Catholic Church reconciles Tribal relations

Oklahoma’s Catholic leaders desire to learn from tribal groups.

Commentary Editor

courtesy @NY_Arch on Twitter St. Kateri was known as the “Lily of the Mohawks.” She represents all tribes as the patron saint of Native Americans as well as environmentalism.

There is no question that horrible things were done in the name of “civilization” in the continent of North America, especially to the Native American peoples. One of the most horrendous were the Native American boarding schools, or as they are often known today, the Native American residential schools. These schools operated from 1869 to the 1960s, hoping to produce economically self-sufficient students with hard work ethics and possessive individualism, meaning that the individual is the only owner of their skills and therefore doesn’t owe anything to anyone for said skills. In the vast majority of cases these schools forced the assimilation of Native students into a culture, language and way of life these children had not chosen for themselves.

While many had good intentions with this educational system, the fruit of their labors were sour, a cultural and literal genocide. To this day, few records remain extant as to how many schools were in operation, causing trauma and pain for generations to come. The Catholic Church shares their own portion of blame in this tragic part of North American history, and any Catholic that says otherwise is either misinformed or lying to themselves in order to avoid the possibility that people in the Church could do bad things.

There are many Catholic leaders, however, who have answered the call, recognizing the need for healing and reconciliation for the next generations of Native Americans that have to live with this dark piece of their heritage. As of Nov. 2021, the Archdiocese of Oklahoma City in collaboration with the Diocese of Tulsa launched a new project with the desire to better understand this tragic history and the experiences of the Native American peoples affected.

In this amazing effort of collaboration with Professor Bryan Rindfleisch at Marquette University in Milwaukee, Wis.—an expert in American Indian history—the two dioceses have gathered oral histories from the former students at these schools and their descendants, studying the documentation from the schools’ operation in the hopes of working in unity with the tribes to find a path to healing.

Amy Warne of Oklahoma City recently spoke at Sacred Heart Church in Konawa in reference to the residential schools, and the points she raised need to be taken to heart. Catholics would be up in arms if they were

forbidden to pray rosaries or make the sign of the cross, from expressing their faith even in the most basic of forms. It would be religious and cultural discrimination—there is no doubt of that. Native American culture and rituals, and the basics of their way of life deserve to be treated with the same level of respect. This seems to be something that the Catholic authorities of Oklahoma City and Tulsa have taken to heart.

According to Archbishop of Oklahoma City Paul Coakley, “It is important we learn and understand the experiences of American Indian children and their families at Catholic boarding schools in Oklahoma so we can make better and more informed decisions moving forward. We will continue to build a culture of inclusion, healing and understanding related to Native American Catholics in our state.” Bishop of Tulsa David Konderla has also said, “It is by understanding the past that we are able to improve and build on good ideas in the present and, where necessary, make amends for failures in the past.”

We must learn from the past so that we will not make the same mistakes in the future. This project is a beautiful act of good faith on the part of the local Catholic dioceses of Oklahoma, extending their hand in hopes of unity and love, as well as healing and reconciliation. It is wonderful to see that they truly desire to learn from the Native American experience, and to make their voices heard in their faith communities.

courtesy @ArchbishopOKC on Twitter Archbishop Coakley (left) and Bishop Konderla (right) have worked together with their communities to bring healing to those hurt by the Catholic Church.

University of Tulsa Campus Safety and Security Officers dispatched to Mayo Village apartments on report of suspicious activity. Officers arrived at the apartment where the suspicious activity was reported and determined it had been burglarized. Officers made contact with the resident of the apartment and collected a witness statement. The victim was advised to file a report with the Tulsa Police Department. Copy of report forwarded to Housing and Student Affairs for their review.

University of Tulsa Campus Safety and Security officers were dispatched to the Mabee East lot on report of an injured person. Officers arrived and met with a non-University of Tulsa affiliate who had fallen and injured themselves while putting their wheelchair inside their vehicle. Communications Center contacted Emergency Medical Services (EMSA). EMSA conducted a medical assessment and determined the individual was well enough to drive home. Copy of report forwarded to Physical Plant and Athletics for their review.

University of Tulsa Campus Safety and Security officers were dispatched to the University Square West Apartments regarding a burglary. Officers made contact with the resident who stated the apartment had been pilfered. It was determined by the resident a printer was missing. The resident will file a Tulsa Police report. Copy of this report forwarded to Housing and Student Affairs for their review.

