a student newspaper of the university of tulsa
september 16, 2013 issue 2 ~ volume 99
Tulsa struggles with its racist past Tulsa City Council renames Brady Street The Tulsa City Council voted to rename Brady Street in response to criticism of W. Tate Brady, for whom the street was named, and who played a prominent role in the Tulsa Outrage and the Tulsa Race Riot. Nikki Hager Staff Writer
T
ulsa’s walk of fame is located in the north of the Brady District, a new economic powerhouse and cultural center of the city. The star honoring W. Tate Brady is just a few blocks short of Brady Theater. Located squarely in between is Brady Street. A prominent businessman and founding member of the City of Tulsa, Tate Brady signed the original Tulsa City Charter. He opened the Brady Hotel, earning his wealth and reputation following the 1901 discovery of the Red Fork Oil Field. His businesses increased the status and appeal of Tulsa. However, allegations leveled by Oklahoma publication This Land link Brady to racial violence and conflict in the early 20th century. This Land asserts that in addition to being an admitted Ku Klux Klansmen, Brady was one of the major orchestrators behind the Tulsa Outrage of 1917, when members of the Industrial Workers of the World were tarred, feathered and run out of town on a rail.
Brady also participated in the 1921 Tulsa Race Riot. Following the riots, he attempted to block reconstruction of the largely black Greenwood District, large swaths of which were burnt to the ground during the riot—which would have forced the majority of Tulsa’s black population to the outskirts of the town. These claims are causing significant upheaval in the Tulsa community, so much so that last month the Tulsa City Council considered legislation to rename Brady Street to Burlington Street, a name considered for the historic boulevard early in the city’s history. The Tulsa City Council Meeting on August 8 proposing the legislation drew 51 speakers from the community and spanned over four and a half hours. Numerous supporters of the measure sported t-shirts saying “Rename Brady” and “Stand Against Racism.” “Long story short, black folks in Tulsa have been left out of the system of improvement. Generally speaking we’ve gotten the short end of the stick,” said Tulsa native Regina Goodwin. “We talk about the Tate Brady name. We talk about the Klu Klux Klan. We talk about murder, and nooses, and burning and terrorists. We’re talking about 2013 and still seeing a divided city.” Various speakers throughout the evening echoed Goodwin’s sentiments. Several local business owners and Brady District patrons spoke
out in opposition of the change, however. “What I do know is that we are an inclusive community, not an exclusive community,” remarked Nicky Warren, who owns a business in the Brady District. “I believe in keeping the street name Brady,” said Warren, “not because we are honoring anyone in particular or his legacy, but because of the geographical identification that it gives people when they come to the area. To say you are on Brady Street, people know what you’re talking about.” Others argued that changing the name would lead to a “slippery
to getting over racism and putting it behind us,” said Councilor Henderson. When the council met again on August 15, Counselor Ewing offered an amendment to the legislation. Instead of changing Brady Street to Burlington Street, Ewing suggested changing it to M. Brady Street, honoring American Civil War photographer Mathew Brady. Mathew Brady lived and worked in New York and has no direct links to Tulsa. Additionally, Ewing suggested an honorary title to the street, Reconciliation Way. While it would
“While the street no longer honors Tate Brady, at the end of the day it remains Brady Street” slope,” as Tate Brady was not the only prominent racist Tulsan. The public conversation in the meeting was dominated by two arguments: one that maintained Tulsa had a moral duty to change the name, and the alternative, which held that changing the name would harm economic interests. At the end of the night, the council postponed the vote after council discussion revealed that the vote would be split, resulting in deadlock. The mayor also threatened the measure with veto. “I am really embarrassed and ashamed that we are going to leave this city tonight no closer together
True Blue Neighbor Volunteer Center The True Blue Neighbor Volunteer Center connects TU’s staff, faculty, and students to the community around us. Mentor, tutor, assist a teacher, monitor a playground or cafeteria, work in a Food Bank. We partner with over 75 agencies in and around the Tulsa area, so wherever your interests are we can find a place for you volunteer your time. Make a Difference Day This is a national event to spotlight community service in your area. TU will be joining other Kendall-Whittier community partners to clean up Kendall-Whittier Main Street on Oct 26th from 1 P.M. – 4 P.M.
not be the official name, he advocated Tulsans begin referring to the street in the same manner that 15th Street is often known as Cherry Street. Signs would be added atop the official street signs noting the honorary name. “Brady Street should be an example to the world of what reconciliation should look like,” Ewing said. After the Mayor expressed his support, the measure passed 7–1. Unlike the previous week, the amendment was not open for community input. While the street no longer honors Tate Brady, at the end of the
day, it remains the Brady Street. The controversy surrounding the street name is representative of changing tides in the Tulsa community. The city is being forced to confront issues surrounding race and ideology that date back to its founding. Regardless of the name change, such deep-seated sentiments are not easily resolved. Several unsatisfied constituents displayed their feelings during September’s First Friday Art Crawl, located in the Brady District. Duct tape labeled “Murder Street” was placed over a Brady Street sign. True to the artistic nature of the event, a display of protest caught the attention of onlookers. An African-American man sat in an alleyway, surrounded by traffic cones tailored to look like hoods, spray-painted white and marked with dark eyes. As people made their way down Brady Street, a crowd gathered around the display. While initially the man sat alone, one by one several white men sat next to him. The formal debate amongst officials may have ended following the compromise, but discussion within the community is far from over. Councilman Ewing said, “These community conversations have a value for us, if at the end of the day there is reconciliation; if we make progress and we somehow move past old issues and put them to rest; if we’re better for it than when we started.”
Community Service Work Study Would you like to work in a rewarding atmosphere? Do you qualify for Federal Work Study? You can use your work study at a non-profit agency or school, get paid $9 an hour and change a life! Reading Partners Reading can change a child’s life! Become a True Blue Neighbors Reading Partner at Kendall-Whittier Elementary, commit to 1 hour a week and a 45 minute training session and you can be the catalyst to launch a child’s education to a higher level.
For additional information on volunteer opportunities, contact Kathy Shelton in the True Blue Neighbor Volunteer Center at kathy-shelton@utulsa.edu or call 918-631-3535.
Sports
16 September 2013
the Collegian : 2
Backyard Bowl returns
Fraser Kastner / Collegian
Union Redskins fans cheer on their team at H.A. Chapman Stadium during the Backyard Bowl against the Jenks Trojans on Friday night. Jenks won the game 20-16 after Dylan Hardingran caught a 76 yard touchdown pass with 25 seconds left in the game.
J. Christopher Proctor / Collegian
Tulsa’s Trey Watts returns a punt in the third quarter of the football game against the Sooners. Watts’ 77-yard return ended at the OU 9 yard line where Lacoltan Bester forced Watts out of bounds. The return set up a 21-yard field goal by Carl Salazar which made the score 34–13 with 4:46 left in the third quarter.
Golf previews national championship course The Golden Hurricane women’s golf team hosted the best collegiate teams in the nation in a preview of the NCAA Division I Women’s Golf National Championship next spring. Will Bramlett Sports Editor
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The Golden Hurricane women’s golf team and Tulsa Country Club hosted the best collegiate teams in the nation last week. The Dale McNamara Fall Preview began last Monday. The Golden Hurricane’s competition was No. 3 Alabama, No. 6 Arkansas, No. 8 Arizona, No. 10 Arizona State, No. 2 Duke, Georgia, North Carolina, No. 4 Oklahoma, Oklahoma State, Stanford, Texas, Tulane, No. 9 Vanderbilt and the defending national champion, No. 1 Southern California.
The Dale McNamara Fall Preview is named after former Golden Hurricane head women’s golf coach, Dale McNamara, who started the Tulsa women’s golf program in 1974. Tulsa won the first-ever NCAA Women’s Golf title in 1982, beating out TCU by 36 strokes. The TU women’s golf team finished the next year as runner-up to TCU and then again in 1985 to Florida. Their second NCAA title under McNamara came in 1988, but the Hurricane had to vacate the top spot following the reveal of NCAA rule violations. The Hurricane has not won a national title since 1988, but did finish one stroke behind the national champions, San Jose State, in 1989. Tulsa finished the first day in last place with a score of 316 (+36) and never recovered, despite improving performances in the next two days. On the second day, the Golden Hurricane recorded a score of 308 (+28). They dropped below 300 with a score of 292 (+12) on
the third day to score better than Vanderbilt and Texas. The final tally for Tulsa over the three days was 916 (+76) for the course, for a 15th place finish. In fourteenth place was Texas, with a score of 893 (+53). After the first day, top-ranked USC was tied for 8th place and No. 3 Alabama was sitting in 11th place. Oklahoma State and Oklahoma sat in 1st and 2nd, respectively. Oklahoma State was the only team to be under par the first day. The Trojans, the Crimson Tide and the Blue Devils all improved their games on the second day. The Trojans skipped up from 8th place to 4th place, and the Tide jumped from 11th place to tie with the Trojans with a score of 572 (+12). The Blue Devils swapped their third place position with the Cowgirls. The Sooners remained in second place. On the last day of competition, the Trojans showed why they were defending national champions and the top ranked team in the nation,
recording the lowest team score of any team over the three days, a 276 (-4). This was enough to put them over the second-place Sooners, who scored a 282 (+2) on Wednesday to give them a first place finish with a total score of 848 (+8). The Sooners finished in second place and only four strokes back of the Trojans with a score of 852 (+12). The Cowgirls were able to edge out the No. 2 Blue Devils and No. 3 Crimson Tide by one stroke and take third place with a final score of 855 (+15). Among individuals, USC’s Kyung Kim finished the three rounds with a score of 204 (-6) and Noemi Jimenez of Arizona State, Julie Yang of Oklahoma State and Stephanie Meadow of Alabama all tied for second place with a score of 206 (-4). Tulsa’s top finisher was Antonia Von Wnuck who finished 222 (+12) and tied for 51st place. Franziska Voellinger and Kayla Riede tied for 69th place with a total score of 232 (+22). Alex Haun
See Golf page 3
News and Notes
The Calgary Flames played their first game in the Saddledome since the providence of Alberta experienced major flooding over the summer. Working 24 hours a day, renovations estimated to take six months were completed in 69 days. The United States men’s national soccer team qualified for the 2014 FIFA World Cup in Brazil with a 2–0 victory over Mexico in Columbus, OH on Sept. 10th and Honduras tying Panama 2–2 later that night. Nick Saban’s Alabama Crimson Tide took revenge on Johnny Manziel and the Texas A&M Aggies in College Station, TX, winning 49–42. ESPN’s College GameDay will visit a non-FBS school for only the fourth time in 20 years this Saturday. The show travels to Fargo, ND where North Dakota State University Bison, a perennial FCS powerhouse, face the Delaware State University Hornets.
