The O'Colly, Friday, June 9, 2023

Friday, June 9, 2023

Holliday and Cowboys ‘gonna have a scar’ after disappointing end to season

and locked up a host bid. Just six days later, all that momentum crashed, and OSU failed to make it out of its home regional again. How do you evaluate a season like that?

Braden Bush

Roc Riggio found himself sitting in the same spot as a year ago.

For the second season in a row, Riggio met with the media inside the O’Brate Stadium interview room following an early end to the season in OSU’s home regional. This one was especially tough to swallow.

The Cowboys went 0-2. They were the first team eliminated. They were outscored 24-8 by ORU and DBU during the weekend and down by 17 runs in an elimination game Saturday in front of a home crowd.

Just two weeks before the Stillwater Regional started, the Cowboys claimed the Big 12 regular season crown. The next week, the Cowboys made the Big 12 Tournament title game

“The game is what it is. We lost by 14 runs – s*** happens, you lose games,” said Riggio, OSU’s second baseman. “But that doesn’t define this program. That one game doesn’t define this club. It definitely doesn’t define me... We’ve got a bunch of good men, and we’re not gonna hang our heads.”

For the second-straight season, the Cowboys (41-20) were given a national seed and hosted a regional in the NCAA Tournament. OSU went 0-2 in a regional for the first time since 2017 and has not advanced to a super regional since 2019.

OSU coach Josh Holliday struggled to put the weekend into words after Saturday’s 18-4 loss to DBU.

“I’m very numb right now,” Holliday said. “I don’t really have a good statement, other than that was a difficult game, difficult set of emotions.”

OSU’s high-flying offense, which ranked second in the Big 12 in batting

ing this

average (.302) and first in home runs (108) was largely kept under wraps. Riggio batted .350 in the regular season but went 1-for-9 with four strikeouts in the regional. The offense car-

Oklahoma Supreme Court rules two abortion bans unconstitutional

Emilee Norton Staff Reporter

On May 31, the Oklahoma Supreme Court blocked two laws banning abortion in the state of Oklahoma passed by the Oklahoma Legislature and signed by Gov. Kevin Stitt in 2022. First, a Senate bill prohibiting abortion after a heartbeat is detected and secondly, a bill passed by the House of Representatives banning abortion in most cases. Petitioners brought attention to the bills, accusing them of being unconstitutional, in which the Oklahoma Supreme Court has agreed.

“Pursuant to this Court’s decision in Oklahoma Call for Reproductive

Justice v. Drummond, 2023 OK 24, 9,— P.3d—, finding an “inherent right of a pregnant woman to terminate a pregnancy when necessary to preserve her life,” we find these two statutes to also be unconstitutional,” according to the Oklahoma Supreme Court.

Following the decision, Gov. Stitt released a statement that same day expressing his disappointment in the Court’s ruling.

“I again wholeheartedly disagree with the Oklahoma Supreme Court’s use of activism to create a right to an abortion in Oklahoma,” Gov. Stitt said. “As Governor, I will continue to do my part to fight to protect the lives of the unborn.”

As the argument revolving around the nature of abortion continues across

the state of Oklahoma, students attending Oklahoma State University hold different opinions regarding the Court’s recent decision.

Junior political science major, Ryan Jasper, is passionate that life begins before birth, therefore, everyone has a right to life. Only under the exceptions of rape, incest or preservation of the mother’s life does he think it could be understandable.

“The decisions make me feel disappointed, but mostly at our lawmakers,” Jasper said. “What I would like to see is our legislature try again with better legislative language that would be constitutional and also make sense with exceptions that I have already expressed my support for.”

See Unconstitutional on 6

ried the load much of the season when the pitching was finding its footing, but the OSU bats never found rhythm in either game.

See Scar on 3

Trevino’s Tidbits

What would the ‘perfect’ new Big 12 look like in conference realignment

BYU was, and still is, an appealing add to the conference. The brand is transcendent of sports, and the alumni base is massive, but with the Pac-12’s future in jeopardy, take advantage and get Utah.

Gabriel Trevino Staff Reporter

Former Big 12 commis-

sioner Bob Bowlsby doesn’t get enough of the credit he deserves.

Two months after OU and Texas announced it would leave the conference, he found four replacements to keep the conference alive and well and ensured its future. In 2022 when he handed the reins to commissioner Brett Yormark, Yormark continued to take the conference realignment spotlight on the Big 12 to present day, with rumors of future expansion with Pac-12 schools as well as Gonzaga and UConn for basketball.

As it enters a new era, how the Big 12 will continue to expand is the biggest question around the conference. Well, I have my own answer.

Some ground rules: Keep the Big 12 at 12 teams. Even though there will be 14 teams next season, let’s not make that permanent and have to change the name of the conference. Let’s stay at 12. Second, keeping OU and Texas in the conference would be too easy. They’re gone, and there’s no changing that, no matter how much of the Big 12’s identity they almost single handedly hold.

