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Peers purposely failing placement exams About 200 students per year score a zero on language placement test PAIGHTEN HARKINS Campus Reporter

Academic and Spanish adviser Shawn Gralla sits in his office in Kaufman Hall, Room 115 everyday with his door open. Among the myriad of rushed hallway noises that leak into his office, he also hears students talk amongst themselves.

Occasionally, he listens in on a conversation about

students purposefully failing their language placement exams.

Both Gralla and John Verbick, director of the Language Learning Center, admit students do intentionally fail, however, there’s no concrete method to find out exactly who is and who isn’t, they said.

The students purposefully fail the placement exam because they want to take an

easier class, Gralla said.

“They think they want to make an easy A,” he said.

“They’re looking for five hours of an A.” From 2004 to 2011, an average of 199 students scored a zero on a language placement exam, according to the test results. By August of this year, 144 students had scored a zero on the placement test.

Verbick attributes students failing to get into an easier class to a number of things.

“Students are under a lot

of pressure,” he said in an email. “Financial concerns, maintaining scholarships and overall GPA, pressure from parents — you name it.”

This pressure sometimes causes students to purposefully fail. While there is no way to definitely tell if a student has intentionally failed, sometimes there are indicators, Verbick said in an email.

“While it can’t be proven using data, any time a student is done with the exam in under 5 minutes, it’s a good

bet they’ve just found a way to spend a lot of time, energy and money on a course that will be entirely too easy for them,” he said in an email.

The test results provided to The Daily did not mention how long the students took the test nor did it provide names. The documents provided the score, date and type of the test.

Most instances of intentional failure occur with students who are taking the Spanish placement exam,

AT A GLANCE Language Learning center the Language Learning center offers placement exams in chinese, French, German, Japanese, portuguese, Russian and spanish the office is making plans to add exams for arabic, Hebrew and italian

see EXAMS paGe 2

cULTURe

ReseARcH

Education increases America’s longevity Education is the door to better jobs STAFF REPORTS

meLodie Lettkeman/ tHe daiLy

The performers of Bangladesh Night gather on stage as Parisa Tabassum (at keyboard) finishes her performance of a patriotic Bangladeshi song saturday.

meLodie Lettkeman/ tHe daiLy

Top: Debaroti Ghosh performs a dance during the fashion show portion of Bangladesh Night on saturday.

Right: Lauren Davis performs a Bangladeshi dance with other students at Bangladesh Night.

Evening of culture highlights OU diversity Bangladesh Night draws crowd of about 400 with traditional music, dancing, poetry and food MIKE WORMLEY Campus Reporter

Hundreds of people attended a free night of food, music and fashion to celebrate diversity and culture at Bangladesh Night on Saturday.

Vibrant colors, tabla beats and sonorous flutes filled Meacham Auditorium of the Oklahoma Memorial Union as the Student Association of Bangladesh shared its culture with students, faculty and staff.

The evening — themed “The Touch of Monsoon” — was filled with music, dancing,

a fashion show, a video presentation, poetry and a traditional dinner. This culture night was offered for free to all attendees, thanks to the association receiving UOSA funding, said president Yousuf Mohammad.

More than 400 people came out for the event.

Mohammad, a journalism graduate student, said he was pleased with the turnout.

The event celebrated the culture and the history of Bangladesh through student performances.

One of the notable performances was a poem, “Keu Kotha Rakheni,” written and performed by Nur Hossain. The piece drew figurative parallels to Bangladesh’s history.

“The poem is about a man who was promised things by everybody,” Hossain said.

“Nobody kept their promises. He goes through stages of his life explaining how each promise wasn’t kept.”

This mirrored Bangladesh’s participation in the Liberation War, Hossain said.

“We fought based on a dream that everybody will achieve equality,” he said. “No promises were kept, even the rulers did not keep their promises, we fought for independence but it was not served.”

Bangladesh finally achieved its independence from West Pakistan on Dec. 16, 1971, according to the world factbook. The country

MIKE WORMLEY Campus Reporter

Students will have the opportunity to explore Native Americans and science fiction this December intersession through a new genre of literature.

The new intersession course, offered by the

oud-2012-09-17-a-001, 002.indd 1

“For Native sci-fi, there are going to be a lot of the same issues and concerns that run for Native [literature],” Hudson said. “Issues of identity, issues of political importance, particularly dispossession of land and there will also be issues of representation of how natives have been represented.”

He also said he hopes to dispel the myths of the vanishing native peoples.

Materials for the class will

Visit oudaily.com for the complete story

see CAMPUS paGe 2

Native American sci-fi class to be offered University College, examines the portrayal of Native Americans in science fiction literature and artwork, said Brian Hudson, a graduate student and the course’s professor.

Hudson said the class also studies science fiction works

by Native American artists.

Futuristic Indians will be led online through the Department of English, said Hudson, who specializes in Native American literature.

SEE MORE ONLINE oudaily.com/news

Graduate students show art in Lightwell gallery

INTeRsessION

Students explore literature and art

A new study authored by an OU Health Sciences Center researcher shows that the more educated one is, the longer lifespan one has.

College of Medicine professor Bruce Carnes’ study states Americans with 16 or more years of education have the longest lifespan, according to a press release. Carnes’ report also showed that race played a key factor in life expectancy with black males and females having shorter lifespans than white people.

