Ok state 3 27 14 proof3 by Hohulin

March 27, 2014 | Volume 3, Issue 23 | Stillwater, OK

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TSM SATIRE PAGE 11

NEW TUITION PLAN APPROVED FOR FALL 2014 page 4 GDD IS MORE THAN JUST A DAY page 5 FAREWELL TO MARCUS SMART page 7 ALPHA CHI’S ON GREEK DISCOVERY DAY. credit: Hope Frisbie

Editor's note

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THE MAN BEHIND CAMPUS LIFE Carl Blackwell. We were like, ‘Where are all these women’s clothes from?’ We teased Trey forever.” Sampson said sometimes he feels like all he has are funny moments, but when put on the spot, it was hard to think of all of the best ones.

LIBBY NICHOLAS Chi Omega

Editor-in-Chief

Libby is a senior studying multimedia journalism. You may contact her at elizabeth.nicholas@ okstate.edu.

Perhaps Sampson’s success in this career is due to the relationships he’s built on campus. When he described a typical day, most of his duties included communication and interaction with students. “On a daily basis... I normally have some student drop in traffic,” he said. “It’s just students wanting things or organizations wanting funding. Today, the student body president came by because he was working on a piece of legislation and wanted my thought on that.” He said his number one goal is maintaining that student communication. “My goal when I walk out of here at the end of the day or night, is to make sure that every phone call or email has been responded to.” Plugging in on campus, through Greek Life, SGA and other campus organizations, makes all the difference in one’s college experience. Finding that smaller group amidst a large campus is what makes OSU feel so homey. Kent Sampson works to keep that Cowboy family tradition alive. “It’s been fun to see all the growth and change, and to see how highly the students’ opinions are honored.”

Here at Oklahoma State, it’s easy to find ways to get involved on campus, but it hasn’t always been that way. Kent Sampson, Director of Student Life, is the man to thank for the opportunities we now find at our fingertips. As a freshman, older Chi O’s were constantly telling me to, “Go check out Campus Life in the Classroom Building basement and see what applications are out,” when I’d ask how to plug in on campus. Now, the Student Life area of the Student Union takes up most of the second floor, with a desk promoting applications and fliers for student groups, along with myriad other information about life on campus. “It’s just been very stimulating to see the growth of opportunities, and then this beautiful facility up here on the second floor,” Sampson said. “The energy of the building is the students, so we needed to get that energy out of the basement.” Sampson has spent about 40 years at OSU working to better the lives of students. When it was time to renovate the Union, he made sure the students’ voices were heard. One of the ways he did so was through working with the Student Government Association. With senators representing each living group, SGA is the voice of our campus. Hearing the voice of the students is something OSU is great at, Sampson said. When it was time to vote on block tuition, President Hargis called Sampson – the man who knows what the students are thinking. “My point is, students have a lot of voice here and are listened to,” he said. “If you don’t have that energy for it, students will figure that out and make you leave, or else they’ll figure out a way to go around you.” It didn’t take him long to name his favorite thing about his job - working with the students. He said his goal is to help students enjoy life on campus, outside of the classroom. With 500 student organizations, Sampson said he’s thrilled to see how much student involvement has increased over the years. Without these organizations, there would be no campus life outside of the classroom. “It’s what we like to call co-curricular,” he said. Co-curricular refers to all of the things other than academics that make up one’s time in college. Kent is most passionate about these things, he said. “I found this was my niche,” he said. “I knew I had some of that leadership from my undergrad experience, but I didn’t know I could make a career out of it.” After obtaining his bachelor’s at Southwestern in Weatherford, Sampson came to OSU to obtain his graduate degree, and wound up taking a job in Residential Life at OSU. After 20 years working in Res. Life, Sampson took the Director of Student Life position, and has been listening to, and building friendships with, students since September 1997. Another aspect of Sampson’s job is working with Camp Cowboy staff each year. Some of his funniest stories are from camp, he said. One of his favorite humorous stories is a memory with a Camp Cowboy staff member who passed away in 2012. “A lot of students knew Trey Kertz... who was in one of our fraternities,” he said. “But he was working one camp, and when he went to drop all off all the campers’ luggage, one young lady’s bag got stuck on the hitch. Trey didn’t realize it, and he dragged that bag all the way to campus from Lake

THE ODYSSEY AT OKLAHOMA STATE EXECUTIVE TEAM President Breanna Fuller Alpha Delta Pi Distribution Executive Tori Brownlee Alpha Delta Pi Recruitment Executive Kade Goodwin Phi Delta Theta Sales Executives Adrianna Newport Alpha Delta Pi Hunter Kashwer Phi Delta Theta

CREATIVE TEAM Editor-in-Chief Libby Nicholas Chi Omega Contributing Editor Thomas Chapman FarmHouse Photographer Jamie Barnes Sigma Pi Megan Noble Zeta Tau Alpha

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Ideas debate & discuss

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A CHAT WITH OKLAHOMA REP. EMILY VIRGIN

Despite not actually being Panhellenic, Emily Virgin of

Norman, Oklahoma is the perfect example of what a Panhellenic woman should be—poised, empowered, and compassionate. This

young

everyone has good intentions with these groups, but we have to put our money where our

SOPHIA GIBSON

Delta Delta Delta Sophia is a freshman studying agricultural education. Yo u m a y c o n t a c t h e r a t sophie.gibson@okstate.edu.

woman

graduated from OU in 2009 and then was elected into the Oklahoma House of Representatives in 2010—at the age of 23.

mouth is. We currently have 7,000 people on a waiting list for services from the Department of Disability Services. That is simply unacceptable, so I hope that we will truly care for underserved populations in the future, because we are a caring and giving population.” If these issues resonate with you, Representative Virgin has some advice. “The best way to get involved in politics is to work on a state or local campaign. Get involved with a candidate you believe in, and work hard to get them elected or re-elect them.” If you don’t have the time to volunteer, there are other options. “Another thing I would encourage you to do is pay attention to the bills that are going through the legislature, and if there’s one that interests you, contact your legislator about it. It would

If you’ve ever had the opportunity to be around her, you can see why she was elected despite

mean so much to a legislator if a college student was vocal about their support or opposition of

her young age; her commitment to Oklahoma and willingness to go the extra mile shines

a particular piece of legislation.” Finally, if you truly want to make Oklahoma a better state she

through her. Keep reading to learn more about this strong leader, her thoughts on the state of

has one recommendation. “Vote,” she said. “I can’t stress enough the importance of registering

Oklahoma, and what you as a college student can do to help.

to vote, and being an active voter.”

