Student newspaper of the University of Tulsa
graphic by Madeline Woods | photo by Dalton Stewart
January 22, 2018 Issue 14 - Volume 103
Sports
The Collegian: 2
22 January 2018
Golden Hurricane snaps four game losing streak
Henderson looks for Etou on the block.
You’re damn right, Jeffries did in fact throw it down.
Frank Haith can’t believe the call!
photos by Dalton Stewart
Trump’s tax plan puts athletic departments in tough spot According to Tulsa’s athletic director, the impact of the “Tax Cuts and Jobs Act” on college athletic departments is yet to be determined. Thomas von Borstel Student Writer It’s no wonder President Trump’s Tax Cuts and Job Act is seeing unprecedented disapproval ratings. It targets the favorite sport of every raving fanatic: college football. Amongst other things, the bill targets two central monetary success markers in college athletics: booster donations and coaches’ salaries. Booster donations, addressed in section 1306 referring to charitable contributions, strips premiumticket-related donations of tax-deductible status. Additionally, the bill enforces a 21-percent excise tax on the salaries of university employees who are paid more than one million dollars. This will certainly, at nearly every D1 university, be the head football coach. In many cases, the act will increase budget expenditures by more than a million dollars. Many universities are pessimistic about this legislation. Some predict a cutting of certain non-revenue sports. It is apparent that the bill will most likely lead to revenue loss. Many academics praise the act under the belief that it discourages exorbitant spending on athletics, specifically coaches’ salaries. While a valid remark on the cultural over-significance of athletics in higher education, there is no amount of academia that will tame the fervor for college football and college sports in general.
Dr. Gragg, our athletic director, discussed his thoughts on the potential effect of this bill on the University of Tulsa’s athletic program. One of the main concerns for Dr. Gragg appeared to be the impending excise tax: “Our coaches’ salaries are not exorbitant, even for the American Athletic Conference, which is a huge leap from the Conference USA, which is where we were when I first got here. Our head coaches tend to still make about the median, football and basketball-wise.” The real budget concern that Dr. Gragg notes is “whether the 21-percent excise tax is going to be enforced on the entire salary or starting with the dollar above a million.” His general impression? It’s too early to tell how severe the effects will be. “Obviously, we’re concerned just like everyone else across the nation,” said Dr. Gragg. “We have more limited premium seating, which is really what the taxes are tied to as far as the contributions.” The contributions have two parts: “You have seat licenses, and then you have the actual costs of the seats,” says Dr. Gragg. To purchase the season tickets, you must first purchase a “license” which is simply a required donation to the athletic department. The director points out the limited nature though of our own premium seating arrangements: “We have 17 suites for football, while other schools have 100 suites, so it is a little bit different. While the numbers are not as large, it is relative, and it may still affect our bottom line in revenue.” In addition, he noted that still, “there are different interpretations out there. We have to talk to the IRS, we have to talk to general counsel for the university.” The department’s solution for now, “Before December 31, we encouraged a lot of the current donors to extend their contracts, whether it’s club seats, or whether it’s suites they’ve purchased in the past, and some of them have done that, because they too do not have definitive answers from their own tax consultants on these things. I don’t have definitive numbers. Just like a
lot of other athletic directors in the country, we’re talking to donors about this, too: that they will continue their great support of TU.” Dr. Gragg also ensured that student-athletes are the top priority in this process. “More than anything this money goes to directly support our student-athletes,” he said, “and even with the challenging budget times that this campus has experienced in the last few years, we’ve been able to leave the student-athletes whole especially as it relates to the costof-attendance. Any time you have any type of measures that affects you budget-wise or economically, the last thing you want to do is have anything that negatively impacts the student-athlete. We have been able to hold to that since I’ve been here.” When asked about the impact on smaller programs, such as Olympic sports, Dr. Gragg emphasized that the whole athletics department is in this predicament together. “From my standpoint,” he said, “it would not affect the Olympic sport. It would only affect the entire sports program overall. Whether that’s us going out and asking donors to give more or maybe give the amounts we would be responsible for as far as the excise tax, we’d have to sit down and talk about that. No one specific program will take a hit because of that. We would absorb it as a department.” Throughout the discussion, it became clear that no matter the effect of the legislation, our athletic department is focused on limiting any strain on individual student-athletes. What will determine the large-scale impact on Tulsa athletics and college athletics in general is not a matter of economics, but of human psychology. Will donors continue the influx of money and the purchase of premium seating without the 80 eighty-percent deductions they previously received? This is to be determined. Until then, Tulsa athletics and athletic departments across the country will have their hands full.
In the wake of Tyler Hilinski’s tragic death, to anyone struggling with depression or feelings of suicide: you are not alone and help is out there. Zane Cawthon Student Writer Tyler Hilinski was the Washington State backup quarterback who impressed coaches during his time as a redshirt sophomore. He came off the bench during the second week of the 2017 season to lead his team back from a 21-point deficit and win in triple overtime against Boise State. Hilinski was on the path to becoming next year’s starter under center for the Cougars. He had two brothers who also played quarterback: Kelly, a med school student at Weber State (a torn rotator cuff ended his football career), and Ryan, a rising senior at Orange Lutheran HS who currently has 17 NCAA scholarship offers. Tyler Hilinski parents’ would take turns making the weekend trip to Pullman to watch their son play the family game. On January 16, at age 21, Tyler Hilinski died by suicide. In the world of sports, where we celebrate the human body’s strength and vitality, death can seem so unnatural a concept. Yet athletes, for all their accomplishments and abilities, are no more immune to disease of the body and mind than those who watch from the sidelines. Suicide is a subject with which Western civilization has struggled for centuries, to the point where the default reaction is a short sentence or two offering condolences followed by silence.
But to treat suicide as taboo or an off-limits subject only further ostracizes those people who feel hopeless or isolated. Our grief and sympathy for the Hilinski family and the entire Washington State community rest heavy in our hearts. But the sadness we feel for a young man, his family, his friends and his teammates also needs to turn into a proactive dialogue about suicide prevention and survivor support. Brandi Smith, Licensed Professional Counselor-Supervisor (LPC-S), Clinical Director of Children First Counseling Center in Grand Prairie, Texas, had this to say about those affected by a loved one’s suicide: “As survivors of suicide embrace their own unique story and find the courage to share it, they will begin to chisel away at the felt sense of shame and isolation and find that they can be comforted, they are not alone, and that there is hope that they will not only survive the tragic loss of their loved one, but will also be able to live with hope once again.” There are so many resources out there, but the greatest resource we possess is our compassion. Reach out to friends with whom you have not spoken in a while. Include someone in a lunch conversation. Take a genuine interest in the
lives of others. As this reporter’s mother (also an LPC-S) remarks often, “You don’t know what you don’t know.” It is too late for Tyler Hilinski, but there is so much hope for those who need kind words, therapy sessions, prescribed medication, support groups or any combination of these and more. All the good things in life are within reach. If you have experienced or are experiencing emotional distress and thoughts of self-harm or suicide, please reach out to friends and family. If you need confidential support and connections to professionals, the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline is 1-800-273-8255. You can send a text to the Crisis Text Line at 741-741 if you are uncomfortable talking on the phone. You can visit the Alexander Health Center on campus and talk to a professional Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. If you have experienced the suicide of a loved one, you can visit www.allianceofhope. org to connect to fellow survivors and obtain resources to help in the grieving process. In an emergency, dial 911 or go to the nearest hospital emergency room immediately. If nothing else, please know that I want you to live.
Sports
22 Janaury 2018
The Collegian: 3
Tigers caught in storm, Owls escape Another demoralizing loss against Temple dropped Tulsa below .500 in conference play. DaQuan Jeffries put the Golden Hurricane on his back to snap the team’s four game losing streak. Justin Guglielmetti Sports Editor Coming off a heartbreaking loss to Wichita State, the Golden Hurricane traveled to Philadelphia hoping to get their season back on track against the Temple Owls. Instead they were met with even more disappointment, losing 59-58 on a Josh Brown layup with 28 seconds remaining. Both teams looked incredibly sloppy to start, neither having much luck penetrating the others’ defense and forced to barf up a ton of low-percentage looks from outside. TU threw the ball away left and right and started an abysmal 0-11 from the field before Junior Etou canned a midrange J after nearly 10 minutes of game time, and yet the Golden Hurricane never found themselves down by more than three after the opening possession. Etou’s shot got something going and minutes later, back-to-back-to-back threes from Lawson Korita, Corey Henderson and Korita again helped the team earn its first lead of the night. The squads battled back and forth the rest of the half, going into the break deadlocked at 29. Martins Igbanu scored down low on TU’s first two possessions of the second half to take a lead they would not relinquish until the final minute. Everything looked much smoother to start the second, with Etou firing at will off the pickand-pop after just a single shot attempt in the first and Sterling Taplin able to make his way to the basket at will. Unfortunately, Temple’s star forward Obi Enechionyia turned it on as well, pouring in four three pointers and 15 second half points after going scoreless in the first. Enechionyia’s final three pointer brought the Owls to within one with just over a minute remaining and point guard Brown hit the dagger with his lay-in off a sharp cut to the middle. TU was able to hold Temple to just 32.4 percent shooting from the field and just five free throw attempts while hitting 42.6 percent themselves, but turnovers and second-chance points proved to be the difference maker in this one.