The most educated white women lived 10.4 years longer and the most educated white men lived 12.9 years longer than the least educated men and women, according to the press release.

In comparison, the most educated black women lived 6.5 years longer and the most educated black men lived 9.7 years longer than the less educated.

“Education and race are surrogates for access to and quality of employment, health care, housing and nutrition,” Carnes said in a statement. “These and other related factors influence health, which in turn influences longevity.”

“Within any race as you move up the education ladder, you see increases in longevity,” he said. “The gap in longevity is increasing every year, so much so that in the paper we referred to it as two Americas.”

include “Walking the Clouds: An Anthology of Indigenous Science Fiction” by Grace L. Dillon, “East of the Sun and West of Fort Smith” and “J” by William Sanders and “Robopocalypse: A Novel” by Daniel H. Wilson.

There also will be pieces of artwork and short films provided on D2L, Hudson said.

VOL. 98, NO. 23 © 2012 OU publications Board FREE — Additional copies 25¢

iNSidE TOdAY campus......................2 clas si f ie ds................6 L i f e & a r t s ..................7 o p inio n.....................4 spor ts........................3 Visit OUDaily.com for more

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L&A: master’s of Fine arts students have exhibition through sept. 28. in the Fred Jones art center (Page 8)

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2

• Monday, September 17, 2012

Campus

Lindsey Ruta, campus editor Chase Cook and Jake Morgan, assistant editors dailynews@ou.edu • phone: 405-325-3666 oudaily.com • Twitter: @OUDaily

campus: variety of students Continued from page 1 was divided into seven administrative divisions — Rangpur, Rajshahi, Dhaka, Sylhet, Khulna, Barisal and Chittagong.

Each of the divisions was represented in the fashion show — which featured students wearing traditional garments in a variety of colors. During the interactive runway show, models walked down in pairs, acted out characters and performed a dance that gave the show a more cultural flair before the final procession that featured them all.

Lee Williams, dean of Graduate College, took a moment to speak to the attendees about the importance of appreciating other cultures, especially in light of recent events.

“Nights like this are so special,” Williams said. “It is particularly poignant that tonight here we are appreciating, learning and enjoying each other when if you turn on the news you hear of the worst of human behavior.”

He then spoke of stereotypes and called for a moment of silence for the Americans and others who have been killed because of “craziness.”

The Masters of Ceremonies, Fariz Afzal

Today around campus Mid-day music will be held from noon to 1 p.m. in the food court of Oklahoma Memorial Union. Atiba Williams will play the piano.

A free seminar on dining etiquette will be given from 12:30 to 1:30 p.m. on the third floor of Oklahoma Memorial Union.

A free seminar will be given by Mark Walvoord on websites to help students succeed. The seminar will be from 2 to 3 p.m. in Adam Center’s Muldrow Tower, Room 105.

An open house will be hosted from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. in the Bizzell Memorial Library to celebrate the 119th anniversary of the Government Documents collection.

Tuesday, Sept. 18 Mid-day music will be held from noon to 1 p.m. in the food court of Oklahoma Memorial Union. Dillon Gourd will play the piano.

A free seminar will be given by Casey Partridge of the Graduation Office on how to find academic motivation. The seminar will be from 3:30 to 4:30 p.m. in Lissa and Cy Wagner Hall, Room 245.

Gaan Gaai,” a highly patriotic song from Bangladesh AT A GLANCE Bangladesh Kaji Fuad, mechanical engineering graduate student Administrative Divisions: Name: People’s Republic and male model representBarisal, Chittagong, of Bangladesh ing the Cittagong division, Dhaka, Khulna, Rajshahi, said the best part of the eveGovernment type: Rangpur, Sylhet ning for him was the crowd’s Parliamentary Democracy reaction to the performers.

National Anthem: “Amar Capital: Dhaka “The cheers and support Shonar Bangla” from the audience is what Source: The World Factbook makes this,” Fuad said. “It makes those who come [from other countries] embrace the cultural diversity and helps and Farhana Enam, evoked and Bangladesh. encourage people meet peolaughter from the audience Before concluding the eveple from other countries.” between each segment of the ning’s show and introducing show while providing com- the dinner, the entire proMike Wormley mentary on the diverse envi- duction staff joined Parisa Michael.J.Wormley-1@ou.edu ronment of OU and cultural Tabassum on stage during her differences between the U.S. performance of “Ami Banglay

exams: Spanish students tank test most often

A free party celebrating the opening of the new James T. Bialac Collection will be held from 6 to 7:30 p.m. in the Fred Jones Jr. Museum of Art. There will be food, music and a live performance by the OU School of Dance.

Continued from page 1

Record requests The Oklahoma Daily regularly asks for access to public information from OU officials. Here is a list of the most-recent requests our reporters have submitted to the university.

Requested document and purpose

Melodie Lettkeman/ The Daily

Gnana Marugan (left) and Amy Lantrip dance together during the fashion show portion of Bangladesh Night on Saturday.

Date requested

A copy of David Boren and Nancy Mergler’s most current contracts — To learn what sort of compensation university officials are receiving

Sept. 10

Daily activity reports from OUPD for the spring 2012 semester — To learn what the statistics are for crime on campus

Sept. 10

A database or list of all products ordered by university employees through the “Nike

by Mail” program for FY 2010-2011 and FY 2011-2012 — To learn who is ordering products through the “Nike by Mail” program

Sept. 10

Visit OUDaily.com/openrecords for a full list of requests

Corrections The Oklahoma Daily is committed to serving readers with accurate coverage and welcomes your comments about information that may require correction or clarification. To contact us with corrections, email us at dailynews@ou.edu.

