The O'Colly, Friday, February 16, 2024.

BRICK BY BRICK 2024 Spring Sports Preview

Cowboy Baseball Pg. 4A & 5A

Cowgirl Softball Pg. 2A & 3A

Nolan Schubart

Tallen Edwards

Equestrian Pg. 8A

Cowboy Golf Pg. 9A

Cowgirl Golf Pg. 9A

Emma Filiatreau

Jonas Baumgartner

Cowgirl Tennis Pg. 7A

Maddison Hinson-Tolchard

Cowboy Tennis Pg. 6A

Alex Garcia

OSU Track & Field Pg. 8A

Building Back to Title Aspirations Ange Oby Kajuru

Gabija Galvydyte

Page 2A Friday, February 16, 2024

2024 OSU Softball Schedule

O’Colly

SOFTBALL

Friday vs. Georgia^ Friday vs. Wisconsin^ Saturday vs. LSU^ Saturday vs. Northwestern^ Sunday vs. Georgia Tech^ Feb. 21 @ Stetson Feb. 22 vs. Washington# Feb. 22 vs. USF# Feb. 23 vs. Yale# Feb. 24 vs. Pitt# Feb. 24 vs. Loyola Chicago# Feb. 27 vs. South Dakota St.* March 1 vs. Seattle March 1 vs. Drake March 6 vs. Wichita State March 8-10 @ Baylor March 13 vs. Central Ark. March 15-17 vs. UCF March 19 @ Tulsa March 21-23 @ BYU March 26 vs. Missouri State March 28-30 vs. Texas April 3 @ North Texas April 5-7 @ Houston

File Photo

‘They love this program’ Vanessa Shippy-Fletcher’s promotion to full-time assistant coach was “the right change” in coach Kenny Gajewski’s eyes.

OSU softball coaching changes paying off Ashton Slaughter Assistant Sports Editor

OSU coach Kenny Gajewski has seen “dramatic change” in his program.

Not because nine players aren’t returning from last season and there are 14 newcomers. No splashy portal addition. There still isn’t an update on a new stadium.

The change has come in his coaching staff — John Bargfeldt out; former Cowgirl Carrie Eberle in as pitching coach and Whitney Cloer out; Vanessa Shippy-Fletcher in as a full-time assistant and hitting coach — and it’s not because of the staff changes themselves, but the improvements they are making.

“We’re seeing dramatic change in the way we’re doing things,” Gajewski said.

“I love it.”

When speaking of the shift, Gajewski was referencing Shippy-Fletcher’s coaching and recruiting style. The “young and hip” coach has played a key role in helping Gajewski reload with Women’s College World Seriescaliber talent.

Shippy-Fletcher’s impact has been seen on the field, too, as pitcher Lexi Kilfoyl, who took 30 at-bats last season, was

tabbed “one of the best hitters” on this year’s Cowgirl squad by Gajewski.

Shippy-Fletcher simplified things for Kilfoyl. Gajewski has been hands-off with his hitters.

He trusts his hitting coach.

“It was the right change,” Gajewski said of Shippy-Fletcher’s promotion.

“At the end of each day, I have to do what’s best for this program first; I’m gonna do what I feel is in the best interest.

I’ve made some good choices in the past, (and) I’ve made some not-so-good ones… I’m gonna make the moves that I think are best for us and for the long-term health of this program, and she was able to step right in.”

Another decision for the long-term health of the program was Eberle’s hiring, which came after Bargfeldt retired. The risk of bringing in Eberle was known, but it didn’t matter.

“You bring her in with some highly successful kids who, you know, could be set in ways and don’t want to change. I knew what the risks were in hiring her; they came true,” Gajewski said.

“The part of it that I thought could happen came true — I believe that’s why Kelly (Maxwell) left, I get that; I think we all do — but I wasn’t willing to mortgage our future over one

year and one player.

“Carrie’s handled all that well… She’s just put her head down (and) went to work.”

Kilfoyl said she and senior pitcher Ivy Rosenberry have improved under Eberle. Although nothing can replace Kilfoyl’s relationship with Bargfeldt, nothing can replace Eberle’s experience.

“I love John to death, but he really doesn’t have the same on-field experience that Carrie does. So I think that’s one thing that will benefit from this year is (her) being able to share her knowledge,” Kilfoyl said.

The two new coaches have been hard on Gajewski’s team; he knows that.

But it’s because they care.

Not because of their title, but because of their past. They want to see OSU reach heights that they couldn’t as players. “‘Man, they’re on me about everything,’” players have said to Gajewski about the coaches.

“And I said, ‘They’re on you about every single thing because they love this program more than I do, and that’s hard, but they love it more because of one thing: they’ve played here,’” Gajewski said. sports.ed@ocolly.com

April 10 vs. Tulsa April 12-14 @ Iowa State April 17 @ Wichita State April 19-21 vs. Texas Tech April 24 vs. North Texas April 26-28 vs. Kansas May 1 @ UT Arlington May 3-5 @ Oklahoma May 8-11 - Big 12 Championship May 17-19 - NCAA Regional May 23-26 - NCAA Super Regional May 30-June 7 - WCWS ^ = Clearwater Invitational (Clearwater, Florida) # = South Florida Showdown (Tampa, Florida) * = Doubleheader

File Photo OSU coach Kenny Gajewski said he had to make coaching decisions based on the future rather than based on one year or one player.

O’Colly

Friday, February 16, 2024 Page 3A

SOFTBALL

Projected Starting Lineup #27

#33

Pitcher - Lexi Kilfoyl - #8

#18

#55 #26 #8 #44 #14 #66

Catcher - Caroline Wang - #66 First Base - Karli Godwin - #14 Second Base - Rosie Davis - #26 Shortstop - Megan Bloodworth - #55 Third Base - Tallen Edwards - #44 Left Field - Katie Lott - #33 Center Field - Jilyen Poullard - #27 Right Field - Claire Timm - #18

Kilfoyl lead arm in new-look committee approach for OSU Parker Gerl Staff Reporter

Oklahoma State coach Kenny Gajewski has often called his lead arm Lexi Kilfoyl the “gentle giant,” “mom” and “grandma” of his team.

Kilfoyl is entering her second season with the Cowgirls and coming off a 140-strikeout, All-Big 12 Second-Team season.

It’s her fifth-year and her highlevel experience is somewhat of an outlier on this year’s OSU team.

The Cowgirls are asking, and expecting, a lot out of a number of young players. And the way they’ve responded to Kilfoyl’s knowledge, leadership and everything she does is why Gajewski calls her such names.

“Everybody migrates to her,” Gajewski said. “You can watch it. She’s the gentle giant; they just kind of nestle up to her.”

As Kilfoyl goes for another All-American-caliber season, OSU’s pitching staff and strategy have changed. Star pitcher Kelly Maxwell departed for Norman, and freshmen Katie Kutz joined the fold. After diving into the analytics, numbers and depth on staff, the Cowgirls are shifted toward a pitching-bycommittee approach.

The foursome of Kilfoyl, Kutz, Ivy Rosenberry and Kyra Aycock all grant different looks and styles, and OSU will try to get the most out of each of them

with this new-look attack.

Loyola Marymount, Aycock “I think what (we) have made the start and pitched four going on with all the data and innings. Rosenberry then en(pitching-by-committee) stuff is tered for the fifth before Kilfoyl really exciting,” Kilfoyl said. “I closed the final two. That one think it’s better for us pitchers… ended with no runs on just five and we’ll be able to recover hits. faster.”

A couple of days later, Part of why the Cowgirls are against No. 10 UCLA, Rosendoing this is because they want berry threw the first two, with to have the advantage in “high- Kilfoyl stepping in for the last leverage” innings, like four three innings. The Cowgirls runthrough seven, and have multiple ruled the Bruins, 9-1, and gave fresh arms to throw at opposing up just three hits. hitters.

Through five games, Kilfoyl And for somebody like made one start and pitched eight Kilfoyl, OSU wants to have total innings in her four appearher available when it matters. ances. She struck out seven, Although her number of starts gave up two hits with no runs or could decrease, it’ll be an almost walks and opposing hitters put guarantee that she’ll be able to up a .074 average against her. enter games and close.

Albeit a small sample size The Aycocks, Rosenberrys and early stages of the season, and Kutzs will benefit from the the Cowgirls are all in on this strategy, too. It boils down to approach and think it gives them throwing different looks at hitthe best chance at winning in ters, which can keep a team off May and June. And of course, balance. That’s why OSU and they think it makes it tougher on other programs that have quality opposing teams. depth prefer this style.

“I don’t mind coming into “Let’s use Ivy (Rosenberry) games,” Kilfoyl said. “I’d rather for example,” Gajewski said. come into the game than start “Maybe she could be an opener one. where you’re looking for her to “Seeing one pitcher and then get six, maybe nine outs. Then — from a hitter’s perspective you go to a Kilfoyl — who we — seeing one pitcher one at-bat, think is our lead arm right now then another, then another, that’s — and you go to her to close out like the worst thing I could ask games.” for as a hitter.”

OSU went 5-0 on its West Coast road trip to start the year, and the early stages of the newlook rotation were present. sports.ed@ocolly.com In a close 1-0 win against

File Photo Kenny Gajewski said the OSU Cowgirls dove into analytics and various numbers in the offseason and will now use a pitching-bycommitee approach.

File Photo The NCAA made a softball rule change that requires hitters to keep at least one foot in the batter’s box and be set for the next pitch in 10 seconds.

Cowgirls adapting to NCAA rule changes Gabriel Trevino Staff Reporter

pitch can have the fate of the season on it.

The pitch clock is the most divisive, though. Most Tallen Edwards’ fear programs are in the procame true. cess of adding clocks to its In a scrimmage before stadiums. A visual will help the season, OSU trained with hitters stay focused, but in the NCAA’s rule changes for the early parts of the season the 2024 season including where some small stadiums a change to the pitch clock meant for invitationals don’t where hitters must keep at have that feature yet, adaptleast one foot in the batter’s ing won’t come immediately. box and be set for the next “It’s not my favorite pitch in 10 seconds. rule,” Edwards said. “I think There wasn’t a clock for it will speed up the game, Edwards — a sophomore which is really nice because left-handed hitter — to look three-and-a-half and four for in Cowgirl Stadium as a hour games is not ideal. But reference. While getting the I think we do need a little bit signal from coach Kenny more time as hitters. We’re Gajewski and preparing putting up clocks everyherself, she lost track of where, timers that are going time. Her punishment was a to help us out a little bit, strike, which happened to be but not every field is going her third. to have that so we’re kinda “It’s pretty nerve-racknervous on it.” ing,” Edwards said. “I feel Other Cowgirls, such as like if they gave us just 15 fifth-year senior Scotland seconds, it’d be a little betDavid, said she doesn’t think ter. When coach is giving the timer will become an a sign, and you’re trying to issue, especially later in the look down and think about season when teams have the time, I genuinely got so become accustomed to it. stressed out and ended up “I don’t think it’s going getting called out anyway.” to be too much or too less, The NCAA introduced I think it’s just gonna be an 10 rules or amendments to adjustment,” David said. “At previous rules for the 2024 first, 10 seconds seemed to season, such as the pitch go by really fast. Especially clock and others to speed up as a coach at third, they have the game. Softball isn’t like to get their sign out fast. But baseball, where four hour I think once we get used to games are common. But the it, you won’t even notice.” pace can be slower come sports.ed@ocolly.com postseason, where every

Tribune News Service Some schools, like OSU, don’t have a pitch clock in its softball stadium yet, which creates difficulties with new pitch-clock rules.

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

Page 4A Friday, February 16, 2024

O’Colly

BASEBALL

Projected Starting Lineup

Pitcher - Janzen Keizel - #39 Catcher - Ian Daugherty - #8 First Base - Colin Brueggemann - #12 Second Base - Aidan Meola - #2 Shortstop - Lane Forsythe - #6 Third Base - Tyler Wulfert - #17 Left Field - Nolan Schubart - #10 Center Field - Zach Ehrhard - #4 Left Field - Carson Benge - #3

File Photo Nolan Schubart was named as an All-American as a freshman a season ago with a .338 batting average.

Schubart aiming to live up to Year 2 hype Daniel Allen Staff Reporter

success is hard.”

Schubart finished with a .338 batting average, and his power wasn’t an issue.

Baseball players often He posted a .451 on-base feel the leap from freshman percentage and .667 slugging status to sophomore. percentage – 1.118 OPS. His Nolan Schubart is no 17 home runs were second different. The Oklahoma on the team.

State left fielder said he’s He was recently named a embraced his “second home” second-team preseason Allheading into his second sea- American by D1Baseball, son in Stillwater. being OSU’s lone representa“It’s exciting,” Schubart tion on the list. said. “I’m excited for sure.”

Success often comes Schubart experienced the with greater expectations. thrill of a walk-off, seriesSchubart didn’t have that last clinching hit against Texas season, but he does now. and a multi-home run game “There was really no against Missouri State, one pressure on him last year, of which cleared the scoreheading into the year,” Mike board in center field.

Schubart said. “There was However, the lows often no pressure on him because stick with a young player he was new. And whatever most. Schubart’s low was a experience he got as a freshtreacherous April, batting man, and however much .225. he was going to play as a “It’s very natural that you freshman, it was just do your take down days good and best to help the team. This bad ways,” Mike Schubart, year, there’s a little – and by Schubart’s dad, said. “Base- a little, I mean a lot – more ball really is like no other expectations on him.” sport. You have a lot more The development of a down days than you have up prospect can be gauged from days. their development from Year “He had that real bad 1 to 2. In particular, with month of April, and it was their demeanor. Accomgrueling for him. Nolan, he modating expectations is a wants to compete and win at paramount part of the game. everything he does.”

