The Collegian: 2
News
10 September 2018
PowWow: The Gathering at TU rocks Harwell
photos by Conner Maggio
Native Americans don traditional garb in celebration of their heritage.
News
10 September 2018
Media Studies professor Bill Hinkle on TU termination
@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
Nathan 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.
Holes appear around TU amid construction Pipe corrosion over time led to the widespread repair of the hot water pipes around campus. Brooke-Lyne Holland Student Writer Across campus, construction crews are replacing the pipelines that carry the university’s heated water throughout campus due to corroded pipes. Originally, every building on campus had a boiler that provided heated water for the building. However, around the 1920 – 30s, people started building central plants to compensate for new technological advances to distribute hot water around campus. According to Bob Shipley, the Associate Vice President for Operations and Physical Plant, “The pipeline consists of an inner pipe which carries the hot water, and an outer pipe which protects the insulation around the inner pipe to keep the heat from leaking out into the earth.” A large amount of pipeline was put in the eastern half of the campus in the early 1990s, but today much of the outer protective pipe is corroded and needs to be replaced before any further damage can affect the inner pipe.
Many old pieces of the pipe have been replaced since May of this year and will continue over the next few years. The current stage of the project, the holes that can be seen all around Physical Plant, will hopefully be done by the end of October or the first week of November, before the cold weather moves in. Over the next few years, other pieces of the pipe will be replaced.Meanwhile, some buildings on the edge of campus will be taken off of the pipeline that connects to Physical Plant and will have new boilers put in. As Bob Shipley explains, “It will be more cost-effective to put a new boiler back into each building … especially the outer buildings, due to the length of pipe it takes to reach the buildings from the Physical Plant.” So far, boilers have been installed in the Soccer Track and Stadium, Collins Fitness Center, the University School, Hardesty Hall and John Mabee Hall. Shipley advises students to be careful around the construction and courteous of the workers involved with the project. He also advises the students to be cautious around the ditches, especially after rains, because the ground can be unstable and hazardous.
photos by Brooke-Lyne Holland The construction around campus, which interrupts the landscape and walking paths, is set to conclude soon.
The university did not renew Hinkle’s contract at the end of last semester, prompting an early retirement. Justin Guglielmetti Editor-in-Chief For more than two decades, Bill Hinkle was a fixture at the University of Tulsa, teaching popular advertising courses for the Department of Media Studies with a trademark no-nonsense attitude and a provocative, often crass sense of humor. No longer. This past August, just weeks before the beginning of the fall session, the administration declined to renew Hinkle’s contract, severing its relationship with him. “They just told me I was done,” said Hinkle. “Based on something that supposedly happened at the Kappa Delta house seven months before.” Last January, Hinkle was asked by members of the Kappa Delta sorority to give a presentation on public speaking and résumé building during the house’s chapter night. As he was setting up his computer and projector, Hinkle asked one of the women in the room to change the slides for him as he was speaking. He then opted for one of his typical jokes, a phrase familiar to students in his Principles of Advertising class. “I said, laughingly, in jest, ‘In [class], I always refer to people who change the slides as my ‘video bitch.’” According to Hinkle, this comment was met with laughter from the room, although we were unable to substantiate this claim. Lauren Rogers, a TU student and former member of Kappa Delta, recalled that she didn’t consider the moment to be “uncomfortable.” Evidently, an unknown member or members of the house filed a letter of complaint with the school’s administration. Hinkle says that he was unaware that a report had been registered concerning his behavior until August, when he was called into a meeting with Senior Vice Provost Richard Redner and Dr. Kalpana Misra, Dean of the College of Arts and Sciences. At the meeting, Hinkle was purportedly thanked for his time and service to the school before being told of the letter that had been sent from the individual(s) in the Kappa Delta house. Redner then informed him that due to his behavior, his contract would not be given to the provost for approval, leading to his effective termination from the university. It should be noted that all accounts of this meeting and the actions of Drs. Redner and Misra came from Hinkle himself. Sherry Eskew, Executive Director of Human Resources, declined to “comment further on personnel matters.” Hinkle made his thoughts clear on the situation, claiming in a Facebook post that the University’s decision was akin to “a traffic court judge sentence[ing] me to the electric chair for making an illegal lane change.”
He added that he had never received any prior indication from the university that his demeanor and actions were frowned upon, and he denied having ever heard of a complaint being made against him before. “I’ve said a lot worse in class and I’ve heard students say a lot worse in class. I hope nobody gets their feelings hurt. I mean, it was just so black-and-white and cold.” Following his dismissal from TU, Hinkle received support from friends, family and students past and present. In addition to the nearly 200 comments on his Facebook post, Hinkle says that more than 600 people have reached out to him to express their condolences and indignation, sharing many of these records with The Collegian. Rogers, who has known Hinkle since she was a child, described him as a “kind, generous person” and praised his guidance and mentorship as a teacher. When asked whether he had ever made any disparaging comments or made her feel uncomfortable, Rogers firmly denied it, recounting a time when Hinkle had chastised another man’s sexist comment toward her. The Collegian reached out to several active members of Kappa Delta, but none were available for comment. Regarding the future of the advertising program at TU, Hinkle offered a grim prognostication. “There won’t be anybody who will ever take my place who will have the same passion for this that I do …. Nobody has the connections, passion, time, desire, because it’s not on their radar. They’re not thinking, ‘What can we do next?’” The two courses Hinkle was scheduled to teach in the fall, Principles of Advertising and Media Concepts and Strategies, are being taught by Teresa Tackett and Bill Handy respectively. Both have Master’s degrees in Mass Communication from Oklahoma State University as well as professional experience in the field. Dr. Mark Brewin, chair of the Department of Media Studies, indicated “a very high level of confidence in the abilities of Mr. Handy and Ms. Tackett to teach the students in our department.” Dr. Brewin added that his department would continue to offer all courses required for those graduating with majors or minors in advertising, though “a rethinking of the entire curriculum of the Department of Media Studies (formerly Communication) is currently underway.” Hinkle, a graduate of the University of Tulsa, was inducted into its Communications Hall of Fame in 2017. He began teaching at TU in the early 1990s, when he was employed as the executive creative director of a local advertising firm. Finding that grads from his alma mater lacked the “real world” skills necessary to operate in the advertising industry, Hinkle contacted TU to pitch his services. He was hired for the start of the next academic term and planned to retire at the end of the Spring 2019 semester, which would have been his 25th year at the school.
Correction: The Laureate Institute for Brain Research informed us that the online survey detailed in an article published last week is no longer being used, stating specifically, “We have changed up our recruitment process and are no longer utilizing the online survey... to enroll new students in our study. For those that have already completed, we will definitely honor the incentives offered. However, we actually thought that this link had been deactivated.”
News
The Collegian: 4
10 September 2018
patched to a report of a subject vandalizing property in a John Mabee Hall apartment. Officers searched the surrounding area but were unable to find the suspect. Officers met with the victim and witnesses to gather information. The investigation is ongoing.
Sep. 1 3:25 p.m. University of Tulsa Campus Security Officers working at the football game observed an event staff member trip over a barricade and fall. The event staff member stated that they were not hurt and refused medical care. The event staff member told officers that they did not want a report filed. The event staff member stated that they did not have an ID but did provide officers their name. Sep. 2 1:00 a.m. University of Tulsa Campus Security Officers were dispatched to investigate two individuals climbing onto the roof of the Reynolds Center. Officers made contact with the individuals and were able to determine they were students. Officers were able to get both students down from the roof safely. The students went back to their apartment without further incident. 5:10 p.m. University of Tulsa Campus Security Officers were dispatched to investigate a possible resident in Fisher West vaping in their room. Officers spoke with the Resident Adviser who stated the student has had several warnings about vaping in the dorms. The student was not present at the time of the officer’s arrival. Sep. 3 2:10 a.m. University of Tulsa Campus Security Officers were dis-
2:30 a.m. While on foot patrol University of Tulsa Campus Security Officers heard loud screams from an apartment in the Norman Village Apartment Complex. Officers made contact with the listed resident, who advised they were playing a video game. Officers informed the resident to keep the noise level down, they stated they would do so. 1:25 p.m. While on routine patrol University of Tulsa Campus Security Officers conducted a pedestrian check on an individual in Norman Village. The individual was not affiliated with the University of Tulsa. The individual came back positive for 1 warrant and 1 previous contact. Tulsa Police Department was contacted and arrested the individual for trespassing after forbidden. TPD transported the individual to the David L. Moss Criminal Justice Center. 11:50 p.m. University of Tulsa Campus Security Officers were dispatched to investigate possible drug violation in Fisher West Suites. Upon arrival officers located the source of the odor. Officers questioned the individuals found in the room and they admitted that they had been smoking marijuana. The individuals also admitted to having alcohol in their rooms and produced several bottles. Officers found no other violations after conducting a search. Sep. 4 1:30 p.m. University of Tulsa Campus Security Officers were dispatched to investigate a possible missing golf cart at Zink Hall. Officers spoke with a university staff member who reported the disappearance of a golf cart from the north side of Zink Hall. Staff members attempted to locate the golf cart but were unsuccessful. The golf cart was returned later that day.
Nate Gibbons Distribution Manager
Self-proclaimed “resistance” enrages President Trump Last week, White House officials kept busy distancing themselves from an anonymous New York Times opinion piece in which the writer claimed they and other officials “are working diligently from within to frustrate parts of [Trump’s] agenda and his worst inclinations.” The New York Times claims they know the writer to be a senior official of the Trump administration but chose to protect their identity as his or her job “would be jeopardized by its disclosure.” The writer refers to the “president’s amorality” and says many appointees are trying to thwart the president’s “more misguided impulses until he is out of office.” “We have sunk low with him and allowed our discourse to be stripped of civility,” they warn. President Trump railed against the New York Times and questioned the authenticity of the anonymous writer. “If the GUTLESS anonymous person does indeed exist,” Trump tweeted Wednesday, “the Times must, for National Security purposes, turn him/her over to government at once!” Vice President Mike Pence, Defense Secretary Jim Mattis, National Security Adviser John Bolton and Attorney General Jeff Sessions are among those who have denounced the piece.
Celebration after India legalises gay sex Homosexuality was decriminalized in India last week by the nation’s Supreme Court. The law was originally struck down in 2009 before being reinstated by the Supreme Court in 2013. The Supreme Court agreed to reexamine the law in 2016 after LGBTQ activists argued for its unconstitutionality. Activists say police used the law to harass LGBTQ members and groups. “Why should I have to hide my identity?” a supporter said, adding, “I can’t do anything about it and I am a citizen of this country. People need to understand that we have equal rights.” The country’s main opposition party tweeted their satisfaction with the verdict and their hopes that “this is the beginning of a more equal and inclusive society.” United Nations Secretary General Antonio Guterres similarly praised the decriminalization. “I welcome today’s decision by India’s highest court,” he tweeted last Thursday.
