February 15, 2013 Print Edition by ORU Oracle

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Oral Roberts University • Feb. 15, 2013 Tulsa, Okla. • Vol. 47, No. 11 www.oruoracle.com

Photos by Chandler Branzell

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LIFE

BATTLE OF THE BANDS

NEWS BRIEFS

Daniel Jones (left), drummer for Geena and the Beegers, congratulates Adam Mullenix (right) after the win. Photo by Chelsey Butler

Spring Group Advisement Group Advisement will be held Monday, Feb. 25. Each major will meet in separate locations. For more information on the meeting spots, visit www.oruoracle.com.

“Get Well Soon” seminar to be held

FIRST PLACE: The University of Joaquin Phoenix singer and guitarist Joseph Neville (left) and lead singer Adam Mullenix (right) join drummer Sean Campbell (top) in their performance.

“Get Well Soon,” a free self-care seminar, will be held for four consecutive Saturdays: Feb. 16, Feb. 23, March 2 and March 9 at 11 a.m. in GC 2C06. Taught by social work majors Kara Woodward and Brianna Powers, the seminars will focus around sleep habits, nutrition, exercise and stress management. Learning how to stay healthy at ORU is possible – come find out how. Free refreshments will be served.

Photo by Chandler Branzell

SECOND PLACE: Rex Berg serves as lead singer and guitar player of @benblountshow Photo by Chandler Branzell

Multicultural Night boasts fun, food and celebration ORU’s 14th annual Cultural Night: A Global Celebration of Diversity will be held Monday, Feb. 25 from 6-9 p.m. in Zoppelt Auditorium. North American, South American, European, Hispanic, Latino, Asian, African American, Native American, Burmese and Deaf cultures will be represented. There will be ethnic foods, music, dance, poetry, comedy and an art exhibit.

Dr. Weed climbs academic hierarchy

THIRD PLACE: Geena and the Beegers’ lead singer is Geena Fontanella. Photo by Chelsey Butler

Dr. Kenneth Weed, formerly a chemistry professor in the College of Science and Engineering, was promoted last fall to chairman of the biology department. He has now been named Dean of the College of Science and Engineering, following Dr. Dominic Halsmer’s move to a new post to direct the Center for Christian Worldview at ORU.

THE ORACLE • Friday, Feb. 15, 2013 • 3

Student center uses new technology By Ian Harrup If you have walked by the Armand Hammer Alumni-Student Center and noticed video playing on the side, don’t worry. You’re not dreaming. It’s a new technology called 3-D Environmental Projection, one more innovative feature of the new building. The system uses 3-D animation and projection technology, customized to the exact dimensions of its projected surfaces. This technology uses entire buildings as the screen for the images, whether they be pictures, lightshows or films. Long before ORU unveiled its own cinematic outdoor show, images were projected on buildings such as the Nokia Tower in London last year during a performance by Deadmau5. The dubstep artist’s YouTube video of the event has gone viral since its release. More recently, Tulsa Mayfest featured 3-D projection, provided by the local branding and advertising agency, GuRuStu. ORU also purchased the projection technology for the Hammer Center from GuRuStu. According to Jeremy Burton, senior director for university relations and communication, it was President Mark Rutland who had the idea for an oncampus projection system after seeing similar works in his travels. “Since this is such a technologically driven center, this addition of 3-D projection helps to complete that image,” said Burton. While the Hammer Center was nearing

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completion in December, ORU administration began the first meetings for using the technology. According to Burton, the process didn’t take very long. “Cost was in mind, but the tech team at GuRuStu did good research for us,” he said. “We bought a refurbished projector, which was just as good as new. We have multiple uses in mind for it.” The first show took place on Feb. 2, and the technology will be here for years to come, mainly for special events, such as College Weekend and alumni gatherings. The intent is to show material created by ORU students on this outdoor screen. “The intent from the beginning was to pass the concept on to students,” Burton said. “We want to let them grab a hold, especially the Multimedia Institute, and create things for it. We want our students to do something similar to what GuRuStu did for us. It’s good for students to have hands on experience in the latest technology.” Assistant Professor of Media Don Eland is excited for the possibilities of the 3-D projection system. “It’s the most innovative publicity tool ORU has ever used,” Eland said. “I don’t think it’ll reach as big an audience as other tools, but I was really excited.” Eland said he is trying to get MMI students involved so that they learn how “to think in 3-D.” “It’s hard to get the hang of, because now there’s depth, but it’s tremendously exciting for our students,” Eland said.

No campus cable? By McKensie Garber Trying to cut costs, Student Association has discussed the possibility of discontinuing cable TV for the coming fall 2013 school year due to the high expense. Cable TV is costing the Student Association $20,000. The quality of the cable is not always pristine, as many channels don’t come in clearly. Student Association Chief Operating Officer Bethany White said, “There’s so many other things we can do with $20,000 than pay for cable that no one likes.” According to Student Association President Daniel Holman, the SA is allotted a budget at the beginning of each year. This money comes from student activity fees, which all students pay. The Student Association is to receive a percent of each of those activity fees. This allows their budget to fluctuate year-to-year depending upon the number of students enrolled on campus. Due to the increase in students on campus this year, the SA should have received more money to pay for things such as events and cable TV. However, their budget was cut over $30,000 from what it was last year. “It makes it very difficult to continue to serve the students by paying for perks such as cable TV, movie nights, homecoming events, parties, money for clubs, shuttles etc. when we do not receive the fees that are meant to go towards these things,” President Holman said. Many students have said that their cable does not always work properly and some rooms don’t even have working cable. Senior Becca Valdez said, “The cable in my room doesn’t work and I know that other girls have complained that their channels don’t come through, while some rooms do receive working channels. I wish all of us could have equal entertainment.” “It’s not a set-in-stone thing that we won’t pay for cable next year,” White said. “The decision ultimately depends on the President next year and the new Executive Council who will vote on it.”

Tackling taxes, FAFSA tips offered for first-timers

By Amber Smith It is that time again, and every one of us is feeling the crunch of financial stress and paperwork. For many students, this is the first year to complete taxes or financial aid without professional — or parental — help. Good news: Here is what you need to know about filing taxes and submitting your Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) form. TAXES FIRST. You must have either the amount of your federal tax return or an estimate for your tax return before you can fill out your FAFSA. (Remember: An estimated FAFSA before the deadline is always better than a late FAFSA.) To complete your taxes, you have two options: • Print off the tax form, fill it out and mail it in. Here you might choose the common 1040 form, or one of the other forms available. Either way, the return process may take anywhere from six to eight weeks. • Or, you may choose to do your taxes online through trusted companies like www.taxslayer.com and www.turbotax.com. Electronically submitted taxes take about two weeks to receive your refund. There is a small fee

