March 9, 2016 Print Edition

AN EXTREME MAKEOVER STORY A fire took Bobbi Brown’s home, but media gave her a story worth telling PAGES 10-11

Running for President SA elections set to ramp up in March PAGE 3

Turning Chairs Alumnus represents ORU on The Voice PAGE 8

ORU Strong Baseball team helps battle childhood cancer PAGE 12

Oral Roberts University · March 9, 2016 · Tulsa, Oklahoma · Vol 50, No. 12 · www.oruoracle.com · @oruoracle @oruoraclesports

Address 7777 S. Lewis Ave. Tulsa, OK 74171 Web www.oruoracle.com Phone (918) 495-7080 Email oracle@oru.edu The Oracle is the premier student news media organization of Oral Roberts University. Our mission is to serve the ORU community with accurate and relevant media content, integrity, creativity and a focus on continual improvement.

Faculty Advisers W. Jonathan Cyprowski Director of Student Media wcyprowski@oru.edu

Cristi Eschler-Freudenrich Business Services cfreudenrich@oru.edu

Editorial Jadyn Watson-Fisher Editor-in-Chief oraclechief@oru.edu

Rachel Anderson Executive Managing Editor oracle@oru.edu

Section Editors

Graphics / Photography

Sydney Ilg Online Editor Russell Dorsey Sports Editor Madison McDaniel Features Editor Victoria Atterberry Scene Editor Alyssa LaCourse News Editor Paty Torres-Rodriguez Social Media Editor

Gerald Brown Design Editor Tabitha Levi Senior Designer Xavier Gonzalez Designer Jesse Paul Turner Designer Wyatt Bullard Photography Editor Nikolai Stophel Senior Photographer Sydney Stoever Photographer Abby Friedman Photographer Abrienne Summerer Photographer Jeremy Luczak Photographer Jordan Dillard Photographer

Reporters Rejoice Nwadiuko Staff Writer Emerald Dean Staff Writer Christen Latini Staff Writer Jordan Jones Staff Writer Grant Holcomb Staff Writer

Want to work for the Oracle?

Stop by LR 175 and fill out an application. Positions include photography, graphic design and reporting.

Letters to the Editor

Corrections

Have a thought or story idea you’d like to share? Send us an email at oraclechief@oru.edu.

In the Feb. 26 edition, the Oracle said professor David Burkus was named to Thinkers50 Top-30 thinkers list. He was named as a management thinker to watch on the Radar list. He also spoke at the Jan. 23 TedX event. Cortney Houston’s name was misspelled in the People of ORU story.

Membership - Associated Collegiate Press - College Media Advisers - Okla. College Media Association - Columbia Scholastic Press Association

FEATURES The definition of courage PAGE 7

Advertising Rachael Ngwarai Sales Manager Amoi Blake Asst. Sales Manager Judith Cancela Sales Rep. Andrew King Sales Rep. Dominic Lara Sales Rep. Natalie Reed Sales Rep. Madison Solberg Sales Rep. Robert Kayanja Sales Rep.

Applications

SCENE Victory brings a twist to Easter message PAGE 17

Web www.oruoracle.com Facebook www.facebook.com/ORUOracle Twitter @ORUOracle @OruOracleSports 2 • THE ORACLE • Wednesday, March 9, 2016

SPORTS Summit League results PAGE 13

3/17/16

News SA presidential elections set to ramp up

Potential candidates met with commissioner Amelia Faulkner to learn information about the election process.

ALYSSA LACOURSE News Editor

@AlyssaLaCourse As the national campaign for president continues, the presidential campaign at ORU is just beginning. Eight potential candidates met for an informational meeting on Monday night.

The election process will take place on March 21 when candidates officially declare their candidacy.

The candidates will undergo inter-

views with the Elections Commission and SA Executive Team on March 23.

The first submission of campaign materials are also due March 23.

Candidates will be notified March 25 if they will be continuing in the election process. Those candidates will be allowed to begin creating campaign materials Monday, March 28, but candidates cannot campaign until Monday, April 4.

The Candidate Forum will be held

on April 6 in Zoppelt. Students will be able to ask the candidates questions as a form of debate.

The Primary Election voting begins after the forum at 9 p.m. on April 6 and will continue until April 7 at 11:59 p.m. President Wilson will announce the two candidates with the most votes continuing on to the general elections during chapel on Friday, April 8. If a candidate receives at least 50 percent of the votes plus one vote, then a general

Photos by Xavier Gonzalez

election will not be necessary.

The general election voting commences April 11 at 12:01 a.m. until April 12 at 11:59 p.m. President Wilson will announce the results of the election during chapel on Wednesday, April 13.

For full election coverage follow @oruoracle on twitter.

ORU’s Spring Revival

Lynda.com at Tulsa Library

International Women’s Day

Spring Revival is coming to ORU March 30 and 31. Services will be held during chapel and at 7 p.m. on Wednesday and 7 p.m. on Thursday.

Claudio Freidzon, senior pastor of Buenos Aires’ King of Kings Church, will be speaking during the services. Freidzon was a guest speaker at the Empowered 21 Global Congress in Jerusalem in 2015.

Spring Revival is a time where the campus will focus on spiritual refreshment and renewal.

Classes will take place during revival, but student attendance at all services is strongly encouraged.

Lynda.com is now available for free through the Tulsa City-County Library. Lynda.com gives free online training to improve business, software, technology and creative skills. There are thousands of courses taught by experts in their industries. The courses are added weekly allowing participants the most updated instruction. Once completed, Lynda.com uploads participant’s certificates straight to their LinkedIn profiles.

People wanting access must purchase a Tulsa library card for $1 at any of the Tulsa City-County Libraries.

The International Center is hosting an International Women’s Day celebration at 4:30 p.m. on March 9. This is a time of networking and fellowship for all women at ORU. International Women’s Day celebrates the achievements of women in social, economical, cultural and political spheres. This global celebration started in the early 1900s but in 1913 was moved annually to March 8.

This is the International Center’s first participation in the celebration of women’s achievements throughout the world.

THE ORACLE • Wednesday, March 9, 2016 • 3

Historic Oral Roberts building at risk of demolition

Courtesy photo

Photos by Jeremy Luczak

Left: The Abundant Life building, the original home to Oral Roberts Ministries, is one of the buildings threatened by Senate Bill 977. The Page Belcher Federal Building and Southern Hills United Methodist Church are in danger of being torn down or remodeled against the original specifications.

EMERALD DEAN Staff Writer

@et_dean The Oklahoma State Legislature passed a bill halting tax credits for the next two years. The results will endanger historic buildings in downtown Tulsa.

The Senate Bill 977 was passed by Senator Mike Mazzei and it will suspend 23 tax credits beginning July 1. Three credits were removed from the bill through an amendment by Senator Kim David, including Tulsa’s historic preservation, firefighters and medical research.

The Tulsa Foundation of Architecture is putting together an economic impact study on Historic Tax Credit.

“If those tax credits go away restoring and re-using buildings downtown will become exponentially more expensive and this is where the danger of demolition starts to creep back in,” said Shane Hood, president for Tulsa’s Foundation for Architecture. “Currently, there is a fight in the state legislature concerning Historic Tax Credits; every year someone tries to get rid of them in the face of overwhelming evidence that they create jobs, income and a return on investment of about 500 percent.”

