is a warning that reads, “If Shilling said. establish their own anyone calls or contacts the University, Shilling did not disclose the nature of credit history.” no information will be released verifying the other institutional commitments. your attendance, withdrawal or graduaOU was guaranteed $12.1 million over — RICHARD HALL, FORMER tion from the University. This information 10 years, according to the terms of the OU STUDENT AFFAIRS VICE will be released only upon your written agreement made by the regents in 2006. authorization. Even if you call personally, Since the contract took effect May 1, PRESIDENT none of this information can be provided 2007, the university also has recorded without your written release.” almost $700,000 in interest earnings on Affinity agreements were criticized shortly after the suithe proceeds under these agreements with another $1 million payment due May 1, according to an open records cides of two Oklahoma college students were featured in a 2007 independent feature-length documentary film, request.

The first credit-card affinity agreement was developed “Maxed Out.” Sean Moyer was a National Merit scholar from Norman as a source of additional revenue for student activities, and OU Business Affairs later accepted bids from national and an OU transfer student who was headed to law school banks, said Richard Hall, former OU Student Affairs vice when he committed suicide because of credit-card debt in 1988 at age 22. Mitzi Pool was an 18-year-old freshman at president.

The original program had controls built into the appli- the University of Central Oklahoma who committed suication process, including a credit limit of less than $500 cide in 1997 in her dorm room with credit card bills scatfor first-time borrowers and parental approval for stu- tered across her bed.

As a result of these suicides, UCO no longer allows credit dents under 18, said Hall, who developed the original cards to be marketed on its campus. It also has incorporatagreement.

“At the time, there was less concern for student over-bor- ed a personal-finance course as an elective in its generalrowing and more concern for opportunities for students to education requirements.

UCO schedules 10 to 20 sections of its personal-finance begin to establish their own credit history,” he said.

There are no similar restrictions in the university’s cur- course every semester and encourages students to learn about these issues, Randal Ice, rent affinity agreement with Bank of Personal Finance Department chairAmerica.

Credit cards provide a variety man, said.

“The monetary gains for the univer“I can’t speak on any credit-card sity, by my recollection, were sizeable of benefits and associated affinity programs, but here at UCO and there were likely more decisions responsibilities for collegewe take financial literacy and perdriven by a substantial new revenue student borrowers. Credit sonal financial education very seristream than by worry over student cards are widely available in ously,” Ice said. debt load,” Hall said. our society, and we believe OU has taken neither of these To prepare students who were hopthat most of our students will steps. ing to use credit cards for the first A bill that would have banned time, OU offers educational outlets use credit for the benefits it credit cards from state college and to help prevent credit-card abuse and may provide them.” university campuses was introduced poor money management, Shilling in 2008. However, the bill was cursaid.

— CHRIS SHILLING, UNIVERSITY tailed when OU protested the mea“Credit cards provide a variety of SPOKESMAN sure because of its contract with benefits and associated responsibiliBank of America, according to sevties for college-student borrowers,” Shilling said. “Credit cards are widely available in our soci- eral media reports.

The State Regents formed a task force to study the issue of ety, and we believe that most of our students will use credit financial literacy shortly after the bill was introduced. After for the benefits it may provide them.”

Colleges and universities are prohibited from selling stu- studying the issue for more than a year, the group released dent information to credit-card companies, according to a 14-page document in September recommending no changes to the state’s general-education requirements. state law.

OU’s chapter of Students for Democratic Society conOU complies with this law, Shilling said.

However, the university agreed with Bank of America to ducted a similar study and released a 172-page document provide updated contact lists containing the last-known in November 2009 that described how a personal-finance mailing address and phone numbers of alumni, donors, course might be incorporated into the general-education faculty, staff and “other potential participants,” according requirements as an elective.

On its website, the society noted, “This needs to stop. to the terms of the affinity agreement. These other potential When students agree to allow the university to share their participants have always included students, Shilling said.

In return for these contact lists and other forms of sup- enrollment information and other information to poport and assistance, the university receives $1 for each tential employers or various honor societies, they do not new student credit-card account opened, $1 for each an- ever intend that to be consent to have their information nual fee paid on student credit-card accounts, 0.40 percent sold to banks and credit card companies without their on all retail transaction volume for all student credit-card knowledge.”