Schubart said if teams Schubart found joy in want to pitch to him difteams noting his hitting ferently, that’s fine. Just be abilities. But as opposing ready for the back end of the pitchers threw to him differ- lineup. ently, his .400-plus batting “I got used to being average dipped to .321. pitched to differently last Although Schubart year (when we lost some adapted in the latter stages starters due to injury),” of the season, salvaging his Schubart said. “And then this freshman campaign to earn year, not to say that we don’t All-American honors, his have those huge-name guys, sophomore season won’t be but the guys that are hitting different, if not more difbehind me, we have all these ficult. guys that are really, really, “Nolan, like many guys really good hitters. And who have great freshman if (opposing teams) don’t seasons, I think the expecta- want to pitch to me and they tion is, ‘Well, just double want to walk me, that’s fine. it. If you can do that as a They’ve still got to deal with freshman, why can’t you?’” the other guys behind me.”

OSU coach Josh Holliday said. “That’s not realistic.

Baseball is hard. Replicating sports.ed@ocolly.com

#4 #10

#3 #6

#17

#39

#12

#8

‘They’re a consistent program’: How analyst views OSU baseball’s 2024 team Daniel Allen Staff Reporter

and you have to consider that Texas. when evaluating a program in the Rooney pointed to young preseason.” prospects such as sophomore So, can the Cowboys end Gabe Davis and junior Janzen Days ahead of Oklahoma their seven-year College World Keisel as candidates to lead the State’s season opener at Sam Series drought? charge. Neither logged an ERA Houston State on Friday, the Rooney said the talent is below 7.00, but a full offseason mold of the Cowboys’ roster is there. However, the main concern of development with pitching unorthodox in contrast to recent – as it has been in recent years – coach Rob Walton is always benyears. is the pitching staff. eficial, Rooney said.

No Roc Riggio or Marcus In 2023, the unit posted a 5.41 “I can’t think of many better Brown manning the middle incumulative ERA, the worst mark pitching coaches for a group like field. No Juaron Watts-Brown to in the Josh Holliday era at OSU. this than Rob Walton,” Rooney pitch the season opener. No No- Watts-Brown, once perceived to said. “He was very successful lan McLean for a game-winning be a Golden Spikes Award final- as a head coach (at Oral Robhome run or to close a game on ist, imploded during the second erts). He’s cemented himself as the mound. half of the season. Ben Abram a pitching guru (at OSU). And I OSU’s 2024 team, in a word, couldn’t extend his outings, and think most importantly, he’s rouis different. two-way phenom Carson Benge tinely produced talented arms.

Coming off a 41-20 season was coming off Tommy John And when you have such a young and a three-way split of a confer- Surgery. core like this, that’s important.” ence title, which abruptly ended Other unforeseen circumOffensively, OSU returns five in a third consecutive regional stances hurt OSU down the starters, including all three outexit, the program is eyeing a stretch. And when it mattered fielders – a unit which showcases return to Omaha. According to (regional play), it costed the team two preseason All-Americans multiple college baseball puna postseason run. in Benge and left fielder Nolan dits, the talent to contend for a Simultaneously, the bats Schubart.

Big 12 title and possibly more is posted a .301 batting average, the If the offense effectively there, and 10 consecutive NCAA best mark under Holliday. Neicomplements the pitching staff, regional appearances – the fourth ther total complemented the an- perhaps the Cowboys could turn longest active streak in college other, often leading to shootouts. some heads in 2024. baseball − has established trust The offense was good enough to “With Oklahoma State, at with analysts of the sport. win the Cowboys 40-plus games, least under Josh Holliday, they’ll “The feel around that probut good pitching is what leads always be better in May,” Rooney gram is very positive,” D1Base- to College World Series success. said. “What you see in February ball national analyst Mike “(College) World Series and early March is often times Rooney said. “It’s honestly a champions are often benefactors nowhere near the finished prodprogram you can honestly trust at of great pitching,” Rooney said. uct. They always tend to get betthis point.

“It’s a big part of today’s game.” ter as the season progresses. And “They did lose some guys.

The Cowboys are unranked in I do think with a group like this, There’s a lot of new faces, or D1Baseball’s Preseason Top 25 they’ll get better as the season at least it seems that way. But and are picked third in the Big 12 goes on.” they’re a consistent program, preseason poll behind TCU and sports.ed@ocolly.com

File Photo Nolan Schubart had a big year in the outfield and at the plate as a freshman a season ago, and now he knows the expectations are high for him in 2024.

#2

File Photo D1Baseball analyst Mike Rooney said OSU has the talent and pedigree to have a good season.

O’Colly

BASEBALL

2024 OSU

Friday, February 16, 2024 Page 5A

On a rebuilding OSU team, Baseball Schedule outfield brings consistency Feb. 16-18 @ Sam Houston St. Feb. 21 @ Abilene Christian Feb. 23 vs. Michigan^ Feb. 24 vs. Arkansas^ Feb. 25 vs. Oregon State^ Feb. 27 @ Dallas Baptist March 1-3 vs. Central Michigan March 5-6 vs. Utah Tech March 8-10 vs. Mercer March 12 @ Oklahoma March 15-17 @ UCF March 19 vs. Missouri State

Weston Wertzberger Staff Reporter

earned multiple All-American and Freshman All-American honors and was the Big 12 CoFreshman of the Year and an The preseason for the OSU All-Big 12 First-Team honoree. baseball team has been about “I think where I’ve seen him rebuilding to prepare for the improve the most is understandupcoming season. ing how hard it is to physically But the outfield is a portion stay strong through the entire of the OSU defense that didn’t year,” Holliday said. “He, like require much reconstruction. The most guys, went out in the sumoutfield could be one of the Cow- mer and saw that a 60-some-oddboys’ strong suits, as it includes game college season and another two players, Nolan Schubart 50 games in the summer, the and Carson Benge, ranked by games are pretty demanding on D1Baseball as two of the top 20 your body. So he’s a stronger veroutfielders entering the season. sion of himself.”

Schubart will likely keep Last season, Schubart hit .338 his spot in left field, with Benge with 17 home runs, 74 RBI and manning right field. Joining led the team with 20 doubles. them, junior Zach Ehrhard At OSU’s media day, he said he started 34 games in center field spent the offseason working on last season. his athleticism in the outfield and OSU coach Josh Holliday his bat control. said he was confident in how the “(I was) being able to get offseason went for the outfield, my feet up a little faster in the and he said he has confidence in outfield, and then just some bat the veterans in that spot. control stuff through the zone,” “We do have some veteran Schubart said. “Making sure players returning in the outfield that this year I come in healthy, that have got a lot of good inand that way I can stay healthy nings under their belt that have throughout the whole year.” proven they can play at a very Along with Schubart, Benge high level,” Holliday said. was a Freshman All-American Holliday said Schubart, a and All-Big 12 First-Team sophomore, is one of the main performer in his first collegiate players holding together the out- season. field. As a freshman, Schubart With Benge’s ability on the

mound and stout defense in the outfield, Holliday has to balance that.

“Getting Carson Benge stretched out and establishing what his pitch role might be along with his outfield role,” Holliday said. “All those things combined to put together our pitching plan, number of transfers, some guys that have stepped up.”

Benge led the Cowboys with a .345 batting average with seven home runs, 17 doubles and 43 RBI. On the mound, the righthander made 10 starts and was 2-2 with a 6.69 ERA and 35 strikeouts in 35 innings.

With how many veterans the outfield has for the Cowboys, Holliday said the unit has a nice mix of returning talent and newcomers.

“I think younger players learn, first and foremost, how to go about their business correctly from what they observe. And our veteran players have set a great example of how to do things the right way,” Holliday said. “I’m pleased with a number of our newcomers and how quickly they’ve adopted the right way to do things and committed themselves to what it takes to play at a high level. That’s how you prepare.” sports.ed@ocolly.com

March 22-24 vs. TCU March 26 @ Wichita State March 29-31 @ West Virginia April 2 vs. Oral Roberts April 5-7 vs. Oklahoma April 9 @ Wichita State April 12-14 vs. Cincinnati April 16 vs. Dallas Baptist April 19-21 @ Kansas State April 23 @ Oral Roberts April 25-27 vs. BYU April 30 vs. Wichita State May 3-5 @ Texas

File Photo The OSU outfield, including Nolan Schubart (left) and Zach Ehrhard (right), is one of the Cowboys’ top returning units.

May 10-12 vs. Texas Tech

Keisel poised for potential ace role

May 16-18 @ Houston May 21-25 - Big 12 Championship May 31-June 3 - NCAA Regional June 7-10 - NCAA Super Regional June 14-24 - College World Series ^ = Kubota College Baseball Series (Arlington, Texas)

File Photo Janzen Keisel had an up-and-down sophomore season a year ago but could be an option for an ace role.

Daniel Allen Staff Reporter

said. “He’s a true talent. Great arm. Throws the ball hard. (His) breaking stuff isn’t really as electric as some might hope, but you Mike Littlewood remembers know what you’re getting. the moment all too well.

“He’s a hell of a ball player.”

Littlewood, BYU’s baseball To get to this point, Keisel coach, had been fond of Janzen faced adversity. First at BYU. Keisel.

Then again, in his first year at Keisel was set to make his OSU. first career start for the Cougars Shortly after his first start that day against Marshall. with the Cougars, Keisel strugMoments before first pitch, gled with command of his pitchLittlewood greeted Keisel on es. Midway through the season, the mound, attempting to ease he was moved to a bullpen role, him of any nerves. Shortly after, settling in there before making Littlewood was met with a smile a return to the starting rotaand resounding, “Coach, I got it.” tion late in the year. He finished “I didn’t know what to exwith a 4.27 ERA in 2022 before pect, honestly,” Littlewood said. entering the transfer portal and “It was his first career start with seeking a change in scenery. us. We were, I guess, cautiously Year No. 2 was similar, if not optimistic.” worse.

Keisel went six innings, with His first start at OSU was a 10 strikeouts and no earned runs. five-inning, 11-strikeout shutLittlewood said he roots for out against California Baptist.

Keisel in a new uniform at Okla- Suddenly, Keisel was the talk of homa State. Two years removed the program. Then things went from an up-and-down freshman haywire, and the pitch command year at BYU, Keisel has the issues resurfaced. opportunity to serve as the ace Keisel was demoted to a subpitcher of a Power-Five baseball bullpen role, or as many OSU program. pitchers refer to it, “Rob Walton’s “I always knew the kind of lab.” Keisel didn’t return to the player he could be,” Littlewood mound for nearly three months

until a Big 12 Tournament semifinal game against Texas Tech.

Before games, he could often be seen working alongside Walton, isolated from the rest of the pitching staff. The two worked rigorously on Keisel’s delivery.

On his stride. Even on his mental approach.

“Janzen had a great fall,” said OSU coach Josh Holliday in the fall. “I think all that time with Rob (Walton) and watching the game evolve from a different perspective than he’s used to will be beneficial for him this year.”

After a full offseason of development and a strong fall, Keisel is a viable option to be OSU’s ace pitcher when the Cowboys open their 2024 season Friday night at Sam Houston State.

The role of an ace carries immense pressure. Still, it’s nothing those close to Keisel say the junior flamethrower can’t handle.

In many ways, they believe it’s something he was destined for.

“Janzen has a way of proving people wrong,” Littlewood said.

“He’s a competitor. Plain and simple. And he’ll do whatever it takes to get you a win.” sports.ed@ocolly.com

Page 6A Friday, February 16, 2024

O’Colly

MEN’s TENNIS

2024 OSU Men’s Tennis Schedule Saturday vs. Drake

Wednesday @ Tulane

Feb. 25 vs. Wichita State Payton Little

March 2 vs. Memphis

March 10 vs. San Diego

‘The future’s bright’

OSU coach Dustin Taylor said the OSU men’s tennis program is heading in the right direction.

Cowboy tennis off to solid start heading into midseason Baylor Bryant Staff Reporter

March 12 vs. Tulsa

March 16 vs. Illinois

March 21 @ BYU

March 23 @ Texas Tech

glimpses of it over the past three years. The fall results that these guys had, having three guys in the top 50 at some point during The Cowboys are gearing up the season in singles rankings for the outdoor season. having a top-20 doubles team, With March approaching, and then getting it to carry over the OSU men’s tennis team is to the dual match season. It’s a preparing for the second phase long time coming and hopefully of its season. The Cowboys are people realize that. The future’s 8-2 halfway through February bright. They see that this is just and have impressive wins to back the beginning.” up their record. For the first time In year three of the Taylor since 2020, the Cowboys deera, the Cowboys have grown feated a top-five opponent in No. into some of the best tennis 5 USC, 6-1. The Cowboys also players in the country. Taylor has took down Middle Tennessee, said that this team is the deepest 4-2, and had two 7-0 sweeps the roster he has had since coachsame Saturday against St. Louis ing the Cowboys. Tyler Zink and and Oral Roberts.

Alex Garcia, who Taylor brought “The program is building, to OSU in his first year, have and it’s going in the right direc- risen in the ITA Men’s Tennis tion,” Taylor said. “You’ve see Singles Rankings to No. 21 and

March 28 @ UCF

No. 32.

Zink and Garcia are not the only stars on this team. Freshman Erik Schiessl and senior Isaac Becroft have played in eight of the 10 matches this season, and both remain undefeated.

Garcia said for the team to continue to dominate, it needs to continue working on its priorities.

“If the physicality is missing, then maybe take care of the body and get off the court a little bit more,” Garcia said. “Just keep doing what we’re doing. Everybody’s different. So just keeping the dynamic and understanding that we don’t have to do all the same. Every guy has their priorities. Just keep doing what we’re doing, and we should be good.” sports.ed@ocolly.com

March 30 vs. TCU

April 5 vs. Texas

April 7 vs. Baylor

April 13 @ Oklahoma

April 19-21 - Big 12 Championships*

May 16-25 - NCAA Championships* * = Hosted in Stillwater Payton Little The Cowboys already have a top-five win this season, their first since 2020.

