The Oklahoma Daily

WEDNESDAY MARCH 3, 2010

TTHE HE UNIVERSITY UNIVERSITY OF OKLAHOMA’S INDEPENDENT STUDENT VOICE

Read about the latest resolutionn on Congress a Student C gress policy. See smoking po page 3.

ANYTIME AT

THURSDAY’S Th Sooners baseball The team opened their tea home season yesterday. ho Recap on page 5.

Re

Read about bout st students who made the decision sion to get ma married during college. See page pag 8.

Weather

61°

36°

owl.ou.edu

OUDAILY.COM » BECOME A FAN OF THE OKLAHOMA DAILY/OUDAILY.COM ON FACEBOOK FORR UPDATES, STORIES, VI VIDEOS AND ALL YOUR DAILY FAVORITES.

Gubernatorial candidates share platforms

INCUMBENT MAYOR DEFEATS OPPONENT ELECTION RESULTS All results are unofficial until approved by the Cleveland County Election Board.

Students hear from both Republican campaigns at College Republicans meeting

Mayoral Race 100 percent of precincts reporting

MATTHEW MOZEK Daily Staff Writer

Oklahoma’s freedom is under attack by federal policies, a gubernatorial candidate said Tuesday night in the Oklahoma Memorial Union.

During a meeting of OU College Republicans, Sen. Randy Brogdon, R-Owasso, said he still believes in efficient and limited government, personal responsibility and the expansion of freedom.

“You may not know it yet — you may not realize it — but our freedom is under attack today,” Brogdon said.

“We are in trouble in this state. We are in dire trouble in this country.”

Brogdon said this generation is in trouble because of policies that are being “pushed down” by Washington, D.C., politicians onto the state of Oklahoma.

These policies are destroying the state of our economy, he said.

However, Brogdon, said it does not have to be that way.

“I don’t like that change that has come to America,” Brogdon said. “I don’t like it. And I’m not calling for change tonight; I’m calling for something entirely different. I’m calling for restoration. I want the values of our founding fathers restored. ...

That’s the only thing that will salvage our country.”

Brogdon said politicians in Washington, D.C., have made a mockery of the political system. However, if the people want to take their country back, it will have to be done at the state level, he said.

“You see one person can make a difference,” Brogdon said. “It only takes one person standing up and doing the right thing, for no other reason than because it is the right thing to do, to make a difference.”

GOP CONTINUES ON PAGE 2

Cindy Rosenthal (53.65 percent) 6,798 Hal WM Ezzell (46.35 percent) 5,872 Ward 4 Austin Dyches 151

MERRILL JONES/THE DAILY

Cindy Rosenthal, incumbent mayor, gives an acceptance speech Tuesday evening at her mayoral election watch party at Legends Times Two. Rosenthal received 53.65 percent of the vote.

Rosenthal bests Ezzell by 926 votes in Tuesday’s election CASEY PARVIN Daily Staff Writer

Incumbent mayor Cindy Rosenthal defeated Councilman Hal Ezzell in the Norman mayoral election Tuesday.

Rosenthal defended her seat with 53.65 percent of the vote, with all precincts reporting. Rosenthal received 6,798 votes compared to Ezzell’s 5,872 votes.

“I feel really, really good,” Rosenthal said. “I tried to run a positive campaign, not negative.

The city has embraced what we have been working on.”

Rosenthal said the victory was a result of everyone’s effort. “(We did this) with friends and family, support, energy and excitement from people who want to work for our community,” she said.

Rosenthal said her immediate plans are to sleep in this morning.

Former Ward 6 Councilman David Hopper, who served under three different mayors, said Rosenthal was the strongest.

“I think she ran a positive campaign and overcame a lot of negativity,” Hopper said.

“I’m one of the people that didn’t vote for her the first time, but I voted for her this time.”

Hopper said that there were a lot of false issues brought up during the election.

“There was talk of deficit budget spending, but that can’t happen (in a Municipal council).” Hopper said. “There were a lot of false issues brought up, and I resented that.”

Debra Levy Martinelli, who did communications for Rosenthal’s campaign, said Norman is very smart for re-electing her.

“We are very happy, but we really didn’t have a doubt,” Martinelli said. “It’s always nice to have some validation. Mayor Rosenthal is the hardest working person that I’ve ever seen.”

In Ward 6, incumbent James Griffith defeated OU law student Matthew Zellner by 30 votes. Griffith received 853 votes, 50.89 percent, while Zellner received 823 votes, 49.11 percent, with all precincts reporting.

“I voted for Griffith,” Hopper said. “He’s done a good job.”

Rosenthal showed enthusiasm when she learned all the incumbents had been reelected.

Ward 4 councilman Dillingham received 1,303 votes, 72.39 percent. Ward 8 councilman Quinn received 1,176 votes, 56.95 percent.

Groups discuss gender neutral housing Plan of implementation in the works, but not official

Carol Price Dillingham (72.39 percent) 1,303 J. Michael Sherrod 81 John O. Dawson 265 Ward 6 Matt Zellner 823 Jim Griffith (50.89 percent) 853 Ward 8 Stephen A. Lucas 716 Leonard Youngblood 173 Dan Quinn (56.95 percent) 1,176

PETER DAVIS/THE DAILY

Norman mayoral candidate Hal Ezzell was defeated in the Tuesdays election by incumbent Mayor Cindy Rosenthal.

CANDIDATES RAISE MONEY IN DIFFERENT WAYS Norman’s mayoral candidates went into the voting booths almost dead even in fundraising, but how they got their war chests filled is two different stories.

Both campaigns had almost $63,000, campaign contributions and expenditures, according to reports from both campaigns.

According to the reports, Norman Mayor Cindy Rosenthal raised $62,662.23 and Norman City Councilmen Hal Ezzell raised $63,616.43, but there is differences in how each candidate reached those totals.

Rosenthal was able to raise money through contributions from supporters by raising $53,120 from 298 individual contributions more than $50. Ezzell raised $17,120 from 44 individual contributions and donated $46,273.92 to himself in a personal loan or contribution, the reports stated.

The report stated Rosenthal donated $2,000 to her campaign through the use of a loan or contribution.

When it came to cash carried over from previous campaigns for public office, Ezzell transferred more than $222.51 while Rosenthal transferred more than $1,887.23 from previous campaigns.

Ezzell raised more money than Rosenthal when it came to contributions under $50, the reports stated.

Ezzell raised $5,655 while Rosenthal raised $270.

—Ricky Maranon/The Daily

Study-abroad expansion to increase students’ skill set

RICKY MARANON Assignment Editor

Students gathered Tuesday night to discuss a change to OU’s housing policy concerning those seeking gender neutral housing.

The group consisting of students and professors is advocating for changes to the OU Housing and Food Services that would create a gender blind housing policy which would allow for students to room with a person they feel more compatible with, regardless of their gender identity.

“Campus housing is more than just putting people in a place,” said Sherri Irvine, philosophy professor. “Prisons fill spaces with people, but campus housing is suppose to create a home environment for students.”

Irvine said she supports the idea of gender neutral housing.

“Being in a such a conservative state, people are not as open to the ideas of accepting other people who are not apart of socially accepted categories,” she said.

Irvine said there are risks to being open with your sexual orientation and gender identity.

“You don’t know if they will accept you, and if they don’t, will that lead to violence,” she said. “I don’t want people to live in constant fear.”

Julia Ehrhardt, Honors College professor, shared the informational side of what universities have faced when they have implemented a policy similar to the one being proposed at OU.

GENDER CONTINUES ON PAGE 2

FREE — ADDITIONAL COPIES 25¢

Boren takes initiative to provide students more international education opportunities CASEY WILSON Daily Staff Writer

PHOTO ILLUSTRATION BY LAUREN HARNED/THE DAILY

© 2009 OU PUBLICATIONS BOARD

OU aims to expand its study-abroad program, aligning itself with a national trend among the nation’s universities to increase international study for students.

Student will live in a global environment, and living with and having relationships with only Americans is a thing of the past, said OU President David Boren.

“Global experiences are essential to meet our responsibility to our students,” Boren said. “We must assure them the opportunity to have an international living experience.”

