The Oklahoma Daily

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VOL. 93, NO. 76 FREE — Additional Copies 25¢

THURSDAY, DEC. 11, 2008 © 2008 OU Publications Board

Ignorance of plagiarism policy does not excuse students

ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT Bored of studying? Stop and mindlessly click around the Internet. The Daily picks the best time-wasting and procrastination Web sites. Page 5.

SPORTS

• Students who don’t comply with academic standards face consequences WHITNEY ORTEGA The Oklahoma Daily

Bradford Heisman finalist Sooner sophomore quarterback Sam Bradford was named one of three finalists for the Heisman Trophy on Wednesday, joining quarterbacks Colt McCoy of Texas and Tim Tebow of Florida. The ceremony will be held Saturday night in New York City.

Check back to the sports pages in Friday’s paper for a breakdown of all three candidates.

Men’s basketball undefeated The men’s basketball team dominated Maine 78-52 Wednesday behind Blake Griffin’s 22 points and 10 rebounds. Page 7.

Sports editor says farewell The Daily’s sports editor has a departing message for Sooner fans: Enjoy this sports year while you can. Page 7.

TODAY’S INDEX Photo Illustration by Merrill Jones/The Daily

A&E Campus News Campus Notes Classifieds Crossword

5 3 7 6 8

Horoscope 7 Opinion 4 Police Reports 7 Sports 7, 8 Sudoku 6

WEATHER FORECAST

• ADD prescription drug sought after as attention booster RAY MARTIN The Oklahoma Daily

TODAY LOW 22° HIGH 54°

FRIDAY LOW 31° HIGH 52° Source: Oklahoma Weather Lab

here was a time when coffee did the trick, when students thought caffeine was sufficient to help them endure the turmoil of finals week.

But that time has passed.

Students at universities nationwide, including OU, are opting to buy or bum Adderall pills from friends or acquaintances with prescriptions in order to stay focused and awake for long study sessions and enhance their academic

T

performance.

But experts say the “study drug” may not actually improve academic performance.

Adderall, which has replaced Ritalin as the drug of choice among college students according to a recent Medical News Today report, is prescribed to people with attention deficit hyperactive disorder. For those people, Adderall has a calming affect that helps them maintain focus.

But for people whose conditions don’t warrant an Adderall prescription, Adderall has the reverse affect – it energizes rather than calms.

“I have a prescription, but I don’t take it everyday like I should because it makes me boring,” said Emily Turner, a microbiology sophomore. “But it does help me study.”

Christian Teter, a pharmacy professor at Northeastern University in Boston, conducted a study last year of 4,580 undergraduates at a mid-western university. According to the study, more than 75 percent of students who reported using prescription stimulants illicitly took Adderall or products that had similar effects rather than Ritalin.

OU students are following the trend.

The OU network on Facebook includes two groups devoted solely to Adderall users – “Thank God for Adderall” and “Adderall Fanatics.” The former group has 24 members and a group description that reads “I believe that we can all agree that this little device gets the job done around finals time. Many of you are on it as we speak…”. The groups

ADDERALL Continues on page 2

Aaron Hoffman was shocked last year when he was accused of plagiarism.

The math standards junior said he was accused after he failed to correctly cite a source in a paper. He was then required to take a test on the paper’s subject to prove he did not knowingly plagiarize. He passed the test but was placed on academic probation for one year.

Hoffman is one of several students who say they have been punished because they did not know OU’s plagiarism policy.

Assistant Provost Greg Heiser said OU has an online tutorial that explains what plagiarism is.

“We expect that every student at OU should understand the basic difference between writing and copying,” Heiser said. “What employers are looking for and what we expect at the university is someone who can understand something and then explain it in their own words. We want students to graduate and know how to write, not just how to copy.”

When students are accused of plagiarism, academic misconduct charges are filed against them, Heiser said.

Students can appeal charges, but appeals extend the length of time required for the process, which usually takes just a few days.

“Students have a legal right to get due process,” Heiser said. “They get a chance at a full trial.”

While some cases are decided in the favor of the students involved, most are not, Heiser said.

The university dealt with 200 academic misconduct cases last year.

About half of them involved plagiarism.

Heiser said almost none of those 100 cases involved student papers in which a student forgot to cite something or incorrectly cited something.

“Most were a genuine failure to explain your own understanding in your own words,” Heiser said.

While consequences for academic misconduct can vary based on

POLICY Continues on page 2

OU reaches out for United Way of Norman annual drive • Charity struggling to meet annual goal by end of year LEIGHANNE MANWARREN The Oklahoma Daily

Amy Frost/The Daily

A United Way progress meter at 12th Street and Boyd Street reflects donations at less than 60 percent of the 2008 target. The OU United Way subdivision is hoping to encourage more campus donations.

OU officials met Wednesday to discuss what they can do to help the United Way of Norman, which is struggling with a $400,000 shortfall in its annual fundraising campaign.

With economic uncertainty making potential donors more cautious about charitable giving, the organization is more than 40 percent short of its goal for the Live United annual drive.

While the campaign ended Nov. 7, the OU subdivision of the United Way of Norman is hoping to encourage the OU community to donate before winter break begins.

OU United Way co-chairs Clarke Stroud and Rennie Cook met Wednesday afternoon to brainstorm about what more the university could do to help United Way’s

drive.

“In the past, the university’s campaign is held in the fall semester but this year, the co-chairs decided to have the campaign earlier,” said Brynn Daves, assistant to Stroud, vice president of student affairs Clarke Stroud.

This year’s campaign began Oct. 13. The university held events each week and started new Web sites to advertise the campaign.

OU organizers plan to examine the donations made by each department this year and appeal to those who have not made a contribution.

“We hope that with a few phone calls to remind people to donate, it will be enough to close the gap,” Daves said.

With the United Way of Norman extending its campaign, the university campaign is hopeful that it will accomplish its goal.

“The campaign ended Nov. 7 and we understand that was right before the holidays and they might have felt like they were unable to give, but we hope that they will understand the need,” Daves said.

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Thursday, Dec. 11, 2008

News

Committee addresses OU retiree health care • Report projects plan will reduce university liability by 35 percent MEREDITH MORIAK The Oklahoma Daily A human resources committee met Wednesday afternoon to suggest changes to the retiree medical benefits plan, and to allow staff and faculty feedback before final recommendations are made to OU President David L. Boren in early 2009.

Julius Hilburn, committee member and chief human resources officer, presented the preliminary report of findings about the OU retiree medical benefits plan.

The university’s cost of retiree health care is projected to rise from $6 million to $26 million by 2018, according to the report. This increase is due to the rising costs of health care in general, as well as the growth in the number of employees eligible for retirement.

“The cost of retiree medical benefits is one of the fastest growing university medical costs,” Hilburn said.

He said the committee looked at the plans of 14 other universities and discovered that OU’s proposed plan fared well in comparison.

“OU’s [retiree benefits package] is at or near the top of what’s offered among the 14 universities we compared it to,” Hilburn said.

The committee broke up the employees into five different groups based on the date they are eligible for retirement.

Approximately 2,000 employees and 1,400 retirees who are members of groups one and two will see no changes in their benefits, Hilburn said.

“We are recommending changes be phased in over time,” Hilburn said.

The changes that will affect groups three, four and five include an annual $300 deductible for Medicare, a new method of Medicare called the “carve out” method and reducing the out-of-pocket maximum limit to $2,000. Members of these groups will not be eligible for retirement until 2014.

Various staff members are outraged by the changes and think they are being treated unfairly.

“The rules have changed,” Carrie Reilly, continuing education training specialist said. “We were promised something and now it is being taken away.”

