Sports
Ross Parmley is TU’s new Athletic Director p. 4
Variety
Retro review: “Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid” p. 7
a student newspaper of the university of tulsa
Opinion
Romney’s wealth alienates the middle class p. 8
january 24, 2012 issue 14 ~ volume 97
Too little, Tulane: women fall to Green Wave Staff Report
T
Allie Stewart / Collegian
Senior forward Denise Lewis fires a free throw against Tulane Sunday afternoon. Tulsa was 10 for 10 from the stripe, but that impressive statistic was not enough to save the game. The Green Wave swamped TU 66-51.
he Golden Hurricane and the Green Wave clashed in two separate storms this week on the Reynolds Center court. Both Tulsa’s men’s and women’s basketball teams faced off against Tulane, with one game ending in triumph and the other in defeat. The men’s team diffused the Wave on Wednesday with a 60–55 victory. This was the team’s third win in a row. Tulsa’s men also defeated Rice 70–46 on Saturday, putting TU at 4–2 in Conference USA play and 11–9 overall. The women, who played Saturday, did not fare as well. While the team’s C-USA record is now 3–3, this most recent loss caused the Hurricane to fall to 8–9 on the season. “We were keeping track on the bench and we had 14 straight possessions where we didn’t score,” said Head Coach Matilda Mossman. “Part of that was our impatience on offense and our lack of discipline, and part of that was just them being more aggressive and us not handling that well.” Junior Taleya Mayberry scored a team high of 22 points on Sunday. Tulane’s Jamie Kaplan led the visiting team, with 11 points off the bench. The Golden Hurricane shot 37 percent from the field, but hit just one of nine attempted three-point shots. The free throw record was more impressive, with Tulsa sink-
ing all 10 shots from the foul line. The game started slow for the Golden Hurricane, which fell to an eight-point deficit in the first four minutes of the contest. Tulane managed a nine-point advantage with just under 15 minutes to go in the first half, but Tulsa rallied for a 14–5 run that tied the game at about eight minutes remaining. Tulsa managed its own ninepoint lead before the break, and the first half of the game ended with the Golden Hurricane leading the Green Wave 31–25. During the second half, the Hurricane and the Wave each held their own, and the score remained
See Tulane on page 4
Logan Miller / Collegian
Senior Steven Idlet, a center, attempts a layup against Tulane. Idlet netted 13 points and six rebounds in a 60–56 victory on Wednesday.
Famed columnist George Will to lecture at TU
A commentator on topics from the Nixon administration to baseball, George Will brings historical perspective to TU’s Presidential Lectures. John Lepine Staff Writer
T
he University of Tulsa will welcome acclaimed conservative columnist Dr. George Will to campus next week for the second
of three events in the 2011-2012 Presidential Lecture Series. The lecture, to be given at 7:30 p.m. on Feb. 2 in the Gussman Concert Hall of the Lorton Performance Center, is sponsored by the Darcy O’Brien Endowed Chair and is open to the public at no charge. Will, whose career in journalism spans 40 years, is a regular columnist for the Washington Post and Newsweek. His columns are syndicated in over 450 newspapers throughout the United States
and Europe, making him America’s most widely read political essayist. He has also appeared as a commentator on ABC’s “This Week” since the 1980s. The subject of Will’s lecture is “The Political Argument Today,” a fitting topic for a writer whose influence dates back to the Nixon administration. Though conservative, Will gained notoriety as a critic of Nixon, going on to win the Pulitzer Prize for Commentary for “distinguished commentary on a variety
of topics.” That “variety of topics” includes baseball: Will has written nine books about politics, but also two books on “America’s pastime.” Will serves on Major League Baseball’s Special Committee on On-field Matters and is a Chicago Cubs fan as a native Illinoisan, although he has been known to attend Nationals games as a resident of Washington D.C. Will holds five degrees, including Bachelors of Arts from Trinity College and the University of Ox-
ford, Masters of Arts from Oxford and Princeton, and a PhD from Princeton for a dissertation entitled “Beyond the Reach of Majorities: Closed Issues in the Open Society.” In addition to Will’s lecture, TU’s Presidential Lecture Series brought author Jonathan Franzen to campus in October and will conclude for the academic year with a joint lecture by famed Watergate-breaking journalists Carl Bernstein and Bob Woodward on March 27.
Students underestimate binge consumption A new report highlights intense, fast drinking by college students and young adults, who often fail to realize the risks. Emily Callen Staff Writer
A
ccording to a Center for Disease Control report, binge drinking is a greater problem than
previously thought. The report, released earlier this month, found that people aged 18 to 34 are more likely to be binge drinkers, and that the practice is more common among those who have been to college. Binge drinking is defined as consuming five alcoholic drinks in a short period of time for men, or four drinks for women. According to the report, more than half of the alcohol that adults drink is con-
sumed while binge drinking. The University of Tulsa encourages responsible alcohol use on campus. The University’s alcohol policy attempts to curtail binge drinking by requiring that events at which alcohol will be present be held between noon and 2 a.m., and that no event be longer than four hours in duration. Despite this policy, alcohol is abundantly available on and off campus, and students may not re-
alize when they are binge drinking. One student tallied his alcohol consumption based on the number of cocktails and beers consumed. He estimated that he had consumed five drinks in a single night. He was then asked to assess the number of servings of alcohol he had consumed, where one drink is defined as one 12-ounce beer, 8 ounces of malt liquor, one 5-ounce glass of wine, or 1.5 ounces of 80-proof distilled alcohol.
The student revised his estimate to 11 drinks, more than twice the original number. The student was quick to add that this level of alcohol use was not common for him: he had been celebrating his birthday. Another student accounted for the difference in number of beverages and number of servings of alcohol: “Everyone knows a serv-
See Drinking on page 3
TUE 1/24:
Fri 1/27:
SAT 1/28:
“The Addams Family”
“So TU, Think You Can Dance?”
Tulsa 66ers face the Mad Ants
The Tulsa Performing Arts Center stage will play host to the lovably macabre Addams Family from Jan. 24 to 29. The musical, based on the 1960’s TV show, has been heavily modified from the poorly-reviewed but popular Broadway version. Tickets range from $20 to $60.
TU students will show off their slick moves in a competitive dance event at 8 p.m. in the Lorton Performance Center. Guest judges will include Broadway choreographer Chet Walker, and styles will range from tap dance to hip-hop. Tickets are $15 for adults and $12 for students.
Fresh off a 98-91 victory over the Texas Legends, Tulsa’s very own minor league basketball team will face the Fort Worth Mad Ants at 7 p.m. Friday and the same time Saturday. The 66ers are 11 and 12 on the season. Single game tickets are $10 to $25.
24 JANUARY 2012
NEWS
THE COLLEGIAN : 2
NEWS
THE COLLEGIAN : 3
24 JANUARY 2012
Obama blocks pipeline, effects on Oklahoma mixed The Keystone XL Pipeline would have run through the state and brought constructions jobs but also increased gas prices. Emily Callen Staff Writer
On Wednesday, the Obama administration denied TransCanada’s application to build the Keystone XL pipeline. Environmental groups touted the decision made at the State Department’s recommendation as a major victory, while critics assert that the move hinders U.S. energy security. President Obama announced in November that the pipeline decision would be delayed until 2013, after the presidential election.
