The O'Colly, Tuesday, December 5, 2023

Tuesday, December 5, 2023

He died training for LA teen crisis hotline. His parents want all to know the number Sonja Sharp Los Angeles Times

“Kids tell other kids what they’re gonna do,” Lieberman said.

This is the animating principle behind Teen Line, which connects children and adolescents in extremis with LOS ANGELES trained volunteers from Los -- Among the first things Angeles high schools.

16-year-old Donald “Trey” It’s also what drew Brown III picked up while Trey to the work. The training at Teen Line in Harvard-Westlake High the spring was how to ask School sophomore had long another child if they were been a “therapist” for his contemplating suicide. friends. But after his classThis question is crucial, counselors at the youth- mate Jordan Park killed herself in March, he wanted run crisis hotline say. Askto do more. ing it directly saves lives, “He said he always by naming the intense and often unspeakable desire to meant to go up and say hi to her,” said his mother, Chrisdie that now haunts almost tine Brown. “He knew she a quarter of American high was having a hard time and school students, according he felt responsible.” to the Centers for Disease Weeks later, senior JoControl and Prevention. nah Anschell died the same “People who are not way Jordan had, followed suicidal will be like, ‘No, no, no, no, I would never do almost immediately by Jorthat,’” said Mendez, 16, one dan’s father, Shaun Park. For of the crisis line’s volunteer Trey and other students at “listeners,” whom the orga- the prestigious prep school, the speed and the scale of nization asked to be identithe loss were dizzying. The fied only by her first name. fear of contagion — the viral “But other people spread of suicide through might say something like, social groups — hung over ‘Well, maybe...,’” she went the school like a miasma. on. “A lot of people will “I remember him test the waters to make sure you’re a safe person” to tell. saying after Jordan passed away, and then Jonah, there Because suicide is wasn’t a whole lot that they impulsive, the jump from inchoate longing to lethal in- felt like they could do for tent can be sudden, the leap each other,” Brown said. from intent into action even “When he got selected [for TeenLine] he was really faster, studies show.

“One study found that excited. He felt like he could really be there” for his peers, 71% of attempts happened she said. within an hour or less of To his parents, the [someone] making the deciskills Trey was learning and sion, and a quarter were five his passion for the work felt minutes or less,” said Janel Cubbage, a suicidologist and like an inoculation against a deadly threat. They called it prevention expert. “an extra layer of defense.”

Yet as California’s The program’s training teen suicide rate has spiked, regimen was rigorous. school administrators have Sixty hours. No abshied from the word. Now sences, no tardies, loads of many all but forbid the acknowledgment of student homework. It was a lot for a kid who was already comsuicides, despite state laws muting from Santa Clarita mandating evidence-based to Studio City each day, and suicide prevention and decades of evidence proving competing in varsity sports on top of his schoolwork. silence causes harm.

But Trey was invigo“The No. 1 myth I’ve rated by the challenge, his dealt with forever is, ‘If we parents said. talk about it, it’s going to “He felt like that was happen,’” said Dr. Richard his calling,” said his father, Lieberman, lead suicide Donald Brown Jr. “He really prevention expert for Los wanted to have a purpose, to Angeles County’s Office of feel like he was making an Education, who also works impact, and that was his way closely with Teen Line. of doing it.”

Lieberman and other Then, in the midst experts are adamant: Most of his training, Trey killed suicides can be prevented. himself too.

For adolescents, prevention often starts with other teens.

See Crisis on 6

Tribune Content Agency Volunteer Wiley Caraway, 12, of Dallas is ready to serve turkey dinner at OurCalling, which serves the homeless in Dallas County, Wednesday, Nov. 22, 2023, in Dallas. Thanksgiving dinner was served to homeless and needy people at OurCalling on Wednesday.

City of Dallas launches volunteer corps to support homelessness initiatives Leah Waters The Dallas Morning News

support the city’s temporary inclement weather shelter, work at The Bridge Homeless Recovery Center, and assist other local non-profits, said Christine Crossley, director of the office of homeless solutions.

Crossley said the city’s DALLAS — The city of biggest need for helping hands is Dallas’ Office of Homeless Solu- during the hot and cold inclemtions is launching a volunteer ent weather periods. In the corps to serve unsheltered neigh- winter, volunteers muster to staff bors ahead of the winter season weather shelters, pass out warm when the city and Austin Street blankets and clothes, and pick Center open doors in times of up donated supplies to transport inclement weather. them.

Volunteers in the OHS “We as a city don’t have a Friends Group, which will be ton of volunteer events,” Crossmanaged by the office’s volunley said. “But when we do, we teer services division, will help really need people.”

Crossley said many nonprofits, churches and volunteer groups already have partnerships with the city to help during inclement weather periods. But during big weather events, the city often needs dozens of hands on deck for several days.

“Having these volunteers [means we] can pick up when the smaller church who has five or six ladies in their 60′s keeping the church open and keeping the casseroles coming in for two or three days and are just exhausted,” Crossley said. “We need a second wave who can come in, or who can go get food and drop it off.”

See Dallas on 8

Courtesy of OSU News Teams compete on planting and growing winter wheat at Oklahoma State University in Stillwater on Thursday, Nov. 9, 2023.

