Oklahoma Economy Stable Despite National Troubles

By John Cope

While the U.S. economy continues to struggle with stock prices plummeting and a weak housing market, the Oklahoma economy is not experiencing the same difficulty in the short-term.

The Oklahoma Department of Commerce's October 2008 Employment Briefing reports that the Oklahoma economy has actually gained more than 12,000 jobs over the past year, despite the national economy losing over half a million jobs in the same time span.

The briefing can be found here. (For best results in viewing the link, use Firefox.)

The numbers presented by this briefing suggest that the Oklahoma job market is not being adversely affected by the problems experienced by the national economy. Whether this holds true in the coming months is uncertain, but for now the Oklahoma job market appears relatively solid despite the turmoil in the national economy.

Oklahoma has the sixth-lowest seasonally adjusted unemployment rate in the nation at 3.8 percent, according to the briefing. The unemployment rate has actually decreased since September 2007 despite troubles in the national economy. The national seasonally adjusted unemployment rate is 6.1 percent.

Other states surrounding Oklahoma have also not been as affected by the downturn in the national economy. The region as a whole has experienced an increase in jobs over the past year.

College graduates a minority in the U.S.

By Ashlee Lubniewski

College students often do not realize what an accomplishment they have achieved when they walk down the aisle to receive their diploma.

But graduating college with a bachelor's degree is something that isn't very common in the United States. It is something that students should be proud to say that they have accomplished.

So when sending your child off to college, remind them that when they walk down that aisle four years later to receive their diploma, they are receiving something that holds a lot of value.

After all, they are becoming part of a group that consists of barely a quarter of our nation.

While 84.4 percent of Tulsans and 80.6 percent of Oklahomans are high school graduates, the numbers drop drastically when looking at statistics for college graduates.

In Tulsa, only 28.3 percent of the population have a bachelor's degree or higher. In Oklahoma, it is only 20.3 percent of the population.

Tulsa has a population of 382,872. This means that only 108,352 people have their bachelor's degree.

With Oklahoma's population of 3,579,212, only 726,580 adults have a bachelor's degree.

In the coming years, we can only hope that this is a statistic where the numbers will be on the rise.

More information on Tulsa statistics can be found by clicking here. 

Tulsa job market lures college grads

By Kevin Genske 

College graduates from Oklahoma may need to look no further than Tulsa when it comes to finding a job.

According Forbes magazine, Tulsa is becoming a great place for recent college graduates to find work.

Tulsa’s recent growth in jobs and low unemployment rate make it a good choice for graduates entering the job market for the first time.

 In 2006 Tulsa was ranked the 48^th best city to find a job due to its poor potential job growth rate and income growth rate. Tulsa’s growth rate improved over the last two years moving Tulsa to 22^nd on the Forbes 2008 list.

Twenty-eight percent of Tulsa’s workforce has a bachelors degree or higher and that number has been rising with Tulsa’s recent economic growth.

Young adults are moving to Tulsa in increasing numbers according to U.S Census information with the hopes of landing good jobs.

Tulsa had a population of 393,049 in the 2000 U.S. Census, with 31,286 people being between the ages of 20-24 as listed here by the Oklahoma Department of Commerce.

During the recent economic turmoil in the U.S., Tulsa’s growth in jobs and low unemployment rates makes it an appealing choice for college graduates.

TU campus hopeful that alcohol violations will decrease with new rule

By Liza Mata 

A report by the Office of Postsecondary Education of the U.S. Department of Education shows a substantial decrease in liquor law violations at the University of Tulsa campus since 2005.

One of the most common disciplinary actions issued by the Security Department at TU in recent years has been related to liquor law violations.

In 2005, 83 people were referred to disciplinary action on campus as a result of such violations. None of these people were arrested.

Under the alcohol policy at TU only students over 21 were allowed to consume liquor on campus. They could only have a six-pack of 3.2 percent beer.

TU's alcohol policy changed earlier this year. Students over 21 are now allowed to keep any amount of alcoholic beverages of their choice in their dorm rooms and apartments. 

The number of liquor law violations diminished around 5 percent in 2006 with only 79 reports and it dropped to 51 reports in 2007.

