17 April 2023

Senior Issue, p. 2

TU making NIL marketplace, p. 3

Ryan Walters proposes ban on “pornographic” material, p. 4 Oklahoma could come for same-sex marriage, p. 5

Tips and tricks for finals, p. 6

Satire: Taylor Swift becomes antisemitic, p. 7

It has been an absolute blast working with this paper, and I am appreciative of all the people that came together to make it possible. None of what we have made this year could have happened without our dedicated

staff, each and every one of our writers and all those who gave interviews and tipped us off to developing stories. I cannot hardly believe that I have spent four years in and out of this office; from just writing to sports editor to managing editor to editor-in-chief, I have passed the better part of my undergraduate experience trying to meet publication deadlines.

About halfway through this semester I realized I would never finish everything I hoped to accomplish before leaving The Collegian. I have articles I wish I had written, stories I should have followed and updates to the office and to publication I wanted to implement. It was about a week ago I realized I would have to be okay with that. I and everyone else on staff did what we could, and now it is someone else’s turn. I had to realize I was never going to feel done with the job because to do so goes against the nature of the office. Next year’s staff gets to hold the keys now, and I wish them the absolute best of luck. I have loved it here, and I hope they do too.

unlike anything I ever expected to happen. Just for the heck of it, I decided to submit a press application for Riot Fest in Chicago. Big surprise, I got it! And with that came the opportunity of a lifetime. I photographed L.S. Dunes’ live debut, and the band shared all my pictures on social media, but it didn’t stop there. I was also able to photograph my favorite band, My Chemical Romance.

When I got back to The Collegian office, I decided to keep the energy going, and began applying for press passes for local shows at Cain’s Ballroom, and to my surprise, people kept saying yes. Over the course of this school year, I’ve photographed Gogol Bordello, Judah & the Lion, the Bobby Lees, the Melvins, Highly Suspect and even Bruce Springsteen. All just for The Collegian!

Well, it happened. The woke mob finally got me. Has cancel-culture gone too far? [Omit, rhetorical question - Zach]. I will no longer edit the satire section due to my potential imminent graduation. To the few

who actually read this, write for the collegian next year. I beg of you, you will probably not regret it. Few have. [Omit, sentence fragment - Zach]. Writing for the paper looks incredible on a resume and better yet, it can make you a better writer. The Collegian helped me by providing an outlet for my complaining and it can help you too.

After participating in a couple of shot-forshots what did I get? [Omit, rhetorical question - Zach]. Alcoholism and a good time. [Omit, sentence fragment - Zach]. Soon after, I began my stint as the only writer for the esteemed editor emeritus [emerita - Zach], Anna Johns. I became the editor a year ago, running unopposed because everyone else was too scared to challenge my satirical prowess.

Before The Collegian, I was [Omit, “to be” verb - Zach] a depressed snarky bastard. Now I am [Omit, “to be” verb - Zach] still a depressed snarky bastard, but now I kind of know how to use Adobe Products. This could be [Omit, “to be” verb - Zach] you!

about local news and a point-counter-point about national politics.

“That’s cool,” I thought to myself. “I should write an article for them one day.” And then I didn’t. At least, I didn’t for another three years. I continued hearing about the paper from close friends who served as editors and followed the never-ending drama of True Commitment and Student Association, but I never made the time to write an article myself. At the end of my junior year, I was approached by one of my editor friends about an opening on The Collegian staff. He knew I “liked to draw” and thought I could help create the covers. I had no experience with digital art and knew next to nothing about Adobe products, but I thought the job sounded fun, so I accepted it.

I am unbelievably grateful for The Collegian and what it has allowed me to do over the past four years. I started out as a staff writer before eventually becoming the social media manager — a position which helped me get a summer internship at TulsaPeople Magazine last year. Around the same time, I finally bit the bullet and did something I’ve always wanted to do: I became a music journalist and photographer.

As managing editor of the newspaper, I pioneered my own music column Music and Mayhem with Maddie. The results were

The biggest surprise from this whole experience is that I landed on the radar of New Noise Magazine. Since November, I’ve been working for them in my free-time. Never did I think I would land a position at a major music publication, but here I am.

Without The Collegian, I’m not sure I ever would’ve gotten the opportunity to show my writing and photography skills, and for that I’m truly grateful.

Thank you to everyone who has ever read The Collegian and to our wonderful staff who have worked tirelessly this entire school year.

I finally accepted and henceforth gained a great education in business management. Yay for beefing up a resume! Despite having to deal with the monster that is Paycom, I am so grateful for this past year. The staff have been wonderfully welcoming and understanding as I tried to figure out what I was doing. I’ve enjoyed ribbing Zach in the pitch meetings, chatting with the editors on Sundays and all the hangouts in between.

I remember the first time I discovered The Collegian. I was a freshman, hunched over my laptop at a table on the bottom floor of McFarlin, and I was looking for any opportunity to distract myself from the math homework I was supposed to submit in an hour. I spotted the beige-gray paper and bold blue logo of a newspaper on the table across from me, which I quickly realized must be the university’s student paper. It offered me a welcome distraction with updates on TU’s sports teams, some comments

Here I am, a year later, with a couple dozen covers and a handful of articles completed. It’s been a learning-curve for sure, with late nights watching Adobe Illustrator tutorial videos and long work days on Sundays trying to navigate the ins-and-outs of Photoshop, but it’s been a joy and a privilege to work with The Collegian staff. To my fellow editors, thanks for taking a chance on me, thanks for helping me learn and thanks for the laughs on those long Sunday work days.