Small grains, big competition Producers plant wheat for regional contest Courtesy of OSU News

Tribune Content Agency Donald “Trey” Brown III’s parents keep his phone charged so his friends can continue texting the number.

the highest quality and most cost-effective wheat.

“The TAPS program is an opportunity for us to learn from the different teams to The Oklahoma State Uni- understand which management versity Extension Small Grains decisions are most profitable or highest yield producing,” said program is celebrating wheat planting season with a friendly Amanda Silva, OSU Extension small grains specialist. competition.

Each team’s wheat vaFor the first time, OSU riety of choice was planted in is implementing a Testing Ag Performance Solutions program early November in no-till plots managed by OSU’s Soil Ferto hold a wheat management contest. Eight teams comprised tility Program. From drill to combine, each team will choose of wheat industry experts and specific factors for its respecprofessionals from Oklahoma tive plot such as variety, seeding and Kansas will compete on rate, nutrient supplementation OSU plots to determine which management practices produce and pest management.

“The goal of this program

is to unite the wheat industry while learning which practices are most profitable and highest yielding,” Silva said.

Teams for the wheat management competition include producers from different regions of Oklahoma, professionals from the Oklahoma Wheat Commission and the Oklahoma Wheat Growers Association, and Extension professionals from both OSU and Kansas State University.

Contest updates are available on the OSU Small Grains social media pages and the OSU Wheat Research and Extension website. After harvest, contest winners and results will be posted for public access. news.ed@ocolly.com

Page 2 Tuesday, December 5, 2023

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sports

Leftovers from OSU’s loss to Texas in the Big 12 Championship Game Braden Bush and Davis Cordova Staff Reporters

After OSU’s 49-21 loss to Texas in the Big 12 Championship Game, focus shifts to bowl season.

The Longhorns jumped to No. 3 after the win and earned a spot in the College Football Playoff. OSU finished the season at 9-4 and will play in the Texact Texas Bowl in Houston on Dec. 27.

But before all the bowl stuff, here are some more notes from Saturday.

Sesi Vailahi showed up when Cowboys needed him It’s not often a freshman gets their first meaningful snaps in the first quarter of the conference championship game, but that was the case for OSU running back Sesi Vailahi.

Vailahi is a three-star freshman from Salt Lake City, Utah, who got to play in OSU’s game on Saturday, early. His only other playing time came late in OSU’s blowout loss to UCF. Behind Doak Walker Award finalist Ollie Gordon II, running backs Jaden Nixon and Elijah Collins weren’t available in Saturday’s game. That’s when Vailahi got the call to the field.

Gordon got banged up and injured on a play in the first quarter. Vailahi entered, and surely OSU fans didn’t know who he was, or thought he was former OSU running back Dominic Richardson, who wore No. 20 last season.

Vailahi, though, made an impact immediately.

After Gordon got hurt, Vailahi entered and got his number called the next play on third-and-2. He rushed the ball through the gut and got six yards out of it − more importantly, the first down.

Vailahi rushed the ball twice for seven yards and caught two passes for 12 yards.

His impact on paper may seem small, but to his teammates and coaches the time he put in against Texas is invaluable, especially for Vailahi being a freshman.

OSU coach Mike Gundy said he thought Vailahi did a ‘good’ job, but OSU quarterback Alan Bowman took it a step further.

“I think Sesi coming in as a true freshman playing at a high level, catching three or four passes, first real live action in a Big 12 Championship Game. Shout out to him,” Bowman said. “He played at a high level when we needed him. He came up in third down and fourth down. Shout out to Sesi.”

Payton Little The Cowboys’ focus is shifting to bowl season, but here are a few more notes from OSU’s Big 12 title game loss to Texas.

Nick Martin close to history OSU linebacker Nick Martin is one tackle away from breaking a team record.

In Saturday’s game, Martin had 13 total tackles, pushing his season total to 133, which tied the single-season record with Orie Lemon, who had 133 in 2010.

Martin displayed why he’s a first-team All-Big 12 in his first season as a starter, leading the game in tackles and getting an interception.

Martin is willing to do whatever it takes to play his style of football and will do anything for his teammates.

Martin entered the press room postgame with an ice pack placed on his cheek. He had a welp that was visibly red, but Martin said it’s just part of the job.

“This has happened like five times this year. I don’t know how, but I keep getting hit in my cheekbone and it swells up. It’s weird,” Martin said. “It’s war, you know what I’m saying? If I got to do this and go through all the pain inflicted for my guys, I’d do it a million times.”

OSU single-season tackles leaders: T-No. 1: Nick Martin (2023) - 133 T-No. 1: Orie Lemon (2010) - 133

No. 3: Malcolm Rodriguez (2021) - 130 Third downs demoralized OSU defense that was already struggling On Texas’ first six drives, OSU forced the Longhorns into six third downs. Each was a chance to get off the field with the Texas offense clicking on all cylinders. Here is how each third down went.

A 24-yard touchdown pass. A 62-yard completion. An 11-yard and 17-yard completion, each for a first down. An eight-yard touchdown pass. The only third down not converted was an interception on a thirdand-13 from linebacker Nick Martin.