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Sports
the Collegian : 3
Hurricane offense plays better, outmatched by Sooners The Golden Hurricane played its best football so far this season against the high powered Sooner offense and sturdy Sooner defense. Jordan Dunn Hoyt Student Writer
Hoping to carry on their momentum after an electrifying Saturday night win against the Colorado State Rams that ended with a game winning field goal as time expired by kicker Carl Salazar, The Golden Hurricane traveled to Norman, OK to play the University of Oklahoma Sooners. The difficulty was quickly realized as the No. 14 ranked Sooner team marched down the field to score a touchdown on their first drive and then forced the Golden Hurricane to punt after four plays. Tulsa’s Trey Watts rushed for a touchdown with seconds left in the first quarter. To bring the score to 10–7 OU. The Sooners then broke away to obtain a lead of 34–7 over the Hurricane. TU fought back, however, to cut the lead to only a 17-point deficit early in the fourth quarter making the score 20–37. The Sooners responded with two touchdowns to increase their lead to 51–20. The
Hurricane got the ball back with 2:35 left in the game, but played their last possession safe by running out the clock. “We were more consistent on offense,” Tulsa coach Bill Blankenship said. “We still had a critical turnover that hurt us. We dropped a pass that might have been another big play. We just have real high standards. I think we are an improving football team but we got exposed on defense today.” Oklahoma quarterback Blake Bell passed for 413 yards against the Tulsa defense as a talented group of OU receivers outmatched a young TU secondary. Six pass from the OU quarterback went for 25 yards or more as he passed for four touchdowns. Not all news was bad news for the TU defense as Senior linebacker Shawn Jackson recorded his 40.5 career tackle for a loss. Jackson set a new school record previously held Don Blackmon (1976-80) & Sam Rayburn (19992002), who each had 40 tackles for a loss. Hurricane fans had many reasons to be optimistic as TU’s offense, lead by senior quarterback Cody Green, put up 20 points against a defense that allowed only 7 points in its first two games.
Senior running back Trey Watts accounted for 231 all-purpose yards that included a 77-yard punt return, 65 yards receiving, and 60 yards rushing. The Golden Hurricane attempted two field goals, with Kicker Carl Salazar hitting both field goals as well as both point after attempts, bringing a sense of stability to the kicking game. Jordan James had his 2nd career 100-yard receiving game as Tulsa attempts to fill the void left by star receiver Keyarris Garrett’s season ending injury against Colorado State. The official attendance was 84,229 people, the Sooners’ 89th consecutive sellout at Oklahoma Memorial Stadium. Tulsa now has 12 days to prepare for their second Big 12 team of the season. The Hurricane hosts the Iowa State Cyclones at 6:30 p.m. on Thursday Sept. 27. This is the third meeting between the two teams in the last 13 months, with Tulsa opening last season with a 38–23 loss to the Cyclones in Iowa but responding in the Liberty Bowl with a 31–17 victory. This game will be the Hurricane’s debut on the newest national sports network, Fox Sports 1.
16 September 2013
W. Volleyball M. Golf
W. Volleyball Softball M. Soccer W. Soccer M. Tennis
W. Volleyball W. Volleyball Cross Country M. Tennis
Sept. 17
vs Oklahoma Columbia Regional Preview
vs. LIU Brooklyn
Reynolds Center
7 p.m.
Columbia, MO
All Day
Sept. 20
vs North Oklahoma College Enid
vs Valparaiso vs. Cal State Northridge
Norman, OK
4 p.m.
Collins Family Softball Complex
5 p.m.
Hurricane Stadium
7 p.m.
Northridge, CA
9:30 p.m.
Napa, CA
All Day
Norman, OK
10 a.m.
Norman, OK
4:30 p.m.
Joplin, MO
All Day
Napa, CA
All Day
Riverside, CA
1 p.m.
Evanston, IL
All Day
Napa, CA
All Day
Evanston, IL
All Day
Manhattan, KS
All Day
USTA Napa Invitational
Sept. 21
vs. Miami
vs NebraskaOmaha Missouri Southern Stampede
USTA Napa Invitational Sept. 22
W. Soccer M. Golf
vs. UC Riverside
Windsor Memorial Classic
M. Tennis
USTA Napa Invitational
M. Golf
Windsor Memorial Classic
Sept. 23
W. Golf
Marillnn Smith/ Sunflower Invitational
From Golf page 2
J. Christopher Proctor / Collegian
The Sooners’ Brennan Clay rushes for four yards before being pulled down by Tulsa’s Shawn Jackson at the OU 44 yard line early in the first quarter of the game against the Sooners on Saturday.
J. Christopher Proctor / Collegian
and Valeria Otoya finished tied for 71st place and 74th place, respectively. Most, if not all, of these teams will be back on the Tulsa Country Club course between May 20, 2014 and May 23, 2014 when the Golden Hurricane hosts the NCAA Division I Women’s Golf National Championship. Tulsa has hosted the national championship at Tulsa Country Club one other time. Duke won the national title at Tulsa Country Club in 1999 because they were leading after three rounds when rain prompted cancellation of the fourth and final round.
Sports Illustrated reports NCAA violations at OSU Sports Illustrated is running a five-part series about their investigation into Oklahoma State’s football program. Some are challenging the motives and journalistic integrity of the series. Ryan Selvius Student Writer
Sports Illustrated began publishing a five part series last Tuesday investigating Oklahoma State’s football program. Sports Illustrated’s investigation allegedly uncovered substantial improprieties many of which occurred in the early 2000s but some took place as late as 2011. The first four parts of this report have now been published with the fifth part being released in Tuesday’s issue of Sports Illustrated. Part 1 of the report alleges a number of football players from OSU received cash payments from boosters based on their on-field performance. In all, twenty nine Oklahoma State players have allegedly received money from boosters at one point or another. The article also accuses Joe DeForest, the special teams and secondary coach under Les Miles, of setting rewards for making big plays. When Thayer Evans interviewed former running back, Greg Gold, Gold came away with the feeling that Evans had a hidden
agenda. In the interview, Gold claimed that the coaching staff at OSU ran a tight ship when it came to academics, and he also denied that any player or recruit was ever paid for performance. He recently went so far as to tell Oklahoma’s NewsOn6 that “the guys that are claiming to get paid didn’t do anything to get paid.” You may expect players and coaches to deny allegations like these to their grave, but it is important to understand that Thayer Evans neglected to include Gold’s remarks in any of the report. Gold is never quoted or referenced at all in the first part about money. This leaves a tremendous feeling of bias in the article itself. This isn’t to say either Evans or Gold are right or wrong, just that the special report may not include the whole story. Part two of this special report focuses on academics. In this section of the report, SI alleges that a number of students participated in some form of academic misconduct, claiming some had their homework done by tutors, while others were provided with test questions and answers prior to the exam. This section of the report quotes twelve former players, however the credibility of these individuals has been called into question by other former players such as Josh Fields, a former QB who played for the Cowboys from 2001-2003.
Fields was shocked to find his name in the report and told ESPN, “I never had anyone attempt to give me any type of payments or do my schoolwork and never saw my teammates accept money. I never accepted anything. Seeing my name in there was a shock.” Brett McMurphy, a writer for ESPN, also pointed out that “of the twelve former players who made allegations or admitted guilt to SI, nine were kicked out of school for failed drug tests, dismissed from the program, transferred for playing time issues or quit.” These things were never mentioned by Sports Illustrated. Former Oklahoma State safety, Faith’ Carter, told SI that some players were given passing grades, but once the players were no longer eligible to play football, their grades would fall. “I’d guess that there was pressure (on the instructor) to give us those A’s when we were playing,” Carter theorizes, “but not when we weren’t.” ESPN has gotten access to Oklahoma State documents. They say that some of the examples Carter and other informants used to help make their points are not consistent with the record. Carter defends his statements, saying that he “gave the truth — no matter who likes it, it is the truth.” Part three of this five part series focuses on drug use within Oklahoma State’s program. Sports Illustrated doesn’t take long to refer
to Oklahoma State’s response to the Bowling case. After searching Bo Bowling’s apartment, authorities found 108.6 grams of weed, and unspecified amounts of Xanax, Ephedrine, and an anabolic steroid known as Stanozolol in his possession. He also had several plastic bags with marijuana residue, $1000 in cash, and a digital scale. After pleading guilty to a couple lesser charges of misdemeanor possession, Bowling spent 30 days in jail and was able to return to the team in 2010. SI had an issue with the idea of letting a player with these problems back on the team and understandably so. In the circumstances outlined by Sports Illustrated, many people would have objected to Bowling playing for OSU again. However, Sports Illustrated, again, has failed to report the entire story. Bo Bowling joined the team again in 2010 as a walk-on, and agreed to take weekly drug tests. Bowling has also stressed that “he did not experience the rampant drug culture portrayed in the SI story, nor did he ever see or know of any teammates dealing drugs.” Players have been also quoted accusing Les Miles of not caring what the players did off of the field as long as they performed on the field. In fact, Rodrick Johnson, a linebacker and defensive end from 2004 to 2007, said of Miles’s approach, “As long as you were per-
forming on the field, he could care less what you did off the field.” Les Miles responded to the claims saying “This is an outsider’s view or perhaps from a disgruntled player who wanted playing time but could not earn it. Yes, I wanted our players to perform on the field, but they had to perform socially and academically too or they would not see the field.” Miles also added “I backed the police 100 percent and did support law enforcement by asking what I could do to provide assistance.” The fourth part of the report, released Sept. 15th, discusses sexual misconduct allegations between the school’s organization known as “Orange Pride” and the recruits. This section alleges that the women involved in Orange Pride had sexual relations with players on recruiting trips. This section has been highly disputed by three members of Orange Pride. One of the ladies called into question by SI gave an interview to Thayer Evans, and claimed that she has been badly misquoted and misrepresented by his portrayal of her. Since, she has come to notice that her response to the allegations made by SI, were never printed. This is yet another instance where SI has made allegations and refused to publish the response from the accused.
NEWS
16 september 2013
UAs now show Rayzor, Helmerich A change in University Ambassadors’ tour route places new emphasis on east campus and the business school. Kimberly Poff Staff Writer
The leaves are changing colors, the smell of rotting crickets is in the air, and in keeping with fall traditions, university organizations are recruiting. Many will have seen the chalk advertisements enticing students to become UAs, or University Ambassadors. Unlike their counterparts at many other schools, the TU tour guides for prospective students are not paid. Instead they are members of a student organization and participate on a volunteer basis. Applications are due by Wednesday, Sept. 18 and a new class of TU promoters will be trained on Sunday, Sept. 29. Those fresh-faced tour guides will likely be unaware of the recent changes to the tour route that have been in effect since the beginning of the semester. The office of admissions, which oversees the University Ambassadors, has split the tour given last year into two parts: a 60-minute walking tour and a 45-minute housing and dining tour.
