Page 1:

ETERNAL FLAME
Smokers sound off against smoking ban

By DEREK MOORE
Contributing Writer
news@ocolly.com

The setting sun reflects off a car driving through a nearby parking lot. Footsteps resonate from the stairs of Smith Hall as a college student approaches.
The percussive flick of a lighter is followed closely by the pervasive smell of burning tobacco. A thin, wispy trail of white smoke curls from the end of a cigarette dangling from the relaxed mouth of a black-haired girl sporting a red bandana.
She takes a deep drag, holds the smoke in her mouth for a few seconds and exhales. She smiles, her lip ring glistening in the dusk's glow. She repeats the process before speaking.
After a strenuous day of college, Ali Moos, a leisure studies freshman, said she desires the rush that only nicotine can provide.
Moos has smoked cigarettes for a third of her life and doesn't intend to quit any time soon. OSU has announced that the campus will be tobacco-free after July 1, according to a news release from the university. The conversion is meant to help tobacco users stop, but not all tobacco users want to stop.
"I pay a lot of money to go to school here, so I should be able to choose if I want to smoke cigarettes on campus," Moos said.
Moos has moved eight times since her birth in Houston, and her parents have smoked for as long as she can remember.
"My great-grandmother smoked a pack a day, starting when she was 12, and lived to be 98 when she died of old age," Moos said. "She didn't even suffer from cardiovascular disease."
Growing up in an environment surrounded by smoke only reinforced Moos' desire to smoke cigarettes, she said. Now, at 18, she has smoked for six years and smokes a pack daily. On average, she spends about $40 a week on cigarettes, she said.
Moos graduated as valedictorian from her high school in Houston and decided to enroll at OSU because she liked Stillwater's free-spirited, open attitude that she had experienced from school visits, she said. The tobacco-free policy on campus doesn't align with her initial opinions of Stillwater, she said.
At the beginning of this semester, Moos worked with Hannah Parker, an architecture freshman, to write a petition to Lee Bird, vice president for student affairs, in an attempt to prohibit the tobacco-free policy. Moos and Parker also created a group on Facebook titled "OSU students against a smoke-free campus."
Parker is also a smoker, but she has some different opinions of the policy.
"I think it's OK to separate the smokers from the non-smokers; there should just be more designated smoking areas on campus," she said.
About one-third of college students from a survey of 119 national universities use tobacco products regularly and about half tried a tobacco product in the last year, according to a survey from the American Medical Association. The study indicates that college is a time when many students try different tobacco products and are at risk of developing a life of nicotine dependence.
"OSU will benefit from the conversion; we're trying to stress the importance of OSU being the healthiest campus in the Big 12 and the state — that's something we want to be known for," said Robin Purdie, director of the Wellness Center.
The policy will hopefully change the negative health effects that tobacco products generate.
Almost one of every five deaths in America can be attributed to tobacco-related illnesses annually, and more deaths are caused by tobacco each year than from HIV, illegal drugs, alcohol, car crashes, suicides and murders combined, according to a fact sheet from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Moos is aware of the negative cardiovascular effects that smoking can cause, but she continues to smoke with a positive outlook on her future health conditions.
Sure, some people die from smoking, but not everyone does, she said.
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PANCAKE TRADITION PROVIDES STUDENTS WITH A CHANCE TO RELAX DURING FINALS

By STACY PETTIT
Staff Writer
news@ocolly.com

Finals week is often full of weeping and gnashing of teeth, but students can find some relief this week in the form of warm, flaky pancakes.
Campus Life will once again sponsor the Late Night Café at the Student Union, where students can eat free pancakes from 10 p.m. to 1 a.m. or down some much-needed caffeine with coffee from 8 p.m. to 1 a.m. Monday through Thursday nights.
"We go through about 2,000 folks the first night alone," said Wayne Prater, University Dining Services director.
Pancakes have been served during finals week since 1993, but the event has gone through different foods and been phased in and out during the past two decades, said Marie Basler, Non-Traditional Student Services coordinator.
About 90 to 100 gallons of pancake batter and 16 to 20 gallons of syrup are expected to be used per night this week, Prater said.
Volunteers come in early and stay late to help with the late-night pancake feast. About 45 faculty and staff at OSU volunteer throughout the week to cook and serve, Basler said.
"Everyone seems really appreciative of it," Prater said. "That's why we get so many volunteers back."
Last year, former OSU President David Schmidly and his wife volunteered to cook. All the volunteers work to help students enjoy their study break, Prater said.
"By the time we get cleaned up, it's close to 3 a.m., and everybody has to make it back to their office at 8," he said.
These volunteers see students bring in their own traditions. Years ago, students would bring guitars and play during the event, Prater said.
"There was a guy who would play in the Union during lunch and during the pancake thing," he said. "His name is Garth Brooks."
Other traditions at the Late Night Café turned out a little messier than others. Basler said she regularly sees students come back for seconds and thirds at the event but she has never seen anyone eat more than the 21 pancakes one student ate during a pancake-eating contest, she said.
The student and his friend decided to duke it out pancake-style, which ended in a big mess, she said.
"We told him if he was going to blow, he would have to go outside — which he did," she said.
Basler said she would never challenge anyone to beat his record.
Matt Fumbanks, a dietetics junior, said he does plan to stuff himself with 21 pancakes but he will take advantage of the toppings provided.
"Usually, I keep it old school and just stick with the syrup, but sometimes I go a little crazy with the peanut butter," he said.
Pancakes are not the only things that draw Fumbanks to the Student Union Food Court during finals week.
"It's a good way for me to go de-stress and just hang out with my friends," he said.
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GUNDY'S CONTRACT EXTENDED

