Monday, August 30, 2021
Finding passion in the Nickel Lydia Watkins Staff Reporter
People oftentimes choose a college based on nostalgic stories they have been raised hearing and choose to stay once they realize they have started to build their own story. This holds true for Allison Keys, owner of Wooden Nickel. Growing up and becoming best friends with the founder, K. Cohlmia’s daughter, Keys always wanted to play a role at Wooden Nickel, and did not stop until she was able. “I would always ask lots of questions, and they were always ending on ‘so do you think I can work at the nickel?,’” Keys said. After many conversations, Cohlmia finally agreed to let her start after she graduated high school. Keys started working at Wooden Nickel during her freshman spring semester in 2002. Keys said she started the apparel merchandising program and decided to make the jump to interior design her freshman year of college. “I just wanted all the skills and experience and Devin Lawrence Wilber
See Passion on 2
Dealing with the delta Inside the Wooden Nickel, the Stillwater store Allison Keys owns.
President Shrum and officials host Town Hall in light of recent COVID concerns
Ali Isbell
Students and professors have new guidelines to follow if an individual from a class tests positive for COVID-19.
Jared A’Latorre Staff Reporter A normal school year was somewhat expected during the summer. However, OSU president Dr. Kayse Shrum and university officials got together in a live streamed Town Hall event to discuss COVID spread-
ing across the OSU campus. Earlier in the week, OSU told students and staff that the mask wearing indoors should be “expected.” “It’s setting a standard to what we expect for people to wear a mask,” Shrum said. The big bombshell of the day was about vaccines and if they would be mandated to attend campus. “We will not be mandating vaccines but I would encourage everyone to get the vaccine,” Shrum said. As regards to sporting events, it will depend whether the event is outdoor or indoor. Shrum said the football stadium capacity expected this fall
will be the same. “We don’t anticipate any changes in outdoor capacity,” Shrum said. Interim Provost Jeanette Mendez said everything is on the table in terms of classes being moved away from an in-person status. “We’re looking at all viable options for classes,” Mendez said. Vice President for Student Affairs Dr. Douglas Hallenbeck answered a question regarding if large gatherings can be virtual. “If it can be virtual, think about doing that,” Hallenbeck said. Mendez said masks being offered from professor to student should be an
encouraging sight in the classroom. “Part of this is to get the mask back in the students’ hands when they’re indoors,” Mendez said. Shrum and officials have been getting together with multiple groups day and night to discuss what potential next moves should be with classes. Officials said they do have the tools they need to provide professors with whatever they need. “We really do have the resources in place, we do provide teaching support to all our faculty,” Mendez said. news.ed@ocolly.com