News
The Collegian: 2
24 September 2018
Green in Green Country: a history of marijuna in Okla. Recent State Question referendums and petitions have enacted a turbulent period of marijuana legislation in Oklahoma. Raven Fawcett Managing Editor Medical marijuana was recently legalized in Oklahoma, making it the 30th state to do so. After nearly a century of anti-cannabis legislation, the laws and governing bodies of Oklahoma had to revise and create new strategies to deal with the changes. Colleges face similar challenges. While the drug is now legal elsewhere in the state, colleges and universities — including the University of Tulsa — that receive federal grants must comply with federal law to retain their funding, and those federal laws include the Drug Free Workplace Act and the Controlled Substances Act. Because marijuana is still federally classified as a Schedule I drug under the Controlled Substances Act, its use and possession are not permitted on campus or at events sponsored by TU. Marijuana is comprised of 426 chemical compounds, categorized as psychoactive and nonpsychoactive. There are 60 psychoactive compounds, one of which is most commonly known as THC (tetrahydrocannabinol). THC is one of the chemicals in marijuana that produces the high; effects include increased depression and anxiety, muscle relaxation, increased appetite and other common symptoms. The history of cannabis in Oklahoma rivals its chemical components in complexity. Here, we examine the events that led to medical marijuana’s legalization: August 2, 1937: The United States Congress approves of the Marihuana Tax Act. The act levies a heavy tax on any person who grows, imports, sells, gives away or otherwise profits from cannabis in any way. The fees are steep enough to effectively shut down the legal cannabis trade. Medicinal marijuana, used for over 5,000 years, is no longer a viable medication for U.S. citizens.
October 27, 1970: The Controlled Substances Act of 1970 repeals the Marijuana Tax Act and categorizes marijuana as a Schedule I drug, making it illegal to own, buy or sell the drug in the U.S.
June 27, 2018: The first clinic for medical marijuana opens the morning following the approval of SQ788, although the laws surrounding medical marijuana remain unclear.
May 30, 2014: The Rohrabacher-Farr Amendment is passed by Congress, which bars the Department of Justice from using federal funds to prosecute cannabis infractions if the actions are permitted under state law.
July 10, 2018: The State Health Board passes regulations for medical marijuana. The rules require a pharmacist be present at dispensaries and a ban on smokable marijuana, among other restrictions.
April 11, 2016: Oklahomans for Health files a petition for State Question 788 with the Oklahoma Secretary of State that, if approved, will allow Oklahomans to vote on legalizing medical marijuana. Petitions must be signed by enough people, verified by the government and approved by the governor before they appear on the ballot, where Oklahomans can vote on the issue. January 4, 2018: Governor Fallin files a proclamation that enters SQ788 onto the primary election ballot, set for June 26, 2018. April 3, 2018: A group called Green the Vote files two petitions with the Oklahoma Secretary of State; State Question 796 and 797. SQ796 would, if approved and voted in by Oklahomans, amend the Oklahoma Constitution to categorize marijuana as an herbal drug, which would allow people with a medical need to more easily access it. It would also provide more legal protections to those legally using marijuana for medical reasons. SQ797 also calls for a constitutional amendment, this one to legalize recreational marijuana — the growth, sale and use of marijuana for any reason other than health — for people over 21 years of age. Other restrictions on marijuana usage would still apply, such as the law against driving while high. The amount a person could possess for recreational use would still remain low. June 26, 2018: SQ788 is approved. The measure passed with 56.86 percent approval. It received 507,582 votes for and 385,176 votes against.
July 11, 2018: Gov. Fallin signs her approval of the State Health Board’s regulations. July 13, 2018: The public expresses their concern that the restrictions stray too far from the original state question. Two lawsuits are filed: one against the state of Oklahoma, Gov. Fallin, the Oklahoma Department of Health and five individual members of the Oklahoma Department of Health. The second is filed against the Oklahoma State Department of Health. July 15, 2018: Green the Vote leaders say they have just under 100,000 signatures on their petition for SQ796, which would categorize marijuana as an herbal drug. The petition requires 123,735 signatures. July 18, 2018: Attorney General Mike Hunter sends a letter to the OSDH commissioner stating that the Board of Health has overstepped its authority on its medical marijuana regulations. July 26, 2018: Application requirements and additional information are available to everyone who needs the information, from potential buyers to growers, caregivers and processors. July 27, 2018: The revised emergency regulations for medical marijuana are posted for the public to see, although the Board is still working to revise them. July 28, 2018: Green the Vote says they have over 130,000 signatures (the minimum is approximately 124,000 signatures to push
for a vote) for their petition to add SQ797 to the ballot. SQ797, if approved, would legalize recreational marijuana. August 1, 2018: The State Health Board passes new regulations for marijuana, which Gov. Fallin signs. Changes include no longer requiring a pharmacist be present at dispensaries, removing the stipulation that patients take a pregnancy test before getting their medical marijuana license, removing the ban on smokable marijuana and lowering the minimum age of dispensary workers from 21 to 18. August 7, 2018: Green the Vote organizational leaders announce on Facebook that they do not have enough signatures to put legalizing recreational marijuana to a vote, admitting that they had lied about the number of signatures already received to increase awareness for the petition and get more signatures. August 8, 2018: Signatures from the SQ796 and SQ797 petitions are submitted to the Oklahoma Secretary of State’s office to be verified. August 17, 2018: SQ796 officially receives 95,176 signatures, falling short of the minimum number required to put a change to Oklahoma’s constitution on the general ballot for November. August 20, 2018: SQ797 falls more than 20,000 signatures short of the minimum needed to put the question of recreational marijuana on the ballot. August 24, 2018: The Oklahoma Medical Marijuana Authority releases applications for medical marijuana licenses. They are, at this time, only accepting online applications. September 10, 2018: The Supreme Court of Oklahoma finalizes the end of SQ 796 and SQ797, ordering the affair closed.
graphic by Conner Maggio
Oklahoma has joined the list of states with some degree of legalized marijuana.
courtesy Wikimedia Commons
A dispensary in Denver, CO from 2011 — storefronts like this should appear in Oklahoma soon.
courtesy KOKH
Green the Vote has been a driving force in Oklahoma marijuana petitions.
News
24 September 2018
LIBR program targets college student stress
@TUCollegian
tucollegian@tucollegian.org editor-in-chief
Justin Guglielmetti managing editor
Raven Fawcett news editor
Ethan Veenker sports editor
Brennen Gray variety editor
Emma Palmer commentary editor
Emily Every satire editor
Madison Connell photo & graphics editor
Conner Maggio
business & advertising manager
Brian Kwiecinski
social media & web manager
Sara Serrano
distribution managers
Nate Gibbons Jesica Santino and Katelyn Baker copy editor
Bryant Loney
The Collegian: 3
The Collegian is the student newspaper of the University of Tulsa. It is distributed Mondays during the fall and spring semesters, except during holidays and final exam weeks. The University of Tulsa does not discriminate on the basis of personal status or group characteristics including but not limited to the classes protected under federal and state law. Inquiries regarding implementation of this policy may be addressed to the Office of Human Resources, 800 South Tucker Drive, Tulsa, Oklahoma 74104-9700, (918)631-2616. Requests for accomodation of disabilities may be addressed to the university’s 504 Coordinator, Dr. Tawny Rigsby, (918)631-3814. To ensure availability of an interpeter, five to seven days notice is needed; 48 hours is recommended for all other accomodations. Advertising Policy: Advertising appearing in this publication does not imply approval or endorsement by the University of Tulsa or the Collegian for the products or services advertised. For advertising information, email the Collegian at advertising@tucollegian.org. The deadline for advertising is noon on the Friday proir to publication. Letter Policy: Letters to the editor must be less than 500 words and can be sent to tucollegian@tucollegian.org. Under no circumstances will anonymous letters be published. The name of the person submitting the letter must be published with the letter. We reserve the right to edit or reject all letters. The deadline for letters is 5 p.m. on the Friday prior to publication. Editing Policy: The Collegian reserves the right to edit all copy submitted by all writers. This editing may take place in many forms, including grammar corrections, changes in paragraph structure or even the addition or removal of sections of content. Editorial Policy: Columnists are solely responsible for the content of their columns. Opinions expressed in columns may not represent the opions of the Collegian staff, the administrative policies of the University of Tulsa, the views of the student body or our advertisers.
Student Association Senate Election Results (winners denoted in bold) At-Large Seats (3) Sierra Thorne 255 Christian Sherman 179 Kyle Welch 166 Emad Khan 49 Residence Halls (3) Grace Trimble 69 Eric Aplis 38 Mason Walton 30
College of Arts and Sciences (1) Cheyenne Green 83 College of Engineering and Natural Sciences (1) Lanie McKinney 134 Collins College of Business (1) Katarina Michna 54 Savannah Sinclair 34
Greek Housing (2) Lauren Beatty 54 Jason Troung 45
Oxley College of Health Sciences (1) Elise Polk 31 Kaitlyn Argo 14
Apartments (3) Stephanie Kealey 89 Maria Paszkowiak 67
Graduate School (1) No Official Candidate
Commuters (3) Vance Dwyer 28 Braden Wright 55 Hunter Splain 25
College of Law (1) No Official Candidate Official election results provided to The Collegian by SA.
Hurricane Florence ravages East Coast After making landfall, the hurricane took dozens of lives and wrecked coastal infrastructure. Brady Patterson Student Writer Hurricane Florence made landfall in South Carolina on September 14 as a Category 1 hurricane after fluctuating back and forth between a Category 4 (more severe) and a tropical depression (less). The greatest danger it posed was not in the form of extreme winds and storm damage, but in the floodwaters brought to the lowlands near rivers and coastal regions. In the week before the storm, the governors of North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia, Virginia and Maryland declared states of emergency. Virginia, North and South Carolina then issued mandatory evacuation orders for certain areas likely to be most affected by the storm. Many people were able to leave, but some lacked the means to pack up and flee. Some people were completely unable to evacuate rural areas for lack of cars. Prisoners were not evacuated. “South Carolina officials have repeatedly urged coastal residents to flee Hurricane Florence, warning of danger and even death,” wrote The New York Times, adding, “But they have rejected calls to move the inmates of a state prison in a mandatory evacuation zone [even though] the area is under an evacuation order issued by Gov. Henry McMaster.” Reverend William Barber, in an interview with Democracy Now!, stated, “Before the hurricane, poor people and low-wealth people had a storm.” This is part of his larger criticism of government actions, not just in the context of Florence but in the abil-
ity of the social structures to respond to a crisis. “This state has refused federal money that would have helped the poor prior to the storm, so that they would have buffers against the storm. So we have two hurricanes — the hurricane of poverty and lack of healthcare and lack of living wages that existed prior to the storm, and then we have the storm, and now everything that was already tough for people has been exacerbated.” His view is that the governments have failed to take care of the poorest citizens, who are least able to take preventative actions to ensure their safety. 40 people have been reported dead as of the writing of this article. 24 died in ways that were directly related to the storm, either drowning or being caught in floods, and 16 died in ways that were indirectly related. Notably, two female mental health patients were being transferred to a different correctional facility in a van by two police officers. When the van was swept off the highway into flood waters, the officers were able to escape but could not rescue the women in the back, who were chained to the van. An investigation of the incident is currently underway. This natural disaster ravaged shores on the east coast as studies have recently revealed that 2,975 people died as a result of Hurricane Maria, which impacted Puerto Rico this time last year. The federal government has come under criticism for failing to provide adequate support for the people there due to FEMA losing significant funding and profiteering scandals interrupting the effort to provide bottled water, electricity and medical help to the island. As the remnants of Florence continue inland, flooding in the lowlands is expected to continue.
