February 22, 2019 Print Edition

Vol. 53, No. 7

An athlete’s life after an injury Pages 16-17 The history of abortion Page 4

How the NFL destroyed cheer Page 10

Tulsa, Oklahoma • February 22, 2019 • www.oruoracle.com

People of ORU Pages 12-13 Photo by Josh Crow

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2 • Oracle • February 22, 2019

Working toward a healthier mind How ORU students are combating the rise of depression and anxiety

by Grant Holcomb and Lauren Brewington Contributing Writer, Staff Writer

Almost seven percent of people in the U.S. suffer from major depressive disorder, nearly four percent suffer from post-traumatic stress disorder and more than three percent are affected by generalized anxiety disorder, according to the Anxiety and Depression Association of America.

To help students deal with these disorders, ORU Counseling Services provides three licensed staff and one grad student who shadows a counselor.

“The purpose of counseling services is to provide professional counseling care with a Christian worldview,” said Michelle Taylor, director of counseling services. “However, we are limited and there is only so much we can do.”

To help fill the gap, several students taking the course Principles of Management have jumped in to do what they can to help the cause. The team have come up with their own grassroots plan to combat depression-related issues.

“We plan to spread awareness on campus through media exposure and orchestrate a community meeting in order to start the conversation about this sensitive topic,” said Jonathan Rodriguez, one of the students involved. “Whether you or someone you

know are depressed, anxious, suicidal or suffering from a mental disorder, it is not something that should ever be overlooked.”

The students are hosting monthly meetings on campus for those who need a support group.

“We are trying to start with a group of students that are available to help others with their distress and disorder found on campus,” said Rodriguez.

While the team is providing support, it still encourages students to seek professional help if needed and available, but they believe creating worthwhile friendships can be a stepping-stone in the right direction.

“People supporting each other is a good thing, and these conversations about the hard topics need to become a norm in our society,” said Taylor. “People need connection, and no one should be isolated.”

Taylor and her staff are aware that many students have had to wait to see a counselor and they are always looking for ways to improve the situation.

She is also encouraged that the counseling office will be moving to the new building recently purchased by ORU. “Good things are in the works, and we are actively looking for more counselors.”

Taylor strongly believes serious needs can be well cared for within a community, of which ORU

is not lacking. However, people gravitate toward confidentiality, competence and unconditional acceptance. With that, Taylor thinks some students may struggle with trusting these qualities in their comrades.

Counseling Services also provides information for students about outside resources, but Taylor says most students do not reach out to those resources and they’re working to understand why.

“If there is a life-threatening situation, we reach out immediately. We also reach out to those who are on the waiting list and offer resources,” stated Taylor. “We would like to understand the roadblock and the hurdle when not reaching out to those other resources because some are free.”

The suicide prevention hotline is 1-800-273-8255, and you can text “HOME” to 741741 to access the Crisis Text Line. You can also reach out to C-O-P-E-S in Tulsa, a Community Outreach Psychiatric Emergency Service through Family & Children’s Services.

Taylor encourages the Principles of Management students to continue their outreach because “the more people there are, the better.”

“Together, our mission is to create a hopeful environment where people can rely on their ORU community and staff for support during difficult struggles of life,” said Rodriguez. “We can do this by engaging the community here on campus.”

Photographed from left to right are Omeiza Akerele, Anxhela Rama, Elliot Smith, Instructor of Management Megan Weinkauf, Andrew Collier, Cameron Fenimore and Jonathan Rodriguez. / Photo provided by Mental Health Initiative

February 22, 2019 • Oracle • 3

Influenza strikes again, like every year

by Chae Woon Yoo Print News Editor Every year, over 200,000 Americans are hospitalized because of the virus called influenza, or as it is known to the common folk, the flu.

The flu is a contagious respiratory illness that is caused by influenza A or B viruses, according to WebMD. Most people experience the flu during the winter months but it’s not actually the cold weather that makes them sick. The influenza virus has the tendency to survive better in the colder and drier climates. As the air becomes drier and colder, the more stable the virus becomes, and it stays in the air longer.

Once it has entered the body, the flu virus starts attacking by spreading itself through the respiratory tract, making it weaker and more prone to coughing and sneezing.

Some might confuse the flu with the common cold.

According to WebMD, the cold is a milder form

of respiratory illness and can only make the victim feel bad for a couple of days, whereas the flu will exist in the body for a few days or even weeks. The flu can also lead to worse health problems like pneumonia.

Symptoms of the flu may include fever, headache, sore throat, soreness, congestion, muscle aches and coughing.

Like the cold, the flu virus enters the body through the mucous membranes of either the nose, eyes or mouth.

An infected hand coming into contact with these openings increases the chance of transmitting the virus. Thus, washing hands becomes very important if people don’t want to catch the virus.

Stay healthy by washing hands often and staying home if sick. It is better to get rest than risk infecting others and prolonging the virus’ stay in the body.

Washing hands frequently can decrease the chances of contracting the flu. / Graphic by Jonathan Westcott

History of abortion in America

by Nina Lange Editorial Editor

The right to an abortion has always been a controversial issue in the U.S. Before America became a nation, common law in England allowed abortions before the fetus “quickened,” which meant when the mother first began feeling the baby move around in her belly.

However, laws concerning abortion in the U.S. did not exist until the 1800s.

Any abortions performed were secret, dangerous and often deadly. Even if the woman did survive, she often became infertile. In the 1880s, the states made abortion illegal until pressure to reform the laws grew in 1960s and 1970s.

There were great movements among the women’s groups of the U.S., as well as among doctors and lawyers, sparking a push to legalize abortion.

The women claimed they had no control over their reproductive bodies and had a right to choose.

In the 60s, an epidemic of the German measles and the anti-nausea drug thalidomide created a swell of birth defects in the nation, causing

4 • Oracle • February 22, 2019

women who didn’t want defected babies to push for legalized abortion.

Throughout this time, prolife groups pushed back, claiming that the baby had just as much right to life as the mother did to reproductive freedom.

In 1973, the fight was taken before the U.S. Supreme Court, becoming the famous Roe v. Wade abortion case. The Supreme Court legalized abortion across the nation up through the first trimester, leaving it up to the individual states to decide for the second and third trimester. This is where the three, 12-week trimesters were implemented.

Despite this seemingly ideal compromise for the pro-choice group, the issue has reappeared in the Supreme Court throughout the years.

Those in favor of pro-life have rallied against the decision of Roe v.

Wade and have tried to get the decision overturned. Even though states won’t ban abortion, there have been laws put into place to make it more difficult, such as the “physician’s gag law.” This

law requires doctors to describe the process of the abortion to the mother and perform an ultrasound. Other states require a parent signature for minors and a waiting period between the mother’s appointments, so she has time to think about her decision.

This month, the Virginia state legislature introduced a bill that would allow abortion up to the moment of birth. “[Even if the infant were to survive the abortion,] the infant would be kept comfortable. [And] the infant would be resuscitated if that’s what the mother and the family desired, and then a discussion would ensue,” said Governor Ralph Northam.

Just a week earlier, New York passed a law similar to Virginia. Pink lights were shown on the One World Trade Center as well as several other landmarks throughout the state to acknowledge the act. Governor Andrew Cuomo declared the passing of the bill to be “a historic victory for…our progressive values.”

Cuomo signed the “Reproductive

Healthcare Act,” which allows abortion up to 24 weeks and even to birth if the mother’s health is in danger; the act permits non-doctors to perform the abortion.

New Mexico, Massachusetts, Rhode Island and Washington are among the states that are following in the footsteps of New York and Virginia and revising their laws that limit abortion.

“We are sending a clear message that whatever happens in Washington, women in New York will always have the fundamental right to control their own body,” Cuomo said.

However, in a speech delivered to the U.S. Senate about allegations against Planned Parenthood, Senator James Lankford said, “Maybe we need to start again as a nation, asking a basic question. If that’s a child, and in our Declaration [of Independence] we said every person that we believe is endowed by our Creator to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness, maybe we need to ask as a nation again, do we really believe that?”

Gathering Place sticks to its roots How ORU students are combating the rise of depression and anxiety

by Chae Woon Yoo Print News Editor Once a land where wild buffalos roamed through native prairie grass, wild wolves hunted rabbits and graceful deer ate indigenous flowers and grass, Oklahoma is slowly returning to its untamed and beautiful roots with the help of environmentally-conscious places like Tulsa’s Gathering Place.

Though the land which was once home to the buffalos and prairie dogs has been milled and ground into foundations that now hold CityPlex, BOK and hundreds of coffee shops, the Gathering Place sets the stage for a comeback with a variety of wildlife and plants.

