November 7, 2018 Print Edition

Vol. 53, No. 4

Who is Brandon from Chick-fil-A? Page 11 Why meatless mondays?

Page 4

Student feature: Jack Nash Page 12-13

Tulsa, Oklahoma • November 9, 2018 • www.oruoracle.com

Story of the ORU Track Coach Page 18

The Oracle is the premier student news media organization of Oral Roberts University in Tulsa, Oklahoma. Our mission is to serve the surrounding community by providing accurate and relevant media content with creativity and integrity. Since 1966, we’ve #GotItCovered.

Faculty Advisers

Editorial

Dr. Linda Royall Jason Howell Director of Student Media Associate Professor of Art lroyall@oru.edu jhowell@oru.edu Reporters

Cicely Rubottom Kayley Forshey Editor-in-Chief Managing Editor oraclechief@oru.edu forsheyk1@oru.edu Photography

Section Editors

Staff Writer Grant Holcomb News Editor

Staff Writer Nina Lange Editorial Editor

Staff Writer

Staci McCoy Lifestyle Editor

Staff Writer

Hillary Hurst Sports Editor

Staff Writer Zoe Rubottom Digital Media Editor

Staff Writer

Staff Writer Graphic Design

Staff Writer

Staff Writer

Alejandro Contreras Production Design Editor

Staff Writer

Hyunjin Bae Cartoonist

Staff Writer

Anthony Labonté Contributing Cartoonist

Quentin Harrup Contributing Cartoonist

Chae Woon Yoo Hannah Nelson Lauren Brewington Madeline Ewing Rejoice Christisking Miqueas Barreiro Racheal Kitabire Chisom Uche-Onyilofor Gabriel Jaggernauth Olusiji O. Oluloto Faith Wilson

Josh Crow Photography Editor Matthew Simonson Photographer Rachel Leitzell Photographer Hannah Turner Photographer Joshwin Raju Photographer Jonathan Rodriguez Photographer Precious Alexander Photographer

Advertising Lucas Lippi Sales Manager Emmagail Bowers Business Manager

Membership • Associated Collegiate Press • College Media Advisers • Oklahoma Collegiate Media Association Address Web Email

7777 S. Lewis Ave. www.oruoracle.com oraclechief@oru.edu

Our podcast, The Basement, is back.

Search “oru oracle” on Spotify or iTunes to hear what we talk about while running a newspaper.

We come bearing gifs!

Search “oru oracle” on Instagram and Snapchat for ORU-themed gifs.

@oruoracle

Want to advertise with us?

Email us at oracleads@oru.edu.

Corrections The Oracle strives for accuracy and integrity in all content. If you find a mistake, let us know.

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

2 • Oracle • November 9, 2018

The great firewall of ORU

by Cicely Rubottom @cicelypixely

In the film Black Panther, a sparking protective force field bubbles over the city of Wakanda— keeping out the evil and protecting the good. This far-off technology, seeming to only exist in fictional fantasies, already exists for students at ORU—in a way. Just like over the city of Wakanda, ORU has it’s very own protective force field, known as the ORU firewall managed by a team of cybersecurity professionals.

Outside the school’s firewall is the wild, wild west. There’s a gang of bandits hiding behind the corner of a saloon as dust whirls through the air.

An unassuming guy walks along the path in town holding a big sack with a money symbol painted in green on the outside. As he begins to round the saloon, the bandits jump out, hit him with a rock, take the money and run off.

That is the internet according to ORU Network Engineer Spencer Toland. The firewall, a highly complex system that irrigates server traffic, blocks the “bandits” from getting inside and protects any and every device connected to the ORU server.

When students, staff or faculty leave from under the protective shield on campus to a coffee shop, they are subject to viruses, bots and thousands of

“bandits” looking to harvest their information that now flows freely through the air for hackers to obtain.

One way to generate your own mini-protection system outside of the ORU firewall, is through installing a Virtual Private Network (VPN). A VPN essentially throws an invisible cloak over your web traffic or creates a private road to a point, making it harder for hackers to touch you but not impossible.

They offer more privacy than security and due to lack of government regulation, a VPN service could be collecting and selling your data, and it’s not unlikely that the FBI owns certain VPN services, according to Toland.

When students travel abroad on missions trips, especially to dangerous countries, VPNs can be helpful in regard to hiding and protecting your identity.

However, “the total expectation of privacy should never be there,” warned Toland. “There should be more than one measure in place. Everything is like an onion. The more layers you have, the harder it is to peel it back and get in the middle before you start crying.”

The ORU system filters out sites containing

content that is explicit or may be “questionable.”

It’s not uncommon for students to research topics for class projects like medical marijuana and get blocked when on the school’s WiFi. Even sites like memes.com are restricted due to the adult content section.

The department is willing to work with students on a case-by-case basis when it comes to blocked sites. While one site may seem casual and even have the ORU logo on it, it may be riddled with scams and bots behind the scenes, explained the team.

“If someone is feeling uncomfortable about a URL blocking, it’s all about dialogue,” said ORU Director of IT Operations Peter Kovaleski.

“It’s always easy to talk to your roommate and complain about it, but if we don’t know about it and if someone’s frustrated, I have to know.”

ORU’s cybersecurity team works hard day and night to ensure the digital safety of students.

It may not be convenient when a research paper on medical marijuana is due at midnight, but the wild, wild west is a little more tame.

“Outside the school’s firewall is the wild, wild west.”

ORU’s digital force field protects students’ devices.

Photo by Josh Crow

November 9, 2018 • Oracle • 3

The story behind Meatless Mondays

by Chae Woon Yoo @chaewoonyoo After ending Taco Tuesdays, Sodexo incorporated Meatless Mondays to find more environmentally friendly food selections for students.

“Part of the reason is food costs, and not just on our end, it just takes a lot of resources to process meat products,” said Aaron Sorden, Executive Chef of Sodexo. “But the bigger part is more for the environment. It’s to help the whole world.”

The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations states there are about 23 billion chickens, 1.5 billion cows and 1 billion pigs, in the world according to research in 2016.

To accommodate the almost 26 billion animals grown for human consumption, the industry has converted 83 percent of the world’s farmland just for the purpose of animal products such as meat, aquaculture, eggs and dairy use, which totals 26 percent of the world’s total land area.

“So if you go more of a farm-to-table sort of situation, there’s no processing,” Sorden continued.

“It cuts out a lot of oil and electricity, and everything that usually gets beef, chicken or any meat products

from point ‘A’ to point ‘B’ takes a lot less effort, a lot less water and saves a lot of resources. That’s part of the reason why we do it.”

According to a study done by the Institute for Water Education, for one pound of beef, a cow needs to consume 55 pounds of grain and uses up to 15 thousand liters of water.

With so much feed, there is very little return as cows only convert about four percent of the protein and three percent of the calories into the meat we consume.

A study from 2013 shows growers could feed an additional four billion people if everyone ate what they grew for the animals.

Also, 80 percent of all the antibiotics produced in the US are used by the livestock industry to keep them from dying in poor conditions. This affects consumers as diseases and bacteria in livestock are constantly adapting to develop antibiotic resistance.

While Meatless Mondays are not every Monday, Sodexo is taking steps to incorporate sustainable ways where ORU participates and adds to the diversity of nutrition for students.

Citing environmental concerns, Sodexo implemented Meatless Mondays to curb their enviornmental footprint.

Photo by Matthew Simonson

Talks with Titus and his team

by Faith Wilson @faithnwilson

ORU Student Body President Titus Schmitt led a discussion about ways the student body can become more involved.

Photo by Jonathan Rodriguez

4 • Oracle • November 9, 2018

The Student Body President Open Forum occurred in Zoppelt last month. Unlike most other events Student Association hosts on campus, the event was stripped of pomp and circumstance to focus more on open conversation between SA and the student body. Concerns, questions, criticisms,and comments were all taken in by SA and addressed to the best of their abilities. All issues the student body brought up were recorded for later use.

While creating an open dialogue between SA and the student body, SA also shared some upcoming featured events. A spring pageant, a second forum with the administration, a Fortnite event at the Hammer, Battle of the Bands

at Mabee Center Stage and a new food vendor for fall 2019 were all discussed, though no further details could be given.