Emily Virgin has always had a servant’s heart, even from a young age. “I’m one of those weird people who actually grew up and did what they said they wanted to do when they were 5-years-old,” She said. “I always knew I wanted to be a lawyer and public servant. But I definitely wasn’t thinking I would start my career in politics so early. My legislative seat was being vacated by a legislator who was subject to term limits. My dad actually kind of planted the seed with me about potentially running for this seat, because it was going to be open in the next election, and I just couldn’t get the thought out of my head. I knew I was qualified and could help the people of my district, and so I decided to run.” She knew that she wanted to serve Oklahoma in some way, and eventually decided she could best do that by running for public office and going to law school. “I realized that the best way I could do that was through public service – that’s just the best way that I could put my gifts and talents to use. I think it’s everyone’s responsibility to figure out the best way to use their talents to help other people.” Last week, she took the Bar exam, so she’s well on her way to filling her 5-year-old wishes. Speaking of 5-year-olds, we discussed her childhood. She started with this tragedy, “I always wanted a My-Size Barbie, but never got one.” Luckily, her dad made up for it. “I had an awesome Playmobil dollhouse that was probably the coolest thing I ever owned,” she said. “It took my dad all day on Christmas to put it together, so you can imagine how much he loved it.” Continuing with the nostalgic theme, I asked who was her favorite Disney princess. Not surprisingly, she chose Mulan, another strong woman with a servant’s heart. We went on to discuss the state of Oklahoma, and what can be done about it. “Absolutely one of the biggest problems is that common education is not funded as well as it should be,” she said. “Our teachers need to be paid more, so that we can attract and retain the best teachers. To me, education is the foundation of all other issues, and we need to make sure we give it adequate funding…I hope that Oklahoma will truly make common education and higher education a priority.” Virgin said she loves Oklahoma. “I think we’re among the most caring people in the country. However, I think we don’t do a good enough job of caring for those who need it the most – needy children, the hungry, poor, elderly, etc. That goes back to funding, as well. I’m sure

Scene on campus

GREEK OF THE WEEK: SPENCER TIMS Tims is actively involved in The Wells Project at Oklahoma State. He strives to make a difference on our campus, and across the world. Spencer Tims, Oklahoma State junior and member of Beta Theta Pi, has found his passion in college. Spencer is from Edmond (#1 suburb in America) and decided to come to OSU because he loved the campus and simply felt like it was where he was supposed to be. Spencer has not wasted his time in finding his true passion in focusing on the water crisis, specifically in Ruhango, Rwanda. Spencer has been a part of The Wells Project for multiple years. The Wells Project is a non-profit led organization focused on raising funds and awareness to end the water crisis in Ruhango, Rwanda. TWP does that through local concerts and other local events, in order to spread the word to others on campus and allow people to donate. Their biggest event is called the ’10 days,” which is held in November. “For 10 days we encourage college students to drink only water,” Tims said. “All the money that would have been spent on other drinks, like coffee, we ask them to donate.” The next local event will be held from 7 to 10 p.m. on March 28 on Beta’s front lawn. Local artists from the Greek community perform to help raise money and awareness for this passion of Spencer’s. Tims was motivated to be part of this organization because of his big brother in Beta. “I went to one of the meetings with him and loved it right away, so I got involved,” Tims said. TWP consists of a team of 11 executive members and about 40 members. “They are all awesome,” Spencer said. “The Wells Project would not be what it is today without these people that are willing to donate their time and energy to it.” Tims and the rest of The Wells Project crew have an ultimate goal of bringing awareness to

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the students on campus and supplying funds for those in need in Ruhango, Rwanda. “The water crisis is an issue that not a lot of students Gamma Phi Beta are aware of,” Spencer said. Taylor is a junior studying “Over 780 million people strategic communications. lack access to safe, clean You may contact her at taylor. drinking water. Any bit of felgenhauer@yahoo.com. donations helps a lot.” The Wells Project is the college branch of a company called Living Water International. Living Water International has projects going on all over the world. They are the ones who receive all of the funds raised by TWP. They build the wells and teach good sanitation techniques. “We are a faith-based organization,” Tims said. “So not only do we provide physical water, but also living water, which is the gospel of Jesus Christ.” Last year, The Wells Project raised over $14,000 and have high hopes of raising more this year. Tims has made many memories and loved working with The Wells Project. “I literally love everything about it. I love what it stands for and how it allows students to come together and help change the world,” Spencer said. “I love that it allows students to affect people’s lives halfway around the world and how it demonstrates Christ love.” Spencer loves that it also puts into perspective what is truly important in life. Spencer is a marketing major and chose it because it is a lot of what they do in TWP. He has really enjoyed marketing work. He hopes to start his own business someday. The Wells Project is happening on 20 other campuses, and OSU hopes to grow more. “Anything helps! $1 makes a huge difference, and if not financially, then prayer or good thoughts! It is possible for the water crisis to end in our lifetime, if everybody would do his or her part.”

TAYLOR FELGENHAUER

NEW TUITION PLAN APPROVED FOR FALL 2014 On March 7, the Board of Regents for Oklahoma A&M Colleges approved a measure to implement a flat rate or block tuition program beginning in this Fall. The Student Government Association issued a recommendation to the board prior to voting that the measure be passed.

CASEY BURSON FarmHouse

Casey is a freshman studying construction management technology. You may contact him at Casey.burson@okstate.edu.

The program, titled “Finish in Four,” will alter the current tuition cost schedule by creating a flat rate for tuition and fees to be paid by all full time students at Oklahoma State. While President Hargis and the Board of Regents acted with the best of intentions, the potential consequences of such a program should not be overlooked. As outlined, all undergraduate students enrolled in more than 12 hours of course credit but less than 18 hours, will be charged for fifteen credit hours. The approach will encourage students to enroll in at least fifteen hours and hopefully reduce time spent in school to four years. Autar Kaw, a professor of mechanical engineering at the University of South Florida, likened such tuition programs to a fast food restaurant charging you for a large soda, when you know you will only be able to finish a medium. Some students, like those who work part-time jobs, need to enroll in fewer hours in order to be successful academically. Marketed by the university as a plan to help students graduate quicker and hopefully reducing the cost of attending OSU, the program warrants skepticism as it will truly only benefit those who are not quite on track to graduate in four years but could push themselves to graduate in four for financial reasons. In an email to all current students, President Hargis cited current university statistics for the number of years spent on undergraduate coursework that are almost as embarrassing as our retention rates.

