Land of the Free, Home of the Who?

Imagine fighting overseas for your country, only to come back and hear a group of people change the way they sing the ending of your National Anthem.
 
Most soldiers and veterans would find this very offensive. However, some at the University of Oklahoma feel differently.
 
Bryan Webb is an Iraq war veteran and an OU football fan. Before OU football games, Webb chooses to go along with the OU student body in changing the ending of The Star Spangled Banner.
 
"I don't find it offensive,” he said. “All it is meant to do is get the student section fired up for the game.”
 
Students, faculty and alumni have had heated debates as of late due to the student section singing "home of the sooners," instead of the traditional "home of the brave."
 
It has become a Sooners’ pregame tradition for students that started in a decade which has been marked by events such as 9/11 and the War on Terrorism.
 
"There is nothing Anti-American about it," said Webb, who volunteered overseas in Kirkuk, Iraq for five months in 2006. "[The students] aren't saying anything like home of the Nazis."
 
Others on campus are frustrated and said it's a disrespectful gesture by the students.
 
"The disrespect of the National Anthem shocks me," said OU Army ROTC Capt. Dave Jenson. "I was offended that a student population would disrespect their country that way."
 
Jenson is originally from Washington and has been at OU since July.
 
Hearing a university student body disrespect the National Anthem is a disgrace, Jenson said.
 
University officials are opposed to how the anthem is sung and have encouraged students to sing the proper words.
 
"I strongly believe that the words to the National Anthem should never be changed," OU President David Boren said through an e-mail. "I sincerely hope that our fans will choose to sing the National Anthem with the words as they are written and then shout 'Go Sooners' just after the National Anthem is finished."
 
That approach is more appropriate and honors both the country and university, Boren said.
 
"[Home of the brave] is a reference to those who have fought and given their lives for our country," Boren said.
 
Despite President Boren’s suggestion, there is still the question of coming up with a plan that would actually make the students stop adding their own twist to the anthem’s lyrics.
 
Messages encouraging students to sing the traditional words have been played on the big screen prior to the playing of the national anthem, but students continue with "the Sooners" instead of "the brave," Jenson said.
 
Title 36- United States Code 301 states what is considered proper conduct while observing the national anthem.

“The composition consisting of the words and music known as the Star-Spangled Banner is the national anthem. All present except those in uniform should stand at attention facing the flag with the right hand over the heart, men not in uniform should remove their headdress with their right hand and hold the headdress at the left shoulder, the hand being over the heart, individuals in uniform should give the military salute at the first note of the anthem and maintain that position until the last note and when the flag is not displayed, all present should face toward the music and act in the same manner they would if the flag were displayed,” according to the uscode.house.gov website.
 
However, nowhere in the code does it state anything about singing the original words of the Star Spangled Banner.
 
"Maybe that could be one step in encouraging these students to start singing the anthem the proper way." said OU alumnus Jo Marsh. "It wouldn't be a law, but it could raise a higher awareness to this problem."
 
OU isn't the only place to have hosted a sporting venue where The Star Spangled Banner has been altered. In May of 2009 before a Los Angeles Lakers basketball game, R&B singer Tyrese Gibson created an uproar by choosing words to better fit his rooting interest, according to E! Online.
 
Instead of singing "our flag was still there," Gibson sang "our Lakers were still there." A poll was conducted on the E! Online website asking its viewers whether it was completely disrespectful or fun and harmless.
 
Sixty-nine percent of the people said it was completely disrespectful, which allows us to assume that it is sociably unacceptable to alter the words of The Star Spangled Banner.
 
It has to make many of the traditional Sooner fans that attend the football games quite embarrassed, Marsh said.
 
"If i was a fan of another team visiting Norman, I would think what is wrong with these people," Marsh said. "They don't know the words to the national anthem?"
 
Some suggest the blame doesn’t completely fall on the students or the university, but more on the one's who raised them.
 
