February 4th Print Edition

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Page 2 • Friday, Feb. 4, 2011 • THE ORACLE

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Contents

T

4

Jessica Craig shares how she got into one of the top business schools.

ulsa-based band Stars Go Dim embarks on headlining tour after releasing 2nd album

Scene: Group started as a side project from Christian band

22

News: Graduating finance major gets accepted to Stanford

7

Campus: Is social dancing really against the honor code?

SA openly advertises swing dancing at the Homecoming banquet.

11

Faith: Persecution is a reality that many Christians face daily Students, faculty share their stories of the price they had to pay for belief

18

Sports: Alumnus gets a trial run with San Antonio Spurs Larry Owens may help the Spurs finish out the season due to team injuries

26

Forum: Chelsea Kimbrough’s “Lessons Not in the Syllabus” How should lonely individuals handle the pressure of Valentine’s Day?

Courtesy Photo

Web: Want to get all the latest news and coverage on the BIG ANNOUNCEMENT from Friday Feb. 4? Then check out oruoracle.com to stay up on the latest!

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CORRECTIONS

oruoracle.com

???

• In the Jan. 21 print edition, a photo of the band MiSweeti was incorrectly credited as a courtesy photo. The photo was taken

by Whitney Owings.

• In the Jan. 21 print edition, the article on ORU Let’s Can Hunger incorrectly stated that the SIFE national competition was known as the World Cup. It is the global competition that is known as the World Cup. THE ORACLE• Friday, Feb. 4, 2011 • Page 3

News

The Oracle News Editor is Nathanael Robertson You may contact him with comments or questions at nathanaelrobertson@oru.edu.

For more in News, check out oruoracle.com

Finance Major Accepted to Stanford Senior Jessica Craig lost a bet that changed her life. “[My dad and I] had a deal,” Craig said. “Stanford [application fee] was $260, so I put it on a credit card that I have from my parents. I asked my dad, ‘Hey, I’ll pay you back, just transfer the money over,’ and my dad actually said, ‘You only have to pay me back if you decide to go there.’ So when I got in I called him and said, ‘Dad, I owe you $260, I’m going to Stanford!’”

Harvard is the No. 1 business school in America; Stanford is No. 2.

Craig had other Ivy League schools on her mind but hadn’t even considered Stanford.

“I originally was only going to apply to Harvard and MIT and legitimately applied to Stanford kind of on a whim… I started looking at their website and thought, why don’t I apply here?” Craig said.

“So I’m sitting in my dorm room one night and I have a friend in there and I look at her and ask, ‘Should I apply to Stanford?’ and she goes, ‘Yeah, you might as well.’”

Getting involved in everything, especially at ORU, has been Craig’s method of success.

“At ORU I’ve done a ton,” Craig said. “I was executive vice president for Student Association and I’ve been

involved in everything… I had an internship this summer with Walmart Corp. in their Global Internal Audit Department, and I’m on a National Sodexo Student Advisory Board, and a few other random positions that I got on through crazy connections I had through things I’ve done here.”

Despite all her involvement on boards, internships and SA, Craig still had one thing that was necessary to get into any Ivy League: the GMAT, a standardized test equivalent to taking the ACT for college.

Harvard’s average is a score of 710.

“It’s the most nerve-wracking experience I’ve ever had,” Craig said. “The whole time I’m sitting there and like, you literally click and it asks ‘do you want to cancel your scores?’ and if you click no, your score pops up. When my score popped up, I nearly started crying because I was so happy.”

Craig scored in the 97th percentile with a score of 730.

After her acceptance, Craig received more good news from the admissions counselor.

Photo by Marilyn Chau If she wanted, Craig could start this fall or take a year Senior Jessica Craig celebrates with her or two off and still have a place. In MBA programs, most acceptance letter envelope to Stanford. of the students have two to eight years of work experience.

“It seems insane that I can go do anyBy Nathanael Robertson, Sarthak Nigam and Amy Lecza thing for the next couple years and then still have a spot there. So at this point I may look at enrolling in 2013, so then I would graduate in 2015,” she said.

Craig didn’t get this far by being a normal student.

Unlike her classmates, she said she The second annual Whole Person According to auxillary services, ORU Residents of Susie 8 (Ducks) were wishes she could eliminate “eating and Triathlon was held last weekend in electricity costs are up 12 to 14 pertemporarily reassigned with their sleeping” from her busy life. the AC. The winning team was “Da cent this year, totaling $500,000 more roommates to rooms in Frances, “In high school, me and my friends Beasts,” composed of Tulsa triathin electrical expenses. Director of AuxilClaudius and Gabby after a water pipe tried out this thing called polyphasic letes Mallena Ballou, Victoria Rivera iary Services Lisa Bowman encourages burst. Students were told to pack for sleep, where you sleep for 30 minutes and Colton Allen with a time of students, faculty and staff to turn off two days or until the pipe is fixed, every four hours…we survived for four 33:43. The individual winners were the lights when leaving offices, classand had to evacuate the floor before days of doing this, but we were like Bryan Journey for the males with a rooms and dorm rooms. midnight on Thursday, Feb. 3. zombies and couldn’t function or talk to time of 34:25 and Karen Sissons for people,” she said. the females with 39:18.

Considering her many goals, a lack of sleep may certainly be in Craig’s bright future.

“There is a laundry list,” she said.

“I want to be a CEO of a large comSaturday, Jan. 29, marked a Graduates from the 1965 fall and ORU placed 17th (Zach Vankeulin pany. I want to be involved in the United 76-degree high temperature in Tulsa 1966 spring classes will meet in Timko& Mark Johnson with a 4lb. 4oz. bass) Nations. I want to be an advisor to the that tied the record set in 1947.

Barton Sat., Feb. 5 from 9 to 11 a.m. for and 19th (John Chau & John Journeay president in economics. I want a doctorAccording to the National Weather the first-ever Alpha year reunion. with a 2lb. 11oz. bass) out of 40 ate in economics. I want to be a college Service, the highest-recorded Januteams in the Forrest L. Wood College professor. I want to be a president of a ary temperature recorded in Tulsa Fishing Tournament in Choke Canyon university. I mean, just a few things to get was 82 in 1909.

Reservoir, Texas. done here and there before I die.”

By Sarah Thompson

Keepin.It.Brief Whole Person Triathlon Winners are Crowned

Electricity Costs Rise $500,000 This Year

Susie 8 Residents Evacuated

Warm Weather Ties Record High of 76

First ORU Graduating Class to be Reunited

ORU Participates in Fishing Tournament

Page 4 • Friday, Feb. 4, 2011 • THE ORACLE

Marching onto Campus

One of ORU’s Newest Classes Offers Students a Chance at Learning More about Leadership, Military Experience

Photo by Lauren Rockett

Capt. Casey Campbell instructs ORU ROTC students during their new class this semester.

This spring semester, a new class has opened for those enamored by combat boots, digital camo, leadership skills and scholarship money.

ROTC has finally marched onto the campus of ORU. Reserve Officer Training Corps (ROTC) is a program students can join to become second lieutenants directly out of college. The classes take place every Tuesday at 8-9:50 a.m. in GC 2AO9.

“I don’t believe that leaders are born,” said instructor Capt. Casey Campbell, “I think leaders are absolutely made over time and experience.”

This is the entire idea behind ROTC. The journey involves taking ROTC classes during freshman and sophomore years. The summer going into junior year cadets go to Leadership Training Course (LTC) in Fort Knox, Ky. The summer going into senior year is spent in Fort Lewis, Wash., at Leadership Development and Assessment Course (LDAC). After finishing up senior year, students come out as a Second Lieutenant.

In the past, students like senior David Snuffer would have to drive all the way to OSU in Stillwater for training.

Now, because of the initiative of Snuffer and the help of others, ORU has a class itself.

“It was a lot of work, it was a lot of recruiting, and it was a lot of meetings,” Snuffer said, explaining the efforts.

For the curious, taking a peek doesn’t require a contract with the Army or even attending the entire course.

A zero-credit class makes it free, and easier for students wanting to see what ROTC is all about.

“Anybody is welcome to show up to the class,” Snuffer said. “It’s a great opportunity.”

The financial benefits of joining ROTC and committing to being in the Army pays for one year of school for each year of service on top of money earned on the job.

“The money that is available to young people today through military service is second to none,” Campbell said.

Both of these men feel that the experience, though a challenge, was well worth the efforts.

“For a farm kid from northwest Oklahoma,” said Campbell, “I’ve had an unbelievable ride. I’ve had incredible opportunities that most 18-year-olds don’t know are out there.“ “It’s been beneficial,” Snuffer said, echoing Campbell, “there is a large time requirement. That is something you have to think of before you make this decision is do you want to be an Army officer bad enough to sacrifice time, events, and social life to some degree.”

The plans for this Intro to ROTC course are expanding in the near future to be more accessible to ORU students.

“Next year,” said Snuffer, “you will have the option to come in as a full four-year cadet and simultaneously attend ORU and earn a commission through OSU, so that will be a first time ever.”

By Sarah Thompson THE ORACLE• Friday, Feb. 4, 2011 • Page 5

Room Check Elicits Mixed Opinions RAs chime in on contact and accountability

Photo Illustration by Whitney Owings

Homecoming tickets are $65 per couple this year.

Alternative Homecoming Plans “Are you going to homecoming?”

The question seemed to be on everyone’s lips these last two weeks.

The 2011 homecoming banquet promises to be an unforgettable night, and while most students will dress up in their fanciest attire and head downtown to the gorgeous Mayo hotel, some students have other plans.

Sarah Prulhiere, a freshman multimedia production major, is planning on having a party at her Tulsa home for those who aren’t planning to attend homecoming.

Prulhiere said, “I’m inviting around 30 and telling those people to invite people as well.

So it could either be massive or small, we’ll just have to wait and see.”

Prulhiere’s friends who plan to attend her party are not attending homecoming because of either not having a date, money or both. “It’s something to do while everyone else is at homecoming. I’m only a freshman. I have three more chances to go,” Prulhiere said.

The ladies of Legacy, on the 4th floor of Claudius, are planning to dress up in pretty, formal dresses and head out to PF

Changs for dinner and then back to their floor for their own dance party.

Haley Moring, Legacy freshman, said the event was her idea for herself and just three of her friends but it turned into a wing event.

Moring said, “We are always looking for a reason to dress up, so a Legacy Homecoming seemed like a great alternative to spending so much money on a ticket.”

The reason behind Moring’s idea isn’t necessarily an urge for an anti-homecoming event, but rather a fun, cheaper alternative.

“Because not many of us have boyfriends or a ton of money to put toward everything a girl needs to get ready, we are just having a homecoming for ourselves,” she said, adding that nearly every girl on her floor is attending.

“Only one girl is actually attending homecoming,” she said.

About 15 girls are planning on going [out with us].”

At the moment, it is a wing event, but Moring says they wouldn’t be opposed to having more students join them.

“As of now it is a Legacy wing event. If any guys ended up wanting to come we would let them. This event has been made

Page 6 • Friday, Feb. 4, 2011 • THE ORACLE

up because we just did not have the money for homecoming. So if anyone, guy or girl, wanted to come get dressed up with us, we wouldn’t stop them.”

Jennifer Hale is a senior and has actually never attended a homecoming in her years at ORU but is planning a small gettogether out of town with some of her closest friends.

“Well, my friends and I were a bit short on cash, and we always have fun when it’s just us,” Hale said on the reason behind her get-together.

“So, we decided to get our closest friends together, get dressed up, and just have some fun.”

“There will probably be seven or eight of us. So far, we’re going to head to Oklahoma City on a Saturday. The plan is to eat at a restaurant down there.

“After that, [we’ll get] back to campus around 10 or 11,” Hale said.

“We aren’t advertising it or anything. We really just planned it for our group of friends, but we’re not being exclusive or anything. If people want to come, we’re not turning them away.”

“It’s our senior year, and we wanted to celebrate the event in a fun, no pressure, and inexpensive way.”

by Halle Byrams

The first hall meeting of the semester brought a change for students and RAs alike.

A new requirement for oncampus students and their residential advisers. Clean room checks will be once a week on Wednesdays.

Due to several reasons, room checks will now be every week.

Previous to this development, room checks were only done before breaks, open dorms and college weekend visits.

RAs must check rooms for trash to be emptied, microfridges clean and maintained, general cleanliness of the room, and personal items that don’t reflect the Honor Code.

One issue ORU’s residential students have struggled with is keeping rooms clean.

Joy Bork, head RA of Frances, said, “Pests are attracted to untidy spaces. If a floor hasn’t been vacuumed recently and contains crumbs or chunks of food, it is an open invitation for pests to come feast. The cleaner the room, the less chance there is for pests. This not only affects a single room, but a whole floor.

That floor affects the entire dormitory. The more pest-free we can be the better. Clean, organized rooms have been shown to help with productivity as well.”

Bork also feels room checks are “another point of contact between RA’s and residents.”

She said, “With the removal of nightly curfew check, it is much more difficult to connect with residents on a regular basis. This ensures that the RA has contact with each resident.”