“Currently, only 31 percent of OSU students graduate in four years,” according to the email from Hargis, and “around 60 percent graduate in six years.” By aiming to incentivize graduating in four years, the program has potential to cause further harm to OSU’s retention numbers, when students enroll in more classes than they can handle and leave school as a result of a suffering GPA. Standardizing the cost of enrollment in 12-18 hours of semester credit hours, the plan supported by President Hargis differs from OU’s flat rate tuition program in that the rate paid by Sooners covers up to 21 hours of credits. OU’s plan does allow for up to six hours of tuition and fees to be exempted for a summer session provided only 24 hours were taken in the previous two semesters. The outline approved by the board will not have this option. Further concern arises for those students who, in the final semesters of their undergraduate program, don’t need to take 15 hours of classes. With programs like AP, CLEP, and concurrent enrollment, many students graduate high school with a significant portion of their general education course work complete. These students have done themselves a favor by reducing the total number of hours needed to obtain their respective degree. These programs offered in most high schools offer the potential to save time and money spent earning a college degree. For the college senior who only needs an additional 24 hours of credit to graduate, the plan will require course credit earned in high school programs to, in essence, be paid for again. “I graduated high school with 26 hours hoping to make pursuing a difficult major a little less difficult,” freshman chemical engineering major Mitchelle Moriarty said. “It is disappointing that I will pretty much have to pay for classes I don’t need to take during my last couple of semesters.” A lot of work has yet to be done to have the program in place for the fall semester. While there are many kinks that need to be worked out, the Board will have the opportunity to make needed changes to ensure the program effectively accomplishes its purpose.

Scene on campus

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GDD IS MORE THAN JUST A DAY

It was March 26, 2011. I was a senior in high school. With only two and a half months left before graduation, I was in the process of making all kinds of life-changing decisions.

HANNAH NEMECEK Chi Omega

Hannah is a junior studying agricultural communications. You may contact her at hannah.nemecek@okstate.edu.

Being brainwashed from birth, I knew I would be attending Oklahoma State University. And with an older brother involved in Greek life, I was anxious to see what it had to offer me as well. So, I signed up for Greek Discovery Day. As I entered Gallager-Iba Arena that day, I became increasingly overwhelmed. Hundreds of girls (and boys) swarmed the concourse where smiling faces greeted the curious high school-ers. Some girls were in dresses, making my jeans and sandals look a little shabby. I was really quite unsure if Greek life was for me. My mom and I then attended an informational session about the recruitment process including the appropriate attire for each day. The presenters assured us that we did not need to go and buy a whole new wardrobe. But, did I really have all of that in my closet? Were my clothes really acceptable for the process? Soon, we were split into groups to begin touring houses. I was then forced to meet people, as I didn’t know anyone in my group. We ended up touring half of the houses and talking to the other half. I will never forget the time the doors opened at the first house I visited. As the doors opened, the girls began singing and I almost laughed out loud. I had no idea what was going on. While I found the singing a little strange, I began to enjoy it as we went from house to house. And then we arrived at Chi Omega. As our group began walking into the house, we were paired off, one by one. I greeted the house mom, the recruitment chair and the president. And then, I was introduced to the girl who would be “recruiting” me. “Hi, I’m Holly!” she said. She led me into the den and we began the typical recruitment small talk. But, I really liked this girl. She was down to earth. While I was very overwhelmed with the day, she was relaxed and made me feel at home in this strange new world of college and Greek life. Holly and I only talked for a few brief moments before another girl took her place. Yet, (little did I know then) those few moments would change my life forever. Fast forward a few months later to recruitment. While GDD was overwhelming, recruitment was traumatic. Okay, maybe it wasn’t that bad. Nonetheless, it was a lot more difficult than GDD. About five months had past since GDD. Yet, when I entered Chi Omega on the second day of recruitment, I met a familiar face. Yep, you guessed it – Holly. Once again, she was the girl who made me feel at home. She helped me realize Greek life is more than what it appears. She assured me Greek life was more than

beautiful girls in pretty dresses. It meant accountability. It meant support. It meant life-long friendships. Throughout recruitment, I saw Holly a couple more times. And when I ran to Chi Omega on Bid Day, she was there to welcome me home. While Holly meant so much to me during recruitment, she came to mean even more as I became a new member. She was my first “Owl Pal” and became my Big a few months later. Why do I share this story with you? Well, this weekend is GDD. For those of us who have been in Greek life for a while, it is just another day. In fact, it may seem like a hassle. Yet, for the juniors and seniors visiting our little world this weekend, it could be the day that changes everything. Saturday is our day to shine. So, put a smile on your face and show those high school students what Greek life at Oklahoma State University is all about.

Self health & fitness

BEHIND THE BLACKOUT At some point in your college career, you or someone you know has woken up after a particularly rough night feeling like a character from, “The Hangover.” Head pounding, unquenchable thirst, and memory…nonexistent.

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total blackout, occurs when there is no recollection of previous events, whatsoever.

NINA BLASDEL

Kappa Delta Nina is a sophomore studying hotel & restaurant administration. Yo u m a y c o n t a c t h e r a t nina.blasdel@okstate.edu.

Time flies when you’re having fun, but time seems to stop altogether when you’re having too much fun. Research shows that approximately 9.5 percent of college students who consume alcohol on a weekly basis will experience an alcohol-induced memory blackout in that same period. What really is a blackout? A blackout is a type of amnesia associated with heavy drinking, in which a person experiences short-term memory loss. The person may seem capable of carrying out normal activities such as conversation or even operating a vehicle, but consequently, has no recollection of the event. There are two types of blackouts, of varying severity: fragmentary and en-bloc. In the instance of a fragmentary blackout, partial memory may be recalled, and can typically be resurrected the following day by cues from others – this is sometimes referred to as a “brownout.” On the other hand, people who experience en-bloc blackouts are not so lucky. An en-bloc blackout, or

What causes a blackout? Blackouts occur with rapid rises in BAC (blood alcohol content) and are caused by alcoholinduced impairment of the hippocampus. The hippocampus is the part of the brain that is responsible for emotions, learning, and memory formation. Women are more susceptible to blacking out than men, due to their BAC rising at a faster rate. It has also been proven that if a person blacks out a few times, there is an increased chance of susceptibility to blacking out the next time he or she drinks. Is blacking out bad for my health? Although it might seem funny, blacking out on a regular basis should not be taken lightly. Frequent blackouts can result in long-term health issues, such as alcoholism or even brain damage. Not only are blackouts serious from a health standpoint, but also from a decisionmaking standpoint. When under the influence of alcohol, our brains do not function properly, which can, no doubt lead to bad choices. Intoxication and blackouts can lead to irresponsible social actions and unsafe decisions. How do I avoid blacking out? Good news: blackouts are totally avoidable, even if you partake in social drinking. To avoid the post-party-paranoia, don’t consume large amounts of booze at once, space out your drinks throughout the night with plenty of water, and always be sure to have food in your stomach when drinking, to help slow the rate of alcohol absorption.