Republicans in Congress accelerated the decision by attaching a 60-day deadline to the temporary payroll tax cut extension passed in December. The State Department determined that 60 days was not an adequate amount of time to review the permit, and advised that it be denied. Obama did not close the door on approval should TransCanada apply in the future. The Keystone XL pipeline, if approved, will carry oil from the Canadian tar sands in Alberta through the central U.S., including Oklahoma, to the Gulf of Mexico. According to an independent analysis cited by Tulsa’s KRMG radio, the pipeline could create as many as 14,000 jobs in Oklahoma during the construction phase. Critics counter by saying that most of these are likely to be tem-
Eye on the world:
Jinan ElSabbagh Student Writer
Africa
SOMALIA The International Maritime Bureau reported a decrease in piracy in 2011. The Bureau credited measures such as deploying privately armed guards on ships and preemptive strikes by naval forces in cutting the number of ship hijackings in half from 2010 to 2011. Although the group noted that Somali pirates still accounted for more than half of all maritime piracy, their involvement has dropped. In 2011, only 28 successful hijackings took place, compared to 40 in 2010. The numbers are promising but the group warns the international community about Somalia’s limited resources and
security venues. The pirates may have lessened the number of successful attacks, but such attacks continue to procure tens of millions of dollars in ransom money.
Americas CANADA A Canadian naval officer has been indicted for selling state secrets to a foreign power. Forty-year-old Lieutenant Jeffrey Delisle allegedly began spying on behalf of a foreign government four years ago. As an officer at Trinity, Canada’s military intelligence and communication center, Delisle tracked military ships and submarines in the Atlantic Ocean. Despite his rather low military rank, he worked in areas that required high the mother and Security released custody a short time later.
Jan. 8
Jan. 7
6:18 a.m. An officer on patrol located a suspicious person in the parking lot of USA West. Upon contact, officers determined that the female subject was not a student. The subject appeared intoxicated and verbally confirmed the officers’ suspicion. She stated that she had been drinking in an apartment with friends and left alone. The subject stated that her mother was a professor of the university. Officers contacted
From Drinking on cover ing of anything is half of what you actually consume in real life … on the Snickers it says ‘contains two servings,’ but no one ever actually eats half of the Snickers bar and saves the rest for later.” Binge drinking plays a role in the “work hard, play hard” ethos
Courtesy the Center for Disease Control
11:00 p.m. Officers responded to a fight in progress in the 3600 building of Mayo Village. Upon arrival, officers met with the resident of the apartment and another male. They both stated that a third party was at the apartment and a verbal argument ensued regarding a previous relationship. Officers determined that there was no physical altercation. 5:25 a.m. Officers were dispatched to the 1700 building of USA West apartments for a noise complaint. Upon arrival, officers could hear loud common on college campuses. Binge drinking is seen as a celebratory ritual and a reward for finishing a tough assignment. According to the CDC, most binge drinkers are not alcohol dependent or alcoholic. Still, the
porary: once construction is complete, the jobs will disappear. In addition, some Oklahoma landowners in the path of the proposed pipeline stand to lose their
“Much of the proposed route overlays the Ogallala Aquifer, a major source of drinking water that also supplies water to Midwest farms” land through eminent domain. TransCanada may choose to work with landowners to allay these concerns, possibly by altering its proposed route. This was the case when Nebraska lawmakers on both sides of the aisle moved to block Keystone construction that they felt threatened the Sand Hills wetlands in
water that also supplies water to Midwest farms. They say that a spill would devastate the Midwestern agricultural economy. TransCanada has said that its pipeline is safe and that any capacity for environmental damage is limited. While the rest of the country may stand to benefit from in-
security clearance. The Canadian Television Network believes that he was trading secrets with Russia but did not explain the source of their assumption. China and Iran are also possible outlets for Delisle’s information, though Canada’s defense minister, Peter MacKay, urged the public not to speculate. Russian officials have not commented, nor has the United States’ Justice Department, FBI or CIA, despite suggestions that Delisle’s intelligence reports could have included the locations and patterns of U.S. ships and submarines.
our targets and should resign; otherwise we will kill them.” Aatif’s death and the Taliban’s threats buttress allegations that Pakistan is the most dangerous area for journalists. There is no word on whether the Pakistani government is investigating the incident.
Asia PAKISTAN The Pakistani Taliban warn of more murders after a reporter for the U.S.-sponsored radio station, Voice of America, was gunned down while praying. Mukarram Khan Aatif was attending evening prayers at a mosque in the northwestern town of Shabqadar when a masked gunman opened fire and shot Aatif at least three times in the head and chest. He was taken to a hospital but announced dead upon arrival. The gunman fled on motorbike with another masked individual. Mukurram Khurasani, an aide to a Taliban leader, took responsibility for the act, saying, “all reporters of Voice of America are music from within an apartment. Officers made contact with the resident who stated that he and some friends were playing video games. Due to the posted quiet hours, all guests were asked to leave. A total of seven guests were escorted out.
Jan. 10
9:38 p.m. Officers responded to Mayo Village to the report of a student attempting suicide. Upon arrival, officers located the student and spoke with him. The student stated that he had recently broken up with his girlfriend and wanted to hurt himself. EMSA and TPD was contacted. The student agreed to be evaluated by Behavioral Health Services and was escorted by TPD. including car crashes, violence, and sexually-transmitted diseases.” Alcohol abuse has been related to several injuries on campus, including, in 2008, the death of a TU freshman. That year, President
“Binge drinking plays a role in the ‘work hard, play hard’ ethos common on college campuses” CDC report estimated that in 2006, binge drinking-related costs in lost productivity, healthcare and crime totaled $764 per person. According to the report, “drinking too much contributes to over 54 different injuries and diseases,
the state. Critics of the pipeline also point out that much of the proposed route overlays the Ogallala Aquifer, a major source of drinking
Steadman Upham imposed harsh sanctions on fraternities found to be supplying alcohol to underage students. Since then, on-campus drinking has primarily provided fodder for the Campus Crime Watch.
Europe SPAIN Spanish authorities will be extending a $10 billion credit line to its 17 nearly bankrupt districts. The move, according to Spain’s budget minister, Cristóbal Montoro, would help these ailing regions and would come with stipulations. New legislation will likely be passed in order to penalize overspending and other infractions. In the past few years, the regions have undertaken expensive public service and capital projects, some of which, like two additional airports, are not frequented or used by anyone. Spain’s current political structure may be partially blamed. After Francisco Franco’s death in 1975, the regions asserted their autonomy and repudiated the central government’s power to interfere in their affairs. Some experts argue that due to the regions’ mishandling of funds and the dire economic situation in Europe, the government may need A copy of this report has been sent to Housing and Student Affairs.
creased Canadian oil exports, the Keystone XL pipeline would likely increase energy prices in Oklahoma. The pipeline is intended in part to relieve the glut of oil around the Cushing, Oklahoma distribution center. The glut plays a significant role in keeping Oklahoma gas prices well below the national average: gasoline in Tulsa currently costs 16 cents less per gallon than the U.S. average. Despite this month’s decision, construction on domestic portions of the pipeline may proceed. TransCanada only requires State Department approval for the portion of the pipeline that will cross the border with Canada. This way, if a subsequent permit application is approved, much of the pipeline will already be in place. to project more authority, calling the credit line just one example of much needed change.
Middle East ISRAEL Israeli Defense Minister Edhud Barak rejected any speculation that Israel will be attacking Iran. This assertion comes amid growing tension between the assassination of several Iranian nuclear scientists. Iran’s government has blamed Israeli intelligence for the murders, and Iranian cyber hackers have retaliated by crippling Israeli websites. Although Israel has been hinting that it reserved the right to attack if it deems Iran a threat, Barak noted that “we don’t have a decision or a date for taking such a decision.” Iran’s nuclear program has been the primary source of the tension, though Iranian officials continue to deny that their nuclear enrichment programs are for military purposes. The U.S. is negotiating talks between Iran and Israel after a year of stalling. Israel is confident that Iran is now more open to negotiations since the E.U. and the U.S. have increased pressure on Iran with threats of stiffer economic sanctions.
