The Oklahoma Daily

Page 1

LIFE & ARTS • PAGE A6

SPORTS • PAGE B1

‘Portal 2’ meets expectations

Will Sooners stand up to top billing?

Video game surpasses previous release and sets a new standard for puzzle games, The Daily’s AJ Lansdale says.

The OU football team is projected to enter the 2011 season as the top team. Most preseason No. 1 teams don’t win a national title. Can the Sooners overcome the odds?

The University of Oklahoma’s independent student voice since 1916

Thursday, April 21, 2011

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Tuition hearing goes unheard Regent, student attendance low at Wednesday’s hearing to discuss tuition increases to higher education NICHOLAS HARRISON The Oklahoma Daily

Only one of the nine members of the Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education was present at the tuition hearing Wednesday at the Presbyterian Research Park in Oklahoma City — State Regent John Massey of Durant.

“Essentially, the other regents just weren’t able to attend today,” said Ben Hardcastle, spokesman for the State Regents. “[The meeting] did meet all of the statutory requirements.” Hardcastle said it was a process that started on the campuses and included a variety of inputs. Hardcastle could not cite another instance in which only one regent attended a public hearing on tuition and fees, but he didn’t think it should be interpreted as a lack of concern, he said. “The regents, from the beginning, have been committed to providing opportunities for people

to express their views. A full report is going to be provided to the State Regents, as is always the case,” Hardcastle said. “The issues are going to be discussed. And, obviously, the regents as a body have a strong track record of being open to people sharing their views and having those views discussed.” Chancellor Glen Johnson opened the hearing with remarks on the regents’ attention to the SEE TUITION PAGE 2

HEALTH CARE

Goddard to end free STD tests next week Next week last chance for students to receive free tests KATHLEEN EVANS The Oklahoma Daily

STUDENTS CAMP OUT IN CARDBOARD

JALL COWASJI/ THE DAILY

Biochemistry junior Ricky Ly and petroleum engineering senior Danny Lam participate in Campout to Stamp Out Genocide on Wednesday on the South Oval. The objective of this anti-genocide display was to raise awareness of the harsh living conditions endured in African refugee camps. For more coverage, see page 3.

Museum sponsors OU Staff Senate addresses handbook Easter egg changes with letter to President Boren hunt CAMPUS POLICIES

Staff Senate proposes first updates to handbook in 15 years

More than 1,000 people attend event with egg hunt, educational activities HILLARY MCLAIN The Oklahoma Daily

Amidst dinosaur models and native Oklahoman animal species, more than 1,000 visitors to Sam Noble Oklahoma Museum of Natural History mingled with the Easter bunny and hunted for eggs Wednesday. About 100 JCPenney Leadership Program students painted faces, dressed as dinosaurs and taught arts and crafts for the 12th annual Eggstravaganza along with museum employees. By 6 p. m. We d n e s d ay , 1,161 attendees had arrived to the event, according to SEE HUNT PAGE 3

voted to OK amended sections of the handbook and send the book to the OU Board of Regents for final approval, according to Daily archives. “We had asked legal council and human resourcRACHAEL CERVENKA The Oklahoma Daily es, and we couldn’t get them to agree with us on the decadent process of how the handbook will be The OU Staff Senate passed a motion to draft changed,” said Sullivan. a letter to OU President David Boren concernThe process of amending the handbook was coling handbook changes at their monthly meeting laborative. However, the Staff Senate felt their stance Wednesday. was not fully heard, Staff Senate Staff member David Kizer said Chairman David Houck said. the Senate should discuss hand“There were some reservations I think it is a good idea book changes because they will among members of the ad hoc likely take effect in June. to write a letter to the committee about the final verIt could be the Senate’s last sion,” Houck said. president to clarify the chance before changes are impleThe motion to draft and send Staff Senate’s stance on mented, Kizer said. the letter passed unanimouswhat happened, how it The staff handbook has not been ly among all members of the happened and how we updated for 15 years, according to Senate. feel about it.” Daily archives. “I think it is a good idea to write Changes to the handbook were a letter to the president to clarify proposed to update grievance and — DAVID KIZER, STAFF MEMBER the Staff Senate’s stance on what resolution policies, said LaDonna happened, how it happened and Sullivan, chairwoman of the Staff how we feel about it,” Kizer said. Senate ad hoc committee in fall 2010, according to In other business, the Staff Senate discussed Staff Daily archives. Week, which will begin on April 25. Initially, any grievances filed were sent to only Staff Week is an annual weeklong celebration one person who was in charge of addressing them, honoring staff for their commitment to not only the Sullivan said. university, but to the community as well, said Terri Last November the Staff Senate’s ad hoc committee Smith, Staff Week committee chairwoman.

A LOOK AT WHAT’S ON Melissa Mock will be inaugurated as Campus Activities Council chairwoman tonight after Superior Court overrules petition

THE OKLAHOMA DAILY

WHAT’S INSIDE

VOL. 96, NO. 137 © 2011 OU Publications Board

Campus ................. A2 Classifieds ............. B4 Life & Arts .............. A5 Opinion ................. A4 Sports ................... B1

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The Center for Disease Control estimates 19 million new sexually transmitted disease infections occur each year in the U.S. Goddard Health Center and UOSA Health Advocacy are hoping to combat this yearly increase by offering its final Wednesday of free STD testing. The health center has been offering the testing every We d n e s d a y i n A p r i l , S T D Awareness Month. STD Awareness Month ser vices include access to free Trojan Brand condoms from noon to 2 p.m. ever y Wednesday in the Oklahoma Memorial Union and free STD testing at G oddard Health Center from 2 to 4 p.m. “Some people are taking wads of condoms. Some people take two; some people say they’re for their friends,” UOSA Health Advocacy Chairwoman Niekia Franklin said. There are no specific data on the number of students who have taken advantage of these services so far this month, but Goddard has seen increased traffic on Wednesday, Goddard spokeswoman Maggie Pool said. “This is the first time we have done this, so we will see how it goes,” Pool said. “There’s been a positive response so far. At the end of the month we will probably look at the numbers.” UOSA Health Advocacy officers wanted to provide more testing services for students, Franklin said. They approached Pool, who said she has always wanted to set up a free testing period. G o d d a rd o f f e r s t e s t s f o r HIV, chlamydia, gonorrhea and syphilis, according to the testing event Facebook page. Syphilis and HIV both require blood tests, but doctors test for gonorrhea and chlamydia from a urine sample, so patients must not use the bathroom one hour beforehand, Franklin said. Normal rates for the tests are $25 for chlamydia and gonorrhea combined, $10 for syphilis and $15 for HIV testing, according to information provided by the Goddard business office. At Planned Parenthood in Norman, these tests would cost $150 combined, which is a discounted rate, according to the clinic’s answering service. The Cleveland County Health Department regularly offers free testing, Pool said. “Anyone who wants to put their mind at ease should get tested, but it is especially important for anyone that may have symptoms or engages in risky sexual behavior,” Pool said. “It is important to remember, however, that with some STDs you may not have symptoms.” All the results are confidential

SEE STD PAGE 2

TODAY’S WEATHER

71°| 67° Tomorrow: 40 percent chance of thunderstorms


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