september 5, 2017 issue 2 ~ volume 103
a student newspaper of the university of tulsa
Ballet in Studio K: members elaborate on art of dance before opening performance
Tulsa alum Ray Bachlor shares his story Ray Bachlor, who began at TU in 1943, shares stories from his life with the Collegian. Alex Garoffolo Student Writer
The Collegian met with two dancers in the upcoming program “Creations in Studio K” at Tulsa Ballet to discuss the art-form in terms of what people think of it and what it really is. Ethan Veenker Variety Editor Across the street from a library, packed into a corner of sorts, the Tulsa Ballet stood proud but unprovoking. A small statue of two dancers stood out on the front lawn, and a few bright splotches of color travelled around the building’s interesting architecture. It certainly didn’t reflect the posh, artsy stereotype that has been associated with ballet as an artform. The lobby was small but inviting enough. A couple televisions played a recording of what I assumed to have been a past performance. I watched a man in a bright shirt turn away from a more darkly dressed man, looking ashamed. A couple women seemed to console him and to coo in his ears while a desolate tune of piano and strings gave
the sensation of a fall from grace. The other man stormed off the stage after a few welltimed pirouettes. After a brief talk with a receptionist and the company manager I ended up in an impromptu tour of the building before landing in a small conference room. Perhaps the room wasn’t small, but more that the massive table at which I sat took up most of the space. Lining the walls were several floor-toceiling glass cabinets with dozens of balletrelated figurines and statuettes, made from porcelain, wood and probably more materials I couldn’t discern. I’d walked into the room with Regina Montgomery, a full-time dancer for Tulsa Ballet as well as their shoe coordinator, the latter of which she described to me in brief by stating “all the shoes come through me.” A few moments later we were joined by Daniel van de Laar. He’s Dutch, hailing from the Netherlands originally, and beyond being a full-time dancer he choreographs and does photography on the side. We spoke briefly about an upcoming event being hosted at Tulsa Ballet: a program called “Creations in Studio K,” in which both dancers will be performing.
photo by Ethan Veenker
The show runs Sept. 15–24 at Tulsa Ballet with tickets starting at $25 for students. The piece is notable as it’s choreographed by an all-female team of three: Helen Pickett, Annabelle Lopez Ochoa and Young Soon Hue. “It’s a lot less common for choreographers to be female; most are male,” Montgomery said. “Not just the choreographers,” van de Laar added, “also the costume designers, they’re all female.” They described these details as supportive of the program’s celebration of feminism. From feminism comes the subject of gender, so the discussion traveled to the subject of gender ratios within ballet. Where choreographers apparently tend to be mostly male, dancers are unsurprisingly and overwhelmingly female. “I think a lot of guys get bullied,” Montgomery said. “A lot of guys don’t want to do ballet. … When you think of ballet what do you think of? You think of a ballerina.” Van de Laar, being the male ballet performer in the room, weighed in: “I often get the question ‘Oh are you wearing pointed shoes? Do you wear a tutu?’”
See Ballet, page 10
TU Administration adds positions to attract and aid more student veterans The University of Tulsa continues its efforts to accomadate student veterans with new staff members and responsibilities. Michaela Flonard Managing Editor Last week, The Collegian reported that Tom Russell, a TU alum, had donated a large sum to TU, part of which went towards the creation of three new permanent staff positions to help student veterans navigate their college and professional careers. Two of those positions are currently filled: a director of TU’s veteran’s affairs and a veteran recruiter. For Cindy Watts, the Director of Veteran Affairs, Russell’s donation meant a title change. Watts has worked at TU for 30 years, serving most recently as the Associate Registrar. Now she is the Associate Registrar and the Director of Veteran’s Affairs. In Watts’s case, the title change does not
affect her duties. The Director of Veteran’s Affairs is expected to fill out the paperwork necessary for the various GI Bills veterans come to school with, so that they can get tuition payments or stipends for housing and books. Before her title change, however, Watts performed these duties for TU’s veteran’s population and any dependents or spouses who were also covered by GI bills. While her workload is currently manageable, Watts said if the population of veterans increases, which is the university’s goal, she will leave her associate registrar duties. “I’m not superwoman, I can’t do it all,” she said. Over the years, Watts has noticed a slight increase in the amount of veterans attending TU, but hopes next fall the school will see a larger increase. Watts was also part of the original push for TU to become a Yellow Ribbon school. Without this designation, the VA caps the amount of tuition paid at $22805.34 for an entire year for the Post-9/11 GI Bill, including fall, spring and summer semesters. As part of the Yellow Ribbon program, TU
splits the remainder of the cost with the VA; half is paid by TU scholarships while the VA pays the other half of the veteran’s tuition and fees. “At first, we put a cap on the number of people who could attend,” she said, but the university erased the cap, so an unlimited number of veterans can attend. In the case of the veteran recruiter, the story is different. Will Rojas, the new transfer admissions counselor and veteran recruiter, just began work at TU six weeks ago thanks to Russell’s donation. Previously, Rojas had worked for a community service council initiative, where he was helping to house homeless vets. “It was a holistic type of program. We not only focused on housing but we also looked at getting employment, making sure any VA benefits they were eligible for they were enrolled in, and any other services, such as mental health, they were getting,” he explained.
See Veterans, page 5
In 1943, the TU campus was much smaller. Where the Old U is now, there was a circle drive that had the library, Tyrell Hall (for music), and the engineering building (currently Phillips Hall). Behind the library stood Chapman Hall. The campus was so much smaller that a private neighborhood existed between it and Skelly Field. It was in 1943 that Ray Bachlor started at TU, right after legendary all-American tailback Glenn Dobbs left. Bachlor, like many today, studied petroleum engineering at TU before being drafted into the army in the summer of 1944. He was assigned to a paratrooper unit for the invasion of Japan but the army recalled the assignment after America dropped the atomic bombs on Hiroshima and Nagasaki. In 1948, Bachlor returned to TU to continue his studies, while concurrently staying in the Army Reserve. In 1950, he was recalled to active duty for the Korean War effort, eventually coming back to Tulsa in 1954 with a wife and two kids in tow. Bachlor found a job at an engineering firm in town, working on the B-47 bomber. His work turned to research and development on intercontinental ballistic missiles as a viable means for delivering nuclear warheads to the intended target. Once Sputnik happened, Bachlor’s firm quickly became focused on getting into orbit. In 1960, he graduated with a degree in Physics due to his new focus in life. Eventually Bachlor became the Program Manager for Special Space Programs with NASA, following his firm’s work on the Delta project that saw him working on a program that launched the first weather satellite, Tiros, into low-earth orbit. At NASA, Bachlor worked with teams to test, manufacture, design and market thirdstage hardware for NASA launch vehicles like the Atlas/Centaur, Atlas/Agena and Thor/Agena. After NASA, in 1977, Bachlor went to California after purchasing an automobile franchise. He worked on cars, inspecting, fixing and servicing cars at a time when they were switching away from carburetors and condensers to the chip and computer systems we have in today’s vehicles. Bachlor eventually became president of the company, managing 200 nation-wide franchises. This afforded him the unique opportunity to work with a few notable people in marketing and launching products: George Hurst (creator of the Hurst Shifter, for you muscle car aficionados), Al Lapin (founder of IHOP) and Leon Panetta. Following the car business, Bachlor operated a macadamia nut and avocado grove for 15 years, selling the business in 1996 and leaving California when water rationing hit in 2001. He currently lives in Tulsa at the Zarrow Pointe Retirement Center, remaining very active in many activities there. Bachlor conducts a weekly discussion of current events in science, medicine, local and foreign Affairs, conducts a monthly book club and is a member of the Board of Directors. Bachlor also works to sponsor STEM speakers at local schools and initiated and advised on a residence parking cover/solar cell installation (70 kwh) and two 100 kwh rooftop installations. He credits his education at TU for much of his success, especially in the areas of geology, physics and engineering.
Sports
The Collegian: 2
Tulsa disappoints in opener against OSU
Season off to a poor start as OSU’s front seven trumps President and Skipper Joe Edmonds Sports Correspondent
The opening game for the Golden Hurricane football team involved a matchup with the No. 10 ranked team in the nation, the Oklahoma State Cowboys. The Cowboys’ offense entered the season heralded as one of the best in the nation, led by Heisman candidate Mason Rudolph at quarterback. Their offensive prowess showed early on, as they scored a touchdown on each of their first three possessions. They had a combined 4 minutes and 31 seconds across those three drives, making quick work of the Tulsa defense. As the second quarter rolled around, TU faced a 21-0 deficit, and looked thoroughly outclassed. Sophomore quarterback Chad President had been replaced after two lackluster offensive possessions, and redshirt freshman Luke Skipper entered the game
to try and jumpstart the offense. After two more struggling possessions led by Skipper, President was swapped back in. The Golden Hurricane picked up their first score on a big mistake by the Cowboys, as OSU brought a punt return back by their own goal line before fumbling. Tulsa recovered, and gained some confidence. President would go on to play the rest of the game, and the offense started to look more comfortable with a score already on the board. The Cowboys still had their way for the majority of the game, eventually picking up the 59-24 victory. Their offense was as good as advertised, and Rudolph didn’t even play the full game. However, there was a bit of silver lining for Tulsa. President was playing the first start of his career in a road game against a top 10 team. That’s about as hard of a first start as
you can ask for, and he showed some good moves after the offense calmed down in the second quarter. Running back Corey Taylor played well, notching the first 100 yard rushing game of his career and adding two scored. Now 0-1 on the year, the Golden Hurricane face a much easier opponent in their second game of the season. They return home this week, and Louisiana will travel to town for a 3 p.m. contest on Saturday afternoon. The opening game for the Golden Hurricane football team involved a matchup with the No. 10 ranked team in the nation, the Oklahoma State Cowboys. The Cowboys’ offense entered the season heralded as one of the best in the nation, led by Heisman candidate Mason Rudolph at quarterback. Their offensive prowess showed early on, as they scored a touch-
Mixed bag for Tulsa soccer teams
TU women’s soccer takes first victory of the season while men’s struggles continue. Joe Edmonds Sports Correspondent
The Golden Hurricane women’s soccer team picked up their first victory of the season on Friday against Utah Valley. For the
majority of the game, Tulsa was on the back foot, against the strong Utah Valley attack. The Wolverines peppered TU’s goal, taking a whopping 27 shots, 12 of which were on target. Tana Dake took one of the Golden
Hurricane’s two shots on goal with three minutes remaining, and beat the Utah Valley goalkeeper to take the 1-0 win. Owners of a 1-3-1 record, next up is a home game against James Madison on Sunday.
photo by Mahitha Dadireddy
The men’s team was only in action for one game this week, an away game at Missouri State. It was close throughout, but the Bears were able to score a pair of goals early in the first half. Their defense was stout for the rest of the game, and they handed TU the 2-0 defeat. The Golden Hurricane are now 0-1-1 on the season. Their next two games will be part of a California road trip, against Santa Clara on Thursday and Stanford on Saturday.
Hurricane Scoreboard Football Aug. 31: Oklahoma State 59 - Tulsa 24 Women’s Soccer Aug. 27: Oklahoma 2 - Tulsa 1 OT Sept. 1: Tulsa 1 - Utah Valley 0 Men’s Soccer Sept. 1: Missouri St. 2 - Tulsa 0
Volleyball Sept. 1: Tulsa 3 - UMKC 1 Sept. 2: Tulsa 3 - SIUE 0 Tulsa 3 - Wright St. 1 Cross Country Sept. 1: Cowboy Preview M: 0-3 W: 1-2
5 September 2017
Justin Guglielmetti is…
the
bleacher creature?