Texas quarterback Quinn Ewers had all day in the pocket, as the OSU pass rush didn’t have much luck forcing pressure. On those third downs, Ewers had time to carve up the Cowboys for 122 yards and two touchdowns on 5-for-6 passing.

“They did some manbeater stuff that was really good,” said OSU defensive coordinator Bryan Nardo.

“They have a good offense.

He’s a good offensive play caller, and he had a plan for looking at their progressions, ‘OK, if you’re in zone, they go here. If you’re in man, they go here.’ So we were trying to balance it out. We played a little bit of both. And then we just

started to say, ‘We’ve got to play a little bit more two-man,’ and one time when you have a three-man rush and then you let that guy really go, and that was a little bit frustrating.”

The most deflating was a third-and-10 and the Texas 21yard line. The Cowboys trailed 21-7 in the second quarter, and a stop would have given them good field position. Instead, Ewers had plenty of time in the pocket and found Adonai Mitchell for a 62-yard gain.

The OSU defense desperately needed stops to allow the offense to keep up, but Texas kept converting. Entering the game, UT ranked 93rd nationally, converting 36.1% of third downs. But on Saturday, the Longhorns converted 10 of 16 third downs.

“It didn’t feel very good,” said defensive lineman Anthony Goodlow. “We’ve got to get to the quarterback, and we’ve just got to execute.”

Close, but no cigar Since 2010, OSU ranks No. 10 in wins in Division-I college football. Since 2008, the Cowboys rank ninth. Other than Boise State, OSU is the only team in the top-10 wins list to never make the College Football Playoffs.

In the past four seasons, OSU is tied with OU for the most wins in the conference.

Since OSU last won the Big 12

in 2011, OSU is second to OU in wins in the Big 12, and the Cowboys have 12 more wins than Kansas State at No. 3.

Despite that success, OSU hasn’t won a Big 12 title in a dozen years. The Sooners have seven (including one co-championship). Baylor has three (including a co-championship).

Kansas State has two (including a co-championship).

OSU – on a national and conference scale – has had sustained success few other programs have. Yet, the Cowboys have gone championshipless since 2011.

Five times OSU has just had to win a game to win the Big 12 title: 2013 Bedlam in the final game of the season; 2015 Bedlam in the final game of the season; 2016 Bedlam in the final game of the season; 2021 in the Big 12 title game against Baylor; 2023 in the Big 12 Championship against Texas.

Saturday’s game against Texas was a tough one, but still, the Cowboys are 0-5 in those games.

The opportunities have been there for OSU to be rewarded for its success with another conference crown or maybe even a CFP berth (2021), but it hasn’t happened, and OSU’s conference championship drought continues during one of the football program’s most successful eras. sports.ed@ocolly.com

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Tuesday, December 5, 2023 Page 3

sports

Ethan Scott OSU had chances to get off the field on defense or set the pace offensively to keep up with Texas, but the Cowboys came up short, and things got out of control early.

Things got away from Cowboys early in Big 12 Championship loss Braden Bush Sports Editor

ARLINGTON, Texas – Kasey Dunn’s game plan wasn’t to start things off conservatively.

Ollie Gordon II entered Saturday as the nation’s leading rusher, but feeding Gordon right away wasn’t on Dunn’s mind, either. Dunn, OSU’s offensive coordinator, was looking to set the pace of the Big 12 Championship Game with the Cowboys receiving the opening kickoff.

“First play of the game we wanted to rip one downfield and send a message there,” Dunn said.

On the first play of the game, OSU quarterback Alan Bowman dropped back to pass but was quickly chased out of the pocket. He rolled right and threw the ball away as he was pushed toward the sideline.

The next two plays were passes, too. Bowman targeted Brennan Presley a short ways down the field, but it fell incomplete. Then, the Cowboys took their shot, a deep pass to Rashod Owens in Texas territory that didn’t connect, either. The first possession ended in 39 seconds.

“It kind of started a little bit of a spiral right there,” Dunn said. “That was disappointing to us. That was a rough three-and-out. And that put pressure on our defense.”

During the Cowboys’ five-game

winning streak midseason that put them in position to be in the Big 12 title game, OSU scored the game’s first points. OSU isn’t built for shootouts or to come from behind. It is better off setting the pace and keeping things close early. That was Dunn’s goal Saturday, but the Cowboys missed early opportunities and didn’t jump out to the start they needed, resulting in a 49-21 loss to No. 7 Texas in the conference championship game.

“I felt like we needed to get off to a really good start to kind of maintain the blows back and forth,” said OSU coach Mike Gundy. “We didn’t really get off to a good start. Then we got into a multiple-score game, and it made it difficult.”

After the disappointing threeand-out, the Cowboys (9-4) picked up a kick-catch interference call on the punt, which set Texas up at the OSU 39-yard line. It took four plays for the Longhorns to take a touchdown lead 2:08 into the game.

Gordon took his first carry of the game on the second OSU drive, and he picked up a nine-yard rush for a first down before the drive quickly stalled.

When Texas got the ball back, it picked up 54 yards on a catch from Xavier Worthy and scored three plays later.

It was a bad day to try to play from behind. The OSU defense had no answers for Texas quarterback Quinn Ewers, who completed all 11 of his passes on the Longhorns’ first three drives for 167 yards and three touchdowns.

