Monthly Archives: April 2012

Freshman year: check!

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Sarah
It’s official. I just took my last exam, submitted a final paper and have begun the slow process of packing my things and loading up my car. Freshman year: check! Time flew by and all I can think about is how grateful I am for this experience.

The University of Tulsa. It was always on the list for me. I visited campus, I applied and was accepted, and with great excitement I chose TU last spring! I had this vision of what college would be like thanks to movies and the experiences of those of my family and friends. So in many ways Tulsa is just what I expected it to be, and in others it is totally different- in a good way, of course! It’s not possible to understand the Tulsa experience and the community of amazing friends that comes along with it, without trying it for yourself. Here’s a little taste of this past year for you though:

This photo is move-in day last August! I was on quite the emotional roller coaster that day. I was sad to have left the comfort and familiarity of home, family and high school friends, but at the same time so PUMPED to be at this amazing university! It was really happening. Here’s a picture of myself (maroon shirt) and my family that day. Next up was wonderful Orientation camp! I loved my group and am still close with every one of them. Classes began and weekend-fun did too! There were football games, concerts at Cain’s ballroom, movie nights, trips to the fountains on campus in our swimsuits, and the list goes on. I never thought it was possible to have so much fun!

The first semester drew to a close and that month off for Christmas rocked! Although I was definitely ready to come back to Tulsa to see my friends in January! Second semester was even better than the first. My schedule got busier and classes got harder, but I became closer with my friends and fell even more in love with Tulsa. I became a University Ambassador, continued to meet new people, and really figured out how to balance school, work, campus involvement and free time. Here’s a picture of a color paint fight we had a few weeks after returning to Tulsa after spring break. It was so awesome!

And now the semester is really over and I’m both relieved and sad. I not only made it through my first year of college, but I made the most of my time here at TU and loved every bit of it! Not being around my favorite people in the world 24/7 is going to be a weird adjustment, but I’ll get by. Camp counseling the entire summer will definitely be memorable! I can already tell you though that I will be counting down the days until I return home to TU in the fall. So here’s one final picture. I may look like the same girl who moved into Fisher South in August, but I can tell you I’ve changed. I’ve faced a lot of challenges this year, grown even when I was unaware of the growth, and am now a better person thanks to the University of Tulsa and to the people that surround me everyday. I LOVE my Tulsa family!

Last Call for Fun

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Zack
The semester is coming to an end which means summer is almost in reach.  You would think this means that the fun is over and everyone is starting to buckle down for finals. For the most part that’s true, but there is never a lack of fun at TU.

This past week was my fraternity’s (Kappa Sigma’s) 51st annual philanthropy week, coined “Kappa Sigma Olympics”.  Our local philanthropy is The Little Light House of Tulsa which assists families of children with special needs.  And our national philanthropy is the Kappa Sigma Military Heroes Campaign which provides charitable donations to organizations such as The Fisher House Foundation in support of our military veterans.

Throughout the week we hosted various events to raise money and promote awareness and support.  We had a dinner is which the entire campus was invited to come out and take part in, Burn Co (a local BBQ favorite) provided the food.  And saturday we had a kickball tournament with all the sororities competing and a dance competition that night.

Kickball is pretty intense, but the dance competition is where the main focus is. The sororities start practicing months in advance all for the chance to win the coveted title. Kappa Sigma also puts on a step show as a warm-up to the dance competition. This year Tri-Delta (Delta Delta Delta) took the title, but it was a great show overall.

(Photos from the kickball and dance competition can be viewed here https://plus.google.com/photos/117595852460701245725/albums/5731363056910643281)

Service Day

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Sarah
I participated in TU Service Day a few weekends ago with girls from my sorority. Hundreds of students came out to support and serve the Tulsa community. Groups were sent to all kinds of locations all over the city: food pantries, thrift stores, churches, non-profit organizations, and even the zoo! It was awesome to see how many students were willing to give up a big chunk of their Saturday to volunteer. The free food, t-shirts and pullovers were also a nice perk as well. My group sorted clothes at an organization that works to prevent homelessness throughout the city, and we were thankful for the opportunity to help out. As you can see from the pictures, we worked hard, and had a lot of fun while serving. I can’t wait until service day next year!

Nationally Competitive Scholarship Winners

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The Office of Admission
This spring, The University of Tulsa is pleased to announce that at least 10 students have been awarded prestigious nationally competitive scholarships from several foundations.

Julie Monda (BS ’09), Rachel Hoffmann, Tara Dwrenski and Yvette Guereca won National Science Foundation Graduate Fellowships, and Will LePage is one of seven nationwide to receive the Udall Scholarship twice. LePage, Stephen Macke and Cody Martin each received a scholarship from the Barry Goldwater Foundation. Landry Harlan and Malia Castillo received Benjamin Gilman Scholarships, and Weston Kightlinger was one of only 12 students in the U.S. to receive an Engineers Without Borders International scholarship.

