a student newspaper of the University of Tulsa
March 28, 2022 - Issue 19 - Volume 107
TU Instagram accounts reviewed, page 6 Sunshine Protection Act approved by Senate, page 2 Tom Brady announces his return to the NFL, page 3
Oklahoma Vouchers Bill fails to pass in close vote, page 5
Spaghetti Warehouse, page 8
cover by: Amy Polovich
Satire: English Department’s new building in the
News
The Collegian: 2
28 March 2022
Sunshine Protection Act approved by Senate
The bill would make Daylight Saving Time permanent in the U.S. year-round. Shelby Hiens News Editor The Sunshine Protection Act was passed in the Senate with unanimous consent on March 15. This bill will end the commonly hated practice of changing the clocks twice a year and make Daylight Saving Time permanent across the country — if it survives in the House of Representatives and President Joe Biden gives his approval.
light Saving Time, which is why the Florida legislature voted to make it permanent in 2018. I’m proud to reintroduce this bipartisan bill to make Daylight Saving Time permanent, and give our nation’s families more stability throughout the year,” Rubio stated. There are many benefits to having permanent Daylight Saving Time year-round. From November to March, the sun would rise and set an hour later than what we’re used to because these are the months that we observe Standard Time. If the bill is passed, daylight will be shifted forward an hour during these months and most of the U.S. will get to experience sunset after 5 p.m. near the winter solstice.
“‘Brighter evenings in the winter could be beneficial to some people with seasonal depression ...’” The bill was reintroduced by Sen. Marco Rubio and cosponsored by several colleagues on March 9 last year. “Studies have shown many benefits of a year-round Day-
courtesy Wikimedia Commons The bill would shift daylight an hour forward from what we’re used to during winter months.
Soma Therapy Owner Jenny Helms said, “Brighter evenings in the winter could be beneficial to some people with seasonal depression, as the permanent daylight saving would make the most change in the winter.” She stated “So, if we are having more time during the day where we have more access to sunlight, that is going to decrease the rates of seasonal effective disorder.” Experiencing daylight later in the evenings during colder months would allow those who work and go to school time to enjoy the daylight, as many people are preoccupied inside for the limited amount of daylight available during winter months. The downside to ditching Standard Time completely is the later sunrise around the winter solstice. Many senators praise the idea of extra sunlight during winter months, but there will not actually be more daylight. If the sun sets later in the day, the sun will
courtesy rubio.senate.gov Sen. Marco Rubio reintroduced the bill on March 9, 2021.
rise later in the morning. The change would cause sunrise to occur after 9 a.m. for some in the U.S. during January. This could be problematic for kids going to school early in the morning and annoying for adults going to work in the dark. The alternative many have proposed is making Standard Time permanent, as they prefer to have daylight in the morning rather than the
evening but still hate changing the clocks twice a year. However, supporters of the Sunshine Protection Act prefer to have daylight later in the evening so the days don’t feel so short.
Man with genetically modified pig heart dies David Bennett lived with the heart of a genetically modified pig for two months before dying of unknown causes. Logan Guthrie Commentary Editor David Bennett, the first man to receive a heart transplant from a genetically modified pig, died earlier this month. 57-year-old Bennett survived for two months with the heart transplant until finally passing on. Bennett was terminally ill and fully aware of the risk, knowing that such an experimental treatment was a long shot at best. A special dispensation had been given to the University of Maryland Medical Center
physicians in order to conduct the surgery. This was due to Bennett not having met eligibility for the treatment, who had already been bedridden for weeks and had no other shot at living.
According to Bennett’s surgeon, Bartley Griffith, everyone was “devastated by the loss of Mr. Bennett. He proved to be a brave and noble patient who fought all the way to the end.” Griffith has gone on the record
Other xenotransplantations, cross-species transplants, have also been done, mainly with pig organs. Back in Oct. 2021, a braindead patient with no chance of survival was given a modified pig kidney.
“‘This organ transplant demonstrated ... that a genetically modified animal heart can function like a human heart without immediate rejection ...’” On Jan. 7 the surgery was conducted, giving Bennett the chance to spend more time with his family doing activities such as watching the Super Bowl. As time passed, however, Bennett’s condition deteriorated more and more. His death was considered a tragedy for his family and doctors alike.
previously stating that this surgery brings us “one step closer to solving the organ shortage crisis.” While using pig heart valves has been a common practice at this point with success, a genetically modified heart as a transplant for a human heart was never before attempted.
courtesy Wikimedia Commons The Universty of Maryland Medical Center was given a special dispensation to perform the surgery.
There were 10 modifications conducted on the pig heart prior to Bennett’s surgery, which successfully prevented hyperacute rejection based on the body seeing the tissue of the heart as foreign. If hyperacute rejection occurs, then the body will immediately begin to kill the foreign tissue. This is the most common and largest barrier of effective xenotransplantations. The impact of Bennett’s decision is being felt. According to the medical center, “This organ transplant demonstrated for the first time that a genetically modified animal heart can function like a human heart without immediate rejection by the body.” Investigations are still being conducted to determine what exactly caused Bennett’s deterioration and eventual death. At this time, the precise cause is not clear because his body had not rejected the transplant and, according to all tests, the pig’s heart was performing perfectly in replacement of Bennett’s own. Once the exact cause of death is determined, an assessment can be made about the extent of the surgery’s success and the prospect of such a transplant being a viable treatment. “We extend our sincerest condolences to his family,” said Griffith. “We are grateful to Mr. Bennett for his unique and historic role in helping to contribute to a vast array of knowledge to the field of xenotransplantation.” Bennett’s son, David Bennett Jr., said that he hopes his father’s transplant is “the beginning of hope and not the end. We are grateful for every innovative moment, every crazy dream, every sleepless night that went into this historic effort.” The two extra months that Bennett received with his family may give merit to further development of such new medical techniques.
