7 March 2022

Page 1

a student newspaper of the University of Tulsa

March 7, 2022 - Issue 18 - Volume 107

First woman cured of HIV using

vie w, p age 7

re

Eu phoria season two

umbilical cord blood, page 2

Marshall lawsuit sues Conference USA to exit the conference, page 3

Keystone Pipeline reevaluated in opposition to Russia, page 5

Satire: Senior grapples with the

Cover by: Amy Polovich

passage of time, page 8


News

The Collegian: 2

7 March 2022

First woman cured of HIV using umbilical cord blood

After receiving a stem cell transplant, a middle-aged woman has become the third person to be cured of HIV. Shelby Hiens News Editor

A middle-aged woman who wished to remain anonymous became the first woman and third person ever to be cured of HIV. The woman was diagnosed with acute myeloid leukemia in March 2017, a cancer that begins in the bone marrow’s blood-forming cells. She received treatment for her cancer that was caused by HIV in the form of a stem cell transplant.

The woman received stem cells from umbilical cord blood that were fortified with a mutation that blocks HIV from entering her cells. She also received partially matched

The woman’s treatment was among the first to involve umbilical cord blood, whereas the two men who were cured of the virus prior received adult stem cells. Utiliz-

Cornell Medicine. Also, haplo-cord transplants, which use umbilical cord blood, allow recipients who are only partial bloodtype matches to get the transplant.

“... the study ‘confirms that a cure for HIV is possible and further strengthens using gene therapy as a viable strategy ... ’” stem cells from the blood of a first-degree relative. This method of stem cell transplant did not require the woman to undergo potent HIV treatments called antiretroviral therapy like the two prior cases who received adult stem cells. The woman has been free of HIV and in remission for 14 months.

ing umbilical cord blood is a new approach that can make the treatment more widely accessible. Scientists believe that because umbilical cord blood comes from newborns, these stem cells are “more adaptable” than adult stem cells according to Dr. Koen van Besien, transplant service director at Weill

The woman received a stem cell transplant at Weill Cornell Medicine to treat her acute myeloid leukemia, which she developed due to HIV.

The woman’s case is part of a larger study led by Dr. Yvonne Bryson from the University of California Los Angeles and Dr. Deborah Persaud from Johns Hopkins University. The study involves following 25 people with HIV who receive stem cells from umbilical cord blood to treat cancer and other conditions. These patients first undergo chemotherapy to kill cancerous immune cells. Then doctors perform transplants where the stem cells are sourced from individuals with a genetic mutation that causes them to lack receptors used by the virus to infect other cells. Scientists believe the patients develop immunity to HIV through this process. President-Elect of the International AIDS Society, Sharon Lewin, said that bone marrow transplants are not a viable strategy to cure most people living with HIV. However, the study “confirms that a cure for HIV is possible and further strengthens using gene therapy as a viable strategy for an HIV cure,” she stated. The first men who were cured of HIV were Timothy Brown and Adam Castillejo. Both men received bone marrow transplants from adult donors with a mutation that blocks HIV infection. Although the procedures eliminated the virus, Brown nearly died when he suffered graft versus host disease and Castillejo suffered hearing loss and combated many infections. Brown died of cancer in 2020 after being cured of the virus 12 years ago. The woman who was cured developed no severe infections and reportedly left the hospital post-op after 17 days according to physicians at Weill Cornell.

courtesy Wikimedia Commons

Supreme Court reconsiders Native American adoption law A law that gives adoption priority of Native American children to Native Americans is under debate. Logan Guthrie Commentary Editor The United States Supreme Court is currently taking into consideration once again the 1978 Indian Child Welfare Act (ICWA) in Brackeen v. Haaland. This act gives priority to Native American children being placed with other members of their or another tribe if they cannot be adopted by their own family members. Native American groups have defended this law claiming its necessity in order to stop past abuses incurred by the removal of Native American children from their home and placed with white families or groups.

We will never accept a return to a time when our children were forcibly removed from our communities, and look forward to fighting for ICWA before the Court.” Non-Native American individuals have been challenging this law, saying that parents outside these ethnic and cultural groups are “last in line to adopt an Indian child,” and that the “ICWA operates as a unified scheme that places ‘Indian children’ in a disfavored position, depriving them of a placement decision based on their best interests, and instead requiring placements [on the basis of biology].” They are claiming that the law does not have the best intentions of the child in mind because it favors even a tribal member that is not of the same tribe of the child over non-Native American adoptive parents. Texas is leading the charge in the opposition to the ICWA, followed by Indiana and

“‘We know the importance of keeping our children connected with their families, communities, and heritage.’” Principal Chief Chuck Hoskin Jr. and leaders of other tribes have been very vocal about the law, stating, “We know the importance of keeping our children connected with their families, communities, and heritage. ICWA has proven itself as the gold standard of child welfare law, which is why both Republican and Democratic administrations, tribes and tribal organizations, and child welfare experts continue to defend it.

Louisiana, while the Biden administration and leaders of many tribes are in defense of the law. The Supreme Court became involved after a ruling on the law split some issues evenly and six different judges had differing opinions on this law. This is not the first time that the law has been the subject of controversy. In 2013 there was a court ruling that a child known as “Baby Veronica” would not be required by ICWA to remain

with her Native American birth father despite him being a tribal member, however the case never made a decision in regards to the law’s constitutionality. Sarah Kastelic from the National Indian Child Welfare Association has said that the provisions in opposition for being unconstitutional are actually beneficial for Native and non-Native American children and families alike. “I think overall we see more and more research that shows that these kinds of practices are really in the best interests of not just Native children but all children.” Tribal leaders advocating for the law have

tucollegian@tucollegian.com editor in chief

Justin Klopfer managing editor

Adam Walsh news editor

Shelby Hiens sports editor

Callie Hummel variety editor

Julianne Tran commentary editor

Logan Guthrie satire editor

Anna Johns photo & graphics editor

Amy Polovich

business & advertising manager

Madeleine Goodman social media & web manager

Maddie Walters copy editor

Jihan Aldada

Chief Chuck Hoskin Jr. other tribe leaders continue to vocalize their support for the law.

courtesy cherokee.org

still said however that a re-hearing of certain aspects of the law is welcome as it reevaluates the relevancy of the law for future generations. In 2019, the ICWA was reaffirmed by the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals as being constitutional. The outcome of Brackeen v. Haaland could be game-changing with farreaching effects for Native as well as nonNative Americans.