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WoMEN’s TENNIS

Friday, February 16, 2024 Page 7A

2024 OSU Women’s Cowgirl tennis team No. 1, Tennis Schedule has chance for ‘great’ season Saturday @ Arizona State

Feb. 24 vs. Princeton

March 1 vs. Kansas

March 3 vs. Iowa State

March 7 @ Texas Tech

Gina Foster Staff Reporter

Anastasiya Komar and Carrington have clinched a winning point this season. Carrington battled against Texas for the The undefeated OSU Cowteam to continue to the next girls are No. 1 for the first time round, where Komar clinched in program history. the winning point for the ITA As the competition heats Indoor Championship against up, OSU must stay consistent Michigan this past weekend. and focused until the national “The great part about being championship at the Michael an athlete is those moments,” and Anne Greenwood Tennis Carrington said. “I don’t really Center. think about anything else other Safiya Carrington, a transthan just trying to get the win fer from LSU, has made a big for my team. I think those moimpact on the program. ments make you see how much “I always believed in her, bigger it is.” and she said last year she had a With such an experienced tough experience,” said coach team, they have been unstopChris Young. “I think it’s just pable thus far. given these kids a new home “I think just having a mindand new identity. We knew what set of no matter where I’m we were getting.” playing and fighting for that

one point, that is my court,” said Kristina Novak. “It doesn’t matter if I’m playing on Court 1 or Court 6, I’m going to give my 100% to get a point for my team.

It showed this weekend that I was able to do it and it was incredible.”

With two nonconference matchups and Big 12 play, there is plenty of time to keep improving.

“I think having such a hard schedule from the beginning, it made us tougher from the start,” Novak said. “It made us stronger, and I think that is what’s going to make this team and this season great.”

sports.ed@ocolly.com

March 9 @ BYU

March 15 vs. TCU

March 17 vs. Baylor

March 22 @ Texas

March 24 @ Oklahoma

March 28 vs. West Virginia

March 30 vs. Cincinnati

April 5 @ Houston

April 7 @ UCF

Connor Fuxa The Cowgirls have risen to No. 1 in the nation behind players such as Safiya Carrington, an LSU transfer who has clinched a winning point against Texas.

April 13 vs. Kansas State

April 17-20 - Big 12 Championships*

May 16-25 - NCAA Championships* * = Hosted in Stillwater

Courtesy OSU Cowgirl Tennis (X) The Cowgirl tennis team claimed the program’s first ITA championship in Seattle.

Cowgirls claim first ITA Crown Gina Foster Staff Reporter

matches with a win over Novak and Carrington, but the Cowgirls responded on Court 1 as Komar and Kajuru defeated No. The Oklahoma State wom37 Taisiya Pachkaleva and Saen’s tennis team claimed its first bina Zeynalove, 6-3. Miyamoto ITA Indoor National Champion- and Gonzalez won on Court 2, ship on Tuesday. securing the doubles point for The Cowgirls dominated the Cowgirls. in the opening round against Novak added the first singles No. 14 Auburn, 4-0. Ange Oby point for OSU, and Kajuru imiKajuru and Anastasiya Komar tated the action, adding another quickly conquered Court 1 for point. However, they did not go OSU. unanswered.

Auburn’s DJ Bennett and Peyre, Komar and Miyamoto Adeline Flach defeated Ayumi were defeated by their oppoMiyamoto and Raquel Gonnents, tying the score and placzalez on Court 2, leaving the ing the pressure on Carrington. tiebreaker up to Kristinia Novak Carrington and Chavatiand Safiya Carrington on court pon battled for three strenuous three. In an intense match, No- rounds. Carrington secured the vak and Carrington secured the win 5-7, 7-5, 7-6 (7-2) and gave doubles point for the Cowgirls. the Cowgirls another day to OSU struck first in the compete. singles, as each Cowgirl won Stanford was the next obtheir first round. Novak defeated stacle in the Cowgirls’ way to Flach on Court 6, 6-2, 6-0. the finals, but they didn’t waver.

Lucia Peyre followed shortly OSU had the advantage once behind with another OSU point again as it took the doubles after beating Angella Okutoyi, point.

6-2, 6-3.

Komar and Kajuru quickly Carrington finished out the dominated 6-0 on Court 1. match with a 6-4, 6-2 victory on Gonzalez and Miyamoto were Court 4 to secure the first-round defeated on Court 2, while win. With that win, the Cowgirls Carrington and Novak won the advanced to the second round doubles point for the Cowgirls for the first time since 2017. on Court 3.

The next round against No. Stanford claimed Court 3 to 10 Texas was close, but the kickstart the singles matches Cowgirls still clinched the 4-3 after defeating Kajuru. The next win to continue their hot streak. two points went to the Cowgirls.

Texas kicked off the doubles Novak won 6-3, 6-4 on Court

6, and Carrington took Court 4, 7-6 (7-3), 6-4.

Stanford attempted to come back, as Ma defeated Peyre, 6-3, 6-4, but Miyamoto clinched the win as she overcame Hui, 6-0, 2-6, 6-2.

The Cowgirls defeated Stanford, 4-2, bringing them to the championship matchup against No. 5 Michigan for the second time this season.

Komar and Kajuru defeated No. 5 matchup Kari Miller and Jaeden Brown, 6-2. Miyamoto and Gonzalez finished 6-3 and claimed the doubles point.

Kajuru took down her opponent quickly, 6-0, 6-1, on Court 1, while Novak controlled her matchup on Court 6, 6-2, 6-4.

Down 3-0, the Wolverines weren’t going down without a fight.

Piper Charney beat Miyamoto, 6-3, 6-2, Brown defeated Carrington, 6-4, 7-6 (7-4) and Gala Mesochoritou came back to defeat Peyre, 1-6, 6-3, 6-4.

Komar clinched the victory against Reese Miller, 4-6, 6-4, 6-4, giving the title to the Cowgirls for the first time. OSU leaves with a 9-0 record and eight top-15 wins.

The undefeated Cowgirls continue their season at Arizona State on Saturday.

sports.ed@ocolly.com

Page 8A Friday, February 16, 2024

O’Colly

SPORTS

Cowgirls rewriting records, focused on ‘becoming better’ Kenzie Kraich Staff Reporter

jumping and throwing has contributed to the team’s accomplishments. In each of OSU’s five meets this An indoor season for year, the Cowgirls have the record books for the etched a record in the Oklahoma State women’s books, marking eight total track & field team leads on the season. to excitement down the To add to the accostretch and into the outlades, OSU hit No. 5 in door season. the U.S. Track & Field and The Cowgirls are led Cross Country Coaches

by Gabija Galvydyte, who Association rankings this was recently selected to week – a program-best. compete in the 800 Meters Also, multiple athletes at the Millrose Games in broke their home national New York City, placing records, and graduate fifth among a prestigious student Taylor Roe was group of professional USTFCCCA choice for athletes. Galvydyte set National Athlete of the a personal best at the Week along with the Big contest, just 24 hours 12 Athlete of the Week after the team’s meet in after her performance in Boston where she and the 5,000 Meters. Her deher distance medley relay livery smashed the school team shattered the school record by 12 seconds and record, missing the colput her third in NCAA legiate record by half a history. second.

“I think it’s this col“I know that all the lective mentality and they girls are running the best feed off each other,” OSU as they’ve been,” Galvycoach Dave Smith said. “I dyte said. “Putting it think they challenge each together in DMR is just other and inspire each really awesome.” other.”

Success in a spread Smith and his staff of events, ranging from pride themselves on the sprinting, long distance, cohesiveness of the team middle distance, relays, where athletes are encour-

aged to feed off of one another’s successes. With all the broken records, the hunger for growth is only progressing with each meet.

“Adopting that attitude and becoming like those around you is what this is all about,” Smith said.

With three meets left in the indoor season, including the Big 12 and NCAA Championships, the Cowgirls are looking to capitalize on last year’s indoor performances.

OSU won the Big 12 title last season, bringing home four individual titles. The team finished at No. 21 in the NCAA Championships in 2023 – a mark they are on track to beat.

Galvydyte credits the team’s competitive mentality to its success on the track, as each athlete strives to be better than the next. It is a key Galvydyte, too, uses and has been part of her progression from the past season.

“I’m just focusing on becoming a better person,” Galvydyte said. “...

The goal is to be better than I was last year.” sports.ed@ocolly.com

Courtesy OSU Athletics The Cowgirl track & field team has broken eight program records so far in the indoor season.

Courtesy OSU Athletics OSU coach Dave Smith said DJ MacArthur is a backbone for the Cowboy track & field team.

Cowboys track & field breaking records, but focus on winning Kenzie Kraich Staff Reporter Competition runs deep with the OSU men’s track & field team, catapulting it to a historic indoor season after an NCAA Cross Country Championship in the fall.

The Cowboys have posted five school records through five meets so far this season and are nearing several more, but coach Dave Smith is looking for success beyond that.

“I tell them, ‘Hey, the records are nice. That might be something that’s kind of the salt and pepper, but don’t forget the meal,’” Smith said.

Having a balance of seasoned veterans and excited newcomers, the Cowboys turn to one individual specifically to lead on and off the track.

DJ McArthur is a graduate student who Smith credits as a backbone to the team.

“My main goal and mentoring a lot of the younger guys is to, when I leave, I don’t leave…

I’m still there,” McArthur said.

Battling from behind in the last 100 meters in the Arkansas Invitational, McArthur had a first-place finish in the 600 Meters while capturing a school-

record time. Coming around the final curve, McArthur knew he had work to do, and his character shined through in the final moments to take home an individual crown.

“It’s time where it’s really just you and another person and you let your natural instincts take over,” McArthur said.

“There was nothing to think about besides what I needed to do to win.”

The competitiveness among the Cowboys has set an unprecedented standard for the program, making every day more challenging than the next.

To compete at the level OSU has been without its own indoor track has served as a testament to the dedication these athletes have to success, and Smith makes sure to commend that.

Being the only Big 12 team without an indoor facility, it took dedication from the Cowboys to reach the success they achieved last season, winning second in the Big 12 Championships and tying for sixth at the national meet.

“We’ve got blue-collar athletes,” Smith said.

“These guys just keep finding a way to not complain about it, not see it as an obstacle, just find a way to the finish line.”

The Cowboys took a dip in the national rankings this week, slipping to No. 17, but McArthur and Smith are not worried about where the team will be when the postseason come around.

“At the end of the day, it doesn’t matter how fast you ran in February. It doesn’t matter how fast you ran in January. You could have broke 10 records in one month for all they care,” McArthur said.

“If you get on the line at the National Championship, at the Big 12 Championship, where your final goals are coming into play, how are you going to compete then?”

Through leaders such as McArthur, the Cowboys expect to top last year’s performances in both indoor and outdoor.

Beyond that, the team looks to improve on its second-place finish at the conference meet in late February.

Smith continues to remind his athletes that the multitude of records being set this season is rewarding, but he wants them to keep an eye on the bigger prize moving forward.

“The records are great, but at the end of the day, what we’re trying to do is beat people,” Smith said. sports.ed@ocolly.com

Cowgirls reloading, learning from mistakes in fall to build toward another championship run Braden Bush Sports Editor It has been 25 years since Larry Sanchez took over as OSU’s head coach and helped launch the Cowgirl equestrian program, and it has been a productive quarter century.

The 2022 NCEA overall national champions. Six individual titles. Nine Big 12 championships. Seventy-three NCEA AllAmerica selections since 2011.

Sanchez has also been Big 12 Coach of the Year five times and 2022 NCEA Coach of the Year.

“I blinked and 15 years went somewhere,” Sanchez said, “and I blinked again and another 10 goes.”

After a national championship in 2022, the Cowgirls made it to the national semifinals last year before falling to Auburn.

This fall, OSU went 2-5 with several close losses, including one-point losses to No. 1 TCU and No. 4 Texas A&M. The Cowgirls lost some talent from a season ago, including Jojo Roberson, one of five fourtime All-Americans in program history. But the sustained success of 25 years doesn’t come accidentally or with only a few riders, and Sanchez said he has another team full of potential

that is ready to capitalize this spring.

“We’ve got a ton of talent in all four events, and I did see that in the fall,” Sanchez said.

“We had some mistakes. We had some penalties that happened in the fall that we’re going to need to continue to work on and avoid. But very proud of them and the team that they are, and hopefully the spring season will confirm what we see as coaches and how talented they really are.”

OSU defeated Baylor, 12-6, in the spring opener and sits No. 7 even after some losses in the fall season. The Cowgirls’ five losses were each to teams ranked in the top seven, and they still showed they could compete.

Sanchez isn’t worried about the fall record, and he saw a few things that contributed to it that he said his team will grow in and showed signs of growth in against Baylor.

“A little bit of (inexperience), a little bit of losing the focus, lack of confidence,” Sanches said. “In our sport, confidence is key because the horses are the first to pick up on if you’re confident or you’re not.

I think it was just not as much confidence as we needed.”

It was all confidence and all

OSU coach Larry Sanchez said there are several freshmen stepping up, including Emma Filiatreau (pictured).

Cowgirls against Baylor. OSU swept the Most Outstanding Perfomer honors for the second time this season. One of those was Claire McDowall, a senior who has dominated in Horsemanship, claiming her fourth MOP (most on the team) and third in a row.

Sanchez said he’s proud of the experienced leadership that has stepped up on this team, especially from McDowall.

“All of my girls are special, but I’ve watched Claire grow up since she was a little bitty girl,”

he said. “Just to see her have the successes that she’s had, it just warms my heart. I’m so proud of her, and she works harder than just about anybody I’ve ever met, and I couldn’t be more proud of her and the success she’s having.”

Other contributions are coming from underclassmen.

Freshman Emma Filiatreau was Co-Reining Rider of the Month in November and has the best reining record on the team and picked up another win against the Bears. Bella Holway,

Payton Little

another freshman, posted the second-highest score in Fences in program history in the fall.

For Sanchez and the Cowgirls, big performances from the freshmen are key for OSU to make another run in Year 25.

“We have some freshmen that are stepping up and definitely filling in some holes of the ones that graduated last year, and we couldn’t be more proud of them,” Sanchez said. sports.ed@ocolly.com

O’Colly

Friday, February 16, 2024 Page 9A

Golf

Cowboy golf team looking for ‘consistent fifth man’ Dalton Arredondo Staff Reporter

Bratton said the freshman had some struggles in the final two rounds of the tournament. “(Stout) got a little impatient and felt It’s not often a freshman golfer opens like he was falling behind and pressed a a round with a 62 to start a tournament. little bit,” Bratton said.