4 • Tuesday, February 8, 2011

The Oklahoma Daily | OUDaily.com

OPINION

THUMBS UP ›› Fallin proposes 3 percent cut for higher education (see page 1)

Jared Rader, opinion editor dailyopinion@ou.edu • phone: 405-325-3666

OUR VIEW

GUEST COLUMN

OU selling students out

Good riddance, Gipper — a tribute to Reagan

OU has made an incredible amount of money with its On average, students leave college with $3,000 in credit credit card affinity agreement with Bank of America and card debt, according to an April 2009 report by student loan Mid-First Bank, but at what cost to students? provider Sallie Mae. That’s a 41 percent increase from 2004, Since it took effect on May 1, 2007, the university has according to the report, and this doesn’t even count debts made $8.8 million by releasing student contact information accrued from student loans. to banks. OU makes commission and royalties on all purStudents should be expected to take responsibility for chases made on the cards and when the bank acquires new their own actions, but the problem has grown to a point that members. the university must do more to protect the student’s interThe original idea was to put that money toward student ests. The administration should start by being more honest activities. Unless constructing and acquiring majestic and transparent about its affinity agreement. buildings is a form of student activities, then the university Right now, the agreement is hidden away. There is no has stuck with the original terms of the agreement. mention of it on the OU website in its policy regarding the The money made off of this deal has not gone toward release of student information. student activities. Rather, the bulk of it has gone to the Fred To keep their information from being released, students Jones Junior Museum of Art, which received $6 million from have to go through the trouble of filling out a request to the agreement in the last year alone. withhold their information, an action that has strings atThe Arezzo Monastery in Italy that OU purchased for tached as well. The university will release no information a study abroad program has received the second big- “verifying your attendance, withdrawal or graduation from gest chunk of change from the agreement — $445,595. the University” unless a student consents with a written reWhile that’s a far cry from $6 million, it’s still a significant quest. So if there’s any benefit to allowing the university to amount. release your information, you must acquiesce to allowing it And then there’s the nebulous “Other Institutional to provide your information to the banks.

Commitments,” which uniOU also makes sure to versity spokesman Chris place the interests of the Shilling refused to disclose, bank above students, as outIf students knew how the university allows receiving $691,980. lined in the agreement. If an banks to target naive students with credit While it generates milopen records request is filed card opportunities, people would likely call for lions of dollars — OU was regarding the agreement, guaranteed $12.1 million change. But OU uses every loophole in the book the contract states that the over 10 years, according to university will consult with to make sure students remain unaware so that the terms of the agreement the bank “on the advisabilits lucrative program can remain in place.”

— it comes at an overlooked ity of taking legally available cost to students. steps to resist or narrow” Many students receiving credit cards don’t know how to such requests. Why would OU try to block out open records use them, and the OU administration only pays lip service requests on the affinity agreement unless it knew how deto making sure its students will use the cards wisely. ceitful it really is?

Shilling said the university offers students educational If students knew how the university allows banks to taroutlets to help prevent credit-card abuse and poor money get naive students with credit card opportunities, people management. would likely call for change. But OU uses every loophole in This is news to us. Just what does OU offer in terms of fi- the book to make sure students remain unaware so that its nancial literacy for students? The most significant offering lucrative program can remain in place. we could find doing a simple search of “financial literacy” The student who killed herself in 1997 was Mitzi Pool, an on search.ou.edu is an OU High School course in Personal 18-year-old freshman at the University of Central Oklahoma.

Financial Literacy. However, this no longer exists seeing as She was found dead in her dorm room with credit card bills the administration decided to quietly discontinue its OU covering her bed.

High School courses this year.

To make sure this didn’t happen again, UCO banned Learning how to use credit cards and build credit can be banks from marketing credit cards on its campus and incorbeneficial for students, but the university needs to do its porated several sections of a personal finance course into its part to offer students programs or courses in this area. If general education requirements. there are financial literacy programs on campus, they need While we don’t think banks ought to be completely to be advertised. Right now, it seems like the administration banned from soliciting to students on campus, OU should could care less. be honest about its agreement and make it easier for stuAllowing banks to target students can have serious con- dents to withhold their contact information from being sequences. In 1988 and 1997 two Oklahoma students com- given to banks. mitted suicide because of the crushing credit card debt they And the administration should definitely take a leaf out of acquired. While this happened before OU made its affinity UCO’s book and get serious about providing financial literagreement, many have pointed to these deaths as reasons acy courses to students. As suggested by the millions raised why OU should be more transparent about its agreement, from the agreement, it’s not like OU couldn’t afford it. modify it, or get rid of it completely.

