Cerato the only civil engineer to win honor

MATTHEW MOZEK

The Oklahoma Daily

An OU professor was among 100 beginning researchers honored by President Barack Obama with the Presidential Early Career Award for Scientists and Engineers.

A s s i s t a nt e n g i n e e r i n g p ro -fessor Amy Cerato received the award July 9, which followed her $400,000 grant from the National Science Foundation.

“I knew when we were recruit-ing her that we had someone spe-cial,” said Robert Knox, director of the OU School of Civil Engineering and Environmental Science. “She has worked very hard over the past four years and is most deserving of this recognition.”

In 2007, Cerato wrote a pro-posal to the National Science Foundation.

By taking soil samples from around Oklahoma, the assistant engi-neering professor w a s r e s e a r c h i n g how to predict how much the soil was going to swell and how to build foun-dations that allevi-ate the movement of homes in order to prevent damage.

“I wanted to be able to tel l hom-eowners, contrac-tors, department of transportation workers and anyone that builds any structure that you see how to build foundations when you have expansive soils,” Cerato said.

Cerato received $400,000 to con-tinue her research. With a grant rated so highly within the NSF, she was nominated by her program

director for the Presidential Early Career Award for Scientists and Engineers.

When asked what the award meant to her, Cerato was overtak-en with excitement.

“I was the only civil engineer in the whole country to get this award,” Cerato said. “It’s given me a lot of visibility which makes re-cruiting graduate students much easier.”

In addition to being the only c i v i l e n g i n e e r i n t h e c o u nt r y awarded for her work, Cerato is only the second geotechnical en-gineer in the country since 1996 to get the award.

“That kind of sets me apart from the rest,” Cerato said. “It will make it easier to get students who want to come work with me.”

For the College of Engineering, the affects of having a presidential award winner on its faculty list are substantial.

“Amy Cerato is highly regarded by her students and faculty peers. National recognition was sure to

follow suit,” C o l l e g e o f Engineering D e a n T h o m a s L . L a n d e r s s a i d i n a s t a t e m e n t . “We are very proud of her accomplish-m e n t s a n d grateful for t h e r e c o g -n i t i o n s h e brings to our

engineering college.”While the achievements made

by Cerato in her research have been acknowledged nationwide, she gives much of the credit to her fellow colleagues at OU.

“I think it was a great honor to be recognized for all my hard

work and my research ideas, but you don’t win awards by your-self,” Cerato said. “I’ve had a lot of help from my colleagues at the University of Oklahoma, and with-out that collaboration I don’t think I would’ve had the time to put into winning this award. I think you really need to like your job to be able to do the best work you can to be productive and my colleagues have really helped me in that re-spect. It’s great for me, but it’s also great for my group.”

As to what the future holds for Cerato and her research study, there is much progress to be made, she said.

“I think that part of being a civil engineer is being a spokesperson for the public, and what I need to do is take all of this research and try to have the public implement what we’ve been working on,” Cerato said. “My goal is to keep

“I think it was a great honor to be recognized for all my hard work and my research ideas, but you don’t win awards by yourself. It’s great for me, but it’s also great for my group”

AMY CERATO - ASSISTANT ENGINEERING PROFESSOR

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Historic instrument fi nds

new home in Catlett

MATTHEW MOZEKThe Oklahoma Daily

The American Organ Institute at OU recently finished restoring a one-of-a-kind instrument it first acquired in 2006.

The instrument, a 1931 M.P. Moller Opus 5819 theatre organ, is

considered especially unique be-cause of the quality of workman-ship and materials used.

“What we have is a priceless national treasure which must be saved for the benefit of future gen-erations around the world.” said John Schwandt, professor of organ and director of the American Organ Institute.

B u i l t b y t h e M . P. M o l l e r Company, the organ was complet-ed and installed in the Philadelphia Municipal Auditorium in 1931. For two years, it faced imminent dan-ger as the ensuing demolition of the auditorium in 2004 threatened its preservation.

In October 2006, the institute acquired the instrument, where it was stored in the institute’s 8,000 square-foot organ shop facility. Upon completion of the restoration project this spring, the 50-ton organ was fully restored and installed.

Under the direction of the OU Board of Regents and President David Boren, the institute’s foun-dational task was to provide the university with a world-class pipe organ to hold in its primary concert venue, Paul F. Sharp Concert Hall.

“We are very thankful for the support of President Boren,” said John Riester, shop manager for the institute. “He’s really the one who got this project off the ground.”

In October, a variety of partici-pants — including graduate stu-dents, paid student technicians

and members of OU faculty — began the restoration project.

The process included replac-ing perishable materials as well as repairing the worn piping. Installation in the Paul F. Sharp Concert Hall began in the fall and was completed in the spring.

“Simply put, this organ is one of the greatest musical instruments ever created,” pipe organ historian

Jeff Weiler said in a statement. With the successful acquisition,

restoration and installation of such an historic American pipe organ, the institute is gaining recognition and praise as a major developmen-tal program for organ enthusiasts

“The American Organ Institute, a n d t h u s t h e U n i v e r s i t y o f Oklahoma, is heir to a musical

legacy of inestimable value,” Weiler said. “It is an appropriate and envi-able centerpiece for a world-class program of organ instruction and is highly deserving of a careful and historically informed restoration.”

For more on the restoration proj-ects of pipe organs by the American Organ Institute at OU, visit aoi.ou.edu/gala.

1931 PIPE ORGAN RESTORED TO GLORY

ELI HULL/THE DAILY

Drew Mangus (left), french horn performance senior, and Dan Sliger (right), music education senior, work together to fix a wind trunk inside one of the organ chambers.

ELI HULL/THE DAILY

The organ sits on stage in the front of Paul F. Sharp Hall inside the Catlett Music Center.

OU engineering professor receives presidential award

TYLER METCALFE/THE DAILY

Amy Cerato holds a handful of soil Tuesday on the South Oval.

JourneyChurch.tv

will move into old

AMF Norman Lanes

to increase outreach

RICKY MARANONThe Oklahoma Daily

A place that was once a lo-cation where one could go to play a few rounds of bowling is taking on a higher calling.

JourneyChurch.tv is set to move into the old AMF Norman Lanes bowling alley on East Lindsay Street this fall.

“We are relaunching the new east campus in the early fall,” Bryan Waldenville, JourneyChurch.tv east cam-pus pastor, said.

According to Waldenville, JourneyChurch.tv decided to move it’s east campus con-gregation, currently located at 36th Ave. NE and East Robinson Street, into the former bowling alley when the church experienced a jump in membership and attendance.

