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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.

Panel discusses eating disorders, causes and cures

For many reasons — from images in the media to varying youth environments — many students feel pressured to look a certain way, which can lead toward possibly harmful eating disorders such as bulimia and anorexia. But students are often their own best line of defense to help each other, according to members of OU's medical community who participated in a panel on eating disorders Wednesday night in Dale Hall as part of National Eating Disorders Awareness Week.

Sponsored by The Women's Outreach Center, the event began with a segmented screening of the HBO documentary "Thin", which follows four women in a Florida treatment center. It was followed by a panel discussion with three members of the OU Athletics Department, two of which work in PROS, Psychological Resources for OU Student Athletes, and a adjunct professor who teaches a course that discusses body image as it relates to the media.

Discussing what students should do when they believe a friend may have exhibit symptoms related to an eating disorder, Stacy Lemmert, the Director of Athletic Dining, said not to brush off initial responses of denial. "If you confront that person, nine times out of 10 you'll get excuses," Lemmert said.

A large theme of the panel discussion revolved around eating disorders rarely being connected to food. Many people are concerned with image or have other aspects of their life that they can't control, like grades, relationships and so on. By taking control of their eating habits, said Dave Botsford, a pre-doctoral intern at PROS, those people feel like they have control over something.

For online lists of the types of eating disorders, their symptoms and ways to help, go here and here.

If you or someone you know may be exhibiting signs that are related to eating disorders, here are some local resources that can help:

OU Counseling and Testing
Goddard Health Center, Rm 201
405-325-2911

Psychological Resources for OU Student Athletes (PROS)
Prentice Gautt Academic Center
405-325-8535

Disordered Eating Center of Central Oklahoma (DECCO)
Norman, OK
405-292-1000

Connie Fox, Ph.D and Donna Wade, LPC
Oklahoma City, OK
405-842-0543

New campus magazine looks for student editor

OU students interested in gaining managerial journalism experience are being asked to apply as editor of OU's first-ever general interest magazine, a new publication under OU Student Media that is scheduled to debut this coming summer.

The magazine, which has been considered for years, said Lori Brooks, adviser for the Features Department of OU Student Media, will be similar to an airline magazine as it will appeal to a general audience with a variety of stories about OU. But since this magazine, which will be published in full-color, glossy paper, is the first of its kind at OU, Brooks said they are looking for students who have a creative vision on what the campus needs as far as coverage, ideas about balancing the needs of readers and staff, and the ability to craft a new deadline schedule and manage content flow.

"They should walk in the doors with ideas that they can articulate what this magazine can be," Brooks said.

Applications to be the editor of the new magazine, which will produce five issues a year — one summer, two spring, two fall — are due by 5 p.m. March 2 in the Student Media business office, which is housed in Copeland Hall, Room 149A. The editor is expected to be chosen in the spring. Previously, it was required that editorial positions in OU Student Media were filled by students who worked in the department, but that has been waived for this publication. Applications are available here.

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In other OU Student Media news, the department received word Wednesday, Feb. 19, that its 2008 yearbook package — Sooner 2008 and Crimson Traditions 2007 — is a finalist for the Pacemaker award, given by the Associated Collegiate Press and considered the Pulitzer Prize of collegiate publications. The package won that award last year.

Gaylord recommended for reaccreditation

The five members of a national accrediting foundation that evaluates journalism programs left OU's Gaylord College of Journalism and Mass Communication on Wednesday having told Gaylord Dean Joe Foote that the college will be recommended for reaccreditation, meaning it complies with the nine national standards that "legitimize" a journalism program.

Foote said the evaluation, which occurs every six years, gives the college a chance to examine its strengths and weaknesses so it can improve. After spending three days talking with students, faculty, staff, alumni and external members involved with the college, the five-member team left a draft of its findings with Foote, OU Provost Dr. Nancy L. Mergler, and OU President David L. Boren.

"We were very pleased," Foote said of the report. "No surprises. Every weakness were things we knew about and were already addressing." Foote added that the team, which is from ACEJMC, the Accrediting Council on Education in Journalism and Mass Communications, was "exceptionally impressed with the facilities and what has happened to the college in the last six years," noting the addition of several faculty members and the construction of an additional wing to the building.

While it is highly expected that Gaylord College will be reaccredited,a title it has held since 1949, Foote said an official announcement will not be made until ACEJMC, which has accredited 112 programs worldwide, announces its final decision in late April/early May in Portland, Ore.