Everything’s Bigger from Texas Last week, professional average quarterback Matthew Stafford signed an extension with the Detroit Lions that was worth a fair bit of money: $135 million over five years to be exact, with $92 million guaranteed. Was he worth it? Well that depends on how you want evaluate the Lions’ current situation and the state of the league as a whole. Obviously the guy isn’t the best QB in the league, not when the likes of Rodgers, Brees and Jesus are still playing, so in that sense it doesn’t seem quite right that he’s making more than all of them. However he’s also just 29 years old, has a cannon for an arm, thrown for over 4,000 yards in every full season of his career, and has led Detroit to a .500 career record as a full-time starter despite playing in a tough division and being saddled with a mostly mediocre supporting cast. And in 2017’s QB-dependent NFL, the Lions would absolutely be worse off letting their franchise player walk and trotting out the likes of Brock Osweiler or Blake Bortles. But you can get that sort of surface level analysis from our rivals over at ESPN! I know you come to the Bleacher Creature for deep-cutting fun facts, so here’s one for you: Stafford and MLB’s highest paid player, Clayton Kershaw, were both part of Highland Park High School’s graduating class of 2006. Somewhere, their valedictorian is kicking himself because he’s only making seven figures as a hedge fund consultant. Is it Sunday Yet?
As is long-standing tradition in the Bleacher Creature’s lair (does one year count as tradition?) here is a barrage of unsolicited advice for the best internet-gaming time of the year: fantasy football season. If you’re considering taking David Johnson over Le’Veon Bell with the first pick, remember that he had a 4.2 YPC carry last year, has only one full season as a successful starter and plays on an aging team where every other offensive weapon could fall off a cliff at any moment. Brandin Cooks is a goddamn speed demon and one of the best deep route runners in the league. The last time Tom Brady had a deep threat this good, his name was Randy Moss and he had the greatest season a receiver has ever had. Ezekiel Elliott is appealing his Deflategate-like suspension and there is a non-zero chance he plays all 16 games. By rights he should be a top-three pick and if you can get him at even a slight discount, he’s probably worth the risk. A 32-year-old Brandon Marshall isn’t suddenly going to supplant Odell Beckham Jr. as Eli’s favorite target, but he could see enough single coverage to finish as a WR1 regardless. I understand that there is considerable hype for Leonard Fournette following his selection as fourth pick in the draft but please pump the brakes on trusting a rookie RB playing for the Jags. On the other hand, feel free to go pedal to the medal with fellow rookie Kareem Hunt, now without competition for carries in Andy Reid’s RB-star-making offense. Marcus Mariota has been the most efficient red zone QB in the NFL over the past two seasons and he just added one of the league’s most dangerous red zone playmakers in Eric Decker. He will finish top five at his position, maybe even top three. Cam Newton has lowkey been a shitty passer for a while now. If he can’t carry himself with his legs anymore, he’s not worth a spot on your roster. Please don’t be an amateur and pick a defense before the end of your draft, streaming them works so much better anyway. Unless you’re in my league of course, in which case I recommend locking up the Saints D/ST as soon as possible.
Sept. 4 - Sept. 10 Monday
Tuesday 4
Wednesday 5
6
No Events No Events No Events Scheduled Scheduled Scheduled
Thursday 7
Men’s Soccer @ Santa Clara 9:30 p.m.
Friday Men’s 8 Tennis @ Silverado Invitational noon Volleyball vs. Colgate 11 a.m. Women’s Soccer vs. Ole Miss 5 p.m. Volleyball @ Stephen F. Austin 5 p.m.
Saturday
Sunday 9
10
Football vs. Louisiana 3 p.m. Volleyball vs. Texas Southern 4 p.m. Men’s Soccer @ Stanford 9 p.m.
Women’s Soccer vs. Rice 2 p.m.
5 September 2017
Sports
100% Accurate NFL Preview - AFC
The Collegian: 3
The Browns will surprise, the Raiders will excite, the Texans will beat you the $!*& up...and the Patriots will win. Haters gonna hate, but New England is once again the favorite to advance to the Super Bowl out of the AFC. Justin Guglielmetti Sports Editor
East New England Patriots: Julian Edelman’s preseason ACL injury may look like a bad omen for the Pats but let’s not get cute here; they are still the heavy favorites to come out of the AFC. Brady and Belichick remain ageless wonders, Gronk looks healthy and driven and Brandin Cooks is the shiny new toy just waiting to be unleashed on opposing secondaries. I don’t think this team will go undefeated on the tenth anniversary of their infamous 2007 season, but personal bias aside, you couldn’t make a safer bet for Super Bowl LII. Projected Record: 13-3 Miami Dolphins: Love, love, love the Jay Cutler signing, who despite the persistent attitude problem has found previous success in Chicago with head coach Adam Gase. This is going to be one of the most prolific offenses in the NFL, with an elite offensive line busting plenty of holes for rising star Jay Ajayi and Cutler’s big arm turning athletic freak DeVante Parker into something of a Calvin Johnson-lite. Unfortunately, problems on the defensive side of the ball like a weak secondary and a 100-year-old franchise DE in Cameron Wake will dampen Miami’s potential. Projected Record: 9-7 Buffalo Bills: If football was basketball and a single star was able to elevate a team to victory, LeSean McCoy might at least be able to make the Bills respectable. Shady is a joy to watch and a future Hall of Famer if he has just a few more healthy seasons but that’s about all Buffalo fans will have to look forward to in 2017. The secondary is unproven and the Bills are paper-thin at several key positions. It would take a miracle like Tyrod Taylor morphing into prime Mike Vick (not impossible but don’t bet on it) for this team to even sniff the postseason. Projected Record: 5-11 New York Jets: It feels almost crude to root against the Jets at this point, like cheering for a pro athlete in a pickup game against a bunch of middle schoolers. They’ve got a platoon of zeroes at QB plus an OL that could quickly turn them into negatives, and that right there is enough to guarantee a lack of success. At least Jamal Adams, the rookie safety out of LSU, looks like a future star. Projected Record: 2-14 North Pittsburgh Steelers: A fully healthy Steelers offense with Martavis Bryant back from suspension should scare everybody in the league. Unfortunately, health has never been a guarantee for Ben Roethlisberger, and that’s not about to change now that he’s 35. Pittsburgh’s secondary is composed of both the very young (Artie Burns) and the decrepit (James Harrison), so expect a lot of shootouts. Sexy as they are, the Steelers are no juggernaut. Projected Record: 11-5 Cleveland Browns: Hey the Cubs won it all last year, why can’t the Browns have an end to their futility? Cleveland won’t win the Super Bowl but they will shock the world and contend for their first playoff spot since 2002. Terrelle Pryor is a late bloomer but I firmly believe he will emerge as one of the top WRs in the league, and he and the elite OL will help rookie QB DeShone Kizer become 2017’s Dak Prescott. DE Myles Garrett is also my pick for DROY. Projected Record: 9-7 Baltimore Ravens: Do you realize that the Ravens have led the NFL in pass attempts in each of the past two seasons? Totally unexpected, although I guess volume doesn’t equal efficiency. Baltimore’s defense looks stingy as ever and Danny Woodhead is a nice weapon to add to a solid if unspectacular passing game but I can’t see the Ravens doing much more than treading water. Projected Record: 7-9 Cincinnati Bengals: There is certainly talent on the Bengals roster. Andy Dalton is perpetually underrated, A.J. Green is a top-three receiver when healthy, and rookie Joe Mixon should be an absolute stud when he inevitably wins the starting job from incumbent plodder Jeremy Hill. The problems are injuries (nearly all of the team’s impact players have checkered pasts) and a questionable line that must deal with the loss of two veteran starters. Projected Record: 7-9
South Houston Texans: Can you imagine how good the Texans would be if they had a decent QB? You have to think that there’s nowhere to go but up from human tackling dummy Brock Osweiler, but the guy who took over the Pewter City gym — Tom Savage — is a total unknown. Thankfully, Houston’s defense should be the best in the league behind a resurgent J.J. Watt and Jadeveon Clowney finally realizing his prodigious potential. The talented RB tandem of Lamar Miller and D’Onta Foreman will take some playmaking pressure off Savage as well. Projected Record: 10-6 Tennessee Titans: If you want a team that could blow up and become an overnight contender, look no further than the Titans. With one of the best receiving corps in the league at his disposal and two years under his belt, Marcus Mariota will become a legit superstar. As everything stands now, Tennessee’s projected weak secondary keeps them out of the realm of the elite, but preseason defensive predictions are notoriously unreliable. Projected Record: 10-6 Indianapolis Colts: Nobody has any idea how the Colts will do because nobody has any idea what is going on with Andrew Luck. If he comes back early and looking like the best version of himself, Indy could make a playoff run. If he misses a good portion of the year, then Jacoby Brissett trade be damned they could bottom out the division. We’ll split the difference. Projected Record: 6-10 Jacksonville Jaguars: For a while there it looked like the Jags had the positive momentum needed to finally escape their last decade of futility, but Blake “Garbage Time” Bortles and the underperforming defense had something to say about that. Jacksonville made moves to address some of the issues in the secondary and they remain talented at every skill position sans QB, but 2017 will ultimately be another lost year in Jacksonville. Projected Record: 5-11 West Oakland Raiders: It’s an exciting time to be a Raiders fan! Derek Carr no longer gets to hold the title of highest paid player in the league but he will continue to demonstrate why he is one of the game’s best young QBs. Khalil Mack has a great chance to repeat as DPOY. But the difference-maker will be Marshawn Lynch, who returns to football after a year’s hiatus. If Beast Mode can regain anything his old Seattle form, the Raiders will be the best bet to unseat the Pats in the AFC. Projected Record: 12-4 Kansas City Chiefs: I’m still not sure how the Chiefs managed to win 12 games last year but I can guarantee it won’t happen again in 2017. The defense, though consistently excellent, has to have a regression to the mean in their absurdly high takeaway rate, and that will mean more pressure on an underwhelming offense. Alex Smith will never be great (dude is already 33!) and I don’t believe Tyreek Hill is the guy to end KC’s streak of hapless WRs. Spencer Ware’s injury also leaves the RB corps painfully thin. Projected Record: 9-7 Los Angeles Chargers: On paper the Chargers look stacked. Perennially underrated great Philip Rivers has the best receivers of his career, Melvin Gordon might lead the league in rushing and Joey Bosa is a nice dark horse to take the sacks crown. So what’s the problem? LA’s O-line is a patchwork collection of unproven talent and past-their-prime vets and there are a lot of injury risks on the roster. Projected Record: 8-8 Denver Broncos: I swear I’m not saying this just because Joe is a Broncos fan. By all accounts this team is a great bounceback candidate; you can never count a team out when their defense is this good and the tandem of C.J. Anderson and a (hopefully) healthy Jamaal Charles behind a retooled offensive line will be good for plenty of yards. I just don’t think Trevor Siemian is the answer to the team’s quarterback woes, not to mention Denver faces a brutal schedule. Projected Record: 7-9
graphic by Madeline Woods
75% Accurate NFL Preview - NFC
Matt Ryan, Julio Jones and the Atlanta Falcons look to avenge last year’s stunning Super Bowl defeat. Joe Edmonds Sports Correspondent
East Dallas Cowboys: The Cowboys, when they get their full roster eligible, should be able to grow from last year and again be the top team in the East. Quarterback Dak Prescott and running back Ezekiel Elliott will have a lot of pressure to perform on the same level as their rookie season. When Elliott returns from his suspension, that duo will determine the fate of this team. Expect to see Dallas in the playoffs. New York Giants: It’s hard to ever count out a team led by Eli Manning, who always has a solid season with whatever supporting cast he is given. The Giants put most of their attention on the defense this offseason. If that pays off, they should be able to stay in most games and rely on Eli to control the later stages of the games. Though they won’t catch the Cowboys, the Giants have a good shot at making the playoffs through the wild card. Philadelphia Eagles : The Eagles are still building. Carson Wentz played well in his rookie season, and he now has more offensive weapons to work with. The defense is a problem area for Philadelphia, which should cause them to struggle for much of the year. The Eagles will fail to make the playoffs, but fans can have hope that they are still on the upswing. Washington Redskins: There’s not much to cheer about for this Washington team. Kirk Cousins is a bright spot at quarterback, but he lacks a strong supporting cast. The teams has holes on both sides of the ball that will prevent them from being strong competitors this year. The Redskins will fall well short of a playoff spot. West Seattle Seahawks: The Seahawks should run away with the division this season. The made a few moves recently to shore up the already strong defense, trading for Sheldon Richardson and Justin Coleman. With a lack of competition from most of their division, Seattle will comfortably claim a playoff spot this year. Arizona Cardinals: Arizona should finish second in the division this year, but that is more of a result of the lack of strength of the other teams than their own strength. David Johnson has turned into a premiere running back, but the rest of the offense remains a question. Similarly, the defense has studs at the cornerback position, but the rest of that unit will have to prove themselves. San Francisco 49ers: Deciding between the bottom two teams of the West is tough, because they’re both so bad. The 49ers have Brian Hoyer at quarterback, and that won’t scare anyone. The defense that was so strong in the earlier parts of this decade is in a major rebuilding state, so the 49ers will have to temper their expectations for this season. Los Angeles Rams: Growing up in Saint Louis, it still saddens me to type this name. However, it is nice to see Stan Kroenke’s team struggle so much after they ran out of town. Having been bad for so long, the Rams have a lot of former high draft picks on the roster, but they haven’t been able to put it all together and win games yet. That trend will continue this year, and the Rams will once again be in the cellar.