28 March 2022
Sports
The Collegian: 3
Tom Brady officially “un-retires” and returns to Buccaneers
Commentary editor Logan Guthrie discusses Brady’s possible trade to Miami after canceling his retirement. “This is difficult for me to write, but here it goes: I am not going to make that competitive commitment anymore. I have loved my NFL career, and now it is time to focus my time and energy on other things that require my attention. I’ve done a lot of reflecting the past week and have asked myself difficult questions. And I am so proud of what we have achieved. My teammates, coaches, fellow competitors and fans deserve 100% of me, but right now, it’s best I leave the field of play to the next generation of dedicated and committed athletes.”
at Shadow Lion knew this news was coming.” They made a hasty tweet at first that confirmed his retirement which was just as hastily removed from Twitter, followed by both Brady and his father refuting the retirement reports, to then be followed by an announcement that he truly was retiring. So, what is really going on? According to new reports, someone at Shadow Lion had heard of the possibility of Brady retiring, and so they took the initiative to put out a post and be ahead of the situation, but Brady had not officially told
“... it seems his decision was to choose football over [his family]...” This is a snippet from an Instagram post earlier this year in which NFL quarterback Tom Brady announced his so-called “retirement” from the NFL, a retirement that I covered at the time. I’d like to apologize for the quarterback that many have called the Greatest of All Time making a liar out of me, or at least his social media team may have. The news came as a confusing surprise to many when Brady announced he was leaving back in January, and this included Brady himself and many on his own social media team which has stated, “There was no media strategy planned because no one
Shadow Lion what his final decision was, and thus the tweet was immediately removed. The media director of Shadow Lion, Gilad Haas, has stated that Brady told the agency a few days after this incident that he was actually retiring, and so new social media messages began to be prepared and sent out officially announcing so. However, on Mar. 13 Brady met with Shadow Lion 30 minutes before he officially announced that after two months he has decided to retract his retirement, which was handled by the media company in messages such as the following from Twitter: “These past two months I’ve realized my place is
courtesy @HerdZone on Twitter
still on the field and not in the stands. That time will come. But it’s not now. I love my teammates, and I love my supportive family. They make it all possible. I’m coming back for my 23rd season in Tampa. Unfinished business LFG”. Rightfully so, many have been confused and upset by the announcement, because apparently 40 days later those obligations that he talked about no longer neglecting are just not important to him now because he wants to get at least another season out of his career. God knows he’s made enough money already, so perhaps family life and being a
football spectator are just too hard for the Greatest of All Time. Brady had said that football was a 100% commitment and that he wanted to focus on his family, but if he still holds this sentiment, then it seems his decision was to choose football over them, though I hope that is not the case or how his family feels. There are also rumors circulating that state Brady is getting traded from the Tampa Bay Buccaneers to the Miami Dolphins, and while it’s just speculation, at this point who knows what the truth really is about this season for Brady.
Lia Thomas’ championship performance causes uproar Spectators argue whether Thomas should be able to compete with women, says sports writer Ben Bowdon.
The NCAA Women’s Swimming National Championships were hosted by Georgia Tech in Atlanta, Georgia, from March 16-19. University of Virginia won the competition for the second year in a row, while Stanford University fell shortly behind. 13 out of 18 events had at least one record broken, but since there were several Olympians from Tokyo 2020 competing, this is no surprise. Kate Douglass and Alex Walsh were among them — and demonstrated why they deserved their silver medals. The duo from the University of Virginia Cavalier’s broke four records among them, and each won all three of their individual events. They also won four combined relay titles. This dominant performance would normally take the
spotlight at the competition, but there was another headline that was stressed: Lia Thomas. Once again, the competition received much more attention and scrutiny than normal. The nation’s eyes were upon Lia Thomas, the transgender swimmer who qualified to compete in three of the 13 individual events: the 100 freestyle, the 200 freestyle and the 500 freestyle. She made it into the finals in all three of her events, placing eighth, fifth, and first respectively and earning University of Pennsylvania their first women’s swimming title. This is an incredible showing for Thomas, even though two of her swims were below her qualifying times, but it is viewed with much skepticism
courtesy @PennSwinDive
and criticism. As usual, a mix of booing, cheering and awkward silence followed Lia Thomas’ name during the announcements.
a separate category of competition? Many societies and governments are attempting to navigate this issue. For sports specifically, it
“... it is viewed with much skepticism and criticism.” Transgender athletes are still a topic of much debate. With little precedence for the new rules, Lia Thomas is one of the first to test them. There are few well documented times for men who transitioned to women, which makes it difficult to design rules that maintain fairness. Thomas has shown that just hormone therapy (HRT) does not completely level the playing field. In the 20182019 season as a man, she ranked 554th in the 200 freestyle, and 65th in the 500 freestyle against males. After two years of HRT, she ranked 5th and 1st compared to women. No swimmer ranks up that fast naturally and her advantage is undeniable. The most complicated question is what to do about it. With these changing times, it is difficult to navigate this changing societal landscape. What should be prioritized? What testosterone limit should be the cap for transgender athletes? Should they be allowed to compete with their advantage, or should they be in
centers around the central question: what is the right balance of inclusivity and fairness? The beauty of sports is the fair competition — individuals or teams with an equal playing field intensely battling to determine the champion. This ultimate ideal cannot be sacrificed in the name of inclusivity, especially at the highest level where truly fair competition is the most important. Thus, there needs to be a separate venue for transgender athletes to compete in. This could take the form of exhibition swims at the NCAA championships, or even their own category. Just like men and women have separate competition pools, maybe that could work for transgender athletes that transition postpuberty, since they collectively will have a similar advantage or disadvantage, like the men and women categories. This solution would be inclusive while at the same time maintaining competitiveness.