By JONATHAN POLLNOW
Contributing Writer
news@ocolly.com

The OSU A&M Board of Regents voted to extend OSU football coach Mike Gundy's contract by a year Friday.
The regents also voted to approve a $2,040 salary increase for Gary Shutt, the OSU director of communications. The regents voted to change the name of OSU-Okmulgee to OSU Institute of Technology-Okmulgee.
A major breakthrough for biofuels research also arrived Friday as the regents approved a $10 million initiative to build an agriculture experiment station in Ardmore, near the Samuel Roberts Noble Foundation.
The regents did not discuss any of the items on the agenda. The regents first voted on the items concerning OSU before moving on to other schools under their supervision. The OSU part of the meeting covered about 20 minutes. Gary Shutt, who was in attendance, said the meetings are usually longer because of longer agendas.
It was the final regents meeting of the year. Mike Gundy's contract ending date will be moved from the end of the football season in 2012 to the end of the 2013 season. The authority to amend Gundy's contract to reflect the approved changes was given to the university president and the athletic director, according to the terms listed on the agenda. Shutt said the contract change will be to extend the contract, not to change salary.
Shutt's salary increase was listed on the agenda as an 'increase to include cellular device additive.' The additional $170 a month is intended to help offset the cost of cell phone usage. Two other university officials were given similar stipends during the session, though for less than what Shutt received. The cell phones are considered personal, so they are exempt from Oklahoma open records laws. However, the phones are being used for university business and paid for with university money specifically set aside for cell phone usage.
The Oklahoma State Legislature and Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education must approve the proposed name change of OSU-Okmulgee. OSU-Okmulgee officials said changing the name to OSU Institute of Technology-Okmulgee is intended to make the university branch more marketable to students and employers.
The regents also approved a request by OSU to build an agriculture experiment station in Ardmore, near the Noble Foundation. The station will be paid for with a $10 million appropriation from the state. Bob Whitson, OSU vice president of agriculture programs, said the area near the Noble Foundation is important. "They have a world-class plant bio-sciences operation," he said about the Noble Foundation, which researches agriculture, plant biology and forage improvement, according to the organization's Web site.
OSU does not have a presence in Ardmore. The station will be built on 90 acres and the research will focus on plants to turn into ethanol, such as switchgrass. Whitson said he wants to foster a relationship between OSU, OU and the Noble Foundation to study biofuels. The use of soybeans and canola for biofuel will also be studied.
Whitson said the Ardmore station will create 25-30 research opportunities for OSU graduate students. He said the station will be linked up with the rest of the OSU system via the Internet. He said the $10 million appropriation will be used entirely for buying land and building the station. The research will be paid for out of the annual operating budget.
The next regents meeting is Jan. 18 at OSU-Okmulgee.
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Page 2: Features and Entertainment

WHISTLEBLOWER
Referees encounter physical, psychological abuse from students, players

