Dead Week. Hell Week. Whatever you prefer.

The once vibrant South Oval sits empty and cold as
students flock to the nearest library to prepare for finals.

Dead week. The words strike fear in every student’s heart as finals approach and the end of the semester draws near.  Unsuspecting freshman could mistake dead week as a chance to catch his or her breath, to finish homework and papers, and prepare for finals.

Unfortunately, it doesn’t work like that at OU. While the University policy states that no more than 10% of a student’s final grade can be assigned or due on dead week, many professors are starting to disregard the rules in order to play catch up, or speed up finals, allowing them to grade and go home earlier.

Many students have taken up writing angry letters to the faculty senate, including UOSA, the student government at OU, who asked for a review of OU’s policy on Dead Week, changing the rule of no more than 10 percent to no more than five percent. The Faulty Senate knocked the bill down, in a vote of 19-12.

            “I wish that Dead Week actually allowed us to catch up on studying and sleep, instead of doing big assignments or tests the week before finals. It’s kind of a let down, to realize that you have so much more to do before school lets out.” said Rachel Barclay, a nursing junior at the OU Health Science Center.

            While some students offer their opinion on Dead Week and how they need a break, others welcome the early work and opportunities to take tests early and finish tasks.

            “Dead week actually gives me a chance to power through the week and finish a lot of things early, and it prepares me for my exams while finishing other work.” Said Ally Rahill, a Letters junior.

            Whether students prefer the way Dead Week is right now or not, the policy of teachers offering early exams or assigning more work on Dead Week is not allowed. Without the chance for UOSA or the University to review the policies until 2014, it looks like things will stay the same. 

Nancy's Cupcakery

In a tiny shop on Campus Corner, a woman uses flour, eggs, the oven, and love to create the best cupcakes in all of Oklahoma. She has displayed her pride and joy at her store Cookies 'n Cards for 26 years and will do anything to make her customers happy.

Nancy Russell is unique because of her love and passion for baking.

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Video By: Katie Piper, Rachel Santschi, Megan Lawson and Megan Gay

Academic Misconduct: A slap on the wrist or a punch in the gut?

Photo courtesy of the Internet

The University of Oklahoma makes something very clear. Do Not Cheat labels are peppered over everything, on tests, papers, and quizzes, causing students and teachers to take the issue very seriously. But what consequences are actually being used and what is a myth?  Does the administration use tactics to scare or to punish? And are students looking to cheating as a way to ease stress as finals approach?
On OU's website, there is a special portion dedicated to the code of conduct, and how a teacher has the right to report the student or not.  
"An instructor who determines that a student is responsible for an act of misconduct may impose an admonition (warning) plus a grade penalty and/or remedial work, without filing a charge of academic misconduct."

Cameron Newton, photo courtesy of tigerx.com

While I agree that a teacher should be able to turn a student in or not, the code of conduct does not have specific punishments for every type of cheating. Students may be unaware of what cheating actually entails and where to draw the line between quoting and plagiarism. 
Cam Newton, the current quarterback for Auburn, located in Alabama, was recently exposed as a cheater, citing incidents from his time at the University of Florida, where he was caught cheating three times. Although he was punished, Cam Newton still moved to Auburn and became a Heisman Trophy contender. How can three cheating offenses still allow this student to go to a nice school in Alabama? Each case is treated differently, and sometimes it isn't fair.
Although OU students sign a contract every year, many students get away with a slap on the wrist for serious offenses against the university for cheating on exams, papers and quizzes. So what defines the ultimate punishment. Jessica, a junior at OU who was caught cheating on a homework assignment freshman year, says that her punishment was to receive a zero on her homework assignment and her teacher said that she had no chances left. If she messed up again, she was out. 
    "It was definitely a slap to the face. It made me realize what I could lose if I continued to try and do stuff like that."
while Jessica got off easy, other students aren't so lucky.  
But as finals and classes get harder, more and more students are turning to cheating to relieve stress and get their homework and assignments done. Rachel Barclay, a nursing major at the OU health and Science Center, says that although cheating would be way easier, ethically she has more standards. 
    "With the stress that I'm under right now, I wish I could just get a break and cheat. But ethically, I can't justify taking someone else's work and labeling it as my own. I also wouldn't feel like I really earned my grade for the assignment."
  While some students approach the idea of cheating with an open mind as they get more and more stressed out, the university needs to use better methods when it comes to punishments of cheating and stress management.

A few minutes with Ray Bribiesca

Mr. Bribiesca gesturing about his times in the Middle East to
students at Gaylord College. 

Ray Bribiesca does not mince words. As a veteran of the Vietnam War and a dedicated cameraman for 60 Minutes, he has a grim reality of what his job entails, and how easily it can all be taken away. The journalism students at Gaylord had an opportunity to hear Mr. Bribiesca's stories and ask questions last Monday, the day before he was sent on assignment to Yemen, to capture film and travel one last time with his coworkers at 60 Minutes.

