L&A: Student shoots for poetry slam win (Page 7)
Sports: Cross country picks up its pace (Page 5)
Opinion: Maybe it’s time for a new OU tradition (Page 4)
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Undecided students find help Major exploration office expands to pair more students with their major KATE BERGUM
Assistant News Editor @kateclaire_b
In order to help undecided students find the right major at the university, OU’s major exploration office has moved and expanded. The staff size of the center has increased from 1.5 fulltime members to three full-time members, said Stephen Crynes, director of the Center for Major Explorations. Additionally, the center moved to a new office during third week of school, Crynes said. Formerly located in Lissa and Cy Wagner Hall, the office is now in Cate Center 4. The expansion allows all of the center’s staff members to
have offices near each other, while in Lissa and Cy Wagner their marketing for students, Crynes said. Hall they were separated, Crynes said. “We were pretty much functioning at capacity,” Crynes The new location has also allowed the center to add said. more outreach programs this year, Crynes said. Now Crynes said he hopes the center can help Major exploration coaches are teaching two more students. BY THE one-credit hour classes this semester and Crynes said planning for expansion startNUMBERS will teach three classes next semester for ed last year. The center received additional students who are exploring their major opfunding for expansion from the university, A total of 1,128 tions, Crynes said. Additionally, the coachstudents have an Once available office space was found, the es have been working closely with student undecided major center was able to change location, Crynes organizations. said. this fall Crynes said he always knew the office would Jamie Steele, a major explorations coach, need to expand because of the large number of said her office worked with about 850 students undecided students at the university. last year, many of them undecided. As the major A total of 1,128 students are listed as having an undecid- explorations office gains more publicity, more students ed major this fall, according to university records. drop by for help, Steele said. Because of its small size, the Center for Major Explorations staff had to cap their appointments and limit SEE UNDECIDED PAGE 6
DUNK A DEE GEE
COMPETITION Go online to OUDaily.com to see video of the DG women taking turns in the dunk tank.
New Miss OU to be selected Oct. 4 Application deadline for the Miss OU Pageant quickly approaches DAISY CREAGER News Reporter
TONY RAGLE/THE DAILY
Above: Elementary education junior Katie Gallion and meteorology freshman Kyra Fedynyshyn stand on the side of Elm Street and invite people walking by to “Dunk a Dee Gee” Tuesday afternoon. The money raised from the dunk tank will benefit Service for Site. Left: After a few suspenseful tosses at the target, biology sophomore Haley High drops into the dunk tank.
PHILANTHROPY
OU Panhellenic aids Success By 6 campaign United Way founds program to revamp child development DANIELLE WIERENGA News Reporter @weirdenga
OU Panhellenic has partnered with United Way of Norman to promote positive child development and WEATHER Partly cloudy today with a high of 86, low of 70. Follow @AndrewGortonWX on Twitter for weather updates.
education through their Success By 6 platform. Success By 6, founded by United Way, focuses on increasing school-readiness for preschool-age children and has many branch programs involved in well-rounded child development. The program teaches children holistically by encouraging development of
reading and writing skills as well as social and emotional skills, said Christine Williams, Panhellenic vice president of community relations. “We decided to partner with United Way’s Success By 6 so that our women could be involved in a community service effort and come together for a good cause, regardless of chapter
affiliation,” Williams said. OU Panhellenic will raise funds for Success By 6 via restaurant benefit nights and T-shirt sales, Williams said. So far, Panhellenic members have raised over $7,000 for Success By 6, Williams said. SEE PANHELLENIC PAGE 2
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Female OU students looking to represent the university as Miss OU have until Saturday to apply for the Miss University of Oklahoma Scholarship Pageant. Students must be between the ages of 17 and 25 to compete in the pageant, which takes place on Oct. 4. Application forms are MORE INFO available on the Miss Miss OU University of Oklahoma Facebook page. Pageant Participants will be To apply students judged on their performust turn in: mance in an onstage ques● an official contest tion-and-answer portion, entry form a talent and physical fit● an address ness portion and an eveinformational form ning gown and swimsuit ● Miss OU platform portion, said Tessa Traxler, statement executive director of the ● a copy of your birth certificate Miss OU Pageant. ● a high-resolution Participants are also rephoto of yourself quired to adopt a platform ● a donation to or cause they can support, Children’s Miracle for something they can Network tie into the community, Traxler said. “Typically it’s something Turn in all forms to they’re passionate about. missoupageant@ gmail.com by Saturday. It can range between anything from stem cell research to volunteerism,” Traxler said. While physical fitness doesn’t amount for the highest percentage of the scores, it does play a role, Traxler said. “It’s a self-respect thing, and it flows through your whole being. If you can work hard on yourself, then you can work that hard on a different project,” Traxler said. For the talent portion, the women can perform any sort of expressive talent, Traxler said. “They are encouraged to just be themselves,” Traxler said. “I’ve seen monologues, twirling, dancing, painting. It has to be entertaining and show the contestant’s personality.” The Miss OU Pageant also encourages self-respect and community involvement, Traxler said. SEE PAGEANT PAGE 6
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