University of Tulsa Campus Safety and Security officers were dispatched to the Mayo Village Lot in reference to an automobile burglary. Officers examined the vehicle and discovered the vehicle had damages to the vehicle window. The ignition of vehicle was damaged which indicated an attempted motor vehicle theft. The victim requested the Tulsa Police Department contacted to complete a report as well. No items were reported stolen. Copy of report forwarded to Housing, Physical Plant and Student Affairs for their review.

Report of Dating Violence

While on routine patrol, University of Tulsa Campus Safety and Security officers observed an individual peeping into an open window of a sorority house. Officers determined the individual was affiliated with the university and advised the affiliate to cease any further activity. Copy of report forwarded to Housing and Student Affairs for their review.

University of Tulsa Campus Safety and Security officers were dispatched to the Mayo Village Apartments to investigate an anonymous noise complaint. Officers observed loud music, open alcoholic beverages and underaged university affiliates at the reported residence. Officers cleared the apartment, disposed of the alcohol and referred the incident in accordance with the University drug and alcohol policy. Copy of report forwarded to Housing and Student Affairs for their review.

University of Tulsa Campus Safety and Security officers conducting an end of event walk-through at the Kappa Alpha fraternity discovered an intoxicated underage student. Emergency Services Medical Authority and Tulsa Fire Department personnel were contacted and responded. The student was cleared medically and refused transportation to a hospital. The student was referred for a conduct violation. Copy of report forwarded to Housing and Student Affairs for their review.

University of Tulsa Campus Safety and Security officers met with a university affiliate reporting they were being harassed online and around campus. Officers collected a statement and the victim advised they filed a report with the Tulsa Police Department. Copy of report forwarded to Housing and Student Affairs for their review. tice Soccer Field at 8th Delaware on report of grand larceny. Victims advised the suspect ran up to the top of the hill next to the practice field and stole their backpacks that were sitting on the hill. The suspect then ran to a vehicle where their driver was waiting and drove south off campus. Both victims advised they would file a report with the Tulsa Police Department. Copy of report forwarded to Physical Plant, Athletics and Student Affairs for their review.

University of Tulsa Campus Safety and Security officers were dispatched to investigate a suspicious person at the Sigma Chi fraternity. Officers made contact with the suspicious person and determined they were not a TU affiliate. The subject was not trespass warned. A contact card was created. Copy of report forwarded to Housing and Student Affairs for their review.

While on routine patrol, University of Tulsa Campus Safety and Security officers witnessed an individual being assisted out of a fraternity house by two other individuals. Officers determined the individual, who was not affiliated with the university, was intoxicated and under the legal drinking age. The intoxicated individual declined assistance from the Emergency Medical Services Authority. Officers attended to the intoxicated individual until they were given a ride off campus. Copy of report forwarded to Housing and Student Affairs for their review.

11:10 p.m. University of Tulsa Campus Safety and Security officers were dispatched to Club Mabee in John Mabee Hall on report of underage drinking. Officers made contact with the reporting party and one of the reported individuals. The incident is under investigation at this time. Copy of report forwarded to Housing and Student Affairs for their review.

The Collegian does not produce or edit the Campus Crime Watch except for content and brevity.

tucollegian@tucollegian.com @TUCOLLEGIAN

editor in chief Justin Klopfer

managing editor Adam Walsh

sports editor Callie Hummel

variety editor Julianne Tran

commentary editor Logan Guthrie

satire editor Anna Johns

photo & graphics editor Amy Polovich

business & advertising manager Madeleine Goodman

social media & web manager Maddie Walters

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In her sixth studio album, Mitski shows listeners another side of herself and her music.

Student Writer

On Friday, Feb. 4 Mitski released her sixth studio album, “Laurel Hell.” As a pretty die hard Mitski fan for many years (“First Love, Late Spring” remained my #1 song on my Spotify wrapped for an embarrassing amount of time), I was incredibly excited to dive into her latest body of work, but also a little nervous. In 2021, several of my other favorite artists released new albums after years of silence, and few of them satisfied the itch that I wanted their music to scratch. I didn’t connect at all with Lorde’s “Solar Power” and found myself zoning out every time I tried to listen. St.Vincent’s “Daddy’s Home” only really captivated me after I saw her in concert and heard the songs live. Both of Lana del Rey’s albums had a few tracks that I enjoyed, but I still haven’t felt compelled to fully listen to either LP. I was worried, would Mitski’s new album suffer the same fate?

