April 11, 2014 Print Edition

Oral Roberts University · April 11, 2014 Tulsa, Okla. · Vol 48, No. 12 www.oruoracle.com

‘WE SLAYED SOME DRAGONS’ -Mart Green PAGE 3

NEWS PAGE 6 Third annual film festival results

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SCENE PAGE 18 Movie watchers flood theaters to witness Noah

FEATURES PAGE 12 Meet Mavis the bulldog

News

Mart Green to step down as board chair

By McKensie Garber Mart Green announced he will step down this week as chairman of ORU’s Board of Trustees after holding the position for six years. He will remain on the board as vice-chair.

Green, owner and founder of the Mardel Christian bookstore and school supply chain, first became involved in ORU when he and his family, who also own the Hobby Lobby craft store chain, heard of the university’s financial woes from reports in the news media in late 2007.

Though the Green family had no previous ties to ORU, they made a crucial $70 million gift to save the school from closing. ORU was more than $60 million in the red at the time.

“There were four dragons that needed to be slayed when I came to ORU: a debt of $60 million, deferred maintenance, declining deficits and the biggest dragon — a decline of enrollment,” Green said in a chapel service Wednesday thanking him for his family’s generosity.

Students and faculty in attendance were asked to wear green in his honor.

Green gave an initial $8 million to the school in 2007 to alleviate its urgent cash

crunch before pledging an additional $62 million for use after his family had time to review the university’s financial practices and its plans for reform.

“My first goal was to rebuild trust and then to sustain economic stability,” Green said.

At a dinner event held for Green Tuesday night, Robert Hoskins, vice chair of the Board of Trustees, spoke about the metaphorical monsters in ORU’s past and how Green was God’s $70 million-manof-the-hour needed to eliminate them.

“You have brought us into a period of prosperity and peace, and for that, we are forever grateful,” Hoskins said, addressing Green and his family.

The university even presented Green a large sword at the dinner to thank him for his service.

His legacy as chair includes a balanced budget, a new student center and $50 million invested into campus renovations.

The Board of Trustees named Robert Hoskins, former vice-chair, the new chairman on Thursday. Hoskins is currently the president and CEO of OneHope, a global ministry organization that works to help children in more than 140 nations.

Photo by Courtney Dilley

Mart Green, former chairman of ORU’s Board of Trustees, addresses students in a chapel service Wednesday. The university presented Green with a globe for his generosity.

Graphic by Michelle Karjadi

THE ORACLE • Friday, April 11, 2014 • 3

Dr. Huntley named undergrad business dean

By Madison McDaniel Beginning in the fall, Dr. Julie Huntley will return to ORU for the second time as a faculty member.

This time, Huntley will step into her new role as Dean of the College of Business and will bring her business-to-business marketing skills and expertise.

Huntley originally joined the College of Business faculty in 1999. She worked at ORU for 10 years before joining the faculty at Point Loma Nazarene University in San Diego, Calif. Huntley is currently a tenured professor of marketing at Point Loma.

Huntley left ORU in 2009 because she felt that the Lord was leading her in a different direction. This time around, Huntley senses the Lord’s tugging on her heart to return.

“At the time I left, I told my ORU colleagues that I did not think that my time with ORU was completed,” said Huntley. “I see the Lord’s wisdom and can confirm the value in ‘cross-pollination.’ I have learned a lot from my PLNU experience and believe I will continue to benefit from the relationships formed there in my new role at ORU.” During her time at Point Loma University, Huntley says she was able to develop leadership skills in assessment and curriculum initiatives that should serve her well in the administrative role she will be taking at ORU. “The PLNU community is strong in their focus on student engagement and student learning,” said Huntley. “My teaching skills have improved significantly as a result of this ‘iron sharpening iron’ experience. Based on my PLNU experience and nearly 20 years in academia, I am looking forward to continue ‘iron sharpening iron’ experiences with ORU

faculty.”

Dr. Marshal Wright, the interim dean of the College of Business, expresses his expectations for the future of the department under Huntley.

“Dr. Huntley will bring extremely strong spiritempowered leadership, with an emphasis on growing the reach of our programs domestically and globally, while simultaneously emphasizing that we, as representatives of the Lord, must do everything with the utmost excellence for His glory,” said Wright.

Wright believes tt Huntley’s experience as a Golden Eagle will contribute to her success as dean.

“She is one of us, having graduated with her MBA from ORU and having taught for us previously,” said Wright. “This means she really loves and is committed to ORU and the founding vision and mission. Yet, having experiences beyond ORU over the last few years will be beneficial as she can challenge us to think and plan beyond ourselves.”

The personal vision and expectations Huntley holds for the future of the department is based on excellence in education through excellence in a Christ-like character.

“ORU’s business programs should be the best business programs, not only because of the strong business acumen that students will acquire but also because of their strengthened ability to hear God’s voice in the business world,” said Huntley.

In fulfilling her new role, Huntley’s outlook on the business department is hopeful in bringing lasting plans.

“The future is bright with possibilities,” said Huntley. “With God on our side and the Holy Spirit working through us, how could it be anything but

Courtesy photo

Dr. Huntley will join ORU from her position at Point Loma Nazarene University.

bright? Building on the strong business foundation that the ORU College of Business has to offer, my focus will be to build a greater awareness of these strengths in the business community, both locally and globally.”

International gala celebrates Mexican culture

By Christine Howrey On Thursday, April 17, expect to spot celebrity doppelgangers in the Prayer Gardens. The reason for this is none other than the International Gala, hosted by ORU’s own International Relations & Development Organization (IRDO).

This formal, mock state dinner will be honoring Mexico. Every semester the IRDO hosts an event honoring a different country. Their mission is to “enhance the ORU international learning experience, to

promote international interaction with international communities whether it be at home, or abroad, and to help prepare students to skillfully and eloquently face the problems of tomorrow, worldwide.”

Kristin Towles Esparza, IRDO president, chose Mexico after spending her last semester abroad there for an internship. Through the gala, Towles Esparza is now bringing a little piece of Mexico to ORU. “I think it’s a beautiful culture, with beautiful art. There are a lot of great

4 • Friday, April 11, 2014 • THE ORACLE

things about Mexico, so I think its great that we have this opportunity to showcase Mexico and the Mexican culture,” said Towles Esparza.

The International Gala will be presenting Mexican culture through various avenues. Authentic Mexican food will be served, which is being donated by Tres Amigos Mexican Grill & Cantina.

There will be cultural presentations, educational dance instructions and an art exhibit from Mexican artists. In addition to Mexican cuisine, art that

portrays the Mexican culture will be displayed. The keynote speaker for the event will be ORU provost, Dr. ReidMartinez.

To be a part of this event, log onto www.tinyurl.com/intlgala to buy your tickets. Tickets are $10 a person. Show up to the event on April 17 at 6 p.m. in the Prayer Gardens dressed as a celebrity or in formal attire. If weather conditions become a hindrance, the event will be held in the Holy Spirit Room in Christ’s Chapel.

Seniors set sights on Oxford for post-grad studies

By Kristy Sturgill “[We are] delighted to inform you that your application to the University of Oxford as a graduate has been successful.”

Two ORU students recently experienced immense joy while reading these words in their six-page acceptance email.

Estara Arrant and Lauren Stanley will leave for England in October to begin their graduate studies.

However, both are still waiting on their placement into a specific college at the University of Oxford.

Arrant and Stanley both cried tears of joy when they realized they would get to continue their education at the University they only once dreamed of attending.

