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VOL. 99, NO. 93© 2014 OU Publications BoardFREE — Additional copies 25¢
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INSIDE TODAYCampus......................2
Classi f ieds................3
L i fe&Ar ts... . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .4
Opinion.....................3
Spor ts........................2
Opinion: A Super Bowl Coca-Cola ad showed us that racism is not dead. (Page 3)
L&A: Read reviews of new albums by Parker Millsap, Broken Bells and Within Temptation. (Online)
W W W . O U D A I L Y . C O M
T U E S D A Y , F E B R U A R Y 4 , 2 0 14
� e University of Oklahoma’s independent student voice since 1916
Sports: The softball team is coming off a national championship and is entering the season as the No. 1 team. How is this season going to play out? (Page 2)
� e University of Oklahoma’s independent student voice since 1916
The softball team is coming off a national championship and is entering the season as the No. 1 team. How is this season going to play out? (Page 2)
2 0 1 2 S I L V E R C R O W N W I N N E R
TONY RAGLE/THE DAILY
University College freshman Zach Palank builds a snowman before his evening classes Monday. More winter weather is predicted to move into the Norman area tonight and continue to fall off and on throughout the week.
SNOWY DAYS
Frosty with a chance of class
EDUCATION
Learning continues for lifelong students Traditional grades, tests not an issue for nontraditional students in the OLLI
SEE MORE ONLINEVisit OUDaily.com for the complete story
oudaily.com/news
MATT WOODSCampus Reporter@matopher
Scoping out two seats toward the front of the class-room, Van and Candace Hottle arrive early for their documentary film course. Soon, the room begins to
swell with their fellow OU students as they spill into the lec-ture hall. Grinning, one student jostles his classmate about the last “test” he “failed.”
Of course, it’s all good-natured fun. Classes through the Oklahoma Lifelong Learning Institute, or OLLI, shed tradi-tional grades and tests to, instead, foster an appetite for cu-riosity and share decades of insight through spirited discus-sions among students over age 50.
The Hottles’ class consistently booms with high atten-dance but not to fulfill mandatory general education re-quirements or trudge through weed-out courses. OLLI stu-dents come to class early, hungering to continue exploring ideas as a learning family.
This spring, OLLI’s culture of community learning ex-panded beyond OU’s Norman campus to offer additional non-credit courses ranging from documentary film to the Oklahoma tobacco industry at the Health Sciences Center in Oklahoma City.
The program’s Oklahoma City location will offer four courses at the Samis Family Education Center, which can accommodate large-scale seminars and symposiums in addition to smaller, dis-cussion-focused courses.
S i n c e O L L I h i t i t s 500-member goal in 2010, the program is looking to widen its membership base, continuing to engage older students through passion-ate instructors and experi-ence-rich discussions.
“The thesis is just because someone ages, it doesn’t mean they want to quit learning,” OLLI student Ken Johnson said.
Members can enroll in courses year-round and partic-ipate in a combination of six-week seminars and one-day courses with topics that change each semester to align with faculty and student interest.
“I like it because you have a knowledge base, but you don’t have the test, you don’t have the pressure of what grade you’re making,” OLLI student Candace Hottle said.
Walking into a classroom with other students around their age and experiencing community interaction is the biggest draw for students who boast amazing life stories, OLLI director Chris Elliott said.
One student owns a Norman bike shop; another collects antique cars. One member traveled the globe while married to a U.S. diplomat, but everyone comes together to playfully converse and explore ideas as a classroom family.
“There are no strangers in the OLLI program,” Elliott said, “They all get to know each other very well.”
Besides establishing deep ties with one another, students genuinely engage with instructors who volunteer out of de-sire, rather than obligation, said Pacer Faseler, who has 100 OLLI courses under his belt.
“This group of professors that we have, I believe, are the finest that I’ve had anywhere,” Faseler said.
CAMPUS BRIEFS
OU students can enroll in the Student Health Plan through Feb. 7 to receive university-sponsored healthcare for the spring and spring/summer terms.
