Liam Hall
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Articles by Liam Hall
Arduous Oklahoma absentee process makes elections more inaccessible
News coverage is dominated by the results, while the electoral process remains overlooked. In the wake of the 2026 midterms, conversations about the election tend to center around the results and what they mean for the future of American politics. While the results deserve scrutiny, so does the process through which those results are decided. In Oklahoma, the absentee voting is a cumbersome process that has made voting less accessible for residents.
Oklahoma election results are disappointing, but not hopeless
Red Oklahoman voting populus shows a remarkably blue underbelly. This past Tuesday, Nov. 3, featured one of the most consequential midterm elections in recent history. During a time in which Republicans are the controlling party in the national government, Democrats flipped seven seats in the Senate (with the two currently uncalled races in Mississippi and Alaska also likely going Democrat) and 42 in the house, with 16 elections still uncalled.
Lottie Jane’s questionable housing conditions
Can Lottie Jane Mabee Hall’s living conditions support a bigger student populace? President Stacy Leeds has a goal for the enrollment of “10,000 students 10 years from now” for the University of Tulsa. TU’s dormitories will carry the brunt of the massive amount of students joining campus, and one of these is Lottie Jane Mabee Hall. Lottie Jane can hold over 200 students, but currently the hall holds less than half its capacity, at 93 students.
University of Tulsa claims students will be unaffected by 9% staff layoff
This promise seems far too good to be true. On Wednesday, Oct 14, President Stacy Leeds sent out a school-wide notice that the university had made the difficult decision to, between firing existing staffers and choosing to not fill vacant positions, reduce its staff size by 9%.
Oklahoma’s low voter turnout must increase
Democracy requires the participation of the many — what happens if this is not the case? Elections are a foundational building block in any democracy. Yet, in Oklahoma, far too many eligible voters do not vote, which leaves decisions that directly affect their communities, state and future in the hands of a small portion of the population. According to a University of Florida report, Oklahoma had the lowest turnout rate in the nation for the 2024 general election, at 53.46%.
Movie Review: Digger
The film’s poor box office performance shows many movie-goers still just don’t get it. For quite some time now, a very common complaint about movies being released is that they lack originality; one only needs to look at the endless train of live-action Disney remakes to know there is some validity to this argument. So for those movie-goers looking for something original, novel and exciting there is great news: “Digger” is the movie for you.
Jodi Kantor visits campus
Pulitzer-Prize-winning New York Times journalist spoke to a packed audience at the Lorton Performance Center. Last Thursday, Oct. 15, Pulitzer Prize-winning investigative journalist for The New York Times and best-selling author Jodi Kantor took the stage at the Lorton Performance Center.
Letter from the editors: Can we move again?
Dear university administration, For the past two years straight, you have rewarded us here at The Collegian with the rare opportunity to move locations.
Culinary Council announces exciting changes
The meeting brings hope for good changes to come while addressing frustrating truths. Last Thursday, Oct. 8, the Student Government Association Culinary Council held an open meeting with students and several University of Tulsa staff members. The topics discussed included the Hurricane Market’s hours and merchandise, hours of restaurants in the Allen Chapman Student Union, the potential for a new restaurant in the Union, allergy-free options and more.
Weekly Yak - The Collegian
This week, campus security took a very progressive step toward making higher education more affordable by removing the word “tuition” from our campus! With the word itself officially gone, students can only assume that our obligation to pay it has also been rescinded. Please allow 5-10 business days for your $26,395 refund to arrive. If the university intended to keep charging us, perhaps they should have thought twice before allowing campus security to abolish tuition.
A very special fantasy football horoscope
Giving you the fortunes that really matter. Forget what month you were born. Real Americans know that your fortune, like your marriage and your overall mental wellbeing, depends on who you drafted in fantasy football. Thankfully, you don’t need to worry about what the future holds. I’ve studied the motions of the heavenly bodies and the compositions of your rosters to discern your destiny. Jahmyr Gibbs Congrats on landing the first overall pick. It must have taken a lot of skill.
