The Oklahoma Daily

SPORTS • PAGE A5

LIFE & ARTS • PAGE B2

Seniors to play final home game

New film expands genre

Danielle Robinson (shown left) and a trio of women’s basketball seniors will hit the court for the last time tonight at Lloyd Noble Center.

The animated film “Rango” offers a new perspective on a genre typically thought of with children in mind.

The University of Oklahoma’s independent student voice since 1916

Wednesday, March 2, 2011

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4.5% tuition hike likely, report states Tuition could rise up to $83 per credit hour for in-state students, $317.40 for nonresidents JARED RADER The Oklahoma Daily

OU’s tuition could increase 4.5 percent after fiscal year 2011, a major credit rating agency stated in its assessment of OU’s ability to pay back investors.

Fitch Ratings, one of the top three credit rating agencies along with Standard & Poor’s and Moody’s Investor Service, reported the possible tuition increase in a Jan. 18 report evaluating OU’s credit.

OU officials specified a 4.5 percent increase during conversations with Fitch analysts, said James George ,an analyst from the Fitch group.

“That number came from the school, and they have to verify that before we put it out in the press,” George said.

However, during a meeting with students in Walker Tower on Tuesday, OU President David Boren said specific tuition and fee increases won’t be decided until OU’s appropriation from the Oklahoma Legislature is determined.

“It has to be a prediction,” Boren said of Fitch’s statement on OU’s tuition increase. “If I don’t know it, how do they know it?”

Fitch Ratings assessed the $44 million in general revenue

bonds issued by the OU Board of Regents, giving them an “AA” rating, the third highest rating that can be given to an institution, meaning there is little risk that OU would not be able to pay back its bonds.

Bonds are similar to loans in that borrowers — OU in this case — sell bonds to investors to finance operations. OU must pay the money back with interest at fixed intervals.

Credit rating agencies, such as Fitch, assess the ability of financial institutions to pay back their bonds. Favorable ratings indicate there is a low level of risk for investors to buy

SEE TUITION PAGE 3

OU college pioneers biomarker generator

STUDENTS SWING INTO SPRING

College of Pharmacy’s new diagnostic tool to be used in full-body scans to identify Alzheimer’s, tumors KATHLEEN EVANS The Oklahoma Daily

LILLY CHAPA/THE DAILY

Multidisciplinary studies senior Ian Scruggs, left, and advertising sophomore Alexa Mihalick, right, swing dance during an RSA activity Tuesday evening. Scruggs said students meet at 8 p.m. Friday in Dale Hall to swing dance, and anyone is welcome.

Professor sheds light on Middle East conflict Article for The Huffington Post discusses causes of Middle Eastern unrest; offers advice to U.S. JOSH BURKS The Oklahoma Daily

An OU professor has stepped into the spotlight after publishing an article in a national news website.

Religious Studies Program Director Charles Kimball recently authored an editorial article featured on The Huffington Post, a website that aggragates news from across the nation.

The article, titled “The Fallacy of the ‘Clash of Civilizations,’” first appeared on The Huffington Post on Feb. 17, following the unrest that swept across Egypt and is still being felt near the Middle East.

“As I’m watching all of this unfold in Egypt and following on Twitter, I was struck by what was not being talked about,” Kimball said. “So I decided to write a piece.”

The article was written to dispute the mantra that political unrest in the Middle East is the result of differing beliefs between Muslims and Christians, Kimball said.

“[The article] really flies in the face of offered advice and a warning for U.S. those who set up a framework of ‘us versus policymakers. them,’” Kimball said. “One of the things I’m “A good deal of the anger expressed tofocused on in my book is a better frame- ward the United States is connected to the work for understanding … We have to get fact that in places like Egypt, the U.S. has away from the idea that all been perceived as enabling Muslims want one thing.”

[President Hosni] Mubarak to Kimball’s latest book, “When stay in power,” Kimball said.

Religion Becomes Lethal,” Defense Secretary Robert is set to be released April 12 Gates told West Point cadets and will focus on the relationFriday it is unlikely the U.S. ship between religion and will ever be involved in anothgovernment. er change of government like “Religion and politics are althose that have taken place in ways connected, so the idea Iraq and Afghanistan, The New of complete separation hasn’t York Times reported. fared well in history, and it will Meanwhile, many Libyans Charles Kimball not work in the near future — continue to demand the rein part because the vast majority of people moval of leader Moammar Gadhafi. The alive today and who have ever lived per- U.S. has pressed Gadhafi to leave office, acceive themselves to be religious,” Kimball cording to The Associated Press. said.

The U.S. must take a stand for principles Kimball said he has traveled to the of democracy without trying to orchestrate Middle East 40 times in the past 35 years, events in other countries, Kimball said. living at one time within two miles of Tahrir Kimball has appeared on “The O’Reilly Square in downtown Cairo.

Factor” and is hoping to book an appearAmid the ongoing struggle for control in ance on “The Daily Show” with the release several Middle Eastern countries, Kimball of his new book.

A LOOK AT WHAT’S ON Visit the news section for a recap of Tuesday’s Norman Municipal Special Election and a possible Ward 7 runoff

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The OU College of Pharmacy will be the first institution in the world to install and use a biomarker generator for help in imaging and diagnosing diseases.

A biomarker generator creates a radiation tag doctors can look for in scans of the body to identify substances, such as cancerous tumors or brain plaques associated with Alzheimer’s disease, said Vibhudutta Awasthi, College of Pharmacy researcher and professor.

“Biomarkers are mostly for diagnostic work,” Awasthi said. “They are meant to specifically pick a disease process, localize the process in the body, tell where it is, the extent of it and then treatment planning and monitoring.”

Similar machines called cyclotrons exist, but they require a 4,000-square foot facility, according to a press release. This new biomarker generator is about onefifth that size.

“This is the first smallest one that has been named as a biomarker generator,” Awasthi said. “Because of its simplicity, it can produce biomarkers on demand. If a patient is in the clinic and that patient needs an imaging study using a certain biomarker, then you can start by pushing the button, and within 30 to 40 minutes you can have a dose for that patient.”

Without the machine, the lab relied on ordering radioactive biomarkers from companies in Dallas, which had a limited supply, Awasthi said. Also, the sample decays over time, so only 25 percent of the sample is left after the four-hour transport from Dallas.

Awasthi said he talked to the manufacturer, Advanced Biomarker Technologies, for the past three years learning about the machine.

“The persistence was one of the biggest factors,” Awasthi said. “I personally was in touch with the company over the last three years and how they were evolving this machine. The persistence and the variety of expertise here makes it very attractive for the company to position this machine here.”

The machine would not have been possible without the College of Pharmacy’s leadership who took an interest in the machine and supported Awasthi, he said.

Because the machine is a world-first, international researchers and several U.S. researchers have taken an interest in the machine and its usefulness, Awasthi said.

“There’s a lot of curiosity about it,” Awasthi said. “People from Columbia, South America, India and several groups in the United States have expressed interested in visiting this place. It is an international attraction.”

One of the main advantages to the SEE SCANNER PAGE 3

TODAY’S WEATHER

73°| 48° Tomorrow: Partly cloudy, high of 75 degrees

A2 • Wednesday, March 2, 2011

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CAMPUS

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

Leadership positions to be filled Students will vote to fill top student government slots March 29 and 30 KATHLEEN EVANS The Oklahoma Daily

Students will take to the polls March 29 and 30 to vote for campus leaders.

The positions up for election are UOSA president and vice president, CAC chair, Student Bar Association president, Housing Center Student Association and Undergraduate Student Congress seats.

UOSA PRESIDENT, VICE PRESIDENT

Today around campus Âť Shelby Knox will hold a lecture and discussion about people who started a Gay-Straight Alliance in Lubbock, Texas, at 10:30 a.m. in the Union’s Regents Room. Âť Free Health and Fitness Seminar “Delicious and healthy recipes, bring yours and share tooâ€? at noon in the Huston Huffman Fitness Center conference room. Âť R.J. Testermen of Financial Aid Services will present “Getting Financial Help, FASFAâ€? from 1 to 2 p.m. in Wagner Hall, Room 245. Âť Women’s basketball will play Oklahoma State at 7 p.m. in Lloyd Noble Center. Âť Joel Rosenthal, a leader in international ethics, will hold a discussion called “The Elements of Global Ethicsâ€? from 7:30 p.m. to 9 p.m. in the Fred Jones Jr. Museum of Art.

This is the top student leadership position at OU, and presidents and vice presidents run in pairs. “The UOSA president and vice president have the honor of representing the student body in its entirety to the Norman Community, the OU Administration and the state of Oklahoma,� said Franz Zenteno, current UOSA president and international studies graduate student.

Examples of what Zenteno and Cory Lloyd, UOSA vice president and advertising senior, have accomplished this semester include increasing electrical outlets in Bizzell Memorial Library, student parking near Sarkeys Energy Center and the number of laptops students can rent, according to Daily records.

Zenteno said he encourages students to learn about what the candidates hope to accomplish in office to vote for the best leader. “What do you believe we need? Whose campaign vision is one that you can identify with?� Zenteno said. “Through understanding the platforms, we will be able to make an educated decision and continue to have an impact on our own OU experiences with the power of our votes.�

Candidates are political science junior Forrest Bennett and journalism junior Katherine Borgerding against political science and public relations junior Hannah Morris and zoology junior Laura Bock.

