Vol. 52, No. 9
Climbing a creative route in Tulsa Page 9 Debate team returns decorated Page 5
Italian tennis in Tulsa Page 14
Tulsa, Oklahoma • March 9, 2018 • www.oruoracle.com
Sayonara, smartphone Page 17
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2 • Oracle • March , 2018
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Protests lead to tighter gun control by Grant Holcomb @grantholcombORU
Since the school shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida, the discourse over how to prevent more shootings has put the gun control debate in the forefront once again. The survivors of the shooting, as well as others in their community, have been protesting locally on the steps of the Florida State Capitol and nationally in Washington D.C. The protesters are calling for stricter gun regulations, particularly for different models of the AR-15 style rifle used in the Parkland shooting. On Tuesday Feb. 20, while teens were protesting outside the Capitol and watching from the viewing deck, the Florida State House voted down a provision which would’ve banned semi-automatic guns and high capacity magazines. The measure failed, with 36 votes in the affirmative and 71 in the negative. On March 5, the Florida Senate passed a law that raises the purchasing age to 21, bans bump stocks and requires a three day waiting period. Despite the rejection in the State House, notable Floridians are proposing other gun control measures.
In a CNN town hall in Jupiter, Florida, Sen. Bill Nelson (D) and Sen. Marco Rubio (R) both showed support for raising the firearm purchasing age from 18 to 21. President Donald Trump and Florida Gov. Rick Scott shared the same sentiments. Scott included the mentally ill as those who, under his plan, would be barred
same committee also voted down a bill eliminating “assault weapons.” The bill is intended to be amendatory to the failed House bill. According to The Data Team at The Economist, 58 percent of Americans are in favor of banning semi-automatic weapons. For magazines holding ten rounds or more, 62 percent of respon-
from purchasing a firearm. “No one with mental issues should have access to guns,” said Scott. “It’s common sense, and it is in their own best interest – not to mention the interests of our communities. And much of what I’m proposing involves giving law enforcement the ability to stop people from harming themselves and others, while giving them the tools to keep our schools safe.” The Florida Senate decided to propose legislation as well. A bill passed committee to raise the firearms purchasing age to 21, but the
dents are in favor of banning them. The rhetoric on both sides of the gun argument is heating up, as well. Leftist director, filmmaker and commentator Michael Moore took to Twitter to share his thoughts. “The NRA is a terrorist organization. The media should speak of the NRA in the same way they do ISIS,” said Moore. NRA CEO Wayne LaPierre spoke out at the annual Conservative Political Action Conference. “If they seize power ... our American freedoms could be lost and our country will be changed forever,” said LaPierre. “The first to go will be the Second Amendment.” On Capitol Hill, House Speaker Paul Ryan said publicly that “we shouldn’t be banning guns for lawabiding citizens. We do know there are gaps in the background check system that need to be plugged. We passed a bill to do that and we think that should
get done clearly.” Companies have begun distancing themselves from the gun-rights position. Walmart led the way in enacting new policy as they will no longer sell firearms to anyone under 21. Dick’s Sporting Goods announced they will also raise the purchasing age and will no longer be selling “assault-style weapons.” Delta and United Airlines will no longer be offering discounts to NRA members. But FedEx will continue the discount. In a recent bipartisan meeting, Trump signaled a potential shift in gun policy. He has already shown support for a ban on bump stocks, and also said he would be open to raising the firearm purchasing age to 21. In the meeting, Democratic Sen. Dianne Feinstein reacted very positively after Trump said he wanted to see an assault weapons ban in a school safety Senate bill. Additions to Feinstein’s underlying bill would ban over 200 weapons ranging from AR-15 style weapons, as well as certain handguns, shotguns and hunting rifles. After lots of backlash, Trump took to Twitter to try and ease the fears of conservatives. “Many ideas, some good & some not so good, emerged from our bipartisan meeting on school safety yesterday at the White House,” said Trump. “Background Checks a big part of conversation. Gun free zones are proven targets of killers. After many years, a Bill should emerge.
Page designed by Alejandro Contreras
March 9, 2018 • Oracle • 3
Photo provided by Unsplash
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From president to dictator by Caleb Smith @josephusXI
Where are they now? Net neutrality edition.
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Last year when the FCC voted to repeal the Obama-era protection, people took to their online platforms to voice their distaste about the decision. The FCC repeal of net neutrality officially goes into effect at the end of next month. Washington decided to take matters into their own hands and passed a bill this past week to protect net neutrality. At the signing of House Bill 2282, Gov. Jay Inslee took pride in the fact that Washington would be “the first state in the nation to preserve the open internet.”
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Photos provided by candidates
On Sunday, Feb. 25, the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) announced that it was proposing the removal or term limits inside of a clause in their constitution made in 1982, which limits presidential terms to two five-year periods. There are two main authoritative states inside of the Chinese government: The People’s Republic of China (PRC) and the Chinese Communist Party (CCP). The PRC is a state that lies inside of the CCP, which itself is the main authoritative rule in China. The values of both parties appeal to nationalism, patriotism and social stability. The total members of the CCP amount to 6.45 percent of China’s population by the most recent 2016 statistic, which in total is around 82 million people. President Xi Jinping was elected Chair of the Military Commission, General Secretary of the Communist Party and President of the People’s Republic of China in 2013. He continues to hold office in all these positions today. Both the positions of General Secretary and Chair of the Military do not include term limits, and this most recent proposal will permit full, lifelong rule over all three of these positions after the end of his second term in 2023. Among recent events in China involving Jinping,
one of the most impactful is the “Belt and Road Initiative”, which is a one-trillion-dollar plan to help globalize China’s trade by a massive infrastructure train line spanning more than 60 countries. Additional events include Jinping raising the military budget by eight percent and a heavier focus on domestic security due to greater than expected economic growth. Along with these new events and proposals, the CCP also instituted an internet-wide censorship on key-words and phrases on China’s Twitter-like website, “Sina Weibo.” The list of these words and phrases includes: “I don’t agree,” “migration,” “emigration,” “re-election,” “election term,” “constitutional amendment,” “constitution rules,” and “proclaiming oneself an emperor.” The name “Winnie the Pooh” is also censored as it’s a nickname Chinese social media users give Jinping. Many media outlets perceive China’s advancements as a two-in-one globalization movement and internal power-grab. Later reports call for an economic downfall, others an increase and greater connection with world powers such as Russia. Though, one can only guess what honey President Pooh can lunge after next.
