9 September 2019

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The Collegian: 2

News

9 September 2019

Faculty Senate asserts True Commitment violated constitution TU’s body of 32 faculty members voted that True Commitment should have first passed through them. Chris Lierly Commentary Editor Lindsey Prather Student Writer

On Thursday, Aug. 29, the University of Tulsa’s Faculty Senate voted to pass a resolution asserting that the administration violated the senate’s constitution in its rollout of True Commitment. By announcing True Commitment without input from the Faculty Senate, the administration fundamentally undermined the concept of shared governance outlined in Article VI, states the resolution. The vote to declare the breach took place and passed 30-13, but the lead up to the decision was reminiscent of the hostility that defined last April. The faculty senate is a body composed of a minimum 32 faculty members from all of TU’s colleges, the deans of those colleges, as well as the provost and the president. The body meets every month, seeking to cultivate healthy academic programs at the University of Tulsa as well as providing a forum to promote shared governance. The latter purpose was the final item on the agenda and the source of the most friction in this particular meeting. The resolution itself reads, “The submission of the PPRC [Provost’s Program Review Committee] recommendations and the True Commitment Proposal to the Board of Trustees, and the efforts to implement these plans violate Article VI(C) of the Faculty Senate Constitution.” The specific part of the Faculty Senate Constitution referenced, Article VI Section C, states that, “Except in emergencies, major decisions and plans of the administration that significantly af-

fect the academic affairs of the University should be discussed with the Faculty Senate for an expression of views prior to implementation or submission to the Board of Trustees.” Following the opening of discussion on the resolution, Senator Miriam Belmaker from Arts and Sciences, a professor of Anthropology and a former member of the PPRC, broached the subject of emergencies. Belmaker specifically requested evidence from the resolution’s supporters that the University was not in an emergency. Senator Matthew Lamkin from the College of Law responded with prepared remarks, specifically citing language used by the Provost herself throughout the last year to substantiate this claim. Senator Lamkin heavily emphasized that the administration had several weeks between Feb. 22 and April 11 after the PPRC submitted their proposal to the Provost that were opportune to inform the Faculty Senate of their True Commitment plan. Therefore, if these opportunities had been justly acted upon, the breach of Article VI would not have taken place. The discussion later returned to the language of the article. Senator Belmaker, seeking to illuminate the intentions of the word “emergency,” inquired about the author with this aim in mind. Senator Wray Bradley from the College of Business, the author of the article in question, was present. Senator Bradley clarified that he had modeled the language after that of Duke University’s Faculty Senate Constitution and elaborated that the intentions were that of an extreme emergency, such as when Hurricane Katrina catastrophically damaged Tulane University. Moments later, a notable exchange occurred involving Provost Levit and former Faculty Senate President, now-Senator Stephen Galoob from the College of Law. Senator Galoob was the sitting president during the later-confirmed breach of Article VI, and

a considerable conversation took place debating the placement of blame. Provost Levit claimed that the onus to discuss True Commitment before the day of its announcement rested on the Faculty Senate rather than the administration who were announcing the changes. During this exchange former Steering Committee Chair, now Senator, Ram Mohan said that True Commitment “should’ve been discussed” at the March Faculty Senate meeting but was not. Senator Galoob then claimed that “literally no one on this campus discussed this” with him before the March meeting, despite the fact that Galoob sat on the Provost’s Program Review Committee that recommended the changes announced with True Commitment. This claim initiated a series of attempts by Galoob to assure the Faculty Senate that he truly never thought to bring up True Commitment, but it should be noted that he was under a non-disclosure agreement at the time. Steering Committee Chair Lars Engle unequivocally ended discussion on this matter, stating that, “When we discussed this in the Steering Committee, we discussed whether this happened, not whose fault it was. It is clear to me, simply as a factual matter, that the Faculty Senate was not consulted, and in fact this was a major change in policy.” Shortly after this subject, it was noted that the Senate was reaching the end of its allotted time, and a motion was put forth to end discussion and move to vote on the resolution to accuse the administration. Senator Scott Carter, a professor of economics representing Arts and Sciences, interrupted with a final appeal: “We’re talking about a major structural change of our curriculum at our university ... this is something that requires that we go before the Faculty Senate … whether you agree with the PPRC or not is not the issue. The issue is where do we stand as a body, with integrity?

Are we going to be pushed around and say, ‘Well, that doesn’t matter?’ If it doesn’t matter, then don’t waste our time.” President Clancy, Provost Levit and every dean voted not to end discussion and vote. After the faculty won that first cloture vote, President Clancy got up and left. The others left quickly after they lost the second vote, the one to confirm the resolution, by a margin of 30-13. Although the vote was by secret ballot, certain conclusions can be drawn from the vote totals. The faculty-only vote (no administrators included) was 30-6. Therefore, seven administration votes contributed to their final total. Dean Misra from Arts and Sciences was absent with no proxy. The present administrative votes consisted of Provost Levit and President Clancy, as well as the deans of the remaining colleges. It’s worth noting that every single dean present voted against closing debate and holding the vote — that is, voted not to vote on the resolution. Every college Dean present voted lockstep in overall contrast with the faculty. The six remaining votes in favor of the administration can merely be the subject of speculation. Although, it is worth noting that Senator Belmaker provoked a discussion regarding the extent to which a senator should faithfully vote with their constituents’ expressed desires; for context, the Arts and Sciences Faculty voted on April 17 to reject the implementation of True Commitment by a margin of 89-4. The outcome of this vote is a notable setback for the administration, given their previous claims regarding the state of shared governance at the University of Tulsa. Early in the rollout of this plan, Provost Levit even went so far as to laud True Commitment as a “triumph of faculty governance.” The passage of this resolution directly refutes their claim of shared governance, with this glaring defeat putting the administration on treacherous footing with their own governing bodies.

Make a Difference Engineering pitches projects for local children An on-campus engineering organization proposes designs to help disabled children. Myranda New Student Writer On Friday afternoons, dozens of Engineers and STEM majors from various disciplines pour into Stephenson Hall, ready to work on projects for as long as they need to be completed. Both a course for credit and a student organization on campus, Make a Difference Engineering (MADE) strives to educate engineers and other students at the University of Tulsa on project management. They accomplish this by designing, building and delivering products that will help others. All it takes to get a project off the ground is to pitch the project to the engineering department with a goal in mind, brainstorm ways to craft the product, communicate with the customer, design with a team and deliver to the customer.

On Sept. 4, the College of Engineering and Natural Sciences hosted their project night where customers pitched new ideas for MADE and students introduced projects that are currently being built to new students who aspire to join a team. In attendance were representatives from KendallWhittier Elementary School and The Little Lighthouse, who helps children with special needs, two of MADE’s biggest customers. The representative from Kendall-Whittier Elementary School pitched various ideas for future projects at MADE, including a climbing wall in their sensory room, ball runs and a pendulum wave as well as many others. Following her, the representative from The Little Lighthouse pitched a child-sized pin art panel with colored pegs, a power standing frame to help children stand and a large light bright. With the use of various colors and lights, children’s visual senses will grow and improve. With multiple new ideas for the future on the table, team leaders then followed to address progress on their current projects, some of which they hope to deliver this fall.

Chris Montgomery, the leader of the “activity boards” project, aims to deliver a new board to their customer by the end of the semester. The activity boards are meant to assist in sensory activation and improve motor skills by working with day-to-day senses. For example, by including string on the activity board that has to be tied, the children using it may be able to associate those skills with tying their shoes. Bryce Day leads the “sit n’ scoot” project which aspires to help children with mobility issues who use wheelchairs be closer to the ground so they can play with other children. Ryan Dondalski explains that the “music makes smiles” project he leads will create a positive feedback loop in children to assist them with motion dexterity. Utilizing a conglomeration of PVC pipes that will resonate sounds when hit like a percussion instrument, the team plans to encourage children to associate the music playing with success and intends that they will continue the action. This repeated action will thereby help build their dexterity over time.

There is even a repair team led by Julia Bradley that will take in older projects that have already been sent out to customers, but have broken recently. It will give team members experience with projects covering all areas of Engineering and STEM. Molly Hummel got the idea for her project “move n’ groove,” which will help muscle development, from her cousin with cerebral palsy. Her cousin loves to dance, and Hummel wanted to create something that could help her achieve this dream. “It’s a win-win for everyone,” Hummel said when asked about her favorite thing regarding MADE. “Anyone who we help gets something for free that is custom made for them, and the students who helped to make it get experience and something for their resume.” In addition to these projects, MADE has many other works in progress that should help just as many people. Some teams are still taking members who can be pursuing any major within the University of Tulsa. For those interested, MADE meets every Friday afternoon from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m.

“False marketing” earns Oklahoma $572 million for opioid case

Johnson & Johnson deemed responsible by Oklahoma judge for opioid crisis in landmark case. Anna Johns Web/Social Media Manager

Johnson & Johnson, a major pharmaceutical company of opioids, deemed responsible by Oklahoma judge for opioid crisis in landmark case. On Aug. 26, an Oklahoma judge ordered pharmaceutical giant Johnson & Johnson to pay the state $572 million, ruling that the company must take responsibility for the spread of opioid addiction. In court papers, Oklahoma Attorney General Mike Hunter reported that about 6,000 Oklahomans have died from opioid overdoses, and thousands more struggle with an addiction. This trial is not the first action Oklahoma has taken against drug companies. The state has also reached settlements with two other groups: a $270 million deal with Purdue Pharma, the OxyContin producer, and an $85 million settlement with Teva Pharmaceutical Industries Ltd., according to the LA Times. Still, the Johnson & Johnson case is monumental. Cleveland County District Judge Thad Balkman’s decision marks the first ruling to hold a drugmaker liable for the hardships the opioid crisis created. In his ruling, Balkman reported the defendants “engaged in false and misleading marketing of both their drugs and opioids generally, and the law makes clear that such conduct is more than enough to serve as the act or omission necessary to establish the first element of Oklahoma’s public nuisance law.

Furthermore, according to The New York Times, sales representatives were coached to avoid the “addiction ditch” — the drawbacks associated with drug use dependence — when persuading doctors to prescribe opioids for patients with moderate to severe pain. The Center for Disease Control and Prevention reports the burden based on “prescription drug misuse alone, in 2013, was 78.5 billion.” State attorneys had originally asked for $17.5 billion “over 30 years for treatment, emergency care, law enforcement, social services and other addiction related-needs.” Balkman, however, decided that it would cost $572 million to address the issues in the first year of the state’s plan. Still, some celebrate the decision against Johnson & Johnson because it is seen as a means of gaining accountability for the deaths and addictions caused by their opioid dispensing. Andrew Kolodny, co-director of opioid policy research and an expert witness in the lawsuit, said, “Oklahoma is one of the hardest hit states. There has been a tremendous loss of life.” Indeed, for every 100 Oklahomans, there was an estimated 101.7 opioid prescriptions were written in 2015, according to the National Institute on Drug Abuse. That amounted to nearly 4 million prescriptions from that year alone. In 2016, Oklahomans “fatally overdosed on opioids at a rate of 11.6 deaths per 100,000 people — nationwide, that rate was roughly 13 deaths per 100,000 people.” Johnson & Johnson, although reportedly sympathetic to the victims of opioid addiction, vehemently denies any wrongdoing, and the company plans to appeal the decision.

courtesy Wikipedia In 2016, 64,070 people died by overdose, 42,249 of whom died from opioids, according to data from the CDC.