Step 1: You got the wrong school from Utah. Swap Cougars for Utes.

For football — by far the most important from a business and competitive view — Utah has been a perennial top-25, sometimes top-10, team for the past 10 years. The Utes have been to back-to-back Rose Bowls and are only getting better under 19-year coach Kyle Whittingham.

They’re solid in men’s basketball and below average in baseball, but are good in women’s basketball, softball, tennis, track and field, cross-country and golf.

Step 2: Why stop at Utah? Poach Oregon, Washington and Washington State.

The Big 12’s rumored pursuit of Arizona, Arizona State and Colorado hasn’t made much sense. All three are average or below average in almost every sport except one, and if the conference wants to snatch Pac12 schools, why not go after the big names remaining, such as Oregon, Washington and Washington State.

Oregon is a massive brand, especially with its backing from Nike. The Ducks are great at football (unless they’re playing Georgia), men’s basketball, women’s basketball, baseball, softball and volleyball. Washington just whooped Texas in the Alamo Bowl and are similar in success with Oregon in other sports. Both have also been to the College Football Playoffs.

See Tidbits on 3

Chase Davis

The Cowboys went from Big 12 champions to an early NCAA exit at home in less than two weeks, mak-

season tough to evaluate.

Courtesy of Tulsa World

Following the Court’s decision that the two abortion bans were unconstitutional, Gov. Stitt released a statement expressing his disappointment in the Court’s ruling.

Sports Editor

Reload and regroup

Gajewski recruiting players to join Kilfoyl, Maxwell for ‘team nine’

Rachel Becker’s historic one season in Stillwater ends her collegiate career.

Ashton Slaughter Assistant Sports Editor

Minutes after OSU’s season-ending loss to Tennessee, the Cowgirl faithful were given something to be happy about and look forward to.

After playing out her senior season this year, Lexi Kilfoyl will return to the circle for OSU next season, exercising her additional season of eligibility.

“I’ll be coming back, for sure,” Kilfoyl said. “...I think we have so much room for growth and potential with our team next year.”

Kilfoyl’s announcement means the Cowgirls will have the one-two punch of Kelly Maxwell and Kilfoyl again next season, as OSU head coach Kenny Gajewski announced earlier this year that Maxwell would be returning to OSU for another season.

Team eight, as Gajewski called this year’s squad due to it being the eighth team he’s coached in Stillwater, experienced a roller coaster of emotions. The Cowgirls had their best start in program history before ending the season on a disastrous 2-11 skid and still finishing as a top-six team in the country. Gajewski said this year was the most difficult but also the most rewarding season he’s had during his time as a head coach.

Despite keeping the duo in the circle for another year, Gajewski is losing some key players, ones that helped build his program into a Women’s College World Series regular. Kiley Naomi, Chyenne Factor and Taylor Tuck are finished after five seasons with the program; Morgyn Wynne’s two seasons at OSU wrap up her softball career; and

“One day when we hoist the trophy, we’ll be able to look back at all of them (the graduating seniors), and they’ll be a major part of that,” Gajewski said.

However, as one group leaves, another group enters.

The Cowgirls’ Class of 2023 recruits are headlined by two top-10 players (ranked by Softball America) and a quartet of top-25 prospects (ranked by Extra Inning Softball). Not to mention Tallen Edwards, Micaela Wark, Kyra Aycock, Katelynn Carwile, Claire Timm and Katie Lott looking to return for another season under Gajewski.

In Gajewski’s eyes, the key three are Edwards, Wark and Aycock. As a freshman, Edwards started 58 games and batted .328, and Wark and Aycock were named to the All-Big 12 freshman team.

Along with the returning Cowgirls and the 2023 class are whoever Gajewski adds from the transfer portal, an area that he’s found real success in. The additions don’t stop on the field either, as a fourth assistant coach will be added to the staff and the part-time video coordinator job will become a full-time position.

The Cowgirls are set to reload this offseason in hopes of another OKC trip next season, but until then, they have to get tougher, Gajewski says.

“We’ve got to be tough, and we’re not quite tough enough yet,” Gajewski said. “And that’s on me. When you’re here (in the WCWS), it’s the tough of the tough; it’s like an MMA fight.

“We’ll do a better job at that and keep growing this, and we’ll start looking forward to team nine in a couple days.”

sports.ed@ocolly.com

Luke Tolbert

OSU coach Kenny Gajewski said the Cowgirls still weren’t quite tough enough at this year’s WCWS, comparing it to an MMA fight.

Washington State is more of a package-deal, as it is intense rivals with Washington, and is also the most appealing school in the Pac-12 remaining. Colorado has been forgetful until Deion Sanders, and past membership doesn’t mean much of anything anymore.

Step 3: Room needs to be made. Sorry, Iowa State, West Virginia and Houston.