Student Body President candidates announced For this upcoming election season at ORU, three candidates have begun their campaigns in preperation for the Tuesday vote. The first candidate is Titus Schmitt, who is a junior and currently the head Resident Advisor of lower EMR. The second candidate is sophomore government major Hannah Brennecke. The final candidate is Jonathan Roesler, a sophomore and government major. The candidates will state their campaign goals and address questions in a forum on Monday, March 12, at 7 p.m. in Zoppelt auditorium. Photo by Enrique Calvo
4 • Oracle • March 9, 2018
One competition, 20 members, 25 awards Photo provided by ORU debate team
ORU debate team returns with arms full by Abby Zellmer @abz3 On the second floor of the ORU Graduate Center, right across from the elevators and the ORU’s Theatre, Dance and Visual Arts department, sits a trophy case overflowing with awards. While the case is usually met with only a passing glance, this time a group of students and two professors stand staring at it, perplexed. They take turns pointing and suggesting ideas for fitting the boxes of trophies at their feet into the case, until finally one of the professors declared that they will just have to take some out to put in the new ones—all 25 of them. Coached by Agena Farmer and Molly Brown, the ORU debate team won top university in nearly every category at the International Public Debate Association (IPDA) tournament at Arkansas Tech University in Russellville, Arkansas on Feb. 23 to 25. This type of debate is based on the idea that “a normal member of the public should be able to understand it,” according to Brown. The team was started in 2011 with a dona-
tion that has funded the team through this year. Since then, they’ve had three national winners and three runners-up. This year’s team has 20 members who represent many different kinds of classes and majors—communication, pre-law, medical molecular biology, music production and business, to name a few. Just as there are diverse academic backgrounds within the team, there are diverse levels of debate experience. Samuel Mills, who won first place in the novice division of the tournament, began debating only last year. He was invited by two of the team members to come watch the tournament and Brown let him try a round, which he won. This year, he moved past the preliminaries. “I don’t know what happened, something just clicked,” said Mills, who didn’t think he would make it nearly that far. “I didn’t even pack super nice clothes.” To his surprise, he made it all the way to the end. “It was really intense as we were waiting for the judges’ decision.” When they finally announced that Mills and ORU had won, Mills and the rest of the team kept a straight
“Our philosophy is that we always do what’s best for the team.”
face and politely shook his opponent’s hand. As soon as they left, however, “everyone just freaked out, and I ended up surrounded by my team,” said Mills. The debate team really is a team, according to one member, Thuy Newborne: “Our philosophy is that we always do what’s best for the team.” Amari Washington, a first-year debater, echoes her, saying, “the team supports you and helps you know what you’re doing when you go out there.” However, even though the team is the top priority, the members are also sure to give glory to individual speakers too. Jamia Matthews was the number one speaker of the tournament and won first and second place in the two team tournaments. “Jamia joined because she wanted to get better at public speaking, and look at her now,” said Brown. The team members all raved about the different ways being on the team had helped them, from college papers, to teamwork, to friendly competition, to understanding opposite points of view, to being able to form and articulate complicated ideas. And, according to Mills, “it only takes a semester to start seeing the benefits.” “So come on by and see the trophies but remember to bring your shades and your point of view,” said Farmer.
March 9, 2018 • Oracle • 5
Walking out on budget cuts and low pay by Chae Woon Yoo @chaewoonyoo
Several walk-outs have been staged state-wide in protest of budget cuts to the education department. /Illustration by Hyunjin Bae
On Thursday, Feb. 22, West Virginia teachers went on strike for better pay and benefits. Last month, the governor granted a four percent pay increase but teachers were not satisfied. As the strike continued, schools in all 55 state counties were shut down and more than 277,000 students were affected. On March 6, the strike came to an end only after West Virginia legislators unanimously voted to raise the pay by five percent. Meanwhile in Oklahoma, on the morning of Feb. 23, it was not the teachers who went on strike but the students. Hundreds of students in Bartlesville High School walked out of class and protested against the budget cuts proposed by the Oklahoma State Department of Education. A bill was passed by the Senate earlier that week in which about $45 million would be cut from different state agencies. The Oklahoma Department of Education will be cut by $16.2 million in the final months of the 2018 fiscal budget. Despite the disapproval of district
officials, numerous students in different school districts are staging walk-outs to protest against the new budget cuts. Tulsa Public Schools alone lost about 35 percent of its teachers in the last two years due to low pay to out-of-state jobs or different districts. This new budget cut will not only affect the teachers but also the students as this new cut means using older textbooks and losing other school resources. Since the mass shooting in Florida, students have been connecting the fear of school violence to the lack of funding, according to the Sand Springs Public Schools Superintendent Sherry Durkee. As of now, Oklahoma teachers are considering a statewide walkout, according to The Hill. The Tulsa Classroom Teachers Association, the local affiliate of the Oklahoma Education Association, said in a statement that “while we are hoping to avoid the need for a teacher walk-out and district shutdown, we stand ready to support those actions should they become necessary.”
