March 28, 2014 Print Edition by ORU Oracle

Oral Roberts University 路 March. 28, 2014 Tulsa, Okla. 路 Vol 48, No. 11 www.oruoracle.com

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Photo Illustrat

FROM SOIL TO SAGA TO SCRAPHEAP: Oracle investigates food waste concerns in campus cafeteria. PAGES 10-11

Why food stewardship matters STAFF EDITORIAL

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At your next meal, look down at your plate. If you’re an American, 30 percent of what is on that plate will end up in the trash. And that’s a conservative estimate. In reality, it’s probably closer to 40 percent nationwide, according to a study by the Natural Resources Defense Council. To discover what food waste looked like at Oral Roberts University, the Oracle did a study of its own. For nine days, Oracle staffers weighed the waste in the student cafeteria. As Sodexo workers scraped plates and dumped the excess into the trash, we weighed each full barrel of refuse. The study also kept track of the number of students in Saga, or the per capita student count. With these numbers, it wasn’t hard to figure out how

FEATURES PAGES 8-9 Jordan Lewis Remembered

many ounces each student threw out at an average meal. The magic—or embarrassing—figure: 5.7 ounces. While that may sound small, 5.7 ounces adds up quickly. It’s like every student throwing away a whole apple, four granola bars or an untouched chicken breast. At every meal. In just nine days, ORU students tossed 5,181 pounds of food waste in Saga. That’s roughly the size of a robust rhinoceros. Extrapolate that figure over the more than 200 days each school year that students eat in Saga, and that total jumps to 124,344 pounds. At ORU, the proverbial rhino in our room is food waste. We believe something can — and should — be done about it. As part of the Oracle’s effort to raise food waste awareness, we are launching the “Eat

Smart” campaign. The goal is simple. If each student reduces what he or she throws away at every meal by only an ounce, we can cut our annual food waste total by roughly 20 percent. What does an ounce look like? Reducing an ounce of waste is like the weight of an apple slice, a handful of nuts or a slice of bread. Be sure to turn to this issue’s cover story on pages 10 and 11 for more tips on how to reduce food waste. This campaign is not a clean-your-plate effort, nor is it a finish-your-platebecause-there-are-hungrychildren guilt trip. It’s a matter of stewardship. Continued on page 19

News

Williams, Grabovenko win S.A. election By Dominique Johnson Zay Williams and David Grabovenko, the winners of the 2014 SA election, will step into their roles of president and vice president this coming fall. Williams and Grabovenko were notified of their win before chapel on Friday, March 14. “[After finding out,] we shook the other candidates’ hands and the first thing I said to David was ‘Let’s go to the Prayer Tower,’” Williams said. “That was our response, so we could prepare ourselves for the magnitude of it all.” The journey presented obstacles for Williams. Due to extenuating circumstances, his vice presidential candidate changed. Last minute, he chose to run with Grabovenko. “I had to adjust,” Williams said. “We already had everything planned and then went to having nothing planned at all. I still felt like I was supposed to keep pushing forward.” Williams and Grabovenko were the last to announce their candidacy. Though they don’t step into their role as president and vice president until next year, the work starts now. “A lot is going to happen in these next five weeks before we leave school,” Williams said. “We’re in the process of hiring cabinet members and our execu-

tive staff for SA.” They plan on “changing and tweaking,” adding and removing some SA positions. Williams said he wished to add more diversity to SA. He is also excited to serve the student body in “wholistic revival.” “I’m known for the word ‘revival,’” Williams said. “There’s more to that than just spiritual things.” “I’m tired of hearing second-semester seniors say they don’t know what they’re doing next in life,” Williams said. “I’m excited about building students’ confidence in [ORU] and getting to wholistic revival on campus.” Grabovenko is an international student from Russia. He aims to represent his country in a positive light. “A lot of people see Russia as a cold country and that the people have cold hearts,” Grabovenko said. “But when you’re a Christian, it doesn’t matter where you’re from. He’s an American, and I’m a Russian. That’s probably what heaven will be like. We’re still brothers and sisters in Christ and can do great things for people.” Grabovenko looks forward to the “opportunity to serve God’s people.” “I want to personally say ‘thank you’ to all of the people who supported us,” Grabovenko said. “And the last thing I can possibly say is ‘level up.’”

Photo by Julianne Gonzalez

Zay Williams (right) and David Grabovenko (left) won the run-off election March 13 against candidates Lacey Russ and Brandon Richards. The duo will assume Student Association presidential and vice-presidential responsibilities in the upcoming fall semester.

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THE ORACLE • Friday, March 28, 2014 • 3

Hobby Lobby’s legal battle continues

Photo by Violet Mwanza

Jonathan Wiley and Jacqueline Otto Isaacs participate in a panel to discuss capitalism and values on Monday night during ORU’s Religious Liberty Week.

Campus observes Religious Liberty Week By Kaylin Thompson Oral Roberts University hosted Religious Liberty Week March 24-27. The conferences and lectures held throughout this week were sponsored by the ORU Christian Worldview Committee. In the seminars, nationally acclaimed speakers discussed basic human liberty and highlighted some of the areas where it is fostered or suppressed throughout the world. Notable speakers included Tony Perkins, Dr. Timothy Shah, Jacqueline Otto Isaacs, Dr. Daniel Dreisbach, Dr. William Adrian, Dr. Allen Hertzke and Leah Farish. The sessions began Monday and were led by Jacqueline Otto Isaacs. Otto Isaacs was supported by a panel consisting of ORU alumni: Dr. Ruby Libertus, Dr. Paul Vickery, Jonathan Wiley, Lucas Cherry, Ooceeh Afame, Grant Reynolds, Rick Westcott and Jonathan Hall. Their presentations, titled “Values and Capitalism Initiative,” demonstrated the need for virtue to influence public policy and preserve religious liberty. Otto Isaacs encouraged others to adopt a Christian worldview in the world of economics. She relayed testimonies of individuals who felt more fulfilled by doing some of the most undesirable jobs in the workplace. Otto Isaacs also emphasized the

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need to create value out of scarcity. ORU students filled the conference room seats, taking notes and making comments. “We cannot separate the physical poverty from the moral poverty. Character directly affects individuals’ work ethic, industriousness and choices, therefore having a major impact on society and the economy,” said ORU freshman Peyton Luke. Tony Perkins, president of the Family Research Council, and Dr. Timothy Shah, Georgetown University scholar, spoke Wednesday about the importance of religious liberty and encouraged others to exercise their rights. “Religious freedom is the ability to live your life according to your faith. It’s is a spiritual battle. We’re not facing a physical enemy,” said Perkins. Perkins said people should live their faith authentically before God. “Courage breeds courage. When we step out and publicly exercise our faith, identify with Jesus Christ and live consistently, opportunities of ministering where you are, can be utilized. We fall into thinking that we have to do something big or something that will change all of America. If you seize every opportunity that God gives you, you’ll be amazed that as you’re faithful in small opportunities, God gives you greater opportunities,” said Perkins.