Jim Mattis makes visit to Afghanistan As the Trump administration alludes to restarting peace talks with the Taliban, Defense Secretary Jim Mattis made an unannounced arrival last Friday to Kabul, Afghanistan. Mattis was joined by the Joint Chiefs of Staff chairman, Gen. Joseph F. Dunford, Jr., and the new American commander in Afghanistan, Gen. Austin Scott Miller. A spokesman for Afghanistan’s President Ashraf Ghani said the officials discussed peace negotiations with the president and Abdullah Abdullah, the government’s chief executive. “We have more indications that reconciliation is no longer just a shimmer out there, no longer just a mirage,” Mattis told reporters. “It now has some framework, there’s some open lines of communication.” Though the White House stated in the past that any peace talks would be between the Afghanistan government and Taliban insurgents, the insurgents have labeled the government “a puppet regime” and say they will only speak to American officials. Despite this, the White House assures that any talks will be “Afghan-owned and Afghan-led.”
1:32 p.m. University of Tulsa Campus Security Officers received a phone call from the Tulsa Police stating an unknown individual had contacted them, making threats to harm people at East 5th Street and South Gary Avenue. Officers responded immediately to the scene, but no individual could be located. Tulsa Police were able to locate the source of the phone call, and responded with EMSA to East 14th Street and South Harvard Avenue. A homeless individual who had been agitated and wielding a knife was transported by EMSA from that location. Sep. 5 7:30 a.m. University of Tulsa Campus Security Officers were dispatched to investigate possible individual casing the bicycle racks in Fisher Hall. Officers responded to the area and located the suspect in Mayo Village Apartments attempting to cut the lock on a bicycle in a courtyard. Officers detained the suspect and contacted Tulsa Police. The suspect was arrested by Tulsa Police for attempted petit larceny and the possession of drug paraphernalia. 3:40 p.m. University of Tulsa Campus Security Officers were dispatched to investigate a possible harassing phone calls at Case Athletic Center. Upon arrival Officers spoke with a staff member who reported that they have received several phone calls from an unknown individual. The individual wanted to talk to football coaching staff about being a walkon player. When told the coaches are in meetings, the caller states they will call back. 4:30 p.m. University of Tulsa Campus Security Officers witnessed an individual driving a cart strike a parked cart in the Mabee East Lot causing damage. The individual unloaded athletic equipment and left the scene without reporting the accident. The Collegian does not produce or edit the Campus Crime Watch except for content and brevity.
Tuesday, September 11 at 3:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. Helmerich Hall, HELM 121 Handshake Workshop Hello, business students! Please join the Business Career Center as we unveil the new job website Handshake that has replaced Golden Opportunities on TU’s campus! This workshop will teach you how to navigate the landing page, set up your profile, upload documents (résumé, cover letter, etc.), use the search bar and filters to look for companies, internships and jobs and so much more! Free refreshments provided. RSVP to Handshake or email tawny-crone@utulsa.edu.
Tuesday, September 11 at 7:30 p.m. Lorton Performance Center, Gussman Concert Hall J. Donald Feagin Visiting Artist Valery Kuleshov Russian pianist Valery Kuleshov’s performing art is marked by emotional sincerity, rich colors and brilliant virtuosity that has been compared to the style of Vladimir Horowitz. Kuleshov’s first international success was at the 1987 Ferruccio Busoni International Piano Competition in Italy. In his North American debut at the Ninth Van Cliburn International Piano Competition in 1993, Kuleshov was awarded the Silver Medal. His TU solo recital is free and open to the public. Wednesday, September 12 at 12:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. Reynolds Center Engineering and Technology Career Fair This event is for TU students and alumni seeking a full-time job, internship, co-op or part-time experience in engineering and technology. Wednesday, September 12 at 12:00 p.m. to 2:50 p.m. Lorton Performance Center, Meinig Recital Hall Master Class with J. Donald Feagin Visiting Artist Valery Kuleshov Join a Master Class with Russian pianist Valery Kuleshow. Kuleshov serves as an artist in residence for the College of Fine Arts and Design in the School of Music at the University of Central Oklahoma. He is an Honored Artist of the Russian Federation whose awards include a Gold Medal at the Busoni International Piano Competition (1987), a Silver Medal at the Van Cliburn International Piano Competition (1993) and the first prize at the Pro Piano Competition (1998). Kuleshov regularly tours the world, performing in some of the world’s best concert halls including New York’s Carnegie Hall, the Milan Conservatory in Italy and the Great Halls of the Moscow Conservatory and St. Petersburg Philharmonic. Born in Chelyabinsk, Russia, near what is now Kazakhstan, Kuleshov began playing by ear at age five. By age seven, he had left home to enter the prestigious Central Music School at the Moscow Conservatory. At age nine, he made his concert debut in the Conservatory’s Great Hall. The master class is free and open to the public. Thursday, September 13 at 12:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. Reynolds Center Business Career Fair Held annually, this event is for students and alumni seeking a full-time job, internship, co-op or part-time experience in business. Thursday, September 13 at 7:30 p.m. Lorton Performance Center, Meinig Recital Hall Concerts with Commentary - An Evening Of Silly Music The University of Tulsa School of Music Concerts with Commentary presents pianist Stuart Deaver and baritone/bass Brady McElligott in an evening of “silly music,” including works by Mahler, Daughtery, Mozart, Thomson, Berlioz and McElligott. The Collegian does not produce all event descriptions in the Community Calendar. Contact us at news@tucollegian.org with events.
10 September 2018
Commentary
The Collegian: 5
Small classes encourage Trump presidency not individualized learning affected by outrage
Smaller student-to-teacher ratios offer a better quality of education and are one of the biggest draws for prospective TU students. Justin Guglielmetti Editor-in-Chief As a University Ambassador, I always try to hit on certain points when I’m giving tours to prospective students. I tell them about our roomy and affordable on-campus apartments, successful Division I sports program, the beautiful fitness center that I don’t use nearly enough. And of course, I can’t forget about the small class sizes and that sweet 11:1 student to faculty ratio. Recently, however, I found myself in a debate as to whether small class sizes are actually worthy of all the hype they are given, realizing that I should actually take some time to consider a position that I had always simply
majority, interaction and personal consideration are the keys to retention. In general, if the professor is taking the time to craft their lesson to the individual and gives the students the opportunity to respond and offer their own input, it will lead to a much more favorable scholastic environment. When you have a mere 11 students (or a comparably small number, for you pedants out there), this sort of thing can actually take place. In a massive lecture hall with stadium seating and 600 students, you would have no chance of ever getting to know the professor and no opportunity to ask a question or participate in discussion, lest class take about seven hours. In addition, smaller class sizes allow instructors to spend more time grading and offering critique of each assignment, which should lead to a more thorough understanding of the material for the student. And we haven’t even acknowledged yet the fact that large classes are almost invariably taught by TAs, not the person with the advanced degree who is actually offering the course! Where is the downside? Of course, not every small class is going to lend itself to these advantages. There are certain courses, and we’ve all taken some, where the material is so dry and seemingly meaningless that nobody has any particular interest in paying attention, let alone participating. When you’re going over the MyersBriggs personality test for the fifth time, it
“In a massive lecture hall... you would have no chance of ever getting to know the professor...” accepted as gospel. Well, after much deliberation, the jury has reached a verdict: small classes are a good thing, guilty as charged. Maybe that’s an anticlimactic conclusion, but the truth is often boring. You know what’s not boring though? Class participation. And I’ll bet that if I gave you just one attempt, you could guess whether smaller or larger classes foster more discussion. Everyone learns in different ways, so the following arguments obviously shouldn’t be considered universal. If you are a person who can only absorb information by zoning out and staring at your notes and textbook, then there’s probably not any type of classroom setting that’s ideal for you. But for the rest of us, who I think constitute the vast
can be difficult enough just to drag yourself to class in the morning without also having to pretend that it’s interesting or useful. If we wanted to discuss amending the curriculum to get rid such classes which are seemingly designed to take up space rather than provide a quality education, that would be a conversation for a different day. For now, it’s enough to say that in a more intimate classroom setting, we at least have the opportunity to engage in more interactive learning that would be denied us in a larger space. It’s not a cliche. And for that reason, it seems exceedingly fair for this UA to categorize TU as perhaps the best school in the history of mankind.
Labor Day is a result of decades of union work, but the history of the holdiday goes underappreciated in modern politics.
it is defined as the corporatization of society. Life becomes not about your private place as a citizen, but your ability as a rational market actor. If you do not conform and prove successful in certain economically advantageous sectors, then you supposedly deserve your place in the bottom of society. Neoliberalism changes your meaning as a being full of potential to a kind of economic fixture that can and should be adjusted depending on what the market needs. To return to labor specifically, the rise of unions ended the stranglehold that businesses possessed over the American economy in
Although discourse around Trump’s administration focuses on scandals, his power may only be checked by the midterm elections. Chris Lierly Student Writer November marks the second anniversary of Donald Trump’s election as President of the United States. Since then, he has turned the national news cycle into a “What did Donald do today?” section. I mean, really. For two years, almost every news story that’s grabbed the nation’s attention has been somehow related to the man. Many of those country-consuming news stories have doubled as moments where any other presidency would have been on its deathbed. The list isn’t short: the firing of James Comey, the bombshell of a Lester Holt interview following the Comey firing in which the president claimed that his predecessor wiretapped his campaign, the ousting of too many advisors to count, the Stormy Daniels revelations and most recent the guilty verdict of his campaign manager coming within thirty minutes of his personal lawyer flipping on him. I probably missed half of the big stories, but that’s the point. Trump has had so many moments that could have been the end of his presidency that it feels like there just won’t be one. And maybe there won’t be. The complexity of the whole array of scandals has spawned two somewhat misguided takes on the possibility to an ending of the Trump presidency. They both contain some substance but both lack the political realism that the history of both the Nixon and Clinton presidencies have taught us. Without the ability to control committees in Congress, a scandal barely exists. The first
take says that all of this mess just proves that nothing will bring down the administration before 2020, and maybe not even then. The flipside is the view that every major controversy is going to be the one that gets Trump removed from office. After the New York Times released an Op-Ed authored by an anonymous Trump administration official this week, many are seeing this as the controversy that somehow removes Trump from office. The people voicing that opinion have a reasonable argument. The Op-Ed claims that the cabinet has mentioned using the 25th Amendment to remove the man from office. So who’s right? The people who claim that Trump is here until at least 2020? Or the ones who think that the supposed parent in the room who authored the new article will end up dooming the presidency? Both theories make some good points, but both will eventually prove faulty as predictions of when/if Trump’s presidency ends prematurely. Trump will make it through the Op-Ed episode, but his presidency will not come out on the other end unscathed. Having a high-level staffer claim that they and multiple other ranking members of the administration have actively worked against the president will further hurt Trump’s chances of making a landmark achievement before he has to start campaigning again. Nonetheless, if the Senate confirms Brett Kavanaugh, Trump’s nominee for the Supreme Court seat vacated by Anthony Kennedy, that win could overshadow any other story and provide Trump with momentum heading into the midterms. The 2018 midterms could be the true beginning of the end of the Donald Trump presidency. If Democrats take back control of the House, which looks likely, then they will have control of the House Committees. With this they will regain the ability to subpoena documents and other materials related to the myriad of scandals that Republican committee chairs have balked at looking into. More than any one scandal, that shift in the power dynamics would mark the real moment where the Trump White House should start to panic. Is this the time the Trump presidency gets the boot? No. November maybe, but it’s much too soon to tell.