MASSAGES: A QUICK WAY TO MAKE SOMEONE’S DAY what you need.

My roommate proposed swapping five-minute massages after having a long and stressful day on campus. I went first and didn’t even get a massage in return. You know you’ve asked someone for a massage before, whether it be a shoulder massage, a foot one, or even a nontraditional head massage. There’s just something nice about them...but only if done correctly. You might end up more stiff and stressed than you began if you try to fake your way through it and have no idea what you’re doing. Yet, sometimes it’s the thought that counts, and you might be able to make someone’s day by offering someone a favor as simple as this. I heard the Wellness Center on campus offers massage therapy to faculty and students, and who wouldn’t love a thirty-minute session during finals week in between tests? OSU has two therapists on staff for the college. Located on Hall of Fame, the facility offers sessions of 30, 60 and 90 minutes. For the avid users (or abusers), they have special package deals that you can save money on if you invest in four at a time. Some different types of techniques that they offer include Swedish, deep tissue, trigger point, stretches and pregnancy. I have no idea what these are, but I’m confident that if you tell them your situation or what you’re looking for, they’ll be able to provide you with

JAKE BLASDEL

For some history on massages in the professional respect, massage comes Sigma Nu from a French word meaning “friction of Jake is a junior studying biological kneading.” Massages science. You may contact him at have been taking place jacob.blasdel@okstate.edu. since before the common era. They weren’t really practiced professionally in the Americas until the 19th century! Two New York physicians began the practice based on their studies in Sweden. It wasn’t until the 1984 Summer Olympics of Los Angeles that massaging athletes was televised. Later in the Atlanta Olympics of 1996, massaging became one of the core medical procedures used to prepare our athletes for the Games. We sure do spoil our athletes. A quick search can bring up dozens of different kinds of techniques that you can receive, and the more complex the technique, the fewer specialists exist who can practice it. There has been research published showing that “single dose” effects can be received after a single massage treatment. Pain relief, trait anxiety, and blood pressure/heart rate are the three main foci that patients seek treatment for when they ask someone to give them a massage. For someone delivering a massage, it’s nice to know that you’re physically making someone feel better, so that should be rewarding in itself. Ask for a follow-up in return and get some stress worked out of your limbs! With so much going on in a college kid’s life, it’s easy to go hard all day and come home feeling beat. Lift somebody up and share a massage with them, you’ll both feel better! Heck, take a five-minute break from chapter and make a massage train around the room to rid the room of any stress! Dang, after writing this article I’m wishing I had a pair of hands on my shoulders going to work. Hopefully you do, too!

Sports local

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JUSTIN GILBERT TOP CORNER BACK IN 2014 NFL DRAFT As the NFL draft a p p ro a c h e s , c o l l e g e football players are training and building themselves to impress NFL franchises. They want teams to believe they are a must have player, a player worth taking as soon as possible.

THOMAS CHAPMAN FarmHouse

Thomas is a freshman studying sports media. You may contact him at tmchapm@okstate.edu.

Justin Gilbert has done exactly that. After finishing his senior year with six interceptions, two returned for touchdowns, Gilbert proved he was one of the best corner backs in the game. The OSU senior has been talked about being a first round pick since his incredible sophomore year, but he has now solidified his spot as a top prospect. Gilbert had proved himself as a difference maker in the secondary with his play, but his accomplishments since his last game in the Cotton Bowl are what has set him apart. At the NFL combine, where players work out for NFL teams, Justin Gilbert shined. Everyone knew he was one of the fastest players in college football, but his performance in the 40 yard dash grabbed the football world’s attention. The Oklahoma State corner back posted a 4.3 40 (he ran 40 yards in 4.3 seconds), the fastest time among defensive backs and fourth fastest at the combine. Having that blazing

speed adds to Gilbert’s already impressive skill set. Teams now see a cover corner with great speed that they can utilize in the return game. Justin is a big, physical corner. At six foot, 202 pounds, he can match up against the huge wide receivers in the NFL. Teams want more big guys in their secondary. More and more teams are looking at the Seattle Seahawks and seeing their big, lengthy corners like Richard Sherman be so successful and they want to emulate that. Teams with porous pass defenses covet guys like Justin Gilbert coming out of college. As the Draft comes closer, more and more teams will be looking to add Gilbert to their squad. One team that has been linked to the Cowboy corner has been the Detroit lions. Picking at number 10, they are in desperate need of a shut down defensive back. On offense, they have Calvin Johnson, an unstoppable force in the passing game. The Lions problem last year was their inability to stop other team’s passing games. By plugging in Gilbert, Detroit has the potential to halt other air attacks and allow theirs to continue reaping havoc on the opposing secondaries. Gilbert could be an immediate impact for whoever drafts him. After watching him as a starter at Oklahoma State for the last three years, he inspires a lot of confidence that his high level of play will translate to the NFL. No other corner is nearly as athletic or has the potential Justin Gilbert has displayed. His stock is on the rise and franchises want him on their team. As Oklahoma State fans, we love seeing one of our own receive this kind of attention. Be sure to keep up with Justin Gilbert as he begins his hopefully, and most likely, bright professional career.

FAREWELL TO MARCUS SMART

Marcus Smart has left his mark on OSU. In a short couple months, Marcus Smart will be gone from Oklahoma State and preparing for the NBA draft. His time here has been spectacular for Cowboy fans, as Smart as almost singlehandedly put Oklahoma State’s basketball program on the national stage. From 2006 to 2013, ESPN’s College Gameday didn’t make the trip to Stillwater, but Marcus Smart changed that after his decision to return for the 2014 season. This really displayed the change in culture surrounding the Pokes basketball program. Though there had been some amount of success in the 1990s to 2000s, we never really had the amount of national exposure than what Smart brought us. Marcus Smart came to OSU from Flower Mound, Texas as the number ten recruit in the nation, according to ESPN. A big reason for his decision to attend OSU was that Coach Ford recruited his close friend since third grade, Phil Forte, in addition to Smart. As many people know, Smart ended up living with Forte for a period in his life. “We just felt Oklahoma State was recruiting us individually, not as a package deal,” Smart said to an ESPN reporter. “It was Phil first, and then it was Marcus first; it wasn’t Marcus and Phil together.” Say what you will about Ford’s coaching strategies, but his recruiting has been great as of late.