Laura Bock and Hannah Morris

Forrest Bennett and Katherine Borgerding

STUDENT BAR ASSOCIATION PRESIDENT

Thursday, March 3 Âť Jim Ehleringer will lecture on “Forensic Applications of Stable Isotopesâ€? at 3:30 p.m. in Sarkeys Energy Center, Room A235. Âť OU Health Services will present the lecture, “Managing Stress,â€? from 4 to 5 p.m. in Wagner Hall, Room 245. Âť Aili Tripp, political science and women’s and gender studies professor at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, will deliver a lecture on “Women, Power and Peacemaking in Africaâ€? at 4:30 p.m. in Dale Hall, Room 112. Âť Activist-in-Residence Shelby Knox will lecture about women’s history and her own Radical Women’s History Project at 7 p.m. in the Union’s Regents Room. Âť OU Opera: Two Stravinsky Operas — Marva and the Nightingale will perform at 8 p.m. in the Reynolds Performing Arts Center.

Friday, March 4

The Student Bar Association is the government for the OU College of Law, according to the UOSA Constitution.

However, it is not part of UOSA. The Student Bar Association reaches out to law students through programming and events, such a campus tailgate, a reception of the OU College of Law Dean Andrew Coats and a 5K run, according to its website.

Second-year law student Jeff Riles is running unopposed for the presidential position.

For descriptions of Campus Activities Council chair, Housing Center Student Association president and Undergraduate Student Congress representatives, read Thursday’s Daily.

New machine enhances meteorology program

High-ranked chess player issues challenge A student and No. 3 chess player in the state challenged chess players to a simultaneous chess exhibition in the sunken garden of the south oval. John Schmidt planned to place all of his challengers in a circle and play each competitor at the same time.

In the past, he has played up to 40 people. Schmidt wanted a least 200 to show up for this match.

The OU School of Meteorology has acquired new technology that will help students and researchers learn more about the lowest level of Earth’s atmosphere.

OU recently acquired a Sonic Detection and Ranging Apparatus, or sodar, as part of a grant from the National Science Foundation.

Sodar is a device similar to radar, but uses sound waves instead of radio waves to create an image, meteorology professor Phillip Chilson said.

The school will use the device to better understand the boundary layer of the atmosphere, Chilson said. “Radar can’t accurately sample the boundary layer because trees and buildings can get in the way, but sodar is able to sample the layer much more accurately,� Chilson said.

Students and professors installed the sodar in one afternoon.

Chilson said once they understand all the functions and controls of the machine, they plan to take it to other sites around Oklahoma to gain more information.

Chilson said the data collected can help study air quality, wind energy and forecasting, and can be used to validate information produced by other projects. “OU has a very strong radar program, and the new sodar really complements it well,�

Chilson said.

— Source: The Oklahoma Daily archives

— Lily Chapa/The Daily

Âť Health Science Center “First Fridaysâ€? gives OU Health Sciences Center prospective students an opportunity to ask general questions and meet college representatives from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. in Wagner Hall, Room 145. Âť The India Student Association’s India Nite will take place at 6:30 p.m. in Catlett Music Center.

Tickets are $5 for students.

Saturday, March 5  Sooner Spring Tune Up 10k Road Race, designed to train runners preparing for the 2011 OKC Memorial Marathon and Half-Marathon begins at 8 a.m. at 1401 Asp Ave. Early registration is $20.  OU Opera: Two Stravinsky Operas — Marva and the Nightingale will perform at 8 p.m. in the Reynolds Performing Arts Center.  The Fred Jones Jr. Museum of Art will showcase Mediterranean American Art from the Graham D. Williford Collection from March 5 to May 15.

Âť This day in OU history

March 2, 1974 Former coffee house used by dorms closes Muldrow tower basement in Adams formerly housed the coffee house Standing Room Only. It would open on the weekends and offer live music and exotic drinks to students. After a year in business, it was shut down from inadequate funding and attendance. It was then made available to student organizations or facilities who wished to reserve the venue for parties or evens. The coffee house wasn’t allowed to serve beer; but, private parties were allowed to bring their own.

Jeff Riles

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NEWS

The Oklahoma Daily | OUDaily.com

Norman municipal preliminary election results Ward 1 Roger Gallagher: 57.53% Chris Lewis: 42.47% Ward 5 Howard Saxion: 47.66% Dave Spaulding: 52.34% Ward 7 Stephen Holman: 26.02% Brande Kauffman: 26.02% Linda Lockett: 47.95% Sanitation Rate increase The proposed $2.50 per month increase on trash and recycling is because of higher costs within the department. The money would go towards paying for trucks, health insurance, labor, and increases in diesel fuel.

For: 63.39% Against: 36.61% City Charter Proposition 1 Will reduce voter registration residency requirements for the mayor and council members from one year to six months.

For: 54.99% Against: 45.01% City Charter Proposition 2 Will allow the city to use accumulated park land fees collected from developers for improving existing parks, instead of creating new ones.

For: 71.22% Against: 28.78% City Charter Proposition 3 Will amend the charter to reflect the current name of the Norman Regional Hospital Authority and will clarify the relationship between Norman and the hospital.

For: 70.25% Against: 29.75% These results are preliminary and the Cleveland County Election Board will certify them Friday.

Honors dean wins award An OU professor was named one of the five Oklahoma Medal for Excellence-winning educators for 2011.

Professor of political science and Honors College Dean David Ray was named as a recipient of this award on the research university level.

“We know that education is the best investment Oklahoma can make in its future,” OU President David Boren said in a press release.

There are five awards given out, one on each level of education, including elementary educators and high school educators.

The recipients of this award will be honored May 21 at a banquet at the Embassy Suites Hotel and Conference Center in Norman. Each will receive a $5,000 cash prize and a glass “Roots and Wings” sculpture by two Oklahoma artists.

The awards are given out by the Oklahoma Foundation for Excellence, established in 1985. The foundation is a nonprofit organization dedicated to recognizing academic excellence in Oklahoma’s public schools.

Ray has received several other teaching awards such as the OU Student Association Award for Outstanding Teacher and Most Inspiring Professor from the Student Athletes Association.

— Carmen Forman/The Daily

Wednesday, March 2, 2011 • A3

TUITION: Boren also approves 10-percent increase in fees Continued from page 1 bonds from institutions.

The bonds issued by the OU Board of Regents are meant “to fund construction of infrastructure and roads as well as the construction and equipping of a multi-tenant office facility on the Norman campus,” according to Fitch’s report.

The university is planning tuition-rate increases of 4.5 percent after 2011 “due to the non-recurring nature of federal stimulus funds,” Fitch’s summary of OU’s credit stated.

The tuition rate increase was cited as a possible source of revenue for the university to pay back its bonds, George said.

The 2011 fiscal year for OU ends on June 30, so it is likely the tuition increase would be implemented fall 2011, George said. However, he said it also could mean the increase may happen fall 2012.

“We talk about these things and definitely get an idea of when certain things are going to be implemented,” George said. “That doesn’t mean they’re going to happen; that doesn’t mean that they won’t happen. It’s just information we get from [the university], and that’s basically the process we go through.”

Boren said no official decision has been made regarding tuition increases, but he hopes any tuition increase will remain in single digits.

Tuition per credit hour for residents is $122.60, and $470.30 for nonresidents, according to the Bursar office’s website. A 4.5 percent increase

for students taking 15 hours per semester would mean an additional $83 in tuition each semester for residents and $317.40 more for nonresidents.

This doesn’t count fee increases. During an OU regents meeting Jan. 27, Boren said he would allow a 10 percent increase in college technology fees because these fees had been frozen for the past two years.

SCANNER: New device localizes diseases Continued from page 1 machine is that biomarkers reduce the number of surgeries and the costs associated with them, Awasthi said.

“In surgery, you don’t always know where [the problem] is, and you cannot just keep cutting everywhere,” Awasthi said. “You need a full-body diagnostic method where you can just inject that image into the whole body. The camera just scans the body and we can diagnose localization and disease process.”

The amount of radiation exposure in the biomarkers is a safe, approved level and everyone operating the machine is trained to use it, Awasthi said.

Researchers will begin using the machine in a lab setting, and once the machine has been tested and protocols have been created, the college will use it in a clinical setting to diagnose human patients.

Installation should be completed within four to six weeks, and researchers should start using it in about two to three months.

The possible tuition increase comes after a 5.1 percent increase in tuition and fees from the 2009-2010 to the 2010-2011 academic year, according to the Chronicle of Higher Education.

Tuition and fees for the 2010-2011 academic year average $7,853.50 for residents and $18,284.50 for nonresidents, according to the Bursar office’s website.

UOSA fills vacant seats, committee positions UOSA Congress appointed five representatives and six associates to vacant seats at its meeting 7 p.m. Tuesday in Adams Hall, Room 150.

Congress appointed Amber Broberg, Misha Acosta, Julie Bock, Sarah Bloss and Cristy Vitale as representatives. Carolina Diaz-Vargas, Whitney Cannon, Austin Kipp, Tonya Kiper, David Murray and Lyubomira Popov were appointed as associates.

“Every single new member here is qualified, passionate and centered on helping the student body ... they have great points of view and great diversity,” said Kelbie Kennedy, co-author of the bill and communication district representative.

Interviews for these positions were held Sunday and Tuesday before the meeting.

Everyone interviewed was appointed as either a representative or an associate.

If they were appointed as an associate it was because positions as a representative in their district were full, said Alyssa Loveless, congress secretary and author of the bill.

Newly appointed engineering representative Misha Acosta said she was thankful and excited to be a part of Congress.

In another bill presented Tuesday, Congress addressed the issue of committee membership. Six committees appointed vice chairs or secretaries.

Newly-appointed committee vice chairs include Zekiel Johnson for congressional administration, Shayna Daitch for external affairs, David Pierce for Problems and Projects Committee and Eric Lyle in Ways and Means Committee.

