Taking flight with Brandon Rainbolt

While walking down the stuffy halls of Bizzell Library, it was no surprise that I saw Brandon Rainbolt typing away at his computer. He is hard at work trying to finish his expository writing paper that is due a week earlier then the rest of his classmates. Why? He will be high in the Rocky Mountains competing against some of the best athletes in America on the day it's actually due. Brandon is a semi-profesional snowboarder who often has to be away from class for a full week in order to train and prepare for his competitions. "I am in my room studying consistently for a class just to try to keep up and not fall behind," he said. He admits he struggled at first, but is now learning to effectively balance the two and become successful at both. However, he will soon have to make a decision of whether or not to pursue snowboarding as a career and leave school. 
Things are looking up for Brandon on the slopes making this decision even tougher. He competed at the X-Games Railjam, will be competing at nationals and is looking to sign with several sponsors. "I am basically basing the rest of my college life off of the next couple months of snowboarding," Rainbolt said. 
Ian Hammond, one of Rainbolt's closest friends and pledge brother will support him no matter what the outcome of his decision is. “I just want him to do whatever makes him happy, ultimately in life you have to do whatever makes you happy,” Hammond said.

(VIDEO: Chris Corbaz 1:26)

Internet surveillance on the rise

Chris Soghoian (far right) talks about Internet Privacy with students Tuesday. PHOTO: Chris Corbaz

Addressing an auditorium full of students at Gaylord Hall on Tuesday, technologist Chris Soghoian warned students about the increasing surveillance being done by companies through the Internet.

Soghoian, who was recently called “the most prominent of a new breed of activist technology researcher,” by The Economist magazine, shed light on how companies are intruding on its users.

“Companies to whom we entrust our private data, the Googles, the Facebooks; all of these companies are legally required by law to provide surveillance systems to the government,” explained Soghoian.

Many people are not aware that surveillance is being done on a massive scale. Companies do not advertise this feature in their service, so essentially consumers are unaware of the privacy intrusion that can be done.

However, it is not just these companies that have the potential to gain access into your personal life.

“The government also gets to come along for the ride too. So I really wanted to get information about this and expose it,” said Soghoian.

Mary Clancy, a freshman pre communication disorders major at OU, was not aware of this surveillance. “I was surprised by how much access others have to what I would have previously considered private and protected,” said Clancy.

She added that she will be more careful about what she posts online from now on.

 Soghoian was brought in as a part of the Future of Privacy in a Socially Networked World put on by Gaylord College.

SGA president sees bright future for OU students

Student Government Association President Joe Sangirardi announced that OU is heading in the right direction at the annual State of the SGA address Wednesday in Beaird Lounge.

Addressing a small crowd of OU students, Sangirardi reflected upon some of SGA’s accomplishments upon the past year and shed some light on what he expects within the coming years.

 “I think SGA is moving into a great place. We need to continue to reorganize the institutions we have in place so they can better work in a modern place with a modern bureaucracy,” Sangirardi said.

OU sophomore and SGA representative from the life science district, Ozair Naqvi, was pleased with the address and praised the advancements SGA has made over the past year.

“One thing I really like is how he explained the cooperation between all three branches this year. It’s been unprecedented in our student government history and has allowed us to get a lot of things done on behalf of students,” Naqvi said.

Sangirardi, who has been president since last May and is entering his last month in office, offered his advice for SGA.

“If we can continually create a culture that strives for leadership development internally, that will allow in the future for student government to be much for effectual because the people who are involved in it, will be prepared going in,” Sangirardi said.

For more information on SGA and how to apply for a position within student government, visit uosa.ou.edu.

SGA President Joe Sangirardi addresses students Wednseday at Beaird Lounge. PHOTO: Chris Corbaz

Stub Hub. PHOTO: Chris Corbaz

The Gold Standard. PHOTO: Chris Corbaz

Colonel predicts war with Iran

Two dozen students and professors from the College of International Studies were present at a luncheon Wednesday, to hear Colonel Lawrence Wilkerson’s warning about a possible war with Iran.

Wilkerson is a retired army colonel and is the former chief of staff to United States Secretary of State Colin Powell. Wilkerson, who now teaches at the College of William & Mary and George Washington, had a stern warning for the American people.

“We are going to war. The president has said it is unacceptable that Iran has nuclear capability. He has said all options are available, that includes the military action,” Wilkerson said.

Wilkerson encourages politicians in Washington to negotiate with Iran strictly through diplomacy, to avoid another Iraq or Afghanistan. However, he fears that if negotiations over Iran’s nuclear program don’t work, it will lead to a ground invasion within the next five years.

 “Any regime in Iran even if it looks like Thomas Jefferson reincarnated is going to want a nuclear program. So we invade, in 10- to 13-years, 2- to 3-trillion dollars and no better results than in Iraq or Afghanistan,” said Wilkerson.

Despite this foresight Wilkerson believes diplomacy will not help attain the necessary results to prevent another Middle East conflict. Richard White, an international security studies senior says he agrees with Wilkerson despite his warnings of war.

“There is a lot to think about it. When people come in from the government they say party line stuff and we didn't get that from Colonel Wilkerson,” White said.

The Colonel did give one final word before the luncheon concluded. “If you loved Iraq, you’re going to love Iran,” he said with a smirk on his face.

For more information about this event you can contact KGOU or the College of International Studies at Hester Hall.