Sports
Tulsa football signs 21 for coming season p. 5
Variety
Radcliffe not so magical in newest flick p. 6
a student newspaper of the university of tulsa
Opinion
Ecuador’s choice: environment or oil p. 9
february 7, 2012 issue 16 ~ volume 97
TU law grad Olson challenges longtime congressman Afghanistan veteran John Olson will run against 10year Representative John Sullivan on a platform of education. Emily Callen and Kalen Petersen U.S. Congressman John Sullivan ran unopposed in 2010, but he will not have that luxury in 2012. John Olson, a graduate of the University of Tulsa School of Law, hopes voters in Oklahoma’s first congressional district are ready for a change in representation. Sullivan has been in office since 2002, when he defeated Democrat Doug Dodd in the race for an open
seat, one of Oklahoma’s five in Congress. Olson’s wife and spokeswoman Zsa said that her husband was inspired to run during last year’s budget battles. Olson is a veteran of the war in Afghanistan and an active Army Reservist. A training weekend he helped plan was canceled in April 2011, as a U.S. government shutdown loomed. The soldiers went unpaid, and Olson was furious. “He saw a lack of character and concern (in Congress),” Zsa said. In Afghanistan, Olson witnessed firsthand what he called government waste. The U.S. was sending uniforms to Afghan forces, who had no place to store the clothes. “They would take the
Photo courtesy John Sullivan
Oklahoma Congressman John Sullivan participates in a radio interview. Sullivan has represented the Tulsa area since he defeated Democrat Doug Dodd in 2002.
stuff and burn it,” Olson said. “The military is a microcosm of what’s going on in our country,” Olson said. “You have people losing unemployment benefits and education benefits.” Olson and Zsa make decisions as a team. The couple, whose six children attend Union Public Schools, say they are concerned about the quality of education in Oklahoma. They see education as a critical to move people out of poverty and say they are concerned about the budget shortfalls schools face. “Can we cut some waste so that we can afford to invest in schools?” said Zsa. Olson’s focus on education extends to those in the workforce. Zsa said, “We are firm believers that you can be retrained into a job.” Zsa said that the response to her husband’s candidacy has so far been overwhelmingly positive. “It’s almost like a bomb was dropped,” she said. “I think now is a great opportunity. We have an incumbent who has been there far too long.” Despite the nascent campaign’s optimistic tone, Olson faces a tough race against an incumbent whose popularity has climbed in every election. Olson acknowledged problems with name recognition and money. Major items on Sullivan’s legis-
“Racquetbill” passed, courts will get renovation The Student Association will spend $7,000 to improve the deteriorating facilities in Mabee Gym by the end of the semester. John Lepine Staff Writer
T
he Student Association Senate passed legislation this January allocating funds for renovation of the Mabee Gym racquetball and squash courts. The “Taking Ownership” Racquetball and Squash Courts Restoration Act, popularly known as the “Racquetbill,” was passed Jan. 24 and authorizes the SA Executive Committee to spend up to $7,000 to “refurbish, renovate, and celebratorily re-open” the deteriorated Mabee Gym facilities. Katlyn McGouran, a commuter senator who is the act’s legislative sponsor, made her case before the
Senate by noting that the $6,000 or $7,000 required for the courts’ restoration “is equivalent to a few large events which we typically fund every week.” Senator McGouran also praised the courts’ potential to combat the effects of the sedentary academic lifestyle, saying that SA could emphasize “the importance of promoting physical well-being on our campus.” The bill, which was authored after statistical research by the Office of the Treasury indicated greater-than-expected use of the courts by students, faculty and staff, passed with the unanimous consent of the Senate. SA President Grant McCarty signed it and the SA Executive Committee presented it to a supportive President Steadman Upham on Jan. 31. “It’s exciting for SA to provide something of permanence on campus that will benefit not just stu-
dents this year, but for years to come,” McCarty said. The next step for the Racquetbill is implementation. Student Association officials hope to have the racquetball facilities re-floored and the walls repainted before the end of the semester so that reopening can be enjoyed by this year’s students. Although the details haven’t been confirmed, Student Association officials hope to have the courts closed, spruced up and reopened all within about an eightday period in March. March has been chosen because most students will be gone for a week over Spring Break, and if all goes well, there will be new racquetball facility waiting for them on their return. If the funds are available, the Student Association hopes to purchase rackets and balls that students can check out for free from
Allie Stewart / Collegian
Junior guard Scottie Haralson looks for opening against Marshall Saturday night. With the 79–70 win, coach Doug Wojcik tied for most wins in school history.
TU races past Marshall Thundering Herd Amanda Schenk
Photo courtesy John Olson
Student Writer
John Olson will challenge Rep. John Sullivan in November, should the Republican incumbent win his primary.
G
olden Hurricane fans expecting a show Saturday night got exactly what they came for, with back-and-forth scoring between TU and the Marshall Thundering Herd. With a final score of 79–70 in favor of the Golden Hurricane, sophomore Jordan Clarkson helped push TU ahead, scoring 21 points over the course of the night. This win moved Tulsa into second place in the C-USA standings, with a 7–2 record in conference play and 14–9 overall. The game opened up with the Herd matching Tulsa score for score. TU expanded a small lead halfway through the first half when Jordan Clarkson hit a three point jumper to push TU to 20 points versus Marshall’s 13. The spectators hit their feet at this shot, and the team responded to the momentum by adding 17 more points in the following nine minutes, finishing the half up 37–30. See Herd page 4
lative agenda include tougher immigration laws and protecting the energy industry in Oklahoma. “We always say, when things don’t go right, look left. We’re looking left,” Zsa said. Olson said that he was in favor of a gradual withdrawal from Afghanistan. “I don’t favor a hard and fast timeline,” he said. Olson also represented himself as fiscally responsible. “Our budget is huge. There are things that need to be downsized,” he said. He referred to Sullivan as a “Washington insider,” criticizing him for “97 percent party line vote.” When asked about his chances against a 10-year incumbent, Olson gave himself modest odds: “50/50,” he said.
We DEM AND A
o o L k ! w e N
uned T y Sta ry 14th Campus Recreation. It remains unclear whether those rackets would be stored somewhere in Mabee Gym, or at the equipment check-out center in the Collins Fitness Center.
(Full disclosure: the writer, John Lepine, is SA Treasurer.)
THU 2/9:
THU 2/9:
Fri 2/10:
Honors Trivia Night
Occupy Tulsa Teach-In
Romeo and Juliet
Think you know more than your professors? Students will get a chance to tackle facultygenerated trivia questions in a “Jeopardy!”-style game show. Starting at 7 p.m. in Helmerich hall Room 105, the challenge is open to students of all majors, interests and years.
TU professors and local activists from the Occupy Tulsa movement will offer a public lecture on the state of the nation and the significance of the Occupy Wall Street movement. The discussion will be at 7 p.m. in the Chapman Lecture Hall.
Everyone has heard of Shakespeare’s classic love story, but fewer know of the acclaimed musical score by Russian composer Sergei Prokofiev. The Tulsa Ballet’s performance will be replete with swordplay and intricate group choreography. “Romeo and Juliet” will play at 8 p.m. Feb. 10 & 11 and at 3 p.m. Feb. 12 at the Tulsa Performing Arts Center. Tickets start at $20.
Febr u
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