@TUCOLLEGIAN

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 interpreter, 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 prior 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 my 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 opinions of the Collegian staff, the administrative policies of the University of Tulsa, the views of the student body or our advertisers.


7 March 2022

Sports

The Collegian: 3

Marshall University files lawsuit against Conference USA

Universities face stalemates while changing conferences, says sports editor Callie Hummel. As schools all over the country seem to be leaving their previous conference to join a new one, the transition has majorly affected Conference USA. Their numbers slowly diminishing and joining the Sun Belt Conference, C-USA is trying desperately to reverse the trend. Marshall University, a West Virginia school that’s currently listed as C-USA, is one of the schools attempting to move to

Constitution. C-USA’s ability to demand arbitration is something they wrote into their new contracts, however, when Marshall first signed with C-USA in 2003, this was not a clause included. Therefore Marshall does not have to abide by the arbitration demands. The lawsuit also ends by explaining that the university knows its student athletes and the best thing for those athletes is to transition to the Sun Belt Conference.

“... C-USA is trying anything they can to hold onto their teams ...” the Sun Belt Conference. Marshall hopes to be playing in the Sun Belt by fall 2022, but they haven’t heard anything back from C-USA about an exit date. As a last effort, C-USA is trying anything they can to hold onto their teams, since they aren’t signing any new ones. After a year full of no response from CUSA about how Marshall can go about leaving the conference, Marshall decided to file a lawsuit against C-USA to get their athletes out. The lawsuit covered three main issues Marshall and other schools trying to leave C-USA had been facing. The main issue is that C-USA is demanding arbitration, to which Marshall explains they are immune due to their entitlement to sovereign immunity in the West Virginia

Marshall isn’t the only university struggling with conference conflicts in the 20212022 school year. Stony Brook University, the University of Illinois at Chicago and James Madison University all announced to their respective conferences that they would be joining a different conference beginning in the 2022-2023 season. In response to hearing this all three of the conferences — American East, Horizon League and Colonial Athletic — prohibited the teams from participating in conference team championships for spring sports. There are laws in place that allow conferences to rule university sports teams ineligible in participating in the postseason once they declare intent to withdraw from the conference, but they have rarely been used in the past.

courtesy @HerdZone on Twitter

Specifically, at the University of Illinois at Chicago, they announced their departure from the Horizon League in January, saying they would be joining the Missouri Valley Conference on July 1. Not even a month later, the Horizon League announced UIC athletes would not be allowed to compete in winter or spring conference championships. UIC announced they were trying everything to hash out the problems with Horizon League without hurting the student athletes, but with no prevail. Michael Lipitz, a director of athletics at the University of Illinois at Chicago says,

“None of this has to happen. This is a conscious decision on the Horizon League to inflict pain against our student athletes and it does feel like retribution.” With the year full of universities moving around conferences, it’s surprising that so many would enact such strict rules upon their athletes, a group of people who simply want to continue playing a sport they love for a few more years.

LeBron James will go to whatever team drafts his son Bronny looks to play in NBA after high school graduation, says commentary editor Logan Guthrie.

It is not unheard of for basketball star LeBron James to pick up and leave a team for another in the NBA as part of his ongoing quest for more championships, but this is not the case this time around. In 2024, James could potentially be leaving the Lakers for more personal reasons, in hopes of playing his last NBA season alongside his son. Currently a junior in highschool, James’ son Bronny will be eligible at that time to be drafted. He is a 6-foot-3 guard at Sierra Canyon High School in California and currently ranked 43rd in the country according to ESPN. James expressed before this season’s All-Star Game in Cleveland that he plans on signing with whatever NBA team drafts his son. “My last year will be with my son. Wherever Bronny’s at, that’s where I’ll be. I would do whatever it takes to play with my son for one year. It’s not about the money at that point.”

James is of course still under contract for the next season with the Lakers for $44.5 million dollars, but clearly this is not a concern in James’ mind. Likely, he would just sign a one-year deal for the 2023-24 season that way he could ensure that he can follow his plan to play with his son.

just be himself and make his own destiny as a reason as to their misgivings about the older James’ plan. Others mention that James would already be 40 years old at the earliest time that his son would be eligible, and that is assuming that he even wants to enter the NBA at that time. It is possible that

“‘I would do whatever it takes to play with my son for one year.’” A recent national survey from SBNation, however, brings concerns to James about his goal to play with his son. This survey reports 76% of fans have said that they don’t want their NBA team to draft James Jr. in order to also get James himself for a single season. Some cite letting the younger James

courtesy @SwishLifeProd_ on Twitter

he will want to wait a while before playing at that level. The Los Angeles Lakers have had a losing streak this season making them 27-35, taking 9th currently in the Western Conference, and it would take a miracle to pull this team together. This has led to some jabs at

the team involving James Jr.’s name, with Charles Barkley claiming that the Lakers are so bad this year that even James’ son has a chance to get one of the team’s spots. “Does Bronny start or come off the bench this year? I think Bronny might get a chance to start.” Of course, this was a joke, but the poor season for the team may add another reason that James would desire to move on to something new, considering he has been the only consistent player in form this season. It will be interesting to see the trajectory of James Jr.’s career as his father begins to wrap up his own. The legacy of this family is impres-sive, and whether or not we agree with James’ decision to move to whatever team his son is drafted to, we could be in for a historic season with a powerful mix of basketball nostalgia and excellent athletes.

courtesy @Backseat_Coach on Twitter


Sports

The Collegian: 4

7 March 2022

Nils van der Poel gives away gold medal in protest of Chinese regime.