courtesy @PennSwinDive
courtesy gatech.edu
Sports
The Collegian: 4
28 March 2022
Deshaun Watson traded to Browns despite sexual assault allegations
Cleveland Browns agree to take Watson with his current civil cases, says sports editor Callie Hummel. With the Cleveland Browns picking up the problem-infected Deshaun Watson, Houston has been given six new draft picks for the first three rounds of the NFL draft. Watson has been the Brown star quarterback since the Houston Texans picked him in the first round of the 2017 NFL Draft. Since then, he has stood out as an excellent quarterback, playing in the Pro Bowl three times and leading the NFL in passing yards for several seasons in the four years he played with Houston. In March of 2021, his legacy began to become tainted as more and more women came forward saying Watson sexually harassed them, from inappropriate touching to revealing himself to them. One year after the initial accusation, 22 women have come forward, all of them massage therapists whom Watson would book through Instagram. The public immediately wanted answers from Watson, who continued to claim that all 22 of the cases were “consensual” and prepared to prove his alleged innocence in
all civil cases in the near future. While many teams, including Houston, started to see Watson as a player they didn’t want on their team due to legal problems, the Browns decided to go the complete opposite direction. Watson’s contract with the Texans originally had a no-trade clause in it, but after the legal turmoil, the Texans allowed that clause to be overridden. The Texans had announced they were not going
lic curious as to why the Browns were so eager to sign him during it all. The Browns’ owner said the legal team spent a “tremendous amount of time exploring and investigating” along with a “comprehensive evaluation process” due to the “sensitive nature of his position and the complex factors involved.” This “comprehensive evaluation process” consisted of speaking with Watson
“Watson still has rigorous ongoing legal proceedings ...” to be playing Watson due to the lawsuits, so they allowed the Browns to take the quarterback. In return, the Texans received three of the Browns’ first-round picks in 2022, 2023 and 2024; one third-round pick in 2023; and two fourth-round picks in 2022 and 2024. Watson still has rigorous ongoing legal proceedings though, which makes the pub-
directly on his side of things — in which he continued to claim that all 22 women had consented to his actions — talking to “people in Watson’s past” to get a character analysis, and speaking with three female attorneys associated with Watson’s defense team. They decided not to speak with the plaintiff’s attorney in worries that the con-
versation might go public and include things they didn’t want published. Stephen Ross, the team owner of the Miami Dolphins, was also looking to acquire Watson. After doing their own investigative work, the Dolphins quickly decided not to put out an offer for Watson. Ross announced that he would not look at Watson again until settlements were made on all 22 cases. It seems like the Browns have a different opinion on “thorough” as the due diligence they performed on Watson’s background didn’t consist of talking with the women filing suits against him, or anyone on the opposing side. The research, investigation, and statements from the Browns seem to point to one conclusion: Deshaun Watson is a renowned quarterback who has led the league in the past, and the Browns want to get to the Super Bowl.
courtesy @PFF on Twitter
courtesy @PFF on Twitter
Mar. 28 - Apr. 3 Monday
Tuesday
Wednesday 29
28
Thursday
Friday 1
31
30
Rowing Sunshine State Invitational All Day
none
none
Softball @Oklahoma State 6:00 p.m.
none
Saturday
Sunday 2
Track & Field Stanford Invitational All Day Rowing Sunshine State Invitational TBA
3
Golf Red Raider Match Play All Day
W Soccer Track & Field vs. Seminole State Stanford Invita11:00 a.m. tional Softball W Soccer All Day vs. Central Okla- vs. Wichita State 12:00 p.m. W Tennis homa Oral Roberts 1:00 p.m. M Tennis 2:00 p.m. Softball @Oklahoma vs. Wichita State State Softball 2:00 p.m. 1:00 p.m. Wichita State 5:00 p.m. W Tennis vs. Kansas City 2:00 p.m. M Soccer vs. Rogers State 2:00 p.m. M Soccer vs. Northeastern State 5:00 p.m.
28 March 2022
Commentary
The Collegian: 5
Vouchers bill defeat a win for education
Funding unaccountable private institutions would be detrimental to Oklahoma public schools. Justin Klopfer Editor-in-Chief Last Wednesday, March 23, the Oklahoma Senate failed to pass Senate Bill 1647, titled the “Oklahoma Empowerment Act.” The bill would have given qualifying Oklahoma students the ability to opt out of public school enrollment and instead receive funds to spend on education-related expenses. The amount of money would depend on many factors, though a fiscal impact report projected a cost of between $3,5712.12 to $5,276.00 per student per year. While the bill never uses the term “voucher,” the program uses state funds for students to utilize at private education institutions — the essence of a vouchers program. The bill was narrowly rejected — 24 no votes and 22 yes votes. Three more yes votes would have passed the bill, and two of these could have easily come from absent senator Nathan Dahm, a supporter of the bill, and Senator Jake Merrick, who voted against the bill after supporting it in committee.
