The Oklahoma Daily

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FRIDAY, NOV. 7, 2008 © 2008 OU Publications Board

Excessive caffeine can cause intoxication • US leads world in energydrink consumption CAITLIN HARRISON Daily Staff Writer

Lindsey Allgood/The Daily

Students often reach for readily available coffee and energy drinks to study or stay awake in class. A new study suggests caffeine intoxication is possible.

Becca DeFoe knew something was not right when she felt like she was on drugs after drinking coffee from Starbucks.

I was not normal, and I was running around and talking a lot,” she said. “Caffeine affects me very strongly, I guess.”

DeFoe, public relations sophomore, did not know that her jitters were a sign of caffeine intoxication, a condition in which too much caffeine cause nervousness, anxiety, insomnia and an upset stomach.

A new study from the John Hopkins School of Medicine suggests the condition would be less likely to occur if the Food and Drug Administration put more restrictions on the caffeine content in energy drinks.

According to the study, manufacturers are required to list caffeine content in the ingredient list, but they

Beverage

Serving Size

Caffeine

Red Bull

8.3 oz

80 mg

Monster

16 oz

160 mg

Rockstar

16 oz

160 mg

Full Throttle

16 oz

144 mg

No Fear

16 oz

174 mg

Amp

8.4 oz

75 mg

SoBe Adrenaline Rush

8.3 oz

79 mg

Tab Energy

10.5 oz

95 mg Source: Johns Hopkins study

do not have to list the exact amount.

Rachel Franklin, associate professor of family and preventative medicine, said many people do not realize how much caffeine they consume from energy drinks.

Franklin said those with heart problems or high blood pressure are most likely to be affected by caf-

CAFFEINE Continues on page 2

SPORTS Coming off a loss to No. 15 Kansas State, the volleyball team will now be looking to sweep its season series over Missouri. Page 8.

Dear Sooner Freshmen, It’s a month until Dead Week.

If you’re like most first-years, you’re either overwhelmed from juggling homework and extra-curricular activities; or you’re stumbling into class just on time with little recollection of what happened the night before.

College is the gateway to freedom and independence, but it can be a slippery slope.

Everyone makes mistakes, but wise ones learn from them.

“College is where you find out who you are, and what place you will have in this world,” said Luke Shelton Davis, energy management sophomore. “The best thing you can do is learn from your mistakes, forget the past, and move on.”

CAMPUS BRIEFS Heupel food fund nets $30k More than $30,000 was raised for Josh Heupel’s eighth annual 14 Foundation Thanksgiving Food Drive.

The money will help serve 34,000 Thanksgiving meals to Oklahomans later this month, according to spokesman Kenny Mossman.

Some 200 volunteers showed up on campus before Saturday’s game against Nebraska to raise funds. OU football players will distribute meals to those in need before Thanksgiving Day.

Most upperclassmen look back at their freshman year and wish they could have done something differently. Davis said he anticipated pit falls during his freshman year, but the stress from his anxiety actually made freshman year more difficult.

“Everyone struggles their first year of college.

Getting used to the fact that you’re going to go through struggles was my biggest factor during my first year,” Davis said. “Had I of not worried so much, I would’ve been a lot better off now.”

Taylor Brecher, psychology sophomore, said she wishes she had studied more freshman year. “Study hard and realize that it is so hard to improve your GPA,” Brecher said. “Turn down a party on a Thursday night to study for a test on Friday.”

While some upperclassmen regret taking advantage of their newfound autonomy as freshmen, others wish they had embraced it more. Cristina Anderson, special education graduate student, said she would have been more involved with her sorority. “I would have a stronger resume going in to the work force if I had been more involved on campus,” Anderson said.

She also wishes she had been single. “I missed out on a lot of fun nights with friends because I was afraid of hurting his feelings,”

TODAY’S INDEX A&E Campus Notes Classifieds Crossword Horoscope

5 2 6 6 7

News 3 Opinion 4 Police Reports 2 Sports 7, 8 Sudoku 6

WEATHER FORECAST

TODAY LOW 42° HIGH 67°

SATURDAY LOW 37° HIGH 67°

LOW 40° HIGH 68° Source: Oklahoma Weather Lab

Good luck, The Upperclassmen — MELISSA MORGAN/THE DAILY

Documentary ‘Starvation Doctrine’ shows tonight • Film tries to expose ‘human side’ of illegal immigration PAIGE LAWLER Daily Staff Writer

SUNDAY

Anderson said.

“Do your homework first but don’t forget to live your life,” Anderson said. “This is the time to embrace it because after this, all you have to look forward to is bills, marriage or alimony.”

Aelisha Binderim, public relations senior, said she would have spent more time with friends and family because she is graduating soon and is unsure where her career will take her. “Spend as much time with friends and family as possible,” Binderim said. “You may not always live close.”

Changes in relationships are not the only things that take a toll on first year college students.

Katie Pirog, public relations sophomore, said she regrets eating so much fast food during her freshman year. “It’s easy to double your portions just because you can,” she said. “You have to limit yourself or you’ll regret it later.”

There you have it. Whether you have been cruising through the semester or counting down the days until winter break, remember the end is near — only six more weeks.

A 4-year-old girl illegally immigrated to the U.S. with her family 13 years ago. Now suffering from kidney failure at age 17, she doesn’t have legal rights to Medicaid or health insurance.

Because of Oklahoma’s latest laws on

illegal immigration, she and many others could be deported at any time to her home country, where she knows no one.

House Bill 1804, which restricts illegal immigrants’ access to public services and makes it a crime to harbor or house them, became law in Oklahoma in 2007. A year later, an OU student is screening a documentary that explores the stories of people like the 17-year-old immigrant with kidney failure.

Mike Searcy, anthropology graduate assistant, teamed up with friend Zac Davis to create “Starvation Doctrine,” a documentary focusing on local illegal immigrants and how the bill is affecting their lives.

The documentary, sponsored by the anthropology department, will be shown at 7 p.m. tonight in the Sam Noble Oklahoma Museum of Natural History.

“We hope the film addresses the human side of it,” Searcy said.

Davis, the director of the film, said the film presents a local perspective on immigration.

“You make a difference, especially with Oklahoma’s law being so harsh,” Davis said.