“We have experienced a lot of growth and momen-tum, and at the same time, we saw that the AMF blowl-ing alley was looking to break their lease,” Waldenville said.

“We looked at the building and saw the the proximity to campus and other potential benefits, but one of the main reasons for moving was to be closer to campus.”

He said the building being close to OU and student apartment complexes would increase the ministry oppor-tunities to students, and the building would have an op-tion to increase the number of seats in the auditorium to more than 400 seats.

“Aside from a new coat of paint on the outside, most of the construction will be tak-ing place inside of the build-ing,” Waldenville said. “We are currently doing renova-tions on the inside. When it’s finished, you’ll be able to walk in, and it will be set up like a church.”

JourneyChurch.tv is hop-ing that the new east campus location will help them min-ister to students every day of the week as opposed to just being able to reach out to students during regularly scheduled Bible studies.

“We have a loft available for students above In The Raw Sushi Bar on Campus

Journey church relocates to better reach students

RICKY MARANON/THE DAILY

JourneyChurch.tv is moving its East campus into the old Norman AMF Norman Lanes bowling Alley on Lindsey Street to improve the church’s ability to minister to students at OU.

Award Continues on page 2 Church Continues on page 2

A drunk driver ruined somethingprecious. Amber Apodaca.

Friends Don’t Let Friends Drive Drunk.

Photo

by M

ichael M

azzeo

James Lovett, managing editordailynews@ou.edu • phone: 325-3666 • fax: 325-6051

2 Thursday, July 30, 2009

Corner, and we have a Bible study up there every Tuesday. It’s also a great place for students to just come and hang out in dur-ing the week,” said Adam Barnett, JourneyChurch.tv college missional pastor. “With the new location just off campus and that location having convenient Sunday experience times, students can have a place to come to and worship and join a small group that is perfect for their lifestyle and schedules.”

When the east campus is open, Sunday experience times will be at 10:30 a.m. and 12:15 p.m.

“Students can literally roll out of bed at a reason-able time that isn’t early in the morning, hop on their bikes or get in their cars and worship at the east campus,” Barnett said.

Barnett said there was one exception to the east campus relocation in rela-tion to JourneyChurch.tv’s college ministry.

“When the east campus is open, we will still hold our Tuesday night Lifestream Bible study at the North campus until further no-tice,” he said. “We won’t be able to actually get a grip on our full potential at the east campus until we actually open the doors and see how things are going.”

OU students who at-tend JourneyChurch.tv are also feeling the excitement and momentum of the relocation.

“I’m excited we are mov-ing closer to campus,” said Allie Elkins, communica-tions junior. “Our current location is very far away, and I know that makes it dif-ficult for some students to attend.”

Elkins said the move cre-ates the potential for other students to be apart of her church, and she is glad to see her church play a bigger role in her community.

“I can’t wait to see what kind of community service projects we will be able to do since we are closer to school and the city of Norman,” she said. “Journey Church has style, and I’m glad we are becoming a place where students want to come and be apart of.”

Zac Miller, communica-tions junior, said he enjoys going to JourneyChurch.tv and was looking forward to seeing students be apart of something that has touched his life.

Miller said the new loca-tion will make it easier for all students to attend church on Sunday, and because of the convenience of the new location, he looks forward to meeting new students.

“I love coming here and being apart of this church,” Miller said. “This place has really helped me with my faith, and I’m glad to see that other students will have the same opportunities that I’ve had with this church.”

For more information about JourneyChurch.tv ’s east campus relo-c a t i o n , y o u m a y c o n -tact Br yan Waldenville at br yan.waldenvil le@journeychurch.tv, and for more information about JourneyChurch.tv’s college ministry, you may contact Adam Barnett at adam.bar-nett@journeychurch.tv.

DANIEL PUMAThe Oklahoma Daily

Pepe Delgado’s, 752 Asp Ave., will be moving into a new location sometime in August after the Oklahoma Tax Commission forced the restaurant to suspend all business July 17.

The restaurant will re-locate to 750 Asp Avenue, previously the location of Turquoise American Bistro, said Helen Wolney, presi-dent of Campus Corner Merchants Association.

“ Pe p e’s i s m ov i n g t o Turquoise’s old building in the middle of August,” Wolney said.

Both Turquoise Cafe and Pepe Delgado’s are owned by Emilio Salinas, who was forced to close the two res-taurants after receiving or-ders from the Oklahoma Tax Commission for failure to comply with Oklahoma’s Tax Laws.

It is not known if Turquoise will reopen, or where it will be located if it does. Salinas would not comment when r e a c h e d b y t e l e p h o n e Wednesday.

Neither restaurant can resume operations until all taxes have been paid in full.

Wolney said she did not know what would move into Pepe Delgado’s former location.

ELI HULL/THE DAILY

Pepe Delgado’s a popular Campus Corner restaurant was shutdown July 17 by the Oklahoma Tax Commission and is relocating a few doors away from its current location.

Pepe Delgado’s finds new home

The following information is a list of citations and arrests not convictions. The information collected is compiled from the Norman Police Department and the OUPD. All people listed are innocent until proven guilty.

COUNTY WARRANTDale Eugene Austin, 23, 728 Comanche St., Tuesday

POSSESSION OF MARIJUANADaniel Jhean Cox, 18, 920 24th Ave. SW, TuesdayDavid Christopher Coon, 18, 2420 Classen Blvd., Monday

DISTURBING THE PEACEPresley Alice Juliette Gallup, 22, 2828 Dewey Ave., Tuesday

PUBLIC INTOXICATIONElise Janette Grotts, 22, 3300 W. Main St., TuesdayTony James Powell, 37, 2719 Osage Way, MondayBilly Albert Bailey, 60, Dakota Street, Monday

DRIVING UNDER THE INFLUENCEJames Robert Hood, 73, 3720 W. Robinson St., TuesdayJerome Zachariah Murdock, 30, George Avenue, MondayJennifer Michelle Edwards, 24, 2800 W. Indian Hills Road, Monday

MUNICIPAL WARRANTJulie Roze Larson, 30, 201 W. Gray St., TuesdayBrian Charles Young, 39, 2800 Chautauqua Ave., MondayJoshua Scott Barrett, 21, 2420 Classen Blvd., MondayJohn Jefferson Daxon, 23, 201 W. Gray St., Monday

TRESPASSINGDelmer Duane Piper, 52, 1805 Asbury Place, Monday

POSSESSION OF CONTROLLED DANGEROUS SUBSTANCE WITHIN 1,000 FEET OF A PARKScott Wikel, 53, 1800 Northcliff Ave., Tuesday

POSSESSION OF CONTROLLED DANERGOUS SUBSTANCE WITH THE INTENT TO SELLTrae Emanuel Gaines, 20, N. Porter Avenue, SundayLetha Nicole Wilson, 28, N. Porter Avenue, Sunday

POSSESSION OF DRUG PARAPHERNALIA

Jose Arnoldo Jurado, 20, 1430 24th Ave. SW, Monday

OTHER WARRANT

Michael A. Pierce, 21, 2130 W. Brooks St., Monday

VICIOUS DOG

Lisa E. Wolf, 47, 4400 W. Main St., Sunday

POLICE REPORTS

Continued from page 1

Church

working on projects that can help society. I’m really into the alternative energy field as well as helping so-ciety live with nature.”