By Kristy Sturgill This week, Hobby Lobby began oral arguments in the U.S. Supreme Court to challenge the Department of Health and Human Services’ directive ordering employers to cover certain contraceptives in their health insurance plans. Hobby Lobby’s CEO David Green believes some of the required contraceptives abort the fetus which contradicts his religious beliefs. Lawyers representing Green are asking the question “Are corporations people?” and if so “Do they have the same religious freedom rights?” The Religious Freedom Restoration Act was signed in 1993. It applies when a law “substantially burdens” an individual or religious group from free exercise of religion. For a law to apply to a person or group, the government must first show “compelling interest in applying the law.” Second, the law must use the “least restrictive means” to achieve that interest. During the upcoming weeks, the Supreme Court must answer three very important questions. Does a for-profit corporation have the same rights as a person? If so, does this “person” engage in an “exercise of religion” when he, for religious reasons, refuses to provide health insurance that covers contraceptives or abortifacients? Lastly, does the Department of Health and Human Services “substantially burden” the “exercise of religion” by those persons and organizations that have religious beliefs that forbid them from providing contraceptives or abortifacients? The Justice Department argued in its brief filed with the Supreme Court, “There is no reason to think that Congress intended RFRA to grant for-profit corporations rights that previously have been reserved to individuals and religious nonprofit institutions.” Lori Widham, one of Hobby Lobby’s lawyers, stated, “The religious beliefs of Hobby Lobby’s owners are inseparable from how they operate.” Windam asked, “Is Hobby Lobby required to provide all forms of contraception, including [drugs that enable] the termination of human life, or is that left between the employee and their doctor?” Currently, Hobby Lobby covers 16 of the 20 mandated forms of contraception. Pew Research Religion and Public Life Project recently predicted, “A Supreme Court decision granting corporations ‘personhood’ protections under RFRA could create numerous opportunities for businesses to challenge a range of government regulations.”

Housing changes affect students’ dorm selections By Jovana Poljasevic and Madison McDaniel On Feb. 26, the housing department announced its changes for next semester. After eight years of being closed, the second floor of EMR will open for only incoming freshman. The changes will also apply to the second floor of Claudius impact Towers. Floors nine through 12 of Michael will close to consolidate the male student-body to the floors below. How will this affect the student-body? Beginning Monday, March 24, student housing opened up the online housing selection for students to retain their current room space. The new changes will force students to redirect their living arrangements according to housing eligibilities. From April 9-12, displaced students will have the opportunity to select their rooms. Freshman Mary Foley currently lives on the second floor of Claudius. She must move because of the changes.

“It’s hard to choose where to room. I think all of us aren’t quite sure where to go yet. I’m just thankful we’re able to get the first pick because we’ve been displaced,” Foley said. Joshua Martin, a freshman Michael resident, views the changes as an inconvenience. However, he plans on staying in Michael anyway. “Even though it is more expensive now, I like the dorm sizes, and I do not want to move to a smaller and more uncomfortable dorm in EMR,” Martin said. Foley believes the inclusion of all freshman floors will enhance the experience of first-year students. “I’m surprised it hasn’t been done sooner. It’s a great idea,” Foley said. “I think it’s going to help girls who are going through similar transitions. I liked that the majority of the girls on my floor were freshmen because we knew what each other was going through.”

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Sophomore Gabe Armani plays his guitar in his dorm in EMR. As part of the recent housing changes, certain men’s and women’s dorm floors will be closing while others will be re-opening.

ORU hosts first Strongman Competition

MEDITERRANEAN FOOD

Photo by Nick Conroy

By Kaylin Thompson Oral Roberts University will host the first-ever ORU Strongman Competition on April 12. The Aerobics Center has collaborated with Living Well Ministries to create this event. The competition aims to inspire people and encourage them to take action regarding fitness. The competition will be held in the Mabee Center parking lot B. Visitors need to park their vehicles in lot C. Weigh-ins begin at 9 a.m. in the Mabee Center south lobby. The event begins at 10 a.m. The weight categories will be male 210 pounds and over, male 209 pounds and under and a female division. Some events include carrying fivegallon water jug loads, tire flipping and distance walking with sleds and dumbbells. The finalists will be

involved in a bracket-style elimination tug-o-war. The events and weights involved in the competition are subject to change. Snacks and drinks will be available for participants during breaks throughout the event. After the competition, there will be team challenges where police and firefighter compete in tug o’ war and fire truck team pull. It is a team event with invitations extended to all individuals in the Tulsa area. Groups must have four members to compete and at least one of the four members must be female. The tug o’ war will follow a single elimination bracket to determine the winner. Participants need to register by March 31.

THE ORACLE • Friday, March 28, 2014 • 5

FEATURES

ORU grad wins Oscar for work on ‘Frozen’

Courtesy photo

By Dominique Johnson The night finally came. Hundreds of people crowded into Disney Studios for the Oscars’ watch party. ORU alumnus Matt Steele was one of the hopeful animators, wondering if all of the hard work paid off. Will “Frozen” bring home an Oscar? “There was a lot of anticipation building up,” Steele said. “It had been a long run with animation. [Walt Disney Animation Studios] had a very difficult time during the transition from 2D [animation] to 3D. It was really tough.” The past few years presented many challenges for Disney. But under the leadership of John Lasseter, the studio finally earned its Academy Award. When actors Matthew McConaughey and Kim Novak announced that “Frozen” won the Oscar for Best Animated Feature Film, Steele and the other 300 people in the Disney studio erupted into cheers. “[The Oscar] was the culmination of all that work, all those years of pain, to come up with something that was really special,” Steele said. Steele worked on both the rigging and simulation teams for the film. Rigging is the process of taking digital models and turning them into “puppets for animators to perform with,” Steele said. He rigged many of the townspeople of Arendelle. Working with

the simulation team, he tailored and built motion rigs for many of the characters. Steele worked on the simulation team at the tail end of production. Simulation is where animators tailor the clothing to fit properly and provide controls so the artists can make it move in an art directable way. “I rigged many outfits for the men,” Steele said. “And I did Elsa’s nightgown as well. That dress is what she’s wearing when the girls wake up at the beginning of the film to play in the snow.” Steele said the studio knew they had something special after they finished working on the film, but “expecting to win an Oscar is dangerous.” “’Frozen’ was so much bigger than anyone thought it would be,” Steele said. “We had no idea it was going to take hold of people’s imagination like it did. It really took everybody by surprise. I think we were hopeful that we would take the Oscar. But obviously, you can’t know for sure.” In the past, Steele worked for DreamWorks’ ‘How to Train Your Dragon’ and both ‘Kung Fu Panda’ movies. All received nominations but didn’t take home Oscars. Other films he worked on include ‘Arthur Christmas,’ ‘Green Lantern,’ ‘Shark Tale,’ and more. A few of Steele’s favorite parts of the ‘Frozen’ journey were seeing his work come to life and finally wrapping up what was a difficult production. But neither of those things compared to watching the movie premier at the Dolby Theater with his daughter.