associated for using an online tax service. TACKLE THE RETURN. On the tax return, the first entries are simple fields including name, social security number, address, etc. Then you’ll begin to enter your W2 /1099 information. The W2: It is your wage and tax statement for the year. The form is supplied to you by employers where you have worked. The 1099: Is a form provided to independent contractors who work for a business and have earned $600 or more in a year. Once you’ve completed your taxes, send it in and be ready for your return! FAFSA NEXT. The FAFSA combines the academic year into three segments; fall, spring and summer. This means the FAFSA you filled out for this school year remains in tact through summer 2013. The new FAFSA that you will be filling out begins fall 2013. The FAFSA is based on the previous year’s federal income tax. Your go-to site for FAFSA info is www.fafsa.gov. MUST-MEET DEADLINES The deadline for priority awarding is Apr. 19. Returning students must take care of all the

documents necessary by this date. Anyone receiving state aid has a deadline of Mar. 1. Even if you are a first-time tax filer, this process should only take you about an hour if you have everything together. Here are some important things to keep in mind: The address you put on your taxes needs to be the same as the one on your FAFSA. • Put both your email and your parent’s email on the application so that each of you receives your Student Aid Report faster. • Make sure to read your Student Aid Report when you receive it. • The Student Aid Report is what you will receive after you have submitted your FAFSA. The first thing you should look for is your Expected Family Contribution (EFC), which determines need-based aid. Next, look to see if you have been chosen for verification. Verification is a random choice by the federal government that affects 30% of applicants. If you have been chosen, immediately contact Financial Aid and complete your verification. The longer you wait to submit your FAFSA, the more complications may occur if you are chosen for verification. Remember you can use an estimate if you don’t want to wait. An estimated FAFSA before the deadline is always better than a late FAFSA. If you used an estimate, don’t forget to go back into your FAFSA account and update it with the correct amount if it is at all different than the estimate itself.

Christian left sees optimism in Obama’s second term By Religion News Service Heartened by his inaugural calls for gay marriage and for bold action on climate change, leaders of the Christian left are confident President Obama will now claim the progressive legacy they believe he craves. While acknowledging disappointment over specifics in the president’s first term — worry over the use of drones as a foreign policy tool is a repeated refrain — progressive Christians say they believe the president’s solid reelection in November has emboldened him, and freed him to pursue concrete progressive goals they say always have been in his heart.

Still, those goals and the legacy they could produce won’t come easy, says Gary Dorrien, an ethicist at Union Theological Seminary in New York City, one of the nation’s most prominent liberal Protestant seminaries. “He’s got to ‘plant a flag’ on something,” said Dorrien, whose 2012 book, “The Obama Question: A Progressive Perspective,” offered a nuanced view of a figure whom Dorrien describes as full of “protean irony and complexity.” While Dorrien thinks Obama “punted on third down” on a number of issues during his first term, including major long-range economic reforms and a “public option” health care mea-

sure, he believes that Obama is now set to embrace a more progressive agenda. Immigration reform and expanded public investment in infrastructure, clean energy and the environment could be among the benchmarks of a successful second Obama term, he said. Left behind for good, Dorrien believes, is any possibility of breaking the power of the nation’s large banks or introducing the health care “public option” — two things Dorrien thinks Obama could have accomplished early in his first term had he not “settled for less than what he could have gotten.”

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Photos by Austin St. John

William “Billy” Wilson addresses students and faculty in chapel on Jan. 31.

Introducing President William “Billy” Wilson By Kristy McCreary William “Billy” Wilson was announced as the new president of ORU by Mart Green, chairman of the Board of Trustees, on Jan. 31. He was chosen from 170 different candidates after the 9-month search that was conducted for the new president. “Oral Roberts University is really unique in all the world, especially to the Spirit-empowered movement,” Wilson said during the announcement. Wilson is the former vice chair of the Board of Trustees. He is the director of the Empowered 21 initiative that was originally launched on ORU’s campus in 2010. In 2006, he was the executive officer of the Azusa Street Centennial. He is the executive director

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of the International Center for Spiritual Renewal in Cleveland, Tenn. He received his doctorate from the Pentecostal Theological Seminary and has spoken in 120 countries. He’s also a published author. After Wilson was introduced, he spoke on his vision for the university and the things he felt the students desired in leaders. “You are part of the greatest generation in the history of mankind,” he said. “You have technology at your fingertips, and you are brilliant.” He said young people worldwide are looking for leaders with integrity and searching for spiritual mentors. “I want to get to know you. I want to hear from

you,” he said. “We are going to be praying for every student by name.” However, the position came as a shock. Wilson said he did not seek the presidency and that it is not what he and his wife would have chosen - they moved into their dream home in Tennessee just four months ago - but “we feel like we are doing what God wants us to do in this season of our lives. We’re very excited and very honored.” Wilson said, in regards to his new journey, “It’s been very exciting to me, and even more exciting now that I’ll be leading this institution.” Forms can be found on www.oru.edu to submit input on the future of ORU as well as prayer requests.

Flu outbreak hits campus, students quarantined

Photos by Sami Prichard.

ORU students who show signs of the flu should go immediately to Student Health Services. Student Health Services is located on the first floor of the EMR dorm. Hours are Mon.-Fri. 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Physician is available Monday and Friday, 8 to 11 a.m. and Tuesday thru Thursday, 1 to 4 p.m.

By Christa Cervantes As a chorus of coughs and sniffles ring throughout ORU, notifications and emails from administration herald one thing: flu season has come early this year on campus. The flu has been spreading not only on campus but across the country. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, thirty states have reached high flu activity while Oklahoma remains in moderate activity. Although the elderly have been hit the hardest during this year’s flu season, twenty-nine children have died from this year’s flu, with the total number of deaths reaching an epidemic level. Already, 5,000 people have been hospitalized throughout the country since Sept. 30, 2012. For how extreme this season has been so far, it is estimated that the flu season is only half way over. “We expect to see both the number and rates of hospitalization and deaths to rise further,” said Dr. Tom Frieden, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention director, in an interview for NBC. As for the state of Oklahoma, 100 people were admitted to the hospital over the week of Jan. 13-19. Eight people have died in Oklahoma during this year’s flu season, half

of these being between ages 19-64 and the others aged over 65. Dr. Regina Lewis, director of the Oklahoma State University Women’s Health Center and assistant professor of family medicine, said that this year’s flu has hit Oklahoma more strongly and sooner than it has in previous flu seasons. Four hundred eighty-four hospitalizations have occurred in Oklahoma since the beginning of this year’s season. According to Shannon Muchmore, staff writer of the Tulsa World, “three … deaths and 162 of the hospitalizations have been in Tulsa County; the other deaths have been in Creek, Mayes, Muskogee, Pittsburg and Rogers counties.” The severity of the flu is even strong enough to shut down schools surrounding the Tulsa area. Chouteau-Mazie Public Schools, Porum Public Schools, and Westville Public Schools all shut their doors early on Martin Luther King, Jr., Day weekend in order to properly disinfect their campuses in hope of preventing a further spread of influenza. “We just knew that at any point it could get out of control,” said Terry Heustis, superintendent of Westville Public Schools, in an interview for the Tulsa World.

