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..