6 • Friday, March 28, 2014 • THE ORACLE

“It was a really great moment,” Steele said. “Not only to see all of the stuff I worked hard on come to life and look great on the screen—not because of me but because of all the other amazing artists—but to be there with my daughter and to come full circle. It was a really rewarding experience.” Steele graduated from ORU with a Bachelor of Science in commercial arts in 1997. After interning in print design his senior year and eventually gaining employment from the same studio, he started trying his hand at motion graphics and animation. One job after another led him to be hired as an apprentice at DreamWorks animation, eventually working his way up through the ranks and contributing at Sony Pictures Imageworks. He’s now a technical animation supervisor at Walt Disney

Disney Animation Studios. “Don’t get impatient,” Steele said. “Big dreams don’t just happen. I didn’t just wake up one day and all of a sudden [work] on ‘Frozen.’ That came after hundreds, if not thousands, of little tiny sacrifices and baby steps working towards the goal.” Since working on “Frozen,” Steele has already wrapped up his work on another film, “Big Hero 6,” which is scheduled to release Nov. 7, 2014. After that, he started working on “Zootopia,” which is scheduled for release in 2016. “Don’t always be looking forward to the next thing. Have the best attitude you can with the work you’re doing now. You’re always going to be moving somewhere,” Steele said. “If you’re positive and doing your best with the right attitude, you’ll always be moving a bit closer to where you want to go.”

Graphic by Matthew Dean

Remaining Faithful

Paola Rebayo (middle) stands with international student manager Lisa Edwards (left) and international student representative Reshi Jason (right). Rebayo, of Colombia, thanks Edwards and Jason for helping her enroll. Photo by Valeria Hernandez

Colombian student struggles and prevails through her journey to ORU.

By Valeria Hernandez Gathering $17,000 one day at a time may seem impossible. But this is one of the miracles Paola Rebayo, a 25-yearold freshman art major from Colombia, witnessed in her life. Rebayo’s inch-thick ORU file stands as a testimony of her six-year journey of faith. “I don’t even know how many applications I filled out,” said Rebayo. “I just know my file is huge.” Rebayo’s calling to ORU came during a broadcast in Colombia. Rebayo’s mother heard a promise from the Lord saying Rebayo and her sister would study at ORU. Since then, Rebayo believed one day she would attend the college built by a man of faith. “When somebody says something is yours, you don’t look anywhere else,” said Rebayo. “I knew it was ORU. I was supposed to wait for the fulfillment of that promise.” Year after year, faith slowly turned into doubt. Rebayo recalls with tears the moments she asked God when she would finally make it to Tulsa. “There were a lot of moments when I thought [ORU] was not going to happen,” Rebayo said. “But the Lord kept saying, ‘It’s not that you have done something wrong, it’s not that my promise is not going to happen, it’s just that the perfect timing hasn’t come. You have to wait for the right timing.’”

January 2013 marked Rebayo’s sixth year of waiting. Although discouraged, she applied one last time. Rebayo submitted the application and hoped for the closed doors to be opened. A month before fall 2013 started, Rebayo found the solutions she needed in Reshi Jason, an international student representative. Jason understood that financial barriers were an obstacle. However, she encouraged Rebayo to work around the financial obstacles and take a leap of faith. “When I saw Paola, [ORU] became my dream, too,” said Jason. “It was her dream to come to ORU, so it was my dream for her to be here. When she came here, my dream came true.” In less than a month, Rebayo was on a plane to finally attend the place she had been dreaming of for years. “My parents sent me to Bogota [the capital of Colombia] to take out my VISA. [The U.S. Consulate] gave it to me easily,” said Rebayo. “In Colombia, it is not that simple, but I got it. I saw God’s favor. One week before coming I got my VISA. God brought me here; there is no other way I am here. God has a bigger purpose.” However, after two months of attending ORU, Rebayo’s family was unable to make the monthly tuition payments necessary for Rebayo to stay at ORU. “I didn’t tell my situation to all my

friends,” said Rebayo. “Not everybody knew. I know God is my provider. Many times people are so worried they put their faith on people. I didn’t want that. I know who my Father is, and He will take care of me.” In the midst of the storm, Rebayo did not lose faith. But her dream was crumbling. “The pressure was impressing,” said Rebayo. “There were moments that I wanted to leave already. I didn’t want to continue fighting, and [I wanted] go back to Colombia.” The situation quickly hit rock bottom. Rebayo’s I-20, a document allowing international students to be legally in the U.S., was revoked. As a result, Reybayo was without room and board. “I wasn’t registered, and I was feeling anxious,” said Rebayo. “I didn’t know when everything would fall into place.” Rebayo worked at Moe’s until her I-20 was cancelled. Sodexo Manager Ben Chrisostom found out about Rebayo’s situation when she stopped working. Chrisostom immediately took action to help Rebayo; years ago he had been in a similar situation. “We prayed with her at that time, and she began to feel restless about it,” said Chrisostom. “I knew what I gone through, so I talked with the people of the [international] fellowship about it, and they said they absolutely needed to help out. Everybody started pitching

in. We gathered $4,000, but there was a huge balance still for this semester.” Rebayo was given continuous deadlines to pay the remaining balance. On Feb. 27 at 9:00 a.m., Reybayo had to either pay or leave. It was the last chance to strive for her calling at ORU. As the clock continued ticking, Christostom was in continual prayer. If Rebayo did not make her deadline, she would leave on a plane that night. “Ten minutes before the deadline, someone called and said, ‘We’ll take care of everything,’” said Christostom. “I couldn’t believe it. I just sat down in the car and cried for a few minutes, thinking, ‘Lord, this is really you.’” Administration prohibited Rebayo’s class attendance. Despite the uncertainty, pressure and anxiety, Rebayo still sat in classes every day. Her dedication paid off when Rebayo received Chrisostom’s call announcing she would stay at ORU. Currently, Rebayo’s international documentation is in re-statement process. In a couple of months, it will be in her hands. “Through prayer, God spoke to my parents and told them my situation did not happen only for me, but for the school,” said Rebayo. “It got to the point that administration could see the huge miracle God did for me. We cannot lose the spirit of faith in this school.”