Regardless, Oklahoma will receive an additional $11.8 million in federal funds to further battle the opioid crisis. According to the Oklahoman, the Oklahoma Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services will be given $7.6 million in new federal funds, while the Oklahoma State Department of Health will receive around $4.2 million. The latter will use a portion of the funds to improve its ability to collect data on drug overdoses, and this data will be sent to various health professionals so further actions can be taken to prevent overdoses. Other programs will be helped, such as improving the education for the public in hopes of reducing the stigma surrounding addiction and substance use disorders. Tony Sellars, a spokesman for the Oklahoma Health Department, reports that the funding from the Centers for Disease Con-

trol and Prevention is part of a three-year program that allows for the department to receive the $4.2 million each year. Ultimately, what’s considered so important about this ruling is that it sets a precedent. Nationally, there are more than 2,000 lawsuits against opioid manufacturers pending. Oklahoma Attorney General Mike Hunter says the Oklahoma case has the potential to provide a foundation for future legal proceedings. Hunter said, “That’s the message to other states: we did it in Oklahoma. You can do it elsewhere.”


News

9 September 2019

Aug. 31 12:25 a.m. Officers observed two female students near Pi Kappa Alpha fraternity who appeared to be heavily intoxicated. Officers made contact with the students and confirmed they were under the age of 21. Officers and 2 sober friends escorted the students back to their residence. Officers left without further incident. 1:55 a.m. Officers observed a non-TU affiliate who appeared intoxicated and was under the legal drinking age at the Sigma Chi Fraternity. Officers informed the non-TU affiliate that they needed to leave campus and released the individual in the care of a friend. 5:15 a.m. Officers conducted a pedestrian check at LaFortune House. The individual was not affiliated with the university, advised of the boundaries of campus and escorted off the property. A contact card was created. Sept. 2 5:25 a.m. Officers observed 3 individuals in the courtyard of John Mabee Hall who ran from the officers when seen. Officers located the 3 individuals on the east side of United Methodist Church and confirmed they were non-TU affiliates. They were trespass warned and contact cards were issued.

The Collegian: 3

chase but the individual jumped over the 11th Street fence and continued off campus.

ism occurred and no suspects have been identified at this time. The graffiti was removed by the physical plant.

Sept. 3 10:15 a.m. Officers took a report of a stolen bicycle. The owner, a TU affiliate, advised that the bicycle was noticed missing from Lottie Jane Mabee Hall at approximately 8:30 a.m. on 03 SEP 2019. The last time the bicycle was seen was approximately 4:00 p.m. on 30 AUG 2019. There are no suspects at this time.

2:40 p.m. Officers responded an injured student at the University Methodist Church lot. The student had fallen off a motorized scooter and Officers provided first aid at the scene before escorting the student to Alexander Health for further evaluation.

Sept. 4 4:35 p.m. Officers were dispatched to Fisher South for an injured student. The Emergency Medical Services Authority was contacted and the student was transported to St. John for further medical treatment. 1:45 p.m. Officers took a report of a student who was stalked by an University alumnus, occurring on or between 22 JUL 2019 at 10:30 a.m. and 31 AUG 2019 at 4:15 p.m. The student did not want to file a Tulsa Police report at this time and was given resource information. 3:40 p.m. Officers took a report of a student who was harassed by a non-University affiliate on or between 23 AUG 2019 and 28 AUG 2019. The harassment occurred both at the student’s out of state residence and on campus. The student also filed reports with their local police department and Tulsa Police Department. The student was given resource information. 7:40 p.m. Officers responded to Harwell Field for a student who suffered a dislocated shoulder while playing soccer. The student was transported by ambulance to a local hospital for further treatment.

1:10 p.m. An officer was flagged down by a juvenile looking for their parent. Officers located the parent and returned the juvenile.

Sept. 5 12:15 a.m. Officers conducted a pedestrian check in front of the Kappa Delta sorority. The non-affiliated subject was trespass warned and escorted off property. A contact card was crea

1:15 p.m. Officers were dispatched to a suspicious person in the Mayo Village pool. Upon arrival, officers asked the individual to come to them but the individual ran away. Officers gave

6:40 a.m. Officers were dispatched to Fisher South in reference to graffiti in the south-west stairwell. Officers took statements and documented the graffiti. It is unknown when the vandal-

Chris Lierly Commentary Editor Lindsey Prather Student Writer Brexit Update: Johnson loses control in record time Only a month and two weeks into his tenure as Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, Boris Johnson has hit a roadblock that could define his time as the head of Parliament. After a failed attempt at calling for an early election in order to recommit his party to the Brexit cause, Johnson lost his majority. This happened when Phillip Lee, a member of Johnson’s Conservative Party, defected on the House of Commons floor to go and sit with the Liberal Democrats, a centrist party who are steadfastly anti-Brexit. Lee marks the 21st member of parliament to defect from Johnson’s coalition, and these defections have left the Prime Minister with a minority government. If both the opposition Labour Party and the Liberal Democrats all vote against Johnson’s Brexit proposals, he will be 43 votes away from passing any bills. This leaves Johnson with the option of proposing bills more acceptable to those outside of his party’s pro-Brexit wing, but even then he could face an outflanking on his right from Nigel Farage’s UK Independence Party.

Ex-Zimbabwean president Robert Mugabe dead at 95 Robert Mugabe, former president of Zimbabwe, has died at the age of 95. Mugabe, once considered a hero of the independence movement, was removed from power last year following a 37-year reign. Mugabe — who had notably claimed that “only God” could ever remove him from the presidency — instead was removed in a partisan coup in 2017, when members of his own party pulled their support following his dismissal of then-Vice President Emmerson Mnangagwa in order to install his wife Grace in the position instead. In response, his former allies ousted him in favor of the more predictable Mnangagwa. Mugabe’s initial political career began following his release from prison after an 11year sentence for criticizing the all-white government. After being freed from prison, he led a guerrilla war against the ruling party until the end of the conflict in 1979. Mugabe was hailed as a war hero and went on to lead the newly independent Zimbabwe as prime minister from 1980 to 1987, later becoming its president. Although the country was in relatively good economic health when he assumed the presidency, his legacy is that of defeat; his hardline policies were directly responsible for soaring inflation and extreme financial ruin after their implementation.

Tensions rise between India and Kashimir Tensions are once again running high between India and the region of Kashmir. This particular area has frequently been a point of contention in Indian/Pakistani relations for the past several decades. Kashmir, the only Muslim-majority state in mostly Hindu India, has enjoyed a largely autonomous presence in the region until very recently. Although Kashmir had been the primary arbiter of its own legal system, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi revoked a legal precedent that had granted Kashmir this level of independence. This move has been the subject of widespread criticism and protest due to Modi’s methods in which the ruling was revoked. Critics claim that because the move was done by a Presidential order, it effectively circumvented the Indian constitution and ignored its required process for this type of declaration. This argument has led to widespread protests as the Indian government sought to exert more control over Kashmir, and as a result the Indian government has begun to crackdown on the backlash. The crackdown has also led to condemnation from Pakistan, India’s less-than-amicable neighbor, a majority Muslim country that is socially aligned with Kashmir.

6:00 p.m. A student reported harassment from a former University of Tulsa student. The harassment occurred between 30 AUG 2019 at approximately 1345 hours and 31 AUG 2019 . The student was encouraged to a file a report with the Tulsa Police Department. 7:45 p.m. Officers discovered a deflated paint bottle in the ACSU lot that projected washable paint towards a vehicle and surrounding areas. Officers were able to determine the owner of one vehicle that had paint on it, but not the second vehicle involved. A maintenance request was made for the south curb of the ACSU lot. Sept. 6 1:10 a.m. Officers stopped an individual at 11th St. & Tucker Dr. in possession of a University of Tulsa bicycle. The subject, a non-affiliate of the university, was arrested by Tulsa Police and trespass warned. A contact card was created. 11:40 a.m. A student reported being a victim of a fraudulent phone call received at their residence on 4 Sep 2019. Officers advised the student to file a Tulsa Police report. 1:00 p.m. Officers were advised of an individual looking through vehicles in the 6th & Delaware Lot. Upon contact, the individual advised their vehicle broke down on 6th Street and they were in the lot to borrow their sibling’s vehicle. Officers confirmed with the sibling for the individual to borrow their vehicle which was parked in another lot. Officers helped push the individual’s vehicle into the Delaware Lot and escorted them to the borrowed vehicle. The Collegian does not produce or edit the Campus Crime Watch except for content and brevity.

Tuesday, September 10 9 a.m. - 12 p.m. Alexander Health Center Alexander Health Center HPV Clinic Alexander Health Center is hosting a human papillomavirus (HPV) clinic on Sept.10 from 9 a.m. – 12 p.m. located behind Philips Hall and is open to all TU students that wish to receive the Gardasil 9 vaccination. Enter your information, including your insurance, print a copy, sign, date and bring it with you on the day of your clinic appointment. If you don’t sign up for a time, you may walk-in 30 minutes to an hour before the end of the clinic. Cost of shot could be covered by insurance, any remaining balance student will be responsible for payment. Thursday, September 12 7 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. Tyrell Hall Frankenstein, Doubt, and Despair: A Book Launch for Jennifer Airey’s Religion around Mary Shelley Mary Shelley lived and wrote during an age of religious instability, one that witnessed the spread of atheism, millenarianism, Methodism, Unitarianism, and Evangelicalism, among other belief systems. In this book, Jennifer L. Airey foregrounds Shelley as an important religious thinker of the Romantic period, analyzing her creative engagement with the religious controversies around her and uncovering a belief system that was both influenced by and profoundly different from those of her male Romantic counterparts. Jennifer Airey is Associate Professor of English at the University of Tulsa. Airey specializes in Restoration and eighteenth-century British literature, with an emphasis on women’s literature and theater history. Her research concentrates on depictions of gender and sexuality. She is also the editor of Tulsa Studies in Women’s Literature, the first scholarly journal devoted solely to the study of women’s writings. 7:00 p.m. in Tyrrell Hall on the University of Tulsa campus. Free and open to the public. Sunday, September 15 6:30 p.m. to 10 p.m. JC Penny Woodland Hills Mall JC Penney Suit-Up Event Save up to 60 percent off select men’s and women’s career dress apparel, shoes and accessories. Shop career dress apparel Shop everything you need to finish your look for that next career fair, interview or new job. Check out new items added this semester including men’s khaki’s, men’s basics, fashion jewelry, handbags, luggage & more. Free and open to the public. Portrait Studio Get professional headshots starting at just $29.99. Stop by or book online. Saturday, September 15 2:30 p.m. H.A. Chapman Stadium Football vs. Oklahoma State Tickets available at tulsahurricane.com. The Collegian does not produce all event descriptions in the Community Calendar. Contact us at news@tucollegian.org with events.


News

The Collegian: 4

9 September 2019

Engineering and Technology Job Fair to take place on Sept. 11

graphic by Emma Palmer

Local and international companies will be present at the job fair.