The plan offers students basic or enhanced coverage. It is available to undergraduate students enrolled in at least nine credit hours for the spring or fall terms, graduate students enrolled in at least � ve credit hours or graduate students with two thesis or dissertation hours. Students enrolled in at least three hours for the summer term can also sign up for the plan.
“The Student Health Plan is designed with OU students in mind,” said Marcella Fleming, coordinator of communi-cation for OU Human Resources, in an email.
Academic Health Plans began managing the insurance, and BlueCross BlueShield began administering bene� ts and care in August, providing students with a larger cover-age network than before, Fleming said.
Student Health Plan coverage begins the day after students sign up. If students enroll online, their premiums will be charged through their bursar accounts.
Kate Bergum, Campus Reporter
Registration for Student Health Plan ending soon for spring, summer terms
HEALTH
Guest lecturer coming to Sam Noble to discuss biology, ecology
SCIENCE
The Sam Noble Museum of Natural History and OU’s Sutton Lecture Series invites the public to “Humanizing Science: Lessons Learned from Artists” on Feb. 6.
Jamie Gillooly, University of Florida biologist, will speak at 7 p.m. and a reception will follow.
One of the goals of a college education is to be able to connect different ways of knowing about the world, said Michael Kaspari, presidential professor and director of the Ecology and Evolutionary Biology graduate program in OU’s zoology department.
Gillooly will talk about his work at the University of Florida, bringing together artists and scientists and exploring what they have in common, as well as how each can bene� t from knowing how the other sees the world, according to the press release.
“How many of us were budding artists and sci-entists when we were in kindergarten, and then, somehow along the way, lost the thrill of drawing, or painting, studying bugs or looking at the stars?” Kaspari asked. “Gillooly points out that it is never too late.”
Michelle Johnston, Campus Reporter
This group of professors that we have, I believe, are the finest that I’ve had anywhere.”
PACER FASELER, OLLI STUDENT
‘‘
The squad has been to back-to-back national championships and it brought home the title last year after a dominating season. Having already
accomplished the ultimate goal, motivation could under-standably be wavering.
But for the 2014 Oklahoma softball team, its will to re-turn to a third straight national championship appearance couldn’t be stronger.
There are fresh faces on the team and some are missing from last year including National Player of the Year, Keilani Ricketts.
Assistant coach Melyssa Lombardi made it clear the squad can’t replace the talent it lost but was confident in saying there are plenty of players ready to step into a new role.
Lombardi stood in for coach Patty Gasso during the team’s media day Monday evening and was joined by sev-eral members of the squad.
As the team fielded questions about its upcoming sea-son, here are five things to know before the Sooners open their schedule at 5:30 p.m. Friday at Fullerton, Calif., versus Kentucky.
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Go online for the full blotter.
THURSDAY, JAN. 30
Adams Center’s Johnson Tower, third floor (on campus), 1:06 a.m. The defendant was contacted during an odor investigation and subsequently charged in municipal court with possession of marijuana.
Mosier-Everest Indoor Athletic Facility (on campus), 11:56 a.m. The victim reported that an unknown suspect(s) stole her wallet and contents. No suspect or witness information available.
Physical Sciences Center (on campus), 7:23 p.m. An OU student reported intimidating behavior by an unknown person on campus.
FRIDAY, JAN. 31
Couch Center, eighth floor west (on campus), 12:31 a.m. Officers responded to investigate a suspicious odor. Officers obtained a warrant to search the room.
Gaylord Hall (on campus), 7:03 a.m. A staff member reported a suspicious person, and that person was subsequently issued trespass warnings.
Walker Center (on campus), 1:16 p.m. An OU Student reported receiving harassing telecommunications to her personal cellphone.
SATURDAY, FEB. 1
Oklahoma Memorial Union (on campus), 1:07 a.m. The defendants were contacted for suspicious behavior and subsequently arrested and charged in district court with public Intoxication.
Parking lot, Elm Avenue and Elmwood Street SW (on campus), 1:12 a.m. The defendant was stopped for an equipment defect on his vehicle, and was subsequently arrested for Driving Under the Influence of Alcohol. The charge was filed through Cleveland County District Court.