More recently, student credit card debt has increased. Comment on this column at OUDaily.com

COLUMN

Scientific method has its flaws Recent studies suggest that the majority of recent studies Great discoveries have inare false, according a December article by Jonah Lehrer pub- deed come from this. But by STAFF COLUMN lished in The New Yorker. In “The Truth Wears Off,” he points the very way statistics are meato a frighteningly disparate set of accepted scientific findings sured, if I take two random Gerard Keiser that are now becoming uncomfortably difficult to replicate, groups of 1,000 people, giving including research on the benefits of widely-prescribed anti- one of them a new drug and depressants, or on what birds like to find in their mates. the other a placebo, there is a Though much of his piece is spent holding up some sensa- 5 percent chance that I will find a statistically significant differtionalist examples which are calculated to unground our faith ence between the two groups in the number of blondes. in the scientific method — and we know that enough odd coAnother difficulty lies in the tiny effects that are often incidences exist in the world that a journalist might find a few searched for with today’s acute tools for measuring. Lehrer’s freak studies — Lehrer has also interviewed reexample is the study of risk factors for disease. spected scientists.

Again, due to the way statistics are gathered, if One of them is John Ioannidas, whose “Why most factors based on diet or genes change your We all know Most Published Research Findings are False,” that bias can do odds by less than 5 percent, “then genetic or nucited hundreds of times since 2005, includes lines epidemiology would be largely utopian mighty things in tritional like “It can be proven that most claimed research endeavors.” the way of seeing findings are false,” and a statistical argument All of our medicine and physics students alwhat we want, about how, if 10 teams independently researched ready know these dangers, of course, and they 100,000 genetic factors to determine which ones even in the most will now march gloriously into their fields, brains cause a predisposition towards schizophrenia, fair-minded and overflowing with healthy skepticism, ready to rigthen any one factor identified by any one team orously apply the remedies that Ioannidas prehonest of us.” would be about as likely to be a true link as if the scribes, so there is no use telling them. team had picked it out of a hat.

This is, rather, something that needs to be To make his claims, Ioannidas points to numerous flaws in known more generally, so that when some insipid magazine the way research is currently conducted. We all know that bias cites outrageous studies, like eggs will kill you, or that men and can do mighty things in the way of seeing what we want, even women think entirely alike, you’ll know it’s probably nonsense, in the most fair-minded and honest of us, and that journals — and either examine the literature yourself, or ignore it. unless there is a new theory to be debunked — generally prefer Not to say scientific research is totally pointless — they’ll get findings over “we looked, but we didn’t see anything. Yet there the truth in the end — but there’s no point being upset about are other thorn-covered obstacles which we see less often last month’s tenure-seeking tome by somebody in Women’s while they turn us back from truth. and Gender Studies. Instead, realize what many others have Towering and yet forgotten among these problems is that said before: Science is human. scientists are looking for too many things at once, so some of them are statistically certain to turn up with a false positive. — Gerard Keiser, Even worse, if they don’t find anything they were looking for, linguistics and classical languages junior they might search after anything they can publish, any statistically significant correlation related to something in their field. Comment on this column at OUDaily.com

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Photo Editor Online Editor Multimedia Editor Editorial Adviser

e-mail: dailynews@ou.edu

As I sit here at my computer on what would be the 100th birthday of our 40th president, I cannot help but find myself in absolute awe of what Ronald Wilson Reagan accomplished.

A man who sat at the helm during a disastrous period marked by ludicrous economic policy, skyrocketing debt, a dramatic increase in poverty, a ridiculous turkey shoot in Grenada, U.S. support of Saddam Hussein and Osama Bin Laden, the Savings and Loan crisis and the Iran-Contra scandal has successfully duped the American people into thinking that he was actually a competent leader. Astounding.

Reagan swept into the White House in 1980 with a campaign in which he promised to never negotiate with terrorists and to restore Christian values to our nation.

Once in office though, he proceeded to seek the counsel of an astrologer while overseeing the executive branch’s conducting of illegal arms sales to Iran (and funneling profits to glorified drug cartels) in exchange for the release of American hostages.

Sadly, shameless hypocrisies such as these were not the exception, but rather, the norm for the Reagan presidency.

Iran-Contra, in which 14 administration officials including the Secretary of Defense were indicted (11 convicted), was not the sole incident in which Reagan showed his flexibility when it came to the whole “terrorist” thing.

In 1982, he had Iraq removed from the State Department’s list of terrorist supporting nations, despite the fact that Iraq was supporting Palestinian militant groups.

He then proceeded to extend credit to Iraq, which provided them more money for chemical and biological weapons.

This is not Then, in 1983, he ordered a man who the CIA to begin sharing indeserves a telligence with the Iraqi mil21-gun salute itar y so they would know where to target the weapons or wistful recollections of that the U.S. was publicly denouncing. days past.”

Oh, and he also ramped up support to a certain Saudi “freedom fighter” in Afghanistan.

Skipping over the utterly unjustified invasion of Grenada, the true legacy of the 40th president was reflected in the concept that bears his namesake: Reaganomics.

Reaganomics was pretty simple: If you institute enormous tax cuts for the wealthiest people in the country, then the amount of money that the federal government takes in will magically increase.