The Golden Hurricane committed 18 turnovers to Temple’s six and gave up 13 offensive boards. All told, they took 17 fewer shots in the one-point loss. Back home on Saturday against Memphis, the team that began TU’s four game losing streak, Frank Haith must have been desperate for some sort of spark. He found it in DaQuan Jeffries. With Etou and Taplin hampered by foul trouble and ineffective all night, Jeffries was a beast, putting up 24 points and 11 rebounds (including seven on the offensive end) in just 22 minutes of play to lead Tulsa to a 64-51 victory. Senior Jaleel Wheeler came up big off the bench as well, playing a season-high 29 minutes and contributing 13 points on 5-8 shooting with three steals. Jeffries and Wheeler’s frisky hands and stout defense played a big part in the Golden Hurricane taking a big lead into the half, 33-20. Though Etou was again held to just a single shot and Taplin failed to score, TU’s offense found its juice through Corey Henderson, taking on his biggest role yet as a ball handler. Henderson juked defenders all night with some as-yet-unseen moves and looked like a true sharpshooter, nailing threes off the dribble and the catch. When the Tigers began to battle back in the second, there was a palpable nervousness in the crowd (this time thankfully made up of mostly Tulsa fans), as it looked like the team might once again find a way to blow the early lead. Kyvon Davenport proved too fast to be checked on the perimeter by Etou or Jeffries and too strong to be stopped at the rim. He led Memphis with 21 points and 10 boards, while drawing many of the fouls that would send Etou and Taplin to the bench. His pull up jumper with eight minutes to go made the game 49-47, with all the momentum going the Tigers’ way. But threes from Henderson and Jeffries, plus one of Wheeler’s random, freakishly athletic drives through the teeth of the defense (he’s usually good for
one a game but must have had four or five in this one) reestablished a commanding lead. The Golden Hurricane would coast the rest of the way. TU now sits at 13-7 overall, with a 4-3 conference record. Additional Thoughts I know it was just one week ago where I said I wasn’t worried at all about Junior, but he’s got to stop the disappearing act. Foul trouble and a tough defensive assignment is not an excuse to finish with two points in a must-win game. Besides, he played 24 minutes, not 10. Even in the Temple game, where he recorded a career-high 15 rebounds and a doubledouble, he still only put up six shots with a single trip to the line. Haith is using Etou more as a high screener, but defenders sag way under the pick when defending Taplin, leaving Etou without a lane to roll to the basket. That, combined with what looks like fewer possessions getting the ball at the elbow, has eaten way into Junior’s free throw attempts. After averaging 8.5 free throw attempts per game in pre-conference play, one of the best marks in the country, Etou has only gotten to the line three times per game since. The Golden Hurricane’s brutal schedule continues going forward, as they play at Wichita St. and then host SMU for their next two games. The former is reeling, having dropped two in a row to SMU and Houston (and what was very nearly three after their near escape against TU) and sure to see their ranking plummet, but it will still be a lot to ask for our boys to take them down on the road. That leaves good old Southern Methodist, a young but talented team. Sitting at .500 in the conference standings and with tough matchups against UCF and Cincinnati still to go, Tulsa will need to win at least one of these games to feel good about the possibility of sneaking into the conference tournament.
Hurricane Scoreboard Men’s Basketball Jan. 17: Temple 59 - Tulsa 58 Jan. 20: Tulsa 64 - 51
Women’s Basketball Jan. 18: UConn 78 - Tulsa 60 Men’s Tennis Jan 14: Cal 4 - Tulsa 2
Justin Guglielmetti is…
the
bleacher creature?
Anybody want some tea? You gotta love it when one of your hometown teams has a controversy that gets picked up by the media. It makes you feel like a supremely qualified expert even though you’re probably not any closer to the situation than that armchair GM from the other side of the country who you’ve been screaming at. In unrelated news, let me tell you what’s what with this whole Isaiah Thomas – Paul Pierce situation. The quick rundown: the Celtics were all set to give my son Isaiah a tribute video when the Cavaliers rolled into town in early January, but due to his family not being able to attend the game, The Little Guy requested that the Celts push the video back to their next matchup in February. Only problem is that happened to be the same day as Pierce’s jersey retirement, and the Truth took exception to the idea that his night would be shared by another player. Now after much hullabaloo, it’s been decided that no video will be shown. My analysis of the situation? Prepare for some lukewarm takes. One, Pierce has a legitimate beef, even if it seems a bit petty. Imagine if during your wedding reception everyone stopped halfway through to sing happy birthday to one of the guests. It would probably feel a little disrespectful and unnecessary, no? And for anyone claiming otherwise, Pierce absolutely deserves this night — he’s as important and beloved to Celtics fans as Kobe is to the Lakers (if not quite as great). And two, clowns like Kevin Garnett and Rajon Rondo need to shut the hell up and stop bashing poor Isaiah by saying he doesn’t even deserve a tribute video. Excuse me guys, he put up the highest scoring season anyone has ever had in a Celtics uniform, became one of the most beloved individual stars in team history, led a young team way ahead of schedule to the conference finals and oh yeah, CONTINUED TO BUST HIS ASS IN THE PLAYOFFS AFTER KNOCKING OUT A TOOTH, BUSTING HIS HIP AND LOSING HIS SISTER IN A TRAGIC CAR ACCIDENT!!! Don’t worry, I’m calm. But pretending that Isaiah meant nothing to this team, not even enough to earn a short thank-you, is abject nonsense. And for the record? Thomas over Rondo any day and every day. Calling my shot Bear in mind that Sundays are layout days for “The Collegian” and we’ve already finished writing our articles by then. I don’t even need to watch the games to tell you that a Patriots – Vikings Super Bowl is coming. First off, destiny is for sure smiling on Minnesota. They lose their star rookie running back back in September, have a dire QB situation turn into an MVP-like campaign for Case Keenum, pull off one of the most improbable victories in NFL history last week against the Saints and now have the opportunity to advance to the Super Bowl at home??? Sorry Eagles fans, but even with Carson Wentz I would say there’s no stopping this train. As for the AFC matchup, I’m fully aware that Jacksonville has one of the most terrifying defenses in recent memory and that Leonard Fournette could be the Next Great RB. But at the end of the day, picking the Jags over the Pats would mean choosing Blake Bortles over Tom Brady. Injured hand be damned, do you really think that’s a smart play? I know I’ve read something that will convince you … Ah here it is, the Gospel according to Bill, chapter 14, verse six: “And Tom answered, I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Super Bowl except through me.” See you in Minnesota.
Jan. 22 - Jan. 28 Monday
Tuesday 22
Wednesday 23
24
Thursday 25
Saturday
Friday
No Events
No No Events Events
Track and Field Jayhawk Classic
28
27
26
Men’s Tennis vs. N. Florida
Women’s Tennis @ Arkansas 5 p.m.
Sunday
Women’s Tennis @ ITA Kick-Off Men’s Soccer @ FC Dallas Women’s Basketball @ UCF 2 p.m.
Men’s Basketball @ Wichita St. 5 p.m.
Men’s Tennis vs. TBA
News
The Collegian: 4
22 January 2018
TU adds all-gender bathrooms
TU’s dean of students, Mike Mills, called the changes a way to proactively support students. Michaela Flonard Managing Editor
Recently, TU students may have noticed the campus has 18 all-gender bathrooms located in a variety of spots to ease use. Mike Mills, the associate vice president for enrollment and student services and dean of students, was part of the push for these changes. While Mills received the position last February, he feels “certain that the discussion [about all-gender bathrooms] had been going on prior to [his hiring].” His interest came from two major sources: a seminar at OU-Tulsa about working with transgender students and a discussion with a particular student. Several TU staff attended the seminar, which gave them basics on transgender students and accommodations or policies that might be involved. “That was really impactful to me,” Mills said, so he began asking questions. As staff began having discussions on the topic, a student came to them, concerned about the lack of designated facilities available to them on campus. “I felt it was my responsibility to investigate that and propel that forward,” Mills said, and he began looking for facilities that would be available to make a change. The Advocacy Alliance was also heavily involved. Mills then took the plan to Earl Johnson, the vice president of enrollment management and student services, and soon facilities were changed. The physical plant selected the restrooms. They wanted to find places which had alternative restrooms available, so that students would have the opportunity to use the one they are most comfortable with. “The lesson for all of us is to be thinking proactively about issues that affect our students before somebody brings it to us or before it is a problem,” Mills said. As the student population changes, Mills wants students to continue to feel equal and supported by TU. So far, Mills has gotten a positive response from students and faculty about the all-gender restrooms. A component of this positive response, according to Mills, is “making sure we’re helping everyone understand why that was important.” Mills is currently working on locating a permanent location for mothers to breastfeed on campus. A student brought her concern to Mills in the past week, and while he has found several temporary locations, he hopes to soon find a room breastfeeding mothers can regularly go, potentially in the student union. “I want us to continue to think ahead of the game and anticipate the needs of students,” he said. He’s also helped families find baby-changing locations on campus. Ultimately, Mills is here to serve students’ needs, and he believes that the newly designated restrooms are a part of that. He has an open-door policy for his office in Hardesty Hall, on the third floor, or is available by email for students.
