The Oklahoma Daily

LIFE & ARTS • PAGE 9

Gender benders take the spotlight Student and professional drag queens (shown left) share the runway Wednesday night in the Union as part of the Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, Transgendered and Friends Pride Week.

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Thursday, April 14, 2011

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Boren sides with students

Panel discusses church and state Group sponsors debate of issues about state funding of religious organizations LANEY ELLISOR The Oklahoma Daily

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OU President David Boren discusses changes to the university’s sexual-assault policy with students Wednesday afternoon on the North Oval. Boren thanked protestors for bringing the need for these changes to his attention.

Rally celebrates shift in assault policy President Boren will present policy change to OU Regents

SEE RELIGION PAGE 2

Statute of limitations for rape for OU, state

CHRIS MILLER The Oklahoma Daily

» OU — 30 days (President David Boren is proposing changing this to one year)

A

proposed sit-in by a student organization in the building housing OU President David Boren’s office became a celebration on the North Oval on Wednesday after administrators agreed to change the university’s sexual-assault policies.

OU students gathered at noon Wednesday outside Evans Hall to celebrate an increase in the statute of limitations for student-filed claims of sexual assault and the prospect of increased campus education regarding the issue.

“We are celebrating the changes that apparently [President] Boren is going to be implementing: the one year statute of limitations from the 30 days, the possibility of mandatory sexual assault education for freshmen and then OUPD being more knowledgeable on the policies they’re supposed to be enforcing,” said Jordan Ward, social sciences and women’s and gender studies sophomore.

Event attendees said Ward was largely responsible for the change in policy after she reported being raped at a January 2010 fraternity party in a Feb. 21 Daily column.

Following the column, Ward said she submitted a proposal to the university administration March

A law professor and two political science professors answered questions and debated issues pertaining to the relationship between state and federal government and religion Wednesday.

The Religion and Law panel was part of Religion and Law Week presented by the Constitutional Student Studies Association. The association hoped to raise awareness and foster discussion about constitutional issues, said Megan Marks, association president.

Three professors were invited to answer questions: political science professors Justin Wert and Allen Hertzke and law professor Rick Tepker. The student association’s events chair Aly Feliciano, letters junior, moderated the panel.

Feliciano opened the panel

» Oklahoma — 12 years — Sources: OU Student Code, Oklahoma State Statutes

CHRIS MILLER/THE DAILY

Students hold signs intended to raise awareness about sexual assault Wednesday on the North Oval. OU President David Boren said he will present sexual-assualt policy changes at the OU Regents meeting May 12 and 13.

23 outlining possible revisions to OU’s sexual-assault policies, including an increase in the statute of limitations for reporting assaults and an effort to improve on-campus education regarding the issue.

President Boren thanked Ward for her efforts when he approached rally attendees later in the day to discuss the proposed changes.

Without Ward’s efforts and proposal, changes to the university’s sexual-assault policy likely would not have been made, Boren said.

“Really I appreciate it, because really it was something we were asleep at the switch about, to be honest with you,” Boren said.

“We’re all in agreement; it’s simply something I wasn’t aware about ... You all got it on the agenda, got it on the radar screen,

and it wouldn’t have been there otherwise.”

Wednesday’s rally was originally conceived as a sit-in in Evans Hall, until university spokesman Chris Shilling contacted Ward on Tuesday and presented changes to the university’s sexual-assault policies, Sandra Criswell, women’s and gender studies and English senior said.

“We had originally discussed doing a sit-in, and we had about 50 people sign up to do that, and whenever we found out that they were actually going to implement the changes we had asked for — at least the major ones — the sit-in seemed redundant,” Criswell said.

“We wanted to still be able to show support for Jordan [Ward], though … and show the administration

SEE POLICY PAGE 2

Grad students, faculty to mingle over state-made wine Graduate students will twirl glasses full of wine from state vineyards during a wine tasting event hosted by the Graduate Student Senate and the Graduate College on Thursday in the National Weather Center.

The event will feature four vineyards passing out their best assortments of red and white wines while guests socialize and drink to classical music, said Clay Wesley, event coordinator.

“We really want to make this a classy event for our graduate students,” Wesley said. “This is the one event where we can give them the option to dress up and mingle.”

Professors and faculty members are invited so graduate students can meet with them in a setting outside of the classroom. Two hundred students

have registered for the event, and registration is still available on the event’s website, Wesley said.

Snacks and other refreshments will be available for students who don’t wish to drink wine. The Lloyd Noble Shuttle will offer graduate students a ride back to OU’s main campus, according to the website.

“We really just want to show our appreciation for all the hard work our graduate students do throughout the year,” Wesley said.

The event will take place from 5 to 7 p.m. Thursday in the National Weather Center first-floor atrium.

— Juan Sanchez/The Daily

BRIEF

Professional football player to discuss relief work in Africa Former Sooner football AllAmerican Roy Williams will speak to OU students today about a trip he took to Uganda with other professional football players to donate their time and resources.

Williams is a founder of Pros for Africa, a non-profit relief organization based out of Oklahoma City. The organization partners with professional athletes, business professionals and other supporting organizations to supply the people of African countries with food, water, clothing, medicine and other necessities, according to organization’s website.

Pros for Africa is responsible for the organization of trips and resources and enlists the help of several other organizations in completing these tasks, according to the organization’s website.

The event is being hosted by the Sam Wilson Lecture Series, according to the OU College of Engineering website.

“The College of Engineering is proud to co-host this unique event for our students and the community.

Pros For Africa is doing great work partnering with professionals from all walks of life,” Thomas Landers, College of Engineering dean, said.

The program begins at 7 p.m. in the Reynolds Performing Arts Center with an introduction by OU head football coach Bob Stoops and will include Williams’ talk about his experience in Uganda and the mission of Pros for Africa, according to the event’s website.

The event is open to the public, and attendance is free, but seating is limited.

— Russell Taylor/The Daily

A LOOK AT WHAT’S ON Visit the news section to read about President Barack Obama’s former adviser, who is speaking on campus today

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2 • Thursday, April 14, 2011

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CAMPUS

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

POLICY: Victims share experience during rally Continued from page 1

Today around campus » The School of Art will show a black and white photography exhibition from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. in the Fred Jones Jr. Museum of Art’s Lightwell Gallery. » Steve Self of the Nuclear Regulatory Commission will speak on “Emplacement of Continental Flood Basalt Lavas” at 3:30 p.m. in Sarkeys Energy Center, Room A235. » University College will teach “Overcoming Procrastination” at 4 p.m. in Wagner Hall, Room 245. » Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgendered and Queer student group will host a Queer Art Show at 7 p.m. at Downtown Sound, 115 S. Crawford. » OU Fine Arts students will perform songs of Andrew Lloyd Webber with OU Symphony Orchestra, dancers, actors, soloists and OU choir at 8 p.m. in Catlett Music Center.

Student tickets are $15.

Friday, April 15 » The School of Art will show a black and white photography exhibition from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. in the Fred Jones Jr. Museum of Art’s Lightwell Gallery. » Today is the final day to submit dissertation reading copy. It is also the final day to apply for the doctoral general examination.

Student Affairs Vice President Clarke Stroud, Student Affairs Associate Vice President Susan Sasso and Student Conduct Office Director Andrea Kulsrud.

Ward’s March 23 proposal to university administrators this is something students do care about.” was used as the framework for the meeting, which Stroud At the gathering Wednesday, students and faculty — including victims of sexual assault — gathered while holding said he felt went well.

When Ward returned to the North Oval, she said the hand-made signs such as “Consent is Sexy,” “Someone’s 30 meeting met her expectations. days starts today” and “Red Tape won’t cover up rape.”

When Boren approached the rally, he Ward began the rally with a megaspoke with attendees about the changes phone to thank the crowd for their attendance and outline her proposal to the We’re all in agreement; that had just been discussed by Ward, Stroud, Sasso and Kulsrud in their administration. it’s simply something meeting.

“It’s hard to talk about out loud, hard to I wasn’t aware about “We’re talking about trying a mandaunderstand,” Ward said, referencing her it … You all got it on tory education program,” Boren said. “We own experience. “Together we can make the agenda, got it on have the mandatory alcohol education changes.” program, and the two are often related, Matt Bruenig, philosophy senior and the radar screen, and so we’ll tie them together.”

