16 October 2017

Student newspaper of the University of Tulsa

CSAS policies and procedures difficult to navigate, cause discrimination concerns

October 16, 2017 Issue 8 - Volume 103

“I’ve spent so much time, effort and money to get the required testing . . . and I did all of this because I need an extra 25 minutes on exams. If I get my accommodations, my complaints will still stand.”

While CSAS promises to provide support for students with disabilities, their process can be so complex and time-consuming that some students leave disappointed. Editor-in-Chief Kayleigh Thesenvitz reports.

More than 325 students use the Center for Student Academic Support every year, but not everyone leaves with the best impression of TU’s disability services. The most common accommodations given are for testing, whether that means extra time on tests or taking tests in a distraction reduced environment. However, getting academic accommodations is a complex process. While CSAS is technically compliant with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), having to maneuver the system has stirred up feelings of discrimination. Student Stories Kaitlyn Counter was diagnosed

assessment she needed for free, so she contacted the clinic. However, Counter was turned away due to a legal conflict of interest for any TU-affiliate to provide documentation that CSAS would use to make their determination. “They have the resources to give students this assessment that they require for ADHD accommodations, and they just don’t allow you to use it,” Counter said. “I feel like my case wasn’t handled at all, honestly. It’s easiest for people to do nothing and that’s exactly what happened when I went to CSAS to request accommodations,” Counter said. “I felt like I was always getting the runaround and no matter what documentation I presented them

her anxiety since high school. As a freshman, Newman said, “I was having a really rough time, and there were some repressed memories coming back up,” referencing a time when her class watched “Boys Don’t Cry”, a docudrama about a trans-male being bullied and abused. “I had a really difficult time coping and getting to a point where I was able to go to classes and be okay,” she said. Her counselor suggested she go to CSAS for accommodations to excuse absences. Newman carpools to school each day, so she can’t roll out of bed and get to class as easily as most students and she can’t leave campus mid-day if she feels an oncoming attack.

man said. “You can go over the health center to get a diagnosis, but they can’t write you a letter. They can help you, but they can’t give you documentation.” Newman’s psychiatrist suggested he write a letter to her general practitioner explaining Newman’s mental health so that the general practitioner could then write a letter to CSAS. However, Newman’s general practitioner refused to do that because he didn’t feel comfortable accepting a third party diagnosis and could not diagnose her himself. “It ended up being a stalemate, and I still to this day do not have accommodations,” Newman said, recounting that she went through a catastrophic withdrawal for that

graphics by Madeline Woods The types of documentation doctors provide must meet different standards depending why the patient requires the information. Evaluations that are sufficient to determine a need for care or for verifying disability for SSDI or LTD do not necessarily meet the state and federally determined requirements for academic accommodations.

with ADHD in the spring of 2016, as a sophomore. After the diagnosis she took her problems to CSAS because “everybody talks it up like they’re really going to help you.” “I got a letter from my psychiatrist stating the accommodations that I need, what he thinks would help me … he did all of this paperwork that [CSAS] gave me to give to him. Basically they laid it all out for me and they were like ‘this is what you need,’ and I brought it back to them,” she said. Counter’s documentation went before the Eligibility Committee, who denied her accommodations and sent her an email which said there was insufficient evidence of her disability. Counter is still working to gain accommodations this semester, as a senior. Counter went back to CSAS and was told she needed to take a 6-8 hour formal assessment with a licensed professional, which included an interview and a series of aptitude tests, with an estimated cost of $2,000. “I asked if they had any resources or if they offered that testing — and they didn’t point me in the direction of any places that would offer it, but they said could give me the names of some psychiatrists’ offices,” which Counter said she already had access to. Counter was told by her employer that the True Blue Neighbors Behavioural Health clinic offered the

with, there was always another form I needed.” “I’ve talked to quite a few other students here at TU who have an ADHD diagnosis from a licensed professional and they all have the same complaints I do; it’s near impossible to get accommodations if you’re too broke or too busy,” Counter said, Counter has since received the necessary testing from OSU’s psychological services center in Stillwater for less than the $2,000 she was initially quoted. “I paid $150 for the evaluation plus $12 in tolls … plus whatever the cost of gas was,” Counter said. She hopes to hear back from the Eligibility Committee with her results within the coming weeks. “I’m still nervous that I’m going to get an email from CSAS saying they don’t think I need accommodations even though I turned in the official documentation they requested. That would be devastating,” Counter said. “I’ve spent so much time, effort, and money to get the required testing; I even had to skip class to make my final trip out to Stillwater to get my official documentation. And I did all of this because I need an extra 25 minutes on exams. If I get my accommodations, my complaints will still stand.” Jay Newman, a junior, had a similar experience. Newman suffers from anxiety, depression and PTSD and has been medicated for

Newman’s accommodation would allow her to have more than the three standard absences if she had a doctor’s note excusing the absence. “I’ll take the blame for the three days I take off if I get sick, but if I have a panic attack or something triggers my PTSD, I can’t control that,” Newman said. “It really sucks when that happens in a circumstance where you have to be at work or you have to be in class — where you have to be a functional member of society.” When Newman went in to CSAS

semester so as not to fail her classes due to absences. “It was so easy for me to just quit, but they made it so difficult for me to get help,” Newman said. Since then Newman has enrolled in 12 credit hours each semester and will be in school for a total of five years. “It has gotten a lot better, but I could have done so much better academically,” Newman said. To make matters worse, Newman said “I’m here on scholarship, and my scholarships end after eight semesters, so I’ll have to pay out of pocket for my last year.”

“Every time I go in there I have an anxiety attack, I dread going in there.” ready to lay out problems, she was disappointed by the lack of emotional support she was given in the meeting. Newman recounted how she felt as though she was treated dismissively in the exchange and was told ‘I’m not a counselor,’ when Newman tried to explain why she needed the accommodations. Newman was told she needed a letter from her psychologist explaining her condition, but that she couldn’t get that letter from her regular psychologist at the Alexander Health Center because of its affiliation with TU. “It’s kind of ridiculous,” New-

“There is no reason that doing what you need to do for your mental health should negatively impact your college performance,” Newman said. “Everybody should be able to get their education and better themselves.” Emily Harris went to CSAS for the first time last year to waive a lab because she has a condition which doesn’t allow her to stand for long periods of time. As a veteran, CSAS had Harris bring in her full VA medical record. Harris inquired about what accommodations were available and recounted, “they were like ‘well what do you need?’ and I was like,

‘no, what do you have so I know what I can choose from.’” Since then, she has received a handful of additional accommodations, including her service dog, Stevie, but she lamented the length of the process and a feeling of hopelessness while navigating the paperwork. “Every time I go in there I have an anxiety attack, I dread going in there,” Harris said. “It takes them a month to get the process going,” Harris said, recounting a specific instance where she was waiting to hear back from CSAS before she decided to drop a second lab, and by the time they got back to her, it was too late to drop the class without a W on her transcript. Harris was also concerned about the Eligibility Committee. “All these people I don’t know are meeting to determine if I have a condition the doctor has already told me I have,” she said. “I have appointments at the VA, and I have anxiety attacks from PTSD, and if I have something going on, I’m not going to go to CSAS all the time, because I don’t trust them to help,” Harris said. Megan Lowry, a student veteran who worked in President George W. Bush’s security detail, has also been less than satisfied with her interactions with CSAS. Lowry suffers from a traumatic brain injury she acquired while in military service. Lowry did receive temporary note taking accommodations and then eventually permanent accommodations, but has serious concerns with way CSAS handles its business. “They requested that I bring in my entire medical record, and they wanted me to tell them what accommodations I wanted,” Lowry said, explaining that she was not given any idea of what the available options were before being told to say what she wanted. “They were also giving me grief about my prescriptions, they wanted me to write down all of my prescriptions, what I was taking, and what it was all for,” Lowry said. “That is not something I should have to disclose to the school, because I don’t take them during the day, it doesn’t effect my schooling, so why should I have to disclose that information?” “They don’t have counseling skills, so I shouldn’t have to go into any of my mental health stuff with them, they are not doctors so why do I have to tell them the specifics of my disabilities? What makes them safe to tell?” Lowry questioned. “Then I find out, after all of this, that it goes to a board where somebody from my college is going to know what my disabilities are,” Lowry said. “I feel like that’s a violation of privacy.”

Continued as CSAS, pg. 6

Sports

16 October 2017

The Collegian: 2

A tale of two halves: TU pours it on after halftime

photos by Dalton Stewart

Chad President salutes the home crowd after his second score of the day.

Steven Dunbar hauls in one of his 10 receptions.

Thunderstruck: OKC is poised to challenge the Dubs After a hectic offseason that saw the Thunder trade for Carmelo Anthony and Paul George, Oklahoma City will join the ranks of the NBA’s elite. Justin Guglielmetti Sports Editor It wasn’t very long ago that Thunder fans were looking at a future in peril. They had just seen their team improbably blow a 3-1 series lead to their archrivals in the West, the Golden State Warriors. The Dubs looked like the fulfilled promise of their own team from a few years prior, when the Thunder had rostered a young Kevin Durant, Russell Westbrook, James Harden and Serge Ibaka. Now they were the ones ascending to heights previously unseen in the NBA and then to make matters worse, it happened. You know what I’m talking about. Durant jumped ship to the Warriors, taking all semblance of league parity with him, and the Thunder suddenly fell from title contention to fringe playoff status. Westbrook seemed like he might follow suit and leave OKC the following offseason, and then the paper-thin Thunder would be relegated to the lottery. It was a dark time. Not so anymore. With all the moving and shaking that took place in the 2017 offseason, perhaps the most active in league history, you’d think it would be difficult to crown a winner. But by my estimation, the crown would almost certainly have to go to the Thunder, who added two megastars of their own in Paul George and Carmelo Anthony to compete with Golden State’s juggernaut. George was the first of the chips to fall, traded from the Indiana Pacers in June for starting shooting guard Victor Oladipo and sophomore forward Domantas Sabonis. If that seems like a remarkably small return for Indiana, that’s because it is. George is a consensus top-12 player in the NBA, an all-purpose dynamo capable of creating his own shot, shooting off screens, running the offense, cutting off passing lanes and playing lockdown D on all but the biggest and most physical of centers. The Thunder could get all that for an underachiever like Oladipo and an unheralded prospect who averaged 6 ppg as a rookie? It wasn’t quite a magic act by GM Sam Presti but rather the business savvy of a man who knew that the Pacers would take just about anything after their franchise player announced his plans to opt out of his contract next summer and become an unrestricted free agent. Knowing that they could have

a chance to sign the 27-year-old George in his prime without having to give up any assets, teams were reportedly offering the Pacers bupkis. Presti’s offer was the least foul of a pile of crap. The contentious Anthony was also acquired in a heist for the Thunder, requiring only Enes Kanter, Doug McDermott and the Chicago Bulls’ 2018 second-round pick. Carmelo is no longer the player he once was at age 33 but he remains one of the league’s deadliest one-on-one scorers, and you know he will extra motivated to get out of the dumpster fire that is the New York Knicks and compete for a ring as his illustrious career winds down. He should be a more awkward fit for the Thunder but a trade for a

No team can ever hope to outgun Golden State, equipped as they are with four highlevel playmakers in their starting lineup and three of the greatest shooters of all time. Any path to victory has to start with a concerted effort on defense, switching across all five positions, being physical enough to throw the small-ball Warriors off their game and crashing the boards like your life depends on it. And while the offensive ability of Anthony and George is getting the most press, it’s their effect on the other side of the ball that could make the biggest difference for the Thunder. OKC was already a solid defensive team, finishing 10th last season in points allowed per possession, and they shipped off three

“Presti’s offer [for Paul George] was the least foul of a pile of crap.” player of his pedigree is one you make every time, especially when all you have to give up is the league’s worst defensive big man in Kanter and a back-end rotation player. George and Anthony will join a talented starting lineup that also features defensive specialists Andre Roberson and Steven “Khal Drogo” Adams (seriously, why isn’t

of their weakest defensive rotation players (Sabonis, Kanter and McDermott) for two huge pluses. That’s right, I called Carmelo Anthony a defensive plus. Melo has been known for his defensive malaise throughout his career but most of that boils down to lack of effort (you trying caring when you’re on the Knicks) and playing out of

“Westbrook is the alpha dog’s alpha dog and those guys don’t like to share once they’ve tasted meat.” that his nickname? Look at the guy!) Am I forgetting someone? Oh yeah, the Thunder will also trot out Westbrook, the reigning MVP who is coming off one of the most memorable seasons in history in which he became an actual supernova and averaged a triple-double. This team is going to be scary. But do they actually have what it takes to bring down the Warriors? Being fun to watch and good enough to win 55 games is one thing, having a chance to stop arguably the most well-rounded force in basketball history is something else entirely. Let’s break it down.

position. Quicker players will still be able to blow by Anthony, but he will start at the four for the Thunder and is more than strong and athletic enough to hang with opposing power forwards. He’ll be the perfect big man to run out against the Warriors’ vaunted “death lineup” when Draymond Green takes the place of a traditional center. George and Roberson are long-armed octopi on D and can match up with anybody. Jeremi Grant has only been in the league one year and has already earned a reputation as one of the game’s most high-energy, in-your-face defenders. The only question mark is Russell Westbrook.

Even as he was smashing statistical records and stealing the hearts of MVP voters, the wider basketball public finally became aware of Westbrook’s defensive limitations last season. In Russ’s case, it entirely comes down to lack of effort, there’s no other explanation that could justify his contesting fewer three point shots on a per-minute basis than any other player in the NBA. And for all of his clueless, chicken-with-its-head-cut off play from the past few years, it’s not as if he doesn’t have a strong defensive pedigree; it was his most lauded ability coming out of college. Hopefully shouldering a smaller load on offense and cutting down on his alltime record usage rate will allow for more activity on defense. But will he be able to make that sacrifice? Westbrook is the alpha dog’s alpha dog and those guys don’t like to share once they’ve tasted meat. If he had his way he would probably be content to relegate Anthony and George to the corners and charge to the basket with a rim-running Adams by his side until kingdom come. That kind of stagnant and predictable offense won’t be enough against the best of the best, nor will it entice George to stick around after his contract runs out, so coach Billy Donovan will have to experiment with the most creative sets this team has seen since it moved from Seattle. Don’t let Melo settle for post-ups on the block. Run high pick-and-rolls with him and let him attack the ensuing 4-on-3s as he did at his best in New York and Denver. Try hiding Westbrook off the ball as he wears out his defenders by running through a forest of screens and cutting to rim. Don’t be afraid to bench Adams and go for a four shooter lineup with Patrick Patterson at center. I will caution Thunder fans to temper their expectations for the 2017-18 season. As strong as they look now, this isn’t a perfect team and they will have to contend with three other powerhouses in the West alone. In the end, my prediction isn’t that bold: they will finish as a top seed, look unbeatable at times and will ultimately fall to traitor Durant and Warriors in the Western finals.