Last year, OU announced plans to increase participation in studyabroad programs by 50 percent over the next four years, Jay Doyle, university spokesman, said by email.

“To help realize this goal, President Boren increased the amount of presidential study abroad scholarships by $100,000,” Doyle said.

Higher-learning institutions in the United Sates sent more than 250,000 students overseas to study last year, said Jack Dobson, Education Abroad Program director.

An international education experience is helpful for a student

EDUCATION CONTINUES ON PAGE 2

VOL. 95, NO. 109

2 Wednesday, March 3, 2010 Caitlin Harrison, managing editor dailynews@ou.edu • phone: 325-3666 • fax: 325-6051

OUDAILY.COM » GO ONLINE TO WATCH HIGHLIGHTS FROM THIS YEAR’S COLUMBIAN NIGHT.

Education

Gender

Continues from page 1

Continues from page 1

because not only does the student gain credit hours for studying abroad, but it also gives them problem-solving skills, Dobson said.

“And, it gives them a whole pool of resources that are critical in an international and increasingly small economic climate in which everyone is going to try and seek jobs,” he said.

Dobson said an international experience also helps students understand their role as an international citizen.

“It also gives students a very unique skill set that will help them in the job hunt and in graduate school,” he said.

OU has 174 student exchange agreements with universities in 66 countries, Doyle said.

More than 1,500 students from more than 100 countries are enrolled on OU’s Norman campus this semester, he said.

Richard Gude, chemical engineering senior, said he enjoyed studying abroad last summer in France.

Gude said he met some of the nicest people in Normandy.

“I met a lot of really great people who opened my eyes, assuaged a lot of stereotypes and gave me one of the best times in my life,” he said.

Gude said he thinks Boren’s plan to increase the amount of people studying abroad is a great idea.

“You’ll meet tons of people and go plenty of places,” he said. “And the best time to travel in your life is when you’re young.”

Mason Kuehler, aerospace engineering sophomore, said his experience while studying abroad in France was life changing.

The time a student spends studying abroad will likely be the most memorable period in her or her life, Kuehler said.

Kuehler said he also supports the initiative to send more students abroad.

“The more our students are able to get out and seen other parts of the world, the better it will be when they come back here,” he said.

Ehrhardt compared OU to 34 other colleges and universities that have either implemented a gender neutral housing policy or offered a gender neutral floor.

“This has largely been a student-driven initiative,” Ehrhardt said. “This has stemmed mainly from an issue of safety, especially with transgendered students. This has nothing to do with students wanting to live with people who they intend to have a sexual relationship with.”

Ehrhardt said accommodations have been made for people with physical handicaps and student athletes, so the university has the capabilities to implement a gender neutral housing policy.

Ehrhardt shared her experience of having co-ed bathrooms when she was in college.

“Everyone was worried at first that men and women were not going to mingle and life would be hard for all of us, but at the end of the day, we had a clean bathroom, we all cooperated with each other, and we all respected each other,” Ehrhardt said.

Students were able to share their experiences about living on and off campus.

“I myself am not a member of the LGBT community, but I remember living in the athletic dorms my freshman year and hearing the comments and seeing people singled out,” said Brian Koss, biochemistry senior. “I decided to move off campus, and I share a house with a few girls. At first my family was concerned about my intentions to move in with them, but overtime they saw that there were no problems in the house.”

OUR COMMITMENT TO ACCURACY The Daily has a long-standing commitment to serve readers by providing accurate coverage and analysis. Errors are corrected as they are identified. Readers should bring errors to the attention of the editorial board for further investigation by e-mailing dailynews@ou.edu.

9

number

crisis line

[help is just a phone call away]

325-6963 (NYNE)

OU Number Nyne Crisis Line 8 p.m.-4 a.m. every day except OU holidays and breaks

Koss said he wished there was a way to have students share on-campus living spaces without concern about gender. Kely Van Eaton, industrial engineering senior, said he wants the same thing.

“I lived in the dorms, and then I moved into my fraternity’s house and now I live off campus,” Van Eaton said. “I realize my experience may be better than others, but I can’t speak for everyone. I have also heard other stories.”

Van Eaton said he lives off campus with female roommates and feels comfortable with his choice to do so, but said he desired to have the option to be roommates with someone of the opposite sex on campus.

“It is the university’s duty to protect its students,” Van Eaton said. “We need to provide a safe place for students who some feel are not socially acceptable.”

The issue of safety was brought up many times in the meeting, not only about protecting students, but also about not creating a place that would allow all students who chose to live in a gender neutral setting to be a target by placing them in one distinct portion of campus.

But when it comes to implementation of a change in the policy, there is a plan to bring the proposal to the public.

“We want people to have the option of checking a box on the housing application,” said Matt Bruenig, Oklahoma Students for a Democratic Society Spokesman.

Bruenig said this would not allow people to just randomly be allowed to room with someone

they would either want to sleep with or personally prefer as their roommate.

“When you check this box, you surrender all rights to choosing your roommate, and you are now entered into a potluck form of selection,” Bruenig said. “You would be randomly chosen to room with someone who also checked the box.

This would eliminate the argument that people can check the box to room with someone they want to sleep with.”

But the decision to change the policy is up to OU President David Boren and the OU Board of Regents.

“Housing and Food currently assess each complaint and accommodation need that any student brings up,” said Lauren Royston, OU Housing and Food Services spokeswoman, who was in attendance at the forum.

“We came here to hear the ideas of possible policy changes in Housing and Food,” said Dave Annis, OU Housing and Food Services director.

“In the end, it is in the hands of President Boren and the Board of Regents.”

The discussion — named “We Are Oklahoma!”

— was themed after President Boren’s Feb. 9 remarks saying he did not see gender-blind housing in the state happening, because “This is Oklahoma.” The event was sponsored by GLBTF and Oklahoma Students for a Democratic Society.

During the forum, the Undergraduate Student Congress passed a resolution in support of a gender neutral housing policy.

GOP Continues from page 1 Brodgon will face fell ow S e n . Ma r y Fa l l i n , R-Oklahoma City, in the Republican primary at the end of the month. Fallin was unable to attend the meeting because of a long-standing commitment in Oklahoma City, but was represented at the meeting by Alex Weintz, communications director for her campaign.

Weintz said Fallin has experience on her side as a state legislator and lieutenant governor, which is going to help her get the job done as governor.

“I think that experience is going to make a big difference,” Weintz said. “We’re at a point in our state here where we are facing a budget crisis — a massive budget

crisis — the worst I’ve seen in years. We’re facing a national recession, which has driven up unemployment in Oklahoma and also contributed to the budget crisis.

And I think it’s important that we elect someone who not only works hard and cares, but who has the experience and is going to be ready to work on day one.

And I think Mary Fallin is that person.”

Fallin, who has worked in the private sector as a hotel manager, came into the public sector because she was dealing with problems that still hammer growth as a state, Weintz said. The problems included high workers compensation costs, rising health care costs and the bureaucratic and legal red tape

that stifle job growth and economic development, he said.

Weintz also said Fallin’s No. 1 priority is creating an environment where the private sector can thrive and create its own jobs.

“As someone who was in college not too long ago, my No. 1 concern — at least when I was a senior — was getting a job and being able to support myself when I graduated,” Weintz said.

“And if you can’t get that job out of college, or if you got a job and your company downsizes and has to lay you off as a lot of companies have had to recently, you are at a long-term, if not a lifetime, disadvantage.”

NEIL MCGLOHON/THE DAILY

Sen. Randy Brogdon, R-Owasso, speaks during a College Republicans meeting as a part of his campaign for Oklahoma state governor Tuesday evening in the Frontier room of the Oklahoma Memorial Union.

Wednesday, March 3, 2010

3

OKLA. BILL WOULD MERGE CORRECTIONS, PAROLE BOARD OKLAHOMA CITY — Legislation asking voters to merge the state Pardon and Parole Board with the Department of Corrections was approved by the Oklahoma House on Tuesday as lawmakers search for ways to save taxpayer dollars and address a massive shortfall in next year’s budget.