Daily columnist, and Criswell also adit wouldn’t have been A committee will be put into place dressed those in attendance. there otherwise.” this summer to discuss the nature of the “A lot of people see how things are on training program, Boren said. campus and wonder about the avenues — DAVID BOREN, “I’d like to get the [committee] together for change … ,” Bruenig said. “If you go OU PRESIDENT so that when school starts again in the fall out and do direct-action protests, you can we’ll be able to put the comprehensive change things.” policy in place,” Boren said. “I’m sure the [OU] Regents will Following Ward, Bruenig and Criswell, rally attendees adopt it just as soon as we get it to them.” took turns using the megaphone to tell stories of their exBoren expects to increase the statute of limitations on periences with sexual assault and the toll it can take on the reporting of sexual assault to a year at the next meeting victims. of the OU Regents on May 12 and 13, he said.

At 1 p.m., Ward left the North Oval to meet with

RELIGION: Separation is good, professor says Continued from page 1 with a question encompassing one of the main issues being discussed during Religion and Law Week.

“What should the relationship between church and state be?” Feliciano said.

Separation is good for both the church and state because it aims to protect both, Wert said. Hertzke suggested the language of the Constitution is antiquated because there are mosques and synagogues in addition to churches.

The rest of the panel narrowed the focus to particular issues and concerns, such as the government funding religious groups and individuals.

There is nothing wrong with religious people making arguments in the public square, but they should not use state money because it could undermine their religious freedom, Hertzke said.

The only time religious groups should receive aid or subsidies is when they are mirroring state-mandated services, Wert said.

After each question, the panelists had the

opportunity to respond to one another. The panelists also took questions from the audience.

The Constitutional Studies Association is a student group that meets to discuss constitutional topics such as gun rights, birthright citizenship, health care, free speech and gay marriage, said Marks, a political science junior.

“We debate these controversial topics in a civilized manner and try to better understand the complexities underlying judicial decisions and developing jurisprudence,” Marks said.

The student association

is tied to the new constitutional studies minor and the constitutional concentration within the letters major; however, it is open to all OU students, Marks said.

This is the association’s first full year on campus.

“Our goal is to lead the discussion of constitutional issues on OU’s campus so that all students will become better educated about their rights and more tolerant of diverse points of view,” Marks said.

The panel met at 4:30 p.m. in the Oklahoma Memorial Union’s Traditions Room.

About 50 people attended.

NEWS

The Oklahoma Daily | OUDaily.com

Thursday, April 14, 2011 • 3

Engineers race to finish concrete canoe Sooner team builds boat as part of competition at Kansas State University

Left: Stephen McCollam, mechanical engineering senior; Michael Hendrick, civil engineering junior; and Stephen Collins, civil engineering sophomore sand the sides of a canoe constructed with concrete. A team of engineering students built the canoe to compete in the regional of the National Concrete Canoe Competition on April 28 at Kansas State University.

CHASE COOK The Oklahoma Daily

C

ivil engineering junior Jason Kilpatrick leans over the side of a canoe on the first floor of the ExxonMobil Engineering Practice Facility. He works quickly to smooth out the side of the canoe before it dries. As he smooths the edges, part of the canoe starts to fall off.

“I need some more water over here — this part is falling off!” Kilpatrick says to one of his team members.

The teammate sprays water on the crumbling area while Kilpatrick struggles with the thickening material in his hands.

Kilpatrick and his team are building a canoe for a national engineering competition, but they aren’t working with wood or plastic. Their canoe is built out of a concrete mixture passed down by previous teams.

The project is part of the National Concrete Canoe competition. Students build concrete canoes and compete in a mix of academia and athletics by racing and presenting the science behind each team’s canoe, civil engineering senior Jeremy Christiansen said.

Each team is graded on a technical paper, the boat’s display, an oral presentation and a series of races.

The team already completed its technical paper and the boat’s display — which provides a theme for the canoe and displays the materials used to construct it, Christiansen said. The team is hurrying to finish the oral presentation and the canoe before the regional competition begins April 28.

The body of the canoe is finished, but there is still a lot of work to do, Christiansen said.

The team must complete the

Bottom: Junior Guillermo Lopez helps his fellow engineering students prepare a concrete canoe for additional layers of concrete Wednesday in the Exxon Mobil Engineering Practice Facility.

CHASE COOK/THE DAILY

final outer layers of concrete to ensure the canoe doesn’t buckle from tension forces in the water. After that, the team will sand the canoe, Christiansen said.

During this process, the team has to ensure the canoe can handle the stresses of water, Christiansen said.

“Floating isn’t the most difficult part of building a concrete canoe,” Christiansen said. “Concrete wants to expand and buckle when submerged in water.”

To keep the canoe from buckling and to ensure it floats in the water, the canoe’s concrete mixture was formulated for strength and speed, Christiansen said.

Glass beads were mixed into a portland cement with fibers, additives, binders and water. The beads take up space and add strength without adding a lot of weight, Christiansen said.

The combination keeps the concrete light while giving it

the strength to withstand the forces of water and passengers, Christiansen said.

The mixture does make the canoe light — two people can carry the canoe easily — but it still needs help to float in the water, Christiansen said.

At the front and back ends of the canoe are large sections of industrial foam. Teams can use as much foam and concrete as they want, and every team takes a different approach, Christiansen said.

“Last year, there was a team with an 800-pound canoe, and it floated,” he said. “But you have to remember you have to paddle that thing.”

Once the team completes all of the requirements for the contest, they will haul their creation to Kansas State University’s campus, where the regional competition will take place, architectural engineering senior Jenny Bergen said.

Bergen said she was primarily responsible for raising

OU to host science conference Early registration for summer science showcase will end Monday CHRIS LUSK The Oklahoma Daily

Early-bird registration for an international science conference OU will host this summer ends Monday, an event spokesman said.

Students can attend Evolution 2011 — an international conference of evolutionary biologists held June 17 to 21 in Norman — for $210 if they register by Monday, said Richard Broughton, Evolution 2011 spokesman. The standard student-registration fee is $260.

The conference also has single-day registration available for $100 before Monday.

OU was selected as the host institution for the event after Broughton and zoology professors Larry Weider and Ingo Schlupp submitted a bid to conference organizers in 2008, Broughton said.

Hosting the event will allow the university to showcase itself to an international scientific audience, Broughton said.

“It’s an honor to be selected to host such a meeting because it serves as recognition of the quality of science being conducted at OU,” Broughton said.

Broughton said between 1,400 and 1,500

people are expected to attend Evolution 2011. About half the attendees should be graduate students, and about 15 percent will come from outside the United States, he said.

The five-day conference will feature sessions and exhibits about topics from molecular evolution to biological-data analysis, Broughton said.

On the first day, organizers will offer a one-day workshop to regional grade-school teachers, according to the event website.

The workshop — titled “Evolution 101” — will focus on recent evolution research and allow educators to learn hands-on activities for teaching evolution, according to the event website.

“This may be the largest scientific conference ever held in Oklahoma and should be great exposure for OU,” Broughton said.

Evolution is the foundation for modern biology, according the event website.

Scientists attending the conference are developing principles that will be applied to biological fields such as pharmaceutical products and food production.

The Evolution annual meetings are held jointly by the Society for the Study of Evolution, the Society of Systematic Biologists and the American Society of Naturalists, according to the event website.

money to get the team to Kansas State. The trip will cost $9,000, she said.

Raising the money wasn’t difficult, Bergen said. The team sent out pamphlets, mailers and letters to firms across Oklahoma.

However, if the team makes it to the national level of the competition, it will need to travel to the University of Evansville in Indiana, Bergern said.

The trip will require an additional $6,000 in travel expenses, Bergen said. If the team makes it to nationals, members will have to contact alumni and firms for additional donations, Bergen said.

Even if the team doesn’t make it that far, Kilpatrick said the experience has been rewarding.