THE ORACLE • Friday, March 28, 2014 • 7

ORU alumnus, Jordan Lewis ‘chooses victory’ at 23 By McKensie Garber On Thursday, March 20, beloved husband, son, brother, friend and alumnus, Jordan Alexander Lewis “found victory” in his fight against cancer. Jordan Lewis is recognized for his many accomplishments during his 23 years of life. During his time at ORU, he traveled to Tanzania for missions with the ManTeam and served as Chaplain for Men of God. He graduated in 2012 in international business and was later hired by Regent Bank as a credit analyst. Many people watched as a love story of faith and perseverance unfolded between Jordan and ORU alumna Cady Lewis. They met during their junior year in 2011 when Jordan asked Cady to Homecoming outside of the Towers dorms. Over the course of that year Jordan was diagnosed with stage four sinus cancer after experiencing extreme headaches and nose bleeds while on ORU missions with the ManTeam. Through radiation, chemotherapy and a major surgery, the fist-sized tumor was removed from his sinus cavity. Jordan returned to ORU the spring semester of his senior year cancer-free and took Cady to Homecoming again, where he asked her to be his girlfriend and they were crowned Homecoming King and Queen. After dating over a year, Jordan took Cady home with him to Cary, N.C. to

meet his family and attend a routine check-up. His 18-month remission of being cancer-free came to a halt after discovering the cancer had returned to his head and metastasized to his lungs as two fairly large tumors. Jordan proposed to Cady a week and a half later on June 8. She said “yes.” In three weeks they were married on June 29 to enlist in the fight against cancer together. Carl Roth, a 2012 ORU grad, was Jordan’s best man, which he says is “one of the highest honors of his life.” The two were roommates for two years. “Jordan was a man who went out of his way every time that someone else was around to make sure that they felt comfortable, genuinely accepted and important. One of his best qualities is that he made you want to live a better life or be a better person,” Roth said. “He was a man who embodied what it was to truly be a man of God.” Over the course of their nine-month marriage, Jordan’s cancer grew significantly and spread to his lymph nodes. In October, he underwent two six-hour surgeries to remove 80 percent of the tumor in his head. All this time, their faith remained steadfast. Jordan and Cady never lost hope and fully believed that God would heal him to live a long life. Jordan spent his last month in the Cancer Treatment Centers

8 • Friday, March 28, 2014 • THE ORACLE

of America in Tulsa, losing his vision, leg movement and ability to speak, but never his faith. “Jordan had a way of looking past the situation that he was in but instead looked at what God had in store for him, and that was ultimate restoration,” Jordan’s brother Johnluke said at the memorial service Wednesday in Christ’s Chapel. At this service, Jordan Carter shared his experience serving as the team leader on the ManTeam trip to Tanzania with Jordan. This trip was specifically aimed at sharing the Gospel with unreached people groups and building a birthing clinic for a village that didn’t have access to clean birthing techniques. The team faced many trials during its journey over the terrain to the village, one of these being a killer bee attack. Jordan was stung many times, but according to Carter, “laughed with fearless faith.” “I’ve never known another person like him,” Carter said. “He was fearless. No matter what came his way, no matter what kind of opposition it was, whether it was cancer or preaching the Gospel to people who had never heard it. He was fearless and said ‘send me.’ He accepted the challenge.” Jordan was the first person to lead a person to Christ on this mission trip. He shared the Gospel with a man named Emmanuel. The man asked Jordan how

much his salvation would cost because he didn’t think he could afford it. Jordan told him that this was the best part – it was absolutely free. “He brought light to places that were so dim that he truly fulfilled the mission of ORU,” Carter said. “Years later, the team returned to that village and reported that a revival had happened from the seeds Jordan had planted.” The ManTeam has changed the name of its upcoming car bash fundraiser this Saturday at 5 p.m. to the “Jordan Lewis ManTeam CarBash.” Regent Bank has changed its employee of the year award to the “Jordan Lewis Award.” Cady does not see Jordan’s death as defeat, but as victory. “I didn’t lose my husband to cancer,” she said. “I watched him choose his victory to be with Jesus after fighting with the purest bravery.” Former Dean of the College of Business, Dr. Steve Greene served as Jordan and Cady’s pastor and married them in June. “It’s amazing to have been a part of his life,” Greene said. “Jordan Lewis- the man’s man, Cady’s man, now God’s man, and let me just call him what she calls him, ‘Jordan Lewis, what a superman.’”

Photo by Austin St. John Courtesy photo Courtesy photo

Courtesy photo

Photo by Austin St. John

Graphic by Michelle Karjadi

THE ORACLE • Friday, March 28, 2014 • 9

WASTED: NEW STUDY REVEALS HEFTY FOOD WASTE CONCERNS IN UNIVERSITY CAFETERIA By Hannah Covington ORU students are tossing more than $600,000 in the trash each year from food waste, according to a recent study conducted by the Oracle. This estimate assumes only 25 percent of food is thrown away, which is a conservative figure. However, experts from Sodexo, one of the nation’s largest food service companies and the National Resources Defense Council, say Americans throw away approximately 30 to 40 percent of their food. In an early March 2014 nine-day study, the Oracle weighed the dining hall’s 32-gallon trashcans at breakfast, lunch and dinner to log daily food waste weights. The study also totaled the number of students eating in Saga, keeping track of the per capita student count.

During that time, students pitched more than 5,000 pounds worth of partially eaten or uneaten food scraps. University officials are well aware of the waste issue and have worked to address it in the past, said Tim Philley, executive vice president and chief operations officer. “Years and years ago, there were some attempts to control waste, driven not only by stewardship or lowing operating costs, but by a focus on world hunger,” Philley said. “Lots of people are starving all over the world, and we are so blessed in the United States. It’s a shame we waste as much as we do. We should be setting the example.” One of the changes the university made about five years ago was to reduce the number of trays in the cafeteria so that students had to make additional trips

to food stations. But even with this foray into trayless dining, students still throw away more than 124,000 pounds of food in one school year, as estimated by the study. ORU spends $2.5 million on food annually, Philley said. He urged students to consider the financial benefits when reducing waste. “If you only cut the waste by half, that’s $312,000 per year that could be put back into the program to improve it,” Philley said. Sodexo is ORU’s current food provider. In 2010, the company launched the international “Stop Wasting Food” initiative to try and raise awareness on college campuses about food waste. “The best way to reduce waste is to stop it at its

THE PROBLEM 15,671 students

counted in SAGA in nine days

5.7 oz/ student of food wasted, that’s like throwing away an apple per student per meal

376,104 students

estimated in SAGA in an entire school year

5,181 lbs

of food wasted in nine days, that’s like throwing away an entire rhino

124,344 lbs of food wasted in an entire school year, that’s like throwing away more than a tank

source before it even happens,” said Kristi Theisen, senior manager of sustainability for Sodexo, who helps oversee the campaign. “People get really excited about recycling and composting, which are wonderful, but even better is not having the waste that you’re trying to recycle, compost or do something with after it exists.” Theisen added that many students don’t realize how their personal waste compounds with the waste across the country and around the world. “It adds up to either a big problem or a big opportunity,” Theisen said. In matters of food stewardship, some argue that Christians are one of the lowest-ranking groups. “Our example that we set at ORU is anything but [stewardship],” said Dr. John Korstad, professor of bi-

ology. Korstad also teaches the honors course “Global Development and Sustainability.” “As a Christian, we should be thinking that we are here to care for God’s creation — not pollute it,” Korstad said. Food waste is a significant source of methane gas, a greenhouse gas that affects the ozone layer 21 times more than carbon dioxide, according to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. Korstad explained organic matter from food waste, once it gets rinsed off plates and goes down the drain, eventually enters lakes and rivers. It then pollutes these water sources and contributes to blue-green algae growth. He challenged students to consider stewardship in

a new light. “Mention ‘stewardship,’ and most people think of finances,” Korstad said. “It’s way more than that. It’s a whole lifestyle and should be intertwined and part of our being.” Philley said the way to reduce food waste is simple: take as much as you want, but eat all you take. “Students tend to eat with their eyes first,” Philley said. “My advice would be to take one food option/ portion, eat it, and if you are still hungry, get more.”