Luckily, the answer is no. As her singles came out, I enjoyed each one even more than the last, and I felt optimistic when I went to give “Laurel Hell” its first full listen. I was pretty sure it was going to be a win for me as soon as the first track, “Valentine, Texas” ended. The song felt like the perfect way to start a Mitski album: slow and emotional, with a powerful crescendo halfway through that grabs hold of you and says,

“We’re going to spend some time dealing with our emotions, whether you like it or not!”

I have so many feelings about Mitski and her work that I knew I couldn’t tackle the job of listening to and making decisions about the album all on my own, so I turned to my two best girlfriends from high school who have always connected to her music in a similar way.

We had a really long conversation about the album, less for whether or not it was good on its own, but more for whether or not it was good for a Mitski album. My friend Emily stated, “Mitski set the bar high with her preceding albums, making it difficult for this album to make the same mark. The 80s synth layering in some of the songs is fun and energetic, namely “Love Me More” is a total ear worm. The lyrics, as always, are relatable and poetic… My favorite off the album, “That’s Our Lamp,” uses the same sound as Paul McCartney’s “Wonderful Christmas Time,” yet she is still able to make it sound haunting and mellow.”

“The songs I like the best are good, but not comparable to some of the songs off other albums. Each of her albums are distinct in their sound, and form cohesive themes, and this one is no different. Forever one of my favorite songwriters, I can’t say that I don’t like Mitski’s album, yet it has not had the impact on me that her previous albums have had.”

My friend Lizzie chimed in with a similar opinion, stating “... it seems very different from her other albums, and while there are some songs that stand out to me and have lyrics that have her trademark relatability and vulnerability, I feel like in a way she lost a lot of her charm on this one… I miss her older stuff because it sounded more original.”

While I fully understood where these assessments were coming from, I had to disagree. With “Laurel Hell” Mitski has hit the sweet spot of her career. Through her beautiful, hauntingly honest and vulnerable lyrics, she still openly discusses difficult topics, but she’s taken those trademarks and combined them with a composition that is more mature and listenable. I mentioned her 2014 studio album “Bury Me at Makeout Creek,” citing that as one of my favorites by her, but not something I could or would want to listen to everyday because of its sometimes harsh sounds and songs that can be more painful than they are enjoyable. My friends agreed, and I continued to explain how I felt about her new album by explaining that what she’s done, creating a work that is still raw and emotional but at the same time so much more upbeat, infectious and digestible, makes me as a listener feel like Mitski is starting to accept her hard feelings. It provides an opportunity to join her in that development. Lizzie compared this idea to artist Japanese Breakfast and her transition from “Psychopomp” to 2021’s “Jubilee,” and I couldn’t agree more. Both creative and vulnerable albums, the latest one being a little more upbeat and easier to get behind, even for those of us who fully appreciated and enjoyed her first LP.

Our conversation continued, and I got a better grip on what I was trying to say. My point of view started to make a little more sense to my friends when I told them, “... we wallowed with [Mitski] for years, and now we get to heal!” We finished up our thoughts and although both Lizzie and Emily agreed that they needed to give the album another listen, I felt that we had really hit the nail on the head. “Laurel Hell” is a great album for a number of reasons. It’s short and sweet; Mitski keeps you on your toes with infectious beats and lyrics that get stuck in your head as well as your heart. She gives you something to sing along with in the car and something to blast through your headphones when you’re not sure how to describe your latest emotions. She reassures you that it’s okay to have these emotions, she feels them too, and has even found some joy in them. Her songwriting is impeccable, and her choices almost contain a certain theatricality that is impressive in and of itself. Her talent and creativity shine through every inch of this album, and it feels so special to take advantage of it as a listener. As a Mitski fan, this album is great for all the aforementioned reasons, and also because you get to recognize the change in her as an artist, and maybe even a similar change in yourself as well. Maybe my enneagram four is showing, but props to Mitski for making me feel seen once again, especially during a time when I think we can all welcome more things that bring us comfort.

courtesy Dead Oceans Mitski began releasing songs in 2012.

Saad reflects on the promise, rest and bittersweetness of snow days for college students.

Hana Saad Student Writer

Feb. 1, 2022. It was the night before a snow day, a night full of possibility and knowledge that tomorrow would be a day spent in a liminal space. A surprise respite from the sometimes harried activity of a proper school day with classes, clubs and other responsibilities.

