29 March 2021

A student newspaper of the University of Tulsa

March 29, Issue 22 - volume 106

Decrease Zoom fatigue with a few simple tricks, p. 5 nBa injury update p. 2 CdC announCes guidelines for tHe fully vaCCinated, p.3

cover by Emma Palmer

Hateful CatHoliCs sHouldn’t represent all of CHurCH, p.4

Sports

The Collegian: 2

NBA injury update With some of the league’s biggest stars sidelined, NBA writer Joseph Breedlove looks at estimated returns and team impact.

The NBA has had a tremendous setback when it comes to injuries. There have been six big injuries that have slowed some of the best squads in the NBA in recent games, and five out of the six were contenders for MVP. Saturday, March 20, when the Lakers played the Hawks, LeBron James had to leave early with a high ankle sprain. He was going for a loose ball and a Hawks player landed on his ankle. He persevered as long as he could manage though, staying in the game for the next possession and hitting a three pointer before subbing out and heading to the locker room. James later got an MRI, and the results came out as a high ankle sprain. After the game, James tweeted out about his injury and said, “Nothing angers and saddens me more than not being available to and for my teammates! I’m hurt inside and out right now. The road back from recovery begins now. Back soon like I never left.” Sources say James will be out for several weeks due to this injury, and the Lakers will miss his presence greatly.

In another loss for the City of Angels, another Lakers superstar, Anthony Davis, has been sidelined since Feb. 15 with a calf strain. This was announced by team doctors on Feb 18. An update on his injury from March 12 says he is recovering really well. The Lakers are down to their two best players, so hopefully he is able to return and help his team out now that LeBron is out.

A fan-favorite, Steph Curry, suffered a tailbone contusion last Wednesday, March 17 against the Houston Rockets. His momentum from his three point shot made him go backwards, and he fell into a flight of metal stairs. Curry just missed most of last

year with a hand injury, and now this may keep him from the chance at a postseason return. The MRI results showed that Curry has inflammation in the tailbone, and he will still be out for another week. Hopefully for Oakland fans, Curry will return healthy and ready to go and to return as a dominant shooting threat.

Joel Embid, the center for the Philadelphia 76ers, is hurt and has been out for a week. The game on March 12, against the Wizards, Embiid went up for a dunk and landed awkwardly. At first, team doctors thought it was a hyperextension in the knee.

For caution, they took an MRI and learned that Embiid has a bruised knee. This will have him sidelined for at least two weeks.

Sources say it may be stretched to three weeks, but Embiid’s rehab has been going well and should be just one more week of him being out.

Kevin Durant, superstar of the Brooklyn Nets, has been sidelined for quite some time.

He has been out since Feb. 13 with a hamstring injury. The coach for the Nets, Steve Nash said, “He is working out on the court pretty much every day, he looks great.” The only thing is that the Nets feel as if there is no need to rush since they are second in the East and have high chances of making the postseason. If this were the Playoffs, Durant would have likely rushed for a return a lot sooner. Only time will tell when he comes back.

Lastly, LaMelo Ball fractured his wrist playing against the Clippers. Hornets doctors are not ruling him out for the rest of the season, but he will be re-evaluated in five weeks. That will be April 27, and if he is

29 March 2021

good to go then he will have three weeks left in the regular season. A speedy recovery is

ideal for all players, and the NBA is not the same with these players out.

March Madness: biggest upsets

Basketball writer Joseph Breedlove dissects the biggest upsets from the round of 64. and Zach Reichle had 10 points. It was a sweet victory for the Beavers, but the road to the Final Four is still a ways away.

In the third biggest upset, it was a Big 10 Conference matchup. Four seed Purdue Boilermakers against 13 seed North Texas guaranteed an exciting game. At the end of the game, The Mean Green ended up sending Purdue home in a 78-69 victory in overtime. This was not just any sort of win for North Texas, but this was North Texas’s first win in the NCAA tournament. Javion Hamlet was a huge part of North Texas’s success.

He ended up with a double-double performance with 24 points and 12 rebounds. Another player who had an outstanding performance was Mardrez McBride, who finished with 16 points.

The inter-conference game made for another upset victory that came down to the wire. In the last seconds of the 2nd half, Purdue trailed by two and they gave it to their big man Trevion Williams in the post for a chance to stay alive. He made his move and shot a turnaround shot, but missed it and ended up following his shot for the putback to tie it all up. With 1.6 seconds on the clock, North Texas had the ball on their end of the court. With enough time to get a good shot off, Javion Hamlet inbounded the ball to James Reese who tried to kiss it off the glass for a buzzer beater winner, but it was just too hard off the glass. Luckily, the Mean Green were ready to play in overtime, and once they started going there was no looking back and they ran away with the win.

March Madness is here and games have started. There have been great games and even greater upsets. This is only the beginning though, as the first two rounds have ended, and the sweet 16 and elite eight just started this past weekend.

