A New Reality The new Global Learning Center is a facility featuring fresh educational technology PAGE 3
Turkeys and Trees Internationals reflect on American holidays PAGE 6
The Call Play-by-play announcer returns home PAGES 8-9
Fizzy Fresh Classic restaurant home to favorite treats PAGE 12
Oral Roberts University · Nov. 18, 2016 · Tulsa, Oklahoma · Vol. 51, No. 6 · www.oruoracle.com · @oruoracle @oruoraclesports
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2 • THE ORACLE • Friday, November 18, 2016
12/31/2016
News Exceeding the known and reaching into all worlds HALEY GIBSON Staff Writer @Gibson_hay
The Global Learning Center, previously known as the Baby Mabee, was officially dedicated on Nov. 9 following chapel. The event began with worship and an address from President William M. Wilson, conveying a powerful vision and mission to the attendees. Several international students representing six different countries spoke after Chair of the Board of Trustees, Robert Hoskins, prayed over the dedication ceremony. The vision for the GLC is to reach into the "bounds of the earth" that are in need of state of the art education for success. The center was created in 2014, as part of the 50th anniversary comprehensive campaign for globalization initiatives. Chief Information Officer Michael Mathews was present at the dedication and gave additional information
on ORU's position in furthering the mission and the vision of the Learning Center to the world. Mathews began work at the university in 2014, and has overseen the entire project. The GLC specializes in technology that exceeds the known and increases the universities ability to globally impact the world of education. “Take everything from the smallest digital electron around the world, and create something to send around the world. Only ORU has mastered that,” said Mathews. Augmented reality is a live direct or indirect view of a real world environment shown through projected sound, video, or GPS data. ORU has created and partnered with software companies to allow students the opportunity to experience virtual augmented reality teaching methods in GLC classrooms. Reality platforms have already impacted the world significantly. PokemonGO reached billions of people
in an estimated 35 days. The telephone took 75 years to reach the world. Television took 38 years, the internet took seven years and Facebook took three years. Mathews and his partner John Anderson believe this technology has the capability to exceed all of these. The GLC’s augmented reality works with smartphones, too. "ORU is the only one who owns the collective good that we see in the Global Learning Center," said Mathews. Three floors of the center hold a number of identical classrooms and offices for faculty from every part of the university. Each room has the capability to record and follow professors' material, and then place it online for the world to use. The second and third floors are dedicated to virtual and augmented reality creation and application. Programmers will be able to work to create this specific ORU whole person
software. “In January there will be an opening for 20 students to actually come and be a part of a Virtual l Reality training program for the GLC and the whole world,” Mathews said. “The cost for this was $140 per square foot, nobody can build a building of this size for that amount,” said Anderson. The building cost $8 million in total, and was completed with no debt. “Nobody has mastered how to send these electrons around the world, except for ORU,” said Mathews. “Multisensory [learning] for a multicultural world. We don’t want to brag, but we do want to show the world God has favored us for a specific time.” The Global Learning Center plans to continue its mission into its launch in 2017. The center will be available for student use and classes on Jan. 11 when classes resume for the spring semester.
Photos by Jeremy Luczak and Xavier Gonzalez
ORU's new Global Learning Center was built with Oral Roberts' original vision in mind, to "go into every man's world." The GLC officially opens on Jan. 11 when spring classes resume and will launch its whole person software for augmented reality.
THE ORACLE • Friday, November 18, 2016 • 3
Go cold turkey on inorganic birds EMERALD DEAN Features Editor @et_dean
The holiday season has started, and for those striving to eat cage-free, free-range and all-natural turkey, organic turkey is selling for approximately $3 per pound more than an inorganic bird. Labels, however, can be misleading and the meanings of “cage-free,” “free-range” and “all-natural” have changed over time. The labels contain loose definitions set by the United States Department of Agriculture for turkey farms to use on their birds. Cage-free does not mean there is not a cage, freerange turkey does not mean the bird can go outside, and buying all-natural turkey doesn’t mean organic. “Natural is a broad or open ended concept. It’s labeled as a product containing no labeled ingredients or added colors. It usually comes with a label claiming ‘no label added’ or maybe ‘grass fed,’” said Reasor’s Co-Manager Robert Ball in an email interview. Butterball remained silent and refused an interview about their turkey. According to their website, Butterball turkeys contain no artificial flavor, coloring or synthetic ingredient. It is minimally processed and all-natural. “In order for the USDA to designate as ‘freerange,’ the producer must demonstrate to an agency that the poultry has been allowed access to [the] outside. That doesn’t mean birds are always outside, but have access to some form of fenced area other than the turkey house in which they are raised. This could simply be a two-foot cage connected to the side of a building,” said Reasor’s Meat and Seafood Director, John Beuter, in an email. “While ‘cage-free’ means they are not raised in close confinement of cage, they aren’t raised in an outdoor environment either.” Turkeys were raised outside on the farm during the 1930s and 1940s. They had access to grass and the sun without being kept inside. The USDA has since changed the meaning of “free-range” to meet today’s standards for growing turkey. Diestel Family Turkey Ranch’s family secret No. 1 is to walk the flock every day. It pays close attention to the health of their birds by spending time with them in fields, observing their behaviors and making sure they have the best environment possible. This is rare in turkey farms because typically there isn’t enough land. Turkey is considered free-range if there are approximately 100 turkeys per acre of farmland. An organic turkey has never been given antibiotics. Livestock handlers can administer up to two antibiotics, if necessary, to an inorganic turkey. It is possible to raise organic turkeys, but the cost will be three times as high as a normal turkey for sale. Butterball sells an all-natural turkey for .50 cents per pound, while Diestel Family Turkey Ranch sells its organic bird for 4 • THE ORACLE • Friday, November 18, 2016
