Vol. 52, No. 6 Photo by Xavier Gonzalez
Cheap food is an illusion Page 6 Currency of the future Page 3
Professor strives to cure cancer Page 8
Tulsa, Oklahoma • January 26, 2018 • www.oruoracle.com
Superbowl LII preview Page 12
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Chance for cashless currency by Kendall Brown @oruoracle
It was a universally accepted idea that the world was going to change dramatically by the year 2000 with flying cars and robot servants. However, most of the change has been smaller and more discreet. In fact, some of the changes are invisible. Changes that, in the future, could replace the need for paper money. Furthermore, these changes invalidate American currency completely. What was merely a whisper that has now become a loud word is Bitcoin. Bitcoin or Sedcoin is a type of currency that is purely online, completely traceable and almost unscammable. On the Bitcoin site, everyone can see how much money other users have. And because it is online it’s all traceable and taxable. Shortly after Bitcoin was established
in 2009, one Bitcoin was worth a fraction of a dollar. Today, one Bitcoin is worth more than $10,000. “A few years ago, Mexico, Canada and the U.S. tried to do this with the Amero form of currency like the Euro but it never happened,” said international businessman Calvin Burgess. “Then about a year ago there was a conference with 80 countries, to talk about Bitcoin.” “From there it was learned that this isn’t a new concept. This idea has already taken form in Saferia. com which is like Bitcoin but solely in Kenya,” said Burgess. The reason for this could-becoming currency change is that it is a way to solve the debt problem, before the economy collapses. “Because of debt and inflation, countries are going to have to take this route,” said Burgess. “This is how
everyone will pay taxes, and you can’t hide from the government because there will be no cash. To sign up you have to be legal which will take away the possibility of illegal pay.” Burgess believes that the only thing left in cash in the future would maybe be a $20 bill, but eventually even that will be obsolete. He also made sure to differentiate that it will not be like a credit card at all. “Everything [the dollar] is based on will collapse.” It looks like this could truly be international currency with the exception of China, based on the country’s form of government. Eventually many countries could use their own form of Bitcoin but of course all of this is speculation.
Trumpdate by Grant Holcomb @grantholcombORU
DACA and the government shutdown Negotiations between Republicans and Democrats continue on Capitol Hill. Republicans held off on discussing DACA and other immigration policies during the 69-hour shutdown until President Donald J. Trump signed a bill to fund the government through Feb. 8. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell announced his team will put forth legislation regarding immigration and DACA.
Targeting human rights abusers Also taking place just days before Christmas, Trump signed an executive order issuing sanctions on individuals and groups who enable “human rights abuses and corruption.” Those now under sanction include a Guatemalan congressman and the son of Russia’s prosecutor general, among others.
GOP’s tax bill Over Christmas break, when students were relaxing with good food and family, Trump announced the signing of a tax reform overhaul. It was the first big legislative victory for the Trump administration and the cooperating GOP. According to the U.S. Treasury, 90 percent of families who get a paycheck will take home a greater portion of their net income as soon as February.
Temporary work visas blocked Trump announced the removal of Haiti from a list of countries whose immigrants are eligible to receive seasonal and agricultural visas. Belize and Samoa were also left off of the list. This comes after Trump’s administration also ended “Temporary Protected Status” for nearly 60,000 Haitians working in the United States since the 2010 earthquake which shocked Haiti.
According to www.charts.bitcoin.com, the currency was at its peak worth around Dec. 2017 at $19,199.56. Photo provided by Pexels
McCain’s team inquired about dossier
Last month, the House Intelligence Committee subpoenaed an associate of Sen. John McCain over the 35-page anti-Trump dossier which has led to much scrutiny as it alleged “collusion” with Russia. Until this point, it was accepted that a Republican was the first to seek out a dossier with former British spy Christopher Steele at Fusion GPS. Founders of Fusion GPS have expressed that they feel unrightfully targeted according to NPR.
Trump to give State of the Union Address President Donald J. Trump will give his first State of the Union address this Tuesday. It will be broadcasted at 5 p.m. Tuesday, Jan. 30. Live fact-checking will also be avaliable through NBC News. With Trump’s current approval rating of 37 percent, many Americans agree that the economy is doing fairly well, according to CBS. It is anticipated that Trump will touch largerly on the state of the economy.
