Student choreographers’ show a must-see (Life & arts, Page 9) The University of Oklahoma’s independent student voice since 1916
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2 011 G OL D C ROW N F I N A L I S T
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Bad standing limits graduate funding Five departments unable to request grants from Senate
made it possible to gather more information about a native Oklahoma tribe known as the Caddo. Dowd used a $595 research CHASE COOK grant from the Graduate Managing Editor Student Senate to carbon Elsbeth Dowd, anthropolo- date a piece of charcoal from gy graduate student, received an archeological dig known a grant from her peers that as the Cook site. The charcoal
dated back to the late 13th century, which Dowd said helped shed light on specifically when natives were active at that site. “The GSS provides a wonderful opportunity to supplement external funding,” Dowd said. “It’s really nice to have this extra [source of
funding].” Students in five different graduate student departments won’t have the same opportunity as Dowd this semester. These departments have been listed in bad standing by the Senate, meaning each department’s students are
not eligible for Senate grants ranging from $75 to $750: • College of Architecture • Electrical and Computer Engineering • Leadership and Academic Curriculum • Landscape Architecture • Petroleum and Geological Engineering
Graduate departments are classified in bad standing if they do not send senators to the Senate or if active senators have more than two unexcused absences during a semester, Senate chairman Derrell Cox said. see GRANTS PaGe 2
studY aBroad
HousIng center student assocIatIon
Student creates survival guide Booklet inspired by personal experiences MELODIE LETTKEMAN Photo Chief
meLodie LettKeman/tHe daiLy
Cervical cancer survivor Abby Skinner, environmental sustainability sophomore, makes blue ribbons to pass out to attendees of the Sexperts cervical cancer awareness talk Thursday while a dinosaur collection bank waits to hold donations to the National Cervical Cancer Coaltion.
Sooner beats cancer, shares battle Fundraiser for student now benefits patient care
she had received her diagnosis hours before. All the 19-year-old environmental sustainability sophomore could think about was the possibility that she would never be able to SARAH MARTIN have her own children. Campus Reporter Skinner, who is the Walker Center Resident Tears came down Abby Skinner’s face as Student Association president, never expectshe cradled her friend’s newborn child in a ed to harbor these fears, but then again, she hospital room only steps away from where never expected to be diagnosed with an early-
stage case of cervical cancer, either. After being diagnosed in the summer of 2011 and having surgery on her 20th birthday in August, Skinner has fully recovered from cervical cancer and made it her mission to raise awareness about the disease, she said. The members of the OU Housing Center
After spending twoand-a-half months living homeless while studying abroad in Bordeaux, France, Beth Forsythe realized the OU study abroad program might need a little help. When she returned to the U.S., the letters senior began working with OU Education Abroad Director Alice Kloker to fill the gaps in the program that had led to her predicament. This collaboration resulted in an eight-page “s u r v i v a l g u i d e ” f o r students travelling to Bordeaux, featuring important details such as how to get a dorm or find housing. “This project was started and run by me because I saw a need,” Forsythe said. “I have friends who studied abroad who said they needed it as well.” Forsythe’s guide also
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tedXou
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Event allows discussion on local level Professor to share 300 individuals views with dance to attend sold-out conference SEAN LAWSON
Campus Reporter
T h e T E D x O U c o n f e rence today in the Oklahoma Memorial Union’s Meacham Auditorium will feature 14 speakers from diverse backgrounds lecturing some of OU’s brightest students, said event organizers. TED, which stands for
Technology, Entertainment and Design, began in 1984 as a non-profit conference, according to its website. TEDx events are independently organized and designed to give communities, organizations and individuals the opportunity to stimulate dialogue on a local level. The all-day conference is sold out, but videos of the lectures will be posted online. “The goal is to connect the university students, faculty, staff and citizens from across
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Ladies, don’t forget cervical cancer test
the state to a collection of intellectually curious thoughtleaders representing a variety of backgrounds and perspectives,” said Daniel Pullin, vice president at the OU Center for the Creation of Economic Wealth. The event has its roots in a meeting between Pullin and TED curator Ken Stoner at a TEDxOKC event in April 2011. Pullin and the CCEW were interested in hosting an event at OU, Stoner said. “They’ve
been one of our greatest visionary sponsors,” he said. Current center interns and students also encouraged the organizers to create an OU event, Pullin said. “A number of interdisciplinary students interning at OU’s Center for the Creation of Economic Wealth had attended other TEDx events across the state,” Pullin said. “They came away from each of these experiences with a see FORUM PaGe 3
No. 1 Bears roar over startled Sooners
Bi-annual screenings catch disease early and help save lives. (page 4)
LIFe & arts Warm up with winter cocoa concoctions Don’t settle for simple hot chocolate — add easy extras. (page 8)
campus
sports
spanish-style food comes to norman
Freshmen pair bring opposite styles
Trés restaurant combines Spanish, South American foods. (oudaily.com)
Two OU gymnasts help Sooners with different skills. (page 5)
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Senior center Jelena Cerina fights for the rebound against Baylor’s 6-foot-8, National Player of the Year candidate Brittney Griner. The Sooners lost to the Bears, 89-58, on Thursday in Norman. (page 6)
Philosophy to teach lessons on will, discipline VICTORIA GARTEN Campus Reporter
One TEDxOU speaker plans to leave a lasting impression on his audience with not only his words but his movements. Modern dance professor
Austin Hartel plans to share a philosophy he teaches to his dance students that applies both to their studies and their lives, he said. T h i s p h i l o s o p hy i n cludes lessons of camaraderie, as well as the will and discipline it takes to be a dancer, he said. He sees his students and dancers see SPEAKER PaGe 3
The Daily’s open record requests Requested document and purpose
Date requested
call logs for the past two years for the alcohol and Hazing Hotline and number nyne crisis Line — This was requested to gather comparable information.
Jan. 20
the percentage of letter grades earned by ou-norman students broken down by college for each semester since Fall 2000 — This was requested to see how student grades have risen or fallen during the past decade and to compare trends between colleges.
Monday
all drafted recommendations by the president’s tobacco advisory committee from Jan. 1, 2012 to present — This was requested to gather more information on the recommendations provided to President David Boren before the tobacco ban was implemented.
Wednesday