Labor Day part of larger historical tapestry Andrew Noland Student Writer Last Monday, we celebrated a day off before our third week of classes. However, most of us have never really paused to consider the day we are supposed to use to allegedly honor labor. The year 1882 was the height of organized labor in American history, as unions sought to collectively tackle the ills of the Gilded Age. New York issued the first ever Labor Day as a way to highlight the advancements made in the social and economic conditions of America’s working class; the holiday kicked off nationwide over the next several years, and the day became linked to an idea that is now lost in 21st century America: that labor is the key component in American life. I don’t mean that Americans don’t understand that labor allows the economy to function, but rather that the rise of neoliberalism has successfully shifted that language of success from the worker to the manager. Neoliberalism is a complicated topic that has numerous definitions, but, to sum it up,
American history by creating a platform on which the Greatest Generation could use to stand when they returned from the Second World War. The soldiers and heroes at home were able to earn that honorific because organized labor asserted itself as an equalizing mechanism between individual workers and companies. With increased protections granted by the New Deal, greater access to funding, popular support and political backing that influenced every major sector in the US economy, unions sank income inequality to its historical nadir. Unfortunately, though it took nearly a
“We should recognize Labor Day as a shadow of its former meaning and seek to restore its original intent.” the early 20th century. Unions struggled for decades, but successfully ended child labor laws and cemented the idea of a minimum wage. Furthermore, by combining their might with the greatest modern president in Franklin Delano Roosevelt, they ushered in the New Deal, guaranteeing Americans pensions, Social Security and even more safety regulations to protect the invaluable resource that is the American worker. Even after Roosevelt’s death, they were a primary motivator in the greatest economic boom in
century for unions to finally triumph, it only needed a decade for all of their progress to unravel. We live in the New Gilded Age, governed by a neoliberal elite, both Democratic and Republican, that wants to convince you that unions are job-killers and want to bring evil regulations that will collapse the economy. First, unions don’t kill jobs; they promote competition, raise pay and fight for benefits to which every human being should be entitled. Second, regulations protect us from harmful practices that
corporations will inevitably perpetuate for the sake of their bottom line. The notion that businesses will regulate themselves is not only fallacious but laughable. To put this into a simple equation, when the American government has taken a laissez-faire approach to business, it has led to an increase in poverty and income inequality, a decline in services and a resounding collapse of the American economy (see 1893, 1929, 1990 and 2008). When the American government protects unions and regulates the marketplace, poverty decreases, the American economy booms and quality of life soars (see 1945--1980). None of what I just argued is bias or even commentary; it is the collective academic consensus of economists, sociologists, historians and political scientists. If you find yourself on the other side of the argument despite centuries of data and expertise, open a history book and read it. If that doesn’t work, open and read another one until it sticks in your brain that unions did and continue to improve the life of the average American. We should recognize Labor Day as a shadow of its former meaning, and seek to restore its original intent: to improve every American’s economic condition, regardless of where they fall on the corporate ladder. Only then will we see many of America’s economic issues resolved.
graphic by Conner Maggio Over the last few decades, union membership has dropped considerably while anti-union rhetoric has sky-rocketed.
The Collegian: 6
Commentary
10 September 2018
Greenwood 1921: riot or massacre?
As we approach the centennial of the destruction of Tulsa’s Black Wall Street, it is necessary to examine how we discuss the event. Avery Childress Student Writer Recent years brought a great deal of controversy surrounding the language we use to discuss the 1921 attack on Greenwood, Tulsa. The most common label, “The Tulsa Race Riot,” is drilled into the minds of Tulsan high-schoolers every February — but I argue that the “riot” terminology is historically inaccurate and feeds into anti-Black tropes. What happened in Greenwood was a coordinated, highly calculated and racially-motivated attack to destroy a successful community, not a sudden uprising that
the unmatched firepower of the white mob’s violence, which is ahistorical. “Riot” is a loaded word, and it has been systematically used against the Black community since the late 19th century. This language is weaponized even today — consider the wave of protests over police brutality toward Black people in the past few years. With just a Google search, you can find live footage of these non-violent acts of civil disobedience being brutally shut down by police in full riot gear and with highly militarized weapons. The headlines don’t show this full picture, though. They refer to these protests as riots, and protesters as “rioters,” even though the conflicts are primarily provoked by police. It’s not a coincidence that these protests have often been over the murders of Black people, and that these protesters are often Black themselves. This racialization of “riot” should make us wary of using this terminology to describe the attack. I don’t believe the majority of people who use “riot” terminology are doing so out of malice; it’s just the most common way to refer to the event. Even so, our language is important. When we recognize the racialized nature of “riot” terminology, and its historical inaccuracy, there’s no reason for us to keep using it. Out of respect for those whose lives were taken by the massacre, there is no excuse for Tulsans to be unin-
“When we recognize the racialized nature of ‘riot’ terminology... there’s no reason for us to keep using it.” turned to violence. This was a white mob, including police officers and members of the National Guard, seeking to destroy Greenwood’s community through means of gun-power, firebombing and arson. It would be incorrect to say that some citizens of Greenwood did not fight back, but it is absurd to act as though the degree of violence enacted by Black Greenwood residents was anywhere near that of the white mob’s. Greenwood citizens had no intention of destroying white communities, while the white mob that devastated Greenwood fully intended to do so to Black ones. To call it a riot is to minimize the deliberateness and
formed about the destruction of this community. To delve deeper into the history of the Greenwood Massacre, there are a number of documentaries and short articles freely available online. The Tulsa City-County Library’s African-American Resource Center has also got a wide range of books on the subject. This attack was a deliberate attempt to devastate the Black community of Greenwood, and its repercussions reverberate through Tulsa today. All I ask is that you consider using the word “riot” to refer to the massacre may be minimizing, inaccurate or perpetuating racist and anti-Black tropes.
courtesy Wikimedia Despite the connotation of “race riot,” Black residents of Greenwood were the victims of the 1921 events.
graphic by Conner Maggio The Flat Earth conspiracy has infamously gained traction over the last few years, particularly within the online sphere.
Conspiracy theory renaissance linked to internet culture
Online forums allow global interaction between large numbers of individuals, but also enable the spread of gross misinformation. Nathan Hinkle Student Writer Throughout the United States and, in some respects, the rest of the world, there has been a growth in conspiratorial beliefs. These beliefs range from the Earth being flat to new political conspiracies, such as QAnon. For those unaware, Q-Anon supporters believe that there is a secret member of the current administration who leaves hints, commonly referred to as crumbs, on how the president will take on political figures who Q and his supporters believe are evil. While conspiracy theories have always been around, their growth can be seen not only on the Internet but in real life as well.
For example, at President Trump’s recent campaign rally on July 31, participants came adorned in Q T-shirts to show their support for this theory. Additionally, according to a Gallup poll in 2013, 61 percent of Americans polled believe the second gunman theory of President John F. Kennedy’s assassination. I believe this growth in conspiracy theories is primarily due to the rise of the Internet and vast communication allowing believers to easily reach each other. The growth of communication is a double-edged sword in that it promotes and provides opportunity for interaction between many differing groups, yet it also allows previously frightened theorists the opportunity to meet similarly-minded individuals who reinforce their misguided beliefs. This reinforcement eventually erodes the truth as the belief eclipses the truth in the public mindset. At this point, it does not matter what the truth actually is, only what people want to believe. The major reason behind the growth of conspiracy theories is the rise of alternative forms, and a common distrust of traditional sources, of media. According to a 2018 Gallup Survey of over 18,000 Americans, 43 percent had a negative view of the media versus 33 percent who had a positive view. Due to this distrust in alleged mainstream media, new forms of media have arisen. One can easily find a point of view that fits their own rather than being challenged by oppos-
ing viewpoints. Access to different forms of media have continually advanced throughout the years, especially in the introduction of the Internet. For example, from the 1950s to the 1990s, there existed only three main television networks in the United States: ABC, NBC and CBS. Today, there are more than 50 national broadcasting networks. While national TV broadcasting is not the usual source of conspiratorial thought, it is a sign of the massive growth in the different available forms of media.
Conspiracy theories are rising because they provide a strict definition of the “other” or the enemy. They explain the confusing elements of life. In a discussion with U.S. Today about the subject, Jan Willem van Prooijen, an associate professor at the Department of Social and Organizational Psychology at VU University in Amsterdam, stated that people “need to blame the anxiety they feel on different groups and the result is frequently conspiracy theories,” adding, “People don’t like it when things
“At this point, it does not matter what the truth actually is, only what people want to believe.” While there is some relevance to the growth of different forms of traditional media, the key source of new conspiratorial thought is the everyday individuals on various Internet platforms. Social media websites, such as Facebook, Reddit and YouTube, give individuals the ability to discuss and be influenced by their peers all over the globe. For example, the group titled “Great Awakening,” which focuses on the Q conspiracy, has over 68,000 subscribers on Reddit. Through this new form of access, random conspiracy theorists who were previously separated across the United States are now able to communicate and spread their beliefs.
are really random. Randomness is more threatening than having an enemy. You can prepare for an enemy, you can’t prepare for coincidences.” Due to the unstable nature of the modern age, it is nice to believe a simple concept that one can easily share with one’s peers. The rise of conspiracy theories is due to the growth of the Internet and its new subcommunities. People tend to believe those who validate their own thoughts and fears. When going forward into the future, modern societies must be careful to distinguish between fact and fiction or they will lose the truth. The hunt for truth is difficult, but it is a trial that a new digital society must face.