TU students continue to lead the state, winning more nationally competitive scholarships than all other Oklahoma universities combined. Since 1995, TU students have received 51 Goldwaters, 41 NSF fellowships, nine Udalls, nine Trumans, five British Marshalls and four Gilmans, to name a few.

View a complete listing of TU scholarship winners

Congratulations!

Volunteering Galore

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Khristen
At TU there are, well, pretty close to a million different volunteering opportunities. So, whether you are inspired by helping out with little kids through Big Brother Big Sister, caring for animals during TU Service Day, or building a house for someone in need through Habitat for Humanity, there is something (or somethings!) for everyone. Last weekend, I decided to go help out with Habitat for Humanity and actually got to build a roof on a house! That someone’s actually going to live under! It was awesome! The people in charge were great about teaching us how to use the equipment, not just doing everything for us. That said, I carried a tool belt and used a nail gun, sawed a board, measured beams, and nailed plywood. I was hot, I was sweaty, and I had the time of my life getting to build a house with friends from TU.

Some students helping out with Habitat for Humanity

Allen Chapman Activity Center

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What is ACAC? One of our seniors, Victoria, tells us about one of her favorite places on campus….

One of my favorite places on campus is Allen Chapman Activity Center, affectionately called ACAC. It serves a variety of purposes; it’s the home of the bookstore, special events are held there, and most importantly it is a second dining option on campus. Freshman and sophomores have meal plans out of the Pat Case Dining Center (aka the Caf), but for juniors and seniors like me, many of their meals are supplemented in ACAC. Like the Caf, it is a place to eat and hang out with your friends.

 

ACAC is a very popular lunch option for students and there are a ton of things to choose from. There’s the Convenience Store (aka the C-Store) that has candy, salad, bar, hot meal options, and even home goods for sale. There’s also a coffee shop called Phat Katz; they’ll make any specialty coffee drink! My favorite food place is Chick-Fil-A. Every Friday my friends and I have what’s called “Chick Fil-A Friday.” It started freshman year and has continued ever since. We met at noon, eat lunch, and catch up with everyone! ACAC is a great place to see everyone on campus! There’s also a Subway in ACAC that is open at the hours of a Subway off-campus. It’s an awesome choice during a late night of studying. Another favorite is Benevenuto. It is a make-your-own pasta place upstairs. You choice what you want in it (from mushrooms to shrimp) and then they stir together with either alfredo, marinara, or pesto. My favorite combination is chicken and mushrooms with a mix of marinara and alfredo sauce.

Not only is Subway an option for nighttime dining, there’s also the Hurricane Hut. The Hut is unique to TU; it is our own restaurant on campus with typical American food. My friends and I meet there every Monday night to have smoothies and appetizers. They offer great specials for students and during big athletic games they have tons of TVs to watch and food to eat.

Not only is ACAC right on campus, but you can also use your Dining dollars or Gold dollars right from your ID card. Dining dollars come with campus meal plans and Gold dollars can be added to any account by using the online system. It’s simple and easy! Without a campus meal plan, ACAC has become one of my favorite places to hangout with friends!

Sociology

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Today’s Tuesday with Tulsa blog post was written by Shannon C., an alumna of the Sociology department at The University of Tulsa. We asked Shannon to tell us about her experience studying Sociology at TU, and this is what she had to say….

Choosing a college, and a major, can be a completely overwhelming process. I wish that when I was making a decision, I had taken a little more time and been a little more open-minded about my options. After starting out at another school, I transferred to TU my sophomore year and finally felt like I had found the right fit. I also finally found a major where I felt at home. The major I finally chose was challenging, intriguing, and eventually altered the way I looked at the world. I was able to study abroad, design and conduct my own research studies with the support of my professors, and form friendships that I will have for the rest of my life. Oh, and the best part? Because of the internships I had while I was in school, and the connections I made through my TU networks, I was able to find a job before I even graduated. What was this major that opened so many doors for me, you ask? Sociology.

Sociology professor Lara Foley took a group of students to Ghana in 2009

What is sociology? What does it mean to major in sociology? Sociology is the study of society: our interactions with each other as individuals and as groups, and the institutions and trends that come from those interactions. We use empirical, scientific tools to analyze those interactions and attempt to describe them in an objective way.

Ultimately, majoring in sociology means, as one alumni has described it, “learning how to think”. Although my classes focused on questions about education, poverty, social movements, racial identity, and gender, I was learning critical reasoning skills that I was able to carry with me into the workplace after graduation, and use to analyze and sort through questions of a different nature.