One big upset that happened was number 15 ORU, the local contender, defeating the two seed OSU. The score was 75-72 in Overtime. The big star of the game for ORU was Max Abmas, scoring 29 points, three assists and five rebounds. Another standout player was Kevin Obanor, having a doubledouble with 30 points and 11 rebounds. As far as the game goes, it came down to the wire. The last possessions consisted of Ohio State coming down and running a play for Justin Ahrens to make a three. He ended up shooting and missing the tying shot, but Ohio State grabbed the rebound to give Duane Washington Jr. a last wide open shot for the same. Washington Jr. ultimately ends up missing the shot and the Golden Eagles go on to the next round.

Another big upset that happened in the first round was 12 seed Oregon State demolishing five seed Tennessee 70-56, a tremendous blowout victory for Oregon St. This game was never even close at any point. Some people may claim to have seen this coming, but others might prove more honest. That is what March Madness is all about. What made for such a successful game for Oregon St. was the fact that they had 4 players with double digit points. Roman Silva had 16 points, Jarod Lucas had 14 points, Ethan Thompson had 13 points

76ers verge on best in league, NBA top 5

With the power structure sitting on the precipice of a collapse, NBA analyst Zach Short gives an update on his rankings.

5. Los Angeles Clippers Few things in life are more difficult than admitting that one was wrong. I, for one, was very, very wrong. The Clippers should never have left the power rankings, and the Lakers most certainly did not deserve to displace them last week. Of course, last week’s list came right as LeBron’s injury did, severity unknown at the time, so little more than a coin toss decided which Los Angeles team would make the list and which would return to the pool at large. Chance proved incorrect. Few teams in the league can match the intensity of the Clippers, and Kawhi Leonard looks prepared to make his return to the Finals, barring any screeching halt met in a matchup against another scorching hot top seed in the conference. Should Paul George find how to improve his postseason performance though, this team may crush everything in their path on the way to a Finals appearance. Record and ambiguity on George is all that keeps this squad at the lower end of the rankings.

4. Phoenix Suns It seems like people frequently forget about the Suns. Certainly, any even casual basketball fan knows the hype surrounding the young Devin Booker, and more people than that remember the full capacity of Chris Paul from the Clippers years. Yet, the conversation seemingly surrounds big city markets in Los Angeles and New York disproportionately, leaving the southwest team

out to dry. Nevertheless, the Suns have persisted and presently nip at the heels of the struggling Jazz to vie for the top seed in the West. Chris Paul never got a ring in Los Angeles or Houston, and arguably missed one of his better chances in a young but sound Oklahoma City team. Maybe this year could finally see the veteran go all the way and secure his place in the history books. That is, if he has not locked eternal fame already.

3. Brooklyn Nets Perhaps no team seems quite so enigmatic as the Brooklyn Nets. They do everything wrong and employ the weakest strategy ever to enter the court, and yet they still win with great consistency. They keep scoring confined to their superstars and they seldom exert any defensive effort, and they still have yet to play with every current or former AllStar on the team in a single game. Kevin Durant seems to have resigned to take a gap year and possibly arrive in the postseason, should he feel like it, granting the opportunity to James Harden to pad his own stats throughout the year. Given their success, they must sit at least as high as the third seed in the power rankings as of yet, but as far as postseason prospects go, only a fool can see a ring in their future. Until they can refine their play to at least some recognizable strategy (one that involves playing both ends of the floor, no less), they can expect a thrashing from any real team in a series.

2. Philadelphia 76ers Despite many of their most recent wins coming from injured teams, including a Curry-less Warriors and a Lakers squad sans LeBron James and Anthony Davis, the 76ers remain high on the list with an intimidating L10 (9-1 as of 3/27), their only recent loss coming from an overtime game against a reinvigorated Milwaukee. Moreover, they have maintained this level of production despite not having Joel Embiid in their most recent outings. If anything should keep a team so high, it should be winning consistently even without the superstar of the team and likely MVP. Another week at this level of play and the 76ers could easily snag the top seat overall in the power rankings.

No team but the Jazz has held the spot for much of 2021 and only one other team, the now absent Lakers, has held the position at all this year. Even if they drop some games in the coming weeks, if they can keep the score relatively tight and win a good majority in the absence of Embiid, they may prove themselves as the most formidable in the league.

1. Utah Jazz In what might be their closest call yet, the Jazz will ultimately retain their position at the top of the list for at least one week more. Philadelphia looks almost too hot to fend off, but the Jazz have held strong as the best record in the league. However, with their recent struggles, they may easily find

themselves losing their league-best record to the cross-conference competitor, and maybe even their spot at the top of the West to the ever-encroaching Suns. Even though they sit at the top right now, the Jazz lay on the cusp of dropping to second, if not third or fourth, in the power rankings they have dominated all year. They still win games and pose quite a threat, but the play coming from other squads may very well displace them sooner than later. For their sake, they should hope to iron out these kinks before the postseason rolls around.