"It goes back to those students parents teaching them respect, duty and honor," Jenson said. "It's not the universities fault, they have tried and will probably continue to try to correct this issue. If their family doesn't teach it to them, its not the universities responsibility."
 
Students feel it is their right and choice to say what they want to say before a football game, Webb said.
 
"My parents raised me perfectly fine. I have never been arrested, went straight to college and been a straight-shooter my whole life," Webb said. "My military career can speak to that. Despite saying home of the Sooners, it is my choice to say that."
 
The students are just trying to root their team on, said Jenny Atteberry, an OU student and mother of a son and daughter-in-law who are in the military.
 
"I understand where the students are coming from," Atteberry said. "But I wish they should really say brave in support of our troops."
 
Many students have the god and country attitude like many people do in Oklahoma, Webb said.
 
The state of Oklahoma has had a very patriotic history and the students mean well by what they say, Webb said.
 
But as the debate on campus continues through until next season, opposing sides will always have their stand on the issue.
 
Although some people may believe what Webb sings during the national anthem at OU football games is unpatriotic and disrespectful, he plans to re-enlist in the military after his term is finished this year, Webb said.
 
"As a Sooner, and as someone who says 'home of the Sooners' instead of 'brave', I will always defend this nation until the day I die," Webb said.

Networking Opportunities with Gaylord Prize

Journalism students at OU will have a chance to meet and become friends with other journalists and possible future employers at the Gaylord Prize award ceremony.

Many professors and students from Gaylord college will be in attendance at the award ceremony. OU President David Boren has encouraged all students on campus to attend the event.

"It will be a great networking tool for students," said Yvonne Oberly, a public relations junior at OU. "Students may meet future employers. There will be journalists and media there, it will be a great event."

The ceremony will be held at 11:30 a.m., Dec. 7 inside the Century Ballroom at the Sheraton Hotel in downtown Oklahoma CIty.

Drinkers May Not Hit Bars for Bedlam

Some football fan may find themselves in a predicament if they plan on drinking alcoholic beverages on campus corner before the Bedlam game next Saturday, Nov. 28.

Bars on campus corner, such as Louie's Too, will open at 10 a.m. during the annual Bedlam football game between OU and Oklahoma State. The football game kicks-off at 11:30 a.m., the first OU home game stating before 2:30 p.m. this season.

"I wish they would open up early so I could throw back some cold ones before the big game," said OU football fan Kreig Kelley. "I will just drink me some beer at the house before we go to the game."

The 11:30 a.m. kickoff versus Oklahoma State will be the first morning kick-off for Bedlam in Norman in over 12 years.

Better Alternative Than Parking Permits

Some students with parking permits have found themselves using the buses that run from the Lloyd Noble Center more often because the buses drop off students at a central location on campus.

Student parking permits at OU are $195 for the fall and spring semesters. The buses that run from the Lloyd Noble Center are free.

"Even though I have a parking permit I rather take the bus," said business junior Allison Walsh. " I don't have to look for a parking spot for ever and I can avoid traffic close to the campus, and it actually drops me off right in front of Price Hall. That's where most of my classes are.

Students who may buy a parking permit for the spring semester may want to see where their classes are located before purchasing. Buses may offer a cheaper and more convenient route.

Thunder Silenced Despite Effort

The Oklahoma City Thunder gave fans at the Ford Center plenty to cheer about despite a heartbreaking loss to the defending NBA champion Las Angeles Lakers in overtime, 101-98.

Thunder guard Thabo Sefolosha held the Lakers' star Kobe Bryant to a mere 9 of 22 from the field. However, the Lakers as a team shot 38 of 73 from the field and Bryant finished the overtime game with 31 points.

The Thunder played a tough game, but will not take the losing to the defending NBA champions as a moral victory, said Thunder head coach Scott Brooks. " I'm not into [having] close games, Brooks said after the game. "I understand that we played against the defending champions, but we are a good enough team. We battle and we fight."

