OSU ranked internationally for sustainable development goals

universities.

The fifth edition of the Times Higher Education Impact Rankings determined the placings. It assesses the ways institutions’ research, stewardship, outreach and teaching contribute to sustainability on a global scale.

Times Higher Education is a forefront publisher of education related news and developed the Impact Rankings in 2019. These rankings help better showcase the role that colleges can play in confronting essential global needs.

Oklahoma State University has a green thumb.

The university has been ranked with the top colleges worldwide for its contributions to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). OSU has outranked much larger universities across the country and the globe for three straight years, placing overall at 72 among more than 1,600 global

OKC Zoo plans World Oceans Day

Bella Casey Staff Reporter

The Oklahoma City Zoo celebrates a variety of animals each month.

This month, in honor of World Oceans Month, the spotlight shines on the zoo’s aquatic inhabitants.

The OKC Zoo and Botanical Gardens invite guests to partake in the festivities of World Oceans Day on Thursday, presented by Bob Moore Subaru. Guests will have the opportunity to learn about the oceanic species at the zoo, how all animals are affected by the health of our oceans, participate in family-friendly activities, caretaker chats, eventthemed photo opportunities hosted by Bob Moore Subaru and more.

The OKC Zoo is home to a group, or “fever,” of 24 stingrays at the Stingray Bay habitat including cownose, bat eagle and Atlantic stingrays, which share their habitat with bamboo sharks, a small species of reef shark. This World Oceans Day celebration will be held around the zoo’s Stingray Bay habitat from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Bat eagle rays are considered least concern, and the cownose ray is near threatened, according to the International Union for Conservation of Nature. The OKC Zoo participates in the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA) SAFE: Saving Animal From Extinction program for sharks and rays and is committed to the preservation, care and promotion of habitat security for oceanic animals.

See Zoo on page 6

OSU has ranked in the top 100 universities international every year it has participated in the ranking process. The individual rankings OSU received are based on the educational, research and outreach aspects of the university.

It ranked seventh internationally in Zero

Hunger (SDG 2), 63rd internationally in Clean Water and Sanitation (SDG 6), 72nd internationally in Sustainable Cities and Communities (SDG 11) and 41st internationally in partnerships for the goals (SDG17).

“The university’s strategy is focused on using the expertise of our faculty, staff and students to address the world’s most pressing challenges, many of which are reflected in the UN Sustainable Development Goals,” said Jeanette Mendez, OSU senior vice president and provost. “We approach these challenges by integrating teaching, research and outreach/extension, encouraging transdisciplinary efforts that engage people from across the OSU system.”

See Ranked on page 6

Ashton Slaughter Staff Reporter

OKLAHOMA CITY — Morgyn

Wynne’s arms shot up in the air, not only because of excitement from crushing a home run seconds before, but because the Cowgirls had something that seemed to be fleeting prior to her at-bat.

Hope. Once the ball landed off Wynne’s bat over the left field fence, she was nearly at second base; she was moving with a purpose, sprinting toward home plate to meet her team, fist-pumping and screaming along the way.

Wynne’s teammates swallowed her in their huddle around home; the energy was there, and the offense looked like it was going to keep surging upward now that OSU had cut the Tennessee lead to two in the top of the sixth.

But they never cut further into the Volunteers’ (51-9) lead, eventually leading to a 3-1 loss Sunday night for the Cowgirls, ending their season a game before the semifinals of the Women’s College World Series.

“We fell short,” OSU coach Kenny Gajewski said. “That part hurts... but like I told them, if you just keep kicking shins, they’ll eventually break, and that’s what we’re gonna do. We’re gonna keep kicking the shins of our opponents, and we’ll eventually break this door down.”

The first 2 1/2 innings were a defensive battle. Both the Cowgirls and Vols had one hit each, thanks to both teams’ aces in the circle.

Kelly Maxwell, who only threw two innings against Florida State three days earlier, started the game for the Cowgirls (47-16).

Tennessee pitcher Ashley Rogers was similarly well-rested, as she only pitched four innings against Alabama in OKC. The two were setting the game up to be a duel that would be won in the circle.

Maxwell took the first slash, as the Vols scored two runs in the bottom of the third. A Zaida Puni RBI double put Tennessee on the board, and a Rylie West RBI single brought the second run home.

See WCWS on page 3