Sports editor Callie Hummel covers van der Poel’s disgust at the government’s record of human rights abuses. year in 2015. When Minhai reappeared, he “admitted” to multiple crimes on Thailand TV, where he originally disappeared. The confession landed him two years in jail, after which he was released and began to travel again. His freedom didn’t last long though, as in 2018 he was arrested while traveling in Beijing and, after a secret trial, sentenced to 10 years in a Chinese jail for “illegally providing intelligence to overseas parties.”

ficials that they would face punishments if they spoke out against Chinese laws. Now that the Games are over, van der Poel has been very vocal about how he felt like competing in Beijing was a sort of exploitation of his talents to make it seem like he, and other athletes, supported the regime. He also told a Swedish newspaper that he believed it was “very irresponsible to hold the Games in a country that violates human rights.”

“... competing in Beijing was a sort of exploitation of his talents ...” courtesy @india_narrative on Twitter

Nils van der Poel, a 25-year-old Olympian who won the first gold medal for Sweden speedskating in 34 years, recently gave one of those medals away to protest China’s human rights abuses. The speedskater made a large impact during the Winter 2022 Games, receiving a gold medal in both the 5,000 meters and 10,000 meters and setting a new Olympic records for both events. Van der Poel revealed in a training manifesto published post-Olympics the intensity at which he

trained for the gold medal that he eventually gave to Angela Gui. Angela Gui is the daughter of Gui Minhai, a man who has been found and arrested by the Chinese government on multiple occasions. Minhai is the owner of a HongKong publishing house that bought Causeway Books which regularly published “gossipy titles about China’s political elite.” Although Minhai is a Swedish citizen, the articles and titles infuriated the Chinese government and Minhai went missing for a

Since Minhai is a Swedish citizen, Sweden continuously tried to demand China to release their citizen back home, to no avail. The disappearance and jail time proved to be no coincidence to the publishing company, as five other people associated with the store disappeared between 2015-2018, which enhanced fears throughout the publishing and reporting industries. Van der Poel explained he had been planning to speak out against this “oppression of free speech and human rights” after competing in the Olympics. He would have done it earlier, but all the athletes were thoroughly and continuously warned by Chinese of-

It’s obvious van der Poel is very passionate about wanting to improve the oppression seen in China, especially since Minhai, an international story now, is a Swedish man who was taken by the Chinese government. The case hit home to him, which is why he wanted to give the medal that he worked so hard for to Gui. Gui told van der Poel when they met that she’d “very much like for Nils’ medal to also be able to, at least in some small way, represent solidarity with everyone threatened, imprisoned, or killed by totalitarian regimes everywhere.”

courtesy Wikimedia Commons

courtesy @mahaanmahan on Twitter

Mar. 7 - Mar. 13 Monday

Tuesday 7

W Golf Trinity Forest Invitational All Day

Wednesday 8

W Basketball American Athletic Conference Championship TBA

9

Thursday 10

Friday

Saturday 11

12 Track & Field NCAA Indoor Championships All Day Rowing vs. Kansas TBA

Sunday 13

Softball Texas Tech Invitational 10:00 a.m.

Track & Field W Basketball W Basketball M Tennis W Golf American Athletic American Athletic NCAA Indoor Championships vs. Oklahoma Conference ChamSoftball W Basketball Trinity Forest In- Conference ChamAll Day 1:00 p.m. pionship Texas Tech Invitavitational pionship American Athletic TBA tional All Day TBA Conference Cham11:00 a.m. pionship Softball 1:00 p.m. Softball W Tennis Texas Tech Invivs. Central Arkanvs. SMU tational sas 12:00 p.m. 3:00 p.m. 5:00 p.m. Softball Texas Tech Invitational 1:30 p.m.


7 March 2022

Commentary

The Collegian: 5

Keystone pipeline could allow oil independence

The U.S. can’t support Ukraine and still rely on Russian oil. Callie Hummel Sports Editor The Russo-Ukrainian war has once again brought with it a new aspect that government officials all over the world must wrestle with, and for President Biden, the decision is larger than most.

The best thing to do in response to the war is for the United States to completely stop importing oil from Russia, and the best way to do that is to reopen some of the drilling sites Biden previously closed. Right behind Russia in oil production is Canada, which has the ability to produce enough oil for the United States to cut off its dependence on Russia. However, the pipeline that would allow that to happen was immediately shut down the day Biden took office due to environmental factors. The Keystone Pipeline, a pipeline that runs from Alberta, Canada to Steele City, Nebraska, has the ability to bring in approximately 830,000 barrels of oil a day. This would be a significant hit in revenue for Russia since this large supply could also be exported to Europe, allowing them to also cut ties. Biden and the Executive Branch are still grappling with opening back up the pipeline, something that has previously been such a political subject throughout three different administrations. The motive behind closing it and not reopening is to push green energy, electric cars and other alternatives to fossil fuels to combat the rapidly deteriorating environment. The immediate shutdown

ing sites, the US is dependent on Russia and Saudi Arabia. Officials must also look at the pipeline not just through the same light they always have in the past — that the pipeline is an environmental issue — but from a changed and updated mindset now that the pipeline plays into the world conflicts and economy. Democrats and Republicans of the Congress attempted to do just that, but with little response from the White House. Congress is looking to push a bill that bans importing oil from Russia. If a bill passes that abstains from buying Russia’s oil, there needs to be an alternative plan in place to replace that

oil. The reopening of the Keystone Pipeline could fill that void, along with a large portion of Europe’s Russian oil. The United States is sending resources and firepower to Ukraine and doing what they can to show support, from banning Russian athletes to Russian aircrafts from the US. While all of this shows great support, a direct hit to the country’s economy would be a wake-up call to Russian officials.

