THURSDAY JULY 23, 2009
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CITY SMOKING BAN BEGINS Norman parks go tobaccofree beginning Thursday KATY PEARSON The Oklahoma Daily
KATY PEARSON/THE OKLAHOMA DAILY
Andrews Park visitor Ryan Cornwell, 21, a smoker, reads a sign informing the public of the new smoking ban for Norman city parks. The ban goes into effect Thursday.
Norman police will begin enforcing a new ordinance Thursday for anyone deciding to light up in Norman city parks. The ordinance, approved by the Norman City Council June 23, bans tobacco use in any Norman city park. A similar proposed ban failed two years ago. Signs were posted in city parks Monday to inform citizens of the changes that were to come. Norman Police Capt. Leonard Judy said that based upon the experiences of other cities that have enacted similar ordinances, the police department anticipates good compliance by Norman citizens and other park visitors. “We expect that our primary role will be one of education about the ordinance, rather than enforcement of it,” he said. The ordinance excludes Westwood
Golf Course because city officials say smoking on the golf course is not as likely to bother or harm others. Norman city parking lots are also exempt. Norman is the third city in Oklahoma to pass such an ordinance, after Owasso and Noble, according to Parks Director Jud Foster. He said the ordinance is important because cigarette butts left on the ground pose a threat to children who might put them in their mouths. “It’s a public health issue and it’s about the example we are setting for children,” Foster said. Judy also said officers have been informed of the new ordinance and will primarily act to inform violators early on rather than cite them. However, if violators exhibit an unwillingness to comply when contacted by the officer, they may still be cited. According to Judy, violators can receive a citation. If the defendant appears within five working days and enters a guilty or no contest plea with a court clerk, the cost will be a $10 to $100 fine and another $44 in court costs. Judy also said if the defendant fails to appear, a new charge of ‘failure to appear’ will be added and a warrant may
be issued for his or her arrest. The Norman community’s reaction to the ban has varied. Robert Foster, political science sophomore, said he is thrilled with the new ordinance. He frequently goes to city parks with friends and said not only are the cigarette butts littering the ground unappealing and bad for the environment, but he also dislikes the secondhand smoke of passersby. “When I go to the park I expect it to be a healthy, wholesome, fun experience,” he said. “Now in parks I am choking on a stranger’s smoke- it’s no different than when I was walking on a crowded sidewalk in New York City.” Whitney Rogers, 21, is a smoker and frequent Andrews Park visitor. She said she used to go to concerts and summer events in the park and smoking was just part of the relaxing atmosphere. “I won’t be going to the park events near as much if I can’t smoke,” Rogers said. “Smoking is part of what I do to relax and enjoy my time in the park. I see people at these events drinking alcohol and then they drive home. How can it be fair that they can drink but I can’t smoke?”
Housing and Food may re-assign Traditions roommates LUKE ATKINSON AND JAMES LOVETT The Oklahoma Daily
Housing and Food Services may be changing the room assignments of some OU Traditions Square residents next week. Dave Annis, director of Housing and Food Services, said the process of choosing housing assignments for the campus apartments was different compared to other years. This year, Housing and Food used a computer program to choose the students’ housing from their requested priorities. “The process this year was different,” Annis said. “We used a House Director system that we had used in the residence halls for three years. This was the first time for the apartments. Anytime you start a new process, there will be some issues you have to work out.” The Daily reported July 13 that several students were upset with their housing assignments. Students were unhappy because some of the priorities they had requested were not fulfilled, and some residents experienced mixups with their future roommates. Arthur Vincent Jr., aerospace engineering junior, was roomed with a female in his first housing assignment. “When I filled out my housing
contract in March during transfer day, I asked for someone who was clean, quiet and who had their priorities in line,” Vincent said. “I looked on Facebook and, sure enough, my roommate was a girl.” Other students said they were discontent with the floor plans they were provided, because they believed they could receive their requested bedroom. “I requested a two-bedroom [apartment] with my roommate, and was told by people in the Housing and Food office that I should have no problem with getting what I had requested,” said Madeleine Fontenot, College of Arts and Sciences junior and threeyear resident of university housing. “When I finally received my housing assignment for the summer — about a week before we were expected to move out of our current four-bedroom at Traditions East — it said that I would be living in another four-bedroom apartment with three strangers. When we finally received our fall housing assignments on July 13, I was shocked to read that my requested roommate and I were assigned to a fourbedroom apartment in Traditions West with two strangers.” Sarah Davies, international business junior, said she was furious