As for the impact that e n g i n e e r s h av e o n t h e world, Cerato said the de-velopments made in the field of engineering hold just as much significance as any other field of study.

“Our message to young engineers is that engineers can change the world,” Cerato said. “We are the innovators of tomorrow, and we have to keep striv-ing to work on new inno-vations and new ways of building as we learn new technologies to help so-ciety. We always want to move forward and when we move forward we want to take the environment into consideration.

“ I t h i n k y o u h av e t o

always keep in the back of your mind that engi-neers can make a world o f d i f f e r e n c e ,” C e r a t o said. “Everything you see around you is engineered, whether it is your Xbox, y o u r c o m p u t e r o r t h e roadways we drive on.”

Cerato hopes more stu-dents will choose engi-neering as a career.

“I would just want the young students to keep in mind that engineers are involved in every facet of life, and it’s our responsi-bility to be the stewards of the technological world,” Cerato said. “We really need to take care of both the human population, but also our Earth. If any-thing else, I would say ... just be an engineer!”

Continued from page 1

AwardOU LEADS NATION IN TROW SCHOLARSHIP RECIPIENTSTwo OU students have been rewarded Jo Anne Trow Scholarships from Alpha Lambda Delta, a national honor society, bringing the total of recipients at OU to 15 in the past seven years, a record shared by only two other schools.Allen Wang, a multidisciplinary studies junior from Hollister, Calif., will receive a $3,000 award, and Morgan Taylor, communications junior from Coppell, Texas, will receive a $1,000 award.The scholarships, presented by the honor society to fi rst year students, are given to 35 outstanding students across the country.The competition is open to sophomore members of the society who have maintained the required GPA. Selection is based on academic records, participation in Alpha Lambda Delta activities, applicants’ statements and community activities.

RECYCLING NUMBERS UP FROM LAST YEAROU recycled 20 percent more material in 2009, and reduced its waste output by more than 13 percent, Amanda Hearn, OU Physical Plant spokeswoman said Tuesday.The university recycled 932.55 tons in 2009, compared to 774.70 tons in 2008. “We simply would not have recycled 932.55 tons without a supportive and active OU com-munity,” Hearn said. “The credit for the 20 percent increase in recycled material goes to OU’s committed students, faculty and staff.”Hearn said this year’s RecycleMania project, a national recycling initiative, helped OU recycle more than 320,000 pounds, exceeding the school’s goal for the event by more than 50 percent.Hearn also said the increase in recycling contain-ers on campus over the past few years has helped encourage students to separate their trash.

Briefs by Oklahoma Daily Staff

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dailysports@ou.edu • phone: 325-7630 • fax: 325-6051

Thursday, July 30, 2009 3

Former Sooner tackler

played 10 seasons for

the Atlanta Falcons

CHARLES WARDThe Oklahoma Daily

Rick Bryan’s former coaches offered nothing but praise for the former OU All-American defensive tackle, who died Saturday at 47.

One word, however, kept com-ing up in all of those conversations: big.

“One of the first things coach [Merv] Johnson asked me about him was, ‘Well, how big’s his moth-er?’ said Tom Beller, the head foot-ball coach at Coweta High School during Bryan’s junior and senior seasons. “His mother was not a heavy woman, but she was tall. And that influenced him. He said, ‘Well, then it’s in the blood.’”

Johnson, now director of football operations at OU, valued Bryan’s potential to add muscle to a frame that stood at 6 feet, 4 inches while still in high school.

“You could tell he was going to get so big,” Johnson said. “A big, raw-boned guy, [his added size] wouldn’t slow him down one bit, he could be a dominant lineman.”

Among genetics, OU’s weight program and summers spent bal-ing and hauling hay around the family farm, Bryan did get big, hitting 260 pounds for his senior season in 1983. Bryan would be bigger than three of OU’s defensive linemen on the current two-deep roster, and just one pound shy of Jeremy Beal.

That size proved to be the right complement to the speed and quickness that allowed him to play middle linebacker, along with an impressive game of basketball, at Coweta.

“I saw him score, I think, 55 one night,” Johnson said. “He ran

a bunch of about half-scared guys out of the gym. They were afraid of the big rascal.”

That combo also allowed Bryan to become an unlikely half-miler during his senior season of high school.

“Most track kids, especially dis-tance runners, are maybe 5-9, 120 pounds,” Beller said. “This kid is out there at 6-5, 230 pounds, right on their heels,”

Bryan’s ability and capacity for work also proved to be big. Beller remembered Rick, along with his brothers Steve and Mitch, coming to the morning half of two-a-days after working in a hay field, leav-ing practice to bale more hay, coming back to the high school for an afternoon practice and then heading home to work the hay some more be-fore hitting it.

“Work ethic — it’s something that doesn’t exist today in kids,” Beller said. “Not like it did then. Those boys knew what hard work was, they knew what was expected of them, and they did it.”

Bryan’s work ethic might have come from the farm, but it didn’t stay there when he came to OU.

“He just outworked everybody, and he was strong and tough.” Johnson said. “He did everything like he was killing snakes. Every practice. Every weight-room exer-cise. No matter what you’re doing, he was the hardest-working, most aggressive guy in the drill.”

Choosing OU over Oklahoma State came down to Bryan’s desire to take on big challenges, Johnson said.

“[Barry Switzer] said, ‘Ricky, you are like us. We think you’re the

best. You are going to be the best. Unless you put yourself in a situa-tion [like] you have at Oklahoma, where you have got a chance to beat Nebraska, you got a chance to play and hopefully beat Texas. Those kind of games, you’re never going to know. You’re always going to wonder whether you could have measured up,’” Johnson said.

Bryan measured up well. He earned playing time as a freshman, earning spots on the 1982 and 1983 All-American teams and all-Big 8 status three times. The Atlanta Falcons drafted Bryan ninth over-all in the 1984 NFL Draft. He played

10 seasons for the Falcons.