“I’ve learned things here that I can relate to my studies in my classes ... I can say, ‘Hey, I’ve actually done that before,’” Kilpatrick said.

CHASE COOK/THE DAILY

4 • Thursday, April 14, 2011

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OPINION

THUMBS UP ›› NFL star Roy Williams shares his experiences traveling to Uganda (see page 1)

OUR VIEW

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

COLUMN

Ward demonstrates change Americans On Wednesday, members of the Women’s and Gender Studies Student Association planned a sit-in at Evans Hall to demand changes to OU’s sexual-assualt policy. However, the sit-in wasn’t needed because administrators agreed to the changes before students could enter the building.

OU sophomore Jordan Ward was the catalyst for the change.

After she submitted a proposal outlining the policy’s problems to OU President David Boren and other university administrators March 23, Boren recommended that the filing period be extended from 30 to 180 days.

Many students involved were not satisfied with this change and neither were we. We felt that there shouldn’t be a time limit for filing such a report.

In a letter to the editor published Wednesday, Boren agreed to increase the window to one year, the same time Ward asked for in her proposal.

Ward’s other proposals were also fulfilled Wednesday afternoon during a meeting with Student Affairs directors Clarke Stroud and Susan Sasso. They told her they are looking to implement sexual-assault training mandatory for all freshmen and will work to better education OUPD about sexual assault.

Boren visited with students on the North Oval and admitted OU’s current policy was insufficient.

Sexual-assault is not a glamorous topic or something most are comfortable talking about. However, Ward used her personal experiences to advocate for change and hopes her experience will help make OU a safer environment for her peers.

UOSA leaders could learn a thing or two from her.

Ward saw a problem on campus and presented a professional proposal with real solutions to the administration. She shed light on an issue that Boren was unaware of.

During UOSA elections, we heard candidates voice their frustrations with students who don’t care about what happens on campus. However, there was a very active group of students who created change Wednesday, and we have to ask, where were our elected leaders?

The short answer, nowhere.

UOSA missed a valuable opportunity to stand beside the type of students they have been saying don’t exist on campus.

We hope other students and student groups will follow Ward’s lead and take the initiative to properly present their concerns to the administration.

The students who rallied in front of Evans Hall proved students can change this campus as long as we remember we have the power to get the administration’s attention.

Comment on this column at OUDaily.com

COLUMN

School reform ignores problems USA Today came out with an explosive achievement has anything to do with the investigation last week regarding testschool.

STAFF COLUMN MN ing fraud in the Washington D.C. school Teach for America has proven itself to be system. In their investigation, USA Today an utter failure — studies indicate its recruits nig found an enormously high number of era- Matt Bruenig perform significantly worse than certified sures on the standardized tests administeachers. tered at D.C. schools.

Charter schools have also failed, with only The erasures were overwhelming instances of wrong an- 17 percent of them performing better than public schools, swers being changed to right answers. The paper reported while 37 percent perform worse than public schools — the in one case the odds of the erasures found occurring by rest perform the same. And lo and behold, merit pay, quick chance were lower than the odds of winning the Powerball firings, and business-like school administration also is a lottery. The obvious culprit for the extraordinary number total failure. of erasures is cheating. It appears test answers were being Bizarrely enough, everyone sees the same problem. changed to artificially inflate scores.

Poor children do worse in school than rich children. This This discovery should deal an enormous blow to the fact has touched the hearts of some of the privileged, and specific brand of education reform that has become popu- they want to do something about it. lar in documentaries and among some Yet, they consistently avoid the probstudents on university campuses. The lem that they have already diagnosed: the Teach for America has chancellor of the D.C. school system proliferation of poor children. at the time that the apparent fraud ocIf any of these reformers were seriously proven itself to be an utter curred was education-reform superconcerned about the fact that poor chilfailure — studies indicate star Michelle Rhee. dren do worse in school, they would be its recruits perform During her time there, Rhee became screaming about the fact that our country significantly worse than loved by the new brand of education presently allows one in five of its children certified teachers.” reformers after she fired 600 teachers, to live in poverty. dozens of principles and implementThey would be organizing efforts for ed merit pay. She, like every other misguided education better pay, lower inequality and other types of povertyreformer in recent years, was certain that really pressing reducing efforts. But instead, they spin their wheels on on schools was going to squeeze out better results. useless school-reform efforts that do not even make an atLuckily for her extremist theories and behavior, she ap- tempt to address the root of the problem. peared to be correct. Scores were skyrocketing in ways that For all of those students on campus who are preparwere unbelievable. Well, it is becoming clear now that they ing to waste their time in the coming years doing Teach were unbelievable — because they were fake. for America or hooking on to one of these other education It turns out, firing a bunch of teachers, teaching to stan- fads, I urge you to reconsider. dardized tests and putting extreme amounts of pressure If you want to help poor children do better in school, on schools does not actually make students perform bet- make them less poor. You could even start this goal right ter. It just makes teachers — who risk termination under now by working towards a living wage for campus workers, the ridiculous view that they are primarily to blame for many of whom no doubt struggle to raise the very children student failures — feel the need to cheat in order to inflate you will one day waste your time not helping. student scores.

Of course, this outcome is entirely predictable. The en- — Matt Bruenig, tire suite of recent reform efforts — Teach for America, philosophy senior charter schools, privitization, etc. — all make the same basic error: they assume the cause of low educational Comment on this column at OUDaily.com

COLUMN

Every debate has two sides Throughout the last five years of political STAFF COLUMN MN squabble, I have complained that the two sides of any given debate are unable to sit ok down and debate legislation on its merits Andrew Cook rather than ideological appeal. However, I am coming to accept that now, the former may no longer be possible through one news outlet or party talking points.

In a review of Bill Bishop’s book “The Big Sort,” a study of the growing ideological homogeneity in American communities and culture, journalist Scott Stossel wrote, “We can no longer even agree on what used to be called facts: conservatives watch Fox; liberals watch MSNBC.” Furthermore, blogs and other Internet media allow us to fashion a closed in world that blocks out opposing viewpoints while simultaneously solidifying our own.

Due to the absence of an accepted “centrist” news outlet, highlighted by the recent conservative outcry against NPR, it is imperative that as students we pull from a spectrum of news outlets in order to sort through the biased information.

I admit that until a year or two ago, I got my morning news from MSNBC, my midday opinions from MediaMatters and my nightly laughs from Jon Stewart.

Doing this, however, limited my knowledge on any given topic because — whether consciously or not — news outlets block out rebuttals.

It is sad, but when I began tuning into Fox News and the

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Washington Times following the Bush presidency, I was surprised to find Republicans were not fascist ideologues hell bent on selling America to corporations. Likewise, if I did not have an opposing viewpoint to Fox News, I would have little idea that Democrats were not communists attempting to destroy our economy.

This is even more important in Oklahoma, a state redder than the dirt on which it is built. I agree with Bishop’s critique that “we are living with the consequences of this segregation by way of life: pockets of like-minded citizens that… can barely conceive of ‘those people’ who live just a few miles away.” This is not an exclusively conservative problem, for it is hard to argue that Portland and San Francisco do not suffer from the same ideological handicaps.

As a nation we must constantly critique our own beliefs or we are doomed to repeat ideological battles such as the recent budget fiasco. This is not to say we must give up our well thought out beliefs, but must come to accept that the other side may also have an argument. Comparing news outlets is a start, but ultimately it will be up to us to force ideological nonsense into the past.

— Andrew Cook, English writing junior

Although the Internal Revenue Service has exSTAFF COLUMN UMN tended this year’s deadline for filing your taxes Tom Taylor or from April 15 to 18, it isn’t likely that such a move will decrease the anger Americans have for the act of paying their taxes.

Even though Americans pay low taxes compared to rates in other countries, we still feel the need to complain about the taxes we do pay.

Tax time conjures up the images drilled into our heads in elementary school about a time when Americans dressed as Indians and dumped tea into the Boston Harbor in protest of higher taxes.

The fact that the original Boston Tea Party was not as much a protest against taxes as it was a protest against special tax cuts given to the East India Company isn’t important enough to teach to grade-schoolers.

Our tax system is a complicated maze of rules, regulations, loopholes and gifts for a variety of special interests.