North Green Bay Packers: Aaron Rodgers will be surrounded by a solid group of receivers, and that alone will be enough to make the Packers compete for the division title and a playoff spot. If the defense can improve on its poor showing from last season, then Green Bay will have a complete team that will be a formidable opponent in the playoffs. Twhey should claim a spot this season, and the defense will determine how far they go. Detroit Lions: The perennial question remains the same for Detroit: Can Matthew Stafford finally get his first playoff win? Can he finally validate the massive contract they pay him and bring some success? Ameer Abdullah needs to have a strong performance this season to give Stafford some balance in the offense. Even in a tough division, the Lions look like a playoff contender, and will fight with Green Bay for the division title. Minnesota Vikings: Latavius Murray and Dalvin Cook are one of the best running back duos in the league, and should shoulder most of the offensive load for Minnesota this season. That’s good news for Vikings fans, because their quarterback is Sam Bradford, who has yet to prove that he can win in this league. The Vikings have a decent team this season, but should miss the playoffs because they have two stronger teams in their way. Chicago Bears: This season is part of a rebuilding stage for the Bears. Both sides of the ball have a lot of holes, and they will not be able to fill enough of them to be competitive in this stacked division. South Atlanta Falcons: Expect to see the reigning NFC champions make a return trip to the playoffs. Matt Ryan and Julio Jones remain the most lethal offensive duo in all of football, and will have the motivation of last year’s Super Bowl loss to carry them through this season. The Falcons have the tools to make a return Super Bowl trip this year. Carolina Panthers: One question will dictate the season for the Panthers: which Cam Newton will we see? If he returns to his form from a few years ago, making plays with both his legs and his arm, the Panthers will be a playoff contender. The organization has said they want to be more careful with him, though, so that he doesn’t take too many big hits. If they limit his mobility, the Panthers offense could struggle. New Orleans Saints: The Saints should be a mediocre team this season. They haven’t made any eye popping additions, and Drew Brees will be able to shoulder a large load on the offense as he always does. Tampa Bay Buccaneers: The Buccaneers are another team that has some quality young players that still need some time to develop. Jameis Winston has shown promise at quarterback, but he is in a division full of high profile quarterbacks to compete against. The Buccaneers will hold their own for a chunk of the season, but should fall short of the playoffs.
News
The Collegian: 4
5 September 2017
North Tulsans turn out for debate on moratorium For the moratorium: “I know that some of you were highly offended at the idea that someone would insinuate that you are racist because you voted no on this moratorium. This community is equally offended that some think that we are anti-development because we are protesting for a higher standard of living.” Lakesha Johnson For: “I stand here today with my child because I am fighting for his future. So I ask the question: Why do we need a 16th dollar store in our neighborhood? There is an obvious cognitive dissonance about the needs of North Tulsa. What we need is sustainable economic development. What we need are grocery stores to address the food scarcity in our neighborhood. What we need is access to fresh fruits and vegetables.” - D’Marria Monday
Moratorium on small box stores sparks nearly three hour discussion at Tulsa City Council meeting. Kayleigh Thesenvitz Editor-in-Chief City council meetings are notoriously boring. But occasionally, as with last Wednesday, they are a great forum of public debate. More than 100 Tulsans of diverse racial and socioeconomic backgrounds turned up to discuss an ordinance creating a 180-day moratorium on the issuance of building permits for small box discount stores. The discussion lasted nearly three hours, with 24 citizens speaking on the issue, and extreme disagreement among the city council members. Those in favor of the moratorium argued that there are already more Family Dollar and Dollar General stores in North Tulsa, District 1, than in any other district. North Tulsa has 14 Dollar Stores, while the next closest district has 9. Instead of approving the construction of more such stores, the citizens of North Tulsa asked for a temporary stay on new construction while making plans to develop grocery stores in the area. The goal of this effort is to bring quality produce and meats to the North Tulsa food deserts and to increase the life expectancy of North Tulsa’s citizens to be equivalent with the remainder of Tulsa. North Tulsans in opposition to the plan agreed that bringing the standard of living up to s was the goal, but said the moratorium was not the way to do it. A moratorium, they argued, would only discourage businesses from opening stores in the area. After an hour and half of citizen comments, the council began discussing the issue amongst themselves. District 9 councilman Ben Kimbro acknowledged that District 1 was “beset by predatory retailers,” but was concerned about the legal action dollar stores might take against the city if the moratorium passed.. “That’s not the type of fight I’m looking for,” Kimbro said. “I am stridently against a moratorium, because I am not handing you all another band-aid,” Kimbro added. “If we want to
work on a solution that brings us to our next level, that substantively, meaningfully improves the situation in District 1, I will, like a good partner, work my ass off on that.” District 4 councilman Blake Ewing started out by talking about the responsibilities of city councilmen. Among filling potholes and paying firefighters, Ewing said the council was responsible for community morale. “It’s not an economics issue, or a legal issue … it’s a moral issue,” Ewing said. Ewing then began to list off some of the decisions the city council has made in the past that were upsetting and detrimental to Tulsa’s black community. “We decided moratoriums were okay at 69th and Riverside, but not in North Tulsa, We decided that it was okay to complain about the proliferation of vape stores and used car dealerships and service parking lots, but a discount dollar store, now that’s a legitimate business,” Ewing said with some sarcasm in his voice at the end. “We’ve had opportunities before to show that a diversity of perspectives and ideas and influences can lead us to hear and support our black neighbors,” Ewing said, referring to when the city met to discuss changing the name of Brady Ave. to a name less offensive to Black Tulsans, and yet voted against doing so for the convenience of businesses on Brady. “Instead of hearing you we offend ourselves. Instead of working to understand and empathize we argue,” Ewing continued. Following Ewing’s speech, the council spent some time debating the language of the ordinance, determining that there was an appeals process if one of the councilmen did want to approve a dollar store in their district, and emphasizing that the moratorium had a definite start and end date. Still, District 1 Councilwoman Vanessa Hall-Harper offered an amendment to the ordinance at the last minute to get the ordinance to apply solely to District 1 in an effort to appease those councilors who would have voted no if the moratorium applied to their districts. The amendment passed, so the council will revisit the issue in their next regularly scheduled meeting. In the meantime, North Tulsans will persist, as Hall-Harper said, “We will continue to demand what we, the people of North Tulsa, want for our children and future generations, even in the face of the powers that be.”
Against the moratorium: “It’s a temporary ban. That’s all it is. So we are wasting our time focusing on the wrong things. We have to focus on the real issues if we want a better quality of life.” - Mareo Johnson Against: “Although the moratorium is being presented as a temporary measure, it is not in the best interest of the North Tulsa community, nor the city of Tulsa. What we would like to see is more economic development supported by elected officials, and the community working with NTEDI (North Tulsa Economic Development Initiative) to positively impact opportunities to contribute to workforce development and increased income for many members of the community.” Bobby Burnett
Against: “I grew up in Greenwood, South Carolina, so For: “The funny thing is, North Tulsa isn’t even the so-called poorest part of Tulsa. It’s not the most crime ridden. It’s not the most abandoned. But it is the most disenfranchised and picked on. We’re asking just to be valued.” - Charles Wilkes
economic development is very important to me. My father had his own business, he was a builder, and what he did to help out our community … he gave all the men in the community who were the heads of households jobs, and my brother gave the young men jobs. It wasn’t up to the city council to take care of our families. It was up the men in the community to do their jobs.” - Darlene Carroll
For: “There are some among you who will reject the idea of a moratorium out of hand as anti-business and anti-development. My community definitely needs economic developments, and I certainly don’t want to do anything that hinders that. However, we do, as a city, have a long-standing public policy of discouraging business developments and activities that go against the wishes, values and long-term economic prospects of our communities. In our desperate need for economic growth, we cannot continue to allow developments which exploit the poor, sap the economic resources from our community with nor reinvestment in the community, and goes against the long-term prosperousness of the community.” - Mikeal Vaughn
Humans
SS: “Why did you pick mechanical engineering as your major?” MH: “I always enjoyed building as a kid, like toy boats and rollercoasters with kinetX. And I knew that I enjoyed math and science but I wanted something creative, so not just research. So when I came to college I thought engineering would be a good way to combine creativity with math and science and a love of building so it all fit together in one.”
Of
Tulsa Sara Serrano Student Writer
SS: “So what do you want to do with your degree?”
photo by Sara Serrano
Michael Heins
MH: “I don’t quite know yet. However, I do have an interest in aerospace. So if I could go into anything with aviation, I think that would be fascinating. The dream would be to work for NASA designing [things], whether it’s something robotic or maybe even working on rockets. Of course that’s a different pursuit than mechanical [engineering], but I think that would be fascinating.” SS: “What are you doing at TU right now?”
MH: “Learning?” SS: “I mean besides academics.” MH: “I just went to one of the first meetings for flight club. They do aerospace type competitions and I might try to do that this semester. But then I also do RUF which is the Presbyterian Christian organization ministry on campus. They’re a lot of fun.” SS: “What else interests you?” MH: “Well, as I mentioned, creativity. I do love art. I play piano. I make pottery and draw. I enjoy doing that during my free time as a hobby.” SS: “Do you plan to do something with that?” MH: “Um, I think of it as like a backup.” SS: “So if working at NASA doesn’t work out … “ MH: “And I would love to just keep piano as a skill. Teach it to my kids, if I have kids one day. Or it’s a good party trick, in a way.”
News
5 September 2017
The Collegian: 5
Tulsa’s Elephant Rescue SA dedicates month of events to exposed as possible hoax Hispanic history and culture TU’s Student Association has begun planning the Hispanic History Month. Michaela Flonard Managing Editor
graphic by Madeline Woods
An elephant rescue organization, previously reported on by The Collegian, is today the target of serious speculation. Lakin Freedle Student Writer Last year the Collegian ran a story over a seemingly legitimate elephant rescue organization ran by fellow Tulsan Phillip Hathaway. Hathaway founded ElephantRescue. net after discovering the horrific poaching practices plaguing Africa. This year the Collegian has been reached by a contact with concerns that this organization is in fact a hoax. “In one well documented case, several families of elephants sought safety in a herd which grew to over 300,” Hathaway stated on ElephantRescue.net, “but they were ambushed by poachers on horseback wielding machine guns and hand grenades. All of them – even the little babies – were unmercifully slaughtered.” This was Hathaway’s self-claimed motivation for his transition from bystander to do-gooder. He noticed an atrocity and decided to do something about it. After this, he supposedly joined other elephant rescue organizations but according to his statement on elephantrescue.net “...none were excepting [sic.] volunteers.” This brings about the question, “What forprofit organizations turn away volunteers?” Volunteers are free, and usually passionate, laborers for their causes. He also neglects to specify which organizations sent him on his way. The results of his many apparent rejections was the creation ElephantRescue.net. Another discrepancy in Phillip Hathaway’s work is his name. In fact, his legal name was unearthed to be John Stephen Maudin. The fact that Hathaway chooses to equip himself with an alias, while still making public appearances, has writers at earthbleed.com concerned. Earthbleed.com is a source of information on poaching practices and the prevention thereof. Hathaway’s next mission of good faith started on change.org. The goal of the fundraiser was to gather 90,000 dollars in donations meant to rescue a forest elephant named Can from starvation in the Abidjan Zoo in Africa. As of 29 July, 2017, 507
people had donated a cumulative $20,428 for Can. According to the European Elephant Group, an organization intent on bettering the lives of captive elephants, Can was at one point starving. More information on the European Elephant Group and their projects can be found at http://www.europeanelephant-group.com. But in 2012, funds were raised to send an expert to the zoo, with all necessary materials to keep Can alive and healthy. Ingo Schmidinger, the expert, packed his bags and took a plane to Abidjan on 17 Nov. 2012. With him, a box containing an elephant specific first-aid kit, educational material and maintenance tools all intended to benefit and protect Can. Hathaway’s fundraiser began four years after Can had already received aid from a different organization. Hathaway started another Change.org petition, but this time concerning a cull, which is the selective slaughter of wild animals. According to the associated page titled “90 Elephants Will Be Shot Unless We Move Them,” Johan Kruger, an executive in charge of overseeing operations in the Atherstone Nature Reserve, has requested a cull permit from the Republic of ‘South Africa. Hathaway is requesting signatures to put a stop to the culling practices, but there is a lack of reference material available to lend legitimacy to his request. Atherstone Nature Reserve’s most recently released Elephant Management Plan (EMP) can be found at https://www.sanparks.org/parks/table_mountain/tourism/ activities.php. The document does indeed mention using culling as a means of controlling population size and rate of growth but only as a last resort. The many options to be attempted before resulting to the extreme include contraception, range manipulation, translocation and the introduction of elephants of differing species. The EMP was released in 2009, and already states culling is approved in necessary and extreme cases of population control. Hathaway is asking for signatures to remove Kruger’s plan, despite the already approved culling agreement published eight years ago. Visit http://earthbleed.com/elephant-rescue.html to learn more concerning Hathaway’s indiscretions and visit elephantrescue. net for more information about Hathaway and his mission statement.