FIVE RETIREMENT ELIGIBLE GROUPS Group 1: Current Retirees Group 2: Employees currently eligible for retirement and those eligible before Jan. 1, 2014* Group 3: Employees hired before Jan. 1, 2008 who will be eligible for retirement between Jan. 1, 2014 and Dec. 31, 2018* Group 4: Employees hired before Jan. 1, 2008 who will be eligible for retirement on or after Jan. 1, 2019* Group 5: Employees hired after Jan. 1, 2008

*Actual dates may vary depending on adoption date of benefits package.

Source: Contribution Strategy and Health Insurance Options Committee

According to the report, these changes will reduce university liability by 35 percent, but will not significantly reduce the university’s cash flow or provide any budget relief for approximately 12 years.

Hilburn said the committee is trying to prepare for the future by identifying possible changes.

“Eligibility will be based on when an employee meets the requirements, not when they actually retire,” Hilburn said.

The retiree medical benefits plan has been under review by a committee since December 2007, Hilburn said.

“I think OU is trying to ensure long term benefits and has to find ways to make changes to make OU’s medical coverage cheaper,” said OU staff member Suzanne Harrell. “It’s hard to find ways to cover medical costs and not hurt people and their feelings.”

The Contributions Strategy and Health Insurance Options Committee consisted of 16 members who represent faculty and staff from all three campuses.

The report was first published Nov. 18 and is available at http://www.ou.edu/healthcareoptions/ Another informational meeting will be held Monday at 1 p.m. in the Health Sciences Center’s Public Health Auditorium and at future Faculty and Staff Senate meetings.

— BRITTANI WEBB CONTRIBUTED TO THIS STORY.

Adderall

Policy

Continued from page 1

Continued from page 1

don’t specify whether or not members have Adderall prescriptions or if they take it illegally.

Members and the administrators of both groups declined to comment or did not respond to interview requests from The Daily.

Turner said several people – some whom she has never met – have offered to buy one of her pills. She said she heard Adderall use was popular at OU when she was in high school at Edison High School in Tulsa “I’ve heard some pills will go for $10 a piece,” she said. “Random people have approached me and asked if I knew where to get pills and if I had any. I don’t sell them because they’re expensive and I don’t have insurance for them, but I can understand why they’re popular.”

But taking Adderall illegally could have profound consequences if students are caught. The Drug Enforcement Administration considers Adderall a “schedule II” drug, which is the same category as cocaine and many narcotics.

“The authorities aren’t really searching campuses or anything,” said Dr. Philip Rettig, section chief of adolescent medicine with the OU College of Medicine. “But it’s illegal in that context for sure. Someone could get in serious trouble.”

Rettig said students might be fooled if they think Adderall will enhance academic performance.

He said the drug will keep people who don’t suffer from Attention Deficit Disorder or Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder awake, but it will likely cause them to be so hyperactive that they can’t focus on what they are studying.

This is especially true of students who don’t take it often.

“It’s like speed,” Rettig said. “There is no evidence that it will enhance any mental function.

Students might be fooling themselves.”

Rettig said the health risks of illegal Adderall use are minimal in most cases. Since it suppresses appetite, the drug might cause weight loss, and it could alter sleeping patterns. It does not contain much addictive potential.

Students have to undergo testing and fill out questionnaires to be declared ADD or ADHD and become eligible for Adderall prescriptions.

The tests include evidence of either disorder in multiple locations. For students who are in high school or younger, their questionnaire must include testimonies from a parent or guardian.

Students who do have prescriptions likely cannot obtain extra Adderall pills to sell. Turner said her prescription allows one pill for each day of the month.

“For kids who need it, this drug helps,” Rettig said. “But no one knows what it does to people who don’t need it. My advice is not to do it.”

the type of plagiarism and the circumstances involved, Heiser said every case is treated fairly.

Hoffman said the dean of the College of Arts and Sciences met with him after he had a meeting with his professor. Hoffman said the dean was up front about the situation.

“She asked me if there was anything I wanted them specifically to know before they reviewed the case. She was very fair,” Hoffman said. “When people tell you the truth in a situation, it may seem harsh, but I think they’re just trying to help you.”

The UOSA Honor Council is the student group responsible for ensuring academic misconduct cases are treated fairly. Council members sit in on hearings and helps decide on effective and fair punishments.

“Maintaining academic integrity is personally like we’re defending the honor or worth of a degree. By educating students about plagiarism and academic misconduct, we’re maintaining and preserving the integrity of that degree,” said Joe Hunt, Honor Council chairman. (Hunt is an opinion columnist for The Daily.)

Hunt said cheating will eventually affect students who took shortcuts to receive their diploma.

“Someone can cheat their way through school and graduate with the same GPA and degree. On face value, their degree is the same value as mine but on a deeper level, they’re not very wellequipped,” Hunt said.

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

Thursday, Dec. 11, 2008

3

Junior has high flying hobby thing. It’s definitely a terrible feeling.”

Psychology junior LaDonna Crowder, Tucker’s friend, said she often worries about his safety.

“The jumps are huge, and it can be really scary to watch,” she said.

“Anytime I see someone wreck, I just turn the other way.”

Crowder said her cousin is now a quadriplegic because of a motocross RYAN BRYANT injury, and, as a result, she’s a bit The Oklahoma Daily warier when it comes to Tucker.

Tucker said he doesn’t mind risking When energy management junior injury for something he loves.

Cody Tucker hopped on his motor“I believe you can get hurt doing cycle for the first time when he was anything,” he said. “I’d rather take a 3-years-old, he could barely touch the chance getting hurt doing something I ground. love than tip-toe through life. Injuries “My dad actually had to put trainare just part of the sport that you have ing wheels on the bike because I to put in the back of your mind.” couldn’t quite get there,” he said.

In addition to being dangerous, Tucker’s bike tore through his motocross is also yard as he launched an expensive hobby. forward for the Tucker estimates first time. Just as his total motocross he began to grow expenses amount to more confident in about $200,000. his ability to handle “There are tons • Jumps reach up to 110 feet long the motorcycle, of expenses, from • One lap lasts 1 to 2 minutes the training wheels new bikes to main• Races consist of 6 to 8 laps shattered, sending tenance, travel fees, him tumbling to the and medical bills,” ground.

Tucker said. “Thankfully, I’ve got the “I remember my mom running over support of my parents.” and picking me up after I crashed,” Randy Tucker, Cody’s dad and bike he said. “I was completely covered in mechanic, said as long as Tucker stickers.” continues to ride, he will continue to Despite the element of danger, support his son’s hobby.

Tucker said he intends to ride as long “I really hope he can continue as as possible. he gets older,” he said. “It gets more “As you get older, it can get a bit difficult the older you get to ride more difficult to keep up with the competitively, but as you age, it’s younger riders,” he said. “Either way, less about the competition and more I’d like to try to ride professionally. about camaraderie.”

But to do that, I’d have to quit school, Tucker said it is becoming more not to mention that one injury can difficult to find time to ride because end your career.” of school, but he said he makes the Tucker, who said he normally rides most out of the little time he has. on a track in Blanchard, has received “It’s all very challenging, especialnumerous injuries, including a bro- ly since I’m a college student who ken wrist and hand, as well as a few doesn’t have the time to commit that I’d like to have,” he said. “Even if I concussions.

“It can be really scary at times, espe- can’t eventually do this professioncially with concussions,” he said. “It’s ally, I’m going to keep riding as long weird when you can’t remember any- as I can sit on a bike.”

• Motocross enthusiast’s extreme hobby keeps him excited

MOTOCROSS BREAKDOWN

Photo Provided

Energy management junior Cody Tucker defies gravity as he makes a sweet jump on a track in Blanchard. He has been riding motorcycles since he was a young boy.

THIS WEEKEND AT YOUR UNIVERSITY T hursday, Dec. 11

FREE Holiday Cookie Decorating | 11:30 a.m. in the Oklahoma Memorial Union first floor lobby. Decorate a Free Cookie! Presented by the Union Programming Board.