State bill to lay daylight saving to rest by Nina Lange @NinaForshea
Oklahoma has been one of 48 states to traditionally follow daylight saving time, but Senate Bill 1309 will change that this November. State Sen. Joseph Silk, author of the bill, wants to do away with the “archaic method of regulating time” which requires changing the clocks twice a year. Oklahoma would permanently stick with daylight saving time, where it’s brighter in the morning and darker in the evenings. Like most other states, Oklahoma follows daylight saving time from March to November. “[The time change] was initially designed to save energy, but it doesn’t save energy at all anymore just because everyone’s got air conditioners and the whole economy has changed,” said Silk to NewsOK. “When you look at it, it’s not good for your health because your body gets into a sleeping rhythm and you disrupt it twice a year.”
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Silk was inspired to write the bill because of the health risks that are caused by the sudden time change—rates of heart attacks and strokes have been proven to increase as well as traffic accidents during the following weeks of the time change. “There is shown to be an increase in traffic accidents just because of the drowsiness and also heart attacks and strokes,” said Silk. “There’s studies that show anywhere from a 10 to 20 percent increase in the two days following the time change.” A state abandoning this time change is not unusual. Under the Uniform Time Act, Hawaii stopped observing daylight saving time in 1967 along with Arizona in 1968. However, these two states follow standard time, while Oklahoma will stick to daylight savings time. The federal government does not require states to follow daylight saving time and gives them the option to not observe the time change.
Graphic by Brandi Whitney
My name is Patrick, I am a sinner by Kayley Forshey @mybestfriendjo
“My name is Patrick. I am a sinner, a simple country person, and the least of all believers. I am looked down on by many.” The quote above comes from Patrick’s Confessio, his own words about his life and purpose, though he provides no surname and few details about his personal life. His account is focused on his mission of bringing Christ to Ireland in the early 5th century. Patrick grew up in Roman Britain in a religious household. Though his father was a deacon and his grandfather a Catholic priest, Patrick himself was not inclined to religion. At sixteen years old, he was kidnapped from his home in England by Irish pirates, sold and forced to work in isolation. It was during his time in captivity, alone and broken, that he found God. According to Patrick, God spoke to him for six years, telling him to escape his captor and find his way to the coast, where a ship would be waiting for him.
Many legends developed over the years, describing his journey and highlighting his faith in God, and vaguely but miraculously, Patrick made it home to England and decided to become a priest. Fueled by the fire of spreading the gospel of Christ, Patrick returned to Ireland to bring Jesus to an otherwise unreached people group. The legend tells of Patrick’s years of evangelism and the thousands converted by his witness. According to history.com, “Within 200 years of Patrick’s arrival, Ireland was completely Christianized.” Patrick is believed to have died on March 17, in the late 400s A.D. Centuries later, the Catholic Church dubbed Patrick the patron saint of Ireland and subsequently dedicated the day of his death as a feast day. However, March 17, now known as St. Patrick’s Day, falls within the Lenten season of the liturgical calendar. Within broad Christianity, including Roman Catholicism, Eastern Orthodoxy and Protestant Christianity, the liturgical year marks feast days, theological seasons and celebrations in
the Christian church, like the Crucifixion and the Resurrection. Lent is a season of prayer and fasting, takes place this year between Feb. 14 and March 29 and begins on Ash Wednesday, going until Good Friday. Lent observers often fast from alcohol, certain foods or social media. Because St. Patrick’s Day is during Lent, all restrictions are lifted for this day of remembrance and celebration. In the early 1800s, the holiday became a common American practice. Today, it is celebrated in most cities with a huge parade but has been widely commercialized as a day known for excessive parties, a practice perpetuated by the lift of restrictions in favor of celebrating. According to the legends, Patrick used a shamrock, also called a clover, to explain the Trinity while evangelizing. He would use the three-leafed plant to demonstrate one God in three persons and thus, the shamrock became a symbol of St. Patrick’s Day. The color green is attributed to this historic day because green is the color associated with Irish Catholics, while Protestant Christians are often associated with the color orange.
As time continued, green became associated with Ireland as a whole and the day used to celebrate Irish heritage and culture. In many paintings and icons of Patrick, he is usually wearing green or surrounded by green and holding both a shamrock and a cross. St. Patrick’s Day is meant to be a celebration of the freedom found in the gospel of Christ. Over 1500 years later, this holiday is still celebrated because of Patrick’s love for God and the Great Commission. Patrick went to a land where God’s light was dim and His voice was not heard, and God used him to illuminate the heart of a nation. “That is why I cannot be silent–nor would it be good to do so–about such great blessings and such a gift that the Lord so kindly bestowed in the land of my captivity. This is how we can repay such blessings, when our lives change and we come to know God, to praise and bear witness to his great wonders before every nation under heaven.”
Graphic by Xavier Gonzalez
March 9, 2018 • Oracle • 7
Come join the party!
Good posture is characterized by keeping the shoulders back, the back straight and bringing the chin up. Photo by Haley Gibson
Foster good posture by Chae Woon Yoo @chaewoonyoo
8 • Oracle • March 9, 2018
Spring break events in Tulsa
For students staying in Tulsa over spring break, boredom is not an option. Here are a few events happening in the area. Theatre Tulsa is presenting “Into the Woods” at the Tulsa Performing Arts Center on March 16 at 8 p.m., March 17 at 2 p.m. and 8 p.m. and March 18 at 2 p.m. Tickets are $32, not including parking. The Oklahoma Aquarium is hosting ZZZs in the Seas, a sleepover with the sharks and stingrays and other aquatic life on March 16, 7 p.m. to 8 a.m. Prices range from $45-65 and the Oklahoma Aquarium website contains more information for packing.