In Smart’s time here, as our program has grown, he has ALEX grown as a basketball player DEWINTER and a person. He showed Phi Kappa Tau real signs of maturity when he Alexis a sophomore majoring decided to forgo the money in finance and accounting.. associated with being a top Yo u m a y c o n t a c t h i m a t 10 pick in the NBA draft, and alex.dewinter@okstate.edu. came back for his sophomore season. He knew he needed to improve his skills, and specifically wanted to polish his jump shot. While they have not gone up drastically, both his field goal and three point shot percentage have increased from last year. Those against Smart would point to his outburst against Texas Tech as a sign of immaturity, but it needs to be remembered that he’s still a 20-year-old kid. He reacted in the heat of the moment toward a fan who had been allegedly yelling racially insensitive insults at him. Smart has proven in his time here that his reaction cannot rightfully represent him as a person. He has been the much needed leader of this team since his arrival, and after he leaves for the greener pastures of the NBA, he will be sorely missed. He’s the type of player that we’ll be able to tell our grandkids about. I hope everyone realizes how much of a privilege it was for us to watch him play. He displayed toughness and talent beyond his years here at Oklahoma State, and I think I can speak for all Cowboys fans when I say that we are extremely grateful. But all is not lost, Cowboys. Although we are losing a once in a generation caliber talent, the enforcer Mason Cox, the future is still bright. Next season, the improved Brian Williams, Phil Forte, Kamari Murphy, and possibly Michael Cobbins and Le’Bryan Nash (big, big maybe) will be back in Stillwater, and with a solid recruiting class that includes three players ranked in the top 100 of ESPN’s recruiting rankings, the Pokes still have a chance to be real contenders. Go Pokes!

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STILLWATER BASEBALL COACH IS ENERGETIC, EXCITED ABOUT TEAM “That was a tough call,” Harris said. “We loved Shiloh Christian. We loved Christian education. We loved the church we were at. We loved our house and our neighborhood. We loved everything about that job.”

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MASON DOUGHERTY Pi Kappa Alpha

Mason is a sophomore studying sports media. Yo u m a y c o n t a c t h i m a t mdoc20@gmail.com.

Harris said his family prayed about the move and whether this was the right time to move. He said coaching for Stillwater was an opportunity he couldn’t turn down. “I wanted to be a part of 6A Oklahoma baseball,” Harris said. “It’s the best of the best. Stillwater has success. They have major league baseball players that come from this town. I wanted to be a part of that.” Zach Jolliff, a former baseball player and alumnus at Stillwater High School, is an assistant JV coach and said he likes the change Harris has brought to the program. “I like coach Harris a lot,” Jolliff said. “He brings a new energy to the team. Kids are responding to him well. I think he brings a really good presence about him.” When Harris arrived to Stillwater, his first job was coaching defensive backs for the high school football team. That’s where short stop, Harrison Cornforth, who also played football, got his first impression of Harris. “The first time I ever saw him was at a football practice,” Cornforth said. “He was absolutely laying somebody out so I was a little nervous at first but I really like him.” Energy will not be lacking at the Stillwater baseball team’s practices this season. Coach Jimmy Harris supplies energy through his enthusiasm and upbeat personality. Pitching coach Kyle Johnson said Harris is a high energy coach. “[Harris] drinks Red Bulls and I’m like you don’t even need it,” Johnson said. “He just wants to go, go, go. He just has a lot of energy for the kids.” Outfielder and captain, Jon Littell, said it’s fun to play for a coach like Harris. “He is pretty goofy,” Harris said. “He is fun to be around. He holds us to high standards, but I think that’s good for us if we are going to have the type of year we want to have. He is very competitive, as he expects a lot out of ourselves.” Harris was hired this past July and comes to Stillwater with a successful background. He coached at Shiloh Christian High School where he went to four straight state championship games from 2010 to 2012, winning 3 in a row. In that four year span, he had 12 players that went on to play college baseball. Harris comes from a baseball family. His dad coached him growing up, while his oldest brother played a couple years for the Milwaukee Brewers. His other older brother played three years of college baseball. This will be Harris’ fourteenth year of coaching baseball, and he said it’s a job for which he is thankful. “I get to wake up every day and do something I love,” Harris said. “I don’t feel like I’ve worked a day in my life, because I enjoy doing this.” Harris said some days are more stressful than others, but he gets to do something that other people wish they could do. Harris said he gets to compete and watch his players mature and achieve their dreams. He said he also enjoys the networking that comes with coaching baseball. He works with Josh Holliday, Oklahoma State University’s baseball coach, and works his baseball camps. Harris said he calls Holliday whenever he has a question, and he always gets a response. When Stillwater was interested in hiring Harris, Harris said it was hard for his family to move away from Shiloh Christian.

Meanwhile, Harris said he wants his players to be students of the game and see what the pitchers are doing. It goes along with his aggressive style of play. Harris said the team will be aggressive on the base paths and pick off runners as much as possible. Harris said he also demands effort and maturity. “We are going to be a hustling team,” Harris said. “We are going to be known as a hustling team. We are going to play extremely hard. We are yes sir and no sir. We are going to use manners wherever we go. I think that’s important for our young men.” Johnson said Harris gives his infielders four seconds from the dugout to get on the field before innings, while giving his outfielders seven seconds. Johnson also said the manners the players have from Harris is a nice change. Johnson said Harris wants to teach his players important concepts such as excellence. “He talks about leadership, responsibility, and excellence,” he said. “I think that’s three big key things you got to have as a team and life in general. He is trying to build that in them right now.” Harris assigns his players words such as leadership to present to the team at practices. He said he gives players certain words to present that he finds to fit their personalities. “This group is the funniest group I’ve coached,” Harris said. “I’m learning something new about them almost every single day. I’m learning their moods, their tone, their demeanor, how they handle themselves in certain things. They are very humble, very hard working, very committed.” Littell said he, along with the rest of the team, knew from the start of the season they were getting a likable coach. “We were excited,” Littell said. “Having his positive attitude around us and his competitive nature we were excited for. Knowing he was going to have our backs and know that there was going to be a good guy to go to war with every day makes it more enjoyable as a player to be around a guy like that.”

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HOT IN STILLWATER

show, flowery prints were seen on flirty dresses and flouncy tops.

Six Trends from New

York Fashion Week to Start Sporting Now! From bright florals to black and white, a lot of exciting trends come with the warmer

ANNA-MARIE AHRBERG

3. Nude Nails: Nude nails are a classic way to dress up your nails without going overboard.

Pi Beta Phi

Anna-Marie is a sophomore studying sports media. You may contact her at anna-marie. ahrberg@okstate.edu.

weather. 1. The Plum Pout: During the fashion show all of Rebecca Minkoff’s, models were rocking the “plum pout.” Dark lips are in this season and can take any look from basic, to dramatic.