January 26, 2018 • Oracle • 3
North and South Korea find compromise by Chae Woon Yoo @chaewoonyoo
South Korea will hold the 2018 Winter Olympic Games, compromising with its long time clashing neighbor walking under the same flag. /Illustration by Hyunjin Bae
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PyeongChang, South Korea will be holding the 2018 Winter Olympic Games. South and North Korea have been separated and in conflict for more than 70 years. The location of the Winter Olympic games was moved to South Korea after news of Russian athletes doping during the 2014 Winter games broke. Not only were 19 Russian Olympians banned due to the scandal, but 11 of their medals were taken from the Sochi Olympics. North Korea has been a part of the Summer Olympics since 1972 except for the games that were held in Los Angeles in 1984, and the 1988 games in Seoul, according to the New York Times. South Korea believes that North Korea attempted a terrorist attack by placing a bomb in a Korean Air passenger plane before the games in Seoul. The bomb killed everyone on board the plane. Tension between the two countries has remained high ever since. North Korea’s leader, Kim Jong-Un, has been threatening to launch a nuclear missile on U.S. and South Korean lands for a while. North Korea has tested a total of six missiles so far and threatens to launch another over the Pacific Ocean which could harm ships and aircrafts, according to Newsweek. Many countries have been taking precautions against such threats. According to the U.S. intelligence community, North Korea is thought to have about 25 to 60 nuclear weapons. Kim Jong-Un himself said that his “country was capable of presenting a substantial nuclear threat to the United States.” Because of this, there was concern that North Korea would try to compromise the safety of those attending the Olympics. South Korea was quick to talk over the matter with North Korea to form an agreement. Talks of peace made at Panmunjom, the border between North and South Korea. South Korea’s Minister of Unification Cho Moung Gyon met with North Korean delegate Ri Son-kwon about sending North Korean parties and athletes to the Winter Olympics. North Korea readily agreed to send their own athletes to the Winter Olympics in South Korea as well as a cheering squad and a performance-art troupe, according to the New York Times. They will also send about 230 people to cheer their athletes. “Who would have thought with these nuclear tensions, the sports diplomacy and music would bring countries together?” said ORU Assistant Professor of International Relations Ruby Libertus. “I think it’s an amazing testament because we always advocate for this type of connecting with music, sports and the Olympic games is one of those times that brings countries together.” North and South Korea have agreed to march together under the same flag at the Winter Olympics opening ceremony, according to CNN. “Yes, it is competitive,” said Libertus. “But people really watch it, especially the opening ceremony of the countries coming down. So yes there are controversies, like the World Cup scandal and, of course, the doping that occured. But I think the Olympics bring the world together.“
Photo by Daria Shevtsova
Career Fair invites students
On Feb. 21, ORU is hosting the 2018 Spring Career Fair for all students interested in networking with ORU alumni and prospective employers. It will be held in the Global Learning Center from 12 p.m. to 3 p.m. Lunch will be provided from 11 a.m. to 12 p.m. The Career Fair is an oppurtunity for those looking to secure a job or internship. Students can find more information on the fair and register through oru.edu or visit Career Services.
Photo by Rob Bye
US Embassy relocating to Jeruselum by 2019
On Monday, Vice President Mike Pence announced that the US Embassy in Israel will be moving to Jerusalem, the country’s capital. The Israel-Palestine conflict has caused long-time elevated tension over Jerusalem. During President Donald Trump’s campaign last year he promised to end the days of Israel being treated as “a second class citizen” and move the capital to Jerusalem as a political statement. It seems Pence’s recent Mideast tour has sparked inspiration to fulfill this specific campaign promise as soon as possible.
The two vulnerabilities were discovered in early Jan. 2018. Specific fixes for the bug are still underway. Photo provided by Alexandran-Bogdu Ghita
Cyber threats: Spectre and Meltdown by Lydia Echols @lyd_echols
Via complicated CVE codes, two hijacking vulnerabilities named Spectre and Meltdown were revealed to the public on Jan. 3. These security flaws affect every Intel computer chip made in the last 20 years. That means a majority of computer, desktop, laptop, tablet and smartphone chips have this vulnerability that can allow a hacker to access sensitive information from anywhere. Meltdown got its name from the ability to “melt the border between programs and the operating system,” according to one of the team members who discovered Meltdown Michael Shwarz. Think of Spectre and Meltdown as three people: Spectre is the husband and wife team that hijacks computers in a more complicated way and go undetected because they live in a white-picket fenced house in the suburbs and have 2.5 children and a dog named Fozzie. Spectre and Meltdown surfaced after various individual reports were made by places like Google Project Zero, Cyberus Technology, Graz University of Technology and Data61. So what are these vulnerabilities, what do they affect and what can be done to prevent them from affecting personal computers everywhere? “To take advantage of Meltdown, hackers could rent space on a cloud service, just like any other business customer,” said Cade Metz and Nicole Perlroth in a report for the New York Times. “Once they were on the service, the flaw would
allow them to grab information like passwords from other customers.” Spectre, which gets its name from its root cause speculative execution, is actually the name for two variants of the same exploitation. It is the worst of the two, with the ability to reveal secret data and to go undetected. “There are various ways that could happen. Attackers could fool consumers into downloading software in an email, from an app store or visiting an infected website,” said Metz. Meltdown is the newest hacker who is learning how to hijack but isn’t quite good at it yet because he leaves tracks. Who is more likely to fly under the radar? Spectre. How is this fixable? According to the CSO Online, “the fundamental vulnerability exists at the hardware level and cannot be patched. However, most vendors are releasing software patches that work around the problems.” Google, Intel, Apple and Microsoft have already released patches to prevent or circumvent the effects of these vulnerabilities. “It’s important to keep all browsers up to date,” said Josh Fruhlinger in a CSO report. Delaying an update to Google Chrome, Safari or Firefox could mean the difference between safety and personal information being sold on the dark web.