The old tour consisted of a loop around the U, a look in a sample dorm room, a stop in the caf, a visit the Collins Fitness Center, and a stop at the top of sorority row, which allowed the guides to gesture to the east half of campus. The new tour sacrifices stops in the dorm room and caf for a walk through ACAC to Sampson Plaza, a stop in Rayzor, and stop in the LPAC. Prospective students hoping to get a closer look at dorm life can take the “Housing and Dining” tour, which visits model dorm rooms in both Fisher and Lottie, as well as the lobby of the Caf. UAs are required to walk into the CFC, Helmrich, ACAC, Rayzor, and LPAC. The new tour route has been criticized for only including the newer buildings on campus; for instance substituting the newer Rayzor for the more populated Kep. The UAs themselves seem to like the changes. A junior UA commented “TU has put so much money and work into these new engineering facilities and I think it is important to show them off.” “I’m excited about the new route because now prospective students get to see almost the entire campus, including the really impressive recent additions, instead of just the west side,” says senior president of UA, Mike Kaucher, “I think the changes will benefit pro-
spective students of all three of the undergraduate colleges.” The non-theater aspects of the college of arts and sciences certainly lose some face-time on the tour in favor of other majors on campus, most notably the loss of a specific stop at Oliphant Hall. In response to this, the UAs seem ready to adapt their tours to the interests of the prospective students in question. The Fall 2013 UA Training Manual encourages tour guides to “relate to people you are giving a tour to. Find out what their interests are and fit the tour to them.” The admissions office offers several other variations on the walking tour, a longer one on Saturday, one designed specifically for Tulsa Time Programs, and a lunch tour as well as the aforementioned housing and dining tour. Herein seems to lie the most concrete downside to the new tour schedule: each ambassador is assigned a tour time and keeps it for the semester. Due to the new policy, some ambassadors will be stuck showing a subset of campus life they may be less enthusiastic or knowledgeable about. Junior David Boll said “I joined UA to show off and brag about TU. I don’t think I’d be happy in a slot that didn’t allow me to show off the campus.”
Anti-racist discussion group to form “Witnessing Whiteness” will provide a forum to discuss systemic racism and antiracist activism. Staff Report United Campus Ministry and the TU Office of Multicultural Affairs are pleased to announce the revival of Witnessing Whiteness, an anti-racist program built around the book “Witnessing Whiteness: The Need to Talk About Race and How to Do It” by acclaimed antiracist author Shelly Tochluk. A semester-long program, Witnessing Whiteness is designed to provide a safe space for students to learn about antiracist activism; critically examine interpersonal and systemic racism; work on becoming anti-racist allies; and
develop the tools to create a more just, safe, and inclusive community. Junior and student facilitator Haley Stritzel was active in researching Witnessing Whiteness and similar programs while interning at Tulsa’s YWCA. “Oftentimes students may be aware of issues surrounding race, but feel awkward or uncomfortable trying to talk about it. Programs like Witnessing Whiteness give students the tools to become effective anti-racist allies and speak out against racism they see in their communities,” she said. Witnessing Whiteness has been active at TU before, but has been on hiatus in recent years. Speaking about restarting the program, Director of the Office of Multicultural Student Programs Laura Allen commented: “The Witnessing Whiteness dialogue group was an
effective opportunity to offer students, faculty, and staff an opportunity to look at race, racism, and privilege in a safe environment that allowed them to move toward a new understanding of the continued need for anti-racism work. “Programs such as Witnessing Whiteness are wonderful examples of our University mission in action: it is the opportunity to provide lifelong learning and skills to allow us to behave more ethically and equitably in such a diverse and internationalized campus and world,” Allen continued. An informational meeting for interested students and other TU community members at 12 p.m. on Friday, Sept. 20 in the Little Blue House. Following meetings will occur on Fridays from 12:00 p.m.1:30 p.m. Lunch will be provided.
the Collegian : 4
letter from the web editor Dear Collegian readers,
Some of you may have visited our website, TUCollegian.com, over the last year. If you did, you are probably aware that the articles on the site were rarely timely. And that’s changing this semester. We are seeking to provide you with timely, relevant news that is easily accessible and in a medium best suited for YOU, as a student. Are you a Tumblr addict and aficionado—or at least an occasional user? Are you one of the many students who lives on Tumblr—or at least glances at it daily? Well, the Collegian is now closing its website and entering your realm. Look out personal blogs, cat photos, and animated GIFs, because investigative reports, sports coverage and photography, scoops on upcoming events, satires of student life and, of course, Cam-
pus Crime Watch are all taking to Tumblr! Every published article, photo and illustration by your fellow students will be featured on the Collegian’s new Tumblr: TUCollegian.tumblr.com. (I am obligated to inform you that the State-Run Media has chosen to form a rival Tumblr at thestaterunmedia.tumblr.com, although I would beware of it if I were you). There remains only one thing for you to do with this new information: become more aware of campus, local, and nationally-relevant news, and join in the student conversation by following TUCollegian and the State-Run Media on Tumblr. (And, yes, we will promise to post adorable photos of Goldie often. If you follow us). Mary Carol Franko Web Editor
Robbery suspects accept plea deal Two men accused of robbing two TU students at gunpoint last spring pled guilty to robbery charges over the summer. Oscar Ho Staff Writer
Three people accused of robbing two University of Tulsa students faced the justice system this summer. Eric Angel and another student, who did not wish to be named, were robbed at gunpoint on University property last spring. Defendants DeMarco Morris, Patrick Sisco and Camilla Robinson were charged variously with multiple counts of robbery with a firearm, hiding the stolen property, use of a stolen credit card, and drug possession. On July 8, Sisco pled guilty to all charges involving the theft and one charge of drug possession. As part of a plea agreement, Sisco avoided trial and received thirteen years in prison and fines and fees of several thousand dollars.
On July 26, Morris pled guilty to all charges for his part in the robbery. He accepted a plea deal very similar to Sisco’s, avoiding trial and receiving thirteen years in prison and fines and fees. Robinson opted for trial by jury. Her trial is set for Nov. 4. She was not directly involved at the crime scene, but she currently faces one count of credit card fraud. The other charges were dropped. Angel, who was near Norman Village during the incident, was pleased with the outcome. “I was hoping for ten years for each of them,” he said. Taking the plea deals, he opined, was a good move for Sisco and Morris because of the large amount of evidence against them. “Now the girl—she has a chance (with a jury),” Angel said. Although it took about two or three months to recover from the incident, Angel is back to his normal self. Recollecting the events of that evening, he said, “It ended as well as it could have … now I want to get my laptop back.”
SA Elections to begin Wednesday in ACAC, Caf, Harvey After several semesters of improving turnout, SA has a crowded field of candidates for their fall senatorial elections. Oscar Ho Staff Writer
Student Association Senate elections take place this week. This year twenty-three candidates are vying for the fourteen open seats in the legislative chamber. The semester’s competition is predicted to be the most intense in recent years. Three candidates are running for the College of Arts and Sciences seat, and other seats are likewise heavily contested. Each candidate only has one week to campaign. According to Brett Baumgartner, SA’s vicepresident, this evens the playing field. “Everyone has the equal
opportunity to campaign”, says Baumgartner. “If you narrow the window it gives everyone the exact same opportunity.” Not only does this timeframe prevent unfair advantage, it makes the campaigns more meaningful. Baumgartner continued, “If you see presidential elections, they’ll campaign for months and months and months.” A narrower timeframe makes the senate race feel more like an event and less like background noise. Elections official Steve Harsha believes this year’s voter turnout will set another record. There are 23 candidates this year, eight more than in 2012. Harsha predicts that an increase in candidates will result in an increase in voters. “700 or more voters maybe?” he offered. This can partially be attributed to campaign tactics. Regardless of
whether or not their seat is contested, the candidates are encouraged to campaign. With such a short amount of time to raise awareness for the event, every flyer counts. Incumbent Whitney House was an at-large senator last year, but will be running for an Arts and Sciences seat this year. “I like to talk to students and find out what their concerns are,” she said. “(This year) I want to work specifically with Arts and Sciences people.” She is also hoping that her incumbency will help her. During her term last year, she pioneered such projects as the nondiscrimination legislation regarding sexual orientation and gender identity. She is currently working with another Senator to make the University of Tulsa a smoke-free campus. Adriann Anderson, who is vying for the Greek seat, approaches
SA Candidates AT LARGE Rob Egan Grace Doyle Thomas Rogers Robert Lueken Emma Todd
BUSINESS Kyle Radtke Emily Carlson
ARTS AND SCIENCES Kelsey Erwin Carly Chalmars Whitney House
GREEK Elain Schillinger Christine Basora Adriann Anderson
ENG. & NAT. SCIENCES Conner Wurth
GRADUATE SCHOOL Babak Akbari
RESIDENCE HALLS Natalie Crise Danielle Medearis Michael Turinetti Sawyer Clement APARTMENTS Angelina LaPerla Andrew Kresyman Jiangshan Ruan COMMUTERS Cory Gage
this election from a very unusual position. She and both of her two competitors are in the same sorority, Kappa Kappa Gamma. “It’s not what I expected when I signed up,” she admitted. “I don’t think it’s going to be a very competitive race. The girls I’m running against are my friends.” Nonetheless, Anderson would be happy to win. Although she has no immediate plans to introduce legislation of her own, she hopes to be active in a supporting role. “Senate already has some projects that interest me,” she said. Sawyer Clement has some idea of what he wants to do if elected. The parking problem is one such priority. “Some students have to walk halfway across campus to get their cars even when there is a parking lot right outside their dorms,” he said, and he is already developing solutions to target that specific problem. The campaign looks competitive from his point of view. “A lot of intelligent, qualified people (are) running, both incumbents and newcomers,” he said, adding, “I am confident that I will be able to distinguish myself from the competition.”
Vice President Brett Baumgartner has high expectations for this year’s Senate. Changes in personnel as a result of elections do not worry him. “Senate is a fluid organization because there’s a lot of turnover,” he said. Half of all Senate seats are up for grabs this week, and only seven out of 23 candidates are incumbents. After welcoming returning and new Senators, Baumgartner plans to “see what our strengths are and we’ll go in that direction.” SA’s influence is expected to grow throughout this year. Committees have been working to make SA more efficient and more effective, according to Baumgartner. Citing completed and ongoing projects such as the Commuter Lounge and changes to library hours, Baumgartner pointed to the already increasing preeminence of SA. The Student Investigative Committee has been looking into potential changes. “Our efforts are already starting (to be felt),” he said. The voting period is Wednesday through Thursday on Harvey, in ACAC, and in the Caf.
In the September 9 issue of the Collegian, the byline for “Golden Hurri-canine takes TU by storm” should read “Giselle Willis.” Also, apparently it’s inappropriate to use the pun “purr-fect” in an article about a dog. Who knew? In the same issue, the terrifying octopus graphic in “TU growth downsides outweigh benefits” should have been credited to Caroline Kohlhagen.
