Vol. 53, No. 6
Sound of the students
Battle of the Bands PAGE 13
First Launch competition winners Page 3
People of ORU: Aimee Hart Page 11
Tulsa, Oklahoma • February 28, 2020 • www.oruoracle.com
Student wins world snowshoe race Page 14
Briana Ariana Yancy in 2019 band “7thEden.” | Photo by Sterling Zoe Rubottom
The Oracle is the premier student news media organization of Oral Roberts University in Tulsa, Oklahoma. Our mission is to serve the surrounding community by providing accurate and relevant media content with creativity and integrity. Since 1966, we’ve #GotItCovered. Faculty Adviser
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Corrections The Oracle strives for accuracy and integrity in all content. If you find a mistake, let us know. Letters to the Editor Have a thought or story idea you’d like to share? Send us an email at oraclechief@oru.edu. 2 • Oracle • February 28, 2020
Trevor Ellis (second from the left) and Isaac Rowaiye (fourth from the left) receiving winning check for their business “TeleportED.” | Photo provided by Carolina Bukele
VR business wins first Launch contest by Chae Woon Yoo News Editor
ORU’s Stovall Center for Entrepreneurship Launch Competition has officially come to a close. After four challenging months of brain sessions and meetings, one team was crowned victor and took home the prize of $2,500 on Feb. 22. The competition started off with 22 teams and worked its way to the final six teams that presented their final pitches before an audience of peers and investors. The business that swept the judges off their feet is called TeleportED. Created by Trevor Ellis and Isaac Rowaiye, TeleportED is “a virtual reality reading app for children ages five to nine to practice their reading as a part of their homework.” Using virtual reality goggles, a child reads aloud the words on display and may venture through unlocked doors, with each correct answer, to explore various virtual environments. “Without this competition, we would’ve done 10% of what we got to do. We wouldn’t have been here without Jim Stovall, without the Center for Entrepreneurship and without the competition,” Ellis told ORU news.
In second place, a group of four presented the Combine Sports Network and received the sum of $1,500. This Network is “a membershipbased platform that connects American Coaches with national and International athletes.” All four members, Thiago Dos Santos, Mark Omokaro, Nate Stordahl and Emmanuel Nzekwesi, are international students who hope to provide athletes around the world a chance to receive the same chances and opportunities by cheaper and more efficient means. “We have gained a lot of experience [through the competition],” said Dos Santos. “Our vision for [the] company and its future is way better and clearer.” TRAINR took third place and $1,000 in the competition with members Joshua MacPhee, Elliot Csipkes, Katie Barnet and Kyle Milroy as the leader. TRAINR is “a web and app platform that helps personal trainers and health coaches connect with clients and manage their business more efficiently and effectively.” TRAINR is also a community for consumers where they can search for high-quality trainers in their area, set their fitness goals and meal plans and track their progress. The idea came to Milroy when he started looking
at the costs of becoming a certified personal trainer. Seeing the lack of chances and opportunities, Milroy had the idea to build a platform in which personal trainers could receive help managing their businesses as well as marketing their services. “The competition has given us a newfound appreciation for entrepreneurs who have gone through the process and are willing to share their experiences with us,” said MacPhee. The remaining finalists included the #LocalHelp app that connects service providers with nearby clients, founded by CEO Cyrus Johnson, Dominique Odens, Allen Deibert and Wyatt Cooper, eco-friendly lawn mowing business called Turf Tigers, founded by Camden Swan and Kris Matsson, and the remaining team, Swift Delivery, a peer-to-peer delivery network founded by Garrett Hindsley, Helena Harper and Chungman Won. “These are not just ideas or concepts. These are businesses that these students are starting, whether they win our competition or not,” Jim Stovall told ORU News. “Three of the 10 largest companies in the world were started in somebody’s dorm room. The best is yet to come.”
February 28, 2020 • Oracle • 3
ORU responds to coronavirus outbreak by Daniel Shahwan Staff Writer
On Jan. 30, ORU’s Chinese Arts and Culture Society held its annual Chinese New Year’s Dinner. Although the dinner is meant to be a celebration, its facilitators dedicated this year’s dinner to prayer in light of China’s coronavirus outbreak. Attendees included Chinese class students, alumni and honored guests. They enjoyed a variety of Chinese dishes, including chicken stir fried noodles, fried pork and vegetable dumplings, teriyaki chicken stir fry, fried rice and tofu. The night consisted of dinner and socializing, followed by worship in the Chinese language, testimonies, speakers, prayer, music performances and giveaways. Speakers and musicians included ORU students and two alumnae. Dr. Wonsuk Ma, dean of the college of theology, led the group in its prayer for China. Countries have experienced the recent outbreak of coronavirus disease (COVID-19), a specific type of coronavirus that originated from Wuhan, China and has now spread across borders to numerous other nations. As of Feb.17, the Chinese government reported 1,868 deaths and over 72,000 confirmed
cases. The people of Wuhan have been under quarantine for three weeks, according to Business Insider. Revealed at the dinner was that an ORU student, who recently returned from China, was put under off-campus voluntary quarantine for two weeks. According to NewsOn6, “the student [was] not showing symptoms of coronavirus. [ORU] said the quarantine [was] only a precaution.” In a statement made by ORU, the student is “in a quiet place where she has food, is comfortable and is able to take her classes online.” In light of the virus outbreak, ORU’s study abroad trip to China has been canceled. The study abroad office and Jenny Fang, Director of Global Chinese Relations, are organizing a trip to Taiwan this summer in its place. In addition, the ORU missions team to China merged with the Taiwan team, a similar ministry. Jane, one of the student testimony speakers at the Chinese Dinner, is currently an international student from China in her first semester at ORU, and she is also the first Christian in her family. “Every day I experience miracles,” Jane said. “Teachers encourage me, and the students helped me
in many aspects.” According to the CDC, the virus is spread from person to person. It can be caught by physically touching infected persons or touching an object that contains the virus or through an infected person’s cough or sneeze. It can also be spread between people who are in close proximity, about a six feet distance, affecting the upper respiratory system. The symptoms, ranging from mild to as severe as death, may not show until two to 14 days after exposure. According to the CDC, initial symptoms may include fever, cough and shortness of breath. There is currently no vaccine for the COVID19 virus. The World Health Organization (WHO), however, has listed certain tips to prevent a coronavirus infection: 1. Wash your hands frequently. 2. Practice respiratory hygiene by covering your coughs and sneezes. 3. Give yourself at least three feet of personal space to prevent breathing the virus. 4. Avoid touching your eyes, nose and mouth, and consuming raw or undercooked animal products.