— Sarah Martin/ The Daily

A4 • Wednesday, March 2, 2011

The Oklahoma Daily | OUDaily.com

OPINION

THUMBS UP ›› OU College of Pharmacy receives biomarker generator to help in diagnosing diseases (page 1)

Tim French, opinion editor dailyopinion@ou.edu • phone: 405-325-3666

OUR VIEW

Facebook ‘shares’ too much information Ten years ago, cell phones were a luxury used primarily for business calls.

Today, children have cell phones capable of navigating the Internet, holding gigabytes of music and reading full books.

We’re happy to see technology advancing, but believe we should be able to choose if our personal information remains private.

Facebook recently decided to create an online phonebook that aggregates mobile phone numbers of Facebook friends and those in your physical cell phone.

Without warning, personal cell phone numbers were made available to anyone

with access to your page. There’s a difference between friending 800 people and wanting 800 people to have your cell phone number.

Another cellular invasion of privacy was announced Monday by AT&T Inc. It will use cell phones’ location-sensing technology to send customers ads and coupons based on location.

While this technology is can only pinpoint users to within a one-mile area and doesn’t use a physical address, we feel this treads too closely to physically tracking users.

Some users may find this a cool new feature, but we still have a problem with

corporations handing out our personal information for financial gains.

We envision numerous unrequested interruptions during class, work and personal time alerting us about the best deals on Campus Corner. While everyone is interested in knowing about great deals, AT&T shouldn’t be allowed to send us the information without consent.

To prevent unsolicited notices, customers should be able to opt out of receiving information.

AT&T and Facebook should e-mail or send messages to all of its users whenever changes

will be made.

We should be asked what information we want to provide and receive, not be forced to find where on our Facebook pages we need to go to remove our phone numbers or what number we need to call to stop receiving cell phone advertisements.

Facebook, and all entities that have our personal information, should ask us what information we wish to provide instead of assuming we would willingly share it.

Comment on this column at OUDaily.com

COLUMN

Protests reveal true motives of police I arrived in Madison, Wisconsin Friday afwhat would happen if there was not enough ternoon looking to spend the weekend occuroom on the ground floor for all of us. He anSTAFF COLUMN MN pying the capitol as part of the now two week swered that perhaps some of us would have battle to prevent the union-busting efforts of to go. This order was ultimately disobeyed by Matt Bruenig nig the Wisconsin state government. those in the capitol, but it was clear this seemI have seen the negative effects of union ingly arbitrary requirement was an effort to busting on workers within my own family, push more people out. and how the staff who are legally forbidden from unionizSunday afternoon was the real showdown. It was on this ing at the University of Oklahoma are treated by the admin- day we had been told everyone would have to be out at 4 istration. Given those experiences, an opportunity to help p.m. In the middle of the day, the police suddenly shifted workers elsewhere could not be passed up. their entrance policy, only letting in one person for every Luckily for me, I arrived just in time for the implementa- two people who left. When inside protesters began chanttion of a plan to push protesters out of the capitol. The large- ing “let them in,” they cried that we were making the cops ly successful strategy was a jittery. The self-appointed predictable combination organizers of the occupation of police harassment, intried somewhat successfully I asked the police officer who told me to move timidation and deception. to get everyone to stop the downstairs what would happen if there was not On Friday afternoon, the pressure. police initially announced As 4 p.m. came, spineless enough room ... He answered that perhaps some a crackdown on bringing Democratic politicians came of us would have to go.” in large amounts of food, in and urged everyone to but said protesters could leave as instructed, a call that bring in sleeping bags, pillows and backpacks. Come Friday was echoed by some of those who had access to the micronight however, right before the doors would be closed for phone. Chants of “hell no, we won’t go” were met with more the night, the policy changed. Protesters could no longer pleas to leave and disparagement of those who intended to bring in sleeping bags and pillows. remain. Those advocating removal kept banking on the Although my group was able to sneak by with sleeping promise made by the police that we could come back the supplies in hand, many others were successfully turned next day in the morning and resume the protest inside the away. The plan from there was obvious: make occupation capitol. as uncomfortable as possible.

This promise was a lie. Come Monday morning, only That same night, police forced those sleeping on the top those with “official business” were let in the capitol, and the two floors (of the four story building) to move to the bot- few hundred protesters brave enough to risk arrest by refustom two floors. This move condensed the protesters, justi- ing to leave were surrounded by dozens of police officers. fied letting less people inside, and forced those remaining The takeaway from this is fairly simple: do not trust the to sleep in filthier areas of the capitol (the lower floors had police or those asking you to do so. The police will lie when more foot traffic and thus were dirtied with muddy snow). convenient, and do not necessarily have your interests in On Saturday, more harassment followed. Various rumors mind. were floated that everyone would be kicked out in the midANDY MANIS/AP dle of the night. Police attempted to condense the protesters — Matt Bruenig, A group of people leave the Wisconsin Capitol on Sunday on the once more, telling everyone on the second floor they must philosophy senior 13th day of protests to oppose the governor’s bill to eliminate move to the ground floor. collective bargaining rights for many state workers.

I asked the police officer who told me to move downstairs Comment on this column at OUDaily.com

COLUMN LETTER TO THE EDITOR

Budget cuts should not override care In the coming weeks Congress is making decisions on the federal budget. In these difficult economic times there will be cuts. I fully understand the need to reduce the deficit.

Our country’s spending has been uncontrolled for too long. However, in our haste for fiscal responsibility, we must not reduce funding and compassion for the world’s poorest.

Through proven and effective programs that help eliminate extreme poverty, these dollars translate into lives saved.

The most remarkable part is that it doesn’t take much. In fact, it only takes less than 1 percent of our federal budget. Less than 1 percent has stopped the transmission of HIV/AIDS from a mother to child thanks to anti-retroviral medications.

Less than 1 percent has helped starving people get food and entire communities get bed nets to stop malaria-carrying mosquitoes in their tracks.

Such a small percentage of our budget has a huge, lasting impact.

I’d like to ask other Sooners to join me. Together, we can help the world’s poorest by calling Senator Inhofe and asking him to protect the foreign affairs budget and let him know that as Americans, we must preserve our leadership role and protect the most vulnerable people around the world.

We can be good stewards of our tax dollars and save lives. It just takes less than 1 percent and making a phone call.

— Melody Hollifield, international and area studies junior

Meredith Moriak Chase Cook Chris Miller Tim French James Corley

contact us

Editor-in-Chief Managing Editor News Editor Opinion Editor Sports Editor

Teacher layoffs hurt students too Last week, it was announced the city of the reason for such drastic layoffs lies in lack Providence, Rhode Island would be sending of funding resulting from the poor state of STAFF COLUMN LUMN termination notices to its nearly 2,000 teachtheir respective budgets. ers to allow for “maximum flexibility” to Teacher layoffs signify bigger classes, inMubeen Shakir make budget cuts. Since these teachers had creased student-faculty ratios, and the loss been terminated, those who are not rehired of underrepresented art, music and physical will be unable to receive pensions, severance education programs. Layoffs not only hurt packages, and the health benefits that were promised with those teachers who are losing their jobs, they hurt the stutheir employment. dents who need them the most and they hurt our country In addition, on Sunday night, New York City Mayor as a whole.

Michael Bloomberg released a school-by-school list of apTeacher’s average salaries state by state, with the highest proximately 4,675 teachers to be laid off in New York City. paid teachers often making no more than $60,000 a year, The layoffs will be based upon the seniority of teachers rath- and some state average salary is as low as $25,000. In our er than merit. own state of Oklahoma, a teacher with a doctoral degree New York City’s poorest neighborhoods in The Bronx, and 25 years of experience will make approximately $46,000 Harlem and Brooklyn with the newest working in the public school system. instructors would be hit hardest, with The real question is how much do some schools losing up to 40 percent of these mayors, state senators, congressTeacher layoffs signify their faculty. men and congresswomen rake in each bigger classes, increased year as they prepare to terminate those When our politicians run for reelecstudent-faculty tion every few years, “education reform” who equip the next generation with the seems to be a campaign platform that retools to succeed? How much money is ratios, and the loss of mains a constant in the promised changbeing thrown away in the bureaucracies underrepresented art, es to be made. of Rhode Island, New York and the rest of music and physical Apparently, laying teachers off serves country? education programs.” as an extension of education reform. As Education cuts will continue until poliOU President David Boren reiterates to ticians get their priorities straight. Laying us at countless speaking engagements, the United States off teachers should not be the solution to our financial probhas fallen out of the top 10 primary education math and sci- lems. As student in college, we all are indebted to our teachence scores worldwide. Our own state of Oklahoma, stands ers who got us here. Depriving students of good teachers close to last in education rankings in the nation. will only cripple our generation as we grow in a world filled These statistics only illustrate that we as a state, and a with problems needing solutions. nation, are lacking in the education of our young people.

Instead of “reforming” our education system, we are simply — Mubeen Shakir, corroding it from within.

University College freshman Governments in Rhode Island, New York along with a mad Governor in Wisconsin demanding pay-cuts, prove Comment on this column at OUDaily.com

Autumn Huffman Ashley West Chris Lusk Michael Lloyd Judy Gibbs Robinson

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The Oklahoma Daily is a public forum and OU’s independent student voice.

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

Wednesday, March 2, 2011 • A5

SPORTS

TOMORROW ›› OU baseball heads to San Diego for 4-game tournament Thursday through Sunday

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

WOMEN’S BASKETBALL BRIEFS

Trio ready for Senior Night OU hosts Cowgirls for Norman’s final night with three student-athletes

Since OU went on a surprising four-game winning streak, the Sooners are winless in their last seven games.