Bork said she feels a lot can be said about a current student’s life status just by looking at his or her room. If he or she is usually tidy people, a messy room may be a sign that he or she is overstressed, worried or having other issues.

“This gives the RA a chance

to check in on the personal status of the residents to ensure they are doing well.”

Aaron Tifft, head RA of Lower EMR, believes clean room checks come down to accountability.

“When we become residents of the dorms here at ORU,” Tifft said, “we enter into a social contract of behavior that mandates the limits of our actions and possessions. Many people were failing to keep their side of the agreement; this is a method of accountability to ensure that they do so.”

“Recently it seems that many individuals expected their mothers to come and clean the proverbial snot off their noses; the clean room checks remind them that this isn’t going to happen,” Tifft said.

Holly Yaw, an RA in Claudius, feels not only do room checks help keep the girls on her floor responsible, but they keep her responsible as well.

“I kind of like room checks because I don’t always have my room clean and it keeps me accountable,” Yaw said.

“At first I didn’t like it, but it’s not so bad.”

Libby Elliot, a freshman living in Claudius, noticed some flaws in the system.

“The problem is the trash chutes get really full,” Elliot said.

“Everyone is trying to throw away their trash at the same time. It’s messy and it smells bad.”

Isaiah Coleman, a senior living on Michael 6, finds weekly room check “random and very annoying.”

He said his room gets messy often. “I mess it up because I’m going to class,” he explained.

Amber Earls, a senior Frances resident, said, “At first it really bothered me. It felt like it was one more thing I had to be accountable for by someone else.”

By Halle Byrams

Campus

The Oracle Campus Editor is Rachel Whitlock You may contact her with comments or questions at oraclelifeeditor@oru.edu For more in Campus, check out oruoracle.com

The Perfect Storm I

t was called an “epic storm” by Tulsa meteorologists – one for the ages.

More snow fell from the heavens on ORU on Feb. 1 and 2 than at any other time in recorded history. Snow officially topped 14 inches, making it the largest 24-hour total ever in T-town. The previous record was 12.9 inches in March 1996.

This one topped that storm in every way.

In a state known for its springtime tornadoes, Oklahoma residents (temporary or permanent) learned just how bad things can get when January gives way to February.

This storm began, like most Tulsa snowfalls, with rain turning to sleet, then giving way to fluffy frozen flakes that pile up and paralyze lifestyles.

This storm’s watchers, however, were treated to a unique weather phenomenon called “thunder snow.” As the snow was falling, lightning illuminated the night sky shortly before midnight Tuesday with thunder crackling from time to time.

Other observers called it the “perfect winter storm.”

Moisture from the Gulf of Mexico shot into Oklahoma and collided with an Arctic blast from the north, producing the icy avalanche. To make matters worse, winds kicked up from 20 to 40 mph, creating blizzard conditions while temperatures plunged into the single digits, even creeping below zero for the first time in 15 years.

Tulsa made headlines across the nation, with a Tulsa World snow photo gracing the front page of the Los Angeles Times on Wednesday. It was a forerunner of what quickly moved west, creating weather headaches and headlines for almost one-third of the nation’s population, including Chicago, St. Louis, Kansas City, Philadelphia, New York and Boston.

Digging out that first day proved virtually impossible.

Public schools in the area shuttered classrooms from Tuesday through Friday as neighborhood streets made navigation impossible. ORU joined the University of Tulsa, Rogers State University and the Tulsa campuses of OU and OSU in canceling classes Tuesday through Thursday, with several universities remaining shut down Friday. Missing three days of learning due to the snow was unprecedented in ORU history.

ORU typically goes several years in a row without experiencing a single snow day, but this marked the third straight year in which students, staff and faculty have

enjoyed at least one unplanned day off. This storm also marked the second snowfall in two weeks to carpet the campus, forcing closures. ORU officially closed Jan. 20 due to a mere 2 inches of snow.

The Feb. 1 and 2 storm, however, was nothing like the previous event. Dubbed the “Groundhog Day 2011 Storm” by some television weathermen, this megamonster shut down Tulsa International Airport until late Wednesday afternoon as workers waged a battle against blowing snow undoing their efforts to clear runways.

For the first time in its 106-year-old history, the Tulsa World did not print a newspaper because the publisher deemed conditions too dangerous for carriers to deliver.

Instead, the Tulsa World published a 12-page version online Wednesday, promising to do the same Thursday and Friday due to poor neighborhood road conditions.

They weren’t the only business in town to alter their usual way of conducting commerce.

The vaunted U.S. Postal Service was unable to deliver the mail to residences Tuesday or Wednesday throughout the metropolitan area. Postal carriers simply could not get near mailboxes buried in drifts. Most restaurants closed, and many of those able to open suspended delivery services for things like pizza.

With students snowbound on campus, Saga gained new popularity as crowds made their way through the chow lines. Students who opted for Chick-fil-A, underneath the cafeteria, waited more than a half-hour for their food at times.

ORU homecoming activities, which had been set to begin Monday night, had to be curtailed, postponed or even cancelled. The first major event to be victimized by the snowfall was the Battle of the Bands contest, planned Tuesday night at the Mabee Center. Next to feel the weather’s wrath was the 40th anniversary reunion concert in Christ’s Chapel for Souls A’Fire. It was rescheduled for April.

Signs of life, however, began to emerge Thursday night when the South Dakota State men’s basketball team braved the elements for the Thursday night showdown against the Golden Eagles.

It seemed unthinkable that one week earlier, students were wearing T-shirts, shorts and flip-flops as Tulsa tied a record high 76 degrees on the last Saturday in January.

By Kevin Armstrong THE ORACLE• Friday, Feb. 4, 2011 • Page 7

Dancing the Night Away

Social Dancing Has Long Been a Controversy Between Students, Faculty Amid the buzz circulating around the yearly homecoming banquet, one small phrase under the heading “activities” may have eluded the average student who has seen the posters around campus: swing dancing.

This will make the first time in ORU’s history that homecoming has openly advertised dancing at the banquet, a fact that appears to be in direct conflict with a policy set forth in the student handbook: “Social dancing is not permitted on campus, and members of the student body are prohibited from using ORU’s name in planning or sponsoring social dances of any kind off campus.”

However Student Association, which plans homecoming every year, has received official approval from administration to include instructional swing dancing at the banquet, according to Chief Programs Officer Dennis Smith.

The rule regarding social dancing and its interpretations has been a point of contention among students, administration and even faculty at ORU. Joshua Rio-Ross, a senior who leads an informal swing dancing group, first learned to swing dance as a teenager. He has noticed an evolution in how dancing has been perceived since he started attending ORU in 2007.

Rio-Ross has attempted to sanction the swing dancing group as an official club, but was denied.

However, the sheer number of students who go off-campus to swing dance together--the largest group between 80 and 100 people--indicates a shift in attitude.

“A big part has been because of the change in administration [and] the advent of the dance program,” said Rio-Ross, who also served as one of the dance instructors at last year’s banquet.

The dance program, though only in its fourth year of existence, continues to bring in a sector of the student

population that remains undeterred by the wording in the student handbook: dancers.

“I was looking for a place to go that had dance, and was a good environment to learn, and that incorporated Christianity. It was just an open door,” said senior Sarah Marshall, a dance performance major.

In 2006, however, then-provost called Holland and said then-president Dr. Richard Roberts expressed interest in creating a dance program at ORU. “It was an answer to prayer,” said Holland, who had carried the dream of a dance program at ORU. Holland makes a clear distinction between academic and social dancing.

“If you take a look at the degree plan, it’s very stringent, like an athlete... If anyone comes to a dance concert, they’ll see the difference,” said Holland.

Marshall, who has also been an active participant in swing dancing off-campus, sees a distinction as well.

“For me, class is more work, learning how the body works so I can successfully complete a move,” said Marshall.

While style and technique differ between academic and social dancing, it’s not the only reason a line is drawn between the two with regards to student policy.

“The focus isn’t the dancing itself, but the intent behind the dancing,” said Smith.

Rio-Ross sees the existing rule as a sort of compromise for a university that has students from many different denominations, with many different ideas on what constitutes inappropriate dancing, across the Christian spectrum.

The public perception of the school and its students remains one of the primary concerns surrounding social dancing.

Though the aforementioned social dancing rule remains in place with no announced plans of re-exami-

New Clubs Include TWLOHA, Swim Adding to the diversity of the already-existing clubs on campus, a few new clubs have been started this school year that offer more extracurricular opportunities for the student body.

One such club is the new university chapter of To Write Love On Her Arms (TWLOHA) which is a national organization dedicated to presenting hope and finding help for those struggling with depression, addiction, cutting and suicidal thoughts.

This organization was first started by two men in Orlando, Fla. who were helping out a friend suffering from drug addiction and depression. In an attempt to help, they sold T-shirts with the words “To Write Love On Her Arms” in order to raise money for her treat-

ment. From there, a movement to provide awareness on similar issues has spread all across the nation, and now it has hit ORU. “The goal of this organization is to strive to cure brokenness as a whole,” said junior Lauren Rockett, the president of ORU’s chapter of TWLOHA. Rockett, who once struggled with depression herself, is passionate about this organization and spreading awareness on this subject.

“The lie when you’re in that situation is that no one else is going through it and no one else understands,” Rockett said.

For this reason, TWLOHA focuses heavily on community.

Rockett insists, however, that “this is not a club where people simply talk about

Page 8 • Friday, Feb. 4, 2011 • THE ORACLE

Photo by Ale Becker

Seniors David Snuffer and Marilyn Chau dance at Homecoming in 2009.

nation, the interpretations of what it means have clearly been changing.

By Rachel Whitlock

how sad they are, but rather, it’s about promoting awareness on depression and addictions and encouraging anyone who has or may be struggling.” TWLOHA meets Tuesdays at 7 p.m. in Fireside.

Another popular club on campus is the Parkour club, which was formed last semester by freshman Andrew Choflet.

Choflet defines Parkour as “the physical art form of self-expression, utilizing the discipline of martial arts, the technique of gymnastics, the camaraderie of soldiers, all while maintaining the freedom of the playground.”

Choflet started a Parkour crew with a few friends from his youth group in New Jersey when he was in high school and now he hopes to spread what he has learned to the students of ORU. “God gave me a vision to spread Parkour across the world, and that’s what I

plan on doing.”

Choflet has been practicing Parkour on and off for three years and has participated in gymnastics for the past nine years.

“You don’t have to be athletic to do it or to have fun,” said Choflet.

His goal for the club goes beyond the sport itself. “[My goal is] to see God through the talents he has given us and build an encouraging community and brotherhood for all of the participants.”

The Parkour club meets Wednesdays at 7 p.m. and Saturdays at 3 p.m. in the Prayer Gardens.

The Study Abroad Council also joins the group of new clubs and is led Read the rest of the article by Nathan Porter online at www.oruoracle.com

Educating the Whole Man: How It All Began McClendon Introduced Whole Person Idea to Oral Roberts In 1964, Lyndon Johnson was president and the Beatles gave their first live U.S. television performance. Ford introduced the Ford Mustang and Oral Roberts was busy planning a new university which would open in 1965.

The list of things that would set this school apart didn’t stop with its wild architecture, as the university adopted the unique whole person vision as its core value.

William Jernigan, director of learning resources, has been on staff at ORU since its beginning and recounted Oral’s vision. “[Oral] reminded us that education is not only getting the academics, but it’s having the spirit in the proper relationship with the mind and the body,” Jernigan said.

Paul McClendon, who served as director of learning resources at the opening of the university, initiated the whole person concept in 1964 and eventually submitted it to Oral Roberts for approval.

“I had envisioned ORU as being different to be an institution preparing its students... For a whole life: a spirit to spark, a mind to train and a body to build,” McClendon said.

“Some people think of the body, soul and spirit as being three parts—like chopping an apple into three parts. But that’s not the case.They’re three dimensions of man, the totality of man.”

McClendon said he prayed about this idea in the dark LRC building during earlymorning hours. He later presented the idea to Oral.

After Oral looked over it, he had it approved by the provost. McClendon then hired an artist to design a university seal.

He said Greek letters were to be used originally, but Oral felt the seal should use more modern letters.

Charles Ramsey Sr., who would head ORU’s arts and graphics department, drew the current seal which depicts a man with the flame of the Holy Spirit above his head.

He is surrounded by the words “body,” “mind” and “spirit.”

Jernigan spoke warmly of Oral, saying that he himself lived that philosophy.

“Oral functioned as the holy spirit gave him direction,” Jernigan said.

“He taught in chapel and in classes that you need to put the spirit above the mind. He would say, ‘Let the spirit water your intellect.’”

Jernigan said he feels the whole person concept is just emphasized just strongly today, although it is stated in a different way.

Since its inception in 1964, one more core distinctive has been added to the whole person concept socially adept.

Though this distinctive has been practiced all along, it was not articulated.

“You can be all these three [body, mind spirit] but not have an influence upon mankind, so you need to be able to go out, so socially adept is part of it,” Jernigan said.