Sports

The Collegian: 3

16 October 2017

Golden Hurricane shines for alumni We’re not done yet! Tulsa pulled off a huge upset over homecoming weekend, dominating the 4-2 Houston Cougars to the tune of 45 points.

the

bleacher creature?

Zane Cawthon Sports Correspondent Tulsa’s football program has found its footing once again in this slippery season of highs and lows. After the absolute debacle that was the Tulane game, there were many questions posed by this reporter: how will the offense operate with a new quarterback at the helm? What adjustments will be made on the defensive side of the ball to stop the deluge of yards and points given up each week? Will this squad steel its resolve in the face of further adversity, or roll over and lose by 34 points again? In the first half of this festive Homecoming game, it seemed as though these doubts would remain unanswered. QB Luke Skipper’s offense generated only 93 yards, Houston’s Kyle Postma picked apart the TU secondary, and it took three attempts from the 1 yard line before Chad President finally squeaked into the end zone for TU’s first touchdown of the game (on a drive which would not have been possible if not for a fantastic interception and return by safety McKinley Whitfield). Down 10-7, and with Houston’s offense poised to continue its productivity, fans had little to look forward to after the Sound of the Golden Hurricane marching band’s halftime show. Then, somewhere, a light switched on. The second half saw a completely different team emerge from the locker room. The defense looked sharp and alert, sacking Postma out of scoring range and forcing the Cougars to punt. Then the offense did what it does best: it ran. In fact, Shamari Brooks and D’Angelo Brewer ran away with the proverbial spoon from goal line to goal line, setting up a Redford Jones field goal to tie the game at 10 apiece. The defense then responded with an electric

interception to fire up the home crowd and set up President’s second rushing TD of the day. Tulsa never trailed again in what was aptly described by ESPN commentator Al Groh as a “total team victory”. The offense racked up 323 yards in a flawless second half (for a game total of 416) topped off by a 46-yard touchdown run by Brewer. But the true Homecoming hero was TU’s defense, shrinking last week’s iceberg-sized holes and giving Houston’s offense nowhere to go. It was a relief to see an abundance of team tackles and few plays for big gains in the best effort put forward all year. The capstone on this watershed game was a beautiful forced fumble returned for a touchdown in the dying seconds to give the Hurricane a very satisfying 45-17 win. Are there still areas in need of improvement? Absolutely. Penalty yardage was a new issue: this week’s 9 penalties for 70 yards was the second-highest mark all season, and will cost this team dearly if it becomes a habit against teams less prone to mistakes than Houston. The defense, for all the accolades it deserves for its performance, needs to continue to improve in yards allowed, especially in the rushing game. The offense has settled into a balanced groove with its dynamic duo of duos (Skipper/President and Brewer/Brooks) but it should be wary of the road ahead and avoid resting on its laurels if it wishes to continue its success. The schedule ahead is daunting, with a trip to Connecticut next week to take on the Huskies and a devastating three game stretch against underrated SMU, Memphis, and conference powerhouse USF. But the student fanbase can take this week to celebrate the pleasant surprise that was Homecoming 2017.

New York Sprained Ankles How does that sound for a team name? Maybe it doesn’t roll off the tongue as well as “New York Giants” but it would probably be more apt following their loss last Sunday to the Los Angeles Chargers. Falling to 0-5 is bad enough but in the process, the Giants lost their top three receiver threats in Odell Beckham, Jr., Brandon Marshall and Sterling Shepard, all to ankle injuries. Shepard is due back soon but the former two are slated to miss the rest of the season, leaving New York with perhaps the most bare-bones offense in recent memory. The wideouts were all this team had going for them coming into the year, that is unless you’re one of the two people (Archie and Olivia Manning) who still consider Eli an elite quarterback. Now, with the likes of Travis Rudolph, Tavarres King and Roger Lewis lining up outside, the Giants look as good a bet as any to finish 0-16. One positive: rookie tight end Evan Engram is about to see 15 targets a game. Fire him up!

Another week of mixed results for soccer Tulsa men crawl closer to .500, while the women suffer another tough loss. Joe Edmonds Sports Correspondent The Golden Hurricane men’s soccer team took a game break from conference play to face off against the Denver Pioneers this week. Joe Ruiz put Tulsa in front on a goal off of a corner kick in the first half, and Tulsa held the lead until halftime. Shortly after the half, Denver was able to find an equalizing goal. Miguel Velasquez was determined not to settle for a tie game, though. He took the corner kick earlier in the game that Ruiz scored off, and with twenty minutes remaining in the game, scored the game winning goal. Tulsa is now 4-5-1 (1-2 American Athletic Conference) this season. They travel to play UCF on Sunday at noon for their next game and will then face off against Temple at home next Saturday. This week brought a pair of road conference games for the Golden Hurricane women’s soccer team. First up was a game against Cincinnati. After struggling in the

first half, Tulsa found themselves down 2-0 when the Bearcats scored a second goal just after the halftime break. From there, Rachel Thun-Blankenship and Addyson Guthrie scored a goal each to bring the game close. However, Cincinnati managed another goal to secure a 3-2 win. In the second game of the week, Tulsa traveled to East Carolina. The Pirates scored the lone goal of the game midway through the first half, and the game was fairly uneventful until Tulsa defender Annabeth Fouts was shown a red card in the final ten minutes. East Carolina took the game, 1-0. The women’s team now own a 3-12-3 (1-6-1 AAC) record on the year. Their next game brings them home to face the Memphis Tigers. They have a long break before that game; the date for the game is Oct. 27 with opening kick at 7 p.m. This will be their final game before the conference tournament.

Hurricane Scoreboard Football Oct. 14: Tulsa 45 - Houston 17 Women’s Soccer Oct. 8: Tulsa 2 - Temple 2 2OT Oct. 12: Cincinnati 3 - Tulsa 2 Men’s Soccer Oct 10: Tulsa 2 - Denver 1 Volleyball Oct. 8: USF 3 - Tulsa 2 Oct. 13: Tulsa 3 - Memphis 1

Monday

Tuesday 16

Wednesday 17

Men’s Tennis No Events @ Harlingen Scheduled Futures

18

Softball vs. Seminole Community

College 5 p.m.

Thursday 19

But...but...m’favorite player! Lost in the shuffle of this hectic NBA offseason was the announcement of changes being made to the All-Star selection format. No longer will the game be evenly split between the Eastern and Western conferences. The top vote-getters from each conference will now become their team captains and engage in a good old-fashioned schoolyard pick’em to fill out the rest of the rosters. The fan voting component won’t be completely neutralized, as the players to be selected by the captains will be limited to a pool based on the players that get the most votes, but even if this wasn’t the case, would anybody care? This is the best alteration that’s been made to an All-Star game in ever. Are you listening Bud Selig? When people are telling you that the All-Star game is becoming stale, you don’t give an exhibition game the power to determine home field advantage, you just make everything dramatic as hell. I really hope they televise the selection process Bachelor style so we can watch as Kevin Durant stares down the line of candidates, locks his snek-line eyes with Russell Westbrook, then curls those wormy lips into a smirk worthy of the Grinch as he utters the word, “Harden.” Please, you’re not a psychic I just want to vent one my sports pet peeves here. We all have that friend who relentlessly gives the hottest of takes, only to inevitably see most of them amount to nothing. You don’t say anything because he’s your buddy, and what fun is it to hold it over somebody’s head that McGregor didn’t knock out Mayweather with a roundhouse kick to the head, that Bartolo Colon didn’t have a three homer game, that George Mason didn’t win the NCAA tournament. But every so often, your friend’s crazy predictions come true. And then he just thinks he’s a god (clapping hands emojis). It doesn’t matter that he’s batting .050, he will now proceed to lord his “superior sports knowledge over you” for the rest of the foreseeable future. Please just stop, you’re making my eye twitch. To my friend who called Troy’s upset over LSU two weeks ago, this is for you.

Cross Country Oct. 13: Men’s 8k - 30th place 73. Ben Preisner: 24:32.1 128. Scott Beattie: 24:56.2 167. Adam Roderique: 25:10.8 195. Henry Pearce: 25:30.3 212. Adam Breaux: 25:53.5 Women’s 6k - 32nd place 82. Adrena Mazzei: 21:02.6 122. Ashley Barnes: 21:28.5 134. Caitlin Klopfer: 21:34.5 162. Reagan Hausmann: 21:53.5 167. Nicole Lee: 21:57

31

Justin Guglielmetti is…

Oct. 16 - Oct. 22 Saturday

Friday

21

20

Women’s Softball vs. Tennis @ Cowley ITA College Regionals 5 p.m. Men’s Tennis @ Volleyball @ Temple ITA 6 p.m. Regionals

Sunday

Football @ UConn 11 a.m.

22

Rowing Jaywalk Jamboree

Softball @ Northeastern Oklahoma A&M

Women’s Golf vs. Charleston

Men’s Soccer vs. Temple 7 p.m.

Volleyball @ UConn 11 a.m.

The Collegian: 4

16 October 2017

2017-18 NBA Preview: Collegian Edition With the NBA season approaching, the Collegian put the two keenest sports minds on the planet on the case. Forget the bigwigs over at ESPN, these are the only predictions that matter. Justin Guglielmetti Sports Editor East Boston Celtics: What, you thought I was done being a homer after I picked the Indians to beat the Yankees? Guess again my friend. This isn’t some wild pipe dream either, people who are expecting the Cavs to roll over everybody seem to have forgotten that it was Boston who earned the top seed last year. And the Celtics look even better this year. The upgrade from Jae Crowder’s whininess to Gordon Hayward’s dreaminess can’t be overstated, Kyrie Irving and Al Horford already seem to have a Vulcan mind-meld from their limited preseason action and the Jaylen Brown/Jayson Tatum combo make up the most talented young frontcourt in the league, don’t @ me. Oh and Mahcus Smaht is skinny now. Expect 55-60 wins. Cleveland Cavaliers: LeBron will still lead to the Cavs to the Finals because he’s LeBron but I will stake my reputation on the road being significantly tougher in 2018. This roster would look absolutely loaded if it was 2011, but come on, Dwyane Wade and Derrick Rose? Those guys are injuryprone defensive sieves who will cramp the floor like your grandmother’s unnecessarily large coffee table. The (hopefully) triumphant return of my adopted son Isaiah Thomas will help in that regard, but January is a long ways off. Washington Wizards: You could argue that he got most of the way there last season, but I say this is the year John Wall finally makes “The Leap” and finds himself in topfive MVP consideration. He and Bradley Beal make up the best backcourt in the East, and while Washington’s bench is notorious-

ibly talented wing scorer who is somehow a worse three point shooter than I am (DeMar DeRozan) and a traditional back-to-the basket center (Jonas Valanciunas). No thank you. Philadelphia 76ers: We’ve trusted the process so far, and it’s about to pay off. Even with the much-hyped debuts of Ben Simmons and Markelle Fultz, Philly’s season depends almost entirely on the health of Joel Embiid. The 76ers dominated with the bug guy on the floor in ‘16-’17 and played like a lottery team without him. It’s a risky proposition betting on a seven-footer with knee and ankle issues but Embiid is just too much fun. I’m going all in. Charlotte Hornets: Losing Nicolas Batum for 8-12 weeks stings and looking at the rest of the roster makes you queasy about their

Joe Edmonds Sports Correspondent Kent Bazemore. Somehow coming off 43 wins, Atlanta won’t be in the playoff picture in 2018. Indiana Pacers: There are some interesting pieces here. Myles Turner is the forgotten player in the “best young big man” conversation. Victor Oladipo has an underrated but objectively terrific name. Lance Stephenson will be the best two-way player in the world for three nights a year and a total liability for the rest. Starting point guard Cory Joseph is the best backup point guard in the league. I could easily see this team exploding for 25 wins. Chicago Bulls: Shit, you’re off the hook Atlanta. This is the most anonymous team in the association. Shout out to Kris Dunn, Providence College class of 2016.

“The road will be significantly tougher [for the Cavs] in 2018.” playoff chances. Michael Carter-Williams is a bust, Dwayne Bacon is an NBA 2K MyPlayer and Dwight Howard is a statuesque corpse. Still, Kemba Walker + East should equal some measure of success. Detroit Pistons: I wanted to put Detroit a couple spots lower but word on the street is Andre Drummond can actually shoot free throws now. That is a massive development for one of the NBA’s biggest underachievers and if his improvement leaks over to the other side of ball, he and Avery Bradley could elevate this team’s defense from middling to downright stingy. The Pistons will

West Golden State Warriors: After another dominant season, it’s hard to see anyone challenging the Warriors for the top spot in the conference… again. Kevin Durant fit into the team seamlessly last year, and they return the core of the championship team as they look to repeat. Oklahoma City Thunder: OKC were big spenders this offseason, bringing in two of the most prized targets in Paul George and Carmelo Anthony. Russell Westbrook will no longer need to provide half of the offense for this team. This season we will be able to

graphic by Madeline Woods

Kyrie Irving, LeBron James, Russell Westbrook and Kevin Durant, from left. ly thin, the firepower of the starters should be enough to garner the three-seed in this dumpster fire of a conference. Milwaukee Bucks: FEAR THE DEER. If you are still not onboard the Giannis Antetokounmpo hype train I don’t know what to tell you, dude is on the short list of players likely to succeed LeBron as the best player in the world once the King finally abdicated his throne. This is another painfully thin roster with Jabari Parker sidelined until February, but I’m telling you, one superstar is enough. And you know what? We’ll make that two superstars, because I’m pretty sure Malcolm Brogdon is going to start his 2020 presidential campaign sometime around Christmas. Miami Heat: Even as a diehard Celtics supporter, it pained me as a basketball fan that we didn’t get to witness an epic BostonMiami first round matchup last year after the Heat finished the season on an incredible 30-11 blitz. That kind of success obviously can’t be extrapolated over the course of 82 games but you can sleep on this relentless, in-your-face squad at your own risk. Regression in the three-point shooting of Goran Dragic and Dion Waiters is to be expected but Isaiah’s illegitimate brother Kelly Olynyk should help fill some of that void. And Justice Winslow, don’t worry baby, you’ve still got one person who still believes in you! Toronto Raptors: We the north? If you say so. Winter is coming for the Raptors, if their three-year run as a faux contender even counts as a summer. Kyle Lowry is sneakily 32 and always banged up, the guy is going to fall off sooner rather than later. And once that happens, they’re relying on an incred-

be battling for the final playoff spot come season’s end. Brooklyn Nets: Surprise, so will the Nets! This feels like it could be a year or two early but I think D’Angelo Russell will thrive once he’s out of the pressure cooker of LA and allowed to run Brooklyn’s fast-paced, spaced-out offense. Make no mistake, these guys aren’t all that good, but you don’t really need to be to win 35 games. Orlando Magic: Squint hard enough and Aaron Gordon sort of looks like a poor man’s Aaron Gordon. And, um, that’s all I’ve got. If nothing else, the Magic will be

see his distribution abilities as he provides space for the forwards to work. I think this lethal offense will be second only to the Warriors this season. Houston Rockets: How much did the Rockets improve this offseason? Well, they added one of the best point guards in the league in Chris Paul, but I’m not convinced of the success they will have. James Harden loves to have the ball in his hands so he can carry the team; will he be okay giving point guard duties to Paul to facilitate? The Rockets will safely make the playoffs and be a top team in the West, but I don’t think the