Letter from the editors: Please stop moving us
To whom it may concern, As hardworking, school-spirited editors of this newspaper, we don’t have it very easy. Our job sees us having to wrap our heads around creating five total pitches weekly, and even worse, having to talk about them, too. We then have to painstakingly wait on these dumbass writers to deliver us the articles we pitched earlier and cross our fingers that the articles we have are somewhat usable.
Horoscopes - The Collegian
Aries (March 21st-April 19th): Go to the bookstore on Friday. Bring the eye of a newt, a flask of child’s blood and a box of Mike and Ikes. Make sure it is the mega mix kind. Hand them to the worker, and in return, they will finally give you your books. Taurus (April 20th-May 20th): The prophecy has come to pass. Four decades ago you were chosen to right the balance between good and evil. Don the baggy jeans and wired earbugs. With your beanie and thrifted tote bag, you are destined to save the world.
Horoscopes - The Collegian
Aries (March 20th-April 19th): October begins this week! The harvest moon waxes as the supernatural word quickens before All Hallow’s Eve. All nature of monsters awaken, including the cockroaches in the John, which become fully sentient during this lunar cycle. This makes killing one karmically equivalent to human murder. Also, you’re fated to wake up to one on your lip this Tuesday. Good luck, Champ. Taurus (April 20th-May 20th): That first wave of exams was rough, huh?
Candidates set in Oklahoma governor race
Mike Mazzei and Cyndi Munson will face off in the November general election. Oklahomans will head to the polls on Nov. 3 to elect a new governor, with Republican Mike Mazzei and Democrat Cyndi Munson contending to succeed current governor Kevin Stitt. The race comes as both candidates emphasize public education, health care, taxes and the cost of living.
Starship robots blast off to bigger markets
What happened to the University of Tulsa’s food delivery service? The disappearance of Starship delivery robots from campus was just one of the many changes that occurred over the summer. However, unlike other more prominent changes, like those made to the meal plan or tuition, the decision to take the robots off campus was not made by TU administration, but rather Starship itself.
Supreme Court Justice Sonia Sotomayor visits University of Tulsa campus
Lorton Performance Center, where photos were banned during Sotomayor’s visit. Undergrad and law students get the opportunity to ask Justice a variety of questions. This Wednesday, Sept. 16, Supreme Court Justice Sonia Sotomayor was in Tulsa for a few hours in a closed door question and answer session with students and faculty. The event was hosted by the University of Tulsa College of Law in collaboration with the Northern/Eastern Oklahoma Chapter of the Federal Bar Association.
Pat Case servers achieve nuclear fission
Dining center awarded Nobel Prize after splitting the atom to reduce portion sizes. The Nobel Foundation recently announced that the Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences has chosen University of Tulsa food service employees as the winner of 2026 Nobel Prize in physics for their extraordinarily massive contribution to the study of the extraordinarily small.
Reality Awaits only confirms The Strokes’ artistic excellence
Released after a six-year gap, their sixth album does not fail to impress. Reality Awaits, the latest album release by pop rock band The Strokes, presents an entirely different sound, which seems to divide a lot of the fanbase if social media discourse is to be trusted at all. And yet even in this new album, with a new sound, The Strokes are still making beautiful art. “Psycho Shit” kicks off the album as an angry, ominous opener.
Running smoothly: Pi Kappa Alpha philanthropy 5k an instant classic
The charity race, organized by Luke Tresuague, had both excellent turnout and energy. Pi Kappa Alpha hosted a five-kilometer charity race on Saturday, Sept. 12, benefitting the Tulsa Boys’ Home. The event began at 9 a.m., with the pre-registered runners signing in, volunteers from various sororities and the PKA house getting in position with encouraging signs and water stations and organizer Luke Tresaugue checking in with contestants and coordinating with his brothers.