Bowman had a chance to cut into a 21-7 deficit in the second quarter but overthrew Owens for a sure-fire touchdown. Later in the drive, pressure forced Bowman to throw a pass off his back foot, and the pass was short of Owens and intercepted at the OSU 5-yard line.

A couple plays later, OSU cornerback Cam Smith had an interception go through his hands. Two plays later, UT receiver Adonai Mitchell caught a 62-yard pass that set up another Texas touchdown and a 28-7 score.

“We came up short,” said OSU coach Mike Gundy. “They made some plays, we didn’t. They made some coaching calls. We didn’t. So, I give them credit.”

Lineback Nick Martin gave OSU hope with an interception he returned to the Texas 3-yard line, which was punch in for seven.

But Ewers was too much. He answered with his fourth touchdown of the half and squashed OSU’s momentum with a 35-14 lead. Ewers completed 35 of 46 passes for 452 yards and four touchdowns.

“We all expected to play all quarters heavyweight the whole game, and it kinda just got away from us early, and we were playing catch up,” Martin said.

OSU forced a Texas punt to open the second half – the Longhorns’ first punt of the game, which came on their eighth drive – and had a chance to get within two scores.

The Cowboys started with a first down, then were set up at their own

36, facing a second-and-2, when a high snap forced Bowman to jump on the ball for a seven-yard loss. The next play was a rush up the middle for a yard and another punt.

“Ifs and buts and all that, but to me I envision and think about what if you go down and score there, at least you may kind of clamp them a little bit on play calling,” Gundy said. “But I don’t want to take away from Texas today. They were really well coached, and they played good.”

Up against a huge deficit, OSU couldn’t get back in the game. Dunn wanted to save Gordon for late in the game when the other team is tired, as Dunn has much of the year, but the Cowboys got in a hole and had to throw.

Gordon ran 13 times for 34 yards against a stout Texas defensive line that wanted to make the Cowboys throw the ball. The SSU offense couldn’t make enough plays to get back in the game with the Longhorn offense exploding for 662 yards.

The Cowboys needed a fast start.

That’s been the recipe all season. They game planned for it, but it didn’t happen, and the Cowboys didn’t capitalize on chances to stay in the fight.

“We were there step-for-step for what I thought in the beginning, but it just kind of got away from us,” Dunn said. “And as you guys have heard before, we’re just not really built right now to play that kind of air-it-all-over-theyard game.” sports.ed@ocolly.com

Page 4 Tuesday, December 5, 2023

O’Colly

sports OSU to play Texas A&M team in 2023 TaxAct Texas Bowl, rematch of 2019 bowl Gabriel Trevino Staff Reporter

Oklahoma State received its fate on Selection Sunday after an intense morning for the Big 12.

With Texas making the College Football Playoffs and OU in the Alamo Bowl, OSU was left with the TexAct Texas Bowl, where it will face Texas A&M on Dec. 27. It will be OSU’s 18th consecutive bowl game and the first time in the Texas Bowl since 2019, where it lost to Texas A&M 24-21.

Tickets and parking at NRG Stadium are on sale online on Ticketmaster and on verified second-hand websites such as SeatGeek.

NRG Stadium, located in downtown Houston, is accessible through Houston’s rail system that fans can ride directly to the stadium for $2.50 round trip. Some local hotels have a shuttle to take fans to the stadium’s parking lot. Tailgating is encouraged. NRG Stadium has a clear bag policy. Check the Texas Bowl’s website to see more.

Texas A&M fired coach Jimbo Fisher and hired Duke coach Mike Elko. Aggies associate head coach and defensive line coach Elijah Robinson will serve as interim head coach for the bowl game.

The Aggies open as favorites to win.

The O’Colly’s Ashton Slaughter has more about Texas A&M and Elko.

OSU played at Houston on Nov. 18, and it will be the 12th game OSU has played in the Gundy era in a pro-team’s stadium.

The Cowboys are 1-1 in NRG Stadium and 4-8 in pro stadiums, with their last win in 2017 at Heinz Stadium vs Pitt.

The last time the Cowboys played in the Texas Bowl vs A&M, it also featured a Doak Walker Award finalist with Chuba Hubbard.

This year, Ollie Gordon II, the NCAA’s leading rusher, is also a finalist for the award.

OSU has won four of the last five games vs the former Big 12 member, with the loss in the last meeting, but Texas A&M holds the series margin 18-9. sports.ed@ocolly.com

Payton Little On Sunday, OSU was selected to the Texact Texas Bowl against Texas A&M on Dec. 27.

brownsshoefitstillwater browns.stillwater 201 S. Perkins Rd · 405-372-7170 Mon–Fri 9:30–6:30, Sat 9:30–5:30, Sun 1–5

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news Crisis . . .

Continued from 1 i’m writing to you because i’m scared....this is the third time it’s happened this year, and i’m terrified it’s going to happen again. it probably will.

This is one of scores of texts that Trey has received since he died June 30.

Some friends still text every day, his mother said. Others write once, and disappear. Increasingly, the texts come from strangers.

“I have kids saying, ‘School’s not the same without you here. I miss you every day,’” Christine Brown said. “I’ve talked to a psychiatrist [about] the fact that these people are still texting, and she said, ‘You leave them alone. When they get ready they’ll stop.’”