Oklahoma Governor Kevin Stitt voiced his support for the bill, and lamented its failure to pass. He highlighted Oklahoma’s status as “49th in the nation in education,” as if bills targeting public education like SB1647 weren’t a prime cause of this sorry state. Stitt said that the state must “fund students over systems”; the “systems” he wishes to defund are the essential public schools. Voucher programs have been implemented in several states and have had varying outcomes. A study of Florida’s voucher program has shown modest improvements in test scores and attendance, but newer studies of voucher programs in Louisiana, Ohio and the District of Columbia showed significant decreases in student performance, especially in mathematics. If the millions of dollars required for these vouchers would produce little result, why not just invest the funds directly into the existing public school system? The ongoing teacher shortage — which forced Oklahoma to give emergency certification to thousands of teachers — is a clear symptom of an underfunded system. Senator Greg Treat, the original author of the bill, claimed that the $128 million the bill was estimated to cost would not come from existing state aid. Regardless of the accuracy of this claim, that money would still be in far better hands if it were allocated directly to Oklahoma public schools. If Oklahoma is ready to make such a significant investment in education, why direct it almost exclusively to private schools? The state of Oklahoma has no business funding private education institutions subject to far less oversight than public schools. Bills like SB1647 that dismantle public education are usually justified by an appeal to “choice.” SB1647 itself states that “parents and legal guardians are best suited to make decisions” regarding their children’s education. However, what difference does choice make when all the schools are under-
Rejecting the proposition required several Republicans to vote against the bill.
funded and inadequate? Oklahoma is currently ranked 46th for education spending; children receive a subpar education whether they choose a public, charter or private school.
7:15 am University of Tulsa Campus Safety and Security officers were dispatched to a fire alarm at the Kappa Alpha Theta Sorority. Officers searched the building and did not find smoke or fire and determined the issue was from the building’s HVAC system. The Tulsa Fire Department was canceled, and a work order was placed. Copy of report forwarded to Housing, Physical Plant and Student Affairs for their review. 6:25 pm University of Tulsa Campus Safety and Security Communications Center received a call from a known subject from previous reports regarding phone threats. The call was recorded. 7:45 pm University of Tulsa Campus Safety and Security officers investigated a report of a stolen catalytic converter from a TU affiliate’s vehicle in the Mayo Village Lot. Officers took pictures of the scene and gathered a statement. Officers advised the affiliate to report the crime to the Tulsa Police Department. Copy of report forwarded to Physical Plant and Student Affairs for their review. March 13 4:00 pm University of Tulsa Campus Safety and Security received a call regarding a missing duty phone from a Resident Assistant at Fisher Hall South. Officers were unable to identify a suspect. The incident is under investigation. Copy of report forwarded to Physical Plant, Human Resources and Student Affairs for their review. March 15 4:50 pm University of Tulsa Campus Safety and Se-
curity officers responded to investigate a report of suspicious activity at the University Square South Apartments. Officers discovered the source of the suspicious activity was a student. Officers advised the student to cease the activity. Copy of report forwarded to Housing and Student Affairs for their review. March 19 2:05 pm While on routine patrol, Campus Safety and Security officers discovered property damage at the Reynolds Center. Officers made contact with a TU affiliate who was cleaning broken glass. The individual informed officers they made contact with a glass door while transporting personal property. A work order was filed with the Physical Plant. Copy of report forwarded to Physical Plant, Human Resources and Athletics for their review. 2:15 pm While on routine patrol, Campus Safety and Security officers noticed an unidentified person pushing a shopping cart and stopping vehicles on the north side of the Collins Fitness Center. Officers made contact with the individual. The individual gave limited personal information and became uncooperative. The individual left northbound on S. Delaware Ave. A contact card was created. March 20 1:10 pm University of Tulsa Campus Safety and Security officers dispatched on report of a suspicious person carrying a shovel at Phillips Hall Lot. Officers determined the individual was not affiliated with the University of Tulsa. The individual refused to identify themselves and they were trespass warned before they left campus property. A contact card was created. Copy of report forwarded to Housing and Student Affairs for their review. 4:40 pm While responding to an apartment unlock in Norman Village apartments, Campus Safety and Security officers determined a fire had taken place in the apartment prior to arrival. The Communications Center contacted Tulsa Fire Department who determined there was no longer a fire threat. The reporting party sustained an injury and refused
privatization. The opposition to the bill, in contrast, comes from actual educators. A poll by Oklahoma Professional Educators, a group of educators in Oklahoma, found 83% of members oppose the bill.
“While the bill’s defeat is a victory for students, public education in Oklahoma is still in a desperate state.” The support for “school choice” legislation is often driven not by educators but interest groups with large pools of cash trying to influence public opinion. One of these groups, Oklahoma Council of Public Affairs, extensively supported and pushed SB1647. The OCPA isn’t required to disclose its funding sources, but these conservative interest groups are typically funded by those who stand to gain from further
While the bill’s defeat is a victory for students, public education in Oklahoma is still in a desperate state. Stitt himself claimed that a voucher system “is eventually going to pass” into law in an interview after the bill was shot down. Republicans’ priority of “school choice” jeopardizes the importance of public schools and too often prioritizes private profits over student outcomes.
medical attention. Copy of report forward to Housing, Physical Plant and Student Affairs for their review.
March 22 5:45 pm University of Tulsa Campus Safety and Security officers responded to a suspicious activity call at McFarlin Library. Officers met with library staff and took possession of suspicious items. The investigation is ongoing. Copy of report forwarded to Physical Plant, Human Resources and Student Affairs for their review.