House members voted 64-30 for the measure and sent it to the Senate for consideration in spite of concerns by some that placing the Pardon and Parole Board under the umbrella of the Corrections Department might affect the board’s independence and impartiality when considering inmate parole requests.

The measure’s author, House Speaker Chris Benge, said the Corrections Department and Pardon and Parole Board have similar functions and that merging them would save between $200,000 and $400,000 a year.

“This is an option to try to save some money for the state,” the Tulsa Republican said.

But Rep. Paul Roan, D-Tishomingo, said the board might be pressured to parole more inmates when state prisons are near capacity.

“There would be some inference there that some impartiality would be lost,” said Rep. Richard Morrissette, D-Oklahoma City.

“I don’t see any pressure other than what there already is,” Benge said. “They have to both manage the prison population together.”

Benge said budget woes have forced lawmakers to look for ways to reduce the size and cost of state government, including consolidating agencies. For the next fiscal year, which begins July 1, lawmakers will have about $5.4 billion to spend, which is $1.2 billion less than they appropriated last year.

“A $1.2 billion shortfall is daunting. If we do nothing, I think the taxpayers will be very disappointed,” Benge said.

But Rep. Mike Reynolds, R-Oklahoma City, noted that the merger would require voter approval of a constitutional amendment in November and the state would see no immediate savings.

“This bill doesn’t do anything to solve our financial problems,” Reynolds said.

Rep. Mike Shelton, D-Oklahoma City, said the state could save far more by releasing some nonviolent offenders from state prisons.

“A $1.2 billion shortfall is daunting.

A spokesman for the Corrections Department, Jerry Massie, said the If we do nothing, I think the agency has not taken a position on the taxpayers will be very disappointed.” proposal. Pardon and Parole Board -WOKLAHOMA HOUSE SPEAKER CHRIS BENGE Director Terry Jenks did not immediately return a telephone call seeking comment.

Gov. Brad Henry’s executive budget also includes proposals to consolidate some of Oklahoma’s 180 state agencies, such as merging the Alcoholic Beverage Laws Enforcement Commission with the Department of Public Safety. No action has been taken on that proposal.

The House on Tuesday also approved a bill that would relax several state education mandates for two years to give school districts the financial flexibility they need manage their budgets and avoid laying off teachers during the economic downturn.

Suspended mandates would include library media expenditures, class size requirements, certification requirements for library media specialists. It would also suspend the mandate requiring school districts to use a percentage of state funds each year to buy new textbooks.

Benge said relaxing the mandates for two years will save school districts millions of dollars that instead could be used for general operations.

“This plan maintains quality and encourages local control and hopefully provides some relief to school budgets that are already feeling the effects of lower revenue collections,” Benge said.

-AP

AP PHOTO

Speaker of the Oklahoma House of Representatives, Rep. Chris Benge, R-Tulsa, is pictured during an interview with the Associated Press in his office in Oklahoma City. The unprecedented financial problems greeting Oklahoma legislators on their return to the state Capitol on Monday likely will force deeper cuts or higher fees for state services by the time lawmakers leave in late May.

DAILY BRIEFS SEVERAL SOONERS CITED FOR DRUGS OUPD issued several drug-related citations over the weekend in residence halls.

OUPD cited two students Saturday for possession of drug paraphernalia in Muldrow Tower, according to police reports.

Police reports also stated a student was cited Saturday for possession of drug paraphernalia and marijuana in Muldrow Tower.

Another student was cited Sunday for possession of drug paraphernalia and marijuana near Walker Center, police reports stated.

Some students have speculated a “drug bust” occurred in Couch Center during the weekend.

Though police radio-logs stated OUPD was present Sunday in Couch Center, there were no drugrelated arrests or citations made.

Lt. Bruce Chan, OUPD spokesman, said none of the drug-related citations made during the weekend could be considered a “drug bust.”

—Casey Wilson/The Daily

RESOLUTION MADE ON ELECTION BOARD BILL A resolution regarding the smoking policy was sent back to committee before being reintroduced by Matthew Gress, Undergraduate Student Congress vice chairman, and subsequently amended to remove the entire contents of the bill and replace it with a bill to appoint an election board.

Katie Fox, UOSA president and author of the bill to appoint an election board, said she e-mailed the bill to Student Congress and Graduate Student Senate two weeks ago.

The bill was not placed on the agenda. Fox said she approached Gress on Tuesday night about making sure the bill was passed to avoid any technicalities about the election board conducting business while not official.

Gress said the bill was not placed on the agenda previously because he “glossed over it” in his e-mail.

Gress did not know if UOSA had ever passed a bill by amending a different bill on the agenda that had been sent back to committee and changing the complete intent of the bill.

The election board bill was approved by consent.

—Troy Weatherford/The Daily

CAMPUS EVENTS

POLICE REPORTS

TODAY

THURSDAY

There will be a geology book sale 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the Geology Library, Sarkeys Energy Center, room 220.

There will be a geology book sale 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the Geology Library, Sarkeys Energy Center, room 220.

Christians on Campus will host a Bible study 12:30 to 1:15 p.m. in the Weitzenhoffer Room of the Oklahoma Memorial Union.

Student Success Series: “Being a Happy & Healthy Sooner” will be 4 to 5 p.m. in Wagner Hall, room 245.

Campus Crusade for Christ meets 9 to 10 p.m. in Santee Lounge on the fifth floor of the stadium.

The English Club and Sigma Tau Delta are hosting a Word Game night, 4:30 to 6 p.m. in Gittinger Lounge. Free pizza, drinks and snacks.

The following is a list of arrests and citations, not convictions.

The information given is compiled from the Norman and OU Police Departments. At times, the Cleveland County Sheriff’s Department and the Oklahoma City FBI will contribute to these reports. All those listed are innocent until proven guilty.

POSSESSION OF MARIJUANA Chanelle Francis Davidson, 20, Stanton Drive, Monday Richard Laurence Harry, 25, Stanton Drive, Monday MUNICIPAL WARRANT Lisa Marie Ellis, 30, 201 W. Gray St., Monday Donald Leroy Longstreet, 36, 1100 12th Ave NE, Monday Demetrius Lavon Moore, 20, Vicksburg Avenue, Sunday Jason Christopher Pruitt, 26, Vicksburg Avenue, Sunday Shaun Paul Thompson, 32, 765 Asp Ave., Monday

Geology Library Book Sale Geology Library (R220, Sarkeys Energy Center), 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.

VICIOUS DOG Fernanda B. Genato, 77, Southwest 24th Avenue, Feb. 25 POSSESSION OF SUSPENDED ID Thomas Dwayne Grace, 21, 1201 E. Lindsey St., Sunday ASSAULT AND BATTERY ON A POLICE OFFICER Carol Ann Hacknauer, 47, 908 E. Lindsey St., Monday DOG AT LARGE Orvel Dell Merryman, 25, 1923 Twisted Oak Drive, Feb. 23 DISTURBING THE PEACE Bob Usry, 59, 2601 24th Ave. SE, Sunday

NOTICE OF PUBLIC ACCESS During the Regular Meeting Of The University of Oklahoma PUBLICATIONS BOARD Thursday at 5 p.m.

Copeland Hall, Room 146

Across from Barnes & Noble (405) 579-5600

Students, staff, faculty and others in the community are invited to express their views concerning The Oklahoma Daily or Sooner yearbook to the Publications Board.

4

Wednesday, March 3, 2010

COMMENT OF THE DAY »

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

In response to Tuesday’s Our View on protesting tuition hikes.

OUR VIEW

STAFF COLUMN

Our generosity must never end CNN recently asked its viewers whether our generosity is overstretched with recent disasters; they imply we have become saturated with despair abroad and our generosity is waning. This proposition that our generosity — the physical manifestation of our empathy — could be satiated so quickly is a grave insult to the American people.

Claims like these are making an unnecessary justification not to give. Instead, we need to be making excuses to give. It’s absurd to think increased need justifies stinginess; if anything it should be the opposite.

There was an earthquake in Haiti — a terrible disaster in a region unprepared for this type of disaster with an inadequate infrastructure rocked with a long history of instability. That was almost two months ago and we’re still donating. Why? Because they still need help.