Jan. 12
11:00 p.m. An Officer received the report of a stolen bicycle. The victim stated that he parked and secured his red Fiji road bike prior to Christmas Break. Upon his return, the bicycle and lock were missing.
12:34 p.m. An officer was dispatched to the Alexander Health Center to the report of an ill employee. Upon arrival, the officer was informed that the employee was assisted to the Health Center and was recommended to be transported to St. Johns. The employee consented and was transported.
5:01 p.m. An officer was dispatched to the John Mabee Hall to take the report of a lost debit card. A student stated that he had been to a few different buildings on campus and used his debit card and realized it was missing and contacted Security.
4:00 p.m. An officer was dispatched to Sharp Chapel to the report of a stolen painting. A University employee discovered the missing painting and contacted Security. Later that day the missing painting was located in a closet in Sharp Chapel.
Jan. 11
broke? Write news for the
and get paid. E-mail kalen-petersen@utulsa.edu for more information.
In our Jan. 17 issue, The Collegian erroneously referred to Marcy Lawless as “the late” in an article about the service award named in her honor. We are pleased to state that Ms. Lawless is not, in fact, deceased, and are reminded of a quote by Mark Twain: “Reports of my death are greatly exaggerated.” The Collegian apologizes to Ms. Lawless.
Sports
24 JANUARY 2012
M. Basketball UCF W. Basketball UAB Indoor Track W. Tennis
Jan. 25 Jan. 26 Jan. 27
Jayhawk Classic vs. North Carolina State
Jan. 28
M. Basketball at SMU M. Tennis at East Tennessee W. Tennis vs. Tennessee/UC Davis
Reynolds Center
7 p.m.
Reynolds Center
7 p.m.
Lawrence, Kan. Knoxville, Tenn.
All Day 9 a.m.
Dallas, Texas Lexington, Ky. Knoxville, Tenn.
2 p.m. 2 p.m. TBA
Jan. 29
W. Basketball at SMU Dallas, Texas M. Tennis vs. Kentucky/N. Carolina State Lexington, Ky.
2 p.m. TBA
THE COLLEGIAN : 4
Volleyball’s Tyler Henderson earns All-American honors
Collegian file photo
Junior volleyball star Tyler Henderson recently received two national accolades as she was named second-team All-American by Volleyball magazine and first-team AllNational Team by COBRA magazine. Henderson was also named the C-USA Player of the Year after helping Tulsa win the C-USA and beat Oklahoma in the NCAA tournament.
Parkour brings News and notes: excitement to TU Staff Report
This semester Tulsa students can be seen flying through the air as they participate in the exciting new sport of Parkour. Phillip Fischaber Student Writer
We have all seen people running around campus, but for some it is more than just going for a jog. For some Tulsa students, it is the exciting urban sport of parkour. Parkour is designed for running through natural and urban environments, encouraging both speed
and endurance. While parkour aficionados seek to keep the sport non-competitive, they seek to go as fast as they safely can, ever increasing the excitement of the sport. In addition to running, parkour involves jumping, climbing, rolling, and other gymnastic activities. Participants use these varied techniques to scale natural and urban obstacles such as buildings and cliffs. Popularized by movies, such as Casino Royale and The Bourne Ultimatum and video games such as Mirror’s Edge, the sport has grown rapidly encouraging run-
Size matters: Tulsa wows fans with massive new scoreboard
ners across the country to jump across alleys and between tall buildings, rolling to land without injury. However, because the university disapproves of students climbing on top of buildings, you are more likely to see students jumping off the plaza in front of McFarlin Library than the roof. Still, in less restrictive environments participants will climb walls and fences, often bounding over barriers, using convenient objects as vaulting poles. Although this sport may seem like an underground activity, Parkour is seen as such an effective form of exercise that militaries and police forces around the world have begun to incorporate it into their training. Many feel it is the most effective way for soldiers or police to pursue people in urban environments, allowing our personnel to continue chases even when their targets cross ravines, jump off of buildings, or aerially cross alleys to avoid capture.
G.J. Kinne dominates Collegiate Bowl: Former Tulsa quarterback G.J. Kinne and offensive lineman Matt Romine participated in the AstroTurf NFLPA Collegiate Bowl this Saturday. The game is designed to showcase graduating players who hope to be drafted into the NFL. Kinne was dominant thought the game, completing six out of nine passes for 79 yards and a 20 yard rushing touchdown. Kinne so impressed those in attendance he was named MVP following the game. Going into the game Kinne was projected by many to be a possible late round draft pick, but after his performance Saturday his draft stock has the potential to increase. Men’s Tennis looses thriller to No. 6 Stanford, drops decision to No. 20 North Carolina: Tulsa’s men’s tennis team is playing what may be one of the most difficult schedules in the nation this year. The Hurricane is currently scheduled to face 13 teams ranked
in the preseason top 30. The team almost scored a major upset against No.6 Stanford Friday that would have given its season a major boost. After taking the doubles point to start the match, the Hurricane battled the Cardinal to a 3–3 tie, putting the match on the backs of Tulsa’s Japie De Klerk and Stanford’s Ryan Thacher. Although Thacher would eventually win the point, and the match, Tulsa certainty kept it suspenseful to the very end. Longtime Penn State football coach Joe Paterno dies at age 85: This Sunday Joe Paterno lost his battle with lung cancer, ending for him what has been a painful last year. Paterno had been head coach of the Penn State Nittany Lions since 1966—46 years—before being forced to step down amid the Jerry Sandusky child abuse scandal. Despite the tumultuous last months of his life Paterno will be remembered by many—in University Park and across the nation—for his expansive life accomplishments and his exuberant personality.
Ross Parmley named new AD
Tulsa filled the vacancy left by Bubba Cunningham this week when it appointed Oklahoma native Ross Parmley athletic director. J.Christopher proctor Sports Editor
Collegian file photo
As the basketball season gets into full swing, Hurricane fans are able to see it all on Tulsa’s gigantic new Jumbotron in the Reynolds Center.
From Tulane on cover
close until nine minutes left in the game, with 47–44 to Tulsa. “We keep having too many stretches of time when we are stuck on a number and today that number was 47,” Coach Mossman said. “At the 9:01 mark we have a three-point lead, but then we don’t
score another point until the 1:34 mark.” The game ended with the Green Wave on a 17–0 run and earning a 15-point victory as they defeated the Golden Hurricane 66–51. TU women’s basketball returns to the Reynolds Center at 7 p.m. on Thursday for a match-up with the University of Alabama at Birmingham.
Love sports? Need money? Want to see your name in the paper? Write for the Collegian. We need all the help we can get! Email jchristopher-proctor@utulsa.edu for more information
This Thursday, Ross Parmley was named the new athletic director of the University of Tulsa, replacing former A.D. Bubba Cunningham who left for the same position at The University of North Carolina Chapel Hill in October. Parmley served as deputy A.D. under Cunningham and has been acting as interim A.D. since Cunningham’s departure. Initially the university planned to postpone the appointment of a new athletic director until a new president was found to replace Steadman Upham, who will be leaving following this semester, but because of the tumultuous state of college athletics the university decided it was important to have “stable and permanent leadership” within the athletic department. In his first address as athletic director, Parmley emphasized his eagerness to compete for championships, high academic standards, and fans. In regard to each of these three areas Parmley declared that “we will grow, we will compete, and we will win.” Parmley also spoke of the role
Photo courtesy Tulsa World
Athletic Director Ross Parmley shakes hands with Tulsa President Steadman Upham before addressing the media in his first news conference as athletic director Thursday.
of the intercollegiate sports within the University of Tulsa, stating that “athletics is not the most important part of the University. We are a part of a bigger puzzle.” He also acknowledged that athletics was often one of the “most visible” parts of the university and as such it has an obligation to represent TU positively. Regarding the unstable landscape of college athletics, and especially the current conference realignment, Parmley said the Tulsa athletics department would “focus on what we can control” and “do things the right way.” On this subject he also repeatedly mentioned
the possible merger between Conference USA and the Mountain West, something that has apparently gained momentum despite the departure of key schools from both conferences. Parmley, 38, is the youngest athletic director in the C-USA and one of the youngest in the nation. He is an Oklahoma native—from Lawton—and has a bachelor’s degree from Cameron University and a master’s from the University of Oklahoma. Before coming to TU in 2005 as the Director of Football Operations, he was the Director of Athletics for Norman Public Schools.