“I don’t think we have departed from the founding principles; I think we are more clearly articulating them to today’s generation,” he said.

“Some of the way we communicated back in ‘65 would probably alienate a lot of students today, so we are trying to communicate that [...] in the way that today’s students understand it.”

By Katy Miller

Photo by Nathan Lundeen

Paul McClendon served as the director of learning resources when ORU first opened its doors.

THE ORACLE• Friday, Feb. 4, 2011 • Page 9

Faith

The Oracle Faith Editor is Hannah Covington You may contact her with comments or questions at hcovington@oru.edu For more in Faith, check out oruoracle.com

Tenth Row, Third Seat In Alum Inspires Students to Experience All that God Has For Them He has been appointed an advisor to presidents and prime ministers by 17 different governments. He is the author of 52 books, which have been translated into 38 languages in 112 countries. He has consulted Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu on the Palestinian issue.

A few months ago, he spoke to a crowd of 1.3 million people.

Thirty-two years ago, Dr. Myles Munroe was an ORU student.

During chapel services, he sat in the 10th row, the third seat in.

Munroe graduated from ORU as a triple major with degrees in education, fine arts and theology. On Jan. 19, the international speaker, minister and author came back to his alma mater as a guest speaker in chapel.

During the service, Munroe said ORU was the place where he “found his assignment in life.”

He now hopes to help other ORU students do the same.

“Life is too short just to make a living.

You were born to make a difference,” he said.

In his message, he spoke of the potential each person has for greatness.

“I wonder where you’re about to go.

I don’t know who you’re about to become,” Munroe said.

After all, just 32 years ago, the internationally renowned minister was just a student in chapel, sitting in the 10th row, the third seat in.

“I had no idea what would happen to me. No one around me knew what would happen to me. But I was sitting where you are sitting,” Munroe said, gestur-

Photo by Kristina Simberg

Myles Munroe speaks in chapel on Wednesday Jan. 19. ing to the center section. “I sat right there.”

During the service, freshman Joseph Neville couldn’t remember his row number. He thought

“I didn’t know what to do,” Neville said. So he did the first thing that came to mind.

“Don’t change chairs,” Munroe said next, laughing. “Stay right there.”

Neville said the service helped to remind him that he has everything he needs to fulfill God’s call on his life, especially after being personally addressed by Munroe because of his seat number.

“It was definitely a way to make the message stick. I’ll always remember this chapel,” the music education major said.

By the following chapel on Friday, Neville had been pegged as the “Myles Munroe’s seat guy.”

“Were you sitting there during Wednesday’s chapel?” one person asked before the service.

“Yeah,” Neville replied, smiling.

“God has big things for you.”

“Thank you; I receive it,” he

Life is too short just to make a living. You were born to make a difference Dr. Myles Munroe ORU Alum ’79 it might have been 16. And then, people started turning around to look at him.

“Whoever is sitting in my chair, there’s a heavy load on you. I challenge you to be greater than I am,” Munroe said, looking right at Neville.

That’s when he realized where he was sitting: 10th row, third seat in.

Page 10 • Friday, Feb. 4, 2011 • THE ORACLE

F

easts & Fasts: Taking a

look at the Liturgical Year

Feb. 4—Feast of Cornelius the Centurion (Episcopal).

Feb. 5—Feast of the Martyrs of Japan, 1597 (Episcopal and Lutheran).

Feb. 6—Martyrs Fausta, Evilasius, and Maximus at Cyzicus, 311-315 (Eastern Orthodox). Fifth Sunday after the Epiphany (Catholic and Episcopal).

Feb. 7—Commemoration of Venerable Luke of Hellas, 946 (Eastern Orthodox).

Feb. 8—Memorial of Saint Jerome Emiliani, priest Feb. 9— Nicephorus of Antioch, martyr, 3rd century (Eastern Orthodox).

Saint Pancratius of the Kiev Caves Monastry, hieromonk, 13th century (Eastern Orthodox).

Feb. 10—Commemoration of Silas, apostle (Lutheran).

Feb. 11—Commemoration of hieromartyr of Blaise, Bishop of Sabaste, 316 (Eastern Orthodox). Commemoration said.

Munroe not only encouraged students like Neville to fulfill their calling in life. He also spoke on how students should be careful in managing their time.

“Everybody has 24 hours,” Munroe had said. “Whatever you spend your time on is the life you buy.”

For Neville, this was one of his favorite points that Munroe made.

“Sometimes I think we believe that we don’t have the same resources as everyone else, but I realized that we do. I actually have everything I need to succeed,” he said.

The freshman is not alone in his high opinion of the service.

of Saint Gobnait of Ireland (Eastern Orthodox).

Feb. 12—Commemoration of Saint Meletius of Antioch, archbishop, 381 (Eastern Orthodox).

Feb. 13— Sixth Sunday after the Epiphany (Catholic and Episcopal). Commemoration of Aquila, Priscilla, and Apollos (Lutheran).

February 14—Commemoration of Valentine, martyr, 270 (Lutheran).

Feb. 15—Feast of Thomas Bray, priest (Episcopal). Commemoration of Philemon and Onesimus (Lutheran).

Feb. 16—Commemoration of Philipp Melanchthon, confessor, 1560 (Lutheran).

Feb. 17—The Seven Founders of the Order of Servites, religious (Catholic).

Feb. 18—Feast of Martin Luther, Reformer, 1546 (all).

Commemoration of Leo the Great, Pope of Rome, 461 (Eastern Orthodox).

President Rutland said the university was grateful to have Munroe as a guest speaker.

“It’s wonderful when any alum returns to campus, especially one like Myles Munroe who exemplifies so much of what this university stands for and desires to cultivate in its students,” Rutland said.

Before the service concluded, Munroe once again addressed the ORU students, his eyes lingering briefly on row 10, seat three.

“The greatest people in the world, I’ve discovered, are sitting right in your chair. This is the most powerful opportunity you have, and the world needs you so badly.” By Hannah Covington

At What Cost?

In Other Nations, Being a Christian Isn’t Easy and Can Even Exact the Highest Price A middle-aged man loses his job because he converted to Christianity.

In the United States, this couldn’t happen—legally.

A thriving Protestant church is raided. Several church leaders are imprisoned as Christian literature, Bibles and the offering are confiscated.

In Uzbekistan, this has happened—legally.

A father turns against his twenty-something son. Why? The young man has become a Christian. His father threatens him with death if he ever sees him again.

In Bangladesh, this has happened.

Radical fundamentalists destroy the homes of Christians, displacing thousands.

Women are left widows; children are left orphans.

In India, this is happening.

In nations outside of the United States, Christians are often persecuted for their faith in Jesus Christ. And with religious persecution against Christians continuing at a steady rate worldwide, many are questioning what should — or can — be done.

For ORU sophomore Anna Ogay, persecution of Christians didn’t become real to her until her church was the one raided, her pastors the ones imprisoned.

When not at ORU, the International Community Development and Business Administration major lives in Tashkent, Uzbekistan.

In Uzbekistan, freedom of religion exists, but almost all of the Christians are ethnic minorities. According to the U.S. Department of State, about 90 percent of the population is Muslim.

After the raid on her church this past summer, 10 of her church leaders were jailed for 15 days without being officially accused or charged. This

forced the church to temporarily scale back its activities, and its Bible school.

“That’s when persecution against Christians was no longer this big, abstract idea to me, when I met the situation personally,” Ogay said.

She said it helped her realize the cost of discipleship.

“I found that Christianity has a price,” she said.

She also realized that it’s a price some of her friends are willing to pay—no matter what.

Ogay has a friend back home whose parents burned her Bible. They were afraid of what might happen to their daughter because she is Christian.

The young woman still sneaks out to attend Ogay’s church and even serves as a youth leader there.

“And I ask her,” Ogay said, “Why do you do this?”

“Her faith is so valuable to her, which made me confront how valuable is it to me,” she said.

Junior Andrew Balla knows exactly what Ogay is talking about. He too has seen friends choose their faith even in the face of great opposition.

Until he was 12 years old, Balla lived in south India in Andhra Pradesh. He then moved with his family to Bangladesh for six years before moving back to India.

The computer science major said his time in Bangladesh opened his eyes to what some Christians must endure.

Balla explained that Bangladesh is primarily a Muslim nation. While the government guarantees freedom of religion, some fundamentalists still impose their religion on others. Or, they ostracize those who reject it.

“As soon as someone converts to Christianity, they are seen as outcasts,” he said.

Balla remembers one of his

Photo by Hannah Covington

Freshman Hannah Koehler (left) participates in devotionals with sophomore Anna Ogay from Uzbekistan. Ogay faces persecution for her faith when at home. friends telling him about how this occurred in his own family after he accepted Christ.

When the young man’s father found out about his conversion, he said to him, “I’m going to give you a chance to run away. If I find you, I’ll kill you,” Balla remembered.

This young man’s father had wealth and influence. But his son chose Christ.

Dr. David Dyson, ORU professor of business, said Christians outside of the United States are often aware of what they may lose after accepting Christ.

Many American Christians are familiar with this reality.

“The contemporary church often wants to isolate itself from the realities of persecution,” he said.

Like Ogay and Balla, Dyson still remembers when Christian persecution became more to him than statistics and news reports.

Dyson was on sabbatical in Albania in 1990. There, he was able to talk with those who had been persecuted.

Their stories were at once wrenching and powerful.

“Some of the saddest stories came from those who had been separated from family members without hope of reconciliation for many years,” he said.

Dyson said the faith of those persecuted has inspired and challenged his own.

“The greatest thing that I have learned is to love those that have persecuted you; seek not revenge, but instead redemption for those who persecute you,” he said.

Dyson now tries to give back to those who taught him so much.

He is involved with the nonprofit, interdenominational Christian organization the Voice of the Martyrs (VOM).

One of the aims of the organization is to give relief and support to persecuted Christians throughout the world.

Dyson is now in his third year serving on the board of VOM, but he first heard about the non-profit in the 1970s during an ORU chapel service.

Dr. Marshal Wright, also a professor of business, was in that same chapel service. He has served on the board of

VOM for almost five years.

Two years ago, Wright journeyed to India and saw the persecution of Christians there firsthand. He met with families who had been persecuted and with widows whose husbands had been killed.

Wright challenges ORU students to help Christians who suffer for their faith.

“I would charge ORU students to become more aware and try to come alongside of their persecuted brothers and sisters in Christ with prayer, empathy and compassion,” Wright said.

Ogay agrees. She said the American church has become comfortable and complacent with its religious freedoms.

She said that’s what sets Christians in other countries apart from those here. “[Christians in] other countries stand up and fight for their beliefs, and it may cost them their position, their friends and sometimes even their lives. But to them, it’s worth it,” she said.

“It’s time for us to think that it’s worth it, too.”

By Hannah Covington

THE ORACLE• Friday, Feb. 4, 2011 • Page 11

Program Celebrates 30 Years Doctor of Ministry Program Meets, Shares Life Experiences The church’s impact in prepares students for life-changBarber said. reaching people for Christ is ing ministry.

The Doctor of Ministry progrowing as ministers learn to “The program trains ministers gram inspired Barber to focus serve around the globe, and to impact a Biblical movement his ministry on discipleship. He ORU is playing a part in it. and to be impacted by the move- recalls one lesson in particular The Doctor of Ministry ment by helping people,” Mayton that transformed the way he program at ORU is organized to said. ministered. equip Christian ministers with Dr. James Barber, a profes“Dr. Snow, who was the deeper knowledge School of Theolin their profession ogy’s dean at the and help them extime, identified cel to a higher stanwhat discipleship dard of ministry. was, and I realThis year, the ized that’s what I program will be wanted to do. This hosting an alumni light went on,” Barluncheon Feb. 5 ber said. during homecomThe Doctor of ing weekend to Ministry’s phicelebrate its 30th losophy is to recruit anniversary. The people who are event will commempassionate about orate the program’s serving others and accomplishments, desire to have a bringing alumni greater impact on ministers together the world. to celebrate.

Mayton said The Doctor of he has witnessed Ministry program some exceptional began in 1981 community care after William and from students.

Grace McKinney “Several years donated $100,000 ago, Dr. King, who toward its creation. taught the Divine The mission was Healing class, was to train passiondiagnosed with ate ministers to cancer. Students become equipped gathered to pray for as professionals. him, and then he Ten students had his surgery. completed the “Afterward, Dr. Doctor of Ministry King was comprogram during pletely cancer-free. its first year. Since It was amazing to then, a total of see God work in the 358 students have Courtesy Photo lives of students graduated with and faculty,” MayDr. Kenneth Mayton is an ORU professor and director of their doctorates ton said.

Doctor of Ministry program in the School of Theology. and gone on to Barber said the impact people all ORU Doctor of Minover the world. sor in the ORU School of Theolistry program equips ministers to During their time in school, ogy, enrolled at ORU in 1991 to have an even greater impact.