Director of Student Experience Sara Haag expressed a desire for attracting students who are focused on the student body.

“Before I was here, the association actually hired their friends,” said Haag. “We’re really working on it, and we need your help with that. That means we need representation in the Student Association.”

Haag hopes to continue creating a culture of diversity and inclusivity in SA. The candidness shows that SA wishes for more openness.

All SA members shared where their offices were located and urged attendees to stop by with

new ideas.

Student Body President Titus Schmitt indicated a desire for transparency.

“I want it to be an opportunity to be held accountable, so that people can see who they elected,” Schmitt said. “I want the student body to feel heard.”

Schmitt and SA hope the forum becomes a tradition for more students to feel involved.

“The goals for SA are to build connections and plan opportunities for them to have a voice and feel that they’re able to share it,” said Marley Jones, programs executive.

The current Student Association is building their legacy on transparency and inclusivity. The forum is one of many ways that SA is building connections.

The tech boom is changing conversation.

From face time to Facetime

by Nina Lange @NinaForshea

Technology made its mark on the 21st century and became the central point of today’s society.

In 2010, more than 77 percent of Americans had a computer, and 92 percent owned a cell phone. The average American will check their phone once every 12 minutes, adding up to a total of 80 times per day.

Cell phones have become more useful throughout the years. People can access news, check the weather, track fitness goals and entertain themsleves with games and music. Smartphones have developed so rapidly, researchers are discovering they are more of a burden than a help.

“A lot of the children that I work with have speech development issues, and it’s because they never spent enough time watching their parents actually pronounce words,” said Dr. Randall Feller, Professor of Psychology and Chair of the Behavioral Sciences department at ORU. “They were hearing the adults in the environment, but they weren’t seeing their parents say the words. So, they didn’t learn where to place their tongue, or their lips.”

In 2016, a study done by the Psychology of Popular Media Culture showed 70 percent of women felt their relationships were negatively affected by smartphones. One-third of the 143 women in the research said their partners would

respond to notifications on the phone during verbal conversations, and one out of four said their partner would text during discussions.

Dr. James Roberts, a professor at Baylor University, asked 175 men and women about how their partners used their phones around them.

Forty-six percent said they were frequently phone snubbed, or “phubbed,” by their partners.

“We’re teaching young children that if we give them a cell phone or an iPad as a ‘babysitter’ they can completely ignore everything else that’s going on and become completely fascinated with the screen,” said Feller. “It’s no wonder then that even in a committed relationship there are all kinds of marital dissatisfactions because of [phubbing].”

A set of studies showed that having a phone present during a conversation, even if it is sitting on the dinner table, immediately decreases the quality of conversation. Feller explained people are not as willing to have meaningful conversation if the phone is present because they don’t want the risk of being interrupted.

Fortune 500 companies are finding they now have to train their young just-out-of-college employees basic interpersonal skills.

“They are so used to texting each other that they’re not as good at talking with each other,” said

Photo by Sterling Z. Rubottom

Feller. “So now they get to the workplace and they miss the subtle facial cues and they get into more conflict at the workplace.”

Researchers used Facebook to see if interactions through social media stimulated positive or negative emotions. The conclusion of the study showed using social media to view others’ posts caused depression and loneliness.

In a study called “Phubbed and Alone,” Meredith David and James Roberts wrote, “it is ironic that cell phones, originally designed as a communication tool, may actually hinder rather than foster interpersonal connectedness.”

Robert Weiss is a counselor in Los Angeles and author of “Closer Together, Further Apart: The Effect of Technology and the Internet on Parenting, Work and Relationships.” He believes that technology is not a bad thing, it just depends on how it is used and viewed.

“Boomers and Gen-Xers may look at young people staring at their devices and think they’re being antisocial, but who is to say we’re right and they’re wrong,” said Weiss. “They’re just socializing differently.”

Regardless of data for or against phone use, they will continue to be used bountifully.

November 9, 2018 • Oracle • 5

Photo by Matthew Simonson

Eagle Bucks expand, library stays open

This year, several threatening packages were sent all across the country. ORU Security has developed a safety protocol for potentially dangerous mail. / Photo by Josh Crow

Shipping and handling bombs

Students are now able to use Eagle Bucks at multiple new locations across Tulsa. ORU has partnered with Native Juice, Gaetanos and Tazikis, where students’ Eagle Bucks can be used on location.

Additionally, the ORU library has extended their weeknight hours to midnight starting after Thanksgiving Break. The ORU Library is prioritizing students’ access to resources with finals week approaching.

by Rejoice Christisking @rejoiceck3

6 • Oracle • November 9, 2018

“If I thought there was a suspicious package, I would order an immediate evacuation and I would call in the Tulsa Bomb Squad,” Hunt said.

“I’m personal friends with the commander of the Tulsa Bomb Squad. We served on a mission together. I have his personal number on my cellphone and I can call him anytime.”

Along with the Oklahoma City bombing in 1999, Hunt was also a commander of a unit of Marshals on ground in Arlington, VA, during the Anthrax Letter attacks surrounding 9/11.

Hunt mentioned several signs to knowing when a suspicious package is sent by mail, some of which include odd stains, disturbing smells and unknown addresses.

“For example, what I learned from watching the news reports is that the return address for these packages was Debbie WassermanSchultz, who was the Democratic Party Chairman. Yeah, that would be suspicious,” said Hunt.

If and when encountering unknown mail, act with caution and say something. Be vigilant and safe and make no attempts to open or touch it. Report it to campus police by visiting the office or by calling the toll-free number 918-495-7750.

Photo provided by Unsplash

In October, numerous makeshift bombs were sent in the mail to notable political figures across the country. William Hunt, former U.S. Marshal and current Chief of ORU Security, wants to prioritize student protection in the case of a threat.

“The campus post office will notify our office,” Hunt said. “We will check it out if they appear to be any type of IED (improvised explosive device). I would encourage everyone on campus to call security if they find anything suspicious. That could be a backpack, a briefcase or anything that could be a package.”

During his time as a U.S. Marshal, Hunt was deployed on the ground during the 1999 Oklahoma City bombing. He witnessed firsthand the aftermath of a bomb and how long it took for responders to arrive. His expertise in the field offered a unique perspective on the purported bombs in the news.

“The interesting thing is that I’m not sure if there was the intention to detonate,” Hunt said regarding the investigated bombs. “From what I see on the news, I don’t know if they could have actually exploded those devices.”

In the case of a questionable package, Hunt and ORU Security already have a plan for the campus’ safety.

The votes are in

After a hotly contested election cycle, democrats retake the House of Representatives and republicans hold on to the Senate.

In Oklahoma, the Republicans swept the executive branch as Tulsa businessman Kevin Stitt won the governor’s race, ORU alumnus Matt Pinnell was elected lieutenant governor and Mike Hunter will be the new attorney general.

The Republican Party also maintained both the State House and the State Senate. Many statewide pundits predicted the GOP sweep as Oklahoma is still regarded as a deep red state.

Of the five state questions on the ballot, only one of them passed. State Question 794, also known as Marsy’s Law, was overwhelmingly approved with 78 percent of the vote. Additionally, 16 current or former educators won seats in the House or Senate.

Just a little extra effort can really pay off.

Right now, when you open a new TTCU checking account, you’ll get $150. And with on-campus ATMs and a nearby branch, it just makes sense to go with TTCU. Plus, every time you use your Golden Eagles School Pride® Card, TTCU donates to area schools. So far, over $1 million!

Check it out and switch today!