“Without the internal drilling sites, the US is dependent on Russia and Saudi Arabia.” Russia is the third-largest oil-producing country in the world, and the US imports roughly 540,000 barrels a day from Russia, while Europe gets 40% of its oil from Russia. For two regions trying their best to socially and economically isolate Russia to show support of Ukraine, every barrel purchased is doing just the opposite.

of the pipeline and multiple other drilling sites in the US was far too rapid given the limited amount of green energy and the dependence Americans still have on oil. If decreasing fossil fuels is something essential to help the environment, it must be done synonymously with the slow production of new green energy. Without the internal drill-

courtesy Wikimedia Commons There has already been a push for petroleum industry growth to combat reliance on the cartel OPEC, and an independence from Russia’s supply could further independence from other countries, too.

Police Department. The incident is under investigation. 10:20 pm University of Tulsa Campus Safety and Security officers received a report of a marijuana odor coming from Fisher West Suites. Officers located the source of the smell and made contact with residents. Officers conducted a search of the residence and found contraband. Officers took possession and impounded the contraband for safe keeping. Copy of report forwarded to Housing and Student Affairs for their review.

Feb. 17 2:45 pm University of Tulsa Campus Safety and Security officers were dispatched to a fraternity house for a welfare check. Officers were unable to make contact with the individual. The reporting party contacted the Communications Center and stated they spoke with the individual and stated there was no concern for the individual’s wellbeing at this time. Copy of report forwarded to Housing and Student Affairs for their review. 5:50 pm University of Tulsa Campus Safety and Security officers responded to investigate a report of damage to university property in the Lorton Performance Center East Lot. Officers took a statement from the TU staff member involved. Officers photographed the damaged property. Copy of report forwarded to Physical Plant and Human Resources for their review. Feb. 18 9:00 pm While on routine patrol, University of Tulsa Campus Safety and Security officers observed a vehicle operating with apparently excessive speed and failing to stop at multiple traffic control signs. Officers made contact with the driver of the vehicle, who was determined to be a TU affiliate, and advised them of the violation. No citation was issued. Copy of report forwarded to Student Affairs for their review. Feb. 19 4:55 pm University of Tulsa Campus Safety and Security officers responded to investigate a report of an injured person at the Hurricane Track/Soccer Stadium. The injured person was transported to an area hospital before officers arrived. Officers were able to determine the injured person was not a TU affiliate. Copy of report forwarded to Athletics and Physical Plant for their review. Feb. 20 7:05 pm University of Tulsa Campus Safety and Security officers were dispatched on report of marijuana smell at the Lorton Village apartments. Upon arrival, officers located a residence which gave off a strong odor of marijuana. Officers made contact with the resident, searched the apartment, and locat-

ed marijuana and marijuana paraphernalia which was confiscated and placed in impound. Copy of report forwarded to Housing and Student Affairs for their review. 10:25 pm University of Tulsa Campus Safety and Security officers conducted a traffic stop on a suspicious vehicle. Officers determined the driver of the vehicle was not a TU affiliate. After a prior contacts and warrants check returned negative, officers did not issue a trespass warning. A contact card was created. Feb. 22 3:15 am University of Tulsa Campus Safety and Security officers investigated a fire alarm at the Kappa Alpha Theta Sorority House. Tulsa Fire Department (TFD) met officers upon their arrival. Officers and TFD entered the building and residence and found no fire or signs of fire. The source of the alarm was unknown. The fire panel was reset. Copy of report forwarded to Housing and Student Affairs for their review. 8:10 pm University of Tulsa Campus Safety and Security officers investigated a fire alarm at John Mabee Hall. Once on scene officers determined there was no fire and the alarm had been caused by cooking food. Officers canceled Tulsa Fire Department (TFD) response and reset the fire panel. A statement was completed by a TU affiliate. Copy of report forwarded to Housing and Student Affairs for their review. Feb. 23 6:00 am University of Tulsa Campus Safety and Security officers responded to investigate a report of hat, athletic wrap, ear buds and an ear bud case found at Collins Fitness Center. Officers obtained the property and placed in impound for safe keeping. Feb. 24 2:35pm University of Tulsa Campus Safety and Security officers took a report at Mabee Gym to investigate a verbal altercation which occurred in the Lorton Village lot. A TU affiliate was confronted by an unknown individual who made verbal threats to the affiliate. The affiliate felt their life was not in danger and declined to contact the Tulsa

Feb. 26 5:00 pm While on routine patrol, University of Tulsa Campus Safety and Security officers observed Tulsa Fire Department (TFD) responding to an emergency call at the University Methodist Church. An alarm was not activated, and the Communications Center was not notified. TFD cleared the building and reported there was no fire. Copy of report forwarded to Physical Plant for their review. 8:00 pm University of Tulsa Campus Safety and Security Communications Center received a threatening telephone call from a non-university affiliate that warranted a bomb threat response at the Don W. Reynolds Center (DRC). Officers evacuated the area and contacted the Tulsa Police Department (TPD). An emergency notification was sent campus wide. Officers and facilities conducted a search of the DRC. Officers were unable to locate a threat inside the building. The incident is under investigation and report forwarded to the Physical Plant, Athletics and Student Affairs. Feb. 27 5:10 am University of Tulsa Campus Safety and Security officers received a report of an intoxicated individual leaving a fraternity house and wandering into campus. Officers made contact with the individual and arranged for them to stay with a friend. The individual was underage and reported they had been served alcohol during a registered campus event. The incident is under investigation and report forwarded to Housing and Student Affairs. 1:45 pm University of Tulsa Campus Safety and Security officers dispatched to investigate a call from a student reporting damage to their vehicle. The damage was sustained at an unknown location. Copy of report forwarded to Physical Plant and Student Affairs for their review. 6:15 pm University of Tulsa Campus Safety and Security officers dispatched to investigate a noise complaint in Mayo Village apartments. Officers located the source of the noise and made contact with the student resident. Officers detected an alcohol odor from the residence. Officers determined there was an alcohol violation and removed