Sociology students take a break from writing their Social Movements and Collective Behavior final for Dr. Blocker

Sometime last year, I was chatting with a former professor of mine about the kinds of skills that sociology students develop in their classes, and how they are applicable to wide range of different jobs. We got onto the topic of alumni, and how many different career fields sociology graduates from TU have ended up in.

From that conversation, the seeds were planted that today have grown into my current project. I have spent the past few months tracking down sociology graduates and interviewing them about what they have gone on to do after graduation. I have to say, the list is pretty remarkable. TU’s sociology graduates are doctors, lawyers, nurses, professors, researchers, law enforcement officers, and teachers, working all around the world. We have gone on to earn advanced degrees from universities at home and abroad, win numerous competitive research grants, and even meet with sitting US presidents.

Monte Hawkins, Class of 1999, with President George W. Bush

I think the most impressive part of all of this is the diversity of careers paths that our graduates have chosen. I know that some students coming into college are hesitant to choose to major in a social science because they aren’t sure they will be able to find a job after graduating. I hope that the alumni profiles I am putting together will help to dispel that myth. Each of the graduates I have talked to, whether they graduated in 1999 or 2009, has said that majoring in sociology gave them the critical thinking and problem solving skills necessary to succeed in their future careers. Each of them has also said that the support they received from the sociology professors at TU was an integral part of their undergraduate success.

I can personally vouch for how supportive the sociology professors are. One professor, Dr. Ron Jepperson, gave up countless hours of his evenings and weekends to help me through a semester-long quantitative research project when I hit unexpected snags and needed expert advice. I was eventually able to present that research at a regional African Studies conference, which would not have been possible without his support. Even after graduating, I kept in touch with all of the professors, as I know many other graduates have.

December 2009 sociology grads Hannah, Sarah, and Shannon with Dr. Jean Blocker and fellow sociology student Jenny

All of this is to say that, if you are unsure of what to major in, you should most certainly take Sociological Imagination, which is the introductory sociology class. If nothing else, you will fulfill a block credit, but if you are anything like me, you will find that your mind is opened to a whole new way of viewing the world, and you will be totally hooked. The good news is that when you go home and tell your parents that you’ve decided to major in sociology, and they give you the, “You’ll never get a job with that!” lecture, you will be able to pull up the website and point to a whole slew of profiles of successful alumni.

Just one of the many awards sociology alumni have won – a key to the City of Tulsa and a proclamation from the Tulsa City Council

A How To: Study for a Test

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Aaron
 With another round of tests out of the way, and finals looming just around the corner, I thought it might be helpful to lay out some of the things I’ve found to be helpful in studying for that *super important* or *really big* whopper of a college exam. [Yes, I did just use the word "whopper" in describing a college level test. Although I wouldn't particularly advise doing the same (if you value your English grade) in describing something for an actual test. It may or may not be looked down upon.]  Anywho, the following points will hopefully provide you with some ideas on how to properly prepare yourself for battle with the armed forces of nature embodied in Newtonian mechanics and Einsteinian relativity….or, you may just want to disregard everything I say and merely continue on with your traditional methods of studying! Either way!

Step 1: Find yourself a solid studying spot. Atmosphere can be key to a successful study session. For example, if you are trying to study outside in the middle of a bunch of Oklahoma thunderstorms and earthquakes, chances are high that you will not remember much of your notes (if they haven’t already been swept up in the latest tornado). Summary: Unless you’re a robot, avoid inclement weather. I’d also suggest choosing somewhere at least 10 feet away from the nearest bed-like object. Other “no-go” places: anywhere near garrulous (talkative) friends, electronic devices with access to the internet, and the cafeteria when you’re hungry. (<–I’ve found that when it comes down to it, I’ll often choose food over the books, much to my grades’ dismay.) Instead, try somewhere clean, calm, perhaps near a sparkling brook, and be sure you’re sitting in a comfortable spot, as you might be awfully uncomfortable by the time it’s all said and done.

Imagine the quality studying you could get done here!

Step 2: Give yourself plenty of time. One of the biggest mistakes most students make is not allowing themselves the proper amount of time needed to learn all the material. And by “most students,” I mean myself. A common misconception (made by me) is that I will have plenty of time later on to study for said test, and that I can wait to start the studying. DON’T WAIT TO START. It’s never too early. Okay, it can definitely be too early, but chances are it won’t be for you. So plan ahead and you’ll be set for life!