Five days ago, an earthquake struck Chile. It was the fifth-largest earthquake in the past 100 years, just a few hundred miles and 50 years from the largest recorded earthquake. They were more developed and better prepared. But it still wasn’t enough.

The Chilean government originally thought it would be alright without international aid. But buildings collapsed, people looted and there is still no food or water throughout much of the country.

Yesterday, the Chilean Government ate its crow and requested aid and we should deliver; it would be terrible for Chileans to still be suffering for years to come. When people are in need and we can help, we should.

We are in a nation of plenty. We have more shoes and shirts than we can count, far more than we need.

Take a look around. Find a group doing good, have a fundraiser or make something you’re doing into a fundraiser. If you’re hosting or attending a party this weekend, pass around a jar or hat to raise money for relief.

Do something good with what extra you have.

Stand up and say we still care; we still have a heart and love to give to those who could use our help.

COMMENT ON THIS COLUMN AT OUDAILY.COM

LETTER TO THE EDITOR The following is a group response to the partially inaccurate Our View entitled “We need to voice our discontent”. There is, in fact, a solidarity action planned March 4 by a group of students unaffiliated with any campus group.

The 3.5 percent budget cuts for higher education that our Oklahoma legislature recently passed is only one small incident in the larger struggle of education rights going on in our nation today.

On March 4th, students, workers and teachers throughout the nation and across the globe will strike. Pre K-12, adult education, community colleges and state-funded universities will come together in an international Strike and Day of Action to resist the neo-liberal privatization and destruction of public education in California and beyond. But this is about far more than education. This is about

the crisis we find ourselves in, student or not. The economic and social relations holding this world together are bankrupt, and we want something new.

Tomorrow, students from the University of Oklahoma will act in solidarity, occupying an admittedly small portion of the South Oval to call attention to the actions of students in California and around the world. There will be music and dancing, literature and games, and there will be freedom, as brief as it may be. We are not here to make demands, we are here to stand together. If you want to know more, meet us on the oval. There might be two of us or there might be 20. There should be thousands.

That’s up to you.

Tate James is the lead author of this letter and a visual communications senior.

POINT

“With the state’s budget in flames, we should be pleased the cut is so much smaller than what is happening to other entities receiving state funds.

- Tiberius

That’s no way to make it right. I think this is a classic mistake of attempting to justify something by saying it could be worse. The cuts did not need to happen.

Let us strive for what is right.

- William

Vagina is not a dirty word

Last week, I found myself up on stage in front of a crowded auditorium talking about my vagina.

Yes, that’s right: You just read vagina in the paper. It’s OK, I promise. No one’s going to get into trouble. And if your eyes haven’t started bleeding yet, I don’t think they will.

I imagine you might be feeling a bit like some of the audience members did that night. I could see a few of them from the stage, and it’s amazing how uncomfortable people can look in those Meacham seats. In fact, one of Eve Ensler’s reasons for writing the Vagina Monologues (which was the reason I was on stage) was to point MARY out how awkward, even STANFIELD ashamed, we feel talking about vaginas.

Go ahead, say it. Wherever you are right now — assuming it’s not the middle of class, in which case you should put the paper down and pay attention — just take a deep breath and say it out loud. Vagina. Va-gi-na.

See, don’t you feel better? That’s because the embarrassment, the taboo, is all in your mind. Try it again. Really, I promise it won’t bite. It’s not insulting or degrading. In fact, I think it’s rather powerful.

And it’s not just women’s hoo-hahs I’m talking about here. It’s just as important (though slightly less taboo) that we can all talk about the very real facts of the male body. So say it with me: Penis. Testicles.

It’s uncomfortable, isn’t it? Even if it’s getting less so, you can’t avoid at least a little culturally inspired awkwardness.

We’re taught to think it’s inappropriate, taboo or downright disgusting to talk

about these issues. We’re conditioned to recoil from the conversation. We like to hide behind the politically correct phrases, like “women’s issues.” Even at The Daily we’re so afraid of blunt language that we censored this column on censorship.

We’re all adults at this point. Isn’t it time we had a blunt discussion? To say what we really mean? Isn’t it time to reclaim these words and recognize how powerful they can be?

These topics are not disgusting; they’re natural. It shouldn’t be taboo to talk about them; it’s healthy. It might be uncomfortable, but maybe it’s time we made ourselves uncomfortable.

Most of all, they’re not “inappropriate.” They are an important, powerful potentially dangerous part of everyone’s life. We share hopes, fears, joys, sorrows and desires in the realms of sex and gender.

We need to normalize these things, to share knowledge of the dangers and celebrate the joys, to recognize these are fundamentally communal experiences. How is that not the most appropriate topic of conversation?

Vagina is not a dirty word. Neither are penis, sex, orgasm or clitoris.

It’s time we claim these words and the topics they represent. It’s time we claim the right to have these conversations. It’s time we all grow up a little and recognize that sex is a beautiful, powerful, natural part of human existence, and that it cannot, in fact, hurt our poor puritan brains to talk about it.

Mary Stanfield is a philosophy sophomore.

COMMENT ON THIS COLUMN AT OUDAILY.COM

COUNTER POINT

Finish off those foul phrases

An impotent defense of profanity

I am ashamed to be associated with this remember anything about Pilcher’s colyellow rag. But that is not just because our umn except for that one phrase? money is wasted by printing far too many But apart from pragmatic concerns, you copies. It is not because of its habitual fail- ought to reflect on some reasons why you ure to properly publicize campus events. It should rarely, if ever, use this word, even is not even because the ongoing epidemic in speech, no matter how effective it might of spelling errors slew the dignity of the be. For, regardless of religious convictions, front page’s headline Feb. 1. It is because it is degrading to human dignity to habituthis paper insists on shamelessly embrac- ally lower our discourse down to the base ing the vulgarity that has torn out our na- animal level, the level of gross passions and tion’s tongue and replaced it with ungoverned urges. every sort of filth and obscenity.

We are humans; we are better Specifically, only eight days after than that. There are more importhe disgraceful incident mentioned tant things than sex, so it should above, the esteemed editor of this not be our aim to prove Freud page felt inspired to print a certain right by relating everything we word which for generations has do to an activity that, in excess, been shunned. will stultify the intellect and liqSo must we shun it as well? Is it uefy the will. And in case you not an effective way to emphasize a GERARD think that this position, held by position? It can be; however, leaving KEISER centuries of great thinkers, is just aside a 2007 study by Cory Scherer a bunch of a priori speculation by suggesting that mild words are just lonely men, it was supported in a as effective for persuading people, and a 2001 report led by Paul L. Schvaneveldt.

1989 study by Mark Hamilton that found If an expression is used enough, won’t it printed obscenity can damage your image, eventually lose its force and become more one must remember that shock is not ev- socially acceptable as we stop paying aterything; you also need to be civil and con- tention to what it means? This has already siderate. You could literally shock people happened to a degree, but it is still far from with a cattle prod or pour acid into your completing that process, and if it ever does eyes to demonstrate how strong your opin- reach a state of total blandness then there ions are, but that probably would not help. will be no more point in using it. This alAnd there are many simple devices to most works as an argument to say it less demonstrate a strong opinion which do often, in order to save its power. not rely on alarming the sensibilities of So if the benefits are doubtful, and there others, such as rhetorical questions, judi- are other means towards the same effect, cious placement of sarcasm or (didn’t our why must you reach into boorish indecenfine English department tell you about cy to make your case? Is it just laziness or this one?) the sublime and subtle tricolon want of imagination, or a hole in the part of crescens. the brain that is supposed to think up new This word also has a way of ending expressions? Perhaps a juvenile urge to thought; all reasoned discourse is dragged defy social conventions? Whatever it is, just down into it. For example, during formal think about what it means to be human, debate contests, the discussion can be- and have some courtesy. Otherwise, fie on come an argument over whether some- you. body should not have said it. In fact, this is Gerard Keiser is a classical languages sophomore. exactly what is happening on this page right now. If you want to blame people like me for doing this, consider what happens in COMMENT ON THIS COLUMN AT your own head; how many of you actually OUDAILY.COM

A recent study by Dr. Bradley Ohner, a itself. Racism, biological waste and sexual Harvard scientist, found that sexual repres- reproduction existed well before we inventsion is the leading cause of erectile dysfunc- ed words to describe them. Profanity is not tion. Thankfully, Viagra and other male en- an ideology poured into words like Sauron hancement drugs are regularly advertised into the One Ring. on television between the hours of 10 p.m.