January 26, 2018 • Oracle • 5
Cloudy with a chance of methane by Cicely Rubottom @cicelypixely Methane, a potent greenhouse gas that displaces oxygen in earth’s atmosphere is becoming a threat as food waste throughout the nation remains unattended. According to the Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC) 40 percent of the food produced in America ends up in landfills, and, as a result, raises the concern of an increase in methane released into the atmosphere. What are the causes of food waste? This 40 percent of wasted food is accumulated through grocery stores, restaurants and, most often, individual households. Most of this food is wasted because people fear consuming food that has passed its labeled expiration date. While this has always been a valid excuse for tossing an aged can of soup or loaf of bread, environmentalists are beginning to argue that expiration dates are more “marketing schemes” than an actual health advisement. According to the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), one in every seven Americans are food insecure, meaning they aren’t sure where their next meal is coming from. With this in mind, many organizations, like a local center in Tulsa called Rescuing Leftover Cuisine, have partnered up with restaurants and food suppliers to rescue wastebound leftover food to families in need. However, little legislation has been passed regarding food waste. “We, as humans, are impulse buyers,” said Amanda Johnson of Rescuing Leftover Cuisine. “Farmers can’t sell produce that doesn’t appear to be visually perfect, so all of that product that doesn’t make it to the market goes to the landfill most of the time. When it goes to the landfill
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it gets covered up with other nonfood product which doesn’t allow air to reach the food. Without air, the food can’t decompose properly. It then creates methane gas that is sent into the air we breathe.” In order to see how federal laws impact the national rate of food waste in a country, one may look to the country with the lowest national
However, by 2017, a year after France banned supermarkets from throwing away unwanted food, the country had dropped to number eight. The EIU GFSI showed that the country actually decreased in food security rates. The ultimate conclusion was that France requires supermarkets to donate food to charity. They have a significantly larger rate of hungry citizens than in America, where supermarkets are not required to donate to charities. Taking into account the comparison of food prices in the U.S. and France, food insecurity may stem from the higher average price of meals in France, as shown by Numbeo.com. Some argue that with America’s emphasis on cheap fast food, massive food waste is inevitable “Cheap food is an illusion,” said Michael Pollan, author of The Omnivore’s Dilemma. “There is no such thing as cheap food. The real cost of the food is paid somewhere. And if it isn’t paid at the cash register, it’s charged to the environment or to the public purse in the form of subsidies. And it’s charged to your health.” With the expiration date issue, loose food waste laws and a rise in methane gas affecting the ecosystem, many restaurants around Tulsa have taken the liberty of donating to organizations that can put their leftover food to use. Rescuing
“40 percent of food produced in America ends up in landfills” average of food waste — France. Since 2013, France has passed several pieces of legislation to combat food waste. Along with other laws, France required supermarkets to partner with an organization to which they can donate their leftover food. This was a direct effort to kill two birds with one stone and lower food insecurity as well as food waste. Although food waste statistics are significantly lower in France than the U.S., it doesn’t necessarily mean that more food insecure individuals are being provided meals. In fact, while 14 percent of Americans are food insecure, 40 percent of people in France are food insecure. “There’s an absolute urgency– charities are desperate for food,” said French politician Yves Jégo to parliament. “The most moving part of this law is that it opens us up to others who are suffering.” In 2012, the U.S. was ranked as the number one most favorable country in food security rates, whereas France was ranked number four by the annual Economist Intelligent Unit (EIU) Global Food Security Index.
Leftover Cuisine reported that local businesses like Antoinette Baking Co., Andolini’s Pizzeria, Lambrusco’z To Go and Panera Bread all donate either daily or weekly to the organization. Organizations like RLC hope to redirect the overflow of food waste into an overflow of food for the hungry. “It’s hard to imagine how the needy would be fed if we didn’t have leftovers,” said Johnson. “But I like to think that if we wasted less food it might, in turn, become more affordable and available to all.”
Photo by Josh Crow
ORU alumni take on vital campus role by Hannah Nelson @avidr3ad Earlier this month, Augustine and Allie Mendoza were promoted to the positions of Director and Associate Director of Spiritual Life and Chaplain Programs on campus. This is the first time ORU has had director positions of this sort. With the Women’s Head Chaplain position recently vacated as former Chaplain Carol Holderness transitioned into a new position, leadership within the chaplain program was open for the Mendozas to gracefully step in. By working together, the couple hopes to encourage students to be spiritually alive. “That’s a priority for us,” said Augustine. “Setting methods to really ground you and grow you spiritually. You could’ve gone to any university, but since you’re here, you might as well take advantage of the deep roots that ORU has of pursuing God.”
The Mendoza’s new job has come with different responsibilities as the chaplain program is being grown into something more than weekly devotionals (devos). Augustine hopes that men in the chaplain program can learn to step out more. “I see the men in the chaplain program really stepping out and being seen as key spiritual leaders on campus, not just part of the floor or just a person that does devos,” Augustine said. “I want them to be seen as what they carry versus what they do. I see them being spiritual catalysts on campus.” Meanwhile, Allie seeks to encourage the women on campus in a new way. “For the women, I want to establish identity. We talk about being daughters of God, but what does that actually look like for you personally?” Through the changes, they are looking forward to learning more and serving where they can. “There’s always a learning curve when you jump into a new job. We’re
trying to develop new relationships and plan for next year. There’s a lot of new faces and names, but it’s a lot of fun,” Allie said. With the new job comes bigger dreams, and the couple hopes to keep expanding the spiritual resources available to ORU students through new programs.
“What we want students to know is that we are here to come alongside them.”
