OU Alumnus sheds light on gloomy job market

With unemployment reaching all time highs and full economic recovery still months away, many OU graduates are realizing how difficult it can be to find a job in their field of interest.

Many have turned to lower income part-time jobs like pizza delivery, which often times rely heavily on tips, to get by. But with local businesses suffering and tipping amounts down, this alternative is becoming increasingly difficult.

“While I have been getting interviews and looking into other job possibilities, going to graduate school has become more realistic,” says 2008 OU History graduate Chris Salius.

“Staying at a part-time job and continuing my education is about the best thing I can do at this point”.

Here is my interview with '08 graduate Chris Salius:

New DART Rail Green Line offers simple travel alternative for fans attending OU-Texas football game this year

Recent expansion projects of Dallas Area Rapid Transit rail lines to the Texas State Fairgrounds offer a safe and inexpensive travel opportunity for fans attending the OU-Texas football game this year.

The DART Green Line, which began offering service to many downtown areas like the State Fairgrounds on September 14th, charges only $1.75 for a single-fare ride and $4 for a day pass, according to the DART Web site.

Concerned with overpriced parking alternatives around the fairgrounds that can charge as much as $30 for a spot, OU junior and former Dallas resident Sean Kramer thinks the DART Green Line helps in a number of different ways.

"For one[reason], it will be nice to not have to pay for the expensive parking around Deep Ellum before the game. I also will be turning 21 a few weeks prior[to the game] and won't have to worry about drinking and driving when I am at the fair," says Kramer.

DART plans to offer extended service during high-profile events like the OU-Texas game on October 17th, using additional trains and more frequent times, according to the DART Web site.


*Photo taken by Cindy Hughes

Norman Regional Hospital braces for busy flu season

With the fall flu season arriving, Norman Regional Health System representative Brenda Finkle recommends students to get the flu and H1N1 flu shots when they are made available in October.

"The hospital began preparing for the flu season back in the spring by reviewing many of the policies on how suspected flu patients are diagnosed and making sure employees have proper protective equipment to wear," she said.

People under the age of 25 will be among the first targeted groups to receive the vaccine. Others include pregnant woman and high-risk patients with immune disorders, according to the CDC's Web site.

Finkle says college students should be careful and regularly wash their hands with soap and water or an alcohol-based sanitizer.

Students will have the opportunity to get a free seasonal flu shot October 7-8 and October 13-14 at the Goddard Health Center from 9am to 4pm, according to their Web site.

Registration drive raises awareness for the National Bone Marrow Registry

Members of the Oklahoma Blood Institute were set up at the OU-Idaho State football game this Saturday to raise awareness for an important national database helping to pair genetically similar people around the world.

With rain and wind bearing down on a crowded Gaylord Memorial Stadium, students and football fans alike had an opportunity to sign up for the National Bone Marrow Registry.

The program of more than 7.5 million individual listings gives desperate patients the chance to find their genetic match, according to the National Marrow Donor Program website.

If you were not able to attend the event or would like more information about the database go to http://www.marrow.org

OU School of International and Area Studies to host guest speaker this week

A Naval War College professor and author of highly regarded works on counter-insurgency will hold a public lecture at OU early this week.

The talk, titled "Reflections of a Pachyderm: A Life in Counterinsurgency", will be centered around Dr. John D. Waghelstein's work in the military as a commander in Central America and his experience in dealing with insurgents.

OU professor John T. Fishel says this is only the first of many lectures to be held here this semester as part of his presidential dream course Small Wars and Conflicts.

It will be held at 7 p.m. Tuesday in Nielson Hall Room 270 and is sponsored by the OU School of International and Area Studies.