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Expulsion of students at OU rarely occurs Student Conduct office discusses disciplinary action JESSE POUND News Reporter @jesserpound
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Two knights engage in battle on the jousting field Friday afternoon at the 39th annual Medieval Fair. The Medieval fair is held each spring at Norman’s Reaves Park.
MEDIEVAL MADNESS Guests at this year’s 39th annual Medieval Fair came to the festival in droves to enjoy giant turkey legs, sword play and period costumes. The festival, which takes place in Reaves Park, brought attendees back in time, if only for three days. Events included a costume contest, human chess board and jousting events. Check out our photo gallery of the festival. SEE PAGE 2 FOR MORE PHOTOS.
Loans to help student graduates DANIEL HOANG/THE DAILY
Mariah Menzie dresses up as Mother Nature for the 2015 Medieval Fair on March 27 at Reaves Park. She is an OU alumni of 2009 with dual degrees in international area studies and French. The fair ran March 27 - March 29.
Geographical Ecology department to grow its staff JESSE POUND News Reporter @jesserpound
WEATHER Sunny with a high of 73, low of 55. Updates: @AndrewGortonWX
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Dr. Michael Kaspari, a George Lynn Cross research professor, discusses what geographical ecology is and why the university is hiring three new professors for that field.
said. Geographical ecology is the study of how geographical factors affect both living and non-living things in the environment, Kaspari said. “We share water with Colorado. The way Colorado uses water affects us and the way we use water affects Arkansas [and] Texas,” Kaspari said. Kaspari pointed to the war in Syria, which occurred at the same time as a drought, as an example of how geographical ecology can have
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a major effect on people’s lives. “A l m o s t e v e r y m a j o r problem on the planet has a geographical component,” Kaspari said. A better understanding of the field will be critical to making sure the Earth remains a habitable place as climate changes, Kaspari said. A stronger department will compliment OU’s strong meteorology department. “By bringing in [...] biology to OU’s existing strengths in climate, water and energy,
we’re basically adding the last piece of the puzzle,” Kaspari said. Recent faculty retirements allowed OU the opportunity to make this cluster hire, Randall Hewes, Biology department chairman, said in an email. The tentative start date for the professors is Aug. 16, Hewes said in an email. Rajen Bajgain, a second-year graduate student pursuing a doctorate in ecology, said he was excited about the possibility of OU studying the link between geography and ecology. “That would be great if we can link geographic distribution of the different components of the ecosystems and science that we need,” Bajgain said. Bajgain said he would also like to see research about how geographical ecology affects the economy. For more information, v i s i t t h e d e p a r t m e n t ’s website. Jesse Pound jesserpound@gmail.com
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OU to hire three science professors
OU will expand its Geographical Ecology department, hiring three faculty members in an effort to make the university one of the leaders in the field. The department has planned to expand for the last four years and is looking for a geographical ecologist, a physiological ecologist and an aquatic ecologist, said Michael Kaspari, a George Lynn Cross research professor. Interviews have begun, and the top candidates for each position will visit OU this week, Kaspari said. Bringing in three new scientists at once can jumpstart the program’s growth, comparing the cluster hire to a “turbo booster,” Kasparis said. The professors are expected to collaborate with each other on research, Kaspari
When OU President David Boren announced the expulsion of two Sigma Alpha Epsilon fraternity freshmen, it was a rare event. The OU Student Conduct office has avoided expelling students in recent years, according to records acquired by The Daily. Disciplinary is action taken against students who violate certain sections of the Student Rights and Responsibilities Code, according to the records.
Between March 1, 2011, and March 16, 2015, OU Student Conduct expelled just one student, the records show. That does not include students who chose to withdraw before they could be expelled or students whose discipline process was overtaken by a legal procedure, such as a student going to jail, said Steve Ashmore, director of OU Student Conduct. Ashmore said he would prefer a student, unless the student is a threat to campus, be given the chance to come back to school and change their risky behavior. “My philosophy as the director is to be fair and consistent,” Ashmore said.
OU Federal Credit Union eases some financial worries BRADON LONG
Contributing Writer @bradonlongwx
As seniors nearing graduation hunt for jobs, they can also look for ways to establish and maintain financial stability as graduates. While the OU Federal Credit Union does not provide student loans for tuition, they do provide loans for a variety of other needs. “We provide OU students, faculty, staff and alumni with loans to buy a computer, have extra money for books or even car and equity loans,” said Shannon Hudzinski, OU Federal Credit Union president and CEO. Future students can also apply for a credit-building loan to establish credit, Hudzinski said. Students can pledge money of around $500$1,000 toward their credit with an interest rate of 2.49 percent and establish credit right away, Hudzinski said. Students with a job on average earning $15,000$18,000 a year can reasonably apply for a loan for a car around $5,000-$7,000, Hudzinski said. Without a job, loans
become more limited but still optional, Hudzinski said. Loans for a computer average around $1,500. When it comes to defaulting on loans, students do not need to worry about the loan impeding on their education, Hudzinski said. “ We [ t h e O U Fe d e ra l Credit Union] are not like the bursar’s office,” Hudzinski said. “The loan would be written off and the student’s credit would be impacted. However, the OU Federal Credit Union is a separate entity from the university and defaulting students will still receive their diploma.” Once a student graduates, he or she does not have to leave the credit union. When customers get into the job market they can have their paychecks direct deposited into their account with the credit union, Hudzinski said. A mobile app established by the credit union enables customers to be able handle their money on the go, according to the credit union’s web page. The credit union also gives loans to customers later in life for further car and equity loans, as well as any other loans falling within a customer’s available loan range. “We’re here to help OU students establish credit,” Hudzinski said. Bradon Long Bradon.K.Long-1@ou.edu
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