Conversely, drug law violations have increased significantly over the past three years. In 2005 only two drug law violations were reported, going up to seven in 2006 and to 15 in 2007.

Three of the drug law violations in 2007 took place in residence halls, and three people were arrested.

Further information on these cases and other campus security data can be found by clicking here. 

Coming Soon: Numbers that Tell Oklahoma Stories

By John Coward

New Street Story reports are in the works. 

This week, I asked the TU News Gathering students to find statistics that describe various aspects of Tulsa and the state of Oklahoma. I gave them free reign—they could look at numbers on topics ranging from entertainment and recreation to crime and business statistics.

The assignments are due later today, when the class will be uploading and editing their reports. If all goes according to plan, we'll have useful and interesting Oklahoma numbers on this site soon. 

UPDATE: Several student stories are posted above. Check 'em out. 

Tulsa's Circle Cinema Brings Art to the Screen

The Circle Cinema is Tulsa's only non-profit, community-oriented movie theater.

Story and photos by Kelli Kickham

I strolled into the Circle Cinema in hopes of finding a story on a Wednesday night. As I walked through the door, I saw employee Chuck Foxen.

Foxen told me that the Circle is the only running historic theater in Tulsa. The non-profit theater is also know for being community-oriented.

Foxen showed me the gallery in the Circle, which was displaying paintings by students at the Tulsa Girls Art School. The painting were for sale, a fund-raiser for the school.

The Circle opened in 1928 and and been an important landmark in Whittier Square every since. Today it shows films that rarely make it to the mall theaters, mostly independent and foreign films and documentaries.

I was exploring the paintings and old movie posters that decorate the lobby when customers started arriving for an 8 p.m. showing of Encounters at the End of the World.

I talked to Cindy and Lori Wood. The mother and daughter are Tulsans, but didn't start going to the Circle until one of Lori's college professors recommended it. Now they are frequent moviegoers who live the Circle not simply for entertainment but for its educational value.

"[I saw] The Rape of Europa here. It was really good," Lori said.

The Circle Cinema on Lewis near I-244, not far from TU, so it's perfect for students who want to combine entertainment, art and popcorn with an "educational" evening out.

Try the Circle. It'll impress your parents—and your professors. For more information, check out the Circle's website here.

Lori, left, and Cindy Wood, a mother and daughter who appreciate the Circle Cinema.

The Circle Cinema's gallery features art by local artists.

Gourmet popcorn and other goodies are available at the concession stand.

Kelli Kickham is a TU student from Tulsa who works part-time as a model.

A Visit to Downtown Tulsa and the Day Center for the Homeless

The Day Center for the Homeless attracts a crowd of visitors every day in downtown Tulsa.
A toddler was running and having fun at the Tulsa Day Center for the Homeless in downtown Tulsa. (Photos by Ashton Elder.)

By Ashton Elder

Drive downtown, down past Denver Avenue and at the north end of Denver, turn left. You will see a different world there, a world of old and abandoned buildings, lone men resting on filthy sidewalks, deterioration everywhere you look.

This is not some Third World country. This is a part of the United States. This is a city slum. This is Tulsa, Oklahoma.

I walked in the rain toward the Tulsa Day Center for the Homeless. Ahead, I saw several groups of clustered outside, smoking, talking, or simply staying dry.

A group of African-American women was sitting on a bench with cigarettes. They laughed as a younger woman's toddler skipped around them, joyful, unaware of where she was and what that might mean for her future.

A man named Juan, an older Hispanic gentleman with faded tattoos and scars, offered to help me carry my boxes of donations. I thanked him, but he quickly relied, "No, thank you."

As I observed the groups of people gathered in the courtyard, what struck me the most was the lone man leaning against the corner, tattered clothes, thin, with rough skin.

The expression on his face was something beyond sadness, even hopelessness. His face revealed a blank stare at nothing, as if he was sleeping with his eyes open. It was an expression that was marked by years of struggling to survive.

Ashton Elder is a TU communication student from Tulsa. She loves to read. 

The Collective: TU Neighborhood's New Coffee House

Inside The Collective, the new coffee house on 11th Street across from TU.


The Collective:
It's Not Just
Another Coffee Shop

By Ty Page

A cozy environment, soft music, aromas of coffee and a diverse menu are all qualities of The Collective, a new coffee house on 11th Street across from the TU campus.