Sports
THE COLLEGIAN : 5
24 JANUARY 2012
Scoreboard:
Tim Tebow’s late game magic fuels excitement
Second-half surge steers TU past Tulane
Perhaps no NFL player has received as much buzz, attention, adulation and scorn this season as Denver Broncos quarterback Tim Tebow. Gregg Doyel, columnist for cbssports.com, called him, for better or worse, “the story of this NFL season.” Clay Travis, sports radio broadcaster and blogger, said he was “perhaps the most clutch football player of our generation.” Many have praised Tebow’s very public expressions of Christian faith and values, but just as many, it seems, are detractors. Meanwhile “Tebowing” has gone viral, with thousands posting pictures of themselves assuming Tebow’s one-knee prayer posture in unlikely places. Saturday Night Live even joined in the fray, lampooning Tebow in a sketch where Jesus Christ visits the Broncos locker room to say “You’re welcome” for providing Denver with a six-game winning streak, and to suggest that Tebow “take it down a notch.” 34.2 million people tuned in to witness the Broncos’ playoff walloping at the hands of the New England Patriots, making that match-up the most watched late Saturday Divisional Playoff game ever, despite the one-sidedness of the final score (New England led 35–7 at the half before putting the game away at 45–10). According to an ESPN poll, Tebow became the most popular athlete in America this season. He was a prevalent topic of discussion on sports radio shows, used in sermon illustrations by devout fans, and even appropriated as an icon by the Michelle Bachmann campaign during a “fourth-quarter” push in the Iowa Caucuses.
Tebow’s 80-yard touchdown pass to Demaryius Thomas in playoff overtime against the Steelers also broke Twitter’s record for most tweets per second for a sporting event. There were 9,420 tweets per second immediately after the Broncos’ eleven-second overtime victory. Still, perhaps no sports figure has been as polarizing as Tebow. Not only has he been criticized for his zealous proclamation of Christianity, but there are many who maintain that he simply does not have what it takes to be an NFL starting quarterback, citing his awkward throwing motion, fullback-like build and atrocious stats in some games (Tebow was 3-of16 against the Chicago Bears in the first half, before going 18-of-23 for a—of course—“miraculous” second-half comeback). Future seasons will have the final say on whether Tim Tebow is truly a good NFL quarterback or just a college ball hero with a chipper disposition and a whole lot of luck (or blessing). Tebow, who was only named the starter after QB Kyle Orton led the Broncos to a 1–4 start, hopes to capitalize on the offseason to hone his skill. “I feel like I’ve improved a lot in a lot of different forms of my game,” Tebow said. “And I continue to improve and continue to get a lot better, and I believe I can, and I’m looking forward to putting in work.” Whatever happens, Tebow is determined to maintain the perspective and priorities that have guided him thus far. In a completely uncontroversial move, Tebow spends time before and after game with an individual challenged by health problems. Tebow flies in the entire family, puts them in a hotel, eats with them, gets them pregame passes and good tickets, and spends time with them up until kickoff and after the last ball in snapped. “It’s by far the best thing I do to get myself ready,” Tebow said. “It puts it all into perspective. The game doesn’t really matter. I mean, I’ll give 100 percent of my heart to win it, but in the end, the thing I most want to do is not win championships or make a lot of money, it’s to invest in people’s lives, to make a difference.”
Tulsa turned the tables Wednesday night at the Reynolds Center, however, using a second–half run to take control of the game in the Hurricane’s 60–56 triumph over Tulane. Down seven at halftime, a stifling Tulsa defense limited the Green Wave to 24 points on 24 percent shooting in the secondhalf. The win marked the third victory in a row for TU, and vaulted the Golden Hurricane above .500. TU moved to 10–9, and 3–2 in conference play. Sophomore Jordan Clarkson led
Ricky Tarrant and Jordan Callahan, who poured in 15 and 14 points respectively. The Green Wave fell to 12–6 overall, and 0–4 in C-USA play. The Golden Hurricane fans collectively breathed a sigh of relief as their team uncharacteristically made free throw after free throw down the stretch to seal the win. TU finished the game shooting 14-15 from the free throw line. The TU men are entering the meat of the conference schedule and appear to be finding their form right in the nick of time. Despite the slightly disappointing season
so far, the Golden Hurricane’s resilience has never been questioned, as they have bounced back from numerous gut-wrenching losses to get to a respectable position. This Saturday Tulsa dominated Rice 70–46 in Houston to extend the team’s winning streak to four games. The Hurricane will be back home at 7 p.m. Wednesday night to face UCF. The Knights will provide a tough test for Tulsa as they are currently leading the C-USA and defeated defending national champion Connecticut earlier this year.
Although the Denver Broncos have been eliminated from the playoffs, their starting quarterback Tim Tebow has become one of the biggest names in sports due to his late game triumphs and his Christian zeal.
Jan. 18 M. Basketball Tulane W 60–56 Jan. 19 W. Basketball
at. Houston
W 77–48
Jan 20
John Lepine Staff Writer
M. Tennis Stanford L 4–3 Jan. 21 M Basketball at Rice W 70–46 Jan. 22 M. Tennis
North Carolina L 5–2
W. Basketball Tulane L 66–51
Logan Miller / Collegian
Eric McClellan, a freshman guard from Austin Texas, cuts past Tulane’s Jorden Callahan as the Hurricane blows by the Green Wave 60–56 Wednesday night.
Men’s basketball has started to peak at just the right time, as decisive wins against Tulane and Rice maintain Tulsa’s four-game winning streak and position the Hurricane to compete for a conference championship. Zach Patterson Student Writer
Blowing second-half leads has become a staple in Golden Hurricane repertoire this season.
the way for Tulsa with 16 points and junior Scottie Haralson added 12 points. Senior Steven Idlet came off the bench to contribute 13 points and six rebounds. Idlet along with sophomore Kodi Maduka set up a blockade in the paint, as each swatted five blocks. TU never let go of the lead after senior forward D.J. Magley stole the ball and clumsily took it the length of the court, which resulted in an old-fashioned three-point play. The play put the Golden Hurricane up 41–38 and garnered as many laughs as it did cheers. Tulane was carried by guards
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Seeking part time staff members! Great paid experience for anyone studying English, Communication, Design, Advertising, and many more. Email collegian@utulsa.edu to learn more about applying for:
True Blue Neighborhood! Project Warmth:
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Mentoring a child can change a life forever. Learn about more opportunities at the TBN Volunteer Center.
