OU President says tuition will not increase more than 9 percent
Boren explains budget crisis, answers questions at public forum in Oklahoma Memorial Union

Undergraduate tuition and mandatory fees will increase no more than 9 percent next fall, OU President David Boren said at a public forum in Beaird Lounge on Wednesday, May 5.

"Whatever it takes, we are not going to get in double digits this year," Boren said. "In other words, we're not going above 9 percent as an outside possibility."

Boren said the state legislature has not decided yet how much the state budget for the Norman campus will be cut. He said tuition and fees could increase by 4 percent, about $130.50 per semester, if state appropriations for the Norman campus are cut by 3 percent, or $4.2 million. If the state cuts funds by 10 percent, about $13.9 million, then tuition and fees could increase by 9 percent, or $292.50 per semester.

However, Boren said despite budget cuts, the OU scholarship program has raised enough money to offset the tuition increases.

"We've gone over our $150 million mark [in private scholarships]," Boren said. "We have actually not become less affordable; we've become slightly more affordable when you match the new resources together with the increased costs."

He also said OU would not experience a situation like California's, where some universities increased tuition and fees up to 33 percent in the middle of the fall semester last year, while cutting hundreds of courses and laying off hundreds of faculty.

During the forum, students questioned whether the OU administration was doing all it could to keep tuition and fees from rising.

Philosophy junior Matthew Bruenig asked Boren why the university continued constructing large buildings and using significant amounts of money for study abroad programs while OU is in a budget crisis.

Boren responded saying most current building projects are private gifts, such as the Anne and Henry Zarrow Foundation gift to fund the construction of a new School of Social Work. Regarding study abroad, the president pointed out that students passed a proposed student fee increase for study abroad during the UOSA presidential election in March.

In an interview following the forum, Bruenig said buildings funded with private donations can cost students money after being built.

"Even if [buildings are] being paid for by private donors, because they're so big, they're going to have high insurance costs and high maintenance costs, and so I have to question whether or not that's the best way to go."

Bruenig also questioned the president on large administrator salaries. Boren said OU's administrative costs have decreased from 14 percent to 6 percent since he became president.

"Also, you have to remember we're in a competitive pool," Boren said. "We don't want administrators' salaries being in the bottom three as they were when I first came to the university."

Nicholas Harrison, a former Senator of the OU Graduate Student Senate and member of the Student Advisory Board for the Oklahoma State Regents, said he wonders if the administration might be planning tuition and fee increases each semester.

"9 percent, while that's okay if you haven't had an increase the previous year, if they plan on increasing tuition 9 percent every year for the foreseeable future, that's not a sustainable trend."


Philosophy junior Matt Bruenig, OU College of Law graduate student Nicholas Harrison, and Vice President of Student Affairs and Dean of Students Clarke Stroud discuss their reactions to the forum.

Students camp out to stop genocide
Students build refugee shelters, raise funds for Genocide Intervention Network


Vietfil Do, vice president of OU's STAND chapter, explains why students should donate to the Genocide Intervention Network.

Students built mock refugee shelters representing several areas of the world afflicted by genocide during the fourth annual Campout to Stampout Genocide on Tuesday, April 20. STAND, a student-led anti-genocide coalition, sponsored the event and invited several fraternities and sororities to hand out fliers and take donations. Beta Chi Theta, Delta Phi Omega, Phi Delta Alpha, Lambda Phi Epsilon, Delta Gamma, and Delta Delta Delta all built shelters and raised funds.

Students used cardboard boxes to build camps, spray-painting either Burma, Darfur, or Congo on their shelters. OU STAND chapter vice president Vietfil Do said students should donate to the Genocide Intervention Network even if they are discouraged by the continuance of highly publicized genocides. "If people in other places are continuing to donate and do those kinds of prevention, like civilian protection programs like the radio intervention network, it can save a life," Do said. "If it's your spare change, it doesn't hurt you and everyone wins."

Do said OU STAND is using 25 percent of the funds raised to put on future events, and giving the other 75 percent to the Genocide Intervention Network. She said the Genocide Intervention Network is using the money for a civilian protection programs in Burma and Darfur. STAND will announce next week how much money the event raised.