Recap of second annual Grow Conference by Trinity Caesar Staff Writer The GLC was filled with bright-eyed men and women of many ages, who were gaining leadership knowledge and welcoming God’s presence during praise and worship at the second annual Grow Conference on Feb. 22. The conference consisted of six guest speakers—Eric Peterson, Dr. Katherine Kelley, Mark Kresge, Bri Hoyt, Dr. Matthew Olsen and Dr. Jeffrey and Lori Voth—all who came to help further student’s knowledge with different talks such as “Ministry in the Presence’” “How to Truly Celebrate Others,” “What I Wish I Would Have Known as a Young Leader,” and many more. “It [was] mostly put on by Augustine and Allie Mendoza,” states Tara Templin. “There’s a core conference team that is made up of myself, Gabby Williams, and Jesse Mueller. But so many members of the chaplain
4 • Oracle • February 28, 2020
program held key roles to [help it] run smoothly.” The Voth’s had a tag team session that explained the importance of ‘I Choose Us’ and how the differences in a relationship can be a good and bad thing, but either way, as a partner, you must expect the differences and embrace them. “You must always think best of your partner,” explained Lori Voth. She further explained how the enemy hates it when marriages succeed and come into alignment “so we must rebuke and bind whenever you get those thoughts or when someone comes and talks about your spouse, so he doesn’t intercede into the relationship.” “Hearing from leaders whose lives are a reflection of what they talk about, I am encouraged to look past my present limitations and focus on the bigger picture,” said Gloria Ntiamoah, the chaplain of Frances
2. “These sessions I attended have quickened me to realign my priorities in every area of my life in order that I may be able to cultivate the heart of a healthy leader.” “Grow-Co” resumed for an evening session in the GLC. It started with a game of Kahoot to engage participants, quizzing them in the history and culture of ORU. The praise and worship team welcomed God’s presence, pouring out their hearts through song—even using that moment to have their time of God just speaking to them. The speaker of the evening was Pastor Daniel Grothe, as his sermon was on the topic of “Heart of a Healthy Leader.” Pastor Daniel gave the listeners seven tips on how to realize that your heart will contain pain and will go through a state of betrayal. However, that does not mean to stop; seeking help and guarding the throne
of your heart shows the sign of great strength and maturity. Pastor Daniel said that as you continue in the walk, you must find a group of friends and a sage (mentor) to help guide you and keep you accountable, finding someone to help show you the way and help to call you out. As Pastor Daniel’s sermon wrapped things up, he called on a mentor in his life, Pastor Velpe Ellis Jr., to pray over the congregation for blessings over each person. “My favorite part of the conference was getting insight from multiple speakers on how to actually apply the things we learned to our everyday life,” said Arianna Johnson, an attendee of the conference, “which ultimately circled back around to seeking the Kingdom of God and his will and purpose for our individual lives.”
ORU brings home Model U.N. wins
Booker HS high-steppers visit ORU
by Chae Woon Yoo Staff Writer
by Daniel Shahwan Staff Writer
From Feb. 19 to Feb. 22, nine ORU students visited St. Louis to compete in the midwestern Model United Nations. Most of the students in the ORU delegation represented Egypt, making political and cultural decisions and partnerships. The conference allows participants to engage in simulated scenarios to practice their skills in debating, diplomacy and international relations. They received Outstanding Delegation in General Assembly Plenary, Outstanding Delegation in Economic and Social Plenary, Outstanding Position Paper, Outstanding Delegation in Food and Agriculture Committee and Delegate’s Choice in FAO, awarded to Melody Padilla. They are now in preparation for Model Arab League in April.
On Feb. 24, a group of high schoolers from the Booker T. Washington T-Connection Marching Band performed outside the Hammer Center in celebration of Black History Month. The group is called the BTW “high-steppin” because according to the Tulsa World, “the marchers’ knees reach 45- and 90-degree angles.” Under the direction of Harold Craig, who is in his seventeenth year directing the BTW band, the students are set for success. “[They] wanted to showcase a historically black high school here in Tulsa,” Craig said. “They asked us to come out and play to showcase our culture and our style of what we do and how we do it.” Photo courtesy of @oralrobertsu on Instagram
Photo provided by Dr. Ruby Libertus
ORU LIVE album recording
Kailey Abel on ‘The Voice’
by Katelynn Morgan Staff Writer
Dillon Valencia Staff Writer
It has been announced on Feb 18, 2020 that ORU LIVE will be hosting a live recording for their newest live album on March 6 in Christ Chapel. The album will consist of eight to nine songs, and the full album released in April. The ORU Worship Center has released albums such as “Come Like a Flood” released in Spring 2012, “Until the Whole World Knows” released in February 2009 and “The Revolution” released in September 2007. The upcoming album will be the first to be released in eight years. All previous albums are available for purchase on iTunes and Amazon. For more information, visit oruworshipcenter.com.
Sophomore nursing student and ORU Live worship leader Kailey Abel announced her recent audition on the famous national singing competition “The Voice.” On Feb. 5, Abel posted on Instagram stating, “I’m so excited to finally share…I auditioned for The Voice!” The panel of judges will include Blake Shelton, John Legend, Nick Jonas and Kelly Clarkson. The ORU student has also auditioned for other recent singing competitions including season 15 of “American Idol.” Season 18 of “The Voice” premiered on Feb. 24, and Abel’s episode will show in one of the blind audition premieres on NBC through the next few weeks.
Photo by James Adamski
Photo by AlexAndria Ramirez
February 28, 2020 • Oracle • 5
Sex trafficking linked with Super Bowl While many rush to the arena, some are forced elsewhere. by Nina Lange Digital Media Editor Sports fans across the country flocked to Miami on Feb. 2 to watch the most hyped football game of the year — the Super Bowl. But while many rush to the arena, many others are forced elsewhere. Hosting such a large event requires an influx of temporary workers which can open the door to human trafficking. Human trafficking is illegally transporting people, usually from one country to another, for the purpose of forced labor or sexual exploitation. While any age and gender can be targeted, young girls are usually the prime victims. It is estimated that 40.3 million people across the world are currently victims of trafficking, according to the UN International Labor Organization (ILO). The Forgotten Children Worldwide reports that 25% of that number are children. A 2014 ILO report claimed that the industry generated an annual profit of $150 billion and that human trafficking is the world’s second largest criminal industry after drug trafficking. The U.S. Department of Defense reports that human trafficking is on the rise and has become the fastest-growing crime in the world. Freedom K9 Project reports that over 17,500 people are trafficked into the U.S. annually, 81% for sexual exploitation. “The United States is the number one consumer of sex worldwide,” Geoff Rogers, co-founder of the U.S. Institute Against Human Trafficking, told Fox News. “We are driving the demand as a society.” In the past, data compiled by the Institute for Sport and Social Justice has shown that the host city of the Super Bowl tends to draw in more criminal activities of human trafficking and sex trafficking around January
and February. During the 2019 Super Bowl, approximately 450 incidents were reported and 540 in February. The number dropped to 140 in March. Because there are increased visitors in the host city, organized sex rings will follow the crowd to participate in the large party culture and meet the demand for paid sexual activities, according to the Institute for Sport and Social Justice. Eleven days leading up to the 2019 Super Bowl, 169 people were arrested on trafficking charges, including 34 who were attempting to engage in sexual activities with minors, the FBI reported. On the same day as the 2020 Super Bowl, Fox Business reported that Ivanka Trump, senior political advisor to Donald Trump, announced that the president will be proposing a $42 million increase in the 2021 budget to fight against human trafficking. “We are resolved, and we are relentless in the fight to hold perpetrators accountable and restore dignity for victims,” said Ivanka Trump during a White House summit. “The administration has fought and will continue to fight for the crime and ensure that survivors can access the services they need.” During the summit, Ivanka Trump talked about President Trump’s efforts to address trafficking, including the nine pieces of legislation he has signed into law. These include the Trafficking Victims Protection Act of 2017, the Abolish Human Trafficking Act of 2017, the Trafficking Victims Protection Reauthorization Act of 2017 and the Frederick Douglass Trafficking Victims Prevention and Protection Reauthorization Act of 2018.