$3.99 per pound. According to Diestel Family Turkey Ranch, a freerange environment allows the birds to get plenty of exercise and fresh air, and their careful farming management and strict sanitation practices eliminate the need to administer antibiotics. “I’ve done this a long time, almost 30 years, and I truly think in five or six years, everything will be antibiotic free. We’re headed in that direction,” said an anonymous source who is a certified livestock handler. “When I started, I had seven or eight medications, but now I have access to two. My main focus is to be ahead of the program. I look at the ventilation issues, and if necessary have more air dispersed in the room. Let’s keep them from getting sick. I don’t want to use antibiotics. I don’t want to have to use antibiotics.” According to the handler, genetic engineering is not used on their turkeys either. Many organizations keep tabs on turkey farms. A turkey will have a life span of two years, and studies are done on the birds through scientific observations. Their goal is to match the superior turkeys together through a pedigree process. For example, two big birds may be paired so the egg can have the best genetics from each parent. “We can get our turkey to 16 pounds in 88 days, but it used to take 128 days. We’re trying to make a more efficient bird,” said the handler. “What I’ve seen are animals that don’t stand stress very well because they gain weight very fast. I arrive and stand in the farm for 30 seconds to observe the air. The birds now are superior to [those] in the past, but we still need to make sure their heath is the first priority.” Tyson Foods was first to claim they didn't use hormones or steroids in its turkey. Other companies now
use hormone-free labels on their birds because consumers assumed the poultry must contain hormones if there isn’t a label. Butterball advertises its free-range turkey as being all-natural, never-frozen, gluten-free and raised without hormones on American farms, but Diestel also says its turkey never contains antibiotics, growth enhancers, hormones, gluten or animal by-products. More companies have added this label due to the assumptions, but hormones are now prohibited from use in poultry. The farmers at Cargill receive biannual growth certification tests. There are plaques with rules listed which breeders have to follow at the farms. The breeders don’t want to be associated with a handler’s transgressions, and the handlers don’t want to be in association with a breeder’s transgressions. It would affect buyers, such as Walmart, and place them with a farm who has a negative connotation on their name. Large companies hire outside independent auditors to visit random farms. Cargill checks their farms semiannually, and they will give the farms scores. While shopping for the best holiday bird, remember turkey companies dance around meanings put on their labels, and the USDA has allowed them to do so. Organic is the only label on turkey which means the bird has not been altered and must meet USDA standards including the animal was raised on certified organic land, fed certified organic feed, and has outdoor access. Cage-free implies the chickens freely roam indoors but not necessarily outdoors. Free-range refers to poultry, which live cage-free with access to some sort of outdoors. Words and labels can be misleading, don't let them be.
Illustration by Jesse Paul Turner
When buying a turkey this holiday season, make sure to thoroughly research the turkey companies and meticulously read the label before buying. Remember labels do not always mean what they say.
Next Todd White conference hosted in Tulsa MYAKA WALKER AND HALEY GIBSON
Staff Writers @myakacharles and @Gibson_hay
Following the conclusion of Thanksgiving break, surrounding churches will be hosting Lifestyle Christianity, the ministry of Todd White for the 82nd Power and Love conference in Tulsa, at the SpiritBank Event Center. The event kicks off its first session starting at 6:15p.m. Wednesday Nov. 30, and will continue until the concluding evening session on Saturday Dec. 3. “The night sessions are always free, for a college student on a budget it is worth getting out to,” said Jonathan Landis, director of marketing for Todd White’s Ministry. “This conference is the most impactful thing I’ve ever attended, it was so impactful to me it led me to find a way to work in Todd’s ministry myself.” Highlighted speakers at the event include Todd White, Craig Hagin, Andy Byrd and Tom Ruoloto throughout the sessions. Jeremiah Grube will
also be present to lead worship at the center. The purpose of the conference is to aid Christians by increasing confidence in their identity, and to give attendees practical opportunities for outreach and impact. Teaching will present hands-on skills to spread the word more effectively, and will equip guests to further the kingdom in the field they pursue. “[It’s] four days of training and equipping for hands on evangelism,” said Landis. “Creating patterns of being influencers, and a chance for them to really understand this form of evangelism.” Registration forms for the conference are available at powerandlove.org and the cost to attend all four days is $60 if registered by Nov. 23. Those registered by this date also have the option to pay $160 to attend the full conference this year and next year. “What I personally love about the conference is that it helps people get over their fear of sharing the gospel and praying for people outside of the four
Courtesy Photo
walls of the church. The testimonies are so rewarding and amazing to hear,” said Elena Snell, a previous volunteer at the conference. This price increases to $80 if regis-
tration is finished by Nov. 24. The cost at the door is $20 in order to attend individual sessions during the four days.
Courtesy Photo
“It’s kind of awesome because at Power and Love, we train and teach people in their identity in such an amazing way that when people leave here, they’ve become the reality of what we teach,” said Todd White.
Photo by Jeremy Luczak
Surface Studio sold out
Fall dance program
Microsoft is introducing a revolutionary product that will change the way art is created digitally. The Surface Studio already sold out, and they haven’t even hit store shelves yet. This device is on display in all the full-length Microsoft stores in the United States, including the one in Woodland Hills in Tulsa, according to Joseph D. employee of Microsoft Surface Support. The device runs for $2,999 and will be available for purchase in stores early next year.
The ORU Dance program is presenting their Fall 2016 program “Monumentum.” The show will be at Howard Theater on Dec. 1 and 3 at 7:30 p.m. with a matinee on Sunday, Dec. 4 at 4:30 p.m. This event will feature a diverse assortment of faculty works, senior choreography projects, student advanced choreography. Various styles will be performed in these categories by ORU dance majors and students. In addition, excerpts from the slow, historic Les Sylphides dance will also be presented. General admission is $10 at the door, and students and seniors will be admitted for $5.