Back at ORU, students have been warned to go to the Student Health Services Center immediately, if showing flu symptoms, especially having a fever. Emily Hong, a senior majoring in graphic design, was recently quarantined after being diagnosed with the flu during a visit to the doctor on Tuesday. The quarantine floor is located on the first floor of Frances, and Hong became very acquainted with it as she was the only one living there for her four-day stay. “The worst part was that I was all by myself,” said Hong. “No one could come in, and I can’t go anywhere. Only my room and the bathroom.” During her stay, Hong appreciated the quarantined rooms due to the cleanliness and ability to rest without distraction. However, she still noticed some problems with the system. “One very dangerous and thoughtless thing is that, while I was in there, I realized there was no emergency access. What if I fainted or something happened?” questioned Hong. “No one would ever know. They don’t come check on me. They only call me every morning to see how I’m doing... That’s all. Very strange.”

Rutland announces changes, Empowered21 move By Madison McDaniel and McKensie Garber On Friday, Feb. 8, President Mark Rutland held a state of the university address for the staff and faculty and discussed campus changes and the transition plan for the next president. Rutland began the event reviewing the new changes to the student handbook concerning dress code. During chapel earlier that day, Dr. Daniel Guajardo, vice president for Student Life, announced the revisions to the student body, receiving a joyous standing ovation. These revisions included the approval of athletic shorts

in Saga, facial piercings for females, earrings for men, longer hair and hats for men. After briefing the staff and faculty on these changes, Rutland discussed the transition into the new presidency. “I will proceed to be the president and serve as the president until July 1,” Rutland said. “There will not be a shared presidency.” The new President-Elect Billy Wilson will begin serving the university July 1. Wilson plans to hold a listening tour with the faculty of each department. He does not want any classes to be canceled for these meetings, but

wants to take time to listen to the opinions of the faculty on what can be improved. Wilson also plans to bring the organization called Empowered21 to ORU. This is a global congress on Holy Spirit empowerment in the 21st century. According to the Empowered21 website, “This congress focuses on shaping the future of the Global Spiritempowered movement by focusing on crucial issues facing the movement and connecting generations for intergenerational blessing and impartation.” Currently based in Cleveland, Tenn., Empowered21 will be operated with

an executive director under the ORU president’s office by summer. In 2008, the ORU Board of Trustees began work on clarifying the mission of the university for 21st century ministry. An initiative was launched called Empowered21, and the International Center for Spiritual Renewal was asked to facilitate this process to focus on new generations and the power of the Holy Spirit. “This will be a wonderful assessment to our university to serve the movement that gave great birth at our institution,” Rutland said.

Greenwood: Then and now

Internet Photos

The 1921 Tulsa race riot left thousands homeless, only to be left out of area history books for nearly ninety years.

Tulsa race riot unknown to students, residents By Greg Brown ORU sophomore and Tulsa native Mason Bear doesn’t know anything about the 1921 Tulsa race riot. “I saw a riot once, but that was a couple years ago,” Bear said. “The police were there and everything, but as for 1921, no, I don’t know anything about that.” Bear knows nothing about one of the most violent and racially charged events to take place in the United States. The 16 hour riot included the arrest and detainment of over 6,000 African-Americans in Tulsa, hospital admittance of over 800 injured men and women and as many as 300 deaths of almost exclusively African-Americans. By the time the riot ended, 10,000 African-Americans were left without homes, partially due to the 35 city blocks burned to the ground during the waves of violence. Bear is not alone in his ignorance.

Despite the enormity of the 1921 race riot, many, including those from Tulsa, know nothing about it. These events weren’t even well-established in the historical record until 2001, and was not included in Tulsa Public Schools’ curriculum until the 2011-12 school year—90 years after the riots took place. Pat Poindexter, a long-time administrative assistant to the Tulsa Public Schools’ superintendent, shed little light on the reasons why it took so long for these important historical events to find their way to the classroom. “Well, it’s my understanding that there were some representatives that came before Dr. Ballard a couple of years ago with a proposed curriculum, and then it was implemented,” said Poindexter. “I don’t know that it was ever presented before that point, but when it was shown to him, it was brought into our curriculum.” Despite the lengthy wait for some

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sort of reparations, they are now being made, at least in Tulsa. Along with this recent addition to area history courses, other compensations began to flow toward the survivors and descendants of those who suffered in the Tulsa race riot. Scholarships are available for the descendants of riot victims. John Hope Franklin Reconciliation Park, dedicated in honor of these victims, was dedicated in Tulsa in 2010. No one is sure why these events have long escaped the minds and hearts of Tulsa. Mason Bear has his own theory. He said sometimes people tend to hide bad history. “Traditionally, winners write the history to paint themselves in a good light,” said Bear. “It takes someone who’s digging around to find truth and bring it back to the surface.”

By Hannah Covington During the early 20th century, the oil-boom in northeastern Oklahoma caused the area to flourish, particularly near Tulsa. One predominately black Tulsa neighborhood shared in this prosperity. Known as “the Black Wall Street,” Greenwood served as home to booming businesses and a strong economic sector. In 1921, the neighborhood became the city’s epicenter of violence in the Tulsa race riot. Thirty-five blocks of homes and businesses were burned and razed. Within five years, the community rebuilt Greenwood, and it soon blossomed into Tulsa’s mecca for jazz and blues. Today, recent renovations have preserved the Greenwood Historical District. Sites honoring the victims of the Tulsa race riot include John Hope Franklin Greenwood Reconciliation Park and the Greenwood Cultural Center. Dedicated in 1995, the Greenwood Cultural Center serves as an emblem of hope and history, sponsoring cultural events that preserve Tulsa’s African-American heritage. Once home to the Oklahoma Jazz Hall of Fame, the Greenwood area still boasts a strong jazz and blues presence for residents and visitors to enjoy.

FEATURES

HOMECOMING BANQUET Photos by Austin St. John

Homecoming banquet attendees enjoy the Feb. 8 festivities at Tulsa’s Gilcrease Museum. Pictured above: Tommy Kellogg; Pictured below left to right: Chandler Elmore and Kristine Towne.