Oklahoma State freshman Preston Other than Stout and Baumgartner, Stout did just that in the Amer Ari graduate student Rayhan Thomas and Intercollegiate championship in Kona, freshman Gaven Lane finished the tourHawaii, this past weekend. OSU coach nament 10-under. The fifth spot on the Alan Bratton said he liked what he saw team was freshman Johnnie Clark, who in the freshman. struggled in the tournament, shooting “He just stayed in the present,” Brat- 13-over. ton said. “He played unaware of how Sophomore John Wilde competed many birdies he had in a row.” individually and finished 9-under, and Coming into the tournament, the graduate student Hazen Newman finCowboy golf team finished in the botished 3-over as an individual, too. Brattom half in three of the first four tourna- ton said the team must work on the short ments of the season. In Big 12 match game to go to the next level. play, OSU finished third, defeating “We got to clean up a lot of balls Houston in the third-place match. on the greens,” Bratton said. “Had too Finding the missing pieces is the many three-putts.” team’s focus this spring as it looks to The team is full of experience, with maintain a top-10 status. five seniors, but there are also three “We need to figure out who is going freshmen and a sophomore. to be the consistent fifth man,” Bratton The Cowboys return to the course said. “We need to get some consistency. Feb. 19-21 in the Watersound InvitationYoung guys need to grow up fast.” al in Panama City Beach, Florida. They The Cowboys tied for eighth with will face off against SEC teams, such as UCLA and Pepperdine. Senior Jonas Vanderbilt and Alabama.

Baumgartner tied for 19th. Stout was in the top four to start the tournament, but he shot 71 twice to fall out of the top 25. sports.ed@ocolly.com

Courtesy OSU Cowboy Golf (X) The Cowboy golf team is getting good play from freshman Preston Scott.

Courtesy OSU Cowboy Golf (X) Maddison Hinson-Tolchard has had a standout career at OSU, and all eyes are on her this spring.

Cowgirls taking season ‘step by step’ with high aspirations Gina Foster Staff Reporter

The Cowgirls have kicked off the spring season in Puerto Rico.

Puerto Rico was a success, but a few improvements could lead to a win in the Big 12 Championship.

Senior Maddison Hinson-Tolchard has been a standout throughout her collegiate career. After substantial successes in the fall, collegiately and professionally, eyes will be on her performances in her final season as a Cowgirl.

Hinson-Tolchard has been a leader on and off the course, leaving big shoes to fill for the remaining girls next season.

Clemence Martin has improved her consistency during her junior year thus far, but she is thankful for the skill her team possesses.

“We’re really happy to see that the team was able to be in this position of winning after the two first rounds,” Martin said. “The third round, well, it just happens, but it’s just really nice to have this confidence back for the next tournaments and the rest of the season.”

Marta Silchenko is another Cowgirl on the rise. As a freshman, she is making a name for herself.

She has competed in each tournament, held the top spot in the Jim West Challenge and carded a 68 in her first round of the spring.

“I think she did some good work at home over the break, which probably helped, and then just came out and looked great those first two rounds and struggled a little bit in the third round,” coach Greg Robertson said. “But she looked pretty solid the first two days.”

As this stacked team takes on the remainder of the season, it has plenty of goals in mind but one way to get there.

“We really want to win the Big 12,” Martin said. “We would like to win regionals. We would like to win the nationals. We would like to win every tournament possible. We just take it step by step. I think that’s the best way to build a strong season.”

Alongside regular tournaments, the Cowgirls will face the Sooners in the Bedlam Cup for the first time since 2015. The match play tournament will take place toward the end of March in Norman.

“It’ll be fun, especially against a rival like Oklahoma,” Robertson said.

“They’ve got a good team, and you certainly don’t want to lose to the team in Norman. It’s going to be a fun event.”

The team’s season continues in Humble, Texas, as it participates in the ICON Invitation to close out February. In a few short months, the Cowgirls will attempt to be back-to-back Big 12 champions.

sports.ed@ocolly.com

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Page 10A Friday, February 16, 2024

O’Colly

SPORTS ‘They need to invest in these kids’

Boynton discusses OSU’s NIL funding Ashton Slaughter Assistant Sports Editor

donors more willing to invest not only their time, but more importantly, their money, into the program.

OSU coach Mike Because if not, the Boynton made it clear: he phone rings. bears the burden of his Over and over again. team being 10-14. That’s “Guys call our kids; on him and his staff. it happens. It’s a part of However, his call to the game now,” Boynton action to OSU — both in a said. “It’s a part that nostory written in the Tulsa body wants to talk about World and on Thursday because it feels kind of afternoon in his weekly slimy, right? press conference — made “But I don’t live in a his belief clear. An invest- fantasy world, man. I live ment in NIL is needed in a world where I know for Cowboy basketball people are probably consuccess. Whether he’s the tacting Brandon Garrison. coach or not.

Like, it’s a reality.”

“I appreciate that our Boynton said Thursfans aren’t happy. I don’t day that the first time he want them to feel good realized NIL could pull that we’re 10-14. I want players away from his them to be like, ‘Yo, what program was when Rondel the hell is going on? Why Walker left OSU for TCU aren’t we better?’ But I after the 2021-22 season. also want to give them He mentioned Walker in perspective,” Boynton the Tulsa World article, said. too, along with Avery AnIn the Tulsa World’s derson (who also left for article, Boynton said TCU) and Tyreek Smith, “there are at least six who left for SMU. programs (in the Big 12) “Tyreek Smith did not operating above $2 milwant to leave Oklahoma lion (on 2023-24 NIL re- State,” Boynton told the sources) for their roster.” Tulsa World. “He came OSU, on the other in my office three times hand, is last in the Big 12 and asked what we could in NIL resources funding. do for him. He went to There are “barely over SMU. We can’t beat SMU $500,000 in total expens- to keep our player? Two es (committed to basketyears in a row, TCU took ball athletes),” Boynton one of our best players told the Tulsa World.

(Walker and Anderson).”

Boynton didn’t retract Boynton noted that any statements ThursOSU Athletic Director day. And he emphasized Chad Weiberg has been a that he hopes fans know “tremendous support” and he isn’t trying to make that the two have converexcuses. He also made it sations often about the clear that more wins and state of college athletics. better performances from The two hear the his team make fans and noise. See the comments.

Notice the attendance in GIA. Boynton’s job security has been widely discussed, but he believes that shouldn’t deter fans from supporting his players financially, as with or without him as the coach, they may still leave for a better NIL package.

“Do we want him? (hypothetically speaking of Garrison),” Boynton asked fans. “If you don’t want him because you don’t want the coach, then OK. He’s gonna go somewhere else.

“I’m not saying you keep him because you keep the coach; I’m just saying those things are not mutually exclusive.

You got to take care of your kids; otherwise, they leave. And if your kids leave, then sometimes what it does is it sends a message that your kids can be taken.”

What Boynton aims to resolve is the Cowboys’ struggles. He looks to make a late-season push to give fans, recruits and his own team a sign that the future is bright.

He also wants some help along the way. And he knows that if he’s sitting in the GIA theater room every week or if someone else is sitting in his place, they will need help too.

“Even if they (OSU fans) think I’m not the guy, whoever it is. If they want these kids… they need to invest in these kids,” Boynton said. sports.ed@ocolly.com

Payton Little OSU coach Mike Boynton takes blame of OSU’s 10-14 record, but he knows his program needs NIL support.

File Photo Nick Piccininni, OSU wrestler from 2016-20, said Bedlam is a dual the Cowboys want to “win at all costs.”

OU remaining in Big 12 wrestling is paramount Daniel Allen Staff Reporter

John Smith’s first Bedlam in 1985 is something he often looks back on.

The aura of the crowd.

The animosity between those wearing orange and black and others crimson and cream. Gallagher Hall had almost 7,000 fewer seats than the current 13,611 total in today’s Gallagher-Iba Arena. In Smith’s mind, the consolidated crowd made the vibe of the dual more memorable.

Oklahoma State beat OU and Smith won his match. Each takedown by the freshman Smith was greeted with a roar of emotion. The final buzzer solidifying an OSU win was even louder.

“It’s everything you want in a rivalry,” Smith said in December. “When the crowd and the fans are into it, it makes it even better.”

Bedlam returns to Stillwater at 2 p.m. Sunday for the No. 2 Cowboys. Never did Smith think the rivalry would be at risk of disintegrating, which would have likely involved OSU and OU being in separate conferences.

Texas and OU join the SEC at the end of this athletics season. But to Smith’s relief, the Sooners are staying in the Big 12 as wrestling affiliates as the SEC doesn’t sponsor wrestling.

“I’m so happy that OU is able to stay in the Big 12,” Smith said. “It’s great for our sport. Great for the state. Great for the fans.

And especially for everyone who’s been part of it.

“Try losing one. You’ll see how meaningful it is.”

For nearly a year, Smith cited the strength and pedigree of the Big 12 as a liability should OU depart for another conference. Missouri left for the SEC in 2012 and the wrestling program moved to the MAC. The Big 12’s prestige took a hit.

This time, it won’t. Although OU hasn’t neared its reputation as a college wrestling blueblood in recent years, losing the Sooners’ brand could be costly.

“I’ve been saying all along that we can’t lose them,” Smith said. “Keeping OU was huge for our conference.”

Former OSU 125-pounder Nick Piccininni had yet to experience Bedlam before his arrival at OSU from his hometown of Gilroy, California. During his time in Stillwater, OU’s teams weren’t good, but his matches were closer than he expected. Regardless of Piccininni’s margin of victory, he reminded his opponent of the all-time dual record afterward – which sits at a 150-27-10 in favor of OSU. “Oklahoma to us is the little brother,” Piccininni said. “We’ve been beating them up for years now. We pride ourselves in taking it to these guys.

They’re the little brother.

Not us. Especially when they come to Stillwater for a dual. I tried my best to send that message myself.”

But for those who grew up attending the dual, it

means the most.

OSU 133-pounder Daton Fix, a Sand Springs native, was a frequent attendee of Bedlam duals growing up. Fix is undefeated in matches against OU, and said he still feels a rush for Bedlam duals.

“Whenever OU is good, OSU tends to be pretty good as well,” Fix said. “This gives fans a chance to still have a little bit of Bedlam. Obviously, we’ll miss it in football. I don’t know about the other sports. But if fans want to participate in Bedlam and see that rivalry then they’ll still have two chances to show up.”

Luke Surber, OSU’s 197-pound wrestler, echoed Fix’s words.

“We’ll always have a big crowd,” he said.

“We’re always their biggest crowd when we go down there to Norman.

It’s just good for both programs to keep it going.”

Smith said as of now, the hope is to continue the home-and-home format each season. He said it would be OU’s choice to revert to holding one dual per year.

For the fans, it means more entertainment. More opportunities to watch the in-state clash. For the wrestlers, however, it means more.

“Every time you step our onto that mat, you feel how much more important that match, that dual is than most others,” Piccininni said. “You don’t want to lose that one. You want to basically win at all costs.” sports.ed@ocolly.com

Friday, February 16, 2024

Black history month

OSUPD’s 1st Black chief builds legacy Kennedy Thomason News & Lifestyle Editor

File Photo The 10th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals ruled Speech First can continue to sue OSU on Friday after the original First Amendment lawsuit was filed Jan. 10, 2023.

10th Circuit rules Speech First may continue lawsuit against OSU Mallory Pool O’Colly Contributor

Oklahoma and said there has been longstanding precedent in the federal courts that allows for anonymous people to have standing to bring Speech First can claims. continue its lawsuit against “This court has aligned Oklahoma State University with the Supreme Court on while keeping its students’ this matter,” the court’s names anonymous, a federal opinion said. “We have judge ruled Feb. 9. previously held that organiSpeech First appealed zational standing is proper to the 10th U.S. Circuit even when the qualifying Court of Appeals after a member of the plaintiff orgadismissal last year of a First nization is anonymous.”

Amendment lawsuit against Cherise Trump is the OSU. The 10th Circuit executive director of Speech reversed and remanded the First and issued a statement case to the district court.

Feb. 9 rising to the challenge The lawsuit, filed on of continuing the lawsuit.

Jan. 10, 2023, was originally “OSU attempted to use dismissed because it failed to our students’ fear against name the students involved, them by getting the case listing them as Student A, dismissed because we would Student B and Student C. not use their legal names,” The 10th Circuit disagreed Trump said. “Well, today, with the U.S. District Court the 10th Circuit has agreed for the Western District of

that our students’ concerns for the protection of their identities are valid.”

Five other federal circuit courts have ruled in Speech First’s favor. The University of Houston and the University of Central Florida won and settled its lawsuits, while four other colleges — Iowa State University, University of Illinois, University of Texas and University of Michigan — settled the lawsuits Speech First filled.

Oklahoma State issued a statement Monday about the decision.

“Oklahoma State University values and cherishes everyone’s right of free expression as an essential pillar of democracy,” the university said. “As a matter of course, it is inappropriate to comment on active litigation.”

See Lawsuit on 9B

Walking out from his swearing-in ceremony with his dad, it set with Leon Jones that he made history.

Jones, OSUPD’s first Black chief of police, was sworn in August 2017. He spent his entire law enforcement career at OSU, working his way up from being a patrol officer to chief.

Jones said the significance of being the first Black chief is not lost on him.

“And when we’re walking out my dad, he was like, ‘This is a big deal,’” Jones said. “I never really put it together until that point, I was like, ‘Yeah, I guess it is.’ And then (it) hit that I was the first Black police chief here at OSU. And it’s like, that’s no pressure at all, right?”

Jones joined OSUPD Oct. 17, 1994. Since, he has worked to strengthen the connection between OSUPD and the community, which Jones lacked as a kid.

Raised in New Boston, Texas, Jones said he did not have a positive impression of police officers.