all occupants under the legal drinking age. Copy of report forwarded to Housing and Student Affairs for their review. 7:10 pm University of Tulsa Campus Safety and Security officers dispatched to investigate a noise complaint in Mayo Village apartments. Officers located the source of the noise and made contact with the student resident. Officers determined there was a party in progress and initiated a party shutdown. Officers cleared the apartment of all but the student resident. Copy of report forwarded to Housing and Student Affairs for their review. Feb. 28 1:45 pm While on routine patrol, a University of Tulsa Campus Safety and Security officer was stopped by a university contract employee upset about receiving a parking citation in the Allen Chapman Student Union Visitor lot and became belligerent with the officer. Copy of report forwarded to Housing, Physical Plant, and Human Resources for their review. March 1 4:05 pm University of Tulsa Campus Safety and Security officers responded to Mabee Gym to investigate a report of larceny from the Collins Fitness Center. Officers interviewed the victim who stated a bracelet they owned had been taken from the Collins Fitness Center. Officers took a written statement from the victim and advised them to file a report with the Tulsa Police Department. The investigation is ongoing. Copy of report forwarded to Physical Plant and Student Affairs for their review. 6:10 pm University of Tulsa Campus Safety and Security Communications Center received multiple phone calls from a subject screaming into the phone. The subject did not answer questions asked by the Communications Center. The subject continued calling until approximately 1830. The Tulsa Police Department was contacted regarding the calls. 11:23 pm University of Tulsa Campus Safety and Security received a call of marijuana smell coming from a room in the Lottie Jane Mabee Hall. Officers attempted to make contact with resident but upon receiving no answer made entry into the residence. The resident was not present and a brief searched revealed marijuana paraphernalia and a container of marijuana. Officers confiscated the contraband and placed it in impound for destruction. Copy of report forwarded to Housing and Student Affairs for their review. The Collegian does not produce or edit the Campus Crime Watch except for content and brevity.


Variety

The Collegian: 6

The latest season of “Invisibilia” provides insights on all forms of friendship. Hana Saad Student Writer “Invisibilia,” a podcast from NPR, is dedicated to discovering the unseeable forces that dictate human behavior, relationships, ideas and more. The most recent season, which aired between September to November 2021, explores different kinds of friendships in each of its six episodes. The first episode, “A Friendly Ghost Story” has a somewhat misleading title. Instead of creepy ghost stories, the episode breaks down the phenomena of “ghosting,” or when someone abruptly cuts off all contact with another person. This intriguing first episode takes a hard look at all the ways a seemingly great friendship can dissolve. Episode two explores what life is like to make friends (or not) in convents and episode four explores how thinking about “friends with benefits” relationships can

change the way we think about friendship in general. The anecdotes from the guests are interspersed with comments from psychologists and other experts, making the episode a dynamic listen. Episodes five and six look at the more uncomfortable parts of friendship, like whether or not you can talk about poop with your friends (the consensus: not everybody can be a “poop friend”) and what happens when two friends experience rough patches. The sixth episode follows the story of two friends who feel they were drifting apart and sought therapy to fix their relationship, which is an uncommon choice for most people. But that’s what this show does: it provides new ways of thinking about how we can approach friendships. Episode three is the most intriguing. It tells the story of a researcher living in Romania who later realizes a friend was reporting her activities to the secret police. This season of “Invisiblia” is special because the stories each episode includes are unique. They provide different perspectives for thinking about how we make friends, keep them, lose them and find them again.

7 March 2022

“Invisibilia” is hosted by Yowei Shaw and Kia Miakka Natisse.

You’ll find yourself nodding along, laughing and perhaps rewinding the episodes to catch something particularly interesting. In a culture that does not prioritize friendship as much as it did in the past, it is truly exciting to see so much attention paid to the ins and outs of friendships. The insights from outside scholars and experts add richness and clarity to each episode. Each episode offers a different viewpoint of the kinds of friendships that people can have along with both historical and modern

courtesy National Public Radio

thoughts about such friendships. Even if you don’t agree with every episode, it is refreshing to hear different ideas about friendship. The hosts are intelligent and thoughtful, succinctly weaving the stories and research together. Sometimes longer podcast series can be intimidating, but the variety of each episode and the skill of the hosts make for easy and enjoyable listening. This podcast is available on all streaming platforms.

Three must-watch Tiny Desk Concerts

Tiny Desk Concerts began in 2008, now numbering over 500 performances.

Enjoy an at-home concert by watching NPR’s Tiny Desk Concerts; with so many to watch, here are some favorites. Zach Sabel Student Writer Tiny Desk Concerts have been providing us with great musical entertainment from

courtesy National Public Radio

our couches since 2008. Hosted by NPR, these performances often take popular artists and have them play a short set in an intimate location in the NPR offices. Since the pandemic we have seen more performances from the artists’ homes for social distancing, but the appeal has not lessened. I have watched Tiny Desk Concerts for a long time, and many performances are very close to my heart. My top performance would probably be the Daniel Johnston Tiny Desk Concert re-

leased in 2012. Performing the songs “Mean Girls Give Pleasure,” ”American Dream’’ and “True Love Will Find You In The End’,’ Johnston is one of those artists that comes off as an enigma to the casual listener. The vocals are not clean like many have become accustomed to, but in my opinion they really add to the beauty and sadness of much of Johnston’s lyricism. Johnston suffered throughout his life with mental illness, undergoing multiple stints in psychiatric institutions. His struggles come out in his music to great effect on his listeners. He often discusses the hopes of finding love and this is nowhere more evident than in one of his best songs and the final song in this set, “True Love Will Find You In The End.” From Johnston’s point of view, true love will find you no matter how down you get; it’s always out there searching to find you. If you can look past Johnston’s sometimes abrasive sound and experience the beautiful lyricism for what it is, you’re in for a great time. My next favorite performance would have to be from John Prine. An absolute legend of the Americana genre who we sadly lost during the pandemic to COVID, he seamlessly weaves the issues of America into his music with a blend of passion and comedy making for such an absolute joy to watch or listen to. This set features some of his newer songs from his last album, and older songs from his career that spanned over 45 years. These songs include: “Caravan of Fools,” “Summer’s End,” “All the Best” and “Souvenirs.” There’s a certain quality to Prine’s music