“I am the first person in my family to go to

Courtesy photos

Senior Estara Arrant poses for a photo during her summer study abroad trip to Israel in 2012.

graduate school,” Arrant said. “And Oxford of all places makes this opportunity even more exciting” Both Arrant and Stanley dreamed about Oxford before they came to ORU. For them, it was a distant dream. But their path to Oxford was solidified after visiting the University.

Stanley studied abroad at Oxford for her junior year. She said she met “fabulously interesting people.”

Stanley said she believed it helped her acceptance that two of her three recommendation letters came from professors that teach at the university.

Arrant dreamed of going to Oxford since she was a kid. She finally stayed for three weeks at Oxford and felt very much at home.

“I cannot say for certain, but I believe what helped me get accepted is I introduced myself to someone I wanted to study under,” Arrant said. “They knew what I wanted to study and why.”

Arrant is currently a senior finishing her history major and Hebrew minor. Stanley graduated in December with an English major, humanities and writing double minor. While attending Oxford, Arrant will pursue a Masters of Philosophies Islamic studies and history. Stanley will be pursuing a Masters in Late Antique and Byzantine studies.

Arrant hopes to continue towards her Doctorate after she finshes her Masters.

After completing her education she desires to conduct research on the culture and religious relationships between Muslims and Jews in the Medieval Middle East by studying documents in Arabic and Hebrew from that era.

Stanley, after completing her education, will

Lauren Stanley visits Hampton Court Palace in London. Stanley studied abroad at Oxford for a year during her time at ORU. continue on to her Doctorate, but ultimately hopes to become a professor and remain in England.

When planning to go to graduate school, Arrant advises students not to wait to become a master in a specific field and to have a specific focus. When applying, write a statement of purpose and remember the university wants to know if the student will fit well into the school and is not just applying for its name recognition.

She advises students to avoid using clichés in their applications. Stanley advises students to apply to the early deadline.

“Overall, be determined and persevere at all costs,” Stanley said, “If I have to get a kayak and row across the ocean I will get there.”

ORU senior wins Boe Award for medical research

By Kaylin Thompson ORU senior Rachel Long received the Dennis Boe Award for Excellence at a scholastic awards conference in Ft. Smith, Ark. on March 28-29.

The award recognizes and honors outstanding scholarly work by the honors program and college students of its affiliated institutions. The two-day event was hosted by the University of Arkansas Ft. Smith, and was sponsored by the Great Plains Honors Council.

Long, a biology and pre-med major, is one of three winners in the juniors and seniors category. She is the second student from ORU to receive

this award, and the only person from Oklahoma. Entries for the award come from six states and are all based on high level research. The winners receive a cash prize and an engraved plaque.

“I almost couldn’t believe it when I found out that I won,” said Long. “Dr. Korstad forwarded the notification to all the professors in my department and to many students.”

At the event, Long informed the audience of her research in a 15-minute presentation.

Her research paper, “Low Level Energy Laser Therapy as a Treatment for Chemotherapy-Induced Peripheral

Neuropathy, ” is based on research she performed at the Cancer Treatment Center of America of the Southwest Regional Medical Center in Tulsa.

“The next day everyone congratulated me. It felt surreal. After all the time and effort I put in at ORU, it was such a gratifying experience to see the fruit of my labors,” said Long.

“To gain the experience of presenting research at a conference and have my efforts recognized was the experience of a lifetime. Being able to present my work and speak publicly in an academic setting before 300 people was amazing.”

Long did her research with Dr.

Katherine Andersen at the cancer center, and credits Dr. Bill Ranahan as her research advisor. She thanks Dr. John Korstad, honors program director, Dr. Kay Meyers, honors program associate director and her professors for their nominations and support.

Long plans to do medical missions during the next year. She is in the process of applying to the doctorate of osteopathic medicine program at Oklahoma State University. Recently hired by St. John’s, Long plans to work as a med scribe where she will gain medical experience before beginning medical school.

THE ORACLE • Friday, April 11, 2014 • 5

SA hosts third annual film festival

Courtesy photo

Alex Bradt directed and acted in his group’s short film”High Noon,” which won the award for Best Picture of the Night. McKensie Garber’s performance in the piece won the award for Best Actress.

By Valeria Hernandez Under the dim lights of Zoppelt Auditorium, more than 160 students eagerly waited to see which of the five competing teams would be crowned as winner for Best Picture of the Night.

Student Association hosted their third annual 168 Film Festival on Sunday, April 6 as the student body watched the teams’ final products come to life. From filming, to long hours of editing, teams produced a four to six minute video in 168 hours.

Different genres, ranging from comedy to western, were presented as proof of the diverse personalities involved in the competition. Laughs, moving silence and cheers reigned over the auditorium as the various videos were played. “[The teams] did a good job at representing the different genres,” said sophomore Mary Kleinhans.

The final videos are only a glimpse of the competitors’ work. Behind cameras, teams worked throughout the week around the different members’ schedules to put together creative productions. For

Director Garret Jacobs, the beauty of production is unseen. “[In the editing room] is where all the magic happens,” said Jacobs. “You have all these pieces of footage but it doesn’t really take shape until you

“Having to incorporate the theme, compromise, was a challenge,” said Director Ezra Chavez. “At first, because you go into the competition with an idea in your head about what kind of film you want to do, but then you get a

“[The editing room] is where all the magic

happens.You have all these pieces of footage but it doesn’t really take shape until you start putting the pieces together. At that point it can really be a hundred different things, in many different ways. You have to figure out the one way you want to say it that is the best.” start putting the pieces together. At that point it can really be a hundred different things, in many different ways.

You have to figure out the one way you want to say it that is the best.”

SA required the teams to work around four different guidelines: teams had to creatively integrate compromise as the theme; a stopwatch as a prop; Jane as a character’s name; and “let’s be serious” as part of the dialogue.

6 • Friday, April 11, 2014 • THE ORACLE

surprise theme that changes your plans.

All in all, it was a challenge, but after a good brainstorming session you get a whole new idea for a film.”

Despite the challenges of producing under restricted time, students successfully met their deadlines.

Freshman multi-media major Alex Bradt, entered the competition due to his passion for filming, despite having loads of schoolwork. Late nights paid

off when Bradt’s team was crowned as Best Picture of the Night, along with a $400 prize for their film “High Noon.”

“I am passionate about this kind of stuff, not particularly film, but I love making videos and creative things, just being able to produce,” said Bradt.

“I learned to organize my time and delegate to my team so we could do the same amount of work in less amount of time.”

Jacobs and Emma Ambos were awarded with best screenplay for “Who is More Precious.” Jacobs’ first time participating in the event showed him that the teams involved have an uplifting, healthy competition rather than one based on rivalry.

“I want to do this again next year so badly,” said Jacobs. “It is a big commitment. It is not something you should take very lightly. I encourage people that even when they are not sure how is it going to come out, or what’s going to happen, to just go for it, and try something new if it’s something you haven’t done before.”

ORU student selected for World Scout Comittee

By David Sauer ORU Sophomore James “Bear” Britt will be one of four scouts representing the U.S. at the World Scout Committee in Slovenia Aug. 2 to Aug. 16, 2014.

Britt will take part in the youth forum during the first week and the conference during the second week.

In the youth forum, scouts from around the world gather together to discuss changes they would like to see implemented on an international level.

During the second week, the scouts will join adult leaders to discuss possible changes to be made to the World Organization of the Scouting Movement (WOSM) constitution.