Now, this will never happen. And frankly, these three schools are great fits in the Big 12 (for the most part). But by my arbitrary rules, for the conference to stay at 12 teams with new additions, some teams got to go.

Iowa State is a solid team, but their biggest rivals aren’t in the Big 12, and Iowa isn’t as cool as the conference wants to be. The Cyclones are also the only team in the conference without a baseball team, too. Likewise with West Virginia. Morgantown is too far for basically every other school in the conference, and it belongs in the Big East. Well, ACC now, I guess. And Houston, while excellent in basketball and solid in football, there’s too many schools in Texas, and the Houston market doesn’t fit the Big 12.

These teams will likely always be in the Big 12, but for me, they’re outliers, and I’d rather see the Pacific Northwest trio.

Step 4: Divide ‘em up.

With more than 10 teams, the Big 12 can’t do its normal round-robin scheduling format in all sports. And with the conference growing from

sports

Florida to Washington, divisions can help with geography and keeping rivalries alive.

In the (rudimentary named) West Division, we’ll have Pac-12 deserters Washington, Oregon, Washington State and Utah, with Texas rivals TCU and Baylor — who also joined the conference together. Yes, I know Texas Tech is more west than TCU and Baylor, but this is more for competition. And Lubbock isn’t that much farther than Fort Worth and Waco for teams coming from the northwest.

In the East Division (the names have to match, OK), it’ll be Texas Tech, Oklahoma State, Kansas, Kansas State, Cincinnati and UCF. These all make sense. TTU and OSU are rivals, KU and KSU are rivals, and UCF and Cincinnati have the opportunity to become rivals with each of the other four teams. And the four legacy teams are within a few hours of another.

Step 5: Stick up for the little guys.

The Big 12 will likely never be the best football conference like it was known for with Nebraska, Oklahoma, Texas and Colorado. With the SEC and Big Ten taking that title, the Big 12 could rebrand into a good football conference with excellent secondary sports.

Basketball is obviously a sport it’s prioritizing. But the Big 12 could also push for more men’s and women’s lacrosse, soccer, volleyball and Olympic sports like swimming and gymnastics. The Big 12 is vastly different from school-to-school in terms of which sports are played.

Implementing more official sports could create more competition between every school in the conference. That’s what Yormark is trying to do, isn’t it?

sports.ed@ocolly.com

Scar...

Continued from 1

The Cowboys went 29-3 in games they scored above eight runs and 12-17 when they failed to do so. OSU scored eight total on the weekend. Even then, the offense can’t shoulder all the blame. The pitching staff didn’t allow a hit through three innings against DBU on Saturday but collapsed in the next four innings, giving up six home runs and 18 runs.

“For months –February, March, April, May – we’ve done a lot of great things on the field together,” Holliday said. “This tournament, we simply did not have our rhythm, or we weren’t able to put winning baseball together in either game.

“But right now, all the disappointment, the hurt, the embarrassment and all the things that our kids are feeling is overwhelmingly strong.”

The Cowboys started the year 22-7 and climbed to a top-15 ranking before dropping two consecutive conference series during a 1-6 stretch that knocked them out of the rankings. They climbed back

into the Big 12 title race with a 14-3 record during the final month, finishing the regular season with a series victory against OU. But the season ends on a three-game losing streak and a blowout loss on their home field. No super regional. No College World series or trophy.

“If the only way you can celebrate and appreciate a club is simply by the final result of the last game, there’ll be a lot of empty seasons in a lot of people’s hearts,” Holliday said. “So, I would hope they would have a bigger view of the club and appreciate all the effort that went into it.”

But perhaps the bigger view is what makes it worse. The Cowboys had potential. They overcame the midseason slump and finished strong with a share of their first regular season conference title since 2014. They made the championship game in Arlington. They hit the 100 home-run mark for the first time since 1999. They had series wins against OU and Texas.

The season still ended shy of their expectations.

Holliday met with his team for a brief postgame huddle Sat-

urday and told them to not let the numbness and emptiness from a disappointing regional be the lasting memory of this OSU team.

“We’re all disappointed in how it all ended, but I don’t think anyone will ever be satisfied until you go win the final game,” Holliday said. “Obviously, we’re not proud of the nature of the game today, but I can’t sit here and be unappreciative of the effort of the ball club and the way they represented us, or the way they played in many stretches during the season.”

At some point, the sting will wear down and Holliday will get a better evaluation of the season. But capping off a conference championship season in blowout fashion in Stillwater will be a tough one to shake.

“A disappointing finish, sure,” Holliday said. “Everyone has the right to view the team and the season in whichever way they wish. I will always view this team through all the good things that they did and all the moments that made us proud. And sure, we’re all gonna have a scar from this. There’s no question. There’s just no way around that.”