Sept. 15 marks the beginning of Hispanic History Month at TU. This celebration is organized by SA’s department of diversity and multiculturalism, the executive of which is Evelin Lopez, who hopes to work with LASA (Latin American Student Association) and potentially the Spanish department. Starting the month on the 15th was a deliberate choice, as many Hispanic countries declared their independence from Spain around the 15th or 16th of Sept. The history month, then, will span Sept. 15 to Oct. 15. Lopez plans to host four events during that span. To kick off the month, SA will host a pinata party, with make-your-own pinatas, games, food and prizes. SA hosted a pinata party for last year’s Hispanic History Month, but now, with the department of diversity and multiculturalism more estab-
From Veterans, cover As for why he accepted the position at TU, Rojas had several reasons, the first of which being his status as a TU alum, having obtained his Master’s degree in Industrial Psychology from TU. But Rojas is also a veteran from the U.S. Army, serving both enlisted and as an officer. “I thought the position fit the skillset that I had,” he said, “and I thought it’d be a great position to come back to and use the skills and experience and the connections within the community to really help our veterans.” The transitions between jobs was made smoother, he said, by his experience as a student in multiple capacities — as a traditional student, non traditional student and an online student. Because Rojas joined the Army straight out of high school, he experienced TU as a veteran, and believes the university has “made a great change for the better” since he was here in 2000. He recalled that he “really didn’t know about any veteran services when I was here, and even when I was an undergraduate [at Cameron University], there was really no veteran services there.” Aside from Watts’s position, Rojas remarked that the TU Student Veteran’s Association and Veteran House provide excellent student support. Cameron University, where he received his undergraduate degree, was close to his hometown, so he knew about the services in the community and had connections. But for veterans who didn’t grow up in the Tulsa area or who aren’t from northeastern Oklahoma, having TU SVA and the veteran house might be crucial, Rojas said, as “it really helps them out as far as finding other services they might need.” In his new position as veteran recruiter, Rojas will help the school to understand what the military culture is like and make connections with local and national military organizations, like the Wounded Partnership of Eastern Oklahoma and the Folds
lished, Lopez hopes to grow the celebration. While not completely planned, Lopez wants to partner with Kendall-Whitter Elementary School to have a family reading night. A movie night, potentially showing the film “Under the Same Moon,” is planned, which discusses the “complexities of immigrating to the US” On that same theme, Lopez is interested in having a discussion with a law professor on immigration. The History month will conclude with a talent showcase. As there are about 22 Hispanic countries, Lopez hopes each can be represented, although not every country is represented at TU. Hispanic History Month isn’t the only event Lopez will plan for the year. Each month of the year has a specific demographic SA wants to focus on as part of their push for diversity and multiculturalism. Some of these include a Native American heritage month, Black History month, an Asian-American/Pacific Islander month and LGBT month. Lopez hopes by hosting these celebrations TU students can learn more about other cultures. “I want a lot of the events to be intentional,” Lopez says, “not just to get a free shirt but for people to learn and experience.”
of Honor. By working with these organizations, Rojas will promote the TU brand to veterans, so that they know TU is a veteran friendly school, as well as the other qualities of TU that apply to all students, like undergraduate research or small class sizes. His position will also work to ensure a continued support of veterans, from continued support of TU SVA and the veteran house and finding new ways to help veterans on campus. But Rojas’s work will also encompass transfer students. Combining these positions makes sense, he said, as he estimated about two-thirds of veterans have some type of college credit taken from another school before coming to TU, whether it be from an online class or a class on the installation they were serving on. Even he matched this description, as he took a history course while in Turkey from Central Texas College. For this part of his position, Rojas will work with community colleges, like TCC, to provide information and help them understand how credits might transfer. Eventually, these two new positions will be accompanied by a veteran career placement coordinator. This position will help student veterans with career placement during their time at TU.
courtesy The University of Tulsa
Will Rojas, TU’s veteran recruiter
GLOBAL SCHOLARS COHORT! Conner Bender James Daly Jordan Dornak Anne Emerson Ritvik Ganguly Margaret Giovannetti Madilyn Hoffman Holly Lakin Isabella Lewis
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Dax Russell Hannah Scott Davyani Srivastava Timothy Thompson Sam Trizza Cheyanne Wheat Elisabeth Wilson Braden Wright Claire Zehentner
The Collegian: 6
August 27 1:15 a.m. While on routine patrol University of Tulsa Campus Security Officers observed a student who appeared to be intoxicated behind the Kappa Alpha Fraternity. The student was stumbling and almost fell over the fence cable. Officers found the student to be both underage and intoxicated. A senior member of the Kappa Alpha Fraternity escorted the underage student home. The student was instructed to remain in their residence for the rest of the night. 2:05 a.m. University of Tulsa Campus Security Officers were dispatched to investigate a student who may have alcohol poisoning. Officers arrived at University Square West apartments and made contact with the student. Officers determined that Emergency Medical Service Authority should be contact to evaluate the student. The student was transported to the hospital for further treatment. 10:30 p.m. University of Tulsa Campus Security Officers were dispatched to Hardesty Hall for a
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fire alarm. Upon arrival, officers discovered it was a false alarm, the fire alarm was triggered by the steam from the shower in the student’s dorm. Tulsa Fire Department was notified, however, it was canceled by the Communications Center due to it being a false alarm.
ing a person asleep in their vehicle. Officers responded and conducted a welfare check. They found the person to be another student. The student said that they were fine and just fell asleep while talking on the phone. Officers made sure the individual was fine and made it back to their dorm.
August 28 12:25 a.m. While on routine patrol University of Tulsa Campus Security Officers stopped a suspicious individual searching around Keplinger Hall. Officers spoke with the individual who stated that they were looking for their dog. A check with the Communications Center came back negative for warrants and previous contact. Officers explained that the campus is private property and explained the boundaries. The individual was escorted off property without further incident. A contact card was issued and the individual was trespass warned.
8:50 a.m. University of Tulsa Campus Security Officers were dispatched to Fisher West to escort a student to class. Officers observed that the student was having a hard time walking and was stumbling. The student was using stationary items in the area for support. The student refused EMSA but did give consent to be taken to Alexander Health Center. Officers took the student to Alexander Health where the student was taken to an examining room for further assessment.
3:30 p.m. University of Tulsa Campus Security Officers were dispatched to investigate a report of possible harassment of a student by another student with whom they had had a dating relationship. The student wanted their information documented and no action to be taken. The student does not want to file a report with TPD at this time. August 30 1:45 a.m. University of Tulsa Campus Security Officers were dispatched to the Delaware lot in regards to a student calling and report-
Nathan Gibbons Student Writer
Sound attacks on American diplomats in Cuba
Last week, American diplomatic staff in Cuba reported more mild brain injuries and permanent hearing loss, as the American embassy in Cuba comes under more possible sonic attacks. Attackers may have used sonic devices to produce inaudible sound waves that can cause deafness and otherwise injure unsuspecting victims. The Cuban government has denied that they are involved and say they are investigating. Attacks have been confirmed to be as recent as August. It was previously believed that attacks had ceased months ago. However, more victims have come forward with symptoms. “We can’t rule out new cases as medical professionals continue to evaluate members of the embassy community,” state department spokeswoman Heather Nauert said. The American Foreign Service Association say they have treated ten victims for symptoms. “Diagnoses include mild traumatic brain injury and permanent hearing loss, with such additional symptoms as loss of balance, severe headaches, cognitive disruption and brain swelling,” a spokesperson said. The State Department says 19 have come forward with health problems.
Building collapses in Mumbai Relief workers say they have rescued all remaining survivors from a collapsed sixstorey building in Mumbai, India. 46 survivors have been rescued while the death toll has risen to 33. The building, which stood in the populated Bhendi Bazaar area, fell last Thursday. Many people still lived in the 100 year old housing complex despite the fact that it had been declared unsafe in 2011. Investigators have not yet concluded why the building collapsed, but it is believed last Tuesday’s torrential rains weakened its structure. This is the third building to collapse in Mumbai in less than a month. High quality housing is limited in the region so many citizens are forced to live in crowded and dangerous buildings. Dangerous buildings are being evacuated and demolished, municipal authorities say, but analysts are skeptical as to the speed of this process. Dozens of people are killed every day in India due to building collapses.
Russian Hostage killed by Colombia’s ELN
A Russian citizen of Armenian origin was killed last April when he tried to escape Colombia’s ELN rebel group, the ELN said last week. The announcement comes as peace continues to be negotiated between the Colombian government and the ELN, or National Liberation Army. These talks have gone on since February but the rebels say they are unlikely to renounce their kidnapping policies. The ELN’s main source of finance for its operations is ransoms paid for hostages. The rebels say they killed the Russian hostage, Arsen Voskanyan, when he grabbed a grenade from one of the fighters and attempted to flee. This information, however, has not been confirmed by the Colombian government. At the time, Voskanyan was being led to a remote jungle area to be handed over to Red Cross delegates. Colombia hopes to negotiate peace with the ELN just as they did with the larger violent left-wing FARC last November.
Russia contests search of building in Washington
Officials from the Russian foreign ministry summoned Anthony Godfrey, deputy chief of mission at the US embassy in Moscow, last Saturday to protest an upcoming search they claim American officials are planning of a Russian trade mission building in Washington. “We consider the planned illegal search of Russian diplomatic premises in the absence of Russian officials and the threat we have received to break down the door of the building as an unprecedented aggressive action,” the officials said. This statement comes after the US State Department announced last Thursday that three Russian diplomatic complexes in the US would have to be shut down in response to enforced staff cuts of American diplomats in Russia. The US did not state they would search the complexes, however. The Russian foreign ministry warns that the search could be used to “orchestrate an anti-Russian provocation by planting compromising items.” Some speculation has arisen after the Russian consulate in San Francisco was seen with black smoke billowing from the chimney last Friday. Russian foreign ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said that the smoke was merely part of “activities to conserve the building.”
August 31 2:55 a.m. While on routine patrol University of Tulsa Campus Security Officers noticed a water leak. Officers had the engineer on staff contacted and sent to inspect the leak. The engineer explained that the shut off valve was behind a locked cage in the WFF building so the WFF supervisor contacted and sent to the WFF building. Officers spoke with the WFF supervisor who explained that the day shift crew is the only crew that has a key to the cage. The Communications Center attempted to contact the day shift supervisors with no success. The water was unable to be shut off.