Community Service Work Study:
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True Blue Friday at the Food Bank
Applications are now available in the TBN Volunteer Center or online. Come by for a service opportunity at the Community Food Bank of Eastern Oklahoma on Jan. 27 from 1-3 p.m. For more information about these or other volunteer opportunities, contact Kathy Shelton in the True Blue Neighbor Volunteer Center in Holmes Student Center, room 25.
variety
24 JANUARY 2012
Keys lets down with “El Camino”
THE COLLEGIAN : 6
The Loaded Dice steal show at Cain’s
The Black Keys’s latest album was not as good as its last, yet still better than artists featured on MTV. Nicholas Foster Student Writer
I really want to love The Black Keys. I want to be thrilled with the band’s garage-rock, gungho, play-five-notes-per-song approach. I want to praise its attempt at merging the 1940s Chess blues sound with modern indie rock. I want to hail the blue collar simplicity, and I want to say that “El Camino,” its latest installment, is packed with energy and kept me interested from start to finish. Unfortunately, the truth is much less enthusiastic. At first glance, this is a radical shift from 2010’s “Brothers.” The band has traded in its slow, lurching dirges for up-tempo beats—a change sure to incur the ire of many fans. I did not mind the swap—and though a tune reminiscent of “Everlasting Light” would have been a nice change of pace— the perceived “danciness” of the album did not bother me. The lack of quality songs, however, did. “El Camino” opens with the single “Lonely Boy,” which, aside from the sped-up tempo, is straight out of the Keys’ playbook—lighthearted, catchy and repetitive without dragging on. The song sets a generally positive tone for the rest of the album. Unfortunately, it does not hold. The second song, “Dead and Gone,” is somewhat of a momentum killer, and by the back half (or side two, for those still using vinyl), the music has lost all energy and inspiration. Songs like “Hell of a Season” and “Nova Baby” sound so perfectly blah that listeners might forget the stereo is on, while others like “Money Maker” feel underdeveloped, as though there was another section that the band forgot to write. On top of that, the lyrics consist
Lucas Forsythe / Collegian
Photo courtesy Lastfm.com
The indie rock band, the Black Keys, reach heightened popularity with its latest installment, “El Camino.”
almost completely of first person tales of heartbreak—a topic that becomes stale after three or four songs. To make things worse, nine of the 11 tracks lie in the three minute range, giving every song roughly the same arc. There are still a handful of positives to take away from this album. As always, Dan Auerbach’s guitar buzzes and spits out riffs with a raunchy, unique tone, and Patrick Carney’s drums are perhaps more driving and bombastic than they have ever been. “Lonely Boy” is a bright spot, as are parts of “Run Right Back” and “Gold on the Ceiling.” The album’s standout, “Little Black Submarines,” shows the band at its most vulnerable and sonically ambitious, changing halfway through from a soulful ballad to a Led Zeppelin throwback while repeating the same lyrics. It is a nice break from an album that verges on monotonous after more than one song, and might be one of the Keys’ best compositions to date. Unfortunately, this is not a particularly good album. It has highlights, but it is extremely top heavy, and the falloff between the good and bad songs is dramatic. Still, The Black Keys at their most uninspired are still more enjoyable than much of the popular music thrown at us by the mainstream.
Cole Park of the Loaded Dice greets fans after a packed show at Cain’s Ballroom on Friday night. Cole is the younger brother of Seth Park who with drummer Charlie Spears (both seniors at TU) founded the musical group over a year ago. The band celebrated the recent release of its first studio album “Demonstration Recordings” at the show. The concert was part of Z104.5 The Edge “Homegroan Heroes” band showcase that featured a dynamic selection of local bands throughout the night.
Ni hao, Guang Zhou! A local Tulsa favorite offers delicious and authentic Chinese cuisine. Anna Bennett Student Writer
P.F. Chang’s is fancy, Pei Wei is yummy and Panda Express is fast. But if students want real, authentic Chinese food, they should ditch the chains and sketchy buffets. Instead, head about a mile east down 11th Street to Guang Zhou Dim Sum. Here, the food is fresh, delicious and totally authentic. This is not Grandma’s sweet and sour pork we’re talking— many of the dishes are totally unknown to the average collegiate connoisseur, and even dishes like kung pao chicken are very different from what they may be used to. But in this case, different is a good thing. Guang Zhou boasts an assortment of soups, noodles, fried rice dishes, vegetarian options, poulty, red meat, seafood … the guest will never lack for choices. In addition, the menu has “hot pots” designed to share. What Guang is most known for is Dim Sum, which refers to eating lots of small appetizers, usually dumplings or similar confections, in groups of three. This is a great
LET’S CHANGE OUR CITY.
Anna Bennett / Collegian
This typical Guang Zhou meal features delicious pork and shrimp dumpling soup, with shrimp dumplings in a broth with noodles, Asian greens and chunks of pork.
way to experience cultural flavor and variety, but these delicious little bites add up fast, so be prepared to spend for the full experience. The wonderful and unique fare at this local restaurant is a little more expensive than some Chinese alternatives, but it is definitely worth it. Although patrons will likely shell out around $15 for dinner, the portions are generous and the quality is high. The soups are more affordable, and definitely a meal in themselves. Guang Zhou also has
a great lunch special during the week if students want to experience this local spot on a budget. Students should keep in mind that they are paying for the food, not the atmosphere; there is only so much aesthetic improvement one can make to an old McDonald’s building. But there is nothing “McChinese” about it the fare at Guang Zhou. Students looking for a unique and authentic experience just a short walk from campus will find that this is the right place.
LET’S SERVE
TULSA. FEB. 25
SERVICE DAY2012
SIGN UP YOURSELF OR SIGN UP YOUR TEAM AT UTULSA.EDU/SA TODAY.
Variety
THE COLLEGIAN : 7
College Lifehacks: Exercise
24 JANUARY 2012
Need help surviving the treacherous ups and downs of college life? Allow College Lifehacks to hack your life and increase productivity.
By Cory Bys
John Lepine Staff Writer
One thing that we here at College Lifehacks have always stood up for is productive studying and efficiency in schoolwork. You know that, dear reader, and we hope our advice has turned you into a classroom hero, an academic legend, a collegiate champion of the highest degree. But let us not forget that old classical ideal, “Mens sana in corpore sano”—a sound mind in a sound body. Could there be inefficiencies and bad habits that are plaguing your exercise as much as your study habits? Well, the first key to exercising is, astonishingly, doing it. It may surprise you to discover it, but exercise is much more effective when it is actually executed, accomplished or otherwise performed, instead of merely considered, dreamt or otherwise contemplated. This concession, however, I will grant: exercise whenever you want to. I find going to the gym first thing in the morning to be a chore. My tired body murmurs protests, and my hand is quicker to reach for the snooze button than for a dumbbell or pull-up bar. So I exercise in the afternoons, clearing my head and relieving all the stress accumulated during class. Exercise at the time of day that appeals to you most, and you are much likelier to actually do it. Additionally, remember the benefits of exercise. Vanity (or “self-esteem,” politely) is a powerful motivator, but there are many more benefits to staying fit than just physical appearance. Exercise boosts the immune system, fights off depression and enhances brain function. It improves sleep (except for heavy exercise right before bed), fights off the “disease of affluence” (like heart disease and diabetes) and releases endorphins. So, assuming that you actually do exercise, what should you do? Whatever your goals, they should include both cardiovascular and strength training. You need both aerobic and anaerobic exercise— endurance and strength are not much use without each other. Even those not interested in “bulking up” should still try strength training: muscle is denser than fat, so weightlifting has a slimming effect, especially for women, who are typically not hormonally capable of developing large muscles. When weightlifting, skip the machines and focus on free weights. Most exercise machines target certain major muscles effectively, but fail to build overall strength because they minimize the work done by the host of tiny stabilizer muscles that support the work of the big muscles. You are less likely to injure yourself in real life if you use free weights and your body weight (dumbbells, pull-up bars, etc.) instead of letting a machine do all the stabilizing work for your muscles. Perform both the concentric movement and the eccentric movement. Your muscles need to be good at contracting and expanding—not just contracting. So when you curl a dumbbell, raise it up slowly and lower it down slowly; they are different movements that increase arm strength in different ways. Finally, be purposeful. When you go to the gym, have a plan, carry it out fast enough to get tired and then get out of there. Maintain consistency in your workouts so you can track your progress. Challenge yourself to work a little harder each time; your body grows stronger when you force it to the point of failure. Study harder, live longer, trick yourself into being a better person. Hack your life.
