Favorite Stories of 2020

As we reflected on how to present a “best of” issue of Headlines & Happenings to draw this tumultuous year to a close, we sifted through our readers’ responses and found that a number of stories caught their attention in a particularly powerful manner. Uniting all these pieces is a common thread of resilient personal, scholarly and professional exploration. We hope you enjoy re-encountering these favorite stories and that they inspire you to look forward to the new year with the hope, courage and determination that are hallmarks of our University of Tulsa spirit.

Speaking truth to power

The country is expressing pain and anger in the wake of blatant racial inequality, and Tulsans are taking action, too. After attending Black Lives Matter rallies around the city in recent days, members of the TU community are sharing their experiences and views.

Bring us your brains

Computer science Ph.D. student Bohan Xu (MS ’16) wants to understand brain-structure differences between individuals with psychiatric disorders and people in a “healthy” control group. His latest investigation, undertaken with a multidisciplinary team at the Laureate Institute for Brain Research, aims to observe gray matter volumes – and deviations – in order to locate potential areas of the brain that result in mental disorders.

Dear Bob

Digging into a mystery bag of Bob Dylan's unopened fan mail from his Woodstock days, TU scholars are unraveling more of the mysteries surrounding fandom, taste culture and who the future Nobel laureate’s early fans were. “Some of the letters are deeply personal, while others show the international reach of Dylan’s music, which was impressive even in 1966,” said Sean Latham, director of TU’s Institute for Bob Dylan Studies.

Raising hope: MBA students work as consultants

Students in the Partnering with Business MBA program recently completed a comprehensive consulting project aimed at helping Hope Academy, an innovative provider of alternative education, boost its ability to meet the learning needs of some of Tulsa's most marginalized and vulnerable youth and adult learners.

Doing what they love this summer

This summer, 12 BSN students completed on-the-job externships in health care settings across Tulsa. Read about the experiences of two of these adventurous individuals who learned first hand what it’s like to be a nurse in a trauma emergency center and a mother and baby unit. As one of them pointed out, besides the valuable experience, she met “tons of cool nurses with good advice. And, it doesn’t hurt to get paid a little during the summer doing what you love.”

Throwing a pass for cash

Scoring the game-winning touchdown deserves cheers and awards, but should college athletes be paid to play? The NCAA says no. TU Law student Carter Fox and recently retired Professor Ray Yasser stride onto the field with a nimble solution that would allow student-athletes to take charge of – and potentially cash in on – their own images and reputations.

Snow Day Slideshow

Winter was officially still almost two weeks away, but on Sunday, Dec. 13, Tulsans awakened to one of the snowiest days in years. All the new fallen snow accented the beauty of TU’s campus and gave students an opportunity to take a break from studying for finals to enjoy some outdoor fun.

For Your Calendar

Concerts with Commentary: French Delicacies
Thursday, Jan. 21, 7:30 p.m.

Join TU School of Music Professors Judith Pannill Raiford (soprano) and Brady McElligott (bass-baritone and piano) for a lively virtual performance and discussion about the cultural background and historical context of the repertoire and composers represented.

Full Calendar of Events
The University of Tulsa | Gilcrease Museum | TU Alumni Association

This year, an outpouring of support for the Student Emergency Fund made it possible for many students to return to campus when economic hardships threatened their TU careers. Gifts to every academic unit allowed our faculty and staff to continue supporting and empowering students through hybrid and virtual experiences.

Please consider making a tax-deductible gift to TU by Dec. 31 so these stories of resilience may continue in the year to come.