He also took on the challenge of noodling, a form of f ishing that isn’t about casual casting and tying flies. Instead, a noodler’s hand is his bait, when it reaches into the water in hopes of a fish mistaking a finger for food.

When that happens, the fish bites the hand and the noodler tries to grab a hold of the fish before it real-izes its error.

Henry Bias, Bryan’s principal and basketball coach at Coweta, remembered a man whose gener-osity was as large as his frame.

“He would give his shirt off his back,” Bias said. “He liked to help people, and he went above and beyond his way to help people. A good Christian man. A good fam-ily man and just the type of son that you would like to have if you had a son.”

In the end, Bryan might have been too big. Bryan said last sum-mer that he weighed 325 pounds.

“Ricky was a big boy anyway,” Beller said. “A big man, but I think

he was a little bit too big.”Switzer said Bryan died of con-

gestive heart failure, and Bryan had heart trouble earlier this year, and even underwent a procedure to have his heart stopped and re-started, Bias said.

Bryan’s memory, at least to Johnson, will remain large.

“He’s one of those, that, if you go through this crazy profession for 50

years like some of us have ... people ask you who was the best player you had, who was your favorite player, things like that,” Johnson said. “And you simply can’t shove anybody in front of him. There may be some tied with him ... but he’s one you remember all your life.”

The Associated Press contributed to the

story.

EDDIE RADOSEVICHThe Oklahoma Daily

Walking out of last year’s FedEx BCS National Championship in Miami left a bitter taste in the mouths of the Sooner Nation.

Like so many OU fans who had left Miami’s Pro Player Stadium only five years before, last year’s fans left without the sweet taste of victory.

It was the taste of defeat. Again.After watching “The Chosen One” Tim

Tebow and the Gators win their second na-tional championship in three years, many were left in the dark as to where the Sooners program was to turn.

Then it happened.Heisman Trophy winner Sam Bradford,

along with teammates Trent Williams, Gerald McCoy and Jermaine Gresham, all decided to come back to school.

Suddenly, OU football was poised and ready for a run at the school’s eighth national championship.

Tuesday marked the Sooners turn to take the podium at Big 12 Media Days in Irving, Texas, signaling the start of a new season.

“It’s been a great summer to get away and spend some time with your family. I hope the players have been working,” said OU head coach Bob Stoops while meeting with the media. “We had a good winter and spring leading up to the summer. Hopefully we’ll get leadership out of not only the three or four that came back, but some of our older guys with experience as well.”

OFFENSIVE QUESTION MARKS

Saying OU will bring home the program’s eighth national championship is much easi-er than actually accomplishing it.

Many question marks still remain.“[The offensive line] is a concern because

those guys have played a limited amount,” Stoops said. “You just want to see consisten-cy and see how they work here through two-a-days and work through the season. We’ve got to keep developing those guys. They had a pretty good spring going up against a pretty good defensive line of our own.”

Because the Sooners are replacing four starters from last year’s offensive line that in-cluded a first and second round draft pick, it is easy to doubt the inexperience.

But it is also easy to look at the predica-ment as if the glass is half-full.

Moving Trent Williams to left tackle should be an excellent move as he protects Bradford’s back side. Williams, a 6-foot-5, 318-pound senior has been said among the

coaches as having the potential to be the best that has ever had come through during the Stoops regime.

Ushering in new faces like Ben Habern and Stephen Good across the front has the potential to pay off as both players enter as highly-touted throughout the recruiting world.

Then there is the question mark at wide receiver.

The loss of Manuel Johnson, Juaquin Iglesias and Quentin Chaney have some Sooner fans in an uproar throughout Campus Corner.

But Stoops is excited about the potential there, as well.

“I think Sam will have a good number of

targets,” Stoops said. “I think one of the best things that Kevin Wilson has done as our of-fensive coordinator is to be able to play to more team strengths.”

Playing to their strengths is something this team will have to do, as sophomore Ryan Broyles moves to the outside, and fellow hometown favorite Mossis Madu finally gets a chance at the slot position.

Joining the Norman High products will be senior Adron Tennell, junior Brandon Caleb, sophomore Dejuan Miller and sophomore Jameel Owens.

DEFENSE EXPECTS BIG THINGS

OU is returning with eight starters from the defensive side of the ball; a unit good enough to be in the top-3 of every Big 12 sta-tistical category.

All-American defensive lineman Gerald McCoy echoed those sentiments Tuesday.

“I feel we could be the best defense in the country,” said the Oklahoma City native. “We’ve worked hard enough to be there and we have so much depth on our team. That’s our mind set.”

Joining McCoy will be ’08 Big 12 Defensive Newcomer of the year Travis Lewis, and a whole host of players across the front of a defensive line that many pundits have as the best in the nation.

It would be easy to say that only a win at the Cotton Bowl separates this team from a trip to Hollywood, but with one of the harder schedules in the nation, the Sooners will have to do what every championship team has done.

Win on the road.Road games at Miami, Fla.; at pre-season

Big 12 North favorites, Kansas and Nebraska; the trek to Lubbock and two neutral site games (BYU and Texas) will all prove tough if a championship is on the near horizon.

SOONER SEASON KICKS OFF IN TEXAS

AP PHOTO/DONNA MCWILLIAM

Junior quarterback Sam Bradford answers a question Tuesday during Big 12 Media Day in Irving, Texas. The 2008 Heisman Trophy winner will return to OU this year with the hope of leading the Sooners to the national championship.

Coaches remember Bryan as larger than life

PHOTO PROVIDED

Former Sooner defensive tackle Rick Bryan jumps to block a pass in a game against Texas. Bryan, who died Saturday at age 47, was a two-time All-American at OU and played 10 years for the Atlanta Falcons.

“[Barry Switzer] said,

‘Ricky, you are like us.

We think you’re the

best. You are going to

be the best.”

MERV JOHNSON, OU DIRECTOR OF FOOTBALL OPERATIONS

Luke Atkinson, opinion editor

dailyopinion@ou.edu • phone: 325-7630 • fax: 325-6051

4 Thursday, July 30, 2009

STAFF CARTOON

Luke Atkinson Editor-in-ChiefJames Lovett Managing EditorElizabeth Nalewajk Night EditorLuke Atkinson Opinion EditorEli Hull Photo Editor Luke Atkinson Senior Online Editor

Brendan Smith Assistant Online EditorEli Hull Multimedia EditorJames Lovett Sports EditorDusty Somers Life & Arts EditorJudy Gibbs Robinson Editorial AdviserThad Baker Advertising Manager

The Oklahoma Daily is a public forum and OU’s independent student voice.Letters should concentrate on issues, not personalities, and should be fewer than 250 words, typed, double spaced and signed by the author(s). Letters will be cut to fit. Students must list their major and classification. OU staff and faculty must list their title. All letters must include a daytime phone number. Authors submitting letters in person must present photo identification. Submit letters Sunday through Thursday, in 160 Copeland Hall. Letters can also be submitted via e-mail to dailyopinion@ou.edu.