Many parents fall silent in the wake of a child’s death by suicide. Grief, guilt and the intense stigma of suicide loss cut them off from the world.

“That’s part of the stigma that goes with it, that there must have been something wrong, the parents must have been neglecting them,” Trey’s father said.

But many others told The Times they were warned not to speak out about their child’s death, to receive condolences from their friends, or to memorialize them at school, the epicenter of most children’s social world.

Although they are not supported by evidence, such responses appear more common since the passage of California’s first school suicide prevention law in 2016.

Harvard-Westlake and other private schools are not governed by the law.

“Clearly, our school is not immune to the growing mental health challenges faced by an increasing number of teens nationwide,” said Rick Commons, the school president. “While we don’t have reason to believe that these tragedies are linked to anything that happened at school, Harvard-Westlake is embarking on an even more expansive effort to address the current crisis in teen mental health.”

Though the school’s administrators would not share details of their response to the recent student deaths, social media, student newspaper stories and interviews with parents suggest a massive, schoolwide effort — parts of which conform to evidence-based practices, and parts of which do not.

With few restraints on what they

could say or do after Trey’s death, the Because you think —” Browns threw themselves into suicide “Well, they say it’s the model, prevention. perfect ones that fool you,” cut in fellow They have been in almost constant mom Kalika Yap, who runs a mindfulcontact with Teen Line, promoting the ness group at the academy. number to anyone who will listen.

“That’s what I’m saying — everyThey also started giving out Trey’s one’s impulsive at that age.” phone number, urging strangers who For these parents, the deaths felt might be in crisis to tell someone they closer and more personal than for many were considering suicide, and to text others at the tony prep school: Although their son to let them know after they Harvard- Westlake is majority white, did. two of the three suicides had been Asian Texting had been one of the things or part-Asian children like theirs. that tied Christine Brown and her first“I’m half-Asian, and I’m from born together. If she didn’t answer him Hawaii, and you don’t talk about your promptly, he would hail her in all caps: feelings,” Carvalho said. “You smile.

BIRTHGIVER. Even if you’re hurting, you just suck it So, hours after Trey was found, up and you don’t talk about it — you’re and hours before his body could be iden- not allowed to.” tified, she went back to the place he’d “We never told our kids, suicide last been alive to look for his phone runs in my family,” Yap added, nodding The cellphone helps her hold on in agreement. “My husband was like, to him, and to the hope that others will ‘Don’t say anything.’ He doesn’t want to reach out from the depths of despair, give them the idea.” accepting what they’ve called Trey’s In California, the suicide rate Challenge. among Black and Asian youth has now Because their son knew what to overtaken the rate among those who are do, his parents said. He’d helped others white, reaching about 10 per 100,000 to do it. and 8 per 100,000, respectively.

“That’s one of the reasons it Trey was both. caught us so off-guard,” his father said.

Yet the way suicide threatens chil“He had just done a session with his dren of color, and how best to protect volunteer [supervisor] at Teen Line, and them, is not nearly as well understood as [she] was like, he’s just phenomenal.” it is for white youth, experts said.

His sister even started wearing his “Pretty much everything we have Teen Line shirt. right now [in suicide prevention] is “It has a number,” Christine something that was developed and tested Brown said. “That’s telling people — on primarily white populations, and she doesn’t have to open her mouth, it’s they’re like, OK, this is evidence-based telling people they can get help.” now,” Cubbage said. “But is it evidencebased if we don’t have evidence for :: everyone and if it works for everyone?”

Lieberman agreed.

Oct. 1 would have been Trey’s 17th “The vast majority who die by suibirthday. Early that morning, dozens of cide are white, so we look at risk factors people in Harvard-Westlake gear hudthrough a white lens,” he said. dled in a tight scrum around his parents What information does exist still and three siblings, preparing for a char- doesn’t reach most parents — even ity walk in his honor. highly educated and engaged parents “Alive Together: Uniting to Presuch as Carvalho and Yap. The pair said vent Suicide” is an annual suicide they struggled to talk to their children memorial and fundraiser for Didi Hirsch about the suicides and fretted over how Mental Health Services, which now runs the school had handled them.

Teen Line as part of its suicide preven“It’s like a Pandora’s box, they tion work. don’t want to open it up,” Yap said of The Harvard-Westlake contingent her children. “But then when they’re in made up the single largest group. Most school, everyone’s crying. They were children had at least one parent by their able to have that assembly — but I also side. Many came with both. heard assemblies are not good.”

But even as they stood in solidar“My son said he couldn’t be part ity with the Browns, parents remained of that,” Carvalho said. “I remember frightened and ambivalent about what one of the assemblies they had, [he] was they or the school should do in the after- like, ‘Oh my God, it was too much.’” math of so much death.

“One of [my son]’s teachers said “I heard it’s impulsive,” said Dr. that when he found out they were doing Kim Carvalho, a mom of two. “That’s an assembly, he was like, ‘Don’t do it,’” what makes me as a parent really afraid. Yap agreed. “I don’t know why, but he

way! a e d i H inal g i r he O t t ou k ec Ch

Tribune Content Agency A jersey belonging to Donald “Trey” Brown III remains on a dining room chair months after the 16-year-old Harvard-Westlake High School student died by suicide.

said studies show” they’re harmful, she said.