Top: Roberto Banks; above middle, left to right: Dakota Bryant and Taylor Seltzer; Christine Redmond and Max Kutz; bottom left to right: Havilah Freeman and Daniella Stevenson

THE ORACLE • Friday, Feb. 15, 2013 • 9

Still Going After 46 Years By Meghan Drake There’s no need to look at Cinderella and Prince Charming or “Cosmopolitan’s” relationship advice. We have a realistic fairytale in our own backyard. Dr. Kenneth Mayton is director of the doctorate of ministry program in the Graduate School of Theology and Ministry, and Professor Judith Mayton is assistant professor of behavioral sciences. They have been married 46 years, and all the while they still describe their marriage as secure, warm, fun and strong. “It’s fun being married to you,” Judith Mayton said to her husband. The Mayton’s began their relationship in the church. Kenneth was a youth pastor, and Judith’s dad was a pastor at a different church. She was teaching at a local high school. They still remember all of the details of their budding relationship. Their first several dates were centered in a church atmosphere: mission banquet, Christmas concert and Valentine’s Day banquet. On their third date, Kenneth led

up to a tentative and cautious proposal he would ask later. “This may be a little premature, but I think I love you,” Mayton said. On the night of the proposal, Judith just finished making spaghetti for her school’s prom. Kenneth said she was wearing a checkerboard red and white dress. He popped the question in the driveway of her home. She turned her head saying she would think about it, then turned back, answering in the affirmative. “It was so romantic. I smelled of parmesan and garlic and had spaghetti sauce splashed all over me, and there was a huge rottweiler looking in the window,” Judith said. Even after 46 years, they are still each other’s best friend. “We still rather be with each other than anybody else,” Judith said. With the divorce rate on the rise, how in the world have they made it for 46 years? “We’ve made changes without losing the essence of our own personhood,” Judith said. Kenneth said that their marriage

has “matured” and “gets richer.” The Mayton’s enjoy Valentine’s Day as a time to just be together. Judith loves roses, so Kenneth will either get her a bouquet or give her a card saying he will plant a rose bush. With the romantic atmosphere that Valentine’s Day and ORU’s “Ring by Spring” traditions bring, the pressure to find a mate is heavy. “A lot of students here feel like that [if ] they don’t find the perfect other here, that they’re not going to meet another Christian again,” Judith said. Kenneth disposes of this “needle in the haystack theory,” which says that there is only one person in the whole wide world you could ever love. “How would you even know all people?” Kenneth said. But this affinity to find love is normal with the college age group, so the Mayton couple give advice to young lovebirds. They emphasize knowing your own identity before getting attached to someone else’s oftentimes very

different personality. “Be sure you know who you are before you can move into intimacy,” Kenneth said. “He respects my personhood, my thoughts, my ideas, my concepts,” Judith said. Professor Judith Mayton has been teaching Marriage and the Family for 13 years. Many times, her husband plays show and tell. Students see two independent people working together in a relationship. Every Friday, Judith opens class to “Ask the Old Lady Anything Day,” or better known as “Sex Friday” because many of the questions are of that nature. It allows students to have a safe place to ask questions to an experienced and scholarly educator. Questions are notorious for being sexual, but many are not. However, those are the most outrageous: “I test drive a car, why can’t I test drive a marriage?” Judith will just answer back, “Before you do anything think about what you would tell your children they should do.”

Photo by Stephen Salmon

FOUR TYPES OF VALENTINES

Photos by Sami Prichard

Worried that the world is short on love? Never fear. Just look around ORU at some of these campus couples. Clockwise from top left: Gavin Fouts and Haley Winkle, Laura Cobb and Jeff Barker, Raymee Sickler and Mark Schelkoph and Daniel Dauwe and Brooke Machen.

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By Chelsey Butler Mention the holiday dedicated to love and take note of people’s first reaction. It’s pretty indicative of their feelings about the day. The reactions to Valentine’s Day can range from gooey to punch-you-in-the-nose sassy, so here’s a guide to decoding four different types of Valentine’s people and how to interact with them. The Broken Heart Around 8 a.m. on Valentine’s Day, these people come out of the woodwork with a terrible attitude. Why? They’re broken-hearted. They tried to keep a high spirit, but seeing those lovebirds throughout the week weighs on them. Proceed with caution when talking with these people and their downtrodden attitude. Chances are they’ve been through a bad breakup, and they’re yearning to tell you all about it. They’ll steal your attention reminiscing about Valentine’s Days of yore and what the future should have held. Warning: They may or may not ask you to watch “P.S. I Love You.” Just be prepared to be a crying shoulder if you have a Broken Heart for a friend. The Anger Management This person won’t waste any time telling you every problem they have with Valentine’s Day. They carelessly throw around words like consumerism, corporate holiday and sexism— but there’s a possibility something deeper is repressed. Only Freud knows what. Avoid this person at all costs. They are the Debbie Downer of Valentine’s and are out to kill everyone’s mood. The Couple The Valentine’s Day critic may be easy to dislike, but the only thing worse than a complainer is a person who is disgusting with his or her significant other. All day long, her beau has lavished her with all sorts of corny and cliché gifts, and that only led up to the grand finale of some highly romantic and, most likely, overly expensive date. Chances are these people will be too consumed in themselves to bother you, but be mindful of your friends if you’re one of these people. The Self-Dater These people are proud of themselves. They’re having a wonderful Valentine’s Day and aren’t afraid to admit it. They aren’t single — they just made up their minds to date themselves. Self-gifted candy? Sure. Liking your own “I’m ready to go out” photo on Facebook? No problem. But this self-celebration can turn completely crazy in no time. If this is your friend, do them a favor and give them a push to go outside and be with others. They could use it. These are just a few types of people observed on Valentine’s Day. In the midst of celebration, don’t forget that everyone needs to feel loved all year long, or they’ll be at risk to become one of these people in the future.

SPORTS

Men miss first place opportunity on road trip

By Billy Burke What do the largest TV screen in Oklahoma and free pizza have in common? A great basketball watch party in the Armand Hammer Alumni-Student Center. Going into this past week, ORU was tied for first in the Southland Conference. Their opportunity was nothing short of golden, being pitted against the top two teams in the Southland Conference- the Northwestern State Demons and Stephen F. Austin Lumberjacks. The Eagles came in hot, riding a six-game winning streak and hoping to peak during a pivotal road trip to propel them into first. Feb. 7 the Golden Eagles went to Natchitoches, LA to play the Demons, who at the time were ranked third in the Southland Conference.

In the 85-73 loss, the Eagles turned the ball over a stomach curdling 28 times. Part of this can be credited to the sneaky fingers of the Demons, who set a team record with 21 steals. After the game, Coach Sutton weighed in. “...you can’t turn the ball over and you have to rebound,” Sutton said. “That was as poor of [an] effort in both of those things as we’ve had in a long time.” The bright spots of the game were Shawn Glover’s career-high 28 points and Damen Bell-Holter’s 23/14 double-double. Together, they combined for 51 of the 73 points, giving a glimpse into the team’s offensive struggles. Feb. 9 the Eagles looked to overcome their issues and turn it around against first place Stephen F. Austin.