Fred Films: “Yana’s Friends” | 7 p.m. in the Mary Eddy and Fred Jones Auditorium, Fred Jones Jr. Museum of Art. Fred Films Presents “Yana’s Friends” (2000/dir. by Arik Kaplun) 90 minutes. Free admission to students with a valid OU ID. For more information call (405) 325-4938.

Contemporary Dance Oklahoma | 8 p.m. in the Reynolds Performing Arts Center. OU’s resident modern dance company delights audiences with exuberant dance technique, expression and athleticism. Taking inspiration from around the world, the creative choreography of Austin Hartel, Derrick Minter and guest choreographers creates a must-see performance! Call the Fine Arts Box office for ticket information, (405) 325-4101.

University Theatre Presents: Dog Sees God, Confessions of a Teenage Blockhead | 8 p.m. in Theatre 317, FAC building, 3rd floor. What could possibly happen to Charlie Brown and the Peanuts gang in high school? Admission is $3 at the door. *Dog Sees God has not been authorized or approved in any manner by the Charles M. Schulz estate or United Features Syndicate, which have no responsibility for its content.

American Artists from the Russian Empire Art Exhibition | Now through January 4, 2009 at the Fred Jones Jr. Museum of Art. Comprised of over ninety works by artists such as Nicolai Fechin, Leon Gaspard, Jacques Lipchitz, Mark Rothko, Ben Shahn, Pavel Tchelitchew, and Max Weber, this exhibition examines the impact of American culture on Russian artists living in the United States during the first half of the twentieth century as well as the lasting influence these same artists had on the development of American art. For more information call (405) 325-4938.

Friday., Dec. 12 FREE Movie: “Burn After Reading” | 4, 7, 10 p.m. and 12:30 a.m. in Meacham Auditorium.

Presented by the Union Programming Board and Campus Activities Council Film Series.

Late Night Snacks | 9:30 p.m. in Meacham Auditorium Lobby. Enjoy some free snacks courtesy of the Union Programming Board and then see the 10 p.m. showing of “Dark Knight.” Who Loves You, OU? OU Hockey vs. Robert Morris College | 7:30 p.m. at the Blazers Ice Center. Visit http:// soonersports.com for ticket information.

Sutton Artist Series: Holiday Pipes, Organ | 8 p.m. in Gothic Hall, Catlett Music Center.

Adult admission $8, student, faculty/staff and senior admission $5. Please call F.A.C.T.S. Fine Arts Tickets Service at (405) 325-4101 for more information.

Contemporary Dance Oklahoma | 8 p.m. in the Reynolds Performing Arts Center.

OU’s resident modern dance company delights audiences with exuberant dance technique, expression and athleticism. Taking inspiration from around the world, the creative choreography of Austin Hartel, Derrick Minter and guest choreographers creates a must-see performance! Call the Fine Arts Box office for ticket information, (405) 325-4101.

University Theatre Presents: Dog Sees God, Confessions of a Teenage Blockhead | 8 p.m. in Theatre 317, FAC building, 3rd floor. What could possibly happen to Charlie Brown and the Peanuts gang in high school? Admission is $3 at the door. *Dog Sees God has not been authorized or approved in any manner by the Charles M. Schulz estate or United Features Syndicate, which have no responsibility for its content.

Saturday, Dec. 13 OU Men’s Basketball vs. Utah | 3 p.m. at the Lloyd Noble Center. OU Men’s Basketball takes on Utah, the first 5,000 fans get a “3” sign.

Visit http://soonersports.com for ticket information.

OU Hockey vs. Robert Morris College | 6:30 p.m. at the Blazers Ice Center. Visit http://soonersports.com for ticket information.

Contemporary Dance Oklahoma | 8 p.m. in the Reynolds Performing Arts Center.

OU’s resident modern dance company delights audiences with exuberant dance technique, expression and athleticism. Taking inspiration from around the world, the creative choreography of Austin Hartel, Derrick Minter and guest choreographers creates a must-see performance! Call the Fine Arts Box office for ticket information, (405) 325-4101.

University Theatre Presents: Dog Sees God, Confessions of a Teenage Blockhead | 8 p.m. in Theatre 317, FAC building, 3rd floor. What could possibly happen to Charlie Brown and the Peanuts gang in high school? Admission is $3 at the door. *Dog Sees God has not been authorized or approved in any manner by the Charles M. Schulz estate or United Features Syndicate, which have no responsibility for its content.

Sunday, Dec. 14

Contemporary Dance Oklahoma | 3 p.m. in the Reynolds Performing Arts Center.

OU’s resident modern dance company delights audiences with exuberant dance technique, expression and athleticism. Taking inspiration from around the world, the creative choreography of Austin Hartel, Derrick Minter and guest choreographers creates a must-see performance! Call the Fine Arts Box office for ticket information, (405) 325-4101.

This University in compliance with all applicable federal and state laws and regulations does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, age, religion, disability, political beliefs, or status as a veteran in any of its policies, practices or procedures. This includes but is not limited to admissions, employment, financial aid and educational services. For accommodations on the basis of disability, please contact the sponsoring department of any program or event.

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Opinion

Thursday, Dec. 11, 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 graduate student

STAFF CARTOON

Joint effort would reduce plagiarism The horror stories about plagia- however, would. rism abound every year – students Employees at the Writing Center flunking classes and failing papers agree that students need to be because of slight slips in citations. more informed about plagiarism.

Chances are, you’ve Professors should do the heard similar stories. informing by including OUR VIEW specific examples in sylSome of the stories is an editorial might be far-fetched. labuses and making sure selected and debated But if injustice indeed students know what does by the editorial board exists, it’s not because and does not constitute and written after a of poor plagiarism polimisconduct. majority opinion is formed and approved cies. It’s because most It’s not all on profesby the editor. Our View professors’ definitions sors, though. Students is The Daily’s official of plagiarism are as themselves should take opinion. clear as mud, and stuthe time to research and dents don’t take the iniensure their paper is acatiative to make them specify the demically acceptable. Take it to the policies or give examples. Both writing center. Ask a professor to are to blame. But both can fix the look it over. Both would likely save problem. you from the turmoil of taking a OU’s plagiarism policy is fair – course for the second time. kudos to the administration and We think a required exam prior honors council. It allows profes- to taking one’s first freshman class sors, if they so choose, to extend an would significantly reduce plagiaadmonition to students who might rism problems. The administrahave been accidentally out of line. tion should make students pass What’s isn’t fair is the assump- a plagiarism test similar to the tion that students have mastered mandatory alcohol education quiz format and citation specifics, and before they ignorantly embark on a that they’re aware of what con- research assignment that’s likely to stitutes legitimate academic mis- deal them a zero. conduct prior to writing research Students and faculty members papers. Vague statements in the syl- should work together to reduce the labus won’t do. Specific examples, amount of wrongdoings.

STAFF COLUMN

End of semester should be fun, not boring

Photo Illustration by Photos.com

In my opinion, and all of yours, I’m sure, dead week and finals week are boring. They’re all study, no play. It’s enough to drive every one of us mad. I propose the following activities instead of trying to memorize the periodic table (does anyone still do that?) or attempting to distinguish between the Gawain of the Green Knight and Gawain of Chrétien de Troyes. So here you go. Have some fun during finals week.

1. Buy real winter SARAH clothes.

DORN To all you sorority girls wearing shorts in December, go buy yourself a pair of jeans, please. Ugg boots do not counteract the effects of a 20-degree wind chill hitting your bare legs, and you look ridiculous. So stop studying geology or communication and go take a retail study break for me. Also, I will host a seminar next week demonstrating that leggings are not pants.

2. Become your own Mythbuster by licking all the frozen surfaces you see.

That’s right. Get your tongue stuck to something – preferably not my car. I’m talking about a light pole, door handle (extra points if it’s on the cafeteria doors during lunch hours), truck cab, drying cement or whatever you can find.