They hope to finish this season on a high note as they face the team that started their winning streak, the Texas Tech Red Raiders.

Oklahoma was projected to finish 11th in the conference, so this game is at least worth the battle for 10th.

In OU’s last meeting with Texas Tech on Jan. 18, senior guard Cade Davis led the Sooners with his career-high 25 points and sophomore forward Andrew Fitzgerald knocked down 20.

Decent shooting and physical defense is led the Sooners to the 83-74 victory.

OU will need another big performance from Davis and Fitzgerald to beat the Red Raiders, but sophomore guard Steven Pledger or freshman guard Cameron Clark also could score big.

Tip off is at 6:30 p.m. tonight in Lubbock, Texas. The game will be televised on the Sooner Sports Network.

ANNELISE RUSSELL The Oklahoma Daily

Cue the highlight reel. Play the good-bye songs. Hand out a box of two-ply tissues.

It’s Senior Night for OU women’s basketball.

“I know I’m going to cry, just bawl hysterically,” senior Danielle Robinson said.

The All-American guard is joined by forward Carlee Roethlisberger and guard Lauren Willis for one final regular-season hurrah in Lloyd Noble Center.

That fact that tonight is Bedlam just happens to be icing on the cake to a fouryear run most players only dream about.

This class of athletes has been to back-to-back Final Fours, which Willis said are her favorite memories with the team.

Postseason success was emphasized as a career highlight by each player, but all three took a long road to arrive there.

Robinson’s journey began five years ago — while still in high school — on an unannounced visit to OU’s Senior Night.

“Whitney (Hand) was actually a recruit, and I sat with her,” Robinson said. “I’d come from California — surprised the team — after I had committed. “[Lloyd Noble] was full, and I said, ‘How do you not come here; this is special.’

From that point, I knew this was definitely the place I wanted to be.”

The others’ first Senior Night experience came sophomore year because there were no seniors when the class of 2011 arrived.

They made up for it with plenty of memories, though.

Courtney Paris promised a national championship.

Ashley Paris revealed how much she grew during her time at OU, admitting she previously lacked the confidence to even wear earrings.

T h e f o l l o w i n g y e a r, Nyeshia Stevenson made people laugh, and Amanda Thompson made people cry as the first in her family to graduate from college.

Roethlisberger cited each of these as moving moments for her, but Willis said she remembers the general atmosphere of the night.

“It was like a big celebration, and that is what I am hoping today is like,” Willis said.

Robinson, Roethlisberger and Willis finally will be the ones standing at center court with thousands of home fans applauding them one last time.

It will be a moment to

Men’s basketball looks to avoid 8th-straight loss, beat Texas Tech

— Jordan Marks/The Daily

All-around finish lands gymnast Big 12 conference weekly awards Sophomore gymnast Kayla Nowak was named Big 12 Gymnast of the Week, the league announced Tuesday.

Nowak was the first Sooner this year to compete in the all-around, finishing second in OU’s 195.650196.275 win over No. 8 Michigan on Saturday.

Kayla Nowak Her all-around score was the second-highest by a Big 12 gymnast this season.

Nowak is ranked seventh nationally in the floor event, with No. 2 (floor), No. 5 (beam) and No. 7 (bars) event rankings in the conference.

PHOTO PROVIDED BY OU ATHLETIC DEPARTMENT

Seniors Lauren Willis (14), Danielle Robinson (13) and Carlee Roethlisberger (10) will play their last regular-season game as Sooners against Oklahoma State tonight at Lloyd Noble Center.

LAUREN WILLIS

DANIELLE ROBINSON

CARLEE ROETHLISBERGER

» Year: Senior » Position: Guard » Hometown: Overland Park, Kan. » Career totals: .330 FG percentage, .318 3pt percentage, 53 rebounds, 19 assists, 1 block, 14 steals, 109 points

» Year: Senior » Position: Guard » Hometown: San Jose, Calif.

» Year: Senior » Position: Forward » Hometown: Findlay, Ohio

» Career totals: .490 FG percentage, .206 3pt percentage, 419 rebounds, 684 assists, 11 blocks, 292 steals, 2,027 points

» Career totals: .364 FG percentage, .294 3pt percentage, 399 rebounds, 109 assists, 31 blocks, 82 steals, 631 points

remember, but each player admitted there were times they weren’t sure they would even make it to today.

Robinson said she had doubts after her rookie year .

“I was like ‘Wow, this is college basketball.’ It was definitely what I wanted still, but at the same time, I was going to have to fix a lot of things,” Robinson said.

Roethlisberger said she is just lucky she was in good company.

“After a few losses, after a few preseasons, you’re like, ‘I don’t know if I can make it the next preseason,’ but that’s why you have teammates,” Roethlisberger said.

“They help you through, and here I am.”

Willis, like Roethlisberger, emphasized the pain of offseason conditioning.

“Our preseason r unning is absolutely killer, and

sometimes I would wake up and wonder if I’m going to make it through the day,” Willis said.

But from crunches to push-ups to line drills, they made it.

Willis came to OU as a walk-on and played her way to a scholarship.

Roethlisberger became more than just a player with the famous last name.

Robinson will go down as one of the greatest players to wear an OU uniform.

After the season ends, Roethlisberger and Willis will log a few more hours in the classroom before they head out into the world, and Robinson will attempt to take on the world of professional basketball.

“I plan to go pro, play in the WNBA and overseas, do that for a couple years and hopefully get into coaching,”

Robinson said. “As far as the WNBA, it’s always been a dream. I think that I’ve worked in such a way to get myself there.”

Standing in the trio’s way is tonight’s game against Oklahoma State, a matchup with Texas Tech and what the Sooners hope will be a long stay in the tournament.

Despite tonight’s festivities, there is still basketball to be played.

“It’s your last time to play in front of your home crowd, and your last time to play on this floor, but it’s also happy because you’re starting the tournament,” Roethlisberger said.

The postseason has been kind to this group of veterans. The question is, can they find the magic once again?

“The journey’s not over, the season’s not over,” Robinson said.

Wrestlers recognized for success on the mat, in the classroom The OU wrestling program tied Nebraska for the conference lead in 2011 Academic All-Big 12 team members, announced by the league Tuesday.

The six Sooners — seniors Zack Bailey, Greg Cannon and Nathan Fernandez, junior Jordan Keller and sophomores Jarrod Patterson and Tyler Caldwell — join 12 other student-athletes from around the conference on the team.

“We’re really proud to have the Oklahoma Sooners as co-leaders,” OU coach Jack Spates said. “It is an important aspect of our program. We believe we are commissioned to develop great wrestlers, but champions off the mat as well.”

Bailey, Cannon, Fernandez, Keller and Patterson were all first-team selections with 3.20 GPAs or higher.

Quick Notes Senior guard Cade Davis has led the men’s basketball team in scoring the last three games, averaging 20.3 points per game over the stretch ... The OU women’s gymnastics squad is one of just two undefeated programs in the NCAA this season ... Since men’s tennis coach John Roddick arrived at OU, the Sooners have won three straight matches against Bedlam rival Oklahoma State after Friday’s 4-3 win. The last time held a three-match streak over the Cowboys was from 1993-95 ... OU baseball’s 10-0 start is the best of the Sunny Golloway era since 1998, when the Sooners started 12-0 ... Senior guard Danielle Robinson became the fifth Sooner in program history to record over 2,000 points in a career ... Tonight’s women’s basketball matchup marks the first back-to-back games for the Sooners at Lloyd Noble Center since Dec. 8 and 12.

— Daily staff reports

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SPORTS

A6 • Wednesday, March 2, 2011

The Oklahoma Daily | OUDaily.com

BASEBALL

NBA

Sooners off to 10-0 start OU comes from behind to open first road trip of season with 4-3 win ZACK HEDRICK The Oklahoma Daily

The No. 2 Sooner baseball team had to play a different type of game to clinch their tenth win of the season, 4-3, against the University of Texas-Arlington.

OU trailed from the bottom of the fourth inning to the top of the seventh but squeaked by in the late innings of the first game of a five-game road trip.

“It was a hard fought victory, no question,” OU coach Sunny Golloway said. “[Arlington] turned some double plays to kill some rallies, made us hit some pitches and they executed.”

Senior designated hitter Casey Johnson hit a solo homer to knot things up, 3-3, in the top of the seventh and gave the momentum back to the Sooners.

Before Johnson’s home run, OU was held to just three hits through the first six innings.

After a three-up-threedown inning from the defense, the Sooners nabbed the lead in the top of the eighth.

The Sooners caught a break when sophomore leftfielder Max White reached base after an error by the UTA shortstop.

Junior center-fielder Eric Ross attempted a sacrifice to move White into scoring position but ended up drawing a walk.

With two on and nobody out, senior third baseman Garrett Buechele — backto-back Big 12 Player of the Week — laid a sacrifice bunt to advance both White and Ross into scoring position with just one out.

AISHA BUTT/THE UTA SHORTHORN

Redshirt freshman southpaw Jordan John pitches in OU’s 4-3 win over the University of TexasArlington on Tuesday in Arlington, Texas. The Sooners won behind a late-inning push.

With an open base, junior first baseman Cameron Seitzer was given an intentional pass so the Mavericks could pitch to junior catcher Tyler Ogle.

W h i t e s c o re d d u r i n g Ogle’s at-bat, sliding head first on a wild pitch to give the Sooners what would be the winning run.

The Sooners’ late-inning scrappiness let redshirt freshman starting pitcher Jordan John off the hook for the loss.

John struggled with ball control through three innings of work. He allowed three hits and three runs, two earned, but handed out four walks that landed him in trouble early.