Furthermore, if you deregulate banks, eviscerate the Environmental Protection Agency (“Trees cause more pollution than automobiles”), and bust up labor unions, then the quality of life for all Americans will improve.

This was an idea so shamefully stupid that Reagan’s own vice president, George H.W. Bush, referred to Reagan’s policies as “voodoo economics.”

The results of these unconscionable policies were perfectly predictable. The rich got richer, while the poor got poorer. Toxic industrial wastes were dumped into our waters and spewed into our air. National debt tripled to over $2.19 trillion (when the Democratic Congress passed less than $50 billion total in increases over Reagan’s proposed budget spread over 8 years). And banks declared open season on financial regulations that had been in place since the Great Depression.

Most people don’t remember that we’ve had to bail the banks out before. But that is exactly what happened during the Savings and Loan crisis — to the tune of $130 billion taxpayer dollars. And once again, it was the result of the stripping of New Deal initiatives designed to protect consumers from the overtly risky practices of an unregulated Wall Street. It took us 50 years to forget the first time, and only 20 the second. We had better start lubing up for round three at this rate.

Reagan’s legacy consists of propagating the myths of tax cuts paying for themselves, national debt being inconsequential, welfare queens (which reporters discovered he simply made up), free markets being selfregulating panaceas and that Jesus doesn’t want us to help the destitute because the homeless are homeless “by choice.”

This is not a man who deserves a 21-gun salute or wistful recollections of days past. This cretinous vermin ought to have had his casket chucked into the surging rivers of waste that once again flow into our oceans as a result of his stripping of environmental protections.

We ought to hold in contempt this unabashedly incompetent swine for his legacy of irresponsibility and ignorance. It’s a long way down to hell, but in the spirit of charity, I suppose the road The Gipper walks might be paved with good intent.

Goodbye, Ronald Wilson Reagan. Let us hope your time never comes again.

— Travis Grogan, political science and communication senior

Comment on this column at OUDaily.com

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Guest columns are accepted and printed at the editor’s discretion.

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 edited for space. Students must list their major and classification. Submit letters Sunday through Thursday in 160 Copeland Hall. Letters also can be e-mailed to dailyopinion@ou.edu.

Our View is the voice of The Oklahoma Daily Editorial Board, which consists of the editorial staff. The board meets at 5 p.m. Sunday through Thursday in 160 Copeland Hall.

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

The Oklahoma Daily | OUDaily.com

Tuesday, February 8, 2011 • 5

LIFE&ARTS

OUDAILY.COM ›› Visit the Life & Arts section to read more album reviews and previews

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

Albums to pick up this semester

Now that the ice has thawed, The Daily provides its list of new music slated for release this semester

JAMES BLAKE

THE STROKES

James Blake (R & S)

Angles (EMI Records)

Don’t freak out if you haven’t heard of this 21-year-old Londoner, but do circle that release date on your calendar with your boldest, brightest pen. Blake’s trio of 2010 EPs showcased a lot of talent in the fields of sampling, dubstep and minimalist dance music.

If the initial singles making the rounds online, “Wilhelms Scream” and the Feist cover “Limit To Your Love,” are any indicators, then we may just have 2011’s greatest work of high art on our hard drives.

Released Monday.

“I remember when we used to play this song in empty bars,” Julian Casablancas said a splitsecond before his band kicked into the nostalgia-snorter “Someday” in front of tens of thousands of fans at Austin City Limits last fall.

It’s been that kind of bar band-to-rock gods journey for The Strokes, who named Angles after its approach to recording the band’s first record in five years.

“It comes from five different people,” guitarist Albert Hammond Jr. told Rolling Stone magazine. Rolling Stone critic David Fricke called it “reassuring” for fans of the band’s debut album, “Is This It.” Good news, indeed.

Due out March 21.

LUPE FIASCO Lasers (Atlantic Records)

THE LONELY ISLAND

MATT CARNEY AND RYAN QUERBACH The Oklahoma Daily

Spring needs Fleet Foxes like flowers need admirers. Because really, what’s the point of natural beauty if nobody celebrates it with art?

Luckily enough, we will have such a record just in time to divert our attention away from studying for midterms to notice the little plant life blooming all across the South Oval garden.

Plenty of other artists will be vying for our college-aged attentions as well — be they electronic, acoustic, pop, indie, hip-hop or rock ‘n’ roll.

Two of The Daily’s music fiends got together and compiled a list of our most anticipated releases this semester. So, break out your calendars and headphones and let’s get to it.

Largely due to label disputes, Lupe Fiasco hasn’t dropped an album in more than three years. He’ll change that in March with his third studio album, “Lasers.” The Modest Mouseinspired first single, “The Show Goes On,” has had quite a buzz since its release in October and subsequent video in December.