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I have a problem. In the duplex in which I am living in this summer, we have ants. Not a lot, and not all of the time, but we have ants. The problem is that every once in a while, when my roommate or I make coffee, we have a tendency to not wash our mugs out well. They sit there for a few days and soon, the mug is crawling with ants.

It’s not a big problem, but it’s frustrating. The worst part is that I know we could avoid the whole mess if we just disciplined ourselves to wash our coffee mugs out with soap and water every time we used them. It wouldn’t take much time or ef-fort, but we never do it. Instead, we just wait until the ants show up, and then we clean the mug and the counter.

It is a bit silly, but it’s true. So, what does this have to do with you? Well, assuming you don’t have ants in your kitchen, the point of this article is to talk about looking the other way. I don’t mean this in the sense that you look the other way when your co-worker leaves work thirty minutes early without telling the man-ager; I mean looking the other when you see a problem and you refuse to address it.

To be fair, this habit isn’t limited to just Oklahoma or even to the United States; it’s everywhere. From my apartment to the powers that be in Washington and be-yond, people have formed an awful tendency to ignore

problems until they become inevitable. As with all of my articles, I don’t address this mes-

sage to any specific political party, religious affiliation, or other group. We can all take a lesson from the ants;

things don’t get better until YOU do something about it.

The American economy is a perfect example. Capitalism in general is a sticky situation. It hing-es on people having faith enough in their econ-omy and themselves to become active members of the economy. The irony is that if the economy is poor, people lose faith in it. Then, people are no longer active members of the economy and things get worse. It seems like a vicious circle, one that we are all becoming very familiar with.

Despite this seemingly endless dance of faith and failure, our economy is quite salvageable,

and we don’t necessarily need the government to help us. If everyone (yes, everyone) takes a leap of faith for their economy and starts investing and actively trading money regardless of the economic environment, things will get better. Maybe not infinitely better, but we will see improvement.

I know, I know—it’s not that simple. I whole-heartedly agree, but all the government stimuli and bailouts in the world can’t save us unless WE take a stand and become active members in our economy. We can’t wait for the

problem to become inevitable—that future is far too im-minent to ignore.

But this article isn’t as much about the United States or its economy as it is about human nature and habit. We refuse to take action unless someone tells us to or we have no other choice. So long as we believe OTHER people are capable of solving the problem, we will do nothing.

The problem with this is that many times, as with our economy, there is nobody else to solve the problem. I’m not suggesting that you organize a town hall meeting to encourage everyone to spend, spend, spend, but you have to take some initiative if you want things to change. Don’t wait around for the government, your parents, or your friends to solve your problems for you, because you will be waiting an awful long time.

If we want be helped, we must first be willing to help ourselves.

I don’t know what is going to become of those ants in our kitchen. Maybe someday, we will clean out our cof-fee mugs and no longer be plagued by our minor ant in-festation, or maybe not. One thing is for sure, though: no one is coming to clean out our mugs for us.

Joshua Wesneski is a College of Arts and Sciences junior.

JOSHUA WESNESKI

Government problems cannot be fi xed without initiative

OUR VIEW

So long, sweet summertimeWhat an interesting summer it

has been.Since we left the spring se-

mester in May, we’ve seen quite a few interesting and intriguing headlines.

Although campus felt empty, a n d t h e b u s i n e s s e s a l o n g Campus Corner began their sea-sonal slowdown, students were still abuzz with approaching festivals, new political nomina-tions and the promise of a tuition freeze – among other topics. These events gave us something to talk about, something which is normally uncommon for the dol-drums of summer.

Topics like Rep. John Sullivan’s admission to an alcohol rehabili-tation center. Pharmacist Jerome Ersland’s involvement with the death of a 16-year-old boy.

A tornado came close to cam-pus in June – the first time to happen since the 1980s. This one little storm casused quite a stir with summer residents who claim they didn’t hear any warn-ing sirens.

The OU Press hit headlines when several employees were laid off after Boren announced

in a press conference that there wouldn’t be any jobs lost due to internal layoffs.

Camp Crimson brought an-other class of incoming freshmen and pumping them up for the adventure of a lifetime. Teaching these new students the traditions behind OU is something that will stay with them forever.

Chipotle Mexican Grill de-cided to make their home on Campus Corner, bringing an-other burrito spot to the popular area.

Apart from the news, sports saw big stories, as well.

Will Claye won an individual national title and set a triple jump world record.

U n f o r t u n a t e l y , t h e b u z z around town also included the untimely passings of national icons and Sooner legends.

Wayman Tisdale lost his fight with cancer, and former football player Rick Bryant died from a heart attack.

As far as summers go, this sea-son has been an exciting one, minus a few unfortunate turns. But it’s time for our break.

See you in the fall.

Mai-Thao Nguyen is a biochemistry senior.

COMMENTS OF THE DAY

IN RESPONSE TO TUESDAY’S “END OF RADICAL CONSERVATISM” COLUMN

“I find it funny when reading OpEd pieces in The Oklahoma Daily. Here are 20-somethings, who haven’t lived but 5-6 years as adults, and have “all the answers”. They speak of history, as if they’ve lived it, but not realizing that they only recite it based on biased reviews.

The “radical right” was always here, and never didn’t just appear. The look of the “right” has been America for the past few hundred years, but with the onset of liberalism, it appears brighter because of the stark contrast.

You speak of Reagan as if he didn’t believe in conservatives, but he didn’t have to defend tradi-tional marriage, or Christianity in the public view. If you had his back to the corner, he would have done the same as Sarah Palin and Rush Limbaugh.

So, back to my point of young editors. I remem-ber when I was your age and felt the same way. But, as we get older, and experience “life”, I promise, you will have a different tone. So, instead of bash-ing other people’s beliefs, why don’t you resepect them and be tolerant (as you often claim we should be) towards others of opposing views. Because, I promise you, the pendulum will swing back the other way soon. And, one day, you will be in the

minority, and will be asking for the same respect you are not giving today!”Clifton

“Is your argument that it is better to hear from selfish, self-centered, jaded oldies? The baby-boomers and warmongerers have devastated us financially. The younger generation work more, harder, and have seen many institutions in America tumble like a stack of cards. High and Mighty con-servatism just plain sucks, and the new generation gets it.”