One of their topics this year will be adding a scouting organization in China, something that hasn’t been governmentally allowed until now.

Britt recognizes that he will be a representative for his God, family and country.

“I was very excited to learn I have the opportunity,” Britt said. “It’s going to be a huge responsibility. I have to be a good ambassador, not only for myself, my family and my nation, but also for ORU as well as God.” The opportunity at the World Scout Committee was a result of Britt’s involvement with Interamerican Leadership Training (ILT) the week of Dec. 21 to Jan. 1 in Houston.

ILT is a week-long camp for scouts to come together from all over the Interamerican region, which stretches from Canada to Chile. Britt was one of 33 staffers attending the event.

At ILT, he taught a course on problem solving and planning. He also helped plan and lead chapel services.

“What we ultimately talked about was [Micah 6:8] where it talks about ‘act justly, seek mercy and walk humbly with your God’ and how that pertains to the scout oath,” Britt said.

Britt was also a team leader in charge of one of eight teams at the camp.

“We wanted to see how they came together,” Britt said. “How they worked together, especially being men and

women who had never known each other or worked together. We felt that they could learn more in their small team with their team guide influencing them and kind of guiding them through it.”

Britt was put in charge of the program team, which is responsible for maintaining morale at the camp. Their job included singing songs, leading chants and leading campfires.

One of their campfire skits resulted in things getting a little messy for Britt.

“I was the main person you would mock or make fun of in the skit [which] was the top 10 uses of Nutella,” Britt said. “We got a gallon jug of Nutella and that found its way all over my face and my hair and wherever he could put it. One of them was sunscreen and… [another] was hair gel.”

Britt said the ILT experience was one that he will remember forever.

“It was amazing. I still keep in touch with the majority of [my team] as well as people from throughout the course.

We keep in touch. They’ll send me pictures of Nutella. It was amazing to see how they thought and how some of their national programs differed from ours,” said Britt. “At the closing ceremony, there wasn’t a dry eye in the house. None of us wanted to go home.”

Because of his work with ILT, adult leadership offered him a spot on the World Scout Committee.

While there, Britt will be interacting with scouts of different faiths from his.

During his time at ILT, he experienced this, and it helped prepare him for it at the World Scout Committee.

“A lot of the nations that will be [present] have to recognize a God in their scout oath, but WOSM does not always say which God that is,” Britt said. “It’s a huge responsibility, but it’s one that I feel prepared for.”

Courtesy photos

Top: Britt in his official InterAmerican Leadership Training photo. Bottom: Britt and other scouts play Melão, a Brazilian game about a melon.

THE ORACLE • Friday, April 11, 2014 • 7

FEATURES

Ecology students explore Caribbean coral reef

By Morgan Reeves Off the northern coast of South America sits the island of Bonaire. In its Caribbean waters, ORU marine ecology students participated in some hands-on learning during spring break.

Students scuba dived off the coast of Bonaire.

Marine Ecology Professor John Korstad was excited for his students to be in the underwater environment.

“It is amazing what you can learn when you can actually be with the organisms,” said Korstad. “It is wonderful being underwater with God’s creation.”

Korstad is a certified scuba diver and has been teaching marine ecology since 1986. The lab portion of the class always takes place in the Caribbean. This was the first year for the class to visit Bonaire.

“It was our first time, but hopefully not our last,” said Korstad.

While on the trip, the group was able to visit one of the world’s most popular shipwreck diving sites.

The “Hilma Hooker” rests 60 to 100 feet underwater off the coast of Bonaire. During their dive, students observed how the marine life interacted with the ship wreckage.

After arriving at the shipwreck, Sophomore Hannah White was nervous about the upcoming dive due to her lack of diving experience. Eventually, she pushed herself to make the dive and was thankful she did. It was one of her best dives of the trip.

“I just told myself the only way I am going to get over this is if I keep diving,” said White.

Bonaire was one of the first Caribbean islands to partner with The Coral Restoration Foundation. Coral is

often damaged by pollution. The foundation is dedicated to creating offshore nurseries and restoration programs for threatened coral. While on the island, ORU students visited the coral restoration nurseries and assisted in taking care of the coral.

“We got to go on a dive with them [the Coral Restoration Foundation] to see the nurseries and clean the coral in the nurseries,” said White.

The coral reef provides food and shelter for many underwater organisms. When the coral is damaged, it affects all the organisms; therefore, it is important to conserve it. “[The] coral reef is a major ecosystem underwater,”

said White.

To ready for the trip, Korstad had the class prepare presentations over the organisms they may see in the waters of Bonaire. Students were required to memorize 100 organisms. Although this memorization was a challenge, White said her biggest preparation was taking scuba classes at ORU. Students who are interested in participating in the next scuba trip are encouraged to take scuba diving as an HPE credit. All students are welcome, not just biology majors.

“Scuba diving may be extreme,” said White.

“But anyone can do it.”

Courtesy photo

Sophomores Hannah White (left) and Cora Skjaerlund (right) scuba dive on the Caribbean island of Bonaire for their marine ecology class.

8 • Friday, April 11, 2014 • THE ORACLE

Backpacking class takes on Elk River Trail

By Jazlin Asencio One of the most popular HPE classes will take an overnight backpacking trip to Kansas April 12-13 to hike the Elk River Trail. This 15-mile, round-trip hike features cliffs, wildlife, a large lake and provides an unforgettable adventure for students.

“I love every single person in this class,” said senior communications major Galen Jernigan.

“I love Professor Gogan, I think he’s a genius professor. I’ve had him in my English class, and I get to have him for backpacking. He’s just as passionate about this topic, and he makes it really fun.”

Assistant Professor of English Keith Gogan has been teaching this class since 1991.

“My favorite part of the class is introducing students to a whole new world, that of nature

in its wildest forms,” said Gogan.

His backpacking class offers two overnight weekend trips. Attendance of one is required.

“Students can choose one trip from those two,” said Gogan. “I take eight students on one trip, and eight on the other.”

Gogan has also led trips to the Rockies during spring break and fall break.

“These break trips are not actually associated with the class but are offered simply for the experience they provide,” said Gogan.

During enrollment, the backpacking class is one of the first HPEs to reach capacity.

Seniors and honor students typically fill the class. Despite the odds, students can try to register for the class during spring 2015 group advisement week.

Courtesy photos

Students and professor take a break while hiking during last semester’s trip in Arkansas. Pictured from back row (standing, left to right): Alex Delfino, Vanessa Sweet, Austin Mace, Professor Keith Gogan, Justin Lane. Front row (kneeling, left to right): Marie Ruano, Colin Eash, Jonathan Dunbar.

Sodexo’s missionary man

By Morgan Reeves For the past 15 summers, Ben Chrisostom has traveled to dangerous areas to spread the gospel and train pastors. During the rest of the year, he works on the ORU campus, providing students with food.

Chrisostom is a retail manager for Sodexo. Every summer he heads to Northern India with Indian Evangelical Team to minister to unreached tribal villages. The percentage of Christians in the area is in the single digits. Believers in the villages face the risk of being arrested, because of their faith.

Despite the persecution, Chrisostom has witnessed progress in the Northern Indian church. Since 1999, there have been 6,700 churches planted in northern India.

“It is not very safe. I can’t take my family,” said Chrisostom. “God’s protection is there. That is very important.”

Chrisostom has seen many miracles on his trips. Chrisostom said he saw major impacts on the village when God raised a young boy from the dead.

“The village exploded with conversions through this miracle,” said Chrisostom.