NEWS
the Collegian : 5
16 september 2013
5th annual University of Tulsa Fall Film Festival rolls TU’s annual Fall Film Festival will kick off Monday Sept. 23 with ten films shown outdoors on Harwell Field. Matthew Magerkurth Student Writer
The 5th Annual TU Film Festival returns to campus next Monday, Sept. 23, featuring ten studentcreated original films. The festivities will begin at 7:00 p.m. and the films at 7:30 p.m. at Harwell Commons on the west wall of the Lorton Performance Center. In the event of inclement weather, the event will be moved inside to Gussman Concert Hall. Grab some popcorn and snacks, bring out a blanket, and enjoy some great entertainment. The festival began in 2009 as a way to inspire new and current students with the works of previous students. The festival is always followed by another in the spring to showcase all the new films that were created over the year. “In the fall, we play films to show off what we’ve done in the past for new students, whereas in the spring we show films that were done sometime in the last two semesters,” says senior and three-
year TU film studies veteran Isaac Holton. Although Holton is an avid filmmaker (he made 22 films in this summer alone), he’s constantly impressed by the young talents in his department. “Films now, in general, are more visually interesting than they were a few years ago,” says Holton. “The films themselves look a lot better.” Dr. Joseph Rivers, the faculty advisor for the festival agrees: “The quality of the films has really grown. The student films have grown in quality in production and writing, so compared to even five years ago, we see a huge difference in the quality of the films.” Ashley Etter, assistant to the department and festival organizer also concurs. “It seems like as we’ve gotten more equipment, as we’ve gotten a better building, a lot more students are a lot more passionate about filmmaking,” she said. One of the more notable films playing is “Great American Flea Market,” which won an International Film Festival prize for best student film a few years ago. Come enjoy free food and entertainment and see what the TU film students have been cooking up on Monday, Sept. 23.
Isaac Holton’s short film “Tossing Wombat” follows an ongoing awkward conversation as it unfolds in not-quite-suitable locations. The film will be showing at TU’s fifth annual Fall Film Festival. So if you want to know what’s going on in these stills, make sure to attend on Sept. 23.
Eye on the world:
Photos courtesy Isaac Holton
followed by entertainment or the desire to punish the victim. Only half said that they felt any guilt. According to a previous report from the World Health Organization, one-third of women worldwide say they have been victims of domestic or sexual abuse. TAIWAN
Magdalena Sudibjo Staff Writer Asia Asia-Pacific A recent study funded by the United Nations and published in the journal Lancet Global Health reveals that about 25 percent of the 10,000 Asian-Pacific men interviewed have admitted to raping a woman. The countries in the study included Bangladesh, China, Cambodia, Indonesia, Sri Lanka and
Papa New Guinea. Without using the word “rape,” male interviewers asked whether or not the participants had ever forced a woman to have sex when she was not willing or was too intoxicated to consent. In most of the countries, about 6 to 8 percent of the men admitted to raping a woman who was not their partner, but the number shot to between 30 and 57 percent when wives and girlfriends were included. The rates for men raping men ranged from 1.5 to 7.7 percent. Asked for their reasons, most men claimed sexual entitlement,
Sanrio, the Japanese design company behind the cartoon icon Hello Kitty, is putting their franchise into fruit-flavored beers that will be sold exclusively in China and Taiwan. While Hello Kitty drafts are not new, the fruit flavor is a new touch that David Marchi, senior director of brand management and advertising for Sanrio, thinks will keep up with modern trends of the market. Taiwan Tsing Beer Co., the brewer of the new brand, offers six fruit flavors, including peach, banana, and passion fruit, with only a 2.3 percent alcohol content. “They’re so ridiculously smooth and tasty that one can barely tell they’re drinking beer,” blogger Eric Jou wrote from Beijing.
Europe
demonstrator, told the New York Times.
SPAIN
Middle East
Hundreds of thousands of people all across Catalonia joined hands last Wednesday to demand cession from the Spanish government in Madrid. The human chain went as long as 400 kilometers and displayed the yellow and red separatist colors. Many Catalonians are dissatisfied with Spain’s fiscal policies, which, along with the unpopular austerity measures, would further reduce the autonomous community’s share of the national budget. Even without Madrid’s problems, the Catalonian government has to deal with approximately $66 billion worth of public debt. “But this is about more than economics,” said Emma Hayward of Al Jazeera. “They feel their culture is very distinct from Spain’s and they want independence.” “We want to be in charge and decide how to promote our own history, language and culture without being told by Spain how to do it,” Judit Buxeda, a Catalonian
Jordan
under the age of 21. Paramedics determined not to transport the student, who was left in the care of a friend for the night.
Belly, swing dance groups offer lessons Those looking for a way into Tulsa’s dance scene can take lessons with local dance organizations. Giselle Willis Student Writer
Tulsa is home to a thriving dance scene. Those interested in a place to learn a new dance or practice an old skill can consider belly dancing at “That’s Dancing!” or swing at The Oklahoma Swing syndicate. The Queens of Chaos give belly dancing classes at the “That’s Dancing!” studio on 32nd and Harvard. According to their website (http://www.tulsabellydance. com), they teach beginning level classes on Sundays from 5-6 p.m., focusing on “posture, three basic movements for Belly Dance, basic finger cymbals and veil work.” They also do drills, intermediate and advanced classes, and performances, all of which are scheduled on their website’s calendar along with information on fees. Instructors teach Cabaret style as well as American Tribal-style belly dancing. Trainer Deborah Oldham explained how American Tribal is characterized by its group improvisational style that revolves around cuing given by a lead dancer. American Tribal comes from California, and the dancing apparel “is usually fantasy or somewhat historically oriented, with lots of
(Eastern) jewelry,” while Cabaret first appeared in the 60’s and 70’s when American women learned the dance from Turkish, Egyptian, and Lebanese instructors, according to Oldham. She also believes belly dancing fulfills a “need to move, to be in control of your body, to be expressive, to make friends and be part of a group.” From what she’s seen in her classes, “belly dance is also more accepting of more body types than ballet, jazz, (or) tap.” Participating TU senior Ruth Torluemke says the dance “embodies a deep appreciation and exaltation of woman,” and “creates a connection to your body that yields such an appreciation and complete acceptance of oneself, which is so important to us in a society that polices our bodies.” Oldham feels that the “outstanding characteristics” of the Queens of Chaos are “dedication, professional appearance, professional presentations, serious study, (and) bringing in top-notch instructors.” Tulsa’s dance scene also includes America’s very own swing dancing. The Oklahoma Swing Syndicate (TOSS) offers beginning lessons on Saturdays from 7-7:30 p.m. at the Southminster Presbyterian Community Center on 35th Place west of Peoria, followed by a dance that ends at 10 p.m.; more information on the dances, memberships, and fees is also on the website (http://theoklahomaswingsyndicate.org).
According to Program Manager Rita Robbins, the program has offered dances every Saturday since its inception four years ago. “(TOSS) can get most people dancing and having fun in about 30 minutes even if they have never danced a step,” Robbins says. She also explained that TOSS and “related organizations (Vintage Swing Movement, Tulsa Underground Swing) are the only East Coast or 6-Count Swing organizations in Tulsa.” Other organizations tend towards West Coast swing, which employs more contemporary music and music forms in general, while East Coast style focus specifically on music from the swing era itself or on more modern swing, said Robbins. Robbins elaborated on the Lindy Hop classes offered as well. “Lindy Hop was first, out of Harlem. It is an 8-Count dance,” she said, also mentioning that “East Coast Swing came late in the 40s early 50s as a result of trying to simplify Lindy.” Finally, Robbins noted that about half of the people who show up do not arrive with a partner. “Everyone is encouraged to dance with anyone there,” said Robbins, adding that “all ages attend and it is an intergenerational event,” with 40 to 60 people present every Saturday. Even during the evening dance, instructors are present to help with the dance immersion.
Member of Parliament Talal Sharif opened fire onto the ceiling using an AK-47 after a heated dispute with fellow MP Qusai Dmeisi last Tuesday during a session of the Jordanian Lower House of Parliament. “I visited Sharif today after the shooting and he seemed [to be] in a bad condition and regretted what he had done,” Deputy Mohammad Barayesh told Jordan Times. “I told him what he had done is unprecedented and after acting in such a way, no one would stand by him.” Last year, another MP pulled out a gun during a broadcasted political debate, but this is the first time a shot has been discharged inside parliament. Sharif may face not only expulsion from his office but also charges for attempted murder, possession of a firearm without a license, and resisting arrest.
September 4 16:30 Officers investigated a non-injury vehicle accident in the Reynolds Center Shuttle Lot. While backing out of a parking space, an employee struck a University owned vehicle causing minor damage. Officers facilitated the exchange of information. September 7 19:00 An Officer working the student section at Chapman Stadium observed a student with a beer can in his back pocket. The student admitted to drinking that day and was under 21. The Officer made the student empty the can of beer and escorted him out of the stadium to return to his residence 22:30 Security impounded 3 rings, a pair of sunglasses and a driver’s license turned in as found property during the football game. September 8 1:30 Officers and EMSA responded to an ill student at the Lorton Village Apartments. It was determined the ill student was intoxicated and
16:00 Officers responded to a disturbance at the Collins Fitness Center (CFC). A non-traditional student attempted to gain access to the CFC without establishing a membership. The CFC employees denied access and the person became irate before leaving. Officers instructed the person to contact the director of the CFC about obtaining a membership and not to be verbally abusive towards the staff. 16:15 A student reported being battered by 2 unknown suspects near Bayless Plaza. The suspects engaged the victim in a verbal altercation before one of the suspects struck the victim in the back of the head with their fist. After striking the victim, the suspects ran off towards Lorton Village Apartments. The victim refused medical treatment and did not want to file charges with Tulsa Police. September 11 17:20 An Officer on patrol found a car key in the McFarlin Lot and impound (sic.) it at the Security Office. The Collegian does not produce or edit the Campus Crime Watch except for content and brevity.
variety
16 September 2013
the Collegian : 6
Stars and Smoke creative
writing Alex White Student Writer
Kimberly Poff / Collegian
During Tulsa’s annual Restaurant Week, entrees at The Wild Fork were paired with a lovely salad of baby greens (pictured above). The salad characterized the last tastes of summer though the use of sweet and juicy tomatoes, which contrasted nicely with the savory vinaigrette dressing.
