Vol. 54, No. 4
Cheers to the end of a decade The plight of the homeless Page 4
Explore Christmas cultures Page 9
Tulsa, Oklahoma • December 6, 2019 • oruoracle.com
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Out with the inmates by Brendon Martin Sports Editor Mondays. Likely the least anticipated day of the week. Students must return to classes, employees trudge back into work, cars groan at another cycle of daily commutes; even pets appear to resent the hecticness of Mondays. Yet, one Monday in November 2019 will be a day to remember forever for 527 former Oklahoma inmates and countless more. Nov. 4 marked the largest mass commutation of sentences in both Oklahoma history and U.S. history. Five hundred twenty-seven individuals’ sentences were commuted by Gov. Kevin Stitt by the
recommendation of the state Pardon and Parole Board; 462 inmates walked free and 65 remained held on detainer. In 2016, the Oklahoma legislature voted to make several low-level felonies become misdemeanor charges. This mass commutation retroactively applied the legislature’s decision to those already imprisoned for such felonies that would be charged as misdemeanors today. “You’re getting ready to embark on a fantastic journey,” emphasized Chris Linder, a recruiter at the Tulsa Center for Employment Opportunities, speaking to those being released. This particular Monday may forever be etched in the memories of those released from prison as well as
many of the family members, loved ones and friends who waited on these individuals outside the prisons where they were released. Linder warned his audience to be prepared for the tough journey ahead and the biases people hold against those with a criminal background. “But I want to encourage you and tell you that you are strong, that you are special. God made you somebody and you get to be somebody today,” offered Linder. Many nonprofits and businesses in Oklahoma have prepared over the past months for the influx of those released needing housing, jobs and other necessities. “This is the first day of the rest
ORU’s Nursing and Engineering Complex (NEC), and Stovall Center for Entrepreneurship, was dedicated on Nov. 8. Representative for Oklahoma’s first district Kevin Hern, Jenks Chamber President Josh Driscoll and many ORU alumni were present. In March, Jim Stovall donated $1.5 million to launch the Stovall Center for Entrepreneurship—a place where students can pioneer and steward their business ideas. In the new Whole Leaders for the Whole World campaign, ORU plans on building three new buildings in the next few years: a Welcome Center, Library and Media Arts Center.
Twenty-two ORU students embarked on a journey to the State Capitol in Oklahoma City to compete in the Oklahoma Intercollegiate Legislature (OIL) on Nov. 12. OIL is a mock government that replicates the three branches of the state government. ORU took home third in overall Best Delegation, along with six other individual honors, including two first place awards. In 2019, OIL celebrated its 50th year of providing students from different Oklahoma universities an opportunity to draft, debate and pass legislation on the issues that they deem are important.
Photo by Jonathan Rodriguez
Student bills pay off
Photo provided by Dr. Jason Pudlo
Photo by Gabriel Jaggernauth
NEC ribbon-cutting
of your life,” said Gov. Stitt at the commutation ceremony. These organizations have hosted multiple job fairs at prisons around the state to connect inmates with the resources they may need when released from prison. “It doesn’t just happen. It’s when Oklahomans care about each other that we roll up our sleeves and we make it happen and give you a second chance,” emphasized Gov. Stitt. Mondays like this don’t just happen, at least not on Nov. 4, 2019. This historic event was made possible by multiple state agencies, Gov. Stitt, the Pardon and Parole Board, the legislature and the will of the people.
Fall Outreach recap For about 28 years, ORU Missions & Outreach has organized and provided ways for students to serve the community on Halloween. Instead of asking for candy, students scatter to various neighborhoods in the Tulsa area and ask for canned goods. All of the food collected is sent to John 3:16 Mission to help those in need. In total, Fall Outreach 2019 had 460 students participate and 1,962 homes visited. A total of 6,850 cans were collected, and 2,019 school supplies were collected from dorm floors for local schools.
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Illustration by Alejandro Contreras
The complicated road to homelessness They are the “disdained,” the “dirty,” the “lazy” and the forgotten.
by Brendon Martin Sports Editor As the glamour and glory of another Oklahoma sunset fades into the horizon, the bristling cold of the night creeps ever nearer. The setting of the sun bears no warmth, only signaling the chill of the oncoming darkness. Imagine having no place to call “home,” no bed to sleep in and no escape from the cold. Every night in America, hundreds of thousands of people face this reality. They are the “disdained,” the “dirty,” the “lazy,” and the forgotten—they are the homeless. In the U.S. alone, around 553,000 people had no home to return to for at least one night in 2018, according to the National Alliance to End Homelessness, In Tulsa, 1,188 people were counted homeless on a single night in January 2019, according to a report by the Community Service Council. The CSC’s study found homelessness has increased almost 10% over the past year in Tulsa. Part of the issue is Tulsa’s record high eviction rates. Tulsa employs the tenth highest eviction rate of all cities in the United States, according to Executive Director of Restore Hope Ministries, Jeff Jaynes. “For the people who come through here, [the
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issue] would be their felony background. Most of the apartments won’t take a person with a felony background,” explained Tyrone Street, a job developer at the Center for Employment Opportunities in Tulsa. “There are organizations that will help you pay for an apartment, but you have to get approved to get the apartment, and that’s where our people fall short.” Another factor is mental health. Forty-five percent of those homeless in Tulsa reported having a mental illness, according to the Community Service Council findings in January 2019. “Data shows the number of people with mental health issues and who are experiencing homelessness has remained steady. Between 40 and 60% of all the homeless population had untreated serious mental illness as a major contributing factor to their homelessness.” said Mike Brose, the executive director of the Mental Health Association of Oklahoma. Some people in the community are chronically homeless, and that isn’t necessarily their fault. Those with disabilities including substance abuse disorders, post-traumatic stress disorders and “serious mental illness” are considered chronically homeless, according to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. People who have been homeless “continuously for at least one year or
on at least four occasions in the last three years” are also considered chronically homeless. “It’s not because they can’t get out of it. Some people mentally don’t want to have the responsibility of having your own place and taking care of all that,” said Street. “It’s kind of scary if they’ve never done it before and so they’re fearful.” Tulsa is home to many nonprofits and organizations working to provide for this often neglected group of the city’s community. The Salvation Army, Tulsa Day Center, John 3:16 Mission and other groups provide interim and temporary shelter, housing, food and additional needed services for the homeless of Tulsa. Through their efforts, these organizations are working to reduce the number of people in Tulsa lacking shelter and a place to call “home.” ORU Missions partners with John 3:16 Mission as part of their weekly student outreaches, meeting on Thursdays to assist with children’s ministry through an after-school program with tutoring and a Bible study. But as the sun sets yet again, many will face the fast-approaching cold of night in the city of Tulsa still searching for a place to call “home.”