Buildings with all-gender restrooms are numbered and labeled in dark grey.
courtesy University of Tulsa
Cox cable, CaneFlix provided to students TU’s entertainment services, Cox cable and CaneFlix, are part of the university’s efforts to provide a good quality of life to oncampus students, but the usage of these services remains somewhat unknown. Michaela Flonard Managing Editor For those who live on campus, the small Cox cable boxes can be a nuisance or a tool. The boxes are part of the university’s agreement with Cox cable, allowing students with televisions to receive a variety of channels. According to Jeremy Smith, who deals with the housing side of the contract, the university has no real way of knowing how many students use the cable service. Based on observation and research, he believes, overall, TV viewership has dropped, in favor of “Netflix, Hulu, or on-demand services.” About five years ago, the university did a survey of students, and Smith estimates 15 – 20 percent said they watched TV on
a weekly basis. Smith plans to do another survey this spring, which could impact the university’s dealings with Cox. Jason Grunin, who deals with the contract with Cox, said housing and dining polls the Residence Hall Association as well. “They are very aware of the desire for additional streaming services,” Grunin said. With these potentially low viewership numbers, Smith said his department has discussed alternatives to the Cox boxes. These could include streaming-based and satellite options. Satellite services would require equipment changes, with potential rewiring that could be difficult in older buildings. When TU installed the boxes about twoand-a-half years ago, there were discussions on using IP-TV. “Instead of having it through a cable wire, it goes through an Ethernet wire,” Smith said, but at the time, the network wasn’t strong enough, and it was a rather new technology for Cox. “That’s the wave of the future,” Smith said about streaming. “A lot of universities are going that way.” Grunin said even though the current contract doesn’t expire until January 2021, the university is looking into Cox Campus Connect. This service allows students to live-
stream IP television to tablets, smartphones and laptops, with a variety of TV networks included. Unfortunately, the program is still in pilot mode, and hasn’t been fully deployed in Oklahoma. Currently, TU does have a streaming service in CaneFlix, which gets 15 movies per month that students can watch while on TU’s WiFi. TU’s contract doesn’t allow for off-campus viewing, to the detriment of students who live off-campus. According to Smith, an average of 500 – 750 movies per month are watched by students, although he doesn’t know how many students are using the service. Caneflix also offers tutoring, in which students call in and can have problems solved on the air. This service is rather underused; Smith said five students called in over the course of last semester. The university is exploring different ways to offer that service to have it more utilized. If students have movies they’d like to see on Canflix, they can contact the university, and are always welcome to offer suggestions on campus cable via caneflix@utulsa. edu.
p m Waste, energy, plastics a C e k a L p p ri T focus of sustainability club Welcome to
stics, oe, g ymna n a c , im w s is, more Teach tenn photo and i, sk r te a kayak, w
TU’s student-led club for sustainability created new committees for the new year, which will formulate ideas and bring them to the faculty and staff to implement. Michaela Flonard Managing Editor Students interested in improving TU’s commitment to the environment can join Students for Sustainability, which met last Wednesday. The club primarily focuses on waste management, plastics and energy ideas, but is open to focusing on other issues as well. A committee of students have formed for each focus. In the committee, students will brainstorm and research ideas to improve sustainability before presenting them to fac-
ulty and staff. The group plans to employ a grassroots-style campaign of improvement. In their introductory meeting, initial ideas were brainstormed, which the committees will continue to work on throughout the year. The energy committee discussed increasing the number of motion-sensing lights and dimmers in buildings and vending machines, turning down the A/C, and adding energy-saving measures during building renovations whenever possible. The waste committee suggested research into how the campus could begin composting or providing more recycling units for apartments. The plastics committee wanted to increase the number of recyclable plastics used and further educate students on the dangers of plastics. Although committees formed last Wednesday, interested students can continue to join the club. Those interested should contact Jeremy Garrison at jtg416@utulsa. edu.
Tripp Lake Camp is looking for males and females who like to travel, meet new people, and teach activites to children. If you’re interested in spending your summer in MAINE, give us a call or stop by our website for more information. 1-800-997-4347 www.tripplakecamp.com TRIPP LAKE CAMP for Girls
News
22 January 2018
of the complaint, and advised them to keep the noise level down. The resident of the apartment complied.
Jan. 10 2:00 a.m. University of Tulsa Campus Security Officers were dispatched to investigate a non injury motor vehicle accident in the Mayo Village Apartments Parking Lot. Officers discovered that a university employee struck a handrail while backing up into a parking space while driving a university owned vehicle. Damage to the vehicle was recorded. There was no visible damage to the handrail. 2:25 p.m. University of Tulsa Campus Security Officers towed a vehicle off campus from the University Methodist Church Lot. A vehicle was found parked contrary to university policy and officers verified that the vehicle had been previously tow warned. Towing of the vehicle was authorized by the on-duty supervisor and the vehicle was towed off campus without incident. 7:10 p.m. University of Tulsa Campus Security Officers conducted a welfare check at Brown Village Apartments. With no answer at the door, officers received permission from Housing to enter the apartment. Upon entry, the residents of the apartment were not present. While looking for the residents, officers came across drug paraphernalia in plain view. Officers confiscated all drugs and drug paraphernalia found inside the apartment. 10:05 p.m. University of Tulsa Campus Security Offices responded to a noise complaint at Lorton Village Apartments. The complainant stated that there was yelling inside an apartment. Officers met with the resident at the source
Jan. 11 12:30 p.m. University of Tulsa Campus Security Officers took a larceny from a building report from a student who reported their purse being stolen from Pat Case Dining. Camera footage of the dining area was reviewed and the victim can be seen entering the cafeteria with the purse, and then sitting down at a table without it. The victim reported accidentally leaving it near the breakfast food items, and when they returned for it, the purse was already taken. Officers were unable to determine any suspects at this time. 3:50 p.m. While on routine patrol, University of Tulsa Campus Security Officers observed a light pole that had been knocked over in Thomas Plaza. Officers investigated the incident and determined that a student who was driving his personal vehicle in the plaza, hit the light pole and knocked it to the ground. Damage to the pole and the vehicle were recorded and the Physical Plant was notified. Jan. 12 10:30 a.m. University of Tulsa Campus Security Officers were dispatched to McClure Hall to take a larceny report from multiple victims in the same building. The thefts were for various personal effects, food items, and office supplies. The thefts appear to have occurred during the overnight hours when the building was closed. 1:15 p.m. University of Tulsa Campus Security Officers responded to a property damage call concerning the main gate at the off-campus Auto Research Center building. The gate had been bent and lifted off its hinges on the left side. Upon review of camera footage, a Tulsa Waste Management vehicle can be seen damaging the gate when loading the trash dumpster. The Physical Plant was notified of the incident.
Nathan Gibbons Distribution Manager
Kidnapped citizens freed in Nigeria Police say two Canadian and two American citizens who had been kidnapped in Nigeria were freed last week. The citizens were kidnapped last Wednesday as they tried to travel to the capital Abuja from the town of Kafanchan. A joint police and military operation ambushed the kidnappers in a forest north of Abuja. The freed citizens were in good health, officials say, but two police escorts were killed during the firefight. In Nigeria, kidnapping for ransom is a common occurrence. In February 2017, two German archaeologists were abducted before later being freed. Last October, four Britons were abducted in the Niger Delta region. One of the four was killed before negotiations led to the release of the remaining three.