March 21 1:00 pm University of Tulsa Campus Safety and Security officers were dispatched to the Allen Chapman Student Union (ACSU) for a fire alarm. The alarm was activated due to “Water flow above Post Office”. Tulsa Fire Department canceled. Panel reset and Facilities Management was notified. Copy of report forwarded to Physical Plant and Student Affairs for their review. March 12 2:10 am University of Tulsa Campus Safety and Security officers were dispatched to University Square West Apartments to conduct a welfare check. Officers met with the subject who was preparing to leave for a mental health facility and the reporting party requested an officer stay with the subject until they left to ensure their safety. Copy of report forwarded to Housing and Student Affairs for their review.
courtesy oksenate.gov
1:30 pm University of Tulsa Campus Safety and Security officers met with a student regarding a stolen bicycle. The bicycle was last seen in the Lottie Jane Mabee courtyard. Copy of report forwarded to Housing, Physical Plant and Student Affairs for their review.
tucollegian@tucollegian.com editor in chief
Justin Klopfer managing editor
Adam Walsh news editor
Shelby Hiens sports editor
Callie Hummel variety editor
Julianne Tran commentary editor
Logan Guthrie satire editor
Anna Johns photo & graphics editor
Amy Polovich
business & advertising manager
Madeleine Goodman social media & web manager
Maddie Walters copy editor
Jihan Aldada
5:55 pm University of Tulsa Campus Safety and Security officers were dispatched to check on a suspicious person who was reported to be staggering in the street near the Mayo Village Apartments. Officers made contact with the subject who was uncooperative and refused to identify. The subject left property and was trespass warned. A contact card was created. The Collegian does not produce or edit the Campus Crime Watch except for content and brevity.
@TUCOLLEGIAN
The Collegian is the student newspaper of the University of Tulsa. It is distributed Mondays during the fall and spring semesters, except during holidays and final exam weeks. The University of Tulsa does not discriminate on the basis of personal status or group characteristics including but not limited to the classes protected under federal and state law. Inquiries regarding implementation of this policy may be addressed to the Office of Human Resources, 800 South Tucker Drive, Tulsa, Oklahoma 74104-9700. (918)631-2616. Requests for accomodation of disabilities may be addressed to the university’s 504 Coordinator, Dr. Tawny Rigsby. (918)631-3814. To ensure availability of an interpreter, five to seven days notice is needed; 48 hours is recommended for all other accomodations. Advertising Policy: Advertising appearing in this publication does not imply approval or endorsement by the University of Tulsa or the Collegian for the products or services advertised. For advertising information, email the Collegian at advertising @tucollegian.org. The deadline for advertising is noon on the Friday prior to publication. Letter Policy: Letters to the editor must be less than 500 words and can be sent to tucollegian@tucollegian. org. Under no circumstances will anonymous letters be published. The name of the person submitting the letter must be published with the letter. We reserve the right to edit or reject all letters. The deadline for letters is 5 p.m. on the Friday prior to publication. Editing Policy: The Collegian reserves the right to edit all copy submitted by all writers. This editing my 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 Collegian staff, the administrative policies of the University of Tulsa, the views of the student body or our advertisers.
The Collegian: 6
Podcasts might be the thing you need to find motivation and solidarity in challenging times. Hana Saad Student Writer The end of the semester is drawing near and that means many things. On one hand, there are a bunch of exciting end of year events like Spring Fest and graduation. On the other hand, there are the less fun kinds of stress such as final exams, papers, trying to figure out internships or jobs. All exciting things in one form or another, but these end-of-year activities can be draining. Motivation waxes and wanes over the course of the semester. Studying grows increasingly harder. Summer beckons as the weather starts to warm and green things start to grow.
Variety
else you might need to get through these final weeks of the semester. “The Happiness Lab,” with its cheerful yellow cover, is a show hosted by Yale professor of psychology Dr. Laurie Santos, who has studied happiness and aims to help her listeners figure out ways to be more satisfied with life. Episode 12 of season three is especially useful, as it covers the concept of a growth mindset. Dr. Santos explains what the growth mindset is, talks about some studies that show the benefits of a growth mindset and how you can incorporate this mindset into your life by making slight changes in the way you talk about yourself. For instance, if you want to become a better public speaker but feel you are not the best at doing so, instead of thinking “I am a bad public speaker,” you would instead think “I am not a great public speaker yet.” The thought leaves room for growth, giving you the motivation and encouragement you
“... by acknowledging the ability to learn and change, we can often be in a better place ...” Luckily, there are podcasts that can help! A simple search for “motivation” in your favorite podcast app can result in dozens of episodes. Most feature a man mid-shout on the cover, spouting off cliche motivational speeches. Not exactly the thing for everyone. But the shows featured below offer more doable, sustainable ways of finding and retaining motivation, inspiration or anything
need to figure out how you can become a better public speaker. If we think of ourselves as having fixed personality traits, we hinder ourselves from growth. But by acknowledging the ability to learn and change, we can often be in a better place to make those changes happen. “Ologies with Allie Ward” has an episode focused on life hacks to be happier and more productive. Although we shouldn’t always have to be productive, sometimes we need
28 March 2022
Ward, who hosts “Ologies with Alie Ward” is a science correspondent and writer.