He said God not only uses miracles but also visions that commonly result in conversions of the Indian people.

“A Hindu priest came to know God through a vision,” said Chrisostom. “It began when believers soaked him in prayer.”

While in India, Chrisostom does three-and-a-half day seminars to train local pastors. He said pastors in the area need church buildings, and individuals are in need of simple things like clothes and food.

“When we are there, we take people to let them buy chicken and beef. We

bless them with that,” said Chrisostom.

One of the biggest challenges Chrisostom faces while in the villages is the resistance to the gospel. However, last summer they saw more people come to Christ than ever before.

“I almost started crying. I felt so unworthy,” said Chrisostom.

The great number of salvations creates a large amount of work for the pastors. Although it can sometimes be overwhelming for them, Chrisostom is confident the local pastors are equipped for the challenge.

“Nothing is impossible with the Lord. He will pave the way,” said Chrisostom.

Chrisostom stresses the importance of prayer.

“I prayed for 10 years. I always wanted to train people, and in 1999 I finally went to India for the first time,” said Chrisostom.

“Also, always cry for a spirit of compassion, so you can be one with the people.”

Chrisostom plans to leave this May to travel to India once again. He will stay for two months. Sodexo has been flexible to work with his evangelism schedule.

“Sodexo is very supportive,” Chrisostom said. “They let me take off. They are very cooperative in that way.”

As he prepares to leave for the summer, Chrisostom turns the AC off in his car so he can better transition to the intense heat of India. He is also thrifty throughout the year so he can save and bless people in India with food and clothes.

“We should never be comfortable where we are,” said Chrisostom. “And we should always attempt to scale greater mountains than we have in the past.”

“We should never be

comfortable where we are, and we should always attempt to scale greater mountains than we have in the past.”

10 • Friday, April 11, 2014 • THE ORACLE

Courtesy Photo

Ben Chrisotom baptizes a woman on one of his trips to Northern India.

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Make a statement this spring with bold accessories

By McKensie Garber The rejuvenation of spring brings with it a fresh wardrobe. Accessories command the focus of every outfit and that’s where all the fun is. The jewelry fashion scene today is dominated with statement pieces. Here are some bold ways to embellish any outfit and bring on the adventurous spirit of spring.

GOLDEN GIRL Glam up your look with gold pieces, classic pearls and vintage cameos. Collared necklaces are a newer addition to the fashion scene. Although edgy, these statement pieces add daintiness and retro chic to your spring apparel.

HIGH VOLTAGE Electrify your outfit with bold neon colors and geometric shapes. This futuristic look is the most dominant trend in the accessory world.

Amplify the usual spring pastels with sharp statement necklaces, bright watches and neon rope bracelets to bring on that spring energy.

WARRIOR WOMAN Dominate the world in bold statement pieces. Gold plated necklaces, hoop earrings and a brave wrist cuff will have Hercules pounding down your door. Clip a feather strand in your hair and suit up in metal pieces to fiercely take on your day.

WILD CHILD

Welcome those good spring vibes with a flow, hippie look. Wrap a headband around relaxed wavy hair and throw on an arm full of leather and beaded bracelets. Any jewelry with seashells, feathers or flowers will compliment this free-spirited air.

The songbirds will be following you to class.

BLACK SWAN You can never go wrong with black. Sharpen any look with slick, black accessories. For a touch of sophistication, add feathers.

You’ve just taken casual to a new level called dark and dangerous.

Photos by Nick Conroy THE ORACLE • Friday, April 11, 2014 • 11

ORU alumna finds joy with a fashionable bulldog

By McKensie Garber She was sitting in the hospital lobby by herself when she received the news that her mother had ovarian cancer. It was the same week she was diagnosed with the autoimmune disease spondyloarthritis and told to put her running shoes away.

This was the day ORU alumnae Lisa Jernigan Bain chose joy.

Many running shoes later, she continues to choose joy every day and brings that joy to others with an English bulldog wearing a pink wig and tutu by her side.

This bulldog, Mavis Pearl, is the poster child of Lisa’s nonprofit organization “Joy in Cause,” which focuses on bringing support, laughter and joy to people who face life-altering illnesses.

With more than 18 thousand likes on her Facebook page, Mavis is a local celebrity. She has appeared in plays, television commercials and hung out with stars like NFL Seahawk player, Alvin Bailey.

The bulldog’s biggest fans are the individuals she visits on a daily basis, such as the patients at the Cancer Treatment Center of America in Tulsa.

When Lisa would go to chemotherapy treatments with her mother, Juanita Jernigan, they noticed a lot of people “who fall through the cracks.” These people came to treatments alone and sat in a chair for eight hours two times a week and left alone, some taking taxies or buses.

“This was their second home. And there was such sadness,” Lisa said. “So we decided we were going to create change. We were going to make this a magnificent journey about joy and laughter.”

Lisa would wear a chicken suit to her mother’s checkups and treatments and ask all of the doctors to wear party hats. Despite the bad news they would receive, they couldn’t help but laugh at the silliness of it all. Suddenly the worst days became the most fun days.

“After her appointments, my mom would say, ‘Even though I just got really bad news, I can’t help but feel happy because I had so much fun,’” Lisa said.

Every week, Lisa and Mavis go

chair to chair to visit chemotherapy patients and find needs. They meet those needs through sponsored gift cards that purchase things such as gas.

“We don’t let people sit alone and take a taxi,” Lisa said.

Every patient gets to keep a miniMavis twin. They receive an individualized, stuffed Mavis dog wearing a handmade tutu, embroidered bandana and beaded collar with a pendant containing the name of the person who sponsored the dog. This collar can be worn as a bracelet. More than 3,500 dogs have been given to date, including ones sent overseas to soldiers.

Schools and organizations such as Tulsa Tech and the Sand Springs fourth grade cheerleaders have sponsored hundreds of Mavis dogs to donate to children’s hospitals and raise money for classmates facing life-altering illnesses.

“Every person who touches those dogs prays over them. Every person who gets one of those dogs gets a blessing,” Lisa said. “We hear touching stories about them every day.”

As a certified therapy dog, Mavis visits schools and nursing homes in addition to hospitals. Lisa and Mavis participate in the R.E.A.D. program, which allows children to improve their reading and communication skills by reading to a dog.

On Saturdays, the joyful duo is in Broken Arrow volunteering with a class program known as CHamps (Coaches, Handlers, Many Paws). This program allows people with mental and physical challenges to work alongside a handler and learn to train dogs in preparation for the Special Olympics.

Lisa is a product of ORU. The 1987 social work grad said ORU was “instrumental” in her foundation of life.

She is the daughter of Dr. William Jernigan, who has been at ORU since it began in 1965 and helped plan the first inauguration with Billy Graham as the featured speaker. She calls him the “ORU Archives.” He serves today as the Associate Professor and Dean of Learning Resources and Director of International Programs.

She remembers watching the building of the university as a little girl –

12 • Friday, April 11, 2014 • THE ORACLE

Photos by Julianne Gonzalez

Mavis Pearl serves alongside Lisa Jernigan Bain to find joy in every cause. seeing the towers of the City of Faith go up, walking out on the basketball floor when it was still a cement slab and going over to Oral Robert’s house to play with his granddaughter. She went on her first mission trip with the music ministry team during her time as a student.

After a five-year journey with ovarian cancer, Lisa’s mother passed away on Dec. 17, 2013. Everyone at Juanita’s celebration service wore a party hat just as she requested. People are still receiving stuffed Mavis dogs today that Lisa’s mother prayed over in her lifetime.