Illustration by Alejandro Contreras
6 • Oracle • February 28, 2020
Photo by Jonathan Rodriguez
ORU Weekly Outreach Opportunities ORU Missions & Outreach launched their spring semester in February. Transportation is provided. For more info, visit orumissions .com/weekly-outreaches. Top: previous official logo; bottom: updated logo of the Government of Oklahoma
New OK brand? Imagine that. by Staci McCoy Managing Editor On Wednesday, Feb. 12, Gov. Kevin Stitt unveiled Oklahoma’s new brand and tagline, “Imagine That.” The process of rebranding was spearheaded by Secretary of Tourism and Branding, Lt. Governor Pinnell, who is the first holder of this title. Pinnell is an ORU alumni. To begin the brand launch, Pinnell traveled throughout the state to soak in what each community had to offer, compiling a well-rounded picture of the Boomer state. Next, he gathered more than 200 of “Oklahoma’s brightest and most creative” professionals to collaborate in creating the new brand. “Their task was to develop a cohesive, new brand for Oklahoma that best represents our heritage and history, our booming industry, our beautiful one of a kind vistas, and, most importantly, our greatest asset—our people,” Pinnell stated in an official release. Operative Brand Consulting, a company in Ontario, Canada, led the project, receiving over $250,000 in compensation according to The Frontier. Along with this company, the chosen volunteers within Oklahoma collaborated works in photography, design, media and other components of the campaign. The time committed by the volunteers added up to $1.5 million worth of work, according to The Frontier.
Jamie Heiman, ORU alumni and current project director at SixPR, played a part in promoting this new brand. Principal and Co-Founder of SixPR, Marnie Fernandez was one of the professionals selected to volunteer for the brand development. SixPR covered event planning and media coverage for the release, handpicking the invitation list, the vendors and the venue, then sharing a press release and covering all media outlets. “I think it is an ingenious way for us to say, ‘Hey, we get it — Oklahoma’s not known for anything but cowboys and teepees. However, we have all of these unbelievable things to offer, that you would have never guessed. Imagine that.’” Heiman said. “I think this style of approach will make bypassers think twice about us when they see a billboard or an airport sign.” The logo, featuring bright earth tones and shapes, was inspired by Oklahoma’s heritage. The original state flag contained a white star, and this star is brought back to be the centerpiece of the new state logo. In the new logo, there are chevrons around the star that represent Oklahoma’s military. With all of the logo elements directed inward, it symbolizes Oklahoma as the center of America— a hub. This new face of Oklahoma has already been branded on t-shirts, billboards, websites and novelty souvenirs. Oklahoma is on track to become a “toptier destination for visitors, businesses, talent and citizens,” according to Pinnell.
Friday’s POWER-UP: 4:15–7 p.m. UNIVERSITY VILLAGE: 5:45–7:45 p.m.
Sunday’s
THE BOILER ROOM (WORSHIP): 9:45 a.m.–12:45 p.m.
Monday’s TULSA HILLS YOUTH RANCH: 4:15–6:45 p.m. TULSA YOUTH WORKS: 4:15–7 p.m.
Tuesday’s GLOBAL GARDENS: 3–5:30 p.m. TULSA DREAM CENTER: 4:30–7:30 p.m.
Wednesday’s JAMES MISSION AFTER SCHOOL: 3:45–6 p.m. THE ZONE: 4:15–6:30 p.m. BOYS & GIRLS CLUB: 4:15–7 p.m. JOHN 3:16 WORSHIP: 4:45–7:30 p.m. SALVATION ARMY: 5:30–8 p.m.
Thursday’s JOHN 3:16 MISSION: 3:45–7 p.m. TULSA BOYS HOME: 5:30–8:30 p.m. THURSDAY NIGHT LIGHTS: 6–9 p.m.
February 28, 2020 • Oracle • 7
Crash course to a plant-based diet by Nina Lange Digital Media Editor Many have become concerned with how animals are treated in the food industry. Consequently, some have become dedicated to eating a plant-based diet, rather than going vegetarian or vegan. In a 2018 Gallup poll, 5 percent of adults in the US said they stuck to a strictly vegetarian diet. While some vegetarians do include dairy, eggs and other animalderived ingredients, like honey, in their diets, vegans do not. “Interest in a way of life in which people eschew not just meat and leather, but all animal products including eggs, wool and silk, is soaring, especially among millennials,” The Economist wrote in their “The World in 2019” report. “Fully a quarter of 25-to 34-year-old Americans say they are vegans or vegetarians.” Research has shown that having a plant-based diet is more environmentally friendly, and it lowers the carbon footprint. Animals require water and crops to feed on while being raised, and methane gas is created when the meat is digested. There are also studies that show living a vegetarian or vegan lifestyle can improve health. In 2009, the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition reported that people with these diets had overall lower blood pressure, cholesterol and weight. People who were strictly vegan were found to have more fiber, folate,
vitamin C, vitamin E, potassium, magnesium and less saturated fat. The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition also mentioned some health downsides that can happen with a plant-based diet. When meat and other animal products are taken out of the diet, certain nutrients that the body needs are taken away such as B12, calcium, vitamin D and omega-3 fatty acids. While there is some iron in plant foods, it is in lower quantities and not as easily absorbed by the body as heme iron, which is found in animals. B12 can be found in the vegetarian diet because it can be consumed in eggs and dairy products, but it is more difficult to consume in the vegan diet. A deficiency in B12 can cause anemia, fatigue, loss of appetite and potentially severe neurological symptoms. Another issue that can arise in specifically a vegan diet is “overdosing” on soy. Soy is a common substitute in the vegan diet (e.g., soy milk,
soy cheese, bacon, protein, tofu, etc.). Soy contains a lot of phytoestrogens, which mimics estrogen and can cause hormonal imbalances. One study showed that infants who consumed soy formula had estrogen levels 13,000 to 22,000 times higher than normal levels in their blood. As with any lifestyle change, there are pros and cons that should be researched. While above are listed a few from both sides of the issue, there are many more pros and cons to consider before making the switch. Everyone’s gut reacts differently to different foods, so if someone decides to change up their diet it is important to pay attention to how their body responds and do research beforehand. And, it’s always best to pick real food over processed food in any diet. Illustration by Jessica Frederick
Study with your brain, not your wallet by Faith Wilson Lifestyle Editor
Few places get more work done, and house more Gen Z dates, than a coffee shop. With numerous coffee shops and Starbucks on every corner, Tulsa caters to its population of studious college kids. I consider myself an avid coffee drinker. Subsequently, a large amount of my income went towards coffee and pastries. To combat this in my no-buy year, I started to look for study spots that had the coffee shop appeal — free WiFi, a quiet environment and power outlets — without the obligation to buy something.
8 • Oracle • February 28, 2020
Here are a few off-campus places that offer all of these accommodations. The Lodge at the Gathering Place While most people go to the Gathering Place to cash in on childhood, the Lodge works as a study space. While people should avoid going after school hours — unless screaming kids don’t bother them — the space offers WiFi, outlets, comfy couches and work desks. The Tulsa Libraries I know — libraries. Crazy, right? Tulsa County boasts a whopping 24 libraries. Students can sign
up for free library cards that grant access to several resources, including Lynda courses, eBooks, audio books and much more. Several of them do house coffee shops, although there is no obligation to buy. The Philbrook While the art museum does not offer traditional study spaces or power outlets, the gardens stay fairly quiet during the day and are lovely places to read books for class or go over notes for tests. So, as you responsibly study for midterms through the next few weeks, breathe some fresh Tulsa air off campus grounds, whether you have coffee or not.
