27 February 2023

Law School Dean forcibly charters religious group, p. 3

Real Madrid making comeback, p. 2

J.K. Rowling defense seems weak, p. 4

Springsteen comes to Tulsa, p. 6

Law School updates inclusivity stance, p. 7

Professional Ghanaian soccer player found dead in Turkey

Sports writer Maddy Cox discusses the earthquake in Turkey that led to Christian Atsu’s death.

Atsu formerly played as a forward for well known Premier League clubs like Newcastle United and Chelsea. He began playing for the Turkish club Hatayspor in September of 2022, and continued up until the time of his death. During his Hatayspor contract, Atsu played in three games, as well as playing one game in the Turkish Cup. In fact, Atsu scored the winning goal for his team in a game that took place just a single day before the tragic earthquake that led to his demise.

tive role in charity work. He was an ambassador for the organization Arms Around the Child, a global charity that aims to create a safer environment for children.

Since his death, Atsu has received praise from many on social media. Tweets expressing condolences and speaking highly of Atsu’s life have been made by the Premier League, Hatayspor, the Ghana Football Association and even Nana Akufo-Addo, the president of Ghana. The day Atsu was pronounced dead, Akufo-Addo shared a photo

A magnitude 7.8 earthquake occurred on Feb. 6, 2023 near the Turkey and Syria border. This natural disaster greatly affected many southern cities of Turkey, like Antakya. The earthquake caused widespread damage, displacing more than two million people. A large winter storm made its way

into Turkey following the earthquake. This widely increased the difficulty for rescuers to search for those who were lost under the ruins of the earthquake. Over 45,000 people, including Ghanaian professional soccer player Christian Atsu, have been declared as dead.

At the time of his death, 31-year-old Christian Atsu was last known to be in his home in Antakya, Turkey — a 12 story apartment building. Atsu was missing after the earthquake, leaving many to fear that he was lost under the earthquake’s destruction. Early initial reports stated he was found alive, but it was later determined that was not the case. His body was finally discovered days later under the rubble of his collapsed building on the morning of Feb. 18, as announced by his agent Nana Sechere on Twitter. He was then pronounced dead to the public by news outlets that same morning.

Christian Atsu was more than just a soccer player. Throughout his 31 years of life, Atsu was a son, a twin brother, a husband and a loving father to three children. Atsu was respected by many as he played an ac-

of Atsu on his official Twitter sharing that he will be “sorely missed.”

Atsu was also honored on Feb. 18 at a Newcastle United game where his wife and children were in attendance. After a minute of silence from Newcastle before their match against Liverpool, Atsu’s family was moved to tears. The Premier League further honored his life at following games with more moments of silence, as well as a minute of applause.

On Feb. 20, two days after he was pronounced dead, Christian Atsu’s body was flown to his hometown of Accra, Ghana, so that he could be laid to peace by his family.

Real Madrid’s comeback against Liverpool to win 5-2

Sports writer Ryan Shumaker recapitulates the matchup between the two teams during knockout stages.

For the neutral, last week’s Champions League round of 16 match between Liverpool and Real Madrid was a spectacular watch. It was a clash between two of Europe’s grandest football institutions and a rematch of last year’s Champions League final that produced magnificent goals and shocking errors in one of Europe’s vintage atmospheres. From a Real Madrid perspective, these elements combined to deliver an emphatic reaffirmation of the club’s eternal indomitability. As for the view through the Red Lens of the Kopp and its faithful, every demonstration of Madrid’s shimmering brilliance magnified the broken areas of this Liverpool team that less than 12 months ago was on the verge of total footballing conquest. Neither side is having an ideal domestic campaign. Real Madrid are eight points adrift of their rivals Barcelona at the top of La Liga while Liverpool sits eighth in the Premier League. Alarming though it may sound, these are two clubs who have built the foundation of their history on rising to the occasion in Europe’s elite competition. Of the six times Real Madrid has been crowned champions of Europe in the 21st century, they were only simultaneously Spanish Champions twice. In Liverpool’s case, they lifted the European Cup in Istanbul after only managing to finish fifth in England in the 2004-05 season and have made it to the Champions League Final three times since 2018 — including their sixth title in 2019 — in seasons where they failed to win the Premier League. All that is

to say, domestic struggle has rarely been a reliable indication of how these clubs will perform on a European night.

Whatever concerns Liverpool fans may have held coming in about their poor season or the fact that it was Real Madrid coming to visit, it was impossible not to feel some sense of raw belief as You’ll Never Walk Alone rang out around Anfield just before the teams made their way onto the pitch. After all, Liverpool was coming off two consecutive wins in the league and the spine of this team is comprised of many of the same names who overcame the impossible odds against Barcelona to reach the final in 2019 and thrashed so many other of Europe’s giants on nights just like this. Sure enough, it took less than four minutes for that faith to be rewarded. An incisive pass from Mo Salah found the end of a clever run from Darwin Nunez who gave Liverpool the lead with the most graceful of flicks past Thibaut Courtois. Anfield was alive and while Real Madrid looked pedestrian, Klopp’s men were pressing at full pelt. Ten minutes after going 1-0 down, a mistake from Courtois gifted Salah a chance he was never going to miss. 15 minutes in, Liverpool were 2-0 ahead and overwhelming the Spanish giants who have been the Reds’ bane in Europe for the last five years.