“Honestly, we stayed away from law enforcement when I was growing up,” Jones said. “It was just, we didn’t want anything to do with them. And I think it was just the stigma of how we were treated in some ways.”

Jones said his parents never encouraged a dislike of police officers and that his opinions were “self-developed.” He would watch his dad get pulled over, and he said the police officers were never friendly.

As chief, Jones said his goal is to change mindsets and have police officers feel like a part of the community.

Leon McClinton, the direc-

Courtesy of Leon Jones OSUPD Chief Leon Jones started the bike patrol program at OSU.

tor of housing and residential life, knew about Jones before he met him. The woman who hired McClinton was a fan.

“She was excited about me accepting the job and she said, ‘I want you to know that I have another Leon that’s my favorite,’” McClinton said. “And it was Chief Jones.”

See Jones on 5B

International Bazaar unites community, culture Jessica Pearce Staff Reporter

Bryson Thadhani

Each organization presented a dessert to a panel of three judges and competed for bragging rights.

This year’s panel had Ryan Nicklas, an English language instructor, Karen WilReem Mansy remembers visiting son, the program coordinator for the Center OSU’s International Bazaar when she was in of Africana Studies and Mark Cochran, high school.

OSU’s executive chef.

Now, in her final year at OSU, Mansy, This year, Saeedeh Abedzadeh’s a fifth-year student from Egypt, said she sholezard, a rice pudding with saffron, rose still treasures the opportunity to celebrate water, sugar, almonds and spices, won the her culture in the Stillwater international dessert competition for the Iranian Student community.

Association.

“I absolutely love this event,” Mansy Abedzadeh is new to Stillwater and said. “I’ve been going to it since I was is starting her second semester pursuing a younger, and it is because of the community. doctorate in biosystems agricultural engiPeople are so kind and happy to be here.” neering. She said making traditional Iranian For more than two decades, the Inter- desserts reminded her of her friends, family national Student Organization hosted the and fond memories from her home country. bazaar to showcase students’ cultures and “That (sharizard) is usually used for cuisines. celebrating something,” Abedzadeh said. “I The 2024 Bazaar featured perforreally like it because it reminds me of the mances and traditional foods that students happiness and good moments I had with my from Latin America, Asia, Africa and the family.

Middle East cooked. Each organization “We make it for special people, and raised about $500. we really like to be here. We like to show Mansy represented the Arab Student Iranian people are hospitable.”

Association in the Bazaar’s dessert contest.

The 2024 International Bazaar had food from many countries, including Iran and Egypt.

What’s Inside

Calf Fry Schedule, headliners announced

2B

See Bazaar on 7B

SGA 6 representatives take on D.C.

5B

Sneakers Releases for the spring

6B

Page 2B Friday, February 16, 2024

O’Colly

page 2

Ben Holieway

Thoughts on artists’ newly announced music File photo

Haley Roseberry

Calf Fry announced its lineup, with Shane Smith & The Saints, Flatland Cavalry and Giovannie & the Hired Guns headlining.

Lineup for 32nd annual Calf Fry festival announced

“I’m super excited, especially for Beyonce’s new album, because I’ve heard that it’s supposed to be going into more of a country vibe. And so I’m excited to see what her music sounds like with that.”

Raynee Howell Staff Reporter

Country, folk and roadhouse rock ‘n roll influence its music, according to the band’s website.

Flatland Cavalry is not new to Oklahoma music festivals. The band has played at Calf Fry and at Born & Raised, the annual Look no further than the Calf Fry red-dirt country music festival in Pryor. festival for quality live music and fried bull The band was founded in 2012 after testicles. the first members, Cleto Cordero and Jason The Calf Fry music festival, scheduled Albers, attended college together in Texas. By for May 2-4 in Stillwater, will feature head2014, the rest of the band members had joined. liners Shane Smith & The Saints, Flatland Their style of music leans heavily on the Cavalry and Giovannie & the Hired Guns. band’s country and folk roots.

It will be held, as it has since 1991, at Giovannie & the Hired Guns will also the Tumbleweed Dancehall & Concert venue perform. The band is newer than its fellow on the northwest side of Stillwater. To attend, headliners, with its debut album releasing fans must be older than 18. in 2017. The combination of rock ‘n roll and The festival will host performances country music are prevalent in the band’s from The Red Clay Strays, Sam Barber, work.

Grady Spencer and the Work, Pony Bradshaw, Giovannie Yanez, band frontman, origiMuscadline Bloodline, Dylan Wheeler, Lance nally worked in a pawn shop in Texas before Roark, The Weathered Souls, Treaty Oak Re- the band’s fanbase grew from loyal locals to vival, Kat Hasty, Braxton Keith and Trenton super fans. Yanez is especially passionate Fletcher alongside the three headliners. about the band’s ability to create relationships Shane Smith & The Saints, festival with fans through live shows. headliners, are based in Austin, Texas, and “Anytime we’re onstage, the most imhave been making music since 2011. The band portant thing is connecting with the crowd in performed in dive bars and smaller venues a way that makes them feel like they’re part of for over a decade before achieving its current the show,” Yanez said on the band’s website. success. news.ed@ocolly.com

Daniel Le “I’m excited for Kanye’s new album. It just came out the other day. I still haven’t listened to it, but I’m excited for it. And Beyonce, I heard she’s going country, but I don’t really listen to Beyonce”.

Editorial board Editor-in-Chief Luisa Clausen editorinchief@ocolly.com Sports editor Braden Bush sports.ed@ocolly.com Assistant Sports editor Ashton Slaughter sports.ed@ocolly.com Design editor Ben Holieway design.ed@ocolly.com

News & Lifestyle reporters:

News & Lifestyle editor Kennedy Thomason news.ed@ocolly.com Assistant News & Lifestyle editor Bella Casey news.ed@ocolly.com Photo editor Payton Little photo.ed@ocolly.com

Addie Wagner Ashton Miller Ava Whistler Grace Balducci Hayden Alexander Isaac Terry Jaycee Hampton Jessica Pearce Jocelyn Perez Maddie Swain Raynee Howell

Newsroom

“Seek the LORD while he may be found; call on him while he is near.” (Is.55:6 NIV) It is worthwhile to take the time; to stop and consider your way of life and make resolutions; new steps to take to make your life more meaningful or productive. Maybe you are doing this, or maybe you have just given up on the whole idea.

Can you remember when you were a child, how time went by so slowly? It seemed like it took forever for the holidays to arrive. Now time passes so swiftly; the years seem to rush by. The turn of the century seemed so far away when I was younger. Now we are nearly twenty years into the 21st century.

I want to encourage you to stop and consider your life; especially the remainder. None of us know when our life may end. Jesus spoke of those who

“I’m like, ‘Beyonce, country music?’ It’s kind of weird but, I’m here for that.”

The O’Colly Staff

108 Paul Miller Stillwater, OK 74078 (405) 744-6365

TIME OF GOD’S FAVOR!

Paulina Elizondo

would come into their purposes in the “eleventh hour;” right at the end of life’s work day.(Mt.20) You may think that it is too late to turn your life over to Christ; there is such little time left on “your calendar.” Yet, those who come in at the “eleventh hour” will receive the same wages as those who labored the whole day. We need to work in God’s purpose for our lives while we still have time. The Bible tells us the time is coming when “no man can work.” (Jn.9:4) As you set your heart and get definite about trusting God with your life and serving him, you will find wonderful opportunities will open for you. You see God has his purposes for you planned out, and he will begin to open doors that you know nothing about. There will be such great satisfaction in serving and finishing what he has for you to accomplish. When your life does end, and it will, you will be so glad you have followed Christ. The Bible tells us that your labor for him is not in vain. (1 Co.15:58)

Sports reporters: Alyssa Brandon Baylor Bryant Calif Poncy Dalton Arredondo Daniel Allen Davis Cordova Gabriel Trevino Garrett Queen Gina Foster Griff McClellan Kenzie Kraich Parker Gerl Payton Little Tessa Dorrell Weston Wertzberger

Photographers & Designers: Andon Freitas Ashlyn Bryant Brock Mills Bryson Thadhani Connor Fuxa Davis Cordova Ethan Hilbert Gabriel Trevino Grace Galvin Jazmine Robinson Karlie Boothe Lexie Higgins Marcus Conrad Michael Jane‘t Philip Soliz

O’Colly

Friday, February 16, 2024 Page 3B

News

Mental health series helps students cope Hayden Alexander Staff Reporter

Tribune Content Agency Coretta Scott King was an activist and did not want to be seen as a symbol but, instead, as a warrior.

Black History Month lecture highlights Coretta Scott King Luisa Clausen Editor-in-Chief

Who was Coretta Scott King?

On Tuesday, Brandy Thomas Wells, assistant professor of history, challenged the idea of who people think Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s wife was, versus who she truly portrayed herself to be.

“She Held Me Down Like a Coretta,” was one of the several Black History Month events happening on campus.

During an hour-long lecture, Wells told Scott King’s story from the beginning.

Wells had a goal with her lecture, to honor Scott King as a warrior and an activist instead of a prop or a symbol. Jonathan Majors, an American actor, found guilty of misdemeanor assault and harassment, compared his previous girlfriend, Grace Jabbari, and current girlfriend, Meagan Good, to Coretta Scott King, saying “She held me down like a Coretta.”

Thomas Wells addressed the problem of his speech.

“His speech is damaging when we think about the contributions Scott King made,” Wells said. “Absolutely she was a great mother and wife, but she did a lot more and she often challenged Martin.”

After King Jr.’s assassination in April of 1968, the public wanted to have an idea of who Scott King was.

In 1972, the American Weekly News Magazine wrote a series of articles that set out to understand who Scott King was.

At 45, she was a single parent to four children, and an activist trying to build a memorial for her husband.

“The public saw her busy but they still struggled to understand who she was as a person. Who was she in the movement for equality? Who was she to the nation? Who was she to the world?” Wells said.

The professor spent a lot of time telling the story of the woman before King, but also

the woman she was during her time with him and after.

“She revealed then that she never saw herself just marrying Martin Luther King Jr.,” Wells said. “She always saw herself as marrying the cause.

I want to talk about who she was as a lecturer, a performer, an organizer.

Not only did Scott King influence her husband to speak out against the Vietnam War, but she also remained dedicated to several causes, including women’s and children’s rights, nuclear disarmament, environmental justice, and racial and economic justice.”

For Ruthie Presswood, a sophomore studying psychology, the main point of the lecture was to learn about who Scott King was as a person, not just as Martin’s wife.

“I thought I knew something about her, but in reality, I knew absolutely nothing,” Presswood said.

Presswood said events like this should not be restricted to Black History Month and topics, such as Black leaders, should be talked about more often on campus.

For the students who couldn’t be there, Presswood said the most important thing she learned was Scott King was a thinker of her own, not just a shadow of King Jr. “She pushed her husband’s views but she also had her own and she stood strong in who she was as a woman,” Presswood said.

Wells said often when there is a conversation about historical figures, people tend to flatten them and don’t allow for those figures to be multi dimensional and nuanced.

Scott King is the perfect example of that.

“Learning about her reminds students, and it reminds people that we don’t have to be boxed in,” Wells said. “Coretta never wanted to be a symbol.

She rejected that. I want to encourage students to learn not only about Coretta Scott king and her complexity, but also to take more classes in the history department to learn about other complex and dynamic figures and historical events.” news.ed@ocolly.com

Imagine you are sitting in the Student Union Plaza.

The breeze is calm, and the sun shines with a soft warmth. There is light chatter as students wander about, and you watch with your tea in hand as the afternoon drifts by.

This is a little bit of guided imagery on one of the many methods Kaitlyn Dye and Grief and Loss Outreach intern Cheyenne Fisher teach to deal with Distress Tolerance.

The session is part of a mental health series University Counseling Services and the Reboot Center hosts.

The series is part of a new initiative to create minicounseling sessions for students who face long waitlists and may just need an hour to make their week better.

“We initially decided to create this series because we had a lot of people that only needed some coping skills and not necessarily therapy,” Fisher said. “We ended up doing this because we would have long wait lists, and then we felt as though students didn’t really

have anything in the meantime to be able to cope with whatever they are dealing with.”

Last week, the series went over how to tolerate stress and traverse stressful events in a healthy way.

“We picked distress tolerance for today’s topic,” Fisher said. “We picked it because a lot of students don’t necessarily grow up knowing coping skills; their parents don’t necessarily teach them.”

Stress can spiral, and Fisher said she wanted to make sure students are equipped to combat anxiety and depression when it gets out of hand.

For many students, the series is working wonders for their mental health. Sushmitha Chittibabu is a graduate student working toward her master’s in computer science.

She deals with a lot of stress in her day-to-day life.

Sometimes the stress wins.

“It is really stressful for me, so I barely get four hours of sleep every day, and I get easily stressed out,” Chittibabu said. “I had a demo and my computer crashed 10 minutes before my demo, and I just didn’t know how to handle that stress.”

Chittibabu is a frequent attendee at the session and is implementing the skills she learns to help improve her mental health.

“This session just really helps me,” Chittibabu said.

“I practice their grounding technique, which they taught last week.”

Chittibabu plans to go to all the sessions to grow her toolkit of mental health skills.

“I just love this so much,” Chittibabu said. “It’s really great, and I hope to practice all these techniques we learned today, imagery, the encouragement and the improved technique in my life.”

For students who might be nervous to talk about their mental health, the group setting creates a collaborative and calming atmosphere.

“Mental health is so stigmatized, and I know it can be a little scary, but we’re all here for each other,” Fisher said.

The Mental Health Series takes place every Tuesday at 1 p.m. and Fridays at 11 a.m. through April. The sessions last about an hour and take place in the Reboot Center, Student Union 320W. news.ed@ocolly.com

The big transition

School to career, student to employee Maddie Swain Staff Reporter Some students are excited about their next chapter of life after graduation.

What should they expect?

This issue is something that OSU’s counseling services has focused on to prepare students for their next step.

Graduate student Cheyenne Fisher hosted “Transition from Academia into the Workplace” that shared the importance of identifying potential workplace stressors as you become an employee.