This holiday tradition, a la Ralphie’s friend Flick, is sure to brighten any dead week.

3. Box a tree Figure this out yourself. A friend suggested

it, and I have no idea what it means. Still sounds better than studying.

4. Start a conspiracy theory.

No repeats allowed. Recent Internet searches have informed me that the CIA invented HIV, that Bob Hope and Queen Elizabeth were (are) sibling members of the Anunnaki reptilian class and that the Nazis had a moon base, although man never set foot on the moon. I may have mixed my theories. In any case, there are not enough crazies in the world to feed America’s ever-growing need for the sickeningly absurd. So please, stop studying and help America.

5. Ride a bike backwards.

Challenge your more daring, or stupid, friends to a bike race down the South Oval.

Up the ante by riding with your back forward and your face back. The clumsier among you should have paramedics on the sidelines.

Negative points if you hit a pedestrian. Two thousand extra points if you hit a squirrel.

6. Carol to the homeless.

No need to be part of an official (or good) chorus group to spread holiday cheer. Grab a coat and some friends and sing to whomever you find on the street. No need for the audience to be homeless, either. Sing to every college bum studying outside on the benches during the dead of winter, every child making an iceman and every parking ticket distributer spreading their own version of a holiday greeting. If you make one of their days, you just may save someone a ticket.

7. Grab a shovel and study the dead.

Please don’t. This is grave robbing and it’s a

little bit less than legal. If the dead you study are those demonic campus squirrels though, by all means, continue. Collect specimens from the bikers.

8. Decorate your apartment with ramen.

Here’s how this works (I know people who swore by it for apartment décor): Spend 10 cents on a bag of dry ramen. Cook it so it’s wet and soft. Stick it to something. Let it dry. Shout “voila!” at neighbor-startling volumes. This little decorating trick is particularly effective draped over slatted window shades. Throw in some food coloring for holiday flair. Just don’t eat it when it falls off the wall and onto the carpet that you know hasn’t been vacuumed since your mom moved you in. Fair warning: I don’t know if this is RA citation proof.

9. Mess with you friends’ alarm clocks.

Set alarms for every hour, on the hour, or for ungodly hours of the morning. Or set them with the most obnoxious songs known to man.

But proceed carefully. This can backfire and leave you and your roommate both awake at 5 a.m. by the sultry sounds of Alvin and the Chipmunks.

10. Finally, help yourself get lucky.

If you need to brighten your own week, convert the horse/carrot contraption to your advantage. Hang mistletoe above your own head and wander campus. Twenty dollars say none of you try this. Prove me wrong.

Ready, set, go. Happy not studying!

Sarah Dorn is an English junior. Her column usually appeared every other Monday.

STAFF COLUMN

Poverty a problem worthy of attention still work to be done.

However, some issues have been forgotten.

Poverty has long been a problem around the world and here at home. As of 2006, more than 17 percent of Oklahomans were below the poverty line. The poverty line is considered to be $20,000 of annual income or less. And with the recent economic crisis, this issue has been brought to the attention of the entire country.

While most of us here at OU are lucky enough to be living the quaint, playful life of a college student, we often forget about those who are not so fortunate. We often forget that we have advantages that a lot of families just don’t have right

I N D E P E N D E N T

S T U D E N T

V O I C E

NEWSROOM DIRECTORY Meredith Simons Ellis Goodwin Nanette Light Amanda Turner Nijim Dabbour Hailey Branson Amy Frost

Editor-in-Chief Managing Editor Assistant Managing Editor Night Editor Assistant Night Editor Opinion Editor Photo Editor

Dane Beavers Kevin Hahn Corey DeMoss Adam Kohut Judy Gibbs Robinson R.T. Conwell

Senior Online Editor Multimedia Editor Sports Editor A&E Editor Editorial Adviser Advertising Manager

now. I know I often forget.

Most of us students don’t have to worry about mortgages or foreclosures or filing for bankruptcy or losing our jobs. We don’t have to worry about benefits or Medicare or social security – yet. We don’t have to worry about not getting that pricy dress or new laptop this year.

In the real world, hardship isn’t getting up for an 8 a.m. class or trying to figure out how to get a date. It is being a factory worker in Ohio and getting laid off with no idea of what the future will bring. It is being a single mother who can barely put food on the table for her kids. It is working your ass off every day, only to make minimum

O F

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T H E The Fine Print:

T H E

While most of us here at OU are lucky enough to be living the quaint, playful life of a college student, we often forget about those who are not so fortunate.

Contact Us:

I was going to write about Michelle Obama. I was going to write about how Michelle Obama will soon be an iconic first lady – the first I can think of to perfectly combine education, motherhood, femininity and independence.

I was going to write about the shadow that has often been cast on first ladies, the need to be prim and proper, the desire to be loving and quiet and the lifting of that shadow that it appears Mrs. Obama will soon do.

And while Michelle has ROSIE taken a huge step forward for women of all races inside and SONTHEIMER outside of the White House, for many, there are more pressing matters at hand. Over the last few centuries, women’s rights and racial civil rights have been at the forefront of advocacy.

And with hard work and true courage, both were, and continue to be, very successful movements – movements that cannot be abandoned for there is

wage for the rest of your life.

And the scariest part is at some point in time, this could be how some of us end up. After all, we all know our economy has been playing tricks lately. A lot of people didn’t think they would end up with the short end of the stick this year. But it happens. Some people are poor not because they don’t work hard enough; they are poor because the system works against them.

So let’s work for them. This holiday season, let’s donate food and time to soup kitchens so that no one has to skip a meal. Let’s buy presents for children who might otherwise receive none this year, and lets take a step back during our own holiday festivities to be truly thankful, not for video games or handbags, but for family, friends, happiness and health.

Let’s come back from our wonderful, monthlong break with stories to tell of charity and love.

Rosie Sontheimer is a journalism and women’s studies sophomore. Her column appeared every other Thursday.

U N I V E R S I T Y

The Oklahoma Daily is a public forum and OU’s independent student voice.

Letters should concentrate on issues, not personalities, and should be fewer than 250 words, typed, double spaced and signed by the author(s).

Letters will be cut to fit. Students must list their major and classification. OU staff and faculty must list their title. All letters must include a daytime phone number. Authors submitting letters in person must present photo identification. Submit letters Sunday

O F

O K L A H O M A

through Thursday, in 160 Copeland Hall. Letters can also be submitted via e-mail to dailyopinion@ou.edu.

Guest columns are accepted at editor’s discretion. ’Our View’ is the voice of The Oklahoma Daily.

Editorial Board members are The Daily’s editorial staff.

The board meets 1 p.m. Sundays in 160 Copeland Hall.

Columnists’ and cartoonists’ opinions are not necessarily the opinions of The Daily Editorial Board.

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

Arts & Entertainment

Thursday, Dec. 11, 2008

5

Surf, don’t study: wasting time on the Web • The Daily picks the best Web sites to while away the hours during ‘study time.’ Or any time really. We’re not trying to boss you around or anything. We just thought you might enjoy this. Don’t get so upset.

ADAM KOHUT The Oklahoma Daily

DIGG.COM

FAILBLOG.ORG

User submitted content, ranging from pictures to videos to online articles, is voted on by the Digg community. Submissions with the highest vote counts are posted on the site’s front page, where the some-odd millions of daily visitors will see them. A blend of news and entertainment, digg.com is a perfect time-waster Web site. And you just might learn something. Or see a picture of Andy Samberg highfiving a bobcat.

From the obscene to humorous, Failblog displays images and videos of failures. For example, one of the site’s postings shows a picture of a fortune cookie cracked open to reveal the paper fortune. It’s message? “The stock market may be your ticket to success.” Fail, for sure. Another good one: a snapshot of a billboard advertising Big Dick’s Halfway Inn. (Which is sexual innuendo; get it?)