Photo by Sydney Stoever
2016 Homecoming court The 2016 Homecoming court was announced during the ORU men’s basketball game against Rogers State on Monday, Nov. 14. Adam Giedd and Elaine Gibson were crowned homecoming king and queen. The senior class was represented by Courtney Dilley, Jamie Heiman, Mitch Green and Pete Salamone. Ben Smith and Analynn Salvato represented the junior class. The sophomore class prince and princess was Lauren Marie Wood and Scotty Smith. Brooke Francis and Charles Leupen represented the freshmen class. THE ORACLE • Friday, November 18, 2016 • 5
Features International outlook on American holidays KAYLEY FORSHEY Staff Writer @mybestfriendjo
It’s the most wonderful time of the year. With the recent Prayer Gardens Christmas lighting, Thanksgiving just around the corner and those few can’t wait students already jamming out to Christmas music, Oral Roberts University is in the holiday spirit. Since Thanksgiving is an American holiday, there are many international students who have never celebrated Thanksgiving before. “I do know that you guys eat a lot, like a lot,” freshman Alejandro Camacho from Costa Rica said. “I don’t really know like why it’s a special day or whatever, I just know that you guys gather together and you have this huge meal.” Canada has its own Thanksgiving holiday, one that junior Alejandra Arevalo’s family celebrates with a Guatemalan twist. “I was born and raised in Canada, in Toronto, but my family came from Guatemala about 30 years ago. In Guatemala, they don’t have a history to have Thanksgiving, so they don’t celebrate that,” Arevalo said. “But when they came to Canada, they decided that they were going to assimilate to the culture, so because of that, we do celebrate Thanksgiving.” Arevalo’s family is full of cultural diversity, so the holiday season is full of many different traditions. “It’s not your typical Thanksgiving. My family, having a Guatemalan background, we usually incorporate Guatemalan foods and customs with the Canadian point of view,” Arevalo said. “So we’ll have the turkey and the mashed potatoes and the gravy, but we’ll also have like, black beans and tortillas on the side.” Being away from family during the Canadian Thanksgiving is hard for Arevalo. Still, she enjoys the excitement surrounding an American Thanksgiving and has spent her last few Thanksgiving breaks with friends in the States. “I didn’t realize how important Thanksgiving is in the States, and I find it more important here than back home, at least in my family,” Arevalo explained. “I mean we celebrate it, but it’s not the same excitement. When I woke up on Thanksgiving morning for the first time, I felt like it was Christmas and I was so excited. And there was food that I had never heard of before, like dressing. We call that stuffing, and it tastes different. I like the one here better. Ours is a little bit more bitter.” Another American tradition different from the Canadian Thanksgiving is Black Friday, the Friday after Thanksgiving that marks the beginning of the 6 • THE ORACLE • Friday, November 18, 2016
Christmas shopping season. “Which was kind of a shock for me, because first you’re giving thanks and then you’re getting for yourself,” Arevalo laughed. “That confused me a little bit, although I did enjoy the deals. I got some good things.” The American Thanksgiving holiday is a commemoration of the first harvest by the Pilgrims in 1621, and is celebrated with a traditional meal. “I’ve never celebrated Thanksgiving before, because back home, it’s not really a thing to celebrate,” freshman Fishomi Philip-King from the United Kingdom said. “So basically, it’s kind of when family gets together and celebrates with food and family. It’s just like a time of joy and peace and family and unity.” Besides America and Canada, most nations don’t have a holiday between Halloween and Christmas, so their Christmas season begins Nov. 1. “In November, people start selling Christmas stuff and getting into the holiday spirit, I guess,” junior Ivanna Kilala from Tanzania said. “Back home, we just celebrate Christmas like everybody else. We just put up a tree, decorate our house. I don’t think it’s as competitive as the neighborhoods here.” The Christmas holiday is universal in the ways different countries celebrate it, though there still are differences, for instance, many Americans will go all out in decorating their houses and lawns with lights, statues, ands wreaths. “Christmas, I would say it’s kind of similar like
over here. You give presents to each other, you have the Christmas tree, advertisements about Christmas,” Camacho said. “Since Costa Rica is a Catholic state, they relate it to Baby Jesus. So I would say that it’s more, ‘What do you want from Baby Jesus?’ Not ‘What do you want from Santa Clause?’ You make your list and everything, but you make it for Baby Jesus. But yeah, we just gather together, give presents to each other.” While recognizing the cultural diversity on campus, the holiday season has officially begun for ORU. It’s a time to be thankful, cheerful, and motivated to make it through classes before break. “I’m thankful for good friends that I’ve made this year, I’m thankful to be going to a great school and having new opportunities and new doorways that are opening up for me,” Kilala said. “There’s lots to be thankful for, and if I could just sit down and think about everything I’m thankful for, I think I’d appreciate it a lot more. But there’s a lot that has happened this semester that I’m thankful for. It’s only by the grace of God that it’s all possible.” For students from among the 90 nations represented at ORU, American holiday traditions may be new to them or celebrated differently than in their home countries, but all agree on one thing – they look forward to the festivities and commemorating the end of the semester with feasts, gift-giving and fellowship and an attitude of gratitude.
Photo By Grant Swank
Turkey is a uniquely American bird, and it gained popularity as the Thanksgiving main dish of choice for Americans after Thanksgiving was declared a national holiday in 1863.
Courtesy photos
'The Nutcracker,' scored by the Russian composer Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky, is still a popular and entertaining two-act ballet during the Christmas season. The Tulsa Ballet tackles this musical monument, its cast a compilement of physically skilled and talented local individuals.