Gathering Place has always kept sustainability in mind. They preserved much of the existing trees during the construction process and underwent a replanting program to increase the presence of trees and plants throughout the park. They sought to restore the disrupted habitat and promote an increase of biodiversity.

The introduction of more than 100 different tree species and a meadow provides beauty and awe for visitors, and serves as a new habitat for local flora and fauna, encouraging different animal species to visit.

Through a competitive process, the Gathering Place selection committee chose Michael Van Valkenburgh Associates, a world-renowned firm that has designed numerous parks such as the Brooklyn Bridge Park and Allegheny Riverfront Park, to create the landscape design.

“Part of the reason this landscape architect was chosen was because of his wild design aesthetic and because of his focus toward sustainability and focus toward the natural look,” said Stacie Martin, the director of horticulture. “They have a very naturalistic aesthetic and liked the native areas of Oklahoma.”

The park practices its sustainable methods by using materials that are guaranteed to be durable and resilient, ensuring the park’s performance for years to come. Natural stone products that have been quarried from earth such as granite, marble, limestone and more, are used extensively throughout the park. Ash wood and pinewood have been thermally modified, a process that involves no harmful chemicals, and are used for bench slats, decking and light poles.

The park is also on an entirely automated LED lighting system, ensuring that energy is only being used where it is needed. The six million gallons of water in the park is continuously recycled through adjacent wetlands not only to conserve the water but also to cleanse it, eliminating the need for chemical treatments.

The 5,800 species of trees also help with reducing storm water runoff through their root systems and leaves as well as mitigating the heat in an urban area. The 16 acres of meadow and prairie mix help cut back on watering and mowing in the park.

Gathering Place’s goal is biodiversity, and they achieve it by taking advantage of Oklahoma’s natural diversity of ecosystems for different animals and plants.

“Different birds like different seeds from different plants and different butterflies like different nectar from different flowers,” said Martin.

Gathering Place is open everyday from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m., so check out their outlandish plants, watch for different animals and enjoy what is good for the soul and the earth.

The Gathering Place is Tulsa’s newest attraction, housing over 100 different pecies of plants. / Photo by Seth Roche

February 22, 2019 • Oracle • 5

Sex trafficking on the U.S. border

How thousands are trafficked every year and how Trump’s border wall could affect the statistics

by Nina Lange Editorial Editor Their office is the sidewalk under dimly lit streets. Their uniform is a short skirt and knee-high boots. Their product is sex.

Girls as young as 12 are sent to the streets to sleep with as many as 20 men a night for money. But the money isn’t for them; it’s for their pimps, or “johns,” as they are commonly called.

This form of slavery is not a concept of the past but an issue that generates an annual income of 150 billion dollars globally. There are no specific numbers on how many victims are currently in the U.S., but studies estimate nearly 20,000 men, women and children are added into the slave industry each year, making it the world’s fastest growing crime.

“What we know about sex crimes is that it’s not about sexual pleasure. It’s about control,” said Anique Whitmore, a forensic psychologist in Atlanta. “What is similar to some of those girls that I work with is their self-esteem or lack thereof. You either become vulnerable to a man on the street or a man you meet in school. You become vulnerable because you’re looking for attention.”

The pimps are good at what they do.

They are professionals at finding their targeted person and luring them with empty promises of a good job and a safe place to live. Whether they reach out through an ad on a website or approach runaways on the street, they know just what to say to ensnare victims.

“One young person said, ‘he was the first one to ever give me a birthday cake.’

They just know what the young person needs,” said Jayne Bigelson, director of anti-human trafficking initiatives at Covenant House. Stationed in New York City, it is one of

the largest shelters for at risk youths in America.

Shawna, who was lured into sex trafficking at the age of 14, said she remembers the day she couldn’t take it anymore. After 22 years in the industry, she was at a gas station waiting.

“I was so tired. I said, ‘If there is a God, save me.’ I walked back to the street and the police picked me up and took me to jail. I was so tired; I just couldn’t do it anymore. But I made it.”

The U.S. is one of the highest consumers of sex trafficking, as well as one of the richest countries in the world. Because of this, traffickers will transport victims across the border into America to take part of this lucrative industry. President Trump claims that building a wall will prevent the smuggling of victims into America.

“This really is an invasion of our country by human traffickers. These are people that are horrible people bringing in women mostly...bringing in women and children into our country,” Trump said. “We’re going to have a strong border. And the only way you have a strong border is you need a physical barrier. You need a wall.”

Timothy Ballard, founder and CEO of Operation Underground Railroad, worked as a special agent/ undercover operator for Homeland Security Investigations in the child trafficking unit for 12 years. For a decade, he was stationed at the Calexico,

California border.

“Based on my extensive experience fighting transnational crime along the southern border, I know that we should absolutely finish building the wall for the sake of the children,” he said. “Indeed, this is no peripheral issue—this alone should be front and center in our border and immigration debate.”

From Central America, Lililana was only 13-years-old when she was captured and smuggled across the border. She was taken to New York City where American men raped her up to 40 times per day. When she was taken across the border, there was no wall or border patrol to save her.

Liliana was stuck in the daily hell of being bought by men for sex for five years.

“We do these traffickers a great favor by leaving our border virtually wide open,” said Ballard.

If there had been a wall, Liliana’s traffickers would have had to go through a port of entry where a group of officers are stationed and she would have been saved, said Ballard.

“In fact, at about the same time that Liliana was trafficked, I was participating in the

rescue of a 5-year-old boy, whose trafficker had kidnapped him in Mexicali, Mexico, where there actually was a wall,” he added.

Officers used their training to spot the traffickers and rescue the little boy.

They were also able to identify that trafficking network and save many more children.

“Without a wall to protect her, Liliana didn’t get to enter America in a way that would have allowed her to experience the promises of the Statue of Liberty,” said Ballard. “Instead of breathing and living freely with a loving, American foster family, she found herself enslaved by American sex predators.”

Victim’s names have been changed for their safety.

Graphic by Alejandro Contreras

6 • Oracle • February 22, 2019

Tulsa’s newest coffee and tea shop DecoDrinks’s game-changing menu offers drinks and foods inspired by various cultures.

by Madeline Ewing Staff Writer The Tulsa community welcomed DecoDrinks to its coffee scene on Jan. 9 when it opened its doors to the public. Approximately five miles from the ORU campus, DecoDrinks features a wide variety of drinks including bubble tea, lattes, kombucha and nitro coffee on tap.

Alex Coffey, owner and tea sommelier, brings influences from all over the globe into DecoDrinks while embracing the “coffee shop charm” that Tulsa loves. Locally roasted coffees and international teas line the shelves at the front of the shop.

After experiencing the heavy tea

culture during a study abroad in China, an idea ignited in Coffey to bring the tea knowledge and tradition back to the states with him. He wasn’t satisfied with the limited drink menus of standard coffee shops, and thus took it upon himself to change the game.

“I like to bring global things together here,” said Coffey.

The shop’s inventory embraces Japanese sencha tea, Thai tea, matcha and horchata, showcasing the diversity Coffey was so intent on executing.

DecoDrinks offers dairy-alternative milks like oat milk, almond milk, soy milk and occasionally hemp milk.

Unlike most coffee shops, DecoDrinks does not charge extra for replacing

whole milk with one of these dairyfree options when ordering a drink.

A “millennial favorite” also graces the menu—avocado toast. Coffey takes this popular treat to the next level, serving the avocado toast with feta or goat cheese, tomato and seasonings to spice it up. To add some extra protein, order the “avocado & lox” toast, which comes with salmon, or top off the original avocado toast with a poached egg for an extra dollar.

For the health nuts, DecoDrinks serves turmeric, beet and wheatgrass lattes. These drinks are coffee and tea-free and can also be made with non-dairy milks.

The DecoDrinks interior is a

modern and minimalist coffee shop, with flat simplistic surfaces and outlets sported at every table along the walllength booth. Coffey attained some inspiration for the design and menu from well-known coastal coffee shops, observing their Instagram activity and incorporating what appeals to him.

Coffey often experiments with drinks and recipes in his free time, perfecting the concoctions before his guests can have a taste. As the year goes on, visitors can expect to try new menu items from DecoDrinks.

DecoDrinks offers everything from bobba tea to lattes to avocado toast.

Photos by Camden Swan and Madeline Ewing

February 22, 2019 • Oracle • 7

How to study like a professor Professors offer practical tips for improving study habits

by Hannah Nelson Staff Writer “It is a mistake to think that the practice of my art has become easy to me. I assure you, dear friend, no one has given so much care to the study of composition as I. There is scarcely a famous master in music whose works I have not frequently and diligently studied” - Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart.