Delicate flavors found at The Wild Fork
Located in the heart of Utica Square, The Wild Fork features a number of exquisite entrees that are certain to delight the palate and ignite the senses. Helen Patterson Staff Writer
Kimberly Poff Staff Writer
The Wild Fork is a quiet restaurant nestled behind Moody’s in Utica Square. The dining rooms are full of windows letting in an ample amount of light tinted green by the trees. Patio seating faces a small park, and there is enough vegetation to hide the Starbucks on the other side. However, given the recent temperatures in Tulsa daytime, patrons will likely find the air-conditioned interior more pleasant. Last week, as part of Tulsa’s annual Restaurant Week, The Wild Fork offered a three-course prix fixe menu: $12.95 for lunch, and $35 for dinner. This year, 10 percent of the proceeds went to the Community Food Bank of Eastern Oklahoma’s Food for Kids program, and each donation will be matched by the George Kaiser Family Foundation up to $25,000. The menu offered three options for the appetizer, four for the entree and two for dessert. Aside from the comparatively pedestrian caesar salad on offer, the two soups presented perfectly encapsulate the season: a Sherry Tomato
and a Harvest Mushroom with Grains. The first offered a slightly spicy fall flavor, but preserved the strains of summer through the use of the sweeter sherry tomato. Small chunks of celery, carrots and tomato make the soup filling, while the sprinkling of basil on top kept the palate awake and excited. The second soup contained fresh carrots, mushrooms, celery and onion stewed with a mixture of rice and barley. The mushrooms in particular were succulent and flavorful, and the hearty taste was warming and reminiscent of fall. The soup was sprinkled with fresh parsley, which provided a nice contrast to the other, heavier flavors. The soups were accompanied by a bread basket which left a little to be desired. The rolls trumped the sliced white bread in flavor and consistency, but neither were quite fresh enough; perhaps they had been left on the warmer a bit too long. In terms of the entrees, the four cheese and fresh herb stuffed mushrooms were particularly delightful. Each mushroom was slightly crispy on the outside while maintaining a decadent gooey richness on the inside. Again, the heavier flavors of fall were paired with the last strains of summer: this time a beautiful salad of baby greens. While the greens themselves were unbruised and bright, what really distinguished the plate were the tomatoes. Their sweetness was balanced with a brilliant vinaigrette perfectly matched to the mushrooms. The snow crab and corn cake was beautifully arranged on a bed of coleslaw and tomatoes. The coleslaw was crunchy and fresh. It was dressed perfectly, neither
too light nor too soggy. The dressing was tangy and did not have too much mayonnaise. As in the stuffed mushroom dish, the fresh tomatoes in vinaigrette, topped with cilantro, were superb. The star of the dish was the crab cake itself, which was crispy on the outside, and moist on the inside. In many crab cakes, the corn and other ingredients overwhelm the flavors of the crab; however, in this cake, the balance was just right. The only complaint about the crab cake was that it was not bigger! At The Wild Fork, portions are of a reasonable size, making it quite possible for a diner to skip the dessert course. In the case of the petit four berry cobbler, you would not be missing much. It was a little thick on the cake and a little heavy on the sugar, overwhelming the delicate flavor of the berries. Unlike the petit four, the creme brulee was a treat. The creme brulee was served with strawberry halves and whipped cream. The cream was generic, but the strawberries were juicy and tangy, a great complement to the dish. It was perfectly caramelized on top, browned without being burned. Overall, the dish was sweet without being saccharine, and melted in the mouth - a perfect balance. Guests looking to extend their experience to beverages will find quite a variety of wines on display at fair prices. The Bree Riesling goes quite well with lunch fare, complementing both the soup and the mushrooms as well as the deserts. Vegetarians will appreciate the availability of meatless options; although the prix fixe menu only features one, the regular menu features several vegetarian dishes.
“The World’s End,” hysterical thriller From director Edgar Wright, comes “The World’s End,” an apocalyptic actioncomedy that tells the story of five friends who must fight to escape a horde of robots, while completing an ambitious pub crawl. Lily Clough Staff Writer
The World’s End” is the final chapter in director Edgar Wright’s trilogy of action-comedy movies in collaboration with actors Simon Pegg and Nick Frost. Pegg and Frost have previously worked with Wright on both “Hot Fuzz” and “Shaun of the Dead.” For those unfamiliar with those movies, it may be difficult to get excited for “The World’s End,” described as “an apocalyptic comedy that takes place during a pub crawl of five reunited friends.” But for those who have seen the aforementioned titles, you know just how exciting this idea could be. In addition to Pegg and Frost, “The World’s End” also stars Martin Freeman, who recently stepped
into a much-deserved spotlight as Bilbo in Peter Jackson’s “The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey,” and as John Waston in Mark Gatiss’ and Steven Moffat’s “Sherlock” for the BBC. The first twenty minutes of the film are gold. Pegg is hysterical as Gary, who, twenty years later, is pining for the past and wearing the same black trench coat and Sisters of Mercy t-shirt. Now an adult, a burned-out Gary decides that he wants to finish something started years before: an ambitious twelve-pub pub crawl with his four childhood friends (five guys, sixty pints) through their hometown of Newton Haven. This rather messy ordeal finally ends at a pub called The World’s End. Gary’s four childhood friends are initially disinterested—they have moved on with their lives and now have jobs, wives and cars. But with some morally questionable attempts to convince the four friends, Gary persuades them to return to their hometown. Everything goes as planned, until Gary makes a startling discovery that turns the pub crawl into a nightmarish fight to escape the town without being made into alien robots. All in all, “The World’s End” shines. The movie is depicted as “an apocalyptic action-comedy”—
a description that does not accurately portray how deeply funny it really is. The heroes of the story are a farcry from Jim Kirk, but the averageness of each of the characters is a delightful twist on the norm. Inventive and effective directing and editing contribute to the absolute uniqueness of the movie, and you can certainly tell that Wright has an eye for arranging objects, and even people, in meaningful ways. “The World’s End” is not just a silly movie; it is well-made, dark and even profound title that achieves surprising depth for such an absurdly-premised plot. For example, facing destruction, the friends seem like an unimpressive group, but they comprise a perfect representative sample of humanity. As Andy (played by Frost) aptly puts it, “(Humans) are more belligerent, more stubborn, and more idiotic than you can possibly imagine.” The heart of the film, however, is Gary’s attempt at redemption. Newton Haven is touted as the site of the first roundabout, and the idea of cycles of self-destruction is not lost on Wright. Gary finally breaks that cycle, showing that sometimes there are second chances at happiness: when escaping New Haven, instead of driving around the roundabout, the friends drive straight through.
This youth drives me to kiss those I don’t love, listen to songs I never liked, earn wealth I despise at jobs I detest, spend it on friends who use me because maybe 1/10 of the time I’ll change my mind and find myself happy relishing secondhand delights with someone surprising, foot on the floor of someplace new. This youth I have is all that I have. More than anything I want it to be like stars burning indelible, bright, but, as days whip past, falling fast into years,
I realize, youth is smoke. It leaks from lips, bleeds into air— young for an instant then evanescent. Nevertheless, a decrepit house sitting perched at the edge of ruination proves youth and wrinkles can collaborate. Inside, the walls are lined with impressionist magnum opuses, the halls echo with Monk crackling from a cool record player, and artists frolic in the throes of intellectual vitality, cascading scribbled verses spawned from mosaic minds down creaky stairways while I grow younger day by glorious day.
Fall movie preview: some thrill, others fail
preview This fall, a number of new releases are set to hit the silver screen; included are unoriginal remakes, lackluster sequels and a few edgy and imaginative titles. Helen Patterson Staff Writer
Sequels rarely live up to their predecessors, but studios know that they can make a lot of money off of them—and so, every season, a “fresh” batch arrives. “Insidious: Chapter 2” (Sept. 13) opened last Friday, an appropriate date for a horror movie. Patrick Wilson and Rose Byrne reprise their roles as Josh and Renai Lambert. The film depicts the supernatural terrors in store for the Lambert family who have not managed to escape the grip of the spirit realm. From the behemoth that is Marvel Studios comes “Thor: The Dark World” (Nov. 8). Starring Chris Hemsworth as the title character, Natalie Portman as astrophysicist (and love interest), Jane Foster, and Tom Hiddleston as the duplicitous Loki, the film takes place after “The Avengers,” and pits Thor and company against Christopher Eccleston’s Malekith. Fresh from the Oscars, Jennifer Lawrence returns as Katniss Everdeen in “The Hunger Games: Catching Fire” (Nov. 22), the second film adaptation from the hit dystopian series. Katniss is a forced participant in another round of the games in which she must compete against past winners. Other not-quite-originals include a remake of “Carrie” (Oct.18) and yet another “Romeo and Juliet.” Though some might question the need for another “Carrie,” the casting of Chloe Grace Moretz (“Kick-Ass”) as the titular outcast, telekinetic teen, and Julianne Moore as her abu-
sive, zealot mother makes this a movie to consider. “Romeo and Juliet” seems to be going for a fresh perspective with its twentyfirst century setting; perhaps this will make it stand out from the sea of other adaptations. There is a potentially stellar line-up of edgier movies this fall. “Gravity” (Oct. 4), starring Sandra Bullock and George Clooney as stranded astronauts desperate to return home, has been getting some good buzz. Ridley Scott directed Michael Fassbender and Penelope Cruz in “The Counselor” (Oct. 25), a movie about the horrors of drugtrafficking gone bad. Fans of “Ender’s Game” will be anxious about how well Orson Scott Card’s sci-fi coming-of-age classic translates into film. Hopefully Asa Butterfield as Ender and Harrison Ford as Colonel Graff will help make the adaptation a success. Moviegoers who want to see more of Leonardo DiCaprio should consider “The Wolf of Wall Street” (Nov. 15), in which DiCaprio portrays a stockbroker forced to work with government forces in order to unravel Wall Street corruption. That same weekend, “The Book Thief” opens, based on the bestselling work by Marcus Zusak. Set during World War II, the film follows a girl in Nazi Germany who finds solace for herself and others through books. On the lighter side, Keri Russell’s “Austenland” (Sept.13), based on the novel by Shannon Hale, opened last weekend. Russell plays Jane Hayes, an allthings-Austen fanatic, who goes to an Austen theme park in search of love with her very own gentleman. Joseph Gordon-Levitt writes, directs and stars as Jon Martello in “Don Jon” (Sept. 27) whose relationship with Scarlett Johansson’s Barbara is potentially compromised by his addiction to internet porn. Those seeking mindless stupidity can always tune in to “Jackass Presents: Bad Grandpa” (Oct. 25) for a painful series of lessons on how not to behave.
Variety
the Collegian : 7
16 September 2013
By Anna Bennett
Photo courtesy Blizzard Entertainment
Although the plot of “Diablo III” is somewhat recycled, the gameplay is what makes the title truly stand out. The game supports up to four players, through online or local play, and offers drop-in-drop-out cooperative play, which adds an interesting aspect to the game.