Photo by Josh Crow
Augustine graduated from ORU in 2016. The Mendozas got married the same year.
“We are probably starting a mentorship group in the fall,” Augustine said. “We’ve already talked about doing a group together for guys and girls addressing topics, spiritual growth, mentoring, that kind of thing. So, stay tuned, fall 2018.” But most of all, the Mendoza’s just want to be there for students. “We are not here to be stage faces, but to come alongside them in their lives and be available and present.” With the Mendozas as designated spiritual leaders on campus, students can expect exciting change and growth in the new year.
January 26, 2018 • Oracle • 7
Ranahan’s cancer-eating mushrooms by Abby Zelmer @absz3
T
he biology department at Oral Roberts University is in a dingy, overly complicated system of hallways, classrooms and labs. It smells like formaldehyde and cleaning supplies with a hint of fish tank—quickly explained by the bubbling tank at the end of one of the halls. The office of William Ranahan, associate professor of biology at ORU, seems slightly out of place compared to the rest of the department, complete with coffee and crayon-drawn pictures from his sons. “When I was a student here, the bio department was never very inviting, so I tried to change that when I came,” said Ranahan, who graduated from ORU in 2005. Ranahan pulled out a tray of Petri dishes, explaining that this is where they grow the mushrooms they are studying to try to cure cancer. “This is where it all happens.” When he talks about how he ended up patenting a compound that could be a beneficial treatment for a previously untreatable type of cancer, Ranahan calls it “a God story.” At age 18, Ranahan had no plans to be a scientist—he was planning to go to Annapolis to join the military, just like others in his family had done. However, he was convicted to pray about what God wanted to do with his life instead. After telling God he’d do anything, he felt God told him to join an internship with an organization called Teen Mania. Ranahan went home, told his family he was going to Texas, packed up and drove off, not even knowing if he had been accepted yet. Thankfully he did get accepted, and while he was there, he met his wife, who then joined him in fasting and praying a second time to ask God what he wanted them to do with their lives. Ranahan says the answer came clearly again: “Go to ORU, get a degree in biology and get a Ph.D. in molecular genetics.” During his time at ORU, he began learning— and practicing—constantly conversing with God, especially during mundane lab work. After graduation, the Ranahans moved between the coasts—and their respective families—until they settled in Indiana, where family had a place for them to stay and a job for him. While they were there, he began attending Indiana University, pursuing his Ph.D. in biochemistry and molecular biology.
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While he was researching at IU, he continued talking to God constantly, and began to be given ideas to try in the lab. This seemed to be successful, as he “discovered that the protein they were researching was a major driver for breast cancer.” “We suddenly became a breast cancer lab. My future prospects started looking really good,” Ranahan said. However, God had other plans. At the height of his research, Ranahan was pursued by ORU to teach, and he had a decision to make: leave his research and future opportunities or teach at a private university in Tulsa. “God said ‘OK, just take this thing—that blood, sweat, and tears—and put it on the altar.’ And it hurt.” Ranahan got the job at ORU and began teaching in 2013, at first doing what side research he could with the little equipment and no funding he had, since ORU was not a research institution. However, a new administration had also just arrived, and with it a new focus on research. So Ranahan started applying for grants, assembling research teams, and “putting things into place.” Students started presenting their research projects and winning awards. His passion for cancer research continued to grow, motivated by watching his nephew almost die three times—not from the itself, but from chemotherapy. “There’s got to be a better way,” Ranahan said. “I believe that [God] has put everything we need for optimum health in the earth.” One day, someone asked him, “Have you thought about mushrooms?” So Ranahan started reading all he could about mushrooms and their health benefits. A picture of the petri dish filled with bacteriakilling mold—penicillin—that Alexander Fleming accidentally discovered was going through his mind. “What if we could do that but with cancer cells?” Ranahan asked himself. “What if we forced cancer cells to compete for space and resources against fungi? What if we took medicinal mushrooms and made them compete with cancer cells? Could they produce something that could kill cancer?” In order to survive, mushrooms must “…figure out what they’re on, figure out how to break it down, or they die,” Ranahan explained. Mushrooms are a health food around the world, some countries even using them along with chemotherapy to treat cancer. Soon after this discovery, ORU President William M. Wilson told the faculty he was creating a new president’s research fund containing $150,000 for all
the faculty to apply for. Ranahan asked for $52,500—35 percent of the entire fund. “I think it’s a God idea,” he told the dean of his department. “God is just going to make a way.” He ended up receiving the money from an external source that believed this project was from God, and began his research with various ORU students who were just as excited. Through the Christmas break of 2016, team members took the mushroom and started growing in the lab. They began replacing the food it was given with cancer cells until those were all it was living on. It was breaking them down and feeding off of it—the first victory. Now the team had to figure out how to capture what the mushrooms were secreting—the actual secret to breaking down the cancer cells. “There are a whole bunch of ways that you can capture what they secrete … I picked one.” Next, he took triple negative breast cancer cells—a currently incurable type of cancer—and put the solution on them. He also put it on normal mammary epithelia to see how it would react with healthy cells. The mushroom’s compound killed 95 percent of the cancer cells within 24 hours. “But that was not what was exciting.” They found that it also not only did not harm the healthy mammary epithelia, selectively killing only cancer cells, but made the normal cells healthier. “To see it killing one population and helping another is really crazy. Like that is insane.” These were victories No. 2 and 3—and he says they came abnormally easily. The next step was to identify what exactly “it” was. Faculty at ORU hit their limit with figuring it out, so they outsourced it. They expected to find hundreds of compounds within the essence, which would be nearly impossible to test and identify the combinations to discover what was killing the cancer. A few weeks ago, they were told that there were only three. While the treatment is still in the preliminary stages of testing and research, “everything is looking hopeful,” said Ranahan. “The series of events that have led us to this point are remarkable.” He pointed out that most of the time, research like this doesn’t go nearly as smoothly. Ranahan gets quiet for a moment and looks at
