Oct 24, 2013 Print Edition by ORU Oracle

Oral Roberts University · Oct. 24, 2013 Tulsa, Okla. · Vol. 48, No. 5 www.oruoracle.com

Lennon’s Letter Is the letter from John Lennon to Oral Roberts authentic? PAGE 10

Painting by Vanessa Sweet

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FEATURE Find out about Lennon’s letter to Oral Roberts PAGES 10-11

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Corrections -The Sept. 20 article “Dinner with the Wilsons” originally indicated President William Wilson has six grandchildren. He has five. -”Mission Forward” listed President Wilson’s birth year as 1959 and age as 54 at the time of the Sept. 20 publication date. He was born in 1958. -A Sept. 20 article detailing Greene’s resignation stated Greene founded Enactus. Mart Maynard founded the group in 2006. The Oracle strives for accuracy and integrity in all content. If you find a mistake, let us know: Phone: (918) 495-7080

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SPORTS PAGE 12

Is the Ozone shrinking? Not at ORU

SCENE PAGE 16 Italian eatery debuts in Tulsa

News

Four Christian universities sue federal government By Kristy Sturgill

Four Oklahoma Christian universities are disputing the provision of abortion contraceptives covered by the Affordable Care Act. Southern Nazarene University, Oklahoma Baptist University, Oklahoma Wesleyan and Mid-American Christian have filed a lawsuit against the federal government for the violation of multiple rights. The universities do not qualify for the religious exemptions from the regulations. According to healthcare.gov, exemptions protect only, “Churches, their integrated auxiliaries and conventions or associations, and the exclusively religious activities of any religious order.” If the universities do not adhere to the new law, they will be subject to harsh fines. The universities claim these fines will put them at a disadvantage in their efforts to recruit students and employees. The term “religious employer” is

defined as one whose purpose is the impartation of religious values through multiple facets of the company. Each university has a mandate to students and employees that requires recognizing the sanctity of life, and knowingly, hire faculty, staff and administration who profess and demonstrate a strong commitment to the Christian faith. The universities also currently provide some form of healthcare to both students and faculty, but exclude contraception such as Plan B, ella and IUDs in its employee plan. The lawsuit states that Mid-American Christian University believes the use of drugs, devices, procedures and related counseling to terminate a pregnancy at any point after conception is morally impermissible in virtually all circumstances. “We are skeptical of more intrusion of federal government into our private, public and professional lives. We do not know what it [Affordable Care Act]

will look like with so many unanswered questions. We are not supportive of the efforts to put us all in one box,” SNU President Loren Gresham said. Everett Piper, president of Oklahoma Wesleyan, wrote in a blog March 8 of this year: “I’m tired of my faith, my values, my virtues and my religion being lampooned and subjugated to mandates and restrictions that are contrary to the First Amendment in the Bill of Rights. These rights should not and must not be compromised by a government that has no right to tell anyone what their religion can or cannot be and what products they must or must not buy.” Piper wrote again on Sept. 24, “It is nothing short of astonishing that the federal government would ever presume to intrude into our bedrooms and tell any United States citizen what contraceptives they are required to buy, especially if such purchases violate our religious beliefs.”

The universities claim the defendants have violated the Religious Freedom Restoration Act; the Free Exercise; Establishment and Free Speech Clauses of the First Amendment to the United States Constitution; the Due Process Clause of the Fifth Amendment, and the Administrative Procedure Act. The defendants are appointed officials of the United States government and the U.S. executive branch agencies responsible for issuing and enforcing the mandate. The four schools are represented by Alliance Defending Freedom, an alliance-building legal ministry advocating the right of people to freely live out their faith. Alliance Defending Freedom has 13 different law suits in 11 different states. All are suing the federal government over the Affordable Care Act, specifically in regard to abortion drugs. The abortion pill mandate is currently losing 32 to 5 in courts.

‘PovertyCure’ documentary to screen in Zoppelt

By Rhonda Gallagher Statistics indicate global poverty moves Americans. But while 88 percent of American households engage in charitable giving, 1.2 billion people worldwide still live on less than $1.25 a day. A recent documentary proposes the problem may not be a lack of generosity; it may be ignorance. “PovertyCure,” a multi-episode examination of global poverty and the best ways to cure it, will be screened at two showings in Zoppelt Auditorium. The showings will be on Tuesday, Nov. 5, and Monday, Nov. 11, at 7:00 p.m. The co-producer of the film, Anielka Münkel, will introduce the series at the Nov. 5 showing. She holds an MBA from Notre Dame and served in various economy-stimulating positions in her home country of Nicaragua before producing the series. PovertyCure, a coalition of charitable organizations with the same name, focuses on providing economic opportunities through entrepreneurship. By enabling people to start and grow their own businesses, Pov-

ertyCure hopes to build local economies and foster sustainable financial resources. A second major focus of the group is to educate the giving public. “‘PovertyCure’ shows that we can unleash the entrepreneurial spirit that fills the developing world and raise its living standards,” said ORU Christian Worldview Committee Chair Dr. Mark Roberts. Although Americans are historically very generous, their giving may not be as helpful as previously thought. Enabling local economies to develop their own income streams requires a team effort. “Poverty is indivisible. The poverty of the poor man on the other side of the world is our poverty,” said Dr. Solomon Hailu, international community development professor. Along with screening three episodes, each session features comments from experts and responses to audience questions. Panelists include ORU international students, professors and practitioners aligned with PovertyCure.

Courtesy Photo

Co-producer of “PovertyCure” Anielka Münkel will introduce the series Nov. 5.

THE ORACLE • Thursday, Oct. 24, 2013 • 3

Good grief: Seminar discusses coping methods By McKensie Garber Behavior sciences faculty and students will be holding a seminar Oct. 30 from 8-9 p.m. in Zoppelt to discuss preliminary results from a grief and religious coping survey students completed online last semester. The seminar aims to provide a forum for students to provide feedback regarding their needs on campus for dealing with grief, losses and stressful events. “We want to share with students what they have reported about their stress or grief, and then hear from the student body about what they would like to see in place,” said Dr. Andrea Walker, professor of psychology. Walker organized the seminar. In the past, campus Ailing Mothers and Fathers (AMF) has provided support for grieving students. It is Walker’s goal to make ORU a more “peersupportive campus.” “If they want a grief support group, we will continue with AMF,” Walker said. “If they want something else, we will try and make that happen.” Senior psychology major Keilah Rodriguez was involved with the AMF grief support group last year. “We really didn’t have that great of turn out when it came to students talking about their grief loss and stress,” Rodriguez said. “It was made a bigger deal that students wanted to have a group to deal with not just

loss, but with stress. We found that really interesting.” The survey taken by 900 students last semester was designed by Walker and her colleague, Dr. John D. Hathcoat from James Madison University, based on results from two previous studies. They received funding from the ORU Intramural Faculty Research Committee. Walker conducted a similar study in 2008 that suggested Christian students who had undergone grief or loss were presenting themselves exceedingly positively. So positive were the answers, she wondered if they were being honest. “What I suspect is that students here aren’t always being completely upfront about their pain because they are kind of taught they need to present themselves in a really positive light.,” Walker said. “In a Christian Evangelical population, I think that’s a common reaction.” Intrigued with the environment on campus, Walker did another study in 2009 to 2010 looking at the college student experience in a Christian university. What she found from this study also surprised her. Student resources of family and religion were heavily relied upon by the freshmen when they experienced death loss. On the other hand, seniors who experienced a death loss did not rely on religion or family coping,

or at least did not report it. “So that led me to the point to ask what was happening in terms of religious and spiritual development for students on campus,” Walker said. At the seminar, two students will be sharing their experiences with stress or loss, and different coping mechanisms. The seminar is for any students who deal with stress, anxiety, depression, grief, insomnia or anyone who wants to help others with these difficulties. “It’s important that students voice what they need, because we are listening,” said Walker.