“After another dominant season, it’s hard to see anyone challenging the Warriors....” an intriguing league pass team with their bevy of high-flyers in Gordon, Jonathon Simmons and Terrence Ross. New York Knicks: Kristaps Porzingis baby, that’s all there is to say. Literally. The once-booed giant should continue his steady ascension to All-Stardom but he’s sharing the floor with too many scrubs to do much damage. I am excited to see the killer insideout big man combo of the Zinger and Enes Kanter as they produce some of the highest scoring and least effective defensive lineups in the league. Atlanta Hawks: It was only three years ago that Mike Budenholzer’s Hawks became Spurs: East edition and won 60 games. Now they have perhaps the most anonymous roster in the NBA led by a point guard who won’t sniff the All-Star game in Dennis Schroder and an excellent seventh man in

from last season when Gordon Hayward signed with the Boston Celtics in free agency. This season, they will look to counter much of the top teams in the West with a different style. Their strength will be defense, and it will carry them to a playoff spot but not much farther. There will be a point when the top teams have too many weapons for the defense to shut down. Minnesota Timberwolves: The Timberwolves pair of young stars in Karl Anthony-Towns and Andrew Wiggins continue to improve, and they added a pair of veterans in Jimmy Butler and Jeff Teague. As Towns and Wiggins continue to grow, they will be able to compete for a playoff spot. Denver Nuggets: Denver is another team with a young core that is continuing to grow well together. Nikola Jokic appears to be a superstar in the making, and the team features a solid group of guards in Gary Harris, Emmanuel Mudiay, and Jamal Murray. Veteran Paul Millsap will provide leadership and anchor the team at the forward position, and Denver can improve on their 9th place conference finish from last season. Memphis Grizzlies: Losing Tony Allen, Zach Randolph, and Vince Carter significantly hurts the Grizzlies chances this season. The Grizzlies will experience a down year after making the playoffs, but will give the last few seeds a run for their money in an attempt to stay competitive. Los Angeles Clippers: The Clippers face a lot of question marks this year. Chris Paul is gone, and their best remaining players are huge injury risks. Blake Griffin and Danilo Gallinari have both missed significant amount of games over the past few seasons,

guard duo is enough to knock off the Warriors. San Antonio Spurs: You can never count out the Spurs. Gregg Popovich always has his team in contention at the end of the season, no matter how the odds are stacked against them. Kawhi Leonard is still the best two way player in basketball, but the supporting cast will determine how far the Spurs can go in the postseason. That, and if the Warriors don’t intentionally take out Kawhi like last season. Portland Trail Blazers: The Blazers will field a very similar lineup that they did last season, with guards Damian Lillard and CJ McCollum leading the team. The elite backcourt will be enough to put the Blazers back in the postseason, but they will struggle there against more complete teams. Utah Jazz: The Jazz lost their best player

and can’t be relied on to be on the court for 82 games. When healthy, they will compete with some playoff teams, but there is too much risk to think the Clippers can return to the playoffs. New Orleans Pelicans: Anthony Davis. DeMarcus Cousins. Jrue Holiday. Any lineup that starts with those three names sounds promising, and very explosive. Unfortunately for New Orleans, that’s where the excitement ends. They have no supporting cast for those three, and will struggle this year as a result. Dallas Mavericks: Dennis Smith Jr. looks to be a steal at the No. 9 spot from last year’s draft, as he could be the rookie of the year. However, the Mavericks still have too many old players on their roster that are well past their prime. They won’t be competitive again until they rebuild around Smith Jr. Los Angeles Lakers: Lonzo Ball is all the hype around the league, but he’s still playing for the Lakers. A Lakers team that hasn’t been good since 2013 and won a mere 26 games last year. Attendance will increase with Ball on the roster, but they will still be bad this year. Phoenix Suns: The Devin Booker show. That’s all Phoenix will be this year. As exciting as he can be when he lights up the scoreboard with 70 points, the Suns will struggle to win games this year. Sacramento Kings: The Kings are in a waiting period. They have a lot of young talent that could develop into strong NBA players, but need a few years to do so. The Kings will occupy the cellar of the West this season.

News

The Collegian: 5

16 October 2017

TU presents Top Ten Freshmen at Homecoming game After a long application process TU named its Top Ten Freshmen, now sophomores, during the Homecoming game’s halftime show. Cheyanne Wheat Student Writer The Top Ten Freshmen were chosen after an extensive application and judging process. Each student excels in leadership, community service, campus involvement and academics. These are all-star students that represent the best of their class and are very driven and successful individuals. They are sophomores now and you’ll find them around campus leading organizations and over-achieving beyond bounds.

he really appreciates the multicultural and international exposure within the TU community. In his own words, “As an international student, I didn’t just get to learn about the states, but also, have the opportunity to learn about international cultures. Thank you AIS and SA for bringing the world to TU.” He believes he is one of the Top ten because he represents TU’s International student population well.

assistant community service chair, Global Scholars food education project and the Honors program. His favorite part of campus is how helpful professors are and how they want their students to do well and succeed. He was chosen as one of the top ten because of his leadership roles and relentless work ethic.

Madison Pickett

Nicholas Langston

Her favorite part of TU is the “endless opportunities available to students, the closeknit community and the collaborative environment in and out the classroom.” She was chosen as a Top Ten Freshmen because she has taken what she has learned from her TU experience and applies all that knowledge to her daily life, community and world.

Claire Chapman

Natalie Amos

Natalie Ames is a nursing major. After college, she hopes to work in “ labor and delivery, or the neonatal intensive care unit or the pediatric intensive care unit.” After a few years of experience, she plans to return to school to earn her master’s degree and become a nurse practitioner. In the TU community, she is involved in TU Catholic Newman Center, TU Student Nursing Association and University Ambassadors. She also is on the SA Cabinet as the associate director for the Homecoming/Grad Party Committee. Plus, she works for the Center of Global Education as a IFSA-Butler Global Ambassador to promote the program. Within an email, she explained her community involvement as a “volunteer at the local Church of St. Mary as a Confirmation Leader, where I work with a small group of high school students throughout the year to prepare them to receive the Sacrament of Confirmation in May.” Her favorite aspect of TU is the friendliness of the faculty and staff. She actually told a story within answer this question that I thought was worth sharing: “Even before I ever attended TU, I was interning at the School of Nursing, and while I was carrying an intubation kit around, I happened to run into Dr. Clancy, who asked if I wanted to learn how to intubate someone; he then immediately stopped whatever he was doing and took out the intubation tools and taught me how to intubate. It’s little experiences like that that make TU’s faculty so amazing.” She was chosen as one of the Top Ten Freshmen because of her initiative, risktaking and passion for TU.

Nicholas R. Langston is majoring in math with minors in economics and philosophy. His dream is to either be a math professor or an economist. But he would like to tour the country or world as a street performer before he dives into his career. On campus, he is involved in Students Against Food Inequality as treasurer and is a Global Scholar. Currently, he is working to start a Movement Arts club to unite all students who express themselves through movement such as jugglers, dancers, gymnasts, flow artists, hoop artists, aerialists and others. His favorite part of TU is Goldie the golden retriever and the direction President Clancy and dean of students Mike Mills are taking to reduce violence on campus. Langston was chosen as a Top Ten Freshmen because of his unique combination of math major with his passion for the performing arts and his perseverance in his involvement in the community.

Madison Pickett is a biochemistry major with a law and policy minor. She wants to attend medical school after graduation and ultimately work in a surgical field. On campus, she is involved as an associate director for Student Awareness for SA, the community service co-chair for Chi Omega, a member of Chi Omega, a member of Early Careers in Community Medicine, a University Ambassador and a member of American Chemical Society. Her favorite part of TU is all of the diverse people she has met. She believes because of the large international student population, students “have a really unique opportunity to meet so many different people from different backgrounds” at TU. She was chosen as one of the top ten because she has recognized the value of education and is actively working towards making a change around campus.

Brittanie Withney

Cassandra Meador

Claire Chapman is a biology pre-med major. Her dream is to go to medical school and become a OB/GYN. She plans to specialize as a Maternal Fetal Specialist and work as a doctor for high risk pregnancies. Around campus, she is involved in Honors program, Reformed University Fellowship, University Ambassadors, Kendall-Whittier Reading Partners, Special Olympics Oklahoma, Beta Beta Beta Biology Honor Society, Phi Eta Sigma Honor Society, Student Health Advocacy Association and intramural sports. Also, she serves as executive director for Homecoming/Grad Party for the Student Association, vice president for TU College Republicans and greek activities coordinator for Kappa Alpha Theta. Her favorite aspect of TU is that the school both challenges and encourages her. It has given her the opportunity to grow within the community and help the community grow itself. She was chosen as a Top Ten Freshmen because she has embraces all the opportunities TU has given her from academic courses to service and leadership organizations.

Claire Zehetner

Connor Bender

Brittanie Whitney is a business management major with a focus in law and a minor in spanish. Her dream is to work as a Consular Fellow in any US embassy in Latin America. On campus, she is involved in Future Alumni Council, University Ambassadors, Global Scholars, Chi Omega and Students Against Food Insecurity.

Conner Bender is computer science and mathematics double major. His dream is to “serve and protect people using technology” in accordance to God’s plan for him. He is very involved around campus. Bender participates actively in SA, Greek Life, Cyber Corps, Global Scholars, honors program, NOVA Fellowship, University Ambassadors, Future Alumni Council, Reformed University Fellowship, TU Rotaract Club, Presidential Leaders Fellowship, Big Brother at Kendall Whittier and Concert Chorale. His favorite part of TU is “the relational campus environment that fosters intentionality and the culture of trying new things, being susceptible to failing, and identifying the success in that failure.” Bender was chosen as one of the Top Ten to represent the individuals here at TU that invested in him during his first year.

Evan Chee Yang Ng

Evan Chee Yang Ng is a petroleum engineering with a minor in mathematics and economics. After college, he either plans to attend grad school or backpack around the world. He is involved Association of International Students, Society of Petroleum Engineers and Malaysian Student Association of TU. Also, he is a volunteer as Reading Partner in Kendall-Whittier Elementary School. His favorite part of TU is the personal connection with professors and peers provided by the size of the university. Also,

Cassandra Meador is a psychology major with a women and gender studies minor. After college, she wants “to get my Ph.D. in psychology and become a professor one day.” On campus, she is involved as a RA at Lottie Jane Hall, national communications coordinator for RHA, member of NRHH, Phi Eta Sigma and associate director of Elections and Policy committee on SA. Also, she is the undergraduate assistant in the Trauma Response: Assessment, Prevention and Treatment Center directed by Dr. Davis. Her favorite aspect of TU is the “opportunities of academic and personal growth” and the connections she’s made throughout her time here. She was chosen as one of the top ten because of her global perspective she acquired after traveling to Ghana, her leadership skills by serving others, her growth mindset and her enthusiasm for learning and teamwork.

Clay Moyer

Clay Moyer is a business management major with a specialty in entrepreneurship and innovation. After college, he wants to be an entrepreneur in the health and fitness industry. He wants to live in a large city for the early part of his career and later move back to hi hometown to raise a family and care for the family ranch. He is involved in aspiring management and marketing professionals as the chairman of founding committee and as president of Global Scholars on the executive committee, in his fraternity, Pi Kappa Alpha as

photos by Dalton Stewart

Retention Alert in place to help students, not discipline them The CSAS Retention Alert program helps students with potential problems before they get out of hand. Nick Rethford Web/Social Media Manager For most college students, an email regarding his or her class performance can seem like a death note, but, as Center for Student Academic Support Director and ADA/504 Coordinator Tawny Rigsby points out, this may not be such a bad thing. In fact, the University of Tulsa’s Retention Alert program serves as just the opposite — a blessing in disguise. Retention Alert is a proactive outreach system started by the university where professors and other faculty can electronically submit concerns regarding students. “Faculty can get on and report concerns about students for things like missing assignments, low test scores, English fluency, sleeping in class and being tardy,” Rigsby said. “Anything that the student has issues with.” CSAS, along with other departments such as Athletic Student Services, Interna-

tional Student Services and the Collegiate Advising Offices, will then reach out to the student through email and, if that doesn’t work, through a phone call. This definitely isn’t a disciplinary measure, though. The goal is to reach out to students instead of waiting for them to seek help, which isn’t just proactive but can also be a lot less intimidating for some students. This way, the problem at hand can be identified and remedied before it becomes a real issue. “Students will tend to wait and not take any action, and, a lot of times, this makes things worse,” Rigsby said. This doesn’t just happen to a few select students, either. CSAS reaches out to a variety of students dealing with financial, health and family issues and refers them to different services such as tutoring and academic counseling. Retention Alert usually handles over 1000 cases per semester and has been able to intervene in a lot of serious situations, often with positive results. According to the University of Tulsa’s website, the overall CSAS success rate for students who sought academic counseling in spring of 2016 was 81 percent. So, the next you receive an email from CSAS, don’t look at it as a disciplinary action, but see it as an offer to help.

News

16 October 2017

Students are concerned about anonymous actors deciding what accommodations they are to receive.