College students can be compensated for participation in the program, which is individually tailored for one’s stress levels. Brooke-Lyne Holland Student Writer Jessica Santiago, a Licensed Professional Counselor/Mental Health Therapist, works on therapy studies at the Laureate Institute for Brain Research. Her primary job is to oversee multiple therapy studies currently running at LIBR — more specifically, a study that is run by Dr. Robin Aupperle. Dr. Aupperle is a principal investigator at LIBR and also an assistant professor at the University of Tulsa. According to the LIBR website, she has been involved with and conducted research investigating “behavioral and neural mechanisms” that can help combat anxiety, depression and trauma-related disorders. The web site states that Aupperle is also involved in “identifying factors that support resilience to college-related stress” and is looking for ways to help students’ psychological well-being. Santiago spoke with The Collegian about the research with Aupperle that studies patients who have high anxiety and depression. According to Santiago, the study “tests patients behaviorally, physiologically and during MRIs” to help develop “individualbased profiles” to identify tailored interventions toward anxiety, depression and trauma, helping patients with better outcomes during therapy. These studies will conclude if exposure therapy or behavioral activation therapy will be helpful to that particular person.
University of Tulsa students are invited to participate in the study and be compensated for their time. Participation entails group exposure therapy, MRIs and answering questions on one’s feelings before and after the treatment. Patients do not have to be medically diagnosed with any type of mental disorder to sign up for the study. According to LIBR, the study is open to people who are: • 18 years and older. • Can understand enough English to complete the interviews and answer questions. • Have access to a computer. • NOT an international student visa. This is due to restrictions on international students’ research compensation. • NOT currently experiencing severe/ unstable health issues that need immediate medical attention. Simplified by Santiago, this study “could possibly identify specific markers of treatment success that may hopefully be used in the future to personalize treatments for patients suffering from these disorders.” Emergency Hotlines Local Crisis Line: 918-293-2100 National 24/7 Suicide Hotline: 1-800784-2433 True Blue Neighbors Behavioral Health Clinic: 918-631-3342 Alexander Health Center: 918-631-2241 Campus Security: 918-631-5555 Domestic Violence Intervention Service: 918-585-3163 If interested, call 918-502-5100.
Handshake replaces Golden OpporTUnities Handshake serves in place of Golden OpporTUnities as a hub for student internships, job positions and more. Brian Kwiecinski Business Manager Handshake is an online job-search platform with many functions, built specifically for students. It was introduced this year as TU’s replacement for Golden OpporTUnities. Students can upload digital résumés, look at job listings, check on upcoming campus events, make appointments with the Career Services Center and access other CSC resources. Once a student has signed up, they will be brought to the For You tab. This page has horizontal channels that display top job offerings for different categories. These categories can range anywhere from “in cities with best nightlife” and “jobs in tech hubs” to “companies with best perks” and “coolest internship.” To the left of the For You tab is the Jobs tab, which allows students to search for and track open applications, view employers and stay updated with on-campus interviews. The first section is called Job Search where students can search for full-time, part-time and internship job applications that interest them. These searches can be refined based on location, type of job, industry, major and many others. After a student has found a position they enjoy and applied for it, they can move to the Applications section. This section will track every application sent in, show that application’s current status and has the ability to filter applications based on keywords. If a student wants to look for positions based on the company versus the type of job, then they can use the Employers section. Users can search for employers based off of keywords, location, employer, size, industry and any other custom label. From there, they can view open positions within a chosen company and apply for them. Once a student has been invited to an interview with companies working with the Career Services Center, they can use the On-Campus Interviews section of the Job tab. On-Campus Interviews lists every company that will be interviewing in the Career Services Center with filter options, including interview date, employer, industry and others. The next tab is Events and also has four sections: Upcoming Events, Event Search, Fair Search and Calendar. Upcoming Events shows all events, appointments, career fairs and interviews that a student has registered for at the top, and all upcoming campus events below. Next up is the Event Search section, which (as the name implies) allows students to search for events based on type of event, host and any other custom label.
If a student is specifically looking for career fairs, then they can use the Fair Search section. This search engine lists not only career fairs at TU, but also any other public career fairs on the website. These fairs can be searched by keywords, location and dates. Finally, the Calendar section lists all of the TU-based events coming up by month, week or day. After the Events tab is the Students tab, which serves as a networking tool between TU students. Searches can be narrowed down based on School Year, Major, Previous Employers and student organizations. The Career Center tab is the final tab and contains resources designed to help connect students to the Career Services Center and help them find what career paths interest them. The first option in the drop-down menu is My School and gives an overview of TU and its upcoming events. After My School is the Appointments section. This area allows students to track their upcoming and previous appointments, and also to make new ones. Students can schedule appointments with their respective colleges for any purpose from scholarship search assistance to résumé review to a Focus 2 results assessment. This platform allows students to schedule these appointments in just a few clicks and even gives the different options of communication like inperson, over the phone or via Skype. Following Appointments is the Resources tab. As the name implies, Resources gives students a variety of tools to help them find their career path and prepare for interviews. Focus 2 Assessments test a student’s readiness for a career, their work interests, side-by-side occupation comparisons and a portfolio for saved career/major options. Another of the resources is Going Global. GG connects students with international job opportunities based on their desired country. The last part of the navigation bar is the Profile section. The My Profile section serves as a digital résumé and allows students to add a profile picture, biography and any career-relevant information like job experience or organizational involvement. Below this section is the Documents section where students can upload cover letters, résumé and any other form that a student sees fit to upload. The last public section of My Profile is Career Interests. Here, students can choose what type of job they are looking for, what they want out of Handshake, post-graduation plans, where the student wants to live, industries of interest, jobs of interest and expected career dates. As its replacement, Handshake fulfills all of the same functions as Golden OpporTUnities while also adding a few more functions like the ability to schedule appointments with a college’s respective career center. Handshake can be found at www.utulsa. joinhandshake.com.
News
The Collegian: 4
24 September 2018
fountain. The water to the fountain was shut off and the plumber and WFF staff were contacted. Sept. 17 12:10 a.m. University of Tulsa Campus Security Officers were dispatched to Lorton Village Apartments to investigate a possible noise complaint. Upon arrival, officers met with a student who reported that the apartment above their apartment was stomping on the floor. Officers attempted to make contact with the above resident but no one was home. Sept. 14 2:15 p.m. While University of Tulsa Campus Security Officers were conducting game day setup for soccer games in University Square Apartments West in the barricade vehicle with lights activated, a vehicle driven by a student passed the barricade vehicle on the right at an unsafe speed. Officers tried to make contact with the student. The student ignored officers and continued to go inside an apartment. Sept. 16 2:45 a.m. University of Tulsa Campus Security Officers were dispatched to the Mabee East parking lot to investigate two individuals using the rest room outside, on a dirt hill. When the officers arrived, both individuals denied the allegation. Both were allowed to leave after the officer collected their information. It was later determined one of the two individuals were seen on surveillance footage using the rest room outside. 3:50 p.m. University of Tulsa Campus Security Officers were dispatched to the University Square Apartments West to investigate a possible noise complaint. Upon arrival, officers could hear loud music coming from an apartment. Officers spoke with the resident and they agreed to turn down the music. A housing contact card was created. 9:00 p.m. A student contacted the Communications Center to report a water leak at the North Campus Drill Building. Officers found the 2nd floor hallway was flooding from the water
11:45 a.m. While on routine patrol University of Tulsa Campus Security Officers conducted a pedestrian check in the West parking lot of the Lorton Performance Center. Officers ran a warrant and prior contact check that resulted in six City of Tulsa warrants. Tulsa Police Department was contacted and they arrived on scene and arrested the individual. 4:00 p.m. University of Tulsa Campus Security Officers were dispatched to the Security Office to speak with a student wishing to report possible fraudulent activity on a currency exchange. Upon arrival officers met with the student, received information needed to file a report and advised the student to file a report with the Tulsa Police Department. Sept. 18 11:30 a.m. University of Tulsa Campus Security Officers investigated a reported threat made by one TU affiliate against another TU affiliate. Officers spoke with the TU affiliate who made the threat and notified the Dean of Student Affairs. Officers and the Office of Student Affairs spoke with the TU affiliate who made the threat. The investigation is ongoing. Sept. 19 9:45 a.m. While on routine patrol patrol University of Tulsa Campus Security Officers found two individuals were sleeping on the roof of Oxley College of Health Sciences Building. The two stated they came up the secured ladder and slept there. TU dispatch had no prior contact with ether subjects. Tulsa Police were notified and one individual was arrested for a
Nate Gibbons Distribution Manager
Rail train to link Hong Kong to mainland China A bullet train connecting Hong Kong and mainland China launched in an opening ceremony last Saturday. The commute between the southern city of Guangzhou and Hong Kong is now 40 minutes, less than half the time of older trains. Officials say the new train will help businesses in Shenzen, Guangzhou and Hong Kong. Critics argue that the new train undermines Hong Kong independence and the Basic Law, Hong Kong’s mini-constitution. Chinese law will be enforced in Hong Kong for the first time via a joint checkpoint at the station and on the trains. A former British colony, Hong Kong was relinquished to China’s control in 1997 under the agreement that it would sustain “a high degree of autonomy, except in foreign and defence affairs.” The Hong Kong Bar Association said in a statement, “Such an unprecedented move is the most retrograde step to date in the implementation of the Basic Law and severely undermines public confidence in ‘one country, two systems’ and the rule of law in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region.”