The 411 on nursing clinicals by ChaeWoon Yoo News Editor In any medical emergency, check-up or visit to the hospital, patients may check into a hospital with the belief that their doctors and nurses have all the knowledge to help them with their problems. Yet such knowledge does not come naturally, but years of tireless studying are spent to achieve it. To prepare the students to become the best equipped nurses, the ORU Anna Vaughn College of Nursing exposes students to real-life situations through the use of “clinicals.” Clinicals are the hospital components and practicum portion of each course according to the Nursing Records Counselor Sandi Myers. Starting from their sophomore year, nursing students are required to fulfill six clinical hours a week and two eighthour shifts as seniors. While many people have had some type of experience in a hospital as patients, few actually know what happens in these particular scrubs. For senior nursing student Rebecca Mulvaney, a typical clinical day starts out at the hospital at 6:15 a.m. “We go to the floor around 6:30 and go around with the night-shift nurses and get [the] report with the day-shift nurses, where they tell you about the patients that you’re getting for the day—what they’re there for, what they’re allergic to . . . all important steps to know,” Mulvaney said. “Then you’ll sit down with your nurse and get organized for the day. You’ll write up medication you’re going to give [and] look at any critical lab values.” Every rotation and clinical visit varies as the patients come and go. “Sophomore year of nursing, you start in [an] assisted living facility which is more like geriatric oriented,” said senior nursing student Hannah Albanese. “Then you’ll start fundamentals of nursing which will introduce you to med surg, which is a mix of cardiovascular respiratory and GI (gastrointestinal) issues. You’ll see a mix of populations between younger adults, older adults, a lot of chronic health issues,
but as you progress through the program, you get to go into more specialty areas that are more focused on mental health, public health nursing, obstetrics which is labor and delivery and eventually critical care.” Through clinicals, nursing students have the opportunity to figure out their likes and dislikes and potentially what part of the hospital they want to work in. “Clinicals definitely help guide students into what their specific niche is and identifies personal interests,” Albanese said. “It’s kind of a process of trial and error. It definitely helps make you well versed, to be able to go into any specific area and field with expertise, practical knowledge and tactile skills, but it will definitely show you what you’re meant for.” Prior to being out in the field, the College of Nursing requires students to have passed many requirements such as receiving at least 90% on their dosage calculation test as well as receiving CPR training. Students also have the opportunity to practice their skills and procedures at sim labs before their actual clinical experiences. “What’s so special about ORU compared to other universities out there is the theory of nursing for the whole person which focuses on the physical, mental and spiritual aspects of the individual,” said Albanese. “They really prepare us and equip us to be Holy Spirit empowered nurses and really focus on the guidance of the Holy Spirit, using supernatural discernment and using our spiritual giftings in the nursing field.” There are about 50 clinical agencies and four major hospitals where the students participate in their clinical experiences, and two clinical evaluation conferences are held each semester where both the instructor and student evaluate the student’s clinical performance. Being nursing students and not the actual nurses, their clinical hours at a hospital may seem easy to brush off and their work unnecessary. “The stuff that we do see at clinicals—it really does make emotional impacts on us. It is real and you do see sick people and people dying. And nobody is born knowing how to deal with that,” said Mulvaney.
Hannah Albanese helping with Oliver Middle School’s Red Ribbon Week. Photo by James Adamski
December 6, 2019 • Oracle • 5
Vote away from home by Josiah Ingegneri Staff Writer Showing up to election polls can be difficult. There’s generally a long line and an even longer waiting time. Then you rush to fill out a ballot before you have to get to work or pick up your kids from school. Brendon Martin, a junior political science major, voted in the recent Virginia elections on Nov. 5. He votes via absentee ballot, which is a mail-in ballot people have to request if they will be unable to go to the polls on election day. “There’s like 30 different reasons you can have for voting absentee, but it’s super easy to fill it out,” Martin said. “Then all you have to do is get a witness to sign it, showing that you made your decisions of your own accord and knew what you were doing.” Unlike Martin, most Virginians are not voting by mail, according to the
U.S. Election Assistance Commission. The opposite is true in San Francisco County where 66% of voters sent in their ballots by mail in 2018. In the 2016 general election, 41% of all U.S. voters cast their ballots before election day. A system used by Oregon since 1998, where all voters receive a ballot by mail but are still able to cast one in person, has a positive impact on voter turnout, according to a 2007 study published by the American Political Science Institute. The study also found that the states with the highest percentage of early voting are the most rural states because voters often have long commutes to work or to polling locations. There is a common concern about early voting by mail due to beliefs that absentee ballots may not be returned or counted. “Nationally, 80.1% of absentee ballots transmitted to voters were returned, and most states
reported that over 90% of absentee ballots ‘returned and submitted for counting’ were ultimately counted in the 2016 General Election,” stated the 2016 Election Administration and Voting Survey, to address the issue. “Absentee ballots are usually mailed more than a month before each election, giving you plenty of time to decide on your choices and mail your ballot back to the County Election Board so it arrives before polls close on Election Day,” states the Oklahoma State Election Board on their website. Being a good citizen means exercising the right to vote, so out of state students should vote for the upcoming 2020 presidential elections through the use of absentee ballots—they have no excuse not to.
FitBit versa Apple Watch by Chisom Uche-Onyilofor Staff Writer The smartwatch is one of the many evolving innovations of the 21st century. Nowadays the wristwatch does not only tell time, but it has also acquired many features that make a watch worth wearing. There are many smartwatches on the market with outstanding attributes, but the two smartwatches leading the industry are the Apple Watch and the Fitbit. Most ORU students, who use the fitbit to track their Health Fitness course points, use the Fitbit Charge Series because it comes in complementary orientation packages. The Charge Series is mainly known for its easy usage and unique features and is often compared to the Apple Watch Series. Here are a few comparisons that allow for these rivals to outperform the other. Versatility Some students might wonder why ORU uses Fitbit, and the answer is simple—the Fitbit watch can be used by both Android and Apple consumers.
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The Apple Watch is limited to Apple users, restricting their market audience. Health Features Both smartwatches have features unique to their systems. The Apple Watch has the Easy G feature, which detects early heart conditions and can call emergency services in your region. The Apple Watch tracks sleep and records its quality. The Fitbit measures users’ sleep, informing the user of sleepdeprived health effects while even creating a sleep schedule. The Fitbit watch display is created in a way that will not interrupt the user’s sleep. Heart Rate The Fitbit translates heart rate readings by using zones like fat-burning, cardio and peak zone, letting the user know which levels have been conquered and whether there is a need to press on. The Apple Watch tracks heart rate on a graph, but it does not provide exact rate readings. Tracking The Apple Watch has a GPS that allows for tracking the device. This GPS can be used to gain an accurate reading of pace and distance. The Apple Watch uses
Illustration by Alejandro Contreras
mileage to measure steps, unlike the Fitbit, which uses body movements to gain steps—e.g., steps can be acquired by placing the Fitbit in the dryer. Wireless Connections Many of the Apple Watch users who responded in an Oracle survey via social media mentioned that they prefer the watch because it syncs with their other Apple devices. This medium allows for tracking of phones and syncing fitness progress without having a user’s phone near himself/herself. This is an inconvenience from the Fitbit because, on some occasions, once the watch is no longer syncing to a phone, it may be difficult to restore connections. Pricing The Fitbit Charge 3 is currently selling for $149.95 on Fitbit’s website and the Apple Watch Series 5 price varies depending on the styling of the watch, but the highest price is $699. Those are a few comparisons between both smartwatches. Fitbit wants to make fitness fun, and with Google Inc. having bought the brand— announced Nov. 1—there is expected advancement in the near future.