Growing in knowledge and skill isn’t easy. Even Mozart admitted his genius required hard work, dedication and discipline. However, as college students, learning the art of studying correctly can help us to lighten our course load. I interviewed some professors on their college experiences and they gave the following tips on how to study well: 1. Know how you learn.

“When I knew I was visual and kinesthetic, I could approach how I studied better,” said Christina WoodrowSchneider, assistant professor of dance at ORU. She explains that whether you are an auditory, visual or kinesthetic learner, it is important to know how you learn so you can use study methods helpful to you.

“When I studied French, I had a hard time keeping track of the notes in my notebook, so I ripped them all out and taped them in visual order on my wall,” she said.

When she wrote a research paper, she would compile her research and writings into a word document and then, print it out, lay it out on the floor and color code the topics, cutting out pieces and moving them around.

“I knew I had to see the paper like a big canvas. It helped me to spread it all out,” admitted Woodrow.

2. Take notes and review them daily.

Woodrow added that taking notes is important— especially for those in the performing arts.

“I would always bring a notebook to class. I would keep it at the ballet bar and jot down any notes I got on habits I had. Teachers would just fire things out

8 • Oracle • February 22, 2019

and I couldn’t remember them all,” she said. “It’s important to keep a journal of your process and rehearsal and in class, whether that is dance or theater, because it is almost impossible in the moment when you are working on choreography to remember all the notes you are going to get.

“It takes 10 minutes to go over the notes in class that day, and you are closest to the material right after you’ve left class. If you wait, then try to go back and review, the cementing of that material is not going to be as effective,” she said.

Small bits daily are a whole lot more helpful than trying to cram it all in the night before.

3. Read deeply and let your writing sleep.

Students should take the time to read their texts, recommended Rhonda Gallagher, assistant professor of communication, arts and media.

She explained that a lot of students skim the text instead of reading it and there is a world of a difference between those two things, s.

“I would recommend for a close reading. It is a good idea to look over material beforehand. For content, I read with a highlighter in my hand or a pen,” Gallagher said.

She highlights individual sections and impact points and writes questions and comments in the

margins for an interactive learning experience.

“It helps me to see how all the pieces relate,” said Gallagher.

For writing, Gallagher also said it is important to finish writing a paper a couple of days in advance.

“If the paper is due by Thursday, you need to have it written by Tuesday. You need to let it sleep,” said Gallagher.

Writing in advance allows you to look over the paper multiple times before you turn it in and catch the things you missed, said Gallagher.

“If [an assignment] sneaks up on you, you’re always playing catch up. You’re always running from the boulder and never giving it your best effort,” said Gallagher.

4. Find the joy in what you do Lastly, professors agree it is important for students to find the joy in their work.

Dr. Chancey Bosch, assistant professor of curriculum and instruction, explained that it is possible to have fun while working. For him, the people that he worked with in college ended up being the same people he had fun with.

“That’s what I think is kind of interesting—I didn’t have to create social time and academic time. I don’t think they are as separated as we think. I was always having fun,” said Bosch.

Woodrow also added that though there should be limits to how much time we invest in fun, we should find the joy in everything we do.

“If we believe everything is an act of worship, then in the same way we believe the Holy Spirit is present with us in our worship in chapel, we should acknowledge that the Holy Spirit is with us even in our studies,” Woodrow said.

To find your learning style, visit the Institute for Learning Styles Research website and take the Perceptual Modality Preference survey.

Illustration by Jonathan Westcott

Book Review: “Conspiracy”

by Olusiji Oluloto Staff Writer

“Conspiracy” is an intriguing and true story of a battle among a billionaire, a pro wrestler and a news media company. The book was written by media strategist and author Ryan Holiday.

The story begins in 2007, when Gawker Media created a potent nemesis after one of its writers outed the billionaire and co-founder of PayPal, Peter Thiel, as gay. Nick Denton, founder of Gawker Media, argued that Thiel was paranoid about his sexual orientation being discovered. It was a secret that only Theil’s friends and family knew, and Denton hated the idea of “open secrets.” He wanted all secrets exposed for the whole world to see.

Gawker Media was well-known for publishing things that most media sites were scared of publishing. They

published almost everything they gathered and made a lot of money doing it. They lacked standards and decency. The company exposed the lives of celebrities, politicians, athletes and other non-public figures.

The job of Gawker Media’s writers was to publish what they believed was true and what they believed the public wanted to read, irrespective of the choice or feelings of those exposed. And most of the people exposed did not have the will or resources to go against the media outlet in the public court.

Thiel became concerned about the power of Gawker which he saw as a threat to privacy and society as a whole, so he began contemplating how he could take down the company. In 2011, a 26-year-old student named Mr. A, whose identity is hidden throughout the book, approached Thiel, stating that he should establish “a shell company

to hire former investigative reporters and lawyers to find causes of action against Gawker.” The plan would cost $10 million with a three to five-year timeline. Thiel agreed, and Mr. A began hiring lawyers and conducting research and investigations on Gawker Media.

In 2012, Gawker Media decided to publish a sex tape involving the pro wrestler Hulk Hogan and his former best friend’s wife without his consent.

Hogan’s lawyer contacted Gawker Media to take it down, but they refused. Hogan decided to take them to court. This provided Thiel and his team the perfect opportunity.

Gawker Media could not hide behind the shield of “freedom of the press” because they violated Hogan’s right to privacy. The video was recorded without his knowledge. Charles Harder, Mr. A’s lawyer, contacted Hogan’s lawyer, telling him that they will provide

resources to help him win the case. Due to Gawker Media’s lack of preparation, lack of empathy, overconfidence and hubris, they lost to Hulk Hogan.

Gawker Media was fined $140 million and had to declare bankruptcy.

What makes this conspiracy interesting is that no one knew Peter Thiel was bankrolling the case, except for Mr. A. However, due to the conspirators’ lack of discretion, Thiel was revealed as the mastermind behind the fall of Gawker Media.

“Conspiracy” was a gripping page-turner. The only problem I had with the book was that Holiday kept referencing historical stories and quotes of other people, which was distracting from the main story. When people hear the word ‘conspiracy,’ they often think of fake conspiracy theories, but true conspiracies happen frequently, as shown in this book.

C ON S P I R AC Y 03/31/2019.

February 22, 2019 • Oracle • 9

The grass isn’t greener on the sidelines How the NFL has destroyed cheerleading and neglected their biggest fans

by Cicely Rubottom Editor-in-Chief

Cheerleading is a longtime controversial sport—or is it a sport?

That’s another controversy. In fact, it is so contested that six teams in the NFL refuse to have a cheerleading squad.

The Buffalo Bills suspended their team after a 2014 lawsuit alleging lowerthan-minimum-wage earnings. The Cleveland Browns said it’s too cold for a squad up in Ohio, and wearing warm enough coats looked “ridiculous.” They were disbanded by the early 70’s. And as for the Green Bay Packers, Chicago Bears, New York Giants and Pittsburgh Steelers, modern cheerleaders simply don’t fit their philosophy.

“We have always had issues with sending scantily clad women out on the field to entertain our fans,” said John Mara, Giants co-owner, to the New York Times.

But it wasn’t always that way. Before the 1940’s, cheerleading was maledominated and referred to as “yell squads.” The men pridefully led the crowd in cheers and incorporated in some gymnastics and stunts—though, not nearly to the same extent as cheerleading does today.

It wasn’t female-dominated until young men were shipped off during World War II. And by 1948, the National Cheerleading Association (NCA) was founded to establish training camps and better educate cheerleaders on the craft.

But somewhere along the way, it lost its integrity. What was once a well-respected role is now a seeminglypompous clan of girls in short shorts and low tops. But does that mean the craft of cheerleading is tainted or is it simply the way the NFL sees and treats it?

Brittney Pauls, captain of the Oral Roberts University cheer squad, was a competitive gymnast for 14 years before joining the college cheer team. Pauls spent more than a decade developing

10 • Oracle • February 22, 2019

physical agility and coordination— even competing for USA Gymnastics.

She was an athlete turned collegiate cheerleader. But the NFL, the next level of cheerleading, isn’t something she would consider.

“College cheer is more about the stunts and flips and NFL cheerleading is more dance and ‘show girl’ based,” explained Pauls. “NFL cheerleading doesn’t quite fit my personality, as I would rather be flipping than dancing. I applaud NFL cheerleaders though; they are beautiful and extremely talented.”

It seems that once cheerleading reaches the national level, the fingerprints of the NFL leave it riddled with lawsuits and cases of abuse.

Once these athletes began being overly sexualized in the NFL, the organization’s respect for the athletes became a needle in the money stack.