4 • THE ORACLE • Wednesday, March 9, 2016

All buildings just north and south of the BOK center are in danger of demolition or possible “insensitive” remodeling, including Page Belcher and the Abundant Life Building. The Abundant Life Building once housed Oral Roberts’ ministry, but there is now a legal battle concerning its future.

“Right now I am unsure of what the future holds.

[The Abundant Life Building] has been held up in legal battles for a long time,” Hood said. “Not a lot of people like the building. I like it and I run across scores of others who do, but it goes back to [having a vision] and people being able to figure out what they can do with a building that has no windows.”

The building is covered in Vermont white marble 2 inches thick and the marble at its entrances comes from France.

“I have seen designs for the building but they all include removing all of the marble which would, in my opinion, ruin the building,” said Hood.

The Vision 2025 plan resulted in almost $1 billion of real estate development which impacted downtown’s redevelopment and revitalization approximately 10 years ago. The newest Vision Tulsa plans are vague, but there are continued goals to increase places to work, live and play.

“Coming from a background in architecture I always say that we should be designing buildings that are reflective of our time and place,” Hood said. “We should be using the technologies and materials of our generation to be creating lasting pieces of architecture.”

Hood believes new architecture should address the requirements of expanding the city for years at a time to avoid constant issues of demolition and rebuilding.

“We should be embracing smart planning and zoning downtown. Buildings [should be] sidewalk friendly that invite pedestrians to walk downtown,” Hood said. “Everything should be mixed use and parking should be integrated into the buildings in some manner.”

He just hopes the town officials and developers’ decisions are made with the city’s best interest in mind.

“Tulsa goes the way that its downtown goes.

Downtown is the heart of the city and if it dies so does Tulsa,” said Hood.

The annual list of Oklahoma’s Most Endangered Structures, provided by Preservation Oklahoma, will be announced April 6.

Exploring the issues: Gun control

Ted Cruz

Donald Trump

ALYSSA LACOURSE News Editor

@AlyssaLaCourse Hillary Clinton plans to reduce gun violence by nullifying the gun industry’s Second Amendment protection and rescinding the licenses of disqualified dealers. As president, she claims she will keep military grade weapons off the streets and make straw purchasing a federal crime.

“More than 33,000 Americans are killed by guns each year,” said Clinton on Jan. 6. “It’s time to act.

As President, I’ll take on the gun lobby and fight for commonsense reforms to keep guns away from terrorists, domestic abusers and other violent criminals—including comprehensive background checks and closing loopholes that allow guns to fall into the wrong hands.”

Hillary Clinton

Bernie Sanders believes gun control should be left up to the individual states, but certain laws should be put in place across the nation.

“I will take the following concrete steps to reduce gun violence: strengthen and better enforce the instant background check system; close the gun-show loophole; make ‘straw man’ purchases a federal crime; ban semi-automatic assault weapons which are designed strictly for killing human beings; and work to fix our broken mental health system,” said Sanders on Dec. 30, 2015.

Donald Trump believes the Second Amendment protects all the other amendments. He wishes to enforce the letter of the law including stricter consequences for those convicted of a crime with the use of a firearm. Trump also believes fixing the mental health system in America will reduce gun violence.

Bernie Sanders

“I don’t like anything having to do with changing our Second Amendment. We have plenty of rules and regulations. It’s plenty of things they can do right now that are already there. They don’t do them,” said Trump on Jan. 2. “All they want to do is blame the guns. And it is not the gun that pulls the trigger.”

Ted Cruz is a big advocate for gun rights. He believes the Second Amendment helps protect the lives of American citizens.

“The right to self-defense is an essential component of the liberty we enjoy as Americans and is embodied in the Second Amendment,” Cruz said on Jan. 8. “From successfully protecting law-abiding citizens’ Second Amendment rights at the Supreme Court, to defeating legislation that sought to take away this right, I have always championed the right to keep and bear arms.”

Presidential primary race tightens after 20 states ALYSSA LACOURSE News Editor

@AlyssaLaCourse Donald Trump and Hillary Clinton lead their respective parties with the most delegates so far. To win the primaries, the Republican nominee must obtain 1,237 delegates and the Democratic nominee must gain 2,383. As of March 6, Trump has 384 delegates and Clinton has 1,129 delegates.

“Now it’s clear tonight that the stakes in this election have never been higher,” Clinton said in her Super Tues-

day victory speech. “And the rhetoric we’re hearing on the other side has never been lower. Trying to divide America between us and them is wrong, and we’re not going to let it work.”

Trump responded to Clinton’s victory speech by commenting on her previous work in Washington D.C. “She’s been there for so long. I mean, if she hasn’t straightened it out by now, she’s not going to straighten it out in the next four years,” said Trump during his Super Tuesday victory speech. “It’s just going to become worse

and worse. She wants to make America whole again and I’m trying to figure out what that is all about. Make America great again is going to be much better than making America whole again.”

On Saturday, Trump split the four elections with a surging Ted Cruz.

Cruz won Kansas and Maine decisively, and Trump won just as convincingly in Louisiana and Kentucky.

Bernie Sanders won two of the three elections against Clinton in Nebraska and Kansas and added another 14 delegates for winning Maine on Sunday.

1,237 to win GOP nomination

Clinton was able to win Louisiana.

Marco Rubio won his second primary in Puerto Rico on Sunday, gaining all 23 delegates from the territory.

The Republican Primaries in Florida, Illinois and Ohio occur on March 15. The GOP winner takes all of the delegates in these states, unlike the shared delegate system in all of the previous primaries. The winner(s) of Florida will gain 99 delegates, Illinois will gain 69 delegates and Ohio will gain 66.

2,383 to win Democratic nomination

State totals are pledged delegates based on election results.

300 Delegates

384 Delegates

37 Delegates

151 Delegates

498 Delegates

1,129 Delegates

Graphic by Gerald L. Brown Jr. THE ORACLE • Wednesday, March 9, 2016 • 5

Features People of ORU:

REACHING THE OTHER SIDE OF GRIEF

Junior Elaine Gibson Gadberry Rainwater shares her story of loss and how she continues to choose joy over grief.

SYDNEY ILG Online Editor

@findingsydney Mom was strong. She was fiercely independent, a fighter and provider.

But Mom was sick. Her body had been turning against her as long as Elaine could remember. Fibromyalgia, depression, a torn meniscus; the illnesses followed her everywhere. She was always on medication, trying to combat her own body and keep it at bay.

But Mom was strong. She gave up a lot so her children could always have. She ensured her children could live in safe neighborhoods to go to good schools. Mom was funny and witty and highly offensive. She was invincible, that woman, a constant that never gave up and never gave in.

It was Wednesday. Feb. 12, 2014. It was chapel time on campus and Elaine’s phone rang. Colby was calling. She silenced the call. He called again. She silenced it. He called again.

“I’m in chapel,” she texted him.

“Please call me when you get out,” he responded.

This had to be about Mom. Chapel let out and Colby told her in the lobby: Mom had died.