French placement exam and the German placement exams each, according to Gralla said. This is just be- test results.

Students are required to cause of the sheer number of students taking those take the language placement tests compared to other exams if they plan to continue in a language in which languages.

More than 50 percent of they’ve had two or more all students enrolled in lan- years of instruction during guage classes study Spanish, the last five years, according to the language placement Verbick said in an email.

As well, out of the 16,651 exam guide.

When students purposelanguage placement exams taken since fall 2003, 13,380 fully fail the exam, they’re tested into a Spanish class, doing themselves a disseraccording to the document. vice and wasting their time, Gralla said.

Thus, “You’re here it is prob“You’re here to to challenge able that challenge yourself yourself and the largest to move on in number of and to move on whatever your students in whatever your classes are to purposefully failclasses are to get get better at what you’re ing is testbetter at what you’re doing,” Gralla ing into a said. “If you’re Spanish doing. If you’re faking the level, class, alfaking the level, it’s it’s not hurtthough there isn’t not hurting me, but ing me, but it’s hurting you. any data to it’s hurting you.”

Additionally, back that up, Verbick Shawn Gralla, Academic and s t u d e n t s i n s earch of an said in an Spanish adviser easy A by puremail.

Of the students who took posefully failing don’t northe Spanish placement mally make an A in the class, exam 1,391 students scored Gralla said.

This is because students a zero, which is more than 1,000 students the num- are bored in class, he said.

“Bored students don’t do ber of zeroes scored on the

BY THE NUMBERS Placement tests

1.4K

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10K

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Spanish language students scored a zero Spanish students scored at or below 296 (the score needed to advance to the next course)

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well in class,” Gralla said.

“They don’t intellectually or mentally participate and … in a language class, a big portion of the grade is participation,” Gralla said.

Thus, while the students’ skill level suggests they could make an A in the class, they end up making a B, “because they’re blowing everything off,” Gralla said.

As of right now, students aren’t required to sign a waiver stating they have taken the placement exam to the best of their ability.

Students only sign a waiver to verify they have taken less than two years of a foreign language or it has been five

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or more years since their last course, Verbick said in an email.

While there is not a department-wide push to combat the problem of intentionally failing, in the Spanish department, students “with a noticeably high level of proficiency” are referred to the first or second year Spanish coordinator or to Gralla.

These people will help students get into the best class for the level of language proficiency, Verbick said in an email.

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9/16/12 10:50:22 PM

3

• Monday, September 17, 2012

SPORTS

Kedric Kitchens, sports editor Dillon Phillips, assistant editor dailysports@ou.edu • phone: 405-325-3666 oudaily.com/sports • Twitter: @OUDailySports

Hockey

Brothers reunite on ice after three years Zehnder siblings enjoy bonding after years apart Carter Baum Sports Reporter

Every day, sophomore defenseman Kevin Zehnder and freshman forward Ryan Zehnder get to see each other at the rink and at home.

But that was almost not the case for the brothers.

Last fall, Ryan Zehnder was enrolled at Cal and was set to be a new member of the Golden Bears’ hockey team. The freshman had strayed from the familiar hockey path of putting off college for a year or two to play junior hockey and enrolled directly out of high school.

“I was always wondering why on earth he would not want to play junior hockey,” Kevin Zehnder said. “I thought he definitely had what it takes to go play in the [U.S Hockey League] or the North American [Hockey League].”

How e ve r, a f te r a r r i ving on campus at Cal and skating with his new team, Ryan Zehnder quickly had a change of heart.

“The school was awesome; I mean, it’s close to my house, but the hockey

“My only regret is just not living in the moment.

Sometimes you look into the future a little too much and that’s my major regret, just not soaking it in and realizing how good you have it.”

Freshman forward Ryan Zehnder

AT A GLANCE Skating in St. Louis The Zehnder brothers combined to score 11 goals for the NAHL’s St. Louis Bandits during the 2010 and 2011 seasons.

Source: stlouisbandits.com

wasn’t quite up to the level I was wanting to play at,” he said.

Ryan decided Cal wasn’t for him and left after just two weeks.

“I was kind of taken by surprise,” Kevin Zehnder said. “It was such a huge deal for him to get in there because, obviously, it’s one of the best public schools in the country. I was pretty stoked to hear he was going to give it another shot.”

A f t e r l e av i n g s c h o o l , Ryan Zehnder went to play for the St. Louis Bandits in the NAHL, the same team for which Kevin Zehnder played for two seasons prior to coming to OU last year.

“I tried to stay out of it as much as I could,” Kevin Zehnder said. “I didn’t want to feel like [with] St. Louis, [it was] me coming to them wanting them to do me some kind of favor. I wanted that to be something where [Ryan Zehnder] calls up the coach; I really didn’t do that much.”

Prior to enrolling at Cal, Ryan Zehnder was tendered

by St. Louis (essentially a verbal commitment to play for a certain team if he plays in their league), but opted to go to school instead. After leaving school, St. Louis was an easy choice for him.