Forty-three companies to reach out to students at the Reynolds Center on Wednesday. Liza Williams Student Writer The University of Tulsa’s Center for Career Development and Professional Engagement will host an Engineering and Technology Job Fair on Wednesday, Sept. 11 from 12 p.m. to 4 p.m. in the Reynolds Center. Faculty encourage students to attend and learn more about each of the businesses offering internships and jobs, as well as interact with employers. In total, 43 companies have registered for the job fair. They include: Nearly all of these companies are seeking to hire for both internships and postgraduate jobs. Internships, though not always paid, allow students to explore their interests, make connections and determine their compatibility with a company. While this fair is ideal for upperclassmen seeking internships or full-time jobs, it also presents a great opportunity for freshmen to experience a job fair early in their studies. Students should bring several paper copies of their resume with them to the fair. If

students need help drafting their resume, they are encouraged to make an appointment through Handshake with the Center for Career Development and Professional Engagement (located on the second floor of Hardesty). Engineering and computer science majors are most sought at this fair; however, employers are looking to fill positions with studies in different majors. To determine whether employers are seeking students in your major, log on to Handshake and filter by major under ‘Career Fair.’ You may also contact a career coach within the Center for Career Development and Professional Engagement by calling (918) 631-2345 or by scheduling an appointment through Handshake. Other job fairs this fall will include the Business, Government & Nonprofit Career Fair on Sept. 19 from 12–4 p.m. in the Reynolds Center and the Nursing Job Fair on Nov. 4 (time TBA) in the Oxley Health Sciences Building. If students are unable to attend this career fair but want to learn more about opportunities for jobs and internships, they should reach out to their professors and/or consult Handshake for more information. The Center for Career Development and Professional Engagement is hosting “Prepare for the Fair” events to help students ready themselves. Wednesday, Sept. 10 they

are holding open office hours where students can drop-in. Food and refreshments will be available. Employers interested in attending one of the job fairs can register through Handshake

(utulsa.joinhandshake.com). For more information, call (918) 631-2896 or email recruitingcoordinator@utulsa.edu.

Complete list of companies at the career fair Phillips 66 Cimarex Energy Co. CymSTAR LLC Chevron ONE Gas Inc ConocoPhillips Occidental CYNTERGY Oklahoma Medical Research Foundation (OMRF) HollyFrontier Corporation Koch Industries, Inc. ONEOK Inc WPX Energy Williams Honeywell Enviro Systems U.S. Department of State Weatherford Targa Resources Textron Aviation Navy Cyber Warfare Development Group Zeeco, Inc.

Marine Corps Officer Program - Oklahoma Paycom Harvest Midstream Helmerich & Payne, Inc. CenturyLink Southwest Power Pool U.S. Navy Recruiting District - Officer Programs ABB, Inc. Dell Technologies Tinker Air Force Base Civilian Employment Daily Thermetrics Ford Audio-Video Foundation Energy Management, LLC NORDAM Stonebridge Consulting ParFab Field Services TIBCO Software Inc. Waterfield Energy Crowe LLP Tulsa Police Department

Student Association — who they are and what they do body, like residence halls or apartments. The Senate writes legislation to improve student life, charters and assists clubs and implements rules governing the whole of the Student Association. The Financial Allocations Committee provides funds to eligible clubs on campus to cover things like travel and food expenses up to a $3,000 limit. If a student has a grievance or idea, like replacing the felt on the pool table at the Hut, they would take it to their senator.

Cabinet The Cabinet is made up of three sections: Operations, Programming and Traditions. Operations is in charge of keeping the Student Association running smoothly, like with tech services and public relations. Programming coordinates cultural and social events, like the Mr. and Mrs. International Competition in the spring. Traditions oversees events like the Grad Party, Homecoming and Springfest.

“It is organized similarly to the US government, in that it has an executive, legislative and judicial branch.”

The homecoming bonfire is one of the events that SA helps put on each year.

This student-led organization controls money for student groups and runs programs, among other tasks. Gabe Powell Student Writer The Student Association at the University of Tulsa is a student-led organization devoted to promoting cultural and social events and advocating for student interests. Every student at TU is a member of SA, as

courtesy TU Alumni

a portion of university tuition goes towards SA dues for things like campus-wide speakers and concerts. The Student Association is responsible for things like Homecoming, creating new clubs and representing the student body to the administration. It is organized similarly to the U.S. government in that it has an executive, legislative and judicial branch. It has a fourth division, the Cabinet, which coordinates student events and planning. Senate Senators are elected by students at TU to represent different sections of the student

Executive The Executive wing of the Student Association is comprised of a president, vice president, secretary, treasurer and chief of staff. The president can veto bills written in the student Senate, which can be overruled by a two-thirds vote of the Senate. According to SA Senator and chair of the Government Operations Committee Cheyenne Green, the SA president meets with members of the administration at a monthly luncheon to discuss student affairs with people like President Clancy and the Provost. The SA president sits on the Board of Trustees for the university, where they represent student interests. The vice president presides over Senate meetings. The chief of staff heads committee and department meetings and works on assisting other executive members.

Judicial Council The Judicial branch of the Student Association is responsible for SA election integrity and enforcing the SA Constitution. It is composed of seven justices and up to seven clerks. If a member of the Senate wrote a bill that went against SA rules, for example, they would be called before the Judicial Council and asked to remove their bill from consideration. If a member of SA violates an order from the Judicial Council, that individual would be banned from holding SA office. All Cabinet meetings are held Tuesdays at five in the Union unless otherwise noted. The Senate meets on Tuesdays at nine p.m. in Helmerich Hall room 105. Meetings from both branches are available online at the Student Association webpage.

Center for Student Academic Success provides vital resources Located in Hardesty Hall, CSAS is available to help students succeed from academics to student life. Caleb Pinegar Student Writer The Center for Student Academic Success, or CSAS, by which it’s more commonly referred, is a center on campus whose goal is to ensure that every student is doing well in class and feels welcomed on campus. From things like tutoring to social opportunities for students with social anxiety or on the autism spectrum, to helping disabled students with accommodations, CSAS is there to lend a hand. The Center for Student Academic Success offers tutoring and workshops for all students that feel they are struggling academically. They have tutors for every class offered at TU, and if there’s not already a designated tutor for a course you’re enrolled in, they’ll seek someone out. All students have to do is fill out a tutor request form found on the CSAS website to set up a time.

Tutoring Center hours are 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday through Thursday and 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Friday. They offer math labs for free walk-in tutoring sessions for students in College Algebra, Math with Applications, Basic Calculus, Precalculus, Calculus I, II and III. Additional courses with walk-in tutoring sessions are listed on their website, alongside a session schedule. Academic success coaching and workshops are also available for all students free

Additionally, CSAS offers accommodations for students with disabilities such as ADHD, learning disabilities, psychological and physical disabilities. To receive these accommodations, medical documentation is needed. If a student does not already have the proper paperwork, CSAS can recommend off-site testing. Once documentation is provided, CSAS works with students to set up an individualized plan to best help them succeed. To request accommodations,

“[CSAS] house[s] a sensory room with dim lights and comfortable seating open to all students as a place to relax and calm down when feeling stressed ...” of charge. These sessions focus on helping students learn how to succeed in class using skills like time management and study habits. These workshops also touch on dealing with test anxiety and stress. To request an academic success coach, email CSAS at csas@utulsa.edu. The schedule for workshops can be found on their website.

students can fill out a form online or meet face to face with an advisor on the second floor of Hardesty Hall. From 3 p.m. to 5 p.m. every weekday, the social opportunities program offers students on the autism spectrum and those with social anxiety the opportunity to meet new people in small groups. The social opportu-

nities program is also open to friends and allies to participate and make new friends. In addition, CSAS offers academic success coaching and other resources to help autistic students. They house a sensory room with dim lights and comfortable seating open to all students as a place to relax and calm down when feeling stressed, which the center is actively improving with new furniture and calming activities. CSAS has a few other programs built to help students, such as the early support program that was put in place to help students that might be falling behind in classes. If a student misses enough class sessions or starts failing a course, CSAS meets with them to figure out the problem and come up with a solution. Schedules and locations for workshops, SOP and tutoring can all be found on their website or at the center itself found on the second floor of Hardesty Hall and open Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. CSAS is there to help all students receive the accommodations and help they need in order to pass their classes and encourages students to seek them out when needed.


Variety

9 September 2019

The Collegian: 5

Circle Cinema shows “Speed” in “Graveyard Shift” series Keanu Reeves stars in the 1994 classic action thriller that keeps audiences engaged with constant tension. Justin Klopfer Student Writer Circle Cinema hosted a screening of Jan de Bont’s 1994 action-thriller “Speed” as the September edition of its monthly “Graveyard Shift” program. The “Graveyard Shift” shows classic action movies late at night. This particular flick was shown on Sept. 6 and 7. “Speed” has Keanu Reeves starring as LAPD officer Jack Traven, a fearless policeman who goes to preposterous lengths to save civilians from a bomb threat. This role solidified Reeves’ focus on action movies, paving the way for future blockbuster roles in movies like “The Matrix” and the “John Wick” franchise. One of the civilians Jack saves, Annie Porter (Sandra Bullock), becomes a onedimensional love interest for the officer. Jack’s antagonist is the psychotic Howard Payne, played by Dennis Hopper.

subway, becomes the setting for the final showdown. However, it shouldn’t go without saying just how simple this movie really is and how many opportunities it missed. Dennis Hopper had already shown himself to be fantastic at playing villains in movies like “Blue Velvet” yet his character in “Speed” seems incredibly simplistic and uninspired. The film teases that he may have some more interesting motivation than just getting money, but this is never really expanded upon. Similarly, Jack is an emotionless cop with no real characterization, and Annie is an almost insultingly predictable romance prop. Many lines of dialogue are laughably absurd, especially when delivered in Reeves’s deadpan grunts. All of these problems combine to create a movie utterly lacking in depth; it leaves the viewer with absolutely nothing to think about. All this is not to say that the movie isn’t worth watching, of course. The film holds the viewer tightly to their seat for the entire two-hour runtime. The special effects, tight editing and visceral sound steal the show in “Speed.” A particularly intense scene involves Annie jumping the bus over a 50-foot

“The film holds the viewer tightly to their seat for the entire two-hour runtime.” The main draw of “Speed” is the tension created by ridiculous scenarios. The basis of the action is a bomb strapped to the bottom of a bus, which will explode if the bus ever goes below 50 miles per hour. This creates a constant sense of urgency throughout the film, literally refusing to let the action stop. The movie wastes no time setting the tone with this energy; the very first scene features hostages involved in a similar situation on an elevator. The tension is then maintained through the entirety of the film, when another speeding vehicle, this time a

gap in the road. The tension rises as the bus blows past signs warning of the oncoming danger. As the bus sails through the air, all sound is cut except the noise of the bus gliding through the air. A satisfying crunch ends the tense moment as the bus meets the other side of the gap. These heart-racing moments are the true triumph of the film, and what has allowed it to earn its place among classic action movies. October’s “Graveyard Shift” movie is “Candyman” by Bernard Rose, showing on Oct. 11 and 12 at 10 p.m.