Doctor of Ministry students must obtain his doctorate while work“The heart of the program attend sessions of classes and ing at Victory Christian Center. is to turn ministers into profescomplete an applied research He said completing the Docsional ministers. It’s a practical project. The project becomes the tor of Ministry program was life and professional degree that focus of their ministries. changing. requires learning to research Dr. Kenneth Mayton, ORU pro“It was like being in seminary and write. People want practical fessor and director of Doctor of on steroids. The professors ministers,” Barber said.

Ministry, said that the program brought it to a whole new level,”

By Beth Knier Page 12 • Friday, Feb. 4, 2011 • THE ORACLE

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Enjoy your Homecoming weekend!

The Office of Alumni Relations Jesse Pisors, Director (918)495-6610 alumni@oru.edu

All-Male Missions Team Hurdles Over Financial Obstacles with Unique Fundraising Idea When then-freshman Jordan Carter first signed up for the all-male “Man Team” missions trip headed to Tanzania back in the fall of 2008, he had a revolutionary idea: create a team calendar (much like Sports Illustrated did every year) with hilarious poses of the guys on the team and sell the calendars to help fund the trip.

Carter’s idea was quickly rejected, but that didn’t stop him from proposing the idea the next year when he served as the Man Team’s assistant team leader. But the idea was again dismissed as unfeasible.

When Carter sat down with Man Team as the new team leader during a brainstorming session in mid-November 2010, he presented the idea once more.

“For the first time, I thought it was possible [to make the calendar],” Carter said.

According to sophomore Joe Ninowski, the fundraising chair for the team, the proposal for a calendar almost fizzled out again, but he didn’t want to let it die.

“I couldn’t get the idea out of my mind,” Ninowski said. “At our next meeting, I helped push the idea. I knew that if we planned the calendar out with great detail, we could make it look great. [Carter] agreed, and before we knew it, we were making a calendar.”

Over Thanksgiving Break, Ninowski worked out the specifics of locations, actions and props for each month’s pose, and when he returned, he recruited the help of junior Chris Barker to take the photographs.

Then the scheduling battle began.

“Getting 10 guys all together for one photo shoot” was not an easy task, Carter said.

With one week before finals remaining, they could only find one time slot late in the week when all the guys could be together in order to get the 13 needed photos.

Arriving with suitcases of costumes and props in hand, the team met at 5:30 a.m. Dec. 4 to shoot the pictures at different locations around campus. They had to be finished before the beginning of finals at noon.

From musical instruments to hunting bows and even a small boat, the team had needed a great variety of props for their different themes. But none of them was as unique as the one needed for the calendar’s February theme, “MANTEAM is Sensitive.”

The team had originally wanted a live puppy in the picture but hadn’t been able to find one. Strangely enough, however, the team’s assistant team leader Aaron Quinn had received a call from a friend the night before asking if he could watch the friend’s puppy, named Nibblets, until the next day. Nibblets made the picture perfect.

But the work of pulling together the calendar was far from over.

Chris Barker, also a graphic designer, volunteered to create the layout of the calendar in addition to taking the pictures. Working late into the night and half of the following day, Barker finished the calender on the afternoon of Dec. 5 while Ninowski searched for an affordable printer.

During the previous week, one team member, junior Jordan Lewis, had offered to make the initial investment to print the calendars. “[He invested the money] with faith that it would be returned to him,” Carter said.

After searching around for a printer, Ninowski remembered an old connection.

“I realized that my best friend’s father from back home worked at a print shop,” Ninowski said. “After contacting him, he dropped down the price of printing our calendars twice to $1,550, with no charge for shipping needed.”

After just three weeks from idea to final product, Ninowski had the calendars in hand.

Each team member had 50 calendars shipped to him at home. By selling the calendars over Christmas break, the team raised almost $3,000, easily paying for the entire printing cost.

Returning from break, the real buzz for Man Team

calendars began.

On Jan. 4, Carter got a call to come to the seventh floor, where President Rutland bought a calendar from Carter personally. Following endorsements from public relations, Student Association President Dexter Sullivan, and President Rutland in chapel, calendar sales took off.

The team then came up with the concept of the “Man Team Wall of Fame” photo album posted on Facebook with pictures of almost everyone who bought a calendar.

Generating a lot of buzz on Facebook, the team also snatched endorsements from the on-campus television shows, “At Issue” and “The Loop.”

Then, the Board of Trustees Chair Mart Green bought a calendar for every board member, and the team was even able to sell a calendar to actor Stephen Baldwin.

“It’s grown beyond my wildest imagination,” said Carter.

But the focus of the excitement is still on the proper subject, according to Carter. “[Through the Wall of Fame] we were able to make the product and the mission the celebrity, and not the team,” Carter said.

Assistant Director of Outreach Ministries Bobby Parks said he thinks the calendars were a creative and effective fundraising idea.

“This is the first team that we know of that’s done a calendar,” Parks said. “They’ve been one of our most successful teams for fundraising this year.”

Of the $28,000 that the team needs to raise, they have already raised almost half of that number, well ahead of most other missions teams at the current time, according to Parks.

Carter gave God the credit for the tremendous success of the calendar, saying God told him, “Give me the credit, and I’ll give you the favor.”

“It’s not about us,” Carter said. “It’s about the things we do for Christ.”

By Bryce Merkl THE ORACLE• Friday, Feb. 4, 2011 • Page 13

three ORU d e k s a e all about. W expectations. is e c n a m o ting false hat real r a w e r f c o t id s r o o v a dw out how to b he best an t a t s r u e o h g t o in r ome Day can b nd asked s a s ie r Valentine’s to s share their couples to s, however, most instance In . ip sh on ni . So where mpa including ORU eir love and co n, th tio on na ct e fle th re of of couples to t in every area spiring millions ality is presen in re , 4 is 1 Th b. . ay Fe D e s d females. nwid ntine’ een males an lebrated natio confront Vale tw ce so be al be t en ill us se w m is ay n ho Valentine’s D ence in opinio relationship w e other hand, t notable differ duals not in a ucation? vi os ed di m ” in e on Th be rs . ost men, on th ill Pe ay M w D . le s ns ho e’ io there in “W at . nt a ct le nd pe Va e’s Day fit into g views firstha up to their ex inions toward courdoes Valentin these differin it doesn’t live n en ve different op he se ha w s s ha ed pu n s; he simply en m nt e’ to oi ca in ay pp nt on M sa le s th di nt Va di ly g de Ju re in Stu mily sion surround Day and are so arriage and Fa and apprehen of Valentine’s t t en ou Professor of M unim al te ci de g ex n. bi er uphold. Comm id Mayto make a of the ov to sa l en g ” al in t? om ill ith w ou w w y t y ab an no tif is is “M e fuss e doesn’t iden that the other ring what all th example. Wis expectations ch s su ha e al are still wonde on du is vi e di e in ore theology ustin Wis e tensions if on Pace, a sophom us Sophomore D yn ca hr n at te K .” of te id n sa to “just da and females ca hat they are,” . ages students tween males mmunicate w of the holiday be t co s ou ly t al ew vi ge re t g s n’ al tin ntly love itself. we do dividu The conflic and subseque nguages but , role in what in la ay ge ve D lo s own lives then hu r e’ a in ou s nt ay fy on Vale to satis at love in our th ys ew e vi gu cation then pl se ’s re t ic si n’ bl de do pu s e l we girl like, and if w ng the genera “A lot of times id Pace. le in influenci pposed to look ro su nt is ca ve ifi lo the holiday,” sa gn t si of ha a w be ed of vi l a ay al . m pl er or ig s st ha maj a part in the ov that feed the that the media self-esteem. begins to play ies and songs Many believe ov en m th t sy en ee to a person’s nt ch in co e is ep th D l . de al t ap t cu cr ou n s ca id Pace. is just “I think ab ay ent story,” sa s Day attempt d or girlfriend er e’ ff en in ri di nt yf a le Valentine’s D s bo Va y it’ m d ul other en successf ely, for some, e at un th , we think ‘oh, or un nt on rt te ay fo re D on u’ s un sc e’ d yo in this di d sweet, but if er love Valent d and lonely an In addition to tend to be sa ts of ORU eith end it’s fun an e se en el on ud st ne on e eo re th e. m u’ s, so “If yo with Pac llege campuse rrently dating Mayton agreed both guys and ho are not cu . Like most co w th le or w op r pe ei od; however, e th go of an “Som re th su rm ea m ha ultimate ay does more d becomes the Valentine’s D er th he w this holiday an n ” tio it. ve of God on ents ques they hate lo ud e st th y dy an bo m , n strives to em For this reason holiday. t if the Christia ntages in the ea va gr ad be e to what God n se ca n ay girls ca ine’s D ing our minds nt w le ne Va re t at th no s re Pace believe ciety. thinking if we’ id Pace. world’s way of portrayed by so e ve th lo to e in ls d fa be evident,” sa a pe to ap g not tr in t go ge s to it’ for us a romantic God’s love then “It’s very easy whether it is on e renewed to ne ar eo u m yo so if ut ith B w says love is. ity to connect holiday. u the opportun ntages to this yo va s ad ve l relationship y gi an it e m for a potentia said Wise. e becaus ,” tiv ns si es io di at Wise also sees po la ct ge it pe hu of ex t r ay can be a a free meal ou s lowered thei “Valentine’s D r reason, get e if individual bl he ya ot jo , it becomes no en r e fo or If level. much m e day; however bl be ya n jo ca en ay or friendship ry lid ve d that the ho Day can be a Mayton advise y. Valentine’s time. da od n go fu a a s Day.” ve be ha ld ught to ith Valentine’ w ink it shou d th I ter en . y. r sl th no or ou n and simply so w ri t begi their

By Nathan Por take it too se evaluation of human doesn’ a an as as e it lu “Some people e va us “One’s n people overrated whe

It took only a single glance for Dulce Pitts to fall in love with her college instructor.

Speaking the same “love language” helped, too.

Dulce was enrolled at Tulsa Community College at the time. Carlos Chalé was teaching Spanish at the school and dropped by TCC’s Spanish Club to meet the officers. Dulce was the club secretary.

She recalled that she had trouble taking notes and keeping her eyes off Carlos, who held bachelor’s and master’s degrees from ORU. “I have never been attracted to a man until we have a good friendship,” Dulce said.

After this initial meeting, the two met in downtown Tulsa at the Hispanic Festival. They continued their friendship over the next few years, and Dulce became Carlos’ student in his Spanish 3 class at TCC. Dulce made sure to pay attention in that class.

“It’s the only class I never cut and did all the homework,” she said.

On July 4, 1998, Carlos proposed to Dulce at Woodward Park.

“I wanted to get engaged on a holiday because I wanted to celebrate it every year,” Chalé said.

Dulce had transferred to ORU by then, and she was waiting to get married until graduation in May 1999. She and Carlos scheduled their wedding and honeymoon cruise before she realized when graduation was. The date happened to be May 1. They knew they could not get a refund on the cruise, so Dulce filled out the necessary paperwork to be exempt from the mandatory graduation ceremony. She was fortunate to be exempt and have her wedding as planned.

Carlos became a Spanish instructor at ORU in 2001 and became coordinator of the Hispanic Center in 2009. Dulce and Carlos have now been married for 11 years and have three daughters and a son, ranging in ages from 7 years to 7 months old. Stories by Emilie Southern

Kim and Clarence Boyd could be dubbed ORU’s “Deans of Romance.” They met in a parking lot at ORU. He was a sophomore, studying theology and social work, and Kim was a first-semester freshman from Harrisburg, Pa. That first encounter turned into a fast friendship when they began attending a Bible study together. Clarence said he thought Kim needed a brother to look out for her. The more he looked out for her, the more he liked what he saw. A few months later, he asked her on their first date.

“Our first date was Dec. 10, 1974,” Kim said. “He took me to an ORU basketball game and then he took me out to food at Church’s Chicken in North Tulsa. We both got sick as two dogs. It took us years and years to ever go back.”

Their friendship grew, and Clarence bought Kim a promise ring as a symbol of his commitment to her. In the summer of 1976, Clarence drove to Pennsylvania to ask for Kim’s hand in marriage. He talked with her mother, and she agreed.

“I was the first person in my family to go to college, and he was asking if we could get married before graduating college,” Kim recalled. “My mother made him promise I would finish my degree no matter what. He kept that promise.”

They married in July 1977. “And now I come home and she has a master’s and a doctorate,” said Clarence, dean of spiritual formation.

It paid off handsomely as Kim was named dean of the College of Education in December 2009. The couple has three sons (Brandon and Michael) and one daughter (Ashley). Clarence also earned his master’s and doctorate degrees in theology. After 33 years of marriage, they still give God the credit.

“We had a commitment to God and each other,” Clarence said. “That was the center of our relationship and still is.”

Jason Swanson and Shelby Robb didn’t discover their storybook romance on the Internet, but the ORU student couple don’t think they still would be together today without it.

Jason and Shelby first met when they were 7 years old, growing up in the Oklahoma City area. When Shelby was 11, she and her family moved to Idaho. The Robb and Swanson families, however, stayed in contact over the years.

The childhood sweethearts began using MySpace in 2007 to communicate across the miles, and then their online conversations evolved to Facebook. “We owe our relationship to Mark Zuckerburg,” Shelby said, referring to the social network’s founder.