Levels of reported prolonged grief 0.29%

15% Normal college campus

2 out of 700 people

Christian Evangelical campus (ORU)

Graphic by Rebecca Glenn

But is it safe? Students donate plasma for fast cash By Madison McDaniel College students are usually broke, even after they make a conscious effort to save money, work a steady job and pick up that rusty penny in the WalMart parking lot. Ways of earning extra cash are becoming more inventive. Donating plasma is becoming a popular way of making an easy $30 to 50. The more desperate college students get, the more appealing this alternative for a quick chunk of change becomes. Junior Jolene Rimes started donating plasma when her bank shut off her cards. “They thought there was suspicious activity going on so they shut them off, and because my banks are back home, I had no way of getting money,” Rimes said. “So I donated plasma, and I have been doing it for a few weeks now.” Rimes heard about plasma donating her freshman year and had an open mind about donating. “I thought it was great; I could

get money,” Rimes said. “Honestly, if it wasn’t for the money, I probably wouldn’t have donated.” Senior Jordan Mendenhall is also a frequent plasma donator. He is in the process of saving cash for an engagement ring. “I was looking online for ways college kids make money, and I found out about donating plasma,” Mendenhall said. “Several guys I know had mentioned it before, so I asked them about it as well.” Mendenhall donates at the CSL Plasma Center in Tulsa off Cheyenne Ave., but his first impression of another plasma clinic in town was skeptical. “Luckily the place was closed, because it looked pretty darn sketchy. I found a place I’m comfortable with since then,” Mendenhall said. According to the official CSL Plasma website, “Donating plasma only removes the liquid portion of your blood and

4 •Thursday, Oct. 24, 2013 • THE ORACLE

returns your red blood cells to your body.” Similar to donating blood, plasma donation includes the same process in retrieving the needed substance. However, in plasma donations, the plasma is separated from the red blood cells, which are returned to the donor through the same needle, according to the website. Rimes chooses to donate at the center off East Admiral Place. “The atmosphere is hard to explain; it changes on the time you are there,” Rimes said. “The first time I went, I was honestly scared. There wasn’t a normal looking person in the entire place. When I went in to get my physical, the nurse closed the door behind me and asked, ‘Why are you here?’ I gave her a puzzling look and she said, ‘I mean you look normal.’ The second time I went, there were less people, and they were a little sketchy looking.” Despite the quick cash, donating

plasma may not be worth the experience to some. “Donating plasma is good, but it is extensive,” Rimes said. “If you are not hydrated enough or haven’t eaten a good meal before you go, you will pass out or come extremely close.” Plasma donating is becoming increasingly popular among college students looking to make cash without an appointment. And according to the American Red Cross, if done correctly, giving plasma poses no threat to donors. Experts say individuals should limit donations to 13 times per year. The real question becomes, does donating plasma work for you? “In my eyes, I have a worthy goal and reason for donating,” Mendenhall said. “But otherwise, sometimes I would wonder if it is worth the $20 or $30 I make.”

Ready to finance a global vision Alumnus Neal Stenzel hired as the new CFO

By Dominique Johnson Thirty years ago, Neal Stenzel walked onto campus as a freshman and a skeptic. College friendships, classes, chapels with Oral Roberts and years of experience in finance led to his latest position: ORU’s Chief Financial Officer. “I have basically fallen in love with the university all over again,” Stenzel said. “I didn’t appreciate everything about the university when I was a student here. Coming back and looking at it from this perspective, there’s a different viewpoint.” Seven years after finishing school, Stenzel worked as a comptroller for Callidus Inc. He then worked his way up to CFO of that company, where he stayed for 10 years, and learned how to manage a business. “Managing a business is really not a whole lot different than managing a university,” Stenzel said. “You have cash coming in, you have expenses going out. You need to manage a budget.” The biggest difference Stenzel found when he returned to ORU was the university’s new president. “When I was here, Oral was still here,” Stenzel said. “You had a university that was operating under a founder.” Stenzel said the most noteworthy change was, “That the university has transitioned from a founder-base to a sustainable business model.” When Oral was president, the financial state of the school differed greatly; specifically in the amount of donations. Accounting professor Terry Unruh was a student at the university during Oral’s presidency. “There was more money than we knew what to do with. We were building buildings all the time,” Unruh said. The buildings included CityPlex, the Mabee Center and the Aerobic Center. “Every time Oral would announce a new building, millions and millions of dollars would come in,” Unruh said.

However, the donations stopped coming in so regularly after a few well-known televangelists were caught in scandal. As a result, the general public looked at televangelists in a different light, and donations to the ministry decreased by about 30 percent and the struggle lasted, “For about 20 years.” Unruh said the financial support varied throughout those years, but never had “that abundance of money to do whatever Photo by Dominique Johnson we wanted to do.” Neal Stenzel, ORU’s new CFO, took office at the beginning of the fall 2013 semester. An avid fan After years of of sports, he sports a volleyball signed by members of the volleyball team in his office. restoration, the ited continent in the world. university stands debt free. here to run the organization in the “That’s a lofty goal,” Stenzel said. As Stenzel takes office, he said the financial areas is really exciting for us,” “There’s a lot of work that needs to hapuniversity is on a “positive trend” and, Unruh said. “We’re glad to have him.” pen between now and then to get there. “The future looks brighter now than Unruh said Stenzel has the right We are with [Wilson]. ” ever before.” skill set and the right “can-do attitude” Stenzel said this includes increasing The university recently received their to run the organization. online attendance, working with Career fifth consecutive clean financial audit. “If there’s a spirit we want all our Services to bring in companies with a “Getting a clean audit is a big deal,” students to take out of here, it’s ‘What strong internaStenzel said. “It’s quite an honor for can I do to tional presence [auditors] to come in and say ‘You guys serve you?’” to interview are really doing a nice job.’” Unruh said. students, encourStenzel said people at ORU value “...he really aging students to financial integrity. brings [that think in terms of “I just have to maintain that and spirit of a global society keep the high standards of integrity and service] to the and many other accountability in place,” Stenzel said. workplace.” things. While Stenzel is new to the staff, Stenzel is In addition Unruh remembers having him in class on board with President Wilson’s goal to working toward the goal of globaland said he was a very good student. of globalization. ization and maintaining the financial “I enjoyed having him in Interme“Globalization is the direction he integrity of the university, Stenzel has diate Accounting I and II, Cost Acwants the university to head,” Stenzel other projects ahead. counting and Advanced Accounting,” said. “Our job is to line up and support Stenzel plans to utilize CityPlex, Unruh said. that vision and figure out how to make GEB and the Mabee Center for inUnruh said having a student reach that happen for the university.” creased revenue to the university. such a high level in the workplace never Wilson’s globalization plans are to “There are a lot of great things to loses its thrill. have an ORU presence on every inhabexpect,” Stenzel said. “Keep dreaming.” “To have one of our alumni come

“We’re on a positive trend, and the future looks brighter now than ever before.”