Gratefully,

Celeste

(Cliche beginning:) Well, here we are. It seems only yesterday I was reading the letters of the seniors last year and thinking of all they accomplished. The main difference between now and then is that I was not on The Collegian staff this time last year. So first off, I would like to thank Zach and Maddie for taking a chance on some rando they didn’t know to be the new business manager. I first heard of the opportunity of working for The Collegian through some very good friends who were insistent that there were positions open with good pay and good hours. Being a broke college student,

Perhaps the best part of this past year has been getting to actually write articles for The Collegian. I have absolutely LOVED getting to share my opinions and writing style with the staff and the small but dedicated audience of readers. My endless need for validation was fed by the encouragement of family and friends who had beforehand never heard of The Collegian. I am so glad that I listened to Logan and Callie and joined TU’s student newspaper. Without them, I might have never discovered my love for writing.

Final shoutout to Kyle for accepting all my wacky satire articles and to Bella for letting me write my review of a year-old album. My best wishes to the new staff, keep up the great work! Y’all will do amazingly. My senior year has been beautifully colored by this new experience in the world of newspaper writing and publication. Goodbye from your business manager, part-time writer and proud member of the resident Collegian Catholics.

Celeste McAtee Graphic Designer Emerita

Maddie Walters Managing Editor Emerita

Zach Short Editor-in-Chief Emeritus

Kyle Garrison Satire Editor Emeritus

Mary Lickona Business Manager Emerita

TU women’s tennis wins during Senior Night

Sports writer Carlota Soler Vázquez discusses Laia Conde Monfort’s and Lian Benedejcic’s wins during Senior Night.

With just two more matches before women’s Tulsa Tennis departs for Florida to defend the AAC title. The team made Senior Day a memorable win against Cincinnati, who could not leapfrog the Tulsa players and returned to Ohio with a demolishing loss of 4-0.

After a victory by freshmen Amy Leather and Myroslava Zlenchuck at the third position and a defeat by Marian Berlanga and Lily Hutching at the first position, Laia Conde Monfort and Ana Naranjo Martinez determined the outcome of the double point at the second position.

development for many tennis players. Results have proven how the team culture enhances academic and athletic performance, having three players playing professionally recently after graduating and an average GPA of 3.35 for the 2021-2022 academic year. Head Coach Dean Orford has succeeded in developing exemplary athletes and recruiting individuals who possess the qualities to contribute to the team’s values.

“The bigger picture is promoting a growth mentality of getting better every day,” says Head Coach Orford.

In a fiercely contested set, they emerged victorious with a 7-5, thus securing the match’s first point.

Exceptional performances in singles play by Monfort and Zelenchuk raised the Hurricane’s score to 3-0 with only two sets. Sophomore Ana Naranjo Martinez sealed the win for the team and ended the dual match at 4-0 after seizing the advantage of the first set and holding it until the very end.

The Michael D. Case Tennis Center has been a center of physical and mental

Commendable scores validate that not even the deliberately planned demanding schedule for this season is an impediment to keep celebrating victories for these ladies, and head coach Orford takes great pride in it. In his sixteenth season as a head women’s tennis coach at TU, Orford has excelled at recognizing and strengthening talent in new players. However, he knows that distinction requires more than just natural easiness; it is “the deep desire of winning that separates many of the players from being merely good.”

This insatiable thirst for victory has fueled the women’s Tulsa Tennis team’s growth mentality and allowed them to commemorate games such as the one on Senior Day this past Apr. 8,. Seniors Laia Conde Montfort and Lian Benedejcic received a heartwarming welcome to their last home game with a symbolic ceremony, acknowledging their loyalty to the TU colors. According to coach Orford, replacing such quality leadership from both seniors is challenging as “they have outworked considerable college-level sports captains with their sterling ethics.”

The excitement from a win, the frustration from a loss and all the following bittersweet feelings after games will soon end for Monfort and Benedejcic at the University of Tulsa. The Michael D. Case Tennis Center has been home to countless smiles of joy and post-game hugs caused by tense matches played by both seniors. As Conde Monfort and Benedejcic enter their new era, the team will persist in turning players into powerful young women who keep feeding the flame of competitiveness and commitment to excellence.

TU introducing three new NIL platforms

Sports editor Callie Hummel discusses the new ways TU student athletes can make money while playing.

ing events, stadium signage or other types of visibility. GHSP Allied NIL helps to close this gap and make these partnerships easier for athletes and the university.

Tulsa Academic Enhancement deals less with corporate sponsors and advertisements, instead acting as a resource for the

TU does not make money off the NIL deals that their athletes acquire and have stated that the main reason they’re creating these partnerships is continuing to make TU a better place for student athletes. Potential athletes might see the financial support TU is trying to acquire for their cur-

If there’s one thing everyone knows about The University of Tulsa, it’s that they love their athletes.

It should come as no surprise, then, that the athletics department has worked with administration to create more Name, Image, Likeness (NIL) deals for their student athletes. An NCAA rule that just changed in 2021, the Supreme Court NCAA v. Alston now allows for collegiate athletes to collect money from the microfame they might acquire from being a top athlete. While TU hasn’t seen many big deals from this yet, it is especially apparent in state schools that have more of a following in their collegiate sports. The two highest earners from NIL deals in 2022 were Alabama quarterback Bryce Young and LSU gymnast Olivia Dunne who both reported making over $1 million throughout the year.

To bring some of these opportunities to TU, the university partnered with three different NIL platforms this semester to ben-

efit student athletes. This means that, with the help of Opendorse, TU now has an Official NIL Marketplace. These partnerships include GHSP Allied NIL, Tulsa Academics Enhancement and Hurricane Impact, Inc, each of which benefit student athletes in different ways.