Photo provided by Unsplash.com
Statistics show that teenagers spend up to nine hours a day consuming media. This means about one third of the day is spent using some type of electronic device, with hunched backs and bent necks. College students spend much of their time sitting, whether it is to eat, study, socialize, or attend class. With so much time spent in a chair, it is easy to fall into a habit of bad posture. Good posture is described as a balanced upright position, with a straight line from the ear to the shoulder to the hip. Anything other than that is simply considered bad posture. Slouching, rounding of the shoulders, tilting the head forward and arching of the low back is considered bad posture and without correction it can become a permanent habit. Bad posture is a gateway to many painful symptoms, like body aches and back pain, and has long term effects, negatively influencing people as they age. When considering the long-term effects, people who do not have good posture or correct spinal alignment are prone to degenerative disc disease, a condition in which the discs between the vertebrae lose their cushioning. This causes back pain and reduces capability for physical activity. As people age, spines begin to show signs of wear and tear and the discs in between the spine begin to dry out and shrink. This wear and tear can lead to arthritis, disc herniation or spinal stenosis.
“Taking care of posture now will help you in the long term,” said Myles Wilcox, the assistant Athletic Trainer for the ORU Baseball team. “It decreases muscle tension and helps lessen neck spasms and lessens headaches potentially.” Maintaining good posture is not easy, because it requires conscious effort. Consciously working to have good posture seems weird and uncomfortable at first. “Look at every single person on campus. Their shoulders are hunched forward, their heads are down and that creates constant tension on our necks and our backs,” Wilcox said. So how does one get maintain good posture? “Roll your shoulders back and bring your chin up. Pull your chest forward and see the world,” Wilcox advised. Also, getting enough calcium, vitamin D, and magnesium is important in maintaining good bone health. “Having good nutrition intake is very important to the spine,” said Christie Huffman, the Campus Dietitian. “Spines have fluids so proper hydration is also very important. Getting enough water and keeping that balance is important for spine health. From a nutritional standpoint, you need to be aware of getting all the dietary sources your body needs to keep your bones healthy. For posture, if you don’t have good bone health, it really becomes impossible later in life to have good posture.”
Calling all writers, photographers, graphic designers and all those interested in journalism and media: The Oracle Newspaper is hiring! Working for the Oracle is a hands-on experience and all skill levels are welcome to apply. Applications for paid positions can be found in Student Publications in LRC 175, or by emailing the Editor in Chief at dou120437@oru.edu for more information. Most applicants can begin work right away or choose to wait for the next semester to begin.
Climbing toward a better lifestyle by Josh Crow @jawsh_krow “Climbing is so many different things to me. It’s a physical activity, but it’s also a way of meditation for me. It’s selfrevealing and it’s almost like a mirror,” Elizabeth Priester said. Priester is a freshman Education major and Climb Tulsa employee. “It’s kind of like a creative and constant physical outlet for me and you have to be creative with your physical movement in climbing.” The sport of climbing has recently become a popular activity for many. According to the Climbing Business Journal, almost five million people have participated in some form of climbing, including bouldering and indoor climbing. Climbing now ranks higher than gymnastics and track and field in America’s top activities. In addition to these statistics, the International Olympic Committee (IOC) has also approved rock climbing in a list of new
events to be held in the 2020 olympics. With a growth in popularity, one of the factors making climbing popular is the healthy lifestyle it promotes. “I really see the benefit of helping create a healthy physical well-being with climbing, because when I’m not climbing, it motivates me to be active,” Priester said. “For example, when I’m here at school, I want to be working out, and be running and doing all these things because I know they are going to benefit me for climbing.” Those in search of another outlet for fitness can look to Climb Tulsa, formerly known as New Heights Climbing Gym, for indoor climbing with affordable prices and student discounts. According to Climb Tulsa’s website, climbtulsa. com, the gym has provided Northeast Oklahoma with climbing since 1997. Climbers can climb for an entire day for $20 with full gear rental, but for those climbers with their own gear, they can acquire a day pass for a cost of
$12. Climbers with a military ID and students with a school ID can enter with a 15 percent discount on the total cost. This year, the gym is building a new facility, with over 20,000 square feet of climbing space and hopes to open soon. While the new gym is still being built, climbers can find enough climbing and retail at Climb Tulsa’s current location. Don’t know anything about climbing? Newbies are welcome as Climb Tulsa offers classes for all skill levels. The top rope course is good to take with a friend or partner to belay the climber. Climb Tulsa also offers a Lead Course meant for more experienced climbers and offers more of a challenge. So get out, explore the gym’s facility and take fitness to new heights this year.
“It’s kind of like a creative and constant physical outlet for me.”
Photo by Josh Crow
Climb Tulsa’s new facility will be open in spring 2018. March 9, 2018 • Oracle • 9
mma Giddens
Returning to the Os cars as this year’s ho st, Jimmy Kimmel gave an op ening monologue po kin g fun at las t year’s bumbles and firing shots at sex ism in the workplace today. Thou gh his delivery in some ins tan ces seemed a little forced , Kimmel packed his sp ee ch wit h some great one-liners. A personal favorite wa s regarding las t year’s embarrassi ng fal se announcem ent. He said, “This year, when you hear your named calle d, don’t get up right away. Give us a minute. What happen ed las t year was unfor tunate.” Jen nifer Lawrence playfu lly nudged las t year’s almos t-winn er, Emma Stone in res ponse. —Kayley Forshey
r for bestme an Oscar this yea Kobe Byrant took ho in 2017, is ar Basketball” released animated short film. “De emotional n by Byrant about the based on poetr y writte s. Teaming basketball career dream journey to reaching his poser John car winner and com up with five-time Os Glen Keane, mer Disney animator Williams , alongside for xt to his other trophy on his shelf– ne Bryant now puts that and five NBA titles. two NBA M.V.P awards,
—Haley Gibson
10 • Oracle • March 9, 2018
The ver y popular Sh ape of Water got its fair share of flack when Kimmel sa id, “We will remembe r this year as the year men screwed up so badly, women started dating fish.” He also joked about the length of the show and encouraged winners to keep their speeches short with the incentive of a new jet ski awarded to the sh ortest speech. Overall, Kimmel was wit ty, relevant and pla yful, ushering in the 90th Oscars with humor and a dash of social awareness.