The Thunder play their next game at the Ford Center tonight against the defending Eastern Conference Champion Orlando Magic who may be without Vince Carter.

El Dia Los Muertos Celebrated on Campus

Students can get a taste of Hispanic culture while the Spanish club observes the Day of the Dead holiday celebrated in hispanic countries.

Hispanics celebrate El Dia Los Muertos to remember family and friends who have died. Gifts and foods are set out for the dead in remembrance of their lives.

"[El dia los Muertos] is like a mix between the American Halloween and Memorial Day," said Spanish professor Eloisa Briones.

An "ofrenda" is set up at Kaufmann Hall inside room 230 to recognize and offer treats to the dead. The ofrenda will be on display until Thursday.

Sooner Fans Still Optimistic

Many Sooner fans who have purchased season tickets are still planning to attend the remaining home games despite the Sooners losing three of their first six games.

Some fans were disappointed when reigning Heisman Trophy winner Sam Bradford went down twice this season due to right shoulder injuries.

"There is still plenty to play for," said OU football season ticket holder Stephen Sossamon. "Landry (Jones) is young and it will be fun to watch him grow as a quarterback."

The Sooners remaining home schedule includes a homecoming game vs. Kansas State on Oct. 31, Texas A&M on Nov. 14 and Oklahoma State on Nov. 28.

Religion, Free Speech Expressed on Campus

"I completely agree that there should be freedom of expression and freedom of religion on campus. However, it must be extended equally to all groups," said Scott Mauldin, an OU student who promoted the ideas of skepticism, agnosticism and atheism on campus Oct. 15. "If we don't believe in freedom of speech for people we despise, we don't believe in it at all," Mauldin said.

Mauldin, along with two others who asked to stay anonymous, spoke against the ideas of christianity.

Students should never be afraid to voice their opinions on campus, even if it is not what people are used to, Mauldin said.

Students coming and going to class saw a group of christian evangelists from Operation 513 and The Lost Cause ministries, along with Mauldin, at the South Oval on the afternoon of Oct. 15.

The event drew large crowds throughout the day as many students voiced their opinions towards the evangelists. Some were in support of the evangelists, others were not.

"Some of them have had different views," said Josh Williams, a Christian Evangelist from Australia with Operation 513.

Williams said he had been touring the United States for several months, but felt the crowd at OU was, overall, supportive of their cause.

Williams, along John Speed and Tim Crawford of TLC, take a different approach towards evangelism than the typical evangelists groups from around the world.

"We don't like to force our opinions on other people," Crawford said. " We simply want to share our message with them in hopes they will see the light if they are lost in their faith."

Many evangelists groups who have been on campus in the past have been offensive in their approach, Mauldin said.

"They seemed to be very knowledgeable and non-offensive, and were willing to answer questions in an intelligent way," Mauldin said. "I think that is a sign of maturity, respect, and, furthermore, greater knowledge of one's beliefs than simply spouting out speaking points and rehearsed rhetoric."

Sarah Allshouse, an OU student who leads her own bible study with friends, said she is often upset with the approach most evangelists take.

"It makes me sad when they yell at people and say they're going to hell because all that does is push people further away from christianity," Allshouse said,

"I think that people on campus are so used to being harrassed by people talking about religion on campus that they almost immediately feel offended," she said.

OU Press Secretary and Special Assistant to the President Jay Doyle said the university did not know TLC minstries was on campus, but do not refuse the right for anyone or any group to express themselves.

"OU is a public university and we abide by the First Amendment which allows free speech on our campus," Doyle said.

Mauldin said his group had planned to express their views against religion prior to knowing the evangelists were going to be on campus.

"My group had no idea that the evangelicals would be there. We were planning on wearing the masks and showing the signs before we even knew about the evangelicals," Mauldin said.