She was 15 minutes late for work and her coworkers worried. Mom was never late for work. They called the police and they delivered the news.

Is there a word to properly describe death? Is there a way to express the sense of loss felt by a soul when one is taken? The crushing, overwhelming weight 6 • THE ORACLE • Wednesday, March 9, 2016

coupled with lightness that threatens to squash all hope: is there a word for it?

This word is bottomless and empty and continues forever, like a forest without a tree line and water without the ocean floor. It’s like a winding path in a wood, shielded by trees, covered with sharp rocks and closing in faster and faster and faster. It doesn’t seem to ever end, it seems to lead to nowhere. It is painful.

It is dark. It is deep.

In every sense of the word, Elaine was lost.

“I don’t know what to do! What am I gonna do? I don’t know what to do,” she shouted, pacing the floor of her room after hearing the news.

She didn’t know how to pack; she didn’t know how to think; she didn’t know how to be. Mom was gone; the one concrete, the one constant, sucked away without a moment’s notice. How was anyone supposed to live after that?

Her roommate returned and held her for a long time. She helped Elaine pack and book a flight and eat lunch. Then, she took Elaine to the airport.

On the night of Wednesday, Feb. 12, 2014, Elaine said goodbye. Not in the ceremonious normal way one is supposed to say goodbye to a loved one, but fleetingly, as if she was rehearsing lines from a play and this horrible Shakespearean tragedy would soon end.

Mom’s apartment was there. Her things were where she left them. Her pastors arrived to help her through the process; through planning the funeral and arranging the cremation. She and Colby; kids

Photo by Abby Friedman

without a mom. Alone.

From there, life went on in a daze. Two weeks passed and Elaine returned to campus. Life had lost its color. All her motivation had been drained and life felt meaningless. Her floor supported her and gave her flowers and cards. Empathetic stories poured forth, but nothing helped. She cried. She cried all the time. Straight A’s became C’s and D’s. Life continued to spiral. Down, down, down it went.

Her grief was real. It cut like a knife and lingered, slowly stealing her life. There was no cure. There couldn’t be, not for pain like this.

“One day I asked the Lord, ‘I just want to go home. Drop out of college, go home and work at McDonald’s. Lord, can I do that?’” She said. “He said, ‘Yes, but it wouldn’t be my best.’”

So she tried.

She tried and she cried. Endlessly, it seemed, but life continued. She attended grief counseling. She talked to others and realized their pain wore a different suit; their darkness simply wore a different face, but it was real. Their grief hurt, but it didn’t hurt alone.

“I have a lot of reasons to be joyful. But I’m just realizing that I’m not gonna worship that grief. It’s a part of my story, but that’s it.”

This is the testimony Elaine Gibson Gadberry Rainwater has out of this: the joy of the Lord is her strength. Everyone has pain and grief and stories, but everyone reaches the other side. In the end, she says, we win.

My grandma: Surviving Hitler’s Germany

Courtesy photos

From left to right: Marietta Cartright at age four and age16 living in Germany. At age 80, she now resides in Joplin, Missouri with her cat Liebchen.

EMERALD DEAN Staff Writer

@et_dean It shouldn’t be hard to call my grandma, Marietta Cartright. Most of the time I enjoy talking to her, but this time the conversation was going to take an unexpected turn. I only hoped it wouldn’t cause her pain.

She answered with her happy yodel, and I let her talk about her day while I kept one word on my mind—courage.

I wanted to hear her stories—the ones she kept buried deep. I wanted to know the reasons we don’t speak German, and why she wouldn’t talk about her time there.

The conversation would come to abrupt halts as she sobbed and she told me some memories can’t be forgotten. I listened to the horrible things no child should endure, and I know we only scratched the surface. I came to a stark realization: maybe time doesn’t heal everything and maybe courage is what gets you through it.

“My daddy was totally anti-Hitler, and he kept lots of things from his children, and I was the littlest one,” she said. “But I still remember three men walking up to my house, and it was unbelievable.”

Hitler’s propaganda played in a loop

as it crackled through old speakers and echoed through the silent town while the Gestapo marched dangerously closer.

“Why in the world is he [Hitler] screaming?” she wondered. “He kept saying, ‘We’re going to do it. We’re going do it. We’re going to take over the world, and put away the Jews.’”

The six year old stood cowering behind her father’s strong leg. The blonde-haired child gripped his trousers till her knuckles turned as white as the fresh snow in their yard.

A red flag didn’t hang from their window, a swastika wasn’t worn on their clothes, they didn’t own “Mein Kampf,” and her father didn’t greet the rough men with “Heil Hitler.”

One man pointed his long bony finger at a little Marietta, whose pupils threatened to overtake her brown eyes.

“When the war is over we’re going to fry you in a skillet, and we’re going to start with her,” the Nazi spat out.

The conversation came to a halt, and I knew she was trying to regain her composure. Courage, I remembered and then she began again.

“They were not nice people. They didn’t like him [her father], so they had it in for him. They were sold on Hit-

ler and his propaganda,” my grandma remembered.

I sat on the other end of the phone, and listened to the sound of silence.

I wasn’t sure if I should ask my next question because I couldn’t imagine what dark things would stir in her memory once I asked, but I did.

“What else happened to you?” I asked.

High in the sky, British pilots flew their B-24s in close formation as their bombers readied for an air raid. The crew silenced their radios as they flew into enemy territory.

The sleepy town of Kafertal Mannheim was the first to hear the screams of the sirens.

“It was very frightening during the war when the bombs fell, you know?” she asked.

Soon the B-24s’ engines were heard and the sky was filled with flyers, but the people continued to run to their bunkers. No one used a flash light for fear of being spotted by pilots who flew lower to the ground in search of targets.

Marietta and her family stayed in the bunker all night while listening to the hair raising explosions grow louder and louder while the B-24’s grew fainter and fainter. When it was safe,

she peeked her head out to find smoke billowing from a crater that once was their backyard.

“You never knew if you were going to make it out of the hole in the basement. You were crouched down inside,” she said as her voice shook. “I remember smoke. I remember the hole.

The cold. The sirens. The explosions.

The bomb had just missed us. It was so close.”

My grandma, someone who couldn’t run out of words to say, had run out, and we arrived at an impasse. I hoped the conversation wouldn’t cause her pain, but we reached a point where the stories—the ones she buried deep— hurt her again. In the silence of the conversation, my grandma was reliving the war. She had made it through it, not unscathed of course, but she is the most courageous person I know.

“I asked the Lord to erase these memories away from me. For years, I couldn’t talk about it, and my children, I didn’t talk about Germany,” my grandma said quietly. “I wanted to bury the whole mess and never think of it again, but I guess I was courageous, wasn’t I? You had to be courageous if you were to live during that time with that evil man.”

THE ORACLE • Wednesday, March 9, 2016 • 7

Alumnus Nhira makes Season 10 of ‘The Voice’

Photo by Xavier Gonzalez

Alumnus Brian Nhira watches his blind audition on “The Voice” along with friends and family.

MADISON MCDANIEL Features Editor

@madisonjmcd Monday night, students and Tulsans alike gathered in the Hammer Center to support ORU alumnus Brian Nhira as the blind auditions of “The Voice” premiered on the big screen.