By MARTINA REYES
Features Writer
features@ocolly.com

The air is freezing as the temperature goes down and the night comes alive. James Sisson's black pants and striped shirt shield the bitter wind, and his yellow flag dangles lazily at his side.
Obscene remarks and harsh sarcasm travel through the air, but he keeps a calm face. Every fiber in his body keeps him still and focused.
He has had to learn to put equal attention into two things, the field and the stands. His eyes are constantly locked on his surroundings, watching each movement happening in front of him. It's his only way of defending himself from the unexpected.
Sisson is one of many student referees employed at OSU. But unlike most college students' day jobs, he has to deal with competitive spirits and wild fans, attitudes which have led to many rude encounters.
According to a study by the Journal of Sport Behavior, discrimination against referees continues to increase. Of 1,500 subjects, 98 percent of basketball referees were assaulted. Of those assaults, 51 percent were considered serious, the report said.
Football, basketball and hockey are the top sports for creating abusive situations.
"Football officials perceived greater stress for the 'fear of physical harm' factor," a report by Journal of Sport Behavior said. "This would lead one to suggest that violence toward officials is perceived as more likely to occur in full-contact sports."
The report also mentions that players and coaches sometimes believe fighting to be a legitimate part of the game and do not mind taking out aggression on officials.
For student referees at OSU, having to worry about physical aggression is an everyday concern. It is not uncommon for students officiating to be face-to-face in a cursing battle, being spit on or having objects thrown at them.
"At one particular game, I had to kick out the same guy four times, and at the end I got my flag thrown at me and some cuss words yelled in my face," Sisson said.
Society's fascination with competition is also a major factor in how kids view sports at an early age, according to the report.
"In our society, winning comes with all the rewards and those who lose are seen as nothing but less than equal talent, thus creating an aggressive desire to bring a competitive spirit to the game," according to the report.
Dmitry Migunov, a sociology professor at OSU, saw a definite difference between international and American sport behavior.
"In the Soviet Union, games are much more disciplined. A player could get disqualified just by saying a rude word," Migunov said. "Here in America, games are much more democratic, noisy and liberal."
One reason for aggressive behavior is the powerful sociological factor of role model, Migunov said.
"When around peers, people are more prone to acting like what the people around them are. Therefore, if the crowd is acting rowdy and out of control, that makes the players want to act the same way," Migunov said.
Devin Simpson is another OSU student referee who has a past with dealing with aggression. During his two years of officiating, he had multiple students cursing in his face. At one particular game he had shoes, a football and gloves thrown at him by a disgruntled athlete.
"I have the mentality that it is part of the game and you just have to roll it off your shoulder and know that you stand behind your call," Simpson said.
Having to call the cops is something that gets threatened at multiple games, but in one instance it was actually carried out, Simpson said.
"I was officiating one night when some 40-year-old guy got upset when he was told he couldn't play and decided to drive across the field," Simpson said.
For Sisson, learning to adjust to the situation has led him to continue to do his job and enjoy it as best he can.
"The good thing that helps with the job is that at the end of it we get the final say on the call," Sisson said. "You just have to be patient and wait until people blow off their steam."
Bonnie Mitchell, a graduate assistant coordinator of OSU intramurals, agrees.
"I just never listened to the fans when out there doing my job," she said.
Although college students and athletes do show a lot of anger, high schools are also very high in aggressive behavior. Coaches and parents accounted for more than 50 percent of assaults in youth and high school games, according to the Journal of Sport Behavior.
"A lot of our referees will not go into high school officiating because of the stories they have heard," Simpson said. "Those can get pretty out of control."
Mitchell has officiated high school games but has yet to be involved in an aggressive situation.
"Players are players, they go hard either way," she said. "The only difference between intramurals and high school is that there is a coach involved."
For OSU referees, the only way to get through every game is to get the mentality that half the time students yelling don't really know what they are yelling about.
"We have a saying between refs and it is that we always have each others backs no matter what the call," Simpson said. "If you learn to tune it out and focus on what your duty is on the field then this job can be more fun than some might think."
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NEW 2 VIEW

New to DVD Tuesday
"The Bourne Ultimatum," starring Matt Damon, Julia Stiles and David Strathorn. Jason Bourne (Damon) dodges new, superior assassins as he searches for his unknown past while a government agent tries to track him down.
"Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix," starring Daniel Radcliffe, Emma Watson, Rupert Grint, Michael Gambon and Ralph Fiennes. With their warning about Lord Voldemort's (Fiennes) return scoffed at, Harry (Radcliffe) and Dumbledore (Gambon) are targeted by the Wizard authorities as an authoritarian bureaucrat slowly seizes power at Hogwarts.
"Lost - Season Three," starring Matthew Fox and Evangeline Lilly. The survivors of a plane crash are forced to live with each other on a remote island, a dangerous new world that poses unique threats of its own.

New to theaters Wednesday
"The Perfect Christmas," starring Gabrielle Union, Morris Chestnut and Queen Latifah. A young girl turns to a department store Santa (Chestnut) in the hopes that he will help find a new husband for her divorced mother (Union).

New to theaters Friday
"I Am Legend," starring Will Smith and Alice Braga. Robert Neville (Smith) finds himself the only healthy survivor of a biological attack, as his fellow New Yorkers have become zombies. By day, Neville hunts the undead who walk the streets. By night, he barricades himself in his home against the mob gathered outside.
"Juno," starring Ellen Page, Michael Cera and Jennifer Garner. After her best friend (Cera) gets her pregnant, teen-aged Juno (Page) takes an unusual approach in order to make sure the child is cared for properly.
"Alvin and the Chipmunks," starring Jason Lee, Ross Bagdasarian Jr. and Janice Karman. A spin-off of the cartoon series about a trio of chipmunks brothers, its musical inclinations and life with an adoptive human guardian.
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Page 3: Features and Entertainment