GHSP Allied NIL provides corporate sponsors with the option to include the intellectual property of TU, like the logos you see on uniforms or other trademarks belonging to the university, during specific athlete’s NIL deals, or bigger corporate deals with the university as a whole. Since a majority of NIL deals require an athlete on video, it’s important that sponsors have permission to broadcast a student advertisement if they’re wearing TU’s logo. Sponsors can also choose to partner with the entirety of TU athletics through the Golden Hurricane Sports Properties. This can be a way for businesses around TU to advertise their company through sponsor-

students to continue playing for TU. Tulsa Academic Enhancement gives out awards, up to $8,000 per calendar year, to help student athletes with tuition, books, room and board or any other academic expenses that their athletic and university scholarships don’t already cover. These awards are not generally financed by corporate sponsors as the athletes do not do anything in return for the award, so they are generally donations from alumni or people of the Tulsa community.

The final platform is Hurricane Impact, Inc. Despite holding the Golden Hurricane name, this is an independent 501 (c) (3) nonprofit. The goal is to accept donations to help athletes financially. The new website that just launched on Apr. 1 gives donors the option for one time donations or monthly recurring ones on a Silver Level ($1,000), Gold Level ($2,500) or Platinum Level ($5,000).

rent athletes as an incentive to pick this university over others.

Despite the diverse range of different organizations athletes can seek support from, a majority of the funds are still coming from the same people TU regularly asks money from– alumni and already established donors. Many former athletes already make regular donations to the athletics department and it seems improbable to predict they will increase their donations with the acquisition of new programs, especially if they continue to see their TU teams losing. Instead of creating new paths for the same people to donate money, TU should look into integrating themself further into the local companies in Tulsa to get outside funding and look for more corporate sponsorships instead of donations.

“... with the help of Opendorse, TU now has an Official NIL Marketplace.”

Courtesy @TulsaHurricane on Twitter

“The bigger picture is promoting a growth mentality of getting better every day...”

Courtesy @TulsaFootball on Twitter

New rule proposing to ban books with “pornographic materials”

Ryan Walters claims a school in the Oklahoma City School District had a “grossly inappropriate” book which has led him to propose new censorship regulations for school libraries.

Aurora Stewart Student Writer

Oklahoma State Superintendent Ryan Walters is pushing for punishments for schools who have obscene materials in their libraries.

He began this campaign as a reaction to a book he claimed to be a part of the Oklahoma City Public School collection. He described it as “grossly inappropriate” and publicly railed against the school district despite their claim that it was not in fact a part of their collection.

Walters now wants the State Board of Education to be able to downgrade the accreditation status of districts that have books or items found to contain what he describes as “pornographic materials” or “sexualized content.” He released a video criticizing the school district for allegedly having a graphic novel depicting sexual scenes at one of their schools. A post by a right wing social media account is what initially made the claim that the book “Let’s Talk About It: The Teen’s Guide to Sex, Relationships, and Being a Human” was available at one of their schools. The district has asserted that this book is not a part of their physical or digital library.

In response to Walters’ video the school district explained in a series of tweets that

this book was removed previously following an audit of their library, but they did not provide when it was removed.

Walters has officially asked the State Board of Education to approve the administrative rule he proposed. This rule would expand the board oversight on school libraries and allow them to reprimand districts based on their contents.

This rule, if implemented, would be part of a larger trend of book censorship in schools implemented nationwide by republicans.

If Walters is successful Oklahoma public school districts will be required to annually report all library content to the State Board of Education, and both the school district and the State Board of Education would need to implement a way to respond to all complaints about library contents.

The State Board of Education already has regulations concerning sensitive content in school materials. There is little difference in the state’s definition of “obscene material” which they already regulate, and Walters’ definition of the “pornographic materials” and “sexualized content” he wants to fight against. Walters defines these as:

“Pornographic materials”:

Depictions or descriptions of sexual content which are patently offensive as found by the average person applying contemporary community standards, considering the youngest age of students with access to the material. Materials that, taken as a whole, have as the dominant theme an appeal to prurient interest in sex as found by the average person applying

contemporary community standards. A reasonable person would find the material or performance, taken as a whole, lacks serious literary, artistic, educational, political or scientific purposes or value.

“Sexualized content”:

Not strictly pornographic but otherwise containing excessive sexual material.

The administrative rule proposed by Walters is also similar to the rules adopted in Oklahoma following House Bill 1775, which bans teaching about con -

cepts such as gender and race. House Bill 1775 allows the State Board of Education to downgrade accreditations for schools that both teach about these concepts or provide materials that discuss these concepts. Two school districts, Tulsa and Mustang Public School, have already had their accreditation downgraded as a result of this bill. The addition of Walters’ administrative rule would likely increase the loss of accreditations in school districts across the state.

What Trump’s arrest will mean for his election prospects

A total of 34 felony counts have been filed for falsifying records, marking the first time in history a former president has surrendered to law enforcement and was placed under arrest.

Aurora Stewart Student Writer

Donald Trump’s recent arrest marks the first time in history that a former president surrendered to law enforcement and was placed under arrest.

The indictment revealed that Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg charged Trump with 34 felony counts for falsifying New York business records in an attempt to hide damaging information and unlawful activity prior to the 2016 election.

Trump pleaded not guilty to these charges, the majority of which involved hush money payments. The main focus of this case is on $130,000 in payments that Trump’s thenfixer Michael Cohen made to adult film star Stormy Daniels. Along with this, prosecutors outlined a $30,000 payment to a former Trump Tower doorman “who claimed to have a story about a child Trump had out of wedlock.” They also referenced a payment to former Playboy model Karen McDougal of $150,000 to silence her about an alleged affair before the 2016 election.