President Leeds outlines plan to revitalize university in the face of $130 million debt
Plans to more than double TU’s student body raise questions about livable space. On Thursday, September 10, University President Stacy Leeds sat down for an interview with Managing and Copy Editor Ally Jones and myself. The meeting occurred one day after Leeds published a staff-wide email announcing that the University of Tulsa had accrued $130 million of debt over the past 30 or so years. In the face of such challenges, TU’s new leader detailed her plans to rescue the school from decline.
The Collegian’s uncertain future after budget cuts
80% reduction in funds leaves salary, print in flux after over 100 years presence on campus. The Collegian, as well as other University of Tulsa student-run media outlets like TUTV Media Lab, have experienced major formative budget cuts in the last academic year. For The Collegian, the impact is devastating. A lack of funding from the university has inhibited its ability to publish print editions or pay staff members the already modest salaries they had been promised.
Student at TU describes what Cherokee National Holiday means to her
Sophomore Lillian Combs says the celebration shows “that we are still here… we are a people of importance.” The 74th annual Cherokee National Holiday took place this week in Tahlequah, bringing Cherokee citizens together to celebrate. Sophomore Lillian Combs, a citizen of the Cherokee Nation, spoke about what the holiday meant to her and how it connected Cherokee citizens. What is the Cherokee National Holiday?
Get to know a club: Reading and Writing (RAW)
A “strong smell” and an hour to write, what would you come up with? On Friday, Sept. 4, the University of Tulsa’s Reading and Writing club, acronymized as RAW, held its second weekly meeting in Chapman Hall. The organization provides a space for students interested in literature, writing or simply the company of people who like both. With there being no required prerequisite or major, Reading and Writing meet every week on Friday for anyone interested.
Movie Review: The Odyssey
Christopher Nolan hits the box office with his visually stunning take on the Homer classic. One of this summer’s hottest blockbusters was Christopher Nolan’s The Odyssey, a classic almost as old as writing itself. Much to the chagrin of many history buffs and terminally online movie critics, Nolan attempts neither to make the movie particularly “historically accurate” nor adhere all that closely to the original themes in The Odyssey.
Movie review: Obsession
The best supernatural horror film in years. Modern horror films are not exactly high art. Many choose to rely more on cheap thrills and predictable jumpscares than anything else, but Obsession is different. Director Curry Barker’s first theatrically released film debuted to glowing reviews and an astounding box office performance, defying all expectations. Horror films have always been good at keeping costs low, and usually that means that the budget stays within a few million dollars.
University of Tulsa cuts undergraduate tuition by over 50%
President Stacy Leeds announces that annual undergraduate tuition and fees will be reduced from $54,000 to $25,000, beginning in the 2027-28 academic year. On Aug. 11, 2026 the University of Tulsa announced a reduction in annual tuition and fees, from $54,000 to $25,000. This reduction represents a more than 50% decrease in tuition cost, and an approximate 40% decrease in the published total cost of attendance.
University of Tulsa implements change at the Student Union
Returning students are surprised to find an unannounced 50 cent upcharge per meal trade and shortened operating hours. Students returning to campus this semester were surprised to discover a 50 cent fee any time they used a meal trade at the Allen Chapman Student Union — however, meal swipes at Pat Case Dining Center are unaffected. According to one professor, this upcharge was likely implemented to offset the cost of keeping chain restaurants on campus.
TU’s 2026 Battle of the Bands lineup
Meet this year’s contestants for the Golden Human Spleen! It’s that time of year again, when every student on TU’s campus is waiting with bated breath, crossed fingers and clenched sphincters for the school’s most famous and beloved event. I’m speaking, of course, about the University of Tulsa’s annual Battle of the Bands, a function which needs no introduction.
Horoscopes - The Collegian
Aries (March 20-April 19th): This week your professor will cancel a class, but you will not see the email and show up anyways. After being alone in a classroom for five minutes, you will open Outlook to see the aforementioned announcement and think to yourself: “Wow. This is just like in my horoscope.” Taurus (April 20th-May 20th): Happy 4/20, Taurus! In the spirit of the holiday, your horoscope was obtained by kratom-induced hallucination.