5 September 2017
3:05 a.m. While on routine patrol University of Tulsa Campus Security Officers conducted a pedestrian check on 3 non University of Tulsa affiliates on the south side of Phillips Hall. The 3 individuals came back negative for warrants and previous contact. The individuals were informed the boundaries of the University and left without further incident. Contact cards were created. 12:00 p.m. University of Tulsa Campus Security Officers were dispatched to speak with a student who reported the larceny of their cell phone from the 3rd floor computer lab in Phillips Hall. The missing cell phone was reportedly being traced online to a auto body repair shop just north of campus. Review of the camera footage from the lab has yet to identify any suspects or the missing cell phone in question. The investigation is on-going. 3:50 p.m. Officers conducted a pedestrian check near the Holmes Student Center. The officer discovered the individual was a minor student from Will Rogers High School and the student’s parent is a TU employee. The individual stated that their parent told them to walk a certain path through the campus on their way home. The individual was made aware of University private property boundaries and then escorted off property. The Collegian does not produce or edit the Campus Crime Watch except for content and brevity.
Wednesday, September 6 at 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Reynolds Center Engineering and Technology Job Fair Come meet a variety of employers to find out what internships, co-ops, and full-time job opportunities they have for you at their companies. If you need help preparing for the job fair contact Career Services by phone at 918631-2549 or by email at careerhelp@utulsa.edu. Wednesday, September 6 at 12:30 p.m. to 1:30 p.m. Lorton Hall, 207 Study Abroad 101: Arts & Sciences Are you an Arts & Sciences student interested in studying abroad? Your CGE Advisor is here to answer questions, introduce the best programs and locations for your major, and help you get started! Stop by and ask any questions you may have. Thursday, September 7 at 7:30 p.m. Admiral Twin Drive Drive-In Movie (Hurricane Thursday) Come experience a local Tulsa favorite, the Admiral Twin Drive-In movie theater for a free moving showing! Bring your own vehicle or hop on a shuttle and bring your lawn chair. Saturday, September 9 at 10 a.m. to 9:30 p.m. University of Tulsa Poetry Symposium Join poets Lee Ann Brown, Julie Patton, and Elizabeth Robinson as they discuss with TU students and faculty the latest issues in writing poetry and poetics. The day-long event will include talks, small-group workshops, and discussions culminating in a reading by the three visitors that evening. Questions we will be considering include: What is poetry and how is it best written? What difference does being a woman or ethnic minority make in writing poetry? What challenges do women face in today’s poetry scene, market, and world? What are the purposes and goals of poetry? How does one publish poetry? 10 a.m. - 12 p.m. - Talks in Zink Hall 354 12 p.m. - 1 p.m. - Lunch (provided) 1 p.m - 3 p.m. - Writing Workshops in Zink 354 8 p.m. - 9:30 p.m. - Poetry Readings in Tyrrell Auditorium Saturday, September 9 at 12 p.m. to 4 p.m. Lorton Performance Center TU Veterans and Friends Tailgate Come out and tailgate with the TU Student Veteran Association before the football game against the Louisiana Ragin Cajuns! Open to all students, faculty, and alumni regardless of military service. Don’t miss the best tailgate on campus! We will be tailgating at the TU Veteran House in Norman Village. For more information contact Kate Tillotson at krt417@utulsa.edu. Saturday, September 9 at 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. Gilcrease Museum, Museum Store Book Signing- They Call Me Eddie Morrison Eddie Morrison, a well-known living Native American sculptor, will be at the Museum Store for a book signing of his biography, They Call Me Eddie Morrison. Morrison’s sculptures embody the best of Cherokee tradition by combining the heart, spirituality, and philosophy of his culture. His work is displayed in galleries all across the U.S., in private collections, and in several foreign countries. This lushly illustrated work is not just a compendium of Morrison’s art: it is the story of a humble man with a deep passion for his heritage and a drive to ensure a thriving future for his people. With more than 100 images of Morrison’s works and a foreword by Cherokee Chief Bill John Baker, this volume is a beautiful and invaluable resource. Morrison will also have a few pieces of his sculpture for sale. The Collegian does not produce all event descriptions in the Community Calendar. Contact us at news@tucollegian.org with events.
5 September 2017
Commentary
The Collegian: 7
County gun auction a Auction an innovative sign of crisis, not hope answer to budget cuts
Gun auction raises concern about surplus guns in community and calls attention to the Oklahoma budget crisis. Amanda Amos Student Writer There are certain privileges that growing up in Oklahoma can afford a person: an innate knowledge of how to respond to tornados, a cynicism regarding if your vote counts and a natural acceptance of the state never having enough money. News cycles regarding budget crises are passé and ignorable. School districts, cities and counties struggling to make ends meet is universal across the state; from large areas like Tulsa to small towns like Woodward, everyone is running out of money too quickly. Public universities are losing funding. SoonerCare, which services over 800,000 at-risk Oklahomans as of July 2017, 530,000 of which are children, is being scaled back. Public school districts are bleeding teachers, unable to live on Oklahoma’s teacher pay, and the quality of education has suffered for it. The budget crisis has reached epidemic levels but has become so commonplace that no one cares much for talking about it any longer. In early August, Wagoner County Sheriff Chris Elliott decided to take matters into his own hands. It had been nearly 30 years since the storehouses had last been emptied by auction, so one was planned for Aug. 19. Among the items posted for sale were nearly 300 firearms, a trailer and decommissioned police vehicles but the firearms were what raised eyebrows. After all, the Tulsa Police Department doesn’t sell their confiscated weapons at auction; they destroy them. Organizers of the auction did confirm that anyone who bought a firearm at the event would need to be able to pass a background check before they were allowed to purchase the weapon, at cost to the buyer. The issue isn’t that the county is selling weapons—though there is something to be said about the state selling guns for profit. Yes, owning firearms and the sale of firearms is legal in the United States, but the government actively making money off arming the general populace in a state where laws concerning who can buy firearms from private individuals are lax at best sets up dangerous precedent. Oklahoma law does not require a state permit to purchase firearms, nor does it subject individuals buying guns through private sales to a background check. Firearms do not have to be registered with the state once purchased. The only cer-
tification required by the state of Oklahoma is when federal law requires it. Which means that weapons that wouldn’t be in circulation if they hadn’t been sold by the sheriff ’s office, a government office, are suddenly in circulation, unregistered and available for sale and purchase by private individuals where the buyers are not required to have a background check. Yes, guns are legal in America, but surely selling weapons to citizens who could then turn around and unknowingly sell them to dangerous individuals is just nonsensical. The paramount issue, then, is that the county was compelled to auction off guns to raise funds, regardless of the risk such an action posed. As of writing this piece, Wagoner County has not released their 2017-2018 budget. Several cities within Wagoner county, though, such as Tulsa, Broken Arrow and Coweta, have released their 2017-2018 estimates and the situation is grim. Broken Arrow’s annual budget report calls the Oklahoma system of funding budgets through sales taxes “volatile” and “antiquated.” As Oklahoma continues to rely on sales taxes for the general fund, cities and counties across the state could turn to rely on selling off confiscated property to raise money for necessary expenditures, like schools and health care, even when it’s dangerous to do so. Wagoner County’s choice to hold an auction was not a promotion of 2nd Amendment rights. It was a desperate attempt to make rent, like pawning a wedding ring or taking out a payday loan. Wagoner’s auction was a symptom of a larger disease and should be treated as a particularly telling one. The addition of lax gun regulation only makes the illness worse. When counties are forced to hold auctions to supplement their income from state and municipal taxes, it’s time to reevaluate the situation. A lean budget cannot help the sick, educate children or find justice for victims of gun crimes. Unfortunately, the solution isn’t a simple one. We need to shift away from our reliance on sales taxes where the revenue is unpredictable and rapidly falling because of the consumer’s turn toward Internet sales. We place too high a burden on our brick and mortar stores, especially when the burden can be distributed across property taxes, corporate taxes or even—dare I say it—taxes on oil. Yes, economic policy is mind-numbing at best. But it isn’t popular politics or catchy phrases that are going to fix this budget crisis. An all-encompassing problem like the one Oklahoma faces requires innovative, thoughtful discussion and compromise concerning our state’s tax code that may result in a complete overhaul of the system. The electorate must demand change, and loudly because until we do, nothing will change. No one wins an election by saying they’ll raise taxes, after all. Politicians will almost certainly lose their seats over these issues, but without quick action, the state won’t have the money to pay for those seats. No amount of county auction gun sales can make up for our spiraling budget shortfall, especially not when the answer is right in front of our faces if we would only try to look for it.
Budget woes call for innovative thinking such as gun and property auctions that support the local community as well as the Sheriff’s Office. Nathan Hinkle Student Writer On August 19th, the Wagoner County Sheriff Department put together a surplus auction of random items they had collected during their work throughout the years. This included things such as furniture, cameras, old squad cars and more. However, among the more controversial auctioned items were around 300 guns that they had acquired throughout the years. Throughout the current year, the Sheriff ’s Department has been going through the old items in order to raise money. All of the funds received by this auction will enable the sheriff ’s office to buy newer equipment like squad cars. Some may argue that the sheriff ’s department should not be allowing 300+ guns to re-enter their community after being confiscated, but the purchased guns are going to a different group of people. While previously these guns could have been held by criminals, everyone who wanted to purchase a gun at this auction was re-
With the budget shortfall, it is essential that the sheriff ’s office find new potential sources of funding in order to both continue and even improve their current operations to better fit the needs of their communities. It is also beneficial towards the state budget in that it turns old storage items into money for the sheriff and goods for the citizen. Through this auction, citizens can receive older antiques such as cameras or furniture at potentially lower prices. Another potential benefit of the citizen is that they can receive something for their money rather than being taxed for it. It did not force new taxes in order to support the sheriff ’s office. Another benefit of this auction for the citizen was that in the process of filtering through their supplies, they found old items that were lost many years ago by citizens. In a statement about these lost items, the Wagoner Sheriff, Chris Elliot, stated that, “We may have someone’s gun for 12 or 13 years. Proof of ownership is what we need to go on before we return the item. It’s a case by case situation, and a lot of this is simply because no one notified the victim that we recovered their property.” Through this system, some citizens were able to have their property returned to them as long as they were not convicted felons who cannot own firearms. While the amount of items returned to their rightful owners was small, it is extremely helpful that items could be returned to their rightful place. Auctions like this should be taken into consideration by other sheriff ’s departments because of the success of the event. After potential expenses, the Wagoner Sheriff Department raised around $80,000 to $85,000 that can be used by the sheriff ’s department in the coming year. An auction like this does not just help
“Instead of merely sitting around, these guns can be used for a greater purpose.” quired to undergo a background check by the sheriff ’s department before they were able to purchase one. With this in mind, the guns will be put into the hands of legal gun owners rather than potentially dangerous individuals. Because of this, there is very little danger involved in this action. The selling of these guns is also important because Oklahoma is in the middle of a budget crisis. Instead of merely sitting around, these guns can be used for a greater purpose. With the profit from all of the items of the auction, the sheriff ’s department will be able to buy things such as new patrol cars which will help police officers more easily patrol and help out their community. Auctions such as these also allow the sheriff ’s office to buy more things such as bullet-proof vests or lab equipment in order to do their jobs more safely and freely.
the sheriff department but also other potential government organizations as well. The sheriff is quoted as saying, “With next year’s budget, I may not have to ask for as much in my request, knowing there is this money coming in from an alternate source.” This auction is a win for all sides. The sheriff ’s department receives the funds it needs to support the community, people are able to receive new items and their old lost items and the local government can spend that amount of money on other important areas such as education or corrections. Other sheriff ’s departments across Oklahoma should follow the example of Wagoner in creating these auctions in order to try and bolster their reserves during Oklahoma’s current budget crisis.
graphic by Madeline Woods
Commentary
The Collegian: 8
5 September 2017
A student advice column by and for students. Submit your questions anonymously online and check back next week to see if Abby has an answer for you! graphic by Madeline Woods
QR link to online submission form
Abby Anonymous Fictitious Student Writer I was in a long term relationship that ended badly and I’m nervous about running into my ex on campus. I don’t want another confrontation, but I also want to be able to walk into ACAC at peak hours without feeling nervous. What should I do? Sincerely, Tired of Yelling I’m sorry to hear that you had, and are apparently still going through, a rough break up. Here’s the thing though, this is a very small campus and it’s going to be hard to avoid seeing your ex. If the two of you really can’t avoid fighting, it’s probably a good thing that you broke up. Here’s the simple solution: pretend your ex isn’t there. I know that is easier said than done, but I’m serious. Look the other way, don’t speak to your ex, and do not send a text to let them know you saw them. If they approach you, make an excuse for a quick get away. If they text you, don’t text back. The question you need to ask yourself is this: why can’t the two of you avoid a fight? Was the relationship really that toxic? Is one of you still hung up on the other? I also urge you to think about who is starting the argument. If your ex is the one starting the argument, then RUN AWAY. But if it’s you... then you seriously need to figure out what it is that you can’t let go.