Keanu Reeves stars as LAPD officer Jack Traven in “Speed.”

courtesy Mark Gordon Productions

First Friday brings music and art to community September’s First Friday featured a performance by the Tulsa Symphony on Guthrie Green as well as a new exhibition at downtown galleries. Sydney Sowell Student Writer Friends, family and art — what more could you ask for on a Friday night? The art crawl held in Downtown Tulsa is the perfect way to kick off the first weekend of every month. Galleries, studios and museums open their doors to intrigued visitors for longer viewing hours free of charge or at a reduced cost. Warm faces greet you at every door, and the unique exhibitions strike you with gratitude for the diversity of perspective each gallery displays. 108 Contemporary showed a continuation of their newest exhibit, which will be

open until Sept. 22. “Building on the Body” features a collection from artists in parts of Asia, Europe and the United States that explores the boundaries of identity through one’s sense of belonging and place using

groups hand out fliers for their upcoming shows. Performers stop to set-up shop on the sidewalk of Brady Street and play a few songs and organizations set up booths to spread their message. One such organization

“Strolling down the sidewalk during First Friday is a treat within itself.” jewelry. Artists explore the theme of wearable architecture using their own distinct styles. The artists used Industrial materials to fashion necklaces, rings, bracelets and various other adornments, and each artists’ motivation for their choice in material and form leave viewers questioning traditional ideals. Strolling down the sidewalk during First Friday is a treat within itself. Local theater

The Tulsa Symphony performed on the Guthrie Green for the First Friday Art Crawl.

The Tulsa Symphony played several pop songs, including Disney songs, to the pleasure of the crowd.

found at First Friday this month was Take Control Initiative, a non-profit organization in Tulsa that aims to educate and empower women and break down barriers, allowing better access to contraception. The Guthrie Green also participates in the art crawl and has different events every month, ranging from concerts and art markets to charity fundraisers. It’s a place to support the arts and connect with oth-

ers. September’s First Friday on the Green showcased the Tulsa Symphony Orchestra. After starting promptly at 7:30 p.m., the conductor kept the sea of people in front of the stage involved between each piece through chants and charming commentary, and the music itself compelled audience members to clap along. The night was family-friendly and perfect for relaxing with friends, sprawling out on a blanket in the grass and simply listening to the orchestra play everything from the waltz to classic Disney tunes to Star Wars. Tulsa Symphony Orchestra concluded their performance with a rendition of “Oklahoma!”, which was accompanied by a fireworks show over Downtown Tulsa. With so much to do, see and hear, the First Friday Art Crawl has something for everyone. The next event will be Oct. 4. Grab a bite to eat and then go explore the artistic community of Tulsa. You never know what you might find.

Philbrook Downtown exhibited a show called “Place and Space in Native American Art.”

photos by Sydney Sowell


Variety

The Collegian: 6

9 September 2019

Taylor Swift’s latest album optimistic about love “Lover” embodies feelings of comfort in a relationship, evolving from Swift’s past breakup albums. Lizzy Young Student Writer

It’s an understatement to say that Taylor Swift’s latest album, “Lover,” has been a success. It debuted at number one on the Billboard chart and had the most pre-orders at Target than any other album in history. Having been a Swiftie since middle school, I of course was one of those fans who listened to the singles over and over again while I anxiously awaited the day it came out on Aug. 23. I was not disappointed. From the time the first single of the album, “ME!”, debuted, I knew I was going to like this album better than her previous album, “Reputation.” Not that I didn’t like “Reputation,” but I prefer the soft, delicate sounds of “Lover.” “Lover” captures all the beautiful feelings of being in love. It is pleasant and easy to listen to. The album cover features beauti-

ful pastel yellows, pinks and blues, and honestly every time I listen to the album, I think of the color pink. It is the perfect album for end of summer because its melodies are the ideal companion to a late summer evening. The songs on “Lover” are a good listening companion when thinking about love. The feeling of being in love is the reason I began listening to Taylor Swift in middle school, because she has always embodied for me those feelings.

from past relationships. They are upbeat and I feel like I can relate to the feelings of getting over a previous relationship. “Lover,” the titular song perfectly embodies the feelings of being in love with someone you adore. It gives all the fuzzy, warm feelings of being with the person you love and makes me feel like curling up with a warm blanket and a cup of hot cocoa in front of a fire. This is the tone for the rest of the album.

“... [the record] contains the beautiful melodies of finding happiness with another person.” This album does not have the scathing songs condemning ex-lovers, but instead contains the beautiful melodies of finding happiness with another person. There are a couple of songs about being in past relationships, like “I Forgot That You existed,” and “Cruel Summer.”They do not feel like revenge songs, but about how she learned

The other songs like “Lover,” that capture this feeling are “Cornelia Street,” “Paper Rings” and “Daylight.” They have similar melodies, and Swift sings about how love makes her feel. Her previous albums have been about falling in love, tumultuous relationships and breakups, but “Lover” as a whole is about

being in a committed, loving relationship. It seems obvious that “London Boy,” is about her boyfriend of three years, Joe Alwyn. There are rumors that “Lover” and “I Think He Knows,” are about him as well. These are beautiful tributes her current relationship right now. An article in Vanity Fair from Erin Vanderhoof praised the record, saying,“Lover could hold the key to pop music’s survival.” Pop music has been criticized in recent years for just being simple melodies with no substance, or that its whole existence is just to move units. Vanderhoof was making the point that Swift’s songs are easy to listen to while containing deeper thoughts, rather than just repeating the same words over and over again. I don’t know if this is true, but Swift’s album does emboy striking feelings and images of love. She says it best at the end of her album in the song “Daylight,” when she sings, “I want to be defined by the things that I love, not the things I hate.”

Upcoming events in Tulsa Tuesday, Sept. 10

An Evening of Silly Music: Concerts with Commentary CULTURE SHIFT: Understanding Professors Deaver and McElligot and Combatting Rape Culture with perform piano and bass-barritone, respectively, alonside commentary. Zerlina Maxwell 7:30 p.m. in LPC 7 p.m. in LPC Free to the public, register online Circle Cinema screens “Fleabag” from National Theatre Live starring Thursday, Sept. 12 Phoebe Waller-Bridge 7 p.m. at Circle Cinema Wallows “Nothing Happens” Tour Tickets $15 6:30 at Cain’s Ballroom General Admission $25

Frankenstein, Doubt, and Despair: A Book Launch for Jennifer Airey’s “Religion around Mary Shelley” 7 p.m. in Tyrell Hall Sponsored by Oklahoma Center for the Humanities

Saturday, Sept. 14 Circle Cinema screens silent film, “Robin Hood” (1922) Live accompaniment by Bill Rowland Part of 2nd Saturday Silents series Tickets $5 The cover art for “Lover” features mixes of soft pastel pinks, yellows and blues.

courtesy Republic Records

Hogue gallery hosts Shane Darwent’s mixed media show Darwent’s “The Setting Stone” explores the aesthetics of the urban environment through mixed media installations. Piper Prolago Variety Editor Shane Darwent’s “The Setting Stone” is a meditative exploration of urban space, materiality and change. This exhibition is the opening show in the Alexandre Hogue Gallery, housed in Phillips Hall. “The Setting Stone” will be on display until Sept. 26 and open to the public 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. every weekday. Darwent moved to Tulsa last January as a Tulsa Artist Fellow and is starting his second year of the fellowship. While he began his artistic career as a photographer, his photos quickly became a jumping off point for the kinds of sculptural displays that comprise “The Setting Stone.”

fabrics as “Garish post-modern strip mall explosion symbols.” In direct opposition to the aesthetics of the awnings, Darwent reflects on the garden. Gardens folly, or building-like sculptural decorations in gardens, Darwent describes, are made without any real purpose. He incorporates the aesthetics of the folly into his works, viewing them as the ultimate symbol of leisure over the utility that characterizes urban aesthetics. With this opposition in mind, Darwent started making sculptures that used the shape and material of awnings, but arranged them to reflect the kind of playful leisure of garden folly. In several of Darwent’s recent projects, he considered the intersections of these two distinct aesthetics. He looks to things like the ornamental shrubbery that decorates the backside of many fast food restaurants, referencing Taco Bell specifically, as a kind of urban garden folly. Darwent continues to explore the aesthetics of urbanization in “The Setting Stone,”

“... Darwent continues to work towards an understanding of the nuances of urban spaces ...” Growing up near Charleston, South Carolina, in a small town called Mount Pleasant, Darwent recalls the effects of urban changes in the community. As a major highway expanded rapidly, streetside vendors and the cultural ties to various groups were quickly consumed and displaced. Darwent became interested in the dialogue that this created between urbanization and cultural traditions that continues to inform his work today. He points out that in reparation for the destruction inherent in large projects like these, cities “name our strip malls after the cultures that we’ve decimated and then we build an awesome bronze statue dedicated to those struggling traditions.” Similar stories have occurred and continue to occur across the country, echoing the constant conflict between urban development and the consequences implicit in this change. Through a consideration of these ideas, Darwent became interested in the aesthetics of awnings that distinguish storefronts. He describes the bright colored

where he incorporates layers of building materials, focusing on stone and its many uses. His meditation on the implications of these materials moves to form a new understanding of the material and of urban aesthetics. He began working on “The Setting Stone” as a project specifically for the Hogue Gallery as he always does when creating exhibitions for new spaces. When first looking at the space, he was struck by the unique combination of materials that constitute the area, describing the brick entryway as a “collegiate gothic” style, in contrast to the sleek white gallery walls. This intersection informs the use of stone in the exhibition. Darwent considers the idea of the facade, incorporating a kind of plastic stone material usually used for fencing. With this, he examines the idea of power and durability that many old stone buildings bring to mind. The use of fake stone clashes with the lavishness of past associations. Instead, this calls to question why we

photo by Piper Prolago Darwent uses several materials associated with constuction, including plastic buckets and tubing.

manufacture plastic to look like stone at all. Darwent likens this fabrication to the production of vegan chicken nuggets, questioning whether a vegan actually wants something that resembles meat when the same products could be used to create something entirely separate. Darwent’s consideration of the aesthetic of durability and implications of certain materials is revisited in each of the works in the Hogue Gallery. He uses images of stone in a wavy column to the gallery ceiling that clashes with our conception of stone pillars as symbols of stability. One piece centers on an image of a stone that emits water, seeming to cry into the plastic bucket below.

A video work projected onto the wall features a man walking around a round-about while the camera encircles the space moving in the opposite direction. A loop of stone spins as the camera moves, transporting viewers to an almost meditative and hypnotic state while remaining grounded in a distinctly urban space. In each of his works, Darwent continues to work towards an understanding of the nuances of urban spaces and materials. “The Setting Stone” seems to push the boundaries of how we interact with and recognize the aesthetic of stone that appears so often in the man-made environment.