Continued, CSAS, from cover CSAS granted Lowry temporary accommodations for two months pending her bringing in her medical record. “During the two semesters in which I had temporary accommodations, I had other health problems come up,” including, among other issues, a broken jaw. “I was having trouble getting excused absences, so my professor sent a note to CSAS,” Lowry said. “CSAS told me that if I gave my professor all the notes saying I went to the doctor, I made that appointment, and what the diagnosis was, then they would excuse that absence.” “[My professors] don’t get to know that either, that’s a hard no … I feel like that’s a huge violation,” Lowry said. Do to her injuries, she has trouble reading for long periods of time, which makes understanding other people’s notes and reading the books assigned for class difficult. She noted that the accommodations she has received don’t actually help with her problem areas. “Honestly, at this point it is more of a hassle than it’s even worth to try to reserve time for prolonged testing … some of my teachers give pop quizzes, how am I supposed to navigate stuff like that,” Lowry said. “Why go all through this grief if they don’t help? I just don’t get it.” Overall the process was long and painful, Lowry said. “I felt really revictimized and retraumatized having to go through everything with them.” Each of the girls noted that individual professors have been more accommodating than CSAS in many cases. “I love TU, I love the professors because all of them have been really accommodating,” Counter said, “but it’s just stuff like this that doesn’t ever work.” Some professors have allowed Counter come in early and start taking the test before other students got there, however this is problematic because schedules change, she gets easily distracted by others in the room, which could be avoided with the ability to test privately which CSAS accommodations provide, and she has received nasty looks from students who wonder why she gets special treatment. When it comes to alternative methods of getting accommodations, “basically the only other thing you can do is explain the situation to your professor and hope they take pity on you,” Newman said. “A lot of my professors are more accommodating than CSAS is, which shouldn’t be the case,” Harris said. In addition to these specific student stories, the Collegian had previously reported incidents with CSAS in January 2016 and April 2015. The Rules The CSAS vision statement says “The Center for Student Academic Support strives to serve as a leader in exemplary academic support programming and initiatives through inclusive and affirming practices that will position all students on a path to lifelong learning and success.”

Tawny Rigsby, the director of CSAS, explained the process. When a student meets with a CSAS representative for the first time, Rigsby said, they are questioned about their specific circumstances, walked through the application process and asked to provide sufficient documentation of their disability so that the Eligibility Committee can tailor accommodations to meet the student’s specific needs. “We try to talk to people in person. We ask a lot of questions to try to understand their individual needs,” Rigsby said. When it comes to getting the proper documentation from students, “the ADA says we need a diagnosis and we need functional limitations at a minimum,” Rigsby said. However documentation guidelines for diagnosing certain disabilities often differ by profession. “We’re looking at documents from medical doctors, DMs, psychologists, clinical psychologists, counselors. I mean, there are all different professions that can write documentation, and they all have different standards that they follow,” Rigsby said. According to the official 504/ADA Accommodations Policy, which can be found on the CSA’S webpage on the University of Tulsa site under “Forms & Policies”, the student is responsible for providing “documentation of the testing procedures followed, the instruments used to assess the disability, the test results and the interpretation of the results.” One of these forms to be completed by the certifying professional is the Disability Verification Form, which asks for the license type and number of the professional; each of the diagnoses with a date of onset and anticipated duration; the frequency of their visits with the student; the various diagnostic tools, processes and results; the medication, treatment and prescribed aids and “other information relevant to this student’s academic adjustment that will aid in making appropriate decisions about accommodations.” In addition, “diagnosis of some disorders must meet specific criteria, for example, the diagnosis of Learning Disabilities, Attention Deficit Disorder or similar conditions.” For example, the ADHD documentation guidelines are a separate five page document outlining which professionals are qualified to submit documentation, a ten point list of components that must be included in the submitted reports, requiring a summary in writing of “a clear history of the impact of the disorder in at least two settings,” a list of recommended tests of aptitude and achievement and requiring the professionals recommendations for accommodations. The Eligibility Committee consists of representatives from CSAS, the Alexander Health Center and someone from the college in which the student resides, usually the Associate Dean. Sometimes a representative from housing or athletics or a specialist in the field of the disability will also be invited to weigh in on the process depending on the specific needs of the student. Rigsby said the extensiveness of the process is designed to give students the most individualized care possible. “Everyone’s test results differ, and if you

Some disabilities require intensive testing to qualify for aid.

graphic by Madeline Woods

The Collegian: 6

graphic by Madeline Woods

were to just look at the diagnosis everyone would be treated the same, and that’s not what the ADA wants,” Rigsby said. “We want to look at each person individually and help them based on their individual needs and functional limitations.” The Eligibility Committee meets every two weeks, Rigsby said, and in some circumstances temporary accommodations can be granted immediately, or it could take close to three weeks to get results. According to the accommodations policy, “within 20 working days … of receiving the written request and all pertinent documents, a written response will be issued.” Rigsby said that accommodations are rarely denied (about 1-3 times a semester), and when they are it is because their is not enough evidence to prove a disability or because the student was seeking accommodations for a temporary issue. “Just having a diagnosis alone is not really enough for us to treat them as an individual, which is what ADA wants us to do. Sometimes they might just have the functional limitations, and the doctor left off the a diagnosis,” Rigsby said. “We have to have both of those things, and if we don’t we might do temporary to give them time to get documentation submitted that gives those things.” Temporary accommodations are granted about 30 times a semester, Rigsby said. According to the accommodations policy, TU specifically does not offer “diagnostic evaluation for disabilities,” which is understood to be because doing so would legally constitute a conflict of interest. Legal and Financial Concerns CSAS is legally bound by the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act (504) and the Family Education Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA). The ADA prohibits discrimination and ensures equal opportunity for those with disabilities in employment, State and local government services, public accommodations, commercial facilities and transportation. Section 504 states, “No otherwise qualified individual with a disability in the United States ... shall, solely by reason of her or his disability, be excluded from the participation in, be denied the benefits of, or be subjected to discrimination under any program or activity receiving Federal financial assistance.” FERPA prevents universities from releasing a student’s educational information, including disability accommodations, without written permission from the student unless there is a legitimate educational interest. There is no evidence to suggest that CSAS has broken these laws. However, the students who have spoken out against CSAS so far feel as though they are experiencing de facto discrimination by virtue of the additional time, effort and money they must invest to receive accommodations. The financial and time costs of formal testing can be significant. Most students on campus have student health insurance, unless they choose to opt out. With TU health insurance treatment at the student health center is 100 percent covered, including prescriptions and testing. However, any testing done by a TU-affiliate cannot be used for CSA’S documentation. The students next step is to try to find an in network doctor or specialist, for which TU insurance offers a $20 copay. To find in network providers a student would go to www.uhcsr.com/tulsa and click on “Find Providers”. However, just to get to that point you have to navigate the University of Tulsa website to the Alexander Health Center page then scroll down to student health insurance. Once there you have to know what you are looking for to narrow the search results. Narrowing the search results to master level clinician in the area of Attention Deficit Disorders within five miles of Tulsa with express access that are accepting new patients turned up only two results. For a licensed psychiatrist in the areas of anxiety and depression within five miles of

Tulsa that are accepting new patients there were 21 options. However, none were express access, so there were no options for same-week appointment, and only the three branches of OU Physicians Tulsa provided and kind of psychological testing. What’s more, due to the nature of negotiations between healthcare and insurance providers each year, in network providers are subject to change from one year to the next. This process only increases in difficulty for students on their own or on their parents’ health insurance. The school is under no legal obligation to provide free, affordable or easy-to-access testing to expedite the accommodations process for students with disabilities. However, doing so would further distance the university from any accusation of de facto discrimination. Newman recommended, “That all could have been avoided if they had an outside medical professional located at the Alexander Health Center.” Defense Against Student Accusations The concern that students don’t know going in what accommodations are available has been recently addressed by an application for academic assistance which lists eight common accommodations to choose from and three spaces to write in other accommodations you think you may need. “It’s not an all-inclusive list because there are new things every time. You think you’ve figured out every type of accommodation someone might want an something new comes up,” Rigsby said. Responding to students who felt the questioning process was re-traumatizing or anxiety-inducing Rigsby was understanding. “It gets kind of in depth, just because we want to know what is affecting you personally,” Rigsby said. “I think students sometimes are confused because they haven’t thought through this before, especially if they didn’t have accommodations in highschool, this can be very unique.” Addressing concerns about the anonymity of the Eligibility Committee, Rigsby clarified that the person from the student’s college was always someone within the Dean’s office, never anyone they would be interacting with on a day-to-day basis. Rigsby also said students have a right to know who sat on their committee and are free to ask for their names. In addition, Rigsby assured that each of the members of the committee are legally bound by FERPA not to disclose any of the students private medical information. “People on the Eligibility Committee have a right to know [the specifics of disabilities], otherwise they wouldn’t know what kind of accommodations to give,” Rigsby said. “Sometimes, if the issue deals with housing for example, housing needs to know they have that accommodation in order to be able to implement. We share some limited information with offices that need it to be able to implement those accommodations.” In response to Lowry’s concern about having to tell her professors the diagnoses of her doctor’s appointments to redeem absences, Rigsby said, “You’ll have to ask that teacher. That’s not something we are a part of. There is not a CSAS policy that covers that, that is up to the instructor.” In response to complaints that it is particularly difficult to get accommodations for mental disabilities Rigsby said “anxiety, depression and ADHD are probably the most common issues we accommodate.” Addressing the concerns, especially of the two veterans, that they were being asked to provide too much of their personal information, Rigsby said that CSA’S doesn’t require their entire medical record. “Sometimes students do bring that whole thing in and we go through and try to find the diagnosis and the functional limitations,” Rigsby said. “A lot of times Veterans are sort of overwhelmed trying to find that themselves, so they bring it in and we help them go through it. We don’t need that whole thing by any means, and we have no copies of that entire document for anybody.” Getting a list of medications, Rigsby said, is a common part of the process to see what more needs to be done. “It’s not to be invasive, and it’s not shared with irrelevant people. We don’t share any of the diagnoses or medical stuff with faculty, they have no right to that information,” Rigsby said. Rigsby was concerned about these students’ complaints, and wanted to remind students that their is a grievance policy if they feel their situation has been handled incorrectly. She also welcomed students to come in and talk about their issues. “There are a lot of mental health issues now, and we have students in crisis multiple times every week,” Rigsby said. “Trying to help get them connected is critical, otherwise they aren’t going to be able to make it, they aren’t going to do well. Things just can snowball, especially in an academic environment where it is very stressful. We don’t want people to leave her and not get fully helped.”

The Collegian: 7

News

16 October 2017

TU professor testifies at US Senate on cybersecurity

courtesy C-SPAN

TU Professor Tyler Moore was invited to talk about potential harms and recommendations in the Equifax security breach. Michaela Flonard Managing Editor Professor Tyler Moore received an intriguing call from the congressional aide to US Senator Jeff Flake (R-AZ) Sept. 29. Through word of mouth, the aide had learned Moore was an expert in cybersecurity and economic approaches to cybersercurity and was interested in having Moore testify at the congressional hearing on the recent Equifax data breach on Oct. 4. This data breach exposed the names, Social Security numbers, birthdates and addresses of 143 million Americans. Some driver’s license numbers and credit card numbers were also released. In his “Foundations of Cybersecurity” course, Moore had already been discussing the breach, Equifax’s response and potential harms. Still, when he received the official invitation to the hearing Monday, Oct. 2, he spent the day researching and writing up his testimony. Moore presented along with the former Equifax CEO Richard Smith and Jamie Winterton, the director of Arizona State’s

Global Security Initiative. Smith was given most of the hard questions, Moore said, and he and Winterton were there as independent sources about potential harms and solutions. In his testimony, Moore focused on potential harms of the breach, some economic and some non-economic, and his recommendations for the future. Along with the obvious economic harm of increased credit fraud with the large number of SSNs stolen, Moore brought up the potential for increased filing of fraudulent tax returns or even healthcare and entitlement fraud. On the non-economic side, harassment and stalking could also be an issue, as the data has individuals names and ad-

ees with a security clearance and bad credit ratings—which could be potentially turned against the US for financial gain. He proposed three solutions: freezing credit by default, making harms of these breaches more transparent and moving away from the use of SSN. Currently, “the burden is on individual consumers to freeze their credit,” which prevents loans, credit cards or other applications using a SSN to be taken out without another form of identification, typically a PIN given when the account is frozen. Freezing an account also prevents searches of your credit and selling of your personal data to companies. Requiring the harms of such breaches to be more publicly available, Moore believes, would help to prevent future breaches and our understanding of the cost of breaches. Currently, companies are only required to say what data they lost and notify customers. Moore believes companies should be compelled to report information on the harms that come from these breaches, for a “more accurate accounting of what the harms are, so they can potentially provide recompense to victims and further incentivise companies to have better security so this doesn’t happen.” “As bad as this has been for Equifax, if they’re not responsible for all these other existing harms, they wouldn’t invest enough in security to prevent these harms,” Moore pointed out. Gaining the political capital to legislate this might be difficult, but if ev-

“‘...it’s easy to think our elected officials don’t know what they’re talking about, but in this case, [they] did...’” dresses, which harassers could use to their advantaged. Tied to another recent breach, Moore said the Equifax breach could have national security implications. In 2015, the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) was breached, exposing the names and security clearances, along with other information, of many federal employees. While the perpetrators of the Equifax breach are unknown, if they were a foreign nation-state, which is implicated in the OPM breach, they could use the two breaches to find federal employ-

ery company was forced to report harms, it wouldn’t be as damaging for individual companies. For a long-term recommendation, Moore believes SSN should be replaced with something more secure and less static in case of future breaches. The 143 million affected by the breach cannot be all reissued new SSN, but if SSN were replaced with a PIN or password, this wouldn’t be as difficult. For students, Moore recommended two things in response to the breach. First, students should consider freezing their credit, at all three credit bureaus. Equifax is offer-

ing free freezes as a result of the breach, but they will cost at the other two, Experian and TransUnion. These will freeze your credit and provide you with a PIN to unfreeze it whenever needed, although unfreezing it may also cost. According to Moore, freezing your credit is better than locking it, as locking it still allows the bureaus to sell your data and show it to inquiring parties, like a employer. Second, Moore advised against creditmonitoring services, like LifeLock. These services monitor credit for any suspicious activity but do not prevent fraudulent accounts from being opened. The money used for LifeLock, Moore pointed out, could be used to freeze your credit. After his testimony, Moore had an extensive Q & A with the Senate. He also received further written questions this week, about the costs and benefits of freezing credit by default, which left him believing the Senate may be considering legislating such a move. The experience was “encouraging,” said Moore, as the two US Senators, Flake and Al Fraken (D-NY) asked “intelligent questions and seemed to understand the issues at play.” “Sometimes it’s easy to think our elected officials don’t know what they’re talking about, but in this case, these two senators did,” he finished. It was “surreal” to interact with Fraken, who Moore remembers from SNL skits when he was younger. This opportunity allowed Moore to influence policy making, which he has been involved with before, in writing reports to the European Union and Department of Homeland Security, among others. Influencing policy is important to Moore as “the thing about cybersecurity is so much of what needs to be done to improve is a combination of technology and computer security approaches but also policy. So much goes beyond what we can do by designing technology.” Currently Moore is researching the security issues in crypto-currency, like bitcoins, and developing long-term measures of cybersecurity, much like the GDP and other measures work for the economy.