Photos by Josh Crow Graphic by Xavier Gonzalez
the pictures of the successful petri dishes on his computer screen. “Who knows what’s going to happen next. My science side doubts everything … but I can’t deny how everything has led us to this point. It’s almost too good to be true, but I’m looking at the data.” He doesn’t take the credit though. “For the record, none of this is my idea. It’s not,” Ranahan said. “I thought it was a crazy idea. I still think it’s a crazy idea. This is a God thing, I don’t know how else to say it.” The patent is pending for this process with Dr. Ranahan listed as the sole inventor and ORU owning the intellectual property, and funding has continued to come in through the President’s Research Fund at ORU and other private donations. More equipment and reagents are still needed, but Ranahan is positive about this, saying, “I trust we will have what we need when we need it.” Since the compounds occur naturally, the researchers hope that the treatment could eventually be purchased over the counter and taken orally. “If this is actually a real thing, it’s going to happen at this small, non-research institution.” If everything goes according to plan, the final product could be only a few years away. However, it is more likely that it will take up to 10-15 years. In the meantime, Ranahan will continue teaching students, as well as encouraging them to make prayer a larger part of their life. “That whole hearing God’s voice thing? Yeah, you should try that.”
“I think it’s a God idea.” January 26, 2018 • Oracle • 9
Photo by Alejandro Contreras
The 100th anniversary of Oral Roberts’ birth
Oral Roberts University is celebrating the 100th anniversary of Roberts’ birth this week. On Jan. 24, the date that would have been his 100th birthday, ORU’s chapel service was dedicated to remembering and honoring his life. “Oral Roberts made no little plans throughout his life,” said Dr. William M. Wilson, ORU President in a press release. “We want to honor his legacy and his extraordinary life on what would have been his 100th birthday.” After Wednesday’s chapel service, a bust of Roberts was unveiled in the Prayer Tower.
Graphic by Haley Gibson
Ted London speaks on leadership
The President’s Performing Arts and Lecture Series continues into the new year on Jan. 31. Ted London of Ross School of Business at the University of Michigan will be kicking off this year’s series, giving a lecture called “Building Businesses with Impact: A Roadmap for Empowering Leaders.” London is a senior reseracher fellow at Scaling Impact Initiative, William Davidson Institute. The lecture takes place at the ORU Global Learning Center, beginning at 7 p.m. Free tickets are available online at oruglc.com.
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Superbugs, caused by using antibiotics on healthy animals, can cause disease-related illnesses and death. Photo by Josh Crow
Human antibiotics in animals by Lauren Dunlap @laurendunlap It is common practice for farms in the United States to use antibiotics on healthy animals in order to stimulate growth and inhibit disease in what are typically crowded and unsanitary conditions (ConsumersUnion.org). For the most part, this has led to a dramatic reduction in infectious diseaserelated illnesses and deaths in humans. However, experts are now beginning to realize the scary consequences of this practice—namely, superbugs. According to Consumer’s Union, “When you feed antibiotics to animals, the bacteria in and around the animals are exposed to the drug, and many of them die. But there are always some that the drug can’t kill, and those survive and proliferate. Voila, superbugs.” These superbugs are a major concern for humans because they are transferred to people through their meat and poultry and the environment, and they give humans a resistance to antibiotics that are often prescribed. The Center for Disease Control warns of several negative effects of this resistance. People with these infections may be more likely to be hospitalized and have higher medical expenses, may take longer to get well again, or may even die from the infection. A Consumer Reports testing of retail poultry products in both 2009 and 2010 revealed a widespread presence of antibiotic-resistant bacteria (i.e., superbugs). Both tests showed that over twothirds of the samples were contaminated with salmonella and/or campylobacter. For the most part, this is not a concern because if the poultry is cooked thoroughly, the bacteria will die. However, there is always the threat of the
uncooked meat contaminating other food in the fridge, the cutting board, the kitchen counters/sink and other surfaces. Consumer Reports estimates that 48 million cases of foodborne illnesses occur annually in the US. For instance, in 2011, a strain of salmonella was found in ground turkey and was resistant to four different antibiotics: ampicillin, streptomycin, tetracycline and gentamicin. This caused 136 illnesses and one death. Many health organizations, like the American Medical Association, the American Public Health Association, the Infectious Diseases Society of America and the World Health Organization, are now urging for a reduction/elimination of antibiotics in food production. Hopefully, over the next 10-15 years animal food production companies will respond accordingly and eliminate the use of humangrade antibiotics in their animals. One company that has addressed this issue is ORU’s very own food supplier Sodexo. “Over the next eight years through 2024, Sodexo will continue to work with its U.S. suppliers to further improve the welfare of the broiler chickens it sources by reaching the following goals for 100% of the chicken it sources.” (PR Newswire) Sodexo has recently made commitments to eliminate human-class antibiotics from production of its broiler chickens, completing the first phase of this process in 2017. It is important to be aware of what is being added to meat and poultry products. Practically, remaining educated on the methods of production within food companies is the best way to avoid the harmful effects of antibiotics in animals.
