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W E D N E S DAY, S E P T E M B E R 5 , 2 012

W W W.O U DA I LY.C O M

L&A: New UPB president came to Oklahoma from New Zealand (Page 5)

2 011 S I LV E R C R O W N W I N N E R

Opinion: Aid cuts could leave many hungry (Page 3)

OUDaily.com: Undergraduate Student Congress passes major legislation

Losing food security

HISTORY OF SCIENCE

POLITICS

Program exceeds predicted enrollment numbers after success of minor

Peer attends DNC as delegate

Major grows faster than expected NADIA ENCHASSI Campus Reporter

A new undergraduate major has surpassed its fouryear enrollment prediction after only its first year. The history of science, te ch n o l o g y , a n d m e d i cine major — which first became a major last fall after being passed at the

Regents meeting in June 2011— set a goal of having 12 majors by the fall 2015, said Stella Stuart, Undergraduate Academic Advisor and Graduate Studies coordinator. Seventeen students are declared majors this fall, she said. They also set a goal of

having 5 graduates at the end of that academic year — two students have already graduated from the program as of last spring. Stuart said if everyone stays on track, two more students will graduate this May and seven more are set to graduate in 2014. “When the proposal was sent around the university and, then, to the regents, there were certain expected predictions we had to present, and we’ve already

exceeded the number of majors that we thought we would have at the end of five years,” Stuart said. “So, we’re doing quite well.” She said the major initially gained traction through its minor program. “The growth of the minor has really contributed to the success of the major, too,” said Steven Livesey, Brian E. and Sandra O’Brien presidential professor and department chair.

The numbers of students enrolled in the minor has increased in recent years, he said. Five years ago the program was averaging a dozen minors, now they have over 20, he said.

SEE MORE ONLINE Visit OUDaily.com for the complete story oudaily.com/news

SNAP LEGISLATION

KINGSLEY BURNS/THE DAILY

Susana Rodriguez, computer science graduate student, and her son Alex pick out a bunch of bananas. Rodriguez, a single mother, could lose benefits she receives from the federal Supplemental Nutritional Assistance Program if the 2012 Farm Bill passes.

Bill could cut students’ federal aid 2012 Farm Bill cuts could impact almost 30,000 Cleveland County residents

for students not in these types of programs to qualify for aid unless they meet other eligibility requirements, such as CHASE COOK having a child under 5 or particiAssistant Managing Editor pating in a work study program. Two hundred dollars doesn’t The House’s bill — which claims sound like much, but for Susana to save taxpayers $16 billion — Rodriguez, it could mean the dif- cuts SNAP further by restricting ference between a full fridge and automatic qualification for SNAP a bare one. only to those receiving cash asRodriguez is a single mother sistance, thus forcing states to repursuing her master’s degree instate asset tests that could make in computer science at OU. She it harder for families to meet the works on the side to help pay income requirements for SNAP for school — she doesn’t have benefits. scholarships — and she also reCurrently, families in Oklahoma ceives $200 a month from the must meet the 130 percent federfederal Supplemental Nutrition al poverty level to qualify for aid Assistance Program. Her 5-yearand then meet old son, Alex a net income “It’s one less Mendez, also gets test to deterfree meals auto- resource ... I’m sure mine how much matically thanks to is received. I could survive. It aid Rodriguez’s receivPersonal assets ing the federal aid. would make it a lot are not includBut that all tougher situation.” ed in Oklahoma might change for when trying to Rodriguez and SUSANA RODRIGUEZ, determine initial other students re- COMPUTER SCIENCE GRADUATE gross income elceiving federal aid igibility, accordfrom SNAP as the ing to DHS. U.S. L egislative branch fights over how to make With the loss of categorically cuts to the federal aid program as eligibility, some non-traditional part of the 2012 Farm Bill. OU students could lose access, B o t h t h e U. S . H o u s e o f but the exact number of students Representatives and the Senate getting SNAP services isn’t availwant to limit access to SNAP aid able because the Department of for traditional college students by limiting access to only students Human Services does not monitor pursuing employment-oriented students specifically. There were degrees that are typically associ- 29,452 people receiving SNAP ated with vocational and technical benefits in Cleveland County in schools. This may make it difficult fiscal year 2012, according to DHS

oud-2012-9-05-a-001,002.indd 1

Law student chosen to attend convention EMMA HAMBLEN

Campus Reporter

This year, one of OU’s law students is representing the state of Oklahoma as a delegate at the Democratic National Convention. Erick Harris, a second year law student, was elected this spring to attend the convention. The convention began Monday and will last until Thursday upon which President Barack Obama will accept the Democratic nomination, according to the convention’s website. Between 5,000 and 6,000 delegates attend the convention, according to the convention’s website. “I’m really honored to be going, to be honest with you,” Harris said. Harris submitted an application to the Oklahoma Democratic Party early this spring and was nominated from the floor at the Democratic State Convention by Sen. Judy Eason McIntyre (D-Tulsa) and Rep. Jabar Shumate (D-Tulsa), he said. After being nominated, Harris had about 30 seconds to give a speech to highlight his qualifications, which include paging for Sen. Stratton Taylor (D-Claremore) in 2002, serving as Youth Coordinator for Eason McIntyre’s 2004 Senate campaign and working on Obama’s primary campaign in December 2008 in Laconia, N.H., Harris said. After his speech, the State Convention elected Harris to go as a delegate to the National Convention, Harris said. SEE DELEGATE PAGE 2

Florida A&M gets thinner before facing Sooners SPORTS: Florida A&M suspended four of its players Tuesday, just a few days before facing OU in the Sooners’ home opener Saturday. (Page 6)

How to beat back to school blues L&A: If you’ve been in

data. The Oklahoma Department of Human Services manages SNAP, but Kathie Wright, OKDHS programs manager, said the office doesn’t comment on pending legislation. Wright did say, however, that eligibility for SNAP for traditional college students already is restrictive without the limitations placed by the pending legislation. “There are many who would tell you the eligibility restrictions are too restrictive,” Wright said. It’s difficult to determine the impact behind specifying that students must be in technical or education programs, but a report by the Congressional Budget Office states about 1.8 million people will lose access to SNAP if the resource asset test and categorical

eligibility is ended. Rodriguez’s aid is not certain, but she said she believes her access to SNAP would remain safe even if the House of Representatives’ version of the bill is made into law. But she said anyone like herself who will lose access to SNAP will struggle. Last year, Rodriguez had to work three jobs to support herself and her son — two of them oncampus and none of them paid well, she said. The excessive work caused her to start failing some of her classes and to perform poorly at work. SNAP aid help e d her g et through that situation, because there was at least always money for food. SEE SNAP PAGE 2

a slump since school started The Daily is here to help with tips to survive the monotony of school. (Page 5)

INSIDE TODAY Campus......................2 Clas si f ie ds................4 L i f e & A r t s .................. 5 O p inio n..................... 3 Spor ts........................6 Visit OUDaily.com for more

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9/4/12 10:00:24 PM