The Oklahoma Daily

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The University of Oklahoma’s independent student voice since 1916

Monday, April 11, 2011

www.OUDaily.com

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Sooners walk to beat cancer

Union to receive $3M upgrade Meacham will close for several weeks, spokesman says SARAH MARTIN The Oklahoma Daily

Renovations to the Oklahoma Memorial Union and Meacham Auditorium will begin this summer and continue through upcoming semesters, a university spokesman said. The renovations will cost up to $3 million, according to the OU Board

of Regents’ March agenda. The bond money is going to several projects, but the most visible improvements at the union will be to Meacham Auditorium, university spokesman Chris Shilling said. The auditorium will be closed at some point for renovations, possibly lasting several weeks, Shilling said. “Meacham Auditorium is used 361 times a year, so there are significant improvements that need to be made,” Shilling said.

Changes to the auditorium will include replacing the seats and carpet as well as adding a high-definition projector and new sound equipment, Shilling said. Some equipment has been in the union since the 1950s and will be updated with the bond funds as well, Shilling said. Less visible renovations will be replacements to the air-

Key renovations Changes to Meacham Auditorium will include: » Replacing the seats and carpet » Adding a high-definition projector » Adding new sound equipment — Source: Chris Shilling, university spokesman

More than 800 people fill South Oval on Saturday to participate in Relay for Life

SEE UPGRADE PAGE 2

SARA GROOVER Oklahoma Daily

EVE OF NATIONS CELEBRATES DIVERSITY

OU’s 11th annual Relay for Life didn’t reach its $100,000 goal but still bolstered the funds of a national cancer research charity with help from students, faculty and staff Saturday night through Sunday evening. Roughly 800 OU students, faculty and staff raised $80,000 for the American Cancer Society by raising money and walking laps around the South Oval, said Casey Morgan, Relay for Life cochairwoman and OU graduate accounting student. Relay For Life is the American Cancer Society’s largest fundraiser, said Elizabeth Auld, Relay For Life event co-chairwoman and education graduate student. Last year, Relay for Life raised $84,100, according to Morgan. The event symbolizes the life of cancer patients and survivors, Auld said. “A lot of people have either personally known someone or have heard of someone who has had cancer,” Auld said. “This is our way of bringing cancer awareness to the OU campus.” Students and staff could form teams up until the day of the event. During the 12-hour event, at least one person from each team walked the track to symbolize the fight against cancer, said Brittany Condit, Relay for Life co-chairwoman and exercise sciences senior. The track was lit with luminaries — small bags with lights in them — to honor someone fighting cancer, or in memory of a person who fought cancer,

JALL COWASJI/ THE DAILY

Vietnamese Students Association performs a traditional fan dance at the 41st Eve of Nations on Friday at Lloyd Noble Center. The Eve of Nations is Oklahoma’s biggest cultural event which provides registered international student organizations the chance to showcase their culture. SEE RELAY PAGE 2

OU alumna takes Law application deadline extended professor to court Some applicants miss college’s early deadline, admissions, director says

Former student says poor living conditions led to altercation, court date RJ YOUNG The Oklahoma Daily

OU alumna Charlina Frazier wanted to support herself and her 5-year-old son by living in a house she could afford. When Frazier met landlord and OU engineering professor Sam Lee, she thought she was on her way to achieving this goal. However, she and Lee met again one month later in court. Frazier signed a seven-month lease with Lee for a house at 929 Branchwood Drive from March 3 to Sept. 30. She paid Lee a security deposit and rent for March. Frazier, a Norman KinderCare teacher, said she was excited that she and her son would have their own home, but after moving in Frazier found the interior of the house in bad condition. “There was a lot of damage to the walls from bad plumbing, leaking water, severe mold, water damage in the ceiling, dirty and moldy Sam Lee carpets, signs of mice and roaches, mold-filled and broken refrigerator and dishwasher, the list goes on and on,” Frazier said. “All in all, the house was uninhabitable the way it was until those things were all repaired.” But the house had a roof and was going to be the first home Frazier would pay for — so she made a deal with Lee. During the next three weeks, Frazier would repair the house’s failings if Lee would agree to reimburse the costs, Frazier said. Frazier said she made those repairs and kept in contact with

LINDSEY RUTA The Oklahoma Daily

The OU College of Law has reopened the application period for its fall 2011 juris doctorate program until Tuesday. C o l l e g e o f L aw A d m i s s i o n s Director Susan Wilson said she received several emails from students who were unaware the application deadline had passed. Although Wilson would not give the exact number of emails, she said after discussing the matter with OU College of Law Dean Joseph Harroz Jr., they decided it was in the best interest of the college to reopen the

application period. “We’re definitely very studentfocused and we want to give people the opportunity to come here and experience one of the great public institutions in America,” Wilson said. “So we just thought that opening the application back up, since there was a demand for it, would be the prudent thing to do.” The fact OU has one of the earliest application deadlines in the state played a factor in the decision, Wilson said. Many students do not notice the early deadline and unintentionally miss it, she said. “We decided to open it back up, so that anyone who maybe changed their mind about going to law school this year has an opportunity,” Wilson said. “If they’d like to be considered, we have spots

available.” The extension is not a result of a decrease in applicants this year, Wilson said. U.S. News and World Report recently named the College of Law the sixth most-popular law school in the nation based on the number of applicants accepted compared to the number that end up attending the institution. The U.S. News and World Report study showed the college accepted 335 applicants last year, 174 of whom chose to attend. Wilson said the admissions office plans to accept the same number this year. The College of Law begins sending out acceptance letters in November of each year, Wilson said. Students will be admitted through May, she said.

GSS approves creation of freshman council The Graduate Student Senate passed legislation supporting the creation of the Sooner Freshman Council, despite concerns about the bill’s wording at its meeting at 7 p.m Sunday in Sarkeys Energy Center, Room A235. Jason Robison, political science senior, authored the bill and said it creates an organization to give freshmen a voice for their unique concerns and gives them a chance to intern with UOSA. Although GSS members said they appreciated the spirit of the bill, there was debate about whether it should be called the first-year council instead of the freshmen council. Senators were concerned that calling it the Freshman Council would discourage transfer students or other

first-year students from joining the organization. Concerns were also raised about the engendered nature of the word freshman. UOSA President Hannah Morris said she understands the concerns about the language of the bill. “The legislation by no means was meant to be discriminatory, but rather include everyday college language that is easily recognized by the student body,” said Morris, political science and public relations junior. Despite concerns, no formal amendments were offered and the bill passed. — Lilly Chapa/The Daily

SEE COURT PAGE 2

A LOOK AT WHAT’S ON Visit the news section to read about Sunday’s Native American Festival, which explored culture and heritage

THE OKLAHOMA DAILY VOL. 96, NO. 129 © 2011 OU Publications Board www.OUDaily.com www.facebook.com/OUDaily www.twitter.com/OUDaily

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