The NFL treats their cheerleaders like models, but expects them to perform with the intensity of athletes. In 1960, the most prestigious cheerleader organization in the NFL, the Dallas Cowboy Cheerleaders, even tried hiring professional models for the sidelines— since that’s all they were, right?

“It was a disaster,” said the Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders on their website. “The models were beautiful, but they were not athletes.”

Hannah Turnbow, former Houston Texans cheerleader, trained for 14 years in competitive dance before joining the league. Practice is three times a week, she explained, unless they called for an extra practice day. Workouts with trainers are twice a week. They are required to make an appearance at 50 events (parties, meet & greets, etc.), increasing hours on certain weeks. And no cheerleader is allowed to be just a cheerleader—all must also be employed elsewhere or be a student. They are expected to meet the demanding, time-consuming requirements and ideal weight, yet they’re still treated like eye candy and

paid like it too.

Houston Texans Cheerleaders are paid minimum wage—about $300 a game—while 2018 NFL football-player rookies earn the league minimum base salary of $480,000 a season. The multibillion-dollar industry doesn’t consider the cheerleaders financially equivalent to the football players.

But sure, it’s unrealistic to pay athletes on the sidelines that don’t compete and only cheer—such as team mascots—the same salary. Yet, NFL mascots make around $60,000 a year. At that rate, an NFL mascot earns on average 17 times more than the highest-paid league cheerleader.

On June 1, 2018, Turnbow filed a lawsuit against the Houston Texans claiming they violated federal labor laws and minimum-wage regulations.

She was accompanied by five other plaintiffs—all former Houston Texans cheerleaders—including Kelly Neuner.

“My main goal was for change,” said Neuner. “The coach getting let go was a huge victory for us. More than any settlement could have ever provided. It was never about

settlement money. It was about the fact they put glitz and glamour on something that actually wasn’t how they advertised at all and they paid you peanuts if and when t h e y decided you were entitled to be paid.”

Additionally, cheerleaders do far more than just cheer on the field. After all, it is a full-time job with part-time pay, the teams claim. The women also attend signings and special events— which they may or may not be paid for—and pose for annual swimsuit calender shoots.

There are a dozen other cases of alleged sexual harassment and workplace abuse cases from cheerleaders in the NFL. Turnbow and Neuner’s case from 2018 was dismissed within a month and the cheerleaders decided to submit their complaints to binding arbitration.

So why join NFL cheerleading?

“I can’t speak on anyone’s experience but my own,” explained Turnbow. “But if I had to guess, I would say the only reason I would stay is for the love of performing and role we play in the community.”

When the prestige and athleticism of cheerleading is ignored by its organizers, the NFL has proved that it cannot continue to stand on a foundation of sexual stimulation for male watchers and followers, who have more respect for men in the middle of the field than female athletes on the sidelines.

For all the young girls that are just beginning their first of 14 years falling in love with the sport that, at the highest level, will give her long hours, little to no pay and an increased opportunity to be sexually harassed, reform it or end it.

An easy, authentic, Mexican recipe

by Lauren Brewington Staff Writer In America, the melting pot of the world, people come across different backgrounds and cultures daily. This melting pot is usually signified with food.

America integrates Chinese, Mexican, Thai, Italian, Jamaican and other cultural restaurants for the comfort of internationals and the expansion of the American mind.

However, the attempt to recreate these nonAmerican recipes can sometimes fall short.

“It’s not that it tastes bad; it just doesn’t taste like home,” stated Ariadne Porras, ORU international student from Mexico. “I feel the reason is because they don’t have access to those ingredients that make the recipe taste the way it’s supposed to.”

Porras is currently a junior majoring in dance at ORU. One of her favorite things about going home for break is the authentic Mexican food her mother cooks. Porras jotted down a cheap and quick recipe her mother experimented with while she was in college.

Porras’s mother went to college from 1984 to 1987

and studied social work. However, she did not have the most money and had to stick to a strict budget.

She had the brilliant idea to make a “nice” and cheap meal.

She adapted an original Mexican recipe called Enfrijoladas. The recipe is below.

Recipe: Fry corn tortillas (handmade by Esquer) Put frijoles refritos (refried beans) inside the tortilla Fold the tortilla in half Put cheese inside (called panela) Optional: add avocado and salsa casera If there is a student on a budget and wanting a meal other than saga, they can make this simple cheap recipe in their dorm.

The recipe is great for a Saturday or Sunday dinner or whenever you want something ethnic and quick to make. Porras mentioned that her mom still cooks Enfrijoladas to this day.

“For Mexican food, it’s not just the recipe that makes the food,” shared Porras. “It’s the one who makes it and what you put in it, the little secrets that each family has for those traditional dishes.”

Junior Sarah Bonham celebrates different cultures and foods at ORU’s annual Culture Fest. /Photo by Gabriel Jaggernauth

Book Review: “The Hate U Give”

by Alejandro Contreras Production Design Editor

“The Hate U Give” was debuted at the top of The New York Times YA best sellers list. It was recognized as Best Debut Book for Teens, Best Novel by an African American Author for Children, Best Novel for Teens, among others. /Photo by Alejandro Contreras

“The Hate U Give” by Angie Thomas is a young adult novel inspired by the Black Lives Matter movement.

The book follows 16-year-old Starr Carter who witnesses the murder of her childhood best friend by a white police officer.

Throughout the book, Starr struggles with the duality of her life: she lives in a poor, predominantly black neighborhood while attending a private school comprised of mostly white students. After her friend’s murder, Starr begins to figure out who she really is and who her real friends are.

Published on Feb. 24, 2017, “The Hate U Give” received six recognitions and awards in 2018.

Fox 2000 also optioned the book for a film adaptation in March 2016 before the book was released.

When the book hit the shelves, it generated so much hype that I lost any

interest in reading it. Everyone talked about it and rated it five stars out of five stars. I found it deserved every one of those stars.

By chapter one, I was already attached to the main character and to the story. In chapter two, I was crying like a baby. This book took me by surprise, deserving all of the hype it had received.

The writing made me feel like I was living everything Starr was living. I could not completely relate to the story, because I have never witnessed anything as drastic as an unfair murder.

Yet “The Hate U Give” made me feel something new and different.

Starr’s story put me in the shoes of someone who is experiencing extreme discrimination and racism.

Thomas taught me one of the best lessons someone could offer when she said, “Don’t let them put words in your mouth. God gave you a brain; you don’t need theirs.”

February 22, 2019 • Oracle • 11

People of ORU: Bertrand Ishimwe From chickens to people, Bertrand strives to help those who cannot help themselves.

Photo by Sterling Zoe Rubbottom

by Sterling Zoe Rubottom Digital Media Editor As the sun beats down on his neck, a 15-yearold boy kneels in the dirt road, tossing flakes of macaroni shells and dried potato chunks to a flock of squealing chickens. Darkness floods over his back and he turns, squinting into the sunlight at a tall shadow of a man. “Bertrand, why do you buy food for the chickens, but not food for yourself?”

Bertrand Ishimwe, a 24-year-old freshman at ORU, is the founder and CEO of a global 501c3 nonprofit organization that helps Rwandan mothers and children work toward a better life.

He was born in Kigali, Rwanda on Aug. 18, 1994, during the Rwandan Genocide. His family sought refuge in the Congo to escape the massacres, and when they returned, their relatives had been killed, and everything was destroyed.

They had to start from zero.

Bertrand’s three older brothers slept on the dusty streets of their busy city while the other 10 members of his family lived in a small, one-bedroom hut made of flat thatches and baked-mud bricks.

“My parents slept with my little sister in the room with dishes and everything,” said Bertrand. “Then the seven of us slept on the ground. We would make beds in the living room.”

One day, as 12-year-old Bertrand was heading home from his shift at the art gallery, it began storming, so he ran home quickly to change into dry clothes. When he got home, the water was waist deep in the house and the roof was being torn off by the ripping wind.

“My mom was crying. Everyone was trying to fix things,” said Bertrand. “The storm came and took it all—everything we had. That was one of my saddest times.”

Again, they had to start from zero.

Bertrand was a bright student in primary school and was invited into an upper-level high school, but his family was unable to pay the school fees. Instead, Bertrand’s father put him to work feeding the chickens to be sold. Every evening around 7 p.m., Bertrand would walk around the neighborhood to local restaurants asking for their leftover food to give to the chickens, but he did not have enough for himself. He sometimes went days without food.

12 • Oracle • February 22, 2019

As Bertrand was feeding the flock one day, a British man approached him and opened conversation. He began asking Bertrand about his life, family, passions and dreams.