November for the Native Americans by Daniel Shahwan Staff Writer November was Native American Heritage Month, celebrating their heritage and culture. Recognizing Native American contributions to the U.S. originally was celebrated for a single day—from the idea of a Seneca Indian—until George H.W. Bush designated the month of celebration in 1990. Historically, Cherokee, Creek, Chickasaw, Choctaw and Seminole Native Americans faced many hardships through the Trail of Tears—a forced relocation to the west of the Mississippi River. An approximated 100,000 indigenous people were forced from their homes during that period, according to the Encyclopedia Britannica. The Oklahoma Historical Society lists 39 Native American Tribes with their headquarters within the state, with 38 having official websites. The traditions of Native American tribes are celebrated across the country every November. Today, many tribes across the nation face “lack of healthy food and beneficial health care,” and other “environmental, employment and economic hardships,” according to the University Daily Kansan. Senator Mike Rounds [R-SD] sponsored the S. 2071 Repealing Existing Substandard Provisions
Encouraging Conciliation with Tribes Act, nicknamed “RESPECT.” It passed the Senate on Nov. 18, 2019. GovTrack.us reported that RESPECT would repeal all or parts of 11 such federal laws, including laws enacted in 1862, 1847 and 1875. As a result of RESPECT, the President will no longer have the power to declare null and void a treaty with a Native American tribe, nor the power to prevent payments to an intoxicated Native American. Markita McCarty, a freshman social work major, is a Princess of the Chickasaw Nation. Her father is full ChickasawChoctaw while her mom grew up Amish. With such different backgrounds, McCarty’s traditions became a mix of theirs. She is also an ambassador of her tribe and will tour the homelands of the Chickasaw Nation, New Mexico, District of Columbia and surrounding area offices for Christmas events. At these events, princesses make an appearance and hand out gifts. She said she hopes to gain more knowledge about her
traditions and pass it down to her future children. “Within my Nation, they have a lot of events that you’re able to attend,” McCarty said. “We have the Elders Thanksgiving Luncheon, and that’s always fun!” One of her favorite cultural pastimes is playing stickball—a traditional game where they divide players among two teams to touch or throw a ball to a totem pole with hand-carved sticks. When younger, McCarty remembers how she and her youth choir were asked to sing multiple times at Kansas City Chiefs football games. She remembers wearing her ribbon vest singing the Star-Spangled Banner and watching the games, proud of her heritage. She also likes singing the traditional Choctaw hymns. Her favorite is Choctaw Hymn 11. The lines of the first stanza translate in English as: “All you people / Oh come / All you people / There is a heaven / You all come.” McCarty, enjoying the traditions of her culture, believes that Native American heritage should be celebrated all the time. Illustration by Jonathan Westcott
A trailblazing plan for Turkey Mountain by Rachel Dupree Staff Writer During a community meeting on Nov. 14, a draft of the Turkey Mountain Master Plan was unveiled by the River Parks Authority and Michael Van Valkenburgh Associates (MVVA). The Master Plan adds many improvements, access areas and recreational activities within the Turkey Mountain area. The MVVA also partnered with Tulsa to build the Gathering Place, which was named 2018’s best new attraction in the country by USA Today and celebrated its one-year anniversary in September. “What sparked the idea was that River Parks realized that [Turkey Mountain] is being loved to death,” said MVVA Principal Matt Urbanski. “There are trails that are very eroded, people are concerned about that, and
[River Parks] knew something needed to be done that wasn’t just a repair job.” The four key components of the Master Plan include “restored nature, new access, sustainable trails and exciting programs.” Turkey Mountain is home to a unique landscape called Midwest oak savanna that once extended from Minnesota to Texas, and the Master Plan proposes preserving this landscape. The idea to bring back the true beauty of the forested areas, diversify the environment and get rid of invasive species of plants through prescribed fire was explained by John Weir, who works for OSU Natural Resource Ecology and Management. “Prescribed fire is the planned application of fire under specific conditions to achieve goals and objectives,” Weir explained during
the meeting. “Healthy forests and grasslands are some of the benefits Turkey Mountain can gain from this. If you have healthy forests and grasslands, you have a diverse plant community and you have a diverse wildlife community.” Other components of the Master Plan included ideas to expand the trails to cater to a wider audience and redesign certain trails to adhere to extreme hikers, mountain bikers and people with disabilities. “We want to create a better user experience for all users. The goal is to try to keep the trails natural, but be able to work in sustainable practice,” said Vice President of Progressive Trail Design Jason Stouder. Turkey Mountain is already equipped to accommodate users of all types, but it is not optimized. The concepts for more trails are extensive
while also keeping Turkey Mountain’s natural environment in mind. The River Parks Authority and the MVVA want to build kid-friendly, adaptive and extreme trails so there is a good experience for everyone. “The goal is to make as much trail as possible at Turkey Mountain that’s more sustainable and not as prone to erosion,” Stouder said. Ideas were also pitched at the meeting to redesign some areas of Turkey Mountain to hold recreational areas: areas for an archery range, camping, an outdoor fitness area and even an aerial adventure course. “You see that Turkey Mountain can make a really big imprint and is an important element in Tulsa’s identity,” Urbanski concluded. “[Tulsa] has a really great opportunity with this mountain right here.”
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Rising band with Tulsa roots by Sterling Zoe Rubottom Editor-in-Chief
Walking into the Houston Rodeo stadium, into the stench of red dirt and bulls, with lights shining into his eyes through smoky haze and the white noise of thousands of people awaiting the next musical guest, Caleb knew in his spirit he would be back here one day—just not sitting in the stands. That night, he sat in his bull-rider friend Chuck’s trailer at the Houston Rodeo with his guitar and pieced together the melody to the chorus he jotted in his phone at the stadium. About three years later, “American Rebels” would become the first single to the four-sibling alternative country band Voth. Caleb, Hannah, Cody and Jacob grew up singing together in their parents’ church, The Life Connection, pastored by ORU theology professor Dr. Jeff Voth, but the siblings didn’t officially start creating music together until about two years ago. Caleb started writing music in his dorm room at Evangel University in Springfield, Missouri; Jacob and ORU alumni Hannah and Cody first heard Caleb’s songs in 2015 after his graduation. “I really just wrote them for myself—I didn’t think we were gonna do anything with it,” Caleb said. “Then when I got back and showed them, they were like ‘These are good. We should do this.’” They tossed around the idea for a few months but didn’t decide until 2017 to go for it. “We went to Nashville really just trying to learn
stuff. It’s huge, there’s lots of people and it’s who you know, and the music industry is just so fast in the publishing world and recording and labels, and we had no idea about any of it,” Caleb said. “I called this recording studio; it’s actually one of the biggest in Nashville—Ocean Way. I called the director—the head dude—didn’t even know who he was. I said, ‘We kinda wanna record music and stuff,’ and he said, ‘Stop by my office when you guys are in Nashville.’ So we walked in, and there’s all these gold records of Tim McGraw, Taylor Swift, Garth Brooks.” The director asked them to play something, but Caleb hadn’t brought his guitar, so the director pulled one off of the wall and handed it to him. They played a song. He asked for another. Another. Then another. “Nashville is a 10-year town. It usually takes about 10 years,” Hannah said. “After we stopped playing, he said, ‘I don’t think it’ll be 10 years for you guys. I think you’ll be ready in a year or two.’” He instructed them to go home, then come back so they could record some demos with him. But when they got home, they weren’t sure where to begin. “We just didn’t even know what to do. But after seeing the recording studio in Nashville I knew that we could actually do what we needed to do in Tulsa,” Caleb said. “That’s what we always wanted to do—the Oklahoma-grown Tulsa music.” Since then, they’ve released six singles, the most
recent being “Pyro” released on Oct 25. On Spotify, Voth has reached over 18,000 monthly listeners and been featured on five playlists. “We’d never stepped into a studio, ever. Like at all. We did a little bit of stuff in Nashville but studio is totally different than live. You have to put the energy of the song into the studio, but you’ve got to have the perfect tune. Growing up worshipping [is different]…it’s not performing when you’re worshipping,” Caleb said. “But I think God helped to mold that. Even though we may be singing secular songs, we’re still using our gifts of worship, and we’re going to use our platform for that,” Hannah said. About four years after Caleb wrote their first single at Houston Rodeo, their EP releases next month. “[The most rewarding thing] is the affirmation that we’re doing it. So many people talk about their dreams and [say], ‘I wish I could do this,’ and that annoys me. Because I’m like…do it. Make it happen,” Caleb said. “My dad always told us, ‘Why not us and why not now?’ He has ingrained in us that culture. We’re gonna do it. And either it’s gonna work, or it’s not. But we can still look back and go, ‘Hey kids, you can listen to our music.’” You can stream Voth now on Spotify, Apple Music and other music streaming platforms and find more info at vothmusic.com.