to figure out ways to stay on track with responsibilities. In “LIFE ADVICE: For anyone who is tired & needs some hacks,” Ward asks her Patreon subscribers for their best life hacks. This is part of the ADHD series, but Ward assures the listeners that anyone can listen to this episode and use the advice that feels right to them. The episode is split into five parts: “Your Hot Bod Needs This,” “Home is Where the Hard Is,” “Wrestling with Father Time,” “Tricking Your Brain to Trick Your Brain” and “Emo Stuff.” Part one isn’t about aesthetics, but about taking care of your body in a way that makes your brain feel good. It’s relatable and the episode offers a variety of self-care tips which shows that there’s not one right way to care for your mind or body. There’s something about hearing multiple people share their advice for living well. I would like to caution that one user talks about clean eating, a concept that is steeped in diet culture. Clean eating implies that there are good and bad foods, a mindset
courtesy Alie Ward
which can contribute to eating disorders and disordered eating habits. Nutrition is important, but what that looks like is different for everyone. The show doesn’t necessarily address the harmful implications of “clean eating,” but does offer other ways of thinking about food. For example, one user talks about picking foods that bring them personal enjoyment and that they are excited to cook in the kitchen. These are only the tip of the iceberg of the podcasts available. Everyone is different, so taking time to explore the different kinds of podcasts that help with motivation and inspiration could be well worth it as we navigate the end of the semester. You can find “The Happiness Lab” and “Ologies with Alie Ward” on all streaming platforms.
Are TU Instagram accounts worth your time? Writer Margaret Laprarie rates TU Instagram accounts on their relevancy, aesthetic and influence. Margaret Laprarie Student Writer If you’re a TU student with an Instagram account, you’ve probably received a random follow (or even a feature!) from one of the many TU-related Instagrams that have appeared over the last several months. There seems to be no rhyme or reason for them outside of a few laughs and maybe a few inside jokes, but nonetheless they have become a major source of entertainment for students on campus. I have definitely received more than one message linking me to a recent post from one TU account or another, asking if I’d seen so-and-so or if I’d come across X photo yet. Despite their novelty, are any of these accounts any good? If you don’t accept that follow request, and you don’t scroll through them, are you really missing anything? That seems to depend on who you are and how you relate to the content they provide. No matter what your stake in the content is, they still lend themselves to a few key characteristics, some better than others.
courtesy @tu_cats1 TU Cats shares a picture of Ginger.
We’ll start on a high note. @tu_cats1: Feed Aesthetic: 10/10, Cats, cats and more cats, what else could you want? Quality of Individual Posts: 10/10, Multiple photos always available, plenty of information in the descriptions about the cats. Cute and informative! Meme Content: N/A, No memes here, but they make up for it in more cats. Relevancy: 10/10, How else are we supposed to know which cats are which, and how they’re all related?
Influence: 10/10, I mention this account on nearly every campus tour I give and it is burned into my psyche forever. Overall Score: 10/10 You cannot go wrong with scrolling through the @tu_cats1 instagram account. The cats are precious, each post is informative and entertaining, and this is by far one of the accounts with the highest level of engagement.
courtesy @utulsa.matchmakers You can DM this account with match ideas.
courtesy @utulsa_milkdrinkers This account shares posts of TU drinkers of milk.
This is where things get a little dicey. @utulsa_milkdrinkers: Feed Aesthetic: 4/10, Although the feed is a little chaotic, the vibe seems to resemble a finsta account, which usually invites the good kind of chaotic content. However, the posts still lack cohesion, and I wouldn’t follow based on looks alone. Quality of Individual Posts: 5/10, The posts themselves are not bad. The captions are always creative, include fun hashtags and I’m not afraid to admit they have made me laugh on more than one occasion. Meme Content: 3/10, The memes don’t quite function as memes so much as they do edits, and the Webkinz theme is confusing. Am I missing something, or does Webkinz World have nothing to do with drinking milk? Relevancy: 1/10, I have never once thought to myself “I wish there was an Instagram account showcasing all of my peers drinking milk.” If you have, please reach out so we can discuss. Influence: 4/10, I’ve heard some discussion of this account, but not much. They seem to struggle with obtaining submissions, hence the weird Webkinz memes. Overall Score: 3/10 They’re really trying, and sometimes succeeding, but I think this account has reached its expiration date.
@utulsa.matchmakers: Feed Aesthetic: 8/10, I can always appreciate a good Google image background, and they’ve kept it consistent with the color pink and frequent use of hearts. Quality of Individual Posts: 8/10, Again, consistency is key. Not only do the cover photos enhance the feed, but they add an air of mystery to each post. Who is the suggested couple? You have to scroll to see. Meme Content: N/A, No memes present per se, but based on whether or not you take their content seriously, the whole account could be considered a meme. Relevancy: 5/10, The relevancy appears to be subjective in this case, based on who the featured “couple” is, and whether or not you as the viewer know them. Influence: 4/10, Have any of these suggested matches been realized? More data is needed to increase their score on this one. Overall Score: 6/10 They’re definitely doing something, I’m just not sure what. At the very least, it is entertaining to scroll through, reveal the matches and see if anyone you know (or even yourself!) has popped up.
For our final account, we’ll be taking a look at @tu_affirmations: Feed Aesthetic: 10/10, Beautifully crafted edits featuring relevant TU photos, with the affirmation displayed neatly in, what font is that? Mahogany Script? Just wonderful. Quality of Individual Posts: 10/10, The affirmations? Funny, scarily relatable. The captions? Short, simple, to the point, always the same. Who’s claiming the affirmations in the comments below? Only one way to find out. Meme Content: 10/10, Can confidently call this entire account a meme, and they are doing the title justice. Relevancy: 10/10, As I said, the affirmations are almost always scarily relatable. I really do believe the only way to stop a maintenance golf cart from hitting me, to prevent illness and succeed in my classes is by commenting “claim” to affirm. Influence: 10/10, Not a day goes by that this account makes a post and I don’t see it reposted on someone’s story. Sometimes that someone is myself. Overall Score: 10/10 Funny, well crafted and a little too real, the TU Affirmations account is the glue holding this school together.
courtesy Instagram You can find all these accounts and more on IG.
courtesy @tu_affirmations This account first posted in September 2021.