Hot Seat: Milwaukee Bucks As the first team in quite a while to hold the coveted hot seat in back to back weeks, Milwaukee remains looking absolutely phenomenal in their play. For all intents and purposes, one can effectively consider this slot as a 5 ½ seed, as the only factor keeping them from entering the big five resides in their slow start to the year and the consistency posed by other teams more familiar with a place in the rankings. They have won with fantastic regularity as of late, and if they can keep up the effort, they may see themselves rising and putting the East into control for the first time this year of the top teams. With an underperforming Jazz team, this renaissance comes at a perfect time. At no other point yet this season has upward mobility been more possible; Milwaukee has nowhere to go but up, it seems.

Mar. 29 - Apr. 4 Monday

Tuesday

Wednesday 30

29

Thursday

Friday 1

31

Saturday 2

Track & Field Hayward Premiere

All Day

None

None

W Tennis Kansas St. TBA

Softball UCF 5 p.m.

Volleyball AAC Tournament TBA Softball UCF 3 p.m./5 p.m.

M Soccer @ Temple 6 p.m.

Sunday 3

4

Volleyball AAC Tournament TBA W Tennis @ North Texas 11 a.m.

Softball UCF 11 a.m.

M Tennis Drake 12 p.m.

W Soccer @ ECU 4 p.m.

W Tennis @ SMU 1 p.m.

29 March 2021

News

The Collegian: 3

CDC to adjust COVID-19 guidelines in schools

Classrooms will now be able to move from six to three foot social distancing in accordance with CDC guidelines.

Maggy Crawford Student Writer

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recently changed the social distancing guidelines for K-12schools to recommend that individuals remain three feet apart and maintain mask usage. This is a big step for schools, due to the difficulty they have been facing regarding keeping everyone safe with in-person learning.

Throughout the pandemic, some schools had to adapt more than others, depending on resources, the size of the physical school and the number of students. Some schools stopped using lockers completely, others staggered passing periods so only certain grades were in the halls at the same time.

Some schools adopted different schedules completely, having some students come in certain days of the week and remaining kids on the other days. Desks are typically grouped together, especially in younger grades, so teachers are having to figure out how to fit as many students as possible in their rooms while keeping everyone safe.

The Associated Press says that “Students can safely sit just 3 feet apart in the class-

room as long as they wear masks but should be kept the usual 6 feet away from one another at sporting events, assemblies, lunch or chorus practice”. This change now allows students to sit closer together in their respective classrooms, but the CDC says that the six feet guidelines should still be followed outside of the classroom. Linsey Marr, an expert in airborne viruses at Virginia Tech elaborated on the decision to move down to a three-foot social distancing rule in classrooms explaining that “from studies we’ve seen, the difference between three feet and six feet is not substantial.” Now that more students can safely fit into classrooms, schools will not have to stagger schedules.

Despite the adjustment to safety guidelines in schools, the CDC has maintained their recommendations of six-foot social distancing in other community settings.

Within schools, officials have emphasized that students must still follow other CDC guidelines like properly wearing masks and frequently washing their hands.

Along with reducing the social distancing guidelines, the CDC has removed the recommendation for plastic shields and barriers. They say that there was not much evidence that they were effective. As long as there is low spread in the community of the school, the desks are allowed to be three feet apart in elementary, middle and high schools. If there becomes a high level of spread in the community of the school, the desks in middle and high school must

be switched to six feet apart. As of Friday, when the CDC released this information, teachers are now reorganizing their rooms to have desks three feet apart. More students in the classroom means one more step closer to things getting better and back to the way things were pre-COVID-19.

The CDC stresses that at events where there is a lot of cheering, singing and talking everyone should have their masks on as

well as six feet of social distancing. Teachers are encouraged to remain six feet away from others, whereas their student’s desks are only three feet apart. Hopefully these guideline shifts go over well and positive data is recorded. If cases do not spike, and everyone stays healthy these loosened social distancing guidelines could be the beginning of loosening restrictions regarding COVID-19.

photo via Tulsa World Classrooms throughout the country can now hold larger classes with desks moved closer together.

A timeline of Biden and the oil industry COVID-19, inclement weather and Biden’s cancellation of the Keystone XL pipeline have dropped oil prices significantly.

Cheyenne Toon Student Writer Biden’s campaign consisted of a new plan for the U.S. oil industry in order to combat climate change. His administration introduced the Biden Plan, which intended to “ensure the U.S. achieves a 100 percentclean energy economy and reaches a netzero emissions no later than 2050.” Since his term began, he has revoked the Keystone XL oil pipeline as part of his action against climate change.