THE ORACLE • Thursday, Oct. 24, 2013 • 5

Students trick-or-treat for a cause Fall Outreach teams up with World Compassion

By Amber Smith About 25 years ago, ORU students began to reach out to Tulsa’s homeless and hungry. Now, the legacy continues. Fall Outreach, led by Director of Missions and Outreach Bobby Parks, has seen many changes. Some include the partnership in 2005 with Student Association to throw an after party. Other changes include canned good donations. For the last eight years, ORU has donated about 75 percent of the cans to John 3:16, an outreach organization for the city’s homeless. The other 25 percent is donated to local food banks in the greater Tulsa area. “Our goal is to raise awareness of the fact hunger is an issue even right here in Tulsa, Okla.,” said Parks. The greatest change to the program came when the missions office decided to tie a global hunger campaign to the local hunger campaign. “At least in Tulsa, there are shelters and food banks,” Parks said. “There are many nations that don’t have that

welfare system or social structure, so we try to identify these places that people need to be aware of as we send out our ORU students.” Last year marked one of the most successful global campaigns to date. Partnering with the organization, Tondo, in the Philippines, ORU teamed up with its pastor for outreach. The pastor saw a need on the outskirts of Manilla. He built a home for the people living in bad conditions, fed 500 kids each week and held Bible studies. Last year, the missions team discovered he lost all funding for his ministry. Through the efforts of the Enactus team, a floor initiative and a chapel offering, students raised enough to further his mission for two years. This year, the team is partnering with World Compassion’s “I Am Syria” campaign. The effort will go to help more than 2 million Syrian refugees. World Compassion has a camp in northern Iraq which is now expanding to house more than 2,000 refugees. ORU’s goal is to raise $6,000 to feed 1,000 refugees for one month. ORU also provides outreach on the home front. In 2010, ORU students brought in over 12,000 canned goods items, one of their largest food drives. John 3:16 and the local food banks were blown away by the support of ORU and the citizens

of Tulsa. Parks said the sight of tears streaming down the faces of the volunteers was enough to know the students’ efforts was an answer to many desperate prayers. John 3:16’s largest task is to provide turkeys to the families through its Thanksgiving program. Two business in Tulsa, T.D. Williamson and Reasor’s, have offered to help. Both agreed to purchase one turkey for every 100 cans collected during Fall Outreach this year. “We are grateful that the businesses of Tulsa are beginning to partner with the students of ORU in their heart to reach out to the homeless and hungry of Tulsa,” said Parks. “We are excited about it, especially because there are some ORU alumni working there that have made it possible.” Parks said that they are happy to see that people are getting on board. “Ministry happens at every door step. Students need to know that what they are doing is not normal,” Parks said. “In fact, it’s counter cultural; It touches so many more people than just those that receive the cans we collect and the money we raise.”

Party like it’s Halloween By Madison McDaniel Following this year’s Fall Outreach, students are invited back to campus to attend the annual Fall Outreach After-Party. Hosted by the Student Association, the after party will be held on the lawn between the G.C. and Chapel. The event will start at 8 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 31, as students make their way back from outreach Much like last year, there will be refreshments, entertainment and a mechanical bull. The entertainment will be live music performed by:

Austin Whitaker and Rex Berg

Galen Jernigan

Duke + The Heartbeats Internet Photos Graphic by Matthew Dean

6 •Thursday, Oct. 24, 2013 • THE ORACLE

FEATURES

Veterans group helps students fight internal conflict By Dominique Johnson A young man walks into a restaurant with his dad. He picks up a menu, browsing the selection. His father sits patiently. But after the server comes to the table and waits for a while, he nudges his son. The son pulls down the menu, revealing tears in his eyes. He says, “Dad, you don’t understand. Just a few days ago, I killed six Afghans. And here I am now in Tulsa.” As sponsor of the ORU Chapter of the Veterans Association (VA), Director of Social Work Dr. Lanny Endicott hears stories like this often. The Veterans Association works to make the university a veteran-friendly campus and helps soldiers integrate into civilian life. The Department of Veteran Affairs pays for veterans to attend school in their home state. Though finances may not be an obstacle for veterans coming to school, internal issues may. Endicott spoke of veterans who are relunctant to open up about these issues. “We want the schools in Oklahoma to be veteranready,” Endicott said. “Veterans will come out if they want to. There are a lot of benefits. Some just aren’t ready [and] have issues that need to be resolved in order to be successful. This is a big deal, and I got ORU involved in it.” Many veterans may not even know they have issues needing resolution. “One of the things veterans face is something being dubbed ‘moral injury,’” said Lee Mayhan, freshman and president of the ORU VA Chapter. “A lot of veterans don’t even know they have it. They just know that something’s different. They know how they were before they joined. Something is not the same inside of them.” Mayhan served in the National Guard as a 13 Delta before coming to ORU. The National Center for Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder defines moral injury as, “an act of serious transgression that leads to serious inner conflict because the experience is at odds with core ethical and moral beliefs.” “You’re raised in a society or a culture of ‘Thou shalt not kill’ or ‘it’s wrong,’” Mayhan said. “It’s something you shouldn’t do. Then you join the military, and you’re taught to do exactly that. Somewhere inside your morality or spiritually, you’re taught to process that.”

Moral injury can inhibit veterans from assimilating back into civilian life. “[Moral injury] creates a lot of stress,” Endicott said. “The VA was one of the first groups to bring this out. These people need forgiveness. They need to forgive themselves, and [people] need to re-integrate them into the community.” Mayhan said many soldiers cannot process such feelings until they get out of the military. To help with problems like moral injury, posttraumatic stress disorder and other issues caused by experiences serving, the VA hopes to hire a “go-to person” to act as a resource for veterans. “If the opportunity became available for veterans to go to a counselor here at school, they may be able to talk about issues and receive healing,” Mayhan said. Endicott said the resource officer would need an office where veterans could come talk and share. The officer could then offer counseling or refer the veteran to the right place to receive help. “I think a counselor in that capacity is an absolute must,” Mayhan said. “Someone who can be a face for ‘hey this is the guy you need to talk about your anger or to talk about whatever you’re dealing with.’” Mayhan said students, faculty and staff educating themselves on moral injury would also help in the integration process. In addition to moral injury, many veterans face post-traumatic stress, sleep disorders, depression and brain injuries. Endicott said the faculty need to be trained to understand these issues. Mayhan said people should treat veterans like normal students. “Don’t treat them different. They were in the service, or they were in Iraq or Afghanistan,” said Mayhan. “They already think that they’re different because of what they’ve gone through.” Mayhan warned that some veterans may carry confidential information. “It’s probably best not to pry outside of generic or vague conversations,” Mayhan said. “If they tell you they worked on Apache helicopters, leave it at that.” For some veterans, the integration process is not as complicated. Freshman multimedia production major Elex Boyd returned from the Air Force this semester. “Integrating [into] civilian life was like a fresh breath. A new start,” Boyd said. “[There is] a lot to do and a future of your own to work for. It isn’t that different. It’s like getting a new assignment to another base, but an indefinite one.”

Photo by Violet Mwanza

At the Sept. 11 chapel service, Lee Mayhan prays for the nation. He serves as president of the ORU Student Veterans Association.

A Tulsa native, Boyd returned to a waiting family. “My favorite part about coming home is I finally get to hold my son. He is the reason I live,” said Boyd. While he’s happy to be home, Boyd said re-inventing himself will be a challenge. The Veterans Association in Tulsa received one grant to house 500 homeless veterans and another to train 120 counselors on post-traumatic stress disorder using cognitive processing therapy. They plan on selling bracelets to raise funds for the Quest Whole Person Scholarship Fund.

