Alpha Tau Omega Raises Money, Raises Spirits

By Jennifer Phillips

Norman runners and community members anticipate the second annual Alpha Tau Omega Spooky Sprint 5K race and carnival as it quickly approaches.

            The Spooky Sprint 5K will take place on Sunday, November 2 from 2 p.m. – 4 p.m. and will begin at the East lawn of the Oklahoma Memorial Union on the Norman campus.

            The carnival will be held during and after the race on the East lawn as well, and will feature games, a costume contest with prizes for the best male and female costumes, candy and a dunk tank.

            The spooky sprint raised over $4000 dollars last year for Community After School Program, or CASP. The program provides afterschool care to approximately 650 children in all 17 Norman elementary schools according to the organization’s website.

            208 runners plan to participate on Saturday, a hefty 250 percent increase from last year’s 78 people. Alpha Tau Omega expects a larger turnout for the carnival, too; up to 400 people, twice as many as last year.

            The reason for the flux in participation this year is due to the 3-for-2 sign up rate offered at the beginning of the sign up period. “It boosted our numbers significantly,” said Adam Wagner, senior Alpha Tau Omega member and chair of the event.

            The 5K committee began talking about programming and advertisement in early April. “The biggest difference as far as getting the word out is we started the conversation much earlier this year and got people talking about the race early on,” said Wagner.

            Wagner set the fundraising and attendance goals high this year to really motivate his committee. “The 5K and carnival work toward such a great cause in a way that’s fun for everybody,” said Wagner. “It’s hard to justify not putting your all into something that benefits so many people in such a big way” said Wagner.

            The location of both the race and the carnival changed from the previous year due to new university policies that regulate 5K routes for safety and security reasons.

            The event will also no longer include a one-mile fun run for the kids in attendance due to the new route and location.

The Spooky Sprint 5K and carnival is open to children and families of all ages. More information about the event can be found at

https://www.facebook.com/events/799502903403881/?ref=22

            Runners interested in participating in the race may sign up at

https://www.signmeup.com/site/online-event-registration/103225

Food and Philanthropies Storm Greek-Row

Four Greek chapters held philanthropy events in one week to raise money for national organizations.

            Delta Tau Delta and Chi Omega started off the fundraising with a bang at the annual “Delt Dive” on Sunday, October 19. Alpha Chi Omega and Alpha Omicron Pi hosted their events on the 21st, and Gamma Phi Beta rounded out the week with a chili cook-off on Wednesday, October 22.

            The money raised from these events will go to various organizations and causes like the Make A Wish Foundation (Delt Dive), United Way of Norman (Gamma Phi Beta), the Arthritis Foundation (Alpha Omicron Pi) and awareness for domestic violence (Alpha Chi Omega). The chapters will announce their grand totals as they receive their final checks and donations, but any amount is sure to help.

            Students came out in waves to enjoy barbecue, pies, chili and the company of their fellow students while giving their time and a small amount of money to causes that many find generous.

            “I love the chili cook-off so much because it’s a great and fun way for my sisters and I to bond with each other while supporting such a good and helpful cause,” said senior Gamma Phi Beta member Lindsay Malbec.

            Gamma Phi brought in the Oklahoma basketball team to judge the chili cook-off, a fun and favorite tradition that students anticipate each year.

            “The basketball team enjoys judging and being around the student body. One of my favorite parts of the chili cook-off is hanging out with the team,” said Malbec.

            The Alpha Omicron Pi barbecue gives money toward the Arthritis Foundation, and this year they had a miracle family attend the event. A miracle family is a family that has been affected by a disease and needs help. AOII graciously opened their house to a special family.

            “I thought the BBQ was a lot of fun! Between the live DJ and photo booth it’s hard to choose what I enjoyed the most, but I’d say meeting our miracle family because it was just and unforgettable experience,” said Sophomore AOII Shania Tari.

            “Have a Pie at Alpha Chi” brought together the fun of music and prizes with pies. There were all flavors of pies, chocolate, apple, cherry and many more. Along with the tasty treats, there were raffle drawings for prizes that attendees could win.

            There are more Greek philanthropies coming up. Go to http://www.ou.edu/content/studentlife/get_involved/fssl/panhellenic/calendar.html for more information.