Indeed, the evidence against assemblies is strong. Likewise, experts say schools should not close, and memorials need guardrails.

“The message to kids is, we totally have to memorialize your friend,” Lieberman said. But there are rules.

Rest in Peace T-shirts are gently discouraged — most guidelines say children who show up in them should be allowed to keep them on but asked not to wear them in the future. Candles, flowers and other temporary mementos should be cleared after the child’s funeral or public service, and classmates should be excused to attend such events if they want to.

Schools should have a written policy about candlelight vigils, graduation and yearbook tributes, trees, gardens, murals and other forms of permanent memorial that apply to all children who die, regardless of the manner, experts said.

But the best kind of memorial, Lieberman said, is one explicitly tied to suicide prevention.

For Donald and Christine Brown, that means continuing the work Trey left behind.

It means ensuring every child who knew their son knows this number: (800) 852-8336. news.ed@ocolly.com

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AN IMPORTANT MESSAGE! I, and seven other adults, recently returned from a week’s trip to southern Mexico. We were visiting a missionary work that started a number of years ago. Now, this includes an orphanage for needy children, a growing church work in spreading the Good News message of God’s love in Jesus for all mankind. It was a great time of “helping out” in a number of ways.

However, this growing work started a number of years ago in a very shaky way. A young couple sensed a call from God to go to southern Mexico to do missionary work. As we prayed, we went to this small town in southern Mexico. We searched for a number of days for a suitable place for them to live and begin their work. We could not find a place..I had to leave and get back to my pastoral duties in Okla. They kept looking, but found nothing.

They were about to give up when the man spotted a small sign in a store window; “House for Rent”. The couple

checked it out. It was just what they needed. It was a “last minute” answer to prayer.

I want to encourage you, today, in reading this article, to pray about getting in involved in Christian missionary work. It may be through your local church you attend. It may be in contacting others you know who are envolved. I can testify that there is a deep satisfaction in working and serving in the work of God, and seeing fruit that will last for eternity. Even if you only can help in small ways; it can really count.

I remember a song years ago; “Thank you for giving to the Lord!” It spoke of a person that was thanked by others when he reached Heaven because of his service and giving to God’s work. There are lasting effects as we give and serve! .

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Tuesday, December 5, 2023 Page 7

news

Courtesy of OSU News Lindsey Greco, David Huntsman and Xiangyu (Dale) Li are researching the cause behind high rates of suicide among firefighters.

Responding to First Responders Courtesy of OSU News

For most people, work-related stressors may be long hours, increased workload or poor management, but for first responders, often it is situations of life and death.

“The rates of suicide for firefighters, for police officers and other first responders are incredibly high,” said Dr. Lindsey Greco, associate professor of management in the Spears School of Business at Oklahoma State University.

“It’s a very stressful and hard job to be a first responder and for firefighters, in particular, it’s a dangerous job.

However, more firefighters and police officers die by suicide than in the line of duty and rates of depression and PTSD can be as much as five times higher than that of the general public.”

Taking a closer look, one might be surprised to learn that only 20-25% of a modern firefighter’s job consists of putting out fires. Most of their time is spent responding to a wide variety of other situations ranging from car accidents,

drownings and other trauma situations to medical issues, such as heart attacks or falls.

With the nature of the job changing, today’s firefighters are exposed to more horrendous situations than ever before, a fact that many may not be aware of when signing up. In addition to repeated exposure to trauma, broken sleep and responding to many false alarms compounds into high levels of stress.

Over the last five to 10 years, organizations have realized the need to focus more on the mental health and well-being of their firefighters, but despite this increased awareness, suicide rates among first responders remain high. Greco and her team — Drs. David Huntsman, senior researcher and owner of Huntsman Consulting LLC, and Xiangyu (Dale) Li, assistant professor of fire and emergency management in the College of Engineering, Architecture and Technology at OSU — set out to learn why.

“Existing research points to the severe stressors that first responders experience and the unhealthy/negative coping strategies they commonly use as primary contributing factors,” Greco

said. “In addition, first-response organizations do not always play a positive role in development of effective coping strategies.

“The culture within these organizations can compound the stress experienced by first responders because of cultural stigmas related to expressing emotions, such as being afraid to appear weak. In short, the skills that make first responders good at their jobs, such as strength, decisiveness and emotional control, can also keep them from coping with stress and seeking help.”

In early 2020, Greco and her team initiated the research program “Coping with Stressors: Understanding Negative Emotions, Harmful Strategies and the Role of Fire Service Culture.” The team began collecting data by surveying individuals from several fire departments.

Word soon spread and more departments became interested in participating.

In 2023, the team was awarded a $511,794 grant by the National Science Foundation to continue and expand the research.

“The funding will be used for additional data collection, graduate assistant support, and other travel and

research-related expenses related to gathering the information necessary to answer the questions posed by the research program,” Greco said.

This research’s goal is to provide insight into why first responders have a significantly increased risk of PTSD and suicide and, ultimately, effect change that will aid in lowering these rates.