Their reunion began when Jason and Shelby both attended ORU’s College Weekend in November 2007. Shelby continued to make frequent trips to Tulsa because she was being recruited for the volleyball team and interviewing for the Whole Person Scholarship. Jason, who is 4 months and one school grade older than Shelby, decided to attend the University of Central Oklahoma in Edmond.

Shelby enrolled at ORU a year later, and Jason transferred to ORU. “I came here for a myriad of reasons,” he said. “I really like the music tech program.”

Shelby, of course, had a lot to do with the transfer, too.

He’s now a junior majoring in music technology. She’s a sophomore educational ministry major.

The couple’s romance took center stage last spring when Jason played his guitar during a chapel offering and President Mark Rutland praised him, adding that he is an “eligible” man.

Shelby (and the rest of the volleyball team) made sure later that Rutland learned the truth – that Jason is definitely “unavailable.” The president publicly set the record straight at a January chapel service before the entire ORU community.

As to the rest of the story, Jason and Shelby plan to get married after both finish college, though, neither is sporting an engagement ring just yet.

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Ornithology I am a starving baby bird, devoid of cheap attention, so please spoon-feed me with your hot-sauce words and cotton candy phrases.

I’ll take what I can get.

You’ve glued this nest together with impractical implications, and conceived my ell-oh-vee-ee from your jackknife gazes.

I am a starving baby bird, devoid of cheap attention.

I can perch on this bridge and pretend I do not have this particular expectation, and wait to be filed away in one of your many mental briefcases.

I’ll take what I can get.

Your hands caress piebald keys for affirmation, and I am held and shushed and stroked and healed of all imagined diseases.

I am a starving baby bird, devoid of cheap attention.

I cry with cinder-block tears and you have a celebration.

You slash at me with a verbal katana, and my heart still blazes.

I’ll take what I can get.

Tulsa meteorologists called this “the perfect storm.”

Photo by Nathan Lundeen

You’ve profited and I’ve grown thinner from this odd cohabitation, but I will stay, content with being undervalued for emotional purchases.

I am a starving baby bird, devoid of cheap attention, so I’ll take what I can get.

By Rachel Whitlock Poem courtesy of...

Snow officially topped 14 inches, a 24-hour record for Tulsa.

Photo by Nathan Lundeen

Photo by Nathan Lundeen

For the third year, ORU had at least one day off.

Sports

The Oracle Sports Editor is Eli Linton You may contact him with comments or questions at elilinton@oru.edu For more in Sports, check out oruoracle.com

Undefeated Since 1963

Internet Photo

Students and staff ponder a potential football team A long-running joke at ORU is that the school’s football program has been “undefeated since 1963.”

But will the Golden Eagles ever be given the opportunity to snap the winless streak?

That question has been asked repeatedly in recent weeks with the campus buzzing about President Mark Rutland’s “big announcement.”

While rumors about a possible football team at ORU began to gain momentum on Twitter this semester, athletic department officials were quick to say they are not considering any such move.

Longtime administrators admit, though, the topic has surfaced in the past, notably a decade ago during a Board of Regents meeting. George Paul, a member of the first class at ORU in 1965 who now serves as director of major gifts and development services for the university, attended the meeting.

“One of the regents, Mary Colbert, from Florida, brought up the idea of football, and that she had talked to friends, maybe alumni -- she didn’t specify -- who would be willing to give money to get a football program started at ORU,” Paul recalled.

“So there was some discussion. Other regents talked about it -- pros, cons and costs. …Maybe it was a large donation, but it wasn’t in the context of starting a football program — with a stadium and all the things linked to a football program.

“After about 15 minutes of discussion, Oral stands up...gets the microphone and says, ‘Over my dead body,’ then sits down. The discussion was over.”

Roberts’ adamant stance against football was not out of any moral objections to the sport but were purely practical.

“The issue was cost-driven,” Paul explained. “When the school was founded, and when Oral was making these decisions about starting football, Oklahoma University was a football powerhouse.

Arkansas was strong; Texas, Nebraska [were] all big powerhouses. And from his point of view, recruiting was going to be tough. If you don’t have good players then you are nowhere… “[Oral’s primary concern] was recruiting, and the second was costs,” Paul

continued. “At the same time, Tulsa University had a football program, and it was doing poorly. If you go back to the early ’60s and see what was happening to TU, they were struggling financially, and it wasn’t winning. For Oral, it was purely economical.”

Mike Carter, athletic director at ORU for the past 16 years, offered more insight on the subject.

“Football has not been discussed, and we have never done any research on what it would take to add football,” he said.

“Adding football at this time would be rather difficult. ... “You don’t find many schools our size with a program, or successful programs. Oral never explained why he didn’t want football. …but Oral was never about [just] participation. He was about excellence, and excellence has a cost.”

Carter went on to explain that the money to create a winning football program would not be smart financially or even feasible at least in the near future.

“Football, at many schools, is a moneylosing proposition,” added Carter, “and it sort of flies in the face of what the university is about.”

Oklahoma Baptist University announced in December that it will resume its football program, dormant since the 1940 season. The Shawnee-based university has just under 1,800 students. It will field a team in fall 2013 and apply for membership in the Central States Football League, which includes Northwestern Oklahoma State, Southern Nazarene, Langston, Bacone, Texas College, Southwestern Assemblies of God and Oklahoma Panhandle State universities.

According to OBU’s website, the school began studying the possibility of adding football in 2006-07 but opted to postpone the move. More study began in 2010 and included startup and annual cost, impact on academics, housing and other campus concerns.

“We looked at some sister institutions to see what we could learn from them,” said OBU Athletic Director Norris Russell. “Several small Christian colleges have added football in the last 10 years and it has been a sport that brings in a

large number of male students and has a very positive impact on student life.”

OBU, however, competes in the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA), not the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA), like ORU. Mercer University in Georgia, which has 8,000 students, plays NCAA Division I sports and plans to field a nonscholarship football program in 2013.

Mercer Athletic Director Jim Cole said the initial startup costs (field, stadium, etc.) will total about $20 million. The yearly costs are estimated at $1.3 million. Both are funded by donations from alumni and from increased student fees and tuition.

The University of Texas San Antonio, a school with 30,000 students, has been planning since 2002 to start a Division I football program. School officials have said most of the costs for running the football program will come from the students’ pockets directly, something the students have approved.

If size truly doesn’t matter, ORU only has to look across town to the University of Tulsa. With 2,700 students, it is the smallest university of the 120 schools that field a Division I football program.

TU, however, has a football tradition dating back to 1895 when the school was known as Henry Kendall College. A Tulsa banker and several area oilmen helped fund the program. Its rich history includes signature wins over Oklahoma and Arkan-

sas and a win over Notre Dame last fall.

Because TU is a private university like ORU, it is not required to publicly disclose athletic costs.

While many ORU students may dream of tailgating on fall Saturdays and cheering on the Golden Eagles to gridiron glory, not everyone agrees football would be a wise investment.

“I think it would help get more students to this school, and it is a part of the college experience,” said Kyle Krajenka, a senior and an avid ORU sports fan. “But I think I would rather get better and be more competitive in other sports rather than just start another sport.”

For now, President Rutland may offer the final word on football at ORU. “No matter how some of us might love a football team at ORU, it simply isn’t fiscally responsible to consider it at this time in our history,” he said in a statement Feb. 1 to the Oracle. “We have great sports at ORU. Let’s give those our passionate support.”

By Eli Linton and Lindsey Buie

THE ORACLE• Friday, Feb. 4, 2011 • Page 17

Former ORU Star Lands in NBA Larry Owens signed to second 10-day contract with San Antonio Spurs.

Owens plays against the Nuggets

Internet Photo

Former ORU star forward Larry Owens was recently signed to a 10-day contract by the San Antonio Spurs on Jan. 16.

San Antonio was looking to fill an empty roster spot due to injury, and Owens, who was playing for the Oklahoma City Thunder’s D-League affiliate, the Tulsa 66ers, caught their attention.

Owens would go on to see action in five games for the Spurs, including a Jan. 22 game against the New Orleans Hornets, where he played 12 minutes and scored 5 points on 2-2 shooting.

His solid play earned him a second 10-day contract, which he signed on Jan. 26. Once the current contract is up, Owens will likely be signed for the rest of the season and be placed on the Spurs’ playoff roster.

Owens became the first NBA player produced by Scott Sutton’s program and is the first for ORU since Haywoode Workman, who played in the NBA for eight seasons and is now a full-time NBA referee.

Owens was a key player for the Golden Eagles for two

Former ORU stars in the NBA:

Mark Acres (years in the NBA: 1987-1992) Calvin Garrett (1980-1983) Anthony Roberts (1977-1983) Greg Sutton (1991-1995) David Vaughn (1974-1975) Haywoode Workman (1989-1999) Larry Owens (2011-present)

seasons, and he helped lead ORU to the NCAA tournament in 2006. In his first year at ORU, Owens was named to the Mid-Con Conference All-Newcomer team.

Owens also joins former Summit League rival, George Hill, on the Spurs roster. Hill, an IUPUI standout from 2004-2007, was drafted by the San Antonio Spurs in the first round of the 2008 NBA draft. Hill and Owens competed against each other for two seasons in the Summit League and are now teammates.

By Eli Linton

Only a Putt, Drive, and Chip Away: New Disc-Golf Course on Campus Offers More Recreation Close By Hidden behind Upper Lot lies a new recreational treasure many ORU students are unaware even exists.

Proposed since 2005 by Dr. Dominic Halsmer, an avid disc-golf player, ORU finally has gotten its own disc-golf course.

“It is a great social, cheap sport and also a great excuse to get outside,” said Dan Holman, a member of Kingsmen, who recently picked up disc golf with his friends.

“I really enjoy playing with the guys on my floor, I’m almost addicted to it and find it hard to refuse when people ask me to play,” said Holman.

The course, designed by Halsmer, AC director Matt Waters and ORU alumnus Paul Dories(a professional disc-golfer) currently has nine “baskets” and will have nine added at a later date.

Everything including pencils, scorecards, signs and different types of discs will be available at security by the end of February.

“It’s a pretty fast growing sport right now among young people,” said Halsmer. “We have such a beautiful campus. We’ve got trees, elevation change, water, all the elements that make up a good disc golf course.”

How do ORU students feel about the new on-campus sport? “It’s different because its not just about being fast or strong or part of a team, but having a good throw and being able to avoid trees,” said sophomore Becky White, who played disc golf for the first time two weeks ago here on campus.

“It was hard at first,” White admits. “But with each Page 18 • Friday, Feb. 4, 2011 • THE ORACLE

Photo by Nathan Lundeen

The new disc-golf course is located at the north end of campus near Upper Lot. basket we got better.”

“I give kudos to Dr. Halsmer for persistently pushing for the course on campus,” said Holman.

The game is played with special discs that are longer than Frisbees. The three types are putters, drivers and chippers.

“Once you realize how to throw the golf disc, they’ll go about twice as far as a normal Frisbee,” said Halsmer.

“One of the difficulties people run into when they first pickup the sport, is that they throw one of these smaller, heavier disks, and they think it’s going to fly like a regular Frisbee but it ends up going way off to the side.”

Although it’s here to stay, the process of getting the course, Halsmer admits, was long and hard.

“Part of it was that five years ago, we were still struggling in a major way financially,” said Halsmer.

“But with Mart Green’s donation and the new direc-

tion of the university, the new infusion into facilities and renovation, enhancing the student environment, it became time.”

Each “basket” costs about $300.

“Even that is tough when you’re a long way in debt,” said Halsmer.

Halsmer has been playing disc golf for more than 40 years, including a yearly game with his engineering class at Haikey Creek park and every Friday with the ORU noontime running club. He first played when he was a student at Purdue and fell in love with the game.

“It really is intriguing trying to learn ‘can I control it?’

‘Can I throw it precisely to a certain point? It’s a very satisfying feeling to master that skill.”

“They say that when basketballs and footballs have dreams, they dream of Frisbees,” said Halsmer with a smile.

By Nathanael Robertson

Packers VS. Steelers

“Cheeseheads” Such as Professor Peterson Back the Pack in the Big Game

ORU’s Steel Curtain Fans, Including Labash, Will Be Waving Terrible Towels

Professor Steve Peterson is a teacher of history and humanities here at ORU, and as a Wisconsin native, has been a diehard Packer fan since his youth.

Communication Arts professor Mark Labash has been a lifelong Steelers fan.

His predictions and memories stem from his passion for his hometown team.

Why are you a Packer fans?

“I’m from Wisconsin, so I was born with a Packer banner in one hand and a wedge of cheese in the other. I’ve been a fan long enough to remember Bart Starr as QB in the early 1970s. Sadly, however, I don’t recall the first 2 Super Bowl wins.”

Who is your all-time favorite Packer? Why? “My favorite Packer of all time is Brett Favre. He was instrumental in restoring a winning tradition to Green Bay and was one of the most exciting football players to ever play the game. Now if only he had stayed retired…the first time!”