The pair began filming at the state capitol in 2006 during an immigration rally before the public understood the new law and how it would affect illegal immigrants.

“We basically just started unraveling the story,” Davis said.

Patricia Gilman, chairwoman of the Department of Anthropology, said Oklahomans should see the documentary because it is timely and affects many people.

She said immigration is a topic of interest for many anthropologists.

“It’s not a black and white issue,” Gilman said.

Searcy said that in 2004 at least 12 million illegal immigrants were children without access to health care, and most adult

DOC Continues on page 2

2

News

Friday, Nov. 7, 2008

Doctrine

FROM RuSSA WITH LOVE

Continued from page 1 immigrants don’t understand they are breaking U.S. law when they cross into the U.S. without documentation.

These children had no say in their families’ decisions to relocate, yet they could be punished for it at any time, Searcy said.

One month before the law took effect, close to 30,000 immigrants left Oklahoma for another state because they were stripped of their rights, Searcy said.

The federal government cannot deal with a large number of deportations, but they gained the power to pull anyone over and ask that person to verify their citizenship, Searcy said.

Searcy said his goal for his movie is to help Americans understand the bill, and the plight of illegal immigrants.

Other documentaries explain the hardships of crossing the border, but they fail to mention what happens once they reach their destination, Searcy said.

Localizing the issue from its national level is what makes the film different from others, Davis said.

Searcy said he also wants the film to warn lawmakers in other states to proceed with caution when it comes to passing immigration laws.

Oklahoma has one of the lowest rates of population, yet the state was the first to pass a harsh immigration bill out of all 50 states, Searcy said.

He said the bill also has made it almost impossible for immigrants to visit their homelands.

Many are trapped in the U.S. and haven’t seen their families

in 10 or 15 years, Searcy said. If illegal immigrants do leave the U.S., they must reenter illegally.

He said the U.S. needs to form an appropriate reform policy that eases up on these laws, because officials have already made it difficult for an immigrant to become a citizen.

Although Searcy said he thinks the country is losing tax revenue, he said if the government allowed immigrants to contribute to the country by paying taxes, it would increase revenue and lower discrimination.

“The economy is founded on the backs of illegal immigration,” Searcy said.

He said the issue has never been black and white, and the film focuses on the gray areas which are usually ignored.

of coffee, which does not usually contain more than 150 milligrams, according to the report.

Consumers are at a lower risk for caffeine intoxication if they limit consumption to 400 milligrams a day, Radden said. She said a can of Red Bull contains 80 milligrams of caffeine, which is a moderate amount.

According to the study, advertising is also a culprit for caffeine intoxication. The report stated that some manufacturers market their products based on the idea that “more is better,” which encourages higher consumption and can lead to caffeine addiction.

Misheala Giddings, international and area studies sophomore, said she started limiting her intake of coffee and energy drinks when she realized she was addicted to caffeine.

“I would get a headache [without caffeine],” she said. “I try not to be too reliant on the caffeine.”

Franklin said college party culture, where it is popular to mix energy drinks with alcohol, contributes to an increase in caffeine consumption. The report stated mixing the two can also contribute to caffeine intoxication.

“It has become so popular to extend the life of your party,” she said.

Alcohol and energy drinks are a dangerous combination because the energy drink’s stimulant effect can alter people’s perception of how intoxicated they are, Franklin said.

“It makes you feel more in control of yourself than you actually are.”

Caffeine Continued from page 1 feine intoxication.

DeFoe said that since her caffeine overload, she has tried to avoid it.

According to the Johns Hopkins University study, energy drink consumption increased 17 percent worldwide between 2005 and 2006, with the U.S. leading in total sales. The U.S. also has the lowest regulation of caffeine content in energy drinks. The European Union requires a “high caffeine content” label, while Norway will only sell Red Bull in pharmacies, according to the study.

Franklin said a greater emphasis on consumer choice in the U.S. means few restrictions on drinks in the U.S. She said the FDA does not regulate non-pharmaceuticals.

Energy drinks like Red Bull have become popular in recent years because they work, Patrice Radden, Red Bull spokeswoman, said in an e-mail.

“Red Bull is an energizer, developed particularly for periods of mental stress and physical strain,” she said. “It can be consumed in virtually any situation.”

The FDA requires warning labels stating the recommended dose on over-the-counter drugs containing caffeine, like NoDoz, but not on energy drinks, even though some of the drinks contain five times as much caffeine as some medications, according to the report.

Caffeine content in energy drinks ranges from 50 to 505 milligrams per serving, versus a cup

Rachel Franklin, associate professor of family and preventative medicine “It makes you feel more in control of yourself than you actually are,” she said.

Franklin said although anyone can experience caffeine intoxication, it is less likely in healthy individuals who do not have more than one energy drink a day, the equivalent of about two to three cups of coffee.

The study stated that full disclosure of caffeine content in energy drinks as well as warning labels would be the best way to decrease the occurrence of the condition.

Franklin said it is important that people have the information they need to make healthy decisions.

“People will do what it is they enjoy doing,” she said. “But providing information for those who are concerned about how much caffeine they are ingesting is only fair.”

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The Molly Shi Boren Ballroom in the Oklahoma Memorial Union was transformed Thursday as the Russian Speaking Student Association (RuSSA) held its fourth annual culture night.

Russian music boomed from speakers as students, faculty and members of the Norman community celebrated Russian heritage with food, song and dance. Members of the association were scattered throughout the room in colorful Russian dress taking photos with attendees.

— JAMIE HUGHES/THE DAILY

CORRECTIONS Due to an editor’s error, the group responsible for the abortion display on the South Oval on Wednesday and Thursday was misidentified in Thursday’s Our View. The display was organized by Justice for All, not the Genocide Awareness Project.

Due to an editor’s error, Kolt Atchley was misquoted in Tuesday’s story entitled “Graphic abortion images spark debate on South Oval.” Atchley said it was pro-choice advocates, not pro-life advocates who should have handled their protests better.

OUR COMMITMENT TO ACCURACY The Daily has a long-standing commitment to serve readers by providing accurate coverage and analysis. Errors are corrected as they are identified. Readers should bring errors to the attention of the editorial board for further investigation.