File Photo

Big 12 commissioner Brett Yormark is at the forefront of expansion rumors.

Chase Davis

After OSU’s 18-4 loss to DBU to end the season, coach Josh Holliday said, “We’re all gonna have a scar from this. There’s no question. There’s just no way around that.” sports.ed@ocolly.com

Cowgirl tennis’ transfer-built team

‘I haven’t been this excited about a roster in a while’team

Payton Little Staff Reporter

As students’ schedules wound down, OSU women’s tennis coach Chris Young’s schedule was just getting started.

Tennis season may have ended sooner than the Cowgirls anticipated, but they wasted no time in locking and loading for the next year. Coming off a fourth-place Big 12 finish and NCAA Tournament appearance, the Cowgirls have big goals with the national championship being hosted in Stillwater in the 2023-24 season.

The loss of critical seniors Alana Wolfberg and Martina Zerulo left gaps that needed filling, yet OSU found its answer quickly. The first of three transfers to commit to OSU was senior Safiya Carrington.

Young heavily recruited Carrington before her time at LSU, but better late than never.

Carrington brings with her 2021 and 2022 All-SEC honors as well as an 8-4 singles record in 2023. Carrington likely provide more depth in the upper to middle courts and add a plethora of experience to an already seasoned roster.

“Once we got her locked in, that was a really big piece of the puzzle for us,” Young said. “Just someone with experience, and with us hosting next year, we wanted an older kid.”

Next up was former Iowa State Cyclone, Ange Oby Kajuru. Staying within the conference, the junior packs tremendous firepower with a 40-13 career singles record. With the high level of success seen

by Japanese players at OSU, such as Lisa Marie Rioux and Ayumi Miyamoto, Kajuru felt a level of comfort when deciding on her future destination.

“For us having a good presence from Japan, that was really important the first time I talked to her,” Young said. “I also had a conversation the first night she was in the portal with her mom, and her mom was really just wanting her to consider a school that had Japanese players on roster.”

Out of all the names to

CheckouttheOriginalHideaway!

remember for next season, keep All-American Anastasiya Komar front and center. Last season, Young emphasized the lack of a true Court 1 superstar. Battle-tested players still slipped into the slots needed, but the team was without a true dominant Court 1 presence. However, those days may be behind the Cowgirls with Komar. Her highest ITA singles ranking is an impressive No. 6 overall, with a career record of 33-7 in singles and a 9-2 record when playing on Court

1. Komar is redshirt sophomore, meaning there could be many days ahead with her in Stillwater.

“She’s somebody that everyone was interested in,” Young said. “I’m sure she heard from just about every school in the country. It gave her some comfortability that we had one of her teammates already coming, but she connected really well.”

With the seasoned returning roster and the new additions grabbed in the transfer

portal, the Cowgirls have built a team that creates high expectations, and Young thinks they are capable of reaching higher than ever before.

“I think that everything is on the table as far as goals for next season,” Young said. “We definitely want to compete for championships, and we want to be playing that last weekend here in Stillwater… I haven’t been this excited about a roster in a while.”

sports.ed@ocolly.com

After three big additions in the transfer portal this offseason, Cowgirl tennis coach Chris Young said all goals are “on the table” next season.

Clemency denied to death row inmate

sion. “Justice will be served when the death penalty is carried out July 20.”

The hearing lasted approximately two and half hours, starting at 9 a.m.

Mark Henrikson presented Cannon’s defense. He presented points of self defense, mental health and an ineffective defense team in the original trial.

PTSD on the brain and how it affects a person’s physiological and psychological processes. She also said it is a treatable disease and many who have been treated have very successful results.

The state’s team, Assistant Attorneys General Josua Fanelli and Jennifer Crabb, presented the case against clemency.

Clark’s death, Cannon stated Clark had initiated a fight, attacking him with a kitchen knife as he tried to leave her apartment. He said he had taken the knife from her and blindly swung it four times. The state brought forward pictures of the crime scene and Clark’s body when it was found two days after her death. She had been stabbed in the throat three times and once in the chest.

Wednesday morning, in a vote of 3-2, the Oklahoma Pardon and Parole Board denied Jemaine Cannon his request for clemency.

Board members Calvin Prince and Edward Konieczny voted yes. Richard Miller, Richard Smotherman and Cathy Stocker voted no. Cannon has been on death row since 1996 after he was convicted of the first-degree murder of Sharonda Clark on Feb. 3, 1995. He will receive the lethal injection on July 20.

“I am pleased the Pardon and Parole Board denied clemency for the monster who brutally murdered Sharonda Clark and deprived her two young children of their mother,” said Attorney General Gentner Drummond in an official press release following the deci-

“He always has had an affirmative defense, that is, that he killed Miss Clark only in self-defense,” Henikson said. “More importantly, we will be showing that Mr. Cannon’s trial team did not present even the rough outline of self-defense in this case, and although it is not necessary for you to be convinced today that this event occurred exactly as we claim, it should give you great pause to permit an execution of a citizen whose basic defense was never presented to the jury.”