“When I was young, I had two dreams,” said Bertrand. “One was to one day wear a suit. And another one was to go to one of the best schools in Rwanda.”

The British man told him he was going to help him go back to school as long as he worked hard and stayed in the top rankings of his class. He then gave him two bananas and 2,000 Rwandan francs for his family.

A hopeful opportunity, Bertrand worked hard at Apaper Secondary School, earning the “1st performer” ranking and Class Monitor title for all three years he attended.

“I was the best class president, too,” said Bertrand.

“The British man was very happy with me.”

The British man became a mentor to him, as Bertrand would visit his house on the weekends. He taught him English, took him to fancy restaurants and bought everything he needed for his studies.

When Bertrand was in his third year of high school, the British man bought him a suit so he could attend the man’s wedding. It was his first dream come true.

They lost most contact after the British man moved away to Uganda, but Bertrand continued striving for his education.

At 17 years old, his second dream to attend “one of the best schools in Rwanda,” Lycee De Kigali, seemed ridiculous to his classmates and teachers. His headmaster tried to convince him to stay by offering him scholarships and paying for his fees and even said they would not welcome him back into their school if he was not accepted into Lycee de Kigali.

His mother told him he would have to live on the streets if he took the risk and wasn’t accepted.

“Okay,” said Bertrand. “I’m going.”

When he stepped into the building, the headmaster looked him up and down from across the hall and told him to leave. Bertrand persisted and gave the man his national examination results. The headmaster looked the results up and down, and welcomed Bertrand into the school of his dreams.

Bertrand studied at Lycee De Kigali for about three years, selling his artwork to pay for his education. He became the art director of the gallery where he sold paintings, and even opened a gallery with his brother Pacifique called Niyo Arts Center.

“Every time I went to school, I would pass by children who were living the same kind of lifestyle,” said Bertrand. “On the streets. Naked.

Hungry. It was horrible to see them.”

Now financially stable, living on his own and supporting his family, he decided to start paying for other children’s education, just like the British man had done for him.

He started out funding three children, but with the help of his colleagues, they began to sponsor the primary education of 49 Rwandan children.

“We drink 3 cups of coffee—if we could drink only one and put that money together to help those children, we could change their lives,” said Bertrand.

Bertrand had connections in Mexico and the U.S. from selling his artwork, so the news spread quickly about sponsoring children. As the number continued to grow, Bertrand realized that he wanted to foster an independent lifestyle, by starting to help the single mothers have a way to provide for their children.

He started the Irembo Foundation, or “Gateway” foundation, which helped Rwandan mothers and children through several different programs, including the Education Sponsorship Program (ESP) and Mama Rwanda Sewing Program (MWSP), the latter of which was a 10-month program teaching mothers sewing skills so they could have a livelihood to provide for their families. In the beginning, the Irembo Foundation was about 65% funded by his artwork. Later on, he founded the 3-room Mama Rwanda Hostel to raise funds for the foundation, and

sponsorships began spreading around the globe from Poland to Spain, Norway to the U.S. “I want God’s name to be glorified. I want the organization to be for the people and live for generations and make change even when I’m not still here,” said Bertrand.

A persistent learner, Bertrand decided to further his education in the U.S. once his organization was up and running.

“It was my dream to come study here in the U.S., where I could meet different people from different backgrounds, so that I can learn something from them that I can go back and apply in my country,” said Bertrand.

While browsing online, he came across Oral Roberts University and immediately knew it was where he belonged. He applied in 2018 and started school in the fall, studying International Relations.

“When you come in this environment, you feel God’s love,” said Bertrand. “You get repurposed to God’s way.”

Through video conference calls in between class, Bertrand continues to manage his nonprofit organization, hoping to continue expanding through the uttermost bounds of the earth.

“I will keep studying. I’d like to acquire as much knowledge as I can,” said Bertrand. “I see myself using the knowledge to serve God’s purpose in my life.”

Now, he reflects on his early years striving for an education.

“Every time I told someone I wanted to go to school, they’d be like ‘Bertrand, you can’t. Look at your family, look at where you were born, look at your circumstances.’ But my dad said, ‘Be patient. God will make you a way so you can go to school again,’” said Bertrand. “So I kept taking care of the chickens.”

Photo provided by Bertrand Ishimwe

February 22, 2019 • Oracle • 13

Gain the full scope of nature

How to get started in one of America’s oldest hobbies

by Miqueas Barreiro Staff Writer In need of a new hobby that can provide a healthy, green food source? Want to spend more of your time in the outdoors with like-minded nature lovers? Well then, have we got a show for you.

Jake Ethington, International business major and hunting aficionado, gave several reasons to pick up the sport of hunting.

“Fresh game meat is vastly superior for health.

It has lower calories, less fat, more nutrients and no hormones or other artificial components,” he said. “It’s way better than even the organic stuff found in the store. I always feel really good after eating game meat.”

Ethington also pointed out that hunting is “fun socially and helps you stay active from hiking. It’s really fun to discover new places and explore.” For him, the experience is a great stress relief away from technology and gives him a reason to be out in nature.

So once you decide to give hunting a try, how do you get started? Ethington’s first tip is to talk to the people in the know.

“Going into the fish and wildlife services, forestry office, department of wildlife conservation or fish and game offices are good,” he said. “They’re usually not busy and will talk with you about whatever you want to know.”

For those hunting in Oklahoma, Ethington recommended the Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation website for information on hunting seasons, access to public land and state regulations. Government websites are also a great way to find out about hunting licenses and safety classes.

Oklahoma native Frank Babb, who has been hunting for more than 40 years, also recommended getting involved in the local hunting community.

“Attend a seminar hosted by the Duck Alliance, Elk Foundation, or Bass Pro,” Babb recommended.

More than that, however, Babb believes that “young men and women who are interested in hunting should find an individual who has a lot of

experience in hunting and ask them for guidance and glean from the experience that has been gathered over the years.”

Of course once you are ready to hit the hunting grounds, you are going to need some gear. The first tool you’ll need is either a gun or bow. These can be expensive but can be worth the high price.

According to Ethington the meat gain from hunting can quickly offset the cost, and Babb pointed out that he has used the same shotgun since he was 18, making it a worthwhile investment. The type of gun or bow will depend on the animal you are hunting and state and local regulations.

Becoming familiar with your chosen tool, practicing with it, and making sure it is sighted before your trip is also crucial to a successful hunt.

One mistake newbies often make is not bringing gear like knives, binoculars, or bullets or not dressing for the weather. Babb recommended not only checking the weather conditions and environment before the trip but also documenting it afterward.

“I truly believe in having a diary and writing down the weather, the visibility conditions and the way the animals are moving,” he said. “That way you can fall back on it if the conditions are the same and you can establish a baseline of knowledge.”

Keeping a hunting log also provides you with a reminder of all your hunts and allows you to pass on your experience to the next generation, something that is important to Babb and the hunting community.

But the key to finding a happy hunting ground is patience.

“Most hunts aren’t successful, and if someone doesn’t have the tolerance or temperament to be okay with that, it can be disappointing.”

Even though he has been hunting since he was ten, Babb is still is eager to learn and encourages others to do the same.

“Never be afraid to ask questions,” he said. “Keep an open mind for new ideas and new concepts.”

First tip: talk to people in the know

14 • Oracle • February 22, 2019

Hunting is a great way to spend more time outdoors / Photo provided by Alex Schmitz

H s

High school shot clocks: weighing in Why the high school game should implement shot clocks

by Hillary Hurst Sports Editor 5…4...3...2...1... Your favorite player flails and launches up a wild three point shot to beat the buzzer. “Why did they do that?,” you might ask. “It wasn’t the end of the game. So, what was that buzzer for?” That, my friend, was the shot clock. The shot clock gives each team a certain number of seconds per possession to shoot the ball or suffer a turnover.

It also resets to the designated number of seconds per possession if the ball touches the rim.

The implementation of the shot clock in high school basketball is a highly debated subject. While the college and professional game has them, high schools have yet to adopt the shot clock as a part of the game.

Currently only eight states including California, Maryland, Massachusetts, New York, North Dakota, South Dakota and Washington make use of the shot clock in high school games. This demonstrates that the argument against the proposed change is persuasive to many people. However, since these states have chosen to allow a shot clock, they have no voice on the National Federation of State High School Associations Basketball Rules.

Now, let’s talk about the rules. While choosing to utilize a shot clock may prove to be financially challenging and will require schools to staff more personnel to operate the clock, this rule change is absolutely necessary for high school basketball across the nation. Other contentions against the clock include “the game is good as is” and the idea that adding a shot clock takes away valuable strategy from some coaches to slow the ball down to match up with faster, more aggressive opponents.