ERROR SUBMISSIONS e-mail: dailynews@ou.edu phone: 325-3666

Ellis Goodwin, managing editor dailynews@ou.edu phone: 325-3666 fax: 325-6051 For more, go to oudaily.com.

Campus News

Gov. Henry returns from Chicago with plans to stay in Oklahoma

Energy-efficient light bulbs save money but raise safety concerns

OKLAHOMA CITY — Gov. Henry made it clear Thursday that he is not angling for a position in the administration of Democratic President-elect Barack Obama.

Henry became the second Oklahoma Democrat, after OU President David L. Boren, to repudiate rumors that he might head to Washington for a job in Obama’s administration this week.

Since he endorsed Obama for the Democratic nomination in April, there has been local speculation that Henry might wind up with a federal post.

That’s despite the Oklahoma governor’s repeated claims that he has no interest in ever running for federal office or moving to Washington, D.C., in any capacity.

Similar rumors had swirled around Boren, who served on one of Obama’s advisory boards during the summer.

Boren said in an e-mail statement Monday that he has no plans to leave OU. One reason for the speculation surrounding Henry is that his endorsement of Obama seemed out of character, given his normal cautious approach to politics, coupled with the fact that Hillary Clinton handily defeated Obama in the state’s presidential primary.

Henry sought one more time on Thursday to make it clear he is not job hunting.

• New bulbs contain mercury, require special disposal JAMIE HUGHES Daily Staff Writer Some OU buildings are glowing green.

OU has started using Compact Fluorescent Light bulbs in some student apartments and campus buildings, said Don Carter, assistant director of engineering and systems operations at the OU Physical Plant.

CFLs cost more than traditional bulbs, but their benefits outweigh their price tags, Carter said.

“The life of the bulb is seven to 10 times that of the equivalent,” he said. “Therefore, the operating cost over the life of the bulb is significantly less than the incandescent equivalent.”

CFL bulbs give the same amount of light while using less energy than incandescent bulbs, according to Deborah W. Dalton, professor and director of interdisciplinary perspectives on the environment.

Dalton said changing the bulbs at a large institution like OU will have a positive effect on the institution’s energy use.

“CFL bulbs are well worth it,” she said.

There are concerns about the bulbs, though. They contain a small amount of mercury, so environmentalists worry about what will happen if they are disposed of in landfills.

Dalton said CFL bulbs should be disposed of like hazardous waste, so they have to be taken to special recycling facilities rather than thrown away.

CFL bulbs can be taken to hazardous waste facilities or stores with CFL recycling programs, like Home Depot.

Some OU students are concerned about the mercury as well.

Zach Stuart, international business and finance sophomore, is a resident of Traditions West, where the new bulbs are being installed. He saw a video on YouTube claiming that if a bulb is broken in a room, it should be evacuated.

“From what I’ve heard, it seems pretty ridiculous,” he said.

Dalton said if a bulb is broken, the pieces should not be vacuumed up. She did not mention evacuation of the space.

According to the Enviromental Protection Agency, rooms where a CFL bulb has broken should be vacated and aired out for 15 minutes before the bulb is cleaned up.

Despite the drawbacks, Dalton said the bulbs are, “a good idea and a good trend.”

She said OU, which announced in September that it will be completely wind-powered by 2013, is a regional leader in energy conservation and alternative energy.

“I think OU is to be congratulated,” she said. “OU is stepping up to the plate in sustainability. We’re definitely in the upward trend in greening, which is excellent.”

3

Friday, Nov. 7, 2008

Photo by Amy Frost/The Daily

HOW TO CLEAN UP A BROKEN CFL BULB

“I’ve never talked to President-elect Obama about a job in his administration. He’s never offered one and I’m very, very happy doing what I’m doing now. I have the best job in the world and I can’t imagine doing anything else.

“I’m going to focus on my duties as governor the next 26 months. We’ve got some challenges in Oklahoma, but we’ve got a bright future, and I’m very excited about being a part of it.”

He sighed when asked about the possibility of becoming a federal judge. “I have no desire to be a judge, at least not at this stage in my life,” he said.

As far as the idea of living in nation’s capital, he said: “I have young daughters still at home and the prospect of dragging them to Washington, D.C., is just very unappealing. I want my children to grow up in the state that I love, and that’s Oklahoma. That’s really the only choice for me right now.”

The Oklahoma governor and first lady Kim Henry were in Chicago election night for the celebration of Obama’s victory.

“It was an unbelievable experience to see the varying range of emotions — people laughing with joy, crying, people praying. And I think that was occurring all over the United States and, frankly, around the world,” Henry said.

— AP

POLICE REPORTS

COUNTY WARRANT

Names are compiled from the Norman Police Department or the OU Department of Public Safety. The report serves as a public record of arrests or citations, not convictions. The people here are presumed innocent unless proven guilty.

Blake William Moss, 24, 4100 block Bentbrook Place, Wednesday Derek Cole Moss, 19, 4100 block Bentbrook Place, Wednesday

ASSAULT AND BATTERY POSSESSION OF ALCOHOL

• Have people and pets leave the room, and don’t let anyone walk through the breakage area on their way out.

• Open a window and leave the room for 15 minutes or more, and shut off any central forced-air heating/air conditioning system.

• Carefully scoop up glass fragments and powder using stiff paper or cardboard and place them in a glass jar with metal lid (such as a canning jar) or in a sealed plastic bag.

• Use sticky tape, such as duct tape, to pick up any remaining small glass pieces and powder.

• Wipe the area clean with damp paper towels or disposable wet wipes. Place towels in the glass jar or plastic bag.

• Do not use a vacuum or broom to clean up the broken bulb on hard surfaces.