THE ORACLE • Thursday, Oct. 24, 2013 • 7

With fresh eyes: A look at the arts By Amber Smith The first registered art major began her studies at ORU in 1965 and graduated with the first class in 1969. Since then, 564 students with artrelated majors have followed in her footsteps and proudly call themselves alumni. Laura Voth, a 2013 studio art graduate, is one of these students. Voth works at the Philbrook Museum in Tulsa and is doing freelance artwork. “I was talking with a museum educator the other day about the struggles of an artist, and she stated that ‘artists always have been and always will be greatly respected, appreciated and treasured for their skill and influential voice on society… but only after they’re dead.’ Perhaps this is the artist’s true curse, that they will not be understood or appreciated until after they pass,” Voth said. Although artists face struggles in any setting, ORU students and graduates speak of the unique environment of creating works of art at a small, private Christian university. The issue of respect comes particu-

larly into play. “The students themselves are supportive, and usually pretty excited when they hear that I’m an art student,” said senior studio art major Evelina Lundqvist. “But once the conversation turns toward the future and what I want to be, it’s hard for them to understand that I’m not studying art to land a job; I’m studying art because I love it, and whatever I end up working with I’ll enjoy it because it will include art.” In spite of the support of the arts at ORU, there are still artists who have felt underappreciated by their peers. “So many times I have heard someone from the ORU faculty say, ‘You’re majoring in art? Well, that’s a worthless major,’” said Voth. “Having been a studio major at the university, I can say many people at ORU do not appreciate what skillful students and brilliant professors they currently have.” Voth said she has been inspired by other students. “I’ve been in classes with wonderfully talented artists and had intelligent and creative conversations with students about powerful and meaningful works

Photos by Rebecca Glenn

Schneider ‘s “The Struggle is Real” is also on display. The studio art and writing double-major completed the piece in her Advanced Drawing class.

8 •Thursday, Oct. 24, 2013 • THE ORACLE

Students’ artwork is on display in LRC 3 until Nov. 2. Sophomore Charis Schneider’s “This Means War” in charcoal is among the work showcased. of art yet to be created,” said Voth. “ However Voth suggested there are several hurdles to Christian artists. The issue of nudity is one of these. “Being at a Christian university and not an art school, nudity will be a problem,” said Lundqvist. “It is not the art department itself, or even the art students that have a problem with it. It’s the people who are not artists that will. Artists see nudity differently. It’s a form, and it’s a shape.” “[Nudity] is also the basis for the clothed figure,” said Lundqvist. “How will you understand the folds of the shirt or how the fabrics of the sleeves fall in creases over the mass of the arm if you don’t understand the shape underneath?” To support ORU’s point of distinction, male models are required to wear shorts, and female models are required to wear a one-piece garment covering one-third of the body. Some art majors choose ORU because of this. According to the University’s Cata-

log, the Studio Art major “validates and nurtures each student’s call to be a Christian artist or art teacher.” The major emphasizes building students’ professional technical art and writing skills which culminate in student portfolios. Lundqvist also spoke of artists’ lack of recognition on campus. “Another challenge is the apparent silence when it comes to the art department,” said Lundqvist. “Whenever a speaker mentions the departments of the school, the art department is often left out. And whenever a chapel speaker talks about bringing Jesus to our world, and to our future workplaces, it’s always through the other departments like business and theology.” The art major is now located on the second floor of the Graduate Center with a painting room on the first floor. Originally this was housed in the Classroom Center. Continued on page 9

Continued from page 8 Another challenge lies in dorm life for the artists. Despite the many issues facing ORU artists, the art major is not shy of its accomplishments. Students like Lundqvist see their money being put to good use. Students are being provided with materials and tools needed, and the department is in the process of creating a mock-gallery space where students will be able to display their work. A brighter future awaits the program at ORU. “They’re trying to get funds to remake the art room itself, which will make a huge difference for getting more art students enrolled in the future,” said Lundqvist. “The faculty at the art department has such big dreams for the spaces and the students, and it’s just so sad that money would stand in the way of that.” The Art Department merged into Communication Arts in 2009 and is now part of Communication, Arts and Media. Laura Holland, chair of Communication, Arts and Media Department, said, “Over the last year we have begun working with our grants and sponsored programs department to raise funds for improvement in several art areas. Earlier this year renovations began in our largest art room, and we created a new student art gallery from a second-floor office space.” Holland suggested other facility recommendations are under consideration. “I’m excited about the potential renovations of our

facilities,” Holland said. Lundqvist said coming to ORU has still been worthwhile despite the apparent hurdles. “Even through all the challenges, I don’t regret it one bit. I’m going to graduate in December, and after that I’m going to look at taking my master’s in an art school in Europe. I knew coming to a Christian university wouldn’t be like going to an art school. But it was definitely worth it,” said Lundqvist. Great professors have helped make this student satisfaction possible. “Yes, the art department is underfunded, and there are other challenges, but the things I’ve learned here have transformed my art to new heights,” said Lundqvist. “I owe it all to the fantastic art teachers. The teachers here are amazing. Not only are they great artists themselves, but they’re also great at teaching. They have a way of seeing the potential in your work, and knowing what to say to bring something even more amazing from it. I thank God for them.” Voth also said she hopes others at ORU will come to recognize her department’s true worth. ORU students may see these in the fall and spring Senior Art Show housed on the LRC’s 3rd floor. “I encourage all of ORU to view the art department the same way a person would consider a painting; with fresh eyes, an open mind and a heart willing to be moved,” said Voth. “Maybe then they would realize what good thing they have in the department.”

Photo by Justice Enlow

Senior studio art major Evelina Lundqvist works on a sculpture for her senior show.

THE ORACLE • Thursday, Oct. 24, 2013 • 9

Paintings by Vanessa Sweet Graphic by Bruce Dixon Excerpt from Roberts’ 1973 response, courtesy ORU archives

By Hannah Covington Oral Roberts received a three-page letter in November 1972. The sender enclosed a gift of 10 pounds in English currency. The letter, written in sprawling cursive, opens with an unusual apology: “Let me begin to say I regret it that I said ‘The Beatles’ were more popular than Jesus.” Skip to the end and find the signature of self-proclaimed “ex-Beatle” John Lennon. Roberts read this signed Lennon letter aloud in chapel in front of a rapt audience in the Mabee Center on Jan. 26, 1973. The televangelist wrote back multiple times but never received a reply from the John Lennon of the letter. Since Roberts first dictated Len-

non’s message to ORU students and faculty, the letter has encountered equal parts awe and skepticism. Questions over the letter’s authenticity have been raised as recently as this week when Beatles experts in England responded to a request from The Oracle for a handwriting analysis and concluded the script resembles nothing Lennon has written before. Often lambasted in Beatles forums, the letter has been cited in national publications and in books like Steve Turner’s well received “The Gospel According to the Beatles” and David Edwin Harrell, Jr.’s biography, “Oral Roberts: An American Life.” The New York Times even used the Beatle-preacher correspondence in Roberts’ obituary as an example of the minister’s scope and renown at the

height of his influence in the 1970s. Janet Carlton, a 1976 graduate, remembers being in chapel the day Roberts read the famous letter. Many in attendance, like Carlton, had grown up listening to the shaggy-haired musicians from Liverpool. She first experienced Beatlemania in sixth grade after purchasing a magazine with their pictures and learning the words to every early song. In terms of cultural influence, she said the Beatles are peerless. “They had a huge impact,” Carlton said, referring to Beatles members John Lennon, Paul McCartney, George Harrison and Ringo Starr. “They just captured a whole generation.” She remembers students and faculty rejoicing in chapel at the tone of the letter to Roberts.