Voth put on a show for students during the Fall Outreach afterparty in the Hammer Center. / Photo provided by Student Association
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REVIEW
Don’t let this one go by Alejandro Contreras Design Editor The anticipated sequel of the movie “Frozen” was finally released in theaters last weekend—and it did not disappoint. The original movie, released in 2013, is one of today’s top 15 highest grossing films, according to IMDbPro’s Box Office Mojo. “Frozen” caught Disney by surprise, becoming the highest grossing film of the year and the highest grossing animated film of all time. A continuation for this amazing story was an impossible dream for the fans, considering Pixar had yet to release a sequel for any of its musicals. “Frozen 2” unveiled its first teaser in September, months before its release, and the rest is history. The movie broke the record for the most pre-sales for an animated movie. The film was released on Nov. 22—exactly six years after the release of Frozen—and became the biggest worldwide opening for an animated
movie, surpassing “Incredibles 2,” “Toy Story 4” and “The Lion King.” The Ice Queen Elsa and the Princess Anna continue their story in a new adventure that takes place three years after Elsa’s coronation. The sisters, accompanied by Kristoff, Olaf and Sven, leave their kingdom in search of the source of Elsa’s powers. The characters’ journey outside Arendelle brings many new colors and flavors to the story as they explore a whole different world, which takes the adventure to a higher level of fantasy and makes the film very different from the original picture. In contrast to the light, magical feeling of winter in “Frozen,” this sequel’s adventure introduces a darker feeling of mystery, suspense and even grief. These additions transform what is supposed to be a fairytale into a highfantasy experience.
The songs and score of the movie also have many new sounds that differ from the soundtrack of the first movie. The soundtrack album and movie both begin with a lullaby sung by Evan Rachel Wood, who plays Queen Iduna (mother of Elsa and Anna), bringing wonder and mystery into the rest of the tale. The soundtrack includes various amazing and catchy tracks, and also has one somber song called “The Next Right Thing” sung by Kristen Bell, who plays Anna. The movie also has the solos “Into the Unknown” and “Show Yourself ” by Idina Menzel, who plays Elsa, and these are naturally the key songs for the film. The entire soundtrack is very well composed and produced, with relatable and moving lyrics. The Norwegian singer Aurora was included in the movie and soundtrack as the mysterious voice calling for Elsa. “Frozen 2” is definitely a must watch. It’s the perfect mix between an animated movie for the family and a fantasy full of secrets and mystery. It’s hard to choose between the original film and the sequel because they are so different, but both are equally as magical.
Grand jeté into The Nutcracker by Faith Wilson Opinion Editor Many shows help to signify the Christmas season. Hundreds of different versions of “A Christmas Carol” grace TV screens from November to early January. The Grinch steals Christmas from the Whos several times throughout the season. And “The Nutcracker” brings something special during the holidays—a beautiful story paired with dance and music. Marcello Angelini has choreographed Tulsa’s version of “The Nutcracker” since 2003 and has over 40 years of experience in ballet. Educated at the Opera House in Naples, Angelini has traveled all over Europe and North and South America. In Tulsa Ballet’s rendition of “The Nutcracker,” the story takes place in the Roaring ‘20s of Paris, France. Angelini described the story as “the innocent love of a young girl.” The ending leaves the audience
wondering if the characters experienced the performance or if it was all a dream. In several ways, the American ballet culture differs greatly from the European. “In America, it has become a part of the holiday season celebration, whereas in Europe we look at it as just another ballet, though the story does happen around Christmas time,” Angelini said. For the Tulsa production of “The Nutcracker,” dances are difficult for everyone in the company. Angelini explained that he wanted to make the dances difficult rather than “water down” the performance, as he wants to grow his company’s experience and also “expose the audience to real dancing.” Angelini sees the importance of “The Nutcracker.” As it is often the first ballet performance American audiences see, it is the first opportunity to engage audiences. “We need to expose audiences to this beautiful art
form. It’s up to us to do that starting with training young children in our ballet schools not only to dance but to appreciate the beauty of this art form,” Angelini shared. Considering “The Nutcracker” is one of the most recognized ballets, the Tulsa Ballet knows how important it is to make it the best show, especially for first-time ballet go-ers. “I always tell our dancers, ‘Don’t underestimate Nutcracker.’ It is probably the most important production we do,” Angelini said. “Every performance must be stellar to impress people who come to see us for the first time, or chances are they’re never coming back.” The Tulsa Ballet will be performing “The Nutcracker” from Dec. 7 to Dec. 22 at the Chapman Music Hall. Tickets can be purchased through the Tulsa Ballet or the Tulsa Performing Arts Center websites. Illustrations by Alejandro Contreras
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People of ORU: Brady Drake Take the time to get to know him beyond his furry friend.
by Staci McCoy Managing Editor “I got shot in the head,” quipped ORU student Brady Drake with a shoulder shrug and an eyebrow raise. On Jan. 4, 2016, Brady was rushed in a helicopter to Tulsa’s St. John Medical Center after falling unconscious off of a bell tower. The cause was later discovered during an MRI scanning—he had been shot in the head with a nail. While working on a construction site, Brady was assisting his superintendent to nail wood onto a roof when one of the nails from his nail gun ricocheted and hit Brady’s head. The nail entered his skull through the tip of his left ear, and he consequently collapsed off of the roof. Brady spent four weeks in a medicallyinduced coma and seven weeks in St. John’s intensive care unit. His right and left parietal bones (the top right and left pieces of the skull) were removed to relieve pressure before he was flown to Shepherd Center in Atlanta, which specializes in spinal cord and brain injury rehabilitation. Brady stayed in Atlanta for 17 weeks, wearing a helmet to protect where his skull bones were removed. “I wasn’t really in on it,” said Brady regarding his recovery time. “I don’t remember it, and I blocked a lot of that time out.” After he finished in Atlanta, Brady went to Kaiser Rehabilitation Center in Tulsa for patient work. In the beginning of 2017, Brady was driven to the Centre for Neuro Skills in Dallas where he worked on strengthening his arms and legs while going through therapy. While in Dallas, he experienced his first and only seizure due to the wrong medication, according to Brady. On Saturday, Nov. 23, Brady had the opportunity to speak at the event “Shining the Light” that was hosted by Tulsa’s non-
profit organization Brain Injury Recovery Foundation. Founder Chris Lieberman, who met Brady in St. John’s ICU, started the organization following his own traumatic brain injury in March 2016. Brady spoke about his experience and those who helped save and support his life throughout his recovery. Brady graduated from Victory Christian School in 2013 and headed straight to the University of Oklahoma where he spent his freshman and sophomore college years. After two years at OU, Brady decided to attend community college to focus on his grades, and he also accepted a job in construction. This plan came to a halt following the accident, and Brady’s life course redirected to hospital after hospital until he felt ready to attend college again. In the 2018 fall semester Brady enrolled at ORU with a major in business, yet he currently has no plans on what to do with a business degree. He had majored in business at OU but decided to switch to biology halfway through, which he almost immediately regretted. When coming to ORU, he figured he would stick to what he enjoyed before his injury. “I was working full-time construction before I got hurt, then I got hurt, and now I’m writing papers,” Brady said with a sigh. “I’m getting through it.” Brady’s memory was the main thing affecting his return to school, but with the help of time and his professors, he has seen huge improvements in the last year. “First semester right after my injury, I took a history class, and they really helped me so much. I honestly don’t remember a lot of it. Now I’m taking Principles of Management, and the difference between the two is crazy,” said Brady when comparing his first and second years at ORU. “I can remember to do homework and learn. It’s getting better day by day.”