Couch Center, ninth floor west (on campus), 2:31 a.m. Officers responded to a suspicious odor investigation. Both defendants were issued municipal dockets for possession of marijuana and possession of paraphernalia.
SUNDAY, FEB. 2
Boyd Street and Asp Avenue (public property), 1:22 a.m. The Defendant was stopped for a traffic violation and subsequently arrested for driving under the influence of alcohol, unlawful transport of loaded firearm and failure to stop for a red traffic signal. All charges filed in District Court.
2 • Tuesday, February 4, 2014
CAMPUS SPORTS
4Top
JOE MUSSATTO • ASSISTANT SPORTS EDITOR
take-aways
Softball Media Daysfrom
1. PITCHING BY COMMITTEEPerhaps no stat shows how dominant the pitching duo of Keilani Ricketts and Michelle Gascoigne was than
the combined record the two amassed last season — 54-4. Either Ricketts or Gascoigne started and finished nearly every game for the Sooners a year ago, but this
season’s pitching rotation won’t look nearly as similar. “It’s just going to be a tag-team all over the place,” junior Lauren Chamberlain said. “We have five different
pitchers with five different looks, and I think it’s going to throw some people off.”According to Lombardi, the team’s pitching coach, there are five players she foresees to be in the rotation.
But instead of one arm tossing a complete game, as Ricketts and Gascoigne often did, the Sooners will use a committee approach.
“Instead of having one go, you might see two or three in the game,” Lombardi said. “Almost like baseball when you have a starter, middle relief, and somebody to come in and close.”
2. REPLACING LOST LEADERSHIPLast year’s senior class of Keilani Ricketts, Michelle Gascoigne, Brianna Turang and Jessica Shults might
have been the most talented class ever to play at Marita Hynes Field.But even more difficult than replacing the skillset of each might be how this year’s squad works to replace
the leadership of each. “I was chosen as captain by my teammates so that’s one thing I definitely want to work on,” Chamberlain
said. “But it’s not just me as a captain, I depend on a lot of my teammates.” “We had a lot of time to learn from them,” Martinez said of last year’s seniors. “We’re just picking up where
they left off.”
3. NO CEILING FOR CHAMBERLAINIn just two years with the program, the star first baseman has already crushed 60 career home runs and has
a batting average north of .400. Now in her junior year, it’s hard to imagine Chamberlain can get better, her coach said otherwise.
“A lot better,” Lombardi said. “Lauren has the opportunity to get stronger and stronger each year. I think you’re going to see her continue to get better.”
Chamberlain, who this season will likely capture the all-time record of career home runs at Oklahoma, isn’t buying into records just yet.
“It’ll mean something when I do it, but it’s not something that’s in my mind right now,” Chamberlain said.One thing the California native did say she is focusing on is improving her .458 batting average she tallied
last year — an already incredible mark.
4. DEFENDING WHAT’S THEIRSThe team may not get to the Women’s College World Series as easy as it did in 2013. The Sooners might not
compile 57 wins in just 61 games like last year. But somehow someway, OU just wants to get back.“It’s really motivating to have the chance to do it two times in a row,” junior Shelby Pendley said. “The talk
that we’re not going to be as good as last year is super motivating. We are good and we have the ability to do it again. It may not look the same but we do have the ability.”
With seven returning starters, the team insisted its run at another national championship is the primary goal. “Our goals and expectations are the same as last year, I just think it’s a different journey,” Lombardi said.
Our View: Racist reactions to a Coca-Cola commercial that aired during the Super Bowl are unwarranted and backward.
Unless you are a Seattle Seahawks fan, you proba-bly didn’t get too much out of Sunday’s Super Bowl. Not only did football fans have to suffer through a blowout, but viewers watching for the hyped com-mercial breaks didn’t come away winners, either. Other than a Budweiser commercial featuring an adorable puppy and horse, the commercials were nothing to write home about.
However, one innocuous Coca-Cola commercial caused a firestorm on social media Sunday night. The commercial, followed by the tag “America Is Beautiful,” features people of various ethnicities, ages and genders singing “America the Beautiful” in different languages.