Despite the control issue, another error by a Sooner second baseman prolonged an inning and conceded the lead to the Mavericks in the

bottom of the third inning.

Freshman Dillon Overton relieved John in the fourth and pitched 5.1 innings to earn the win.

He allowed three hits, the last one coming with one out in the top of the ninth.

Before that hit, Overton had retired the previous 10 Mavericks. He also struck out six.

Golloway called on sophomore second baseman Jack Mayfield to close out the game on the mound.

Mayfield faced just one batter but forced him to ground into a double play to seal the victory for the Sooners.

After Tuesday’s close win, the Sooners head to California to play in an invite-only tournament at the University of San Diego.

OU faces San Diego State at 8 p.m. Thursday.

SOFTBALL

Oklahoma looks to blow by North Texas Mean Green Team continues 11-game road trip today, seeks to rebound from weekend TOBI NEIDY The Oklahoma Daily

OU softball (12-5) will play its 11th consecutive road game when it heads south to tangle with North Texas (6-5) at 6 p.m. today in Denton, Texas.

The Sooners lead the alltime series, 19-0, with the Mean Green.

A f t e r d ro p p i n g f o u rconsecutive games in the Cathedral City (Calif.) Classic during the weekend, the Sooners rebounded in the team’s tournament finale against Cal-Poly, 4-2.

The four-game winless streak was the longest for the program since 2005.

Although OU hasn’t lost a game to North Texas, the Sooners also hadn’t lost to Long Beach State in 10 meetings before a 2-1 loss last weekend in the Classic.

With last weekend’s performance behind them, OU bats will need the leaders to step up to the plate in the North Texas matchup.

The Sooners are led by sophomore catcher Jessica

DUKE GOULDEN/THE DAILY

Freshman Cierra Hughes bats during a fall game. The Sooners will face North Texas today in their 11th-straight road game.

Shults, who already has 32 RBIs just three weeks into the 2011 season, more than half of her total amount from last season (62). Shults also has 10 home runs this year.

Freshman first baseman Brittany Williams continues to threaten at the plate, following closely behind Shults with 20 RBIs and seven home runs.

Both players were relatively quiet during last weekend’s tournament, except for Shults’ home run against Cal-Poly that helped propel the Sooners to their first and

only win in the Classic.

On the mound for OU, sophomore pitcher Keilani Ricketts leads the conference in strikeouts per game (12.17) and sits in third place with 84 total on the season.

OU returns to Marita Hynes Field in Norman when it hosts No. 24 Auburn at 6 p.m. Friday.

The Sooners will once again leave Nor man to face Illinois-Chicago and Oklahoma State in The Preview at ASA Hall of Fame Stadium on Saturday in Oklahoma City.

By the numbers

64

Wins for coach Sunny Golloway in 91 games decided by one run at Oklahoma

15

Home runs hit by Sooner batters this season, leading the Big 12

10-0

Record for Oklahoma this year after a 4-3 win Tuesday

5

Times the Sooners have come from behind to win in the first 10 games

4

Hits for Oklahoma against the Mavericks, accounting for four runs

— Sources: OU athletic department, Big12Sports.com

Thunder sign new acquisition Perkins to four-year extension OKLAHOMA CITY — Before even playing a game with the Oklahoma City Thunder, center Kendrick Perkins signed an extension Tuesday to stay with his new team for a while.

Perkins joined the Thunder five days ago in a trade with Boston, where he spent the first seven years of his career and won the 2008 NBA title.

Now, he’s due to make about $36 million while staying in Oklahoma City through the 2014-15 season.

“It kind of felt like the worst day of my life when I got traded from the Cs, from being there so long. But when I got here, it kind of took my mind away from everything, I think, and everything just kind of blew me away,” Perkins said after practice Tuesday. “It was kind of the worst but best day.”

Perkins said he was attracted to stay in Oklahoma City because of similarities he sees to his Texas hometown and by his first impressions of the Thunder as a “first-class” organization. He would have become an unrestricted free agent at the end of the season but said he didn’t “want to take anything for granted.”

“I’m a country boy. I’m from Beaumont, Texas. I don’t think it’s really hard to please me,” Perkins said. “I didn’t really have just a crazy number in mind. We met, we came to an agreement, that’s the most important thing.”

Perkins was acquired with Nate Robinson in exchange for Jeff Green, Nenad Krstic and a future first-round pick in a deal completed at the league’s trade deadline Thursday.

He played in 12 games for Boston after returning from a knee injury he sustained in Game 6 of the NBA Finals but is expected to miss as much as three weeks with a left knee sprain.

The trade, along with a deal that sent veteran Morris Peterson and D.J. White to Charlotte for Nazr Mohammed, cleared about $2.5 million in cap space for the Thunder this season, and Oklahoma City decided to use it to sweeten its offer to Perkins.

“The trades left us with some flexibility underneath the salary cap that we looked at and felt like it would be something that we should explore and bring to Kendrick and his representation,” general manager Sam Presti said. “We were fortunate that that opportunity presented itself.”

The 6-foot-10-inch Perkins was the 27th overall pick in the 2003 draft and has averaged 6.4 points and 6.1 rebounds over the course of his career.

When the Lakers played at Oklahoma City on Sunday, Kobe Bryant — who faced the Celtics in the finals two of the past three years — called Perkins the “best low-post defender we have in the game.”

That sort of defense is exactly what the Thunder have been missing this season, although they had to give up two starters to get him.

“We’ve talked for a long time about trying to put together a team that can grow and can sustain, and this is another step in that process of trying to put a foundation in place that we feel like can continue to be a competitive team year in and year out,” Presti said.

—AP

LIFE&ARTS

Wednesday, March 2, 2011 • B1

Downtown Norman offers eclectic eats Local restaurants cook up unique twists on classic recipes to bring in local customers

ECLECTIC DINING

Also in downtown Norman is Pink Elephant Cafe, 301 E. Main Street, a hot spot for a chic lunch or dinner.

Michael Sherrod, who’s previousEMILY HOPKINS AND MARGO BASSE The Oklahoma Daily ly cooked at six different restaurants, bought the cafe with his wife, Shannon, on Warning: don’t walk down Main Street Valentine’s Day in 2009. on an empty stomach.

“I had always wanted to have my own From meals that make you feel like restaurant,” Sherrod said. “We kept the you’re back at home to innovative takes on basic menu but expanded the specials drabasic staples to desserts, Main Street has matically. They were only doing about five got Norman residents covered and well- or six specials a week. We’re doing about fed.

30 different specials a month.”

The Pink Elephant philosophy is to serve HOME ATMOSPHERE an unpredictable, home-cooked meal — The Diner, located at 213 E. Main St., of- but the metaphorical “home” could be fers a combination of American and Tex- anywhere in the world.

Mex breakfast and lunch between 9 a.m.

One of the restaurant’s signature creand 2 p.m. every day. ations is redneck sushi. This creative take The space, which began as a chili par- on the original dish may include anylor, has been a restaurant for thing from fried chicken more than 100 years. Mark to Italian sausage, all with Norman is a nice Amspacher bought The vegetables and a compliDiner in the mid-1990s and mentary sauce. little community began running it with his Sherrod then took the and very friendly. wife, Claire. redneck sushi idea and I haven’t met one “When my dad bought expanded it to a new dish person I didn’t like.” called pashi, or pastait, he really just reworked the food and the menu, and sushi.

— TOM SLATT, FANCY he left the building pretty “We first did pashi mariTHAT OWNER much the same,” said Bonnie nara and pashi alfredo,” Amspacher, who has shared Sherrod said. “Then we the day-to-day activities with her mother switched it up a little bit and got planks since her father’s death last year. of potatoes and put roast beef on top of The Diner prides itself on offering it with carrots and onions and put it in home-cooked, family recipes in a quaint squares on the plate and put brown gravy atmosphere. on it and called that ‘potashi.’”

Those in the know also order off the “seIn the coming months, Pink Elephant cret menu” — The Diner offers two specials Cafe will feature Santa Fe-style dinner each day and keeps ingredients on-hand for specials and is obtaining a beer and wine the most popular ones, such as tamales. license.

Bonnie’s favorite items on the menu are “We’ll be doing local beers and wines,” the sausage, egg and cheese biscuit, the Sherrod said. “We’re very big on supportblack angus bacon cheeseburger and the ing local people. We’re just little guys too.”

Frito chili pie.

“Our patties are handmade, and they’re SWEETS AND EATS juicier because they’re not pre-packed and Fancy That’s best and fastest seller is its frozen,” Bonnie said. “And the chili is my cake dots, but these bite-size desserts aren’t dad’s recipe — I’ve been eating it my whole the only commodities flying off the shelves life.” of its bakery on 215 E. Main St. The Diner has managed to keep the resIn addition to its famous dots, the destaurant a family affair. sert shop has other treats to choose from,

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COLLIN SIMS/ THE DAILY

Psychology senior Jordan Orosco, left, and OU alumna Crystal Mendez, right, enjoy a dinner at the Pink Elephant Cafe, 301 E. Main Street. The restaurant is one of many Main Street eateries.

including s’mores, lemon bites, tiramisu cupcakes and a new line of mini cupcakes that are almost too cute to eat.

Kaitlyn Burton, one of the servers and a part-time baker at the restaurant, has been working at the dessert shop for more than a year. Burton noted the significant change she’s seen since owner and head chef Tom Slatt took over the kitchen five months ago.

The dessert shop has been part of the Norman restaurant scene for more than a decade but is making a new splash with Slatt’s modern take on comfort food.