Photo provided

Photo provided

Photo provided

GARFIELDMINUSGARFIELD.NET

Photo provided

PBFCOMICS.COM

Garfield Minus Garfield is “a site dedicated to removing Garfield from the ‘Garfield’ comic strips in order to reveal the existential angst of a certain young Mr. Jon Arbuckle, according to site creator Dan Walsh. “It is a journey deep into the mind of an isolated young everyman as he fights a losing battle against loneliness and depression in a quiet American suburb.”

It’s also the best Web site ever. And funnier than the actual “Garfield” comic strip (which sucks), to boot.

“The Perry Bible Fellowship” is an online comic created by New Yorker Nicholas Gurewitch, originating in the Syracuse University newspaper “The Daily Orange.” If twisted humor’s your thing, join the fellowship and get ready for a wild ride. Sort of. “PBF” is just a Web site, after all, so you won’t actually be going anywhere. It’s just a figure of speech meant to connotate the site’s ridiculous content.

Stop taking everything so literally.

Photo provided

Photo provided

A&E BRIEFLY

AP Photo

American Craig Ewert, 59, is shown in a documentary broadcast Wednesday on British television which showed Ewert’s death in an assisted suicide in a Swiss clinic wa. Ewert had degenerative motor neuron disease, known as Lou Gehrig’s Disease, and died at a clinic in Zurich run by the group Dignitas. Assisted suicide is legal in Switzerland in some circumstances and various organizations there provide suicide services.

Suicide on TV condemned in Britain GREGORY KATZ Associated Press LONDON — The scene is difficult to watch, even for viewers inured to the subject of dying by a steady diet of violent Hollywood and television fare.

Craig Ewert, a former computer scientist from Chicago, is shown lying in bed with his wife at his side while he takes barbiturates.

He asks for a glass of apple juice to mask the bad taste and help him swallow. Then he uses his teeth to turn off his ventilator — and dies on camera.

Britain’s obsession with reality television reached new heights — or depths — Wednesday night with the broadcast of the assisted suicide of the 59-year-old terminally ill

American at a Swiss clinic.

Showing the final moment of death had long been a final taboo, even for no-holds-barred British TV, where sex and violence are common, and the broadcast unleashed debate on an issue that strongly divides public opinion.

Photographs of Ewert’s final moments dominated Britain’s newspaper front pages Wednesday — “SUICIDE TV” screamed one tabloid — and prompted a debate in Parliament, where Prime Minister Gordon Brown was quizzed about the propriety of the decision to air the program.

Before he died, Ewert said taking his own life would mean less suffering for himself and his family.

“If I go through with it, I die as I

must at some point,” he says in the documentary, which chronicles his 2006 decision to take his own life after being diagnosed with degenerative motor neuron disease.

“If I don’t go through with it, my choice is essentially to suffer, and to inflict suffering on my family, and then die.”

Care Not Killing, an anti-euthanasia group aligned with the Catholic Church and other religious organizations in Britain, denounced the broadcast as “a cynical attempt to boost television ratings” and persuade Parliament to legalize assisted suicide.

“There is a growing appetite from the British public for increasingly bizarre reality shows,” said the group’s director, Peter Saunders.

“We’d see it as a new milestone.”

Actor/comedian Jerry Lewis to receive humanitarian Oscar award

annual Labor Day telethon.

The Oscars will be presented Feb. 22.

LOS ANGELES — Jerry Lewis has never been nominated for an Oscar, but he’s going to get one anyway. The 82-year-old will receive the Jean Hersholt Humanitarian Award at the Oscar ceremony in February.

The governors of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences announced their selection Wednesday. The Hersholt Award — an actual Oscar statuette — recognizes humanitarian efforts that have brought credit to the film industry.

An actor, director, writer and producer, Lewis made his bigscreen debut in 1949’s “My Friend Irma.” He has been national chairman of the Muscular Dystrophy Association since 1952 and has raised more than $2 billion for the cause through his

Broke Michael Jackson putting glittery glove up for auction LOS ANGELES — Michael Jackson’s glittery glove is going on the auction block.

The glove, which inspired countless copycats, quips and Halloween costumes after it was unveiled in the 1983 video for Jackson’s hit “Billie Jean,” will be part of a five-day auction next year, Julien’s Auctions announced Wednesday.

Jackson is also unloading the grandiose gates that once led to his Neverland Ranch, along with more than 2,000 other personal items.

— AP

Bizzell Memorial Library

OPEN 24 HOURS Friday, Dec. 12 at 7:30 a.m. until Friday, Dec. 19 at 8 p.m.

Everyone entering the library after midnight must present an OU ID until 7:30 a.m.

For more information, please visit http://libraries.ou.edu or call (405)325-4142..

University of Oklahoma Libraries

6

Classifieds

Thursday, Dec. 11, 2008

PLACE AN AD Phone 405.325.2521

E-Mail classifieds@ou.edu

Fax

Announcements ENTERTAINMENT 2009 spring break taste of Ireland, 6 days, air, lodging, private bus, meals, and certified Irish guides, room for 50 people on special rate, 1st deposit due mid Jan. 2009. for more info call 3308068 or www.scissortailtravel.com

405.325.7517

Office Copeland Hall 149A

Mail The Oklahoma Daily 860 Van Vleet Oval, 149A Norman OK 73019-2052

DEADLINES Line Ad. . . . . . . . . . . . . 9 a.m.

Place your classified line ad by 9 a.m., Monday-Friday to run in the next issue.

Display Ad. . . . .3 days prior Classified Display or Classified Card Ad are due 3 days prior to publication date.

PAYMENT s r

r

For Sale FURNITURE Solid Oak Table, Six Chairs, and Server $575.

Chaise Lounge $150. Queen Sleeper Sofa $275.

Call 405-722-4480.

C Transportation AUTO INSURANCE

Auto Insurance Quotations Anytime Foreign Students Welcomed Jim Holmes Insurance, 321-4664

Employment HELP WANTED

TM

Seeking part time and full time employees visit boomerbooks.com to apply.

Payment Payment is required at the time the ad is placed. Visa, MasterCard, Discover and American Express; cash, money orders or local checks accepted.

Credit Accounts Businesses may be eligible for credit in a limited, local billing area. Please inquire with Business Office at 405.325.2521.

RATES

Male needed to work with male individual with developmental disabilities. &7.50/hr to start. Paid training. Please call Panhandle Opportunities at 942-4822 or fax resume to 942-4993.

Financial institution has immediate opening for an experienced teller. Previous banking experience or experience in retail is preferred. Strong customer service skills req. Earn monthly performance incentives in addition to salary. Part time positions available. Apply in person at First Bank & Trust Co., 2330 36th Ave NW, Norman or send resume to Human Resources, PO Box 580, Duncan,OK 73534. EOE, M/F/D/V.

Now hiring lifeguard, swim instructors, and AM pool managers. Apply at the Cleveland County Family YMCA, 1350 Lexington Ave. EOE.

Line Ads Rates are determined by the price per line, per day. There is a two line minimum charge; approximately 40 characters per line, including spaces and punctuation.

1 day ............. $4.25/line 2 days ........... $2.50/line 3-4 days........ $2.00/line 5-9 days........ $1.50/line 10-14 days.... $1.15/line 15-19 days.... $1.00/line 20-29 days.... $ .90/line 30+ days ..... $ .85/line

Classified Display Ads Rates are $16.00 per column inch, per day with a minimum of 2 column inches.

$5,000-$45,000 PAID. EGG DONORS for up to 9 donations, + Exps, non-smokers, Ages 19-29, SAT>1100/ACT>24/GPA>3.00 Contact: info@eggdonorcenter.com We pay up to $75.00 per online survey! www.cashtospend.com.