What is your favorite Packers moment from the past?

“My favorite Packer moment was right after Super Bowl XXXI when Reggie White ran around the New Orleans Superdome holding the Lombardi trophy aloft to the cheers of adoring Packer fans!”

What is your score and MVP prediction?

“MVP: Aaron Rodgers Score: Packers 24 Steelers 20.”

Robert Redmond is a sophomore Church History major and, of course, a lifelong Packers fan.

Why are you a Packers fan and for how long?

“The sole reason of pledging my ‘fanhood’ to the packers is because I honestly just kind of chose them as my favorite team. Since Oklahoma didn’t have any pro teams, I remember at a young age watching the ‘96 and ‘97 Super Bowls subconsciously rooting for the Packers, wanting them to win.

“I proceeded to always choose them in Madden games as well as naming myself after different players whenever backyard football was played.

“I also admired Brett Favre’s on-field demeanor before he betrayed us; if I could define any player with a ‘Good-Ol American Football Player’ award, it would have been him.”

How did you become a Steelers fan?

“I was born and raised in Pittsburgh, Professor Steve Peterson so obviously Pittsburgh sports were our thing. I found out as a young child that there were three things that would open Who is your all-time my father up: airplanes, Pirate baseball favorite Packer? Why? and Steeler football.

“My all-time favorite packer has to “Steeler football became an instant be Reggie White. He had a heart for the way to relate to Dad; it became more than game, was a Hall of Famer and one of the just a sport. Steeler football is more than primary reasons we had our most recent football. It’s family.”

Super Bowl victory back in ‘96.

What is your favorite “He also spoke at my church one time Packers team of all time? in which I got to meet him along with “With the shutting down of the steel receiving his autograph. A.J. Hawk makes mills, manufacturing shutting down, the a close second, though; A.J. more personcity went through a depression [in the ally inspired me through my high school 1970s]. football career.”

The Steelers, winning four out of six What is your favorite Packers years (‘74,’75,’78,’79) brought the pride moment from the past? back to Pittsburgh.

“I remember in that same ‘07 season Most of the four Super Bowls during the Packers were playing the Broncos on the ‘70s were pretty much the Monday Night Football. After same team, but I always thought battling all game, we advanced ‘76-’77 was our best year, even by going into overtime. Packthough we didn’t win the chamers won the toss and had pionship.” chosen to receive the ball.

Who is your favorite past After a terrible return to the and current Steeler?

18 yard line, I thought it was “Joe Green (defensive tackle going to be a long-winded ‘69-’81.) He was the first draft road for any hope of scoring. choice that Chuck Noll brought in to Favre came in first play, said build the team around, he seemed his cadence, and then threw to be the catalyst for the rest of an 82-yard touchdown to the team. My current favorite is Greg Jennings.

Hines Ward.”

I remember What was your being the only most memorable one awake in moment as a Steelmy home and ers fan? waking everyone “I was at home at up to my vibrant Christmas, 1973; it screams of was the year we took overwhelming our first championship. joy. There are a They had the game in Sunday, Feb. 6 handful of other Pittsburgh; we were TV network: Fox23 in Tulsa stellar moments, playing the Raiders. We but that one is the Pregame: Starts at 9 a.m. were down to the last most recognizable Game telecast: 5 p.m. play, seconds left in the in my memory. game.

Game kickoff: 5:30 p.m.

By Eli Linton “What we heard

Professor Mark Labash on the radio: ‘Bradshaw is back to pass, they’re blitzing him, he throws the pass, Oh incomplete. NO! WAIT! Franco picked it up off his shoelaces, he’s running to the end zone.

“Dad and I were jumping up and down, hugging each other like two kids at a birthday party, and my mom walks in and says ‘what in the world is going on?’

We were so excited we can’t even talk and I’m just yelling ‘We won! We won! And Mom said, ‘I wish you two would settle down and quit acting like fools.’

“That was when the Steelers’ success seemed to be birthed. [The] rule then was the ball couldn’t touch two offensive players. If it hit Jack Tatum, it’s incomplete. If it hit one of our receivers, it’s a dead ball.

The play became known as the Immaculate Reception.”

What are your game predictions?

“I think it’s going to be one of the closest Super Bowls in history because both teams are very evenly matched. The difference is going to be our defense, because you never know whose coming where from when, and the fact that we have 11 players who have two rings means we have a core of experienced players. We’ve done this before, if we can score early and keep the momentum going, we’ll win.”

What is your score prediction? 27-24.

What is your MVP Prediction?

“You never know with Pittsburgh who’s going to turn the big play.”

Interesting Fact: Labash’s father passed away in 2008 during a Steelers vs. Vikings pre-season game that the Steelers won on a last-second field goal.

“I always felt that he had helped us win that game.” He now shares the family tradition with his 16-year-old son.

By Nathanael Robertson

THE ORACLE• Friday, Feb. 4, 2011 • Page 19

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New and old Hall of Fame inductees sign autographs at the Mabee Center following a ceremony on Jan. 22.

Greg Sutton finally had his day in court.

The former ORU basketball guard returned to the Mabee Center hardwood Jan. 22 and officially entered the ORU Athletic Hall of Fame. It was the same floor on which Sutton suited up two decades earlier as a Titan, from 1988-1991, and set virtually every school offensive record for men’s basketball.

No ORU player has scored as many career points (3,070), recorded a better per-game scoring average for a career (29.5) or tallied more points in a single season (1,256) than Sutton. The Oklahoma City native, who transferred from Langston to ORU as a sophomore, scored 40 points or more 13 times and 50 or more points twice in his career.

Sutton was selected to join ORU’s Hall of Fame in 2010 but could not be present for the ceremony. ORU invited him back this year to be recognized with four other new inductees. This new class brings to 50 the total number of athletes, coaches or trainers who have been enshrined in ORU athletics history.

About a dozen previous honorees returned for this year’s ceremony Jan. 22 during halftime of the men’s basketball game against conference foe Centenary. Among them was Hall of Famer Ken Trickey, who served as

men’s basketball head coach twice (1969-74 and 1987-93).

“This guy here can really play. Really play,” Trickey said of Sutton, his former star. “I taught him all he knows.”

Sutton wasn’t the only inductee who was a year late to the Hall of Fame recognition. Women’s basketball star Kim Ogden also was selected for Hall of Fame honors in 2010 but could not attend that event. She was on hand Jan. 22 with Sutton.

Ogden lettered in basketball for four seasons, from 1984 to 1988. The North Dakota native is the only player in ORU women’s basketball history to accumulate 1,000 points, 500 rebounds, 300 assists and 200 steals in her career. She holds school records for career assists (518) and steals (372). She scored in double figures in 96 of her 113 games.

In addition to Sutton and Ogden, ORU inducted three other members to the Hall of Fame on Jan. 22: a golf coach, volleyball player and baseball pitcher.

Bill Brogden coached the ORU golf team from 1976 to 1986, leading the team to seven NCAA post-season appearances, four national Top 10 finishes and six Midwestern Collegiate Conference titles.

During his tenure, the Titans finished third at the 1980 NCAA Championships and national runner-up in

Page 20 • Friday, Feb. 4, 2011 • THE ORACLE

1981. He was named national coach of the year in 1980 and coached nine All-Americans at ORU, four of whom went on to play on the Professional Golf Association tour. Brogden is currently head golf coach at the University of Tulsa.

Becky Dreher is the fourth volleyball player to be named to the ORU Athletic Hall of Fame. She played four seasons for the Golden Eagles, from 2001 to 2004, finishing her career as ORU’s all-time leader in digs (2,246) and digs per game (5.22).

Dreher was named Summit League Defensive Player of the Year in 2002 and 2004. She led ORU to Summit League titles in 2001 and 2002. She was a three-time all-conference player, earning first-team honors in 2003 and 2004.

Michael Rogers’ induction Jan. 22 brought to 12 the number of ORU baseball players named to the university’s Hall of Fame – the most of any sport.

Rogers suited up for the Golden Eagles from 1998-2002. The pitcher still holds records for the most wins (34) and strikeouts (334) in a career.

He posted a 14-1 record in 2001 with a 2.37 earned run average and 137 strikeouts, earning Summit League Pitcher of the Year and second-team All-America honors that season.

He led the Golden Eagles to four

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Photo by Nathan Lundeen Summit League championships and four NCAA Regional appearances.

Rogers was drafted by the Cleveland Indians in the 20th round in 2001. He spent one season in the minor leagues before injuries ended his professional career.

Rogers said he was excited to return to ORU for the Hall of Fame ceremony.

“It’s great being back seeing a lot of friends that I haven’t seen in a while,” he said afterward while signing autographs.

Sutton, too, was glad to be back at ORU, where he earned the attention of professional scouts during his playing days in the Mabee Center.

Sutton was selected in the second round of the National Basketball Association’s 1991 draft. He played three seasons with three different teams – the San Antonio Spurs, Charlotte Hornets and Philadelphia Sutton said his favorite sports memory at ORU was the Dec. 5, 1990, game against Oklahoma City University. He scored 68 points that night, establishing yet another school record.

Sutton said the Mabee Center still feels familiar to him, with one noticeable difference.

“It used to be a packed house,” he said, looking at the empty seats at the Centenary game. “Other than that, it’s the same.”

By Simone WIlson

Scene

The Oracle Scene Editor is Haden Brewer You may contact him with comments or questions at oracle@oru.edu For more in Scene, check out oruoracle.com

Grads Win Red-Carpet Trip to Grammy Awards Whitney Johnson and Alyssa Andrew able to cross one item off their “Bucket List.”

As Lady Gaga, Katy Perry and Eminem walk the red carpet Feb. 13 leading into the 2011 Grammy Awards presentations, two recent ORU graduates will be right there with them.

Whitney Johnson and Alyssa (Bishop) Andrew recently won an all-expenses-paid dream vacation to the music industry’s night of stars through a national video competition sponsored by E! Online.

E!’s Rock the Red Carpet contest invited online readers to make a video about “the star in your life” for a chance to win a VIP trip to the 2011 Grammy Awards in Los Angeles, a six-night stay in the RitzCarlton, a $1,000 salon makeover, the opportunity to walk the red carpet and an invitation to the official after party with all the musical celebrities. Johnson decided to make her video entry about Andrew, who she met about five years ago at ORU. Both Johnson and Andrew graduated from ORU in 2008. Johnson transferred to ORU from Lee University in 2006 and met Andrew when the two ended up on the same wing (Kalos) in Claudius. They became fast friends. After graduation, Johnson moved back to Virginia Beach, Va., where she grew up, while Andrew stayed in Tulsa, landing a job as an elementary art teacher at Victory Christian School.

When Johnson learned about the E! contest, she decided to use the video skills she learned from being a mass media communications major at ORU. She watched the other videos that were being posted for the contest and described them as “intense sob stories.”

“I didn’t know if I had a story to contend with the other ones,” Johnson said.

She called Andrew and told her the idea.

“I had a clear picture of what I wanted to do for this video, so I started storyboarding,” Johnson explained.

Because the pair live 1,300 miles apart, Johnson pasted a photograph of Andrew’s face on a doll and videotaped her doing different activities with the doll, such as exercising and picking out clothes. In the video, Johnson shows a

“Bucket List” of activities the two friends want to accomplish together. No. 4 on the list is “Walk the red carpet.”

Johnson entered her 96-second video, and as fate would have it, she won.

Andrew was not surprised that her friend won.

“I wouldn’t put it past her,” Andrew said. “She is pretty motivated to make things happen. I was freaking out when she called. … It will probably be something we will talk about when we are old ladies.”

Johnson said that of all the things on their Bucket List, she thought the red carpet would be the most difficult to achieve.

“Only in our dreams did I imagine this happening,” Johnson said. “I didn’t know how it would fit in. Some things on the list were more tangible than others. This is way sooner than I expected to cross anything off of our list.”

On Feb. 8, Johnson and Andrew will each fly to Dallas, and then catch a flight together to Los Angeles. Their hotel is just a few steps away from the Staples Center where the Grammy Awards will be presented Feb. 13.

While they are there, Johnson and Andrew will be treated to a full day at the Ritz-Carlton spa, and a stylist will help them pick out dresses and discuss hair and makeup for the Grammys. A trip to Disneyland is part of the prize package, as well as a rental car to drive around Los Angeles.

Johnson credits prayer for making this trip of a lifetime possible.

“We prayed through the whole process,” Johnson said. “We definitely think the Lord’s favor had a lot to do with it. He put it in the right hands and in the right eyes.”

by Lindsey Buie

Johnson (right) gets fashion advice from Andrew.

Go to oruoracle.com to watch Johnson’s winning video. The 53rd annual Grammy Awards will be broadcast from 7 to 10:30 p.m. (CST) Feb. 13 on CBS. “Live from the Red Carpet” will air from 5 to 7 p.m. on E! Entertainment Television.