MARCH RELEASES
Students now have the opportunity to study abroad during the summer in Paris, Taiwan or South Africa. Pictured above: Seine, Paris. Photo by Nina Lange
Summer study abroad by Kendall Brown Staff Writer For the past few years ORU has sent students to Europe to spend semesters studying abroad. The program first sent students to Paris in 2017, adding Bulgaria to the list the following year. Currently, ORU has sent a total of 39 students abroad to study since the program started. ORU has sent 11 students to Bulgaria, with five currently in Paris and 10 more slated to go next fall. Bulgaria is travel-heavy with many trips to other countries and weekends set aside for students to travel on their own. Students normally go on excursions around the city, study with local professors and online classes and take time to do their own traveling. Now students will have even more opportunities to go abroad. The Paris experience this summer lasts six weeks, from June 10 to July 22. “Our new Paris summer program is open to all students,” said Brooklyn Fredricks, a junior business student who works in the study abroad office. “This program is built to give students as much flexibility as possible to adventure in whatever way they choose.”
The Taiwan trip runs for about three weeks, May 29 to June 22, and the South Africa trip is nine weeks, May 18 to July 25. “It is an opportunity for students to teach in Taiwanese classrooms and they get to stay with Taiwanese families. It’s mainly for education majors, but other majors may go if they would like to.” Fredricks said. “[The South Africa trip] is in collaboration with the Entrepreneurship Center and is created specifically for students who want to use business as ministry. Students on our South Africa trip will have the opportunity to intern with different companies who are using business as missions.” Many students have had the chance to go to over 10 countries on one study abroad trip with ORU. There are limited spots available, and the last day to apply is March 1. If you want to know more about the program, visit the study abroad coordinator Paige McQueen in her office on the third floor of the Graduate Center. Safe travels!
Movies 6th Onward 13th Bloodshot My Spy I Still Believe th 27 Mulan
Music 6th
Mandy Moore – Silver Landings Lauv – How I’m Feeling 13th Niall Horan – Heartbreak Weather Purity Ring – Stardew 20th Adam Lambert – Velvet Alicia Keys – Alicia Conan Gray – Kid Krow The Weekend – After Hours 27th 5 Seconds of Summer – Calm
Games 6th 17th 20th 31th
Pokemon Mystery Dungeon DX (NS) MLB The Showcase (PS4) Animal Crossing: New Horizons (NS) Persona 5 Royal (PS4)
February 28, 2020 • Oracle • 9
“I want to revolutionize journalism and bring it back to the people.” Photo by Sterling Zoe Rubottom
10 • Oracle • February 28, 2020
People of ORU: Aimee Hart
A blind student who hopes to help others find their voice by Sterling Zoe Rubottom Editor-in-Chief There’s a familiar warmth in her grandparents’ house as her family entertains loud, lively conversations after opening gifts, hustling about the room, brushing against each other for more food and drinks. It’s Christmas. Aimee sits coldly on the couch, still. “I’m just a person in the corner going, ‘Why am I here?’” she said. “I like people. I just like them in small doses. More than three, four...I feel a bit lost in the crowd.” Aimee Hart, a 31-year-old freshman at ORU, was visually impaired from birth. While she isn’t too familiar with the details of her condition, she says “too much medicine” and glaucoma in the left eye resulted in her ability to see only 5% of her visual capacity — lights and shadows. Growing up, she didn’t need anyone to tell her she was different. She felt different when girls raved about going to slumber parties she was never invited to. She felt different at school when she was guided to a separate room to take a test where an aide would read aloud the questions for her. She felt different when she couldn’t learn to drive at 16. “You know when you get used to something, you’re so used to it, you don’t dwell on it? That’s kind of how I was. It was pretty lonely. I didn’t have many friends. I just knew I was different.” Aimee’s family of seven — four brothers, one sister and her parents — moved from Cripple Creek, Colorado Springs, to Oklahoma about a year after Aimee was born. She fondly remembers her natureoriented childhood of sledding, ice-skating and camping with her family. But in quiet moments, when Aimee could take to her thoughts, she would write. She wrote fiction and short stories, reveling in the idea of getting inside the minds of different people and sharing a story through their eyes. Her favorite subjects in school were the ones that lit up her creative side, like English, theatre, pottery and history. Science was “too visual” with “too much jargon.” But through these other subjects, she could explore the worlds of other people. “I always enjoyed writing stories and telling people’s stories, and I enjoy talking to people.” One evening, then 11-year-old Aimee walked into
the living room where her parents were watching a Michael Moore documentary. She thought his voice was engaging and humorous, and believed that he made complicated concepts easy to understand. He became one of her heroes and an inspiration for getting involved in the social issues the country faces. After graduating high school in 2007, she became more actively involved in politics. She assisted with former President Obama’s campaign making phone calls and participated in the Occupy Wall Street protests in 2011, which was a global movement to combat economic inequality. Aimee currently helps with Sen. Bernie Sanders presidential campaign — as she had with his first run in 2016 — by door-knocking, canvassing, donating, and encouraging people to vote however she can. She went to Oklahoma School for the Blind for her high school years after attending public primary and middle school. Her high school didn’t have many clubs or extracurriculars as creative outlets, but Aimee continued to write. Aimee has lived with her father since her parents’ divorce during her early childhood. Her father, with intentions of love and compassion, tends to shelter her extensively, according to Aimee. “It was the right time. I wasn’t ready for it emotionally a couple years ago,” Aimee said. “When you have an overprotective family, it can affect your own thought pattern without you really knowing it.” Last year, she decided to “crawl out” of that overprotectiveness and aspired to get a degree. Her brother Justin introduced ORU to her, because his fiancé had attended. “I was hesitant because I didn’t know what the environment would be like. Don’t get me wrong. I’m a Christian, but I’m not overly religious. I’m also a liberal in a conservative environment,” Aimee expressed. After applying in 2019, she received the Whole Person Scholarship and Academic scholarship, so she figured she would try it out for a semester and see if she liked it. Not surprisingly, she chose to major in convergence journalism. “My mom said, ‘remember to smile when you’re at ORU. Stay friendly,’” Aimee remembered. “I always knew I was different. But I’m a happy person. I’m a sensitive person. I’m normal.” Although Aimee enjoys the friendly campus culture, she inevitably meets unique challenges when
it comes to coursework. She uses a braille display extension on her computer that helps her read emails and homework assignments, and reads textbooks for free through Bookshare, an ebook program “for people with reading barriers,” as it states on the site. But if her textbooks are not available on Bookshare, she contacts the publisher directly to request a braille copy. Despite these daily obstacles, Aimee is now a second-semester freshman at ORU and has developed a more clear vision for her future. In January, she started her first podcast called “Everyday People” where she interviews guests to tell their stories. With this in the works, she is currently editing her first episode featuring ORU Theology Professor Dr. Jeffrey Voth. She records with her phone and USB headset microphone, edits the content and uploads to Anchor, a podcast host, which distributes episodes to a wide range of platforms including Apple and Spotify. But the podcast is merely a “launching pad” for her mission. “I’ve been an avid news-watcher for a long time. I was getting sick and tired of corporate mainstream media not covering stories of everyday people,” Aimee explained. “I think it’s important that the working class of this country get their stories out there and get their voice heard. I want to push back, revolutionize journalism, and bring it back to the people.” This is her goal for the future creation of a news media company called the Everyday People Network, where she will interview and tell the stories of the poor and working-class in America, and eventually, people all around the world. She plans to employ a team of sharp journalists stationed in various countries, who will be hired through a democratic process — post interview and trial run — where other journalists vote in applicants on website polls. But most importantly, her team must share her passion — telling true stories of everyday people, amplifying the voices so little heard. “I just hope that there will be more disabled journalists in the future, and that people will give them a chance,” said Aimee. “Because we’re just as capable.”
