Students react to social media

By Honey Caranzo and John Walker

OU's New Scholar's Walk

We asked some students what they thought of the University of Oklahoma's new Scholar's Walk.

What do you wish you would have known before coming to OU?

What is your favorite game day ritual?

By Jennifer Phillips and Stephen Cabler

Foam party starts off new semester

BY CONNOR GALVIN and SHANE BYLER

Over 2000 students attended this year’s foam party at the University of Oklahoma in Norman on a parking garage roof on August 29.

The annual foam party is organized by the university’s Union Programing Board and is held on the roof of the Oklahoma Memorial Union’s parking garage.

Several students said the party created a great start to the beginning of the semester.

Students danced to the beat of pop music as the foam rained from above.

“Some people really like to dive right into the thick of the foam,” said UPB program director Amelia Ginac.

Bringing New Orleans jazz to Norman

By Kate Bergum and Samantha Bechtold

A group of Oklahoma musicians took the stage on the University of Oklahoma’s campus Monday evening for a night of New Orleans style jazz music.

The Boyd Street Brass, a seven-piece band primarily showcasing OU faculty and graduates, played original works and songs from classic jazz musicians at the Sharp Concert Hall in Catlett Music Center.

The band includes Jay Wilkinson, OU’s director of jazz studies, Ryan Sharp, assistant professor of trumpet at the University of Central Oklahoma, Jonathan Nichol, OU’s assistant professor of saxophone, Eric Walschap, Coordinator of Facilities and Technology for the OU School of Music, OU alumni Daryl Nagode and Brian Dailey, and Brian Dobbins, OU’s assistant professor of tuba and euphonium.

At the concert, Wilkinson said that though they might be prestigious musicians, the members of the Boyd Street Brass like to have a good time when they take the stage together.

“Our message is we can be virtuosic and fun,” Wilkinson said.

The band played songs such as Herbie Hancock’s “Chameleon,” Ray Charles’ “Mary Ann” and Michael Jackson’s “Thriller.” They also played original songs, such as “Fire,” a Langston Hughes poem that Wilkinson set to music.

During the performance, members of the audience clapped, cheered for soloists and tapped their feet to the music.

While on stage, Wilkinson encouraged audience participation.

“During the tunes, holler out and cheer for us,” Wilkinson said.

Throughout the show, he encouraged the audience to sing along or to clap to the music. When the band played “Thriller,” a student was invited on stage to narrate part of the song.

At the concert, Wilkinson also announced that the band will be recording its first album this fall.

For more information about the Boyd Street Brass, visit their website.

Chickens Fry, Students Don't

by Stephen Cabler and Jennifer Phillips

Completion of construction on the Memorial Union made room for the Union Programming Board’s Sooner Fried event on Friday.

            Students enjoyed fried foods and fair games in the air-conditioned union food court for the first time this year after expansion of the room allowed for more room for activities.

            “We usually do this outside, but with the heat and this new space so available, there was no reason not to take advantage of what we had,” said Union Programming Board Director of Logistics Brooke Wade.

            Union catering provided food for the event that was free and open to all students at the University of Oklahoma.

The Union Programming Board considers this annual event one of its biggest and most popular, and hopes to see more improvements as it continues. “UPB is constantly trying to grow and expand upon what was done in the past, and so every time we have an event, we try to brainstorm ways to make it better and unique in some way from previous iterations,” said Wade.

Students can rap for scholarship

By John Walker and Honey Caranzo

Students will battle it out for a chance to win up to $300 in scholarships. The rap battle will be from 7 to 9 p.m. on September 19 at the Meacham Auditorium, located in the Oklahoma Memorial Union.

The tournament will be divided into eight rappers. Each contestant will compete against each other in a freestyle.  The noise level of the crowd will determine the winner. The winner of the rap battle will receive the title of “Best Rapper on Campus.”

The auditions were held on September 3 and 4 in the Traditions Room at the union.  Participants freestyled for up to three minutes to a panel of judges from the Black Student Association and the Union Programming Board.

Each candidate was judged based on flow, originality and stage presence. According to the community affairs coordinator of the Black Student Association Mariah Moore, the scores ranged from eight to nine.

This is the first rap battle hosted by the Union Programming Board.