Is President Leeds prepared to handle the Soviet sleeper agent threat?
Many doubt her ability to thwart the long-gone nation like her predecessors. With President Leeds getting ready to fully take on her new role as university president soon, many students and faculty have burning questions as to what kind of policy decisions she will make and what direction she will lead the school in. While these questions are undoubtedly important, there is a far more pressing concern about a sinister issue hiding in the University of Tulsa’s murky past.
Horoscopes - The Collegian
Aries (March 20-April 19th): Your soul mate, as revealed by the heavens, is a Panasonic 2.2 cubic foot inverter microwave. I am not saying that this is okay. In fact, it’s disgusting. But it is true: deep down, what would make your dirty little soul happier than aught else in the world is romantic union with a 12,500 watt countertop oven. Freak.
TU’s Board of Trustees reveals new president will have skin, teeth
Historic statement marks most information ever disclosed at once on presidential search. In a shocking press release this Friday, the Board of Trustees at The University of Tulsa has broken their long-held silence on the process of selecting a new university president to succeed Brad Carson. Since the installation of interim president and Tim Robinson lookalike Rick Dickson, the board has disseminated little to no information on the candidates they are considering.
U.S. Plans to win World Cup with AI, Deportations
ChatGPT soothes players’ qualms over the sportsmanship of detaining opponents. Soccer’s biggest event is coming to the United States for the first time in 32 years, and will feature 48 teams for the first time. The U.S. Men’s National Team will have to overcome a crowded field featuring established squads like England and France and newcomers such as Cabo Verde and Uzbekistan to win their first ever World Cup.
Horoscopes - The Collegian
Aries (March 20-April 19th): The lunar cycle aligns with Saturn’s orbit. Try new things and push your comfort zone this week as your inhibitions rise above necessity. It is a good question, and Dr. Wainwright has nothing better to do with class time than answer it. Gosh, everyone just thinks you’re so smart. Taurus (April 20th-May 20th): This week, I foresee great calamity in your grades.
What is Rick Dickson hiding under that hat?
Is it mere male-pattern baldness, or does something sinister lurk beneath? With Interim President Rick Dickson’s era of being a powerless figurehead coming to an end, the State-Run Media has decided to investigate just exactly what is on his head. You see, try as you might — and State-Run has certainly tried — you won’t be able to find any confirmed sightings of Rick Dickson on campus without his beloved hat.
Horoscopes - The Collegian
Aries (March 20-April 19th): Orion’s belt dips ever to the West, putting you in your masculine energy…. or am I sneaking Dianabol into the campus water supply? Is the sudden deepening of your voice and increased competitive drive the work of the stars, or did that water shutoff drill Wednesday allude to a deeper scheme?
Horoscopes - The Collegian
Aries (March 20-April 19th): You guys really didn’t know about Bubba? It must be so weird not having clairvoyance, I’ve heard some of you even think it was Clinton—you wish. Not that it didn’t happen, but the only videos of it are the ones seared into the retinas of every over-curious rookie with a crystal ball; I couldn’t eat a donut for a month.
Trump’s new ballroom is another signal of the oligarchy
Trump-funded ballroom raises many concerns, one of which is its symbolism of wealth. Just a few weeks ago, construction teams moved in and started demolitioning the East Wing of the White House to make room for a ballroom. The ballroom will be 90,000 square feet large, and it will supposedly cost taxpayers nothing. Trump has often complained that there is no venue at the White House that is large enough or beautiful enough to use for state dinners and other parties.
Democrats move to put government in rice after turning off, on again fails
Consultant Roy Trenneman at Reynholm Industries explains reasons for failure. After turning the government off for a record-breaking 42 days, Democrats turned it back on this week only to discover it had the same healthcare malfunctions as it had before the shutdown. House Democrats have since announced plans to try putting it in rice next time.