Lisa pushes through the pain of her spondyloarthritis every day with Mavis by her side and continues to uplift others with the joy that she shared with her

mother even during their darkest times.

“My mom and I decided that life is like Christmas every day,” Lisa said.

“Don’t leave one package under the tree.

Sometimes you find some that seem like dark gifts and want to shove them back under the tree. Cancer has been one of the most magnificent gifts in my life because of the miracles we’ve seen and the people we’ve met.”

“Joy in the Cause” will be holding a benefit dinner and night of fun on Tuesday, April 29 at 6:30 p.m. at the Stokely Event Center. All proceeds will benefit the organization and its work with local childrens’ hospitals.

CANINE KISSES

Photos by Julianne Gonzalez and Joshua Smith

(Left) “Joy in the Cause” founder Lisa Jernigan Bain accompanies Mavis Pearl at halftime of the ORU men’s basketball game. (Above) Mavis Pearl gives a kiss to CHamps buddy Aaron Sharpe. CHamps (Coaches, Handlers, Many Paws) allows people with mental and physical challenges to train dogs.

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Tennis team hits record hot streak

By Jovana Poljasevic The ORU tennis team, led by Coaches Mark Milner and Dario Beslic, typed a few more victories into the ORU record book and rewrote a little piece of school history with their three match win streak.

The last time the ORU men’s tennis team won three matches in a row was in 2009. They were led by Alex Kotsuik, who was both Player of the Year and Newcomer of the Year in the Summit Conference.

This year, ORU has won three matches in a row two different times and have a Southland Player of the Week in freshman Michael Sosnowski.

Coach Milner said the win streak has given the team confidence for the remainder of the season.

“Winning three matches in a row feels great. It was a result of hard work and perseverance from all of the guys,” Milner said. “It’s been a great confi-

dence booster going into the last half of the season, and we hope to finish it strong.”

After winning six out of their last seven matches, Coach Milner and all the players are confident and ready to finish this season on a high note.

“This season has been one of the best in ORU’s history,” said transfer junior Jack Busby. “We have the best schedule and one of the best coaches in the country and we all train really hard.

All that coaching and hard work has paid off.”

On April 12, the ORU men’s tennis team is going to face Incarnate Word.

On April 13, they are playing against Tulsa.

“Right now... we, as a team, need to focus on this season and give our best in these last couple matches,” Sosnowski said. “We have started writing the history, and we want to keep doing that.”

Photo by Julianne Gonzalez

Michael Sosnowski rallies during a match on April 8 against John Brown University. Sosnowski won his singles match 6-0, 6-1 as part of a 7-0 ORU sweep. In doubles play, Sosnowski is on a seven match win streak.

14 • Friday, April 11, 2014 • THE ORACLE

Labor board rules NCAA Our Take: Why athletes need athletes can unionize representation

By David Sauer The National Labor Relations Board ruled that Northwestern University’s football players are considered employees and as a result are allowed to unionize.

The debate on whether NCAA athletes should be paid or not took a big step with the board’s March 27 ruling.

The decision only affects athletes at private institutions because public schools do not fall under the labor agency’s jurisdiction.

This means that players at ORU are allowed to hold a vote on joining a union.

The ORU Athletic Department declined to comment on the situation.

The key factor in the ruling was determined by the extensive time that college athletes spend on their sport.

Kain Colter, former Northwestern quarterback, testified that football requires 40-50 hours per week.

Another factor in the decision was that scholarships are determined by onfield performance.

With the decision by the board, Northwestern’s players can vote on if they want to be represented by the College Athletes Players Association (CAPA). The players will hold this vote on April 25.

Pat Fitzgerald, head coach of the Northwestern football team, encouraged his players to vote against forming a union.

Northwestern University Vice President Alan Cubbage issued a statement saying the school would appeal the ruling to the full NLRB in Washington D.C. “Northwestern believes strongly that our student-athletes are not employees, but students,” the statement said.

“Unionization and collective bargaining are not the appropriate methods to address the concerns raised by studentathletes.”

The NCAA released a statement expressing their disagreement with the ruling. Similar statements were released

by the Big Ten and SEC conferences.

“We frequently hear from studentathletes, across all sports, that they participate to enhance their overall college experience and for the love of their sport, not to be paid,” the NCAA statement said. “While improvements need to be made, we do not need to completely throw away a system that has helped literally millions of students over the past decade alone attend college.”

The CAPA, Colter and the United Steelworkers union, first brought the case to the NLRB. In the case, CAPA attorneys were arguing for more than just players being paid to play. Other issues involved included medical compensation for players, adding new measures to help prevent head injuries, and possibly allowing college athletes to have sponsorships.

Ramogi Huma, president of CAPA and also of the National College Players Association, told CNN that the ruling sets a precedent for schools to follow.

“This ruling is going to apply to all private schools in [Division 1],” Huma said. “That’s a significant number of schools, a significant domino to fall where hundreds of thousands of players will have rights under labor law and that’s the first step in creating an environment where players are protected.”

By Parrish Purnell Jr. College athletes are seeking to form labor unions, just as they exist in the professional arena. It started with players at Northwestern University writing the words APU, All-Players-United, on their wristbands; but it didn’t end there.

NCAA athletes can be recognized as employees, making football their “job.”

Athletes should be allowed to unionize, come together and make decisions regarding their academic endeavors, possibilities of monetary stipends, and how much time is to be spent with their prospective sport in comparison to the classroom.

The request to unionize was brought up to the NCAA, who responded saying, “This union-backed attempt to turn student-athletes into employees undermines the purpose of college: an education.”

Despite the response by the NCAA, the facts show otherwise. If the sole purpose of college was to receive an “education,” why are athletes spending insurmountable amounts of time with their sport?

“Everything we do is centered around football. The amount of time spent on football is about 40-50 hours a week,” Colter told Sports Illustrated.

The NCAA feels that the Northwestern athletes’ requests are irrational.

NCAA President Mark Emmert said making athletes unionized employees “would blow up everything

Graphic by Matthew Dean

about the collegiate model of athletics.”

Emmert believes that the separation between student-athletes and employees of the university cannot coincide.

Emmert also threatened that “Current Division I schools would move to a non-scholarship Division III model rather than unionize.”

The NCAA believes its standards of a student-athlete are being held up in the collegiate institutions, but the facts show otherwise. Athletes aren’t able to pick the major they desire due to lack of time. If a class schedule conflicts with basketball, the class is the one that’s discarded. Is that putting academics first? Not even close.

Athletics are also keeping players from making money. Athletes need a chance to make money like any other college student. A nice part-time, oncampus opportunity to make money would remove most, if not all, illegal payments to players. It’s hard being a college student with empty pockets.

Healthcare is also a concern for collegiate athletes. Allowing players to have health benefits included in the signed contract, or letter of intent, is necessary.

As it stands, players have to pay from their own pockets for doctor bills that should be funded by the billions of dollars the NCAA makes yearly. Colter said that Northwestern did not cover an MRI exam he needed for an ankle injury he suffered last season. “I sacrificed my body for four years, and they sold my jersey,” he said. “They should protect me.”

The question remains: should college athletes be able to unionize and negotiate terms of their collegiate contracts?

With less than two percent of all collegiate athletes making the professional ranks, protecting the studentathletes need for healthcare, academic freedom and minimal livelihood becomes more important than ever.

If the NCAA would accommodate these needs, there would be no need for the unionization of collegiate athletes.