Hush money is not illegal under state law, but Bragg is claiming Trump falsified business records by hiding monthly reimbursement payments he made to Cohen as checks for legal services.

Whether or not Trump is found guilty of these charges, the larger question is what impact his arrest will have on his prospects for the upcoming 2024 presidential election.

Dr. Jeffrey Hockett, political science professor at The University of Tulsa, claims that while his indictment is unlikely to hurt him during his nomination process, it may damage him during the general election.

“Primaries tend to attract the most ideologically motivated voters, and in Trump’s case, those individuals are likely to regard his prosecution as illegitimate. By contrast, independent voters who previously supported Trump will be more likely to view his legal jeopardy in New York (and possibly in several other jurisdictions) as a liability. However, it is worth noting that those working on Trump’s 2024 presidential campaign must also worry about other issues that may work even more strongly against their candidate. I’m thinking, in particular, about the curtailment of abortion rights and the expansion of gun rights.”

Dr. Matt Hindman, also a political science professor at The University of Tulsa,

similarly claims the indictment may help Trump secure his 2024 nomination.

“So far, there isn’t a strong reason one way or another to think that Trump’s indictment will have a major impact on the campaign. Polls show majority support for the

various legal problems may all add up to stronger opposition to his campaign. If he’s convicted, it may complicate his ability to serve as president if, for instance, he faces prison time. In the short term, though, it’s keeping his name in the news.

indictment among all Americans, though these numbers fall rather predictably along lines of whether Americans do or don’t approve of Trump. (In other words, those who supported Trump before continue to do so, while those who opposed him before continue to do so.)

This indictment may only be the beginning of legal troubles for former President Trump, as there are other potential criminal indictments awaiting him in Georgia (because of his meddling in the 2020 election) and at the federal level (because of mishandling of classified documents as well as his role in the Jan. 6 insurrection). Those

While there are far more questions than answers as to how all of this impacts Trump’s campaign for president, one thing that does seem clear is that his legal woes seem to be helping him among Republicans. In short, Trump’s indictment may not help him win in November 2024, but they seem to be helping him in his quest to secure the 2024 Republican nomination.”

Overall we can not know the impact of Trump’s indictment on his 2024 election prospects in the status quo. We do know the amount of coverage it is giving Trump will likely help him secure his 2024 nomination.

Ryan Walters wants to create new regulations regarding books allowed in public schools.

courtesy Ryan Walters for OK State Superintendent on Facebook

“This indictment may only be the beginning of legal troubles for former President Trump...”

Oklahoma undermines marriage equality

After listing his reasons for removing federal protection of the right to abortion, Justice Alito went to great lengths to assure the public that overruling Roe and Casey would not imperil other fundamental rights of heart and home, particularly the right to same-sex marriage recognized in Obergefell v. Hodges (2015). As he stated, the right to same-sex marriage is “inherently different from the right to abortion because the latter…uniquely involves…‘potential life.’” Further, he noted that the right to same-sex marriage does not “involve the critical moral question posed by abortion.”

“reconsider” and “overrul[e]” Obergefell. Recent developments in Oklahoma’s legal landscape illuminate the rejuvenated assault on marriage equality. On Feb. 13, Oklahoma County District Court Judge Lynne McGuire revoked the parental rights of a woman on account of her marriage to another woman. Kris Williams and Rebekah Wilson were married when Wilson gave birth to a son via artificial insemination. Despite Williams’ marriage to Wilson at the time her son was born, in the couple’s divorce proceedings Judge McGuire revoked Wil -

Alex Thomason Student Writer

When the U.S. Supreme Court overruled Roe v. Wade (1973) and Planned Parenthood v. Casey (1992) last summer, it offered two primary justifications for its decision to revoke the 50-year-old right to abortion. In his majority opinion in Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization (2022), Justice Samuel Alito explained that, in his view, the right to abortion is not “deeply rooted in this Nation’s history and traditions” and therefore cannot enjoy constitutional protection. Justice Alito then offered a second argument in his effort to prove the illegitimacy of Roe and Casey: not only is the right to abortion ahistorical, but its recognition was also undemocratic. By recognizing a right to abortion, he writes, the Supreme Court “usurped the power to address a question of profound moral and social importance that the Constitution unequivocally leaves for the people.” He went further, declaring that by recognizing a right to abortion, the Court “shortcircuited the democratic process” and that such an “error…cannot be allowed to stand.”

This attempted distinction between the right to abortion and the right to samesex marriage provides little comfort. The methodology deployed to overrule the right to abortion can easily be translated into a decision overruling Obergefell. Just like the right to abortion, the right to same-sex marriage does not enjoy a firm foundation in our nation’s history and tradition, and its recognition by the U.S. Supreme Court halted democratic deliberations over whether to permit or prohibit same-sex marriage. Moreover, the Court’s Republican-appointed justices’ opposition to the right to marriage equality mirrors their objection to the right to abortion. All four dissenters in Obergefell — three of whom still sit on the Court — characterized the right to samesex marriage as unsupported by history and as an infringement on the democratic process. Understanding this connection, several justices have revealed their appetite for revoking the right to same-sex marriage. For example, in 2020, Justice Alito himself joined a statement describing the Court’s decision in Obergefell as one in need of “fix[ing].” In his concurrence in Dobbs, Justice Thomas implored the Court in his concurring opinion to

liams’ parental rights and recognized Wilson and the couple’s sperm donor as the child’s legal parents. Had Williams been a man married to Wilson in an opposite-sex marriage, her legal parentage would be automatically presumed under Oklahoma law. Similarly, had Williams been a man married to Wilson in an opposite-sex marriage, she would not have to formally adopt her son to enjoy parental rights, as Judge McGuire faulted her for not doing. This disparate treatment of same-sex couples obviously violates Obergefell and subsequent decisions affirming marriage equality. Nevertheless, Judge McGuire chose not to apply these precedents to Williams’ marriage, and Williams lost custody of her son as a result.