But my question is, “Are opponents of shot clock

implementation convinced high school coaches are incapable of adjusting to a new rule?” After all, basketball is a game of adjustments. During the game, a coach must be able to switch up the game plan entirely or run different offensive plays against different defenses the opponent may run without prior planning.

While anti-shot clock proponents claim the strategy change for high school coaches would prove troublesome, the necessity required for strategy changes in high-pressure, in-game situations is something high school coaches already face. Plus, this change wouldn’t be in the moment; coaches would have months to prepare in advance and create strategies. There are an unlimited amount of strategic adjustments teams can make to combat faster, more aggressive teams without leaning on the shot clock as a crutch.

As far as the argument “the game is good as it is,” I do agree. Basketball is the most beautiful, perfectly poetic, greatest game on the planet.

However, the high school game is simply not as great as it could be and would be much improved by adding a shot clock.

The current no-shot clock rule allows for teams, coaches and players to stall, or refuse to shoot the basketball for minutes on end to waste time so long

as they maintain possession and avoid turnovers.

This means slower, more boring games where teams essentially end up playing keep away instead of actually playing basketball. While some see stalling as a great strategy, it is disrespectful to the game of basketball. It allows for the winner of a 5 vs. 5 monkey-in-the-middle game the possibility of being the winner of the basketball game, rather than the winner being determined more purely on skill and efficiency, the ability to execute when it matters most.

Adding a shot clock to the high school game would be one of the most progressive, positive changes the level has seen in years. It would result in teams formulating smarter game plans to combat opponents instead of being able to cop-out and play keep away. It would also result in a cleaner, more entertaining and competitive game overall because players would be required to develop their skills more fully on both ends of the court to win.

Plain and simple: high school basketball needs the shot clock, and the shot clock needs high school basketball.

While college and professional basketball teams use shot clocks, highschool teams still do not.

Photo by David Ropotusin Illustration by Jonathan Westcott

February 22, 2019 • Oracle • 15

When the injury takes the game away

by Miqueas Barreiro Staff Writer

I don’t know if everyone has a moment when they know it’s over, but I did. The exact moment is branded into my memory, replaying with familiar cadence. Shreveport, Louisiana. July of 2015. 200meter freestyle. I knew.

Four months earlier, I had hyper-extended my shoulder swimming butterfly with a resistance band attached to the dive block. Already sore from lifting weights the day before, it took me a while to realize what had happened. Although, if we are being honest, I didn’t realize what really happened until Shreveport.

Over those four months, I had an MRI, several doctor’s opinions and tons of physical therapy. But on the last lap of the 200-free, when every lap hurt

worse than before, I realized this was the end. I still did therapy, and I told my coach and team I was coming back, but I knew the truth.

I spent a lot of time angry. I had plenty of targets after all. The weight lifting workout, for leaving me vulnerable to injury. The assistant coach, for giving me the work out that started it all. The doctor, for telling me it was fine to start swimming before I was 100 percent and causing me to re-injure my shoulder. Myself, for not being able to “athlete” my way through the injury. God, for taking away the one thing I loved.

My teammates tried to understand and comfort me, but I still felt alone, especially as they began to achieve the goals we had set together. Many times I watched from the bleachers as my friends raced their hearts out, torn inside that I couldn’t be one of them.

Slowly, the team-bond that we felt disappeared.

It’s been four years since Shreveport. My shoulders still give me trouble, and I can hardly sprint the length of the AC pool. I only keep up with one or two of my old teammates.

I miss it. I really do. The rush of the water over my back. The power of my muscles as I flip-turn on the walls. The feeling of strength and majesty as I soar down the lane.

Nothing I have done since quite fills that gap in my life. But every time the ache in my shoulders matches the one in my heart, I take a moment to enjoy the memory of what I once had, and then stretch my physical and emotional muscles until the pain stops and I can keep running.

After all, being an athlete isn’t about the sport, it’s about the attitude. And no injury can take that away.

During his time swimming for Jenks, Barreiro won several awards including “Rookie of the Year” and qualified for All-Stars with the Riverwalk Gators. /Photos provided by Miqueas Barreiro

How Common Are Athlete Injuries?

According to a study published by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, between the 2009-2010 and 2013-2014 school years there was an average estimated 76,176 injuries among the top 25 NCAA sports. In total, 1,053,370 injuries occurred over that five-year period. These injuries were all self-reported by the athletes and trainers.

Among men’s sports, football had the highest number of injuries (47,199) and among women’s sports, soccer scored the highest (15,113). The study also examines the relationship between number of injuries and the number of athletes that participate in the sport, as well as the number of “athleteexposures,” or times that an athlete could be injured.

For example, since men’s football has more practices, games and participants than men’s soccer, there are an estimated 5,154,055 athlete-exposures in football compared to the 1,684,854 athlete-exposures

16 • Oracle • February 22, 2019

in men’s soccer.

So what do all these numbers and statistic-talk mean for the average student-athlete? Well, the first lesson is picking swimming or diving just because it has an injury rate of between 1.7 and 1.8 per 1,000 athlete-exposures doesn’t mean you won’t get hurt. It just means that you aren’t as likely to be injured as, say, a football player, who has a 9.5 in 1,000 chance.

Also, while this study does look at the difference between injuries requiring less than seven days to recover and injuries lasting seven or more days before recovery, it does not look at the number of repeat injuries or career-ending injuries. Most physical therapists will tell you that once you injure a part of your body, reinjury or increased injury is far more likely. Also, we can all agree that a career-ending injuries, while it does eliminate your exposure to other injuries, are much worse than a simple sprain causing you to sit out for a week.

In the end, it’s simple. The more you train, the more strain you put on your body and the more likely you will injure yourself. Student athletes, along with anyone who participates in physical activity, should pay closes attention to their bodies as they train and exercise. Reporting serious discomfort or unusual pain to their trainer or doctor can go a long way to preventing a serious injury in the future. Spending time stretching or doing physical therapy-type workouts to build and stabilize muscles can also help.

However, the most important lesson to remember is injuries are common and can happen to anyone.

Participating in a sport, especially at a high level, is a gift, and every aspect of it should be enjoyed, because no one ever knows when it can be taken away.

by Hillary Hurst Sports Editor Basketball was always a dream for me. I had dreams of winning a state championship, dreams of playing D-1 basketball, and I was fortunate enough for those to come true. But, what started as my wildest dream ended in a nightmare. Entering into my sophomore season here at ORU, I tore my first ACL in September of 2017. I was absolutely devastated by the injury. Although I had teammates and coaches and athletic trainers who cared deeply for me, tearing my ACL was an extremely isolating experience. Nevertheless, I vowed to come back to my game stronger than ever and devoted myself fully to rehabilitation—both mentally and physically.

Just as I was beginning to make a comeback, I tore my second ACL in February of 2018, exactly five months after having the first ACL repaired.

Consequently, I found out it was torn on Valentine’s

The Effects Of Being An Injured Athlete Being injured as an athlete has incredible implications for that person, as he or she may face serious depression in the absence of their sport. As unfortunate as it is, injuries are part of sports, and all athletes recognize that from a young age. A sprained ankle here or there, a couple of jammed fingers are no big deal, but if an athlete sustains a serious or career-ending injury, he or she can have an intense psychological reaction, triggering many mental health issues such as depression, anxiety, eating disorders and substance abuse.

According to the NCAA, normal emotional responses to injuries include sadness, isolation, irritation, lack of motivation, anger, frustration, changes in appetite, sleep disturbance and disengagement. The way each athlete responds is different, making it impossible to determine how emotionally affected they will be to the injury.

For many athletes, post-injury depression is caused by a perceived performance failure, feelings like they have let the team down or a decrease in their quality of life. Remember, especially as the level increases, many athletes have played their sport their entire life. Such a drastic change in daily activities caused by injuries can cause a sort of identity crisis in many athletes. In extreme cases, suicide can result.

Therefore, it is very important that coaches, athletic trainers, and weight trainers are aware and attentive to not only the physical recovery and health of an injured athlete, but the mental health as well.

Day, which seemed fitting to me because I love the game so much. As devastating as the first tear was, this one managed to be even more so. The heartbreak was real, and I found myself stuck in confusion, anger and grief as I wrestled with the reality of more time on the sidelines.

My entire life, I was the one in the game and to be out of the game not once, but twice, was excruciating.

However, I continued to persevere and rehabilitation all over again, but the second time was different. I was aware of the way my mind had deteriorated over the past six months, and I was especially aware of the way my body had deteriorated. It became clear to me that the game

I had always loved would never look the same way it did pre-injury.

After carefully considering the toll on my physical and mental health, I had to make the decision to say goodbye to my game, my one true love, and that is the hardest thing I have ever had to do.