THE ORACLE • Friday, April 11, 2014 • 15

New rosters, big dollars: Dodgers top of the class

By Rusell Dorsey It’s the second week in April, and that means it’s baseball season.

2013 ended with the Boston Red Sox winning the World Series over the St. Louis Cardinals. This season, the Red Sox will look to reclaim the title, but they will have a target on their back.

The East looks to be the most competitive division in the American League.

The Red Sox will look to repeat as World Series champions, and have made few changes to their roster.

The Yankees are coming off an offseason where they spent a grand total of $471 million dollars, acquiring several allstars including Jacoby Ellsbury, Brian McCann, Carlos Beltran, and Japanese sensation Masahiro Tanaka.

The Tampa Bay Rays had a terrific season last year finishing 92-71 and went on to win one of the two wild card spots. They are a team on the rise with a young core of players who will look to do damage in the AL. The middle tier of the AL East is the Baltimore Orioles and the Toronto Blue Jays. The Orioles proved that they were capable of winning games in a difficult AL East and finished the season 85-77.

Toronto is in the toughest spot in the division. The Blue Jays have some good talent on their roster, but fail to capitalize on their potential. With a slim chance to compete, they are hoping they won’t be the bottom dwellers for the second year in a row.

In the National League, the West is the top division.

The class of the division is the Los Angeles Dodgers. After an NLCS loss last year, the Dodgers will look to make a run to the World Series. They are led

by Cy Young winner Clayton Kershaw and Cuban phenom Yasiel Puig who looks to improve on his breakout rookie year and become a superstar.

The next two teams in the NL West that could make a run to the playoffs are the Arizona Diamondbacks and the San Francisco Giants.

After a mediocre 81-81 season, the Diamondbacks are looking to become more than just a .500 team and unseat the Dodgers for the top spot in the division. The Giants also look to bounce back after a less than stellar season

finishing tied for third in the division with 76 wins. 2012 MVP Buster Posey is determined to get this team back on track and back to the World Series.

The San Diego Padres and the Colorado Rockies will probably be on the outside looking in this season. Both teams have talent, but not enough to move past the top three teams. Look for both teams to become sellers come trade deadline time.

Throughout the baseball season there are several teams who come out of nowhere and surprise people with how well they are playing, also known as sleeper teams.

The Kansas City Royals and the Seattle Mariners are the two teams to watch for in the AL. Kansas City is coming off of their best season in years and have an abundance of youth playing well enough at the major league level to push the Detroit Tigers out of top spot in the AL Central.

The Seattle Mariners are coming off an offseason where they acquired maybe the biggest prize on the free agent market in Robinson Cano. Even with this acquisition, people are still looking at the Los Angeles Angels to run away with the division. The Mariners will look to fly under the radar and be a very competitive team.

There are only a handful of teams that can make it to the playoffs. There will be some very good teams that will be left watching them from home.

Expect the Tigers, Red Sox, Angels, A’s and Royals to make it to October for the AL, and the Cardinals, Dodgers, Nationals, Pirates and Reds to come out of the NL. After these teams beat up on each other in the ALDS and ALCS, two teams will stand head and shoulders above the others. Look for the Dodgers and the Red Sox to meet in the Fall Classic with the Dodgers coming out on top in seven games.

16 • Friday, April 11, 2014 • THE ORACLE

Internet Photos

Detroit Tigers infielder Miguel Cabrera, St. Louis Cardinals catcher Yadier Molina, New York Yankees pitcher Masahiro Tanaka and Los Angeles Dodgers outfielder Yasiel Puig in action.

The NBA race for eighth

By Ryan Woods The race for the eighth and final playoff spot in the Western Conference has come down to three teams: the Phoenix Suns, Memphis Grizzlies and Dallas Mavericks.

With one week to go, just a game and a half separates three teams from the final playoff spot. As it stands now, Memphis (45-32) is on the outside looking in with just five games left, including two potential deciding games at Phoenix on Monday and at home against Dallas on Wednesday.

On Nov. 22, Grizzlies center and reigning defensive player of the year Marc Gasol suffered a sprained MCL and missed the next six weeks.

The team couldn’t hold it together after the loss.

Memphis went 10-13 without its big man, Gasol.

Their defensive rating—the number of points allowed per 100 possessions—during that stretch was 106.4.

Their opponents scored 100 points or more 10 times, with Memphis posting a 1-9 record and shot percentage of 46.5, which ranked 27th in the league during that span.

However, Gasol returned on Jan. 14 and the Grizzlies won their first 5 games, putting them back in the chase for a playoff berth.

Since Gasol’s return, only the San Antonio Spurs (29) and the Los Angeles Clippers (28) have more wins than the Grizzlies’ 27 as Memphis continues to show a playoff-made game style that tests even the best of teams.

The Phoenix Suns are the most pleasant surprise of this NBA season. With a brand new general

manager, a rookie head coach and only one player returning from the previous season, the Suns looked to be a bottom-feeder in total rebuilding mode. In the off-season, the Suns completed a trade that sent veteran-forward Luis Scola to the Indiana Pacers for Gerald Green and rookie Miles Plumlee. The trade further cemented the idea that Phoenix was looking to bottom out and rebuild with high draft picks, but this team had other plans.

First year head coach Jeff Hornacek, considered by many a favorite for Coach of the Year, has both Plumlee and Green contributing as starters to a potential playoff team. The Suns also boast one of the best young backcourts in the league in Eric Bledsoe and Goran Dragic, and Hornacek has put them to use.

Phoenix is the league leader in transition points per game with Dragic and Bledsoe averaging career-highs across the board.

The 2014 Dallas Mavericks roster is nearly unrecognizable compared to the 2011 team that beat LeBron James and the Miami Heat in the NBA Finals, but that hasn’t stopped this team from being relevant in one of the most competitive conferences in recent history. One name that hasn’t changed in Dallas is future hall-of-famer Dirk Nowitzki. Nowitzki is averaging 21.6 ppg, and on April 8 passed Oscar Robertson for tenth place on the all-time scoring list with 26,714 points in his 17-year career.

With just five games left, there is no room for error as these three teams make one final push for their playoff lives.

THREE-WAY TIE-BREAKER

Western Conference Standings San Antonio Oklahoma City L.A. Clippers Houston Portland Golden State Dallas Phoenix Memphis Minnesota Denver New Orleans Sacramento LA Lakers Utah

W

L

60 55 55 51 50 48 47 46 45 39 33 32 27 25 24

18 21 23 25 28 29 31 31 32 38 44 45 51 52 54

Standings on 4/8. For the latest visit oruoracle.com

Graphic by NBA.SI.COM

THE ORACLE • Friday, April 11, 2014 • 17

SCENE

Many split on new ‘Noah’” movie

By Victoria Atterberry Most people enjoy a good modern day depiction of Biblical stories. However, Darren Aronofsky’s “Noah” did not quite fit the mold of the traditional Bible movie. The film raised much controversy and received mixed reviews from moviegoers and critics alike.

First of all, people should be aware that the movie is not an accurate retelling of the story of Noah.

Aronofsky has taken this Biblical story and made it his own. However, the problem is not with the major points of the story.

God choosing Noah to build the ark and God flooding the earth are two main concepts that stayed true to the original.

It’s the details that switch the story around. So many new concepts were added to Noah. These new and original ideas had many, especially Christians, wondering what message “Noah” was trying to convey, and if they should be offended by its blatant altering of a Biblical story.