The Oklahoma Supreme Court’s recent abortion decision also reveals the precarious future of marriage equality. In dissenting from the Court’s recognition that Oklahomans have a right to life-preserving abortion under the state constitution, Chief Justice John Kane explicitly links the democratic argument used to overrule Roe and Casey with the right recognized in Obergefell. He explained that “[t]his Court should adhere to the

Constitution given to us, not craft what we believe to be a ‘better’ Constitution. That power lies with the people.” He then cites Justice Thomas’ dissenting opinion in Obergefell, writing that when judges “stray from the text of the Constitution,” they “exalt [themselves] at the expense of the People.” Vice Chief Justice Dustin Rowe offered similar arguments in his dissenting opinion, lamenting that “rather than allowing the democratic process to play out” the Court had “imposed its own policy preferences upon the People of our State.” This argument, as Chief Justice Kane’s dissent exemplifies, can be applied with equal force to Obergefell. Williams intends to appeal Judge McGuire’s order stripping her of her parental rights, and her case is likely to reach the Oklahoma Supreme Court. This appeal provides a prime test case for the Oklahoma Supreme Court to undermine marriage equality across the state, and it could likewise offer the U.S. Supreme Court an avenue through which to do the same across the nation. If 50 years of precedent could not save Roe, then eight years of precedent will not save Obergefell. All that matters is whether these courts consider the right to same-sex marriage ahistorical and undemocratic. We already know they do.

How shootings have redefined our media

Media details shootings in a multitude of ways, yet a commonality between sites and sources is the term “mass shooting.” Regardless of where you hear the term “mass shooting,” these words are nearly inseparable and are often seen together. Ever since Columbine, the deadly school shooting in 1999, there have been over 377 school shootings alone, and over 2,000 lives claimed in mass shootings since 1999 in total.

The newest shooting at the bank in Louisville is the latest in a string of shootings that have plagued the nation. Whether these shootings occur in a mall, an elementary school or a bank, they all have one thing in common — they are all considered mass shootings.

Alex Soeder Student Writer

A little over two weeks after yet another mass shooting has occurred, and there is still no motive over why the mass shooter Audrey Hale claimed six lives at an elementary school on April 14.

This definition of what constitutes a mass shooting has dominated the forefront of news efforts, with mass shooting being a commonplace term among other titles such as “How-To…” or “Identify and Solve…” articles. Shootings have become so common in the U.S. that we have a term to differentiate the number of those killed in them. This term has redefined how lives are claimed in shootings, and it is defined by Google as, “A mass shooting is a crime in which an attacker kills or in -

use when somebody is clearly at high risk of doing something with a firearm, but they can’t be arrested because no crime has been committed and they don’t appear to need a mental health hold or qualify for one,” as quoted by Amy Barnhorst, a psychiatrist at UC Davis Health, as well as an expert on the prevention of violence.

When shootings are presented on the news, verbiage has shifted to include

“mass” in a significant portion of those news reports. A stark increase in the number of mass shootings has resulted in a shift in how these shootings are defined. When our shootings are defined by numbers, and lives are simple statistics, when are these laws going to be enacted to stop the near-never-ending cycle of gun violence?

A gunman, Connor Sturgeon, walks into a bank and opens fire, claiming four lives in the process on April 10.

Joshua Barrick, 40; Juliana Farmer, 45; Tommy Elliott, 63; and James Tutt, 64, were the four victims in this shooting committed by Sturgeon.

Across the United States, these incidents are not alone. Mass shootings happen almost every single week, and we as Americans have gotten used to hearing about said shootings. When shootings occurred decades ago, they were isolated events and were horrific to hear about; yet now, in 2023, we hear about shootings once or twice a week, with each one becoming normalized to a point where shootings are normalized.

jures multiple individuals simultaneously using a firearm.”

The redefinition and clarification of an act to claim lives, one which specifies how many lives have to be claimed at a minimum, is an utterly devastating difference that disgustingly sums up how atrocious these acts have become, as well as how often these acts occur.

The sheer number of these life-ending events has shifted how reporters discuss these acts. This, in and of itself, should be disturbing enough to wish to enact change. The bare minimum of laws or rules that should be enacted includes those such as red flag laws.

By definition, red flag laws are “a tool law enforcement and others can

Don’t be surprised when Obergefell v. Hodges is next to fall.

“If 50 years of precedent could not save Roe, then eight years of precedent will not save Obergefell.”

courtesy supremecourt.gov

Alito took his seat on the Supreme Court in 2006.

Every shooting that claims four or more victims is now coined a mass shooting rather than a shooting.

“The sheer number of these life-ending events has shifted how reporters discuss these acts.”

TU finals survival guide

With a week left until finals, here are a few tips to keep you sane.

Isabella Herrera Variety Editor

We can all agree finals are very stressful, from the long hours of studying to the many hours we spend crying -- and trust me, we are all crying. But it is important to remember to take care of yourself, while still getting that test score that will hopefully save your GPA. So, here are a few tips and tricks to prepare for finals.