Bubba

“If I’m wrong, please correct me...Are you insinuating that those of us that go to TEA

parties are part of a minority faction? Each time TEA parties are held they grow by the thousands. Despite the media writing us of as conspiracy nuts, fear mongers, and racists our numbers are growing. But somehow we’re just a minority faction.

If we’re such a minority then how can Glenn Beck’s book be the best selling book in America 5 weeks running. Yes, that’s the same Glenn Beck that is a member of far-right. Even though those on the true far-right hate him too.”

Shimmara

“Exactly...

Please don’t preach to me about what a conser-vative was in the past if you were wearing diapers two administrations ago. The present bitterness and division as it is today in this country began after Clinton shamefully left offi ce and his prede-cessor was beat in the following election. Since then this country has been divided like it hasn’t been in years.

But even taking into consideration your age and inexperience, liberally infl uenced public school edu-cation, and media guided opinions, let me ask you a few questions. Explain to me how it is “radical” to oppose the killing of over 1.3 million unborn babies per year out of convenience? How is it “radical” to support the rights of citizens to own guns? How is it “radical” to oppose socialized ‘healthcare’? How is it radical to oppose the ever growing government’s hand out of millions of dollars and the bailout of incompetent and corrupt industry? How is it “radi-cal” to refer to this country as a Christian Nation when it is over 70% Christian?

Turn off the TV, step back and look at things objectively and form your own opinions. You don’t have to listen to Ann Coulter or Rush or anyone else. The present GOP is splintered just like the Democratic party was after the Clinton mess. And Sarah Palin may not be Presidential material for whatever reasons, and I don’t think she’ll even run, but if it came down to her and four more years of

Obama’s “change”, I’ll be in line fi rst to vote for her.”Tejas

“People, he’s not a liberal!In fact he seems pretty far right after reading

those two “gems.” I think his (poorly communi-cated) point is that he despises all things unre-fi ned, whether they be on the right or on the left.

If that IS his point, then I can’t say that I dis-agree.”

veritas

“Clifton’s right. To take this beyond politics, though, this column’s problem is one a lot of writers commit - throwing a reasoned take on a legitimate question out the door in favor of some eye-catch-ing hyperbole. Radical conservatism is as old as modern politics itself and it isn’t going anywhere. Unfortunately Elijah Lavicky has a tendency to run good editorial ideas straight into the ground.”

JJanowiak

“No more radical conservatism, just the corpo-rate conservatism pushed by both parties. Glory days have come!”

bruenig

You can comment at OUDaily.com.

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Employment

HELP WANTED

House Person/Server Contact Ms. Short at 701-1658. Pref’d start date 8/3. Must have neat personal appearance, be able to lift up to 50 lbs., and work well with oth-ers. Hourly pay + meals provided.

THE MONTNow accepting applications

SERVERS - Must be available forday shifts beginning at 10:30am.

Server experience preferred.Apply in person M-F, 11am to

noon, 1300 Classen.

CITY OF EDMONDSummer positions at Pelican Bay Aquatic Center: Asst Pool Manager, Cashier & Cafe Managers, Cafe Staff/Cashiers, Lifeguard Staff, Water Safety Instructors. Golf Course, Arcadia Lake, Parks & Rec-reation jobs also open.

Job info line, 359-4648www.edmondok.com

Apply at 100 E First, Room 106

Bartending! Up to $250/day. No exp nec. Training provided. 1-800-965-6520, x133.

Housing RentalsJ

APTS. FURNISHED

Selling 1 year lease at The RESERVE. 1 bdr of a 4 bdr fl oorplan. $1000 incentive to take over the lease. Call 480-628-3426

Share furnished 5 bd apt w/ 4 other girls. Private bed & bath, stainless & granite kitchen, hardwoods, etc. Pools & workout facility. $555/month (this rate no longer avail thru apt complex) DEPOSIT READY PAID FOR YOU - contact Kim @ 210-262-5537

APTS. UNFURNISHED

IMMEDIATE MOVE IN$99 Dep/$99 1st mo/free gym

*some restrictions applyModels open 8a-8p Everyday!

Elite Properties 360-6624or www.elite2900.com

Newly built, 3 bd apt needs 3 roommates. $1290/mo, Call Elizabeth 600-4363

P/L Now for August!$99 Dep/$100 off 1st mo/free gym!

*some restrictions applyModels open 8a-8p Everyday!

Elite Properties 360-6624or www.elite2900.com

2bd Townhouses / $99 Deposit!$100 off 1st mo rent! 6 mo free gym

Greentree 1100 sqft - $580/moWillowbrook 1200 sqft - $589/moHunters Run 1400 sqft - $779/mo

Elite Properties 360-6624www.elite2900.com

CONDOS UNFURNISHED

2 BR, 2 BA, gated, for lease or rent, up-dated, $750/mo, dep $750, no smoking or pets, 354-9289 or 850-2774, leave mes-sage.

NOTTINGHAM 2 bd, 2 bath, w/d, fi re-place, cfans, lg closets, no pets, covered parking, $750/mo. 360-4107.

4 bd/4 ba Condo at The Edge at Norman - avail 7/27/09. $1335/mo for 9 mo lease

***Rent Negotiable w/12 mo lease*** (205) 243-9020

HOUSES UNFURNISHED

Avail August 1st! 425 Page Circle, lease fell through. Small but very clean, very nice 2 bd. Walk to school, very close to campus, 401-3069.

3-4 Bdrm homes near OU, ReasonableCall 329-4119

1109 E Lindsey, 2/3 bd, 1 bthRefrig, w/d, stove, wood fl oors, no pets, $775/mo, $500/dep. Lawn maintenance optional. Call 329-1933 or 550-7069.

Great 3bdrm house in a great neighbor-hood! 1 mile from campus with easy ac-cess to I-35. Refrigerator & W/D included. Alarm system wired. 2-car garage. Great back yard. Pets allowed. $800/mo. Call 405-637-7427 for details.

Avail NOW! 1609 S Pickard, OU area. 3 bdrm/ 2 bath, lg fenced yard, garage, study. Lease & dep. $1350/mo. 366-1700 or 818-4441

TOWNHOUSES UNFURNISHED

3116 Ridgecrest Court! Nice 2 bed, 1.5 bath, 1-car garage, CH/A, FP! Sundeck! Pet-friendly! $750-850/month! (580) 772-7665, (580) 774-1608.

ROOMMATES WANTED

Looking for friendly, respectful 3rd room-mate for summer or fall, 2 bdrm furn at Kraettli, bills incl’d, $200. Ref avail. 405-796-7118.