“Diablo III”: recycled plot, yet impressive gameplay The console release of “Diablo III” is certainly a significant improvement over 2012’s PC release; the bugs and glitches that once made the game unplayable are now fixed, and the title has reached its full potential. Elliot Bauman Staff Writer
When video game developer Blizzard Entertainment released “Diablo III” for PC on May 15, 2012, the result was an utter disaster. In the months leading up to the game’s release, Blizzard announced that “Diablo III” would feature an “always online” system, which would require users to be constantly connected to official servers even for private, singleplayer sessions. Many fans and critics were immediately skeptical of the “always online” requirement, stating that it was unlikely that Blizzard’s servers would be able to handle the heavy traffic. As it turned out, the gaming community was exactly right: on release day, the vast majority of players received the now infamous Error 37: “unable to connect, servers are busy” upon attempting to start the game. This rendered the title completely unplayable, as the servers were constantly overloaded with millions of users attempting to connect. To add insult to injury, “Diablo III” remained unplayable for nearly a week, until the issues were mostly resolved on May 21. Even with the connectivity issues addressed, the game was riddled with bugs, exploits and other tech-
nical issues. It seemed that “Diablo III” was all but certain to go down as a failure. On September 3, 2013, Blizzard released “Diablo III” again for the PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360 consoles. Clearly, Blizzard learned its lessons from the PC launch: the console version of the game is dramatically more polished. “Diablo III” takes place in the dark, fictional world of Sanctuary. The player is in control of a hero that must stop an ominous prophecy that calls for the arrival of two Demon Lords: Belial, the Lord of Lies, and Azmodan, the Lord of Sin. The gamer gloriously battles evil through a mostly unoriginal, uncreative plot, which is easily the weakest aspect of “Diablo III”. It is unfortunate that Blizzard did not spend more resources on developing a better plot. On the other hand, gameplay is solid and very well designed. While the underlying mechanics and strategy of the game are complicated, “Diablo III” is very easy to pick up and play, which offers appeal to a wide variety of players. The screen-scrolling style gameplay transfers very intuitively to a controller and makes for an easy learning curve. In addition, there are a plethora of increased difficulty levels for those looking for a challenge. The highest difficulty mode, Inferno, offers an extreme test of skill, and beating the game on this level is quite an accomplishment. Players create their hero by choosing from one of five available character classes, each catering towards a unique style of play. For example, the Barbarian class is ideal for traditional melee combat, while the Witch Doctor is best used supporting the team through summoning spirits and undead. The other three remaining classes are the Demon Hunter, Monk and Wizard. A sixth class, the Cru-
sader, is planned to be a released through an upcoming DLC. The cooperative aspect of “Diablo III” is where the title really stands out. The game supports up to four players through online or local play. Fighting hordes of grotesque and fearsome foes is a great deal of fun to do with friends. The game automatically adjusts itself to offer a greater amount of less common treasure depending on the number of players and selected difficulty level. Cooperative play is drop-in-drop-out and adds an interesting dynamic to the game. The presentation of “Diablo III” is unfortunately mixed in quality. Graphically speaking, the title is nothing special. The screen-scrolling nature of the game significantly limits the visual capability; players should not expect jawdropping visuals, such as those present in “Crysis 3” or “Skyrim.” However, it is not an unattractive title by any means. That being said, the audio of “Diablo III” is very well done. The soundtrack is fitting and elegantly composed, and the sound effects are equally great. The voice acting falls a little short, but is passable. Overall, the console version of “Diablo III” is a significant improvement over the PC release. The bugs and glitches that plagued the game have been corrected and the title feels as if it has finally reached its full potential. The great thing about “Diablo III” is that it can be as casual or hardcore as the player wants. Looking for a game to cool down with after a long day? Interested in spending hundreds of hours thoroughly learning the strategy and developing a character? Trying to find something to do with friends, online or in person? “Diablo III” is great for all three of these scenarios, and is definitely a worthy addition to any game collection. The console version of “Diablo III” earns an excellent 8/10.
“The Act of Killing,” disturbing look into evil
Anwar Congo, now an elderly man, recreates scenes from his youth during the Indonisian anti-Communist purge of 1965–66 in director Joshua Oppenheimer’s genre-bending documentary, “The Act of Killing.” Will Boogert Student Writer
The premise is simple: ask a man who lived through the Indonesian anti-Communist purge of 1965–66 to direct scenes for a film recreating his memories of the mass killings. One would expect the result to be a touching, tragic portrait of an individual whose country and people were ravaged by cruelty and intolerance. Now imagine that this man is the leader of one of the most notorious death squads of his time and is believed to have personally killed over 1,000 people. The result is the genre-bending documentary, “The Act of Killing,” an unflinching look into what Hannah Arendt termed “the banality of evil.”
The man in question is ex-gangster-turned-national-hero Anwar Congo, who inspired the creation of Pemuda Pancasila, a paramilitary organization with strong ties to the right-wing government responsible for the Communist purge of 1965. But rather than dwell on historical context, director Joshua Oppenheimer focuses on the human effects of the conflict. We meet leaders of Pemuda Pancasila, a pro-Pancasila government minister, local gangsters, and Chinese shop owners who are the victims of intimidation and extortion. With no narration to shape our opinions of the film’s subjects, Congo and his associates are free to tell their own stories. Congo’s proud demonstration of how to strangle a person with wire—his preferred method of execution—is only a single step into the world which he inhabits, a world in which mass murder was glorified and the notions of mercy and tolerance are nowhere to be found. The movie is disturbing—one of the most disturbing movies I have ever watched—and yet not a single person dies in the film. Though death casts a shadow over every scene, it never shows its face to the audience directly. The presence of death, without the actual occurrence of it on film,
lends the movie a certain ethos, which allows Oppenheimer to explore the emotions and thoughts of his protagonist. It is in this that the movie most clearly shows its beauty. The re-enacted scenes gradually shift from burning villages and slaughtering innocent people, to surrealistic depictions of Congo’s dreams and, eventually, nightmares. The cinematography of these dream sequences is stunning; when they are placed in concert with the less-edited scenes (shot using a handheld camera in North Sumatran towns and villages), it is difficult to remember that there is no need to suspend disbelief about the story being told. The film relentlessly pushes against the boundary of fiction and documentary. We have to remind ourselves that Oppenheimer is showing us the true story of a real man. As Anwar tells us more about his days as a gangster, we see his proud façade begin to crack. He is an elderly man, after all, his days of killing nearly 50 years behind him. And though many in the nation still praise his past, he must come to terms with it himself. With the end of his life nearing, the movie poses its most troubling questions: can the terrible actions of our past be forgiven? And once we deny the value of a human life, can we ever be fully human again?
Symptoms of “Senior Denial Syndrome” Abbreviated SDS, Senior Denial Syndrome is surprisingly common affliction among students just beginning their senior year. Here are some telltale signs that you or a friend might be suffering from this disorder: 1. Inability to actually pronounce the word “Senior”—Individuals with SDS may hesitate before speaking the word, or may utterly mispronounce it: “Hi, I’m Anna, I’m a seeeennnyaammmmrrr Film Studies major.” 2. Renewed interest in campus involvement— SDS sufferers often join several new organizations, perhaps stemming from a sense of impending doom and eternal regret for having never attended an Earth Matters meeting after being on the e-mail list for years. 3. Chronic NearSightedness—Studies show that afflicted individuals often subconsciously tune out phrases beginning with “next year” or “for future students.” 4. Involuntary fake ID usage—Although more than 90 percent of sufferers are over the legal drinking age, many begin subconsciously to use their old fake ID to get into bars again once senior year begins. Those who never had a fake often get one for the occasion. YOLO. 5. Frat Party Attendance—Often the same individuals who at one point dismissed such affairs as “stupid” or “not that much fun anymore” are usually spotted back
on the row, usually twice as drunk as everyone else. 6. Unnatural interest in freshmen—SDS sufferers will forgo the company of their peers for that of younger students, often in an attempt to live vicariously or in an effort to instill their “legacy” so that they never REALLY graduate. Those most severely afflicted often seek romantic entanglement with the first-years. 7. Voluntary Grade Sabotage—While this symptom is significantly less common among SDS sufferers without rich parents, some subjects may indeed show signs of attempted self-flunking. 8. Severe allergic reaction to job fairs—SDS may cause inexplicable illness related to the presence or mere mention of subjects such as job fairs, interviews and resumes. Sufferers may treat these symptoms with therapeutic rounds of “Mario Kart” back at their apartment. 9. Intense school spirit—A once apathetic or academicallyfocused student may be transformed into a raging sports fan by this disease. Look for blue and gold body paint and the actual ability to remember the fight song. 10. Inexplicable cravings—In severe cases, students may awake in the middle of the night with an insatiable taste for ramen, stale cereal and in the very worst cases, caf food.
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opinion
16 September 2013
the Collegian : 8
Is the pledge of allegiance outdated? The Pledge reflects well established American social mores and should not be changed. Kimberly Poff Staff Writer
I pledge allegiance to the Flag of the United States of America, and to the Republic for which it stands, one Nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. It is socially useful to have a set of public mores. Such mores allow social cohesion, provide a standard for laws to be judged against, and generally allow for social harmony. The Romans knew the importance of this with deities defined and temples funded by the state. Various gods and goddesses highlighted virtues and attitudes which were socially useful and public officials could emphasize whichever they felt might be most useful at the time. The founding fathers wrote certain such mores into the Constitution and Declaration of Independence, among them liberty and justice. Some might even argue that the “pursuit of happiness” posits the primacy of private property over communal ownership. The Pledge of Allegiance is a statement of acceptance of these mores and deference to the nation which holds them. Nations, like clubs, have rules and goals. In this country each citizen pays taxes to support an army to defend and sometimes impose those mores. The pledge is a statement of respect far smaller than the taxes which essentially say the same thing. This is generally why no one finds it odious to say the pledge at sporting events or official ceremonies. Many people do, however, find it abhorrent that their children be asked to say the pledge in school each morning.
Children are not taxpayers and are not old enough to give legal consent. Therefore they should not be asked to attest to views which they can neither express more materially nor legally have. The legal caveat that children cannot be forced to say the pledge aside, children are in the guardianship of the same parents who already pay taxes. Typically parents wish for their children to have the same values themselves. Parents have expressed a value by paying taxes and the state has reaffirmed those values by introducing them in the classroom. Furthermore, as the students are not of age, the pledge does not have any concrete meaning yet and therefore is a fairly innocuous way of introducing social mores to children. Various laws are enacted to “ensure domestic tranquility” and the practice of daily pledge recitation shares the same end. The most vehement objections to the pledge usually come when the phrase “under God” is discussed. Many feel this is an infringement on the first amendment. The phrase “under God” was added in the fifties as a way of defining America, with its freedom of religion, in opposition to religiously oppressive communist nations. The phrase is perhaps slightly more decisive, though not incoherent with the deist undertones that pervade the language of the founding fathers. In these historical contexts the phrase “under God” is an affirmation of the freedom of religion rather than a denial of it. It may be that the historical contexts are no longer relevant or that the deist morals expressed in our founding documents are no longer those which the populace values. In that case the most appropriate action may be a legislative change to the Pledge or an amendment to the Constitution. As this has not yet happened, I will take this as an indication that the value still stands as important to the people and should be introduced to the children of the nation.
published in the popular children’s magazine The Youth’s Companion as a celebration of Columbus Day, with the original purpose to inspire patriotism in America’s youth. At the pledge’s conception, it was also accompanied by the Bellamy salute, which consisted of Wendy an outstretched, raised arm. The Voss salute fell out of favor when it Student Writer elicited comparisons to that of the Nazi variety. Somewhat surprising, the most controversial phrase, “Under God,” was not originally part of Most of us who attended pubthe pledge. lic schools grew up reciting the These two words were added in Pledge of Allegiance every morn1954, over half a century after its ing. Today, if you hear “I pledge conception. allegiance…” you can recite the The person who successfully rest in your sleep. It has become inspired the addition was a Presa reflex — a knee-jerk reaction —
The Pledge of Allegiance is an artifact of times that do not reflect the United States’s secular culture.