Competitive season for Golden Eagle baseball by Lauren Dunlap @laurenodunlap The Golden Eagles are gearing up for the 2018 season with their sights set on another Summit League title and a trip to the NCAA Regionals. High expectations abound for this season, with a good mix of solid returning players and new talent ready to take the field. Freshman outfielder AJ Archambo from Bartlesville, Oklahoma, advises fans: “I would expect nothing less than a conference title and a spot in Omaha.” Fans can also expect to see a lot of players native to Oklahoma this season, as the majority of the Golden Eagles roster (19 of 34) come from within the state. Returning players to watch for include senior pitcher Miguel Ausua, who was named to the 2018 Collegiate Baseball Pre-Season All-
American team. The Summit League Championship MVP last season, Ausua was awarded as the Summit League Pitcher of the Year and a First Team All-Summit League selection. Another returner to watch for is senior Noah Cummings. Last season, he led the Summit League in RBI’s and was ranked 12 in the country with 70 RBIs on the season. Thirty home games are scheduled for this season, so there will be plenty of opportunity to catch the Golden Eagles in action. ORU will face four teams that competed in the 2017 NCAA Regionals as well as powerhouse teams coming from Oklahoma State, Oklahoma, Missouri State and Dallas Baptist. ORU will also host the Summit League Championship for the third consecutive year, welcoming the conference’s top four teams May 23 through 26. The winner of these games
earns a coveted spot competing in the NCAA Championship. With a competitive schedule and a strong roster, the 2018 season is looking bright for the Golden Eagles. Come catch ORU baseball in action at J.L. Johnson Stadium on Friday, Feb. 16 at 3:00 p.m.
“I would expect nothing less than a conference title and a spot in Omaha.”
The Golden Eagles will host 30 home games at J.L. Johnson Stadium. Photo by Jeremy Luczak
January 26, 2018 • Oracle • 11
Provided by ORU Athletics
LII: The untouchable team
ORU Athletics adds four to Hall of Fame Kayley Forshey @mybestfriendjo ORU inducted four student athletes into the Athletics Hall of Fame on Saturday, Jan. 20 and honored them that night at the men’s basketball game during halftime. Christy Carter - (Women’s Golf, 20052009) Carter was the Summit League Golfer of the Year in both 2008 and 2009, the Mid-Con Newcomer of the Year in 2006 and the Summit League Championship MVP in 2009. She still holds the school record for the lowest single round at 67, and changed conference history by holding the lowest 36-hole and 54-hole tournament scores. Patricia Menezes – (Volleyball, 19992002) Menezes holds multiple conference records; she holds the record number of kills with 5.47 per set in 2000, the record for .416 hitting percentage in 2000 and the record for 1,669 career kills. In 2000, she was the MidContinent Conference Player of the Year and in 1999, the Mid-Continent Conference Newcomer of the Year. David Castillo – (Baseball, 2001-2003) Castillo was the consecutive Conference Player of the Year in both 2002 and 2003. He was both a two time NCBWA 2nd team AllAmerican and a two time Collegiate Baseball 3rd Team All-American. Castillo was drafted by Oakland in 2003 in the seventh round. Calvin Garrett – (Men’s Basketball, 19781980) Garrett was the Honorable Mention All-American and the NABC All-District second team selection in 1979 and 1980. He had 12 career 20/10 games and is the fourth fastest person in school history to reach 1,000 career points in 48 games. “What an amazing group of Hall of Famers! Welcome home. #ORURiseUp,” tweeted ORU Athletics on the day of induction.
Alejandro Arroyo @Dro3686 The stage is set, the lights are out and the storylines couldn’t be better. Super Bowl LII is just over the horizon and the buzz is electric. As we begin to take our seats in anticipation of a Super Bowl XXXIX rematch, David is preparing for his toughest matchup yet because Goliath will be joining him in the championship. Representing the AFC for the eighth time, Tom Brady has his eyes set on a sixth ring; a ring that will forever cement his name in the NFL record books and undeniably solidify the G.O.A.T. label to TB12; a ring that will make Tom Brady a legendary NFL icon; and a victory that would make that same name untouchable. Furthermore, with the Patriots coming off a 24-20 thriller over the Jacksonville Jaguars, this team is primed for another championship celebration. So grease up those light poles, Minnesota, because, regardless of the outcome, a riot is headed your way. As for the NFC, the Philadelphia Eagles will play host to the underdog. Injuries have defined their Cinderella postseason run, and with their star quarterback Carson Wentz sitting on the sideline, it only makes these underdogs hungrier.