North Korea to send athletes to Winter Olympics International Olympic Committee President Thomas Bach announced Saturday that athletes from North Korea will participate in the upcoming Winter Olympics. Following negotiations between North Korea, South Korea and Olympic officials in Lausanne, Switzerland, North Korea will send 22 athletes to compete in ice hockey, skating and skiing. At the opening ceremony, both Korean teams will march together in Pyeongchang before the games begin February 9. “This team will enter the Olympic Stadium under the Korean unification flag,” Bach said. “I’m sure that this will be a very emotional moment not only for all Koreans but also for the entire world.” Some skeptics have voiced fears that South Korea has fallen for a North Korean “charm offensive,” but Bach defended the decision. He praised the cooperation of North and South Korea with the IOC’s leadership, saying, “Let us not forget that such an agreement would have seemed impossible only a few weeks ago.” Both nations’ skiing teams will train together in a North Korean resort, and a joint cultural event will be performed at Mount Kumgang.
Women’s marches take place in United States Last Saturday, demonstrators gathered across the United States to participate in the Women’s Marches, largely a rebuke of President Trump and his administration’s policies. The recent revelations of the #MeToo movement inspired many activists to fight for more social and political change. It was estimated that over 120,000 attended the rallies in New York. Ralliers gathered in cities like Philadelphia, Chicago, Los Angeles and Rome. House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) praised the rallies in Washington. “We want women to know their power in so many respects — by showing up not only on the day of the march, but in airports, in town halls,” she said. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY) said, “It’s women who are holding our democracy together in these dangerous times … To change the system, we need to change the players and have women at the table.”
The Collegian: 5
10:40 p.m. University of Tulsa Campus Security Officers responded to a fire alarm at the Sigma Nu Fraternity House. Officers determined that one of the house members had been using an electronic cigarette and the device had set off the alarm. Officers cleared the rest of the house and reset the fire panel. Jan. 15 1:45 a.m. University of Tulsa Campus Security Officers received a report of a noise complaint from a Norman Village Apartment. Upon arrival, officers were able to locate the source of the disturbance. Officers made contact with the residents of the apartment and issued a verbal warning and a contact card for excessive noise. 3:00 a.m. University of Tulsa Campus Security Officers were dispatched to Lorton Village Apartments for a noise complaint. Officers made contact with the TU students who were residents of the apartment. The TU students complied and turned off the music. There was a contact card issued. 1:15 p.m. University of Tulsa Campus Security Officers were dispatched to Keplinger Hall for an injured person. Upon arrival officers discovered a University of Tulsa student had cut their hands on a broken chemistry beaker. Emergency Medical Service Authority arrived on campus to check the injuries of the person. The individual refused medical care from EMSA and was escorted to urgent care by a University of Tulsa professor. Jan. 16 2:50 p.m. University of Tulsa Campus Security Officers were dispatched to Mabee Gym for a report of juveniles gaining access to the indoor turf facility. Officers made contact one of the juveniles and determined they were not affiliated with TU. The juvenile was warned for trespassing and left campus.
Campus Security Officers conducted a pedestrian check on two individuals outside of Mabee Gym. The two individuals were not affiliated with TU and had entered the indoor turf facility without approval. The individuals were trespass warned and left campus property. Jan. 17 7:00 p.m. University of Tulsa Campus Security Officers conducted a pedestrian check on 15 individuals inside the indoor turf facility at Mabee Gym. The individuals, many who were minors, were not affiliated with TU and did not have permission to use the facility. Officers recorded the individuals information and trespass warned them from university property. 8:12 p.m. University of Tulsa Campus Security Officers conducted a welfare check on a student in the Brown Village Apartments. Officers found the student intoxicated and incoherent in the apartment. Emergency Medical Services Authority (EMSA) was called and transported the student to a local hospital for treatment. 9:05 p.m. University of Tulsa Campus Security Officers were dispatched to the Delta Delta Delta Sorority house to escort Physical Plant engineers into a residence to perform repairs to a heater unit. When officers arrived there was an apparent miscommunication about the timing and repair of the work order in question. The student made it clear they would be fine for the night. They requested the repair work to be rescheduled for the following day, during regular university business hours. The Collegian does not produce or edit the Campus Crime Watch except for content and brevity.
10:15 p.m. While on routine patrol, University of Tulsa
Tuesday, January 23 at 7:30pm Lorton Performance Center, Gussman Hall J. Donald Feagin Visiting Pianist Richard Alston in Concert Richard Alston is a masterful and exciting classical pianist who has garnered praise for his passion and technical mastery at the keyboard, his charismatic personality and charming stage presence, and his progress from prodigy to mature artist. He will present a unique program titled “The Art of the Piano Transcription” that includes rarely heard musical gems by composers of African descent. He will also present a master class on Jan. 24 in Meinig Recital Hall from 12 to 3 p.m. Thursday, January 25 at 7:00pm to 8:30pm Lorton Hall, 207 The Color of Law: A Forgotten History of How Our Government Segregated America Richard Rothstein is a senior fellow at the Haas Institute and a research associate at the Economic Policy Institute, where he works on policy issues regarding education and race. He currently researches and writes about the history of the government’s role in the creation of residential segregation. His most recent book is titled The Color of Law: A Forgotten History of How Our Government Segregated America. In this talk, Rothstein will be exploring the alarming history that finally confronts how American governments in the 20th century deliberately imposed residential and racial segregation on metropolitan areas nationwide. Friday, January 26 at 6:30pm Lorton Performance Center, Gussman Hall International Night: Tales of Love The Association of International Students’ annual International Night is a stage for organizations to showcase their culture through a performance. This year’s theme, Tales of Love, invites organizations to bring a love story from their culture, whatever the context - family, romance, friendship - onto the stage. Join us for an evening of stunning performances, followed by refreshments. In collaboration with Indonesian Student Association of TU and Purple Ribbon Club Friday, January 26 at 7:00pm Fly Loft Fridays in the Loft Chamber Series: Bartok, Beethoven, Harbinson Join the Tulsa Symphony for a chamber performance and lecture by TU Professor Danny Arthurs on the ways folk music gets integrated into classical music. Friday, January 26 at 12:00pm to 1:00pm College of Law, Price and Turpen Courtroom Richard B. Risk CLE Practicum Series: featuring Tom C. Vincent II Tom C. Vincent II will discuss different ways information security can be affected by business transactions and corresponding measures companies can take to plan for and mitigate those effects, including: Proactive and reactive requirements that may be triggered Contract language to watch for Training topics to align business goals and IT/InfoSec needs The Collegian does not produce all event descriptions in the Community Calendar. Contact us at news@tucollegian.org with events.
Commentary
The Collegian: 6
LEGISLATIVE
DIGEST
22 January 2018
The Legislative Digest is your weekly look at the happenings of Oklahoma’s state legislature and upcoming bills and the terms to know. Raven Fawcett Commentary Editor
This week, we’re looking into the helpful and hilarious bills introduced for the upcoming legislative session of Oklahoma’s Congress. SB stands for a Senate Bill and HB stands for “House Bill,” both ways to note that the document was introduced by a member from their respective chambers of Congress. SB917: Government should take money out of politics. Aside from being a nonsensical phrase (are you advocating for a volunteer government? Why would you hate yourself and hate competent government like that? Does money ever not matter?), the heart of it has a strong point. Senator Brecheen filed a bill that would cap lobbyists’ spending on gifts and meals. The exact amount depends if the lobbyist in question represents one or more lobbyist principals, with a $100 allowance per calendar year allowed for certain kinds of goods (such as meals or gifts at appropriate times) for a singular principal and $200 if the lobbyist represents more than one principal. Previously, the law allowed for up to $500 in spending per calendar year. HB3693: Brace yourselves, because I’m going to break a longstanding personal tradition here: I like and agree with the revisions House Bill 3693 would make to the procedures for handgun licenses. Representative Calvey’s proposed bill deletes multiple pages of text from the 35-page legislation. It reroutes background checks to the National Instant Criminal Background Check System (NICS). Best yet, it sets the expiration date for licenses at five years, where previously applicants could choose between a five-year and ten-year option. The application processing fee would drop to $25 for Oklahoma residents and $50 for nonresidents in 2020, and the money would go back into the system. People can apply for licenses more easily and effectively, which benefits us all. More licenses gun-carriers are better than unlicensed gun-carriers, as a rule. HB3008: This bill modifies the legislation on special license plates. Every title introducing the section has been corrected to read as singular — for instance, “Environmental Awareness License Plates” becomes “Environmental Awareness License Plate.” It’s exactly the kind of petty revision that I want to see more of in this world. It would also add a Techlahoma license plate, the proceeds of which would go to the Techlahoma Foundation, a professional network with monthly events, among other things. The addition of the Techlahoma plate would push the number of available special license plates up to 73. An extra license plate might also make driving on Oklahoma roads less annoying and maybe even a tad more interesting. SB1108: This bill would make daylight saving time the “year-round standard of time” in Oklahoma. Imagine it, a world without having to adjust your clock and your sleep schedule and accompanying inconveniences. That future is out there. It’s real in Arizona, Hawaii and other U.S. territories. It could be a reality here. A reality with consistent time, where numbers and time make sense. It’s a beautiful dream. It’s a concise bill, clocking in at a single page. Some things are beautiful in their simplicity.