Brady’s motor skills and vision improved with practice and therapy, enabling him to receive his driver’s license, despite his doctor insisting that he would never legally drive again. He is currently looking at a potential car that will need the gas pedal on the left and the brake pedal on the right. With some minor restrictions on his license, Brady looks forward to driving soon because it is something he loves and misses. Unlike the rest of the students on campus, Brady has two roommates, not one—Keaton Tillack and Echo. Keaton is Head R.A. of Niko and senior homecoming king. Echo is a German wirehaired pointing griffon. Two-year-old Echo is Brady’s service dog trained by his insurance to remain on Brady’s right side because he is completely blind in his right eye. Sometimes she becomes excited and forgets her duty (especially when squirrels are nearby), but Brady lets her enjoy the constant love and attention from those around her. “[The students] love her. Everyone loves the dog and wants to pet her,” Brady laughed. “She’s my companion.” Brady considers it a miracle to have landed in a Niko apartment-style dorm room, considering he has a 40-pound shedding friend with him. To keep Echo clean and cut, Brady takes her to a groomer, bathing her himself only when necessary. When spotted, petting is permitted—she responds best when fed baby carrots. And take the time to get to know Brady beyond his furry friend. Brady’s traumatic experience is one that awakens thankfulness and appreciation for life, and that attitude is clear in the way he lives.
Photo by James Adamski
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Photo by David Batbold
The future of funk music by Benjamin Kosanke Staff Writer As the 2010s are coming to a close, a moment should be taken to examine the artifacts imprinted around the globe by this decade’s culture. Notably, how the internet watched the explosion of meme culture and the permeation of social media throughout the world. There has been a collective desire to reminisce about previous eras, especially the ‘80s and ‘90s. From this nostalgia came an electronic genre of music called vaporwave, which made an appearance on the internet right at the beginning of the 2010s. Vaporwave is a genre focusing on sampling old elevator music or mall muzak while often slowing down the tempo and adding a lot of audio effects. Vaporwave has been created by many producers to convey a social critique on consumerism and aesthetics; however, not every musician has this motive in his or her art. Around 2012, this style divided into multiple styles—each with their own small, underground audiences. Among these styles is a genre called future funk. Despite being a derivative of vaporwave, future funk diverges from the other vaporwave styles by focusing less on the social critique or chillwaveinspired motifs. Future funk gains a majority of its influence from ‘80s Japanese city pop—a popular style of music in Japan heavily inspired by the funk and disco of the ‘70s—and French house music. Reverb is still a major effect used in future funk, but the style is much less ambient and employs a more groovy and rhythmic essence to match the style of city pop. A key element of future funk is the percussion beats that add a modern and fresh sound for more of a punch. Future funk is often instrumental, but many times a producer may add vocal samples to songs, either in English or Japanese. The genre future funk can elicit an uplifting feeling, whereas most vaporwave leans toward a relaxing and chill style of music. Future funk took off in 2013 with the release of “Hit Vibes” by Saint Pepsi—now called
Illustration by Joshwin Raju
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Skylar Spence—and “Sailorwave” by MACROSS 82-99 (pronounced muh-cross). These were pivotal releases in vaporwave and helped establish future funk as its own style. Both artists have grown to become major household names for anyone within the future funk scene, becoming examples later artists would follow. In the following year, Yung Bae took to the scene and released his first album titled “Bae,” and he quickly became a leading icon in the style. Despite still choosing to sell his music for a name-your-price amount, he has grown his persona so large that he played at the 2019 Coachella Festival and has several songs on Spotify with over a million streams. Most future funk exists either on YouTube or Soundcloud. A major influencer in the scene is Artzie Music, who posts videos of singles by different artists and mixes which compile a list of various songs. Most of these videos reveal more of the nostalgic spirit of the style by having chopped-up, grainy clips of ‘80s and ‘90s anime, typically catering to people who watch Japanese animated cartoons. ORU students who listened to the genre liked the groovy, joyful and upbeat nature of the music and also commented on how clean the beats were. One student noted that the dynamic contrast of the music is derived from the instrumentation and individual instrument tracks looped rather than volume, as in most other genres. Several students stated that future funk reminded them of the musical group Daft Punk and lofi hip-hop playlists on YouTube. Although primarily existing in the shadows of the internet, future funk is an ongoing style of music that can speak to a larger audience. The website “bandcamp.com” is a good resource for finding future funk releases and serves as a major platform for record labels that have been influential in the dissemination of other newer styles. If any student is looking for uplifting music to play while working on homework or cleaning their dorm, future funk could be the new groove.
December Events Tulsa Christmas Parade: “Rockin’ Around Tulsa Town” • A Tulsa tradition since 1926, featuring creative floats and family fun. • Downtown Tulsa • Saturday, Dec. 14 • 1 p.m. • Free Tulsa Christmas Parade: “Block Party” • Live music, food trucks and Santa line Downtown Tulsa for post-parade fun. • H. A. Chapman Green Park • Saturday, Dec. 14 • 2 to 4 p.m., following the parade • Free Holiday Lights on the Hill • Drive three miles through Chandler Park for Christmas lights and whimsical displays. Horse-drawn carriage rides are also for sale during the event. • Chandler Park • Nov. 29 to Dec. 25 • 6 to 9 p.m. • Free “Decorating the Tree” Christmas play by Fervent Fire Productions • A show featuring ORU Souls A Fire alumni • Timko Barton Performance Hall • Saturday, Dec. 7 • 7 p.m. • $5 Winter Wonderland • Christmas carolers, festive foods, a holiday train and decorative lights will fill the Chapman Adventure Playground. • The Gathering Place • Wednesday, Dec. 18 • 5 to 8 p.m. • Free
by Kendall Brown Staff Writer It’s that time again—Christmas season. The time when people wake up at 6 a.m. to get the Starbucks Christmas-decorated cups. The time of coming together to ice skate and listen to the Jonas Brothers’ newly-released Christmas song without working on homework. Christmas time is—as quoted by many— “the most wonderful time of the year.” As a school with a large international student population, ORU is filled with students celebrating Christmas influenced by various cultures. Senior Nami Navam has lived in many different places around the world. From being raised in India to attending high school in both South Korea and the Philippines, she has some incredible insights to what Christmas looks like around the world. Because the major religion is Hinduism in India, celebrating Christmas there is pretty null. For Christians like Nami’s family in India, there are no decorations, Christmas trees or presents. “We go to a church service on Christmas day,” Nami said. “That’s pretty much it.” After India, she and her family moved to South Korea and experienced the customs there. “We went to church as well. Commercially there was a lot, but my Korean friends never talked about the presents they got or what they did,” Nami said. Her time in the Philippines, however, was a completely different story. Christmas is huge in the Philippines, according to Nami. During the first half of each year, the people are getting ready for Christmas, and the second half of the year, they celebrate Christmas. “It’s very Americanized over there,” Nami said. “That’s when my family started doing presents and decorations. They have a huge feast on the night before Christmas, and right after they open all the presents, then they sleep and go to church in the morning.” Luis Neto, a sophomore, who grew up in Brazil before coming to ORU, offered some insight into what Christmas looks like there. “It’s different than in America because it’s summer during Christmas, so usually, like other Brazilian holidays, we go to the beach and watch a show with friends and family,” Luis said. “Traditionally, everyone wears white for peace. My family and I go to my Grandma’s house…and at midnight everyone starts to eat a bunch.”