Sports
10 September 2018
The Collegian: 7
2018 Champions League will be cutthroat
With the highest level of soccer back, Chris Lierly and Andrew Noland could not be more excited to incite controversy with some ill-informed picks for your reading pleasure. Group A: Atletico Madrid Borussia Dortmund Club Brugge AS Monaco FC Group A is a cesspit, plain and simple. While we envision a resurgent Antoine Griezmann leading the Rojablancos past their opponents with both ease and flair, the battle for this group lies in the final spot for the Knockout Stage. Brugge will find themselves at the bottom but are more than capable of robbing an underperforming Dortmund or Monaco of crucial points. However, the youthful talent of Dortmund will carry them through while Monaco resumes their rebuilding phase. Andrew 1. Atletico Madrid 2. Dortmund Chris: 1. Atletico Madrid 2. Dortmund Group B: Tottenham Hotspur FC Barcelona Inter Milan PSV Eindhoven There are multiple “Groups of Death” this fall, and Group B is another nightmare for any sports fan’s unhealthy thirst for perfection. Again, PSV Eindhoven are no pushovers, and the veteran roster of Inter will take points from their Catalan and English counterparts. But the most intriguing feature will be the battle between the only Harry (Kane) that might actually be made King of England in the foreseeable future and the aging but still unstoppable forward Lionel Messi. Andrew 1. FC Barcelona 2. Tottenham Andrew’s Take: Barcelona is just too good. Their front is bewilderingly fluid, and while Tottenham’s Belgian Wall will prove stalwart in the teams’ first meeting, it will crumble before the foursome of Dembele, Messi, Suarez and Coutinho in the second leg. Chris 1. Tottenham 2. FC Barcelona Chris’ Take: While Barcelona’s inspiring forwards scare the daylights out of any and all La Liga teams, Tottenham are not Real Betis. Barcelona will need to figure out who is starting in their attack by the time they face Spurs. If they don’t, they will fall prey to the same team that finished above their hated rivals from Madrid in last year’s group stage.
Group C: Liverpool Paris San Germain (PSG) Napoli Red Star Belgrade Another brainbuster of a group, and its grand showdown strains our friendship to the breaking point. Napoli will join their coach in the annals of mediocrity while Crvena Zvezda are just grateful that they can play with the big boys. The clash of the German-coached teams of Liverpool and Paris is instead a thermometer for two unproven teams: can Liverpool both hold onto their lead for a title in England while repeating last season’s continental success, or will it succumb to the pressures of both tasks? Perhaps most interesting, can PSG, with no domestic challenge, finally overcome their locker room issues and ascend as one of the best teams in Europe? Andrew 1. Liverpool 2. Paris San Germain Andrew’s Take: I do not see PSG mastering any coherent tactical system before the fall is over and while Mbappe is good, he’s not Mohamed Salah-level yet. Klopp’s high press combined with their now upgraded roster is a force that can not only win this group, but prove itself as the best team in Liverpool’s history. Chris: 1. PSG 2. Liverpool Chris’s Take: Liverpool are a fantastic team and Andrew knows this. However, they will be trying to hold onto their current lead of the Premier League against Tottenham only a few days before their clash with the French giants. Kylian Mbappe will have fresh legs and Mohamed Salah will just have gotten done firing a hat trick past Lloris. Find Andrew and I watching this game while yelling at each other somewhere on campus. Group D: FC Porto Lokomotiv Moskva FC Schalke 04 Galatasary Honestly, we’re not sure if this group is actually in the competition or a mistaken copy-paste from the Europa League. FC Porto and Schalke immediately scream as the favorites in this group, but all of them are too inconsistent to discern a definitive No. 1 and No. 2. Watching this disaster of a table supposedly play soccer will leave us with more questions than answers, but rest assured, we will recover in time to watch both teams get smashed by their first-round opponents.
Messi, Salah, Ronaldo and Kane with the Champion’s Cup.
Andrew: 1. FC Porto 2. FC Schalke Andrew’s Take: Although the team from Gelsenkirchen finished second in the Bundesliga last season, that achievement is rendered insignificant when one remembers it’s the Bundesliga. Combined with the loss of Leon Goretzka to the German talent drain that is Bayern Munich, Schalke simply cannot compete with the talent and experience of their Portuguese opponents. Chris: 1. FC Schalke 04 2. FC Porto Chris’sTake: One really must remember what the Bundesliga is before making this pick. It’s the second best national league in Europe, and Schalke only finished second to the perennial champions, the aforementioned Bayern Munich. That means a lot, and they’ll take home three points from their win over Porto. Group E: Bayern Munich AFC Ajax AEK Athens SL Benfica This collection of teams is perhaps the most straightforward of the groups thus far, but placing second will not be a stroll for AFC Ajax. While Bayern can practically play their U18 team and still strut out of the group stage with four wins, Athens will prove to be a thorn in the sides of the two teams competing for the second spot. The downfall of Benfica will be that its players are either too old or too young for this competition, and Ajax retains most of the talent from their Europa Final run two years ago. Andrew: 1. Bayern 2. Ajax Chris: 1. Bayern 2. Ajax Group F: Hoffenheim Manchester City Olympique Lyonnais Shakhtar Donetsk In terms of first place, it’s hard to imagine the best coach in Europe with the resources of Manchester City being taken down by any of their competition in this stage. Lyon is depleted in manpower, Hoffenheim has been stripped clean by their Bavarian overlords, and Shakhtar used to have Fred. Let the Battle for the Queen of Pigs commence. Andrew: 1. Manchester City 2. Lyon
Andrew’s Take: Sorry, I don’t have a tangible argument for second place; this is just going to be a bloodbath, and because I trusted my gut to take me to delicious pulled pork sandwich for dinner, I’m trusting it to choose the perennially solid French team. Chris: 1. Manchester City 2. Hoffenheim Chris’s Take: Of course Pep will run through this group like he ran from Munich to Manchester, but that second place team is kind of a toss up. Lyon have a rising Anfield bound star in Nabil Fekir, but Julian Nagelsmann’s system will be too much for the once great French club. Group G: CSKA Moscow Real Madrid AS Roma FC Viktoria Plzen Without question, this is the “Group of Life.” Real Madrid have the opportunity to avoid, in the first stage, questions about their identity in the post-Ronaldo era. Meanwhile, the other Pot Three Italian teams Napoli and Inter will curse their rival’s fortune with the Draw gods. With their horrendous offseason and frankly atrocious play in Serie A, Roma have no business in any stage of this competition, but they will still move on. Andrew: 1. Real Madrid 2. Roma Chris: 1. Real Madrid 2. Roma Group H: Juventus Manchester United Valencia Young Boys Welcome to the Ronaldo-verse, and we can guarantee the Portuguese titan does not possess a compulsion for a perfectlybalanced group. Juventus will more than likely snap and find themselves through the Group stage; therefore, the true contest will take place between Valencia and Manchester United for second place. With both of us predicting an extraordinary collapse by the Mourinho-coached (if that’s what you call his managerial style) Red Devils, Valencia will assert itself as a dark horse in the struggle for European dominance. Do not be surprised if Valencia takes a match from Juve, if not the whole group from the Italian side. Andrew: 1. Juventus 2. Valencia Chris: 1. Juventus 2. Valencia
graphic credit Conner Maggio
Sports
The Collegian: 8
10 September 2018
NFL regular season and playoff predictions An in-depth analysis of the upcoming season, including postseason predictions and the 2019 Super Bowl champion.
AFC East: For literally as long as I can remember, God the Father and the Son (commonly referred to by the lamestream media as Bill Belichick and Tom Brady) have dominated this sorry excuse for a division. And while it’s only a matter of time before they recede into Heaven and leave the rest of us mortals to play football again, 2018 is not the end. Even with their age, depleted roster and locker room drama, how could you pick against the Pats when they’re competing against the likes of the Jets and the Bills, which are probably the two least talented teams in all of football? Apologies to Sam Darnold, Josh Allen and Shady McCoy, but two are rookies playing the most difficult position in sports and the other is a 30-year-old, high-mileage RB. Don’t be surprised if their squads combine for something like six wins. Don’t sleep on Miami, however, who are just a year removed from a 10-win season and getting their starting QB back. I won’t go as far as to predict a Wild Card appearance, not with that skimpy receiving corps, but the ‘Phins won’t be bottom-feeders either.