“It was awesome,” Ryan Zehnder said. “Looking back, I miss it a lot to be h o n e s t . T h e g u y s w e re

awesome, the coach was cool; I grew a lot [last] year, for sure.”

After one season with the Bandits, Ryan Zehnder found the type of school he wanted from the start in Oklahoma.

“Just the balance between hockey and school, it’s a good mix of playing the sport you love while still learning something while you’re doing it,” he said.

After avoiding influence in Ryan Zehnder’s move to St. Louis, Kevin Zehnder didn’t have to say much about OU to get him here.

“I think the hockey sells itself. I think we had a really good year last year,” Kevin Zehnder said. “I think it’s really cool how the school is so big, but it still has a small school feel. You don’t have to take cars to other parts of campus or anything like that. Obviously, we have some of the best school spirit.”

And a little push for good measure didn’t hurt.

“I would always tell him the really cool gear we get,” Kevin Zehnder said laughing. “When I come home with a whole warehouse full of dry land gear and stuff like that, I think that kind of upped his chances of coming a little bit.”

Now, the brothers not only get to play together but live together as well. “ It ’s aw e s o m e,” Rya n Zehnder said. “It brings back a lot of childhood memories. We played together all the time when we were young, but we haven’t played together in a while.

It’s kind of weird.”

With Kevin Zehnder moving away from home to play in St. Louis three years ago, getting to live together again is a new experience.

“It’s definitely a lot different,” Kevin Zehnder said.

“I haven’t lived with him in

Photo provided by Lee DaveNport

Kevin (left) and Ryan Zehnder pose at the Blazers Ice Centre after practice. Ryan Zehnder joined his older brother Kevin Zehnder at OU this season after the two had been apart for three years with Ryan Zehnder attending Cal briefly and playing a year in junior hockey.

so long; I mean, I might as well move in with a complete stranger. But, we have a blast, and it’s kind of cool getting to bond again, if you want to use that cliché.”

So far, brotherly fighting hasn’t been an issue, just an occasional argument about

the dishes piling up in the sink.

After everything that’s happened in the last year, Ryan Zehnder said he would only change one thing.

“My only regret is just not living in the moment,” he said. “Sometimes you look

into the future a little too much and that’s my major regret, just not soaking it in and realizing how good you have it.”

Carter Baum carterbaum@ou.edu

column

Relationship between Stoops and media a two-way street sports columnist

Dillon Phillips dphillips85@ou.edu

second-guessed man in the state.

All of the armchair coaches and Sunday-morning quarterbacks criticize Stoops with the benefit of perfect hindsight, claiming they know how to do the job better than a man with 129 wins, seven conference championships and a national title to his name.

But from the media’s perspective, Stoops is defensive and lacks a stomach for criticism.

Whichever side is right is

of little importance. What is important is the rift that lies between Stoops and the media.

Sit in on a few interviews, and you begin to acquire an ear for the questions Stoops will sidestep or just flat-out not answer. Pose a question that’s critical of Stoops or a player, and you’re walking on eggshells.

Stoops understands that working with the media is an inconvenient, albeit necessary, part of his job, and he conducts himself in

OU football coach Bob Stoops is known for many things around Sooner Nation, but being a welcoming friend of the media certainly isn’t one of them.

When it comes to dealing with the media, Stoops’ reputation precedes him.

His terse responses and uncomfortably tense halftime interviews have greatly contributed to earning him a reputation of hostility toward anyone with a microphone, camera or a pad and pen.

Too often, fans have seen a short answer during a press conference or a heated exchange with a reporter, and most members of the media have experienced both firsthand.

But try on Stoops’ visor for a spell, and his apprehension to be candid in front of the media is understandable, if not justifiable. jerry Laizure/the associated press He is, after all, the most OU football coach Bob Stoops addresses the media Sept. 3.

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a manner that doesn’t hide that understanding.

With that in mind, Stoops’ reputation seems to be a simple misunderstanding.

But it’s much more than that. It’s two parties sticking to their guns — Stoops on one side, the media on the other — and neither side appears willing to budge.

The media will keep asking questions Stoops doesn’t like, and he’ll continue to not

answer them.

A longtime member of the media once said that if Stoops wanted, he could be Switzer: a charismatic coach loved by fans and media alike. All he needed to do was let the media in.

But people need to realize that he isn’t Switzer, and he never will be.

He’s going to run his team his way, answer questions however he wants and

vehemently defend himself whenever his decisionmaking is questioned. And there’s nothing anyone — the media, especially — can do to change that.

Dillon Phillips is a journalism junior and assistant sports editor for The Daily. You can follow him on Twitter at @DillonPhillips_.

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Reader comment on OUDaily.com ››

Monday, September 17, 2012 •

“Mr. Kraszkiewicz, are you new to the idea of taking quotes from a bigger speech and using them out of context in a soundbite? This is the new, ugly norm in politics. Wasn’t Romney’s ‘I like to fire people’ comment taken out of context of Romney’s bigger speech? (kdbp1213, RE: ‘COLUMN: Republicans did build this harmful lie’)

OPINION

4

Mary Stanfield, opinion editor Kayley Gillespie, assistant editor dailyopinion@ou.edu • phone: 405-325-3666 oudaily.com/opinion • Twitter: @OUDailyOpinion

THUMBS UP: New intersession course aims to teach students about Native American heritage and authors by incorporating science fiction literature. (Page 1)

EDITORIAL

Emergency contraception is not the ‘abortion pill’ Our View: Hobby Lobby’s lawsuit against Plan

before implantation, then stopping it from implantB coverage is based on a scientifically inaccurate ing would kill it. picture of how emergency contraception works.