—Kayley Forshey
g, best car for best film editin Dunkirk bagged an Os d the hin be n ma e Th sound mixing. sound editing and best mer. Zim ns Ha nic er than the ico sound magic? None oth ine ag im I w ho y ctl this film was exa Nolan’s sound style for it: of le dd mi the in was for those the Battle of Dunkirk el lev h hig a ed ain The score maint loud and relentless. for ing ak bre ly on t the entire film of intensit y throughou se scenes. nce in the extra inten sile of a couple moments ’s abilit y lan No r he director Chris top However, Zimmer and rac ter was into the mind of a cha to suck the audience ck or movie . Still, not the sound tra exceptional in this film re low. ssu pre od to keep that blo for you if you’re trying —Cicely Rubottom
The Oscars are cool, but let ’s be honest— the outfit s are the main event. He re are a few of the nig ht’s couture highlights: Emma Sto ne was all-business in a burgundy satin tuxedo jacket paired with navy cig arette pants , finished off with a ma genta bow. Zendaya stole the show in her asymmetrical brown dress that exu ded modern charm. Jennifer Garner and Mirai Nagasu were stunning in shades of blue, with Garner sporting a roy al blue Atelier Versace gown that paid homage to old Holly wood glamour. Nagasu wa s glamorous in a ba by blue Tadashi Shoji gown with a nu de underlay. —Emma Giddens
It’s lonely at the top of the controversy. All eyes were on Ryan Seacres t this year at the red carpet but not in the way he’s used to. Last month, Seacres t’s ex-stylis t released allegation s of sexual misconduc t about the American Idol host. Seacres t denied the accusations but continued to fee l the heat at the Oscars. With the #MeTo o and #TimesUp movement already being a major political movement, most Holly wood stars kept their dis tance fro m this particular host. Awkward. —Cicely Rubottom
Graphics by Alejandro Contreras
car s on n best ac tress at the Os Frances McDormand wo phone cro mi fidently approached the Sunday night, and con ale fem ed ask ce speech in which she to deliver an acceptan d an rm Do Mc . room to stand up , nominees all over the nd ha in ard her second Academy Aw exited the stage with an at len sto n statue reportedly only to have the golde spokesperson orted that an LAPD after-party. CNN rep and “booked arrested late Sunday confirmed a man was ng an Oscar ali theft for allegedly ste on suspicion of grand Dormand. Mc to clear if it belonged statue.” It was not made was a sexist . It is unclear if the thief —Raegan Dougharty
March 9, 2018 • Oracle • 11
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ORU review: down to earth rom-com by Cicely Rubottom @cicelypixely
Last weekend, ORU Music and Theatre performed a reenactment of the 2017 Tony-nominated musical “She Loves Me.” The romantic comedy followed Amalia Balish (played by Amalia Heiser) and Georg Nowack (played by Timothy Conn) as they worked alongside each other at a Parfumerie. Both, frequently butting heads in discourse, are unaware that they are one another’s romantic pen pal. The production, directed by Laura Holland, was filled with well-executed humor, hitand-miss vocal performances and an overall flamboyant nature. It told a charming story of expectations, betrayal and unforeseen love. While several scenes droned on, there was redemption in character development. Adriana Cortez’s performance as a supporting role was as strong as her bold and spirited character, Ilona Ritter. Cortez brought the perfect amount of entertaining sass and feminine strength to the production.
The characters of Ritter, Mr. Maraczek (played by Wesley Houts) and Balish all work together to tell the different outcomes of loving someone, both heartbreaking and endearing. While Ritter’s failed attempt at love leads to her finding contentment in being alone and independent, Maraczek’s experience shows the dark reality some face when love does not live up to their hopes. Balish and Nowack satisfy the audience with an ending that reveals the capability of love that can be found in the most unexpected places. The musical score, directed by Michelle Eiler, set the playful yet down-to-earth tone of the play and even featured the ORU Chamber Singers in the second act. The set and costumedesign encapsulated 1930’s European style and vibrant color. By incorporating strong key emblems, true-to-the-time designs, enthusiastic acting and positive underlying messages, the cast and crew of “She Loves Me” undoubtedly brought hope to the hopeless in their first production of the year.
Graphic provided by Brooklynn Spille, ART 355 Graphic Design Studio
The simple art of microwave tortilla pizza by Valentina Alvarez @Valealv29
University life is hard, full of stress and a lack of time. Here is a simple, fast and delicious recipe for a small ham pizza. Most students tend to think that pizza is full of fat and that the dough is bad for health. But this recipe will definitely challenge that misconception.
Instructions:
Illustration by Hyunjin Bae
First, take the tortilla and spread two tablespoons of tomato sauce on it. Next, take two slices of ham and mozzarella cheese, cut them into small squares and place them over the entire surface of the tortilla. Personalize the pizza and add any topping desired, like bacon, salami or even vegetables. Microwave on high for one minute, or until the cheese is melted and the other ingredients are fully cooked. As a final touch, add a little oregano or other preferred spices.