Lucinda Ann Oropeza, 37, 800 block Lexington Street, Wednesday

Alexander Patrick Hansen, 18, 1700 block Beaumont Drive, Wednesday

DISTURBING THE PEACE FAILURE TO KEEP TO RIGHT Joe Allen Henry, 35, Elm Avenue, Wednesday, also driving under the influence-liquor or drugs/ actual physical control of the vehicle, driving without headlights and driving with license canceled/suspended/revoked

MUNICIPAL WARRANT Ryan Matthew Hollenbeck, 31, University Avenue, Wednesday

PUBLIC INTOXICATION Melissa Leigh Melton, 39, 300 block E. Main Street, Wednesday, also county warrant

— Environmental Protection Agency

Deangelo Marquise Payne, 21, 900 block 24th Avenue S.W., Wednesday

DOG AT LARGE Trena Lynn Primeaux, 35, 2200 block Donna Drive, Monday

PETTY LARCENY Amanda Shirl Shafer, 25, 3200 block W. Main Street, Tuesday

POSSESSION OF DRUG PARAPHERNALIA Samuel Ray Tabbytosavit, 20, W. Main Street, Wednesday

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4

Opinion

Friday, Nov. 7, 2008

OUR VIEW

Hailey Branson, opinion editor dailyopinion@ou.edu phone: 325-7630, fax: 325-6051 For more, go to oudaily.com.

Mark Potts — broadcast and electronic media senior

STAFF CARTOON

AAAAAAH! Wedrinkalotofcoffeeandwe’r ereallyreallyexcitedaboutthiseditorial! AAAAAAH! In our attempt to OUR VIEW be classical journalists, is an editorial selected and debated we at The by the editorial board Daily drink and written after a a lot of cofmajority opinion is fee. formed and approved But we by the editor. Our View is The Daily’s official should be opinion. more careful about our caffeine consumption. And so should you. (See page 1 for details.)

When we hear the word “intoxication,” we automatically think of alcohol.

But too much caffeine also can be harmful.

Caffeine is a stimulant — a drug. It is extremely addictive. It is important to know the effects of caffeine, and it’s important to know how much is too much.

Excessive caffeine intake can bring on a slew of side effects, ranging from anxiety and headaches to stomach problems and abnormal heart rhythms. It also is harmful for pregnant women and can cause miscarriages.

A normal amount of caffeine intake is not often harmful. The Mayo Clinic defines a normal amount as 200 to 300 mg (or two to three brewed cups of coffee)

per day.

Too much is 500 to 600 mg of caffeine, or five to six cups of brewed coffee per day.

We think it caffeine levels should be clearly printed on drink containers, alongside warnings about the effects of the stimulant.

A 12 oz. Diet Coke contains 45 mg of coffee. An 8.3 oz Red Bull contains 80 mg. The average cup of coffee contains 115 mg of caffeine. A Monster energy drink contains 160 mg.

The caffeine in these drinks adds up quickly, especially for college students pulling allnighters and going to a school where there are two Starbucks within a few hundred feet of each other.

While the chances of serious side effects caused by caffeine intake are small, addiction of any kind is never good.

We know. We’ve experienced our share of caffeine headaches when we’ve tried to wean ourselves from the coffee machine in the newsroom.

We are not going to stop drinking caffeine.

But we would like to have more clear information listed about caffeine content in drinks.

And we will keep side effects in mind. We suggest you do the same.

STAFF COLUMN

South African dialogue proves to be ridiculous Today marks four months since I hopped across the pond over here to South Africa.

With topics ranging from politics to stereotypes, I have attempted to share a bit of my incredible experience in my columns.

However, I feel like you have not been fully enlightened. I have yet to tackle a very MARK serious topic NEHRENZ that is incredibly close to my heart: ridiculousness.

I encounter it every day at the most unexpected times, and it keeps me going.

No story of life abroad would be complete without a glance at the absurdities that make life exciting.

Most ridiculousness here involves communication. South Africa has 11 official languages, but English is the one most widely used in the public sector.

Signs are in English and Afrikaans. Afrikaans is the language of the Afrikaaners, the

“white tribe of Africa,” originally Dutch settlers. Hearing it spoken sounds like German/Dutch with a lot of throat clearing.

Sometimes it seems like Afrikaans words are just smaller words put together. Conference Center is Konferensiesentrum I am also picking up bits of Zulu and Setwsana, making lots of children laugh at my attempts to speak these native tongues.

The other 10 languages aside, South African English is its own animal.

Almost every sentence contains words and phrases that are rarely used in the U.S. or used for something different.

Lets play the dictionary game.

To show up somewhere is to “pitch.”

Instead of “I’m almost there,” or “I’ll do it later” you get “ I’ll be there just now,” or “I’ll do it now now.”

“Now now” is usually hours later. A truck is a bakkie. A barbeque is a braai.

My personal favorite is all the robots; they are everywhere.

Whoever decided to call traffic lights robots is my hero.

The age-old American battle of

soda vs. pop vs. Coke doesn’t exist here. Here, they prefer the incredibly literal term “cold drink.”

Cold drink is any juice or anything in a can that isn’t beer.

Someone wasn’t being very creative.

Greetings are a blast.

“What’s up, man?” is “Howzit brew?” to which one replies, “Sharp sharp, howzit,” and keeps walking.

If I am excited to pitch up to a rough part of town, I am actually “keen” to visit that “dodgy” place.

When driving, you don’t “turn on to” a street. You pass the robot, and “turn into” the street. I think of Transformers quite often.

For students, cell phone conversations are short and often cut off mid-sentence, and the text message — which they call an “sms” — is the preferred communication method.

Imagine how confused I would have been during the first few weeks if someone gave me these directions. Use the dictionary above to maneuver this maze of potential dialogue.

Friend : “Mark, howzit brew?”

Mark: “How’s what brewing?”

No story of life abroad would be complete without a glance at the absurdities that make life exciting.

Friend: “Sharp, are you keen to pitch to the braai tonight? It’s in a pretty dodgy area, but it should be hectic” Mark: “ Yeah, I’d love to pitch, who’s playing catcher? Did you say we would be playing dodgeball?”

Friend: “We can play if you’re keen. Anyways, I’ll send you an sms with directions now now.”

Three hours later, my phone would buzz, and the sms would read: “Howzit? 2 get 2 da braai, take Olifantsfonteinweg to Waterkloof, pass three robots, @ the 4th robot, turn into Voortrekkerstraat.

“Pass da Tshwane sign and u will see our bakkies. Don’t forget the cold drink. It starts @ 6. I’ll see you just now brew!”

I would have borrowed a friend’s car, driven on the wrong side of the road and pitched up at around 6:30.

But no one would have pitched until 7:30. Life is on African time.

It’s all quite ridiculous, but I love it.

You are now almost ready to study in South Africa. There is just one more lesson you must learn, involving my favorite ridiculous pastime on the planet: Costumes.

