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OU Entrepreneurship program among best in the nation

Entrepreneurship Freshman Evan Spencer studies for his Business Communications class. Spencer feels that OU's program allows him to remain on the cutting edge and get hands on experience in the field.

OU entrepreneurship students are getting their money's worth as OU's entrepreneurship program has been ranked as a top ten program, according to the latest edition of The Princeton Review.

The program was officially ranked number eight in the most recent edition of The Princeton Review. The prestige of the program is of no surpris, according to Jim Wheeler, the executive director of the program.

"It is a reflection of all the hard work that the students and faculty have put into making such a strong program," Wheeler said.

For OU entrepreneur students like Evan Spencer, the quality of the program is very important, as it allows them to receive the best education possible.

"I think [the program] gives me a great opportunity," said Spencer. "Its such a young field and OU's program allows us to be on the cutting edge of the field, is going to be really helpful in the future."

OU's entreprenuership program, like most around the nation, is still young. The program is developing every year and continually offering new curriculum and hands on experience, Spencer said.

HSLC gives back to OU students

Counselors interact with high school students during a team building exercise in the Oklahoma Memorial Union on Saturday.

The annual High School Leadership Conference took place on campus this past weekend and left many OU student counselors with good memories and new friends.

HSLC is a conference for local and out of state high school students to attend on OU's campus where they are tended to by OU student volunteers. Many OU student counselors say that the experience is rewarding and allows them to share their wisdom with younger people.

"For me personally, I just enjoy teaching leadership skills," said OU junior Bryan Brown. "I really enjoy helping other people, it brings me self fulfillment, and for me this event is perfect because I get to combine that with my passion for leadership."

While not all of the high school students attend OU, many of those that do find them involved with HSLC in their years at OU. The conference takes place every February and is open to any high school student from Oklahoma and Texas. Any OU student can apply for a counselor or an executive staff position.

City moves to reduce underage drinking

A sign outside of Thunderbird Liquors in Norman
warns people that they will be carded.

Police move to crack down on underage drinking

Local law enforcement is cracking down on underage drinking in Norman and more students are being caught with fake IDs.

Bars, clubs, and restaurants on Campus Corner alike were contacted by the city over winter break and told that the venues would be watched more intently on their acceptance of fake IDs.

Jeff Stewart, manager of O'Connell's, said his bar is taking up anywhere from 10-15 fake IDs a weekend now and he noticed more officers doing nightly inspections than before.

"I catch several kids a week," said Joey Andrews, the night manager at Thunderbird Liquors. "It isn't anything personal, it's just there are more cops sitting outside now and it isn't worth losing my job over."

According to Lt. Bruce Chan of OUPD, law enforcement plans to continue taking the matter seriously. Students should watch out because if they are caught, they will be cited and possibly could receive a felony charge, he said.

Freshman guard suspended after DUI

Freshman guard Ray Willis did not suit up for the Sooners' game against Colorado on Saturday after being charged with a DUI early Saturday morning, said Norman police.

Willis, a 19-year-old from Atlanta, Georgia, was pulled over for a minor traffic violation at 3:16 am on Saturday morning on Asp Avenue, said Lt. Blake Green of Norman PD.  He was then arrested for a DUI and taken to the Cleveland Count Detention Center where he was released after bond was posted.

Earlier this year, Willis and Sooner football player Frank Alexander were both stabbed at a night club in Norman four hours after the Sooners' defeated Tennessee-Chattanooga. According to police, a brawl erupted in which guns, knives and tire irons were used.  

While he didn't suit up, Willis was on the sideline for Saturday's game.  After the Sooners' 77-72 victory, coach Jeff Capel said that Willis was "suspended indefinitely", but refused to offer any additional details.

Gov. Henry seeks aid for research endowment

The state research fund, Economic Development Generating Excellence, needs additional financial support to reach its account goal and to generate more job
opportunities, according to Gov. Brad Henry.

EDGE, if successful, would pay $4 million to OU over the next two years. The research funds would be distributed among the engineering, weather and wind energy programs over that the two year time period.

"Through EDGE, [Oklahoma] will be able to spin off more high paying jobs and form new corporations," said Paul Sund, Gov. Brad Henry's communications director.

The EDGE research endowment is currently worth about $150 million, but lawmakers hope to see the fund eventually accumulate to $1 billion. The program funded five research projects last year, including two that were on OU's campus.

Funding from the state will supplement the grant if the state legislation passes the bill this year. If the bill does not pass this year, then EDGE will continue funding the current projects that it is supporting, but the expansion of EDGE to other research projects would be hindered.

Middle Eastern-inspired major soon to be available

The OU Board of Regents approved the creation of the Middle Eastern studies major within the School of International and Area Studies in their meeting on Wednesday.

The new major has been in the works for nine years. The school has secured $1.5 million in federal funding to begin the program, but the university will
have to support the program itself in two or three years.

Students will be required to study one of several different languages, including Hebrew and Arabic, take classes on the history, culture and politics of the
region, and will be required to study abroad in a Middle Eastern country.

"We wanted to see how students reacted to Middle Eastern studies, and they came flocking," said Joshua Landis, international
area studies professor. "So few people can speak Middle Eastern languages fluently, and there are a lot of job opportunities in this field."

Student will be able to enroll in the major once the School of International and Area Studiea finalizes the degree plan of the major. In the meantime, a new
summer study abroad program in Turkey will be available in 2010.