Japan lands rovers on asteroid Last Friday, Japan’s space agency JAXA successfully landed two rovers on an asteroid’s surface. The two rovers will hop across the low-gravity asteroid, named Ryugu, taking temperatures and pictures as they go. The robotic explorers were launched from the Hayabusa-2 spacecraft, which will assist in collecting samples. Hayabusa-2 reached the asteroid last June after three and a half years of travel. This is the first time robot rovers have been placed on an asteroid’s surface. JAXA tweeted multiple photos of the landing captured by Rover-1A and Rover-1B. JAXA scientists plan to create a crater in the asteroid’s surface in order to collect rocks that haven’t been affected by space’s harsh conditions for eons. The spacecraft is predicted to collect the rock samples in late 2019 and return to Earth with the samples in 2020.
Iran military parade struck by attack Iranian leaders are hunting for those responsible after gunmen killed at least 25 people last Saturday morning during a military parade. Over half of the victims killed were Revolutionary Guard members, but fatalities also include children and women, officials say. State news media said all four gunmen were killed. Though both the so-called Islamic State and the anti-government group Ahvaz National Resistance claimed responsibility shortly after the attack, neither provided evidence. Foreign Minister Javad Zarif blamed “terrorists recruited, trained, armed and paid by a foreign regime.” “Iran holds regional terror sponsors and their US masters accountable for such attacks,” Zarif tweeted, adding, “Iran will respond swiftly and decisively in defense of Iranian lives.” In a similar vein, Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei said “puppets of the U.S.” sought to “create insecurity” in Iran. Iran has claimed Saudi Arabia supports separatist activity in Iran in the past.
warrant and the other one was escorted off property, Both subject were trespassed banned for all TU controlled property. 10:25 p.m. While on routine patrol University of Tulsa Campus Security Officers witnessed a single vehicle auto accident at 500 S. Harvard Ave. Tulsa Police Department and Emergency Medical Services Authority arrived, no injuries were reported. TPD investigated and found that the driver was under the influence and arrested. Sept. 20 12:00 a.m. A student leaving the McFarlin Library noticed two individuals acting suspicious around the bike rakes. The student reported the activity to campus security. University of Tulsa Campus Security Officers on patrol saw the two individuals carrying flashlights within the gated area of the University School’s play ground. When the officer attempted to talk with the individuals, they both ran through Norman Village Apartments and off campus property. 6:00 p.m. University of Tulsa Campus Security Officers assisted in the dismissal of a Continuing Education student. The student was in violation of a previous trespass ban from university property while participating in the program. Officers escorted the student off campus and the trespass ban was reiterated to the individual. Sept. 21 5:15 a.m. While returning from another call officers discovered an individual in a vehicle slumped against the driver door in the Mabee East Lot. Officers made contact with the individual who advised they were a student. After further investigation the student appeared to be intoxicated as well as under the legal drinking age. The student was escorted to their residence without further incident. The Collegian does not produce or edit the Campus Crime Watch except for content and brevity.
Monday, September 24 to Friday, December 21 at 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. McFarlin Library, Special Collections, 5th floor The War At Home: Tulsa in the World War In the first week of April, 1917, the United States finally entered the World War, in response to not only of the German determination to return to unrestricted submarine warfare, but also the continual espionage against United States industry by agents of the German Empire, as well as discovery of the Zimmerman Telegram by the British – by which the Germans were trying to encourage the Mexican Government to engage the United States in a separate conflict in response to our incursion into Mexico in 1916; to try to keep us out of the European War. With the Declaration of War the Unites States began the process of mobilizing for what looked to be a protracted war. The people of the United States responded, in general, with patriotic enthusiasm. Tulsa was notably aggressive in its response. Many good things came out of Tulsa’s involvement, but there was a darker side to it as well. The purpose of this exhibit is to show the various aspects of the war and its effect on the city, both good and bad. We will also briefly discuss the people who actually fought, the Greenwood District and the Influenza Pandemic of 1918.
Monday, September 24 at 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. Dietler Commons (formerly “the U”) Korean Harvest Festival Join the Korean Student Association on Dietler Commons for the Korean Harvest Festival. There will be games, food and karaoke. Monday, September 24 at 7:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. Harwell Field TU Fall Outdoor Film Festival Join the Department of Film Studies for the annual Fall Outdoor Film Festival! Enjoy the outdoors, popcorn and other refreshments along with a lineup of student films handpicked by the department. If weather is not permitting, the event will be moved to the Gussman Concert Hall in the Lorton Performance Center. The location announcement will be made no later than 4 p.m. on the day of the festival. Contact Amy Howe, film studies department assistant, for more information. Tuesday, September 25 at 7:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. Student Union, Great Hall B Tulsa Thought Initiative: Mind the Gap Please join President Gerard Clancy and Byron Sanders (BSBA ’06), CEO of Big Thought, a Dallas-based nonprofit, for a discussion on the educational opportunity gap, its causes and effects on communities and how Big Thought is working to tackle the issue. Q&A session will follow. Refreshments will be provided. Thursday, September 27 to Thursday, October 25 at 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Alexandre Hogue Gallery Exhibit: Every Breath We Drew by Jess T. Dugan Every Breath We Drew explores the power of identity, desire and connection through self-portraiture and photographs of other people. Working within the framework of queer experience and from an actively constructed sense of masculinity, Dugan’s portraits examine the intersection between private, individual identity and the search for intimate connection with others. Dugan received her MFA in Photography from Columbia College Chicago, her Master of Liberal Arts in Museum Studies from Harvard University, and her BFA in Photography from the Massachusetts College of Art and Design. Artist Lecture (Jerri Jones Lecture Hall, Phillips Hall 211): Oct. 25, 5-6 p.m. Book signing following the lecture. Reception: Oct 25, 6-7 p.m. (Closing) The Collegian does not produce all event descriptions in the Community Calendar. Contact us at news@tucollegian.org with events.
Sports
24 September 2018
The Collegian: 5
Tulsa volleyball undefeated on homefront TU Golden Hurricane continues to win game after game in a strong season. Tristan Peterson Student Writer This week was the beginning of conference play for TU’s volleyball team. Head coach Ryan Willis said, “When people work hard, things tend to work out the right way.” Tulsa proved that this week as we swept two matches against Memphis and Tulane. In the match against Memphis, Tulsa was ready for battle. They dominated the first set 25-12. Leading the march was Rachel Moore, who had seven kills and a .438 hitting percentage. As if second in command,
“We played them late in the season in the Reynolds Center last year, it wasn’t a pretty match,” Coach Willis admits. “So it’s really nice to get that one back a bit. We played aggressive, we played solid in our serve pass game and we defended. So it’s nice to keep winning at home, without a doubt. More important, I am just happy with the way we competed tonight.” The win against Tulane allowed Tulsa to have the best home start for the program under head coach Willis’s tenure since 2010, 5-0. Tulane was a fierce opponent. Every set was a series of back-and-forth rallies. Tulsa took the first set, 25-20, with help from Emily Thorson who had six kills and a service ace. “As the match unfolded we got better defensively,” said Willis. Hembree continued her hot streak, tallying four kills on a lofty .800 hitting percentage. Mariah Pardo recorded 11 assists in the
“Hembree continued her hot streak, tallying four kills on a lofty .800 hitting percentage...” Taylor Horsfall followed with six digs. Memphis put up a good fight in the second frame, rallying back-and-forth until Tulsa’s ultimate victory 25-21. The warhorse for the set was Sophomore Maggie Hembree, who had four kills. In the same confident fashion as the first set, Tulsa started the first rally of the third to go up 6-0. From then on it was a battle to the end, with Emily Thorson and Moore accumulating three kills each to clinch the match, 2521. Thorson, Horsfall and Maddie Flora all recorded double-digit digs in the victory.
set. TU clinched the frame, 25-22. Rachel Moore proved to be the deciding factor in the third set, leading Tulsa in the frame with five kills.Thorson and Hembree were not too far behind, both earning four kills. The match ended on a Tulane attacking error, 26-24. Tulsa will have two more home conference games in the next week in the Reynolds Center. September 26 at 5:30 p.m., Tulsa will face North Texas, and on the Sept. 29, Tulsa will face Wichita State at 6.
New rules in the NFL Professional football introduces new rules to improve the game and protect players. Do you ever find yourself plopped down watching the games on Sunday, witness some strange call on the field, and think to yourself, “Just what the hell are the rules in the NFL anyway?” Don’t worry, so does literally everyone! In fact, if you can show me a single person outside of a player, coach or ref who has a solid grasp on all the rules, I’ll wire you a million dollars in Monopoly money on the spot. So if you’re here because you want to understand what’s happening in any given scenario, you should leave now and read a good book instead. We’re only going to be covering what’s in the scope of normal human comprehension: the specific rule changes that the league has implemented for the 2018 season. A Catch is a Catch Perhaps no rule has drawn more ire over recent years than the NFL’s muddy definition of what constitutes a catch. Ask somebody who doesn’t follow the sport and they would likely give you a pretty straightforward answer: it’s when an offensive player receives and controls the ball. Simple, right? Not so fast, bucko! In the past, if the ball showed any movement after it or the player hit the ground — even if the ball was still ensconced in the player’s hands — it was ruled an incompletion. No longer, as the league office simplified the catch qualifications to no longer include “control through the ground.” Receivers will still have to get both their feet or another body part inbounds, and make or be able to make a “football move” such as a step or a controlled reach. No Headhunting In its continued effort to prioritize safety in a league where 300-pound superhumans violently collide with one another, the NFL instituted a policy banning the use of hel-
Justin Guglielmetti Editor-in-Chief mets when initiating contact with another player. Helmet-to-helmet hits were already outlawed, but the ban now includes lowering one’s head towards any part of an opponent’s body, with the exception of when one is bracing for impact initiated by the opponent. Players may be ejected for violating the Use of Helmet rule. Kickoff Modifications So no rule changes are truly irrelevant, but … these pretty much are. At least, they won’t be particularly noticeable from a viewer’s perspective. Kickoff formation rules have been amended to mandate that five players start on each side of the ball, with at least two each outside the numbers and between the numbers and the hash. Only three members of the receiving team may remain outside of the 15-yard “setup zone” prior to kickoff. No player can block within 15 yards of the restraining line until the kick has been touched or hit the ground. The ball is dead and automatically declared a touchback if it hits the ground in the endzone without first being touched by a member of the receiving team. And finally, wedge blocks, which are defined as “two or more players intentionally aligning shoulder-to-shoulder within two yards of each other, and who move forward together in an attempt to block for the runner,” have been banned. Batting is for Baseball On a loose ball, a player can no longer punch or bat the ball toward his opponent’s goal line. If the ball is loose in the end zone, it is illegal for a player on either team to hit the ball in any direction. In addition, players are no longer allowed to bat a backwards pass in flight toward their opponent’s goal line, because that was totally something that happened often enough to merit a change in the rules.