4. All White: Obviously spring means bringing out the white, but during the fashion show, the all white outfits were a hit. 5. The Black and White Combo: It has been said before, but black and white is going to be everywhere this spring. 6. Anything Coral: Coral was big last spring, and it will be this spring too. You can use it in a big way as the main focus of your outfit, or you can use it in a small way and add it as a pop of color to your look.

2. Pretty Florals: Another look from Rebecca were the florals. Floral print has been around for ages, but it is make a huge comeback this season! During the

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FEELIN’ 22

Yesterday I turned 22, and today is the anniversary of the worst headache ever. For the next year, I will be jamming’ out to 22 by T. Swift, because I can with absolutely no shame.

BREANNA FULLER Alpha Delta Pi

Breanna is a senior studying animal science. You may contact her at breanna.fuller10@okstate. edu.

Being 22 is quite possibly the hardest age ever. Going home to see your family and be constantly bombarded with, “What are you doing after college? Are you getting engaged anytime soon? Do you have any jobs lined up?” is not only frustrating, but in the back of your mind, you’re asking the same blooming thing. Is it hard to just be 22? At 21, you have this newfound territory of the once unknown territory on Washington Street, and it is almost acceptable to be a bar rat. However at 22, it is time to put your big kid pants on and trade nights at the bars for applying for jobs and settling down. What if I don’t want to settle down quite yet? The problem with being 22 is that we are all in the hurry to grow up too fast. We have spent the past four years with our noses in textbooks, and I do not believe we have actually discovered who we are as individuals. How can I be a productive member of society if I still don’t know who I am? Every 22-year-old needs a little soul searching to discover the person that they want to be. They say that you find yourself in college, but whoever “they” is, obviously didn’t take hard courses and carry a heavy load because there is obviously not enough time for that.

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We are challenged to enter the work force (or graduate school) right after college. Has anyone tried finding a job these days? It might be easier to find a four-leaf clover instead. I have been turned down by a computer system for not being qualified for an entry-level job more times than I can count. Not to mention, most entry-level jobs require two to five years experience, oh ok, let me just get right on that. I am not suggesting that we take a year off, or even an entire summer. I am saying that after we graduate, we need to explore. Find a place where you can relax a little, celebrate the biggest accomplishment of your life, and maybe figure out who you are while you are there. At 22-years-young, we are not ready to be officially grown up. I know several friends who are engaged, a few who are married and even scarier, the friends who are having planned children. Excuse me? Wait, what? I can barely feed myself a nutritious meal, yet alone one for another person. Once you are married and have children you are officially declined from the dad ATM. I don’t want to live off of my parents forever, and not even for the next year, but right out of college, that is a transition I definitely cannot make alone. We are still young enough to ask for help, it is better to have asked than to have failed. We won’t get everything perfect on the first try, but at least we would have attempted. With that, my friends, I wish you all to stay young, go a little crazy, and do something worth remembering. Growing up will be fun, but you’re only young once. I am going to leave you with my favorite quote about life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. “Life is too short to wake up in the morning with regrets. So love the people who treat you right, forget about the ones who don’t and believe that everything happens for a reason. If you get a chance, take it. If it changes your life, let it. Nobody said that it’d be easy, they just promised it would be worth it.”- Unknown

2014 BEST PICTURE RECIPIENT

Don’t miss the best picture of the year! 12 Years A Slave was the 2013 winner.

Gibson’s The Passion of the Christ.

ANNA MCDOUGAL

Kappa Alpha Theta A profoundly moving Anna is a sophomore studying film, 12 Years A Slave fully english. You may contact her at anna.mcdougal@okstate.edu. deserved the title of Best Picture at the 86th annual Academy Awards. A true story about one man’s fight for freedom, the film was adapted from Solomon Northup’s narrative published in 1853. A free black man from Saratoga Springs, New York, Solomon (Chiwetel Ejiofor) is kidnapped and sold into slavery by two men who falsely hired him for his skill on the violin. Facing unimaginable cruelty by the hands of his owner, played by the talented and frightening Michael Fassbender, Solomon battles for his survival and clutches relentlessly onto what is left of his dignity throughout his 12 years in the shackles of slavery. A fortuitous encounter with a Canadian abolitionist (Brad Pitt) in his last year of bondage will drastically rewrite the rest of his life. Every single aspect of this film was commendable. The emotionally stirring score, the richly beautiful cinematography, and the supremely selected talent are merely a small handful of the wonderful features this film displays. On the note of the cinematography, the film contained some of the most picturesque nature shots that were almost equally as inspiring as the narrative itself. That being said, the narrative of the film instills the most gripping and inspiring emotions, leaving you with a complete loss of words as the credits play. This emotional journey for me can only be likened to my experience watching

Like in all of my reviews, I cannot help but commend great acting when I see it, and this film was not lacking in talent in the least. I feel that it goes without saying that Ejiofor gave one of the most raw and touching performances of his career in 12 Years a Slave. During a funeral scene for a fellow slave, Ejiofor’s stunning capacity for acting shone through with the camera only focused on his face. Through the expressivity of his face, Ejiofor was able to convey Solomon’s resignation of hope for a way out of what his life had become – his final acceptance of never seeing his wife and kids or relishing in his rightfully deserved freedom. This scene alone carried a hefty weight on its back and brought the emotional ride of the film to a new height. Smaller roles in the film played by the handsome Benedict Cumberbatch, as well as the powerful debut performance by Lupita Nyong’o, who was recognized with an Oscar for her work. Unmatched in its excellence, this period film exposes the grim reality of our past, as well as the depth of human ignorance while juxtaposed to the iron cast spirit of a man fighting to regain what is inherently his: the ability not only to survive, but to live. Praise for 12 Years a Slave: “Stark, visceral and unrelenting, 12 Years a Slave is not just a great film but a necessary one, “ claimed The Guardian. “While this is very much a McQueen picture, with visual flourishes and motifs unmistakably his, the historical urgency and staggering injustice of the events keep McQueen and company utterly honest in their approach and in their collective act of imagining Solomon Northup’s odyssey to hell and back,” Michael Phillips, writer for the Chicago Tribune, said. “12 Years a Slave is easily the greatest feature film ever made about American slavery,” David Denby of The New Yorker said.

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TSM SATIRE The Onion meets Srat Life.