However, as the story of Real Madrid’s 2022 campaign demonstrates, the European champions had Liverpool right where they wanted them. In the 21st minute out of nowhere Vinicius Junior hit a venomous curler past a hopelessly diving Alisson. The equal-

izer came 15 minutes later in the form of a dreadful mistake by Alisson which saw a pass of his rebound off Vinicius into the Liverpool net. There was no sense that Madrid had seized control of the game, but as though it were a law of nature, Los Blancos went ahead five minutes into the second half by way of an uncontested Militao header. To come back against Chelsea, PSG and City at home was one thing, but this time Real Madrid had overturned a 2-0 deficit at one of Europe’s great fortresses on a night when Jurgen Klopp’s Liverpool seemed to have found their old spark.

Though the Kopp end sang on with unwavering fervor, the game’s final 40 minutes saw the cogs in Jurgen Klopp’s once unstoppable machine turn ever more slowly

while Madrid’s 37-year-old midfield maestro Modric put on a show which earned the applause of Liverpool fans at the final whistle. It was a brace from the Balon d’or winner Benzema that put real three goals to the good, turning a steep climb back for Liverpool into a surely unreachable summit as they will have to win by four at the Bernabeu on March 15th.

There’s a line in Real Madrid’s club anthem which says, “no one can resist your desire to win.” And when it comes to the Champions League knockout stages, that lyric describes a law of nature which is rarely defied.

“Christian Atsu was more than just a soccer player.”

Courtesy @ChristianAtsu20 on Twitter

Courtesy @ChristianAtsu20 on Twitter

Bard, Google’s competition to ChatGPT, fails to meet demands

The new AI service has been documented sharing incorrect information and pictures.

Alex Soeder Student Writer

Google’s recent introduction of the “ChatGPT Killer” Bard, an AI service nearly identical to ChatGPT, was seen failing in a test of capability. On Monday, Feb. 6, Google revealed this service, and in its first public test, Bard was shown giving an incorrect answer to the question presented.

When asked to display discoveries from the James Webb space telescope, Bard provided pictures and information that was not correct, displaying pictures that were from the JWST, while falsely proclaiming that the JWST was the first telescope to provide pictures of a planet outside of our solar system.

AI systems such as Bard and ChatGPT, while similar to what can be perceived as Artificial Intelligence, are simply architectural word systems that sift through enormous volumes of data and information, creating sentences and words based on a percentage system. This percentage system strings

words together based off of the percentage that the words make sense in a coherent system. Google’s Bard and OpenAIs ChatGPT are far from Artificial Intelligence. These systems simply string words together by forming sentences through volumes of data, each system is not individually thinking, it is confined to the rails of volume without being capable of thought outside of interaction with people using the system.

Developments in potential with these systems has brought further issues into the limelight. Across the country, students are utilizing these services and completing simple homework assignments or even getting assistance on exams. The future of these services is questionable at best, and with systems getting advancements fairly quickly it remains to be seen how this will impact universities.

Google’s Bard requires beta-testing, with only a select percentage of users who apply are allowed to use this service, while ChatGPT is open to public use, with creation of an account. A large language model (LLM) like Bard has been nicknamed the “ChatGPT killer,” but with limitations to accessibility and accuracy, as well as a first release statement that was inherently false,

Google’s Bard has started the “AI race” half a lap behind. No other mainstream LLM system is similar to either Bard, ChatGPT or Bing’s chatbot “Sydney,” which is similar to both systems, but Microsoft has been alleged to be testing Sydney roughly six years ago, with its first public usage in 2021. With chatbots moving to mobile phones, and accessible from nearly anywhere, the ability to do busy work, minor assignments or even have these systems write entire essays for students has become more accessible than ever, and professors are strug-

gling to differentiate between LLM written assignments and human written works.

New systems are being released to catch up with this new wave of LLM’s, such as GPTZero and OpenAI. Both systems give a graded number for the probability that a sentence, paragraph or form of words was created by an AI. Professors can utilize these services, and “catch” these AI systems in the act. With services such as OpenAI and GPTZero, worries about students cheating, or completing homework without doing any of the actual work, can be culled.

Dean Griffin overrides Christian Legal Society charter rejection

Student Bar Association (SBA) Delegates

Morgan Hinds and Eugene Flynn attempted to charter a local chapter of the Christian Legal Society (CLS) on Nov. 13, 2022. This was cause for much debate because of a required “Statement of Faith” from every member in the society and the “Community Life Statement,” this one required only of officers, according to the Christian Legal Society website. These stipulations were incorporated from the national CLS chapter.

The national CLS chapter appears to have the ability to remove local members at their discretion according to the Christian Legal Society website, which states, “Any CLS member may be suspended or expelled from membership… for unrepentant conduct or active support of a position that undermines the CLS Statement of Faith or Community Life Statement.” On the website, part of their Community Life Statement reads, “We renounce unbiblical behaviors, including deception, malicious speech, drunkenness, drug abuse, stealing, cheating, and other immoral conduct such as using pornography and engaging in sexual relations other than within a marriage between one man and one woman.”

SBA members inquired if LGBTQ+ identity conflicted with being a member of CLS, to which Hinds and Flynn were unsure. The uncertainty caused SBA to defer to their constitution’s anti-discrimination clause, which was amended on Sept. 14, 2022 to broaden its scope and mirror TU’s schoolwide DEI (Diversity, Equity and Inclusion) policy. SBA ultimately decided to table the discussion until the inconsistency could be resolved. Hinds and Flynn declared they would investigate the Community Life Statement and remove the discriminatory language from the charter before they re-proposed in the spring semester.

The CLS board refused to permit changes to the charter. Flynn decided to investigate another Christian legal group on campus, while Hinds doubled her efforts in getting CLS chartered. During the first week of February, the SBA Executive Board was contacted by the Dean’s office. SBA President Stephanie Acquario and Vice President Taylor Williams met with Oren Griffin, Dean of the College of Law, who informed them that the SBA House of Delegates was expected to pass the CLS charter as it stood.