I’m saying all this assuming that neither of you did anything particularly awful and that there are no children or shared living spaces involved here. If you are in this type of situation, then I strongly suggest that you, and your ex, seek the advice of a counselor. Even if you aren’t in this type of situation, a counselor may be able to help you get over your fear of seeing your ex and work through all of those unresolved issues from the breakup.
Lucky for you, you’re only a sophomore and you have plenty of time to find your passion. My advice to you is to think about the kinds of things that make you happy. What’s the most rewarding thing you’ve ever done and how can you incorporate that into your life? What are you really good at? If you have a knack for something, don’t ignore it, take advantage of it! Try out some campus jobs or volunteer work that interest you. Enroll in some class-
“. . . I also want to be able to walk into ACAC at peak hours without feeling nervous.” Freshman year I declared as a biology and pre-med student, but over the summer I realized how much I really don’t want to be a doctor. Now I’m an undecided sophomore and all my friends are talking about how much they’re loving their classes and I’m back to taking block courses and trying to figure out what I want to do. Any advice? Sincerely, Majorly Stressed Good for you! It’s really tough to admit that your heart just isn’t in the thing you’ve already committed so much time to. There is absolutely nothing wrong with changing your mind about your major. Believe it or not, there are seniors that have done it.
es that are potential major material. You might even contact some professors from departments that interest you just to see what those majors might be like. You can also contact career services and see what sort of help they can offer. In the meantime, enjoy being in college! Join some campus orgs, go to events, and try all of the things you’ve always wanted to try. Don’t let stress keep you from experiencing all the things you’ll regret missing out on once you’re a senior. My major’s department is very small, and I’ve had the same professor three times now for different classes, but I really slacked off the past year. I’m stuck taking his classes pretty much every semester until I graduate, but I’m pretty
sure he doesn’t like me since I slacked off so much last year. How do I convince this professor that I’m ready to work hard and that I know I messed up in the past? Sincerely, Ready To Turn Over A New Leaf Don’t beat yourself up too much, I think slacking is a much more popular thing to do than any of us care to admit. We all pretend that we have our life together all the time, even if we’re secretly ignoring one of our classes. If you’re really ready to turn over that new leaf and do your absolute best, then I think all of us college students should take a page out of your book. Don’t stress about convincing the professor that you’re going to work hard this semester, just do it! Your professor will see that your work ethic has improved simply by the quality of assignments and exams you hand in. If you find yourself struggling with the material and feel yourself starting to slack again, find a study buddy or start visiting your professor’s office hours regularly. I’m pretty sure that professors actually like when we visit them, or they at least claim to. I’ve found that the more you communicate with a professor about how you’re doing, the more willing the professor will be to help you out. Don’t be shy, just be honest and ask for help if you need it. I’m sure your professor will see how much work you put in this year. I for one am rooting for you to have your best semester yet!
Mental health transports put pressure on police, hospitals
Tulsa Police Department restructured their mental health transport process leaves long wait times, less attention for patients. Kyle Crutchfield Student Writer This year, the Tulsa Police Department has made changes to their transportation of individuals with mental health issues. TPD’s former system had relied on officers working overtime to transport the individuals to hospitals, many of which were outside the city of Tulsa. Now, TPD has reduced the responses to those out-of-town hospitals by scheduling the transfers during times when officers are on duty. While this new system is projected to save TPD $100,000 this year, it also may harm both inpatient and outpa-
officers must transfer the individual to the nearest hospital that can take him or her in for treatment. With the extremely limited number of crisis beds available in Tulsa, officers were having to transfer mentally ill individuals sometimes as far away as the panhandle for inpatient treatment. According to TPD data, the number of out-of-town transports has increased 86 percent from the fiscal year 2012 to fiscal year 2016. TPD’s new transfer system is looking to reduce out-of-town transports by reducing officer response to individual cases and utilizing a more “bang-for-your-buck” approach. Instead of transporting one individual at a time, officers are now transporting multiple individuals at a time. This will impede inpatient mental health care improvements within Tulsa for two reasons. First, hospitals within Tulsa will be less likely to have room for, say, three or four individuals at one time rather than just one individual. It becomes increasingly likely to have to rely on hospitals outside of Tulsa if there are more people being transported at once. Second, with this new system, the sense of urgency in dealing with individuals with life-threatening mental health issues is reduced. If police are having to transport these groups of individuals to out-of-town hospitals, the time it’ll take to reach these hospitals, let alone get all of the individuals processed and admitted, will
“Life-threatening situations require immediate, individualized attention, not group clearings.” tient mental health care within the city of Tulsa. Within Tulsa, inpatient health care is limited. Major facilities like Parkside, Laureate, Brookhaven Hospital, Tulsa Center for Behavioral Health and Hillcrest Medical Center have a very limited number of crisis beds available at any given time. In fact, across these five facilities, the total number of crisis beds available for adults is 224, according to the information on their websites. (15 for Parkside, 75 for Laureate, 64 for Brookhaven, 56 for Tulsa Center for Behavioral Health and 14 for Hillcrest.) Hillcrest offers an additional 72 crisis beds for children and adolescents. That is simply not enough beds. According to the Oklahoma Department for Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services, in 2016, 700,000-950,000 Oklahomans experienced a substance abuse or mental health issue that required immediate treatment. When an individual is in a life-threatening mental health crisis, TPD is notified and, according to Oklahoma state law, TPD
only help to exacerbate the individuals’ already critical conditions. Life-threatening situations require immediate, individualized attention, not group clearings. In addition, having those transfers scheduled for when officers are on-duty further undermines the urgency inherent in lifethreatening mental health situations. If an individual is having to wait for officers to complete a scheduled shift, for example, then they are having to wait longer than if an officer is on-call and ready to go at any given time. And if that individual is unlucky enough to be the last stop in, say, a fourperson group roundup, the time it’ll take to reach him or her is much longer. TPD’s response time to individuals that require inpatient care is likely to increase under this new transportation system, and as a result, the quality of inpatient care within Tulsa will suffer. As for individuals with mental health issues that are not life-threatening (which according to TPD Major Tracie Lewis is the
majority of individuals TPD encounters), the new transportation program may likely also hurt outpatient care that is suited for these individuals. One of the few 24-hour outpatient mental health care programs in Tulsa is COPES (Community Outreach Psychiatric Emergency Services), a telephone and mobile service of Family and Children’s Services. While COPES does intervene in life-threatening situations, it also is available for people with less urgent mental health care needs, helping people who suffer from panic attacks, symptoms of anxiety, depression and thought disorders. COPES works with TPD to help get those individuals to facilities that may help them with their
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symptoms, if need be. If officer response time to these individuals is increased, as I predict it will be under TPD’s new system, those individuals with lower-level mental health issues may not get the immediate assistance they need to keep their symptoms from reaching more life-threatening levels. TPD’s primary objective is to keep Tulsa citizens safe, and that includes people suffering from mental illness. With this new transportation program, I believe TPD may be doing Tulsa’s mental health care system a disservice, and consequently, harming our city’s population that suffers from mental health problems.
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Commentary
5 September 2017
The Collegian: 9
Oklahoma teacher vacancies call for emergency measures needs cut, they force kids, who have no choice, to deal with lackluster schooling. Since 2011, the state has seen a 3000 percent increase in emergency teachers. The worst part is these teachers almost always leave the classroom by the third year of teaching. It creates a vicious cycle of constant vacancies in public schools. Statewide, It’s not fair to our children, who are our future. It is not fair to fully certified and properly trained teachers, who give all of their passion to education and don’t receive their due respect or compensation. A friend of mine from Texas who recently graduated from TU told me she would’ve loved to stay
Schools across Oklahoma are hiring emergency teachers at the expense of students’ education.
in Oklahoma to teach, but the pay difference is simply too large. This brain drain is slowly killing us as a state. Oklahomans get educated here and leave for higher paying teacher jobs just across the border, while those from other states simply return to teach in their home states after getting degrees here. This state has great universities with wonderful education programs, so why can’t we provide well-paying, competitive jobs to people who get those degrees? If we’re going to continue to educate teachers in Oklahoma collegiate programs, should we not at least make them want to stay here?
Oklahoma State School Boards Association president, Roger Edenborough, put it well when he said “an over reliance on untrained teachers comes at a cost, and it’s our children who are paying the price. It’s [the heavy reliance on emergency teachers] a desperate stop gap, not a solution.” It’s a travesty that we don’t pay our teachers more, don’t invest in the future of our state (our own children), and continually lose qualified candidates to other states. If this keeps up, I shudder to think about the bleak future of Oklahoma public education.
Alex Garrofolo Student Writer Oklahoma began this school year with 536 teaching vacancies in K-12 public schools. The fact that our classrooms are filling with people who aren’t even fully certified to teach astounds me. If you went to a public school in Oklahoma and had a properly certified teacher, feel grateful. As a product of public education myself, I look back on the myriad of amazing teachers I had before college as some of the people who truly did change my life. Who is filling the role now? Emergency teachers. Emergency teachers are those who lack traditional training and proper certification. To become an emergency teacher, one only needs: a bachelor’s degree, “demonstrated” competence in the chosen field, $50 for the processing fee, transcripts and a resume. Generally, the idea is that districts only use them as a last resort because of their expedited, informal training. To put the 1400 in perspective, five years ago the state had a whopping 32 emergency teachers. Oklahoma has seen many teachers taking flight across the Red River for Texas in recent years, including 2016 Oklahoma Teacher of the Year Shawn Sheehan. The state regularly ranks either 48th or 49th in teacher salaries as budget cuts seem to always affect public education. Oklahoma cuts funding from its future when it does this; as legislatures decide K-12 education
LETTER
graphic by Madeline Woods Oklahoma schools have looked to emergency teachers to supplement their dwindling workforce in recent years.