February 28, 2020 • Oracle • 11
REVERB
Screamo’s got a bad rap Most people have “screamo” music all wrong. Here’s the truth. by Benjamin Kosanske Staff Writer “I like all kinds of music, except for screamo.” This is a sentence I hear time after time when talking to students on campus. I believe this statement comes from a culture that uses the term “screamo” as a generalizing umbrella term to describe all music with vocalists who scream. The term has arisen from journalists trying to simplify a whole system of genre tags to more easily inform larger audiences. I don’t always believe this is a negative action, but the generalization of screamo can be detrimental in the attempt of understanding heavier styles of music. In order to define screamo, a basic understanding of punk rock is required. In the 1970s, punk rock became a huge wave of counterculture, displaying a simplicity of music composition with aggression in playing and vocal performance. Ramones and The Clash are among the early bands that laid the groundwork for the punk scene. Into the 1980s, punk got heavier, louder and faster, as bands like Bad Brains and Black Flag established what would be called hardcore. Throughout the 1980s, hardcore was a political genre following the lyrical themes of punk, usually boasting a left-wing stance and discussing different forms of oppression and
Billy Idol on July 3, 2019 | Photo by James Adamski
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marginalization. In Washington, D.C., a few bands decided to discuss emotional themes of relationships and personal struggles. Bands in the Midwest began taking a similar melodic and emotional approach to punk and hardcore to form emo and screamo respectively. Emotional punk rock was eventually shortened to emo in the mid to late 1980s as different fan publications began to use the term. The 1990s was when the screamo scene entered. During this time, many of the bands playing this style refused to be called screamo and insisted they were playing punk. The sound these bands shared consisted of differing time signatures, often in 5/4, 6/8, 12/8 and 7/8. The drumming could feel very sporadic with tempo changes and large dynamic contrasts going from simple cymbal-wash beats to punk drum beats to blast beats of straight 16th notes. Most of the songs were in minor keys playing thirds, suspended chords or single note riffs instead of stand power chords as in punk, which gave these bands a strong emotive feeling. The vocals were—as expected—screamed or sometimes spoken rhythmically. Some vocalists chose to sing melodically as well. The 2000s saw a breakthrough in emo and screamo as it entered the mainstream. This was when the term ‘screamo’ started to be used by different
journalists to describe this style. Bands like Alexisonfire, Thursday, Alesana and Underoath began to amass a large following. All four albums by Alexisonfire are certified “Platinum” in Canada. These bands refined the sound of 90’s screamo by incorporating more singing and playing a cleaner production. By the mid 2000s, singing, rather than screaming, became the primary vocal technique. The music slowed down and drummers stopped playing blast beats. This tamer screamo allowed for more people to listen to the style and became more approachable to a wide audience. Hot Topic and Warped Tour helped these newer bands form a career from their music and — perhaps vocationally more important — their branding. Any adolescent could go to the mall in the late 2000s and leave with a new screamo band t-shirt and return to their room and listen to a song on MySpace they felt they could relate to. After the death of MySpace around the turn of the decade, music took a hard turn as emo and other rock-related genres fell from the spotlight. Bands and fans of the screamo genre began needing a way to distinguish from the heavier 90’s style to the softer 00’s style, thus ‘skramz’ was invented as a word to identify early screamo. As screamo returned to the underground and the internet granted easier access to older band demos and albums, many new bands began to write screamo that emulated the older style. This phenomenon became known as the Skramz Revival. Pianos Become the Teeth, La Dispute and Touché Amoré led this revival. By the summer of 2018, several prominent 90’s skramz bands reunited to play more shows and write new music. Many bands began to tour across the United States and release a plethora of albums that year. 2018 saw the rise of extra styles within screamo. Bands like Respire, Ostraca and Infant Island, inspired by the Japanese band Envy, started to play a combination of screamo and post-rock. 2019 saw the rise of a hashtag “#20ninescene” as bands like SeeSpaceCowboy, Wristmeetrazor and .Gif from God brought back the aesthetics and style of early 2000’s screamo and metalcore under the humorously titled genre tag “sasscore.” Even if this style is not everyone’s cup of tea, it has much to offer. If midterms have you stressing or if that ring has not come this spring, maybe screamo is a good genre to get into for catharsis.
Review: TobyMac ‘Hits Deep’ Tour by James Adamski Staff Writer From the moment the doors of the OKC Chesapeake Energy Arena opened, there was a mixture of anticipation and excitement in the air for what was about to be a four-hour show filled with music from the top bands in Christian music. The evening started around 6:45 with a short set from up-and-coming husband and wife duo Cochran & Co. From there, the night moved quickly and efficiently as We are Messengers, Aaron Cole, Jordan Feliz, Ryan Stevenson and Tauren Wells each took the stage and played to the audience’s delight. Finally, the moment everyone was waiting for was about to happen. At 9:09 p.m., TobyMac took the stage, but not with a full band playing loud, highenergy music as he has done since the beginning of his career. Instead, he walked on stage solo, with nothing but honesty and a microphone. He was simply there as a dad who had recently lost his son. On Oct. 23, 2019, the oldest son of TobyMac and his wife Amanda, Truett McKeehan, passed away. Many remember Truett for his frequent appearance as “Trudog” on many of Tobymac’s albums in the early 2000s. In recent years, Truett had stopped using
this name as he began creating his own music under the stage name “TRU.” TobyMac thanked the crowd for their love, prayers and condolences, saying, “God never promised us [that] no suffering, pain or loss would come in this life. But he did promise us that he would never forsake us.” People responded with shouts of “We love you, Toby!” This launched what would be an hour and a half show filled with high energy beats and thoughtprovoking lyrics. Smoke and snow machines rained snow from the ceiling. The most moving moment of the entire show happened after the fourth song. “I have a song I wrote not so long ago, and I have a feeling there are people in here who are going through situations like mine, or even worse than mine. So, this song is for you,” TobyMac said. This led him to play the song he wrote for Truett called “21 years.” This is the power of TobyMac’s music — it’s not about him, it’s about the fans and, most importantly, Jesus Christ. The Hits Deep Tour comes to the BOK Center in Downtown Tulsa on March 21.
TobyMac in Tulsa on Feb. 4 | Photo by James Adamski
Here’s the lineup for Battle of the Bands Sterling Zoe Rubottom Editor-in-Chief
Tonight Student Association hosts the 29th annual Battle of the Bands competition at 7 p.m. in the Global Learning Center. Before you go ready to cheer for your peers, here’s an introduction of the bands to take the stage.