At the SBA meeting on Feb. 5, Griffin and Kelli McLoud-Schingen, Vice President for DEI, spoke on the importance of diversity. In Griffin’s remarks, he did not disclose that he would be the faculty advisor for CLS. He did, however, give an emphatic speech on how DEI efforts should not be hostile to or infringe on religious freedom.

Hinds then began responding to questions regarding the discriminatory CLS membership policies that were not changed as requested by SBA. When a student inquired if they could be kicked out of CLS for having a same-sex relationship, Hinds responded, “I’m not really sure why people are so upset at hypothetical discrimination. No discrimination has happened yet. I don’t think they would use that clause in that way.”

Prospective CLS members spoke at the meeting as well to persuade the House of Delegates to charter the society, although they were ill-received by a majority of the delegates. Reported remarks from these students included one member telling the del-

egates that their issues with the Community Life Statement were “reading comprehension issues.” Another student asked, “Who are you to pass judgment on what type of Christian beliefs are acceptable?” Another student said, “We should all be able to understand that a round peg goes into a round hole, the square peg goes into a square hole” and “a square simply cannot be a circle.” This appeared to be in reference to the inability for a Christian to belong both to CLS as well as to the LGBTQ+ community.

The final vote on the CLS charter came to five for and 21 against with seven abstentions. Another vote was conducted to decide if the results should immediately be reported to Griffin via email, which a majority approved. Hinds stood to address the delegates, stating, “If Dean Griffin is worried about this, you guys should be worried too. He says the anti-discrimination clause could cause problems and we should trust that.”

non-LGBTQ+ students. By allowing a student organization, like CLS, to deny participation by LGBTQ+ students, these students are not presented with those same opportunities.” They cite TU’s Non-Discrimination and Harassment Policy as well as the SBA Constitution’s anti-discrimination clause to support their claims. Furthermore, they state that Dean Griffin’s override of the vote puts the law school in a bad light. “In times when diversity and inclusion are so important, a student organization that excludes LGBTQ+ students is terrible for the law school’s reputation. In fact, this decision is already making waves in our communities, especially with students and alumni.” They go on to include snapshots of various social media posts of multiple users declaring their disappointment with TU Law admin and questioning Griffin’s decision. They state that the decision is perilous for SBA’s non-discrimination policy and insert questions that SBA President Ac-

lectivity.” They end the letter with a call for Dean Griffin to outline his next steps to support the student LGBTQ+ community.

After the circulation of the letter on Feb. 17, full-time professors held a vote on whether the law faculty should recommend that Dean Griffin revoke the charter. The outcome of the vote was eight for and one against with one abstention.

On Feb. 17, SBA President Acquario outlined the events leading up to Griffin chartering CLS in a Facebook post. She claims that the “decision dehumanizes, humiliates, and demeans members of the LGBTQ+ community, and publicly shows the University of Tulsa’s stance that in the name of Christianity, LGBTQ+ individuals may be discriminated against.”

A TU College of Law graduate, Donald Slaughter, expressed support for Dean Griffin’s decision as a comment on Acquario’s Facebook post. He states, “I applaud the Dean’s decision. If one does not wish to participate in the group, they most certainly can not. Attacking and attempting to silence and marginalize a group, who share a common set of values, is the only hate I see here.”

On Feb. 15, Dean Griffin sent a letter to SBA President Acquario with his decision to charter CLS. Griffin states, “Based on my review of student concerns, questions, and other relevant information including the Christian Legal Society’s charter request, and in consultation with the University President and Provost, it is my determination that the Christian Legal Society shall be granted a charter with all the rights and privileges extended to student organizations at The University of Tulsa College of Law.” Furthermore, he goes on to say, “The University of Tulsa has a strong interest in supporting its students’ freedom of association and providing students an opportunity to organize and join campus associations which promote their common interests. Whether the student organization is the J. Reuben Clark Law Society, Jewish Law Students Association, or the Christian Legal Society, these faith-based student organizations have always been welcomed at The University of Tulsa College of Law… In the coming weeks we will embark on a series of programming efforts to promote diversity and inclusion.”

Professors Ido Kilovaty and Betsy Rosenblatt of the College of Law circulated a memo dated Feb. 17 to the the TU College of Law faculty summarizing the vote on Feb. 5 and condemning Dean Griffin for supporting “an openly discriminatory organization at an institution that purports to care about diversity, equity, and inclusion.” They state, “LGBTQ+ students deserve respect, equal treatment, safety, and all the opportunities available to

quario posed to Deans Griffin, Karen Grundy and April Fox, including, “You asked President Acquario in your meeting with her on 2/2 to temporarily suspend the SBA constitution’s anti-discrimination clause. Does an override of SBA’s vote to not charter CLS by the Dean permanently override the SBA Constitution’s anti-discrimination clause? Is the SBA under an obligation to approve other organizations that are openly anti-LGBTQ? Is the SBA under an obligation to approve religious organizations that have discriminatory claims? (religious organizations that believe in white supremacy, for example, under the guise of freedom of association or freedom of religion)”