MLK Day deserves more recognition TU, and most of America, treated MLK day as part of an extended weekend instead of reflecting on America’s racist history or helping their communities. Justin Guglielmetti Sports Editor There are few people in American history more deserving of a national holiday than Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Through his resounding message of nonviolence and unity, Dr. King became the face of the civil rights movement and helped lay the social and political groundwork for the country to move past the deeply embedded racism of its past. Though race relations are tense in 2018 and we have a long way to go toward perfection, we see the lasting influence of Dr. King’s life (and the lives of other civil rights leaders) every day in figures like Barack Obama, Oprah Winfrey or Ben Carson, or in the rising numbers of black students attending universities, or in modern groups of reformers who continue to push for justice for all. So why don’t we have a holiday for him? “Hold on,” you’re saying, “we already do. Everyone knows MLK day is the third Monday of January, we get school off and everything!” I should clarify. By holiday, I don’t mean a day that people use as an excuse to sleep in or party on a Sunday. I mean one where people take the time to consider and honor the meaning of King’s work. In fairness, I suppose “honoring” something can be a pretty nebulous concept. Who am I to say that Americans everywhere, even the ones treating the holiday entirely as a day of leisure, aren’t taking time out of their day to pray or even just reflect on the civil rights advances achieved since the
‘60s? And even if they choose not to, far be it from me to propose some sort of fascism of thought, where I would have everyone compelled to feel a particular way about something. It’s just that there seems to be a distinctly casual feel about this holiday where too many people disregard what it is supposed to represent. Let’s use a local example and take a look at what was going on at TU on January 15. Despite not having classes, I and many other students managed to get up early and volunteer our time. But were we going to help at a homeless shelter or food kitchen, or march in the parade downtown? No, we were University Ambassadors who spent the day giving tours and showing off the campus to high school juniors. There was nary a mention of Dr. King throughout the whole operation. It’s not like TU did nothing for MLK Day; they provided a shuttle to the parade and a community service event with President Clancy in attendance. But the point remains that the school’s primary directive that day was promoting itself instead of observing the holiday, something they would never do on a more established and respected holiday like the Fourth of July. Let me be clear, this is not meant as an
attack on the UA organization, which works a vital job in marketing our school to the best and brightest and has to find days that work to host hundreds of prospective students when it can. Nor is it a criticism of the University of Tulsa, which wasn’t doing anything different than most other schools or organizations. I’m merely pointing out the general malaise towards this would-be special day that exists in today’s culture. Is there anything we can do to change this
New Year’s. If more industries and organizations acknowledge that honoring an American hero is more important than watching an ugly disco ball drop in Times Square, maybe we could get somewhere. As for schools, I would like to see more of them not giving the day off. Instead of MLK Day serving as a means to get in a few extra rounds of “Overwatch,” have the day in class be devoted to activities and service in the spirit of the civil rights movement.
“Is there anything we can do to...give MLK, both the day and the man, more o the respect they deserve?” sort of lax attitude and perhaps give MLK, both the day and the man, more of the respect they deserve? You can never change a person’s intentions or make observances mandatory, but I suspect there are small steps that different institutions could take to incrementally increase awareness. According to one recent survey, the number of employers who give the day off hovers around 40 percent, high amongst other “secondary holidays” (Columbus Day, Veterans’ Day, Presidents’ Day), but far short of the numbers for the likes of Christmas or
Finally, any states that insist on conflating MLK Day with the birthday of Robert E. Lee — looking at you Alabama and Mississippi — should be openly shamed until they change such a deplorable policy. Treating Lee as a cultural icon is indeed a more nuanced take than assuming that the man was a virulent racist, but it is still deeply disrespectful to honor a man who fought for the right to keep black people enslaved on the same day as the man who made it his life’s work to rid the country of the last vestiges of that terrible bondage.
The University of Tulsa participated in a march and community service on MLK Day in a voluntary show of solidarity.
courtesy University of Tulsa
Graduate school applications cost more than money
Graduate school applications take time, money and emotional energy that can stress out students. Alex Garoffolo Student Writer What’s the real cost of applying to grad school? Applying to grad school comes with many costs. Emotional, as in the stress it puts on applicants. Time, as in the weeks it takes to compile application components. Monetary, as in the money each application costs. Highly sought-after grad programs come with a steep price tag, so if one is a competitive applicant relative to his peers, money becomes a real issue. A small budget for applications becomes a severe limiting factor in the selection process. This can keep qualified applicants out of the best schools because they can’t afford the multiple $70+ price tags. This forces these potential ap-
plicants to focus on safety-schools, those schools with less selective programs. The problem with this is that if students find themselves financially constrained to safety-schools, they face limited job prospects down the line. At least, more limited than had they been able to afford all the top-tier program application fees. Which begs the question: if students are constrained to only mid-tier programs, what’s the real value of going to grad school? Often, the reasons touted for grad school are a desire for a better salary upon entrance into the workforce, a desire to work in academia or simply because a grad degree is the only way some majors can enter a job market in their field. Students want a graduate degree for the better pay it offers after graduation, but the money they must pay simply to apply is often constraining in their school selection process. A friend of mine told me that his application cost to five programs alone was $345, ranging from $50 to $85 per application. This came after he cut his original list of schools down from seven. But that’s not all! Applicants must also pay $200 to take the GRE at least once. The GRE serves as the
entrance exam into grad schools, like the ACT or SAT for undergraduate programs. Then there are the fees to send the GRE scores and one’s official school transcripts. GRE score reports currently cost $27 (per report) to send. My friend had to send transcripts from three different schools, since he’d studied abroad and taken classes at two undergraduate institutions stateside. These transcripts range from $3 to $14 each, and he sent 15: five graduate programs with three university transcripts per program. And that’s just the monetary cost! He studied 3 – 4 weeks to take the GRE. He asked four of his professors to write three letters each, which is an intimidating and daunting task. He painstakingly drafted and redrafted his application statements with professors as well. On top of that, he repeatedly updated his CV, hoping to not miss any important events that took place over the last 3.5 years of his academic life. All of this amid taking senior-level courses, writing a senior thesis and dealing with the scariest question of all from mentors and peers alike: “So, what’s next?” At this point, it makes sense to ask: is the price (financial, psychological, time) worth
“At this point it makes sense to ask: is the price (financial, psychological, time) worth grad school?”
grad school? My friend said the hardest part for him is juggling all the aforementioned tasks with the existential dread all of us college seniors face when constantly asked, “What’re you going to do with your life?” To quote him, “Unfortunately, grad schools don’t really care about the anxiety of twenty-somethings who at once must plan their future, prepare to enter the real world and realize they only have one life to live. And – for fuck’s sake! – we just don’t want to screw it up.” Regardless of the school, applicants to grad schools face all the above costs, stresses and more when selecting and applying to programs. It’s clearly straining on the mind, a burden on the wallet and a haymaker to the nerves. All to get into a school where curriculum, projects, classes and professors will be even harder than before. They’ll expect more than before. They’ll take more time and energy than before. At the end, just like before, students receive a piece of paper telling them they’re a little smarter, a little more educated and a little more qualified than the rest of society. Grad school might be what’s best for some people. However, students must think carefully and mull over all the costs of applying and acceptance before making such a commitment. The true cost is not just monetary.