'The Nutcracker' embodies spirit of holiday season EMERALD DEAN Features Editor @et_dean
It’s 1920s, Paris. Marie bolts forward and peers through the crowd of children, where her godfather, Drosselmeyer presents his finest toy—the beloved Nutcracker. Snow begins to fall and as the evening grows late, the Christmas Eve party comes to an end. Marie sneaks back out to the living room to grab her Nutcracker before falling asleep beside him. The clock strikes midnight and strange things begin to happen. Marie finds herself in a battlefield of toy soldiers waging a losing war against baby rats. Finally, Marie’s Nutcracker comes to life to defend her from the evil Mouse King. The battle isn’t won, however, until Marie takes off her shoe and throws it at the Mouse King, saving her Nutcracker and swiftly winning the battle for the toys. The Nutcracker, who turns into a Prince, takes Marie into
an Enchanted Forest where they are greeted by dancing snowflakes. “'The Nutcracker' embodies the spirit of the Holiday Season, as it lets us experience the purity of life through the eyes of a young soul,” said Marcello Angelini, Tulsa Ballet artistic director. Many Tulsans celebrate the holiday season with Tulsa Ballet’s presentation of “The Nutcracker.” The company has a few changes up its sleeves for Tulsa Ballet’s 60th anniversary. There is new choreography in Act 1 of the children dances by Yi Wang, a past Tulsa Ballet principle dancer for more than five seasons. But one thing has always remained the same throughout the years—dancers don’t get a “proper holiday.” Kaitlyn Gustin, ORU senior dance performance major, remembers long studio hours of “The Nutcracker” rehearsals at South Tulsa Children's Ballet with nostalgia. “I always loved being a part of the
Nutcracker. It gave me a chance to become a character, meet new people and dance more than usual. It was my favorite time of the year growing up,” Gustin recalls. “I think this is one of the reasons why I absolutely loved being Marie. It had been a dream and desire of my heart since I was little… It was definitely the most fun I had over all the years I participated in the Nutcracker. Of course, that meant six-hour rehearsals on both Saturdays and Sundays.” More than 14 years have passed since Tulsa Ballet changed “The Nutcracker,” and for the last three years it has set sales records. Angelini believes every “Nutcracker” has a finite life, and even this current edition is reaching the end of its era. While elegant, the production was a reflection to what the company was during the 70s and 80s. Angelini has hinted to Tulsa Ballet’s work on a newer production. “One of the reasons 'The Nut-
cracker' has been so popular all over the world during the past 60 years is that there is something for everybody in this story,” said Angelini. “While the children in the audience will enjoy the party scene, the opening of the presents, the growing of the Christmas tree, the little mice and the Nutcracker soldiers, and the humorous fight between the two factions and their leaders, the adults in the audience will perceive the hidden message in this story, a message that goes way below the surface. That message is of the struggle between good and evil, and that good always wins over evil.” Let your spirit dance this holiday season as Tulsa Ballet presents its 60th anniversary production of “The Nutcracker” at the Tulsa PAC on Dec. 10-11, 16-18 & 22-23. General Admission Tickets: $35
THE ORACLE • Friday, November 18, 2016 • 7
Q&A: Adam Hildebrandt talks returning home RUSSELL DORSEY Sports Editor @russ_dorsey1
There’s nothing like a good homecoming story in sports. LeBron James returning to Cleveland and Dwyane Wade coming back to Chicago are a few that come to mind, but it could be as simple as a broadcaster returning to his hometown to do what he’s dreamed of. Broken Arrow native Adam Hildebrandt is taking over the mic as the voice of ORU basketball and baseball this season and while it will be business as usual for him when each game starts, he’s taking the time to enjoy every minute of it.
RD: I know you’ve talked to Hax [Geoff Haxton] about the people and the programs here at ORU, what did he tell you? AH: "He had nothing but good things to say about everyone who I was going to meet here. The mindset, not only of the university, but the family atmosphere of both the basketball and baseball teams since those are the two I’ll be around the most. All those things have proven true so far. It’s been really nice to be accepted, not only myself, but my family as well.”
Russell Dorsey: You had your first official broadcast against Southeasterm Oklahoma on Nov. 2, how did it feel? Any nerves? Adam Hildebrandt: “I was kinda nervous earlier in the day, but just throughout the day realizing that I had done my prep work. I got to the Mabee really early in the day, got a chance to take some time to absorb the arena, pray a little bit. About an hour before broadcast there was way more excitement than nerves.”
RD: You’re going to do radio broadcasts for both ORU basketball and baseball. Between those two sports, which are you the most excited to call? AH: “Well that’s right now because basketball season has started. I think I’d probably say I’m more excited to call the basketball games, but baseball is my first love and I’m excited that was part of the position. A lot of Div. I jobs are just football and basketball, but with no football here. For me to get to see 50-plus regular season baseball games in addition to basketball is a win-win.”
RD: What made the ORU play by play job so appealing to you? AH: “It’s been a dream of mine to cover Div. I athletics. The bigger games. The bigger school. When this job opened, the opportunity to come and do it in my hometown was awesome. My parents still live in Broken Arrow and my wife’s parents still live in Broken Arrow. It was tough to tell the people at [Southwestern Oklahoma], who were awesome, that I might be leaving so quickly, but there was no way I was going to pass this up.” 8 • THE ORACLE • Friday, November 18, 2016
RD: What made you want to become a play by play announcer in the first place? AH: “I didn’t know I wanted to get into play by play until right before I went to college. Originally, I thought I was going to go into the Air Force. My plan was to go into the [Air Force] Academy and become a pilot. Before my senior year of high school, I went to sports media camp at Oklahoma State ... and got done with camp and immediately I was like ‘That’s what I wanna do.’ The reason I hadn’t thought about that is because I hadn’t thought of it as a career option. I’ve always forgotten to tell this story. My great grandmother had a house on 101st in between Mingo and Memorial. Her backyard had a clubhouse in it and behind the fence was a backstop and an empty field. As I’ve heard, because I was too young to remember, we would sit out there and I would call imaginary baseball games and every hit was a homerun. So apparently, that’s the earliest play by play that I’ve done.”