Kilovaty and Rosenblatt also outline the U.S. Supreme Court case “Christian Legal Society v. Hastings,” which holds, “We reject CLS’s First Amendment challenge. Compliance with Hastings’ all-comers policy, we conclude, is a reasonable, viewpoint-neutral condition on access to the student-organization forum. In requiring CLS—in common with all other student organizations—to choose between welcoming all students and forgoing the benefits of official recognition, we hold, Hastings did not transgress constitutional limitations. CLS, it bears emphasis, seeks not parity with other organizations, but a preferential exemption from Hastings’ policy. The First Amendment shields CLS against state prohibition of the organization’s expressive activity, however exclusionary that activity may be. But CLS enjoys no constitutional right to state subvention of its se-

On Feb. 18, City Councilman Adam “Grant” Miller, who attended TU College of Law from June 2020 to December 2022, declared his approval of Dean Griffin’s decision in a Facebook post. Miller states, “It’s sad to see that TU’s SBA is so far gone that they would vote 21-5 to openly deny Christian students their right to practice their faith and have a student association to promote their values. Now more than ever, it is important to stand up for freedom of religion, speech and association. Remember, these aren’t just some misguided undergrads, these are LAW STUDENTS (and apparently faculty), many of whom will soon be graduating and released on the public. To me, it’s not all that surprising considering many of them are the same students who bold-face lied about things I said in a miserable, failed attempt to keep me from the city council. Nonetheless, it’s a sad thing when law students are actively promoting suppression of constitutional rights. Thankfully, the dean of the law school and the president of TU wouldn’t allow this hate for Christianity and Christian law students to prevail at the University of Tulsa. Apparently, and thankfully, TU doesn’t discriminate because of your race, color, religion, sex (including pregnancy, gender identity, and sexual orientation), national origin, disability, age (age 40 or older), or genetic information. There may yet be hope.”

On Feb. 19, the SBA approved “A Resolution condemning actions taken by the Dean of Law regarding the Christian Legal Society” in a vote of 22 for and five against with four abstentions.

I spoke with Brandon Swearengin about his motivation for authoring the bill to censure Dean Griffin. He stated, “University Administration and the Dean of Law violated the students’ right to self-government and in doing so disrespected every member of our campus community who identifies as LGBTQ+. SBA will not tolerate administrators disrespecting the student body nor will we voluntarily fund discriminatory organizations.” When asked about the atmosphere of the SBA meeting on Feb. 19, he claimed that there was “very impassioned speech from numerous law students as well as several undergraduate SA senators, and the meeting lasted over three hours. It was not as contentious as I initially feared going into the meeting, however, because most supporters of the Christian Legal Society, along with the Dean of Law and university President, chose to not attend the meeting.”

I reached out to Morgan Hinds for comment with no response.

The Christian Legal Society charter was rejected by the Student Bar Association on the basis of discriminatory policies.

Shelby Hiens

Commentary Editor

Google has developed Bard to combat ChatGPT. courtesy Google Blog courtesy UniversityofTulsa.com

Dean Griffin overruled the Student Bar Association’s right to deny organizations charters.

TU installs Wellness Machine on campus

ing-after pill), pregnancy tests, lube, vanilla and mint flavored dental dams, internal condoms, period products, hand sanitizer and informational pamphlets.

Evren Shermer, a Peer Health Educator for the Take Control Initiative, attended the ribbon cutting ceremony and described the event as “a colorful and inviting ceremony well-attended by TU students.”

The Wellness Machine was brought to TU by the Student Government Association’s University Improvements Committee (UIC) in conjunction with the Take Control Initiative (TCI). The vending machine has been a long time coming, according to Danny Nguyen, a member of the UIC, who said that the project was “started a few years ago but never was finished.” Nguyen stated, “The Chair of UIC, Hannah Grenier, had reintroduced it last semester.”

A ribbon cutting ceremony marked the opening of the Wellness Machine on the east end of the Student Union on Feb. 13. The vending machine provides latex and nonlatex condoms, EContra One-Step (morn-

“My committee and I’s role was being a liaison between TCI and TU students. We gave our feedback on concerns like what kind of items students would need and want from it, where the optimal location for students to have access to it would be, how to best promote it, among other things,” Nguyen claimed. When I asked how the committee gauged what products students would want in the machine, I expected to hear about student surveys being conducted.

Nguyen responded that they had “brainstormed general health products, looked at what other organizations have done, what TCI had available to donate, and discussed with a few others their ideas and opinions.”

I asked students what else they would like to see in the Wellness Machine, and a couple students said they would like to see different sized condoms available as well.

Lindsey Cain, Program Coordinator for the Office for Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) spoke with me about the challenges of getting the Wellness Machine installed on campus. “In any discussion of reproductive health, there can be many large feelings and/or hesitations. While I do not have any first hand knowledge, I feel it’s safe to say that not everyone feels the same way about reproductive health in Oklahoma. Whether for or against women’s reproduc-

tive freedom, I think it’s important not to restrict urgent healthcare from those who need it. Everyone has a different physical body, mental health status, and life experiences that lead them to their own decision making. Unfortunately, women’s reproductive healthcare has become so politicized everyone feels they have a say. I feel strongly that the person who should have the most say is the person accessing the medication and/or medical service,” Cain stated.

campus. Cain stated, “Personally, I don’t fear a raid. I have concerns that people will not be able to put their personal feelings and/or judgment aside. There are endless reasons why someone may need or want to use the wellness vending machine. Their needs and privacy should remain safe and protected.”

I wholeheartedly agree with Cain, as I am for reproductive freedom. I am glad that these organizations are supporting TU students by providing free sexual and menstrual health products for everyone, regardless of gender and sexuality. The Wellness Machine does not require the use of a TU ID or ID number, which allows students to take what they need without the feeling of their privacy being breached.