March 9, 2018 • Oracle • 13
Verona plays tennis in Tulsa by Alejandro Arroyo @Dro3686 Verona, Italy—a city rich in history and well known for being romantic by nature served as the birth place of both William Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet and Eddy Leardini, one of five international tennis players to represent Oral Roberts University. The four-time regional title winner, two-time north area winner and Pentathlon National Title holder has journeyed to the United States in pursuit of a dream that started during his childhood and continues to manifest with age. “America is something you just dream about since you are five years old in Europe,” said Leardini. “You start with the movies, then with the TV series’ and breath-taking places and then you finish with the food and the traditions.” It’s all here; a place, when coupled with the young Italian’s thirst of exploring new places and meeting people and learning more, where the possibilities seem endless. A university that is known by Complex magazine as the worst party school in the U.S. may not seem the normal situation for someone who dreamed of coming into American culture. “I heard about ORU through the coach. We were in contact and I saw there was a really good program correlated with my chemical and biological interest, I was interested,” said Leardini. “Plus, a Christian school could help me stay focused,” he continued. “A place where I can at the same time
study something I really like and play a sport that is a big part of my life—I am living my dream right now.” However, twenty-one-year-old Leardini hasn’t always been sure of his future or what his passion would become. “Initially, [playing tennis] started like a joke because I was really pretty fat, and my parents pushed me to choose between soccer and tennis,” said Leardini. When asked if he remembered that day, Eddy smiled and said, “Yeah, I was five and I was really willing to play soccer without too many doubts, and then, I do not know how or why, but the word ‘tennis’ came out from my mouth. I was shocked because I did not expect to say something I was not really thinking about. I guess it was faith, or God.” That decision, regardless of the outcome, was designed to escape the ordinary. He added that coming to the United States wasn’t an easy transition. In fact, not only was it difficult for him to adjust to the culture and languages, but playing tennis was radically different. “At home, tennis is more individual while here everything is more centered around the team and achieving a collective win. Which is great, but at home you don’t play more than four singles and two doubles per game. Which unfortunately can last for a whole day since each match can take up to more than three hours,” he said. “But we don’t have facilities as incredible as the Americans, so that makes up for it.”
“I am living my dream right now.”
Leardini is a sophomore international tennis player from Casaleone, Italy, in the Providence of Verona. /Photo by Jake Reib
14 • Oracle • March 9, 2018
ORU welcomes final season for Rotola by Haley Gibson @Gibson_hay Opening night, Saturday Feb. 16, ORU baseball welcomed to the plate a newly healthy senior outfielder Nick Rotola for his last season. Nearly a full year ago Rotola suffered a season-ending injury, earning him a medical hardship wavier for the rest of the 2017 season. “I broke my arm running into the fence trying to catch a ball on game 15 against Dallas Baptist,” said Rotola. “Everything has fallen into place in my life in a way that is obviously from the Lord. Everything great in my life I owe to him.” Prior to ORU, the Michigan native spent his freshman year engulfed in Eastern Michigan University baseball, starting in 41 games there, and playing in a full 48 for the Michigan Eagles who went 19-34 during Rotola’s season. In 2015 he was recruited by ORU and came to the school in hopes to work on a master’s degree in business administration/marketing after completing his bachelors. The senior will complete both in five and a half years. Although he spent his first year at ORU redshirting, his second year as a Golden Eagle was
full of career highs. In 2016 he earned Second Team All-Summit League honors and tournament MVP at the Championship game, after hitting two home runs at the tournament. In the same year he was one of two members of the team to start every game at their position, and finished third in total with a .319 average, 16 doubles and three home runs. That same year he held a .419 slugging percentage. “Whenever you have a major injury as an athlete it teaches you a lesson in humility and in appreciation of the game you play,” said Rotola. “Spending a year watching all your friends and teammates accomplishing great things is bittersweet in that it creates an itch and desire to get back onto the field.” As his final season begins on J.L. Johnson stadium going 2-for-4 at the plate, chasing down five fly balls in center field and a run scored in the third. “My plan moving forward is to be where my feet are. If I spend time with the Lord each day and focus on my daily routine I believe that I’ll be successful,” said Rotola. “I’m 3 months away from an MBA, I’m engaged to the love of my life, and I’m a part of the greatest baseball program in the country. Life’s good.” Rotola posted a .185 batting average and 10 scored runs last season regardless of injury. /Photo by Mike Martin
Women’s basketball ends season in semifinal by Haley Gibson @Gibson_hay
Ihim holds more than 500 rebounds, setting another school record as the 10th womens player with that many rebounds and points in university history. /Photo by Mike Martin
For the first time since the 2015-16 season, the Golden Eagle women’s basketball team advanced to the semifinal round in the Summit League Tournament, and faced off against No.1 South Dakota Coyotes. (loosing 53-65) This comes after a 76-71 victory over Denver the day previous. However, the Coyotes took the win over ORU on Monday, March 5, at 12 p.m. at the Denny Sanford Premier Center in Sioux Falls, South Dakota. The teams have met 12 other times, and faced off in the league tournament twice. The Coyotes finish their regular season 14-0, and defeated the Golden Eagles both times the teams competed this year. Many of the players received high Summit League honors for their work throughout the season. Junior forward Maria Martianez
was third overall in the Summit League, specifically in rebound per game. Martianez also was chosen for the All-Summit League Second Team. Faith Ihim, senior and scored her 1000th career point this season becoming the 20th player in ORU history to do so. Ihim is second in Summit League standings with 8.1 rebounds per game; and she is third overall in field goal percentages (56.9). This season she also accomplished being one of the 30 finalists for the Senior CLASS award, and was named for the All-Summit League First team. Maya Mayberry, a freshman who followed the footsteps of her previously graduating Golden Eagle sister, holds a average of 11.4 points per game and is first in Summit League overall threepoint percentages with an average of 46.5 percent. She was named to the Summit League All-Newcomer Team.
March 9, 2018 • Oracle • 15
Photo provided by Unsplash
Enter 2018’s March Madness season
March Madness is set to kick of in just matter of days. This is a massive singleelimination tournament of NCAA Division 1 Men’s basketball where sixty-eight teams will compete in seven rounds for the national championship title. Until that game, however, it’s just about time to start making those brackets– the 10-member NCAA Men’s D1 Basketball Committee is going to reveal the full bracket on Selection Sunday, embracing all teams and seed placements. Selection Sunday in 2018 happens to be March 11, starting at 6 p.m. on TBS.