“It was without a doubt surreal just to watch that moment because when you’re on that stage there’s

really only 500 people in there,” Nhira said. “But what you don’t realize in the moment is that 14 million people will watch this show.”

Brian took the famous stage and sang his rendition of Pharrell’s “Happy,” showing the audience his ability to bring energy to a crowd through his performance. Judges Pharrell Williams and Blake Shelton pressed their buttons and turned their chairs around on the last note.

“All these thoughts come through your mind, and once I realized I was almost all the way through this song, I just thought to myself ‘you know what, this has been an incredible opportunity; if they turn their chairs, they turn their chairs; if they don’t, they don’t,” Nhira said. “I’m going to keep doing what God has called me to do.”

Nhira admits to breathing the biggest sigh of relief when the judges turned around at the last possible second.

“First of all, I was blown away that Pharrell turned because it was his song,” Nhira said. “I never even thought about it being his song before I went to this audition. I just knew that I loved this song and I had my own rendition of the song that I wanted to sing.

So I went out there, did it, and I’m grateful that he

liked it.”

Not only did Pharrell “like” Nhira’s version of the song, he even admitted Nhira sang it better and hit runs he himself couldn’t hit.

“Going into the first auditions for “The Voice” I sang [Happy] and started getting more and more comfortable with the song, started putting my own flavor in it, and it ultimately came out to be something really special,” Nhira said.

As Pharrell and Shelton fought over Nhira’s decision to join their teams, Nhira shared his background in music and told them the first song he ever sang was “Jesus Loves Me.” The judges requested an impromptu performance.

“I knew in that moment that God was in the place,” Nhira said. “As I started to sing it there was an overwhelming sense of the Holy Spirit in the room.

There was almost stillness when everybody stood up; to me, it felt like they stood up in reverence to God. Not just because I could sing well, but I felt like the King had arrived.”

“I began experimenting with different types to see how my body would respond to them, and I’ve been hooked ever since.”

There are hundreds of oils and blends available on the market right now. Distributors like Young Living and dōTerra provide the most reliable products, according to Zlaten, because they test the purity of their oils through an independent regulator.

“For college students looking to try essential oils,” Zlaten said, “I would recommend starting with lavender, peppermint and then a citrus oil such as wild orange or lemon.”

Citrus oils are known for their anti-bacterial properties, and can be used to cleanse surfaces as well as detoxify the body. Lavender is known for relaxation and anti-anxiety, and can boost the immune system in fighting off contagions. Most oils can be added—sparingly—to water and ingested, and mixing several different oils with lemon juice in water can be a flavorful way to get through the flu season.

The concentrates are derived from plants by a variety of methods, and contain natural anti-microbial and anti-bacterial enzymes that help your body fight infection.

“The key to using concentrated essential oils,” Zlaten said, “is to use less of them more often.”

Many oils—wild orange, clove, cinnamon, eucalyptus—can be applied to the bottoms of the feet every

hour, both when feeling a cold coming on and as the cold progresses. To combat the flu, oils like peppermint, melaleuca (tea tree), and lavender can be mixed and applied to the chest, “to promote clear breathing and anti-bacterial support,” Zlaten said.

One of the best methods of treatment is a diffuser, a device that releases essential oils into the air. Because diffusers can be stocked with any oil, they are useful year-round. You can find them at health food stores or through distributors like Young Living and dōTerra. For immediate help, a few drops of oil like peppermint on a tissue can also be inhaled to clear up breathing passages and bring relief to sinus headaches.

While there are many accepted methods and mixtures, what works for one person may not have the same effect on another. Many people respond well to inhaling the aromas of the oils from the skin of the palms, feet or chest. Others prefer ingestion or diffusion.

“I think the best rule of thumb to remember for how essential oils work is to try different types based on recommendations from reputable companies, massage therapists and chiropractors,” Zlaten said, “and then determine what works for you based on how your body responds.”

For more ideas on uses and applications, dōTerra provides a DIY blog on their website doterra.com.

To follow Brian’s journey on “The Voice,” log onto oruoracle.com for more coverage.

Oils offer relief from flu season and midterm stress

Photo by Rachel Anderson

Sophomore Annkelly Cameron uses peppermint essential oils from Aura Cacia to destress.

CHRISTEN LATINI Staff Writer

@jellybnspeaking Essential oils are natural concentrates used to address everything from anxiety to acne. In the middle of flu season, it’s important to understand what these oils do for immune systems and how they can prevent and alleviate sickness in time for spring break.

Rhema Zlaten, ORU alumna and dōTerra distributor, started using essential oils in her household over eight years ago.

“My best friend had started using them and talking to me about how they made a difference in the duration of sickness in her family,” Zlaten said.

8 • THE ORACLE • Wednesday, March 9, 2016

THE ORACLE • Wednesday, March 9, 2016 • 9

Student allows ashes to light flame of passion MADISON MCDANIEL Features Editor

@madisonjmcd

Left: Bobbi Brown studies Cinema, Television, Digital Media in hopes of telling people’s stories through media.

Top : Brown runs the jib camera during a production in Studio 6 in the Learning Resource Center.

Bottom: Brown runs the switcher inside the control room during a production in TV Studio 6.

Photos by Wyatt Bullard

On a summer day in 2007 the Brown family was sitting around the dinner table when they heard a knock at the door. The neighborhood children frantically came to tell them their house was on fire, but like the boy who cried wolf, they believed it was a prank and continued eating their meal. It wasn’t until the police showed up when 16-year-old Bobbi Brown and her family flew into disarray to extinguish the engulfing flames. But it was too late. Their house burned to the ground, swallowed in a fire that would spark the flame to her future at ORU. Senior Cinema, Television, and Digital Media major Bobbi Brown fought through the mire of many years before arriving at ORU. Brown’s adoptive mother worked tirelessly to purchase their home and move from the projects in Bridgeport, Connecticut, so when the fire struck, they were left homeless for nearly a year.

“I was scared,” Brown said. “My mom worked a lot but I never knew what it was like to live without. She did whatever she could to make sure that we never went without and for the first time this was out of her control. When people say ‘You don’t know what it’s like to be homeless,’ I do know what it’s like to be homeless.”

After the fire Brown’s family lived nomadically out of their car, hotels and their pastor’s rental house for a year. In 2008 Brown’s younger brother’s music group nominated their family to be on Extreme Makeover Home Edition.

“We truly trusted God in this process and never lost faith. We had to submit a video of our home and

shared what took place the night of the fire.”

Then the waiting game began.

“They flew out their staff to interview us and to actually meet our family,” Brown said. “They never told us what the process was as far as if we were chosen or not, so all along we thought we were just one of thousands. But truth be told, they had already chosen our family from the day they called the very first time.”

The Lord began to restore Brown’s life materially and emotionally after years of turmoil.

“I can honestly say that if God never does another thing, this was a miracle by itself,” Brown said. “He doesn’t have to prove Himself to me, He already did.

And our house was that example. Now we have a mansion in the hood.”

Brown witnessed thousands of people coming together to build a home for her family. During the construction and filming, Brown observed the cameramen and the Lord ignited a passion within her to tell stories through media.