Georgia Wynkoff presented evidence for Cannon’s mental health.

Cannon was diagnosed with Complex Post Traumatic Stress Disorder in 1995. Growing up, he had been physically and emotionally abused by his mother, grandmother and his mother’s boyfriends.

Wynkoff discussed the effects of

“Jemaine Cannon has a history of abusing women long before he ever murdered Sharonda Clark,” Drummond said.

Prior to the murder of Clark, Cannon was convicted of the attempted murder of Awanna Simpkins and the assault of Pam Salzman. Salzam, along with Yeh-Sehn White, Clark’s oldest daughter, testified for the state.

Salzman described Cannon as an intelligent person who is a mastermind of evil and said he made her life a living hell. She told the story of the day she woke up to Cannon in her home, where he attacked and choked her.

Salzman also read a letter written by her mother, who had called her when Cannon was in her home, realized something was wrong and notified police.

Previously in his testimony about

Cannon fled to Flint, Michigan. Despite his claims of self-defense and the many defensive wounds on Clark’s body, the police who arrested him in Michigan noticed no defensive wounds on him, according to police reports. There were also abrasions found on Clark’s neck, signaling she had been choked.

Rev. Don Heath, the Oklahoma Coalition to Abolish the Death Penalty chair, opposed the decision to deny Cannon clemency in a press release. He said people who have grown up in stable middle-class homes cannot understand the trauma endured by Cannon and the effect it has on their life.

“For the State to kill him is not justice, it is cruelty,” Heath said.

news.ed@ocolly.com

Stephanie Landaverde via Zoom

The Oklahoma Pardon and Parole Board denied clemency to death row inmate Jemaine Cannon. He will be killed via lethal injection on July 20.

Stephanie Landaverde News and Lifestyle Editor

Unconstitutional...

Continued from 1

While the Courts have already established there are exceptions in the case of abortion, others like sophomore geology major, Megan Garrett, strongly disagree with any leniency for women seeking an abortion. Garrett expresses her deepest feeling on the Oklahoma Supreme Court’s ruling.

“I strongly disagree with the OK Supreme Court’s rulings,”Garrett said. “It makes me fear for the lives of unborn children. The harsh reality is that most cases of abortion are simply because of unwanted pregnancy and this is not an acceptable reason. People need to own up to their actions and also understand the horrible reality of abortion.

The Oklahoma Supreme Court rules the two laws as unconstitutional by stare decisis. This means they contradict earlier decisions regarding abortion in the Oklahoma Constitution.

For students that believe it is a woman’s right to have control over what happens to their bodies, the Court’s ruling has given them a sense of hope. Junior sociology major, Callie Gray, is one of those individuals.

“It makes me

feel like there is progress regarding women’s rights,” Gray said. “I think the decision is an improvement for Oklahomans to have somewhere that these things are being found unconstitutional, our rights are being protected by those who are in a position of power and can make a change.”

While some are hopeful for the future, like Gray, others are still in shock this debate is such an issue for women. Junior environmental science major, Calli Breaux, is angry and would like to see more positive changes all around.

“It makes me angry and honestly scared that they even have to debate this still,” Breaux said. “Hopefully they continue to block those bills and women can keep some sense of their rights and won’t feel as though they have to resort to unsafe abortion practices.”

The Oklahoma Supreme Court has expressed in its original ruling that for anything to change regarding their decision, the Court would have to rewrite the entire statute. Until then, their decision on the issue will remain as it is.

File Photo

OSU students share differing opinions after reflecting on the nature of the Oklahoma Call for Reproductive Justice v. Drummond ruling.

‘Affluent and important’

The history behind the Tulsa Race Massacre

Jake Sellers Staff Reporter

Last week marked the 102nd year since the 1921 Tulsa race massacre. The attacks occurred between May 31 and June 1 of 1921 and left hundreds of Black residents of Tulsa’s Greenwood district injured or killed.

Quraysh Ali Lansana is a former lecturer in Africana studies at OSU, and a visiting associate professor at the University of Tulsa.

On top of teaching, Lansana is a poet and published author as well. Lansana has been researching the Greenwood district and massacre for almost 30 years. Lansana believes an important part of remembering the tragedy that often gets left out of the story is what Greenwood was before it was destroyed.

“Greenwood at the time was one of the most affluent and important Black communities, not just in the nation, but in the world,” Lansana said.

During the years leading up to the massacre, Greenwood was a thriving community made up of primarily Black-owned businesses, and a majority of residents owned the houses they lived in.

Many factors played into what made Greenwood boom economically. The community invested in itself heavily, largely because of Jim Crow laws preventing them from spending money elsewhere.