“The food used to be a lot of casseroles and paninis,” Burton said. “[Slatt] made it more high class. Everything is fresh and

100 percent homemade.”

Three weeks ago, Slatt started serving brunch on Saturday and Sunday and is opening up this week for dinner with the restaurant’s new alter ego, Bella at Night, where he plans to cook global cuisine.

“Norman is a nice little community and very friendly,” Slatt said. “I haven’t met one person I didn’t like.”

And so far the dessert shop patrons from over the years have found plenty of reasons to keep coming back to this Main Street eatery. OU business senior Grace Hancock frequents the downtown area and enjoys coming to the dessert shop.

“It’s an eclectic atmosphere with a good mix of people,” Hancock said.

LIFE & ARTS

B2 • Wednesday, March 2, 2011

The Oklahoma Daily | OUDaily.com

Director creates animation for adults While the upcoming anitremendous amount of live mated film “Rango” might action to animation. I have STAFF COLUMN MN seem like another children’s immense respect for animamovie that will inevitably tion directors. It’s a lot hardSydney Allen n pale in comparison to Pixar, er than I ever imagined.” director Gore Verbinski “Rango” stars longtime predicts the movie will be Verbinski favorite Johnny more than a marketing ploy for kids and Depp, who headlined the Pirates series as their parents. main character Jack Sparrow.

“Why does animation have to be linked “Rango was always going to be Johnny,” with Happy Meals, you know? It’s just a Verbinski said. “I mean, from the begintechnique to tell a story,” Verbinski said in ning, from the very first sketch of Rango, a conference call Feb. 11. “I mean, my kids from even before that first drawing, we had love it, I think. But, you know, my kids like this chameleon with identity crisis and a ‘[Monty] Python and the Holy Grail.’”

Western genre. When I first described it to Opening March 4, “Rango” tells the story Johnny, I knew he was in.” of a would-be hero chameleon who is Verbinski compared Rango’s identity criplucked from his terrarium and tossed into sis to Depp’s own characterizations. an Old West-style town where “I feel like quite often he’ll he decides to mold himself refer to himself as there’s a little into the sheriff. This eventually bit of Jack Sparrow, a little bit of WHY DOES leads to a full-blown identity Ed Wood, a little bit of (Edward) ANIMATION HAVE crisis — something children’s Scissorhands in there; and you TO BE LINKED WITH know my response would be, movies don’t often include.

HAPPY MEALS, YOU “[Rango is] literally a cha‘Well, there’s not much room KNOW?” meleon, but his core emofor Johnny Depp.’” Verbinski tional stat is a guy who can be said. anything but then, who is he?”

While Verbinski’s next film — GORE VERBINSKI, Verbinski said.

“RANGO” DIRECTOR will be the live-action “Lone “Adults will have some fun Ranger,” also starring Depp, he enjoying the film, and parsaid that lessons learned in the ticularly in the sections where it becomes animation process will carry over to live-acmore emotional, you really see them kind tion films as well. of stop squirming and sort of transfixed by “[In animation], everything is manufacthe film.” tured and created,” Verbinski said. “[That] While Verbinski might be best known sort of ripples through every aspect of difor Disney’s “Pirates of the Caribbean” film recting. It’s just — you have to fabricate juggernaut, Paramount backed “Rango” as every frame from zero. So, you know, other his first foray into animation. times when you’re shooting, you’re orchesVerbinski takes offense at the fact that ani- trating chaos ... and you’re just completely mated films seem to have a soft reputation. generating everything.”

“I just think that animation is constantPHOTO PROVIDED ly referred to as a genre like it’s for kids — Sydney Allen, Director Gore Verbinski teamed up with Paramont to produce his first animated film, “Rango.” and moms,” Verbinski said. “We brought a University College freshman The movie stars Verbinski-veteran Johnny Depp.

CAC seeks script writers Annual contest open to anyone, CAC spokeswoman says MARGO BASSE The Oklahoma Daily

CAC Film Series is hosting its second annual script writing contest with submissions due to the Student Life Office by Friday.

“Our organization is blessed with a lot of resources so I feel like it’s our job to host something for those involved with films,” said Chelsea Cawood, CAC Film Series chairwoman. “Since we are in Oklahoma, it’s not necessarily the easiest place to be for people wanting to get into the film industry.”

The contest is open to anyone, but is targeted mainly toward students in the Film and Video Studies department, Cawood said. The scripts submitted should be no longer than 20 pages. Students who wish to submit a feature-length script should send in the first 10 pages of the script along with a summary of the second and third acts, she said.

The winner will be announced during the week after spring break, March 21 to 25, and will receive a copy of the software Final Draft.

“Final Draft is currently the industry standard and fairly easy to use,” said Kyle Bergersen, screen writing professor. “It may seem silly but having a properly formatted

script tells the reader that you know what you’re doing as a writer. They’ll be less likely to read the work of an unknown writer if the formatting is wrong.”

The top five scripts will receive critiques from the judges.

The judges are made up of professors from OU’s Film and Video Studies department and writers who are locally involved in independent films.

“Constructive criticism is all-important for growth as an artist,” said Jack Patchell, OU graduate and contest judge.

Patchell, who founded OU’s Student Film Production Club while still a student, is now stepping in to help select the best of the submissions.

There is no restriction on topic for the screenplays, but there are certain things judges will look for in each script.

“Interesting story ideas, believable and interesting characters, readability, those sorts of things,” Patchell said. “Characters, characters, characters. If I don’t care about the characters in the story then it’s hard to keep reading a script or watching a film.”

Contests for new writers can be excellent opportunities, Bergersen said.

“Also, Hollywood is constantly looking for new talent and agents/managers do pay attention to winners of writing contests,” Bergersen said.

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Wednesday, March 2, 2011 • B3

YOU ARE INVITED! President’s Associates Dinner featuring

Henry A. Kissinger

Recipient of the Nobel Peace Prize and 56th Secretary of State Henry A. Kissinger is an internationally noted diplomat and political scientist who served as the 56th Secretary of State of the United States.

He played a dominant role in U.S. foreign policy for over a decade and is widely regarded as one of the most influential architects of American foreign policy in the last 50 years. During this period, he pioneered the policy of détente with the Soviet Union. He also helped orchestrate the opening of relations with the People’s Republic of China and negotiated the Paris Peace Accords, which ended American involvement in the Vietnam War.

6 p.m. — Reception 6:30 p.m. — Dinner Wednesday, March 9 Oklahoma Memorial Union Limited seating is available by reservation for OU students, faculty and staff. Please respond by calling the OU Office of Special Events at (405) 325-3784 or e-mail specialevents@ou.edu 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.

B4 • Wednesday, March 2, 2011

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TM

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

2 bd apt, BILLS PAID, smoke free, no pets - 360-3850

THE MONT Now accepting applications for the following position SERVERS, must be available for 4 day shifts per week beginning at 10:30 am-5:30 pm, server experience preferred.

DEPOSIT & FIRST MONTH’S RENT PAID (up to $750) to anyone interested in taking over my lease at www.thecottagesofnorman.com

Now Hiring! Blackbird Gastropub - New restaurant now accepting applications for all positions. Age 18 and up. Apply in person between 2 and 4pm at Blu Fine Wine & Food, 201 S. Crawford Ave, Norman, OK 73069.

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

(Cost = Days x # lines x $/line)

Bartending! Up to $300/day. No exp nec.

Training provided. 1-800-965-6520 x133.

10-14 days.........$1.15/line 15-19 days.........$1.00/line 20-29 days........$ .90/line 30+ days ........ $ .85/line

$5,000-$7,000

PAID EGG DONORS up to 6 donations, + Exps, non-smokers, Ages 18-29, SAT>1100/ACT>24/GPA>3.00 Contact: info@eggdonorcenter.com STUDENTPAYOUTS.COM Paid survey takers needed in Norman 100% FREE to join. Click on Surveys.

Classified Display, Classified Card Ad or Game Sponsorship

to celebrate.

number

APTS. UNFURNISHED

Sales/Customer Service Tuxedo Junction in Moore is now hiring PT Associates for busy prom and wedding season. Will train outgoing with some sales or related experience. Call Beth at 793-0330.

Charleston Apartments: Grounds & Pool person needed, 2073 W Lindsey. $7.50 start. PT during semester, FT during breaks. Call 364-3603, ask for Jamie.

RATES

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

HELP WANTED

9

NUMBER ONE is nothing

crisis line

325-6963 (NYNE)

$200 Off 1st Month $99 dep / 6 mos Free Gym 2 bedrooms available Pets Welcome! Large Floor Plans!

Models open 8a-8p Everyday!

360-6624 or www.elite2900.com

Place line ad by 9:00 a.m. 3 business days prior to publication.

Display Ad ............................................................................3 days prior Classified Display or Classified Card Ad

One person for 4 bd, 4 bth at Campus Lodge, all bills pd, w/d, free tanning, pool, gym, CART stop, $399/mo. 313-2337.

help is just a phone call away

Being

OU Number Nyne Crisis Line

8 p.m.-4 a.m. every day

except OU holidays and breaks

CONDOS UNFURNISHED

Available June 1, 2011! 2 bd/2 ba, The Edge Condominiums. $450/mo per bedroom. Pool, BB Ct, Volley Ct, Wt Rm - 812-327-5115 NICE 4bd/4ba @ THE EDGE. Close to OU, poolside view. For rent by owner VERY CHEAP. 250-7288 for more info!

This year, more than

172,000 people will be diagnosed with lung cancer, and more than 163,000 will die — making it America’s

J

Housing Sales

HOUSES 3b, 1.5bth, dshw, ref, stove & W/D madonna@iqmediainc.com $175K

NUMBER ONE cancer killer.