28 March 2022
Variety
The Collegian: 7
Weezer’s “SZNZ: Spring” EP offers optimism The first of four seasonal EP releases, Weezer’s “SZNZ: Spring” delivers upbeat songs inspired by Vivaldi’s “Spring” movement. Maddie Walters Social Media & Web Manager Earlier this month, Weezer announced their plan to release four EPs, each one coordinating with the change of season. The first EP of the tetralogy, “SZNZ: Spring,” released on the spring equinox, March 20. In an Instagram post, the band described the new EPs as taking inspiration from “magic, Pagan myths, religious rituals, Vivaldi’s ‘The Four Seasons,’ Shakespeare and more (so much more).” Weezer’s last two albums, “OK Human” and “Van Weezer,” contrasted one another greatly. “OK Human” featured an orchestra that backed up the band as they played pop-like songs inspired by the loneliness of the COVID-19 pandemic. “Van Weezer,” on the other hand, saw a return to the band’s hard-rock influences that first skyrocketed the band into the Billboard charts. “SZNZ: Spring” sees the band come back to the poppunk genre, with an emphasis on the pop aspect. The album opens with “Opening Night,” a song that can only be described as a poppunk renaissance fair with its marriage of electric guitars and pan flute. Strangely
In 1992, Weezer formed in Los Angeles, California.
enough, the opening song also takes inspiration from Vivaldi’s “Four Seasons,” specifically the “La Primavera” or the spring section of this classic concerto, as the main melody of the song borrows its tune straight from Vivaldi. “The Opening Night” is practically a love letter to the works of William Shakespeare, referencing “Romeo and Juliet,” “Henry IV Part 1,” “Hamlet,” “Much Ado About Nothing” and “As You Like It.” Simply enough, Rivers Cuomo sings, “Shakespeare makes me happy.” Weezer takes a page from the famed wordsmith’s book as they may be the only band to skillfully rhyme “empathy” and “perspicacity.” Next up is “Angels on Vacation,” which follows the story of two angels as they decide to take a vacation from Heaven to visit Earth for the first time. It almost feels like Rivers Cuomo has either read the novel “Good Omens” or watched the television adaptation because the plotline of the song is exceedingly similar to that of “Good Omens.” It could just be a coincidence; however, the ending of “Angels on Vacation” features a Queen-esque guitar riff — a band that is mentioned throughout Good Omens. Regardless, “Angels on Vacation” is a charmingly upbeat song that even the most stoic of individuals could not resist nodding their head along to. The cheerful tone of the song takes a break once the bridge hits with its almost melancholy music as the angels experience what seems like an existential crisis. Cuomo sings, “God won’t scold if we live our lives.” It’s nice to see that Weezer’s
courtesy Wikimedia Commons
courtesy Picador
Weezer released “SZNZ: Spring” on March 20.
unique brand of telling a story within their songs is still alive and well. Next, we have the single from the EP “A Little Bit of Love.” At its heart, this song is about how showing just a small amount of love can change the world around you. As this record has been made in “real time” (as per their Instagram), it’s easy to see the influences of the war in Ukraine and the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic within the song. Opening with chirping birds, “The Garden of Eden,” contains Biblical allusions and catchy lyrics such as “I haven’t felt this good since velcro sneakers came along.” The outro of the song offers some insight with the thought that the recirculation of life ends and begins anew in the Garden of Eden. Next up is “The Sound of Drums,” which, at its core, is a song about meeting up with friends again after being separated from one another for so long. Jaunty and containing the use of pipes, mandolin and even a bodhràn, this song is an optimistic look at the reality of life. “All This Love” is a beautifully simplistic song that feels reminiscent of the Beatles’ “All You Need is Love.” Sharing a similar theme with “A Little Bit of Love,” “All
This Love” is about having a surplus of love stored up inside of you without having an outlet for it to go to. Cuomo candidly sings, “I got all this love that I’ve been saving up. Let me let it out.” The final track of this seven song EP is “Wild at Heart.” Featuring crooning guitars and a galloping melody, the closing song seems to be an homage to the way spring makes us feel young again. With the renewal of the earth and blossoming flowers, spring is a time for regeneration of both body and mind. The newness of it all, inspires us to become “like we used to be…Wild at heart.” While not all of the songs on this EP are memorable, the ones that are really are. “SZNZ: Spring” proves to be an ambitiously optimistic record, which is, perhaps, something we all need right now. The next EP is rumored to drop on the summer solstice, June 21. It will be interesting to see if all of these EPs have the same connected theme of love and renewal, especially as summer turns to fall and winter. Regardless, Weezer’s “SZNZ” EPs prove to be their most formidable project to date. “SZNZ: Spring” is now available to stream on all major music platforms.
photos by Hana Saad Student Association hosted International Extravaganza on Saturday, March 26.
theState-Run media
The State-Run Media
28 March 2022
Hello, Y/N. Shall I pop the champagne and you light the candles?