The ORU Golden Eagles track team has competed in 10 different competitions since the indoor season began in December last semester. / Photo by Alicia Crum
Record-breaking indoor track season
Photo by Mike Martin
by Alejandro Arroyo @Dro3686
ORU Baseball season starter quick hits
After a disappointing series lost against SIUE on March 2 (L 6-4), March 3 (W 4-2) and March 4 (L 2-1) the Golden Eagles look to spend three games on the road after facing competitor Witchia State at J.L. Johnson on Wednesday. (W 2-1) The team will play a three game series against Dallas Baptist University through March 9-11. Next they will have one game against Missouri State in Springfield, before returning home to begin there Summit League Conference season against the South Dakota State Jackrabbits here in Tulsa.
16 • Oracle • March 9, 2018
The 2017-18 track season is in full swing, and ORU has just completed its events for the Summit League Championship, hosted by North Dakota State in Fargo, North Dakota. Stars have risen and fallen throughout this meet and the length of a shoelace often determines glory, a lace that most would say was worn by the Golden Eagles. Both track teams combined for seven individual titles. Aneikeme Etim broke two more Summit League records in both the 60-meter and the 200-meter dash. Her speed clocked in at a whopping 7.35 second 60-meter and a killer 23.93 second 200-meter. The dynamic duo of Omeiza Akerele and Emmanuel Mwewa acted as a one-two punch as they flip-flopped first and second in both the 200-meter and 400. Akerele finished with a 21.41 in his claim to the title (200-meter dash) and Mwewa finished with a 48.25 in the 400. Not to mention the two only finished milliseconds behind one another, the ORU track team was on fire. As for the long jump and triple jump, ORU once again laid claim to their respective titles, as Jaden Purnell took first place with a 7.51 meter long jump and second in the triple jump, landing a 15.35 meter. In the women’s championship, Mercy Abire
took second in both the long and triple jumps as she anchored a 5.90 meter and a 12.64 meter in her two jumping events. Furthermore, Sethren Wells out of Nassau, Bahamas, also contributed to the record breaking as she managed to achieve an 8.55 seconds 60-meter hurdle, cementing her name within the ORU record books. Israel Nelson placed first in the 60-meter hurdle, punching in a blazing 7.98 seconds, making him the only runner to break eight seconds in this year’s Summit League Championship. Staying at the 60-meter event, Raymond Ekevowo and Aobakwe Malau both finished top three in a competitive heat, one that had Ekevowo finishing first with a 6.79 seconds, a time that was only .09 seconds behind the Summit League record which is currently held by Virgil Maddox, an ORU alum. All of this was capped off by another title win in the men’s 4X400 medley, led by senior Akerele as he caps his final season as a Golden Eagle strong. The action for ORU track and field is far from over,. Men and women alike return to the turf to several varying invitationals through the spring season. Their next and final indoor competition takes place in Aggieland at the NCAA Championship on Friday, March 9. They will continue outside on Friday, March 16, at the Tulsa Duels hosted by the University of Tulsa.
There’s only nine people on earth
Haley Gibson @Gibson_hay People, 7.442 billion of them inhabit the planet every day, yet no person sees out of the same irises or speaks with the same vocal chords. Though many things make us different, there are personality traits that inevitably connect us all, like basic fears, wants and desires. These commonalities can be determined and defined through various personality tests. The goal of these tests is to define inner traits that humans relate and repeat psychologically through
behavior and action. Usually, they’re tracked through about 100 questions and then defined in various paragraphs of really convicting sentences that compel the reader to feel known. These assumptions of human behavior are made through the study and theoretical research of patterns in unnatural and unfamiliar situations, inevitably displaying the differences in human reactions. Every personality is just as valuable as the others, and there are pages of research on them all. That being said, tests like these increase compassion and empathy for personal differences. They allow not only the testtaker to interact with some of their preferred traits, but compare and understand those of others in a healthy and constructive format. There are several popular system tests out there, like the Myers-Briggs test created by Katharine Cook Briggs, Gallups Strength Finders test, which is popular among many Christian groups, and the nine personalities of Enneagram. Personally, the nine types of the Enneagram have taught me the most about who I am and how my personality relates to other people. These types are
both very subtle and, coincidentally, very complex. Although each person can find their own self in each type, generally individuals identify with one of the types in particular. This is the real instrument in the Enneagram itself—the identification with a type number that brings a lot of freedom to understand oneself. Struggling with a friendship? Certain types find other numbers overwhelming. Feel overwhelmed by emotions and misunderstandings? Certain types tend to operate fully in the heart more than others. Unlike the popular MyersBriggs, the Enneagram does not indulge in introvert or extrovert percentages, which means that being a number two does not mean that you are like every other two on the planet. Through the Enneagram, anyone can better understand individuals for their unique personalities— and further, it is with that same tool that a friend can garden the grounds of their relationships based off of what they fundamentally understand about them, but do not naturally understand. This week on the Oracle’s podcast The Basement, we dive into what Enneagram types the editors are and how that knowledge affects our work together.
Saying goodbye to my smartphone
Emma Giddens @em_giddy I’ve decided that it’s time to kick my iPhone to the curb and buy a flip phone. Retro is cool, right? According to Who What Wear, 70s fashion is making a huge comeback right now, what with all the midi skirts, floral patterns, bell-sleeves and—picture it
with me—flip phones floating around coffee shops and Urban Outfitters over the past few months. Here’s the thing though, they didn’t have slim little cellphones in the 1970s—they had bricks with antennas, and the pockets on my boyfriend jeans aren’t big enough to fit that and neither is my purse, so I’ll settle for something from, like, 2007. There are some cool styles from that year—believe me, I can totally remember. It’s pretty easy to see that vintage is the new modern, which is why it’s important that I get a step ahead of the trend and buy a vintage flip phone while they’re still relatively affordable. I’ve always wanted a Sidekick, but I think a lavender Razor would probably be cool, too. I’m not picky,
just trendy. Zazzle is having a great sale right now on these amazing rose gold Razors with bedazzled cameras. I could probably even buy one for my fiancé, because he likes trends, too. Not a bedazzled one, though. It’s not his style. Do we really need cellphones? Coco Chanel lived her whole life without a cellphone and Beyoncé has lived half of hers without one, too—they didn’t suffer, so I probably wouldn’t either, but my mom still calls me every day and I have a relatively involved Instagram following and a high likefollow ratio, so I can’t completely check out. There’s also my blog—I have to drive traffic somehow, and Instagram is full of people who like clothes and Chelsea boots.