Lupe said the album will be a little more commercial than his previous works, but don’t expect that to hamper his outstanding lyrical ability. This is the album hip-hop fans should look forward to most in 2011.

Due out March 8.

R.E.M.

TBA (Universal Republic)

Only two comedy albums in and Andy Samberg’s gang are already rehashing the same song structures with new collaborators and lyrics. Good thing that doesn’t make their antics any less funny. T-Pain and Akon might as well be interchangeable on “I’m On A Boat” and “I Just Had Sex” but that’s the point — pop music is always fundamentally the same, even when the names and faces change.

As long as they keep employing collaborators like Rihanna and Jack Black properly, these guys will keep bringing the funny.

Date TBA. LADY GAGA

Helplessness Blues (Sub Pop)

Judging by how snarky he was between songs at his band’s 2008 Austin City Limits set, lead singer Robin Pecknold is probably the one tweeting from the @Fleetfoxes account.

Unfortunately, he’s not as forthcoming as @kanyewest, so we can only speculate on the sequel to the band’s lovely eponymous debut.

Expect plenty of multi-part harmonies, classical instruments and lyrics about natural beauty.

Date to be announced.

After 15 studio records, R.E.M. probably appeals more to college faculty than students.

But that doesn’t make early releases like “Überlin” and “Mine Smell Like Honey” any less meaningful.

Bassist Mike Mills told Spin magazine to expect an introspective record with a lot of personality in the characters. “There are some really slow, beautiful songs; there are some nice, mid-tempo ones; and then there are three or four rockers,” Mills said. An impressive list of collaborators includes Canadian singer Peaches, Patti Smith and Pearl Jam front man Eddie Vedder.

Due out March 7.

Born This Way (Interscope)

If you thought Lady Gaga was just some dance-pop freaker with a penchant for Muppet-poaching, then read what she told the BBC about “Born This Way” in January. “The album’s music combines electronic music with these sort of major, epic, I dare to even say metal, rock ’n’ roll, pop, anthemic stylesmelodies with really sledgehammering dance beats,” Gaga said.

If she makes good on that promise, the rest of the world may just join up with her “little monsters.”

Due out May 23.

KANYE WEST AND JAY-Z Wa Watch the Throne (Def Jam Recordings)

Jay-Z

Kanye West isn’t just on top of hip-hop right now, he’s on top of music following “My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy.”

Jay-Z (shown left) has always been near the top. With that in mind, these two should combine combi for a solid project with “Watch the Throne.

Throne ” However, How the first single “H.A.M” was far from outstanding.

The song has a cool beat, but the outsta lyrics in i the rappers’ verses seem rushed and sloppy. sloppy One has to hope that Kanye and Jay don’t let eg get in the way of working hard on this their egos project Fan expectations are high, but if “H.A.M” project. is any indication, those expectations might be shatter shattered.

Date TBA.

THE DAILY’S

NEW MUSIC TUESDAY Read more at OUDaily.com

CUT COPY Zonoscope (Modular Recordings) Rating:

Cut Copy is an Australian band considered to be a blend of synthpop and 80s music. “Zonoscope,” the band’s third album, was released today.

The band has enough sound to provide a relaxing evening while being able to establish a mood for a laserfilled dance party.

With more than an hour of music, Zonoscope keeps the party going without seeming drawn out or overdone.

Cut Copy is a prominent band within the independent music scene, and while “Zonoscope” is still authentic, it has commercial appeal and the songs transfer into multiple genres.

— Leesa Allmond/The Daily STEEL MAGNOLIA Steel Magnolia (Big Machine Records) Rating: 1/2

Collapse Into Now (Warner Brothers )

FLEET FOXES

REVIEWS, PREVIEWS AND MORE

Other releases to hear

With an even mixture of twangy chords and upbeat riffs, Steel Magnolia’s debut album has enough substance to satisfy die-hard country fans and southern popsters.

Included on the album are the singles, “Keep On Lovin’ You” and “Just By Being You (Halo and Wings).”

Fans of the singles and the band’s cutesy style won’t be let down by the rest of the debut effort.

“Steel Magnolia” may not be an Earth-shattering addition to Nashville, but the duo’s musical ability certainly has the potential to develop into something more original down the road.

— Emily Hopkins/The Daily

» The Beastie Boys — “Hot Sauce Committee, Vol. 2” (TBA)

THE DECEMBERISTS

» Bright Eyes — “The People’s Key” (Feb. 15)

The King is Dead (Capitol Records)

» Dr. Dre — “Detox” (April 20)

Rating: 1/2

» Drive-By Truckers — “Go-Go Boots” (Feb. 15) » The Go! Team — “Rolling Blackouts” (Feb. 1) » Jay Electronica — “Act II” (TBA) » Lykke Li — “Wounded Rhymes” (March 1) » Wye Oak — “Civilian” (March 8)

Despite its penchant for all things involving the sea, The Decemberists is one of the more well-known independent bands in the U.S. On its new album, “The King is Dead,” the band sticks to telling stories using obscure maritime vocabulary.