But new treatments offer hope.

Join Lung Cancer Alliance in the fight against this disease.

FIND A JOB in the CLASSIFIEDS lungcanceralliance.org

Contact an Acct Executive for details at 325-2521.

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

2 col (3.25 in) x 2.25 inches Crossword ........$515/month

brighter future

POLICY The Oklahoma Daily is responsible for one day’s incorrect advertising.

If your ad appears incorrectly, or if you wish to cancel your ad call 3252521, before the deadline for cancellation in the next issue. Errors not the fault of the advertiser will be adjusted. Refunds will not be issued for late cancellations.

It’s simple. Replace your 5 most frequently used lights with ones that have earned the ENERGY STAR® to reduce your home energy use and make a big difference in the fight against air pollution.

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.

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.

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

YOUR HOME CAN CAUSE TWICE AS MANY GREENHOUSE GASES AS A CAR. Discover steps you can take to reduce air pollution from your home and car at energystar.gov.

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

Spring Specials

dowellproperties.com

HOROSCOPE

Best apartment value in Norman!!!

By Bernice Bede Osol

Copyright 2010, Newspaper Enterprise Assn.

Wednesday, March 2, 2011

w/d hook ups, westside

w/d hook ups, westside

1 bd 1 ba 748 SF $430 2 bd 1 ba 832 SF $465 2 bd 2 ba 880 SF $475 2 bd 2 ba 968 SF $505 2 bd 2.5 ba 1150 SF - TH $595 3 bd 3.5 ba 1350 SF - TH $695 364-3603 No Pets

Georgian Townhomes 1 bd 1 ba 675 SF $425 2 bd 1 ba 875 SF $485 Apartments 1 bd 1 ba 748 SF $420 2 bd 1 ba 900 SF $485 3 bd 1 ba ABP 1000 SF $670

Monday- Friday 8:30-5:30 Saturday 1-5 p.m.

2072 W. Lindsey BISHOP’S LANDING

Monday- Friday 8:30-6 p.m.

Saturday 1-5 p.m.

1932 W. Lindsey

360-7744

M-F 8:30-5:30, Sat 1-5p.m.

Near Campus Across from Duck Pond

Eff, 1 & 2 Bed Apartments

From $263/mo

*Effective rent allows for comp. with apts. that are not all bills paid

2 9

3 5

Previous Solution 7 1 8 9 6 3 5 4 2

9 6 4 1 5 2 7 3 8

2 5 3 4 8 7 9 1 6

6 9 1 2 3 4 8 5 7

4 2 5 8 7 1 6 9 3

3 8 7 5 9 6 4 2 1

5 3 9 6 1 8 2 7 4

8 7 2 3 4 9 1 6 5

1 4 6 7 2 5 3 8 9

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.

VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22) - Plan ahead and know what you’re jumping into. If you don’t, you could find yourself caught up in something that is a bit too complicated for you to manage unaided.

ARIES (March 21-April 19) - Be as open-minded as possible, especially when dealing with friends. If you display any indication of being biased against something or someone they like, you could lose their support.

LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 23) - If you experience a bit of pressure from your friends to participate in something innocent, be a good sport and join in, but only if it doesn’t interfere with your work,

TAURUS (April 20-May 20) - Most anything you attempt to reach is achievable at this juncture, but only if you make it your top priority and stick with it. Once you make that decision, stay the course.

333 E. Brooks (one block east of OU.) ** No pets

3 7 4 8 8 5 6 2 8 3 7 8 9 2 4 9 5 4 9 1 8 6 8 9 7 1 8 6

PISCES (Feb. 20-March 20) - Those wonderful intuitive perceptions of yours could prove to be a valuable asset. You may size things up quite well, but your instinct will take the prize in accuracy.

GEMINI (May 21-June 20) - Do not put any limitations on your thinking. Unless you allow yourself ample room to maneuver, you’ll never find out if you are right or wrong about anything.

CANCER (June 21-July 22) Sudden changes might catch others flatfooted, but not you. Perhaps your greatest asset is being able to engineer your way around whatever suddenly rears its ugly head.

LEO (July 23-Aug. 22) - In order not to jump to an erroneous conclusion, wait until you are sure that you have all the facts of the matter in front of you. Be aware there are two sides to every story, and study each carefully.

SCORPIO (Oct. 24-Nov. 22) Your success or failure might not be determined by how much you do but by what you’re able to do well.

Leaving things that you’re confused about undone is not a mistake.

SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 23-Dec. 21) - If you find yourself mentally uncomfortable about something rather than physically restless, try to find someone who has knowledge that you lack.

CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19) A big opportunity that will enable you to lay a foundation for a goal you hope to achieve sometime soon might at last present itself. It might be the secret to your success.

AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 19) - Appearances could be more important than usual, so make sure you show yourself in as good a light as possible, especially if you are hoping to inspire or direct others.

Universal Crossword Edited by Timothy E. Parker March 2, 2011 ACROSS 1 “Santa ___ Is Coming to Town” 6 “Let sleeping dogs lie,” e.g.

11 “I get it” responses 14 Capital of the Gem State 15 Deadly sins number 16 War returnee, briefly 17 It provides a long way to go?

19 Freezer buildup 20 “What am I getting myself ___?”

21 Cow-horned goddess 22 Absorbed, as a cost 23 Forbidden fruit source 25 “Iron Mike” of the ring 27 List abbr.

28 One form of college tuition 30 Intentionally overlook 32 The enemy, in Tweetyspeak 33 Alternatives to creams 35 Leprechaun’s land 36 “Go faster” command on the Enterprise 39 “Frasier” actress Gilpin 41 Confession disclosures 42 “Moby Dick” milieu

3/2

45 Chief ore of lead 47 Kind of seat used by 007 49 All-comers tournament 50 System of belief 53 Event for a foxhound 54 “Kick it up a notch” exclamation 55 Windows picture 56 “How much am ___?” (auction query) 58 “Catch ya later!”

59 Talk on and on 63 PC linkup letters 64 The Dow, e.g.

65 Top tennis player Ivan 66 Better-thananything suffix 67 Parent/child bedtime ritual 68 Chorus section members DOWN 1 Semi professionals use them?

2 His wife was a pillar of the community?

3 Most breezy 4 Computer system made up of newsgroups 5 Paving block 6 Hearth residue 7 Bagel purveyors 8 Warning, in

Spanish 9 Zodiac twins 10 Space-going chimp of 1961 11 Frequent flier 12 10,000 square meters 13 Brosnan role before Bond 18 Machinist’s pin 23 “... a little tom___-sang ...”

24 Component of all cells 26 Hand-inthe-car-door reaction 27 “National Velvet” author Bagnold 29 A second time 31 “Silly” birds 34 Sound of bacon frying 36 Small but loud songbird 37 Like a piper of folklore 38 Prohibit legally

39 Melonlike tropical fruits 40 Periodic table entry 42 Kind of driver or union 43 1,000,000,000 years 44 ___ deco 45 Talk turkey?

46 Southern drawl, for one 48 Sculptor’s tool 51 Last movement of a sonata 52 Rear-___ (road mishap) 55 African wading bird 57 Dracula portrayer Lugosi 60 Prefix with “moron” 61 “And now, without further ___ ...”

62 Monogram for Mr. Hyde’s creator

PREVIOUS PUZZLE ANSWER

3/1

© 2011 Universal Uclick www.upuzzles.com

TWISTED! By Jill Pepper

NATION

The Oklahoma Daily | OUDaily.com

3 1

4

2

NATION NEWS BRIEFS 1. Iowa City, Iowa

Newt Gingrich prepares for likely 2012 presidential bid The biggest obstacle to a Newt Gingrich presidential bid might be Gingrich himself.

The twice-divorced former U.S. House speaker has admitted an affair with a former congressional aide who is now his third wife. His career in Congress is remembered as much for his dramatic fall — the federal government shutdown, his censure and the loss of Republican seats in the House — as his rise.

“I don’t think it will be Newt’s moral issues that will keep him from winning the presidency,” said Tom Perdue, a Georgia-based GOP political strategist. “When he had a chance to govern, he proved that he couldn’t.” ___

2. Nashville, Tennessee

Tennessee bill would make following Shariah law a felony Tennessee is considering making it a felony to follow some versions of the Islamic code known as Shariah, the most severe measure yet put forth by a national movement whose members believe extremist Muslims want Shariah to supersede the Constitution.

The bill — drawn up by conservatives with ties to opponents of a planned Islamic center two blocks from New York City’s ground zero and efforts to expand a mosque 30 miles southeast of Nashville — would face steep constitutional hurdles if enacted. ___

3. Boston

Man punished for importing sperm-whale teeth, officials say A Massachusetts antiques dealer convicted of illegally importing and trafficking in sperm whale teeth and narwhal whale tusks worth up to $400,000 has been sentenced to nearly three years in prison.

Authorities say David Place was sentenced Tuesday after a federal jury in Boston convicted him of eight counts including conspiracy and violating a law against trading in illegally captured wildlife.

Place’s business phone is disconnected. Someone who answered the phone at his home Tuesday said he wasn’t there.

Sperm whales are classified as endangered. ___

4. Placerville, California

Couple confessed in kidnapping of Jaycee Dugard, lawyer says A Northern California couple charged with kidnapping Jaycee Dugard and holding her captive for 18 years have given full confessions to authorities.

The revelation came as prosecutors and defense lawyers opened negotiations on possible plea bargains that could avert a trial and testimony by the victim who has sought privacy since being freed 18 months ago.

Attorney Stephen Tapson, who represents defendant Nancy Garrido, said he was present when his client and her husband, Phillip Garrido, were re-interviewed by El Dorado County detectives during the past month.