Severing profanity from our vocabulary and 5:45 a.m. doesn’t annihilate the evils that vocabulary Unfortunately, Ohner has yet to discover articulates. sexual repression’s effect on deer mice.

Let’s not ignore the possible consequencPopular theories suggest these es of oversaturation with profanity. quaint woodland critters would The song, “Bitches Ain’t Shit” by Dr. suffer a Gollum-esque form of Dre, another respected “doctor,” is schizophrenia. Rest assured: that proof enough that language helps scientific inquiry is only $10 billion to articulate and reinforce ideoloaway from being answered. gies like racism, misogyny and bad Conversely, the Federal Claims grammar.

Commission’s vague rules governFurthermore, an overabundance ing “interstate and international of profanity can invert the relationcommunications by radio, televiship between maturity and exposure sion, wire, satellite and cable” re- BRYAN to mature content. Receiving educamain a mystery. Does the FCC be- HONEYCUTT tion exclusively from Grand Theft lieve censoring profanity (publicly Auto provides a traditionally adult or privately) eliminates the probunderstanding of sex, violence and lems they signify? vulgarity. This becomes a problem when Keep in mind the FCC approves Viagra it retards our ability to perform the roles of commercials but censors words which de- an adult (like holding a regular job, formscribe the very act made possible by Viagra. ing human relationships, shaking hands or This distinction is evidence of profan- moving out of the house). ity’s subjective nature. It is a word defined At the end of the day, the F-word will 100 unique ways in a room of 25 people. probably cause less harm than sexual impoAttempting to identify a concrete historical tence, devastating earthquakes or the gendefinition of the obscene is impossible. eral apathy to the effects of both.

Over the course of America’s history, acRelating Ohner’s discovery about diminceptable speech and behavior have fluctu- ishing male libido to mankind’s use of lanated greatly. There was a time that owning guage begs the question: “Is it true that if you a man was acceptable but beating him pub- don’t use it, you lose it?” This respected scilicly was bad form. Less than a century ago, entist would no doubt agree that repressing Warner Brothers lobbied tirelessly so Clark language — the beautiful as well as the ugly Gable could say he, “didn’t give a damn” in — can lead to intellectual impotence.

Gone with the Wind. More recently, Family There will always exist a need to curse, Guy is both highly successful and, “respon- whether it’s after stubbing a toe, missing a sible for more that 190,000 indecency com- shot in beer-pong, or watching an albino plaints” to the FCC. And today, my opposite Uruk-hai blow a hole through the wall of believes that One-Word-Too-Cruel-For-Y’all Helm’s Deep. Rather than expend undue efcan make barbarians of men. fort on censorship we should attempt to limit Understand how this argument seems the circumstances necessitating profanity. flaccid?

Bryan Honeycutt is an English graduate student.

Recurring public and private attempts to identify and prohibit profanity are misguided. Words are offensive because they COMMENT ON THIS COLUMN AT represent ugliness that precedes the word OUDAILY.COM

T=: O@A6=DB6 D6>AN Jamie Hughes Caitlin Harrison Ricky Maranon Lisa Phan Max Avery Michelle Gray Marcin Rutkowski

contact us

Editor-in-Chief Managing Editor Assignment Editor Presentation Editor Opinion Editor Photo Editor Assistant Photo Editor

Renee Selanders, Amanda Turner News Editors James Lovett Online Editor Mark Potts Multimedia Editor Aaron Colen Sports Editor Joshua Boydston Life & Arts Editor Judy Gibbs Robinson Editorial Adviser Thad Baker Advertising Manager

160 Copeland Hall, 860 Van Vleet Oval Norman, OK 73019-0270

phone: 405-325-3666

e-mail: dailynews@ou.edu

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

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

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

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

Editorial Board members are The Daily’s editorial staff.

The board meets Sunday through Thursday at 4:30 p.m. in 160 Copeland Hall.

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

Wednesday, March 3, 2010

SOFTBALLL Soonerss to take on Tulsaa at home tonight.. Preview at OUDAILY.COM Y.COM

5

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

«

BASEBALL

Buechele, Gibson lead Sooners in home win JONO GRECO Daily Staff Writer

season, which is one less than his season total from a year ago.

Buechele did not hit his first home run until It was the Buechele-Gibson Show on Tuesday March 24 against Central Arkansas, which was at L. Dale Mitchell Baseball Park in the No. 20 26 games into last season and became a joke bebaseball team’s 4-3 victory over the University of tween his teammates, Buechele said. Now it is Texas at Arlington Mavericks.

Buechele who is doing all of the laughing, saying Head coach Sunny Golloway and the Sooners that he sometimes laughs at the amount of good (7-1) leaned on sophomore third baseman pitches he has been seeing.

Garrett Buechele and freshman pitcher Ryan “I’ve kind of been laughGibson to start off a five-game home ing every time after I hit stand on the right foot. one,” Buechele said. “It is ONE-MAN SHOW Buechele brought in all four of funny that they keep giving the Sooners’ runs and Gibson (2-0) me stuff to hit.”

Sophomore third baseman looked right at home on the mound Buechele added an RBI Garrett Buechele was responin OU’s home opener. single in the fifth, and the sible for all four of the Sooners’ The Yukon native kept UTA’s hitMavericks retaliated with a runs Tuesday against the ters off-balanced all game by mixing run of their own in the sixth University of Texas at Arlington. in various off-speed pitches with his before Gibson recorded a upper-80s mile per hour fastballs.

Buechele went 2-4 with a three-up-three-down sevGibson pitched seven innings, three-run home run and four enth inning. gave up two runs, one of which was RBIs. He is batting .500 on the Buechele ended the earned, on four hits and struck out game 2-4 with the home run season. four batters en route to his second and four RBIs, keeping his victory of the season. batting average at .500 on “Baseball’s really just baseball,” the season and increasing Gibson said. “It’s definitely another his RBI total to 12. Tuesday level, but you just got to come out and play the was his seventh multi-hit game of the season and game. I try to just not let things bother me as the 30th of his career. much as possible.”

“When you get your pitch you’ve got to hit it, In Gibson’s two starts and victories he has not and that’s what he’s doing right now,” Golloway looked like a freshman on the mound. He has said. “He seems to be coming up clutch for us given up two runs, one earned and seven hits time after time already.” while striking out 13 batters and surrendering Senior pitcher Jeremy Erben came in for three walks.

Gibson with the 4-2 lead to throw a scoreless “He’s really looked good,” Golloway said. eighth before Golloway went to always-depend“There’s a reason why he was drafted last June in able junior pitcher Ryan Duke to pitch the ninth. the Major League Baseball Draft. He’s shown he’s Duke gave the Sooners a scare in the final ready for more, and if he’s ready for more we’ll frame by giving up a run on back-to-back extra keep giving him more.” base hits to start the inning before shutting down If Gibson continues to put together games like the next three batters. The save was Duke’s 20th he has in his first two starts, he may move into a of the season, creeping up to eight behind the OU weekend starter position, Golloway said. career saves record of 28.

“If he feels good by Thursday and Friday we’ll The Sooners return to action at 3 p.m. go ahead and announce him to start on Sunday, Thursday to kick off the Sooner Classic against and try to get him in that rotation and let him USF Bulls. settle in where he should be,” Golloway said.

[The Bulls] are a quality club,” Golloway said.

Down by a run in the third, Buechele gave “We’re not going to take them lightly; we won’t the Sooners the lead with a three-run home run overlook them. We’ll be ready for them, but to left. The homer was Buechele’s third of the they’re going to be a good club.”

NEIL MCGLOHON/THE DAILY

Garret Buechele, sophomore third baseman throws the ball in during the baseball game against the University of Texas at Arlington on Tuesday afternoon at the L. Dale Mitchell Baseball Park.

