College of Law presents Diversity Day

The OU College of Law will host its annual Diversity Day Friday for high school and college students interested in a future law career.

The event, which begins at 11 a.m. in Coats Hall, is geared toward prospective students from ethnic minority backgrounds, but any student interested in learning more about law school may attend, said Stanley Evans, associate dean of the OU College of Law.

“The purpose is really to expose students to the fact that they can be lawyers, the fact that they can be law students and then how to get into law school,” said Evans, who will be leading a seminar on financial aid.

The day’s agenda includes informational seminars about the Law School Admission Test, the College of Law application process, financial aid and smaller sessions that focus on the needs, challenges and representation of certain minorities in law professions.

Students will also attend a mock law school class, tour the College of Law and hear a panel discussion from current OU law students, Evans said.

Diversity Day is free to all students who attend, but those who want to pre-register may do so at jay.law.ou.edu/diversityday or register at the door at 10:30 a.m. Friday.

— Renee Selanders/The Daily

American Indian Month starts with a bang

More than 50 American Indian students gathered on the South Oval Wednesday to celebrate the beginning of American Indian Heritage Month.

American Indian students have a rich history on campus and the event was designed to raise awareness of that history, said Oliver Plumley, music composition sophomore.

Sigma Nu Alpha Gamma, an American Indian fraternity founded to increase and raise awareness of retention rates among American Indian men, participated in Wednesday’s event to spread their message, said sociology junior Wes Wilson, a member of the fraternity.

Not many American Indian men attend college and of those who do, even less graduate, said Plumley, Sigma Nu Alpha Gamma member.

The fraternity tries to find new students who are going through the same unique transition as other members to promote retention, Plumley said.

“We don’t want people to get to the university and stop, we want all of our brothers to move onto something bigger and better,” Wilson said.

— Lauren Stalford/The Daily

Senior to receive Carl Albert Award

John Greenert, psychology senior, will receive the 2009 Carl Albert Award, which is presented annually to an outstanding senior in the College of Arts and Sciences, according to a press release.

Greenert will graduate summa cum laude from OU’s Joe C. and Carole Kerr McClendon Honors College with a 3.98 grade-point average and plans to become a physician after graduation.

The award ceremony will take place today in the Sandy Bell Gallery of the Fred Jones Jr. Museum of Art.

— Lauren Stalford/The Daily