Unless you were really paying attention during the commercial break, you probably missed it. It’s that benevolent. Some people took to social media, especially Twitter, after the commercial aired and started the counter-hashtag “Coke sucks.” Some tweets claimed the Coca-Cola commercial was “communist” or “un-American,” and demanded “America the Beautiful” only be sung in English.
Right. Because all Americans speak only English and have the exact same cultural and ethnic iden-tity. We forgot. But seriously, America is widely known and accepted as the melt-ing pot of the world. The U.S. is not homogeneous, which is one of the many things we love about our country.
There is no reason for people to be offended by Coca-Cola’s com-mercial because it doesn’t show anything controversial; it simply shows the reality of the diversity that exists in the U.S.
In fact, our one grievance with the commercial is that it does not feature any Native American lan-guages, the only cultural group who can factually claim America as theirs. We’re sorry if reality bites, but the fact is that nearly everyone in this country is or was an immigrant at some point.
There is no national language and there is no national religion. It is ridiculous to scream into the void of social media that it is “un-American” to sing “America the Beautiful” in any language other than English. We believe it’s actually one of the most American things you can do.
Just look at OU. Our university is home to stu-dents from 120 countries, has one of the nation’s
1111
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DEADLINES
HOROSCOPE By Bernice Bede Osol
Copyright 2012, Newspaper Enterprise Assn.
TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 4, 2014
Do something creative during the months ahead. Monotony is the enemy. Strike back by engaging in hobbies and picking up skills that interest you. Strive to be competitive in whatever you pursue. Innovation will put you in the lead. This will be a year for change.
AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 19) -- Make a point of visiting people who you miss or don’t get to see often. Spending time with good friends can lead to better days ahead. Participation in something will prove benefi cial.
PISCES (Feb. 20-March 20) -- Don’t take a fi nancial risk. Joint ventures aren’t likely to turn out as planned. Generosity can lead to debt. Be careful what you wish for and how you spend your money.
ARIES (March 21-April 19) -- Don’t meddle or take on something you cannot handle. Problems with friends or relatives will hinder your relationship with someone special. Put your priorities in order.
TAURUS (April 20-May 20) -- Infatuation and romantic encounters based on chemistry will turn out to be unfulfi lling. Evaluate any personal or business partnership in the offi ng for its long-term potential.
GEMINI (May 21-June 20) -- Consider your domestic situation and make adjustments to counter any trouble you foresee. You can make fi nancial gains if you invest in your skills or something that will offer greater stability.
CANCER (June 21-July 22) -- Travel or spend time with someone who can
offer you knowledge, understanding and solutions. An exotic destination will inspire you to try something new. Participation will lead to an opportunity.
LEO (July 23-Aug. 22) -- You can enjoy life without going overboard. Stick to moderation, and you will make a better impression. Avoid being coerced to do something that won’t benefi t you.
VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22) -- Size up your personal situation and make the necessary adjustments to improve your position. Honesty in important relationships should be questioned. Make choices based on your needs, not what someone else wants.
LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 23): Disagreements will result in delays. Keep your distance to make it easier to assess a situation. Meddling will lead to gossip that will tarnish your reputation.
SCORPIO (Oct. 24-Nov. 22) -- Get involved, be a participant and show off a little. The people you meet along the way will add something special to whatever you are trying to accomplish.
SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 23-Dec. 21) -- Don’t question others when you should be perfecting your own approach. Focus on getting things done to gain respect and the support needed to reach your goals.
CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19) -- You need to use caution when choosing whom you want to work with. You can get the most accomplished if you are organized and keep your personal and professional situation simple and functional.
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.
Previous Solution
Monday- Very EasyTuesday-EasyWednesday- EasyThursday- MediumFriday - Hard
ACROSS 1 Small matter? 5 Military
trainee 10 Reason for
a parental reprimand, perhaps
14 One-horse carriage
15 PR firm’s concern
16 Part of the eye
17 Place with many paintings
20 It may be wrapped in seaweed
21 Flavorful root bark
22 HMO workers
24 Important historical time
25 Lady Remington, for one
29 Given to eaves- dropping
31 It runs slowly in the woods
34 Kachina doll carver
35 Sun-baked 37 Iridescent
shell layer 39 A trader’s
duties, say 42 “Second”
preceder 43 “Meet Me
___ Louis” 44 Petty
quarrel 45 Call at the
poker table 46 With
competence
48 Like Welsh rarebit
50 “Carte” or “mode” preceder
51 “Now I’ve got it!”