ORU dropped its game against the Lumberjacks, with the final score of 77-67. The Eagles couldn’t seem to get into an offensive flow all night, shooting 40 percent (21-52) from the field and 73 percent from the charity stripe. Again, ORU had bright spots during the game. Bell-Holter continued his strong play of late and racked up his third straight double-double. Shawn Glover finished with 12, but was absent for the second half with an eye injury. Warren Niles’s slump of the first half heated up to finish with 19 on the night. Sutton said this “was a tough game.” “We got off to a good start but we just weren’t able to hit shots,” Sutton said. Sutton said that there was a lot of early success in the game with BellHolter and Glover, but “we just didn’t

knock [SFA] down.” “You don’t beat one of the best teams in the conference without making shots,” Sutton said. The Golden Eagles find themselves in a pickle going forward. Due to their recent losses they are third in the SLC; two full games behind first. As poorly as the Eagles played, they were still within shouting distance at the end of both games. Albiet, ORU did go on a six-game win streak, but the Eagles haven’t played with consistency this year. This showed when they were matched up against the fundamentally sound teams, Northwestern State and Stephen F. Austin. Hopefully this pair of losses wakes the Eagles up. The only way the men will play against either team again is in the Southland Tournament.

Bigham breaks university record for assists

By David Sauer Jaci Bigham tied the record for all-time career assists in ORU women’s basketball in the Feb. 7 game against Northwestern State. However, she would have to wait until the Feb. 9 game against Stephen F. Austin to break it. Taking the ball down the court to the top of the arc, Bigham passed the ball down low to Sarah Shelton who put the ball in for the layup. She clenched the assist, breaking a record that had stood for the past seven years. Leah Cannon, who played at ORU from 2002 to 2006, held the old record. Through her four years, Cannon acquired 603 assists, surpassing a record that had stood since 1988. It was a moment Bigham was anticipating all game. “I knew it, as soon as it

happened,” Bigham said. “It means a great deal because so many great players have played here before me. To break the record of an all-time great like Leah Cannon is a tremendous honor.” Bigham’s teammate Kevi Luper agreed, saying that this is a “huge deal” and that the team is proud of her. “We all know how great Jaci is. We know she should break the record.” Luper said. “She works hard and gives everybody else great looks to score.” Her reputation as a player who helps her teammates grab points have not gone unnoticed. “Jaci is such a smart player,” Luper said. “She just sees everything that’s happening, and she can make some of the most incredible passes I’ve ever seen.”

Photos by Austin St. John Photo by Austin St. John

Jaci Bigham, point guard, broke Leah Cannon’s 2006 assist record of 603.

THE ORACLE • Friday, Feb. 15, 2013 • 13

All-Star weekend features favorite celebrities By Ryan Woods Valentine’s Day is over, and The 2013 NBA All-Star weekend is upon us. The most talent-filled weekend in sports kicks-off tonight in Houston. The NBA All-Star celebrity game gets the weekend started Feb. 15 on ESPN. The teams will consist of former teammates Russell Westbrook (OKC Thunder) and James Harden (Houston Rockets). Last year’s MVP Kevin Hart (“Real Husbands of Hollywood”) will look to defend his title alongside stars that include: Ne-Yo; Nick Cannon; Josh Hutcherson; Trey Songz; Usain Bolt; Arne Duncan (Secretary of Education);

Terrence Jenkins (“E! News,” Anchor); Common (Rapper/ Actor); John Schriffen (ABC News Correspondent); Ryen Russillo (ESPN Host); NBA Legends Dikembe Mutombo (eight-time NBA All-Star); Clyde Drexler (ten-time NBA All-Star); Sean Elliott (twotime NBA All-Star); and Bruce Bowen (NBA legend); WNBA stars Tamika Catchings (Indiana Fever) and Maya Moore (Minnesota Lynx). Immediately following will be the BBVA Rising Stars Challenge, which will feature two teams drafted by TNT analysts Charles Barkley and Shaquille O’Neal who will serve as the opposing general managers.

These two teams are made up of rookies and second-year players. Last year’s Rookie Of The Year, Kyrie Irving, was the Most Valuable Player. Feb. 16 will feature four events. The two main events are the Foot Locker 3-Point Contest and the Sprite Slam Dunk. Long-range supremacy is up for grabs as the NBA’s best shooters take aim. Six shooters will participate in one of the premier contests of the entire weekend. Five shooting stations will be set up around the threepoint line, with four balls worth one point each, and one commemorative red, white and blue

“money ball” worth two points at each location. Each player will have one minute to shoot as many balls as he can. The most exciting event of All-Star Saturday night is the Sprite Slam Dunk. This year’s participants are: • Gerald Green (Indiana) • Terrence Ross (Toronto) • James White (New York) • Eric Bledsoe (L.A. Clippers) • Jeremy Evans (Utah) • Kenneth Faried (Denver). This is one of the most anticipated events of the NBA season and has given fans unforgettable moments for decades. Defending champion Jeremy Evans has his work cut out for him against this field.

CELEB GAME WEEKEND JOSH HUTCHERSON

Nineteen-year-old, Hollywood star of the Hunger Games film series.

CLYDE DREXLER

Ten-time All-Star and member of the Basketball Hall of Fame.

MAYA MOORE

UConn standout and WNBA Minesota Lynx Forward.

In a midseason showcase for the NBA, the 2013 All-Star Game will feature 24 of the league’s brightest stars. The five starters for the Eastern and Western Conference’s teams have been selected via fan voting while the All-Star reserves were selected by the coaches. The 2013 All-Star Game will have a high bar to surpass the excitement of last year’s game in Orlando that featured Kevin Durant’s performance. Houston will bring together some of the most talented players in the league’s history for a global celebration of the game. This is the third time Houston has hosted the All-Star Game — the city previously hosted in 2006 and 1989.

KEVIN HART

Comedian and last year’s NBA All-Star MVP.

Pictured above: Several of the players to be featured in the 2013 NBA All-Star celebrity game.

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ORU baseball ready to start By David Sauer Punxsutawney Phil predicted an early spring when he didn’t see his shadow on Groundhog Day; excellent news for ORU baseball fans. With an early spring comes great weather for the 2013 ORU baseball season, which starts Feb. 15. Baseball season is back, and the weather isn’t the only thing to be excited about. Fans can expect a lot of the same from the team, with the exception of one area. Last June, Ryan Folmar was named head coach of the baseball team. Folmar was an assistant on the team for nine seasons. He expects to bring both new things to the team and some of the same. “I hope there’s a little bit of both,” Folmar said. “Our assistant [coaches] are intact, we retained all our recruits. So I think in that regard, it’s going to be an easy transition. I’ll be making decisions this year that I haven’t had to make in the past, so I think that will be the biggest and newest transition.” ORU returned 19 letterwinners and five starters, however, the team will also have 14 new players so inexperience could be a problem at times. Folmar is expected to be successful right away, evidenced by his winning College Sports Madness’s preseason Southland Conference coach of the year award. “It has absolutely nothing to do with me,” Folmar said. “[It’s] a lot of respect for our program and our players and the way they’ve gone about their business.” One thing that will stay the same for the team is Jose Trevino. As a freshman last year, Trevino led the team in seven offensive categories last season including homeruns, RBIs and batting average. Trevino expects to have more of the same this year.