Photo courtesy Twentieth Century Fox Film Corporation
Two notorious outlaws—Butch Cassidy, played by Paul Newman (left), and the handsome Sundance Kid, portrayed by Robert Redford (right)—shoot their way out of trouble while in Bolivia, during the most famous scene in the film.
Who are those guys? Studio 54: A Weekly Review of All Things Retro. Elliot Bauman Student Writer
1969 was arguably one of the most tumultuous years of modern history. During that time, the United States and Soviet Union spacerace reached new heights when the US landed astronauts on the moon, and there was also fierce public opposition towards American involvement in the Vietnam conflict—which eventually resulted in four dead students at Kent State University. Finally, the Beatles, Jimi Hendrix and the Rolling Stones graced the world with some of the best music ever heard. But did the film industry contribute any marvels to this significant year? Without a doubt. One major film was “Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid”, from director George Roy Hill. Even today, “Butch Cassidy” is still considered one of the most iconic films ever produced. “Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid” may not be all the talk in the twenty-first century, but the 1969 film still maintains its reputation as a true American classic. “Butch Cassidy” holds a spot on the American Film Institute’s “100 Years … 100 Movies” list, and for good reason. The film stars Paul Newman, as Butch Cassidy, and Robert Redford, playing the pistol virtuoso Sundance Kid, and tells the tale of two Western outlaws as they flee from justice and attempt to maintain their “Hole in the Wall” gang and miraculous criminal career. Such a chase takes Cassidy and Sundance across the old American West, up through New York, and eventually to Bolivia, where the
outlaws struggle to conduct robberies in Spanish. Viewers who tend to dislike Western films should not shy from the film. While the film is indeed set in late 1800s Wyoming and certainly features its share of cowboy hats and horseback riding, “Butch Cassidy” also contains enough hot-shot pistol shooting, snappy dialogue—for those interested, the film makes a humorous Oklahoma reference—and old fashioned swagger to entertain the majority of viewers. If it still sounds dull, then the film’s various gunfights, robberies and explosions should do the trick. Furthermore, running below two hours, “Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid” makes for a quick viewing and does not require an entire afternoon or evening to view, as is the case with many movies released during the same time period. Any serious film enthusiast, or anyone looking for some old, classy, entertainment should consider taking one-hundred and twelve minutes to see this film. Although copies of the film are a bit elusive these days, they can occasionally be found floating around Vintage Stock stores, and it is also available through Netflix streaming. To quote Cassidy himself, “That ought to do it!”
Spiked Punch Lines Improv presents: unlikely love song titles Anna Bennett Student Writer
Love is in the air. And what better way to win hearts and get booty than by serenading your victim— rather, love interest—with an expression of your emotion in musical form? That’s right, a love song! But this time, don’t waste your time with that Josh Groban crap. He has no idea how you feel. Instead, why not impress your lover with these lesser-known love songs? 1. My Love’s Drinking Straw 2. I Love You Like I Love Poop 3. I Don’t Care About Your College Degree (Let’s Screw)
4. ILY Means I’m Leaving You 5. If I Loved You, This Would Be a Love Song 6. Power Chord of Love 7. I Love My Cow 8. Shoes Are Fine 9. Lazy Eye 10. Your Toes Stench of Loveliness If these tantalizing tunes prove ineffective, and your sweetie runs in the opposite direction, then unfortunately you are on your own. Just don’t forget to pay royalties, and be sure to come and see the whole Spiked Punch Lines gang at 8 p.m. every Monday and Wednesday in Kendall Hall room 110.
Anna Bennett / Collegian
Must-have apps of 2012 1. Words with Friends— This one is easily the best casual multiplayer game. It is like Scrabble but easier, players can just plug in letters and discover new words while trying to crush their opponents. 2. Instagram—This free app is great for casually sharing photos with friends. It is like Twitter for photos; users can see what their friends have been up to with photos that look great with a selection of photo filters that can spice up a boring picture of food. 3. Pandora—This is the best free music app by far. Just pick a station and go. 4. Tiny Wings—This highly addictive game is extremely simple and fun. Play as a little bird whose wings are not big enough to let him fly. With great art and sound effects, this is an entertaining casual game. 5. Temple Run—This is likely the best free game in the app store right now. Gamers play as a character who stole an idol from a temple and is running from mutant monkeys. Dodge left and right while trying to collect coins that enable you to purchase in-game power ups. 6. Netflix—Anyone with a Netflix account can stream movies and shows onto their phones or iPods
for no added cost. Who would not want to watch an episode of their favorite show on their way to class? (Or even in class— be careful.) 7. Fruit Ninja—This game is worth the dollar for Martial arts experts, hoodie ninjas or maybe normal people too. Chop the fruit—it is as simple as that. 8. Epic Citadel—This game walk-through is purely for showing off what an awesome graphics engine can do. Explore castle grounds and take it all in with graphics that rival Xbox and PlayStation 3. 9. Wolfram Alpha— This app serves as an encyclopedia of numbers. What is the average air speed velocity of an African swallow? Wolfram knows. Siri—featured on the latest iPhone—utilizes Wolfram for information as well. 10. Rdio—Although this is a paid music service, it is worth it to music buffs that have a huge library that they can’t fit onto their devices. It allows streaming of what is basically a vast iTunes library, while allowing for high quality downloads for those times when signal is unavailable. This service is also awesome for discovering new artists and creating playlists for any situation.
Crystal Bridges delights Wal-Mart heiress Alice Walton’s impressive collection of fine art is expansive. Emily Callen Staff Writer
Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art is located just 120 miles from Tulsa in Bentonville, Arkansas. Its expansive and impressive collection and free admission make it well worth the trip. The physical structure, designed by Israeli-born American architect Moshe Safdie, dazzles, while the art collection inside holds something for everyone. Alice Walton, the Wal-Mart heiress, is the museum’s primary benefactor. Despite her association with the discount chain, Walton’s museum is a top-quality institution. Works from the colonial period include portraits of statesmen, while George Catlin’s depictions of Native American culture are among the later works. The Hudson River School is well represented, including Asher Brown Durand’s painting “Kindred Spirits.” Walton ruffled feathers when she acquired the work from the New York Public Library. Her critics derided the decision to bring great works to small-town Arkansas, but Walton was driven by an interest in the democratization of fine art. Her guiding belief, it seems, is that
flyover states deserve art, too. Minor works by Mary Cassat, John Singer-Sargent, Andrew Wyeth and Jackson Pollock are on display, but major works by less well-known artists steal the spotlight. Dennis Miller Bunker’s “Anne Page” (1887) is starkly stunning and echoes Whistler’s “Portrait of the Artist’s Mother,” while Wayne Theibaud’s “Supine Woman” (1963) is as attention grabbing as it is disconcerting. American artists played a major role in leading the charge into modernism and post modernism, a fact underscored by the museum’s robust holdings from these periods. A broad range of sensibilities are on display, from Norman Rockwell’s “Rosie the Riveter” to a portrait of Dolly Parton by Andy Warhol. Visitors to the museum should plan to spend at least an hour, and art lovers will want to stay much longer. Spring visitors may want to spend time on the museum’s grounds in order to take advantage of the magnificent setting and several marked trails. The museum is open 11 a.m.–6 p.m. on Mondays, Thursdays and Saturdays and 11 a.m.–9 p.m. on Wednesdays and Fridays. The museum café serves creative caffeinated beverages if you need a jolt before plunging into the collection. Lunch is served daily and dinner is served on Wednesdays and Fridays.