Deshaun Watson. After a too-good-to betrue start to his professional career, Watson was felled by a torn ACL, an injury that tanked what was already shaping up to be a difficult season in Houston. This year, many an expert has the Clemson product set up to be a bust, citing his weak arm and the Texans’ porous offensive line. I say phooey to that and believe that Watson’s generational instincts and mobility, along with the return of J.J. Watt to an imposing defensive line, will lead Houston to 10 wins and the division crown. They will be neck-and-neck with Jacksonville, who returns the best defensive unit in all of football. Why pick the Texans between the two? Defenses have historically failed to deliver equal returns from year to year as injuries occur and opposing schemes change, and the Jaguars will still trot out Blake Bortles and a questionable crew of wideouts to lead their offense. Tennessee is a bit of a forgotten contender a year after earning the first Wild Card, but I think this injury-riddled and forgettable roster takes a step back. As for the Colts, things remain completely uncertain. On the one
of the running completely, stuck hoping for their talented secondary to hold down the fort, and that Amari Cooper isn’t on track to be a complete bust. Playoff Teams: Patriots, Steelers, Texans, Chargers, Ravens, Jaguars NFC East: Coming off a miraculous season in which they won their first Super Bowl while relying on their backup QB throughout the playoffs, the Philadelphia Eagles are primed for another strong showing in 2018. A terrific defense and excellent line will allow the team to bide its time and allow Carson Wentz to regain his full strength before returning to action. There isn’t a lot of competition to be had in the division. The Antichrist Eli Manning has unbelievable weapons at his disposal (should everyone stay healthy), but a line made out of tissue paper, a weak defense and his own age should hold back the Giants’ considerable potential. Dallas will have Zeke Elliott for a full season, though this development is probably offset by the evaporation of the Cowboys’ receivers and center Travis Frederick’s battle with Guillain-Barre syndrome. Washington may
Justin Guglielmetti Editor-in-Chief
disruptor and a possible contender in 2019. NFC South: The South won’t repeat its 2017 performance and produce three playoff teams, though it should still be a heated fight to the finish. At the front of the pack will be the Atlanta Falcons, who should experience some positive regression for their high-powered offense. If their defense can perform as well in the regular season as they have shown themselves capable in the postseason, Atlanta could prove legitimate contender. Close on their heels will be the New Orleans Saints, equipped with the best defense they’ve had in years and a multifaceted attack that can beat you on the ground or in the air. Drew Brees’s age is the only question mark. Expect a regression from the Carolina Panthers, whose depleted offensive line is going to lead to tough times for Cam Newton and Christian McCaffrey. Tampa Bay won’t finish anywhere near the leaders and could struggle to win three games. The Buccaneers are the least talented team in the NFC, armed with a terrible defense and notoriously inconsistent special teams. NFC West: The Los Angeles Rams look
graphic by Conner Maggio AFC North: The Steelers are the obvious pick in the North, and if everything goes right, still hold the potential to be an absolute juggernaut. Even so, that’s a lot to ask of a team helmed by an aging QB who still eats sugar and whose star running back could very well end up holding out the entire season. If Big Ben falters and Le’Veon continues to be a petulant child/health-conscious businessman, they would open the door for another team to step up and fill the void. Your best bet should be the Ravens, who bring back most of the core of a nine-win team that actually underperformed by their point differential, as well as an improved O-line. Whether it’s Joe “Elite QB” Flacco or former Heisman trophy winner Lamar Jackson under center, Baltimore could be a real sleeper team in 2018. Meanwhile, the Bengals offer a slew of dynamic skill position players, while even the Browns seem to be more than pushovers. Cleveland won’t scare anybody a year after going 0-16, but the complete overhaul of their offense should mean at least a five-game improvement, even if Tyrod Taylor manages to hold off Baker Mayfield in year one. AFC South: Count me as a believer in
hand, Andrew Luck could storm back onto the scene and win the MVP with his repaired shoulder and offensive line. On the other, he could get hurt again, and Indy’s joke of a secondary could give up four touchdowns a game on deep balls. AFC West: In what could very well be the worst division in football, or at least the only one without the potential of producing an elite team, the title is up for grabs. My pick is the Chargers, with Kansas City hot on their heels. LA comes into the new season bringing back most of a group that underperformed their point differential last year, which is good news when your competitors have regressed. Aside from their dominant pass rushing duo of Joey Bosa and Melvin Ingram, their biggest advantage could ultimately be experience at the helm, something the perennially underrated Philip Rivers will certainly provide over rookie Patrick Mahomes of the Chiefs. In Denver, Case Keenum represents the best QB in town since Peyton Manning left. If 2017 wasn’t a fluke, he and fifth-overall pick Bradley Chubb could be the differencemakers in sparking a run at the Wild Card. Only the Oakland Raiders seem to be out
have some sleeper potential, coming off a seven win season despite being wracked with injuries, though it seems unlikely that new acquisitions Alex Smith and Adrian Peterson are going to be enough to put them over the top. NFC North: Prepare for what will be the best division race in football, as the hated rival Minnesota Vikings and Green Bay Packers will go head-to-head. A healthy and hungry Aaron Rodgers with a new red zone toy in Jimmy Graham is nothing to sneeze at, but I think Green Bay will ultimately be playing second-fiddle to a Minnesota squad that just upgraded at QB, gets Dalvin Cook back from injury and boasts one of the league’s elite defenses. Neither Detroit nor Chicago will stand much of a chance. The lions bolstered their offensive line, which they hope will bolster their long-time putrid running game and help compensate for their brutal schedule. Were the Bears in any other division, they might stand a chance at making some noise after a major overhaul to their roster; Khalil Mack’s addition alone purportedly tipled their Super Bowl odds (which still sit at less than one percent by the way). Look out for them as a late-season
15
poised to run away with the West led by imposing running back Todd Gurley, who could be the first non-quarterback since Adrian Peterson in 2012 to win MVP. From top to bottom, the Rams are easily the best team in the division and a legit Super Bowl contender. Below them is a miasma of mediocrity. The Legion of Boom is dead in Seattle, leaving Russell Wilson and revolving door in the backfield to attempt to salvage the season. Arizona should improve with David Johnson’s return and Sam Bradford taking over at QB, and they still have one of the best secondaries in the league. But they had no absolutely no business finishing .500 last year and would need to get similarly lucky to improve in a meaningful way. And the 49ers? Maybe Jimmy G and George Kittle really are the second coming of Brady and Gronk and will take the league by storm. Or maybe everyone needs to pump the brakes and accept that after the league makes some adjustments, San Francisco will finish with closer to six wins than 16. Playoff Teams: Vikings, Eagles, Falcons, Rams, Packers, Saints Super Bowl: Vikings over Patriots
Sep. 10 - Sep. 16
Monday
Tuesday 10
W Golf vs. Hobble Creek Fall Classic
Wednesday 11
W Golf vs. Hobble Creek Fall Classic M Soccer vs. St. Louis Creek 7:00 p.m.
12
Thursday 13
No Events No Events
Saturday
Friday 14
15
Volleyball vs. ISU 3 p.m.
Volleyball @ Marquette 1 p.m.
W Soccer vs. ORU 7:30 p.m.
Football vs. ASU 6 p.m.
Sunday 16
No Events
Sports
10 September 2018
The Collegian: 9
Golden Hurricane scares Longhorns Football giant Texas defeats Tulsa by a surprisingly narrow margin.
Tulsa played the school across the Red River on Saturday September 8, 2018. The game started on the wrong foot with a Tulsa interception on the first play from scrimmage, setting Texas up with great field position, which they turned into a touchdown a few plays later. Tulsa stabilized from there, relying on their run game to work the ball up the field before missing a 43-yard field goal. Texas then drove down the field to the one-yard line, but the Tulsa defense held strong. Facing fourth down and perhaps frustrated at their inability to score on Tulsa’s defense, Texas decided to make another attempt at a touchdown instead of taking the field goal. The defense once again held, keeping the score 7-0. On the next possession, presumably worried about turning the ball over at their own one-yard line, TU ran the ball three times before punting, and Texas scored shortly after receiving possession to go up 14-0. Another Luke Skipper interception on a long pass gave the ball back to Texas, but nothing came of it, and both teams traded punts until Tulsa’s offense drove to the Texas 12 before stalling out and resulting in another missed field goal. Texas took over and drove down the field to make the score 21-0. Tulsa’s offense once again worked their way to the red zone before stalling at the Texas 19, where yet another missed field goal occurred.
A Texas penalty gave Tulsa another shot at the kick, and kicker Nathan Walker, who at this point had missed two field goals, was replaced by John Parker Romo. A Tulsa false start moved the ball right back to the 19, where Romo also missed the field goal. Texas ran out the clock into halftime. Up 21-0 and seeming feeling overly confident, Texas came into the second half incredibly flat.
After trading punts for a few possessions, a bad Texas punt set up Tulsa at the Texas 33. A Skipper keeper on fourth down went for 21 yards, and two runs later, Tulsa punched into the end zone to make the score 21-7. Texas’s offense was once again forced to punt, and Tulsa scored again on a drive highlighted by a 48-yard pass to Keylon Stokes. Admittedly, the pass was an under-
Ryan Orland Student Writer
thrown ball that the Texas corner simply didn’t turn around in time to intercept, but it was the longest throw of the night for the Tulsa offense and the first time the Tulsa receivers had won a deep shot against the Texas defense. Tulsa later ran the ball to make the score 21-14, putting the entire stadium into a state of nervous silence as the possibility of an upset became realistic. The Texas offense drove down the field with
photo credit tulsahurricane.com ease, only seeing a third down once on the entire drive before scoring to make the score 28-14. Tulsa yet again drove up the field, this time primarily relying on Skipper’s arm, ending on a 35yard catch-and-run to make the score 28-21 with almost just under 5 minutes left. However, the Texas offense was able to run this time off and kneeled to end the game with the score Texas 28, Tulsa 21.
Tulsa volleyball: the reign before the storm Tulsa hosts invitational volleyball tournament and goes undefeated. Last weekend, Tulsa hosted the Tulsa Volleyball Invitational, the third out of four tournaments before conference play commences. Tulsa won all three matches against its opponents: Abilene Christian University, Northwestern State and in town rival Oral Roberts University (ORU). Friday’s match was against Abilene. After dropping the first set (26-24), Tulsa had a comeback with leadership from Rachel Moore, who had seven kills in the second set (25-20). Abilene managed to pull away in the third frame, 25-21. You could feel the storm build in the fourth as Tulsa took the set 25-20. Tulsa headed into the fifth set for the first time this season with a mighty roar that did not go unheard; Tulsa won the match 15-13. Tulsa swept Northwestern off their feet to ultimate defeat this week. Emily Thorson was an influential player in these sets earning 12 kills, two aces and one block. Not too far behind was Rachel Moore with 11 kills and one ace. The two combined forces to clinch the first frame, 25-23. The second set alternated hands until the last half. Tulsa rallied from 17-19 to take the frame (25-22). While Tulsa dropped the second set with a two ace closeout by ORU, the team was ultimately victorious. During this face-off,
Tristan Peterson Student Writer
Moore was named the MVP of the tournament, but it was Mariah Pardo who had the highest attack average throughout the match (.625). Taylor Horsfall also had 25 digs of the 71 in the victory over the Golden Eagles. When Tulsa Hurricane Video asked Head Coach Ryan Willis to recap the invitational and its most influential players, he said, “I’m happy with our growth. We struggled at times, figured out some stuff, people stepped up. We got better at blocking as things went, got better at defense as things went. So it’s just a good tournament for us to get better at some stuff, and that’s what we’re working on. Proud as can be, and I’m proud of our whole team. They did a good job. You know Rachel, all year long, has been an offensive weapon for us. She hits hard. It’s hard for people to defend. And then Taylor… she makes plays, she digs the ball. I think there was twice today that there’s no one up at the net so someone goes to rip at it and she makes a play.” This weekend is just a taste of what the Tulsa volleyball team has in store. As a team, Tulsa recorded 60 kills and a solid .243 hitting percentage. These matches could just be the “reign” before the storm. Tulsa volleyball heads to the Marquette Invitational next week.