However, any attempt to change it from a progressive taxation system will resort in tax cuts for the rich and tax hikes for the middle class.

As our current system of tax brackets operates, deductions and exemptions create pockets of middle-class taxpayers that will see their taxes increase if the system is overhauled.

It doesn’t matter if the new system is based on a flat tax or a consumption tax — such as the so-called “Fair Tax” — it will cut taxes for the rich at the expense of the middle Make no mistake class.

This is why meaningful tax about it, this reform cannot happen. It’s country does not also why large-scale reform have a history must not happen. To cut taxes of taxing the on the rich while raising taxes wealthy into on middle-class families is simply un-American. the poor house.

Thomas Jefferson once The obscenely wrote, “Another means of sirich are still lently lessening the inequalobscenely rich ity of property is to exempt all after they are from taxation below a certain done paying their point, and to tax the highest portions or property in geotaxes- they are metrical progression as they just less so.” rise.”

This is the system we now have, and it is a system we should not turn our backs on.

Taxes are a part of life, and the government does not steal your hard-earned money from you. The gross pay you see written on your pay stub is an imaginary number.

It simply does not exist.

Gross pay is calculated under the assumption you will pay taxes with it. In other words, your tax burden is built into your wage or salary, and if you were to be taxed at a lower rate there would be no need to pay you as much in gross pay.

America is a wonderful country that offers many opportunities for its citizens to prosper. Our federal, state and local governments build roads, keep us safe, offer us the opportunity to become educated, assist us in our old age and help us when bad decisions or market conditions bring us towards financial ruin.

There are going to be government expenditures that you don’t agree with. The odds are good that the people who support those expenditures don’t agree with how you want your tax dollars spent either.

This wonderful nation of ours attempts to balance the concerns of everyone, but it isn’t practical to allow every tax payer to place stipulations on what their specific tax dollars may be spent on.

Those that have benefitted the most from this society (i.e., the wealthy) have more to be thankful for than those that haven’t, and this appreciation should be articulated through higher taxation.

Make no mistake about it, this country does not have a history of taxing the wealthy into the poor house. The obscenely rich are still obscenely rich after they are done paying their taxes — they are just less so.

Paying taxes is part of our patriotic duty. Our taxes support and fund the government that protects us. It is not the geographic boundaries that make America great, but rather the government that our forefathers founded. If people don’t want to support that government and the ideals it upholds financially, then perhaps they should get the hell out of the country.

— Tom Taylor, political science graduate student

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STATE/NATION

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STATE NEWS BRIEFS

1 2 3

1. Tulsa

University of Tulsa president to step down in summer 2012 The president of the University of Tulsa has announced plans to step down next year.

Steadman Upham issued a statement Tuesday saying he will step down as president June 30, 2012, but will remain at TU as a professor and researcher.

Upham, 62, has been president at TU since 2004 when he came to the school from Claremont Graduate University where he was president and chief executive officer.

“The TU family has come together to realize tremendous success over recent years,” Upham said in a letter to campus announcing his retirement. “These gains have moved the university across the threshold of a new era that will benefit from the fresh ideas and energy of new leadership.”

He declined further comment.

Officials will hire an outside firm to conduct a nationwide search for Upham’s successor and will form a committee to work with the firm and select candidates, said David Lawson, chairman of the TU Board of Trustees.

2. Oklahoma City

Bill lets Oklahoma voters decide property tax values of homes Oklahoma voters would decide whether to limit the increase of property tax values of homes at 3 percent each year under a proposal narrowly approved in the Oklahoma Senate.

The Senate voted 26-19 on Wednesday and sent the resolution to the House for consideration. Opponents say the plan would decimate funding for counties, schools and public libraries if it is approved by voters. The resolution requires 25 votes to pass the 48-member Senate.

Current law limits the increase in property tax values to no more than 5 percent each year. Supporters of the bill say such increases can cause a hardship on many homeowners, particularly those on fixed income.

Republican Sen. Jim Reynolds says the 3 percent cap can be lifted when a property sells.

Thursday, April 14, 2011 • 5

Cut spending, raise taxes on the wealthy, Obama says Obama plan fails to preserve Medicare, Republicans say WASHINGTON — President Barack Obama coupled a call for $4 trillion in long-term deficit reductions with a blistering attack on Republican plans on taxes, Medicare and Medicaid on Wednesday, laying down markers for a roiling debate in Congress and the 2012 presidential campaign to come.

Spending cuts and higher taxes alike must be part of any deficit-reduction plan, including an end to Bush-era tax cuts for the wealthy, Obama said. He proposed an unspecified “debt failsafe” that would go into effect if Congress failed to make sure the national debt would be falling by 2014 relative to the overall economy.

“We have to live within our means, reduce our deficit and get back on a CHARLES DHARAPAK/AP path that will allow us to pay down our President Barack Obama outlines his fiscal policy during an address Wednesday debt,” the president said in a speech at at George Washington University in Washington. Obama said spending cuts and George Washington University. higher taxes must be part of any deficit-reduction plan.

Obama’s decision to make higher taxes part of his preferred deficit solution drew criticism from Republicans.

Speaker John Boehner said the liberals and other supporters. cuts and mandatory programs such as president had failed to match House To opponents of revisions in agricultural subsidies another $360 Republicans, whom he said have pre- Medicare, Medicaid or Social Security, billion, administration officials said. sented a “jobs budget that puts us on he said, “I guarantee that if we don’t An additional $480 billion would be a path to paying down make any changes at all, saved from Medicare, which provides the debt and preserves we won’t be able to keep health care to 33 million seniors, and Medicare and Medicaid.”

We have to our commitments to a from Medicaid, a state-federal proThe president spoke retiring generation that gram that covers lower-income familive within our less than a week after he will live longer and face lies and is ticketed for a huge expanmeans, reduce reached a compromise higher health care costs sion under the health-care program our deficit and with Boehner on an unthan those who came Obama signed into law last year. get back on a precedented package before.”

The president urged Congress to path that will of $38 billion in spendOf $4 trillion in cuts, pass tax changes, and he suggested he ing cuts for this year just O b a m a s a i d $ 2 t r i l - was open to curtailing a homeowners’ allow us to pay in time to avoid a partial down our debt.” lion should come from tax deduction that can currently be government shutdown. spending, $1 trillion from claimed by filers at all income levels.

Obama’s emphasis on taxes, including ending Neither Obama nor his aides dis— BARACK OBAMA, deficit reduction marked Bush-era tax breaks for tributed any detailed accounting of U.S. PRESIDENT an appeal to indepenthe wealthy, and the rest the effect of his recommendations on dents as well as other votrecouped from lower in- the deficit, which is expected to top ers who are eager to stem record an- terest payments on the national debt. $1.5 trillion this year, or the debt, now nual deficits as well as a national debt Military spending would be reduced more than $13 trillion. that is more than $13 trillion. At the by $400 billion through 2023, domestic same time, he sought to keep faith with programs would absorb $770 billion in — AP

3. Lawton

Wichita Mountains fire contained A fire that burned an estimated 1,500 to 2,000 acres at the Wichita Mountains Wildlife Refuge in southwestern Oklahoma has been put out.

Comanche County Emergency Services manager Clint Wagstaff said Wednesday morning that firefighters extinguished the blaze about 1 a.m. — but remain on the scene to make sure it doesn’t reignite.

No injuries were reported — however the Treasure Lake Job Corps campus was evacuated. Rusty Surrette with the American Red Cross in Oklahoma says about 200 students and staff from the campus spent the night at a shelter in Indiahoma.

The job corps program provides education and job training to students aged 16 to 24.

— AP

Gov. Dayton urged to fight higher-ed cuts Budget cuts to higher education would reduce quality of Minnesota universities, opponents say ST. PAUL, Minn. — Students, faculty and administrators urged Gov. Mark Dayton during a roundtable discussion Wednesday to stand firm against deep cuts in Minnesota higher education.

The Democratic governor is proposing smaller cuts in public higher education than the Republican-controlled Legislature. He held the discussion in a packed room at Metropolitan State University in St. Paul to address how cuts would affect colleges and universities in the state.