The best songs on the album are those that address issues within relationships.

However, the tension between telling stories for the stories’ sake and actually trying to get a message across is something The Decemberists still need to work on.

— Janna Gentry/The Daily Have any music news? An album suggestion for our writers? Questions? E-mail us at dailyent@ou.edu.

6 • Tuesday, February 8, 2011

The Oklahoma Daily | OUDaily.com

CLASSIFIEDS

Cameron Jones, advertising manager classifieds@ou.edu • phone: 405-325-2521

HELP WANTED

Fax: 405-325-7517 Campus Address: COH 149A

Phone: 405-325-2521 E-mail: classifieds@ou.edu

GREAT STUDENT JOB PT Leasing Agent, Mon-Fri 12:45-6 Rotating Sats. Pay based on experience.

Must be friendly & detail oriented.

Apply at 2900 Chautauqua Or call 360-6624 for more info.

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Place your display, classified display or classified card ads by 5:00 p.m. 3 business days prior to publication.

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Payment is required at the time the ad is placed. Credit cards, cash, money orders or local checks accepted.

FIND A JOB in the CLASSIFIEDS

RATES Line Ad There is a 2 line minimum charge; approximately 42 characters per line, including spaces and punctuation.

(Cost = Days x # lines x $/line) 10-14 days.........$1.15/line 15-19 days.........$1.00/line 20-29 days........$ .90/line 30+ days ........ $ .85/line

1 day ..................$4.25/line 2 days ................$2.50/line 3-4 days.............$2.00/line 5-9 days.............$1.50/line

climate control It’s simple. Heat and cool your home smartly with ENERGY STAR® to reduce your home energy use and make a big difference in the fight against air pollution.

Classified Display, Classified Card Ad or Game Sponsorship Contact an Acct Executive for details at 325-2521.

2 col (3.25 in) x 2.25 inches

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

Crossword ........$515/month

POLICY

Being

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.

NUMBER ONE is nothing to celebrate.

The Oklahoma Daily will not knowingly accept advertisements that discriminate on the basis of race, color, gender, religious preference, national origin or sexual orientation. Violations of this policy should be reported to The Oklahoma Daily Business Office at 325-2521.

This year, more than 163,000 people will die from lung cancer—making it America’s

NUMBER ONE

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.

cancer killer.

But new treatments offer hope.

Join Lung Cancer Alliance in the fight against this disease.

YOUR HOME CAN CAUSE TWICE AS MANY GREENHOUSE GASES AS A CAR.

All ads are subject to acceptance by The Oklahoma Daily. Ad acceptance may be re-evaluated at any time.

Discover steps you can take to reduce air pollution from your home and car at energystar.gov. lungcanceralliance.org

ENERGY STAR® is sponsored by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the U.S. Department of Energy.

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Universal Crossword

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5

6

8 5

1 9 4 9 4 7 2 3 8 7 1 8 6 2 7 1 2 6 4 3 1

Previous Solution 7 9 3 4 2 5 6 8 1

4 8 5 3 1 6 2 9 7

6 1 2 9 8 7 3 4 5

8 7 1 6 9 4 5 3 2

3 2 9 7 5 8 1 6 4

5 4 6 1 3 2 9 7 8

9 6 4 2 7 1 8 5 3

2 5 7 8 6 3 4 1 9

1 3 8 5 4 9 7 2 6

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.

ACROSS 1 Hit a type of single 6 Post-shoveling feeling 10 ___ by Dana (fragrance) 14 Synagogue reading 15 Denials 16 Winged 17 Quiet show of approval?

20 “Miracle on Ice” chant 21 Wealth 22 Said twice, a Latin dance 25 Scrambled or poached item 27 Triple-layer cookies 28 Group of six 30 Fail to heed the “Measure twice, cut once” adage 34 Defendant’s story 35 Curved part of the foot 36 Stein fillers 40 Aloof refusal to speak 43 Guinness book adjective 44 Unimaginably long time (Var.) 45 Valuable violin 46 Wispy clouds 47 Puzzling problem 48 Perform ineptly 52 Unmannerly man 54 60-min.

periods 55 Working (with) 59 Launching platform 61 1982 Meryl Streep thriller 66 Scholarly book 67 Unrivaled rating 68 River conveyance 69 Snippy comeback 70 1917 revolution casualty 71 Slip through the clutches of DOWN 1 “Takin’ Care of Business” group, to fans 2 Silent film star Chaney 3 Get a lode of this 4 Where “Lost” was filmed 5 Introduced gradually 6 Addition word 7 Nickname for late night’s O’Brien 8 Album that included “Ticket to Ride” 9 Biblical twin 10 Narrow down 11 Dress with some flare?