“It inspired me,” Brown said. “I thought ‘I want to tell people’s stories like that. I want to be behind the scenes like that.’”

Being featured on Extreme Makeover Home Edition was a life changing experience for Brown.

“These people were telling stories of people you would never know,” Brown said. “There’s fires happening every day, but it just so happened you saw my family’s story.”

Brown had known about ORU since she was a little girl “but [her] heart wasn’t set on going until God brought it up for [her] to apply.” Brown applied to ORU after seeing the crew capture the depth of her family’s story.

“When I found out about the media program I was like ‘Lord, if you open up the door for me to get

to ORU I’ll do more than just radio, I want to tell people’s stories,’ and that’s what inspired me to come here, and then the blessings just spiraled out,” Brown said.

Brown transferred from a community college in Connecticut to ORU in 2013, at the age of 23.

She began fulfilling the journey starting so many years before. But despite the obedience, there was something missing.

“It wasn’t until I got into my major and realized what I was called to do when a professor told me ‘Often times you can relate to people who have the same story as you; you just have to find out what story that is.’”

In that moment, Brown realized the power of her story.

“There are people on campus who have dealt with the same thing, just in another way,” Brown said. “That’s when God opened up my heart to tell inspirational stories of struggles and how they triumphed over it.”

Brown will cross the stage at graduation almost 10 years after the fire. She will return home to work for Career Resources with a program called “Father’s for Life,” working with men who were incarcerated and are getting back into the community. Brown understands the power of storytelling and the impact of finding triumph even in the flames.

“Oftentimes we don’t tell what God has done for us,” Brown said. “We keep it to ourselves and for the first time I’ve got to tell somebody, because if I tell somebody then someone else will be willing to tell their story.”

Courtesy photos

The Brown’s home was destroyed by a fire in 2007, leaving them homeless for over a year.

10 • THE ORACLE • Wednesday, March 9, 2016

In 2008 Extreme Makeover Home Edition builds a new home for the Brown’s in just a week.

THE ORACLE • Wednesday, March 9, 2016 • 11

Sports Baseball team battles childhood cancer

Photo by Wyatt Bullard

The baseball team designed “ORU Strong” t-shirts to bring awareness to childhood cancer.

JADYN WATSON-FISHER Editor-in-Chief

@jwatsonfisher The ORU baseball team recently announced it is partnering with the Vs. Cancer Foundation to raise money and bring awareness to childhood cancer.

“We have a mutual friend of the program who lives in the area who approached us. He is connected to the Vs. Cancer Foundation and approached us with the idea. It just kind of grew from there,” said

Head Coach Ryan Folmar. “[This project] is close to the athletics department and Mike Carter. I thought it was a good way to reach a lot of different people.”

The team is raising funds via donation links on Twitter through @ORUBaseball and @ORUFolmar and ORU Strong t-shirt sales.

Each player on the team is growing a mustache as a sign of support. They will hold a head and mustache-shaving event on March 26 following the IPFW game at Sports Clips on East 61st Street and South Yale Avenue.

“The head shaving that some teams choose to do is definitely a silly and simple act, and is in no way mandatory to participate with Vs. Cancer,” said Ashleigh Kincaid, Vs. Cancer director of marketing and hospital relations. “But for kids who have no choice but to spend their time in treatment completely bald, it is a strong symbol of solidarity.”

Proceeds are split with half going toward childhood cancer research and the other half going to the Saint Francis Children’s Hospital Oncology Department to supply fun items and activities for patients.

“We feel that our model of giving helps kids in the future by finding cures and new treatments, but helps

kids that unfortunately are having to fight this battle now,” Kincaid said. “By providing them with things like art therapy, music therapy, Playstations in their rooms, and things of that nature, we are assisting in letting them just be kids during treatment.”

This is the first year ORU baseball has worked with the Vs. Cancer Foundation, founded by childhood cancer survivor Chase Jones.

“Some people are great businessmen; some people are outstanding preachers,” said Folmar. “Our guys happen to be blessed in the athletic realm, so we try to use their platform, which happens to be baseball, to be able to reach people and give back to the community.”

Students who are unable to contribute financially are encouraged to share information about the fundraiser on social media.

“You can get on my twitter account [@ORUFolmar] and just spread the word,” Folmar said. “If you don’t have the money to donate, you can get on there and just start tweeting it out so we can reach the people who do have money and are able to give back.”

Legends of design. through May 1, 2016

SWATCH

•

APPLE

•

12 • THE ORACLE • Wednesday, March 9, 2016

IKEA

•

LEGO

•

GEHRY

•

EAMES

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BRAUN

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3M

Basketball competes in Summit Tournament

Photos by Wyatt Bullard

Obi Emegano led the conference averaging 23 points per game.

JADYN WATSON-FISHER Editor-in-Chief

@jwatsonfisher Men The men’s and women’s basketball teams traveled to Sioux Falls, South Dakota over the weekend for the Summit League tournament where the 2015-2016 season came to an end.

The men’s basketball team finished with a loss to South Dakota State 7370 during the first round of the tournament Saturday night.

The Golden Eagles got off to a hot start, hitting eight of their first 11 shots and led by as much as 15 points. ORU was up for 38:22, but could not close the final minute and a half after SDSU hit a three-point shot to make it a single possession game.

“They handled the pressure and made plays and we didn’t,” said Head Coach Scott Sutton. “I thought our zone was good but we gave up a couple of offensive rebounds. You get those and it’s probably a different ballgame.

We will be kicking ourselves all offseason because that’s a game we played well enough to win and in some ways probably should have won.”

Obi Emegano led the team with 15 points and five rebounds. Kris Martin, Javan White and Albert Owens all finished in double figures. Owens led the team pulling down nine boards.

SDSU outrebounded ORU by a small 35-34 margin but managed to get to the line where they went 24-31 compared to the Golden Eagles’ 10-18.

Emegano finishes his career sixth in the nation with 23.4 points per game.

He had 669 points in this season alone, ninth in ORU history for a single season and has scored 1,367 points in two full seasons. He also ranks sixth in

ORU Sports Shorts Alumni make MLB spring training bids

12 former ORU baseball players are currently participating in MLB spring training. The players include Xavier Altamirano (A’s), Austin “Audie” Afenir (Yankees), Dallas Beeler (Cubs), Doug Bernier (Rangers), Gavin Glanz (Rockies), Alex “Chi Chi” Gonzalez (Rangers), Jeremy Hefner (Cardinals), Jacob McDavid (Angels), Jordan Romano (Blue Jays), Jose Trevino (Rangers), Tyler Saladino (White Sox), and Anthony Sequeira (Phillies).

Beeler, Gonzalez, and Saladino are all competing for a spot on major league rosters this spring. Gonzalez and Saladino both made their big league debuts last season. Gonzalez made 10 starts for the Rangers last season going 4-6 with a 3.90 ERA and also made one postseason appearance. Saladino played in 65 games for the White Sox last season hitting .225 with four home runs, 20 RBI and eight stolen bases.

free throws made (433) and attempted (530). The 81.7 percent from the line ties him for seventh in the record books.

Conley finishes his senior season with a field goal percentage of 57.6, the second highest in ORU history.