52 Deficit 57 “I’ll be ready
in a ___” 62 Site of the
National Aquarium
64 Sad word for “poor Yorick”
65 Flood blocker 66 Lot
measurement 67 Depend (on) 68 Spiral-horned
African antelope
69 High-school department
DOWN 1 They strike
along the Nile
2 “O Brother, Where Art ___?”
3 Rowboat pair 4 Imaginary
tale 5 Operative’s
employer 6 Off-kilter 7 Android
on the Enterprise
8 Breakfast foods
9 Makes fun of 10 Antibacterial
drug, informally
11 Assert positively
12 Word sung twice after “Que”
13 Simon ___ 18 Hoarfrost
relative 19 “Voice box” 23 “Darn it!” 25 Adjusts with
a wedge 26 Clown on “In
Living Color” 27 Big-time
tablet maker 28 16th-century
bowed stringed instrument
29 Silly goose 30 Track
chances 31 Aim
improver 32 Elaborate
tapestry 33 Kind of cash
or officer 36 Transporta-
tion mode 38 Vaulted nook 40 Broadway
area 41 Carve
in stone
47 Present a poser to
49 Pilgrim to Mecca
50 ___-craftsy 51 Woody
the director 52 Work out
with a pug 53 Excavation
result 54 Tough type
of exam 55 Biblical
victim 56 Volcanic
output 58 Islamic
leader 59 “___ Few
Dollars More” (Eastwood film)
60 Sitar part 61 Triumphant
cry 63 Knight
or Nugent
Universal CrosswordEdited by Timothy E. Parker February 4, 2014
PREVIOUS PUZZLE ANSWER
© 2014 Universal Uclickwww.upuzzles.com
ANY IN A STORM By Richard Auer2/4
2/3
The University of Oklahoma is an equal opportunity institution. www.ou.edu/eoo
UNIVERSITY THEATREHELMERICH SCHOOL OF DRAMA
8 pm Feb. 5-83 pm Feb. 9
Weitzenhoffer Theatre, Rated RFine Arts Box Office (405) 325-4101
CLYBOURNEPA K
by
Bruce Norris
2011 Pulitzer Prize-winning comedy
R
The Our View is the majority opinion of The Daily’s eight-member editorial board
Editorial
reactions to ad ignorant
OPINIONTuesday, February 4, 2014 • 3
Kaitlyn Underwood, opinion editorRachael Montgomery, assistant editor
[email protected] • phone: 405-325-3666oudaily.com/opinion • Twitter: @OUDailyOpinion
OUDaily.com ››Disposable water bottles are not as convenient as you might think.
largest study abroad programs, and has an inter-national studies major that has become one of our fastest-growing fields of study, according to OU’s website.
As OU students, we experience the diversity that exists all around the country on a daily basis, and we are better for it.
What deeply saddens us about the backlash to Coca-Cola’s Super Bowl commercial is that it clear-ly illustrates the truth that racism is not dead in the U.S.
When, in 2014, a company cannot even run a commercial showing a diverse group of people without being branded as communist, it’s pretty obvious Americans still have deep issues regarding race.
This isn’t the first time people have displayed their ugly side in response to a TV commercial showing racial diversity. Let’s think back to the sickening response to Cheerio’s 2013 commer-cial that featured an interracial family. The racial slurs and worse left in the comment section of the YouTube version of the commercial are enough to make anyone realize that racism is most definitely still a problem.
However, we applaud Cheerio’s for not shying away from controversy when it ran another com-mercial during this year’s Super Bowl that showed the same interracial family. We hope that Coca-Cola will do the same and continue to run ads cele-brating America’s diversity.
Refusing to acknowledge a problem does not make it go away. Yes, the U.S. has obviously made strides toward overcoming racism, but it is a be-lief that, unfortunately, is ingrained in the lives of many Americans.