THE MISSION per meal1oz per student We are encouraging the student body to lower the food waste by

we will reduce waste by

that’s like only throwing away

3/4 of an apple

24,000 lbs

and that’s like reducing waste by more than two African elephants, making our new total food waste for an entire school year

100,000 lbs

Graphic by Rebecca Glenn

THE PROBLEM 15,671 students

counted in SAGA in nine days

5.7 oz/ student of food wasted, that’s like throwing away an apple per student per meal

376,104 students

estimated in SAGA in an entire school year

5,181 lbs

of food wasted in nine days, that’s like throwing away an entire rhino

124,344 lbs of food wasted in an entire school year, that’s like throwing away more than a tank

THE MISSION per meal1oz per student We are encouraging the student body to lower the food waste by

we will reduce waste by

that’s like only throwing away

3/4 of an apple

24,000 lbs

and that’s like reducing waste by more than two African elephants, making our new total food waste for an entire school year

100,000 lbs

Graphic by Rebecca Glenn

SPORTS

@oruoraclesports

Baseball team looks to hit stride as season picks up By Russell Dorsey As the weather starts to heat up, so does the ORU baseball team. Through 23 games the Golden Eagles are 11-12 overall, but have gained momentum going into the season’s halfway point. The season started slow for the Golden Eagles. They went 4-6 in their first 10 games, but have recently began to pick up their game. Their most recent success was a 3-0 shutout win over No. 28 University of Oklahoma. Head Coach Ryan Folmar is pleased with the way his team has been playing. “We had a rough start,” Folmar said. “We had a lot of things we didn’t do well early in the year, and I think we’re getting to the point where we’re getting better. We’re maturing. A lot of our new faces are getting some experience, and I think those things are invaluable as you go into conference play.” A major reason for the slow start was the lack of offensive production and consistency. Folmar decided to juggle the lineup in an attempt to spark his offense. He also has been giving some of the struggling player’s days off here and there to rejuvenate them. One of those players is Jose Trevino, who has had a resurgence lately. After a bit of a slump to start the season, he has found his swing. The junior is batting .292 with a team leading four homeruns and 17 RBIs.

One player who has consistently produced offensively is second baseman Matt Brandy. Brandy is hitting .287 this season with 15 RBIs and 25 hits. He also leads the team with a .376 on-base percentage. Brandy has had a bit of a power surge lately with two homeruns and four doubles, and is on pace to set a career high in extra base hits. He feels that the work he did this

Photos by Joshua Smith

Clockwise from Top: Pepe Gomez has two shutouts in his last two starts; Dean Wilson drove in a run in the win against the University of Oklahoma, and his diving catch might be the play of the year; Brandon Healy waits for a pitch against the University of Oklahoma; and, Matt Brandy jogs off the field after the third out.

12 • Friday, March 28, 2014 • THE ORACLE

past off-season has definitely helped him. “I worked a lot in the weight room this summer,” Brandy said. “I was in there every day. I was injured so I couldn’t play summer ball. I just did as much as I could in the weight room to get stronger, just lifting hard and it’s paid off for me this year.” Pitching has been the strength of the team. With a team ERA of

3.60, the Golden Eagles pitching staff has been solid, and has been a major factor in trying to get the team back to .500. Each pitcher in the bullpen has accepted their role and have performed admirably. Junior Jordan Romano has emerged as the team’s closer. The right hander is 1-1 with four saves and has a sparkling 1.69 ERA. The entire bullpen has pitched well, not just Romano. It has truly been a team effort, even getting contributions from freshmen relievers Kyler Stout, Hayden Holley and Jacob Teague. While Folmar is pleased with the way his team has played thus far, he still feels that they have room to improve going into conference play. “By no means are we a finished product,” Folmar said. “We still have to continue to get better, but I think we’re on the right path.” With conference play beginning, the Golden Eagles look to make their mark on the Southland Conference. The Golden Eagles have some very exciting matchups against some quality opponents coming up later this month and early next month including home games against No. 24 Oklahoma State, No. 27 Texas Tech, and Sam Houston St. The next home game for the Golden Eagles will be Wednesday, April 2 at 6:30 p.m. against Missouri State at J.L. Johnson Stadium.

Basketball season ends with second-round loss By Ryan Woods After a first-round victory over McNeese State, the Golden Eagles’ season fell short in a 70-61 loss to Sam Houston State at the Merrell Center in Katy, Texas. Sam Houston State was fueled by hot shooting and big contributions from Kaheem Ransom and Jabari Peters. The Golden Eagles were led by Korey Billbury who scored 20 points with seven rebounds, while Shawn Glover scored 14. ORU won the rebounding edge 2925, but 45 percent shooting from the field and 28 percent from the 3-point line cost the Golden Eagles a trip to the next round. “They made shots and we didn’t,” Head Coach Scott Sutton said. “Give them a lot of credit; they had a lot to do with us not making shots. Twelve days ago we shot a ton of free throws and made a ton of free throws and tonight we only got to the line 14 times. That’s just the way the officials called it and you’ve got to adjust and we didn’t do a good job of that tonight.” Kaheem Ransom paced the Bearkats with 19 points and Jabari Peters had 17

points. Paul Baxter, along with Ransom and Peters, had three three-pointers that pushed Sam Houston over the edge. “Anytime you lose in the tournament it is a tough loss, but give credit to Sam Houston State, when they make shots like that they are hard to beat,” Sutton said. “I didn’t envision a team being able to come in and shoot like that in their first game.” The Golden Eagles ended the season with a 17-16 record overall as they exit the Southland Conference after just two years, and head back to life in the Summit League for the 2014-2015 season. ORU will rejoin the Summit League without senior All-Conference forward Shawn Glover. Glover recorded a career-high 32 points against Northwestern State at home on Jan. 25. He finished the year averaging 21.3 points, 5.8 rebounds, and 1.5 assists per game, and appeared in all 33 games for the Golden Eagles this season. Glover was named to the 2013-2014 Southland Conference First-Team.