$390 / F roommate, 3 br, 3 mi from OU - hhall10@ou.edu or 972-489-9991

$300 - live in nice 3/2 home (Norman) w grad F and underclass M. All bills paid. Furnished except for your room. W/D, cable internet. Share bath w/ 1 M, so M preferred. 24th/Alameda, 3 mi from book-store. 620-7020.

Male roommate to share house with 3 other guys. Will have own room but share bath w/ 1 other guy. WiFi, full kitchen,W/D, security system. 10 min from cam-pus. Last room avail at $385. Deposit $150. Call Mikyle at 405-623-6119

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Beautiful Huntington Condo, 3003 River Oaks #118, downstairs, 2 bed/ 2 bath, fi replace, W/D/Micro, garage #13, move in ready, $94,500. Amelia Andre, GRI, CRS, TRS, Don Cies Real Estate, 627-7822.

Housing RentalsJ Housing RentalsJ

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9number

crisisline

[help is just a phone call away][help is just a phone call away]325-6963 (NYNE)

OU Number Nyne Crisis Line8 p.m. - 4 a.m. every dayexcept OU holidays and breaks

SOONERSDrink Responsibly.

Call the Hotline at

325-5000to report illegal or unsafe drinking.

All calls are anonymous.The University of Oklahoma is an

Equal Opportunity Institution.

Previous Answers

4 17

5 1 3 6 43 9 5 4 8

4 2 7 3 63 6 5 9 4

24 8

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

6 7 4 9 2 3 5 8 19 8 2 4 1 5 3 7 65 1 3 7 6 8 4 2 92 5 8 3 4 9 6 1 77 4 6 8 5 1 9 3 23 9 1 6 7 2 8 5 41 2 9 5 3 6 7 4 84 6 5 1 8 7 2 9 38 3 7 2 9 4 1 6 5

Universal Crossword

HOUSE CALLS by Jules Joplin

ACROSS 1 More than

just butterflies 5 Two

teaspoons, e.g.

9 Chute for logs 14 Revolutionary

car part? 15 Piano key

wood, poetically

16 Foe of capitalism

17 Young servants on board

19 Dispatch boat 20 Comes forth 21 Administers

(with “out”) 22 Scoreboard

abbr. 23 Cannes cleric 25 Shutterbug’s

subject 28 “Li’l Abner”

character Hawkins

30 Veterinary patient

33 Company with a familiar ring to it?

34 Breed of cat or rabbit

35 “This tastes awful!”

36 Home-based business

39 Belt along 40 Degree

requirement, sometimes

41 Sonnet or haiku, e.g.

42 Occasional, as a job

43 What the Queen of Hearts made

44 Author of “The Divine Comedy”

45 Piggy’s title 46 Giant mythical

bird 47 “The game

is ___!” (Sherlock Holmes line)

50 Full of energy 55 Sluggish

marsh 56 Pennsylvania

university and town

57 Make scholarly revisions, e.g.

58 Soothing additive

59 Show amusement

60 Succinctly worded

61 Best toys in the whirl?

62 Suture material

DOWN 1 One of

Chaney’s thousand

2 What a proctor oversees

3 Goya subject: Duchess of ___

4 Improve the wheel?

5 IOUs 6 Certain

woodwind 7 Beans used

for tofu 8 Funny duo? 9 Flaming torch 10 Sandbag

stack, sometimes

11 School credit 12 ___ en scene

(stage setting) 13 Cain’s

nephew 18 Accomplish

flawlessly 23 Handsome

Greek of myth 24 Hitchcock

menaces 25 Village People

hit “___ Man” 26 Egg-shaped 27 Lavished

affection (on) 28 Cynics’

reactions 29 Disparager of

seniors 30 Add, as

weight 31 Bird found in

Florida 32 Culinary herb 34 Some Muslim

officials (Var.) 37 Chip on one’s

shoulder 38 Breaks

between

printed words 44 “Cannery

Row” character

45 Ganymede and Lysithea, to Jupiter

46 Aggravates 47 Act as an

accomplice 48 Fortune

partner 49 ___ and

terminer (criminal court)

50 Corn Belt skyline feature

51 Splat’s cousin 52 Spelling of

“Beverly Hills, 90210”

53 “Midnight in the Garden of Good and ___”

54 Like a damp cellar

56 Brewing tank

PREVIOUS PUZZLE ANSWER

Edited by Timothy E. Parker July 30, 2009

© 2009 Universal Press Syndicatewww.upuzzles.com

Thursday, July 30, 2009 5

Thad Baker, advertising manager

classifieds@ou.edu • phone: 325-2521 • fax: 325-7517http://oudaily.campusave.com

Thursday, July 30, 2009

LEO (July 23-Aug. 22) -- Today’s developments are apt to be to your liking. They’ll involve just enough risks to make things interesting, but they will not be beyond your abilities to control things should something go awry.

VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22) -- It’ll be important to associate with persons you consider pro-gressive and imaginative. You may need to bounce ideas off others in order to tailor things to your personal needs.

LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 23) -- A fi nancial situation that didn’t look too hopeful may surprise you and make a profi t instead. It will prove that you should give things a chance and never toss in the towel too prema-turely.

SCORPIO (Oct. 24-Nov. 22) -- Having know-how is one thing, but knowing the right people is another. Coupling knowledge with contacts, you will do quite well for yourself.

SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 23-Dec. 21) -- It’s imperative to be persistent, because what you’re searching for might not be found in the usual places. What you’re looking for is apt to be in a surprise location.

CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19) -- You might learn about a proposal that will sound far-fetched at fi rst glance, but don’t be too quick to dismiss it. Upon study, you could fi nd it has merit; it may be exactly what you’re looking for.

AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 19) -- If you’re promoting some-thing unique or different, know that you might have to educate others if they are to accept it. Once they see the merit, it’ll be a real moneymaker

PISCES (Feb. 20-March 20) -- Use your special gift of imagination to handle a tricky development that arises. If people aren’t seeing the worth of your actions, get creative in your explanation.

ARIES (March 21-April 19) -- There’s a good chance that you will be pioneering something that won’t be conducted along conventional lines. Handling it in a unique way will make everyone take notice.

TAURUS (April 20-May 20) -- An unexpected development could force you to form a partnership with an individual you would never team up with under normal circumstances. It’ll turn out OK.

GEMINI (May 21-June 20) -- You’re always willing to think out of the norm, and gambling on a situation that needs both your imagination and resourcefulness will get your juices fl owing. The returns could be bigger than usual.

CANCER (June 21-July 22) -- If the stakes are signifi cant and there are some elements of risk involved, manage these affairs on your own. You’ll have a better chance of handling things correctly without kibitzers looking on.