TU Physical Plant VP named 2017 Mr. Homecoming Bob Shipley accepted the title of Mr. Homecoming after over 20 years of service for TU. Grace McFee Student Writer

Bob Shipley, the University of Tulsa’s associate vice president for Operations and Physical Plant, who has been with TU for over 20 years, was awarded the title of Mr. Homecoming 2017. “I enjoy the recognition for myself and for my department...the title and the idea of Mr. Homecoming is sort of fun. It’s a little different than being a distinguished Alum. I mean, what the heck is a Mr. Homecoming anyway? So I think it’s been a fun process,” he said. “Some of my friends who are away from TU say ‘well, just what the devil is this Mr. Homecoming? Did you run for it and beat a co-ed who’s probably smarter and better looking than you? How did this happen?’ So those are fun encounters, to explain that it is a recognition that goes to faculty and staff.” Shipley said the award means a lot to him because he can share it with his family. “I have a daughter who lives in LA; she and her boyfriend come home for this because she was a TU graduate, and so she is coming to Homecoming and her dad is Mr. Homecoming. And I have a son who lives here in town and he’s married, so his family is coming to the bonfire and I get to light the bonfire.” When asked why he thinks he won the title, he answered: “The Physical Plant does a good job...and certainly, if they didn’t do a good job, I wouldn’t have gotten the award. I am the Physical Plant guy, along with John Wood, who is the associate director...we’ve managed it for a long time and our faces are kind of on it.” He elaborated that: “We have an awful lot of good and talented people, carpenters and painters, and I think over the long term, they’ve been known for doing a very good job and I think that set me in a place that I was considered for this.”

courtesy University of Tulsa

Shipley’s responsibilities at TU are multifaceted. “First, I have the Physical Plant to look over, and day to day we’re involved in a lot of little maintenance things. When you

managing the design of new buildings. “I’m the person who works with architects the university has hired and causes them to interface with faculty groups,” he said.

“‘... I looked through this class and it looked like a bee cave. It was not overstated.’” walk in the door, you don’t know what it’s gonna be that day. It could be bumblebees coming out of the attic or a flooded basement after a storm. I enjoy the challenge of those things.” However, his primary job is actually

His favorite story from working on campus is something he still laughs about. “Most of the time when people are talking about crises on campus, they overstate….A friend of mine radioed over and said there were some bees in Helmerich, and kind of

implied the professors and students were exaggerating. So...I walked up to the third floor...and I started to go in this room and I looked through this class and it looked like a bee cave. It was not overstated.” Shipley said he loves working on campus because he is able to see all the things he has been a part of over the years. “Just walking across campus and seeing buildings that I’ve been involved with and seeing the layout of the campus and the pedestrian system with brick paving and vintage lights and trees overhanging them, that just gives me enormous satisfaction to see those things.”

16 October 2017

Oct 5 11:55 a.m. University of Tulsa Campus Security Officers were dispatched to investigate a possible injured student at the Allen Chapman Student Union. When officers arrived, the student was sitting up and addressing an abrasion to their knee. The student explained their university bicycle chain had broken when riding, causing the accident. The student declined EMSA, but agreed to be transported to Alexander Heath Clinic. The student did not suffer other injuries and was able to walk to and from the vehicle. 2:15 p.m. University of Tulsa Campus Security Officers made contact with a non-university affiliated individual at Mayo Village. The individual was changing their clothes at one of the picnic tables. A records check of the individual showed they do not have an active warrant or prior university trespass warning. Officers issued a trespass warning and escorted the individual off campus. 3:30 p.m. University of Tulsa Campus Security Officers were dispatched to Hardesty Hall to do a welfare check on a TU affiliate. His family had not heard from them in over a week and was concerned. Officers made contact with

News the TU affiliate and determined that they were okay. Oct 6 11:00 a.m. University of Tulsa Campus Security Officers were dispatched to the Mayo Village Apartments on a noise complaint of a barking dog. Officers made contact with the residents and found they had an approved dog. Officers informed the residents that they need to keep the dog quiet as it was disturbing their neighbors. The residents stated they would take care of the issue. A contact card was issued. 4:55 p.m. While on routine patrol University of Tulsa Campus Security Officers observed a suspicious individual in the parking lot of the Oxley College of Health Science building. Officers attempted contact with the individual. The individual did not respond to officers and appeared to be under the influence. The individual walked out of the parking lot and continued down the public sidewalk. Officers ensured the individual left the area without incident. 8:45 p.m. University of Tulsa Campus Security Officers were dispatched to Mayo Village for a noise complaint. Officers made contact with the residents of the apartment and told them to turn the music down. The resident’s complied and were given a warning. A contact card was issued. Oct 7 12:20 a.m. While on routine patrol University of Tulsa Campus Security Officers noticed a fire pit

Nathan Gibbons Distribution Manager

Mogadishu blasts kill 230 people Last Saturday, a bomb attack in the Somali capital Mogadishu left at least 230 people dead and hundreds more injured. “There are more than 300 wounded, some of them seriously,” said police official Ibrahim Mohamed, adding that the death toll would likely rise. Families and rescue workers were out Sunday morning, clearing rubble, looking for survivors and identifying the dead, reporters say. “72 wounded people were admitted to the hospital and 25 of them are in very serious condition. Others lost their hands and legs at the scene...What happened yesterday was incredible, I have never seen such a thing before, and countless people lost their lives. Corpses were burned beyond recognition,“ said the director of the Madina Hospital, Mohamed Yusuf Hassan. A second bomb attack in the Madina district of the city killed at least two people, officials say. President Mohamed Abdullahi “Farmajo” Mohamed declared a three day period of mourning for the victims of the blast. Though the cause of the blast is still being investigated, the city is a common target for the Islamist al-Shabab group, which began its insurgency in 2007.

Firefighters fight California blazes After a week of wildfires, hundreds are missing, and at least forty have been confirmed dead in California, officials say. Thousands of homes have been destroyed and over 100,000 people have fled in what the governor of California, Jerry Brown, called “one of the greatest tragedies” the state has ever faced. Winds up to 45 mph brought wildfires to new towns while over 10,000 firefighters continued to fight 16 remaining blazes last Sunday. On a visit to the city of Santa Rosa, where 3,000 people were evacuated before wildfires destroyed the town, Governor Brown called the devastation “just unbelievable.” He said, “It is a horror that no one could have imagined.” Smoke and ash have blown around the state and over San Francisco, about 50 miles away from the fires. The tragedy is the most lethal outbreak of wildfires in the state’s history.

U.S. economy strong, despite subdued inflation Despite subdued inflation, Federal Reserve Chair Janet Yellen said last Sunday that interest rates should continue to be gradually increased by the central bank. At its latest policy meeting in September, the U.S. central bank voted to hold interest rates steady as the inflation rate retreated from the Federal Reserve’s 2 percent target rate. Yellen and other economists have since cast skepticism on the path of inflation. At an international banking seminar in Washington, Yellen said she does not expect “these soft readings” to persist in coming months, and that data will continued to be examined. A weak jobs report last September was shrugged off by Federal Reserve officials as the decline was likely only an effect of hurricanes Harvey and Irma displacing workers. Despite this, the jobs report’s wage gains were a good sign of a strong economy, Yellen said in her speech. The Federal Reserve predicts that the central bank will raise interests rate one more time this year and three times in 2018. Since late 2015, the central bank has raised interest rates four times.

on the front lawn of the Pi Kappa Alpha fraternity house. Officers spoke with members around the fire pit and explained university policy. The members were cooperative and the fire was extinguished. 12:30 a.m. University of Tulsa Campus Security Officers were dispatched to the Sigma Nu Fraternity House in regards to a fire alarm. Upon arrival, officers checked the fire panel and were unable to locate any signs of fire or smoke, therefore Tulsa Fire Department was canceled. 12:55 a.m. University of Tulsa Campus Security Officers were dispatched to investigate a possible hit & run accident in University Square Apartment, West. Upon arrival Officers spoke with two TU students who stated they were driving southbound in the parking lot. Another vehicle started to reverse at a high rate of speed and hit their passenger front side bumper. Then the vehicle left the lot northbound on Delaware Ave and they were able to get the plate number. The student was advised to file a report online with the Tulsa Police Department and to contact their insurance. 7:55 p.m. University of Tulsa Campus Security Officers were dispatched to the Brown Village Apartments on a complaint of excessive noise. Upon arrival the officers made contact with the reporting party, but the noise could not be heard. Officers went to the surrounding apartments, but could not hear any noise emanating from the other apartments in the building. A housing contact card was not completed.

The Collegian: 8

Oct 8 1:30 a.m. University of Tulsa Campus Security Officers were dispatched to Fisher West in response to suspicious activity. Officers arrived on scene where a resident had reported someone pulling on their door. The resident reported that it is not the first time it has happened. Officers walked the floor and spoke with several neighbors who said they did not notice anything. 12:30 p.m. University of Tulsa Campus Security Officers were dispatched to speak with an individual was at Mabee Gym wanting to file a report of stalking. The victim informed officers they have been stalked by another student since August. The victim stated the individual had been making unwanted appearances at their residence, locations of classes, and contacting them from multiple sources. Officers informed the victim to file a report with the Tulsa Police Department. The investigation is ongoing. 10:00 p.m. University of Tulsa Campus Security Officers were dispatched to Hardesty Hall for an ill student. The student had an anxiety attack while studying. Officers assisted the student until Emergency Medical Services Authority (EMSA) arrived. The student did not want to go to the hospital and refused EMSA. The Collegian does not produce or edit the Campus Crime Watch except for content and brevity.

Monday, October 16 through Thursday, October 19 Hardesty Hall, Office 1125 Hiring 2018 Orientation Leaders Help new students succeed quickly at TU! Apply to be a party of our 2018-2019 Orientation Leader team. Applications are available in New Student Programs, Hardesty Hall, Office 1125. Complete applications and materials are due by 3:00 pm on Thursday, November 16. Tuesday, October 17 at 11:30 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. Student Union, Great Hall Friends of Finance Executive Speaker Luncheon: Gerard Clancy Gerard Clancy, President of The University of Tulsa will kick off our Executive Luncheon Speaker on Tuesday, October 17, 2017. Reservations are required. You may register online or contact Judy Adair, judyadair@utulsa.edu or 918-631-2588. Luncheons are held in the Great Hall of the Allen Chapman Student Union on TU’s campus. Check-in begins at 11:15 a.m. with the buffet lunch beginning at 11:30 a.m. We usually conclude by 1:00 p.m. Wednesday, October 18 at 7:00 p.m. Lorton Performance Center, Meinig Recital Hall How New Orleans Ghostwrites My Plays The TU Film, Theatre and Creative Writing programs welcome playwright Lisa D’Amour to campus. D’Amour, a Pulitzer Prize nominee for her play, Detroit, will present a talk entitled “How New Orleans Ghostwrites My Plays,” with readings and videos of her work, followed by an audience Q&A. Wednesday, October 18 at 7:00 p.m. The Escape Tulsa iTU Mentorship Event: Escape Room Come join iTU for an Escape Room on Wednesday, October 18. We will meet at The Escape Tulsa (1448 S Carson Ave, Tulsa, OK 74119) at 7:00 p.m. This is open to anyone majoring, minoring, or just interested in CIS so please invite anyone interested. SVP to Matt Schmitz at mss804@utulsa.edu by Oct. 9th if you’d like to attend! Space is limited. Thursday, October 19 at 7:30 p.m. Lorton Performance Center, Gussman Concert Hall TU Jazz Concert Featuring J. Donald Feagin Visiting Artist Walter White The University of Tulsa School of Music presents the TU Jazz Bands in concert. Guest soloist for the concert will be J. Donald Feagin Visiting Artist composer and jazz trumpeter Walter White. Featured selections for the concert include White’s arrangements of Cantaloupe Island, Stella by Starlight, My Funny Valentine and several new original big band compositions. Thursday, October 19 at 7:30 p.m. Lorton Performance Center, Gussman Concert Hall Nimrod Conference for Readers and Writers Join us for the annual Nimrod Conference for Readers and Writers. Participants are offered the opportunity to work with the dozens of distinguished authors. Each registrant is entitled to participate in readings, panel discussions, masterclasses, and one-onone editing sessions. The Collegian does not produce all event descriptions in the Community Calendar. Contact us at news@tucollegian.org with events.

16 October 2017

Commentary

The Collegian: 9

More technology in schools worth the risk

Despite the drawbacks in knowledge retention, integrating technology in class closes the gap between rich and poor students. Nathan Hinkle Student Writer The use of technology has vastly changed education across America. Through the use of grants and school financing, many schools across the country are providing their students with electronics such as tablets and laptops in order to access new forms of digital education. Through these tools, students are able to access things such as online tests, teacher-created videos and online textbooks. Schools hope to improve the potential learning opportunities by using different methods in order to get the information across. However, there is also a reasonable fear that students will become distracted and be less likely to grasp important pieces of information. Instead of focusing on their class, they could be focused on things such as social media. However while I think we need to be careful with technol-

ogy in the classroom, it is an important tool that will help improve education in the future. Through technology, schools attempt new styles of teaching to be more helpful to students. For example through the use of instructional videos, some classes are now taking a different approach to the general structure of a class. Instead of learning the lesson in class and then going home and doing homework, it has been flipped on its head. Students watch the lesson at home and bring their homework to class where they can be assisted by teachers. This system attempts to make it more fair to all students especially ones in lower income brackets. The problem is that not every student has parents at home who have the time or knowledge to help them with homework. Instead of forcing these students to do it on their own, they can receive help from their teachers during class. In addition to that, the use of teaching

how to properly use a computer. With this, they will have knowledge of technical tools that will be beneficial for them when they leave education. Technology grants are especially important for poorer students. Tools and applications are pointless for someone who cannot purchase a tablet or laptop. School funding for electronics help close the gap for students of lower incomes. Schools are now able to assign electronic devices to students who are disadvantaged in comparison to their classmates. With extra funding, schools can meet this need and help out these students. An example of this spread is through cheap laptops made by Google known as Chromebooks. Over 30 million students in primary and secondary schools across America use applications such as Google Drive during their school work. Therefore in an education system where online tools are widespread, everyone needs to have access to receive a proper education. The grants

“Over 30 million students . . . use applications such as Google Drive during their school work.” videos also allows individual students to go back at any time to something they did not understand while the rest of the students can proceed onwards. Through the use of technology, teachers can find the best way that works for them and their students. Through the application of these devices, students do not only learn their classwork but also learn

help provide the funds necessary to provide these. Through the spreading of technology, each student has the same advantages as their peers and is able to complete their assignments. However, there is evidence that computers may have a negative impact on students’ education. In a psychological study in

2016 done by researchers at the University of California, researchers discovered that people writing on paper were more likely to understand the less defined questions. For example after learning about diversity approaches in Sweden and Japan, both sets of students were able to report back the facts, but the students on digital devices were less likely to answer questions effectively such as, “How do Japan and Sweden differ in their approaches to equality in their societies?” This presents a potential problem for new users of technology. It is important for students to understand both the facts as well as the wider image behind it. In addition to this, students on their laptops also have the potential temptation of things such as social media. This has lead some to feel that technology should be left out of the classroom as it will impede the student’s learning. While I think it is important to stop distractions during education, I think keeping technology out of the classroom is an example of throwing the baby out with the bath water. Instead of removing technology entirely from the hands of students, we should instead focus on how we can best use technology to help better educate incoming students. Through the applications of these tools, we can help create a suitable learning environment for all students. If we continue to go down this road, electronic grants for schools are extremely important to making sure everyone has access. It is useless to create new tools without the proper infrastructure to back it up.