photos by Tanner Brown
The Collegian: 10
Variety
10 September 2018
The Mountain Goats concert hits the highlights
Rather than playing songs from their most recent album, the night’s focus was on fan favorites. Emma Palmer Variety Editor When it comes to favorite bands, I often avoid or fear concerts. Nothing’s worse than watching your idols fall apart right in front of your eyes. So to say that I approached The Mountain Goats concert with a touch of apprehension is perhaps an understatement. Fortunately, they did not disappoint. The opener for the concert, al Riggs, who derive their name from their lead singer and frontman, Al Riggs, was exactly the kind of band who you would expect to open for The Mountain Goats, with a gritty, melancholic sound (their song “Local Honey” was featured on “Welcome to Night Vale,” if that gives you any frame of reference). Many of their songs seemed to be about having anxiety and other sad-boy-type emotions. “Let’s Have a Room” in particular was a true-tolife description of having an anxiety attack at a party. Their set concluded with a drum
Cain’s Ballroom. Although the tour is technically for the latest Mountain Goats album, “Goths,” they only played one song off of the album, opting to play fan favorites instead. With such a large discography (16 albums), there was a wealth of songs from which to pull. From the autobiographical “Hast Thou Considered the Tetrapod” to the unnecessarily violent but exceedingly fun “Foreign Object,” Darnielle took us on a tour of his traumatic childhood to his troubled youth. The one song played from the most recent album, “Wear Black,” Darnielle explained, was written about when he was having blackouts from substance abuse and decided to try to go back to high school, but he didn’t know how much school he had missed or when any of his classes were. It was a personal moment and highlight of the show. The Mountain Goats’ talent is perhaps their most critiqued quality: the absolute rawness of their sound. But on a stage, it was perfect. The concert concluded with not one but two encores. The first encore ended with the most well-known Mountain Goats song,
“Darnielle took us on a tour of his traumatic childhood to his troubled youth.” solo that went on for at least two minutes and was the the best part of their entire set. By the time John Darnielle and Co. arrived to the stage, the crowd had grown considerably. It was the perfect amount of people: just enough to feel full, but not uncomfortable. The Mountain Goats started their set with a cover of the Sex Pistols song “Holidays in the Sun,” as a fun nod to the fact that the Sex Pistols famously played at
“This Year,” a song that was my anthem during senior year of high school. It was a near-sacred moment, howling along with John Darnielle, singing, “I’m gonna make it through this year, if it kills me.” The second encore finished the night with the other most popular Mountain Goats track, “No Children,” a song about a couple in a toxic relationship who are about to get a divorce. It stands as a stark contrast to the life affirm-
photo by Emma Palmer
ing “This Year,” the chorus ringing out, “I hope you die. I hope we both die.” In the spring of last year, I was privileged enough to see John Darnielle speak on a book tour for his short novel “Universal Harvester.” Although it was obvious that Darnielle was more interested in talking about his book (a very good book, might I add), the Q&A session at the end inevitably turned to one about the Mountain Goats. Darnielle mentioned “No Children” with a bit of bewilderment towards its popularity. “These are not good people!” he said, with an obvious disdain for those who tell him they connect with the song, or even worse — get married to it.
It was surreal to close out the night with “No Children.” Waves of people screaming the lyrics as Darnielle bleated the melody. Toward the end of the song, Darnielle held out the microphone to the audience, letting us complete the lyrics. “And I hope you blink before I do,” he sang, then proffered the mic. “I hope I never get sober!” screamed the crowd in reply. I could see Darnielle’s reaction, for a split second, a laugh somewhere between condescension and pity. He’s left this song behind. But of course, I sang along too.
Nathan Young exhibit a layered experience There’s more to the exhibit than meets the eye at first glance. Kaitlyn Argo Student Writer
courtesy Doug Emmet
“Sorry To Bother You” a movie for the now The biting social commentary of “Sorry to Bother You” makes it a must-watch for 2018. Avery Childress Student Writer “Sorry to Bother You” is the directorial debut of hip-hop artist Boots Riley, who describes the film as an “absurdist dark comedy with magical realism and science fiction, inspired by the world of telemarketing.” The film follows Cassius Green (Lakeith Stanfield), a down-and-out Black Oakland native who finds a job in telemarketing. He doesn’t take to it, at first, and is rejected by every call he makes. His bosses stress the importance of his sticking to the script on calls — and try as he might, he is still unsuccessful. Eventually, he is taught by an older employee, Langston (Danny Glover), to use his “white voice” (dubbed by David Cross). The older employee describes it as being the voice white people wish they had, and not the one they truly do — representing the fragility of white identity through telemarketing. Cassius gives the “white voice” a try and becomes an overnight telemarketing success. While Cassius’s usage of the “white voice” skyrockets him to the upper echelon of the telemarketing firm, his friends and coworkers organize a strike to demand higher wages, better working conditions and a union. His girlfriend Detroit (Tessa Thompson) and coworker Squeeze (Steven Yeun) are radicals at the forefront of the movement to unionize and are suspicious of Cassius’s sudden success. All the while, a larger-thanlife company pushes the boundaries of labor exploitation to its limits. Cassius is forced to make a choice: climb the ladder of success
to the detriment of his coworkers, or decry the “white voice” and join the fight? With class divisions in the United States (and globally) getting wider and wider, this movie couldn’t have come at a more crucial time. The World Inequality Report 2018 shows that in the United States, the poorest 50 percent have had their income slowly decline over the past 36 years, while the top 1 percent has only gotten richer. Union membership has declined steadily from the 1980s to now, mega-corporations like Amazon are under fire for the poor treatment of their workers. Additionally, at the time of writing, a nationwide prison strike rages on, demanding an end to prisoners’ (disproportionately Black) unpaid labor. Like Cassius, all of us have a choice to make. Will we fight against the structures which chain us down, or will we continue down the path of least resistance, aiming only to secure our own financial success? Riley’s “Sorry to Bother You” makes an excellent case for the former and harshly condemns the latter. “Sorry to Bother You” is a sorely needed commentary on the intersections between class, class warfare and race. While other science fiction films tend to shy away from such apparent and robust analysis of the contradictions of capitalism, Riley unabashedly illustrates what happens when socioeconomic classes clash and the true repercussions of ruthlessly chasing class mobility. Riley’s film takes his description of the exploitation of the proletariat’s labor to the extreme, giving the audience a monstrous mirror of their own lives as workingclass people. The world of “Sorry to Bother You,” intended as a satirical dystopia, is not all that unlike our own, and that should bother us.
From various landscapes to an eye with a rainbow coming out of it, Nathan Young’s exhibit, which uses both visuals and sounds, never ceases to both amaze and startle the viewers. Even though it is located in the Alexandre Hogue Gallery on the first floor of Phillips Hall, you may have seen his work advertised around campus on the televisions, whether it be the eye with the rainbow path or the art of Jesus with plants over his eyes. These advertisements do the artwork no justice, however, as when you see them in person, an entire new level of workmanship is uncovered. Nathan Young’s exhibit is titled “Infinite Drone.” Drone, not meaning the aerial device, but the harmonic or monophonic effect where a note or chord is continuously sounded throughout most or all of the piece of music. The exhibit is made up of about eight television screens and two projections on the wall, each cycling through the various pieces that Young has made, each accompanied with either a note or chord. The sounds combined with the images created a compelling “narrative about place and symbolism,” to quote Young. As you walk around the exhibit, the sounds start to combine into an almost ominous tone, which draws you in rather than pushing you out. In my visit there, I was captivated by the artwork, and I sat on one of the benches provided, just watching as the projections cycled through the works.
And I was not the only one captivated, as some comments in the gallery’s guestbook state that “the visuals draw you in,” “I really can’t stop staring at them” and “compelling images.” Upon first glance, you might think that the images are just that, an image, not moving. But as you look longer, you begin to see the movement. Instead of just a skull overlayed on a rainbow, you see that the rainbow is slowly changing colors, and that there is a flower-like symbol on the skull’s forehead, slowly turning. The eye with the rainbow is slowly shifting up and down. The entire image with Jesus in it is slightly vibrating. And with these changing videos, the music changes too. While the various sounds that make the music you hear are paired with a specific video, the sounds phase in and out with each other, creating a “continually changing drone composition,” according to Young. In his statement talking about his exhibit, Young had this to say about his piece: “These drone videos are primarily informed by the ancient religious imagery used by my ancestors, contemporary American-Indian religious practices as well as an outlaw spirit which was prevalent growing up in what was once Indian Territory or ‘Outlaw Territory’ and is now Oklahoma.” He added, “These landscapes, slowly changing rainbow colors and slowly moving images are all reflections on a indigenous experience in a contemporary art vernacular.” The exhibit will only be up until the September 20, so get over to Phillips Hall to see this wonderful and mesmerizing array of artwork.
A large part of Nathan Young’s “Infinite Drone” consists of art on TV screens.
photo by Kaitlyn Argo
10 September 2018
Variety
The Collegian: 11
Animal Collective’s “Tangerine Reef” defies review
The critical response to “Tangerine Reef” elicits a greater discussion on music criticism as a whole. Ethan Veenker News Editor The album “Tangerine Reef,” Animal Collective’s 11th studio album, is unique in being the band’s first full-length release without the drumming and rhythmic sensibilities of founding member and mainstay Noah Lennox, aka Panda Bear. This is an important window into how listeners have interpreted the record, a topic I’ll discuss later. This is also the first record to see the return of Josh Dibb, aka Deakin, to the collective, who has been absent since departing after 2012’s “Centipede Hz” to pursue a solo effort. “Tangerine Reef” was released August 17, 2018 as an audiovisual album in collaboration with Coral Morphologic, a self-proclaimed “art-science duo” who frequently makes artistic films featuring coral reefs and is outspoken in their oceanic environmen-
The record feels less “scripted” (I suspect much of it is improvised) and in any case features less of the aesthetic overhaul and marketing strategies employed before 2016’s “Painting With.” The new record did pump out one single, though, which came with a video (part of the visual album) originally exclusively available on Apple Music, a move that left many fans bewildered, myself included. Still, the album feels like more of an attempt to simply make some good music than write a complex record, and I don’t consider this a bad thing. It’s simply a thing. One should consider this before listening to the album as an introduction to Animal Collective, and one should also consider the following: this is a difficult listen for the uninitiated. It’s not hardcore, or annoying, or loud, or jerky or any of those things. It’s just slow, methodical, an attempt at evoking the wispy but rooted movements of coral fronds in the ocean current. This is an atmospheric record, and as a result most of the songs start slow and end slow. They perhaps feature a few lines of vocals here and there from founding member David Portner, aka Avey
“One can love a record all one wants, but if it’s just ‘more of the same,’ why was it made in the first place?” talism. Animal Collective has collaborated with Coral Morphologic in the past before: once in 2011 when member Brian Weitz, aka Geologist, composed the soundtrack for their short film “Man O War,” and again last February when the band delivered a live soundtrack for “Coral Orgy” in Florida, a “collaborative site-specific performance celebrating the cosmic synchronicity of sex on the reef.” “Tangerine Reef” was released to celebrate the 2018 International Year of the Reef. The visual accompaniment, a series of meticulously-filmed clips of beautiful coral reefs, is available to watch for free on Animal Collective’s website. This is actually not the band’s first foray into the visual album genre, the first being 2010’s “ODDSAC.” That film, directed by Danny Perez, differs from “Tangerine Reef” in its vague through-line of plot, its absurd and at times terrifying images and its far more eclectic musical style. One could write a book on “ODDSAC” if they took the time. By the time this is published, “Tangerine Reef” will have been out for over three weeks, making this review a little less than timely. In truth, this article is intended more as a response to the manner of negative press “Tangerine Reef” is receiving rather than a full-hearted effort at reviewing the record, though I do want to briefly discuss its qualities. “Tangerine Reef,” while a full-fledged studio album, feels less like a directed release and more like a project the band wanted to explore casually. Indeed, the record was born in the conditions following “Coral Orgy,” in which fans who couldn’t make the drive to Florida clamored for bootleg recordings of the performance, desperate to hear new material. This isn’t to say that Animal Collective altered their trajectory to bend to the needs of fans, but rather that they saw a desire from their fanbase and felt that they could deliver.