Commentary
22 January 2018
The Collegian: 7
Blue lights provide Apps, phones make students a safety net blue lights obsolete
Blue lights on campus serve as last resorts to anyone who needs help in a complicated or difficult circumstance. Raven Fawcett Commentary Editor
The blue lights on campus are so much scenery on campus. They fade into the background despite their bright white lettering, “EMERGENCY” printed down their sides. And blue lights are something you’d hope to know where to find if you found yourself in an emergency. Some people have started to ask whether these small towers are all that necessary. After all, Campus Security patrols all the time, day and night. The campus is well-lit, and even where it’s not, it’s a small campus. You can walk a couple dozen feet and be under a light again. We have cell phones with SOS beacons. The problem isn’t that these options aren’t available. It’s that the bad thing happens under ridiculous circumstances. You get a flat tire the day after you put your spare in the garage. The only pair of shoes that looked good with your outfit broke and you’re wearing uncomfortable ones and now you have to walk upstairs and you trip and fall in front of an audience and you take another person down with you. Or less pleasantly, your phone dies while you’re out and no one has a spare charger. You’re walking across campus and think
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someone is following you. You don’t have any data left so you can’t use that cool app you just downloaded that lets your friends know where you are. Campus Security was there just a second ago and then turned the corner. A million things can go wrong. That’s not to say that they will! Plenty of people’s phones die and nothing bad happens. People manage to not see Campus Security for days on end without needing to hit the emergency buttons on the blue lights. But blue lights exist because the people who are supposed to protect students understand that life is chaotic, and weird things happen all the time. Your cell service goes out, and how is that even possible? You maybe saw a shadow, but it was actually that guy you’ve noticed who only talks to you when you’re alone. You put your phone in your bag and you can’t find it while hastily rummaging through the pockets. If your friend is injured and needs help, you can hit the button and go check on them. Not only can you use blue lights to get help, they might even have a deterrent effect. If you’re being followed and run up to a blue light, the person nearby might think twice about following. The threat of nearlyinstant help in the form of Campus Security is an easy way to get someone to leave you alone, or to feel more confident until help arrives. It’s not always possible to stick by people when you’re just trying to get from one place to another, but you can always be assured that the blue lights haven’t moved, Campus Security will know where to go and you can find one in a hurry. When something terrible might happen or is happening, you want an easy way to get help. You don’t want to rely on luck that you’ll be able to get to your phone, that it’ll be charged or that there will be someone nearby that notices you and can help you. Blue lights don’t need to be used every day to be useful. They only need to be available if an emergency occurs.
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New technology has made the blue lights on campus effectively useless, and the money could be better spent elsewhere. Brian Kwiecinski Business Manager
The University of Tulsa blue lights: what exactly do these lights provide? Security or false hope? There was a time when these lights were exactly what college campuses needed, but that time has passed. Before cell phones were commonplace, even just walking through the middle of campus carried tremendous risk. The search for a system that allowed a potential victim to alert campus security of a situation and have their location be marked was paramount. TU’s blue lights were perfect for that situation based off the resources they had then. They provided both a beacon of safety to the students and a sign from the university that security was a priority. However, the blue lights now are costly, ineffective and on their way out on many university campuses. To be clear, this is not an attack on the University of Tulsa, but it is merely the first of hopefully many calls for innovation considering the resources that we have now. While I couldn’t find out what our security lights cost TU annually, I was able to dig up some costs from other universities. On the lower-spending end, Colorado State University spends about $5,000 annually for 64 boxes, while the University of North Carolina at Greensboro costs about $2,000 per box annually. With 41 telephone boxes on campus, that means that TU could be spending anywhere from $3,200 to $82,000 a year on telephone boxes that are used very scarcely. To give a frame of reference from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, a campus security guard generally makes between $26,000 and $35,000 a year. This money can be better spent elsewhere, and many universities have reallocated. The University of Colorado Boulder is one such university. At the direction of Melissa Zak, the police chief of the CUBoulder Police Department, all blue light towers have been removed. In an open letter to the public, Zak claimed that the misuse and disuse of the emergency alert system served as her reason for the removal. Not only did most emergency calls come from cell phones anyways, but “more than 90 percent of the calls CUPD [received] from ‘blue light’ phones are pranks or hang-ups” along with other non-emergency situations. Joining CU Boulder are other universities such as New Mexico State University, the University of Vermont and the University of California Davis. Some universities have even had students create apps as an alternative to the blue light system. I decided to try one of these apps for myself to see how effective it could be.
Companion: Personal Safety is a completely free app designed by students from the University of Michigan. When I downloaded Companion, it first prompted me for my phone number and then verified it through a text. After that, it had me set a Safety Pin (to verify my identity on trips) and then asked for permission for location, notifications, and motion activity. I then added the numbers of six people that I wanted to be my Companions, people who I knew I could call or message in unsafe situations. Once that was all set up, I set up a trip for myself on the app. I had the option to choose between a timed trip and a destination, this time I picked a destination and selected one friend from my Safety Circle. Once they accepted, the app kept my friend updated via text (they don’t even need to have it downloaded) of my progress through both status texts and a link to a livemap of my location. The livemap even included the names of all nearby buildings and residence buildings. During the journey, I could message my Companion or call 911 with just the press of a button. Along with these basic settings, the app also has Safety Triggers that can be manually turned on. These Triggers are activated if I run, I drop my device, my headphones are removed from the jack or if I go too far off course. Once a Trigger is activated, the app will automatically go into Alert Mode unless disabled in 15 seconds. Once Alert Mode is activated, the phone will emit loud noises and alert all Companions who can call campus security if you are unable. Overall, it is a worthy alternative to the blue light and one I hope the University of Tulsa considers adopting. Granted, there are some limitations to app-based security measures, such as faulty GPS and the requirement to have a smartphone of some kind. However, that doesn’t mean the blue lights don’t have limitations of their own regarding location and availability. If an assailant is pursuing someone who is having to move from emergency light to emergency light, then the victim’s path could become much easier to predict. Also, if the victim suddenly has to veer off track, then that could throw off the responding officers. Whereas if the victim is using a phone that is constantly transmitting their location and has an open line to dispatch, then there is more of an opportunity for erratic movement and quicker rescues. That situation is one where I believe the pros outweigh the cons. This is possible if the victim has a cell phone, though not everyone does. If there is a time when you must cross campus without a phone, I would highly recommend trying to contact campus security via a residence hall desk phone or a friend’s phone to arrange an escort. Safety is not always perfect or guaranteed, but using an outdated system is far riskier than the newer and more viable alternatives presented by today’s technology. While the blue lights stand as a physical indication of security on campus, their bark is more than their bite and their promise of safety may well be false. Removing them will be costly as progress always comes at a cost. However, when it comes to following through on that campus-wide promise of safety and security, no cost is too high.
Letter Policy: Letters to the editor must be less than 500 words and can be sent to tucollegian@tucollegian.org. Under no circumstances will anonymous letters be published. The name of the person submitting the letter must be published with the letter. We reserve the right to edit or reject all letters. The deadline for letters is 5 p.m. on the Friday prior to publication. Editing Policy: The Collegian reserves the right to edit all copy submitted by all writers. This editing may take place in many forms, including grammar corrections, changes in paragraph structure or even the addition or removal of sections of content. Editorial Policy: Columnists are solely responsible for the content of their columns. Opinions expressed in columns may not represent the opions of the Collegian staff, the administrative policies of the University of Tulsa, the views of the student body or our advertisers. photo by Michaela Flonard
Blue lights are scattered throughout campus and accessable to students between buildings.
Variety
The Collegian: 8
22 January 2018
Jeff Rosenstock’s newest effort strong, mature
While not as viscerally pleasing as his previous album, “WORRY.”, Rosenstock provides another sonic and energetic punk album in “POST-.” Ethan Veenker Variety Editor
When “POST-” dropped on New Year’s Day, my first thought was, “Whoa, that’s super early!” before I realized that Jeff Rosenstock’s last album, “WORRY.”, had come out in October 2016. That album, such a candy-coated ear-grabber, has been on constant replay so I had not even noticed Rosenstock’s musical absence in 2017, save for a single and a split-EP with SKASUCKS. Every time I went back to it, it felt as new and exciting as it had the first time I heard it, leaving me always thinking that it had just come out the week prior. If one were to place “WORRY.” and “POST-” on a scale between pop punk and hardcore punk, they’d both be in the pop punk area, but with the latter album just a smidge closer to hardcore. That’s not to call this album hardcore — it gets nowhere near Black Flag levels — but Rosenstock’s energy is processed in a much angrier way on his latest release. Criticism I’ve seen for “POST-” has taken the form of calling it a half-hearted attempt at rekindling the flame Rosenstock managed to capture in “WORRY.”, but the records are truly different beasts. The plain fact is that “WORRY.” is easier to listen to and far more personal, whereas “POST-” takes the casual listener by slight surprise and is very political in nature. The album title, for example, clearly refers to a state in which our
Rosenstock rips the cord on the album’s engine immediately with the seven-anda-half-minute track “USA,” a sprawling manifesto filled with political misgivings, a dissonant chorus and a cheerleader-esque refrain gleefully crying, “Et tu, USA?! Et tu, et tu, USA?!” It’s a great track, definitely the most memorable, but its placement reflects unfortunately on the album. Rosenstock seems to use most of the gas on this opener, and the rest of the album feels somewhat dwarfed by the carefully orchestrated and angrily executed themes put forth in the first track. That’s not to say the album is without its high points, however. The next track, “Yr Throat,” retains much of the cheerleaderesque energy found in parts of “USA,” working much to Rosenstock’s affinity for bubblegum punk and serving as a warm callback to “WORRY.” in some regard. “Melba” sheds these qualities, instead revealing itself as perhaps the most coherent of the album’s peppered anger-driven tracks. The hook isn’t as immediately grabbing and memorable as anything on “WORRY.”, but it captures the spirit of the album somewhat. “POST-” flies by. Clocking in at a little under forty minutes and almost never slowing down, Rosenstock is there in your ear, screaming, and then he’s gone. “WORRY.” was a collection of tracks that all sounded unbelievably different from one another, but “POST-” feels far more collected as an album, far more focused of an effort. It doesn’t make for the intensely satisfying listen that his previous record brought, but it shows a musical maturation, and it’s still damn good. Rosenstock slows down for us once on the appropriately named ninth track, “9/10.” This track feels nowhere near as political,
“‘POST-’ feels far more collected as an album, far more focused of an effort.” country has branded itself in recent months: post-election, post-Trump, post-truth, et cetera. To glean the album’s context, one need look no further than “TV Stars,” the album’s sixth track, bearing the chorus “TV stars don’t care about who you are.” As if this point weren’t clear enough,
and I’d be tempted to call it an outtake from “WORRY.” if it didn’t fit the vibe of “POST” so well. The cool guitar riff that floats in after Rosenstock utters, “Nine times out of ten I’ll be thinking of you,” just sounds so wholesome yet groovy at the same time.It’s an insanely simple trick, but its flawless ex-
The new restaurant does poke well but has limited options otherwise.