PHOTO ILLUSTRATION BY JACOB VOGT/THE DAILY
A new computer program used by Housing and Food Services caused hundreds of students to move to different apartments within Traditions Square. when she received her assignment, which placed her in Traditions West instead of Traditions East. “I set up an appointment with Natalie [Macnak, director of OU Traditions assignments] and she didn’t show up,” said Davies. “Jenn Doughty was very helpful and told me I could stay in the same
apartment. Not moving is completely OK with me.” Annis said whenever Housing and Food implements a new roommate-matching system, there may be some problems. “It’s very obvious we’ve had some problems, I’ll be the first to admit that,” he said. “But I think we
are doing a lot as we go forward trying to correct those problems. .” As for students upset about not receiving the room they want although they have been loyal to university housing, Annis said there is no system of ranking students ahead of another based on loyalty, but in the future, there may be. “There was no part of the Loyalty Program based on some system of points, saying ‘You’ve been with us for two years, so you’ve got first crack at an apartment,’” said Annis, “I’m not sure that’s something we couldn’t talk with HCSA [Housing Center Student Association] to see if that is something they would be interested in us looking into.” Annis said some of the residents with complaints will receive a new assignment within the next week. “About 25 percent of the students should be receiving a new assignment that better reflects their choices,” he said. Annis said there were lessons learned by Housing and Food Services among the confusion. “Now, did we learn something about the process and how to communicate better with students? Yes, we did,” Annis said. “We hope students understand what we are doing for them, not to be a pain in the butt.”
NBC’s ‘The Biggest Loser’ comes to Norman KELLY MAROSE The Oklahoma Daily
“The Biggest Loser” is squeezing its way into Norman Saturday. The NBC weight-loss reality show will be holding tryouts from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. inside O’Connell’s restaurant on Campus Corner. Casting directors hope to interview the first 500 people in line. The Campus Corner Merchants Association is working on clearing construction by O’Connell’s before the event, said Helen Wolney, president of the association. She said no roads will be closed and stores will maintain their normal business hours. “All the shops will be open,” Wolney said. “Anybody interested in seeing what’s going on down here, come on down.” O’Connell’s Manager, Mikel Crowley. said the restaurant will stay open. He plans to keep the north side of the restaurant clear for the casting directors to conduct interviews. Amanda Harmer, a former “Biggest Loser” contestant and OU graduate, said she is planning to attend the casting call. Harner and her husband were on the fifth season of the show, which premiered in 2008, and worked out continually for six months. The show was filmed at a ranch in Calabasas, Calif., where she said they spent their first three weeks until they were voted off. “It was hard from the day we started filming until the finale,” Harmer said. “At the ranch, we worked out for six to eight
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PHOTO ILLUSTRATION BY ELI HULL/THE DAILY
NBC’s weight-loss reality show “The Biggest Loser” will be holding auditions for its ninth season Saturday at O’Connell’s Irish Pub and Grille on Campus Corner. hours a day. So, it was pretty intense.” Harmer said for the rest of the filming of the show, she and her husband worked out at home, four to five hours a day, on top of balancing full-time jobs and a 2-year-old son. “We kind of lived in this weird little bubble for about 6 months, where that’s all we focused on,” she said. Ardmore resident, Lori Lemons, plans on trying out for the show this weekend. “It is actually my dream,” Lemons said. “I’ve watched the show since season one and I’ve always, always, always © 2009 OU PUBLICATIONS BOARD
wanted to get on there.” The 44-year-old vocal music teacher saw an ad for the tryouts in her local newspaper, and said she hopes to use her personality to woo the casting directors at the tryouts. Lemons said she is inspired by the progress the contestants make, and thinks the accountability would be helpful. “I’ll never forget the scene where the person was throwing up all over the treadmill, but they kept on going,” Lemons said. “I think that once you make it, there’s no maybe, you’re going to do it.” Harmer offered some words of advice to the contestants that will be trying out. “I think my perspective has always been to go in and just be yourself. Be able to go in and talk about your struggle with weight, and in an honest way,” she said. Harmer said those who do not make it should keep trying. She said being on the show was fun, but she did not do anything anyone else could not do. “We counted calories, and worked out a lot,” Harmer said, “That was the big secret.” Harmer said the healthy habits she practiced on the show have become a regular part of her and her husband’s life. She said she thinks Norman is a great town for the tryouts, and thinks it will provide a fun atmosphere. Applicants are asked to dress comfortably, and to not line up more than three hours in advance and do not need to bring anything. Applications will be handed out to those waiting in line. Call backs will be contacted by the following Monday.
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