The following situation is 100 percent real, and it happened last month. I received the following sms from my friend, Anton.

“Hey guys, braai at my new place on Friday night. Bring your own meat and cold drink. Wear your costume if you dare!”

Yes. After I got over my excitement, I told my roommate, Hans, it was costume time.

Unfortunately, neither of us packed our identical Chewbacca costumes, which we both have in the U.S. (Fate, right? We met here in South Africa) Once a Wookie, always a Wookie.

I called Anton to see what everyone else was wearing.

“What kind of costume should we wear, brew?”

He went silent, started to laugh, and responded, “I have a pool at my new place. I was talking about a swimming costume. You know, a swim suit.”

What the heck? Who calls a swimsuit a costume?

Everyone in South Africa, apparently.

Ridiculous.

So, here I conclude, encouraging you to study abroad somewhere and experience the ridiculousness of a new place.

But don’t forget, ridiculousness surrounds you daily at OU. Experience the real meaning of a costume. Dress up today, if you dare.

South Oval, let’s say 12:30 or 2:45.

Chewbacca will be waiting.

Mark Nehrenz is a journalism senior. His column appears every other Friday.

STAFF COLUMN

Despite need for unity, disagreements still warranted

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T H E The Fine Print:

T H E

if its true definition allows each group to retain its most important beliefs while attempting to compromise on the necessary issues, it doesn’t sound that impossible.

President-elect Barack Obama must believe unity is possible enough to build a bridge of promises on it. If there’s one thing unity requires, it’s a strong leader to pursue it and motivate followers. Obama has motivated the followers, but will he follow through? And, most of all, is he willing to make the sacrifices unity may require?

Unity is often achieved at great cost for one or both of the opposing sides. The distinctions between Clinton and Obama’s views were separated by shades of blue and blended smoothly into a front against the new opposition after she lost the primary election.

But the distinctions between McCain and Obama have been etched and emphasized and redrawn in American minds for months. Their differences are the deep divides that have defined the battle lines for years.

Will it all disappear with this revolutionary wave of change? Should it be mandated that all differences fade away in the name of unity?

If McCain and his followers found the battle worth fighting up until Tuesday, then at least parts of it are still worth fighting for today.

For those who based their votes on matters of life and death, for example, the abortion displays on campus this week are just as relevant as they were before we elected a president who has announced his intention to sign the Freedom of Choice Act into law. It would remove government restrictions on abortion. In battles such as this, many prioritize the cause over an obscure goal of unity.

In another battle, the Civil War ripped the country apart — a country

Contact Us:

This country needs a lot of change.

That’s why it elected with sweeping enthusiasm the candidate who promised it to them.

“What We’re Fighting for” was the title of Sen. McCain’s editorial in the Wall Street Journal on Monday. Tuesday, he lost that fight.

As the celebrations and sighs of declared victory hang fresh in the air, the American people and the candidates are calling for the natural next step: unity. That’s what Democrats sought as Sen. Hillary Clinton prompted them to rally around the victor of the primary elections.

That’s what a more disheveled Sarah Palin asked of her party from a hotel lobby the morning after the election.

It’s time to put down our divisions and pick up unity.

But why would we have differing opinions and divisions if they are so easily set aside? What does unity mean? Is it possible to achieve?

WHITNEY There are mathematical units that imply common COLEMAN themes amongst the parts (like the Electoral College system we use to determine these elections). There is artistic unity among varying elements that form a complete and pleasing whole. Then there is the ideal of political unity (though it rarely exists), defined as harmony or agreement between people groups.

Harmony or agreement suggests that even if you don’t have agreement, you can have harmony. Also, you can sometimes agree about parts of an issue without harmonizing in perfect accord. Unity has become a political buzzword, the impossibility of which we only whisper to ourselves. But

that now merges under an African-American president for whose rights, in theory, that battle was fought. The cause of equality was reason enough to fight and to cast aside unity. We cannot forsake the most important causes in some undefined pursuit of agreement, though there are grounds on which we can and should come together.

As front pages trumpeted Wednesday morning, this presidency will be historic. Both parties should celebrate and appreciate the election of our first African-American president.

Though we should not necessarily unite in celebration of all moves of “progress,” we should on this historic first. Our country naturally unites over such milestones, just as we naturally unite in opposition to our enemies. We formed a formidable front in the days following 9/11. When hardship threatened to break us apart with fear, “United We Stand” symbols, bumper stickers and T-shirts symbolized our will to stay together.

Though the War on Terror and the War in Iraq still rage on, we have lost much of our American unity on the international front because of disagreements about the approach, the purpose and the future of such conflicts.

Disagreement is not the enemy of unity. It is a democratic essential to fostering a variety of conflicting opinions. It is also essential to democracy for these differences to result in decisions that are best for the American people. On the matters that matter, some differences may be necessary, even as we pursue unity.

Whitney Coleman is a journalism senior. Her column appears every other Friday.

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Adam Kohut, A&E editor dailyent@ou.edu phone: 325-5189, fax: 325-6051 For more, go to oudaily.com.

Arts & Entertainment

The weekend in film

‘Happy-Go-Lucky’ Dir. Mike Leigh Rated R 118 min. t’s easy to love to hate the eternal optimists among us – the glass half-full, sunny-side-up, jolly bundles Photo provided of joy that find the answer to every problem in a perpetual smile.

We hate these people. What right do they have to be so cheery?

Considering the time-honored human tradition of automatic suspicion, if not downright exasperation toward these people, it’s quite an accomplishment that Mike Leigh’s “Happy-Go-Lucky” is such a winning film – after all, its protagonist may just be the most relentlessly happy fictional character ever invented.

Sally Hawkins (“Vera Drake,” “The Painted Veil”) stars as Poppy, a primary school teacher in London who doesn’t let anything get her down. When her bicycle is snatched from outside the bookstore she is browsing, she simply laments the fact that she never got a chance to say goodbye. Predictably, Poppy is the kind of person who provides a constant stream of frustration for most of the people in her life, but surprisingly, not for the audience.

Equal credit belongs to Hawkins and writer/director Leigh for the tension between charming and obnoxious they so adroitly balance. Hawkins doesn’t hold back on the sanguine levels and Leigh gives her free reign to do so, but this is a screenplay that isn’t as

I

blithe and feather-light as it appears.