“I never thought in my professional career I’d be thanking the governor for a cut,” joked Minnesota State Colleges and Universities Chancellor James McCormick.

Members of the panel, which represented everyone from

students and teachers to lawmakers and college administrators, spoke about the need to keep higher education in Minnesota accessible and of high quality.

“I understand something needs to be cut somewhere,” said panelist Amy Henschel, a 34-year-old single mother of three from Farmington who attends Globe University in the Twin Cities. “But students need to have these opportunities, because we are the future.”

University of Minnesota President Robert Bruininks called the House and Senate budgets “a race to the bottom” and “a recipe to cut economic growth in Minnesota.”

“This is about jobs,” Bruininks said. He pointed to a report that concluded that every dollar invested in the university by the state generates $13.20 in the statewide economy.

— AP

6 • Thursday, April 14, 2011

The Oklahoma Daily | OUDaily.com

SPORTS

OUDAILY.COM ›› Sooners drop Oklahoma State, 5-1, in Big12 home matchup Wednesday night

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

MEN’S GYMNASTICS

OU to compete for 9th national title Despite suffering first loss in this season conference title, Sooners optimistic

By the numbers

8

National championships won by the OU men’s gymnastics program all-time

GREG FEWELL The Oklahoma Daily

The OU men’s gymnastics team will compete for a spot at the NCAA Championships at noon today in the qualifying round in Columbus, Ohio.

If the Sooners do well in the qualifiers, they will compete for the program’s ninth national title at 6 p.m. Friday, followed by individual event finals on Saturday.

Although the Sooners enter the meet as the No. 1 team in the country and the favorite to win, they recently showed they are beatable.

OU dominated its competition all season, winning by more than two points in every contest when most meets are determined by hundredths of points.

Then, on the verge of winning the program’s 11th Mountain Pacific Sports Federation conference title in 13 years, Oklahoma lost its first meet of the season.

Losing with perfection so close can leave a bitter taste, but OU coach Mark Williams said it might have served as a much-needed wake-up call to his team. “It ought to get them a little fired up for our training for NCAAs. To some extent, we were a little complacent that we had been good throughout the season.�

Williams said the team buckled on the final event of the conference title when the final standings were going to be close because the players weren’t used to a meet coming down to the wire. “We have to be prepared

5

National championships won by Oklahoma during coach Mark Williams’ tenure (2002, ‘03, ‘05, ‘06, ‘08)

32

Individual national championships won

by Sooner gymnasts

6

Individual titles held by senior Steven Legendre (Floor, vault in 2008; Allaround, floor, vault in 2009; Floor in 2010), tied for most all-time in OU history with Jonathan Horton (2005-08)

MEREDITH MORIAK/THE DAILY

Freshman Presten Ellsworth competes on the still rings in a meet against Ohio State earlier this year. The Sooners will compete in the NCAA Championships qualifying rounds today in Columbus, Ohio, and would advance to the finals by finishing in the top three.

The one goal that we wanted was to compete for a national championship, and that’s still in tact.

We can still win a championship on Friday.� — MARK WILLIAMS, MEN’S GYMNASTICS COACH for that and hope for a turnaround,� Williams said.

Although the team had one of its weaker performances this year at the conference championships, the mistakes OU made are very fixable. In fact, Oklahoma looked like the best team in the country — the Sooners’ 360.700 was their third-best score of the season.

However, the main problem was they simply could not close out the meet with everything on the line.

Going into the final rotation — pommel horse — the Sooners held a slight lead over No. 2 Stanford but fell apart. “[We] had five out of the six guys compete under the level we’ve come to expect throughout the season,�

Williams said. “That sums it up right there.�

The loss dropped the Sooners to 15-1, and while the team still tops the national rankings, now they know they can be beat.

OU is doing everything it can to make sure the loss motivates the team rather than tearing it apart, Williams said, but above all else, the Sooners know the most important part of their season is in front of them. “ The season is now a week and a few days long, so everyone felt like they could make a commitment to the team for that amount of time,� Williams said earlier this week. “The one goal that we wanted was to compete for a national championship, and that’s still intact.

We can win a championship on Friday.�

Oklahoma has the motivation and knows what it has to do — now it simply has to perform at its best for two more meets.

Of the 12 teams that advanced to the qualifiers, the team that comes out on top does not have to be the best this season — simply the best team on Friday night. “It’s just mental at this p o i n t ,� W i l l i a m s s a i d . “Physically, we’re in great shape, but the guys just have to compete with an intensity that they’re just not going to give other teams an opportunity to capitalize on any mistakes we might have. “I just don’t think that other teams really can beat us on our best night.�

OU’s qualifying round, the first of two, starts at noon today. The top three finishers from each qualifier advance to Friday’s team finals.

6

Winners of the NissenEmery Award, presented annually to the nation’s top senior collegiate gymnast

18

Conference titles won

by OU all-time (8 of 31, Big Eight; 10 of 15, MPSF)

102

Individual conference titles won by Sooner gymnasts

207

All-Americans from OU in men’s collegiate gymnastics

.916

Winning percentage

for the Sooners under Williams (285-26)

15-1

Record for OU this season after a loss to Stanford in the MPSF conference championships — Source: OU athletic department

COLUMN

Upcoming spring game will answer several questions After a month of practice, the spring 2011 chapter of OU football history will be closed STAFF COLUMN with the annual Red-White game at 2 p.m.

Luke Saturday at Oklahoma Memorial Stadium.

McConnell Expectations are high for the 2011 Sooners, and we’ll be able to see for ourselves, to a certain extent, whether the hype is real on Saturday.

There is little doubt in most people’s minds this team could be extremely special, but keep in mind no team is perfect.

On paper, this Sooner team is heavy on talent and even heavier in potential. But that doesn’t mean that it doesn’t come without questions.

The Sooners, who will likely sit on top of every major poll to start the season, get to answer some of those questions in front of a packed house of OU fans.

The first big question is the secondary with the absence of both safeties from last season and All-Big 12 cornerback Jamell Fleming. Freshman Aaron Colvin has been moved to safety alongside sophomore Javon Harris, and freshman Gabe Lynn has taken over Fleming’s cornerback position.

It’s important to watch because Colvin, although experienced and talented, has never played safety. Lynn is a simpler issue — he just doesn’t have much experience in general.

Another question is the defensive line, particularly at

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defensive tackle. OU signed three great deIncoming freshman Brandon Williams has drawn rave refensive tackle prospects, but only Marquis views from the coaching staff for his talent and the speed with Anderson came for spring practice. For which he has been picking up on OU’s offensive scheme.

Anderson, this time of adjusting to the pace This battle could be great to watch because all the running of the college game will prove invaluable for backs will look to impress the coaches and prove they deserve him in the long run. to be the next featured OU running back.

However, it’s the players already on the The spring game is a great thing for the roster who need to pick up the slack and fans and the team even though it lacks much make more of a difference up front. of the drama and fanfare of a regular-season Sophomores JaMarkus McFarland, Stacy game — even a regular-season game against WHAT: Red-White game McGee and Casey Walker all have been there a powderpuff like Idaho State. and done that, and freshman Daniel Noble For the fans, it’s a break from the long WHEN: 2 p.m. Saturday played well last year before missing the rest months of no football and signals a sort of of the season with a concussion Oct. 16. halfway point between the end of last season WHERE: Oklahoma These veterans need to set the pace for the and the beginning of next season.

Memorial Stadium younger players who will be called on as the For the coaches, it’s an important way to season goes along. How they play Saturday see how players respond to a game atmocould go a long way toward demonstrating sphere and evaluate how the shuffling of what they bring to the table. players is going to fare in the upcoming season.

The last major question isn’t as much of a concern and It’s important. It’s fun. Heck, who cares what it is — it’s footshould be more fun to watch for than anything: Who’s going ball, for crying out loud. to be the starting running back?