918-749-8828 | www.ttcu.com Federally insured by NCUA

$25 minimum deposit to open. Annual Percentage Yield for dividend bearing accounts is 0.20% as of 6/1/2018. Rate is variable and subject to change after account opening. Fees could reduce earnings on the account. Offer valid 8/1/18 through 10/31/18. With approved credit. Some restrictions apply. A 1099-INT or applicable tax form for the value of the promotional account credit will be issued to account holder. Cash bonus will be automatically deposited into the new account within 60 business days following second qualified direct deposit posting or second consecutive month of twenty debit card transactions. Second direct deposit or 20 debit card transactions must be confirmed by 12/31/2018.

ttcu_oracle_checking_18.indd 1

7/27/18 1:30 PM

November 9, 2018 • Oracle • 7

Behind the scenery

by Kayley Forshey @mybestfriendjo guys have found a community here It’s 8 a.m. and the coffee hasn’t kicked in yet, but your walk to class isn’t terrible in the slightest. The sun is out, an oddity in the crisp, fall air and the campus looks picture perfect. You notice the flowers are different today—small, pretty, yellow and purple pansies. When did they change those? And the bushes are different, too. Is that one shaped like a duck? And there’s a cross. And an “O.” Are the Prayer Gardens blowing kisses and hugs to me?

What a great day.

ORU is often known for its giant, brass Praying Hands and the intricacies of the Prayer Gardens surrounding that out-ofthis-world Prayer Tower, each surrounded by well-kept foliage. But keeping the grounds of ORU pretty for students, faculty and visitors alike is not done in a day. It’s done every day.

Merle Dry, the Grounds Manager at ORU, manages 11 employees who maintain the campus. They work under the umbrella of the Maintenance Department of Sodexo, which has provided food, maintenance, grounds and custodial services for the university since 2009. Over time, Dry and the

on campus.

“We don’t see ourselves as Sodexo employees and the university doesn’t see us that way. They just see us as one big family,” said Dry. Though their days are long and full of hard work, the groundskeepers truly enjoy their work and are always ready to wave “hello” to students and other passersby.

“I like working around the people out here and helping, being involved,” said Dry. “When people come to the campus, I want the campus to have an impact, to reach out and grab somebody and say, ‘Hey, you need to be here as a student.’ I want them to be able to say the campus looks good, and if it looks good, they’ll feel comfortable being in a place that looks good. We try to maintain it the best we can at all times.”

Many of the guys working on the grounds have been working here for years, and with such a small number of guys, they’ve developed a tight community and

Photo and graphic by Alejandro Cantreras

good camaraderie.

“Our guys are dedicated. To them, it’s more than just a job; they really care about this place. They go way beyond what you would normally see, because most of the time on a place like this, you’d be looking at around 16 full-time people, but we’re doing it with 11. And it’s because these guys are dedicated and because of the system,” said Dry. Dry’s system falls in line with the yearly seasons. A few weeks ago, the fall flowers were planted, yellow and purple pansies, chosen to match the school colors of gold and blue in a flower that will stay alive through the harsh, winter winds. They are now in the planning process for spring and will begin planting the spring flowers in January, as the weather warms up. The spring flowers will stay throughout the summer. Though Dry and the guys keep the campus fresh on the day to day, they’re always thinking six months ahead.

In addition to keeping the campus bright and lively year round, the groundskeepers have found a creative outlet within topiary, which is the process of shaping perennial plants into shapes.

“We shape them in all kinds of ways, like birds,” said Lionel Parra, one of the groundskeepers. “We say, ‘Let’s try to make this one this way,’ and we do it. It’s a little bit more work, but we like it.”

In these living sculptures, the groundskeepers find ways to have fun at work.

“When we get plants in, sometimes if their oddly shaped, we won’t leave them oddly shaped, and these guys will get creative and make something out of them,” explained Dry. To keep camaraderie up, Dry finds different ways of encouraging his team; sometimes, he’ll invite them to his house for a cookout or take them all out to lunch spontaneously. If someone emails him with a kudos about how great the campus looks, Dry will print out the email and place it in the office for all the guys to see.

“Sometimes, I get more credit than I deserve, when these guys are the ones out there doing it,” said Dry. “We really care,” said Parra. “We always appreciate it when someone stops and tells us, ‘Hey, you guys are doing a really good job. You make it look really good out here.’

We always say thank you, and we feel better because we did the job.”

Iquo

Photo provided by Drew Ophus

New releases on Netflix arrive just in time for the lengthy holiday season and post-feast naps.

Illustration by Alejandro Contreras

‘Tis the season to binge

by Kayley Forshey @mybestfriendjo November’s Netflix lineup is just in time for turkeycoma-induced binge watching over Thanksgiving break, with Christmas tight on the heels of Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade. For those who planned on re-watching “The Office” or “Game of Thrones” for the twenty-seventh time, the release of these shows will hopefully enhance the late nights bundled underneath a fuzzy blanket.

What’s coming? For House of Cards fans, the final season became available on Nov. 2; hate to break it to Kevin Spacey fans, but he won’t be returning for the final season.

On Nov. 9, Netflix also released a new documentary series called “Medal of Honor.” The true stories tell of bravery, love and war through the eyes of soldiers who received the highest military recognition, the Medal of Honor.

What else? November brings another western piece by the Coen Brothers called “Ballad of Buster Scruggs” as well as an Italian drama based on a true story about sex trafficking called “Baby.” DreamWorks will produce a reboot of an 80’s classic cartoon called “She-Ra” and the “Princesses of Power.” Added into the mix, there will be a new series called “The Kominsky Method” about an aged actor living out his final stage of life in Los Angeles.

What about next month? Coming in December is a 70’s-esque film set in Mexico City called “ROMA” written and directed by Academy Award Winner Alfonso Cuarón, releasing Dec. 14. Ellen DeGeneres has also struck a deal with Netflix to release her first stand-up special in 15 years called “Ellen DeGeneres: Relatable” which will be released Dec. 18. Also, stay tuned for a new horror movie called “Bird Box with Sandra Bullock,” coming out Dec. 21.

What’s gone: “Jurassic Park,” “Jurassic Park III,” “Steel Magnolias,” “The Land Before Time Series,” “The Lost World: Jurassic Park and Up in the Air.” Seasons 1-5 of “Undercover Boss,” along with “Paddington” and “Anna Karenina” will also be leaving later in the month.

What about the rumors? Back in March, Netflix CEO Reed Hastings quieted viewers’ fears of advertisements interrupting their binge-watching habits, promising that Netflix will never host advertisers. However, does advertising for other Netflix shows “you might enjoy” count as advertising? According to a statement released by Netflix, they introduced short video promos individualized to the viewer’s preferences. These videos begin playing upon login, starting on the top of the home browsing page and additional ones may play when scrolling down the page. Though the videos cannot be stopped, they can be muted, and will continue as you browse. So while you may not see a Taco Bell ad, you’ll probably see a trailer for “Insatiable” because you’re watching “Shameless.”

Another rumor: not a rumor; it’s happening.

According to deadline.com, Netflix will be producing a live-action series based on the animated show “Avatar: The Last Airbender,” bringing on Michael DiMartino and Bryan Konietzko, the original creators, to cast the vision and be heavily involved in its implementation.

Production will not begin until 2019.

Where is “Stranger Things: Season 3”? Season two was released on Oct. 31, so some fans have assumed that to be the normal yearly release time. However, the show is set in seasons (season one was set in the winter and season two was set in the fall), and from the hints released in Netflix’s short teaser, season three will be set in the summer. There is no specific release date, but it will be sometime in the summer of 2019.

“They see me rollin’”

Among the recent attractions in Tulsa, a new toy for young adults has slid into town. Electricpowered scooters now line multiple streets. The two competing scooters are Limes and Birds, both available with their downloadable apps.

How do these speedy scooters work? Customers track down each scooter via the app on their phone and scan the scooter’s individual code to turn it on.

When activated, a few pushes will rev the scooter enough to begin rolling which allows the rider to thumb the throttle up to 15 mph. Both apps show the remaining battery percentage and how many miles and minutes have passed. The rider is able to end the ride wherever he or she likes. Once the battery drops or dies, those who are approved as “chargers” and “juicers” can receive payments to bring the scooter somewhere to charge. They then place the scooter back on the street and the cycle continues.

In order to ride, a debit card or credit card must be added into the app’s wallet, and credits can be collected by recruiting riders. Lime scooters are $1 to unlock and 15 cents for every minute of the ride.

Bird scooters, slightly sleeker and faster, are $1 to unlock and 20 cents for every minute.

The scooters state that riders must be 18 or older and riding on sidewalks is not allowed.

