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TRESSEL’S RESIGNATION
Ohio State football coach Jim Tressel (pictured left) could have saved his job, Luke McConnell says
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SUMMER READING SURGE Honors College reading group will read four revolution-themed books
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T H U R S DA Y, J U N E 2 , 2 011
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2 010 G OL D C ROW N W I N N E R
Tuition, fees increase incoming OU students may have to pay additional 5 percent because of state funding cuts ENJOLI DI PATRI
The Oklahoma Daily
A 5-percent tuition and mandatory fee increase is a “reasonable assumption,” an OU official said after Oklahoma’s State Regents for Higher Education approved a $14.7 million reduction — a 5.8-percent decrease — in stateallocated funds Friday for OU’s 2012 fiscal year compared with fiscal year 2011. Tuition and fee increases help OU combat decreases in state spending, said Chris Kuwitzky, OU’s associate vice president and chief financial
officer. It also keeps departments from experi- budget reductions, which would negatively imencing further budget cuts, he said. pact virtually every academic and administraOU President David Boren tive unit,” Kuwitzky said in an asked all departments at the email. university to cut their budgets ONLINE AT OUDAILY.COM The possible 5-percent tuby 5 percent in anticipation of » Infographs: The decrease in ition increase is close to the 4.5the decrease in state-allocated state-allocated funds for higher percent tuition increase that funds, according to Daily ar- education over the last four years was reported in a credit rating chives. Boren’s announcement by Fitch Ratings in January. Any was made because $16 million increase in tuition will be used dollars of federal money from the American for programs directly benefitting students, such Recovery and Reinvestment Funds available in as faculty compensation, technology, library acfiscal year 2011 would not be available in fiscal quisitions and counseling services, according to year 2012. the regents’ agenda. “Without [a tuition increase], university deREAD THE FULL STORY ON OUDAILY.COM partments would be asked to make additional
JOBS
Employers seeking college graduates New reports suggest graduates may have easier time finding employment than previous year ENJOLI DI PATRI
The Oklahoma Daily
LOCAL ART COLORS OKLAHOMA CITY
MARC BREIDY/THE DAILY
Top: A living statue greets a little girl Sunday at the Paseo Arts Festival in Oklahoma City. Right: Artists from around the country had pieces ranging from metal work to paintings on display.
Arts festival attracts Memorial Day crowd Paseo Arts District hosts outdoor art, local music showcase; attracts about 60,000 people in 3 days JAMES CORLEY
The Oklahoma Daily
Thousands roamed the streets of the Paseo Arts District last weekend, looking at pieces from artists around the country and listening to an all-Oklahoma array of local musicians. The 35th Annual Paseo Arts Festival, hosted by the Oklahoma City district, drew an estimated 60,000 people over Memorial Day Weekend, according to Jo Wise, executive director of the festival. “I think this is the place everyone comes on Memorial Day,”
Wise said. “Everyone says this is the friendly festival, the one they always feel at home at.” With more than 80 featured artists and everything from a living statue to a laughter flashmob, the festival provided something for just about everyone. Collin Rosebrook, the festival chair, has been involved with the Paseo Arts Association for more than 20 years. Before that, when he was still in college, he participated in the festival as a featured artist. He said he’s watched as the festival evolved from a “sort of hippy” experience to a showcase of professional, very high-quality art and entertainment. “[The festival] makes people more aware that there is art SEE PASEO PAGE 2
Recent graduates can breathe a little easier thanks to a new report indicating employers plan to hire 19.3 percent more graduates this year compared with last year. Employers nationwide are reporting double-digit increases in their spring hiring projections for the first time since 2007, according to a National Association of Colleges and Employers 2011 job report. In April alone, Oklahoma had a 0.8-percent increase in nonfarm payroll employment, according to the United States Department of Labor’s website. Nonfarm payroll employment measures the number of jobs in the state and is a reliable indicator of economic conditions, according to the Labor Bureau’s website. Over the past year, Oklahoma has added 18,600 jobs, accounting for a 1.2-percent increase, according to the Oklahoma Employment Security Commission website. Hiring by industry has increased across the board, except for in government jobs, according to a NACE job report. “The job market for new college graduates is up 13 percent over this time last year,” said Bette Scott, director OU career services. “That means that for some majors, it will be easier to find a job.” Engineering, business and accounting degrees are expected to see the greatest percentage of hires, according to a NACE job report. “Most of the 2011 business and engineering graduates who reported accepting a job prior to graduation accepted a position related to their major,” Scott said. Many of the arts and sciences majors reported accepting positions not directly related to their major, Scott said. There is still hope for graduates who haven’t secured a job yet, Scott said. “The job market is still improving,” Scott said. Scott recommends graduates who haven’t found a job yet continue to apply for jobs and do something each day related to the job search. Visit OUDaily.com for related links.
DRUNK DRIVING
New DUI law may decrease accident fatalities, senator says killed by a drunk driver in 2009, according to Ignition interlock systems to be installed Swezey Act website. On the second offense, according to the DMV website. the interlock device would remain in the ofOklahoma needs stricter DUI laws for the Jolley’s website. in drunk-driving offenders’ cars to help fender’s car for four years, and subsequent sake of victims of drunk driving, Oklahoma “My own daughter is only a little bit older prevent driving under the influence ALYSSA GRIMLEY The Oklahoma Daily
The Oklahoma Senate has passed a law to ensure harsher penalties for individuals caught driving under the influence of alcohol. The Erin Swezey Law, which was passed on May 26, requires first-time offenders caught driving under the influence to have an ignition interlock device installed in their car for 18 months, according to the Erin
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offenses require the use of the interlock for five years, according to the Swezey website. The ignition interlock system prevents the car from operating if a person’s breath alcohol content is more than a preset limit, as measured by a handheld alcohol sensor in the car. The previous punishment for driving under the influence did not include ignition interlock devices, according to the Oklahoma Department of Motor Vehicles’ website. Former punishments included varying degrees of fines and jail time,
State Senator Clark Jolley, the primary author of the bill, said. “Hundreds of Oklahomans needlessly lose their life every year because someone makes a bad decision to drink and drive,” Jolley said in an email. “By requiring someone who has already been convicted of drunk driving to not legally be able to drive a vehicle without an ignition interlock device, hopefully the numbers of people who die needlessly every year will plummet.” The law is named for 20-year-old Erin Swezey, an Edmond resident, who was
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than Erin would have been,” Gov. Mary Fallin said on Jolley’s website. “My heart goes out to the Swezeys and all Oklahomans who’ve been victims of drunk drivers.” The new law will decrease the number of repeat offenders in DUI cases, Jolley said. “Based on results seen in other states that have implemented similar statutes, there should be an incredible drop in the number of fatalities each year, and we should see fewer people in the criminal justice system READ THE FULL STORY ON OUDAILY.COM
TODAY’S WEATHER
96° | 76° Tomorrow: Sunny, high of 97 degrees