All signs point to freshman Roy Finch, but there are too — Luke McConnell, many good backs on OU’s roster to count anyone out yet. journalism junior

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SPORTS

Thursday, April 14, 2011 • 7

MLB

BIG 12

Bonds guilty of obstruction of justice Conference signs TV deal with Fox

Former baseball slugger charged with one count, could face future retrial SAN FRANCISCO — A federal jury convicted Barry Bonds of a single charge of obstruction of justice Wednesday but failed to reach a verdict on the three counts at the heart of allegations that he knowingly used steroids and human growth hormone and lied to a grand jury about it.

Following a 12-day trial and almost four full days of deliberation, the jury of eight women and four men could reach a unanimous verdict only on one of the four counts against Bonds. U.S. District Judge Susan Illston declared a mistrial on the others, a messy end to a case that put the slugger under a cloud of suspicion for more than three years.

Bonds sat stone-faced through the verdict, displaying no emotion. His legal team immediately asked that the guilty verdict be thrown out, and Illston did not rule on the request. She set May 20 for a hearing in the case.

Federal prosecutors and the Justice Department will have to decide whether to retry Bonds on the unresolved counts from the federal investigation into the Bay Area Laboratory CoOperative steroids ring.

A juror who would only give her first name, Amber, said the final votes on the deadlocked charges were 8-4 to acquit Bonds of lying about steroids and 9-3 to acquit him on lying about HGH use. The panel voted 11-1 to convict him of getting an injection from someone other than his doctor, with one woman holding out, the juror said.

The maximum sentence for the obstruction of justice count is 10 years in prison, but federal guidelines called

Big 12 pencils cable deal that will nearly double number of regular-season games broadcast

name, Fred, said if prosecutors want to “pursue this case, they’re going to have to do more homework than they did.”

U.S. Attorney Melinda Haag said prosecutors were gratified by the guilty count and had not decided whether to seek a retrial on the remaining charges.

“This case is about upholding one of the most fundamental principles in our system of justice — the obligation of every witness to provide truthful and direct testimony in judicial proceedings,” Haag said in a statement. “In the United States, taking an oath and promising to testify truthfully is a serious matter. We cannot ignore those who choose instead to obstruct justice.”

The Big 12 Conference and Fox Sports announced a 13year cable TV deal Wednesday that officials say will ensure the long-term stability of the league.

Financial terms were not disclosed. Sports Business Journal has reported the contract, which starts with the 2012 football season, will pay the conference $90 million a year.

The Big 12 also has a deal with ABC-ESPN running through 2015-16 that would raise the conference’s total TV rights revenue to a reported $130 million annually.

Commissioner Dan Beebe said the Fox contract positions the 10-team league favorably with other major conferences.

The 12-team SEC generated $205 million from TV rights last year and the 12-team Big Ten $220 million. The Pac10, which becomes the Pac-12 this year, made only $60 million on TV rights but is working on a new television package that would include Through this its own network. agreement, the The deal is a coup for Big 12 institutions Beebe, who pulled the league from the brink of extinction will generate perlast June after the departures member revenue of Nebraska (Big Ten) and at the highest Colorado (Pac-12). Missouri levels of college Chancellor Brady Deaton said the commitment the reathletics.” maining 10 schools showed to each other last summer is — JOE CASTIGLIONE, being rewarded.

OU ATHLETIC DIRECTOR “Some did not believe us at that time,” Deaton said.

“Now, we have voted unanimously to endorse this agreement — a demonstration of the commitment we made.”

Kansas Chancellor Bernadette Gray-Little said the Big 12 has “emerged united and robust and with tremendous forward momentum.”

Kansas State President Kirk Schulz called the TV package a historic step, and Oklahoma athletic director Joe Castiglione said the contract validates why the league’s media partners encouraged the remaining schools to stay together.

“Through this agreement, the Big 12 institutions will generate per-member revenue at the highest levels of college athletics,” he said.

The new agreement gives Fox rights to online, mobile and wireless opportunities for its Big 12 content.

The 40 Big 12 regular-season games that will be carried by Fox nearly doubles the number under the current agreement. Telecasts will also be distributed on FSN or FX, the network said.

Texas and ESPN recently announced a 20-year, $300 million deal for a 24-hour network that will broadcast Longhorns sports, including at least one football game and eight basketball games per season, and other sports and academic content.

Oklahoma also is studying the possibility of creating its own network.

— AP

— AP

GEORGE NIKITIN/AP

Former baseball player Barry Bonds leaves federal court Wednesday in San Francisco after being found guilty of one count of obstruction of justice. The jury failed to reach a verdict on counts that he allegedly knowingly used steroids and human growth hormone and lied to a grand jury about it.

for 15-21 months. For simiThe obstruction of justice lar offenses in the BALCO count was a complicated case, Illston sentenced cy- charge that asked jurors to clist Tammy Thomas to six decide if Bonds was being months of home confine- evasive when making any ment and track coach Trevor one of seven statements to Graham to one year of home the grand jury. He was conconfinement. victed on only one of them, Bonds walked out of the about his childhood as the courthouse son of major with his lawleaguer Bobby yers, who inThere’s nothing Bonds and his structed him re l a t i o n s h i p to celebrate.” not to comment with personal because they t ra i n e r G re g — BARRY BONDS said the case Anderson. The isn’t over. statement did Impeccably dressed in not address performancesuit and tie, Bonds flashed a enhancing drugs. victory sign to a few fans.

The government “has de“Are you celebrating to- termined it’s unlawful for night?” one asked.

Barry Bonds to tell the grand “There’s nothing to cel- jury he’s a celebrity child ebrate,” he replied. and to talk about his friendLead defense attorney ship with Greg Anderson,” Allen Ruby said the pros- Ruby said. ecution failed to prove its The jury foreman, who core case. would only give his first

april 14-17 thursday, apr. 14

friday, apr. 15

Tea and Immortality Exhibition | now open through May 15 at the Fred Jones Jr. Museum of Art.

Free Film: “Enchanted April” | 7 p.m. in the Mary Eddy and Fred Jones Auditorium, Fred Jones Jr. Museum of Art. For more information visit http:// www.ou.edu/content/fjjma/home.html .

Intramural Update | Divisional softball begins, to view brackets visit www. ou.edu/far. Games will be played at Reaves Park, South of the IM fields off Jenkins and Timberdell. For more information, visit http://www.ou.edu/far. html or call Jonathan Dewhirst, (405) 325-3053.

FREE Concert: Eisley with Special Guest Christee DuPree | 8 p.m. in Meacham Auditorium, Oklahoma Memorial Union. Doors open at 7:30 p.m., seating is on a first-come, first-served basis. Presented by the Union

Student Success Series: Overcoming Procrastination | 4-5 p.m. in Wagner Wall 245. Presented by University College. saturday, apr. 16 Discussion with Bob Stoops and Roy Williams | 7 p.m. in the Donald W. Reynolds Performing Arts Center. Come and be inspired by OU football coach Bob Stoops and Sooner and NFL football player Roy Williams. Williams will discuss his recent trip to Uganda and how professionals in every walk of life are making a difference by giving of their time and resources to help others. Admission is free and open to the public. For more information visit roywilliams.eventbrite.com or call (405) 325-9037. Presented by the College of Engineering.

Merkel Family Foundation Distinguished Lecture Series | 7 p.m. in the Mary Eddy and Fred Jones Auditorium, Fred Jones Jr. Museum of Art. Michelle Van Pary, author and professor for the College of Charleston, South Carolina, will speak on “The Way Out West: Desert Landscapes.” Reception following in the Sandy Bell Gallery, free and open to the public.

OU Tack: John Jacobs Invitational | All day at the John Jacobs Track Complex. Admission free for all fans.

OU Football Spring Game | 2 p.m. at the Gaylord Family Oklahoma Memorial Stadium. Admission is free with a valid OU student ID. Visit www. soonsersports.com for other ticket information.

The OU School of Music Presents: The Music of Andrew Lloyd Weber | 8-10 p.m. in the Paul F. Sharp Concert Hall, Catlett Music Center. Visit http:// music.ou.edu/calendar.html for more information.

sunday, apr. 17 The OU School of Music Presents: The Music of Andrew Lloyd Weber | 8-10 p.m. in the Paul F. Sharp Concert Hall, Catlett Music Center. Visit http:// music.ou.edu/calendar.html for more information..

