President David Boren talks Budget

April 30th, Norman

University of Oklahoma President David Boren talking about next year's finances.  PHOTO: Michael Runyan

     University of Oklahoma President David Boren talked to students and faculty Monday about the challenges facing the university in the coming fiscal year.  The biggest one, according to Boren, is almost 9 million dollar increase in fixed costs, such as facility maintenance, healthcare, and utilities.

     Boren said that the last time Governor Mary Fallin and he talked, he was told that the state budget for higher education would be a flat one.  "But really," Boren said "A flat budget is a cut, because where am I supposed to get the money?"

According to a graph provided for the lecture, the percentage of the University of Oklahoma's budget paid for by the state has dropped from around 40 percent in 1980 to less than 20 percent in 2012.  Small increases in other funds helped make up some of the gap, but most of it was transferred directly into student fees and tuition, which has grown to around 28 percent of the 2012 budget.

James Yang, a concerned international student.  PHOTO: Michael Runayn

James Yang, a international graduate student, said that he was really concerned that Boren would cut the College of Education's funding.  "Personally I'm suffering financial problems, because in the college of Education, the final problem gets worse and worse now.  You know, lots of doctorate students worry about funding source."  He went on to say that in previous years, many of the doctorate students got GA teaching jobs to help offset the costs, but that was no longer the case really.

Boren said he could not be definite on what the State of Oklahoma's budget would be, as it has not yet been made. Therefore Boren was not certain whether he would have to raise fees or let faculty go. However, he said he will stay in touch with students during the process.  He also urged students to e-mail their representative, and have family and friend do the same to tell them how important education is for the future of the state.

Oklahoma City Festival of the Arts- Saturday

April 28th, Oklahoma City

A piece of art at the Oklahoma City Festival of the Arts.  Photo: Michael Runyan

A piece of art titled "Top."  Photo:  Michael Runyan

     Thousands gathered in Saturday in Oklahoma City's Myriad Gardens to enjoy and sell art of all kinds in the annual Oklahoma City Festival of the Arts. 

     The festival this year contains over 500 visual artists and 300 entertainers.  The projected attendance for the event is 750,000 people.  Real numbers are not yet available, since as of press time the festival is still going on.

     The  event has been held annually for more than 40 year.   It currently resides in the newly renovated Myriad gardens, but didn't always do so.  Tim Rhodes, an University of Oklahoma alumni, said the festival started out on the west lawn of city hall, about a half block square of area. Eventually, it moved to the Myriad Gardens, with an area of about four blocks.

Darby Perrin has painted aviation art for about 30 years and has displayed his art at many other festivals, but this is his first time appearing at the Oklahoma Festival of The Arts.  "It's a nice setup and everything, (but) sales are iffy." he said.  He elaborated that he had not sold any originals, but had seen several of his prints go by and would know how many of those had sold at the end of the day.  The prints are sold in a separate booth at the festival.

Monday April 30th, the Arts council will present "Art moves," as part of Arts Day at the Capitol.

How to make a reel

University of Oklahoma Professor Kyle Bergersen.  Photo: Michael Runyan

Norman, April 25th


    Kyle Bergersen talked to students at a meeting of the Oklahoma College Broadcaster’s Club about the do's and dont's of reel-making Wednesday night in Gaylord Hall.  The talk, which lasted about 30 minutes, consisted of 2/3's lecture, along with a few sample reels.

     A reel is a video of short clips demonstrating one’s own work.  The kind of clips vary by the desired job.  Also, reels are not only limited to broadcast, but are also popular in demonstrating film and animation skills, among other things.

     Students seemed to enjoy the talk and accompanying video.  Cailey Dougherty, the groups president for the upcoming year, said "It was really interesting.  I think I would probably want to take one of his classes in the future."

    Bergersen said that the main thing to remember when creating a reel was that "most of the people who will be watching the reel will only watch enough to make up their minds."  This time is usually 30 seconds or less, so it is critical to put the best work in the front of the reel.

     The Meeting was the last one of the semester for the OCB club.  They may be reached via their facebook page.

RUF/NEKS smoker

The RUF/NEKS smoker.  PHOTO: Michael Runyan

A close up of the sign.  PHOTO: Michael Runyan

     Friday the University of Oklahohoma RUF/NEKS held their annual smoker, an event during which they and their sister organization, the LIL' SIS's, recruit new members.  The smoker is usually a barbeque as well, but not this year.  RUF/NEKS President Bobby Nash. said that issues with getting organized forced that part to be dropped.

     The all-male spirit squad of 11 was seeking five additional members for it's 2012-2013 run, despite the fact that it was raining.  The group has been active at OU for 96 years.

      Nash said that the name RUF/NEKS originates from the time when former some varsity football players appeared at a basketball game and "they were being really rowdy, an elderly woman just yelled at them and refereed to them as a bunch of rufneks." After that, the name stuck.

     When asked what it was like to be a lil' Sis, Cassandra Nguyen talked about riding in the front of the Sooner Schooner.  "It's just like  you're going through this  roller coaster in a way.  It's like more fun than a roller coaster."

     Next for the RUF/NEKS is the OU spring football game.  For more information about them, click here.

Medival fair

Medieval fair: Saturday

     In this short video, we see a few of the sights and sounds of the Norman Medieval Fair.  Included in this video is some great music and people.  The video was taken Saturday March 31, 2012.

VIDEO: by Michael Runyan.  Runs 1:04


     Norman played host to thousands of people this last weekend as the Medieval Fair visited town.  Many a lord and lady came and partook of the music, food, and sights contained by Reaves Park.
 
      Held annually since 1977, the Medieval fair has been a staple in the Norman community for quite some time.  Last year's fair drew a estimated 300,000people.

    Over its history the Medieval fair has expanded several times and moved a couple of time.  For the first couple years, the event was held on the south oval and lasted a single day.  After that, the event was moved to the beside the duck pond and another day was added.  In 1993 the event expanded to 3 days to accommodate student participation.  Finally, in 2003, the Medieval Fair moved a couple of blocks over to Reaves Park, where it currently resides.

           Dante Threatt, who came for his third year to the fair said that he brings his family to the Medieval becuase he feels it is good for his kids, and that at the fair they got to see things that they normally would not have gotten to see, including swords, blacksmiths, and jousting.  "It's just a very cool kind of place.  Very family oriented."

     Next up for the City of Norman is the Norman Music Festival April 26-28.  More information about the music festival can be found here.

     Here is an interview with the resident Norman Troll, as a reward for reading all the way to the bottom of this page.

VIDEO: by Michael Runyan. Runs 1:04