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Friday, April 29, 2011

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65 new UOSA leaders introduced UOSA president, vice president discuss coming initiatives with cabinet members during orientation ALEX EWALD The Oklahoma Daily

The newly elected UOSA leaders discussed how to address student concerns when they met with their cabinet members at an orientation Wednesday night. UOSA President Hannah Morris and Vice President Laura Bock introduced 65 students to their new positions during a meeting in the Oklahoma Memorial Union.

Morris announced a new addition to the executive branch — the Sustainability Department, which is designed to further environmental initiatives at OU, Morris said. Department members will develop more extensive campus environmental initiatives, Sustainability Department Director Natalie Jester said. Coordinators will work with organizations to identify problems and create initiatives to solve them, she said. “If we took a poll on campus [saying], ‘Do you support doing things that are good for the environment?’ everyone would say yes, but then no one knows the practical side of what that is, and that’s where we come in,” she said.

ONLINE AT OUDAILY.COM » Info: Description of executive cabinet positions Last year’s programs didn’t have enough time to make an impact because there was no specialized department to oversee them, Jester said. In addition to the new department, Morris and Bock also added 10 coordinator positions to take pressure off other departments, Bock said. “We wanted to give more people a bigger opportunity to get involved,” Bock said. — Zack Hedrick contributed to this report

UNIVERSITY FUNDING

OU gives SafeRide an extra $55,000 Student taxi service receives funds after monthly balance comes up short ALEX EWALD The Oklahoma Daily

STUDENTS DRENCH ONE ANOTHER DURING CLUB EVENT

‘JEMIYO AKANDE/THE DAILY

OU Spanish Club members grab water balloons to throw at an opposing team Thursday on the Walker-Adams Mall. About 30 students participated.

Students host water-balloon fight OU Spanish Club members get splashed with Spanish tradition KATHLEEN EVANS The Oklahoma Daily

bout 30 students slung water balloons at one another in an effort to soak up Spanish tradition Thursday on the Walker-Adams Mall. OU Spanish Club members hosted an event intended to mimic the Tomatina Festival — a traditional fruit-flinging festival that has occurred in Buñol, Spain, annually since 1957, club President Randi Gill said. During the festival, participants gather in

the streets and throw tomatoes for an hour. Afterward, the entire city is covered in tomatoes, sometimes enough to swim in, Gill said. “A horn goes off at the beginning and end of the hour, and people throw hundreds and thousands of tomatoes,” Gill said. “The acidity of the tomatoes is actually really good for the city. It cleans up the streets.” Club members decided to have their own festival — using red water balloons instead of tomatoes — as a fun way for students to experience Spanish culture, Gill said. Students gathered at 3:30 p.m. for the fight, and in about 10 minutes, remains of 750 balloons were left scattered across the grass.

“On a scale of one to 10, I’m about a 12.5,” University College freshman Katherine Schuljak said after the fight regarding her soaked clothing. “But that was fun.” Amused onlookers gathered to watch the fight, not wanting to get wet. “It looks pretty fun and chaotic,” University College freshman Troy Bowser said. “I have class later on, but I would probably participate if I didn’t.” The club hosts events throughout the year to teach students about Spanish cultures, said Matt Cassady, OU Spanish Club spokesman. Other events include a salsa night with free dance lessons, a Spanish movie night and cultural nights.

OU’s weekend taxicab program received $55,000 of support funds from the university after the program’s yearly balance was in the red by the end of March. The SafeRide program’s expenses were $5,019.92 in the hole after officials paid $5,220 in monthly service fees to Airport Express on March 24, one of the program’s contracted services, according to SafeRide’s expense ledger. The program has paid $29,645 to Airport Express from Nov. 1 to March 31. Yellow Cab Co.’s fees cost the university $26,352 in the same period. Both companies’ fees account for 84 percent of the program’s expenses. SafeRide provides free rides home to OU students from 10 p.m. to 3 a.m. Thursday, Friday, Saturday nights and Sunday mornings. The normal fare of $12 is charged to the university instead, OU Student Programs Director Brynn Daves said in an email. The president’s office provides all of its funds to the program, Daves said. She and other directors tell the office the amount of operational funds the program will need each year, and the office transfers the money. The funds come from the university’s central budget, which is controlled by the Finance and Administration office, university spokesman Chris Shilling said. Program coordinators knew when the fiscal year began in July they would need to request additional funds for SafeRide but waited until later to do so based on actual spending reports, Daves said. SafeRide has 20 sedans and vans in operation through Airport Express and Yellow Cab Co. on the weekend, Daves said. A i r p o r t E x p re s s ha s f i v e drivers work on the weekend, Airport Express office manager Lary Love said.

Outreach Students chow down at annual block party director resigns Local Jewish groups celebrate Israel’s independence with traditional foods, folk dancers CARMEN FORMAN

Cal Hobson leaves position after four years, officials say NICHOLAS HARRISON The Oklahoma Daily

OU’s Outreach Operations executive director has resigned, university officials confirmed Thursday. Cal Hobson had worked for OU Outreach at the College of Continuing Education since February 2007. Hobson’s resignation was effective April 15. Hobson was contacted at his home in Lexington — where he said he was enjoying the day, focusing on pecan growing and burning brush. Hobson denied the rumor he was asked to resign.

READ THE COMPLETE ARTICLE AT OUDAILY.COM

The Oklahoma Daily

Students munched on a variety of Middle Eastern foods Thursday on the South Oval during local Jewish organizations’ annual block party to celebrate Israel’s birthday. The Israel Block Party offered students free pitas, hummus and other foods to celebrate Israel’s independence, which was declared on May 14, 1948. The event also included a large map of Israel, hookah and traditional Israeli folk dancers to teach students about the nation’s culture. The main goal of the block party — besides celebrating Israel’s birthday — was to educate students about Jewish and Israeli culture, said Megan Godwin, OU Hillel president and health and

A LOOK AT WHAT’S ON Visit the news section to read about how greek houses may receive funds to install necessities such as fire sprinklers

exercise science junior. “The sense of community that we show the OU community — that the Jews on campus have community as well — it’s good to share that and experience that together,” Godwin said. Since Israel’s independence day coincides with finals week, the block party was moved up two weeks to allow students to experience the holiday without worrying about finals, said Keren Ayalon, Hillel executive director. The block party has occurred annually for about five years, said Misheala Giddings, international and area studies senior. It’s a combined effort by the Sooners for Israel, OU Hillel and the Jewish fraternity Alpha Epsilon Pi, Giddings said. “I think it is very important to show people what Israel is all about,” Ayalon said. “Hopefully MARCIN RUTKOWSKI/ THE DAILY we will inspire people on campus to learn more about Israel, to Students grab free food and drinks provided by OU Hillel and Sooners for take a course on Israel and to learn Israel on Thursday on the South Oval. The event was hosted as a part of Hebrew — the language of Israel.” the celebrations of the Israeli Independence Day.

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