What’s Timko
Comprised entirely of music majors, the seven-member band aims to dedicate their performance to the ORU music hall, Timko, before its demolition to make space for a new library, media arts center and welcome center to be built on-campus in the next three years. Only Jesarun Shelton has competed in Battle of the Bands, as a bass player for 7thEden in 2019. All of their songs are written originals they describe as “GarageBand Rock.” Featuring: Tyler Garlett (lead vocals and acoustic), Jesarun Shelton (bass), Michael Neal (AUX keys), Brennen Grimes (lead guitar), Mitchell Spille (drums), Joy Brown (keys and vocals) and Kylie Halter (rhythm guitar).
Al Dente and the Impastas
This five-member band includes Student Body Vice President Garrett Maddox (lead vocals), Tristan Cole (electric guitar), Jonah Bibeau (bass), Nolan Monnier (keys and sax) and one former competitor— Stephen Ottaviano (drums). Ottaviano’s father inspired the band name, and the Italian phrase “al dente” describes the consistency at which a pasta noodle is cooked perfectly firm. Their style is classic pop sprinkled with funk “for good measure.” They would like to dedicate their performance to the letter ‘B.’
Jasper Wilderness
This alternative rock band hopes to “create a space for people to experience music and its many vibes together.” They will perform a mix of covers and original work, one of which, “Cherish the River,” will be available on streaming platforms on Feb. 28. Jasper, or “outsider” is derived from Smoky Mountain English. Half of the members are well-seasoned in Battle of the Bands competitions, including former members of Street Called Straight, toast, Threat Level Midnight, and 2019 winners of Los Caballeros.
The members are Gabriel Phillips (lead vocals), Samuel Bowling (bass guitar), Jacob Brallier (dobro), Kyle Ross (electric guitar), Justin Scott (keys), Caden Ryles (keys two), Jeremy Pelotte (drums) and Nick Bowling (guitar).
BANK
What’s something most students may have in common? The satisfaction of payday. This was the inspiration behind the pop band whose goal is simply to “create a fun atmosphere” that students can enjoy together, in the similar way that “everybody likes money.” All six members will be competing for their first time in BOTB, including Dominic DeMeo (lead vocals), Brandon Benjamin (drums), Chavon Rodgers (electric guitar), Shilo Vogele (bass), Aaron Bickers (keys one) and Phoebe Rodgers (keys two). They advise students to “DANCE AND SING ALONG!” From the sound of it, there’s guaranteed to be some money performances, but the tickets are free— tonight at 7 p.m. in the GLC.
February 28, 2020 • Oracle • 13
Freshman wins world snowshoe title by Josiah Ingegneri Staff Writer
Snowshoe running is what it sounds like — a long-distance running sport where participants race across snowy terrain with large board-like soles attached to their feet. Snowshoe running is twice as hard as road running, according to the World Snowshoe Federation. ORU freshman and cross country athlete Andrew Tyson placed first in the U.S. Junior Snowshoe National Championships in 2019. On Sunday, Feb. 16, he competed in the World Snowshoe Championships and became the 2020 Men’s Junior World Snowshoe Champion. Tyson, a Wisconsin native, started snowshoe running in seventh grade while looking for ways to cross-train for running. A friend from church
recommended the sport to his parents. Soon after, he found himself at his first competition in Boulder Lake, CO. In ninth grade, he participated in National’s for the first time and placed fifth. He wore nothing to protect his face during this race because he had been to the track the day before and the weather was clear. “It was a lot harder race; we ran on top of a mountain,” Tyson said. “It was also really windy that day too, so there was lots of blowing ice and sleet.” The next year he found out that the World Championships would be held in the U.S. for the first time. “Going into that race, I felt like I was the favorite to win,” Tyson explained. He had researched the times of other participants and found that his pace was faster. But three-quarters of
the way into the race, Tyson got a huge side ache in his IT band and hip flexor area, causing him to drop from first to 11th place. In March 2019, Tyson competed in National’s for the second time. “Going into the race, I learned my mistake from the first World’s. I did not want to go in thinking, ‘Oh, I’m the favorite. I should just get my trophy right now,’” Tyson commented. The course map did not show elevation, so going in Tyson thought there would be minimal uphill and downhill movements. However, once he got to the part of the course out-of-view from the start and finish line, he found a 100-foot hill with a 45-degree slope that he would have to run up and down three or four times.
Yet, Tyson ended up winning. He collected a gold medal and trophy and is now a part of the U.S. national team. Since moving to Tulsa, Tyson has not been around much snow, but he trains by competing on the track and cross country teams. Tyson is majoring in translation and interpreting and hopes to earn a doctorate by the age of 25. For him, traveling to Japan for the World Snowshoe Championships is an excellent start to world traveling. “I have not run on snow for over a month, but I’m feeling as ready as I could be,” Tyson said before competing. This competition marked the last time Tyson would run the 5K in the junior category of the World’s, and he walked out a world champion.
Student athlete breaks NCAA record by DayRonda Gause Staff Writer Growing up in a household where both parents are coaches makes the life of an athlete quite natural to Keni Jo Lippe. In 2013, as she was going into her freshman year of high school in Adair, OK, Lippe’s basketball coach laid out the options that were in front of her — either choosing to pursue softball or basketball. Lippe chose basketball. That decision led her to become a Golden Eagle, and this season marks the third that Lippe has played as a guard for ORU women’s basketball. Lippe is a junior majoring in sports management and is determined to obtain her master’s in education after she completes her undergrad. Her eyes are set on a career as a science teacher and sports coach. While a full-time student and basketball player, Lippe still aims to keep her family first, including her dog, Otis.
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“We honestly play sports all of the time together. There is a me outside of basketball, but it is still basketball, just with family,” Lippe stated. The fruits of Lippe’s labor are showing up this season. According to the Summit League, in January she was the 21st player in program history to reach 1,000 points in her collegiate career. On Feb. 10, Lippe received her first athlete of the week honor this season and second of her career. She holds the single-game scoring record in the Summit League with 46 points against North Dakota State University. With that performance, she held the NCAA record for most points in a single game by any Division I women’s basketball player this season.
This season hasn’t been the easiest for the women’s basketball team, but through all of the ups and downs, the team has come together to get the job accomplished. As a player, Lippe has enjoyed watching her teammates grow throughout the years. “To be around people who are on the same journey as I am and to help them through their struggles and have them help me with mine… I think it is so cool to see people grow and overcome,” Lippe explained. The women’s basketball team currently holds fourth place in the Summit League conference standings with one game remaining in this conference season. The last home game and senior night is on Saturday, Feb. 29 at 2 p.m. against Purdue Fort Wayne.