Some of the challenges discussed included identifying new responsibilities, navigating new relationships with colleagues and understanding the role you take on as a new employee.

Along with these stressors are the stages of transitioning: doing, being and knowing.

The “doing” stage includes adjusting and familiarizing yourself with your new space.

The second stage, “being,” suggests that a new employee is likely to experience selfdoubt and true soul searching.

The “knowing” stage eases newcomers in the workforce as they find their bearings and accept their new role.

File Photo As seniors prepare to enter the workforce, OSU’s counseling services are offering advice.

Above all, the presentation shared it is important to take baby steps.

Brenda Rodriguez, who graduated in the fall, attended for advice. Rodriguez said she has a lot of anxiety about entering the workforce.

One question she sought guidance for was how to manage during this time as she prepares to enter a new and unfamiliar environment.

Fisher said it is important to not give yourself high expectations in the beginning and to “look at it as a marathon, and not a sprint.” By pac-

ing yourself, being mindful to your own feelings and creating small goals along the way will help lead to success, she said.

The presentation concluded with strategies to help students cope with the stresses of their new way of life such as achieving small tasks, seeking constructive feedback from supervisors and utilizing mental health benefits from your organization.

The next workshop will be on Feb. 27, and more information can be found on the OSU calendar. news.ed@ocolly.com

Page 4B Friday, February 16, 2024

O’Colly

News Super Bowl or Fashion Week? Celebrities, promising new designers take spotlight Ava Whistler Staff Reporter

Tribune Content Agency

Sports stars and celebrities swarmed Las Vegas to attend the 2024 Super Bowl, as the San Francisco 49ers took on the Kansas City Chiefs on Sunday.

But the event was far more than a football game.

It was one of the most important days on the fashion calendar, giving way to up-and-coming clothing designers, with celebrities and performers turning heads with their custom looks.

Eyes were on 14-time Grammy winner Taylor Swift as she showed up in support of her boyfriend Travis Kelce, tight end for the Chiefs. She wore a black

Blake Lively (left) and Taylor Swift wore eye-catching clothing at the Super Bowl.

singlet, layered gold jewelry and her signature red lipstick.

The statement of her outfit was the embellished, crystal slit jeans from Area, a New York Label. The pants are $795.

Several other stars rocked statement pieces, including Alicia Keys’ sparkling red bodysuit and Blake Lively’s memorable red track suit.

Usher performed the halftime show in a range of ensembles, including an all-cream Dolce & Gabbana outfit and a glittering black and blue biker ‘fit. Lady Gaga showed her allegiance to the 49ers with an oversized varsity jacket and lofty black platform booties.

A prominent fashion focal point of the night wasn’t a celebrity or player, but Kristin Juszczyk, the

wife of Kyle Juszczyk, a 49ers fullback.

A burgeoning clothes designer, Juszczyk didn’t love the women’s game apparel options and began creating NFL merchandise from upcycled jerseys. She first caught the public eye when Taylor Swift wore one of her custom jackets to a game in January.

Since, she made a licensing deal with the NFL, allowing her to use official logos on her clothing. In weeks, she is popular with celebrities and sports fans.

During Super Bowl weekend, Kelly Clarkson, Gayle King and Gwen Stefani all wore Juszczyk’s designs.

The Super Bowl was a clash of sports, fashion and pop culture, giving new designers like Juszczyk a chance to shine. news.ed@ocolly.com

‘Friday Flix’

OSU Museum of Art presents art in new ways Jocelyn Perez Staff Reporter

With the celebration of the 10th anniversary of the museum, the new film program is an effort to expand what the museum has to offer.

Carla Shelton, the Looking for that new museum’s associate director, undiscovered art film? helped develop Friday Flix, The OSU Museum of and she sees it as a way to Art is the place to be. expand the museum’s demoAs of last week, the graphic.

OSU Museum of Art began “We have two primary its new Friday Flix event. audiences that we serve, beFriday Flix is a film series featuring art documentaries. cause we are located downPaige Nguyen, an aca- town,” Shelton says.

The museum is a place demic initiatives intern for not only for OSU students the museum, said Friday Flix was her initiative project and and staff, but also for the Stillwater community. The she was excited to see the museum already hosts many idea come to life.

K-12 events, but Friday Flix “It’s just another way is curated to draw in an older for viewers to see different forms of art rather than just crowd.

Although the decision looking at rectangles on a making for what films to diswall,” Nguyen said. play is still in the experimen-

tal stage, Nguyen said she is hoping the public helps give an opinion for what would be cool to show.

“Are we going too artsy?” Nguyen said.

The museum is under copyright restriction for what it can show, but it will feature contemplative art films.

In respect of the 10th anniversary, the first film was about the museum’s architect, by Eliott and Associates. It discussed the building’s design and layout.

The film’s insight was niche and intriguing, as it explained what makes the OSU Museum of Art particular to Stillwater.

Friday Flix takes place every Friday from 2 to 4 p.m. to get the chance to view a cinematic experience like no other. news.ed@ocolly.com

File Photo Although the weather in Stillwater can be inconsistent, spring should arrive for good in April.

Long way from spring OSU specialist says spring time will arrive in April Addie Wagner Staff Reporter

File Photo The OSU Museum of Art is hosting “Friday Flix,” its newest form of sharing art.

with a slight lean toward wetter conditions as well,” Brasher said.

“In terms of a seasonal spring forecast, most meteorologists/climatologists in these parts would probably tell you to be prepared On Feb. 2, weather-forecast- for a bit of a back-and-forth dance ing groundhog Punxsutawney Phil between cooler and warmer before things stabilize and consistently stumbled out of his underground start heating up.” haven to see no shadow on the This spring, compared to dirt below. previous ones, is supposed to be As crowds cheered and news especially stormy, Steven Piltz, a broke that spring would likely meteorologist at Tulsa’s Weather come early this year, Stillwater remained wintry. Groundhog Day Forecast Office, said.

“Given Oklahoma’s tendenmay be a tradition, but it isn’t alcy for big swings in the weather ways accurate for every location.

Students have experienced a during a normal spring season, multitude of bi-polar weather con- we seem to be heading toward an unsettled spring,” Piltz said. ditions in Stillwater. Some days it is freezing outside with a bitter “But, we can’t forget that we have wind chill, and other days campus seen some of our bigger snows looks like a warm September day, in March. So, I would say winter isn’t over until late March. Ofwith students wearing shorts.

J.D. Carlson, a research as- ficially, spring begins on March sociate professor, but a meteorolo- 19.”

It seems blooming buds and gist by training, said consistent sunny skies will have to wait, unspringtime weather will not arrive like what Phil predicted. until April.

Groundhog Day’s accuracy “We’re obviously having has declined in recent years, and spring-like temperatures this unfortunately for Phil, he has a week (10-20 degrees above norlow success rate. mal), but I don’t think they will “First of all, look at the last consistently through February track record of Punxsutawney and March,” Carlson said.

Phil – over the past decade, he’s Spring is a bit away, and only been right about a third of winter storms are not out of the question for the rest of February, the time and, going back to the late 1800s, only about 40% of the Carlson said.

“There are signs that a ma- time,” Carlson said.

“This annual event occurs jor change in the jet stream pattern will occur around the middle in a small town in Pennsylvania of this month that could result in northeast of Pittsburgh. Even if colder temperatures and possible the groundhog had a 100% track snow later this month in our part record, that track record is based on springtime conditions meaof the country,” Carlson said. sured at that location, and so this Saber Brasher, an assistant method can’t be used to forecast professor of the Department of spring for a wider area.”

Geography, said spring is not on Carlson, Brasher and Piltz the way. said Groundhog Day is not the “As we get to the second most accurate form of predicting half of February, models are suggesting we shift toward below- future weather. It is an unreliable normal temperatures for February, source, unfortunately for Phil. news.ed@ocolly.com

O’Colly

Friday, February 16, 2024 Page 5B

News

SGA leadership takes on Washington, D.C. Kennedy Thomason News & Lifestyle Editor

issues facing the Big 12. Each school then creates a “white page” of school-specific statistics and detailed information to share with their respective legislators.

OSU’s SGA representatives were able to meet with six of the Six members of the Stuseven elected state congressional dent Government Association members. took OSU’s issues to the big They were unable to meet stage: Washington, D.C. The annual spring semes- with some congressional members personally, and instead met ter conference, Big 12 On The with their staffers. Moore said Hill, has student government representatives from each school Rep. Frank Lucas was invested in listening to the issues they travel to Washington, D.C., to brought. advocate for their schools and “He was asking us questhe Big 12 to members of contions, really engaging with us gress. in conversation about everyThis year, SGA President Ashley Peterson, Vice President thing we had brought him, and Hilary Albrecht, Senate Speaker he seemed truly interested in what we brought in when other Sydney Adkins, Vice Speaker lawmakers didn’t always seemed Wyatt Moore, Public Affairs super engaged with us,” Moore Chair Aiden Minton and Chief of Staff Carson Capps were sent said.

Adkins said legislators are to represent OSU. typically more receptive if poThe top issues discussed with legislators included mental tential solutions are brought with the issues they present. health, food insecurity, college This time, the focus was affordability and name, image on advocacy. and likeness.

“It’s kind of hard to gauge “We really are going all success at that level,” Moore the way to try and get what students are concerned about to the said. “Because we can only do highest level,” Adkins said. “And so much in terms of bringing these topics and resources and in our eyes, the highest levels ideas and facts to our legislators. are federal representatives and And then once we do that, it’s senators.” kind of out of our hands.”

Student government repPeterson said she was exresentatives from each school cited OSU was able to help other decide on the most important

schools generate ideas to combat the main problems Big 12 schools are facing. She pointed to the University of Oklahoma, though it is its last year in the conference, as a school OSU’s representatives were able to help.

In areas like food insecurity, OSU has combated it with initiatives such as Pete’s Pantry or partnerships with Our Daily Bread. Peterson also pointed to OSU’s efforts to make mental health care available to students through a partnership with Better Help for students who are stuck on waiting lists to see university counselors.

Although the trip has professional motives, it also gives the chosen students the opportunity to visit the nation’s capital.

“I just kind of stood there in awe because the building, the Capitol, is huge,” Moore said.

“Everything was bigger than I thought it would be.”

Peterson said having the opportunity to present college issues to federal legislators firsthand is an important tradition.

“College students across the nation aren’t the people that are at the forefront of legislators’ minds,” Peterson said.

“So, having college students talk to these people and really convey the issues that we’re facing, and the issues that our universities are facing are so, so big, because they just don’t really hear that all the time.” news.ed@ocolly.com

Jones . . .

Continued from 1B OSUPD and housing and residential life work together to keep students safe on campus.

McClinton and Jones formed a friendship over regularly scheduled meetings.

“He has the type of personality that is warm, that is supportive and very friendly,” McClinton said. “He takes the time to get to know people. He takes the time to follow up with people, see how they’re doing.

But he also is a strong person and a person that has been able to overcome adversity throughout his life and, and has been very successful with his career.”

Dustin Orrell met Leon Jones in the parking lot next to what was formerly Kerr-Drummond.

Orrell, a student at the time, didn’t expect the conversation to turn into a 30 year friendship.

“Anytime I saw him, he would stop and talk to me or vice versa,” Orrell said. “So I would say from that initial meeting to now, I think that kind of embodies his vision, his passion.”

After graduation, Orrell joined Jones on OSUPD’s force as an officer.

Serving on celebrity details for people such as James Earl Jones or playing video games off duty, Orrell and Jones strengthened their already-established friendship. “(He’s) basically like my brother,” Orrell said.

When Jones joined the force, he was one of three Black officers of the 24-person department. Over the course of his career with OSUPD, Jones said Black officers have come and gone.

For about two or three years, Jones was the only Black officer.

Jones said he never felt like he didn’t belong as a part of OSUPD. “Racism is just all around all the time,” Jones said. “It is just not as prevalent in some places as others. I fortunately didn’t have to deal with it as much as I did when I was grow-

Courtesy of Leon Jones Chief Leon Jones joined OSU’s force on Oct. 17, 1994. OSUPD is the only police department Jones has worked for.

ing up. I always felt welcome here, even though I was the only Black officer for a while.”

At times, it has been difficult for others to understand his identity as a Black man and a police officer, Jones said.

“The part that I had overcome mostly was whenever I joined law enforcement,” Jones said. “I was in the middle. Most African Americans didn’t like police. And now I am one, so it took a while for everybody to. . . trust me. Maybe I was a traitor, or what have you, because how would I become a cop?”

In his time with OSUPD, Jones created the bike patrol program. Although it left room for more jokes, Jones said, it allowed for more positive contact with the community.

Only 3% of police officers in the world have the opportunity to attend, he said.

Orrell said his push for community-focused policing has changed OSUPD for the better.

“I do believe that he and his vision of what policing should be and what the community should be like have been the best thing for OSU for quite some time now, in regards to law enforcement and the police department,” Orrell said.

Jones said he wants his position to not only serve OSU, but also create a legacy for young Black people.

“I don’t want to be a failure in this position because it might close the door for other people that would like to follow in my footsteps,” Jones said.

As his dad looked over to him after the ceremony, Jones knew everything he did as chief would be important.

The standard he sets will be the one any Black chief who follows him is held to.

“This has been explained to me a lot about the position that I hold, and being the first African American chief in Oklahoma State University is big,” Jones said. “I hope that people see the success they say I have (and it) would propel others to do the same thing to move forward and go forward.”

“I don’t want to be a failure in this position, because it might close the door for other people that would like to follow in my footsteps”

Leon Jones OSUPD Police Chief Jones and his officers grill burgers for OSU’s faculty, like they did for McClinton’s faculty in August.

In 2005, Jones was nominated to attend the 14-week FBI Academy, where he took classes on everything from handwriting analysis to interview techniques.

news.ed@ocolly.com

Courtesy of Visit Stillwater Stillwater’s new Comprehensive Plan has six elements to address transportation, as well as adjusting to fit the city’s employment distribution.

Envision Stillwater

New transportation, infrastructure plans on way Noah Bryant O’Colly Contributor Stillwater’s new Comprehensive Plan focuses on a better city for all generations.