HOPE FRISBIE

TSM and the infamous MRS Degree

I love Greek life. Don’t Chi Omega get me wrong. I love Alex is a sophomore studying just about everything entrepreneurship. You may associated with being apart contact her alexandra.adkins@ of this collective exclusive okstate.edu. whole. There are some people, however, who just don’t get it. I’m sure you all have heard of a little something called TSM. For those of you who are completely stuck in the ‘90s, that stands for Total Sorority Move. TSM is associated with TFM (Total Frat Move), its male counterpart. These websites exist to promote camaraderie nationwide amongst the Greek community. So when a sorority girl does something that she considers “srat,” usually associated with something sexual, alcohol, or making a man a sandwich, she comes up with something super witty and clever to say about it (because that’s just what sorority girls do), and tweets it to TSM. Today we are going to pick apart some of my favorites. “Feminism is for ugly girls. TSM.” I’d rather be called ugly than lazy any day. Lord help the man who marries you. “No. I am not concerned about my future. I am a 34D and bake cookies like you wouldn’t believe. TSM.” I used to have this exact same mindset, but it didn’t take a long time of being in college to figure out that this life isn’t the best that’s out there. Looking back now, I can’t begin to tell you how naïve this way of thinking is. You are literally telling a man, “I’m pretty, make me your charity case.” Wouldn’t getting married right out of college and being taken care of right off the bat be great, though? Yeah. Probably. The thing is, you are in college for crying out loud. Earning a degree is something denied to so many people. You have this opportunity and you

SORORITY SUE’S WEEKLY SCOOP The latest scoop on campus. Hottie of the week: Ty Baker, Sigma Phi Epsilon Status: Single · He’s yummier than formal dinner. #houseboy · His closet consists of wranglers and jerseys. TFTC. · If you think he’s interesting, you should see his iPod playlists #throwbacks · He’s Stillwater’s reigning date party king. Weekly Scoop · You left your dignity in Gulf Shores. · Hey freshman, your future little hasn’t even gone to prom yet. #realitycheck · Turn down for Mom’s Day. · But actually, turn down for Greek Discovery Day. #drycampus

are completely throwing it away. I’m sure somewhere in there, you are a smart girl with tons of potential. Do the world a favor and find her and let her out. You are worthy of far more than just being someone’s wife. “Leggings shouldn’t be sold in anything larger than a medium otherwise fat people think its okay to wear them. TSM.” First of all, this clearly didn’t come from the south, and second of all, a medium? Really? The average size of an American woman is a size 14. That’s a size large. And that’s the average size. I have a ton of friends who wear sizes bigger than that, and they look great. And also, if you’re from anywhere around here, you know that girls love oversized things. On t-shirt sign ups, the size you will see most often is a large, and I can promise you it’s not because we’re fat. (We like to be trendy too, yanno?) Needless to say, this post is ignorant. Skinny doesn’t make condescending look good. “I knew I would be a sorostitute the moment I got my first easy bake oven. TSM.” Now this one just made me sad. Seriously, what has to happen to a person to give them such low self-esteem that they would not only refer to themselves as a “sorostitute,” but also condemn themselves to a life of only baking? Baking can be fun and all, but seriously. This is such a disservice to yourself. You’re worth more than kitchen work. I can’t stress this enough. “My thighs don’t touch. TSM.” This disgusts me. That’s your criteria? Your founders must be so proud. Well that’s it for this week’s sratire (see what I did there?), y’all. And do you know something sad? I didn’t even get through 30 percent of the site before I just had to stop. The life these girls are all striving for is attainable, but at what cost? Sure, it may work out for some people. It probably will, actually. But what happens to everyone else? Those girls just wasted four years of college, thousands and thousands of dollars, and a degree they can almost always do nothing with, assuming they even finish college with a degree. I think the saddest thing about this is that these girls are probably really smart, and they just aren’t doing anything with it. Women are making such strides in the world today, and we are only going to go farther. I encourage you - be a part of it.

POST-GRUNGE IRONIC PLAYLIST Remember Creed and Nickelback?

Here’s to the postgrunge anthems that got us through the awkward years.

LANE HUGHES Sigma Chi

Lane is a junior studying animal When you were in grade science. You may contact him at school, did you think you lane.hughes@okstate.edu. were tough? If so, chances are you can sing every single one of these songs word for word and have probably been socked in the face several times. Not to say that I haven’t lost my voice after a dramatic performance of “Six Feet” by my boys from Creed. I certainly didn’t get disowned by my parents. That being said, post-grunge music certainly gained a LOT of airplay in the early 2000s. Not a day went by without Creed, Nickelback and Staind all coming into rotation on the radio. Other than being very generic high school dropout anthems, I don’t understand how they got so popular. Thankfully they did, or we would never get to fully understand the lifestyle of a meth head. In current times it has become cool to make jokes about these bands and how “absolutely terrible” and “talentless” these “complete losers” are. I just don’t understand the appeal. Neither does former Sigma Chi VP Cooper Page. He understands the hardships that come with having a terrible life.

“Yeah, I punched my dad and ran away from home for the first time to these songs,” Page said. With that brave declaration of his independence, here is this week’s ‘Oh I Get it Lane,’ Ironic Playlist. The Red – Chevelle Fine Again – Seether How You Remind Me – Nickelback Six Feet – Creed It’s Been Awhile – Staind

I Hate Everything About You – Three Days Grace Lips of an Angel – Hinder One Last Breath – Creed Photograph – Nickelback Blurry – Puddle of Mudd

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LOHAN VS. BYNES

Lindsay Lohan is an incredible actress who has starred in many different films. We all know her from Kappa Alpha Order when she starred in the Disney flick, Parent Trap. The Nick is a junior studying international movie was an instant classic business and pre-law. You may contact and jumpstarted Lohan’s him at nick.vela@okstate.edu. career. After the Parent Trap was released and headed it’s way to the top in the box office, Disney released Freaky Friday, another movie that starred Lindsay Lohan as the main role. Following Freaky Friday, Lohan’s most famous movie (which by the way is hitting its 10th anniversary of release this April) was released: Mean Girls.