Step 3: Study what’s actually going to be on the test. This may sound like a no-brainer, but I guess that some people must literally have no brain as I have heard numerous stories like “ohhh…dude I spent like 3 hours studying the wrong chapter, so then like after I realized that I just basically gave up on the whole thing and failed the test.” And then I’m like “bummer, dude.“ Don’t be that person. Go to class. Know what’s going to be on the test. And if you’re reading something that you don’t recognize whatsoever (and you’re sure you were at least mostly conscious during classes), that’s probably a good indication that something else is amiss.

Step 4: Bring snacks! Fairly self explanatory. Food gives you that extra energy you need to stay awake and focused during those late night hours. It also tastes good.

Step 5: Give yourself breaks. Some do this more often than others, but it’s important not to get too consumed with your studies that your brain turns to mush. So instead, allow a little time in between sessions to stand up, take a walk, organize your closet, do a handstand, clean your kitchen, floss…whatever suits your fancy. I prefer to maintain a ratio of one 4 minute break for every 2.5 minutes of studying. Some may find that a bit too strenuous on the mind, however, so feel free to take my ratio simply as an example and adjust the minutes accordingly.

Maybe you could go find a random dog and throw a frisbee for it!

Step 6: And finally, get some sleep afterwards! Everyone loves sleep, so why not let it be a two-sided relationship and have sleep love you back? Sleep is proven to improve memory retention, our immune system, metabolism rates, and (unofficially) our grumpiness levels. So who wouldn’t want to be a memorable, healthy, trim, and ultra-happy individual ready to take on even the toughest of tests? Nobody, that’s who. So get some sleep!

Best of luck, all ye future test takers. May your studying be simply serene!

Tuesday with Tulsa: Hello from Malaysia

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TU Community
 Today’s Tuesday with Tulsa guest post comes to us from across the globe…

My name is Corey, and I am writing this from Malaysia! I am also a student at The University of Tulsa, so why am I here? I am studying abroad, at the Universiti Teknologi Petronas, an exchange program organized through TU! This once in a lifetime opportunity, to immerse myself in an entirely different country, with its unique culture, people, and experiences, has been excellent, and if you come to Tulsa, you can have this opportunity as well. It begins with you, deciding this is something you want to do, as it is challenging. Not only will you be new to the school you go to, you will be new to the country, the people, and culture, but that is the best part! If you have this mindset, do some research on where you want to go. Tulsa has a great website, where you can start looking at opportunities now, www.utulsa.edu/globaleducation/, but you must be in your second semester before you can travel abroad. It is never too early to start planning though, as it does take some time to find a program not only in the country you want to do to, but also with the classes you need to transfer into your major. To be sure, some majors have an easier time finding courses, but anyone can go, with planning. I am a Petroleum Engineering major, and I found programs that worked for me! Once you find a program, apply through the Center for Global Education, and hopefully you are accepted. Once you are, you can start planning, and there is a lot to do. Of course, you need to get a flight, but depending on where you go, you may also need immunizations to be safe. Once you are there though, it is a fantastic experience. I will share some of mine.

I have been in Malaysia for about two months now, and I am loving it. My university is in the middle of the jungle, but beautiful.

The classes I take all transfer back to TU, so I am not “losing time” by being abroad – rather, I am transferring 15 hours back! The best part about being here? The travel. I have been all over Malaysia, as well as to Singapore and Thailand. I travel by plane, train, bus, minibus, taxi, tuk tuk, bike, ferry, longtail, and foot to get all over Southeast Asia. Here’s a few pictures.

Here I am introducing some kids at a Malay wedding in Taiping to Angry Birds! Angry Birds is all the rave here – hats, shirts, you name it.

Thaipusam is celebrated by Hindus to pay vows made to Lord Muruga. There are 300 steps up into the Batu cave, up which the devout travel with a burden to bear, from a jug of milk to piercings in their back. This is a devout Hindu, bearing the burden of fish hooks, piercing his back, and weighted, to inflict pain while ascending the steps. It is a sign of their devotion. Many other Hindus pray to Muruga for a child, and when their prayers are answered, they carry the child up these steps to thank Muruga.

Here are some more pictures:

A sendoff for the Barracuda caught in Langkawi, Malaysia

The Marina Bay Sands Hotel, Singapore

Travel via Longtail with our guide, Yes, to Maya Bay, Phi Phi Leh, Thailand!

 

Elephant Trekking in Phuket, Thailand! I felt like I would fall off the whole time, because, I nearly did.

This experience has been unforgettable, and the best part? I am here another 2 months! I plan to fish for snakehead, see a Formula One race, experience Bangkok, and learn to Scuba Dive at Perhentian Islands before I leave. Who knows what else I will do? Read more at coreyhardegree.wordpress.com. Studying abroad is about creating your own experience – you dictate who you meet, where you go, and what you take away. It gives perspective to your world view, one that now sees other cultures as different, not wrong. Take the leap: study abroad, and you’ll come back better for it.