CONCERT RAISES MONEY FOR MIDDLE EAST PEACE

By STACY PETTIT
Features Writer
features@ocolly.com

The Third Place was filled with people and music Friday night for a benefit concert that OSU's Amnesty International hosted.
"We raised money for a good cause, and the crowds responded really well to the musicians," said Jillian Holzbauer, president of Amnesty International and one of the performers.
About 170 people attended the event and AI was able to raise more than $700, said Kate Rinehart, Amnesty International treasurer.
The money will aid Middle East Peace Partners, a group of Israeli and Palestinian peace and human rights organizations, Holzbauer said.
Amnesty International will continue helping others become aware of the 40-year-old conflict in the Middle East, she said.
Jillian Holzbauer, James Price Band, The Uglysuit and Mayola supplied the music throughout the night. OSU students, professors and Stillwater citizens paid $5 admission to listen to the concert.
Antonio Laster, bass player for Mayola, said he felt the night was successful because of the number of people who went to support both the local bands as well as Amnesty International.
"Even if you don't understand the conflict, it's still good to know you are helping out others in need," he said.
James Firestone, a liberal studies junior, went to the event to see Jillian Holzbauer perform. He said he has recently been trying to learn more about the problems between the Israelis and Palestinians.
"I think since it's been in the news a lot lately, more people are starting to learn about it," he said. "Hopefully, more students will begin to take action."
Although Jessica Reid, a hotel and restaurant administration senior, thought the band line-up was amazing, she was also excited to see people willing to donate to a good cause.
"I think there is always a peaceful way to resolve things, and I really think it's great when students take an active interest in things outside of their little world," Reid said.
The OSU chapter plans on hosting the Amnesty International state conference in February and the Invisible Children organization in the spring.
In the meantime, Holzbauer said Amnesty International will continue educating others about the ongoing turmoil in the Middle East.
"The point of raising awareness is to encourage and inspire people to work for a change," she said.
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TV TIDBITS

By LEAH ASHRAFI
and DONNIE BRANSCUM

Finals have been stressing us out, so we relaxed and turned on a show that requires no thinking, VH1's America's Most Smartest Model."
Last night, the final three models had to prove their potential by participating in a photo shoot challenge. The model who failed to command the shot would be sent home.
During the challenge, Andre accused VJ of trying to mimic his poses. And we have to say, a lot of VJ's poses were strikingly similar to Andre's. However, Andre won the challenge, automatically putting him in the final two.
But Angela came up short and showed that she was completely lost in front of the camera. So she was sent home, setting the stage for the final show-down between Andre and VJ.
Ben Stein announced that the final challenge will be a multimedia presentation telling the judges why they are "America's Most Smartest Model."
We are definitely rooting for Andre because we think VJ is pathetic and ridiculous. Not to mention, he has cheated during various challenges and is obviously not a model.
Regardless of the outcome, we are excited for the new season, which has its premiere next year.
Monday Preview: Take a break from life, and watch the season finale of MTV's "The Hills," as well as ABC's "Samantha Who?" and "October Road."
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Page 4: Opinion

PRESIDENTIAL HOPEFUL TRIES TO EXPLAIN BELIEFS

He hates these cans
KURT AMEND
letters@ocolly.com

On Sept.12, 1960 John F. Kennedy addressed a group of Southern Baptists and, more importantly, the American voting public to explain his religious beliefs (he was Catholic). In this speech, JFK emphasized that what he believed about the church was not as important as what he believed about America and that church and state should remain absolutely separate.
This speech was followed by a wave of support and eventually Kennedy's election.
Last Thursday morning, Mitt Romney attempted to repeat these results by giving a similar speech in College Station, Texas. I suppose the jury is still out, but in the meantime I posit that Romney's speech was a big swing and a miss.
With Kennedy, Americans were allegedly consumed with the irrational fear that the Pope would control his presidency. Thus, Kennedy spoke to explain how the sphere of his public service and the sphere of his religious beliefs would never collide.
Romney attempted to appease fears that his religion may not be compatible with traditional conservative ideals. Hence, most of Romney's speech is centered on his American, and more importantly, Christian values.
Romney stressed to his audience that the specifics of his religious beliefs were unimportant. Well, all of them except for the fact that he believes Jesus Christ is the Son of God and the Savior of mankind. Obviously, Romney is trying to seem more like a Christian.
However, the problem Romney faces is unique. Americans are not particularly worried that Mitt is going to be controlled by officials of his church like they were with Kennedy. And I would say that most Republicans are not worried that Romney does not share their values, as he seems to believe. After all, he is opposed to legal abortion (unless he is running for governor), terrorists and illegal immigrants.
However, in trying to seem more like a Christian, Romney may have missed an opportunity to address his real problem.
As with a number of things in life, Romney's problem basically comes down to underwear. Are Americans ready for a president that wears what our wondering minds can only presume to be magic underwear?
Of course, I am kind of joking. But behind every joke is a hint of truth. And I truly think that Americans are less worried about Romney's values and more intrigued by the quirks of his religious beliefs.
Most Americans rarely have much contact with members of the Church of Latter Day Saints. Personally, my experience with Mormons is limited to watching Daniel Bobick shoot threes and defend Jameer Nelson like a champ.
So when confronted with the idea of a Mormon president, the fear of the unknown causes our feeble minds to falter. As much as it would be nice to presume that Americans choose presidents based solely on the substantial issues, it is not the case.
And since the last president who was a religious ex-governor with very little foreign policy experience was a disaster (I won't spell it out), Romney is going to need all the help he can get.
He might be better served by just being open about his religious beliefs. After all, as Kennedy suggested, they are his beliefs and not the beliefs of the Office of the President.
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STILLWATER RAPPER'S FAME ON THE RISE