Tare, but are otherwise devoid of anything that could be called song structure. There is no verse-chorus-bridge-chorus in this record. The songs begin; they flow; they end. It is an ambient record at heart. There are, however, moments of excited rhythm, for example “Hip Sponge” in which Portner’s vocals rise and fall in the background as nearly the only moving part to the song. There’s also “Buffalo Tomato,” a song with a driving rhythm that can only be called such in relation to the rest of the sedentary record, for it’s nothing more than a repetitive ticking sound. I also felt that the beat in the end of “Airpipe (To A New Transition)” resembled that of a blacksmith hammering away at an anvil, and such a cadence was much welcome as I worked with the record playing in the background. Which, I believe, is the way one can most effectively enjoy such a record: in the background. It’s difficult to review ambient music because it all works to the same end and is designed almost not to be focused upon. Of course, there is richness in “Tangerine Reef”; its ambience differs from that of, say, Boards of Canada, in that minimalism is traded for a substantial overlayering of elements so that the listener is struck at first with only a wall of sound that ebbs and flows, like a giant, grotesque being. If one desired, they could unpack a great many sounds and tones at a close listen. I don’t feel this is necessary for a great experience with the record, though. It’s a good record at the end of the day. It’s relaxing, and its background stance is a welcome return-to-form for many Animal Collective fans who have been desiring more meditative tunes. “Tangerine Reef” is a gorgeous project and a testament to the beauty of the life all around us in the oceans, a life that is slowly receding. On criticism There’s a debate in modern critical circles on the pertinence of context to an art piece.
Reviewers hyperfocusing like the subject of Norman Rockwell’s “The Art Critic” miss the point of the album.
To what extent should the piece’s historical period, its creator’s beliefs and views and its contemporary response be considered in a modern judgement of the piece? This extends to the question of evolution; should a work be compared in relation to an artist’s past work, or should each piece exist in a context and place of its own, where it’s judged on only its own merits? This is a difficult question to tackle, but one that most music critics seem to answer in the same way: in general, a musical artist’s growth matters. One can love a record all one wants, but if it’s just “more of the same,” as some may say, why was it made in the first place? Judging a record on its own merits becomes difficult when one seeks to analyze the growth of an artist in such a way. In this respect, bands that have already recorded what is critically considered their magnum opus have left their best years behind them. Never again can they create something that won’t be compared to and somewhat diminished in the shadow of their former great work. This happened to Radiohead (though they did a miraculous job of breaking and immediately re-mending the cycle); this happened to Kanye West (though the fanbase is always split on which opus is opus-er); and this happened to Animal Collective with 2009’s “Merriweather Post Pavilion.” A lot of the press I’ve seen for “Tangerine Reef” has panned it for being plodding, aimless, sometimes boring. These are fair criticisms, for as I’ve stated earlier the album doesn’t hold up extremely well under intense listening except to pick apart the fibers of sound, a hobby that not all music listeners practice. Some critics don’t think a piece should be enjoyable “in the background” alone, and that indeed this removes
What is context, in this context? When one attempts to compare a record to one from the band’s past, one better be familiar with the band and its members. Lennox is a huge part of the band, no doubt, and one of the reasons they hit their stardom in 2009 (he penned their most well-known single, “My Girls”), but someone even vaguely familiar with the influences the various band members have on the collective’s sound wouldn’t pin Lennox as the sole pop savant in the group. Not when “The Purple Bottle” exists, or “Peacebone,” or “In the Flowers,” or “Turn Into Something” or even “FloriDada,” all of which are undeniably pop-centric songs that were all written by David Portner, a member who is still very much present on “Tangerine Reef,” a member who is more than capable of bringing pop to the project when he sees fit. Such critics seem to see the lack of finger-snapping, toe-tapping tunes on the new project as a result of Lennox’s absence, rather than a simple stylistic shift effected and preferred by the contributing members. Such reductive interpretation of the band’s past work in relation to the present is a gross banishment of the band’s own musical aspirations, their free-willed desire in creation. What am I trying to do beyond flexing my Animal Collective knowledge on the reader? I’m only trying to begin a dialogue in which the criticism-reading audience considers the real importance of an artist’s past work. Growth matters and is by all means encouraged for the benefit of both the artist and the listener, but it must kill the artists to be seen as having grown in the wrong direction when all their work is decried in the face of their past efforts. Artist agency is, somewhat ironically, something that is hardly considered anymore in modern music criticism. So
Detail of album art from the controversial “Tangerine Reef.”
the purpose of the music. That’s a fair point, and I won’t argue with it. Time and time again, though, I’ve seen articles implicitly laying the record’s lack of musical cogency on the absence of Noah Lennox, the drummer-singer apparently considered to be the pop edge of the band by most of these critics.
courtesy Domino
many critics seem to see music as the logical result of a creative mind, rather than the sweated-and-bled over child of months and months of directed and aimed pursuit at creation. Music doesn’t happen; it’s made. Behind it are humans, all with goals and functions and personalities in the wake of their past work. Remember these humans.
graphic by Conner Maggio
The Collegian: 12
Variety
10 September 2018
First Friday featured parking, art and music
First Friday showed off some notable galleries, but was a mess to find convenient parking. Sara Serrano Web and Social Media Manager For the Tulsa Arts District, the beginning of every month means a return of the First Friday Art Crawl, replete with music, vendors, activities and, of course, art. Despite the threat of rain, I headed downtown to see what this month’s First Friday had to offer. I’ve been to this event before and have enjoyed it, but the one thing that I always hate about First Friday is the lack of free parking. I’m a student; how am I supposed to drop 20 bucks to park at a free event? After circling the area for 10 minutes, I ended up parking pretty far away in a grass “lot” north of I-244, something I was not happy about, considering I had to walk back in the dark alone. Pepper spray can only help my anxiety so much.
very pleasing. The collection also featured a few projected paintings alongside their reallife counterparts, the moving light seeking to merge the two images. I wasn’t quite sure what to make of them, but it was a nonetheless visually interesting experience. Next door was the Philbrook’s downtown location. I was immediately struck by the atmosphere of the gallery. Normally, the museum is well lit, but for this collection, the rooms were dark and moody. All of the works seemed to be themed in memory, with projectors lighting up the walls and floors with videos. I particularly enjoyed “a small world…”. A collaboration between two artists, this work had their home videos were projected side-by-side, showing the two growing up in separate African-American and Jewish-American families. The contrasts were intriguing, and the piece gave me a lot of nostalgia. I had previously seen this particular art installment in 108 Contemporary, but “Diaphanous Embroidery” was just as lovely as I remembered it. Hundreds of delicate, em-
“I’m a student; how am I supposed to drop 20 bucks to park at a free event?” So, this being an art crawl, I hit up the galleries on M. B. Brady St. The Henry Zarrow Center featured the works of Mariam Stephan in “In the Middle of Far Away.” I really enjoyed these paintings, marked by violent strokes and a minimalist color scheme. The black and white aesthetic was
broidered pieces hung from the ceiling, creating an almost ethereal experience. Perfect for Instagram, but even more so for contemplating the transitory nature of existence. After poking around the vendor stands and watching a few street performers juggle batons and pound on bongos, I made my
photo by Sara Serrano Amanda McCavour’s “Diaphonous Embroidery” proved to be enchanting upon a second viewing.
way onto the Guthrie Green. They seemed to be pumping everyone up for the opening of The Gathering Place, projecting previews on the stage and handing out frisbees and construction hats to the kids. Eventually, a hip-hop dance group called the Gather Round Crew came on stage and made their performance my favorite part of the night. I’ve always admired dancers, and this group was both talented and animated, not to mention super entertaining, especially
when they brought a bunch of kids on stage. If I didn’t think young kids were into Fornite before watching a couple of them take the stage, I do now. Having survived the trek back to my car, I can say that September’s First Friday was a pretty funky, contemplative time. I would definitely recommend checking it out with some friends next month! But maybe carpool.
Black Bear Diner a tasty addition to Tulsa thing else. I specifically got two eggs,
The soon-to-open bear themed diner scrambled, two sweet cream pancakes, and features scrumptious comfort food. two pieces of applewood smoked bacon. Kaitlyn Argo Student Writer
photo by Avery Childress
Black Wall Street art gallery strives for reconciliation By pairing the works of white and Black artists the gallery hopes to encourage conversation through art. Avery Childress Student Writer The Black Wall Street Arts has just opened a brand-new art gallery downtown, aiming to help ease racial tensions in Tulsa and get people to open up and discuss their feelings surrounding the Greenwood Massacre. The gallery opened on Friday, September 7, and will be open from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Tuesday through Sunday at 101 N. Greenwood Ave. The first series set up by the gallery is one called “Conciliation.” It pairs one Black artist with one white artist in a joint exhibition each month. Ricco Wright, the gallery’s artistic director, hopes that the gallery will be part of the solution to Tulsa race relations. For September, the artists in the exhibition are Alexander Tamahn and JP Morrison Lans. Tamahn “has always gravitated towards vibrant, rich color palettes,” explaining that “eye-catching color and varying textures offset some of the heavier content of some of [his] subject matters.” Lans also plays with color in a unique way, stating that she “manipulate[s] light in [her] work, transforming the blush of skin into vivid neon hues or omitting the color altogether to develop the figures beyond our everyday perception.”