“We are already seeing the impact of this research — the findings from our survey have led to significant organizational changes in some of the departments,” Greco said.

Organizational changes implemented because of this study’s findings include budget justifications for a mental health coordinator as well as contract enhancements for behavioral health services at a public safety occupational health clinic, changes to operations that affect sleep and emergency alarms for firefighters and even the addition of therapy dogs.

“More precisely diagnosing the problem lays the groundwork for effective organizational interventions that can mitigate stressors, promote healthy coping and ultimately increase the general well-being of first responders,” Greco said. news.ed@ocolly.com

Page 8 Tuesday, December 5, 2023

O’Colly

news

Courtesy of Tribune Content Agency The city of Dallas’ Office of Homeless Solutions is launching a volunteer corps to help its local unsheltered population.

Dallas . . .

Continued from 1 “We realized that we needed to figure out a way to more formalize the group,” said Sandoval, who will help facilitate the program.

One of the biggest tasks of the OHS Friends Group is preparing shelters before they’re needed by preparing cots, blankets and meals.

“That’s why I need an established friends group because we need to be able to call on people and say, ‘Hey, we’re activating in 48 hours,’” Sandoval said.

Dallas City Councilmember Paula Blackmon – the group’s honorary chair – will host an official launch on Monday, Dec. 11 at Smoky Rose on Garland Road.

During the event, the volunteer group will also collect gently used coats that will be distributed through OHS’ street outreach team during inclement weather.

Monday - Wednesday: 10:00am - 10:00pm Thursday - Saturday: 10:00am - 11:00pm

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Crossley said if volunteers feel compelled to give, the best way to help people living outdoors is by donating to an established nonprofit. The city directs people to donate to Communities Foundation of Texas.

“As people are thinking about giving as we go into the holiday season – and obviously giving is a year-round thing but holidays are a time when I think there’s a heightened awareness of it – we just want to urge everyone to give responsively,” Crossley said.

“Please don’t just drop things off on the street because that is where we get mas-

sive amounts of litter.”

Sandoval said getting involved in the friends group is a perfect opportunity for those who often lament the presence of homelessness in their neighborhoods and feel powerless to help.

“They’re very frustrated about homelessness like everyone is. We’re all frustrated,” she said. “And it doesn’t seem like we can solve it. But we gain a better understanding of it when we get involved. It makes us feel like we’ve done something.” news.ed@ocolly.com

O’Colly

Tuesday, December 5, 2023 Page 9

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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

Cowboy Calendar Tuesday, December 5, 2023 11 a.m. Leon Polk Smith: Affinities in Art & Design OSU MUSEUM OF ART 11 a.m. Flowers for Finals , STUDENT UNION 11 a.m. Computer Science Graduation Reception MATH SCIENCES 1 p.m. Let’s Talk About Mental Health:Tabling with Nate Covington, MS, LPC- Cabdudate LIFE SCIENCES EAST 1 p.m. Let’s Talk About Mental Health: Tabling with Nate Covington, MS, LPC-Candidate LIFE SCIENCES EAST 4:30 p.m., Deck the Halls with STEM OSU-Tulsa Main Hall Commons 700 N. Greenwood Ave, Tulsa, OK 4:30 p.m., Study and Snacks AGRICULTURE 4:30 p.m., Study @ Spears BUSINESS BUILDING 6 p.m. Pete’s Pet Posse - Yappy Hour EDMON LOW LIBRARY 7 p.m. Stressed is Desserts Backwards w/ RHA KERR-DRUMMOND CAFETERIA 7:30 p.m.

OSU Symphony Orchestra MCKNIGHT CENTER FOR THE PERFORMING ARTS 8 p.m. Oklahoma State University Cowboy Basketball at Southern Illinois Carbondale, Ill. 8 p.m. Polar Express in PJs PATILLO COMMUNITY CENTER Wednesday, December 6, 2023 8 a.m. Accredited Basic HACCP WorkshopSign Up ROBERT M. KERR FOOD & AGRICULTURAL PRODUCTS CENTER 11 a.m. Leon Polk Smith: Affinities in Art & Design OSU MUSEUM OF ART 11:30 a.m.

Cookies with the CAGLE BUSINESS BUILDING 4:30 p.m.

Study and Snacks AGRICULTURE 5 p.m. Pet Photos With Santa 5:30 p.m.

OSU’s Chapter of ACM MATH SCIENCES 6:30 p.m.

Japanese Language Club Meeting CLASSROOM 7:30 p.m.

OSU Saxophone Ensembles MCKNIGHT CENTER FOR THE PERFORMING ARTS 8 p.m. “Pajamas Winter Party” KERR-DRUMMOND CAFETERIA Thursday, December 7, 2023 7 a.m. Coffee and Climbing COLVIN RECREATION CENTER 11 a.m. United Way Pasta Lunch 11 a.m. Leon Polk Smith: Affinities in Art & Design OSU MUSEUM OF ART 11 a.m. Mental Health Series: Behavior Change STUDENT UNION 12 p.m. Reindeer & Holiday Cheer, Engineering South

Edited by Patti Varol

ACROSS 1 Mooch, as a smoke 4 Royal elephant of children’s literature 9 Functional 14 Slice of history 15 Alpaca relative 16 Inheritance from one’s parents?