Snow days promise escape from all of that, even if some of it must be spent in front of the computer, catching up on assignments and readings. Yet the idea of a full day without classes stretches luxuriously in front of many students, prompting late-night hangouts with friends until two a.m. and mornings spent sleeping in.

Even if on Wednesday, students didn’t necessarily wake to a blanket of snow, the day still unlocked childhood memories of time spent sleeping in and watching TV shows you never saw during the day. Winter days like these are dangerous, and for most adults, pose problems that are serious at worst and irritating at best. But for college students, snow days still promise the magic they did while we were children.

Come Thursday, the snow rested heavy on the rooftops and lightly fell from the branches of the trees. Students braved the sidewalks and streets, running and shouting and creating all manner of muck, imagining ice fortresses and endless Arctic landscapes as they looked out from their vantage points on campus. Others stayed cozy inside, making soups, hot cocoa and other tasty treats.

Later, reality might have come crashing in and, begrudgingly, we had to settle down to get some work done. Those who pride themselves as good students may feel some guilt for not getting enough done. Others might not regret a day spent attending to responsibilities, but suddenly feel overwhelmed with all that there is to do. Both are unpleasant options.

As a college student, a snow day can be a complicated thing. Guilt and even shame come crashing in, ruining potential chances for relaxation. Sometimes, a snow day starts to feel less like a snow day and more like any other day, with the addition of even more work as we try to maximize extra time. Not to mention that many students who have jobs outside may still have to go to work.

Even if the snow days are over by now, we might still get a few in the next couple of months. If at all possible, enjoy the day off. Stop working much earlier than you would on a usual day and plan something fun you always wanted to do. Try a new recipe, play a game or even just call a friend to catch up.

It doesn’t have to be a grand gesture or a perfectly planned day. After all, snow days are a surprise – we should be just as spontaneous.

courtesy University of Tulsa Willis began working at TU in 2002.

See Me After Class is a weekly column where a different professor reveals their variety favorites.

Julianne Tran Variety Editor

Dr. Bruce Willis is a professor of Spanish and Comparative Literature who received his M.A. and Ph.D from the University of Virginia. He did not, in fact, star in “Diehard,” but I wouldn’t be surprised if he had a secret life. Willis has a gift for making students feel comfortable speaking Spanish in his classroom and is unwavering in his enthusiasm and love for Latin American culture. You can sometimes find him emphatically speaking Portuguese to befuddled students or fixing the entire semester’s course offerings.

It’s stiff competition, but my favorite book continues to be “Don Quixote” by Miguel de Cervantes, the first modern novel, a tragicomic metafiction with a little something for everyone. But I wouldn’t necessarily recommend it for all undergrads. What I would recommend is to read a book in a second language, or if that’s not possible, then a book in translation. Favorites from Latin America that I recommend include “One Hundred Years of Solitude” by Gabriel García Márquez (Colombia), “The Passion According to G.H.” by Clarice Lispector (Brazil), and Lisa Dillman’s recent translation of the US/Mexico border-crossing novel by Yuri Herrera, “Signs Preceding the End of the World.” I would emphasize as well, for all undergrads, the importance of reading non-Eurocentric books, written from the perspectives of the original peoples of the Americas, of Africa, of Asia. Along those lines – it’s not a book, but I would urge all undergrads (everybody, in fact) to pay a visit to the new First Americans Museum in Oklahoma City, where they’ve done a thoroughly amazing job, on every level, of telling the narrative from Indigenous points of view.

My favorite place to read is the Faculty Reading Room at McFarlin. All four of the library’s reading rooms are terrific for grading and writing as well as reading. Coffee shops are great, too… and the couch at home, where as soon as I sit down I’ll quickly be joined by a cat or two.

“Nacho Libre,” of course – the universally agreed-upon hands-down absolute best movie of all eternity! (It’s such a silly film, yet poignant, with an outstanding soundtrack and full of quirky little nods to Mexican humor. Also, the soundtrack takes me back to a wonderful family road trip, over winter break 2006-07, from Tulsa through Mexico to the Guatemala border and back. We must have listened to that CD some two dozen times while spellbound by the changes in the landscape.)