9 September 2019

Variety

The Collegian: 7

McFarlin exhibit explores history of Versailles Special Collections displays documents, writing and photos relating to World War I and the peace treaty that ended it. Gabe Powell Student Writer

The sounds of gunfire and mortar shells streaking through the air famously ceased at 11 a.m. on Nov. 11, 1918. Germany surrendered to the Allied powers on the eleventh hour of the eleventh day of the eleventh month, begging the question: what happens next? The world had just endured the biggest conflict up to that point in history, involving 32 countries and the death of 20 million civilians and soldiers. The Treaty of Versailles was signed on June 28, 1919, officially ending the Great War. Upon entering the Special Collections room on the fifth floor of McFarlin Library,

you will see a display case devoted to the League of Nations, an international committee created in the aftermath of World War I, with the sole purpose of preventing another global war. The display case contains photographs taken around the time the treaty was signed, as well as a copy of the treaty itself. The rest of the displays in the room exhibited work from notable authors of that era such as Robert Graves, Siegfried Sassoon and Rebecca West.

government, banded together the tribes of Saudi Arabia in opposition to the Ottoman Empire in the Eastern front of WWI. Film buffs will recognize this story as the plot of the classic film “Lawrence of Arabia,” which won seven Oscars in 1963. Sassoon wrote many poems describing the harrowing nature of trench warfare, causing his fellow Brits to label him as unpatriotic. He did, however, receive a Military Cross for risking his life to save his brothers-in-

“The exhibit offers a rare opportunity to examine original manuscripts ...” Robert Graves is known for his 1927 biography of T.E. Lawrence, “Lawrence of the Arabs.” It tells the fantastic tale of how Lawrence, in coordination with the British

arms in May 1916 after a failed raid on German trenches. His portrayal of the horrors of war, contempt for bloodthirsty generals and disregard for apathetic politicians set him

apart from many of his contemporaries who wrote proudly about military camaraderie and honor. Rebecca West was a suffragist who weaved topics of class and gender inequality into her wartime novels. One of her earliest novels, “The Return of a Soldier,” tells the story of a soldier who returned home and forgot the past 15 years of his life along with memories of the war. She makes a critique of the early 20th century English class system and the way women were considered inferior to men, making her novel socially relevant even today. The exhibit offers a rare opportunity to examine original manuscripts, photos and letters from the early 20th century to students who are interested. Not all items on display are available for use, however, and students must ask permission from the Librarian of Special Collections. The exhibit is open from eight to five on weekdays.

photo by Gabe Powell

Cases in Special Collections are filled with documents related to the history surrounding the Treaty of Versailles.

“Voices from the Heartland II” writers launch anthology Oklahoma women contributed essays to the compilation edited by TU professor, Dr. Sara Beam. Hana Saad Copy Editor “Who’s around the campfire of your heart?” Dr. Sara Beam, one of four editors from “Voices from the Heartland, Volume II,” posed this question to the audience to kick off the book’s launch on Thursday. The question represents something that was fundamental to the creation of the second volume: the importance of not only being able to tell your own story, but having the support of people who will listen.

incorporate the varied voices of Oklahoman women, but it includes stories from women who do not write full-time. The editors wanted to create a work that would amplify the stories of real Oklahoman women, so they reached out to any and all women who they believed had a story inside them to tell. At the launch, Apollonia Piña, Ruth Askew Brelsford, Rilla Askew, Dr. Juliet Evusa and Dr. Emily Dial-Driver — the last three who are also co-editors of the anthology — shared excerpts of their stories onstage and talked about their inspiration behind their respective pieces. The Okie accent, with its familiar cadence, reminiscent of a southern twang that smoothed itself out a little bit, was palatable in each reading, particularly in Askew’s

“... words and stories have power, and people shouldn’t forget that.” This anthology, a collection of essays, poetry and stories written by 38 Oklahoma women, provides a platform for them to do just that. The result is a book that covers serious topics, such as racism, sexism, homophobia, poverty and addiction, through the unique stories these people share. Dr. Beam explained the importance of the sequel: “We still have the same lack of representation, lack of platform and lack of recognition for people whose lives matter just as much as everyone else’s.” The representation of diverse women in this anthology are part of what makes the book so special. Not only does this volume

story, creating a familiar feeling for those who grew up in Oklahoma. Dial-Driver’s story had the crowd chuckling with her dry wit, and offered an important reminder: words and stories have power, and people shouldn’t forget that. The talk also created space for more serious moments of reflection. Piña talked about intergenerational trauma that indegious people have to deal with as well as her work as an activist. Brelsford discussed her volunteer work with inmates, and Evusa detailed the story of why she immigrated to Oklahoma and her experiences during that process.

Dr. Beam celebrates the launch of “Voices of the Heartland II” with her daughter, Amelia.

A few members in the audience had also written a piece for the anthology, and they were invited to stand up and share what they wrote about after the official talk ended. This demonstrated the sense of community and encouragement that the contributors and editors have fostered over the duration of the project. The pieces that these women shared on stage provided just a small sampling of the issues and topics covered in the volume.

photo by Hana Saad

Despite this, the ideas the speakers discussed explored such a wide range of ideas. If you missed this talk, the editors and writers will also be speaking at the Oklahoma Book Festival, which takes place in Oklahoma City at the Boathouse District on Sept. 21. “Voices from the Heartland, Volume II” is available for purchase at Magic City Books and on Amazon.

photo by Piper Prolago Dr. Sara Beam moderated a discussion with contributors to the anthology, including writers and fellow editors. (Left to right: Apollonia Piña, Rilla Askew, Ruth Askew Brelsford, Dr. Juliet Evusa, Dr. Emily Dial-Driver and Dr. Sara Beam).


The Collegian: 8

Commentary

9 September 2019

2020 Democratic Primary has three major contenders

Sanders has raised the most money, but Warren’s chances of winning the primary are better. Gabe Powell Student Writer I get it: you’re in college and don’t have time to figure out voter registration and absentee ballots, much less read 500 articles to decide on your favorite candidate in the crowded Democratic field. Lucky for you I’ve written a quick rundown of the top three contenders in the Democratic primary, based on recent polling data and fundraising. Joe Biden: raised $24 million, polling 30.4 percent It isn’t surprising to see that Biden has a strong lead in the polls: serving as Barack Obama’s vice president grants him widespread recognition, and he has retained his appeal among older, more moderate members of the Party. I think he will struggle to gain the female vote after coming under fire for his demeanor around women. He has a plan for improving the education system by doubling the number of psychologists in schools and reducing the wealth disparity between schools in rich and poor districts. He also has plans for sweeping criminal justice reforms, like eliminating mandatory minimums and expunging low-level marijuana offenses. Unlike Elizabeth Warren and Bernie Sanders, he doesn’t want to create a Medicare-for-All system and would rather keep private health insurance while expanding the Affordable Care Act. Elizabeth Warren: raised $36 million, polling 17.1 percent

The Oklahoma-raised former Harvard law professor made an enormous jump in the polls, establishing a close tie with Sanders over the last few weeks. I think she has the best shot at securing the Democratic ticket. She served six years as a Massachusetts senator, created the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau and co-sponsored the Green New Deal. Her policies have been focused primarily on economic reforms, such as a 2 percent tax on estates worth over $50 million, eliminating $640 billion in student debt and breaking up tech giants like Amazon and Facebook. She is a proponent of Medicare-for-All and universal child care. Bernie Sanders: raised $46 million, polling 16.3 percent Bernie Sanders has had tremendous impact on the nature of the Democratic Party. His surprising levels of success in the 2016

primaries are responsible for the leftward ideological shift of the Democratic Party in the last few years. His once-radical ideas

create a national banking system though the Post Office, in an effort to destroy the predatory payday loan system.

“... serving as Barack Obama’s vice president grants [Joe Biden] widespread recognition ...” concerning single-payer healthcare, pharmaceutical regulation, and the $15 minimum wage now enjoy broad support among members of the party. Sanders pledges to expand Social Security, shut down for-profit prisons and provide a universal governmentrun healthcare system. He is devoted to improving life for rural Americans by breaking up agricultural monopolies like Monsanto and providing broadband access in rural America. One of his more novel ideas is to

The third round of Democraric primary debates will take place this Thursday, Nov. 12 in Houston, Texas. Only ten candidates met the funding and polling requirements to be on stage. The televised debates will run from 8 to 11 Central Time. The candidates have taken firm policy and ideological divisions: the only question remaining is who will be the one to take on Donald Trump.

graphic by Emma Palmer

Though Biden leads the race, other candidates have made surges.

Disability and visibility

Madison Connell News Editor Disability is largely invisible. It’s not in our media. It’s not in our conversation. And, often, the disability itself is invisible. With so little media representation, you would think that disabled people are a small minority. However, that’s not necessarily the case. Numbers vary, with the Census Bureau saying around 19 percent of the population reported having a disability in 2010 and the American Community Survey estimating 12.6 percent in 2016, but the fact remains that there is a significant disconnect between the representation of disability and the amount of disabled people. Despite approximately one in six people being disabled, there is little conversation on disability. Some disabilities are discussed more frequently than others, but the conversation is still lacking. In recent years, talk on mental health has increased, destigmatizing people with mental illness. However, this represents a limited range of the diverse amount of disabilities that are out there. Overall, why is it that there is so little representation or talk on a common experience? I think there are two big reasons. First, I believe people are scared to be the one to begin asking questions. Existing with a disability is so socially mystifying right now that people are awkward around disabled people simply because they are different. People don’t know how or when to begin asking or helping without offending. Second, disability itself is often invisible; there are so many disabilities that cannot be seen. For example, health issues that could be disabling to some could include vision and/or hearing impairment, major allergies,

mental illness, learning or cognitive disabilities, chronic pain, weakness or a health condition that affects energy levels. Many people who have the above health conditions don’t consider themselves disabled. There is such a culture around health issues that because you don’t seem to have an obvious, severe form of a disability that you can’t be disabled. This comparison can be toxic and perpetuates the notion that disability is a rare experience when in reality, even a common condition like asthma can majorly impact your day-to-day life. With a health complication that doesn’t seem “obvious” or that doesn’t manifest visibly, the disabled person themselves can feel invisible. While my condition is considered visible now that I use a wheelchair, I still feel this disconnect from others. My daily issues and concerns do not seem visible. Many events exclude me due to accessibility reasons. Often friends or organizations will organize activities I can’t include myself in, and it can leave me and other disabled people feeling forgotten. Something as small as having an event on a grassy area or on the second-floor of a building can exclude people. Other times, I feel all too visible. My wheelchair takes up more space than most people. It can be bulky and difficult to navigate around other people or objects. It is a very obvious part of me that people often can’t help but stare at. Occasionally I can walk short distances without my chair. When I do, it’s awkward and clunky. Even though I don’t have a visible sign of disability such as a mobility aid or a missing limb when I’m walking on my own, it is still visible that I do things differently than others. People should not have to be told that you are taking too much space for existing or made to feel non-existent by not being included. Not all disabilities are visible, but they need to have just as much visibility in our culture. Increasing visibility in our conversations and culture is important to decrease the negative visibility and invisibility in our day-to-day lives.