But the science contradicts this speculative statement on the packaging, which was added Hobby Lobby filed suit Wednesday in the Western to the labeling for Plan B by the Federal Drug District of Oklahoma to waive a requirement in the Administration during the approval process for the federal health care law that they must provide con- drug in 1999. traceptive medication and services to their employThe New York Times reported that nowhere in the ees with no co-pay, along with other preventative hundreds of pages of approval documents is there medicine. any mention of proof for the claim that Plan B afIf the Oklahoma City-based company does not fects implantation. This claim is merely included in comply with the Jan. 1 deadline in the law, it could a list of many other speculations on how the drug face millions of dollars in fines. might prevent pregnancy.

According to the lawsuit, the self-insured Sources in the FDA told The New York The Our View company does not object to providing all is the majority Times it is common during the approval opinion of contraceptive medicine, only what the suit process, when the focus is on the safety of The Daily’s calls “abortion-causing drugs and devices,” the drug and potential side effects, for little nine-member i.e. emergency contraception like Plan B to be known about exactly how the drug editorial board and Ella. works.

But this is a medically inaccurate descripBut now, more than a decade since the tion of emergency contraception. Neither medica- drug was first approved, there is more conclusive tion affects nor terminates an existing pregnancy, as data to be found. A 2007 study, not the first to have the real abortion pill RU-486 does. such results, showed that eggs exposed to the horOther companies have objected to the reach of mone in Plan B did not have trouble implanting on the new health care law or to the requirement to uterine tissue in a lab setting. cover contraception at all, but those debates have In that same year (and again in 2009 and 2010), no bearing in this case. Because Hobby Lobby has coordinated research in Australia and Chile showed decided to sue over a misguided understanding of that women who took the pill before ovulation had emergency contraception, it’s time the company no pregnancies, while women who took the pill faced the facts. after ovulation became pregnant at about the same The two drugs that make up the vast majority of rate as women who are not using contraception. the market for emergency contraception are Plan If emergency contraception had an affect on imB and Ella. Plan B uses levonorgestrel, a hormone plantation, not just ovulation, you would expect to used in weekly hormonal birth control. The only see fewer pregnancies in the women who took the difference is that Plan B utilizes higher doses. pill after ovulating as well.

Ella contains ulipristal, which is a non-hormonal Based on these and other studies, doctors and drug that blocks the effects of certain hormones. health experts have called for the labeling of emerThis is a similar drug to the one used in RU-486, but gency contraception to be changed to reflect what is in such lower doses as to have a significantly differ- now known about the real effects. ent effect.

Despite scientific and medical consensus, antiThese drugs work best within a certain time frame abortion rights groups and some religious groups (72 hours after unprotected sex for Plan B, five days still object to the use of emergency contraception for Ella) because their primary effect is to stop the and, as Hobby Lobby has illustrated, still get away release of eggs from the ovaries. In this way, they with calling them abortion pills. stop sperm, which can stay active in the body for up It is dangerous to allow important political deto five days, from fertilizing the egg. bates to be grounded on guesswork and assumpThose who would call it an abortion pill point to a tions. We never will find the truth or the right path description on the labeling for these drugs that exby ignoring reality. plains they also may stop the implantation of an egg It goes to show that our scientific progress should onto the uterine wall. If implantation fails, the egg be influencing our social and political debates — never becomes viable. not the other way around.

It is this effect that has encouraged some to label them abortion pills: If the fertilized egg is alive even Comment on this on OUDaily.com

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Study success depends on your feedback

T

oday marks the launch of OU Student Media’s self-study — Imagine the Future: Campus Media in a Digital Age — which we hope will help us at The Daily decide how to better serve our audience, the OU community.

Let’s face it: We don’t get the majority of our news from print newspapers anymore. We listen to National Public Radio; we watch CNN; and we read … but online.

In fact, only 7 percent of 18-to 24-year-olds read a daily print newspaper in 2010, according to Pew Research Center. And 70 percent of 18-to 24-yearolds most likely were to use a phone or tablet for local news and information, according to State of the News Media 2011.

Why not? Accessing the news on our iPhones and laptops allows us to interact

EDITOR IN CHIEF

strides toward becoming Web-first, such as using social media, posting stories online as soon as they’re edited and providing online-exclusive content. But as long as we have the same number of staff members and the same amount of Laney Ellisor money to pay them, we laney@ou.edu never will be truly Web-first with the content. We can while remaining a daily comment on stories direct- print newspaper. ly, share them on Facebook Daily staffers used to and Twitter and follow work five days per week; embedded links to other now we work seven so sites. That’s not to mention OUDaily.com is cursupplemental Web content, rent during the weekend. such as videos, photo galEditorial board members leries or Google maps. all work about 40 hours per None of those features week, leaving little time for exist in print, yet we at The class or studying.

Daily spend the majority of So we at The Daily are our time and money creat- torn. We love our print ing a print newspaper. We newspaper and understand have staff members solely the need for frequent Web devoted to page design. We updates, but there aren’t even have an editor whose enough hours in the day to job is to oversee print do both well while fulfilling production. our obligations as students.