Courtesy Photo

THE ORACLE• Friday, Feb. 4, 2011 • Page 21

Stars Go Dim Comes Home Tulsa band enjoys international success For those who don’t know already, Stars Go Dim is a pop-rock band from Tulsa, that formed in late 2007. They released their debut album “Love Gone Mad” on Aug. 4, 2009, have opened for bands like Switchfoot, Daughtry, John Mayer and have since enjoyed surprising success.

The band is now on a headlining tour and recently came back to Tulsa.

They also will have a show in Shawnee on Feb. 25 and show in Stillwater, at Eskimo Joe’s on March 9.

What some fans don’t know is that this Tulsa-based group originally branched from the famous Christian rock band Pillar. It originally started as a side project, but members of the band ultimately left Pillar and began to focus on Stars Go Dim. “The funny thing is our lead songwriter and guitar player actually lives in Phoenix, and catches flights for shows, despite that we are based out of Tulsa,” said Michael Wittig, bassist for the band.

Other than being on a headlining tour promoting “Love Gone Mad,” the band has a single out called “Like I Mean It,” which has had plenty of air play nationwide due to numerous requests. The band has even started charting with the single in the Philip-

pines at No. 8, beating out Bruno Mars, Katy Perry and Usher.

“We are in the studio now finishing up another handful of songs. The plan is to release another single and video around April followed soon after by an EP,” said Wittig.

The upcoming album even features a song the band co-wrote with Richard Marx.

“Love Gone Mad” explores how emotions are when love gets out of control. All the songs are about love in certain stages. “Crazy” deals with the infatuation of new love, “Where Has Our Love Gone” is about the struggles of maintaining a relationship, and “Letting Go” deals with realizing it’s over and breaking up, then moving on and starting over. The album is an authentic rollercoaster of emotions that deal with falling in and out of love.

A precursor of additional media on the band’s website www.starsgodim. com will eventually culminate into a book about two young lovers with broken and guarded hearts who learn about themselves when they find love letters from decades earlier and try to hunt down the rest of the story. The band wanted the album to be more interactive through this idea and get their fans more connected to the

“Love Gone Mad” was released on Aug. 4, 2009. songs.

That relationship with their fans is the primary focus for Stars Go Dim. They make it clear that the reason they pursue music is because of the people.

“We’ve gotten as far as we have so fast because of the amazing support we get from our Tulsa fans and area media,” said Wittig.

Their fans’ input has provided a window to their creative process. The response to their music has earned them many honors such as the CMT Listeners Choice Songwriter’s Award and most recently, a win for Best New Artist for the Absolute Best of Tulsa

Courtesy Photo

Music Awards in the 2010 awards ceremony. Tracks from the album have also been added to playlists in Hollister and Abercrombie stores and in shows on Lifetime, A&E and Fox Sports networks.

Wittig looks forward to a bright future for the band. “Our plans are to continue writing the best music we can, meaningful music that will hopefully be remembered, building real relationships with our fans and friends, using this platform to help others however we can, and to just continue enjoying what we do.”

By Francesca Bee and Daniel Tsubota

“Glee” Returns to Fox After Super Bowl Hit Show Will Sing and Dance Its Way into Your Heart

Internet Photo

“Glee” returns to Fox after the Super Bowl on Feb. 6.

Page 22 • Friday, Feb. 4, 2011 • THE ORACLE

Everyone knows where most of the girls on campus will be on Tuesday nights at 8: sitting in their rooms or building lobbies, tuned in to Fox and watching hit show “Glee.”

The show focuses on “New Directions,” the glee club at a high school in Ohio that participates competitively in show choir competitions.

Stars include Matthew Morrison as Will Schuester, the club director; Jane Lynch as snarky cheerleading coach Sue Sylvester; Lea Michele as overachiever Rachel Berry; Cory Monteith as Finn Hudson, football player extraordinaire; and Chris Colfer as Kurt Hummel.

While the show’s acting is ad-

mittedly not the best, it is hard to turn away from the catchy covers of famous pop and rock songs performed by the cast. In the past, episodes have centered around celebrity’s music like Madonna and Britney Spears as well as bands like Journey and even cult film “Rocky Horror Picture Show.”

The characters face issues similar to that of real-life high school students and will have the viewer sympathizing and singing along. Relationships, sexuality, divorce, social pressure and eating disorders are encountered in the show.

Surprisingly, “Glee” also spotlights problems that the adults on the show are experiencing as

well. Shuester’s wife, Terri, fakes a pregnancy and the couple is divorced. A character copes with her feelings for the then-married Shuester. Sylvester struggles to be a friend and parent to her mentally handicapped sister.

The show is a pleasing mélange of high school drama, musical theater, the competitive nature of a show choir circuit, family problems and goose bump-inducing song covers.

Songs from “Glee” are available on iTunes, and 13 million copies of their cast singles have been purchased digitally. Glee has had 104 songs in total on the Hot 100 weekly chart, second only to Elvis with 108.

By Amy Lecza

Groups create 10-minute plays Graphic by Hannah Starke

Help fill the need this winter.

The John 3:16 Mission supports Tulsa-area families, children and the homeless at its downtown Tulsa shelter at 506 N. Cheyenne. The shelter operates year-round and currently needs the following: • Canned Foods • Monetary Donations • Gently Used Clothing • Functioning Electronics • Furniture (cannot accept mattresses) • Cookware • Toys Donations may be dropped off at or sent to: John 3:16 Mission, Inc. 205 E. Pine St., Ste. 103 Tulsa, OK 74106 For pick up of larger/furniture donations, please call (918)584-1120.

www.john316mission.org John 3:16 Mission is a faith-based organization that strives to bring the life-changing Gospel of Jesus Christ to homeless and at-risk men, women and children in Tulsa by meeting their physical, spiritual and emotional needs.

For the past three years, Tulsa’s Trinity Episcopal Church has been hosting a twentyfour hour play festival that has quickly become a success.

The festival is made up of seven or more groups that consist of actors, a writer and a director who work together to form a 10-minute play.

At the festival, each group is assigned an area in the building where they will rehearse their performance.

The writer has the evening and whole night to write a 10-minute script, and the director and actors have the morning and afternoon the next day to organize and memorize their lines.

By that evening, each group must be ready to perform for the public. At the end, the audience votes for their favorite groups that will place first, second, and third and win prize money.

“The idea for the festival is one that’s been around for quite some time,” said professor Christopher Martin. “Universities and theater groups have been doing this all over the country for many years.”

Martin is one of the faculty in the Drama department here and is the main adviser over the festival. The festival is different from other play festivals in the way it’s set up.

“Instead of having 8 groups of artists stage their 10-minute plays on the same stage, we’ve decided to require each play to take place in a different location across the campus of Trinity

Episcopal Church—places such as the choir loft, the courtyard, and boardroom,” said Martin.

“When the audience arrives, they will be put into small groups and led from location to location watching the plays take place in what could be called ‘found spaces.’”

Many of the participants in the festival are ORU students.

The experience has been very rewarding for many of them.

“I enjoyed it,” said senior Rosalind Morris. “I found that there’s a big difference in being an actor and writing for the festival. Acting is a lot easier, but Internet Photo writing was more rewarding for your efforts with an audience,” me.” said Morris.

“I write so many The hard part about the things that no one ever gets to festival for the groups is the read or watch.” short preparation time. It seems The festival will take place on like creating a 10-minute play Saturday Feb. 5th from 6 p.m. wouldn’t be hard to do, but there to 8 p.m.

The admission is $5 is a great amount of detail and per person.

By Francesca Bee creativity that must go into each them.

“Last year I ended Want more information? staying for the whole 24 hours--that was the hardest part,” said Morris. “I was so tired.” Morris was Make oruoracle.com your an actor for the festival the first two years and is a homepage today! writer this year.

What can you find on the Despite the complications of being involved with website? the festival, it has many • In-Depth Series perks as well. The writers, • Photo Slideshows particularly, get to practically endorse their original • Sports Blogs • Videos works.

“I think it’s wonderful to • Interactive Polls be apart of a creative pro• And much, much more! cess when you can share

Check out our website for more coverage!

THE ORACLE• Friday, Feb. 4, 2011 • Page 23

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[ Lessons Not In The Syllabus ]

Chelsea Kimbrough offers insights into lessons she has learned outside of the classroom.

She is a senior biomedical chemistry and French major.

Sometimes when I walk down the hall of mirrors, I can almost physically smell it. It oozes off the girl in the black shirt in front of me. She’s hanging on to every morsel of male attention she can muster. She probably thinks that 20 is a terribly advanced age to be single. After

all, her parents met in college. Her aunts and uncles met in college. And if her pet Chihuahua had been able to go to college, she probably would have met the love of her life there too.

Not to mention, what will happen when she goes to graduate school? She’ll no longer be in the land of cute, young Christian men. Surely life will end there.

The worst part about all of this is that she probably doesn’t even sense her own desperation… but every healthy, wellbalanced guy does. It’s not that I don’t understand the frustration and growing fear that can come from being single.

What I am more concerned about are people jumping into bad relationships and making terrible choices.

After watching what has happened to desperate upperclassmen before me, I’m astonished to find that not one of them has ended up happy. Not one. I also find it remarkable how self-defeating grasping desperation can be. To put it plainly, behaving desperate either scares people or invites people to use you.

I think one of the most obvious marks of a desperate girl is that she defines herself by her singlehood. Instead of being grateful for the love around her, she obsesses over how very lonely she is. She

Page 24 • Friday, Feb. 4, 2011 • THE ORACLE

“Desperate”

also struggles with being genuinely happy for those who are in a good relationship.

Author Dawn Eden lends a lovely contrast to this malaise in her book “The Thrill of the Chaste.” Dawn’s friend Babs is a 28-year-old single woman (gasp).

Although Babs does desire to get married,

A desperate girl defines herself by her singlehood. Instead of being grateful for the love around her, she obsesses over how very lonely she is. she chooses to focus on being there for her friends and family rather than going out “man-hunting” every weekend.

One special thing about Babs is that she doesn’t define herself by the love she is lacking in her life. Instead, she defines herself by how much love she is able to give to others.

One evening, Babs – true to her character – goes to support her friend Dawn at a café. Richard, Dawn’s really cute musician friend, stops by to visit Dawn as well. Much to Dawn’s chagrin, Richard immediately takes an interest in Babs. It’s not that Dawn is interested in him, though she used to be. She just doesn’t understand how Babs can so easily attract the love of her life without trying when she had been doing everything that the magazines prescribed.

“The truth is, she was trying,” Dawn realizes. “She was completely open to meeting the right man – and she was trying every day to be the best human being she could be. I don’t think anyone can try harder than that – or with better results.”

I am not inviting anyone to shun the opposite gender. I am genuinely concerned about some of the decisions people make because they think the only Christians are at ORU. I believe in having high standards when it comes to the kind of person you’re looking for. It’s important to remember though that you should expect to match whatever standards you set. As one very wise woman once told me, if you want to be with a Mr. Darcy, you must first be an Elizabeth.

Letters to the Editor

Find the Date Doctor online!

Mass Murders Are not Caused by Political Remarks

www.oruoracle.com

Don’t miss SIFE’s Better Business www.oruoracle.com

Editor: This short letter is about the mass murder in Arizona last month. Yesterday, I was trying to approach this very sad and troubling event. After a quick Google search I found two incomplete, unofficial lists of mass murders and killing sprees around the world.

Since the year 1980, Americans have committed these violent crimes more consistently than the rest of the world. If you read the two lists starting from the year 1980 to the present, the contrast between America and the rest of the World is far more dramatic.

On the mass murders list, developing countries in Asia, Africa and the Middle East were all in the single digits.

Japan, Germany, South Korea, France, Netherlands, and Spain together had eight. America had 26. In killing sprees, China had 36. Other emerging countries had 14. Japan, Germany, South Korea,

[Pixel Perspectives ]

ORU alumnus Benjamin Thome (‘10) investigates secular media through a Christian perspective.

America loves tales of the supernatural. Some of her earliest and greatest authors, such as Washington Irving, Edgar Allen Poe, and H. P. Lovecraft, are famous for their tales of the unexplained. Even today, movies and television consistently delve into stories and tales of crea-

tures and circumstances that defy natural explanation. Among these is the appropriately titled series “Supernatural.” Although “Supernatural’s” view of the supernatural doesn’t always mesh with a Christian view, the series does get some important aspects right. And even its misconceptions offer Christians insight into society’s perspective.

Perhaps the greatest asset of “Supernatural” is the relationship between the main characters Dean and Sam Winchester.

The two grew up on the road with their father John Winchester, learning the “art” of being a Hunter—tracking down and eliminating demons, vampires, ghouls, ghosts, werewolves, and all manner of creepy creatures of the night. Their adventures hunting monsters consistently emphasize the importance of family.

This emphasis is most readily apparent in Sam and Dean’s relationship, as the two brothers repeatedly place themselves in danger for the other’s sake.

France, Netherlands, Spain and the U.K. combined had 18. America had 16. China is behind the United States in that list, but a quick look at demographics and population shows the ratio is ridiculous.

These numbers tell us two things.

First, when a tragedy like this happens, however horrible it may be, it isn’t truly inconceivable. That word, along with unimaginable, has been thrown around a lot in the news. The second is that America has a problem with violence, especially gun violence.

