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Oklahoma Vouchers Bill fails to pass in close vote

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approved by Senate

approved by Senate

Funding unaccountable private institutions would be detrimental to Oklahoma public schools.

Justin Klopfer

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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 underfunded and inadequate? Oklahoma is currently ranked 46th for education spending; children receive a subpar education whether they choose a public, charter or private school.

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 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. 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.

courtesy oksenate.gov

Rejecting the proposition required several Republicans to vote against the bill.

“While the bill’s defeat is a victory for students, public education in Oklahoma is still in a desperate state.”

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.

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. 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 medical attention. Copy of report forward to Housing, Physical Plant 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.

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. 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.

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@tucollegian.com @TUCOLLEGIAN

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

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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.

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 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

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 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 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.

“... by acknowledging the ability to learn and change, we can often be in a better place ...”

courtesy Alie Ward

Ward, who hosts “Ologies with Alie Ward” is a science correspondent and writer.

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.

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.

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 @tu_cats1 TU Cats shares a picture of Ginger. courtesy @utulsa_milkdrinkers This account shares posts of TU drinkers of milk. courtesy @utulsa.matchmakers You can DM this account with match ideas.

courtesy @tu_affirmations This account first posted in September 2021. courtesy Instagram You can find all these accounts and more on IG.

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 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 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.

In 1992, Weezer formed in Los Angeles, California. courtesy Wikimedia Commons Weezer released “SZNZ: Spring” on March 20. courtesy Picador

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