“Anytime you lose in the tournament it is a tough loss, but give credit to Sam Houston State. When they make shots like that, they are hard to beat.” -Head Coach Scott Sutton Korey Billbury led the team in both rebounds and steals per game. He averaged over 15 points per game and scored a combined 38 points in ORU’s two tournament matchups. Photo by Rick Yeatts/Southland Conference

Women dealt early exit By David Sauer The women’s basketball team ended its season with a first-round exit in the Southland Tournament with a 77-66 loss to Nicholls State on March 13. The team’s two seniors led the way for ORU in their final career games. Christian Key paced the team with 16 points and five assists. Sarah Shelton had a team-high 10 rebounds and three blocked shots. The Golden Eagles could not withstand the hot shooting by Nicholls State. The Colonels hit 14 3-pointers, tying a Southland Conference Tournament record. After the game, Head Coach Misti Cussen said the team couldn’t follow

through. The team missed 11 out of its last 18 shots. “Congratulations to Nicholls. They finished well today and that was our Achilles’ heel,” Cussen said. “It’s kind of been our Achilles’ heel this year. We haven’t finished. Not only possessions, but games.” The two seniors finished their careers with stats that put them in the top ranks for career records at ORU. Key ranks seventh on the all-time 3-pointers made with 149. Shelton owns the career field goal percentage record at 63.1 percent, and ranks fifth in all-time blocks with 99.

Christian Key scored 16 points in the final game of the season. She finished her career with the seventh-most three-pointers in school history at 149. She also led the team this season in points and assists. Courtesy photo

THE ORACLE • Friday, March 28, 2014 • 13

Glover, Billbury and Key earn All-Conference honors By Parrish Purnell Jr. Despite having subpar seasons, ORU’s men’s and women’s basketball teams boast three Southland AllConference selections in Shawn Glover, Korey Billbury and Christian Key. Senior Shawn Glover earned First Team All-Conference honors after having one of the single best seasons in ORU history. Glover finished with a team high 21.3 points per game which was good enough for second in the conference and 13 in the nation. He amassed 1,178 points in his career as a Golden Eagle, placing him on the top 20 all-time scoring list. Glover also showed his defensive skill by recording 38 blocks this season. His efforts landed him a position on the Conference All-Defensive Team. Glover’s season was highlighted with an MVP award at the 2013 Cancun Challenge. Sophomore guard Korey Billbury was selected to the Second Team AllConference squad. Billbury emerged as a leader on the team towards the end of the season, boosting his scoring from 10.6 ppg to 18.2 during conference play. He finished the season in ninth place for scoring in the Southland

League and 10th in rebounding with 6.8 rebounds per game. Although Billbury is listed as a guard, he led ORU in rebounding throughout the season. In a game against Saint Louis, Billbury recorded a career high and team best of 15 rebounds. Despite losing in the second round of the conference tournament, Billbury looks on with hope for next season. “It is an honor to be named to the second team all-conference list,” Billbury said. “It sends me into next season with a bigger point to prove and little more momentum.” Senior Christian Key was also a Third Team All-Conference selection. She finished the season averaging 15.0 ppg, a team best and top 15 best in the conference. The senior sharpshooter will leave ORU ranked seventh for three pointers made with 149. Key’s ORU career is highlighted with an appearance to the 2013 NCAA Tournament. The ORU women played Tennessee in its first-round draw. Sean Glover drives against Northwestern State. Glover ended the season with the conference’s second highest points per game average. Photo by Austin St. John

Track team sets high goals for outdoor season By Solomon Williams ORU’s third team all-conference athletes for this year’s indoor track and field season know this is only the beginning. Seniors Lauren McFarland, Tim Jones and sophomore Madison Reynolds all expect their preparation and work to propel them into a successful outdoor season. They believe their practice methods were a big contributing factor to their success this season but expect to get better heading into the spring. McFarland, a pole vaulter, made all conference for her second-straight season, right after posting her season’s best performance of 3.85 meters at the Air Force Academy Collegiate Open. McFarland said an excellent practice plan from head coach Joe Dial, plays a big role in late-season momentum and success for the entire team. “Coach Dial bases our workouts so that we peak at conference,” McFarland said. “You kind of start low and end up higher and higher.” Triple jumper Tim Jones also took advantage of his opportunity to rise higher by posting his best distance

14 • Friday, March 28, 2014 • THE ORACLE

of the indoor season at 15.13 meters in the championships. He said his teammates would describe it as “clutch.” Jones gives a lot of credit to his coaches to help him finish strong this time around. “I think it was just a mental game honestly,” Jones said. “Coach told me that it’s my senior year. Make sure you have fun but make sure you jump like it’s your last jump. And every jump felt like it was my last one, but every jump just got better and better.” Madison Reynolds didn’t let the upperclassmen turn up the heat without her. The sophomore won five-straight events heading into the conference championship meet. Reynolds placed third at the conference meet with a time of 54.80 in the 400-meter race and did not finish outside of the top three in any event all season. They hope their success carries over on the outdoor track and includes the entire team. “I expect us to do very big things with all of our relay teams,” Reynolds said. Tim Jones said he and his teammates expect to set more personal records this season.

All three athletes agreed they are anticipating performing in the outdoor season more than the indoor. “I definitely enjoy outdoor even more than indoor because instead of doing two little laps I can do just one and get more out of it,” Reynolds said. McFarland said the outdoor season is easier for her. “I really love being in the sun and you have the wind at your back which helps push you and jump higher,” she said. Tim Jones is hoping when it’s time to jump in the fresh air, he and his teammates will have an even greater pep in their step. “Outdoor is just a tad bit more fun,” Jones said. “The sun, the crowd, the wind is on you. It’s something about the outdoor; that wind, that breath of fresh air, it just makes you want to turn up.” As Lauren McFarland digs for the best vault, or Madison Reynolds leans on her curve, the Golden Eagles expect to turn up right into the National Championships.

The finer points of bracketology: Coming up short versus going deep By Jonathan DeFriess

Who does not love a thrilling game that goes down to the buzzer? Both teams’ fans are standing and cheering with inspired enthusiasm and belief that their team will prevail. Suddenly, the final basket drops and one group of fans erupts while the other group stands aghast, hands over their eyes or quickly falling back in their seat. What is even better about the NCAA Men’s Basketball tournament is the brackets everyone fills

out. Some participate in pools at work. Most will drop a few in at CBS Sports or ESPN. What an awesome way to get fans involved. Even better, someone can win one billion dollars for filling out a perfect bracket. Over the years, the term “bracketology” emerged from ESPN College Basketball Analyst Joe Lunardi. Bracketology truly means the science of accurately predicting the field of teams that will be in the bracket for the tournament. The definition, however, has expanded in the minds of fans to include the science of correctly selecting the team who will win the national championship as well as the other 67 games played in the tournament. As of now, the first day of the sweet sixteen is over and most are in two different proverbial boats. On

1. Pick your team The spirit of college basketball lies in the hope of your team. This is not the NBA where teams have to win a series to go to the next series to go to the next series to go to the final series. March Madness is all about the buzzer beater by the 13 seed over the four seed or the dominance of Florida Gulf Coast. Regardless of what the science may say, all teams of the tournament have a shot. If you have not given your team the support to go all the way, you have already lost.