12 Baccarat call 13 Impulses 18 Henpeck 19 Move forcefully (through) 22 Yawning

fissure 23 Prefix meaning “sun” 24 Angles between twigs and stems 26 Gadget for cheese 29 Whistle when the cops come, e.g.

31 Goof 32 Pretty as a picture postcard 33 Unmasker’s cry 36 Bullets and such 37 Rover’s restraint 38 Invitation from within 39 Removes lumps from batter 41 ___ chi 42 Hoof with a heel and a

toe?

46 Stocking stuffer for a naughty child 48 Moistens a fern 49 Fly ___ rage 50 Goes down a few dress sizes 51 Removes from text 53 Do the same as 56 Tin-caneating animal, supposedly 57 Unaccountedfor radar blips 58 Volcano near Messina 60 Clock face 62 Title for a queen: ___ Majesty 63 Prey for a pride 64 Mason’s brick carrier 65 What your driver may hit

PREVIOUS PUZZLE ANSWER

© 2011 Universal Uclick www.upuzzles.com

NOISE REDUCTION by Oscar Puma

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

Spring Specials

The Oklahoma Daily | OUDaily.com

Tuesday, February 8, 2011 • 7

SPORTS

OUDAILY.COM ›› Free throws were a major factor in OU’s 81-75 loss to Oklahoma State on Sunday

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

COLUMN NOTEBOOK

Starters key in men’s wins The OU men’s basketball team is relying heavily on the starting five this season.

Starters have scored 345 of the Sooners’ 380 total points, more than 90 percent.

Each of Oklahoma’s starters also averaged at least 12.0 points during the last five games.

Robinson moves up record books OU women’s basketball senior guard Danielle Robinson moved into fifth in career points for the program.

Robinson (1,926) has scored six more than previous No. 5 Stacey Dales (1998-2002).

Robinson also needs 74 points, 35 assists and 16 steals to become just the third NCAA Division I women’s basketball player to total 2,000 points, 700 assists and 300 steals in a career.

OU gymnasts stay dominant The No. 5 OU women’s gymnastics program extended its nationleading regular-season win streak to 22 on Sunday.

The Sooners, still unbeaten in 2011 at 8-0, topped their fifth ranked opponent already this season by beating No. 10 Nebraska over the weekend.

Tennis upsets top opponents The OU women’s tennis team continues to surprise by upsetting a pair of higher-ranked opponents in its last two matches.

The 31st-ranked Sooners (3-1) beat No. 14 Arkansas on Sunday after downing No. 29 UNLV on Jan. 28.

OU’s only loss this season was to topranked Stanford, winner of last season’s national championship.

— Daily staff reports

NBA All-Star voting needs overhaul 2011 NBA All-Star Rosters

STAFF COLUMN UMN

RJ Young

EAST The current system for selecting NBA All-Stars is regrettable, repugnant and in need of an overhaul.

For years, we have been subject to over-the-hill NBA statesmen treating the NBA All-Star game like their own personal pick-up game.

We only have ourselves to blame. According to the NBA, nearly 2.5 million votes were cast during this year’s All-Star balloting, and we still managed to get it wrong.

The prominent example of the most flagrant flaw in the system is Yao Ming.

There is no doubt Yao was once a premier player in the NBA. The 7-foot-6-inch center was selected No. 1 overall in the 2002 draft by the Houston Rockets. In Yao’s first 246 games, he missed just two due to injury. Fans remember that.

The 2008-09 season was Yao’s best by far as he averaged 26.8 points, 9.7 rebounds and 2.7 blocks per game. He’s also been selected to five NBA All-Pro teams.

Fans remember that.

Fans don’t remember the 25 games Yao missed during the 2005-06 regular season and the 34 games he missed during the 2008-09 season.

But even that doesn’t matter much because, after all, the 2011 All-Star selection should only take into account statistical performance from this season.

So far in 2010-11, Yao has played in five games.

How can you reward a player with an All-Star selection if he has only played in five games, one of which he played just six minutes in, scored zero points and brought down one rebound?

The vast majority of NBA fans found a way to reward him again.