Employment HELP WANTED Community Service Coordinator (Contract) Legal Some college or experience with social service agency and/or grant administration preferred. Knowledge of business administration practices associated with community services programs and juveniles. Valid Oklahoma Driver’s License and satisfactory driving record, $10.00 - $11.00 per hour. Obtain applications at 201-C West Gray, Human Resources Dept, City of Norman (405) 366-5482 or www.NormanOK. gov. EOE/AA

J Housing Rentals

J

APTS. FURNISHED

HOUSES

Walk to Campus -3 bdrm. apt $600 a month -1 bdrm. apt $350 a month -1 bdrm. all bills paid $475 a month (duplex) Call Sharon 397-3200 at Metro Brokers 2BR, 1/2BA apartment, $550/mo, $300 dep. email: eforren@ou.edu or call 226-3285

Walk to Campus!

Efficiency $375/MO. + 1/2 OFF 1st MO. RENT. Water/Sewage/Trash Paid.

Corner of Boyd and College.

For more info contact Elite Properties at 360-6624.

High energy waitstaff wanted! Buffalo Wild Wings Grill & Bar. Apply in person: I-40 & Rockwell.

Make up to $75 per online survey www.cashtospend.com.

Teller Financial institution has an immediate opening for an experienced teller. Previous banking experience or experience in retail is preferred. Strong customer service skills required. Earn monthly performance incentives in addition to salary.

Part-Time positions available. Apply in person at First Bank & Trust Co., 2330 36th Ave NW, Norman or send resume to Human Resources, P.O. Box 580, Duncan, OK 73534. Equal Opportunity Employer M/F/D/V Bartending! Up to $250/day. No exp nec. Training provided. 1-800-965-6520, x133.

J Housing Rentals APTS. FURNISHED $400, bills paid, efficiency LOFT apartments, downtown over Mister Robert Furniture, 109 E Main, fire sprinkler, no pets, smoke-free. Inquire store office.

2 bedrms starting at $299 lease today, move in tomorrow! Call 366-0999.

APTS. UNFURNISHED Downtown Norman 3 bdrm loft apt or 1,000 sq ft office with kitch & bath over Mister Robert Furniture, 109 E. Main. $990/mo. Water & gas paid.

See BOB, Mr. Robert Furniture.

1/2 OFF 1ST MONTHS RENT Dec. & Jan. Move-ins only! $99 DEPOSIT! PETS WELCOME! Models open 8a-8p Everyday!

1&2 bedrooms available!

Elite Properties 360-6624 or www.elite2900.com

(located just below the puzzle)

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 405.325.2521 before the deadline for cancellation in the next issue. Refunds will not be issued for early cancellation.

Errors not the fault of the advertiser will be adjusted.

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.

Help Wanted ads in The Oklahoma Daily are not classified as to gender.

Advertisers understand that they may not discriminate in employment on the basis of 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.

P RO C E S S

FIRE YOUR LANDLORD! OWN YOUR OWN HOME! GET A DOG!

Help your students to achieve their goals.

One bed home, totally new throughout including kitchen and bath. Payments cheaper than rent. $58900 sales price. Gwen @ Metro Brokers of OK 820-5454 (B/O)

• Tuition assistance • Career skills • Leadership training • Part-time service in your community

Sell your stuff.

GET

OA UP T

00 $20,0 S

NU T BO

TMEN ALIFY U QU IF YO

ENLIS

classifieds@ou.edu

1-800-GO-GUARD www.1-800-GO-GUARD.com

DUPLEXES UNFURNISHED NEAR OU, nice 2 bd, 1 bth Duplex, carpet, CH/A, w/d hkup, $425/mo, $300/dep, no pets. Ref req.

329-5568 or 496-3993, lv msg.

HOUSES UNFURNISHED 2709 Deer Chase Cir., 4bd, 21/2 bth, loft overlooks family room, 3 car garage 329-2310.

Nice, large 3-4 bd, 826 Jona Kay, 3/2/2/2 living, fp, 2000sf, $950/mo; 2326 Lindenwood, 4/2.5/2/3 living, 2400sf, $995/mo. 360-2873 or 306-1970.

2 bdrm house, 4 blks to OU, wood floors, CH/A, stove, refrig, w/d, no pets, $600/mo. Call BOB, MISTER ROBERT FURNITURE, 321-1818.

TOWNHOUSES UNFURNISHED Griffin Park Townhouse, 2 bdrm, 1.5 bath, combined living and dining room, all appliances, furnished/unfurnished, neutral colors. 329-2310.

J

Housing Sales

CONDOS 2 bdrm, 1.5 bath, 928 sf, upstairs with brand new carpet and tile, 1 mile to OU, $39,000. Holly Van Auken, Dillard Group, 326-1999.

HOUSES Available Now Restored 5 bedroom bungalow with hardwood floors & central heat and air. $1000 a month.

Sharon at Metro Brokers 397-3200.

It’s the NUMBER ONE cancer killer.

Previous Solution 3 6 1 8 7 4 2 9 5

4 2 8 9 5 3 1 7 6

5 9 7 1 6 2 4 3 8

1 4 9 7 8 6 5 2 3

8 3 5 2 9 1 6 4 7

6 7 2 3 4 5 8 1 9

9 5 3 4 2 8 7 6 1

7 8 4 6 1 9 3 5 2

2 1 6 5 3 7 9 8 4

DifďŹ culty Schedule: Monday - Very Easy Tuesday - Easy Wednesday - Easy Thursday - Medium Friday - Hard

Instructions: Fill in the grid so that every row, every column and every 3x3 box contains the digits 1 through 9. That means that no number is repeated in any row, column or box.

NO MORE EXCUSES. NO MORE LUNG CANCER.

Universal Crossword Edited by Timothy E. Parker December 11, 2008

lungcanceralliance.org

ACROSS 1 Added benefit 5 Bridge decline 10 Straightarrow link 14 Side by side 15 Formal pronouncements 16 What today’s bid will be tomorrow?

17 Bogdanovich film (with “The�)

20 Long geological period 21 Working mom’s aid 22 Like some powerful voices 26 Works for 27 “My Beautiful Laundrette� writer Kureishi 28 It may be hard to come out of 31 “Mayflower� pole 32 Italian title of respect 34 Astronomical Major or Minor 36 Choosing, in a way 41 Narrow wood strip 42 Significant effect 44 Bryn ___ College 48 Eyelid

Game Sponsorships

1 col (1.833 in) x 2.25 inches Crossword .....$515/month

IS A LIFELONG

1,2,3,&4 bedrooms, starting at $350/mo. 1/2 OFF FIRST MONTHS RENT! Available immediately.

The Edge at Norman. Call (303) 550-5554 or email: iris_macintosh@msn.com.

Classified Card Ads are $170 per column inch with a minimum of 2 column inchs and run 20 consecutive issues. Ad copy may change every five issues.

2 col (3.792 in) x 2 inches Sudoku ...........$760/month Boggle............$760/month Jumble ...........$760/month Horoscope .....$760/month

LEARNING

CONDOS UNFURNISHED

Classified Card Ads

Classified Display Ads located directly above the following games/puzzles. Limited spaces available – only one space per game.

Housing Sales

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.

Innovative Court Solutions seeks P/T Male Drug Tester. Flexible hours. Contact 329-9100 for more information.

NORMAN PUBLIC LIBRARY needs assistant for training customers to use computers. 20 hrs/wk, 1,005.00/mo. Req. application form and detailed description available at www.pioneer.lib.ok.us.

Position open through Dec. 19, 2008.

R.T. Conwell, advertising manager classiďŹ eds@ou.edu phone: 325-2521, fax: 325-7517 For more, go to oudaily.com.

Hazing?

Not on our campus.

Report incidents at:

325-5000

All calls are anonymous.