When the Keystone XL pipeline was proposed in 2008 by the energy infrastructure company TC Energy (formerly TransCanada), it was met with an uproar of protests by citizens. The pipeline was set to transport fossil fuels into the United States, raising concerns about threats to the climate, drinking water sources and public health. In this context, the Obama administration vetoed the pipeline’s construction in 2015; this

was reversed in 2016 when former President Donald Trump signed an executive order to advance the Keystone XL pipeline, as well as others like the Dakota Access pipeline.

Since his term began, President Biden has revoked the Keystone XL oil pipeline as part of his action against climate change.

Many people and companies, including the American Petroleum Institute, were unhappy about this action. On behalf of the American Petroleum Institute president and CEO Mike Sommers said that, while they support the Paris Agreement, “revoking the Keystone XL pipeline is a significant step backwards both for the environmental progress ... Pipelines are the safest, most environmentally friendly way to transport energy, and … the Keystone XL pipeline has been through extensive environmental reviews”.

Not long after Biden took office and the pipeline was revoked, gas prices in the U.S. began to surge. However, the past two years have resulted in fluctuating oil prices due to many factors aside from Biden. According to the Wallstreet Journal, in March 2020, oil prices had gone below $0 per barrel, and many companies decided to limit oil production until the demand rose again. The Journal of Petroleum Engineering claims

that “in January 2020, US crude oil was flowing at a peak rate of 12.8 million [barrels per day],” but “by May [of 2020] the output was down to 10 million [barrels per day].” The pandemic was not the only thing affecting the production.

After the February 2021 snowstorms and multiple tropical storms and hurricanes, North Dakota, Texas, Oklahoma and the US Gulf of Mexico saw anywhere from a 4 percent to 18 percent decrease in oil production due to freezing wells and power outages. New Mexico, however, managed a 17 percent rise because of their increased drilling to prepare for Biden’s plans for the oil industry.

Basic economics say that decreased supply results in increased prices. The cause of decreased oil production is more complicated than Biden’s actions, the pandemic has played the largest role in the price change, while recent poor weather and natural disasters have added additional complications.

Companies are attempting to make up for profits lost last year and predictions of the future of oil prices vary significantly. Either way, the price of oil was destined to rise regardless of Biden’s decision to revoke the pipeline.

photo via Wikimedia Commons The Keystone XL pipeline would have brought fossil fuels from Canada into the U.S.

Gatherings of vaccinated people safe, CDC states The CDC announced reduced restrictions between people who have received their full COVID-19 vaccination.

Maggy Crawford Student Writer The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recently released a new guide with regulations for individuals that are fully vaccinated. The biggest takeaway from the update is that those who are fully vaccinated can now visit with others that are fully vaccinated without wearing masks or social distancing. In some instances, others that are fully vaccinated are able to visit those that are not fully vaccinated, but there are safety protocols that should still be followed.

someone who has COVID-19, but should still monitor for symptoms for 14 days.

The CDC stated that people should still avoid travel, and included a list of precautions that fully vaccinated people should still be following. The list includes wearing a mask and keeping some physical distance between those who are unvaccinated and those who are at an increased risk for severe complications. Also, fully vaccinated people should wear masks and physically distance when visiting those who are unvaccinated and from multiple or different households.

More recommendations for fully vaccinated individuals from the CDC include wearing a well-fitting mask and social distancing in public, avoiding medium- and large-sized crowds, avoiding poorly ventilated public spaces, washing your hands frequently, as well as getting yourself tested if you feel sick.

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editor-in-chief

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variety editor

commentary editor

“An individual is not considered fully vaccinated until they hit the two week mark ...”

Myranda Emily New Every commentary editor satire editor

Justin Klopfer Madison Connell satire&editor photo graphics editor

Conner Maggio Anna Johns An individual is not considered to be fully vaccinated until they hit the two week mark after their second dose of Pfizer or Moderna or two weeks after a single dose of Johnson & Johnson. The CDC says that those who are past the two week mark may meet with others who are also past their two week mark indoors without masks on.

The CDC also stated that those who are considered fully vaccinated are allowed to safely visit with unvaccinated people from a single household indoors without masks or physical distancing, if the unvaccinated people are at low risk. Another update from the CDC was that individuals who are fully vaccinated can skip quarantine periods and COVID-19 testing if they are exposed to

Jen Christensen writing for CNN explained “there is growing evidence that people who are vaccinated don’t spread COVID-19, but scientists are still trying to understand how long vaccine protection lasts.” This means that even if someone is vaccinated, they should still be following the CDC guidelines, wearing a mask when needed and socially distancing when necessary. Even if someone is fully vaccinated, they should refrain from travel until the CDC has more information regarding transmission and protection regarding the vaccine.