RD: Who was your favorite broadcaster growing up?
RD: In a dream scenario, if you could call any game, World Series, Super Bowl, Final Four, etc., what would you choose?
AH: “By the time I got to where I was really paying attention to what they were doing on the broadcast, Dave Hunziker was at Oklahoma State. Dave has always been one that I’ve looked up to. I don’t necessarily try to emulate him, because he is unique in his style, but I’ve certainly tried to emulate his work ethic. Bill Teegins is another guy. Because it occurred to me so late that I wanted to do this as a career, I didn’t really grow up idolizing any one guy, hopefully that’s an advantage for me and allows me to create my own style.”
AH: “Calling Game 7 of a World Series would be awesome. Calling any MLB playoff game would be a lot of fun, because every pitch is so heightened once you get to the postseason and the atmosphere is always electric and live even between pitches. That would be a big one for me. Calling a Div. I National Championship would be another one for me in any sport, but especially in basketball, baseball or football.”
RD: You’re a young guy and that’s different for a radio announcer. What makes you unique as a broadcaster? AH: “I just have a lot of memories of being taken to games via radio broadcasts and those are some of my most fond memories. I want to be able to bring that to people, kids, whoever who can’t be at the games and I want to be able to bridge that gap and provide fond memories for them as well. I try to have fun on broadcasts and be loose. If I’m not having fun broadcasting the game, then no one is going to have fun listening to it. That’s when people really get to know you as a broadcaster is when you’re having fun and letting your personality shine through."
Adam Hildebrandt attended Lincoln Christian High School in Broken Arrow before attending Oklahoma State University majoring in Sports Media.
Photos by Sydney Stoever Photos courtesy of Adam Hildebrandt Graphic by Jesse Paul Turner
THE ORACLE • Friday, November 18, 2016 • 9
Sports Golden Eagles secure fifth seed in tournament HALEY GIBSON Staff Writer @Gibson_hay
ORU volleyball won a tight three set match against IUPUI in the final regular season match of the season Sunday. The Jaguars came into the afternoon fiery and gave the Golden Eagles all they could handle with sets of 28-26, 28-26, 25-22. “Our two freshmen, in the middle did really well,” said Head Coach Sheera Sirola. “They played great, once we get to about 20 we tense up and it is harder for us to win the set.” Four players reached double digits in kills or assists for the Golden Eagles. Junior setter Lucija Bonjanjac finished with 55 assists in the match. Junior outside hitter Laura Milos continued her success, racking up 33 kills (11 per set) against IUPUI. Milos earned her fifth Summit League Offensive Player of the Week nod this season on Monday. It was the
11th of her career. “For me, just watching [Milos] fight for every point brings out the competitiveness in me,” said freshman Taylan Nero. “To turn and know she is fighting for everyone on the team. It makes me want to put those balls down for the team.” The team clinched a spot in the Summit League tournament after sweeping IPFW on Friday, Nov. 11. ORU's victory over IUPUI means the Golden Eagles will go into the Summit League Tournament as the fifth seed. “We are going to play Fort Wayne first round who we have already played and beaten twice,” said Sirola. “We are probably going to play more relaxed, they are the best draw for us this time.” The Golden Eagles closed the regular season with a 16-14 record as they head into tournament play this weekend. The tournament begins today, Friday, Nov. 18 and runs through Nov. 20 at the University of Denver.
Photo by Sydney Stoever
Laura Milos holds the title of best in the nation for points per set and aces per set, with 6.8 and .79, respectively. She is ranked second in the NCAA for kills per set and attacks per set.
Soccer season closes as seniors part ways HALEY GIBSON Staff Writer @Gibson_hay
Men's and women’s soccer concluded their 2016 seasons last weekend. While the women’s team fell short in the Summit League Championship Game, the men’s team missed the tournament for the first time in three years. The ORU men finished 6-10-2 overall and 2-4 in conference, despite being picked to finish third. It experienced its final loss against Omaha 3-1 on Nov. 5. “I think every single one of them embodies our core values,” said Head Men's Soccer Coach Ryan Bush on his outgoing seniors. “They’ve overachieved and they’ve kind of been the underdog and the overcomers [during their time] and I think they’ve taught the younger guys a lot about what it means to work and grind and transcend expectations.” Junior Santiago Riveros earned Summit League Second Team All-Summit honors. He started 16 games this season, and recorded six goals. He also tied first in the Summit with eight assists. Freshman defender Tyler LaCourse and goalkeeper Thibaut Giquel were chosen also for the 10 • THE ORACLE • Friday, November 18, 2016
Summit’s All-Newcomer team. Giquel had a save record of 71 percent this season, with 31 saves for the Golden Eagles. LaCourse made his defensive position known creating three shots on goal and started 12 games this season. “[The team has] meant a lot. We grew a culture here ever since my freshman year. We were the bottom of the whole NCAA and we brought the program around changed it into something special,” said redshirt senior Tyler Hill. The women’s soccer improved on a disappointing finish in the Summit League semi-final in 2015 and made it all the way to the championship game in 2016 . The team finished with a record 11-9-2 overall and 5-3 in conference. The team had a six-game winning streak leading up to a championship final at the end of the League tournament including three shutouts. Ryliegh Bohnenstiehl and Kelli Keller were named to the All-Tournament team. “I am confident in my team and believe in them, I know that we played hard and are capable of beating every team in our conference,” said senior midfielder Mariah Morgan.
Junior forward Lexi Jones led the Golden Eagles offensively this season. Jones appeared in 19 games leading the league in goals (11) and points (23). Both teams now begin offseason preparations and will return to the pitch next spring.