photos by Tristan Peterson
The Collegian: 6
Sports
24 September 2018
Conference-by-conference college football preview
Soccer journalists Chris Lierly and Andrew Noland join real football journalist Lindsey Prather to make their predictions three games into the season. SEC: Andrew: *Cue the slow clap* The SEC managed to make it out of the second-weakest overall non-conference schedule mostly intact; even Missouri has narrowly emerged undefeated with a terrible game against Purdue. While they croon on about how wonderful they are, Alabama only confronts two challenges in Auburn and LSU. If they win either of two those games, they’re guaranteed to make the playoff, regardless whether they find themselves in Atlanta at the end of the season. Georgia, led by quarterback Jake Fromm, avoids the Tide entirely but faces the same two challenges as their rivals from Tuscaloosa. The real crux of this conference hinges on whether LSU’s Joe Burrow is the answer for the Tigers’ perennial quarterback issues. If LSU can knock Alabama or the Bulldogs off, it might rise as the SEC West’s representative in the conference championship game. Conference Championship Game: Alabama vs. Georgia Winner: Alabama Overall Assessment: Overhyped, but this is all the South has going for it. Lindsey: There are three inevitabilities in life: death, taxes and Alabama being in the playoffs. We’re seeing the same old song and dance with the upper-level SEC as seen in previous seasons: mediocre to poor out-of-conference scheduling, yet exceptionally high rankings throughout the early weeks of the season. These rankings will continue to work to their advantage as the season marches on. Barring some spontaneous change of heart from the playoff committee or a three-loss season, Alabama will be in the playoffs. Georgia is favorably positioned to easily end up alongside them, omitting the possibility of a complete meltdown during in-conference play. However, I want to give some credit to the SEC for their non-Alabama/Georgia teams. Kentucky is undefeated in college football, which instinctively feels like a lie as I’m writing this, even though I know it’s true. Mississippi State and LSU are also undefeated, with Vanderbilt and Ole Miss looking promising as well. My disdain of the SEC does not extend beyond the top two teams, primarily because I know that being in a conference with Alabama must feel bad. However, the honeymoon phase for the nonAlabama SEC teams will end soon, kicking off yet another average year for this topheavy division. Conference Championship Game: Alabama vs. LSU Winner: Nick Saban Overall Assessment: I know that Alabama and LSU are both in the SEC West. But Nick Saban always gets his revenge … one way or another. Big 12: Andrew: If you listen closely to the wind, you can just make out a Norman sports radio show spewing some rendition of “Y’all, we’re being robbed every season.” Yeah, well, that’s because the Sooners haven’t been to a championship game since Florida’s defense spanked Heisman Trophy winner Sam Bradford’s high-powered offense. All kidding aside, the Sooners, despite their inadvertently weak non-conference schedule, look even more formidable from their flag-planting days of last season behind the dual-threat quarterback in Kyler Murray and a somehow limitless supply of decent running backs. Their two potential obstacles are the great equalizing game of the Red River Rivalry and a potentially decent Oklahoma State team. No one can honestly attest to the Stillwater team’s strength based on that horrible slate of non-conference games that can only be described as an extended preseason; that fact could hinder the Cowboys’ chance in the playoff, even if they find themselves standing over the wreckage of the Sooner Schooner at the end of the season. To round up the rest of the contenders, TCU might prove a decent foe to any team’s hopes for hegemony and whatever Bill Snyder feeds his players at Kansas State always seems to make the team a worthy adversary for anyone. West Virginia is the not-sosleeper/sleeper team. Will Grier looks like the Heisman frontrunner and OU must fear Morgantown. As usual, Texas is terrible.
Chris: If last year was the year of Baker Mayfield in the Big 12, than this year will be the year of Oklahoma. West Virginia fans have already begun to parade Will Grier around as a Heisman contender, which is laughable at best. If the Heisman returns to the Big 12 it will remain in the hands of a Sooner quarterback. Kyler Murray is already putting up Bakeresque numbers and that will only improve as the season progresses. As for other contenders in the conference, Oklahoma State looks like the most legitimate. Justice Hill is a force, and though the Cowboys will be reeling from losing Rudolph and Washington, their new star running back will likely speed by most Big 12 defenses. West Virginia, despite be-
Bryce love. Love has one last shot at the Playoff and a Heisman trophy, and that could be a big motivator (it was for the last Heisman winner). If Love can pull an incredible season out of the bag, and if Stanford can survive the late night madness that always happens in the PAC-12, than the Cardinal might just have a shot. Conference Championship Game: Stanford vs. USC Winner: Stanford Overall Assessment: The PAC-12 still has a long way to go to gain some respect. Additionally, the PAC-12 North is in a much better position than their Southern counterparts. Following some mediocre out-ofconference play for a majority of the con-
“...there are three inevitabilities in life: death, taxes and Alabama being in the playoffs.” ing perennially overhyped, stand the best chance to upset the Sooners, since their ability to go from below mediocre on the road to respectable at home is phenomenal. TCU is a wild card. They could make it all the way to Cowboys’ stadium in November, or they could be done before October is over. Conference Championship Game: Oklahoma vs. Oklahoma State Winner: University of Oklahoma Overall Assessment: Might rise to the occasion, but the nation’s recurrent underperformers will still find a way to whine about their placement at the end of the season. PAC-12: Lindsey: The PAC-12 could be worse. This early in the season, it’s difficult to tell whether any of these teams are the real deal. They currently boast two undefeated teams. However, that number will drop following the showdown between Bryce Love’s top-10 Stanford team and Oregon, a team that has a lot to prove during their in-conference play. Throughout the last three games, the Ducks’ defense has only allowed around 77 yards per game, among the best in the country. However, all eyes will be on Bryce Love’s return following his absence during last week’s game against UC Davis. Love’s performance puts his fading Heisman trophy hopes on the line, as well as his team’s shot at the PAC-12 championship game. The PAC-12 After Dark made a comeback September 21 as USC upset an undefeated Washington State, 39-36. This continues the infamous reign of chaos over PAC-12 night games. Washington State’s usually solid defense checked out during the second half, allowing for USC to overcome a 13-point deficit to gain a three-point lead. Following an exciting 4th quarter (complete with a controversial targeting no-call), the Trojans were able to kick the game winning field goal, allowing the Cougars to fall victim to the gods of football chaos. Chris: PAC-12 football tends to follow a cycle. A few teams get hyped up early in the year, a few star players get put on a shortlist for the Heisman trophy, and then it all falls apart. This year Stanford, Oregon and Washington all look like legitimate contenders to win the PAC-12, but that’s not the point. Every year one of those teams, or
ference, Oregon, Stanford and Washington have the most potential to make a splash as the season continues — provided they don’t cannibalize themselves and end up with several teams sharing the same abysmal inconference schedule. Big Ten: Andrew: This conference, both on and off the field, looks like a catastrophe. With the Big Ten East at least settling into shape, it appears that the September 29 clash between Ohio State and Penn State will probably determine the winner of the entire conference. Will Trace McSorley carry his team into the playoff or will Urban Meyer return just in time to win games and pretend his coaches aren’t committing crimes against humanity? On the other hand, the Big Ten West looks remarkably worse than last season; Wisconsin decided to choke against BYU and found out that they were pretenders about ten weeks earlier than usual. The two Michigan schools will stand as stalwart threats to either the Nittany Lions or Buckeyes’ chances at the national championship; they might even prove themselves to be contenders if they can rally by the end of the season to ritually sacrifice whichever West team unfortunately finds itself at the conference championship game. Conference Championship Game: Penn State vs. Wisconsin Winner: Penn State Overall Assessment: Out of the chaos will emerge two universal truths. The first is that whoever the champion is, the team will be a terrifying opponent for anyone in the playoff. The second is that while Urban Meyer can cover up his responsibility, he can’t say the same about his stupidity. Lindsey: The Big Ten West was rocked by Wisconsin’s loss to BYU, leaving the fate of this division unclear for the moment. Now, their seemingly unshakeable favorite for the Big Ten Championship is looking vulnerable. Will this loss be a watershed moment for Wisconsin? We’ll see. They could potentially bounce back, but the next two games will be crucial in their recovery and potential playoff run. However, they will still make the championship game, despite sharing the division with the football powerhouse that is Iowa.