Women’s Tennis: OU vs. Kansas | noon at the OU Tennis Complex.

Admission free for all fans.

friday, apr. 15

The OU School of Music Presents: The Music of Andrew Lloyd Weber | 3-5 p.m. in the Paul F. Sharp Concert Hall, Catlett Music Center. Visit http://music. ou.edu/calendar.html for more information.

Women’s Tennis: OU vs. Kansas State | 5 p.m. at the OU Tennis Complex.

Admission free for all fans.

Art After Hours: George L.K. Morris, Modernism in New York | 6-7 p.m. in the Dee Dee and Jon R. Stuart Classroom, Fred Jones Jr. Museum of Art. George L.K. Morris was one of the four Park Avenue Cubists. Unlike Social Realists artists, the Park Avenue Cubists divorced their art from politics and focused on aesthetic issues. For more information visit http://www.ou.edu/content/fjjma/ home.html.

Sutton Concert Series: Collegium Musicum | 8 p.m. in Grace B. Kerr Gothic Hall, Catlett Music Center. Tickets are $5 for students, OU faculty/staff and seniors and $8 for adults. Call the Fine Arts Box Office, (405) 325-4101, for more information.

This University in compliance with all applicable federal and state laws and regulations does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, age, religion, disability, political beliefs, or status as a veteran in any of its policies, practices or procedures. This includes but is not limited to admissions, employment, financial aid and educational services. For accommodations on the basis of disability, please contact the sponsoring department of any program or event.

8 • Thursday, April 14, 2011

The Oklahoma Daily | OUDaily.com

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J Housing Rentals HOUSES UNFURNISHED Remodeled house for students! 103 Beal St. - 3bd/1ba, 8 min bike to OU. Walk to Downtown Norman. $1050/mo, lawn service incl. 623-4631 Just over 1 mile from campus w/easy access to I-35. Refrigerator & W/D included. 2 car garage. Great back yard.

Pets allowed. Available at the end of May. 637-7427 or email seiser@mac.com for details

TOWNHOUSES FURNISHED Large T/H for rent! 2bd/1.5ba, patio, pool! $649 - Call 290-8864.

TOWNHOUSES UNFURNISHED Taylor Ridge Townhomes 2 Bdrm, 2.5 Bath, Fully Renovated Townhomes near OU! Pets Welcome! • Call for current rates and Move-in Specials!!!

Taylor Ridge Townhomes (405) 310-6599

Application & application fee required.

Call Bob, 360-3850.

CONDOS UNFURNISHED LOOKING FOR A PLACE TO LIVE? 102 Harvard: 3 bdrm, 2 bath, backyard, garage. Newly renovated, $700 month w/1 yr lease; 3815 Bellhaven: 3 bdrm, 2 bath, backyard, garage. Newly renovated, $800 month w/1 yr lease; 3817 Bellhaven: 3 bdrm, 2 bath, backyard, garage. Newly renovated, $800 month w/1 yr lease.

House: 617 Rosedale: 3 bdrm, 2 bath, garage and backyard. $775 month w/1 yr lease. Call 918-869-9747.

ROOMMATES WANTED F roommate needed for 3bd/3ba cottage at THE COTTAGES OF NORMAN. $695/ mo, all utilities paid. Dep. waived and 1/2 off 1st mo rent. Fully furnished w/shuttle service. Call Eva 972-569-7061

FIND A JOB in the CLASSIFIEDS

Available June 1, 2011! 2 bd/2 ba, The Edge Condominiums. $425/mo per bedroom. Pool, BB Ct, Volley Ct, Wt Rm - 212-6061

Classified Display, Classified Card Ad or Game Sponsorship

Contact an Acct Executive for details at 325-2521.

2 col (3.25 in) x 2.25 inches

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

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

POLICY 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.

HOROSCOPE

By Bernice Bede Osol

Copyright 2010, Newspaper Enterprise Assn.

Thursday, April 14, 2011 ARIES (March 21-April 19) -- Try once again to tackle an ambitious objective that has proven to be more difficult than you thought. Time has worked to your advantage, and it should come easier now.

9

5 6 3 2

8 8 1

2

4 7 7 5

1

9 6 1 9 8 3

4

1

1 2

6 3 7

Previous Solution 5 6 9 1 8 2 3 7 4

2 3 8 4 7 6 1 5 9

7 1 4 3 9 5 2 8 6

9 2 1 8 5 7 6 4 3

3 5 6 2 4 1 7 9 8

8 4 7 9 6 3 5 2 1

4 7 3 6 2 8 9 1 5

6 9 5 7 1 4 8 3 2

1 8 2 5 3 9 4 6 7

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

6

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.

LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 23) -- You’ll have a considerable amount of inner resolve from which to draw, so when you have to compete against another, use this strength for all its worth to give you the edge.

TAURUS (April 20-May 20) -That hoped-for opening to present a plan of yours to someone who could help make things happen is likely to occur. Jump on it the moment you get the chance.

SCORPIO (Oct. 24-Nov. 22) -- Look for an opportunity to strengthen a friendship that has been faltering lately, because an excellent chance will present itself.

Your pal will be responsive, and equally eager to restore bonds.

GEMINI (May 21-June 20) -- You could be extremely useful in helping another make the necessary changes to implement an important project of his or hers. If you have the answer, don’t hesitate to speak up.

SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 23-Dec. 21) -- When it comes to an important financial matter, rely on factors that you know from personal experience have worked previously. If they were winners once, they’ll pay off again.

CANCER (June 21-July 22) -- Don’t be reluctant to stand firm on an issue about which you have more knowledge than your associates. Once things are explained to them, they will become enlightened supporters.

CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19) -- Your leadership qualities will be very much in evidence, so don’t be surprised if colleagues look to you for guidance and direction.

LEO (July 23-Aug. 22) -- Material situations look exceptionally good for you, and there is a better than average chance that you will experience some kind of personal gain.

Keep your eyes and ears open.

VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22) -- For reasons you may never understand, there will be an extra dimension to your personality that’ll make you extremely attractive to your peers. Don’t question it -- just ride the tide.

AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 19) -- Anything you unselfishly do for others will produce advantages for you as well. There’s a lesson in this, and that is: benefits come from leaning on the arms of those you help.

PISCES (Feb. 20-March 20) -- It’s to your advantage to spend time with people whose company you enjoy. You choose: it can be with family members or just friends, or a mix of both. Put the package together yourself.

Universal Crossword Edited by Timothy E. Parker April 14, 2011

ACROSS 1 ___ on (incited) 6 “Hey there,” on the high seas 10 Persuaded 14 What Q and U do 15 Barbershop emblem 16 Hip bones 17 Palladium and osmium, for two 19 It’s switched on a tenspeed 20 You can skip some 21 Shofar 23 Statistics, facts and such 25 Shipped off 26 You may be moved by it 29 Bird’s beaks 31 Southern New Hampshire city 35 Pie ___ mode 36 Unit price word 38 Touches 39 300 to 3,000 kilohertz 43 Work hard to look beautiful 44 Ballet skirt 45 Once called, in wedding notices 46 Sandal parts 48 1960s TV’s “The Ghost and Mrs. ___” 50 Gallery

4/14

display 51 Neuter, as a male horse 53 Bit of chick chat 55 Wanting (with “of”) 59 “Mutiny on the Bounty” island 63 “Happy Days” actress Moran 64 Articulate 66 Capitol Hill helper 67 Needle case 68 First month in Madrid 69 Marsh growth 70 Frolic 71 Sticky pine stuff DOWN 1 Makes a boo-boo 2 Steps leading down to a river 3 Pitawrapped sandwich 4 Make scholarly corrections to 5 Humiliate 6 Likely (to) 7 Frozen dew 8 Southwestern stewpots 9 Toadies 10 Visit tourist spots 11 Spread from a tub 12 Unbelievable person?

13 “Drat!”

18 Admire, and then some 22 Major glitch 24 Toward the ship’s rear 26 Improvises musically 27 On one’s toes 28 Bottommost point 30 Rugby scuffle 32 Auburn hair dye 33 Peptic problem 34 Up to this point 37 Plenty perturbed 40 Conceived of 41 One half of a pair of dentures 42 Shuts up, more politely 47 Less likely to

win the race 49 Grim ___ (personification of death) 52 “___ circumstances beyond ...”