So, we urge you not to avoid topics that involve race and not to accept that our country should be represented by any one type of person. Movements like last year’s Gap ad campaign featuring a Sikh model and Barney’s upcoming ads showing trans-gender models are encouraging steps in the right direction.
Although the football wasn’t great, this year’s Super Bowl didn’t fail to drum up controversy and spark what we hope will be a constructive na-tionwide conversation about America’s identity. America is beautiful and it is beautiful because of its complexity and diversity. Let’s not belittle or tar-nish that because we feel uncomfortable hearing or seeing people unlike ourselves.
Comment on this at oUdaily.com
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(405) 325-4101
UNIVERSITY THEATREWEITZENHOFFER SCHOOL OF MUSICAL THEATRE
8 pm Feb. 14-15, 20-223 pm Feb. 16, 23
Rupel J. Jones �eatre, Rated G
An award-winning musical comedyfull of every cliché, gag and gimmickfrom musicals of the 1920s jazz-age.
An award-winning musical comedyfull of every cliché, gag and gimmickfrom musicals of the 1920s jazz-age.
4 • Tuesday, February 4, 2014
LIFE&ARTSOUDaily.com ››Read the full interview with Parker Millsap as well as a review of his self-titled debut album.
Tony Beaulieu, life & arts editorLuke Reynolds, assistant editor
[email protected] • phone: 405-325-3666oudaily.com/life&arts • Twitter: @OUDailyArts
PHOTO PROVIDED
arker Millsap burst onto the local music scene when he was barely out the door of Purcell high school in 2012. A collaboration with his friend Michael Rose, who played bass on the record,
“Palisade” is a mix of religion-laced parables, relationship tales and more, all backed by simple bass and guitar.
Millsap is primarily a folk musician with a little blues, country and gospel thrown in the mix. “Everything about it is just really honest,” Millsap said. “What I like most about folk is that it just comes from a more personal space.”
Raised in a Pentacostal church, the Oklahoma native has been performing in front of audiences since he was 5 years old. “At my church, there was something called a ‘spe-cial,’ which is when somebody sings a karaoke version of a Christian song,” Millsap said. “There are many tapes of me busting out ‘I’ve been redeemed!’ I’ve been doing it forever.”
Millsap has come a long way since his days of church karaoke. Today marks the release of his debut solo re-
cord, “Parker Millsap.” And while Millsap has most-ly stuck to the folk and blues music that inspires
him, he insists the new album is not a simple re-hash of “Palisade.”
“It’s a departure, in a lot of ways. This one has electric guitar, horn arrangements and, in gen-eral, just a lot bigger sound,” he said.
The difference of content between the two records is also apparent. “Palisades” had a poetic nature to it, almost as if we were read-ing snippets from Millsap’s diary or getting a look into his headspace.
“This new record is definitely a little more far-reaching. ‘Palisade’ was more in-
trospective,” said Millsap. “This new one is more about stories and reaches a bit further.”
Stories are the driving force behind Millsap’s creative process as a songwriter. “All of my
Oklahoma folk musician blends classic American genres KEATON BELL • LIFE & ARTS COLUMNIST
songs start off with an idea. A lot of times I’ll just overhear peo-ple say something, like a one-liner. I’ll write it down, hold onto it and then I’ll latch on and try to expand on it,” said Millsap. “I have a phrase, and I try to pull a song out of it, like a piece of an idea and scratching at it until a whole song falls out.”
But even as his star continues to rise, Millsap would be the first to point out that working as a professional musician should never be just a hobby. “You have to be committed. Every penny you make you kinda have to fight for,” Millsap says. “The fun part is the thing people only look at — like when you’re on stage performing and connecting with an au-dience — but there is a whole other level of difficulties.”
For now, Millsap is just excited to be returning to the road. When asked why he chose to pursue a career in music, Millsap could only chuckle at first.
“When I’m onstage singing, I know that performing is what I’m supposed to be doing.”
I have a phrase, and I try to pull a song out of
it. Like I have a piece of an idea and scratching
at it until a whole song falls out.”
PARKER MILLSAP
‘‘