The number of vaccinated individuals continues to rise and the more people that get vaccinated, the more revisions the CDC will potentially release. TU has recently

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The Collegian is the student newspaper of the University of Tulsa. It is distributed Mondays during the fall and spring semesters, except during holidays and final exam weeks. The University of Tulsa does not discriminate on the basis of personal status or group characteristics including but not limited to the classes protected under federal and state law. Inquiries regarding implementation of this policy may be addressed to the Office of Human Resources, 800 South Tucker Drive, Tulsa, Oklahoma 74104-9700, (918)631-2616. Requests for accomodation of disabilities may be addressed to the university’s 504 Coordinator, Dr. Tawny Rigsby, (918)631-3814. To ensure availability of an interpeter, five to seven days notice is needed; 48 hours is recommended for all other accomodations.

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been given approval to administer vaccinations through the Alexander Health Center for students and employees. More information about this can be found at https://utulsa. edu/coronavirus/. To schedule an appoint-

ment for a vaccine anywhere in Oklahoma, visit the Oklahoma State Department of Health’s website at https://vaccinate.oklahoma.gov/en-US/currentlyopenappointmentsbylocation/.

Commentary

The Collegian: 4

29 March 2021

The Legislative Digest is your weekly look at the happenings of Oklahoma’s state legislature, upcoming bills and the terms to know.

Justin Klopfer Commentary Editor

HB 2915 and 2916: Both of these bills are attempts to confront the problem of police brutality. HB 2915 would ban the use of chokeholds by officers, and HB 2916 would require body cameras to be used by all cops if their agency possesses the cameras.

Several states and cities have already banned the use of chokeholds by police officers.

Many of these bans came in the wake of the killing of George Floyd and the subsequent protest movement last year. These bills seem to be, at least in part, driven by the momentum still very much alive from last summer.

These measures, of course, are not enough on their own to end police brutality. Eric Garner was killed in New York with a chokehold that was illegal at the time. However, they are both a first step in the right direction and a method of shifting the conversation in the House to actually existing problems. Police violence is a systemic and racist issue, and it must be confronted as soon as possible.

It’s valuable to contrast these bills with ones Republican legislators have proposed in response to the events of last summer. These are almost exclusively anti-protest bills, including a bill giving the right to run over protestors with a car. Whether or not any of these bills pass, and however far-reaching their effects are, it’s clear that Democrats are trying to help with important issues and Republicans are making up problems to solve. “There is a disconnect between what needs to be done to address these issues and where our priorities as a Legislature seem to be,” according to Tulsa Rep. Monroe Nichols.

The bills will be hard to pass. They are not new ideas; many police reforms have already been attempted in the Oklahoma congress. It is very possible they will never even get hearings. However, they’re important enough to push hard for.

SB 487: This bill attempts to drastically alter the makeup of the Oklahoma Science and Technology Research and Development Board. Higher learning institutions and actual scientists seem to be the main targets for removal from the board. The presidents of Oklahoma University, Oklahoma State University and our very own Janet Levit from TU would all be removed, as well as five members who have worked as executives at scientific corporations significant to Oklahoma.

To fill most of these empty seats, the bill adds two members of any background appointed by the Governor, as well as three members of any background by both the leader of the Senate and House. Thus, all of these new members would thus be appointed by Republicans with no restrictions on who they may choose.

The implication of the bill seems to be that people on the Science and Technology Board don’t need to actually be knowledgeable or experienced in science and technology. The board can just be another partisan arena to wield as a political tool.

It’s important to point out that the current makeup of the board isn’t perfect. Choosing executives of companies over actual scientists still creates a conflict of interest and risks profit being the driving motive of the board. Of course, the board is an economic development board concerned with science and technology, not a science and technology board concerned with economic development.

The bill passed through the Senate last Thursday and is now off to the House.

Pope’s rejection of same-sex unions not a sign of hate The decision comes from the holy Sacraments and doesn’t reflect the hate shown by some of the Church’s worst members.

Logan Guthrie Student Writer The Catholic Church has never been anything short of controversial. Needless to say, it is not an organization that easily fits into many of the norms of society, as the institution itself is often opposed in its beliefs to many cultural trends and changes. In the past few weeks, The Vatican made headlines once again as a formal decree was made banning Catholic clergy from blessing same-sex unions. This statement, approved by the Pontiff himself Pope Francis, seemed to be a shift from other recent tendencies in the Church leadership that can be construed and considered more “progressive”, and there are many questions still on many people’s minds, Christian or otherwise affiliated. Particularly, what are the reasonings behind this decision, and what effect will it have on the divide between Catholic Christianity and the LGBTQ community?

The Holy See has further attempted to explain the thought behind such a declaration by explaining the theological implications of allowing the clergy to bless same-sex unions. While the Catholic Church does not condemn individuals for having same-sex attractions, they do not condone same-sex unions, for they see these two things as sep-

arate matters. Same-sex unions are viewed by the Church as acting upon sinful urges.

While having the urge to sin is not sin in itself, as we are all in Christian doctrine naturally inclined to turn away from God and his “perfectly ordered love”, acting upon those urges leads the sinner down a path that is not beneficial to them. Therefore, the fact that one has urges towards same-sex attraction is not in itself sinful, but to act on them in terms of a marital bond would indeed be considered a sinful action, which is why the Church is banning their clergy from blessing such unions, because “God does not and cannot bless sin.”