This possibly raises the safety of the scooters, as countless riders whip through parking lots, crosswalks and streets. Nonetheless, the scooters can help breed memories when riders remain alert to their surroundings.

A beautiful stroll through the Gathering Place or downtown Tulsa can now be enjoyed with absolutely no exercise, thanks to these high-speed scooters.

10 • Oracle • November 9, 2018

Brandon: the man behind the counter

by Staci McCoy @stacerslynn

“Spicy chicken and a fry! Spicy chicken and a fry?” the red-shirted server calls out. “Would you like any sauces with that? Gotcha—just one or two?”

To some, this voice comes from a nameless employee, but for others, it comes from a campus-known figure: Brandon from Chick-Fil-A. So adored by the students that a picture of his face was taped on a register to welcome him back for the fall semester.

But who is “Brandon from CFA”? Despite what one might assume, Brandon Carner does not attend ORU. He lives a life beyond merely showing excellent customer service at the on-campus Chick-Fil-A, and he puts his pants on one leg at a time, just like everyone else.

Born and raised in Sapulpa, OK, 20-year-old Brandon served the hungry people of Subway on the corner of 81st and Mingo for three years. His mother is the district manager over Subway, so it fit perfectly as a mother/son dynamic. Brandon got to work with those unlike him, continuing to bring genuineness into each interaction and relationship.

Brandon has worked at the on-campus Chick-Fil-A since August of 2017. He found himself in the Hamill Dining Center after his mother’s friend directed him to an interview and they loved him, according to Brandon.

Since working, Brandon finds himself loving every second of serving the students.

“The community of people is different than the

general public,” said Brandon. “The vibe is happy even when students are upset. I think the key role about this location is that the presence of God is always with us—I know that’s cheesy, but it’s true.”

During the summer, Brandon transferred to an independent Chick-Fil-A where he was offered a management position, but he declined the offer because he looked forward to returning to campus. Brandon is unsure of how long he will stay working at Chick-Fil-A due to future plans and dreams.

Brandon received a certification in Web Design from Central Technology Center in Sapulpa, OK. Since he was 12 years old, he has dreamed of becoming a music producer, always messing around with different music genres and editing them. His original plan was to attend school to obtain his bachelor’s degree in music production, but that changed when he met Sarah Sparks, his fiancé.

Brandon and Sparks dated for five months before he proposed this August. The couple visited the Tulsa Botanical Garden, where at Brandon surprised Sparks by “taking a picture” of her faced away and kneeling on one knee when she turned around. With wedding plans and a future to build, Brandon looks to enroll in OU online in the spring for Informational Studies, and he will pursue a career in music production when the opportunity arrives.

“I’m fine with eating ramen while I live alone. I still believe in chasing dreams, and I will continue working on music for now,” laughed Brandon. “I just want to be

able to give her everything I can when we live together— that’s what matters for right now.”

Brandon’s fiancé will graduate from ORU in the spring and study law at TU. Although he does not attend ORU, Brandon feels right at home when he chills in the Hammer Center and chats with dozens of students as if he goes to school with them. Being on campus is like seeing the “usuals” in a restaurant, except Brandon’s “usuals” are everyone.

A shock to Brandon, the busiest time for the on-campus Chick-Fil-A appears to be Saturday nights right after Saga shuts down–a heads up for those who crave chicken before it closes on Sundays. Just like customers’ moods, Brandon once put a sparkle in the floor of the Hamill Center when he was given a “massive scrubber” to ride around the lobby.

Comparing ORU with other environments, Brandon noticed the specific aspirations rooted within each of the students and the support they show. Even when Brandon has had discouraging days, he has found opportunities to share his testimony and pray with students. He hopes that if a student walks in after a rough day, they will leave with a smile on their face.

“I’m not gonna see any of these people once they’re gone,” said Brandon. “Once you’ve built some type of relationship with such a tremendous group of people, you miss them when they leave. I won’t be here forever.

I will absolutely miss the culture of people that are here.

Thank you for the experience.”

“Thank you for the experience.”

Brandon Carner has happily served ORU’s on-campus Chick-Fil-A since August of 2017. / Photos by Joshwin Raju

November 9, 2018 • Oracle • 11

PEOPLE OF ORU

JACK NASH

“He won’t be making any little plans here.”

Graphic by Alejandro Cantreras

12 • Oracle • November 9, 2018

Oral Roberts’

by Sterling Z. Rubottom @sterlinzo

Nine-year-old Jack Nash and his family road-tripped 18 hours from Rochester, NY to Tulsa, OK to support a world-renowned man and his university. This man was Oral Roberts, the great grandfather of Jack.

“Everyone in my family called him Andy,” said Jack, who is now a freshman at ORU. “Although he was often serious, on this night he had a great sense of humor.”

That night would be one Jack would never forget, as the whole family spent quality time together in Roberts’ hotel suite. The family soaked up what would become final memories with their beloved father, grandfather and great grandfather.

“My brother, sister and I took off our shoes and put our knees inside of them to look like midgets.

Andy found that hilarious,” said Jack. “I know this was one of the most difficult times he faced. That’s why it meant so much to me to share a moment of laughter.”

Later that year, Oral “Andy” Roberts died from pneumonia at 91 years old. Nine years later, his great grandson would walk the halls of the university he built.

The son of Jon Oral Nash and Hillary Lloyd, grandson of Rebecca Roberts and Marshall Nash, and great grandson of Evelyn Lutman and Oral Roberts, it’s safe to say that Jack was no stranger to Oral Roberts University.

“ORU has always been in the back of my mind. I’ve been here throughout my childhood,” said Jack. “But I told my parents, ‘I wanna visit ORU for real.’”

Upstate New York natives, Jack’s family now lives in Orlando, Florida.

Although his brother, Connor Nash, attends Liberty University in Virginia and his father teaches at Full Sail University in Florida, Jack sought to give ORU a chance.

During his first college-scouting visit to ORU, his dad showed him around

great grandson and they did a few of the activities. When he returned home to Florida, he “wasn’t feeling it.” But he wanted a connection with the school that went beyond his family’s history. His senior year, Jack visited ORU alone and decided to partake in the weekend’s events, which helped him make the ultimate decision of attending.

“College weekend sold me,” said Jack, remembering the activities and friendships he made. “After that trip, I made up my mind. How many people can say they went to their family’s university?”

The son of a business and finance professor, Jack grew fascinated with the idea of making money. When he wasn’t reading for school, he read business books for fun, his favorites including “Rich Dad,” “Poor Dad” and “The Millionaire Next Door.”

In fact, he decided to start “a small drop-shipping business” on eBay his sophomore year of high school. He would buy a product on Amazon for cheap, sell it on eBay for more and ship it right to the customer’s house from Amazon. Although Jack ran his business efficiently for two years, eBay wasn’t so enthusiastic of his entrepreneurial endeavor.

This experience fueled his passion for business and finance and helped him decide to major in Business Administration at ORU. Jack can see himself being an entrepreneur or investor, but as of now, he hasn’t settled on any specific careers.

“At ORU I’m trying to find inspiration and creative ideas. I’m just hoping for some direction,” said Jack.

Since being at ORU, few things have differed from what Jack expected. He and his floor grew close within the first week of school, and they now practically do everything together. The community is something Jack loves about the university.

Even if Jack does not follow in the footsteps of his great grandfather and build a university, one thing is for sure: he won’t be making any little plans here.

Photos by Matthew Simonson

November 9, 2018 • Oracle • 13

Coolin’ in style, a student-run business

by Faith Wilson @faithnwilson During the summer, when the heat comes off the sun in droves and all anyone wants to do is jump in a pool or stick their head in a freezer, coolers become as common as the mosquitos buzzing around.

Combining her love for art and a nationwide football tradition, Hadassah Weiss, an ORU graduate student, has created a small, but lucrative business out of her own house.

The idea came to her after she was invited to a semiformal at a state school, where it is a tradition for girls to paint their dates a cooler once they’re invited. Months later, Hadassah had just received her undergraduate degree in journalism when she got into a wreck that totaled her car. Wanting to be self sufficient, Hadassah started her painted-cooler business, Collectively Oasis, to pay for a new car. She proceeded to pay off her car a year early, thanks to her business.