In the morning, Luis and his family open presents. Brazilians spend the whole week or even month leading up to Christmas preparing for the meal. It’s like Thanksgiving and Christmas together, according to Luis. Abigail Martin is a senior from London, England, and her family currently lives in Edinburgh, Scotland. She explained the U.K.’s take on Christmas. “We have a Christingle a couple days before Christmas where we all bring oranges and have a candle in them with raisins and marshmallows. This tradition represents different areas of Christ and his love for the world,” Abigail said. “The night before Christmas we have a watch night service where we give our thanks and focus on what we are celebrating, and we get to wait until midnight and say happy Christmas to everyone in the church.” For people in the United Kingdom, especially Scotland and England, there are a lot of Christmas markets and winter wonderlands. There are also German markets selling Christmas drinks, hot chocolate and pretzels. “Even putting up the Christmas tree and decorating it is a big family tradition where we play Michael Bublé and all get together to decorate. Presents under the tree are always from the family, and stockings are from Santa,” Abigail said. “It’s usually a white Christmas, so sledding is always an occurrence.” Christian Brillhart, a junior, lived in New Zealand for a few years, and he shared how Christmas is done down under. Australians share the same fundamentals of celebrating the birth of Jesus along with all the familiar Christmas signs and decorations, just on a less grandiose scale, according to Christian. “In America, we are bombarded by Hallmark Christmas movies, music and often the cold weather. In New Zealand, it has just turned into summer, and we have none of this. In fact, it is the complete opposite,” said Christian. “The school children have just gotten off on summer vacation. Families are cranking up the barbecues and are leaving on holiday to a beach house—typically called a batch—so you can leisurely soak up some sun before the magical day is over.” Each of these students represent different Christmas traditions around the world. At a widely international school like ORU, students can learn about different cultural celebrations by just walking across the dorm hallway.
Photos by Gabriel Jaggernauth
Rockin’ around cultures
A night for celebration The Masterpiece of Homecoming left great memories in its wake. Featuring group art projects, photo booths and a packed dance floor, students had a drama-free night this year. Hosted at Stoney Creek Hotel and Conference Center, the hotel spread out hors d’oeuvres for students in their large ballroom decorated by Student Association (SA). SA put up two photo booths featuring smoke machines, colored lights and flowers. Group art projects were put up as a way of letting students be a part of the “masterpiece.” Upon entering the red-carpeted hallway outside the ballroom, students could paint onto a shared canvas. Inside the ballroom, students could pin “I am…” statements to a large cork board or tie string around nails that shared different life experiences such as “homeschooled” or “public schooled.” Music was diverse, ranging from Lizzo to Hillsong’s “Oceans,” and took a break for the announcement of Homecoming king and queen, seniors Keaton Tillack and Rachel Brown, respectively. SA’s message to students is that people are God’s masterpiece, and homecoming serves as a celebration of Him and creation.
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New Golf Complex up-to-par by Halle Richards Staff Writer ORU recently opened the newest attraction on campus: the state-of-the-art John and Cheryl Clerico Golf Complex. This new facility is located at in the Nursing and Engineering Complex at the corner of 81st and Delaware. The complex will serve as a new home for the ORU men’s and women’s golf teams. “We are very excited to open this new facility. We are blessed to have such generous donors who felt called to give to this project. The Complex will enhance the performance of our student athletes and be their home for years to come,” emphasized ORU Athletic Director Mike Carter. Inside the facility, features include a simulator, a putting green utilizing PuttView technology, four hitting bays and a space for strength and conditioning. The Bob Canada Short Game Facility, named after ORU’s late golf coach, sits outside offering another putting green and a chipping range The ORU women’s golf team has competed well this season. At the annual Johnie Imes Invitation, the team won
COMMENTARY
second place, and Sarah Bell, a sophomore on the team, placed first individually. “I’m more than pleased with the facility. It’s more than I imagined it to be. My favorite part of the facility is the simulators in the hitting bay where we can see the accuracy of our shots and every little detail of it—whether it is the ball spin, my carrying yardages, [or] the club and ball speed,” Bell commented. This season, the ORU men’s golf team has started strong, placing second at the Bubba Barnett Intercollegiate, finishing 11 strokes ahead of third place. Dustin Hasley, a junior on the team, shot a 206 at the Oklahoma Open earning him the title Oklahoma Open Low Amateur. “I’m very blessed to be able to study, relax and play golf while being in the same building. It’s definitely one of my favorite places to be on campus,” Bell said. This new attraction for ORU will serve the men’s and women’s golf teams for years to come. “ORU Golf now has a home. The facility should make the past players proud and the future players excited about ORU Golf,” said Head Coach Lance Watson.
UPCOMING GAMES Men’s Basketball Dec. 8 at 2 p.m. vs. Haskell Dec. 14 at 7 p.m. vs. Central Oklahoma Dec. 21 at 1 p.m. vs. Missouri State Jan. 9 at 7 p.m. vs. North Dakota State Jan. 11 at 7 p.m. vs. North Dakota
Women’s Basketball Dec. 31 at 12 p.m. vs. Rogers State Jan. 8 at 7 p.m. vs. North Dakota State Jan. 11 at 2 p.m. vs. North Dakota
The problem with football fanatics by Brendon Martin Sports Editor Over the course of many weeks, I spend time doing one activity for five hours during the week. Over the course of many months, it adds up to dozens of hours a year, and maybe even hundreds or thousands of hours over several years. By this time, you might reasonably assume that I am passionate about what I am spending that much time doing. And if you’re wondering what this activity might be, well, it is the pastime of watching American football. Millions of people across the U.S. tune in to NFL and college football games over the weekend and throughout the week on game nights. If it is not game time, there are always highlight reels, commentary shows,
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or pregame and postgame analysis— whatever suits your fancy. Avid sports fans pour hours upon hours every week into watching football games and all sorts of related sports media coverage. Even the casual fan who watches, say, three games a week would be spending around nine full hours a week observing games. Yes, there is an off-season to American football for a few months. However, even the “off-season” is chock-full of sports commentaries and analysis shows, talking heads projecting their expectations of players’ and teams’ performances for the upcoming season. Ironically, a line of the song used to introduce the weekly “Sunday Night Football” game reads, “I’ve been waiting all day for Sunday night.” If our schedule, our thoughts, our
words and maybe even our passions are guided by what we see on television or in a game or revolve around sports themselves, we have found ourselves in a concerning predicament. I must admit, I was once this person. I lived and breathed sports—specifically football. I could tell you who was playing when, who played for who, who was going to beat who and sports had become quite a passion of mine. Now, I am not saying that one should not be passionate about sports. Sports can have a dramatically positive impact on individuals and I can attest to that fact. The danger lies when we allow sports or similar forms of entertainment to become our ultimate passions. Yet, for many, sports can provide a weekly, healthy leisure time.
