Students use class for motivation and inspiration during trouble time.

Norman-The challenges of college often take its toll on students. Students who don’t maintain or achieve a 2.0 grade point average are given the opportunity to continue with trying to achieve their educational goals. Students at the University of Oklahoma who don’t maintain or achieve the minimum GPA are placed in Strategies for Success, a class offered by University College. Jennifer Dye, a former student at OU took the class last semester. “The class wasn’t hard, it was everything that was hard,” Dye said. “Everyone’s going through something different. People are in school so it affects how they work and how well they do,” Dye continued.” Strategies is nice because it encourages you and makes you think why you’re there,” Dye said.
Strategies for Success is offered in both the fall and spring semesters. Each student in the class differentiates why they’re there. Dr. Lisa Portwood, the instructor and creator of the class said “There are 400 students in Strategies, and that’s 400 different stories of why they didn’t do so well the previous semester.” Despite her academic mishap in school, Dye is determined to return to OU and graduate. Dye believes Strategies helped her find her motivation to obtain a teaching degree.

Community Comes Together To Share and Learn Language

NORMAN--Seated in an informal circle Davetta Geimausaddle listens to Dane Poolaw as he leads the group in a lesson on conversational Kiowa. Davetta is one of several Kiowa language students who attends a weekly community class devoted to learning the Kiowa language. Leading the class is Dane Poolaw and Carole Willis, both are Kiowa language instructors in the Anthropology department at the University of Oklahoma. The class meets at the historic Jacobsen House on the corner of Chautauqua and Boyd. The class is surrounded by the infamous artwork of the Kiowa Five artists. The class is free and open to anyone interested in learning the Kiowa language.

Motivation inspires the desire to get a college degree

NORMAN-For some, reasons to go to school vary. For some students, their parents are the driving factor and reason to attend and graduate college. Other students have different reasons to attend and graduate with a degree. American Indians are the most to state that getting a degree builds a relationship with their community, family, tribe, or other support group to attend and graduate college. Sarah Kernell, a nurse at the Indian Health Clinic in Oklahoma City said "Yeah, graduating from college was something I wanted to do and to give back to my community." Kernell, is an American Indian from the Muscogee (Creek) Nation. Kernell is active at both the Norman First American Methodist Church and her tribal community of Hillabee, near Hanna, OK. Many American Indian students in college see the chance of getting their degree and going back to help their tribe or community.

Kiowa Instructor

With the University of Oklahoma facing budget cuts in all of the departments and programs, Kiowa instructor Dane Poolaw has little doubt that his position and other Native Language teaching positions and classes will be cut for the upcoming academic year.

Ole Pub builds strong relationship with college students

Norman, OK- Every college town has one; a favorite bar and grill or “Pub” that every student visits sometime during their college years. Norman has several but one that sticks out amongs the rest is O’Connell’s Pub and Grill. Known for it’s green beer on St. Patrick’s Day and over-capacity limits on a Friday or Saturday night, O’Connell’s is frequented by almost every student at the University of Oklahoma.
With two locations in Norman, O’Connell’s has no problem building its relationship with the patrons at OU. “O’Connell’s build its relationship with students by showing them a good time,” said a waitress at O’Connell’s who wanted to remain anonymous. “Cheap beer, warm burgers, and an OU discount as a way to draw them in,” she continued. “It’s a place to relax, have fun, and forget about school,” she added.
With one prime location on historic Campus Corner and another at the intersection of Lindsey and Jenkins, O’Connell’s is a place that many students have created new relationships and continue with old ones.

Jacobson House builds relationship with American Indian Community

NORMAN, OK- Famous for once being the home of Oscar Jacobsen, a European artists who brought the works of the famous “Kiowa Five Artists” and other southwestern art into the spotlight, the Jacobson House is a link to the American Indian community in Norman. Hanging on the walls are the famous paintings by “the Kiowa Five” and other artists the Jacobson House helps bring American Indians together for community support and involvement. The spring 2010 semester has the house being used on Sundays by the Norman First American Methodist Church in conjunction with their Campus Ministries meal and gathering. Reverend Glen “Chebon” Kernell, Jr. says, “The Jacobson House lets us use the facilities to hold our meetings and provide a venue for us.” Kernell continues, “It allows a person to come see what the Jacobson House stands for, the artwork that is held here, the artists, special shows. It really is just provides a service to the community.” The Jacobson House is located at 609 Chautauqua on the northwest corner of the University of Oklahoma campus. The executive director is Kricket Connywerdy, a Kiowa-Caddo American Indian. The house has Indian taco sales on Tuesday and this semester has introduced a Kiowa community language class on Thursday nights.

NASPA conference draws large crowd despite economy

Chicago, IL- Student affairs officials from across the United States and some from Canada meet in "Chi-town" for the National Association of Student Personnel Administrators annual conference held on March 7-10. The conference brought together an unexpected large crowd as over 4800 registered guests gathered at the Shertaon and Marriott hotels in downtown Chicago. At the opening session on Sunday, Planning Chairman Lori S. White said "We anticipated around 2800 participants for this conference. As of today we have over 4800 registered participants." White continued "We have over 600 programs submitted for the program." The large party of student officials arranged from undergraduate students interested in pursuing a career in student affairs to vice presidents and deans of students interested in learning about ways they can help support, foster, and aide their student body.
This conference was valuable as student affair workers came together to learn and develope their ability to affectively serve their students. Mike Segawa, President of NASPA and from the University of Pugent spoke how valuable this conference is in it's relationship of student affairs officials and the students they serve "In a digital age with emails, facebook, and twitter, nothing can get rid of this. Face to face interviewing and networking."
Featured speakers and programs included former Secretary of State Condoleeza Rice, Under Secretary of Education Martha Kanter, and Sister Helen Prejean, a well known advocate for the abolition of the death penalty.