The writer confesses to forging checks and using dope and says his “life as a Beatle hasn’t been all that great.” He then describes his search for his wife’s, Yoko Ono, missing daughter, explaining, “Yoko’s going crazy.” He also admits being under the influence of pills while writing the letter. Then, the most well-known lines: “The point is this I want happiness. I don’t want to keep up with the drugs…. Explain to me, what Christianity can do for me. Is it phony, can He love me? I want out of hell.” “Part of me instantly believed that,” Carlton said. “But then later I wondered, ‘Was that really John Lennon? Did he really write that? Was it ever confirmed?’ I guess we all assumed it was.” This is where authenticity gets tangled up in assumption.

After Roberts received the letter in November, he sent the original, handwritten copy to be transcribed so he could read it aloud in chapel. Before sending it for transcription, a Xeroxed copy of the original was made. The university still has the Xeroxed copy, but the original never made it back to archives, said Roger Rydin of the University Archives Department. The author of the letter said he was staying with a cousin, Marilyn McCabe, and listed her address on the envelope. Roberts sent future letters to this address. Beatles experts say it’s possible Lennon fabricated this name and address for privacy concerns. “My understanding is that all four members of The Beatles would be quite vague about where they were writing

from because postmen would tell people who would track them down and know where they were and where their relatives were,” said Richard Hector-Jones, a representative of The Beatles Story, a museum in Liverpool. Recent handwriting analysis comparisons have also cast new doubt on the author’s identity. The Oracle emailed a scanned copy of Lennon’s signature to Beatles memorabilia experts in England. They did not hesitate in their analysis. “Without question, that is not John Lennon’s handwriting. It’s wildly different,” said Jason Cornthwaite. Cornthwaite works as a memorabilia specialist for Tracks Ltd., a Lancashire business that handles hundreds of Beatles’ signature and handwriting verifications each year.

Cornthwaite has been authenticating Beatles’ autographs for 23 years. He compared the handwriting in the letter to Lennon’s signature on signed albums from 1971 and 1973. “John’s signature changed massively from the early point in the Beatles career up until his death in 1980, where his signature was totally different. Out of any of the Beatles, it was John’s signature that changed the most,” he said. Though Lennon’s writing style evolved, Cornthwaite said he is “110 percent certain” the letter sent to Oral Roberts isn’t in the famous musician’s handwriting. However, it could have been written on his behalf. “Normally, when it’s a forging, you see the same kind of handwriting, but this is not a hand I’ve ever seen, which I find

pretty unusual as well. ” He suspects that perhaps Lennon’s cousin referenced in the letter, Marilyn McCabe, wrote the message. “In the 1970s and 1980s, if you came across something like that letter in archives, people would just assume it is Lennon’s writing; but now, people have become more educated about fakes, and everything is studied.” Some, however, remain convinced the letter came from the Beatle. Continued on page 18

To read the complete version of the John Lennon letter to Oral Roberts, go to www.oruoracle.com

Paintings by Vanessa Sweet Graphic by Bruce Dixon Excerpt from Roberts’ 1973 response, courtesy ORU archives

To read the complete version of the John Lennon letter to Oral Roberts, go to www.oruoracle.com

SPORTS

@oruoraclesports

Photo by Chandler Branzell

Ozone bleeds blue and gold

Photos by Austin St. John

From top left to right: Gabriel Kanelopoulos, Jason Mechali, Nathaniel Avery, Mitch Green and Christian Vaughan cheer on the Golden Eagles. Above: Students in the Ozone help fire up the crowd in a basketball game last season. By Brooke Thomas School spirit is something every college campus needs. Whether it be wearing a t-shirt or decorating their dorm room, every student has the opportunity to support the school they love. The ORU Ozone gives students the opportunity to show just how much pride they have for their school athletics. After the opening of the Mabee Center, the Mabee Maniacs became a dominant “sixth man” presence at ORU basketball games. Students, regardless of their major, joined together to cheer their Golden Eagles on to victory.

Since then, the Maniacs, now called the ORU Ozone, have expanded their influence campus-wide. This year’s Ozone is different than any other. After taking over its leadership, freshman Nik Stophel has revamped the program. “I began by making the Ozone an all-sport student section, rather than basketball only... I would love to see a massive crowd at every game by the end of the year. So far, we’re doing exceptionally well,” said Stophel. By expanding to an all-sports cheering section, the Ozone hopes to open the door to more involvement from the student body.

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With the new availability to cheer at any sport, the Ozone desires to recruit students who also enjoy other sports such as soccer, volleyball and baseball. “We recognize that everybody loves different sports, and we want to make this about having fun,” said senior Ozone Vice President Takudzwa Samupunga. Samupunga said he personally loves soccer and basketball, because he has played those sports. He finds it “exhilarating” to watch the games because of the unified support the Ozone gives. The Ozone’s expansion has already had an immediate effect on the student

athletes; many teams have not had a large cheering section at games in previous years. “Having Ozone at our games is good for us, and it’s a disadvantage for the other team. Having a lot of people in the stands makes the environment better, and definitely makes us play better,” said senior soccer player Johnny Chavez. Full student participation in every one of the university’s sports is the new goal of the Ozone. Involvement is simple. Just arive at any game, get painted up and help the Ozone fulfill their goal of getting the students to every game this year.

Heat and Spurs maintain NBA supremacy WEST By Ryan Woods Two missed free throws and two failed defensive rebounds by the Spurs set the stage for Ray Allen to make one of the greatest shots in NBA history and led to the Miami’s second straight NBA title. As the Spurs pick themselves up, the Western Conference reloads for another season. Here’s how the West projects in 2013: 1. San Antonio Spurs: It’s time to stop making the same mistake. Counting the Spurs out because of age has proven foolish year after year. Tim Duncan, Tony Parker and Manu Ginobili are back. With a supporting cast of Kawhi Leonard, Danny Green and Tiago Splitter, look for this team to be atop the standings at year’s end. 2. Oklahoma City Thunder: Playing without Russell Westbrook until early December will cost this team a couple extra losses. Oklahoma City will rely on three-time scoring champion Kevin Durant, and key role players Serge Ibaka and Reggie Jackson to carry the load while Westbrook recovers from knee surgery. 3. Los Angeles Clippers: There’s a title contender in L.A., and it’s not the Lakers. The addition of head coach Doc Rivers will improve the team immensely. Give him Chris Paul and Blake Griffen to work with, and you’re looking at a serious threat in the west. 4. Golden State Warriors: The Warriors made a surprising move for Andre Iguodala who will bring elite perimeter defense and versatility to one of the most lethal rosters in the league. 5. Houston Rockets: The Rockets will pair James Harden with Dwight Howard.That immediately puts this team on the map for the foreseeable future. 6. Memphis Grizzlies: Five months removed from a Western Conference Finals loss to San Antonio, the

Grizzlies are looking to replicate their success. New head coach Dave Joerger will be armed with the best defense in the league, and a hungry roster full of young talent. 7. Minnesota Timberwolves: Injuries to Kevin Love and Ricky Rubio have kept this team out of the playoffs the last few years. If healthy, this team is talented enough to make serious noise come playoff time.

EAST By Parrish Purnell All eyes are on Miami to see if they can win a third championship in a row. Their road to success hasn’t been an easy one, and this year certainly won’t be different. The Indiana Pacers, Chicago Bulls and Brooklyn Nets present a significant challenge to the reigning champs.