2. Go with your gut Some people spend the entire time from the end of Selection Sunday to the deadline of their pool play finalizing their picks. For what? Do you really think a scientific approach can contain the hype of a hot team out of a conference tournament or the way injuries either hurt or help each team? When you sit there with your bracket, take into account what you have seen this year and pick who you think will come out on top.

Graphic by Rebecca Glenn

one side, your bracket is demolished. Maybe you are like my roommate and picked Duke to go all the way. Even worse, you may be bitter about ORU not winning the Southland Conference Tournament and had Stephen F. Austin out in the second round. On the other hand, your bracket may be going strong. You may have been a member of the 3.3 percent on ESPN to pick Mercer over Duke. You might have picked Dayton over Ohio State and then over Syracuse. In light of the current status of your bracket, I would like to offer some general points to help give light to your current success or set a foundation for future bracket building:

3. Pick UNC There is absolutely no personal bias in this suggestion. Who cares if they are already out? Michael Jordan went to school there. Need I say more? Also, if you pick based on team colors, this is the choice for you: baby blue and white.

4. Have fun! This isn’t just a chance to win a competition. This is a chance to watch teams from across the country play each other with no meetings between the two in the past 67 years. The number one seeds have everything to lose while all of the double digit seeds have everything to gain. Whether it is Florida Gulf Coast, Butler, Mercer, George Washington, VCU or any other recent bracket buster, cheer for the spirit of the sport. You may feel enlightened or indoctrinated. Either way, watch the tourney. Go root for Mercer to go all the way since you picked Duke to win. If you’re a Dukie, root against UNC. If you had someone going deep and they were upset, root for the team that beat them so that your bracket suffers the least amount of damage. At the end of the day, the bracket is just a piece of paper. Enjoy the eruption of cheers and the surprises. Love the game.

THE ORACLE • Friday, March 28, 2014 • 15

SCENE

Internet photos

‘Son of God’ hits the stage in Tulsa Francesca Battistelli among artists slated to perform in Mabee Center March 29 By Briauna Hoyt Grammy award-winning artist Francesca Battistelli will be visiting the Mabee Center during the “Son of God” tour coming to campus on March 29. This two-hour live event brings the 20th Century Fox feature film “Son of God” to life in sight and sound. Other music will include Sidewalk Prophets, Natalie Grant, Chris August, Meredith Andrews and Jason Gray. Battistelli’s career has topped the charts in the last few years, earning a Grammy nomination as well as six Dove awards. She gained a list of accomplishments as one of the first Christian artists to add a contemporary spin to Christian music. Recently, Battistelli discussed the upcoming “Son of God” tour, Christian media and a day in the life of a Christian music artist.

What are your thoughts on Christian movies and their role in society? Specifically “Son of God” what is your opinion on Christians that have critiqued the motive of the movie?

“The quality of Christian films are growing and people are looking for the excellence. ‘Son of God’ is a movie that is reaching people, so that means that there is always going to be opposition. It oftentimes means that you are doing something else, when the enemies are opposing you.” What would you consider to be your greatest strength?

What will the tour look like?

“The show in Tulsa will start with clips from the movie, and then an artist will come out and sing one of their songs, mixed up with artistic talent including monologues, and then the artist will sing together, and then speak together, and then a variety of singing and showing the movie.”

I am that to my girlfriends, and [I] A hopefully see the good in the situation. My mom is an

STUDENT SHOWCASE

“I’ve always seen myself as an encourager, and

exhorter too, and I like to think I got it from her.”

The theatre department will present the student Showcase “The StarSpangled Girl” Wednesday, April 2 to Saturday, April 5 in Howard Auditorium, free admission. The show begins at 7:30 p.m. Written by renowned playwright Neil Simon, this screwball, romantic comedy is set in 1960s San Francisco.

16 • Friday, March 28, 2014 • THE ORACLE

Being in the public eye, how do you deal with people’s opinions of you whether good or bad?

“That’s a really good question. People have heard the pre-release of my album, and with that you hear both positive and negative response. But why is it we remember the negative? I usually look at the good or the bad and decide I won’t let it mean too much to me. If you know you’re doing what you’re called to do it doesn’t matter what people think of you.”

How do you deal with being a super mom to two kids and managing your career?

“It’s a balance and struggle, learning to be a working mom, still not great at it, my husband’s amazing and [I] have help. Some days are easier than others. Our kids are very adaptable. They’ve been travelling on the road with them from when they were both born.”

Battistelli and the rest of the “Son of God” tour will be at the Mabee Center on March 29 at 7p.m. Buy tickets at www.thebibletourexperience.com.

Full of political satire, the play gives a look inside the apartment of Andy and Norman, two Dartmouth graduates who run an underground magazine. Everything is fine until All-American Southern girl, Sophie Rauschmeyer, moves in next door. Norman finds love at first sight for the new neighbor, but things get complicated when she agrees

to work as their cleaning lady. Students enrolled in the theatre directing class direct individual scenes from the play. The four nights will showcase new directors and actors and their interpretations of the play. Neil Simon’s “The Star-Spangled Girl” offers a retro setting, slapstick humor and maybe even some extra credit.

‘Divergent’ hits home with target audience By Victoria Atterberry Based on the best-selling novel by author Veronica Roth, “Divergent” brought in about $56 million in sales its opening weekend. The movie lived up to much of the hype and proved to be exciting. “Divergent” takes the audience to post-apocolyptic Chicago where people are divided into five distinct factions in order to keep the peace. After a mandatory aptitude test, heroine Tris Prior discovers she doesn’t fit neatly into any of the factions. This discovery means Beatrice is divergent. While Beatrice hides from the government who sees her as a threat, she eventually uncovers a sinister plot only she and a few others are equipped to fight against. “Divergent” brought a great amount of action and excitement to the big screen while boasting multiple stars. Shailene Woodley did an excellent job at filling the role of the main character, Tris Prior. Theo James was convincing as the mysterious and brave Four. Kate

Winslet flawlessly portrayed the driven and powerful Jeanine Matthews. The supporting cast members also gave the audience a great performance. A main problem that came with “Divergent” was its failure to attract a broad audience and critical acclaim, receiving a 26 percent from Rotten Tomatoes. According to CBS, “Divergent” brought in an audience that was 59 percent female and half of that percentage was under the age of 25. Also, “Divergent” did not appeal to members who were not already familiar with the story. Despite its struggles to attract, “Divergent” was exciting and entertaining. Those who have read and enjoyed the book series will be thrilled with the movie. Those who haven’t read the book and are in their late twenties will probably be more skeptical of this movie; however, it will definitely be worth checking out. Four stars for the action-packed and thrilling “Divergent.”