Life after basketball still doesn’t make much sense and the heartache will linger for quite some time, I’m sure.

I miss the adrenaline. I miss the high fives.

I miss the teamwork. I miss the bus rides. I miss the blood, sweat and tears—the price of admission to play the most beautiful game in the world, and I always will. Dear basketball, I will always love you.

“The game I had always loved would never look the same way it did pre-injury.”

How To Cope Sustaining a sports injury or even a career-ending sports injury can clearly be devastating. With this awareness, it is important to provide athletes with tips on how to achieve happiness after sports.

One way athletes can do this is by taking the skills they have learned as an athlete, hard work, determination and commitment, and challenging themselves in a completely new arena. This new arena could be a job at a corporation, starting a nonprofit organization or becoming a coach. Whatever the athlete chooses, it is helpful for he or she to accept a brand new challenge and apply the same lessons they’ve learned their entire life to be able to succeed.

Another way to cope is for the athlete to take time to discover what their passions maybe are outside of sports. After playing sports for a lifetime, this answer will likely take some serious searching. If the athlete can find an outside passion, they will have an outlet for the same commitment and dedication they poured into their sports.

Whatever the reason, injury, illness or simply a career coming to an end, life after sports can be challenging for many. If you fall into this category, know you are not alone and take time to rediscover what makes you feel alive.

Hurst has played basketball since she was six, going on to score more than 2,000 points in her highschool career and winning multiple awards, including MVP of a tournament. /Photos by Miqueas Barreiro and provided by Hillary Hurst

February 22, 2019 • Oracle • 17

Queen’s underrated songwriter

An argument for Brian May, who may be the most talented member of the band Queen

Faith Wilson Online News Editor The band Queen is an icon in music culture. With catchy songs like “We Are the Champions” and inspiring songs like “Bohemian Rhapsody,” it’s easy to see why Queen stays relevant even to new fans. On Spotify, the band ranks as the 26th most listened to artist in the world with an average of 32.5 million monthly listeners.

2018 even spawned a movie, “Bohemian Rhapsody,” primarily based on Freddie Mercury’s life.

However, the other members of the band are often overlooked despite being incredible musicians in their own rights. For example, Brian May, the lead guitarist, has written many incredible but seemingly forgotten songs.

May attended Imperial College to study astrophysics and formed a band called Smile in 1968 with fellow classmate Tim Staffel. Roger Taylor joined as the band’s drummer. Freddie Mercury, then known as Farrokh Bulsara, became a fan of the group and joined in 1970. That year, Staffel left the group, leading the band to rename themselves “Queen” and add on bassist John Deacon in 1971.

All were great musicians and each member wrote their own songs. This helped to create the strange and unique sound that is Queen. May in particular made up a large portion of songs that were not only unique to Queen, but unique to the music commonly written at the time.

May’s “‘39” tells the story of a group of time travelers leaving their loved ones to see what the

18 • Oracle • February 22, 2019

future has to hold. The song is based on Einstein’s theory of relativity, specifically time dilation­—the theory that as something moves faster in space, it experiences time relative to its speed, causing it to experience less aging. The song is a masterpiece, containing inspirational lyrics, soulful musicality and intelligence founded in May’s field of study.

Taking on a folk-country sound, the song pervades nostalgia of a time forgotten.

Easily considered one of the most famous Queen songs, “We Will Rock You” has been played during sports games, dances and television shows that demand audience participation. With the simple stomp-stomp-clap beat, audiences everywhere are able to “play along” with their favorite band. This sense of belonging formed a bond between the band and their fans, making them feel like they were a part of the band.

In the late ‘80s, Freddie Mercury was diagnosed with AIDs—a disease that was considered a death sentence during this time. Many who were diagnosed, mostly men, succumbed to death within a few years and sometimes even a few months.

Mercury refused to rest and continued making music until the day he died. May wrote the song “The Show Must Go On” in his honor, and reported that Mercury was able to sing the entire song in one take, despite its difficult vocals and his failing health. “I have to find the will to carry on,” May wrote in the song.

Through May’s wonderful compositions, Queen fans find fun, perseverance and wistfulness. His songs, though some not as well known as his fellow bandmates, have deeper meanings behind them. He dedicated his songs to his wife, children, parents and bandmates, showing his love for them through his art.

May’s passion showed through his continued work with the band after Mercury’s death. He obtained his doctorate in astrophysics in the field of study of the motions of interplanetary dust and participated in different advocacy groups.

Through his pursuit of different passions, his music reflects the mosaic of his personality. So, log on to Spotify and let the musicality of Queen take you on a journey that no other band could provide.

“Outside the dawn is breaking, but inside in the dark I’m aching to be free.” from “The Show Must Go On”

The Magic New Deal

Inexperienced representative submits hot plan to take over the world

Kayley Forshey Managing Editor The Magic New Deal is an exciting new plan to take over the world and globalize my personal understanding of utopia—a society free of any disagreement and free thought because the entire world will be under my control, listening to my fresh face because it’s so cute and passionate. But don’t worry; it won’t feel like control. It’ll feel like freedom, because the feeling of freedom is better than actually being free anyway!

Magic!

Take a trip with me for a moment—just close your eyes and keep reading: Imagine a world where the grass is never greener on the other side, because I’ve painted all the grass everywhere green (with ecofriendly paint, of course!). Imagine the sun is shining everyday, because I’ve invented a new source of light energy (how? Magic!), a world where it is always sunny and bright and happy, hurray! Imagine a life as easy as a fart-free breeze, because I’ll get rid of all the smelly animals farting up our air.

Imagine a world where if you don’t feel like working, I’ll send you a paycheck anyway, because that makes perfect sense. Imagine a world where we can just have dance parties all the time, because I’m so relatable. I dance all the time.

Sound impossible? That’s because it is. At least, it’s definitely not possible without my magic. And as your new leader, I have a bunch of magic. So gracious of me to share it with you, I know, but that’s the kind of person I am. An adorable person with no training in world domination—I was actually a waitress before I got this gig­—but I can just tell I’ll be great at it. I’m great.

You must be wondering how I’ll use my magic to achieve this. “What’s

the plan?” you ask. “Besides the magic, where do we come in? How do we usher in this Magic New Deal?” Well, I’m glad you’ve asked. That’s what I like about you—you get behind anything new and shiny, and scream its name. I’ve picked out a new highlight for my makeup and you’ve noticed. Oh, you. So supportive.

Yes, I do need something from you. Well, two things. Two tiny things; no big deal at all, you’ll hardly notice they’re gone.

One, your undying support. Never doubt me.

Never ask me hard questions. Never think too hard about my answers. Never break down my arguments with mere logic. I’m morally right and factually incorrect, but that’s politics, baby! Just blindly accept everything I tell you, and everyone will be rich and happy and successful and never have to work again.

Magic!

Two, I’ll need all your money. I know, I know.

That sounds a little crazy, but my magic only goes so far. I just need a little cash to get started, just like...all of it. No big deal. By the time the Magic New Deal is in full effect, you won’t even need money! So why not fork it over to me? I know I can’t even afford my New York apartment, but I’m trustworthy, I promise. I’ll take real good care of it.

Illustration by Jonathan Westcott

Ready to be rich and happy? Sign up today for the Magic New Deal! It only costs everything, but here are the great new things you’ll get: 1. Fart-free air supply Just gonna get rid of all the animals that fart, no biggie.

They’ll die a painless death. We’ll have a giant, vegan feast and then we’ll never need meat again.

Magic!

2. Never have to work again Wondering who will do all the work while everyone is in their safe, affordable, adequate housing watching Netflix and eating Hot Cheetos? (Netflix and Hot Cheetos will also be free, by the way). Don’t worry about it! The work will be done by magic! Or by those who really want to work, whoever those weirdos are. (LOL. Who is still “willing” to work? So last year.)

3. Teleportation We’ll be destroying all modes of transportation as part of the deal as well, but we can talk about that later, don’t worry about it. I’ll get it done with my magic and all your money. How will we fly across the world? How will you get to your favorite local coffee shop? Who cares?

Magic!

4. Access to nature You thought you already had access to nature? You thought you could just walk outside and experience it? Ha! My magic will provide you real access to nature, where it’s always sunshine and rainbows. Just you wait.

5. And of course, FREE EVERYTHING Free vacations, transportation by teleportation of course. Free education, at all levels no matter how hard you work. Free healthcare, so you can have your cake and eat it too. Free energy, whatever this means.

Who’s gonna pay for it? Who cares? It’s free!

Magic!