As I strolled through the main entrance, I was comforted by the atmosphere of the brick walls, leather-clad booths and chairs, and the sound of a Postal Service song playing in the background.

Although I rarely venture to coffee houses, I lucked out at The Collective on this Tuesday afternoon.

I decided to lay back in one of the booths and observe the people around me. One couple seemed to be discussing an accounting class problem on one side of the room, while a college-aged student was surfing the Internet on the other side.

The place struck me as a great retreat from my apartment, especially because it is so close by.

A young guy dressed casually in jeans and a maroon t-short approached me. He happened to be the co-owner, Rusty Rowe. I complimented his idea of hanging Tulsa t-shirts from the ceiling, one of which said "Don't Hate the 918," a reference to the Tulsa area code.

Rowe told me that there was a live DJ over the weekend and 200 customers came through the place. I also learned that The Collective has a fully loaded bar and serves drinks during special events, including TU football games, when they sell beer and snacks on the patio.

For me, The Collective was a real find, a place in the TU neighborhood that's both unique and convenient.

Ty Page is a TU senior from Dallas. He is majoring in communication and minoring in coaching. After graduation, he wants to work in advertising. 

Nordaggio's: South Tulsa's Caffeine Haven

The sidewalk tables at Nordaggio's, not far from Oral Roberts University in Tulsa. (Photos by Liza Mata)
The entrance to Nordaggio's Coffee near the ORU campus.

By Liza Mata

If there is a perfect place in Tulsa to hang out with friends and meet new people, it is Nordaggio’s.

With its diverse customers, Nordaggio’s invites coffee fans to enjoy its extraordinary variety of products.

This place is ideal for college students. It offers a modern yet comfortable setting, free Wi-Fi, the best coffee in town, great music, and a fantastic staff.

As I walked in, I was rapidly absorbed by the artistic touch of the place.

I was amazed by the amount of art in display. I became particularly fascinated by a Mona Lisa portrait painted in cocoa, which hung over the chimney and presented the famous lady holding a mug of coffee in one of her hands, thus called Mona Latte.

Leather couches sit by the beautiful stone chimney, tall bar tables, computers, and two environments separated by a semi-wall constitute the setting.

The music is wonderful too. It varies depending on the time of the day, said Janette Branca, store clerk. The store iPod contains music by Enya for the morning, jazz and Latin music during the afternoon, and music by artists such as Coldplay at night. (For music links to free online playlists, click here.)

Nordaggio’s also promotes local artists. Every Saturday night, bands from the Tulsa area are welcome to play at this wonderful coffee place.

Nordaggio’s is great because of its coffee and its closeness to campus, said Nikki and Wade, two college students who visit it frequently and enjoy its pleasant environment.
Window signs at this popular coffee shop in Tulsa.

Liza Mata is a junior at TU. She is a native of Maturin, Venezuela, and moved to Oklahoma when she was 16. She is a graduate of Jenks High School. She is majoring in communication and has minors in political science and French. 

Karaoke Night at Tulsa's 'The Buck'

The mural on the wall of Tulsa's Buckaneer bar, on Harvard near 11th Street.

By Paul Lischwe

I am by no means a bar connoisseur or a prize-winning karaoke singer. Bit I am a 21-year-old who enjoys the company of good friends and singing the occasional "Mary Jane's Last Dance" when the time is right.

That disclaimer brings me to the beginning of my adventure at The Buckaneer, a bar just a stone's throw from the TU campus.

The time was about 11:15 on a Thursday night. I walked through the door of the Buck. To my left a portly man was on a small six-by-five foot stage belting out a western song that was lost on me. At this point, I could tell it was going to be a good night.

I walked over to the bar to meet a few of my buddies for a drink. As I passed by two female patrons of the bar, I could not help but overhear them intently discussing which karaoke ballad they wanted to sing. I caught the song "I Would Do Anything for Love" by Meat Loaf.

I hoped they would make a better selection.

Joining the circle that my friends had formed, I became aware that I was the only one without a drink in my hand. That needed fixing, so I worked my way through a wall of other thirsty customers and ordered the Thursday night special, which is a bucket of Natural Light bottles for $5.