Opinion
24 JANUARY 2012
THE COLLEGIAN : 8
Founding Fathers not advocates of “Christian Nation” Far from arguing for a “Christian nation,” the Founding Fathers understood the necessity of religious tolerance and acceptance. Lily Clough
Student Writer
We are all familiar with conservative politicians talking about the idea of “restoring America to its original greatness” and becoming a “Christian nation” again. There’s a lot of talk about the Founding Fathers and their intentions in shaping a young country. These politicians, especially the ones affiliated with the Tea Party, treat the Founding Fathers almost as if they were deities—infinitely wise and capable of no moral shortcomings. It is not only an appropriate time for the public to understand the original writings and true intentions of the Founding Fathers, but a crucial one. But these men were not as much pillars of moral perfection as they were innovative intellectuals. They were vulnerable to the usual shortcomings of humanity, such as adultery. This is especially true in the case of Benjamin Franklin and Thomas Jefferson who were not even devout Christians, but would
more accurately be described as deists. Franklin also had an illegitimate child who lived with him and his wife. In the Major American Writers course offered at TU, various writings of Benjamin Franklin’s can be found on the reading list. His writings make it clear that those who wish to make America a “Christian nation” again have severely missed the point. Benjamin Franklin seems nothing if not accepting of others’ religious views and life choices. Franklin’s individuality and his ideas about self-improvement
all the Religions we had in our Country I respected them all.” He was tolerant of all religions. He was also tolerant of foreigners, Native Americans, those who did not attend church and generally people who chose a less-travelled path of life. In another piece entitled “Remarks Concerning the Savages of North America” he wrote “Savages we call them, because their manners differ from ours, which we think the perfection of civility; they think the same of theirs.” He displayed remarkable empathy and understanding toward the
country’s founders and he wrote of tolerance and self-improvement. He did not, however, write about the necessity of America being or becoming a Christian nation. It is indeed disconcerting, then, that politicians today refer to governing America as “the Constitution and Founding Fathers originally intended” but often fail to specify what those intentions were or entirely misconstrue them. Michelle Bachmann, for example, said that the Founding Fathers and writers of the Constitution worked tirelessly to abolish slavery.
“These virtues I esteem’d the Essentials of every religion, and being to be found in all the Religions we had in our Country, I respected them all.”
broke from traditional Puritan teachings, but the concepts were essential both to his personal philosophy and the way he envisioned America developing as a country—an independent nation in which many different religious backgrounds could coexist. In Franklin’s autobiography, he writes, “These [virtues of religion] I esteem’d the Essentials of every religion, and being to be found in
Native Americans, and continued to talk about the aspects of their culture which he respected and admired. Franklin was an integral force in the establishment of America as a country; he was a tireless diplomat, started the first library and fire station and eventually signed the Constitution. He was famous and influential in his life. He was one of this
She botched the telling of history in that case—the original Constitution did not illegalize slavery. In fact, more than five early Presidents were slave holders, including James Madison and Thomas Jefferson. Yet she claims to be a “Constitutional expert” and often speaks about the “Godliness” of the Founding Fathers. She is not the only one guilty of misconstruing what the Founding
Fathers were like or believed. Rick Santorum, speaking in South Carolina recently, said that equality comes from God, that it “doesn’t come from Islam. It doesn’t come from the East and Eastern religions.” He then asked, “Where does it come from? It comes from the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob.” He went on to say, “If your rights come from God, then you have an obligation to live responsibly in conforming with God’s law, and our founders said so, right?” In the 1700s, Franklin and others realized the importance of respecting the religious views of others. Why, then, has it escaped the understanding those who so fervently insist on their adoration of the Constitution and its writers? In the 1700s, Franklin realized the importance of respecting the culture of others—even cultures which are vastly different from our own. It seems as if, 300 years later, we are still missing the point. We can not be a “Christian nation” because we are a nation of many religions. Particularly disheartening is our treatment of those who follow Islam. We treat our global neighbors and fellow citizens of the world in the Middle East with a less than accepting attitude. In light of reading the writings of Benjamin Franklin, one wonders if we have learned much at all, or if we have blatantly ignored the voices of the enlightened few who gave so much time and effort into ensuring that America treated people differently—with acceptance.
Revelation of riches wrecks Romney’s run Mitt Romney’s comments and endorsements reveal a candidate uninformed about education and unable to relate to the vast majority of Americans. Kyle Walker Opinion Editor
Mitt Romney continues to reinforce the impression that he is hopelessly out of touch.From his claim that $370,000 in speaking fees is “not very much,” to his offering Rick Perry a $10,000 bet during an Iowa debate, Romney is showing the American people the distant elements of his personality. America is beginning to see the side of Mitt Romney that has $200 million fortune, that once managed the equity firm Bain Capital, and that has no idea what it is like to be in the bottom 90 percent of America, or what it’s like to earn $30,000 a year—and only $30,000 a year. Most Americans do not pay taxes on capital gains. Most of the taxes Mitt Romney pays are capital gains. Despite the fact that his annual income is easily within the top marginal income tax rates, he recently stated that the effective tax rate he pays is near 15 percent—well below the rates paid by the upper middle-class. But perhaps the most telling revelations come from Romney’s endorsements of for-profit colleges, specifically the plugs he has offered to Full Sail University, a for-profit college near Orlando. Speaking solely about campaign finance and ethics, Romney’s endorsements are disturbing. The chief executive of Full Sail, as well as his wife, gave the maximum $2,500 to Romney’s campaign and $45,000 to Restore our Future, a super politicla action committee managed in support of the Romney campaign. This should be at least somewhat disconcerting. It is not the job of our politicians to collect donations in exchange for advertising. Romney should be ashamed, even if this were the only concern with his actions.
Which it is not. More disturbing is his apparent ignorance of the actual nature of the businesses he is endorsing. Romney has repeatedly stated in debates and town-hall meetings across the nation that diverting more students to for-profit colleges would benefit the educational system of the entire nation. Arguing that the profit motive, competition and lower costs make for-profit colleges more efficient, Romney has given these businesses (and they are businesses—not schools) his unqualified support. Yet he does not appear to know, for example, that one Full Sail program, a 21 month video game art program, costs $80,000 and graduates only 14 percent of students on time. Only 38 percent ever graduate at all. A report from the Government Accountability Office states that out of 15 schools approached by
hold across the industry (as is likely to be the case—there is rarely only “one bad apple”), it is also clear that Romney’s claims about price competition are false. The GAO found that in almost all cases tuition at for-profit colleges was greater than costs for the same program at nearby public and private non-profit schools. With rare exceptions, for-profit colleges are more expensive than community colleges, have lower graduations rates and produce degrees of dubious value. Romney also appears to have forgotten that Education Management Corporation, among the largest companies working in for-profit education is the target of an $11 billion Justice Department suit—a suit targeting ECM for defrauding its customers through fraudulent marketing and recruiting practice. It is convenient indeed that Romney would forget this: Todd S.
Much of his campaign has ridden on this idea. Unfortunately for him, however, the 2008 financial crisis arrived at just the right time to get voters concerned about the financial status of our politicians. Romney is coming to increas-
ingly resemble the small swath of the American populace whose wealth has so far removed them from the everyday that the dreams and needs of most Americans are incomprehensible to them.
State of the Union: It’s in the drink Emily Callen Staff Writer
State of the Union Drinking Game: It’s an election year; you deserve a drink. Please drink responsibly. Game best played with cheap beer (Democrats) or Jameson and Coke (Republicans/anyone from South Tulsa).
◊ President Obama says
◊ Any mention of war in
Iraq or Afghanistan, or killing Osama bin Laden: drink to our men and women in uniform
◊ Anytime the President smirks: drink
◊ Any mention of college
students/student loans/ soon-to-be grads: drown your sorrow.