The University of Oklahoma is an Equal Opportunity Institution.

position 50 Producer, actress and host 51 Healing plants 53 Olive stuffer 55 Small underground water carrier 58 Slender gull 59 Part of a Trump book title 64 Spy and dancer Mata 65 Plastic shoelace thingie 66 Shakespearean character 67 Org. 68 Preminger suspense classic 69 Like Superman’s vision DOWN 1 Amigo 2 Historic age 3 Abbr. next to a telephone number 4 Olympic skater Witt 5 Ding-dong 6 Ant magnet 7 Play part, or play a part 8 It gives support in the home 9 Darlene on “Roseanne�

10 FBI sting of the late ’70s 11 Largest desert

12 Bedecks 13 Latest 18 Large pheasant 19 Kind of shadow 22 Openmouthed exclamations 23 No longer due 24 Certain Ga. Tech grad.

25 Hand over, as money 29 Miniver or Robinson 30 Spumante lead-in 33 Narrow inlets 35 Wardrobe cabinet 37 Utmost degree 38 Book addendum 39 Put on notice 40 Singing style popularized

by Louis

Armstrong 43 Howe’er 44 Mrs. Washington 45 Warm welcomes 46 Some purchasers of candy and flowers 47 Hire, as an attorney 49 Giggle nervously 52 Type of camera, for short 54 Maestro Zubin 56 Abbreviation akin to etc.

57 Forum wrap 60 Pandemic disease of 1918 61 Type of wax 62 Palindromic honorific 63 Myrna of movies

PREVIOUS PUZZLE ANSWER

Š 2008 Universal Press Syndicate www.upuzzles.com

“HANG ‘EM HIGH� by Spencer Colby

Pre-Leasing for January www.oig.biz

One Bedroom

$ 415 per month

Office Hours: M-F 9-6, Sat 10-3 1149 E. Brooks • 364-5622

Previous Answers

Sports

Corey DeMoss, sports editor dailysports@ou.edu phone: 325-7630, fax: 325-6051 For more, go to oudaily.com.

Thursday, Dec. 11, 2008

7

STAFF COLUMN

Enjoy the current OU Golden Age y graduation day is tomorrow, and that fact has made me look back on my career at OU. Since I’ve essentially lived in the Daily newsroom for the past few years, much of my thought process revolves around sports.

So I just have one farewell message to students and Sooner fans: enjoy this year.

If you haven’t followed the OU football team for long, you might not realize how lean the years were before Bob Stoops arrived. Stoops’ two predecessors — Howard Schnellenberger and John Blake — combined to go 17-27-1 in the four years prior to Stoops’ arrival. In his ten-year tenure, Stoops is 109-23 with just two home losses.

Some students seem to think OU has always COREY been at the top of the college football mountain, DEMOSS but that isn’t the case. And whenever Stoops leaves — which won’t be for a long time — the Sooners could return to mediocrity again. Enjoy the team’s current success, and stop lamenting BCS bowl losses. It could be worse.

The men’s basketball team is the best it has been in years, and has one of the most dangerous duos in program history in Blake Griffin and Willie Warren. The Sooners are up to No. 5 in the nation, and could easily begin the season 16-0 before taking on Texas.

The job Jeff Capel has done pulling his team back into contention after the mess Kelvin Sampson left is incredible.

Even factoring in the inevitable poor game here and there, the Sooners should finish in the top 10 and get a high seed in the NCAA Tournament. They could easily make it deep into the tournament, but enjoy it while it lasts. Griffin will almost certainly leave for the NBA after this year, and Warren could follow suit.

The NBA eligibility rules generally result in lots of player turnover, so the team could go up and down talent-wise for a while. OU might not see a team this good for years.

Women’s basketball has continued its recent dominance, led by Courtney Paris and her 100 consecutive double-doubles. Nobody has held her under 10 points and 10 rebounds in more than three years. That is absolutely ridiculous.

Then there are the vastly under-appreciated sports, namely hockey, wrestling and gymnastics. The hockey club is ranked in the nation’s top 10, wrestling is in the nation’s top 20 and men’s gymnastics is coming off its eighth national title.

With the success of all these teams, OU is in a sports Golden Age, but students seem to be taking it for granted. After this year, Griffin will be gone, Paris will be gone and three of the Sooners’ top four wide receivers will be gone.

I can honestly say I feel honored to have been at OU during the past four years, and have gotten a chance to experience some amazing sports moments.

At this time next year, you may be realizing how much you missed out on. So roll out to as many sporting events as you can find, because years from now you’ll be able to say you saw famous athletes in person.

M

Amy Frost/The Daily

Senior Taylor Griffin, left, and freshman Willie Warren (13) defend Maine guard Junior Bernal (12) during OU’s 78-52 victory Wednesday. Warren scored 19 points in only 20 minutes, helping the Sooners improve to 9-0 on the season.

Sooners smother Maine • Sooners remain undefeated with 28-point victory ERIC DAMA The Oklahoma Daily The OU men’s basketball team’s title as the only remaining unbeaten team in the Big 12 stands poised to live at least a couple more days.

The Sooners improved to 9-0 on the season with its 78-52 dismantling of Maine last night at Lloyd Noble Center, moving OU within one victory of tying its best start since the 2003-04 season, when it opened with a 10-0 record.

Sophomore Blake Griffin led all players with 22 points and 10 rebounds, recording his seventh double-double of the season, but only his first in the last three games.

“In the film we saw,” Griffin said, “they did a good job against the zone, but I noticed they helped off on the wing so I just stayed inside and ready and our guys did a good job of finding me.”

“I thought tonight was another strong OU outscored Maine 44-20 in the paint and out-rebounded the squad by a margin defensive effort,” Capel said. “Their coach does a good job of coaching their team, but of 78-52.

“Tonight we were a little bit physical- our athleticism overwhelmed them today.”

Freshman Willie Warren ly overmatched,” said made use of the limited Maine head coach Ted 20 minutes of action he Woodward. “They obvisaw Wednesday, finishously had a lot to do with ing with 19 points, two that. [Griffin] did a great assists and two steals. job and certainly inside “I thought [Warren] was a problem for us.” attacked, especially out The Black Bears in transition,” Capel said. entered Wednesday’s Want to see more pictures from “We have to do a better game shooting 38 perWednesday night’s action? A full job of hitting him in trancent from three-point terphoto slideshow can be viewed on sition. I thought he was ritory, but that success oudaily.com. patient, and I didn’t think was absent against the Also available: photos of fans he forced much.”

Sooners. and football players celebrating the Freshman Ray Willis Before practice Sooners’ Big 12 Championship. was one of eight bench Tuesday, head coach Jeff players who recorded Capel said that their main minutes on the floor goal defensively was to Wednesday. Willis prokeep the pressure on vided the Sooners with a Maine and not let any of boost of offense in the second half, scoring the players get into a shooting rhythm.

Credit the Sooners for sticking to their 13 points and grabbing five rebounds.

Next up for the Sooners is Utah. The two game plan. OU held the Black Bears to just 6-of-22 shooting from beyond the arc and teams will face each other at 3 p.m. Saturday at Lloyd Noble Center.

17-58 from the field.

CAMPUS NOTES The Daily draws all entries for Campus Notes from OUDaily.com’s comprehensive, campus-wide calendar. To get your event noticed, visit OUDaily.com and fill out our user-friendly form under the calendar link.

POLICE REPORTS 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.

DRIVING UNDER THE INFLUENCE-LIQUOR OR DRUGS/ACTUAL PHYSICAL CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE

— COREY DEMOSS IS THE SPORTS EDITOR AND A JOURNALISM SENIOR.

HOROSCOPE

By Bernice Bede Osol

Copyright 2008, Newspaper Enterprise Assn.

Thursday, Dec. 11, 2008

Matthew James Barse, 29, W. Lindsey Street, Monday, also leaving scene of accident

TODAY

PETTY LARCENY Shanna Jae Cox, 19, 300 block N. Interstate Drive E., Monday Megan Elizabeth Morse, 19, 300 block N. Interstate Drive E., Monday

FRED FILMS Two films will be shown at 7 p.m. in the Fred Jones Jr. Museum of Art.

