Published: October 08, 2006 12:00 am            

OU roundup

Planner to discuss future housing development

Arthur "Chris" Nelson, director and professor of urban affairs and planning at Virginia Tech's Alexandria Center, will discuss "Planning Leadership in the New Era" 3 p.m. Monday at 213B Hester Hall, 729 Elm Ave. The lecture is sponsored by the College of Arts and Sciences' Department of Economics and is free and open to the public.

"During the next generation, planners may have an unprecedented opportunity to reshape America's built landscape," Nelson said in a release.

Nelson's research indicates that a population growth of approximately 67 million will occur between the years 2000 and 2025, bringing the total population to roughly 349 million. However, in 2025, Nelson says only a fourth of all households will have children and they will account for just one-eighth of the net change in total household growth.



Bizzell exhibit featured at OU

William Bennett Bizzell, the University of Oklahoma's fifth president from l925 to 1941, is the subject of a special exhibit being featured at the Western History Collections of the university libraries in Monnet Hall, 630 Parrington Oval.

The exhibit, which continues throughout October, includes letters, a program from the inauguration ceremonies for Bizzell, a wooden scrapbook from the President's Honor Class of 1940 that contains inscriptions to Bizzell from members of the class of l940, a congratulatory telegram on the university's new library building from U.S. President Herbert Hoover in l930, and a program for the dedication of the William Bennett Bizzell Memorial Library in l949. The papers were donated to OU by Judge Ralph Thompson of Oklahoma City, who is William B. Bizzell's grandson.



Civil liberties advocate to speak

Rep. Neal Kurk of New Hampshire will speak about the Real ID Act, a piece of legislation he argues leads to the creation of a National ID Card and infringes on the liberty of all citizens.

The event is 7 p.m. Oct. 18 in room 112 of Dale Hall. The event at both campuses is sponsored by the Jeffersonian Society, a student-led organization designed to motivate students to action about current events while placing those issues in a historical perspective.

Kurk became nationally known during his four-minute floor speech supporting legislation to prevent New Hampshire from participating in the national driver's license system created by the Real ID Act. The legislation passed overwhelmingly in the General Assembly, but failed by a narrow margin in the state Senate after political pressure from Washington.



OU launches faculty lecture series

The University of Oklahoma launched a new initiative this year designed to enhance academic programming outside the traditional classroom environment. According to a release, this will allow faculty members to meet with students to discuss topics of current local, national and international significance in an informal, interactive setting. ???

"Extending intellectual stimulation beyond classroom walls will have a strong positive impact on our university community," said OU President David Boren. "The diverse areas of expertise of our faculty will be of significant interest to our student groups and our students will greatly benefit from interacting with our faculty in an informal setting." ??

The university hopes to offer more than 200 programs each academic year for students in the residence halls and within the Greek community. The Office of Academic Outreach, under the direction of Les Risser, will serve as the contact to schedule all faculty presentations and make the appropriate arrangements.

-- Transcript Staff

        

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