“I capitalized on something while also helping girls who may not have the time or ability to do it,” said Hadassah.

The business provides girls who have been asked to a dance with either a fully-painted cooler or with a blank cooler ready to paint. The coolers must be sanded down in order for the paint to stick, leading many girls to reach out to Hadassah because they do not own

power sanders. She provides an Igloo Island Breeze cooler in the price, but girls wanting a different brand of cooler must purchase their own and ship it to her.

“Money was why I started, and I like to be creative, but it’s also an outlet for me to utilize my stress in a positive way,” said Hadassah, detailing why she began the business.

Hadassah encourages many college students to pursue their passions when contemplating small businesses. She has witnessed the payoff of her hard work and watched her passion grow simply by putting action behind it.

“Go for it,” said Hadassah. “Talk to people who have already started [a business] and people who you would look up to. As long as you have a target market and know how to reach them, there should be no issue if you’re motivated to do what you love.”

Although college students tend to complain about being broke, a little hard work and creativity can help students grow from dependent kids into independent adults. Whether an idea turns into a massive success or a total flop, chasing what one loves to do while having room to fail can produce greater experiences and stronger ideas.

If you would like to order a cooler from Collectively Oasis, contact Hadassah Weiss at: etsy.com/shop/ collectivelyoasis and on Instagram @collectivelyoasis.

Hadassah Weiss has worked on around 183 coolers.

Photos by Jonathan Rodriguez

14 • Oracle • November 9, 2018

Review: ORU Theatre’s latest play

by Cicely Rubottom @cicelypixely On Nov. 1-4, Howard Auditorium echoed with 19th-century British accents and just the right amount of ironic, Oscar Wilde humor as the ORU Theatre Department beautifully presented “The Importance of Being Earnest.”

Directed by Norah Swiney, the play followed Jack Worthing (played by Timothy Conn) and Algernon Moncrieff (played by Caleb Vaughn) and love interests Gwendolen Fairfax (played by Alyssa McGuire) and Cecily Cardew (played by Rebekah Wood).

In a twisted mess of hilarious irony, the characters reveal the frivolous nature of 19th-century views on courtship and marriage.

“To speak frankly, I am not in favour of long engagements. They give people an opportunity of finding out each other’s characters before marriage,” was the best quote of the night, presented by Lady Bracknell (played by Dru Denny).

It portrayed Wilde’s strength in calling out the idiosyncrasy of 19th-century traditional rules of behavior in such a hilarious yet profound way.

The chemistry of the actors on-stage added a depth to the performance and had me pulled in nearly the entire show. I only sank into my seat at a few of the scenes in which the actors were relentless in their high-pitched London accents.

I was mesmerized by the timing of the transitional scenes where the actors kept the audience laughing­ —even without dialogue—as stage hands weaved in and out behind the action, rearranging the set in perfect timing.

The set design featured intricate details, broad, traditional columns, true-to-the-time paintings that brought the audience directly into the time period.

Overall, I was satisfied with the actor’s sassy mannerisms and wit throughout the show, as well as the the authentic lighting, sound, costumes and design. Bravo, ORU Theatre.

Actors Timothy Conn and Caleb Vaughn as Jack Worthing and Algernon Moncrieff. / Photo by Josh Crow

Book review: “And There Was Light”

by Olusiji Oluloto @sijiloto “And There Was Light” is the luminous autobiography by Jacques Lusseyran, a blind hero of the French Resistance movement during World War II. When Lusseyran was eight years old, he lost his eyes in a tragic accident.

But what he lost in physical sight, he gained in inner experience.

Lusseyran grew more sensitive to the vibrations of objects around him.

He developed the special ability to read people’s voices beyond their words, detecting anger, deceit, hypocrisy, etc. from the sound of their voice.

Lusseyran also had a heightened sense of smell and could recognize things like anger, frustration, humiliation and confusion by scent.

Lusseyran and his parents fought for him to be put back in school with

the other students instead of going to special schools for the blind despite societal resistance.

One of the most riveting parts of the book was the description of his friendship with a boy named Jean.

Their bond was so strong that they felt they could communicate telepathically and the thought of separating from each other in the future “was like thinking about death.”

Unfortunately, World War II began, and the Germans invaded France. Lusseyran got a new history teacher at school who taught the students with conviction, passion and intelligence. He challenged the students’ sense of morality about fighting back against the Germans.

Lusseyran became fed up with the lethargy of the French people in the wake of Germany’s occupation of France.

He began discussing with a few of his classmates about resisting the Germans.

He sent out invitations for a preliminary meeting and, to his surprise, 52 boys showed up. They called themselves the Volunteers of Liberty.

The resistance group had to screen the new recruits because of the abundance of German spies in France. Lusseyran screened them by reading their voices as he asked them random questions to see if they were hiding anything.

The resistance movement set out to destroy the defeatism and apathy, which had infected the French people.

Their main weapon was information, not arms. The Germans had taken over all news and media outlets in France, so all the news was biased or fake. They secretly printed and distributed anti-propaganda bulletins and newspapers. The newspapers

contained information and visual proof of what the Nazis were doing, like the concentration camps, mass graves and extermination of the Jews.

Unfortunately, Lusseyran and several of his companions in the resistance got arrested. Lusseyran was interrogated for a few months before he was finally taken to the Buchenwald concentration camp.

After a painful near-death experience, Lusseyran became a beacon of hope, light and joy to his fellow inmates at the concentration camp. A few months after, he and the other prisoners were released.

The book was a fascinating read. It’s like ‘Daredevil’ came to life. It shows how a teenager, despite having a permanent disability, could still fight for peace and justice because he was guided by light and joy. It will challenge readers to live a deeper, more passionate life.

November 9, 2018 • Oracle • 15

Cleveland firing squad

by Hillary Hurst @oruoracle

The Cleveland firing squad has been in full force recently. Two professional sports teams in Cleveland, the Cleveland Cavaliers and the Cleveland Browns, fired their head coaches in the same week.

The Browns’ decision to fire coach Hue Jackson came after the team’s loss to the Pittsburg Steelers in week eight of NFL play. Jackson spent two years as the Browns head coach and posted a 3-36-1 record. This season, he coached the team to a disappointing start with a 2-5-1 record.

The team has struggled recently to establish a presence in the league.

However, Cleveland’s front office felt the addition of key players from the NFL draft, including Heisman trophy winner Baker Mayfield and defensive pick Myles Garrett, should have given

Jackson enough assets to win. By failing to produce results, Jackson’s role as a leader of the organization was terminated by the front office.

Although Jackson already doubled his win total from the past two seasons this year, reports of internal discord likely played a role in his dismissal.

The coach set many records during his time in Cleveland, including the worst head-coaching record for one team in NFL history.

In his absence, defensive coordinator Gregg Williams was named the interim coach.

Jackson was not the only coach in Cleveland under fire. The Browns’ decision to fire the head coach came just one day after the Cleveland Cavaliers decided to fire head coach Tyronn Lue. After another disappointing finish to last season, the team’s star player,

LeBron James, made his decision to join the Los Angeles Lakers. In his absence, Coach Lue and the Cavaliers have struggled to win, boasting an 0-6 start to the NBA season.

When LeBron was in Cleveland, Lue led the team to four straight NBA finals appearances, one of which resulted in a championship in 2016. However, this is not the first time LeBron has left the Cavaliers during free agency. When he left the team to join the Miami Heat in 2010, Cleveland went from winning 61 games the previous year to a mere 19. The team may face a similar fate this season.

Upper management expected a strong year from the team despite the absence of their best player. However, similar to the Browns head coach, it is also rumored that Lue was involved in disagreements with some of the

Ballers, shot-callers

by Miqueas Barreiro @oruoracle It’s time for basketball!

The men’s team is looking to bounce back from last season’s disappointing performance, in which they won only five conference games and 11 games overall. The women’s team, however, is looking to improve a strong showing from the 2017-2018 season, with a 7-7 conference record and 17-13 overall record. Both teams performed better at home last year than on the road, and look forward to continuing that home-court dominance with the help of the ORU student body.