I would argue, however, that these individual evil actions that have fueled violence, segregation, and hate are not an issue of the institution being inherently evil in the same way as other institutions with similar issues; organizations do not necessarily corrupt individuals, but rather individuals attempt to corrupt organizations, and it takes strength by other members to fight back against corruption. That being said, this ruling by the Catholic Church against the blessing of same-sex unions is coming neither from a spirit of hatred nor bigotry. Social sciences have a concept called cultural relativism that they apply to their understanding of humans

“This ... will further cause division between LGBTQ Catholics and the rest of the Church itself.”

This is obviously a ruling that will further cause division between LGBTQ Catholics and the rest of the Church itself. So an important question at the core of the issue is this: is the Catholic Church, as an institution, a source of hatred and bigotry? I will first preface my answer by saying that the fact of the matter is there are both individual priests and lay members of the Catholic Church that abuse its doctrine, theology, and cultural influence as a means to further their own individual agendas of bigotry and hatred and scandalous criminal activity. We have historically seen this in times of colonialism, or periods such as the Inquisition, and even as recently as unfortunate sexual abuse and pedophilia scandals in multiple Diocese.

The Vatican has come under criticism after the recent decree.

in which, to better understand why someone does what they do, their actions and beliefs must be viewed from the perspective of the underlying cultural variables that are unique to them. A similar approach has to be applied to Catholicism in this case. If we want to understand the Church’s ban on same-sex unions, we must first understand the underlying context.

The Catholic Church has a core part of their practices known as sacraments, which are considered to impart divine grace from God. Since the earliest days of the Church, one of these seven sacraments was the Sacrament of Matrimony, or marriage. While understanding of marriage has evolved over time within the Church as it has evolved over time, the core of the sacrament itself

is a covenant bond between a man and a woman. Since this sacrament and other sacraments are considered by the Church to be instituted by Jesus Christ, to make exceptions to the core of the sacrament would be to separate yourself from God. This is the Christian definition of sin, something that separates you from God. That being said, if there is any hope of unity or mutual respect of beliefs between the Catholic Church and the LGBTQ community, there needs to be an understanding on both sides of each others’ reasons behind their beliefs. The Catholic Church does not hold that same-sex attraction is in itself sin, but rather acting upon it, since it is a misorder of the what God intended. But, they also recognize that those who do not believe this have a right to not accept this.

The same expectation should be held of the LGBTQ community towards the Catholic Church, that they also have a right to their beliefs. There must be tolerance of beliefs on both sides, and no tolerance of bigotry, hatred, violence, etc. on either side if there is going to be any mending and healing of hearts. We must keep in mind that the issue is not whether or not the Catholic Church represents normal members of its institution. Rather, the core problem is that we often believe the lie that the members of the Church that represent it poorly are true representatives of what the institution and its adherents believe and stand for, and that is simply false.

courtesy Wikimedia commons

29 March 2021

Variety

The Collegian: 5

Tips to decrease Zoom fatigue

With endless hours of classes online, many people are experiencing Zoom fatigue. Here is some advice to ease the toll of screentime.

Maggy Crawford Student Writer

It’s real. We all have it. Hours upon hours every day spent online. How do we fight zoom burnout? What are things we can do instead? How do we let our brains have a rest? For example, when I have free time, I want to play video games or watch television … but that’s just more time staring at a screen, ugh! How do we break this?

Zoom fatigue and burnout is real; students and professionals have all experienced it at some point throughout the COVID-19 pandemic. Hours of screen time is not good for anyone, but what else can you do when you have no other choice but to sit and look at the screen all day for classes and extracurriculars? Here are a few tips and tricks to beating Zoom burnout.

One trick is to utilize speaker view on your ZZoom calls. It can be overwhelming for your brain to be looking at and processing the faces and expressions of your classmates. By switching your meetings and classes to speaker view, your brain will have less to focus on, and you will retain more.

It can be really tempting to work on another assignment or send an email during

a Zoom meeting or class, but multitasking takes a toll on your brain, and should be avoided if possible. By focusing on one thing at a time, your brain will not be as tired by the end of the day, and you will retain more from your courses.

A habit to work on forming during long days full of Zoom calls is taking breaks.

Taking a few minutes between classes or meetings will give your brain time to refresh and reset. Taking the time to get outside is ideal, but if you are in a time crunch, standing and stretching will do the trick as well.

Yoga, meditation and mindfulness activities are all good to practice and incorporate into your day between Zoom calls.

Trying to limit the time you spend looking at yourself in the camera can make a world of difference. The time that your brain spends looking at yourself could be used paying attention to the call. This does not mean turn your camera off, but simply try to spend less time looking at yourself or turn off the self-view option, if possible.