Film festival exposes myths, promotes peace
Students use festival as opportunity to explain truth about diverse groups




The second annual "Peace Not Prejudice" film festival attracted about 300 students to the Molly Shi Boren Ballroom of the Oklahoma Memorial Ballroom Wednesday, April 14. The Muslim Student Association hosted the event, concluding the association's "Islam Awareness Month." The Muslim Student Association invited all campus organizations to participate. Eight organizations submitted a film, including Alpha Phi Alpha, Interfraternity Council and Panhellenic Association, American Indian Student Association, Delta Phi Omega, International Advisory Committee, Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, Transgender and Friends, Hillel Jewish Student Organization, and the Muslim Student Association.

"It was really a wonderful event," said Honors College Dean, David Ray. "I just hope it continues to get bigger and better." A panel of judges, including Ray, journalism professor, Kathryn Jenson White, and Honors College professor, Marcia Chatelain reviewed each film and awarded the top three. International Advisory Council received first place, viewer's choice award, and a $400 scholarship; Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, Transgender and Friends received second; and Alpha Phi Alpha received third.

"It is my prayer that beyond this place, we will still carry this notion, this motive, this philosophy that we need to promote peace," said Mimo Adenuaga, International Advisory Council president and mechanical engineering senior. "Let's end stereotypes, let's move toward peace."

Events Educate Students About Islam
Islam Awareness Month promotes understanding, interfaith dialogue



The Muslim Student Association is hosting a series of events this month to educate students about Islam.

Islam Awareness Month began with a public prayer in the South Oval on March 26 and will end with the Peace Not Prejudice student film festival April 14 in the Oklahoma Memorial Ballroom.

Peace Not Prejudice is a student film festival, hosted by the Muslim Students Association, featuring short films from diverse advocacy groups on campus, ranging from the Gay Lesbian Bisexual Transgender and Friends Students Association to Delta Phi Omega.

Events in March and April included the Taste of Islam cultural food fair, a discussion about science in the Qur'an, and a panel on the state of Islam in America.

Richard Wierengo, political science and geography senior, said he attended all the past events and plans to attend the film festival.

"It’s interesting to learn [about Islam], because where I come from, there aren’t many Muslims," Wierengo said.

He said the Islam in America discussion panel taught him that Islam's impact on the U.S. reaches back to the earliest days of the nation.

"Our first ally was Morocco, an Islamic state," Wierengo said. "Also, there is some evidence that shows system of English Common Law, which we use in the U.S. comes from a form of Islamic jurisprudence in Northern Africa."

Sarah Sullivan, Muslim Student Association secretary, said the reactions to the events has been mostly positive.

"We try to selectively choose the topics that will attract the most attention for each event, and there has been a lot of good discussion," said Sullivan, dental hygiene junior.

Sullivan said understanding is reached between Muslims and non-Muslims when both parties take steps to understand the other.

"It takes two to tango, so it takes non-Muslims to come and ask us questions about what concerns them," she said. "And we have to reach out to non-Muslims, because we understand the stereotypes that come along."

Expert Asks, "Can U.S. Avoid War With Iran?"
Middle East expert talks about prospects of war with Iran



The U.S. could avoid war with Iran once U.S. leaders realize Iran is not aggressive state and does not support terrorism, a Middle East expert told students Monday, March 29, in the Robert S. Kerr Auditorium of the Sam Noble Museum of Natural History.

Juan Cole, author of the popular blog on Middle East issues, “Informed Comment,” and professor of history at the University of Michigan, gave a lecture titled “Can the U.S. Avoid War with Iran?” and signed copies of his book, "Engaging the Muslim World."

Cole said he doesn’t think a U.S. war with Iran is an “immediate possibility, but in the world system we now have, Iran is viewed by NATO as the most troublesome.”

Cole said despite politicians’ frequent rhetoric about Iran’s nuclear weapons program, there is no evidence that Iran is building a bomb. He said if Iran did obtain a bomb, attacking Israel or the U.S. would not be in Iran’s best interest.