“...Oregon, Stanford and Washington have the most potential to make a splash as the season continues...” the real disappointment, USC, get put much higher in preseason polls than they should. That inevitably results in midseason madness where none of them look to have control over their division. Then the two teams in the conference championship play to see which team from the West Coast ends up playing in the Rose Bowl instead of the College Football Playoff. This dismal cycle has made the PAC-12 the laughing stock of college football, but that could change this year. Stanford is led by returning Heisman finalist, running back
The Big Ten East has to go through some hard knocks before a clear winner will emerge. Urban Meyer’s return will be a pivotal moment; they’ve survived without him, but will they flourish with his return? I agree with Andrew that the deciding moment for this conference will be the September 29 game between Ohio State and Penn State. If Jim Harbaugh is successful with his dark magic rituals, Michigan could potentially play spoiler. Conference Championship Game: Penn State vs. Wisconsin
Winner: Penn State Overall Assessment: I don’t think that the Urban Meyer situation is over. Coaching turbulence and a loaded Penn State team leads to some less-than-ideal conditions for the Buckeyes. Wisconsin is still the best team in their division, and therefore will most likely have a showing in the championship game. However, Penn State can easily have this conference in the bag with a little work and some favorable winds. ACC: Chris: Here we are: the ACC. The conference made up of programs too good for the now defunct Big East, but not quite courageous enough to join a conference where they would play Alabama on a yearly basis. The Atlantic Coast Conference has two divisions, Atlantic and Coastal (the pinnacle of creativity), and both divisions look similar. Both have two contenders. The Atlantic has Clemson and Boston College, and the the Coastal has Virginia Tech and Miami. However, that’s where the comparisons end. The Tigers will have little trouble making it to the conference championship since Boston College is the only ranked opponent on their schedule. Virginia Tech on the other hand has to play a Miami team that, despite being overhyped the last few years, has a defense that will cause the Hokies staff trouble. In a way, the ACC looks like the Big 12. Both conferences have one team that, barring a catastrophe, will make it to the conference championship, three or four teams that all have a chance to challenge that top team, and one big program that looks to disappoint yet again. On the coast that team is Florida State. The Seminoles looked like they could be decent before the season started, but thrashings from Syracuse and Virginia Tech have ended that. Conference Championship Game: Clemson vs. Virginia Tech Winner: Clemson Overall assessment: A team not named Clemson could rise up this year and make a run at the dominance that the Tigers have had in recent seasons. A team not in the top four of the conference, like North Carolina State, could make it into the top five or replace one of the weaker teams entirely. However, these are all possibilities. The reality is that Clemson will dominate the ACC on their way making it into, but not winning, the College Football Playoff yet again. Andrew: The ACC should not even be associated with any one of the other conferences; however, for posterity’s sake, I’ll expound the virtues of Clemson while pretending to entertain that any other team can compete for the championship. Clemson is rolling, but probably should have lost about to Texas A&M that was in turn just crushed by Alabama. That being said, freshman quarterback Trevor Lawrence has asserted himself as the anchor of the explosive Clemson offense. The young Clemson defense did not struggle against the triple option threat of the Yellow Jackets (a fact that the Big 12 frontrunner can not claim for itself) and should march its way to the conference championship and the playoffs with no issues. As for the rest of the conference, the other teams are collapsing early on in the season in humiliating fashion. Traditional contender Florida State looks mediocre at best and the preseason dark horse candidate Miami was blown out by LSU in the first week of the season. My pick to emerge as the Coastal division winner, Duke, is facing a quarterback conundrum combined with a series of devastating injuries. Even if they successfully pull off a miracle against Dabo Swinney’s Tigers in November away from Durham, they’ll play them again two weeks later. Despite my high school freshman history teacher’s ravings, lightning doesn’t strike the same crazy Southerner twice; Dabo’s Clemson will emerge the conference champion in December. Conference Championship Game: Clemson vs. Duke Winner: Clemson Overall Assessment: No one really wins when Dabo Swinney is in charge.
graphic by Conner Maggio
Sports
24 September 2018
The Collegian: 7
Champions League round-up
With Brennen Gray as the Feature Creature.
Student writer Andrew Noland discusses the highlights of the first round of Champions League play. We were welcomed back to the highest level of competition in the world with a slew of fantastic games and startling upsets. Let’s dive into the notable ones headfirst. Juventus 2 Valencia 0 Yikes Ronaldo; what was that red card? While Juve coach Massimiliano Allegri complained that VAR would have overturned the ref’s call, there was no excuse for CR7 shoving a man’s head. With a likely one match ban, Ronaldo can easily
Daniel Sturridge (yeah, I typed that correctly) and a penalty from James Milner six minutes later, things looked all Liverpool. However, Meunier delivered a brilliant strike right before the half and, after a long stretch of Red dominance, Kylian Mbappe drew even. It looked to be that both teams would walk away from their clash with a point, but the blinded Bobby Firmino scored a magnificent goal in the last seconds of the match. Regardless of the scoreline, and
“Tottenham found themselves on the back foot before losing all hope in the dying minutes...” sit out as Juventus have more than enough talent to crush Young Boys. In terms of the frankly boring game, the Zebras put away Valencia with two easy penalties from Pjanic right before and after the half. Man City 1 Olympique Lyonnais 2 I can’t believe that scoreline either. For the entire first half, Lyon dominated the Citizens, beginning with a brilliant mopup goal from Maxwell Cornet. But Nabil Fekir’s scintillating strike from about 30 yards out, between three defenders and just past Ederson’s outstretched arms sealed the game. Despite Silva’s goal in the 66th minute to at least make it the match look competitive, Man City left their own stadium wondering what their identity is without Kevin De Bruyne. Just a nudge in the right direction: start Leroy Sane. Inter Milan 2 Tottenham 1 Things looked better for Tottenham after a complete domination from Liverpool, as three days later they found themselves up on the Nerazzurri until the 85th minute. However, wiith a remarkable volley from Inter striker Icardi, Tottenham found themselves on the back foot before losing all hope in the dying minutes with a goal from Milanese midfielder Vecino. Tottenham return to London asking themselves whether they can play with the big boys of Europe, and Inter will continue to lose to baffle us by losing to terrible Italian teams. Liverpool vs Paris San Germain In 2018, Anfield has proven itself as the battlefield where the soccer gods go to die, and Klopp’s team proved that true once again on Tuesday. With a header from
PSG manager Thomas Tuchel’s attempts to brush-off the loss, Liverpool looked like the better team. PSG, against worthy competition, has again been exposed, and superstar winger Neymar, when Paris needed him most, was nowhere to be found once. Paris needs to rally for their rematch at Parc des Princes, which will still likely determine the fate of the group. Real Madrid 3 Roma 0 At the Santiago Bernabeu, Real Madrid crushed the Italian side starting with Isco delivering a deft strike off a free kick in the 45th minute. Bale, after several close shots, finally finished twenty minutes after the half and Mariano cleaned up the match with a shot in the 91st minute. Real Madrid, compared to this time last year, somehow look even better with the Welsh right winger playing like the superstar he was bought to be. Roma, on the other hand, didn’t even look like they were there to play soccer but flop around and whine. Los Blancos confirmed that can still rest easy in this group, but Roma need to shape up, because they don’t look better than anyone in any league. Other Games: Barcelona 4 PSV Eindhoven 0 Crvena Zvezda 0 Napoli 0 Monaco 1 Atletico Madrid 2 Club Brugge 0 Dortmund 1 FC Schalke 1 FC Porto 1 Galatasaray 3 Lokomotiv Moscow 0 Shakhtar Donetsk 2 Hoffenheim 2 Ajax 3 AEK Athens 0 Benfica 0 Bayern Munich 3 Young Boys 0 Manchester United 3 Viktoria Plzen 2 CSKA Moscow 2
I’m with Vontae Hot topic of the week: is Vontae Davis a li’l bitch? The two-time Pro Bowl cornerback shocked the sports world when he abruptly retired during halftime of the Buffalo Bills’ loss to the Los Angeles Chargers. Davis said that he was simply “done,” and he described a sudden realization near the end of the first half that he didn’t “belong on that field anymore.” His actions drew the ire of his teammates, some of whom went so far as to call him “disrespectful” and a “quitter.” And as you might expect, Davis has largely been ripped to shreds by the sports media, who have painted him as a total flake for the move. Well, some of the sports media anyway. We at Bleacher Creature Unlimited (copyright pending) totally support Davis in his bizarre retirement. Look, I know he probably doesn’t need the support of what’s been called “the most
sit atop the WAR leaderboard by substantial margins. The only problem is that they play for sub-.500 teams, while two far less accomplished position players (Javy Baez and Christian Yelich) are getting a lot of press for starring for contenders. Who will come out on top? In the end, it might not be so much a battle between players as it is between the new school and the old. Speaking of which, here’s the youngin.’ Honest Mascots I do not understand why professional sports only sometimes have mascots that relate to their cities. In fairness, this is often because franchises move (take this time to google why in the world Salt Lake City has a Jazzthemed team with Mardi Gras colors). But other times, why not the Las Vegas Casinos or the Detroit Eminems? Before the Great LeBron James journeyed to L.A., I would have advocated for renaming the Cleveland
“I will never begrudge anybody who decides that they no longer want to put their life at risk...” influential voice in athletics” to feel good about his decision, not when he still has millions of dollars, his youth and a family to fall back on, but somebody needs to be the voice of reason here. Could he have handled the situation better? Absolutely. But playing in the NFL is a totally voluntary endeavor, and one that seems increasingly foolish the more we learn about its devastating effects on physical and mental health. I will never begrudge anybody who decides that they no longer want to put their life at risk, and we as a culture really shouldn’t either. Because, you know, these are human beings that we cheer for when we watch football, not video game avatars. So in conclusion, if you’ve found yourself lying on the couch in a pool of your own sweat and crumbs while complaining about a person deciding to place greater importance on their well-being than being a part of a sport they no longer seem to enjoy, consider that you may be the li’l bitch. Get Off My Lawn Before I hand the ball over to my trusty confidante Brennen, I’d like to offer my take on the crowded MVP races in baseball. No,
football franchise the Cleveland LeBrowns. That way they would have won a game. And the Golden State Warriors? Have you ever scene a Warrior themed anything on their merch? Nope. I say we rename them the Golden State Warios after the yellowclad evil capitalistic greed monsters they are. I understand that sometimes names lose relevance; the Oakland Athletics were dominant in the early ‘70s but they haven’t won a World Series since eight years before I was born. But not a single player in Brooklyn has ever been able to put anything into a net. Charlotte Hornets? No, seriously, I was not asking why they are called that — I was asking who they are. Is there an NBA team in Charlotte, or do they play in the Forgotten Realms with the Jacksonville Jaguars and the Florida Panthers? Refs on Acid Former Juve boss Lippi allegedly claimed that the ref who slapped Ronaldo with a red card was having a hallucination. My first thought was of the ridiculousness of such a thing. Why on earth would a referee be hallucinating? And second, that is an odd-
“... two starting pitchers sit atop the WAR leaderboard by substantial margins...” I’m not going to make my picks just yet, for a couple reasons. One, they are so freaking close that the last week of play could actually make a significant difference. And two, I might write a thicc article on this later in the year. So what’s my point? That this year could be a referendum on the modernity of baseball writers. We have a player who might become the fourth player ever to win the MLB triple crown (J.D. Martinez), and yet due to his lack of defense playing DH, lead-footed defense, and relatively less impressive offensive statistics, he shouldn’t even be the forerunner for MVP on his own team. Meanwhile, in the NL, two starting pitchers
graphic by Conner Maggio
Kevin De Bruyne stares down Mo Salah.
15
M Soccer @ SMU 7 p.m.
Monday
Volleyball vs Memphis 7 p.m.
Tuesday 24
ly specific hallucination to have. But then again, why not? What if we put every single ref on drugs? Some weed to get the blood flowing, some shrooms for get the ball rolling, acid for the main course and peyote for desert! Imagine the calls! Messi would get a blue card for floating too far above the purple kraken devouring most of the planet mars. Ronaldo’s ego would be the size of a soccer ball, and the soccer ball could be as large as the stadium. The possibilities are endless. It’s not like fans ever loved the referees anyway. We might as well make their bad calls entertaining to drive the TV ratings up. Yay, drugs!