From a non-critical standpoint, however, “Noah” did have some interesting features. The graphics were creative and skillfully done. Beautiful nature scenes

and panoramic visuals were professionally displayed.

Russell Crowe delivered strong acting and played the leading character convincingly.

Crowe will make audiences love and hate Noah.

Emma Watson played a beautiful and strong willed Ila. Even though the story was far from the original, the plot will keep the audience’s attention with themes of love, betrayal and sacrifice.

Several will not forgive “Noah” for its inaccurate portrayal, while others will look past its errors. Moviegoers who plan on seeing an accurate depiction of the story will be thoroughly disappointed. If you are planning on seeing a fictional story with a decent plot, then “Noah” will not be a bad movie to see.

Many Christians have deemed “Noah” blasphemous and have discouraged many from seeing this movie. Whether it is morally wrong to see “Noah” or not, it is a decision people will have to make for themselves.

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18 • Friday, April 11, 2014 • THE ORACLE

UPCOMING SHOWS Cat in the Hat

Playhouse Tulsa and ORU Theatre presents a production of Dr. Seuss’s “The Cat in the Hat.” The performances will be Friday, April 11 at 7:30 p.m., Saturday, April 12 at 2:00 p.m. and Sunday, April 13 at 2:00 p.m. in Howard Auditorium.

General admission is $10 and student admission is $5 at the door cash only.

Light in the Uttermost

The ORU Dance Department presents their spring concert “Light in the Uttermost” April 24-26 at 7:30 p.m. in Howard Auditorium. General admission is $10 and student admission is $5 at the door cash only.

Courtesy photo

Chloe Kennedy was one of 10 students selected for the Kristin Chenoweth Master Class in Broken Arrow.

Student spends evening with Broadway legend

By McKensie Garber It’s not every day that you get to sing for Kristin Chenoweth.

For junior music arts major and drama minor Chloe Kennedy, that day was Thursday, March 13 at the Broken Arrow Performing Arts Center, also known as the Kristin Chenoweth Theatre.

The Broadway legend, Chenoweth visited her hometown to teach a master class in front of a live audience.

Before her days of stardom, the spunky Okie was a high-stepping Tigette on the Broken Arrow varsity dance team. ORU oral communication professor Denise Miller was Chenoweth’s eighth grade drama teacher in 1981 during her first year of teaching.

After several years of competing for the title of Miss Oklahoma, Chenoweth went on to pursue musical theatre, winning a Tony and Emmy award for her performances on Broadway and television. She is famously known for originating the role of Glinda in the first Broadway production of “Wicked.”

Chenoweth continues to star in films and television shows and has appeared on “Glee.”

Kennedy was one of 10 fine arts students from surrounding high schools and colleges selected for the master class. She auditioned on Feb. 27 along with other ORU students.

After the night’s emcee interviewed Chenoweth for the audience, the master class students filed on stage and were

seated to individually perform their musical selections and receive Chenoweth’s critiques. Kennedy was ninth to go, following Miss Oklahoma 2013.

She sang “No One Made You Love Me” from the musical “A Few Doors Down,” written and composed by Dan Wootton. Kennedy served as the musical’s stage manager and production assistant during its debut in September 2013.

Wootton was the accompanist for the master class.

“It’s really an honor to get to sing this,” Kennedy said to Chenoweth.

Kennedy’s performance was met with one of the two standing ovations of the night, the second being for Chenoweth when she closed the evening with a performance of “Somewhere Over the Rainbow.”

“I was overwhelmed with the crowd’s response,” Kennedy said. “I really had to focus on the character of the song to make it believable and to not let my nerves get the best of me. It was a dream come true to stand on a stage in front of all those people and sing.”

Chenoweth compared the smooth qualities of Kennedy’s voice to Christian singer and Oklahoma native, Sandi Patty.

“She was such a sweet person and very encouraging,” Kennedy said.

Kennedy finished her evening signing autographs. She now has quite the night to remember and a profile picture with the legend of her field.

MUSE

Suppositions: What must follow

By Peter Wesley Odom

In my last piece on faith before moving on, I felt a good place to finish would be the topicc of where genuine faith is supposed to lead us. Commonly, faith is most clearly associated with belief in the Bible’s truth; faith that God really did create everything; faith that Jesus was indeed the son of God; faith that he actually did come and die for our sins.

There really are so many things that we must accept in faith. Really, nothing escapes the need for faith. As finite creatures, complete knowledge of anything is limited. Thus, we know nothing entirely, and faith must be employed.

Seeing as how discussing the limits of faith might prove worthless, I wish instead to try and address the problem of faith versus works.

I presume that the question is common knowledge. Over the years I have heard various arguments and conclusions on this topic, but they always seemed confusing.

Maybe I was too young and not really listening yet, but I recently gave it some thought and came to a relatively simple conclusion. Faith is a verb in much the same way that love is a verb.

This brings faith and works together.

They inhabit opposite sides of the same coin.

Love starts out as a feeling or idea in the mind, and it becomes a commitment which goes beyond the initial idea or feelings which gave it life. While love can be communicated through words, it is not fully appreciated until actions back those words up.

We might think of faith in a similar way. Faith starts out as an idea or possibility, then we trust that it is more— that it is truth. In the same way that honest love leads to actions which express that love, committed faith should lead naturally to works which indicate what one has faith in.

This brings me to a new realization.

Because the need for faith permeates all knowing, I wonder if works can be avoided at all. Let us suppose, given faith in any thing, that we are compelled to act based on that faith. Such actions might be considered our works.

From this perspective, works are merely the byproduct of what we have faith in.

We all have faith in one thing or another, thus, we all produce works of various kinds. One does not seem to exist without the other. This can be realized by looking at one who has ostensibly lost all faith, the nihilist, for these individuals often cease to act altogether, seeing death as their only refuge.

We, however, are called to have faith in God and His son Jesus — faith that the character and actions of Jesus were truly ideal. Allowing this idea to grow into more than a belief, to become a genuine commitment, should lead us instinctively to the works which we are all called to perform.

20 • Friday, April 11, 2014 • THE ORACLE

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Parting words of a senior: The home stretch

By Zach Wells

Finals are right around the corner.

In just a few weeks classes will be over, and students will cry tears of either joy or sorrow.

Below are just a few tips for surviving finals that I have picked up through my four-year tenure at ORU. 1. Stay the Course For those who have outstanding

grades, keep up the quality work and do not slump and settle for a low A or B. If you started the semester off strong, why not finish it the same way?

The same goes for those who may have not done so well this semester. I mean, why bother? If you have wasted this whole semester slacking off and memorizing the entire soundtrack of Frozen, why not finish the last few weeks of school continuing to waste your time and money?

I don’t think I know anyone who has memorized the closing credits for Frozen yet, so you could at least try that

and be the best at something.

2. Make Up Excuses If you are going to fail, you better have a good excuse to tell your temperamental parental figures. Great excuses include: Excessive fire alarms, insomnia, your teachers who suck at their jobs, illness, etc.

Just know that no matter what you chose or how well you present it, your parents will know that your excuse is bogus. However, the fact that you spent all that time coming up with a reason for your failure will show them that you care a little.

3. Pack and Clean Excessively As a master of Feng Shui and Humanities worldview papers, I know that a clean, organized room will lead to a stronger harmony, not only in your surroundings, but also in life. These light, positive forces that now encircle you and your surroundings will then lead to better attitudes, nerves and eventually test scores.