NICK VELA

Lindsay Lohan instantly became famous after playing Cady Heron, the home schooled girl from Africa that turned into a less-hot version of Regina George. Lohan won MTV and Teen Choice awards for all her work in the film. However with all the paparazzi and tabloids following her, Lindsay Lohan was in for a ride. With two DUI’s on record, Lindsay Lohan was put on probation and led her to three stunts in rehab. After dealing with many legal problems from misdemeanors and probation violations, Lohan made a comeback when she starred Elizabeth Taylor in the movie Liz & Dick (which sky rocketed to number one in the box office and was actually a great movie). However, her come back wouldn’t last forever. She finally hit rock bottom when she admitted a drug and alcohol problem, finally going through an entire rehab program. Amanda Bynes is most famous for the hit show All That and The Amanda Show that aired back in the late 90’s and early 2000s. Her fame continued to grow when she landed a hit TV

series role playing the main cast in What I Like About You, which lasted four seasons. Like Lohan, Amanda Bynes has also starred in many popular movies. She has been in What a Girl Wants, Hairspray, She’s the Man and Easy A. Amanda Bynes was the sweet and innocent girl we knew and loved from Nickelodeon. Her talent as an actress landed her many awards from People’s Choice and hottest actress under 25 years old. However, there comes a time in every actors life where fame makes you lose control. Amanda Bynes posed on the cover of Maxim magazine in lingerie and stated that the new look she was going for was “sexy.” She posted on twitter saying she’s “retiring from acting and focusing on her clothing line and becoming a rapper.” Amanda Bynes has also had issues with the police. She’s been charged with a DUI, two hit in runs, driving with a suspended license and had to spend three years in probation. Later, she was arrested with possession of marijuana, tampering with evidence and reckless endangerment. Before being arrested, Bynes was evaluated for psychiatric help. After starting a small fire in her driveway, Bynes was sentenced to 72 hour 5150 mental health evaluation. “Lindsay Lohan is crazier because she’s just crazy, as opposed to Amanda Bynes being a diagnosed schizophrenic” source said. “Well they have both gotten their act together” says Senior Phi Mu, Samantha Valletti. “I’d have to say Amanda Bynes because she went so far as shaving her head, dying her hair, getting piercings on her dimples, setting a fire in someone’s lawn and throwing a bong out of her window.” While talking with Samantha, all she had to say after was, “If that’s not crazy, I don’t know what is.” They’ve have had their share of fame, money, mug shots and craziness, but who do you think is the most crazy? Follow me on Twitter as well as The Odyssey page and let us know who you think is the craziest and why! @NickVela @Odyssey_OKState. Want to be in the next Man about Campus topic, shoot me a tweet and let me know. Happy Thursday everyone!

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A GENERATION OF WIMPS

Starting with our generation and maybe even a little bit before, we saw how America’s youth transformed into a bunch of crybabies. Our generation is told that at 26-years-old, it’s okay Phi Delta Theta to still be reliant on your parents. However during the 1940s, the Kade is a senior studying political entire world was reliant on your science. You may contact him at great grandparents’ generation. kade.goodwin@okstate.edu. Our generation is told that at 19, it’s okay to take a year off from school and, “get your head on straight because there’s so much pressure.” Previous generations felt real pressure too, like trying to figure out how escape from a prison camp.

KADE GOODWIN

Our generation, which grew as wimps, has turned into a generation of young adults who are even bigger wimps. Hurting someone’s feelings is the worst thing you can do to someone. Hypocrisy is rampant. Bullies are getting bullied more than the person they were bullying, just ask Richie Incognito. So what happened and why did our generation turn into a bunch of wimps? I have a few theories, here are the main ones.

I, the 3’9 fat kid, had to be timed with a sun dial when I ran the 20 yard dash. Still, despite Julio being clearly better than I, we both received the same prize: a participation medal and a cosmic brownie. I still have that participation medal, but the cosmic brownie was gone faster than Julio’s 20 yard dash time. Had this happened in another country, I might have been abandoned in the woods and Julio would probably be training for the Olympics. Instead, you’re reading my thoughts and his whereabouts are unknown. I’d say the real winner in that race was you. Feminization of America: I know that some of you will think I’m making disparaging comments about women, I’m not. It is not anti-women to talk about women. You can’t deny that women control men and society, and men let them because it’s not worth the fight to stand up for themselves. These days, sensitivity is more important than facts, feelings are more important than the truth and everything is always a man’s fault. Look at any TV show or commercial, the women are brilliant and right about everything, while the men are dumb goons who are lucky women are there to point them in the right direction. It’s become acceptable for women to belittle men, but the minute a man pokes fun at a woman, he’s a chauvinist. Men are forced to agree with absurd statements just to avoid being put in the dog house by their girlfriends. “I agree. Sarah Jessica Parker makes great movies,” and, “That’s true, Brittany Griner could totally play in the NBA. Women’s basketball is really fun to watch,” and even, “Yeah, that girl’s shirt is too revealing. She needs to cover up.”

Participation Medals: What’s the point of participation medals? Giving an award to someone simply for showing up? That’s like saying, “You’re not the best, or even close to being the best, but you got out of bed this morning without falling over and breaking your face and showed up here. That’s a big enough accomplishment to merit getting some sort of an award.”

On TV, movies, and especially in real life, men are jesters in the court of women. Their one job is to keep them amused and not upset them. When young boys turn on the TV and they see males being portrayed in such negative light, what does that tell them? That they need start acting like girls or simply be a pushover and do whatever they say? Until men start calling it like they see it, stop being a pushover and start acting like men of earlier generations, we’ll always be a generation of wimps.

It’s the celebration of mediocrity. I remember at my elementary school’s field day in second grade, Julio Chavez (looking back, based on his mustache, he was probably closer to being a seventh grader than a second grader) ran the 20 yard dash in under four seconds. Meanwhile,

All in all, America is still no. 1, but we are only no. 1 because of the lead that was built by earlier generations. We’ll expand on that lead if our generation can stop being pushovers and not settle for mediocrity.

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@jessika_curry: I wonder how many times @ Mitchell_Earl has contemplated putting himself in tweets of the week.

@Zakypoof: Sometimes you have to step outside yourself and realize you’re playing clash of clans in the middle of a gas station

@JakeAkinStrips: If anybody has a snowman that needs takin’ care of, I know a guy

@NMe3zyy: The papers I write for this online class are so elementary school & brickwall waterfall gurl u think u know it all but u don’t, I do.

@tdvaz: Every time I hear that nasty word “exercise”, I have to wash my mouth out with chocolate….

@freshbrook: dude just came into aspen with frosted tips. f r o s t e d t i p s

@justinbieber: Blessed each morning. Going to be a great day @_Wade92: They’re playing Bust a Move in McDonalds right now. Employees here are down to get down. #turndownforhwat @fully_granted: Rushing the court was awesome!” You did not rush the court @Hannie37: Eating a BLT while driving is difficult.

@KatherineRead: If you’re about to put song lyrics on twitter, ask yourself: is it worth it? Let me work it. I put my thang down flip it & reverse it @Future1stLady1: Blue solo cups remind me of liberals. I don’t like liberals.

@ScottyDaNaughty: . @robinthicke drug me? Mug me? Seriously, WHAT RHYMES WITH HUG ME? @SterRS: I just said eight turds instead of eight thirds in front of the whole freaking class.

@derekbarchenger: No diggity just autocorrected to “no dignity”, I’d say that’s fair for texting about no diggity on a Tuesday afternoon @GovernorsHill: Crimea river

@rellyOnSMASH: them unread test messages aint gon come and cuddle wit you at night

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