bullet holes dripping blood. The bright and vivid yellow of the bag juxtaposed with the deep maroon blood of the bullet-holes falls neatly into Tamahn’s self-described style. It’s eye-catching and beautiful, and the subject matter is tragic and relevant. Another piece, “Keep Your Eyes on the Prize” by JP Morrison Lans, is a graphite and gouache portrait with a twist. The background is plain beige, while the central figure of the portrait is done in graphite. The woman in the portrait has an organic fluidity, and as Lans has described, the graphite omits the true color from the face of her portrait. The choice of graphite for her face gives her an almost robotic feel despite her organic and realistic features, which is amplified by the color where her eyes and mouth should be. Pure, opaque red gouache fills the woman’s eyes and mouth, and red lines — not unlike lasers — shoot from her mouth and each eye, meeting finally at a point in the air. The “Conciliation” series at the Black Wall Street Arts Gallery is off to a promising start with the works of Lans and Tamahn. Tulsans clearly took interest in the Gallery. The premiere was crowded, but in typical Tulsa fashion, there was never a feeling of coldness or pretentiousness. It was lively, with music playing and groups of people filing in and out of rooms to look at pieces or to purchase merchandise. I am eager to see what Dr. Wright will curate for the October exhibition of the “Conciliation” series for the Black Wall Street Arts Gallery, and I am
Located just south of Woodland Hills Mall on 71st street, the Black Bear Diner doesn’t just serve great food but also a wonderful atmosphere and kind people. With its homey decor and playful music around, you almost forget that you are next to a busy road and not in a smalltown diner. It officially opens to the public Monday, September 10, but I was able go to a preview on Saturday and get the full experience of a regular brunch meal. And what an experience it was. Walking in, you first see the mural of a park scene with two bears in it. Then you focus on the industrial pipes that are uncovered, giving the diner an even more rustic feel. Finally, you focus on the hostess,
When it came out, less than five minutes later (impressive for a completely filled restaurant), I was surprised at how big the portions were. The bacon and the eggs were what one would normally expect from a breakfast serving, but the pancakes were as big as my head! I was not able to finish both of them. I was seated near the bar, which, like any classic diner, was facing into the kitchen, and all the seats had fun little quotes on them from various people. From my viewpoint, I was able to see most of the restaurant, with families and couples having fun, all the while the staff was flowing in and out, bringing people their food and drinks. The staff was incredibly nice and helpful any time I asked. The restaurant mascots were even walking around and taking pictures with the kids and families. Overall, it was a fun diner with a
“The bacon and eggs were what one would normally expect... but the pancakes were as big as my head!” standing at what looks like an upturned log, smiling warmly at you. After you sit down, they hand you a newspaper, but when you open it is actually the menu. With play-onword food choices, such as “The Grizz” or “Bear’s Choice,” there is seemingly no end to the bear-related fun. Speaking of the food, it was delicious. I got the Bear’s Choice, which comes with two eggs and then two choices of some-
friendly atmosphere. The decorations made you feel as if you were in a small-town diner in a skiing village, and the food tasted like it was from homemade recipes. Sadly, I was unable to get dessert, but next time I go, I will definitely get the bear claw. I highly recommend the Black Bear Diner, as this “beary” great restaurant is sure to blow you away.
“In typical Tulsa fashion, there was never a feeling of coldness or pretentiousness.” Both artists have phenomenal pieces on display at the gallery — one which particularly caught my eye was “No More Bloody Backpacks,” an acrylic on canvas by Tamahn. It’s an illustration of a yellow backpack branded with “HOPE,” and with three
also eager to see how Black Wall Street Arts will continue to push the boundaries of our discussions about the Tulsa Race Massacre and Tulsa race relations in general.
The entirety of the diner is bear themed, complete with actual bears.
photo by Kaitlyn Argo
The State-Run Media
10 September 2018
the
State-Run media Sole employer of campus inebriates.
Batty new residents arrive on campus Resident bats push for equal rights amid evictions from campus dorms. Brooke-Lyne Holland Bat sympathizer Current reports say that homeless bats are trying to make residence in the Lottie Jane Mabee Hall. However, current residents are inconsiderate of their hopes of finding a new home. Over the last three weeks, there have been six bat sightings in Lottie, all of which have been inside different girls’ rooms. While the girls’ screams of terror echoed throughout campus, the poor bats cried in the corner at how their hostesses treated them like “animals.” After interviewing multiple of the residential bats on campus, many have said that they believed the open windows around the building were a blanket invitation to move in.
He likely learned this information after watching too much reality TV through students’ open blinds. Carl, a resident bat, recalled when he lived inside a wardrobe on the first floor in Lottie over the summer and was evicted when a freshman called the dorm Resident Advisers on him. “I was not even doing anything wrong, but I guess when they saw my black wings and pearly whites, they just had to call someone to contain all of ‘this.’” Carl gestured to himself. Carl said he originally lived by John Mabee Hall but relocated a year ago because he wanted to get away from Steve, the stupid owl outside the John who always tries to force him to get high from secondhand smoke. Now that Carl was kicked out, Carl not only has to put up with Steve, but has to put up with the constant piercing sound of alarms that come from the John every other night as well.
“... they believed the open windows around the building were a blanket invitation to move in.” When interviewed outside of Lottie, a mother bat, Beverly, recalled her run-in with a college girl, saying, “I am just appalled at how the girl was not even kind enough to say hello to us … she kind of just ran away…” Beverly wants to build a home and friendships with the residents for her two bat pups. “We overheard some girls talking about how great their rooms were, especially the ones by the vertical moving rooms, and had to check the place out.” Male bats claim that they just want to make friends with the females in Lottie because their species are too “difficult” to impress. One bat, Brian, mistakenly thought that the girls’ screams were the way human females express their affection, saying, “The girls scream when they see us so that must be good.”
Opposite of Carl’s views, his obnoxious brother, Ethan, has permanently made John Mabee Hall his home because he enjoys the sound of chaos every week. Ethan says he’d “rather live in the John because [he] loves the free entertainment every night.” He enjoys watching the boys vape in their room and then try to blame the fire alarm on “accidental burnt popcorn.” The bats here at TU are calling for justice against their unfair treatment and demand to be treated the same. They want to be able to apply to be legal residents at TU and, eventually, be allowed to apply to the University and become independent students. If things do not change soon, and the bats’ requests are not fulfilled, TU will have protests on the front lawn of Collins Hall and bats causing chaos around campus.
Weeding out the inebriates
Campus Security officers develop new surefire methods to catch potheads in the act. Sara Serrano Disapproves of dank cabbage
Amid changes in state legislation and a large influx of new students, Campus Security has now put in new programs to ensure that TU students stay sober. And rather than taking preventative measures, Campo will be looking to catch students in the act, which is far more effective and constructive. “You have no idea how many kids we find stumbling around drunk as a skunk on the daily,” said Officer Geraldo Herrero. “And now that they can get their hands on weed even easier than before, we are really stepping up our patrols to try to limit all the potheads in public as well. It’s not a good look for the university.” Thankfully, The State-Run Media has received exclusive intel into some of the places where Campus Security officers will be stationed to look for students in compromised conditions. Please take this—by no means exhaustive—list into consideration if you plan to leave your room in a less-thansober state. Or just don’t disappoint your mother in the first place. The Taco Bell Drive-Thru With the permission of the Taco Bell in front of TU, Campo will be setting up a DUI checkpoint at the end of their drive-thru after 10 p.m. To limit congestion, they won’t be stopping everyone. Particular attention will be
given to students asking for extra cheese or anyone who orders a Crunchwrap Supreme. If successful, this task force may extend to other fast food drive-thrus near the university, including Burger King, Waffle House and Pizza Hut. Keplinger Lecture Halls There will now be an increased police presence in Keplinger Hall around lunchtime. Officers will be patrolling the halls keeping an eye out for anyone sticking around after “Lunch and Learns” to take all of the leftovers. “One or two plates is fine,” said Officer Kyle Munst, the officer in charge of this task force. “We’re looking for students lifting entire trays of Qdoba or attempting to make off with as many Andolini’s boxes as they can carry.” QT Parking Lot Officers will only be checking this area after 2 a.m. “I don’t think we need to explain ourselves here,” said Officer Herrero. The Library This task force will not be put into action immediately. Starting Dead Week, officers will be on the lookout for anyone who looks a little bit too okay with the prospect of failing all of their classes. Suspicious behavior includes smiling, relaxed posture, engaging in casual conversations, reading only one book at a time and not incessantly posting on Snapchat about how stressed they are. With these new policies in place, Campus Security are confident that they will be able to get TU 100 percent clean.
graphic by Conner Maggio
Vladimir von Batterson protests for equal rights.
The Dining Dozen dishes out deceit An underground crime ring trades food for homework. James Terrell Not a TUlluminati member Something sinister is growing underneath the surface of TU. While most students go to class, study and complete their homework, there’s a growing number of people investing their dining dollars for extra “assistance.” Our source has been working undercover for quite some time now, and our informant thinks it’s time to bust this case wide open. They call themselves the “Dining Dozen,” an underground organization that has been spreading since the Spring 2016 semester. While it is insinuated there are only 12 of them, our informant has told us that a dozen was in fact an arbitrary number, and that they were more interested in finding a cool and catchy name. The group started off with simple roots: to have students do their homework and in return receive a candy bar at the C-Store in the Student Union. “It wasn’t hard for them to get people to do their homework,” states our informant. “People will do anything for free food.” Soon, the organization branched out, offering free lunches at the Student Union or coffee at the McFarlin Library. Everyone on campus had heard murmurs of the operation, but for some reason, no one was able to get into the inner circle. “The ritual was insane,” says our informant. “We were required to kneel before this golden statue of Goldie and place our IDs before her. Unfortunately, it isn’t the most
cultish thing I’ve done on this campus.” Our informant happened to be the roommate of the ring leader, Mechanical Engineering major Pauline Starter. The informant explained, “I was bored of my classes and needed something to do.” Of course, Campus Security was also fully aware of the organization’s presence. Campus Security officer Henry Rightworth states, “The Dining Dozen have been on our radar for quite some time. We’ve just been waiting for them to slip up.” He also said that this was the most exciting thing he’s done as a Campus Security officer, other than perhaps ticketing students five minutes after they leave their cars. Last-Minute Update: The organization’s core members were recently outed by exmember Larry Grundlestein. Sources state he was kneeling in front of Bayless Plaza, shouting, “I have soiled this university! Woe the shame! The humanity!” Campus Security stepped in and proceeded to question the student. He had apparently run out of dining dollars and went on a destructive rampage for being banished. At 11:58 p.m. Sunday, Campus Security invaded an abandoned Kep classroom, discovering half a dozen students giggling and playing board games. “They were surprisingly normal,” said Campus Security officer Alex Longo. “I expected them to have fangs and talons or something.” There has been no confirmation as to whether there is a link between Presidential Scholars and the Dining Dozen. However, rumors are trickling in that perhaps this was only a small portion of a larger crime syndicate. Could this be the TUluminati? Campus Security declined to comment.
Shady Sally dealing contraband IDs containing thousands of dining dollars.
graphic by Conner Maggio