University Up for College Media Award

BY CONNOR GALVIN

Over 2,000 are attending a college media convention in Philadelphia this year, including students from the University of Oklahoma’s Oklahoma Daily and Sooner Yearbook.

Seven students and their faculty advisor Judy Gibbs Robinson are attending the ACP/CMA Fall National College Media Convention from Oct. 29 to Nov. 2 at the Philadelphia Downtown Marriott.

The convention will have several different sessions, workshops and other events hosted by students and professors that attendees are encouraged to attend. It will also hold award ceremonies for different mediums of student-produced media.

The editor of the Oklahoma Daily, Blaykee Buchanan and Robinson will be leading different sessions at the conference. Robinson is hosting several workshops on news connecting with readers, and Buchanan is participating in a roundtable on the challenges of running a collegiate newspaper.

“One of the most exciting aspects of the conference for us is that Sooner is a finalist for the Pinnacle award,” said Nick Jungman, the Director of Student Media at OU.

The Associated Collegiate Press presents their Pinnacle award to the best quality work from university journalists. The Pinnacle award is thought of as a Pulitzer Prize for college Journalism.

The students will find out at the conference during the week if the Sooner Yearbook will win the Pinnacle award.

Halloween on campus

A local organization is holding its first free haunted house in celebration of Halloween on Wednesday evening on campus.

The event, Haunt the Union, is coordinated by the campus organization Union Programming Board. It will be held in the Oklahoma Memorial Union on the University of Oklahoma campus from 7 to 9 p.m. on Wednesday.

The haunted house is open to everyone and will take place in the Governors, Regents and Associates rooms located on the third floor of the Union.

Students will first meet at the Will Rogers Food Court as they wait in line and have different options such as play trivia, watch a scary movie, take pictures in the photo booth and eat free food.

The event is expected to be feature a variety of chilling surprises and dark thrills, according to UPB’s website.

“We want students to be unaware of what is to come,” said Alexandra Len, Haunt the Union director. “But it’s going to be pretty scary!”

The event was planned with the help of over 90 UPB members, along with the helpers for the day of the event. There are four core groups of staffers for Haunt the Union, such as design directors, Will Rogers directors, character development directors and promotion directors.

“This is UPB’s first year to ever have a haunted house, so don’t miss a once-in-a-lifetime experience of thrills and screams!” said Len.

For more information about Haunt the Union, visit Union Programming Board’s website at upb.ou.edu.

Helicopter tours, balloon launchers present at weather festival

Visitors can enjoy a free, family-oriented festival filled with fun events, activities and information at the Norman campus’ weather center on November 1 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. The National Weather Center will be hosting its 7th annual National Weather Festival on Saturday. The National Weather Festival will treat guest to activities suitable for all ages. Children will be able to watch balloons launched in the air every hour of the event alongside local television meteorologists. LEGO models and crafted robots will be on display and used as demonstration for the use of effects of weather. Professionals specializing in the field of weather and meteorology will be readily available to answer questions. Experts will set up booths throughout the weather center and deliver information on the subject of weather in Oklahoma, tornadoes and storms sheltering and prevention. The major local news stations from the Oklahoma City regional have agreed to show their helicopters at the festival. The choppers from KWTV, KOCO and KFOR will be available for touring. Guests will also be able to meet the pilots from each station and ask questions about the aircraft. The focus of the National Weather Festival is geared toward the education of weather and meteorology. The weather center displays real time forecasts of state, national and global areas by the use of mesonets, or weather monitoring stations that visually measures various climate conditions. This year, the Oklahoma Mesonet is celebrating their 20th anniversary of service at the National Weather Festival by delivering Mesonet-branded cookies and hot chocolate to patrons. The National Weather Festival netted a record-breaking 5,000 entries in 2013. Weather balloon launches and news station aircrafts were presented at the event as well as KFOR meteorologist Emily Sutton. The National Weather Center is located at the intersection of corner of Oklahoma State Highway 9 and Jenkins Avenue. Visitors will be able to turn on David L. Boren Boulevard to enter the parking lot.