54 Bell’s invention 55 Start of many letters 56 “Fifteen Miles on the ___ Canal” 57 Battle joiner’s choice 58 Urban-renewal target 60 Alibi ___ (excuse makers) 61 Co-star of Eva and Felicity 62 Barge ___ (interrupt) 65 Something that may be glossed over

PREVIOUS PUZZLE ANSWER

4/13

© 2011 Universal Uclick www.upuzzles.com

CHOPHOUSE By Thomas Piper

The Oklahoma Daily | OUDaily.com

Thursday, April 14, 2011 • 9

LIFE&ARTS

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

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International securities studies senior Shayna Daitch (background) served as the drag show’s DJ.

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Emily Allen, energy management and finance sophomore, under her drag name ‘Felicia Dixon’, performs at the Dragon Fruit Drag Show at the Oklahoma Memorial Union on Wednesday.

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Laurel Cunningham, OU GLBTF president and women and genders studies and English literature sophomore, prepares backstage. The show was attended by about 100 people.

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J.R. Holiday ties off his bra before taking the stage to perform.

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‘Makayla Monroe’, an information studies senior, dabs a last spot of lipstick on before performing to Lady Gaga songs.

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Science education senior J.R. Holiday, brushes his makeup ready for the drag show Holiday performed under the name ‘Adonis Jane’.

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Jonathan Contreras, drama performance senior, dances to a mix of songs by Swedish pop singer Robyn at the Dragon Fruit drag show. Contreras performed under the drag name ‘Robyn Konichiwa’.

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Drag queens strut their stuff HILLARY MCLAIN The Oklahoma Daily

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Stay connected with The Daily life & arts desk for features and entertainment news from the Norman community

@OUDailyArts

flurry of fake eyelashes and a cloud of hairspray filled the backstage of the Dragon Fruit Drag Show Wednesday in the Oklahoma Memorial Union’s Molly Shi Boren Ballroom.

Despite a spotlight bulb bursting halfway through the show and a glittery panic ensuing, 17 performances were lip-synced by professional drag queens and OU student participants to a large audience.

Hosted by the GLBTF, the event was part of activities held in honor of Pride Week.

The first half of the performance featured dances and lip-synching by students. Performances included balloons, machine gun bras, high kicks and drag queens performing the splits.

JR Holiday, science education senior, aka Adonis Jane, took part in his first drag show Wednesday.

Holiday said hair and makeup were crucial to performance.

“The bigger the better,” Holiday said. “It takes a lot of work to look this cheap.”

Jonathon Contreras, drama senior, a.k.a. Robyn Konichiwa, also participated in his first drag show, but as a theater major, he is accustomed to the makeup and performance.

“For me, drag has always been a big ‘eff you’ to people, through it I express my non-conformity to gender roles,” Contreras said.

Emily Allen, energy management and finance sophomore, took part in

9

help is just a phone call away

number

crisis line

325-6963 (NYNE)

OU Number Nyne Crisis Line www.twitter.com/OUDailyArts

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

except OU holidays and breaks

Cunningham’s performance as a female performer.

“Getting to be around drag queens, I feel like a princess,” Allen said.

Donations were taken by the Sisters of the Sacred Heartland, a branch of Sisters of the Perpetual Indulgence, to be given to the Norman Safe House, said CJ Mays, psychology freshman and coproducer of the show.

Sisters of the Sacred Heartland is a country-wide group whose members dress in drag as nuns to collect donations for various charities.

The Norman Safe House uses donations to prepare backpacks with cell phones to call 911 for homeless or endangered GLBTF youth, Mays said.

This drag performance was inspired by Oklahoma State’s annual drag show, Laurel Cunningham, English literature and women’s and gender studies sophomore and GLBTF president, said.

“This is a creative expression of gender identity,” Cunningham said. “It’s fun, it’s an art, and it’s healthy to express yourself.”

The second half of the event was a mock fashion show open to audience members. After signing-up, students and drag queens took turns strutting the runway.

Other Pride Week events: Today: Queer Art Show at Downtown Sound, 115 s. Crawford, at 7 p.m. to view queer art and queer inspired art.

Friday: Breaking the Silence open-mic event at Second Wind Coffee Shop, 564 Buchanan, at 7 p.m.

10 • Thursday, April 14, 2011

LIFE & ARTS

The Oklahoma Daily | OUDaily.com

Tickets selling fast for tonight’s production “The Music of Andrew Lloyd Webber” opens 8 p.m. Thursday night in Catlett Music Center

Q&A The Daily sat down with director Hugh Wooldridge to reflect on his journey and his time here working on the production.

SYDNEY ALLEN The Oklahoma Daily

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THE DAILY: How did you meet Andrew Lloyd Webber?

WOOLDRIDGE: We go back to 1975. We worked together in a show that was not a very good success. It was an unmitigated disaster. It was a show called “Jeeves”, and [Webber] was kind enough to say that the best thing to come out of it was our friendship.

THE DAILY: How did you get to do this show at OU? WOOLDRIDGE: I was asked by Max [Weitzenhoffer]. I used to run Andrew’s theatre festival, and Max used to come as a guest. He wanted to do “Les Miserables” or “South Pacific”, but I suggested we do this so that we could involve over 300 people instead of just 12 soloists.

PHOTO PROVIDED

Skyler Adams, Jensen Stenberg, Joseph Ruel, Damian Chambers, Ryan Wood, Storm Lineberger and Elvie Ellis sing “No Matter What” from “Whistle Down the Wind.”

was invited to travel to Oklahoma to direct the show by Max Weitzenhoffer, member of the OU Board of Regents.

The performances will include music from Webber’s entire career, including hit shows such as “Cats,” “The Phantom of the Opera,” “Evita and Aspects of Love.”

The show will also feature the U.S. p re m i e re o f a s o n g c o m m i s s i o n e d

by Wooldridge especially for the OU production.

“It’s not really a mishmash of songs,” said Wooldridge. “It’s designed to take you on a journey.”

Tickets for the Thursday night performance can be purchased at the box office in Catlett Music Center. Tickets cost are $15 for OU students and $25 for adults.

OU Student Media is a department within OU’s division of Student Affairs.

For accommodations on the basis of disability, please contact 405.325.2521.

The University of Oklahoma is an equal opportunity institution.

ickets are selling fast for the Weitzenhoffer Family College of Fine Arts’ production of “The Music of Andrew Lloyd Webber.”

Shows for Friday, Saturday and Sunday’s performances already have sold out, said Rich Taylor, fine arts college dean and show producer.

“The President’s Associates concert, on Sunday, sold out in mid-February, and we just recently sold out Friday and Saturday night’s show.

Only about 100 tickets remain for this Thursday’s opening-night performance,” Taylor said in a press release Wednesday.

The performance will take place at 8 p.m. in Catlett Music Center’s Sharp Concert Hall.

Featur ing an all-student cast, the show contains musicians from the OU Symphony Orchestra; vocalists from the OU Combined Choirs; 30 principal vocalists from the Schools of Musical Theatre, the school of Music and the university at large; as well as performers from the School of Dance.

The show also features a full onstage symphony orchestra directed by Rick Zielinski.

Originally produced in London 21 years ago, the show was conceived and directed

by Hugh Wooldridge, who is a personal friend of Webber’s.

“Andrew and I go back to about 1975,” said Wooldr idge before a rehearsal Tuesday. “We did a show together that was a gigantic flop. He said the best thing to come from it was our friendship.”

Wooldridge works mainly in London, but

THE DAILY: Does the show have a plot, or is it just a compilation of songs?

WOOLDRIDGE: There’s no plot, but it’s very carefully constructed to take people on a journey. The older stuff is first, and the newer stuff is later. We’re doing the U.S. premiere of a song and another song I commissioned for this show that is making its world premiere.

It’s a new version of “Love Changes Everything” [from “Aspects of Love”].

READ THE COMPLETE ARTICLE AT OUDAILY.COM