Photo by Sydney Stoever
Redshirt senior Tyler Hill made four goals during his time as a Golden Eagle. His most well-known goal came as the golden goal during the 2015 conference semi-final to send ORU to the finals.
Bad News NBA, The Warriors are the real deal
The Golden State Warriors have gone from the darlings of the NBA to villains after the team’s offseason addition of superstar Kevin Durant. Its already potent lineup, including Stephen Curry, Klay Thompson and Draymond Green, is now in a position to be better than ever. The Warriors have a 9-2 record on the season without having any real chemistry and that’s bad news for the rest of the NBA. Golden State is already a coach’s nightmare on offense and have already started to find a rhythm offensively. The team leads the NBA in scoring (117 points per game), assists (31 per game) and fourth in three-
point percentage shooting, hitting 37 percent of their shots from downtown. The Dubs’ offense has also shown it has three players capable of carrying the team on any night. Durant dropped 39 points on his former team, Curry torched the Pelicans for 47 and broke the NBA three-point record in the process on just 26 shots, and Klay Thompson led Golden State to a victory Sunday scoring 30 and the trio combined for 89 points. While the Warrior offense is rolling as expected, the defense has been a question mark. As of Nov. 18, the Warriors are the fourth-worst defensive team in points allowed (109 PPG). Draymond Green and Klay Thompson are elite defenders, but their defensive prowess hasn’t been able to cover up the Dubs defensive inadequacies. A recent comparison to this year’s Warriors team would be 2010-11 Miami Heat. Although the Heat played well and reached the NBA Finals before falling to the Dallas Mavericks, they also went through growing pains. The Heat had two long losing streaks of four and five games in the first season of the “Big Three,” but also put together a nine and 12-game winning streak. The Warriors will have a similar season. There will be many nights when the Warriors come out flat and play down to their level of compe-
Photo by Sydney Stoever
Photo by Sydney Stoever
RUSELL DORSEY Sports Editor @russ_dorsey1
Male Athlete of the Week Senior guard Jalen Bradley and junior center Albert Owens are the Oracle’s co-Male Athletes of the Week. Bradley and Owens added 21 points in the Golden Eagles' home opener on Monday. Owens led the way for ORU in the first half with 17 points, and Bradley closed the game out with 19 second half points. Men’s basketball continues their season against Mississippi at the Paradise Jam tournament in the Virgin Islands Friday, Nov. 18. Tip off is set for 2 p.m.
tition, but there will also be nights where everything clicks, the offense flows and they put up close to 130 points like the Phoenix Suns witnessed first hand last Sunday. Putting four All-Stars together like Golden State has and turning them into a well-oiled machine is easier said than done. It takes longer than one training camp and a handful of games to get chemistry. Each player also has to realize that they won’t be the man every night and taking 25 shots in a game might not be what’s best for the team. When Golden State struggles this season, there will be many fans who say the Warriors aren’t that good (I’m looking at you Thunder fans), but trust Steve Kerr is going to keep his squad on the right track. If they put it all together, look out NBA.
For additional coverage of ORU and national sports, follow Russell on Twitter at @Russ_Dorsey1
Courtesy Photo
Female Athlete of the Week
Basketball adds six recruits
Junior outside hitter Laura Milos is the Oracle’s Female Athlete of the Week. Milos received her fifth Summit League player of the week award for Nov. 7-13 and it was the 11th time receiving this award in her career. This was the final round of weekly award for the league in regular season. The Croatia native has played in 29 matches and 15 conference games with the Golden Eagles. She had 33 kills in three sets against IUPUI on Sunday averaging 11 kills per set doubling her season average.
The ORU men’s and women’s basketball teams each added three new recruits during the early signing period. The men’s team signed guards K.J. Malvaeu (Hill College-TX), Jamichael Morgan (Blue Valley Southwest HS-KS) and Emir Ahmedic (Southwest Christian Academy-AR). The women’s team added guard Maya Mayberry (Fayetteville High School-AR), who is the sister of current Kaylan Mayberry. The team also added guard Keni Jo Lippe (Adair High School-OK), and center Regan Schumacher (Olathe East High School-KS). THE ORACLE • Friday, November 18, 2016 • 11
Scene The Conversant Critic: Weber's superior root beer VICTORIA ATTERBERRY Scene and Muse Editor @Tory2495
Root beer lovers will enjoy Weber’s Superior Root Beer Restaurant. Located at Brookside on Peoria, this family owned and operated restaurant has been serving its signature root beer and food since 1933. The restaurant’s orange exterior is hard to miss. The burger joint has a tiny dining area, with just a few barstools facing the windows. There are also tables outside for extra dining room. Staff members play a huge part in the dining experience, and Weber’s has friendly faces to greet customers. They are also helpful to first time visitors, an added bonus for those who are unfamiliar with the restaurant's menu. Weber’s boasts a collection of All-American food including cheeseburgers, chili burgers, sausage burgers, coneys, french fries and onion rings. The food is homemade and served hot and fresh, but it’s not anything spectacular. The cheeseburger, topped with onions, pickles, and a choice of mayo, mustard or ketchup, is a tasty
yet average burger. The onion rings and french fries lack seasoning, giving them a very bland taste. Keep in mind the small order of fries and onion rings are large enough to feed two people. Half orders can be requested for individual dining. Also the small burger is smaller in size than most. The quarter pounder and third pounder are larger options. While the food isn’t something out of this world, Weber’s root beer makes the trip worthwhile. The classic drink, served in an ice-cold mug, is a delectable treat for visitors. Just the right amount of sweetness, vanilla and fizz, Weber’s Superior Root Beer is noticeably better than the typical A&W or Barq’s root beer. Root beer floats are also available. Weber’s root beer can also be bought online, for those who can’t get enough of the delicious soda. Customers can buy a 6, 12 or 24-pack. Weber’s is average in the food department. On the first visit, stay away from the traditional cheeseburger and go for something more unique such as the sausage burger or chili burger. Weber’s Root Beer, however, is a special treat and the main reason to give this food joint a try.