Photo courtesy of Belocamp.org
and a daily activity that most children do not think much about. However, the pledge’s role in public schools has been the subject of much controversy over the years, primarily due to its religious content and forced patriotism. The latest dispute, Doe v. ActonBoxboro Regional District, was recently brought to the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court under the argument that the recitation of the pledge within public schools discriminates against those who do not believe in God. It is time the American public revisits this issue. Interestingly, the Pledge of Allegiance is rooted in Protestantism. Francis Bellamy, a Baptist minister and Christian socialist, penned the original pledge in 1892. It was
byterian pastor named George MacPherson Docherty. These two words were officially added after the approval from President Eisenhower. After signing the bill, Eisenhower said, “From this day forward, the millions of our school children will daily proclaim … the dedication of our nation and our people to the Almighty … In this way we are reaffirming the transcendence of religious faith in America’s heritage and future.” According to recent polls, approximately 77 percent of Americans identify as Christian. Yet, as the United States becomes increasingly diverse in both culture and religion, it is more important than ever to remove nonsecular language from widespread national text.
This is especially important within the academic context. Public schools should be a reflection of American values, including religious neutrality. One of the most troubling aspects of the Pledge of Allegiance is its deliberate targeting toward, and recitation by, young children. Children, especially in their younger elementary school years, are unable to grasp what they are actually pledging to. A pledge is a solemn promise or commitment, and school children are young and impressionable, and cannot give their consent for participation in reciting the pledge. Some could consider this a form of indoctrination or brainwashing in an attempt to force both patriotism and the belief in God. A democratic republic is only successful with the possibility of dissent by its citizens. Blind loyalty denies this important democratic feature. The First Amendment of the Constitution states: “Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the government for a redress of grievances.” This language establishes the separation of church and state, and the free exercise of religion. The phrase “Under God” is not secular, and this is problematic when recitation by public school students is encouraged, if not expected. The First Amendment also protects one’s right to refrain from speaking or standing, which the pledge also challenges. The Pledge of Allegiance is a document reflecting particular periods of time in American history, encompassing its conception and subsequent revisions. When taken out of this historical context, the language does not correlate with American principles and its Constitution. Times have changed. While the removal of the Bellamy salute was a necessary alteration of the Pledge of Allegiance, it is also critical that we question the role of the pledge and the phrase “Under God,” within today’s American public schools.
School hair policy suppresses individuality Children’s individuality is suppressed when they cannot wear their hair in their preferred styles. Lily Clough
Staff Writer
When seven year-old Tiana Parker was sent home by the school administration of Tulsa’s Deborah Brown Community School, it ignited a national firestorm. She was sent home for her dreadlocks. The school policy at the time explicitly named three hairstyles that were deemed too distracting and hence unacceptable: afros, mohawks and dreads. Met with demands for the repeal of the dress code policy, the school board voted last week to change the rules, reserving the right to send students home, however, if hygiene becomes a problem. Even though the children can wear their braids and beads, the reasons for the policy in the first place raises some difficult questions. There is the knee-jerk reaction that objects on the grounds of individuality.
The students should be allowed to wear their hair and their clothes as they like. We, as a society, largely value independence, and individuality is closely related to independence. One of the crowning achievements of American society in the last 150 years is that it became more accepting of people that were different, starting with the Emancipation Proclamation in 1863. In America today, it has become more and more acceptable to express your individuality. People
girls’ clothes. Some boys like to wear their hair long (also forbidden in the Deborah Brown policy). Some girls like their hair short, and some like to color their hair. Some people have tattoos and piercings in strange places. Some don’t. The point is that different is normal. Children increasingly need to learn to live in a world of diversity; it’s good for them and it’s good for everyone else. And, in all likelihood, the students would not find anything
tears because she did not know why there was something wrong with her dreads. Making a seven year-old feel alienated for simply wearing her hair in a particular way—in a way that she liked—is reprehensible. There is another objection to be made to the Deborah Brown policy. On the surface, the policy can easily be seen as racist. After all, two of the three hairstyles explicitly forbidden are traditionally black hairstyles. This seems to be a valid objec-
Graphic by Jill Graves
are no longer bound by the old rules. There are tons of different hairstyles and clothing preferences. Some girls like to wear boys’ clothes. Some boys like to wear
wrong with their hair if the administrators did not condemn hairstyles that have nothing inherently wrong with them. Tiana Parker came home in
tion, except that Deborah Brown Community School is almost 100 percent black. The policy may not be racist in itself, but it could be a product of racism nonetheless.
As President Obama’s remarks on the Trayvon Martin tragedy indicated, there is still a deep and deleterious divide between white and black America. The President of the United States has had the experience of hearing car doors lock as he crossed the street and of seeing women hold their purses tighter as he walked by. Black boys are instructed by their parents at a young age to lay low around the police because they will automatically face suspicion and harsher punishment. Some black students even believe that it does not matter if they act out because it is expected of them. As an almost 100 percent black charter school, Deborah Brown Community School is under pressure to produce bright, successful students. Sadly, there are still expectations that black students, if they want to be successful, should look, act and talk “more white.” Perhaps the most illuminating aspect of this whole case is not that the main objection lies with the dress code that hinders individuality, but rather that it is the dress code which shows black students what it takes to be successful as a minority in America. And given the very real social and economic divide that falls largely along racial lines, can you blame them?
Opinion
the Collegian : 9
16 September 2013
Goldie may be adorable, still just a dog The PR boon that is Goldie distracts from the legitimately newsworthy things occurring at TU. Helen Patterson Staff Writer
This summer, TU welcomed Goldie, a now five-month-old golden retriever puppy. The idea is that Goldie will serve as an ambassador for the school, attending events on campus and in the surrounding Tulsa community and leading the football team onto the field alongside Captain Cane. Don’t let it be said that I am against adorable, fuzzy animals. I just find it strange that TU’s choice
to adopt a dog has been made into such a giant media blitz. Following the press release, TU was granted 14 straight days of media coverage by national media outlets. While one might claim that all publicity is good publicity, is this what we really want for our school? Do we want the nation to see TU as “that school that adopted a golden retriever,” or, even worse, “that school that adopted a golden retriever in a calculated attempt to gain publicity”? While fluff pieces might make people crack a grin, they are not a fast-track to respect and recognition. The university should be promoting meatier news about the school; after all, TU is cultivating ambitious growth at a time when many schools are running into financial problems. We are also consistently ranked as one of the top schools in the
country. There are many newsworthy achievements and discoveries in research in both the sciences and the humanities which have helped place us there which aren’t spoken of outside obscure circles. That said, TU is not alone in placing the adorable and superficial over substance. How often do you skip the news stories that might make us cringe, or weep or think in favor of yet
One can argue that Goldie is not merely a fluff piece. The administration promises that she will serve as an excellent animal for outreach and service in the community. TU is planning to send Goldie to visit schools, nursing homes and hospitals in addition to her duties on campus. Goldie is being trained and certified as a service animal, but this community outreach coupled with
“The university should be promoting meatier news” more videos of cats trying to fit themselves into strange spaces? How many of us can name the last three guys who have broken Taylor Swift’s heart, but not the last three Nobel Prize winners for physics?
her campus and game-day duties sounds like an exhausting schedule for anyone. Hopefully, Goldie’s temperament will suit her for the challenge. Additionally, some students,
such as a senior who wishes to remain anonymous, are highly allergic to dogs. This student says that “If Goldie’s been in a classroom or a library … I may have to leave; I may not be able to go back in the room for several days; and the aftereffects can last for a week or more.” It is perhaps inconsiderate to introduce a dog around campus without taking the sizable percentage of the population with pet allergies from mild to severe into account. I’m not calling for Goldie to step down as ambassador. I am simply surprised that there are not more reservations about the amount of news coverage that has been generated by a dog when there are much more pressing concerns on campus and in the world at large, and that some of the drawbacks of having an animal around the school have been glossed over.
That’s just not cricket Our resident cricket expert Gabby Brotherton introduces you to TU’s favorite pest, the cricket. Much like the 90s were for cheesy boy bands, the University of Tulsa seems to be a breeding ground for crickets. And while many incoming freshmen, such as myself, have already developed a distaste for their irritating presence, the situation has actually improved since previous years. To their credit, the randomly scattered cricket carcasses do add a certain Oklahoma charm that cannot be replicated anywhere else. According to a recent Huffington Post article, an Oklahoma State University entomologist attributes the noticeably large cricket population to the summer’s extremely high temperatures and lack of rain, while still noting that there has actually been a population decrease compared to previous years.
He also mentions that “these outbreaks seem to occur after periods of prolonged dry weather in spring and early summer followed by rainfall in July and August.” The article goes on to say that crickets actually feed on each other’s carcasses, so keep in mind that you’re actually feeding other crickets when you purposefully go out of your way to squash them on your way to class. Donner Party of crickets, anyone? Though some may complain that their incessant background chirping serves only to emphasize the awkwardness of awkward silences, male House Crickets actually chirp to attract female crickets. So whenever you hear that chirping, just think of some frisky crickets that are about to get lucky. House crickets tend to infest buildings that have a supply of food wastes, like crumbs, so if you ever find a house cricket in your dorm, feel free to blame that messy roommate rather than ac-
knowledging your own mounting pile of dirty dishes. It seems that the cricket invasion is not limited to Tulsa either. One OSU student comments, “They are so bad. One entire building is completely black from crickets. There’s even a crickets of OSU twitter account.” The cricket problem had become so widespread that CNN, The Huffington Post and The Today Show have all run news stories and published articles surrounding the phenomenon. Many TU students may be familiar with the Facebook account “TU crickets,” but for those who are not, the page serves as a means for students to post pictures of mass cricket sightings and the TU crickets to share their thoughts about the TU human population, revealing insightful commentary such as, “What is it with humans and their obsession with hurling leathery projectiles through the air?”