The English and Creative Writing Department moves buildings to downtown Tulsa’s abandoned Spaghetti Warehouse TU surprised students and faculty with changing the center of this usually invisible department, and the consequences of this decision went as expected. Anna Johns Became an English major only to receive an insatiable bloodthirst for John Lennon During the recent English and Creative Writing Department’s Town Hall, faculty confirmed that the department will soon move out of Zink Hall. Like Oxley College of Health Sciences, the English and Creative Writing Department’s new building will be found off campus, where it will host classes and faculty offices. The rumors are true: the English and Creative Writing Department’s new home is now the deserted Spaghetti Warehouse in downtown Tulsa. Students and faculty alike reacted to the news with shock and confusion. First, how could TU buy another building? With what money? Hasn’t the school enough times drained its finances to slather its name on properties? Another harrowing factor that stirred disbelief is the idea TU administration could have sudden interest in the English and Creative Writing Department or, hell, the no man’s land that is Zink Hall. After all, most English and Creative Writing classes take refuge in other buildings. There’s only the one classroom on Zink Hall’s Third Floor where students practically sit on each other’s laps around a table and watch their professors toy with the chalk board and outdated, sometimes non-functioning technology. Students were familiar with the constant unseen construction projects that required
Captain Cane proudly poses in front of the grand opening to the English and Creative Writing Department’s new home.
men rushing to-and-fro on the First Floor. And God only knows what happens on the Third Floor. Also, why the Spaghetti Warehouse? Simple! Administration explained to faculty that purchasing the Spaghetti Warehouse was a cost-effective decision. The long-abandoned building was practically paying us to take it, anyway. Mind, of course, the territorial rat squadrons and the mummified garlic bread corpse; you can already find something similar going on with the oozing slime that slowly gains sentience in the fridge of the Graduate Student Lounge. Plus, TU Administration reasoned that placing the English and Creative Writing department in an old, dirty restaurant merely
gave these worthless non-STEM students a glimpse of their future career prospects. “We were just happy to receive attention from administration at all,” confessed an anonymous Associate Professor of English. “The idea that we could have better classroom quality and care given to our students was so exciting that we did not realize the glaring issue standing in the way.” Indeed, a major problem arose that halted any growth or morale boost for the department: the old Spaghetti Warehouse building was dismantled in 2019. In a statement made to bewildered, concerned faculty and students, TU Administration soothingly replied, “Sorry, we didn’t think people would, like, actually have a problem with this. Aren’t English classes
graphic by Anna Johns
only taken by the underclassmen torturously slogging through their Block One requirements? It’s not like they show up to class all that much, either.” “We should’ve seen this coming,” said junior English major Sarah Samson. “After all, Chapman Hall is still practically unusable for people who use wheelchairs. There are issues with asbestos in a lot of the buildings. Some of my classes don’t have working markers for the whiteboard.” In other news, TU will offer students majoring in Computer Science and Engineering free iPads for taking notes, a MacBook just because and a ruffle of the hair followed by a lovingly tender kiss on the forehead.
TU’s Springfest headliner announced: your mom
Yes, you read correctly. Your mother will headline this year’s Springfest. Anna Johns Xbox gamertag, Milfluver2000, is just like the prophecy foretold!
Springfest is an incredibly important annual tradition on TU campus as the event is usually well-attended and well-received— and it’s the only time that students actually pay any attention to whatever Student Association does. Feeling the pressure for this year’s festival, SA tirelessly deliberated and desperately searched for the perfect budgetsaving headliner, and they finally landed on a relatively indie artist to feature: your mom. Well, your mom reacted with extreme enthusiasm when SA contacted her and offered her the stage. Her price? A glass of “good wine.” “Just one glass,” she joked, eyes as sparkling as ever, “only one!” But you and I both know she’ll have more than one glass. She will drink two and will be appropriately modest regarding her alcohol consumption. (When the clock strikes 8 p.m., she will yawn and say that wine makes her sleepy. We will sympathetically nod.) Your mom will make a big spectacle out of the thing; she’ll call relatives you only see at funerals and ask you a bunch of inane questions about the campus that she has definitely been to before but refuses to remember. Should she bring a coat? Does Tulsa get cold? Oh, whatever, she’ll bring two in case it’s severely frigid or a mild breeze.
Posters around campus are scratch and sniff with the sweet, comforting scent of laundry detergent.
For dinner, SA will treat her to the best of their ability. However, she didn’t lobby for weeks to request a pizza beforehand, so she’ll have to make do with the most economic choices for the university. Looks like dinosaur chicken nuggets will be on the menu! (“I remember when my child would eat those every day after I picked them up from elementary school,” she will tell me as she gingerly picks up a Triceratops nugget; I dimly note the exquisite selection. “They were always so…” She trails off.
“So?” I finish. “Oh, you don’t want to hear an old woman ramble,” she says. “I don’t see an old woman,” I tell her, placing my hand on hers. “I see a woman. I see you.” The way she blushes tells me it has been a long time since anyone has given your mother the romantic attention a blossomed flower like her deserves.) In response to the Springfest announcement, students have been overwhelmingly positive. After all, your mom is pretty popular around these parts, and we’re all excited
graphic lovingly by Anna Johns
to hear her stylings for the night. First, she’ll begin with an impassioned criticism of the aesthetic choices in some interior design show on HGTV. Then, to the crowd of adoring fans, she’ll pull out the childhood photos, spending ample time showing the crowd your baby self’s naked body. She’ll top off the occasion with a daring one-sided conversation, maybe this time on Biden and gas prices or how a guy you went to high school with came out as gay. And the next morning, when she wakes in my dorm, she’ll wake up to breakfast in bed.