“If they got a bomb, deterrents would work, and the price of an alternative [U.S.] policy, which would probably be a land invasion, and a major war could be so destructive to the world that it’s not the preferable course,” Cole said. “But, you know, I could be overruled in 2012 by Sarah Palin.”

Co-director of OU’s Center for Middle East Studies, Joshua Landis, said Cole has had a great influence on his own interest in the region.

“In many ways [Cole’s] blog changed my life, because it inspired me to start blogging myself,” said Landis, associate professor of Middle East studies. “He is the most successful blogger on the Middle East. It is no exaggeration to say that he has educated an entire generation of Americans about Iraq.”

Landis said major news networks often seek Cole’s expertise and the CIA, the Defense Department, and the State Department constantly consult him for information on Iraq and Iran.

The Center for Middle East Studies sponsored the lecture. The center will bring in freelance journalist and reporter for Toronto's Globe and Mail, Orly Halpern, for the next contemporary Middle East issues lecture on April 5 in Ellison Hall.

UOSA President, Vice President Candidates Debate Campus Issues
Reforming student government central to candidates' platforms


UOSA President and Vice Presidential candidates (left to right) Nicholas Harrison, John Surles, Jay Kumar, Jess Eddy, Ally Glavas, Zac McCullock, Franz Zenteno and Cory Lloyd discuss how they would solve issues facing UOSA Wednesday and what they plan to do if elected. OU Daily editor-in-chief, Jamie Hughes (center, podium) moderates the debate.

Freshman and vice presidential candidate, Jay Kumar, shakes hands with a student after the debate. Kumar is the youngest of the president and vice presidential candidates.

Click here to read the profiles of each of the UOSA presidential candidates

All four UOSA presidential and vice presidential candidates highlighted their intent to make student government more relevant to the student body during the presidential debate on Wednesday, March 24.

The debate, hosted by Student Media and moderated by OU Daily editor-in-chief, Jamie Hughes, took place in the Molly Shi Boren Ballroom of the Oklahoma Memorial Union. The audience consisted mainly of specific supporters of each campaign.

Much of the debate focused on how the candidates would accomplish student interest and involvement in UOSA.

Presidential candidates, Franz Zenteno and Ally Glavas, said current UOSA representatives do not actively reach out to students and student organizations.

“We are student government and we are responsible if these students don’t know about us,” said Zenteno, international and areas studies graduate. “If I can get elected, that’s my main point. I want to reach out to every OU student and advocate for them.”

UOSA must dispel the thought of many students that UOSA representatives are just trying to beef up their resumes, said presidential candidate Nicholas Harrison.

“There’s the belief out there in a large part of the student body that student government is really just about trying to improve themselves, and that’s a problem,” Harrison said. “I think we have to show them that UOSA has the power to tackle issues that are important and relevant to them.”

Presidential candidate, Jess Eddy, felt the other candidates’ made good points, but students could not expect a change simply given their ideology or mindset. He said specific programs should be created to encourage student involvement.

“UOSA must set up programs that encourage academics, that encourage community, that encourage involvement, that encourage diversity,” said Eddy, religious studies and political science sophomore. “These are the kinds of programs that we can bring students to that UOSA members will be present at, and will bring us together in a closer relationship with these students.”

Harrison and his vice presidential candidate, John Surles, were the only candidates who announced support of a referendum, authored by Harrison last September, to create a Student Organization Senate.

“Oftentimes the current governmental bodies that exist don’t want to make these changes if they’re not in their own interest,” said Surles, multidisciplinary studies junior. “I don’t think it’s right that organizations that may be smaller or maybe don’t have the same amount of popularity on campus should suffer because of that.”

Glavas’s running mate, Zac McCullock, said he understood the motives behind the amendment, but that it goes about solving the issue the wrong way. He said creating an umbrella organization for each of the student organizations could solve the issue.

“This way, student organizations can present a simpler voice to student government to make sure that [UOSA] advocates for their interests,” said McCullock, international business and entrepreneurship junior. “I don’t think student organization presidents want to become representatives in another branch of student government.”

Cory Lloyd, Zenteno’s vice presidential running mate, said UOSA must do a better job of working closely with student organizations.