“Everyone has time every week that they watch movies and TV shows. So for some people, rather than doing that they’ll just watch sports,” explained Josiah Ingegneri, a junior at ORU. “Three hours a week for leisure time is just fine,” commented Mack Savala, a junior at ORU, on how much time he spends watching football. Ultimately, purpose does not come from entertaining ourselves to death. We must always remember to evaluate what we are spending our time on and what we are investing our time and energy into. Practicing this will allow you to analyze what your passions are and to act accordingly. Perhaps we could all use a little realignment.
Referees getting ready for an ORU Women’s soccer game. / Photo by Jonathan Rodriguez
From the ref’s perspective
An informed opinion of the crowd vs. referee relationship dynamic by Brendon Martin Sports Editor Refereeing is one of the most rewarding and challenging jobs an individual can perform. Essentially, referees are mediators. Multiple parties are constantly vying for their attention and want their needs and demands met. This is a difficult responsibility to uphold but is the basis for a major lesson I have learned as a referee—you can’t please everyone. Being a referee is not a people-pleasing position. This was a tough lesson to learn. Put simply, people will hate you, at least for the duration of the game and perhaps a few hours afterward. But this is something you must come to expect; fans, coaches and players will be very disappointed with a few, some or all of the calls you make, depending on their personality, knowledge of the laws of the game and what they had for dinner. Better still, they will make sure you are acutely aware of their disappointment. I could not tell you how many insults, expletives and police escorts I have witnessed as a referee—well, thankfully only one police escort. I’ve seen parents verbally assaulting players, referees and even other parents. I have witnessed coaches and players storm the field over calls they disagreed with. Sadly, I’ve had to break up a full team brawl during one game.
I say all this to explain that there is truly a phenomenal occurrence one can expect at many high school sporting gatherings: people seem to lose all composure and decency when it comes to a sporting event. Parents and coaches fight for their kids and their team at all costs; the opponents are always the mortal enemy, and the referees are stuck in the middle. As a referee and as an observer of this phenomenon, I believe it is imperative we seek to fix this extensive issue. High school sporting events should never be home to verbal or physical assaults, humiliation or public shaming. We must do better as a society and recognize these events for what they are: a place for healthy competition and performance of athletic abilities. Now, this is only half of the story. Being a referee is not all dark and gloomy. As a referee, you are witness to incredible competition and athletic skill. Your job is to protect the environment that provides the space for this kind of healthy competition. This is another major lesson I have learned; my primary responsibility is to uphold the game, the laws and the environment. This cannot be done by focusing on what fans are saying or what coaches are
demanding. You must focus on the game. You must focus on the task set before you. This task becomes easier and easier as you gain more experience and begin to learn the laws of the game inside and out. One of the most rewarding things about being a referee is being able to make a call that you are confident about and can defend your reasoning behind. This is the point where you know you are doing your job well while you take in feedback from fans, coaches, players and fellow referees. Another rewarding aspect of refereeing is seeing the level of competition witnessed during games. I treasure countless unforgettable moments watching a goal scored in stoppage time, a swift defensive move or a beautiful attacking play that I had the privilege of witnessing firsthand on the pitch. You cannot beat the viewpoint of a referee. So, at the next soccer game you find yourself at, remember the referees are people too, just like you, just like me. Refereeing is a challenging yet rewarding experience. You cannot take things personally and must focus on the task before you. If you can do this, I promise an experience of a lifetime.
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Tough ties between China and the NBA by DayRonda Gause Staff Writer As protests continue in Hong Kong, the relationship between the NBA and China grows more tentative. The NBA first started its ties with China in 1992— the year that their first office opened in Hong Kong. After the signing of Chinese player Yao Ming in 2002, the Houston Rockets have gained fans from across Asia. Houston Rockets General Manager Daryl Morey tweeted “Fight For Freedom. Stand With Hong Kong.” This statement went beyond a simple encouragement supporting the protesters in Hong Kong; this tweet has led to loss of revenue for the NBA, especially for the Rockets. Furthermore, LeBron James and other players spoke out against Morey’s tweet. Along the financial spectrum, the league and China are in the middle of difficult times with CCTV, China’s state-operated TV network, not airing any NBA games this season. ESPN’s partner, Tencent, began streaming NBA games in China but will not stream the Rockets’ games. “League sources say the franchise has lost more
than $7 million in revenue this season from cancelled Chinese sponsorship agreements and nearly $20 million overall when terminated multiyear deals are calculated,” stated ESPN’s Kevin Arnovitz. Many league players have individual relationships with China. Dwayne Wade has a contract with the Chinese apparel company, Li-Ning. Klay Thompson has a ten-year deal with a Chinese shoe company, Anta. Even retired Kobe Bryant continues to visit China, an annual tradition of his over nearly the past 20 years. This controversy isn’t just an NBA issue; it has become both a political and ethical issue. Freedom of speech is a right that Americans hold close, but currently, Hong Kong is searching for their own freedom as they protest. Players are understandably concerned about their contracts, incomes and the future relationship between the NBA and China. An alumnus of ORU, Moses Ehambe, recently
retired as an American professional basketball player and now is the senior assistant to the athletic director at ORU. Ehambe has had the opportunity to play in Spain, Germany, Morocco, Japan, Venezuela and many other nations. “[We have] freedom of speech. Say what you need to say. It’s up to us to take it and throw it away or take it and internalize it,” explained Ehambe. Traveling to different countries, Ehambe realized that the common mindset of the players was simply to collect a check and go back to the United States. Ehambe maintained the mindset, stemming from ORU’s vision statement, that there was a purpose to where he and his family were. In this situation, one is faced with weighing the immediate consequences of standing up for what he or she believes in and the potential results of doing so. “Whatever you say there are consequences. Morey believes that people need to be treated the right way and need to speak their mind respectfully. I’m game for that,” commented Ehambe. Illustration by Joshwin Raju
Houston Astros under investigation by Josiah Ingegneri Staff Writer Major League Baseball (MLB) is launching an investigation into allegations that the Houston Astros organization has been sign stealing, observing signs made by catchers to using electronic aid for the last three seasons. The Astros used a video camera in center field to steal signs in 2017, claimed former Astros pitcher Mike Fiers to The Athletic, who broke the story on Nov. 12. Three other former Astros joined Fiers in the allegations, but wished to remain anonymous. In the investigation several former Astros players and coaches, along with some from the 2019 squad, are being spoken with, CBS reports. Stealing signs with the aid of
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technology is a very clear violation of MLB rules. In 2017, the Red Sox were caught using Apple Watches to steal signs while playing the Yankees, and after an investigation the MLB fined the Boston team. “That’s not playing the game the right way. They were advanced and willing to go above and beyond to win,” Fiers explained to The Athletic. Other evidence clearly shows Astros tipping signs immediately after they were signaled during games, including televised video of Alex Bregman at-bat during game five of the 2017 World Series showing a distinct whistle just before Dodgers’ pitcher, Clayton Kershaw, throws every curveball. This whistle did not happen on any other pitch. In footage from earlier in the season during a game against the White Sox, one can hear
a loud hollow bang every time a changeup is signaled. “I am concerned about the impact of technology in and around the field. I think it’s a challenge for our sport and all sports to regulate the use of that technology in a way that makes sure that we have integrity in our play,” said MLB Commissioner Manfred, regarding the allegations against the Astros in a press conference. Sign stealing has been a facet of baseball since its beginning; however, the use of technology to do so can give certain teams an unfair advantage and skew the results against pitchers. For example, a home team might have an advantage in stealing signs because they can set up cameras before the games. Once a batter knows what pitch is coming next, it skews the at-bat heavily in favor of the batter.