The end of government shutdown proves Democrats lack conviction
Democrats fail Americans with a lack of consistent planning concerning the shutdown. On Wednesday, Nov. 12, congressional Democrats showed a lack of planning and commitment to a plan as seven Democrats agreed to cross party lines and vote to end the shutdown. The longest government shutdown in history — 43 days — was ended in exchange for a promise of a vote in the Senate on legislation to extend Affordable Care Act subsidies, which are set to lapse at the end of the year.
Horoscopes - The Collegian
Aries (March 20-April 19th): I don’t care what the editors say; I’m abusing the semicolon key till it breaks off my f****** computer. Torture my body; break my bones; kill me. Fine; then you will have my dead body; not my obedience.
United Nations labels Israeli occupation of Gaza a genocide
Israel denies UN report finding the country guilty of four of five indicators of genocide in its occupation of the Gaza Strip. GENEVA—On September 16, 2025, the United Nations Commission of Inquiry on the Occupied Palestinian Territory declared Israel’s current occupation of the Gaza Strip a genocide. The Commission of Inquiry was established to assess the conflict shortly after Israel launched its first attack in October 2023.
Oklahoma State Superintendent Ryan Walters officially resigns
Ryan Walters officially announces his resignation and future plans. Ryan Walters, Oklahoma’s Superintendent of Public Instruction, announced he is resigning on Sept. 24 during an appearance on Fox News at Night. Walters told the host of the show, Trace Gallagher, that he would lead the Teacher Freedom Alliance, which is a new professional organization that declares itself to be an alternative to union membership for teachers.
Horoscopes - The Collegian
Aries (March 20-April 19th): The stars see all comings and goings, and even they can’t tell you how that gecko got into the bathroom. They do understand it, but Fisher Suites has a weird, grubby freak aura around it, which causes phenomena that would melt your mind. Like level 60 Scientology if you knew wot of it. Something to do with quarks, I’m told.
TU Reveals ‘New, Improved’ Goldie
Administration rejoices over new cost-effective mascot. If you’ve paid attention to TU recently, you may have noticed a common outcry for a certain mascot: “Where’s Goldie?” the student body wonders in unison. Many have reported hearing, “I haven’t seen Goldie at any events lately,” “Is Goldie okay?” or, “Look at Tulsa! They are eating the mascots!” Well, have no fear, citizens: TU has just revealed the new and most certainly improved Goldie.
Mike Gundy seeks employment at Pat Case Dining Center
Former Oklahoma State head football coach ready for new career After a disheartening 19-12 loss to the Tulsa Golden Hurricane that amounted to the Oklahoma State Cowboys’ first loss to Tulsa in Stillwater since 1958, OKST coach Mike Gundy became former OKST coach Mike Gundy. The Cowboys agreed to eat a $15 million buyout in order to get their winningest coach in program history to leave the building.
President Trump Addresses the United Nations
The American President speaks of immigration, war, and the American economy to world leaders. On Tuesday, Sept. 23, President Donald Trump stood in front of the United Nations for the first time since the end of his last term as president. He gave an almost hour-long address and spent most of it berating the UN for its actions.
Appreciation for The Watering System
How Important are TU’s Sprinklers in the Maintenance Economy? If you ever take a walk at night, you’re bound to see the campus sprinkler system, hard at work making sure all of TU’s grass stays green and healthy. While it might seem like nothing worth thinking too much about, the truth is that it’s really important that those mechanical nozzles spray everything in their path (sidewalks and lampposts included).
Absurdity, Love, and Trauma: The brilliance of But I’m a Cheerleader
Liam Hall · Follow 5 min read · -- But I’m a Cheerleader, directed by Jamie Babbit, is one of those films that snuck up on me. At first glance, it’s a colourful, offbeat teen comedy — the kind of quirky movie that seems made for a late-night comfort binge. Dig a little deeper, and you’ll find a powerful exploration of some heavy and important topics. Beneath the vibrant colours, catchy music, and outlandish characters is a satire of conversion therapy, homophobia, and the struggle for identity.
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