Devil's advocate
DANNY GROSHONG
letters@ocolly.com

Since 1995, Ilias Albers has been attacking the local scene with his signature parties and rap music about coming up in Oklahoma. Having sold more than 17,000 copies of his first album, "A Poet's Nightmare," online and with his second album, "My Loyalty to Poetry," set to release in March, Albers, who raps under the name L.O.K.I., is well on his way to rising up in the independent rap game.
L.O.K.I. stands for Little Ole Kid Ilias and has stuck with him since his early teens.
Together with Neko of Divine Dynasty out of Oklahoma City, Albers secured the Best New Artist division for Star Search in Wichita Falls, Texas. After their victory, they were mentioned in "The Source" magazine.
With a fan base that stretches from Athens, Greece to Tokyo, Japan and back to Oklahoma, it is no surprise that Albers has set his sights even higher with his company, Silent Productions and Entertainment.
Having hosted events ranging from a 1940s-themed wedding to Sand Springs' middle school dance, Albers has come into his own as an entertainment promoter. In 2000, he went to Padre Island and worked for WCW Nitro. He has also worked with big names in the rap game like Afroman — who will be recording a song with Albers in the near future.
Working with other Stillwater artists such as the Marvelous Arsons, the High Life Crew, DJ Whiskey, Beatpunks, and Independently Exposed, they are attempting to not only promote themselves, but bring their fellow artists up with them. "We are a diamond dropped in s—," Albers said.
Last summer, Silent Productions aided Beatpunks and Independently Exposed when they threw Dance Off/Pants Off at what was Mike's College Bar.
Albers does not wish to be recognized as a thuggish rapper, though: "I'm not a gangsta rapper, man, just a poet."
And a poet he is, having had poetry published in Readers Digest on multiple occasions.
People may wonder why Albers is still in Stillwater with such an impressive repertoire. "I'm in Stillwater for my mother," Albers said. His other siblings have moved away for work or marriage and Albers wants his mother to be taken care of in the best way he knows how, by being there for her.
In March, Silent Productions is planning an I-35 tour to promote the new album. Make sure you go see him, no matter what it takes.
I encourage you all to listen to his music. The first album can be heard online at http://www.soundclick.com/bands/default.cfm?bandID=535784.
He encourages people to contact him if they are interested in throwing a party or if they need a promoter for any reason. You can contact him at www.myspace.com/ilias77 and leave a message. Oh, and tell him that Danny sent you.
Albers is certainly moving up and out in the entertainment world, and he has only one thing to say to those people who would try and stop him, "Stay the hell outta my way, or get rolled over like a caterpillar bulldozer."
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ASSESSING THE EFFECTIVENESS OF BURNS HARGIS

Come what may
BRANDON MCVEY
letters@ocolly.com

It's seems like only yesterday was August, and now the semester comes to a close. Around this time I like to reflect on the semester and judge whether I became a better person than when I entered. I challenge you to do the same.
Whether you're just a first-year student or a graduating senior, what have you learned this semester? It seems to me that after paying thousands of dollars, there should be a satisfying answer to that question.
If you don't have an answer you're content with, maybe you should reconsider this university or this college education thing altogether.
Whether or not the regents realize it, this is supposed to be a place of learning, and you should be taking something more away from your experiences here than just the art of beer pong and camping out for basketball tickets.
More and more I wonder how important education is to the people running our university. Our last university president, David Schmidly, was an accomplished professor of zoology before becoming a university administrator, but who is V. Burns Hargis?
From the information I've read, he's never been a teacher in any formal sense. He's the vice chairman of the Bank of Oklahoma, a conservative panelist for the Sunday morning program "Flash Point," and unsuccessfully ran for the Republican nomination for Governor of Oklahoma in 1990.
Although Hargis is certainly involved in Oklahoma (after all, he has degrees from both OSU and OU), what qualifies him for the position of head of a university?
Political and social affiliations neither address how successful he will be at increasing the quality of education at this university, nor if he even understands what quality education is.
Whatever problems people may have had with Dr. Schmidly, at least he was an educator himself, and continued to be so even while university president.
While the position of university president is rather political in nature, the importance of actual experience in education should not be ignored. Just as a number of the regents are supposed to be farmers (who at the very least should understand the value of land and the right to private property), so too should a university president have some experience as an educator. How else can we expect Hargis to understand the issues surrounding modern college education?
Hopefully, Hargis can surround himself with those more experienced than him, so only time will tell. But, like many here at OSU, I fear that our university is becoming less of an institution of higher learning and more of a degree and research factory.
Far too often is a piece of paper given to graduates at the end of their time here valued more than the actual education they receive.
That brings us back to question from earlier, what have you learned this semester? Are you aware that there is a war going on that's killing our generation? Or that we have a historically unpopular president in office?
Or that we are in the midst of a mass extinction caused by humans, leaving prominent conservation biologists like E.O. Wilson (who visited OSU last year) to start an awareness campaign?
If you don't get anything from classes, you could always just watch the news.
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Page 5: News