TU shuttles need consistency, more options

Shuttles on campus are unpopular because of their limited routes at unpredictable times. Irene Baljak Student Writer It’s 9 a.m. on Monday, and the campus is busy with students walking. A TU shuttle passes by, empty. This has become a familiar sight. The majority of buses run empty. After talking with a few students, it becomes clear that the current bus system is raising a lot of unsatisfied complaints. Students generally complain about the school-provided transportation system, especially in regard to times and locations. Even the drivers

have little good to say about the system, frequently complaining about the high number of empty rides they have to make. Overall, the bus system is expensive and inefficient. Why are students not taking the bus? Often, they simply can’t. Buses are very infrequent, usually just two buses running on two campus routes. Also, the buses don’t follow a regular schedule, making it even harder to find a bus on the way to class. Overall, it’s impossible to rely on the bus for everyday transportation. Another problem is the weekend bus schedule. Usually those buses are more busy, but the student satisfaction with the current weekend system is still low. On Saturday, only one bus runs from 1 p.m. to 7 p.m., leaving campus every hour and taking students to two destinations: Target, on South Yale Street, and the SouthroadsPromenade Shopping Complex. The bus does not take students on popular dining and shopping venues, such as Woodland Hills Shopping mall, Cherry Street, Utica Square or South Peoria Avenue. Adding a few more locations and stops would be a simple yet

efficient solution to make it easier for students that don’t have a car to navigate around Tulsa. What about the weekday shuttle? Some universities have started car-sharing systems, which make it easier for students to have a reliable method of transportation and to find convenient parking on campus. However, this excludes all the students that cannot drive. Another solution would be to

use golf carts. They can be driven by students, lowering the labour cost, and they can be used around the walkways, making it faster that a bus or a car. This solution would be relatively easy to put into practice, due to the large number of golf carts that TU already owns. With lower costs and higher efficiency, student-operated golf carts would be the most convenient transportation system for TU.

TU shuttles sit empty in the parking lot beside the Mabee gym.

photo by Michaela Flonard

Charging admissions to museums is unethical

Museum’s admissions costs are a disservice to artists and museumgoers alike. Ethan Veenker Variety Editor John Denver crashed a plane in California on Oct. 12, 1997, dying on impact. Thirty years prior, on Oct. 3, 1967, Woody Guthrie succumbed to Huntington’s disease. Both men were wildly influential and politicallyfueled folk artists, and each of them have items on display at the Woody Guthrie Center in the Tulsa Arts District. For just $8 ($7 if you bring your student ID!) you’re granted access to this building, and are allowed to peruse an area lined with the belongings of dead men. These belongings include the stage costumes and famous glasses of John Denver, or the diaries and scrapbooks of Woody Guthrie. The concept of deceased persons’ belongings being put on display in museums isn’t foreign; in most cases, the belongings of these museum-worthy people are graciously donated to museums by their estates. Foreign, neither, is the concept of museums charging admission in the first place. The familiarity of the ideas doesn’t help them sit well in my mind, however. It doesn’t seem right when I see people paying admission to enter museums and learn about them, and about the people who in-

spired them. It’s an idealist argument, sure, but it’s one that affects all of us. In the Tulsa Arts District, the Woody Guthrie Center is surrounded by art galleries with free admission, but also shares the block with the Philbrook Museum of Art, which boasts $7 admission cost. Of course, the Woody Guthrie Center assures us on its website that it’s “...more than a museum; instead, it is a center of investigation for inspiration. By providing examples of Woody’s ability to use his creativity as a way of expressing the world around him, we hope to encourage others to find their voices and the power that lies within the creative process.” So, what separates these free museums and galleries from the ones charging admission? It’s unfair to suggest anything about the fiscal responsibilities and capabilities of the Woody Guthrie Center, because I truly don’t know their specifics. There are government funds and programs that seek to specifically line museums’ pockets (though the Woody Guthrie Center is not government-supported), and a lot of museums are kept afloat by large and gracious donations from individuals and foundations who have interests of one sort or another in the fine arts.

You have large and well-known places like the Woody Guthrie Center, the Philbrook, even the Gilcrease that all charge admission, and you then have smaller galleries like 108 Contemporary or Living Arts that are free at all times. There is a clear line drawn in what the venues hold. The free ones are primarily galleries with rotating events and contemporary pieces. The ones that charge admission hold more historic and static items, save for the Philbrook which also hosts galleries and events. In the case of the Philbrook, at least, one has to wonder why it’s the odd one out. But there are, again, aspects I’m being unfair to. The Philbrook and the Woody Guthrie center certainly have to pay for shipping on the venues that come through their doors. They must have to pay for rights to display the venues, such as in the case of the latter venue I imagine the Woody Guthrie Center had to give a certain amount to John Denver’s estate. The venues that charge admission generally have larger and more historic galleries, and those come with insurances, protections and display rights to pay for, things that the contemporary galleries most likely run into less. Though, given the age of the admis-

“In an ideal world . . . museums can be supported by government funds and by donations alone . . .” The Woody Guthrie Center doesn’t have a list of its donations anywhere on its website, or if it is it’s at least hard to find, but I’m reasonably sure they receive at least some significant chunk of their income in donations; the largest listed value with benefits on the site’s “Donate” page is $25,000. There still exists some discrepancy in Tulsa’s museum/gallery world, however.

sion-charging galleries and their popularity, I feel they could get along without charging admission. Traditionally free museums are free for the same reason that libraries are free. There is knowledge out there that the public deserves to know, has the right to know, and should be able to gain unobstructed knowledge to. In an ideal world, and likely this

world, museums can be supported by government funds and by donations alone, so I flirt with the idea that the Woody Guthrie Center, the Philbrook and the Gilcrease just want additional money. That’s their legal right, but at what cost? Charging for art is an ethical question that rears its head from time to time. Unlike piracy, which is a direct ethical violation in that it directly deprives the artist from compensation, most galleries have already paid the artists for their work. In places like the Gilcrease that host non-contemporary art, the matter of paying the artist is non-existent anyway. Meaningful art is hard work and deserves due payment, but it should also be easy to see. The venue pays the artist and hosts the gallery for free, and in most cases it would seem the venues can survive without charging admission (see: 108 Contemporary, Living Arts, etc.). Artists like Woody Guthrie and John Denver, though, of course can’t be paid. Their estates have likely already been compensated for donating items to the galleries, and now the gallery’s only reason to charge admission to see the items is for the selfinterest of the gallery, a foggy self-interest that may already be sustained by donations and government programs. I wonder what Woody Guthrie and John Denver would make of the situation, watching people pay $8 to walk in and look at all their old belongings. Both artists were upstanding proponents for the working class and the economically aggrieved; both men would want their life’s work to be more readily available to the very people for whom they fought. I imagine it’d be a foreign concept to them, to see people pay to see their clothes or their glasses, or listen to some old recordings, something they would have been more than happy to show for free. They were artists, and they wanted their art enjoyed by all, not by all that pay.

The Collegian: 10

Commentary

16 October 2017

McFarlin’s new study lounge a modest improvement

Upgrades in the library are beneficial for people with nowhere to go but a major drawback in terms of pre-class crowds. Raven Fawcett Commentary Editor McFarlin Library has transitioned their iLab B to a student study lounge and upgraded the computers from thin clients to actual computers in iLab A, the two connected computer rooms on the main floor of the library. Sure, it comes at the cost of half of the computers during midterms, but it’s also about time that students got a more accessible study lounge. Thin clients are basically computers that rely on servers instead of their hard drives to do the work of computing, which means that the new computers in iLab A should run faster and have fewer problems connecting

to the server. The new study lounge will be open 24 hours a day, just like the old computer lab did, and still has two printers which can be accessed from iLab A. Additionally, the printer in the room between the two labs is still available for people who need to print from their personal devices, although there are conflicting reports about how usable the student body actually finds this printer. The loss of the extra computers might be difficult when rushing to the library to print an assignment ten minutes before it’s due. The timing itself could definitely have been better. Right in the middle of midterms? It’s not a great time for students to realize they now have to wait for a computer to frantically print their essays before dashing off. But on the whole, students adjusting their schedules to be a few minutes earlier to compensate for the loss of half the computers isn’t a huge issue. After all, most students have their own laptop. Students without laptops or in a rush should also have an easier time getting their work done, making computer time more efficient. What is most frustrating is the setup of the new lounge. Library workers do not know of any plans to update the furniture, which is currently just rolling chairs and long tables. It can be difficult to meet up with others or establish personal space with everyone crowded around the tables. The room still looks like an impersonal computer room used mainly to print assignments

Harvey relief efforts just as important as Irma support

We need to maintain our commitment to relief efforts until communities are fully recovered, not jump from disaster to disaster. Tori Gellman Student Writer After a tragedy occurs, especially on such a large scale, America is very good about joining together to make a difference and help each other. This is profoundly illustrated by the numerous fundraising endeavors that have popped up around the country, and by the incredible resources that were sent to those suffering in Texas. Hurricane Harvey was the most devastating hurricane to touch down in the United States in 12 years. More than 20 trillion gallons of water rained onto Texas. Over 40,000 people are in shelters after losing their houses. 82 people lost their lives. Governor Greg Abbott activated the entirety of the Texas National Guard in response. Homes were destroyed, memories were swept away, and lives were lost. But amidst this tragic occurrence, it’s important to note that there is a lot of hope. Several organizations and foundations, both within Texas and otherwise, dedicated their time and energy to providing any form of relief they could to the victims of Harvey. Global Giving set a $5,000,000 fundraising goal, all of which went to Harvey related disasters. The American Red Cross was not only a first responder following the bouts of flooding and destruction, but they are continuing their efforts by offering $400 to families affected within certain high risk counties. The Greater Houston Community Foundation, which works socially to connect donors with nonprofit organizations, set up a special 501(c)3 fund that accepts

donations tax-deductible donations. While there are some who are arguing that focus should have shifted by now to victims of Irma, both in the states and Puerto Rico. I think we have to keep in mind that if we abandon one group of suffering people for another, there will never be a way for any of these people to recover, seeing as how when one devastation is addressed for a period of time, there will inevitably be another circumstance worthy of attention before the first problem is solved. We should of course be allocating time, money and resources to everyone affected by tragedy. However, that doesn’t mean we have to provide exclusively to the worst off people at any given time. Rebuilding is a process that requires teamwork and longterm support. Organizations, such as The Red Cross, Global Giving and UNICEF, are still actively present and contributing positively to communities affected by hurricane Irma. Not only are resources being allocated to those suffering in the southern United States, but there are also many necessities being sent and given to those heavily impacted in Puerto Rico. President Donald Trump even praised his former presidential competitor, Marco Rubio, for his extensive contributions to survivors in Puerto Rico. The web of international camaraderie created by these tragic natural disasters is uplifting and inspiring. As someone whose hometown was heavily affected by this natural disaster, I thank you. Thank you to my high school, which although was partially flooded, still utilized their safe spaces in order to set up an animal rescue center for pets displaced by hurricane Harvey. Thank you to the neighboring cities who banded together to provide shelter and resources to one another. To the musicians who donated their old instruments to school’s whose music programs were devastated. To the local rowing programs that rowed their sculls through the streets looking for anyone in need of assistance. To the Athletic Department and administration at The University of Tulsa who donated funds from ticket sales to sports events totaling $55,000 to The Harvey Relief Effort. Thank you all. We’re not done, but we’ve definitely gotten started.

“Amidst this tragic occurrence, it’s important to note that there is a lot of hope.”

and grudgingly meet with your classmates for group projects due in the next couple of days. It certainly does not foster a welcoming environment the way that the lounge just upstairs does, with its different kinds of seating and tables. These are all valid concerns. But when was the last time both labs were overflowing of people? Overnight, maybe, and with many people chatting or with their own laptops. The labs have always served as a kind of study lounge after business hours, if only because they’re one of the few places on campus open and easily accessible to

students. The new study lounge will allow people to have a quiet place away from their apartments and residence halls, or somewhere to work without having to drive home for commuters with projects or homework to finish up. The school is finally giving all students a place to study full-time, even if there are no couches to accidentally fall asleep on. Hopefully, they’ll warn us more in advance next time, but the benefits outweigh the annoyance. A mixed blessing is, after all, still mostly a blessing.

photo by Raven Fawcett The new study lounge is currently the exact same as the computer lab used to be, just without any computers.

LETTER Dear Editor, Thank you to Michaela Flonard for her interest in reporting on the TU Department of Education. Recently, I was named chair of the Department of Education and I am excited to be a part of the future of the department. Department faculty have been meeting frequently since the end of May to develop a plan to regain eligibility for state accreditation by August 2018 and full state accreditation by the end of the Fall 2019 semester. During this time, faculty have developed new program learning outcomes and assessment measures and made improvements to courses. This time has allowed us to think about how we approach teacher education at TU and the ways in which we may want to change our approach.

tucollegian@tucollegian.org

editor-in-chief

Kayleigh Thesenvitz managing editor

Michaela Flonard news editor

Trenton Gibbons sports editor

Justin Guglielmetti variety editor

Ethan Veenker commentary editor

Raven Fawcett satire editor

Adam Lux photo & graphics editor

Madeline Woods

business & advertising manager

Brian Kwiecinski

social media & web manager

Nick Rethford

distribution managers

Elise McGouran Carlie Wisely and Nathan Gibbons

to the editor TU students are inquisitive, creative, social-justice minded, and hard-working; we need and want TU students to be educators. At a time when Oklahoma desperately needs more quality teachers, the TU Department of Education is committed to being a part of the solution. As we review our programs throughout this academic year, I encourage students with suggestions, questions, or concerns to reach out to me directly at elizabeth-smith-43@utulsa.edu. I look forward to getting to know and collaborating with our education students. Sincerely, Elizabeth E. Smith

@TUCollegian

The Collegian is the student newspaper of the University of Tulsa. It is distributed Mondays during the fall and spring semesters, except during holidays and final exam weeks. The University of Tulsa does not discriminate on the basis of personal status or group characteristics including but not limited to the classes protected under federal and state law. Inquiries regarding implementation of this policy may be addressed to the Office of Human Resources, 800 South Tucker Drive, Tulsa, Oklahoma 74104-9700, (918)631-2616. Requests for accomodation of disabilities may be addressed to the university’s 504 Coordinator, Dr. Tawny Rigsby, (918)631-3814. To ensure availability of an interpeter, five to seven days notice is needed; 48 hours is recommended for all other accomodations. Advertising Policy: Advertising appearing in this publication does not imply approval or endorsement by the University of Tulsa or the Collegian for the products or services advertised. For advertising information, email the Collegian at advertising@tucollegian.org. The deadline for advertising is noon on the Friday proir to publication. Letter Policy: Letters to the editor must be less than 500 words and can be sent to tucollegian@tucollegian.org. Under no circumstances will anonymous letters be published. The name of the person submitting the letter must be published with the letter. We reserve the right to edit or reject all letters. The deadline for letters is 5 p.m. on the Friday prior to publication. Editing Policy: The Collegian reserves the right to edit all copy submitted by all writers. This editing may take place in many forms, including grammar corrections, changes in paragraph structure or even the addition or removal of sections of content. Editorial Policy: Columnists are solely responsible for the content of their columns. Opinions expressed in columns may not represent the opions of the Collegian staff, the administrative policies of the University of Tulsa, the views of the student body or our advertisers.