Go to class:

With class coming to an end, you probably just want to take the last couple of classes to study for the coming exam. This is probably one of the biggest mistakes you can make so don’t do it. Instead, go to classes during the last week before finals. Not only could this help your attendance or participation grades, but it will also give you the chance to get some last minute tips from professors who want to show some appreciation to the students who cared to show up. This is also a great chance to ask your professors some questions about the exam, project or presentation that is due soon.

You Need to Study:

Studying is important, but it’s sometimes hard to find the right place on campus when everyone is trying to do the same thing. There are many places on campus to study including the library, where you can get a great-tasting latte in the cafe before cracking open that textbook for the first time in weeks. The library has two large and quiet student study rooms, plus multiple floors filled with tables and chairs if you would rather prefer to with some light background noise.

Now, if you hate the idea of being in a room while it’s sunny out, then take the textbooks outside and enjoy the nice weather in one of the many green spaces we have on campus. The Old U sits beautifully in front of McFarlin Library, and, although it is a more central location on the campus, you can still find enough quiet space to study while working on a nice summer tan. If sitting in an occasionally busy part of campus doesn’t seem like the best spot for you then head over to The New U located in front of Chapman Hall. This field is just as beautiful but it sits on the edge of campus making it less of a traffic area, but more students tend to take the opportunity to relax on this field for that very reason.

Take a break:

Although studying is important, so is self-care. Trying to keep up with laundry, dishes, and cleaning cans sometimes feel hard when you are so focused on your presentation coming up. A good trick to stay on track with studying while still keeping your space clean is to use study breaks to clean. After studying for an hour, step away from your desk and take a 15-20 minute break to do a chore. Not only does this give your brain a simple task allowing for rest time but it also gives you a chance to wash those dishes that have been sitting in your sink for the past couple of days. This trick is very helpful as we tend to work better in calm or clean environments. With enough breaks between studying you could get a whole day’s worth of cleaning in between memorizing all of those formulas and equations to ace that exam.

You need to sleep: When finals come around, we tend to throw the idea of sleep out the window and use the night to study even more. But sleep is important as it gives your brain the time it needs to rest while still absorbing and processing all the information. It is

Local band releases electrifying EP

Variety writer meets true punk with Honduh Daze and never recovers.

Mary Lickona Business Manager

Honda Days? Nah, Honduh Daze. Meet the dealership punk duo whose music will chill your soul and give you the gutwrenching bangerz you deserve. Honduh Daze is the Tulsa punk band composed of Terry Ball and Jamie Weiner, and “Beater EP” is their latest creation.

I am not not much of a true punk listener. I am a wittle baby who sticks to her pop-punk, just reveling in my teensy tastes of more aggressive music without having to swallow the harder stuff. But when I heard that a local Tulsa band had released a

ly head-banging. The drums! The drums were slaying and a guitar joined in.

Then, the detective came back. I decided to accept him as a motif of the song and continued head-banging. The raspy singer returned with PUNK and began sticking it to the man. Yes! Fuck it up! Scream-sing! The cymbals and drums were drumming in my chest and I was living but also nervous, kind of like when you are anxious.

About nine minutes in the band utilized some static that felt like the end of the world. An automated voice began threatening Honda before the beat dropped and the cymbals returned. The automated voice repeated its threats with reverb in a way that caused me to boogie a bit.

Then, the music was pitched higher and higher. More voices joined in and this time an old computer advertisement started blaring. with a creepy, maniacal laugh.

good to plan a healthy sleep schedule which means don’t go to bed too late when you need to wake up early. Getting a good amount of sleep is a vital piece of finals week because no matter how hard you study, one bad night of sleep could make or break your focus one the day of the test.

Plan Everything: Planning out everything that needs to get done is a great way to stay on track. This could be as easy as a to do list or a very in depth and color coordinated spreadsheet. When writing down everything and placing tasks in certain time frames, it makes it a lot easier to see the amount of work you need to get done and how much time you have

to do it. By planning everything out in advance it also gives you a physical picture of how much time you’ll need for that project or essay.

Finals will always seem like the end of the world, but with these tips and tricks finals might be a little less stressful this semester. Remember to eat well, sleep well and don’t sabotage your study environment by forgetting about chores. Classes might seem like they are over, but continue to go during the last week to get some insight about your final from your professor and make sure to plan everything and don’t just go with the flow. There’s only a few more weeks left before summer and the best way to enter the summer heat is knowing you crushed that test. Good luck on your finals!

23-minute EP, I was intrigued. Let’ss support local artists! Support artists in general! So, I cozied down with a blanket and a pair of headphones to experience “Beater EP.”

And I have been scarred for life, yet also electrified.

The EP began with a deep bass that vibrates and immediately caught my attention. Someone began speaking as if giving a testimony in a documentary about a “Stranger Things” type of situation, describing a horrific event that they survived. Then some eerie, swaying noises that I can only describe as the sound a metal disc would make as it spins around crept in.

A man with an old-timey detective voice spoke in my ear as the eerie noises were amplified. He details a government murder situation with killing animals and hanging them in trees (here’s where I started to get scared).

And then the drums started. Hell yeah, but the man with the detective voice cropped up again. However, before I had time to be afraid again, an epically raspy voice began to scream and I started violent-

Then the beat slowed down and the cymbals returned with a deliberate vengeance.

“The unexpected is cool,” screeched the singer and I agreed.

And let us not forget the sponsor of this song, Honda. Honduh Dazes will not forget where it came from, nor will it forget the deals that Honda provides and the origins of dealership punk.

The song continues with some agonizing screams and rocket-like noises. Toss in some synth that hurts my throat and another person speaking, this time pleading for their life.