TEXT BOOK POLICY MIGHT LOWER PRICES

By RHIANNON MAKO
Managing Editor
rhiannon.mako@ocolly.com

Revisions to OSU's textbook policy encourage cheaper textbooks for students by offering more used books, unbundled textbooks and textbooks on reserve in the library.
"The intention of the policy is for faculty and the bookstore to reduce book costs as much as possible," said Gail Gates, associate vice president of undergraduate education.
The policy stems from a new state law, which requires all state higher education institutions to revise their policies, Gates said.
At OSU, the policy applies only to the Student Union Bookstore and instructors.
The Oklahoma law written by Rep. Lance Cargill, R-Harrah, which went into effect Nov. 1, instructs Oklahoma boards of regents to adopt textbook policies that encourage campus bookstores to offer unbundled books and encourages universities to disclose to students how new editions of books changed from previous editions.
OSU officials have not revised the university's policy since August 1985.
The policy, which went into effect Nov. 1, did not affect textbook orders for next semester.
Starting for the fall '08 semester, all instructors will have to list textbook prices when sending orders to the Student Union Bookstore.
The OSU A&M Board of Regents approved an identical policy for the OSU-Okmulgee campus during its regular meeting Friday.
Each policy meets all demands set forth by the law and says the bookstore must provide students the option of buying books unbundled. Buying unbundled books may not necessarily reduce book costs, Gates said.
Gates said she thinks instructors need to find the least expensive way for students to buy books that require software or key codes.
"There may need to be options for students to buy used books but also a new key code," Gates said.
But for some classes, unbundled books might not be an option.
"Not all components of a bundle are available separately," said Lance Hinkle, assistant director of the Student Union Bookstore.
Some classes require key codes to access information and class work via the Internet, Hinkle said.
"It's not a general rule for key codes to be sold separately," Hinkle said. "It depends on the publisher."
The policy also requires the OSU library to place textbooks on reserve for students enrolled in undergraduate classes with large enrollment or expensive books.
"OSU started buying textbooks last year," said Rich Paustenbaugh, associate dean of libraries for research and instruction services.
"Last year, we started looking at books that were more than $200 or 200 people enrolled in the class," Paustenbaugh said. "This year is was $150 or more for a class with 150 people or more.
"We're probably going to ease it down again."
Students can borrow textbooks from the reserves desk in the library for two hours at a time, Paustenbaugh said.
"We wanted to be sure lots of people have access to the books," Paustenbaugh said.
The policy does not come without problems, Paustenbaugh said.
"It's a little bit expensive, [textbooks] cost almost twice as much as the average book normally bought by the library," Paustenbaugh said. "Also there isn't a lot of space left in the reserves area of the library."
Another requirement in the policy says the bookstore should publicly disclose to students how new editions of textbooks are different from previous editions. This is a regulation the bookstore cannot easily meet.
"The bookstore does not evaluate new editions of books," Hinkle said. "Information about how books vary is never divulged to the bookstore by the publisher."
Students interested in finding how book editions vary can visit the publisher's Web site through a link at http://union.okstate.edu/Bookstore/index.htm, Hinkle said.
The policy also encourages the bookstore to publicize textbook buyback programs. This is something the bookstore does every semester.
"Our bookstore sells more used textbooks than the national average," said Mitch Kilcrease, director of the Student Union.
"About 43 percent of our books are used.
"The national average is 25 (percent) to 27 percent."
The policy requires professors to list book prices on each order form.
Some professors are already aware of the high cost of student textbooks.
"If there is an option, I will order soft cover books for my classes instead of hardback," said Randi Eldevik, an associate English professor.
"I have not seen the new policy, but this is something I have always considered."
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Page 6: Sports

COMING TOGETHER
Cowboys get off to slow start, get win against East Tennessee State