Photos by Jeremy Luczak
Weber's makes homemade vanilla ice cream used for the root beer floats.
Tulsa home to a variety of Christmas activities LAUREN BREWINGTON
tree in Oklahoma. Winterfest begins Nov. 27 and runs until Jan. 17. Crumpton Aviation and Helicopter Christmas It’s beginning to look a lot like Light Flights hosts helicopter tours to Christmas. In Tulsa, the Christmas hol- see the best Christmas lights in Tulsa. iday is filled with music, lights, trees, Every year, the Guthrie Green hosts movies, shopping and the overall joyous an event called Glow on the Green. It Christmas spirit. Many students will go is located downtown and this year it home to enjoy the Christmas festivities will be held Nov. 27. with their loved ones, but for those who Taking a visit to a Christmas tree are staying on campus, there are fun farm in Owasso is a special way to get things to do around the city to make out of Tulsa and explore more Christthe season feel a little more like home. mas traditions. Owasso is not far from The Philbrook Museum and its gar- Tulsa, and it offers the tradition of dens are a place to find special events cutting trees, drinking apple cider, and for the Christmas season. going on a hay ride. “The Philbrook Museum has a fan Some other light displays to see are tastic Christmas tree showcase and the Woolaroc Wonderland of Lights, gingerbread display,” said Tulsa native Lights On at Utica Square and Rhema Allison Paulson. Bible Church. The Winterfest, adjacent to the For those with nothing to do, Tulsa BOK center in downtown Tulsa offers has many heartwarming Christmas outdoor ice skating, hot chocolate, car- tricks up its sleeve. There are many riage rides, live entertainment and a locations to visit guaranteed to get view of the tallest outdoor Christmas anyone in the Christmas spirit. Staff Writer @laurenmonique__
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Photo By Caitlin Peach
Pottery Barn at Utica Square is known for having festive displays in its windows, attracting many who are visiting.
Muse Generosity is a two-way street
VICTORIA ATTERBERRY Scene and Muse Editor @Tory2495
The old saying “it’s better to give than to receive” is a shared value among many. People are constantly giving their time, money, resources, attention and physical gifts to others without ever expecting anything in return. When the holidays come, people scramble to stores to buy last minute gifts for friends and loved ones. The constant pressure to make sure everyone gets a gift can lead to a burn out very quickly. There is nothing wrong with giving. It’s a rewarding experience but receiving is just as important.
Receiving from others can be a difficult task. Sometimes feelings of having it all together and not needing any help can arise and other times, people don’t want to feel like a burden to others. Sometimes people feel as if they are obligated to give something else in return if they receive a gift. These feelings are normal, but it is important to understand some give not desiring anything in return. They simply just want to help or simply be kind. Declining a gift from a friend or loved one may seem like a favor but in reality it can be hurtful to the giver. Many people enjoy giving gifts or helping others. It’s their way of showing kindness and love. Declining a gift makes the giver feel as if his or her gesture is unwanted or not important and can lead to others feeling unappreciated. For strong relationships, receiving is a must. “Receiving creates a moment of connection and it invites us to welcome a vulnerable part of ourselves,” said PhD
author John Amodeo in an article on the Huffington Post. It’s okay to decline a gift every now and then, not every gift or gesture has to be received. But be sure not to fall into a constant habit of declining gifts. There’s nothing wrong with receiving gifts or even help from a friend.
Receiving is not something to shy away from. Don’t be afraid to accept a ride from a friend. Accept their offer to buy lunch or coffee. Don’t feel as if you have to do everything alone and don't deprive a generous heart of the gift of giving.
Photo by Jesse Paul Turner
Amelia Faulkner accepts a gift from Shawn Madison in the Hammer Center.
Happy Christmas, Merry Holidays
LYDIA ECHOLS Staff Writer @lyd_echols
During the holiday season, many people around the world engage in the debate between the terms “Merry Christmas” and “Happy Holidays.” Happy Holidays sparks an outrage with businesses across the nation, starting boycotts in the name of Christmas. This problem, however, can be solved
with a little tact and an awareness of the differences between many cultures. Basic etiquette requires the acknowledgment of the religion–or lack thereof–of friends, family and co-workers. If said person is a Christian, a “Merry Christmas” is appropriate. If the person is Jewish, “Happy Hanukah” is acceptable, and so on. If the religion or spiritual tradition of someone is unknown and the desire to wish them season’s greetings is imminent, a “Happy Holidays” is necessary. “Happy Holidays” is not “a degradation of Christianity or Christmas,” notes Paul Brandeis, a scholar in Global Spirituality and Religion. “Happy Holidays” is not inappropriate when used by businesses because of their desire to be inclusive to the dynamic they are catering to. In public schools or on public property, “Happy Holidays” is also appropriate, because again, the dynamic and diversity of attendees is so varied. In
2015, PRRI did a survey among Americans and found “nearly half (49 percent) say stores and businesses should greet their customers with “Happy Holidays” or “Seasons Greetings” instead of “Merry Christmas” out of respect for people of different faiths, while 43 percent disagree.” With the changing cultural dynamics of America, there is this idea there is a “war on Christmas.” But any Christian knows that Christmas is not about displays or signs in public places, but about the spiritual event that is celebrated and honored within families, churches and homes. Whether or not the words “Merry Christmas” are placed on the red Starbucks cup or on the business across the street, celebrate the season with everyone and also within the spirit. Refuse to let bitterness come into hearts at this time and let the holidays be happy and Christmas be merry. THE ORACLE • Friday, November 18, 2016 • 13
A change in the weather: An Oracle farewell
JADYN WATSON-FISHER Editor-in-Chief @jwatsonfisher
Down on LRC 1 lies the windowless Student Publications office. During production weeks I would get to school at 8:45 a.m. and it would be warm and sunny. By the time I left at 2:15 a.m. the next day, the temperature had dropped 30 degrees and rained. I began working at the Oracle last year. Some of my first-ever interviews were with Volleyball Coach Sheera Sirola and Women's Basketball Coach Misti Cussen. I was really nervous and my questions were probably horrible, but looking back they were a good place to start.