“Young guys [are] getting hit around in the first couple of innings starting a game, and then they get sent down,” stated Fiers to The Atlantic. “It’s ruining jobs for younger guys.” In a way, technologically-aided sign stealing is more dangerous to the game than certain players who have used performance-enhancing drugs. With good pitch-mixing and location, pitchers know they can still beat batters on performance-enhancing drugs. When a batter knows exactly what pitch is coming every single time, it’s nearly impossible. There will be a thorough investigation into the Astros over the last three seasons, MLB commissioner Rob Manfred told KHOU 11. He said that he hopes the investigation will be finished before the start of the next baseball season.
Happy birthday to Jesus and me
Chisom Uche-Onyilofor Staff Writer On Dec. 25, 1999, at 5 a.m., a newborn’s cries could be heard from the delivery room. A little ray of sunshine was born. On hearing the sounds of his first child, the proud father picked up his daughter professing good will into her life. She was, indeed, God’s gift to her beautiful parents. As the years passed by, this little girl grew in grace. Now, as a junior at Oral Roberts University, she has decided to use her platform to let the public know why she dislikes Christmas. “Hey, Chisom, when is your birthday?” someone might ask. “The twenty-fifth of December,” I would reply with emptiness in my eyes.
“Cool,” as they start to ponder. Then, with sudden realization, “Wow! You are born on Christmas day… How does it feel to be born on Christmas?” This happens every single time. I am tired of answering this question because it has become redundant. My mother would tell me—if she was peering over my shoulder—“It’s an honor to share a birthday with Jesus Christ,” which is true if it really was His birthday. Many people assume being born on Christmas means two presents. Well, every year I got prayers. Fantastic, right? Jesus and I usually hold hands together as my parents rain down blessings on me. At least I got something. I can’t be shallow . . . me, a Christmas baby, never. Some people, once my birthday is known, go on a frenzy about it. But I wonder—how do you know Jesus was born on that day? I am pretty sure no one in the 21st century was alive to witness the birth of our Lord and Savior; that would only happen if someone were a character in Superbook. Even my little sister has tried to have this argument with me about being happy that I share my birthday
with Jesus, and I am not having it. I do not appreciate others trying to undermine my birthday. Jesus’ birthday was chosen by a person to be celebrated on a random day that happens to be my actual birthday. Let us behave ourselves. I don’t run around saying, “I am Jesus’ birthday mate!” I am used to not receiving a birthday well-wishes from people until after Christmas. Am I bitter? Yes. Why are you telling others happy birthday every other day except for my birthday? “Sorry, I was spending time with family,” they insist. I guess that sounds fair, but at least now I know who my real friends are. Well-wishes became unnecessary. My parents understood and only celebrated my birthday in January because it would kick off the year with a bang. I will still take your stale wishes; I can’t complain that I’m being overshadowed. People only remember me in my presence. I am not even sure what I can be bitter about anymore. I am grateful to be alive, and I wish for nothing more except acknowledgment—seriously. So don’t forget to wish me a happy birthday and a Merry Christmas!
Why I plan on leaving the US
Writer’s Name @Twitter Faith Wilson Opinion Editor “When I’m older, I’m moving away!” This was the mantra my parents became accustomed to from the time I was a small kid to a prepubescent to a teenager. For most of my life, I grew up in Branson, MO. Contrary to popular belief, Branson is not simply
a tourist town—people actually do live there. The “circle of life” is clearly seen there—you grow up, go to a nearby college, marry, get a house close to your parents, have kids and continue the cycle. This cycle loomed over my head like a vulture, threatening me to be another link. I had to break the chain. There are selfish and selfless reasons for leaving. My selfish reasons mainly stem from my desire to travel. The places I read about all through my life enchanted me, beckoning me to go, go, go. Christmases in New York. Art in the Louvre. Hiking in the Alps. These stories showed me a new way to live
life—an exciting one. While there was a limited number of experiences in Missouri, other places offered multiple opportunities for culture, art and all things that make us different. My selfless reasons pertain to the American culture. Because of how our news system is gate-kept, Americans are ignorant toward the plights, hardships, joys, journeys and stories of other nations and their people. I do not want to leave the U.S. to forget about her. I want to leave so I can tell her stories of all people, not just of insults hurled at the presidential debates. In a generation of advocacy, passionate Americans take to the streets to support different movements
in the United States, but very few support people outside of these states. I hope that my stories of women with oppressive restrictions and refugees without homes will spark U.S. citizens to advocate for them while here. My time in the U.S. continues to grow and change me in areas that will help me in the future. While there are many injustices in the U.S., I know that it is just the tip of the iceberg. I hope to cover women’s issues in the Middle East and Eastern Europe and tell the stories of injustice that others have faced and overcome. In this way, my stories will help Americans to see the full picture of the world.
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Vote for ranked choice ballots
Josiah Ingegneri Staff Writer There are 530 federally-elected officials registered as either Republican or Democrat. Three officials are independent. Two political parties cannot accurately represent the viewpoints of 329 million Americans. Even though the people of the United States directly elect their congresspeople based on region and state, most representatives tend to vote with their party most of the time. In 2016, 96% of House Democrats and House Republicans voted with their party on party unity votes, according to Brookings Institute. The numbers were just slightly lower in the Senate. Under President Obama, a majority of House Democrats sided with his position, averaging 85.75% of the time, and for Senate Democrats 94% of the time.
Due to this tendency toward partisanship, Americans need to elect more independents and third-party members. A 2017 Gallup poll found that 42% of Americans identify as independents. The partisan government is not representative of those independent perspectives. One reason for the lack of third parties and independents is people voting against the candidates they dislike rather than voting for the candidate they most prefer. The Gallup poll found that 18% of those who initially identify as independents lean Democrat and 15% lean Republican when probed further. Even when people’s beliefs align most closely with a third-party candidate, they often won’t vote for that candidate because they feel it will be a wasted vote. Introducing Ranked Choice Voting (RCV) will help this situation as it has been used in Maine, Santa Fe, Oakland, San Francisco and several other municipalities. New York City voted in November to use RCV in city-level elections. RCV solves the issue of the wasted vote, allowing elections to produce the most accurate results. With Ranked Choice Voting, voters rank candidates from most preferred to least preferred. If no one has a majority of first-choice votes, then the candidate with the fewest first-choice votes is eliminated, and people who cast votes for them would have their second choice go as a first choice until a candidate has over 50% of the vote.
Maine voters approved a proposition in 2016 for Ranked Choice voting. Later on, Maine voters were allowed to use the system once and decide whether to keep it. Maine voters liked ranked-choice voting and chose to keep it. The two primary benefits of RCV are that it prevents the need for runoff elections and ensures that the winning candidate is the one with the broadest support. Runoff elections occur when the leading candidate does not receive a majority of votes and is a competition between only the top two candidates from the first election. Ranked Choice Voting is sometimes called Instant Runoff Voting because no candidate can win without having more than 50% of the vote. It essentially performs the function of runoff elections by dividing all votes between the top two vote-getters. Since voters can rank candidates in order of preference, they are voting for the candidates they most desire, rather than voting for one of the two most popular candidates out of fear that they will win. With RCV, the two major parties could no longer complain about third-party candidates spoiling elections because in the case where third-party candidates get the least amount of first-place votes, the second preference would be cast as a first-place vote. Ranked Choice Voting makes the two major parties appeal to the people or lose elections.
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