cious’s set-up was that you picked all your toppings at the register, which could possibly hold up the place on a busy night. There were two major divisions in their menu: whether you wanted a pre-designed bowl or to make your own. With either choice, there was a regular option (two scoops of protein for $9) and a large (three scoops of protein for $12). With a build-your-own, you choose a base, protein, mix-in, sauce and toppings. Proteins vary from raw fish, like ahi tuna or salmon, to cooked, from chicken to organic tofu. There are eight mix-ins and 16 topping options. Their pre-designed options may have more complementary choices, but I prefer the freedom of making my own. For my bowl, I went with ahi tuna and salmon, with most of the mix-in and toppings, as well as ponzu fresh as the sauce. I couldn’t distinguish the addition of the sauce in my meal, but the fish was a smooth, cool addition, and I loved how the chunks of fish were tender and easy to chew. The regular portion was more than enough food,
“POST-” is without want of political references and cultural observations.
courtesy Polyvinyl Record Co.
ecution puts the song right under “USA” in terms of quality. The album isn’t without its missteps. Most of the tracks carry themselves, perhaps weighed down by only a few sore spots. “Beating My Head Against A Wall,” however, makes me want to literally beat my head against a wall. I understand the irony of the monotonous track, I get it. Congratulations, Jeff Rosenstock. You’ve managed to turn abject bafflement into a song. Was it worth it? Rosenstock evidently has an optimistic outlook on the future. What originally psyched me out for a depressed failure anthem (given its title of “Let Them Win”) surprised me with the chorus, “We’re not gonna let them win.” It’s simple. There’s no lyrical complexity, there’s no profundity, but it’s undeniably punk, and something about the soaring guitar and choir of voices that fall in after the album’s final words, “Fuck no,” is gorgeous. “POST-” is bookended well, with the two longest tracks taking the beginning and end-
ing spots. The record gets its gas tank refilled right before “Let Them Win” starts playing, and as if he’s aware of this spike in energy, Rosenstock ends the song (and the album) with a four-minute procession of chords from a synth that sound straight out of the ending of “Blade Runner.” It’s an odd artistic choice to end a punk record that’s been trying to edge itself out of pop with a spacey, beautiful synth orchestra. Like I said, the album is bookended well, but with the whole interior of the album being somewhere lower in quality than it could be. The ending of “Let Them Win,” however, makes you forget all that. You smile for the album you just finished, you smile for the sentiments of Rosenstock, you smile for the hope he has for this country. “Yeah,” you think, “we’re not gonna let them win!” Whether that’s true, Rosenstock makes you feel like it is, and in the final four minutes of “POST-” he gives us a glimpse of this victory.
especially since I chose rice as the base. The chicken pieces were lightly seasoned and well-cooked, but I favored the more traditional, smoother raw fish. Unfortunately, the menu at Bolicious is rather limited. You have your poke options and hot miso soup for food, as well as some
beverages, but there’s no additional appetizers or desserts to be found. It’s also a little far from campus, near the Woodland Hills mall, so venturing down there for a rather limited selection may not be best, unless you have other plans for the night.
Bolicious brings Hawaiian poke fad to Tulsa Michaela Flonard Managing Editor
For those who love raw fish in their food, there’s another spot to satisfy that urge in Tulsa. Bolicious is a poke stop that opened at the beginning of this year and features sushi burritos and side items. Poke, or “fish salad,” is a traditional Hawaiian dish served as an appetizer. Over the past five years, it’s become increasingly popular on the mainland. Poke is one of my favorite dishes, as it combines the raw fish common to sushi with a larger variety of toppings and more food. Finally, Tulsa has two poke restaurants. Bolicious, like most poke places, is a fast-casual type of restaurant, much like a Chipotle. You order at the counter and food is brought to you. My only qualm with Boli-
The poke dish was without shortage of fresh ingredients.
photo by Michaela Flonard
Three books to read if you’re feeling _______
Local bookworm Tori Gellman is back in the new semester with three more books to read if you’re feeling alone, repressed or lovestruck.
If you’re feeling: alone, lost or in denial “Lily and the Octopus” by Steven Rowley
intense examination of his life thus far and the life he will inevitably have to live without his fierce and loyal companion. A beautiful book, equal parts heartbreaking and heart wrenching, “Lily and the Octopus” is a wonderful opportunity to reflect on those who mean the most to us. If you’re feeling: repressed, different or disconcerted “The Unraveling of Mercy Louis” by Keija Parssinen
Mercy is the estranged daughter of a woman who she has been told was a junkie whore. Raised by her grandmother in a shack of secrets, lies and prophecies, Mercy finds her only solace in basketball. When basketball leads to information about her mother and feelings for a boy, Mercy’s life becomes more threatened than even her grandmother could have imagined. A twisted mystery of growing up under unique circumstances and having everything you’ve ever known turned upside down, TU faculty Keija Parssinen’s novel is an enthralling ride from start to finish. If you’re feeling: lovestruck or nostalgic
This isn’t necessarily a book about second chances, and it certainly isn’t about a raging case of puppy love, because puppy love is too mundane and cliché of a phrase to describe what Mickey feels for the elusive and captivating Jane. As Mickey’s life unfolds, alongside his Southern grandfather’s one-of-a-kind wisdom, we experience all the pains that go along with adolescence, and the sheer pride and wonder we have when we listen to the ones we so admire. Witty, relatable and absolutely devastating, “Jane Two” is a roller coaster of emotion ending with a firm message of to not live life wondering, What if?
“Jane Two” by Sean Patrick Flanery
courtesy Simon & Schuster
We all have that special person in our lives. The one we couldn’t imagine living without. For some of us, that person is our pet, just as it is for the main character of Steven Rowley’s first novel, “Lily and the Octopus.” When Ted discovers the eponymous octopus on the top of his elderly, yet still playful dachshund, Lily, he begins an
courtesy Harper Perennial
Speaking as someone who grew up in the Galveston area and went to school with a lot of people like Mercy Louis, this book provided a trip down memory lane that made me smile, cringe and think about certain aspects of my adolescence a bit differently.
courtesy Center Street
courtesy Wikimedia Commons
It’s never too late to start working on your library.
22 January 2018
Variety
The Collegian: 9
Tulsa Martin Luther King, Jr. Parade and Women’s March
“The time is always right to do what’s right.” - Martin Luther King, Jr.
photos courtesy University of Tulsa / Kayleigh Thesenvitz
“A Gentleman’s Guide to Love & Murder” in Tulsa this week
The award-winning play will be performed from January 23 – 28, with student discounts available. Michaela Flonard Managing Editor
The 2014 Tony Award winner for Best Musical, “A Gentleman’s Guide to Love & Murder,” is coming to Tulsa this week, from January 23 – 28. Celebrity Attractions will put on the performance. The musical revolves around Monty Navarro, who learns he’s eighth in line to the D’Ysquith family fortune. Navarro sets out to inherit the fortune, and those ahead of him start dying in mysterious ways. Meanwhile, he’s also dealing with his mistress and his fiancee. “Israel Rank: Autobiography of a Criminal” by Roy Horniman, a 1907 novel, was the inspiration for the musical. Robert L. Freedman wrote the book and lyrics, while Steven Lutvak wrote the music and contributed to lyrics. Those involved in the creation of the play include several Tony
Award nominees and winners who worked on “Anastasia,” “Into the Woods” and “The Hunchback of Notre Dame.” “A Gentleman’s Guide to Love & Murder” received critical acclaim on Broadway, running from 2013 – 2016. The “New York Times” said it “will lift the hearts of all those who’ve been pining for what sometimes seems a lost art form.” In 2014, the musical received 10 Tony Award nominations, winning Best Musical, direction of a Musical, Book of a Musical and best Costume Design. It also won a 2015 Grammy for Best Musical Theater Album. Celebrity Attractions is a Tulsa-based company that has presented six Broadway seasons in a four-state region. The show will run from January 23 – 28. Tickets range from $24 to $55. Students may get rush tickets for $26 (Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday at 7:30 p.m. and Sunday at 7 p.m.) or $27 (Friday at 8 p.m., Saturday at 2 p.m. and 8 p.m. and Sunday at 2 p.m.) These tickets are available within an hour prior to showtime, with a valid student ID, for any available seat in any section.
courtesy Celebrity Attractions
The multi-Tony-award-winning musical tells the story of a distant heir trying to obtain his family fortune.