“job”: drink
◊ President Obama says
“jobs” more than once in a single sentence: drink for the duration of the next applause break
◊ Any time camera pans
to Republicans looking grumpy while Democrats applaud: Democrats drink, Republicans get Democrats another beer.
◊ Anytime Republicans
accidentally start to applaud: Everybody salutes the power of friendship and drinks
◊ President Obama says
“compromise”: take a sip of your friend’s drink
◊ Joe Biden makes a funny face/appears to be napping: drink
Photo Courtesy of Wikimedia Commons
undercover applicants, all engaged in deceptive marketing and admissions practices, and four committed outright fraud. Examples of fraudulent activities include encouraging applicants to lie on federal aid forms, obscuring actual admission costs, lying about accreditation and reporting highly inflated salaries paid to graduates. If the results of the GAO study
Nelson, chief executive of ECM, is yet another donor to Romney’s campaign, and he too gave the maximum. Romney’s seemingly wellthought out position is clearly not informed by the facts of for-profit education as it manifests in contemporary America, and this, if nothing else, should reveal to voters that Romney is not the candidate of the middle-class.
◊ John Boehner looks
horrified (or horrifying): last person to gasp exaggeratedly finishes their drink.
◊ Camera pans to John McCain: drink
◊ John McCain appears to be napping: drink twice
◊ One drink for every
missing Supreme Court Justice (pro tip: there are nine)
For those in it to win it, here are additional rules for the Republican response.
◊ If the response is apt to
kill the politician’s career (a la Bobby Jindal circa 2009), toast the end of the gentleman’s aspirations to glory
◊ “Job Killing Healthcare
Law”: throw something at the television, shout “you lie,” and drink
◊ Mention of Keystone XL pipeline: drink
◊ Mention of “job creators”: drink twice
◊ Obvious lie: finish your drink
opinion
THE COLLEGIAN : 9
24 JANUARY 2012
Girl Scouts improper venue for political battle Using the personal story of a child to further political ends is despicable— regardless of personal LGBTQ politics. Clarissa Dunn Student Writer
It doesn’t matter what anyone’s personal politics are regarding the LGBTQ; the simple truth is that a Girl Scouts troop is not the appropriate venue in which to voice them. HonestGirlScouts.com recently posted a 14-year-old’s video calling for the boycott of Girl Scout cookies on the basis that one troop in Colorado admitted a young transgender female. The video has since been taken down, but visitors to the website can still print off a flier proclaiming “You Deserve to Know What Girl Scout Cookies Fund.” Their main objections usually relate to the “facts” that they support the LGBTQ movement and Planned Parenthood. This website also features other gems for journalists such as “lies, lies, lies, yeah … they’re gonna get you” and “GSUSA CEO Kathy Cloninger admits (and has not retract-
ed) Girl Scouts partner with Planned Parenthood.” They even insinuate that GSUSA money goes towards funding abortions. This entire argument against the LGBTQ lifestyles and for “wholesome” traditional values, is being placed on the shoulders Bobby Montoya, one seven year old who wanted to be a Girl Scout. The 14-year-old who made the video accuses GSUSA of not being “honest,” because they did not call every news team in America each time they admitted a transgender child. GSUSA’s reasoning behind accepting a transgender is that any child who identifies as a girl, and whose family presents as them as a girl, can be admitted. Even Bobby,
‘controversy’ is that it largely consists of adults taking advantage of one child’s personal choice.” however, was even initially rejected for having “boy parts,” and was not admitted until state Girl Scout officials stepped in and forced the troop to accept her. The most despicable aspect of this “controversy” is that it largely consists of adults taking advantage of one child’s ill-advised Youtube post and another’s personal choice.
N
O HEGEM
We at the Collegian Opinion section would like to welcome you back. This semester, as always, it is our sworn duty to gather the most controversial, the best argued, the most long-winded, the greatest of all the opinions in one convenient location: pages 8 and 9, daytime, nighttime, anytime. With my newly inherited hegemony of the Opinion section, I have a request. I know for a fact that TU has some opinionated students. I’ve talked to them. I’ve argued with them. You know who you are. But, there seems to be a national shortage of concern. I would like to see that fixed starting here, starting now. So I say send me your thoughts! If something is happening out in the world that you think is kind of a big deal, write about it! If national politics has you
path” and other vulgar epithets are thrown around with alarming frequency, when in actuality there is nothing particularly offensive in her video at all. This girl’s video does not specifically target the LGBTQ community. She is upset because an organization she belongs to, GSUSA, has a policy that she doesn’t agree with. Yes, her opinion does seem anti-LGBTQ, but her argument is really not that offensive at all. Just because someone does not agree with you does not mean they are being offensive. It is also important to note that this girl never mentions a specific person. The news media latched onto her video and did that for her. Bobby was dragged onto LGBTQ center stage to fight the civil rights battle. She has been rallied around by activists and sympathizers alike. But Bobby has received just as much, if not more, negative outcries about her personal life as well. Could she or her parents have predicted that wanting to be in a Girl Scout troop would cause this big of an issue? Conservatives are using this little girl’s very private story to push their family values agenda. LGBTQ activists, unwittingly or not, are fanning the flames by overreacting to and even forming a counteroffensive against one video one misguided child made.
“The most despicable aspect of this entire
opinion
Greetings Opinion-Minions,
The 14-year-old’s video is highly incendiary and has been thoroughly divisive. Since the video’s posting, LGBTQ activists across the nation have begun buying massive amounts of Girl Scout cookies, and often donating them to their local LGBTQ community centers. Others have stopped buying and even selling cookies. With all of the anger and bigotry, it is easy to forget that all of this controversy stems from the problems of two children. Despite this 14-year-old girl’s supposed knowledge about GSUSA’s corruption and dishonesty, one has to wonder how much she actually knows about gender identification. Honestly, how much does the average
down, write about it! If TU has a problem, write about it! And if you disagree with anything you see in pages 8 and 9, you can write about that too. Please do. I like getting letters. And I’ll probably publish them. If this isn’t enough to convince you, think of what would happen if you didn’t send me content. All of the articles would be about Israel, shady government operations, voodoo economics, and the immorality of war. So please, spare the world my opinions, and send me yours. Occupy the columns, Kyle Walker kyle-walker@utulsa.edu Opinion Hegemon
ninth grader know about the complexities of modern sexual politics? This girl does not even live in the same state as the person she is rallying against; in fact they live five hundred miles apart. Even though the girl took down her own posting of the video, it can still be found all over the web. Words like “bigot,” “psycho-
upcoming events at
Sharp Chapel Monday: Lunch with Calvin: Reading and discussion over John Calvin with lunch at 12 p.m. in the upstairs conference room. Wednesday: WOW (Worship on Wednesday): Uplifting praise music and a chapel service in the main sanctuary at 12 p.m. followed by lunch. Thursday: Apologetics for Lunch: Reading and discussion over John Scott’s writings with lunch at 12 p.m. in the Atrium. Gateway Late-Night Worship: Fellowship, a message and great student-led worship at 9 p.m. in the Atrium. Friday: PLS Lunch: Come learn more about PLS (Presbyterian Leaders and Scholars) and hear a message from a different fellow student each week at 12 p.m. in the Atrium.
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editor-in-chief—Catherine Roberts managing editor—Lucas Forsythe news editor—Kalen Petersen sports editor—J. Christopher Proctor variety editor—Stephanie Hice opinion editor—Kyle Walker photo & graphics editor—Now Hiring!!! staff writers—Emily Callen, John Lepine business manager—Elizabeth Cohen advertising manager—Aminat Adeyemi distribution manager—Mary Jessup web editor—Drew Mitchell adviser—Kendra Blevins
24 JANUARY 2012
Opinion
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