Sept. 24 - Sept. 30 Wednesday
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Thursday 27
Saturday
Friday
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Sunday 30
Rowing @ OKC TBA M Soccer @ Denver 8 p.m.
No Events
Volleyball vs. North Texas 5:30 p.m.
No Events
Cross Country @ Lady Nuttycombe Invitational 11 a.m.
Volleyball vs. WSU 6 p.m. M Soccer @ USF 6 p.m.
Rowing @ OKC TBA
The Collegian: 8
Commentary
24 September 2018
OK sign not restricted to white nationalism
Though political internet groups co-opt mainstream symbols, their varying meanings still exist in a larger cultural context. Nathan Hinkle Student Writer With the rise of the internet and the spreading of social media, common symbols have a variety of different meanings due to their use by different groups. Because of this, symbols may gain negative connotations due to the group they are associated with. A modern example of this is the OK gesture. It is now believed to be a white power sign in some circles. The gesture’s stigma has been around since the 2016 election. However, it was brought back into the public spotlight due to the supreme court hearing of Brett Kavanaugh. At the event, Zina Bash, a former clerk for Kavanaugh, was photographed behind Kavanaugh making the now infamous gesture. While Bash argued against this perception, many people came away with the impression that she was signing her support for the white power mantra. The gesture’s negative origin, however, does not stem from its use by white nationalists but rather trolls on the internet,
especially on the website 4chan. Their goal behind the spread of this false information was to weaken the credibility of news organizations and groups who they hoped would look ridiculous coming out against a common gesture. However, while a raciallycharged meaning of a symbol, such as the OK gesture, may be based on nothing, the group falsely involved may become the primary user of the gesture therefore giving it a new nature. An older example of this same phenomenon was the creation of Pepe the Frog by artist Matt Furie. Pepe the Frog originally started in a comic strip known as “Boys’ Club,” in which he and other animal friends lived together. The image of the frog in soon grew in popularity in certain online circles. In an attempt to save the frog from the the perceived popular take-over, the original users of Pepe as a meme began twisting the image into being a proponent of awful issues, such as Holocaust denial and white supremacy. He then was pronounced as a hateful symbol of the Alt-Right by the AntiDefamation League and became the symbol he is known as today. Pepe never started out as a racially-charged picture; it was given a false identity by people online. The OK gesture may follow a similar trajectory. Pepe was soon adopted by members of the Alt-Right who had similar views to the ones shown in the negative Pepe memes. For example, Pepe’s image was used in an Alt-Right children book titled “The Adventures of Pepe and Pede.” It was also used by the Alt-Right conspiracy theorist Alex Jones in a poster he sold on his online store. While Matt Furie has filed copyright claims against both works, it is apparent that the gesture has been co-opted by the group who were falsely assigned its creation.
Symbols or other forms of media are changed and influenced by the user. Images and gestures, such as the OK gesture and Pepe the Frog, are not intentionally racist or ill-meaning, but they may gain that meaning through their use by hate-mongering groups. Therefore, the best answer to the question concerning the meaning behind these types of symbols is to look at the user of the image. It is difficult to determine the thoughts
of each individual by the use of such widesweeping images. Through public experience with such controversies, internet users can learn two important things: before making a judgement, think about the exterior causes of a new image’s rise to fame. Additionally, most images alone are not problematic but rather the intent of the image is the important part.
Like Pepe the Frog, white nationalists attempted to change the meaning of the OK sign.
courtesy Flickr
“Valuable experiences” India hopefully first of many nadon’t replace paychecks tions to legalize homosexuality
Unpaid internships exclude those who cannot afford to work without income and aren’t always valuable in students’ chosen fields. Anna Robinson Student Writer As an Arts and Science College student, finding paid internships is a bit more difficult than it is for students in Engineering or Business, for example. The argument in support of unpaid internships is usually the fact that you gain valuable experiences in your field of work and sometimes class credit. However, the frustration of working for free is not entirely alleviated.
can afford to live without an income for any amount of time are actually able to accept an unpaid internship. Those who need to earn an income to support themselves, or other people, fall behind in the job candidate pool. Employers want to hire people with prior job experience, but those with such qualifications could be limited to people who were able to work without pay. The National Association of Colleges and Employers (NACE) 2013 Student Survey revealed that more college graduates who received jobs had previously been paid interns than those who had been unpaid. Internship compensation clearly follows people well past graduation. I am a media studies major, with minors in international studies and economics. All of these lay in the field of Arts and Sciences. I’ve noticed a trend among my friends and fellow students at TU: those in STEM related majors seemed to have found more success in their search for paid internships. People may say that I should go out and pursue a major in a STEM field. While this is a valid argument, it is not that simple. My experience in STEM fields have shown me that I am not compatible with jobs that STEM students often receive. STEM fields
“Unpaid internships give more power to higher-up employees, rendering interns as expendables.” I have had three unpaid internships. Even though one of these did give me a class credit, I still couldn’t help but worry about both job and salary prospects after graduation. It is hard for employers to make the unpaid intern not feel taken advantage of. Simply put, working for free does not feel good. When speaking to students at UCLA in 2014, Hillary Clinton linked the abundance of unpaid job positions to a weak economy, which is also contributing to the “youth unemployment crisis.” Young people start out their professional careers at a financial disadvantage. In “Intern Nation,” author Ross Perlin states that unpaid internships further add to wealth inequality. Only those who
LETTER
do not come naturally to me. From a young age, my interests have laid elsewhere. I would prefer not to pursue something about which I am not passionate for the sole purpose of receiving a well-paying job. But this is not a pity party for me; this is to make a point that opportunities for paid internships need to be extended to students in more areas of study. Unpaid internships give more power to higher-up employees, rendering interns as expendables. Is it accurate to believe that because my passions and aspirations in life are not in STEM fields, I will not be valued enough or in high enough demand as an employee to receive any form of payment for my labor? Because it sure feels that way.
to the editor
I will miss being at TU more than anyone will ever know. In my mind I didn’t do ANYTHING that egregious to merit this overreaction and I will never back down from that opinion. To all of my TU students—those from the past and those I should have been teaching now—never forget how much I loved mentoring you and how I tried every day to make your lives better. Also, all of you have my contact information and there’s nothing TU can do to keep you from reaching out for help, assistance, jobs, and advice. I will always have your back. -Bill Hinkle
India decriminalizing homosexuality is the beginning of a global progresssion toward LGBTQ acceptance. Nate Gibbons Distribution Manager Many historians claim that India, previous to colonial rule, tolerated LGBTQ people. Gender fluidity and homosexuality were celebrated in mythology, and homosexuals were ignored and could do as they pleased. However, in the mid-nineteenth century, India’s colonial administration established Section 377. Section 377 claims anyone who has sex “against the order of nature” is to be imprisoned for a term of up to 10 years or life.
Many of those pleased with the verdict, however, hesitated to give their names. Reports of blackmail, abuse and death threats against LGBTQ people in India are common. The verdict may have been a step in the right direction, but present-day India is a far cry from being a welcome place for LGBTQ citizens. Indian society is split on the decision. Though many political leaders celebrated the new ruling, others were either silent or outright against it. One warned against a rise in HIV cases. Prime Minister Narendra Modi left the decision to the court and said virtually nothing after the verdict was reached. Activists worry if the ruling will reach most of the country. Many have warned of the rural communities, but Anjali Gopalan is skeptical of urbanites as well. “Even in urban areas, people can be pretty closed about issues, while some people living in rural areas sometimes show a great deal of understanding,” she said in an interview. “It is very difficult to say that the urban mind is more open than the rural.” Despite the progress yet to be made, India is ready to keep going. Many celebrators did not give their name, but some did. Many spoke of how they’d come out to their family anytime between the last decade and the day of the ruling. They spoke of their
“As India continues to progress, other nations can look to it for guidance.” Any possibility of changes to the legislation’s language was dismissed. Thomas Macaulay, the law’s drafter, wrote that “the injury which would be done to the morals of the community by such discussion would far more than compensate for any benefits which might be derived from legislative measures framed with the greatest precision.” When colonial rule ended, the law stayed. In 2000, Anjali Gopalan, who runs a New Delhi HIV-advocacy group, the Naz Foundation, was approached by a terrified young man. He claimed his parents forced him to undergo electroshock therapy in a government hospital because he was homosexual. When Gopalan spoke to India’s National Human Rights Commission, they dismissed the complaint. The man was gay, and therefore a criminal. Amid death threats, Anjali Gopalan and others began to increase pressure on Section 377. After being struck down by a New Delhi high court in 2009 and reinstated by India’s Supreme Court in 2013, the Supreme Court declared the law unconstitutional two weeks ago. Opponents of the law cheered, cried and celebrated in the streets.
hopes for future generations’ equality of rights, even though they may not live to see the results. Decriminalization was just the beginning. The focus now is on antidiscrimination laws and changing society’s perspective. It is still illegal to be homosexual in around 70 countries. Two women were caned in Malaysia two weeks ago in front of a sharia high court for attempting to have sex. Homosexuality is still punishable by death in Saudi Arabia. In all these countries, it will take courage from activists to speak out for gay rights. For nations like India, it is ironic that the West now stands as having the best models for gay rights in the world. However, India’s transformation opens new paths. Activists need not look westward for inspiration. As India continues to progress, other nations can look to it for guidance. In India, Justice Malhotra said, “History owes an apology to the members of this community and their families.” With enough time and effort, the same will be said for all these nations’ communities.
24 September 2018
Commentary
The Collegian: 9
Gathering Place a nuisance to neighbors
While visiting the city’s newest attraction, be aware of how the Gathering Place negatively impacts its bordering neighborhoods. Lizzy Young Student Writer Tulsa’s newest attraction the Gathering Place officially opened to the public on Sept. 9. This 100-acre park, which cost over $400 million to build, has attracted many Oklahomans since its grand opening. I have visited a couple of times, and I can say with confidence that it is a great space for events for the Tulsa community, as well as a unique place to attract visitors to Tulsa. However, with Tulsans raving about the park, it is easy to forget about the plight of the people who live nearby. Neighbors of the Gathering Place live in the historic Maple Ridge neighborhood. I am sure when the residents bought these homes, they did not think they were signing up for years of noisy construction, followed by hundreds of people showing up in their backyard.
ering Place in your backyard, that would be so cool!” I agree those points have some merit, but I would ask you to put yourself in their shoes. If you lived near the Gathering Place, how would you like the significant increase in traffic? These residents cannot drive down their street or get in their driveway because of visitors parking their cars on their street instead of in designated parking lots. There is also the issue of noise. How would you like to be doing homework or going to sleep with the sounds of a concert and hundreds of people enjoying said concert just a few feet away from your bedroom? These issues are things those neighbors have to deal with every day: noise, privacy and traffic. If I were one of those homeowners, I would definitely consider moving. It is true the city of Tulsa and the leadership of the park have been proactive in trying to make this transition as easy as possible for these residents. The city is putting up No Parking signs on a side of the street in the neighborhood. Shuttles and outside parking lots have also been designated to deal with the large influx of people. The Gathering Place also closes at 10 p.m. as a courtesy to minimize noise for neighbors. The Tulsa World reported that the residents immediately bordering the park have the director of the park’s cell phone number. Clearly, there is cooperation between the park and the homeowners, but there are some things they cannot minimize. Not all of these efforts will stem the tide of people who are increasingly using the neighborhood without thinking of the effects on the people who actually live there.