Graduation

GEAR-UP

Everything you need to make the transition from student to graduate 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Monday, March 1 through Thursday, March 4 Beaird Lounge Second floor, Oklahoma Memorial Union ou.edu/commencement The University of Oklahoma is an equal opportunity institution.

6 Wednesday, March 3, 2010 Thad Baker, advertising manager classifieds@ou.edu • phone: 325-2521 • fax: 325-7517

For Sale

Employment

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

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

DEADLINES Line Ad ..................................................................................3 days prior Place your line ad no later than 9:00 a.m. 3 days prior to publication.

Display Ad ............................................................................3 days prior Classified Display or Classified Card Ad Place your display, classified display or classified card ads no later than 5:00 p.m. 3 days prior to publication.

s r

r

HELP WANTED

HELP WANTED

MISC. FOR SALE

FUN VALLEY FAMILY RESORT

Pro Sun Tanning Bed 20 hrs usage, $1200. Call 801-2142

C Transportation

OPPORTUNITIES

Needs students for all types of jobs, kitchen, dining room, housekeeping, stores, maintenance, horse wrangler, office and other. Salary, room & board/bonus. For

AUTO INSURANCE

information and application write to:

Auto Insurance

Student Personnel Director

Foreign students welcomed JIM HOLMES INSURANCE, 321-4664

Call 1-800-548-1684 or

6315 Westover Drive Granbury TX 76049 or

tions, please call our Job Line or access

email: rafain@sbcglobal.net

our website to find out the minimum quali-

RATES 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

Classified Display, Classified Card Ad or Game Sponsorship

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

SOONER BLOOMERS now hiring for spring season, full & PT avail. Call Matt, 413-3088.

HELP WANTED

Line Ad

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

fications. Selected applicant must pass

Employment

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

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

P/T dishwasher, waitstaff and delivery person needed.

Orient Express, 722 Asp, 364-2100.

STUDENTPAYOUTS.COM Paid survey takers needed in Norman 100% FREE to join. Click on Surveys.

Dallas, TX based company looking for Independent Consultants in OK to create database for clients. Will train. Work from home FT/PT. Flexible hrs. Substantial income potential. Serious, motivated applicants reply to lilyservices@sbcglobal.net.

$5,000-$45,000

REAL Lifeskills Program Assistant (Contract) Legal Some college or experience in education or with social service agency. Experience working with juveniles preferred. Knowledge of practices associated with facilitation and instruction of planned curriculum, educational programs and juveniles. Valid Oklahoma Driver’s License and satisfactory driving record. $9.00 per hour. Obtain applications at: 201-C West Gray, Human Resources Dept., City of Norman, (405) 366-5482.

Web: NormanOK.gov EOE/AA

PAID EGG DONORS up to 9 donations, + Exps, non-smokers, Ages 19-29, SAT>1100/ACT>24/GPA>3.00 Contact: info@eggdonorcenter.com

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.

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.

4 6 8 7 9 3

1 4

3 6 5

9 5 7

8 5 2 8 1

6 1

6 1 7 2 4 5 3 9 8

3 5 8 1 9 6 7 4 2

9 4 2 7 8 3 1 5 6

5 8 1 4 2 9 6 3 7

7 3 6 5 1 8 4 2 9

4 2 9 6 3 7 5 8 1

2 6 3 8 7 4 9 1 5

8 7 4 9 5 1 2 6 3

1 9 5 3 6 2 8 7 4

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

ground investigation.

Obtain application at: 201-C West Gray, Human Resources CITY OF NORMAN (405) 366-5482 JOB LINE (405) 366-5321 Web: NormanOK.gov EOE/AA Bartending! Up to $300/day. No exp nec.

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

Campus Company Promotions Coordinator Energetic students needed to create buzz about new college student website.

Contact: imo@collegiatenation.com Traditions Spirits has immediate job openings for Beverage Servers, Bartenders and Barbacks at Riverwind Casino; and Front Desk, Housekeeping and Bellhop at Riverwind Hotel. Please apply in person at Traditions Spirits Corporate Office.

Directions: Follow Highway 9 West past Riverwind Casino, travel 2 miles, turn right on Pennsylvania, take an immediate left onto the service road 2813 SE 44th Norman, OK 405-392-4550, or online at www.traditionsspirits.com

7

HOROSCOPE

By Bernice Bede Osol

Copyright 2008, Newspaper Enterprise Assn.

Wednesday, March 3, 2010

ARIES (March 21-April 19) -This is an excellent day to figure out what is good in your life and what isn’t. If you want to make improvements, now is the time to weed out what isn’t working to make room for what is.

TAURUS (April 20-May 20) -- All the excuses in the world won’t minimize what isn’t working in your life. You need to figure out what is and concentrate your energies in those areas where success can be achieved.

APTS. UNFURNISHED SPECIAL! NEAR OU, 1012 S College $295/mo. 360-2873 / 306-1970.

Lowest Prices of the Year! $99 Deposit / 1/2 OFF 1st Months Rent* Starting at: 1bd $399 / 2bd $510 Pets Welcome! Large Floor Plans! *Some Restrictions Apply Models open 8a-8p Everyday!

360-6624 or www.elite2900.com

CONDOS UNFURNISHED THE EDGE-1 room avail in 4 bd condo, mature, quiet roommates, full ba, walkin closet, appl, full kitchen, $425 incld internet, cable & util. 473-3957

HOUSES UNFURNISHED AVAILABLE IN MAY A short walk to OU, 1-5 blks west of OU, nice brick homes, wood floors, CH/A, W/D, disposal, good parking.

3 bdrm $990-$1,500 2 bdrm $700-$900 1 bdrm $420-$500 Bob, MISTER ROBERT FURNITURE 321-1818

ROOMS FURNISHED NEAR OU, privacy, $230, bills paid includes cable, neat, clean, parking. Prefer male student. Call 329-0143.

Complete pair purchase required.

Some restrictions apply.

See store for details.

4 05 . 36 6. 1 11 0

www.pearlevision.com 114 36th Ave NW Norman, OK 73072

2

PISCES (Feb. 20-March 20) -- If you rely more on yourself and less on others, several endeavors over which you have personal control will start to pay off in ways that will be extremely important to you.

4 brm (individually leased) furnished apts $435 all-inclusive - near campus - open floor plan - private bath/walk-in closet Visit edgeApt.com or call 364-4000!

Bring in this ad and receive 40% off of Eyeglasses.

7 9

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.

Previous Answers

physical exam, drug screen, and back-

$400, bills paid, efficiency LOFT apartments, downtown over Mister Robert Furniture, 109 E Main, fire sprinkler, no pets, smoke-free. Inquire store office.

Previous Solution

6

2 3

Instructor/Lifeguards: $8.50-9.50 hr Lifeguards (Water Slide): $7.25-8.25 hr Pool Maintenance Workers: $7.25-8.25 hr Pool Cashier (AM or PM): $7.25-9.50 hr Baseball Supervisor: $8.50-9.50 hr Youth Baseball/Softball Umpires: $10.50-$15 per game Temporary Laborers: $7.25 hr If you are interested in any of these posi-

TM

J Housing Rentals APTS. FURNISHED

SUMMER EMPLOYMENT

SOUTH FORK COLORADO

Quotations anytime.

PAYMENT

Employment

VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22) -Someone you never considered a supporter may make an abrupt turn and become a staunch ally because this person sees something in it for him or her. The relationship will produce benefits for all.

LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 23) -- Make yourself as valuable as possible to the powers-that-be because changes are coming that could mean advancement for the person who has proven to be worthy.

SCORPIO (Oct. 24-Nov. 22) -- Both Lady Luck and Dan Cupid could team up to make sure that something good happens to certain Scorpios. If you’re one of them, notable improvements in your social life will occur.

GEMINI (May 21-June 20) -- Fresh ambitions could be aroused through some new developments that encourage you to take action. Don’t be afraid to take on challenges previously avoided.

SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 23-Dec. 21) -- A disturbing domestic issue that has caused a certain amount of anxiety could begin to dissipate right before your eyes. The change will be so obvious that you won’t miss it.

CANCER (June 21-July 22) -- It would pay to sit down and make some long-range plans that you’ve pushed off for too long.

Your potential for achieving something difficult is excellent.

CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19) -- Should you conceive a unique idea or concept, do not ignore it just because it is different. In fact, the weirdness makes it such a worthy possibility.

LEO (July 23-Aug. 22) -- The possibilities for achieving long-range plans are better than fulfilling those of short duration.

Once you get your teeth into something worthwhile, you won’t let go.

AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 19) -- When it comes to your financial affairs, a change for the better is indicated. Don’t look to become wealthy overnight, but it should make a worthwhile difference in your wallet.

Universal Crossword Edited by Timothy E. Parker March 03, 2010

ACROSS 1 Pack down tightly 5 Career golfers 9 President James ___ Garfield 14 Complainant 15 Swearing-in words 16 French soldier 17 Olympic dueling weapon 18 Tom Joad, for one 19 Indications of hunger 20 Be extraordinary 23 “___ along, little dogie” 24 Tuscan city 25 Connects emotionally 27 Boot a batted ball 28 Champagne and orange juice drink 32 Truth alternative 33 Gentleman’s gentleman 34 Deceptive appearance 35 What a pelican might do?

38 Cut off from everyone else 40 Tennis great Chris 41 Australian parrot 42 Long discourse

44 Bossy’s chew 47 More modest 49 Apparel size 51 Dream Team team 52 Go for a swim during hot weather, e.g.

56 Vitality 58 Ran like the wind 59 Fiction writer Ferber 60 “The Jungle Book” setting 61 Qatar VIP 62 Skirt type 63 Silkworm center of 60-Across 64 Dumbbell turns 65 First name in slapstick DOWN 1 Equatorial pest 2 Cultural exchange employee 3 More timid 4 Emulate a peacock 5 Christopher Robin’s “silly old bear” 6 Autumn tool 7 Narc chaser?

8 Aviation hazards 9 Fencer’s foot stamp 10 Anaconda, e.g.

11 Raccoon

feature 12 Capital on the Mediterranean 13 Too good to miss, as a TV show 21 Cantina wrap 22 Mauna ___, Hawaii 26 Full-price payer 29 “Well, ___ be!”

30 “Have we ___?”

31 Survey choice, sometimes 33 Something for the record?

34 Passe undergarment 35 Soccer positions 36 “Not a creature was stirring” time 37 “Akeelah

and the ___” 38 Sediments or deposits 39 Relaxes, as one’s grip 42 Get the idea 43 Big depression 44 Accounting entry 45 Kampala is its capital 46 Keep from leaving 48 Type of girder 50 “Pardon me” grunts 53 Massive volume 54 It may precede a fall 55 That woman’s 57 Airline ticket word

PREVIOUS PUZZLE ANSWER

© 2010 Universal Uclick www.upuzzles.com

SOLVE THIS PUZZLE by Mark Slinger

Wednesday, March 3, 2010

7

Joshua Boydston, L&A editor dailyent@ou.edu • phone: 325-5189 • fax: 325-6051

« ONLINE

Watch Brand Rackley’s latest “Entertainment and U” on OUDaily.com.

Boren contributes to OU theater rendition of an ’80s favorite

ULTIMATE COMICS AVENGERS #5

DUSTY SOMERS Daily Staff Writer

Emotions run high and the hair even higher in “Steel Magnolias,” the weepy drama about the joy and sorrow of friendship in 1980s small-town Louisiana.

OU Lab Theatre’s production of the beauty salon-set play opens tonight.

“Steel Magnolias,” well-known as the film starring Sally Field,Shirley MacLaine and Julia Roberts, is even more sentimental in its original stage version

by Robert Harling, said Judith Pender, associate professor of drama and director of the show. Still, tears aren’t the only emotion it provokes.

PLAYBILL “It’s just a huge celebration of friendship What: “Steel Magnolias” and life,” Pender said. “[The characters] are When: 8 p.m. Wednesday there for each other, through Saturday warts and all.”

3 p.m. Saturday and Sunday T h e e nt i re p l ay takes place on one Where: Old Science Hall set — a converted 640 Parrington Oval in carport salon — and Norman stars just six women as a tight-knit group Tickets: $8 adult, $6 stu- of friends. dent One of those For tickets, call 325-4101 women is Pender, who stars as Ouiser Boudreaux. Directing and acting simultaneously gave her an opportunity to work with her students in a different way than ever before, but certainly presented some challenges, she said.

“It’s kind of weird but it’s fun too,” Pender said.

“I tried to make it a policy to just stay in the scene [while acting].”

Acting alongside her professor made for a unique experience for drama sophomore Anna Fearheiley, especially because she’s playing Ouiser’s best friend, Clairee Belcher, she said.

To prepare for playing a contemporary of someone with more life experience, Fearheiley spent time with Pender and simply observed the way she talked about her life, she said. With a small cast portraying a close group of friends, this kind of preparation

PHOTO PROVIDED

Steel Magnolias’ director Judith Pender rehearses with OU President David Boren. The production opens at 8 tonight and runs through Sunday.

helps.

“There’s a lot of time put into the more intimate moments and intimate relationships,” Fearheiley said.

The show also stars an OU figure not known for his theatrical presence — President David Boren, who appears in voiceover as a radio disc jockey. Pender sought him out for the part, she said.

“I just knew he had a serious inner ham,” Pender said.

With the outrageous coifs and bouffants created in the salon of “Steel Magnolias,” the audience gets a peek at the aesthetic of the ’80s, but the sincerity of the story ensures that the show never enters the realm of camp or ridicule, Pender said.

Watching the show is like looking at photos of one’s parents in dated fashions, Fearheiley said. “[We go,] ‘Oh, what were they thinking?’ but we love them anyway,” she said.

The ’80s sensibility notwithstanding, “Steel Magnolias” offers a tale that remains universal, Pender said.

“I suspect everyone has an aunt, a cousin, a mother, a sister [or] a teacher like one of these women,” she said. “[The show] offers promise. You can have close friends and support from other generations.”

“Steel Magnolias” opens at 8 tonight and runs through Sunday in the Lab Theatre in Old Science Hall.

After numerous delays, what can arguably be called the best book in the Marvel’s Ultimate line comes out this week. It promises to deliver immense action as we see Ultimate Captain America face off against his evil son, Ultimate Red Skull. It’ll also be interesting to see how Captain America works with the Avengers and Nick Fury after they hid information of his illegitimate son from him and captured him.

Sadly, this is might be the last issue of Ultimate Avengers that artist Carlos Pacheco draws; his art mirrored previous Ultimates artist Bryan Hitch’s realistic drawings but were still able to retain originality on their own. Before you get all sad and blue, his replacement will be none other than Leinil Francis Yu whose work on “Ultimate Wolverine Vs. Hulk” were the better parts of the book.

While Yu’s art might be more “cartoony” and far from as realistic as Pacheco’s, his work is able to evoke a sense of freedom one can only imagine the artist feels as he’s working.

GREEN HORNET #1

Before Michel Gondry or Seth Rogen were attached to “The Green Hornet” movie, Kevin Smith wrote a script back in 2004. As anyone that’s watched any of his “An Evening with Kevin Smith” DVDs can tell you, this script, like many others he’s written, never made it to production. Fast forward six years later and Dynamite Entertainment acquired the script and developed it into this comic book series that is completely different from the film that’s coming out this December.

Smith promises to maintain the overall feel of the radio serial and TV show but has still made a few changes — for example, Kato is now a woman. I’ll just end up buying this but with everything Kevin Smith, you don’t know what you’re getting.

You could get anything from something as good as “Clerks” to something not so great like “Zack and Miri Make a Porno,” so caveat emptor.

Osi Aken’Ova is a film and video studies senior.

For more go to yOU on OUDaily.com

Adopt - An - Area Adopt an Area starts next week! Look for your organization!

ALFA Flight A

Delta Upsilon

P Delta Theta Phi

Alpha Chi Omega A

Gamma Phi Beta

P Gamma Delta Phi

Alpha Gamma Delta A

Engineers Without Borderss

P Kappa Psi Phi

Alpha Kappa Alpha A

H Hispanic American Student Association

Phi Kappa Sigma

Alpha Kappa Delta Phii A Alpha Omicron Pi Alpha Phi Alpha Phi Alpha A Alpha Phi Omega A Alpha Tau Omega A Beta Theta Pi B Catholic Student Assoc. cc..