A few weeks later I was the co-online editor helping publish stories on our website, learning copy editing skills and what makes a photo good or bad. Those skills would come in handy when I was appointed editor-in-chief last December and had to do it for the entire paper. Deciding to work here changed me. I walked through deep valleys and climbed the highest mountains with the best people in the entire world. This is for them. I'll never forget going to Buffalo Wild Wings with the sports guys on a chilly October evening before the 2015 basketball media day and leaving with the nickname Nugget. In April, I was driving downtown with our design editor at the time to the Great Plains Journalism Awards freaking out because I was on I-244, I didn't know where we were going and I could barely see because it was raining. A few months ago we pulled four pages of the paper on Thursday morning and had to re-layout the paper. I
worked 15 hours until 1:30 a.m. But we printed a story about an event that happened Thursday night and people were impressed, so it all worked out. We've eaten more Reese's Peanut Butter Cups, Crunch Bars and KitKats this semester than I'd care to admit. And when I didn’t have any, I'd go over to the athletics office and eat theirs. The Oracle budget should just include a chocolate category. A large portion of the editors and designers have danced, rapped or lipsynced as part of our Oracle production night "brain break" fun. We now know how important it is to check the dateline. There's nothing like 17 staff members spending more than an hour putting on new covers instead of watching the sun stream through the windows in chapel. It's correct today. Headlines are the hardest part. Seriously. We always start with some really awful ones that serve as inspiration for the ones seen in print, except when we forgot to even try headlining the CodeX Hyperloop story so the page
read "Engineering Dept." Sorry. Some of my closest friends work here. We've laughed, cried, yelled and thrown dry erase markers at each other. Sometimes in Oklahoma it’s hard to tell what season it is. Yesterday the high was 81 degrees. Today it’s 55. We can have sunshine, rain and snow in 12 hours. Then when it seems like we have one season that wants to hold on, the next pops up unexpectedly and stays for awhile. Life is the same way. I came to ORU as a scared exploratory major who got lost going to Mrs. Garrison’s government class and was afraid of getting trampled by a 6-foot-8 basketball player (they’re harmless, in case you were wondering). If someone told me my first day of college on Aug. 14, 2014 I would someday lead the Oracle, I would've rolled my eyes. I'm glad I took the job, though. This seemingly never-ending summer season has been fun, but autumn is here and I’m ready to tackle a new adventure.
Bippity boppity adieu: a bittersweet goodbye
EMERALD DEAN Features Editor @et_dean
The show is over and the curtains are closing for the December graduates. We aren’t quite done yet. There is the building anticipation of graduation. Finals, unwritten articles, due dates looming around the corner. For me, the “senioritis” continues to build. Even now, as I sit writing my last article for the Oracle, I’m suddenly aware of the short amount of time I have left at ORU. Soon, I’ll be saying goodbye to my second home. It’s a strange feeling. I don’t think I’ll miss the late production nights of editing, creating headlines and photo captions. I don’t even think I’ll miss the labyrinth that we call the LRC. I know I won’t miss the Canada geese. But I know I’ll miss the people. I'll miss the pro14 • THE ORACLE • Friday, November 18, 2016
fessors who saw something in me when I couldn’t see it in myself. I'll miss the Oracle staff for bringing me on board and letting me be a part of their little "Ohana." With their help, I have been formed into the journalist I am now. A saying comes to mind: “how lucky I am to have something which makes saying goodbye so hard.” I’m taking more with me than classroom lessons. Nothing material, not an article in the Oracle, not a pen on the desk, not crumpled up sticky notes, but something indefinable, belief in myself. Changing to journalism has been the greatest gift to me. C.S. Lewis accurately describe my time here when he said, “Experience is the most brutal of teachers. But you learn, my God, do you learn.” I am different, changed in some infinitesimal way. I can never quite be the same again, and I am so grateful. So here I am as a convergence journalism major, writing my final article and listening to Christmas music while surrounded by staff members who deserve so much thanks. This is me. A girl who was told in high school by an English teacher that she couldn’t write. A girl who believed the labels put on her. A girl who has now been told by her college professors that she is ready to write professionally.
If I can leave any advice from my time here—don’t believe the labels. So, here I am, the current features editor of the Oracle who is thankful for every experience, piece of advice, and life lesson this staff, the professors and students have put into me. We’re all stories in the end. I think I’m making mine a good one. So, thank you. I truly am lucky to be a part of something which makes saying goodbye so hard. "Those of us in the thorny field of journalism know potential when we see it–in eyes scouring about for the truth (or rolling at the tasks ahead), in faces alive with the light of discovery and in hearts passionate about justice. It just shows. These two incredible women are a few short steps from launching careers that will surely make a difference–and perhaps even change the world. They are equipped with God-given gifts and well-honed skills refined and polished by things like working into the night to see that the story is just right and building teams that keep at it until the truth is uncovered and the story told. We bless you Jadyn and Emerald. We believe in you both, and expect to see great things under your bylines. Godspeed as you take the marvelous light of Christ out into the darkness of the world. Go shine!" —Dr. Linda Royall, director of student media
Photo by Sydney Stoever and Jeremy Luczak Graphics by Xavier Gonzalez and Alejandro Conteras
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16 • THE ORACLE • Friday, November 18, 2016