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Students help plant 76 new trees on campus

Seventy six trees were planted this past week during 13th annual recognition of Arbor Day, part of an effort that has helped replace 1,642 trees that were lost in the devastating December 2007 ice storm.

The primary event occurred on Wednesday, April 1, and more than 1,000 students, faculty and staff attended to help plant the trees. They gathered first at David A. Burr Park to hear comments from OU President David L. Boren, then spread to various parts of campus where trees were lying next to pre-dug holes that had been filled with loose dirt, which was then loosened, again, by students and the trees were planted.

It has been a long process, Boren said, but the campus is close to fully repairing the damage caused by that ice storm. "I don't think any of us will ever forget...what we woke up to," he said. "It was like a bomb destroyed our campus."

Also recognized by OU during Boren's comments were fraternities and sororities who did an exemplary job maintaining their "adopted" areas on campus.

T.E.A. Cafe opens on Campus Corner

At the new T.E.A. Cafe on Campus Corner, which opened today, the menu and prices are the same as its other location in Norman on 1241 Alameda St. All that's different, says owner Viet Nguyen, is that the new one is more spacious and has a modern design, both of which are aimed at attracting the student crowd.

And that is preciously why T.E.A. Cafe moved to the location, 788 Asp Ave., previously occupied by Moe's Southwest Grill: students. After a year and a half of searching for a spot to open up, and another two months for construction, which was largely performed by Nguyen's brother's architecture firm, Nguyen was able to open the doors today, finally, on what he hopes will be a "happening" hangout for students.

"It really is for them," Nguyen said, while taking a short break from the lunch-hour rush. "I enjoy the college crowd. It keeps me young." (Nguyen is 30)

Nguyen said business on the first day was slower than he hoped, but he expects it to improve as the new location gains notoriety. He added that they are considering adding live music, though he is not sure about the building's acoustics.

Pita Pit expansion expected to be finished soon

While OU students were off in Cancun, South Padre, New York City or elsewhere for Spring Break, Pita Pit, the Campus Corner eatery, located at 311 W. Boyd St., moved closer to the completion of an 8-month renovation project that will double its size.

The wall dividing the new space from the current one was knocked down three days ago, said Ian Rohrback, Pita Pit manager. Also done over the break was extensive painting and electrical work. The expansion will allow Pita Pit to hold nearly 20 more tables, along with adding another bathroom, two plasma flat-screen TCs, and a projector that will be used to watch football games; there is also talk of hosting an open-mic night.

But, Rohrback said, Pita Pit's style won't change.

"It'll be the same old Pita Pit," he said, "just bigger environment, a little less crowded."

Minor construction such as a tiling and coating the new floor with wax is all that stands between the new area being opened, Rohrback said, and he expects that to happen either tomorrow or Wednesday. A grand opening is scheduled in April with live music and deals on food.

Students spending less, even on graduation gear

Graduation Gear-Up, a gathering of vendors who sell caps, gowns, rings, frames, announcements and other graduation items to graduating seniors, closed Thursday after being open since Monday, and though the number of students who attended the event this year was similar to last year, the amount of money spent is almost certainly less.

The reason many students are spending less on items like rings or announcements is, of course, because of the economy. About 1,750 students attended the event last year, said Kris White, territory sales rep for Jostens, which sells rings and announcements. Through Wednesday, about 1,100 students had come through the event and White said they expected that number to be near last year's total by the end of Thursday.

Still, he said, sales are down. "Rings are a luxury. To spend $400 on a ring is a hard thing to do (these days)," White said.

For students who missed Graduation Gear-Up, don't worry. Caps and gowns can be ordered through the OU Bookstore either by visiting or calling (405) 325-3511. Announcements and rings can be ordered through Jostens.com, and yearbooks can be ordered through OU Student Media either through this Web site or by calling (405) 325-3668.

Chuck Klosterman to visit OU, speak about media

Chuck Klosterman, the influential author and American pop culture critic, is scheduled to visit the University of Oklahoma on April 14 and 15 to speak to OU students, the Gaylord College of Journalism and Mass Communication confirmed Tuesday afternoon.

The Gaylord Ambassadors, which represent the college, voted to bring Klosterman to campus this semester as their annual speaker of note because of his wide-ranging knowledge and experience in media. Klosterman has written four non-fiction books and, most recently, his first novel. His roots are in newspaper journalism, though, as he has written for the Akron Beacon Journal, GQ, The New York Times Magazine and The Washington Post.

Gaylord has hosted various media professionals before, said Gaylord Ambassador Adam Croom, an advertising senior, but no one quite like Klosterman. "We've been able to talk to authors, we've been able to talk to columnists, but Chuck Klosterman is someone who resignates nationwide… To be able to be a student and be one-on-one and ask him questions or hear his opinion on the state of the industry right now is such a great opportunity for the college."

Though no specific times or venues have been scheduled, it is believed Klosterman will give a larger lecture on the evening of April 14 and will meet with a smaller group of Gaylord students the next morning.