to the editor graphic by Elias Brinkman
To the Editor: I am a big fan of The Collegian’s work. You are a tremendous asset to TU and a voice of clarity on both campus and national issues. I would venture to say that most students don’t understand just how blessed we are to have you. However, I saw a recent commentary posted on August 28th about the closing of LaFortune House that I am unwilling to sit by and watch go unrefuted, which is why I am writing you today. In the article, the author uses the testimony of a former LaFortune resident to create a weak defense of LaFortune’s social environment, only to blow it down with the testimony of a Tulsa Timer who spent less than 48 hours in the building and wasn’t impressed with how one Jam It Up event went. After that, the rest of the article was a poorly veiled attempt to make “facts” fit the author’s preconceived notions and opinions of a residence hall that they, as a writer, demonstrated a tremendous lack of knowledge about. Not only is that very poor journalism, but it isn’t representative of the actual facts of the issue. I came into LaFortune as a freshman, and I’ll readily admit that it wasn’t the dorm I had requested coming in. My attitude towards the hall at the start of the term was far from ideal, but I was steadily shown just how misguided that perspective was over the coming weeks and months. I was the president of LaFortune’s Hall Government last year, and through that position got to see all the best and worst of the hall. Like any residence hall, LaFortune was far
from perfect. It had its things that could’ve been better, but much of that stemmed from years and years of being ignored and underfunded by the housing office and university administration. In spite of all of that, I think LaFortune was the best dorm to live in on campus. While it didn’t try to replicate the high-tempo energy of Fisher South (or Hardesty, to a lesser degree), LaFortune specialized in building deeper relationships. There may not have been an event every week, but every night you would find people in the lobby and in the rooms doing life together. Some of my deepest friendships at TU have come directly from my time in LaFortune, and that isn’t something that is overruled by one Tulsa Timer’s experience at a Jam It Up. Lakin Freedle, I encourage you and anyone else who holds a negative view of dear ole’ LaFortune Hall to ask some of the former residents about their experiences there. I think you’ll be surprised to see a smile spread across their face and a twinkle in their eye as they think back to the quirky dorm that gave each of us so much life and joy. You might even hear about the hall government events where we had 50+ people in attendance. (Not bad for a dorm with only 90 residents.) And after that, I hope you’ll also have a better understanding of why so many people on this campus are so sad to see such a beautiful piece of our experience at TU go. For us, LaFortune will always be home. -Stephen McDonald
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graphic by Madeline Woods
The Collegian: 10 From Ballet, cover I brought up the stigma of ballet’s male performers being effeminate, a stigma the two detested. “You have to be really strong. So you have to work out, get big muscles and for us that’s the thing we always have to work on,” van de Laar said. The truth of the matter couldn’t be further from the stereotype, as the two explained. Male performers have to be in peak physical form in order to lift the other dancers and to hold them above their heads for extended periods of time, as well as to be able to perform under ballet’s already strenuous conditions. These conditions demand years of practice and coordination. To get to the level of Montgomery and van de Laar it’s rather imperative to start out young. In this way, ballet doesn’t differ from any other sport or artform: years of dedication must be produced. Given the intricacy and physical output of ballet dancers that most people know at least from popular media (“Everyone’s seen ‘The Nutcracker,’” Montgomery said at one point), this shouldn’t come as a surprise. Montgomery and van de Laar, of course, began dancing at young ages: three and six, respectively. “I knew I wanted to dance professionally when I was twelve,” Montgomery said. She posited those preteen years as the years when one must decide how seriously they want to pursue the artform. Van de Laar gave a different perspective that in the Netherlands one can attend a conservatory at the age of nine, by which time their future career as a dancer is cemented. “I don’t think people understand how hard it is, and how stressful our jobs actually are,” Montgomery said. “We look in the mirror and have to see all our imperfections and have to fix them.” A career in dancing is as full time as any other career, all day, all week, with physical and mental stress abound. “We get just as many injuries as professional athletes get,” Montgomery added. Specifically regarding “Creations in Studio K,” van de Laar said they had “seven weeks of preparation” for the triple bill performance. Montgomery expanded in that they had two weeks of practice with each of the three choreographers, and then one week to put it all together. They argued that people may very well overestimate the amount of practice that dancers get; it’s all rather quick, they need to learn fast. Even so, of course, both dancers absolutely love their jobs. They intend to dance for as long as they’re physically able to, which Montgomery placed roughly in one’s thirties. “I’ll keep dancing. When it’s not fun anymore [I’ll stop],” van de Laar said. For both of them, this is their full-time job. For now and the foreseeable future, it’s their way of making a living.
Variety
In regards to the future, van de Laar mentioned his work in photography and Montgomery is taking online courses at TCC. They didn’t divulge anything too specific, but both dancers admitted a ballet performer’s career as being rather short, and both seem to have plans for when they’re “done.” In any case, they didn’t seem very concerned. It’s clear they’re in the line of work they’d like to be in; when the time comes that they can’t perform they’ll just move on to their next stage in life, a stage they’re preparing presently. Their real focus lies on their passion, though: ballet. Of course, though, ballet needn’t be an ultimately serious endeavor. If you want to dance professionally, it was reiterated, you need to devote practically your whole life to it. Ballet can also be a hobby, though, like perhaps any other sport or artform, and there are plenty of classes offered for those
at recounting this. “The audience won’t even notice,” van de Laar figured, for most of the scenarios. Mistakes are common in art, though. In some circles they’re even celebrated. Most sports, however, are not as forgiving. Thus rises the debate over ballet being considered a sport or an art, to which both dancers answered: both. The debate isn’t of great importance to the dancers; the feeling of accomplishment comes from the amount of work they’d put into the performance and the ability they displayed in pulling it off. Ballet is undeniably an artform, van de Laar offered, but a recent surge of debate has argued for it in terms relating more to sports: “Who has the higher legs, who can do more pirouettes?” “It requires just as much energy as a sport, as a soccer game, football game, tennis match. … It’s super physical, so yeah,
“There’s so much more to ballet than ‘The Nutcracker...’” who wish to dabble in it. Montgomery did confirm the existence of prodigies, however. “Some guys start,” she said, “when they’re sixteen, seventeen, eighteen, and they make it professionally. Some people are just gifted … with amazing feet and legs.” Given the career’s short shelf life, though, the dancers figure the late teens to be the limit to one’s window for breaking into the professional scene. The intricacy of ballet intrigued me, and the easygoing nature of the dancers had me relaxed and curious to know more of the inner workings of the dancer. What goes on in their head? When they step onto the stage and gaze through the faces of the crowd, what thoughts pervade their mind? “Don’t fall!” seemed to be the most common one. Van de Laar, admitting also to the “don’t fall” thought, claimed to always think “Just have fun.” Montgomery expanded a bit, getting into the nitty-gritty of a dancer’s thoughts. At all times the dancer must be conscious of their movements, counting along to the music and swaying in time with it. The dancer must remember the part they’re playing and must act accordingly, not only through their body but also through their face. When the dancer successfully reaches their spot and performs whatever action, they must immediately remember the next spot, the next action. Always on his mind, van de Laar said, was where he was, and what he was doing in terms of the performance at that moment. Think too far ahead and you may make a mistake. The stage is slippery though, and the dancers are all slick and coated with sweat. No matter how loudly one internally screams “don’t fall,” it will eventually happen — at least once. Both dancers laughed
I think it’s just as much a sport as it is an artform. … While we’re doing all of these physical things, we’re trying to portray a character, we’re trying to relay certain emotions on stage … we have to make people feel something, feel what we’re feeling.” Montgomery said. “I think people should come see the ballet more,” Montgomery said in closing. “Any ballet. I think dance in general is dying.” A great majority of the audience in most ballet performances consist of older people. Montgomery doesn’t argue this to be a bad thing; she merely wishes that the younger population would develop an interest in the art, too. She figures the stereotypes of ballet are again at play. “Everyone’s like ‘Oh, it’s so boring,’ but here at Tulsa Ballet we do full-length classical ballets, we do con-
5 September 2017
temporary works, things that are super cool that I don’t think younger people know that we do. I think that people would actually really enjoy coming to the shows; if I wasn’t a dancer and I came to a show I’d think it was super cool.” Montgomery mentioned a specific performance they’d made in the past to the music of the Rolling Stones. “[For people] that are not used to going to see a show,” van de Laar added, “those kinds of things are helpful.” He saw these more contemporary pieces as great stepping stones into the art for those who are unfamiliar with it. “There’s so much more to ballet than ‘The Nutcracker,’” Montgomery said. “There’s so much more.” These words stuck with me and replayed in my head as I left the building. There are many clear parallels between ballet and other more popular artforms. Stories are told, music is played and great athletic prowess is displayed in ballet. It’s a well-rounded and fully enjoyable artform. Yet all most may know about it is “The Nutcracker” and all many know about “The Nutcracker” may come from “Tom & Jerry.” For awhile, that was the extent of my knowledge on ballet, and I did not care to learn more. Yet how foolish might it sound for one to submit their entire knowledge of literature to be in regards to Mark Twain’s “Tom Sawyer,” or of art to be in Picasso’s “Guernica.” They’re great pieces that certainly everyone should be familiar with, but to limit their scope of that artform to just those pieces means they’re missing out on a lot. The parallels continue to hold between these other artforms and ballet. The centuries-old, fully fledged art-form has been losing appreciation recently and for what? I won’t attempt to answer that question — I’m hardly qualified — but to echo Montgomery I will say that, for ballet, there’s so much more.
graphic by Madeline Woods / courtesy Daniel van de Laar and Regina Montgomery
Daniel van de Laar and Regina Montgomery, pictured here, will perform in “Creations in Studio K.”
Sura adds Korean, Japanese fare Tulsa Symphony Orchestra to already large sushi menu enchants Guthrie Green With a comfortable atmosphere and large menu, Sura Korean and Japanese is a new place to try in town. Michaela Flonard Managing Editor The loud classical music filling Sura Korean and Japanese Cuisine seemed at odds with the decor and cuisine. A statute of a warrior, which my companions posited was Ghengis Khan, sat near the hostess’s table, and a sushi counter, with chairs so one could sit and watch them work, braced an edge. Until about eight months ago, Sura Korean and Japanese was known as the Sushi House. The owners revamped the menu, adding Korean and Japanese specialities, but sushi remains the selling point. The sushi options are wide, spanning several pages, and have a variety of unique names, like “O.R.U.,” “T.U.” and “Hungry.” They offer deep-fried rolls, sashimi and cooked rolls, as well. The Korean side of the menu, a pull-out section, has bibimbap, soups and meat/seafood, while the Japanese section has udon, ramen and teriyaki among others. Each section of the menu has its own appetisers, and the drink menu is large, though
not as large as the sushi one. For those that visit during lunch hours, Sura offers specials as well, but their normal prices are about average for Tulsa. Even with all of the sushi options, my table ended up ordering from the Japanese and Korean sections — different types of bibimbap (spicy chicken and bulgogi) and teriyaki chicken. Before the entrees came out, miso soup was served to those who ordered bibimbap. The soup was warm and salty, with chunks of tofu and greens to be found within it. The rest of our orders came out soon enough. The teriyaki chicken was accompanied by gyoza and vegetables, artfully paired. The bibimbap bowls were piled high; rice sat as the base, while different grilled vegetables and an egg lay underneath a generous helping of the meat of choice. Sauce was served on the side, giving customers an option. The bulgogi was perfectly tender, thinly sliced and had a slightly salty flavor that paired well with the rest of the dish. The spicy chicken earned its name well. Whatever spices it was coated in gave it a sort of gritty covering, but it mixed in well with the rest of the bowl. Overall, Sura was a restaurant to return to. With all the types of sushi available, one could visit many times and not eat the same thing. But for those not fans of sushi, Sura offers other delights as well.
Sura’s teriyaki chicken provided spicy punch to the taste buds.
photo by Michaela Flonard
The Tulsa Symphony Orchestra performed a striking variety of classic and contemporary pieces at the Guthrie Green on First Friday. Brennen Gray Student Writer
It seemed all of Tulsa turned out to Guthrie Green on last Friday at 7:30 p.m. The sea of people flowed from the patio, down the steps, across the field and right up to the stage. Ron Spigelman conducted the Tulsa Symphony Orchestra which spread across the stage with downtown Tulsa in the backdrop, nothing less than beautiful. The orchestra opened with Candide Overture, an iconic piece with a recognizable tune. The upbeat, quick rhythm from the mid-20th century hit operetta brought an air of familiarity for any symphony buffs in the audience. Breaking away from Broadway, the orchestra took us to the military. A tribute to veterans followed shortly after where Spigelman called out a branch of the military, and each veteran of that branch stood up to be recognized. As the military march ended, Spigelman accepted an applause and then went into a story about a composer named Waldtuefel. The composer had written 182 unsuccessful pieces before his 183rd piece became popular. The piece in A major surprisingly fit the atmosphere nicely, even with French ice skaters as the inspiration. I had not expected what came next: music from the film “Star Trek: Into Darkness.” The music haunted, intrigued, and thrilled. The notes were laced with the curiosity and adventure core to the Star Trek universe. Spigelman then announced that the orchestra would take us further back in time in science fiction than the 2013 film, and like that, “E.T.” began playing. Spigelman had
said that he cannot hear the theme without tearing up, and for good reason. Few songs can match just how touching the film score to “E.T.” is. Next came a theme from “Captain America.” The pure heroism served to bring shiny heroes and maniacal villains to Tulsa. Everyone in the audience was 12 years old all over again. The orchestra seemed to use the nostalgia falling over the Tulsans to introduce a particular medley that won Hans Zimmer an Oscar: “The Lion King.” The film score and the lovable singalongs followed. By this time, it was already dark out, which matched well with “Can You Feel the Love Tonight.” I almost started dancing to “Hakuna Matata.” Tchaikovsky’s masterpiece 1812 Overture celebrated Tulsa and its orchestra as much as it originally celebrated the defeat of Napoleon. Nearly every human being recognizes the piece for its resounding climax. Instead of the traditional cannon fire to accentuate the music, fireworks erupted behind the stage. The epic overture combined with the fireworks display showed off what the Tulsa Symphony Orchestra can do. Musicians seemed to intend the finale to be about community. “Stars and Stripes Forever” played with the audience clapping in unison, the fireworks continuing behind. The performance finished off the night in the only way possible: a group singalong of “Oklahoma.” The scene was pure community; hundreds of Tulsans standing and singing the theme with fireworks lighting up the downtown skyline. I asked Spigelman after the show why the orchestra puts on the symphony. “This is how we celebrate the beginning of the year for arts groups,” he said, “It’s the first Friday of September, and we like to come out here and bring everyone together to kick things off.” With the finale still playing in my head, Spigelman and his orchestra did indeed kick the year off — quite literally with flying colors.