16 October 2017

Variety

The Collegian: 11

Halloween attractions you don’t want to miss Northeastern Oklahoma’s biggest haunted house attractions, explained and scored for your convenience. Cheyanne Wheat Student Writer Castle of Muskogee The Castle of Muskogee is located in Muskogee, OK. This is definitely a family friendly event with plenty of attractions for everyone. The castle has a surplus of attractions including several walk-through attractions, zombie hunt and a haunted hayride. There is an overlying theme of medieval times hence the castle. You will get the most bang for your buck here. Admission is free but all the attractions cost. It’s from $25 to $30 for a combo pack with at least 4 attractions. Overall, the Castle receives a 1 out of 5 on scariness. They are open every friday and saturday in October. Every year, my family and I go to the Castle mainly as a traditional family-bonding experience. We go to enjoy the autumn air and get into the Halloween spirit. Psycho Path Psycho Path is located in Sperry, OK. This attraction has three parts: the Dark Ride, Shadow Box and Quarantine Paintball shooter. The Dark Ride and Shadow Box will definitely get some jumps and screams out of you, but the Quarantine is just a fam-

ily friendly fun shooter ride. Overall, they rank a 3 out of 5 on scariness. Don’t be the last one in line because the creatures love to follow you throughout the night. It costs $40 for all three attractions or $20 each. They are open every Friday and Saturday in October including last two thursdays (19th and 26th). My family and I go to this one to scream a little and get creeped out. We really enjoy the Dark Ride because of the quality of the actors and all the fun scares. The Shadow Box is my personal favorite because of the story rich background and development of the walkthrough. The details are extraordinary if you can keep your eyes open! We’ve noticed the closer to Halloween, the better the attractions. Nightmare The Nightmare is located at GUTS Church in Tulsa, OK off the BA expressway. The Nightmare is a walkthough experience based on real life terror such as suicide, alcoholism, sex trafficking, etc. This year, they have fully renovated the attraction to be much scarier. The attraction has been thriving for 25 years now and plans to continue for many more! Although I haven’t went this year, since they cannot touch you I rate the Nightmare a 3 out of 5 on scariness. General Admission is $15 but an express line pass is $30. The express line is definitely worth it; the general line is always terribly long. The Nightmare is open every Friday and Saturday in October.

courtesy Wikimedia Commons

Haunted houses are a staple of the Halloween season, and the Tulsa area has a good variety.

This is not an attraction you want to go to with your family. The Nightmare is so unique that it can’t really be compared against the rest. You’re not terrified all the way through, there are low action points. But just as you think you’re brave enough to walk through the rest, they get you again! I’ve actually fell onto the floor I was so startled and my group ran away from me. Go with friends that won’t leave you to die. Hex House The Hex House is not for the faint of the heart. I don’t recommend going in you don’t like being touched, picked up or grabbed. This year, the Hex House is split into two separate attractions: the Hex House and Westside Grim. This attraction is definitely targeted at an adult crowd. Overall, the Hex House duo ranks a 5 out of 5 on scariness.

It costs $25 to get into both walkthroughs and $35 for a fast pass into all of them. This year, the Hex House will be open for “15 days of terror;” this includes every friday and saturday in October. All the dates are on their website at https://www.tulsahexhouse. com/ This is the most terrifying attraction I’ve ever been to. Actors are everywhere: at your feet, behind you, next to you, above you and they all will touch you. They’ll get into your head, whisper in your ears and follow you out of the attraction. I was screaming and latching onto someone into my group, an actor picked me up, tore me off her, and began dragging me away. I was so scared they let me go and I ran as far ahead as I could. If you want to be scared shitless, I promise Hex House won’t disappoint.

Story Slam theme proves Jackie Venson: blues guitar and soul singer extraordinaire difficult to abide by

Ok, So’s most recent hosting of the True Story Slam featured the theme “nemesis,” which most storytellers seemed to find difficult. Brennen Gray Student Writer

IDL Ballroom hosted Ok, So for another True Story Slam Oct. 13, 2017. True story slams are competitions where each competitor tells a true story fitting with the theme; this time, it was nemesis. The first story-teller brought her hatred of children that walk across her lawn after school. “I developed dark fantasies on how to deal with them.” She started off innocent and relatable, but quickly moved into Indiana Jones-level traps with spikes and tripwires. Her technique worked well with the story , and she gave a decent ending about using her sprinkler system to drench her trespassers. High School English teacher Jordan delivered the next story about a lifelong rival. Everyone knows that one perfect kid that the guys all hate and the girls all crush on. Jordan’s version of this man came in a neatly packaged “Tommy Appel-Shumaker,” who had a six-pack in the 5th grade. Jordan said he was at a party talking to a girl in his twenties when he found out they went to the same school. She said, “I don’t remember you, but

but they got shut down when people found out Ricky going on “debate trips” to places like Disney World, sending the bill to the school, and then getting reimbursed for his “expenses.” Her technique was engaging, and I loved her story. Jenna came next. She had less of a story and more of a rant. Her nemesis was essentially all the ex-boyfriends she’d ever had, especially one who stripped out a house and then decided not to complete the remodeling. She was fun, telling the stories with purpose and vigor, but the episode lacked an overall point, or a clear nemesis. The next man came with talent and a prop chair. His nemesis is, if you excuse the expression, a fart where more than gas comes out. It was his wedding weekend, and he and his family were at a hotel. After a night of fun, he had one too many and woke up “feeling like a million bucks.” However, on his way back to his hotel his upset stomach from the previous night overtook him, causing him to soil his pants on the drive over. In a beautiful string of bad luck, he reached his hotel to find four people and his mother occupying the shower. He ended the story with trying to explain how he, a grown man about to be married, literally pooped himself. Gary, noticeably older than the millennial-dominated crowd, closed out the evening with a repulsive story involving half digested Whataburger and an escaping criminal. Gary introduced himself as a retired police officer, then bringing us back to a time in

“His nemesis is ... a fart where more than gas comes out.” there was this one kid that everyone I knew loved.” Jordan gave out a tragic “Curse you Tommy Appel-Shumaker!” for shutting him down across “space and time.” Jordan continued staying energetic, but his ending lacked the same gusto. Despite this, it was a hilarious story. Next up was a couple, I did not get their name because they left right after their story was finished. They had an interesting dynamic in playing off each other’s side of the story, but it became sort of tedious. The premise was the most unique of the evening, starting out like a campus-crime report. When on a routine stroll around a beach, they came across a very strange happening. They had stumbled across an all-male nude beach. Their nemesis was a man “trippin’ on something” who ran around drawing large scandalous things in the sand. While truly the most creative nemesis, it seemed the story focused on more on the strange encounter than the person, which was the theme. The next story teller, former TU student Sara, recounted the story of one of TU’s most impressive and least successful embezzling operations. Sarah centered the story around a man named Ricky. Sarah stayed animated and agile on stage as she explained that TU had a debate team for one semester,

which he was pursuing a suspect on foot. At a stakeout, the suspect fled the apartment building on-foot. After a long chase, the man ran to climb a tree with Gary in close pursuit. Upon reaching the tree they got into a scuffle, and Gary realized a way he could get an edge. He vomited his dinner, a mass of pink strawberry shake and greasy burger, all over his nemesis’s face. That is how to gain an enemy. Last came Taylor, a former RA at OU, claiming she “isn’t really the type to go on power trips” but had one night involving quite a bit of alcohol. A posse of young girls walked by her carrying red solo cups. Angered even more by their foolishness than their noise, she asked to smell the cup. She found it filled with vodka and then decided to have some fun. She confiscated every bottle of the girls she could. Then proceeded to do so with her entire assigned dorm. She had a couple dozen bottles of liquor by the end of the night. “I never felt so powerful before.” Taylor said. Good story, but not quite fitting the theme. Gary took home the gold in the end. True story slams are amongst the most fun things to do in Tulsa, and I highly recommend it to anyone. Ok, So hosts them on the second Thursday of every month.

A conversation with the opening act for Gary Clark Jr.’s North American tour covered creative processes, tour life, being a woman in the music industry and more. Sam Harrell Student Writer

Upon attending blues rock phenom Gary Clark Jr.’s concert last week, I was lucky enough to be able to sit down and talk with the opening act, Jackie Venson. Venson is a blues rock guitarist herself, also with an extreme talent for vocals. Hailing from Austin, Texas, she was raised with music all around her. “I just grew up with it in the house,” she says. “Whatever my dad’s band was playing, I always heard that. But if it was my choice, Disney. It was the shit man.” Venson began her musical career at a young age, learning to play classical piano at about age seven. On occasion she would sing or play keyboard for her dad’s band, who were primarily a blues, jazz, motown group. “Whatever needed to be played. Sometimes they’d even play country.” Her father had quite a bit of success playing clubs in Austin, and that became the reason her parents decided to move there. “I’m glad they did man. I would not be the same without it.” Venson began playing guitar when she was 21 years old. “I was bored with piano and I wanted to switch.” Having grown up with and been accustomed to playing blues,

As if touring and making music wasn’t hard enough, the social implications of being a musician offers an infinite array of troubles on its own. We discussed some of the issues surrounding her position as a black and female musician. “Oh I get way more shit for being a girl than for being black. In music, it comes down to how good you sound, period. It just does, and it doesn’t matter what you look like. Black people have been dominating American music ever since American music became American music. Black people are a huge reason why American music is what it is, a tremendously huge reason. And it’s not a debate, it’s just fact. Just look at history.” She commented on the industry as well, “It’s a really bad way to run business, think about all the black acts that could get you so much money, just because they have a huge market in your town. You get punished for that shit, you get financially punished for being racist. You do not get financially punished for being sexist, there’s not enough women.” Being a woman in the music industry Venson says, is much more difficult and frustrating. “It’s not blatant, it’s sinister. It’s like it’s an energy thing, they just treat me different and I can tell.” “They think I don’t know, because I’m a chick. Like they underestimate me. They always underestimate me on the guitar, so that’s always a good time! I’m like ‘oh you didn’t think I could play? Oh sorry! Maybe you should have like, looked me up, instead of just assuming shitty things. You’re bad.’” “And so, the reason why I’m saying it’s an energy thing is because that happens before the show, and then after the show all of a sudden everybody’s my best friend, in-

“‘Oh I get way more shit for being a girl than for being black...’” she was able to pick up the instrument, and the genre, much easier. “Seriously, getting into a genre is just as hard as mastering an instrument. That’s why it’s smart to get into a genre while you’re learning the instrument.” Having favorite musicians is important to learning a genre or an instrument as well, to serve as examples for how you want to play. “[My biggest influences are] Buddy Guy. Derek Trucks and George Benson. And probably BB and Albert King. Those are pretty much the primary colors of my guitar influences.” Venson has stayed busy while touring and making other projects. “Every now and then someone’ll send me a message on Facebook and ask me if I give lessons, and I’m like ‘nah man, do I look like I have time to give lessons? I’m making a music video. I just released a new EP, do you have any idea how much time that takes?’” It’s a full time job, and Venson feels that completing such tasks is a very important aspect of her creative process. “You have to finish a project because you don’t wanna work on it forever. You have to get it done so you can clear your creative pallet and move on.”

cluding the people who were like, weird to me before the show. Like ‘oh now you think I’m cool. I had to physically go out and like sweat, and give my all, and now you’re gonna offer me coffee.’” Despite these many challenges, Venson makes a single request for those who can’t seem to handle a girl playing the blues: “Just don’t call me ‘little lady’. I get pretty pissed, I’m not little. You wanna fight about it? You’ll find out very quickly that I’m not little.” Before the interview she told me she had six older brothers so, it is solid advice. As far as Venson’s future endeavors, the world is in luck. “I just came out with [my] Transcends EP. It’s on my new website. It’s like a yellow and red album cover so, you can’t miss it. It came out on Friday, and I just want people to go listen to it.” She says it differs from her previous albums by having a greater focus on songwriting, as opposed to being all about the guitar playing. Her favorite track is “Flying”, and her second favorite is “Transcends.” For anyone interested in a bluesy, soulful, pop with a hint of reggae musical experience, Jackie Venson is your girl.

The Collegian: 12

Variety

16 October 2017

TU theatre to perform “Rocky Horror”

The student performance looks promising so far and will be ready for curtain this week. Michaela Flonard Managing Editor

TU’s production of the “Rocky Horror Picture Show” musical was made even more enjoyable by audience participation. Participation guides provided instances where the audience could yell at the actors, throw things or dance, and made the experience more collaborative and engaging than a typical musical. Luckily, what I attended was only a dress rehearsal, so students can attend it this week, from October 19-21. On the 19th, the show is free for TU students; all other days it costs $6. A cash bar will be in service, serving, among other things, “Frank’s special cocktail.” Audience participation packs will be available for purchase. For those who haven’t seen the play, I won’t spoil much of the plot; I came into the

night not knowing much else besides “The Time Warp,” and enjoyed being surprised by the direction of the plot. It centers on Brad, played by Mitchell Shorey, and Janet, played by Emma Lucas, a couple who find themselves in Dr. Frank N Furter’s mansion as he is about to complete his creation, Rocky, played by Tyler McCoy As the night progresses, relationships are tested, and characters’ secrets are revealed. While the movie is currently being shown in some theatres as Halloween approaches, the musical version does shine for its engagement and use of space. The musical began with Jacob Patterson, who plays Riff Raff, reading a list of rules and suggestions for audience members. These included prohibiting audience members from getting on the stage and calling out “asshole” whenever Brad’s name was mentioned and “slut,” in Janet’s case. The Usherette, Kara VonWyl, who also played Magenta, then introduced the musical with “Science Fiction/Double Feature,” moving throughout the audience as she did so. This trope was repeated throughout the

musical; cast would come up through the rows to sing, and during some dance routines, encourage the audience to dance. Each actor brought a unique voice to their character. VonWyl had a sultry voice I could imagine from a lounge or jazz singer, and her voice commanded the audience on her entry. Patterson, while generally a deeper voice, would be higher when the situation demanded. Michael Flake, who played Eddie and Dr. Everett Von Scott, sounded like a rock-n-roll star during his rendition of “Hot Patootie— Bless My Soul.” TU’s production utilized the theatre well. The narrator, played by Robert Lovitt, sat above the audience, in an alcove, so that he faded out of view until his part was necessary. At the showing I attended, the set was not yet finished, but the glamor and confidence of Dr. Frank N Furter, and his assistants, Magenta, Riff Raff and Columbia, played by Sam Potrykus, helped the illusion that this was occurring inside a vast castle. The entire set is a projection surface, and there are two dance floors on either side of the stage.