The Daily has made All that begs the

questions: Should we allocate more resources to the Web? Are we wasting our time by designing a print product five days per week?

Do readers want headlines emailed to them each day?

Should we provide a mobile app?

Those are questions I hope you will help us answer by taking our student survey, participating in roundtable discussions and attending other study events. We need your feedback because The Daily exists to serve you. Let us know how to fulfill that mission best.

Follow our progress in print and at OUDaily. com as well as on our blog, http://imaginedfuture. wordpress.com/.

Laney Ellisor is a professional writing senior.

?

» Poll question of the day Have you ever failed a placement exam on purpose?

To cast your vote, log on to COLUMN

Online components more hype than help for OU students

I

started college in OPINION COLUMNIST 2001 then took a long enlisted vacation in Iraq when it became apparent I wasn’t ready to sit still and listen.

Oh, how I took the preonline learning age for granted.

Trent Cason I’m something of a parcason.trent@yahoo.com simonious person. Less is often more, I’ve found.

I prefer less clutter and fewer complications whenever possible. For this reason, I hate the fact that almost every class I’ve had at the OU has had some kind of online component. How does this make things easier?

Let’s see. I have a French textbook, a French workbook and a French dictionary for my French class this semester.

I also have an online workbook that I must access to do my homework. What is the point of the online component if not to get more money out of me?

I get charged more for the class itself and for an additional online “access code” that I must buy with my books. There is nothing in the online component “I completely that couldn’t just be in the understand physical workbook I already bought. some people I have two classes this sehave to work 40 mester with course packets hours a week I bought at King Kopy for to feed mouths about $15 each. Both classes also have texts that I purand provide a chased. Why, then, do both classes have a handful of roof for those on D2L? mouths. Getting readings Would it not fit in the a degree through course packet? I think so — I’ve had some pretty masan institution sive course packets before. that offers What’s an additional 15 or 20 pages in a 200-page online courses packet? is a wonderful It is starting to feel like opportunity and I’m being taken advantage when I am being charged definitely benefits of an additional $40 per credit many people.” hour for the class to have a completely unnecessary online component.

Not all of us are here on our parent’s dime. (That isn’t a shot at people who are, I’m just stating a fact.) Many of us are here on scholarships or on military benefits. We can’t all afford a MacBook or a Sony Vaio.

So what happens when my ancient laptop loses the network connection every five minutes and won’t let me take the online quiz for my astronomy class? I’m at the mercy of the janky computers over at the library.

How does limiting the places a person can do their homework make things easier?

It’s not that I’m against online classes. I completely understand some people have to work 40 hours a week to feed mouths and provide a roof for those mouths.

Getting a degree through an institution that offers online courses is a wonderful opportunity and definitely benefits many people.

I also understand the idea of the “dropbox.” Honestly, what a time saver for everyone. We don’t have to print, and the professors don’t have to carry around 60 pounds of graded papers all the time.

I’m not opposed to the online solutions, and there are several. The “libraries” tab in D2L is another great idea.

My complaint is the way that online content is forced into many curriculums that don’t need it at all, and the fact that we actually pay more for it.

Why do I need two workbooks in French? Why do I need to shuffle from my course packet to D2L and back?

Why can’t I take a quiz in class, where I can raise my hand if I don’t understand the question?

Not to mention the fact that high online quiz scores don’t reflect anything other than the availability of Google search.

Maybe some disagree, but I’m here to tell you — it was really nice when I only had to remember one password and had all of the course material in one place.

Trent Cason is literature and cultural studies senior.

The Oklahoma Daily is a public forum, the University of Oklahoma’s independent student voice and an entirely student-run publication.

Laney Ellisor Jared Rader Lindsey Ruta Kedric Kitchens Carmen Forman Mary Stanfield

Editor in Chief Managing Editor Campus Editor Sports Editor Life & Arts Editor Opinion Editor

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oud-2012-09-17-a-004.indd 1

Kingsley Burns Joey Stipek Kyle Margerum Jono Greco Kearsten Howland Judy Gibbs Robinson

phone:

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Letters should concentrate on issues, not personalities, and must be fewer than 250 words, typed and signed by the author(s). Letters will be edited for accuracy, space and style.

Students must list their major and classification.

To submit letters, email dailyopinion@ou.edu.

Our View is the voice of the Editorial Board, which consists of nine student editors. The board meets at 5 p.m. Sunday to Thursday in 160 Copeland Hall. Board meetings are open to the public.

Guest columns are accepted and printed at the editor’s discretion.

Columnists’ and cartoonists’ opinions are their own and not necessarily the views or opinions of The Oklahoma Daily Editorial Board.

To advertise in The Oklahoma Daily, contact advertising manager Kearsten Howard by calling 405-325-8964 or emailing dailyads@ou.edu.

One free copy of The Daily is available to members of the OU community. Additional copies may be purchased for 25 cents by contacting The Daily business office at 405-325-2522.

9/16/12 10:22:56 PM

5

Advertisement

• Monday, September 17, 2012

of the United States, in Order to form a more perfect Union, establish Justice, insure domestic tranquility, provide for the common defense, promote the general Welfare, and secure the Blessings of Liberty to ourselves and our Posterity, do ordain and establish this Constitution for the United States of America.