5 September 2017
Variety
Campell exhibit explores themes of vulnerability and prejudice Crystal Campbell’s “Take Only Pictures, Kill Only Time, Leave Only Bubbles,” a gallery exploring a wide array of themes and emotions, opened Thursday at Alexander Hogue Gallery. Trenton Gibbons News Editor Through Sept. 21, Phillips Hall’s Alexander Hogue Gallery will host the mixedmedia exhibition, “Take Only Pictures, Kill Only Time, Leave Only Bubbles,” by visiting artist Crystal Campbell. The exhibit includes archival images, projections, video and sound works and sculpture. Last Thursday the exhibit’s opening reception included a lecture by Campbell in the Jerri Jones Lecture Hall, where she not only answered questions regarding her current exhibit, but discussed past works of hers and the inspiration behind them. Campbell, a woman of color, made race and gender a recurring topic of the lecture. Many of her works intend to focus on the vulnerability of her identity. Some of the most interesting materials stemmed from her interest in the figure of Henrietta Lacks. Henrietta was an African-American woman whose cancer cells were used posthumously as the source for the HeLa cell line. Though her cell line was immortalized, in life she was treated in a segregated hospital. The irony of Henrietta Lacks genes making her a victim of racial segregation, while her cells were sent to space, was not lost on Campbell, who honored her memory by placing her cells upon diamond. Campbell, a native of Oklahoma, was also interested in the Tulsa Race Riots (or Tulsa Race Massacre). Particularly she wanted to draw people’s attention to what had been destroyed in the event rather than the destruction of the event itself. One photo of the area before the massacre depicted a tow-
ering pile of lumber, whose colors had been edited by Campbell to emphasize them. The wood, she explained, had to be bought from a separate supplier than the nearby city of Tulsa, who refused to sell to them. It was just one example, she said, of how the town was forced to make its own success. Her lecture included also a few disturbing photos of Jim Jones and his followers. The cult leader, who infamously slew his followers with poisonous kool-aid in Jonestown, preyed upon the vulnerable. This is obvious in the photos Campbell featured in her lecture, as he is often surrounded with foster children, racial minorities and the elderly. One particularly stirring photo featured an old black woman with a raised sign: “I believe in Jim Jones.” In a rather experimental exploration of this cult, Campbell organized a crowd to navigate a dark city with blindfolds on, guided by an operatic interpretation of Jim Jones’ last message to his followers. Another historical photo in her lecture was of reverend Al Sharpton outside of New York City’s Slave Theatre. The building, as the picture suggested, had once been a bastion of African-American art and culture. When she visited the theatre a few years ago, it was completely abandoned, save squatters. She recovered from it a roll of film and, after some time, was able to view its contents. Some shots from the film, she noted, resembled other famous works of art; others were wholly unique. Now the film, and the theatre itself, stand as an example of what happens when we don’t work to preserve art, particularly when it is the expression of an oppressed group. Campbell’s art encompasses a wide range, to say the least. Probably this description of just a few of her works will help very little in deciphering much of the art currently on display at Phillips Hall. Then again, with the exhibit open and free to students, maybe it’s best that interested observers stop by to interpret the pieces for themselves.
The Collegian: 11
Photos from First Friday
September’s First Friday Art Crawl had no shortage of open galleries, bringing a stronger taste of Tulsa’s fine art to the scrappy event.
photos by Cheyanne Wheat
The State-Run Media
5 September 2017
the
State-Run media News you want to read, news you have to read
How to prove you are the alpha male to your teachers
Assert your dominance by following the State-Run’s guide on how to be the alpha male in any classroom. Madison Connell Chews gum in class
5 Seconds of Employment playing at Coachella.
graphic by Madeline Woods
Canned DOJ officials form boy band The State-Run gives you the lowdown on the three former Trump administrators who have recently been expressing their consternation to the public...through song. Sam Harrell Number one fan While the government has lost three key players in its America-sized game of Jenga, the music industry has gained three new shining stars. James B. Comey, Sally Yates and Preet Bharara are the world’s most highly anticipated new boy band: 5 Seconds of Employment. On a cold and gentle Tuesday evening, James Comey walked down the steps of Capitol Hill for his last time. His commute home was not filled with the jubilance and merry capers of yore, but rather, disillusionment and dread. His head hangs heavy with the loss of his job and a lifetime of work, and his fear of Russian interference with the election has been compounded by the apparent defense of the suspects. His only hope left is that it will all turn out like the original Red Dawn and dear God not the remake. Comey was a wreck. With his mind clouded, palms sweaty, knees weak and arms heavy, he couldn’t bare to return home and face his wife and children just yet. So by himself, he decided to visit that knock-off Coney Island place that his Italian friend with the pastarelated nickname was always talking about. But just before the lonely Comey could try a phony Coney given a posy by Macaroni Tony, he noticed two equally dismayed faces across the room. They were the faces of Sally Yates, and Preet Bharara. As the three
made eye contact, “It’s Gonna Be Me” by N-Sync began playing overhead, and at that very moment, their fate was sealed forever. The three began their road to pop-stardom in Bharara’s mom’s basement, practicing harmonies, choreography, lip-syncing and hip-gyrating. They started off playing small shows around D.C. in grocery stores and parking garages, performing passionately until they’d be asked to leave. Eventually they were picked up by Filibustin’ Records, and in a matter of weeks the group was beginning to top charts and win over critics. Their first single, “Party In The DOJ”, went quintuple platinum before they even finished recording. And their more recent hit, “U.S. Attorney Me On”, has been translated into 175 languages, Braille and Morse code. Their newest album entitled “DAMN (There Are A Lot More White Supremacists Here Than I Thought).” is said to come out in December, and is quickly becoming the most highly anticipated and doctor-recommended album release since like, I don’t know probably some jazz record or something. 5SOE has already lined up a three year long touring schedule, with over 200 shows in 80 cities across North America, and including shows in Europe, Australia, South America and the Baltic States. “Even though we are no longer involved in politics, we aim to continue having an impact on government policy outside the White House, and inside the hearts of our fans.” Says Comey. “I couldn’t get the Justice Department to depart even a hint of justice on Trump’s travel ban, but I can still reach those seven majority-Muslim countries through the power of music.” Yates claims. “I haven’t ripped this much bleezy since the Obama Administration,” coughed Bharara.
Power hungry but don’t know the best way to assert your dominance on campus? Look no further than the following list on how to prove you are the alpha male to even the most intimidating of teachers. No Y chromosome needed. 1. Don’t wear a jacket, even in (insert coldest building on campus here). You remember those “tough” guys in high school who would wear flip flops and cargo shorts even in winter? Yeah, be that person. 2. Steal the teacher’s rolling chair. Take the best chair in the room, especially if it is the elusive rolling chair, particularly if it has cushiony seats. 3. Give the teacher your own syllabus. Tell the teacher everything you expect out of them for the semester. 4. Demand that the teacher stop selfplagiarizing from his or her past lessons. You can’t self-plagiarize your papers, why should professors be able to copy their old powerpoints and same old boring lectures? 5. Show up late to class. Every. Time. Make a lot of noise coming in, perhaps by blasting your music. Show up with a Starbucks to show that yes, you had the time to get ready this morning, you just chose to spend that extra time getting your necessary coffee fix. 6. Give the teacher’s your own office hours. Be sure and tell them that they can only get the privilege to help you during said office (or dorm) hours. Yes, this includes making them walk all the way from Keplinger to one of the Fishers.
Happy customer of Cutting Edge lawn service.
7. Don’t buy the textbook. Even better, make the teacher buy your own book or Soundcloud album, link posted in your bio. 8. Don’t bring supplies to class. Don’t even bring one of your own pencils, steal one of the teacher’s (while they are looking, of course).They ask you to bring the book every day to class every day? See above step. 9. Stare down the teacher the entire class. Never break eye contact, the one that does is considered lower on the totem pole. 10. Start howling or growling. The teacher goes on a tangent about something you disagree with, like how social media is the devil? Start growling menacingly. Bonus points for foaming at the mouth. 11. Piss on the teacher’s property to claim territory. Hike up your leg and pee on the teacher’s podium, making you the new teacher (and therefore alpha male) by default. 12. Wear a muscle shirt and flex anytime anyone looks at you. 13. Crush a beer can. Requirement: no light beers. Bonus points if you can do it with your mind. 14. Steal your teacher’s bae. The teacher shows their happy family on a powerpoint the first day of class? Too late, now they’re your family. 15. Grade the teacher. The teacher gives your test back three weeks after you took it? Ten percent off their grade. Make sure and keep them to the same standards (or better yet, higher) for attendance. 16. Text in class. Assert your dominance by breaking the rules by texting through the entire class, especially by finding your teacher’s phone number and messaging them throughout class reminding them of your dominance.
graphic by Madeline Woods
Lawn company hands out free .50Cal rifle with every cleared gutter Local lawn service company, Cutting Edge, offers an antimaterial sniper rifle with one of their lawncare packages. Braden Wright Prefers the TAC-50 Hoping to leave no home clogged or child unarmed, a local Oklahoma lawn care company, Cutting Edge Lawns, has vowed to deliver a free Barrett .50 Caliber rifle to every customer who purchases a gutter cleaning. “It’s called the second amendment,” said a Cutting Edge spokesperson John Cross. “If you’re not okay with it, you’re a communist, and you can go ahead and step off our American grass.” They call it their Homeland Care package, which grants the customer’s family one
Barrett anti-tank rifle and a box of ammunition per purchase. “Our owner came up with the idea when he found a child abandoned in his mom’s car in a grocery store parking lot and thought ‘man, if only I had an anti-tank gun that could rip through one of these doors. Then I could do something to help,’ and the rest of us here couldn’t agree more.” From then on, Cutting Edge Lawns has done everything in their power to put the full fury of excessive military spending in every homeowner’s hands. Recent changes in the political climate have only inspired Cutting Edge to push their idea even further. “With people thinking it’s okay nowadays to block highways and protest justice, we have decided to add another box of ammunition, but this one is incendiary,” said Cross. “We just encourage protecting the American way.” The rifles also come in a collection of col-
ors like Cobalt or Rose Gold, and customers are even given the option to personally engrave the barrel, provided they also purchase an added leaf removal service, called Homeland Care Plus. Most all color options are available, but red is forbidden, as it “encourages communist thinking.” Adam McConnell, a long time Cutting Edge customer, has bought enough Homeland Care Plus services to cover an entire wall in his living room. “Even if you don’t shoot them, they’re a great home piece,” says McConnell. “I have one in every color, sort of like a freedom rainbow hanging on my wall.” Being a father of three, McConnell says his kids have friends over all the time, and they love to take the guns down and chase their vegan neighbors with them. “On top of everything else, they’re a great entertainment piece,” says McConnell. “Cutting Edge really knows what it’s
doing here. My grass has never looked so good, my gutters so clean, and my kids so happy.” This weekend, Cutting Edge is letting new customers try the Homeland Care or Homeland Care Plus packages at almost no cost to them. If the anti-material rifle doesn’t live up to their standards they can return it and get a full refund, only at the cost of having all the leaves and dirt returned to their lawn and gutter. “It’s a safe way to get a feel for what we do, and for customers to see if having a military grade rifle in their home is really the opportunity for them.” Cutting Edge’s interview with Collegian journalists was relatively short lived, as the TU team had soon reached their allotted number of interview questions before they were marked communist spies, and were promptly told to “fuck off ‘round yonder.”