Leigh, known for his social realism works, fills out Poppy’s universe with a host of characters much more in touch with their miserable side – her roommate despairs of ever finding love, her driving instructor has severe anger issues and her pregnant sister doesn’t mind stepping on everyone around her, not least of all her timid husband.

The film functions as a series of episodic vignettes featuring these characters, and it’s linked together more thematically than plot-wise, with a counterpoint to Poppy’s cheerfulness around every corner. The real joy of the film comes through these contrasts – they keep Poppy from becoming a one-note Pollyanna and allow the movie to find grounding. “Happy-Go-Lucky” features a number of scenes that rely heavily on improvisation, giving the audience a sense of watching real people interact. Poppy is made familiar, and perhaps that is why her bubbly demeanor isn’t grating, but welcomed.

“Happy-Go-Lucky” belongs to Hawkins. She owns every scene she is in, but it’s the supporting characters — the rain to her sunshine — that add depth to this warm and inviting film. After all, how would we know what happiness looked like if a glum counterpart didn’t exist? Eddie Marsan (“V for Vendetta,” “The Illusionist”) is pitch-perfect as the latent rage-bearing Scott, and it’s his role as an uptight driving instructor that most exemplifies this disparity.

This rambling and loosely-structured film unfolds leisurely, but it seems to be urging us to take the route Poppy would. Don’t get frustrated; don’t get uptight.

Just sit back and try to enjoy. And, even if you hate it, I doubt it would bother her one bit.

— DUSTY SOMERS IS A JOURNALISM SENIOR.

5

Writers welcome a literary president-elect HILLEL ITALIE Associated Press

Photo provided

Sally Hawkins stars in “HappyGo-Lucky.” The Mike Leighdirected film follows Poppy (Hawkins), an overlyoptimistic London schoolteacher.

Friday, Nov. 7, 2008

NEW YORK — Last winter, Nobel laureate Toni Morrison received a phone call from Sen. Barack Obama, then the underdog to Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton in the race for the Democratic presidential nomination.

Obama had contacted Morrison to ask for her support. But before they got into politics, the author and the candidate had a little chat about literature.

“He began to talk to me about one of the books I had written, ‘Song of Solomon,’ and how it had meant a lot to him,” Morrison said in a postelection interview from her office at Princeton University, where for years she has taught creative writing.

“And I had read his first book (‘Dreams From My Father’). I was astonished by his ability

to write, to think, to reflect, to learn and turn a good phrase. I was very impressed. This was not a normal political biography.”

For Morrison and others, the election of Obama matters not because he will be the first black president or because the vast majority of writers usually vote for Democrats.

Writers welcome Obama as a peer, a thinker, a man of words — his own words.

“When I watching AP photo was Obama’s accepPresident-elect Barack Obama smiles during his tance speech Nov. 4 acceptance speech at Grant Park in Chicago.

(Tuesday night), “When I was watching Obama’s acceptance speech, I was convinced I was convinced that he had written it himself, and that he had writtherefore that he was saying things that he actually ten it himself, and therefore that he believed and had considered,” author Jane Smiley was saying things

said.

AP photo

Pulitzer Prize-winning author Toni Morrison pauses on June 8, 2007 at a Radcliffe Day luncheon in Cambridge, Mass. Writers welcome Obama as a peer, a thinker, a man of words, his own words.

that he actually believed and had considered,” says Jane Smiley, author of the Pulitzer Prize-winning “A Thousand Acres” and other fiction.

“I find that more convincing in a politician than the usual thing of speaking the words of a raft of hack speechwriters. If he were to lie to us, he would really be betraying his deepest self.”

“Until now, my identity as a writer has never overlapped with my identity as an American — in the past eight years, my writing has often felt like an antidote or correction to my Americanism,” says “Everything Is Illuminated” novelist Jonathan Safran Foer.

“But finally having a writerpresident — and I don’t mean a published author, but someone who knows the full value of the carefully chosen word — I suddenly feel, for the first time, not only like a writer who happens to be American, but an American writer.”

6

Friday, Nov. 7, 2008

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APTS. UNFURNISHED VERY NICE!!!, 800 sf, 1 bdrm, living room, kitchen, bth, wood floors, 1 block OU, 1018 S College, $275/mo. Call 306-1970 or 360-2873.

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handout 47 Dynamic beginning?

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Sports

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Friday, Nov. 7, 2008

7

GUEST COLUMN

A view from the opponent’s sidelines Editor’s Note: This week’s guest column features the sports editor of the Texas A&M student newspaper or many Texas A&M fans, the memory of a 77-0 drubbing by Oklahoma in 2003 is still very fresh. When the 2008 season began with a loss to Arkansas State, Aggie fans were predicting this season’s meeting with the Sooners to exceed the 77-point mark, the worst in school history.

However, A&M has won two consecutive games for the first time in 2008 with wins over Iowa State and Colorado.

Aggie fans are now talking about 2002’s 30-26 upset win against then-No. 1 Oklahoma at Kyle Field.

The sad truth for A&M fans is the 26-point margin set by Las Vegas for Saturday’s game is a low hurdle for the Sooners to leap.

But if the A&M football team is as upset-mindBRAD ed as head coach Mike Sherman was in Monday’s COX news conference, the puzzle pieces will have to fall into place quickly.

“This would be a very special moment if we could beat this team,” Sherman said. “Certainly it’s a formidable task, but these things do happen.”

Sophomore quarterback Jerrod Johnson was rushed into the spotlight when veteran Stephen McGee suffered an injury against New Mexico on Sep. 6. Johnson led the Aggies to a 28-22 road win with 124 passing yards and three touchdown passes.

In the six games Johnson has started this season, he has averaged 298 passing yards per game has thrown 14 touchdown passes.

In a crowded market of Big 12 quarterbacks, Johnson has quietly posted big numbers.

Johnson needs to control the pace and play lights out to keep the A&M offense in the game. He needs to hit his favorite targets Ryan Tannehill and Jeff Fuller — who have combined for 1,198 receiving yards and 12 touchdowns — frequently.