Eating well and getting enough sleep are simple things you can work on that will also work against Zoom fatigue. If your brain is tired when the day begins, you are not setting yourself up for success. The same thing can be said about eating well. Power your brain with fruits and vegetables, and it will fight against the Zoom burnout.

If you are willing to make a small investment, blue light glasses seem to be pretty popular. These special glasses can come in

prescription or without, and they filter out the blue light that comes from screens. Blue light glasses make long Zoom calls easier on your eyes and brain.

There has been much research coming out surrounding online learning and working, such as which software works best, how to keep students and staff engaged during long calls and how things might be different even

There are many resources full of helpful tips online.

after things get closer to normal. COVID-19 has shown that people can get a lot done virtually, and we might see more and more virtual and remote positions. Companies are willing to invest into this kind of research because Zoom meetings and classes might just stick around. We are all in this together when it comes to fighting Zoom fatigue.

graphic by Emma Palmer

Multiplayer video game recommendations With the pandemic limiting interactions, many have turned to online communities, such as these multiplayer games and others.

Joseph Breedlove Student Writer Video games are a great source of entertainment for any age. While some may argue video games are addictive, they are also a good creative escape from the real world, especially during a pandemic. With social distancing and limited travel, groups of people have found other ways to meet, such as through Zoom meetings and even video games. Here are some great multiplayer games to play with friends and family.

One multiplayer game to play is the battle royale survival game “Fortnite.” Although

this game came out in 2017, it is still one of the most popular games today, with over 125 million players. There are 100 people in the arena who try to eliminate the other opponents as the arena shrinks, with only one victor. There are different game modes as well. People can either do it solo or team

tendo console. “Mario Kart” is a racing game where players choose different Mario players and race around adventurous maps, while using power ups to help fulfill a victory. The game brings cheerful joys and cheerful noise. It really shows in how this game first started in 1992, and is still kicking to

“... [video games] are also a good creative escape from the real world ...” up to go duos. If you’re feeling rambunctious, team up with three other people to go squads. It is a fun game and brings people together; it also can improve survival skills.

With the new Nintendo Switch out, one great multiplayer game is the all time classic “Mario Kart,” playable on any Nin-

this day. It is an everlasting favorite.

Another mainstream multiplayer game is “Call of Duty: Warzone.” This game came out March 2020, and it is one of the most popular first person shooting games. The goal of this game is to eliminate each opponent. The creators also put in the game mode

of a battle royale, just like a “Fortnite.” The game is available on a variety of consoles, from PlayStations to Xboxes, reaching all 80 million players.

“Rocket League” is a very popular action-packed multiplayer game. It is soccer on wheels. How fun is that? The objective of this game is a two vs. two match of trying to move the ball down the field and score a goal. The skill it takes to actually do such a thing is surprisingly high. The game was released in 2015 and is still very popular today in 2021. There are many platforms that this game can be played on such as well.

The greatest thing about video games is that so many different games and genresexist, anyone and everyone can find that perfect fit for their multiplayer game interest.

Adventure is out there, just like video games are out there for all to the world. All it takes is one game to change a person’s life.

Tennant and Sheen return for “Staged” second season Fan favorites David Tennant and Michael Sheen are back to reprise their roles in this hilarious and timely show on Hulu.

Madison Walters Student Writer “Staged” is back for its second season on Hulu. If you haven’t heard of this lockdown sensation, the first season of the show follows Michael Sheen and David Tennant as they deal with the fallout of the theaters of West End closing due to the pandemic. The show sees the odd couple play heightened versions of themselves. For example, Sheen fears that he’s been transported into Alfred Hitchcock’s “The Birds,” and Tennant is consistently on the verge of having an existential crisis.

The new season is very meta, as it opens with the reveal that the first season was actually a television show made by another version of Tennant and Sheen. The duo struggles with the fact that they have not been cast as themselves in the “American remake” of “Staged,” causing them to try and sabotage the project and the new actors playing them. The ingenuity of the plot is a testament to Simon Evans’ writing abilities.

“Staged” also stars Anna Lundberg, Georgia Tennant, Lucy Eaton and Simon Evans.

One of the highlights of this season were the performances given by Georgia Tennant, Anna Lundberg and Lucy Eaton. One of my favorite moments from the show sees the three making fun of men who are unable to write women characters realistically.

We all, unfortunately, have read or watched something where the description of a female character focuses almost entirely on an account of the character’s breasts.

This scene hilariously makes fun of that.

I’m not joking; the scene is hilarious. Eaton has a strong knack for comedic timing, and, in this scene, she absolutely shines. Tennant and Lundberg’s performances throughout the series add a further layer to the storyline that was present within the first series; however, it was beautifully strengthened in the second series, creating a hilarious performance that is an absolute joy to watch. I

got my wish for this season,which was that we would be seeing more from Tennant and Lundberg.