However, in his second string, Nick Foles is a battle-tested quarterback and looks to bring home the Eagles’ first ever Lombardy Trophy. This has long escaped the grasp of a Philly organization that has paid its dues and is ready to move into a new era of football, especially after a 38-7 dismantling of the Minnesota Vikings, further proving that these dogs are not to be messed with. The Eagles have all the pieces for an upset. What better way to do it than in a brilliant new stadium where everyone is rooting for the unexpected. New England’s defense is famous for their “bend, but don’t break” mentality and the Eagles offense just came off of putting up 456 yards and five touchdowns on the number one overall defense. If they can capitalize on a similar outing, they could have Patriot’s head coach Bill Belichick on his heels. These Eagles are flying high and with a fire like that, their excitement is boiling over. After the Minnesota game, Eagles offensive tackle Lane Johnson told ESPN, “Tom Brady is a pretty boy. He’s the best quarterback of all time, so, nothing I’d like to do more than dethrone that guy.” And if you read between the lines, Mr. Johnson is speaking on behalf of every football fan south of the New England area. But what about this Superbowl is particularly exciting? Is it that Tom Brady has more playoff wins than Nick Foles has career wins? Is it that everyone predicted Nick Foles to appear in a Superbowl two years ago? Or could it be that regardless of how elite your defense is, Tom Brady continues to beat Father Time and prove that New England is unstoppable even with ten stitches in his hand? Nevertheless, both teams have their work cut out for them, and the defending champs are looking to reclaim their title and become the only franchise to win back-to-back Superbowls within two decades. So good luck Philly, you’re going to need it.
Photo by Adrian Curiel
12 • Oracle • January 26, 2018
Honestly, honesty is the best policy
Kayley Forshey @mybestfriendjo Workplace transparency is the idea that implementations of honesty and equality are vital for a company to achieve the best options and opportunities for success. Through honesty, companies are able to hear their employees’ true thoughts and ideas, and through equality, they can hear those ideas from everyone in the company, even those working in lower divisions of the corporation. With more people contributing, there is a higher chance that a company can hear and support a good idea and avoid executing a bad one. Ray Dalio, the founder and head chairman of a
hedge fund called Bridgewater Associates, created an algorithm for his business philosophy, which he calls “radical transparency.” In Dalio’s algorithm, even the youngest and newest employees have a voice, and he boldly asks for critical feedback from all of his employees. Through a system of dots and ratings, each employee is encouraged and expected to rate each employee in every meeting. The computer compiles all the information during the meeting and creates a larger picture to show individual opinions compiled into more objective, corporate opinions. By evening the playing field and allowing lowerlevel employees to rate the boss a three out of 10, Dalio is able to gain perspective. His algorithm uses honesty to promote the best idea based on a compilation of critical thinking and immediate judgements. Basically, the best ideas win because everyone is contributing in a meaningful way. “My objective has been to have meaningful work and meaningful relationships with the people I work with,” Dalio said in his TED Talk, titled, “How to Build a Company Where the Best Ideas Win.” Dalio attributes the success of his company, which is the largest hedge fund in the world and manages over $160 billion, to this intense concept of honesty. This may seem like a no-brainer, especially since most
of us grew up seeing posters with “Honesty is the best policy” written in brightly colored letters on the walls of our elementary and middle school classrooms. But according to economist Alexander Wagner, one in seven corporations commit fraud every year. That’s a staggering statistic that continues to rise, and though fraud is an extreme form of dishonesty, Dalio’s concept may be part of the solution. Transparency in the workplace is vital to promote trust and loyalty, not only within the company, but extending to current and targeted client bases. However, it seems many companies prefer to cut corners, take the easy way out and low-key fudge the numbers. Real original. So it’s easy to focus on the negative and attribute “greedy and dishonesty” to big companies, but I personally still find comfort in the other six out of seven companies that choose honesty despite the temptation and ease of the opposite. And though morality seems to be at a constant decline, we are never without hope. And just because someone else got ahead dishonestly doesn’t excuse the fact that it was wrong. As Dalio has found, there is more at stake than simple moral superiority: we could be missing out on the best options for success by playing fast and loose with the truth.
The last of the Paris chronicles
Paige McQueen @paigemcq23 G.K. Chesteron once wrote, “The whole object of travel is not to set foot on foreign land: it is at last to set foot on one’s own country as foreign land.” Travel will change you. Living in a culture completely different
than your own, surrounded by people who don’t speak quite like you or think like you will reshape the landscape of your closely held beliefs. It can be difficult and demanding and one stop away from complete insanity. Yet, it’s been the best and most rewarding part of my life thus far. If you’ve followed along with my chronicles of Paris, I won’t bore you with my stories again—unless you want to get coffee, in which case I will happily bore you—but rather give some advice. If you’re looking for encouragement to study abroad, a sign or a sudden
booming voice, consider this article your push. “Studying in Paris was one of the most eye-opening and educational experiences of my life. Four months of cultural, spiritual, emotional and mental growth brought me back to the United States as a completely different person with a completely different mindset,” said Lauren Dunlap, senior English literature major double minoring in French and business. I couldn’t agree with her more. Coming back to ORU from Paris felt like putting a missing piece back into my puzzle. The landscape of my thoughts has changed, and somewhere
on the streets of Old Paris, in between boulangeries and bibliotheques, God healed my heart. Now I’m not suggesting you study abroad for heart-healing or because something is disastrously wrong in your life. I’m suggesting you go because you feel a tug deep within you whenever someone mentions studying abroad. You never know what’s waiting for you on the other side of one decision. With new and exciting things coming in the future, be on the lookout for information about ORU’s new study abroad programs, and how to apply for them.