“I’m just going to keep my work ethic up,” Trevino said. “Hard work is always going to pay off. Some goals I have set [are] 15 homeruns and 70 RBIs. Always set your goals high so you can try to reach them.” While Trevino’s batting will stay the same, he will be transitioning from playing third base to catcher at times. ORU’s pitching will be anchored by two experienced players who know how to win: senior Drew Bowen and junior Alex Gonzalez. Last season, Bowen recorded a 7-2 record and a 1.95 ERA. Gonzalez went 6-3 with a 2.30 ERA. “They both bring a lot of experience to what’s going on,” Folmar said of his pitchers. “Both of them bring a wealth of experience and a wealth of knowledge along with obviously really good stuff too. Both of them pitch big games and have had a lot of success.” Folmar also said that both pitchers are going to be key in a leadership role. “Anytime you go into a year, at some point you’d like to be able to turn your team over to the guys that are playing, and we feel like we’re going to be able to turn it over to those guys in a hurry because of where they’re at,” Folmar said. Both pitchers were named first team All-Americans by College Sports and both were named to the preseason Southland Conference teams. “I don’t try to pay attention too much to those things,” Bowen said of the recognitions. “They’re just preseason awards; they don’t matter that much. What you’ve got to do is go out there and prove yourself during the season so you can ultimately get that award when the season’s finished.” ORU lost pitcher Joe Spring, who recorded a 6-2 record last year. Coach Fulmar said he

expected some younger pitchers to step up and fill that gap. “The one guy who’s going to get a chance early is Gavin Glanz,” Folmar said. “[He is] a big, strong, physical, athletic kid who’s got good stuff and has had success at the junior college level and we expect him to come in and hopefully anchor one of those two remaining spots.” Coach Folmar highlighted a few different spots that are going to be entertaining position battles throughout the season. At first, second and outfield, Folmar said there are multiple teammates capable of playing those positions. Folmar also said the defense is the main weakness for ORU. Some of this is due to inexperience, which will greatly improve as the season goes on. Folmar expects the pitching to anchor the team early while the defense improves. With a new year also comes a new conference for the Golden Eagles. After dominating the Summit League for 15 straight years, ORU will now have a chance to pick on some new teams in the Southland. However, it won’t be as easy as it was before. “The strength of schedule inside the league is outstanding,” Folmar said. “We know we’re going to have to play better on a weekly basis to compete in this league. It’s had a long history of being very, very good. We’re excited about all the new challenges that come with being in an outstanding baseball conference and we’re looking forward to getting started. In the preseason rankings poll, voted on by coaches of teams in the conference, ORU was picked third. Conference contenders Sam Houston State was picked first and Southeastern Louisiana was ranked second.

Photo by Austin St. John

JOSE TREVINO Sophomore Catcher From Corpus Christi, Texas

Favorite food: Chicken alfredo

What he does for fun: Sleep in and watch movies Favorite movie: End of Watch

Favorite MLB team: New York Yankees

“He plays the game with excitement and he comes out to the field and has fun every day. He has a huge bat and he’s going to be a crucial part in our lineup this year.” – Drew Bowen on Trevino

DREW BOWEN Senior pitcher -Bats lefty, throws righty From Tulsa, Okla.

Favorite food: Anything

What he does for fun: Not much due to senior project Favorite MLB team: Houston Astros

“He brings a lot of mental toughness. You know he’s in the game when he’s up there. You can see it on his face ‘I’m going to win this – I want this so bad’ and it’s good to have somebody like that.” – Jose Trevino on Bowen

THE ORACLE • Friday, Feb. 15, 2013 • 15

SCENE

Hello Dolly hits Howard stage By Madison McDaniel Relive the classic musical this March when ORU Theater brings renown hit, “Hello Dolly” to Howard Auditorium. Along with cast and crew, director Laura Holland gears up for the musical production of the year. “Hello Dolly” was a show on Broadway in the 1930s, and centers around the main character Dolly Levi. “It’s about a matchmaker widow that has decided that she is going to join the human race again and that she’s going to marry again,” Holland said. The lead role is played by senior Kelsey Carroll, who hits the stage one last time as Dolly Levi, a character she feels like she can relate to. “Dolly is just a really good character for me I think because she’s big and not very subdued and I have a really big presence I think,” Carroll said. Not only does Carroll feel comfortable tackling the role as Dolly, but

Holland also expressed her satisfaction with the cast. “We’ve got a great cast and I’ve got an outstanding Dolly,” Holland said. “That’s the one thing you worry about when you cast the show and I have a wonderful Dolly… It takes an army to do a show like this and I have a stage manager and two assistant stage managers backstage and then it takes a crew.” Alongside Carroll, junior William Acker will play the role of Cornelius Hackl, a character the audience will soon learn is ready to come out of his shell and not only take risks, but discover love as well. “We’re a lot alike,” Acker said. “We’re both naive, we’re both goofy, we’re both loyal to whoever we’re under and to the relationships we have.” Returning to the stage for his third musical with ORU, Acker hopes to gain a newfound experience throughout the

Photo by Chandler Branzell

Will Acker, Chris Daniels and Devante Mallone sing and dance with brooms.

duration of “Hello Dolly.” “With each musical that I’m in, I try to learn something about myself from the character,” Acker said. “And so from this character I hope to come out of my comfort zone and go after things because I think in order to get out of your rut in life you have to do something that’s out of yourself.” Contributing to the production, Holland has brought in choreographer Lesley Jennings and guest set designer,

Photo by Chandler Branzell

L-R: Kelsey Caroll, Darrius Russell, Heather Wheeler, Brett Heide and Zach Sherwood run through a dance number at a late night practice.

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Sean Irish. Jennings was on Broadway for 10 years and now teaches in schools in Tulsa. “The choreography is wonderful,” Holland said. “She’s making nondancers, dancers.” Award-winning set designer Sean Irish also will be joining the “Hello Dolly” crew in designing sets for the biggest production of the year. “It’s going to be stunning,” Holland said. “It’s going to be a feast for the eyes and a feast for the ears.” While she’ll be gracing the Howard stage one last time in this production, Carroll believes that “Hello Dolly” is sure to make an impression. “It’s going to be a really big production,” Carroll said. “The set is big, the cast is big. I think this is a good musical for ORU because it’s very light…people can just come in [and] laugh and not take the show seriously.” “Hello Dolly” will be performed in Howard Auditorium March 7-9 at 7:30 p.m. and March 10 at 2 p.m. “People walk away from this show humming the tunes and feeling happy and that’s what it’s all about,” Holland said. “It’s a comedy that they’re going to laugh, the characters are fun- they’re farcical and they all will just have a good time.”