“...Tulsans raving about the park [may find it] easy to forget about the plight of the people who live nearby.” Specifically, I am talking about the people whose backyards are in the Gathering Place. Now, I am sure some of you are thinking, “But the park raises the property values of those homes,” or “Imagine having the Gath-
The Gathering Place is a great opportunity for Tulsans. I encourage you all to visit. However, when you go, remember the neighbors. Try to be courteous and sympathize with the difficulties of having a tourist attraction in your backyard.
The park borders the historic Maple Ridge neighborhood.
photo by Lizzy Young
Elon Musk prioritizes business, not politics The CEO epitomizes the American people’s desire for public figures to be perfect, both politically and personally. Andrew Noland Student Writer Over the summer, entrepreneur and investor Elon Musk has captured the attention of Wall Street for less than enviable reasons. The renowned and undeniably brilliant CEO of three successful companies in SpaceX, Tesla and The Boring Company made headlines during the Tham Luang cave rescue by declaring he could assist the diver teams by providing a six-foot long mini-submarine to transport some of the more debilitated children. While appreciative, the divers successfully extracted the boys without the use of the Tesla-designed apparatus, and one of the divers proceeded to criticize Musk’s design and self-insertion into the harrowing saga.
Musk took to the Twitterverse to berate the diver and throw in an unsubstantiated moniker of “pedo.” The enormous backlash to the claim forced the Tesla CEO to apologize and admit that he let his anger cloud his judgment. That should have been the end to the story. However, due to further tweets aimed at Musk, the billionaire fired back and not only discarded his apology but proceeded to double-down on his claim that the diver was a “child rapist.” He also provided a less than cryptic tweet about potentially privatizing Tesla, sparking debate, a libel suit and even legal inquiry into his company. Every major media outlet exploded, each parroting how Tesla’s stock plummeted, and calls for Musk’s resignation rung throughout the financial world. Finally, in an attempt to rehabilitate his image, Musk appeared in a two-and-a-halfhour podcast conversation with Joe Rogan. At about the two-hour mark, Musk took a single puff of a mixed tobacco-marijuana joint which sparked further controversy in the Twittersphere.
courtesy Wikimedia As CEO of Tesla, Musk’s public and private actions garner a significant amount of media attention.
I couldn’t care less if Elon Musk, after drinking whiskey for about two hours, takes a single or any number of hits of marijuana. The issues that underlies all of this does not pertain to Elon Musk’s behavior; while reprehensible, it reveals a much larger issue as to how America interprets and evaluates business leaders.
at their perfect end. The perfect political end in a liberal democratic state is a perpetual debate and deliberation over the common good. While government will never be perfect, it seeks a spot for every willing participant in the political arena to raise concerns and bring forward new ideas. A business’ complete victory occurs when it stands as
“In the age of a superhero culture, we seem to be looking at Elon Musk as Tony Stark...” Elon Musk is only a case-study in a larger issue by which America seems to find itself enraptured. Musk, despite Joe Rogan’s repulsively sycophantic interview, is a human being. An extraordinarily intelligent one, but still a flawed man who makes abhorrent claims without justification against those that dare to criticize him. The problem with Elon Musk is not actually him; he is nothing more than a symptom of a larger conundrum on how we judge character in a world where the richest one percent of the population controls about 39 percent of its wealth. In a neoliberal America, Musk is the ideal leader. Armed with a knack for business, an unmatched intellect and an economically deregulated America for his genius inventions to flourish, he took the world by storm. His ideas for an environmentally clean America and a space-faring humanity appear to be the epitome of virtuous capitalism, allowing even vehement detractors of unregulated business to rally behind his image. While that image is admirable, we have to be reminded that it will always be subservient to Musk’s profit margin. We are fortunate that Musk’s ideas are progressive and might even be necessary for the survival of humanity, but for every Elon Musk there are about two Koch brothers. I share Musk’s vision for a benevolent and progressive humanity that reaches for the stars instead of our back pockets, but worship of Elon Musk leaves us vulnerable when our heroes fail us. Elon Musk, contrary to Joe Rogan’s flattery, is no superhero. The last two years of a supposedly successful CEO leading the country should have demonstrated to Americans that success in business is not equivalent to triumph in politics. However, I find myself scratching my head when I read a Wall Street Journal article only condemning Musk’s behavior as a disservice to his company and should be fired; if he claims to seek the betterment of humanity, he should be judged for that too. At the heart of this dilemma appears to be a confusion between the economic and the political. We have to imagine both scenarios
the sole winner of the market competition. Tesla would be the only car company in the world and could set whatever prices it wanted on any vehicle it produced. There is no egalitarian notion here; there is no justice nor fairness because there is not supposed to be. This is how businesses should operate. They should seek the maximization of their bottom line and generate as much profit as they can to satisfy their stockholders. The Wall Street Journal and The New York Times imagine Elon Musk as a moral figure, but they forget his obligation is solely to his shareholders. He should not be beholden to our standards of decent behavior because business leaders are not meant to be our heroes. He should be judged on his ability to challenge the market and succeed, not his tweets. Therefore, our problem is fixated on a confusion of leadership, and I want to argue that we are judging Musk on standards of political leadership rather than economic ones. In a democracy, political leadership seeks the common good and is inherently collaborative. Which one of these has matched with any corporate tenet that you have ever seen? None, and they honestly shouldn’t line up. The concerted political power should check the self-interested nature of the economic. This is how it was intended to be, and we seem to have lost this balance. We judge Musk on the wrong standards because we are part of the problem. In the age of a superhero culture, we seem to be looking at Elon Musk as Tony Stark, using his technology and intellect to save us from ourselves. In reality, as a friend of mine claimed, Elon Musk is a fusion of “a neckbeard and a Chad.” We don’t need Iron Man or Superman to save us; we certainly don’t need a petulant CEO with a flawed conception of our justice system and a misunderstanding of #BlackLivesMatter to fix all our problems. We need to suit up, fly over to our nearest political battlefield and take part together in blasting away our problems.
The Collegian:10
Variety
24 September 2018
“Parks & Recreation:” friend- “The Office” style of comedy lier humor, female characters superior to “Parks & Rec” While “The Office” relies on cringe comedy for its laughs, “Parks & Rec’s” sense of humor is far more affable. Lizzy Young Student Writer One of the greatest debates of the 20th century is which television comedy is better: “Parks and Recreation” or “The Office.” Both of these comedies are the brainchild of Greg Daniels and Michael Shur, filmed in mockumentary style and feature stellar actors. But “Parks and Rec” is obviously better. Lasting six seasons, “Parks and Rec” brought us so much to love. Leslie Knope’s passionate love of government, Ron’s hatred of everything but good alcohol and meat, and Chris Pratt before he became Star Lord as the loveable Andy. “Parks and Rec” uses the cast getting into crazy shenanigans for humor as well as slapstick comedy. This kind of comedy always guarantees laughs. I mean, watching Ron and Leslie slap Councilman Jamm silly to “de-Tammify” him will never not be funny. On the other hand, “The Office’s” main source of comedy is awkward humor. There are lots of cringeworthy moments. I do not think I can watch an episode of “The Office” without cringing at something Michael says or does. Michael’s whole sense of humor is making fun of people for laughs “Parks and Rec” makes fun of people for comedic purposes, but everybody is the butt of the joke instead of singling out certain people (Jerry being the obvious exception). Even April, who begins by hating Ann and constantly making fun of her, comes to genuinely care for her as a friend by the end of the series. “Parks and Rec” also has a loveable cast of characters that get equal screen time.
There are so many pairings and relationships, it is hard to keep track. Leslie and Ben, Leslie and Ron, Leslie and Ann, Ann and Chris, Chris and Ben, Andy and April — the list goes on. The same cannot be said for “The Office.” There is the quintessential Jim and Pam relationship as well as Jim and Dwight. However, besides them, there is really not a lot going on. Those were the only two plotlines I cared about when I watched the series and would skip through pretty much everything else. “Parks and Rec” also has strong female characters, led by the ever lovely and hilarious Amy Poehler as Leslie Knope. Leslie Knope is extremely passionate about local government and opinionated. She is genuinely kind to everyone. She cares so much for the people in her life; she is someone I would love to have plan a surprise party for me. Leslie is never afraid to stick to her beliefs and what she believes is right. The development of the female characters in “The Office” is not quite as strong. Pam has a large role, but her main purpose on the show is Jim’s love interest. The other women on the show are not featured or storylines are as important as some of the male characters. “Parks and Rec” has so many good qualities, but the thing that sets it apart from “The Office” is the cast is really a big family who loves each other. All of the characters, including Garry/Jerry/Larry, are part of this family and they would do anything for each other. They show this time and time again. After this article, I am sure you will see reason and realize “Parks and Rec” is so much better than “The Office.” So I give you permission to drop all your homework and extracurricular activities and go right now and “treat yo’ self,” to a “Parks and Rec” marathon.