Remember, this is a survival guide for finals; if you do not follow it you will not die, just possibly fail. Godspeed.

The Whistleblower: Christianity, corporations and craft supplies

By Ian Bush

The fact that the Supreme Court is even hearing this case astounds me.

Make no mistake; it isn’t because I don’t think it’s worth

the court’s time.

This case should have been decided long before it reached the Supreme Court. It’s a constitutional no-brainer.

However, it will surely become one of the landmark cases of our generation.

I’m talking, of course, about Hobby Lobby’s lawsuit against Kathleen Sebelius, and by extension, the rest of the Obama administration, concerning a portion of Obamacare called the employer mandate.

One portion of this mandate requires that employers provide coverage for a list of 20 different forms of contraception to their employees.

The founders and owners of Hobby Lobby are well known for their religious beliefs, but now the right to practice business according to said beliefs is

being challenged. They believe that four of these 20 have the potential to end what they believe to be human life.

Since their religious views seriously conflict with abortifacients, Hobby Lobby sued for exemption from this mandate.

Many argue that these contraceptives do not abort a life, but that point is a red herring. This case is independent of the abortion issue.

To me, it seems quite simple. These people have a constitutionally protected right to practice their own religion.

The government wants to force them to do something in conflict with their religious convictions.

Ideally, government loses, and religious liberty wins. But this case has been so divisive that the highest court in the nation has to give a verdict.

How? I usually try to give voice to all arguments, even if they conflict with my own. I found it especially difficult in this situation, however, because the argument brought against Hobby Lobby doesn’t seem to hold any water.

The protestors against Hobby Lobby’s case are rallying behind the phrase “Not My Boss’s Business!” and

are claiming that a woman’s birth control choices aren’t the business of her employer. I for one totally agree.

It isn’t your boss’s business. It’s yours. So stop demanding that anyone else pay for it.

Meanwhile, the Obama administration’s argument seems to have two prongs.

The administration’s first argument refers to the Religious Freedom Restoration Act, passed under Bill Clinton.

This law states that religious freedom may be suspended if the government has a “compelling interest” in the matter.

Apparently, the government’s interest in providing emergency contraceptives to women is more important than the First Amendment.

A lot of Americans aren’t buying it.

The second prong of the defense asks: ‘Do corporations have the same religious protections as individuals?’ In other words, do corporations count as people? So let’s take a look at the definition of a ‘corporation.’

Merriam-Webster defines a corporation as “a large business or organization that under the law has the rights and duties of an individual…” Another definition says plainly “(legally a per-

son) and recognized as such in law.”

Individuals created a business, and they have the right to run it according to their religious convictions.

But wait, if a corporation has the legal rights of an individual, that would mean we wouldn’t be able to make laws that violate their religious freedoms!

Isn’t it funny how that works?

Whatever the outcome, this case will define religious liberty for our time.

Children will study it in their history books and accept the ruling as truth.

This isn’t about craft sticks and glue.

It isn’t about abortion either.

What’s at stake is the freedom to express religion in the way that we do business. That is something our country cannot afford to lose.

THE ORACLE • Friday, April 11, 2014 • 21

Syndicated Cynic: The end of the world as we know it

By Gregory America Brown What if the Earth blows up?

I mean, what if it just explodes and everyone dies as a result of the flaming rage of the planet’s demise. This includes both me and you. Maybe not a few astronauts or cosmonauts, or whatever name the collective ensemble of international space travelers prefers.

So, my space-faring friends, if you happen to read this, you are exempt from the impending hypothetical doom of which I am currently speaking.

But what if we’re actually going to blow the whole thing up. Obviously it would be humans that cause such a disaster, as animals don’t really seem to destroy a whole lot, and modern

technology hasn’t detected any meteors headed our way.

In writing this, I realize that you must think that I’ve gone completely and totally mad, because normal people don’t waste your time with hypothetical doomsday thoughts with no context, especially not writers from an esteemed journalistic source such as the ORU Oracle, but I am convinced that I am not insane for two reasons. First that insanity is not a respected term within psychological circles. I’m not really “in” with psychological circles, but I read that once on the web, and my best friend used to date a psych major. The second being that if insanity was to be a respected term within psychological circles, the sheer suggestion of my own insanity would prove that I am not insane.

Let’s be honest though. We are probably destroying our world, and it could potentially blow up, leaving only the aforementioned space people to

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reproduce and carry on the human species on the moon or some other inhabitable place, and, at least in NASA, only 26 percent of astronauts are women, which would prove problematic for the continued existence and repopulation of human beings.

I drive a car. I drive every day to go to work, to eat fast food and to look pretentious at a local coffee shop. You probably drive a car too. I litter sometimes. I hope you don’t do that.

I’m probably going to cause the world to blow up.

Our government has nuclear weapons. So do other countries. Russia has nuclear weapons. Combined, the nuclear arsenals could easily blow the world up multiple times. And the moon. Sorry, space people.

They’re more than likely going to blow the world up.

And the world of industry, especially within nations such as the United States, is cutting down trees and blow-

ing terrible emissions into our precious atmosphere.

They’re probably going to cause the world to blow up too.

I buy stuff that has been produced by modern industry, so I guess I’m twice as guilty for blowing the world up.

I heard from a Republican that volcanoes are destroying the ozone layer, so they’re being grouped in with us humans.

They might cause the world to blow up.

They care about as much as you do about this too. And me. I am writing a column to talk about how terrible we are and how much food we waste and how we’re going to cause the world to blow up, and I drove multiple miles to a coffee shop to write this instead of typing this nonsense in my room, because I like the vibe.

I said all that to apologize for yelling at a Hummer limo tonight.

Letter to the editor: In the most recent edition of the Oracle there was an article about the food waste at Saga. I completely agree with the article that there is a lot of food wasted and that people shouldn’t throw away so much. However, I felt that the article failed to actually touch on the root problem of this issue: why people waste the food. To me, simply stating the problem does not do very much to fix it if you are not even addressing the reason for it.

Now, I cannot speak for everyone, but at least for myself I do not like

Saga’s food. Though some dishes are delicious, there are many others that are under or over cooked, or just a bad combination of ingredients. Another issue for me is that I do not generally eat large portions, but yet when I go to get food at a station, the plate is completely full. I do not always want a plate full of pasta and chicken. I would actually prefer to sample all of the dishes to see which ones are good and to just get a variety of tastes, but not eat a full plate of one thing. Of course, some would point out that you can ask the em-

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ployees to just give you a certain item, but I’ve found this requires extra time (which may be short when you have a 12:50 or whatnot) or is just uncomfortable because of the complicated nature of your request or because it is loud and you have to shout. Plus, when I do ask for less, their definition of less is still a big portion by my standards.

I’m not going to overeat just because someone misunderstood what I was meaning and gave me too much. I’ve always wondered if Saga would be better as an actual buffet (where you dish

out your own food) or if we could just do everything by request, like omelets at breakfast. Anyways, these are just my thoughts. I do think ORU students should make more of a conscious effort to stop wasting food, but regardless, there is more to the story and telling people not to waste will have only a limited effect. You need to get at the cause of the issue if you really want to solve the problem.

-Christa Gardner Graphic by Rebeca Glenn

WHAT WE EAT: SAGA FOOD FACTS Fall 2013 study

101,040 scrambled eggs

He

27,900 chocolate chip cookies

27,900 hard-boiled eggs 6,300 pizzas

Watch for our next issue to see the results of our post-test food waste study.

THE ORACLE • Friday, April 11, 2014 • 23

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