However, the Aggie defense will be the decisive factor if A&M pulls the upset. The Aggies are ranked No. 104 nationally in total defense and rushing defense and No. 79 nationally in pass defense.

Since A&M has struggled to hold opponent’s yardage down, turnovers will be key for defensive coordinator Joe Kines and the Aggie defense. The Aggies forced three fumbles against Colorado but failed to recover the ball. But three interceptions, two by freshman defensive back Trent Hunter, kept A&M in the game.

The Aggies will need a similar performance from defensive players Hunter, junior linebacker Matt Featherston and junior defensive back Jordan Pugh to take the win from the Sooners.

F

Zach Butler/The Daily

Quarterback Sam Bradford (14) hands off to running back DeMarco Murray (7) during OU’s Oct. 18 victory over Kansas. The OU offense will need to remain focused this weekend when it plays in front of the Texas A&M crowd at Kyle Field.

OU ready for hostile atmosphere • Sooners set to face rowdy A&M crowd KYLE BURNETT Daily Sports Writer With Texas Tech moving to No. 2 in the polls and the annual Bedlam game looming, some OU fans have already begun to look to the end of the season.

But before the Sooners can take on those high-profile opponents, they must first travel to College Station, Texas, to face Texas A&M this weekend.

The Aggies offer a unique challenge, with one of the loudest atmospheres in college football.

Attendance for Aggie home games has ranked No. 14 during the 2008 season with an average of 82,207 people per game.

OU ranks No. 10 with an average attendance of 84,858. The Sooners have played in front of large crowds during the year, but none have been as large and loud as A&M’s will be this weekend.

The game’s obstacles are keeping the Sooners focused.

“You know from what I’ve seen

the past two days, I don’t think anyone is taking this game lightly,” sophomore quarterback Sam Bradford said. “We know it’s going to be a very hostile environment, it’s a tough place to play, a tough place to win. The last time we were down there we barely got away with a win.”

Bradford’s numbers on the road have improved from last year. In four games last season, Bradford completed 42-of-72 (58 percent) for 550 yards, four touchdowns and four interceptions.

In three games this year, Bradford has completed 54-of-84 (64 percent) for 931 yards, 10 touchdowns and one interception.

“We have been very successful on the road, but you know it all starts in practice,” Bradford said.

“I felt like the past two days we’ve had two good days of preparation.

They’ve had the music up pretty loud so far, forcing us to communicate and just concentrate more.”

A&M ranks near the middle of the NCAA in total offense with 384 yards per game. The Aggies have been impressive moving the ball through the air, throwing for an average of 273.3 yards, which ranks No. 20 in the nation. “[The Aggies] are really coming

ANNE ROSEMARIE BILL TUNDE MATHER ANNA DEAVERE HATHAWAY DeWITT IRWIN ADEBIMPE ZICKEL SMITH

on; you could see in the Colorado game that they are really playing well,” head coach Bob Stoops said. “Their quarterback, Jerrod Johnson, is playing well and he is getting better and more comfortable. He makes good decisions and really limits his mistakes.”

A&M’s biggest weakness has been its defense against the run.

Opponents have averaged 202 yards over the course of the year.

Eight of A&M’s nine opponents have rushed for more than 150 yards, and five of those have

rushed for more than 200 yards.

The only team to not rush for 150 yards against the Aggies was Texas Tech, which ran for 111 yards.

Despite the sub-par rushing defense, Stoops had good things to say about what the Aggie’s defensive coordinator, Joe Kines, brings to the field. “[Kines] does a great job and keeps them disciplined and good at what they do,” Stoops said.

“Going down to A&M is always an exciting but a challenging thing.”

Bradford and Murray receive academic honors Quarterback Sam Bradford and running back DeMarco Murray were named to ESPN the Magazine’s Academic All-District VI Team Thursday.

Their names will now be added to the Academic All-American ballot, and the team will be announced Nov. 25.

Bradford currently has a 3.95 GPA with a major in finance, while Murray has a 3.31 with a major in communications and a minor in business.

Bradford leads the nation in touchdown passes with 34, ranks No. 2 in total passing yards (3,086), No. 3 in pass efficiency rating (189.0), No. 3 in passing yards per game (342.9) and No. 5 in total offense (343.0).

Murray leads OU in rushing with 681 yards, scoring with 84 points, kickoff return yards at 492 and all purpose yards with 1,418.

He ranks No. 11 nationally in kickoff returns with an average of 28.94 yards per attempt and No. 18 in all purpose yards per game (157.56).

DEBRA WINGER

AND

“ANNE HATHAWAY DELIVERS AN ACTING TOUR DE FORCE.” -Peter Travers, ROLLING STONE

A JONATHAN DEMME PICTURE WRITTEN BY JENNY LUMET • PRODUCED AND DIRECTED BY JONATHAN DEMME SOUNDTRACK ON LAKESHORE RECORDS

STARTS TODAY

HOROSCOPE

By Bernice Bede Osol

Copyright 2008, Newspaper Enterprise Assn.

Friday, Nov. 7, 2008 SCORPIO (Oct. 24-Nov. 22) -- Make plans to engage in a recreational activity with friends or family. Getting your mind off all the serious things in life will do wonders for your outlook.

SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 23-Dec. 21) -- This is an excellent day to gather the information you need on a matter of importance, whether it is work-related, personal or homework. You’ll have an easier time doing so than usual.

WWW.SONYCLASSICS.COM

HOLLYWOOD SPOTLIGHT 14 1100 N. Interstate Drive 579-0911

— BRAD COX IS THE SPORTS EDITOR OF THE TEXAS A&M BATTALION.

AMC CALL QUAIL SPRINGS 24 THEATRE FOR Quail Springs Mall @ Memorial Rd. SHOWTIMES. 775-0262

VIEW THE TRAILER AT WWW.RACHELGETTINGMARRIEDMOVIE.COM

CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19) -- Quality, not flamboyance, is what you should be looking for in companions. A comfortable, compatible friendship will be more enjoyable and fulfilling than spending time with garish, flashy people.

.

THE UNIVERSITY OF OKLAHOMA

UNIVERSITY THEATRE your OU arts destination

Pride and Prejudice

by Jon Jory

Based on the novel

by Jane Austen

AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 19) -- If you have to make a choice between profit and pride of accomplishment, choose the latter.