This season there are a few big changes on the men’s roster. The team added eight new players in the offseason, including four-time Latvian Youth Champion Francis Lācis and top high school prospect Kennedy Milton. The Golden Eagles expect much from these new additions, especially Milton, who was

16 • Oracle • November 9, 2018

recruited to address the team’s need for a solid player at the guard position. With all the newcomers, ORU is looking for veterans like Emmanuel Nzekwesi to step up as leaders and bring the newbies up to speed.

Women’s head coach Misti Cussen will be looking for at least nine wins this season to put her over 100 career wins as a head coach. Seven of last year’s guards are returning, including 2017-2018 Summit League All-Newcomer Team member, Maya Mayberry, and Lakota Beatty, who was forced to sit out of last season. ORU also signed NJCAA All Region Two Tournament Team member Sabela Reigosa, and freshman Raelene Eddens, who played for the OKC Storm.

All ORU staff, faculty and students can get into home games for free with their Golden Eagle Card.

The ORU basketball team kicked off their season during Mabee Madness, a school-wide pep rally, on Oct. 29.

Photo by Jonathan Rodriguez

players and the front office.

Many of his current and former players expressed their appreciation for the coach via twitter. Coaches around the NBA did the same. The decision to fire the coach is considered by many to reflect the harsh business aspect of the game.

Lue’s career-win percentage with Cleveland is .672. In his absence, the organization has named assistant coach Larry Drew as interim leader.

With 76 games remaining for the Cavaliers this season, the team still has a chance to bounce back.

In military terms, the firing squad is symbolic. The execution of a serviceman is performed by a group of his or her peers following the entire group finding the member guilty. Both the Cavaliers and the Browns seem to have made full use of this principle recently.

Miracles in Minnesota

by Miqueas Barreiro @oruoracle It’s the natural progression of any great NFL player. You go to a Division III school to play football. You go undrafted by all professional teams.

You tie the all-time record for most consecutive 100-plus yards receiving games and lead the league in both receiving yards and receptions. Oh, and by the way, you do it for the team that you grew up cheering for.

Alright, so this isn’t the natural order of things. Each year, a few elite players from the top Division 1 colleges in the country are selected by one of the 32 professional football teams in the draft. Not even all 224 of those guys selected make it to the final roster of the team who chose them, and even fewer actually get to start in regular season games.

So when you consider it, very few of the best-of-the-best hardly have a chance at becoming a star player and someone from a small Mid-western school who was undrafted and unknown should have no chance.

At least, theoretically.

And if one did manage to do

that, it would have to be a miracle, right? Right?

Incidentally, many have taken notice of Adam Thielen. He grew up in Minnesota watching Randy Moss on TV, he was a DIII athlete, went undrafted by any professional team, barely made the Minnesota Viking practice squad and is now one of the best wide-receivers in the National Football League. While this progression has been seen as a miraculous, dream-come-true story for Thielen, when you stop and take a closer look at his entire career instead of just looking at the last few amazing seasons, this outcome isn’t so strange.

Thielen isn’t the fastest receiver. He doesn’t have a great vertical or have a large wingspan or make flashy plays like other top wide receivers. All the extreme, natural talent that make guys like Odell Beckham Jr, Antonio Brown and Julio Jones isn’t in Thielen’s DNA. So how does he do it? The secret formula is one that most selfmade Americans can relate too: humility, consistency and attention to fundamentals.

When it comes to technique,

% 50

Thielen’s route running is superb and can throw off even the most skilled cornerback. His connection with his quarterback has constantly been outstanding throughout his career, especially since he has successfully adjusted to four different quarterbacks in the last three seasons with very little offseason preparation and practice time to do so.

Stefon Diggs, Minnesota’s current WR2 by a slim margin, shows some of the same dedication to the fundamentals as Thielen. From the beginning of his NFL career, Diggs clearly had some of the sharpest route running the league had ever seen, and this led to many explosive plays, including the legendary “Minneapolis Miracle.” And oh yeah, Diggs is a fifthround draft pick. No big deal.

The similarities and a shared attitude of humility between Thielen and Diggs is probably why the two wide receivers are such good friends and are considered the best wide receiver duo in the league. While other wide receiver duos often end up fighting for the spotlight, the camaraderie between Diggs and Thielen allows them to be

very successful together.

Often when Thielen has a great game, it is because the opposing defense is focusing on Diggs and leaving Thielen wide open, or vice versa. Teamwork really does make the dream work.

The reason that Thielen is usually placed ahead of Diggs on most depth charts is the second factor of the formula of success: consistency.

Thielen (knock on wood) has yet to miss a single game due to injury, while Diggs has missed large portions of various seasons due to ankle and leg problems. In a sport as dangerous and injury-ridden as professional football, durability like Thielen’s is priceless.

Both wide receivers were ranked very low when they came into the league and were overlooked by almost everyone. But these two have taught the NFL a lesson that might still be as overlooked as the underdogs were themselves: flashy plays and raw talent can only take you so far.

Humility, consistency and attention to fundmentals will, in the end, always prevail.

OFF ANY MENU-PRICED PIZZA!

With your ORU I.D. Use online code 6262. Expires 12/31/2018.

With every $10+ order, earn points for FREE PIZZA. Free pizza must be redeemed online. Sign up at DOMINOS.COM/REWARDS.

$10+ ORDER POINTS

SUN - THURS 10AM - MIDNIGHT / FRI - SAT 10AM - 1AM STUDY WITH US - FREE WIFI! 91ST @ DELAWARE

POINTS

FREE MEDIUM 2-TOPPING PIZZA

(918)298-3030 November 9, 2018 • Oracle • 17

Photo by Josh Crow

Photo by Sterling. Z. Rubottum

Photo provided by Gold Metal Publishing

“Everything is possible. I really believe that.

That’s what I try to tell the kids here at ORU.”

ORU track coach publishes new book

By Sterling Z. Rubottom @sterlinzo As a senior in high school, he broke the national record for pole-vaulting at 17 feet, 9 1/2 inches. As an Oklahoma State University student, he became a four-time NCAA pole-vault champion. He broke the indoor pole-vault world record and set the American pole-vaulting record nine times—a record in itself.

He carried his pole across five continents to global pole-vaulting championships and was inducted into six halls of fame.

Now, going into his 25th year as the head track coach at ORU, Joe Dial is clearing a new height.

Enter author Doug Eaton. Eaton was a long-time track and field fan and as a competitor himself in high school, he had definitely heard about Joe Dial.

“Pole-vaulting is like a club,” Dial said. “You can be a total enemy against somebody competition-wise, but you’re actually still friends.”

Eaton and Dial saw each other at football games in

18 • Oracle • November 9, 2018

Jenks, OK, and became friends. An accountant with a hobby for writing, Eaton knew a good story when he saw one.

After he read a feature on Dial in a local paper, he texted him, “Let me know when you’re ready to write a book.”

It took a few months before Dial finally accepted.

But when he did in the summer of 2016, they hit the ground running and met almost every Wednesday at 11 a.m. for a whole year.

“This was fun…this was not work,” Eaton said. “I’m a big track fan and a friend of Joe’s. It was lot of fun to listen to him talk and try to capture all the thoughts and events he’s been involved in.”

Dial’s experience was similar.

“It was fun going back in my memory bank,” Dial said. “It was like reliving the whole thing over again.”

While his accomplishments could write a book themselves, “The Sky’s the Limit: The Joe Dial Story” details the early years of training under his pole-

vaulting father, the highs and lows of becoming a champion and the witty and wild moments in between, through which Dial shares his most important life lessons.

“The odds of me doing what I did actually seems like zero. I wasn’t even the best athlete in my class,” Dial said. “Everything is possible, I really believe that.

That’s what I try to tell the kids here at ORU.” This book will definitely not disappoint track and field athletes and fans, but it’s meant to inspire anyone with big dreams.

“If you work hard enough, you can accomplish all your goals,” said Eaton. “It just goes to show you that anything is possible, by anyone.”