I’m currently reading “A Mãe, A Filha, e o Espírito da Santa” [The Mother, the Daughter and the Spirit of the Santa] by contemporary Brazilian writer PJ Pereira. There’s a lot of humor in the novel, especially in Pereira’s descriptions of the characters, but Pereira also paints a stark contrast between rural and urban Brazil in the 1960s, all the while developing a long meditation, laced with laughter, on the intermingling of Brazil’s religions.

I worked as a waiter at a Brazilian restaurant when I was in my mid-twenties. It was an invaluable experience. Restaurants can be like mini-consulates that bring not just food but worldviews from faraway locations. Quite a few of my favorites in Tulsa haven’t lasted, but of the ones that are still around, I’ll give shout-outs to El Patrón for a good mix of traditional and innovative Mexican, Qué Gusto for Ecuadorian / South American, and Bohemia for great pizza and ambience.

I’m not sure, but perhaps they would not expect that I love to listen to adventure movie soundtracks. The Marvel films, and series like Lord of the Rings, Pirates of the Caribbean, Star Wars, Harry Potter – these are all outstanding orchestrations for getting work done on the computer or for driving around town. I also enjoy the mashups of these scores you can find on YouTube.

One each from the United States, Mexico, and Brazil: “Today” by Randy Sparks, “Usted” by Armando Manzanero, and “A Saudade É Uma Estrada Longa” by Almir Sater.

Through stunning art and heartbreaking plots, Rachel Smythe has perfectly woven a Greek tale for the modern age.

Myranda New Student Writer

With it becoming increasingly difficult to sneak a few chapters of a book into my daily routine between assignments and meetings, I have discovered the joy of Webtoon, an app full of comics and graphic novels that only take a few minutes at a time to read. It is an easy way to fit a little bit of fun reading into the day.

One of the most well-known comics on Webtoon is “Lore Olympus” by Rachel Smythe, a modern retelling of the story of Hades and Perspheone, and I must say that it is magnificent. The art style alone is enough for it to be breathtaking, but combined with the plot, it is truly a masterpiece.

The main storyline is that Persephone, Demeter’s only daughter who had been raised in the mortal realm, has traveled to Olympus to further her education, where she stays with Artemis. In an effort to get her to mingle with other gods, Artemis and Persphone attend a party Zeus is hosting, where jealous circumstances lead to Persephone meeting Hades, and the two slowly begin to fall in love.

One of the things I loved about “Lore Olympus” is how effortlessly Smythe intertwined smaller plots with the main one. The stories of Eros and Psyche, Apollo and Daphne, as well as Minthe and Hades were paired perfectly in the background of the main story. It can be overwhelming how many characters are situated in Greek mythology, but Smythe introduced each of them with ease, making you care so much about their story.

Clearly, Smythe did her research when penning this comic. There are myths present that I have not even heard of, while just about every story is held accurate to the lore she adapted it from. In a way, you always know what is coming for the characters, but at the same time, you never know how Smythe will twist it into a modern setting.

Of course, since it is based on Greek mythology, the comic is heartbreaking, a true tragedy. It portrays abuse and trauma well, exemplified through all of the characters in different ways to show how differently trauma manifests in people. It is a comic full of powerful messages of caring for those who have experienced trauma and helping them through it. There is one chapter that takes place during a therapy appointment, and I would say the statements made are very applicable to most of us.

Smythe’s art portrays the scenes even better than you could have envisioned in your mind. The emotions are so clear in the characters, and the costume changes are beautiful. I always looked forward to the next stunning outfit Persephone wore. Each character has their everyday form and their godly form, and I love to see how Smythe interprets these characters.

I grew up reading the “Percy Jackson” series, so I knew that Hera was not one of the best characters and that Apollo was pretty awesome, but in “Lore Olympus,” it is quite the opposite. Apollo is one of the scarier gods while Hera is one of the few that seems to have Persephone’s back. It is so interesting to me to see how these Greek myths can be interpreted across authors, and I loved seeing this specific interpretation, especially when it came to the female gods and nymphs protecting each other through trials and tribulations.

Webtoon is a fantastic way for authors and artists to get their work to a broad audience. With millions of users, there is an assortment of comics across all genres for readers to enjoy and artists to present their work to. Whatever they post is all their own, and Webtoon can even pay you for publishing on their site. Some authors, like Smythe, get so popular that they can strike up deals with bookstores to physically publish their work. These kinds of sites are vital for getting more artists into the publishing pipeline, spreading their creations across the reading community.