Internet photos

8. Portland Trailblazers: The Blazers had a very productive off-season. Reigning rookie of the year Damian Lillard returns with LaMArcus Aldridge and J.J. Hickson, and is poised to win a close race for the final playoff spot. It’s hard to imagine the playoffs without Kobe Bryant, Steve Nash, and Dirk Nowitzki but with this much depth in the west they could be starting the summer break unusually early.

Here’s how the East looks in 2013: 1. Miami Heat: LeBron James is the best player on the planet. He can play virtually every position on the floor, making the entire team a threat. He is projected to have yet another MVP season, and a healthy D-Wade and Chris Bosh make the Heat the team to beat. 2. Indiana Pacers: The number one option for the Pacers is Paul George, who showed just how good he was in the Eastern Conference Finals. He has progressed significantly over the last three years, and appears to be ready for a breakout season. 3. Chicago Bulls: Superstar Derrick Rose is back with a strong supporting cast of Luol Deng, Joakim Noah and Jimmy Butler. With Rose healthy again, Chicago is a contender. 4. Brooklyn Nets: After being elimated in the first round of the play-

offs last year, the Nets aquired veterans Paul Pierce and Kevin Garnett in hopes of a deep playoff run this season. 5. New York Knicks: The Knicks added Metta World Peace and Andrea Bargnani as they try to keep pace with the East’s elite. 6. Detroit Pistons: Detroit was a major player in free agency this summer. With headline additions of Josh Smith and Brandon Jennings, this team will be a major contender this season. 7. Cleveland Cavaliers: First overall draft selection Anthony Bennett joins a roster hoping to make the playoffs for the first time since the departure of Lebron James. With the additions of Andrew Bynum, Jarrett Jack and Earl Clark this team should be playing well into May. 8. Washington Wizards: As John Wall goes, so go the Wizards. When healthy, this young and talented roster is more than capable of snagging the final playoff spot. It would be Washington’s first playoff appearance since 2008. The Boston Celtics have been a playoff fixture since 2006. With the loss of Kevin Garnett and Paul Pierce, the franchise will begin rebuilding under new heacoach Brad Stevens.

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DJ Jackson: Turning tragedy into triumph By George Korkian D.J. Jackson was supposed to have a fairytale basketball career. Born to a professional basketball-player, turned hall-of-fame high school coach, D.J. dreamed of a chance to play for dad. “Everyone wanted to play for my dad. Me being in his household, basketball was just what we did,” said Jackson. One minute, he was a 13-year-old basketball player waiting for his chance to play point guard for his dad. The next minute he was mourning the death of his father, his mentor and his dream. “I was 13 and my dad got told he had cancer,” said Jackson. “I had to watch his body deteriorate right in front of my eyes.” The internal struggle of whether or not to play basketball lasted all of a few days, but D.J. couldn’t imagine a world without the game he loved. “The question became ‘Where [am I] gonna play now?’ I had people calling me asking me where I was gonna play. I ended up going to a private school and playing for one of my dad’s friends. It all worked out,” said Jackson. He went on to play at Archbishop O’Hare High School, where he helped lead his team to a conference championship and a district runner up finish. He also earned all-area, all-metro and all-state honors. Jackson was the conference MVP, and was selected to the all-tournament team in three separate tournaments. He averaged 22 points, seven assists, five rebounds and four steals per game as a senior.

Photo by Austin St. John

D.J. Jackson looks to get the ball inside against SFA last season. Jackson will be expected to assume a larger leadership role for the Golden Eagles this season. Jackson was heavily recruited by Oral Roberts University, Wichita State, Southern Illinois, San Francisco and UMKC before deciding to attend ORU. After redshirting his freshman season, Jackson lead ORU in assists during the 2012 season. With the departure of seniors Damen Bell-Holter and Warren Niles, Jackson now has the opportunity to take on a much bigger leadership role for the Golden Eagles. “I’m really excited for this season,” said Jackson. “We’ve got a bunch of new guys who have come in and really shown their athleticism. We have a real

Women’s Soccer

The women’s soccer team had four matches over fall break. They went 3-1 and are currently tied for 2nd in the conference standings. Oct. 11 – Nicholls State, W 3-1 Oct. 13 – Southeastern Louisiana, L 0-1 Oct. 18 – Houston Baptist, W 3-0 Oct. 20 – Sam Houston State, W 2-1

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team concept this year, there are no egos.” While good team cohesion will certainly help the Golden Eagles, it won’t win their games. ORU faces a tough road schedule to start the season, most notably a trip to the University of Wisconsin. D.J. and the Golden Eagles won’t back down from the challenge. The team will start their season in the Maybee Center on Nov. 2 against Northwood University.

What you missed

Get to know D.J.

Game Day Traditions: Praying and getting focused Favorite Pre Game Meal: Spaghetti Inspiration: Chris Paul Favorite Superhero: Batman Favorite Basketball Moment? ”MJ’s last shot. It was so memorable. For my own career, its just when I’m in the zone and everything is going in. I love that.” Favorite Pre-Game Artist: J. Cole Goals after ORU: Playing basketball, journalism later

Men’s Soccer

The men’s soccer team played three matches

over the break, and went 1-1-1. They are 2-1 in conference play and are currently ranked 3rd in the Summit League standings. Oct. 12 – Western Illinois, W 2-0 Oct. 15 – Missouri State, T 0-0 Oct. 20 – Eastern Illinois, L 1-2

Transfer ready for immediate impact By Jonathan DeFriess After one redshirt year and one full year at Missouri State University, Drew Wilson is returning home to Tulsa to play for the Golden Eagles. Wilson was recruited by ORU during his senior year of high school. “I have known coach Sutton and coach Brown for a while,” Wilson said. “Initially, I wanted to come to ORU out of high school,” said Wilson. “It was one of my top three choices, but I ended up picking Missouri State.” However, Wilson began to have second thoughts. “Things just weren’t working out [at Missouri State],” Wilson said. Missouri State granted Wilson a release just before the death of his sister in April. “It was almost like it was meant for me to be home,” he said. Wilson could come back home, but would not be immediately eligible to play. According to NCAA regulations, a student athlete that transfers, must sit one year before being eligible to play for their new team. The athlete can participate in practice and team events, but not games. Wilson was originally

denied immediate eligibility to play this season. “With a death in the family, the NCAA had said no... A lot of transfers have happened for less,” Wilson said. Wilson and ORU petitioned the ruling. The petition stayed with the NCAA all summer until some weeks ago. The NCAA accepted the petition after they changed the immediate eligibility rule to include a death in the family. “It’s a blessing to finally get that weight off my shoulders and play right away,” Wilson said concerning the ruling. After getting to ORU, Wilson was able to quickly adjust to a new school. “Of course it is different… coming to a Christian school… but it has opened me up more socially. It has been a great opportunity for me so far… and I expect nothing but great things,” he said. Being back in his hometown isn’t the only thing that will be familiar to Wilson. He’ll be with some familiar faces as well. “I grew up playing basketball with Korey Bilbury, so we are real close. I haven’t been this close to a group of guys since AAU [Amateur Athletic Union]… with Korey Bilbury

Volleyball

The Volleyball team went 2-1 during their fall break matches, which were all on the road. They are currently ranked fifth in the conference standings, two games out of first place. Oct. 12 – Central Arkansas, L 1-3 Oct. 17 – Nicholls State, W 3-0 Oct. 19 – McNeese State, W 3-0

and Adrion Webber,” Wilson said. Wilson has high expectations for this season. “This is the second year in a row I have played on a team with only one senior, and I feel like I will be able to step up a lot more this year to help the team.” When asked about a life role model, Wilson said his mother. “She took care of my handicapped sister since she was eighteen. The strength she has mentally and the ability she has to adapt is admirable,” said Wilson. Wilson is a sports management major with a minor in sociology. But as one might expect, after college, Wilson said he, “Would love to play basketball until the wheels fall off.” Look for Drew Wilson this season, Photo by Austin St. John which starts versus Drew Wilson goes up for a shot during the ORU blue-white scrimNorthwood on Saturday Nov. 2 at the mage on Oct. 22. Mabee Center.