“We need to make sure student government is representing the student organizations in the right way,” said Lloyd, advertising junior. “The way you approach one organization might be different than how you handle another organization.”

Jay Kumar, Eddy’s vice presidential candidate, said existing problems, such as currently vacant seats in student congress, should be addressed before creating another branch of student government.

“Creating another branch, I fear would create more void, and possibly add to the problems that are already existing in UOSA,” said Kumar, University College freshman.

None of the candidates said they would support an amendment introduced last fall intended to increase stipends for the UOSA president. Eddy said if he were elected, he would use the current stipend for UOSA presidents to create a scholarship for the highest performing member of the executive branch.

UOSA elections are March 30 and 31. Students can vote online at elections.ou.edu or at polling locations in front of Dale Hall, the College of Law, the Oklahoma Memorial Union, the University Bus Stop, and areas around Couch Restaurants, according to the elections Web site.

Midterm

Students "Occupy" South Oval
Demonstration part of National Day of Action to Defend Public Education



A small group of students occupied an area of the South Oval on Thursday as part of the National Day of Action to Defend Public Education.

The group, called “The Undercurrent,” set up bikes with signs reading, “Occupy the South Oval” around a large rug to attract attention. Demonstrators played music, handed out fliers, and talked with passersby to raise awareness of tuition hikes in California as well as other states, including Oklahoma.

“Oklahoma’s tuition increases aren’t nearly as bad as California’s, but it’s still a move in the wrong direction,” said philosophy junior, Matthew Bruenig, one of the event’s organizers. “This is really about education rights in general, having access to affordable education.”

Protesters also hung a sign reading “Occupy Everything” from the top of Gaylord Hall during the morning, but OU authorities removed it later in the afternoon. Organizers of the protest did not confirm or deny that anyone of “The Undercurrent” hung the sign.

Oklahoma legislators agreed to a cut state appropriations to higher education 3.5 percent in February.

In a March 3 letter to the Oklahoma Daily, OU President David Boren said cuts to the higher education budget are “much less than the cuts to other areas of the state government.”

“We must all work as hard as possible on behalf of the higher education budget in order to keep university education accessible to all students,” Boren said in the letter.

Bruenig said he believes legislators and OU administrators could have done more to prevent the most harmful effects of the budget cuts from falling on students.

“If they’re just going to make up the budget shortfall by raising tuition and covering everything that way, that’s not really working through it together,” he said. “If we want to work through it together, [OU administrators] are going to need to take some hits themselves.”

Bruenig said cuts to OU administrators’ salaries should have helped balance the budget shortfall.

“Boren makes $700,000 plus a year. Is that really necessary when you live in Oklahoma and you don’t have to pay for your housing?”

According to the Chronicle of Higher Education, Boren received a $631,000 package for the 2008-2009 school year.

Furzanna Iqbal, letters senior, said the demonstration is also meant to highlight the disparity between administrators, whose salaries often remain untouched in crises, and students and faculty who take the brunt of budget cuts.

“These budget cuts are falling disproportionately on students and faculty workers rather than administrators,” Iqbal said. “It’s not just a problem with the budgets being cut in Oklahoma, it’s a whole structural problem with higher education in this country.”

The University of California Board of Regents voted last November to raise undergraduate fees 32 percent next fall. California's budget cuts have put teachers on furlough and led to the cancellation of entire classes and academic departments.

Students and professors held demonstrations in 32 states, occupying classrooms or skipping classes altogether. Some of the protests turned violent, with students smashing windows and damaging buildings.

Bruenig said he is happy with the demonstration’s small, but peaceful turnout. 


“[The protest] really only started getting organized a few days ago,” he said. “People come and go and there’s been good discussion.”

He said students should demonstrate now to prevent further cuts to higher education in the future.

“If no one does anything, there’s no sense to [lawmakers] that there’s opposition to their decision, so in the future they might feel that they can increase it again,” Bruenig said. “If we let our voices be heard though, it’s not just going to be a story in the newspaper. You’re going to have people speaking out against it, people criticizing it, and making [higher education cuts] more politically difficult to do by raising awareness.”

- The Associated Press contributed to this report