After enjoying a few karaoke performances and taking down a few beers from the bucket, I decided to try my hand at karaoke. After recruiting my buddy John, we made our way to the man running the laptop that held all of the karaoke songs. We inquired about the song "Don't Stop Believing" by Journey.

About 20 minutes later, the two of us found ourselves on stage with about 100 patrons looking up at us, Maybe this wasn't such a solid idea.

We sang. For the most part, we were better than I had expected. We butchered a few of the later verses, but there seemed to be no booing except from my less adventuresome friends.

Off the stage and out of the limelight, I waked back through the billiard tables to my groupies. We settled our tab with the Buckaneer's manager, P.J., and made our way to Taco Bell for a nightcap.

Paul Lischwe is a junior finance major and a member of Kappa Sigma fraternity at TU. 

New Coffee Bar Opens Across from TU

The Collective, a new student-oriented coffee bar, recently opened on 11th Street—Route 66—across from Chapman Stadium in Tulsa. (Photos by Kate Kramer)

The rich color of liquid caffeine at Tulsa's newest coffee spot.

The green t-shirt says it best: "I Speak Okie."

By Kate Kramer

As I entered the new cafe called The Collective, the scene of freshly baked pastries and breads awakened my appetite.

My eyes went first to the front counter, which was smothered in trays of baked goods that gave the place its tempting aroma.

Hanging behind the counter was a huge black chalkboard covered in drink titles. The names and ingredients were written haphazardly with colored chalk, revealing the cafe's playful spirit.

I noted the relaxed murmur of conversation that filled the room. The Collective's comfortable wooden booths and high-top tables were occupied by groups of busily chatting college students.

The carefree atmosphere of the cafe extended to the baristas, who were shooting the breeze behind the counter. They talked with me while I decided which drink to order.

When I asked for permission to take photographs of the place, the baristas were enthusiastic and encouraged me to snap a shot of them making a customer's drink.

"Our espresso is a beautiful golden brown color," said the second barista. "We're very proud of it."

Menu items all bear the names of various Tulsa landmarks. T-shirts hang from the ceiling, adding to the cafe's Tulsa spirit.

Even the bathrooms exhibit an original flair. The walls and stalls were slathered with inspirational quotes and drawings in bright shades.

As I sipped my latte, I overheard students gossiping and discussing upcoming parties and concerts. Their voices blended with the general hum of the coffeehouse.

Kate Kramer is a TU sophomore majoring in English with a certificate in journalism. She is from Elk River, Minn., and is the news editor of the campus weekly, The Collegian.

Weekend at Texoma: Softball Team Forges New Bonds

The TU softball team at Lake Texoma.

By Ashlee Lubniewski

Fifteen TU girls and three coaches took turns barbecuing, tubing and riding jet skis on a weekend trip to Lake Texoma on September 8.

Getting the softball team together for a recreational trip at the beginning of the year is tradition, team captain Brooke Smart said.

This year the trip took the team to first basemen Vanessa Vice's lake house on the sandy beaches of Lake Texoma. The goal was a team activity outside of practice that builds a level of chemistry, comfort, and trust between the girls.

"It's a great way to get to know each other and for the freshman to start to feel comfortable around the rest of the team," Kailey Yarmer said.

After spending the day on the lake, the team came back to the house and ate dinner around a campfire, getting to know each other better.

The girls played games such as Twister, Guitar Hero, and also made shirts to wear to the TU's home football games. They asked each other questions and discussed the upcoming softball season.

The 13 returning players and the two freshman said they feel much more bonded as a team.

Ashlee Lubniewski is a junior communication major at TU. She was raised in Stockton, California, and plays catcher on the TU women's softball team. 

Tulsa Chess Club Members Test Their Skills

Young Tulsa chess players playing "blitz" chess, where each player has only five minutes to make all their moves.

By John Cope

On Friday night, the Borders bookstore in south Tulsa is a bustling place. The bookstore is home to a local chess club. When I visited this chess club, I found a relaxed atmosphere that was also filled with latent energy.

This chess club resists the stereotypes that have developed about chess in popular media. While one might imagine a chess club being populated by mostly older gentlemen, kids and teenagers make up about half of the players in Tulsa.