“I think it is so cool to see people grow and overcome”
Photo by Gabriel Jaggernauth
UPCOMING GAMES No. 24 Jordan Wiley at the plate against Missouri State on Feb. 25. Photo by Gabriel Jaggernauth
Baseball season preview by Josiah Ingegneri Staff Writer On Thursday nights, 15 ORU baseball players sit in the locker room for over two hours. They hold a Bible study that starts with just one question and rabbit trails off of that. The players talk about what is going on in their personal lives and build each other up in the Lord. “Every single year you go in and you get 35 new brothers,” said Alex Sevensky, a redshirt junior who started this weekly Bible study in the fall with just two other players. To Sevensky, the best part about being on the ORU baseball team is the community. From coaches to players, a combination of talent, hard work and a culture of excellence makes this baseball club 19-time Summit League tournament champions. ORU baseball started its 2020 season this February with a 2-1 win over Merrimack and ended up splitting the opening four-game series. An RBI infield single by senior Anthony Martinez broke the tie in the bottom of the eighth sending Jordan Wiley to home. ORU baseball won the Summit League in 2018, and a preseason poll of league head coaches found that ORU is the favorite to win the Summit League this season. New ORU players, Adam Oviedo and Kaleb McCullogh, were selected as “Players to Watch.” Oviedo crushed a three-run home run over the left-field wall in the fourth game of the opening series against Merrimack, and McCullogh sealed
both save opportunities in the series. “This year we have a really incredible level of talent, but even moreso I feel like so many of our guys are really starting to find their ground with God as well,” Sevensky said. During the off season, the club has weights at 6 a.m. every Monday, Wednesday and Friday. Most players will then go to morning and afternoon classes and afterward will have practice for three to four hours before getting dinner, doing homework, going to bed and starting over. Sevensky explained that it can be difficult to get sleep during the season, as long bus rides and doubleheaders are common, but ORU players have to make certain to keep a healthy diet and sleep schedule. The ORU Baseball coaches are admired by their team. They help players to improve on a daily basis, and their leadership is key to the Golden Eagles’ success, according to players. “I feel like in a lot of other programs the fear of failure and the fear of not living up to the expectations is really high, and it allows more players to play scared. And I feel like with us we’re in a safe place where we can fail, we can learn and we can know that our coaches always have our backs,” Sevensky said. Head coach Ryan Folmar heads into his eighth season as the ORU head coach. In his tenure as head coach, ORU has a .608 win percentage. ORU hopes to carry that success into the 2020 baseball season and to head to its first College World Series since 1978.
Basketball
Home at Mabee Center Feb. 29 at 2 p.m. / Women’s Basketball vs. Purdue Fort Wayne* (Senior Day) Feb. 29 at 7 p.m. / Men’s Basketball vs. Purdue Fort Wayne* (Senior Day)
Baseball
Home at J.L. Johnson Stadium Feb. 28 at 3 p.m. / vs. Incarnate Word Feb. 29 at 2 p.m. / vs. Incarnate Word March 1 at 1 p.m. / vs. Incarnate Word March 3 at 6 p.m. / vs. Little Rock March 13 at 6 p.m. / vs. South Dakota St.* March 14 at 2 p.m. / vs. South Dakota St.* March 15 at 1 p.m. / vs. South Dakota St.* March 20 at 6 p.m. / vs. North Dakota St.* March 21 at 2 p.m. / vs. South Dakota St.* March 22 at 1 p.m. / vs. South Dakota St.* March 24 at 6 p.m. / vs. Central Arkansas
Men’s Tennis
Home at Bernis Duke Tennis Center Feb. 29 at 12 p.m. / vs. Omaha* March 7 at 12 p.m. / vs. North Dakota* March 28 at 12 p.m. / vs. Drake*
Women’s Tennis
Home at Bernis Duke Tennis Center March 21 at 12 p.m. / vs. South Dakota* March 27 at 2 p.m. / vs. Kansas City * Conference Game
February 28, 2020 • Oracle • 15
Liverpool team remains undefeated by Brendon Martin Sports Editor And another one bites the dust — or in football (American Soccer) terms, “bites the net.” Sixtyfour, yes, 64 times this season the Reds have found the back of their opponents’ net. With top scorers Mohamed Salah and Sadio Mané, Liverpool averages 2.37 goals per match. Opponents rarely find such a streak as they have only managed to collectively score 17 goals over 27 matches. With high-functioning offensive and defensive units, the Reds have yet to lose a league match this season. After 27 attempts, only Manchester United has edged out a draw against Jurgen Klopp’s men while the rest all conceded three points to the top team in the league. Accruing all these points, Liverpool sits with a comfortable 22-point lead at first place in the Premier League with 79 points overall. Manchester City sits in second place with 57 points toward the title with only 11 matches remaining this season in which to recover the difference. After winning the UEFA Champions League last year, Liverpool is poised to continue their successful streak and potentially break multiple records.
At most, Manchester City can finish with 90 points this season. If Liverpool prevails in their remaining matches, they could potentially seal the Premier League title on Match Day 31 on March 21 with seven matches left in the season. This would break Manchester City’s record of clinching the title with five matches remaining and Manchester United’s record of sealing the title at the earliest date on April 14, 2001. Arsenal holds the record for the longest unbeaten streak in Premier League matches with a 49 match stretch. Liverpool is closing in and going on 44. Manchester City recorded the most points in a season with 100 in the ‘17-‘18 season. With 79 points currently and 33 up for grabs in the remaining weeks, Liverpool is well within reach of this record.
Remaining undefeated over any extended length of time is difficult, but Arsenal ran without a loss for 537 days from May 2003 to October 2004. Liverpool’s latest Premier League loss occurred on Jan. 3, 2019 to Manchester City. If Liverpool can go undefeated through their last 11 league matches they will surpass Arsenal’s record on June 23 this year and achieve the longest undefeated streak in Premier League history. It is clear Liverpool is on target to finish with a strong, record-breaking season. This season, the Reds anticipate bringing home their first Premier League title in club history and first league championship since 1990. The Reds will never walk alone, and, by all indications this season, will not walk away emptyhanded. Illustration by Jessika Frederick
Goodbye ‘Roughnecks,’ hello ‘FC Tulsa’ by Brendon Martin Sports Editor There is a new energy and vigor coursing through the veins of Tulsa soccer fans and a new atmosphere at ONEOK Field downtown. In December 2019, the Tulsa Roughnecks, a United Soccer League Championship team, transformed into what is now affectionately known as FC Tulsa. Owners and brothers J.W., Ryan and Kyle Craft, renovated the team’s name, logo, colors, branding and identity within six months of purchasing the club. “What we really want is to build a platform to allow all of Tulsans to enjoy that camaraderie and emotion when this club brings it and wins it,” J.W. Craft explained at a press conference. FC Tulsa’s first match is fast approaching and set for Saturday, March 7 at Sacramento Republic FC.
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The first home match is scheduled for the following Saturday, March 14 at 7 p.m., where the team will be hosting New Mexico United. “I feel like there’s so much more anticipation and good pressure. People are excited; people will have expectations. That boosts the profile of the team,” stated Head Coach Michael Nsien. “So we feel like we have to perform because a lot has been invested into the team. We’re excited about the pressure that’s put on us and we want to perform to that level.” After finishing in 16th out of the 18 teams in the USL Championship Western Conference last year with a record of eight wins, 10 draws and 16 losses, fans hope for more successes this season. FC Tulsa staff are not only focused on improving the support and morale for the team, but also the team’s performance on the pitch.
“For me, it’s getting everyone early into preseason, getting everyone on the same page and providing clarity for the players, so they have an understanding of what we want to do and achieve. That’s my role — to keep everyone level-headed and get them to understand the objective is to win soccer games,” Coach Nsien emphasized. This season looks promising for FC Tulsa, but those involved in the club, especially the players, seem to understand the strides and commitment required to make those hopes a reality for the 2020 season. “We need to start getting the pieces together and start to know each other better. And I’m sure once we start to know each other, things are going to start to happen and then the season’s going to go really well,” commented midfielder Rodrigo Da Costa.