“The Sky’s the Limit: The Joe Dial Story” is available now on Amazon. Joe Dial and Doug Eaton will have a book signing on Nov. 10 from 12-2 p.m. at Barnes & Noble on 8620 E. 71st Street, Tulsa, OK. Several copies are also available for checkout in the ORU Library.

The matrix of the Christian faith

Kayley Forshey @mybestfriendjo As a kid, I was often described as having an “overactive imagination.” I still remember playing “elf war” with my childhood friends, frolicking in their backyard with bows and arrows made out of sticks and shoestrings. We pretended to have dragon eggs, which were actually water balloons carefully placed in shoeboxes, that we protected from evil dragon hunters. We’d jump around fallen trees and piles of leaves protecting the kingdom, fighting the bad guys, raising the dragons.

When I told my parents I wanted to be a writer, they weren’t surprised. The older I get (and I know, I’m still a child—wide-eyed, frivolous, silly, unbelievably loud), I realize how instrumental my imagination, now appropriately expressed in writing rather than backyard frolicking, has been in shaping my worldview. Images of kings and warriors, dragons and princesses, all things fantastical, have become the images through which I understand the world, and by extension, God. My imagination informs and influences my perception of creation, the Creator and my place within it all.

Steeped in the creativity of religious imagery and language, my understanding of religion is influenced by the fiction stories I heard or made up. Growing up in the church has had that effect­—it’s difficult for me to separate imagination and belief. And the more I learn about writing and language, specifically figurative language, the deeper that connection roots itself.

Language gives voice to and defines reality, provides meaning and understanding to complex ideas and gives humanity a mode of communication beyond feelings and bodily expression, like laughing

or crying. Figurative language is used to simply voice a deeper reality, one that cannot be easily named.

God is one such reality. He cannot be easily named or simply defined. That isn’t to say he can’t be defined at all; the entire Bible is an exploration and definition of God. However, figurative language is the most common form of explanation and description given in the Bible when one is faced with the question, “Who/What is God?” In answering that question, imagination is vital, because understanding God is not a concrete science; rather, it is a method of merging mystery with God’s desire to reveal himself to humanity.

He speaks the language of humanity, drawing from pictures and emotions that people can understand in order to connect.

Avis, an Anglican Priest and writer, wrote in his book “God and the Creative Imagination: Metaphor, Symbol and Myth in Religion and Theology” that “the role of the imagination is crucial to understanding the true nature of Christianity. Unless we attempt to do full justice to the part played by the imagination, we cannot understand the Christian faith and we cannot ourselves truly believe.”

Expressions of God, salvation, grace, love and so forth are most often conveyed in the Bible through metaphor, analogy and other figurative language.

Without understanding these elements of creative expression, we’d miss out on the nuances and truths laced throughout God’s word.

God is too big, too complex, too “other” for us to comprehend, but he graciously describes himself in ways we can understand, though our language is flawed and lacking. In a fallen world with a fallen language, God uses human references and experiences to relate to and connect with us.

Metaphors like king, shepherd, rock and father each express one aspect of God’s character. Alone, they do not come close to providing a definition of God; but together, they paint a more intricate,

expressive picture of the infinite God who desires to be known by his creation. And as a result, the images are cemented in our minds, providing context and meaning to the boundlessly complex being of God. Without a healthy imagination, one brimming with possibility and creativity, we cannot fully experience or understand God as he is and as he reveals himself to us.

The symbols, images, metaphors, analogies, even adjectives, adverbs, nouns, perfectly strewn throughout Biblical literature, show us our infinitely creative God and call us to be creative with him. They call us to imagine ourselves as princesses and princes carr ying out the calls of the King, expanding the kingdom, protecting the vulnerable, setting free the captive, all while wearing a full suit of armor—as fanciful and childish as it may sound; to allow our own imaginations to be informed by our understanding of God; to allow Biblical imager y and figurative language to inform our imagination.

Expressing this, Avis wrote, “Christianity is embodied in figurative language and cannot exist in abstraction from it. The imagination is the matrix of Christian faith.”

Imagination and language are gifts from a perfect God to his imperfect lover, creation.

Losing ourselves in the beauty and intricacy of a well-constructed poem can become a form of worship. Expressing the intense emotions that accompany a personal relationship with Christ in song or story or painting or sculpture or any other form of art is worship. And through these acts of worship come redemption and renewal.

In his article “Art, Faith and the Stewardship of Culture,” founder and editor of “Image” journal Gregory Wolfe writes, “It is my view that the imagination itself is the key to the cultural and spiritual renewal we so desperately need.”

“My imagination informs and influences my perception of creation, the Creator and my place within it all.”

October 12, 2018 • Oracle • 19

Pop those social bubbles

Staci McCoy @stacerslynn Ever since my bright-eyed, 6-year-old self watched Glinda, the Good Witch of the South from “The Wizard of Oz,” descend from the sky in a lifesize bubble, I wished to make a bubble large enough for me to float in. Little did I realize how easy it is to actually live inside a bubble.

The term “living in a bubble” simply means that individuals are unaffected by the events occurring outside of their environment or comfort zone. Often, I watch people stay within their comfort zones by surrounding themselves with those like them and growing complacent in their present circles.

At ORU, this term floats around throughout one’s entire college career.

It can happen easily because this campus feels like a world of its own, and that can introduce a feeling of contentment. From personal experience, I would say that a world in a bubble holds more negatives than positives.

There are many bubbles at ORU: your major, your floor, your “table” at saga, the department you work in, athletics and so many others.

During my time at ORU, I have found myself in a friendship bubble, in addition

20 • Oracle • November 9, 2018

to the “ORU bubble” itself. Freshman year, I stayed inside one group of friends in the fall semester and a different group of friends in the spring semester.

I stopped reaching out to individual friends and lost intentionality with those outside of my group because it was comfortable to have friends similar to myself.

Now, during my junior year, some of my closest friends are those I thought I would never get along with simply because they differ from my previous friendships. It wasn’t until after I started branching out that I truly learned how to appreciate the ones in my life. Intentionality requires work, which diminishes when you surround yourself with the same people week after week and year after year.

Alongside friendship groups, the ORU culture stands separate from all other universities because of the incredibly individualistic students and unique environment. If during your time at ORU you only

engage with fellow students and campus events, then your perspective centers around one place. Students can also stay within the same circle when they attend the same church.

I am not advocating against enjoying the friendships in your life, but I am encouraging you to branch out to those unlike you. ORU is blessed with wide diversity on our campus, and living in a bubble does not suggest that you avoid diversity; it merely implies that you remain where and with whom you feel most comfortable and relatable.

If you have ever seen the TV series “Parks and Recreation,” you might recall an episode named “The Bubble.” The characters Leslie Knope and Ben Wyatt are in the early stages of dating, which Leslie claims to be the “bubble phase.” The couple is cautious of who they let in, because they know the fragility of their relationship. Being inside a bubble is unsustainable and will pop under uncomfortable situations.

Some people keep bubbles around their lifelong ideologies and refuse to educate themselves outside of them, thus refraining themselves from strengthening their own beliefs. It is easy to narrow your perception of society and the world, especially when the ones around you have the same view on politics, social issues and other topics.

Essentially, when you’re in a bubble, no one challenges you or asks for an explanation of what you think and say.

I now dare to understand different thought and emotional processes, to present myself in a more welcoming manner and to sensitize myself to others’ beliefs.

Illustration by Alejandro Contreras

When protests become performances

Hannah Nelson @avidre3der “Disabled people have human rights!”

“Sham president! Sham justice!”

“Stop Kavanaugh. Our bodies, our choice!”

These shouts interrupted the Supreme Court hearings during the confirmation of Justice Brett Kavanaugh earlier this year.

Protestors filled the Senate halls from September to October during the hearings—making their voice clearly heard regarding Kavanaugh and the allegations against him.

However, many questioned whether the protestors acted out of genuine concern. Claims that some of the protesters were paid to protest started circulating.

Shawna Thomas, DC bureau chief for Vice News, told ABC that there were paid anti-Kavanaugh protesters “steering” people to create “viral” moments. Senator David Perdue described the protestors as “paid activists.”