Grocery stores, banks and other small businesses filled the area, all Black-owned and operated. It took less than 24 hours for all of this to change.

In the current state of north Tulsa, the majority of

Black residents do not own their homes or the property on which their businesses are run.

“It’s a sweeping difference 102 years later in terms of the landscape (of North Tulsa), and the massacre is at the foundation of that,” Lansana said.

The main cause of the massacre is widely thought to be over an incident between a Black teenager named Dick Rowland and a white teenage girl named Sarah Page. Lansana has learned, however, that this incident was more of an excuse for the riots than a cause.

“The massacre occurred because the city officials and business moguls wanted that land,” Lansana said.

Prior to the massacre, white officials and business leaders attempted to get the residents of Greenwood to sell their land, Lansana said.

Greenwood is located between three major railroads, making it an opportune spot for big business at the time. Neither the city of Tulsa nor the state of Oklahoma have paid any reparations to the descendants of the victims or to the three living survivors of the attacks.

The Stillwater History Museum has an exhibit over the event available until the end of July. The Tulsa Historical Society and museum produced the exhibit a few years ago.

Amelia Chamberlain is

the executive director for the Stillwater History Museum at the Sheerar. Chamberlain saw the Tulsa Historical Society and was offering the exhibit to travel; she originally signed up for it to be used at the Sheerar during Black History Month.

“I think it’s important that we keep our Black community’s history alive,” Chamberlain said.

The Stillwater History museum also previously featured a display on Washington School, which was an all-Black school in Stillwater before schools began desegregating in the South.

“If you forget your history, you are doomed to repeat it,” Chamberlain said.

For Chamberlain, both these exhibits serve both to teach the community about its past, and to guide the community in providing justice for the wrongdoings committed during this period of American history.

“People don’t want to admit to the things that were done to fellow human beings,” Chamberlain said. “It’s not something that they are proud of - they don’t want to acknowledge. But by the same token, if you don’t remember that piece of your history, healing can’t start, and you can’t start working toward other solutions.”

Party/Semi-formal

File Photo

The Stillwater History Museum has an exhibit over the event available until the end of July.

Pride month spotlight, Mr. Hispanic

about it over and over again,” Salmeron said. “And it really pushed me to pursue it because again, I really wanted to use my platform and really use my voice to advocate for who I am and what I care about.”

Bella Casey Staff Reporter

Thirteen-year-old Wilson Salmeron packed a bag in preparation for coming out to his parents.

Salmeron was ready to text his parents that he was gay. He hit send, grabbed his bag and rushed out to his friend’s grandmother’s car after sending his parents the life-changing message.

“But luckily, or fortunately, they reacted really well,” Salmeron said. “They were really supportive and loving of me. So, that’s been a really great privilege that I have that a lot of other queer members don’t. So, I am thankful for that.”

Now, Salmeron, a Ph.D. student at OSU, aims to help other members of the LGBTQ+ community. Originally from Maryland, Salmeron selected OSU to help him pursue his dream of counseling psychology. Salmeron said he was drawn to psychology by his own history with mental health issues.

He hopes to provide therapy to marginalized communities as well as those with disordered eating habits and body image issues.

As Salmeron prepared to make the transition from University of Maryland, where he got his undergraduate degree, to OSU, he searched for ways to find a community at OSU as a Ph.D. student.

One opportunity stood out: the Mr. Hispanic Pageant.

Salmeron was eager to find his place at OSU but knew he would be busy with his studies.

“But I just kept thinking

Salmeron not only ran for Mr. Hispanic, but he won, and he’s done exactly what he said he would do.

Salmeron identifies with two different communities: the gay community and the Hispanic community. Salmeron said he has always felt he had to “choose.” Was he gay, or was he Hispanic?

Salmeron’s family didn’t understand his experiences as a gay man, and Salmeron’s friends didn’t comprehend his experiences as a Hispanic man. As Salmeron’s family and friends tugged him between two identities, Salmeron said he struggled with authenticity. In light of his own experiences, Salmeron promotes mental wellness and authenticity as Mr. Hispanic.

“I am really happy with my platform,” Salmeron said.

“And I’m really excited to kind of showcase what I plan to do with mental health in the Hispanic community as well as other marginalized communities this upcoming year.”

Salmeron said he also hopes to be a resource to others at OSU and encouraged all to reach out to him with any collaboration ideas or suggestions.

Salmeron has pushed himself to pursue his true identity and interests throughout his life.

It paid off.

Salmeron is in school preparing to help those who struggle with issues similar to the ones he’s overcome, and he’s found a community within OSU through Mr. Hispanic.

“And so, it’s been a really amazing journey participating, meeting so many cool people and really being connected with the community.”

entertainment.ed@ocolly.com

HIMALAYAN GROCERY STORE

Courtesy of Wilson Lazo-Salmeron Salmeron, a Ph.D. student at OSU and the 2023 Mr. Hispanic, aims to help other members of the LGBTQ+ community.