"It was complete luck that they were there at the same time. The signs were thus not targeted at them, but rather were simply for promoting skepticism, agnosticism, and atheism."

Many statistics show people around the nation are starting to shy away from Christianity in recent years.

The number of Americans who have "no religion" have nearly doubled in percentage from 1990, with 8.1 percent, to 15 percent in 2008, according to the American Religious Identification Survey. The population of Americans with "no religion" was two-and-a-half times more in 2008 from 1990 with 14 million Americans with "no religion" to 34 million in 2008.

Williams, who said the people of OU were supportive of them, also said he believes christianity is holding stronger through the more conservative states in the United States.

Also, a survey by the Pew Forum on Religion & Public Life shows 31 percent of people with no religious affiliation are between the ages of 21 and 30.

A random poll among 197 people on the OU campus shows a higher christian belief here than the rest of the country.

One-hundred and seventy-nine people on campus said they believe in a god. Fifteen said they weren't sure and three said they did not believe in any type of higher power.

This statistic shows the trend in the United States is lagging at OU as 9.14 percent said they have no religious status or are unsure.

However, Mauldin said he felt a public forum like OU is a good place for him to express his opinions on religion because it is a right of an american citizen to do so.

"I think that any voicing of opinion is an opportunity to voice other opinions," Mauldin said. "The promotion of atheism is no more an attack on Christianity than a promotion of Christianity is an attack on atheism."

Mauldin said he hopes with the crowds that were gathered, some of those students will keep an open-mind.

One girl who was in attendance during the speeches quietly wrote a note and handed it to the evangelists that said she was proud of them for what they were doing. The note also said she felt more people on campus needed religion.

Allshouse said during her stay at OU her faith has grown.

"I have found good places that fit me personally and have challenged me to grow," Allshouse said. "I feel very blessed to have the opportunity to be growing my faith while being on a college campus."

Rooms Still Available in Dallas

Sooner fans who are making the last minute decision to make to trip to Texas for the Red River Rivalry may still be able to find hotel rooms in the Dallas area.

Hampton Hotels in Dallas suburbs such as Arlington, Las Colinas and Addison still have rooms available with nightly rates ranging from $79 to $119.

Hampton representatives said, "We still have rooms available for Friday night. [Travelers] should try to check-in as soon as possible because there is a good chance the rooms will fill by Friday evening."

Fans can check for room availability though www.hamptoninn.com. The website includes phone number for each hotel in the Dallas area. It is recommended travelers call in advance to make sure there is still availability to save any unnecessary trips.

Evangelists Word Attracts Students

Christian evangelists were on campus this week spreading to word of Jesus Christ to students around the OU campus.

Josh Williams and Jon Speed from The Lost Cause ministries in Justin, Tx. set-up in the south oval on Thursday, Oct. 14 and gathered a crowd of students. Some students were not happy with the word the evangelists were speaking, but many students applauded what Williams and Speed were doing.

"I have been traveling the United States for the last eight weeks," said Williams, who is from Australia. "We have had a good turn out here on this campus."

TLC plans to will continue traveling the nation in order to spread their word. They will also be at the Texas State Fair during the OU-Texas weekend in Dallas.

Apartment Resident Tunes Down Noise During Weekend

Some residents in Norman may want to think twice about the next time they have a noisy gathering at their home or apartments. (eyewitnesses)

Norman police were called to a noise complaint from Post Oak apartments last Friday night at approximately 12:30 a.m. Timothy Higgins, 25, was having a "get-together" with friends from out-of-town when three police officers showed at his door that night. (eyewitnesses and talked to Higgins)

"It think it is silly, we weren't being that loud I didn't think so," Higgins said. "It's sad we cant have a good time in Norman on a weekend. I know its quiet around these parts, but i was surprised."

The police warned Higgins to keep the noise down, but have taken no further action, Higgins said.

Not Too Late to Apply for Graduation

Students who missed the deadline to apply for graduation still have until the last day of their term to apply for graduation.