The beat returns with the main singer and some more synth that is very pleasing to hear. Hark, time for the ‘bat screams,’ coupled nicely with yet more drums.

“Beater EP” finishes with some explosion noises and if the purpose of art is to move the listener, I have been moved.

Honduh Dazes has an upcoming show May 29 at The Whittier Bar. Go show some love to this sick band who will shake your soul and take you on a roller coaster of emotions.

Dr. David Tingey is an associate professor of German and comparative literature who received his Ph.D. at the University of Washington in St. Louis. Beyond being an erudite professor, Tingey is an incredibly interesting man, having lived in East Germany when the Berlin Wall fell and played guitar in his own alternative rock band in Seattle whenever bands like Soundgarden were gaining traction. Tingey’s “Faust” class has been one of my favorites in my time at TU.

What’s your favorite book? What book would you say all undergrads need to read before they graduate?

My favorite book is Dostoevsky’s “Brothers Karamazov.” Everyone should read Goethe’s “Faust.” Mozart’s “The Magic Flute” is really powerful, too, but it’s a short libretto (set to the most beautiful music).

What’s reading like for you? Is there a specific setting, mood, drink set-up?

Usually, I read in bed in the morning. Nothing fancy.

Is there a movie/show that you always return to?

The TV shows I watch over and over again are “MASH,” “Seinfeld,” “The Office,” “Big Bang Theory.” Anyone who has had a class with me also knows I’m a lifelong “Star Wars” fan (episodes IV-VI).

What was the last book/movie/show that you actually found funny?

I rewatched “Red” recently. What a great cast. I hope Bruce Willis will overcome the aphasia and be able to act again.

What’s your favorite Tulsa restaurant?

Do you have any food/restaurant routines?

My favorite restaurant is El Tequila. I love Mexican food. Is there a media/pop culture/entertainment/music side to you that students wouldn’t expect?

I have always liked to read books written for young teens, especially fantasy: C.S. Lewis’s “Narnia” series, Brandon Mull’s “Fablehaven” series, Harry Potter, Tolkien, Michael Scott’s “The Secrets Of The Immortal Nicholas Flamel” series. As mentioned earlier, I’m a big “Star Wars” fan. I did not like episode 8, and I blame 9’s shortcomings on 8. I even enjoy “The Clone Wars” and “Rebels” cartoon series. (And

don’t tell anyone, but I enjoyed “Solo” and “Rogue One.”)

If you had to pick three songs for a Playlist of Your Life, what would they be?

This is the most difficult question you’ve posed. I’m going to give five: (1) Thomas Dolby’s “Europa and the Pirate Twins,” a song of the 1980s expressing hope for an eventual reunification of divided Cold War Europe (I was in East Germany when the Berlin Wall fell). (2) Foo Fighters’ “Learn To Fly,” a Faustian striving and search for knowledge, music, freedom, love, and redemption. (3) Weezer’s “End Of The Game,” a search for the music and a tribute to the great Van Halen (R.I.P., EVH). As I’ve grown older, The Beatles’ “In My Life” has taken on greater meaning. It’s John Lennon’s look back with fondness on the people, places and things in his life, with a reminder that the loved ones of the present far outweigh those figures of the past. And I love and share the optimism of Howard Jones’ “Things Can Only Get Better.”

Could you say more about your music/ band past?

I played guitar and bass guitar in an alternative rock band in the mid-1980s (19841987) in Seattle. We called ourselves “The Buskers.” We had a saxophone, trumpet and trombone in the band. At dances we covered songs from The English Beat, The Police, The Clash, Modern English, Tears For Fears, The Romantics, INXS, the Blues Brothers, The Beatles and played our own stuff. We recorded two “albums” over two years with about 15 original songs. We were invited to an hourlong radio interview at KCMU (now KEXP), one of the early independent alternative rock stations in Seattle, housed in a small space in the basement of the Communications Building at the University of Washington. KCMU’s motto was that if any other station started playing a band’s music, they’d stop playing it. This is the station that first played Nirvana’s debut album Bleach. (Apparently, Kurt Cobain hand-delivered to this station himself the demo for the band’s first single, “Love Buzz.”) Each Sunday evening, the DJ would interview a band and broadcast several of their songs. They played our music and introduced us to Seattle. I remember at the end of the interview, the DJ closed by inviting listeners to join him again the following week when he would interview the next new band, Soundgarden. No one had ever heard of them at the time, of course. No one knew in 1987 that grunge would be the next big breakthrough in rock music. Needless to say, my band’s rock-with-a-horn-section sound was not what would go on to revolutionize rock.

“Now, if you hate the idea of being in a room while it’s sunny out, then take the textbooks outside...”

REPRINT: See Me After Class is a weekly column where a different professor reveals their variety favorites.

Julianne Tran Variety Writer Emerita

Courtesy @Honduhdaze on Instagram

“About nine minutes in, the band utilized some static that felt like the end of the world.”

State-Run the media

Taylor Swift watches “21 Jump Street,” becomes antisemite

12-time Grammy-winning feminist icon, blue-eyed and blonde-haired legend Taylor Swift took a stance against her long time adversary Kanye West in an Instagram post stating “I don’t know what that misogynist Kanye was talking about, I watched ‘21 Jump Street’ and I hate Jewish people now.”

In an interview with Buzzfeed, Swift explained that she only hates Jews because she was entirely unimpressed with Jonah Hill’s performance in the popular film “21 Jump Street.” The interviewer asked “since you are in our list of ‘Top ten hottest babes who don’t even know it!,’ we just wanted to ask for clarification on your statements against the Jewish population. ” Swift responded, “Of course honey, as a feminist, I really think it is important to challenge the patriarchal themes of the comedies of the 2010s. The film idolizes a men-led police state and what I got out of that is that Jews are bad.”