‘The Monuments Men’ reveals interesting hidden story By Briauna Hoyt An all-star cast comes together to portray the emotionally-charged mission of safeguarding the world’s most impactful pieces of art against theft and destruction by the Nazis. George Clooney, Bill Murray and Matt Damon star in this action drama staged in the middle of World War II battlefields. “The Monuments Men” tells the story of bonding in the face of adversity, a side of the war few have heard about. The story depicts seven men with backgrounds ranging from cultural historians to art critics and humanity professors who plan to save art that has been stolen from the churches, museums and homes of their people. The Nazis are out to take the goods of their enemies, specifically the Jews. Though the storyline seems focused on art, it is impressive how it also demonstrates comradery, humor and the bravery of what it cost these men to be passionate about their mission to repay

the oppressor and see justice served. Though it is a nice combination of both comedic and dramatic elements, the movie effectively provokes questions of cultural immorality and the role of artwork in the formation of society. The soldiers aim to protect the historical aspects of the culture when the cities, buildings and history are in the midst of destruction. Even in times of ultimate despair, the importance of man’s greatest achievements stands as a beacon of hope, and the men will risk their lives for it. On a personal note, I can never complain about the struggle of seeing some of Hollywood’s most beautiful men lined up in an army green uniform, risking it all for the sake of their country. Though it was a war movie, there were several parts where you couldn’t help but laugh. It wasn’t drowning in sexuality lust and passion, which was nice for a change. Internet photos

THE ORACLE • Friday, March 28, 2014 • 17

MUSE

Syndicated Cynic: What happens to the most hated man in America? By Gregory Brown

I woke up this morning. Fred Phelps did not. The Kansas fellow that became one of America’s most hated men by leading his church of right-wing extremists in protests at the funerals of soldiers, babies and many more otherwise innocent human beings has died. I’m sure the grieving are blaming

homosexuals. I was passing through West Kansas the day he kicked the bucket. If the rest of the state is anything like the southwest corner of Kansas, then I could almost understand why he hated everyone so much. That drive was awful. My condolences for all that call that flat field home. I was reading through Kurt Vonnegut’s last collection of essays while I was driving through Kansas. He kicked the bucket too, but that was some time ago. Obviously, I was not reading while I was driving, but only during our stops. Don’t be so ridiculous. In this book, Vonnegut spends a few pages discussing how everyone in the history of the world, from Hitler to Gandhi, has tried and will try to make their own best guess as to the correct way to live life, guessing which morals and ideals are truly important. It makes a little bit of sense, unless you have found some sort of certainty that I haven’t, in which case, kudos to

you! You can have my job. This includes ol’ wormfood, Freddy Phelps. Think about it for a second. Dare I say that Fred Phelps, like you and me, took his best guess as to how to live his life and what to believe, and that his guess was probably the safest guess he could have taken? Who are you to disagree? I am the one with a column, so continue on and write me if you think I’m horribly mistaken. Let’s be honest, hyper-conservatism, as practiced by the Westboro Baptist Church—Phelps’ former congregation—is safe, because it’s an extremely exclusive group. The more exclusive a group is, the less you have to worry about burning in hell and plagues and whatnot. Any accepting point of view can probably land a person where there’s gnashing of teeth, and the folks from WBC have sacrificed a lot in order to prevent that. Anyone can be agnostic or Buddhist, and if you don’t do it right, your soul isn’t tormented for an eternity, so that’s a bit more edgy. If a conservative extremist group is right, then only their small, exclusive group is allowed to escape eternal damnation, and even some of them may not make it out. You’re taking a risk. Fred Phelps did not take a risk. He followed a legalistic, primitive dogma that told him to hate everyone and never break rules or else he’d make G-d mad and then, consequently, be taken immediately to an inferno of Dantean proportions.

If I didn’t know better, I’d argue that Phelps probably had a quick stroll up to the pearly gates after he breathed his last. The guy probably didn’t break any of the Ten Commandments since he turned twelve. But I do know better. That son of a gun missed one of two commandments that Christ mentioned as being of utmost importance, even in Kansas: “Love thy neighbor as thyself.” I don’t normally speak in archaic English, and I doubt Christ did either, but look how important that sounds. Now, I can’t know if Phelps went to heaven or hell or what really constitutes ether/or, but how often do each of us put the Ten Commandments above the actual words of Christ. I like what Christ said better than what legalist, conservative extremist groups like the one led by Fred Phelps have to say. Am I allowed to also say that I also like what Christ said better than the Ten Commandments? People like our late Fred Phelps are no reflection of Jesus, and that usually includes me and you. We’re not good reflections. Sorry. Christians are probably the number two enemy of the acceptance of Christ’s teachings, right after the devil, as we are about as good at loving others as George W. Bush is at pronouncing “nuclear.” I think we should work on that, maybe even beginning with loving the remaining human beings that make up the WBC, despite their backward hatred of everyone else. But hey. Your guess is as good as mine.

Who was Fred Phelps? Westboro Baptist Church (WBC) founder and anti-gay crusader Fred Phelps died at age 84 on March 24 of natural causes. Phelps organized over 53,000 protests before his death.

1929

Fred Phelps was born in Meridian, Mississippi.

1947

Ordained as a Baptist preacher.

1950s

Fred Phelps helps open doors to the Westboro Baptist Church.

Graphic by Rebecca Glenn

18 • Friday, March 28, 2014 • THE ORACLE

1970s

He can no longer practice law in Kansas State Courts.

1990s

Phelps runs for governor of Kansas. He wins 6.7 percent of the vote. The first attack on homosexuality begins and establishes the first anti-homosexual website.

2000s

A soldier, Michael Snyder, dies while serving in Iraq. Westboro Baptist church pickets the funeral despite the fact that Snyder was not gay.

2013

367,000 signatures were gathered in a petition to ask Washington to legally recognize WBC as a hate group.

2014

Fred Phelps dies of natural causes at the age of 84. He was excommunicated from WBC about a year before he died for advocating kinder practices, according to his son.

Continued from page 2

During the study, we went behind the conveyor belt during mealtimes to see what exactly gets thrown away. It was shocking to see how much untouched food made it to the trash. Whole pieces of fruit, entire sandwiches and stacks of cookies all met their untimely end during plate scraping. If our eyes have become bigger than our stomachs, then our eyes now act as the tyrants of our stewardship. ORU is a Christian university. If any student body should have a firm grasp on what it means to be good stewards, it should be ours. As we work to become more conscientious as a campus, the Oracle plans to conduct a follow-up study and weigh the waste again. The hope is that we can notably reduce the current 5,181-pound nine-day total before the school year’s end.

Graphic by Matthew Dean

THE ORACLE • Friday, March 28, 2014 • 19

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