Women The women’s basketball team completed its season with a 78-61 loss to South Dakota in the Summit League semifinals Monday afternoon.

“South Dakota played aggressively, physically and every other way. We didn’t meet that at the start of the game today,” said head coach Misti Cussen.

“I think when you dig yourself a hole on the scoreboard against a very good team, I think many times you can’t overcome that.”

The Golden Eagles, led by Jordan Doyle and Maria Martianez with 13 points, shot only 37 percent from the field and 42 percent from the three point line.

South Dakota outrebounded ORU 46-25 and blocked four shots.

The loss comes after the Golden Eagles defeated Western Illinois 68-55 in a record breaking game on Sunday.

Kaylan Mayberry had a career high

Postseason honors Four Golden Eagles were honored with Summit League season awards.

Sophomore Kaylan Mayberry earned All-Summit League second team honors. Mayberry led the women’s basketball team in scoring this season averaging 11.0 points a game.

Sophomore forward Faith Ihim was selected as the Summit League Sixth Woman of the Year. Ihim was second in scoring and led the team in rebounding with seven a game.

Freshman Maria Martianez rounded out the women’s basketball team awards by winning Summit League Newcomer of the Year. The Barcelona, Spain native averaged 7.3 points a game and 6.0 rebounds.

Senior guard Obi Emegano was named to the All-Summit League first team on the men’s side.

Emegano led the Summit League in scoring this season averaging 23.1 points and 5.1 rebounds a game.

33 points, the most for an ORU woman in tournament play. Blair Bryce had 17 rebounds in the quarterfinal game against WIU. The Golden Eagle women finished 14-16 overall after struggling at the beginning of the season.

“We’ve got a young group that’s going to move us forward, and that’s how our focus is at season’s end, using it as a springboard toward our future,” said Cussen.

Kaylan “Kay Kay” Mayberry shot 36 percent from the three point line during conference play.

Men’s Tennis winning big The men’s tennis team easily handled Western Illinois as they defeated the Leathernecks 7-0 Saturday afternoon. The Golden Eagles won all six singles matches and all three doubles matches. Freshman Barnabas Koncz won his seventh match of the season and improved his record to 2-1 at the No. 1 position.

Freshman Kenneth Boykin and Sophomore Jan Pehnec remained undefeated as they moved to 2-0 at the No. 1 doubles position.

THE ORACLE • Wednesday, March 9, 2016 • 13

Stephen Curry: The best player on earth for now

Courtesy photo

Steph Curry points toward heaven after making a three pointer. Curry has scored over 40 points in 12 games this season.

RUSSELL DORSEY Sports Editor

@AfroBroRD

Stephen Curry is the best basketball player in the world right now, and to be honest, it’s not close. This statement has been the topic of debate for many fans and experts this season. No player has been more dominant in 2016.

Curry is a human highlight reel.

His ankle breaking crossovers, dazzling layups and ridiculous three-point shots from nearly half court amaze fans every night, but these amazing feats don’t adequately show how good of a season he is having.

This season Curry is averaging a career-high 30.7 points per game, dishing out 6.6 assists and grabbing 5.3 rebounds. He’s also shooting a blistering 47 percent behind the arc and 91 percent from the line.

Player Efficiency Rating (PER) is an advanced statistic, which collects a player’s contributions, both positive and negative, to a team to measure per-minute productivity. Curry’s PER is currently 32.41. The mark would

break the record of 31.82 set by Wilt Chamberlain 52 years ago. Curry is also leading his Golden State Warriors (566) to one of the best seasons in NBA history.

Speaking of record breaking, Curry has already broke the NBA record for three pointers made this season (286) with 20 games remaining. Curry set the record each of the past two seasons. He is currently on pace to knock down over 400 three pointers in 2016.

Skills aren’t the only attribute in determining the best player in the world.

Intangibles matter.

LeBron James and Curry are the names mentioned in this argument.

Both players have elite skills and high basketball IQs, but the ability to make the players around better separates them. Curry makes his teammates better by being on the floor. His presence takes the pressure off them and allows them to elevate their game. James tends to shoulder his team rather than mak-

ing them dangerous.

What pushes Curry to the top of the list is not just that he’s dominating the NBA, but it is the relative ease he’s doing it with. Curry is averaging two points above his season average (32.6 points) against the top-three teams in the NBA (Oklahoma City Thunder, San Antonio Spurs and Cleveland Cavaliers). He is raising his game to greater heights against the best competition in the league.

Steph Curry is having the best year of his career and is the favorite to win his second consecutive MVP award, but it doesn’t mean there can’t be a new “Best Player in The World” next year.

Just like Curry elevated his game to another level this year another superstar like Russell Westbrook, Paul George or Kevin Durant could do the same next year. Until that happens, it is Curry’s league and everybody else is just playing in it.

Teams looking for quarterbacks have options JORDAN JONES Staff Writer

@jonesman14 The NFL free agency period is about to begin, and as always, quarterback is the biggest area of need for many teams. There are very few good quarterbacks in the NFL, which causes teams to throw money at mediocre QB’s like Sam Bradford and Kirk Cousins.

There are very few quality options at quarterback in this year’s free agent class. Here are a three options for teams looking for their next quarterback.

Courtesy photos

DRAFT A QUARTERBACK

This year’s draft class has a handful of quarterbacks teams are interested in. Jared Goff (Cal), Carson Wentz (North Dakota State), Connor Cook (Michigan State) and Paxton Lynch (Memphis) all have a chance to be good at the NFL level. It may be better for teams to draft and develop a young quarterback than to sign a journeyman quarterback in free agency.

BROCK OSWEILER Osweiler enters free agency at the perfect time. He has skill, potential and is the youngest quarterback available at only 25 years old. Osweiler has a great opportunity after Peyton Manning announced his retirement Monday. If the Broncos don’t give him a chance, another team will definitely do so.

14 • THE ORACLE • Wednesday, March 9, 2016

RYAN FITZPATRICK Fitzpatrick has always had a knack for finding his way into a starting role. He proved many critics wrong in 2015 and had his best season in New York at age 33. Fitzpatrick threw for a career-high in touchdowns (33) and passing yards (3,905). Fitzpatrick showed his ability to lead a team and just missed making the playoffs.

THE VERDICT Teams hoping to sign a free agent quarterback this offseason would be better suited to look to the draft for answers. Drafting a quarterback will save money and prepare team for the future. Youth and the opportunity to mold a QB to the team’s offensive scheme right out of college is just what the Browns, Texans 49ers and many other teams need to revitalize their organizations. Playoff teams have good quarterbacks and finding that quarterback in the draft is key.

Scene The Spring breaker’s guide to Tulsa KELSEY LUETJEN Contributing Writer

@kelsey_luetjen Spring Break is right around the corner. For those who will be stuck in Tulsa and want some fun ideas instead of sitting in your dorm room, look no further.

Here are fun activities to do in Tulsa and its surrounding areas over spring break.

2. Take a day trip

1. Go camping

There are great camping sites not far from Tulsa.

Devil’s Den and Robbers Cave are camp sites located in Arkansas. They are approximately 2 ½ hours away from campus and have beautiful hiking and swimming spots. Also make a visit to Turkey Mountain, just right across the Arkansas River.