that separates him from others in the sphere of folk music. Take the song “Summer’s End” for example. It sounds on the surface like a nice song, but delve deeper into the meaning of the song and you’ll realize it discusses the hard truths of loss and despair caused by the ongoing opioid epidemic in America. His ability to lull his audience in with his comedic talk between songs and then hitting them with beautiful songs like this is not comparable to many other artists in the industry. When we think of Tiny Desk Concerts we tend to think of individuals or bands performing them, but my next top performance comes from a musical:“Company.” One of Stephen Sondheim’s many masterpieces, it first debuted in 1970 and has remained a staple on Broadway through its many runs. A recent adaptation of the play has been made with a female lead. This adaptation’s cast performs this concert. They perform four songs from the musical: “Company,” “Someone is Waiting,” “Another Hundred People” and “You Could Drive a Person Crazy.” While this is not my favorite cast of all time, I think they still do a fantastic job getting the emotions of the musical across, even in this non-theatrical setting. In particular, the new rendition of “Another Hundred People” rivals the 2006 cast recording. You really feel the passion and emotion that the song is conveying, the trials and tribulations of dating and finding love in New York. You can find Tiny Desk Concerts on NPR’s Youtube channel.

chanical engineering student whose family runs Que Gusto!), Queenie’s, and Stonehorse Market (small deli next to the Café). Do you have any food/restaurant routines? My breakfast routine is a big bowl of oatmeal, almost every day. If you had to pick three songs for a Playlist of Your Life, what would they be?

See Me After Class is a weekly column where a different professor reveals their variety favorites. Julianne Tran Variety Editor Dr. William LePage is an assistant professor of mechanical engineering who completed his undergraduate education at the University of Tulsa and went on to receive his Ph.D. from the University of Michigan. He is a father, husband, engineer and scientist. LePage leads the Advanced Materials Design Group that uses cutting-edge mechanical techniques to research stronger materials. You can sometimes find him wandering around campus with his wife and three little boys. What book would you say all undergrads need to read before they graduate?

It’s a bit of a cop-out, but I’d say, read a book that aligns with your interests and sparks your curiosity! For folks who are interested in structural materials (my research expertise), check out, “The New Science of Strong Materials: Or Why You Don’t Fall through the Floor.” For a wider audience of students, the knowledge and skills from “Atomic Habits” would be useful. In summer 2021, my research group read this book together. It’s a quick read that shares how to make our little daily choices compound into the results that we want to achieve. What was the last book/movie/show that you actually found funny? The film “Dads.” What’s your favorite Tulsa restaurant? My favorite Tulsa restaurants include Andolini’s, Big Al’s, McNellie’s, New York Bagel (Old School), Que Gusto (special mention to Rafael Serrano Meneses, a me-

Ben Rector has been the favorite musician for my family and myself for years. “Hey Siri, shuffle Ben Rector,” is a frequent request. On road trips, we will listen to his repertoire for hundreds of miles. Narrowing down to three, I’d probably pick his “Kids,” “The Men That Drive Me Places,” and “Peace.” Honorable mention for “Almost Home.”

courtesy utulsa.edu Dr. LePage started teaching at TU in 2020.

Do you have any music recommendations for different moods/needs? My family started an Apple Music subscription in early 2020, and it has been a big gift to explore so much music. One of the fruits of this was the idea to play an upbeat instrumental song before class meetings. Students seem to like the mood lift before we dive into our work. For studying, a few quick picks: Bach’s Goldberg Variations (try Lang Lang’s version from 2021), Beethoven’s Symphony 9 (try Berlin Philharmonic from 1984), and the soundtrack from the film “Pray: The Story of Patrick Peyton.”

courtesy OK Kid Recordings LePage is a big fan of Ben Rector.


Variety

7 March 2022

The Collegian: 7

“Devil House” an excruciatingly addictive read John Darnielle’s “Devil House” follows a true crime writer who moves into a home where two brutal murders took place. Maddie Walters Social Media & Web Manager Perhaps one of the most troubling aspects of reading true crime novels — besides the profitting due to the suffering of others — is the author’s inability to make the victims and murderers seem like three-dimensional people. Characters in true crime novels and horror novels, for that matter, tend to fall into the trope of waiting around to be murdered — as if the victims’ whole existence centered around that final terminal moment when death triumphs over life. But who were they before? Did they have plans to go to college? Maybe they wanted to become an artist. Perhaps they wanted to get away from an abusive household. Then, what about the murderer for that matter — not all murders are planned. What was going through their mind? Perhaps they were trying to protect the only home they have. Gage Chandler, the protagonist of John Darnielle’s newest novel “Devil House,” proclaims himself to be an ethical true crime writer. “I try to honor the dead in my books,” he says, “It’s one of the things, I hope, that sets me apart a little from my partners in true crime.” Gage Chandler is a popular true crime writer who already has a few books under his belt, namely “The White Witch of Morro Bay,” a crime that ends with the death of two victims, Jesse and Gene, and the execution of the murderer, Diane Crane. Chandler, prone to an active imagination, goes as far as to imagine Diane Crane, the high school teacher of