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Tuesday, Sept. 18

Meacham Auditorium, Oklahoma Memorial Union

in honor of Constitution Day

Celebrate the U.S. Constitution signed by our founding fathers on Sept. 17, 1787, in Philadelphia.

University of Oklahoma Activities for Constitution Day �� ������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������ Constitution Day and the 119th anniversary of the founding of the Government Documents Collection. � ������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������� �� ������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������� � ��������������������������������������������� �� ����������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������� �� ����������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������� South Oval and in Cate Center. �� ������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������� � ����������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������� � ���������������������������������������������������������������������������������� �� ����������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������� “America in the Time of the Constitution,” led by OU Professor Rodger Randle. �� �������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������� � ������������������������

For additional information, please visit the following websites:

tulsagrad.ou.edu/csdc/constitution.html

www.constitutioncenter.org/ www.billofrightsinstitute.org/ www.constitutionday.com libraries.ou.edu/cms/default.aspx?id=54 www.archives.gov/national-archives-experience/charters/constitution.html The University of Oklahoma is an equal opportunity institution. www.ou.edu/eoo

oud-2012-09-17-a-005.indd 1

9/16/12 10:23:58 PM

Monday, September 17, 2012 •

CLASSIFIEDS Phone: 405-325-2521 E-mail: classifieds@ou.edu

Fax: 405-325-7517 Campus Address: COH 149A

DEADLINES

LOST & FOUND PARROT FOUND in area near intersection of Classen & Lindsey. 918-605-8133

For Sale

Place line ad by 9:00 a.m. 3 business days prior to publication.

Place your display, classified display or classified card ads by 5:00 p.m. 3 business days prior to publication.

PAYMENT s r

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MISC. FOR SALE 2008 Ford Fusion SEL. 53K miles, one owner. Clean, no smokers kids or pets.

One yr. left on warranty. New tires, V6 4 door. $12,000. 360-9603.

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Payment is required at the time the ad is placed. Credit cards, cash, money orders or local checks accepted.

AUTO INSURANCE

Auto Insurance

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There is a 2 line minimum charge; approximately 42 characters per line, including spaces and punctuation.

(Cost = Days x # lines x $/line) 10-14 days.........$1.15/line 15-19 days.........$1.00/line 20-29 days........$ .90/line 30+ days ........ $ .85/line

1 day ..................$4.25/line 2 days ................$2.50/line 3-4 days.............$2.00/line 5-9 days.............$1.50/line

Classified Display, Classified Card Ad or Game Sponsorship

J Housing Rentals

Lost & Found

Line Ad ..................................................................................3 days prior Display Ad ............................................................................3 days prior Classified Display or Classified Card Ad

classifieds@ou.edu • phone: 405-325-2521

Quotations Anytime

HELP WANTED Interested in assisting a young man with Cerebral Palsy? Think Ability First wants you! Flexible hours and paid training! PT positions available immediately. Contact Darcie Miller at 918-951-4211 Now Taking Applications for the Fall 2012 Semester Community After School Program is now taking applications for PT staff to work in our school-age childcare programs in Norman Public Schools.

Hours: 2:30-6. Closed for all Norman Public School holidays and professional days.

Competitive wages starting at $7.25/hr.

Higher pay for students with qualifying coursework in education, early childhood, recreation, and related fields. Complete application online at www.caspinc.org.

Now Hiring The Community After School Program is looking to hire staff to lead a physical activity and nutrition program for K-5th grade children. Applicants must be available to work Mon-Fri 2:30-6. Pay starts at $8/hr. No experience required, but majoring in a health field is a plus.

Please contact Lindsey at 366-5970 ext.

208 or lindsey@caspinc.org.

Foreign Students Welcomed JIM HOLMES INSURANCE, 321-4664

HOUSES UNFURNISHED

HELP WANTED Research volunteers needed! Researchers at OU Health Sciences Center need healthy volunteers ages 18 to 30 who have a parent with or without a history of an alcohol or drug problem. Qualified participants will be compensated for their time. Call (405) 456-4303 to learn more about the study and to see if you qualify.

The University of Oklahoma is an equal opportunity institution.

COACH’S RESTAURANT now hiring Cooks, Service Staff and Host/Hostess, daytime and evening shifts available. Apply in person at 102 West Main, MondayFriday, 2-4 pm.

VOLUNTEERS NEEDED FOR 14 DAY HEPATITIS B RESEARCH STUDY. ALL MEDS FDA APPROVED. PARTICIPANTS REIMBURSED FOR TRAVEL. FOR INFO; PAULA ALLEN 456-3982.

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ROOMS FURNISHED Room for rent in a nice home near OU campus. $350/mo. Util. paid, incl. wireless internet/cable, private bath, large closet, dedicated driveway parking, access to kitchen, W/D. Nonsmoker, not pets. Only serious students need apply.

Contact Michelle: 919-6528 NEAR OU, privacy, $250, bills paid, neat, clean, parking, wireless internet. Prefer male student. Call 329-2661.

A drunk driver ruined something precious. Amber Apodaca.

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Photo by Michael Mazzeo

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PLACE AN AD

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Contact an Acct Executive for details at 325-2521.

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POLICY The Oklahoma Daily is responsible for one day’s incorrect advertising.