@TUCollegian

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The Collegian is the student newspaper of the University of Tulsa. It is distributed Mondays during the fall and spring semesters, except during holidays and final exam weeks. The University of Tulsa does not discriminate on the basis of personal status or group characteristics including but not limited to the classes protected under federal and state law. Inquiries regarding implementation of this policy may be addressed to the Office of Human Resources, 800 South Tucker Drive, Tulsa, Oklahoma 74104-9700, (918)631-2616. Requests for accomodation of disabilities may be addressed to the university’s 504 Coordinator, Dr. Tawny Rigsby, (918)631-3814. To ensure availability of an interpeter, five to seven days notice is needed; 48 hours is recommended for all other accomodations. Advertising Policy: Advertising appearing in this publication does not imply approval or endorsement by the University of Tulsa or the Collegian for the products or services advertised. For advertising information, email the Collegian at advertising@tucollegian.org. The deadline for advertising is noon on the Friday proir to publication. Letter Policy: Letters to the editor must be less than 500 words and can be sent to tucollegian@tucollegian.org. Under no circumstances will anonymous letters be published. The name of the person submitting the letter must be published with the letter. We reserve the right to edit or reject all letters. The deadline for letters is 5 p.m. on the Friday prior to publication. Editing Policy: The Collegian reserves the right to edit all copy submitted by all writers. This editing may take place in many forms, including grammar corrections, changes in paragraph structure or even the addition or removal of sections of content. Editorial Policy: Columnists are solely responsible for the content of their columns. Opinions expressed in columns may not represent the opions of the Collegian staff, the administrative policies of the University of Tulsa, the views of the student body or our advertisers.


Commentary

9 September 2019

The Collegian: 9

ConnectTU app connects with my phone’s trashcan

Doubts of security and abused functionality make SA’s ConnectTU a no go. Hannah Robbins Student Writer As freshmen this year have learned, TU really does have an app for that. First, it was the orientation app that told students the orientation schedule (because apparently freshmen can’t be trusted to keep track of a paper schedule?). Now, the app-centric way of living has come to all students. From the Student Association that brought you Involvio, a seldom used app that was meant for advertising events to get SA funding, comes SA’s newest app: ConnectTU.

Next, it asks you to sign in with your TU credentials. This is a red flag. I don’t trust mobile application security as a rule. I’ve spent my summers breaking products that took more time to design than this, and having a TU student’s login credentials gives an attacker access to everything from Harvey to their student email. Sure, we might trust Microsoft’s single sign on, but do we trust how that request is sent or any of ConnectTU’s own requests? I sure as hell don’t. Lots of apps send information like passwords in the clear because they think that security isn’t needed or the requests can’t be intercepted. If you decide to grit your teeth and login, you then see the app itself, which has several different features. If you’re naive enough to go ahead and turn on notifications when it asks you, it will turn them on for every single possible “channel” that it puts you in. This feels very much like a bad Slack knockoff. Each of these channels is supposed to be a place for actual discussion, but with users like Mike Pence and Adam Smith, these channels are just memes and show that no one takes this app seriously. Now, SA wants us to use the QR code feature to scan in to different SA events, but to do this we give this insecure app access to all our photos. Definitely doesn’t seem

“... with users like Mike Pence and Adam Smith, these channels are just memes and show that no one takes this app seriously.” Unlike Involvio, however, ConnectTU has new functions that mean you actually might have to download it. If you went to First Thursday the first week of classes and wanted food or the SA T-shirt, instead of scanning your ID, something every student had, you had to scan in using ConnectTU’s check-in functionality. Not only did this require students to download an app before they got food, it also assumed everyone had a phone with them, one that can download apps (flip phones work on a college budget) or one to begin with. Not everyone has a mobile phone, SA. Then we get to the setup of the app. First thing you see when you open the app is a blank white screen with a blue ‘next’ button. Honestly, this is when I lost confidence in the app. They throw this product into production without actually having a fully fleshed out user interface or loading screen on first use.

worth it to me. Plus, this is just another set of information that could now be intercepted and give an attacker access to so much about a TU student. The only thing of vague value that isn’t a complete head scratcher (apparently you can make calls through the app?) is that it does have the actual TU events calendar. Granted, it’s tiny and not very detailed, but with digital signage going away, it might actually have to be used (SA wants two forms of advertisement to count a program as fundable and who wants to chalk in December?). I was definitely not impressed by the ConnectTU app, and with my doubts as to its security, I for one do not plan to use this app in the near future, even if it means I miss out on a T-shirt or two. It’s definitely not like there are free t-shirts anywhere else on campus, after all.

President Bolsonaro’s enviromental policies have contributed to the fires.

courtesy Wikipedia

As the Amazon burns, politicians bicker

The worldwide enviromental impact of these fires cannot be overstated. Liza Williams Student Writer The Amazon — the “lungs of the world,” a rainforest spanning eight countries, the vegetation that accounts for 20 percent of the earth’s oxygen — blazes as around 50,000 fires release the trees’ carbon stores. Smoke from the fires has blackened several cities, including the largest city in Brazil, São Paulo, 1,700 miles away. Short-term, these flames may represent only inconveniences to nearby citizens, points of contention for politicians or an opportunity to express one’s great concern for environmental issues via social media. Long-term, however, their effects prove existentially detrimental.

cattle) will ramp up production and bolster the economy. Having taken this stance, Bolsonaro eliminated federal policies like issuing fines for tree clearing or offering lowinterest loans for farmers wanting to invest in sustainable agricultural practices, both of which were intended to reduce deforestation. However, Bolsonaro’s position is undermined by the facts. Not only has food production in Brazil increased substantially since 2004, but the farmers who followed the government’s regulations for sustainable agriculture doubled the number of cows they slaughtered for meat that year. As a result of Bolsonaro’s interests, deforestation has increased since he took office. From January to August this year, the rainforest decreased by an area of 1,330 square miles, at a 40 percent higher rate than in 2018. When the INPE released this data, Bolsonaro called the numbers “a lie” and proceeded to fire the director of the institute. Though trees can be replanted in the Amazon to offset (but not entirely counter) the damage done by these and other fires, the rainforest will eventually reach a point of no return should instances such as these continue unchecked. In fact, upon reaching this irreversibility, the Amazon would be a savannah rather than a rainforest. Without the world’s largest rainforest absorbing carbon dioxide as it does now, global tempera-

“Higher temperatures and longer droughts are likely contributing to this massive increase ...”

The app provides many features already served by student IDs.

courtesy Involvio

While destructive fires have ravaged the Amazon before, they now burn with greater ferocity. Brazil’s National Institute for Space Research (INPE) reported an 80 percent increase in the number of fires over the past year. A record 72,843 fires have burned since January (9,000 of which were spotted just during one week in August). Higher temperatures and longer droughts are likely contributing to this massive increase, but these are not the only factors at play. Not only have more extreme dry seasons passed without such fires, peak dry season is still a month away. Most of the fires in the Amazon were originally started by people, either intentionally or accidentally. Brazilian farmers often burn trees to clear land quickly for agricultural use, but these fires have gotten wildly out of control. Scientists name deforestation practices such as this major causes of these fires, as farmers in Brazil have greater freedom to clear forest land for their own purposes, especially after Jair Bolsonaro took office. Deforestation proves cyclical, as the rainforest itself generates one-half of its rainfall so that a newly treeless region only grows drier, thus promoting even more tree loss and making the trees more susceptible to fires. Jair Bolsonaro, the president of Brazil, supports expansion into the Amazon, claiming that looser regulations for agriculturalists (who primarily grow soy and raise

ture increases would accelerate and remaining below the recommended temperature increase of 2 degrees Celsius as compared with pre-industrial levels would prove nearly impossible. Bolsonaro was offered $20 million from the Group of 7 (G7) countries following their French summit to help combat the fires. He refused, accusing Emmanuel Macron, the president of France, of colonialist ideals. Prior to this, a Facebook post mocking Macron with photos of his and Bolsonaro’s wives received a supportive comment from Bolsonaro’s Facebook account. Global leaders refrain from taking any preventative measures to offset the hazards of the climate crisis because it has always been a thing of the future. By dealing with the ramifications of individual crises as they come, politicians pretend to have environmental concerns. They then focus on their careers, the economy or international affairs whilst putting off the greatest disaster into which mankind has led himself. As a rainforest becoming a savannah, the Amazon provides an example of our doomed fate. And, should nothing change, it certainly will not be the last. Perhaps events like fires in the Amazon will change the way in which politicians legislate on environmental issues. For now, though, they appear to be preoccupied with Facebook.


The Collegian: 10

Sports

9 September 2019

Men’s soccer bests the Bisons TU sports photographer James Taylor captures the action from the Golden Hurricane’s 3-1 win over Lipscomb University last Monday.

Chase Bromstedt and Jonathan Cervantes celebrate after a goal (left). Bromstedt dribbles upfield (right). Adam Habib handles the ball (bottom).

photos by James Taylor

Golden Hurricane triumphs over Lamar TU sports photographer James Taylor presents images of TU women’s soccer pulling off a 3-1 victory over the Cardinals.

Alijah Oliver prepping a kick (left). Kayla Fernandez executes a kick (right).

photos by James Taylor


Sports

9 September 2019

The Collegian: 11

Tulsa Football smashes the Spartans TU sports journalist Hannah Robbins covers the Golden Hurricane’s 34-16 victory over San Jose State on Saturday. Coming off a rough week on the road against Michigan State, Tulsa traveled again to San Jose State. This time they had much better results; Tulsa led the Spartans on passing yards, receiving yards and possession time.Tulsa also managed to avoid the interceptions and fumbles that plagued them last week while capitalizing on San Jose’s mistakes. From the start, it was clear that the Golden Hurricane had found its groove. Tulsa had possession first, and ran with it — literally. After some quarterback keepers by Zach Smith and short runs by Shamari Brooks to get to San Jose’s half of the field, junior quarterback Smith hit a 21-yard pass to Keylon Stokes to put Tulsa within field goal distance. Three plays later, Tulsa had the first touchdown of the game with Brooks’ nine-yard run.San Jose tried to respond, but was limited to a field goal after Spartans quarterback Josh Love failed to connect with a receiver on several occasions. Tulsa continued their solid play on their next possession. After a slow start, Smith completed a 37-yard pass to Sam Crawford Jr., bringing Tulsa deep into San Jose’s territory. Runs by Brooks and T.K Wilkerson brought Tulsa to the eight-yard line, with Smith capping off a solid possession with a pass to junior Denzel Carter. After a kick from Jacob Rainey, Tulsa was up 14-3 at the beginning of the second quarter.

courtesy Golden Hurricane

At this point, San Jose realized they had to make some plays to stay in the game, but it took them another possession before they got going. Love’s pair of twenty-plus yard passes proved to be too much for Tulsa to handle, and San Jose got their first touchdown, bringing the score 14-10. This lit a fire beneath the Golden Hurricane, with Brooks, Crawford Jr. and JuanCarlos Santana getting Tulsa down the field in three minutes. However, lost yards by Brooks and a failed pass caused Tulsa to settle for a field goal, bringing the score to 17-10. As the half wound

down, final possessions by San Jose and Tulsa led to nothing but punts and lost yardage, but the second half was poised to be more interesting. Short possessions by San Jose and Tulsa at first led to nothing, but by Tulsa’s second possession of the half, they hit their stride. Brooks led the possession with a 17-yard run, giving Tulsa a much needed first down, but Smith’s struggle to complete passes almost ended the possession there. Brooks brought the Golden Hurricane out of their rut with a 17-yard run, which led to a 25yard catch by Stokes, bringing

Tulsa to first and goal. However, short gains and a delay of game penalty left Tulsa with only a field goal. As the second half continued, San Jose continued to struggle, while Smith continued to connect for long passes caught by Crawford Jr. and Carter that led to two touchdowns. The first was a short run by Wilkerson, while the second was a 17-yard run. By the middle of the fourth quarter, Tulsa had built up a 24 point lead. San Jose finally woke up for a second and put together a possession that led to a touchdown,

but even that was riddled with offensive penalties. Nick Nash’s 20-yard run brought San Jose to 34-16. Unfortunately, San Jose’s attempt at another possession via an on-site kick quickly ended in a fumble, with Tulsa running down the clock to their first win. Tulsa’s first win of the season wasn’t pretty, but it was effective. Their 12 penalties for 105 yards won’t fly against tougher conference teams, but as long as Smith continues to connect and running backs continue to make big plays, Tulsa definitely has the ability to have a stronger season than last year.

courtesy Golden Hurricane

Shamari Brooks breaks away from San Jose defenders for a large rushing gain.

