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ESCAPE: Graduating? Leave in style with these cap decorating tips (Inside)
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T H U R S D A Y , M A Y 1 , 2 0 14
SOCIAL MEDIA
University not watching
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Claims that Student Conduct was monitoring social media sites are false
Social media and Student Conduct
According to its website, Yik Yak acts like a “local bulletin board” that shows recent posts KELLY ROGERS from other users in the area, and Campus Reporter users can quickly share their own @KellyRogersOU posts through the app. “I be fresh as hell if Student Steve Ashmore, director of Conduct watchin’!” Student Conduct, said when using That’s what one person said on apps like Yik Yak, students should the anonymous, location-based consider personal decency and app Yik Yak on April 10, when the If people aren’t willing to impose self-control. app erupted with anti-Student “If people aren’t willing to imthat limit on themselves, then Conduct posts. pose that limit on themselves, After seeing this posts and oththere’s no way I can do it,” then there’s no way I can do it,” ers, The Daily started looking into Ashmore said. STEVE ASHMORE, the allegations that members of Although Ashmore said Student DIRECTOR OF STUDENT CONDUCT the Student Conduct office were Conduct does not actively police monitoring these social network social media websites, once a posites and using them to conduct tential violation is brought to their investigations on students who attention, they can’t ignore it. may be breaking OU’s Student For instance, Ashmore said he sometimes gets photos Conduct policies. submitted by anonymous sources of pictures posted on soThe short answer: apps like Yik Yak aren’t being moncial media websites. itored. The long answer: if Student Conduct officials are “I really try to get as much information as I can,” Ashmore clued in and do see the posts, they may start investigating. SEE MEDIA PAGE 2
PAWING THE STRESS AWAY
RESIDENCES
Dorm elevators still an issue for some residents With more than 400 break downs, residence elevators are a nuisance CAITLIN SCHACHTER Campus Reporter
Most days Heidi Babin, University College freshman, waits for an elevator to stop on her floor of Walker Center. She lives 10 floors off the ground and is frustrated with the time she wastes waiting for an elevator. “Most of the time they don’t stop unless someone’s getting off,” Babin said. “When it’s busy, it’s faster to take the 129 steps down to the first floor.” Babin isn’t the only student who has had elevator problems. Jett Sturges, University College freshman, has had so many problems that he thinks people who live on floors 4 or below should take the stairs instead of waiting for an elevator so those who live on higher floors don’t have to wait as long. “Pressing any floor under 5 is unacceptable,” Sturges said. “As much as the elevators suck, these type of people can make our elevators a complete nightmare.” It’s not just disregard for unspoken elevator courtesy rules that make students wait for elevators — sometimes they’re just broken. In the last year, elevators in Walker Center have broken down 142 times, elevators in Adams Center have broken down 141 times, elevators in Couch Center have broken down 135 times and the elevators in David L. Boren Hall have broken down two times, according to requested records. In total over the past year, elevators in OU’s residence halls have broken down 420 times. SEE RESIDENCE PAGE 3
COURSES
Class made to ‘serve’ pre-med students MCAT course will prepare students for 2015 medical school entrance exam
BENNETT HALL/THE DAILY
English junior Whitney Thompson, Letters and economics sophomore Laura Kincaide, math and Spanish sophomore Jessica Brewer play with a Pomeranian puppy Wednesday on the South Oval. Two dogs lounge on the South Oval under some shade. The Sooner Health Hut brings puppies to campus each Dead Week to help students relieve stress.
Junior pre-med students who will take the MCAT exam in 2015 can take a class this fall that will teach them strategic plans for taking the exam. This is the first time the course will be offered at OU, said Ren Freeman, OU Outreach project specialist II. In the course, students will learn to create a plan to take the MCAT that reflects the way they take tests, learn how to study for certain portions of the test and take practice tests in an environment similar to the real MCAT, Freeman said. Most importantly, Freeman said, the course will show students the 2015 test changes. The 2015 test will include a natural science section that reflects recent changes in medical education, a section that shows the importance of sociocultural and behavioral in health outcomes and a new critical analysis and reasoning skills section, according to the Association of American Medical Colleges website. “We have designed this course to serve our OU pre-med students technically and holistically,” Freeman said. The course costs $725 and course material cost approximately $350. Students can register for the course at www. pace.ou.edu/mcat, according to the email. The 2015 MCAT test will be offered from April through August, according to the email.
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