I wondered if there was any fear of the machine being raided, perhaps by people that do not agree with its installation on

I am a Peer Health Educator for the Take Control Initiative myself, and I believe that sexual and reproductive health are paramount, despite the politics and judgment of anyone who feels they have control over anyone’s body other than their own. The Wellness Machine is a great way to promote these ideals at TU. I am a huge proponent for free menstrual products and free contraception as well, which will further equitable access to birth control and thereby promote community health.

If you require one of the products in the Wellness Machine, just enter 2023# then enter the item number followed by #.

J.K. Rowling is still transphobic, despite lackluster defense

transphobic and bigoted accusations that Rowling currently receives. Paul paints Rowling as a feminist martyr.

pressed still make a huge impact due to her large following. Her feminist views that exclude transgender, agender and non-binary

Paul mentions one idea in her piece that I agree with: Rowling does not deserve death threats or threats against her family. I don’t believe that doxxing her address or threatening physical or sexual violence against Rowling or her family solves the problems at hand. If anything, it exacerbates the situation and takes away from people trying to give their support to the marginalized communities being attacked.

An Op-Ed written by Pamela Paul sparks the debate over J.K. Rowling again.

Shelby Hiens

Commentary Editor

J.K. Rowling is known for writing the “Harry Potter” series and crafting the Wizarding World that millions know and love. But more recently, she is also known for being a Trans-Exclusionary Radical Feminist (TERF) and expressing transphobic views.

The New York Times published an opinion piece by Pamela Paul titled, “In Defense of J.K. Rowling.” In the article, she portrays Rowling as a woman standing up for selfcensored biological women who fear the

Rowling is not a martyr. Liking a few tweets and expressing feminist views online does not make anyone a martyr. Rowling is, however, a woman using her platform to express her feminism in a way that directly damages the LGBTQ+ community, specifically transgender as well as non-binary people. She is a woman with an extremely large following, scoffing at the idea of using gender inclusive language, such as her “skepticism about phrases like ‘people who menstruate,’” as stated by Paul, in favor of the non-inclusive title “women.”

Paul attempts to absolve Rowling of any fault by inserting a quote from PhelpsRoper, the host of a podcast delving into interviews with Rowling. “‘A lot of people think that Rowling is using her privilege to attack a vulnerable group,’ [Phelps-Roper] said. ‘But she sees herself as standing up for the rights of a vulnerable group.’” Standing up for one marginalized group of people at the expense of another does not absolve that person of anything. Rowling punches down on the transgender community when she propagates views such as “the right to spaces for biological women only, such as domestic abuse shelters and sex-segregated prisons,” which Paul states is one reason why people accuse Rowling of transphobia.

Paul also defends Rowling’s support of “detransitioners and feminist scholars, who have come under attack from trans activists.” Supporting detransitioners and feminists is great — until they begin spouting transphobic rhetoric and TERF ideals. A person can share their experiences without hurting a group of people fighting for recognition and validity.

Although Rowling is not “disputing the existence of gender dysphoria” or voicing “opposition to allowing people to transition under evidence-based therapeutic and medical care” or “denying transgender people equal pay or housing,” the views she has ex-

people still hurt the LGBTQ+ community. Many members of the LGBTQ+ community have discovered that their favorite childhood author does not believe they should have equal rights as others.

In short, there is no defense for Rowling. Trans-exclusion is transphobia and if she does not support trans rights, then I don’t support Rowling.

The Wellness Machine contains menstrual and sexual health products for students.

Shelby Hiens

Commentary Editor

“... these organizations are supporting TU students ... regardless of gender and sexuality.”

courtesy

The SGA University Improvements Committee collaborated with the Take Control Initiative in this project.

courtesy Shelby Hiens

The Wellness Machine was opened on Feb. 13 in the Student Union.

“Standing up for one marginalized group of people at the expense of another does not absolve that person ...”

Breaking Ground on TU’s campus

SAVE’s Breaking Ground Monologues create a space of empowerment, struggle and growth.

Adam Porterie Student Writer

It was a treat to take in the Breaking Ground Monologues, presented by SAVE. The monologues contained stories collected by V, the creator of the play, as they interviewed various people various people for different perspectives from around the world. SAVE members were also encouraged to share their own stories, along with the ones previously written.

The night started off with a stage setting introduction by three women: Kailey

part of themselves. As the workshop progresses, the woman finds herself crying when tasked with finding her clitoris but ends with her becoming enthralled with herself. Then, Isabel Mireles shared her original experience with self-proclaimed “coochie cancer,” or medical endometrial cancer, and the extensive time with OBGYN’s and other doctors that came with it. Mireles luckily had a benign tumor that was removable and showed signs of remission. Her monologue left me feeling informed yet still curious about “coochie” cancers that can occur in vaginas.

The next monologue was a quintet featuring: Lexi Mills, Gillian McPhail, Laney Peak, Prudence Lloyd and Kailey Chinsethagid entitled “They Beat the Girl Out of My Boy.” The group recounted a sorrowful story of abuse and transphobia ex-

Chinsethagid, Emma Opoku and Laney Peak. The trio took the audience on a journey of what it takes for a person to look at their vagina. They listed a myriad of names that vaginas are referred to in place of the actual term because of stigma and shame. Following the act, Vivian Hausman delivered an all-too-common tale of a man wanting a woman to shave their vagina for his own pleasure. She really brought the story alive, doing a great German impression at times, and I felt I was hanging onto every word.

The next monologue took me on a rollercoaster of excitement and compassion, as Amanda Chastang, the Assistant Vice President of the DEI office sat down and detailed “The Flood.” While Chastang’s monologue wasn’t an original work, I felt as if I were reliving the moments with her when she first “flooded” from a kiss with Andy Leftkov back in her day. Chastang left the audience in a roar, as she shuffled across the stage in a robe befitting only the most elegant and comfortable individuals.