I know it sounds like total world takeover, but it’s actually perfect if you don’t think about it too hard—or at all. You can sign up by whisper-chanting the secret incantation that binds your soul to mine and transfers over all your possessions into my control, or by texting “MAGIC NEW DEAL” to the toll-free number I’ll be tweeting out soon. (Be sure to follow me on Twitter for the number! I’m so relatable. I tweet all the time.)

Help us reach a better tomorrow by destroying today, with magic!

February 22, 2019 • Oracle • 19

Study shows students related to raccoons The Golden Eagles may have furry ancestors known as trash pandas

Hillary Hurst Sports Editor You know one. You’ve seen one. You’ve probably been one—a raccoon in a backpack. Raccoons are medium-sized mammals, sporting dexterous front paws, a facial mask and a distinct ringed tall. In a ghastly new discovery, investigators for The Oracle have received results from ancestry.com, revealing ORU students’ origins and closest relatives.

In this shocking turn of events, the study summarizes that ORU students have an 89 percent DNA match with raccoons. This comes as a surprise to many students as they try and come to grips with their new reality. How could we possibly be anything like a raccoon?

Raccoons are sly, clever beasts. They are usually nocturnal, but will take advantage of any food they can find during the daylight. Their masked faces, with dark circles under their eyes, sometimes gives them a sickly appearance. They occasionally have abnormal body movements and a tendency to be aggressive if provoked. Raccoons will climb high into the trees when they are afraid and they regularly eat trash. They clearly have a problem with self-care and are completely unlike us, right?

Wrong.

After a closer examination of raccoons’ habits and lifestyles, The Oracle has come to the conclusion that the 89 percent DNA match actually makes perfect sense. Just as raccoons are largely nocturnal, ORU students practice the same behavior, awakening after only a few hours of sleep ten minutes before class starts with dark circles under their eyes, along with a generally pale, hair-ruffled appearance.

In a sly and clever manner, students then slip quietly into the back of the classroom to avoid drawing attention to themselves.

20 • Oracle • February 22, 2019

Students can also be seen during the night ravenously searching for food they neglected to ingest during the day due to other preoccupations, such as the compulsive downing of iced coffees from Hava Java. Just as raccoons are regularly seen eating trash, ORU students’ diets are synonymous as they consume high volumes of the same food group daily.

Furthermore, the same abnormal body movements of raccoons are also present in students.

The unnatural and extremely cringe-worthy movements of students during the HPE field tests closely resemble the unnatural movements of a scavenging raccoon. Both the raccoon and the student seem to be in great pain.

The aggressive behavior exhibited by raccoons when they feel provoked can also be seen in students who, after a long day of procrastination, are provoked by an unexpected computer crash at 11:58 p.m. when their paper is due at 11:59 p.m.

Fist bashing computers is not uncommon to students. Such outbursts can cause students to be afraid of failing, and just like raccoons, students often retreat to high places such as the prayer tower to ease their fears.

Illustration by Jonathan Westcott

In conclusion, The Oracle informs the public of such sensitive news with great consideration of the emotional effects it could induce. However, the selfcare habits of raccoons are so strikingly similar to those of ORU students, it would be an injustice for us to withhold such pressing information.

So, to all the studious raccoons out there, you are more than your ancestral past. Rise above the poor self-care habits of our close relatives and take better care of yourselves, ya filthy animals.

Think: “Less raccoon. More golden eagles.”

FOMO, FOBO, FODA, forget about ‘em

Olusiji Olutoto Staff Writer In the early 2000s at Harvard University, venture capitalist Patrick McGinnis and his friends attended almost every event on campus from early in the evening to late in the morning. They didn’t want to miss out on anything happening at school. To describe the phenomenon, McGinnis coined the term “FOMO,” which means, “fear of missing out.”

McGinnis defines FOMO as “the awareness of all the options that we have and the understanding that no matter what we do, we will never be able to enjoy

all of them.” We are a generation with unlimited options. We have multiple choices for food, clothes, accessories, gadgets, entertainment, school majors and careers.

The Industrial Revolution promised us that choices give us more freedom, which makes us happier. However, it seems the opposite is true.

Having more options creates more anxiety, paralysis and regret.

Psychologist Barry Schwartz calls this phenomenon the “paradox of choice.” For example, when you go to a restaurant, there are numerous options on the menu, and you can spend a long time trying to choose one. You become paralyzed, because you’re worried about ordering a dish you may not enjoy. And when you finally do make a choice, you can become dissatisfied if the meal isn’t “perfect” in taste. We become unhappy about future choices we have to make because we have to forgo a potentially better choice. McGinnis calls this “FOBO” meaning, “fear of a better option.”

This gets more complicated when it affects important life decisions like relationships and careers. In relationships, people can become scared of committing because they want to explore all

their “options,” hoping to enjoy the benefits of every option. This causes them to become serial daters.

They start looking for the perfect relationship choice—which doesn’t exist—that will give them the most satisfaction with the least conflict. Or people become dissatisfied in their current relationship when they see other relationships around them or on social media apparently doing better than theirs. It fosters unrealistic expectations in relationships.

People who don’t want to commit to a career path for a long time are scared they’ll choose the “wrong career” and miss out on a potentially better career path. McGinnis calls this “FODA,” meaning “fear of doing anything.” Or people become dissatisfied with their job or calling when they see other people who are doing better than them, even if their job is the best choice for them.

The antidotes to FOMO, FOBO and FODA are focus, courage, contentment and gratitude. We are to be focused and single-minded in our decisions, and it is important to have the courage to choose one thing and forgo other options. We need to be content and grateful to God for the “imperfect” blessings in our lives and avoid craving what others have. Don’t let FOMO steal your joy and contentment.

Give it a rest

Writer’s Name @Twitter Hannah Nelson Staff Writer Sometimes college is like an allyou-can-eat buffet. It provides a never-ending stream of activities— classes, meetings, emails, homework, social gatherings, etc. Events to attend and things to remember are endless.

As students, we want to fill our schedules with good things that help us grow, but if we don’t take time to slow down to digest everything, we can cause

ourselves more harm than good.

I remember hitting a point last semester when I was constantly running from one thing to the next. I accomplished a lot but I wore myself out in the process. By the end of the semester, I realized a strong need to prioritize my time and include periods of rest in my day.

“What we have learned about our human body, and our brain specifically, is that we need to respect periods of activity and rest,” said Dr. Angela Watson, associate professor of psychology at ORU. Overlooking the value of rest has downfalls we may not be immediately aware of, including decreases in productivity and health.

Productivity can decrease by 25 percent if we switch between tasks too often without finishing them and an increase in stress releases the hormone

cortisol which can temporarily shut down our immune systems.

Additionally, Watson explained that in our busyness our minds are preoccupied with thinking ahead, creating mental build-up over time.

With the stress of college life, we should be making the time to rest—to just be quiet and re-focus our minds on God and on the present moment. Even 10 minutes of silence or meditation can yield benefits, said Watson.

“I think it’s also important to have times during prayer when we’re just quiet. I think we hear God in those times,” she said. “We’re not expecting something big to happen. We’re just carving out that time and saying, ‘God, you’re really important to me. I just want to sit and be with you.’ You know you’re really close with somebody if you can sit in companionable silence and not feel like something is wrong.”

When we make enough time for rest and silence, we give ourselves time to acknowledge God in all we do.

“You’re living as an interacting, dynamic being, not as a machine that you just wake up and turn on and that you’re not going to turn off until you go back to sleep,” Watson said.

Rest is part of being human. God created us to need it for a reason. Instead of stuffing ourselves with activity, we should realize how important it is to take some time every day to relax, be quiet and rest in His presence.

“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.

Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.”

- Matthew 11:28-30.

February 22, 2019 • Oracle • 21

SUDOKU

Answers from Feb. 1 games Crossword

SUDOKU

Across

Down

3. Chocolate 5. Love 8. Dinner 9. Candyhearts 12. Engaged 13. Ring

1. Galentines 2. Red 3. Cheesy 4. Rose 6. Friendship 10. Romantic 11. Heart

22 • Oracle • February 22, 2019

February 22, 2019 • Oracle • 23

JOIN A RESEARCH STUDY

TO IMPROVE MENTAL HEALTH THROUGH NEUROSCIENCE

The Laureate Institute for Brain Research (LIBR) in Tulsa, Oklahoma is looking for volunteers to join our treatment studies that aim to personalize mental health care through neuroscience.

Volunteers are needed with and without symptoms of depression and anxiety. You will be paid for your participation. Your information will remain confidential. No insurance is required.

Call for more information: (918) 502-5100

www.laureateinstitute.org

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info@libr.net

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6655 S. Yale Ave., Tulsa, Oklahoma