The costuming of the musical should be extravagant, although the rehearsal I attended did not include full costuming. But expect six-inch heels and corsets to abound. Machele Dill, the director of the play, has previously directed a professional production of the show at Hard Rock. The theatre department chose the play to “bring in an audience not normally tuned into our shows here on campus and to show students that theatre can be relevant and fun.” “Rocky Horror” is unique in that “it’s both challenging and fun for designers. Same for the actors with all the audience participation and ad libs, and it challenges gender and society norms.” “Watching these young actors start to embrace these crazy characters and make them their own,” has been the best part of the play for Dill. Students should try to get to this weekend’s performances of “Rocky Horror Picture Show.” It’s a lively, engaging tale that’s a unique story and a cultural icon. Be willing to dance and shout along with the musical, and it might be even more enjoyable.

courtesy University of Tulsa

English department hosts war literature lecture Dr. Michael Zeitlin visited TU to lecture over war literature from a different perspective: the accounts of the combat medics and surgeons. Ethan Veenker Variety Editor A professor of english at the University of British Columbia, Dr. Michael Zeitlin came to TU last week to deliver his lecture: “Vietnam, Iraq, Afghanistan: Narrative Perspectives on the Wounded and the Dead.” As the night went on, the sky darkened until black, and rain started pelting the windows, leaving the modest audience grateful to be inside, despite the shocking content Dr. Zeitlin was delivering. Dr. Bob Jackson, an english professor at TU, introduced Zeitlin as an old friend. They’d met through a mutual scholarly group regarding William Faulkner, and Zeitlin is in fact finishing a novel on Faulkner’s early years as an aviator in the Air Force. Dr. Jackson also stressed the copious amounts of war literature that Zeitlin studies. Zeitlin is interested in providing a new narrative perspective on war’s wounded and dead. He read from such classics as “A Farewell to Arms” and “Catch-22,” but he spent the latter half of his lecture reading from novels published by combat medics and surgeons. The passages from the fiction he read was wordy and grotesque. Both novels are famous testaments of war literature, and Zeitlin seemed to handpick the goriest parts to read. He didn’t use a microphone — making him not inaudible but just distant enough to struggle in getting the attendees’ attention — and he had a presentation set up with the quotes he read. Each slide was pure black with white letters, and the letters were often arranged in a

Zeitlin’s lecture focused on the detailed and disturbing genre of medical war literature.

block of unruly text almost more grotesque than the violence it described. He moved on to nonfiction accounts of war. Specifically, he focused on what he called medical literature, giving special attention to “365 Days,” by Ronald J. Glasser. From these books he read passages depicting similar gore to the fiction pieces he’d read, but the difference he pointed out belonged to the reader. He posited a certain difficulty in glossing over something when it’s real. People can read about gore in “Catch-22,” but they’re not reading about actual injuries that really occurred. Zeitlin says we should read medical literature “if we’re really serious in engaging with what war’s all about.” His nonfiction sources dealt with many themes, such as PTSD in combat medics,

the death and mutilation of children and innocent bystanders and friendly fire. Towards the end of the night, he read from Aristotle’s “Poetics,” giving us the philosopher’s definition of tragedy and applying it to all he’d read. A short Q&A session at the end of his lecture revealed some more motives behind Zeitlin’s obscture lecture topic. He recounted his experience as a child during the Vietnam War, observing all his older siblings and colleagues coming to terms with the draft and with participating in the war. It got him to thinking about his own place in war, and if he could wield a gun against another man. He never had to make that choice, as the war ended before he was of drafting age.

courtesy Gary Knight / VII

“It’s depressing,” he said, when prompted about his own mental toll given his immense study on the topic. He didn’t make claims of psychological damage, but his studies have affected the ways in which he can enjoy war media. Zeitlin believes everything can be read, and that everything is literature. Sure, every high school kid reads “All Quiet on the Western Front” or “The Things They Carried,” which are important reads in their own rights, but Zeitlin wants to drive the point further home; he thinks we should all be reading medical literature, and reading about these things we’re actually afflicting onto other humans. It’s important to know what you’re supporting.

16 October 2017

Variety

The Collegian: 13

TU Homecoming brings back the “golden age”

Opportunity for Full-time, Live-in Assistant We seek a full-time, live-in assistant for a twenty-year-old man with special needs (the “Client”).

The Client is accomplished intellectually, but developmentally/emotionally delayed because of his Autism Spectrum disorder. At home and on campus responsibilities for this position include, but are not limited to: 1. Aiding with executive functions • Creating accountability for school work • Helping Client get to appointments punctually

2. Modeling and supporting the learning of life skills necessary for greater independence • Teaching life skills such as cooking and house maintenance • Helping establish and maintain a weekly household routine

3. Creating a routine that supports positive interaction with others

• Assisting with the establishment and maintenance of social connections • Encouraging/establishing a regular regimen of physical activity

4. Coordinating other aides/tutors

• Maintaining a calendar and making sure Client keeps various appointments in timely fashion • Helping coordinate efforts of appropriate aides/tutors

The ideal candidate will:

(i) have experience working with people in the Autism Spectrum (ii) know how to balance being firm with being compassionate (iii) be able to separate the personal from the professional This is not a job for the faint of heart or overly sensitive. The Client needs a mentor, not a mother/father. University of Tulsa graduate students are encouraged to apply, as the Client’s home is close to campus. Compensation will be based on experience. photos by Adam Lux, Dalton Stewart, Ethan Veenker and Cheyanne Wheat

FOR MORE INFORMATION

call: 719-466-1941

email: smr520@me.com

The State-Run Media

16 October 2017

the

State-Run media Sponsered by the Hurricane Hut.

Six ways technology can help you focus in class

The State-Run tells you the six best ways technology can help you make the most out of your class time. Sam Harrell Wrote this during calculus

With today’s advancements in technology, it has never been easier for students and other miserable people to accomplish tasks and maximize workflow. Still, it is not always easy for us to stay focused during class time. Well today we’re going to show you six whole ways that you can start using today’s tech to increase focus and overall performance in class, today! 1. Laptops Coming in at the first on our list, the laptop. It’s like a fully functioning computer, but smaller! Just set it on your desk, open it up and let the focusing begin! Anything you might need to do in class, you can do with a laptop. Browse the internet for a calculator, browse the internet to look up a word, browse the internet to find an article on how to stay focused in class or browse the internet! Although, you still might want to bring pencil and paper - it is undetermined whether or not laptops are capable of notetaking. 2. Tablets Next on our list are tablets. They’re like a fully functioning laptop, but smaller! Research has found that the smaller size makes internet browsing 40 percent easier. And the touch screen capabilities of these babies are just like focus city man. Again no word on tablet note taking functions, but with the built-in high-resolution camera, all you have to do is take a picture of the teacher’s notes on the board! Make sure you hold it up high in the air, and leave the flash on to get the best picture. And there’s a neat little snap sound that happens when you take a picture, heard best with your volume all the way up. 3. Smart Phones A smart phone is like a fully functioning tablet, but smaller! On top of those capabili-

ties, it has all the functions of a cell phone as well. So texting and taking calls during class is a breeze! 4. Smart Watches Smart watches are like fully functioning smart phones, but on your wrist! This recurring joke might be worn out by now, but you can be sure that a smart watch will last you a lifetime. And how much easier can doing stuff be when it’s all centrally located right there on your wrist? Plus, there’s this cool feature where when you start pressing buttons you can pretend you’re a secret agent and experience a momentary reprieve from the anguish and unending torment of a futile existence preceding inevitable mortality . 5. Microwave Toasters Now so far, we’ve been discussing some pretty run-of-the-mill tech. But this next item on the list is truly at the forefront of modern technology. The microwave toaster is essentially a microwave that functions as a toaster, toasting items twice as fast and with half the carbon emissions. Easily stored in a backpack, it can be a life saver when you have to skip breakfast or lunch. No one can focus on an empty stomach! 6. Drones Lastly, a hand-piloted drone might be the wisest financial decision you’ll ever make in college. Imagine, you’re seated in the back of a 200 student class and you simply can not make out what the professor is saying or writing on the board. Well worry not, because now all you have to do is fly that puppy right up to the front of the class where you can see and hear everything. In fact, you won’t even have to go to class anymore! You can just fly to all your classes right from the comfort or your dorm, hassle-free. Technology has come a long way folks. Like, I’m not even entirely sure what a floppy disk is supposed to do. It’s time to stop living in the past. With these 6 time-saving and focus-enhancing devices, you can start making the most out of your class time. And if you don’t see an immediate improvement in your grades, then it’s because you’re a chemistry major and nothing can save you now.

Friend who only likes dadrock takes over aux cord A TU student ruined his friend’s party by playing dad-rock for 45 minutes. Adam Lux Head Propagandist Last Saturday night a local student’s party was nearly ruined when her friend, Evan Ivanson, noted dad-rock lover, got control of the aux cord. The host of the party, Kate Shinn, said everything was going fine for the first couple hours. “The music was popping, the drinks were flowing, Brian brought a 120-pack of pizza rolls, everything was great,” said Shinn. The festivities hit a bump around 12:30 a.m. when Ivanson stated that he “wanted to play a couple classics.” Ivanson popped the aux cord out of Shinn’s phone, during the middle of “Formation” and put on “Born in the USA” by Bruce Springsteen. “I was just going to let him play the one song and then take the aux back,” said Shinn, “But every time I tried to take it back he said he wanted to play one more song.” Ivanson seemed oblivious to the fact that everyone else at the party was now sitting down, looking at their phones. For the next 45 minutes Ivanson held the

music hostage. The rest of the party-goers didn’t feel relief until after Ivanson had to use the restroom, and Shinn was able to reacquire access to the aux cord. “I just want to let everyone know that I don’t hate dad-rock,” said Shinn, “I even listen to it myself sometimes. But there’s a time and place for it.” The State-Run was able to interview Ivanson, who didn’t seem to understand the nature of his defence. “Yeah I was at that party. Thankfully I was able to take over DJing at one point during the night,” said Ivanson, “Like, Katie is great and all but she wasn’t playing any bangers. I think everyone was having a great time while I was in charge of the music.” Every other party-goer the State-Run interviewed agreed that Ivanson shouldn’t have taken control of the music. When confronted with the facts that other didn’t appreciate his musical choices and hogging of the aux cord Ivanson replied “What are you guys talking about? I’m the hero in this story. The party had been going on for like hours and she hadn’t played ‘Don’t Stop Believing’ yet. I had to come in and save the party.” At press time Shinn and her friends are planning an intervention-style meeting for Ivanson.

A student studying diligently with his microwave toaster.

graphic by Madeline Woods

Ranking on-campus food places by how hungry you have to be to eat there Sara Serrano presents the definitive State-Run list of on-campus food. Sara Serrano Still has no complaints about TU The University of Tulsa offers a great variety of on-campus food options, all ranging in degrees of quality. You already knew that, but whatever. Anyhoo, here’s a comprehensive list of those places (that nobody asked for) ranked by how starved you’d have to be to eat there. The Hut Hunger Level: -3 Analysis: Bruh. If I had the self-confidence to eat alone, I’d be there 24/7. Baja Jacks Hunger Level: You just ate, but oh well. Analysis: Burritos. Chips. Cheese. Salsa. What more is there to ask for in life? Drown your midterm blues here for a cool $7.75. Star Ginger Hunger Level: Eh, you have some time to kill between between breakfast and lunch, so why not? Analysis: I don’t really care if it’s not authentic. It brings light into the caverns of my soul. Sushi Blu Hunger Level: A wee bit peckish. Analysis: You can never have too much sushi. Benvenuto Hunger Level: It’s lunchtime. Analysis: Sweet, delicious carbs smothered in cheese sauce. Subway Hunger Level: You skipped breakfast to study and now you’re regretting it. Analysis: Yeah, I could make myself a sandwich, but do I really have the motivation to do so? Tossed Hunger Level: 5.96 Analysis: Should I really feel better about

myself when I get a salad for lunch if it’s drenched in dressing? Chick-Fil-A Hunger Level: Twelve nuggets aren’t nearly enough. Analysis: The guilt after eating here is too much to handle. Not to mention the cholesterol. Please be kind to your circulatory system.

Einstein Bros Bagels Hunger Level: Somehow sleeping for 13 hours after passing out on your bio textbook has really drained your energy. Analysis: Why am I paying so much for a compacted loaf of bread smeared in cream cheese? Pizza Hut Hunger Level: It’s 3 a.m. and tears alone aren’t enough sustenance to keep the study sesh going. Analysis: How dare they call this pizza! The Caf Hunger Level: You haven’t eaten all day and are now too weak to walk to the ACAC. Analysis: Sometimes it works out, sometimes it doesn’t. I can’t handle the uncertainty. C Store Hunger Level: You’ve finally run out of instant ramen. A dark cloud of hunger passes overhead. Analysis: You pay a dear price for convenience. That one cereal bar that’s been sitting under your bed for the last three months after it fell there during a rowdy Super Smash Bros tourney. Hunger Level: You have been trapped under your bed for a week, praying that your roommate doesn’t find you They’ve finally snapped from the stress of trying to graduate on time and have a full-time job. Supplies are running low. The moldy bar glows ethereally, beckoning you. Analysis: Wait, is it actually glowing? The Caf Grab-And-Go Hunger Level: Wow. So this is what death feels like. Analysis: No, just no.

“The music was popping, the drinks were flowing, Brian brought a 120-pack of pizza rolls...”

The moldy cereal bar under your bed.

graphic by Madeline Woods