The only downfall to using a flip phone is that you can’t download VSCO or Vero. If I used a flip phone, I couldn’t edit my photos on-the-go or read theSkimm updates either, and I save a lot of time by doing both of those things from my phone. Also, what about the 1,200 photos I have in my photo album? I’m not sure that I could get all of those printed, but I could make a super cute online slideshow on my laptop if I separated them all into albums based on general aesthetic. That would be really trendy. All in all, I think flip phones would be a great trend to revisit, because they’re also environmentally friendly, unlike iPhones, and we all know how important it is to take care of the earth.
March 9, 2018 • Oracle • 17
Documentary rebuttal to hit screens
Kendall Brown @oruoracle In high school, I learned how to write argumentative and persuasive essays. My argumentative paper was the first paper I have ever gotten a B on. I was not happy, but to be fair, I didn’t do a good job of convincing my teacher of my side, whatever that was at the time. A convincing argument is harder to create than you might think, which is why the Netflix original “Making a Murderer” was such a hit. The documentary filmmakers fully convinced their
audience that Steven Avery was completely innocent of the murder of Teresa Halbach, and that the police who dealt with the Avery case were the criminals. The audiences’ reaction to the documentary series was unprecedented—there was even a petition sent to the president demanding the release of Avery. Although the effort was all there, presidents cannot pardon state-induced imprisonment, so the petition was entirely void, but its impact was felt nationwide. Its popularity spread through news sites and social media, all the while gaining public momentum. I remember hearing about Avery’s case on the news, various TV shows and radio podcasts. The media had everyone convinced that Avery was, in fact, the victim in the case with Halbach—well, maybe not everyone. There were enough people who were not convinced of Avery’s innocence to come together and make a rebuttal documentary, titled “Convicting a Murder.” According to a New York Times article, the new documentary explores what “Making a Murderer” didn’t—additional evidence, such as DNA evidence that proves Avery’s DNA was found where he said it wasn’t and that some of Halbach’s
belongings were found on Avery’s property. How this evidence was brushed over in “Making a Murderer” is beyond me, but it was, in fact, presented as evidence at the trial for the jury to see. There’s also the fact that Avery and Halbach knew each other for a while prior to Halbach’s death. She worked as a photographer for him, and he often requested her service for projects he was working on. “Convicting a Murderer” will focus specifically on the legal case built against Avery and Brendan Dassey, Avery’s alleged accomplice. The documentary filmmaker Shawn Rech got exclusive access to District Attorney Ken Kratz, lead investigator Tom Fassbender and other primary figures in the case against Avery. In the wake of “Making a Murderer,” there was speculation that Avery and Dassey’s convictions might be overturned, but it’s all smoke and mirrors at this point. A Wisconsin judge denied Avery a new trial in October, and a federal appeals court upheld Dassey’s conviction in December. Based on the evidence so readily available to the public on the internet, I’m not so sure that Avery is innocent, but the public will have to find out for themselves when the new documentary comes to the screen.
A letter to my freshman self
Writer’s Name @Twitter Paige McQueen @paigemcq23 Dear freshman Paige, Hey there, little freshman, with your big blue eyes and your unsure heart. You feel unworthy now, as though everyone else has a leg up in this journey but you. You wander around campus in your worn jean shorts and baby blue T-shirt and feel foreign in your own skin. You gaze at the girls with long silky hair, boyish figures and deceptively clear skin and
18 • Oracle • March 9, 2018
you long, with every fiber of your being, to be like them. You determine that one day, you will become the person on your Pinterest. You will be perfect. Listen to me, girl. You are not your clothes or your size or the brands you wear or the jokes you make or the boys you attract. You are not even the fun you have. You shine, but you don’t see it yet. You have talent and purpose, and you’re going to do something great with your life. But don’t worry about it. Go to your classes and be your aggressive, type-A self, determined to win even when there is no prize. You won’t regret it. You hear the voice of God, darling, and you flow in His spirit. Don’t let worry grip you into that spiral. You know the one. Don’t lay there, going in pointless mind-mazes of possibilities to improve yourself. You’re more than what people
think of you. You’re going to fall and fail and have your heart shattered into a million pieces. You’re going to become someone so different, only to have it taken away. Questions will flood your mind. But remember His love. No matter what, His love will never leave you. His love is your pulse, for as long as blood pumps through your delicate blue veins. You’re going to make friends, these amazing souls crafted in God’s own image, and you’ll get the pleasure of loving them. You’re going to go under warm water and emerge with Jesus’ name on your lips. You’ll take His name with you to the red-light district in Germany and you’ll be scared, but you’ll stand up anyway because of grace and because people are worth it. You’re going fly to Paris and come back and realize that your reality is a gift. That these people who make
up your everyday will make up your eternity. That years down the road, they will be the people who you call when the baby takes the first step and you’re on your last breath. You’re going to get more stylish, thankfully. Clothes don’t determine value. They’re simply an artistic statement of yourself. You’re going to realize that you care a lot more about the people underneath the layers and the small talk. You’re going to be okay, darling. You’re going to thrive, I promise. Don’t look compare yourself or care about those people who don’t pay attention to you. Focus on loving passionately and spreading kindness as though it were free of sacrifice. You are beloved, so rest in that. Know that all of this stuff, this crazy hard and not fun stuff, is creating a strength in you. Today is not the end,so learn to enjoy this process. Smile.
March 9, 2018 • Oracle • 19
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