Prudence Lloyd then recounted the “Vagina Workshop,” an experience women had of going to a workshop and looking at their vaginas and appreciating them as a

perienced by trans women “having the girl beat out of them,” until they are able to transition. After the transition, one woman has her partner beaten to death with a baseball bat. I gathered from this tale that even through pain and suffering, there is a resilience to stay true to your identity that will never be taken away from a person.

Following the dreadful tale, Fallon Walker recited a story of discovering vagina-love through another person. The story invoked a feeling of hope within me and was an enlightening work on the value of a supportive partner. After which, Brittany Banh emphatically spoke on the damaging expectations of how a vagina is supposed to look and smell with the “My Angry Vagina” monologue. Banh humanizes the frustrating ways in which the world tries to control a woman’s vagina.

Cassie Vestal made a moment with both the “I Don’t Give a Damn” monologue as well as “My Vagina Was My Village.” Vestal’s passion in both speeches was palpable, and the experience shared in the second monologue details the longstanding effects of rape and violent sexual assault. Following Vestal, Lexi Mills recounted the fact that a short skirt is not

an invitation to rape or sexual assault but is merely a piece of clothing allowing for some enhanced breathability.

In the next monologue, Isabel Mireles told the audience about “The Little Coochie Snorcher that Could,” an experience that was heartwarming in its own way. After Mireles, Evren Shermer put on a high energy performance in “Reclaiming Cunt.” After the show, Shermer was excited to share that they “love the opportunity to yell” on stage. They were successful in getting the crowd to yell “cunt” with them by the end.

Continuing the show, Kelsey Hancock made the audience erupt in laughter time and time again in their performance of “The Woman Who Loved to Make Vaginas Happy.” Hancock seems to have a

knack for entertaining. The penultimate performance of the night came from Gillian McPhail entitled “I Was There in the Room.” This piece was an ode to the beauty of birth and the sacrifice vaginas make to bring life into this world.

To end the night of great performances, Fallon Walker, Kailey Walker and Gillian McPhail shared the Collegian’s original story “From a Survivor’s Perspective: Sexual Assault at TU.” The story shared exemplifies the culture that leads to sexual assault and the awareness the student body must embody to engage in sexual assault prevention.

This year’s Breaking Ground Monologues lead to laughter, tears and empowerment as a multitude of stories were shared.

Club spotlight: TU Geo Club

How can students get involved with the Geo Club?

“The easiest way would be to email me at bac2214@utulsa.edu and I can help get you added to our GroupMe and email list. After that, show up to our meetings and events and have fun!”

Any Geo Club events coming up soon?

An interview with the president of the TU Geo Club, Beau Crockett

What happens in the Geo club?

“We hold monthly meetings where a club member will give a presentation on something geoscience related, and host events focused on the geosciences and getting out in the field. We also recently finished a geology display in the Keplinger lower atrium.”

What is the main purpose of the Geo Club?

“ It is an organization for those interested in the geosciences to meet others with similar interests and learn more about geology and related topics.”

When and how often does the Geo Club meet?

“We meet once a month. The exact time changes each semester, but this semester we are meeting on Thursdays at 12:30 in Kep M230.”

What events/opportunities does the club offer?

“In the fall we have a picnic, field collecting trip where we go collect fossils or mineral specimens, an end-of-semester tea party, and other events. In the spring we have a field trip guided by a professional geologist, a trivia / game night, and a float trip!”

“Our Geo Photo competition is coming up soon. This is a competitive event open ot the whole campus, not just the Geo Club, where you can submit photos in four georelated categories to potentially win prizes. The event isn’t until April, but we encourage people to start looking for photo opportunities whenever they can!”

What do students need to get started with the Geo Club?

“Just an interest in the geosciences!”

Why do you think someone should join the Geo Club?

“Anyone with an interest in rocks, minerals, paleontology, meteorology, astronomy, or the environment would be a great fit for Geo Club, as we discuss all of these topics and more. Geo Club is the best opportunity on campus for anyone interested in any aspects of the geosciences. If you like dinosaurs or crystals or astronomy, Geo Club provides an environment to share and discuss those interests. The Geosciences are some of the most important sciences to our modern world and throughout history, so even if you may not have an interest now, it could never hurt to learn a thing or two for the futures.”

Do Geo Club members assist the geosciences faculty with research and projects?

“Geo Club and the Geosciences Department work very hand-in-hand throughout the year. The new geology case in Keplinger was a joint event between Geo Club and the Geosciences Department. The Geo Club also has a semesterly picnic with both the geoscience faculty and the Geoscience Alumni Advisory Board, which is a great opportunity to meet some people from TU that are working professionally.”

Who can students contact with questions about the Geo Club?

“ I would probably be the best source to answer any questions people may have, email me at bac2214@utulsa.edu.”

Who are the other exec members?

“Paloma Probert is our vice president, and Cailin Stauffer is our secretary/treasurer.”

Where can you be found on campus and online?

“On campus, we are associated with the Geoscience Department and our student and faculty members are often in Keplinger. Online you can follow our Insta @ geoclub.tu.”

Photo by Adam Porterie

Mary Lickona

Business Manager

“The story invoked a feeling of hope within me and was an enlightening work on the value of a supportive partner.”

“After the show, Shermer was excited to share that they “love the opportunity to yell” on stage.

Courtesy @geoclub.tu on Instagram

“The new geology case in Keplinger was a joint event between Geo Club and the Geosciences Department.”