Over 20 organizations to participate in Int’l Bazaar

Over 20 international student organizations at the University of Oklahoma will participate in this year’s International Bazaar, a marketplace that showcases various cultures across the world, on October 30.

The international bazaar will be held at the Oklahoma Memorial Union courtyard from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.

At the event, various international student organizations sell clothing, toys and accessories from their countries. Each organization also provides information on their countries. Music and snacks will also be presented. 

The event usually takes place on the South Oval. This year, the venue has been moved to the union.

The International Advisory Committee, that coordinates with international students, organizes this event, which is free. 

Day of the Dead Preview

BY KATE BERGUM

The public will be able to enjoy a Ferris wheel, food and festivity on the University of Oklahoma’s campus Friday.

The Day of the Dead Street Festival, hosted by OU Latino Student Life, will take place from 6 to 10 p.m. Oct. 31 in the Walker Adams Mall, according to the Latino Student Life web page.

At the event, students will be able to compete on an inflatable obstacle course, and watch dance, rap and band performances for free, said Daisy Ramirez, the chair of the festival. Attendees will also be able to decorate skulls made out of sugar at the event, which is a traditional Latino activity during the Day of the Dead.

“We want them to be entertained and have something to do and look at all times,” Ramirez said.

Additionally, attendees will be able to purchase food from OU Housing and Food’s taco truck and buy souvenirs such as T-shirts, Ramirez said.

If people plan to buy food or souvenirs at the event, they should bring cash, or an ATM will be available, according to the web page.

The festival is a vibrant way to promote Latino culture and celebrate the lives of those who have passed away, according to the web page. Attendees will be able to see traditions and cultural elements from various Latin American countries at the event, according to the web page.

The event will blend OU’s campus culture with Latino culture, Ramirez said.

Though she does not celebrate all aspects of the Day of the Dead, she said for some Latino people in the community, it is an important holiday.

OU’s Day of the Dead festival will give Latinos in the community an outlet to celebrate the holiday, Ramirez said.

“If I’m able to help them embrace their culture and their traditions, then I’ll gladly do it,” Ramirez said.

Everyone is welcome to attend the festival—not just OU students and staff, and not just people familiar with the Day of the Dead as a holiday, Ramirez said.

The event provides people who are not familiar with Latino culture or holidays the opportunity to contribute to the celebration, Ramirez said.

“Not only does it demonstrate a little bit about our culture, but it also lets people add onto it,” Ramirez said. “So, instead of it being exclusive, we want to incorporate everyone into our traditions and cultures.”

The festival is a one of several cultural events that Latino Student Life hosts throughout the year, according to the website.

Latino Student life will also sponsor Miss Hispanic OU Pageant and Latino Flavor of OU, where students can taste various foods, this spring, according to the web page.

People volunteer for the street festival by emailing Ramirez or signing up online by Wednesday, Ramirez said.  

Volunteers will receive free T-shirts for their help, Ramirez said.

For more information about the Day of the Dead Street Festival or Latino cultural events, visit the Latino Student Life web page. 

Meditation in the Museum

An art museum in Norman will hold a free, guided meditation session for all students of the University of Oklahoma Monday evening in a local museum gallery.

Meditation in the Museum is held on every Monday in October and that final session will be held on Monday, October 25 at 5:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m.

It will take place at Fred Jones Jr. Museum of Art, in the Sandy Bell Gallery located on the ground level of the museum.

The meditations are guided by Surya Pierce, a physician at OU’s Goddard Medical Center. Pierce also teaches at the Ashtanga Yoga Studio in Norman.

The meditation is meant to help students who aspire to release artistic tension, or to students who want to learn more about the practice of meditation.

“Meditation is a way of quieting the mind,” said Susan Baley, the director of education for Fred Jones Jr. Museum of Art. “Spending time being still can help students manage stress and enhance their powers of concentration and creativity.”

This event was inspired by Surya Pierce, who looked to meditation as a way to clear the mind in a similar way that artists purged their paintings of representational subject matter, according to the museum’s website.

It was planned in connection with the exhibition “Macrocosm/Microcosm: Abstract Expressionism in the American Southwest.”

For more information about Meditation in the Museum, contact Michael Bendure, the program assistant for the Fred Jones Jr. Museum of Art at mbendure@ou.edu.