Starters LeBron James (Miami) Amar’e Stoudemire (N.Y.) Dwayne Wade (Miami) Derrick Rose (Chicago) Dwight Howard (Orlando) Reserves Ray Allen (Boston) Chris Bosh (Miami) Kevin Garnett (Boston) Al Horford (Atlanta) Joe Johnson (Atlanta) Paul Pierce (Boston) Rajon Rondo (Boston) Coach Doc Rivers (Boston)

WEST Starters Kevin Durant (OKC) Carmelo Anthony (Denver) Kobe Bryant (L.A. Lakers) Chris Paul (New Orleans) Yao Ming (Houston)* *replaced by Kevin Love (Minnesota) due to injury

WILFREDO LEE/AP

Los Angeles Clippers forward and former Sooner star Blake Griffin (32) guards Miami Heat forward LeBron James (6) during the first half of the Clippers-Heat game Sunday in Miami. Both Griffin and James were named to the 2011 NBA All-Star team Thursday.

This is Yao’s eighth straight selection to the Western Conference All-Star team, his seventh as its starting center, meaning...Yao has been selected to more Western Conference All-Star teams than he has played games this year.

The NBA is home to the biggest, most eclectic group of elite basketball players in the world, yet a seven-footer on injured reserve for a team that sits at the bottom of the

Southwest Division is the best the Western Conference has to offer at center?

Not likely.

The majority of NBA fans aren’t paying attention.

They would have been better selecting the ghost of Wilt Chamberlain to start this year’s game.

I’m glad the NBA believes in its fans enough to solicit their opinion in the middle of the regular season for a game that doesn’t matter and has

become the backdrop to the slam dunk contest.

These selections can’t be taken seriously anymore; not when some of the best players in the game today have to receive mercy votes from 30 NBA coaches on to a team they deserved to be on in the first place.

Democracy at work, I guess.

— RJ Young, journalism grad student

MEN’S BASKETBALL

NBA

Bradford to return to Norman

Griffin to headline dunk contest

Former OU quarterback Sam Bradford will be at Wednesday’s Oklahoma-Texas men’s basketball game.

Recently named the AP NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year, the St. Louis Rams field general returns to Norman as part of “Cheer Like a Champion” Night at Lloyd Noble Center.

All fans will receive a “Cheer Like a Champion” T-shirt to help “white-out” Lloyd Noble for the rivalry game, which will be broadcast on ESPN2.

The first 5,000 fans at the game will receive commemorative Sam Bradford posters, and randomly selected fans will win autographed Bradford posters and merchandise.

Former Sooner basketball standout Blake Griffin will compete in the NBA Slam Dunk Contest during the All-Star Weekend.

The Los Angeles Clippers forward, who sat out all last season due to injury, has made frequent appearances on ESPN SportsCenter’s Top-10 Plays for his dunks already this year.

Griffin will join Milwaukee’s Brandon Jennings, Washington’s JaVale McGee and Oklahoma City’s Serge Ibaka in the competition.

— Daily staff reports

Reserves Tim Duncan (San Antonio) Manu Ginobili (San Antonio) Pau Gasol (LA. Lakers) Blake Griffin (L.A. Clippers) Dirk Nowitzki (Dallas) Russell Westbrook (OKC) Deron Williams (Utah) Coach Gregg Popovich (San Antonio)

NBA All-Star Schedule FRIDAY, FEB. 18 » ESPN 6 p.m. — Celebrity Game » TNT 8 p.m. — Rookie Challenge 8:30 p.m. — Slam Dunk Contest

SATURDAY, FEB. 19 » TNT 7:30 p.m. — All-Star Saturday Night

SUNDAY, FEB. 20 » TNT 6 p.m. — All-Star Game

8 • Tuesday, February 8, 2011

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Don’t Miss the Chance to Nominate an OU Professor, Staff Member or Student for a $20,000 prize!

All undergraduate, graduate and professional students as well as full-time faculty and staff members on OU’s Norman, Oklahoma City and Tulsa campuses are eligible to be nominated for the $20,000 Otis Sullivant Award. Only members of the OU community are eligible to be considered for the prize.

The award is funded by a $500,000 endowment established by Edith Kinney Gaylord of Oklahoma City shortly before her death in 2001. It is named in honor of the late Otis Sullivant, the chief political writer for the Daily Oklahoman who for 40 years was one of the state’s most influential journalists.

Nominees should exhibit intuitiveness, instant comprehension and empathy, be observant and interpret from their experience. The benefit to society and the broader community, which comes from the nominee’s insight, also will be considered.

Nominations for the Sullivant Award may be made by calling Sherry Evans at the President’s Office at 325-3916, writing to Evans at the Office of the President, 660 Parrington Oval, Room 110, Norman, OK 73019-0390, or by picking up forms at the President’s Office. Applications must be submitted no later than 5 p.m. Friday, Feb. 18.

The University of Oklahoma is an equal opportunity institution.

- THE PRIDE OF OKLAHOMA