Reaccreditation members vist Gaylord Monday

Five members of an journalism accrediting organization will be visiting OU's Gaylord College of Journalism and Mass Communication next week to talk to students about their experience at the college and consider whether it deserves reaccreditation, a process that occurs once every six years.

The first meeting Monday, Feb. 16, will be with all Gaylord students and the Tuesday meeting will be divided by major. The members of the American Council for Education in Journalism and Mass Communication (ACEJMC) will be grading the college in nine categories, the most important of which, according to Gaylord Dean Joe Foote, who is the longest-serving member of ACEJMC at 13 years, is a college's curriculum.

Foote said for a university like OU, reaccreditation isn't a necessity as it is at a smaller college, but it can be a way to gain national recognition. "We're trying to lift our standards through (this evaluation)," said Foote, who added that he was at a similar evaluation last week at Arkansas State University.

Currently, about 108 universities are accredited, Foote said, and the ACEJMC Council will make its decision regarding OU in late April.

Stadium temporarily closed for construction

Students, faculty and staff who favor running stadium steps will have to avoid the south end of the west side of Oklahoma Memorial Stadium starting Monday, Feb. 8, as it will be closed for up to 10 days because of construction, according to a release sent to OU student-athletes on Feb. 5.

Contractors will be installing electrical conduit under the drive inside Gate 1, which is phase IV in the stadium renovations.

"I don't even know what I would do to (replace that workout)," said OU student Jahna Elizondo, a visual communications senior. "(Running up) hills? There's not many hills around here."

Signs will be posted near Gates 11 and 12 to direct pedestrians toward the north end of the stadium rather than walking through the south end. Access to the football visiting team areas, such as the dressing room, training area, and coaches locker room, will remain open.

Pita Pit expansion to cause temporary closing

The popular OU student eatery Pita Pit, located at 311 W. Boyd St., is expected to close for one day in the next two weeks due to construction that will ultimately expand its breadth to allow many more patrons.

The construction, which began two weeks ago when ownership of the space next door concluded, will considerably expand Pita Pit and the changes include nearly 20 more tables, another bathroom, two plasma flat-screen TVs, and a projector that will be used to watch football games.

Jessica Greff, an employee at Pita Pit who has worked there for three months, said she doesn't anticipate any issues other than when the wall is separating the two spaces is knocked down. She added that the new expansions will be more exciting for students, saying "come watch football games, (play) video games, and there is even talk of getting a DJ."

The agreement to expand the current Pita Pit location to the space next door was made in August, but construction has been delayed. Construction is scheduled to be completed sometime within the spring semester.

No recognition of Paris' record planned just yet

The OU Athletics Department hasn't made any immediate decisions for how to recognize OU women's basketball star Courtney Paris and her NCAA-record game double-double streak, which ended Monday night, but there will be some sort of commendation, a spokesman in the office said Tuesday.

Paris' streak of 112 games with at least 10 points and 10 rebounds ended Monday night in the No. 2 Sooners' 80-70 win against No. 12 Tennessee at the Ford Center in Oklahoma City when she recorded just 9 points and 12 rebounds. The streak began Dec. 5, 2005 against UCLA and lasted 1,159 days.

Paris was modest when asked her reaction to any sort of recognition, saying in an email she hopes the department would "recognize it as a team accomplishment because that's what it was. There's no way I would have gotten to 112 without the people surrounding me."

Paris, a 6-foot-4 journalism senior from Piedmont, Calif., was a consensus first-team All-American last season and is projected to be one of the first picks if not the first pick in the 2009 WNBA Draft, which is scheduled for April 9 with the Atlanta Dream holding the first overall pick.

Canceled OU classes not tied to past decisions

OU's decision to cancel two and a half days of classes early this week because of inclement weather was not tied to its criticized decisions to cancel just one day of classes in December 2007 when Norman was hit by one of the most devastating ice storms in the city's history.

The university received criticism from some students when it decided to cancel the first day of finals week that month but not any others. That storm caused more than 600,000 homes to be without power for days and left 535,000 cubic yards of debris in its wake.

"Each storm is considered on a case-by-case basis," said OU Senior Vice President and Provost Nancy Mergler on Thursday, adding that the "safety is always our first concern." She also said the decision to cancel classes Monday afternoon was made rather quickly. "On Monday, people were slipping before it started sleeting." Her comments were echoed by the office of OU President David L. Boren.

Though existing in what many consider a radical weather environment, OU rarely cancels class because of inclement conditions, missing just six days since November 2002.