The media’s handling of this attack has been awful. To me, when liberals argue that the things conservatives said were motivation to the killer, they do it presumptuously. It amounts to little more than an attack on their ill-used free speech. They’re trying to put two and two together with little to no evidence.

When conservatives like Rush Limbaugh try to make the alleged killer into a

liberal or defend speech that uses violent metaphors they are returning the favor.

Also, there are parts of the media that insist on implicating both sides for that kind of inflammatory speech.

I’m not saying that anyone has been trying to encourage gun violence. However, there are a lot of people on the right side of the aisle who talk in a way that confuse political opponents with mortal enemies.

Neither politicians nor political commentators are the bad guys here. One sick person shot all those people. He bears the responsibility for that. However, America really needs to get its rhetoric under control because our political culture surely isn’t helping to make those people any less sick or violent.

Tyler Pelzer ORU Student International Business Major

“Giving Partial Credit”

For example, when Sam dies at the end of season two, Dean makes a deal with a Crossroads Demon—think Faust’s Mephistopheles—in order to save his brother’s life. In return, Dean forfeits the remainder of his life, save one year. Setting aside the problematic morality of Faustian deals, Dean’s selfless sacrifice for his brother echoes Christ’s sacrifice.

The echoes continue when Dean subsequently dies and goes to Hell, only to be raised back to life by an angel. Of course, Dean is far from a type of Christ, but his sacrifice at least mirrors Jesus’ death and again emphasizes the importance of family. The emphasis doesn’t stop with the brothers.

Other characters repeatedly rely on the importance of family—the most significant example being Bobby, a Hunter who becomes a surrogate father for Dean and Sam over the course of the series.

Another positive aspect of Supernatural requires a somewhat

roundabout approach, which I will arbitrarily name a BIG aspect for future reference. BIG stands for Bad Is Good. Here’s how: various media frequently portray aspects of Christianity in a way that does not align with the way true Christianity operates. For instance, the BIG aspect of "Supernatural” is its portrayal of God. When Sam and Dean search for God’s help in the fifth season, they eventually find out that he has moved on to other things, leaving behind a world about to be torn apart by squabbling Archangelic brothers Lucifer and Gabriel. Thus, the God of Supernatural—likely intended to be identified with the Christian God—is a deistic God, who made the world way back when but then got bored with it and no longer cares.

Here’s where the Bad Is Good kicks in. Since media often reflects the attitudes and opinions of society, it follows that society considers the Christian God to be a deistic God, who no longer cares for the world. Consequent-

ly, we Christians should take note of this misconception and do our best to correct it. After all, God is hardly an uncaring, bored creator—He is the ultimate Love and sustainer of Creation!

That’s how Bad Is Good: it allows us Christians to see how society perceives us and various aspects of our faith, resulting in a call-to-action for us to reveal the true nature of God. Of course, “Supernatural” is hardly perfect. As the title implies, it often encounters demons, angels, ghosts, and other supernatural beings, an approach that may be problematic for some. Thus, although “Supernatural’s” missteps keep it short of an “A,” it gets partial credit for offering a rare emphasis on the importance of family and for giving us a glimpse of how society perceives certain aspects of Christianity—affording us the responsibility to correct the misconceptions.

“Supernatural” airs Friday nights on the CW.

THE ORACLE• Friday, Feb. 4, 2011 • Page 25

Run a free classified ad in The Oracle. Submit your classified to oraclemuse@oru.edu. Please include a contact phone number and classified section. Only valid ORU e-mail addresses will be considered for publication.

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Willing to give rides to any location between Tulsa - Tucson if passenger helps pay for gas. E-mail: veritas@oru.edu The Oracle has open positions in video/tv production, cartoonist, bloggers, and writers. E-mail oracle@oru.edu for consideration.

Handbook.” $15 ea. dtsubota@oru.edu Sayre “Humanities: Culture, Change and Continuity Books 4, 5 & 6. $20/all three.

918.200.9151 “Art Fundamentals” for ART101. $15. Text: 760.382.8662.

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Dr. Guthrie’s worship class textbooks incl. “Worship Old & New” & “Worship Team

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Announce your engagement or celebrate a birthday in the Oracle! E-mail oraclemuse@ oru.edu

JOB OPPORTUNITIES:

There are now classes being held on campus to teach English mainly to immigrants from Burma. The classes are on Saturday from 10 a.m. to noon on GC 4. Contact Tracy Jackson at tjackson@oru.edu

MISSIONS/FUNDRAISING: Be the first to inform the ORU Community of your next missions fundraiser! E-mail details to oralcemuse@oru. edu

[Between the Lines ] “Keeping Up With the Changs”

The Chinese hit a nerve. First, it was the sneaky unveiling of a secret stealth bomber that could rival the U.S. in air superiority. Then, concert pianist Lang Lang slipped an anti-American propaganda song into his performance at the White House state dinner in honor of the visiting Chinese leader Hu Jintao.

Right-wing bloggers sounded the alarm

Page 26 • Friday, Feb. 4, 2011 • THE ORACLE

the United States, referencing students in Shanghai burying the United States in reading, math and science skills.

Whether or not the United States really is at a so-called “Sputnik moment” and whether or not Chinese children really are being “raised to rule the world,” Chua’s book opens up an interesting discussion.

I don’t know many people who haven’t said at least once, “Oh, I wish my parents had just forced me to practice violin a little more,” or “If only my mom had been just a little harder on me, I would have gotten better grades.”

After all, as Chua writes, “What Chinese parents understand is that nothing is fun until you’re good at it.”

Is there an element of truth to these?

Duh, of course there is. People can berate Amy Chua and call her fascist, racist, communist, sadist or whatever else all they want—the fact remains her daughters kick butt.

Obviously, as the early attackers of her book failed or chose not to see, her book isn’t a self-help guide on parenting. Quite the contrary: it’s a recount of both the enormous successes she made and the blinding failures she suffered. It’s a story that at its core is much, much closer to the American heart than it would at first seem. Eventually, Chua realizes that her daughters must be allowed to find their own way, as Lulu does when she stops

playing violin to pursue tennis—at which, of course, she excels.

In all honesty, rather than crying like babies when our global neighbors start beating us at our own game, Americans might think about taking a few cues from the likes of Chua. Of course, that would mean that we would have to grow up and realize that when people told us “everyone’s a winner,” they were either unfathomably naïve or lying through their teeth.

Global competition is just that: competition. If America wants to stay in the game, we have to hit the field ready to play just like everyone else.

Amy Chua’s book, “Battle Hymn of the Tiger Mother,” is available on Amazon in hardcover for under $15 and for Kindle for $12.99.

Sudoku Answer

Roy-Gene MacIninch presents his views of current issues as represented in books, television shows and other published work.

almost before Lang’s fingers left the keys.

Americans seem to be watching the Chinese get closer and closer in the rearview mirror and are getting more than a little nervous they might one day have to pass the torch.

And, finally, as if just one more insulting slap on Uncle Sam’s face—at least that’s how it was perceived—Yale law professor Amy Chua published a book detailing her experiences raising her children the “Chinese way.” The book, “Battle Hymn of the Tiger Mother,” details forcing her daughters to play violin and piano for hours on end throughout their childhoods and demanding nothing less than perfection in all they did.

Chua’s book in particular seemed to really draw the ire of more than a few Americans. Of course, many of these people were parents who couldn’t help but admit that while their own children—that’s us, by the way—spend hours on Facebook while listening to our iPods, Chua’s daughters were accomplished musicians before they got their driver’s licenses.

For all her admissions that she definitely made mistakes in raising her children—particularly her youngest daughter Lulu who rebelled over being forced to play violin—Chua’s memoir definitely fed a pronounced American fear of no longer being no. 1. President Obama recently spoke of a “Sputnik moment” for

SA Buzz

SA Buzz is provided by Kathleen Kelly Contact SA with comments/questions at frontdesk@orustudentassociation.com For more info about SA, check out orusa.org

Reflections of Homecoming SA Staff Profile: Charis Key Activities a Smashing Success Despite Snowfall Hey all you Homecoming Week participators. ORU’s Student Association would like to thank God it’s Friday because tonight we are throwing a banquet that will eclipse all others in your mind’s eye.

We hope you’ve enjoyed this week’s events. Let’s recap all the wonderful things that happened. On Monday night you enjoyed a “Minute to Win It” competition that got us all a lot of laughs.

Wednesday, you experienced ORU’s version of “The Price is Right.” We think we managed quite well, even without Bob Barker. Yesterday, you showed up for an intense basketball showdown, and

tonight we get to dazzle you at the 2011 Homecoming Banquet: The Day That Love Made History.

Don’t forget to come out for the basketball games tomorrow and then to the homecoming after party following the game. It’s going to be a blast. We are so happy to have had such a successful week, and we can’t wait to serve you again!

Keep your eyes and ears open for more information on upcoming events from you friendly campus Student Association.

The Homecoming Banquet begins at 7:00 p.m. at the Mayo Hotel downtown.

Year and Major: Junior in Business Administration - Entrepreneurship Originates From: St. Louis, Mo.; Calexico, Calif.; Phoenix, Ariz.; Houston, TX. What is your favorite part of working for SA? “There are very few things more enjoyable than being able to hang out with friends and host a variety of events/parties/gatherings for the student body to attend.”

What is your favorite thing to do in Tulsa?

“Tulsa has a lot of hidden goodies off of Brookside, Jenks and Cherry Street. There are open-mic nights and vintage resale shops everywhere. They are even good areas to just kind of walk around.”

What makes ORU “the best university in this or any parallel universe?”

The foundation of ORU is pure and so good intentioned. All things, agreeable or not, have never been to harm us, but to keep us sound in our thoughts and actions.”

“Any Other Universe”

By Chelsea Boen, Reid Peterson, Jonathan Witt, and Darren Sorrels

Orange Leaf 2 x 6

THE ORACLE• Friday, Feb. 4, 2011 • Page 27

02.05 SATURDAY WOMEN’S BASKETBALL VS. NORTH DAKOTA STATE, 2 p.m., Mabee Center, Free with ORU I.D.

02.10 THURSDAY INGRAM HILL, 7 p.m., Cain’s Ballroom 2nd Stage, Tickets start at $14

02.12 SATURDAY ELI YOUNG BAND IN CONCERT, 7 p.m., Cain’s Ballroom, Tickets start at $30

HOMECOMING ALUMNI BANQUET, 4:30-7 p.m., Student Cafeteria

02.11 FRIDAY TWLOHA MOVIE NIGHT, 7 p.m., Zoppelt, visit facebook.com/twloha.oru for more info

02.14 MONDAY: VALENTINE’S DAY CHOCOLAT ET LE JAZZ, 7:30 p.m., Timko-Barton Lobby, free

TEAM BAHAMAS’ “JUST DANCE” PARTY FT. JUSTIN ARRINGTON & DJ FOXY, 8 p.m., 60th Floor of Citiplex towers, $5

02.15 TUESDAY 12TH ANNUAL ORU CULTURAL EVENT, 7 p.m., GC4114

3RD ANNUAL 24-HOUR PLAY FESTIVAL, 7 p.m., Trinity Episcopal Church, $5

02.04 - 02.18 02.04 FRIDAY HOMECOMING ACTIVITIES BEGIN STUDENT ASSOCIATION PRESENTS CRYOUT! HOUR OF PRAYER, 7:30 a.m., Prayer Tower ORU HOMECOMING BANQUET, 7 p.m., Mayo Hotel (Downtown). By ticket purchase only.

ROONEY IN CONCERT, 7 p.m., Cain’s Ballroom, $21 MONSTER JAM, 7:30 p.m., BOK Center, Event continues on Feb 5, Tickets start at $27

MEN’S BASKETBALL VS. NORTH DAKOTA STATE (HOMECOMING GAME) 7 p.m., Mabee Center, Free with ORU I.D. ORU MISSIONS ALUMNI HOMECOMING GATHERING, 2 p.m., GC6 Conference Room 1 02.07 MONDAY WOMEN’S BASKETBALL VS. SOUTH DAKOTA STATE, 7 p.m., Mabee Center, Free with ORU I.D. 02.08 TUESDAY ORU JAZZ ENSEMBLE IN CONCERT, 7:30 p.m., Timko-Barton Performance Hall, Free

MARTIN SHORT, 8 p.m., Spirit Bank Event Center, Tickets range from $25 to $55

Have a question about ORU?

VALENTINE’S WEEKEND MARRIAGE EVENT WITH JIMMY AND KAREN EVANS, 7 p.m., World Outreach Church, Free, Event continues Feb. 12 at 9 a.m.

Ask ANY question about ORU and the Oracle will answer it in the next edition. From student life, food and housing to ORU urban legends, we want you to be informed.

TULSA INDIAN ART FESTIVAL, 11 a.m., Expo Square Central Park Hall, event continues through Feb. 13, $10 for weekend pass, visit www.tulsaindianartfestival.com for more info.

E-mail or text: oraclemuse@oru.edu