Come check out the wide variety of elegant clothing at Formal Fantasy!

Located on 121 E. 9th Ave, Downtown

Stillwater

The best selection of beer, wine and liquor that Stillwater has to offer! Perfect for all your game day needs, come to Brown’s Bottle Shop located on 128 N. Main

“The Original Hideaway, located on the corner of Knoblock and University.

Serving quality pizza and more since 1957.”

Murphy’s Department Store

815 S Main, Downtown Open 10-6

Monday thru Saturday

Houses for rent

Spacious 1100 sq. ft

2 bedroom home. Recently remodeled, CH/A, wood

floors, nice yard. 2214 E. 6th Ave., Scarlett Bus Route. 405-372-7107.

Daily Horoscope

Nancy Black Tribune Content Agency

Linda Black Horoscopes

Today’s Birthday (06/09/23). Imagine and build this year. Grow professionally with consistent action. Resolve summer health challenges, before falling in love again this autumn. Enjoy a refreshing winter pause. Follow your heart another way next spring for a fun social phase. You can have what you work for.

To get the advantage, check the day’s rating: 10 is the easiest day, 0 the most challenging.

Aries (March 21-April 19) — Today is a 7 — You can see a way to realize a long-held dream. Plan steps in detail before launching. Secrets get revealed. Guard private data carefully.

Taurus (April 20-May 20) — Today is an 8 — Things are coming together with a group project. Maintain and strengthen structures for support. Networking, socializing and spontaneous connections lead to dreamy developments.

Gemini (May 21-June 20) — Today is an 8 — Take advantage of favorable conditions to advance a professional project. Make valuable connections. Strengthen basic elements before building elaborations. Words and actions work together.

Cancer (June 21-July 22) — Today is a 7 — The open road is calling your name. Whether in person or online, explore fascinating destinations and subjects. Realize a dream with steady action.

Leo (July 23-Aug. 22) — Today is a 9 — Follow the money trail. Discuss financial details and strategies for growth. Collaborate for maximum efficiency and ease. Take advantage of lucrative conditions. Share rewards.

Virgo (Aug. 23-Sept. 22) — Today is an 8 — Talk things over with your partner. An unexpected opportunity looks ripe for the plucking. Discuss dreams and ideas to make them come true.

Libra (Sept. 23-Oct. 22) — Today is a 9 — The work you’ve done reflects you well. Practice makes perfect. Need an equipment upgrade? Have fun realizing a dream. It’s all about the process.

Scorpio (Oct. 23-Nov. 21) — Today is an 8 — Creativity and romance flower. Flexibility allows for spontaneous discoveries. Share beauty, love and inspiration. Cook up something delightful. Have fun with someone you love.

Sagittarius (Nov. 22-Dec. 21) — Today is an 8 — Talk about the domestic upgrades you would love. Determine which to prioritize. Begin what’s ready now. Invest in home and family for satisfying results.

Capricorn (Dec. 22-Jan. 19) — Today is an 8 — Follow a hunch. Ask probing questions. Keep digging for clues. Maintain highest principles and ethics. Communication unlocks new opportunities. Make an amazing discovery.

Aquarius (Jan. 20-Feb. 18) — Today is a 9 — Take advantage of lucrative conditions. Buy, sell and exchange value. You get more with honey than with vinegar. Put together a fantastic deal.

Pisces (Feb. 19-March 20) — Today is a 9 — Savor your favorite fun. Wear something that makes you feel powerful and confident. Make a lucky connection. Pursue and catch a dreamy moment.

Edited by Patti Varol and Joyce Lewis

Natasha Erickson

Complete the grid so each row, column and 3-by-3 box (in bold borders) contains every digit, 1 to 9. For strategies on how to solve Sudoku, visit sudoku.org.uk

Swinging into innovation

‘Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse’

Tanner Kenyon Staff Reporter

As the curtain lifts, “Spider-Man: Across the SpiderVerse” doesn’t just swing into action - it soars, transforming our expectations of what an animated film and a superhero film can truly be.

“Spider-Man: Across The Spider-Verse” exploded onto screens, building on the masterful and innovative foundation laid by 2018’s “SpiderMan: Into the Spider-Verse.”

The film is loaded with stunning animation, unforgettable characters and complex themes. This is a thrilling piece of work that leaves viewers anxiously anticipating the next chapter in the trilogy.

The film opens just over a year and a half after the events of the first film. This time around, Brooklyn’s own webslinger swings not just between skyscrapers of Manhattan, but through realities. It is revealed through the film and trailers that Spider-Gwen has been inducted into a secret SpiderSociety dedicated to protecting the multiverse consisting of new characters such as SpiderMan 2099 and Spider-Woman. Meanwhile, Miles Morales continues to juggle his own identity and his role as SpiderMan, all while dealing with the emergence of a new villain, The Spot.