David Tennant and Michael Sheen have quickly earned the title of best onscreen and real life best friends. The chemistry that the pair shares is off the charts, creating a fun atmosphere within the show. One defining characteristic of their friendship is that they are seamlessly able to tease one another without malice, which adds humor to each conversation. At its heart, the show is about two friends who miss each other, and try to make Zoom calls work as a way of being there for the other person.

Of course, the system is flawed as nothing compares to being there with your friends, which definitely can be seen throughout this season. In fact, one of the most poignant moments from this season shows Sheen’s discontedness as not being able to comfort his friends (namely Tennant). One particular quote from this scene hits home hard: “God knows I want to be there for all my friends, you know? I don’t want to be here for them. I want to be there for them.” At its core, the show is a platonic love story between Michael Sheen and David Tennant, showcasing their beautiful, one-in-a-million friendship.

Keeping up with the theme from the first season, the second season capitalizes on its draw-dropping guest stars. Season one sees the likes of Samuel L. Jackson and Dame Judi Dench. Without giving any spoilers of the second season, it is safe to say that they’ve outdone themselves with the 15 guests that show up throughout the season.

The “Loo Recluse” episode has probably one of my favorite combinations of guest stars. All I will say is that it’s two actresses who have received much renown lately, and seeing those two act with one another was such a pleasure.

“Staged” has done the unlikely as the second season was just as good as the first season, if not better. It’s unclear whether there will be a third season, but I sincerely hope that we’ll see more of Sheen and Tennant together. Whether that be a third season of “Staged” or maybe even a second season of Amazon Prime’s “Good Omens,” I look forward to seeing more projects from the two.

“Staged” is already award-winning for best comedy.

courtsey @Staged2020 Twitter

The State-Run Media

29 March 2021

the

State-Run media Global economy? Suez Canal? Sounds like a bad dream. C’mon, babe, let’s go eat bugs out of each other’s hair.

Ever Given releases apology video for being stuck in the Suez Canal

The trading vessel has been labeled as “problematic” for its participation in the global economy.

Anna Johns Suez Canal? More like the SUS Canal! Am I right, fellas?

On Wednesday, disaster in the world of international trading struck: one of the largest container ships in the world (and therefore one of the most popular container ships) was grounded in the Suez Canal, causing a huge jam of trading vessels. At the time of writing, the reported monetary damage is $55 billion.

Understandably, the Suez Canal has received some criticisms for this hit. Its Instagram and Youtube followers have plummeted dramatically, and #evergivenisoverparty has been trending on Twitter since the news broke. For days, the ship has been silent, and this inactivity has prompted commentary from the wider audience.

The issue of body shaming had been particularly prevalent. While there are plenty of tweets and headlines ran about the ridiculously huge and juicy ass of the ship, others are calling the Ever Given a beacon for body positivity.

“This is what happens when you don’t hit the gym #bigass #getouttahere!” wrote a Twitter user. “friendly reminder that ships can have asses too and they are beautiful and lovely and do not need to be penetrated by the stigmatizing gaze of male validation,” wrote another account.

For some, the issue was never about the size of the ship or the major economic damage it has caused but instead the problematic history of the Suez Canal. By using this trade route, critics argue the Ever Given has

While many have praised the Suez Canal for speaking its truth, others do not believe the ship has learned the consequences of its actions.

directly supported — and received benefits from — the French occupation of Egypt and the several cruelties inflicted upon Egyptians during its construction.

Today, the Ever Given released an apology video, aptly titled, “BREAKING MY SILENCE.” The video began with the Ever Given mid-sob. “Hi, guys. Making this video has been so hard. This is the hardest thing I’ve ever done.” The three-year-old cargo ship stopped, perhaps to catch its thoughts.

“It hurts me so bad to disappoint you all who have supported me for many years,”

the Ever Given whimpered. “You guys don’t deserve that.”

The Ever Given admitted to its participation in the global capitalist economy, but it asked for forgiveness due to its self-proclaimed “ignorance to this sick, disgusting situation” that “in no way aligns with my moral views.” The vessel had noticeable wet tracks streaming down its long, green hull as it claimed to have changed “so much as a cargo ship in the past three years.”

In addition, The Ever Given resolved to take some time off from trading and the economy, realizing its status as a role model

graphic by Anna Johns

that needs to “help take down the toxicity of global trading community.”

While the vessel is still noticeably stuck in the Suez Canal, it promised to take the time to educate itself better on the history of colonization and imperialism and hopes that everyone can forgive them.

“Nowadays, I’m really about peace and forgiveness,” the Ever Given said. “I’m just so sorry for blocking global trade. I hope you can forgive me just as much as I’ve forgiven myself.”

The CDC warns Americans to stay away from this guy

photo by Anna Johns

Okay, looks like the situation was covered. The Roman Legion was employed to move the big gal.

courtesy Wikimedia Commons No more information was added to the statement.