Last week we ran an article in our opinion section arguing that P.J. O’Rourke was not fit to be a Presidential Lecturer. After attending his speech Tuesday night, we at the Collegian agree with this assessment and want to call on the university to refrain from including similar speakers in the series in the future. O’Rourke’s lecture was not constructive, informational or satirical. His speech was an incoherent diatribe against government—and liberals in particular—that failed to make any sustained arguments, offer any productive suggestions or levy tenable critiques. The Presidential Lecture Series is intended to “enrich discussion in the arts, humanities, sciences, technology, education and public affairs.” It is difficult to see how Mr. O’Rourke’s lecture accomplished this goal. Though this was hardly a surprise: barring his participation in “Wait, Wait, Don’t
Tell Me,” O’Rourke’s body of work proved an excellent introduction to his disappointing lecture. Even a cursory glance at his books and articles reveals a worldview in which making fun of your opponents is equivalent to invalidating their positions. O’Rourke’s writing is almost entirely devoid of constructive criticism, the presence of which is certainly the minimum condition for enriching discussion. In the future, we hope the university will consider speakers more representative of the goals of this prestigious lecture series. J. Christopher Proctor Editor-in-Chief Kyle Walker Managing Editor Conor Fellin News Editor
Tulsa Transit inefficient, badly marketed ment, the state of Oklahoma, and the city of Tulsa,” according to Tulsa Transit General Manager Bill Cartwright. According to Channel 9 news, Oklahoma City was very recently “awarded a $13.6 million grant to help transform (a downtown station) into an Giselle intermodal transit hub” by the U.S. Willis Department of Transportation. Student Writer Tulsa has received no such offer, and in a city of around 400,000 people, “50 buses at … peak period” really isn’t a lot. Granted, Cartwright also stated that 54 perIt’s easy to see that Tulsa is growcent of those who ride the bus are ing. The BOK center has hosted commuting to work and that “80 internationally-renowned celebripercent make under $25k annuties, the University of Tulsa is inally,” so not all 400,000 people in creasing the numbers of students it the city need to ride the bus, or do. admits every year, and during rush My opinion is that they should ride hour, congested traffic packs the the bus. highways. Growing up in Tulsa, I’ve often Yet how often is it that one sees heard Tulsa Transit spoken of as a a taxi or bus in these traffic jams? last resort. People I know who did When driving through the city and ride the bus later complained that looking into other cars, it isn’t ofthey didn’t feel safe on the trip. Yet ten that there are more than one or Cartwright has noticed “increastwo people per car. ing demand for public transit serEnter Tulsa Transit — Tulsa’s vices during the last three years,” public bus system. Tulsa Transit and ridership is up 24 percent is funded by the “federal govern-
Tulsa’s bus system is not doing enough to attract new riders, so it cannot generate enough buzz to expand.
since 2011. Meanwhile, the Tulsa Transit website advertised $.50 bus rides last year “every Friday from May 25 through September 28” because it was Ozone Alert Season. This offer assumes people will not ride public transportation in Tulsa unless they are either commuting to work, or forced to by Tulsa’s yearly summer Ozone Alerts. Nevertheless, if Tulsa Transit were more far-reaching in terms of foresight when it comes to popular events (not necessarily more far-reaching in terms of routes, because they do have 26), they could potentially attract more users and therefore more grants.
While there are some “nightlines,” they are not well-known, and looking through the website, there was no attempt to attract other demographics who can’t drive beyond those who make less than $25 thousand a year — namely, youth under the age of 16 and college students without cars. These demographics also happen to be ones within which “word of mouth” advertising seems to work really well, which could give Tulsa Transit a boost in income. Even TU’s ‘Cane Transit shuttle system goes to “several shopping centers in the Midtown Tulsa Area,” according to its website, but this needs to be updated to include
The Collegian is the independent 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 in its programs, services, aids, or benefits. 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 accommodation of disabilities may be addressed to the University’s 504 Coordinator, Dr. Tawny Taylor, 918-631-3814. To ensure availability of an interpreter, five to seven days notice is needed; 48 hours is recommended for all other accommodations. 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 collegian@utulsa.edu or elizabeth-cohen@utulsa.edu. The deadline for advertising is 5 p.m. on the Thursday prior to the 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 opinions of the entire Collegian staff, the administrative policies of the University of Tulsa, the views of the student body or our advertisers. Letter Policy: Letters to the editor must be less than 500 words. While we do not require it, letters sent via e-mail to the Collegian are encouraged. 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 Saturday prior to publication.
Tulsa’s hip downtown scene. Sure, TU students could technically make it there in a 20-minute bike ride, but not everyone here has that kind of stamina. Over in Wichita, Kansas, the Wichita Transit boasts having collaborated with the University of Kansas Urban Planning Department in working “to move Wichita’s public transit system toward a more convenient and reliable source of transportation,” according to its website. I wish TU and Tulsa Transit would collaborate in the same way, somehow alleviating TU’s parking problems. In the meantime, maybe a Facebook “TU Carpool” page is in order.
Photo courtesy of Metropolitan Tulsa Transit Authority
editor-in-chief—J Christopher Proctor managing editor—Kyle Walker news editor—Conor Fellin sports editor—Will Bramlett variety editor—Stephanie Hice opinion editor—Patrick Creedon satire editor—Anna Bennett photo & graphics editor—Jill Graves copy editors—Haley Stritzel, Carly Putnam business & advertising manager—Liz Cohen distribution manager—Walker Womack web editor—Mary Carol Franko
16 september 2013
the
the State-run media
State-Run media Reliability is for the unadventurous.
Engineer sights liberal arts student
Panic and fear strike ENS students as rumors of a Liberal Arts resurgence surface. Matthew Magerkurth Paranormal Investigator
Graphic by Anna Bennett
The Brady District is now officially named after every single Brady from American history, except for W. Tate. That should make everyone happy, right? From Top Left: Nicolas F. Brady, former Secretary of the Treasury; Wayne Brady, TV personality; Alice Brady, actress; “Diamond Jim” Brady, American financier; Charles E. Brady, Jr., Astronaut; Joan Brady, writer; Mathew Brady, Civil War photographer; Tom Brady, football player.
Parking policies draw praise In defense of our way of life, Campo stands valiantly against a horde of permitless parkers. Anne Jessup Security Correspondent
Habitually nervous Freshman Al Arming has recently expressed his fear of cars without permits in “permit-only parking lots,” citing TU’s no-tolerance policy on said perpetrators as a key reason for choosing to attend the university. He is not alone in his concerns; a representative from Campus Security (otherwise known as Campo) commented, “We take student safety very seriously here. Parking lots are dangerous places, and we’re just doing our best to keep these permit-less villains out of lots and out of sight.” This seriousness for scholar security explains the virtually irremovable, eye-watering neon orange stickers that have been popping up around campus. After the influx of illegally-
parked freshmen during orientation week, Campus Security decided to step up their game when it comes to parking lot law, graduating immediately from irritating green tickets to rage-inducing orange stickers. But not every student is in awe of Campo’s valiant efforts. One rather emotional and totally anonymous victim of the orange sticker of shame claimed “I spent an hour scratching, peeling, rubbing, and scraping that guilty, unsightly sticker off of my window. My mom is going to kill me when she sees what that Goo-B-Gone did to my paint job.” More disturbingly, some upperclassmen even boast of their illegal activities. “I had so many stickers on my window freshman year, I couldn’t see out of it,” bragged Junior Communications major Abel Parker, whose car was later seen being towed from campus. Such cavalier behavior belittles the very real and terrifying trend of illegally parked intruders, a threat that has many students and their parents up in arms about safety in
the parking lots of campus. Some students from the Tulsa area have taken to calling their parents in order to get rides to the grocery store and classes. Freshman Organizational Studies major Sue Perflewis offers this insight: “I brought my car to school so I would never need to bum a ride from a friend, but then I got scared to lose my spot to some permit-less miscreant. I haven’t moved my car since the first week of classes because I have an awesome spot in the first row of the West Residential lot! It’s definitely worth bumming rides off my mom.” Although many students are still weary of the permit-free delinquents, many rest easy knowing that Campo is watching over the law-abiding students of the lots. “Thank goodness campo ticketed me, called me, and placed an irremovable adhesive on my window,” says Arming. “I definitely learned more spending two hours and a bottle of goo remover on my window than I ever would have doing homework or studying.”
President Upham revealed to be several dwarves in a large coat. Difficulty of hoax dwarfed difficulty of running TU excellently for nearly a decade. Crack team of investigative journalists
A troupe of at least seven dwarves has been accused of perpetrating what is being called “an impressively elaborate hoax,” earning a PhD in the name of a fake and improbably-named “Steadman Upham” and serving at posts at the University of Oregon, New Mexico State University, and Claremont College before taking their act to Tulsa. The conspirators have effectively run the University of Tulsa for nearly a decade, bringing the University within striking distance of its Top 50 aspirations.
More impressively, the troupe managed to woo and marry the now-single Peggy Upham. In response to the news of her ex-husband’s non-existence, the former Ms. Upham responded that while she was “very upset,” she had to “commend the group on an amazing and dedicated performance over the years.” Members of the Board of Trustees roundly agree that Upham was “too good to be true,” and are now searching for a replacement. While the top of their list of potential presidents is shrouded in mystery, the bottom is definitely anyone with any connection to the SMU College of Engineering. When pressed for question, the troupe merely launched into whimsical acrobatics and dance, singing, “We represent the lollipop guild!”
Graphic by Anna Bennett
The troupe, many of whom took names like ‘Happy’ or ‘Grumpy,’ claim to have drawn inspiration from animated films by shadowy character called ‘Disney.’
Last week, an engineering student shocked the campus with his report of an art student sighting. Ryan Woods, a junior petroleum engineering major, allegedly spotted a student carrying a canvas. Initially thinking it was a drafting board, he thought nothing of it but as the student approached, the signs became more potent. “I started to smell, like, a musty smell. I looked up and saw his messy beard and that the thing he was carrying…it had fruit on it. It was terrifying.” While campus security has yet to confirm or deny the sighting, students have begun to take matters into their own hands. Faced with mounting reports of Liberal Arts sightings, concerned engineering students have reconvened the Society for the Investigation of Liberal Arts Ma-
jors (SILAM). The group formed last year to investigate the potential existence of music students, although evidence on that front is still inconclusive. “Our mission,” said society president Brian Kostos, “is to not only find these students, but to help them prepare for their jobs at the oil companies. What’s an artist going to do at an oil company?” Other students in the department are more skeptical. They point out that the liberal arts majors were driven out in purges of the 1990s. “There’s no way they’re back,” said one slightly nervous student. “What’s next? English majors?” SILAM’s next move on the front, according to Kostos, is a stakeout of campus. “Wherever there’s a hemp bracelet, a bandana tied around the head, or mandals, we’ll be there.” Woods, still reeling from his encounter, is now a member of SILAM and a full-believer in liberal arts majors. While the effect that these students might have on campus is “potentially disastrous”, Woods remains hopeful. In his words, “This means something. This is important.”
Photo courtesy Vladimir Putin
From Russia with Love We at the State-Run Media would like to call upon the University of Tulsa to bring in Russian President Vladimir Putin for next year’s Presidential Lecture series. Putin, the semi-despotic leader of the world’s largest country, has recently come to prominence with his surprisingly well reasoned and even-handed New York Times op-ed. We think his ability to make generally coherent arguments, vaguely supported by statements roughly resembling evidence would be a welcome change for the series. We also believe that his center-right political stance
would provide a healthy balance from last week’s right-of-Attliathe-Hun speaker. Although Mr. Putin might not be the most popular choice among the Tulsa community and would likely not draw the same kind of support as O’Rourke, we believe that Putin would do a better job at fulfilling the lecture series’ goal to “enrich discussion in the arts, humanities, sciences, technology, education, and public affairs” and should be given future consideration. Love, The State Run Media Staff