17 Sherlock Holmes costume accessory 20 Marriage 21 Desert watering holes 22 Means of sticking a shower caddy to a tile wall 26 Fungus gnat, e.g.

29 Paul Anka’s “__ Beso” 30 Score more than 31 Figure on the last float in the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade 32 To the left, at sea 34 Takes effect 35 Support from the bullpen 38 Bibliography list 39 Neglects to mention 40 “The Good Place” creator Michael 41 “Sunday NFL Countdown” network 42 Agcy. operating full-body scanners 45 __ out a win: almost lost 46 Annual football game in Arizona 49 Convene again 51 Dubbed 52 Isn’t credible, or a literal description of 17-, 22-, 35-, or 46-Across?

57 Muse of poetry 58 Supreme Court justice Kagan 59 Nail polish brand 60 Luminous 61 Weather forecast aid 62 Web portal with Bing

12/5/23

By Amanda Cook

3 Realismo __: Isabel Allende genre 4 Russian pancakes 5 Melmac native of 1980s TV 6 __ leaf: stew herb 7 Bordeaux beau 8 Expired, as time 9 Fleece-lined boots 10 Mind readers 11 Sort of 12 “__ Misérables” 13 Serpentine curve 18 “__ my cup of tea” 19 Athleta parent company 23 Orchestral reeds 24 Tank the efficacy of, in gamer slang 25 Arched-back yoga asana 27 Risotto recipe verb 28 Khaki kin 31 Splinter group 32 Mentions indirectly 33 Docking spot 34 Duration of employment 35 Novelist Riordan 36 Light and delicate DOWN 37 Little rascals 1 Perplex 2 Ice planet beyond 38 “The Waste Land” poet’s monogram Saturn

“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

Los Angeles Times Daily Crossword Puzzle

Daily Horoscope

Monday’s Puzzle Solved

©2023 Tribune Content Agency, LLC

41 “Both would be fine” 42 Narrow-headed drum 43 Wins every game in a series 44 Astronaut Buzz who was the second man on the moon 46 Athletic 47 Peace Nobelist Sadat

12/5/23

48 What did ewe say?

50 Skier’s surface 52 Anti-narcotics law gp.

53 URL ending for charities 54 Suffix with pay or Cray 55 Conducted 56 Makeup of 16-Across

Nancy Black Tribune Content Agency Linda Black Horoscopes

Today’s Birthday (12/05/23). Energize your work and health this year. Domestic routines provide nurturing peace and comfort. Make healthy changes this winter, before navigating team challenges this spring. New love sweetens next summer, inspiring domestic renovation and sweet connections between beloved friends. Exercise and playfulness revitalize you.

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 — Practice basic moves. Stay focused. Watch for hidden dangers. A beautiful view may be a mirage. What appears stable may not be. Reinforce foundations.

Taurus (April 20-May 20) — Today is a 6 — Patience is one of your best virtues. Apply it wherever things aren’t going as expected. Avoid assumptions, illusions or fantasies. Make peace with what is.

Gemini (May 21-June 20) — Today is a 7 — Don’t take on too many projects. Manage existing domestic responsibilities before making a bigger mess. Organize, sort and clean. Or relax and lounge with family.

Cancer (June 21-July 22) — Today is a 7 — Sift through data. What you seek may be hidden. The obvious answer isn’t always correct. Listen to your heart. Notice dreams. Separate fact from fiction.

Leo (July 23-Aug. 22) — Today is an 8 — Keep to the plan.

Pay your fair share. Intuition guides your actions. Prioritize income generation. Strengthen foundations. Follow through on a hunch. Replenish your reserves.

Virgo (Aug. 23-Sept. 22) — Today is an 8 — Personal matters have your attention. Abandon excess baggage. Don’t get lost in distractions or overextend; you could make a silly mistake.

Nurture yourself.

Libra (Sept. 23-Oct. 22) — Today is a 6 — Make time to process recent events. Postpone travel, crowds or noise. Find your peaceful productive zone. Distractions abound. Rest and recharge. Love finds a way.

Scorpio (Oct. 23-Nov. 21) — Today is a 7 — Old friends offer great ideas. Another person’s creativity is inspiring. Resolve practical problems together. Many eyes avoid hidden dangers.

Many hands lighten the load.

Sagittarius (Nov. 22-Dec. 21) — Today is an 8 — Expect work surprises. A tough taskmaster likes you. Be patient. Changes at the top are to your benefit. Your frugal attitude impresses someone important.

Capricorn (Dec. 22-Jan. 19) — Today is a 7 — Study options.

Plan your routes and stops in advance. Travel complications would waste time and money. Don’t argue with authorities.

Solicit imaginative solutions.

Aquarius (Jan. 20-Feb. 18) — Today is a 7 — Research before purchasing. Things aren’t as they appear. Keep your money, for now. Tailor plans to the budget. You can get what’s needed.

Pisces (Feb. 19-March 20) — Today is a 7 — A partner appreciates you handling the plans. Find ways to decrease or postpone excess obligations or complications. Learn from a wise elder. Keep it simple.

Level 1 2 3 4

12/5/23

Solution to Monday’s puzzle

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

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