What you missed

Women’s Golf

The women’s golf team won their first tournament of the season over break, winning by 14 shots, to finish their fall season. ORU was the only team to finish all three rounds with sub-300 scores. ORU had three players in the top 10 individually and all five players in the top 16.

THE ORACLE • Thursday, Oct. 24, 2013 • 15

SCENE

Pricey pizza is a crowd pleaser Looking for a new restaurant within five miles of campus?

By Kelsie Wardell Russo’s Coal Fired Italian Kitchen at 89th and Yale offers a more unique experience than the typical Italian chain. With a menu focused on their New York-style pizzas, it’s no shock that founder and chef Anthony Russo took two years developing a gluten-free crust. They also use many organic and non-processed ingredients. But be prepared to pay for it. The gluten-free, 12 inch Margherita pizza cost $16, excluding tip. This thin crust pizza, covered with Roma tomatoes, fresh basil, all-natural mozzarella cheese, garlic and organic extra virgin olive oil was definitely satisfying.

If that price caused your stomach to churn, even after such a mouth-watering description, don’t worry. Russo’s also sells pizza by the slice, but only during lunch hours. “The food portion didn’t live up to how big the plate was,” but the food was still “really good,” said sophmore Alysia Grogan. However, Russo’s pasta and dessert portions offer a lot more. Even the most steadfast chocolate lover should be prepared to share dessert. After ordering the BIG Chocolate Cake for dessert, senior Alyssa Borth was impressed by more than just its self-proclaimed size. “The cake had a great presentation and was more delicious than I expected,” Borth said. “It was so big I couldn’t finish it myself.” If you’re looking for a laid-back fam-

ily atmosphere with a touch of class, then Russo’s restaurant is the place you need to be. From welldressed families to dads just coming off the tennis courts, there was zero judgment over each other’s appearances. “It was a little busy and cramped,” Grogan said. “But at the same time it Photo by Kelsie Wardell Russo’s is known for their gluten-free felt upscale.” crust, which can be used on any 12-inch pizza. Russo’s New York Pizzeria is a pizza in over 2,000 grocery stores. Houston-based restaurant concept and Russo’s is open 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. has more than 30 locations in the U.S. Sunday through Thursday and 11 a.m. and Middle East. They also sell their to 11 p.m. Friday and Saturday.

‘Proposals’ to debut By Chelsey Butler The ORU Theatre department will present Neil Simon’s classic “Proposals” in the second show of the theatre season. The show tells the story of an afternoon in the life of a family on vacation in the Pocono Mountains. Neil Simon is known for his comedy, but this story deals with love and loss at all stages. The main stage show is directed by almuna Kelsey Kemper, known for her role as Dolly Levi in last year’s spring production of “Hello Dolly.” Natalie Spack, a senior theatre arts major, will play Josie in the show. “It has been such an awesome experience being a part of this hilarious play that deals with real human issues,” Spack said. “I couldn’t have asked for a better cast, or a better director, Kelsey Kemper, who has helped me see and act the play in deeper ways.” The show runs Oct. 31 to Nov. 3.

Photo by Chandler Branzell

Alumna Kelsey Kemper will be directing Neil Simon’s show, “Proposals,” which premieres Oct. 31. Performances begin at 7:30 p.m. Tickets cost $5 for students and $10 for the public.

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Gravity pulls viewers to the edge of their seats By Victoria Atterberry Academy Award-winning actors Sandra Bullock and George Clooney have come together to craft an exciting movie full of thrilling moments in the dramatic sci-fi thriller, “Gravity.” Providing the audience with an exhilarating and captivating drama, “Gravity” tells the story of two astronauts left stranded in the boundlessness of space after being separated from their space shuttle. On a mission gone horribly wrong, Dr. Ryan Stone and Matt Kowasky fight against time and obstacles in order to safely return to earth. “Gravity” stays true to its genre by providing sensational, action-packed scenes. Each scene provides thrilling action that keeps the audience on the edge of their seats. Not only was each scene action-filled, the movie itself was pleasantly unpredictable, leaving the viewers wondering what will happen next. In addition to the action and plot was the movie’s overall meaning. “Gravity” upholds an encouraging message of not giving up, even when things seem

hopeless. Each audience member will walk away encouraged just by that simple theme of perseverance. Great casting further enhanced this movie. Despite its small size, the movie’s cast does not lack a powerful presence. Famous actors Sandra Bullock and George Clooney could not have done a better job in portraying their characters. The audience will fall in love with Clooney as he plays the fun-loving and optimistic Matt Kowasky, and hearts will soften at the valiant efforts and determined actions of Bullock’s Ryan Stone. “Gravity” is an excellently produced movie. Running at only an hour and a half, it gets straight to the point without boring the audience. It is not weighed down with dull dialogue or meaningless action. Action packed, meaningful and well casted, “Gravity” will be an enjoyable movie for all to watch. Four and a half stars for the impressively exciting “Gravity.”

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George Clooney stars alongside Sandra Bullock as veteran astronaut Matt Kowalsk in this year’s Blockbuster.

Game Review: ‘Beyond: Two Souls’ creatively cliché By Chelsey Butler With the voice acting skills of Ellen Page and Willem Dafoe, not to mention the aesthetically stunning graphics, the release of “Beyond: Two Souls” was highly anticipated by the time it hit the shelves on Oct. 8. This action-adventure game lets you experience the life of the main character, Jodie Holmes, in a new and interactive way. In this game, you’ll jump throughout 10 years of Jodie’s supernatural life. Her unexplainable tether to a mysterious entity with a mind of its own shapes her life in an unimaginable way. The game takes a non-linear approach at the story line. Players jump into the story at the end, and spend the entire game working through different moments of the protagonists life. This approach sucks you into the storyline right away and plagues you with questions you have to keep playing to answer. Though the beginning of the game has a strong start, it slowly begins to drain away once you settle

in. It doesn’t take long for players to realize they are not really playing as much as they are observing. The gameplay has no more substance than a choose-yourown-adventure book. The gamer does nothing more than respond to minimal gameplay story prompts. For most of the game, it’s hard to tell if you’re in a cutscene or you’re supposed to be creating action. The marketing focused on the gameplay being heavily based on action and consequence, but when the simple choices lead you down two sets of cutscenes, players start to care less which path they choose. With plenty of well done action and consequence games on the market, “Beyond:Two Souls” just did not match up with other titles. I wanted to be astonished by this game, and when I first started it up, I was enjoying myself. It didn’t take long though to realize that this game doesn’t challenge the player. The story basically unravels before the gamer without any effort required. Whether you’re good or bad at the gameplay, the outcome is the same,

which isn’t something to be expected from a game that markets itself as action and consequence based. Even though the story premise was very creative and very exhilarating at times, there were more cliché moments than should be allowed of a game this caliber. The story constantly jumps back and forth between being completely engrossing, to a dull simmer that made me want to turn off the console. Despite the negative parts, this game was entertaining, but was not the challenging action thriller I had expected. This game does have quite a bit of language, and way more violence and dark themes than I’d like to admit, but the good in this story definitely outweighed the bad. The storyline had an amazing concept and the resolve at the end leaves players satisfied and in awe. The game was heavy with themes of spirituality, specifically spiritual entities, but doesn’t force any kind of religious agenda on players. I would recommend this game for a leisurely play, but not for the gamer looking for a challenge.