On Oct. 5, President Donald Trump tweeted about a viral video of women protesting in an elevator. In his tweet, Trump referred to the women as “elevator screamers” who were “paid professionals” looking to make senators look bad.

Some believe the protesters were guided by progressive organizations such as UltraViolet or paid by individuals like liberal billionaire George Soros.

This situation puts a question into the minds of reporters across the nation: how can journalists cover protests accurately if they are professionally organized?

Journalists claim to report fair and accurate information, but protest organizers risk distorting the opinion of the public by blowing a protest out of proportion.

Consider the mission statement UltraViolet gives on their website: “We are a 1,000,000 strong community that leverages high profile media

moments to hold decision makers accountable, create a cost for sexism and shine a light on the people and policies that are improving all women’s lives.”

Dramatizations could be unapparent to reporters covering protests. It won’t always be clear to journalists if people were paid to say what they say.

The focus of covering a protest should be on representing the perspective of the people. What are the protestors communicating? Even if there is an organization behind a protest, they are still trying to say something.

That is why the size, duration or intensity of a protest shouldn’t be the journalist’s focus. Instead, reporting should be focused on the message of the protesters.

A reporter could gather accurate information by interviewing people outside of the protest environment who have similar or varying opinions on the issue. Journalists should also find out what organizational groups are present at a protest.

Protests should not be ignored because they represent a portion of the opinions of a group.

However, including broader coverage of perspectives is vital.

Journalists must dig deeper. Theater should never be taken for reality.

Waiting when it’s quiet situation we are currently in. But what he actually provides are opportunities for development. He does not give solutions for the short term. Rather, in my experience, he gives development for the long term.

When I was seven years old, I thought I had the worst childhood ever. I was seen as a weird child, Writer’s Name @Twitter often bullied for my flaws. The ways I retaliated to the bullying usually did Gabriel Jaggernauth @gabrielj_777 not help my case.

I thought I was alone. Sometimes, I thought even God wasn’t there for Sometimes our paths take certain me. I kept praying for solutions for my directions or we get stuck in certain short-term problems, but at the time, I situations where it is difficult to did not see what would actually come imagine God is really working in our out of God’s long-term plan. lives. I know the feeling. Here is a little Fast-forward to eight years later, tip: God is always working in your I’m in my fourth year of secondary life. Often, it is not how we expect education where I thought the bullying it. We usually think we need a quick couldn’t get worse. I always prayed to fix—a short-term solution for the God for a solution, but the solution

wasn’t what I thought it would be.

I needed to transfer to a different school. My aunt was the principal of the school that I needed to transfer to, and this is where my story gets interesting. Right before the phone conversation that began the whole transfer-process, my mom uttered a small prayer: “I do not want to ask her for the transfer for my son. I will only accept it if she offers it.” That turned out to be exactly what happened.

Every different phase of school in my life was also a new phase of development. It was training for maturity. God was always with me, I just never noticed because sometimes I was too busy fighting my way out, defending myself as a kid. Over time, however, I was able to mature out of that phase and become the person I am now.

I learned how to stop responding

in anger, which comes out of the heart of fools (Ecclesiastes 7:9). God was preparing me to be the person I was when I came to ORU. By extension, he is preparing me to enter society as a mature adult. As a bonus, God even orchestrated my entry to Oral Roberts ahead of my parents’ intended schedule.

When I look back on my life now, I can see where God was always working.

When we are in a moment in our lives where we feel at our worst, and feel that God is not doing anything, we need to check our situation. It might be that God needs you to do something before he can do more than you can imagine. You might need to develop yourself before God opens more doors. God is always working, just not in the ways we might want him to. He works in the ways we need him to.

November 9, 2018 • Oracle • 21

Is Facebook eavesdropping?

Sterling Z. Rubottom @sterlinzo There he was, surrounded by the hum and flicker of scattered whispers and calculating machines, hunched behind the glow of triple-wide screens, fastidiously typing with Nevel Papperman ferocity…

Who is he? He’s the one listening in on your conversations to serve you content-related ads on your Facebook feed. At least this is how I imagined it, until I decided to deep-dive into the black hole of internet privacy.

If you’re reading this on our fourth edition newspaper, good news. You can say anything you want and no ads are going to pop up in print. Try it.

See? The magic of bonafide paper.

If you’re reading this on our website, Facebook received information about you when you clicked on this page. Yeah…I’ll explain that in a minute.

Ron Lee, ORU Information Security Manager believes that “if you’re not paying for the service, you are probably the product” and explains how Facebook knows so much about you already that they don’t even need to listen to your conversations.

This is a common counter argument, so let’s unpack it.

Of course, Facebook gets your profile information, pages you and your friends “like” and the locations you check into on Facebook. But they use your activity across all their products (including Instagram and WhatsApp), your activity on other websites and apps and your location— to regulate ads.

Ever tapped “Log in with Facebook” on a mobile app or website? Data from your behavior on that app is sent to Facebook, according to the FB site.

When you install an app, you give it permission to access your public profile, which includes your name, profile pictures, username, user ID (account number), networks and any info you choose to make publicly available. You also give the app other info to personalize your experience, including your friends

22 • Oracle • November 9, 2018

list, gender, age range and locale.

In fact, Cambridge Analytica received over 50,000 Facebook users information from a third-party mobile app— not from the Facebook site itself.

Not a social media user? No need to be.

Facebook gets data from 23 percent of sites on the worldwide web, according to a Princeton study. This includes websites with any embedded Facebook widgets, such as a “like” or “share” button. Information they collect from these sites include the pages you visit, ads you click or cursor over, the time you spend, what you type (but may not post) and even credit card transactions.

Facebook states: “a game developer could use our API to tell us what games you play, or a business could tell us about a purchase you made in its store.

We also receive information about your online and offline actions and purchases from third-party data providers who have the rights to provide us with your information.”

The list goes on, but the point is that ads can show up on your timeline from a large range of data. So yeah, they don’t seem to need my audio, but why wouldn’t they try to benefit from it if they’re granted access anyway? The more the merrier, right?

Sandy Parakilas, the former Facebook Operations Manager, believes that targeting ads from microphone access is highly unlikely.

“They know a tremendous amount about you and that enables them to make guesses about what to advertise to you that can be uncannily accurate,” Parakilas said in an interview with CBS news.

However, Parakilas also claimed that Facebook “prioritized data collection from its users over protecting them from abuse,” in a New York Times op-ed.

But no matter how the concerns circulate, Facebook incessantly denies the claims.

“We show ads based on people’s interests and other profile information—not what you’re talking out loud about,” Facebook stated, when rumors began to circulate in 2016.

On their “About Ads” page, Facebook states that they only access the microphone “if you have given our app permission and if you are actively using a specific feature that requires audio.”

In March 2018, when Senator Gary Peters asked Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg if Facebook uses audio information from users for advertising purposes Zuckerberg confidently responded “No,” and then added that it was a “conspiracy theory” and denied the allegation once again.

Having experienced this “conspiracy theory” myself, they don’t fully convince me.

But the fact is that it is possible for Facebook to access your microphone at any point, with your permission, and use that information for advertising.

The claim is that Facebook does not. The truth? We don’t know for sure yet, but this issue hardly scratches the surface of potential internet security concerns.

Alexa, play Leon Bridges’ “Bad Bad News.”

“Not a social media user?

No need to be.

Facebook gets data from 23 percent of sites on the worldwide web.”

Homecoming Weekend Events

For extended online coverage, visit oruoracle.com.

Friday, 7 p.m.

Homecoming game against Southwestern

Saturday, 9 a.m.

5K Fun Run

Mabee Center Arena OneOK Sports Complex

Saturday, 9:30 a.m.

Coffee, Cocoa and Canvas

Hammer Center

Sunday, 8 p.m.

Timeless Homecoming Gala

The Mayo Hotel

November 9, 2018 • Oracle • 23

25% OFF

for ORU students & staff!

(Cannot be combined, Use code: “ORACLEDECEMBER”, Exp. 12.31.18)

83rd & Lewis (918) 935-2731

Custom Handstamped Jewelry that is simple, unique & meaningful

www.thevintagepearl.com