“The Office’s” brutal realism makes for a more sophisticated sitcom. Emily Every Commentary Editor If you’re anything like me, then you’re no stranger to a perennial discourse over your preferred American workplace mockumentary. “The Office” or “Parks and Recreation”: which is funnier? Which series is more consistent in quality? Which has more rewatch value and is home to the most relatable, sympathetic characters? It’s a question as old as time, and the greatest scholars of our age have yet to come to a consensus. Luckily for you, dear readers, I’m consistently right in objective matters of taste such as these and can put an end to this de-
pass some time in the parking lot following an accidental fire in the kitchen and subsequent building evacuation. Our cast finds themselves playing awkward games of Would You Rather and Truth or Dare. The poorly-worded, hurtful questions and the uncomfortable mingling are lifted straight from real-life, and thus we as an audience revel in the sheer verisimilitude to our small, absurd realities. Comedy based in reality is more effective than comedy based in outlandishness. The relatability of the show’s cast is also relevant to their comedic success. “Parks and Recreation” lacks in the realism of its characters. The writing of the show’s characters bases them around a few central traits, and especially in the first season or two, their interactions don’t feel grounded in re-
“By highlighting the weird and ugly of our daily interactions, the show creates comedy from mundanity.” bate rending our country apart: “The Office” is the superior specimen of televised media. That, however, is not to say that “Parks and Recreation” lacks merit and its own unique qualities. For one, it’s definitely a more optimistic and heartwarming show than “The Office,” but there are greater comedic highs in the writing of “The Office,” and that’s what these mockumentaries are all about. Seasons one through three of “The Office,” I would argue, feature some of the best sitcom comedy writing this decade. The setups and responding jokes are based in the reality of an actual office. By highlighting the weird and ugly of our daily interactions, the show creates comedy from mundanity. Take the aptly-titled season two episode “The Fire,” in which the office is forced to
ality. While the farce can be entertaining, it lacks the sort of substance and audience-investment realistic characters can bring to the table. In contrast, the characters within “The Office” were fully-realized from season one, episode one. Let’s put it this way; have you met Ron Swanson? Maybe you know a sort of facsimile mustached carnivore who, if you squint, sort of kind of reminds you of Ron’s character. But I know that you know a Jim or an Angela. Hell, you know three different Kellys. I know I do. As a veritable media expert, I can say that its realism is what makes “The Office” the more successful of the two shows. Though they are admittedly similar in setting and tone, one holds up a more representative mirror to its audience.
graphic by Conner Maggio
Step Afrika! a lively, informative performance
The renowned step company brought an interactive experience to artists and dancers popular in the United States, Caribbean dance and even military our primarily white university. Avery Childress Student Writer The world’s first dance production company dedicated to stepping, Step Afrika!, performed for the University of Tulsa last Thursday. This high-energy celebration of Black culture at the university was hosted by Student Association and the Association of Black Collegians, and was free for TU students, faculty and staff. Stepping, as we know it, has its origins in the 1900s and was pioneered by Black fraternities and sororities to build community within their organizations. It uses the body as an instrument, with patterns of clapping, footsteps and the spoken word to create captivating and high-energy performances. Stepping is an important mark on the rich cultural history of Black resistance through art and is even inspired by that tradition — one example given during the performance was of the South African gumboot dance, which was created by South African miners during the Apartheid era. The gumboot
drills. This combination is expressive, and Step Afrika! does a fantastic job of showcasing it. According to its website, Step Afrika! is a dance company with a mission — it aims to “promote an appreciation for stepping and its use as an educational, motivational and healthy tool for young people.” Step Afrika! manages many programs to this end for children and adolescents, as well as university visits. For those who attend the performance, Step Afrika! offers a scholarship opportunity for any undergraduate with a 3.0 grade point average or higher who attends a Step Afrika! show. For more information visit www.stepafrika.org/arts-educatio/ scholars-program. As the University of Tulsa is a predominantly white institution, the Association of Black Collegians and the Student Association made a fantastic choice in inviting Step Afrika! to our campus. Though a fair number of students, faculty and community members in the audience were already familiar with stepping, this was an introduc-
“... [student groups] made a fantastic choice in inviting Step Afrika! to our campus.” dance was developed as a sort of morse code, so that miners could communicate with each other despite speaking different languages. The development of stepping has also been influenced by Black hip-hop and R&B
tion to the art form for many other audience members. Encouraging this kind of cultural competency for a predominantly white institution is extremely important, not only for the sake of the white students who may be
image courtesy Step Afrika!
ignorant of stepping, but for the Black students seeking community and solidarity in a place where we are the minority. The performance itself was fun, informative and engaging. From having audience members vote through applause on a miniature step competition to pulling audience members on-stage to learn basic step moves, Step Afrika! did everything it could to involve the audience. Even after the performance, steppers came out to the front
of the Lorton Performance Center to meet audience members individually and talk about the show. I asked Ta’Quez Whitted, one of Step Afrika!’s talented performers, how well he thought the show had gone. He smiled brightly, looked at me and said that “the energy was through the roof” — and I couldn’t give a better summation than that. To find out more about Step Afrika! or stepping in general, visit www.stepafrika. org.
The State-Run Media
24 September 2018
the
State-Run media Thicccccccccccccccccccccccc.
Is Pluto Campo arrests student for phallic object t h i c c enough? TU student 3D prints a mysterious device in Stephenson.
Sara Serrano Already Has Two Guns *Flexes*
Curvy celebrities weigh in on Pluto’s planetary status. Courtney Spivey Child of Thanos Pluto was stripped of its planetary status years ago, a decision established by the ITC (International Thiccness Council). This group of affluent decision-makers includes the controversial Kim Kardashian and Krew, the infamous Buzz Lightyear, and destroyer-of-worlds Thanos. Because of their influence and status, they had banished Pluto from the realm of voluptuosity. The ITC called the smaller ball a ‘dwarf planet’ and took away Pluto’s ability to describe itself as ‘thicc.’ This has caused catastrophic consequences for Pluto. In an age that is cutthroat when it comes to a planet’s booty size, Pluto’s social status has plummeted. For years following ITC’s declaration, it was almost impossible to invite Pluto to any space parties because, as a planet, you’re expected to have some curvature. Now, due to the long overdue revival of body positivity and new methods of scientific inquiry, the topic has been revisited. Just what is thicc? What is a booty? Just how do you know if a planet is secretly hiding theirs under the moonlight, waiting for the right time to (moon)shine? Scientists have taken this opportunity to throw shade, sip tea, snatch wigs and go hard at the subject of thicc-equality. Science advocate Katy Perry in particular argued that all spheres are thicc no matter how many smaller rocks you attract (or don’t), and fashion icon Danny Devito has said that it’s “how thicc you are on the inside” that counts. If Thanos, god of Fortnite, can be thicc, who can’t? These arguments, coupled with Pluto’s unstable status from the past, have sparked a hot debate amongst members of the ITC against the proponents of planet positivity and self-image. Since then, various other spheres have stepped up for reevaluation, including Jupiter’s larger celestial crescents and, surprisingly, our own moon. They argue a compelling point. If Pluto can force itself to become relevant even after a shady slandering from the scientific world, then what you doing? Get out there, make people question you and break the pre-existing notions of your own thiccness.
The cult of the chosen ID during a ritual sacrifice.
A TU student has been arrested on suspicion of attempting to print out a gun using the 3D printer in Stephenson Hall. The incident took place sometime last week in the early hours of the morning. Campo was alerted to the scene by another concerned student, Maggie Zhu, who was also working in the lab. “I was intrigued by the shape of what he was printing, but when I asked him what it was, he got all cagey,” said Zhu. “I thought that was weird, so I took a closer peek when he wasn’t looking a realized that it was a gun! I have never pulled out my phone so fast.”
The student has been identified as Corey Matthews, a junior Mechanical Engineering student. With potential felony charges and expulsion against him, Matthew insists that he wasn’t trying to print a gun. “Okay, look. I can totally see why Maggie thought it was a gun! They kind of look alike, but I swear that’s not what it was!” said Matthews. However, when pressed to reveal what he was actually trying to print, Matthews went quiet. “If he doesn’t fess up, he has no case in his favor,” said Tulsa Police Officer Kayla Tyson. “I don’t understand what could be worse than a gun. Must be something else illegal.” Eventually, in hour four of Matthews’ interrogation by police officials, he finally cracked.
“Fine! It was a dildo! Happy?!” Matthews exploded to the questioners. “I found the CAD [computer-aided design] online, thought I would use the school’s 3D printer. But it was, umm, it was gonna be birthday present for my girlfriend, I swear!” Matthews’ girlfriend could not be reached for comment, or even found for that matter. “What do you mean you couldn’t find her? Jessica Female is totally real!” Matthews responded. “She just goes to another school. In Canada.” For the time being, TU is seeking experts to verify if the half-printed object is in fact a dildo. If you consider yourself knowledgeable in this topic, please contact TU Campus Security as soon as possible to assist in the investigation. And for comparison purposes, bring your own dildo.
graphic by Conner Maggio
Campus Security officers unsure what a dildo is.
Student ID anointed with Holy Number A TU student has come out in protest of what she calls a “cruel joke” against her. Sara Serrano Her ID is 151 — Hey, Wait, No Freshman Renee Lorenz is demanding that TU issue her a new ID number, citing her current one as hindering her professional opportunities in a college setting. “I got my ID number this summer, just like everyone else. I didn’t think much of it besides that it was pretty easy to memorize,” recalls Lorenz. “I was happy, until the first time I tried to use it.” Lorenz recounts handing over her ID to pay for some breakfast at the C-store. “The check-out dude took one look at the number and just burst out into giggles. And I’m just standing there, weirded out and anxious about holding up the line. So I asked him if there was a problem,” said Lorenz.
“He stopped laughing just enough to wheeze out something like, ‘Hehehe … 420 … 69 … noice.’” Witnesses of the event say that Lorenz went red before snatching back her ID and leaving without her items. “Yes, my student ID number is 0420690.” Lorenz admitted, mortified. Since the incident, Lorenz has avoided swiping her card at all costs, not wanting the news of her unfortunate number to spread. But now that she’s run out of cereal in her dorm, she has been forced to speak out. “I contacted Parking and ID Services, asking if I could have my ID number changed, but no one would help me!” Lorenz was allegedly told to appreciate what was given to her and deal with it. Despite her attempts to keep it quiet, the news of her ID number spread quickly throughout campus. Several people have now approached Lorenz, offering to buy her out or trade IDs with her.
“I mean, it’s a good deal!” said Nigel Jacombe, a presidential scholar. “She gets all the food she could ever want, and I get to be a fucking legend.” “My fraternity, Kappa Omicron Kappa, prophesized this moment centuries ago,” said Chad Andrews, chapter president. “And now that the holy ID is finally upon us, we must have it. Renee has no idea of the power she possesses.” Even with the many offers, Lorenz has refused to sell. “No, no! No one should have it!” Lorenz insisted, “It’s rude and offensive and I don’t want it being flashed around TU! If I have to bear it for the greater good of this place, then fine.” Lorenz is now working to get out of her meal plan so she won’t have to pull out her ID as often. Her only worry now is that TU will saddle some freshman next year with 0694200. “No one should have to suffer as I have.”
graphic by Conner Maggio