the victims, in the weeks leading up to the murders, picturing her shopping for groceries. Simultaneously, he focuses on Jesse and Gene and their reasons for trying to rob their teacher; both boys are victims of an abusive household and are willing to do anything to escape the daily harm that has rooted its way into their lives. When Chandler’s publisher asks him if he’d be interested in living in a house where two brutal, and possibly satanic, murders took place, he jumps at the opportunity. The house’s history, much like the novel’s, is complex to say the least — once a soda shop, a newsstand and most recently (and at the time of the murders) a pornography store. Crime scene photos show a shocking scene of chivalric crests, maimed bodies on top of a gigantic stack of porn, frenzied words written on the walls and a seraphim created from adult videos watching over the corpses. Despite all this, the crime still remains unsolved. However, soon into Chandler’s investigation, he realizes that things aren’t exactly what they seem, sending him down a rabbithole of obsession and a resounding feeling that maybe the novel about the devil house shouldn’t be written at all. He begins to wrestle with the notion that maybe he isn’t as much of an ethical true crime writer as he once thought he was. “Devil House” rips and pulls you through itself. Reading this novel is like putting together a pictureless puzzle whose pieces don’t quite fit together, that is until you put in the final piece and then somehow it all magically comes together. Because that’s what this novel is … magic. What else can you call a novel that has multiple second person POVs and sections in Middle English? While confusing at times, the winding, nonlinear structure keeps readers on the edge of their seat. “Devil House” is John

“Devil House” was publishd in January 2022.

Darnielle’s most ambitious novel yet, and it pays off immensely. It seems that this novel also contains sections that are semi-autobiographical. The novel’s main setting is in Milpitas, California (the city where “River’s Edge” took place), which also happens to be a city where Darnielle lived briefly. On a more heartbreaking note, the novel also depicts the life shattering effects that having an abusive parent can have on a child’s life — a page taken from Darnielle’s own traumatic past. The emotion in this section drips off every single word, staining the pages with matured understanding and calmed rage. With every page, it focuses on giving a voice to the unfortunate and underprivileged — murderers and victims alike. At its heart, the novel says that people are complicated beings; no one is wholly evil or truly

courtesy Picador

good, and everyone deserves to have their story told. Within the same vein, the novel offers a scathing critique on those who are quick to judge at-risk youth. Chandler says it best when he says, “People love to tell themselves stories about the grave dangers posed by wayward youth. They always arrive at the same questions — why don’t these young people care? How did they get like this? Where were their parents? — but the asking of these questions is an exercise in self-portraiture. They’re not good questions; they’re not even questions. They’re ghost stories masquerading as concern.” With its non-linear storyline and ever shifting perspectives, “Devil House” will suck you into its jaws immediately, and you’ll quickly discover that the only way out is through.

“Euphoria” season two leaves loose ends untied parties with friends for each new episode or texting one another every time something shocking happened. My go-to question after every weekend started to become, “What did you think of the new episode?” The trailer for season two promised a plethora of new plotlines to keep each character moving through their respective relationships and struggles, and the season delivered on this front … sort of. Although there were many new conflicts introduced as well as several new characters, only one or two problems seemed to reach a conclusion by the final episode.

courtesy HBO

Season two of “Euphoria” debuted on January 9.

HBO series “Euphoria” finishes its second season without a conclusive, properly paced plot. Margaret Laprarie Student Writer For the past eight weeks, Sunday has been known to many as “‘Euphoria’ Day.” For fans of the hit HBO original series, each week they could anticipate a new episode where their favorite (or least favorite) characters would undoubtedly make a new string of life-altering decisions. For many TV shows chronicling the experience of high school students, such decisions may not be so serious to those existing outside of their close circles, but “Euphoria” steps outside of the usual high school hum-drum to tackle how today’s youth might handle grief, drug addiction and complicated matters of personal identity. Complete with trendy outfits, a catchy soundtrack, powerful performances

and lots of glitter, “Euphoria” has managed to take popular culture by storm once again in 2022 for its second season. Fans waited patiently for the arrival of “Euphoria’s” second season after its smash debut in 2019, but many were upset to realize that episodes would be released weekly, rather than all at once as they had been before. Despite the initial disappointment surrounding this decision, such a schedule seemed to work well not only for promotion of the show, but for the experience of its viewers as well. The weekly release helped to build excitement for each episode, made the results of each plot more satisfying when they were finally revealed and gave the audience something new to look forward to each Sunday. It also seemed to help develop a more tight-knit culture surrounding the show, as the internet exploded in memes before and after each episode, either reacting to what had happened or predicting what would happen next. It helped to enhance the inperson experience as well, planning watch

“Euphoria” is an American adaptation of an Israeli show of the same name.

sired, especially after such a long wait for its release. Despite losing some of the excitement and charm that the first season used to grip its viewers, season two of “Euphoria” was by no means a bad season. At the end of the day, the show’s characters made up for the moments where the show sometimes lacked in plot, as we were able to learn more about the characters, meet new ones and watch relationships develop or fall apart. Many fans praised the increased screen time of certain characters, and in several instances their development accounted for

“... the show’s characters made up ... where the show sometimes lacked in plot ...” My number one critique as I cycled through the show was that in every episode it felt as if so much happened, but not a single loose end was tied. In several instances it took the entire season to reach the climax of a certain situation, leaving no time for the situation to reach its peak while also being resolved. The pacing felt very slow, feeling even slower because of the weekly release of episodes. The entire season felt very “middle,” and in my opinion the middle is always the worst part. Season one set the audience up for an exciting story while focusing on making sure we could get to know the characters. Season two seems to have taken those characters, shaken them up a bit and given them a lot to work on. For some this meant new relationships, the demise of old ones, and further struggles with issues that have haunted them since season one. Although this sets the stage for an exciting season three, which has already been confirmed by HBO, it left season two with little to be de-

much of the excitement surrounding the season. The performance from the actors behind each character helped to sell the show more than ever in this season, with stunning performances most notably from actresses Zendaya and Sydney Sweeney. The quality of acting within the show, as well as production, design and the show’s signature aesthetic ensured that season two was just as successful as season one, and still as enjoyable for viewers to watch. Even if the plot (or sometimes lack thereof) is of little interest to you, “Euphoria” is worth the time because of its quality of production and the experimental approach it takes to the typical high school drama. “Euphoria” is available to watch on HBOMax.

courtesy HBO


The State-Run Media

March 7, 2022

the

State-Run media This font is only red when I’m thinking about orcs.