The younger kids give the club much of its energy, as the excitable children roam around looking for people to play or competing against each other in matches of speed chess. With about 20 players at the club on this particular Friday, it was not difficult for anyone to find a game.

I talked with many of the chess players. Ed Boyle is a strong player who has been attending this club since it moved to Borders. Boyle talked about how well the kids in the club play.

“Some adults come in thinking because they have played for so long and can beat everyone in their family, beating kids should be easy,” Boyle said. “Twenty minutes later they are often walking off with their tails between their legs.”

I decided to give this evaluation my own test by playing one of the highly touted young players. We played a speed game in which each of us had only three minutes to make all of our moves. I fashion myself a reasonably good chess player, but in this game I was soundly thrashed.

The club members were not the only ones who had good things to say about the club. Katrina, a Borders employee, said that Friday night is the most interesting night of the week.

“Getting to know the chess players has been enjoyable,” Katrina said.

I found the club to be relaxing and an interesting place to test one’s skills against some good chess players. As much as I enjoy a good bookstore, at this store the chess club gives the place a different level of interest and variety.

I get thrashed by a young chess whiz in a "blitz" match. (Photo by Matthew Griffin.)

John Cope is a TU junior from Tulsa. A graduate of Booker T. Washington High School, he is studying history and working on a certificate in journalism studies. 

Rethinking Online News: New Ideas, More Content for Tulsa Street Stories

By John Coward
Faculty of Communication

Tulsa Street Stories was started two years ago as an online journalism project of the News Gathering class at The University of Tulsa. The idea for the site was to give TU communication and journalism students a chance to report on a variety of Tulsa topics and to practice some online journalism.

The project got off to a fair start the first year, largely due to my own efforts as the class instructor and on-line guru. I made the story assignments, prodded the students, edited the copy and posted the stories. The result was that the class learned something about the online media world, though our stories and postings were fairly tame (some were too boring) and definitely low tech.

Last fall, the Street Stories project lagged. I wasn't able (or willing) to do all the Internet work, so the postings slowed and then ceased altogether. It wasn't really the students' fault, since I focused on other classwork and let the blog assignments wither away.

This year, however, I'm optimistic that the News Gathering class can reinvigorate the Street Stories site. I have in mind more original stories and some true multimedia content. That means I'm going to work with the students to cover and develop new stories ideas and see if we can't generate more photos, some soundbites and audio content, and even some video.

Also, we will look for ways to link the site to Facebook or MySpace, two sites popular with students. Surely, there are ways to create interesting news and feature stories that other students would like to see.

I want students this year to develop their own stories ideas and supply photos, audio and video. One of them can be the editor as well, giving them good experience and, not incidentally, relieving me of this task.

That's not out of the question for a beginning journalism class, even one taught by a relic of the print age (Yes, I'm that old. I used to write on a manual typewriter. You can see that very machine in my office in Oliphant Room 128. Knock first, please.)

Check back at this site in a few weeks for some new (and exciting) content from Tulsa. Until then, check out the Oklahoma Prison Project, an online journalism project produced earlier this year by the Documentary Workshop class. A link to that site can be found by clicking here.

Tulsa Scenes: The Coffee House on Cherry Street

By Michael Williams

As I walked through the door, I was overwhelmed by the fragrant aroma of coffee. Coffee drinkers were scattered around the room in ones and twos on the couches and chairs provided for them.

A small wall separated conversation nooks from each other. Cabinets filled to overflowing with books, board games, and records provided entertainment for the customers. The shop reminded me of a home that had been refitted as a place of business.

People, old and young, chatted with their friends as soft music filled the air. To my right, a pair of older gentlemen discussed Tulsa’s building projects, while behind me, a group of college students talked about the activities on their campus. Other people browsed through books or worked on computers.

Although I was in a business, I felt like I was passing time at an old friend’s home. The modern art on the wall highlighted the unusual nature of this business in a city filled with chain coffee shops.

Although I do not even drink coffee (my request for hot chocolate drew surprised murmurs from the staff), I found the Coffee House on Cherry Street to be relaxing and friendly in a way that Starbucks could never match.

Above: Coffee House customer Jack Alexander