Chi Omega

IIota Phi Theta KKappa Alpha KKappa Alpha Psi KKappa Alpha Theta KKappa Delta Chi KKappa Kappa Gamma KKappa Kappa Psi KKappa Sigma LLambda Chi Alpha

Delta Chi D Delta Delta Delta D Delta Epsilon Psi D Delta Gamma Delta Phi Omega D Delta Sigma Theta Delta Tau Delta D

c.

Non-Traditional Student Assoc.

Okla. Student Volunteers Omega Delta Phi O Omega Psi Phi Our Earth PPhi Beta Sigma

Pi P Beta Phi Pi Kappa Alpha P

!"#$%&%'(&!() #(*%+&,-(-.

RUF/NEK Lil Sis SSigma Alpha Epsilon SSigma Chi SSigma Gamma Rho Sigma Lambda Gamma

RATES START AT $399.

SSigma Nu Sigma Phi Epsilon Zeta Phi Beta Z Adams A Cate C Couch SSooner Walker W

Catch the Madness in March Sign a lease, get a gift card for cash, coffee, gas & more Fill an apartment, get a Flat Screen TV

Way to go! Keep up the good work!

Waive $150 in Move-in Fees

Volunteer ! Programs

LIVE LIKE A CHAMPION

Leadership Development and Volunteerism • leadandvolunteer.ou.edu The University of Oklahoma is an Equal Opportunity Institution. For accommodations on the basis of disability, call 325-2340

crimsonpark.com | 405.253.8000 2657 Classen Boulevard

8

Wednesday, March 3, 2010

Students get their MR. and MRS. degree CAITLIN TURNER Daily Staff Writer

After a long day of work followed closely by a long night of school, Kacie Kinney, communications senior, returns to her quaint efficiency on University Boulevard and the arms of her loving husband, Kaleb. As Beyoncé sings, if you like it then you better put a ring on it. These words rang true for three undergraduate students, all under the age of 24. Luckily, Kacie Kinney, Leslie Totaro and Alex Thomas more than like their other halves. According the 2003–04 National Postsecondary Student Aid Study, married undergraduate students account for 13.9 percent of public university populations. These three students understand they are a martial status minority in the college community.

Leslie Totaro, communications senior, was almost 19 when she married her husband, who was about to join the Air Force. Initially, her mother thought she was too young but later mother realized Totaro was making a mature decision based on the financial benefits of getting married, Totaro said.

Kacie Kinney’s parents had a more difficult time with the news of engagement.

“My parents freaked out because I’m the baby and they didn’t want to loose me. They wanted me to be 30 when I got married. They were worried that we wouldn’t be able to take care of ourselves and that they wouldn’t see us as much,” Kinney said.

Just last week, Kinney’s father came to her work to take her out for lunch and asked the receptionist for Kacie Riggs, her maiden name, instead of Kacie Kinney, her married name.

“He was devastated, I could see the disappointment in his eyes. I tried to explain to him that she was a new receptionist and that it wasn’t her fault that she didn’t know,” Kinney said.

Thomas, Kinney and Totaro are in agreement that marrying this young is not the right choice for everyone. All three couples cited finances and geography as main factors for their decisions. But at the core of all of their arguments was the simple fact it just made sense to get married when they did. They

IN

your

were young, in love and facing the difficulties of long distance relationships.

“Some people need those extra years to figure what they want. I figured it out really fast and found the goal of my life and the person I wanted to spend it with early on and I didn’t want to let him go,” Totaro said.

Thomas, fine arts junior, more than agrees that young people should take their time when considering matrimony.

Thomas married his wife, Aeleen, in November.

She had moved to Oklahoma from Colombia for college, and it was not long before Thomas considered her to be family. Making the decision to get married after a few years of dating became an easy one.

“Marriage is a pretty antiquated idea and I know that divorce rates are at 50 percent, but I know that I want to be with her for the rest of my life and for our circumstances this was the best option,” Thomas said.

At some point these lovebirds have to make it to class. Thomas said married life has no effect on his schoolwork. Kinney, however, sees a marked difference in her motivation levels, turning a few As into Bs. “Grades used to be everything to me, but now that I am married and I have a full-time job in which I already use my degree, school just doesn’t seem as important,” Kinney said.

On the other side of the spectrum, Totaro views marriage as an academic inspiration.

“I don’t waste my time on things like going to parties and PHOTO PROVIDED I don’t worry about trying to make a lot of friends. I have my Kaleb and Kacie Kinney on their wedding day, Aug. 8, 2009. life planned and I know exactly what I want to do and I have my husband to support me and that makes it easier,” Totaro is life together and we are going to have struggles. We all have something that inhibits us, if ours is marriage, ours is marriage. said.

Classmates often spot the ring on the left hands of Totaro It is all about living with the choices you make; we live with the and Kinney — Thomas chooses to not wear his — and inevita- choices we made.” bly comments are made. However, the negative reactions no longer offend the young brides.

If you would like to have your story told “I really don’t care about those people who think we are stuthrough “In Your Shoes,” send an e-mail to pid and crazy,” Kinney said. “We get to be on this journey that dailyent@ou.edu with the subject “IYS.”

SHOES

The Avett Brothers come to Okla.

If you’ve been fiending for a good show but you can’t make a long drive, tonight is your night. The folk-rock band The Avett Brothers will be rocking tonight at Rose State College, and every attendee is sure to walk away certifiably satisfied.

The Avett Brothers’ sound isn’t one that can really be sorted into any particular genre. Their set tonight is expected to showcase country, pop, bluegrass, folk, punk and rock influences.

As well as playing an ever-changing musical set, their live show is effervescent and exciting. It’s the kind of band that just never stops moving once it hits the stage.

The band members are Seth and Scott Avett, who play guitar and banjo, respectively. They also both play piano and drums.

The live shows tend to feature one or both of them operating a kick-drum with his feet for percussion. The band also includes Bob Crawford, who plays upright bass, and Joe Kwon, who joined more recently to add his cello stylings to the group’s sound.

The Avett Brothers’ most recent album, “I and Love and You,” was their first on a major label. They worked with the legendary Rick Rubin to create this most recent collection of love songs and foot-stompers.

So if you’re not too bogged down by midterms this week, do yourself a favor and make the short trip to Midwest City for a show you’re not soon to forget.

The show begins at 8 p.m. tickets are still on sale for $28.

PHOTO PROVIDED

Annika Larson is a professional writing sophomore.

CHINESE RESTAURANT 364-2100• 722 Asp Ave.

Open Daily 11:30a.m.-10:00p.m.

Check out tomorrow’s edition for a pointcounterpoint on whether Batman is, in fact, a superhero.

Celebrate Chinese

New Year with a Special 16 Course Feast

Call for Reservation

Lunch Buffet • All You Can Eat

$4.88 • 11:30 a.m. - 2 p.m. • Monday-Friday

Monday - Friday: 11 - 6 Saturday: 10 - 4 128 W. Gray Downtown Norman Over 50 Oklahoma artists, crafters and vintage treasures.

Geology Library Book Sale March 3 & 4 8 a.m. - 5 p.m.

Sarkeys Energy Center, R220 Prices are:

har hardbound books - $1.00 so!bound books - $.50 atlases - $1.00 atla journal issues - $.25

For more informa!on, call Jody Foote at (405) 325-6451 or email at jbfoote@ou.edu.

Interested in Teaching?

Join the College of Arts and Sciences Hobson Academic Services Staff and Jeannine Rainbolt College of Education Staff to learn how to complete teacher certification requirements while pursuing one of the following majors: Astronomy Astrophysics Biochemistry Botany Chemistry Economics English French German History Latin Mathematics Microbiology Physics Political Science Sociology General Spanish Zoology

Where: Ellison Hall, Room 132 When: Thursday March 4, 2010 Time: 11:15 am to 12:30 pm PIZZA and REFRESHMENTS PROVIDED College of Arts and Sciences Hobson Academic Services Ellison Hall Room 124 405.325.4411