Senior reconciles with the passage of time after freshman tells them they don’t know about True Commitment Realizing the True Commitment controversy occurred almost three years ago, TU senior enters a state of panic over how quickly their college years have passed. Anna Johns whathurtsthemostrascalflatts. mp3 During the Wednesday Student Union lunch rush, senior P.J. Trachtenberg experienced an xistential crisis when he chatted with a group of friends and offhandedly referenced True Commitment — only to find the freshmen had no idea what he was talking about. “You know,” Trachtenberg said. “True Commitment. Gerard Clancy. When TU wanted to eliminate 40 percent of mostly humanities classes.” The freshmen stared blankly back at him. “What are you talking about?” asked one of the ignorant freshmen. “Plus, the joke right now is Braddy Daddy. Ever go on Yik Yak?” “Oh, Jesus Christ,” Trachtenberg muttered. He didn’t realize how out of touch and uncool he became, oafish and awkward compared to the gangly, freshly 18 or 19-yearolds who are way too confident and guzzle beer like water because this is the first time they have lived without consequence. How boring he is now — he could barely muster any excitement to drink more than five on a good night, and here these children are, so vibrant and full of life. They could not understand what Trachtenberg had lived through: the ignited faculty in-fighting, the chalk scattered throughout

Take look, children, at this sad old man! Point and laugh at this sombert sort, lost to the annals of time.

campus that denounced the administration’s actions and the Facebook groups and websites and petitions that announced True Commitment the catalyst to the liberal arts education doomsday. Hell, these kids didn’t even know about the cute little funeral celebration for the humanities, where protesting students skipped classes and wore mournful black. The swirling anxious thoughts expanded. Trachtenberg is twenty-two. He graduates this spring. He still had no idea what he wanted to do with his life. He soon joins the Real World, the mysterious realm briefly outlined by Dolly Parton’s “9 to 5,” where he, too, is swallowed by a relentless “career”

(whatever that means), constantly lives for the weekend and, uh, probably joins a trio of women who kill their boss. His Marxist private university education prepared him for that much, but still, he had to contend with the fact that once he graduates, he won’t have his infamous reputation as the guy who took a shit on the tennis court. And what do you expect him to use as a conversation starter now? True Commitment happened three years ago, and none of these freshmen had to endure class periods of only talking about the subject. Now, Trachtenberg must live with this memory of the sharply political landscape of TU and, ugh, all that information

graphic by Anna Johns

about the misspending of the university There was only one way Trachtenberg could soothe his anxieties of graduation and rapid aging: it was time to make a Spotify playlist, title it something like “Where did the time go?” and smother it with nostalgic sounding tracks and sad-voiced singers. A voice shooed away his thoughts. “So, what happened to True Commitment? Did it get stopped?” asked one of the freshmen, looking up at the wizened, prophetic elder he had become. “Oh, I have no clue,” Trachtenberg shrugged. “COVID?”

Anglo-Saxon chieftain arrives at the University of Tulsa in search of a bride

Sent from a past we cannot conceptualize, this virile warrior seeks a fertile wench with whom he can birth powerful sons. Could you be the one? Anna Johns Owns Assassin’s Creed Valhalla, thus certifiably ready for anything

When Pat Case unlocked its doors for hungry students, the undergraduates were shocked to find a grizzled man wearing chainmail with a sword plunged into his sheath. His face-covering helmet sat aside him as he viciously bit into his pickled cods. Fortunately, he was not quick to attack the enemy — they caught him on his lunch break. Campus Security sought to detain this mysterious medieval fighter, but two of their officers’ attempts were in vain: the man released a warrior’s shout, stunning them, as he charged. The officers dodged his attack, looked at one another and promptly shrugged. They left the incomprehensive rabble for someone else to deal with; they’re already underfunded as it is, so they couldn’t give less of a shit about this than anything else. Professors who spoke Old English were called onto the scene. The two swapped barbs from a distance, the warrior’s voice a gruff bellow. The man offered his name, Æthelwulf the Insipid, and said he would not leave until he found a ravishing, hipsswinging maiden with whom he could extend his family line. Until then, he promised to pillage and plunder this university for all it is worth.

Oh, bless the ole violent fella. He was so excited to take this picture. How sweet!

“Well, when we heard his threat, we all kind of laughed,” said senior Jessica Sanchez. “Plundering TU for ‘all it is worth’? We’re, like, several million in debt, pal. What do you think you’ll get? $800 premium Lorton Hall parking permits?” From there, Æthelwulf fell into old habits. Hunting for monks to brutally murder or sell into slavery, he searched for the Religion Department, only to find it already pretty gutted after the True Commitment fiasco. “We tried to explain True Commitment to the guy, but like everyone else, he didn’t really give a shit,” said Philosophy major Peter Dempsey. “Eh, can’t say I blame him.”

Disappointed but nonetheless tenacious, Æthelwulf tracked down any sort of alcohol and once more received unfortunate news: The Hut was also closed years ago. So, faculty advised him to discuss his concerns— namely, the lack of ale and fertile wenches who do not scream and run away when he attempts to throw them over his shoulder — and report to the Student Association, which zealously promotes the well-being of students with tangible results. His attempt to voice his desires for the student body was delayed; plus, he had to compete with everyone else waiting in line to talk to SA so they could get pizza for their measly little clubs.

graphic by Anna Johns

Welcome to the real world, Æthelwulf. Bureaucratic red tape applies to you now, too. In one last ploy to go home to his AngloSaxon community with a prized beauty, Æthelwulf found himself in a Women’s and Gender Studies course. Wide-eyed and dazed, he left the class session strangely meditative. Healthfully communicating with words like “discourse” and “duality,” Æthelwulf picked up his sword — what he now recognized as a representation of the powerful phallus and the homosocial nexus of battle and masculinity — and marched into the sunset, muttering to himself about the male gaze.


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