The State-Run Media
22 January 2018
the
State-Run media Breathless is my favorite Kenny G album.
Blue emergency phones upgraded, now play 20 minutes of Kenny G Much-needed changes have been made to the blue light emergency phones around campus. Hannah Kloppenburg Studies to elevator music In recent months, TU students have expressed certain complaints about the blue emergency phones, which appeared to not be working as well as they should have been. Sophomore Kevin Green had a major grievance about the phones. “When I pressed the button one time last month, all I got was a ‘Your call cannot be completed as dialed’ message and a lame dial tone. Not only did my call not go through, the dial tone was NOT AT ALL funky and couldn’t even be used as the base for a sick freestyle,” he said. Other students have echoed his concerns, saying that the dial tones are unpleasant and that they’d like something a little more “hip” and “interesting” to listen to while they wait for their call to go through. “Like, if the phone doesn’t work it’s whatever, but I can’t sit there and listen to that dial tone. Would it kill them to throw in a Kanye verse or two?” said senior Alana Lewis. “Some of the phones don’t even make any sound at all when you press the button. Am I expected to just sit there in silence and, like, WORRY about the emergency I’m in while I wait for campus po-
lice to answer my call? I hate to say it, but TU really dropped the ball on this one,” she sighed. The State-Run staff made a records request to the university concerning the apparent lack of funk in the emergency phones. We received no response for two months. During that time, maintenance workers were photographed frantically installing a disco ball into one of the phone posts. Many will be relieved to hear that the complaints have been addressed and the phones have been fixed. TU released a statement proclaiming that every single phone on campus had been upgraded following the records request. The blue emergency phones will now play 20 minutes of saxophonist extraordinaire Kenny G when the button is pressed. Some of the phones have also been upgraded with disco balls, and the blue lights are now programmed to flash in time with the music. Thanks to the upgrades, TU students can relax and vibe freely to the dulcet tones of Kenny G as they wait for their calls to go through. At press time, the university was considering further upgrading the emergency phones with a TV screen, enhancing the emergency experience by allowing students to watch music videos of the legendary saxophonist rocking out on an ocean pier at sunset.
“...if the phone doesn’t work it’s whatever, but I can’t sit there and listen to that dial tone.”
How to drink a copious amount of alcohol without people thinking you’re an alcoholic Senior State-Run writer shares his tips for hiding your alcoholism behind an air of sophistication and pretension. Sam Beckmann Hangovers only happen if you stop drinking It’s a common problem. You’re staring down your tenth Four Loko of the night and wondering if this will be the one that makes people stop seeing you as a liquor connoisseur and start seeing you as an alcoholic. But do not despair, dear reader, for this will be your ultimate guide to drinking yourself into sweet oblivion while retaining the facade of sophisticated drinker! The tips and tricks herein provide all manner of underhanded tactics to beguile and deceive those you would deem to call friends, but there is no need to worry, as these so-called friends almost certainly using the same tactics to fool poor saps such as you. So without further ado as I need to get drinking soon, let’s jump right in! Prepare a list of fancy-sounding alcohol descriptions to say thoughtfully after sipping your bottom-shelf whiskey. As in most aspects of life, preparation is key here. You can’t expect to think up something elegant on the fly, especially when you’re completely wasted. So in advance of a party, familiarize yourself with phrases such as, “I really appreciate the caramel aftertones,” or,
“The cinnamon scent really complements the taste here; I might have to try this one straight next time.” Comments such as these go a long way to alleviating any suspicion that you are only drinking the hard stuff to get blackout quicker. Make sure you give every drink a name, even if it’s just a conglomeration of random things found around the apartment. One who mixes 7-Up, orange juice and rum together because they’re all next to each other on the counter is an alcoholic. One who exclaims that the host cleverly bought all the ingredients for a Jamaican Corkscrew (two parts OJ, two parts lemon-lime soda, five parts white rum, shaken) is clearly a sophisticated drinker. And don’t be afraid to make up drinks on the spot, as I did here. Chances are your friends won’t know any better and take your word at face value! Choose a type of liquor (or wine) and act like it utterly disgusts you. Insult those who drink it all night. This one might seem less obvious, but it’s an essential part of being an alcohol snob. You see, a true alcoholic would never be against drinking alcohol. But declaring that tequila (or spiced rum, or really any other drink of your choice) is repulsive and you can’t believe anyone would drink it shows the sense of class and sophistication your cheap beer-guzzling friends can only dream of. I hope these tips are helpful, and always remember, a functioning alcoholic is hardly an alcoholic at all! Good luck, and don’t forget to have too much fun this weekend!
“And don’t be afraid to make up drinks on the spot, as I did here.”
Photo of a blue light after the disco ball upgrades.
graphic by Madeline Woods
“VRChat made me a weeaboo,” says TU junior
Have you ever wanted to be a sexy anime girl? Now, it’s possible with the latest craze in virtual reality. Thomas von Borstel Yuri-senpai is his waifu The latest internet phenomena, VRChat, allows users to don virtual reality goggles, then create a character of any likeness to chat in first-person point-of-view with other 3D-rendered characters. The “State-Run Media” was recently let on to believe that the trend had infected this respectable university when there was word received from the culprit himself. The third-year student, who has requested anonymity, informed “State-Run Media” yesterday of his recent self-discovery triggered using the new viral program. “It’s pretty much ‘Second Life,’ except I can be my true ideal self: a sexy anime woman!” says the new weeb convert. The interviewer asked him what it was about VRChat that first captured his heart. “Y’know, I saw all this stuff about Ugandan Knuckles. I thought that it seemed really cool and very relevant to our modern understanding. Especially the real philosophical question that it presents: ‘Do you know de wey?’ So I figured, hell, I already spent eight-hundred dollars on the HTC Vive for my unmentionable activities, I might as well do something else with them too. “Well, I hopped online on the first server I saw, and it happened to be anime-themed! I saw these very attractive animated women with deep, sexy voices, and I said, ‘Shit, I want big tits too!’” In response to the next question about the relationships that VRChat enabled, the junior said, “Oh, beyond anything that my Tinder dates could ever give me! Being able to interact with those big, bouncy, uhh, personalities of the people I meet on VRChat is so much fun and truly deep and connective.” He then begun clucking and laughing at his inside joke. The interviewer was left out of the mix, but it appears that the joke is among his close-knit group that they dubbed, “Asuna-chan Worshippers.”
The VRChater in his natural habitat.
Their avatars range from buxom purple haired females to small, red echidna. From observing his activity on VRChat, the group was comprised of entirely male users whose main usage revolved around mimicking sexual acts to each other. The next question was related to what really drew him into watching anime and adopting Japanese culture for himself as a white, middle-class American. “I think that what really did it was the stories,” he said “They usually revolve around voluptuous women — who are very strong and empowered by the way — and these women usually fall in love with these really cool guys with swords, and they say bad ass stuff like, ‘Onee-chan’ and ‘Arigato.’” He stated his favorite animes are “Sword Art Online,” “High School DxD” and “Is It Wrong to Try to Pick Up Girls in a Dungeon?” The last question related to the acceptance of said culture and his newfound hobby by his fellow students. “A few of them don’t quite understand and use derogatory slang to describe my activities and relationships,” he said, “but others are very accepting and ask if they can borrow my goggles for a few hours alone. I now host anime nights that are open to everyone! I buy a few bottles of Everclear and some Ramuné, mix that shit up and we watch different shows. “I think that VRChat will have a lasting effect on my life!” he continued. “I’ve made so many relationships that are so amazing that I stay up all night on the weekends just running around online with my friends. I honestly hope my future partner likes VRChat as much as I do, because I don’t think I could have any relationship as strong as the ones I form online.” As the interviewer was leaving, the student donned his goggles. The interviewer acted like they closed the door behind them and fell silent to gain some scientific and undisturbed observations of his VRChat behavior. As he started sliding down his pants, it was decided that it would be best to end the interview.
graphic by Madeline Woods