The official deadline was Oct. 1. The official deadline ensures the commencement ceremony and program go smoother for students.

Enrollment director Breck Turkington said the official deadline starts their preparation for the commencement program and ordering diplomas. The earlier a student applies gives a less chance of them being left of the commencement program or having their name misspelled on their diplomas, Turkington said.

Students can apply at the enrollment office located on the second floor of Buchanan Hall.

Prizes for Students Who Own Crystal Ball

College football fans on campus are entering their predictions of the score for the OU-Miami football game for a chance to win prizes in the Guess-the-Score contest, Friday, Oct. 2, in the Student Union.

The contest is held every Friday of an OU game in the Student Unions. Depending on how well one's prediction is, a certain amount of points are awarded each week. Those points will be added at the end of the season and the top point scorer will win a prize.

Although there three games have passed, Tyler Nelson, graduate assistant in student affairs, said there is plenty of time to catch your point total up. "Its all about having bragging rights", Nelson said.

The Guess-the-Score contest is held from 11:30 a.m. to approximately 12:30 p.m..

Language Lab Offered

Students taking foreign languages courses are using the Modern Languages Lab located in Kaufman Hall to prepare for upcoming exams this semester.

The lab offers online programs, computer software and in-room tutors for over 12 languages students maybe seeking help for.

MLLab assistant Brittney Brown, along with other foreign language professors, recommend students use the helpful resources in the lab to stay on-pace with the foreign language they are taking.

The lab typically fills up more as the semester winds-down, Brown said. She encourages students to be resourceful be caught up before final exams.

OU Fans Umbrellas Can Still Be Retreived

Fans who had to leave their umbrellas outside OU Memorial Stadium during the rain showers at the Idaho State game Sept. 12 can still be retrieved.

Many fans who attended the game afterwards were unable to find their umbrellas they had to leave on table outside the stadium.

Contemporary Services Cooperation security supervisor Juan Dominguez said anytime items are lost or left outside the game are turned over to the to OU Physical Plant after the game.

If you have a lost item from the game, you can call the OU Physical Plant at 405-325-6953.

Police Called to Street Disturbance

An OU student on her way to class was stopped by a man who attempted to open her car door and pounded on her drivers side window on the corner of Brooks and Elm streets.

The student, Lori O'Dell, said when the man stopped trying to get into her car, she parked at the Catlett Parking Garage before calling campus police. She gave a description of the man and campus police apprehended the man within ten minutes.

O'Dell said she still feels safe on campus because of the quick response of campus police to the situation.

The man appeared to be a transient, O' Dell said. The man was taken off campus by an ambulance.

Saturday Studies May Be Hampered

CART transit will not be taking students who use weekends to study to campus this weekend due to the home football game this Saturday, Sept. 12, said CART bus driver Shirley Bosscawen.

The buses typically run from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Saturdays. High traffic and closed roads during gameday causes the buses to stop operation for all home football games, Bosscawen said.

OU student Jenny Atteberry said she will have to find alternate means of transportation to campus in order to study. "If I have to, I'll just try to find a close [parking] spot and pay [to park]," she said.

CART transit will not operate to campus for a home game against Tulsa, Saturday Sept. 19 and also for two Saturdays in both October and November.

Football Watch Party on Campus for Fans

Football fans who don't have tickets to the BYU game can watch with other Sooner fans at a watch party held on Saturday at 6 p.m., in Meacham Auditorium.

Sooner football games are shown for free on the big screen. Students and the public and are allowed to bring non-alcoholic beverages and food to the watch party, said Union programming coordinator Michael Giesecke.

Giesecke said he encourages students who will be in Norman on Saturday to join the party and watch the game with other Sooner football fans on campus.

Most home and away game watch parties will be held throughout the year at Meacham Auditorium, unless the games are televised pay-per-view only, Giesecke said.