Norman depot celebrates 100 years

The Santa Fe Depot will celebrate its centennial this week with a host of exhibitions and events. Sponsored by The Performing Art Studio’s Centennial Committee, the main events take place Wednesday, Thursday and Friday at the Depot on 200 S. Jones Ave.

Vintage train cars and railroad memorabilia will be on display and showings of “Depot Memories,” an oral history DVD, will be screened all three days. The Norman Community Choral Society will perform Thursday from 7 to 8:30 p.m. Friday’s festivities include a community lunch, performances from the Norman High School band and the Broadway Kids from The Studio of Sooner Theatre and remarks from city and state dignitaries.

All events are free and open to the public. Jones Avenue between Main and Eufaula Streets will be closed to vehicle traffic from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. Friday.

For more information and a full schedule of events, contact PAS at 307-9320 or visit thepas.org.

-Nicole Hill/Contributing Writer

Boren to speak at philanthropy event

The OU Women’s Philanthropy Network is hosting its inaugural symposium Thursday in the Oklahoma Memorial Union.

The symposium aims to encourage attendees to uncover how they can make a difference on campus and in their community. Those who attend will also hear stories about how philanthropic gifts have made a difference at the university by enriching academic life.

OU President David L. Boren will kick-off the event with a welcome speech at 10 a.m. At 10:30 a.m., OU women’s basketball coach Sherri Coale will present “Why I am a Philanthropist,” and explain her views on the importance of giving back to the community. Angela White will present the keynote address at 12:35 p.m.

Following White’s address, there will be two breakout sessions about OU women philanthropists and OU women of excellence. All are invited to attend. For more information, visit www.ou.edu/give/home/womensphilanthropy.html.

-Melissa Foy/Contributing Writer

Sooner Ally training begins Friday

The Women’s Outreach Center and Student Affairs will host the second annual Sooner Ally training from 1 to 5 p.m. Friday. Sooner Ally training is designed to teach participants about the needs of lesbian, gay, bi-sexual and transgender students and how to provide support. The four-hour session aims to address issues of homophobia and teach about campus resources available to the gay community. After completing training, participants can officially join the Sooner Ally program.

Registration is required and is limited to the first 20. Register by emailing woc@ou.edu or calling 325-4929.

-Kelsey Witten/Contributing Writer

Number Nyne seeking student employees

Number Nyne, a crisis hotline at the OU, is looking for students to help answer calls for next semester.

Students can earn up to three credit hours by enrolling for Number Nyne through courses in the psychology department.

Students should contact the educational psychology department at 325-5974 to get permission to enroll.

The experience is recommended to students who are majoring in psychology, social work or human relations.

Students will be trained to cope with concerns from callers, such as suicide and school issues.

Four weekend training sessions will be offered in January at the OU Counseling Psychology Clinic.

Students must reserve a seat by contacting Number Nyne Coordinator Julie Arcaroli at numbernyne@ou.edu.

For more information, contact Elizabeth McHenry at elizabethmchenry@ou.edu.

-Claire Brandon/Contributing Writer

New bus route serves west Norman

A new bus route will be implemented next week into Norman’s public transportation system, making it the first new route in more than 16 years.

Cleveland Area Rapid Transit will debut the new route, or the West Norman Link, Monday. The route is the first CART route to not originate on the OU campus.

The route will “link” with the Main Street bus at a few locations, with the main one being River Oaks Drive at Cotswold Drive north of Sooner Mall.

It will provide access to 36th Avenue N.W., Tecumseh Road and 24th Avenue N.W., featuring stops at the Norman Regional HealthPlex, Embassy Suites Hotel and Conference Center, University Northpark, Brookhaven Village and many residential areas along the route.

Those who ride the first day receive a free “Get Linked” T-shirt. CART will also not be charging any fares that day to celebrate the new route.

The West Norman Link will fit into CART’s regular hours of operation, which are 7 a.m. to 9 p.m., Monday through Friday, and 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Saturday. Bus fare is 25 cents for seniors, those with disabilities and those six to 17 years of age. Children under six ride free and all others pay 50 cents.

For more information, contact CART at 325-CART or visit www.RideCART.com.

-Clark Foy/The Daily

UOSA to end tailgate activities

UOSA will not host a tailgate prior to the Bedlam game Saturday, Nov. 28.

UOSA Student Congress Chairman John Jennings told members of the Undergraduate Student Congress Tuesday that the event at the OU-Texas A&M football game was the last UOSA Tailgate of the football season.

“I want to thank everyone who helped out with the tailgate,” Jennings said Tuesday. “This was a great event for the student body, and we should be proud of what we accomplished.”

Film incentives paying off for Oklahoma

The recent in-state filming of the movie “The Killer Inside Me” is providing an economic boost to Oklahoma, a recent legislative study stated.

The movie, made in Oklahoma last summer and starring Jessica Alba, Casey Affleck and Kate Hudson, gives Oklahoma a projected $43 million for fiscal year 2010, State Rep. John Wright, R-Broken Arrow stated in a press release.

“Apparently, the incentives are really beginning to bear fruit in our local economy,” Wright stated. “The true test of any incentive program is the return on investment. It appears the film incentive program has been money well spent.”

Since 2005, officials estimate film productions in Oklahoma have provided a combined economic impact of more than $135 million, Wright stated.

“Because of the current budget climate, we must carefully review all existing tax incentive programs to ensure working families’ tax dollars are not needlessly wasted,” Wright stated.

He also stated many small towns in Oklahoma received an economic boost during production of the movie.

Henry considers special session in January

Gov. Brad Henry is considering a possible special session of the Oklahoma legislature pending the outcome of a revenue report.

Henry stated his decision in a press release to call for a special session depends upon the findings of a December report that will make the first revenue estimates for the upcoming fiscal year and review current year revenue projections.

“To respond to this crisis in the most effective manner possible, we need the experts to conduct a new review of the current economic conditions, crunch the latest revenue numbers and develop an updated, more accurate revenue forecast as quickly as possible,” Henry stated. “We must have a more reliable fiscal road map in our hands to make the many difficult decisions required to protect core services and balance the budget.”

-Ricky Maranon/The Daily