THE ORACLE • Thursday, Oct. 24, 2013 • 17

MUSE “Beatle” continued from page 11 Dr. William Epperson, professor of English, has been teaching at ORU since 1968. He was also in the Mabee Center for chapel that day and can recall students’ amazement that Lennon would write to Roberts. “I think it was real,” Epperson said. “I think John was reaching for something at the time, at least it seemed like he was.” Few can argue Lennon’s music was informed by his complex and probing spirituality. In his book, Turner calls Lennon a “television addict” and said he frequently tuned in to the programs of America’s famed televangelists, including Pat Robertson, Billy Graham, Jim Bakker and Oral Roberts. By 1977, Lennon told his inner circle he had become a born-again Christian and took Yoko to church on Easter that spring. According to Turner, Lennon’s “personal interest in Jesus” waned after several months spent at a Japanese hotel while Yoko visited relatives. For ORU students, however, the writer of the mythic letter seemed acutely interested in what Christ could offer. After the January chapel service, Roberts rolled out a sprawling banner of butcher paper for students to sign. The top, in thick blue marker, reads, “As the Spirit leads, write a personal note to John and Yoko.” About 130 students wrote messages. Some tell of personal struggles with drugs, many calling them a “bad trip.” Others quote lyrics from popular songs.

Some cite scripture. Carlton remembers her peers flocking to the banner in the cafeteria. She signed it as well. The elementary education major became a Christian at age 21. Before then, Carlton said she experimented with drugs and found interest in George Harrison’s music as she researched Eastern religions. In her banner note to John, she writes, “I had listened to your albums before I met Jesus Christ and identified with your frustration.” In his letter, the self-described ex-Beatle talks of not “wanting to face reality.” In Roberts’ response, the preacher calls Christ “the only reality” and says Jesus “is not hard to face.” The alleged correspondence between the two iconic men remains one of the most intriguing of the 20th century, especially for Lennon, whose battles and questions fascinated a generation. “John is a more flawed character, and I don’t think he was interested in putting up a façade, as a lot of pop stars do,” Hector-Jones said. “That’s what made him more interesting than other pop stars and even other members of The Beatles. He openly tried to overcome his flaws in public and knew he was a flawed character.”

Photo courtesy of Tracks Ltd.

A verified 1973 John Lennon signature from “The White Album” features a loose, loopy handwriting, in contrast to the letter’s script.

Photo courtesy of Tracks Ltd.

Lennon’s draft of “Imagine,” written on a hotel napkin, oﬀers a long-form example of his handwriting.

Valuing the creative power of the arts Editor’s note: Nathan Opp is an assistant professor of art.

By Nathan Opp “They do not see that the streets shine beautifully, that they themselves are walking on stars and water, that they are running in skies to catch a bus…” — Thomas Merton It has been a pleasure to invest my energies and time in pursuit of art. This field of study is quirky and quixotic. It has the power to show us our world in unexpected ways, cause us to see the beauty of the seemingly banal and look

for the miraculous in our lives. I share Madeline L’Engle’s assertion that art is the ability to make cosmos from chaos. At its essence, the arts show us our humanity, and this is where its importance lies. Creative acts are records of moments in time where an individual artist says, “Here I am.” To borrow from Descartes, “I create; therefore, I am.” These declarations of existence are also representations of societal consciousness. From the prehistoric hand imprints in the caves of Pech-Merle, France, to sculptures of Shiva Natarja from the Chola Dynasty in India, to the more recent Gates project by Christo; all

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share an ability to illuminate humanity’s place in time, cultural assumptions and beliefs. What we make now and leave for future generations to rediscover will tell them volumes about what we find to be valuable and worth our time. This is what excites me about the arts, but it is too grand for my actual studio process. The day-in and day-out action of “making” demands a different drive. I go to work and make art because it is an honor to be called to do so. Each piece presents opportunities for me to be still and listen. To respond with honesty and hope that the end result is what is needed in another’s life. It is a solitary pursuit with hours

of self-reflection and work. Possibly the main reason I teach art is to have additional impact. In a collegiate environment, there is an opportunity to share discoveries, learn from each other and invest in the future of creativity. The students that come into the studio art program at ORU are passionate about God, art making and our world. Together, we venture out and explore the amazing roads that have yet to be named and the overlooked wonders of life. Hopefully we will be able to explain these paths and surprises. Maybe, like Thomas Merton asserts, we can show you the stars that you are walking upon during the evening rains.

Syndicated Cynic: Haunted salvation By Gregory America Brown “We’ll scare the Hell out of you.” Come on. Imagine this. Jesus is wearing a ghost costume, hiding behind a shroud, jumping out and scaring a couple of prepubescent kids, telling them that if they’re frightened, they are going to Hell. Sounds silly, right? That’s essentially what the Christian scare-houses are trying to do. I have no problem with Halloween or anything like that, but I think this conversion tactic is sickening. By showcasing extreme and terrifying situations, these events, such as Tulsa’s own Nightmare run by GUTS Church, are trying to convert anyone and everyone looking for the seasonal

scare, including many people that are already Christians. Multiple youth leaders of mine were forcibly “saved” at Nightmare when I was in high school. A typical Christian scare-house or “hell house” usually presents the audience with a few scenarios that are the result of bad situations, such as someone goofing up sexually and then killing him or herself, someone having an abortion, someone drinking and someone shooting students in a high school. After these scenes, there is typically a scene that shows Hell, followed by one that depicts Jesus and salvation. After seeing this, viewers are supposed to decide they don’t want these drastically bad things to happen to them, so they will become Christians. This way, they won’t have to see someone shoot up their schools. I’m sure many Oracle readers have

been to something like this before, and maybe have even helped put it on, but I can’t find any biblical backing for this sort of ordeal. I think it’s ultimately desensitizing and harmful to the cause of Christ, and reminiscent of the old hellfire preachers. In the Gospels, we see a picture of Jesus that is painted with kindness, forgiveness and love. Yes, it’s clearly stated that there are repercussions for sins, and bad things do happen many times when people make bad choices, but these hell houses that are popping up across the United States promote fear. This tactic is simply not reminiscent of the love of Christ. In one prominent scene from GUTS’ Nightmare, a car crash takes place, and the devastating aftermath unfolds around attendees. Since the rest of the experience is

sin-based, then it can become easy to see such an event as the result of sin. What then can be said of the Christians involved in these types of tragedies? Or what happens when people sin and no one ends up covered in blood, screaming for help? Wouldn’t this confuse you? It’s the world we’re in. Christians mess up. Christians drink alcohol. Christians have sex. Christians make bad choices. Christians don’t go to Hell. That aside, scaring people to Christ isn’t what Christianity truly is, and it could potentially leave those involved feeling further disappointed and confused later in life. Is this the type of image that we would want to represent our religion? Do we want to be known as the people that attempt to scare teens into joining us? Don’t we have so much more to offer?

Graphic by Matthew Dean

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20 •Thursday, Oct. 24, 2013 • THE ORACLE