4. Attend a concert or a show

This is a great opportunity to go see a band or show and stop for some ice-cream afterward at Braum’s for a sweet treat. Awolnation is playing at Cain’s Ballroom March 15. “Rent,” a famous musical performed by local actors, is playing at Tulsa PAC March 18. Be sure to check out the Brady Theatre and the Vanguard for more local shows.

3. Adventurous fun

Oklahoma has some places no one even knows about. The Great Salt Plains is one of those unknown places. This barren landscape is considered one of Oklahoma’s great state parks and it’s entirely made of salt. Great Salt Plains is only 2 ½ hours away from ORU. It is a beautiful and unique site for taking pictures. If Great Salt Plains isn’t appealing enough, there are many other options to check out online.

Xtreme Racing is a little pricey but an entertaining place to compete against friends in a fast paced go-kart race. SkyZone trampoline park is another suggestion for a enjoyable time while getting those aerobic points taken care of. It is $14 for a 60-minute jump time and it is recommended to reserve a jump time beforehand because it can get very busy. Other great places to check out are the Tulsa Zoo, Oklahoma Aquarium and Admiral Twin Drive-In.

5. Relax at a local park

6. Free Stuff

If the weather allows, take a blanket, a good book, or bring some friends and throw around a Frisbee for a good distraction from the midterms you may or may not have failed. Chandler Park has a great Frisbee golf course. This is also a great place to go free-climbing but be careful. Animal lovers will love Hunter Park, a popular dog park where people can satisfy their desires to be cuddled by a numerous amount of puppies. Also check out Centennial Park, Woodward Park and LaFortune Park to spend the warm Spring Break days.

Philbrook Museum offers free admission for students all the time. This is a great deal for students to spend a day at an art museum awakening their inner artist. Visit the Oxley Nature Center. This lovely hiking trail offers a peaceful visit with nature. Students can also rent bikes on Riverside for free. Rentals last all day and they are located at three different spots along the Arkansas River: 19th Street and Riverside, 41st Street and Riverside, and in Jenks at the 96th Street Arkansas River pedestrian bridge.

Illustrations by Jesse Paul Turner

THE ORACLE • Wednesday, March 9, 2016 • 15

The Conversant Critic: The Rusty Crane

The BBQ wings are tossed in The Rusty Crane’s “rusty dust” and doused The Rusty Crane, located in the Brady Arts District, offers a variety of food with the house’s special BBQ sauce. The sweet potato fries are well choices including a brunch menu on weekends. seasoned and served with a side of creamy and tangy ranch.

The staff is cordial, but they walk VICTORIA ATTERBERRY around in a hurried fashion, busing Scene Editor @Tory2495 tables and taking orders. Customers The Rusty Crane is a unique, vintage may have to flag down waiters to let style restaurant tucked away near the them know they are ready to be served Brady Arts District. It has a distinctive on days when guests seat themselves. atmosphere and a variety of different The waiters do come back to check foods. This pub flaunts its “Be Here” on customers after they order a meal, motto, which encourages people to asking if they would need anything else have conversation with friends and look or if they need to-go boxes. them in the eye while enjoying meal.

The Rusty Crane’s BBQ wings come The small pub’s name suits its rustic 10 to an order, are tossed in the fadesign. The restaurant feels as if it were mous “rusty dust” and topped with the pulled right out of the early 1900s with Rusty Crane’s house BBQ sauce. They aged elevator shafts, old décor and are made to order and come out not worn brick walls. incredibly steamy but hot enough. Eat The atmosphere is laid back with the wings soon because they will get dim lighting. Some tables are designed cold quickly. These wings are a mediowith historic pictures of people from cre selection, but they can be satisfying. what appears to be the 1900s. The The BBQ sauce is tangy, mostly sweet Photos by Jeremy Luczac Rusty Crane has a large bar area with with a pinch of spice. The sauce is avThe Rusty Crane flaunts a vintage design with tables decorated with bar stools and booths located on the erage and doesn’t have the unique taste photos of people from the early 1900s. first floor. This area seems to be the one would expect from a special sauce.

The Rusty Crane’s atmosphere is more most popular area among guests. More Instead of reveling in each bite, one will fort food. Dip the fries in the ranch to enjoyable than the food itself. make a creamy combination.

Sharing tables are located upstairs for those get quickly tired of the same moderate might be a good option for those who who want to enjoy a meal. There is also taste. like to eat light because the fries come a spacious patio guests can enjoy on The moist and hot chicken, howin a generous portion size. For those warm days. ever, goes well with the sauce, making who don’t like sweet fries, try the Crane The Rusty Crane has an ecleca decent wing. The wings also serve For more reviews and Fries. These original style fries come tic menu consisting of wings, pastas, good as left overs and are a tasty snack thickly cut and seasoned with salt with sandwiches, wraps, tacos, soups, salads, re-heated. The wings are $12.99 per critiques from the a crispy finish. All sides are $2.99. appetizers, sides and desserts. The pub order and only come in a large size.

Conversant Critic go to The Rusty Crane is a unique place also offers a brunch menu served SaturThe sweet potato fries are cooked oruoracle.com/scene. designed to attract specific people. For day and Sunday until 2 p.m. including to a crispy perfection, thickly cut and those who love small, distinctive places bacon cheddar chicken & waffles and seasoned with salt and paprika, and breakfast tacos. served with a side of ranch. These sweet to dine, The Rusty Crane is a perfect spot. The restaurant would also be an On slower days, The Rusty Crane versions of the classic french fries have ideal spot for a late night date. Overall, invites customers to seat themselves. a bold taste and serve as a good com16 • THE ORACLE • Wednesday, March 9, 2016

Tulsa church adds new twist to Easter story

Pictured above is Jordan Adams playing the part of Jesus. Pictured on the right is actor and ORU student Eric Willis portraying a Roman guard. Consisting of over 400 participants, this production takes many months of preparation and dedication, all in the effort to bring the message of Jesus to life.

The play incorporates dancing and music not wellREJOICE NWADIUKO known and remixes of popular songs to cater to the Staff Writer modern audience. The performance also consists of @rejoiceck3 intense themes and seven major elements that have Victory Christian Center is producing its annual not been performed on the Victory Christian Center Easter production, incorporating an unexpected twist. stage for 20 years.

“There’s a big comparison between light and dark,” “John Daugherty and Jonathan Coussens have said Pastor John Daugherty, producer and playwright really made the characters leap off the page in ways of Victory’s original “God Save the World.” “There’s that I don’t think even people who are church-going gonna be surprises that we haven’t done before. We’re people are accustomed to,” said Stafford. “My hope is gonna show demonic influence, so we’re gonna inthat this play will create a renewed hunger and energy volve Lucifer for the first time. We’ve [also] invented to go into the Bible.” some characters that are lively.”

By bringing the Bible to life, the audience will The play was written, directed and produced by be able to experience every emotion, pain and battle ORU grads, John Daugherty, Jonathan Coussens Jesus felt during the week before his resurrection. The and Ryan Stafford, who is the co-director along with production comes at no cost to the public.

Daugherty.