With one week remaining before the season opener, it’s crunch time to assemble the starting lineup and to put the final touches in place before March 7 in Sacramento. After much training and hard work in preparation for this season, the players have a positive outlook. “We know it’s going to be a long process. This isn’t just an overnight thing or an overnight success, but throughout the season we have our highs and lows. If we just stick together and have that same drive I think that we’ll be fine,” explained defender Bradley Bourgeois. Tulsa soccer fans can take pride and excitement in their newly redeveloped club, FC Tulsa, and on March 14 at 7 p.m., can witness the team’s home debut at ONEOK Field. Welcome home, FC Tulsa.
Fight the virus, not the people
Faith Wilson Lifestyle Editor “Every disease has ever came from China, homie. Everything comes from China because they’re [expletive] disgusting.” These words, which were directed at a Thai American, were said within the last month. A man on a Los Angeles subway mistakenly believed the woman to be Chinese and went on a 10-minute rant.
This incident is becoming a more common occurrence across the U.S. due to the outbreak of novel coronavirus, a new strain of the virus. People who fear the virus link the Chinese race — and other people of East Asian descent — to it, even though their race and nationality make no difference. In many ways, the fears and bigotries surrounding the coronavirus mirror the fear and bigotry that surrounded the AIDs epidemic in the 1980s. Some label the novel coronavirus as a “dirty Asian disease.” AIDs was labeled a “homosexual disease,” even though heterosexual people could also contract HIV which can lead to AIDs. While the novel coronavirus did originate in China, Chinese and other people of East Asian descent should not be treated differently based on where a disease comes from. When European settlers came to North America, they brought diseases, including smallpox, measles, typhus and cholera. Native people had never been exposed to these diseases and did not have the immune systems equipped to fight them. These
illnesses, however, are not considered “dirty European diseases.” Presently, the CDC predicts 12,000 people in the U.S. will die from a virus yearly — the flu. Fifteen million Americans have contracted the flu in the 2019-2020 flu season alone, according to WCVB. Over 31,000 people have been infected with the novel coronavirus and 637 people have died in China, according to the World Health Organization. While sickness is always a scary part of life, sensationalizing a rare strain of virus to the point where an entire people group face racist attacks because of it is not a proper response. The best anyone can do is to become educated on the novel coronavirus and how it has been affecting the livelihoods of, primarily, Chinese people.
Touch. Teach. Transform EVERY FRIDAY IN TULSA THIS SUMMER.
Text ORU to 918-629-1037 or visit fillingthevoid.com February 28, 2020 • Oracle • 17
Lights, camera, worship
The corporate worship setting from another perspective
Benjamin Kosanke Staff Writer Having grown up in church my whole life, I never questioned the usage of live production stage lights in relation to worship. I grew up aware of the story behind the song “Heart of Worship” about Matt Redman’s church, Soul Survivor — a song about stripping away all except the simple words of repentance to God, yet this song was performed identically to the others. Their story tells of a worship team and congregation of which “there was a dynamic missing.” Members of the congregation told the pastor how they felt — they just became music consumers and were not really worshiping God anymore. Matt Redman had described that the church removed their sound system and the worship band. The congregation learned how to sing unaccompanied without a band and was able to find a way to worship God again. Slowly, they returned the normal elements of modern worship into their service after they had found the “heart of worship.” Even now, their website homepage features a picture of their sanctuary stage with stage lights rigged to a truss. Evidently, whatever issue they had back in the 1990s must have been resolved since. It seems to me most churches have not followed a similar challenge of spiritual discipline. Most modern churches in America seem to jump from one performance trend to the next without questioning the need to even do so. I often wonder how much of the individualistic, consumeristic American culture has influenced the modern church worship service. 1. Corporate worship 101 First, let’s deconstruct the term ‘corporate worship.’ Personal worship simply involves the adoration and devotion to God in a solitary setting,
18 • Oracle • February 28, 2020
also including the Romans 12 call to offer one’s own body as sacrifice. Corporate is much harder to biblically define. Thus, I will begin in the Old Testament. The Kingdom of Israel saw the establishment of the temple where the Israelites congregated to give offerings and repent, providing precedence to the idea of corporate gathering. However, as Jesus came to fulfill the Law and offer His life, His body became the temple, a place where someone repents and worships God (John 2:21–22). Through Jesus, acknowledging God’s name as sacrificial praise is possible for the individual in a relationship with God. Jesus then explains that when two or more people meet in His name, He is present (Matt. 18:20). But what does the Bible tell us to do at this type of gathering? Certain aspects of what appear to be actions done in a corporate manner are found in the New Testament, including sharing Psalms and songs of the Spirit, reading the Word of God, praying, encouraging and edifying one another, conducting baptisms and partaking in communion. However, nowhere within these passages is there an explicit command to do these en masse, altogether. Thus, the image evoked is that the church was originally contrived so that members met either individually one-on-one or in small groups. 2. Now versus then I wonder why the American church has inflated itself by adapting aspects of modern live production culture into its functions. Although some religious denominations would probably disagree, I’ll add that just because the Bible does not say the church needs a stage with lights, instruments and a sound system, the Bible does not specify that the church cannot have those things. Also, in historical context, many early Christians still attended the synagogue, and they lacked the resources necessary to build or buy a place suitable to house a large congregation. On top of that, much of the early church faced heavy persecution under the reign of Nero, so even if some communities had the resources for a building, they would have been unable to use it for assembly anyway. Therefore, it could be valid to assume that the early church would have congregated en masse if provided the ability to continually and sustainably do so. 3. Differing denominations Understanding ‘corporate worship’ can then
lead to a differing perspective on the need for stage lights. Obviously, it would be absurd to have a church service en masse with no lights at all, because people would be unable to see where to go and where to sit if the building had no windows. Many denominations do argue against having house lights on during a worship service, believing that seeing other people in the congregation can distract from praising God. In that case, stage lights help focus the attention of a congregant to the stage, to help foster attentiveness toward God. I disagree. Firstly, because if I am to focus my attention on the stage I would be too consumed with identifying stage presence tactics and musical stylizations of the worship band that I would be unable to praise God. Secondly, since an aspect of corporate worship is encouraging and edifying one another, turning off house lights decreases the ability to recognize when someone in the congregation would possibly need encouragement. If we’re together to be there for each other, why turn the lights off so we can’t see each other? The purpose of stage light designs and patterns should accentuate the words sung in a worship service, but I do believe these effects can easily take over the attention of a congregant. Pragmatically speaking, I would prefer lighting styles remain a subtle aspect of the worship experience. I do find value in color theory and that a lighting director should have a proper understanding of how Americans culturally perceive colors and what emotional responses are evoked from each color, so as to not misuse a color. However, the intention should never be to instigate an emotional response from the church, but rather to help further what feeling God has already caused within each individual. The focus should always be on the songs, the Word, prayer and edification, so lights should always take a supporting role and never the main contributor to a corporate worship environment. In essence, I am not condemning stage lights. I am, however, questioning their place in a worship setting. Lighting is not essential in a worship service; it can be used to help accompany the main components of corporate worship. Evidently, many areas within the current world tend to go without understanding its nature. I believe it is beneficial to dig into what composes the construct.
Word Scramble Theme: Spring
Sudoku
1. bomlo 2. asreet 3. ufrlyebtt 4. miieptsrng 5. wgro 6. nunby 7. mya 8. parli 9. arwonib 10. snesao 11. lemt 12. ctahh
answer
13. rsags 14. gegs 15. eabsabll
February 28, 2020 • Oracle • 19
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