— AP

Stay connected with The Daily on Twitter for campus, sports and entertainment news

@OUDaily @OUDailySports @OUDailyArts

Wednesday, March 2, 2011 • B5

Mom Proms popular fundraiser Ladies-only event features women in formal dresses while raising money C ANTON TOWNSHIP, Mich. — Like most prom dresses, Michelle Salamon’s was stashed in a closet after the big night.

The white floor-length gown she sewed during home economics class in 1990 languished for years until she learned about an event that gives mothers a charitable excuse to squeeze back into their youth.

“It’s a little snug,” the 38year-old teacher’s assistant joked before entering a party known as the “Mom Prom” in suburban Detroit. “I just zipped it up, and it fits!”

Now in its sixth year, the ladies-only gathering encourages women to dive into their closets and pull out prom, bridesmaid and even wedding dresses — decades old in some cases — for a night of dancing, drinking and reminiscing while raising money for worthy causes.

The event has brought in thousands of dollars for cancer research and charitable groups, and is inspiring similar events in other states.

“That’s why we have prom,”

CARLOS OSORIO/AP

Katie Long crowns Ellie Wallace the queen of the prom as Betsy Crapps makes the announcement at the Mom Prom in Canton Township, Mich., Friday. Close to 140 mostly Michigan moms turned the clock back years during the annual get-together they affectionately call the Mom Prom. organizer Betsy Crapps told the cheering group of more than 100 women as they jammed to 1980s music and beyond Friday, proudly donning a metallic rainbow of chiffon, satin and sequins.

“We’re changing the world, ladies, one prom at a time.”

The event owes its origin to the puffy pink number that Crapps wore to her senior prom.

The 41-year-old was so

amused by the gown when her mother gave it back to her several years ago that she wore it to her friends’ Academy Awards watch party.

It was a hit, and about a dozen friends agreed to don their tacky dresses for a night of dinner and dancing designed to raise money for charity.

Crapps, the assistant director of faith formation at

St. Thomas a’Becket Catholic Church, said her dream is to see Mom Proms held across the country on the same day.

Her event this year raised more than $3,000 for the Society of St. Vincent de Paul and the HHT Foundation, which works toward finding a cure for a genetic disorder that causes blood vessel abnormalities.

— AP

States fight over whoopie-pie title Maine, Pennsylvania residents argue about which place is the snack’s rightful home BIRD-IN-HAND, Pa. — The whoopie pie is a snack so beloved that residents in two states have cooked up a goodnatured tug of war over which place is its rightful home — Maine or Pennsylvania?

A state legislator in Maine whipped up passions when he introduced a bill in January to make the whoopie pie Maine’s official state dessert.

No matter — residents in Pennsylvania’s Lancaster County say that’s just baloney. Those round mounds of cakey goodness originated from kitchens of the area’s Amish families, dating back generations, they say.

“We’ve had this thing going with the whoopie pie here for years and years and decades,” said John Smucker, CEO of the family-run company that owns the Bird-in-Hand Bakery. “And all of a sudden they try to enter into the picture ... It’s just a bunch of nonsense.”

At the S. Clyde Weaver store in East Petersburg, staff piece together their version of the traditional chocolate-with-vanilla-filling variety.

“We do the original,” baker Nancy Rexroad said. “When something’s the original, you can’t improve on it.”

Maine state Rep. Paul Davis got things brewing with a bill to laud the whoopie pie. Davis got the idea from speaking with people at the Maine Whoopie Pie Festival, which last year attracted 4,000 visitors.

Davis said he’s been told Maine whoopie pies may date back as far as 1925. Davis estimates about 400 to 500 bakeries sell whoopie pies.

Word of Davis’ bill reached the Pennsylvania Dutch Convention and Visitors Bureau in Lancaster, and organizers there decided to answer back. They touted a website — www.saveourwhoopie.com — that likened Maine’s actions to “confectionary larceny.”

Area residents say Amish and other Pennsylvania Dutch families have passed down whoopie pie recipes for generations. Smucker said his bakery’s recipe dates back at least 50 years to his grandmother’s kitchen. Further west in Pennsylvania, the treats were also known in the Johnstown area as “gobs.”

Dan Neff, owner and president of the S. Clyde Weaver market, said he suspected one possible origin for the whoopie pie was home cooks looking for a creation to

MATT ROURKE/AP

An Amish baker who declined to be identified moves a sheet of whoopie pies Thursday at the Bird-in-Hand Bakery in Bird-inHand, Pa. Maine and Pennsylvania have cooked up a tug of war over which place is the rightful home of this culinary creation.

replace cream-filled doughnuts, which would be difficult to make in a home kitchen.

Smucker relayed another story passed on in Bird-inHand about the origin of the “whoopie pie” name in 1958, in which one in a group of young Amish women exclaimed “whoopie” when checking on the progress of her cakes in the oven.

Residents are backing their bakers. Visitors bureau spokesman Joel Cliff said about 1,700 signatures have been collected for an online petition “objecting to any other state, county or town claiming the whoopie pie as its own.”

— AP

WORLD

B6 • Wednesday, March 2, 2011

The Oklahoma Daily | OUDaily.com

Libyan town shakes off Gadhafi rule Anti-government forces gather in northwest libya

The rebellion in Libya has been centered along the long Mediterranean coast where most of its population of 6 NALUT, Libya — The men, armed million live.

But the uprising is also raging in with handmade weapons, knives and automatic rifles, hunker down in an this corner of Libya’s sparsely populated desert hinterland, unfinished concrete build140 miles southwest of ing meant to one day be a From now on, Tripoli. An Associated hotel. They lie on mattressPress reporter spent two people will not es, drink tea and take turns watching the long road to accept anything days with the self-declared “revolutionaries” Tripoli for any sign of imless than in Nalut, one of a string of minent attack. freedom and “liberated” towns nestled The men at the ima democratic in the Nafusa Mountains promptu hilltop post are state.” near the border with the first line of defense for Tunisia. their remote town of 18,000 The border crossing — in Libya’s northwestern — ZINTAN MAN 40 miles from Nalut along desert, which shook off the rule of Moammar Gadhafi — “Liberated a winding mountain road — was briefly Nalut,” as the graffiti sprayed on walls in in the hands of anti-Gadhafi forces for several days. But military units loyal to town proclaimed.

“The youth here lost hope in this Gadhafi moved in Monday and retook country,” said Mustafa, a 37-year-old it.

That, and an army base only a short civil servant among the men. “So when the uprising started, we took whatever drive away to the north, raised fears in arms we could find and we exploded — Nalut that the military was now moving on the town. we took our town back.”

On Monday, residents worked fuHe, like many others in the town spoke on condition their full names not riously to erect what defenses they could. At the town entrance, they used be used for fear of retaliation.

Workers treated after hunger strike African migrants starving for Greek residency ATHENS, Greece — In the opulent settings of a central Athens mansion, more than 200 North African immigrants are slowly starving themselves to death in a bid to secure legal residence — the latest headache for debtcrippled Greece’s governing Socialists.

By late Tuesday, the 36th day of the hunger strike, 59 of the men had been hospitalized with kidney, heart and other problems. Doctors say several more will require treatment very soon as dozens have stopped taking liquids.

“We keep seeing more people who need to be taken to hospital,” said Thanassis Karabelis, a doctor monitoring the protest. “The strikers’ lives are in danger, and they could end up with permanent disabilities.”

Another 50 men are holding a similar protest in the northern port city o f T h e s s a l o ni k i , w h e re 14 of them have been hospitalized.

Most of the immigrants are from Morocco, but a handful are from Tunisia.

They say they have worked for up to 10 years in Greece, facing discrimination and police harassment, and are willing to risk their lives for legal status.

“This effort has stretched us to our limits,” Hassan Kavvoi said from an Athens hospital where he has been treated for four days. “ I h av e c o m e t o l ov e Greece like my second country,” he said. “I could have left but I hoped to stay here for ever. But I want to have the same rights as any Greek.”

The men are a small percentage of the thousands of illegal immigrants who arrive on Greek shores each year.

The Greek government is battling two years of recession, unemployment is around 14 percent and unpopular austerity measures taken to secure a $152 billion foreign loan package to free the country from bankruptcy have slashed incomes.

Meanwhile, its borders hav e b e c o m e t h e ma i n gateway into the European Union. About 128,000 immigrants entered the country in 2010, adding pressure to a strained welfare system and prompting a nationalist backlash.

—AP

a bulldozer to pile up a hill of dirt and rocks as a road barrier.

Exhausted and their faces lined with fear, organizers at the town’s former State Intelligence Service building — now a community center — made harried phone calls to sympathetic former army officers, trying to get information on the military’s movements.

Farther east in the Nafusa mountain range, the military did strike Monday night, attacking the opposition-held town of Zintan. Troops in about 20 vehicles with heavy machine guns launched the assault but were repulsed by armed residents and allied army units, who captured one of the vehicles, said two residents of Zintan.

“We will not give it up no matter what forms of terrorism Gadhafi uses,” one man in Zintan said. “From now on, people will not accept anything less than freedom and a democratic state.”

At least three other towns in the mountain range, which is dominated by members of Libya’s ethnic Berber LEFTERIS PITARAKIS/AP minority, have also been taken over by Two children holding monarchist-era flags lean out of a car the opposition, said Nalut residents, window as Libyan anti-government protesters demonstrate who are in touch with their brethren. against Libyan leader Moammar Gadhafi on Tuesday in the — AP

southwestern town of Nalut, Libya. The town is currently in control of the Libyan anti-government forces.