By GRANT BELCHER
Sports Writer
sports@ocolly.com

With the weather outside Gallagher-Iba Arena turning ugly, it appeared the Cowboys' play inside the arena was also taking a turn for the worse.
OSU's play was as bad as the weather until the 6:52 mark in the second half, when East Tennessee State scored its last points of the game.
The Cowboys struggled most of the night, but their talent prevailed to beat the Buccaneers 78-65.
OSU trailed East Tennessee State (4-4) much of the second half but exploded with a 14-0 run to end the game.
Although their play was sub-par for most of the game, coach Sean Sutton said the players' effort at the end of the game was encouraging.
"I'm really proud of my players for the way they competed down the stretch," Sutton said. "We needed to be in a game like that — a tight game against a good team."
Freshman guard James Anderson led all scorers with 26 points, including shooting 6-for-11 from three-point range.
His shooting got the Cowboys (5-3) off to a quick start, putting them up 28-15 with 10:43 to go in the first half.
The Buccaneers clawed their way back into the game, taking advantage of 10 first-half Cowboy turnovers to close the margin to 39-37 at the break.
Guard Courtney Pigram, who ended up with 23 points for the Bucs, drained a three-pointer to put his team up 44-42 just three minutes into the second half.
The Buccaneers hit their largest lead of 55-49 with 13:02 to go.
However, something clicked for the Cowboys in the last seven minutes as they showed flashes of the gritty, hard-nosed defense rarely seen in Gallagher-Iba since the Eddie Sutton era.
"I think we had a little leadership this time," junior guard Terrel Harris said. "We've kind of grown up a little bit, so I believe this is a good win for us and we really stuck together instead of splitting up."
As has been the case many times this year, the Cowboys lived and died by the three-pointer.
OSU shot 13-of-32 from beyond the arc, the second most three-pointers attempted by an OSU team in history and the third most three-pointers made.
Sutton said that although shooting 40 percent from outside is pretty good, his team must learn to attack the basket instead of settling for long range shots.
"They stayed in zone almost the entire game," Sutton said. "We got pretty good looks, but we've gotta do a better job, no question, of getting the ball inside the zone."
The Cowboys have a week off before facing No. 12 Pittsburgh in what might be their toughest game so far this year.
The game is considered a neutral site game, but will be held in Pittsburgh and still be a virtual home game for the Panthers.
Tip-off is set for 11 a.m. Saturday on ESPN.
Although the victories so far have not been pretty, Sutton said the momentum from the last stretch against the Buccaneers should set a new standard.
"We grew up a lot I think within this game," Sutton said. "And we showed some signs of maturing as a basketball team and certainly getting tougher, and that's what we've got to have."
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COWBOY WRESTLERS DROP SUNDAY MATCH TO NO. 5 PENN STATE

WIRE SERVICES

The No. 3 Oklahoma State wrestling team couldn't overcome two falls by fifth-ranked Penn State and dropped its first dual of the season, 21-18 inside Gallagher-Iba Arena Sunday.
The dual featured bonus points in five matches, but unfortunately for the home crowd, not enough of those points fell in the Cowboys favor.
The Cowboys nearly picked up a major upset in the opening match when unranked Ben Ashmore took a 3-2 lead over sixth-ranked Mark McKnight late into the third period.
McKnight stole the victory, however, with a takedown with four seconds on the clock and put the Nittany Lions on the board, 3-0.
Oklahoma State stormed back with wins from 133-pounder Coleman Scott and 141-pounder Nathan Morgan.
Scott picked up an 8-2 decision over Mike Eagen, nearly picking up a major decision in the final seconds of the match.
Morgan followed with a 6-3 win over Garrett Scott, giving the Cowboy a 6-3 lead.
"It would have been nice to get a pin there at 133 pounds and we didn't even end up getting a major decision," OSU coach John Smith said. "I want more than that. This is something we can take and move forward from. We made too many mental errors today and some of those things tear at your heart."
Penn State jumped right back into the lead when fourth-ranked Bubba Jenkins scored a fall over Mike Bizzle.
After a hard-fought match at 157 pounds that saw PSU's No. 10 Dan Vallimont win 5-4 over No. 20 Newly McSpadden, the Nittany Lions had a 12-6 lead.
No. 12 Jake Dieffenbach and No. 4 Brandon Mason propelled the Cowboys back into the lead by picking up major decisions at 165 and 174 pounds, respectively. Dieffenbach continued to roll in his first season in Stillwater, dominating Dave Rella en route to a 13-4 victory.
Mason followed with a dominating performance and cruised to an 8-0 victory. Mason used two takedowns, a three-point nearfall and 5:36 riding time to put the Cowboys back on top, 15-14.
"We're not happy with this," Mason said. "I had the opportunity to get a pin and didn't get it. All the way down the lineup, we have to keep improving."
Penn State put itself in fantastic shape to upset the home team when No. 19 Phillip Bomberger held off a late rally by Cody Hill to earn an 8-5 victory, giving the Nittany Lions a 15-14 lead with two matches to go.
After wrestling a close match for the first two periods, top-ranked Philip Davis sealed the dual victory for Penn State with a fall over Clayton Foster. The win pushed the lead to 21-14, effectively ending the Cowboys chances to pick up the win.
Jared Rosholt finished strong for the Cowboys, cruising to a 9-0 major decision over Stefan Tighe and making the final score 21-18.
The Cowboys return to action Tuesday, Dec. 18, when they travel to the Reno Tournament of Champions.
"One of the things coach tells us is that we can't get too high when we win and we can't get too low when we lose, and that's what I try to do," Dieffenbach said. "We're going to have bumps in the road like these and we need to continue to get ready for March."
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Page 7: Sports