Mr. Bribiesca didn't waste any time at the beginning of the session, merely letting his work show what he does for months at a time: attempt to get the perfect camera shot, while trying not to be riddled with bullets. On the border between Pakistan and Afghanistan, a small, dangerous military base for American troops stands alone in the desert. The men and women who are sent to this area know the dangers of the area, but civilians living in America have no idea how dangerous and terrible this region is for American soldiers. Thanks to the efforts of Ray and his reporter, we saw what terrible conditions these men and women live in. In one scene, while the troops were coming home from trying to help a small village with some repairs, their truck stalled from trying to get over a big rock, and everyone was forced to get out of the car to push it over. Within minutes, the area was surrounded and men from enemy troops started shooting at them. Instead of running for cover, Mr. Bribiesca went out into the line of fire, trying desperately to get the shots that he needed to make the story. He didn't miss a beat. 

·            "Crazy shots are a part of the business.  I wanted to get those shots of the soldier’s faces to make it more personal." 

Mr. Bribiesca talking to the students after viewing one of his
segments on 60 Minutes.

Ray first started taking classes to be a cameraman in Oklahoma City, going to Oklahoma City College to earn his degree. From there, he started working for Channel 9, and eventually landed a job with 60 Minutes. He has traveled all over the world, from taking pictures of caribou coming over the mountains in Alaska (that picture took him 10 years to get) to going to the Middle East and covering the war news there. He has been wounded multiple times, and taken hostage once. It's very clear that this man is tough. 

Mr. Bribiesca is going to Yemen on one last assignment for 60 Minutes, over the troubling problems in Yemen, where many soldiers from the Middle East travel to be trained. While he is cautious, he knows what the job entails and how to twist and turn with every new discovery. Although he is leaving his job now, we can certainly expect him to do amazing things somewhere else. After all, to quote his signature line. "You’re only as good as your last story.”

 

The Brides of Oklahoma

It’s the moment every little girl dreams of, a far off wish that could come true and be the happiest day of their life. Her first karate black belt.

Okay, I’m joking. Of course I’m talking about their wedding day. The day that Prince Charming finally comes and sweeps her off her feet. And although most women would lose that fantasy later on in life, it’s fun to relive those feelings for one more day. Kami Huddleston and Ashley Bowen Murphy, the creators of The Brides of Oklahoma, have made it possible for thousands of women to plan the perfect wedding in Oklahoma, and plan to pay it forward. These women, both relative newcomers to Oklahoma, decided that a bridal magazine was needed in the state to help women plan their weddings.


“We were both from different states, and decided to get married in Oklahoma. There weren’t a lot of options and help to find a good venue and catering, so we created a magazine that lets brides see what kind of options they have.”
These women have created a popular magazine throughout Oklahoma in just over two years. The inaugural issue of The Brides of Oklahoma came in January 2008, and has done so well that Kami and Ashley opened The Brides of North Texas in 2009, and the magazine has already outsold D weddings and other popular bridal magazines in the Dallas area. Kami, who worked as a graphic designer before starting the magazine, is the publisher and designer, and Ashley, a lawyer, takes care of all of the legal work.
The Brides of Oklahoma and The Brides of North Texas come out biannually, allowing the staff to really stuff the magazine full of advertisers for weddings. They pick out the best places in the area to get married, options if you are on a tighter budget, and best of all, the magazine features real brides and wedding stories from ordinary people.
“One of the things I love about the magazine is that we always feature a real bride from the area on the cover.”
These stories provide inspiration and excitement to brides, and their mail is full of submissions to be a part of the glossy wedding section. Each bride chooses their own wedding photos to turn in, letting them pick their favorite shots from their special day.
Before starting the magazine, Kami and Ashley did their research, figuring out how to bring in advertisers and circulate the magazine, selling their product to big companies like Wal-Mart and Barnes and Noble. They send new copies of the issues to retailers and college campuses, and get their name out in every bridal show. Although the newspapers and television programs say there is a recession, their magazine has only reached new heights as the years go on.
While Kami and Ashley’s wedding days have passed, they love helping others plan their special day, and enjoy creating a magazine that provides so much help to brides.
I had the privilege to go see the office that they create the magazine in, and have chronicled the magazine process, from writing down new ideas on the board, to creating inspiration boards to plan the magazine design.

Step back in time with Classic 50s in Norman

One of the first things that incoming freshman see coming to the University of Oklahoma is Classic 50s, a brightly colored drive-in on Lindsey Street. Known by its first name, Classics is a residental hot spot for college students and families living in Norman when they want a greasy hamburger and slushie to drink. Classics is commonly known for it's drink specials, offering varities of specialty drinks like a sprittle, a sprite mixed with a bag of skittles.
This popular fast food joint is a defining mark in Norman, Oklahoma, and provides students with a place to hang out with friends, while enjoying some hot pickle-os (fried pickles). Classics also is a great place to get a job near campus, with employees earning tips when delivering food to the consumer's car. When asked about the job atmosphere, employee Candace Hewitt said it was a favorable place to work.

"There are some rude people, but I think you get that anywhere. It's a good place to work, and I make more money here than anywhere else that I've worked."
While Classics is a fun place to grab a bite to eat, there are a few things that consumers should know. While the drinks are fun and the food is good, the employees there can be a little unfriendly, oftentimes not even saying hello. The wait time on your drinks and food can take up to 7 minutes, and there are more affordable places to eat if you are on a budget. The rising number of feral cats sitting at the back door of the kitchen is a little alarming, but Candace said they are working on getting rid of them.
"I generally like it here," Candace ended the interview with a smile on her face. "It's always busy, but that's okay."