If your ad appears incorrectly, or if you wish to cancel your ad call 3252521, before the deadline for cancellation in the next issue. Errors not the fault of the advertiser will be adjusted. Refunds will not be issued for late cancellations.

The Oklahoma Daily will not knowingly accept advertisements that discriminate on the basis of race, color, gender, religious preference, national origin or sexual orientation. Violations of this policy should be reported to The Oklahoma Daily Business Office at 325-2521.

HELP WANTED STUDENTPAYOUTS.COM Paid survey takers needed in Norman 100% FREE to join. Click on Surveys.

CAYMAN’S seeks PT giftwrapper/stock room assistant. Flexible Hrs. Apply in person: 2001 W. Main St. CALL 360-3969.

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Help Wanted ads in The Oklahoma Daily are not to separate as to gender. Advertisers may not discriminate in employment ads based on race, color, religion or gender unless such qualifying factors are essential to a given position.

All ads are subject to acceptance by The Oklahoma Daily. Ad acceptance may be re-evaluated at any time.

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UNDERGRADUATE STUDENT CONGRESS Representative positions available in the following districts: ARTS

2 seats

BUSINESS

3 seats

COMMUNICATIONS

3 seats

CONTINUING EDUCATION

1 seat

ENGINEERING

1 seat

HUMANITIES

2 seats

MULTI/INTERDISCIPLINARY STUDIES

2 seats

LANGUAGES

1 seat

UNIVERSITY COLLEGE

1 seat

Applications for appointment are available in the Conoco Student Leadership Wing, OMU Room 181 and online at: http://tinyurl.com/93khsqz

Applications are due Thursday, September 20th, 2012 by 4:00 PM to Sean Bender, Student Congress Chair in the Conoco Student Leadership Wing, OMU Room 181

oud-2012-09-17-a-006.indd 1

9/16/12 10:48:39 PM

Life&Arts

Monday, September 17, 2012 •

7

local business

Shop sells non ‘cookie-cutter’ fashion Posh located in Stillwater and Marlow Shannon Borden Life & Arts Reporter

A new boutique on Campus Corner is trying to bring unique looks to Norman residents without selling “cookie cutter” clothing.

Co-owners Amy Wopsle and Tammy Graham opened Posh on August 14. Posh made a month’s worth of sales in its opening week, Wopsle said.

Acting as both owners and fashion buyers, Wopsle and Graham strive to supply Posh with the most unique and trendy looks. They never buy the same merchandise twice, so there is always something new.

“If you buy something here, you won’t see anyone else on campus wearing it,” Wopsle said.

Buying trendy clothing is not always easy to do on a college budget. Wopsie said she tries to keep that in mind and tries to keep Posh’s clothing reasonably priced.

They try to make sure entire head-to-toe looks, including accessories, do not exceed $100.

Wopsle, an OU journalism alumna, stressed that Posh is a locally-owned boutique with community interests in mind. With successful locations in Marlow and Stillwater, Posh is a great fit for the Norman area, she said.

Wo p s l e a n d G r a h a m plan to be very active in the Nor man community by working with OU fashion students, which they have done at their other locations.

At the Stillwater location,

Heather Brown/The daily

Heather brown/the daily

Red and yellow bags are displayed next to the front counter and chalkboard at Posh, a new boutique Colorful pants and hand bags are displayed inside the entrance of on Campus Corner.

Posh, a new boutique on Campus Corner.

GO AND DO Posh Hours: 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday and noon to 5 p.m. Sunday Where: 329 White St.

Oklahoma State University fashion students got the opportunity to get hands-on experience in the fashion industry. Students can use the store to work on group projects with Wopsle as a mentor. Some students also worked in the store doing alterations or merchandising.

“We had fashion merchandising students re-stage the store and style mannequins in order to learn about store setup,” Wopsle said.

Students also got to design seasonal window displays, she said.

Posh’s owners hope to do something similar with students in Norman.

“We are hoping to be involved in local fashion shows,” Wopsle said.

The store also may begin hosting in-house live music to support local musicians, she said.

Graham and Wopsle’s plan for Norman’s branch is to make trendy styles available to everyone by selling affordable and wearable items.

“We buy clothes that we love, but also clothes that we think people want to wear,” Wopsle said.

Shannon Borden shannonborden@ou.edu

University of Oklahoma Congratulates

Laurie Scrivener Recipient of the 2012

Thomas and Catherine Luccock

Librarian of the Year Award

Heather Brown/The Daily

Kristen Markey (left), Amy Wopsle and Brooke Baumert stand in front of the chalkboard at Posh.

Posh is owned by Wopsle and her “Posh Girls,” Markey and Baumert, who work there when they aren’t attending classes at OU.

presents...

3

N

3

Basketball tourney @ the Huff Sept. 29, 1-5 p.m. benefitting

$30 per 3 player team $40 per 4 player team

$2 to cheer on your favorite team registration is open until 12:30 Sept. 29 4 players per team maximum co-ed teams welcome Sign up in the Student Media business office Copeland Hall, room 149A or email bringer@ou.edu to reserve your spot and pay at the door.

Student Media is a department within OU’s division of Student Affairs.

The University of Oklahoma is an equal opportunity institution.

oud-2012-09-17-a-007.indd 1

9/16/12 10:26:05 PM

8

Advertisement

• Monday, September 17, 2012

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9/16/12 10:28:10 PM