UF'S TEBOW WINS HEISMAN

By ISRAELl GUTIERREZ
McClatchy Newspapers

NEW YORK — Tim Tebow hugged his fellow Heisman finalists, then his parents, then his coach, then another former Gator Heisman winner on his way to the podium.
He stood behind a microphone and took a deep breath directly into it. Then another. Then another. Then a few more.
Then he powered through an acceptance speech maybe more quickly than any Heisman winner in history. Maybe faster than any man who ever stood behind a podium.
Very quickly, he thanked Jesus and his family and his teammates, by name, and his coaches and his family again and Jesus again and Jeremy Foley.
"I was a little nervous, I'm not going to lie," Tebow said. "I got a little choked up in the beginning and then tried to hold it back and then thank a lot of people."
Like everything else Tebow does, it was impressive, even in its awkwardness.
And if Tebow is going to find himself on that stage behind that podium ever again, he'll have to be even faster from here on out, and more evasive and more powerful.
Because the first sophomore to win a Heisman trophy is now the biggest target in all of collegiate athletics.
Tebow already experienced a season's worth of backlash for being one of the most talked about players in college football. He received nasty messages from LSU fans before he played the Tigers. He was assured by Florida State players that his dreams would be dashed. And all season long he was hit a little bit harder, punished a little bit longer and smacked a little bit past the sound of the whistle — all by players wanting to alter the too-perfect-to-be-true story of Tim Tebow.
None of it worked this time, as Tebow brushed aside all attacks with relative ease. A bruised right shoulder and a broken right hand were minor setbacks in his battles. The Heisman Trophy that Tebow held up with a healthy left hand and a casted right one were proof of his victory.
Next year, it won't come as easy. That Heisman Trophy may as well have come dipped in blood, because the sharks are coming.
Tebow won't be the first to come back after winning a Heisman. Just this decade, Oklahoma's Jason White and Southern Cal's Matt Leinart both won it in their junior seasons and came back for their senior years.
But White was a relatively anonymous champion playing in middle America, not a home-schooled prodigy with a Web site that gathers preposterous "facts" about his abilities.
And Leinart was a Hollywood celebrity who had to worry more about paparazzi than blitzing linebackers, not the player labeled a protege for the quarterback of the future by the likes of Steve Spurrier and Bobby Bowden.
More importantly, neither White nor Leinart gave those hate-filled opponents as large a target as Tebow does. He ran the ball 27 times against Ole Miss. He took off 20 times against Kentucky. And 26 more against South Carolina. He's a running quarterback who loves to leave the pocket and loves even more to absorb the contact.
The opportunity will always be there to take a nasty shot at Tebow, and the motive has become greater.
It's a good thing that it's Tebow wearing that target, then. There might be no player better fit to handle it.
"Oh, I don't care," Tebow said, dismissing the notion that he will be hated by opponents perhaps more than he is loved by Gators fans, if that's even possible. "It doesn't really matter to me. There's a lot of hype, but you just can't worry about that."
His coach can't fathom the idea of Tebow being affected.
"You mean, like, intimidation or something like that?" Meyer asked. "No. Zero chance. Zero."
And there's no real reason to believe otherwise. This is the same Tim Tebow who nobody believed could throw the football before this season began. And now, even though he doesn't throw the prettiest of balls, he has the highest passing efficiency rating of any previous Heisman winner.
He has already overcome the stigma of being a home-schooled athlete — "go win a spelling bee or something like that," he'd be told — so taking a handful of illegal hits shouldn't be too big a challenge.
Come to think of it, the intimidation factor actually should work the other way around. Because Tebow insists he's staying at Florida through his senior season, which can't possibly make any sophomore linebackers at Tennessee comfortable. By the time Tebow leaves Gainesville, he could have enough Heisman trophies to perform a juggling act.
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Page 9: News

MAN'S LEGS BROKEN DURING OSU EQUIPMENT DELIVERY

By JASON ROY
Asst. News Editor
jason.roy@ocolly.com

A man's legs were broken Friday afternoon on campus when an industrial computer he was delivering rolled off the back of a truck and landed on him.
Employees of Armstrong Relocation, an Oklahoma City-based moving company, were delivering the 1,600 pound IBM computer to the Mathematical Sciences building when it rolled off the back of the truck as they were lowering it and landed on the victim, said Bryan Jones, an employee of the company who wasn't present when the accident happened.
The mechanical lift on the back of the truck had a slight angle, which allowed the computer to roll and tip over on the victim, Jones said.
The computer was a replacement for an older one and was to be installed within a week, said OSU officials, who refused to give their names.
The officials said the computer is used to process everything from grades to employees' payrolls.
OSU officials on the scene refused to comment on the price of the computer.
The man, whose name was not released, was taken to Stillwater Medical Center. Police refused to comment on his condition.
Although Armstrong employees wanted to leave the computer at the building, OSU officials refused to accept it.
Gary Shutt, the communications director, said the man was not an employee of OSU and his condition is unknown.
The OSU Police Department would not comment at this time.