Libby Elliott places fourth in nationwide opera contest By Chelsey Butler

What would you do if you were to win $25,000? This is a question junior music technology major Elizabeth Elliott asked herself as she competed against professional opera singers in the Macaroni Grill Opera Sing Off. Elliott, who goes by Libby, has been singing classically for six years. But classical music didn’t become a passion until she started working at Macaroni Grill. “They needed an opera singer,” Elliott said, “so I started singing for the restaurant for people’s birthdays and anniversaries.” Elliott’s job at Macaroni Grill led to her entry in the Macaroni Grill Opera Sing Off, a contest the restaurant held to help bring the art of singing back into their restaurants. Contestants upload videos

of themselves singing to compete against each other in an online voting system. “I’m contestant 448, but there’s hundreds of contestants,” Elliott said. “I didn’t think I had a shot at winning, since I’m not a full-time employee, but I decided to just try and get votes anyways.” Elliott finished the competition in fourth place. Elliott was shocked and encouraged that most ORU students were willing to stand behind her and help hoist her further in the competition. “I’ve just been amazed at how many random people I don’t even know have been helping me. Dr. Rutland even announced it in chapel for me. My friend helped me make a video on YouTube, [and] all my friends have been filling out cards and handing them out.” The online voting ended Feb. 3. When the votes were tallied, Elliott finished at fourth in the nation and fourth in her

region. “They pick two people from each region, so six people get to go compete in the final competition for $25,000,” Elliott said. “All the people in the top five are from the same region. It’s such a bummer.” Though Elliott was disappointed to lose, she still prides herself on her accomplishments within the competition. “I’ve already won a $250 area prize, and if there’s any real reward,” Elliott said, “It’s that I’ve put myself out there.” The contestants who placed above Elliott are all full-time professionals, while she is a part-timer. “Sometimes I have to just step back,” Elliott said. “I get mad that I’m not in first place, but at the same time I’m fourth in the nation and that’s still really good.” If Elliott had moved on to the final round, her singing abilities would have been judged in front of a panel of professional

Photo by Chelsey Butler

Libby Elliott competed against a plethora of professional opera singers in the Macaroni Grill Opera Sing Off. opera singing judges. This opportunity would have granted her an all-expenses-paid trip to Dallas and a $1,000 cash prize. Though unfortunately this was not the case, Elliott was still

thrilled of her accomplishments and is grateful to the ORU student body for their support. “This whole process has been so humbling,” Elliott said. “I want to meet everyone who voted for me that I don’t know.”

Professors, students reflect on Lenten traditions

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Feb. 13 ushered in the Lenten season with Ash Wednesday.

By Danielle Coy Imagine forty days without social networking. Fasting can take a toll on a person, but it allows reflection and self-examination and how we depend on material things. In the Roman Catholic Church, Lent is a period of time taken to reevaluate for forty days. The forty days represent the time Jesus spent in the wilderness enduring the temptation of Satan. Lent begins on Ash Wednesday and ends Holy Saturday. Catholics and many Protestant congregations spend this time repenting, fasting and preparing for the coming of Easter. Dr. Brad Young, professor of biblical literature and of the Graduate School

of Theology and Ministry, received his master’s and doctorate in Jerusalem where he taught before coming to ORU. Throughout his years of teaching, he encountered the many outlooks of fasting from diverse points of view. Young believes all fasting reflects the suffering of Christ and helps connect with the Lord. “Select something important to fast,” Young said. “Some churches are more rigid on the aspects of it.” He explained how giving up one day’s meal and sim-

ply sharing it with someone less fortunate can change a point of view. “It ultimately depends on the attitude of the heart,” Young said. Fernando Merizalde, freshman electrical engineering major, was raised Catholic. During Lent certain meats would be taken out of their diet. The family would also make other changes in their normal routine to observe the Holy Days associated with the Lenten season. “They couldn’t take a shower on Good Friday because it was considered a sin,” said Merizalde. This year, Lent began on Feb. 13 and will end March 30.

THE ORACLE • Friday, Feb. 15, 2013 • 17

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Date Doctor: Embracing the Valentine’s spirit By Robert Redmond Although the Valentine’s season has been formed and fueled by American consumerism, I, contrary to my core principles of being, actually laud what Western culture has attempted to do with the month of February. Valentine’s Day reminds us that the dismal winter wind will soon fade and the blooming flowers of spring will soon inspire a lively vigor to our souls. It provides us with a certain hope that our current environment, though presently cold and dreary, will eventually become brighter. The Valentine’s season acts as a space heater for the heart of sorts, forcing us to inspire warm feelings of love during a generally bleak climate. There’s a cliché maxim that is

perhaps ignored due to the possible fear thrown around theological circles, which I believe adequately describes the of rejection or the inconvenient social season of Valentine’s; it is the season of, nature of asking someone out. A significant number of really swag humans “the here but not yet” (ask your local exist on this planet. Do not theology major for allow yourself to believe an explanation that the seams of reality of the quoted Valentine’s Day reminds have come undone phrase). us that the dismal winter because the person, I am well wind will soon fade and the who you were in “deep aware that blooming flowers of spring love” with though by the time will soon inspire a lively rarely talked to, rejected your eyes gaze vigor to our souls. your proposal to get to upon this print know each other more over the 2013 Valendinner at the Olive Garden. tine’s Day chapter Chances are you idolized has ended, but this does that person anyway, and would end not mean the book must up gravely disappointed a few months be closed— the light of Valenafter the relationship began. tine’s can still continue to glow For those in relationships, maybe even though cupid has flown back you weren’t able to purchase homeinto the pearly gates. For those of you who may be single, coming tickets in time or dropped the ball with doing something special on let the light of this season inspire you Valentine’s Day. Let the Valentine’s to pursue that opportunity which you

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season continue to shine on. Use this opportunity to conjure up creative date ideas, be spontaneous and even have the moxie to get into a bit of trouble with your partner that you can remember and laugh at later. For those of you who may dread this time due to the different, painful memories this season fosters, allow yourself to create new memories full of sensational Valentine’s cheer and good tidings. Although it is incredibly difficult, use this season to begin to release the lingering sting of the past and create a thrilling and engaging future. I am an individual who is quick to engage sarcasm and can easily embrace cynicism, especially during seasons like Valentine’s. I encourage my fellow cynics to pack up their pitched tent of disbelief and nurture an envisioned hope in cupid’s arrow. Go out there, have fun and make something happen. Keep swaggin’ out, ORU.

Breaking the stigma: from gaming to greatness By Chelsey Butler With every activity you face in life, there will come assumptions about who you are, what else you like, the kind of people you hang out with and even your intelligence level. Just like with everything else, the exception proves the rule. There is one activity that comes with an incredibly large and highly insulting stigma: Video games. It’s assumed that people who enjoy playing video games are stupid. As a student graduating in four years with a double degree and a proud avid gamer, I’m here to refute this statement. Now, I do not argue the fact that young children when exposed to high violence among other graphic themes, are more prone to have problems later in life. I speak solely for the 18 and up crowd. I am talking about adults who make their own decisions when it comes to gaming, and what kind of content they allow themselves to enjoy. A study done at the University of Rochester showed that those who played video games were more adapted in their surroundings, a skill that can be picked up from fast-paced video games.