HOROSCOPE By Bernice Bede Osol

Copyright 2008, Newspaper Enterprise Assn.

JOSHUA BOYDSTONThe Oklahoma Daily

Oklahoma City-based Hush Hush, Commotion likes sub-verting expectations. During the band’s tour of the Midwest and East Coast last summer, they had plenty of opportunity to do just that.

“We were playing these shows to some small, and some decent sized crowds,” said keyboardist/guitarist Chris Lusk. “When the shows would begin, there was a little sense of ap-prehension from the crowd, but whenever we started play-ing, these kids would do sort of double take at us.

“I think who we are as a band isn’t what they had expected, and I love to see those double takes.”

Those who have heard of Hush Hush, Commotion might know where those preconceived notions come from.

HH,C started about 2 1/2 years ago. Bassist Dan Adamson and guitarist Andy Adamson came from another band that had grown stagnant, and long-time friend Lusk joined them in the hopes of starting fresh.

Vocalist Scott Michael tried out for the band and fit right in, and after the original drummer left the band to focus on school, Adam Wilkey stepped up to feel the role, Lusk said.

One month after its first show, the band won the March Bandness contest put on by radio station 94.7 The Buzz.

But HH,C found itself grouped into a genre of music that didn’t necessarily match its style, Lusk said.

“We were immediately lumped in with pop bands like Forever The Sickest Kids and All Time Low, and that’s who we were supporting at shows,” he said.

Lusk said he wouldn’t change anything about the opportunities March Bandness awarded the band and the fan base that those shows garnered it, but those preconceived expectations of the band’s sound sort of took over.

H u s h H u s h’s d e b u t album, “It Could Happen” was the result.

“We had the feeling that we needed to sound a cer-tain way, and some of the

record just came out a little forced,” Lusk said. “Don’t get me wrong — I still love that album, but something about it just didn’t feel like we were writing it for ourselves.”

Last summer, when Hush Hush was at the tail end of their

summer tour in Shamokin, Pa., the band members started to discuss where they were at and where they wanted to go. It didn’t necessarily mesh perfectly with what they were doing, Lusk said.

They decided trying to write a song that sounded like a certain band or track would never work, so they took a natu-ral approach, and let the influences of the band just bleed through on their sophomore outing, “In Control,” he said.

Bands like Kings of Leon, Wilco and Limbeck are some of the band’s favorites, and these influences brought in a sort of Southern kick to some of the newer songs, Lusk said.

With “In Control,” HH,C is attempting a balancing act. The band wants that fun, poppy element to songs, but they want a more honest, rock ’n’ roll aspect to the sound as well. Lusk

is anxious to hear what listeners think, he said.“We definitely fall into a sort of gray area with ‘In Control,’

but from the positive responses we’ve gotten from our fans already, I’m really excited to see what happens,” Lusk said. “I just want everyone to at least listen to the songs once. Whether or not you like them, that’s fine. You can’t make music that everyone likes, and trying to ends in disaster. But I just want everyone to give it a chance, because I think it will surprise a lot of people,” Lusk said.

Listeners will get a chance to be surprised at Hush Hush, Commotion’s album release party 8 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 8 at Bricktown Live, 103 Flaming Lips Alley in Oklahoma City. Tickets are $8 in advance and $10 at the door, and can be purchased at www.okctickets.com.

6 Thursday, July 30, 2009

Dusty Somers, L&A editor

dailyent@ou.edu • phone: 325-5189 • fax: 325-6051

PHOTO PROVIDED

Oklahoma City-based Hush Hush, Commotion is looking to take preconceived expectations about the band for a spin with its newest release, “In Control.” The band will headline an album release party at 8 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 8 at Bricktown Live.

“You can’t make music that everyone likes, and trying to ends in disaster ... I just want everyone to give [our new album] a chance, because I think it will surprise a lot of peo-ple.”CHRIS LUSK, KEYBOARDIST/GUITARIST FOR HUSH HUSH, COMMOTION

I hate to be the bringer of bad news, but folks, we’ve all got to face the facts.

Summer is fading fast and Aug. 24 looms ever closer.

B u t d o n ’ t f e a r. There’s still time to try something new be-fore classes begin.

Why not give lo-cally grown food a chance this summer?

The Norman Farm Market, located at the Cleveland County Fairgrounds at 615 E. Robinson St., is open

every Wednesday and Saturday morn-ing from 8 a.m. to noon.

Featured in July and August are nec-tarines, okra, eggplant and squash.

There are also many options for ex-ploring Oklahoma.

The Toy and Action Figure Museum in Pauls Valley will certainly set the inner dork in all of us free, while the Gene Autry Oklahoma Museum in — fittingly — the small town of Gene Autry will satisfy history buffs or singing-cowboy-wannabes.

Hikers and campers who visit the Wichita Mountains Wildlife Refuge could have a chance to see elk, bison, deer and longhorns in an open-range environment, but the Web site warns that “visitors must be prepared to meet nature on its terms.”

It could be worth the drive (which takes about an hour and a half from Norman) just to find out exactly what that mysterious admonition means.

For those not wanting to venture

outdoors in the late-summer heat, there is also the alternative of renting a movie ... for free. With a library card, movies are available for check out from the Norman Public Library. All OU stu-dents are eligible for a library card.

If you’re feeling lucky, you could try to get Paul McCartney tickets for his Aug. 17 concert at the BOK Center in Tulsa. The concert is sold out, but other tickets may be released, and some radio stations are still awarding tickets to lis-teners (Magic 104.1, 92.5 KOMA).

Norman also has many avenues for volunteering. Local organizations such as East Main Place, Food and Shelter for Friends and Habitat for Humanity claim to always welcome volunteers.

The Norman Public Library’s literacy program is another way for students to get involved in the community.

And what better way to celebrate summer than baseball? Throughout the beginning of August, the Redhawks, Oklahoma City’s minor league base-ball team, are scheduled to play a good number of home games at the Bricktown Ballpark downtown.

Tickets can be purchased for as little as $7. Hot dogs not included.

Of course, there’s always the OU foot-ball season to get ready for. It’s never too early to get mentally prepared. Maybe the fall semester won’t be so bad after all.

Megan Morgan is a professional writing senior.

ELI HULL/THE DAILY

Josh Kraft, museum manager, adjusts action figures in the Adult Collectors Bedroom Diorama in the Toy and Action Figure Museum in Pauls Valley.

MEGAN MORGAN

Hush Hush, Commotion looks to surprise listeners

THERE’S STILL TIME TO ENJOY SUMMER

‘IN CONTROL’ »Go online to read The Daily’s review of Hush Hush, Commotion’s new release, “In Control.”

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