Bruce Springsteen and his E Street Band prove they were born

Bruce Springsteen made his return to Oklahoma for a Mardi Gras concert at the BOK Center. He and his E Street Band returned to Tulsa for the first time since 2009. The Boss, now 73 years old and in his fifth decade as a touring musician, is known far and wide for his energetic shows sometimes lasting nearly three hours in length.

There’s something special about a Bruce Springsteen concert and the way it brings people together from different walks of life for vastly different reasons. We talked to a few people standing outside the venue before the concert, asking them about their love of the Boss.

the air. Her grandparents, long-time fans, were excited to share this core experience with their granddaughter.

Other encounters weren’t so nice. A religious group protested the show due to Springsteen’s support of the “abortion holocaust happening in America right now,” or as more commonly known, reproductive rights. Springsteen has always been vocal about his political beliefs even when it wasn’t acceptable to do so, calling for gay marriage in 1996. He even canceled a show in Greensboro, North Carolina when their government announced that the “bathroom law,” or the law that dictates which bathroom transgender people could use, would go into place.

A group who had just come out of the Arena Pub and Grill across the street from the venue happened to pass by the man with the megaphone as he was shouting, “If it’s your body, your choice, then why is it that

Decked in a tour shirt from the 2023 tour and a cowboy hat, a man with strikingly white hair told us that this was the fourth time he was seeing Springsteen live. The most recent time was in Dallas — where he’s from — the previous week. His biggest takeaway from Springsteen’s live shows is his strength and stamina. “[Springsteen] only takes about three seconds to switch songs. I had floor seats last week in Dallas, and I spent the whole time standing!” he said with a laugh “I wish I had his energy.”

A girl around the age of five stood by her grandfather and grandmother, wearing a massive t-shirt with Springsteen’s face on it. She excitedly said that this was her first concert, and that she had been listening to him since she was three, putting three fingers in

the baby dies?” The group of five openly laughed at the man, not letting him ruin their night.

A woman wearing a tour shirt from the 80’s also made the trip to Tulsa to see him after the Dallas show. She saw him for the first time during the original “Born in the USA” tour in 1984. “I camped out for two nights just to get tickets. I slept on the streets,” she said with a laugh, “that was before everything went online, of course.”

Lastly, we spoke to a woman, also wearing a shirt from the 1984 tour, who had come all the way from Richmond, Virginia for the show. This marked her thirtieth time seeing Springsteen live. “Back when I was your age, I dropped out of college to follow him around on tour,” she said. She also ex-

citedly recounted her story of visiting the Bob Dylan Center the previous day, having the good fortune of meeting one of the E Street Members at the museum.

When asked about why she had seen Springsteen live so many times, her friend answered for her, saying that it’s a “serious love” that leads people to do this, and that her friend was probably the biggest Springsteen fan here.

Finally, it was time for the Boss to take the stage. The audience grew increasingly louder as each member of the E Street Band took the stage, growing to thunder when Springsteen took the stage. He started the concert with “No Surrender,” which sym-

bolizes what this tour is at its heart. He’s blatantly saying, “I’m still here.” It’s triumphant.

Springsteen played quite a few songs from his newest record, “Only the Strong Survive,” though he made sure to play some of his classics for the die-hard old-school fans. Strangely, he left “Born in the U.S.A.” and “Glory Days” off the setlist for the night. By the end of the concert, Springsteen and his band had played for nearly three hours, totaling to 27 songs in total.

Here’s to another decade as a live musician, because as far as this reviewer is concerned, the Boss still has it.

The Wonder Years bring Hum Goes on Forever tour to Cain’s Ballroom

Maaddie Walters Managing Editor

Cain’s Ballroom packed in a large crowd for Carly Cosgrove, Hot Mulligan and the Wonder Years for their Hum Goes on Forever tour. The openers Carly Cosgrove fused nostalgia and punk with all their “iCarly” and “Drake and Josh” themed songs. The Philly band was a hit with their “Fuck Dan Schneider” drum head, getting a massive cheer from the audience for it.

Hot Mulligan’s set brought a high level of energy from both the band and the crowd.

Tades Sanville, the singer headbanged for the entirety of their performance, whipping his long hair left and right. Sanville quipped, “For the first time in my life, I bought a hairbrush because I refuse to be a white guy with dreads!.”

Finally, the Wonder Years took the stage and much to the concert-goers’ surprise Dan

Campbell, the singer of the band, emerged on stage with his arm in a sling. He exclaimed that he just woke up a couple of days ago and couldn’t move it. Luckily, he found a doctor the morning of the show who gave him a Cortisone shot. Though he was in pain, it didn’t affect his highly engaging performance.

Before beginning “Laura & the Beehive,” Campbell told the audience that the song was about his late grandmother. His emotional performance of the song glistened with vulnerability. It wouldn’t be a misinterpretation to say that he idolized her. In fact, he asked the audience to do him a favor, he said, “If you have the capability, please call your grandma tomorrow.”

Before launching into their final song, Campbell tearfully asked the audience to remain hopeful despite everything going wrong in the world today, listing off a myriad of issues such as transphobic bills, mass shootings, police brutality and climate disaster (specifically mentioning the tragedy that occurred in Ohio). In a poignant moment, he looked to the crowd and said, “You’re the reason I don’t want the world to end,” which basically describes the message and essence of the Wonder Years to their core.

Maddie Walters

Managing Editor

to run the BOK.

Carly Cosgrove, Hot Mulligan and the Wonder Years played to a packed house.