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Daphne Bavelier, an assistant professor at UR who aided in the study, said in the NY Daily News: “People that play these fast-paced games have better vision, better attention and better cognition. Through entertainment these games test your memory skills, your eye-hand coordination, your ability to detect small activities on the screen and interact with them.” Forbes and Business Insider also researched this matter, and came up with substantial evidence that skills which can be learned through problem-solving and fast-paced video games can be used within the real world— especially the business world. Both resources claim that video games teach players critical thinking, problem-solving, decision-making and collaboration skills and how to keep trying when you fail. That’s not to mention the primary benefit being the enjoyment gamers get just from playing. In an interview with Business Insider, Alan S.

Weiss, president of Annapolis Integrative Medicine, said: “Being immersed in a video game and having your brain stimulated can encourage creative solutions and adaptations. These beneficial ideas and thoughts can then be applied to real life situations. The results can be surprisingly positive for individuals, communities and society as a whole.” Stereotypes and stigmas are not kind to anyone. Nobody likes to be judged, categorized, or told that they’re stupid for liking the things they like. “The fact that people make such a grand assumptions reinforces their own ignorance,” said junior public relations major James Craig, who’s favorite video game is game is Pokémon Crystal. I definitely agree with Craig on this stance. Instead of being quick to judge, take a second to appreciate the fact that everyone is different, and that we all enjoy unique hobbies.

Chocolate cake: perfect for your sweetie, or to cure your crippling Valentine’s Day loneliness By Francesca Lucido Sweet treats and cutout cards go hand in hand for the Valentine’s season. Every February 14th couples acknowledge their significant other slightly more than usual and singles are reminded that they are in fact still single. So, for those couples and singles out there celebrating or mourning the 14th of February here is a sweet treat perfect for whatever your Facebook relationship status conveys.

Chocolate Cake

Ingredients 2 1/2 cups cake flour 1 1/2 teaspoons baking soda 1 teaspoon salt 1 1/2 sticks unsalted butter, at room temperature 2 cups granulated sugar 3 1/2 ounces dark chocolate, melted and cooled 1 teaspoon vanilla extract 2 eggs 1 1/2 cups cold water Nonstick cooking spray Chocolate Chip Buttercream, recipe follows Dark chocolate shavings, for decoration Directions Position an oven rack in the center of the oven and preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. In a bowl, sift together the flour, baking soda and salt. In the bowl of an electric mixer, cream the butter and granulated sugar until light and fluffy. Add the cooled chocolate and vanilla and beat for 3 minutes. Beat in the eggs one at a time. Scrape down the sides of the bowl and beat for another 3 minutes. Gradually mix in the dry ingredients in three batches, alternating with the cold water. Beat for 1 minute after each addition to incorporate the ingredients. Mix until the batter is smooth. Coat two 9-inch round cake pans with nonstick cooking spray. Cut 2

circles of parchment paper to fit the pan bottoms and place them inside the pans; then spray the paper for added non-stick insurance. Pour the batter into the prepared pans and smooth the surface with a spatula; the pans should be two-thirds full. Bake for 30 to 35 minutes. The cake is cooked when a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean and the cake springs back when touched. Leave to cool for 40 minutes. Turn the cakes out of the pans and remove the paper. With a metal spatula, spread 1/2 cup Chocolate Chip Buttercream on top of one of the layers. Start in the center and work your way out. Carefully place the second layer on top. Smooth the sides with buttercream, and then spread the rest over the top so that the cake is completely covered. Refrigerate for 5 minutes before decorating or cutting. With a large knife, scrape some shavings from a block of dark chocolate. Scatter the shavings over the cake.

Chocolate Chip Buttercream:

Ingredients 3 cups powdered sugar 7 tablespoons hot water 4 ounces dark chocolate, melted and cooled 2 teaspoons vanilla extract 1/2 stick unsalted butter, at room temperature 1/4 cup semisweet dark chocolate, finely chopped Directions In the bowl of an electric mixer, dissolve the powdered sugar and water at low speed. Beat in the dark chocolate and vanilla. Add the butter gradually in small bits. Mix until everything is completely incorporated. Using a spatula, fold in the chopped chocolate and give a final quick spin. Recipes adapted from Food Network.

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THE ORACLE • Friday, Feb. 15, 2013 • 19

Subjectively Objective: subjective perception By Nathan Porter hoping that our artistic value will Award shows somehow be appreciated. always intrigue This longing has existed for humanme. The 55th ity since the beginning of time. Annual Grammy We all want the masses to conclude Awards took that the artistry of our life is “good.” place Feb. 10 and But we quickly learn the difficulty of the 85th Annual this desire. Academy Awards will be on Feb. 24. Just like art, the intrinsic beauty of For many, the best part of award each individual often seems inherently shows is watching the celebrities who subjective to one’s own opinion. attend these events. Millions of viewers The reality is, many may love and attempt to live vicariously through the cherish the uniqueness and perceived artists posing on the red carpet and giv- value of another’s identity, but others ing gracious acceptance speeches. can dislike it just as well. Although these experiences are As much as we strive for accepglamorized, I’m sure that beneath the tance, rejection always lurks around the surface these artists feel some degree of corner. anxiety over how the Throughout hismasses will grade the tory men have We all want the masses to goodness of their art. achieved a number conclude that the artistry of Perceiving art is our life is “good.” But we quickly of conquests; but the inherently subjective, learn the difficulty of this desire. resolve of humanity so although many seems to be most may love and apprecievident in an indiate the perceived value and uniqueness vidual’s unrelenting pursuit to persuade of a certain piece of art, many may disthe world of their own goodness. like those same qualities as well. We often earn degrees, start families, I can only imagine how terrifying create businesses, spawn ministries, this would be for an artist who views forge inventions and govern nations their work as an extension of themall in the hopes that we’d unanimously selves. receive the award of innate goodness. It would seem that the only comfort But one by one we realize that this and contentment an artist could have award is never unanimous, and is always beyond others opinions would lie in coupled with disapproval. knowing that the artwork they created It feels as though we’re wired for is good. this supreme affirmation from others, Still, the average viewer overlooks but destined to never receive it. the intrinsic struggle and blindly adThis surely is painful. mires and emulates these famed stars. However, I would imagine this is inAs much as mainstream society finitely more painful for the Artist who encourages us to model life after celebviews our lives’ artistry as an extension rities, I think oddly enough, it’s their of Himself. artwork we more closely resemble. I can’t imagine how frustrating it is Of course songs and movies don’t for Him to see individual’s perceive the have feelings or intellect, nor are huobjective beauty of His creation with mans limited to notes on a scale or film subjective disdain. in a camera. I don’t claim to know the scope of Still, human beings and art share His artistic mind— but I would assume one key quality: both frequently rely on He would be thoroughly pleased knowother’s opinions for some sort of value. ing that before we ever attempted to Although we’re not viewed in theprove our own value, He was satisfied aters or downloaded over the Internet, in knowing that the artwork He created we consistently showcase ourselves was divinely and objectively good.

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