To further investigate this, we looked to interview some students on the topic.

Swifties everywhere reacted to this new girlboss move from Queen Taytay. One long time fan explained how “What haters

don’t understand is that she’s always been like this, now she’s just living her truth. #slay!” Another swiftie admitted that the move was not in her best interests, but he defended her explaining “You have to understand. She’s in her villain era after breaking up with her boyfriend. It is only natural to have a bit of a Nazi phase after a breakup like that.”

Kanye fans were less thrilled with her response to Kanye’s viral Instagram post. One clearly high man who closely resembled a Republican Yung Gravy argued “Taylor is once again stealing Ye’s ideas. When he came out as a Nazi you know she was scheming on how to follow suit without looking like she’s copying him.

I hate women.” Another Kanye fan asked “Who listens to whatever those two idiots say on social media? I just like both of their music.”

On the campus of The University of Tulsa, both the College Republicans and the College Democrats submitted statements on it. The College Republicans explained, “While both Kanye and Taylor have made statements in support of our fascist ideology, we feel uncomfortable with how she came to the conclusion of anti-semetism. It is hard to trust anyone since Kanye changed his mind. As much as we’d like to believe otherwise, it appears to be a shaky foundation for her

Nazism.” The College Democrats argued that “Swift isn’t a Nazi. People hate her because she is a woman. If a man made the same statements no one would bat an eye. It really speaks to the patriarchal system as a whole. We say keep #Resisting Taylor. We stand with you.”

At press time Swift publicly apologized for her previous statements after watching an episode of “Seinfeld” and changing her mind, announcing this by releasing a single titled “Hitler was bad.” Could this be the anthem of the next wave of progressive activism?

TU headhunts Dick Cheney to lead new hunting department

in the sights for TU’s scouting squad?

Tulsa OK – Looking to innovate in fields of study, TU is headhunting a leader for a new hunting department and rumors are, Dick Cheney is their number one prospect. Under fire for their discriminatory hiring practices, The University of Tulsa takes aim at shooting down the negative press by hiring a person from the most oppressed group: Republican politicians.

President Brad Carson is credited for reaching out to his old buddy to whom he referred as “Lil Cheney.” “Yeah, I called him up to reminisce over the good ole’ Patriot Act days and one thing led to another and he brought up that his real passion was hunting.” Brad went on to explain how this phone call inspired him to innovate by creating a new department.

Brad then explained how he reached out to Cheney to ask him about the position. He provided us with a script of the phone call.

Carson asked, “Hey, buddy, I know this is a total shot in the dark, but would you be interested in heading a new hunting department at The University of Tulsa?” Cheney responded, “Hey Brad, you know I might consider it. I do not have in the sights currently and this seems like quite the opportunity to shoot some ‘deer.’”

The Oklahoma legislature, after voting to ban books that include women and poor people, made a public statement of support for the direction TU is headed. The joint statement read, “We cannot wait to see who and what the former Vice President shoots for next! Despite his shakey position with Trump, you have got to support Cheney because of his dedication to breaking both federal and international law to torture people. We, as representatives of the Aryan people of Oklahoma, want to emulate that vibe.”

Some detractors to the plan pointed out Cheney’s history of torture and accidently shooting a man when looking for quails. One student explained, “As a quail furry, this is quite possibly the worst case scenario for me.” Another student from the Political Science Department asked, “Have we not already hit our war criminal quota in administration?”

The main takeaway is that TU’s administration is embracing the pressures from the state government to become an arm of the military industrial complex, and this in the short term is going to be great for students who can make significant salaries by building weapons for the inevitable WWIII in which we commit unspeakable war crimes in the name of freedom, burning the (already on fire) planet with nuclear weapons and slogans of cis-straight-white supremacy, as our God, “The Invisible Hand,” slowly strangles the last semblance of hu-

manity left as we breathe our last breaths.

At press time, sources tell us that TU is also scouting Henry Kissinger and George W. Bush to head the new war crimes department, and rumors say Bill Clinton is being considered as the new head of the Title IX office of compliance. What else will our brave leader Brad Carson have in store for us! As I–your beloved head propagandist–will be retiring, I will continue to look at the university from afar with a loving, pessimistic and judgemental lens.

INTRODUCING YOUR NEW SATIRE EDITOR

Howdy Doo, it is your new buckaroo Alex Soeder as the satire editor for the ‘23-’24 year of the Collegian.

I am so very excited and am full of witty remarks, sarcastic comments and a damn near infinite amount of poppycock to spew for this upcoming year. To those that are not aware, we do not hold back in this section: we say wacky things and we limit our language to that of the deck of any naval craft. Withholding the sacred words spoken by the lungs of any genetically naval person would be considered a sacrilegious act in this section, and as such, no word outside of the profanity contained by the English lexicon shall be spared.

As we clutch our pearls in preparation for the fowl language (not including birds), the shift from Kyle to Alex takes place, and with it, we transition to another year of the survival of satire in the corner of Collegian.

I am a 5 foot 3 Colombian man, not Mexican, the two get confused all the time and for what? Colombian and Mexican are two entirely different cultures and ethnicities. I get the confusion for those who have not met either, but that population is so incredibly limited that it makes no sense. I should not have to pull up pictures of my parents to “prove” my ethnicity, it should be accepted without question. personal ad by Alex

Soeder

Kyle Garrison Gun safety expert

“This is a new year. A new beginning. And things will change.” -Taylor Swift

Look, I am already in hot water here.

graphic by Kyle Garrison