What happened to Manchester United? Commentary Editor Chris Lierly discusses the Premier League team’s shockingly poor performance at the start of the season.

A new Premier League season means everyone gets to start their record anew and forget about last season’s mistakes. That is, unless you are Ole Gunnar Solskjær and Manchester United. The Red Devils fired manager Jose Mourinho mid-season last year after the Portuegese legend did a less than stellar job for the Red Devils. That led to the hiring of Solskjær who had formerly played for the team. Under Solskjær, United went on a run of eleven unbeaten games to start the Norwegian’s tenure as manager. The rest of his time as last year’s manager paled in comparison to that dreamlike start, but fans knew what he could do and were ready to see that same potential on display this season. Over the summer, two major stories swirled around United, and both are likely to impact at least the first half of the 2019/20 sea-

son. First, the Red Devils added center-back Harry Maguire for a whopping $97 million, making him the most expensive defender in the world. The English National Team and former Leicester City anchor was a much needed addition to United, but simply adding a player of Maguire’s caliber will not solve all the problems that plagued United before and after Solskjær arrived. The second story that will no doubt play a role in the Red Devils’ success is the eventual fate of midfielder Paul Pogba. The French star seems to be more compatible with Solskjær than he was with Mourinho, but that did not stop Pogba from attempting to leave United during the summer. What looked like it was going to be one of the largest transfers in history again ended up being a

non-story, and it looks like Pogba will stay in Manchester until at least January. Alexis Sanchez and Romelu Lukaku will both be spending the season at Inter Milan, but neither had the kind of impact that Pogba has had while at Old Trafford. So what have these developments meant for United after four matches? Harry Maguire, like Virgil van Djik, the most expensive defender before him, seems to already proving his worth as both a defender and leader for the team. Maguire has had his share of blunders in the past, but thus far in the season he has put up some decent performances despite the team getting off to a mediocre start at best. However, whether he was worth the exorbitant fee will, also like van Djik, likely depend

on United’s ranking come season end and whether they fare well in the Champion’s League. He represents a step in the right direction for United, since he wants to play for the Red Devils and fills a role the team desperately needed. Pogba on the other hand reminds everyone just how hard the United front office can make it for their managers. Mourinho deserves little praise for his time at United, but few can blame him for the fractured relationship he had with Alex Ferguson who acts as an ambassador for the club and Ed Woodwar the chief executive of Manchester United. First, it is extremely intimidating for a manager to try and work from under the shadow of one of the greatest coaching figures in sports history and the person behind Manchester United being a world-wide brand. Secondly,

whether Paul Pogba comes back from his injury ready to make the best of his United season isn’t really relevant. He has expressed a desire to leave the club and the Premier League. Woodward’s unwillingness or inability to sell the superstar for what would likely be a record breaking price tag and help United put together a squad that can challenge Liverpool or Manchester City might be part of the team’s key flaw. Yes, some lackluster players have passed through in the past few years, and no Jose Mourinho has never really been liked by anyone for anything else other than winning. If the current run of mediocre play from Manchester continues, however, then the front office will be more at fault than any one who stands on the field during matches.


Sports

The Collegian: 12

9 September 2019

Sports predictions: The fall crystal ball The Collegian sports writing staff gives their semi-serious predictions about what the sporting world has to offer in the next few months. Browns go on 16-game winning streak, ask for soul back from the devil This time last year, the Browns were the midst of a 19-game losing streak. Now if you are placing a bet on them, your odds would be +1400. That is the fourth highest in the entire NFL, tied with the L.A. Chargers. Tracking that rate of improvement, it looks like Cleveland will go undefeated the entire fall regular season. Of course, after trading their soul to the devil to be better at football, they will likely ask for it back (along will Lebron as a good luck charm) in time for the playoffs. It’s a little early for winter predictions, but I say they make it

losing the first game, LA decides it fears humiliation too much to risk losing to the Mariners. They then forfeit the rest of the series to make Seattle the reigning champs. Figure skaters transcend jumps altogether, start levitating As the season begins, some of the biggest names will leak their new programs with unique elements. Instead of the normal crazy jumps and amazing choreography, skaters go up for landings and … don’t come back down. Skating will take to the skies in ways not even coaches can anticipate, and it will completely upheave the rankings this season.

“... then Alabama will likely launch another attack on South Carolina ...” through the first round before fizzling out come playoffs. Mariners win World Series, yes really October is rushing towards us with alarming speed, and that means the MLB playoffs are almost here. Now I know the Mariners have a zero percent chance of even making the playoffs. But hear me out: The Dodgers and the Yankees have been so dominant that absolutely no team has a chance of beating one of them to the World Series under normal conditions. So what if the AL Wild Card (let’s say Tampa Bay for simplicity) decides to forfeit their seat to the Mariners since they won’t win the national title anyway, and would rather spend their time preparing for next year? Now that the Mariners are in the playoffs, not a single scouting team will have a strategy against them. Every MLB time will be blindsided and have no game plan against the sudden playoff addition. They make it all the way to the World Series to face the Dodgers. After

Clemson wins again, Alabama declares war The top-ranked Tigers look primed to make another run at the College Football Playoffs and the Championship at the end of them. However, the title will have already spent a year away from Tuscaloosa and, like Persephone, it must return to Had- ... er … um ...I mean Nick Saban’s clutches every so often. If this doesn’t happen and Clemson ends up winning, then Alabama will likely launch another attack on South Carolina so that by definition Clemson won’t be able to hold the title of champions. NFL implements the “take-backsies” rule Following the Antonio Brown-to-thePatriots debacle, the Pittsburgh Steelers’ front office has demanded the institution of a “take-backsie” clause in all trade agreements. This is due to the nature of the AB issue. During the 2019 offseason, the New England Patriots offered Pittsburgh a first round pick for All-star receiver Antonio Brown;

graphic by Emma Palmer Alabama sparks war with South Carolina.

due to the fact that New England is an AFC conference rival, Pittsburgh refused, instead electing to send him to the Oakland Raiders for a pittance, a third and a fifth round pick. AB acted out in order to get released by the Raiders, only to sign with the Patriots only a few hours later.

The Take-Backsie rule states: “If at any point, a traded player is traded again to the Patriots, his original team can issue a ‘takebacksie’, and get their player back instead.” This rule will not be enforced retroactively, given Antonio Brown’s previous history with the Steelers.

Six Golden Hurricane post double figures in 3-1 win over Kansas City at KC Roos Klassic

Tulsa Hurricane covers TU women’s volleyball team abroad in their victory over Kansas City on Saturday. KANSAS CITY, Mo. - Six Golden Hurricane posted double figures on Saturday, as the Tulsa volleyball team defeated Kansas City, 3-1 [25-22, 17-25, 25-16, 15-21] to end the KC Roos Klassic. The two-day tournament was hosted by Kansas City at the Swinney Recreation Center. With the win, the Golden Hurricane improve to 3-3 overall, while the Roos drop to 1-3 this season. Additionally, senior Taylor Horsfall, sophomore Roosa Rautio, and freshman Dialra Gedikoglu received all-tournament team honors. Tulsa would trail by four points at two occasions early in the opening set. A Maggie Hembree kill off a Rautio assist would give the Golden Hurricane its first lead at 9-8. Two plays later, Rautio set up Maddie Rhoder for a kill. That would be the start of an 11-3 TU run for a 20-12 advantage.

Gedikoglu totaled five kills during the run, Rhoder finished with two, while Hannah Overmyer added one. Rhoder and Callie Cook were both credited with a block assist. Horsfall and Rautio registered three assists, respectively, and Mariah Pardo had one. Kansas City did not go away. Trailing 2417, they scored five straight points, before a Roos attacking error ended the set. The Roos would take the second set, 2517, but it was all Tulsa after that. In the third set, Kansas City would cut a six-point Tulsa lead to just three points at 13-10. However, four straight errors by the Roos helped Tulsa gain a seven-point cushion. The Roos attempted to rally from two seven-point deficits in the fourth set, but Tulsa held its ground. With the Golden Hurricane on top, 22-15, Kansas City captured six of the ensuing eight points. But the closest they came was within three points at 24-

21 and 23-20. Tulsa finished the match 47 kills on a .187 attacking percentage, while Kansas City recorded 48 kills on a .151 clip. The Roos edged the Golden Hurricane in assists, 46-45, but TU had a 7-5 advantage in service aces. Both teams registered 67 digs. Overall, there were nine ties and nine lead changes throughout the contest. Gedikoglu finished with her fourth double-double of the season, leading all players with 17 kills, to go with 12 digs. Rautio also posted her first double-double of the campaign, as she recorded a team-high 22 assists and chipped in 12 digs. The two also combined for five of Tulsa’s seven service aces. Four additional Golden Hurricane also posted double figures. Horsfall led all players with 22 digs. Overmyer tied her career-high of 11 digs and registered a career-best three solo

blocks. Pardo ended the match with 14 assists, while Hembree tallied a season-high 10 kills. Cook combined for two solo blocks and six block assists. The Golden Hurricane return to action on Wednesday, Sept. 11 at 7:00 p.m., as they travel to cross-town rival Oral Roberts. Following the contest, Tulsa will make its way to the Donald W. Reynolds Center for the Tulsa Invitational. TU will host Houston Baptist in the home opener on Friday, Sept. 13 at 12 noon. Tickets for all home volleyball matches this year are $5.00 for general admission seating. A group price of $3.00 per ticket for a minimum of 15 persons is available by calling 918.631.GoTU (4688). To keep up with Tulsa volleyball as the 2019 season approaches, visit TulsaHurricane.com and follow the team on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram.

Sep. 9 - Sep. 15 Monday

Tuesday 9

Wednesday 10

11

Thursday

Saturday

Friday

12

14

13

Sunday 15

M Tennis Silverado Invit. W Golf Trinity Forest Invit. All day

W Golf Trinity Forest Invit. All day

Volleyball @ Oral Roberts 7 p.m.

No Events

Volleyball vs. HBU 12 p.m. Volleyball vs. UTSA 7 p.m. W Soccer @ Missouri St. 7 p.m.

Football vs. OSU 2:30 p.m. Volleyball vs SIUE 1 p.m.