Photos by Maddie Walters

Photos by Maddie Walters

The Boss has been touring as a musician for five decades.

“By the end of the concert, Springsteen and his band had played for nearly three hours, totaling to 27 songs in total.”

State-Run the media

Law School updates stance on the gays

TU Law School to replace outdated “Don’t Say Gay” bylaw with new “Don’t Be Gay” policy.

Kyle Garrison Homophone hater

Tulsa OK – The University of Tulsa College of Law has come under fire for its recent change in by-laws on the issue of whether it is possible for gays to be lawyers. Dean Oren Griffin answers this controversial question. “No,” he said.

Author of “Is Being Gay a Jus Cogens Human Rights Violation?” and president of the Tulsa chapter of the Christian Legal Society, Richard Pence-Trump-ReaganThatcher, pushed this new step forward to a utopian land where everyone is a christian, virgin and a lawyer. What he calls the “Don’t Be Gay” approach, he explained that it, “Centers on the founders of our country, you know, Jefferson, Hamilton, General Washington, Colonel Sanders, John the Baptist and the rest. They teach us that love is between a man and a woman and a mistress and the law should be no different.” This perspective, however, is not shared by the entirety of the law school.

We interviewed some relevant parties on the issue. “What kind of money is in this for me? Which side pays better?” asked John, a third year law student. Chelsey, 2L explained that “Maximo scholae vere non sapio. Mutationem positivam iuris facere volo, eamque omnibus magis accommodam reddo.”

“Please dear God, do not quote me on anything. I just want to get out of here,” commented law professor Janet Levit, JD.

We reached out to other law professors but they all pleaded the fifth.

“Our goal is to protect our most vulnerable minority: Christians” states the law school’s new mission statement. The new policy accompanies a change in the mission statement which more accurately aligns with our student body’s needs (the ones they care about that is). The law school also now more accurately represents the Oklahoma judicial system.

The office of public relations responded to our inquiry with this succinct statement, “Within the current political climate

of our great state, it has become necessary for changes to occur which alter the appearance of how we view our own selves via shareholding offices vis-a-vis our board of directors’ goals. Fuck if I know man, I just do not want to be fired.”

This decision also sets precedent for how student ministries will be treated by administration. We asked the opinion of a 40 year-old man with skinny jeans (who probably works for a student ministry on campus) his thoughts. He responded, “How this will impact students on campus is clear. For too long student faith orga-

nizations have been dismissed by passing students who apparently ‘do not want Gatorade.’ They are just bigots. There is no way they do not like Gatorade. It is so refreshing. When you think about it, Gatorade is to the body what The Holy Spirit is to the mind.”

At press time President Carson released a statement on the controversy, “SBA sent some letter to me and I read it. Not really sure what it is about, I skimmed it. I was laughing so hard at Kyle’s satire I had read beforehand, I was a little distracted.” Thank you Brad.

“IDK man,” one student athlete worried, “What’s that gonna do to my body? I don’t want to use any performance enhancers or detractors, I might lose my scholarship. I ain’t about to solve my mental health struggles if it jeopardizes my ability to play.”

‘Tis the season once again for students to begin experiencing stress, anxiety and depression. This is due to many factors: midterms, SAD, fluctuating weather, what am I gonna do after I graduate, etc. College students suffer many afflictions and the benevolent TU administration wants to remedy them in the most efficient way possible. “We want to address the mental health concerns of each and every student,” shared one TU official who prefers to remain anonymous. “That is why we have poured our resources into only the best medicine: Pizza. This innovative treatment is available to all TU students, free of charge. Simply stop by the next TU sporting event and show your ID and health insurance. Everyone has the right to good help, and I am proud to say that we have it in the form of tried-and-true tasty and greasy deliciousness.”

Though the FDA may deny it, Pizza has many proven benefits. Users reported that they felt less weighed down by their problem after excessive Pizza consumption. “It was as if all my worries had decreased, as my tummy ache increased. I have been struggling for years to defeat a Guiness World Record, and with Pizza I have finally been able to overcome all my trials,” one student user reported. Other users report feeling validated in their struggles by TU’s recognition of their need for help. “After Pizza I felt euphoric. It feels so good to be seen and helped by my college that definitely sees me as an individual who has their own unique mental health needs.”

Greek life on campus has really taken to TU’s new solution to mental health

concerns. One mental health expert over on East 7th St. weighed in, “I mean, we already were doing ‘za on the weekends, so we appreciated that Brad is on the same page as us. Pizza fr is the main reason why all frat guys are such well adjusted people. We don’t have to worry about all that CAP stuff, Pizza is the real deal, no cap.” This

statement was met with a cheer from all his fellow frat bros, who then ingested copious amounts of Pizza.

Many students, however, disagree that Pizza is the solution to all mental health problems. Several of them are afraid to participate in the usage of this new and untrustworthy “drug.”

And the student athletes aren’t the only ones who have voiced doubts. “I feel like TU is just using Pizza as a band-aid to cover the deeper problems that college students are experiencing. I mean, Pizza is great and all, but why do we need it in the first place? Why are college students so prone to the strains of anxiety, burnout and depression? What is TU trying to avoid by pushing Pizza as the end-all, be-all to mental health concerns? How is it supposed to help us, really?” wondered one forgotten student in the Arts and Sciences, before exiting the scene hurriedly with a red dot on their forehead.

What is TU trying to hide? Or is Pizza really the newest and best assistance for struggling students? TU is finally responding to the needs of all students, and maybe they just deserve a medal for doing the bare minimum as an institution.

graphic by Kyle Garrison

graphic by Kyle Garrison