Acquiring self-esteem will be more valuable and long lasting than procuring material wealth.

PISCES (Feb. 20-March 20) -- One of your better assets is your ability to communicate effectively. You’re not only good at gathering facts but also at disseminating them to those who will put them to fruitful uses.

A classic English tale of romance.

8 p.m. Nov. 14-15, 20-22 3 p.m. Nov. 16 and 23 Weitzenhoffer Theatre

OU Fine Arts Box Office (405) 325-4101

in the OU Arts District The University of Oklahoma is an equal opportunity institution.

For accommodations on the basis of disability call (405) 325-4101.

ARIES (March 21-April 19) -- By remaining optimistic and keeping your expectations within realistic bounds, you will gradually gain ground on your goals. Because you don’t expect more than you should, you won’t give up.

TAURUS (April 20-May 20) -One of your best assets is being a good listener, and this will prove to be an advantageous trait. You will learn about something that you’ll put to good use at this time.

GEMINI (May 21-June 20) -- Keep your goals and desires in proportion to your abilities, and you will have more possibilities for success than most people do, regardless of your field of endeavor.

CANCER (June 21-July 22) -You have what it takes to accomplish your goals. You’ll not only be an efficient worker; you’ll also know how to interact with others to make them effective as well.

LEO (July 23-Aug. 22) -- Handling small details could be more significant than usual, particularly in domestic matters. Paying attention to even meaningless family activities will greatly please your loved ones.

VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22) -Associates, friends and family will be more willing to listen to what you have to say if you keep your conversations brief. The absence of boring small talk will make what you say far more interesting.

LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 23) -- Even a small, minor development can turn out to be profitable if done in conjunction with what is already on the table. You will have many good things going for you at this time.

8

Sports

Friday, Nov. 7, 2008

Volleyball prepared to take on Missouri past 10 road outings against Missouri.

Since losing to the Sooners in Norman back in September, Missouri has spent the majority of its conference schedule, trading one win for a pair losses, notching victories over the likes of Kansas, Colorado, Texas Tech and Iowa State.

Even in defeat to OU, the Tigers MATT WELCH received a strong showing from outDaily Staff Writer sider hitter Julianna Klein, who posted a match-high 16 kills. Containing the Since the OU volleyball team’s home redshirt sophomore will be pivotal if conference opener against Missouri on OU intends on making a push towards Sept. 17, both the Sooners and the the postseason.

“We definitely can’t take them lightly,” Tigers have traveled similar paths.

Both squads hold upset victories freshman outside hitter Caitlin Higgins over a historically potent Big 12 oppo- said. “We need to win the rest of our nent, both have made adjustments to conference matches in order to have a their in-game rotation and both are chance of making it to the postseason. neck-in-neck in numerous statistical Focus and urgency will be key for us.”

Higgins, who became the first freshcategories.

The Sooners (10-13, 6-9 Big 12) hold man in program history to be named a stronger conference record, while the the Big 12 Offensive Player of the Tigers (11-12, 5-8 Big 12) hold a better Week last Monday, was the recipient of overall record, albeit not by much for another prominent collegiate honor on Tuesday. either team.

Higgins became the first player in OU In their previous meeting in September, OU bested Missouri in four volleyball history to be named the Sports sets and will aim to sweep the season Imports/American Volleyball Coaches series against the Tigers on Sunday Association Division I National Player at 1 p.m. from the Hearnes Center in of the Week for her efforts against No. 4 Texas and Baylor last week.

Columbia, Mo. “I am truly honored to even be conWith only five matches remaining for the 2008 season and all Big 12 ranked sidered for this award,” Higgins said. opposition on the backburner, a strong “It is a huge deal for me and for our program. I have showing down the to give credit home stretch can to my team nudge the Sooners because this is above the .500 a team sport mark to close out and the success the season. of one player After Missouri, comes from the the Sooners will success of the have the luxury team.” of a three-match Senior libero homestand. With Lacy Barnes the end of season also earned a drawing near, head highly-touted coach Santiago Restrepo said they — Freshman Caitlin Higgins honor for the Sooners on cannot afford to Thursday, being let Sunday’s match named to the College Sports Information slip away.

“This match is very crucial,” Restrepo Directors of America/ESPN the said. “It’s always very tough to place Magazine Academic All-District first over there … They have some very team.

Sophomore middle blocker Francie scrappy players, they play great defense and dig a lot of balls, so we need to Ekwerekwu received similar honors, earning a spot on the CoSIDA/ESPN the match their intensity and their effort.”

The Sooners haven’t fared particu- Magazine Academic All-District third larly well when traveling to Columbia, team.

OU will be looking to rebound from Mo., as of late, winning only one of their

• Sooners trying to sweep season series against Tigers

“We need to win the rest of our conference matches in order to have a chance of making it to the postseason.”

Michelle Gray/The Daily

Freshman Brianne Barker (1) provides a set to teammate Sarah Freudenrich (13) during OU’s Nov. 2 match against Baylor. The Sooners won that match, but have since lost to No. 15 Kansas State. They will be looking to recover this weekend and sweep the season series against Missouri. a Wednesday evening road loss to No. 15 Kansas State (20-25, 25-16, 23-25, 20-25).

Despite dropping the first and third sets, the Sooners managed commendable leads half-way through each set.

Still, the tale of Wednesday’s match was attack errors and not so much how many were committed, but when they were committed, which ultimately spelled defeat for the Sooners.

“We were coming off two big wins

and I think we were just expecting another one,” Higgins said. “We did some good things and got big leads but mental errors just crept in and killed us. You have to capitalize on leads with every team in the Big 12 and we failed to do that.”

While OU managed only one attack error at the 18-point mark of the first set, a series of miscues and mistimed attack attempts – coupled with a strong Wildcat blocking front – amounted to

five attack errors to close out the set.

On the evening, OU managed to narrowly out-hit the No. 15 Wildcats .167 to .166, but were barely out-blocked 15 to 14.

Junior outside hitter Bridget Laplante led the offensive charge for the Sooners with 14 kills and a .297 hitting clip.

Freshman outside hitter Brianne Barker added 40 assists and 24 digs, while sophomore middle blocker Chrissy Disarro totaled 10 blocks.

joe c. and carole kerr

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