Currently, Smythe is on a mid-season hiatus, so there is no better time to get through the 190 chapters already uploaded. “Lore Olympus” can be found on Webtoon or in bookstores.

courtesy Webtoon

Netflix will be making an animated TV series based on the comic.

courtesy Pushkin Industries Host Dr. Maya Shankar is a cognitive scientist.

“A Slight Change of Plans” offers advice for navigating change with grace.

Hana Saad Student Writer

As we come upon the third year of the pandemic, things are still constantly changing in regards to, well, everything. Change can be stressful and scary, especially with the varying degrees of strain and hardship that the pandemic has placed on everyone.

That’s why the podcast “A Slight Change of Plans’’ might be exactly what some of us need right now. It aired for the first time in May 2021 and offers stories from people who have been through big life changes and coped with them.

The show updates weekly, but there are 28 episodes so far for new listeners to explore. Host Maya Shankar talks to a variety of guests, from celebrities like Kacey Musgraves to psychologists to Olympians as the show explores what it’s like to persevere through difficult times. Most of the episodes range between 20 to 40 minutes, making them perfect to listen to while driving in the car or enjoying a walk around campus.

Shankar, a cognitive scientist, is the perfect host. She too went through a life change, with an injury to her hand stifling her dreams of becoming a successful violinist. She navigated this change and eventually saw it as a chance to begin exploring other possibilities. Shankar talks to people who have been through similar experiences and how they navigated the ups and downs in their lives.

Some of the episodes feature conversations with researchers who study human behavior. Episode five, “The Science of Change,” features a conversation with cognitive scientist Dr. Katy Milkman. She and Shankar discuss “science-based strategies to help inspire change in your own life.” Engaging conversations like these cover many exciting ideas and tips to be more resilient, while less emotionally heavy than the more personal stories.

The episodes are inspiring, even if they are hard to listen to at times. This isn’t necessarily a feel-good podcast, as many of the difficulties that some of the guests detail are serious and often anxiety inducing, especially if you tend to worry a lot yourself.

The variety available on the podcast is a good thing though. It’s important to listen to stories of people whose experiences are different from yours, even when those experiences sometimes seem frightening. As Shankar tries to impress upon her listeners, changes that seem to have negative life-altering consequences can also open up new possibilities.

The different stories featured as well as the more science-based episodes make this podcast a must listen for anyone going through a change right now, especially the big ones, like graduating, moving or getting a new job (something some of us at TU are about to go through soon!). Give it a listen the next time you are in the mood for a podcast that helps you grow and maybe even thrive.

“A Slight Change of Plans’’ is available on all streaming platforms.

TOOL, performing at the BOK center this past weekend, brings together metalheads of all ages.

Julianne Tran Variety Editor

How does one enjoy metal? I’ve asked myself this question my whole life—walking past Zumiez at the mall, stopping at a streetlight next to some metalheads, seeing Rodrick perform with Loaded Diper.

This past weekend, I found my answer.

To preface, before this concert, I had never listened to the entirety of a single heavy metal song. I do not know any metal terminology, nor do I have the ear for the technical intricacies of heavy metal genius. I am an ignorant onlooker, taking it all in. A baby metalhead, if you will.

On Jan. 30, TOOL paid the old Bank of Oklahoma Center a visit. As Blonde Redhead opened with some breathy rock songs, the audiences sat back in their chairs, some mildly interested and others sitting disinterested with beers in hand, just waiting until TOOL took the stage. Some slight head nods, but you can tell that the audience was holding itself back before they went full head bang.

Finally, as TOOL took the stage, a glittering fringe descended from above and projected images of distorted bodies, animals and dark shapes filled the stage. As they started their set list, the audience transformed. The energy in the building immediately peaked as everyone’s heartbeats started to match the heavy thumping of the bass and drums.

The rest of the set was a seamless stream of intensity. The music was insane, coupled with vivid graphics and a highly enthralled audience. All I can say is the music was hard, the drummer was crazy, and the breakdowns were like nothing else.

I think my body maxed out that night. If it wasn’t for the intermission, I would not have been able to bear the continual force, severity and energy of TOOL’s music. I did not know what to do with myself for a single second of the concert.

By the time the performance ended, I was doubly exhausted and energetic. How does one enjoy metal, I ask again? You sit politely with your hands folded while everyone around you screams “why?” with middle fingers in the air. You take it all in while trying not to hold it within yourself lest you explode. And then you walk away, changed.