A meeting for the Stillwater Comprehensive Plan on Tuesday at the Stillwater Community Center had Freese and Nichols Inc. AICP and project manager Dawn Warrick, who works for the company, speak on the six-element plan, which includes transportation improvement over the next 10-20 years.

Warrick said the six elements address how and where people will get to work.

“When we talk about transportation, it’s important for us to understand what the dynamics are with regard to who’s working in the city, living in the city, working elsewhere, and who’s coming into the city to work from a different place,” Warrick said.

With more than 15,000 employed residents in Stillwater, only about 9,000 live in Stillwater.

More than 8,000 citizens come to Stillwater to work, and the committees are working on the plan to improve public transportation and transportation flow.

Diving into the numbers and data on these six elements can be important to the movement and success in the Stillwater Comprehensive Plan, but not everyone’s concerns will be touched on in a factual way.

Kimberley Mechu, who is also working on the Stillwater Comprehensive plan, said it is not a perfect plan, but it addresses as many issues as possible.

“Not everybody always gets what they want, but we try to put as much (as we can) in there,” Mechu said. “We put things in there that we feel that we can accomplish in that timeframe, things that are further out we leave on a list and the next time we. . . add those in, so it’s always a give and take.”

She said the committee is working on things that affect the city in its current form as tries to form the future look of Stillwater.

“We are working on infrastructure,” Mechu said.

“So waterlines, streets, we have a lot of quality of life things that are happening.

I know a lot of people here are very heavily involved in the quality of life aspect, so those are things that we will address over time.”

The meeting was part of phase 1, the analysis phase, focuses on getting the community’s ideas on how to improve Stillwater.

“It gives the city a roadmap for the future and gives us feedback and information we gathered from the community,” Warrick

said. “So we understand when we are telling the plan it’s providing recommendations for how the community should grow and develop over time.”

“It will not cause any immediate change. It does not change what you can or cannot do on your property immediately; it’s not that kind of tool.”

Although the plan won’t have an immediate impact on the community, the committee finds it important to gather data on Stillwater today.

The Stillwater Comprehensive Plan will run on an 18-month process from January 2024 to May 2025.

After the phase 1, phase 2, the plan development stage, will follow, phase 3 will implement the plan and phase 4 will end the process with the diagnostic stage.

There are multiple groups working on this plan, but it starts with the community because the committee said most important tool for the plan is “community voice.”

The city council will appoint stakeholders for the comprehensive plan advisory committee. It made a list of key goals and expectations for the plan that prioritized taking care of those most in need, providing a vision that tells the community to dream big, and that the plan should be a foundation for an innovative code.

The Planning Commission will review the project and make sure everything runs smoothly, while the city council will tie it together.

Other elements mentioned during the meeting were the employment distribution of Stillwater, where a 35% of employed residents work in educational services, 13% work in healthcare and 13% work in accommodation and food.

These numbers are high compared to the national average, so the committee found it is important to embrace Stillwater’s market.

“We just need to understand how that shapes the market,” Warrick said.

“What that means in regards to opportunities, and if there are things that the plans might need to address in regards to opportunities.”

There will be five more meetings addressing the plan, with the next one this summer where Freese and Nichols Inc. will focus on “workshopping” with the community of Stillwater.

They will address how the project is going and give information on the next steps.

They plan on having a public engagement event where it will feature an open house type of event to get a more closeup and personal feel on the plan to give the community a sense of evolution from the plan. news.ed@ocolly.com

Page 6B Friday, February 16, 2024

O’Colly

News 4 notable sneaker releases for spring 2024 Parker Gerl Staff Reporter

various distributors in March.

Along the bottom of the shoe are Fruity Pebbles-like specks, imitating the popular cereal. The shoe has a white base with purple laces and From collaborations with features a rainbow-style outsole similar to the colors of Fruity designers and celebrities to Pebbles. You can find new versions of OG silhouettes, Fruity spring 2024 sneaker Pebreleases have any and everything.

Nike Zoom LeBron 4 “Fruity Pebbles” Whether you’re looking for everyday kicks, something to show off or even a new hoop shoe, there’s something for everybody on this list.

Here are four notable sneakers set to drop over the next few months.

Nike Zoom LeBron 4 “Fruity Pebbles” Nike’s Zoom LeBron 4 released in 2006 and remains one of LeBron James’ most popular shoes to date. The Fruity Pebbles edition, which James first wore as a PE (player edition), is a top unreleased shoe in James’ HIDDEN.NY X ASICS GEL-NYC sneaker line. It will hit

bles branding — James’ favorite cereal — on the tongue tag.

The shoe was initially scheduled to release Feb. 23, however, it will now drop March 7 on the Nike SNKRS app and both in-store and online at select retailers. Retail is $250.

Air Jordan 4 “Bred Reimagined” Any “Bred” colorway will catch a sneakerhead’s eye. It’s undoubtedly a staple in sneaker history.

The Air Jordan 4 “Bred” has seen five retro releases since its original release in 1989. What makes the “Reimagined” edition different from the original is its leather upper and “Nike Air” tag on the heels. Aside from that, it’s the nostalgic black, red, gray and white scheme.

You can find the Air Jordan 4 “Bred Reimagined” on Feb. 17 for $215 on Nike’s website and at select Jordan Brand retailers, in-store and online.

HIDDEN.NY X ASICS GEL-NYC ASICS and streetwear brand HIDDEN.NY partnered up for a collaboration on ASICS’ GELNYC model. HIDDEN. NY brings its spirited green to the silhouette, combining it with the shoe’s white base and silver overlays.

There’s a HIDDEN. NY branded “h” on the right tongue, too.

The HIDDEN.NY X ASICS GEL-NYC can be bought for $160 on ASICS’ and HIDDEN.NY’S websites.

The shoe is set to release in

Air Jordan 4 “Bred Reimagined”

March with an official date to be determined.

Travis Scott x Jordan Jumpman Jack “Sail” Rapper Travis Scott and Nike teamed up in 2017, and Scott has since released over 20 collaborations in silhouettes such as the Jordan 1 — high and low versions — the 4, the Air Max 1 and many more.

Now, he gets his own signature shoe.

Scott’s Jordan Jumpman Jack “Sail” already released on Scott’s website for Grammy Night and sold out in seconds, but is expected to drop again on March 5 at a price tag of $200. It can be found at select Jordan Brand retailers and online at Nike.com. The shoe features Scott’s signature backward swoosh, a smooth black base, white overlays and a gum outsole that includes a “Jack” emblem.

Travis Scott x Jordan Jumpman Jack

news.ed@ocolly.com

O’Colly

Friday, February 16, 2024 Page 7B

News/LIFESTYLE

Explore Stillwater What to do in town Hayden Alexander Staff Reporter

to many dungeon masters, rogue elves, and human artificers. The D&D club on campus facilitates multiple campaigns through their Discord and other platforms. Check them out @ Imagine it’s Thursday in OkStateD&D on Instagram.

Stillwater; the unofficial start To the more musically of the college weekend. inclined in the audience, OSU In a small town like Still- is showbiz central. water, there isn’t much to do The McKnight Center is for students looking for a dry home to plays, concerts and weekend. all things musical. There is However, this little town always something happening has a lot going for it. at the center. The OSU Theatre Let’s start on campus for Department puts on multiple those chilling in the dorms and shows a year if you’re an aspirdon’t want to risk their perfect ing theater kid. parking spot.

Let’s take a chance and Sports! The end of foottravel off campus. ball season doesn’t mean the Main Steet Stillwater. It’s end of sports for the year. On like Disney’s Main Street USA, the contrary, OSU is always in but better. It’s the perfect spot its sports era. There is always for shopping, antiquing, good something going on in athletfood and exploring. They’ve ics. It’s basketball and wresgot everything, including tling season, and baseball and everyone’s favorite cozy cofsoftball are right around the fee shops. There is also a local corner. bookstore, Bliss Books & BindIf you see yourself on the ery, with a special furry friend court, Colvin Recreation Cen- who greets patrons. ter offers an avenue to multiple There are two museums intramural and club sports on in town to check out. For the campus. You might have to artists in the room, the OSU give up your parking spot to Museum of Art is a great place play ball, but there are varito spend the day. On the history ous sports of different calibers side, the city has the Stillwater available.

History Museum.

“Stranger Things” and If you just want to throw “Dungeons & Dragons: Honor something, the Stilly Axe Pit Among Thieves” brought allows you to practice your Dungeons & Dragons to main- throw. They’re open late during stream audiences and captured the weekends. many newcomers. OSU is home

Money is tight, but never fear. Not everything that’s fun has a price tag.

Your classic outdoor options are Boomer Lake, Lake Carl Blackwell, OSU Botanic Gardens and the skate park on Main Street. I’ve occasionally collided with other skateboarders, so I know that there are plenty of y’all riding around on campus.

What do you do if you want to dance, sing and socialize without alcohol? What if you’re not 21, but your friends still want to go out for a drink?

If you want to experience the Stillwater music scene at a place fit for everyone, try EveryMan EM. They’re hosting music groups like Downtown Funk on Thursdays. The venue is 18+, so you can enjoy Stilly nightlife in a more laid-back atmosphere. They’ve got snacks, alcoholic beverages and regular drinks.

Maybe you’re feeling philanthropic this weekend.

Stillwater is philanthropycentral.

You can volunteer all over town. Some easy ways to get involved across town are volunteering for Our Daily Bread, Stillwater Humane Society, Big Brothers and Sisters of Stillwater, tutoring and many more. Check out unitedwaypaynecounty.com for more opportunities. news.ed@ocolly.com

Bryson Thadhani The International Bazaar gives international students a chance to connect and share

Bazaar . . .

ences and foods while allowing Powers to support her students, many of whom are international.

Continued from 1B “When I saw that it was coming up, I was like, ‘Oh, we have to go,’” Powers said. “Part Although Abedzadeh of the advantage of being in a said Stillwater and OSU were college town is that you get to welcoming to her, she said the be exposed to a lot of different international community was cultures that you wouldn’t have especially helpful in transitionin a small town otherwise.” ing from Iran to the United For many families, atStates. tending the bazaar is a tradiKatherine Serbinovska, tion. Powers said her family an art administration junior has visited the bazaar for the from Russia, agreed that Stillpast 10 years. water’s international commuSidney Williams and nity helped her feel close to her Myriam Williams said they home after moving to Stillwahave gone to almost every bater seven years ago. zaar since 2000. Myriam im“Sometimes it feels like migrated from Columbia and international people can underwas once president of the Latin stand each other better, even American Student Association though they are from different at OSU. countries,” Serbinovska said.

Now, both in their 70s, “We each have the same backthe Williamses said the bazaar ground of coming from someremains an opportunity to celwhere else to here and meeting ebrate the many international each other in Stillwater.” cultures of OSU and reconnect Despite the lack of Eurowith old friends. pean student associations at the “I like the students and bazaar, Serbinovska said many their costumes and dances,” of the foods and drinks were Myriam Williams said. “I just quite similar to traditional love it. It’s good to do this so Russian meals and provided people are aware that we are a welcome taste of home in a here and that we are all differcommunity that does not often ent.” get exposure to other cultures.

Even students who have “It’s actually really close spent their entire lives in the to what I used to eat in my United States said they were hometown,” Serbvinovska said. excited to visit the bazaar and “We kind of use the same inexperience cultures they had gredients in the same way. It’s never been exposed to. closer to my taste than most Madeline Hager, a senior, American food.” said she heard about the event Serbvinovska said she on social media and was eager was particularly excited about to bring her friends to the the teas at the bazaar, served bazaar. warm and without sweeteners.

“It’s been really fun,” “Russian people drink Hager said. “It was a little tea all day long,” Serbvinovska overwhelming at first, but in said. “People here have tea in a good way. Even just peopletheir culture as well, and I’m watching has been so fun.” like, ‘Yes, thank you so much,’ Exposure to diverse culbecause it is hot tea, which is tures and a welcoming commuvery important. For that reanity is what motivates families son, it feels like home here.” and students like Mansy to Serbinovska, like some return to the bazaar each year. other attendees, visited the “I love having this opporbazaar with her family and tunity and I love being able to close friends. Although the barepresent Egypt,” Mansy said. zaar is largely student-run, the I am a proud Egyptian, and I event is open to the Stillwater am proud to share this culture. community. OSU alumni and “It’s honestly wonderful. staff, grandparents and young I feel like it helps unite us, in children all attended. a way. We’re all enjoying each Carol Powers, assistant other’s food, we get to interact dean of the Graduate College, with people and learn about brought her son, 1, to the baeach other’s cultures.” zaar. The bazaar exposed him to different cultures, experinews.ed@ocolly.com

File Photo Stillwater has plenty of dry activities for students to explore. From Stilly Axe Pit to the Stillwater History Museum, there’s something for everyone.

History professor gives advice on how to thrive in the field Luisa Clausen Editor-in-Chief

traditions and political and social activism. After leaving Ohio State, I worked briefly in my home state of Georgia.

And in 2018, I transitioned to Oklahoma State University.

I’m very happy to be here and working with the students here.

And I’ve continued to publish in those areas. I’ve published in Brandy Thomas Wells the Journal of African Amerihas been a professor at OSU can History, which is the top since 2018. Wells is currently journal in my field, and several preparing a book manuscript anthologies on the topic of that analyzes African Ameriintellectualism and American can women’s international interests and activities from the foreign policy.”

Q: Do you involve 1890s through the 1960s. students in any of your reQ: Although it is hard search? to brag on ourselves, you do A: “I’m very happy to say have an extensive resume. that I bring students into my Could you tell me a little research. In 2021, I debuted bit about your professional a digital humanities website trajectory? known as Women of Black A: “I did my undergrad Wall Street. That is a project in history at a small HBCU that I did with undergraduate (Historically Black Colleges and Universities). I majored in students at OSU. They were history because I thought I was from the history department, from journalism and philosogoing to go to law school, but phy, too. Together we wrote bithen in my sophomore year, I was introduced to the Andrew ographies of some Black female business owners at the time of Mellon Foundation program, the Tulsa Race Massacre. And and I realized that I could so we tried to discover what just read books and study and were they doing on the night of present all this cool informathe massacre. Were they able tion for the rest of my life. I to rebuild those businesses and decided I wanted to become a college professor. After leaving things like that? I would say that’s one of the things that I’m college, I was a grad student most proud of because it really at the Ohio State University. changed a number of students.