No Events


The State-Run Media

9 September 2019

The Collegian: 13

ConnectTU: Big Brother or your new best friend? Don’t listen to the critics: the ConnectTU app is a godsend in convenience. Mary Bergwell ConnectTU beta tester Since orientation week, the University of Tulsa has been pushing for widespread adoption of its new Professional Super App, ConnectTU, much to the chagrin of many upperclassmen. Across campus, students are resisting TU’s big brother approach to monitor student activity and refusing to download it just to stick it to the man. For all the skeptics out there, here’s four hidden features in ConnectTU that might just change your mind. TUBer Eats: Didn’t make it to the Caf in time for dinner? No worries, ConnectTU has you covered. Just open the app, select whatever food you can reasonably convince your body to ingest and in exactly 69 minutes, a lump of scrumptiously inedible mystery meat will be delivered outside of your door! It’s basically “Hello Fresh” without the Fresh. Even Dr. Clancy has given it a ringing endorsement! Upon unveiling the food he ordered (six day old sushi with corn on the cob for added fiber) he loudly exclaimed “Mmm, Osteoporosis!! That is, as the kids say, bone atrophy!” TUmble: Do you ever find yourself feeling sad, lonely and wishing for companionship? Do you long for your very own true commitment? Rest easy, golden hurricanes, ConnectTU is here to help. While the University has recently struggled with fidelity to both its students and faculty, ConnectTU is specially designed to help you form meaningful, long-lasting relationships. SpoTUfy is the new best way to listen to your favorite local TU rappers.

Say goodbye to swiping one way or another, this feature has three simple options whenever you see a new profile: “yes,” “no” and “no way you actually ‘love adventuring.’ I mean, what does that even mean? Why couldn’t you write the same bio about dogs, coffee and ‘The Office,’ like everyone else?” SpoTUfy: Has your music selection been lacking recently? Are you looking to downgrade from Pandora radio? Look no further than ConnectTU! In just seconds you can have thousands of dubstep remixes of the alma mater at your fingertips! Move over, Lil Nas X, these mixes are going to be breaking all kinds of records! This music section even connects you with local Soundcloud rappers on campus so that you can browse their music selection in real time as they tell you all about their new feature while you wait in line at the bookstore! TU-tris: Last but certainly not least, ConnectTU even features a campus-themed game, perfect for any boring lecture or anyone training for the new e-sports team! It’s just like Grand Theft Auto except much more mediocre! Create your avatar, input your student ID number and try to park your car around campus while avoiding the ticket lady. Be careful not to get caught because the third time you’re ticketed, your actual vehicle gets actually towed! As you can see, there’s a lot of really cool features that are part of ConnectTU. Hopefully these cool additions will make you more eager to give the app a try. At the end of the day, the administration is really just trying to find a way to Connect to you, TU. And let’s face it, giving us a flashy new app is definitely better than sitting down and getting to know us or listening to any of our concerns.

graphic by Naomi Dunn

Golden Hurricane loses game 28-7: TU fans rejoice!

graphic by Naomi Dunn

The respectable defeat finally gave the Caniacs a reason to cheer.

Underdog Tulsa beats the odds and only loses football game by 21 points! A.C. Boyle Could have gone pro The Tulsa Golden Hurricanes kicked off their season last Friday on the road against Michigan State, losing their season opener by a final score of 28-7. The Spartans, ranked eighteenth in the nation, were heavily favored entering the game, manhandling TU’s offence throughout to the surprise of absolutely no one. But despite the loss, TU athletics is currently celebrating the loss as a big achievement for their athletics program. “Obviously, going up against a strong team like Michigan State, you’d expect to do a lot worse,” one athletic trainer volunteered. “You expect a final score of, say 5614, or 38-3. You don’t expect something like 28-7, which has a much nicer ring to it.”

TU, a member of the American Athletic Conference since 2014, has been playing more and more lofty CFB programs in recent years, from larger Conferences like the Big 10 and Big 12. Although most of these games have ended in defeats, some of them have ended in respectable defeats. “There’s just no way to compete with the athletic prowess and academic shoddiness of the bigger schools,” sighed one season ticket holder when approached for comment. “We can only hope that one day, one

The game was mostly a defensive struggle, with Tulsa staying in the game until halfway around the second quarter. One student who watched the game on Friday said: “I’m surprised we made it that long. It kept me mildly interested.” Another student who watched the game said, “If we only lost by 21, against Michigan State, then the other AAC teams should be rightly scared of us.” Reactions around the city of Tulsa were very optimistic. Reports of noise disturbanc-

“If we only lost by 21 ... then the other AAC teams should be rightly scared of us.” day, we might lose by a score of 21-17. That would be fantastic!” In total, the University of Tulsa makes around $1 million for every game it plays against larger college athletic powers, an amount that isn’t bad, considering there’s a ton of embarrassing things I would gladly do for a million bucks.

es could be heard around the city, while several Buffalo Wild Wings restaurant chains were vandalised by elated, drunken fans. “I guess they must have bet the point spread and won,” one confused onlooker stated. The reactions from the victorious home team, however, were more lukewarm. The television broadcasters were surprised by

the enormous number of nonplussed fans and students in attendance paying more attention to their cell phones than the season opener. “I mean, I don’t even know where Tulsa is,” one Michigan State Student texted, “So I know they’re not going to beat our boys.” MSU fans also generally reacted with disdain to the victory, saying: “We’d expected to win by much, much more. That’s what the college football rankings value: a blowout.” In a postgame press conference, Michigan State Coach Mark Dantonio gave this statement: “I was surprised by Tulsa and Coach Montgomery’s gameplan. They were resilient … obviously for us, 28-7 is a pyrrhic victory … We’re going to hit it harder at practice and watch some game film so that our boys can bounce back from this.” And so this is a great start for TU football this season. Moving forward, it is all about seeing the glass as a quarter full.


The State-Run Media

9 September 2019

the

State-Run media App coming soon.

Black hole manifests in US West washing machine Maintenance called to repair a singularity that materialized in a TU student apartment. Courtney Spivey Has never done laundry At approximately 0300 hours on Sunday, Sept. 2, the physical plant received a maintenance request. It was filed away automatically from the housing system records, ready to be distributed across campus to the workers that dutifully show up at 0700 hours sharp each morning. Since it was just a little repair slip, no one thought anything much of it. At a quarter till 0900 hours on Monday morning, a worker was assigned to repair a washing machine that was reported broken in US West. The apartment number will not be revealed for the privacy of the students residing there. Disregarding the cute (but most likely illegal) kitten that greeted the worker at the door, the apartment appeared deserted. There was the standard mess in the kitchen, an acceptable amount of dishes in the sink and a few crumbs on countertops and tables alike. The furniture in the apartment was a little bit more than minimal but eclectic enough to know it came from various dumpsters around campus. The apartment was like any other, except for one distinctly unique phenomenon. Upon entering the laundry room, the maintenance worker, who requested his name be redacted from this article, reportedly witnessed the beginning of a singularity. Indeed, this was not a usual maintenance request. Admittedly, the worker added later, this wasn’t the first time he had come across something slightly out of the ordinary. He recalled that once he had to perform an exorcism when a student became possessed and resisted move-out. He also mentioned that some previous years ago, he had to call the SWAT team when it was revealed that a single room in Fisher West was holding two hundred frat boys for “educational purposes.” It was unclear how they got in, as the international student that last inhabited the room had returned to Australia two years prior. Anyway, it was clear that this was not the worker’s first rodeo.

graphic by Naomi Dunn

The black hole reportedly warped spacetime and reverted the student back to infancy.

Further inspection revealed that the singularity had only warped the space time around the washing machine. Turns out, the apartment had not been empty. “It was interesting,” the worker said, because at first he was confused about the baby being sucked straight into the event horizon. “I only took up to advanced quantum physics in my masters degree in applied physics, so I wasn’t very knowledgeable about these things. It took me a second to remember that an object — in this case, a person’s — ‘time’ was also affected by singularities.” Once the worker was able to confirm the baby was in fact the student living at the apartment (he had been holding his ID card, apparently), he got down to work. “Well, the first thing you want to do is always look at the overall state of things. Is anyone bleeding or dying? Is the machine

going berserk? I assessed the situation and determined that perhaps I should call at least Campus Security. I mean, I didn’t want to freak out or anything, but the black hole looked a little bit serious.” It seemed to be the right call. Campus Security listened to the issue, had four shift switches, and then arrived two hours later. “We took a look at the situation and assessed that the apartment had no threats. We determined that we could not supply additional assistance to the situation. There were no doors to unlock and no marijuana to confiscate. We wished the worker best of luck and confirmed that the baby was indeed a student before taking our leave.” Of course, the maintenance worker eventually worked out the equation to dissolve the singularity.

“We get a variety of work to do as maintenance workers and students come up with the quirkiest ways to break things” He said, chuckling. “When I first graduated from Yale I thought I had a one-way ticket to a life as a professor, but the economy these days is tough. I remembered that E = mc² and then just went from there.” The student, who is no longer allowed to use powder laundry detergent, came to us for one last quote. “I thought I was supposed to put it in the little rectangular compartment where you put the liquid detergent. No one told me to do it otherwise. I really want to stress that I wouldn’t have done it if I knew I would warp space time. I’m just a business major.”

TU therapist shortage spurs spike in student self-help Professional help unavailable, students turn to drastic physical change to help their mental health. Hannah Robbins Runs with scissors As the school year starts to ramp up (week three means at least two hours of reading a night, after all), friends and acquaintances are starting to finally catch up. Questions of “how was your summer?” and ‘“what have you been up to?” have led me to notice an interesting pattern: there have been a lot of new looks and hobbies on campus. It took me a while to figure out what was up, but then I sorted it out. Over the summer (and let’s be real, during the school year) it was impossible to get in to see a therapist on campus. This means students took it into their own hands to transform their lives and dealt with their problems in the one way they knew how: drastic lifestyle changes. Everyone knows the common one, give yourself bangs and suddenly everything is okay, but this past year has seen some new trends in this vein of self-help. Having already hit the bangs level of therapy and still needing more, next came the hair dye. Some students actually claim this is a more potent therapy-like option that can last up to six or seven months, but no claims have been verified yet, as most students still have at least a good month to go before they’re clamoring onto the Alexander Health Center waiting lists. This has led to some variety in the drama of a new hairstyle, while also making this unique tech-

nique more accessible to all genders. Unfortunately, this option seems to work only once, especially if the first hair dye attempt is not exactly what the student in need of therapy wanted it to look like. However, because this is 2019 and everyone is extra, some students have found a more sustainable therapy-like option: starting your own podcast. This option is distinct in that it has different flavors. This means that it works for different amounts of time depending on a number of factors, including popularity, amount of Freudian slips and ability to detangle past traumas without knowing it. For the individuals who want a little more edge in their life, there seems to be an uptick in true crime podcasts. These seem to work as a solid destressor for those with a taste for the macabre. Others embrace their inner nerd and analyze a cult movie or start an actual-play podcast. This works for those who want to work through their feelings but can’t talk openly about them. They find meaning where it isn’t or project those feelings onto their character. It’s basically a modernized version of writing an angsty fanfic on fanfiction.net, but now you can actually get famous on the Spotify podcast charts. The Alexander Health Center may have finally had the budget and staff to hire new therapists, but they obviously didn’t get the memo. TU students have at least three more months before they actually need therapy, so for once there won’t be a waiting list at all. Truly a blessing in these new (and more fashionable) times.

Unable to schedule an appointment, this student is taking therapy into their own hands.

graphic by Emma Palmer


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