Pros:

The film’s dialogue was superb. Every line served a purpose in some form down to the throwaway lines. The dialogue of the film contained various elements of humor, poignancy and emotion from beginning to end.

One thing that I especially appreciated was the time dedicated to dialogue between

Miles Morales and his parents. It was really insightful into the heart, soul and mind of Miles which really opened up the emotional themes of the movie and helped set up the climax of the film flawlessly. I don’t even know where to begin when talking about the animation of this film; the only word that comes to mind is groundbreaking. I watched this film in IMAX and the experience was unreal.

The animation crew at Sony and the corresponding studios must have had an absolute blast making this movie. This film featured a 1000-member crew strictly for animation.

Another key aspect is the fights in the film, each of them were spectacular. I can confidently say that a secondary battle in this film would have been the main battle of the climax in almost any other animated film.

The colors of this movie were surreal, the emotional expressiveness they got out of simply using colors is mind blowing. I walked out of the theater realizing I may have just watched the best-looking animated film ever made. It truly lived up to its predecessor in regard to animation.

This film was a love letter to Spider-Man fans everywhere. I will not be going into detail about the references and cameos featured in the film, however, I will explicitly state that the cameos included in this film will make die-hard SpiderMan fans yell in excitement everywhere.

The inclusion of a secret Spider-Society allows the writers to craft a compelling and emotional story all while maintaining the classic cameo aspect of multiversal films. I honestly think it has one of my

favorite cameos in any Hollywood project ever in it, especially if you know the cultural history behind the cameo.

I grew up watching Spider-Man everyday; he was and still is my favorite superhero. Now saying that, this film is in my top 3 Spider-Man films. While this film may repeat previously established themes in Spider-Man films, I believe this film does it better than most.

I think that this film advocates for multiple different messages and themes with some being crucial for us to learn and understand.

One theme I recognized is the importance of recognizing and acknowledging one’s pain and trauma is imperative for selfgrowth. The film suggests these are integral aspects to life and without them we can not truly mature.

The second key theme I recognized is the theme the first film preached as well: it’s not about who wears the mask, it’s about how you wear it. While superheroes are not real, this is an outstanding message to stand for because anyone can be a hero, ranging from saving a cat in a tree to being a police officer.

The story in this film was flawlessly done to the minimal detail. The writers clearly had a vision and passion behind this project as not a single second is truly wasted. While some scenes may not be as important as others, each scene serves a purpose to the complex narrative. The drama was there, the emotion was there and the suspense was there. Those are the three key ingredients to a great film in my eyes.

Each of the vocal performers in the film excelled in their roles. The cast of this film was stacked as well, ranging from Shameik Moore, Hailee

Steinfeld, Oscar Isaac, Jake Johnson, Issa Rae, Brian Tyree Henry, Jason Schwartzman and many others, some of which may or may not be surprises.

The soundtrack producer of this film is the legendary rap producer, Metro Boomin, who without a doubt assembled an all-star roster of artists for the film. He gathered artists such as Lil Wayne, Future, A$AP Rocky, Lil Uzi Vert, Swae Lee, 2 Chainz, Don Toliver, Offset, Coi Leray, Offset, A Boogie Wit Da Hoodie and many more artists. Metro Boomin did not come to play.

Cons: This film contains a complex narrative; so did the first one, to be fair. Due to this being an animated sequel, it is almost formulaic to retell the story of the first film somewhere in the sequel. I walked in expecting that in some manner. However, I thoroughly believe they may have overdone it.

I can vividly recall two instances of the plot of the first film being restated which I feel like was unnecessary. I understand multiverse films are complicated, but it is a very common story in the media nowadays. The film that won ‘Best Picture’ at this year’s Oscars was in fact a multiverse film, “Everything Everywhere All at Once”.

Due to this, I personally believe we need to stop explaining it to those who are not paying attention. There are plenty of films, like the first film, that perfectly explain the concept.

This film was great as I have expressed; However, they marketed it as a standalone film in marketing whenever it truly isn’t. It is a part one and many people in my theater were bummed to end the film without a true conclusion, but this didn’t bother me personally.

Chris Miller, head writer of the film, compared this film to “Empire Strikes Back” in terms of tone and structure and that is a very accurate take in my eyes. All in all, I believe they could have potentially benefited from including ‘Part One’ somewhere in the film’s title just to negate that criticism.

Despite the occasional overwhelming action and obscured details, “Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse” is a rewarding sequel that builds on its predecessor while enriching its themes. While it does have its open-ended conclusion, it’s seen as a promise to continue an already rewarding story, rather than just a way to guarantee ticket buyers’ return.

entertainment.ed@ocolly.com

Courtesy of Sony Pictures Animation

Jessica Drew (Issa Rae) and Miguel O’Hara (Oscar Isaac) in “Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse.”