“We never charge for performances because we “We’re not just going straightforward like a Sunfeel weird for charging people for Jesus,” said Daughday school class about the final week of Jesus,” said erty. “You will experience every emotion. You will Stafford. “Instead of seeing Jesus tried before Pilate, laugh, you will cry, you will feel hatred, and at the end, we’ll see Jesus in the dungeon with the two thieves you won’t be able to leave without being changed.” and Barabbas having their conversation.”

Performance dates are Friday March 25 at 7 p.m., Daugherty describes the writing process of the Saturday March 26 at 11 p.m., 5 p.m. and 7 p.m. and play as being a “divine download,” writing the entire Sunday March 27 at 9 a.m., 11 a.m. and 6 p.m. play in one night.

“I wrote the script, and I chose the music and the cast,” said Daugherty. “I produced it. [Stafford] is now directing it just because that’s his gifting. I love it.”

Photos by Tabitha Levi

THE ORACLE • Wednesday, March 9, 2016 • 17

Tulsa deals for college students ALYSSA LACOURSE

Weekly specials

News Editor

@AlyssaLaCourse The semester is half over and spring break is just around the corner. These weekday deals will provide a study break and go easy on your bank account.

Yokozuna Happy Hour sushi deals from 3-6 everyday | $7-$8.50 movies at Warren Theatre Broken Arrow Sunday through Thursday

Free

$9.95

Monday

Bowling for men at Andy B’s

All you can play activities, video games or $20.00 FUN card at Main Event

$1.00

Carnitas tacos at El Guapo’s

$0.65

Wings at Buffalo Wild Wings

$4.00

Wednesday

Burgers at McNellie’s

$5.00

Burgers at Full Moon Café (Tulsa locations)

Nivea Men’s After Shave Balm NikkeTutorials, a YouTube makeup artist, once used Nivea for Men Aftershave Balm in place of a moisturizer and primer in desperation while doing makeup at her boyfriend’s place. The glycerin in this product traps water and keeps the balm from disrupting the makeup, allowing it to look hydrated and glowing. The balm gives a beautiful finish and helps keeps makeup looking fresh for a solid six hours when paired with a long wearing foundation. Nivea for Men Aftershave Balm is triple the size and 1/3 of the cost of most primers. Buy the balm for only $5.31 at Target.

18 • THE ORACLE • Wednesday, March 9, 2016

$5.00

Movies at Cinemark Tulsa

Tuesday

Free

Bowling for women at Andy B’s

$0.65

Boneless wings at Buffalo Wild Wings

Thursday

Morgan Freeman GPS

Zootopia breaks box-office

Navigation app Waze recently gave users the option of choosing widely known actor Morgan Freeman to be the voice of their GPS. Freeman tells users at the start of their dive, “The American people are counting on you to drive. Let’s go.”

The app has offered this selection as a way to promote Freeman’s new film “London Has Fallen.” Download the app from the App Store, Google Play or Windows Phone Store for free.

Waze users will be able to select Freeman’s voice until March 31.

Disney animated film “Zooptopia” broke records last weekend bringing in over 73 million dollars, beating out “Deadpool” and “London Has Fallen” for the number one position and rising above Frozen from 2014. “Zootopia” is the number one grossing weekend opening film in Disney history.

The film received raving reviews, taking in a score of 99 percent on Rotten Tomatoes from critics and 96 percent from audiences. Zootopia is now playing in theaters.

Muse Demanding truth and accepting bias

JADYN WATSON-FISHER Editor-in-Chief

@jwatsonfisher The media is not evil, contrary to popular belief.

Not all reporters seek to skew the truth behind every situation. Not all news outlets purposely withhold information in order to manipulate the public, only for it to go viral in “Check out what the liberal or conservative media doesn’t want people to see” videos.

I’m a journalism major and the Editor-in-Chief of a Div. I university publication, and even I see the truth behind this stigma.

I will be the first to admit there are serious issues with the way news is reported. It’s the reason I’m entering this field: not to be like other reporters, but to change the system.

The purpose of news reporting is not telling people what to think. The purpose is to provide enough information for individuals to make their own informed decisions. A person, however, would never come to such a conclusion based on the state of modern journalism. There are reporters who will present certain information about a story only if it furthers their political beliefs, and it doesn’t matter which side of the spectrum their convictions fall.

There is a distinct dichotomy between liberal and conservative media, and it leaves citizens asking questions and feeling upset because they never receive the whole story. Sometimes, these results drive readers to take unnecessary and improper action to “solve” a situation they don’t understand, or “resolve” a problem when there isn’t one in the first place. They wonder where the truth truly stands. This is a reasonable response, and it’s easy to assume the media only cares about creating division and promoting its various political agendas.

But, like any quality news story, there is more than one side to the issue.

Citizens play a large role in the way media is presented. According to Pew Research Center, 45 percent of American adults received their news on Twitter or Facebook in 2015. Due to space restrictions and character limits, news organizations are

forced to post only the headlines, with links to the real story, on social media as they fight to maintain readership and engagement.

But studies by Chartbeat, an online attention analysis company, show there is no correlation between the number of people who share or tweet articles and the number of times the content is read. This means an article could be tweeted a million times and only be read in-depth by 20 percent of the people who originally saw the link.

On average, Americans watch or read only 25 percent of content within one post before sharing or commenting, and only 25 percent of people watch or read content in its entirety. If people aren’t willing to take the time to read to the end of an article, they can’t be certain they’ve received all the available information, allowing them to get a better understanding of the story.

Readers demand truth from the media, but a study

by Barna shows only 34 percent of American adults even believe in the concept of absolute truth. If 66 percent of the American population believes truth is relative, how can a reporter be criticized for sharing “their version” of the truth?

Many people get their primary news information from sources they deem to share their own beliefs.

According to another study by Pew Research Center, 47 percent of conservatives cite Fox News as their primary source for government and political news, and 15 percent and 13 percent of liberals choose CNN and MSNBC, respectively.

The audience of each outlet does not tend to seek information from other sources either. Forty-six percent of Fox’s viewership comes from those who consistently identify as conservative. Forty-eight percent of MSNBC’s viewership comes from those who consistently identify as liberal. Both outlets only bring in approximately 18 percent of the opposing side. In general, only those who hold mixed or independent views opted to seek information from both sources, comprising 35 percent of each source’s audience.

All journalists should seek to present all sides in a story, but it doesn’t always happen. In order to have well-rounded views on an issue, people should be willing to consistently pursue knowledge and insight from multiple sources.

While there are reporters who don’t seek to be unbiased in what they do, readers have to examine their actions. Regardless of whether it wants to admit it or not, the American populace is just as responsible for the state of modern journalism as those who work for it.

AMERICAN NEWS HABITS

45%

Number of people who receive news via Facebook or Twitter

25%

Amount of content watched or read before being shared

25% 46%

Percentage of people who read or watch content in its entirety

Fox News and MSNBC’s audience by political beliefs

19%

48%

37% 33%

Mostly/ Mixed/ consistently independent conservative views Graphic by Jadyn Watson-Fisher

17% Mostly/ consistently liberal Fox News MSNBC

THE ORACLE • Wednesday, March 9, 2016 • 19

20 • THE ORACLE • Wednesday, March 9, 2016