January 26, 2018 • Oracle • 13
The purpose behind pretty films
Haley Gibson @Gibson_hay When I go see a movie, I walk into the theater fully anticipating an experience that I can digest and leave with my mind still thinking about it. Honestly, I come looking for good stories, and how the stories are told. On occasion—especially in the past year—it feels as if highly promised films have been hijacked by what I like to call the “pretty movie” trend. With the technological advances and overall evolution of movie making, the “pretty movie” trend is evidenced when I am watching a perfectly normal
and well-told story and suddenly, everything on the screen changes. What was once normal becomes, for a lack of a more convincing term, sparkly. This, my friends, is the “pretty movie” trend. It’s like “Alice and Wonderland” got ahold of the picture, infusing whimsy in the story you’ve come to see, leaving sparkly eye shadow and glimmering sounds everywhere it lands. I first noticed this new trend in the ending of Beauty and the Beast (2017). The movie was touching and wonderfully performed by Emma Watson (Belle) and Dan Stevens (Beast). But in one of the last scenes of the film there is a moment after the Beast turns back into a man that world suddenly goes all ‘pretty’. The pretty movie trend stuck again in the casino scene in Star Wars, The Last Jedi. There’s a whole scene where John Boyega (Finn) and the newlyintroduced Kelly Marie Tran (Rose) go to a planet that is entirely ‘pretty’, with ridiculously posh dressed individuals and imaginative decor. This particular series of scenes seemed to take away from the story. We can expect more pretty movies in the upcoming release of classic children’s novel turned-movie “A Wrinkle in Time” by Madeline L’Engle, on March 9, in which directors will attempt to undermine a few
The drug in your pocket
Rejoice ChristIsKing @rejoiceck3 Everywhere you go, there’s a teenager with a cellphone or tablet in their hands. From the streets of Manhattan to the plains of Hebron, young adults won’t be found without a technological device nestled safely in their palms. Adolescents spend roughly 5-7 hours a day glued to a screen. In a past Post article, a mother recounted discovering her six-year-old son in a catatonic stupor from overexposure to his technological device.
14 • Oracle • January 26, 2018
It started with harmless “educational” games and Minecraft, spiraling into an unhealthy attachment that led to occasional outbursts and acts of disobedience, and finally, catatonia. This trend of overattachment to cellphones and tablet screens is striking children around the world, and its gruesome unveiling is bringing it to an end. “Because these attachments are so strong, try a gradual approach. Quitting cold turkey doesn’t work for most addictions and, therefore, probably won’t work very well for this. Maybe try a substitution approach. Ten minutes off the screen, then ten minutes reading a book, and then increase incrementally over time,” says Keith Gogan, assistant professor of the department of English at Oral Roberts University. Think of a church service. The pastor is preaching a powerful
non-memorable attempts at screenplays made in 2003 and 2010. Pigeonholing a movie before it releases may seem judgmental, but it isn’t hard to do after seeing the trailer. Beginning with gold sparkles and ending with obscure-looking fantasy structures, the film is the definition of “pretty.” Despite the large names that fill this movie (Reese Witherspoon, Mindy Kaling and Chris Pine), expectation seems low. “A Wrinkle in Time” borders on being a highly decorated pretty movie, and, should the course of the film follow this superficial approach, one can almost assume it will not do justice to L’Engle’s work, who wrote the series indeed with a magical streak, but enforced the real importance of courage and creativity, alike. Pretty movies, the look and feel of their capital embrace on the eyes, lack this quality in much the same way that CGI can distract a viewer from feeling like reality is being portrayed in the movie. The pretty movie trend creates an aversion in the viewer to fully diving into the story, when the purpose of the movie as a whole is to do just that. Who’s to say that Wrinkle lacks potential to be phenomenal—but then again, who can name a “pretty movie” that really was?
message, but a little boy sitting next to you begins to fuss. With a Mary Poppins-esque flurry, his mother produces a tablet, handing it to the boy, who immediately calms down and zones out throughout the service. Could the child become addicted? In all probability, yes. Think about it: if a child is taught that the only way to achieve peace or get attention is to demand a set of screens, wouldn’t it be their sole source of consolation from all of their problems? “You’ve got to limit this kind of exposure,” says Gerald Landers, assistant professor of the College of Education. “You have to do something else, and that something else [has] got to be physical.” Mimicking what parents do today can result in psychological and developmental damage; not to mention, all the time spent in front of the screen that you won’t get back. “Kids should be active and explore.
They need that activity,” said Dr. Randall Feller, Chair of the Behavioral Sciences Department, a licensed psychologist, licensed marriage and family therapist and ordained minister. “Help your kids build skills. Get them outdoors.” Nathan Walden and Brair Burnom, IT specialists at Oral Roberts University also commented on the issue. “Technology cannot replace social interaction.” said Walden. “To some degree, even if you have to ask for outside help, and say ‘Hey I’m trying to use my device an hour less a day, can you help me?’, it has to be a conversation that you have with yourself and maybe involve others.’” If you find yourself in need of help, please don’t hesitate, Counseling Services are ready and able to help.
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January 26, 2018 • Oracle • 15
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