ASSAULT AND BATTERY Tara Renee Dickinson, 18, 2900 block Oak Tree Avenue, Monday Christy L. Martin, 23, 900 block 22nd Avenue S.E., Tuesday

FRIDAY

MUNICIPAL WARRANT BIZZELL MEMORIAL LIBRARY

Angela Dawn Elliott, 34, 3700 block E. Robinson Street, Tuesday

Beginning Friday, university libraries will remain open 24 hours until Dec. 19.

PUBLIC INTOXICATION

SCHOOL OF MUSIC

DOG AT LARGE

There will be an organ performance at 8 p.m. at Gothic Hall in Catlett Music Center.

Tamara L. Zimmerman, 23, Ferrill Avenue, Thursday

OU HOCKEY Hockey team plays Robert Morris College at 7:30 p.m. at the Blazers Ice Center in Oklahoma City.

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SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 23-Dec. 21) -- Instead of reacting angrily to someone who is a trifle testy, charm him or her into submission with smiles and graciousness.

Your pleasant disposition will melt the most hostile of hearts.

CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19) -- A wonderful surprise could be in the offing for displaying good form on an assignment at the workplace. Perform to the best of your ability, and you’ll end up a happy person.

AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 19) -Although there might be certain things you want done in a specific manner, it isn’t likely that you will be disappointed. Your ability to communicate your wishes will be quite clear.

GEMINI (May 21-June 20) -One of your greatest assets is the ability to impart knowledge to others in ways they’ll retain and put to excellent use. Don’t hold back any information that could benefit another.

CANCER (June 21-July 22) -- Conditions are perfect for sowing the seeds of success, from which you will reap over and over again. When you put the concerns of others above your own, you come out the winner.

LEO (July 23-Aug. 22) -- You’ll be far more effective when you can operate with people on a one-on-one basis. If you have anything important to impart, make your points singularly.

PISCES (Feb. 20-March 20) An important matter that has provided some tribulation is apt to work out far better than you had imagined. Negative elements won’t be operative.

VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22) -- If you’re striving to achieve a personal ambition or goal, and need some help, solicit it from someone of the opposite gender.

You’ll connect better with those who operate from a reverse point of view.

ARIES (March 21-April 19) -- There might be a good reason why a long-lost friend keeps popping into your mind. Get on your computer or telephone, and contact this individual.

LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 23) -- Even though it’s edging toward the end of the week and you have lots of work yet to accomplish, try to squeeze in a bit of recreational time. It’ll act as a refresher.

TAURUS (April 20-May 20) -- Don’t put off working on a situation that could make or save you money. In fact, conditions are better than usual at this time for putting extra funds in your pocket.

SCORPIO (Oct. 24-Nov. 22) -- Some days are better for generating funds than others, and today is one where your financial prospects look more encouraging than usual. Don’t waste your time on non-productive activities.

8

Thursday, Dec. 11, 2008

The Daily’s 2008 BCS bowl breakdown Editor’s note: This is the third in a four-part series on the college football postseason. Today features an in-depth look at the match-ups in all four BCS bowls as well as the national championship.

NO. 3 TEXAS VS. NO. 10 OHIO STATE Players to watch: QB Colt McCoy (Texas); QB Terrelle Pryor (Ohio State)

NO. 12 CINCINNATI VS. NO. 19 VIRGINIA TECH

Breakdown: Both teams will be coming in with something to prove: Alabama that it is truly one of the best teams in the nation, Utah that it deserves to play with the big boys.

Alabama has a stifling defense and a smashmouth running game and will be looking to overpower Utah into submission.

Johnson led Utah to an undefeated season this year by completing more than 68 percent of his passes while throwing 24 touchdowns and nine interceptions. More people might know his name after this game, but the Utes still got an unlucky draw against such a strong team.

Breakdown: Texas will be fuming from its supposed snubbing in the Big 12 and BCS Championship. But will that cause the Longhorns to play inspired? Or will they come out flat because the game isn’t for the national title?

Ohio State has flown under the radar for most of the season after a huge early-season loss to USC, but freshman Pryor has made major strides in the passing game in recent weeks and has proven to be dangerous running and throwing.

The 1-2 punch of Pryor and running back Beanie Wells will be difficult for Texas to contain, but expect McCoy to have his offense focused and ready. Then, if Texas wins, prepare to hear more complaints about its Players to watch: QB Sam Bradford (OU); QB Tim Tebow (Florida) victory over OU. Breakdown: This is the game Sooner fans have been awaiting for four Prediction: Texas 35, Ohio State 27 years. There are plenty of motivating factors for OU in this one, not least of which will be Bob Stoops’ desire to shed his recent bowl woes and the team’s desire to prove the correct team was selected for the Big 12 Championship.

This game should feature plenty of offensive fireworks, as OU is the No. 1 scoring team in the nation while Florida is No. 3. The two teams have combined to score just shy of 100 points per game, and this one should be no different.

Bradford could be coming off a Heisman Trophy victory, while Tebow might win his second in as many years. Both quarterbacks thrive in their respective system, and neither makes many mistakes — they have combined for 93 total touchdowns and only eight interceptions.

Bradford will have to rely on the Sooners’ dominant offensive line to give him time to pick apart the Florida secondary, while DeMarco Murray and Chris Brown will need to team up to sustain long drives and keep the dangerous Florida offense off the field.

On defense, the Sooners will have to apply consistent pressure — Players to watch: LB Ray Maualuga (USC); QB Daryll Clark (Penn which they have done well in recent weeks — and force Tebow into some rare mistakes while keeping him from rolling out of the pocket State) and extending plays.

The defense will also have to keep a constant eye on Florida scatback Breakdown: The seasons of both these teams were wrecked by one loss to an inferior team in a bad conference — USC to Oregon State and Percy Harvin, who is one of the most dangerous players in the nation.

The Sooners successfully limited all three premier receivers they Penn State to Iowa.

Both teams thrive on strong defense — both are in the nation’s top faced this year — Texas Tech’s Michael Crabtree, Oklahoma State’s Dez five in yardage allowed and points allowed — and this game figures to Bryant and Missouri’s Jeremy Maclin — but none have been used the way Florida will use Harvin. be a low-scoring affair.

This one could come down to a costly turnover or a quarterback Both schools have the talent of a national championship contender, and both have the potential to beat any other team in the nation. This is orchestrating a late-game drive for the win, but either way should be the best match-up outside of the title game, and should come down to one of the highest-scoring and most entertaining national title games in recent memory. which defense can create the most turnovers.

Prediction: Alabama 31, Utah 10

Prediction: USC 24, Penn State 14

Players to watch: WR Marshwan Gilyard (Cincinnati); RB Darren Evans (Virginia Tech) Breakdown: Cincinnati is perhaps the best story of this year’s BCS. Injuries forced the Bearcats to use five different starting quarterbacks and six total, but they still managed to win the Big East.

Virginia Tech’s passing game has been anemic most of the season, with the Hokies’ two quarterbacks — Tyrod Taylor and Sean Glennon — combining to throw more interceptions (11) than touchdowns (5).

This game will feature two of the nation’s best coaches in Cincy’s Brian Kelly and Virginia Tech’s Frank Beamer, and the winner could be decided by which coaches a better game.

Prediction: Virginia Tech 24, Cincinnati 17

NO. 4 ALABAMA VS. NO. 6 UTAH Players to watch: RB Glen Coffee (Alabama); QB Brian Johnson (Utah)

NO. 1 OKLAHOMA VS. NO. 2 FLORIDA

NO. 5 USC VS. NO. 9 PENN STATE

Prediction: Oklahoma 49, Florida 45

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