There, I got my master’s and PhD. While there I worked on Two of those students went on to work in tech and communia couple of different topics: cation industries. And then one Black South African women’s of those students is majoring liberation struggles, African American women’s intellectual in African American history at OSU. It was a life-changing

Q&A

class for the students and for me. I’m particularly proud of that project.”

Q: Do you have any advice for students who may want to follow a similar path as you on just how to take on this career, what the challenges they may face or anything you think they should know?

A: “I have mentored a number of female undergraduate and graduate students. In fact, I won a women’s faculty council award for my mentoring of other women. I am very committed to this, so the advice that I will give is to identify what your passions are, right? Whatever your recent research questions or research interests are, determine if some faculty members could mentor you in that process. They don’t have to be fully aligned. But if there’s some sort of overlap, or they run parallel to that and build a relationship with that faculty member, take their classes, sign up for independent studies and different things.

Because that will be important to apply to graduate school because you will need to have a substantial piece of writing.

To go to a school you will need to be able to do research in both primary and secondary sources. And so you’re going to have to take classes along those lines, or do a sort of side project where you have that under the guidance of a faculty mentor, so I would say it’s all about being true to yourself.” news.ed@ocolly.com

Page 8B Friday, February 16, 2024

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Murphy’s Department Store 815 S Main, Downtown Open 10-6 Monday thru Saturday

Cowboy Calendar Friday 2/16/2024 Central Oklahoma Cattle Conference Payne County Expo Center @ 8 a.m. - 5 p.m. $20 https://pcexpocenter.com/events/month/2024-02/ Downtown Funk EM Curators of Craft @ 8 - 10 p.m. $5 Cover https://curatorsofcraft.co/pages/on-stage Grillin’ & Chillin At The Varsity Shop EM Curators of Craft @ 1 - 3 p.m. https://curatorsofcraft.co One Man Band Music EM Curators of Craft @ 8 - 10 p.m. $5 Cover https://curatorsofcraft.co/pages/on-stage Reptiles At The Library Stillwater Public Library @ 1 - 3 p.m. https://stillwaterok.gov/CivicAlerts.aspx?AID=167 The Southern Band Live EM Curators of Craft @ 10 p.m. $5 https://curatorsofcraft.co/pages/on-stage Toy Train Operating Society Train Show Payne County Expo Center @ 9 a.m. - 3 p.m. https://pcexpocenter.com/event/toy-train-operating-society-train-show/ Saturday 2/17/2024 Cowboy Basketball: Oklahoma State vs. BYU Gallagher-Iba Arena @ 1 p.m. https://okstate.com/sports/mens-basketball/schedule Cowgirl Basketball: Oklahoma State vs. University of Houston Gallagher-Iba Arena @ 4 p.m. https://okstate.com/sports/womens-basketball/ schedule?elq_cid=438419&ehash=e86157a204a7 5e7c8eea39ac470e0154c36673f74efc88636835d5 5c73c184e0 Cowboy Tennis vs. ORU Greenwood Tennis Center @ 6 p.m. https://okstate.com/sports/mens-tennis/schedule Greg Dragoo Live EM Curators of Craft @ 8 - 10 p.m. $10 cover https://curatorsofcraft.co/pages/on-stage Heartland Toy Train Show Payne County Expo Center @ 9 a.m. - 3 p.m.

Adults: $5 Kids 18 & under are free with paid adult https://www.ttos-soonerdiv.org Jammin’ At The Weed Tumbleweed Dancehall & Concert Venue @ 7 p.m. $10 https://www.calffry.com/online-store/Jammin-At-The-Weed-Saturday-February17-2024-p617583019

Los Angeles Times Daily Crossword Puzzle Edited by Patti Varol

ACROSS 1 Cravat kin 6 “Masters of Illusion” host Dean 10 Swedish pop group 14 Fabric 15 Land unit 16 Subatomic particle with greater mass than an electron 17 Rather impressive exclamation of relief?

19 Peruvian people who made rope bridges 20 Server with a spigot 21 Unoccupied 22 Perfect little darling 23 “Science Friday” host Flatow 24 Astonished exclamation at the Four Corners By Robin Stears Monument?

63 Governor of 27 Get back Georgia 29 __ de Janeiro 64 Paper clip shape 30 Volleyball quartet? 65 Devoured 31 Biblical garden 66 Dates 32 Brian Setzer 67 Caresses genre 68 Small pastries 34 “Park it!”

35 Exasperated DOWN exclamation over 1 Get a breath mint?

2 Spoke indistinctly 39 “The Gilded __”: 3 Neologism Julian Fellowes 4 Hall of Famer Mel series 5 Law org. led by 42 Splash Christopher A. 43 Once, quaintly Wray since 2017 47 Photographer 6 Escapade Goldin 7 Felt sore 48 Exhibition funding 8 Sore feeling agcy. since 1965 9 Still in the box 49 Moves furtively 10 __ acid 51 Quiet exclamation 11 Botches of dismissal from 12 “Romanza” tenor way back when?

Andrea 55 Future louse 13 Equity expert 56 “Correctamundo!” 18 “Between a Rock 57 Station under the and a Hard Place” Garden memoirist Ralston 58 Training course 22 Whisky __: for an EMT Hollywood disco 59 Jai __ 25 Psychoanalyst 60 Etymological Fromm story about an 26 Peel equestrian’s 28 Echidna snack exclamation?

32 Brown ermine

Daily Horoscope

Nancy Black Tribune Content Agency Linda Black Horoscopes Today’s Birthday (02/16/24). Good fortune blesses your house this year. Steady, disciplined action wins lucrative rewards.

Solve family challenges before exciting springtime creative and collaborative possibilities arise in conversation. Shift summer professional projects around changes, before setting off on bold autumn adventures. Domestic joys feed your spirit.

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 an 8 — Communication and connection comes naturally. You’re especially popular this month, with Venus in Aquarius. Get social. Play on powerful teams for causes you love.

Taurus (April 20-May 20) — Today is a 9 — Discover professional advances. Your status and influence rise over the next month, with Venus in Aquarius. Take charge. Put love into your work.

Gemini (May 21-June 20) — Today is an 8 — Set study goals.

Travel looks good this coming month. It’s easier to venture forth, with Venus in Aquarius. Explore and discover uncharted terrain.

Cancer (June 21-July 22) — Today is a 7 — Profit through collaboration, with Venus in Aquarius. The next month favors earning and saving money. Increase shared assets with coordination. Strategize and build together.

Leo (July 23-Aug. 22) — Today is an 8 — Partnerships flower, with Venus in Aquarius for the next month. Compromise comes naturally. Share and discover beauty, passions and love. Rely on each other.

Virgo (Aug. 23-Sept. 22) — Today is an 8 — You’re growing stronger. Energize healthy practices. Get your heart pumping this month, with Venus in Aquarius. Take your work, health and vitality up a notch.

Libra (Sept. 23-Oct. 22) — Today is a 9 — Practice skills, talents and hobbies. You’re especially lucky in love over the next month, with Venus in Aquarius. Artistic efforts sparkle.

Your creative muses harmonize.

Scorpio (Oct. 23-Nov. 21) — Today is an 8 — Feather your love nest. Make household improvements. Enjoy domestic arts and pleasures, with Venus in Aquarius for a month. Savor home and family.

Sagittarius (Nov. 22-Dec. 21) — Today is a 9 — Connect and share. You love learning over the next month, with Venus in Aquarius. You’re especially clever and creative. Write, record and express.

Capricorn (Dec. 22-Jan. 19) — Today is a 9 — Gather abundance, with Venus in Aquarius. The next month can be especially profitable. Put your heart into your work and demand rises naturally.

Aquarius (Jan. 20-Feb. 18) — Today is an 8 — You’re especially beloved, with Venus in your sign. Your charm and charisma shine this month. Try a new style. Step onstage.

Smile for the cameras.

Pisces (Feb. 19-March 20) — Today is a 7 — Savor a restful, contemplative month, with Venus in Aquarius. Slow the pace and practice relaxing rituals. Process recent transitions. Make plans to follow your heart.

2/16/24

Thursday’s Puzzle Solved

©2024 Tribune Content Agency, LLC

33 Is in the past?

36 “Nuh-uh!”

37 Pitch setter 38 Happy sound 39 Hooded gear 40 Sea fed by the Jordan 41 Final Avengers film in the Infinity Saga 44 Major stock holder?

45 Take a powder

2/16/24

46 Features of some Mary Janes 49 Prefix with -gram 50 Like some ice cream 52 Uses UPS 53 Wet impact sound 54 Parts of a loaf or loafers 60 Spinner 61 Wide st.

62 Coco Gauff’s org.

Level 1 2 3 4

2/16/24

Solution to Thursday’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

© 2024 The Mepham Group. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency. All rights reserved.

O’Colly

Friday, February 16, 2024 Page 9B

News Lawsuit . . .

Continued from 1B

the opinion said. “But those questions have not arisen, and may never arise, in this case.”

In the original lawsuit filed, Speech First challenged the issues of the constitutionality of OSU’s Code of Conduct and Harassment Policy, Computer Appropriate Use Policy and Bias-Related Incidents Policy. Those issues are still at hand after the 10th Circuit’s ruling.

Five amicus briefs were submitted to the 10th Circuit, according to Speech First’s statement. These briefs, which are sometimes better known as friend of the court briefings, let organizations and parties that aren’t directly involved in a suit show support.

Amicus briefs talk about legal arguments that justices might consider. The appeal to the 10th Circuit included briefs from the American Civil Liberties Union, the U.S. Chamber of Commerce and the Manhattan Institute.

“The number of amicus briefs from such a diverse set of organizations is a testament to how important the membershiporganization issue is across the country,” the Speech First statement said. “Speech First is

Trump’s statement explained the next steps Speech First intends to take, while also stating that in all Speech First’s lawsuits on behalf of its members, names are kept anonymous. It is not only in OSU’s situation that Student A, Student B and Student C were left unnamed.

“Our members’ anonymity is beyond important,” the Speech First statement said.

“Without it, students would be left open to the whims of authoritarian college administrators or faculty who are determined to censor, compel and coerce student speech.”

Speech First plans to continue the lawsuit against OSU, though it is unclear whether the university plans to appeal to File Photo the U.S. Supreme Court. The The 10th Circuit disagreed with the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Oklahoma on Feb. 9, and said there is precstatement from Speech First exedent for anonymous people to bring claims. plained that the legal names are mented on OSU’s policies at is mandated by law, it cannot mines the state of free speech kept out of the court documents punish students for using lanon a campus. It is broken down hand in the lawsuit. to protect students from push “Oklahoma State Uniguage that is nonetheless prointo three speech code ratings: back from the university. versity currently receives a tected under the First AmendGreen Light, Yellow Light or “Now we can get back to Yellow Light rating in FIRE’s ment,” Ansloan said. “And Red Light. directly challengSpotlight database because it calling on students to report Red Lights ing OSU’s insidious their classmates for emailing are universities that maintains several policies that policies that invescan too easily be used to restrict messages they may find offenhave policies that tigate, track and protected expression,” Ansloan sive, in poor taste, or insensitive “clearly and subdiscipline students said. “Our Spotlight database clearly crosses that line.” stantially restrict for their constituThe policy also bans usfreedom of speech.” rates more than 475 of the nationally protected At public universi- tion’s top colleges and universi- ing the university’s information speech,” the statetechnology resources for “transties, red light rank- ties on an annual basis.” ment said. “We Ansloan said OSU’s mitting political campaigning.” ings are considered have won a number Bias Incident Response Policy Colleges that are tax-exempt unconstitutional. of battles against earned a Yellow Light rating under Section 501(c)(3) of the A Yelcolleges who because of its broad and circu- Internal Revenue Code are not low Light school choose to violate lar definition. It defines a bias allowed to participate in politi“restricts a more students’ speech incident as any action “motical campaigns as institutions. limited amount of rights and will convated, in whole or in part, by a However, Ansloan said protected exprestinue to do so.” this prohibition does not ban sion or, by virtue of bias against a person or group The court did - Speech First statement students themselves from vague wording, can of persons who possess comexpress that it is mon characteristics.” engaging in political speech too easily be used not without concern Ansloan also said that it where said speech is clearly to restrict protected of cases relating to expression.” These is a broad policy that implicates separate and distinct from the anonymity. It said there can be leading the charge to not only university as a whole. are also considered unconstitu- expression protected by the questions relating to the relvindicate students’ free-speech tional policies.

First Amendment.

“As with any case conevance of anonymity, but those rights but also their right of He also said OSU’s Apcerned with protecting the First If a college or university are to be brought up in court, freedom of association.” propriate Use Policy earns a Amendment rights of students, does not “seriously imperil” not dismissed because of it.

The Foundation for Indi- speech, it gets a Green Light Yellow Light because it asks FIRE is closely watching these “And there may be quesvidual Rights and Expression is ranking. members of the campus to proceedings and hopes that, in tions about whether anonymity another free speech organizatime, Oklahoma State revises FIRE ranked 248 colleges report “material they find ofis being improperly exploited, tion that advocates for students for 2024. On the list, OSU sits fensive.” each of its Yellow Light policies in which case the court may on college campuses across “While OSU may encour- to earn FIRE’s highest, Green at 48th with a Yellow Light require the plaintiff to proceed the nation. It has a grading Light rating,” Ansloan said. rating. Ryan Ansloan is a FIRE age students to comport themunder his or her legal name,” and ranking system that detersenior program officer and com- selves at a higher standard than news.ed@ocolly.com

“Now we can get back to directly challenging OSU’s insidious policies that investigate, track and discipline students for their constitutionally protected

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